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Thread: Macs and DB engines

  1. #1

    Macs and DB engines

    Do Macs have the db engine that the windows os has??? Is there a way I can do an Excel application that retrieves info from a db????

  2. #2
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    In Microsoft's infinite wisdom (and monopoly), it does not include ODBC drivers for Excel for the Mac. There are some available, but you have to pay for them!!

    Here is a link for OS X ODBC drivers ($29.95)

    http://www.actualtechnologies.com/

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
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    Rich

  3. #3
    so... if they don't have access, there's no way to create tables? and have excel access them?

  4. #4
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    so... if they don't have access, there's no way to create tables? and have excel access them?
    Do you mean "if they don't have MS Access" or "If they don't have access to the databases"? Without the drivers, I don't think so.

    One possibility, which includes an extra step, is if they have FileMaker Pro, they should be able to access the database through ODBC, and then Excel 2004 has the ability to import FileMaker files.

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
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    Rich

  5. #5
    no, I don't think that'll work.. we'll just have to do the entire thing in Excel.. *yuck*

    thanks, tho.
    btw - we need to get together and go over that project....

  6. #6
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    After further investigation, you can access a database through AppleScript. I am just beginning to learn it with OS X. I had dabbled with it a little in OS 8, but that was years ago, and it has changed, improved, etc. so it's like I am starting over.

    I will see if I can find someone who may have a script already written to accomplish this.

    Would the access be through a web server or over a network?

    What type of database?

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
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    Rich

  7. #7
    We're looking at an excel front end with data being stored in a db. It would be single users.

    type of db... uhm - I don't know?

  8. #8
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    You are pushing my knowledge envelope!!! Which is a good thing. I also have found that some can be done with Perl, but now this is moving far outside my realm of knowledge:

    http://www.iodbc.org/

    or here with the instructions:

    http://www.iodbc.org/index.php?page=...odbc-perlHOWTO

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
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  9. #9
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Here is another web site that has ODBC drivers for several databases.

    http://www.openlinksw.com/

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
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    old, slow, and confused
    but at least I'm inconsistent!

    Rich

  10. #10
    the solution has to be free. The package is for a bunch of teachers and they don't want to buy anything else

  11. #11
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Just a note: is that file you sent for Excel 2001 or Excel 2004?

    The reason I ask, it will depend on which computer I hookup. No, they are not networked. And I only have a dial-up connection at home.

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
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    Rich

  12. #12
    It's Excel 97/2000/xp

    the client has the latest excel on the mac

  13. #13
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Okay, I opened it, unzipped it, and ran it twice with Excel 2004 on OS X 10.3.4. Not a problem. Hitting the export button, exported all 62 columns, and the last sequence put the titles in bold in Word. Whole process took <10 sec. (I have 1.25 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM.)

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
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    old, slow, and confused
    but at least I'm inconsistent!

    Rich

  14. #14
    hmm - you mentioned another system.. can you try it on that?

  15. #15
    Here's version info from the problematic client:

    There was a system update for Macs. I'm running 10.3.4 now. Maybe
    that's it.. Also, I'm on XL version X

  16. #16
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by starl
    Here's version info from the problematic client:

    There was a system update for Macs. I'm running 10.3.4 now. Maybe
    that's it.. Also, I'm on XL version X
    Okay, that last part might be the clue. There are two Excel versions for OS X. The earlier version for OS X was called Excel v. X. I have read that it occasionally had problems with some cross-platform work. I had never upgraded to it, but went directly from 2001 to 2004.

    I will check a few sites and try to determine whether that is a problem.

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
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    Rich

  17. #17
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Do you want me to try it with Excel 2001 on OS 9.2.2?

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
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    old, slow, and confused
    but at least I'm inconsistent!

    Rich

  18. #18
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Okay, I used Excel 2001 and Word 2001 on OS 9.2.2. While it was slower (300 MHz processor 384 MB RAM), it worked exactly the same way. Title was bolded, etc.

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
    --------------------
    old, slow, and confused
    but at least I'm inconsistent!

    Rich

  19. #19
    hmm - now I get notifs.. weird.
    anyway.. so you didn't see *any* problems....
    hmm - duplicate the data until it takes up a couple thousand rows... I had cut short what I sent you (it's a big file).. see if that makes a difference. It shouldn't but..

  20. #20
    Mac Moderator VBAX Expert shades's Avatar
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    Okay, with Excel 2001 (OS 9.2.2) I tried it with 704 rows of data and seven columns selected, and it took about 3 1/2 minutes.

    With Excel 2004 I had 5130 rows and seven columns selected, and it took 5 minutes just to get the first 400 rows into Word. It must be hogging the memory somehow, or not releasing. I can watch them being placed into Word and it is slower than I would expect. I am letting it still run, until Excel give sup, or my computer dies!

    Also, I tried on both systems to exit to see what would happen, and they both responded appropriately, that is, whatever was imported to the point was then finished in Word with proper formatting.

    One thing I noticed, is that with so many rows, they should turn off Spelling and Grammar Checking in Word. IT tries to keep up, and then will flash a warning that these exceed the limit of Word to check (real time).

    Software: LibreOffice 3.3 on Mac OS X 10.6.5
    (retired Excel 2003 user, 3.28.2008 )
    Humanware: Older than dirt
    --------------------
    old, slow, and confused
    but at least I'm inconsistent!

    Rich

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