
 | | HerbBase:
Detailed information
1. What is HerbBase?
 | A modern, state-of-the art, fully editable
and
expandable database for herbal medicine (phytotherapy)
 | Enter data easily from a variety of sources |
 | Instantly rearrange and redisplay data in
ways useful for prescribing, reference
and learning a process that using any
other (even computerized!) method would be both laborious and prohibitively
time-consuming. See below for examples. |
|
 | Initially, HerbBase
contains data on just a few herbs. From there you can:
 | Purchase data directly from Dynamic Array (at
very reasonable rates: click here
for further information; you can also edit purchased data in any way you wish). And/or
you can |
 | enter data yourself on herbs from any source:
 | from books and other printed media |
 | from other computer programs |
 | from the Internet. |
|
 | HerbBase makes
it as easy as it can be to keep abreast of the latest information and to have it
immediately available in whatever format you choose. |
|
So, HerbBase provides
you with the tools to build your own fully expandable Materia Medica
database for herbs from your preferred sources, and update it easily at your convenience.
Then instantly re-organise and display your data in any way to meet your current needs.
So, HerbBase provides
you with the tools to build your own fully expandable Materia Medica
database for herbs from your preferred sources, and update it easily at your convenience.
Then instantly re-organise and display your data in any way to meet your current needs.
So, HerbBase provides
you with the tools to build your own fully expandable Materia Medica
database for herbs from your preferred sources, and update it easily at your convenience.
Then instantly re-organise and display your data in any way to meet your current needs.
2. Data Entry
HerbBase delivers the
ultimate in both control and flexibility in data entry.
 | you control the sources from which you build
your database. |
 | for most fields in the database, you can choose either or both
or two data entry methods:
 | in lists or |
 | in free-text formats. (For a complete list of the fields available for data entry, see Fields. To view a full-sized
picture of the data entry form in HerbBase, click on the thumbnails below.) |
|
 | when you've entered data for a herb, a single
button-click will copy all the information to a new record: all you
have to do is provide the name of the new herb and then make any necessary modifications.
A great time-saver when entering data on related herbs! |
Download a fully-functional, 30-day FREE trial version
today!
List-wise data entry:
 | Lets you enter abbreviated data on the
qualities of herbs in a way that is convenient for quick-and-easy reference.
|
 | The use of lookup lists makes data entry both
fast and dramatically reduces the possibility of typing errors. Just press the Insert key whilst in one of HerbBases data grids and then enter the first two or three
characters of the entry you wish to make: the lookup list appears, and youve a 90%
chance that the item youre looking for is already highlighted! Having found the
lookup item, just press Enter and the entry is pasted into the grid. Click
on the thumbnail below to view a full-sized picture of one of HerbBase's
grids with its lookup list activated. |

 | If the item is not in the lookup list, finish typing
it and press Enter: HerbBase will
capitalize the first letter if you havent already done so and then not only add it
to the records in the grid, but to the lookup list as well! |
 | If you make a typing error whilst entering a lookup list
item, you can correct it using HerbBases
Setup and Maintenance form. Having done so, HerbBase will
offer to automatically search all your grids and replace any incorrect entries! |
 | You can also rate (or rank) the herbs most
appropriate to
 | (a) particular therapeutic applications and |
 | (b) actions for herbs |
 | this information will then be immediately available when
viewing the Prescribing Information form: great for instantly finding the best
herb for the job in hand! |
|
Free-text data entry
In the vast majority of fields, HerbBase
lets you enter qualitative data at whatever level of complexity you desire, using the
HerbBase Rich Text editor. This is, in effect, a sophisticated word processor, the major
features of which are:
 | Full text-formatting capabilities, including the use of
color; |
 | Search and replace; |
 | Insert and print graphics (pictures); |
 | OLE-enabled: if you have relevant data in other applications,
create links to them so that when your data changes in HerbBase, so does the data in those
other applications (and/or vice-versa)! |
 | URL-aware: enter the URL (address) of your favorite web site
into the HerbBase Rich Text editor. Then, when you click on it, your default web browser
will be started and youll be transported there automatically; |
 | Spell checking; |
 | Access and update a list of references youve created
whilst creating your Materia Medica. The References memo can
also be linked via OLE to other compatible third-party bibliographic databases |
 | Activated just by double-clicking a multi-line field or by
single-clicking one of the form's buttons. |
Click on the thumbnail below to see a
full-sized picture of the HerbBase Rich Text Editor.
Download a fully-functional, 30-day
FREE trial version today!
Data entry in HerbBase is fast,
flexible and powerful: all the features you want, without having to understand
over-complex menu structures or learn many unnecessary commands!
3. Data Re-organization and Display
Having entered data, you can quickly and easily rearrange and redisplay your information in ways
that suit your needs of the moment using HerbBases Prescribing Information
form. (Though designed specifically for prescribing purposes, this form will also be
invaluable to the researcher and student as a "ready reference" and learning
aid.)
 | The Prescribing Information form contains a main grid that
displays information on the qualities of herbs (with related grids and
memo fields) |
 | The contents of the grid is controlled by clicking on radio
buttons at the top of the form. You can choose from:
 | Therapeutic applications |
 | Actions |
 | Constituents |
 | Common names |
 | Botanical names |
|
 | Having selected the data to display in the main grid, you can:
 | sort its data on any field just by clicking on the
buttons that form its column headings; |
|
 | search for data in the grid by entering a few
characters; |
 | print a comprehensive report on the selected item; |
 | view all your primary data on the herb
with just a couple of button-clicks; |
 | view dosage and related information with a single
button-click. |
In this way, you can quickly answer questions such as:
 | What are all the actions of
herb X?; and then, with a single button-click,
display the answer to the question |
 | What are all the herbs with
action X?
|
 | What are all the constituents
of herb Y?; and then, with a single button-click,
display the answer to the question |
 | What are all the herbs with
constituent Z? |
Click on the thumbnail below to view a
full-sized picture of the Prescribing Information form displaying therapeutic
applications data for herbs.
Download a fully-functional, 30-day FREE trial version
today!
With HerbBase, theres
simply never been a more simple or convenient way to view the complex relationships
between types of data!
4. Other Features
 | Extensive and flexible reporting/printing facilities; |
 | Share data with colleagues using HerbBase's
downloading and uploading capabilities; |
 | Automated saving and backup of data; |
 | Comprehensive on-line, context-sensitive help
with hypergraphics; |
 | Easy to learn and use (all program features
can be accessed using on-screen buttons or other components such as radio buttons:
no need to search through complex menus!). |
5. Requirements
 | Windows 95/98/NT; |
 | IBM-compatible 486 with 8Mb RAM (Pentium with 16+ Mb RAM
recommended); |
 | 15 Mb hard disk space; |
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