A.C.E. 2/ACE CD 2.iso/FILES/DOCS/SBASEP4D.LHA/SuperBaseProDatabaseLang2.doc

Text File | 1994-11-27 | 101KB | 3,956 lines

            SUPERBASE PROFESSIONAL
             DATABASE MANAGEMENT LANGUAGE
                 USER GUIDE

                   Part II

WHERE conditions allows you to add a filter to the command.conditions is
set up in the same way as the command string in the Filter dialog. USING
parameters can be used to change the default parameters specified by
SET-OPTIONS. For a description of USING and the parameters it takes, see
EXPORT.

EXAMPLES

1    IMPORT "aaa.exp"
2    IMPORT "aaa.exp" TO FILE "aaa" WHERE (datefield) > DAYS ("29 Apr 87")

INDEX
PURPOSE
Selects the index to be used with the current file.

SYNTAX
INDEX index

COMMENTS

Superbase automatically selects the first index as default when you open a
file or when you make an open file the current file. With the INDEX
command, you can select another of the file's indexes. index is the name of
a field in the current file. An index for this field must already exist.
Because DML parses entire lines before executing them, you cannot place an
Index statement-or any other statement that refers to a field-on the same
line as the OPEN FILE statement. When the DML interpreter reaches the INDEX
statement, the file will not yet be open, and the field name, therefore,
will not be recognized. As a result, a line like

    OPEN FILE "aaa": INDEX anum

will produce an error message such as "Can't do this" or "Can't find this
field".

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "aaa"
    INDEX anum

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2    OPEN FILE "aaa": OPEN FILE "bbb"
    .....
    .....
    FILE "aaa": INDEX anum
    .....
    FILE "bbb": INDEX datea

INPUT
PURPOSE

Reads characters or a line from a text file on disk into a variable or a
field.

SYNTAX
INPUT[&nexp[, ]/LINE]var/field

COMMENTS

This statement inputs data from a text file on disk or from another
computer using the COMMS link. It assumes that an input channel has been
opened for example, by OPEN FOR INPUT. With the LINE option, INPUT reads
data from the input channel until it finds a line feed character (ASCII 10)
and inputs the data into var or field. If the line feed character has been
used as the record separator, INPUT LINE reads a record at a time. var can
be a string or numeric variable and field can be a text, numeric or date
field. However, in each case the type of variable or field used should
match the type of data expected. Thus if you attempt to input alphabetic
characters into a numeric variable they will be valued at zero, while
inputting them into a date field will produce an invalid date error. &nexp
specifies the number of characters that the command takes from the text
file. The comma after nexp is entirely optional. When nexp is zero or when
& nexp is not used, the command reads characters from the text file until
it finds a comma (ASCII 44) or a line feed character  (ASCII 10). This
option allows INPUT to be used instead of IMPORT to read in data from an
exported file. To detect the end of a text file, use EOF ("*").

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EXAMPLES

1    INPUT LINE a$
2    INPUT &6a$ (or INPUT &6, a$)
3    INPUT a%
4    FILE "aaa": EXPORT TO "aaa.exp"
    OPEN "aaa.exp" FOR INPUT
    FOR i%=1 TO RECCOUNT ("aaa")
    BLANK
    INPUT field1
    INPUT field2
    ........
    INPUT lastfield
    STORE
    NEXT i%: CLOSE INPUT

Example 4 demonstrates how INPUT can be used as an alternative to IMPORT.

INSTR
PURPOSE

Returns the starting character position of a substring within a string, or
returns 0 if the substring is not contained within the string.

SYNTAX
INSTR[nexpr, ]strexpr, substrexpr)

COMMENTS

This function returns the position in strexpr of the first occurrence of
substrexpr. If nexpr is used, INSTR searches for the first occurrence of
substrexpr from position nexpr onwards. If the substring is not found, the
value returned is zero. nexpr must be positive and less than the length of
strexpr. INSTR is case sensitive, i.e., "abc" and "ABC" are different.

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EXAMPLES

1    x%=INSTR (x$, y$)
2    x%=INSTR (textfield, "Mr")
3    x%=INSTR (x$, "Mr"): y%=INSTR (x% + 1, x$, "Mr")
4    ? LEFT$ (textfield, INSTR (textfield, " ") -1)
5    x$=LCASE$ (textfield): x%=INSTR (x$, "abc")
    IF x% > 0 THEN ? LEFT$ (textfield, x% -1)

NOTES

The second example simply locates the title 'Mr.'. Example 3 locates any
'Mr and Mrs' or 'Mr & Mrs'. Example 4 displays the first word in textfield.
Example 5 finds any occurrence of the sequence "abc" in textfield
regardless of what case the letters are in.

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INT
PURPOSE

Removes the part of a number to the right of the decimal point, turning it
into a whole number.

SYNTAX
INT (nexpr)

COMMENTS

INT does not round a decimal number up or down to the nearest whole number,
but simply strips off the decimal part. Thus INT (123.00001) and INT
(123.999999) give the same result -123.0.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=INT (numfielda)
2    numfieldc=INT (numfielda * (1 + numfield) /100
3    $x=INT (VAL (RIGHT$ (textfield, 2)) /3.33
4    $x=INT ($y)
5    ? INT ($x ^ Sy)

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KEY
PURPOSE

Displays the current set of function key definitions, or defines a new set.

SYNTAX
KEY keynum[, string]

COMMENTS

For the GEM versions of Superbase Professional running under MS DOS, the
available function keys are F1 to F10. Each of these can be used with
SHIFT,  CONTROL OR ALT, giving 40 function keys in all. The numbers
associated with the keys are:

    F1-F10            1-10
    SHIFT (F1-F10)        11-20
    CONTROL (F1-F10)        21-30
    ALT (F1-F10)        31-40

On the AMIGA and the Atari ST, 21 function keys are available: the keys F1
to F10, which can be used with SHIFT, and the HELP key (HELP and Shift HELP
are the same). Their numbers are:

    F1 to F10        1-10
    SHIFT (F1-F10)        11-20
    HELP            0

string can be any set of Superbase commands which can be entered on one
line (provided that they do not access a field on the same line as an OPEN
FILE). The command line in string is assigned to the key specified by
keynum Using KEY without a following command string clears the key
associated with keynum. If keynum and string and not used, KEY displays the
current set of function key definitions.

EXAMPLES

1    KEY 1
2    KEY 1, "OPEN FILE ~aaa~: BLANK: ENTER: STORE: ? ~ Now
    ~; RECCOUNT (~aaa~); ~Records~"

                5-75

3    KEY
4    KEY 3, "Tel. [phone] [(04203) 5601 evenings]"

Example 1 clears key F1. Example 2 sets F3 to enter a record into a file
and report how many records there now are. Note the use of the tilde
character to insert quotation marks. Since the entire string must be
enclosed in quotation marks, you cannot use quotation marks within the
string.

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LABELS
PURPOSE
Prints records as labels.

SYNTAX
LABELS [FILE sbfname] [WHERE conditions] [USING labelparams]

COMMENTS

This command is the program equivalent of selecting the Labels option from
the PROCESS menu. It allows you print out records as labels and to define
their format. WHERE conditions limits the records for which labels are
printed and acts as a filter. USING allows you to specify the shape and
content of the labels to be printed. labelparams is a series of parameters
separated by commas, relating to the label definition dialog. Reading down
the left column of the dialog and then down the right column, they are as
follows:

    line 1 fields/line
    line 2 fields/line
    line 3 fields/line
    line 4 fields/line
    line 5 fields/line
    line 6 fields/line
    line 7 fields/line
    line 8 fields/line
    line 9 fields/line
    line 10 fields/line
    First label margin
    label text width
    Second label margin
    First line next label
    Copies per label
    Labels per line

Note: All 16 parameters must be used.

If USING is not specified, LABELS takes the default parameters as shown in
the label definition dialog (see Volume 1, Chapter 5).

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EXAMPLES

1    LABELS WHERE CITY="London"
    USING 1, 0, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 35, 40, 12, 1, 2
2    LABELS "Address" WHERE Lastname LIKE "[a-c}*"

LCASE$
PURPOSE
Converts a text string to lowercase.

SYNTAX
LCASE$ (strexpr)

COMMENTS

This function changes upper case letters to lower case; no other characters,
 including those already in lowercase, are affected. The complementary
function of LCASE$ is UCASE$.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=LCASE$ (textfielda)
2    x$=LCASE$ (y$)
3    x$=LCASE$ ("ABCDEF")
4    ? LCASE$ (x$)

LEFT$
PURPOSE

Extracts one or more characters from a string, starting at the left of the
string.

SYNTAX
LEFT$ (strexpr, nexpr)

                5-78

COMMENTS

LEFT$ returns the leftmost nexpr characters of the string strexpr. Thus, if
strexpr is DICTIONARY and expr is 7:

    LEFT$ ("DIRECTIONARY", 7)

returns DICTION.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=LEFT$ (textfielda, 10)
2    textfieldc=UCASE$ (LEFT$ (textfielda, 1))
    + MID$ (testfielda, 2)
3    LEFT$ (textfielda, 1) LIKE [a-c]
4    x$=LEFT$ ("ABCD", 2)
5    x$=LEFT$ (x$, n$)
6    ? LEFT$ (x$, 10)
7    strip: IF LEFT$ (x$, 1) =" " THEN x$=MID$ (x$, 2): GOTO strip

NOTES

Example 7 is a one line program to strip leading spaces from x$ (see
LTRIM$).

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LEN
PURPOSE
Returns the number of characters in a text string or text field.

SYNTAX
LEN (strexpr)

COMMENTS

LEN counts the number of characters in a string, including spaces and non-
printing characters.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=LEN (textfielda)
2    textfieldc=RIGHT$ (textfielda, LEN (testfieldb)
3    LEN (textfielda) > 25 AND LEN (textfielda) 50
4    x$=LEN ("A")
5    x$=LEN (x$)
6    x$=LEN (MID$ (extfield, 3))
7    ? LEN (x$)

LET
PURPOSE
Assign a value to a variable.

SYNTAX
[LET] var/field=expr/[expr1 ? expra: exprb]

COMMENTS

The keyword LET is optional and is usually omitted. In other words, to
assign a value to a variable or a field, you only need to use the equal
sign.

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The LET option has been included in DML to maintain compatibility with
earlier versions of Basic. DML also provides a more unusual facility when
you use the syntax:

var/field=expr1 ? expra: exprab

This option provides a short way of assigning different values to a
variable or field, depending on whether an expression is true or not; that
is, it makes assignment conditional on the truth or falsity of a specified
expression. If expr1 is true, expra is assigned to the variable or field; if
it is false, exprb is assigned. It is equivalent to

    IF expr1
    THEN var/field=expra
    ELSE var/field=exprab

Used in this way, the question mark character is referred to as a 'ternary
operator' to reflect the fact that three operands are required at the right
of the equal sign. In fact, you can chain ternary operators together to
create a statement which contains multiple conditions and assigns one of
multiple values. Within a program, however, you will generally find it
easier to use the IF THEN ELSE statement. The main application for the
ternary operator is in a Superbase file definition. Here it has an
important advantage over the IF THEN ELSE statement: it can be entered as a
calculation formula for a field in a file definition. For a fuller
discussion of the ternary operator and its applications, see Chapter 2,
Volume 1.

EXAMPLES

1    item$="Sprocket"
2    Textfielda="London"
3    b%=3.25
4    numfieldb=INT (277/62)

The following examples assume that x$="ABC" and x%=4.5
5    y$= (x$="ABC") ? "yes": "no"
This example assigns "yes" to y$.

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6    y$= (x$="aaa") ? x$: ""
Assigns "" to y$.
7    y$= (x% > 3.5) ? "yes": "no"
Assigns "yes" to y$
8    y$=EOF ("INPUT") ? "end of file": "more to read"

LIST
PURPOSE
Lists a text file to the screen.

SYNTAX
LIST filename

COMMENTS

LIST is the program equivalent of the LIST option in the SYSTEM menu. It
displays a text file on the screen. Do not confuse LIST with ? LIST, which
displays a program listing. LIST only works with text files. Note also that
unlike many other DML commands, LIST requires the file name itself plus its
extension name.

EXAMPLES

1    LIST "aaa.exp"
2    LIST "Address.sbd"

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LOAD
PURPOSE
Loads any of the following types of file into memory: programs, text files,
function key files, Query and Update files.

