Depending on the complexity of the application, your friend might consider using a spreadsheet instead of a full-fledged database product. IMO, this is easier to set up - for simple stuff.

Otherwise, I can only compare Access (from the little I know it) vs. Visual FoxPro. Access is definitely easier to get started, but I believe Visual FoxPro is more flexible for advanced applications. So in this case, I would recommend Access.

I hope others can jump in, to compare Access vs. some other "end-user database systems".

>Hi Everyone,
>
>A client of mine has asked me for a reco on something he could use for a silent auction he runs each year for a charity. In the past he had a copy of Lotus Approach but it is ca. 1995 vintage and he wants to turn it over to someone new. There is basically just a few tables - items for sale, people registered for the auction and then a cross-table of who bought what (this is what they used to do - could instead just be the person's foreign key in the items table I suppose). And then they run a bunch of reports on total sales and the ability to print an invoice for a person etc.
>
>I said I would "ask the experts" on UT and let him know.
>
>So something easy for a non-programmer to set up. I have not used Access in years so I have no idea how easy it is. I remember seeing reviews that put Access way below others in ease of use. For Windows of course.
>
>Oh, BTW, I really don't have time to write something for them at this point - and I don't want to have to be the one on call the day of the auction so I am staying away from this as a project! The guy is quite content with setting up something new so I'm going to let him!
>
>Thanks,
>
>Albert Gostick