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============================ dBXL READ.ME FILE ============================ Accompanies: dBXL Diamond Release (1.2) dBXL Manual 5th Edition Contents: I. Special Notes II. New Features III. Quicksilver/dBXL Differences IV. Third Party Software Support V. dBXL Manual Errata VI. Technical Support Please read this file carefully. It contains important information not included in your dBXL manual. You may also want to read another file included with dBXL. README.UTL (located in the UTILS directory) contains information about WANG, Saywhat?!, and Flashcode support. I. SPECIAL NOTES == Memory Requirements == We recommend that your computer have 512K RAM to operate dBXL. Loading dBXL actually requires about 402K of free memory. (Free memory is memory beyond that used by the operating system and any memory-resident software). An additional 12-20K of free memory allows you to use most dBXL features. However, using a computer with less than 512K RAM limits dBXL's ability to run DOS programs and impairs dBXL's indexing and sorting performance. == Systems Supported == dBXL operates on PC-DOS systems meeting minimum hardware specifications. (See Chapter 2 of the dBXL manual for more information.) In addition, after proper installation, dBXL operates on most non-IBM-compatible MS-DOS machines. However, non-standard hardware and operating system interfaces on these machines may affect dBXL's performance. In addition to the standard 24-line monitor, dBXL also makes use of 66-line monitors, such as The Genius produced by Micro Display Systems, Inc. == Memory Allocation == dBXL now dynamically allocates buffers for databases and windows. For this reason, a WUSE error may occur when you run a windowing program that executed without error in a previous version of dBXL. If this error occurs, either WUSE a window before USEing the database or use FLUSH before WUSE. == Windowing Syntax == This release no longer supports the use of a period in the syntax of windowing commands. For example, with Release 1.1, dBXL allowed W.SELECT or WSELECT; in this release, dBXL allows WSELECT only. == Foreign Versions of the dBXL Manual == The new dBXL manual is available in several foreign languages: Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Kanji, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish. Contact WordTech Systems' International department for more information at (415) 254-0900, FAX: (415) 254-0288, TELEX: 503599. II. NEW FEATURES dBXL's new features are listed below. Most are documented in the new dBXL manual. Those that are not--the CONFIG.XL LOGO, GOODBYE, and CLEAR parameters, SET GRAPHPRINT, SET MESSAGE, DBCON.EXE, MODISCN.EXE, and CONFIG.DB3--are detailed at the end of this "New Features" section. == New Commands and Functions == APPEND FROM (new file types) RELEASE AUTOMEM (now documented) CD RESTORE GRAPH CLEAR FIELDS SET CURSORMOVE COPY TO (new file types) SET EDITOR CREATE COMMAND (now documented) SET EVENT CREATE FILE (now documented) SET FIELDS CREATE GRAPH SET FIELDS TO CREATE VIEW...FROM ENVIRONMENT SET GRAPHPRINT DIMENSION SET HISTORY (now works properly) DISPLAY FILES (now documented) SET MESSAGE DOWNSCROLL SET ODOMETER (now documented) EXPORT...TYPE VENTURA SET OOPS (now documented) FLUSH SET ORDER (now documented) FOR...NEXT SET STATUS (now documented) FUNCTION SET TYPEAHEAD (now works properly) GENERATE (now documented) SET UDF GRAPH FORM SET USERHELP (now works properly) HTOI() (now documented) SET VIEW ITOH() (now documented) SKIP ALIAS <alias> KEYBOARD SLEEP LIST FILES (now documented) UPSCROLL MEMORY() WDISPLAY STATUS (now documented) MODIFY GRAPH &&\ ON EVENT *\ (now documented) ON KEY <key> (now works properly) @...SAY...GET...VALID PRINTER() == Internal Text Editor - New File Size and Additional Keys == dBXL's internal text editor now lets you edit files up to the maximum amount of free memory your computer has available. dBXL's internal text editor also supports five new keys. You can access them with MODIFY COMMAND, CREATE COMMAND, MODIFY FILE, CREATE FILE, and when editing a Memo field. Alt-E executes the current line; Alt-P prints a highlighted block of text; Alt-F translates all keywords in the file to upper case; Alt-- translates a highlighted block of text to lower case; Alt-+ translates a highlighted block of text to upper case. The