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HUGE BASE V2.0 ============== READ ME! DOCUMENT ================= ====================================================================== COPYRIGHT ========= All versions of Huge Base, including this version, are shareware. Huge Base is not a commercial program. Huge Base V2.0 is Copyright © 1996 Matt Cartlidge. Huge Base V2.0 may be distributed as long as all of the following conditions are true :- * It is the UNREGISTERED version. Registered versions MUST NOT be duplicated. Only one copy may be created as a backup copy for the registered user ONLY. * All of these files are kept together and remain UNCHANGED. - Huge_Base (actual program) - Introduction (document) - Instructions (document) - Jargon (document) - Read_me! (document) - Letters (document) - Example databases, including :- - Address.HB2 - Tracks.HB2 - Discs.HB2 * Fees may only be charged for recovering copying and distribution costs. Profits should only be made by distribution companies, not the average person charging for individual copies. * NOTE that any copy found with altered documents, programs or databases are breaking the guidelines. * Huge Base may NOT be uploaded onto ANY BBS or contained on ANY COMPILATION in which any individual claims copyright on all of the data that it holds. The three example databases Address.HB2, Tracks.HB2 and Discs.HB2 are freely distributable. You can do whatever you like with these. Note that no data in the Address.HB2 database file is correct. It is against the law to hold personal information about an individual without their permission. PPMore, ReqTools.library and PowerPacker.library are all Copyright © Nico François. FastView V2.0 is Copyright © 1995 John Hendrikx. FastView can display IFF (.iff), JPEG (.jpg), GIF (.gif), PCX (.pcx) and BMP (.bmp) images. Play16 is Copyrighted Freeware by Thomas Wenzel. It is freely distributable as long as the program and the document supplied remain unchanged. Play16 is capable of playing WAV (Microsoft RIFF-WAVE), VOC (creative voice), AU (sun/NeXT Audio), MAUD (MacroSystem audio), AIFF (Apple/SGI/Amiga AIFF), and Amiga IFF-8SVX files. Play16 can also play most RAW audio waves. See the full documentation to Play16 in the C: directory of the disk that Huge Base is contained on. I have chosen FastView V2.0 and Play16 V1.6 for inclusion as they are the best programs of their type that I have seen. In no way am I trying to claim ownership of programs, libraries or other files supplied with Huge Base apart from Huge Base, its documents and its databases. Do not try to delete this document so you can break all of the rules that it holds. That's a bit stoopid isn't it. ====================================================================== WARNING ======= I don't want to sound mean in this bit but everyone says this in their documentation so, here goes. I cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or any other disruption caused by using Huge Base. This program is supplied "AS IS" without any kind of warranty whatsoever. However, if you have received a faulty disk from myself, then I will be pleased to replace it for you. ====================================================================== SHAREWARE ========= Remember about SHAREWARE : Many shareware programs on the Amiga market are extremely good quality and most are as good, if better, than commercial programs - with the obvious exception of a user manual. But hey, who needs a user manual when you've got an ASCII file? Thousands of shareware authors spend hundreds, maybe thousands of hours working on shareware programs, including me. The more support and registrations they receive, the more likely they are to carry on contributing to the shareware side of things. Shareware is a good thing, keep supporting it! ====================================================================== WHY WRITE HUGE BASE? ==================== I wrote Huge Base because there wasn't one single database program out there that did all of the things that I wanted it to do. This is normality when talking about shareware - an author hasn't got what he wants, so he makes his own, that's the way it works, and it works very well. That's why the Amiga has such good software nowadays. I also wanted a program in which the author would listen to the users ideas, this is how programs get to be so good as versions increase. Most importantly, I wanted a database program that was updated and supported regularly. And what better author to support it than ME! ====================================================================== REQUIREMENTS ============ Huge Base V2.0 needs the following to run :- * Workbench 2 or higher. * 1MB or more of memory, 2MB recommended for large databases. * Huge Base requires nearly 600K to fully operate. This includes when the C commands and the printer files have loaded into memory. * MED.library to play MED modules from within the program. Note that the MED.library, once opened, usually interferes with other sounds being produced so you may notice distortions if using soundsets after loading a MED module. * PPMore in the C: directory to view the documents. * FastView in the C: directory for viewing images. * Play16 in the C: directory for playing sound samples. * An assign called SOUNDSETS: assigned to where your soundsets are kept. See the section in this document on SoundSets on how to create your own. * As with all programs in which you can print from, various files will be needed in order to print