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Totally new to this environment

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    Totally new to this environment

    Goodday friends,

    I have sat in on a meeting yesterday and was introduced to Alpha 5.

    The presentation was about another product but it covers the basic design and functions I desire for a group of which I am the national president in South Africa.

    We have been maintaning a manual database in exel.

    And thats about what I know about a database.

    I have no programming skills.

    But what did capture my attention was the fact that on the website of alpha 5 it states that no such skills are required.

    I have searched the forum for what I need but I could not find the starting point I would like to begin learning this software package.

    I did download the trial version and would like to start working with it.

    If it is really as straight forward as I imagine I would surely get a lisence to surprise our members with a database that will benefit all of us.

    And of course spread the workload from admin to members. Kinda.

    If any person can point me in the right direction as to where to start from scratch I'd really appreciate it.

    Kind regards.

    #2
    Re: Totally new to this environment

    Hi Christo,

    Welcome to Alpha.

    All I can say is, quick, buy a licence and get the free tutorial books that are on offer.

    In addition, if you can get some personal training that would be good too.

    Lastly, there is this forum with plenty of willing hands that like to answer specific questions.
    Regards
    Keith Hubert
    Alpha Guild Member
    London.
    KHDB Management Systems
    Skype = keith.hubert


    For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Totally new to this environment

      Keith,

      Thank you very much for your quick response to my query.

      I have done some serious research the past day or two and I am more and more impressed by what I encounter.

      Glad you mentioned books, it will give me a broader scope to what a database is and also on how to administer it.

      May I also add that since coming into contact with your software the idea of making a switch to the database environment is fast becoming very appealing.

      Should I decide to purchase this software will I recieve the books even though I am in South Africa.
      Another question I have is that of training.
      If I come to the US for three months or so will I recieve better training regarding database design, development and administration and which training facility would you suggest.
      Cost won't be a problem, well at this point anyway, depending on the return on investment.

      Here in South Africa there is huge scope for excellent IT people over the whole spectrum.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Totally new to this environment

        Christo,

        Here is a very good place to start. Watch all the videos to give you an idea as to which direction you want to proceed in.
        Last edited by Keith Hubert; 04-12-2010, 03:37 AM.
        Regards
        Keith Hubert
        Alpha Guild Member
        London.
        KHDB Management Systems
        Skype = keith.hubert


        For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Totally new to this environment

          As with everything else in the world, nothing is as simple as it seems.

          Although the marketing states that programming skills are optional you still need to know how to get around in A5, what there is to use, how to use it, where to use it, etc.

          Coming from years of programming in Access I knew exactly what I wanted to do in A5 but I still had to find the right bits to get it done - that's the tough part because there are about 5 different ways to do anything.

          As Keith says, spend time with the videos, the tutorials, buy the books... get a feel for it. Spend time going through the sample database - AlphaSports - it's got a bit of everything.

          Are you looking to build a local only database or something that would reach people across the internet? Or both?

          David

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Totally new to this environment

            Hi Christo,
            If I come to the US for three months or so will I recieve better training regarding database design, development and administration and which training facility would you suggest.
            Cost won't be a problem, well at this point anyway, depending on the return on investment.
            If cost is not an issue, I can come to SA for a month and give you personal training. The ROI would be far greater than anything else.

            Let me know.
            Regards
            Keith Hubert
            Alpha Guild Member
            London.
            KHDB Management Systems
            Skype = keith.hubert


            For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Totally new to this environment

              I could head over as well. Epecially in June! :-)
              Glen Schild



              My Blog

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Totally new to this environment

                Thanks for the support, I appreciate it very much.

                Yes, I soon realised that a solid idea of databases is a vantage point.

                At this moment I am going through the basics of diagrams and the entities making up the database.
                Also the importance of the dependancies of the tables.

                Thanks for the help. It really means a lot.

                Yeah, coming here would make it much easier and I will consider this opportunity.

                At this point in time I live in Johannesburg but I am moving to Cape Town in the near future.
                Once that is behind me and I have proper accomodation we can discuss the personal tutorials.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Totally new to this environment

                  Originally posted by glenschild View Post
                  I could head over as well. Epecially in June! :-)
                  lol Yes, the soccer is top priority here at this point. ;-)

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Totally new to this environment

                    Hi Christo,

                    I think A5V10 is on special at the moment $169 (R1300 approx). It's worth it and you get all the downloadable books and video training with it. There is a local seller in Cape Town. See www.alphasoftware.co.za. I'm from Cape Town and have made my purchases through them.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Totally new to this environment

                      Originally posted by jchu View Post
                      Hi Christo,

                      I think A5V10 is on special at the moment $169 (R1300 approx). It's worth it and you get all the downloadable books and video training with it. There is a local seller in Cape Town. See www.alphasoftware.co.za. I'm from Cape Town and have made my purchases through them.
                      Thanks bru.

                      I'm putting in an effort to learn more about database structures to get a better understanding of how to use the software.

                      Actually I'm a construction project manager so the relationships of a database schema are not that hard to grasp. lol

                      Getting older you know. lol

                      Thanks for the link.

                      Cheers

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Totally new to this environment

                        Hope you are enjoying your Alpha Five experience.

                        Our books will give you all all you need to get a quick start with Alpha Five - desktop and web.

                        Go to www.libertymanuals.com. Books are available in Hard Copy, Electronic Download Edition and on CD.

                        Check out the bundles for special pricing.
                        sigpic Susan Bush, Liberty Manuals Co. Books for Alpha Anywhere mobile, web and desktop.

                        Comment

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