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BIBL/NET
NetWare version
release 1.01
(c) 1992 Clyde W. Grotophorst
GMUtant Software
Route 1, Box 296
Hamilton, Virginia 22068
U.S.A.
BIBL/NET is NOT Freeware or Public Domain...
BIBL/NET is SHAREWARE. If you use BIBL/NET for more than 30
days, you must register the software. Non-registered users
of this software are granted a limited license to make an
evaluation copy for trial use on a private, non-commercial
basis, for the express purpose of determining whether BIBL/NET
meets their needs. At the end of this trial period, (30 days)
you should either register your copy of the software or
discontinue use.
Registration licenses you to use the product on a regular
basis. Registration also provides you with access to the GMUtant
Online BBS ((703) 993-2219) as a registered user--where you may
receive support, leave questions, requests for enhancements, or
download the latest release of the program.
The registration fee for BIBL/NET is $ 195.00 (U.S) per
server (1-50 simultaneous users). Once you have registered,
you will receive by return first class mail:
A version of BIBL/NET which supports 1-50 simultaneous
users. (Please specify 3.5" or 5.25" diskette). This version
does not use a logging file to track users and is compiled
specifically for 286/386/486 servers.
A printed manual which provides more detailed information than
that found in this SHAREWARE documentation.
Five (5) copies of BIBL - single user (registered version). This
program creates and uses databases compatible with the
network version of BIBL but does not require logging onto
the LAN to operate. Your users may find this verison
meets their needs for maintaining private (non-networked)
databases on their local machine.
Automatic updates for 90 days. You may extend your
subscription in the automatic update plan to one year
for an additional $ 35.00.
* * * * *
Send your name, address and registration payment to:
Clyde W. Grotophorst
Route 1, Box 296
Hamilton, Virginia 22068
BIBL/NET features include:
- full NOVELL locking supported. Advanced routines enable
BIBL to avoid record-locking (which has a serious impact
on network performance) and yet provide complete database
integrity.
- support for up to 50 simultaneous users
- six levels of security ensure database integrity and
protect files from unwanted modification. BIBL/NET
automatically defaults to READ-ONLY access if a user is
not in the BIBL security database--making it easy to
offer BIBL/NET to most users.
- multiple databases are supported
- mouse-support
- easily understood user interface (bounce-bar menus or accepts
first letter of each command).
- five indexes are maintained (in a single file) for fast
retrieval and sorted extracts (author, author/title, title,
subject, and descriptor).
- up to 8 words from the descriptor field are indexed individually.
- each user has a system record which stores his 'home'
directory (for export).
- produces bibliographies in several forms (brief, annotated,
full (and with registered version labelled), full) based on
information in any field. Each bibliography is sorted by
author, then within author, by title.
- when no match is made on an indexed search, BIBL/NET displays
where in the index your query would have appeared (near misses).
- produces a wide variety of lists (in ASCII form) which may be
printed or edited with any word-processor that accepts ASCII
files for input (most do).
- an ASCII file viewer that supports a mouse, and is
moveable, resizeable, and ZOOMable. File viewer points
automatically to users 'local' directory--the same place
BIBL/NET export files (reports) are routed.
- ability to print or save to disk any individual record.
- main menu screen always reports active database, security
level of user, and number of records in the file.
- verification of keywords during data entry (if desired)
- Boolean AND, OR, NOT searching supported for ALL fields. Up to
four terms may be used. May also limit search to descriptor field.
- Selected reports (list of subjects, list of titles, etc) may be
viewed onscreen and/or sent to disk.
- BIBL/NET can produce a comma-delimited file of the database.
- any ASCII file may be used for display when I (INFORMATION) is
pressed on the main menu.
- Shell to DOS (heap compression frees additional memory)
- Global Find & Replace for text in ANY field, across a database.
- BIBL/NET will run in 43/50 line mode.
INSTALLATION
Installing BIBL/NET on your network is relatively simple.
Follow these three steps:
1. On your local machine (not necessarily on the net)
run BNETSEC.EXE to create the security database (BIBLSEC.DAT
and BIBLSEC.IX) BIBL uses. When finished, move BIBLSEC.
