Shareware Grab Bag/Shareware Grab Bag.iso/003/db2ios.arc/DATABASE.DOC

Text File | 1983-01-04 | 8.6 KB | 181 lines

            THE AMATEUR COMPUTER GROUP OF NEW JERSEY

                              SIG/M

                LIBRARY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

        A dBASEII Program by Steve Leon for ............

            DISK INVENTORY            ORDER PROCESSING
              SHIPPING                   DISK LABELS







                          DOCUMENTATION




                          INTRODUCTION


     Iεá SIG/═ Volumσ 11░ wσ issueΣ thσ ACGN╩ datß basσ a≤ botΦ ß
workinτá datßá basσ anΣ ß tutoria∞ iεá dBASEII«á Tha⌠á serie≤á oµ
modules¼á patterneΣá afte≥ Adaφ Green'≤ dBASEI╔ USER'╙ GUIDE¼á i≤
actuall∙ ß modificatioε oµ ß serie≤ oµ workinτ datß base≤ wσá ruε
oεá IB═á Displaywriters«á  Thσ ACGN╩ datß basσá work≤á well¼á bu⌠
becausσá i⌠á wa≤ intendeΣ t∩ bσ ß tutoria∞ i⌠ lack≤ somσá oµá thσ
"tricks" use to speed up dBASE application programs.

     Oεá thσ ACGN╩ datß basσ wσ als∩ useΣ separatσ screeεá files« ì
Thσá reasoεá fo≥ thi≤ wa≤ t∩ allo≈ yo⌡ t∩ adap⌠ i⌠ fo≥á you≥á owε ì
need≤ witΦ ease«á However¼ fo≥ maximuφ speeΣ disδ call≤ shoulΣ bσ ì
a⌠ ß minimuφ anΣ screen≤ shoulΣ thereforσ bσ iε thσ commanΣ file.


                       THIS NEW DATA BASE

     SIG/═ haΣ somσ problem≤ witΦ shippinτ anΣ inventor∙á manageì
ment¼á al∞ oµ whicΦ werσ solveΣ wheε Gleε DuscΦ tooδ ove≥ contro∞ ì
oµá tha⌠á operation«á Gleεá pu⌠á thσ record≤á int∩á dBAS┼á a≤á aε ì
interactivσá datßá base«á Havinτ jus⌠ purchaseΣ thσá firs⌠á dBAS┼ ì
prograφ generato≥ tha⌠ ╔ wa≤ satisfieΣ with¼á FASTBASE¼ ╔ createΣ ì
aεáá inventor∙á managemen⌠á prograφá fo≥á Gleεá arounΣá thσá datß ì
structurσ hσ haΣ created«á However¼ onσ thinτ FASTBAS┼ diΣ no⌠ d∩ ì
wa≤ allo≈ multiplσ additioε oµ record≤ withou⌠ puttinτ eacΦ addeΣ ì
recorΣá int∩ thσ index«á Stevσ Takifµ oµ Fourcolo≥ Datßá Systems¼ ì
thσá autho≥á oµá FASTBASE¼á indicateΣá tha⌠á mos⌠á peoplσá prefe≥ ì
indexinτá witΦ eacΦ record¼á bu⌠ witΦ thσ SIG/═ orde≥á volumσá wσ ì
though⌠ i⌠ advisablσ t∩ modif∙ thσ program.Wha⌠ starteΣ ou⌠ a≤ ß ì
simplσá modificatioε becamσ ß rewritσ oµ thσ datß basσ incorporaì
tinτ thσ feature≤  oµ FASTBASE«                             è                     HOW TO USE THE PROGRAM

     Extrac⌠á al∞ oµ thσ file≤ froφ thσ .LB╥ filσ ont∩ you≥ dBAS┼ ì
disk« Thσ inde° filσ anΣ tw∩ datß file≤ (.ND╪ anΣ .DBF⌐ caε bσ oε ì
anothe≥á disk«á (Yo⌡ caε put you≥ prograφ file≤ oε an∙ disδá jus⌠ ì
s∩ lonτ a≤ yo⌡ se⌠ you≥ defaul⌠ t∩ tha⌠ drive......Don'⌠ laugΦ a⌠ ì
mσá fo≥á makinτá sucΦ aε obviou≤ statement¼á bu⌠á ╔á spokσá t∩á ß ì
gentlemeεá livinτá '50░ mile≤ nortΦ oµ Torontoº wh∩ calleΣá afte≥ ì
spendinτá halµ ß nigh⌠ gettinτ thσ messagσ tha⌠ thσ commanΣá filσ ì
coulΣ no⌠ bσ found«áì

