Earlier this year we reported that R-Comp had taken over development of DataPower, a database program for RISC OS users. Since then we have seen the development of a 32bit version of DataPower 2. And now R-Comp has announced another new release, DataPower Home.The R-Comp announcement states that DP Home "brings friendly databasing to RISC OS users; with a simple "drag-and-drop" approach and a DTP-like WYSIWYG view".
DP Home is based on Iota Software's DataPower 1, but R-Comp say it's been brought up-to-date and features components from DP 2, 32bit compatability, as well as tackling some well-known problems. New updated documentation has also been produced with tutorials designed specifically for this new version.
Prospective users deciding between DP Home and DP 2 will have to consider the main difference between the two: the former is a flat-file database management program and the latter employs relational database management. Whereas a flat-file database stores, organizes, and retrives information from one file at a time, a relational database can share information between files. For example, if you had a database of pupils' names and addresses, you might have a second database that contains their medical details. Rather than having to duplicate data (i.e. having a second copy of the same set of data) their names could be drawn from the first database. For large projects this can save huge amounts of time and hard disc space.
R-Comp explains, "the idea behind DataPower Home is to offer users a well-rounded product for less than 50UKP, without some of the more sophisticated, and perhaps less often used, facilities present in DataPower 2".
R-Comp has designed DP Home to be the natural upgrade for existing DataPower 1 users, as well as for people who use older databases such as Recordz, MasterFile and MultiStore. This fact is mirrored in their attractive pricing structure that gives such users considerable discounts. At an affordable price, an impressive array of features and a natural upgrade path to DP 2 when more functionality is required; DP Home is also an appealing option for new users wishing to enter the world of organised data.
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