DAT and BIBLSEC.IX to the public (applications) directory where
you will be running BIBLNET.EXE. IMPORTANT! Flag both
BIBLSEC.DAT and BIBLSEC.IX as RWSH (read/write share
hidden).
This will allow BIBL/NET to find them but hide
them from your users. Note that the information in
BIBLSEC.DAT is encrypted...to aid in maintaining security.
ONLY code within BIBLNET (the program) and BIBLSEC (the
security maintenance utility) will enable you to 'see'
what's in the security database. For this, and other
obvious reasons, don't put BNETSEC.EXE in your public
directory--otherwise users will have access to your
security.
2. Copy BIBLNET.EXE and BIBLNET.HLP to the public (applications)
directory where you just put BIBLSEC.DAT and BIBLSEC.IX. Flag
both files ROS (read only share). If you want to install the
demostration database, copy DEMO.DAT and DEMO.IX to that directory
as well. Flag those files RWS (Read-Write, SHARE).
3. Log onto the network and type BIBLNET to activate the
program. Enter your user name (you assigned it during
your initial session with BNETSEC.EXE), then your
password. You will then be given access to the program.
BIBL/NET SECURITY
When a user signs onto the BIBL/NET system, he must provide
a UserName (which you assign) and a password. Based on
this information, BIBL/NET checks the security database and
assigns the user a security level (0 - 5). The security
level of the user determines what sorts of things he
can do within the program.
LEVEL 0: A user with Security Level 0 receives READ-ONLY
access to BIBL/NET databases. No export is allowed. This
might be the security level for GUEST users... Note
that you don't really need an entry in your security
file for LEVEL 0 users...that's the default.
LEVEL 1: Similar to level 0, although user is allowed to
export data from public databases to his local workstation.
LEVEL 2: User may add records but has no edit or delete
capability.
LEVEL 3: User may add records. User may also edit and/or
delete any records he or she has created, but not records
created by others. This is probably your most common
security level--at least for users you want to have
adding records...but unable to delete records added
by others.
LEVEL 4: User may add, edit or delete *any* records in *any*
public database.
LEVEL 5: All rights. This user may also create and/or delete
databases and may initiate index rebuilding and ASCII
(BIX file) import. You should not have too many LEVEL 5
users since some activities able to be performed by this
level user will have a dramatic impact on BIBL/NET's
performance for other users (e.g., importing ASCII (BIX) files).
For each user, beyond assigning a user name (12 characters max),
a password (11 characters max) and a security level (1-5), you
may also indicate a subdirectory on their local machine where
exported information (reports, individual record dumps, etc)
may be directed. The individual user may modify either his
password or this Local Export path at any time from the
BIBL/NET maintenance menu.
Additionally, you must assign a 3 letter code for each user
(typically their initials). This code is 'STAMPED' in each
record that individual creates on the system. It is this code
that BIBL/NET checks (along with the user's security level) to
determine who may delete and/or edit the record. You might
consider using letters that don't typically occur in words...
in that way, you can find all the records 'owned' by a given
user by searching the code under FULL SEARCH.
Typical entry in the security database:
UserName: WALLYG
Password: MRWALDO
UserStamp: CWG
SecurityLevel: 3
ExportPath: C:\BIBL\
* IMPORTANT *
After building your initial security database
(BIBLSEC.DAT and BIBLSEC.IX), move both files to the
network drive where BIBLNET.EXE resides and flag both
files (BIBLSEC.DAT and BIBLSEC.IX) as HIDDEN, READ/WRITE.
The data in the file is encrypted so users can't download
the datafile and deduce passwords; however, if you don't
HIDE the files, BIBLSEC.DAT will show up as a database
under BIBL and cause a trashed display for the user who
selects it!
Adding more users at a later date
To add additional users at any time, run BNETSEC and
point it to your production security database on the
network drive. This is done via the command line
(e.g., BNETSEC Y:\APPS\GMUTANT). BNETSEC implements
file locking to enable you to modify the database--even
if a user is simultaneously updating his or her
record (password or export directory).
