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-
-
- WindBase 2.0
-
- NickleWare
- Bradley Nicholes
-
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
- WindBase is an application that was designed to help simplify data
- collection, storage and retrieval. With the help of WindBase, you can
- design custom data entry forms and at the same time create the database to
- match. WindBase will also allow you to index and reindex your data by a
- single field or multiple fields. This enables you to organize and retrieve
- your data much more easily and faster as well. WindBase allows you to
- create, store and view multiple database files all at the same time. Then
- when you are ready to print your data, WindBase will print it in the same
- custom layout or let you reorganize the data to best fit your needs.
-
-
-
- REGISTRATION
-
- WindBase is not public domain, nor is it free software. You are
- granted a limited license to use this product on a trial basis. You are
- also granted a license to copy WindBase, along with the documentation, for
- the trial use by other users. If you wish to continue using the product,
- you must send $25 to:
-
- NickleWare
- P.O. Box 393
- Orem, UT. 84059 USA
-
- If you would like an original disk or an update to the latest release of
- the software, please add $5 for shipping and handling.
-
- We encourage you to copy WindBase and share it with anyone who might
- be interested in an easier way to gather, store and retrieve information.
-
-
-
- GETTING STARTED
-
- REQUIREMENTS -
- Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher
- IBM compatible PC 286, 386 or 486
-
- Before proceeding, make sure that you have Microsoft Windows correctly
- installed. Next create a directory called WINDBASE and copy the WindBase
- software (WINDBASE.EXE) into this directory. WindBase is ready to be
- started. Simply start WindBase from the RUN... menu selection of the
- Windows Program Manager or add it to a Program Manager group by following
- the directions for creating a group item in the Windows 3.1 User's Guide.
-
-
-
- WHAT IS A DATABASE
-
- A database is a collection of similar data records stored in a common
- file or collection of files. A database management system such as WindBase
- provides a means by which a user can easily store and retrieve this data.
-
-
-
- CREATING A NEW DATABASE
-
- To create a WindBase database first select DATABASE DEFINITION and NEW
- from the FILE pulldown menu. WindBase will create a blank database
- definition window and ungray the following menu selections:
-
- FILE Menu:
- DATABASE DEFINITION
- SAVE...- Save a database definition and data files.
-
- DEFINE Menu:
- TEXT - This option creates a static text field in the current
- database definition window.
- EDIT - This option creates an entry/edit field in the current
- database definition window.
- CHECKBOX - This option creates a checkbox in the current
- database definition window.
- BITMAP - This option creates a bitmap field in the current
- database definition window.
- STYLES - This option displays a popup window that allows the
- user to modify the attributes of the currently selected
- TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP field.
- DELETE - This option deletes the currently selected TEXT, EDIT,
- CHECKBOX or BITMAP field.
- TITLE - This option modifies the database title that appears
- in the database window.
- FONT - This option changes the text font for the current
- database definition window.
-
-
- Layout the database by selecting the desired fields from the DEFINE
- pulldown menu as described in the CREATING A DATABASE FIELD section. Each
- of the newly created fields can be resized and placed in the database
- definition window where desired.
- After all of the database fields have been created and defined, the
- database layout can be saved and the database files created. To do this,
- simply select DATABASE DEFINITION and SAVE... from the FILE pulldown menu.
- A SAVE popup window will appear prompting the user to enter a path and file
- name where the database files and associated layout files will be stored.
- The user only needs to enter the primary part of the file name (file name
- without the extension). WindBase will add the extension of .WB for the
- database layout file, .DB for the database file and .IDX for the index file.
- Once the file name has been entered and the user has selected the OK
- pushbutton, the database definition and field layout files will be created.
- If the database files already exist in the specified path, Windbase will
- notify the user that the database already exists and the path or file name
- must to be changed. Once a database definition has been saved and the
- database created, WindBase will only allow the database fields to be
- resized or repositioned. No new database fields can be added to this
- definition. If there is a need to add or delete a database field, this
- can be done as described in the CREATING A NEW DATABASE FROM AN EXISTING
- section and the DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT section.
-
-
-
- CREATING A DATABASE FIELD
-
- By selecting the TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP options from the DEFINE
- pulldown menu, the corresponding field will be created in the currently
- selected database definition window. The new field will be created in the
- upper left hand corner of the database definition window. A style popup
- window will be displayed prompting the user to enter a name to identify the
- newly created field and modify any of the field attributes if desired.
