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sunhux

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Low cost, low maintenance DB software which could easily port to MS SQL in future

I'm looking for a relational database for a voluntary project which is :
a) low cost or possibly free
b) that run on Windows platform
c) low maintenance (ie don't have to pay annual maintenance fee to
    get patches)
d) easy to support

It's to serve as registry to take note of autistic & special-needs people,
tracking their particulars/contacts & how they are doing over the years
& in future.

I thought of using gmail as it could be searched easily but gmail is
an email & may lack confidentiality as it's hosted by a public service
provider.

A relational DB is preferred so that in future when the group has the
funding, will consider porting to a relational DB like MS SQL
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sunhux

ASKER

Does SQL Express run on Windows 7, Windows 2008 R2,
Win 2012 Standard & possibly Win XP ?
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Can point me to a quick start guide to start building simple tables?

referring to the link given by Samo4funo, how is "easy backup and
restore functionality" done?  Using SQL commands to take online
backup or using OS utility (which may require shut down of SQL)?

Supposedly Toad can be used to do development on SQL Express?
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Well I'm glad you ruled out Gmail for such a thing!

Why is porting to MS SQL important? or are you just using that product as an example?

Is it your intention to run this on a central server which each users accesses via an intranet, or are you expecting it to run on each workstation? (I was wondering why you asked about XP.)

Do you need access to the data via the internet?

Are you subject to any regulatory issues with this health related data?
e.g. do you need to encrypt this data?
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ASKER

Mike has sized me quite accurately: I'm a layman when it comes to
using development tools for database.  Glad that you mention
MS Access (which is part of MS Office Enterprise) could be used as
development tool on SQL Server Express.

> Why is porting to MS SQL important?
As it's unlikely I will learn it on Linux/UNIX and Windows is the preferred
OS, I've chosen MS SQL (have a number of MS SQL colleagues whom I
can consult if needed but not Oracle/Sybase/other databases)

> Is it your intention to run this on a central server which each users
> accesses via an intranet
Via Internet & so happen that I have free old Win XP licences lying
around.  No, not subject to regulatory.  It's a charity project
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ASKER

Toad is not too costly & glad that Samo mentions it as one possible tool
to do development with MS SQL Server Express
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