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
BIBL (rhymes with nibble) /NET is a simple to use, networked online
catalog for your personal and/or business library. Written in
Turbo Pascal 6.0 and using full B-tree indexing (thanks to
TurboPower's B-Tree Filer package), the system is fast, small,
and very efficient. Menu-driven, BIBL/NET can be used to track your
book collection, article reprints, index your vertical file,
manage a small office library, and so on... In most areas
bounce-bar menus are used. To select a particular option,
move the bar via the cursor until your desired operation
is highlighted, then press RETURN. If you're a touch typist,
you might prefer pressing the highlighted letter within (or
just to the left of) the choice you wish to make (e.g.,
Press S to activate SEARCH on the main menu). On single
line menus (e.g., when displaying matches), you may hit the
highlighted letter to execute the command, or move between
them via the TAB key. Clicking a mouse on your menu choice
will also activate it.
Command Line Switches ( DatabaseName or /m or /v )
DATABASE SELECTION. Put the name (DAT extension unnecessary)
of the database you want to use on the command line if
desired. This will bypass the selection menu if you have more
than one *.DAT/*.IX combination in the same subdirectory.
For example: BIBLNET DEMO /m [RETURN] at the DOS prompt would
activate BIBL in monochrome mode and open the database named
DEMO.
If on a monochrome monitor you find you can not clearly read the
various BIBL/NET status line displays, activate program with an '/m'
switch (for mono), e.g., BIBLNET /M <cr>.
You may use any combination of command line arguments, in any
order--with the exception that FILENAME if it appears must
be the first one.
BIBL/NET will also run in 43 or 50 line mode (EGA or VGA) if you
start the program with a /v switch. BIBL/NET will automatically
detect hardware and make the appropriate setting.
MAIN MENU OPTIONS
Security Option
Level Description
0-5 L List items in the database. This option allows you to
move through the database a record at a time. The records
appear in the order in which they were entered into the
system. Pressing L on the main menu takes you to the last
record in the file (the assumption being that you are
probably more interested in the more recent records). You
may move about the file via the J (Jump) command--which
'jumps' you to the record number you enter. If user has a
security level of 2 or below, the edit and delete options
are disabled. At level 3, options are enabled if user
created the records (record contains his 3 letter User
Stamp).
0-5 S Search a database. Supports a variety of search types.
1-5 E Export data. Enables user to produce a variety of
reports, including bibliographies.
1-5 V View ASCII file(s). Allows user to look at an ASCII file.
If you are using the registered version, and have
installed a word processing program (e.g., WordPerfect)
as your external editor/viewer, then pressing V calls
that program and passes the name of the file to view.
2-5 M Maintenance functions. This function provides a variety
of support operations (adding records, rebuilding indexes,
creating new databases, deleting databases, Shell to DOS,
etc). The number of options displayed depends on the
user's security level.
0-5 D Database selection. Once you have created a second
database, this function allows you to move between
database files.
0-5 I Information on BIBL/NET. Pressing I on the Main Menu causes
the file BIBL.HLP to display in a window on your screen.
To create your own help file, make an ASCII file and name
it BIBL.HLP. You do not have to worry about page breaks
or other formatting.
0-5 R Registration Information. This option appears only on
the UNREGISTERED test-drive version. It explains how
to register the software and receive the 50 user
version of BIBL/NET. This option is not in the registered
version of the program.
0-5 Q Quit to DOS. Closes all files, halts program and exits.
DATABASES
BIBL/NET can manage up to 200 distinct databases. While the
structure of each database is the same, you may have
several--enabling you to separate out records that belong
together. Each 'database' consists of two files (*.DAT and *.IX).
You create empty databases from the Maintenance sub-menu. Once
created, you may select (or activate) a particular database via
the Database Selection option on the main menu.
SEARCHING THE DATABASE
To search, press S at the main menu, then via the light bar
select which field you wish to search (Author, Title, Subject,
etc.). Once you have selected the field you wish to
search, a 'QUERY' box will appear. Enter the text you wish
to locate in this box, at the 'Query >>' prompt.
You may search text in ANY field of a BIBL/NET record. Matches are
made using your input as a stem; that is, if you enter SMI and
SMITH exists, you'll get a match (it's called implied truncation).
Note that while retrieval on indexed fields is very fast, searching
non-indexed fields (e.g., line 3 of the note field) is much slower.
