SPACE 2/SPACE - Library 2 - Volume 1.iso/apps/142/applic/synfconv.doc

Text File | 1987-06-16 | 6KB | 161 lines

                SYNFCONV Documentation
                  Copyright (c) 1986
                    by F.P. Nagle

Introduction

The SYNFCONV program from RUBICON SOFTWARE will  allow
you  to convert SynFile (tm of Synapse)  databases  to
six  different database programs on the ST  series  of
computers.  Currently,  support  is  for  HippoSimple,
Zoomracks, dbMan, H & D Base, dbOne, and DBMaster. The
program  is  self prompting,  and a series  of  simple
questions  are  presented for  you  to  answer.  After
answering them, SYNFCONV will show you the information
on the file to be converted, and then proceed with the
actual conversion.

How to start

In order for the program to function,  the first thing
you need to do is transfer the SynFile files to the ST
series  computer.  This can be accomplished is  a  few
different  ways.  If you have an 850 interface on  the
800  series  computer,   then  a  simple  Null   Modem
connection between the 850 Port 1 and the serial  port
of  the ST will allow a quick and easy transfer  using
any Amodem/Xmodem program on both  computers.  Another
way  would be to upload the file to be converted to  a
BBS in your area (Talk to the SYSOP FIRST),  and  then
downloading the data to the ST.  If you still seem  to
be  stuck,  your local Atari Users Group can  probably
provide  you with the necessary talent  to  accomplish
the task.

The files that need to be transferred are:

     xxxxxxxx.TBL
     xxxxxxxx.CNF
     xxxxxxxx.Dnn

Where  xxxxxxxx is the main file name of your  SynFile
database,   TBL  is  the  Table  file,   CNF  is   the
configuration file, and Dnn is the data itself. The nn
after the D can be anywhere from 01 to 16 on  SynFile,
and  each of these would be on a different disk  since
SynFile allows up to 16 disks of information.  All  of
these  files  need to be on the same disk  on  the  ST
computer.  If the file is large you may need a  double
sided/  double  density disk on the ST to  handle  the
complete file.

INTRO SCREEN

When  you  first start the program you  are  presented
with   the  opening  credit  screen  along  with   the
copyright information.  As the screen says, just click
on the OK Button to continue.

WHICH FORMAT

When the program loads,  you have a new menu,  with  a
couple  of  selections.  Besides the Desk  Menu  item,
which  will tell you all about SYNFCONV,  you have  to
tell the program which format you want to convert  to,
and also,  whether you want to use the Debug/Print  to
Screen  mode.  If  you use the  DEBUG  mode,  ONLY  20
RECORDS will be converted.  This is useful if you want
to run a test before converting the whole file.

If you decide to print each record to the  screen,  be
aware  that  the whole process will take quite  a  bit
more time, since the print to screen adds time to each
record  converted.  You may want to try the  print  to
screen with the DEBUG option to see the new output.


FILE INFORMATION

This  screen,  and the two following it,  provide  you
with information on the SynFile database. The TBL file
contains information on Field names,  Field types, and
special  field  characteristics.  You  are  shown  the
length of the different tables,  along with the number
of  fields  and the actual record length as  found  on
SynFile. Just press the SPACE BAR to continue.


THE FILE DEFINITION

This  screen  shows  you the actual  make  up  of  the
SynFile.  It displays Field Name,  Field Type, How far
into the record it is located (OFFSET FROM  0),  Field
Length,   and  whether  of  not  the  field  will   be
converted.  Certain  special fields are not  currently
converted.  If  a  field is not to  be  converted  the
message indicates BYPASSED. If you are converting to H
& D Base, dbMan or dbOne you must write down the field
names  and the size for those fields being  converted.
You  will  use  this  information  to  create  a  file
definition in the destination database. Just click the
OK Button to continue.

RECORD COUNT

As the program runs, it will display the number of the
record it is working on so that you have some idea  of
how far along it is. This will continue until the full
number of records have been processed.

USING THE CONVERTED FILES

After  you  have converted the SynFile files  to  your
selected  database,  the  rest is just  as  easy.  For
HippoSimple, just select this file as the file to load
when  starting  up.  The  field names  are  called  F1
through F16,  but with HippoSimple you can do a rename
of all the fields within the program.  For  ZOOMRACKS,
make  sure  you rename the file with  an  extender  of
.ZRX,  and select it for entry to one of your "racks".
For DB Master, the format is a fixed length record for
you to define the fields from within DB Master.

For H & D Base,  dbOne and dbMan, you need to create a
new  file definition before using the converted  file.
Enter  the  database  of  your  choice,  and  use  the
"CREATE"  function.  Define the field types and  sizes
based on the information you copied from the screen in
SynfConv.  Once you have created this file  definition
then "SAVE" it. Next "USE" the newly CREATEd database.
After  doing this use the APPEND command to enter  all
your converted records.

H & D Base command would look like this:

   APPEND FROM {converted file name } SDF

This  tells  H & D Base to read all the  records  from
your file,  and that they are in SDF format.  The same
is true for dbMan and dbOne,  use the append  command,
although  the  format  may  differ  slightly   between
databases.

THE END

That's all there is to it. You now should have a fully
converted  file for use on the 520ST!  Enjoy  the  new
speed  and  size  of  files  available  on  YOUR   NEW
COMPUTER!

COMPLETE SOURCE:

To receive the complete source (Personal Pascal), just
send $15.00 to:

          Frank P. Nagle
          559 Bobolink Circle
          Sunnyvale, CA 94087-3309

Hope you find using your new databases on the ST  very
useful.