TPUG - Toronto PET Users Group

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ TPUG - Toronto PET Users Group / TPUG Users Group CD / TPUG Users Group CD.iso / AMIGA / AMICUS / AMIBEST2.ADF / Best of AMICUS 2 / DougieBase / Dougie.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1987-07-22 | 25KB | 542 lines

DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 1 Documentation : Doug Dyer Victoria B.C. April 23,1987. INTRODUCTION: DOUGIE BASE is a database program which allows the user to create his own databases using a horizontal format with either automatic or custom spacing between field headings in the title bar.The program allows dumping of data to the printer or disk, changing records, adding or deleting records, and the capability to search or sort records.Records are maintained in files of one hundred records at a time, with an automatic retrieval method for bringing in subsequent files in the same database.Searches are global allowing record searches over all the related files in the database.The searched information may then be dumped to its own separate file for later retrieval when necessary.The number of files in each database, and therefore the number of records, is limited only by the memory capacity of the disk.You will need a pre-formatted blank disk to use as a file disk (data disk) in drive 1 or 0. It is recommended that data be saved to a separate file disk, rather than the DOUGIE BASE program disk.The program is presently set up to use the external drive for the data disk, and the internal drive for the program disk. LOAD INSTRUCTIONS: (Auto load at WB prompt or load from AmigaBasic ,or double-click on the "dbloader" ICON on the WORKBENCH.) Insert the program disk into drive 0 at the Workbench prompt.If loading from BASIC ,after Amigabasic appears on screen,at the "OK" prompt in the output window,type 'clear ,100000 <return>' and then type 'run "dougiebase"<return>'.(Do not type the single quotes ,only the double quotes).The DOUGIEBASE main menu should appear on screen. THE MENU: The menu items are as follows: BEGIN FORMAT PROGRAM AGAIN LOAD SAVE OUTPUT TO PRINTER QUIT TO SYSTEM EXIT TO BASIC FORMAT NEW DATABASE INPUT TO NEW FILE INPUT EXISTING FILE DELETE CORRECT CHANGE NOTES VIEW DATA ON SCREEN SEE FILE PARAMETERS SEARCH SORT DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 2 These items will be discussed in the order they appear on the menu.DOUGIEBASE allows menu items to be selected from the menu bar with the mouse and clicking on the appropriate items.The menu however is designed to primarily facilitate keyboard use. LOAD: After checking that the file disk is in the appropriate drive press return at the waiting prompt.You will then be asked to enter the number of the drive containing the data disk.Enter 1 or 0.Pressing <RETURN> defaults to the external drive.At the directory prompt press <RETURN>.This locks in the current directory as the root directory.If the database is in any directory other than root enter the directory name at this point and then press <RETURN>. Enter the name of the database at the next prompt.You will then be asked to enter the file number.If you want to see the first 100 records entered in the database enter '1'.If you know the data you seek is in the second group of 100 records then enter '2'.Note that after the first group of 100 records are brought in that DOUGIEBASE will automatically link in the following files in the database at the press of a key.Just follow the prompt at the end of the viewing screen.(see VIEW DATA below.) SAVE: After entering data you will want to make a permanent record of the information.Choosing the SAVE option dumps the data to disk.The data is automatically saved to the current filename of the database in memory.This filename is created at the time of creation of the database when the headings and other information relative to the specific database are entered.(See FORMAT NEW DATABASE below.)After every addition of new records to the database the SAVE option must be used to retain the new data for future access.If SAVE is used after a sort the original order of the records will be lost as SAVE dumps data under the original filename. PRINTER: To obtain a hardcopy of the records in the database select PRINTER.Note that the printer driver must be set up previously from PREFERENCES.Single or double line spacing may be chosen from within the program at each printout.The program allows hardcopy during the read notes section and for a search.(See NOTES and SEARCH below)."Prompt" warnings occur for first use of print option to warn user to turn printer on.If the "Printer trouble !" Alert appears and the printer is not brought online at this point before continuing, the program may crash. If the printer option is chosen and the printer is not online,there will be a few seconds delay before the PRINTER TROUBLE ALERT appears at the top of the screen. DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 3 BASIC: This exits DOUGIEBASE and returns to basic.An escape option is provided. QUIT TO SYSTEM: This exits DOUGIEBASE and returns to CLI. FORMAT NEW DATABASE: This will be the initial option choice used to create a database from scratch. Place a formatted disk in the appropriate drive. (drive one if using two drives). This will be the file