On non-indexed fields, BIBL/NET must read each record, comparing your
query with the contents of the field. You may abort a non-indexed
search by pressing any key to interrupt. On indexed field searches,
if BIBL/NET can not find a match for your query, it will display
several index entries that come before and after where your
query would have fallen in the index. As your database grows, this
becomes more useful.
If you want to abandon searching after you have selected a particular
field to search, press RETURN instead of entering a search statement
at the 'Query >>' prompt. You will be returned to the main menu.
BOOLEAN SEARCHING (AND / OR / NOT)
Use BOOLEAN search to search for up to 4 terms in a record. You
may search either the full record or limit the search to the
descriptor field. BOOLEAN searching does not use an index, so
retrieval time is a bit longer. When the full record is searched,
a high speed search algorithm (Boyer-Moore) is employed--this yields
a significant performance improvement over searching just the
Descriptor field--where BIBL/NET uses a more traditional approach
(reading each record and comparing the field to your input).
You may select either BIX format (for subsequent transfer to another
database) or plain ASCII (no labels, formatted like QUERY.TXT entries).
You give BIBL/NET a name for the output file and based on your
format choice, the extension (BIX or TXT) is automatically
appended.
EDITING/DELETING RECORDS IN THE DATABASE
You may enter EDIT mode either via a search or by the LIST function
(press E when the desired record displays. You may well find editing
via LIST more efficient (since BIBL/NET does not return you to the
search menu after a change is made).
As you first enter EDIT mode, the author's name field will be
highlighted. Make any changes you desire, using the cursor arrow
keys to move between fields. When you have finished making changes,
press ESC (or RETURN if line 7 of the note field is highlighted).
You will receive an 'OK to file (y/n)?' prompt. Respond with:
Y - The index will be updated if editing changed an indexed field.
N - Changes will be discarded. The original record redisplays.
You may also enter EDIT mode via the 'List records in the
database' option from the main menu. The only difference between
editing from this menu choice instead of SEARCH is that BIBL will
display all records in the database, beginning with the last
record. With the 'Jump' command, you may find this method of
editing superior to that offered during a search--you don't exit
the loop after performing an edit.
MAINTENANCE MENU
The MAINTENANCE menu appears with level 2 or greater security.
It offers several options (the specific ones offered are
determined dynamically based on a user's security level):
- Add Records to the Database (level 2 or greater)
- Rebuild Index for active database (level 5 only)
- Shell to DOS (level 2 or greater)
- Make a new database (level 4 or greater)
- Delete a database (level 4 or greater
- Import a BIX (ASCII) file (level 4 or greater)
- Global Find / Replace (level 4 or greater)
- Network Information (level 2 or greater)
- Change User Password/Export Directory (level 2 or greater)
- Quit to Main Menu
ADDING RECORDS TO A DATABASE
Each database is limited to 2 billion records although you'll run
out of disk space long before that becomes an issue. To begin
working toward that 2 billion, press A as the main menu displays.
A blank record appears on the screen. Enter data in the
highlighted fields. If you want to skip a field, just press
RETURN when the cursor is inside that field's highlighted box.
When you are finished, either press return when the highlighted
box is in line 7 of the note field, or press ESC.
BIBL/NET will then offer a prompt line at the bottom of the screen,
asking to file the record, continue editing, verify keywords or
abandon it. You may click the appropriate response with your mouse
or enter the highlighted first letter of the option you desire
(e.g., A to Abandon).
[Y] Yes, file record. This will add the record to the database
and update the index file (unless all fields in the record
are empty, in which case the command to file is ignored).
[N] No, edit Record. Returns cursor to 1st field of record.
[V] Verify. BIBL/NET checks each descriptor against the database,
showing you which ones are currently used. This helps with
maintaining a 'controlled vocabularly.'
[A] Abandon. Releases data and returns you to the main menu.
BIBL/NET INDEXING
Five indexes are maintained in the single file: 1) the first 20
characters of the author field, 25 characters of the TITLE field,
the entire SUBJECT field, each word (something with a space
before and after it) of the DESCRIPTOR field (must be more than a
single character), and a fifth index for author/title sorting.
By putting all five indexes in a single file, performance is
improved over systems that put each index in its own file--DOS
does not allocate a large number of file handles for BIBL's use.
