Does An Alternative to MS Access Exist?

[CapperLou]

Over a few years of very little use I have found it extremely difficult to use Access.

Is there anything out there in freeware or for sale that can be used to do the things Access can do with a database?

I want to be able to use it with files or handicapping programs so that it would automatically for example let me know (when I run it for the day) if there is a horse entered by a certain trainer who is running "1st after claim". Stuff like that and the stuff that Access can do with htr etc.(I don't use HTR, but know some who do).

All the best,

CapperLou

P.S. Now--I have to use stable alert and then check the form to see if the entered horse fits the above category etc.

[sq764]

what about Excel?

I use Excel exntensively with the data files and just have a few macros set up to extract exactly what I need..

I don't use databases, so it may not be the same as what you do though..

[CapperLou]

I can use the files instead of the software database. All I want is the ability to go thru the files I download each day and for example---lets say David Fawkes has a 1st time starter running at one of the tracks I play (he is at CRC). I want to be able to have the program "pull that out for me" instead of having to manually know he has an entry and then have to look it up to see if it's a 1st timer.

Same thing with for example certain trainer with 1st after claim or 1st lasix etc.

You mention excel. Problem is I do not know how to write the program for excel etc. But--first I have to learn how to do this in the first place. Will gladly pay reasonable amount for a program that can do many things and is set up and can be added to.

All the best,

CapperLou

P.S. I am just not very educated in programming area--just one of those things--cannot know everything!!!

[Maxspa]

Ken Massa has developed a Robot tester that will work with downloaded HDW files for HTR. It works quickly and efficiently with specific data ex: Speed numbers, velocity ratings etc. He has incorporated an overlay approach as well. This would not help anyone who does not down load HTR files but he will create a program for you at a reasonable price.
Maxspa

[Larry Hamilton]

thats not difficult to do. There are 88 horses today, running all over North America who are First Time starters: None of them are trained by the trainer you mention, and none of them are at CRC. SHow is a sample of 3 of them

Date Track Type Trainer
20040922 TP M ANDERSON ROGER J.
20040922 HOO M ANGELLE KEITH J.
20040922 TP S ARNOLD II GEORGE R.

[midnight]

There are other database products, such as Filemaker Pro, AskSam, Microsoft SQL, Alpha 5, etc. But while many Access competitors tout ease of learning and as much power as Access, it doesn't work that way in real life applications. If you're serious about databases, you're probably going to want to take the time to learn Access and/or read a book or go to a class related to it.

[sq764]

If your file type has any indicator that it's running it's first race, it would be simple.. If not, there are likely other ways to get around that using Excel..

[Larry Hamilton]

the secret is the field called "Days since last race" If that field is NULL or 0, that means it has no last race

[CapperLou]

I know that you are a whiz with all this stuff!!! Now then; what software are you referring to in your example that let you do this so easily?
Thanks much.

All the best,

CapperLou

Trying to do this and lost a great spot play at 8-1 by nose in 1st at Belmont. Darn, I can't buy a winner at BEL this fall!!!!!

[Larry Hamilton]

access query. takes about 30 seconds to set this one up, then maybe 1 second run time forever, every day.

IT IS WORTH YOUR TIME TO LEARN ACCESS.

In addition, I could then call up thousands of races which include a FTS for each trainer and tell you how often each trainer wins at each track in a specific odds range. The limit of questions you can answer statistically is primarily limited by your own imagination. Enjoy!

[CapperLou]

Larry:

You are very convincing--this is what I have been told by many for the past several years---Lou---just get a book and LEARN the darned thing----You're nobody's fool and you can master it just as you have other challenges in business etc.

Yes---it may be the easiest and best way. I want to make it easier for myself to do these types of queries etc on an almost daily basis. In other words, download the files-then check for what I'm looking for or put them in special database and look there as most of you guys do.

Thanks for input Larry--I wish I had the time to go back to a really good class on software of various types etc. What is the best book to purchase for learning & using Access in your opinion?

All the best,

CapperLou

[Larry Hamilton]

DO you want me to post how David Fawkes has done at CRC with FTS?

[CapperLou]

Larry:
He has an over 20% win rate but his ROI is only 80.34 in the 29 starts that I had him in one databse. Right now I'm only pulling out stuff from a small recent database that comes with my Equisim software. But without all of this I know that Fawkes is very good with maiden claimers.

If you pull out something--I'm only interested in last 2 or 3 years. I always look for short term patterns and track specific--especially in so fl--because Gulfstream as you know is a horse of another color.The big boys from NY come down here and get the bacon--as they say!!

I'm just going to have to get a book and learn and use the darn thing.

All the best,

CapperLou

P.S. A better example to pull would be Rhonda Nalley in the last two years. She does pretty well at CRC with these, although not many starts. Try her and let's see what you get.

Well---perseverence pays--next spot play today 5th DEL Top Hill won at 16.80!!!! Those boys at BEL too smart for me lately.!!!!

[Larry Hamilton]

In the last 2.5 years, he has had a FTS 45 times, 10 of them won, 6 of them placed paying 129.60 to win....

AT ALL OTHER TRACKS, INCLUDING GULFSTREAM, HE HAS HAD HIS CLOCK CLEANED

[CapperLou]

Thanks Larry:

So you see that he is pretty good with 1st timers--now--I have to be able to hit a couple of buttons and know WHEN he has one running at Calder!!!

Yes---they all get their clocks cleaned when the NY boys ship down here and take over at Gulfstream.

Hey-----I just hit a big one in 8th BEL---Ball Four 38.60

The losing streak at BEL this fall comes to an end---hooray!!!
Ball Four had huge E1 and E2 figures for me over rest of field and they fooled everybody and brought him off the pace with Jockey Farina aboard. Nobody noticed---good for me and others who played him--now I must admit that I dutched him with Hot Soup who was on or near lead until stretch and faded. There has been so much chalk at BEL it's unreal--.

Now then; what book would you suggest I buy to learn quickly how to do this with Access. I'll have to get access also. Do not have here--used to have at work.

All the best,

CapperLou