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____________| _________________________________________
Basic Instructions
Written by Thomas J. Mosbo
Copyright (c) 1991
WYNDWARE
One Parker Place, Suite 308
Janesville, WI 53545 U.S.A.
(608) 755-1628
(800) 475-1628
_______
____|__ | (R)
---| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
------| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
Table of Contents
I. Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
II. WYNDFIELDS Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
III. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
IV. Using the Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
V. Getting Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
VI. Viewing Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
VII. Working with Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
VIII. Database Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
IX. Indexing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
X. Finding Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
XI. Designing Labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
XII. Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
XIII. Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
XIV. Wyndware Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
XV. Why Register? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
At the end of most sections are a series of exercises which together
form a mini-tutorial. These exercises follow a logical progression,
building on what was done in previous exercises. It is therefore
recommended that the exercises be followed in order as presented
throughout this booklet.
3
I. INTRODUCTION
WYNDFIELDS is a general purpose Database program, useful for
keeping track of any type of structured information. Data may be
added, changed, removed, found, displayed, analyzed, and printed
easily using the friendly pull-down Menu System.
Creating and printing Mailing Labels or detailed Reports can be
accomplished painlessly from within the program. Multiple Indices
(ways of ordering your data) are maintained automatically for you, and
several methods are available for extracting exactly the information
you need from your files. For more advanced users, WYNDFIELDS also
offers extensive string and math functions for use in searches and
calculated Fields, and its date and time tracking abilities are
unsurpassed.
The program requires a computer with at least 512K, operating with PC
or MS DOS 3.0 or greater. If you have a mouse connected, WYNDFIELDS
will detect it, and a full mouse interface will be available to you.
WYNDFIELDS is user-supported software. You are encouraged to use,
copy, and distribute it as freely as you wish. But if you do find it
useful, we ask that you please send a registration fee of $70.00 to
WYNDWARE, One Parker Place, Suite 308, Janesville, WI 53545 U.S.A.
When you send in your fee, you will receive the latest version of
WYNDFIELDS and will become eligible to receive updates to the program
as improvements are made to it.
While we have done our best to create a good product, this program is
supplied "as is". The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of
merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no
liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from
the use of WYNDFIELDS.
II. WYNDFIELDS FILES
The following program files are included with WYNDFIELDS:
WF.EXE - WYNDFIELDS program file.
WF.HLP - Help file for WYNDFIELDS.
These are the only files you need to use the program.
4
These additional sample data files are also included:
ST*.* - Star Trek sample Database.
ML*.* - Mailing List sample Database.
These files will be used in the exercises in the following sections,
and you are encouraged to experiment with them freely.
The remaining files are intended to help you to get started:
README.BAT - Gives initial instructions.
INSTALL.EXE - Creates a working copy of WYNDFIELDS for you.
WF.DOC - This introductory booklet.
WFREF.DOC - A complete reference manual.
III. GETTING STARTED
In order to include all the WYNDFIELDS files on one disk, they have
been "squeezed" together. To "unsqueeze" them and create a working
copy of WYNDFIELDS, you must run the INSTALL program:
(If you are installing to Floppy Disks you will need to have 3
formatted Diskettes ready.)
Place the distribution disk in drive A.
At the A:> type INSTALL and press Return.
Follow the prompts and answer all questions.
Once installed, you will be able to print out the Reference Manual if
you wish.
To print the manual from a Floppy-based system:
Place the Data Disk created during installation in drive B.
At the DOS prompt type COPY B:WFREF.DOC PRN and press Return.
To print the manual from a Hard Disk:
At the DOS prompt type COPY C:\WFIELDS\WFREF.DOC PRN.
(If you have installed WYNDFIELDS on a drive other than C or in a
directory other than WFIELDS, substitute the appropriate names.)
Press Return.
Once installed, to run WYNDFIELDS on a Floppy-based system:
Place the Program Disk in drive A.
Place a Data Disk in drive B.
At the A:> type WF and press Return.
To run WYNDFIELDS on a Hard Disk: e.g. drive C
Change Drive to Hard Disk type C:
Change to WYNDFIELDS Directory type CD \WFIELDS
Start Program type WF
When the Wyndware Title Screen appears, WYNDFIELDS is ready to work.
5
IV. USING THE MENUS
The available Menus are listed on the top line of the Screen. To
display a Menu: Press the Function Key shown before the name of the
Menu. To choose a Command from the displayed Menu: Type the first
letter of the Command. (Alternately, you may press the Up or Down
Arrow Keys to highlight to the desired Command, then press Return to
choose it.)
Commands which are followed by an asterisk (*) may be chosen even when
the Menu for that Command is not displayed by holding down the Alt key
and typing the first letter of that Command (or if no Menu is
displayed by simply typing the first letter of the Command).
When a Menu is displayed you can move from Menu to Menu by pressing
the Left or Right Arrow Keys, or by pressing the Function Key
corresponding to the desired Menu.
To choose Commands using a mouse: Point to the desired Menu on the
top line to display that Menu. Then point to the desired Command on
the Menu and click the Left Mouse Button to choose that Command.
Exercise: USING THE MENUS
Press F2 to display the SELECT Menu.
Press the Right Arrow Key 7 times (slowly) to display each of the
other Menus. Notice that very few Commands are available since no
Database has yet been selected for use.