Information is stored in upper case in the index file and your
query is converted to upper case before a search begins--thus you
don't have to worry about capitalization (although the way you
enter data is the way it will display and appear in any ASCII
file created by BIBL.
FIELDS (Subject vs Descriptor): Most fields are obvious, but you
might not be familiar with the distinction we're making between
subject and descriptors. Put the most important term in the
subject field and other less useful but desired descriptive terms
in the DESC: field.
EVERY word (anything between spaces) in the descriptor field
is individually indexed.
Caution: No term in the descriptor field can be longer than 20
characters (or it will be truncated to 20 characters in the
index). The indexing algorithm considers a word to be anything
between two blank spaces. If you have a compound term, include a
'-' between the words so they'll be considered a single term
(e.g., 'World-War-II' is considered 1 term while 'World War II'
is three.). Up to 8 words in any one DESC field will be indexed.
A single letter WILL NOT be indexed. Each 'word' must be longer
than one character.
LOCATION: You may use the location field for either a
classification number (if your organization system is
that evolved) or simply where you have stored the
physical item referenced in the BIBL record.
REBUILDING INDEXES
BIBL includes an index rebuild function to create new indexes from
the database file on demand. You may never need this function,
but if add records through the ASCII import function; take a
power hit during data entry, or experience some other sort of
hardware (disk) failure, the index can become invalid or
corrupted.
Rebuilding indexes will correct any problems of this sort. When
rebuilding the indexes, BIBL provides a graph which shows the
status of the effort (0%-100% complete for each index). If you
have fewer than 50 records, the blocks in the graph represent
each record.
SHELL TO DOS
BIBL allows you to drop out of the program momentarily and return
to your DOS prompt. This option allows you to delete files, use
a program like LIST to view a file, check disk space, or do other
DOS-type things. BIBL provides a special prompt to remind you to
enter EXIT to return to the program.
When you type EXIT, BIBL will reactivate and check to see that
the operating system is still defaulting to the sub-directory
where your BIBL files are kept. If not, BIBL will change to
that drive and directory before continuing. If BIBL is unable to
change to the original sub-directory, you will receive a message
to that effect...so you can manually issue the command (e.g.,
CD\BIBL <cr>) from the DOS prompt.
MAKE A NEW DATABASE.
To create a new, empty database, press M on the maintenance menu,
then enter a name for the database file. You may enter up to 8
letters for your database name. You should try to give the file
a name that will later give some indication of the file's
contents.
TIP: When creating databases, give your most popular file a
name that sorts first. The Database Selection option on
the main menu sorts the various *.DAT files before
displaying them. The first file in the list will be
highlighted when the list displays. If it is the file
you want, just press RETURN (or ESC). Note that you can
also specify a database on the command line when
activating BIBL from the DOS prompt (e.g., BIBL Myfile).
DELETE A DATABASE.
You may use this function to delete a database and it's
associated index file. You may also delete a database and index
by simple using the DOS delete command while at the DOS prompt.
BIBL dynamically determines your databases by scanning the
directory where BIBL.EXE resides for files ending with the *.DAT
extension. You may NOT DELETE the database you are currently using.
IMPORT a BIX (ASCII) FILE
Using the ASCII import option enables you to read any labelled
ASCII file into the currently active BIBL database. The file
separated with **'s and each line is labelled. The labelled
option under the Export Menu creates this format as does the
Transfer option when displaying an individual record.
If you want to experiment with ASCII import (say you're trying to
import an ASCII file from some other source--like bibliographic
data downloaded from a CD-ROM), you should follow these steps:
1. Use MAKE A NEW DATABASE option on maintenance menu to create a
database called something like TEST
2. Use DATABASE SELECTION on the main menu to select the TEST
database.
3. Run ASCII import from the maintenance menu. You BIX file must
be in the same subdirectory where BIBL.EXE resides.
4. After reviewing the results (the records added to TEST),
select the database you want to use and run ASCII import
again. When finished, you can delete TEST.DAT and TEST.IX
via Delete a Database (on the maintenance submenu).
For CD-ROM downloads from ERIC, ABI/Inform, PsycInfo and Medline
get CD2BIBL...from the GMUtant BBS or Compuserve (IBM APPS).
