UK Info Disk Standard 8.0

• Platform:   Windows 98 / XP / 2000 / NT / Me
• Media: CD-ROM
• Item Quantity: 1

However, it's as a contacts database that UK Info is at its most impressive. Take a simple example. If you have a friend who you're pretty sure lives in Banbury, but you've lost their address, simply type their surname and forenames into the relevant search boxes, pick Oxfordshire off the location list and then click the Start button. UK Info will go off and bring back the addresses of everyone in the county with the same name as your friend. Once you've retrieved the information you can copy it to a special personal database which can subsequently be exported into for example, Excel or Access, for mail shots. There are other features too. Right mouse click on a name and choose Show Record On Map and UK Info displays a detailed map of the area where the person lives; alternatively, type your post code into the route finder and then drag their name down onto the destination field and having first found them, UK Info will tell you how to get to the! m as well. You can search for businesses too and using the large index of types (from direct mail services to sporting goods stores) along with the locality you should be able to find what you're looking for.

UK Info uses two databases. Out of the box, it automatically elects to search the Electoral Roll and Business Directory. However, if you click the 'Directory Enquiries' option, it can also search through its list of residential and business telephone numbers. This works on a credit system. When you buy the program you get 100 credits which lets you use the Directory Enquiries feature 100 times; after that you have to purchase new credits from the company's web site for a small charge.

Things we don't like? You can't print out route maps, and if it can't find someone, it simply sits there when a 'can't find who you're looking for' dialogue box would be more helpful; and while good value, having to buy credits to find extra phone numbers goes against the grain – you've bought the software, you should be able to use it freely. That said it's an excellent product with enormous possibilities whether you want to find a friend or start up in business. --Rob Beattie

Manufacturer's Description
With over 60 million records compiled from three main databases, UK Info gives you unrivalled searching power. The data is drawn from the Electoral Roll of 44 million people, 17 million residential and business telephone listings and company information totaling over 2 million records.

Enter the surname (with or without an address) and all the matching results will be returned. Can't remember the full surname or how it's spelt? Don't worry, UK Info Disk's 'Wildcard' search feature allows you to put in partial search criteria i.e. 'Gre' rather than Green and still get a full listing of all matching results. To begin type in a name or partial name and click on start, you can search either the electoral roll and business, or the directory enquiries database. Delivers up to 2000 results per search, with 200 records displayed at a time. Lets you edit records, save them and even search while using UK-Info Disk without having to go into another application. Export up to 2000 records at a time to other applications. Simply insert two postcodes for an instant driving route. Alternatively just click on a name result and the address will show on the map.

• Software > Business & Office > Schedule & Contact Management > Directories
• Software > Education & Reference > Reference > Directories