Amiga MA Magazine 1998 #3/amigamamagazinepolishissue1998.iso/bazy/b-base/birdbase.doc

Text File | 1980-12-12 | 16KB | 409 lines

 BIRD-BASE V1.1 (FEBRUARY 1996) Copyright © Marek Walford 1995-96.


 What does it do?
 ----------------
 BIRD-BASE is basically a computerised version of a field checklist.
 Obviously you couldn't take your Amiga into the field, this program is for
 storing you British list, Year list, County list, the birds you've seen
 while sitting on the toilet etc.. when you get home.

 BIRD-BASE enables you to enter the birds you've seen on your birding trips
 by means of a simple interface; these are then added to your British list,
 Year list or what ever else you had previously defined. In this way a
 number of lists can be updated simultaneously. For instance if I saw a
 Dodo at Holkham it would be added to my British List, County list and
 Year list, but not my back garden list.

 These sort of programs are widely available on the PC, both shareware and
 commercial, yet there don't seem to be any on the Amiga. I hope Bird-Base
 fills a gap in the market but if you do know of any such Amiga programs I
 would like to hear from you.


 Shareware
 ---------
 This program is shareware. This means if you like it and use it then you
 should send the registration fee (a very reasonable £5.00) to one of the
 addresses at the bottom of this page. In return you will receive the
 latest version which will also have your name on the about window, WOW!

 Send a cheque/postal order/euro cheque, cash (notes only and it's at your
 own risk) for £5 (or more if you really want to) to one of the following
 addresses, feel free to make comments or suggestions. No foreign cheques
 or foreign cash please, it is a great hassle trying to change them.

 Home Address:                        Term Address:

 30 Smiths Lane                       110 Bevendean Crescent
 Fakenham                             Brighton
 Norfolk                              East Sussex
 NR21 8LS                             BN2 4RD
 England                              England

 Tel: [phone]                    Tel: [phone]

 Or you could E-Mail me at [e-mail]
 But I'll only be able to answer while I'm in Brighton.

 When ordering please include details about your Amiga (memory, hard
 drives, workbench version etc) If you find any bugs (there shouldn't be
 anything major, I've tested it enough) then please let me know. Also if
 you don't want to reigster but have some constructive criticisms or
 suggestions then please write, phone or e-mail.

 It would be better if you sent the order to my home address, there may be
 a slight delay because I get my post from home sent to me once a week. If
 you want to order while I'm at university and can't wait to get your
 hands on this magnificent program then phone me first to make sure I'm
 still living there or haven't been thrown off my course or run out of
 money and died. I should be in Brighton till 1999. Incidentally, if by
 some complete fluke somebody has got this program who is studying at
 Brighton get in touch with me, cheers.


 Copyright
 ---------
 The program "BirdBase" and all it's associated files are © Copyright 1996
 Marek Walford. The shareware version ONLY may be freely distributed
 providing all files in the archive remain intact, these are:

 BirdBase1.1 - The Program
 BirdBase.quide - The Guide File
 BirdBase.doc - The Doc File
 Bird.config - The Config file
 DATA - Directory containing the example files

 No profit must be made by distributing BirdBase, the shareware version
 may be freely spread providing the price of a disk containing BirdBase
 does not exceed £3 (or equivelant currency). Please feel free to distribute
 the shareware version of BirdBase over the internet and as part of CD-ROMS.
 All rights for the fully registered version remain with the author, the
 registered version MUST NOT be distributed, details of version and register
 status are held in the About menu.

 The program is presented as is, no warranty is made of any kind, be it
 expressed or implicit. Anyone using this program does so at their own risk.
 In no way can the author be made responsible for any damage directly or
 indirectly caused by the use or misuse of the program.

 "Amiga" is a registered trademark of Amiga Technologies GmbH.


 Features
 --------
 Since the last release (version 1.0), Bird-Base has had a few new features
 implemented and some of the code has been tweaked. Here are the most
 significant new features for this version:

 · The stats option has been updated to include the best year and day lists.

 · The ability to add pictures has been expanded so you can now add pictures
   to individual birds rather than just one bird for the whole list.

 · The search facility has also been improved so that you can now search for
   a particular bird by name rather than having to enter a page number.

 · An extra function has been added to the PROJECT menu which enables you to
   output your lists to ascii files and then load them into your favourite
   word processor.


 Requirements
 ------------
 BIRD-BASE has no special system requirements and should work with any Amiga
 with at least ONE MEG OF RAM.

 This version has been tested on the following systems:

 Amiga 1200 with 4 Megs of Ram.


 Installation
 ------------
 BIRD-BASE can very easily be installed onto a hard disk.

