Windbase is an application that was designed to help simplify data
collection, storage and retrieval. With the help of Windbase, you can
design custom data entry forms and at the same time create the database
to match it. Windbase will also allow you to index and reindex your data
by a single field or multiple fields. This enables you to organize and
retrieve your data much more easily and faster as well. WindBase also
allows you to create, store and view multiple database files all at the
same time. Then when you are ready to print your data, WindBase will
print it in the same custom layout or let you reorganize the data to best
fit your needs.
REGISTRATION
WindBase is not public domain, nor is it free software. You are
granted a limited license to use this product on a trial basis. You are
also granted a license to copy WindBase, along with the documentation, for
the trial use by other users. If you wish to continue using the product,
you must send $25 to:
NickleWare
P.O. Box 59823
Renton, Wa. 98058 USA
We encourage you to copy WindBase and share it with anyone who might
be interested in an easier way to gather, store and retrieve information.
GETTING STARTED
REQUIREMENTS -
Microsoft Windows 3.0 or higher
IBM compatible PC 286, 386 or 486
Before proceeding, make sure that you have Microsoft Windows correctly
installed. Next create a directory called WINDBASE and copy the WindBase
software (WINDBASE.EXE) into this directory. WindBase is ready to be
started. Simply start WindBase from the RUN... menu selection of the
Windows Program Manager or add it to a Program Manager group by following
the directions for creating a group item in the Windows 3.0 User's Guide.
WHAT IS A DATABASE
A database is a collection of similar data records stored in a common
file or collection of files. A database management system such as WindBase
provides a means by which a user can easily store and retrieve this data.
CREATING A NEW DATABASE
To create a WindBase database first select NEW from the FILE pulldown
menu. WindBase will create a blank database definition window and ungray
the following menu selections:
FILE Menu:
SAVE DEFINITION - Create or save a database definition and data files.
DEFINE Menu:
TEXT - This option creates a static text field in the current
database definition window.
EDIT - This option creates an entry/edit field in the current
database definition window.
CHECKBOX - This option creates a checkbox in the current database
definition window.
STYLES - This option displays a popup window that allows the user
to modify the attributes of the currently selected TEXT,
EDIT or CHECKBOX field.
DELETE - This option deletes the currently selected TEXT, EDIT or
CHECKBOX field.
TITLE - This option modifies the database title that appears in the
database window.
Layout the database by selecting database fields from the DEFINE
pulldown menu as described in the CREATING A DATABASE FIELD section. Each
of the newly created fields can be resized and placed in the database
definition window where desired.
After all of the database fields have been created and defined, the
database layout can be save and the database files created. To do this,
simply select SAVE DEFINITION from the FILE pulldown menu. A SAVE FILE
popup window will appear prompting the user to enter a path and file name
where the database files and associated layout files will be stored. The
user only needs to enter the primary part of the file name (file name
without the extension). WindBase will add the extension of .WB for the
database layout file, .DB for the database file and .IDX for the index file. Once the file name has been entered and the user has selected the SAVE pushbutton, the database definition and field layout files will be created. If the database files already exist in the specified path, Windbase will notify the user that the database already exists and the path or file name must to be changed. Once a database definition has been saved and the database created, WindBase will only allow the database fields to be resized or repositioned. No new database fields can be created.
CREATING A DATABASE FIELD
By selecting the TEXT, EDIT or CHECKBOX options from the DEFINE
pulldown menu, the corresponding field will be created in the currently
selected database definition window. The new field will be created in the
upper left hand corner of the database definition window. A style popup
window will be displayed prompting the user to enter a name to identify the
newly created field and modify any of the field attributes if desired.
After the database field has been created, it can be moved and resized
as explained in the MOVE AND RESIZEING A DATABASE FIELD section.
SETTING ATTRIBUTES OF A DATABASE FIELD
Each TEXT, EDIT and CHECKBOX field defaults to a specific set of
attributes. These attributes may be modified through the STYLES option in
the DEFINE pulldown menu. When the STYLES option is selected a popup
window is presented that corresponds to the selected database field. The
EDIT and CHECKBOX fields require a field name that is later used in the
creation of the database. All other attributes in the styles dialog boxes
are optional.
MOVING AND RESIZING A DATABASE FIELD
Once a database field has been created, it can be moved or resized to
the desired position and size by dragging and dropping with the mouse
pointer or grabbing the field border and stretching it.
To move the field, simply place the mouse pointer over the top of it
and click the mouse button once. A dotted line will appear around the field
to indicate that it is now the currently selected field. The mouse pointer
will also change to a four direction pointer to indicate that the field
may be moved. With the four direction pointer over the top of the selected
field, press and hold the left mouse button down and while hold down the
button, move the mouse pointer to the desired position. A database field
may also be moved by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. To do this
first select the database field with the mouse as described above. Then
use the arrow keys to move the database field in the desired direction.
To resize a database field, select the field as described above, then
move the mouse pointer over the top of the border of the selected field.
