Lisa wrote:

> I have been offered some work inputting data on Microsoft Access (a version 
> of which is not available for the mac, as far as I can work out).

I don't use a mac, but I did find the following URL
http://www.actualtechnologies.com/product_access.php   .
It implies that one can edit Microsoft Access databases on the Mac.
If that implication is correct, then it might be a solution.

> So can I run Access or Access compatible programme on the Mac via open office?

The issue is editing the Access Database.   With the appropriate
driver OOo can extract data.  I haven't been able to successfully
create an Access Database using OOo on any platform.

> If I can, what do I need?

What version of Microsoft Access was used to create the original
database?  That is the version that you will need to buy and install
on the system you use.

> Will it be able to handle large files?

The following are the claimed maximum values for Access:

Database table:
Number of characters in a table name 64
Number of characters in a field name 64
Number of fields in a table 255
Number of open tables 2048. The actual number may be less because of
tables open internally by Microsoft Access.
Table size 1 gigabyte
Number of characters in a Text field 255
Number of characters in a Memo field 65,535 when entering data through
the user interface;
1 gigabyte using a utility program;
Size of an OLE Object field 1 gigabyte
Number of indexes in a table 32
Number of fields in an index 10
Number of characters in a validation message 255
Number of characters in a validation rule 2,048
Number of characters in a table or field description 255
Number of characters in a record (excluding Memo and OLE Object fields) 2,000
Number of characters in a field property setting 255

Database:
File size 2 gigabytes.
(Linking tables to other databases can increase this figure.)
Number of objects in a database 32,768
Modules (including forms and reports with the HasModule property set
to True) 1,000
Number of characters in an object name 64
Number of characters in a password 14
Number of characters in a user name or group name 20
Number of concurrent users 255

In theory, anything that can open/edit an Access file will be able to
handle those requirements.

> Please help or I will end up forking out lots of dosh to get a laptop and 
> access programme!!

If you aren't a database wizard, my suggestion would be to buy a cheap
laptop or desktop, and put MS Access on it.  (By cheap, I mean less
than three hundred dollars US.  You will pay more for the software
than the hardware.)

If you are feeling brave, or experimental, then try the following to
see if they work "correctly".

* Install Parallels, then install MS Access;
* Install CrossOver then install MS Access;
NOTE: The EULA of some recent versions of MS Access prohibits the
installation of the software on any platform other than (a subset of)
Microsoft Windows 2000/Microsoft Windows 2003/Microsoft Windows
XP/Microsoft Windows Vista.

xan

jonathon
-- 
OOo can not correct for incompetence in creating documents from MSO.
Furthermore,OOo can not compensate for the defective and flawed
security measures used by Microsoft. As such, before using this product
for exams that require faulty and defective software, ensure that you
will not be unjustly penalized for the incompetence of the organization
that requires the use of software that is known to be flawed,
defective, bug-ridden, and fails to meet ISO file format standards.

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