Time Lines is a data management program with a historical context. The idea is that pupils, or teachers or parents, set up a database on a particular historical topic. This can be stored on a disc as a resource so that other people can gain easy access to the material.

Each historical record is kept in a card format with dates and title first, followed by the body of text. Three linking references can be set up for each record and it is possible to create teletext-style pictures to accompany some of them. A special symbol is also added to each record to indicate the nature of its information.

Three types of record are possible. Individual Dates allows an entry to be made for just one year. A Span has a precise beginning and end while an Era is a bit fuzzy at either end.

The heart of the program is the Time Line. This runs across the screen and has dates marked on it at intervals which can be set from ten years upwards. The special symbols of records will be shown above and below the time limit along with the spans and eras which have been set up.

The above and below the line idea is very clever, as the two areas are, in fact, separate databases, and this allows for comparisons - you could set up a family history above the line set in the context of general history below the line.

Cursor keys are used to scroll through the time line. At any point you can stop and press D to see the details for that year. This will show a record card if one exists, and when this is on-screen the cursor keys allow you to skim through to neighbouring records.

Searches are also possible, from both the time line and from record cards. Searches can be for dates, specific titles or for the special symbols that give a category for each record. The cross reference system allows for rapid searching for linked records.

There are two aspects of design within the program. Firstly, it is possible to set up your own special symbols to use as labels. These are generated very easily on a grid system. Teletext graphics can also be created (and linked to particular records) using a more-than-adequate design program.

The support materials with this package comprise a clearly-written manual plus a number of aids to help with gathering and collating data. These include forms for putting dates and general headings on and forms for preparing Time Lines record cards.

There are design sheets for symbol creation and a very useful sheet for the teletext graphic designing. Another reference card shows the pre-designed symbols and has space for new ones to be added. These cards are all copyright free for use in schools.

I can best put a value on Time Lines by describing what happened in my school when I received an inspection copy (Soft Teach will issue most of its programs on approval). I showed the program to the librarian who had decided within ten minutes that Time Lines was an essential for the library, particularly for setting up a local history database.

When the head of science came in, he had pledged the money to buy the program within five minutes. Apparently it will be of great help with implementing the new national curriculum in science.

The next day, the geography people decided it was essential. It seems they do work on family history, and soon after that I was approached by the history department who also felt that Time Lines had a great deal to offer - particularly by being able to relate one aspect of history to another. Eleven and twelve-year old pupils started entering their own family history and found it quite straightforward.

All of these people are aware that Time Lines is a little greedy on hardware. While it can be used with a single drive, this does involve quite a bit of disc swapping, and there is no doubt that two disc drives help a great deal.

The amount of data which can be stored on a disc depends on the format. A 40 track disc can store 160 records and 27 pictures while with an 80 track disc the number of records increases to 220. With the ADFS version, this figure can be increased to 300 records.

Time Lines is intelligent and will set up the maximum space when ou start a new database. The Archimedes version, which I'm told is coming soon - can store more than 1,000 records, including drawings.

There is one other limitation. The text entry system is not via a word processor. You have to press Return to end each line of text, and mistakes on a line can only be rectified by deleting and starting again. A careful user can quickly learn this procedure and data can be entered rapidly.

I would certainly recommend Time Lines, not only to junior and secondary schools, but also to individuals or history societies. It is a first rate package.