from Huge Base depending on your printer type. This should not be a problem if you are running Huge Base from your Hard Drive. * You require a mouse to use Huge Base. Even though Huge Base has got a lot of keyboard shortcuts on its buttons, you can not resort ONLY to the keyboard. Anyway, who hasn't got a mouse on their Amiga? PPMore requires PowerPacker.library and ReqTools.library to run. FastView requires Asl.library, ILBM.library and the IFFParse.library to operate properly. It also requires IconX in C: to run. Play16 requires Asl.library and Mathieeedoubbas.library to run. * When I distributed Huge Base, all of the necessary files were included for each operation to work fully. Huge Base requires 50K to be free at ALL TIMES. If memory falls below this value, any operations which requires more memory will be disabled. Don't worry, saving does not require any more memory when operating. 50K is 51,200 bytes. Huge Base reserves 60K before the program starts for variable space. This is essential that this space is fairly large as it can slow down the program to a crawl if you are not very generous with the space. Huge Base loads Play16 and FastView into RAM: after the program itself has loaded. They are deleted from the Ram Disk when the program has ended. ====================================================================== SOUNDSETS ========= Huge Base uses soundsets to give itself sound in your preferences. These are actually sample banks created using the AMOS Professional sample bank maker. If you own AMOS then you can create your own. Each sample number in the bank represents the action you take in Huge Base. 1. Key press other than below 2. ESCAPE pressed. 3. RETURN pressed. 4. Draw an inverted box. (Looks pressed in). 5. Draw a standard box. (Looks normal, no action). 6. DELETE or BACKSPACE pressed. You must store your SoundSets in an assign called SOUNDSETS: and you must assign this to wherever the soundsets are kept. E.g. If you are keeping them on your hard drive in a directory called SOUNDSETS then you should have this in your startup sequence :- Assign SOUNDSETS: DH0:SOUNDSETS Huge Base will then look in DH0:SOUNDSETS for all of your soundsets. You must name your soundsets Set1.abk, Set2.abk etc. There are a limit of 32 soundsets, any numbers higher than this will be ignored. Also, if there are more than 6 samples in your soundset file, they will be ignored too. Play16 is not required to use soundsets in Huge Base. Five soundsets are included with Huge Base so if you make your own, they should be named Set6.abk, Set7.abk and so on. ====================================================================== SECURE WARNING ============== There is a SECURE function in Huge Base which allows you to save your databases with a password. I strongly recommend that you make the password easy to remember or write it down somewhere just in case. REMEMBER THIS MATEY! - You CANNOT get your database back if you do not know the password in which you saved it, unless you're me of course! ====================================================================== FILE FORMAT WARNING =================== Previous users of Huge Base can load Huge Base V1.00 databases into V2.0 of Huge Base. Take notice of this warning - DATABASES SAVED WITH HUGE BASE V2.0 CANNOT BE LOADED INTO V1.00 OF HUGE BASE. So if you load a database created with V1.00 then it is a good idea NOT to overwrite the file with the V2.0 format until you are absolutely sure about it. If you use file extensions, the old file will not be overwritten anyway as the file extension "HB2" is used in V2.0 rather than just "HB" in V1.00. The V1.00 database files are converted as they are loaded which means no confusion. Huge Base will never be backwards compatible unless I say otherwise in my documentation. Out with the old, in with the new! Huge Base V2.0 will always be forwards compatible. E.g. When V3.0 is released, it will still be able to load V1.00 databases as well as V2.0 databases. ====================================================================== FILE FORMAT GOOD NEWS ===================== The V2.0 file format database files are smaller than V1.00 file formats. You will only notice the size change if you have one or more INDICATOR fields in your databases. Many of you won't notice the change as it won't be much of a saving for a lot of people but I thought I'd better mention it as people might get worried if their databases start shrinking! If you're wondering why the size has changed, it's because I did programming in V1.00 which wasn't necessary. The bit of code that has been taken out saved data from indicator fields into the database file. As you all know, indicator fields can't hold data so it was a bit pointless saving data that wasn't there! ====================================================================== DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND ===================== A lot of programs on the Amiga will not run on a basic Amiga 500+ with 1MB of RAM. There are even programs and games (and a lot due for release) which will not even work properly using 2MB of RAM. Amiga users that have been with the Amiga for a long time will have learned that the Amiga has moved forward a long way since the A500. If you're still using a 7.14MHz Amiga 500 with only 1MB of RAM then I'm afraid you're in at the deep end. Most companies and software distributors have abandoned WorkBench 1.3 completely and not much new software will run on WorkBench 1.3, commercial or shareware. If