I've been using database programs for 14 years. Initially I used
Superbase on a Commodore Pet (yes, we're talking about prehistory here)
and latterly I have been using Dataease 4.5 for DOS, both for
maintaining our own magazine's subscription system and for maintaining
the membership list for a county local history association. I also use a
program called Idealist, developed by Blackwell's, to store our reviews.
Recently I underwent two days' training on Access and found myself
pleasantly suprised at how easy it was to use - of course it may be the
comparison with Dataease that produced the favourable effect, but I felt
that it was possible to use Access on a series of levels and the wizards
did make the initial setting up of a database fairly stress free. As
with all database programs, it's advisable to work your way through a
series of introductory tutorials in a fairly methodical manner. I also
found mail-merge with Word fairly straightforward.
When starting on the construction of a new database I always sit down
with some paper and a pencil and think about what the end product of a
database needs to be - invoices, reminders, publications, websites etc.
Then I work my way backwards towards the structure of the database. None
of this is as exciting as actually getting your hands on the keyboard
and playing with the program, but I find it an invaluable way of
working.
I'm not a great Microsoft fan - I find Word much too much of a smart-
alec compared to WordPerfect and I prefer Netscape Navigator to Internet
Explorer - but I would suggest that people do give Access a second
glance. Of course, it's not cheap to buy, but if anyone has it already
as part of Office, then I would explore its possibilities.
--
Susan Griffiths
The Local History Press
3 Devonshire Promenade
Lenton
Nottingham
NG7 2DS
Tel: 0115 9706473
Fax: 0115 9424857
web site: www.local-history.co.uk
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