MKF Solutions is happy to announce the release of Database Oasis V3.1. The version upgrade includes the following improvements:

• Database Oasis now supports relational databases. This gives users the ability to have multiple sub-records linked to a master parent record. For example, this can be used to allow you to add a single company record and create multiple contacts associated with the company. It can also be used for things like adding jobs to a customer record, payment dates to an invoice, individual visits to a medical record, etc.
• Significant enhancements have been made to security in Professional Edition. In past versions, if a user had access to Database Oasis, he or she had full access to all displays. We now provide the ability to control who can view, edit data, and modify each individual display.
• A new field type has been added for auto incrementing fields. This is a numeric field that automatically increases by one for each new record. This field type is commonly used to assign a unique number to each record.
• In the past, picture fields were limited to either stretching the picture to fit the frame, or trimming the picture. Depending on the size and shape of the graphic in relation to the frame, stretching could cause the picture to distort and trimming could remove too much of the image, making it difficult to see. Picture fields have been enhanced to include an additional option to size the picture to the frame while maintaining the ratio. This will prevent distortion of pictures, and still allow the entire picture to be viewed without any of the image being cut off.
• The Professional Edition report designer includes many enhancements, including built in labels, a quick report wizard that allows you to select fields and have the report layout automatically built, sub-reports with the option to print in columns, and the ability to print shapes, logos, and picture fields.
• The quick Print feature now gives the option to print all fields or select the fields for the report. When selecting fields, you can set their order, providing more control over the report output.
• Tab order may now be set in the display designer.
• In the past, the data in picture fields was stored on your hard drive and Database Oasis just linked to the file. This created issues on some networks because not all users had access to the location where the pictures was stored. Instead of linking to picture files, graphics are now embedded in the database to eliminate access issues over networks.
• The Link feature, which was previously limited to Professional Edition, is now available in Basic Edition.
• The import feature has been enhanced to include import into check boxes and date fields.
• As of the 3.2.9 update:
  Fix bug where apostrophe in display name causes filter to not work correctly.
  Fix bug with image fields not working correctly in some cases.
  Included several new templates by default.
  Updated 3rd party controls in use.
  Minor bug fixes.
• As of the 3.2.8 update:
  Displays display name in find form.
  Crashing bug when removing last item from filter with list view open.
  Minor bug fixes.
• As of the 3.2.7 update:
  Now allows list boxes to have items added in a group.
  Minor bug fixes.
• As of the 3.2.6 update:
  Include saves exports formats in templates.
  Minor bug fixes.
• As of the 3.2.5 update:
  Add display title to list view.
  Add save export definition feature.
  Add confirm save system preference.
• As of the 3.1.28 update:
  Add display title to list view.
  Various bug fixes.
• As of the 3.1.27 update:
  Various Bug Fixes.
• As of the 3.1.26 update:
  Various Bug Fixes.
• As of the 3.1.25 update:
  Various Bug Fixes.
• As of the 3.1.24 update:
  Distribute new templates. Improvements to sort and filter handling of child displays.
• As of the 3.1.23 update:
  Fix issue with parent and child data disconnecting.
• As of the 3.1.22 update:
  Minor bug fixes.
  Copyright update.
• As of the 3.1.21 update:
  Private build - not available to the public.
  
• As of the 3.1.20 update:
  Fix to import issue not recognizing regional settings.
  Added support for new data value when importing to checkbox fields.
  During import, if column headers match field names, they are automatically mapped to each other.
  Fix issue requiring to open display twice to recognize changes in basic edition.
• As of the 3.1.19 update:
  Fix to import issue when importing large files.
  Fix issue with decimal place display in list view.
• As of the 3.1.18 update:
  Add ability to auto login to professional edition.
  Bug fix in label report printing.
• As of the 3.1.17 update:
  Bug Fixes.
• As of the 3.1.16 update:
  Bug Fixes.
• As of the 3.1.15 update:
  Import form is now sizable.
  Fix issue with user guide not displaying correctly.
  Fix issue with DB size growing unnecessarily.
  Fix prerequisites install issues.
• As of the 3.1.14 update:
  Bug fixes.
• As of the 3.1.13 update:
  Bug fixes.
  Enhanced report wizard prompt.
  Display templates now include filters, sorts, list views and reports.
  Include support to manually trigger repair/pack operations from within the program.
• As of the 3.1.12 update:
  Bug fixes.
  Prompt for report wizard.
• As of the 3.1.11 update:
  Enhancement of upgrade file handling.
• As of the 3.1.10 update:
  Improved handling of adding the first record to a display.
  Fixed "invalid data type" import issue.
• As of the 3.1.9 update:
  Enhancements to the custom report engine to better support formatting of numeric fields.
• As of the 3.1.8 update: Database Oasis now supports international character sets. General Bug Fixes.
• As of the 3.1.7 update: Improvements to handling of relational data. Now requires Version 4.0 of the .Net framework.
• As of the 3.1.6 update:
  A bug fix was made to the report designer, and an issue was resolved around an incorrect version mismatch error.
• As of the 3.1.5 update:
  The ability to hide labels on check boxes has been added. Various minor bug fixes.
• As of the 3.1.4 update:
  A new date calculation has been added that will return the count of days since the date in a specified date field.
• As of the 3.1.3 update: This release fixed a bug that didn't allow pictures in embedded picture fields to be cleared.
• As of the 3.1.2 update:
  This version fixed a bug when launching the custom report designer in new installations.
• As of the 3.1.1 update:
  There is now a Purge All Records option available to administrators that will clear all records from a display.

