I would like to know its limits and functionality compaired to Access ( I
know Access can be programed to do just about anything but what about
PCMS?)
Well, you are going to have to ask them. Really, you are taking about some
application. I don't know (or care) if that application is for accounting,
for tour operations, for job costing or whatever. That application obviously
does what it does.
To find out what that accounting (or whatever it is) does, you are going to
have to ask them!
It makes no sense at all to come to a newsgroup that is about a software
development tool called ms-access, and then ask about some application?
You might as well ask about auto-cad here? (how can you expect people here
to know that product?).
I have used Access quite a bit but I dont really know anything about PCMS.
Well, why would you think a ms-access group is going to know about Simply
accounting, or PCMS.?
My boss is leaning towards using PCMS over Access but I really dont think
its a good idea myself so I am trying to find out all the differences
between
Well, not even knowing, or looking at what PCMS is, the difference is one is
a application, and the other is a set of tools to build a application.
So, this is like asking the difference between a bird house, and going to
the hardware store to purchase hammers, nails, paint etc. You can certainly
make a bird house with hammers, nails, paint etc,but I don't anyone would
ask what is the difference between a bird house and a hardware store. You
are talking about two different things.
If you are asking can you make a product with ms-access ? Yes, you can write
a pac-man game, or a accounting package with ms-access. And, interesting
enough, the very Popular Simply accounting package actually use the
ms-access file format, and the same database (this means you can actually
open simply accounting files with ms-access!!).
If you are asking what is better to purchase a application, or build one
with ms-access, that is a difficult answer. Many people come here and ask
should they use a contact manager like Maximzier, or ms-access? Well, to get
all of the features in Maximizer, you likely would have to spend a few years
of development time in ms-access, and even then, you would not have
duplicated the same functionality as that contact manager.
So, exactly what kind of application is PCMS? If it is some type of
inspection system with many reports, then obviously you have to ask yourself
do you want to re-create this system, or purchase it. It really is the same
question as do you build you own bird house, or go to the hardware store and
purchase what you need to build the bird house. Of course, if this is
larger, and is a real house, then I don't think you will be running down to
the hardware store anytime soon....
Lets assume that company selling that product has been in business for 8
years. And, they got 3 developers working on that product. So, you got an
application that might represent 24 man years of development. And,
professional developers are a good 2-10 times more productive at that craft
then you are (this why you hire a mechanic to work on your car...you could
read up and learn how to fix your car, but takes MUCH longer). So, that 24
man years of time is likely 2-3 times more efficient then what you can do,
so, for you to build that product will take you 3 x 24 = 72 years of your
time. The problem is thus like a bird house....you can build one those with
your time...but you can't build a whole house with your time....
I would simply pick up the phone, and ask them what kinds of customizing
services they offer, and what it costs.....
And, while you are at it, ask them what options you have to customizing the
product your self, and what kinds of training you might need to be able to
do that...
Really very simple here...but we are taking about a development tool
(ms-access), and some (un-known) application called PCMS.
