The dBASE III package has attained its current popularity mainly for the following reason:
1. It is easy to use and is simple. Its basic features can be learned in a couple of hours.
2. It provides a very high level language interface which is command oriented. Some people consider it a fourth generation language. In lay man’s terms, fourth generation language means it is superior to standard programming languages like BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN and PASCAL; and it simplifies and sometimes even avoids programming in a conventional sense.
3. Small business information systems can be easily implemented in a few days using this package. Insurance CRM or instant life insurance rates application can be implemented easily in small businesss.
4. This package can be used as a tool to prototype large applications. Prototyping is useful for saving costs in implementing large applications. Parts of a large system may be implemented through dBASE III package to finalize specifications of what users want through the envisaged application and how these parts could possibly be implemented in their final form.
We will discuss some features of the DBMS packages in our next post.
Computers in Management 