Easy database package

[emilyprentiss]

Apologies if you've already read a similar query from me on Chat.

I need a basic, straightforward database package that I can put on my laptop, which I can query and dump the results of the query into Excel.

MS Access would do the trick, except I have the 2007 version of Office and it doesn't seem to be included.

A poster on my other thread suggested Base from the OpenOffice suite of programs, but I'm having trouble downloading it.

Are there any other reliable, well-supported options I could consider before I spend £80+ on MS Access? It doesn't need to be free, but cheaper than this would be good!

OpenOffice is splitting away from Oracle (massive DB firm) which bought Sun Microsystems (and therefore obtained OpenOffice as an 'asset'), and in future OpenOffice may be known as LibreOffice.

I have OO v3 on Ubuntu (linux) machine and OO v2.x on a Windows XP machine. When you say difficulty downloading, what was the problem ? You download the whole lot, and then run the Database (on OO v3 it wasn't named as 'Base' but 'OpenOffice Database' - perhaps to avoid any trade name problems).

PS Access isn't in the 'basic' MS Office packages (I think I remember 4 or 5 varieties could be purchased a while ago, and the one with Access was 400 quid, but that really was years ago - probably before OpenOffice came on the scene - maybe someone in MS Marketing decided they'd sell none at the high price if people could opt for OO).

MySQL?

What exactly do you want to do? What would be stored>

Forgot to ask - what are you running ? (eg Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 32-bit, Win 7 64-bit ?)

It may make some difference to what is available for you (for free, to download, etc)...

Thanks for all your responses.

I work for a small independent nursery school, so basically any systems I need, I have to establish myself, there's no IT department to fall back on.

I have details of children's names, addresses, DOBs, which sessions they spend with us, how much we've invoiced them for, whether they're up to date with payments etc etc. At the moment it's held in an array of Excel spreadsheets, none of which can talk to each other.

Ideally I'd like a simple database that can hold a record for each child, and which I can query, e.g. 'show me all the children who are leaving us this year to go to school'

I'm running Windows Vista if that's any help.

(By the way, my problem downloading Base turned out to be because my broadband had gone belly up, nothing to do with the application! Fixed now. Obviously.)

you can download an express edition of SQL Server if you're happy to use that? That's what I'd choose.

I'd have thought that SQL Server Express might be a bit heavy for what's required. Something like Access is a bit simpler and you can put together apps a bit easier with it. It is a "proper" database.

Though that said SQL Server Express is free, so it's well worth a go and you can get it here:
www.microsoft.com/express/Database/

I'd also try that Open Office equivalent too.

And only then if neither of them are any good would I spend the money of Office.

yes Access costs!