🚀 go-pugleaf

 I have a very large database which I am putting onto a Macintosh using 4th
dimension.  It is initially about 40-45 mb, and it will increase by about 250
mb when I get the historical data into it.  Thereafter it will increase at the
rate of about 45 mb per annum.

Now, I don't really need to keep the database on a mainframe, which is more
expensive (both in running costs and development costs) and takes longer to
develop the system.  Also, the time taken to run reports isn't really an issue.
 I am happy to set the reports off in the evening and pick them up the next
morning.

Nevertheless, I would like to keep the database as small and fast as possible. 
Since we only report on historical data occasionally, I thought I would keep
history on a tape, and copy it onto a disc when I need to use it.  I also
thought I would keep a separate database for the most recent two years.

But I was wondering if anyone has some thoughts on ways to manage historical
data.  Sometimes I will want to report on time periods which overlap years
(hence I have one big historical database instead of a few smaller ones - is it
possible to overcome this difficulty in the new version of 4th dimension?). 
Any ideas on managing large databases on a pc would be appreciated.  Also, any
ideas on designing a faster database would also be of interest.


Thank you for any assistance


Paul.