SYNTAX
LOAD [TEXT]/[KEY]/[QUERY]/[UPDATE]filename[, APPEND]

COMMENTS

If none of the options TEXT, KEY, QUERY or UPDATE is used, Superbase
assumes that filename refers to a '.sbp' file and attempts to load a
PROGRAM file. The APPEND option can be used with program files and text
files to append a file on disk to the file in memory. Note that LOAD cannot
be used to load a Superbase data file (a file with an '.sbf' extension).
For this you need to use the OPEN FILE command.

EXAMPLES

1    LOAD "Program1"
2    LOAD TEXT "Banklet"
3    LOAD QUERY "Deptran"
4    LOAD KEY "Funkey1"
5    LOAD TEXT "Document2", APPEND

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LOCATE
PURPOSE

Sets the position at which the next output appears on the current output
device (generally, the screen or the printer).

SYNTAX
LOCATE column[, row]

COMMENTS

When you are displaying something on the screen, LOCATE allows you to
specify where it appears. column and row must be numeric expressions.row is
optional and if it is not included, LOCATE moves the cursor to the
specified column position on the current line. You cannot use LOCATE to
move the cursor backwards or up the screen: it will not move the cursor to
a position on the same line which is to the left of the current
position; and it will not move the cursor to a line above the current
position. However, you can bypass this restriction if you place the HOME
statement in front of LOCATE-see HOME.

EXAMPLES

1    LOCATE 12, 5: ? "Hello"
2    c%=12: r%=1: LOCATE c%, r%
3    LOCATE 12: ? "Hello"

NOTES

The first example displays the word 'hello' at the 12th column on the sixth
row. Example 3 displays 'hello' at the 12th column of whatever line the
cursor happens to be on.

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LOG
PURPOSE
Returns the natural logarithm (log to the base 'e') of a number.

SYNTAX
LOG (nexpr)

COMMENTS

The value of nexpr must be positive. Negative numbers or zero produce the
error message 'Invalid numeric parameter'.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=LOG (numfielda)
2    numfieldc=LOG (datefielda-datefieldb)
3    numfieldc > LOG (numfielda * numfieldb)
4    x%=LOG (y%)
5    x%=LOG (y% * numfielda * (datefielda-datefieldb))

LOOKUP
PURPOSE
Detects whether an expression occurs in a file in a specified field.

SYNTAX
LOOKUP (expr, field.file)

COMMENTS

This function checks whether a given field in a file contains the
expression in expr. That is, it answers the question: does expr exist in
field.file? If it finds the expression, LOOKUP returns the value -1 (true);
otherwise it returns the value 0 (false). expr and field.file must be of
the same type (i.e. text or numeric). field.file must be the name of an
indexed field in an open file.

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LOOKUP plays a major role in cross-file validation and calculation. The
file specified with LOOKUP can be any open file; so you can use this
function to perform a relational lookup, where it checks whether the
contents of a field in one file match the contents of a field in another
file. If LOOKUP is successful-if it finds the expression you have
specified-the record containing the expression becomes the current record,
even though the file may not be the current file and is not displayed on
screen. At the same time, the FOUND function is set to -1 to reflect the
fact that the search has been successful. For a fuller explanation of
LOOKUP, see Chapter 2, Volume 1.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "aaa": OPEN FILE "bbb"
    SELECT FIRST
    WHILE NOT EOF ("bbb")
    IF LOOKUP (field1.bbb, field1.aaa) THEN GOSUB Process_module
    WEND
    ? "Process completed": END
    Process_module:
    ......
    ......
    RETURN

This example demonstrates a small program to process only those records in
file 'bbb' that have a matching record in file 'aaa'. File 'bbb' could be
an invoice file 'joined' to a customer file 'aaa' by a customer code
(field1 in 'bbb' and 'aaa').

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LTRIM$
PURPOSE
Trims leading spaces from a text expression or a text field.

SYNTAX
LTRIM$ (strexpr)

COMMENTS

LTRIM$ returns a string consisting of the original string specified by
strexpr with any leading spaces removed.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=LTRIM$ (textfielda)
2    x$=LTRIM$ (textfieldc.filea)
3    ? LEN (x$); LEN (LTRIM$ (x$))

                5-87

MAKE
PURPOSE
Stores the file definition for a file it has been defined by CREATE and
ADD.

SYNTAX
MAKE sbfname

COMMENTS

This command is used as the last step in the process of creating a new
file. After the file has been defined by CREATE and ADD, MAKE writes the
new file definition to disk together with any indexes that have created.
Note that a file definition is not regarded as valid until the MAKE command
has been executed. Before then, any error will have the effect of removing
the file definition.

EXAMPLES

1    CREATE "Address"
    ADD "Firstname; TXT REQ; 20; 1, 2"
    ADD "Lastname; TXT REQ IXD; 20; 1, 33"
    ADD "Street"; TXT; 25; 3, 2"
    (other field definitions)
    ........
    ........
    MAKE "Address"

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MENU
PURPOSE
Sets up a user-define menu

SYNTAX
MENU column, item, state[, strexpr]

COMMENTS

Superbase let you define up to 10 menu each of which can have a maximum of
12 items. With the Menu command you supply the text for a single item and
specify whether it will appear on the menu an enabled, disabled (ghosted)
or with a check mark against it. Having defined a menu with a series of
MENU commands-one for each menu item and one for the menu title-you can
then use the MENU ON command to turn the menu (or menus) on. You also use
MENU to specify a numeric variable which will return a value showing which
item, if any, has been selected. column must be a numeric expression with a
value in the range 1 to 10 giving the column number for the menu. To set up
a menu in the first column on the left at the same position as the
Superbase Project menu, you would enter a value of one. item must be a
numeric expression with a value in the range 0 to 12, giving the number of
the menu item. Item 0 is the menu heading, the text that appears on the
menu bar. state can take a value of 0, 1 or 2.0 disables the item so that
it appears on the menu as a ghosted option.1 enables it, 2 places a check
mark against it. strexpr supplies the text for the item. For example, if
you wished to define a menu in the first column which contained the option
Deposits, you could enter:

    MENU 1, 3, 1, "Deposits"

This would make Deposits the third item in the menu list. To disable the
Deposits option, you would enter:

    MENU 1, 3, 0

Note that you do not need to specify the text a second time.

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EXAMPLES

1    MENU 1, 0, 1, "Transactions"
    MENU 1, 1, 1, "Deposits"
    MENU 1, 2, 1, "Withdrawal"
    MENU 1, 3, 1, "Direct debit"
    MENU 1, 4, 1, "Standing orders"
    MENU 1, 5, 1, "Credit card"
    MENU ON a%, b%

NOTES

This example defines a menu in the first column with five options (items),
all of them enabled. (The heading for the menu is Transactions.) MENU ON
then turns the menu on. When the user selects an item, Superbase will place
its column and item numbers in the variables a% and b%.

MENU CLEAR
PURPOSE
Turns off all user-defined menus and clears their definitions from memory.

SYNTAX
MEMORY CLEAR

COMMENTS

If you want to define a new set of menus, you can use this command to clear
any menus which have been defined previously. You may also use it when your
menus are no longer required, in order to make the memory space they occupy
available for other purposes.

                5-90

MENU ON
PURPOSE
Turns user-defined menus on and specifies the variables which return the
result of a menu selection.

SYNTAX
MENU ON nvar1, nvar2

COMMENTS

MENU ON turns on any menus which have been defined with the MENU command
and sets nvar1 and nvar2 to zero. When the user selects an item, Superbase
places the column number in nvar1 and places the item number in nvar2. It
also turns all the user-defined menus off. For example, if the second item
in the third user-defined menu has been selected, the first numeric
variable specified with MENU ON, will contain the value 3 and the second
numeric variable will contain the value 2. You may sometimes want to turn
the menus off without waiting for an item to be selected. You can do this
with the command MENU OFF.

EXAMPLES

1    menuloop:
    MENU ON a%, b%
    ON a% GOSUB sub1, sub2, sub3, sub4, sub5
    GOTO menuloop

NOTES

This examples presumes that five menus have been defined and that sub1 to
sub5 are subroutines which handle item selection for each menu.

                5-91

MERGE
PURPOSE
Loads a text file and performs a mail merge.

SYNTAX
MERGE [TEXT filename] [WHERE conditions]

COMMENTS

This command merges the data in an '.sbf' file with a form letter in the
Text Editor and outputs the results to the printer. It takes data from the
current open file and-if WHERE is not included-prints one letter for each
record in the file. You can use WHERE to set up a filter restricting the
merge operation to only those records which match the conditions specified.
The TEXT option lets you specify a text file on disk; Superbase will then
load the file into the Text Editor before starting the merge operation.
Although Merge is the program equivalent of the Mail Merge option on the
Process menu, it does not allow you to preview letters on screen before
printing them. To do this, use ? TEXT with the MERGE parameter.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "Address"
    MERGE TEXT "Mailshot1" WHERE Country LIKE "USA"

MID$
PURPOSE
Returns one or more characters from within a text string or text field.

SYNTAX
MID$ (strexpr, nexpr1[, nexpr2])

COMMENTS

MID$ is more flexible than LEFT$ and RIGHT$ as it can extract characters
from any point in a string.strexpr holds the string, and nexpr1 gives the
starting point in the string.nexpr2 specifies the length of the substring
to be extracted; if nexpr2 is not given, MID$ takes all the characters from
the starting point to the end.

                5-92

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=MID$ (textfielda, 10, 10)
2    textfieldc=LCASE$ (MID$ (textfielda, 8))
3    MID$ (textfielda, 12, 1) LIKE[a-c]
4    x$-MID$ (textfieldc, 19, 2)
5    x$= (x$, 4)
6    ? MID$ (x$, 4, 2)
7    ASK;A$:
    I%=LEN (A$)
    FOR n%=I% TO 1 STEP -1
    B$=B$ + MID$ (A$, n%, 1)
    NEXT
    ? B$

NOTES

Example 7 inputs a word into A$ and turns it back to front.

                5-93

MINS
PURPOSE

Extracts the number of minutes from a numeric value which holds the time in
thousandths of a second.

SYNTAX
MINS (nexpr)

COMMENTS

Usually, nexpr will be a timefield or the result of a TIMEVAL calculation.

EXAMPLES

1    mnts%=MINS (timefield)
2    ? MINS (NOW - start%); "minutes have elapsed"

MOD
PURPOSE
Gives the remainder of a numeric expression after it has been divided.

SYNTAX
nexpr1 MOD nexpr2

COMMENTS

nexpr1 is the number to be divided, nexpr2 is the number that divides into
it (the divisor). MOD returns the remainder when nexpr1 has been divided by
nexpr2. For example:

    14 MOD 3

gives 2 as a result. It is equivalent to:

    14-INT (14/3) * 3

EXAMPLES

1    ? (2.53 * 100) MOD 100

                5-94

NOTES

The example line strips off the integer part of a number and displays the
first two figures after the decimal place.

MODIFY
PURPOSE
Modifies a field definition.

SYNTAX
MODIFY field[, ] [field definition string] [, formula] [, formula]

COMMENTS

MODIFY is the program equivalent of the EDIT FILE option in PROJECT. It
allows you to alter a field's parameters; for example, the field name or its
length. The field definition and formula strings take the same form as they
do with the ADD command.

EXAMPLES

1    MODIFY Forename "Firstname; TXT REQ IXU; 15 U; 1, 12"

                5-95

MONTH$
PURPOSE
Takes a julian date number and returns the month of the year as a text
string.

SYNTAX
MONTH$ (nexpr)

COMMENTS

The same limitations on which julian dates are acceptable apply to this
function as they do to other date functions. The format of the text string
is the full month name regardless of what current date format is - i.e.,
January, not Jan). Associated date functions are DAY DAYS DAY$ MONTH MONTH$
YEAR.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=MONTHS$ (datefielda)
2    textfieldc=MONTH$ (datefielda + 90)
3    textfieldc=MONTH$ (TODAY)
4    x$=MONTH$ (datefielda + VAL (textfielda))
5    x$=MONTH$ (DAYS  ("11 Jan 85")
6    ? MONTH$ (datefielda + 30)

                5-97

NEW
PURPOSE
Clears the program area or text area.

SYNTAX
NEW [TEXT/QUERY/UPDATE]

COMMENTS

On its own, NEW erases any program that is currently in the computer's
memory. When followed by TEXT, it clears the current text editor area of
memory. Following it by or QUERY or UPDATE, clears their respective
dialogs. Unlike the menu options Program New (and Text New) this command
does not put you into the program (or text) editor.

NEWLINE
PURPOSE
Sends a new line character (or characters) to an output device.

SYNTAX
NEWLINE[nexp]

COMMENTS

This command prints a new line at the current output device; i.e. with the
screen display, it takes the cursor onto the start of the next line.nexp
can be used to specify more than one new line. If nexp is not an integer,
only the integer part will be taken.

