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- Tutorial for the ARROW Database System
-
- You can get off to a quick start by following the tutorial section
- and utilizing the SAMPLE DATABASE file that is included as a part
- of the ARROW program. As an example for instructional purposes, this
- sample database has been setup to record the registration of
- participants in a meeting. This will give you an overview of the
- many features and potential uses of the ARROW Database. You can,
- then, set up the basic Entries in your own database such as:
- First Name, Company, Address, etc., and the other special
- features of the three data Categories and the page of Notes can
- be added later.
-
- Utilizing the tutorial, lets start by working with the SAMPLE DATABASE.
-
- PART 1 - OPENING AND VIEWING A DATABASE
-
- We first need to start ARROW so:
-
- ==>Type ARROW and press the Enter (or Return) key at the DOS prompt.
-
- ARROW's main screen will appear with the MASTER MENU BAR
- displayed across the top of the screen. It contains four pull-down
- menus.
-
- The DATABASE pull-down menu is in the upper left hand corner of the
- screen. To view each of the other menus:
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key slowly, three (3) times.
-
- Note: You need not learn all of the features in each of these menus
- before setting up your own database, but it is important that you
- know how to move to the different menus and learn where the various
- options are located.
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key once more and you are back at
- the DATABASE menu.
-
- The DATABASE menu allows you to OPEN an existing database, CREATE
- a new database, DELETE a database, COPY TO or COPY FROM databases,
- and to EXIT a database.
-
- OPENING A DATABASE
-
- ==>Type O or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight the
- selection Open.
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- An OPEN PRIMARY DATABASE window appears with the 1-SAMPLE DATABASE
- title highlighted. Note that after other databases have been created,
- their names will appear after the SAMPLE DATABASE title. You can
- select other database titles by using the Up & Down arrow keys to
- move the highlighted bar, or by typing in the number that precedes
- the title and pressing Enter (or Return). If you type in the number,
- it will appear in the blank spaces to the right of the word
- DESCRIPTION.
-
-
- To open SAMPLE DATABASE:
-
- ==>Highlight the 1- SAMPLE DATABASE title.
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The first entry of the SAMPLE DATABASE appears on the screen.
-
- The name of the database appears at the top of each entry. The
- bracketed number one [1] in the upper left corner indicates that
- you are now working in the primary database. ( You can also work
- with a seconday database at the same time, using the right side
- of the screen.)
-
- Underneath the title 1 - SAMPLE DATABASE is the ENTRY MENU BAR. It
- contains four pull-down menus labeled: MODE, SEARCH, SELECT, and
- OPTIONS.
-
- ==>Press the Esc key and the MODE pull-down menu appears.
-
- To view the other 3 pull-down menus:
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key three (3) times to view each of
- the menus.
-
- Note: Press the Up & Down arrow keys to move the highlight bar up
- or down in each menu, then press Enter (or Return) key to make the
- selection. Each one of the selections or options in the menus are
- discussed in ARROW manual. Pressing the F1 function key will also
- provide some description about the option that is highlighted.
-
- To return to the MASTER MENU BAR.
-
- ==> Press the Esc key again.
-
-
- For direct editing mode of the current database:
-
- ==>Again press the Esc key and the menus disappear.
-
- Note: the Esc key moves you to the different menu bars and then back
- to the direct edit mode. The Left & Right arrow keys move you to
- different menus, and the Up & Down arrow keys move the highlight bar
- in each menu.
-
- You are now back to the first ENTRY in the Sample Database file.
-
- Each entry contains fields for basic information such as NAME,COMPANY,
- 2 ADDRESS fields, CITY, STATE, and ZIP.
-
- An OPTION field is provided for any additional information you wish.
- An example would be: a person's title, a county, an area, or an
- entry number.
-
- Underneath the OPTION, two lines have been provided for BUSINESS PHONE
- and HOME PHONE numbers.
-
- The next three lines are known as CATEGORIES. Categories provide
- a quick way of imputing special data when editing an entry. Each
- category may contain up to 20 different fields. For more information
- see Editing an Entry. Entry date displays the day the entry was
- created and Print date displays the last day information from this
- entry was printed on a form or label.
