There are quite a variety of database products on the market today which can make the selection of software quite a task. Database management systems can be divided into two categories desktop databases and server databases.

Generally desktop databases are oriented toward single-user applications and reside on standard personal computers. Server databases offer larger capacity, multiple access and contain mechanisms to ensure the reliability and consistency of data and are geared toward multi-site corporate level applications. These databases are designed to run on high-performance servers.

Before committing to a database solution it is important to analyse what is required.

Spreadsheets have become much more sophisticated over the years and offer an alternative solution but still fall short of using a database. Databases can have two or more people editing at the same time while spreadsheets are limited to one. Databases offer a number of unique security features allowing the control of users and what information they can access within the database. Databases offer better reporting you can format the same data in many ways, you can group information by product, person or region. Databases also have capacity to hold much greater numbers of records and are easier to maintain as well as reducing duplication.

Some questions should be asked before committing to a database solution:-

• Who will be using the database and what tasks will they perform?
• How often will the data be modified?
• Who will make these modifications?
• Who will be providing IT support for the database?
• Who will be responsible for maintaining the data?
• Will data access be offered over the internet?

We offer a database design service providing customized solutions based on the following.

Desktop Databases

Desktop databases offer an inexpensive solution and are designed to run on the desktop or personal computer. Microsoft Access, FileMaker Pro, Alpha Five and Lotus Approach are typical desktop applications which can be custom designed to offer the user a simple interface.

Server Databases

Server databases, such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle and IBM DB2 have the ability to manage large amounts of data efficiently and in a manner that enables many users to access and update the data simultaneously. Other benefits include high performance, scalability, data being stored centrally, and the control over who has access and backups.

An alternative solution to commercial proprietary databases like Oracle and Microsoft SQL are open source databases such as MySQL. They offer a reliable and low-cost alternate solution and continue to grow in adoption. The necessary features and capabilities which they have lacked are now being supported and are more than a credible alternative to proprietary databases.

What can customised database solutions offer:-

• Querying/Searching
• Reporting
• Editing
• Graphing
• Data entry forms
• Web front ends
• Questionnaires
• Data display forms
• User interface
• Security
• Import and Export of data

With a customised database solution you have the option to change the way it works or add features and functionality at any time.

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