Best program for SQL database manipulation

[Rhadamanthys]

Hello All

I am a relative beginner to SQL databases & new to this forum, so please bear with me if my query is too basic and advise if this question belongs somewhere else

I began working at a company that uses a program that stores data in an SQL database running off a Firebird engine

The program itself doesnt come with database management/administration module, so I'll need to use an external program for manipulating data in the tables that the database contains.

I have relatively little knowledge in SQL programming, which is why I would like to know which is the most powerful program for SQL database updating / manipulation?

This database has tables that has an infinite number of joins with other tables - Even MS Access wasnt able to open a few tables in this database because of the number of joins. I have tried Access & Lotus Approach, Approach manages to do a better job than Access, it open the tables & seems like it will let me import external data directly into the SQL table, but takes forever & usually just bums out giving an error after a very long wait…..

My question is - Apart from Access & Approach, are there any more powerful, yet user friendly programs out there that can help me update data directly into SQL tables? What options do I have - the tasks I need to perform are pretty simple updating & cleaning of data already in there

Please, I will hugely appreciate any pointers that you guys the experts might have for me in this regard

Thanks
Alex

[WingedPanther]

You may want to try Database Workbench. I use it a lot and am very happy with it. It also sounds like the database may have some design issues.

[Rhadamanthys]

Thanks for the reply
I assume you say the database may have design issues because of what I mentioned about Access not being able to open tables. I dont know if thats the case though - I'm getting the impression that Access is just not capable of handling complex tables. The error I get is
"The operation failed. There are too many indexes on the table 'xxx'. Delete some of the indexes on the table and try the operation again"

Furthermore, when I try & open the same table with Lotus Approach, it opens straight up without a hitch...

Database workbench can be used in lieu of Access or Approach? is it more powerful?

Thanks
Alex

[Crane]

You say SQL database but what type of database is it? MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL?

I would try Toad though, it works well.