Imagine how much time this will save you!
Instead of spending hours or even DAYS manually formatting your data, CatBase will do it all automatically in minutes!
Why spend hours ... days ... or even WEEKS creating your catalogue, directory, or price list?
Let CatBase do it for you in MINUTES!
Rapidly turn your database or spreadsheet into a perfectly-formatted publication
CatBase is a database publishing application which automates the process of formatting data ready for publication. Working with your chosen publishing destination (QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, FrameMaker, HTML documents, XML files, etc.), CatBase adds special tags to automatically format the information and (most publishing destinations) pictures for you.
Rest assured that everything is formatted consistently
With CatBase doing the grunt work, you can be sure that no human error creeps in when your publication is being prepared: everything will be formatted consistently, and the correct pictures will be placed with each item.
Windows and Macintosh
CatBase runs on Mac OSX and Windows 2000, XP, or better. There are single-user and multi-user versions; the multi-user version supports mixed networks. (Note: The Standard Edition is available only in single-user.)
CatBase is the perfect partner for Adobe InDesign
InDesign offers lots of great publishing features and CatBase fits in perfectly with your InDesign workflow. Automatically create and fill text and picture boxes (Xtags plugin required); create index entries; automatically create hyperlinks; create all kinds of tables. You simply select your data formatting options in CatBase's easy-to-use dialogs and CatBase and InDesign do all the tedious, time-consuming, error-prone formatting work for you.
It's also the perfect partner for QuarkXPress
If you're using QuarkXPress to publish your catalogue or directory, CatBase is the perfect workflow partner for you. Automatically create and fill text and picture boxes (Xtags plugin required); format all your data exactly as required, automatically!
See CatBase in action!
See some examples of projects created with CatBase.
Take a look at our mini-Tutorials to see how CatBase solves various publishing problems.
Book a LIVE demonstration to find out how CatBase can help with your project!
Download a fully functional trial version and try CatBase for yourself!
Features
- Import data from virtually any source
- Create Style Sheets to tell CatBase how to organise and format the data
- Publish the same data in any number of different ways: using QuarkXPress, InDesign, FrameMaker, as HTML, XML, or text files
- The Database Setup Wizard makes it easy to start a new project
- Automatically perform calculations
- Automatically make decisions as to what data to include (or leave out), and how to format it
- Specify various attributes for each field
- Run scripts
- Design your data entry screens
- Send emails to contacts in the database
- Create mailmerges
- Memos
- Print Labels
- Produce Reports
- Create Graphs and charts
- Two Editions available
- Fully functional Demo version available
- Press and Testimonials
- Pricing
- Ordering
Import data from virtually any source
Import data from another source such as: a spreadsheet or another database. Imported data can be used to update existing data – for example, when you have an updated price list – and/or to create new records. With the Data Chameleon Edition, you can import data directly from another database such as MySql or MS SqlServer and you can also publish data TO those databases. See a short movie demonstrating data being extracted from a MySql database and published to an Adobe InDesign layout.
Create Style Sheets to tell CatBase how to organise and format the data
- There are three types of Style Sheet:
- Character Styles: define formatting on a character level (font, size, style)
- Paragraph Styles: Define formatting on a paragraph level (tabs, indents, spacing etc.)
- Publishing Styles: These are the heart of CatBase. They tell the program:
- Which publishing destination to use
- What data to include: Each paragraph of data is built up from any combination of the seven element types:
- Field data
- Static text
- Formula (example: If itÕs a new product, include a "New!" graphic or format the product name using a different style sheet
- Calculation (example: mark up or discount prices)
- Punctuation (such as a Tab)
- Picture
- Relation (include related data from another table Ð for example, list all products offered by each supplier)
- Each Element can have individual formatting
- How to format each item of data (for example, apply the "Product Name" style to Product Names; apply the "bodytext" style to the product description, etc.).
- How to sort the data
Publish the same data in any number of different ways
You can create any number of Publishing Styles. So you can easily create publications in different formats or for different publishing destinations (e.g., for InDesign, XML and HTML) from the same set of data.
Automatically perform calculations
Need to produce a special sale catalogue? CatBase will discount all the prices automatically by a set percentage as the data is exported for publication.
Automatically make decisions as to what data to include
(or leave out), and how to format it 
Tell CatBase how to make decisions about what to include or leave out, and/or how to format data, according to rules you define.
Specify various attributes for each field
Run scripts
Scripts can be written to perform all kinds of special duties, such as calculating total fields and tax values, updating date fields, etc. Scripts can run:
- When a field is modified
- When a record is modified
- When data is imported
- At any time by running them from the Utilities menu
A selection of scripts is available for download from our web site. Custom scripts can be created for you (please contact support at catbase.com to discuss your requirements).
Design your data entry screens
The Form Design Wizard lets you design your data entry forms. Choose which fields to use and where to place them. Add any number of pages.
Send emails
If your database contains "people" details (e.g. customers, club members, etc.) you can send emails to them from the database. You can merge data into the emails, making them personal. For example, you could send an "update" email to all your suppliers, including information on each product you have listed for each of them, so that they can check that you're up to date. Emails can have attachments.
Create mailmerges
If your database contains "people" details (e.g. customers, club members, etc.) you can send letters to them from the database. You can merge data into the letters, making them personal. (Note: requires the 4D Write plug-in; this is free with the single-user version.)
Memos
Memos are reminders that can be attached to individual records, or they can be "free-floating". They can be either private or public.
Labels
The Label Editor makes it easy to create mailing labels, product labels, or any other kind of label you need, using your data.
Reports
The Quick Report Editor makes it easy to quickly create columnar reports.
Graphs and charts
Easily create graphs and charts of your data.
Editions
There are three Editions available: the entry-level Standard Edition; the full-featured Enterprise Edition and the Data Chameleon Edition, which offers the option of extracting data directly from an ODBC source. View a comparison chart.