myBase - Freeform Database, Notes Manager & Outlining Software Tool

Introducing myBase

myBase is a versatile free-form database system that allows entry of unstructured text, webpages, images, documents, emails and even arbitrary files without regard to length or format. All information is compressed with the integrated zip utility and stored in the tree structured outline form. Unlike traditional database programs, myBase accepts text input like a word processor, and provides better methods for capturing, editing, organizing, retrieving, searching and sharing information.

myBase is build with our cross-platform Free-form Database Engine, and supports for C/C++/Javascript API (Read more). myBase functionality can be easily extended with a set of addon/plugin utilities. As a matter of fact, tens of utilities (See below) have been provided within the default inbuilt plugin DLL. Plus, there're several separate add-ons/plug-ins which can help more. For example,

  • WebCollect add-on allows you to capture and save webpages or snippets directly from IE/Firefox without having to first save as .html or .mht files;
  • HtmlTree plug-in exports myBase databases as Html tree based webpages, which can be then uploaded onto your website for sharing;
  • myBase Viewer allows you to view myBase databases without having to first install myBase. It is also able to create standalone .exe databases that will run on any 32-bit Windows without any preceding setup.
  • myBase Mobile allows you to view myBase databases on your Pocket PC devices.
  • myBase GDS enables Google Desktop Search to index and then search myBase .nyf files.
  • myBase CGI add-on makes possibilities of publishing myBase databases on the web or over LAN.
  • myBase JavaScript plug-in allows you to customize functionality and write plug-ins/add-ons in JavaScript.

In addition, myBase C/C++/Javascript API is now available for developing particular plug-ins and add-ons, that will extends its original functionality. Nevertherless, using myBase as end-users does not require any programming skills.

The latest version of myBase Desktop is 5.5.1, which can be downloaded from on the Downloads webpage.

System Requirements

To run myBase Desktop, you will need a Pentium 100 PC or higher, 24MB RAM or more. The operating system should be Windows 95(IE4+), Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT4(SP3+), Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, or Windows Vista.

Screenshots

myBase Desktop provides the powerful MDI interface, which allows multiple databases and multiple child windows to open at a time. The main frame looks like the picture below. Click here to see more screenshots

Logic Structure of myBase .Nyf Databases

The hierarchy chart below tries to illustrate how information is organized within myBase. It is virtually a freeform database and fully customizeable;

File system (on hard disk)
|
+--myBase databases (*.nyf files)
|
+--Label items
|
+--Custom label 1 (labelled items...)
|
+--Custom label 2 (labelled items...)
|
+--Custom label 3 (labelled items...)
|
+--More ...
|
+--Info items (hierarchical outline tree structured)
|
+--Virtual items (referring to other items)
|
+--Real items (containing actual data)
|
+--Rich text note (*.rtf)
|
+--Web content (*.html)
|
+--Attachments (*.*)
|
+--Images (*.jpg/gif/bmp/png)
|
+--Documents (*.doc/xls/ppt/pdf)
|
+--Shortcuts (linking to external files)
|
+--Item links (related items)
|
+--Custom icons (applied to info items)
|
+--Reminder entries (associated with info items)

Architecture of myBase Functionality

The hierarchy chart below tries to illustrate myBase software architecture that is intuitive, flexible, stable yet simple to use.

myBase software
|
+--Cross-platform free-form database engine (ssg.dll)
|
+--myBase Desktop (Windows)
|
+--Main functionality (nyfedit.exe)
|
+--Creating, editing, capturing, organizing, sharing, searching, etc.
|
+--Labeling, linking, icons, reminders, attachments, etc.
|
+--Printing, passwords, configurations, maintenance, etc.
|
+--More ...
|
+--Inbuild plug-ins written in C/C++ API (nyfex.dll)
|
+--Undeleting, sorting, caculating, timestamps, etc.
|
+--Importing, exporting, templates, etc.
|
+--More ...
|
+--Misc. plug-ins written in C/C++ API
|
+--Html tree maker
|
+--myBase Javascript plugin (nyfjs.dll adds scripting support)
|
+--Our releases of scripts
|
+--Custom scripts
|
+--Third-party scripts
|
+--myBase server plugin (nyfnet.dll adds networking support)
|
+--Server running as plugin (to-do)
|
+--Web user interface (to-do)
|
+--Native client program (to-do)
|
+--More...
|
+--Third-party plug-ins written in C/C++ API
|
+--Nyf2Chm, Nyf2Web, etc.
|
+--More ...
|
+--Add-ons written in C/C++
|
+--WebCollect, Viewer, Mobile, CGI, GDS, etc.
|
+--Converters: Knt2Nyf, Hjt2Nyf, Ao2Nyf, Nyf2InnoKB, etc.
|
+--YDS, WDS (to-do)
|
+--More ...
|
+--Unicode Support
|
+--Rich text editing (Unicode Version)
|
+--Captured webpages (UTF-8)
|
+--Index database (UTF-8)
|
+--Item title text (UTF-8) (to-do)
|
+--More ...
|
+--myBase viewer & Exe database creator (Windows)
|
+--myBase CGI (Windows/Linux/FreeBSD)
|
+--myBase for Windows Mobile
|
+--myBase for Linux OS (to-do)
|
+--myBase for Mac OS (to-do)
|
+--myBase for Symbian OS (to-do)

Key Features & Benefits

myBase Desktop 5 is a feature-rich and powerful personal information manager. Below is a simple list of key features and benefits that myBase Desktop 5 provides.

