Choosing this option opens a dialog menu, from which you can change the current bibliography file and/or the current dump file. BibDB has the capability to store the name and current position of up to eight bibliography files in memory, to enable easy switching between them. When switching to a new bibliography file, BibDB remembers the current position, and restores it if and when you return to that file.
Operating the file exchange menu is as follows. The arrows move the cursor between the files. You can also move directly to a file by entering its serial number, or `D' for the dump file. The ``—>'' pointer points to the current bibliography file. Pressing `C' moves the pointer to the cursor, making the designated file current, while pressing ``ALT-<n>" will move both the bar and the pointer to file number ``n". Pressing `[space]' lets you edit the file name. Pressing `[enter]' leaves the menu, keeping your selection, while `[Esc]' leaves the menu without changing the current file. Using the mouse, click on the appropriate file to edit it. Clicking on the file prefixes moves the cursor, while clicking above or below the pointer, or double clicking on the prefixes moves the current file selection. You may enter a file designator including the usual DOS wildcard characters ``*'' and ``?'', in which case a list with all files found will open, and you will be prompted for a selection.
A powerful feature of BibBD is the link mode. When this mode is switched on, a logical linkage is created between all valid files stored in BibDB's memory. The program then regards all the files as one logical file, for the purpose of searching and viewing (NOT editing). Thus one can combine the convenience of having several separate, relatively small bibliography files, with the capability to do a joint search and view, as if one had only a single, large file. The link mode can be switched on in the command line, and toggled in the ``Files'' screen by pressing `L' or `U'. Mouse users can also toggle the link mode by clicking on the `[link]' or `[unlink]' box. Whenever the link mode is on, a schematic drawing of the linkage paths can be seen on the screen. Note that the bibliography file names can not be edited while in link mode. Additionally, BibDB is effectively put into read-only mode while in link mode.
For the forgetful, pressing `F1' will pop up a brief help screen.