Sally:
Our organization is also small, we have about 155 members. I did go our and
purchase Filemaker Pro 5 but it was beyond my abilities to do any customization
of the data fields. I am using it as is. I got frustrated in trying to fix the mailing
labels and finally just cut 1/2 inch off the top of the 5160 labels and now
they print just fine. In my case, the purchase of Filemaker 5 was wasted money but to
each his own. Pro's won't agree with me but so what, the original run-time
feels our needs.
Larry Bednar wrote:
> There's actually more benefit to using Ebase than just the low cost. Much
> of the economy and advantage of using a database comes not from using
> computers and software, but from using a disciplined, consistent,
> systematic approach to handling your data. This makes it easier and more
> efficient to manage and use your data. In the long run there are big
> payoffs. I'd say that the bigger benefit from using Ebase is that it
> provides much more consistency and "system" than most organizations adopt
> as they continually improvise new data solutions out of their data
> management system.
>
> Now, for the metaphors...Typically, organizations build data management
> systems through in-route modifications/improvisations, like building
> additions to a house room-by-room without a long-term plan. Ebase provides
> a thoughtful overall framework for the whole house right up front, so when
> you make those single-room additions, they actually build towards a nicely
> coordinated system. If you can afford the luxury of a long-term view of
> costs and benefits to your organization, this translates into a much bigger
> gain than the $200 savings from not needing to buy FileMaker.
>
> This doesn't mean Ebase is perfect, and it doesn't mean that other
> applications couldn't provide similar benefit, but this definitely is a
> real benefit of adopting Ebase...
>
> >I thought the whole point of ebase was that it was free! Our small
> >organization, with a small budget has been using the run-time version
> >for about 5 years and we are willing to just grumble at the inability
> >to generate custom thank you letters and line up our labels, if we
> >don't have to buy filemaker. We really don't need filemaker. Call
> >us foolhardy, but we are just strapped for money and appreciative of
> >the free software.
> >
> >Sally
> >
> >Sally Zaino
> >The Manada Conservancy
> >P.O. Box 25
> >Hummelstown, Pa. 17036
> >
>
> **************************************************************
> Larry F. Bednar
> Consulting in Statistics, Quality, Data Managment
> Portland, OR 503.493.8542 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> **************************************************************
>
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begin:vcard
n:Scheil;George L.
x-mozilla-html:FALSE
adr:;;;;;;
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email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
note:Visit your local National Wildlife Refuge, especially during National Wildlife Refuge Week-October14-20, 2001 and also promote NWR Centennial on March 14, 2003
fn:George L. Scheil
end:vcard
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