you want to keep up with the Amiga, you MUST move forward to at least the A1200 standard. Some authors are even forgetting about WorkBench 2.0 and this will be next on the gravestone. If you get left behind, you're not getting anything out of the Amiga. ====================================================================== THE HUGE BASE DATABASE FILE =========================== I advise that you don't tamper with your database files manually using any program whatsoever. This can cause a lot of problems. I have made every effort to stop database files loading if they have got an error in them. Once, I changed ONE CHARACTER in a database file, it loaded into Huge Base fine, without any errors. I typed in a few records and the system crashed. This is NOT bug in Huge Base. If you change the database file manually, what else would you expect? ====================================================================== BUG REPORTING ============= Huge Base has been tested for weeks on end for bugs and faults. There are no known bugs in Huge Base but I can't guarantee it. If you do spot a bug, please do not keep quiet about it, it is most important that my programs are completely bug free. If possible, state what you were doing at the time and what you have already done. Be as detailed as you can. If it is something simple like a spelling mistake, then don't bother with detail. Just use common sense. The above statement was used in the V1.00 documentation and I'm glad I said that I couldn't guarantee it now! ====================================================================== CONTACT ======= If you have suggestions, comments or new ideas then please send me a letter explaining it all. If you're thinking "if only it did that" and "it should do this as well" then tell me about it. Matt Cartlidge. 3 Cotterill Grove, Burslem, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 3DT. ENGLAND. If you are sending a disk that you want me to return or you want me to reply, include a stamped SAE. I WILL reply to every letter if a stamped SAE is included. ====================================================================== SUPPORT ======= Programs are perfect because it is what YOU want. I don't know what you want unless you tell me. I think Huge Base is a long way from being the best thing since sliced bread as there are hundreds of things that could be added and a lot could be improved. Point them out to me by writing a letter, then look at the contact section above. Huge Base can only be successful if there are a lot of users. Come on, switch to Huge Base! I will continue to support Huge Base as long as you support me by using it! ====================================================================== THANKS ====== Thanks loads to ... Gareth Knight, 17 Bit Software, Stuart Cragg, Adrian Hughes, Daniel Swinswood, Peter Latham, Craig Riley, Simon Bradbury, Wayne Gratty, Philip Bartley, Matthew Hall, Wayne Brindley, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Carrey, Madonna and Anthea Turner. Special thanks to Amiga Technologies for getting the Amiga back on its feet, well, rubber pads. ====================================================================== FUTURE ====== There are a few things that are already planned for the next version but I need more suggestions as I can't move up a version (or even a tenth of a version) if hardly anything changes can I? Plans include :- * Ability to create automatic backups of databases. This includes unrequested timed backups - especially useful if you have a hard drive. * Functions to change and manipulate field ID numbers. * More functions in the searching section (already planned). * Extra sound - For a wrong key press * Loads more printer control * Your suggestions! * And a lot more! If you are sending in a suggestion, be quick! A lot of the code has already been written for new functions of Huge Base and it is being written as you read this. There will be a point when your suggestion won't make it into the latest version, so hurry! The next full version (e.g. 2.1, 3.0) has no version number yet. It depends on how much more the program advances but whatever version number I choose, it is set to be a stunning program which will only be a few points off being perfect. The next version will be completed by October 1996 (after bug testing and so on), but this is only the latest date and it is very likely that it will be much sooner than October 1996. Remember that most of the time there is a massive delay between the release date and when distributors start distributing so don't start contacting me if you haven't seen it by then, please! ====================================================================== ABOUT ===== Huge Base was written in AMOS Professional. Europress have now abandoned AMOS and all knowledge of the Amiga (gits), but AMOS lives on, and so does the Amiga! So WE don't want you back either, Europress! Software used to create Huge Base :- * AMOS Professional V2.0 - "AMOS rules!" * Deluxe Paint IV by Dan Silva - Used to create the title/about screen. * Text Engine V5 by Nicholas Harvey - This was used to create and spell check these documents. * Ordering V1.05 by Julien Torres - This was a great help in compiling the disks and testing the output files created by Huge Base. ====================================================================== BYE === Huge Base comes to a close. See you next time. I'll be back ... ====================================================================== Matt Cartlidge.