Alt-- (minus) and Alt-+ (plus) keys refer to the regular keyboard + and - keys, not to the + and - keys on the numeric keypad. == Filename Selection Window == All commands that call for an existing file in the syntax line now allow ? or <skeleton> in place of <filename>. ? displays a selection window of filenames with the default extension the command assumes, and allows you to select one. For example, USE ? displays a list of all filenames in the current directory with the extension .dbf. <skeleton> displays a selection window of filenames corresponding to the pattern you specify and allows you to select one. For example, USE Agent*.dbf displays a list of all filenames beginning with Agent and ending with the .dbf file extension. Thus, if the files Agent.dbf, Agentorn.dbf, and Agent007.dbf are in the current directory, dBXL displays them and allows you to choose one. == EMS (Expanded Memory Specification) == dBXL can use up to 64K of Expanded Memory, if it is available when you load dBXL. The amount of Expanded Memory you use decreases dBXL's main memory requirements by up to 64K. == GETCOM.BIN and CHECKCOM.BIN == WordTech Systems provides two utilities that are an example of the kind of routines you can write for use with ON EVENT and SET EVENT. Use CHECKCOM with SET EVENT to check for input to your COM1: port. Once CHECKCOM detects input, use GETCOM.BIN with ON EVENT to retrieve the character sent to COM1:. Use these utilities by executing the following commands: LOAD GETCOM SET EVENT TO FILE CHECKCOM ON EVENT CALL GETCOM == CONFIG.XL Parameters == CONFIG.XL allows several new parameters. Most of these parameters have an equivalent SET command in dBXL. Appendix C of your dBXL manual explains these parameters. Another SET command (SET GRAPHPRINT) has a corresponding GRAPHPRINT parameter in CONFIG.XL. The GRAPHPRINT parameter is explained under "SET GRAPHPRINT" below. SET HISTORY and SET CURSORMOVE also have corresponding HISTORY and CURSORMOVE CONFIG.XL parameters. SAVEHIST is allowed only in CONFIG.XL. SAVEHIST lets you specify whether History, the record of commands executed in your current dBXL session, will be saved to a DBXL.HIS file and will carry over to your next session. If SAVEHIST=ON, dBXL saves History from one session to the next; if SAVEHIST=OFF, dBXL does not. You can also SET a DOS environmental variable HISTORY to specify the drive and directory location of the DBXL.HIS file. At the DOS prompt or in your computer's AUTOEXEC.BAT file, enter: SET HISTORY=\<path>\. When you load dBXL and SAVEHIST=ON, dBXL first searches for the DBXL.HIS file in the path specified with the HISTORY environmental variable. If it cannot find DBXL.HIS in the path specified with the HISTORY environmental variable, dBXL then searches the current directory, and finally searches the DOS path. See Appendix C of your dBXL manual for more information on SAVEHIST. LOGO is allowed only in CONFIG.XL to control whether dBXL's logo appears when you load dBXL. LOGO=ON causes the logo to appear; LOGO=OFF suppresses the display of the logo. GOODBYE is allowed only in CONFIG.XL. It controls whether dBXL's signoff message "Thank you for using dBXL. Remember to back up your files. Bye" is displayed when you QUIT dBXL. GOODBYE=ON, the default, causes the message to display when you QUIT; GOODBYE=OFF suppresses the message display. CLEAR is allowed only in CONFIG.XL. CLEAR lets you specify whether the XL prompt appears at the top or bottom of the screen each time the screen clears. CLEAR=TOP, the default, places the XL prompt at the top of a cleared screen; CLEAR=BOTTOM places the XL prompt at the bottom. The new release of dBXL no longer supports the MAXBUF parameter; dBXL now allocates memory dynamically, as explained in "Memory Allocation" above. == SET GRAPHPRINT == SET GRAPHPRINT allows you to specify the graphics printer for printing graphs with GRAPH FORM, CREATE GRAPH, and MODIFY GRAPH. (See Chapter 6 of the dBXL manual.) The complete syntax is: SET GRAPHPRINT TO [EPSONFX | IBM | OKIDATA | HPLASERJET | HPPLOTTER [SIZE <numExp 1>] [VERTICAL| HORIZONTAL] [ASPECT <numExp 2>]] IBM printer is the default printer. SIZE <numExp 1> allows you to specify the size of a printed graph. <numExp 1> can be from 0 to 5; 0 is the smallest size and 5 is the largest. The default depends on the type of printer you specify. HORIZONTAL turns the graph