Programmer 7500/MAX_PROGRAMMERS.iso/CLIPPER/MISC/VPI1_330.ZIP/FASTART.DOC

Text File | 1992-01-06 | 14.3 KB | 353 lines

                                  FAST START
                                      TO
                               VP-INFO EXPERTISE


                                VP-Info Level 1


          So you want to get down to business . . . Good idea!!

          Do not start by reading the manual!  Start instead by reading
     this document at your computer and doing the suggested exercises.
     Doing them won't make you an instant expert, but you will be a VP-Info
     user.

          VP-Info can be run from floppy drives. Only the files VPI1.EXE
     and VPI1.MSG are required. However this guide will assume a hard disk
     and drive C: as an example.

          Create a directory off the root and switch to that directory.
     With Disk 1 in drive A: (if you are loading from drive B:, change A:
     to B: in the commands below), these DOS and PKZIP commands will set up
     the proper directories and load the contents of your floppy disks onto
     your hard disk:

               CD \
               MD VPI1
               CD VPI1
               PKUNZIP A:*

          (Now put Disk 2 in the floppy drive)

               PKUNZIP A:*

          You have now loaded all of VP-Info Level 1 into a single
     directory, including a Zip file (CHARITY.ZIP) containing a complete
     application you'll want to study later.

          But there are still a few steps required to make your
     installation complete.

          VPI1.EXE, VPI1.MSG and VPI1.HLP are all in the current directory,
     and this directory is not on your "DOS path".  That means that VP-Info
     cannot be run except in this directory!  Let's fix that right away.

          First find the path.  At the DOS prompt enter

               PATH

          DOS will respond by telling you what your path is, for example
     "C:\DOS;C:\PROGS;C:\NORTON;C:\PCTOOLS;"  If there is no path set,
     PATH will respond with "No Path" or a blank line, depending on your
     DOS version.

          1.   If you wish to add your VP-Info directory to your path, you
          will want to change the PATH statement in your C\:AUTOEXEC.BAT
          file. Suppose your current AUTOEXEC includes the statement

          PATH=C:\DOS;C:\PROGS;C:\NORTON;C:\PCTOOLS;

          and you have unzipped your VP-Info disks into the directory C:\VPI1,
          change the PATH statement to:

          PATH=C:\DOS;C:\PROGS;C:\NORTON;C:\PCTOOLS;C:\VPI1;
          You can then re-run your AUTOEXEC.BAT file by typing
          C:\AUTOEXEC , or you can re-boot your computer.

          2.   If you have a current subdirectory where you like to keep
          programs, move the required files to it. For example, the
          following commands will move the VP-Info files to the directory
            C:\PROGS :

               COPY VPI1.* C:\PROGS
               DEL VPI1.EXE
               DEL VPI1.MSG
               DEL VPI1.HLP


          Now is also a good time to unzip CHARITY.  Use this command and
     it will automatically create the CHARITY subdirectory for you:

               PKUNZIP /D CHARITY CHARITY

          Now you're ready to start running VP-Info.  At the DOS prompt
     enter

               VPI1

          The sign-on screen will stay on until you press Function Key 10.
     We want you to read about us. (Note the name includes the letter "I"
     and the number "1.")

          The first thing you see after the sign-on screen is a menu of
     options. We'll assume you'll run this first just to get a taste of
     VP-Info's power.  Note that program menus usually have ways to jump
     (chain) from one program to another.  In this case you'll find an
     option in the self-running demo to run the "Sample Programs", and
     the "Samples Programs" menu has an option to chain to the self-running
     demonstration.

          But you can start to "take control" immediately, either by
     pressing "0" (zero) on the menu or pressing escape (Esc) followed by
     the space bar.

          When you see the cursor on the line following "1>" you are "at
     the one prompt" and ready to key in commands. Press the Enter key
     after each command.

          Try these commands.

                                  USE COMDESC

          This opens a file (brings it into use) called COMDESC.DBF, with
     one record about each VP-Info command and function. If you don't get
     an error message, you did fine!  All you should see on the screen is
     another "one prompt."

                                 USE#2 MEMBERS

          This is a fictional membership list opened in select area 2.
     VP-Info Level 1 allows six data files to be opened at one time, each
     in its own select area.

                                     STATUS

          The status display shows information about open data files,
     memory variables, and more. This is not the time for an in-depth
     analysis, but it's reassuring to see that both COMDESC.DBF and
     MEMBERS.DBF are actually in use. Keep pressing the Return or Enter key
     until you again see the "one prompt."

                                    SELECT 2

          We want to view the member file before we do anything as serious
     as looking at commands. Note that the "one prompt" should now be a
     "two prompt."

                                      EDIT

          The EDIT command displays one record at a time. Take time to
     study the HELP window. The notation is concise. ^ means the Ctrl key.
     Thus ^Home means press down the Ctrl key and the Home key together
     (Ctrl first, keep it down and then press Home).

          Try pressing ^PgDn:

          This will add a record and take you into the APPEND mode -- same
     as EDIT but adds new records. Why not add a few of your own "members."
     Press the PgUp key to back up one record and return to edit mode.
     Press the End key to return to the two prompt.

                                    SELECT 1

          Now let's look at the brief command reference.

                                     BROWSE

          You now see a screen full of records, one line for each. The
     order is scrambled on purpose, we'll sort it later. For now you want
     to practice BROWsing -- not learn commands.

          The HELP window is almost the same as in EDIT. We have tried to
     keep the keystrokes the same for both commands. In fact, you can build
     many applications, with these as your "work horse" commands.

