Database Tour Pro
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Database Tour Pro is a universal database query tool with integrated report builder. It works with various databases, including Paradox, dBase, FoxPro, ASCII, Interbase, Oracle, SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, and Lotus. The software allows you to browse data tables, view/edit data, build and execute SQL queries, search/replace text, import and export data, calculate numeric fields and much more.
The built-in report engine allows to generate reports automatically or by using a visual report designer that supports templates, expressions and report preview. Other features include SQL syntax highlighting, enhanced database grids, data filtering, BLOB editing and more.
Database Tour Pro is a cross-database tool.
It is a handy and strong database program, which includes different db utilities and tools like SQL tool, reporting tool, data converting, exporting, importing utilities and much more.
The software works with data through the Borland Database Engine (BDE) or Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO). This allows using the software as a cross-database tool. So, to use Database Tour Pro you need to install BDE 5.0 or above or ADO 2.1 or above.
ADO is included in Windows 2000 and above. For other Windows systems, you may download and install MDAC from Microsoft web site. You can check the presence of BDE and ADO on your machine and their versions after installing Database Tour Pro in About... section.
Database Tour Pro developed mainly for experts. But unexperienced users sometimes can use it also (e.g., for report printing, table editing and so on).
Main software purposes: accessing databases; convenience in viewing and editing data; automation of the most often used database operations; printing data in the most handy view.
Key features:
* Creating tables for different types of databases.
* Viewing data in databases.
* Editing data.
* Several ways to print data.
* Built-in report engine, which allows to produce the reports automatically or by using a visual report designer with templates, expressions, preview etc.
* Expression builder for report expressions.
* Building and executing SQL queries.
* Support for execution of multi statement SQL scripts.
* Syntax highlighting in SQL editor.
* Support for parameterized SQL queries.
* Enhanced database grids, which allow to view and manipulate the data in the most handy way, including sorting by clicking column header, changing row heights, resizing columns etc.
* Creating, deleting, modifying BDE aliases.
* Command line support for executing queries, opening tables, export-import operations, loading reports etc. with logging the performed operations.
* Searching and replacing text in database with capability to choose fields, record range etc.
* Import data to table from another table or a query.
* Export data from open table or query of any format to text, HTML, XLS, XML, RTF, CSV and to databases of other formats (which supported by database engine installed).
* Copying data to clipboard.
* Calculating numeric fields (sum, avg, min, max, count).
* Viewing and editing Blob data, such as MEMO, graphic, RTF.
* Tools for editing text fields (trimming, changing case of symbols).
* Sorting (logical and physical) data.
* Filtering data according to specified criteria.
* Viewing table and database structure with capability to print, copy, sort it.
* Reindexing tables.
* Customized data view (font, background).
* Conditional formatting data in database grids and reports.
* Ability to control transactions manually.
* Storing database and SQL history.
Supported database types
Database Tour Pro works with databases via ADO or BDE and was tested on the following database types:
* dBase / FoxPro (*.dbf). Access via BDE or ADO (using ODBC or ISAM drivers).
* Paradox (*.db). Access via BDE or ADO (using ODBC or ISAM drivers).
* Text (*.txt). Access via BDE (text tables with schema files *.sch) or ADO (using ODBC or ISAM drivers).
* Comma separated values (*.csv). Access via ADO (using text ODBC driver) or BDE (for export purposes only).
* Lotus (*.wk1, *.wj2). Access via ADO (using ISAM driver).
* HTML (*.htm, *.html). Access via ADO (using ISAM driver).
* XML (*.xml). Access via BDE (for export purposes only) or ADO (for import / export operations only).
* Interbase (*.gdb). Access via BDE (using direct file link for local databases or BDE aliases for remote databases) or ADO (using ODBC driver with direct file link for local databases or ODBC DSN for remote databases).
* Microsoft Access (*.mdb). Access via ADO (using ODBC driver) or BDE (using DSN-based BDE alias or native driver (only Access 95-97)).
* Microsoft Excel (*.xls). Access via BDE (using DSN-based BDE alias) or ADO (using ODBC or ISAM drivers).
* Microsoft Visual FoxPro (*.dbc). Access via BDE (using DSN-based BDE alias) or ADO (using ODBC drivers).
* Oracle. Access via BDE (using BDE alias) or ADO (using ODBC DSN).
* SQL Server. Access via BDE (using BDE alias) or ADO (using ODBC DSN).
* PostgreSQL. Access via BDE (using DSN-based BDE alias) or ADO (using ODBC DSN).
* MySQL. Access via BDE (using DSN-based BDE alias) or ADO (using ODBC DSN).
Theoretically, Database Tour Pro can work with some other formats (depending on database engine (ADO or BDE) installed).
What differences between Database Tour and Database Tour Pro?
Database Tour has two releases: Standard (or simply Database Tour) and Professional (Database Tour Pro). Database Tour Pro has the following extra features comparing with Database Tour:
- Integrated report engine and report builder.
- Full command line support. While Database Tour supports only several command line options (for encrypting/decrypting files, direct opening files, and some auxiliary options like /ado, /bde etc.), the Database Tour Pro supports tens of command line options, including options for export operations, query executing etc.
- Generating SQL.
- Exporting SQL history to HTML and RTF.
What Database Tour features highlight it among other database tools?
1. Integrated report engine with a report designer (Database Tour Pro only). Data from any open table or query can be printed in the most handy view directly in Database Tour Pro, without needing to transfer the data into other programs (although this is also possible!). Database Tour Pro uses its own report engine.
2. Export-import data (see topic below).
3. Running SQL dumps. With specifying a separator for SQL statements, you can run dumps with unlimited count of statements at a time.
4. Big set of functions, which perform most often used operations with databases, such as searching and replacing text etc.
5. Great convenience of viewing the data. Table components of Database Tour give you capability to view MEMO and graphic fields, expand rows, use autoscrolling, sorting, selecting group of records, copying data etc. Data in tables can be highlighted concerning to its content (so called conditional formatting). There is a software for working with BLOB fields, such as MEMO, graphic, RTF.
6. Large number of operations can be performed through command line (mostly in Database Tour Pro). This allows using it in batch files, schedulers, and in calls from your own programs.
Reports and data printing
Database Tour can print the table data either as they shown in the data grid or by using its own database reporting tool (Database Tour Pro only). Such data, as contents of the graphic, Memo or RTF fields, can be printed either separately or in reports (except RTF).
The license of this software is Free Trial Software, the price is $97.00, you can free download and get a free trial.