As this is done, the mouse pointer will change from a four direction pointer
to a two direction horizontal, vertical or diagonal pointer depending on
the direction in which the field may be resized. Then simply hold the left
mouse button down and move the mouse in the direction indicated by the two
direction pointer until the field is resized to the desired size.
DELETING A DATABASE FIELD
Once a TEXT, EDIT and CHECKBOX field has been created, it may be
deleted. To delete a field, simply select it by placing the mouse pointer
over it and pressing the left mouse button. Once the field has been
selected, a dotted line border will appear around it. Then select DELETE
from the DEFINE pulldown menu. A confirmation dialog box will appear
asking that the user to confirm the operation. Selecting the YES
pushbutton, will delete the field.
CHANGING THE DATABASE TITLE
To change the title that appears in the database window title bar,
select the TITLE option from the DEFINE pulldown menu. After making this
selection a dialog box will be displayed allowing the user to enter a
database title. After entering the database title, select the OK pushbutton
and the database window title will change.
OPENING A DATABASE
To open an existing database the user must select OPEN from the FILE
pulldown menu. An open file popup window will be displayed. This popup
window allows the user to change directories and select database files.
There are four types of files that WindBase creates. The primary name of
each of the four files of a database is the name specified by the user when
the database was originally created. The extensions for each of these
files are as follows:
.WB - WindBase database layout file.
.DB - Database file.
.IDX -Database index file.
.PRN -WindBase page layout file.
When opening a database, any one of these files can be selected.
Once the database has been selected, a database window will appear with
the current database layout.
The open file dialog also allows the user to open a database
definition window for modification. This is done by checking the
DATABASE DEFINITION checkbox before clicking on the OPEN pushbutton. A
database definition that has been opened for modification can not have
new database fields created. The only modifications that are allowed
are resizing and repositioning of existing database fields. Once all of
the modifications have been completed, select SAVE DEFINITION from the
FILE pulldown menu.
DELETING A DATABASE
To delete a database the user must open the database as described
in the OPENING A DATABASE section. Once the database has been opened and
selected, pull down the FILE menu and select DELETE. A confirmation popup
window will appear allowing the user to confirm the action. If the OK
pushbutton is selected, the database along with its associated files will
be deleted.
ENTERING AND EDITING DATA
To enter and edit a record within a database the user must first open
the database as described in the OPENING A DATABASE section. Data can be
entered into any of the EDIT fields or CHECKBOXes. Once the desired data
has been entered, select ADD from the RECORD pulldown menu. This will add
the record to the database.
Modifying a record can be done in the same manner. After the data
has been completely modified, select MODIFY from the RECORD pulldown menu.
MOVING AROUND A DATABASE
Searching and browsing through the records of a database can be done
by selecting SEARCH, PREVIOUS and NEXT from the RECORD pulldown menu. To
search for a specific record, simply enter in the data or part of the data
into the field by which the database has been indexed. Then select SEARCH
from the RECORD pulldown menu. WindBase will search the database for the
first record that exactly matches or is the closest match the data entered.
By selecting the NEXT or PREVIOUS options from the RECORD pulldown menu,
the user will be able to step through each record one by one forward or
backward.
DELETING A RECORD FROM THE DATABASE
To delete a record from the database, simply select the record in the
same manor as described in the MOVING THROUGH THE DATA RECORDS section.
Once the desired record has been selected pull down the RECORD menu and
click on the DELETE option. A confirmation popup window will appear
allowing the user to confirm or reject the action. If the user clicks on
the YES pushbutton, the record will be deleted from the databases.
DEFINING AN INDEX
One of the selections under the FILE pulldown menu is the option to
define or set a new default INDEX for a database. After selecting this
option, a popup window will appear that contains two list boxes. The first
list box on the left contains a list of the currently defined indexes for
the selected database. By highlighting one of the index names in the list
box, the name will appear in the entry field at the top right-hand side of
the popup window. The second list box will display a list of the fields
currently defined in the selected database with the selected index
definition fields highlighted.
A new index can be created by first entering in a new index name into
the INDEX NAME entry field above the INDEX DEFINITION list box. Then by
dragging and placing the database field names within the INDEX DEFINITION
list box into the desired order and highlighting them by click on them with
the mouse, the user is able to define a new index definition. After the
new index has been defined, click on the DEFINE pushbutton beneath the
INDEX DEFINITION list box and the index will be created and added to the
current database index list. Once an index has been defined, it can not
be modified or deleted. The only way to remove index definitions is by
selecting the REINDEX option from the FILE/INDEX cascade menu. This option
will remove all of the defined indexes and recreate the PHYSICAL and PRIMARY
indexes.
REINDEXING A DATABASE
To reindex a database, first open the database as described in the
OPENING A DATABASE section. Once the database has been opened and the
database window selected, pulldown the FILE menu and select REINDEX from
the INDEX cascade menu. This will remove all of the currently defined
indexes for the selected database and restore the base PHYSICAL and PRIMARY
indexes.
LAYING OUT A PRINTER PAGE
WindBase allows the user to print a database record in a different
format than what was originally laid out. Creating a printer page layout
is similar to creating a laying out a database. Select PAGE SETUP from
the FILE pulldown menu. A database window will appear with the current
page layout. When the page layout window is created, the working area is
adjusted to reflect the current size of a physical printer page according
to the printer definition. The working area can be scrolled within the
page layout window by using the scroll bars along the sides of the window.
If the printer page layout has not already been created, it will default
to the current database layout. The database fields can be moved and
resized as described in the MOVING AND RESIZING A DATABASE FIELD section.
While in the printer page layout mode the user will not be able to create
new EDIT or CHECKBOX fields, but the user may create new TEXT fields. The
user is also allowed to change the text of a CHECKBOX or any previously
exiting TEXT field. Once the printer page has been laid out as desired,
select SAVE DEFINITION from the FILE pulldown menu. The printer page
layout will be saved and used whenever a record is printed from the
corresponding database.
PRINTING A RECORD
To print a record, first select the desired record as described in the
MOVING AROUND THE DATABASE section. After the desired record has be
selected, pulldown the FILE menu and select PRINT. The current record
will be printed using the previously defined printer page layout. (The
printer page layout must have been previously defined as described in the
LAYING OUT A PRINTER PAGE section.).
VIEWING A MANIPULATING MULTIPLE DATABASES
Because WindBase was implemented as a multiple document interface
application, it allows the user to open, maintain and view more the one
database at a time. As each database file is opened, WindBase creates a
new database window and lays out the database on the working area.
Switching from one database to another is as simple as placing the mouse
cursor over the desired window and clicking the left mouse button. This
will select that database and window as the current database. All of the
WindBase menu options will then apply to that database. Each of the
database windows can also be minimized to avoid cluttering up the desktop
with too many windows. Then, as desired, each database window can be
restored or minimized as the user moves from one database file to another.
MENU OPTIONS
FILE MENU
NEW - Create an empty database layout window.
OPEN - Open an existing database for user or modification.
SAVE DEFINITION - Save the currently selected database layout or
printer page layout.
DELETE - Delete the currently selected database and the associated
files.
INDEX
DEFINE/SET DEFAULT - Define and set the default indexes for
the currently selected database.
REINDEX - Reindex the currently selected database.
PAGE SETUP - Create or modify the printer page layout for the
currently selected database.
PRINT - Print the active record from the currently selected
database.
PRINTER SETUP - Change the printer attributes
EXIT - Close all open databases and exit WindBase.
EDIT MENU
UNDO - Undo the last entry field action.
CUT - Cut the currently selected entry field text to the clipboard.
COPY - Copy the currently selected entry field text to the
clipboard.
PASTE - Page the clipboard contents to the currently selected
entry field.
CLEAR - Clear the currently selected entry field text.
SELECT ALL - Select all of the text in the currently selected
entry field.
RECORD MENU
ADD - Add a record to the currently selected database.
MODIFY - Modify a record in the currently selected database.
DELETE - Delete a record from the currently selected database.
CLEAR - Clear all fields in the currently selected database window.
SEARCH - Search for a record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
NEXT - Display the next record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
PREVIOUS - Display the previous record in the currently selected
database based on the selected index.
FIRST - Display the first record in the currently selected
database based on the selected index.
LAST - Display the last record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
DEFINE MENU
TEXT - Create a Text field in the currently selected database
window.
EDIT - Create an edit field in the currently selected database
window.
CHECKBOX - Create a checkbox field in the currently selected
database window.
STYLES - Modify the attributes of the selected field in the
currently selected database window.
DELETE - Delete the selected field in the currently selected
database window.
TITLE - Modify the title of the currently selected database window.
WINDOW MENU
TILE - Tile all open database windows within the WindBase main window.
CASCADE - Cascade all open database windows within the WindBase main window.
ARRANGE ICONS - Arrange all database window icons within the WindBase main window.
CLOSE ALL - Close all open database windows.
HELP MENU
INDEX - Display the WindBase help file.
ABOUT - Display the WindBase About Box.
SPECIAL FEATURES
DRAG AND DROP - Whenever an item such as a database field is being
repositioned within a database definition window , the item may be dragged
and dropped. This means that an item can be selected with the mouse
pointer, and while holding the mouse button down, move the pointer to a
new position. When the mouse button is released the selected item will
be placed at the mouse pointer position.
CLIPBOARD - The clipboard is a convenient way of transferring data
between WindBase and other Windows applications or between different
Windbase databases or records. To use the clipboard functions simply
highlight any text that is displayed in an entry field, pull down the
EDIT menu and choose COPY or CUT. The COPY function will place a copy
of the highlighted text in the Windows clipboard. The CUT function also
places the highlighted text in the clipboard but also removes it from the
entry field. To retrieve text from the clipboard, place the cursor at the
position inside an entry field where the clipboard text should be inserted
or appended. Then pull down the EDIT menu and choose PASTE. The clipboard
text will be placed in the entry field at the cursor position.
EXITING
When you have finished using WindBase, you should exit via the EXIT
selection from the main window's FILE menu. If you forget and turn your
computer off before exiting, WindBase can not guarantee that your database
files have been saved completely. It is very important that you always
