Run MS Access on a MAC

[Learn2010]

I'm at the point where my best solution for the next project is to use MS Access on a MAC. One guy on the project has a MAC. I intend to take some classes to be able to put some of my databases on line, but right now I can't. I was given a project, a copy of Filemaker Pro, which I have never used, and a deadline.

I asked the Supervisor if I could use Access. She didn't care as long as I got it done. She has a PC. The problem is the MAC. She and the guy with the MAC are the ones that will be using the program.

I have read about VMWare Fusion, Parallels, Boot Camp, and some other apps. It was confusing to me. I would like to know what you guys are doing. Do I have to set up a new partition and install Windows, or do these applications work by themselves? It has to be a situation where the MAC user does not need to reboot.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Alansidman]

This will be a challenge for you. Having said that, here is a jumping on point for some research on the subject.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=229013

BTW: There is no Access version for a MAC operating system. FM Pro may be the way to go.

 

[Learn2010]

I know that there is no Access for MAC. But, what about these apps that say you can run Windows and MS Access by clicking on an icon? VMWare was one I believe.

 

[Galaxiom]

VMWare is a virtual machine. It uses software to emulate PC hardware in a window inside your operating system. Windows is then installed on that "hardware". It remains quite separate from your Mac OS.

You would need an install disk and license for Windows XP.

Another alternative is to dual boot your Mac so that you actually run Windows on it. Macs use Intel chip sets these days so there is no hardware gulf between the two any more.

 

[tehNellie]

I use a Mac.

You've basically got two options as you can't run Access Natively in OSX both require that you buy a copy of Windows.

The first is Bootcamp. This is a pretty straightforward process. You run the Bootcamp app (Applications, Utilities), set aside some diskspace for windows to use, insert the windows disk and off you go. once it's done you now have the ability to dual boot. By default when you turn on the Mac it will boot into OSX, but if you hold down the Option button at the power on chime, you can opt to boot into Windows instead.

If you get VMWare or Parallels (I use VMware) you have two options.

1) You can have VMWare use your bootcamp install to start Windows from inside OSX. This takes a couple of minutes after you've set up boot camp and you can now either boot directly into windows or go into OSX and use Vmware to start Windows in a new window on your Mac Desktop.

2) You can not bother setting up Bootcamp and instead just create a "Virtual Machine" in VMware and install windows on that.

Bootcamp has the advantage that you're booting directly into Windows, turning you Mac into a 'normal' PC and is the faster of the two. The downside is that you can't use any of your Mac stuff though there are options to be able to get at your Mac Home folder.

Using a Virtual Machine to boot into windows does involve a performance hit as you're running both OSX and Windows (plus the VM software). I wouldn't recommend trying to use a VM if you have less than 4GB of RAM installed as an absolute minimum and a relatively new Mac.

The dual Core Imacs/Mac Book Pros will handle windows in VM ok, but it does slow things down noticeably, the newer QuadCore Imacs/mac book Pros work fine. I have my development copy of windows purely on a VM (so it's backed up by Time Machine) and use bootcamp for gaming only basically because I'm far too lazy to set up all of the windows guff to mirror what already works on OSX (email, calendars, bookmarks etc etc).

The other advantage of using a VMWare like this is that you can easily copy and paste things between operating systems or copy files off your Mac Folders onto Windows or vice versa.

Both options are simple to get up and running, but Vmware/Parallels require you shelling out another £40 or so on top of the cost of Windows. Personally for the flexiblity they give I think it's well worth the cost.

 

[Learn2010]

Let me absorb this and I will get back to you. It sounds like what I want.

Thanks again.

 

[sxschech]

If you are using access 2003 or earlier, then there is a program CrossOver Mac (haven't tried it) that allows you to run windows applications without installing windows and they offer a free trial. I saw a demo of the program at a macworld a few years ago.
http://www.codeweavers.com

They have a compatibility search tool at the top, here is the direct link to the access software search.

http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/search/?name=microsoft+access

 

[Learn2010]

I will be using 2010. Thank you.

 

[pbaldy]

It sounds like others have more experience with different options than I do, but my boss got a Mac not long ago. We got VMWare Fusion and imported his old Windows PC into a VM and he loves it. He basically has it running all the time and switches between Mac and Windows as desired. The actual Windows PC is long gone. I use VMWare Workstation to have different Windows configurations and love the product.

 

[tehNellie]

That's pretty much my experience of it. I have mulitple Windows VMs configured for doing windows stuff plus the Mac stuff side by side and a hefty dose of RAM to keep it all running sweet.

Bootcamp is purely for gaming.

The Unity feature in Vmware is brilliant. Puts the windows start menu on the Mac status bar, Hides the windows desktop completely and then runs your windows apps like they're running on natively on the Mac.

 

[Learn2010]

Thank all of you. Has anyone used Parallels?

 

[tehNellie]

Not used it personally, there's an in-depth comparison between the two at arstechnica Which currently favours Parallels over VMware, at the time I bought it originally it was the other way round and VMWare was king.