Long ago, in ancient times, there lived a race of people called The Druids. No-one knows who they were, or where they came from. But their mystery remains... although I'll bet they had a Database application on their computer to tell them what all the liths at Stonehenge were for.

The only rock band in the world to not have a database of albums in CSV format is Spinal Tap.

Why are databases so important? Because they hold a lot of information that you can find and use vey quickly. The earliest portable computers were built completely around their Database applications. Long before having Email, a Diary or a copy of Solitaire, a Database was considered the only application you had to have on your computer.

Nowadays it's something that seems to have been left behind. Okay we have the all singing and dancing Contacts app (for names and addresses, which most people regard as the main use for a database), but what about my list of memorable Brian Blessed quotes. Thank Mr and Mrs B. for Epocware coming along with Handy Base.

So let's get this out of the way first. There are two types of database. One is the flat file database, which is just like a card index. Each card has the same fields of information (which can change between files, but not in the one file) and you add information to each field for every entry.

The other type is relational. This is a collection of flat file databases (with each of these being called a table) that can all talk to each other. For example, one type of table could be "Films" and a second table could be "Brian's Quote." In that second table, one of the fields could be "Quote is from which Film" and, rather than typing in the Film each time (as you would in a flat file), you can choose one of the films from the first table.

As you can guess, relational databases offer more flexibility, but are a lot harder to set up and use. Of course, pretty much every desktop database app is relational, but Epocware have probably rationalised that that sort of power isn't needed in Handy Base, so they've programmed it as a fully featured flat file database.

(Long term Psion users can skip to the end if they're in a hurry. Handy Base works exactly like Data on a Series 5 or 5mx).

On creating a new file, you have to remmber one thing. You must add in the .hb extension - which can be a bit annoying sometimes. And then you have an ominous few seconds before Handy Base prompts you for a location to save the Database in. You're now taken back to the main file selection screen, and you need to open your new database in a seperate tap.

Which leaves you with a standard database that records Notes and URLs. This is strange, as I would have expected some sort of wizard so you could set up your database with ease.

Oh all right then, here's the Brian Blessed quote you're all expecting. Don't say we're not nice to you... "Gordon's Alive!!!"

• Text
  As it sounds, a stream of text.
• Number
  Whole numbers only. So 27 is in but 2.7 isn't
• Floating Point
  This is where 2.7 goes
• Date
  No not your last fantasy with Brian - just when it was.
• Yes/No
  or No/No if you're a pessimist.

Once you've got these set up, it's time to start using Handy Base in earnest.

In use, Handy Base feels a lot like the built-in applications. A lot of time has been spent thinking about the user interface. We have an initial menu that allows you to move files around the internal memory and your storage card, sorting them into folders as required. Much like the Images application in fact.

On opening a database, you can view it either as a list (much like a spreadsheet) that takes up the full screen, or you can switch to a split view, which shows the main database field (i.e. Film, in our continuing Brian Blessed example) in list form in the bottom of the screen, and the full contents of the selected entry in a card view at the top of the screen.

The very bottom of the screen has four control icons, which represent 'enter new entry', 'edit entry', 'delete entry' and 'switch view'. Above this you have buttons to jump around the database, and search for a text string.

Searching is somewhat limited. You can't search for records that contain "Flash" and "Bond" in separate sections, nor can you search on a subset of records. But the majority of people are going to find the search function here more than sufficient.

While it's good to build databases from scratch on the P800 - the real keys to power (apart from having Martin Sheen in the White House) is a convertor so you can use databses from your PC on the P800. And Epocware have done well here. Bundled in the Handy Base archive is a PC Conversion Tool, that reads in Access, Excel or CSV files, and outputs them as Handy Base files (it does the same on the other direction too!). A step by step wizard walks you through the field selections, matching up what you want. It's easy, simple, and exactly what this type of app needs.

The biggest thing here is that it is a flat file database application. And while that means that it's a lot easier to understand, set up and use, it does have a slight drop in functionality. It also means that the larger PC based databases cannot be fully converted onto the P800 - only a subset of the information, and only one table at a time. So that's lost Handy Base the Mega App award.

But I can't argue with anything else. We've got search functions, full re-definition, a lovely (PC only...) file convertor, all wrapped up so it feels just like one of the built-in applications.

Handy Base deserves to be on every P800.