MS Access for Mac

[Scott Jenken]

I am interested in still using Access for when I make the switch to a Mac
computer. Does anybody have any idea as to weather Access will be included
in he Office for Mac Suite? Are there other alternatives to making
databases similar to the functionality of Access without having to pay too
much?

I appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks, Scott

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Scott -

I can't say *absolutely* because I have nothing to do with MS
decision-making... Nor does anyone here. However, I am totally comfortable
with stating that you have a better chance winning 3 lotteries;0 Access is
built on stuff that isn't Mac-friendly and there isn't enough of a market
[profitability] for MS to make it so.

There are a number of excellent data management programs for the Mac, but it
depends on your needs as to which might be worth consideration. It may not
even be necessary to invest in them if you just need to use data from an
Access file. If you can provide more detail about what you need to do
perhaps more specific suggestions can be offered.

Another alternative is to use Virtual PC/Windows XP if you're on a PPC Mac
or use Parallels Desktop with Windows XP or Vista if on an Intel Mac to run
Access on the Mac. It can be done very effectively either way as long s your
system is beefy enough.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[accounting]

There are a number of excellent data management programs for the Mac, but it
depends on your needs as to which might be worth consideration. It may not
even be necessary to invest in them if you just need to use data from an
Access file. If you can provide more detail about what you need to do
perhaps more specific suggestions can be offered.

I am also interested in this question. I started on databases with
Dbase III (tells you my age.) I switched to Access when everyone else
did. Now I live in an all Mac world except for my computer which is a
PC. I have to create a database that sits on a MAC server which
everyone can use. It will come with menus, fill in forms, parameter
driven reports, etc. What can I do? I only know Access. I tried
Filemaker Pro but got so frustrated because it won't do a lot that I
want to do natively. Everything required a workaround. Not being
familiar with FP I have no idea how to do the workarounds. Just
making a mask for a telephone number or SSN is a several step
process. Since most of the MACs are ancient, they don't have the
Intel chip. I'm screwed aren't I?

Edie

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Edie:

You're not "screwed", but you're looking in the wrong place

You keep asking for a "database" for the Mac, and people keep offering you
databases. You don't want that, you want a "Development Environment"

Microsoft Access is not really a "database". It's a GUI development
environment with a semi-capable quasi-relational database engine hanging off
the back of it.

The whole reason for Access' existence is its ability to make development
easy. It is very good at that. You can even ship the forms and widgets it
creates off to a "real" database such as SQL Server when you are done.

So: Re-frame your question: You want an Application Development
Environment

Hit the Apple forums looking for one of those

Cheers

I am also interested in this question. I started on databases with
Dbase III (tells you my age.) I switched to Access when everyone else
did. Now I live in an all Mac world except for my computer which is a
PC. I have to create a database that sits on a MAC server which
everyone can use. It will come with menus, fill in forms, parameter
driven reports, etc. What can I do? I only know Access. I tried
Filemaker Pro but got so frustrated because it won't do a lot that I
want to do natively. Everything required a workaround. Not being
familiar with FP I have no idea how to do the workarounds. Just
making a mask for a telephone number or SSN is a several step
process. Since most of the MACs are ancient, they don't have the
Intel chip. I'm screwed aren't I?

Edie

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Eddie -

Further to what John supplied:

1- I'm not advocating FMP, but I've seen very little it can't provide - it's
just *different* than Access & the masks & field formats you're referring to
are already there (unless you require some sort of unusually customized
variation). Also, there are several flavors of FMP - you may need FMP
Advanced, etc.

2- What do you mean by "ancient"? Just because they aren't Intels doesn't
make them obsolete or even less capable than they were before the Intels hit
the street... At least if it does, please don't tell my G5 Dual 2 Gig - it
may decide to prematurely retire

P.S. - I started with db apps before dBase even *had* numerical designators
[does R-Base sound familiar?], and have used & trained on both FM & Access
as well as Foxpro, Paradox, and several others. They all get the job done
well if you take the time to learn them, but if you try to make one work
like the other you're just making it harder on yourself

Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi,

I am not at liberty to disclose something that's coming pretty soon (I'm not
talking about office 2008).

Please watch this space in the next few weeks for a significant
announcement.

Thanks.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

PS _ I know it's not nice to tease but it's almost as if you guys were
posting to get some free pre-release publicity for something that's coming
down the pike soon.

I am also interested in this question. I started on databases with
Dbase III (tells you my age.) I switched to Access when everyone else
did. Now I live in an all Mac world except for my computer which is a
PC. I have to create a database that sits on a MAC server which
everyone can use. It will come with menus, fill in forms, parameter
driven reports, etc. What can I do? I only know Access. I tried
Filemaker Pro but got so frustrated because it won't do a lot that I
want to do natively. Everything required a workaround. Not being
familiar with FP I have no idea how to do the workarounds. Just
making a mask for a telephone number or SSN is a several step
process. Since most of the MACs are ancient, they don't have the
Intel chip. I'm screwed aren't I?

