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From: klc@lzmi.UUCP (klc)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Mac Databases---any opinions?
Message-ID: <303@lzmi.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-Jan-85 15:08:13 EST
Article-I.D.: lzmi.303
Posted: Mon Jan  7 15:08:13 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 8-Jan-85 03:11:19 EST
References: <2092@uw-june>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ
Lines: 44

A few people have been asking about MAC databases. I have Omnis 2 and am
very pleased with it. The Jan 1985 issue of Macworld has a database review
of 1stBase, pfs, DB Master, Main St Filer, and OverVUE. On page 89 is
a table that compares them. Below is a column that you can add for Omnis 2:

	Max field length		60
	Max fields/record		120
	Max record length		9600
	Max records/file		disk
	Max fields/record		60
	Form design rating(1-3)		2
	Changeable design		yes
	Copy records to new file	yes

	Max sorting levels		9
	Computed fields			yes
	Field totals			yes
	Field averages			can compute
	Record Count			yes
	Report destinations		S,P,D
	Headers				yes
	Footers				no
	Print quality			? I think draft only
	Save report designs		yes

In addition, the following is not in the Macworld table, but are relevant:
	index items/data base		10
	# selection criteria/search	50

If you compare these values, I think that you will see that Omnis 2 compares
quite favorably. Omnis 3 (expected out in March '85) is file compatable with
Omnis 2 and is a relational data base. The literature says that Omnis 3 can
produce turnkey systems so I assume that it allows forms input for 
unknowledgable users.  Omnis 2 also has a few levels of protection so that
fields can be change protected by a password.  Macworld says that Omnis 2
was not available when they wrote their review - I'd like to see the same
reviewer update his article - I think Omnis 2 would be on top of his list.
Good luck.

Karen L. Cohen
-- 
Karen L. Cohen
AT&T-IS Lincroft (201) 576-2450
The views expressed above are mine alone & do not reflect those of my employer.