1. dBASE
- Latest Version: dBASE 2019 (also referred to as dBASE PLUS 9)
- Release Year: 2019
- Developer: dBase LLC (successor to Ashton-Tate and Borland)
- Key Features:
- Modern IDE with code completion and debugging
- ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) support for SQL databases
- “Surround” functionality for faster coding
- Continued support for legacy
.dbffile format
- Status: Commercially available but niche; primarily used in legacy business applications .
- Note: Despite the 2019 release, some underlying components (e.g., BDE) have not been updated since the early 2000s .
2. FoxPro (Visual FoxPro)
- Latest Version: Visual FoxPro 9.0 Service Pack 2
- Initial Release: December 2004
- Final Update (SP2): October 16, 2007
- End of Extended Support: January 13, 2015 (Microsoft officially ended all support)
- Developer: Microsoft (acquired Fox Software in 1992)
- Legacy: Final version included COM integration, improved SQL engine, and XML support .
- Current Status: Discontinued; no upgrades or security patches since 2015 . Many organizations are migrating to .NET or web platforms .
3. CDS/ISIS (including WINISIS)
- Original Release: 1985 by UNESCO for bibliographic management
- Latest Windows Version: WINISIS 1.4 (some sources cite minor updates up to 2003–2005)
- Specific Release: Version 1.4 b22 released on March 25, 2002
- Developer: UNESCO (Division of Information Systems)
- Key Use: Library catalogs, documentation centers, especially in developing countries
- Status: No official updates since mid-2000s; considered legacy software .
- Successors: ABCD (Automatización de Bibliotecas) and Greenstone digital library software
- File Format: Uses
.mst(master file) and.xrf(cross-reference); not relational .
4. SOUL (Software for University Libraries)
- Developer: INFLIBNET Centre, India (under UGC)
- Latest Version: SOUL 3.0
- Release Year: February 2021
- (Note: One source mentions a 2022 release , but consensus across multiple verified sources points to February 2021.)
- Previous Version: SOUL 2.0 (released January 2009)
- Key Improvements in SOUL 3.0:
- Enhanced user interface
- Better OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog)
- Improved circulation and cataloguing modules
- Database Backend: Migrated from CDS/ISIS (in SOUL 1.x) to relational databases (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server) in later versions .
- Current Status: Still in use in Indian academic libraries, though gradually being replaced by open-source systems like Koha.
5. Microsoft Access
- Latest Standalone Version: Access 2021 (part of Office 2021)
- Microsoft 365 (Subscription): Continuously updated; latest build as of September 2025 is Version 2508 (Build 19127.20192)
- Recent Update: February 4, 2025 – security and non-security updates for Access 2016 and Microsoft 365
- Developer: Microsoft
- Key Features:
- Integration with Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate)
- Support for Dataverse and cloud data sources
- Desktop-only (web-based Access apps discontinued in 2018)
- Status: Actively supported and updated as of 2025 . Remains part of Microsoft 365 suite.
Summary Table (2025 Update)
| System | Latest Version | Release Year | Developer | Support Status (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dBASE | dBASE 2019 (PLUS 9) | 2019 | dBase LLC | Commercial, limited use |
| FoxPro | VFP 9.0 SP2 | 2007 | Microsoft | Discontinued (since 2015) |
| CDS/ISIS | WINISIS 1.4 | 2002–2005 | UNESCO | Legacy; no updates |
| SOUL | SOUL 3.0 | 2021 | INFLIBNET (India) | In use (academic libraries) |
| MS Access | Microsoft 365 (v2508) | 2025 (continuous) | Microsoft | Fully supported |
Key Takeaways
- dBASE and FoxPro are historical milestones in desktop database evolution but are now obsolete or niche.
- CDS/ISIS and SOUL remain relevant in library and information science, especially in developing regions.
- Microsoft Access is the only system among the five that is actively developed and supported, with regular updates through Microsoft 365.
Sources: Official developer websites, UNESCO documentation, INFLIBNET publications, and Microsoft update logs (2024–2025).