The World of Computer Software

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ The World of Computer Software / The World of Computer Software.iso / qrdb20.zip / QRDB.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1992-12-21 | 30KB | 634 lines

QRDB Vers 2.0 21 Dec 1992 Mountain Retreat Software QRDB (c) Copyright 1992 by John Jamieson All Rights Reserved Intro: QRDB/QRDBMgr is a Data Base system for QuickBBS, Remote Access and other BBS's that use DorInfo1.Def. QRDB is a multi-node compatable BBS Data Base door and QRDBMGR is the Data Base Manager. Although QRDB was designed to be used as a BBS door it can be used by users without a BBS if needed. A BBS is not required in order to run the program, it will run in local mode. QRDB/QRDBMgr offers three types of Data Base. Type 1 will import any text file in which the data is layed out in columns. The imported Data Base can then be made available to BBS users for searches or sorted list displays. Up to five keys can be designated making five sorted lists available to the user. This Type 1 Data Base is not editable and a Data Record is limited to 80 characters. An example of a file suitable for import is the Darwin BBS listing. Type 2 is a build from scratch Data Base. The user can add and delete records in the Type 2 Data Base. Read, Write and Delete levels are established by the Sysop. A log is maintained of all additions and deletes made by users. This type 2 Data Base can contain up to 25 fields per Record with a maximum of 5 Key fields. 5 display lines with 5 fields per line max. Fields can be designated as input optional or input required. QRDB can import comma delimited files into the type 2 Data Base. Type 3 will display data in dBase .DBF data files and .DBT memo files. The dBase Data can then be made available to BBS users for searches or sorted list displays. Up to five keys can be designated making five sorted lists available to the user. This Type 3 Data Base is not editable in QRDB. The advantages/disadvantages of each type are as follows: Type 1: Imports text layed out in columns. Only displays, no edits. Type 2: Data base can be built on line. Imports comma delimited files User can be given access to edit or add Type 3: Data base uses dBase .DBF and .DBT files Displays dBase Memos Only displays, no edits. Example QRDB main Menu and Status Bar: ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ░░▒▒▓▓██ Q R D B M A I N M E N U ██▓▓▒▒░░ ║ ║ ║ ║ ░▒ Mountain Retreat DataBase Selection ▒░ ║ ╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ A Fido Net BBS's in North America ║ ║ B Fido Net BBS's Outside N. America ║ ║ C Darwin National BBS List ║ ║ D System User's ║ ║ E WildCat BBS's in the North America ║ ║ F User Generated List of Area Code 408 BBS's ║ ║ G Hardware/Software Industry Support BBS's ║ ║ H User Generated List of Out of Area Boards ║ ║ I Computer Hwd/SW Suppliers support (Not BBS's) ║ ║ ║ ║ ? Help ║ ║ X Exit QRDB ║ ╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ QRDB Door - Mt. Retreat Software - Support BBS (408)335-4595 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Selection: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │John Jamieson Level=100 Baud=2400 Graphics=On │ │Felton, Ca Min's Left=67 Alt-H= Hangup │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Quick Start: A few sample Data Bases are included in the package. Just place the QRDB package of files in their own directory and run QRDB or QRDB /M for Local in monochrome, and follow the Prompts. The Darwin Data Base related files included with the package contains a setup only, no data, it's use will be discussed later. Feel free to use any of the examples on your BBS or delete them using the QRDBMgr or DOS. It is suggested that you review the Example setups prior to deleting them. Run the QRDBMgr and press F2 to call up the control file editor. The editor can be used to review the setups. To Run QRDB as a door add the Environment Variable SET QRDB=C:\QRDB, set it to whatever directory QRDB is located in. If the Environment Variable is not set you must run QRDB from the QRDB directory. QRDB uses the Environment Variable to locate the the QRDB files, and if they are not found you will get the error message "QRDB.KEY not found or Corrupt. After seting the Environment variable, create a QuickBBS/RA type 7 menu type and in the Optional data field just place the command C:\QRDB\QRDB.EXE *M that's all their is to it. QRDB, when running as a door, needs access to DorInfo1.Def. QRDB must be run from a directory containing DorInfo1.Def. QRDB defaults to Local mode, without a status line, if it can't find DorInfo1.Def. It will also run in local Local mode, but with a status line if the baud rate it finds in