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Show Manufacturers of easy-to-use databases need to build in 'unplannable' features y,lBiisiiiess Computer by Franklynn Peterson andJudy KTurkol The big reason most people want small computers is for tucking away masses of data and then hopefully hopeful-ly finding any fact on demand. The programs designed to store and retrieve data are called databases. Here's one of the big ironies in small computers: While some very fine databases are sold for large computers, for desktops most are pretty dismal. In a recent column, we outlined the three major categories- of database programs. To review: Filing programs are easy to learn and use but data storage space and retrieval are both minimal. Small databases are easy to learn and can deal with lots of data, but they're still too inflexible for most long-term business needs. Big databases are often the best investment, in-vestment, but they're all compromises, com-promises, too. The best known big databases are old-timers Condor and dBase II and last year's faster but not easier dBase III. DBase II doesn't optimize the speed and power of newer computers, com-puters, and all three packages force you to learn how to program them well or they won't hold and sort data in a way that's best for your needs. Some of the best newer programs are finding ways around the pro-gramming pro-gramming language barrier. They're leading you more by the hand than before. But that's not the big databases' worst problem. The worst is that they overlook the fact that no business can predict accurately what your information needs will be database files.. That makes set-up easy if you want to file customer records exactly the way Cornerstone's Cor-nerstone's programmers would. Otherwise, forget it. Cornerstone does handle files of almost unlimited size but it doesn't do any of the other three basics we enumerated. Inforcom (1-800-262-6868) sells it for IBM PC and compatibles for $495. Next Step, the third new easy-to-set-up database, lets you define keys and avoid record duplication. But it permits just two paragraphs of information in-formation per record, won't make batch changes and prints labels just one-across. We do like the fact that it lets you design how your computer screen will look when entering or retrieving data. That's a handy feature. For IBM PC and compatibles, com-patibles, it costs $345. For a $9 demo disk, phone Execuware at 919-760-3576. The authors will answer questions and send a checklist of available back issues. Send a stamped, self-addressed self-addressed envelope to The Business Computer, 4343 W. Beltline Hwy., Madison, Wis. 53711. Comparative details on computer , price and performance are found in a 4,000-word special report, "Your Personal Computer Buying Guide." For your copy, send a $3 check payable to Newspaperbooks for Report FP02, in care of the Park Record, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, UT 84060. (c) 1985 PK Associates, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Media Ser- j vides, Inc. j ,fi : ; : , . ' : , ' ! next year or the year after. What all of us need is a database that can handle jobs we haven't even thought about yet! In our consulting business, we describe this to clients as planning for the unplannable. For instance, there are four database features that, sooner or later, everyone will wish they had. One, there's the simple matter of mailing label flexibility. Sooner or later, you'll want to print some, yet practically no database program lets you use those quick-printing, money-saving three- and four-across labels without extensive programming. programm-ing. Most are set up for one-across labels. . ' , ' .,, Two, the next time you liaise prices or change sales strategy, you'll probably want to update hundreds hun-dreds of records in your database all at once. Almost no easy-to-use database package does batch updates. up-dates. You need to update manually manual-ly record by record. ; ,r;( Three, you'll get lots of duplicate entries in your database unless you pick one that keys entries. The key is usually made from identifiers such as zip codes and parts of names. For instance, if the database identifies Frank as FRPET53711, Judi would be JUKTU537U. Only this kind of database warns you if you're duplicating an entry, i . Four, most database packages restrict you to 250 to 500 characters .oft data per subject. That's barely two paragraphs! If it's enough now, " we bet it won't always be.. After studying a bunch of new big databases that don't make you learn programming to work them, we can recommend three. But to get non-programmers' non-programmers' ease in set-up and use, they all give up storage and retrieval flexibility. DATAEASE's tradeoffs aren't extreme. ex-treme. You can pack as much data into one of its records as we got into ithis entire column. It offers several r methods for doing batch updates. And it's been on sale long enough - that its bugs are mostly fixed and its i manual won't lead you astrayxFor ; t.IBM PC and compatibles, Wang, TI j and DEC Rainbow, it's $600. If your dealer doesn't stock it, phone Soft-' Soft-' ware Solutions, Inc. at 1.800-243-5123. Cornerstone, unlike most .databases, resembles a spreadsheet ' program in that it stores and ; displays its data in rows and col-Lumns col-Lumns instead of record fields. That makes it easy to transfer in files from spreadsheets like 1-2-3. But it comes with its own pre-defined a v. - |