I got my first Paradox DOS-version database in 1987 and has followed Paradox since - from a - at that time an enormous database on PC (about 20 MB of data fresh every day) using IBM XT as workstation in a little network (Novell 1.0). The server was an IBM AT with 2* 30 MB disk and the XT's had 10 MB each. As you can imagine, I had to work out every possible matter to get the PC's to work faster, use as much as possible of the 640 kb memory and force the Paradox programs to work more than efficiently. I remember however that the first version doing import and dividing into several Symphony sheets for further use went on for hours. The monthly - a large bunch of jobs on the database, lasted for nearly 12 hours.

But when I got a 386 16 MHz machine as a workstation - where I did the real work, the job was finished after 3 hours. Now, with NT 4.0 and pentium workstation with 233 mhz a much larger job with near 200 MB data only takes 5-6 minutes.

I will mention three important issues this time. First the importance of planning the database and what it will be used to. My experience is that nobody else than yourself can give you any concrete on this matter. You have to tell them what they will get and hope they understand the importance of it. Therefore you have knew the office environment really good, knew what they work with and what they struggle with. You also must believe in that you can do things better than before.

Therefore the first matter is to find out what information you will put into the database. I believe in to take with me all the data I can get. You never know what people will ask for in the future. Divide the information into tables in the most suitable way regarding to what kind and how often it will be updated.

Secondly you have to deliver basis information (calculation-sheets and so on) to the people you support. Later they can do this themselves.

But mainly you can use your skill to make up programs for control, for fancy presentations and use the database power to make cross-table and cross-generation reports - which you and your boss will find to be a new age of information.