Version 2.9 Changes

• It is now possible to create a calculated field based on another calculated field. A new option has also been added to allow you the option of whether or not to display a calculated field on the display. This allows you to create calculated fields that are just used in calculations or reports, without cluttering up your display.
• A new option has been added to allow you the option of whether or not to display a calculated field on the display. For example, you may need a calculation for a report or for use in another calculated field, but do not need to show it on your display.
• You may now set the number of decimal places for numeric based calculated fields (math calculations).
• Date fields are now available in the field list for text based calculations (combining a field with another field or a text value).
• The Sum Numeric Fields calculated field has been expanded to include an option to calculate the average instead of the sum.
• The filter builder in Professional Edition now allows up to twelve filter criteria. (This is an advanced feature that is not available in Basic Edition.)
• The Sort feature now includes a third sort criterion.
• A new Save option has been added to List View, Sort, and Filters. This allows you to save your configuration and quickly recall it later.
• A new Links feature has been added to Professional Edition. This feature allows you to link files, web site URLs, and email addresses to the records in your display. You can quickly launch any of the associated items from within the display. (This feature is not available in Basic Edition.)
• A new Copy option has been added to the Data menu in displays to allow you to quickly copy a record.
• It is now possible to move objects in the display designer using the keyboard. Pressing an arrow key on the keyboard moves the selected object one pixel at a time.
• When selecting a font for an object in the designer, it is now possible to select a font color.
• Objects in the designer may now be deleted using the Delete key on your keyboard.
• The Cancel button is now enabled when adding a field in the designer.
• Numeric and date fields are now available in record search.
• The product has been enhanced to support 64 bit computers.
• The report designer now lets you create data groupings. This allows you to include summary information for subsets of your report data.
• The report designer now includes bands for a page header and page footer.
• New box and cross band line options have been added to the report designer. The box option allows you to quickly draw a box around report elements. The cross band line option allows you to create a vertical line that extends across multiple bands, for example, from a page header into the detail band.

Download Version 2.9 now
View upgrade instructions.

Version 2.8 Changes

The version 2.8 upgrade included the following improvements:

• Database Oasis has changed the backend database from Microsoft SQL Express to VistaDB. This database requires less hard drive space and avoids issues that have been encountered around database installation and maintenance.

Click here for more information.

2.7 Changes

The version 2.7 upgrade included the following improvements:

• A new field type has been added for date fields. This field includes a pop up calendar for quick date entry.
• A new field type has been added for list fields. This allows users to pre-configure a list of data entry options that can be entered into the field from a list to ensure rapid and consistent data entry. Fields can be setup to limit entry to list items, or to allow users the option of manually typing an entry in the field.
• A Print option has been added to give users the option to quickly print individual records. The record is printed with each field on a separate line in the order in which they appear on the display.
• The navigation bar and tools pane have options to minimize individual sections to better support users running in low monitor resolutions.

2.6 Changes

The version 2.6 upgrade included the following improvements:

• Users now have the option of purchasing a Professional Edition, which allows multiple users to work with the same database over a network.
• Professional Edition includes a custom report designer, which allows users to create and print custom reports.
• The backend database for both Basic Edition and Professional Edition was upgraded to Microsoft SQL Express.
• In past versions, logos were stored as a link to the graphic file on your hard drive or network. This has been changed to store a copy of the graphic in the database, allowing users to distribute templates without having to distribute separate graphic files. (Users upgrading from version 2.5 or earlier will need to open any displays with logos in the designer. A conversion process will be run to embed the graphic. - There is no need to open each logo separately; the conversion runs as soon as the designer is opened.)

Version 2.5 Changes

The version 2.5 upgrade included the following improvements:

• Database Oasis now includes an Import Module which will allow you to import delimited files or Excel spreadsheets.
• Numeric fields now provide the ability to control the number of decimal places to use.
• You can now edit notes fields in list view.
• You can now size all rows in list view by adjusting the size of any row.
• Printing in list view has been improved. The printout will now automatically adjust to your paper size. Control over the header and footer has been improved, allowing precise placement of text and the inclusion of variables such as the page count.
• You now have the ability to print lists to multiple file formats, including PDF and HTML. You can also automatically email a PDF or Graphic version of your list.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.