Edie

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

 

[accounting]

Hi Jim:

You are definitely barking up the wrong tree with my wanting pre
information....laugh out loud. I don't even want to build this
database. (More work, same pay) And I know that I am in the wrong
forum for this, but I don't know an iMac from a G4. Please don't
throw rocks at me for that. So I apologize if I gave the wrong
impression that I was fishing for information.

I also didn't mean to denigrate FMP. I've seen what it can do. I
just don't know how to do it. I am not a programmer and it took me
years to learn Dbase. (R-base was on its last legs when I started.
In fact I decided to grab Dbase III instead of II) Then years to
learn Access. I don't have years to learn to make FMP to do what I
need it to do in the next few months. And the company doesn't have
the $20K that was estimated as the cost of professional development of
the database. We're a small company (in size and sales) that will
have a half dozen users at most. That's why I took on the project. I
can code will enough in Access to develop a nice relational database
without a jazzy front end, that will not be maximized (but we only
have a couple of hundred customers and maybe 400 invoices a year), and
will be slightly clunky. But it will give us the information we need
in a readable format. I just didn't know that there wasn't a Mac
version or I wouldn't have volunteered.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for their input. I'm going to start
the database in Access only because, at the very least, it will force
the company to think about what it needs and doesn't need, and clean
up the data sufficiently to make professional development with FMP
easier and cheaper.

thanks everyone and I mean that very sincerely. I didn't mean to
step on toes.
edie

Hi,

I am not at liberty to disclose something that's coming pretty soon (I'm not
talking about office 2008).

Please watch this space in the next few weeks for a significant
announcement.

Thanks.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

PS _ I know it's not nice to tease but it's almost as if you guys were
posting to get some free pre-release publicity for something that's coming
down the pike soon.

Quoting from "(e-mail address removed)" <[email protected]>, in
article (e-mail address removed), on [DATE:

I am also interested in this question. I started on databases with
Dbase III (tells you my age.) I switched to Access when everyone else
did. Now I live in an all Mac world except for my computer which is a
PC. I have to create a database that sits on a MAC server which
everyone can use. It will come with menus, fill in forms, parameter
driven reports, etc. What can I do? I only know Access. I tried
Filemaker Pro but got so frustrated because it won't do a lot that I
want to do natively. Everything required a workaround. Not being
familiar with FP I have no idea how to do the workarounds. Just
making a mask for a telephone number or SSN is a several step
process. Since most of the MACs are ancient, they don't have the
Intel chip. I'm screwed aren't I?

Edie

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP infohttp://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

 

[Kurt]

Finally, I want to thank everyone for their input. I'm going to start
the database in Access only because, at the very least, it will force
the company to think about what it needs and doesn't need, and clean
up the data sufficiently to make professional development with FMP
easier and cheaper.

Your whole company is using Macs and you are building the DB in Access?
Since Access only runs on Windows machines, I don't think you're going
to get any converts.

 

[Kurt]

Hi Eddie -

Further to what John supplied:

1- I'm not advocating FMP, but I've seen very little it can't provide - it's
just *different* than Access & the masks & field formats you're referring to
are already there (unless you require some sort of unusually customized
variation). Also, there are several flavors of FMP - you may need FMP
Advanced, etc.

2- What do you mean by "ancient"? Just because they aren't Intels doesn't
make them obsolete or even less capable than they were before the Intels hit
the street... At least if it does, please don't tell my G5 Dual 2 Gig - it
may decide to prematurely retire

Our Office is only late model PowerMacs, and we see no need to run out
for an Intel Mac yet. VPC is fine for the occasional foray into the
<shudder> Windows world.

 

[v.man.u2222]

I am also interested in this question. I started on databases withDbaseIII (tells you my age.) I switched to Access when everyone else
did. Now I live in an all Mac world except for my computer which is a
PC. I have to create a database that sits on a MAC server which
everyone can use. It will come with menus, fill in forms, parameter
driven reports, etc. What can I do? I only know Access. I tried
Filemaker Pro but got so frustrated because it won't do a lot that I
want to do natively. Everythingrequireda workaround. Not being
familiar with FP I have no idea how to do the workarounds. Just
making a mask for a telephone number or SSN is a several step
process. Since most of the MACs are ancient, they don't have the
Intel chip. I'm screwed aren't I?

Edie

I am a dbase (dos version) programmer.

We can write useful and productive programmes in dbase

if you are interersted I can help you in developing programmes in
dbase
for all your needs

G.BADARIVISHAL
MYSORE
SOUTH INDIA

email: (e-mail address removed)

23-05-2007

 

[John McGhie]

Are you any good at MySQL on the Mac? That's what he really needs

I am a dbase (dos version) programmer.

We can write useful and productive programmes in dbase

if you are interersted I can help you in developing programmes in
dbase
for all your needs

G.BADARIVISHAL
MYSORE
SOUTH INDIA

email: (e-mail address removed)

23-05-2007

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]