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HALCYON
Version 3.0
GRIFFIN SOLUTIONS
dBase III, IV access
12 August 1993
(C) Copyright 1991,1992, 1993 - All Rights reserved
Griffin Solutions
102 Molded Stone Place
Warner Robins, Georgia 31088
Voice: (912) 953-2680
Fax: (912) 953-5517
CompuServe: 75206.231
The Consultant BBS: (718) 837 3236
---------------------------------------------------------------
These Turbo Pascal routines handle processing for dBase III/IV
files, including memo (.DBT), index (.NDX), and data (.DBF) files.
Use is made of object oriented programming to simplify the user
interface. Examples of the user interface is demonstrated in the
sample programs.
This release is valid for reading and writing of data, index, and
memo files. Routines will compile under TP 5.5, TP 6.0, TP 7.0,
and Turbo Pascal for Windows.
HALCYON was previously named GS_DBASE. The name was changed to
emphasize how serene the routines make dBase file access pro-
gramming.
--------------------------------------
dBase is a trademark of Ashton-Tate
Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland International, Inc
Griffin Solutions
INTRODUCTION
1. FEATURES
Welcome to HALCYON, a series of Turbo Pascal routines for management of
dBase III and IV files. The routines are designed to do the following:
- Provide a simple user interface to read and write dBase III and IV
files in a network environment.
- Allow creation, use and updating of multiple dBase .NDX index files in
reading and updating the dBase III and IV data (DBF) files. The .MDX index
files are not supported (This may change if demand warrants).
- Allow creation, use and updating of multiple Clipper .NTX index files
in reading and updating the dBase III data (DBF) files.
- Allow reading and updating of .DBT memo file entries.
- Allow creation of new dBase III or IV files. These routines will work
with either dBase III and IV memo file structures. However, these formats
are not interchangeable.
- Provide expanded routines to display, edit, and update dBase files.
- Provide a file handler interface that provides a simple disk management
capability including file sharing for LANs.
- Allow operation under all versions of Object Oriented Turbo Pascal,
including Turbo Pascal for Windows.
- Do all of the above using only Turbo Pascal--no assembly routines are
used.
- Apply Object Oriented Programming to create easily usable modules.
One significant difference between version 3.0 and previous releases is the
elimination of Griffin Solutions unique window routines. These were mainly
included to allow demonstration of the routines and were not intended to be
central to the database engine routines. They have been eliminated to allow
better interface to MicroSoft Windows and Borland TurboVision, as well as
the many commercial, shareware, and public domain windowing packages. If
there is enough demand, the old window routines will be dusted off, polished
up, and provided as a separate package at minimal cost.
2. SHAREWARE
HALCYON is copyrighted. It is not a public domain program. It is being
distributed as Shareware, which means that unmodified copies of the software
and documentation may be freely copied and shared. I ask in return that
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should you find HALCYON to be useful, you become a registered user. You
become registered by filling out the order form at the end of this paper
and including a check for $89.95. For your convenience, the order form is
included as a separate file as well (ORDER.FRM). Alternatively, you may
order online through CompuServe. Type GO SWREG, and register Software
Registration Number 765.
By registering you will get:
o A copy of the latest version of the program, including all the
source code for all units.
o The right to use the Griffin Solutions routines in your
programs, including any commercial application. (This
right does not extend to distributing the Griffin Solutions
source code. Executable code may be freely distributed)
o Automatic notification of major program updates.
o Technical support (one year).
o A printed user's manual with expanded tutorial software
The shareware philosophy is to pay smaller amounts for well-crafted and
useful software from developers who cannot spend the millions of dollars on
marketing necessary to compete with the large software development
companies. You benefit by being able to try a wider variety of software
products to find the ones that suit your particular purpose. And the trial
is free. The shareware developer benefits from being able to distribute his
work to a wider audience than would be possible through normal channels.
Your share of the responsibility for shareware to continue, and to support
the development of more and better products is to distribute your shareware
programs to others and become a registered user of those products you like
and use.
Technical support is available through the following sources:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┐
│ Mail: Griffin Solutions │ Telephone: (912) 953-2680 │
│ 102 Molded Stone Place │ Fax: (912) 953-5517 │
│ Warner Robins, Georgia 31088, USA │ CompuServe: 75206.231 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────┤
│ The Consultant BBS, at 718-837-3236, supporting v32bis/HST at speeds │
│ from 1200 to 16.8Kbps. This 4-node ASP-approved BBS features author- │
│ direct shareware. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
3. GETTING STARTED
This section will acquaint you with the files on the distribution disk and
show you a demonstration to quickly see what HALCYON can accomplish.