EXAMPLES

1    NEWLINE 2
2    FOR i%=1 to 20
    ? i%: if i% MOD 5=0 THEN NEWLINE i%/5
    NEXT i%

                5-98

NOTES

Example 2 outputs the numbers 1 to 5 with single line spacing, 6 to 10 with
double spacing, and so on up to 20.

NOW
PURPOSE
Gives the system time.

SYNTAX
NOW

COMMENTS

NOW shows the time of day in hours and minutes, using the current time
format. If you have a real-time clock in your computer or you have set the
system time,  this will be the current time. Note that NOW actually holds
the time in thousandths of a second. When you display the time, Superbase
automatically translates it into hours and minutes.

EXAMPLES

1    ? NOW
2    ? MINS (NOW)
3    timefield=NOW

                5-99

NUMBASE
PURPOSE
Sets the numeric format in which numbers are displayed.

SYNTAX
NUMBASE string

COMMENTS

NUMBASE is the program equivalent of the Number Format option in the SET
menu. string must be one of Superbase's valid numeric formats, as listed
Chapter 2,  Volume 1. For example, "z99999.00" or "z (+$, 000000.00".

EXAMPLES

1    NUMBASE "z99999."
Integer only format.
2    NUMBASE "+*****.00"
Numbers displayed with a sign and leading cheque-protect.

ON ERROR
PURPOSE
Tells DML to branch to another part of the program when an error occurs.

SYNTAX
ON ERROR [[GOTO] label]

COMMENTS

Normally, DML halts program execution and displays an error message when it
detects an error. ON ERROR enables error trapping, and prevents the program
from halting. Once an error has been detected, it causes the program to
jump to the error handling routine specified with label. You can use ERRNO
in your error handling routine to check on which error has occurred, and
take appropriate action. In many cases, you will want the program to resume
execution after detecting an error. You can do this with the RESUME
statement.

                5-100

To disable error trapping, use ON ERROR without a following label.

EXAMPLES

1    ON ERROR GOTO check
    ......
    ......
    ......
    check: IF ERRNO 11 THEN
    RESUME
    ELSE? "Are you sure you want to exit from this program?"
    ? "Press Y to exit, any another key to resume"
    WAIT a$
    IF a$="Y" OR a$="y" THEN END ELSE RESUME
    ENDIF

NOTES

In this example, ON ERROR is used to check whether the Stop button has been
clicked on or CTRL C has been pressed. Both these events generate error
number 11, so the error handling routine (which starts at label 'check')
first tests for this error number. If it finds that another error event has
occurred, program execution is resumed at the line which caused the error.
The error handling routine then asks if the user wishes to exit or not.
Depending on the answer it receives, it either resumes execution at the
line which caused the error (the line being executed when the user pressed
STOP or CTRL C) or terminates the program.

                5-101

ON GOSUB
PURPOSE
Calls one of a number of subroutines from a list of subroutines.

SYNTAX
ON nexp GOSUB label1 [, label2, label3, ...]

COMMENTS

This statement transfers program control to one of the subroutines given in
the list. The value of nexp determines which subroutine the program jumps
to. If nexp has valued at 1 the program branches to the subroutine at the
first label,  if nexp has a value of 2, it branches to the subroutine at
the second label, and so on. Once the program has branched to a subroutine,
it executes each statement in turn until it meets a RETURN statement. Then
it jumps back to the line following the ON GOSUB statement. Any label can
be repeated. If nexp is 0 or greater than the number of supplied labels,
program control drops to the next statement after the ON GOSUB statement.

EXAMPLES

1    ON x% GOSUB lab1, lab2, lab3
2    ON x% GOSUB lab1, lab2, lab1, lab2, lab1

ON GOTO
PURPOSE
Branches to one of a list of labels.

SYNTAX
ON nexp GOTO label [, label, ....]

COMMENTS

This command transfers program control to one of the program lines given in
the list. The value of nexp determines which label the program jumps to.

                5-102

If nexp has valued at 1 the program branches to the first label, if nexp
has a value of 2, it branches to the second label, and so on. For a general
description of GOTO refer to GOTO itself. nexp should be a positive integer.
If it is not an integer, the whole number part will be taken. Any label can
be repeated. If nexp is 0 or greater than the number of supplied labels,
program control drops to the next statement after ON GOTO.

EXAMPLES

1    ON x% GOTO lab1, lab2, lab3
2    ON x% GOTO lab1, lab2, lab1, lab2, lab1
    ? "Reached here only when x% is 0 or greater than 5

OPEN
PURPOSE
Opens a text file on disk or Comms channel for input/output.

SYNTAX
OPEN filename FOR[INPUT/OUTPUT/APPEND]

COMMENTS

When used for output to a file, OPEN has the same effect as OUTPUT TO file.
There is only one channel for INPUT, and one for OUTPUT, so you cannot have
two output channels, or two input channels. However, you can have one of
each open at the same time. APPEND is an output channel and specifies that
file is to be appended to. You must not try to specify OPEN "aaa" FOR
OUTPUT APPEND. If using OPEN, file is overwritten without warning. If using
APPEND, file need not exist. If using INPUT, file must exist.

                5-103

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN "aaa" FOR OUTPUT
2    OPEN "aaa" FOR APPEND
3    OPEN "bbb" FOR INPUT: OPEN "aaa" APPEND
    lab1: INPUT LINE a$: ? a$
    IF NOT EOF  ("*") THEN GOTO lab1
    CLOSE INPUT: CLOSE OUTPUT

NOTES

Example 3 appends the contents of file 'bbb' to file 'aaa'. Notice that the
last line of the program CLOSEs the files that OPEN has opened. This
practise is strongly recommended: you should always close a file when you
have finished writing to it.

OPEN FORM
PURPOSE
Loads a form from disk and displays it in the database window.

SYNTAX
OPEN FORM form

COMMENTS

form must be a string expression giving the file name of a form. Superbase
will also open any database files associated with the form.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FORM "Invoice"

OPEN FIELDS
PURPOSE
Specifies which fields are displayed.

SYNTAX
OPEN FIELDS [FILE sbfname] fieldlist

                5-104

COMMENTS

This command is the program equivalent of the Open Fields option on the
Project Menu. fieldlist consists of the list of fields required to be open.
To remove any restrictions on which fields are shown, use the CLOSE FIELDS
command.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FIELDS FILE "Address" Firstname, Lastname, Country, City

OPEN FILE
PURPOSE
Opens a database file and its default index.

SYNTAX
OPEN FILE sbfname [; password]

COMMENTS

Note the distinction between OPEN FILE "aaa" which opens a database file,
and OPEN "aaa" (FOR INPUT) which opens a text file. sbfname is compulsory,
and if a password is required to access the file, then it is also
compulsory (use a semicolon to separate the filename from the password).
INDEX followed by a field name may be added to the end of an OPEN FILE
command,  allowing you to select an index other than the default index. But
it can only be used if the file has already been opened by a direct command
or an earlier program line. As explained in the entry for the INDEX
command, DML parses the whole line before executing it; so if you refer to a
field, it must be a field in a file that already been opened. Otherwise an
error will result.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "aaa"
2    x$="bbb": OPEN FILE x$

                5-105

3     OPEN FILE "aaa"; "John"

NOTES
In example 3, 'John' is the password for the file 'aaa'.

ORDER
PURPOSE
Sets the order for Query output.

SYNTAX
ORDER [&nexpr]field[ASCENDING/DESCENDING] [, field]
                ASCENDING/DESCENDING] [, .....]

COMMENTS

ORDER is a Query Language command and can only be entered in a query
section - i.e., it works in conjunction with the Query Language command
Select. This command is the program equivalent of the Order command line in
the query definition dialog: it takes the same syntax and serves the same
purpose. The field specified with the ORDER command determines the order in
which the field in the SELECT line are output. If you are familiar with the
concept of sorting,  you can think of ORDER as setting the sort 'key' for
query output. field must be a field in an open file, but it does not need
to be an indexed field; nor does it have to be one of the fields in the
SELECT line. ASCENDING and DESCENDING allow you to specify whether data is
sorted in ascending or descending order. If you specify a text field with
the ORDER command - i.e., if you specify it as the sort key-Superbase
outputs record data according to the alphabetical order of the sort field.
DESCENDING reverses the order and sorts the field from Z to A. With
numeric, date and time fields, ASCENDING sorts data in numeric, date or
time order; and DESCENDING reverses the order. By default, fields are sorted
in ascending order; so it not strictly necessary to include the ASCENDING
parameter. You can also specify more than one field in the ORDER line,
separating each with a comma. If enter two fields, the first field takes
precedence as a sort key

                5-106

over the second field; i.e., records are first sorted according to the first
field, and then any duplicate data items are sorted according to the second
key. The same applies if there are more than two fields: the second key has
priority over the third, the third has over the fourth, and so on.

EXAMPLES

The examples illustrate how ORDER works by taking a limited set of records
and showing some of the different ways in which they may be sorted. Each
record contains data from three fields, Firstname, Lastname, and Country.

1    SELECT Firstname, Lastname, Country
    ORDER Lastname

This examples takes Lastname as the sort key and produces the following
output:

FIRSTNAME        LASTNAME        COUNTRY
Pierre            Arnauld            France
William            Carter            USA
Gerde            Hemrich            West Germany
John            Miles            England
Anne            Richardson        USA
Peter            Smith            England
Robert            Brown            England

2    SELECT Firstname, Lastname, Country
    ORDER Country
The output from this query would be as follows:

FIRSTNAME        LASTNAME        COUNTRY
Robert            Brown            England
John            Miles            England
Peter            Smith            England
Pierre            Arnauld            France
William            Carter            USA
Anne            Richardson        USA
Gerde            Hemrich            West Germany

                5-107

3    SELECT Firstname, Lastname
    ORDER Country DESCENDING, Lastname ASCENDING
The output from this query is:

FIRSTNAME        LASTNAME
Gerde            Hemrich
William            Carter
Anne            Richardson
Pierre            Arnauld
Robert            Brown
John            Miles
Peter            Smith

4    SELECT Firstname, Lastname, Country
    ORDER Country, Firstname

This example uses Country as the primary sort key and Firstname as the
secondary key to produce the following output:

FIRSTNAME        LASTNAME        COUNTRY
John            Miles            England
Peter            Smith            England
Robert            Brown            England
Pierre            Arnauld            France
Anne            Richardson        USA
William            Carter            USA
Gerde            Hemrich            West Germany

NOTES

The default length for sorting is 15 characters per field. Superbase gives
equal weighing to upper case, lower case and accented instances of
characters. The & character followed by a value up to the length of the
field may precede any field, specifying the number of characters that will
be used in sorting.

                5-108

OUTPUT TO
PURPOSE
Opens a text file on disk for output.

SYNTAX
OUTPUT TO filename

COMMENTS

This command makes the disk the current output device and sends any future
output to filename. It has the same effect as OPEN filename FOR OUTPUT. If
the text file already exists on disk, any output command issued after
OUTPUT TO, will overwrite the file. If you want to add data to an existing
text file,  use OPEN filename FOR APPEND.

EXAMPLES

1    OUTPUT TO "Names"
    ? Lastname
    CLOSE OUTPUT
2    OUTPUT TO a$

NOTES Example 1 stores the contents of the Lastname field (in the current
record) on disk in the text file Names.

                5-109

PASSWORD
PURPOSE
Sets new password (or none) for a specified file.

SYNTAX
PASSWORD sbfname [; passwords]

COMMENTS

sbfname must be an open file and, as usual with filenames, must be included
in quotation marks. If no password is given, the existing password for the
specified file is removed.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "aaa; John"
    PASSWORD "aaa"
Removes passwords.
2    PASSWORD "aaa; Rosebud"
Sets a password for the file 'aaa'.
3    OPEN FILE "aaa; John"
    PASSWORD "aaa; John; Paul; George"
Adds passwords for read/write and read only access privileges.

PCOL
PURPOSE

Return the column position of the print head on the current output printer
or resets the print head's position.

SYNTAX
PCOL (nexpr)

COMMENTS

If nexpr is zero, the function returns the column position of the print
head

                5-110

on the current printer. For the Row position, see PROW. See also LOCATE.
You can also use this function to set the counter Superbase uses to keep
track of the print head's position. Giving nexpr a positive value, sets the
counter to that value. The print head itself is not moved. This feature is
used to reset the internal count after issuing a series of printer commands
which have not in fact moved the print head, for example, after switching
to high density graphics mode.

