Replacements for MS FrontPage and Access

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris
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Chris

I am looking for freeware replacements for MS FrontPage and MS Access.
Anyone got any suggestions/recommendations please?

Chris.
 
For MS Access, there is not a real replacement yet, (Though I'm still
waiting for someone proving me wrong ;-) but there are a few options you
might consider:

For the Lunix platform an Access like database named kixy is in development.
It is suposed to become a part of KOffice (for the KDE) desktop. more info
at http://www.koffice.org/kexi/ (There might even be a windows version, wen
we all have retired ;-) )

Secondly, There is this MS Access like database called Alpha Five. They
(in)frequently make deals with magazines. This month, there fore-last (if
this is english, but you'll understand) version of Alpha Five is included in
the Dutch version of the PC Active Magazine.

The only freeware that is more or less Access like (to be truthfull, it is
more Dbase like) is Windbf. As one of the view, it can create forms and
reports. There is one drawback: the menu's and program info are in German.
On th posive site, it might help you brush up your german ;-) the site :
<http://www.buchenwald.de/software/windbf-e.html>

If you relay want to use MDB (access) databases you might even go for vddb.
aviable at http://www.denverdeals.com/web/freesoftware/vbdb.htm . But
somehow I doubt it. I see it more like a kind of nice VB project, this
one...


As for Frontpage, you will have to rely on someone else, as I think of it as
the second most wothless piece of junk ever written by Microsoft (with
Windows ME being the most worthless piece, but that is only MHO ;-)

I'dd prefer
NVU (http://www.nvu.com/download.html)
HTML Kit (http://www.chami.com/html-kit/download/

And if you want a kind of DPT (drag & Drop)package,
I'd move to serif's HTML editor at http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/

MightyKitten
 
I am looking for freeware replacements for MS FrontPage and MS Access.
Anyone got any suggestions/recommendations please?
Click to expand...


None that I have found. I have looked high and low for years, and have found
nothing even close.

I currently use OpenOffice.org for web page editing, and I really struggle
with it.

I have found no usable free programs for database creation and maintenance.

Bob

Remove "kins" from address to reply.
 
For MS Access, there is not a real replacement yet, (Though I'm still
waiting for someone proving me wrong ;-) but there are a few options you
might consider:

For the Lunix platform an Access like database named kixy is in development.
It is suposed to become a part of KOffice (for the KDE) desktop. more info
at http://www.koffice.org/kexi/ (There might even be a windows version, wen
we all have retired ;-) )

Secondly, There is this MS Access like database called Alpha Five. They
(in)frequently make deals with magazines. This month, there fore-last (if
this is english, but you'll understand) version of Alpha Five is included in
the Dutch version of the PC Active Magazine.

The only freeware that is more or less Access like (to be truthfull, it is
more Dbase like) is Windbf. As one of the view, it can create forms and
reports. There is one drawback: the menu's and program info are in German.
On th posive site, it might help you brush up your german ;-) the site :
<http://www.buchenwald.de/software/windbf-e.html>

If you relay want to use MDB (access) databases you might even go for vddb.
aviable at http://www.denverdeals.com/web/freesoftware/vbdb.htm . But
somehow I doubt it. I see it more like a kind of nice VB project, this
one...
Click to expand...

Many thanks. Some useful info there. I will investigate.
As for Frontpage, you will have to rely on someone else, as I think of it as
the second most wothless piece of junk ever written by Microsoft (with
Windows ME being the most worthless piece, but that is only MHO ;-)
Click to expand...

Come on, why not say what you really think... :-))


Chris.
 
Bob Adkins said:
None that I have found. I have looked high and low for years, and have found
nothing even close.

I currently use OpenOffice.org for web page editing, and I really struggle
with it.

I have found no usable free programs for database creation and maintenance.

Bob

Remove "kins" from address to reply.
Click to expand...

I though I saw that Adabas is available with Open Office. Adabas is a
very powerful dbms system that originated in Germany for mainframes and
uses its own Natural programming language. I once used it on an IBM
mainframe, but haven't fooled with it in years. I don't know if it now
has a simple Access-type user interface or if you still have to write
programs in Natural.