GLOBAL FIND/REPLACE
You may make global changes ('find & replace') to text in any
record across your database.
To make a global find and replacement, select the field you want
to modify (the database will be the currently active file--the
database that displays on the status bar at the bottom of your
screen). After selecting the field to modify, you must next
enter the original text (what's currently in the record(s)) and
then the new text. In both situations (the finding and the
replacing) the case of the text you enter is significant and your
'find' input must match the database EXACTLY.
Be advised that the subsitution you instruct BIBL to make
will occur anywhere BIBL finds a match for your 'change'
text. Without a bit of thought on your part, this can quickly
become a nightmare. If you elect to change a short word--one
that also appears as part of a larger word in the same field--you
can have problems. For example, asking BIBL to change NETWORK
to LAN can (if you also have NETWORKING in the same field) lead
rather quickly to LANING...
You are not limited to whole word changes (if the text you enter
happens to match a few letters inside another word in that field,
it will be changed. Again, think your change through before you
begin.
It is possible that the length of your replacement term(s) will
force the truncation of the field. For example, if your
descriptor field has 60 characters and you change one 5 letter
word to a 15 letter word, the field would now be 75 characters
long...so the last 5 characters of your field after the 5 letter
word becomes a 15 letter one will be chopped off.
NETWORK INFORMATION
Selecting N on the Maintenance menu brings up a screen of
information about your network. BIBL/NET will attempt to
tell you:
the interface card in the server
version of NETWARE in use
maximum number of connections supported
number of connections in use
current broadcast status
and so on.
CHANGE USER PASSWORD / EXPORT DIRECTORY
This option allows the user to change his password and the
path (drive and subdirectory) where BIBL points the file
viewer, writes export files, and transferred or saved records.
BIBL/NET will place the '\' at the end of the path name
if it is not added by the user. If the export field is
blanked out, BIBL/NET will not allow export.
EXPORT MENU
While BIBL/NET offers only limited print support, it will dump your
database to disk in an ASCII file--which you can then edit and
print using your favorite word processor.
Blank fields do not appear in the ASCII files BIBL creates.
(the exception being DELIMITED format).
You may select Author, Title, Subject, Delimited or the order
records appear in the database. Note that each time you call the
dump to disk routine it overwrites any previously created file.
Here is a list of the files created via the Export function.
Where you are given the option of naming the file, you should use
a *.TXT extension when possible. This will allow you to see all
available export files under the VIEW function when you accept
the default *.TXT mask.
BIBL/NET writes export files to the user's Export Directory
(typically one on their local machine).
BIBL can create ASCII files (full, annotated or brief form) for
all records that contain your search string.
Annotated form will produce a listing with author, title,
publisher and the notes fields. Brief includes only the author,
title, and publisher field. Below, a sample 'annotated' reference
appears:
Bratley, Paul and Choueka, Yaacov
Processing Truncated Terms in Document Retrieval Systems.
Information Processing and Management v18 n5 p257-66 1982
Presents uniform and efficient approach for processing all
truncated query terms in information retrieval which requires one
disk access to obtain from the permuted dictionary all strings
represented by truncated term. The problem of the overhead
storage required to implement the permuted dictionary is
discussed. Fifteen references.
You assign the name for the bibliography output file. If the name
is already in use, BIBL asks you to use another name. Note that using
the Word Processing [WP] format option will produce a citation
where fields follow one another on a line. A hard return follows
the PUBL field.
Bratley, Paul and Choueka, Yaacov. Processing Truncated
Terms in Document Retrieval Systems. Information Processing and
Management. v18 n5 p257-66. 1982.
'Smart' Punctuation [WP format]
As BIBL creates your bibliography, it will check to see
if each field ends with punctuation. If so, the existing
punctuation will be written to your file. If not, BIBL
will add periods after each field. This saves you having to
use end-of-field punctuation in your BIBL database entry.
DELIMITED FORMAT
Delimited format is used when you want to move your BIBL database
to dBASE or some other database system (why?). The next few
paragraphs point out a few things you should be aware of:
Note that in delimited format BIBL will change any quotation mark
that appears in the Title, Descriptor, or Note fields to a single
quote--to preserve the exported data's integrity. If any double
quotes were to appear in the exported data (that is, anywhere
other than between the fields), the the importing program might
not process the data correctly.
