Access database

Mr_Toad

JohnB47 wrote: »

Crikey, is this really legit? I work part time for the NHS and have an nhs email address - do you think I could get this? Seems too good to be true.

It's a great offer and as a dedicated Linux and Mac user I have to say that Microsoft were superb.

Office Pro 2003 was the first time I used the scheme. I then updated to 2007, then 2010.

At this point I replaced my PC with a Mac but you are only allowed one copy under the agreement so I wasn't allowed to buy Office for the Mac. I called Microsoft and explained what I'd done and the chap I spoke to took it all in his stride and while I was on the phone updated their database to remove my details against the Windows version. Not only that he gave me a credit for the £8.95 cost against my email address so that I could use it for the Mac version.

He told me to leave it overnight then try again, the following day I had the Mac version.

People like to have a go at Microsoft, especially Linux and Mac users like me but I've always found them very helpful.

I run Windows 7 in a Virtual Machine on my Mac for various reasons and nearly every time the VM software gets an update Windows seems to see it as a major hardware change and tells me I have an illegal copy. Each time I phone MS and tell them what's happened and every time they simply give me an activation code.

Mr_Toad

Robm1955 wrote: »

I have created databases using tables, forms, queries that are still in use by my company. I know some code, others I have picked up from more experienced users, and adapted to my needs.
I don't know SQL, and even creating a simple combo box in OpenOffice, is not as simple (IMHO) as in Access. You can't just type a list in, as you would in Access, you need another table to get the data from, then store the result in another table.

Fair enough. I've never used Base from scratch I've only ever fixed other people's problems.

Even I rather like Access for single user home systems. It's ease of use makes it an excellent tool so I do understand where you're coming from.

I like Macman's suggestion for getting an older copy from eBay if you don't have access, pun intended, to the Home Use Program.

Another option is the student discount scheme if you have a student or teacher in the family.

Robm1955

Thanks for all the useful replies guys. I don't really want to get work involved. Even though I'm not doing anything dodgy, there would be questions. Ebay might be the solution (OpenOffice would be great, if I could find an idiots guide to Base). Thanks again.

JesseJames_2

Robm1955 wrote: »

Thanks for all the useful replies guys. I don't really want to get work involved. Even though I'm not doing anything dodgy, there would be questions. Ebay might be the solution (OpenOffice would be great, if I could find an idiots guide to Base). Thanks again.

If your employer is part of the MS program as linked previously then there are no questions - it is for PERSONAL use the copy you buy for £8.95, and is FULLY legitimate.
Try it, put your work email address in and if it works, then your employer is part of the program, if it doesn't then no harm done.

Robm1955

Offer must have gone. The link on hot uk deals just takes me to the microsoft store.

NiftyDigits

Robm1955 wrote: »

Offer must have gone. The link on hot uk deals just takes me to the microsoft store.

You appear to make life difficult for yourself. A few seconds of reading on would have brought you to this

Robm1955

Thanks. After all that, we're not registered.

WTFH

Robm, what exactly is it that your daughter requires in the database? It may be that Access is not the best option.

Robm1955

Basically, it's to record time sheets and staff information. I suggested a database, as they were using a spreadsheet, but wanted to do more with it, which would be easier with a database. Without going into too much detail, they wanted alerts when certificates expired, and be able to select employees available for shifts, etc.

ifstar

I would have thought you could pick up an older version of Office Pro off ebay for not too much. As posted above, you could develop with this and have you daughter use the free access runtime version to load the front end database.