 1. Create a new drawer on your hard disk (e.g B-BASE)
 2. Copy all the files into your newly created drawer.
 3. Add the following line to your user-startup:

        assign >nil: BIRD-BASE DH1:B-BASE/

 4. Reset your Amiga and when WorkBench boots click on the BirdBase icon.


 The Future
 ----------
 I originally programmed BIRD-BASE for my own use but I intend to update it
 if there is a demand. Please send any suggestions. But don't expect
 miracles, it is written in Amos and I'm teaching myself as I go along so I
 can't guarantee anything but I'll certainly try.

 I may do a PRO version which will have a complete British and Irish list
 (about 550 species). It may also have detailed statistics on each species
 so you could tell how many times you've seen a particular bird, what was
 the earliest date you saw migrants? This version may cost more and I have
 no idea when I will get round to doing it.


 The Author
 ----------
 If you want to contact me then you have the choice of two addresses,
 although it is highly unlikely if I'll be at both at the same time. I am
 currently studying BA Computing and Information Systems at the University
 of Brighton. This is great because I get an e-mail address so you can mail
 me if you like ([e-mail]) I am also on the WWW if you want to
 look at my poor excuse for a web page:
 (http://www.comp.it.bton.ac.uk/~mw71).

 This superb piece of software was created on an Amiga 1200 with a 120 meg
 hard drive, 4 megs of ram (2 megs of chip, 2 megs of fast), Star LC-10
 printer, replacement mouse, akura TV and a ZipStik joystick (coz I like
 playing games and I am a God at SWOS)

 I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Hall for all the help he's
 given me in trying to learn how to use Amos. Here is a quick mention to a
 bunch of people who over the years I've come to regard as people I met:

 Chris, Dec, Seth, Ralph, Tony.

 I would also like to thank Commodore for bringing out the Amiga and Escom
 for saving? it. I would finally like to say that PC's are crap!!


 History
 -------
 V1.0 - First Public Release

 V1.1 - Major Update. Improved stats and search functions and output files
        and picture links added as well as slight tweaking of the code.


 Menu Options
 ------------
 Menu option: NEW
 Icon: None
 Function: Set up new database file.

 On selecting the NEW option you will be asked whether you want to clear the
 present data, this is so you can change the name of the lists whilst
 keeping the data intact. If you answer N then all the data will be cleared
 and you can enter the names for an entirely new database; if you answer Y
 then the data will not be cleared but you can still change the names of the
 lists.

 Menu option: LOAD
 Icon: 2
 Function: Load in a previously saved database file.

 On selecting this option a file requester will come up from which you can
 select the database file you wish to load.

 Menu option: SAVE
 Icon: None
 Function: Save the current database file under the current name.

 On selecting this option the currently loaded database will be re-saved
 under the filename it was loaded, or last saved as. Please note, no warning
 is given before the database is saved!

 Menu option: SAVE AS
 Icon: 3
 Function: Save the current database via a file requester.

 On selecting this option a file requester will come up from whuch you can
 select the file name you wish to save as.

 Menu option: PRINT
 Icon: 4
 Function: Send the current list to a printer.

 On selecting this option you will be asked whether you are sure you want to
 print. Press Y and the list will be printed out, press N and the operation
 will be cancelled. Make sure that your printer is on-line before proceeding
 to print!

 Menu option: OUTPUT TO FILE
 Icon: None
 Function: Saves the current list as an ascii file for importing into a WP.

 On selecting this option a file requester will come up from which you can
 enter the name you wish to save the list as.

 Menu option: DELETE FILE
 Icon: None
 Function: Deletes a file from disk via a file requester..

 On selecting this option a file requester will come up from which you can
 select the file you wish to delete. Be very careful when deleting files
 because you CANNOT get back what you delete.

 Menu option: ABOUT
 Icon: None
 Function: Brings up a window displaying information about the program.

 On selecting this option a window will come up dis[aying the program
 version and a couple of other bits of useful information.

 Menu option: QUIT
 Icon: 1
 Function: Exits Bird-Base and returns to the workbench screen.

 On selecting this option you will be asked whether you are sure you want to
 quit; if you are then press Y and Bird-Base will quit, if not press N and
 it won't.

 You can also flip to workbench by using the far right icon or left Amiga
 and M, but you must use left Amiga and M to flip back.

 Menu option: STATS
 Icon: 5
 Function: Display various statistics on the lists.

 On selecting this option a window will come up showing the number of birds
 in each list as well as a few other facts about the lists.

 Menu option: NOTES
 Icon: 8
 Function: Displays previously edited notes on the current list.

