While I've only been on this list for some weeks now, I've noticed postings regarding database software for museums coming up every now and then. So I suppose it's an on-going thread. I would like to know whether there is anybody on this list having used a British information management software called IDEALIST for museum purposes. So far, I have only used it to manage addresses and bibliographic references, but it seems to be a quite powerful mix of database and text retrieval capabilities. Some features I find useful are: - A database may have records with differing field structure. - A record may include several occurences of the same field. - Records can hold several pages of text. - You can search the entire database, or just particular fields. IDEALIST has been developed by Blackwell Science Ltd, a publisher in Oxford (http://www.blacksci.co.uk); product info at http://www.blackwell-science.com/PRODUCTS/IDEALIST/ABOUTIDE.HTM), and is distributed by BEKON (e-mail: [log in to unmask]), a company in Stockport, Cheshire. There are 16-bit and 32-bit Windows versions; there used to be a version for the Mac, as well, but I am not sure if it's still available. Martin Taureg Photo Archives Programme Coordinator / Coordinateur du Programme des Archives Photographiques ________________________________________________________ PROGRAMME DES MUSEES DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST / WEST AFRICAN MUSEUMS PROGRAMME (WAMP) 140, Rue Moussé Diop B. P. 357 Dakar, SENEGAL ________________________________________________________ Phone / Téléphone: (++221) 22 50 57 Fax / Télécopie: (++221) 22 12 33 E-mail / Courrier électronique: [log in to unmask] ________________________________________________________