#GP Database Programs
4 messages in this thread
Kathy,
I have not forgotten you – just been covered up in all the literature
that I have received from the CD software folks. I appreciate your help
in pointing me toward them.
My conclusion is that there are lots of good retrieval engines out there,
especially for text and graphics. But there is nothing for fielded data
which is _reasonably_ priced. I'm looking at maybe half a dozen copies, so
ten grand for software seems a little high. Even the companies which
will a put my data into one of these high dollar packages for a per copy
royalty are not cheap.
One-off CD-ROM's have so much potential – but catch 22 is that the
software is not available.
My conclusion is that the only way that I can afford my project is to
use a general purpose DBMS package like xBase or Paradox. I had hoped to
use Alpha Four (xBase). But found that it must write to the data
directory, so it would not work on CD's. Paradox and Fox will work (so
they tell me). But Paradox inflates the file size tremendously. So I
thought that before I try to convert my data to another format, it might
be wise to find someone who has already done this. (Yes, I don't like to
ask for road directions either, so don't say it <g>).
Do you know anyone who has successfully used a general purpose DBMS
program on a CD-ROM? And if so, what was the performance like?
Regards,
John
John,
I have not personally made any discs using general DBMS. However, I'll
pose the question to our group and see what kinds of answers I get. As
soon as I hear something, I'll pass it along to you.
Kathy <<– The One-Off CD Shop MidSouth, Inc.
John,
I've had a little time to think about your message and came up with some
suggestions:
Have you thought about using an authoring system with a reasonable runtime
(like ToolBook, which has no royalty fee if you purchase the Developer's
kit, I think). Many of these systems can use data in .DBF or LOTUS123
formats for flat file data use, and have limited database functions. One
of these might be adequate for your needs.
You might want to include just runtime or file display versions of a
"traditional" (HD based) DBMS, and have your customers copy the engine to
their hard disk, where it would run faster, anyway. You'd need to find a
DBMS with a free or low cost runtime, but that shouldn't be too difficult.
You could include a self-installing file on the CD-ROM to put the engine on
the hard disk easily. The PKZIP suite has a program that would work, I
think.
Please let me know what you come up with. We're working on this question,
too.
Kathy <<– The One-Off CD Shop MidSouth, Inc.
I have run into the same problem you did.
A Federal customer approached us to produce a fairly large number of CD's
to distribute information internally and to commercial users.
I spent a lot of time attempting to find out about companies that work with
putting textual and graphic materials onto CD — it turns out IMHO that for
this kinds of applications the field is still pretty young, and while there
are a growing number of options, less than you might think that have any
strong track record.
Regardless, the issue of retrieval engines also was a problem. The really
good ones, especially those that manipulated images cost a fortune. We
ended up using Folio which is good at text — I think — though not real
strong with images AND most important is fairly inexpensive when used for
non-profit distribution.
I believe there would be a market out there for a low cost retrieval engine
that was sold at a reasonable price, I expect that over the next year or
two some enterprising software developers will come out with them — in
particular a Windows based utility could be pretty popular.
Good luck.
– Dan