Loadstar 128 #27

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Text File | 1991-01-01 | 15.4 KB | 406 lines

F L E X I - C A T 1 2 8 Program and Text by Rich Hamill So you've had your C-128 for a while now and you're comfortable with it and the programs you use all the time. You've acquired more disks than you ever thought you'd have. They have come from all corners of the universe: LOADSTAR, friends, Gazette, RUN... Now you want (or need) a program that you know you have on one of them. Maybe it's a financial program that will give you a leg-up when you talk to that car salesman, or a childrens' game for when your sister brings her eight-year-old over for a visit. You look at all those boxes with all those disks. How are you ever going to find what you want? Don't despair...Let FLEXI-CAT 128 find that program for you. FLEXI-CAT 128 is a disk cataloging system that picks up where others leave off. It is a program that will catalog, edit, sort, find and print- out all your disks. It will search any and all files on a data disk automatically and send the matches to the screen, printer or disk drive. Each data disk handles seven files of 1000 entries, or 33,000 characters per file on a 1571 or 1581 disk drive (see system requirements). FLEXI-CAT 128 is really several programs in one. The Cataloging Section feeds in the programs, either manually or automatically to the data base. Then the File Editor Section takes over and does what you want it to do. You can even change the defaults within the data base to suit your own needs. There's also a file UTILITY PROGRAM that can easily split or combine files, without disturbing the original file. Take time to read the entire reference manual. There are suggestions on how to set up a file, disk numbering and some key commands that do not appear on screen. A great deal of effort has gone into the writing and form of this program. After you use FLEXI-CAT 128 for a while, you will rely on it to find any of those programs that you want to find...when you want to find them. GETTING STARTED --------------- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 1. Commodore 128 or Commodore 128D 2. 80 column RGB monitor. 3. Two disk drives, or 1541/1571/1581 emulation partitions in a CMD device. Note: 1571's or 1581's are best, but 1541's will work with slower access time. Only 4 full files will fit on each 1541 data disk. 4. Commodore compatible printer or interface capable of Commodore 1525 mode emulation. LOADING THE PROGRAM 1. You should copy all of the FLEXI-CAT 128 files to a formatted disk with plenty of disk space. The LOADSTAR 128 Copy It feature will copy the files from the LOADSTAR 128 disk for you. For best results don't have any non-FLEXI-CAT 128 files on the disk. 2. Make sure the 40/80 column switch on the computer is down. 3. Insert FLEXI-CAT 128 program disk in your chosen drive and enter RUN"FLEXI-CAT 1284",u(dv) where dv is the drive number 4. At the "File Editor" or "Cataloger" window, select "File Editor" if you need a disk formatted. 5. Enter the date. Note: This date will be used when files are printed out. FILE DESCRIPTION AND DATA DISK ------------------------------ FILE STRUCTURE FLEXI-CAT 128 uses SEQuential files for data storage. Along with the data, each file contains the field headings, field lengths and number of entries for each file. For this reason a file must be in memory before the file name, headings or field lengths can be changed using "Configure" on the File Editor main menu. FORMATTING A DATA DISK Formatting is done through the File Editor's main menu. F8 selects the formatting option. When the disk is finished formatting, you have two options: ESCape will exit to the main menu, while RETURN will write ten default files to the disk. DEFAULT FILES For your convenience and to avoid having to "configure" each file separately, ten files with sequentially numbered file names and preset headings and field lengths will be written to the data disk after formatting, if requested by the user. The default files use field lengths of 17, 4, 6, 17, 27 for fields 1 to 5 respectively. The headings are "Program Name", "Cat" (category), "Disk#", "Disk Name", and "Comments". Note: The first 4 field lengths are one more than needed to help make the report printout readable. If you need more comment space decrease fields 1, 2, and 4 by one space. DATA DISK The File Editor and Cataloger will read the first ten directory entries from any disk into the "Select File" menu. Therefore, it is recommended that you DO NOT save files to other disks because you may not be able to access them. If you do by mistake, copy the file(s) onto a FLEXI-CAT 128 data disk that contains NO default files. ALLOWABLE CHARACTERS File names, field headings, and report titles are in upper/lower case. Data in the fields use upper case so they are consistent with most disk directories. When these fields are being accessed, a keyboard entry routine allows most of the characters except "," (comma) and cursor controls. Since