Here are some of the ways we think Dabble compares favorably to spreadsheets and other databases:
Spreadsheet |
Custom database |
Dabble DB |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Data input | Copy and paste or type it in by hand. |
Import common formats. Custom-programmed forms. |
Copy and paste straight from spreadsheet. Import from tables, web pages and RSS feeds. Drag-and-drop form builder to make web pages to collect data within minutes. |
| Sorting and searching data | Use the search command to find a specific item. Sort the data using cumbersome menu commands. |
Write a boolean search query to find specific items. Ask the programmer to let you change how the results are sorted. |
Point-and-click to add intelligent, dynamic filters. Sort and group the data on-the-fly. |
| Sharing data |
Spreadsheets are designed for one person. In a pinch, you might email a spreadsheet to your colleagues and cross your fingers that their changes don’t conflict with each other. |
Multiple users can share data, but a programmer has to build a separate system just to track user accounts and access levels. Sharing data with outsiders usually means cutting and pasting or asking the programmer to create an export function. |
Built-in support for multiple users with their own usernames and passwords. Add new users at any time and control the access level for each. Easy to share data with others using exports in multiple formats and public-accessible pages. |
| Creating reports and viewing data in different ways |
Everyone gets the same flat data presented the same flat way. |
There might be different ways of looking at data. But each of them has to be built by a programmer. And everyone still gets it presented the same way. |
Users can customize reports of shared data. Save a view for others to use yet make on-the-fly changes to it at any time. Charts and maps to visualize data. Calendar view built-in for dates and times. Intelligent treatment of numeric data and links. Show and hide columns, and add subtotals and formulas. |
| Changing how data is organized | A lot of cutting and pasting. (Fairly tedious.) |
The database programmer creates a structure for each table. If the data changes, the programmer has to change the tables. (Fairly expensive.) |
Incremental organization. Add new data fields and change existing ones at any time. Smart data types give intelligent results. Reorganize data using flexible categories. No strict tables. (Simple and fast.) |
| Interaction with other systems | More cutting and pasting. |
If you find a good programmer, he or she may build in some data export tools. Or maybe not. |
Built-in support to export data in a variety of different formats. Embed dynamic pages in your own web site. Build custom forms to collect data. API interface to allow you to build customized tools on top of Dabble DB applications and a plug-in system allows developers to extend functionality. |