For example, if you have: Jones is author of the article, "This
is My Life's Work." in your note field, under delimited format,
BIBL will export: "Jones is author of the article, 'This is My
Life's Work.'"
A CR/LF appears at the end of each record. dBASE will accept this
for input if you first set up a dBASE file with the proper
structure. Use the field lengths as they appear at the end of
this documentation. With the database structure created, activate
dBASE and issue the following command:
. USE MYBOOKS <cr>
. APPEND FROM BIBLDLM.TXT DELIM <cr>
LIST SUBJECTS/LIST DESCRIPTORS (Keywords)
You should use these export functions periodically to check the
uniformity of your subject headings and descriptor fields. For
example, if your list shows you have 10 items under computer and
1 under computers, you should edit the COMPUTERS entry (changing
it to COMPUTER). As an aid in helping you identify the records, a
bit of the title is included with each entry.
Note that there is an entry in the list for each heading in a
record (if you have 10 records with the subject BASEBALL, you'll
get 10 entries for BASEBALL in the SUBRIEF.TXT file).
KEYWORD.TXT - this option lists all terms used in the descriptor
field of your database. With each term, the number of times it
appears is also listed. This list can be a big help in
eliminating redundant terms and consolidating similar terms to
yield a stronger database.
Related Topics
Send To Disk. Beyond creating large reports, during any search
you may elect to send a copy of a single record to an
ASCII file (QUERY.TXT). Each time you press 'S' a copy is
appended to this file. When you are finished with the file,
delete it (via DOS) or rename it. Then when you next send a
record to disk, BIBL will create a new copy of QUERY.TXT.
Transfer: Any time an individual record is displayed, you have
the option of copying it to a transfer file (TRANSFER.BIX).
Pressing T (or clicking on the word 'Transfer' will add the
record to TRANSFER.BIX.
To move the records in TRANSFER.BIX use ASCII import on the
maintenance menu. Be sure to delete any existing TRANSFER.BIX
file if you want to make a file of new records...if TRANSFER.BIX
exists on your disk, transferred records will be appended to
it. If it is missing when 'T' is pressed, BIBL will create
USAGE NOTES / TIPS
A. Here are some of the ways we've heard BIBL is being used:
- as an online index to a personal book collection.
- tracking magazine articles.
- indexing a vertical file (for non-library types, a vertical
file is usually a filing cabinet of clippings, brochures, etc.).
- using BIBL instead of 3x5 cards for research.
- tracking reserve reading materials in a corporate library.
- with /p (OPAC) switch set, running BIBL as a DOOR on a BBS to
provide users an online catalog.
- Managing an office library.
- A public service agency has 30+ copies of BIBL. The home office
creates databases and sends them out to branches. With OPAC mode
set, the integrity of the files is preserved.
B. Modifying HELP display (INFORMATION on the main menu).
BIBL displays the file BIBL.HLP when 'I' is pressed on the Main
Menu. If you want to change the help display file, just rename
any ASCII file to BIBL.HLP and BIBL will display it...
Technical Specs:
1. Memory required. BIBL requires a minimum of 390K RAM to
operate. If you have more, then more will be available when you
Shell to DOS.
PASCAL structure for a BIBL record:
bookrec = RECORD
recordstatus : longint;
author1 : string[70];
author2 : string[70];
Title1 : string[70];
title2 : STRING[70];
title3 : string[70];
publ : STRING[70];
publ2 : string[70];
class : STRING[40];
subject1 : string[30];
subject2 : STRING[70]; {descriptor field}
flag1 : char; {flag1..3 are user stamp}
flag2 : char;
flag3 : char;
value : string[7]; {date}
note1 : STRING[70];
note2 : STRING[70];
note3 : STRING[70];
note4 : STRING[70];
note5 : STRING[70];
note6 : STRING[70];
note7 : string[70];
end;
Indexes (the following keys are maintained in each .IX file):
Author first 20 characters of the field (stored upper case)
Title first 25 characters of the field (stored upper case)
Subject all characters of subject1 (stored upper case)
Author/Title 14 characters of author+6 characters of title.