DorInfo1.Def is 0. The Main menu can be bypassed. A couple of reasons for bypassing are; if only one data base is to be included or the sysop would rather use the BBS menus to access the data bases. Bypassing is accomplished by executing QRDB with the name of the CL file as a command line parameter. Example C:\QRDB\QRDB.EXE CHAPLIN.3CL *M or if running stand-alone local mode QRDB.EXE CHAPLIN.3CL. To run in stand-alone local mode, but monochrome use QRDB.EXE /M CHAPLIN.3CL. Files: A set of files will be created for each Data Base .1CL,.2CL or .3CL Control file; a Type 1,2 or 3 .Dat Data file; for type 1 & 2 only, type 3 uses your.DBF file .IDX Index file; 1 to 5 as specified during setup A QRDB general help file will be displayed from the main menu, if you name it QRDB.HLP. You can also create a .HLP file for each Data Base by using the same name as your Data Base. If a help file is found it will be offered to the user in the QRDB menus. .HLP files are just text files. When assigning file names you will be allowed 7 characters instead of the usual 8. QRDB needs that 8th character. A Data Base consisting of a set of the above files is a stand alone package. It can be copied/moved to another BBS that uses QRDB or it can be deleted from your QRDB directory. QRDBMgr has a delete function, it's there only for convenience DOS is all that is needed. The files provided with the package are the following : QRDBMGR.EXE The QRDB Manager used to set up data bases for QRDB QRDB.EXE The QRDB BBS Door QRDB.TTL A file that stores the title you give to the QRDB Main Menu QRDB.DOC This File QRDB.KEY Key to QRDB operation QRDB.HLP A Sample general help file ** The following files are example files and can be deleted when you are finished with them. SUPPORT.1CL Type 1 Sample Control File SUPPORT.DAT Type 1 Sample Data File SUPPORT.HLP Support Data Base Help File (Text) SUPPORT1.IDX Type 1 Sample Index file #1 SUPPORT2.IDX Type 1 Sample Index file #2 SUPPORT.TXT Text file used in the creation of the Type 1 Sample BBSLIST.2CL Type 2 Sample Control File BBSLIST.DAT Type 2 Sample Data File BBSLIST.HLP BBSList Data Base Help File (Text) BBSLIST1.IDX Type 2 Sample Index file #1 BBSLIST2.IDX Type 2 Sample Index file #2 BBSLIST3.IDX Type 2 Sample Index file #3 BBS.LST A sample comma delimited file for import into the BBSLIST data base WGUIDE.2CL Type 2 Sample Control File WGUIDE.DAT Type 2 Sample Data File WGUIDE.HLP WGuide Data Base Help File (Text) WGUIDE1.IDX Type 2 Sample Index file CHAPLIN.3CL Type 3 Sample Control File CHAPLIN.DBF dBase .DBF file used by QRDB CHAPLIN.DBT dBase .DBT Memo file used by QRDB CHAPLIN.HLP Chaplin Data Base Help File (Text) CHAPLIN1.IDX Type 3 Sample Index file USBBS.1CL Type 1 Sample Control File USBBS.DAT Empty Type1 Sample Data File USBBS.HLP USBBS Data Base Help File (Text) USBBS1.IDX Type 1 Sample Index file #1 USBBS2.IDX Type 1 Sample Index file #2 USBBS3.IDX Type 1 Sample Index file #3 The complete chaplin dBase package can be download from Mountain Retreat only the .DBF & .DBT file are included here. The Complete package includes Chaplin.FMT. Since QRDB only reads .DBF and .DBT files I didn't include the conplete package. Trouble shooting the QRDB door installation: The Status bar can be an aid in trouble shooting the door installation. a. No status bar indicates that the DorInfo1.Def file was not found and QRDB is running in local mode. b. A status bar with a Baud rate other than 0 indicates the DorInfo1.Def file has been read, QRDB has Config and user info and is running as a door. c. If the status bar shows a baud rate of 0 then DorInfo1.Def has been Read and QRDB is running in local mode. QRDBMgr: QRDBMgr.EXE is used to setup a data base, create/edit control files, import data and generate index files. QRDBMgr can be used with or without a mouse. If running without a mouse use the arrows keys to select menu items and the Tab key to Select Entry fields or Buttons. Main menu items are selected by pressing the Alt key plus the HighLighted letter in the menu item description. The diagram below shows the menu selections that are available in QRDBMgr. Remember the Data_Base_Setup functions only put together a control file. If you are creating a type 1 data base you will still need to import the data using the Import_Type_1_DB_Data function. In the case of a type 3 data base the Build_Type_3_DB_Index function will create the necessary indexes to the .DBF file. QRDB does NOT use dBase index files. Qnce a Data Base contains Data/Indexes, changes to certain fields will no longer be allowed. You will receive a message telling you which fields can't be edited when you attempt to edit a Data Base containing data. If you need to edit one of those fields the only way is to Erase the data using the Manager's Erase function, make the necessary changes and then Import, Build or Re-enter the data. