[NHCOLL-L:134] RE: Input wanted from users of Visual FoxPro dbs

[Allison Anderson]

I use MS Access for the Fishes of Texas project--this data set contains over
60,000 records.  There are really no limitations to Access' capabilities.  I
have used it since its first release and I am very happy with it.  Though I
am not a programmer, I have never come across a type of situation (query,
security, capacity, etc.) where I felt I couldn't do what I wanted.  I know
programmers who use Access solely.

I have set up a crude web-search interface (private site for project
personnel only) using dbWeb, which comes free w/ NT resource kit.  It took
me very little time to do this, but I didn't do much dressing up. There are
a lot of other programs that will do this, too, such as Cold Fusion and
Tango.

Allison Anderson
Collection Manager, Texas Natural History Collection
aaa at mail.utexas.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu]On Behalf Of HIMcEntee at AOL.COM
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 8:48 PM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:131] Input wanted from users of Visual FoxPro dbs


Hello everyone, sorry to introduce a topic that is routinely beaten to
death,
but I am in need of feedback.

The University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum is preparing our specimen
databases for searchable usability (buzzword, anyone?) in-house and on the
web.  We will be working with the information techies on campus to develop
data entry applications and a web site to host the databases.  We currently
use (and like) Microsoft's Visual Foxpro software.  However, the campus info
technology folks are asking us to consider MS Access instead, because they
are more familiar with it.  I am not convinced that Access is powerful
enough
to adequately manage the queries, verifications, and volume of records that
we will need to manage.   I am interested in hearing comments, critiques,
etc. from folks out here who are using either of these database tools for
their own collections, as well as web sites that have searchable collections
databases using Access or VFP.  We are committed to either VFP or Access, so
please no other software suggestions.

I am aware of the University of Alaska's fine site and databases, and also
the project at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC; I will contact you
folks directly for some friendly advice very soon.

Thank you in advance,
Holly McEntee
Museum Registrar