  1. Well thought-out MDI user interface (See screenshots)
  2. Built on our cross-platform freeform database engine (Windows/Linux/FreeBSD/PocketPC)
  3. Fast load speed, fast access, with low RAM requirements
  4. Large database support (2GB limit in file size for single database)
  5. Adjustable data compression level ( based on Zlib )
  6. Optimization for database file size
  7. Password-protection of database and info item branch
  8. Attachments support
  9. Content editing in both RTF and HTML specs
  10. New nyf:// protocol scheme for browsing stored webpages in-place
  11. Recycle bin support
  12. Undeletion of info items and attachments
  13. Revision history of RTF notes
  14. Webpage capturing and clipboard monitor
  15. Items links, hyperlinks, symbolic links and file shortcuts
  16. Custom labels and custom icons support
  17. Auto-save and auto-backup
  18. Notes print and preview
  19. Drag-and-drop and cut-copy-paste
  20. Import and export utilities
  21. Index engine and advanced search with boolean expression
  22. Addons and plugins support
  23. myBase API for developing addons/plugins
  24. Plugin for Google Desktop Search
  25. Free database viewer and exe database creator
  26. Dynamic HTML tree generator
  27. Lite version for Pocket PC
  28. CGI for publishing myBase databases on the web
  29. Import data from similar programs

Inbuilt Plug-in Utilities

myBase Desktop 5 includes a default plug-in module 'nyfex.dll' which has implemented tens of utilities listed below:

  1. Capture -> Import Disk Directory Tree
  2. Capture -> Import CD-ROM files as file:// text links
  3. Capture -> Import URL bookmarks that IE uses
  4. Capture -> Import files: Text file to notes, else to attachemts, each file creates a child item
  5. Capture -> Import .doc documents as child items
  6. Capture -> Import records from text file by delimiter, each record creates a child item
  7. Capture -> Import Outlook items
  8. Capture -> Insert a custom timestamp
  9. Share -> Export info branch and map as a disk directory tree
  10. Share -> Export all files of a branch to a specified folder
  11. Share -> Export notes in the branch to text file separated with a line delimiter
  12. Share -> Export regular db records to a csv/xls file
  13. Share -> Export text notes in the branch to a HTML file
  14. Share -> Info Items Templates Management
  15. Share -> RTF Text Templates Management
  16. Organize -> Sort child items by alphabet or time
  17. Organize -> Add numbers to child items' text in ascending order
  18. Organize -> Custom the item text with a timestamp template
  19. Organize -> Update shortcuts with a new path
  20. Organize -> Multi-Select to move child items
  21. Organize -> Multi-select to delete child items
  22. Edit -> Sort selected lines by alphabet
  23. Edit -> Check spelling with MS Word
  24. Edit -> Remove Unwanted Returns/Spaces
  25. Edit -> Batch Format Notes in Branch
  26. Edit -> Batch Replace Text in Branch
  27. Edit -> Calculate Expressions
  28. Edit -> Make Selection Uppercase/Lowercase
  29. Edit -> Seek items by modify time
  30. Edit -> Word count for rtf notes
  31. File -> Maintanence -> Display statistic/properties of database
  32. File -> Maintanence -> Undelete Info Items

How myBase Helps

If you have any of these questions on getting organized, myBase can help.

  • How do I organize a large and growing collection of notes and documents in my research work?
  • How do I securely manage random bits of personal information in my own way?
  • How do I capture webpages including original URLs and organize them with ease?
  • How do I effortlessly create a personal or corporate Knowledge Base?
  • How do I distribute royalty-free standalone Knowledge Bases and run them without any setup?
  • How do I write a book in outline much more efficiently than a standard Word Processor?
  • How do I publish information in the tree outline form on the web?
  • How do I build a tree-based research database containing a number of webpages?

myBase, a 'swiss-army-knife' database program can help. It's fast, powerful yet easy to use ... With myBase, creating your own full-text searchable databases and getting organized has never been easier. No programming skills required!

