Filemaker is easier to use, but Access represents the evolving future standard. Filemaker has the advantage of being Web- publishable, while both Filemaker and Access can be linked to digital files for Web display. Some other programs will automatically create or allow you to create HTML or SGML links, the code that allows the database to be used on the Web. Some of the specially designed programs for museums and archives have the same features and are easy to use. These tend to be more expensive, but if they are exportable and meet your needs, they may also be a good choice.
Every institution s needs are different.
The basic fields explained in Dublin Core are the most important for future connections, and they probably will also be the most common ones that you will use. Once your computer hardware and database software are purchased it is important that you devote some time upfront becoming familiar with them. There is usually a tutorial. Going through the software carefully in the beginning will help you understand the boxes and layout that you might prefer, and find easy to work with. You can move fields around so that the ones important to you are where you see them first.