Borax & Baking Soda

What are they specifically used for?

baking soda is used to raise total alkalinity....it is EXACTLY the same thing as the alkalinity increaser sold in the pool store
Borax is used to raise pH without raising total alkalinity. The soda ash sold in pool stores raises both pH and total alkalinity and this is not usually desirable.

thanks WaterBear for the clearing up its appreciated i was looking for the same info

:D