Comments on: An Introduction to Databases

By: Florian

Florian — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:47:01 +0000

Ross,
Bento can do a lot, sometimes it does take some creative workarounds. Bento can not generate reports per se, but you can use so-called Smart Collections to achieve similar results. Bento is also only partly a relational database app.

So if you want to save money and time (by not buying Fliemaker Pro) you could download the 30-day free trial app which is fully functional. It’s risk-free after all.
If you want me to give you a dry run of the program, considering closely what you want from it, we could do an iChat session w/screen-sharing.

By: Ross Franks

Ross Franks — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:16:22 +0000

I am considering Bento 4 but I am concerned that it may not do what I want. I will be building a Dbase for my rental properties. I want to record exp and income. I am seeking relational dbase so records can be assigned to each property. Most important is my need to generate reports. Will Bento work for me?

By: Florian

Florian — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:50:41 +0000

Dave,

this is a very straightforward project. You should start with the media template which comes with Bento. Then you just modify it to your liking, by removing or adding the fields you need.
But if you have any trouble, we could do an iChat session with screen sharing, and I’ll get you started.

By: David Miller

David Miller — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:41:38 +0000

I am looking for a database that will store the pertinent data of LP, vinyl records.
I need to file by:

Album Label and its number
Composer
Title of the composition
Conductor (and Group, i.e., Orchestra, chorus
Soloist and instrument.
and more.
For classical music, mostly.
I thank you for any ideas.
Dave Miller

By: Exile

Exile — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:55:50 +0000

Very helpfull in explaining the two, thank you.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:09:08 +0000

Hi Ronnie. Unfortunately this is never easy and I’ve usually tended to either use something like Excel or Numbers to do it manually or resorted to some programming to help me out. Sorry not to be of any more help.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:58:02 +0000

Great explanation for linking two libraries.
Are you familiar with a methd where one can actual merge two libraries? The copy and paste method does not really work with large amounts of data and will intermix information that is obviously the same.
Thanks for your thoughts.
REE
11.13.08 10:67AM

By: Paul Jennings

Paul Jennings — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:21:04 +0000

Thanks for your explanation. It makes perfect sense to me now. I actually drew a diagram as I read what you had written, and now “I have it!” Thanks.

By: Simon

Simon — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:46:46 +0000

One comment I’d make is that Bento is not a fully relational database so you may struggle to normalise your data beyond anything fairly basic.

By: Uncle Foobar

Uncle Foobar — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:51:02 +0000

Hi; i’m currently setting up an Amazon Marketplace sales database.

I’ve built the basic flat file and am analyzing it via Database Design for Mere Mortals (Hernadez, M) to see where i can make it relational.

It’s based on the Items Sold Template; one area that i think needs to be separate is the customer Address as a related records lookup. (I’m still not sure about exporting the addresses back to Address Book due to some issues in Bento with this).

One thing i’m trying to do is map Hernadez to Bento; he purposely makes it neutral and more involves the reader in the process creating and refining the DB.

Foob (who may turn this into an article if Simon wants it)

By: Craig Browning

Craig Browning — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:43:27 +0000

This is the best explanation of databases I’ve read. Thank you.

I still don’t know if this will meet my needs, I’ll keep reading.

CEB