NotaBene is a freeform textual database program. It is 'freeform' insofar that there
are no forms to fill in, with their various 'fields' - you just enter your text as
you want, and create new lines as appropriate to your needs. In fact, you don't even
need to consider the database aspect at all - this is all handled by the program.
A strong feature of the program is the option to protect your information with data-encryption,
and the program itself with a Password (even the password is encrypted in the System
Registry). Normally, the database file on disk comprises plain text, which can be
viewed, if required, with something like Windows Notepad, but if the Security Option
is chosen, the file will be viewed as ‘gibberish’. Once the program is running, it
is easy to turn Security on/off, and you can change your password at any time.
Archiving your database file couldn’t be easier - just copy it to some remote location
as a backup in case you suffer something catastrophic like a hard-disk crash. The
program has been written to make disaster recovery a cinch, even in the difficult
situation of your database file being encrypted (in this case the System Registry
entries would be ‘fresh’ after a new installation and would have no knowledge of
the security state of your database file).
Database editing is a breeze - you have access to all the usual editing tools - Cut/Copy/Paste/Delete,
and you can print all, or selected text, easily from the results of a search.
NotaBene has many uses. You can store all kinds of reference information - program
passwords, Internet passwords, customer reference numbers for Utility suppliers,
bank account details, support line contact details, reference information pasted
from an Internet page, recipes, renewal dates (car MOT, Tax, insurance etc), Home
Inventories with serial numbers, in fact the list is seemingly endless - and you
will always have reference to everything at your finger tips. For programmers such
as myself, I have found it invaluable to store useful snippets of code.
The program is available as shareware - you can download it here for a free 30 day
evaluation. The cost of registering the product is $24.95, which entitles you to
free updates for life. You will be purchasing a personal key that will permanently
unlock NotaBene. You can use this key on any computer that you own. Please do not
give this key to anyone else - apart from spreading your email address around the
globe, you will be denying the program author a much needed income.
If you have any questions or need support email me at: support(at)vitalsparks.com
Version History
Version 1 - Plain text version with editing facilities.
Version 2.0 - Encryption added
Version 2.1 - Maintenance update and recovery from HD crash simplified
Version 2.2 - Stronger encryption implemented
Version 2.3 - Tab-stops and keyboard shortcuts added (editing)
Version 2.4 - Maintenance update. ‘Nag screens’ reduced for unregistered product
