After you've explored the sample database, you'll want to create your own database for recording and storing data about your plant collection. Managing your databases can be done from within The Compleat Botanica or by using the Data Manager utility. Both methods work identically for the four basic operations: creating, deleting, backing up, and restoring. The Data Manager utility has several advanced operations that may be useful for moving data between computers, fixing ODBC problems, and restoring databases damaged by a power failure.

To see details for all of these operations, see the Index to database topics.