I'm an independent software consultant specializing in small business database applications. Sometimes I simply advise my clients, other times I implement and modify package software and then there are times when I develop custom applications, usually in Microsoft Access - until now!

I recently began a project in Access for a client in the real estate business, specializing in summer and winter (college student) rentals. I had worked with a web developer to provide database tables to his ASP strings so that the client's customers could search the availability of rentals in real time over the Internet. I developed a simple front end (in Access) so that the online data could easily be updated on their web site.

Further discussion and analysis uncovered that most of the in-house business processes were handled the old fashion way - with manila folders filled with paper. I laid out a possible solution for the client and we agreed to a development project. Based on their requirements, its not a huge application but it has a few unique twists. It took me several hours (spanned over several weeks since they are not my only open project) to solve some of the intricacies while respecting the existing architecture to facilitate web updates.

Meanwhile, a senior manager at another client, who had been an Alpha Four user for years, began singing the praises of A4 in relation to an Access application I was creating for his company. Initially I postured, "Access is the universally accepted choice, why would I even consider switching?" But since he was the client, I thought I should at least give it a whirl (Alpha 5 v4.5 that is, since I only work with Windows applications) and subsequently report back to him how it's not the right choice. The task included a look-up table as a sub-form using the tables' primary key as the look up field and another field in the table as the forms main focus (more specifically, which customer ID's have this service contract #).

This exercise took quite a while in Access because a separate query had to be written with it's own form in order to accomplish this task. Without getting into technical details, suffice it say that when I created the same form in Alpha, I was done in about three minutes (save set-up time). I was suddenly inspired. I then tuned into a broadcast of "Let's talk Computers" featureing Richard Rabin outlining the tremendous changes forthcoming in the Alpha Five v5 release. I contacted Alpha Software and they politely offered me the opportunity to try the Beta version. Back to the real estate client… Considering this application is only about 50% complete and while I'm still fussing with its particulars, I decided I would recreate what I've already developed using Access in Alpha Five v5 beta. WOW!!!! Development time was significantly shorter. Creating sets (and table relationships) is very intuitive. Multi-table forms are a breeze and creating table and form calculations couldn't be easier. The "field rules" interface is logical and easy to use versus the properties interface that I regularly work from in Access. Creating handsome forms, which can be important to many customers, is very simple too. I'm not much with coding, but I really shouldn't need to do much since I can create a host of operations in seconds. An "export to text file" took only minutes to create and add to my budding application. Nevertheless, I intend to get better with X Basic (just in case).

So my last question to Richard was "when can I get this product in the run time version"? I want to complete this project in Alpha Five without asking my client to purchase his own copy of my (new) development tool. Thanks Alpha Software, with Alpha Five v5 I'm certain I can grow my business faster because I can take on more projects at once now that development times will be shorter.