Help With Selection of Database Application

[Andrew L. Gould]

On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 01:09:17 -0400
Bob Perry <rperry4 at earthlink.net> wrote:

> On (06/13/04 21:24), Andrew L. Gould wrote:
> > Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:24:20 -0500
> > From: "Andrew L. Gould" <algould at datawok.com>
> > To: Bob Perry <rperry4 at earthlink.net>
> > Cc: freebsd-questions at freebsd.org
> > Subject: Re: Help With Selection of Database Application
> > X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 0.9.9-gtk2-20040229 (GTK+ 2.4.0;
> > i386-portbld-freebsd4.10)
> > 
> > On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:13:40 -0400
> > Bob Perry <rperry4 at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > 
> > > On (06/13/04 19:24), Andrew L. Gould wrote:
> > > > Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 19:24:52 -0500
> > > > From: "Andrew L. Gould" <algould at datawok.com>
> > > > To: Bob Perry <rperry4 at earthlink.net>
> > > > Cc: freebsd-questions at FreeBSD.org
> > > > Subject: Re: Help With Selection of Database Application
> > > > X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 0.9.9-gtk2-20040229 (GTK+ 2.4.0;
> > > > i386-portbld-freebsd4.10)
> > > > 
> > > > On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 19:48:21 -0400
> > > > Bob Perry <rperry4 at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > > I've had extensive experience with MS Access as a user 
> > > > > and would like to port a comparable system into my FreeBSD 
> > > > > box. Can anyone recommend a database application similar to 
> > > > > Access?  I've looked through the ports but can't seem 
> > > > > to readily make that distinction without the expertise 
> > > > > of a DBA.
> > > > > 
> > > > > If this is not the type of question supported by this 
> > > > > mailing list, please disregard.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Bob Perry
> > > > 
> > > > I also use MS Access extensively at work.  MS Access has many
> > > > facets; so the answer to you're question depends upon how you
> > > > use MS Access:
> > > > 
> > > > 1.  If you've been using MS Access as a database server, I think
> > > > you'll be much happier with the likes of PostgreSQL, MySQL or
> > > > Firebird.  All 3 are available in the ports.
> > > > 
> > > > 2.  If you're looking for a database application with GUI RAD
> > > > capabilities similar to MS Access, there are some applications
> > > > available; but most focus on database administration (simple
> > > > queries) rather than end-user application development.  You
> > > > might take a look at PgAdmin III, which is crossplatform, but
> > > > requires PostgreSQL as the back-end server.  You can find it in
> > > > the ports(/usr/ports/databases/pgadmin3) or at: 
> > > > http://www.pgadmin.org/pgadmin3/index.php
> > > > 
> > > > There is also a KDE project called "Kexi", which looks
> > > > promising; but I don't think it's soup yet: 
> > > > http://www.kexi-project.org
> > > > 
> > > > 3.  If you're looking for a GUI that facilitates
> > > > joining/analyzing tables from different servers (PostgreSQL and
> > > > MySQL tables, for example), I think you're out of luck.
> > > > 
> > > > I run a PostgreSQL server on FreeBSD at work.  It supplements
> > > > the Decision Support System and handles the back-end for a few
> > > > MS Access applications.  The combo works very well as long as
> > > > your binary fields(boolean, etc) are defined as "not null" with
> > > > default values.
> > > > 
> > > > Best of luck,
> > > > 
> > > > Andrew Gould
> > > 
> > > Andrew,
> > > 
> > > This is exactly the type of information I was looking for.  Thanks
> > > 
> > > so much for taking the time.
> > > 
> > > The Kexi project is what I was hoping for however, I'm not 
> > > running KDE and the project, as you say, is not soup yet.
> > > 
> > > I like the PgAdmin III project and intend to give it a good 
> > > look see.
> > > 
> > > Thanks again for your help.
> > > 
> > > Bob Perry
> > 
> > Hi Bob,
> > 
> > We're both looking for the same thing.  If you find it, please let
> > me know!    ;-)
> > 
> > I installed KDE and use a couple of its applications from within
> > XFCE4-- they work just fine.  I use Konqueror for its webdavs
> > (webdav via ssl) client support -- something missing in Mozilla. 
> > Ksnapshot is pretty cool.  I used to use KMail; but am giving
> > Sylpheed a try.  KMail supports more complex filters; so I may go
> > back.  When Kexi matures, you might consider giving KDE it a try.
> > 
> > Have a great week.
> > 
> > Andrew
> 
> Hi Andrew,
> I'm just getting my feet wet with Gnome but I think you've made your 
> point with KDE.  Kexi is very interesting.
> 
> Bob Perry

Hi Bob,

FYI regarding Gnome:  Gnumeric, the spreadsheet program is supposed to
be able to access databases using gnome-db; but I can't, for the life of
me, find any instructions on how it's to be done.

(Also, Nautilus has webdav client support.)

Andrew