what is the best database software for you?

Question

please indicate why and where could it be much useful than other database softwares released.

Answer 1

Depends on your needs.

I like Excel which is primarily for spreadsheets, but I keep a membership datafile where we can record addresses (for mailing labels), and keep track of the completion of requirements. I also use it to merge with Word documents - letters, labels, and catalogs (for a specialized list). This will describe Excel more fully.
http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/tipsandfaqs/f/excel_use.htm

A business might prefer Access which is a powerful database program from MS. Go to this link for a detailed description.
http://www.databasedev.co.uk/what-is-microsoft-access.html

If you are looking for a freebie, you can download open office which is comparable to MS Office.
Free OpenOffice – Word Processing Comparable to MS Word

download at: http://www.openoffice.org/index.html
tutorial at: http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.org/
Calc — a spreadsheet similar to Microsoft Excel with a roughly equivalent range of features. Calc provides a number of features not present in Excel, including a system which automatically defines series for graphing, based on the layout of the user's data. Calc is also capable of writing spreadsheets directly as a PDF file.

Answer 2

I think you'll have to tell us how you intent to use it, and why M$ Access didn't meet your demands. How many people may end up using it? Can you afford to have a programmer develop what you want, or do you need to be able to do it all yourself? How critical is the database to your work? ### EDIT: Fro a team that small, Access could be an appropriate choice. Why did you dismiss it? Have you considered online solutions, like zoho Creator? I have no experience with it so I don't know if it's any good, but it may be worth looking into. See the link below.

Answer 3

There's no best or worse database software. There's just one for each need.

The main factor to have in mind when choosing engine is the database size. I will list engines from smaller to bigger (IMHO).

> Excel - OpenOffice Calc
Well, it is not a database engine, it is just a spreadsheet.

> Jet (access) - Open Office Base
Basic implementation of database techniques and algorithms. Useful for personal, home and small business applications. No SQL knowledge needed, and you can make a front-end application as part of the database file.

> MySQL (community edition) - Sybase - DB2 - Informix
Professional database engines. SQL knowledge required. For small business to large companies that dont require lots of querying like a supermarket with hundreds of POS, an executive board requiring real time statistics and DBAs modifying information. It fits perfectly for websites, inventory, warehouses, supermarkets with dozens of POS...

MS SQL - Oracle - MySQL (enterprise edition)
Professional database engines. SQL knowledge required.
For small business to large companies that do require lots of querying like a supermarket with hundreds of POS, an executive board requiring real time statistics and DBAs modifying information. Full text search capabilities. They're not cheap. People using those databases are NASDAQ, Fujifilm, Cingular, Telefonica (spain and LatAm)...

Answer 4

Define database? People refer to Excel / Calc which is spreadsheet software, not database software.

No one has mentioned SQL Server in all its versions and flavors.

No indication of scale or number of users.

Results undefined.

Answer 5

the term database means different things to different people. for many many years, in the world of xBase (dBase, FoxPro, CA-Cliper), database was used to describe a collection of fields and records. in access terms, a database is a collection of objects that make up a complete system. the main objects include tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules and each has its own special function. the access environment also consists of several additional features, which include relationships, toolbars, menus, database properties and import/export specifications. together, all these objects enable our to create powerful, user-friendly, integrated applications. an access application contains all the queries, forms, reports and macros necessary to display the date in a meaningful way and update it as necessary. a self-contained, single-user access application also includes tables in the application database. a multi-user access application usually consists of two database files one housing the tables and the other containing the objects that access the data.

Answer 6

Of course, it depends on your requirements, but even with small applications or websites - I would never use Access, Excel or any of those as a database. It might be easy to set up in the beginning but will start to suck when you start to do more compley stuff. These kind of databases are binary, so you can't access them with an Editor or write back-up scripts yourself etc...If you want a free and easy to use DB, download "MySQL5" - it's free. Other good commercial databases are "DB2", "Oracle" or "MSSQL Server".
BTW - "Access" uses "JetSQL" whose dialect REALLY sucks.

Answer 7

I use Microsoft Access for developing small databases. It is easy to use but it is a bit expensive and I find it unstable. For larger applications, I would use mySQL because it's opensource, stable, fast, well supported and is a great backend for dynamic websites.

Answer 8

MySQL as the backend with MS Access front end. Access locks at the table level whereas MySQL only locks at field level.

MS Access makes front end design easy so just use it to create reports and queries.

Answer 9

Microsoft Access: it not that hard to use but it will cost you a pretty penny, there is also OpenOffice Database, but is isn't great if you're used to Access (Free)

Answer 10

Hello,
If you need to download PHPmyadmin you can get it here for free http://bitly.com/1no5X7V
It works like a charm.