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Gold Medal Software 3
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Gold Medal Software - Volume 3 (Gold Medal) (1994).iso
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ddf606a.arj
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HELPDOC.EXE
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DUPS.HLP
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╒═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ Searching for Duplicates │
╘═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
To search for duplicate records, select "Duplicate Records Search" in
the main menu.
If the message "An index must be active to search duplicates."
appears, you will need to select an index file as the Controlling
index. You are given a chance to select a Controlling Index at this
time. Refer to "Creating/Selecting Index Files" in the on-line
documentation for more on index files and their usage.
If the message "Field to be used for Duplicate Search has not been
assigned." appears you will be given a chance at this time to assign
a logical field to be used for duplicate checking.
If you do not have a logical field in your database that can be used
exclusively for this purpose, you will need to modify the database to
include one. To do this, you will first need to close the database,
then modify it with the "Create/Modify Database Files" command. See
"Creating/Modifying a Database" in the on-line documentation. In the
provided SAMPLE.DBF file, the Duplicate field is called DUPLICATES.
Once you have added the logical field, you will need to assign it as
the Duplicate Search Field. You can either repeat the steps you took
earlier or refer to "General Setup" in the main menu then "Field
Assignment". See "General Setup" in the on-line documentation for
more on field assignment.
If a filter exists, it will be turned off.
If the index key can not be found in the index file, "Error in index
file. Can not find index key. Press any key..." will display and
abort duplicate search. Recreate index and try again.
Duplicates are looked for in the fields the selected (controlling)
index was created on. If, for example, the selected index file was
created on LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, and ZIP CODE. Duplicates will be
any two or more records with the same content in all three fields. If
only a portion of the fields were used in the index file, only that
portion will be looked at when checking for duplicates.
Next, "Do you want to automatically Mark duplicates? (Y/N)" will
display. This will automatically Mark (for deletion) records that
appear to be duplicates.
If Yes, and if there are currently any marked records in the
database, you will be informed so and allowed to unmark them
before proceeding. At the end of this procedure you are asked if
you want to delete the marked records at this time. If No, you
can always select "<F6> Pack" while editing records to delete
Marked records.
If No, the dup field will be set to T for all records that match;
both the original and any duplicates and a filter is set to these
records. After completion, you can view the records and then Mark
and delete the ones that are duplicates.