# Databases

A powerful feature of FluidFlow are the many associated databases that support and enhance the application. These include a database of fluid properties, databases that describe the performance and limits of fluid equipment items, materials databases that hold pipe sizing and pipe insulation information, and a database of manufacturers, costs, and user-defined areas of application. Databases are used extensively in FluidFlow in order to reduce the volume of data entry. FluidFlow uses 18 databases for this purpose, typically flow versus pressure loss data is stored for all resist developments. For Pipes sizing economic and thermal data is stored. For fluids thermo-physical and transport properties are stored as functions of pressure and temperature. When FluidFlow makes a calculation it obtains this data on an "as needed" basis. It is possible to make copies of a database and connect to the copy, this can be useful if you are part of an organization which handles a large number of projects. Databases can reside anywhere that can be accessed from your desktop; for example on a network server or across a WAN – this allows you to share data between any number of users.