Let's expect that you all are experienced, veteran Delphi.Database users.
:-)

We are not. We come from Excel. Now there are two excellent students here
who dream in Delphi. What they never dreamed about is databases, just games.
So, before we begin building a program, let's ask around. All ideas are
there, the graphics are ready.

We already have detailed outlines, without any redundancy, of our database
(using FCO-IM). (Parts of the) database may be fairly big, e.g. 40.000
records might be possible (we think). For now it will NOT be a client-server
application, just some users for the same database stored somewhere.

So there's bassically three questions: what databasemethod/provider/brand
are we going to use, how are they licenced (once, or for every buyer a
licence) and which one's are fast? Has it to do with ADO/DAO/ODBC?  It does
not necceserally have to be the cheapest solution! It's more a question of
your every-day experience, collegues!

Stupid thing is, once we now what to look for, we can find our way in all
the newsgroups, but not for this rather basic question....

Thanks.

For speed you should look at something like Codebase -- I never used
it with Delphi myself, but apparently it's fast. Or you could use
Access, Paradox, DBISAM... Again, check prices and licence agreements
on those.

ODBC will connect your delphi app to almost anything; however, ODBC
is usually slow. ADO/DAO are MS evil, they'll work with Access and
that's about it. BDE (Borland Database Engine, comes with delphi) has
native drivers for many DB formats (paradox is their native DB) but
then there's a number of BDE replacements like Apollo. Then there's
components that let you connect to DBs without BDE & friends: ADO
direct, Oracle direct etc.

I guess it's not the answer you were looking for... I you use whatever
sql server you have -- if you decide on using sql server -- or Paradox
if you decide to use a desktop DB.

DBISAM is a third-party add-on that compiles directly into executables and
has no run-time licensing fees. The authors offer phenomenal on-line
support - www.elevatesoft.com.

thanks for the reaction. Especially the link to the Kylecordes.com was very
helpful. Thanks for that tip!