Access or Paradox?

[mdbBound]

Access or Paradox ?Confused?

I'm still wavering on my new project, to move from Paradox to Access. Although I knew Access first (not the Module/VBA level), I found Paradox to be easy, especially when you need to automate some some processes using the script. You don't really need to know much of programming. My users feel the same way, but can't show them my feelings in any way because I'm worried that they might ask for some nice features in Paradox that they including myself have gotten used to. I might have a difficult time creating those similar tasks. However, my boss wants this project done. What is the advantages of using Access over Paradox? For me it's OK since I could continue to learn programming with Access. Is there anything positive I can tell them. Please help. Thanks for the advice.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

This is one man's opinion and not necessarily the best technical advice you can get.

When I first used databases, I was a DOS Paradox person. Loved it. At some point, though, I had to convert to Windows. I bought a copy of Paradox for Windows. Hated it. Tried Access. Loved it. Been an Access person ever since. Why?

Any event you want in Paradox also is available in Access. Any property you want in Paradox is also available in Access. With regard to events and properties, the reverse is not always true. With Access the up side AND the down side is that you can see darned near EVERYTHING. Now, if the defaults are OK, you don't care. But the moment you need to do ANYTHING SPECIAL, you will want to see everything.

I found that integrating Access with Word and Excel data was far easier than melding Paradox data into something useful. I also have found that, though there are still some "Gates-isms" in Access, as the product has matured, it has improved CONSIDERABLY compared to Access v2.

That said, I have to point out that neither Access NOR Paradox are your friends if your data resides across a network link from your local machine.

If I HAD to start a project and my customer didn't restrict me, I would have to say I would use Access just because I think it gives me greater flexibility to incorporate solutions based in other MS Apps that are also very popular. Stated more generally, I treat MS Office as a one-stop shopping place for most of my application needs (in my environment).

And that last parenthetical disclaimer is the key. In MY ENVIRONMENT, MS Office including Access is the way to go. In another environment, it might not be. Which is why anything I have said here requires you to take it with the proverbial grain of salt.

 

[mdbBound]

Thank you

Doc

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I've also read your replies on other posts, they are very helpful.