The Examples.sit file on this disk contains seven 4th DIMENSION Version 2.0 example databases and a set of label templates. This document describes the contents of the Examples.sit file and gives a brief overview of each example database.
Note: Each example database has its own Read Me file inside its folder. Read each Read Me file to get more detailed information on what each database teaches and how to use it.
To install the example databases, follow the instructions in Section 3 of the Read This First document that was enclosed in the 4th DIMENSION 2.0 package. When the Examples.sit files are installed, they occupy roughly two megabytes on your hard disk.
The installation process creates a folder on your hard disk named Examples Folder. This folder contains four other folders:
Level 1 - Simple
Level 2 - Intermediate
Level 3 - Advanced
Label Templates
The first three folders contain the example databases. The Label Templates folder contains mailing label designs that can be used with the example databases or your own databases. Each label design was prepared for a particular type of labels and a particular printer.
Overview of the Example Databases
The seven example databases are divided into the following categories:
Level 1- Simple
• Contacts I
• Invoice I
Level 2 - Intermediate
• Assets
• Invoice II
Level 3 - Advanced
• Contacts II
• Checkbook
• Scheduler
The databases are examples rather than completed custom databases. Each example illustrates how to design a database to solve a particular information-management problem and demonstrates several 4th DIMENSION techniques. With the exception of two of the Level 3 examples, all databases are designed to be used in the User environment.
Level 1 Examples
The Level 1 examples are suitable for persons new to 4th DIMENSION. They were created using little or no programming. They use standard layout templates and illustrate techniques that are taught in the Quick Start manual and Part I of the 4th DIMENSION Tutorials.
Contacts I is a simple database that can be used to keep track of names, addresses, and phone numbers. Contacts I was created without any programming of any kind. It uses one file, standard layout templates, includes example quick reports and mailing labels, and illustrates how to do a simple mail-merge letter. It shows how a powerful and versatile database can be created in a few minutes. Contacts I is supplied with a database of Macintosh user groups.
Invoice I is a simple relational database. It includes two files — Invoices and Customers — and a subfile that handles line items in an invoice. It serves as an introduction to relational databases and 4th DIMENSION’s automatic file relations. It is suitable for persons who are new to the concept of relational databases. The language is used only to do simple calculations.
Level 2 Examples
The Level 2 examples use simple scripts and procedures and demonstrate the use of custom reports. These techniques are taught in Parts II and III of the 4th DIMENSION Tutorials.
Assets is designed to track the assets of a small business. It uses the language more extensively than Invoice I. It also contains several examples of custom reports using output layouts and a more complex quick report example. In addition, it illustrates the use of a layout menu bar.
Invoice II is an enhancement to Invoice I. A third file — Inventory — has been added to the design of Invoice I. The language is used to look up information in the Inventory file while the user fills out an invoice. It uses a custom report to print an invoice on a preprinted form. Invoice II is a good starting point for the development of a “real world” invoicing/inventory system.
Level 3 Examples
The Level 3 examples use the language more extensively. Checkbook is a full-featured checkbook manager that demonstrates the power and flexibility of the User environment. Scheduler and Contacts II are designed to be used in the Runtime environment. Scheduler is a simple custom database that uses custom menus; Contac†s II is an example of a more fully-developed custom database. The Level 3 examples illustrate advanced concepts covered in the 4th DIMENSION Language Reference.
Checkbook is a relational database that can be used to manage personal finances. Using the Checkbook database, you can set up accounts and categories, establish monthly budgets for each account, enter transactions against each acount, and dispurse funds to an unlimited number of categories. It is the most sophisticated User environment example. Checkbook uses two files — Transactions and Accounts — and illustrates some advanced uses of the language. Checkbook illustrates custom graphs (e.g., actual expenses versus budget) and includes two quick reports. The graphs are created using the language.
Scheduler is designed to manage personal events (e.g., appointments). It is designed for the Runtime environment. The input layout displays a monthly calendar and an event list for a selected day. Days that have events scheduled are displayed in bold in the calendar. You can also display events in the form of a list. Scheduler is supplied with the ACIUS training schedule for 4th DIMENSION Version 2.0.
Contacts II is a powerful custom database that illustrates how the user interface can be customized to make the database easy to use. Its interface illustrates pop-up menus, highlight buttons, custom dialog boxes, and custom menus. You can assign keywords to each person, add “events” (e.g., phone calls, meetings, or mailings) to each person’s record, add “reminders” to each event, print a list of reminders, and print an address book. Contacts II is suitable as a teaching aid to advanced users; if you are a beginner, you can use Contacts II as a custom database. It is supplied with a list of contacts in the Macintosh industry known as TopGuys™. TopGuys includes the telephone numbers and extensions of all ACIUS employees.
Each example database includes a data file. You can use the existing data file or create a new data file and enter your own data. To make a copy of a database:
• From the Finder, hold down the Option key and drag the structure file to another folder or to the desktop.
• Double-click the copy of the structure file and click New Data File.
Using the databases designed for the User environment
With the exception of Contacts II and Scheduler, all the examples are designed to be used in the User environment. When you use these databases, you will use the skills described here.
Choosing Files:
Most examples have more than one file. To switch between files, press Command–Space bar. 4th DIMENSION displays the “List of files” window. Click the file you want to use or use one of the pop-up menus to choose an input or output layout. For more information about choosing files, see Chapter 2 of the 4th DIMENSION User Reference.
Entering Data:
To enter new data, choose the file you want to use and choose New Record from the Enter menu or press Command–N. 4th DIMENSION displays a blank record ready for data entry. To move from field to field, press the Tab key or click another field. To enter data into an included layout, select the included layout and press Command–Tab (When an included layout is selected, a flashing arrow points to it). To accept the record, press the Enter key or the click the Enter button. For more information about entering data, see Chapter 5 of the 4th DIMENSION User Reference.
Importing data:
To import data, choose the file you want to import into and choose Import data from the File menu. 4th DIMENSION displays the Import data dialog box. Choose the fields you want to import into from the scrollable list on the left. If necessary, choose a file format (Text, DIF, or SYLK) and field and record delimiters. For more information about importing data, see Chapter 12 of the 4th DIMENSION User Reference.
Selecting and Sorting Records:
To select and sort records, use the search and sort menu items in the Select menu. The Search by Layout command uses the input layout as a search-by-example template. Type the value to be searched for into the appropriate field. If you need to sort the selection of records that you’ve found using a search, use Sort Selection. Sort File is used to sort all the records in the file permanently. For more information about selecting and sorting records, see Chapters 4 and 6 of the 4th DIMENSION User Reference, respectively.
Printing Reports and Labels:
Several examples include quick report designs and/or labels. Choose Quick or Labels from the Reports menu to display the Quick Report or Label editor. Open an existing design or build your own. You can use any of the label designs in the Label Templates folder. The label designs are correctly sized for commonly-available labels but do not include any field names. To use a label design, click Load in the Label editor and add fields to the label. For more information about quick reports and labels, see Chapters 8 and 9 of the 4th DIMENSION User Reference, respectively.
Executing Procedures:
Some of the example databases contain global procedures. Any global procedure can be executed from the User environment using the Execute Procedure item in the Special menu. However, many of the global procedures in these examples were designed to be used in conjunction with other procedures and will produce meaningless results or actions if executed from the User environment. Unless you understand what a global procedure does and what it is for, do not execute it using the Execute Procedure menu item.
