FMPro vs MSAccess

[GarryM]

Forgive me for I am about to sin. I am about to mention MS Access on a FMPro forum!!

I just wondered if anyone has experience of MS Access compared to FMPro and whether they would like to comment to help me decide what to do?

I am not a computer whizz but about 8 years ago created a database in FMPro4 for my business. Over the years it has grown to 20 odd related files and includes a diary and everything that my business needs with the exception of accounts. I converted to FMPro7 some while back but have not done it properly with the result that it doesn't function quite as well/look quite as good as it did with FMPro4.

So I am now ready to take the plunge and re-write the whole thing properly, taking advantage of the new file structure and features. I will also attempt to create a double entry accounting database too (I have a good knowledge of accounts but have never tried it in FMPro before).

It will take me a long time and so if there is a way of making use of existing s/ware then that makes sense to me. For example, I see more and more people using MS Outlook for their diary and contact management. I wondered whether MS Access would work seamlessly with Outlook? If it doesn't now, maybe it will? Can anyone tell me what Access is like to work with and if it is as good as FMPro? If I stick with FMPro, I'll upgrade to 8.5.

Many thanks for any help that may be offered! (Be gentle with me! : )

[Genx]

1) Have a search through the forums

2) Plenty of White Papers available on this subject do a google search

Finally, in my opinion, these are the benefits of FM compared to MS Access...

1) Ease of scripting, no dealing with really burdonsome VBA based macro's

2) Pretty...ness for lack of a better word

3) Rapid Creation, Deployment

4) Mac / Linux / Windows / Other OS compatibilities

5) Calc's, basic manipulation already defined, though you could define it in VBA with access again -- very burdonesome.

6) Access's really annoying Jet message that never seems to go away.

Downfalls of FM over access:

1) Hefty Price Tag

2) Access exists on most windows computers installed -- office either comes as standard or people adopt it

3) Access is a lot more free to interact with other office applications including Outlook -- however an in depth knowledge of VBA is required.

Anyway, other than that (i can't really think of anything else at this point -- though im sure there's plenty more), you can always by a plug-in to interact with Outlook, or work out how to write one yourself.

[aldipalo]

IMHO, FM is much easier to work with than Access. I am not a developer, but develop for my own use and for friends. I played with Access for several years and was never able to do the things that I have been able to get done in FM. (Thanks goes to the members of this forum!)

Access scripting language is more like basic programming to me than FM's scripting language, therefore, I believe, you need a stronger understanding of programming basics to work with it.

Just a quick example, several years ago I was heavily involved in several Internet businesses and had a very good SQL/VB programmer working for me. I was trying to develop a contact manager for my sales staff in access and was having a devil of a time. I asked my programmer for some help with a few scripts and his response was "It's different than VB and I would need to take a day or two to play with it." This from a guy who could knock out VB/sql code like he was writing a letter. I decided to forget about the project.

I started developing my current app (always a work in progress!) about 10 months ago. I currently have 72 tables, 113 relationships, 110 layouts, 53 value lists and 248 scripts (I could not have done this in Access).

OK, OK I admit it, I am prejudiced and I love and am completely addicted to FM! :

BTW, I highly recommend 8.5 advanced. It allows you to debug your scripts and create Custom Functions, which are quite helpful.

[GarryM]

Thank you both for your replies.

Did a Google search - wow! 407000 answers! It'll take me a few years to read that lot but just from the first few I think it confirms what I discovered some years ago, which is FMPro is easier to get to grips with for a non-techy like me. It also seems better suited to sharing with my colleagues on our peer-to-peer network.

I've read more about v.8 and v.8.5 and now not quite so sure that I should upgrade from v.7. Upgrading 4 PCs is quite expensive when the added functions don't appear to solve any particular issues for me. The Advanced functions look helpful but I'll only be doing this one database.

[Paul D.]

There's a document on the FileMaker website now that sums up the differences concisely:

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/comparison_fm_access.pdf

You might also want to read this for a developer's POV:

http://filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/fm_access_comparison.pdf

[Brudderman]

In addition to what others have said, I might mention a couple of other things. Though Access is a pain to program, it can be programmed and has a real language to do that in. Plus, it has features sorely lacking in any version of FM: separation of data and interface, crosstabs, a real tab control, subreports, the ability to create tables, queries, etc., through programming.

I can't say how Access 2007 will work, but Access 2003 doesn't smoothly interface with either Outlook or the other Office programs.

So which one to choose depends on your needs. You might even have a look at the Access-like database module in the free OpenOffice. It's open source, and the price is right--if that's what you need.