 Text files can be linked to each list. This is to enable you to add any
 additional notes, it can also be used to add any birds which are not in
 the program.

 Text files must be saved in ASCII format (most WP can save in this format)
 To link a text file to list number 1 you must call the file "1.txt" and
 save it in the DATA/TXT drawer. Like wise if you want to link a text file
 to list number 2 it should be called "2.txt".

 Menu option: CLEAR
 Icon: 6
 Function: Clear the data from the current list.

 On selecting this option you will be asked whether you are sure you want to
 clear the current list. If you answer Y then the current list will be
 cleared, if you answer N then it won't!

 Menu option: SEARCH
 Icon: 7
 Function: Search for a particluar bird.

 On selecting this option you can enter the name of the bird you wish to
 search for. If the bird is found you will be moved to the corresponding
 page.

 Menu option: NEW
 Icon: None
 Function: Create a new list.

 On selecting this option a window will come up from which you can enter a
 number of details about the list: The Location, Date, Weather and Type.
 The first three are fairly self explanatory. The "Type" is very important
 because it determines which of the main lists will be updated.

 If you enter:
 "COUNTY" then the County, County Year and Life lists will be updated.

 "SITE" then the Site, Site Year and Life lists will be  updated.

 "NORMAL" then just the Year and Life lists will be updated.

 If you don't enter anything at all (press Return) then NONE of the main
 lists will be updated.

 Menu option: EDIT
 Icon: None
 Function: Edit the previously created list.

 On selecting this option a list of the birds contained within the program
 are displayed, from which you can select the ones you've seen.

 Menu option: VIEW
 Icon: None
 Function: View the previously created list.

 On selecting this option the currently loaded list will be displayed.


 Editing Lists
 -------------
 Before you edit any lists it is important that you have set up a new
 database using the NEW option from the PROJECT menu.

 Once you have set up your lists you will see that they appear on both the
 EDIT and VIEW menus. To edit one of the lists select it from the EDIT
 menu, this will bring up a list of birds on the screen. To add one of
 these birds to the list simply click on it with the left mouse button, it
 will turn white, indicating that it has been added to the list. If you
 want to remove a bird then simply click on it with the right button, it
 will turn back to grey and consequently be removed from the list.

 This is the basic principle behind editing lists but there are also a few
 options to help. The SEARCH option on the EDIT menu can be used to
 locate a particular bird. The arrow icons on the tool bar can be used to
 move through the pages of birds, alternatively you can use the arrow keys
 on the keyboard. To indicate what page you are on the page number is shown
 on the right hand side of the status bar.


 Viewing Lists
 -------------
 If you have set up some lists using the NEW option you will notice that
 they have appeared on the VIEW menu. To view one of the lists select it
 from the VIEW menu and it will be displayed on the screen.

 If there is more than one page in the list you can use the ">" icon (or the
 right arrow key on the keyboard) to go to the next page. Unfortuantly you
 cannot go backwards as you can when editing lists, you will have to keep
 going forwards until it loops round.


 Updating Lists
 --------------
 Lists are updated according to their type. When you first enter the names
 of your lists using the @{"NEW" link new} option from the PROJECT menu you are
 asked to enter names for the various list types. The predefined lists are
 Life, Year, County, Site, Normal and Single. You can also have County Year
 and Site Year.

 All lists are updated when you choose SAVE or SAVE AS from the PROJECT
 menu. For example if you add a bird to your Year list when you select
 save tbis bird will also be added to you Life list, if it not already
 there. Lists are updated as follows:

 YEAR >>> LIFE
 COUNTY >>> LIFE
 SITE >>> LIFE
 COUNTY YEAR >>> LIFE, YEAR, COUNTY
 SITE YEAR >>> LIFE, YEAR, SITE
 NORMAL >>> LIFE, YEAR


 The Config File
 ---------------
 The config file should be in the Bird-Base directory and holds the
 information telling Bird-Base where to look for pictures, text files
 and the root directory for the saved files.

 You can edit this file in any text editor, so you can alter the name
 and location of the save directories. Please be careful when editing
 files and make sure you have made a back-up before you start altering
 things.


 Adding Pictures
 ---------------
 Pictures can be added to individual birds providing they are not in an
 AGA screen mode (320x512 Half-Brite is recommended). Save the picture
 into the DATA/PIC drawer as EXACTLY the same name which appears in the
 program (including spaces).

 To view the picture you must be editing the LIFE list. Press the SPACE
 BAR and left click on the bird you want to view, if a picture file is
 found it will be displayed. Press the left mouse button again to return
 to the edit screen.