I was wondering if there was a version of MS Access for the mac? I need it for a CIS course I'm taking - and Accesss is a requirement - i dont want to use a PC for this
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Microsoft Access on the Mac?
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Not Going To Happen...
MS Access is a MS tool that MS wouldn't try to bring to the Mac. However, you may have success running Virtual PC for the Mac and running Access within VPC. I've done this, it isn't incredibly fast (granted, I'm using a beige 400 MHZ G3) but is better than buying another PC box for as often as I use Access. What class would require that tool anyway?
For the Mac, there are other RAD database apps, Filemaker Pro (it has advantages and disadvantages over Access) is the most popular (is cross platform too). YOu may want to try out some of the SQL based tools too, Openbase is one of those.
Go to Apple.com and check out the database software there through the software links.
MS Access is a MS tool that MS wouldn't try to bring to the Mac. However, you may have success running Virtual PC for the Mac and running Access within VPC. I've done this, it isn't incredibly fast (granted, I'm using a beige 400 MHZ G3) but is better than buying another PC box for as often as I use Access. What class would require that tool anyway?
For the Mac, there are other RAD database apps, Filemaker Pro (it has advantages and disadvantages over Access) is the most popular (is cross platform too). YOu may want to try out some of the SQL based tools too, Openbase is one of those.
Go to Apple.com and check out the database software there through the software links.
Can I ask a question about access? Is there something proprietary (why am I even asking this...I know I know) about MS databases that access can...access? In other words, doesn't access just connect to an SQL-type database and let you view and edit records etc.? Or does MS have some type of proprietary Database Language that only Access can access...Doesn't SQL server just use a proprietary syntax (I'm not an expert on this stuff obviously...) or something? IOW, whats so special about access.
The only thing special about Access is that it happens to be popular. After managing a large Access database in a corporate environment I have to say it is really terrible.
However, I have talked with dozens (yes literally dozens) of people who will never switch to a Mac simply because they need to use Access. While there are better DB clients, business users have to use whatever the rest of the company uses. It doesn't matter if another client can access the SQL server properly. You need to be able to work with Access database files flawlessly 100% of the time.
However, I have talked with dozens (yes literally dozens) of people who will never switch to a Mac simply because they need to use Access. While there are better DB clients, business users have to use whatever the rest of the company uses. It doesn't matter if another client can access the SQL server properly. You need to be able to work with Access database files flawlessly 100% of the time.
For the stuff needed in an access class, Virtual PC with Office installed will be fine. I had one class entitled "Intro to RDBMS" in Access whose book took you step by step through creating databases, linking tables/columns via keys, creating forms for data entry, and creating a web interface to view records. Nothing that would tax the virtual machine too much.
What teachers / schools / etc like so much about it is that it gives you the tools via Visual Basic to write some (really bad) code quickly without having to actually write code, and it'll fulfill the requirements of the lesson. What better than to be able to drag a button, click on an option, and have the underlying code be written as to its placement and what it does? </sarcasm>
What teachers / schools / etc like so much about it is that it gives you the tools via Visual Basic to write some (really bad) code quickly without having to actually write code, and it'll fulfill the requirements of the lesson. What better than to be able to drag a button, click on an option, and have the underlying code be written as to its placement and what it does? </sarcasm>
I needed it for a computer information systems class - basically a buisness class with a database twist
ive never used virtual pc - and the very thought of having a windows environment on my PB makes me shudder - thought when i bought this goregous laptop id be done with windows- guess i was wrong
if i save a file in a virtual pc environment, how do i get it onto my osx environment?
ive never used virtual pc - and the very thought of having a windows environment on my PB makes me shudder - thought when i bought this goregous laptop id be done with windows- guess i was wrong
if i save a file in a virtual pc environment, how do i get it onto my osx environment?
it can be as easy as drag & drop.. drag file from windows side to mac side and it'll copy, same goes from mac to windows.
Or, you set up filesharing on the windows side (or windows file sharing on the mac side) and put it in the respective shared items folder... if you wanted to do it the hard way.
Or, you set up filesharing on the windows side (or windows file sharing on the mac side) and put it in the respective shared items folder... if you wanted to do it the hard way.
i just finished my CS for non tech majors class last semester and it was really easy bit I had to use VPC. The MySQL stuff had various cocoa programs I used but none were as good as this freeware windows thing we used in class sadly. Once we got to VBA and excel i neeed to start using VPC because office x didn't the buttons different ly and it was too much for me to worry about it. I got all my projects done for the semester and was happy. I actually got an A+ hehe
That's certainly true. Paradox has almost certainly been a better desktop database since before Access, and ObjectPAL a better programming language but "nobody gets fired for buying Microsoft."
It's interesting to note that using Access as a backend through ODBC that some key fields from the indexes are hidden to non-Microsoft programming environments; thus, pushing back to other MS tools to complete projects.
Access defense
As much as can't believe I am defending MS, I love Access (though I have some probelms - most other user error) and am searching for something on the Apple platform that I could use. I am writing a database that essentially serves as a workflow manager. I am using a lot of forms and reports, and I haven't found Filemaker to allow me that. What would anyone suggest, I am willing to learn a new language/interface if need be. (I will not be the primary user of this database when completed).
Thanks
yamabushi said:
As much as can't believe I am defending MS, I love Access (though I have some probelms - most other user error) and am searching for something on the Apple platform that I could use. I am writing a database that essentially serves as a workflow manager. I am using a lot of forms and reports, and I haven't found Filemaker to allow me that. What would anyone suggest, I am willing to learn a new language/interface if need be. (I will not be the primary user of this database when completed).
Thanks