I use Excel a a database program. Some suggest I use Filemaker instead. Anyone have a stong opinon on this? thanks!
I suggest you use any database program as a database instead of using excel which is a spreadsheet not a database program. Two comletely different functions. I can't comment on Filemaker which I don't use but databases such as Oracle and MS SQL Server are overkill for what you likely need.
FileMaker is extremely powerful, has a steep learning curve (there is a good 'Missing Manual' book on it) - though you can do basic stuff reasonably easily and build from there - and is expensive. It is also pretty well the only game in town. Bento is a toy, the database in Open Office is one of the most incomprehensible and turgid pieces of software I've ever seen, and there is nothing else with FileMaker's power.
It is also widely used in business, is cross-platform, and not likely to be 'end-of-lifed' in the forseeable future, unlike some of Apple's products.
I am not sure what additional functionality above what Excel provides you are looking for, but Filemaker offers a free trial download:
http://www.filemaker.com/
MtD
Thanks all, well the Excel guru who suggested this, just concurred that since I've spent a zillion hours over 10 years learning Excel, I should stay with it, but i have to be very careful with sorting and removing dupes as excel sometimes scrambles things up.
Opinon on Filemaker vs Excel
