|
|
There are only about a million uses for a database so you need to use a database manager program that is easy to use and has lots of features.
Microsoft Access (MS Access) is my choice of all of the database management software out there. While it has its quirks and bugs, it also has many strengths that cannot be overlooked. You can design an entire Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) that can keep track of all of your recipes or receipts, using MS Access.
Personal Computer Consultants has designed many great solutions for its clients using MS Access.
Why do you need a database?
To get organized. You need a database to keep track of things in a consistent way. You would be amazed at how organized you become when you set up an electronic database. Many people use Microsoft Excel (MS Excel) or other spreadsheet program to keep track of the things only to find out that it has some sever limitations when it comes time to create reports from it. Spreadsheets are great for analyzing numbers and creating charts but it is no substitute for a good database.
· Tip – MS Access can use Excel spreadsheets to create reports without importing the spreadsheet.
Is a Database and a Relational Database Management System the same thing?
No. A database in technical terms is just the data itself, not a system. When you take some 3 by 5 cards and put a recipe on each card – you have a created a database.
A Relational Database Management System or RDBMS is a system of keeping track of your recipes. On the 3 by 5 cards you can write the ingredients on the front or the back of the card, you can put them on a separate card and you can even forget to put the ingredients on the card. The card database, while very flexible, does not force you to be consistent and it doesn’t remind you when you forgot some key ingredients.
Many people assume that a database is when you are keeping track of your data in a computer. Few people ever describe their 3 by 5 cards as a database but it is.
There are people who create a table in Microsoft Word to keep track of data and manually update the information and then tell their friends that they have a database of their recipes. While you can do that and it is quick and easy to do for a small amount of data, it too has some sever limitations when it comes to managing the information. The limitations become very clear when it comes time to organize the recipes by ingredients or by food type.
|
|
