Factfile, the introductory database program, was made available to primary schools as part of the Micro Primer pack. Despite its limitations, or perhaps because of them, I've found it to be by far the most useful part of the package. Its format enables children from a fairly early age to create and interrogate a database with confidence.

This suite of programs includes a revised version of Factfile which improved file handling capabilities, a printer option, a datafile copying utility and Picfile, which enables files created using Factfile to be displayed in graphical form through countgraphs, cumulative count graphs and scatter grams. Also included in the package are three datafiles on children's statistics and graveyard and weather statistics, plus a manual giving general instructions, background to the datafiles and suggestions for follow-up activities including worksheets.

Pictorial representation has been recognised as an important aspect of mathematics. Unfortunately so much time is often spent on the drawing of the graphs that there isn't enough to discuss and interpret the findings. While it is not suggested that children do not need to know how to draw graphs, just as with the use of the calculator for computation, Picfile can take much of the chore out of the work.

As with Factfile, the program works from a menu and, having loaded the datafile, the user is presented with a choice page - see all the headings, plot a countgraph, plot of scattergram, or choose a new file.

In the countgraph option the computer sorts the statistics for the given heading into ten equally spaced intervals which are shown on the screen before the graph is displayed, e.g. height of children, and followed by the mode and the mean figures and an option to draw a cumulative graph. The scattergram is a matrix drawn between two of the variables, e.g. height and weight, which provides a very useful means for spotting relationships or lack of relationships.

Understandably there are some limiting factors in using either option, e.g. the information might be too varied to be illustrated. This in itself can provide a useful discussion point - they might consider the kinds of questions which are answered satisfactorily by Picfile or whether Factfile might prove more useful or whether, if the original questions were worded more carefully, the answers might provide more suitable information for display.

Information retrieval can be a time-consuming task so it is essential that as much work as possible not requiring the computer takes place away from it. The printer options, which were sadly missing from the original version of Factfile are available on disc version of this package for Epson printers.

Pressing CTRL and @ while a page of Factfile or a graph/scattergram from Picfile is on the screen sends a screen dump file to the disc. By returning to the main menu and loading the Printer option, the user is then able to use this file to print out a copy of the screen - excellent size for wall display or placing in an exercise book

The option to print a complete datafile is on the menu at the beginning of the "Record a File" section of Factfile, and a normal size print version of an individual record is available by pressing CTRL and B while the required information is on the screen.

This is a utility program which enables the user to make back-up copies of files created by Factfile or other programs. It enables files to be transferred from disc to disc, disc to tape or vice versa. While it worked satisfactorily for all modes, I found it crashed after I'd transferred a file from disc to tape and had to reload it to continue with further transfers - I presume it remained in the tape mode!

I've been using the prepublication version of this suite of programs on teachers' courses for almost a year and without exception it has been very well received. Undoubtedly it's a must for all schools using Factfile.

The handbook is, without question, the most comprehensive and practical I've seen and will be welcomed by all teachers, whether they're keen to start or apprehensive of working with database work. I suspect graveyard surveys could be the in-project for 1985 - vicars beware!

The first published version of Picfile, despite the information in the handbook which permitted a back-up copy to be made, had a protection on it which prevented the printer option working. Fortunately, CUP quickly recognised the problem and have sent out information which clears it, i.e. the printer programs SCNSAVE and DSKPRINT must be copied onto the same disc as the screenfiles.

Two minor amendments to the Factfile (FACTFLI) program permit printouts of individual records without the screen instructions:

1. for the normal print version (CTRL & B), in line 19210 change FOR I%=0 TO 24 to FOR I%=2 TO 20
2. for the Printer option lines 5200 and 5800 change PROCv(4) to PROCv(0) line 12800 change 22 to 25 rest of lines remain the same.