Press the Down Arrow Key twice to highlight the word "Exit". Notice
that a description of the highlighted Command is displayed on the
right panel of the bottom bar.
Press the Return Key to choose the EXIT Command. Your WYNDFIELDS
session is ended and you are returned to DOS.
Type WF and press Return to restart WYNDFIELDS.
V. GETTING HELP
WYNDFIELDS provides comprehensive context-sensitive and cross-
referenced online help. To enter Help: Press the F1 Key anywhere in
the program. If you are currently carrying out a Command, a Help
Screen related to that Command is displayed. Otherwise a Screen
showing how to use the Help system is displayed.
6
When in Help you may: Use the Up and Down Arrow Keys to move from
Screen to Screen in Help. Use the Home Key to move to the previous
Help Menu Screen. From a Menu Screen, type the number in front of a
Topic to see the Screen for that Topic. Press the F1 Key to return to
the Screen related to the current Command. If a number followed by a
Topic appears in the bottom right corner of the Screen, type the
number to see the Screen for that Topic. Press the Escape Key to exit
Help and return to WYNDFIELDS.
Exercise: GETTING HELP
Press F1. Notice that this is the only case where the pull-down
Menu is not displayed when the Function Key is pressed. Instead,
you are taken directly to the Help Screens. The Screen displayed
describes the Help system.
Type the number 1. You are taken to the Main Help Menu.
Type the number 2. The Database Use Menu appears.
Type the number 1. You are taken to a Screen about Selecting a
Database for Use.
Press the Down Arrow Key. You are taken to the next Screen:
Adding / Editing Records.
Press the Up Arrow Key. You are returned to the previous Screen.
Press the PgUp Key. The Main Help Menu appears. By starting at
this Screen and continuing to press the Down Arrow Key, you can
see every Help Screen in a logical order, providing an extensive
description of how to use the program.
Press Escape to exit Help and return to WYNDFIELDS.
VI. VIEWING DATA
Data in WYNDFIELDS is kept in Database files. A Database is a unified
collection of related information, made up of any number of Records,
each of which consists of a set group of Fields. Each Field defines a
specific type of data (such as a date or a city name) which is
included in each Record. Each Record contains the data for each Field
as it relates to an individual person or item (such as one person on
an address list).
To select an existing Database for use: Choose the BASE Command from
the SELECT Menu (by pressing F2, then B), or type the letter B. A
list of available Databases is then displayed. Highlight the desired
Database and press Return to put it in use. If you highlight the word
"<None>", then all Databases will be closed.
7
When a Database is selected, its Records are displayed in a Table.
Each Column of the Table represents one Field of the Database and each
Row shows the data for one Record. You may use the following Cursor
Movement Keys to scroll the Table Display:
Up/Down Arrow - Move highlight up/down one Row.
Home/End - Move to top/bottom of Screen.
PgUp/PgDn - Move up/down one Screen.
Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn - Move to first/last Record of Database.
Left/Right Arrow - Move left/right one Column.
Ctrl-Left/Right - Move left/right one Screen.
Ctrl-Home/End - Move to first/last Column.
Exercise: SELECTING A DATABASE
Press F2 to display the SELECT Menu.
Type the letter B to choose the BASE Command.
Press the Down Arrow Key until STARTREK is highlighted. (Typing the
first letter of a file name is not sufficient to select a file
since many files might begin with the same letter.)
Press Return to select the STARTREK Database. The Table is
displayed. Notice that the name of the Database appears in the
middle panel of the bottom bar. The name of the current Index is
shown after it, and the total number of Records in the Database is
shown in the right panel. The first Record of the Database ("The
Cage") is highlighted.
Exercise: TABLE CURSOR KEYS
Press the Down Arrow Key 4 times. The highlight moves down to "The
Enemy Within". Notice that "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is the last
Record visible on the Screen (unless you have an EGA Monitor).
Press the PgDn Key. Now "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is the first Record
on the Screen.
Press the End Key. The highlight moves to the last Record on the
Screen ("I Mudd").
Press the Down Arrow Key 3 times. The Table scrolls to show the
next 3 Records.
Hold down the Control Key and press PgDn. The last Record of the
Database is now highlighted. Pressing the Down Arrow Key now has
no effect.
Press Control-PgUp. The first Record ("The Cage") is again
highlighted.
8
Press the Left Arrow Key twice. The Table scrolls two Columns over.
Notice the double line just before the "Era" Field. This marks
the point between the last Column and the first Column of the
Table.
Press Control-Home. The "Era" Field is once more in the left-most
position on the Screen.
Exercise: CLOSING DATABASES
Type the letter B. This is equivalent to choosing the BASE Command
from the SELECT Menu (Since there is an asterisk after this
Command on that Menu).
Press Return. Since the word "<None>" was highlighted, all files
are closed and the word "WYNDFIELDS" reappears on the Screen.
VII. WORKING WITH DATA
Once a Database has been selected for use and its Table is displayed,
a number of options are available for working with the data in that
Database.
To add a new Record to the Database: Choose the ADD Command from the
RECORDS Menu. To view or edit an existing Record in the Database:
Highlight the desired Record, then choose the EDIT Command from the
RECORDS Menu.
When adding or editing Records, you work in the Form display. The
Form shows each of the Fields for the particular Record you are
currently working with. Type in the desired data for each Field,
pressing Return after each entry to move to the next Field. To move
from Field to Field without entering data, use the Tab and Shift-Tab
key. To save the current Record and return to the Table, press F2.
To return to the Table without saving any changes to the Record, press
Alt-F2.
When adding Records, press the PgDn key to save the current Record and
add another without returning to the Table. When editing, press PgUp
or PgDn to save the current Record and edit the previous or next
Record in the Database. You may also use the following Function Keys
for ease of entry when adding or editing:
F3 - Copy the contents of the current Field into a numbered Memory
Field.
F4 - Copy the contents of a previously assigned numbered Memory
Field into the current Field.
F5 - Copy the contents of the current Field from the previous Record
into the current Field.
F6 - Copy the contents of all Fields from the previous Record into
the current Record.
9
F7 - Copy the computer system Date into the current Field.
F8 - Copy the computer system Time into the current Field.
To delete a Record from the Database: Highlight the undesired Record,
then choose the DELETE Command from the RECORDS Menu. Answer Y for
Yes to confirm that the Record is to be removed. Once a Record is
deleted, it cannot be restored to the Database.
To view a tabular Summary of the Records in a Database: Choose the
SUMMARY Command from the RECORDS Menu. Answer No to the question
"Recalculate Summary?" only if you have already viewed the Summary for
this Database since selecting it for use, and have made no changes to
the Database since viewing the Summary.
Exercise: EDITING RECORDS
Select the MLIST Database for use. (Type the letter B, then
highlight MLIST and press Return.)
Press the Down Arrow Key twice so that Bill Bruford is highlighted.
Press F4 to display the RECORDS Menu. Notice that most of the
Commands on this Menu are marked with an asterisk since these are
some of the most common Commands used in WYNDFIELDS.
Type the letter E to choose the EDIT Command. The entry Form for
the Bruford Record is displayed. The Cursor is in the first
Field.
Press the Tab Key 9 times. The Cursor moves from Field to Field and
finally returns to the first Field again.
Hold down the Shift Key and press the Tab Key 4 times. The Cursor
moves backwards 4 Fields, and ends in the "City" Field.
Press Control-Backspace. The data in the current Field is erased.
Type in the name of your own city.
Press Return to accept the new data and move to the next Field.
Press PgDn. You are taken to the next Record (Geoff Downes). By
leaving the Bill Bruford Record you have now saved the change you
made to that Record.
Press Control-PgUp. You are taken to the first Record in the
Database (Jon Anderson).
Press Control-PgDn. You are taken to the last Record (Alan White).
Press PgUp. The previous Record (Rick Wakeman) appears.
Press F2 to return to the Table display. Notice that the current
Record is the top Record displayed whenever you exit from the Form
display.
Press PgUp to display the other Records. Jon Anderson is again
highlighted.
10
Exercise: ADDING RECORDS
Press F4 to display the RECORDS Menu again.
Type the letter A to choose the ADD Command. A blank Form appears
so that you can enter data for a new Record.
Press F5 3 times. The data from the previously highlighted Record
appears in the first 3 Fields.
Type in a new address. (Feel free to be creative.)
Press the F6 Key. All the data from the previous Record is copied
into every Field of this Record, replacing the data you had typed
in.
Press PgDn. The new Record is saved and another blank Form appears
so that you can add another Record.
Type in your own name and address for this Record.
Press PgDn to save your Record. Another blank Form appears.
Press F2 to return to the Table. Notice that the blank Record was
saved.
Type the letter A to select the ADD Command without displaying the
Menu.
Type in data for another name.
Hold down the Alt Key and press F2. The Record you just typed in is
not saved. (If you get in the habit of pressing PgDn whenever you
add a new Record, you should use Alt-F2 rather than F2 to return
to the Table when finished to avoid saving the blank Record which
appears.)
Exercise: DELETING RECORDS
Highlight the blank Record.
Press F4 to display the RECORDS Menu.
Type the letter D to choose the DELETE Command.
Type the letter Y to confirm that you do wish to delete the
highlighted Record. The Record is removed from the Database.
Highlight either of the Jon Anderson Records.
Type the letter D, then the letter Y. That Record is also deleted.
Exercise: SUMMARIZING RECORDS
Select the STARTREK Database for use.
Press F4 to display the RECORDS Menu.
Type the letter S to choose the SUMMARY Command.
Type the letter Y to confirm that the Summary needs to be
calculated. WYNDFIELDS summarizes the data in the Database and
displays the information for you. Notice in the Count Column that
the number for the "Stardate" Field is less than the number in
other Fields, indicating that this Field is left blank in a few of
the Records. Notice also the entry in the Sum Column for the
"Timing" Field. This shows the total amount of time for all Star
Trek episodes, displayed in hours and minutes. This is one
example of how the time tracking abilities of WYNDFIELDS can be
used.
11
Press the F2 Key to exit the Summary display and return to the
Table.
Type the letter S to choose the SUMMARY Command again.
Answer N to avoid recalculating the Summary. Recalculation is
unnecessary now since no changes have been made to the Database
since last viewing the Summary.
Press again F2 to return to the Table.
VIII. DATABASE DESIGN
Each Database that you work with has a certain set structure of
Fields. When you create a new Database you define its Fields by:
giving each Field a unique Name; determining the Type of the Field
(Character, Numeric, etc.); giving each Field a specific display
Format (depending on the Field Type); and specifying the Width of the
Field (how many characters long the Field is).
Once a Database has been created, its Design may also be modified at
any time. Fields may be added or their order shifted and Field Names
and Formats may be changed without any loss of data. Other changes
(such as removing Fields or shortening Field Widths) are potentially
more dangerous and WYNDFIELDS will warn you if you make such a change,
to be sure that you really want to alter the Database in this way.
To modify the Design of the Database currently in use: Choose the
BASE Command from the DESIGN Menu. To create a new Database or modify
a Database not in use: First close all Databases by selecting
"<None>" from the list after choosing the BASE Command from the SELECT
Menu. Then choose the BASE Command from the DESIGN Menu. Select the
desired Database from the list, or to create a new Database: Select
"<New>", then type in a new Name for the Database.
Once in the Database Design display, type in the necessary information
for each Field. Use the Tab and Shift-Tab Key to move from Column to
Column. Press Return to accept the entry in a specific Column and
move to the next. Press Control-Return to move to the next Field
without having to press Return for each Column. Use the F3 Key to
insert a new Field ahead of the highlighted Field, F4 to delete the
highlighted Field, or F5 to move the highlighted Field to a different
location. When finished, press F2 to save the Design (or press Alt-F2
to exit Database Design without saving any changes).
Field Names may be up to 10 characters long and contain any characters
(including spaces) except curly braces ({}). Capitalization of Field
Names is ignored for all practical purposes in WYNDFIELDS.
12
WYNDFIELDS recognizes 5 different Field Types:
CHARACTER - Any characters are allowable. The Width of a Character
Field may be from 1 to 76.
NUMERIC - Only numbers are allowed. Depending on the Format
chosen, a Numeric Field may have a Width of 1 to 26.
DATE - Contains a valid Date (from the year A.D. 0 to A.D.
9999). The Width is always 10.
TIME - Contains a valid Time expression, divided into Days,
Hours, Minutes, and/or Seconds. The Width may be from 4
to 14 depending on the Format chosen.
EXTENDED - This is a special text Field containing 1260 characters
(but with a Field Width of 4).
Field Formats define how the data in each Field will be displayed on
the Screen and printed out. Character Fields may have either a
General or Capitalized Format. The Capitalized Format converts all
letters to upper case. Numeric Formats determine how many decimal
places will be included in the number and whether commas, dollar
signs, or pound signs will be inserted. Date Formats define which
convention will be used for displaying Dates. Time Formats determine
whether Days, Hours, Minutes, or Seconds will be included in that
Field.
Exercise: MODIFYING A DATABASE DESIGN
If the STARTREK Database is not currently in use, select it.
Press the F3 Key to display the DESIGN Menu.
Type the letter B to choose the BASE Command. A definition of all
the Fields in the Database is displayed.
Press the Down Arrow Key 3 times. The "Title" Field is highlighted.
Press the Tab Key. A list of the different Field Types is
displayed. Since "Title" is a Character Field, the word
"Character" is highlighted.
Press the Tab Key again. The list of the Formats available for a
Character Field is displayed. "Title" uses the General Format, so
"General" is highlighted.
Press the Tab Key once more. The Cursor moves to the Width Column.
Notice that the right panel of the bottom bar on the Screen shows
the valid range of Widths available for this Field Type and
Format.
Press the Down Arrow Key. The "Timing" Field is now highlighted and
the valid Width range has changed.
Press Shift-Tab. The Cursor moves backwards to the Format Column.
Since this is a Time Field, the Formats available are different.
Press the Down Arrow Key 3 times. The highlight in the Format list
moves down. Note that you can select a Format by highlighting it,
then pressing Return (but don't do it now).
Type the letter B. This selects the second Format on the list, and
the Cursor moves back to the Width Column.
13
Press the F3 Key. A new blank Field is inserted.
Press the F4 Key to delete the blank Field.
Press the F5 Key to move the "Timing" Field. The appearance of the
highlight alters to show that you are in the process of moving a
Field.
Press the Up Arrow twice. "Story" is now highlighted.
Press Return. The "Timing" Field is moved ahead of the "Story"
Field.
Press Control-PgDn. The empty row at the bottom of the display is
highlighted so that you could add a new Field.
Press Alt-F2. You return to the Table display, but the changes you
made to the Database Design are not saved.
Exercise: CREATING A NEW DATABASE
Type the letter B to select a Database.
Press Return with "<None>" highlighted to close all Databases.
Press F3 to display the DESIGN Menu.
Type the letter B to choose the BASE Command.
Press Return with "<New>" highlighted.
Type in "Sample" for the Name of the new Database, and press Return.
Type "Character" for the Name of the first Field, and press Return.
Type the letter C to choose the Character Type.
Type the letter G to choose the General Format.
Type in "5" for the Field Width.
Press Control-Return to accept the first Field without having to
bother with a Formula. (Formulae may used to create Calculated
Fields).
Type "Numeric" for the Name of the second Field, and press Return.
Type the letter N for the Numeric Type.
Type the letter F for the Fixed Format. This Format then requires
that the number of decimal places for the Field be entered.
Type in "3" for the number of decimal places, and press Return.
Type in "6" for the Field Width, and again press Control-Return.
Type "Date" for the Name of the third Field, and press Return.
Type the letter D for the Date Type.
Type the letter E for the Format. Date Field Formats are different
than other Fields. When you enter a Date, it will always be in
the format "Mo-Da-Year" (all numbers). But when the Date is
displayed, it will be displayed using the selected Format. Also
notice that the Field Width of 10 is entered automatically for
you, and the Cursor goes into the Formula Column.
Press Return to leave the Formula blank.
Press F2 to save the new Database Design. The Table display
reappears, but with no Records.
Press F4 to display the RECORDS Menu. Notice that ADD is the only
Command on this Menu available since there are no Records in the
Database. (Other Menus will also have limited Commands
available).
Add some Records and modify the Database Design to experiment with
how the various Field Types and Formats function.
14
IX. INDEXING
As you add Records to a Database, they are appended to the end of the
Database file. To allow you to see your data in a more logical order,
WYNDFIELDS utilizes Index files. An Index is a list of the Records in
the Database kept in a specific order based on selected Key Fields.
When an Index is in use, the Records of the Database appear in the
order indicated by the Index.
Each WYNDFIELDS Database may have up to 10 different Indices
associated with it. Each Index is maintained automatically as you
add, modify, or delete data in the Database. An Index may have up to
10 Key Fields, each of which may be designated to be in Ascending (A
to Z) or Descending (Z to A) order.
To create or modify an Index for the Database currently in use:
Choose the INDEX Command from the DESIGN Menu. Select the desired
Index from the list, or to create a new Index: Select "<New>", then
type in a new Name for the Index.
For each Field you wish to be a Key Field, enter the relevant number
from 1 to 10 (1 for the first Key Field, 2 for the second, etc.) in
the first Column. In the second Column, select whether the order for
that Field should be Ascending or Descending. Press F2 when finished
to save the Index Design.
To select an Index for use: Choose the INDEX Command from the SELECT
Menu, or type the letter I. Highlight the desired Index and press
Return. The Records of the Database will then appear in the order
indicated by that Index.
In some situations (particularly if your computer loses power while
you are running WYNDFIELDS), Index files may become corrupted. If
your Database appears to have no Records, or fewer Records than you
remember, it may be necessary to reindex the Database. The process of
reindexing rebuilds each of the Indices of the Database Record by
Record. To reindex the current Database: Choose the REINDEX Command
from the UTILITIES Menu. Then answer Y to confirm that you wish to
rebuild the Indices.
Exercise: SELECTING AN INDEX
Select the STARTREK Database for use. Notice that the Index Name
STORY appears on the bottom bar after the Name STARTREK, and that
the Records appear in order according to the "Story" Field.
Press F2 to display the SELECT Menu.
Type the letter I to choose the INDEX Command. Notice that STORY is
highlighted.
15
Highlight STITLE, and press Return. The Table reappears. Notice
that the Index Name STITLE now appears on the bottom bar and that
the Records are now listed in alphabetical order by Title. Notice
also that Titles beginning with numbers appear before Titles
beginning with alphabetic letters.
Exercise: DESIGNING AN INDEX
Press F3 to display the DESIGN Menu.
Type the letter I to choose the INDEX Command.
Highlight the word "<New>" and press Return to design a new Index.
Type "STYEAR", and press Return. When designing a new Index,
WYNDFIELDS automatically sets up the first Field of the Database
as the first (and only) Key Field (in Ascending order).
Press the F4 Key to delete the first Key Field.
Press the Down Arrow Key once to highlight the "Year" Field.
Type in "1" and press Return.
Type the letter D for Descending order.
Press the Down Arrow Key once to highlight the "Title" Field.
Type in "2" and press Return.
Type the letter A for Ascending order.
Press F2 to save the Index Design. The new Index is built for the
existing Records of the Database. When the Table display returns,
notice that the Records are now listed in order according to year,
from the most recent to the earliest. For any year for which
there is more than one Record, the Records for that year are
listed by Title in alphabetical order.
Exercise: REINDEXING A DATABASE
Press F7 to display the UTILITIES Menu.
Type the letter R to choose the REINDEX Command.
Type the letter Y to confirm that you wish to reindex. Each of the
Indices for the STARTREK Database are rebuilt, Record by Record.
X. FINDING DATA
WYNDFIELDS provides a number of ways to search a Database for specific
information. The fastest and easiest way is to perform a Quick
Search. The Quick Search is fast because it searches the Key Fields
of the current Index rather than searching through the Database
itself.
To perform a Quick Search: Choose the QUICK SEARCH Command from the
LOCATION Menu. Type in the desired data for each Key Field and press
F2. You are taken immediately to the first Record in the Database
with data equal to or greater than the data entered.
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The Quick Search is very fast, but it is also limited. You must
search the Key Fields, and the search will only find one Record. If
you wanted to search a different Field, or search for a series of
Records which all met a certain condition, you would need to do a
Conditional Search. A Conditional Search is slower, but is much more
flexible than a Quick Search.
To perform a Conditional Search: Choose the COND SEARCH Command from
the LOCATION Menu. The Search Conditions Table which is displayed
lists each Field in the Database down the side of the Screen and has 2
Columns in which to enter values for the search. In the left Column
type in the lower value for the search for each Field you wish to
search. In the right Column type in the upper value. WYNDFIELDS will
add a string of z's to the end of the upper value so that all values
which begin with the same characters typed into the right Column will
be included in the search. To erase all previously entered
conditions, press F4.When all values have been entered, press F2 to
accept the conditions. WYNDFIELDS searches for the first Record which
contains data greater than or equal to data in any of the Fields in
the left Column and which contains data less than or equal to data in
any of the Fields in the right Column.
When searching a Character or Extended Field, instead of entering a
lower value and upper value, you may also search for a specific piece
of text found anywhere within the Field. To do this, enter 2 periods
in the left Column, followed by the text you wish to find. (In such a
case, WYNDFIELDS ignores any value entered in the right Column for
that Field.) Using the two period search is the only way in which an
Extended Field may be searched.
Once the first Record which matches the Search Conditions is found,
use the NEXT Command from the LOCATION Menu to find the next Record
which matches the conditions. Continuing to select the NEXT Command
(or typing the letter N) will find every matching Record. The
PREVIOUS Command from the LOCATION Menu (or typing the letter P)
allows you to refind the previous matching Record.
The Conditional Search is slower than the Quick Search since it must
search through each Record of the Database individually until it finds
a matching Record, rather than using the Index. The speed of a
Conditional Search is increased greatly (particularly for larger
Databases), when values in the Search Conditions Table are entered for
the first Key Field of the current Index, since WYNDFIELDS will then
perform the equivalent of a Quick Search for the value in the Key
Field, and then proceed with the other conditions of the search from
that point in the Database.
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Closely related to the Conditional Search is the concept of the
Filter. To set a Filter: Choose the FILTER Command from the LOCATION
Menu. Then fill out the Search Conditions Table just as you would for
a Conditional Search. The Filter is then set so that only those
Records which match the Filter Search Conditions show up in the Table
display at all. As long as the Filter is set, the Database will work
as though just those Records which match the conditions are the only
Records in the Database. You will only be able to edit Filtered
Records. Only Filtered Records will be calculated in the Summary, and
only Filtered Records will be printed. To indicate that the Database
is Filtered, the word "Filtered" appears on the bottom bar in place of
the number of Records in the Database.
To remove a Filter: Choose the FILTER Command from the LOCATION Menu,
and press Alt-F2.
Exercise: PERFORMING A QUICK SEARCH
If the STARTREK Database is not currently in use, select it.
If the STORY Index is not the current Index, select it.
Press F5 to display the LOCATION Menu. Notice that every Command on
this Menu is followed by an asterisk.
Type the letter Q to choose the QUICK SEARCH Command.
Type " 1.26" (be sure to include the space), and press F2. Story
1.26, "The City on the Edge of Forever" is found.
Type the letter Q again to perform another Quick Search.
Type " 3.00" (again with the space), and press F2. The first Record
equal to or greater than 3.00 is Story 3.01, "Spectre of the Gun".
Type the letter I, highlight the STITLE Index, and press Return.
Type the letter Q for another Quick Search. Since the Index has
changed, the Field for the search has also changed to "Title".
Type in "THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES", and press F2. The relevant
Record is found. Notice that capitalization was ignored.
Type the letter Q again, then type in "Where No" and press F2. The
Title "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is found. In a Quick Search,
You only need to fill in enough data to find the desired Record.
Select the STYEAR Index (assuming that you created it in the earlier
exercise).
Type the letter Q once more. Notice that since this Index has 2 Key
Fields, both Fields are available to enter a value into.
Type "1966" in the "Year" Field, press Return, type "The" in the
"Title" Field, and press F2. WYNDFIELDS finds "The Alternative
Factor", the first Record from 1966 whose Title begins with "The".
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Exercise: PERFORMING A CONDITIONAL SEARCH
Press F5 to display the LOCATION Menu.
Type the letter C to choose the COND SEARCH Command.
Press the Down Arrow Key 4 times to highlight the "Timing" Field.
Type in "1:00" (one hour based on the chosen Format for this Field),
and press F2. Since this was entered in the left Column,
WYNDFIELDS searches for the first Record with a value greater than
or equal to one hour in the "Timing" Field. The first Record it
finds is "Encounter at Farpoint".
Press F5 to display the LOCATION Menu again.
Type the letter N to choose the NEXT Command. The next Record
matching the Search Conditions is found, "The Voyage Home".
Type the letter N twice more. "The Wrath of Khan" is now
highlighted.
Type the letter P for the PREVIOUS Command. "The Search for Spock"
is highlighted.
Type the letter P 2 more times. "Encounter at Farpoint" is once
again highlighted.
Type the letter P once more. WYNDFIELDS tries to find a previous
Record, but none is found.
Type the letter C to perform another Conditional Search.
Press the F4 key. This erases the previously entered condition.
Press the Up Arrow 3 times so that the "Year" Field is highlighted.
Type "1970", and press Return.
Type "1979" in the right Column, and press F2 to initiate the
search. WYNDFIELDS finds the first Record with a year between
1970 and 1979, "The Motion Picture". Since "Year" is the first
Key Field, the search is very fast.
Type the letter I, highlight the STORY Index, and press Return.
Type the letter C for another Conditional Search.
Press F2, leaving the conditions as they had been entered before.
This time, since the "Year" Field is no longer the Key Field, the
search takes longer.
Type the letter C again, then press the F4 key to erase the previous
Search Conditions.
Press the Down Arrow 5 times to highlight the "Crew" Field. This
Field contains abbreviations for the names of the regular Crew
Members on Star Trek.
Press Shift-Tab to move back into the left Column.
Type "..Cv" (Cv is an abbreviation for Chekov), and press F2. Since
the 2 periods were included at the beginning, WYNDFIELDS searches
for the text "Cv" anywhere in the "Crew" Field. The Record it
finds is "Catspaw".
Press Control-Right Arrow to scroll the display so that the whole
"Crew" Field can be seen. The letters "Cv" appear in this Field
for this Record.
Type the letter N (for NEXT) 4 times. Notice that the highlight
skips over any Records which do not contain "Cv" in the "Crew"
Field.
19
Exercise: WORKING WITH A FILTER
Press F5 to display the LOCATION Menu.
Type the letter F to choose the FILTER Command.
Press F2, leaving the Search Conditions the same as they were in the
last exercise. WYNDFIELDS finds and displays only those Records
for which the "Crew" Field contains the text "Cv". Notice that
the word "Filtered" appears on the bottom bar to indicate that the
Database is now Filtered.
Type the letter S (for the SUMMARY Command), then answer Y to
confirm recalculation. The Summary displayed now applies only to
those Records in the Filter (only those episodes in which Chekov
appeared). Notice that the count and total timing for the Records
is much smaller than before.
Press F2 to exit the Summary display and return to the Table.
Type the letter F for the FILTER Command again and press the Down
Arrow Key once.
Type in "1968" in the left Column, press the Tab Key, and type in
"1968" in the right Column as well.
Press F2 to set the Filter. Since the condition in the "Crew" Field
was not erased it is still in effect. The Filter now searches
only for those episodes which contain "Cv" in the "Crew" Field and
which are from the year 1968. Only a small number of Records are
found and displayed.
Type the letter F for the FILTER Command once more, and press
Alt-F2. This removes the Filter, and the full number of Records
in the Database is redisplayed on the bottom bar.
XI. DESIGNING LABELS
One of the most common uses for a Database is to print out Mailing
Labels. Before Labels can be printed, however, you must first design
the layout of the Labels.
To design Labels: Choose the LABELS Command from the DESIGN Menu.
Choose an existing Label Definition from the list, or to create a new
Definition: Select "<New>", then type in a new Name.
The Label Design display shows a facsimile of the Label in the center
of the Screen. In this box, type in any text which will be printed on
each Label, or use the following Function Keys to place Fields on the
Label:
F3 - Insert a blank line ahead of the line containing the cursor.
F4 - Delete the line containing the cursor.
F5 - Insert a Field at the cursor location. After pressing F5, a
list of all Fields is displayed. Highlight the desired Field
and press Return to insert it. If there is not enough room at
the cursor location to insert the whole Field, the Field will
not be inserted.
F6 - Delete the Field the cursor is in (if the cursor is in a
Field).
20
F7 - Set the Field the cursor is in to be trimmed or not trimmed.
If the Field is trimmed, then extra spaces at the end of the
Field will be ignored so that any text and Fields following it
will be printed directly after the last non-space character of
the Field. Fields are always trimmed unless you select this
option.
F8 - Set Label options such as: Label width, number of Labels to be
printed across the page, space between Labels, etc.
When finished with the Design, press F2 to save the Label Definition
and return to the Table Design.
Label Definitions are not attached to a specific Database, so you can
use the same Label layout for different Databases. If the Fields of
the different Databases do not correspond to each other, however, some
Fields on the Label may be lost or altered.
Exercise: DESIGNING LABELS
Select the MLIST Database for use.
Press F3 to display the DESIGN Menu.
Type the letter L to choose the LABELS Command.
Highlight the word MLABEL, but do not press Return.
Press the F5 Key to copy the MLABEL Definition to a new file.
Type in "Sample" for the new Label Name, and press Return. The list
of Label Definitions is redisplayed, with SAMPLE now among them.
Highlight SAMPLE and press Return. A facsimile of a Label appears
on the Screen with a number of Fields already in place.
Press the Down Arrow Key to move to the line containing the
"Company" Field.
Press F4 to delete this line. A new blank line appears at the
bottom of the Label.
Press Control-End to move to the bottom line, then type in "Phone: "
(including the space).
Press F5 to insert a Field, then press the Up Arrow Key 3 times to
highlight the "Phone #" Field.
Press Return. The Field is inserted on the Label.
Press F8 to see the various Label options. Options are measured in
characters, so if you planned to use compressed print you would
want to increase the width of the Label. Look over the options
and make any changes you wish.
Press F2 to save the options and return to the Label Design display.
Press F2 to save the Label Definition and return to the Table
display.
21
XII. PRINTING
Before actually printing, WYNDFIELDS allows you to change various
Print Options. To set Print Options: Choose the OPTIONS Command from
the UTILITIES Menu, or type the letter O. The top box of the Options
display contains a number of Screen Options which may be changed. The
bottom box lists the different Print Options. Use the Tab and Shift-
Tab Key to move from entry to entry. Type in the desired values for
each option. When finished, press F2 to save all the options.
