dBase IV: A Review
| Date | 01 March 1989 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047763 |
| Pages | 23-28 |
| Published date | 01 March 1989 |
| Author | Donald D. Dennis,Mark C. Paster |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
dBase IV: A Review
Donald D. Dennis and Mark C. Paster
The database manager ranks with the word pro-
cessor and the spreadsheet as being one of the
most important applications software packages for
the small computer. A relational database system
allows two or more databases to be used concur-
rently, the manipulation of one affecting the man-
ipulation of the others. A circulation system is
a good example of a relatively simple relational
database management system. dBASE IV, microcom-
puter-based package that can be employed for
many library applications, is compared to its pre-
decessor, dBASE III Plus, and is recommended
pending elimination of existing bugs.
The relational database manager ranks with
the word processor and the spreadsheet as being
one of the most important applications software
packages for the small computer. Its concepts were
transported from mainframe computer technology,
and it is now offered by many major software com-
panies. Among the better known packages are dBASE
II,
dBASE III, and dBASE HI Plus, as well as the
long-awaited dBASE IV from Ashton-Tate; Rbase
from Microrim; Borland's Reflex and Paradox;
Clipper by Nantucket; and Foxbase from Fox and
Geller. dBASE IV, the subject of this review, should
be a joy for the unsophisticated database user,
and, in its present form, perhaps a bit of a dis-
appointment for the serious dBASE user.
This review of dBASE IV is divided into three
parts.
The first is a discussion of relational database
management systems of which dBASE IV is an ex-
ample; the second is a review of the three levels
at which dBASE IV may be used; and the third
is a comparison of dBASE IV with its predecessor,
dBASE III Plus.
THE RELATIONAL DATABASE MANAGER
As with so many computer applications, the
basic concept is very simple and based on familiar
applications from non-computer environments. To
a certain extent, any system in which information
may be searched by one or more identifiers may
be thought of as a database. What is unique about
the type of database under discussion is that it
is structured. A structured database is simply a
collection of homogeneous records, in the sense
that all the records in the database are organized
Dennis is University Librarian Emeritus, The
American University and Paster is Systems
Coordinator, The Consortium of Universities in
the Washington Metropolitan Area.
ISSUE 27 23
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