     Thσ prograφ i≤ selµ explanatory«á Fo≥ spacσ reason≤ wσá havσ ì
includeΣá onl∙á ßá fe≈ made-u≡ orde≥ files«á Thσá ful∞á list≤á oµ ì
volume≤á witΦ somσ made-u≡ datß i≤ includeΣ iε STOCK.DBF¼á in case      ì
yo⌡á wan⌠ t∩ labe∞ you≥ SIG/═ volumes«á  Oncσ yo⌡ havσ i⌠ u≡á anΣ ì
runninτ looδ a⌠ thσ codσ anΣ theε begiε thσ joΓ oµ adaptinτ i⌠ t∩
you≥ owε requirement≤ (o≥ takσ advantagσ oµ thσ routine≤ anΣ reaΣ
theφá int∩ you≥ programs)«á Wheε ╔ writσ ß ne≈ applicatioεá usinτ
thi≤á serie≤á oµ prograφ module≤ ╔ usuall∙ firs⌠ definσ thσá datß
basσ field≤ anΣ theε usσ FASTBAS┼ o≥ ZI╨ t∩ creatσ ß screeε file«
WitΦ ß printou⌠ oµ thσ mode¼á lines¼á anΣ promp⌠ requirement≤á iε
hanΣá i⌠ i≤ ß relativel∙ simplσ tasδ t∩ creatσ ß screeε file«á T∩
makσá i⌠ looδ professional¼á tr∙ t∩ linσ u≡ thσ datß a≤á mucΦá a≤
possible«

     EacΦá oµá thσá module≤  i≤ selµ explanator∙ anΣá jus⌠á abou⌠ ì
ever∙á linσ iε theφ i≤ therσ fo≥ somσ reasoε (eveε iµ tha⌠ reasoε ì
bσá ou≥ ignorance«á Therefore¼á wσ strongl∙ sugges⌠ yo⌡ reaΣá thσ ì
code«á I⌠á i≤á relativel∙ eas∙ codσ t∩ reaΣ - havinτ beeεá prett∙ ì
printeΣáá witΦá FASTBASE«áá (Thi≤á documentatioεá sounΣá likσáá ß ì
commercia∞á anΣá i⌠á i≤á not«á Thσ fac⌠á i≤á tha⌠á dBASEI╔á i≤á ß ì
magnificen⌠á prograφá anΣá FASTBAS┼ make≤ lifσ witΦ dBAS┼á ßá lo⌠ ì
simpler.⌐á Oε ou≥ actua∞ operationa∞ prograφ wσ useΣ FASTBAS┼á t∩ ì
"squishó al∞ line≤ oµ codσ flusΦ lef⌠ anΣ deleteΣ al∞ comment≤ t∩ ì
increasσ runninτ speed.

     Thi≤ prograφ use≤ tw∩ searcΦ methods« Onσ searche≤ thσ inde° ì
filσá fo≥ an∙ lastnamσ o≥ fractioε thereof«á Thσ othe≥ find≤á AN┘ ì
strinτá iε AN┘ field«á Again¼á ╔ didn'⌠ writσ thσ latte≥ program¼ ì
FASTBAS┼ diΣ - anΣ i⌠ i≤ great«á Tha⌠ program¼á SEARCH1.SI╟á als∩ ì
include≤á aεá inde°á searcΦá witΦ ß teεá linσá fas⌠á search«á

     Yo⌡ wil∞ finΣ iε thσ prograφ usefu∞ bit≤ oµ information« Thσ ì
ADD.SI╟ prograφ wherσ wσ reaΣ thσ order≤ int∩ thσ othe≥ datß basσ ì
t∩ determinσ iµ the∙ arσ iε inventor∙ o≥ mus⌠ bσ bacδ ordereΣ anΣ ì
theεá changσá thσá inventor∙ i≤ oµá use«á Thσá datσá verificatioε ì
routinσ anΣ thσ drivσ selectioε routinσ arσ therσ fo≥ yo⌡ t∩ use¼ ì
etc¼ etc¼ etc.

     Wσá decideΣá t∩á releasσ thi≤ t∩ thσ librar∙ anΣ t∩á thσá P├ ì
librar∙ withou⌠ thσ opportunit∙ t∩ debuτ ove≥ aε extendeΣá perioΣ ì
oµ time«á Wσ thinδ wσ havσ al∞ thσ majo≥ bug≤ (some¼á sucΦ a≤ ou≥ ì
selectioεá oµá thσá updatσá datσá iε report≤á arσá no⌠á bug≤á bu⌠ ì
intentional)« Wσ havσ noticeΣ goinτ iε anΣ ou⌠ oµ thσ .LB╥ forma⌠ ì
tha⌠ fo≥ somσ reasoε wσ migh⌠ losσ ß letter«á Fo≥ thi≤ reason¼ wσ ìèuseΣ colon≤ t∩ makσ lonτ line≤ iε thσ repor⌠ file≤ int∩á multiplσ ì
linσ anΣ tooδ ou⌠ thσ prett∙ prin⌠ oµ thosσ files«á N∩ prograφ a≤ ì
comprehensivσá a≤ thi≤ onσ i≤ eve≥ stay≤ thσ samσ froφ da∙ t∩ da∙ ì
- s∩á iµá yo⌡ comσ u≡ witΦ somσ gooΣ addition≤á - pleasσá le⌠á u≤ ì
know.

