Database Connectivity

[Anna Martelli Ravenscroft]

Anna Martelli Ravenscroft wrote:
> Alex Martelli wrote:
> 
>> Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>>    ...
>>
>>>>> I want to develope a simple Database connectivity program with python.
>>>>> I want to use MS Access as a backend.
>>>
>>>
>>>      Access, itself, is merely a GUI builder front-end. You are
>>> likely using M$ JET as the database engine.
>>
>>
>>
>> Amen!  People keep making this mistake over and over and over again.
>> Access is a product Microsoft sells; Jet is one they give away for free;
>> etc, etc -- how CAN it be so hard to distinguish?!
> 
> 
> How can it be so hard to distinguish?
> 
> Gee - how about - cuz M$ doesn't bother telling you? It *says* M$ Access 
> - right there on the package and on the computer. It doesn't say M$ 
> Jet... I used M$ Access for years, even took classes in it, did some 
> pretty kewl stuff with it. Never was Jet mentioned anywhere at anytime. 
> I found out from a geek buddy by accident one day...
> 
> BTW: I just did a google check:
> 
> the Product Overview page for M$ Access 2003 doesn't mention Jet once!
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/access/prodinfo/overview.mspx
> 
> Nor does the Data Access and Storage Developer Center page! 
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/data/Default.aspx
> 
> and it ain't just M$. I found a lovely page called AccesSolutions: 
> Microsoft Access Database Solutions, with not a single mention of Jet.
> 
> In other words, if you didn't already *know*, you're damned unlikely to 
> find out until some "real" database geek gives you a hard time about not 
> knowing.
> 
> 
> Anna

Just to follow up on this - I think this is another case of M$ evility. 
They *like* that people think of Access as a database - cuz if people 
realized that they could use another database, they might realize they 
could also use *another* front end.

So, I really don't think it's deliberate blurring of the lines by the 
*users* of M$ Access, so much as by M$, and the poor users simply don't 
know any better.

I want to emphasize that I understand how frustrating it is to keep 
coming across the same myths and misunderstandings, and that c.l.py is 
great for gently pointing out the real information to folks.

Anna