Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hplsla!andyc
From: andyc@hplsla.HP.COM (Andy Cassino)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Data Base Mangers
Message-ID: <5440136@hplsla.HP.COM>
Date: 7 Dec 90 18:51:39 GMT
References: <1990Dec5.180612.12451@cbnewsm.att.com>
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA
Lines: 49

wao@cbnewsm.att.com (william.a.oswald) writes:
| 
| I'm thinking of buying a database manager but the topic of what is
| good and not so good has not come up recently. So, any body have any
| recommendations? How good is DBman, is it worth the money? By the
| way, my needs range from simple to complex and I would rather
| invest in a piece of software that I won't out grow.
| ----------

I started out using Base Two for some simplistic needs and quickly outgrew
it. I think it has a major limitation in that the only way to input data is
manually. It doesn't import any format of file (not even ASCII).

I switched to SuperBase Personal because of its numerous import/export
options, which includes the DIF format (which Base Two thankfully exports) 
and Lotus 123 spreadsheets. Now that I've had it a few months, I'm not sure
whether I would buy it again or not. Whereas it does import all these
wonderful files, error checking is VERY POOR and the results are not
100%. Here are some examples:

o import a DIF file with a record >256 chars and the import aborts with a
  generic error message - no clue as to the problem

o import a LDW Power worksheet file before converting to Lotus format and the
  program bombs

o dates are not properly imported from Lotus 123 files

o converted LDW Power files are not properly imported; I have to load them
  into Lotus and re-save them before they'll import correctly

Okay, so importation can be a hassle. Another hassle IMHO is that the
program does not use the GEM file selector. The program has its own built-in
extremely crude file selector dialogues that are probably slick on a DOS
machine but very crude on the ST.

These issues aside, I find the program to be reasonable to use and it looks
tough to outgrow it (and I guess an upgrade to SuperBase Professional would
solve that). And since the program exists on the Amiga and DOS machines
and supposedly imports/exports dBase files, I feel reasonably confident that
my databases can be ported to my next machine (whatever it is).

Disclaimer: These are the opinions solely of the author, who has no pecuniary
affiliation with the companies that sell the programs discussed.

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    % Andy Cassino                                       %
    % Hewlett-Packard - Lake Stevens Instrument Division %
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