Need a database for your C64? Barry Miles reviews a new package

When a computer has sold in the numbers the Commodore 64 has, the market is ripe for powerful databases to attract the business user. Superbase is one such program.

The manual, a substantial A5 book, outlines the starting-up procedures. The program loads in about two minutes from a 1541 drive and, having created or inserted a data disk, you're ready to use Superbase.

The program is both command and menu-driven. Each record is limited to a generous 1,100 characters and the maximum size of a file is only restricted by the capacity of the disk drive in use; from the small 1541 to a hard disk. There's a maximum of 15 files in one database and, although only one file at a time may be opened, you can switch to another from within the program. This opens interesting possibilities for inter-file activities.

Records are selected by Key, giving access in three seconds, no matter how large the file or how slow your disk unit. Keys can be up to 30 characters from anywhere in a record and you can use any field in a file to call on records from other files. Large records will not usually fit on a single screen and can be split over a maximum of four.

Fields may be defined as constants or formulae and in the latter case are automatically recalculated when the contents of one of the source fields in a record is altered. This means you can have a small spreadsheet within each record.

Data validation occurs when Key, Date or Numeric data are entered and comprehensive browse features make it easy to update records. Finding records is carried out rapidly. Boolean comparisons are allowed and you can match with contents of fields and/or the whole record, looking for strings in specific locations or on a sliding basis (rather like INSTR in Basic). This is invaluable; often you may known what you want to find, but have no idea where the item may be. A list of Keys of records matching your chosen criteria can be saved to disk for use in reports.

Superbase goes beyond the restricted report facilities of other databases. Any list of selected keys can be used and the sorting facilities are substantial: sorts can be made on the basis of part fields. A report can be sent to screen or printer and any text can be inserted at any point. You can truncate fields and use formatting to align numeric data.

Calculations can be performed as part of the report generation process and the results printed.

Superbase has a CALC function, so spreadsheet-like activities can be performed, CALC can be used for immediate calculations on a given field in any record, or with the command BATCH to affect a number of records at a time.

Superbase provides a programming environment, so Superbase programs can be tailored to meet your own needs. This is a powerful addition to a database. Any command in the menu may be used in a sort of execute file and there are a variety of other words.

Other programming tools are available, and these are mostly to do with print formatting: setting page and line lengths; sending line-feeds; page break handling and so on.

Seven conditional commands let you specify what is to happen if a record does not match, or only partially matches criteria.

Superbase is frustrating to use in a number of ways, these were mostly related to a poor user interface. The opportunity to tell you what to do next is woefully neglected. Sometimes you are asked which file you want to access, but there is no simple way of getting a directory of filenames on the logged data disk. Similarly, when setting out details of a report, you cannot find field names, but have to rely on printout.

The two main menus are not numbered, nor do they have different headings. Sometimes yoou have to press 'q' for 'Quit', sometimes the stop key and there are no exit prompts.

A major shortfall is the lack of facilities within the program to create files as subdivisions of existing files. While this is possible by programming, most users probably won't be able to cope with this kind of problem.

The manual doesn't explain how to obtain a selective sequential file for use with a word processor. You can do this using the command OUTPUT in a special way, but the information needed is tucked away in another part of the manual.

The introductory section of the Output part of the manual only covers screen and printer and it's not until a further eight pages that disk output is mentioned. There's a similar problem when trying to obtain a selective list of Keys of records which match criteria you have selected. The function key which invokes this operation automatically puts the information in a disk file called 'Hlist'. The manual instructs you to type in the command with a filename to avoid the default list. This is fine - but why no warning? Inexperienced users are likely to lose a previously prepared list.

Superbase contains powerful facilities and extends the capabilities of the C64 as a business machine. It needs tidying up for easier use; the manual needs an index and more information showing how to carry out infrequent but vital operations easily.

Features 4/5
Documentation 3/5
Performance 3/5
Usability 2/5
Reliability 3/5
Overall value 3/5