[AccessD] Better Access GUI

[David Emerson]

Good points Jim.

-----Original Message-----
From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+newsgrps=dalyn.co.nz at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf Of James Button via AccessD
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2023 1:15 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Cc: jamesbutton at blueyonder.co.uk
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Better Access GUI

I have used Access, DB2, Oracle and several other database management systems , but stopped developing apps a while ago.

However -
Main selling point for Access is it works on general office (Windows) desktop and portable (laptop) systems without requiring installation per device licences of the DBMS
Also:
The Access facility is fairly easy to manage and tweak as changes are needed.
With training of in-house support staff also being relatively cheap It uses SQL for queries, and can have the back-end data store switched from Access to SQLServer (etc.) 

DB2 is, my consideration, more for massive corporate -, multi server, international data management, needing a relatively highly skilled DBA and IT systems manager  for its basic admin and maintenance,  note the DBMS that is, 

Oracle is a more web screen oriented facility - still needing well experienced staff to manage it.


I am currently doing UAT and VVT failure reports on the new council library facility - unpaid, I'm just trying to manage my borrowings using it!
Apparently it has already had a year's testing, and seems to need at least a couple of months to do something as simple in Access as add a sort (ORDER BY) to the data presentation.- 
Old system was basically text based - as in scrollable lists 
New system is "pretty" and visually enhanced facility - 
But, the design being visually based means that response is (relatively) abysmal - as in several minutes needed to present a HD screen of data, and updates now being done on an overnight ( if we are lucky) basis. 
( getting the graphics from the server, and transmitting them to the user sure is using a lot of bandwidth) 
with a page-down action needed for each subsequent next half-dozen items 
with the new page image needing to be transmitted.

So - another benefit of Access - 
Saves a lot of user waiting for their data to be presented.
Saves a lot of user waiting for adjustments to the App.
Saves a lot of cost in the hardware needed to run it.
Saves a lot of cost having adjustments made to the data management and storage.
Saves a lot of cost having adjustments made to the data presentation.
Saves a lot of cost in the staffing required to manage it, and the storage.

So - maybe for a few $million, they can have a pretty system, and only another million or so for the staff to manage the App and the infrastructure to use it!

Basically, 
Admit it does not look pretty 
But it is effective and relatively reasonable cost to acquire,  install, run and maintain.

Sort of like a McLaren sports car looks great, but for general use maybe a Ford motors estate is better for general use, and much cheaper to run, and service.

JimB





-----Original Message-----
From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+jamesbutton=blueyonder.co.uk at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf Of John Colby
Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2023 12:38 PM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Better Access GUI

LOL. I have to say I think web apps look fugly, but it is the norm now.  I
would say all you can do is to make the controls flat, make the colors
washed out.  Make it as ugly as you can figure out how to be.

I would also say that your task is really to sell the app and its
advantages over a web app.  Sell how quickly you can get things done vs the
competition.  If the look is going to nix a sale then do you really want to
sell into that?  You will spend the rest of your life adjusting the look.
If you can't sell the functionality then sell to the next client.  Or move
on to java (ick) or some such.  The only advantage of a web app is the
ability to operate over the web.  And if they need that then Access is not
the best tool anyway.

On Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 11:26 PM David Emerson <newsgrps at dalyn.co.nz> wrote:

> They are comparing it to web based applications where the text controls
> have rounded edges, and some drag and drop functionality for interacting
> with Google maps.
>
> Yes, I know they are different beasts but if the users don't like it they
> are not going to pay for it ☹
>
> Yes, I also am looking for something that has the ability to handle the
> extensive business logic of the database.
>
> Ideal would be to be able to do it all in Access (so I don't have to pay
> someone else to do the programming).  Does anyone have any examples where
> they have modernised the look of Access forms (we are not interested in
> Reports).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+newsgrps=dalyn.co.nz at databaseadvisors.com>
> On Behalf Of Stuart McLachlan
> Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2023 11:23 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <
> accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Better Access GUI
>
> My thought too.
>
> An Access FE is not just forms (whcih can pretty much be designed to look
> like anything you want), what  about the reports and business logic which
> are part of the FE if you go to another FE technology?
>
> On 11 Nov 2023 at 18:51, John Colby wrote:
>
> > I would ask to see what they are comparing it against.
> >
> > On Sat, Nov 11, 2023 at 6:21PM David Emerson <newsgrps at dalyn.co.nz>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Listers,
> > >
> > > I have an application that is being marketed to large corporations.
> > > The comment that often gets in the way of a sale is that the GUI
> > > looks outdated compared to other more modern applications they are
> > > using.
> > >
> > > Apart from the "It doesn't need to look pretty to be functional"
> > > argument, does any one have any suggestions for alternative
> > > Front-ends to Access?  I wouldn't be looking to learn how to program
> > > them myself, but would like some suggestions so that when I seek a
> > > company to do the conversion I know a bit about what they might be
> > > offering.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > David Emerson
> > > Dalyn Software Ltd
> > > Adelaide, Australia
>
>
> --
> AccessD mailing list
> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
> https://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com
>


-- 
John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
-- 
AccessD mailing list
AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
https://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com

-- 
AccessD mailing list
AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
https://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com