Coolbase
Introduction
Argentum Coolbase is a unique tree-like database
software that can store any kind of information you want to organize,
such as text, numbers, links, pictures, music and even binary files.
All that information, including binary content, is stored in a
tree-structured database.
Many unique features make Coolbase stand out from other similar
programs. Great design rendered Coolbase great flexibility in handling
a vast amount of daily computing tasks. For example, Coolbase
can be used as a note taker, a diary keeper, a recipe book, a project
organizer, a personal contact list, a link organizer, a photo album, a
text editor, and much more!
All these are nicely fit into one combined program that will make
your life a lot easier. The tree structured freeform database is ideal
to store random information. Coolbase also comes with powerful search
and reporting capabilities.
Market Appeal
Who needs Coolbase data management capabilities?
- Anyone who is trying to organize personal data of any kind, like
contacts or notes, and is not satisfied by the ordinary organizers
available on the market. Try a new generation of organizer - the
dendritic organizer.
- Anyone who is interested in or obliged to maintain tree-structured
or heterogeneous information. In many aspects Argentum Coolbase
can be considered a DBMS system.
- Anyone who likes to play with modern information management
solutions. Dendriform storage as well as graph storage is a somewhat
modern field of research. Advanced users, scientists, like
mathematicians, geographers, physicists, chemists, etc.
-
All of you are welcome.
You can further familiarize
yourself with the basic features and applications of Coolbase.
Exploring
Coolbase interface is quite similar to the Windows
Explorer interface and is therefore easy to learn and navigate. The
main window, called explorer, is used to browse and alter
trees or databases. It is divided into three resizable
panes, with status bar at the bottom, and title bar on the top.
- Left tree pane shows you a tree structure. In the left pane
you can browse folders and sections. Items can be expanded or
collapsed.
- Bottom list pane shows you a list of items from currently
selected item in the left pane. Bottom pane can be presented in either
of four ways: large icons, small icons, icon list, and details.
- Top property pane displays properties (descriptions) attached
to the item, currently selected in the bottom pane.
Every item, either on the left or the bottom or the top pane has
its own pop-up menu. If you right-click it, a menu will show up by it,
displaying all the options available over the selected item.
Items
In Coolbase you primarily work with trees full of
items. Item is a foundational element of the tree. You can
browse items in either the left pane or the bottom pane. It's up to you
how to organize the information but majority of editing capabilities
are only available from the bottom pane.
Let's learn how to build trees. First move to the bottom list
pane. Here you will be able to build your own data structures by
adding, deleting, moving and editing items.
To add a new item use Ins key or a command from the menu. To
delete an item or a groups of items, first select what you want to
delete in the bottom pane, then use Del key or a corresponding
command from the menu. You can move items by dragging and dropping
them between the bottom list pane and the left tree pane.
The next important step you will need to make after adding items to
the tree is populating those items with actual information. You can
attach many kinds of information to the items by using so-called
properties.
Properties
Besides structural modifications i. e. adding, deleting, moving
items, Coolbase, like any other organizer, lets you fill your
databases with actual information. In Coolbase you attach information
in the form of properties. Coolbase is unique in supporting a
vast amount of property types. You won't find an organizer featuring
that degree of flexibility and completeness in handling information.
While most of others let you store formatted text and pictures only,
Coolbase supports the following rich set of property types to arrange
your information:
- single-line strings and multi-line paragraphs.
- formatted integer numbers of varied size and representation: binary, decimal, hexadecimal.
- formatted float numbers of varied size and precision.
- dates, times, dates and times combined.
-
check boxes to store multiple choice selections.
-
combo boxes to store exclusive choice.
- binary streams and files to store pictures, music, documents and any binary data.
-
links to link to files and folders on your computer, Internet pages, web-sites and e-mails.
The summary chart will show you how these properties look like:
To edit properties for a selected item just right-click in the top
pane and choose one of the available commands. You may add, remove,
and edit properties. Use Alt-E shortcut to quickly switch into
edit mode. Save your modifications by using Alt-S shortcut.
A more detailed information on properties is available in a
separate topic.
Searching
Searching for a particular item or property is very easy with
Coolbase. To make a query, you should specify a text fragment you want
to find. Wildcards can be used: ? - for any single character,
* - for any number of characters.
You are able to search for the text fragment in any particular
property of your choice. You can also limit your search to only
folders and sections.
To start searching, click the Search! button. Items will be
displayed immediately as they found. The status bar will
display the total number of items found. By double-clicking on any
item you'll be switched to the explorer, and the current selection
will move to that item. This feature greatly simplifies item
locating.
Publishing
With the publishing feature of Argentum Coolbase you will be able
to prepare your catalog for public presentation, publish it to the
Internet, send it through e-mail, or print it out and get a hard
copy.
Moreover, as many data processing applications support HTML
importing nowadays, publishing can also help you if you would ever
want to import Coolbase's catalog into your favorite database
or spreadsheet application.
Read more about publishing here.
Final note
Congratulations! You have completed the tutorial. Now you should be
aware of the five basic principles of Argentum Coolbase. It is as
simple as one, two, three, four, five:
- You keep any of your data in a portable tree-like
database.
- You organize a layout of your data with the help of items
and add actual content by using properties.
- With the help of properties you have unique, truly
unlimited possibilities to organize your information. Possibilities
you won't find elsewhere.
- You search for a particular item or property and locate it
instantly, with a single click.
- You publish your database to share it with your friends,
colleagues, your web-site visitors, anyone who could be interested in
it.
That's it. This is how Coolbase can help you.
In conclusion...
While there are many advanced features within Coolbase, this
tutorial just goes through the basics. To learn more about those
advanced features you may read additional topics of this manual,
especially the
Interface
topic and the
Definitions
topic.
In case you still have a question after reading the tutorial,
please don't hesitate to contact us, as we
have a very responsive support team. Remember that you're using a
trial copy with limited functionality, hence don't forget to buy
licensed, fully-functional copy of Coolbase.
Best of luck.
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