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Exit Data_Base_Setup Operations Shell_to_QRDB │ └──────────────┬───────────────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ┌────────────┴─────────────┐ │ │ │ Edit a DB Setup F2 │ │ │ │ Make a New Type 1 DB F4 │ │ │ │ Make a New Type 2 DB F5 │ │ │ │ Make a New Type 3 DB F6 │ │ │ └──────────────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ┌──────────┴───────────────┐ │ │ Main Menu Title Edit │ │ │ Import Type 1 DB Data │ │ │ Read in Type 2 DB Data │ │ │ Build Type 3 DB Index │ │ │ Copy a Type 1 or 2 Setup │ │ │ Delete a DataBase │ │ │ Erase Data in DataBase │ │ └──────────────────────────┘ │ │ ┌────┴───────┐ │ Color F8 │ │ Monochrome │ └────────────┘ Creating a Type 1 Data Base To create a Type 1 Data Base you will need a text file to import. The USBBS list by Darwin Systems is a good file to start with. Any list you chose to create a Type 1 Data Base from must be one in which the data is arranged in columns. QRDB will extract it's keys from those columns during conversion. Remove any material that isn't a part of the structured data, such as column descriptions or List name. Column descriptions are entered during setup, using QRDBMgr. Other info removed from the list can be placed in the USBBS.HLP help file if desired. A Data Base has already been setup for the USBBS list, select the menu item Edit_a_DB_Setup or press F2 to review the setup. If you are not going to use the Darwin USBBS list in your Data Base you can delete it with the Delete a Data Base Function. If you are going to use the USBBS you will need to obtain and edit a copy. Remove all text at the begining and end of the list that isn't in structured in columns. When you are ready to import your USBBS list select menu item Import_Type_1_DB_Data from the Operations menu. A Dialog box will be presented listing available control files, select USBBS.1CL, next enter the name of the USBBS list that you want to import. After you have imported the list you can select menu item Shell_to_QRDB and review the new data base. To create a Data Base other than the USBBS that was provided. Start by determining what fields that you want to be key fields, you can have up to 5. Now Press F4 to bring up the Make Type 1 DB Dialog Box. You will enter Database Name, Data Base Title, Display Header and Read Level. The Data Base title is the title that will be displayed in the QRDB main menu. The header will be displayed with each page of data. Read level is the minimum user level required for access to the data. Use the Tab or Mouse to select fields. Example: Database Name SUPPORT Data Base Title Computer Hardware/Software Support Display Header Company Name Phone Number Remarks Read Level 1 Press OK when done or press enter. Next a Dialog Box will be presented for the defining of keys. Key Key Key Position Search Prompt Length in Line Phone Number 12 31 Company Name 5 25 At least one Key must be defined. Key Search Prompt is the Prompt QRDB will use to describe the key to the user. Key Length is the length of the key and Key Position in Line is the starting column that QRDBMgr will use when extracting keys during import. After the setup has been completed the function Import_Type_1_Db_Data will import your textfile into the data base, the function builds indexes and a .DAT file. QRDB limits the width of text imported into this type 1 data base to 79 characters. More than one text file of identical structure can be imported if necessary. The import feature can be used to add a chunk to an existing data base, it is suggested you backup any existing work before importing additional data. QRDBMgr does not check the data you are importing and improperly structured input could corrupt the data base. Creating a Type 2 Data Base A couple of sample Type 2 Data Base files have been provided. To review their control files, run QRDBMgr press F2 and select either of the .2CL files. Prior to creating a Type 2 Data Base you should first decide on the layout of the data that will be presented to the user. The number of lines it will take to display a record and the layout of each line. A maximum of 5 lines and a maximum of 5 fields per line are allowed. Decide witch fields will be (K)ey fields, input (R)equired Fields or Input (O)ptional fields. All Key fields are also input required fields. The space used to display fields on a line can't add up to more than 80 characters. Space required to display a field is the length of the data field + the length of the Data Label + a colon and a space between label and data. If not enough space is available for the