                              APPROACH 3.0
                          By Wayne A. MacLeod

        Lotus Approach 3.0 is an extremely nice and powerful relational
database for MS Windows. System requirements include an IBM PC or compatible
with a 386 or greater CPU. At least 4 MB of RAM, though 6 MB is recommended
and the more the better. A VGA or higher resolution monitor. Full install
takes 19 MB of Hard drive space with a minimum install occupying 6.7 MB with
an additional 1.8 MB needed for temporary files during the install. A Mouse
or other pointing device and MS Windows 3.1 or higher. Approach is fully
compatible with most Network systems.
        A database is simply an organized collection of data.  This can be
something as simple as your record collection to something as complex as the
US Census Bureaus records. A relational database allows you to bring
together data from separate databases and use it as if it were all stored in
one single database file. A strong point of Approach and a tribute to its
"ease of use" goal is that it does not require the user to posses any
programming skills as so many other database products require. Lotus states
that the average user should be able to put together something useable
within 2 hours of "opening the box". I may be a little slower than the
average user, but did find that I was working at a comfortable level with
the product within 3 to 4 hours. Not that I had mastered the program by any
means, but having no real previous database experience, I no longer felt
lost and mystified.  I also spent possibly more time with the on-line
tutorial, highly recommended, than others might.
        Installation went quickly and without incident. Lotus installs look
for other Lotus products and attempt to eliminate duplication of files and
tight integration between its products. Approach uses the Lotus common Spell
Checker used by AmiPro and other Lotus products. You can select to install
to a stand alone system, as a network node or as a network file server. Due
to its exclusive integration with other Lotus products you can create
reports, forms, mailings and more directly with Lotus 1-2-3 ver 4.01 or
higher or Lotus notes data directly. You can access Approach's management
capabilities from within 1-2-3.
        Again, I highly recommend that new and even database proficient
users, spend time going through the on-line tutorial after install. There
are 50 predesigned templates that allow you to put together various
databases with little effort or give you a good starting point for creating
your own. Approach features fast thorough context sensitive help. Lotus has
gone to great lengths to make Approach easy to learn and easy to use while
maintaining all the "power features" one expects to find in a world class
database management product.
        Beyond the seamless integration with other Lotus products, Approach
also offers what it calls "PowerKey Technology". This allows Approach to
read and write to a variety of other database formats including dB III and
dB IV, Paradox 3.5 and 4.0, Foxpro, MS Access, SQL server and several
others. It also allows working with other, non directly supported,
applications that utilize an ODBC driver. OLE 2.0 is supported for seamless
integration of graphics and data.
        Approach uses Lotus well known SmartIcons that allow you to
customize tool bars to do about anything you want with their products.
Common commands, menu options, loading of macros and even starting of other
applications can all be assigned a SmartIcon and added to a particular
toolbar. It comes with default icon bars for Browse, Find and Preview. There
are three default icon bars and a floating palette of icons for Design.
        Prior to trying Approach, my experience with database applications
had been limited to the fill in a few blanks address record keepers. I have
looked at several shareware database apps, but have found them all equally
confusing enough to prevent more than a short and mostly fruitless
experience. My experience with Approach during this evaluation period has
been quite the opposite and  maybe now I can finally get around to some of
those projects I have been putting off since before there even was a "round
tuit" Approach can be purchased as a single application at a MSRP of $495
after 12/31/94 and for a promotional introductory price of $129 until
12/32/94.  Street prices and upgrade prices will of course be lower.
Approach is also part of Lotus Smart Suite of applications for Windows.

                       Lotus Development Corporation
                            55 Cambridge Parkway
                            Cambridge, MA 02142
                               1-800-343-5414

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