Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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CatBase is a data publishing solution that simplifies, speeds up, and automates the task of transforming database or spreadsheet data into beautiful publications such as catalogues, price lists, and directories.
You can see lots of examples of different publications created with CatBase here.
CatBase and Flipsnack serve different primary purposes in the realm of publication creation, although they both can be used for things like creating catalogs and price lists.
CatBase is a database publishing tool built for automation and consistency in transforming data into formatted documents, often for a print-centric workflow. Flipsnack is a digital publishing platform designed for creating and distributing visually appealing, interactive, and measurable online flipbooks.
Here is a comparison of their core focuses, features, and ideal use cases:
Core Focus and Functionality
Feature | CatBase | Flipsnack |
Primary Focus | Database Publishing / Data Formatting | Digital Flipbook Creation |
Core Function | Automated transformation of structured data (from databases, spreadsheets, etc.) into perfectly formatted documents (catalogs, price lists, directories). | Conversion of static PDFs into engaging, interactive, page-flipping digital publications (magazines, brochures, catalogs). |
Input Source | Data from Excel, XML, text files, ODBC databases, etc., and manual data entry/editing. | Existing PDF documents or creation from scratch using an online design studio. |
Main Output | PDF documents and formatted files for Desktop Publishing (DTP) software like Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress, as well as Word, HTML, and XML. | Interactive HTML5 flipbooks that can be shared via link or embedded on websites. |
Key Feature Comparison
Feature | CatBase | Flipsnack |
Interactivity | Focuses on data integrity and formatting. Can create hyperlinks, bar codes, and QR codes. | Strong focus on interactivity. Allows adding videos, audio, links, product tags, lead forms, and buy buttons to digital publications. |
Design/Creation | When outputting to PDF, the user can design the entire publication including cover page, intro pages, the dynamically created content, and an index. When outputting for DTP (such as Adobe InDesign), CatBase supplies the content and style tags; the DTP program does the layout. | Features an integrated Design Studio with drag-and-drop tools and templates to create publications from scratch or enhance PDFs. |
Analytics | Not its primary function; more focused on the prepress process. | Robust built-in statistics (views, engagement, time spent, location) and Google Analytics integration to track digital performance. |
Collaboration | Multi-user versions available. User permissions can be defined. | Team collaboration features (multi-user accounts, permissions, commenting, and brand control). |
Catalog Automation | Excellent for creating and updating data-driven publications quickly and consistently. | Used for creating visually appealing, interactive, digital catalogs, often from pre-made PDFs. |
API | Does not offer an API. | Offers an API for integrating functionalities like PDF uploading and setting edits with a website. |
Ideal Use Cases
CatBase | Data-intensive print or PDF publications such as product catalogs, complex price lists, directories, and data sheets where the main challenge is correctly mapping and formatting a large, frequently updated database into a specific print layout (often via InDesign). |
Flipsnack | Engaging, interactive digital marketing and sales collateral like online magazines, interactive brochures, modern digital reports, and catalogs where the user experience, brand consistency, tracking engagement, and ease of sharing online are the top priorities. It's excellent for transforming a static PDF into a dynamic, measurable asset. |
CatBase and EasyCatalog are both powerful tools in the arena of catalog production and data management, but they cater to slightly different needs and offer distinct advantages.
CatBase excels in its highly customizable and user-friendly interface, which allows users to efficiently manage large datasets and create dynamic catalogs, price lists, and directories with minimal effort. It integrates seamlessly with multiple data sources and supports a wide range of file formats, making it a versatile choice for businesses that handle various types of content.
On the other hand, EasyCatalog is known for its deep integration with Adobe InDesign, making it a preferred option for users who heavily rely on InDesign for design and layout tasks. It enables precise control over the layout and style of catalogs, utilizing data directly within the InDesign environment.
In summary, if your primary focus is on flexibility, ease of use, and broad compatibility with various data sources and output options, CatBase shines as an excellent option. However, if you require tight integration with Adobe InDesign and have advanced layout and design requirements, EasyCatalog might better suit your needs. Both tools offer robust features, and the best choice ultimately depends on your specific workflow and business objectives.
CatBase vs. EasyCatalog Comparison
Feature | CatBase | EasyCatalog |
Primary Approach | A standalone Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) with built-in publishing tools. | An Adobe InDesign plug-in that connects to external data sources. |
Data Management | Includes its own complete, customizable relational database for you to store and manage your data. | Does not include a database. It works by connecting to your existing data (PIM, ERP, spreadsheet, etc.). |
Integration | Publishes data to several applications, including PDF, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, Microsoft Word, or as XML/Excel/CSV files. | Primarily an InDesign plug-in (requires InDesign to function). |
Core Functionality | You set up Publishing Projects within CatBase which define what data to publish, how to sort it, and how to style it. | It uses a data panel within InDesign to connect to data and allows you to drag/drop fields onto the page, creating templated library items. |
Data Source Handling | Can import from various sources (spreadsheets, text files, XML, ODBC sources) and manage it internally, or use its own RDBMS. | Highly flexible connection to various sources via its core or optional modules (Text, XML, ODBC, Enterprise, Relational). |
Extensibility/ Modules | All features (including RDBMS, data management, and publishing) are typically integrated within the purchased edition. | Uses a Core Module and numerous Optional Modules (like Pagination, Relational, XML, ODBC, Scripting) to add functionality. |
Bi-Directional Update | Has functionality to update another database (like MySQL or SQL Server) with changes. | Offers bi-directional linking, allowing changes made in the InDesign document to be updated back to the source data (requires appropriate modules). |
Additional Features | CatBase also offers: - Rules: Set up Rules in your Publishing Projects to determine what data to include or omit, or how to style it, based on criteria you specify. - Automation: set up Scheduled Events to run a process at a given time or interval - Emailing: Send customised emails to contacts in your CatBase database. - Letters: Create personalised letters to send to contacts. - Memos: Notes and reminders attached to individual records. | |
Yes indeed!
For the single-user version, just choose the appropriate platfomr when you place your order.
For the multi-user (network) version, the server can be either Mac or Windows, and the clients can be any combination of Mac and windows machines.
You can find more specific platform details - and download a free Trial version here.
Yes it does! This is how it works:
When you publish your data from CatBase, this creates a tagged text file (a plain text file with special tags inserted to tell InDesign what to do with the text).
That text file is then placed into your InDesign document.
The content is organised and formatted as required, including the (optional) placement of pictures.
For a bit more details on this topic see this page.
Absolutely!
CatBase will do its best to match the columns in the spreadsheet with fields in the CatBase database. When you import a spreadsheet for the first time, you can select fields to match columns, or create new fields in CatBase, if a match isn't automatically found.
For more info, see this page.
CatBase Publishing Stylesheets provide a customizable framework that allows you to define and manage the content, formatting, and design of your publications with ease.
You can create any number of Publishing Stylesheets so that your data can be published in many different ways: as an illustrated catalogue, a price list, a directory, product labels ... just about any style of publication you can think of!
Moreover, CatBase integrates seamlessly with a variety of software tools commonly used in publishing, such as Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Word, and PDF.
Prices start at £595 for the single-user version.
All prices are shown on our Shop page. If you have any questions about our pricing, please contact us!
xTags is a plugin for QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign which enables the automatic creation and filling of picture and text boxes in your publication.
xTags is published by Em Software. You can download a trial version from their website.
The Data Chameleon Edition provides options for interacting directly with other ODBC-compliant databases, such as MySql and MicrosoftSql. This enables you to both upload and download data to/from other databases. See more detailed info here.
The Enterprise Edition offers all functions except the ODBC connection option.