What You Get

With myBase and a set of add-on utilities, you get:

  1. Research Database, Knowledge Base Software
  2. Personal Information Organizer (PIM)
  3. To-Do List, Address Book, Diary Keeper
  4. Notes Manager, Mind Manager
  5. Documentation Tool, Presentation Tool
  6. Book Writing Tool, e-Book Maker
  7. Outlining Tool
  8. HTML Tree Maker
  9. CHM eBook Maker
  10. Exe Database Maker
  11. Customer Info Management
  12. Webpage Capturing Tool
  13. Photo Album Software
  14. URL Organizer, File Organizer
  15. Rich Text Editor, Word Processor
  16. and more ...

All this are in a footprint of less than 5MB on your hard disk.

myBase API

myBase software is built with our cross-platform free-form database engine, and provides a set of API for developing plug-in and add-on programs. myBase exposes its API in both C/C++ and JavaScript programming language, so that developers can choose one familiar language to extend or customize myBase functionality. myBase API is free to developers making myBase plug-ins and add-ons. If you develop your own standalone applications based on myBase API, you'll need a developer license. Please contact us for the developer license. [ Demo calling myBase API ]

myBase Add-ons and Plug-ins

myBase Viewer and Exe Database Creator

myBase Viewer is an add-on utility that allows you to view myBase freeform databases (.nyf files), and convert .nyf into standalone .exe databases, so you can distribute knowledge bases or e-books in either .nyf or .exe form. The generated .exe databases run on 32-bit Windows without having to first install the viewer and myBase. [ Download ]

myBase Mobile for Pocket PC

myBase Mobile is a lite version of myBase Desktop 5, and is currently available for Pocket PC that runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 2002+. It helps you take notes and organize information in the intuitive tree outline form on Pocket PCs. Like myBase Desktop, myBase Mobile for PPC is also built on myBase API, and stores information in the cross-platform .nyf database file format. Existing .nyf databases created with myBase Desktop still work with myBase Mobile (some limitations apply).

Currently myBase Mobile has just implemented a subset of features that myBase Desktop offers, you'll not expect the full features as you have in myBase Desktop 5, you'll see myBase Mobile works in the much simpler 'Tree + Edit' mode without MDI frames. [ Download ]

WebCollect Add-on for IE/Firefox

The WebCollect Add-on adds the convenience of capturing webpages (including graphics) or snippets directly from Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox web browser and saving in myBase databases without having to first save html/mht files and then insert them manually. The usage is very simple, just right-click on a webpage and select the 'Save with myBase' menu item. Very useful!

WebCollect add-on is currently available in two versions, one for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4+, and one for Mozilla Firefox 1.x/2.x. The IE version works with Internet Explorer 4+ on Windows 98/ME/2K/XP/2003/Vista, and the Firefox version works with Mozilla Firefox 1.x/2.x/3.x on Windows 98/ME/2K/XP/2003/Vista. [ See demo ] [ Download ]

myBase CGI ( for IIS/Apache, Windows/Linux/FreeBSD )

myBase CGI is another addon utility which makes possibilities of publishing myBase .nyf databases via any cgi-bin enabled websites, and viewing content of the databases by using modern web browsers. This addon doesn't run in standalone mode but requires to work with any CGI-supported HTTP servers, such as Microsoft IIS, Apache etc. Those of web hosting plans including the 'cgi-bin' feature would match the requirements running this CGI program. That's to say, if you have a website with the 'cgi-bin' support, you'll probably have the convenience of publishing your knowledge base by simply uploading your .nyf files onto the website, you and/or your audience will have the convenience of viewing the content by using a modern web browser. [ Download ]

myBase GDS Plug-in ( for Google Desktop Search )

myBase GDS Plugin works with Google Desktop Search, and makes myBase .nyf files indexable by Google Desktop Search. myBase GDS Plugin is invoked by GDS crawler to handle .nyf files in background. When this occurs, the plugin extracts text from within the supplied .nyf files and then sends the result text to GDS for indexing. [ Download ]

Export myBase to Dynamic HTML Tree

The HtmlTree plug-in converts myBase .nyf databases into dynamic HTML Tree and a set of webpages including item links and attachments. The generated html tree can be published on the web for sharing information with friends or co-workers. [ Download ]

Export myBase to .CHM

The NYF2CHM plug-in is a 3rd-party tool (by Kingron), that works with myBase desktop for exporting myBase .nyf databases into .CHM archives with a few clicks; This plugin converts myBase into a great CHM authorizing tool. [ More info ]

Export myBase .Nyf Files to InnoKB Databases

The Nyf2InnoKB add-on is the converter which helps convert myBase .nyf files into InnoKB 2.x compatible databases. [ More info ] [ Download ]

Import data from similar programs (KeyNote, TreePad, ActionOutline)

There're a few data file converters which help convert KeyNote (.knt), TreePad (.hjt) and ActionOutline (.ao) files into myBase .nyf databases with ease. [ Download ]

Download for Free Trial

To download a 30-day free trial version of myBase and Add-ons, please visit our download site.