Branch is a branching or binary database. This merely means that items are classified in terms of questions that can divide them into two categories by a simple "Yes" or "No" response. The number of applicationms for such a database are very wide- as an example the whole of the animal kingdom is classified through a key of this type eg:
Does it breath - yes - its an animal
Does it lay eggs - no - Its not a bird or reptile
Does it suckle its young - yes - Its a mammal
In three questions we have eliminated millions and millions of other species! [Think of all those insects and other mini beasts that could have been in question]
The national curriculum specifies that children should be using "appropriate databases". In the case of classification the field entry types are of limited value and are certainly not the final word on information handling!
Starting off:
Load up the program by double clicking on !system then !HelixSys and finally !Branch (This sounds like a lot of clicking but is only necessary to make sure that the system is from this disc and that the Helix basic public domain module is loaded before using any of the helix basic programs. At this point you will need to wait as the program loads up and places its symbol on the icon bar. From here click on the wordgames icon to use the program.
You are greeted with a title screen and if may click on "Start" you will then move to the menu.
How to load another database:
If you want to use a file of your choice (as an automatic start the file specified by the Default file is loaded) then you can select the "Branches" option from the icon menu (click the middle button over the !Branches icon on the icon bar) and then drag the file of your choice onto it.
Use of the program:
!Branch is written in Helix Basic (more on this later) but from a users point of view operastes as a normal RISC OS program once you have clicked on the !HelixSys and !system directories. To start the program double click on the !Branch icon and wait whilst the program and resources are loaded.
Click on the tree sign that is now sitting on the icon bar with the left hand button to start the program.
Initial Screen:
The initial screen appears on the monitor and can be moved as is normal with RISC OS applications. Two methods are available for continuation to the main menu, either click on the Start button or press the middle ("menu") button and select "start"
You should now have the initial menu on the screen which has options to:
1. Guess the item
2. Load a new file
3. See the choices
4. Save the file
5. Exit the program
To select a choice just click on the menu item that you require. You will note that at the bottom of the menu is an indication of the current menu selection which will be operated once the "Start" button is clicked.
The program itself will insert the file name into each of the choices so that the first menu entry will become "Guess the people" if the file in use is called "People".
1. Guess the item:
Once you have chosen this option the menu screen will close and the first question in the file will appear with an option to select either Yes or NO as responses.
Click on the response that is correct for the question eg
Is it a woman? yes or no
and follow the next series of questions through until either the item hjas been identified or the program gives up with a "I give up" message.
In the second case enter your new item and then phrase a question that will seperate the two itrems aned can be answered with eiother yes or no. Clixk on the answer that
And finally:
I'm not sure whether Helix basic suffers every now and then with its interface to RISC OS and gets an abort on data transfer message. Certainly if you try and zoom through the options an error can sometimes occur.Its either a limitation of my programming ( a probable cause) or the interface. Either way its a rare occurrence but it has been seen.
If you make a terrific application suitable for distribution as an example on the disc, let me have a copy and I'll send you an update of the program!
Dave Walsh
iTa
Information Training and Advice
37 Gainsborough Drive
Beltinge
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 6QJ
This program is public domain. It was written to support schools in the East Kent Archimedes User group but the copyright to the program/code and views outlined in the documentation are mine. The documentation and program should not be separated off the disc before distribution. The program is "as is" and, although I would be interested to hear of ideas for future update and current bugs there can be no commitment of support of the product.