-
- Highlighted at the bottow of the screen is the underbar menu which
- lists several commands or actions that you can choose at anytime.
- To initiate a command, just type in the capital letter of the word.
- Example:
- Type S to Scan the entries.
-
- For more information on commands available in the direct edit mode:
-
- ==>Press the F1 function key.
-
- A HELP window will be displayed with a detailed listing of commands.
-
- ==>Press any key and the HELP window will disappear.
-
- NOTES
-
- Now lets look at the NOTES page:
-
- ==>Press the N key.
-
- A blank page of notes appears with the cursor blinking on the
- highlighted line A. There are a total of the 20 lines. Each
- line is lettered A through T on the right edge of the page.
- Mathematical formulas can be added to do mathematical calculations
- with numbers from different lines
-
- ==>Press Esc key to exit the NOTES page.
-
- To look at the next entry:
-
- ==>Press the PgDn key.
-
- The second entry appears with a page of NOTES.
-
-
- SCANNING ENTRIES
-
- To view more than one entry at a time, you can Scan the entries in
- the Sample Database. To do this:
-
- ==> Press the S key.
-
- Information for up to 17 entries is displayed, to view more entries:
-
- ==>Press the PgDn key.
-
- The next page of entries appears. To scan the last page of entries
- in the SAMPLE DATABASE.
-
- ==>Press the PgDn key again.
-
- To return quickly to the first entry:
-
- ==>Press the Home key.
-
- Notice that the arrows on the left and right edges of the page are
- pointing to the first line.
-
- There are 2 scan modes available, you are currently in the wide view.
- To see the narrow scan view:
-
- ==>Press S again.
-
- Only two columns are now shown on the left half of the screen. This
- is useful when you are working with two databases at a time on the
- same screen.
-
- ==>Press S again to return to the wide Scan mode.
-
- To go to the last entry:
-
- ==>Press the End key.
-
- The arrow now points to the last entry in the database. To return
- to the edit mode and view all of the entry's information:
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- EXITING ARROW
-
- To exit the database use the EXIT option found in the DATABASE
- pull-down menu on the MASTER MENU BAR.
-
- ==>Press Esc key---the MODE menu appears on the ENTRY MENU BAR.
-
- ==>Press Esc key again---the DATABASE menu on the MASTER MENU BAR
- appears.
-
- ==>Press the E or the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection EXIT.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- End of Part 1
-
- PART 2 - EDITING ENTRIES AND ADDING NEW ENTRIES
-
- Open the SAMPLE DATABASE:
-
- ==>Type O or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection Open.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- An OPEN PRIMARY DATABASE window appears allowing you to select
- a database.
-
- ==>Highlight 1-SAMPLE DATABASE.
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The first entry of SAMPLE DATABASE will then be displayed.
-
- EDITING AN ENTRY
-
- The EDIT mode is used to change a field or add information to an entry.
-
- For example: To add the telephone (333) 456-7890 to
- Robert Anderson's entry:
-
- ==>Press the E key.
-
- The NAME field is highlighted with the cursor blinking on the first
- space. You can type information on any line that is highlighted. To
- move the highlighted bar to the BUSINESS PHONE field:
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key several times until
- the BUSINESS PHONE line is highlighted.
-
- ==>Type in the telephone number 333 4567890.
-
- Press Esc key to exit the EDIT mode.
-
-
-
- ADDING NOTES TO AN ENTRY
-
- Information can also be added to a page of NOTES.
-
- For example: Mr. Anderson is President of XYZ Corporation
- and you would like to type in the position title
- of "President" on the first line of the NOTES page.
-
- Press N to access NOTES.
-
- Line A is highlighted.
-
- ==>Type President and then press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- To exit NOTES and return to direct edit mode:
-
- ==>Press the ESC key.
-
- MODIFY ENTRY DATE
-
- You can change the date that the Robert Anderson entry was created.
- It is shown as 02/28/90 in the ENTRY box at the bottom of the entry.
-
- >For example: To change this to 1/15/90:
-
- ==>Press the M key.
-
- The ENTRY box is now highlighted with the cursor on the first space.