Commodore DOS does strange things to fields with only spaces, the routine also puts a "-" (dash) if only a space or carriage return is entered. DO NOT enter a field or heading with only spaces. It may corrupt your file when it is loaded the next time. See "Disk Numbering" for important caution on using the letter "e" in disk numbers. HEADINGS AND FIELD LENGTHS There are 5 fields per file that must be defined to a field length from 1-40 and have a minimum of one character for the heading. If you use the File Editor in the manual entry mode only, the headings and lengths can be defined any way you wish. There are 71 spaces available per entry to be used in the five fields. Note: The Auto Cataloging option places information in certain fields and needs a minimum field length for these fields. Necessary Settings (Auto Cataloging) Field # Minimum Length Suggested Heading --------------------------------------------- 1 16 Program Name 2 3 Cat (Category) 4 16 Disk Name Optional Settings: Field # Suggested Length Suggested Heading ---------------------------------------------- 3 5 - 7 Disk # 5 All remaining Comments (See explanation of default file settings) NUMBER OF ENTRIES AND AVAILABLE MEMORY FLEXI-CAT 128 allows a maximum of 1000 entries provided the available memory has not been exhausted. Under actual conditions you can get 900-950 entries with only a few or no comments. Adding many comments can reduce the entries to 500-600, especially if you use long descriptions. Try entering 500 programs with only a few comments and then use the File Editor to add more details to the comment field. If memory is still available, add more programs. A print-out of the file with handwritten comments is another alternative. FILE-EDITOR - MAIN MENU ----------------------- FUNCTION KEYS CRSR UP/DOWN highlights option. RETURN selects. F1/F3 - Displays current drive directory in main menu. "No Scroll" key pauses display. F8 - Used to format data disk. MANUAL CATALOG "Manual Add" allows individual entries for each program. This should be used when entering copy protected disks. To add programs follow the prompts. EDIT/PRINT This option displays the file name, number of entries, percentage (%) memory used, and headings. The first 15 entries are listed by line number followed by the options line. Note: The File Editor does not track an entry by a record number. The numbers next to each entry are for reference only. When the file is sorted, any or all entries could have different line numbers. RETURN and SHIFT/RETURN - Step forward/backward 15 entries at a time. First (F) - Displays the first 15 entries in a file. Last (L) - Displays the last 15 entries in a file. Goto (G) - Displays 15 entries beginning with the line # entered. Edit (E) - Three options are available: 1. Change (C) - Follows the same format as manual catalog in the "Manual Catalog" option. 2. Change field # (1-5) - Brings up only the field # requested. i.e. #1...Program Name. #2...Cat (Category) #3...Disk Number #4...Disk Name #5...Comments The "Change" and "Change Field #" options will allow information to be added to an entry even if the memory used is above 100%. This is done so that "MINOR" corrections and additions can be made to an otherwise full file. DO NOT try to add more than 5% to a file in this manner. Program performance will slow, and may even crash the program. 3. Delete (D) - Displays the entry and then prompts: "Are you sure? y/n" After an entry is deleted, all entries with a line number higher than the one deleted will have lower numbers. Note: Any line in the file can be edited or deleted. You are not limited to just the 15 entries on screen. Insert (I) - Used to add an entry, such as divider in the middle of the file. Move (M) - Allows an entry to be moved to another location in the file. Copy (C) - Used to make duplicate entries in a file (i.e. dashed separators) Search (S) - Simplified version of the main search function for "entries in memory". Screen output only. Print (P) - Two options are available: 1. Entire file - Prints every entry in the file. 2. Selected range - Prints user defined start/end line numbers. Note: Both options ask for a report title up to 30 characters and if you want line numbers. (Line #s are for reference only) "Printed on (date)" will appear below the title. ESCape - Exits edit/print and returns to main menu. SORT FILE The File Editor performs an alpha/numeric sort in ascending order on fields 1, 2, 4, and 5. Field 3, "Disk#", is sorted numerically in ascending order. Any alpha character in front of the disk# will cause the sort to be incorrect. Since the computer uses "e" for exponential numbers, it's best not to use that letter in Field #3. Note: It is suggested that you keep the original file unsorted and have another disk with sorted files. SAVE DATA FILE Files are first scratched, then resaved with the file name that is currently in memory. Save with replace is not used. If a file is changed, a prompt "Data Changed" will remind you that the file has to be resaved