Airtable Convert - Looking For Feedback...
Hey everyone,
I'm writing this here to get some feedback as an Airtable convert that is considering going *back* to Airtable. I've been playing around with Ninox for about two weeks now; I've setup test databases, explored table relationships, and am playing with views and dashboards. As a convert from Airtalbe I'm struggling a little bit.
To be brief, I'm struggling with how difficult it is to accomplish simple tasks in Ninox. It admittedly took me a bit to wrap my head around table relationships and linking. But, lookup fields, dynamic choice/multi-choice etc. are WAY more difficult than they should be to implement. Take that with the fact that as your database grows you have to worry about using too many select statements as to not slow down your database and Ninox becomes overly complex. Why should I have to worrry about that at all if I'm deploying a database in the cloud? Isn't that the point of using cloud to begin with. I like the idea of extensibility and having support for a scripting language, but haven't really dug into it yet the way that I could or should.
There is a lot to like about Ninox, but I feel like my transition is a little harder than it should be. I don't post this as a criticism, I just don't know what I'm missing because it hasn't "clicked" for me. Am I giving up too soon here?
Thanks for your help!
PS - The forum software needs work. Why not use something like Discourse? It's opens source and has a bunch of features this forum could benefit from. :)
7 replies
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Hi
I would start by asking "What is it that you want to build?" For some projects Airtable (or Monday.com, etc) will be an ideal fit. I would class most of these projects as collaborative such as a lightweigt CRM or Project Management tool. Some will be analytical and I'd suggest Excel or Googe Sheets. When the project is transactional, working with Orders, Invoices, etc I'd start to consider FileMaker or Ninox. That's not to say Ninox isn't a great collaborative tool too and I doubt you would need to delve into scripting much to achieve your outcome.
Your fear about select statements shouldn't be the deciding factor. Any language worth its salt will have a tool like this in its arsenal, just get a feel for where it is appropriate to use it and where it isn't. What's the saying? With great power comes great responsibility. We are here to point you in the right direction.
Regards John
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I'm with John on this .
All software has it's strengths and limtations, whether stand alone, networked or in the cloud. You can either accept those differences, live with a compromise or walk away from that software.
I would decide on what you want to achieve and stick with a software you know or are comfortable to use. If it's Airtable then so be it!. but... Something must of a doubt to make you waiver at Airtable to look at Ninox.
Ninox is (sometimes) Quirky but fundamentally it does a great job. Scripting really unleases the power behind it, but it is not essential.
If you decide to explore Ninox further then you be sure that there are some dedicated users on the forum that will help you all we can.
Good luck with what ever your decision is.
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The Chucker wrote:
PS - The forum software needs work. Why not use something like Discourse? It's opens source and has a bunch of features this forum could benefit from. :)
Someone could say:
This is the big question (among others)...
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Ninox has been promising a new forum for now over two years. It will be right up there with a Win app.
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Given up - hoping for better forum :-(
Even the little motorcyle club I belong has a great forum that keeps threads as topics - so you can sinply go down the list or search for that topic and bingo all the threads are attached and in date order
Maybe we should start out own aternative one ?
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Tempting to create an independent forum, but I worry that people won't find it.
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I had the same thoughts. I would be interested.
Content aside
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