Description first each word ofthe field is extracted (a word
being a string of characters separated by a space or
comma).
Up to 20 characters of each 'word' is indexed.
Up to 8 words from any one line are indexed. If you
have 9 words on the line, the ninth is ignored.
IMPORTANT: place a '-' between words you want BIBL to index together.
File extensions used by BIBL:
.DAT - a datafile
.IX - the index to a DAT datafile.
.DIA - dialog file used by BIBLNET.EXE to handle locking.
.HLP - Help file (displays when I is pressed on Main Menu)
.SAV - temporary file, used during index rebuild/purge.
.USE - system file used by unregistered version only.
The *.DAT and *.IX files together form 'a database.' You must
have the same name on both you .DAT and .IX files--usually taken
care of by BIBL but if you rename a database via DOS (for
example, renaming DEMO.DAT to MYFILE.DAT, be sure to rename
DEMO.IX to MYFILE.IX too!).
.TXT - any ASCII file.
.BIX - BIBL Import/Export. A labelled ASCII file. This file uses a
specific format where each field is labelled (e.g., A1:, A2:
for the 2 author fields, T1: T2: T3: for the title fields, and
so on. Each record in the file is separated by '**'. The
ASCII import function on the Maintenance Menu will read a
BIX file and write the information to BIBL records. You
can use this facility for backing up your database or
moving records from one database to another.
Here is a sample record in BIX format:
**
A1: Bratley, Paul and Choueka, Yaacov
T1: Processing Truncated Terms in Document Retrieval Systems.
PB: Information Processing and Management. Volume 18, Number 5
P2: pages 276-66. 1982
SU: Information Retrieval
DE: Information-Storage Permuted-Indexes Subject-Indexing
N1: Presents uniform and efficient approach for processing all
N2: query terms in information retrieval which requires one disk
N3: access to obtain from the permuted dictionary all strings
N4: represented by the truncated term. The problem of the
N5: overhead storage required to implement the permuted
N6: dictionary is discussed. Fifteen references
N7: are provided.
**
Note: BIBLNET.EXE has been compressed with PKLITE version 1.13
Databases created by the single user version of BIBL or
the unregistered (SHAREWARE) version of BIBL/NET are
fully compatible with the registered version of BIBL/NET.
Security file used by unregistered version (BIBLSEC.DAT
and BIBLSEC.IX) is the same used by the registered
version of BIBL/NET. Upgrading from shareware to
registered is a quick, and painless process. Basically,
you just replace the BIBLNET.EXE file with its
registered counterpart.
You must be logged onto your network to run BIBL/NET
Questions, comments, complaints, encouragement???
Contact:
Clyde W. Grotophorst, Route 1, Box 296, Hamilton, VA 22068
voice: (703) 993-2239 or call the GMUtant OnLine BBS (703) 993-2219,
and leave a comment for the Sysop. The Bulletin Board is your
source for updates and additional BIBL/NET utilities. You may
also reach the author via Compuserve (70404,3376).
Notes:
BIBL/NET REGISTRATION [Release 1.01a]
Name __________________________________________________________
Company Name___________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
City ____________________ State __ Zip ____________
Country ____________________ Phone (optional)____________
How (or where) did you obtain your copy of BIBL/NET?
Comments on the program:
Registration Fees (taxes/shipping included):
Single Server.......................................$ 195.00
Each Additional Server...........................$ 50.00
100 user version (1st server).......................$ 250.00
Each Additional Server (100 user version)........$ 50.00
Additional year of software updates.................$ 35.00
Subtotal: $ __________
Less 15% (non-profit, tax-exempt institutions) - $ ________
Total enclosed: $ __________
Please indicate desired format for diskette: ___ 3.50" ___ 5.25"
Send check/money order/purchase order to:
Clyde W. Grotophorst (Tax ID #: 242-82-0793)
Route 1, Box 296
Hamilton, Virginia 22068 USA
Once registration is received, you will receive:
50 (or 100) user version of BIBLNET.EXE
5 copies of BIBL (single user, registered version)
Printed documentation booklet
90 day subscription in our software instant update plan
90 day telephone support.
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