- After the database field has been created, it can be moved and resized as
- explained in the MOVE AND RESIZING A DATABASE FIELD section.
-
-
-
- SETTING ATTRIBUTES OF A DATABASE FIELD
-
- Each TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX and BITMAP field defaults to a specific set
- of attributes. These attributes may be modified through the STYLES option
- in the DEFINE pulldown menu. When the STYLES option is selected a popup
- window is presented that corresponds to the selected database field. The
- EDIT, CHECKBOX and BITMAP fields require a field name that is later used
- in the creation of the database. All other attributes in the styles popup
- windows are optional.
-
-
-
- MOVING AND RESIZING A DATABASE FIELD
-
- Once a database field has been created, it can be moved or resized to
- the desired position and size by dragging and dropping with the mouse
- pointer or grabbing the field border and stretching it.
- To move the field, simply place the mouse pointer over the top of it
- and click the mouse button once. A dotted line will appear around the
- field to indicate that it is now the currently selected field. The mouse
- pointer will also change to a four direction pointer to indicate that the
- field may be moved. With the four direction pointer over the top of the
- selected field, press and hold the left mouse button down and while hold
- down the button, move the mouse pointer to the desired position. A database
- field may also be moved by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. To do
- this first select the database field with the mouse as described above.
- Then use the arrow keys to move the database field in the desired direction.
- To resize a database field, select the field as described above, then
- move the mouse pointer over the border of the selected field. As this is
- done, the mouse pointer will change from a four direction pointer to a two
- direction horizontal, vertical or diagonal pointer depending on the
- direction in which the field may be resized. Then simply hold the left
- mouse button down and move the mouse in the direction indicated by the two
- direction pointer until the field is resized to the desired size.
-
-
-
- DELETING A DATABASE FIELD
-
- Once a TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP field has been created, it may be
- deleted. To delete a field, simply select it by placing the mouse pointer
- over it and pressing the left mouse button. Once the field has been
- selected, a dotted line border will appear around it. Then select DELETE
- from the DEFINE pulldown menu. A confirmation popup window will appear
- asking that the user to confirm the operation. Selecting the YES
- pushbutton, will delete the field.
-
-
-
- CHANGING THE DATABASE TITLE
-
- To change the title that appears in the database window title bar,
- select the TITLE option from the DEFINE pulldown menu. After making this
- selection a popup window will be displayed allowing the user to enter a
- database title. After entering the database title, select the OK
- pushbutton and the database window title will change.
-
-
-
- CHANGING THE DATABASE FONT
-
- To change the font for the database window text, select the FONT...
- option from the DEFINE pulldown menu. After making this selection a popup
- window will be displayed allowing the user to select a new font. After
- selecting the new font, select the OK pushbutton and the new font will
- appear in the database window.
-
-
-
- OPENING A DATABASE
-
- To open an existing database the user must select OPEN DATABASE...
- from the FILE pulldown menu. An open file popup window will be displayed.
- This popup window allows the user to change directories and select database
- files. There are four types of files that WindBase creates. The primary
- name of each of the four files of a database is the name specified by the
- user when the database was originally created. The extensions for each
- of these files are as follows:
-
- .WB - WindBase database layout file.
- .DB - Database file.
- .IDX - Database index file.
- .WBN - Database bitmap file.
- .PRN - WindBase page layout file.
-
-
- When opening a database, any one of these files can be selected. Once
- the database has been selected, a database window will appear with the
- current database layout.
-
-
-
- OPENING A DATABASE DEFINITION
-
- An existing database definition can be opened by selection DATABASE
- DEFINITION and OPEN... from the FILE pulldown menu. A database definition
- that has been opened for modification can not have new database fields
- created. The only modifications that are allowed are resizing and
- repositioning of existing database fields. Once all of the modifications
- have been completed, select DATABASE DEFINITION and SAVE... from the
- FILE pulldown menu. If there is a need to add or delete a database field
- from an existing definition, this can be done as described in the CREATING A
- NEW DATABASE FROM AN EXISTING section and the DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT section.
-
-
-
- CREATING A NEW DATABASE FROM AN EXISTING
-
- A new database definition can be created from an existing definition
- by selection DATABASE DEFINITION and OPEN AS... from the FILE pulldown menu.
