Microsoft Access Alternative

Dimitri12 · Apr 15th, 2006, 05:01 PM

Here I am asking for suggestions from some mac geniuses.

I need a MS access alternative for mac but i have the following criteria:

-No FileMaker Pro...i despise Filemaker
-Neooffice or OpenOffice are fine but 400mb for a DB is a bit overkill.

Any other suggestions?

jasonwood · Apr 15th, 2006, 05:26 PM

Is FileMaker open for discussion? Why don't you like FileMaker?

Dimitri12 · Apr 15th, 2006, 07:24 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by jasonwood
	Is FileMaker open for discussion? Why don't you like FileMaker?

Filemaker is brutal....it doesn't do what you want....I believe the access interface and way to make Tables and fields is superior...like everything opens at the same time...

No offence but i'm looking for an alternative and not a discussion on pro/cons....

Thanks for the help though

Macaholic · Apr 15th, 2006, 07:29 PM

I have no experience in database applications since Foxpro on Win 3.1

But what about 4th Dimension?

http://www.4d.com/products.html

kps · Apr 15th, 2006, 11:24 PM

LOL, FoxPro... I still have the Mac version discs from 1994

4D is expensive and brutally complex when compared to Access or FM. It is more flexible and very powerful compared to both, but it is a whole new ballgame and comes with a steep learning curve. I never got any good at 4D, but that was my own fault.

Valentina is no longer free and it still needs a front end, AFAIK.

RealBasic has a database engine built-in, but I'm not a user.

TroutMaskReplica · Apr 16th, 2006, 12:59 AM

macromedia has a database application. it's more web oriented, so don't know how useful it would be to you (and it's expensive).

i'm teaching myself the open office 'base' now. you're right it's a bit of a pig, and not very stable. the data base functionality is a fairly new addition to open office. hopefully it will mature quickly.

Macaholic · Apr 16th, 2006, 01:44 AM

Try perusing Apple's (3rd party) software catalogue??

http://guide.apple.com/uscategories/tools.lasso

How about something from the UNIX world that uses the X11 GUI??

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/x11/

guytoronto · Apr 16th, 2006, 02:23 AM

I will tell you that compared to MS Access, Filemaker Pro is a peewee. Access is way more powerful.

Of all the database research I've done, I would say 4D is the only way to go. Unless I missed another product on the market.

CanadaRAM · Apr 16th, 2006, 02:40 AM

It sounds like you're locked into the Access interface concept, so my advice is Virtual PC and Access.

4D is brutal, I can't see someone coming from an Access preference grokking the 4D mental distortion field.

If you think Filemaker is unacceptable, then you've pretty much narrowed the field to Access.

Macaholic · Apr 16th, 2006, 03:20 AM

Or, buy a friggin' Macintel and run Parallels!

http://www.parallels.com/