Need to move away from Lotus Approach

[cjhjhall]

I was wondering if anyone knew if there is a database program out there that has two specific functions that I use in Lotus Approach. I wish to move from Approach because it is no longer updated by IBM or Lotus and I believe that it will start to limit my selection in computers. I am a homebuilder and use Approach as my estimating program. What I find invaluable is:
1)In worksheet mode (table), my first field is project ID, and Lotus will let me "find" a project and then copy all of the fields in records that I select. So when I want to start a new project I will copy all of the fields in all of the records in a similar project except the first field or "project ID". I will then paste this into a new record and all 300 are so records will be created and the project ID fields are blank.
2) I then type the new project ID into the first record and then use a function called "Fill Field..." to populate the other 300 records with the new project ID. I now have my new estimate and start adjusting quantity fields of 2X4's etc.
I hope someone can tell me that Access or some other database has these functions. I greatly appreciate your help.
Chuck

 

[Atomic Shrimp]

Access can certainly do anything Approach does, and much more - except that you'll usually have to find the way to make it do that - there probably aren't many direct equivalencies between the built-in functions offered in Approach, and those available in Access.

But you can write your own functions in Access, and get them to do whatever you want (or rather, whatever you can coherently describe) - it's mostly a question of whether that's going to be too much hassle to learn.

It might be worth you checking out the OpenOffice 'Base' program - it's free and although nowhere near as feature-rich as Access, may be sufficient for what you're attempting - it's my impression that Base is quite similar in its range of features as was Approach.

 

[Lightwave]

cjhjhall - Access could do that easily for you but will require some degree of effort to become familiar with. That degree of effort will probably be required whatever product you choose

How quickly that happens and how much effort will depend on your aptitude for understanding simple logical processes.

If you are good with Macros in Excel I would think you would find Access not particularly difficult especially if you use the search function within here and you are logical and dogged.

I've used Access for project management before and find it incredibly easy - I've always been good with Maths and find the query gui straight forward. I have taught people to do the kind of queries that you list and they seemed ok with it.

I haven't used a lot of other database programs but Access has always seemed to me as easy as any other.

 

[gemma-the-husky]

one thought

the database shipped with MS Works is a simplified thing, but sounds similar to what you are using - try that

to me, it looks like a halfway house between a dbs, and a spreadsheet - but i did an app for someone who is doing something very like you describe

it will probably import your existing data, as well

 

[cjhjhall]

Thank you for you response. I will look into openoffice and Works. The reason I asked this question is because I just ordered a new desktop from Dell and it looks like Approach will not run on Vista 64-bit OS so it appears that Approach is going to start to limit what I purchase in the future. Again - thank you for your response.
Chuck

 

[Pat Hartman]

There is no built in feature that does what you are looking for. To do what you want with Access will take one append query per table and a couple of lines of code to run them. I wouldn't go looking for an alternative when Access is the best. It can do anything you were doing with Approach, you'll just need to figure out how.