full field of the last record on a line the field will be truncated. With the above decided press F5 or select Add_a_type_2_DB from the menu to bring up the Make Type 2 Dialog Box. Fill in the Database Name, Read Write and Delete Security Levels and the Data Base Title. Use the Tab or Mouse to select fields. Example: Database Name: AREA408 Security Levels Read Write Delete 5 5 100 Data Base Title: User Generated List of Area Code 408 BBS's Press OK when done or press enter. Next a Dialog Box will be presented for the defining the first line of the Data Base. You can have up to 5 lines. The inputs required to define a line are as follows. Example: ┌───── Input ────────────────────────┐ ┌────────── Display ──────────┐ │(K)ey │ │ Label │ │(R)eq Field │ │ Start │ │(O)pt Prompt Length│ │Label Column│ K Phone Number [XXX-XXXX 8 Phone 1 K City 25 City 21 O Max Baud 5 Max Baud 56 0 0 Up to 5 fields per line can be defined, but only a total of 5 keys in the 5 lines are all that is allowed. Remember that the total of fields and field labels can't add up to more than 80. Oh also allow for spaces between fields and Colons after labels. Maximum key length is 15 characters if a field longer than 15 characters is designated as a key only the 1st 15 characters in the field will be used in the index. When you have defined the first line press Alt N or use the mouse to select the next line button or you can press enter. When you have defined the last line that you want to use Select the Done button. Input Info ....... (K)ey-(R)eq-(O)pt decide if the field will be a (K)ey field, an input (R)equired Field or an Input (O)ptional field. All Key fields are also input required fields. Prompt This is the Prompt QRDB will use when asking for Input or describing the sorted lists that are possible. Field Length This is the Maximum length of an entry in this field. If it is a Key field it is also the length of the Key unless the field is longer than 15 characters in which case the Key length is set to 15 characters. Display Info ..... Label This is the label placed ahead of the data when the line is displayed, when displayed a colon will be added to the label. Label Start Column This is column that the first character in the label will be placed in. When a field is displayed the label is followed by a colon and a space and then the data. Labels are not displayed if the field is empty. The data base can be left empty for user input or a comma delimited file of data can be imported into the data base using the Operations PullDown Menu item (Read in Type 2 DB Data). Data for import must be set up as follows. Each record to be created must contain the same number of lines that you have established for display by QRDB. Use a comma to identify the end of a field's input. A comma is required for every field in the record, including blank fields. Remember not to use comma's in your data as they would throw things off. See the following example. A record from the Example Data Base "User List of Favorite BBS's" │Phone: 408-335-4595 St: Ca City: Felton │BBS Name: Mountain Retreat │MaxBaud: 14400 Size: 660Meg │Comment: Specializing in Pascal Programming A comma delimited text file for import would look as follows 408-371-7654,Ca,Campbell, Brown Bag Software, 2400,, Brown Bag software support board, 201-471-6391,Nj,Passaic, The Passaic/NJPCUG BBS, 9600,, Fido Net Node 1:107/559, 714-824-4328,Ca,Loma Linda, LLUMC Online Medical Library, 2400,120Meg, , In summary: No blank lines, one line for each line in the record, Comma at the end of each field including blank fields. No testing of your input is done by QRDBMgr so make sure your input is correct and if you are adding to an existing data base you should probably back up the data base before starting. If you are going to import a comma delimited list; select menu item Read_In_Type_2_DB_Data from the Operations menu. A Dialog box will be presented listing available control files, select the .2CL control file for the data base you want to add to, next enter the name of the list that you want to import. After you have imported the list you can select menu item Shell_to_QRDB and review the new data base. The import feature can be used to add a chunk to an existing data base, it is suggested you backup any existing work before importing additional data. QRDBMgr does not check the data you are importing and improperly structured input could corrupt the data base. Creating a Type 3 Data Base A sample Type 3 Data Base has been provided. To review it's control files, run QRDBMgr and press F2 and select the .3CL file. As with the type 2 data base you should have a plan as to how you want the data to be displayed. Then press F6 or select Add_a_type_3_DB from the menu to bring