The Versatile Database Package

Masterfile III is the latest development in the best selling family of database programs for Acorn computers. It is fast, simple to use and provides powerful data management facilities for home, education and business use. Included amongst its features is a comprehensive indexing system allowing data to be accessed in any order. In addition, subsets may be created allowing access to just those records which match the search criteria. Both indices and subsets are updated automatically when records are added, modified or deleted. The report generator allows databases to be printed in card or spreadsheet format, and provides full label printing facilities. Databases may have up to 255 fields of 255 characters and field types supported include: text, integer, decimal, date, picture and calculation. Masterfile is supplied with sample databases, and a user guide containing a step-by-step tutorial and reference section describing all the facilities provided.

Features include:

• Fast, multi-field indexing
• Multiple subsets
• Password protection for data security
• Global calculations across database
• Multi-line fields
• Optional toolbox with buttons to step through records
• Calculation fields based on values in other fields
• Import text and pictures by dragging
• Import and export CSV, TSV and ASCII data files
• Range checking on data entry
• Card designer allowing complete freedom for data entry screens
• Restructure database at any time.

Descriptors - Record descriptions may contain up to 255 fields of up to 255 characters in length. Field types supported are: Text, Integer, Decimal (formatted to 1-9 decimal places), Date, Datestamp, Timestamp, Calculation and Picture. Datestamp and Timestamp fields are filled in with the current date and time when the record is created. Calculation fields show the result of a calculation which may include data from other fields. Picture fields may contain Draw or sprite files. Data can be checked on entry by specifying a range. Options may be specified that format the data in the field. The descriptor can have passwords specified to restrict access to the database.

Card designer - The card designer allows the appearance of the data entry window to be enhanced. Fields may: be given borders; have their text and fill colours changed; be moved around; be resized vertically to create multi-line fields; be hidden and unhidden. Fields are moved on a grid which may be switched off. A Learn facility is provided to allow a new order of input to be learnt for a card. New objects can be created which may contain text or graphics. A text file of up to 4K or any size of Draw or sprite file can be imported into a card object. Multiple cards may be created.

Indexing - Multiple indices may be created on each database. An index alters the order in which the data is seen. An indexed field may be in ascending or descending order. Up to three fields may be specified for each index. On text fields the number of characters used to create the index can be reduced to reduce the size of the index. Indices are automatically updated when records are added, modified or deleted.

Subsets - Multiple named subsets may be created. A subset contains records that match one or more expressions specified by the user. Subset expressions may be made to be case sensitive. If more than one expression is specified the expressions may be ORed instead of ANDed to determine the contents of the subset. A wildcard operator is available to allow subsets to be created if a field contains a specified string. Subsets are automatically updated when records are added, modifed or deleted. The records in a subset may be deleted.

Printing - Two types of reports are available to the user. Table reports allow data to be printed in either horizontal (fields side-by-side) or vertical (each field on a new line) formats. The user can specify whether the field names are printed or not and if they should be emboldened. A user title may be added to the top of each page. The order of fields on the report may be changed and fields can be removed completely from the report. The width of fields can be increased or reduced to aid formatting the report. Numeric fields may be totalled or averaged.
Label reports allow data to be printed on labels. The user only needs to define the size and layout of the labels to be used. The order of fields may be changed and fields can be excluded from the report. Fields on the label can be joined together and emboldened. Blank fields are removed automatically from the label. Both types of report may be previewed before printing. Reports can be saved as text to allow further editing or inclusion in a word processor or DTP document. Multiple named reports of both types may be created.

Export/Import - The contents of the current subset can be exported in CSV, TSV or ASCII formats. The order of fields may be changed and fields can be excluded from the export.
Data can be imported in CSV, TSV and ASCII formats. The import is performed by dragging the file onto the database window. If records already exist the imported data will be appended to them.

Miscellaneous - Database descriptors may be altered and resaved and the database will be restructured to suit. Data will be maintained unless a field type is altered, a field is shortened or a field is deleted. A special utility option is provided to automatically calculate the minimum lengths of fields and restructure the database accordingly. The global calculation feature allows the contents of a field to be set to the result of a calculation. Individual records may be exported or printed. A Find option allows the database to be searched for a specific record. Masterfile II descriptor and data files can be converted for use with Masterfile III.

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