Memory: 48K
Price: £9.95

A database program needs to be straightforward in operation and should require as little fiddling with the tape recorder as is humanly possible. The ISP Multi File is a little complicated in this area.

The program offers a record-card-format filing system with up to 10 headed fields. Each field name can be up to 10 characters long, with the ensuing data allowed up to 19.

Data is contained in separate date files which must be loaded into the control program. The instructions recommend that you keep a written note of program, file names and security codes, which makes the whole business as fussy as keeping paper files.

The program will sort alphabetically, leaf through the cards, produce an index of all first field data, and also search for a specific entry in the 100 or so records in each data file.

The program is well-presented but the screen prompts are vague at times. The search option did not live up to the promise of the leaflet and the loading system, probably inevitably, causes minor aggravation.