good database for Mac?
Apr. 30th, 2011 02:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
castironMac users out there: what's your preferred general database?
I use Filemaker Pro at work and adore it, but at a three-digit price even with the educational discount, it's a bit much for personal use. At home, I'm currently running a DOS emulator so I can keep using my PC-File database (originally created in 1988 or so). I want something that does what PCF does (powerful sorting, easy field setup, exporting csv files and maybe other formats), but without the tiny field size limits and preferably with a better user interface (and that I can run without using an emulator!).
I've tried Bento and Appigo's iDatabase; my dealbreaker with both of those is that you seem to be able to sort by only one field at a time. (Bento may sort of let you work around it by carefully picking what order you run those single sorts in, but that's a pain.) I routinely sort the one database I want to upgrade using four different fields to get the order I want; if PC-File can do it, then I certainly expect any upgrade candidate to do it!
Yes, the thought of installing SQL has crossed my mind, and I may look into that if I can't find a simpler database that I like.
No, I don't want to set my Mac up for Windows dual boot at this time.
Any suggestions? (It's got to be easier than finding a decent genealogy program for Mac...)
I use Filemaker Pro at work and adore it, but at a three-digit price even with the educational discount, it's a bit much for personal use. At home, I'm currently running a DOS emulator so I can keep using my PC-File database (originally created in 1988 or so). I want something that does what PCF does (powerful sorting, easy field setup, exporting csv files and maybe other formats), but without the tiny field size limits and preferably with a better user interface (and that I can run without using an emulator!).
I've tried Bento and Appigo's iDatabase; my dealbreaker with both of those is that you seem to be able to sort by only one field at a time. (Bento may sort of let you work around it by carefully picking what order you run those single sorts in, but that's a pain.) I routinely sort the one database I want to upgrade using four different fields to get the order I want; if PC-File can do it, then I certainly expect any upgrade candidate to do it!
Yes, the thought of installing SQL has crossed my mind, and I may look into that if I can't find a simpler database that I like.
No, I don't want to set my Mac up for Windows dual boot at this time.
Any suggestions? (It's got to be easier than finding a decent genealogy program for Mac...)