Database Program?

Question

Level 2

259 points

Database Program?

Hello All,

The question I am posing is really pushing the limits of my computer knowlege, but here goes.

As part of a project for work, I am looking to create a very simple database of sorts with approximately 6-8 (text) fields which would:

--be searchable
--accessable by multiple users on a Novell network for text entry and searching

The model/idea that I am using was originally created using Microsoft Access.

So here's are my question:

What's the best (i.e. simplest and easy-to-use) database program for Mac that might also allow the final product to be used on a Windows-based Novell network?

Was wondering if such a thing could be created in HTML since that would be "universal". I know next-to-nothing about databases. I am guessing that if I want to tackle this, I'll need to use a Windows program to do so. (But now that I'm approaching my 1-year anniversary as a Windows==>Mac switcher, it pains me to think about doing so...

Thanks for your thoughts!

Powerbook 15 G4, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Mar 21, 2006 11:21 AM

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Answer 1

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Mar 21, 2006 11:28 AM in response to Argelius

Hi, Argelius.

Take a look at the FileMaker line of products. It's the easiest database to use on a Mac, supports publishing the database to the Net, etc. For your case, you'd probably want to look into one of the Server products.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 2

Kiera

Level 2

225 points

Mar 21, 2006 11:38 AM in response to Argelius

Have you looked at Filemaker? http://www.filemaker.com it is available for both mac and PC. There is also MYSQL - which is free but has a higher learning curve.

It really depends on what you are trying to do. You will need to access what applications are available to your users. If they already have MS Access then you will need to use that because otherwise you will need to get a bunch of new licenses for something like Filemaker.

Doing your application in html is not going to easy unless you want to get into using a scripting language like Cold Fusion (.cfm) by Macromedia or Active Server Pages (.asp) by Microsoft. Using one of these scripting language means you will need to have a web server available to you to generate the pages.

There is no simple answer to what you are asking here. I would suggest finding somebody technical that you can sit down with and discuss your needs. Best of luck!

K

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Answer 3

Argelius Author

Level 2

259 points

Mar 21, 2006 11:51 AM in response to Dr. Smoke

Thanks all -- I'll check it out!

I ain't no programmer, but love messing with things. I am probably in over my head with this one, but we'll see.

I'm thinking this is, possibly, relatively easy, since the database won't need to pull data from any other program.

(Just to clarify, I work in a hospital laboratory. We are inspected once every two years by an organization that uses "checklists" which are basically questions like, "How do you handle XYZ issue?" So in my fantasy database, these would be fields for:
[1] The checklist item (question)
[2] The number (identifier) of the checklist item
[3] The answer to the item
[4] The person assigned to the checklist (ideally with a drop-down box listing all the possibilities

And probably a number of other fields, grouping the checklist items by areas of the lab (like hematology, microbiology, etc).

Probably too much information....
[4] A box for "completed"

[4]

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Answer 4

Argelius Author

Level 2

259 points

Mar 21, 2006 4:42 PM in response to Argelius

From my research, I think Filemaker may fit the bill.

The real kicker in this is that I want to do this on my Mac and allow it to be placed on a Novell (Windows) network.

[1] Can a FileMaker database be exported to a database that would work in Excel? (The hospital has Excel, not FileMaker).

[2] If the above wouldn't work, would I be able to create a FileMaker database on my Mac that would then run on Filemaker for Windows installed on the network?

Thanks!

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