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Griffin Solutions
HALCYON Units:
--------------
GS_BUILD.PAS TPU Builder
GSOBSHEL.PAS Primary user interface to HALCYON
GSOB_DBF.PAS Basic dBase file handling routines
GSOB_DBS.PAS Advanced dBase routines
GSOB_DSK.PAS Disk I/O routines
GSOB_DTE.PAS Date handling routines
GSOB_EDT.PAS Editor routines (non-Windows)
GSOB_FLP.PAS Floating point conversion
GSOB_GEN.PAS Generate test dBase files
GSOB_INX.PAS Virtual table routines
GSOB_MMO.PAS Memo file routines
GSOB_NDX.PAS Index routines (dBase .NDX)
GSOB_NTX.PAS Index routines (Clipper .NTX)
GSOB_OBJ.PAS Basic object structures
GSOB_STR.PAS String handling routines
GSOB_VAR.PAS Global variables
GSV_FLDS.PAS Field handling for TurboVision
GSXT_BRO.PAS File Browser Unit
GSXT_SCH.PAS File Searcher Unit
Text Files:
-----------
CHANGES .TXT Latest version changes
GS_HELP .ASC Basic Documentation for HALCYON
ORDER .FRM Registration Form
READ .ME Quick introduction file
TESTDATA.FIL Data to construct test files
WISDOM .FIL Quotes to construct memo records
Demonstration Files:
--------------------
GSDMO_01.PAS DBase File Creator
GSDMO_02.PAS DBase File Lister
GSDMO_03.PAS DBase File Formated Lister
GSDMO_04.PAS DBase File Updating
GSDMO_05.PAS DBase File Appending
GSDMO_06.PAS DBase File Indexing
GSDMO_07.PAS DBase Memo File Lister
GSDMO_08.PAS DBase File Structure Lister
GSDMO_09.PAS DBase Index Creator
GSDMO_10.PAS DBase Multiple Indexes
GSDMO_11.PAS DBase Relational File Maker
GSDMO_12.PAS DBase Relational File Linkage
GSDMO_13.PAS DBase Relational File Linkage
GSDMO_14.PAS DBase File Maker
GSDMO_15.PAS DBase File and Memo Builder
GSDMO_16.PAS DBase File/Memo Editor (External)
GSDMO_17.PAS DBase Status Checker
GSDMO_18.PAS DBase Error Handler
GSDMO_19.PAS DBase File Sorting
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Griffin Solutions
Demonstration Files (Other Than dBase Engine):
----------------------------------------------
GSDMO_20.PAS DBase Reindexing
GSDMO_21.PAS DBase Copy File and Structure
GSDMO_22.PAS Getting More Files Open
GSDMO_23.PAS DBase Filters
GSDMO_ED.PAS DBase Editor
GSDMO_VU.PAS DBase Viewer
GSDMOTV1.PAS DBase File Display
GSDMOTV2.PAS DBase File Display
SHOWOFF .EXE Demonstration program
SHOWOFF .PAS Demonstration program source
SMPLSTUF.PAS Extra screen display routines
TESTBROW.PAS File Browser Demonstration
TESTFIND.PAS Record Finder Demonstration
TESTFRM1.PAS User-assigned Formulas for Indexes (#1)
TESTFRM2.PAS User-assigned Formulas for Indexes (#2)
TESTPICK.PAS Using a Pick List for dBase Records
TESTSCH1.PAS Searching a dBase File for Key Word
TESTSCH2.PAS Searching with Progress Reporting
TUTOR1 .DBF Demonstration sample dBase File
XTRASTUF.PAS Extra dBAse field display routines
External Editor Files: (Public domain, used to show external editor call)
----------------------
TE .DOC TE 2.5 User's Guide (10 pages)
TE .EXE The actual Text Editor program
TEG .HLP TE 2.5 Command Summary (1 page)
TEMOD .EXE Utility to change TE.EXE options
TEREAD .1ST Information file
Installation
Installation consists of copying these files to your hard disk. The basic
documentation (61 pages) may be printed by typing 'COPY GS_HELP.ASC PRN' at
the DOS prompt. It is formatted for 8.5" X 11" paper and 10-pitch font.