EXAMPLES

1    x%=PCOL (0)
2    ? PCOL (0)

POSITION
PURPOSE
Sets the data pointer to a new position in an ASCII file.

SYNTAX
POSITION nexp

COMMENTS

When you read data from an ASCII file on disk, Superbase uses an internal
pointer to keep track of it. The OPEN file FOR INPUT command sets the
pointer to zero, the position of the first character in the file.
Thereafter it is incremented by one for each character that is input using
the INPUT command. POSITION sets the pointer to the character position
specified by nexpr. Normally, the data in an ASCII file is read into the
computer sequentially. With Position, you can input character data on a
more selective basis. You will only be able to take advantage of this
command if you know where the data is stored in a file. Superbase stores
data in variable length fields (as opposed to fixed length fields): when
you create an ASCII file from an '.sbf' file by exporting it, the amount of
space occupied on disk by field data may vary from record to record. This
means that there is no simple way of knowing the position of any particular
field or record. One solution to this problem is to create an ASCII file
from a database file using the query option Output to Disk. When you do
this, Superbase stores

                5-111

the data in fixed length fields-each field takes the length set in the file
definition. You can then work out the number of characters occupied by a
record in the ASCII and use this figure to retrieve specific records or
fields. For example, if the record length was 49 characters, you would
enter:

    POSITION 49 * 5 + 1: INPUT LINE a$

to retrieve the fifth record in the file (you need to add one because the first
character position is zero).

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN "Cust.asc" FOR INPUT
    FOR n%=0 to 76 * 12 STEP 77
    POSITION n%
    INPUT & 15, a$
    ? a$
    NEXT
    CLOSE INPUT

NOTES

This example inputs the first field from the first twelve records in the
ASCII file Cust.asc. It assumes that the record length is 77 characters and
that the length of the first field is 15 characters.

PRINT
PURPOSE
Sends information to the printer.

SYNTAX
PRINT[expressionlist]

COMMENT

PRINT, followed by a semicolon and nothing else, selects the printer as the
current output device. The ? command can then be used to send information
to the printer. You can also use PRINT to output information directly to
the printer, by following the command with one or more expressions. But
note that any use of PRINT makes the printer the current output device. The
items in the expression list following the Print command may be separated
by a semicolon or a comma. If a semicolon is used, Superbase will print the

                5-112

expressions one after the another without any spaces in between; a comma has
the effect of inserting a space between items. In some circumstances, you
may also dispense with separators altogether. Thus, provided it can
distinguish between different items, Superbase will accept a list of
expressions which are entered on the line head to tail; for example:

    PRINT a$b$c%"Hello"

EXAMPLES

1    PRINT;
    ? MEMORY
    DISPLAY;
2    PRINT BF "The items in the following list will be printed in bold
                  face"
    PRINT "One", "Two", "Three"; CHR$ (12)
    DISPLAY;

NOTES

The first example prints the current program's variables and their
contents. Example 2 prints a list of items, and then sends the form feed
character - CHR$ (12) -to the printer. Both examples use the DISPLAY
command to make the screen the current output device after the print
operation is finished.

                5-113

PROTECT
PURPOSE
Saves the current program in an encrypted form.

SYNTAX
PROTECT filename

COMMENTS

Use this command to ensure that program files are not seen by anyone else.
It stores a file on disk in an encrypted (scrambled) form so that it can be
run but not edited. If the first line of a program is a REM statement,
PROTECT displays that line,  but hides the rest of the program from any
attempt to edit or LIST it.

EXAMPLES

1    PROTECT "myprog"

PROW
PURPOSE
Returns the row position of the print head on the current output printer.

SYNTAX
PROW (nexpr)

COMMENTS

If nexpr is zero, the function returns the row position of the print head
on the current printer. For the Column position, see PCOL. See also LOCATE.
Giving nexpr a positive value resets Superbase's internal row counter. See
PCOL.

EXAMPLES

1    x%=PROW (0)
2    ? PROW (0)

                5-114

QUIT
PURPOSE
Exits from Superbase.

SYNTAX
QUIT

COMMENTS

This has same effect as selecting the Quit option from the Project menu. It
exits from Superbase and returns the user to the desktop interface.

                5-115

READ
PURPOSE
Reads the data given in a DATA statement and assigns it to a variable or
field.

SYNTAX
READ var/field[, var/field] [, .....]

COMMENT

The types of variables or fields used with a READ command must match the
types of data expected-numeric variables or numeric fields for numeric data
and string variables or string fields for string data. DML uses a pointer
to keep track of where it is in the list of DATA items; that is, each time a
data item is read, DML moves the pointer on to the next item in the list.
If you wish to read the same data again, you can place a label in front of
a DATA statement and use RESTORE.

EXAMPLES

1    READ a%, b$, fielda.filea, fielda.fileb

RECCOUNT
PURPOSE
Counts the number of records in a file.

SYNTAX
RECCOUNT (sbfname)

COMMENTS

This function returns a number showing how many records there are in the
file specified. You can use the empty string as an argument-RECCOUNT ("")
-to refer to the current file.

EXAMPLES

1    ? RECCOUNT ("Orders")

                5-116

2    x%=RECCOUNT (x$)
3    OPEN FILE ("address")
    SELECT FIRST
    FOR n%=1 to RECCOUNT ("address")
    VIEW
    SELECT NEXT
    NEXT n%

NOTES
Example 3 displays all the records in the file "address" in turn.

REM
PURPOSE
Inserts a non-executable comment (a remark) into a program.

SYNTAX
REM[text]

COMMENTS

REM has the effect of cancelling any statements after it. This makes it
useful when you are testing a program-placing it at the start of a
multi-statement line puts the following statements temporarily out of
action. More generally,  use REM to annotate a program in order to explain
how it works or what it does. A single quotation mark after a command
without an intervening colon also acts as a REM statement.

EXAMPLES

1    REM this is a remark
2    ....: FILE "aaa" open aaa
3    ....: FILE "aaa": REM open aaa
4    FILE "aaa": REM eliminate next commands: INDEX abc: SELECT
    FIRST

                5-117

NOTES

Examples 2 and 3 have identical effects and demonstrate the two different
ways of entering a comment. In example 4, the REM statement means that the
INDEX and SELECT FIRST commands are not executed.

REMOVE FILE
PURPOSE
Removes a database file from disk, along with its associated definition and
index files.

SYNTAX
REMOVE sbfname

COMMENT

This command operates in the same way as the Remove File menu option. Note
that you are not asked for confirmation-the file is just removed.

EXAMPLES

1    REMOVE FILE "aaa"
2    REMOVE FILE "DF1: aaa"
3    REMOVE FILE "GEM\SBASE\aaa"

REMOVE FROM
PURPOSE
Removes records which match the conditions specified.

SYNTAX
REMOVE FROM FILE sbfname[WHERE conditions]

COMMENTS

This command works in the same way as the equivalent PROJECT-REMOVE-FILE
menu option. It deletes records from a file on disk.

                5-118

FILE sbfname has to be open, and if the file requires a password, you must
have full access to it.

WHERE conditions is optional and is set up in the same way as a filter. If
it is not included, the command acts on all the records in a file.

EXAMPLES

1    REMOVE FROM FILE "aaa" WHERE Lastname LIKE "[a-c]*"
2    REMOVE FROM FILE "aaa"
This empties the file of all its data.

REMOVE INDEX
PURPOSE
Removes an index on the current file from disk.

SYNTAX
REMOVE INDEX index

COMMENT

This command works in the same way as the Remove Index option on the
Project menu. The file must be open, and, if it requires a password, you
must have full access privileges. index is the name of an indexed field. It
can be entered with a file extension.

EXAMPLES

1    REMOVE fielda
2    REMOVE fieldb.aaa

                5-119

RENAME
PURPOSE
Renames a file on disk.

SYNTAX
RENAME old.filename[, /TO]new.filename

COMMENT

This command works in the same way as the RENAME command in MS DOS or Amiga
DOS, but allows you to rename a file without exiting from Superbase. You
have the option of using either a comma or the keyword TO as the separator
between the two file names.

EXAMPLES

1    RENAME "aaa", "bbb"
2    RENAME "aaa" TO "bbb"

REORGANIZE
PURPOSE
Reorganizes the current file or a specified file.

SYNTAX
REORGANIZE [FILE sbfname] [TO]sbfnameb

COMMENTS

This command is the program equivalent of the Reorganize option on the
System menu (see Chapter 8, Volume 1). It takes a file on disk, reorganizes
it, and stores it as sbfnameb. IF the FILE option is not used, the current
file is reorganized. sbfnameb can include the pathname for another
directory or disk. If you enter a pathname without a file name following
it, the file will be reorganized under the same name.

                5-120

Note that you cannot reorganize a file under the same name in the same
directory; i.e. if a pathname is not supplied, sbfnameb must not be the same
as sbfnamea.

EXAMPLES

1    FILE "aaa": REORGANIZE TO "copy"
2    REORGANIZE "aaa" TO "a: mydir\"
3    REORGANIZE "aaa" TO "DF1: Mydir/"
Example 1 creates a reorganized file 'copy' in the current directory,
Example 2 creates a reorganized file 'aaa' in directory mydir on the disk
in drive a (or,  in example 3, drive DF1 on the Amiga).

REPLICATE
PURPOSE
Replicates a character a given number of times.

SYNTAX
REPLICATE (strexp, nexp)

COMMENTS

REPLICATE repeats the character in strexpr the number of times given in
nexp.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=REPLICATE ("*", 10)
2    x$=REPLICATE (textfieldc, 4)
3    x$=REPLICATE (MID$ (x$, 4, 2), 6)
4    x$=REPLICATE  (" ", 25)

NOTES
Example 4 fills x$ with 25 spaces, but see function SPACE$.

                5-121

REPORT
PURPOSE
Specifies the field or fields on which totals (and other report statistics)
will be produced for the report as a whole.

SYNTAX
REPORT [SUMMARIZE] [params]fieldname[, fieldname][, ....]

COMMENT

Report has two uses. When you create a Report with the Forms Editor,
Superbase generates a Report statement by noting the fields which have been
specified in an AFTER REPORT section; i.e., if the AFTER REPORT section in a
Report program contains the statements:

    ? SUM amount
    ? COUNT deposits

Superbase will generate the following line in the program:

    REPORT amount, deposits

If you are writing a Report program yourself (as opposed to modifying a
program generated by Superbase), you should remember to enter a Report
statement including the names of any fields for which you wish totals and
other report statistics to appear. The second application for REPORT is a
query language command. In this context,  it allows you to create a program
line which is equivalent to the REPORT command line in the query definition
dialog. REPORT is used here to specify the fields for which totals and
other statistical. When you use the SUMMARIZE option, Superbase suppresses
the main detail of the report and prints just the summary information.

                5-122

REQUEST
PURPOSE
Displays a Superbase dialog.

SYNTAX
REQUEST text1, text2, type[, nvar[, strvar[, len]]]

COMMENT

REQUEST allows you to select one of Superbase's dialogs and display it on
screen. To some extent you can also customize a dialog to your own
requirements. Thus you can place a title in box, and you can specify the
text string that initially appears in the dialog's command line or
selection box. For certain dialogs, it also possible to specify the length
of the box. text 1 and text2 are the first and second line of the dialog
title. They must be included although they can be "". The maximum length
for each line is 50 characters. type is the dialog type. It defines the
type of dialog according to the table shown below. nvar is a numeric
variable. It returns a value of 1 if OK is selected and there is an entry
into the string dialog. If CANCEL is selected or there is no entry into the
string dialog, it returns 0. strvar can be used with dialogs which have a
string entry box and has two functions: It is used to place a default value
into the string box, i.e., the text string in strvar is entered into the
string box when the dialog is displayed. It returns the string which the
user enters in the box. len specifies the length of the string box (where
appropriate). This is particularly useful for the information dialogs. For
dialog types 5-16 it is not need as Superbase sets the box to the maximum
file name length of 50 characters. For dialog type 4 len must be specified.

                5-123

Types of Dialogs available:

TYPE    DIALOG            BUTTONS
0    string            OK
1    string            OK CANCEL
2    string            OK
3    string            OK CANCEL
4    string            OK CLEAR CANCEL
5    Database Files        OK CLEAR CANCEL
6    Open Fields List    OK CLEAR CANCEL
7    Indexed fields        OK CLEAR CANCEL
8    Non indexed fields    OK CLEAR CANCEL
9    Field Info        OK CLEAR CANCEL
10    Open Database Files    OK CLEAR CANCEL
11    Database Files        OK CLEAR CANCEL
12    Program Files        OK CLEAR CANCEL
13    Text Files        OK CLEAR CANCEL
14    Query Files        OK CLEAR CANCEL
15    Update Files        OK CLEAR CANCEL
16    Function Key Files    OK CLEAR CANCEL
17    Directory listing    OK CLEAR CANCEL
18    Subdirectory List    OK CLEAR CANCEL

Note that a database file must be open before dialogs 5 to 9 can be
selected.

