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- History of PopDBF Development
- =============================
-
- Future Features include (in order as they will be done):
- --------------------------------------------------------
- o Create database (almost finished!!!)
-
- o Swap to disk or EMS leaving 2-3K footprint
-
- o Network version (hopefully in version 3.8, finally)
-
- o Modify structure
-
- o Memo read/edit
-
-
- Version 3.7 - Released October 15, 1990
- ---------------------------------------
- o Added the following major functions:
- - COPY STRUCTURE, copies all or selected fields to
- new database
- - DELETE FILE, to delete any file from the pick file
- window
- - PACK, physically deletes records tagged for delete
- - ZAP, physically deletes ALL records in the
- database
-
- o The color scheme has been SIGNIFICANTLY changed. Also,
- colors can now be configured along with the hotkey,
- using POPCFG.COM. This program is now included with
- ALL REGISTERED COPIES. If you like the old color
- scheme use command line option /CO.
-
- o The force monochrome colors command line option has
- been changed from /M to /CM.
-
- o The write file access command line option /W has been
- replaced by /TW. You can now change any of the
- "toggle" indicators (file access, field borders, insert
- mode, case sensitivity) using the command line option
- /T<B,C,I,W>.
-
- o Pressing PgDn while appending a record will NOT move
- back and forth between the last record in the database
- and the new record. This was a bug.
-
- o Fixed a bug, which occurred when pressing Alt-M while
- in an already open READ-ONLY database. This will now
- cause an access error.
-
- o Fixed a bug which occurred when specifying a default
- directory on the command line (/D) and did not also
- specify the drive.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- o Fixed a bug which ignored the action option (/A) if it
- was specified after the passthru option (/P) when
- PopDBF was already resident.
-
- o When trying to access PopDBF while in a graphics
- application, a chime will sound, indicating that your
- request was heard, but can't be accommodated. Pop-up
- over graphics will be supported in the future.
-
- o Ctrl-U now toggles the record delete flag in the Browse
- window, just like it does in the Edit window.
-
- o Negative numbers are now supported.
-
- o Support for FoxPro and dBase IV databases.
-
- o The beep function was changed to be faster and quieter.
-
- o When an error message is displayed, a chime will now
- sound.
-
- o Enter key on numeric keypad now works like Return key.
-
- o Moving to <parent> directory now positions selection
- bar on that directory.
-
- o Command line options may be combined (i.e. /mwz).
- However, options with variable length arguments must be
- last (i.e. /p). No spaces may separate options /D and
- /P and additional text.
-
- o Arrow indicators were added to windows to provide
- information on valid directions of cursor movement.
-
- o Default action now displays as a descriptive word.
-
- o Video routines have been optimized and speeded up.
-
- o Hot keys for frequently used databases (Alt-1 etc.) can
- be used from anywhere in the program and previous
- positions and modes are retained. Also, Alt-dash and
- Alt-= can be used to access up to 12 frequent
- databases. In addition, each directory can contain a
- .FRQ file so that the frequently used databases can be
- application dependent. If a .FRQ file is not found in
- the current directory, PopDBF will look in the
- directory where POPDBF.COM is located.
-
- o Commercial version now includes KBSPEED, a keyboard
- speed-up program, and ARROW, a TSR position display
- program, which are NOT included in shareware registered
- copies.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Version 3.6 - Released February 8, 1990
- ---------------------------------------
-
- o Commercial version includes a program, POPCFG.COM, to
- configure the hotkey. This is NOT included in the
- shareware version!
-
- o Path option from Pick File Window has been replaced by
- Dir option which functions like the change directory
- command in DOS. This same option is now used to change
- drives just as you would in DOS.
-
- o You may enter a specific file, including drive and
- path, by pressing F3 from Pick File Window.
-
- o Added command line option to specify default action,
- /A. The default action is taken for each file when
- Enter is pressed. It can be changed at any time by
- pressing F5.
-
- o The frequently used database file can optionally
- specify the action to be taken when the appropriate
- hotkey is pressed (Alt-1 thru 0). If the file name, in
- POPDBF.FRQ is preceded by one of the following letters,
- A B E or S AND a space the action taken will be the
- same as pressing Alt and that letter.