- The user will then be prompted to select an existing database definition
- to use as the template for the new database definition. Once a database
- definition template has been selection, a database definition window will
- appear containing all of the same fields that existed in the selected
- database definition template. The user can then add, modify or delete
- database fields as described in the Creating A Database Field Setting
- Attributes Of A Database Field and Deleting A Database Field sections
-
-
- DELETING A DATABASE
-
- To delete a database the user must open the database as described in
- the OPENING A DATABASE section. Once the database has been opened and
- selected, pull down the FILE menu and select DELETE DATABASE. A
- confirmation popup window will appear allowing the user to confirm the
- action. If the OK pushbutton is selected, the database along with its
- associated files will be deleted.
-
-
-
- DELETING DATABASE RECORDS ONLY
-
- To delete all of the database records without deleting the database
- definition, simply pulldown the FILE menu and select DELETE ALL RECORDS.
- A confirmation message box will appear prompting the user to confirm the
- delete all records action. If the user selects the YES pushbutton, WindBase
- will then delete all of the records from the currently selected database
- without deleting the definition.
-
-
- ENTERING AND EDITING DATA
-
- To enter and edit a record within a database the user must first open
- the database as described in the OPENING A DATABASE section. Data can be
- entered into any of the EDIT fields, CHECKBOXes or BITMAP fields. Once the
- desired data has been entered, select ADD from the RECORD pulldown menu.
- This will add the record to the database.
- Modifying a record can be done in the same manner. After the data has
- been completely modified, select MODIFY from the RECORD pulldown menu.
- Bitmap data can be pasted in from the clipboard or read in from a file
- by using the normal clipboard paste option under the EDIT pulldown menu or
- selecting the PASTE FROM A FILE option. Also by double clicking on a
- bitmap field, the user will be presented with a popup menu which will allow
- a bitmap to be stretched to fit within the bounds of the field or in normal
- view. The popup menu also provides the PASTE FROM A FILE functionality for
- reading in the bitmap data from a .BMP file.
-
-
-
- MOVING AROUND A DATABASE
-
- Searching and browsing through the records of a database can be done by
- selecting SEARCH, PREVIOUS and NEXT from the RECORD pulldown menu. To
- search for a specific record, simply enter in the data or part of the data
- into the field by which the database has been indexed. Then select SEARCH
- from the RECORD pulldown menu. WindBase will search the database for the
- first record that exactly matches or is the closest match to the data
- entered. By selecting the NEXT or PREVIOUS options from the RECORD
- pulldown menu, the user will be able to step through each record one by one
- forward or backward.
-
-
-
- DELETING A RECORD FROM THE DATABASE
-
- To delete a record from the database, simply select the record in the
- same manner as described in the MOVING AROUND A DATABASE section. Once the
- desired record has been selected pull down the RECORD menu and click on the
- DELETE option. A confirmation popup window will appear allowing the user
- to confirm or reject the action. If the user clicks on the YES pushbutton,
- the record will be deleted from the databases.
-
-
-
- DEFINING AN INDEX
-
- One of the selections under the FILE pulldown menu is the option to
- define or set a new default INDEX for a database. After selecting this
- option, a popup window will appear that contains two list boxes. The first
- list box on the left contains a list of the currently defined indexes for
- the selected database. By highlighting one of the index names in the list
- box, the name will appear in the entry field at the top right-hand side of
- the popup window. The second list box will display a list of the fields
- currently defined in the selected database with the selected index definition
- fields highlighted.
- A new index can be created by first entering in a new index name into
- the INDEX NAME entry field above the INDEX DEFINITION list box. Then by
- dragging and placing the database field names within the INDEX DEFINITION
- list box into the desired order and highlighting them by click on them with
- the mouse, the user is able to define a new index definition. After the
- new index has been defined, click on the DEFINE pushbutton beneath the
- INDEX DEFINITION list box and the index will be created and added to the
- current database index list. Once an index has been defined, it can not be
- modified or deleted. The only way to remove index definitions is by
- selecting the REINDEX option from the FILE/INDEX cascade menu. This option
- will remove all of the defined indexes and recreate the PHYSICAL and PRIMARY
- indexes.
-
-
-
- REINDEXING A DATABASE
-
- To reindex a database, first open the database as described in the
- OPENING A DATABASE section. Once the database has been opened and the
- database window selected, pulldown the FILE menu and select REINDEX from the
- INDEX cascade menu. This will remove all of the currently defined indexes
- for the selected database and restore the base PHYSICAL and PRIMARY indexes.
