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MAG RakDb v1.8S
UpDate
(C)opyright 1991,1992
by SOFTreat
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
* * *
MAG RakDb WHATSNEW Update
Page 1
Version 1.7S
This document contains new information that is not found in
the 'MAGRAKDB.DOC' manual and reflects changes and
enhancements since the first release (v1.00). Data from any
previous version of MAG RakDb is compatible with this version
without change.
If you are a registered user of MAG RakDb and wish to obtain
the complete updated Technical Information Manual send $12.50
and your request to: (Include your Serial Number)
SOFTreat
c/o MAGRAK
Rt. 2, Box 67-S
Youngsville, NC 27596
Updating from an earlier version..
Copy the contents of this release into the same directory
that MAG RakDb currently resides in.
To run MAG RakDb, type MAGRAKDB or GO and press enter.
MAG RakDb will determine that the category & magazine
databases do not exist and will attempt to create and index
them, as indicated by the system messages. Once all of the
necessary files have been created, you will need to add
data to the new database files. To do this simply go to
the 'Top' of the database and select the EDIT function.
The first field in the database is the MAGAZINE field and
the cursor will be positioned here. The field should
contain the name of a magazine that has already been used.
Press the enter key and MAG RakDb will find that this item
does not exist in the database. Follow the system prompts
and add this magazine to the MAGAZINE database. Return to
the editing screen and do the same procedure for the
category field. Continue this procedure for all of the
existing records in the database.
CHANGES and ENHANCEMENTS.......
1> The lookup functions activated by keys F1 & F2 during an
'ADD' or 'EDIT' function and have been replaced by an
automatic lookup table. By entering the MAGAZINE or
CATEGORY fields data, MAG RakDb will now search the new
MAGAZINE or CATEGORY database files for a match. If a
match is found then the lookup table window will not be
invoked, however, by entering data that does not currently
reside in the respective database, a lookup table will be
presented with the respective data presented in
alphabetical order. Moving the menu bar to an item in the
list will select that item and insert the data in the
respective field. Also, a 'HUNT' feature has been
included that will speed the time taken to find an item
for selection from the list. To utilize the 'HUNT'
feature, simply type the first few characters of the item
you wish to find, ie. if you are looking for the MAGAZINE
SOFTreat Rt. 2, Box 67-S Youngsville, NC 27596
BBS (919) 556-0159
MAG RakDb WHATSNEW Update
Page 2
'Popular Mechanics' type 'PO' and the list will
automatically jump to the item that contains those
letters. Once the item is found, just highlight it with
the menu bar and press [enter]. Selecting ESC from the
lookup table will present a menu containing pushbuttons
for various selections that will enable you to
edit/modify/del or print the data in the respective
database. Selection of the buttons is accomplished by
pressing the 'first' letter in the word of the button or
by moving the highlight to the desired button using the
left or right arrow keys and pressing [enter].
2> The addition of two new databases
MAGAZINE.dbf ... Contains the NAME of the magazines
currently in use.
CATEGORY.dbf ... Contains the current CATEGORIES in use.
3> The SEARCH & QKSEARCH functions have been enhanced to
provide more output capability. Search will now allow the
user to 'Collect' the results of the search being
preformed into an editable text file that may be printed
or saved to a disk file for future use. This is a big
help when searching large database files where the number
of selections can be large. The user may still elect to
search the database record by record as before.
When one of the search functions has been selected, MAG
RakDb will allow the user to select whether they want to
'collect the search results' or not. Selecting yes, will
prompt the user with the choice of including the 'article
summary' text in the search summary results. If yes is
selected, be prepared for a 'large' summary file to be
produced (select your search criteria wisely). Once
initiated, MAG RakDb will begin it's search of the records
for the desired 'search data' and report to the screen the
number of records found that contain the data being
searched for. Upon completion, a window will appear
containing the record number, MAGAZINE name & Issue date
of all the records found to contain the search data.
You may now at this point review the list and determine
if you wish to retain any or all of the records in the
list for inclusion into the 'to be created' search summary
text file. To 'include' a record in the list, place the
menu bar on the desired item and press the 'SPACE BAR'.
An arrow to the left of the item will appear indicating
that this item is marked for inclusion in the 'search
summary' file. To 'UnMark' an item, simply press the
space bar a second time and the ARROW will disappear.
Once you have selected all of the records needed for the
summary, press the [ENTER] key and MAG RakDb will compile
the selected records into an editable text file.
The text file, always named 'TEMPTXT.TXT', will be
presented for editing and reviewing in a window. Use the
F1 key to obtain additional help on how to edit, print,
save, etc. the data.
SOFTreat Rt. 2, Box 67-S Youngsville, NC 27596
BBS (919) 556-0159
MAG RakDb WHATSNEW Update
Page 3
4> Two new menu commands have been added to facilitate the
maintenance of the new MAGAZINE and CATEGORY database
files. Selecting 'Y' or CATEGORY , or 'Z' or MAGAZINE will
enter into the respective database maintenance menus. You
may ADD, DELETE, EDIT records in the database as well as
get a printed report of the contents of each database.
5> CATEGORY.RPT and MAGAZINE.RPT files have been added to the
distribution file.
6> FIND function added...
You may now locate a specific record in the database by
using the FIND function. FIND is activated by the
selection of the letter 'F' or by placing the menu bar on
the FIND item in the menu and pressing [enter]. FIND will
locate the 'first' record in the database that matches or
closely matches the search data entered at the prompt.
For instance, if you wish to locate the record containing
the category of GRAPHICS and the current 'index' is set to
CATEGORY, then enter GRAPHICS at the 'find' prompt and MAG
RakDb will position the database to the first record that
matches the key.
Minor changes have also been implemented to the display
screen to hopefully increase readability and enhance it's
appearance. Suggestions and feedback are always welcome.
Many thanks to the registered users of MAG RakDb for their
support and enthusiasm in our ongoing efforts.
Version 1.8S
Effective March 1992, the following additions have been
incorporated into MAG RakDb. If you are an earlier user of
this software and have an existing database, MAG RakDb will
inform you that an earlier version was detected and will
allow you update the file to the current version. The user
is given the opportunity to abort if desired, however, you
must allow the conversion to run, in order to use this latest
version.
New Additions....
MAG RakDb has an added satellite database file that contains
the following fields...
CATALOG_ID .... Auto incrementing field for use as a
document identification number, useful
for tagging an article 'torn' out of
journals that no longer contain the
origin (source) data, text files created
by scanning and OCR, etc. This field
constitutes the 2nd part or 'suffix' of
a two part key.
SOFTreat Rt. 2, Box 67-S Youngsville, NC 27596
BBS (919) 556-0159
MAG RakDb WHATSNEW Update
Page 4
GROUP ......... GROUP allows the user to assign this
catalog a 'prefix' to be used in
conjunction with the CATALOG_ID field
mentioned above. Examples may be
TABLOIDS, MEDICAL-DENTAL, MEDICAL
PHARMACUTICAL, COMPUTER, SCIENCE-
ASTROLOGY, etc. This scheme will help
in organizing the 'physical' storage of
material cataloged.
DESCRIPTION .. A definitive phrase that further
describes this catalog_id.
The CATALOG-ID field is an auto-incrementing number and will
always advance to the next number following the last record
entry in the database. This will guarantee uniqeness in the
number, however, provisions are made that allow you edit the
number if you desire.
SOFTreat
SOFTreat Rt. 2, Box 67-S Youngsville, NC 27596
BBS (919) 556-0159