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READ_ME.1ST
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1993-01-04
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Important Notes On Using The DataBase Structure Manager
The DataBase Structure Manager (DBSM) is a data dictionary system
specifically designed to manage Dbase-type relational database systems.
It provides the ability to maintain multiple database data field
specifications and to create database structures according to their
dictionary specifications. It effectively replaces the dBASE III PLUS
CREATE and MODIFY STRUCTURE commands with a more comprehensive and
controlled development process. The database structures may be created
in the dBASE III PLUS/FoxBase file format or Clipper file format
depending on the database type specified in the configuration settings.
Please read the documentation section on "Urgent Information" in the
DBSM.DOC file before doing any serious work with this system. There are
some critical elements that will help you to use this system properly.
The three most important of these are information on the DBSM dictionary
files which this system maintains (ie., deletes and/or recreates as it
sees fit), the configuration settings, and the methods required to
optimize memory allocation.
When this program is first run in any directory, it will need to create
the dictionary database files. One of these files is the configuration
master file which maintains custom configuration information for your
application. Some information should be provided. I suggest that you
only be concerned with some of the most obvious configuration settings
(Company name, Application system name, Default printer type, and
Database system type). If you do not understand what a setting is for,
it is probably best to leave it at the default value. You may want
refer to the appropriate section in the documentation to understand the
configuration settings better (Please refer to Utilities - Configuration
Settings).
The documentation files (DBSM.DOC and DBSMIMP.DOC) have been created
with a maximum of 60 lines per page. A form feed printer control
character is used to perform a printer page eject after every page. You
may use the first page printed from each of the documentation files as a
guide to knowing if the printer page is aligned correctly. If the first
documentation page prints within the boundaries of the physical page,
then all pages should fit on the page. (This, of course, assumes that
the printer settings accurately define the page size.)
There is a fairly extensive introduction to the purpose and features of
the DBSM beginning on page 1 of the DBSM documentation. If you are
unfamiliar with database dictionaries, I suggest your taking time to
read this section.
The installation instructions in the DBSM documentation covers
installation for both hard drives and diskette drives. Please be sure
to read the appropriate installation information and the documentation
section on System Configuration before running the system. If the
"FILES=..." parameter is not set properly, the system will abnormally
terminate. The System Configuration information details the necessary
information required to correctly set the "FILES=..." parameter.
Page 2
Once the installation procedure has been completed, I suggest getting to
know this system using COPIES of databases from an existing Dbase
application. Possibly one of the best methods to get to know this
system is to create a "test subdirectory" and COPY (not move) some or
all of the databases you have for an existing Dbase system into it.
Once the directory is setup with the copied databases, use the DataBase
Structure Import Utility (DBSMIMP.EXE) to load up the DBSM dictionary
with the structure information from your application databases. Once
this is accomplished, use the DataBase Structure Manager (DBSM.EXE) to
maintain the database dictionary information.
You should be aware that the DBSM system does not allow data fields of
the same name to be defined differently. That is, it will not allow a
data field named "VENDORID" to be a numeric data type in one database
and a character data type in another database. If the Structure Import
Utility recognizes an inconsistent data field name definition, it will
report the error and it will not import the inconsistent data
definition.
The following is a description of all DBSM files:
READ_ME.1ST Important notes on using DBSM.
DBSM.EXE DataBase Structure Manager executable program.
DBSM.DOC DataBase Structure Manager documentation.
DBSMIMP.EXE DBSM Structure Import Utility executable program.
DBSMIMP.DOC DBSM Structure Import Utility documentation.
Thank you for taking the time to read these comments. I hope that you
will find the DBSM system helpful in your database development efforts.
Sincerely,
Don Gibbard
Progressive Data Systems
P.O. Box 631
Middleton, WI 53562
Phone (608) 836-5075