Ability Database is a powerful data management system that is perfect for storing and analysing structured data or information, including address books, inventories, customer and product lists, medical records, and any other data that can be usefully tabulated.
Each Ability Database essentially consists of these elements:
- basic data Tables, which are designed using a variety of Field types, including Numerical, Date/Time, Character, and many others
- the data entered by the user into the Records that make up a table
- a way of viewing a table, either as a Grid, a Form, or a Report
- special tables called Relations, which are constructed from other tables that have one or more fields in common
- actions that can be performed on tables, known as Queries: sorting records into various orders by using a Sort Order, selecting records of particular interest with a Filter, rearranging, hiding or showing fields (columns) using a Columns View
- queries can be named and saved and used whenever you need them
- construction of complex queries from combinations of sort orders, filters and column views
Using Database Manager, Database’s central command area, you can create and display all of your database objects – tables, forms, reports, relations, filters, sort orders, column views, and queries – in one convenient tree structure. This is similar to the structure of Windows Explorer and can be expanded or contracted by clicking on the appropriate + or –.
Here are some more of the features that make Ability Database such a powerful data management tool:
- Recent Folders and Recent Files sidecar menus to make locating and opening files easier and quicker
- compatibility with Microsoft Access data tables – based on the same database engine Microsoft use for Microsoft Access
- single-click querying for simple filters, sort orders and column views
- queries can be used in Spreadsheet and Write files in conjunction with merge fields – unique to Ability Office
- quick and easy browsing of tables and forms
- design more complex forms and reports in Design Mode
- insert database fields, lookup summary fields, formula fields, table grids, and other objects into forms and reports
- single-click switching between tables, forms and reports
- wizards that take care of creating tables, reports and mailing labels
- full SQL-statement editing
- unlimited number of records per table
- Macros - use VBScript, OLE automation and programmable forms
- Print to PDF to enable you to create a PDF file from any table, form, report, relation or query
- classic toolbars to make many tasks as easy as a single click of your mouse
There are many more features in Database to help you with your data management tasks.
Microsoft Access compatibility has been improved with support for standard database security; 'mdb' files can be opened exclusively or shared, read-only or read & write.
Open Database dialog showing Security options at the bottom.
A new look Database Manager makes it easier to view sub queries and database objects, and it includes support for collection of all database objects into a 'favourites' or user-defined group.
Database Manager view showing use of Groups
Major improvements now supported in Forms design are; Sub-Forms, which permit ‘form within a form’ structures, with single and continuous scrolling modes, Table look-up, a new field property to display related table content within a grid control, and Form navigation buttons within the form window, complete with record number indicator.
Section of master form showing two sub-forms, each with form navigation buttons:
Enhancements to Reporting include; Widow and Orphan controls to keep grouped fields, headers and footers together in reports; the 'Can Grow' field property, which allows individual record details to be expanded vertically in a report to display a fields full content, and, local Field Formatting, which allows specific formatting to be applied to all fields in a report.
Format Section dialog, showing options for 'Group' Widow and Orphan controls.