EXAMPLES

1    REQUEST "", "", 2,
2    a%=0:a$="":REM initialize nvar and strvar
    REQUEST "Select a program", "", 5, a%, a$, 32
    IF a%=0 THEN ? "OK so you do not want to run a program":END
    CHAIN a$
3    a%=0:a$=":OPEN FILE "aaa"
    REQUEST "Select an Index", "", 7, a%, a$
    IF a%=0 THEN END
    INDEX a$
    lablook:a$="":REQUEST "Enter a key", "", 1, a%, a$, 15
    IF a%=0 THEN END
    SELECT KEY a$
    IF FOUND  ("aaa") THEN GOTO lablook2
    REQUEST "No Record with key" + a$, "See Nearest ?", 1a%

                5-124

    IF a%=0 THEN GOTO lablook
    lablook2:VIEW:WAIT FOR 5:GOTO lablook

NOTES

Example 1 puts an "OK" dialog up for 2 seconds. Example 2 allows the user
to select a program to run. Example 3 in essence duplicates the key lookup
function from the ? button on the Superbase Control Panel. Note the
concatenation of the first title line of the dialog on the third from last
line.

RESTORE
PURPOSE
Moves the data pointer back to the first DATA statement, or to a specified
label.

SYNTAX
RESTORE[label]

COMMENTS

The data pointer is the internal pointer that Superbase uses to keep track
of which DATA statements have been read. Initially it has a value of zero
and points to the first DATA statement. As you READ data into variables or
fields,  the data pointer is increased by one for every data item read.
This command resets the data pointer. If you do not specify label, the data
pointer is reset to the beginning of the first DATA statement. If you
specify label, the data pointer is reset to the data statement following
the label.

EXAMPLES

1    RESTORE
2    RESTORE datalabel1

                5-125

RESUME
PURPOSE
Resumes execution after an error.

SYNTAX
RESUME[NEXT/label]

COMMENTS

The RESUME command works in conjunction with the ON ERROR GOTO command
which is used to trap program errors. RESUME, on its own, returns program
control to the statement that caused the error. When NEXT is included, the
statement returns program control to the statement after the one which
caused the error. label transfers program control to the label specified.

EXAMPLES

1    REM Top of program
    ON ERROR GOTO errlab1
    SELECT FIRST:? fieldname
    .....
    .....
    errlab1: IF ERRNO=44 THEN OPEN FILE "aaa": REM file not open
    RESUME
2    REM read data
    ON ERROR GOTO errlab2
    .....
    READ x$
    .....
    endread:.....
    .....
    .....
    errlab2: IF ERRNO=18 THEN RESUME endread: REM out of data

                5-126

RETURN
PURPOSE
Returns from a subroutine.

SYNTAX
RETURN

COMMENTS

The RETURN command is used to mark the end of a subroutine. It instructs
the computer to transfer program control to the statement immediately
following the GOSUB or ON GOSUB statement which initially called the
subroutine. See GOSUB.

RIGHT$
PURPOSE
Extracts one or more characters from a text string or text field, starting
from the right-hand end of the string.

SYNTAX
RIGHT$ (strexpr, nexpr)

COMMENTS

This function starts at the right of a string given in strexpr and extracts
nexpr characters.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=RIGHT$ (textfielda, 10)
2    textfieldc=LCASE$ (RIGHT$ (textfielda, 1))
3    IF RIGHT$ (textfielda, 1) ="s" THEN....
4    x$=RIGHT$ ("ABCD", 2)
5    x$=RIGHT$ (x$, 4)

                5-127

RND
PURPOSE
Returns a random number.

SYNTAX
RND (nexpr)

COMMENTS

What the function returns depends on the value of nexpr.
It nexpr is less than zero, the random number generator is reseeded. This
means that a new series of random numbers will be generated, completely
unrelated to the last series. It also allows you to generate the same
series again for testing purposes, by entering the same seed. If nexpr is
zero, the number returned is the same as the previous one. If nexpr is
positive, a new random number is generated. The random number returned is
in the range 0 to 1. Technically, it is never zero and never unity, but all
values between 0 and one will be randomly generated and the distribution of
numbers will be relatively flat.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=RND (numfielda)
2    numfieldc=RND (2) * 12
3    textfieldc=MID$ (x$, RND (2) * 6 + 1, RND (2) * 12 + 1)
4    $x=RND ($y)
5    ? RND ($x)

                5-128

ROW
PURPOSE
Returns the row position of the cursor on the screen.

SYNTAX
ROW (0)

COMMENTS

This function shows how far down the screen the cursor is. For the column
position, see COL.

EXAMPLES

1    x%=ROW (0)
2    ? ROW (0)

NOTES
In practise, example 2 would be pointless, because it changes the position
of the cursor in the course of printing it.

RUN
PURPOSE
Executes a program from memory, or loads it from disk and then runs it.

SYNTAX
RUN[filename]

COMMENTS

This will run the program currently in memory when used as a command or as
a program statement without the filename option. If filename is used to
specify a program, Superbase loads the program from disk and then runs it.
If filename is specified, it must be a string variable or a string constant
in quotation marks.

                5-129

SAVE
PURPOSE
Saves any of the following types of file: program, text, function key,
query, and update files.

SYNTAX
SAVE [TEXT/KEY/QUERY/UPDATE]filename[, TEXT]

COMMENTS

filename is required. Superbase detects files of different types as
follows:

    aaa.sbk is a saved function key set
    aaa.sbp is a saved program
    aaa.sbq is a saved query
    aaa.sbt is a saved document (text)
    aaa.sbu is a saved update

If none of the options TEXT, KEY, QUERY or UPDATE is used, Superbase
assumes that filename refers to an '.sbp' file and attempt to save a
program file. If you include TEXT as the last parameter, DML saves a
program file as a text file. Only one of the options, TEXT, KEY, QUERY or
UPDATE, can be used at a time.

SAVE FILE
PURPOSE
Saves the current file definition.

SYNTAX
SAVE FILE sbfname

COMMENTS

When you create a new file, you can use MAKE to save the file definition.
SAVE FILE, however, must be used after you have edited a file definition
with MODIFY.

                5-130

SAY
PURPOSE
Converts a text string into speech, using the Amiga's speech synthesis
facility.

SYNTAX
SAY [USING parameters]exprlist

COMMENTS

SAY is only available on the Amiga. The parameters for the USING option are
in this order:

    Pitch, Inflection, Rate (wpm), Sex, Phonemic

The following table gives the range of each parameter and its default
value:

PARAMETER    RANGE        DEFAULT        NOTES
Pitch        65-320        110
Inflection    0-1        0        0 is expressive, 1 is
                                                  monotone
Rate in wpm    40-400        150
Sex        0-10        0        0 is male, 1 is female
Phonemic    0-1        0        0 translates to phonemes,
                          1 assumes phonemes

SAY only works with string expressions. To hear an external sound field use
the SHOW command.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "Address"
    SELECT FIRST
    WHILE NOT EOF ("Address")
    SAY Forename; Lastname; "comes from"; City; Country
    SELECT NEXT
    WEND
2    SAY USING 280, 1, 200, 1, 0"Hello there", USING 140, 1, 200, 0, 0
    "Well, hello there"

                5-131

SCRDUMP
PURPOSE
Outputs a copy of the screen to the printer-carries out a screen dump.

SYNTAX
SCRDUMP

COMMENTS

Only available on the Amiga.

SECS
PURPOSE
Returns the numbers of seconds from a time field.

SYNTAX
SECS (nexpr)

COMMENTS

nexpr will usually contain a time in milliseconds (thousandths of a second)
from a time field or from the result of a TIMEVAL calculation.

EXAMPLES

1    scnds%=SECS (timefield)
2    scnds%=SECS (TIMEVAL ("10:22AM"))

SELECT COMMANDS

The following SELECT commands relate to Record selection:

    SELECT CURRENT
    SELECT DUPLICATE
    SELECT FIRST
    SELECT KEY
    SELECT LAST
    SELECT NEXT

                5-132

    SELECT PREVIOUS
    SELECT REMOVE
    SELECT WHERE

SELECT commands can only be used on an open database file, although this
does not have to be the current file. These commands do not display records
on screen. To do this, you need to use VIEW. Similarly, although they can
be used with any open file, the SELECT commands do not automatically make
an open file the current file. For example, SELECT LAST selects the last
record in a file (on index) even if the file is not current. If the file is
current, executing the VIEW command will be enough to display the last
record. But with any other open file, you will also need to use the FILE
command (as opposed to the FILE parameter) before you can display the
record (FILE makes an open file the current file).

SELECT CURRENT
PURPOSE
Selects the current record.

SYNTAX
SELECT CURRENT [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]

COMMENT

This command has the same effect as the Current Record button on the
Control Panel at the bottom of the screen. Use INDEX to select the current
record using a different index.

                5-133

SELECT DUPLICATE
PURPOSE
Selects the next record with the same key.

SYNTAX
SELECT DUPLICATE [INDEX index]

COMMENTS

This command finds the next record with the same key as the current key.
The key is the field on which the file is currently indexed. If SELECT
DUPLICATE fails to find a record with the same key, the EOF function is set
to true.

1    SELECT FIRST:VIEW:x%=1
    lab1:SELECT DUPLICATE
    IF NOT EOF ("aaa") THEN VIEW:x%=x% + 1:GOTO lab1
    ? "End of "; x%; "duplicates-strike key"
    lab2:SELECT PREVIOUS:SELECT NEXT:IF EOF ("aaa") THEN END
    CLS:VIEW:GOTO lab1

Example 1 displays duplicate entries on an index. In Table view, it shows a
set of records at a time.

SELECT FIRST
PURPOSE
Selects the first record in the current or specified index sequence.

SYNTAX
SELECT[FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]

COMMENTS

This command has the same effect as the First Record button on the Control
Panel. Use the INDEX parameter to alter the current index.

EXAMPLES

1    SELECT FIRST

                5-134

2    SELECT FIRST "Stock" INDEX Prodcode

NOTES

Example 1 selects the first record in the current file according to the
current index. Example 2 selects the first record in the Stock file
according to the Prodcode index.

SELECT KEY
PURPOSE
Selects the first record with matching string.

SYNTAX
SELECT KEY string [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]

COMMENTS

This command has the same effect as the Key Lookup button on the Control
Panel. It searches the file for the first record whose index field matches
the string specified. Unlike the other SELECT commands, this command does
not affect the EOF function,  but instead sets the FOUND Function (see the
example given for FOUND).

EXAMPLES

1    SELECT KEY "Zollinger"
    VIEW
2    SELECT KEY "Johnson" FILE "Customer" INDEX Lastname
    IF FOUND ("Customer") THEN FILE "Customer":VIEW

NOTES

Example 1 selects the record in the current file whose Lastname field
contains the name Zollinger. It assumes that the current file is indexed on
Lastname. The program in example 2 selects the record in the Customer file
whose Lastname field contains the name Johnson. The Customer file must have
already been opened, but it does not have to be the current file. If the
program finds a record with a matching key, it uses the FILE command to
make the Customer file current and then displays the record.

                5-135

SELECT LAST
PURPOSE
Selects the last record in the current or specified index sequence.

SYNTAX
SELECT [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]

COMMENTS

Has the same effect as the Last Record button on the Control Panel.

SELECT NEXT
PURPOSE
Selects the next record in the current or specified index sequence.

SYNTAX
SELECT NEXT [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]

COMMENT

Has the same effect as the Next Record button on the Control Panel.

SELECT PREVIOUS
PURPOSE
Selects the previous record in the current or specified index sequence.

SYNTAX
[FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]

COMMENTS

This command has the same effect as the Previous button on the Control
Panel.

                5-136

SELECT REMOVE
PURPOSE
Removes the current record in the current file or another open file.

SYNTAX
SELECT [FILE sbfname]

COMMENTS

This command has the same effect as the Remove option on the Record menu.

SELECT WHERE
PURPOSE

Selects first record that matches the filter conditions or removes the
filter.

