Re: Compare Thee to a Database

["Hamilton, Susan" <shamilton -at- METASOLV -dot- COM>]

One of the best explanations of a database (and even different types
of databases) that I have found came from the cue cards for an older
version of MS Access. I don't think the explanation was quite as
non-technical as the one you seem to be looking for, but the technical
jargon was very well explained and did not seem to limit the
understanding of the topics. The topics were simply presented, well
organized, and very well illustrated with pictures. You might check it
out and see what they have done.

Unfortunately, I believe that this specific set of cue cards was
phased out for Win 95. In other words, the last time I saw them come
with the app was for the last version of Access for Win 3.1. The first
version for Win 95 has a set of cue cards, but I don't think they even
come close to being as good.

Hope this helps.
Susan

-----Original Message-----
From:   Matthew J Long [SMTP:mjl100z -at- MAIL -dot- ODU -dot- EDU]
Sent:   Tuesday, July 01, 1997 2:43 PM
Subject:        Compare Thee to a Database

The manual that I am developing is for a GUI database application. In
the
preliminary section, I am attempting explain databases to a
non-technical
audience using simple metaphors, but my creativity is coming up a
little
dry. How would you complete the following sentence if you knew that
your
audience were (was?) a bunch of attorneys whose computer skills were
novice at best:

"A database is like..." (the Forrest Gump--box of chocolates--thing
won't
work. I already tried!)

Be as creative and abstract as you want, but keep in mind that the
idea is
to convey a concept clearly, quickly, and easily.

Any comments that you submit I will consider and possibly use, so if
you
don't want your idea to be public domain, keep it to yourself
(smile).

Thanks for your help!!!

////////////////////////////**************************************
        Matthew J. Long
        Technical Writer
        mjl100z -at- mail -dot- odu -dot- edu
        matt -dot- long -at- justice -dot- usdoj -dot- gov

        -When you can't be eloquent, choose brevity!
********************************************************////////////

 TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot-  Send commands
   to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
  Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/  or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html