> >If you use Mac OS 7-9 on a used Mac and go with a used copy of Filemaker
> >instead of Paradox, they are *far* more likely to be able to maintain the
> >program themselves,
> ...
> >Disclaimer: I don't run a business, so I may not know what I'm talking
> >about. Anybody knowledgable here, please chime in. I think this is a
> >*vital* topic for classic-computers, BTW, as keeping the machines
> >productive is far and away the best way to keep them alive and known. The
> >upgrade path availability is admittedly slightly off-topic, but relevant to the
> >discussion.
>
> FileMaker Pro was designed with the office Secretary in mind. It was
> meant for the average boss to hand the program to the average word
> processor literate secretary and tell them to create a database.
>
> It is VERY user friendly, and VERY quick and easy to create solutions. It
> has also grown significantly over the years into a rather powerful
> database system. It is NOT as powerful as some other applications out
> there (I know Access is more powerful due to its VB abilities)... but for
> a good chunk of database needs you can use FMP to do your complete
> solution.
>
> I have been making some rather complex solutions in FMP for years, and
> once in a while hit roadblocks with it, but usually can get to a work
> around (sometimes kludgy, but usually doable). But I will take the
> development speed vs loss of the super high end abilities any day.
>
> FMP is also ODBC complient (I don't know to what extent, I keep all my
> work right in FMP, so I have never used the ODBC interface). And FMP can
> publish to the web instantly, or you can develop full web abilities with
> FMP as the backend.
>
> It is fully cross platform (Mac and Win32)... I mean fully... there are
> really only two minor issues with moving back and forth. You need to make
> sure you use standard fonts that are available on both platforms (stick
> to Ariel, Times New Roman, and Courier New and you should be fine)... and
> when laying out items on the screen, it is best to use the T-Bars or
> Windows will sometimes shift where something is slightly.
>
> But the database works on both platforms unchanged. I generally do all my
> FMP development on the Mac, and the move it to a WinNT hosted FMP server
> where winNT clients log into it to do their work... and I still log in
> using my Mac for admin stuff... same database, transparent access.
>
> All in all... if your users aren't likely to know how to work with a
> database system... and you want them to be able to manage it in the
> future... I highely recommend FMP... or if you just want to get the job
> done in half the time of other systems.
>
>
> -chris
>
> <http://www.mythtech.net>
>
But wouldn't I need the full FMP installed on the old IBM machine ? Since
this is a neighborly freeby I'm not about to put out big bucks for an install.
I have it on one of my clones as well as on several macs but have never
really explored it very much. In size its outputs seemed as big as PDF files.
You also have to realise this is just a single owner mechanic in a workshop
who has never used a computer before, and would mainly be for invoices,
work orders, inventory, and list of suppliers.
When I was looking for a small-shop management program most of them
were woefully inadequate and expensive($600 and up). I saw that one of the
most suitable just used the Paradox engine as it's base and figured that
since I had P-dox on my clone I could put one together simple enough to be
adequate for his needs. A menu that he could simply punch a button to call
up a DB to add data or to print out a report or invoice.
Mind you I'm still learning how to use it and I only have a getting started
manual but so far it seems fairly easy and there seems to be resources
available on the net. This is v. 4.5 and now it's up to about v.9 .
Lawrence
Reply to:
lgwalker_at_mts.net
Received on Wed Feb 13 2002 - 04:10:58 GMT