SOFTWARE REVIEW


Title:  MINI OFFICE PROFESSIONAL DATABASE PROGRAM
Comprises: Comes as part of a suite of five programs, Database; Wordprocessor; Spreadsheet; Graphics and Comms.
Authors: DATABASE SOFTWARE, Hazel Grove, Stockport. SK7 5NY
Price:  #21 from Kintech Computers, St.Tudy,Bodmin,Cornwall. PL30 3NH

	MINI OFFICE PROFESSIONAL has been a most welocme addition to my software library, it is from the well known stable that produced THE DESK TOP PUBLISHER and MASTERSCAN/MASTERPAINT.

	Needing a "Box-file" type Database that didn't cost the earth I decided to research what was available.  It had to be very user friendly and dedicated to the PCW; allow customised screen layouts; search/sort on any field (with the ability to ignore Upper/Lower case letters and FIND the string using any combination of these letters)  and mark or subdivide the database; be able to carry out calculations on certain fields/data and be flexible enough to permit changes to the record structure once created and in use.  The Mini Office Professional Database offers all this and MORE!  Some of the other available offerings seemed to not only need considerable expertise in setting up but also carried a very inflated price tag but with this package, even at the recommended retail price of #29.95 I consider it to be incredible value.

LOADING:  The main menu for the suite of programs is loaded from the A> prompt of CP/M.  This universal loader also offers a comprehensive Disc Utilities Menu and a graceful return to CP/M.  Upon exiting from any one of the programs you are returned to this menu to allow direct loading of any one of the other programs.

CREATING DATABASE STRUCTURE:  Setting up your Database is very straight forward but a little forethought and planning beforehand will enable you to get the most out of the many varied facilities offered.  The data for each field can be classified as ALPHA/NUMERIC; NUMBERS only; DATE or FORMULA which allows all number fields to be linked by quite detailed formulae and displays the result. Some nice touches are being able to not only choose the typeface you desire but also having the choice of four different type sizes for field text; the ability to insert a field between two existing fields and an onscreen reminder of the number of records available to you at the current size of your layout.  A real boon when you are creating a Database requiring a large number of records.  For a simple database with just five fields of 20 characters in each field will allow you a maximum of 3407 records. [Using a PCW8256 with the expanded RAM Disc.]
	USING THE DATABASE.  Once you have defined the database structure and entered all your available data you can browse through your records; AMEND; DELETE; MARK; SORT on as many fields as required in ascending or descending order; SEARCH any field and mark records; perform CALCULATIONS on number fields.  Whole databases can be manipulated by creating a new database of marked records or deleting marked records from an existing database and two databases may be joined together.  You can also SAVE your records in a format usable by the Wordprocessing module for mail merging.    The PRINT DATA option offers a comprehensive array of choices including Draft, NLQ or Graphic modes; seperate records by a line, page or no seperation; print with or without field names; print all or only selected marked records and there is also a Label/Report printing facility.  The programs support both the standard PCW dot matrix printer and Epson compatibles.

	Having tried many Public Domain Database offerings (and being completely baffled by several) I can heartily recommend this Database program which also comes with a pretty good Wordprocessor, Spreadsheet, Communications and Graphics Programs too.  The Graphics program painlessly converts your numeric data (which could be created using the Spreadsheet) into Bar Chart/Line Graph or Pie Chart displays with many varied options and again, full printer output is supported.  

	The ringbound MANUAL supplied is brief but concise  with a good index and tutorials with example files supplied on disc.  I had no teething problems in immediately getting started.