-
- ==>Just type in the new date 01 15 90 and press Enter
- (or Return) key twice.
-
- ADDING A NEW ENTRY
-
- To manually add a new entry to the database:
-
- Press the A key.
-
- A blank entry form appears with the NAME line highlighted.
-
- For example: To add John E. Jones to the database.
-
- ==>Type in the data on each highlighted line and press Enter key.
-
- John E. Jones
- Jones and Associates
- 129 West Alexander
- Indianapolis
-
- ==>When you reach the STATE box press the F1 function key.
-
- A HELP screen appears with all the abbreviations of the states.
-
- Select the state by type the abbreviation (while the HELP screen
- is on).
-
- Continue entering the following:
-
- IN 46257
-
- OPTION: 042
-
- Press the Entry (or Return) key several times until the REGISTRATION
- line is highlighted.
-
- CATEGORIES
-
- This is the first of three lines of CATEGORIES. These spaces provide
- a quick way of entering pre-set data from a selection of up to 20
- items in each category. Note: in Sample Database these categories
- were set up to record (1) a meeting REGISTRATION, (2) the participants
- INTEREST AREA, and (3) the ACTION ITEM pertaining to the various topics
- of the meeting.
-
- To view the choices in the REGISTRATION category:
-
- Press the F1 function key.
-
- A listing of the selections in category #1 appears on the right side
- of the screen. To choose selection # 3:
-
- Type 3 and press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- Your selection has been automatically entered. You can change it
- easily by typing in a new number. Now check the other two categories.
- To change or create a new category, go to the OPTIONS pull-down menu
- on the ENTRY MENU BAR and select the CATEGORIES option.
-
-
- DELETE AND PURGE AN ENTRY
-
- To DELETE an entry, first mark it for deletion, and then to remove
- it from the database completely, you must PURGE it. Lets DELETE the
- John E. Jones entry---the one you are now viewing.
-
- ==>Press D for DELETE from the underbar menu.
-
- A highlight bar appears that reads, ENTRY MARKED FOR DELETION.
-
- To PURGE all entries marked of deletion:
-
- ==>Press ESC key to go to the ENTRY MENU BAR and go to
- pull-down menu Options.
- ==>Type P or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection Purge.
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
-
- A confirmation window will appear.
-
- With the OK box highlighted, press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- Note: You can CANCEL the PURGE by typing C or using the Up & Down
- arrow keys to highlight the CANCEL box and then pressing the Enter
- (or Return) key.
-
-
- Now close this database by:
-
- Go to the first pull-down menu in the ENTRY MENU BAR titled Mode.
-
- ==>Press the C key or the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection CLOSE.
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- End of Part 2
-
- PART 3 - SORTING AND SEARCHING A DATABASE
-
- Entires in SAMPLE DATABASE are currently sorted alphabetically
- according to the last name.
-
- For example: To open the SAMPLE DATABASE and sort by the
- company name of each entry:
-
- ==>Type O or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection Open.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- An OPEN PRIMARY DATABASE window appears allowing you to select
- a database.
-
- ==>Highlight 1-SAMPLE DATABASE.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The first entry of SAMPLE DATABASE will then be displayed.
-
-
- SORTING
-
- Go to the OPTIONS pull-down menu.
-
- ==>Type S or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection Sort.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The Sort window is displayed allowing you to select the desired sort
- field.
-
- ==>Use the Left & Right arrow keys until the field COMPANY appears.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The database will now be sorted by the contents of the database's
- COMPANY field in ascending order. To revert to the NAME sort:
-
- ==>Again select SORT on the Options pull-down menu and press
- the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The Sort window is displayed:
-
- ==>Use the Left & Right arrow keys until the field NAME appears.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
-
- SEARCHING FOR AN ENTRY
-
- You can use the SEARCH menu to find an Entry by any of the listed
- selections. For example: to find Merrill D. Voss entry:
-
- Go to the second pull-down menu in the ENTRY MENU BAR with the
- title Search.
-
- ==>Type L or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight the
- selection Last Name.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- When the Search window appears:
-
- ==>Type VOSS and press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The window will appear with the entry of Merrill D. Voss displayed
- with the SELECT box highlighted.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The current entry of Merrill D. Voss appears.