before selecting another file or exiting the File Editor. "Save" also checks to see if the file was sorted. You may find it better to keep original files and sorted files on separate disks. SEARCH/SEARCH WITH REPLACE This option might be a little confusing until you become familiar with the procedure. The first thing needed is the item for which you are searching. At the prompt, enter from 1 to 40 characters. (It may scroll onto the next line, which is ok.) Next, select the field you want to search. Two types of searches are performed depending on your answer to "Search for?": 1. A single character causes the search option to check only the first character in fields 1, 2, 4, and 5. This will enable only programs beginning with "A","B","C", etc. to be located in any or all files on the data disk. Field 3 will have every position checked because some disk numbers may contain an alpha suffix. 2. Two or more characters will check every position in the selected field. You can locate every occurrence of say, "DISK", no matter where it appears in the field. Search with Replace: After selecting the field, you have the option of "Search with Replace". This option will only search the file in memory. When a match is found the following prompt will appear: "Replace" (item found) "with" (replace item) "?...y/n". "ESC. to exit" IMPORTANT NOTE: The entire field is replaced; not just the word or phrase for which you are searching. Holding ESCAPE during the search will exit to the main menu. Regular Search: Pressing any key other than F6 at the "Search with Replace" prompt will enter the regular search option. If the file has been changed a "Data Changed" warning will remind you that the file should be saved before searching other files. Regular search has three output options: 1. Screen 2. Printer 3. Drive 8 file Next, select the file(s) to be searched. The files selected will be displayed in the right window. When you have the file(s) you want, select "Done". An "OK..y/n" prompt makes sure everything is correct before proceeding. When output to the printer or drive 8 is selected, a prompt for a "Report Title" or "File Name" will appear. The File Editor will automatically load the selected file(s) and send the matches to the desired output. A little time can be saved by selecting the file that is in memory first. When output to "Drive 8" is used, make a note of the total matches found. If there are more than 1000, the file will have to be split with the File Utility Program. Holding ESCAPE during search will exit to the Main Menu. CONFIGURE FILE (also see File Description) This option is used to delete a file, or set-up and change file names, headings, or field lengths. Open slots in the "Configure" menu are represented by a dash. Selecting a dash (-) goes directly into the defining of the file name, field lengths, and headings. Deleting a file: Select "Configure"...then the files to be deleted. Files that are to be deleted do not have to be memory resident. Note: The delete option is non-recoverable unless you have a restore file program such as the 1571 DOS Shell. Renaming a file / Changing a heading: If the file already exists, it must be loaded into the computer before changes can be made, since the headings and field lengths reside in the file. To rename a file, select the file from the configure menu. Next select "Change". After you have typed in the new file name a "Rename Only?...y/n" will appear. If you select "y", the file will be renamed and the routine exits to the main menu. To make changes to headings or field lengths, answer "n" to the "Rename Only?...y/n" prompt. The field lengths and headings for fields 1-5 will come up in order. Pressing "RETURN" will keep the current setting. When all changes are made, the file is saved back to the data disk. RECONFIGURING A FILE The procedure is the same as Change. Keep in mind the data that is already stored in each field. If you make a field's length shorter than the data in the existing field, the format of the screen or printout will be wrong. The data will not be lost, and putting the configuration back will restore the format. LOAD DATA FILE The first ten file names on the data disk are read into the "Select File" menu. Use CRSR UP/DOWN to highlight the file and press RETURN. The file selected will be loaded. Before the load is started, the program does a little house-keeping from the previous file when the prompt "Resetting Memory" is on the screen. If there are fewer than ten files on the data disk, dashes (-) in the menu indicate additional files can be created with the "Configure" option. Note: If the previous file has been changed, the "Data Changed" warning will remind you to save the old file before selecting a new file. EXIT FILE EDITOR With this option you can exit the program to BASIC or load the Cataloger section. A "Data Changed" warning will remind you to save the file if it has been changed. This can be done by answering "y" to the "Resave...y/n" prompt. (Documentation continued in Part Two)