1000To create a new database, choose New from the File menu.
1010Now youÆll enter SHOES, the name of your new database.
1020Approach can work with files from a variety of applications , including dBASE, FoxPro, Paradox and 1-2-3.
1030Your SHOES database will be a dBASE IV database.
1040Click OK to create your new database.
1050Approach provides a wide variety of templates, such as an address book, invoices and contact management, that contain the basic fields youÆll need to get started.
1060You can also create your own database.
1070To begin, you need to add fields to your database to hold all your data. Each field represents one category of information, such as Name or Product Number.
1080Click in the Field Name box and type PRODUCT, the name of the first field.
1090Then youÆll select the data type. The fieldÆs data type determines what you can store in that field.
1100Approach offers several data types: text, numeric, memo, Boolean, date, time, PicturePlus, calculated, and variable. For this field, youÆll choose Text.
1110Finally, youÆll specify the field size, the number of characters the field can hold.
1120To add the next field, DESCRIPTION, press the TAB key to move to the next line, and type in the field name.
1130This field is also a text data type, but we want to increase the Size by clicking in the Size box and typing 25.
1140WeÆll create the CATEGORY field for you.
1150To add the INVEN_NO field, youÆll tab to the next line, click on the Field Name and type INVEN_NO.
1160Since this field will contain the product numbers, choose Numeric for the Data Type.
1170You can specify the number of digits you want to the left and right of the decimal point. YouÆll enter 4.0 for this field, for a 4-digit code number.
1180WeÆll enter the rest of the numeric fields for you.
1190Notice the COST field allows for two digits to the right of the decimal point.
1200Now weÆll create a DATE field and a PICTUREPLUS field that holds graphics.
1210Click on OK, and your Shoes database is complete!
1220Approach displays a single-record form showing all the fields in your database. You could begin entering data, but first youÆll move some fields to get just the look you want.
1230In Design, you can lay out your forms to suit your needs.
1240Click on the Design icon in the SmartIcon bar to switch from Browse to Design. Notice the SmartIcon bar changes when you enter Design.
1250You can zoom out to see the entire form by clicking on the 100% button in the status bar, and choosing 75%.
1260To move fields, you can click to select, and drag to move. Then you can zoom back to 100% using the SmartIcon bar.
1270You have now created a ready-to-use Approach database from scratch.