disk, which will include data files numbered in sequential order, as well as files which contain formatting information about the particular database, such as headings, math formulas, etc. The user will be asked to choose UNIFORM or VARIABLE format.UNIFORM format automatically divides the heading or title bar into an evenly distributed arrangement of fields.DOUGIEBASE uses a page width of 76 characters and if a database of five fields is created the titles and column width of the fields are automatically formatted to a width of 15 characters each, without the user having to count out spaces etc.If the option of using 30 characters for the first field in a UNIFORM format is chosen then the first field is 30 characters wide and the remainder of the title bar and field widths will be equally partitioned automatically.(i.e. for five fields total the remaining four fields will each be 11 characters wide --- 76-30 = 46 divide by 4 = 11). If the VARIABLE format option is chosen the user creates the length of fields by visually customizing the title bar to suit his specific requirements.The title bar is shown on screen as it is being created to allow for immediate assessment of the field width and space separation between titles.The user is allowed to make changes as he proceeds.The VARIABLE format option also has the added advantage of an "intelligent vocabulary" of three words which, when used in the title bar, allow certain automatic formatting options.When either ' COST' ,' VALUE' , or ' TOTAL' is used in the title bar, the user is automatically asked to select 5 or 6 digit widths for use in math calculations.This space is then automatically allotted.When the records are listed the numbers in these titled columns will be formatted with automatic right justification,2 decimal points, and preceded by the dollar sign. Note that the dollar sign is added by DOUGIEBASE.It does not have to be typed during data entry.' TOTAL' gives an automatic total tally, for the numbers in the " TOTAL" column, at the end of all the record listings after viewing.This feature is available for all but the ACCUMULATE or DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 4 DECUMULATE math functions.(See MATH FUNCTIONS below).Note the space preceding the intelligent word.If 'COST' is entered instead of ' COST' the automatic format feature is not engaged.Note that the single quotes are not typed,just the space and the letters C O S T. When entering field titles the maximum width of the title bar is 76 characters. If this width is exceeded DOUGIEBASE automatically terminates field title entry.If you wish to terminate field title entry prior to reaching the maximum title bar width just enter '*' and press <return>. There is a maximum limit of 10 fields per record.Records are dumped to disk in groups of 100 in sequential files which are automatically sequentially numbered to allow for automatic linking of files in each database.Therefore,the number of records per database is only limited by available disk space. During the creation of a database you are given the opportunity of testing the headings on the printer before committing to your final title bar. You will be asked if you wish to make changes to the headings.The headings for each field may be changed individually at this point without having to change the whole title bar.Just enter the number of the field you wish to change.However, only the spelling of the field title may be changed on an individual basis,not the field length.Should you wish to change the field length,you must type "0" at the CHANGE WHICH FIELD ? prompt.This allows you to change the whole title bar,including the field lengths. (MATH FUNCTIONS). During the database creation process a prompt will ask if you want to use the MATH FUNCTIONS. You must make this choice during creation of the database.Otherwise, later entries cannot take advantage of calculation fields.DOUGIEBASE does not allow the changing of field titles or adding of math functions after the creation of the database.MATH FUNCTION choices are ACCUMULATE, DECUMULATE, ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY, and DIVIDE.DOUGIEBASE will prompt for designation of which fields will hold the data for the specific math function.ACCUMULATE allows a field to be chosen for numerical data to be automatically added to the numerical data in the corresponding field of the next record and the accumulated total to be held in a designated total field.This accumulated total is tallied record by record.DECUMULATE subtracts numerical data record by record.The other math functions do as indicated.You must designate which fields will hold which data.Just follow the prompts.For example if you choose the ADD math function, DOUGIEBASE will ask you DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 5 which field you want to hold the addendum, which field to add with, and which field to put the total or calculation result in. DOUGIEBASE is no substitute for a spreadsheet.You are allowed to do mathematical operations on only two fields, with the calculation result in a third field.Some tricks can be used to functionally increase the fields of operation.For example,if you want to make a list of COSTS in field 2 and a percent surcharge in field 3 and want to have the "added" result of this calculation in field 4, you should enter the percent as 100 + percent fraction so the result of the multiplication calculation in field 4 represents the new cost after the percent surcharge is added on.