Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the differences between the different versions of CatBase?
2. What versions of Adobe InDesign does CatBase work with?
3. What is Xtags?
4. Do I need Xtags?
5. What are Xcatalog and InCatalog?
6. How much is CatBase?
7. How does the multi-user version work?
8. What platforms does CatBase run on?
9. Is there a big learning curve with CatBase?

What are the differences between the different versions of CatBase?

The Data Chameleon Edition is the full-featured version. The Enterprise Edition has all the features of Data Chameleon except for ODBC connectivity. The Standard Edition is limited in the following ways:

• Cannot run scripts
• Cannot add or delete fields (but you can rename them)
• Cannot change the data entry forms
• Limited to 1,000 records per table

See a feature comparison chart

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What versions of Adobe InDesign does CatBase work with?

CatBase works with all versions of Adobe Indesign CS.

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What is Xtags?

Xtags is a plugin for QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign which enhances the built-in tagging systems. The main features it adds are the ability create and fill text and picture boxes automatically when tagged text files (such as those created by CatBase) are imported into a document. More info about Xtags ...

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Do I need Xtags?

You need Xtags if you are publishing with either QuarkXPress or InDesign and you need to do one or more of the following:

• Automatically import pictures when you publish your data
• Automatically create and fill text boxes when you publish your data
• Create Xcatalog links when you publish your data

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What are Xcatalog and InCatalog?

Xcatalog is a plugiin for QuarkXPress and InCatalog is a plugin for Adobe InDesign. These plugins enable certain data to be "tagged" with special markers so that it can subsequently be updated in the page layout document. A common use for this is to update all the prices in a catalog just before going to press. Read more ...

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How much is CatBase?

You can see all the prices and payment options on our pricing page.

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How does the multi-user version work?

The multi-user version makes it possible for more than one person to work on the same database at the same time. You'll need at least three computers on your network: one to act as a server and two to be "clients", or users. The multi-user version comes with two user licences; you can add any number of additional user licences. The Client can be installed on any number of computers on the network, but access to the database is limited to the number of user licences you've bought. For example, suppose you have five user licences. You could install the Client on all your computers but no more than five people would be able to connect to the database at any time.

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What platforms does CatBase run on?

• Macintosh OS 10.3.9 or later
• Windows 2000 or later

In a multi-user system, the server can be either Mac or Windows (state which when ordering) and the Clients can be any mixture of Mac and Windows.

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Is there a big learning curve with CatBase?

CatBase offers many features and different ways to publish your data and it may look a little daunting at first. The best way to proceed is:

1. First, if you are new to databases, read through our "Database 101" tutorial
2. You'll then need to decide how to set up your CatBase database. You'll find Chapter Two of the Reference manual helpful here. You can download it from here.
3. Next you'll need to get some data into your CatBase database. You can either enter data manually, or import it from another source.
4. Now you need to tell CatBase how you want to publish your data. That is what Publishing Style Sheets are all about.
5. You can then streamline your work by setting up Publishing Projects.

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