Just a few tuppences worths:
Access is very powerful and widely used - especially where there is
professional IT support 'on tap'. BUT it is not intuitive to use and is a
long way from ideal for a solo user. (Unless someone on the list is willing
to make available a fairly versatile 'template' database in Access - this
would have the even greater advantage that data could be readily exchanged
between users.)
For local history data (and much else) I use AskSam. This is Win 3.x /
Win9x compatible and accepts any length of text (e.g. chapters from books
scanned and OCR'd) plus illustrations. It also 'swallows' whole chunks of
files in other formats (e.g. commonly-used WP files such as Word 6 [I
understand an upgrade is imminent for Word 97 etc], HTML WWW pages, Eudora
mailboxes, etc. One big strength is the powerful search facility (Boulean
logic plus fully customisable proximity etc). Not found any 'bugs' but then
again I've never used its more powerful report-generating software.
I bought my copy of version 3 several years ago for UKP 53.99 (incl VAT &
p&p) from:
Guildsoft Ltd
East Way
Lee Mill Industrial Estate
Ivybridge
PLYMOUTH
PL21 9PE
www.guildsoft.co.uk
(BTW Guildsoft also produce some software called Instabase but this is best
described as very poor in spec and performance.)
For buildings and other 'landscape features' then the RCHME's MIDAS has
paved the way in a very thorough manner. MIDAS is 'A Manual and Data
Standard for Monument Inventories' and exists as a ring binder of very
detailed advice. I think it costs about UKP 10 - more info from
[log in to unmask] As may be expected, RCHME use the word 'monuments' is a
very wide-ranging way - 'man-made features in the landscape' might be a
better terminology, if less concise! There is also a (massive) glossary of
terms for describing 'monuments' published separately (I think perhaps this
is still at an advanced draft stage).
The 'higher level' aspects of the MIDAS manual would provide useful guidance
for anyone considering setting up a local history database - even if their
main interest is not buildings or 'monuments'.
Bob
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Bob Trubshaw [log in to unmask]
Heart of Albion Press
2 Cross Hill Close, Wymeswold, Loughborough, LE12 6UJ, UK
(0)1509 880725 www.indigogroup.co.uk/albion/
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