-
- o Added a warning when leaving Edit or Append and changes
- that you have made have not been saved.
-
- o Changed all prompts for input to use left and right
- arrow keys, home, end, delete and insert. CTRL-Y will
- always blank input field.
-
- o Changed the pass-thru function so that it can be used
- even if PopDBF is already loaded in memory.
-
- o Pressing PgDn while in Append will now position you to
- the last record in the file in Edit mode. Pressing
- PgDn in Edit mode when on the last record will take you
- into Append.
-
- o Pressing ESC from Structure, Browse, or Append/Edit
- will always return you to the Pick File window.
-
- o Fixed problems caused by not recognizing an extended
- keyboard. These were primarily in Edit and prevented
- certain key combinations from doing what they were
- supposed to do (i.e. Ctrl-Delete).
-
- o Fixed a bug which occurred when Ctrl-PgUp or Ctrl-PgDn
- was pressed while appending an empty database.
-
- o Fixed a bug which allowed invalid months and days in
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- date fields.
-
- o Fixed a bug which zeroed numeric fields when the RETURN
- key was pressed after editing a preceding date field.
-
- o Fixed a bug caused by insufficient video storage and
- occurred when using help while editing a record.
-
- o Fixed the /D command line, which option did not work
- correctly when no drive was specified.
-
- Version 3.5 - Released November 3, 1989
- ---------------------------------------
-
- o Program is now just one version, EDIT. However, a
- READ-ONLY version is available upon request.
-
- o Made necessary changes to join ASP. Demo version is
- fully functional with the only difference being the
- registration information screen, not included in
- registered copies.
-
- o You no longer have to be in the directory where
- POPDBF.COM is located when you load PopDBF into memory
- for context sensitive help to be available. However,
- POPDBF.HLP does need to be in the same directory as
- POPDBF.COM.
-
- o The default number of fields has been reduced from 128
- to 64 and the default edit buffer has been reduced from
- 2K to 1K. This is just to reduce the default memory
- footprint. You can specify /F128 and /E2048 on the
- command line to use the old values.
-
- o To make the pop-up more instantaneous, only directories
- WITHOUT an extension are available in the Pick file
- window.
-
- o You can now get from any major area to any other major
- area by directly pressing some ALT key combination.
- The major areas are: Append records, Browse records,
- Edit records, File selection, view Structure. Pressing
- ALT and the proper capital letter will take you to that
- area.
-
- o Pressing the ALT key will cause the status line to show
- a menu with the areas described above and the
- appropriate letter highlighted as well as other
- options.
-
- o Help has been greatly improved both in content and
- functionality. You can now scroll up and down through
- help and hotkey out of it.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- o You can now change the file access mode from anywhere
- by pressing Alt-M. File access mode must be read/write
- to Edit or Append.
-
- o Frequently used files feature. A file named POPDBF.FRQ
- can contain up to 10 fully qualified database file
- names for access from the Pick file window using Alt-1
- through Alt-0.
-
- o Current field and record are now shown with their
- corresponding maximum (i.e. 10/200).
-
- o While finding text the record number in the window
- border will reflect the current record being searched.
-
- o Added ability to search on a selected field or fields.
- You can also force the search string to be found
- entirely within one field to avoid finding part of a
- string in one field and the rest of it in adjacent
- field.
-
- o Changed the key that moved the cursor to the first
- blank character after any data in a field in Edit from
- Alt-End to End. Ctrl-E will now move to the last
- position in the field.
-
- o Changed the century toggle key from Ctrl-D to Ctrl-C.
-
- o Added two new command line arguments. /D will allow
- you to specify an initial directory and /Z will start
- the Browse window in zoomed out (expanded) mode.
-
- o Fixed an error which occurred when deleting some
- characters in a field while in Edit and then pressing
- the End key. The error did cause a Divide Overflow
- error, which forced a reboot.
-
- o Fixed an error which occurred when no files or
- directories were found in the current directory on the
- current drive. Now zero files are displayed and you
- can use F3 to change drives or hotkey out.
-
- o Fixed an error in the find next which didn't beep when
- sitting on the last record in the file, but should
- have.