SYNTAX
SELECT WHERE[[FILE sbfname] [conditions]]

COMMENTS

This command has the same effect as the Filter button on the Control Panel.
conditions is set up in the same way as the string gadget in the Filter
requestor. If not specified, the current filter conditions are cleared.
SELECT WHERE can only be used to set a single file filter. If you enter the
name of a field which also occurs in another open file, you should include
the file the file name as an extension. Otherwise, Superbase may assume you
are attempting to use this command in a multi-file operation, and will
issue the error message:

    Can't do this
    This Where statement must be single file

If you wish to set a multi-file filter - to select records whose field data
matches the data in another file - use the LOOKUP function or the query
language command WHERE.

                5-137

EXAMPLE

1    SELECT WHERE fielda LIKE "[a-c]"
2    SELECT WHERE "Stock" fieldb LIKE "[a-c]"
3    SELECT WHERE

NOTES

Once set, the Control Panel filters remains active until it is cleared.
Example 3 clears the filter which may have been set by a previous SELECT
WHERE command or by direct entry in the filter dialog.

QUERY LANGUAGE COMMANDS

DML's Query Language commands allow you to create a program which duplicates
a Superbase query. These commands are used in report programs created by
the Forms Editor; but they can also be used for any of the query
applications described in Chapter 11, Volume 1 - sorting records, creating
complex multi-file filters, merging files, and so on. In Superbase a query
is defined by the four command lines in the query definition dialog
(Chapter 5, Volume 1, introduces this dialog; Chapter 11 explains it in more
detail). These command lines can be reproduced in a program by using the
query language commands. SELECT is used to define the Fields command line;
REPORT defines the Report command line; WHERE corresponds to the FILTER
line; and ORDER is used for the Order line. You will find a explanation of
these commands under their respective keyword entries. Here, we will
describe how they work together to form a query section. A query section
must start with the SELECT command and it should end with END SELECT. Any
other query language commands are optional; you will include them according
to your requirements. Thus, if you wish to use a filter, you will include a
WHERE command within the query section.

                5-138

Likewise, if you wish to use reporting functions such as SUM and COUNT, you
will need to insert a REPORT command after the SELECT command and before
END SELECT. You can think of REPORT, WHERE and ORDER as modifying the query
output which is specified with the SELECT command. When SELECT is used on
its own - to form a single line query section - it outputs data from each
record in a specified file (or files) in turn. For example:

    SELECT Lastname.Address, Country.Address:
    END SELECT

This outputs a line showing the contents of the fields Lastname and Country
for each of the records in the Address file. As such, SELECT works in the
same way as the ? command except that it acts on all the records in a file.
If you inserted TO PRINTER after Country.Address in the example above,
SELECT would output data to the printer. The TO device parameter provides
an equivalent to the Output options in the query definition dialog. You can
use to specify an output device other than the screen:the printer, an ASCII
file, or a new '.sbf' file.

A QUERY LANGUAGE EXAMPLE

Any query created with the query definition dialog can be reproduced under
program control. We can illustrate this by converting a query file (an
'.sbq' file) into a program, taking the Deptran file supplied with the
demonstration file disk as an example. Deptran can be displayed on screen
using the LIST option from the System menu. It looks like this:

    SB
    CLIENTS
    DEPOSITS
    Deposit Transaction Report
    ON "Clients" Firstname.Clients, Lastname.Clients, ON "Deposits"
    @24 Bank, Amount, Deposits
    REPORT SUM Amount COUNT GROUP Lastname.Clients SUM
    Amount
    Lastname.Clients=Lastname.Deposits
    Lastname.Clients

SB on the first line indicates that this is a Superbase Professional query
file as opposed to one created in Superbase Personal. The next two lines
contain the names of the database files which are associated with this
query. 'Deposit

                5-139

Transaction Report' is the query title, and the remaining lines represent
the four query command lines. Before we can load this file into the Program
Editor, we need to change its name to Deptran.sbp. To do this, select COPY
from the System menu and, after selecting Deptran.sbq as the file to be
copied, enter then name Deptran.sbp. You can now load the file into the
Program Editor using the Program open option. Converting it to a program is
just a matter of deleting two lines and inserting keywords in the others.
Once you have made these changes, the program should look like this:

    OPEN FILES "CLIENTS"
    OPEN FILE "DEPOSITS"
    SELECT ON "Clients" Firstname.Clients, Lastname.Clients, ON
    "Deposits" @24 Bank, Amount, Deposits
    REPORT SUM Amount COUNT GROUP Lastname.Clients SUM
    Amount
    WHERE Lastname.Clients=Lastname.Deposits
    ORDER Lastname.Clients

Note that the report line is the same as in the query file and does not
need to be altered. If you now run this program, it will have the same
effect as running Deptran from the query definition dialog (by clicking on
OK).

SELECT
PURPOSE
Specifies which are to be output from a query.

SYNTAX
SELECT [params]fields[TO device]:[statements]:END SELECT

COMMENTS

SELECT is a Query Language command and can used on its own or with other
Query Language commands to form a query section. fields can be one or more
field names from one or multiple files.params can be any of the output
format parameters as listed in the section which describes the ? commands.

                5-140

In addition, there are three format parameters which can only be used with
the SELECT command:ON file, AS heading and FIELD. The syntax and function
of these parameters in described in their respective sections in Chapter
11, Volume 1. TO device specifies the device to which the query output will
be sent. If it is not included output is to the screen. The device options
are:

    TO PRINTER

Outputs to the printer.

    TO FILE file

Creates a new '.sbf' file on disk under the file name specified, using the
query output.

    TO file

Outputs to the ASCII file on disk specified by file.
statements can be other query language statements formed with the commands
REPORT, WHERE, and ORDER. END SELECT is used to indicate the end of a query
section. It is not always necessary to include END SELECT, but you must
provide Superbase with some indication of where the query section finishes
and where the rest of the program starts. Otherwise, the statements
following the last line in the query section will be interpreted as part of
a multi-line SELECT statement. As an alternative to END SELECT, you could
use a blank line.

                5-141

SER
PURPOSE
Returns the total number of records that have been created in a file.

SYNTAX
SER (filename)

COMMENTS

You can use the SER function to assign a serial number to each record in a
file. To do this, you need to define a field which will hold the serial
number. It should be defined as a constant field and should have SER
("filename") as its constant formula. When you create the first record, it
will be given the value 1. This value will then be incremented by one for
each record you add to the file. The difference between SER and RECCOUNT is
that SER gives the total number of records that have been created,
irrespective of whether they have been deleted later. RECCOUNT returns the
number of records currently in the file.

1    ? SER ("Stock")
2    BLANK
    Recno.Stock=SER ("STOCK")
    Price.Stock=14.95
    Description.Stock="Widget"
    STORE

SET
PURPOSE
Reads a text file and executes any commands in the file, or assigns
variables from a text file.

SYNTAX
SET filename

COMMENTS

This command reads in a text file and executes it as if it were a sequence
of

                5-142

command. The file, therefore, must contain valid DML commands. If the file
holds a set of variables-which have previously been saved to disk by ?
MEMORY-the variable assignments are executed. This provides a way of
transferring variables between different programs when CHAIN is not
appropriate. For example, Program 'a' can set up variables for Program 'c',
but Program 'a' CHAINs to Program 'b'. Another application would be to
communicate variables between different programs which are run on different
days.

EXAMPLES

1    ......
    process a
    ......
    OPEN "aaa" FOR OUTPUT:? MEMORY:CLOSE OUTPUT:DISPLAY
    another program
    SET "aaa"
    ......
    process b
2    SET "abc"
'abc' could be ASCII file which contains a set of function key assignments.

                5-143

SET BUFFERS
PURPOSE
Sets the number of buffers Superbase uses as a disk cache.

SYNTAX
SET BUFFERS nexp

COMMENTS

Operates in the same way as the Buffers option in Set Menu Options, and
allocates 512 bytes memory space for each buffer. nexp can have a value
from 1 to 99.

EXAMPLES

1    SET BUFFERS 24

SET PAGING
PURPOSE
Sets paging on or off.

SYNTAX
SET PAGING[ON/OFF]

COMMENTS

When used without ON/OFF, it acts as toggle and operates in the same way as
the SET-PAGING menu options. With ON or OFF, it sets paging accordingly.

EXAMPLES

1    SET PAGING OFF

                5-144

SET VIEW MODE
PURPOSE
Sets the view mode or switches between one of the view modes and a Form.

SYNTAX
SET [TABLE]/[FORM]/[RECORD]

COMMENTS

Works in the same way as the equivalent Set Menu option, except that it
does not automatically display a record (use VIEW). If a Form (as opposed
to Form view) is displayed, the SET command switches the Form off and
selects the specified view mode. The Form remains in memory and can be
switched on again by repeating the SET command for the same view mode. In
other words, when a Form has been opened, the SET command toggles the
current view mode on and off.

EXAMPLES

1    SET FORM
2    SET TABLE:VIEW

SGN
PURPOSE
Finds the sign of a number.

SYNTAX
SGN (nexpr)

COMMENTS

This function returns the positive value of 1 if nexpr is positive and
returns the negative value -1 if nexpr is negative.

                5-145

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=SGN (numfielda)
2    IF SGN (datefielda-datefieldb) THEN GOTO lab1
3    x%=SGN (y%)
4    x%=SGN (y% * numfielda * (datefielda-datefieldb))
5    x%=SGN (VAL (RIGHT$ (textfielda, 5)))
6    ? SGN (x%)

NOTES
Example 2 tests whether datefieldb is later than datefielda

SHOW
PURPOSE
Shows an external file.

SYNTAX
SHOW [field]/[strexpr]

COMMENTS

SHOW is the program equivalent of the camera button at the bottom of the
screen. It displays a picture or text from an external file.field must be a
field which holds the name of the external file, but it does not have to be
a field in the current file:if you add a file name extension to the field
name,  you can display pictures using other open database files. As an
alternative to specifying an external field, strexpr allows you to specify
the name of an external file. When field or strexpr is not given, SHOW
removes the picture from the screen.

                5-146

SIN
PURPOSE
Returns the sine of an angle measured in radians.

SYNTAX
SIN (nexpr)

COMMENTS

This function returns the sine of the angle in nexpr, where the angle is
measured in radians. To convert degrees to radians, multiply by 180/PI.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=SIN (numfielda)
2    x%=SIN (y%)
3    x%=SIN (VAL (x$))
4    ? SIN (x%)

SPACE$
PURPOSE
Fills a string with a specified number of spaces.

SYNTAX
SPACE$ (nexpr)

COMMENTS

nexpr must be in the range 0 to 255.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=SPACE$ (10)
2    x$=SPACE$ (4)

                5-147

SQR
PURPOSE
Returns the square root of a number

SYNTAX
SQR (nexpr)

COMMENTS

The function returns the square root of the number specified by nexpr. If
nexpr is less than zero, the function returns the error message 'invalid
number'.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=SQR (numfielda)
2    numfieldc=SQR (2 * numfielda)
3    textfieldc=STR$ (SQR (VAL (x$)))
4    x%=SQR (y%)

STORE
PURPOSE
Stores the current record in the current file or in the file specified.

SYNTAX
STORE[, 0/1/2] [FILE sbfname]

COMMENTS

This command stores the record in memory for the current file, or for the
file specified with sbfname. It is equivalent to the Save option on the
Record menu.

                5-148

The numeric parameters - 0, 1 or 2 - allow you to specify whether the
record is stored in batch mode or in the normal way (see the section on
Batch in Chapter 5, Volume 1). STORE, 1 stores the current record in batch
mode. The time taken to save the record on disk will be reduced, but the
data will not yet be secure:if you suffer a power loss, you will lose any
record data which has been saved (in the current session) using this
option. Note that STORE, 1 only turns on batch mode for the current
record.STORE, 2 does not store a record but makes the file secure. Any
records that have been saved previously with the STORE, 1 command will now
be made safe on disk. You should always execute a STORE, 2 command after
storing records in batch mode. STORE, 0 is optional and is the same as
STORE on its own:Superbase makes each record secure as it is stored. If you
were to turn the computer off accidentally, the most you would lose would
be the data in memory.

EXAMPLES

1    BLANK
    Firstname="John"
    Lastname="Roberts"
    Street="15 Richmond Way"
    ......
    ......
    ......
    STORE
2    FOR n%=1 to 10
    BLANK
    Firstname=Recdata$ (n%, 1)
    Lastname=Recadata$ (n%, 2)
    Street=Recdata$ (n%, 3)
    ......
    ......
    ......
    STORE, 1
    NEXT
    STORE, 2

                5-149

NOTES

The first example creates a new record and stores it in the normal way.
Example 2 creates ten new records, reading data into the fields for each
record from the array Recdata$ and storing them in batch mode. When all the
records have been stored, it makes the file secure with the STORE, 2
command.

