Hi John,
SQL is pretty much SQL no matter what application you use. Access is a
relational database - there's really nothing to debate. There are some
slight syntax variations among the various database applications
(maddeningly small ones like using a curly bracket in one and a [ bracket in
a different app), but the logic is exactly the same across the board.
The SQL GUI for Access, Microsoft Query, and FoxPro and the others look so
much alike you'd think they were versions of the same program. In a sense,
they are.
http://www.faqs.org/docs/ppbook/c1164.htm
http://www.samspublishing.com/articles/article.asp?p=29583&rl=1
For most Office users MSQuery is a fine way to get data to make reports.
However, you probably would not use it for large data sets. Excel can handle
up to 65,536 records from a single query. Any more than that and you need
some other program to store the result table.
The heavy iron comes in when dealing with large databases. If you have
millions of records to plow through then you need more beef. That's where
you start to compare speed, optimizations, reporting automation
capabilities, etc of the various products on the market. Add the ability to
add predictive calculations and pump out thousands of web pages on demand
and you're now putting your system to work. MS Access is definitely not a
product you would use in this environment.
But if the database is in MS Access then chances are excellent that nothing
more is needed than Mac Office to generate even the fanciest of reports
without having to go through a steep learning curve.
-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
Quoting from "John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]"
Hi Jim:
I would have to agree, if all he wants is a way to get at data.
I've had very little to do with FileMaker: In reporting, I think it's
stronger than Access. But I think both are a little "challenged" in SQL.
The later versions of Access offer fairly fully-featured SQL (some SQL
purists would say Access enables structures that SQL shouldn't really
allow...)
Debate rages as to whether Access "really" is a "relational" database. I
don't know enough about databases to know what the argument is here.
However as I understand it, Access can open and read/write an SQL database,
and perform relational queries/updates. I think FileMaker has limitations
there.
But I have seen some really impressive reporting and forms done in FileMaker
that I suspect would be difficult if not impossible in Access.
Cheers
Many users face the dilemma that Alex faces. In terms of a SQL GUI if you
already have Excel then a further expenditure on FileMaker seems wasteful to
me.
Excel makes a great reporting and analysis tool (better than FileMaker
IMHO). When combined with Word's data merge manager you can make reports
that far exceed what comes with MS Access.
I've not worked much with FileMaker's reporting tools so I don't know how
easy it is to create custom formats with FileMaker.
-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
Quoting from "John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]"
Hi Alex:
FileMaker Pro is a very good product. And it's built for Mac and PC.
See here:
http://www.filemaker.com/
Understand that it is not an "exact" equivalent. The only way to be sure it
will do what you want is to download the trial version and try it.
Cheers
On 2/11/06 2:18 AM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "alexalmendrades"
Does anyone know if there is a MAC equivalent for Microsoft ACCESS?
I hooked up my friend's MAC to our work network and it works fine and can
access everything fine, but all our inventory/pricing is done on ACCESS..
is
there any way a MAC can access and open this type of document?
Aa
--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info
, but just to add to his reply: