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1992-01-27
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DDU - The Database Description Utility 1.0
This program provides a convenient way to document your dBASE/
Clipper/Foxbase database files. You may enter descriptions
for each field, comments for each file, and associate index
files with each database file. You may print the documentation
sheets to printer or to an ASCII file.
If you find the program useful, please register the program for
$20.00 to: PractiComp
6490 Dubois Rd.
Delaware, OH 43015 USA
614-548-5043
Registered users will receive 4 additional utility programs for
use with dBASE files. See the end of this document for details.
DDU Installation
Copy the files DDU.EXE and DDU.DOC into a path'ed directory,
such as your utility directory. To run the program, first
switch to the directory containing the files to be documented
and then type DDU.
F1 - Help
Press F1 to view this file from within DDU. If the file is
not found in the current directory, you will be asked to
specify the directory in which it may be found.
M - Mask
Press M to change the Mask which specifies which files are
displayed in the file selection box on the right side of the
screen. The program will assume a DBF extension, unless
otherwise specified. For example:
MT* to display all DBF files beginning with MT.
MTRPT? to display DBF files such as MTRPT1,MTRPT2,etc.
MTRPT8 to display the single file MTRPT8.DBF
*.DBX to display all files with the extension .DBX
(this allows usage of dBASE data files with extensions
other than .DBF)
You may also start DDU with a mask specified on the command line.
For example: DDU MT*
ENTER - Tag/Untag
Press ENTER to tag/untag files in the file selection box. Tagged
files will be indicated by a marker. Files must be tagged before
using most other commands.
T - Tag All, U - Untag All
Press T to tag, or U to Untag all files in the file selection box.
C - Comments
Press C to enter comments for each tagged file. The comment
window will be displayed with the name of the first tagged
database displayed at the top of the window. You may enter
free-form comments relevant to this database file. ALT R will
reformat the text in the comment window. Press F10 to save the
comment text, or ESC to exit without saving. A comment window
for the next tagged file will then be displayed. Repeat this
process until comments have been entered for all tagged files.
F - Fields
Press F to enter descriptions for fields in each of the tagged
files. The field window will be displayed with the name of the
first tagged file displayed at the top of the window. Move the
highlight bar to a field for which you would like to enter a
description. You may just begin to type the description, or
press ENTER to edit an existing description. To quickly erase
a description, press DEL when the field which you would like to
erase is highlighted. When all descriptions have been entered
for this file, press ESC to exit the window, and the next tagged
file will be displayed.
DDU does not sort fields in alphabetical order, but maintains the
order of the fields as defined when created. Each time you
select the F option DDU automatically adjusts the file DDU.DBF
for changes made to the file structure by adding new fields or
removing fields no longer contained in the file. DDU only
modifies the file DDU.DBF and will not make any changes to your
database files.
I - Indexes
Press I to select the index files associated with each of the
tagged database files. Select the index type from the list -
Clipper NTX, dBASE NDX, or Foxbase IDX. A window will appear
listing all index files of the selected type. The database file
name will appear at the top of the window. Press ENTER to tag
each index file associated with the named database file. When
all index files for this database file have been selected, press
ESC. The index files and index expressions will be displayed.
Press ESC again to continue with the next database file.
P - Print
Press P to print DDU sheets for each of the tagged files. These
sheets will contain the following information for each database
file.
File name, number of records, date last updated
File structure - field name, type, size, and description
Record length
Associated indexes and index expressions
File comments
You may direct the printout to a printer port by specifying LPT1,
LPT2, etc. or to a text file by typing in a file name. If the
file name entered already exists you will be warned that you are
about to overwrite the file. A .TXT extension will be appended
to all print files.
K - Pack
Press K to pack the file DDU.DBF.
ESC - Quit (Exit to DOS)
DEL Key
If database files are deleted you may want to remove those
records from the file DDU.DOC. Press DEL at the Main Screen
to display all database files currently contained in DDU.DBF.
Tag the files to be removed by pressing ENTER. Press ESC when
all desired files are tagged. You will be asked to verify that
you want to remove records for the tagged files. This DOES not
delete any disk files, it only removes the corresponding records
in DDU.DBF.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Utility Programs Provided On Registration
DIRD - Directory of dBASE type files
Lists file name, size, date and time of last update,
number of records, record length, number of fields,
and whether a memo field is included. A file mask
may be specified on the command line to restrict
files viewed.
ie. DIRD ED* to display all .dbf files beginning
with ED
DIRI - Directory of Index files
Lists all index files - Clipper, dBASE, Foxbase and
displays the index expressions for each file.
LS - List Structure
A quick and easy way to displays the structure of the
specified dBASE type file. LS DBF_File_Name
LD - List Database
Quickly and easily view the contents of any dBASE type
file. Use the following keys to control which record
is displayed. LD DBF_File_Name
Next Record Previous Record
PgDn Page Forward PgUp Page Backward
Home Beginning Of File End End Of File
G Go To Record# ESC Exit