| ★ APPLICATIONS ★ DIVERS ★ FLEXIFILE/FLEXIWRITE ★ |
FLEXIFILE/FLEXIWRITE (Amstrad Action) | FLEXIFILE/FLEXIWRITE (Popular Computing Weekly) |
Flexi File is a powerful and cheap data base (cheap as data bases go). It runs under CP/M and so it is compatible with a wide range of micros. The version reviewed was installed for and used on an Amstrad PCW 8256. Flexi File has many powerful features, often only seen on data bases at two to three or even more times the cost. One of its most powerful feature is two levels of access. There is supervisor access and user access. The supervisor can add. change or look at data whilst the user can only look at data. Both levels are accessed by passwords and the supervisor can change passwords. There are a couple of very restricting things about Flexi File. Firstly I found the input data screen screen size very limited in area, only 80 columns X 17 rows, whereas some of the more expensive data bases have over 100 columns available using a scrolling screen. Although the input data screen size is relatively small, the report size (output screen) is fairly large (117 columns). The next minor problem is that you can only have 20 fields, with a maximum length of 80 characters or if it is a Key field - the one used for sorting, then the maximum length is only 20 characters. The only other problem is the manual, which I would rate as worse than poor. It does not tell you nearly enough about using Flexi File, and although 52 pages may sound detailed it, in fact, lightly skips over or even totally misses out a number of the features of Flexi File. If you know a little bit about computers then you will find that Flexi File is simplicity itself to use. but if you aren't too sure about general computer use then the manual's instructions (or lack of them!) can be quite a problem. It's not quite all bad. it does give a glossary section, explaining what all the jargon you may encounter means. But I would hope that this is only a temporary manual and that many of the features will be explained better in a future edition. Apart from these problems. I have found that Flexi File compares very well with Cardbox which costs £99. They both have basically the same features Flexi File allows you to have 4 input screens and 8 output (report) screens defined, you can also have 8 selections defined. at one time or search on any of 4 key fields. The program makes extensive use of cursor menus, making it easy to use even if yuou've no idea what you're doing. Flexi Write (mentioned in the prices) is a word processor with mail merge facilities linked to Flexi File. It too uses cursor menus a lot. It costs £30 if bought on its own, but only £10 if purchased with Flexi File (if you have already bought Flexi File then Flexi Write is still only £10). Although Flexi Write is generally not as good as LocoScript, as supplied with the 8256. mail merge is a powerful feature and worth £10. David Wallin, PopularComputingWeekly860410 |
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