STR$
PURPOSE
Returns the text equivalent of a numeric expression.

SYNTAX
STR$ (nexpr [[, nexpri [, nexprd]]/[, numeric-format-string]])

COMMENTS

STR$ converts data which is held in a numeric variable or numeric field
into a text string. nexpri specifies the number of integers before the
decimal point and should be set large enough to avoid overflow display.
nexprd specifies the number of integers after the decimal point. The
maximum numeric format in Superbase is a total of 13 integers, so nexpri
plus nexprd must be less than 14. As an alternative to using nexpri and
nexprd, you can specify the numeric format as a string (see NUMBASE). If
these parameters are not used, the default numeric format set by Numeric
Format on the Set menu or by the most recent use of NUMBASE will be taken.
The complementary function to STR$ is VAL.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=STR$ (numfielda)
2    textfieldc-STR$ (numfielda, 5, 0)
3    x$=STR$ (165.4444, "z999999.00")

                5-150

TAN
PURPOSE
Returns the tangent of an angle measured in radians.

SYNTAX
TAN (nexpr)

COMMENTS

The function returns the tangent of the angle in nexpr measured in radians.
The complementary function of TAN is ATN.

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=TAN (numfielda)
2    x%=TAN (y%)
3    x%=TAN (VAL (x$))
4    ? TAN (x%)

THOUSECS
PURPOSE
Takes a numeric value and returns the number of thousandths of a second
left over after subtracting the number of seconds.

SYNTAX
THOUSECS (nexpr)

COMMENTS

nexpr will usually contain a time in milliseconds from a time field or the
result of a TIMEVAL calculation. THOUSECS returns the same result as nexpr
MOD 1000.

1    x%=THOUSECS (timefield)

                5-151

TIME$
PURPOSE

Returns the time in string format from a numeric value which gives the time
in thousandths of a second.

SYNTAX
TIME$ (nexpr [, timeformat])

COMMENTS

The second argument for this function, timeformat, allows you to specify
the format the time string will have. It must conform to the rules for
Superbase time formats given in the keyword entry for DATEBASE.

EXAMPLES

1    x$=TIME$ (timefield)
2    ? TIME$ (NOW, "hh:mm:ssam")

TIMEVAL
PURPOSE
Returns the value of a time string in thousandths of a second.

SYNTAX
TIMEVAL (strexpr)

COMMENTS

strexpr must contain the time in a valid time format. See the keyword entry
for DATEBASE for a list of acceptable time formats.

EXAMPLES

1    t%=TIMEVAL ("10:22am")
2    t%=TIMEVAL ("14:03:12.201")

                5-152

TODAY
PURPOSE
Gives the system date.

SYNTAX
TODAY

COMMENTS

TODAY shows the date in the date format as set with Date Format option in
the Set menu, or as set by the DATEBASE command. If your computer has a
real-time clock or you have set the system date, TODAY gives the current
date. Otherwise,  it gives the default system date. TODAY holds the date as
a julian date number. Superbase automatically translates this into the
current date format when you display the date using ? TODAY.

EXAMPLES

1    ? TODAY
2    datefield=TODAY
3    ? MONTH (TODAY)

                5-153

TRIM$
PURPOSE
Trims trailing spaces from a string or a text field.

SYNTAX
TRIM$ (strexpr)

COMMENTS

This returns the string consisting of the original string specified by
strexpr with any trailing spaces eliminated.

EXAMPLES

1    stringfieldc=TRIM$ (textfielda)
2    x$=TRIM$ (textfieldc.filea)
3    ? LEN (x$); LEN (TRIM$ (x$)

UCASE$
PURPOSE
Returns the upper case equivalent of a text string or a text field.

SYNTAX
UCASE$ (strexpr)

COMMENTS

UCASE$ returns the upper case equivalent of the lowercase alphabet; no other
characters, including those already in upper case, are affected. The
complementary function of UCASE$ is UCASE$.

EXAMPLES

1    textfieldc=UCASE$ (textfielda)
2    x$=UCASE$ (y$)

                5-154

3    x$=UCASE$ ("ABCDEF")

NOTES

If you wish to set the first letter of a string to upper case, leaving the
rest in lower case, you can so using the FCASE$ function.

UPDATE
PURPOSE
Performs a relational update.

SYNTAX
UPDATE[calclist] [WHERE conditions] [END UPDATE]

COMMENTS

UPDATE on its own runs the update in memory. This may have been loaded from
disk with the LOAD UPDATE command, or it may have been created in the same
session using the Process menu option Update Edit. By specifying calclist
and conditions, you can also use UPDATE to define an update and then run
it. calclist corresponds to command line set in the Update Fields
dialog; conditions corresponds to the filter which is set in the Update
Filter dialog. The first specifies how the records are updated, the second
specifies which records are to be updated. WHERE conditions and calclist
should be entered as separate statements, either on the same line as UPDATE
separated by colons, or on separate lines. They form part of an Update
program section, headed by the UPDATE command and ending with END UPDATE.
The END UPDATE command must be included if the Update section is followed
by other statements in a program. Otherwise Superbase will regard these as
belonging to the Update section. As an alternative to using this command,
you can terminate the section with a colon or a blank line. UPDATE is a
multi-file command, so both conditions and calclist can refer to more than
one file. In this case, the first condition in the update filter must
establish a join between two files.

                5-155

EXAMPLES

1    LOAD UPDATE "Newrate":UPDATE
Loads the Update file Newrate from disk, and then runs it.
2    UPDATE
    Price.Orders=Price.Stock
    WHERE Product_Code.Orders=Product_Code.Stock AND
    Order_date "15 July 1987"
    END UPDATE
Updates prices in the Orders file on the basis of the price details in the
Stock file.

VAL
PURPOSE
Returns the numeric value of a text string.

SYNTAX
VAL (strexpr)

COMMENTS

The function returns the numeric value of the number (if any) in the
lefthand end of the string or substring specified in strexpr. In cases
where strexpr does not contain a number or where the leftmost character of
strexpr is not numeric,  the function returns 0. The complementary function
of VAL is STR$

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=VAL (textfielda)
2    numfieldc=VAL (RIGHT$ (textfielda, 8))
3    VAL (textfielda) > 1 AND VAL (RIGHT$ (textfielda, 4) > 0
4    x%=VAL ("12.45A456")
5    x%=VAL (x$)

                5-156

VIEW
PURPOSE
Displays the current record in the current file.

SYNTAX
VIEW

COMMENTS

Allows the user to see the current record in the current file in the view
format specified by the SET view mode command. It can also be used to
redisplay the current Form.

WAIT
PURPOSE
Waits for a specified time or until a key is pressed.

SYNTAX
WAIT [FOR time]/[FOR nexp] [var/field]

COMMENTS

Wait waits for a given number of seconds (FOR nexp) or until a given time
(FOR time). FOR nexp implies 'wait for nexp seconds'. FOR time implies
'wait until the system clock reached time', where the time is given in the
current time format. FOR var/field implies 'wait until a key is pressed,
and then place it in var or field'. If you follow WAIT with a numeric
variable or numeric field, it will only accept a number. In other word,
pressing any key except the keys with the digits 0 to 9, will have no
effect.

                5-157

EXAMPLES

1    WAIT FOR 3
Waits for 3 seconds.
2    WAIT FOR 10:20:30
Wait until 10:20 am.
3    WAIT x$
Waits for a single key stroke and puts it in x$.

WHERE
PURPOSE
Set the filter conditions for a query or a report.

SYNTAX
WHERE conditions

COMMENTS

WHERE is the program equivalent of the Filter command line in a query
definition, and can only be used within a section that is headed by the
query SELECT command. You can use WHERE to set a filter on the fields
selected for report output or for other query applications, such as
sorting, merging files, or simply retrieving data with query that has been
saved to disk. conditions takes the same form as the Filter command line in
the query definition dialog (see Chapter 11, Volume 1). WHERE is a
multi-file filter command - unlike the record selection command SELECT
WHERE - and if it used for this purpose, the join between two files must be
placed at the beginning of the statement, as in:

    WHERE Lastname.Clients=Lastname.Deposits

Any subsidiary conditions can then be added to the line using the AND
operator.

EXAMPLES

1    SELECT Firstname.Clients, Lastname.Clients, Bank, Amount
    WHERE Lastname.Clients=Lastname.Deposits AND

                5-158

    Lastname.Clients LIKE "[d-3]*"
    ORDER Lastname.Clients
    END SELECT
2    WHERE Price > = 50 AND Price < = 100
3    WHERE Lastname LIKE ["a-c"*] AND NOT (Country=USA)

NOTES

In the first example, WHERE is used to set up a multi-file filter. It
selects only those clients whose details are also stored in the Deposits
file and whose last name initial falls in the range A to C. Note that file
extension must be given for Lastname since the field occurs in both the
Clients file and the Deposits file; the Bank and Amount fields do not
require an extension name since they only occur in the Deposits file. The
other two examples show WHERE in use as a single file filter command.

                5-159

WHILE WEND
PURPOSE
Executes a series of instructions as long as the specified conditions are
true.

SYNTAX
WHILE exp statements WEND

COMMENTS

WHILE and WEND set up a loop, in which the statement in between are
executed repeatedly for as long as the expression following WHILE is true.
When the expression is not true, execution resumes with the first statement
after WEND.

EXAMPLES

1    OPEN FILE "Address"
    SELECT FIRST
    WHILE NOT EOF ("Address")
    VIEW
    SELECT NEXT
    WEND
2    WHILE NOT EOF (*"): INPUT &1, a$:? a$:WEND

YEAR
PURPOSE
Returns a numeric value for the year from a julian date number.

SYNTAX
YEAR (nexp)

COMMENTS

The function is only valid for dates from 1 January 1 to the end of
December 9999. Consequently nexpr is only valid in the range 1 to 3652048.
If nexpr is 0 then the number returned is 0. If nexpr is negative the
results are unpredictable. Associated date functions are DATE$ DAY DAYS
DAY$ MONTH

                5-160

EXAMPLES

1    numfieldc=YEAR (datefielda)
2    numfieldc=YEAR (datefielda + 90)
3    numfieldc=YEAR (TODAY)
4    x%=YEAR (datefielda + VAL (textfielda))
5    x%=YEAR (DAYS ("11 Jan 85")
6    ? YEAR (datefielda + 30)
7    YEAR (datefielda)=1986

NOTES

Example 3 provides a calculation to insert the month number of the system
date into a numeric field. Example 7 provides a filter to pick out all the
dates in datefielda which fall in the year 1986.

                5-161

            CHAPTER 6 - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

RUN [filename]
Execute program, optionally loading from disk

CHAIN filename
Execute program without clearing variables

NEW [TEXT/QUERY/UPDATE]
Clear program or text area

EDIT [TEXT/KEY/QUERY/UPDATE]
Allow user to edit program, text, query or update

LOAD [TEXT/KEY/QUERY/UPDATE] filename [, APPEND]
Load program, text, file, function key list, query or update

SAVE [TEXT/KEY/QUERY/UPDATE] filename [, TEXT]
Save program, text file, function key list, query or update

PROTECT [filename]
Save the current program in encrypted form

CALL function
Call a user supplied function

SYSTEM COMMANDS

DEBUG [ON/OFF]
Set or clear debug flag

BREAK [ON/OFF]
Set or clear user stop enabled

QUIT
Exit Superbase system

KEY keynum [, string]
Set keynum to string or clear it

                6-1

LIST filename
List any system file to screen

DELETE filename
Delete any system file

RENAME old filename [, TO] new filename

COPY from filename [, TO] to filename
Copy any system file

NUMBASE string
Set default numeric format

DATEBASE string
Set default date format

DIRECTORY path
Change directory to path

SET TABLE/RECORD/FORM
Set view according to parameter

SET PAGING [ON/OFF]
Set paging

SET BUFFERS nexp
Set number of cache buffers to use

BASIC STATEMENTS

[LET] var/field=exp
Assign value of expression to variable or field

ERASE varlist
Remove a variable from memory

CLEAR
Clear all system variables

READ var/field [, var/field]
Read data into variables or fields from data pointer

                6-2

DATA constant [, constant]...
Specify data for READ statement

RESTORE [label]
Move data pointer to specified position or home

REM text
Non executable comment line

EXECUTE string
Execute text string as though command

DIM array variable
Set array dimensions

CONTROL FLOW

FOR var=nexp TO nexp [STEP nexp]statements NEXT [var]
Repeat program lines a number of times

GOSUB label
Call a procedure or subroutine

GOTO label
Call a procedure or subroutine

GOTO label
Branch to the specified label

ON ERROR [GOTO label]
Specify procedure to be followed on error condition

ON nexp GOTO label [, label]...
Branch to statement or label in list

ON nexp GOSUB label [, label]...
Call procedure or subroutine in list

RETURN
Return from procedure or subroutine execution

RESUME [NEXT / label]
Resume execution after error at next or specified position

END
Terminate execution of application

                6-3

WHILE expr
Perform following commands if expression true

WEND
Mark end of while command sequence

CONDITIONALS

IF exp THEN statement/label [ELSE statement/label]
Conditional statement or expression execution

varfield=exp ? expr:expr
Conditional assignment of value to field or variable

FILE AND INDEX COMMANDS

CREATE sbfname; passwords
Create a new database file in memory

CREATE INDEX ON exp [FILE sbfname] [TO index] [UNIQUE]
Create a new index file optionally make unique

ADD [FILE sbfname] field definition string [, formula string]
Add a new field to a file

MAKE sbfname
Make the file exist on disk and store the file def

MODIFY field [, ] field definition string [, formula string]
Modify parameters for field changing name, type etc.

