Best Free Free-Form Database (Cardfile)

AZZ Cardfile is a wonderful free-form database with a myriad of uses. It's a direct (and much enhanced) replacement for Microsoft's Cardfile (which they abandoned many years ago).

There is however, one important caveat. Strictly speaking this is shareware, not freeware. On the other hand, the free version never expires (just unobtrusively nags if you don't register). Your data is also inherently safe as it allows backup in a variety of formats such as .txt, .html, .xml, and .rtf. I'd recommend the Version 4 beta version to anybody; it's rock-solid and doesn't even nag.

The site features a large number of pre-made card collections, but they do vary in the quality of information they present.

You can also apply for a free lifetime license here: http://www.azzcardfile.com/license.html

Some Features

Data files (cardfiles) are compressed, encrypted and can be password protected
Card count and card sizes are limited only by system resources (tested 100,000 cards and individual card sizes over 10 MB)
Objects (pictures, sounds, others) can be embedded or linked in the cards
Imports Microsoft Cardfile *.crd files (text only) and delimited text files
Print selected cards or continuously. Print list only
Customizable background colors for individual Cards
Remembers creation and last modification dates for each card
Automatically sorts card list
Dials phone using internal or Microsoft phone dialer
Autodetects and remembers phone numbers
Sends e-mail using default or user defined e-mail client
Browses WWW using default or user defined browser
Customizable appearance
Does not require additional VBXs, OCXs, or database engines.

Product Details

AZZ Cardfile
Website: http://www.azzcardfile.com/
Download link: http://www.azzcardfile.com/download.html
Author: Antanas Zdramys
Version: 3.3c
Date: 07/07/2007
Download file size: 1.45 MB
License: Shareware
Operating systems supported: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista
64 Bit version available: No, but this 32 bit application will run in a 64 bit environment
Portable version available: Unknown
Non-English languages supported: None
Additional software required: None