The main screen has been designed to allow easy access and a shallow learning curve. All controls are available from the main screen within BonRef6. Different from version 5, you can now save free-forms notes about each trees watering habits, feeding schedule, fertilizer mix, pest control or just plain notes. Save up to 36 pages within each category!

All picture windows utilize "drag and drop" technology to when adding pictures to the database. This includes the collection database, cross-reference/care-sheet database, library book database, and personal resource database.

Simply open the Windows Explorer, highlight a bitmap, jpg, or gif file then drag it to the picture window of your choice. The file is automatically saved to the database, and will be view-able whenever the record selected. An unlimited number of pictures can be saved per tree record! So keep a pictorial record of your trees history...

Never miss a re-potting or re-styling date! BonRef6 allows you to set the initial date of re-potting and re-styling, then indicate how far into the future you want to be notified. Just like an alarm clock. When the date arrives a notice will be displayed at the top of the main screen indicating that the time has arrived. Or you can create a report to show which trees are coming within there specified time for re-potting or re-styling.

The panel above also allows you to select the currency type, and to synchronize your tree collection database with the cross reference database. (What this means is that when you view a tree in your collection database, the corresponding care-sheet will be viewable in the cross-reference/care-sheets database.) Simply click the cross-reference tab to view the information.

The Cross-Reference Database is used to search for a tree by botanical/common name, view information about the tree regarding light, temperature, training information etc. Or store favorite examples of different tree species. Like the other picture windows with BonRef6, you can drag and drop a picture directly from Windows Explorer to the appropriate species record and save it forever! This is where I get samples of my favourite trees.

Each record contains the botanical name, common name (searchable by each), a four symbol description of the tree's characteristics, and information for fertilizing, training, watering, light etc. As you can see there are 1995 cross-reference entries in our database! (note: not all trees have a corrsponding care-sheet attached)

The Personal Library section of BonRef6 allows you to save information about the books and video tapes in your collection.

This screen actually interfaces with two databases. The library database (in the middle), which is a collection of available books and resources on bonsai and your resource center or library collection. Unlike version 5, it is VERY easy to add a new book to the available library database. Simply drag an image from Windows Explorer to the library book picture window.

To add a book from the available library to your library, simply select the book to add using the navigation buttons (arrows), then drag its picture from the library picture window to your library window (don't forget to click the add button first!).

You will see that not only is the library picture transferred to your library database, but so are the title, author and publisher information. This will save you tons of time!

The Japanese language database system contains a database of common Japanese bonsai terms and their english translations, as well as a database of Kanji (Japanese Characters) of common names and places!

You can search for a Japanese word or phrase by it english translation, if present it will appear in the yellow boxe above. Try this with shogun or dragon and see how many word and phrases as displayed!

Report Creation! BonRef6 comes with all the reports included in version 5 plus a few more just for fun!

From this interface you can print your report, select the paper type/format (such as A4), print landscape or portrait, search the report, export to a Word document, Excel spreadsheet etc., view under different magnifications, or flip from page to page. Our report center allows you to create a number of different reports that include:

• A garden worksheet
• Anticipated re-potting
• Anticipated re-styling
• Bonsai inventory with notes
• Bonsai inventory with out notes
• Individual report with tree characteristics and picture
• Individual report with tree characteristics, picture, and care-sheet information (if available in the database)

Also available later this spring for free download to all BonRef6 users is our Report Wizard report creation software that will allow you to create your own reports from scratch. Simply select the database, and the fields you want to include and the Report Wizard will produce a professional looking report with the same familiar interface that all our reports utililize!