DBase

dBase was one of the first systems for organizing and storing information on small computers. It included tools for handling data, asking questions about that data, creating forms for easy use, and writing programs to control everything.

It started in 1978 as a program called Vulcan for older computer systems. In 1980, a company named Ashton-Tate changed its name to dBASE II and brought it to the popular IBM PC computers. For many years, it was one of the most sold software programs for business use. Later, it was updated to dBase III and made available for many different types of computers.

During the 1980s, other companies made their own versions of dBase, improving some parts but never taking over the market. However, when dBase IV came out, it had many problems, and many users switched to other programs. By the early 1990s, big companies like Borland, Microsoft, and Computer Associates bought out the main dBase companies. Today, some products still carry the dBase name, but they are not as widely used as before.

History

Origins

Main article: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Display Information System

In the late 1960s, Fred Thompson at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory used a system called RETRIEVE to manage data about expensive electronic calculators. In 1971, he worked with Jack Hatfield to create an improved version called JPLDIS.

Later, a programmer named C. Wayne Ratliff learned about JPLDIS and used it to create a new system for his IMSAI 8080 microcomputer. He called this system Vulcan, inspired by a planet from Star Trek.

Ashton-Tate

Main article: Ashton-Tate

Two entrepreneurs, George Tate and Hal Lashlee, wanted to sell Vulcan. They formed a company called Ashton-Tate and changed the name to dBASE. They released dBASE II, which became very popular on early computers.

When the IBM PC was introduced in 1981, dBASE was one of the first professional programs available for it. Many businesses used dBASE to create custom programs, helping it become a huge success.

dBase III

As new types of computers appeared, the creators of dBASE rewrote the program using a new language. The updated version, called dBase III, was released in 1984. Even though it was slower than before, it became very popular again.

Cloning

There was an unofficial copy of dBase III made in the Soviet Union. It was adapted for the Russian language by changing the name and updating instructions.

dBase IV

Introduced in 1988, dBase IV included many new features. However, by this time, other programs like FoxPro were becoming more popular, even though dBase IV added tools for creating screens and supported Query by Example and SQL.

Later, Borland updated dBase IV again in 1992, focusing more on programmers than everyday users.

Recent version history

dBASE product range

dBase, LLC products

dBase, LLC offers several products for working with databases. dBASE PLUS is a database system that runs on Windows. dBASE 2019 is the latest version and works on newer Windows computers. dBASE CLASSIC is an older version designed for use without special software to emulate older computer systems.

The company also provides dbDOS, a tool that helps run older MS-DOS programs. There are several versions of dbDOS, including dbDOS PRO, an open-source version, and newer versions like dbDOSv.

Additionally, there are tools for working with database files, such as dbfUtilities, which help manage and change these files. dbfCompare lets you see differences between tables, while dbfExport and dbfImport help convert files to and from different formats. dbfInspect allows you to view and edit database tables.

SQL Utilities

There are also tools to work with SQL databases. dumpSQL copies records from one table into a new table in a different format, and moveSQL moves records between different database formats.

dBase / xBase programming language

dBase offered special commands and tools to help manage data. You could open and move through records in files, change values in fields, and work with text, numbers, and dates.

dBase worked like a mix between a programming language and a database system. Similar to BASIC, users could type commands and see results right away. This made it easy for people to start using it quickly. Although Ashton-Tate called it "relational," it did not follow all the rules of the relational model created by Edgar F. Codd.

Over time, other companies made similar products with more features. They also started using SQL, a standard language for databases. A group of companies and developers formed to create a standard for dBase, calling it "xBase" to differentiate it from Ashton-Tate’s version. Ashton-Tate tried to stop others from using its style but lost in court. By the 1990s, big companies like Microsoft and Borland bought many of these products. By 2000, most developers moved to new systems, and xBase use faded, though some products still exist today.

File formats

dBase created a special file format called .dbf. This format includes a header that describes what kind of information is stored, making it easy for other programs to use. Many different tools and programs can work with .dbf files, like shapefile for maps made by ESRI using ArcInfo and geographic information system.

You can save databases from Microsoft Works in this format so programs like Microsoft Excel can open them. Programs such as Emacs, LibreOffice, and OpenOffice Calc can also read and write these files.

dBase also uses other file types, like .dbt for longer text notes and .ndx or .mdx for organizing data quickly. Different programs might use slightly different versions of these files.

Reception

In 1990, a survey found that 16% of people used dBASE for their database needs, putting it in second place behind another popular program.

Reviews from the early 1980s praised dBASE for its speed and power but pointed out that the instructions were hard to understand. Some users felt that later versions had flaws, like being slow or having bugs. Despite this, many still found dBASE useful for storing data and creating reports.