TO ANNIE:
I've worked both in FileMaker pro (MAC) and ACCESS in windows. Though I
could go on about the ease of design in FM/MAC, I'm presently working in
windows and would say I have intermediate experience when it comes to
design, and above that when it comes to producing reports and designing
queries.
My specific question is if you could point me to a good DB book for
designing a membership DB. Most of the books I've seen have a manual that
goes with a mock DB--that's usually in the shipping and services model that
isn't quite right for my needs.
But I know that I need to know how to link tables better (currently I have
only one table with Members Names, addresses, and membership info--and KNOW
that isn't right).
Would appreciate some off-list discussion, unless others also are
interested.
My email is [log in to unmask]
Thanks
JAY
-----Original Message-----
From: Annie Grieshop [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 10:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Database vs. Collections Management System
Sally,
I believe there's a PC version of FileMaker available, although I have only
a vague memory of hearing about it. I've built several Access databases
and
find it to be very useful software. The learning curve's steep, of course,
but the pay-off is that it's quite powerful and can be made to jump through
some impressive information management hoops. One caveat on databases in
general: don't settle for less than you're going to need in the future.
Annie
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Sally Cavins
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 3:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Database vs. Collections Management System
OK, you have my attendtion - If you have a PC instead of a MAC what would
be
the best choice????
Beverly Balger wrote:
> Diane,
> Thanks for the very good explanation of the difference between data
> bases and collections management systems. I found it helpful and
> interesting.
>
> One point of disagreement -
>
> >Why would any sane person want to spend so much time and energy
developing a
> >system when there are very good systems already developed?
>
> I chose to hire someone to develop a database on FilemakerPro for me
> because I work on a Mac. While there are tons of wonderful options
> for PCs, when I went to AAM in Cleveland and visited every vendor
> there, there were exactly 2 options for us Mac users. One system was
> so well hidden that I couldn't find them (not reassuring when
> thinking about future support) and the other got very bad reviews
> from the users I polled. Well, come to think of it there was a third
> option, but no way is my small museum going to spend $20,000 on a
> collections database. One of the salespersons of the $20,000 system
> took me aside and suggested I get FilemakerPro.
>
> All of the concerns you state are valid, and shared by me. I once
> swore that I would never build my own database because it is so
> dependant upon the whims of the person who builds it. Over the past
> 10 years I've walked into three museums with databases no one knew
> how to use because the person who developed them had moved away.
> However, in my current situation, building my own system on
> FilemakerPro was the best choice. It's an off-the-shelf piece of
> software which we've modified very little. Anyone who's used
> Filemaker in any situation should be able to figure it out. There is
> lots of support for Filemaker here at Penn State, so even if my
> museum didn't have anyone who knows how to use it, there are people
> around who do. Plus, it's affordable. What we ended up with is
> clearly a database, not a collections management system, but it's a
> step towards a CMS and has helped tremendously in keeping track of
> the collection.
>
> Just my 2 cents from a small museum perspective.
> Beverly Balger
> Registrar, Palmer Museum of Art
> The Pennsylvania State University
> University Park, PA 16802
> (814) 865-7672
>
> =========================================================
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--
Sally A. Cochran
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
2401 Chautauqua
Norman, Oklahoma 73072
405/325-4713
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