Basic Database

I would suggest you MySQL or PostgreSQL. Both are free. If you could convert your Excel sheets to Open Office it's not too hard to port them at SQL afterwards. You mentioned about a lack of means so I'm supposing you'll be a DB administrator as well. So it's the best way for you to create one by yourself. It'll take a some time but hopefully you'll be rewarded keeping all controlled at your business.

Thank you for your suggestion. I will try both to find out which one fits better for my business needs. Your help is well appreciated.

Google both to find out where its could be downloaded. There's a lot of manuals and devoted forums.

Good luck.

Hi Martine!

Excel is a powerful spreadsheet for engineering, accounting etc etc. When it comes to database, I prefer the free MS Access. You can use or link both of this in programming your database. I am not too good in database programming but maybe I could be a help. Send me or post more details about what u really need to track ur records.... mck

What kind of business?

What types of data?

What kind of reports / tracking needed?

ms Access is an affordable option, and is part of the MS Office Suite. but not free. If you are looking for free, you will have to go to an open source, and compile it yourself

It would help if we knew what type of business you are running, and what your data requirements are, because it is possible that Excel may be a better choice. If this is finanacial management for a 1 man business, you may find that MS Money will do the job. let me know what you are doing.. every software has applications for which it is best suited. I know you can get complete mrp systems for just a few hundred dollars.

chris

If the information you are housing is customer related, consider a CRM software package. ACT is pretty inexpensive and allows you to track activities related to specific customers.

It is a rubber manufacturing business. In our process we manage travellers, lot numbers, formulations, sales orders, lab-records, certifications and inventory. We have a couple of Excel spreadsheets programs to perform all this but, for sure I know that I need a real database program.

I would recommend, as have others on this discussion, MS Access. If you want to get an idea of what it can do, go to http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HA101672561033.aspx where you can also download a 60-day free trial. Check out the Northwind database that comes with it. This is a "demo" database that they use for examples in the training. It is the db for an imaginary food supplier that has many of the functions you are looking for, so you could get an idea of whether or not it would be right for you. Over the years, I have used MS Access for a variety of databases and really like it.

Another option might be MS Visual FoxPro. It is generally more expensive than Access.

Both will do whatever you need.

Thank you for your recommendation; I will check to see if I can find what I need.

I agree with bp01. MS Access can provide a lot of flexibility, and there are database templates available on-line from MS at no cost. You may find that one of their templates provides you close to what you need with a mimimum of tweeking to get you up and running.

You may wish to get a book on MS Access that covers the basic of database schema design; it may be the difference between something smooth running and a "frankenstein" database. Having gone down this road myself, the investment in time now will pay off handsomely in time saved later.

You are so right, Lendog. It's $50 or so well spent.

Thank you all for your help!