(Use 1.3 instead of just .3 to represent 30 percent.)Incidentally,if you wish all these "new costs" to be tallied as a TOTAL at the end of the record listing,don't forget to use the intelligent field heading " TOTAL" for field 4.(or whichever is the appropriate field). A PROTECTION option is also provided.If you wish to store private data enter"Y" at the"PROTECT DATABASE ?" prompt.You will then be asked to enter a password for future access to this database.The data from a protected database will not be allowed to be loaded into memory until the user reenters the correct password. At this point DOUGIEBASE asks for a filename for the database.Enter the filename you wish to use for future access.DOUGIEBASE automatically appends the number '1' to the filename for the first group of 100 records in file 1 of the named database and as the next group of 100 records is added DOUGIEBASE automatically adds sequential numbers to the files for linking all the files in the named database.After the creation of the title bar DOUGIEBASE will then allow you to enter individual record data field by field. INPUT NEW FILE: This is an identical option to create new database. INPUT EXISTING FILE: To add more records to an existing database choose this option.You are asked to enter the record data, field by field.First you must have loaded the database into memory with the LOAD option from the menu.You will first be asked if you want REPEAT ENTRY MODE ?Choosing repeat entry allows retrieval of previously entered data to automatically be entered in the current field.Just press the shift '-' key(Shifted minus) to step backwards through the previous entries and when the desired data is reached press <return> to set the entry into that current field.The next field is then brought up for data DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 6 entry.To cancel the repeat option just type any key instead of the Shift minus.During data input just follow the prompts on screen .Choose the available options as they present. If you enter more than 100 records DOUGIEBASE automatically creates the next file to hold the next group of 100 records.The files will automatically be numbered sequentially.DOUGIEBASE will also automatically save the first 100 records before allowing you to begin entering the next 100.Note however that if you are entering new data but the file does not contain 100 records it is up to the user to SAVE the new data entries to disk, as otherwise, this information will be lost for future access. DELETE: This option allows previously entered records to be deleted from the database. The list of record titles or first field entries will be scrolled on the screen.The number of the record to be deleted is then entered at the appropriate prompt.This record title is matched with an INDEX file and if the record is found the deletion will proceed.You will be shown the complete record and given an opportunity to cancel the deletion process.If the record is not in the database an error message "RECORD NOT FOUND." will appear and you will be returned to the main menu. CORRECT: CORRECTIONS can be made to previously entered records.Corrections can be made by individual field or the entire record can be changed.Just follow the onscreen prompts.The corrected version can then be saved to disk or you can return to the main menu. NOTES: DOUGIEBASE allows additional notes to be written or retreived for each record. A separate notes menu will appear after the record to be worked with is selected.When choosing the notes option you will be given the opportunity to use the current database in memory or to load in a different database.The record may be selected by either hitting the space bar followed by <RETURN> as the desired record scrolls by on the screen, or by directly entering the name of the record (field 1) at the appropriate prompt.Not all the letters of the first field need be entered if you start the search title with an '*'.However, the first few letters must be entered in sequential order according to their original entry.If the record is selected from the scrolling screen hit space bar as the desired record appears,then hit <RETURN>.If you overshoot there is an option on the subsequently appearing menu that allows you to backtrack through the list or to advance forward in the list.Hit <RETURN> DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 7 to enter the record. Just follow the prompts. READ NOTES. When this is selected from the notes menu the previously selected record will be loaded in from disk.If the note is PROTECTED you will be asked to enter the password before you can read the record.After the record is loaded in you are given the opportunity to make a hardcopy of the record note.Press the space bar to read in the next record or choose to select a different record.Just follow the onscreen prompts. WRITE NOTES. The selected record will be printed to the screen and a cursor will appear below the prompt WRITE NOTES.DOUGIEBASE allows a maximum of 5 lines to be entered as notes for each record.If you type the word 'protect' in either upper or