We transferred all data in our old, DOS text based database to Access this
past spring.  The database structure and much of the user interface was
designed by me, with input from computer science faculty here at the
University of Maine.  We also enlisted the aid of a C.S. major to do much of
the "coding" and to assist with the receiving end of the data transfer.

Most of what we have accomplished so far works great.  But when I
want to add features or enhance forms or facilitate routine actions, learning
the program is a real challenge.  I often turn to the Computer Science
faculty for assistance.

My advice is: if you're not on a campus where help is handy, don't build it
yourself, unless you want something extreemly simple.  (I tend to want to try
very sophisticated actions, like automatic lookups if an entery fails to
bring up a valid object record, with understandable error messages, cascading
updates to current-location and location-history tables, etc.) Otherwise,
convince your superiors to invest in the Willoughby Group's Snap for windows,
or some other off the shelf collection management software which has support
groups and help lines you can call.   Current software is sufficiently
sophisticated for users, without pretending to be programmers.

My 2c.



In article <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask]
says...
>
>Hi,
>
>we've been using Access for a couple of years now and have developed
>several systems for managing collections management information related
>to our collections.  If you can define what you are trying to do a
>little more specifically (object-level catalogue/inventory, accession
>file, etc.) I'd be happy to send you the background on what we've done.
>
>You can respond to me off-list at [log in to unmask]
>
>Richard Gerrard
>Registrar, Colelctions Management
>Heritage Toronto

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