Lotus Approach is a relational database management system included in IBM's Lotus SmartSuite for Microsoft Windows. As a start-up company, Approach was formed in 1991 and won over 30 awards the first year, including "best of show" at Comdex. The program was considered the first "end-user relational database" that did not introduce yet another file format. Approach was sold to Lotus in 1994; Lotus was subsequently purchased by IBM. See also Comparison of office suites External links Lotus Approach home page Lotus SmartSuite home page Approach User Support IBM Fix list for SmartSuite for Windows 9.8 and fix packs Desktop database application development tools Approach Approach OS/2 software Proprietary database management systems Office suites for Windows