Brilliant Database

V9.4

Liked:

• Excellent data massaging capabilities.
• Custom export templates.
• Logical, visual script editor.
• Form designer.
• Stability (I have never lost data in 4 years of heavy use).
• Query builder.
• Calendar.
• File parser.
• Can embed attachments.
• Actively developed over the years; my 'disliked' list below is has shrunk to almost nothing.

Disliked:

• UI is somewhat sticky, like a VB app.
• Re-linking to files in the same directory as the existing link via the URL field is a chore.
• Couldn't nest or group records in the record-list pane (but can with query results).
• Couldn't build a query that checks if a field string is 'contained-by' another field string (but can by 'contains').
• Couldn't use if/then in a text formula, EG: if [status] == "done" then "#FF0000" else "#FFE600". This must be scripted instead.
• Couldn't format text using a delimiter. EG: [$date^text DELIM-2] = "Fri-20-Jun" - "20"

Would like to have seen:

• Interactive spelling check (standard red wavy lines) in multi-line text fields, spelling sugestions/correction in the right-click menu.
• True WYSIWYG report editing that can be accurately exported to html or PDF.
• Scriptable or manual grouping of records in the record list.
• POP3 script actions, incl. SSL, 'is-on-server' status per email, 'remove-from-server' function per email, 'ignore attachment' and 'ignore html' retrieve options. BDB could make an excellent email client.
• Multiple recordsets per calendar.
• More icons, quick plunder-from-exe option.
• Portable version.
• Linux version.

Conclusion:

BDB has been a valuable tool for storing, organizing and formatting data. It allows for a good deal of eccentricity and customization of the design and presentation of text, numerical and image information.

I use BDB to automatically generate and update websites from records, as well as keep track of bills, invoices, contacts and tasks... it has been my office, except for email. I move around often and use different computers so the lack of a portable version and Linux version are a problem - I must keep text-files and python scripts as a backup for when I'm away from my windows computer for a while :(

[Edited by cpb, May 10]

[Edited by cpb, May 10]