-
- Now close this database by:
-
- Go to the first pull-down menu in the ENTRY MENU BAR titled Mode.
-
- ==>Press the C key or the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection CLOSE.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- End of Part 3
-
- PART 4 - TAGGING AND PRINTING
-
- This lesson will show you how to tag certain entries and print.
-
- Open the SAMPLE DATABASE, to do this:
-
- ==>Type O or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection Open.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
-
-
- An OPEN PRIMARY DATABASE window appears allowing you to select a database.
-
- ==>Highlight 1-SAMPLE DATABASE.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
-
-
- TAGGING ENTRIES
-
- If you want to specifically work with the entries in Indiana---you
- first TAG them.
-
- ==>Press the Esc key so that the MODE menu appears.
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key twice so that the SELECT menu appears.
-
- ==>Type S or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight the
- selection Set tags.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- A selection window appears with LAST NAME box highlighted.
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key several times until STATE appears,
- then press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>Use the Right arrow key to make the second box read,
- IS EQUAL TO, then press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>Type IN, the abbreviation for Indiana, in the third box
- and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>When CONFIRMATION OFF appears, press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>When the OK confirmation window appear, press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- The entries from Indiana are TAGGED. You may need to PgDn to see them.
-
- TABULATE
-
- Lets count the TAGGED entries.
-
- ==>Press the Esc key---the MODE menu appears.
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key twice and the SELECT menu is highlighted.
-
- ==>Type T or press the Up & Down arrow keys to hightlight
- the TABULATE option and press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- When the TABULATE window appears with the LAST NAME highlighted:
-
- ==>Press the Left & Right arrow keys until ALL ENTRIES appears.
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- A window with IGNORE TAG STATUS is highlighted.
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key to change it to ONLY WITH TAG ON.
-
- ==>Press Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>When the OK confirmation window appears, press the Enter
- (or Return) key.
-
- A window appears telling you the number of Entries tabulated.
-
- Now close this database by:
-
- Go to the first pull-down menu in the ENTRY MENU BAR titled Mode.
-
-
- ==>Press the C key or the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection CLOSE.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- End of Part 4
-
- PART 5 - FILTERING ENTRIES
-
- This lesson will show you how to filter certain entries.
-
- Open the SAMPLE DATABASE, to do this:
-
- ==>Type O or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection Open.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- An OPEN PRIMARY DATABASE window appears allowing you to select
- a database.
-
- ==>Highlight 1-SAMPLE DATABASE.
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- To work only with a specific group of entries, you can use the
- FILTER. To illustrate filtering, lets find the entries in Indiana.
-
- ==>Press Esc key---the MODE menu appears.
-
-
- ==>Press the Right arrow key three (3) times so that
- the Options menu appears.
-
- ==>Type F or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight the
- selection Filter and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- When the FILTER OFF window appears.
-
- ==>Press the Left & Right arrow key to change it to FILTER ON
- and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>Use the Left & Right arrow keys to change second box to STATE
- and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>Use the Left & Right arrow keys to change third box to EQUAL TO
- and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>In the fourth box type IN and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- ==>Use Left & Right arrow keys to change last box to
- IGNORE TAG STATUS and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- Go to the SCAN mode, to do this:
-
- ==>Press the S key.
-
- There will be only six entries displayed on the on the screen, the
- others have now been filtered out.
-
-
-
-
- Now turn the FILTER off by:
-
- ==>Press the Esc key and use the Left & Right arrow keys
- so that the Options menu appears.
-
- ==>Type F or use the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight the
- selection Filter and press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- When the FILTER ON window appears:
-
- ==>Press the Left & Right arrow key to change it to FILTER OFF.
-
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key five (5) times.
-
- All records are again shown.
-
- Now close this database by:
-
- Go to the first pull-down menu in the ENTRY MENU BAR titled Mode.
-
- ==>Press the C key or the Up & Down arrow keys to highlight
- the selection CLOSE.
- ==>Press the Enter (or Return) key.
-
- End of Part 5