Hi Stephen, DISCLAIMER: I really know nothing about accessing third party databases so this might all be rubbish!
However, I just took a look at the Workdesk website and I don't think your problem is just how to access a third party database. It appears to me the Workdesk system is actually a Windows application which is essentially a purpose configured front end to their proprietary database. To effectively "use" the system you have to run the application and since they obviously haven't done an OSX version that means Windows in some form or other (Bootcamp, Parallels etc). I think the custom front-end/hidden database is a fairly common situation - I have windows applications for Self-managed superfund admin and share portfolio management that use their own database in the background and run as a frontend which provides various "pages" to let you perform various tasks. In your case, you have the added complication that the database is on a remote server, with various attendant security issues. I note from their website the following items: > WorkDESK will not operate on a wireless network. and: > Hardware Related Issues > Working from home > > You can connect to your WorkDESK database and work from home using any of the > Remote Office hardware alternatives (Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop connection, > Windows, Terminal Services, Citrix Metaframe). You can also access the > WorkDESK database using 'PC Anywhere' software - purchase separately). So what is your actual situation - Do you use the system on a PC at work and also want to access it from your Mac at home or is your situation different? If I was you, I would probably try and tackle the problem in "bite-sized" bits, ie: 1) Make sure I knew how the system worked and the general set-up parameters on a local PC. 2) Either/or (or preferably both): - get it working on a local Mac - get it working on a remote PC 3) Get your remote Mac setup working. I do think that 3) will still probably involve running Windows on your Mac :( As I say, I come at this with the naivety of ignorance! So this might not be possible/practical! Have fun, Neil -- Neil R. Houghton Albany, Western Australia Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on 28/8/08 8:14 AM, Peter Hinchliffe at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > On 28/08/2008, at 5:10 AM, Steven Knowles wrote: > >> Hoping someone can give me a tip or two please. >> >> I need to access a 3rd party database <www.workdesk.com.au> housed >> on a remote server, and to do so someone has given me a bunch of >> files to instal on my machine. >> >> They are clearly Windows files, named as follows... >> >> data1.cab >> data1.hdr >> data2.cab >> DelayInst.exe >> ikernel.ex_ >> installservice.exe >> InstHelper.dll >> layout.bin >> Setup.bmp >> Setup.exe >> Setup.ini >> setup.inx >> >> >> Does this give anyone much of a clue as to what's actually being >> installed, and should I be able to achieve the same thing on from my >> Mac (running latest OS) without having to use Bootcamp or any >> virtual Windows software? Workdesk are a closed shop when it comes >> to Mac support or answering questions. >> > > The files most likely containing the data you are interested in are > probably data1.cab, data1.hdr, and data2.cab. These are Windows > Cabinet files, and are generally only accessible through an > appropriate .exe file. It seems from the list of files you show that > you have been given a set f installer files (Setup.exe is a giveaway > here), and it's probable that the data1 and data2 files don't contain > anything useful anyway at this stage. > > I don't see anyway of using these files outside a Windows environment. > Given that in most virtualisation software (Parallels especially) it > is is very easy to share data files and folders between Windows and > Mac OS X. That is definitely an option you should consider. > > Alternatively you could follow up a solution such as offered here: > > <http://echoone.com/filejuicer/formats/cab> > > -- > > Peter Hinchliffe Apwin Computer Services > FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer > Perth, Western Australia > Phone (618) 9332 6482 Fax (618) 9332 0913 > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
