| Title: | AMIGA NOTES |
| Notice: | Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2 |
| Moderator: | HYDRA::MOORE |
| Created: | Sat Apr 26 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Wed Feb 05 1992 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 5378 |
| Total number of notes: | 38326 |
I'm interested in a Database Management system, but have no experience
with anything like the ones available. I have looked at the notes I
can find in this file (84, 134, 182, 438), have read the review of
Superbase in AmigaWorld, and have looked over the ads. I still I have
little basis for comparison. A hands-on might help (I plan to head to
the Memory Location for that when I can), but it is hard to find
limitations when trying something like this for the first time.
The major players seem to be:
- Superbase Personnal & Professional
- Acquisition
- Datamat 200 & 300
182 and 438.1 have good things to say about Superbase, and it is the
cheapest of these by a bunch. However AmigaWorld did note some
deficiencies, and they usually aren't very critical. I have found no
reviews or hands on comments on the others. (I did hear from the guy
at The Software Shop that Superbase Professional is not yet
available.)
One thing I have been wondering about is how committed these suppliers
are to the Amiga in the long run. All seem to have come out quite
some time ago, with no obvious indications in the ads that they have
been updated. Do they work well with 1.2?
I am not going to run a business from this, so I don't think I need
too many features. I am mostly interested in being able to enter data
via forms, ad-hoc simple queries, perhaps some simple printed listings
of file contents, etc. (Must work with LA50 printer driver.) I am
interested in it being easy to use and user friendly for the rest of
my family.
I am also somewhat interested in memory and disk efficiency within
limits. My wife may need to build some moderately large files
(several hundred records). I don't think I can currently imagine
anything where a floppy can't handle the apparent storage requirements
of the fields in the records, but how much additional do these systems
use for indices, etc.?
I would appreciate any personal experiences regarding usability and/or
efficiency of any of the available database managers, expecially
problems and limitations.
Paul
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 552.1 | Superbase Personal | DICKNS::MACDONALD | WA1OMM Listening 224.28 | Tue Jun 16 1987 10:29 | 5 |
Superbase Personal is what I use. Its relational, supports IFF files
and is the ultimate in ease-of-use. Extremely flexible and comes
with superb documentation.
Paul
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| 552.2 | MicroFiche Filer | SQM::JMSYNGE | James M Synge, VMS Performance Anal. | Wed Jun 17 1987 15:14 | 11 |
If you don't have large databases which you need to migrate to the new system, I'd recommend looking at MicroFiche Filer. It's been built and sold by Gary Sumat (sp?) in Boston. He gave a presentation on it to the BCS Amiga SIG last month. It was a very impressive database. The forms management is excellent: you can create a form with the mouse. You position a resizeable box anywhere in the form, then select the field to be placed in the box. There are/will be ads in AmigaWorld. James Synge. | |||||
| 552.3 | nobody else? | KIRK::KYZIVAT | Paul Kyzivat | Thu Jun 18 1987 13:35 | 4 |
Maybe there aren't any users of Acquisition or Datamat. I guess that
says something.
Paul
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| 552.4 | Comments on Logistix | GLORY::SHIVES | Thu Jun 18 1987 19:57 | 34 | |
I am not sure that this is what you are looking for, but I have
Logistix. It is an integrated spreadsheet/database/graphics package.
I have found it very easy to use. Although my needs have kept the
individual databases/spreadsheets of average size, I have found
it to be pretty fast as well.
I only have a 512K Amiga, by the way. Logistix indicates that it
has different versions to accomodate the smaller or larger amount
of memory via use of overlays. Since I am using the 512K limited
version, I do have to wait while it swaps in the new overlay, but
the wait is only a few seconds anyway. Once the overlay is in place
(and this is how I would assume that the versions with additional
memory would work), it can process the data quickly. Notice: I
AM using relative terms and things like "quickly" are quite subjective.
It is quick enough for me, but you should decide for yourself
quantitatively.
While it cannot perform relational database-style processing, the
records may be sorted on any of the fields (columns) or combinations.
Probably the thing I like most about it is the ability to write
small data entry/retrieval applications using its own macro language.
It takes care of a significant amount of work an application programmer
would have to do.
In summary, I understand that Logistix is not strictly a database
manager; it does other things as well. However, I thought you may
be interested as a point of comparison. If you would like any more
information just let me know.
Mark
P.S. There was an AmigaWorld review of Logistix also.
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