Demonstration
You can run SHOWOFF.EXE to get an immediate feel for the capabilities in
the HALCYON library of routines. The source is also included. This
program is a data file browser/editor that is very useful for examining the
data files that are created and modified in the remaining demonstration
programs.
1. Execute the program, and look at the screen display. You have a
choice of File, Index, Edit, Append, Browse, and Quit. You must
select File before any other choice (except Quit) can be selected.
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Griffin Solutions
2. By pressing Return with File highlighted, a directory of all .DBF
files will be displayed, along with the other directories and drives
that may be selected. Choose a file. If you don't have any, you
can use TUTOR1.DBF, included with these files.
3. Once a file is selected, an existing index (.NDX) file can be chosen
if it exists. This is done through the Index selection.
4. You may now Edit, Append, or Browse the file. Help information is
for these functions is available by pressing F1 in the function.
5. A new file may be opened by returning to the File menu selection.
To get the feeling of the speed and features of HALCYON, run the set of
demonstration programs starting with GSDMO_01.PAS. These are described in
the basic documentation and within the source program itself.
4. CHANGES
Major changes in HALCYON Version 3.0:
──────────────────────────────────────
- A new user interface is included that makes the 'object' part of
object oriented programming transparent. The programmer simply uses a
set of commands similar to the dBase commands to control the file access.
- The routines work under all versions of Turbo Pascal from 5.5 on
through 7.0. The routines work equally well in Turbo Pascal for windows.
Routines will work in real or protected mode.
- File sharing is allowed in network environments.
- File sorting is allowed.
- File copying, and copying of the file structure only, is allowed.
- File filters are permitted by hooking user routines to file reads.
The user interface required to set up the hook is minimal.
- More than 15 files can be used at the same time by using a command
to increase the number of files available.
- Index processing is much faster in version 3.0.
- Reindexing has been added to simplify Pack operations. All open
index files are reindexed automatically upon a call to Reindex.
- The number of indexes allowed per file is increased to 64. This
can be changed by the programmed.
- The user has the ability to hook status and error reports to take
whatever actions are needed.
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Griffin Solutions
Major changes in GS_dBase Version 2.8:
──────────────────────────────────────
- Multiple indexes (up to 16) are allowed.
- Clipper indexes (.NTX) are allowed to replace .NDX files by changing
one Uses statement in GS_DBASE.PAS.
- A File_TOF flag is added to test when access to a Prev_Record
record is made while at the top of the file.
- Required memory is reduced by 10K by eliminating the numeric
coprocessor emulation to handle numeric key expressions for .NDX files.
- Disk cache routines are eliminated in GS_FileH. Processing speed
is maintained by adding a node 'stack' in index processing to handle the
most frequently used index nodes.
- A 'Zap' procedure is now included.
Major changes in GS_dBase Version 2.5:
──────────────────────────────────────
- Dates are now handled as longint values using their Julian Date.
This simplifies date calculations. See GS_Date unit for details.
- A windows interface is added to facilitate use of other window
handling packages to replace GS_Wind. GS_Wind is renamed GS_Windw.
- Additional string handling functions have been added.
- A StatusUpdate routine is available to allow the programmer to
capture the progress of long-running routines such as Pack and IndexTo.
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GRIFFIN SOLUTIONS
ORDER/REGISTRATION FORM
Quan. Program Unit Price Total
____ HALCYON Ver 3.0 $89.95 _______
____ HALCYON Ver 3.0 $25.00 _______
(Upgrade for Registered Users of)
(GS_dBase 2.8 and earlier )
____ GS_dBase Ver 2.9 $25.00 _______
Overseas Shipping $5.00 _______
Total: _______
_____ I have included a check for : _______
(Canadians send Canadian POSTAL MONEY ORDER made payable in US $.)
DISK SIZE (circle one): 5.25" (360K) 3.5" (720K)
5.25" (1.2M) 3.5" (1.4M)
** Includes one year free support.
YOUR NAME: ________________________ COMPANY: _____________________
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________
CITY: _____________________________ STATE: ____ ZIP: ____________
DAY TIME PHONE (in case of questions): ___________________________
How did you hear about this program? : ___________________________
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SHAREWARE!
Griffin Solutions
102 Molded Stone Place
Warner Robins, Georgia 31088
Voice: (912) 953-2680
Fax: (912) 953-5517
CompuServe: 75206.231
The Consultant BBS: (718) 837 3236