I’m a big fan of databases, particularly relational ones, it’s an issue, I know. One of the first apps I got for the iPhone was Bento. Bento is FileMaker’s personal database for both iPhone and Mac desktops. I liked Bento for what it did but I loathed it for what it didn’t do. It didn’t allow me to export data in any format except that which could be read by the Bento desktop application. I felt that this was criminally negligent on FileMaker’s part, to require that users purchase a desktop application in order to back up their data.
Quickly abandoning that piece of dirt (yes, I’m bitter) I migrated to Tap Forms Database. Yes, I’ll get to HanDBase in a minute, bear with me here… Tap Forms Database allows a user to build databases just like Bento only with the ability to export and import CSV files. I quickly built a database of about 600 records when Tap Forms Database started showing its weakness: speed…or lack of it. The database I was building would eventually grow to about 3000 records and I was afraid that I’d bring Tap Forms to its knees, so I searched again for the database tool that answered all my needs.
[Note: The author of Tap Forms has informed me that optimisations have been made to the engine that will allow it to handle huge databases quite elegantly. This doesn’t surprise me, Tap Forms is EXCELLENT in so many ways and I expect it will only get better and better. If a flexible, easy to use database is what you want then Tap Forms IS the one.]
Enter HanDBase. This app wasn’t pretty but it did proclaim optimisations, flexibility, and get this: relational functionality. What?! A relational database for the iPhone? How cool is that?! Okay, don’t burst my bubble.
Despite its tacky name, HanDBase lives up to its claims. You’ve got all the standard iPhone database bullet points in addition to
- Multiple customisable views per database with custom column widths
- Advanced searching on any field including optional case sensitivity
- Permissions governing nearly every action on a database
- Encryption
- CSV export (Tap Forms actually wins here, their exports rock)
- Variable font sizes on forms (application settings in the settings app)
- Relational functionality, serious w00tage here
Oh wait, this is a REAL database application. Let’s go over these things one at a time, shall we?
Multiple views per database. How sweet. Besides the obvious of giving the database a name you can also tell the view to switch to another database. When filters and sorting change you can specify whether the view updates or not. You can define which fields appear on the view as well as the default sorting. Finally you can also set default filters for the view.
Advanced search on any field is what you’d expect. Actually I was hoping for wildcard searches but being able to search on a specific field is better than Bento so I’ll keep quiet about it. You can make your search case and location (starts with…) sensitive.
Permissions and encryption in HanDBase are handled very, very well. You can set permissions for opening the database, adding records, editing the records, deleting records, editing popup menus, setting database properties and deleting the database. Whew. Furthermore you can set one of four encryption modes: Encrypt marked fields on DB Close, on Record Close, Manual Encryption, or Disable Encryption. Basically you can do pretty much anything you want with encryption and password protection.
You can export in CSV format or synch with HanDBase for the desktop. Kind of weak on the export/import side of things but it does the job. You can set the font size of forms with a slider in the app’s settings.
Last, but certainly not least, you can build relational databases in HandDBase for iPhone. There are two kinds of relational fields: Link/Linked and Relationship. Both serve a similar but distinct purpose and to be honest I’m still working out how they work.
Speaking of fields, HandDBase supports the following field types: Text, Integer, Float, Pop-Up, Check-Box, Unique, Signature, Date, Time, Link, Linked, heading, DB Popup, Calculated, Relationship, Conditional, and External. External fields can link to Photos, Camera, Phone Number, or Web Site.
Yes, this is the database for the working person in a big way. The developer is a very nice person who is trying to do his best for this product. HanDBase has been around for a long time on handheld devices and desktops and this version represents many years of hard work. It shows. Another fine app that comes very highly recommended by me.
User Interface Explorations 