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Switching from Access Document

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    #1

    Switching from Access Document

    I'm assuming there is not one of these already. If there is, someone please point me towards it. Since a large market A5 would like to target are Access users, it would seem a document that explains the differences between them would be helpful.

    I'm an Access guy looking to make the switch, so I may start jotting ideas down as I stumble across them. If I post it here, maybe others can add and/or correct.
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: Switching from Access Document

    Tom:

    The discussion of Access versus A5 has popped up many, many times on this discussion board, you can find some of them simply by running a search.

    I am sure one or more of those previous discussions listed the differences between the two products and what you, as a former Access user, can expect.

    I will say right up front that I'm confident you'll be amazed by how powerful and easy A5 is reference Access. Although both programs are very similar, there are a lot of subtle, and not so subtle differences. As a former Access user, three areas that come to mind [and there are many more] are:

    [1] The power and simplicity of Alpha's Field Rules are world class, Access cannot come close.

    [2] XBasic is so much easier to learn and use as opposed to Visual Basic. And as you'll soon learn, you can do so much with Alpha Five without resorting to programming that you may never need to master XBasic. That certainly is not true for Access.

    [3] The Form/Report Design modules are much easier to master / use in Alpha Five.

    I'm sure you will receive many other comments from others, but that's a start. Once you begin using Alpha Five on a regular basis and learn/understand the paradigm, I'm sure you will never want to return to Access.

    In fact, I currently have a potential client [city govt] who has used Access for the past several years, but their users are extremely frustrated, so it appears as if they're ready to switch.

    On the other hand, I am not trying to knock Access because I think it is an excellent PC database program. The only problem I have with it is the degree of difficulty when you compare it to Alpha Five. In my opinion, there are a couple of areas where Access is actually easier to use and superior to Alpha Five. But overall it is a no-brainer and I think if you give it an honest try, you will fall in love with A5.

    Robert

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      #3
      RE: Switching from Access Document

      Try programming sys_open(filename) (open an external file in Action Scripting) in Access. I have, and it requires more than one page of code and numerous API calls.

      Comment

        #4
        RE: Switching from Access Document

        I'd add a fourth item to Robert's list.

        I think many people making the switch are confused at first by the difference between what Access calls a Query and what A5 calls a Query.

        To start with, you need to understand the definition of a set in A5. A set is just a relationship between two or more separate tables typically linked by fields. (The same way Access links tables.) Each set includes every field of every table in the set.

        In A5 a Query is simply the result of applying a filter and order to a pre-existing table or set. Once the query has been run every field in the table or set is available to be used in any layout in that table or set. One thing this means is that you don't need to build a whole new query just because you want to add another field to your report.

        In A5 you never bother determining which fields are to be included in a query or set.

        Personally, I think this is more intuitive than the Access method. (But I used Dbase long before Access even existed.)

        Comment

          #5
          RE: Switching from Access Document

          If I was a totally satisfied Access user, I wouldn't be trying to switch. You don't have to sell me.

          And as a non-programmer it's A5's ability to let you do many things without programming that has me most excited. I'm finishing up some stuff for work so I haven't had as much chance to play with the 2 copies of A5 I had the school purchase, but.....

          I did run across something where A5 had a genie walk me through the process of creating a variabble and then using it!! I was blown away. Don't care how good you are with Access macros. You can't do that.

          Comment

            #6
            RE: Switching from Access Document

            Tom,
            If you haven't done it yet, go to Alpha's home page. You'll see several topics listed under whats new at Alpha 5. One of the choices (can't remember exactly which one) gives you a whole list of good things about Alpha 5. One of the topics is why developing in Alpha 5 Version 5 is faster than developing in Access. May be helpful to you.
            Ohlen

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              #7
              RE: Switching from Access Document

              Tim:

              Now that I know you are a NON-programmer, I must make one other point. Make sure you are using the latest and greatest incarnation of the product, which is version 5. Although everything we said applies to ver 4.5, the new product is literally a dream come true for Non-Programmers.

              Robert

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                #8
                RE: Switching from Access Document

                Hey, I'm in the Version 5 forum!!! That's what we've got. 2 new copies of Ver 5.

                Comment

                  #9
                  RE: Switching from Access Document

                  Hi Tom:

                  [Hey, I'm in the Version 5 forum!!!]

                  I've learned over time to never make those kinds of assumptions [LOL].

                  Robert

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