          Experiment with the keystrokes. The PgUp and PgDn keys move
     you between records. The Up and Down arrows move you between fields
     of the same record. (so do the TAB and shift TAB keys -- a new
     feature not shown on the HELP screens).

          Press the End key to end the BROWSE session.

                                     MODIFY

          We are getting serious here!  Don't modify important files
     without first backing up!  A power or system failure could result in
     lost data.

          We are going to add two new fields to the COMDESC file. PgDn to a
     blank field and create a new field called USED. Choose type C
     (character) and width 1.

          Add a second field NOTES, also type C, but width 60. Press the
     End key. The last blank field will be ignored. The type shown is okay,
     so press the Enter key and watch the modification occur.

                                      EDIT

          To look at modified records one at a time. You should see the
     newly added fields (empty, of course). End the EDIT session (with the
     End key), returning to the command line or one prompt.

                                      BROW

          Note that commands can be shortened to four characters. This will
     not work with functions.

          Your new fields will not fit on the screen. To see them, press
     ^L. Of course, they are all blank-filled until you add something.

          Go back to EDIT, find the EDIT and BROWSE descriptions and fill
     in the new fields. You may want to keep doing this as you try new
     commands and functions. Get back to the command line.

          You say you don't like the order of presentation! Good! Info can
     re-arrange the order of a data file. This ability to view a file
     through many indexes and filters is the primary reason for using a
     data base.  Let's build an index!

               INDEX ON COMMAND TO COMDESC

          Now go back to BROWSE. The order should be better. Of course, you
     could modify the file again and add a new field to distinguish between
     commands and functions, index on a combination of fields, etc.
     Meanwhile, let's go back to the command line and run one of the sample
     programs:

                                    DO MENU1

          Note that DO launches a program from the command line. After a
     few seconds you should see a menu. You can select in two ways:

          1.   Move the "light bar" up and down with the Up and Down
     arrows. Press the Enter key when the light bar is on your choice. Many
     other special keys (like the function keys) will also work. Note that
     option zero cannot be chosen this way.

          2.   Press a number key. This works for options 0 through 9.
     Options greater than 9 must be selected by moving the light bar.
     Experiment with the menu choices, and work your way back to the
     command line (the one prompt).

                                      QUIT

          This gets you out of VP-Info, and gives you the option of
     printing an immediate order form so you can register your VP-Info
     Level 1 and get your printed manual and technical support.

          To get back in from DOS, just enter

                                      VPI1


          The lesson is almost over. At the command line enter

                                 COMPILE MENU1

          This creates a file MENU1.CPL which VP-Info can read and execute
     very quickly. If you try to run a program that hasn't been compiled
     yet, we build the CPL file when the program is started (the few second
     delay mentioned above) and throw it away when you are done.

                                    DO MENU1

          You should see the program begin much more quickly. Back to the
     command line . . .

                                  WRITE MENU1

          You are now looking at the program MENU1.PRG file with VP-Info's
     built-in editor. Note how to get help.

          The editor is not designed to persuade you to throw away your
     word processor or text editor. It is a modest editor with some special
     strengths. It is internal to VP-Info, so it is always available. Thus
     it can be invoked in your programs to allow users to create memos,
     etc.

          You'll find it invaluable as an aid to correcting those
     inevitable programming errors. In fact, when errors are detected and
     WRITE is invoked, the cursor is positioned at or near the error.

          The Alt-F combination can be used to format program files with
     regular indentations. We strongly advise use of this feature. It will
     help solve nesting and unmatched structure statement problems (e.g. a
     missing ENDIF to go with an IF). After using Alt-F, jump to the bottom
     of the file with ^End and then go up a screen with PgUp. You should
     see the last lines of the file right at the left margin, and the last
     END command returning from an indent if all your structures are right.

          The ^P combination provides program printouts with headers and
     form feeds, skipping over perforations.

                                  Leave WRITE
          The End key will exit saving changes. ^Q will exit without
     saving.

                                   DO SAMPLES

          This program will "walk" you through the DEMOPRGS collection of
     sample programs.  This is one of the best ways to see what VP-Info can
     do. We urge you to take the tour!

                                     HELP!

          VP-Info has on-line help. To get help from the command line just
     enter HELP. If you are clear on the topic you want help with specify
     that as well. e.g. HELP BROWSE

          If VP-Info recognizes the first four characters of what you key
     in, that's the help you will get. Note that VP-Info looks for commands
     before functions. Thus, "HELP REPL" will get you help on the REPLACE
     command. You must key in "HELP REPLACE(" to get help with the REPLACE(
     function.

          That's it! Try the sample programs. Read the sample programs.

          Technical support is available by phone or fax to registered
     users through one of the numbers below.  But please do not call for
     technical support on the toll-free order lines; operators are unable
     to answer technical questions.

          (We will answer "quickies" without registration, but full support
     is part of what you buy when you register.)

          We can also be reached on CompuServe (72010,1323).

                                   Good luck!

                         Sid Bursten and Bernie Melman

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    VP-INFO
                       TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND UPGRADES


                          - Worldwide Except Canada -

                                 Sub Rosa Corp.
                             1313 Fifth Street S.E.
                             Minneapolis, MN  55414
                             Phone [phone]
                               Fax [phone]


                               - In Canada Only -

                            Sub Rosa Publishing Inc.
                      1170 Sheppard Avenue West, Unit 34
                          Downsview, Ontario  M3K 2A3
                              Phone [phone]
                              Fax [phone]




                 (c) Copyright 1992 Sub Rosa International Inc.
                              All Rights Reserved
                             Released January, 1992

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