General-Purpose Database Server

If you want to create a custom multiuser database with a graphics user interface, you have several choices. Here are two:

  • FileMaker Server (www.filemaker.com) can do invoicing, labeling, tracking inventory, or managing contacts with maps and video. For the user, you can create simple data entry forms or use sophisticated graphical interfaces. FileMaker is also a software development platform, so lots of prebuilt FileMaker-based applications are available.
  • Panorama Enterprise Server (www.provue.com) focuses on speed as a RAM-based database. Data fetchers are thousands of times faster than disk-based data retrieval. This server can also distribute the database to clients, automatically syncing changes with all users. This reduces the server load. And the software comes with powerful data analysis tools.

Get Mac OS X Lion Server For Dummies® now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial