HanDBase Database Manager App Reviews

117 add

Excellent Program!

I have been using HanDBase on the Palm platform for years with great success. After switching to the iPhone I installed HanDBase on the new phone as well. The iPhone conduit and Desktop Connect features both work very well and extremely fast! Any questions I had about the new platform were answered in the Handbase forums. The response time was less than twenty-four hours and thoroughly adressed my questions. With the iPhone I can now email records in less than a minute, in text format that anyone can read. This is the most used app I have and has become an essential part of my work, allowing me to track all my activities each day.

Works as advertised but separate charge for iPad version is lame

There are no surprises here for those who are familiar with this apps functionality on other platforms. Its a fairly easy to use (if you understand databases) database application that can be quickly whipped together to do pretty much anything youd like. They also have a good collection of templates available on their website. I was VERY upset to see their lame attempt at an iPad app which is basically taking two screens from this and putting them side by side then charging us another $10. I refused to buy this and picked up Numbers (from Apple instead) which has a really decent database type input feature that mimics this in an equally as sophisticated and attractive picture. If you have an iPhone/iTouch this app will probably do what you want. If you have an iPad as well pass on this and go with Numbers.

Great beta, just dont make any changes to fields...

Thinking this would make my transition from the Palm platform complete, Ive been sorely disappointed. As I see this as a beta release Ive cut them some slack, but when I discovered that a change to the database structure (add a field, change type etc.) would cause all of my newly entered data to be lost on a sync it was time to shelve this for now. A lot of things can be forgiven, but data loss isnt one of them. Heres hoping they get this squared away, as only carrying one device would be most convenient.

Crashes, poor interface, poor ($$$) desktop software

I am giving this a 3 because it does perform the functions it claims to perform but does it through a clumsy interface. This is more like a glorified spreadsheet and lacks the ability to make more advanced database functions useful. When you perform these functions, the program is likely to crash. Entering data is very slow and forms cannot be used without expensive, poorly designed, old software. This might have been good 5 years ago but you will need a more usable interface for this price.

HanDBase - Dont leave home without it!

The possibilities for this application are endless and I would really recommend that you try it out. There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to the more complex databases but its well worth the effort. In May 2000 I purchased a little program called ThinkingBytes. I was devastated when it was taken over by HanDBase because I was really happy with the original. My short sighted view was ok they are going to improve it and probably really mess it up to the point where I would be searching for something similar to use. That did not happen. Since being taken over by HanDBase they have improved it, improved their improvements, fixed bugs along the way and all in a very timely manner. The forum website has loads of help and if you post a question there IT ACTUALLY GETS ANSWERED what a novel idea eh? This is a phenomenal application that is easy to use and has endless capabilities when you start digging into it. I keep all our movies, mileage, medications, expenses for work, CDs, books, family tree information... the list is endless. I even have a database that Im building right now that converts Anchor floss to DMC floss by accessing another database. Thank you HanDBase for you excellent support, great application and speedy fixes that we hardly have time to complain about because you are on top of it all the time!

Amazing

Ive been using HanDBase for about three years now. It is by far my favourite program to use. I am a music teacher at a school where I teach music to 350+ students and have to keep track of them all. HanDBase does all the work for me and I cant imagine going through a year without it. It allows me to keep track of a ton of information on each student and then to filter and sort in every way imaginable. I just purchased my iphone and was highly impressed with the design of HanDBase for iphone. It is even easier to use on the iphone that on the desktop. Well done. By the way when I had a slight problem with the syncing, I received an immediate response after sending an email and the problem was solved. Great customer service!

Absolutely #1 Database App.

I have been having fun using this app recently, if you have ever tried any other desktop database apps like MS-Access and now looking for a mobile database app, HanDBase is the one. If you really want to learn its features in details it will take you a couple of days, and it is worth it. You can check out its 80 page Users Guide on their website before buying it. I have tested its filtering and sorting performance by a 10000 record database, it was impressive. Here are a summary of its best advantages in my opinion: 1) Relational Database features (master/child data entry, lookup field from another DB) 2) Calculated fields and Reports - nice job 3) Multi-column list view 4) Flexible Security and Encryption options 5) Fast upload from desktop to device (10000 record CSV file in less than a minute) 6) Ability to email out the whole database or some records, also merge and synchronize changes from different copies of a database together using its wireless desktop connect. 7) Good looking and well designed user interface I can not give it less than 5 stars!

Hans Penner

I bought HanDBase about two months ago. I had used Smartlist to Go for many years. Initially I had to learn to do things somewhat differently compared to Smartlist. After that I just came to love this app. When I did have question, I always received a response to my emailed question within a day. If it were not for HanDBase, I do not think I would bother having an iTouch. Definitely worth the money.

Database PRO!!

Love this app. Use it daily on my iPhone 4g. Since the last update there hasnt been any crashes!!! Would like to ask developers to adjust scrolling when doing a search. iPhone keyboard is up seeing the search field contains a string, so scrolling data from behind keyboard is a bit difficult. Otherwise extremely happy with this app.

Great

Fantastic app. Well worth the intimidating price. Tried a bunch of the competitors, such as bento, and Handbase blows them all out of the water. Some of the GUI screens are a little awkward to manipulate easily and efficiently but thats nothing that cant be cured with a little practice. I am accepting of the quirks because the app is that far ahead of the competition. In 2011, an app like this is almost essential. Recommendations: - I like the folders view but the graphics are a bit crude and could use some redesign to improve the feel, with retina support of coarse. -Form view could use a little bit of customization options (graphically) to better differentiate between similar forms. - I recommend modifying the column with adjustment tool to include buttons on either side of the slider to move by a single percentage per press. -when attaching an image, allow for disabling the thumbnail in list view - no audio note, Im assuming it will end up in "external" eventually 11-01-18: finding a lot of bugs in the software. Getting a bug that will wipe all inputed data on a form when an image is added. Closing Handbase will correct this but it can reoccur at any given moment. When changing views, the databases will revert to their original sequential field order, messing up any formatting Ive done to a form. App re reviewed due to significant problems with the software. I will continue to use it, but Im definitely not as enthusiastic as I once was about this app.

Exactly what I was looking for!

I had a similar app for my Palm for many years and was glad to see it was ported to the iPhone. I use it to track billable time for my customers, export to Acces and generate my reports that I need to invoice with. Excellent app! Cant live without it!

Search needed

This is a really great app! I use it many times in a day! I keep a record of all my customer orders. One thing I could really use, is a "main" search on the home screen. I need to be able to search in ALL the folders/databases for key words, to find info on something particular. I can currently search within the folder, for info, but I want to be able to have a broader search if ALL the folders - from the "HOME" screen.

Clunky syncing

Generally I like this app and I use it daily on iPad and iPhone. I only wish it were easier to sync between the two devices. Right now I have to go through the desktop. Most apps across devices offer syncing and backup through Dropbox. I wish this were the case with HanDBase. Otherwise excellent app.

Very cool and easy to use

I am extremely impressed with this app. Easy to learn and very powerful.

The best application on iPhone

I love HanDBase. I am a general foreman at a construction site, and I have to keep track of lots of things. Daily site reports, total hours for each worker, total hours for each job in big project, and total hours for the whole project. I have to keep track of rental equipments, start date end date which jobs worked on and for how long. I have to keep track of Purchase orders, for rental and site supplies, and keep track of all the invoices for each PO. I have to keep track of materials delivery, delivery date, from which company, for which job. Now with HanDBase i document all records in couple minutes, and I retrieve any info in seconds. That would have been impossible without HanDBase. I am just upset that I didnt know that it did exist till recently. Bottom line if you want to create your own database on the go and use it on the go, this is the app for you. Special thank you to all people who worked on HanDBase and made it what it is now

Why HanDBase ???

I have been using HanDBase since it came out on the Palm that was sometime ago but as I moved up with the latest tech, iPhone, the apps I built then I am still using. For collecting data in the field and then moving it to a spreadsheet or database it cannot be beat. Has lots of options for multi users updating the same DB. There is nothing out there like it. Worth every cent.

Great app but needs reports!

This app works really well and can replace a lot of data collection apps found in the app store. The only downside is that there is no custom reports function which renders the collected data useless in some circumstances. If they ever add a custom report module, I would give it 5 stars.

Customer support

I have been using Handbase for few months now. Works great. However during an update, a sample form was introduced (locker form) and some of my data was not visible. I have contacted the support team and quickly, my problem was solved. Very efficient and knowledgeable. Thanks!

I really like it !

I use this product sinse 1,5 years, and its very powerfull.... but.... I really need a filter view when i use a DB popup to limit the selectable field on an another table. For example: 3 tables. first - billing, seconde - customers, third - equipement. Each customer have one or more equipement. When I create a new billing record, with a DBpopup field, I can choose the customer. Then with another DBpopup field, I want to view ONLY customers equipement. Not all the records !!! (about 800 equipements and 200 customers). The barcode scanner is wonderfull and the reste of the app is too much ! :-)

not compatible with ios 5

been using handbase for some time now, and suddenly sync doesnt work, because handbase does not work with ios5 -- not much good to me now

  • send link to app