SAVE FILE sbfname
Save the current file definition

PASSWORD sbfname; passwords
Set new passwords for a specified file

REORGANIZE [FILE sbfname] [TO] pathname
Reorganize current or specified file to new pathname

OPEN FILE sbfname; passwords
Open file set as default

                6-4

CLOSE [ALL]/[FILE sbfname]
Close all or specified files

FILE sbfname
Select the default file to be used

INDEX index
Select the default index to be used for a file

REMOVE FILE sbfname
Remove all data, file and all indices

REMOVE INDEX index
Remove the specified index for specified file

OPEN FIELDS [FILE sbfname] fieldlist
Open a set of fields for specified file

CLOSE FIELDS [FILE sbfname]
Close the open fields for specified file

RECORD COMMANDS

BLANK [FILE sbfname]
Clear all data from current record

STORE [0/1/2, ] [FILE sbfname]
Store current record in the file, batch mode optional.

ENTER [field/nexpr] [, nexpr2]
Allow the user to enter a record in the current file

VIEW
View record in the current file

SELECT
Record selection commands

SELECT FIRST [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the first record in key sequence

SELECT LAST [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the last record in key sequence

                6-5

SELECT NEXT [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the next record in key sequence

SELECT PREVIOUS [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the previous record in key sequence

SELECT CURRENT [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the current record in key sequence

SELECT DUPLICATE [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the next record with the same key

SELECT REMOVE [FILE sbfname]
Remove the current record in selected file

SELECT KEY string [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index]
Select the first record with index matching string

SELECT WHERE [FILE sbfname] [conditions]
Select the first record matching conditions or clear conditions

SELECT field parms [WHERE parms] [REPORT parms] [ORDER parms]
[SAY]/[TO PRINTER/filename/FILE sbfname] [END SELECT]
Query language command

PROCESS COMMANDS

UPDATE calc list [WHERE conditions] [END UPDATE]
Perform relational update

REMOVE FROM FILE sbfname WHERE conditions
Remove records matching conditions

IMPORT filename [[TO] FILE sbfname] [WHERE conditions] [USING
parms]
Import external text file to superbase

EXPORT [FILE sbfname] [INDEX index] [TO] filename [WHERE
conditions [USING parms]
Export to external file

LABELS [FILE sbfname] [WHERE conditions] [USING labelstring]
Print labels as per label definition

                6-6

MERGE [TEXT filename [WHERE conditions]
Load text file and mail merge

INPUT OUTPUT FUNCTIONS

SHOW field/strexpr
Show external field

OPEN filename FOR INPUT/OUTPUT/APPEND/COMM
Open sequential file for input/output

POSITION nexp
Position in sequential file

INPUT [&nexp/LINE] var/field
Input characters or line from text file

CLOSE INPUT/OUTPUT/COMM
End input/output to/from text file or comms

SET filename
Read exec or variable file and execute

GET var/field
Get character from keyboard no wait

WAIT FOR time/FOR nexp/var/field
Wait till time, for no of secs or for single key entry

ASK [string] [pos] [length] ;var/field
Get input string from user

BELL
Ring bell

HOME
Move screen output position to home

CLS
Clear output screen

EJECT [nexp]
Do new pages on print device

                6-7

SCRDUMP
Do screen dump to printer

LOCATE coordinates
Set position on output device

NEWLINE [nexp]
Send newline to output device

MENU column, item, state [, text]
Set up a user defined menu

MENU CLEAR
Clear user-defined menu

MENU ON numvar
Turn on user-defined menus, specify variable for return value

REQUEST text[, ] text[, ] type [, numvar [, textvar [, len]]]
Set up a user-defined dialog (requester)

MEMORY
List of variables in memory

STATUS [FILE sbfname]
Status of selected file or system

SAY [[USING pitch, mode, rate, sex, phonemes] string [, /; string...]]
Amiga only. Output string as speech

FG nexp
Set foreground colour

BG nexp
Set background colour

UL [ON/OFF]
Set or clear underline

IT [ON/OFF]
Set or clear italics

BF [ON/OFF]
Set or clear bold face

                6-8

ATTR OFF
Clear bold face italics and underline

? /DISPLAY/PRINT/OUTPUT TO file
Send information to selected output device

? SAY
Use narrator device to speak output

? MEMORY
List of variables in memory

? LIST
Program listing in memory

? STATUS [FILE sbfname]
Status of selected file or system

? DIRECTORY
Current directory listing

? TEXT [MERGE]
Text file in memory optionally mail merging

? QUERY
Current query statement

? exprlist
Any expression list

REPORTING

HEADING statements END HEADING
Specify statements to execute on page heading

FOOTING statements END FOOTING
Specify statements to execute on page footing

REPORT total list
Set report totals, means and count

BEFORE REPORT
Specify before report activity

                6-9

AFTER REPORT
Specify after report activity

END REPORT
End of report specifications

GROUP field total list
Specify subtotal break field and subtotals, means and counts for group

BEFORE GROUP statements
Specify before group activity

AFTER GROUP statements
Specify after group activity

END GROUP
End of group specifications

FORM HANDLING

CLOSE FORM
Close current form

OPEN FORM formname
Load a form into memory

FORM [, page [, row [, column]]]]
Specify page for current and top left-hand corner

ENTER [FORM view name] [field list
Enter data into fields through view form

OPERATORS

ARITHMETIC OPERATORS

^
Exponentiation

-
Negation

                6-10

*
Multiplication

/
Division

MOD
Modulo arithmetic

+
Addition

-
Subtraction

RELATIONAL OPERATORS

=
Equality

LIKE
Pattern matching case insensitive equality

<>
Inequality

<
Less than

>
Greater than

<=
Less than or equal to

>=
Greater than or equal to

                6-11

LOGICAL OPERATORS

NOT

AND

OR

MATHEMATICAL FUNCTIONS

SGN (x)
Sign of variable

INT (x)
Integer portion of variable

ABS (x)
Absolute value of variable

SQR (x)
Square root

RND (x)
Random number

LOG (x)
Logarithm

EXP (x)
Exponent

COS (x)
Cosine

SIN (x)
Sine

TAN (x)
Tangent

ATN (x)
Arctangent

FIX (x, y)
Fix decimal precision of value

                6-12

FREE (n)
Return free memory size

DISKSPACE ("disk")
Return free disk space

RECCOUNT (sbfname)
Return number of records in file

SER (sbfname)
Return serial number of specified file

ROW (0)
Return current screen row

COL (0)
Return current screen column

PROW (n)
Return current printer row

PCOL (n)
Return current printer column

EOF (sbfname)
Return if at end of file

FOUND (sbfname)
Return result of last search

LOOKUP (value, fld)
Return if value exists in file (indexed field)

STRING FUNCTIONS

LEN (x$)
Length of string

STR$ (x[[, y] [, z] / [, numformat]])
String from number with optional format

VAL (x$)
Value of string

                6-13

ASC (x$)
Ascii value of character

CHR$ (x$)
String value of character

LEFT$ (x$, nexp)
Left portion of string

RIGHT$ (x$, nexp)
Right portion of string

MID$ (x$, nexp [, nexp])
Mid portion of string

DAYS (x$)
Numeric value of date

DATE$ (nexp [, dform])
Date string from numeric using optional format

DAY (date)
Numeric day value of date

DAY$ (date)
Day of week from date

MONTH (date)
Numeric month value of date

MONTH$ (date)
Month string from date

YEAR (date)
Numeric year value of date

TIMEVAL (time)
Numeric value of time

TIME$ (nexp [, tformat])
Time string from numeric using optional time format

HRS (time)
Number of hours from time

                6-14

MINS (time)
Number of minutes from time

SECS (time)
Number of seconds from time

THOUSECS (time)
Number of thousandths of second from time

LCASE$ (x$)
Convert string to lower case

UCASE$ (x$)
Convert string to upper case

FCASE$ (x$)
Capitalize first letter of string

TRIM$ (x$)
Trim trailing spaces from x$

LTRIM$ (x$)
Trim leading spaces from x$

INSTR ([n, ]x$, y$)
Find position of substring y$ in x$

REPLICATE (x$, nexp)
Replicate character expression n times

SPACES$ (n)
Return string with n spaces

ERR$ (n)
Returns error message for error number n

VARIABLES

TODAY
Return system date

NOW
Return system time

                6-15

ERRNO
Return current error number

PI
Return value of pi

FIELDS BY NAME
Fieldname; Field.file; Field. "file"

MULTIPLE RESPONSE FIELDS
Fieldname (nexp)

STRING VARIABLES
X$

NUMERIC VARIABLES
X%

ARRAYS
X% or X$ (nexp[[, nexp] [, nexp]])

                6-16

                   INDEX

& 5-4                        C
? 5-8                        Changing the output device
                        5-3
? Commands 5-3                    Command line 3-6
? DIRECTORY 5-9                       Editing 3-7
? LIST 5-9                    Constants 2-13
? MEMORY 5-10                    CONTAINS 2-11
? QUERY 5-10
? STATUS 5-11                    D
? STATUS FILE 5-11                DATA 5-33, 5-116
? TEXT 5-12                    Date 2-6
@ 5-4                        Date format 2-6
                        DATE$ 5-34
A                        DATEBASE 5-35
ABS 5-13                    DAY 5-36
ADD 5-14                    DAY$ 5-37
AFTER GROUP 5-17                DAYS 5-38
AFTER REPORT 5-18                DELETE 5-39
APPEND 5-83, 5-103                DESCENDING 5-106
Arithmetic operators 2-7            DIRECTORY 5-40
Arrays 2-4                      See ? DIRECTORY
ASC 5-18                    DISKSPACE 5-41
ASCENDING 5-106                    DOWN 5-4
ASK 5-19
ATN 5-20                    E
ATTR 5-4                    EDIT 5-42
                        Editing keys
B                          Command line 3-7
Batch mode 5-148                  Program 3-5
BEFORE GROUP 5-21                EJECT 5-43
BELL 5-22                    END 5-44
BF 5-4                        END GROUP 5-44
BG 5-4                        END HEADING 5-45
BLANK 5-22                    END REPORT 5-45
BREAK ON/OFF 5-23                EOF 5-48
                        ERASE 5-49

  PAGING 5-144                    TO FILE 5-141
  RECORD 5-145                    TO PRT 5-141
  TABLE 5-145                    TODAY 5-153
  View mode 5-145                TRIM$ 5-154
SGN 5-145
SHOW 5-146                    U
SIN 5-147                    UCASE$ 5-154
Sorting data 5-106                UL 5-4
SPACE$ 5-147                    Update 5-155
SQR 5-148                      Load 5-83
Start up program 3-9                  Save 5-130
STATUS
  See ? STATUS                    V
STORE 5-148                    VAL 5-156
STR$ 5-150                    Variables 2-2
String variables 2-4                  Arrays 2-4
Syntax 2-15                      Names 2-2
System status 5-11                  Numeric 2-3
System variables 2-4                  String 2-4
                          System 2-4
T                        VIEW 5-157
TAN 5-151
Ternary operator 5-81                W
Text                        WAIT 5-157
  Load 5-83                    WEND 5-160
  Outputting files 5-12                WHERE 5-158
  Save 5-130                    WHILE 5-160
THOUSECS 5-151
Time 2-6                    Y
TIME$ 5-152                    YEAR 5-160
TIMEVAL 5-152

============================================================================
     DOCS PROVIDED BY RAP AND -+*+-THE SOUTHERN STAR-+*+- for M.A.A.D.
============================================================================