on its right side, producing a horizontal display. VERTICAL indicates that the top of the graph starts at the top of the page. The default printing orientation depends on the type of printer and graphics device you use, and the type of graph you are printing. ASPECT <numExp 2> specifies the ratio of space between vertical dots to space between horizontal dots when you print a pie chart. <numExp 2> can be any decimal value greater than 0 or less than or equal to 1. When displaying a pie chart on the screen, dBXL ensures that the graph displays properly. However, depending on your type of printer and monitor, you may wish to alter the spacing for some printed pie charts with ASPECT. For example, if you are printing a pie chart on an HPLASERJET, the pie may appear egg-like, noncircular. In this case, adjust the aspect setting. You can specify the GRAPHPRINT parameter in your CONFIG.XL file with the following syntax: GRAPHPRINT=EPSONFX | IBM | OKIDATA | HPLASERJET | HPPLOTTER [,<size>] [,VERTICAL | ,HORIZONTAL] [,<aspect>] == SET MESSAGE == SET MESSAGE allows you to designate the message that displays in the center of the last line (Line 24) of the screen. The syntax is: SET MESSAGE TO [<charExp>] The message appears only when SET STATUS is ON and a menu-driven, full- screen command is not executing. dBXL displays only the first 80 characters of <charExp>. SET MESSAGE TO with no parameters clears Line 24. The default message is a null string " ", unless otherwise specified in the CONFIG.XL file. == DBCON.EXE == DBCON is a utility that converts dBASE II databases to dBXL/dBASE III Plus format. At the DOS prompt, enter: DBCON [<filename 1>] [<filename 2>] <filename 1> is the name of an existing dBASE II database and <filename 2> is the name of the new dBXL/dBASE III Plus database. DBCON assumes .dbf filename extensions. If you omit the <filename 1> or <filename 2> options from the DOS command line, the on-screen prompts will guide you through the database conversion. == MODISCN.EXE == MODISCN is a utility that allows you either to create a new screen file, or to modify an existing screen file created with the WSAVE command and displayed with the WRESTORE command. At the DOS prompt, enter: MODISCN [<filename>] <filename> is the name of the new or existing screen file; MODISCN assumes a .scn extension. If you omit the <filename> option from the DOS command line, the on-screen text will prompt you for the name of the file. Once in MODISCN, press F1 to invoke the help window, which tells you how MODISCN operates. == CONFIG.DB3 == In addition to CONFIG.XL, dBXL also includes a CONFIG.DB3 file, which contains the default parameters dBASE III Plus assumes. To simulate a dBASE III Plus-like user interface in dBXL, first erase or rename your CONFIG.XL file, then rename the CONFIG.DB3 file to CONFIG.XL. For example, at the DOS prompt of your dBXL directory, enter: RENAME CONFIG.XL CONFIGXL.SAV RENAME CONFIG.DB3 CONFIG.XL III. QUICKSILVER/dBXL DIFFERENCES In conjunction with dBXL, WordTech Systems offers Quicksilver, a compiler for dBXL and dBASE III Plus programs. Quicksilver compiles dBASE and dBXL programs into DOS-executable programs that can be run independent of dBXL or dBASE. For more information about Quicksilver, contact your dealer or call WordTech Systems at (415) 254-0900. Quicksilver supports the same files and syntax as dBXL. However, there are some differences. == Interactive Commands == Quicksilver does not support the interactive commands (commands that require user input). == Networking Commands == Since this release of dBXL is single user, it does not support Quicksilver networking commands. The next release of dBXL will support networking. == View Files == dBXL supports CREATE VIEW <filename> FROM ENVIRONMENT and SET VIEW, while Quicksilver does not. == SINKEY() == Quicksilver supports the SINKEY() function, while dBXL does not. SINKEY() returns a string representing the last key pressed. However, both dBXL and Quicksilver support the standard INKEY() function. == CCALL == Quicksilver supports the command CCALL, while dBXL does not. CCALL interfaces Quicksilver-compiled code with compiled C language programs. However, dBXL does support the standard dBASE LOAD and CALL syntax. IV. THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE SUPPORT WordTech Systems has verified that the following applications are compatible with dBXL. Inclusion in this list does not constitute an endorsement of any of these products, nor does exclusion suggest that a program does not operate with dBXL. Contact WordTech Systems for the latest compatibility list. Program name Program type Company/Telephone ---------------- ------------------ -------------------------------------- AccountMate accounting SourceMate Information Systems, Inc. (CA: 800 762-7788) (outside CA: 800 228-8896) Add-graph charting Gryphon Microproducts (301 384-6868) DANALYST development utility TranSec Systems, Inc. (800 423-0772) dB/RA array support Gryphon Microproducts (301 384-6868) dBPOWERPAK III utilities Gryphon Microproducts (301 384-6868) dFLOW debugging utility WallSoft Systems (800 23d-Flow) Documentor debugging utility WallSoft Systems (800 23d-Flow) FlashCode screen generator Software Bottling Co. (718 458-3700) FlashTools! menu generator Avis Hill (818 709-8366) Genifer program generator Bytel Corporation (CA: 800 541-3366) (outside CA: 800 631-2229) Rettig's Library utilities Tom Rettig Associates (213 272-3784) SilverComm communications Silverware (214 902-0277) Saywhat?! screen generator The Research Group (CA: 800 231-7849) (outside CA: 800 468-9273) SBT accounting SBT Corporation (415 331-9900) UI program generator WallSoft Systems (800 23d-Flow) ViewGen program generator Software Tools (CA: 800 231-6603) (outside CA: 800 328-4473) == Saywhat?! and Flashcode Support == Refer to the text file README.UTL in the UTILS subdirectory for information on using these programs with dBXL. V. dBXL MANUAL ERRATA == 2.7-2.8 (The INSTALL Program) and 2.8-2.9 (The SETUP Program) == The INSTALL and SETUP files are on Disk 4. == 2.4-2.5 (Distribution Disks) == In addition to the files listed, dBXL also includes the following files, explained in the "New Features" section above: File Description ------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ CONFIG.DB3 Sample configuration file containing dBASE III Plus defaults DBCON.EXE Converts dBASE II database files to dBXL/dBASE III Plus format MODISCN.EXE Creates or modifies screen files MODISCN.HLP On-line manual for MODISCN.EXE CHECKCOM.BIN When used with SET EVENT, checks for input to your COM1: port GETCOM.BIN When used with ON EVENT, retrieves a character sent to your COM1: port There is no \DEMO directory. The tutorial files in the \TUTORIAL directory demonstrate dBXL's features. == 4.84 (Viewinvs.prg) == Line 36 should read as follows: Customer->State + " " + Customer->Zip == 4.100 (Viewedit.prg) == Line 87 should read CLEAR AUTOMEM. Line 88 should read RETURN. == 4.102 (Callback.prg) == Move Lines 17 through 21 after Line 30. == 5.11 (Exponentiation) and 6.268 (SET DECIMALS) == If the base has more decimal places than the number specified by SET DECIMALS, the result of exponentiation has the same number of decimal places as the base. If the base has fewer decimal places than the number specified by SET DECIMALS, the result of exponentiation has the number of decimal places specified by SET DECIMALS. == 5.29 (Limits on Open Files) == The total number of files that can be open at one time in dBXL is limited by the FILES= statement in your CONFIG.SYS file. The maximum number is the number specified with FILES= (a maximum of 255) less the number of files reserved by DOS (5) less the number of files dBXL always uses: DBXL.EXE, DBXL.OV1, DBXL.OV2, and DBXL.MSG (4). == 5.35 (History), 6.119 (DISPLAY HISTORY), 6.297 (SET HISTORY TO), and C.3 (HISTORY) == The default value for commands stored in History is 20, and the maximum value is 32767. == 6.15 (<dateExp>) == If SET CENTURY is ON, the range of values for <dateExp> is 01/01/1900 to 12/31/9999. == 6.79, 6.80, 6.83 (CREATE GRAPH) and 6.157 (GRAPH FORM) == You can display a graph using up to 40 records from the active database. == 6.91 (CREATE GRAPH), 6.294 (SET GRAPHPRINT), and C.3 (GRAPHPRINT) == The default printer is IBM. Additional SET GRAPHPRINT options are desribed under the "SET GRAPHPRINT" section of "New Features" above. == 6.126-6.127 (DO) == You can include up to 25 DO <filename> statements in a program file. == 6.139-6.140 (EXIT) == Replace the given example with the following one: Example: The Rentals program allows clients of the Coming Home Rental Agency to view a file of homes and apartments. The first section of the program lists homes, and