Anyone here use Microsoft Access for desktop databases and organization?
 

Too many spreadsheets and have too many emails to keep contacts in line.

I've been thinking about taking a little time to learn Access 2010 and put all my contacts in there. You can make your own quick and easy custom interfaces and find what you need with quick searches.
This would be great to determine people for ICQ, address, emails, etc without ever needing a reminder (makes you appear more professional).

I'll probably go with this, just wish there was a more established opensource solution that was cross platform. Of course you can run some kind of Microsoft server and get that going, too much effort though.

Thoughts?

Used Access like 10 years ago, and was reasonably happy with it. Today, I wouldn't use it for anything that I start from scratch.

Also, if I understand what you have in mind, Access may well be an overkill, especially if you want to "spend a little time to learn it".

:2 cents::2 cents:

Not overkill. Used for setting up 2-3 databases. Contacts, sales, traffic. It still needs to be panned out.
Organization is an art in itself, key is to pick something and go from there.

Learn SQL

I can hop along in SQL.
AND
yes making my own custom database would work but I still prefer a gui to some extent.

Maybe it's a good learning exercise. Thanks for the statement.

apache + perl + sqlite here.

Use a PIM like treepad for the more chaotic stuff.

Knowledge of SQL is a great thing. Sometimes, you may need data sorted in not usual way. Trying to do such a sorting in GUI can take a lot time (if it's even possible), where in SQL you could achieve it in less than a minute.

If I good remember, Access have option to insert custom SQL queries, so you can use it as a graphical representation of your data.

Eventually, you can use this tool (my favorite for MySQL):
http://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/

Thanks for chiming in. Perhaps I just need to get it through my thick skull that building my own tools is the best approach if I have any desire to become really good at developing :winkwink:

I'v using essential pim pro for that-a single file database and with support for mail,tasks,notes,whatever you can imagine.This is better then anything else because it's very easy to backup it.You can also store files inside it.

If you already own Access than that is one way to go although would not recommend it. There are so many other options out there and the learning curve much shorter. Although not free here are 2 that I have used, both are cross platform and both have free trials.

FileMaker Pro
http://www.filemaker.com/products/fi...p-product-line

a side by side comparison with Access:
http://www.filemaker.com/products/fi..._fm_access.pdf

Panorama
http://www.provue.com/

I have all my contact info in Outlook - only use Access for stuff where there are too many rows to fit into Excel. I think it would be overkill for contact management, and clumsy unless you spend a lot of time working out a nice data model.

Access is Ok
 

Used Access but I hate it. One thing is you can import Excel spreadsheets into a new or existing database so that saves tons of time. Especially new as it saves the creation time.

I use an ancient program Lotus Approach. It's still around and 10 times easier than Access. Problem is IBM bought them up 10 years ago and has never upgraded the program. Works in XP, not sure about newer windows. But so much easier to use than Access and the learning curve is really quick.

Bento, made by File Maker is a lot easier to use than File Maker.

Both Approach & Bento allow for Excel imports.

If you want to skip learning curves for a few bucks hire an expert to create the databases especially if you want any math or date calculations done. Then just import your data. there's always someone on Craiglist locally than can do it.