I just was reminded how much Linux is easier to operate then Windows,
also a shortcoming of Linux (which I hope will remdy soon),
For work I had to install an Access DB onto the "Windows Laptop" (we
have Macs, here, but also a laptop dedicated to just running those
Windows apps the state sends us for reporting. So far it is only used
a couple times a month at most) The laptop is a modern Dell with XP.
I could tell the Access DB was like others we've received in the past,
some org contracted to have an automated reporting tool written by a
consulting firm, the contractors got big $$$ and the agencies get an
Access db to be installed on multiple counties computers to mange and
support. Like the others, this one was nothing fancy just recording
information on the services we provide to collect for reporting
purposes. Probably either exports an xls spreadsheet or we send in
the data file - either way there is noting to the DB dependent upon
Windows besides the development platform.
The instructions said the DB required Office 2003 SP2 and 2000 or XP
and instructed the user to copy it to the computer, run and attach the
db file. And there was special instructions if there were one or two
error conditions - we had both.
The first error condition was a compilation error, the (first)
suggested remedy for this was first to do an update of Windows and
Office. Had to log out of the user access (no admin rights just
laying around for regular staff and what they run to mess with) and
into the admin account, then found out updates MUST go through
Internet Explorer (no other Browser, I guess there is no dedicated
system update handler like Linux distrros have or in OSX, you have to
use the browser with some scripting add-in). During that it seemed
they were intoning it was critial to update to IE7, It's a work
machine so I did, but on other platforms I see more reasoning then
pressure language in the update text.) Bunch of updates later I have
to reboot.
Back to the User Account.
Still the compilation error, the next remedy was to replace a file in
Windows/System32/ folder (which would be like replacing a kernel file
on Linux,
Back to Admin Level
The things that gave me the heebe jeebies is that I was replacing some
system file I had no idea of function or version with another (claimed
I was adding some sort of control, but in my mind I am thinking am I
breaking something else by doing this?) and also It was written like
some common user thing to do (might as well have said, "just have your
kid go into the system32 folder and muck about with it/") I renamed
the old one, and added the new one.
Back to User.
Ran the DB again and the second error it is a security warning about
Active X, the remedy go into Tools:Macros:Security and set the
security from moderate to low (does that give you the willies?) I
find out I can't do that at the user's restricted level.
So, temporarily elevate the user to admin go back to the Access DB and
set the ActiveX security to low, exit, lower the user access back to
limited.
Now the DB is installed. Mind you this was not a program, the program
that runs this is Access, which was previously installed with Office
earlier, this was technically a document. On other DBs (AppleWorks,
FoxBase, Filemaker) I never had to mess with the system files when
loading a DB, after the Application was installed. This is just plain
bad.
The shortcoming of Linux are few good 'portable' DBs that are widely
accepted. Though I do see Open Office's Base as being a contender,
last I looked, it is sorely lacking in documentation and examples on
the site, I don't know how flexible HSQL tables are (are they
relational?) But if we can get something to wean people off of such
Access nightmares we may be on to something.
Linux