In article <616CAABC718BD411A9B600508B976460020B71@PUCMMDOCS>, on Wed, 11 Oct 2000 at 17:46:29, Ricardo Lopez <URL: mailto:[log in to unmask]> writes > >There's a first question I have: >SHOULD WE DEVELOP OUR OWN SYSTEM OR BUY A COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE OR MAYBE A >COMBINATION OF BOTH? > There was a useful discussion on this topic a year ago, which you can read in the museum-l archives at <http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/museum-l.html> Check October 1999 week 1 and week 2, under the headings "Collections management applications" and "Database vs. collections management system". For what it's worth, in most cases I agree with Diane Gutenkauf that it is a false economy to think that it is worth while building your own system, at least if it is to be well structured and have a full range of functions. Whatever system you acquire or build will not last for ever, so make certain that you can export and import data in a non-proprietary format and that the data is entered in accordance with standards so that it does not need too much manipulation when you move from one system to another. You can buy commercial systems with a high degree of customisability, or ones which you can just take and use without bothering about what lies "under the bonnet". It all depends on your statement of requirements and how you expect your system to develop. Leonard Will -- Willpower Information (Partners: Dr Leonard D Will, Sheena E Will) Information Management Consultants Tel: +44 (0)20 8372 0092 27 Calshot Way, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 7BQ, UK. Fax: +44 (0)20 8372 0094 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ---------------- <URL:http://www.willpowerinfo.co.uk/> ----------------- ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).