exhibit text database

Hello all,

I would like to get some recommendations for Macintosh-PC cross platform database programs that can keep track of museum-wide exhibit label text. We want to be able to look up text by a) exhibit area; b) theme; c) individual exhibit; d) sequence; or f) various edit versions that can show us changes that have been made, and when.

We also need a way to post a master copy of present text that is available to all on the Windows NT network, but can only be changed be one person.

Thanks for any help you can give,

Hi Robert:

To share text data across Mac & PC platforms, you have basically 4 options:

1- Just use Microsoft Word on all your Macs & PCs, and keep the files on your network server in a shared directory that everyone has Read access to. If only one user (or group) has Write access to the files in that directory, you're all set. A network administrator should be able to set it up. That's pretty simple, and could work for a lot of exhibit label text, but it is not a 'database.'

2- Use a Collection Management Database product that runs under Windows, and furnish your Mac users with 'Virtual PC.' Put the data files and database software on the server where all can get at it. I'm using MS Access, but you could build something with Filemaker Fro or other windows database products. I am about to try this myself, so I cannot vouch or testify as to how it works, I don't know yet. But at $139 for the Virtual PC, it looks like a very economical workaround.

3- Get a real multi-platform collection management database product. Multi-Mimsy and EmbARK come to mind. These will involve considerably more up-front expense and long-term commitment, but will provide a lot of features for a large group beyond just sharing text files.

4- Build your own Multi-platform database using Delphi or 4th Dimension. Ooof!

I hope this helps.