>X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Unverified) >Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 10:59:54 -0700 >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Someone entered ebase feedback > > Josh Ungar from in , MD USA , at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >had this to say: > > I am with a Small Environmental Non-profit outside of DC called the >Anacostia Watershed Society. We currently are using a DOS version >of Fox Pro that has been updated with code as many times as possible >and now is having major problems. We are intrested in ebase but are >unsure about using it, learning and training for it and price?. How >much does it cost? ebase is a model built in FileMaker. The model has been developed with grants from several foundations and is made available at no cost to non-profit organizations. As delivered from the web site, ebase includes a runtime version of FileMaker, so it is fully functional, within the limits of one user, and the structure is fixed. If you need to make customizations to the ebase files, or share the files among several users, you will need to obtain a copy of FileMaker for each user. Street price is about $250, but FileMaker, Inc has a very good program to donate copies to non-profits. The other cost component you won't want to overlook will be the the time to prepare your data for transfer into ebase, and training staff to use a new program. >Is it networkable?, Yes, but as noted above, you will need to obtain a copy of FileMaker for each user in order to share files across a network. FileMaker has file-sharing built in, and will operate in a peer-to-peer environment on either Windows or Macintosh networks, or in fact on a network with both platforms. >Is there anyway to transfer the data from our old database to ebase >without hiring someone to type over 7000 entries? Yes, there is a process built in to ebase to import name and payment records. You will need to export your data from FoxPro to some common format like tab-delimited ASCII in order or ebase to read it. Depending on how the data is stored in FoxPro it might also be necessary to do some work on the data before importing. For example, first name and last name in separate fields, area code and phone number is separate fields, etc. >Please help since we are ready for a change now! The first step I would recommend would be to download a copy of ebase and the documentation from the website, and explore its capabilities by entering data and printing reports that are relevant to your operation. Exercise as many functions as you can in the context of your business practices to see if it suits your needs. There is an email list available to answer questions you might have about how others are using ebase and the success they have had with it. Subscription info is on the ebase website, www.ebase.org