the second section lists apartments. Using EXIT, Rentals gives the user the option of interrupting the home listings and going directly to the apartment listings. * Rentals.prg USE Homes STORE " " TO nextlist DO WHILE .NOT. EOF() CLEAR @ 5,0 SAY CENTER("Homes for Rent") LIST NEXT 10 Bedrms, Address, Rent @ 20,0 SAY "Press A to view apartment list, any "; "other key to continue: " GET nextlist READ IF nextlist $ "Aa" EXIT ENDIF SKIP ENDDO * Apartmnt.prg lists apartment rentals. DO Apartmnt == 6.140-6.141 (EXPORT) == dBXL does not enclose in quotes the data you EXPORT. In Ventura, open the EXPORTed .tag file as a WordStar file. == 6.150 (FUNCTION)== Delete the phrase "TO alltrimmed" from the first program example on the page. == 6.157 (GRAPH FORM) == If you do not specify <scope>, WHILE, or FOR conditions, GRAPH FORM uses up to the first 40 records in the active database. == 6.161 (IF) and E.9 (Error message 69. IF stack overflow) == IF...ENDIF loops can be nested 80 levels deep. == 6.166 (INDEX) == A negative sign, - , should appear between the parentheses on Line 2. On Line 3, the command line INDEX ON DESCEND(Price) TO Prices should read INDEX ON DESCEND(STR(Price)) TO Prices. == 6.190 (MODIFY COMMAND) == A vertical line should appear between <filename> and ? in the syntax line. The correct syntax is: MODIFY COMMAND <filename> | ? | <skeleton> == 6.191 (MODIFY COMMAND) == Alt-E executes the current line. == RESTORE STATUS (6.236) and SAVE STATUS (6.244) == dBXL also SAVEs and RESTOREs the STATUS of the following SET parameters: ALTERNATE TO, FIELDS, ODOMETER, and OOPS. It does not SAVE or RESTORE the STATUS of the USERHELP parameter. == 6.238 (RETRY) == The definition should state that RETRY returns control from a subprogram to the same line of the higher program that called the subprogram. == 6.278 (SET EDITOR) == The EDITOR parameter is not supported by CONFIG.XL. You can specify a text editor in your CONFIG.XL file with the TEDIT or WP parameters. == 6.300 (SET MARGIN) and C.3 (MARGIN) == The range of values is 0 to 254. == 6.312 (SET RETRACE) == When SET RETRACE is ON, dBXL creates the screen display either with retrace, the default, or with Interrupt 10, if you have installed it with the SETUP program. == 6.337-6.338 (TOTAL) == TOTAL will work properly only if the fields TOTALed are long enough to hold the results. == 7.65-7.66 (INKEY()) == The following INKEY() values should replace those in the manual: Key Pressed INKEY() Value Key Pressed INKEY() Value ------------------- ------------- --------------------------- ------------- Ctrl-F1 to Ctrl-F10 94-103 Alt-n 49 Alt-F1 to Alt-F10 104-113 Alt-o 24 Alt-a 30 Alt-p 25 Alt-b 48 Alt-q 16 Alt-c 46 Alt-r 19 Alt-d 32 Alt-s 31 Alt-e 18 Alt-t 20 Alt-f 33 Alt-u 22 Alt-g 34 Alt-v 47 Alt-h 35 Alt-w 17 Alt-i 23 Alt-x 45 Alt-j 36 Alt-y 21 Alt-k 37 Alt-z 44 Alt-l 38 Alt-0 to Alt-9 Alt-_ Alt-- 31 Alt-m 50 Alt-+ Alt-= 156 == 6.363 (WSET TITLE), 6.367 (WUSE), and E.16 (118. Bad title) == The number of characters in a window title cannot exceed the width of your window. If you do specify a window title greater than the width of your window, an error occurs. == 7.97-7.98 (READKEY()) == The READKEY() value for Ctrl-Q and Esc is 268 when you exit with modifications. The READKEY() value for Ctrl-W and Ctrl-End is 14 when you exit without modifications. == C.3 (DEFAULT) == The correct value is <drive>. == C.3 (MEMOWIDTH) == The lowest possible value is 8. == C.3 (PRINTER) == The default is LPT1. == E.9 (Error message 71. WHILE stack overflow) == This message should read "FOR/WHILE stack overflow". You can nest DO...WHILE and FOR..NEXT loops 20 levels deep. == E.10 (Error message 73. CASE stack overflow) == You can nest DO CASE constructs 20 levels deep. VI. TECHNICAL SUPPORT WordTech Systems now offers a technical support Electronic Bulletin Board System (EBBS) for registered owners of WordTech products. You can access this board by dialing (415) 254-1141 via your modem. At the menu, Enter N for New, and have your serial number ready. Answer the survey questions as they appear. Once both your initial access and your request for user rights have been logged, WordTech Systems will verify your serial number and registration and will raise your user rights, a process that normally requires one working day. ======================== END OF dBXL READ.ME FILE =========================