Looking for MS Access alternative

[AylmerQc]

I want to learn MS  Access but don't have a copy on hand it to work with,so what's the closest alternative? Does Apple have something very similar,or even the Linux office suite?

[z-mac]

The database in OpenOffice is the same concept. Microsoft Office for Mac does not contain MS Access.

As far as "learning MS Access" is concerned, what is it that you want to learn?

If you want to learn SQL, there are several excellent free database products: MySQL, PostGreSQL, and SQLite. There is a Firefox extension that enables the user to manage SQLite databases directly from within Firefox.

[AylmerQc]

Possible job opportunity which could involve using MS Access. Yeah, I have ms Office and unfortunately,as you say,it's not in there. So I'm looking for an alternative. I need to know,before I dedicate any time to any free Database program,which one is the most similar to Access. I'm not familiar with SQL  ?
Btw,looks like MS Access isn't available for Macs from the research I've done so far.

[z-mac]

Possible job opportunity ... I need to know,before I dedicate any time to any free Database program,which one is the most similar to Access. I'm not familiar with SQL  ?

MS Access is not a robust database application. It is commonly used for light reporting and database design. It is most like OpenOffice Base for what you can do with it in the context of the other "Office" applications.

You will need to learn some SQL, which is the language of databases. Fortunately, it is easy to become productive with SQL quickly.

[AylmerQc]

Thanks.
So can you give me a hint on what I need to get started on SQL.

[Dan Millar]

There is no Mac-equivalent to MS Access, and you can be thankful for that. The ONLY way to learn Access is on a PC (or a Mac running Windows and Office under VPC/Boot Camp/Parallels/Fusion). Open Office's "Base" program is not like Access, so it won't be similar enough to act as a replacement. Here's a brief intro to Access, and info on SQL and other database terminology:

http://databases.about.com/od/access/l/aaaccess1.htm

Learning SQL will help as it is the backbone of most relational databases, and can be used with Access as well. Open Office's Base program would allow you to build a database which is conceptually similar to an Access database, and at least get familiar with database construction.

Too bad, MS never ported their Access to Mac.

Dan

[z-mac]

Dan's suggestion to use MS Windows with MS Office in a virtual machine (I recommend VirtualBox) is the only way to use MS Access on a Mac. However, installing all that is a tall order when you're just starting and need to develop a basic understanding for a possible job offer.

OpenOffice will enable you to understand the essence of how MS Access works. You can link to tables in databases from within text documents and spreadsheets, and you can build form applications that render and update an underlying database.

[z-mac]

There is no Mac-equivalent to MS Access, and you can be thankful for that.

...

Too bad, MS never ported their Access to Mac.

Talk about conflicted feelings. (o:

[AylmerQc]

Thanks all. I was hoping it would be more like Excel but it obviously a bit more involved.