Question

I need to build a quicken like application, where data needs to be secure. I don’t see any database being used by Quicken. I could use XML, MDF or Access database, but data is not secure in the tables. What is the best option? How does Quicken handle it? My application may also have document attachments as well. The functionality of this application is similar to quicken but not an accounting/financial in functionality.

Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

I’m really not sure what you’re getting at. Quicken may use it’s own database format (or it might just be something like SQLLite or BerkeleyDB) but that doesn’t make it “secure”, just “obscure”.

Nothing stops me from opening a quicken datafile and changing data around if I want, either randomly, or if I understand the format deliberately.

Are you really asking for a standalone database format?

Update:

Based on your responses, then a good choice would probably be SQLCE (Sql Server Compact Edition). This creates a binary file and is based on the SQL Server backend, but it is not client/server. It’s more like an access database, but far more capable.

Also, since I notice you ask about license, there is no client access license required if you are not using sql ce in a client/server mode. If you are using it in standalone mode, no cal is required.