Steve . . .
 
I though I saw that Adabas is available with Open Office. Adabas is a
very powerful dbms system that originated in Germany for mainframes and
uses its own Natural programming language. I once used it on an IBM
mainframe, but haven't fooled with it in years. I don't know if it now
has a simple Access-type user interface or if you still have to write
programs in Natural.

Steve . . .
Click to expand...

It is, but unfortunately StarOffice/OpenOffice/Adabas will not read MS Access
..mdb files.

I specifically need something that can open/modify existing MS Access .mdb files
(no possibility of using any other format) under MS Windows (not Linux).

Chris.
 
Chris said:
Now that does look like a good program!
Thanks.

Chris.
Click to expand...
I second the 1st page endorsement. As for Access replacements check out
my page at
John's Best of Freeware: http://home.wi.rr.com/johnhood/freeware/
The "Office" page talks about the best Access replacement I've found,
the "Rejected" page gives you some other names I didn't like, but you might.

John H.
 
I second the 1st page endorsement. As for Access replacements check out
my page at
John's Best of Freeware: http://home.wi.rr.com/johnhood/freeware/
The "Office" page talks about the best Access replacement I've found,
the "Rejected" page gives you some other names I didn't like, but you might.

John H.
Click to expand...

Thank John, some useful info there.

I have StarOffice (got a copy when Sun was giving it away for free) and it's
good, but I don't see how it is a "replacement for MS Access" as it can't open
MS access files (unless I have missed something...)

It's own database may well be similar/as good/better than Access, but I
specifically need something that will open and edit *existing* MS Access .mdb
files.

Chris.
 
Well, It you're realy need, you should try a google for the MS-Access
runtime enviroment.

Some (er.. read like 'there might be') Access developers have the MS Access
Runtime enviroment on their website. Since only developers may give this
away (strange but true - it is in microsofts licence) you have to seek a
developer who does not restrict the download of the access runtime

I'll have to admit, it is a long shot, but if you're desperate it just might
work... (I only found one website once, but they forbade people who did not
have tere software to download it.) '

I also have to admit: *it stretches the term 'Freeware' like a rubber
sheet*, but again, if you're //desperate// you might just find it legal
enough (And more importantly, the BSA might find it too)

Just be carefull and read the claimers, disclamers and evry d*mn legal note
on the site.

MightyKitten
 
Well, It you're realy need, you should try a google for the MS-Access
runtime enviroment.

Some (er.. read like 'there might be') Access developers have the MS Access
Runtime enviroment on their website. Since only developers may give this
away (strange but true - it is in microsofts licence) you have to seek a
developer who does not restrict the download of the access runtime

I'll have to admit, it is a long shot, but if you're desperate it just might
work... (I only found one website once, but they forbade people who did not
have tere software to download it.) '

I also have to admit: *it stretches the term 'Freeware' like a rubber
sheet*, but again, if you're //desperate// you might just find it legal
enough (And more importantly, the BSA might find it too)

Just be carefull and read the claimers, disclamers and evry d*mn legal note
on the site.

MightyKitten
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I will have a search with Google.
I think the run-time version of Access does not allow you to modify the
database, so may not be suitable.

I am trying to get rid of MS Office, but I get these small Access DB files which
I need to check, and possibly modify, before passing them on to someone else. I
can't change the type of database and I have no control over the format or the
source/destination of the DB files.

So far, StarOffice replaces most of MS Office, 1stPage2000 looks like it can
replace FrontPage, and the MS Access is the last niggle to sort out.

Chris.
 
Chris wrote:
...and the MS Access is the last niggle to
sort out.

Chris.
Click to expand...

Indeed, the runtime version can not adjust the table, forms and reports, bt
it is able to use them (well, it *is* something) most other freeware apps I
know of are only capable of editing the contents of the tables (and some the
tables them selves) an good reports or forms editor is nog aviale to the
best of my knowledge.

Welcome to the MARSA (Ms-Access Relpacement Seekers Anonymous)
I guess we are all waiting until kexi is ported to Win32.