-
- o Fixed an error which occurred when all fields in the
- structure were marked (numbered). EDIT would perform
- strangely when using the hotkey to exit and re-enter.
-
- Version 3.4 - Released August 17, 1989
- --------------------------------------
-
- o Added message when trying to edit record in read mode.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- o Added Alt-END to go to first position AFTER last non-
- blank character.
-
- o Fixed a bug that caused underlying applications to
- terminate when exiting PopDBF. This really got fixed
- on 8/24/89, but only a few people fell between the
- cracks.
-
- Version 3.3 - Released July 24, 1989
- ------------------------------------
-
- o Added the ability to view an index expression from the
- File Selection window.
-
- o Added ability to specify a default file specification
- by pressing function key F4 from the File Selection
- window.
-
- o Added ability to copy any record onto the current
- record being appended or edited. (EDIT version only)
-
- o Added ability to move a word at a time. (EDIT version
- only)
-
- o Added system date stamp. (EDIT version only)
-
- o Fixed many minor bugs in the edit routine. (EDIT
- version only)
-
- o Fixed a bug which occurred when specifying a pass-thru
- filename that contained wildcards.
-
- o Fixed file selection to handle 0 files found.
-
- o Smaller default buffer sizes.
-
- Version 3.2 - Released June 17, 1989
- ------------------------------------
-
- o Fixed a bug which occurred when editing a character
- field that was longer than 60 bytes. The field was
- edited correctly, but the cursor was positioned
- incorrectly.
-
- Version 3.2 - Released May 31, 1989
- -----------------------------------
-
- o There is now a "pass-thru" mode so you can use PopDBF
- without installing it into memory. You may also
- specify a file name with this option and go right to
- browsing that file.
-
- o Should work with all dBASE IV files.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Version 3.1 - Released May 27, 1989
- -----------------------------------
-
- o Fixed bug when assigning a mark and no other marks
- exist.
-
- o After panning to the right, executing a ZOOM did force
- browse display to begin with first field, but now
- works.
-
- o You can now adjust the size of the read buffer in
- bytes, the size of the edit buffer in bytes (EDIT
- version only), and the maximum number of fields. This
- is done by specifying command line parameters when
- loading PopDBF into memory.
-
- o All windows now have shadows to give a 3-D look.
-
- Version 3.0 - Released April 26, 1989 (first release to BBS)
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- o Included the EDIT capability!!.
-
- o Fixed the find-next to start at the record after the
- one the bar is on instead of the second record from the
- top of the window.
-
- o Changed find and find next to be F7 and F8 for easier
- operation.
-
- o Failure of either a find or find next now causes the
- bell to sound.
-
- o Added to /W switch to start in EDIT mode.
-
-
- Version 2.55 - Released April 9, 1989
- -------------------------------------
-
- o Dates are now formatted correctly as MM/DD/YY. Also,
- you can now press Alt-D when browsing to toggle the
- century on or off. When on, the date is formatted as
- MM/DD/YYYY.
-
- o Memos now show as the word 'memo'.
-
- o Pressing F10 from FILE SELECTION will now work
- correctly, even if an alternate path had been specified
-
-
- Version 2.54 - Released April 6, 1989
- --------------------------------------
-
- o Fixed a bug in the find routine that could have caused
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- system crashes.
-
- o Pressing the hotkey while entering find text now exits
- back to the browse window instead of beginning the
- find.
-
- o You can now assign sequence marks to unmarked fields.
-
- o When printing records you may elect to limit the
- printing to only those records in the print range that
- meet a previous find condition.
-
- o Alt-F1 will pop-up a help window with information about
- general keyboard movement.
-
- o Pressing PGDN in file selection or view structure when
- there are less than a window's worth of entries now
- moves the bar to the last entry in the window.
-
- Version 2.53 - Released April 1, 1989
- -------------------------------------
-
- o If help file is not found, error message did not show
- where it expected it to be located.
-
- o After panning to the right, executing a GOTO or a FIND
- did force browse display to begin with first field, but
- now works.
-
- Version 2.52 - Released on March 25, 1989 (1st release)
- -------------------------------------------------------
-
- o Context sensitive help improved both in the area of
- speed and text.
-
- o Added ability to toggle case sensitivity indicator
- while in the find window.
-