What is a formatted database?
Matheo Analyzer

A formatted database is one in which all the data (references) contained in the database have an identical format. In other words, not only are the references clearly delimited from one another, but the fields contained in each reference are also delimited from one another, and the contents of the fields can also contain distinctive signs enabling you to "work" on the particular contents of a field (for example, the date in the field describing the journal, the number of pages, the date).

Tool

Example of formatted references (Inspec database, Dialog server, TAG format)