up the Make Type 3 Dialog Box. Fill in the Full Path Name of the .DBF file you are going to use. Input Read Security Level and the Data Base Title. Use the Tab or Mouse to select fields. Example: .DBF file Full Path Name: C:\DBASE\CHAPLIN.DBF Read Security Level: 1 Data Base Title: A data base of Chaplin movies Press OK when done or press enter. Next a Dialog Box will be presented for the defining the layout of the dBase data on the screen. Example: ╔═[■]═══════════════════════ Type 3 Db Fields ════════════════════════ ║ ┌─ dBase Field ───┐ ┌────────── QRDB Handling Instructions ──────────┐ ║ │ │ │(N)/A │ ║ │ │ │(D)sp │ ║ │Name Typ Len│ │(K)ey Display Label Line Col │ ║ ║ TITLE C 30 D Title 1 1 ║ COMPANY C 15 D Company 1 38 ║ RELEASE_D D 10 K Released 4 1 ║ DIRECTOR C 30 D Director 3 1 ║ WRITER C 30 D Writer 3 38 ║ FEETLENGT N 5 N 0 0 ║ FEET_SHOT N 6 N 0 0 ║ REELS N 4 N 0 0 ║ MINUTELEN N 3 N 0 0 ║ START_DAT D 10 N 0 0 ║ END_DATE D 10 N 0 0 ║ ACTOR C 30 D Actor 2 1 ║ ACTRESS C 30 D Actress 2 38 ║ SUPPORT M 10 D Support Memo 5 1 ║ MUSIC M 10 D Music Memo 5 26 ║ CREDITS M 10 D Credits Memo 5 52 ║ dBase Field Info ....... The dBase field Name, Type and Length are displayed as an aid in working out the Handling info required by QRDB. QRDB Handling Info ....... (N)/A-(D)sp-(K)ey Decide if the field will be a (K)ey field, a (D)isplay Field or a (N)ot Required Field. Fields coded (N) are not used by QRDB. Memo fields must be coded (D) or (N), they can NOT be a key field. In the example the fields SUPPORT, MUSIC and CREDITS are memo fields. Display Label This is the Label QRDB will use when displaying the associated field data. Line This is the line that the Label and the Field data data will be placed on when QRDB is displaying the data. Col This is column that the first character in the label will be placed in. When a field is displayed the label is followed by a colon and a space and then the data. Labels are not displayed if the field is empty. After the above Setup is complete go to the operations menu and Build the Type 3 DB Index. If ever changes are made to the .Dbf database files you will have to repeat this Build function. If you would like to use the type 3 data base let's say for it's Memo display capability and don't use a dBase compatable Data Base program. You can use the Program dBuddy to create the required files. dBuddy (Data Base Buddy) is a dBase tool for the building of .Dbf and .Dbt dBase III or IV compatable Files from text files. A Mouse is used to mark and move Text to record Fields or to Memo files. dBuddy will Export to character delimited files or text files, memo's are also exported. dBuddy is available on Mountain Retreat 1:216/506, 408-335-4595. It can be Freq'd under the magic name dBuddy. Disclaimer agreement Users of QRDB and QRDBMGR must except the following disclaimer agreement: QRDB and it's utilities are provided AS IS. The Author makes no Warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. In addition THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF QRDB, QRDBMGR or associated utilities. History Version 1.00 Initial Release Version 1.01 Added a Main Menu help function Version 1.02 Added a type 2 data import function and fixed a bug in the type 3 data dase setup functions Version 1.03 Changed screens and added local mode default. Version 1.04 MultiNode support added Version 1.05 Beta Release switched to use of DorInfo1.Def in order to make the door useable on more systems. Version 1.06 Release of DorInfo1.Def version Version 1.07 Added support for dBase III and dBase IV memos Added support for dual word searches Version 1.08 Improved dBase searches added dual word searches and speed. Version 1.09 Miner changes mainly in docs to aid in setup Version 2.0 Changed QRDBMgr to allow the rebuilding of Index files if changes have been made to the dBase .DBF files. Changed QRDB to allow smoother exit from Search functions. QRDB is ShareWare, a $15 registration fee is required. For an additional $10 I'll send you a copy of the latest version with with a 65 character message of your choice replacing the following line in the QRDB menu. ╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ QRDB Door - Mt. Retreat Software - Support BBS (408)335-4595 ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ If you decide to continue useing QRDB after a 90 day trial period you are expected to register. Please send your registration fee to: John Jamieson Mountain Retreat Software 555 Buckeye St. Felton Ca, 95018 Include the Name of your BBS as it appears in your BBS Config if you are adding your message to the Menu. For support contact: Fidonet 1:216/506 Internet John.Jamieson@f506.n216.z1.FIDONET.ORG BBS phone (408)335-4595 Voice (408)335-4672