Software has drawbacks; lack of batch importing severely hampers its ability to handle large files

Ezenet bills its program Instabase as "the do it all database." While it is remarkably easy to setup and use, it doesn't quite do it all. With MP3 all the rage, the ability to handle audio clips would seem essential to any database.

While it is possible to add an image file (.bmp, .jpg, .gif and .pcx) to any database record, Instabase cannot add either audio or video files to the database itself. They can, however, be attached to a particular record in the database, but if you are trying to build a database of multimedia files themselves, it is of limited value.

Its ability to handle image files is also severely hampered by its lack of batch importing. I maintain an image database of 20,000 files to use as a test bed for software reviews, but the prospect of entering them one at a time would frighten even the most diehard database junkie. I speak from experience, having created a 13,000-record asteroid database for NASA.

The programs' interface is quite simple. On the left are 15 fields for data entry, which can be increased by an additional 78 if needed. On the right is a field for adding images, and in between a vertical radio button list that allows you to sort on any of the first nine fields. At bottom right is a field for adding extensive comments about any entry.

Fields can also be protected by a password.

The import and export features of Instabase are its best features. If you have a database in another program such as Excel, Dbase, Oracle or FoxPro, Instabase can import them if they are saved as a delimited text file. Likewise, it can export your database to other spreadsheet or database programs. In either case, you are limited to 100 fields.

Exporting to the Web is the feature most likely to excite users, especially those who don't know how to write scripts or HTML code. A wonderful example is a membership database of cyber artists (http://members.tripod.com/%7Esurfernews/cbthum/cbdbase.html) where you can not only get some basic information about each artist, but an example of their work. You can either click through the database, or use keywords to search for a particular type of artist.

After finishing your database, Instabase offers a wizard to guide you through the simple process of publishing to the Web. Like most programs, it uploads via file transfer protocol (FTP).

Unfortunately it cannot upload via Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP), which my digital subscriber line (DSL) provider requires, but the files can be loaded into Netscape Composer and uploaded from there.

Web publishing allows a maximum of 15 fields to be selected. Just select your database, which fields you want on the Web site, and what directory you want the appropriate files saved to.

What could easily take many hours to create by Java scripting or programming can be done in seconds.

Instabase also lets you select the colour of your engine background, engine text and HTML page. The 31-page booklet that accompanies the CD- ROM says that these colour features run along the left side of the wizard; actually they are on the right. Images and comments can also be included in your online database.

A field that contains a Web address will be highlighted in red, and your browser can go to that site by clicking on a button that appears to its left.

Instabase has two other main tabs: Reports and Charts. The Reports tab has a glitch. In step one, you select something to search for. For example, in a name field, you can search for the name William.

You can also limit the search to cover record one through 10, for example.

However, if you click on the Number field, and leave the two fields blank that delimit the search, the program will give an error message: filter expression incorrectly terminated.

That would be fine, except that the program then goes into a "wait" mode that never ends.

The hourglass figure will disappear if you go back to the database tab, but such an action is hardly welcome.

If you get past step one, you can then select which fields you wish to output, whether to do so in ascending or descending order, and what format to generate the output. After a screen preview, you can select HTML (auto table generator), Excel (spreadsheet), WordPad (rows/columns) or NotePad (single record format). The entire report configuration can be saved for future use.

The Chart tab lets you view your database in four ways: pie, bar, horizontal and area charts.

Despite deficiencies which will certainly be addressed in future versions, Instabase is a solid program that will find a wide audience ready to use its Web publishing abilities.

REPORT CARD

Instabase 4.2e HH

System requirements: A Pentium 90 with 16 MB of RAM and 15 MB of hard disk space.

Hits: Ability to publish database on Web.

Misses: No batch importing.

The verdict: Easy way to create and publish a database, but needs to mature further.

Price: $89

Contact: Ezenet Inc., (416) 482-3037, www.instabase.com.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Plesman Publications
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group