-
-
-
- LAYING OUT A PRINTER PAGE
-
- WindBase allows the user to print a database record in a different
- format than what was originally defined. Creating a printer definition
- is similar to creating a database definition. Select PAGE SETUP from the
- FILE pulldown menu. A database window will appear with the current database
- definition. When the page layout window is created, the working area is
- adjusted to reflect the current size of a physical printer page according
- to the printer definition. The working area can be scrolled within the
- printer page definition window by using the scroll bars along the sides of
- the window. If the printer page definition has not already been created,
- it will default to the current database definition. The database fields
- can be moved and resized as described in the MOVING AND RESIZING A DATABASE
- FIELD section. While in the printer page definition mode the user will not
- be able to create new EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP fields, but the user may
- create new TEXT fields. The user is also allowed to change the text of a
- CHECKBOX or any previously existing TEXT field. Once the printer page has
- been laid out as desired, select DATABASE DEFINITION and SAVE... from the
- FILE pulldown menu. The printer page definition will be saved and used
- whenever a record is printed from the corresponding database.
-
-
-
- PRINTING A RECORD
-
- To print a record, first select the desired record as described in the
- MOVING AROUND THE DATABASE section. After the desired record has be
- selected, pulldown the FILE menu and select PRINT. The current record will
- be printed using the defined printer page definition. (The printer page
- definition must have been defined as described in the LAYING OUT A PRINTER
- PAGE section.).
-
-
-
- VIEWING / MANIPULATING MULTIPLE DATABASES
-
- Because WindBase was implemented as a multiple document interface
- application, it allows the user to open, maintain and view more the one
- database at a time. As each database file is opened, WindBase creates a new
- database window and lays out the database on the working area. Switching
- from one database to another is as simple as placing the mouse cursor over
- the desired window and clicking the left mouse button. This will select
- that database and window as the current database. All of the WindBase menu
- options will then apply to that database. Each of the database windows can
- also be minimized to avoid cluttering up the desktop with too many windows.
- Then, as desired, each database window can be restored or minimized as the
- user moves from one database file to another.
-
-
-
- DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT
-
- WindBase will allow the user to import or export data from or to a text
- file. To import data from a text file, first open the database as described
- in the OPENING A DATABASE section. Once a database has been opened, select
- IMPORT from the FILE pulldown menu. The user will be prompted to select
- the text file containing the data to be imported. Once the import file has
- been selected, an import window will appear allowing the user to set the
- type of delimiter that WindBase should look for to delimit each field of a
- database record. After selecting a delimiter, the user should select the
- RESET FILE pushbutton. At this point WindBase will read in and display the
- first record from the import text file. The data import window also
- contains three options for importing the data. These three options are
- importing a SINGLE record at a time, importing ALL records at one time or
- importing a specified number of records. Once one of these options has
- been selected, the user can click on the IMPORT pushbutton to begin
- importing and adding the data to the database.
- There are also two other pushbuttons which allow the user to move
- through import data or cancel the import operation. These two pushbuttons
- are SKIP and CANCEL. By selecting the SKIP pushbutton, the current import
- record will be skipped and the next record will be read in and displayed.
- Data export is similar to data import. By selecting the EXPORT menu
- option, the user will be prompted to specify an export file name after which
- an export window will appear that looks similar to the import window with
- the exception of the ADD RECORD TERMINATOR checkbox. This checkbox
- instructs WindBase to add a carriage return and line feed to the end of
- each record regardless of the selected field delimiter. This allows the
- resulting output to be written in a format that is more suitable for
- reporting. As described above the user should specify the field delimiter
- and export option WindBase should use. Then by clicking on the EXPORT
- pushbutton, WindBase will export the data into a text file.
-
-
- MENU OPTIONS
-
- FILE MENU
- OPEN DATABASE - Open an existing database for uses or modification.
- DATABASE DEFINITION
- NEW - Create an empty database layout window.
- OPEN... - Open an existing database for user or modification.
- OPEN AS... - Open an existing database definition as a template
- for creating a new database.
- SAVE... - Save the currently selected database or printer page
- definition.
- DELETE DATABASE - Delete the currently selected database and the
- associated files.
- DELETE ALL RECORDS - Delete all records in the currently selected
- database.
- INDEX
- DEFINE/SET DEFAULT - Define and set the default indexes for the
- currently selected database.
- REINDEX - Reindex the currently selected database.
- IMPORT - Import data from a text file.
- EXPORT - Export data to a text file.
- PAGE SETUP - Create or modify the printer page layout for the
- currently selected database.
- PRINT - Print the active record from the currently selected database.
- PRINTER SETUP - Change the printer attributes
- EXIT - Close all open databases and exit WindBase.
-
- EDIT MENU
- UNDO - Undo the last entry field action.
- CUT - Cut the currently selected entry field text to the clipboard.
- COPY - Copy the currently selected entry field text to the clipboard.
- PASTE - Page the clipboard contents to the currently selected entry
- field.
- PASTE FROM FILE - Paste a bitmap from a file.
- CLEAR - Clear the currently selected entry field text.
- SELECT ALL - Select all of the text in the currently selected entry
- field.
-
- RECORD MENU
- ADD - Add a record to the currently selected database.
- MODIFY - Modify a record in the currently selected database.
- DELETE - Delete a record from the currently selected database.
- CLEAR - Clear all fields in the currently selected database window.
- SEARCH - Search for a record in the currently selected database
- based on the selected index.
- NEXT - Display the next record in the currently selected database
- based on the selected index.
- PREVIOUS - Display the previous record in the currently selected
- database based on the selected index.
- FIRST - Display the first record in the currently selected database
- based on the selected index.
- LAST - Display the last record in the currently selected database
- based on the selected index.
-
- DEFINE MENU
- TEXT - Create a Text field in the currently selected database window.
- EDIT - Create an edit field in the currently selected database window.
- CHECKBOX - Create a checkbox field in the currently selected
- database window.
- BITMAP - Create a bitmap field in the currently selected database
- window.
- STYLES - Modify the attributes of the selected field in the
- currently selected database window.
- DELETE - Delete the selected field in the currently selected
- database window.
- TITLE - Modify the title of the currently selected database window.
- FONT - Select a new font for the currently selected database window.
-
- WINDOW MENU
- TILE - Tile all open database windows within the WindBase main window.
- CASCADE - Cascade all open database windows within the WindBase
- main window.
- ARRANGE ICONS - Arrange all database window icons within the
- WindBase main window.
- CLOSE ALL - Close all open database windows.
-
- HELP MENU
- INDEX - Display the WindBase help file.
- ABOUT - Display the WindBase About Box.
-
-
-
- SPECIAL FEATURES
-
- DRAG AND DROP - Whenever an item such as a database field is being
- repositioned within a database definition window , the item may be dragged
- and dropped. This means that an item can be selected with the mouse
- pointer, and while holding the mouse button down, move the pointer to a new
- position. When the mouse button is released the selected item will be
- placed at the mouse pointer position.
-
- CLIPBOARD - The clipboard is a convenient way of transferring data
- between WindBase and other Windows applications or between different
- WindBase databases or records. To use the clipboard functions simply
- highlight any text that is displayed in an entry field, pull down the
- EDIT menu and choose COPY or CUT. The COPY function will place a copy of
- the highlighted text in the Windows clipboard. The CUT function also
- places the highlighted text in the clipboard but also removes it from
- the entry field. To retrieve text from the clipboard, place the cursor
- at the position inside an entry field where the clipboard text should be
- inserted or appended. Then pull down the EDIT menu and choose PASTE. The
- clipboard text will be placed in the entry field at the cursor position.
-
-
-
- ENHANCEMENTS
-
- The following is a list of the new features and enhancements that have
- been included in version 2.0 of WindBase:
-
- o Data Import and Export functionality.
- o Database Text and Printing Font Selection Per Database Definition.
- o Ability to Store and Retrieve Bitmap Graphical Data.
- o Addition of Windows 3.1 File Open, Save As... and Font dialogs
-
-
- EXITING
-
- When you have finished using WindBase, you should exit via the EXIT
- selection from the main window's FILE menu. If you forget and turn your
- computer off before exiting, WindBase can not guarantee that your database
- files have been saved completely. It is very important that you always exit
- WindBase via this selection.
-
-
- NickleWare
- Copyright (C) 1990-93 Bradley Nicholes
- CompuServe: 72730,1002
-
-
- This documentation must accompany the WindBase software.
-
- NickleWare or Bradley Nicholes shall not be liable for any damages, whether
- direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from the use or failure
- of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user.
-
-