                    CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS

     Printe≥á code≤á arσ founΣ iε al∞ program≤ tha⌠ outpu⌠á t∩á ß ì
printer«á Theyá arσá no≈ se⌠ u≡ fo≥ aε OKIDAT┴ 92¼á s∩ makσá you≥ ì
change≤ accordingly«á Thσ prograφ SIG/M.CM─ allow≤ yo⌡ t∩á modif∙ ì
thσá intensit∙á commanΣá - anΣ als∩ eacΦ oµ thσ screeεá filσá "I╞ ì
FIRSTó contain≤ aε intensit∙ call« A⌠ al∞ oµ thσ point≤ wherσ yo⌡ ì
havσ ß drivσ option¼ wσ allo≈ drive≤ A,B,C,─ anΣ M« ╔ sugges⌠ yo⌡ ì
deletσá thσá drive≤á yo⌡á d∩ no⌠ havσá t∩á preven⌠á aεá erroneou≤ ì
selection« (Wσ d∩ no⌠ allo≈ ß backu≡ t∩ ═ drive¼ however.⌐

                       THE DUAL DATA BASE

     Wσá havσ haΣ limiteΣ succes≤ witΦ usσ oµ dua∞ datß bases«á ╔ ì
finΣá tha⌠ SELEC╘ PRIMAR┘ anΣ SELEC╘ SECONDAR┘ causσ morσátroublσ
thaεá the∙ arσ wortΦ anΣ thereforσ prefe≥ t∩ namσ thσá datßá basσ ì
thσá switcΦá i≤ beinτ madσ to«á Whilσ thi≤ prograφ use≤ tw∩á datß ì
base≤ - i⌠ i≤ no⌠ reall∙ ß dua∞ datß basσ sincσ thσ men⌡á prograφ ì
merel∙á control≤ whicΦ onσ yo⌡ use«á ╔ d∩ usσ dBAS┼ program≤ tha⌠ ì
transfe≥á betweeεá datßá base≤ froφ thσ maiε men⌡á anΣá froφá thσ ì
searcΦá menu«á  Ever∙á s∩ often¼á inspitσ oµ al∞ oµá ou≥á CLEARs¼ ì
RELEASEs¼ SE╘ INDE╪ TOs¼ anΣ USEs¼ ╔ stil∞ ge⌠ ß "TO╧ MAN┘ FILESó ì
erro≥á messagσá anΣá ß do⌠ prompt«á Thi≤ probleφ exist≤á iεá thi≤ ì
program« Iµ yo⌡ g∩ bacδ anΣ fortΦ betweeε thσ datß base≤ froφ thσ ì
startinτ men⌡ - afte≥ abou⌠ ┤ change≤ yo⌡ wil∞ ge⌠ thσ "TO╧á MAN┘ ì
FILESóá erro≥á message«á Therσá probabl∙ i≤ ßá simplσá answe≥á t∩ ì
preven⌠á i⌠á (sor⌠ oµ likσ "CLEA╥ GETSó afte≥ al∞ read≤) - bu⌠á ╔ ì
havσ no⌠ beeε ablσ t∩ solvσ it«á Iµ yo⌡ kno≈ how¼á pleasσ advise« ì
Thσá savinτ facto≥ i≤ tha⌠ iε norma∞ usσ i⌠ jus⌠ no⌠ logica∞á fo≥ ì
yo⌡á t∩á jum≡ bacδ anΣ fortΦ ┤ time≤ betweeε datß base≤ iεá rapiΣ ì
order«á Iµá you≥ applicatioε doe≤ requirσ transfe≥á betweeεá datß ì
bases¼ anΣ yo⌡ arσ carefu∞ t∩ closσ anΣ eliminatσ al∞ indexe≤ anΣ ì
datß files¼ thσ followinτ codσ work≤ wel∞ oε thσ transfe≥ betweeε ì
thσ two:

                CASE COMMAND = 'T'
                * transfer to individual data base
                RELEASE ALL
                USE
                STORE t TO first
                DO search.ind


                            THE DATE

     Thσá datσá verificatioε camσ froφ aε issuσ oµ dNEWS«á I⌠á i≤ ì
certainl∙á wortΦá using«áá Harr∙á Vaεá Tassel∞á wrotσá thσá drivσ ì
selectioε codσ whicΦ include≤ aε interestinτ routinσ t∩ determinσ ì
iµá thσ prograφ i≤ runninτ unde≥ CP/═ 8░ o≥ 86«á Hσ als∩ founΣá ß ìè"hidinτ placeó t∩ drivσ lette≥ storagσ anΣ contributeΣ man∙ othe≥ ì
gooΣ idea≤ t∩ thσ programs.


                           CONCLUSION


     An∙ thoughts¼á comment≤ o≥ suggestion≤ woulΣ bσ appreciated« ì
SIG/═á woulΣá als∩á appreciatσ donatioε oµ you≥á datßá base≤á fo≥ ì
releasσá iεá thσ library«á Ou≥ order≤ reflec⌠ the∙á arσá mos⌠á iε ì
demand behind ZCPR and the modem programs.


                                       Steve Leon
                                       200 Winston Drive
                                       Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
                                       [phone]
August 26, 1983