i am working on a database in Access, but i'm not too far along with it. A friend (programmer) told me i should use C#. i've been reading "Beginning C# Databases", but i still can't figure out if i would be better off creating the database in C#, SQL, Access,or a combination of those. This database will contain data about myths around the world to be distributed via the web and CD. Can someone please help straighten me out? Thanks.
--e

Will the database change often? And do you need dynamic capabilities when it comes to defining the database?

Usually, you create the database in Access (or any other database engine / server) and then use code like C# to access the database and select, insert, update and delete records.

So, usually there is no need to create the database at run-time through code.

Does that answer your question?

Cheers,

Imar
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Imar Spaanjaars
Everyone is unique, except for me.
While typing this post, I was listening to: Last Call by Big Boi feat. Slimm Calhoun, Lil’ Jon & The East Side Boyz & Mello (Track 18 from the album: Speakerboxxx) What's This?

No, the database will not be updated often, if at all, once the application is completed. i have image and text files in different directories on my computer that also need to be accessed, and the text files must be searchable by the user.

If i understand you correctly, i would create the tables in Access and the user interface, i.e., forms (and the code behind them) in C#.

Or would Java be better than C#? My application must be cross-platform on the CD.

Thanks,
--e

If it has to run from a CD, you'll be in trouble. A CD is read-only, so you cannot update the database.

How cross-platform does it have to be? If you're coding in C#, your users will need the .NET framework. Many Windows machines will already have it, and for other OS's there is Project Mono. Not sure how stable that is yet, though.

What kind of application are you building? Is a CD the best distribution mechanism? What about a Web application?

Cheers,

Imar
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Imar Spaanjaars
Everyone is unique, except for me.
While typing this post, I was listening to: Party Weirdo by Moloko (Track 9 from the album: Do You Like My Tight Sweater?) What's This?

As the application is currently set up, it has text files and images, each stored in their own file directories and referenced in the application via relatie paths. All text files must be searchable, in addition to the database.

The application contains, e.g., :
1. Text excerpted from books studied by the artist who painted the images (accessed via relative paths). Book data is given for the user, i.e., title, author,publisher, page num of the relevant myth, etc.
2. Files containing images of the paintings for the myths (accessed via relative paths).
3. The location of the myth is provided
4. The people who created the myth is provided
5. More than one version of the same myth is provided where appropriate
etc.

The finished application will not be editable, only searchable (both text and the database itself).
Re the website, users have no edit, add, delete privileges--the application is strictly for reference and study purposes.

This application also will be given away via CD at an art retrospective showing the 600+ paintings in the application created by a Professor Emeritus from UC Berkeley.

The art retrospective is funded by my employer, a non-profit organization.

An extensive program is also being created for seminars with various academics and luminaries from around the world and
also for elementary (in particular), junior-high, and high-school programs. These myths address questions all people ask, like "Where are we from?", "Why is there sickness?", etc.

Most individuals and businesses have Windows-based PC's, but many, many schools use Macs, thus the desire for cross-platform CDs.

i hope this addresses the issue of CD vs. web versions.

--e

P.S. What is Project Mono?

Hi again,

Sorry for the late response. Somehow this message got lost in my mail box.

Anyway, Project Mono is an open source OS-independent (sort of) implementation of .NET. You can find out more about it here: http://www.mono-project.com/about/index.html

I am not sure if and how you could create a OS independent application that will run on a variety of platforms. It sure won't work with C# / .NET / Project Mono as it requires the run-time to be installed on the client, which will definitely not be there by default on OS's like Linux and Mac OS.

I think your best bet is to create a browser based application that runs on the local client in a browser. That allows you to create applications with Java or maybe even with Flash.

Either way, it's a daunting task.....

Cheers,

Imar
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Imar Spaanjaars
Everyone is unique, except for me.