Hello Chris, Rod,
Chris BONDE wrote:
Rod:
Thank you. That is a very good explanation. If I have trouble with MS dB I had
better stay away from MySQL.
Clear explanation indeed.
I have taken a cursory look at TreePad. It seems to be a type of database.
And this is why we may be happy with OOo 2.0, that contains an
Access-like database application: Base.
Kind regards,
Cor
Chris BONDE wrote:
I am not sure what this means?
Are you saying that MySQL is free but not that good, so people use
spreadsheets. Or what.
Chris
MySQL is free. MySQL is a fantastic piece of software. But for the
uses that a lot of people want a database, MySQL is like taking an
18-wheeler to get groceries.
Here's the big difference in my eyes between something like MySQL and
Access -- and you would have had to use both to realize this: Install
MSO Pro with Access. Go to Start => All Programs => (wherever) =>
Microsoft Access. You can immediately construct a new database using
drag 'n drop, fill-in-the-blank, GUI stuff. You can construct a useful
implementation without knowing a damn thing about SQL, OBDC or any of
that mess. Those tools are available if you need them, but they aren't
necessary to get going.
I'm not a computer noob by any stretch, but the ODBC, client-server DB
stuff is one thing I hadn't fooled around with much. So when I decided
to try out MySQL with OOo, it took me close to a full day to figure
out how to get it all set up. I hear tell it's even worse in Linux --
I don't know. The only way to make it half-way convenient was to set
it up as a Windows service, meaning it has to run all the time in the
background, whether you're using it that day or not. Otherwise you
have to open a DOS window to manually start it up each time, etc.
Another measure: I have a book sitting on my desk called "A Practical
Guide to RedHat Linux 8". It's a textbook for a class I'm taking and a
pretty decent reference as well. It runs to 1565 pages. The manual for
MySQL -- just one program -- is almost 1300 pages long in the pdf
file.
My take on it all is this: There's more than one way to skin a cat.
Likewise there are many different kinds of cats that need skinning.
Not every cat-skinning method is appropriate to every kind of cat. (I
know that is a really tortured analogy -- pun intended). But Access
and programs like it have a huge following for reasons totally
unrelated to the MS hegemony. They're simply the right kind of tool
for a large class of needs. MySQL can also fill those needs but it's a
lot steeper learning curve and often a fair bit of overkill.
Rod
--
Cor Nouws
www.nouenoff.nl
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