MightyKitten
 
Chris said:
I am trying to get rid of MS Office, but I get these small Access DB files which
I need to check, and possibly modify, before passing them on to someone else. I
can't change the type of database and I have no control over the format or the
source/destination of the DB files.
Click to expand...
Chris,

Speaking as an old project manager. . . If these databases are important,
and you are checking them for accuracy for say legal, governmental,
medical, financial, etc purposes (i.e. anything where YOU are in a position
of trust), I would be most reluctant to use anything other than MS Access
with them. Not because the new programs aren't capable DBMS's, but should
anything ever go wrong you may be left as the sacrificial lamb. And you
don't want to be the one easy target for the lawyers. Let me explain:

Once finger pointing begins, people start looking for anything that may
account for the discrepancy that caused whatever bad thing to occur to -
umm - occur.

If you open an Access DB with something else, make a change and then save it
as an Access DB, you are running the risk of having some "expert" tell you,
or a room full of jurors, or a judge, or your boss, or the community you
live/work in, that that particular database and MS Access are well known to
behave in a particularly unfortunate manner and that you alone showed bad
judgment in inserting this new program into this working and well tested
system of data transfer, and you should have known better. (Even if it
doesn't get to court, it's possible to wind up as the goat in the court of
"general consensus" and that can be worse than court action!)

If there is still sufficient reason for you to switch to a new dbms, make
sure everyone up and down the data stream knows about it and WHY you are
changing, and that you have made a documented test with the sender of the
data confirming that the new dbms hasn't changed the data in any way except
in the way it is supposed to and that the data that the receiver gets has
been confirmed that what He/She has received is not changed in any way
beyond the known purposeful change. I think it is not only smart, but
courteous as well. It shows you care.
 
which I need to check, and possibly modify, before passing them on to someone
else. I
the source/destination of the DB files.
Chris,

Speaking as an old project manager. . . If these databases are important,
and you are checking them for accuracy for say legal, governmental,
medical, financial, etc purposes (i.e. anything where YOU are in a position
of trust), I would be most reluctant to use anything other than MS Access
with them. Not because the new programs aren't capable DBMS's, but should
anything ever go wrong you may be left as the sacrificial lamb. And you
don't want to be the one easy target for the lawyers. Let me explain:

Once finger pointing begins, people start looking for anything that may
account for the discrepancy that caused whatever bad thing to occur to -
umm - occur.

If you open an Access DB with something else, make a change and then save it
as an Access DB, you are running the risk of having some "expert" tell you,
or a room full of jurors, or a judge, or your boss, or the community you
live/work in, that that particular database and MS Access are well known to
behave in a particularly unfortunate manner and that you alone showed bad
judgment in inserting this new program into this working and well tested
system of data transfer, and you should have known better. (Even if it
doesn't get to court, it's possible to wind up as the goat in the court of
"general consensus" and that can be worse than court action!)

If there is still sufficient reason for you to switch to a new dbms, make
sure everyone up and down the data stream knows about it and WHY you are
changing, and that you have made a documented test with the sender of the
data confirming that the new dbms hasn't changed the data in any way except
in the way it is supposed to and that the data that the receiver gets has
been confirmed that what He/She has received is not changed in any way
beyond the known purposeful change. I think it is not only smart, but
courteous as well. It shows you care.
Click to expand...


Good advice. Fortunately there is no commercial/financial interests involved
with these files. I take your point though.

Chris.
 
Chris :
I am trying to get rid of MS Office, but I get these small Access DB files which
I need to check, and possibly modify, before passing them on to someone else. I
can't change the type of database and I have no control over the format or the
source/destination of the DB files.
Click to expand...

the "clean" way to solve that problem would be to make the sender (or
the receipient or a third-party programmer) give you a run time
version of an Access application that is able to show the mentioned
small Access DB files and that makes you able to edit it.

Be reminded, the runtime is only legal to distribute in association
with an application. You are not allowed to copy the runtime only.
that is the reason why so few websites exist that do so.

The developer version of MS Office is quite expensive, so anyone who
has bought it should be careful with what he does with it.


Viele Grüße,
Sascha
 
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