Re: pg_access

I'm pleased to see some renewed interest in pg_access. It seems obvious to me that MS Access is not currently...and probably never will be able to handle data in a robust and reliable fashion. MS Access' apparent success is due to the user interface quality and "ease of use" for "non-programmers". The "Relationships View" window, for example, is one of the best and most useful features ever invented for any database toolset.

In reality PostGreSQL is in a "strong position" to fill the "reliability void" left by MS Access. However, the general public doesn't know much about the short comings of Access, due to MS advertising and sales efforts. It seems clear to me that the best way to "promote" the use of PostGreSQL is to offer more "ease of use" GUI interfaces for changing table structures, indexes, relationships, and upgrading older versions of files. Although it would be nice to have a native Windows version of PostGreSQL, as well as a Linux version, I expect Linux to replace Windows on a large number of PCs in the near future. I think that "having a Windows version" will not be a significant issue at that point. However, GUI based "ease of use" features WILL be an extremely important issue and will increase in importance for the rest of the forseeable future. Using a "browser" to implement the GUI toolset is a good start, but it probably won't support the same degree of user friendliness that is seen in the "Relationships View" window of MS Access, where a relationship can be instantly "drawn" with a mouse, and fields added to the Table with a simple "right click" on the Table header.

If we do a good job of providing GUI based tools, similar to MS Access, as well as conversion tools from Access to PostGreSQL for existing data, then PostGreSQL and Linux should quickly become the "defacto standard" toolset for all website servers. It seems to me like PostGreSQL is already on this pathway, "like it or not", and that focussing on the GUI toolset is essential to maintaining a good relationship with those who are new to the Linux world. Whether you realize it or not, there is a humongous tidal wave of MS Access users currently gathering enough database theory expertise to "realize" the MS "snow job" they've been given about its reliability. They will be forced into finding another solution and chances are VERY good they won't opt for MS SQL Server or Oracle. If we are ready to give a solution to them...great....sorry MS, but they seem to "like us better". If we are not ready, then our future won't have anything to do with MS, only our own lack of vision.

At our current level of GUI tools, we can't expect any positive response even from fairly talented self taught computer programmers who have been interested in Linux since 1998 or later. Soon, there will be many Windows IT Specialists who will be seriously investigating the Linux OS and the "best database tools" available for it. Add to this list "end users" who are fed up with daily Windows crashes and are experimenting with hosting their own DSL based website servers....and well...there's your tidal wave! Ready or not....the wave is directly behind us....time to "paddle" for all we're worth!

Sincerely,

Arthur Baldwin