IB Browser

IB Browser is a handy and reliable program whose main purpose is to explore InterBase databases. The operations you can perform with it range from browsing and editing, to sorting, searching and exporting the tables to CSV format.

IB Browser can handle files with GDB extension exclusively, which is a proprietary format of InterBase. Also, it cannot be started without having InterBase installed on the system, but that is the only prerequisite it needs in order to function properly.

An advantage of IB Browser is that it does not need installation; simply run the EXE file located in the download archive and get acquainted with its interface, which sports a rather rudimentary appearance.

This, however, is due to the fact that the program has a few years of existence, throughout which it hasn’t been updated to match more modern standards. Despite its raw simplicity, the GUI is easy to get accustomed to, due to the fact that it’s properly organized and sports commands for navigating the tables.

System tables will be displayed to the left of the main window and you can explore these in the right side of the interface. Records can be sorted by index, using a dropdown menu, while the search option allows to quickly locate items using wildcards.

In order to restart a transaction, you need to hit the ‘Refresh’ button or alternatively, you can close and reopen the table (although this is less comfortable).

Bottom line, IB Browser can prove quite useful in managing InterBase databases, but the fact that it’s outdated is noticeable everywhere you look inside the program. Nevertheless, it’s still usable.