lower case on the first line as the first entry after the write notes prompt, DOUGIEBASE will ask you to enter a password to secure the note from unauthorized access later.This uses one line of the designated note space so only 4 lines of notes can be entered in a protected record note.The password entered in the notes section is specific to each individual protected note. The backspace key is active to make corrections of typing errors.At the end of each line (maximum of 76 characters) the cursor is automatically returned to the next line.Wordwrap is automatically engaged in the WRITE NOTES section.When finished, press <return> to enter the note.After entry you will be asked if you want to make any corrections.Follow onscreen prompts. If this is the first time you have accessed the notes section for this particular database, DOUGIEBASE will ask you if you want to PREFORMAT the notes file before writing any notes.This has the advantage of better organized notes retreival.For example, if you ask to read a note for a record which, as yet, has no notes written to it, DOUGIEBASE will inform you that no notes are written on this record.Without preformatting, DOUGIEBASE will attempt to load in the nonexistent note and put 5 lines of garbage on the screen.No harm done but preformatting is worth it! A preformatted note file also allows random entry of notes.Otherwise, notes must be written to the records in sequential order.To do otherwise will result in overwriting of the first record's notes.Preformatting takes approximately 5 minutes.Remember to use the same file disk as the original database was stored on.Once the notes file has been preformtted DOUGIEBASE will not ask you to preformat on subsequent accesses of this particular database. There is an option to CORRECT or DELETE notes in the notes menu screen.Just follow the on screen prompts. DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 8 VIEW DATA: Choosing this option from the main menu prints to the screen all the records in memory for the previously loaded database..The scroll can be stopped by hitting the space bar.Hit space bar again to continue.If you wish to terminate the listing prior to reaching the end just hit any key during the scroll and the listing will stop.If the file is full (i.e. 100 records) you will then be asked if you want to link in the next file.If so press "Y" and the next file in the database will automatically be loaded in.You are given the opportunity to load in the subsequent files for this particular database in any order by entering the desired file number at the prompt. SEE FILE PARAMETERS: This is a handy utility which allows you to see at a glance particular information about the database in memory.If you forget what fields were chosen for what math functions the parameter screen will refresh your memory.It also indicates the number of records in the file and the memory left for further entries. SEARCH: DOUGIEBASE allows searches in any of the fields.You may also specify a "global" search.The "*" is used to enter a wildcard for search.For example, if you want to pull all the records called "A LOST RECORD" but only know that the word "LOST" is in the record, just type '*LOST*'(don't type the quotes) at the prompt and DOUGIEBASE will pull out all the records containing the word "LOST" in the specified search field.The ']' square bracket allows wildcard searches for records which end the designated search field with the searched for characters.For example, if you want to pull all the records which end with the characters "XXX" in field two, just choose field two for the search and enter ']XXX' at the appropriate prompt.(Don't type the quotes). If you wish a global search for a specified item in all records of the database press "Y" at the "GLOBAL SEARCH ?" prompt and continue entering the desired search criteria as above.DOUGIEBASE will then load in each subsequent 100 record file in the data base retreiving the records containing the requested search item for the entire database.You will then be given the opportunity of printing the globally retreived items to the screen, or dump them to printer or to a special file on disk.Both GLOBAL and non-global searches may be dumped to the printer during the process of the search.Again just follow the prompts. DOUGIEBASE Amiga 512K page 9 SORT: The sort option allows sorts in any field in either ascending or descending order.The progress of the sort is continually updated on screen.Once the sort is completed DOUGIEBASE automatically returns you to the main menu.To view the sorted records just select the VIEW DATA ON SCREEN option from the menu.The sorted record list will then be displayed.If you SAVE this file, note that the original "unsorted" record list will be replaced by the sorted list under the same filename as the original. SOME TECHNICAL NOTES. To load in DOUGIEBASE there must be about 196K in system memory.Also the program requires 100000 bytes of data space in BASIC.Therefore, if loading from BASIC, type 'clear ,100000' in the output window of basic.DOUGIEBASE also requires 80 columns to be set from preferences.The printer column widths must also be set to LEFT MARGIN 2 ,RIGHT MARGIN 80 in the printer screen of preferences. DOUGIEBASE A.Douglas Dyer 1004 Spiritwood Place Victoria,B.C. Apr.23,1987.