Need alternative to MS Access

[Switch625]

I have several MS Access files that I'd like to be able to get into, but I do not have the software. I used to have a (legitimate) copy of Office 97, but the CD got damaged. I will not buy another copy of Office, and I don't want to go the piracy route. Does anyone know of any shareware/freeware alternatives to MS Access?

 

[Black Fluffy Lion]

hmm all I really know about access is that it's a dodgy dbms from ms...if you want an decent db then go with mySQL!

 

[starlifter]

StarOffice is free, but I don't have it installed at this time to check the database functions. I don't believe OpenOffice can, because the cut out some protected code when they released OO from SO.

 

[Switch625]

Open Office cannot. I've already tried that software package. Earlier today, I found a software suite called Ability Office 2002. It's shareware, and is supposed to be able to import Office97 documents. I haven't tried it yet to know if it really will or not.

 

[ainwood]

If you are just trying to get the information out of an existing access database, then you can actually read it directly from Excel. Otherwise, it is fairly straight-forward to write some code just to read the info out of it.

 

[Switch625]

Ability Office 2002 can read Access97 files, though there are "issues." Nothing that can't be overcome with a little patience.

@ainwood: Thanks for the tips (I didn't know about that trick with Excel), but I was looking for a way to keep the database files usable.

 

[Lostman]

Originally posted by ainwood
If you are just trying to get the information out of an existing access database, then you can actually read it directly from Excel. Otherwise, it is fairly straight-forward to write some code just to read the info out of it.

Access just stores your data on Excel S/S like ainwood said. You should be able to open them and get whatever info your looking for.

If that doesn't work. Go with MYSQL. It's a great prog and does the job right.

 

[ainwood]

P.S. To actually get it using Excel, from the "Data" menu, choose "Get External Data" -> "New DataBase Query". You can then choose the access database.

Note that it actually grabs the data from MS Query, which I think gets installed automatically with MS Office....

 

[starlifter]

Did you try Star Office (from Sun)? It is free, and has Database. I don't have it installed right now, because I have Office 2000 and Open Office. But I used Star Office last year for a while. The 5.xx versions of Star Office are the ones that are free. The 6.xx (just out) may not be, depending on use.

http://wwws.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/6.0/faq.html

Here is the Free 5.2 info:

http://wwws.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/5.2/index.html

 

[starlifter]

I have discovered that starting in June, Sun went back on it's word, and has withdrawn all versions of Star Office for free download...

That really hacks me off, since SO 5.2 and earlier has been freely available for downlaod since last century. Sun is usually a good company, but they must have some total jerks in their executive ranks that are dealing with this.

I understand if 6.00 and higher are not free, but 5.2 and earlier always have been. They have pulled a real BILL GATES on this, and stabbed us in the back. For the first time, I feel the need to advise people that there are indeed ways to freely obtain free software, whether assh0les like the Harvard Suits in the Sun accounting department want it or not. SO 5.2 and earlier are FREE, but SUn has "policed" up all the regular shareware download sites. It is on tens of millions of CDROMs, too.

So anyone that wants it, it's about 52MB, and take find a Free file sharing service to get your fair share.

 

[GaryNemo]

Switch625,
Have you got your data?

I think they're right, read it with Excel and forget MS Access. It's a good report writer, but not really a database, and buggy too.

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I'm mystified that noone mentioned FoxPro -- it's top of the line. However, to use it for simple tasks, you need an old dBase or FoxPro book, and stick just to those commands.

 

[Switch625]

Yes, I can view the data with AbilityOffice 2002. However, despite their claims to the contrary, their implementation of the Access97 file format is not seamless. It's very frustrating to work with the file.

My problem is that I do not have a copy of Office97, and I do not want to pirate one. I am trying to use other software to get at the data. AbilityOffice is not working out very well, but at least I can view the data, which is more than I could do before.

 

[Baso]

Why is everything so complicated. Get a copy of MS Access, look at your data, export it to any other db format(text file if necessary) if u want to work with your data in the future.
And finally uninstall it.