WYNDFIELDS can print out information from a Database in several
different forms: The Database Design structure, a Summary of the
Database, Mailing Labels, tabular Reports, Mail Merges (form letters),
the Database Table, or the entry Form for the current Record.
To print: Press F6 to display the PRINT Menu, highlight the desired
item to print, and press Return. If printing Labels, Reports, or Mail
Merges, you must select the desired Definition to be printed. If
printing any item other than the Database Design or the entry Form,
WYNDFIELDS then asks if you wish to set Print Conditions. If you
answer Yes, use the Search Conditions Table just as you would when
performing a Conditional Search to select those Records which will be
printed, then press F2 to accept the conditions. (If a Filter has
been set, there is no need to set the Print Conditions.) WYNDFIELDS
then prints the relevant item to the destination (Printer, Screen, or
Disk File) currently selected in the Print Options.
Exercise: PRINTING
If the MLIST Database is not currently in use, select it.
Press the F7 Key to display the UTILITIES Menu.
Type the letter O to choose the OPTIONS Command.
Press the Tab Key 3 times to move to the "Destination" Field, then
type the letter S to select the Screen. This will allow you to
experiment with printing without wasting paper. Alter any of the
other options you wish. If you use a laser printer you should
change the Paper Length to 60 instead of 66. Note also that the
Print Width selected here will be overridden by widths you specify
for Labels, Reports, and Mail Merges.
Press F2 to save the Print Options.
Press F6 to display the PRINT Menu.
Type the letter D to print the Database Design. The structure of
the current Database (including the definition of all its Indices)
is printed on the Screen. Press any key when prompted after each
Screen is printed.
Press F6 again to display the PRINT Menu.
Type the letter F to print the entry Form for the Record which is
currently highlighted in the Table display. Again, follow the
prompts as the Form is printed.
22
Press F6 once more to display the PRINT Menu.
Type the letter L to choose the LABELS Command.
Highlight the word SAMPLE, press Return, and answer Yes to enter
Print Conditions. The Search Conditions display appears.
Press the Down Arrow to highlight the "Last Name" Field, then press
the Tab Key to move to the right Column.
Enter "M" and press F2. Labels are printed for all Records through
Patrick Moraz (or any name you added which begins with "M").
XIII. ADVANCED FEATURES
In addition to the procedures outlined above, WYNDFIELDS offers many
advanced abilities such as:
Creating and printing detailed tabular Reports.
Creating Form Letters using the built-in text editor, or creating
data files for use with Mail Merges using popular word processors.
Redesigning the appearance of the Table display and Form layout.
Renaming, deleting, and copying Databases and other files.
Using Formulae (and numerous calculation Functions) to create
Calculated Fields and to do extremely detailed searches.
Updating or deleting multiple Records based on search conditions.
Transferring data between different Databases, and translating data
between the WYNDFIELDS format and other common file formats.
For instructions on using these features, consult the program's Help
screens and the WYNDFIELDS Reference Manual (see the Getting Started
Section on how to print out this manual).
XIV. WYNDWARE PRODUCTS
WYNDSHELL is a non-memory-resident Hard Disk Menu program which allows
you to run the programs on your computer from easily definable menus.
Built into WYNDSHELL is another program: WYND-DOS, a utility program
which performs such functions as formatting disks, copying and
deleting files, and creating subdirectories - all from a friendly
environment - without having to type commands at a DOS prompt. Like
WYNDFIELDS, WYNDSHELL and WYND-DOS also support the use of a mouse.
A stand-alone version of WYND-DOS is available at a reduced price.
FLAGS is an educational program which displays representations of over
600 different flags of the world. (Requires color monitor.)
23
XV. WHY REGISTER?
The program contained on this disk is a fully operational program with
complete documentation. You are encouraged to use, copy, and
distribute it as freely as you wish. But if you do find it useful, we
ask that you please register your copy. There are several reasons why
it is to your advantage to do this:
1. This is the only way in which this software is supported.
WYNDWARE depends on your registration fee for our continued
existence. If we do not receive your registration, we will be
unable to continue offering programs like this to you.
2. By registering, you are assured of receiving the most up-to-date
and full-featured product possible. We are continually upgrading
our products, making them more powerful and easier to use. When
you register, you will receive a copy of the most current version
of the program, and will be placed on our list to receive notices
of new revisions when they become available.
3. The initial registration reminder screen which appears at the
beginning of the program is removed when you install your
registered copy, saving you an extra keystroke when you start the
program.
4. While the documentation in this manual, and in the on-disk
Reference Manual, does cover every feature of the program, the
User's Guide you will receive upon registration does offer an
additional illustrated Tutorial section which can help you
step-by-step to learn the program in a logical and detailed
order.
5. Additional sample data files are also included with the
registered version, including a sample Inventory system and a
Time-managing database. Plus if you enjoyed the STAR TREK
database, you may also be interested in the BEATLES database
which is also included when you register.
6. As an added incentive for registering at this time, we will also
include with your order a copy of THE HIVE, our strategy game for
up to 4 players (including the computer if you wish). This game
is ONLY available to registered users of our products and is
included at NO additional cost.
To become a registered owner of WYNDFIELDS, or to order other WYNDWARE
products, use the convenient order form in the back of this booklet or
call 1-800-475-1628 for credit card orders.
24
This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-
related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly,
ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical
support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at
545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 or send a Compuserve message
via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536
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