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#1
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Why is Paradox Database better looking then Access?
Just tried the very lastest 2003 version of Access and it's pig ugly in use
to create nice forms, i.e. well spaced, nice colour, nice fonts, etc Then tried today Paradox 9 which from what I can tell is about 5 years old and it creates the nicest looking forms in it's database wizard. Within minustes I have a fully functioning People Information Database. Why does the world's largest software company produce such an ugly looking set of forms? Espacially when the price tag is so high? Why does it not for instance use all my desktop space instead of cramming everything into a small window? Why are the fonts so hard to read? Why are the colours so horrid. I simply can't believe Access isn't better looking and has better wizards. |
#2
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I often use the wizards to actually layout some fields on my forms. After
that, I kind of on my own. I not sure what you mean by "ugly", but I often just use the standard grey defaults, and with windows themes turned on, then much of what you see is based on your windows settings, and not the wizards. So, really, for a matter of taste, I find things look MUCH more professorial if you choose the "standard" option with the wizards. When you start using a bunch of background colors, funny colors and fonts etc, then your application tends to look very amateurish. I would just use the wizards with "standard" format, and let the forms take on the windows theme that you currently are using (this is much nicer result). Here is some screen shots of forms (they were original created with the wizards..but of course are further modified). (these screen shots show themed controls turned on, and turned off). http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn/Atheme/index.htm And, here is some screens again in ms-access: http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn/Articles/Grid.htm And, if you build some menus..then you can get even nicer looking stuff. Take a look at the screen shots here of ms-access: http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn...erFriendly.htm I will say that about the only real thing I agree with you is the issue of forms being able to re-size with different resolutions. (the solution right now is to develop to a 800x600 standard). So, yes, I do think that one weak spot is forms don't re-size (you can get some code to re-size for you..but I would like to see re-sizing built into ms-access). However, as far as forms looking good, or bad...hum......that is mostly up to you, and a matter of good taste. -- Albert D. Kallal (Access MVP) Edmonton, Alberta Canada http://www.attcanada.net/~kallal.msn |
#3
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Hi Dee
I gather that you're not thrilled with Access, and this is based on 'looks'. However you fail to mention that in the case of Paradox, you have to configure the BDE engine which is not too bad if you are using your system on a local machine, however if you want to configure a multi-user application over a network ... good luck. You also fail to mention the transaction capability of both Access and Paradox .... guess who wins that competition in the case of rolling back transactions? You also fail to mention that you have to get used to Object Pascal instead of Vb/Vba. Personnally I don't care because I've been using Paradox / Delphi for many years, however for a new user, the learning curve is really awesome. I agree that Access is not perfect, however as far as I'm concerned the product competes very well with the present competion. Best regards Maurice St-Cyr Micro Systems Consultants, Inc. Just tried the very lastest 2003 version of Access and it's pig ugly in use to create nice forms, i.e. well spaced, nice colour, nice fonts, etc Then tried today Paradox 9 which from what I can tell is about 5 years old and it creates the nicest looking forms in it's database wizard. Within minustes I have a fully functioning People Information Database. Why does the world's largest software company produce such an ugly looking set of forms? Espacially when the price tag is so high? Why does it not for instance use all my desktop space instead of cramming everything into a small window? Why are the fonts so hard to read? Why are the colours so horrid. I simply can't believe Access isn't better looking and has better wizards. |
#4
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"Albert D. Kallal" wrote in message ... I often use the wizards to actually layout some fields on my forms. After that, I kind of on my own. Albert that's all very nice looking, well done. But I bet you spent a long time doing those forms. For the price charged for Access and considering the wealth of the company making Access I expect more and am disappointed their own staff don't take more pride in their product. |
#5
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"StCyrM" wrote in message ... Hi Dee I gather that you're not thrilled with Access, and this is based on 'looks'. Hi, Yes in this instance I'm making a comment on the Access Forms and notice I'm only posting in the Forms Newsgroup not a general Access forum so all those other things you mentioned are valid in a General Access forum but not in this very specific newsgroup I'm sure under the skin Access is excellent and have used it myself for a number of years, but I was shocked to test the latest version and see no real improvment in the forms handling. Forms are the user's window into the database, it's the way they interact with it and basic things like having a readable font matter - look at the way Microsoft have introduced ClearType fonts in Windows XP, it makes simply reading data easier... why hasn't basic stuff like this gone into Access? |
#6
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"Dee" wrote in message
... "StCyrM" wrote in message ... Hi Dee I gather that you're not thrilled with Access, and this is based on 'looks'. Hi, Yes in this instance I'm making a comment on the Access Forms and notice I'm only posting in the Forms Newsgroup not a general Access forum so all those other things you mentioned are valid in a General Access forum but not in this very specific newsgroup I'm sure under the skin Access is excellent and have used it myself for a number of years, but I was shocked to test the latest version and see no real improvment in the forms handling. Forms are the user's window into the database, it's the way they interact with it and basic things like having a readable font matter - look at the way Microsoft have introduced ClearType fonts in Windows XP, it makes simply reading data easier... why hasn't basic stuff like this gone into Access? In my "Top 1000 things I wish Microsoft would improve in Access" Having the form wizard produce "nicer looking forms" would be number 1001. I'm sure the designers consider them as starting points only or for the complete novice. -- I don't check the Email account attached to this message. Send instead to... RBrandt at Hunter dot com |
#7
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Are you aware that you can create your own AutoFormat styles, and that the
form wizard can then use those styles for new forms? Open a form that looks the way you like it in design view, click the AutoFormat button on the toolbar and click the Customize button. Choose the option to Create a new AutoFormat ... etc. The next time you use the form wizard, your new auto format will be listed along with the built-in 'Blends', 'Blueprint', 'Expedition' etc. You can also choose a form of your own design to be used as the template for new forms (Tools, Options, Forms/Reports tab, Form Template (and also Report Template) replace the default 'Normal' with the name of your form or report) and you can change the default properties for a control type such as a text box or combo box - select a control type in the toolbox without placing the control on the form, and notice that the Properties window now says 'Default Text Box' or 'Default Combo Box' or whatever control type you selected. The properties you set will become the defaults for new controls of that type on that form. You can also select an existing control and choose 'Set Control Defaults' from the Format menu to make new controls of that type adopt the properties of the selected control. In short, Access provides a lot of facilities to enable *you* to decide what your forms should look like. -- Brendan Reynolds (MVP) http://brenreyn.blogspot.com The spammers and script-kiddies have succeeded in making it impossible for me to use a real e-mail address in public newsgroups. E-mail replies to this post will be deleted without being read. Any e-mail claiming to be from brenreyn at indigo dot ie that is not digitally signed by me with a GlobalSign digital certificate is a forgery and should be deleted without being read. Follow-up questions should in general be posted to the newsgroup, but if you have a good reason to send me e-mail, you'll find a useable e-mail address at the URL above. "Dee" wrote in message ... "StCyrM" wrote in message ... Hi Dee I gather that you're not thrilled with Access, and this is based on 'looks'. Hi, Yes in this instance I'm making a comment on the Access Forms and notice I'm only posting in the Forms Newsgroup not a general Access forum so all those other things you mentioned are valid in a General Access forum but not in this very specific newsgroup I'm sure under the skin Access is excellent and have used it myself for a number of years, but I was shocked to test the latest version and see no real improvment in the forms handling. Forms are the user's window into the database, it's the way they interact with it and basic things like having a readable font matter - look at the way Microsoft have introduced ClearType fonts in Windows XP, it makes simply reading data easier... why hasn't basic stuff like this gone into Access? |
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