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ReadMe
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1997-09-18
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AMIGABASE V 2.5 (c) 1989-1997 Steffen Gutmann
=============================================
AmigaBase is a programmable hierarchical database.
AmigaBase is shareware. This means that the program can be freely copied
and distributed as long as no more than a nominal fee is charged to
cover time and copying costs.
All rights reserved.
If you use the program you must register yourself. To do this send
a short letter along with the shareware fee to:
Steffen Gutmann
Wiesentalstr. 30
D-73312 Geislingen/Eybach
GERMANY
The shareware fee is DM 70,-- or US $50. You may use the contents of
file "Reg_Form" as a template for your letter.
If you are a registered user of AmigaBase V1.xx then you are allowed
to use the new version. If you want to have the new user manual you can
get it for an update fee of DM 30,-- (US $20). Please specify your
registration number when sending in the fee.
Registered users of AmigaBase V2.x will find a small documentation update
in the "Updates" directory.
Send money by EuroCheck (only in Deutsch Mark (DM)), postal money order or
cash (take care that the money is not visible from outside!).
Do not use a foreign check as cashing in is very expensive in this case!
If you live in Germany then please read also the "Liesmich" file for
further ways of paying the fee.
On registration you will get the latest version of AmigaBase along with
the user manual. The manual is available in English or German. It has
been written by using Latex, contains several screen dumps, is bounded,
and has more than 100 dina4 pages.
Please note that I will not live at the address given above from the start
of October 1997 to the end of January 1998. Registrations in that period
of time may therefore be done with some delay.
I cannot guarantee that this program is bug free!
You use this software at your own risk!
But if you find a bug then please let me know of it. You can contact
me by sending a letter to the address above, or by sending an email to
gutmann@informatik.uni-freiburg.de
AmigaBase uses 'reqtools.library' (c) Nico François
and 'gadget.library' (c) Steffen Gutmann.
Files:
------
You should have the following files:
AmigaBase or AmigaBase.lha - executable program, packed eventually.
Install-AB/* - Installer script to install AmigaBase
ReadMe - this file
LiesMich - German ReadMe
BUGS
CONTENTS
HISTORY
TODO - further information
Reg_Form - registration form
Reg_Form.deutsch - German version
Updates/* - Documentation updates (for registered
users only, do not read it if you aren't
one :-).
Catalogs/*/AmigaBase.catalog
- catalog files for other languages than
English
Data/Deutsch/* - some example projects (German versions)
Data/English/* - some example projects (English versions)
Data/Graphics/Mandelpic.iff
- iff picture used by the project
"Mandel pictures".
libs13/reqtools.library - reqtools.library for Kickstart 1.2/1.3
libs20/reqtools.library - reqtools.library for Kickstart 2.0+
libs13/gadget.library - gadget library for 1.2/1.3 and 2.0+.
ToolManager/AmigaBase.brush
- image file for toolmanager.
lha - unpacker for AmigaBase.lha
MuchMore - text displayer
Equipment:
----------
AmigaBase works on every Amiga with Kickstart 1.2/1.3 or higher.
Of course, if your computer runs a higher OS version, AmigaBase
will make use of its improvements.
You need at least 1MByte Ram to run AmigaBase. Recommend, but not
needed, are more memory and a hard disk.
Installation:
-------------
For installation use the Installer script in the 'Install-AB' directory.
Double click its icon and follow its instructions. It installs
AmigaBase, the reqtools.library, the gadget.library, the locale files
and the example projects.
If you want to install AmigaBase by hand you have to do the following:
o Reqtools.library: Corresponding to your OS version copy
libs20/reqtools.library or libs13/reqtools.library into the libs:
directory.
o Gadget.library: Copy libs13/gadget.library into the libs: directory
(even under OS2.0 or up).
o Unpack the file AmigaBase.lha if necessary.
Now you can start AmigaBase.
o If you want AmigaBase to look in your language and you are using OS 2.0
with Workbench 2.1, copy Catalogs/your_language/AmigaBase.catalog
to LOCALE:Catalogs/your_language. If your language is not supported
then please have a look into the MakeCat directory and read the
ReadMe file there.
o If you want to start AmigaBase by double clicking an AmigaBase
project you need to assign AmigaBase: to the directory containing
AmigaBase.
What does AmigaBase offer:
--------------------------
AmigaBase is not a relational database with SQL interface or something
like this. AmigaBase is a hierarchical programmable database.
Nevertheless, or just because, AmigaBase is ideal for managing
music cassettes, videos, addresses, etc. Complex applications like
a finance manager with automatic printing of transfer forms
and writing client accounts is also no problem with AmigaBase.
A project consists of one or several records. A record is displayed
by a rectangle with a colored border and a titlebar. The record
name is displayed in the title bar. A record can be placed beside or
within annother one (to build a hierarchy).
In records you can place variables which are used for entering data
and for the display of record contents.
Data is organized in datasets. For each record you can allocate
any number of datasets (only limited by available memory).
The datasets can be ordered by a user-definable order. With a filter
a specific set of datasets can be selected. The filter can be a very
complex expression, nearly every function of the built-in database
language can be used here. A print menu allows a customized printing
of record contents. And last but not least it is quite easy to find
a specific dataset by using AmigaBase search facility.
AmigaBase offers two display modes: form and listing.
In form display all records are displayed in several windows. In
each record exactly one dataset is shown.
In listing display all dataset of a specific record are displayed
in a scrolling list inside a window.
AmigaBase has two operating modes: working mode and installing mode.
In working mode you enter data, start programs, etc.
In installing mode you build your data structure. You can define
new variables, change and delete them. Variables can be of type
BOOLEAN, CHOICE (one item out of many items), INTEGER, REAL (floating
point values), STRING (single line text), DATE, TIME, or MEMO (multi
line text). An additional (pseudo) type called BUTTON enables to start
AmigaBase programs.
Furthermore, you can define, change and delete texts. Texts are only
used for decoration in records.
You can also define, change and delete records and windows.
You must give each variable, record and window a name. This name
must begin with an uppercase letter followed by up to nine letters,
digits or underscores. There are some reserved words which are
mainly used in AmigaBase programs that cannot be used for names.
A special feature of AmigaBase is the programming of it. For each
variable (except MEMO variables) you can write a program which
is called whenever you change the contents of this variable or press
RETURN while the cursor is on a BUTTON variable.
If you want to have a view into programming AmigaBase, I recommend
to have a look at the label print program of the cassette project
(included in the distribution).
A complete description of all functions and abilities of AmigaBase
is found in the user manual of AmigaBase. This document is only
available by registration.
Import of datasets
------------------
For importing or exporting datasets there aren't any menu items because
these functions can be easily integrated by programming AmigaBase.
The user manual contains an own chapter describing how to import and
export datasets. Here is a brief description on how to import datasets:
First you have to load the import file into a MEMO variable by calling
the MEMOLOAD function. Then use a FOR loop to examine each line of
the MEMO variable. For each line extract the desired information
by calling LeftStr, MidStr, RightStr, Val, etc. and assign it to the
corresponding dataset variable. This looks a bit awkward, but it is
very flexible and should fit everybody needs.
Example projects:
-----------------
In directory Data/Deutsch and Data/English you find some
example projects.
If you have created your own project and you think that other
AmigaBase users should also benfit from it then please send it to me.
We can then decide how to make it available to the public.
Localization
------------
AmigaBase is fully localized. Currently English, German, Swedish,
Italian, French, Spanish, Danish, Dutch and Polish are supported.
If you want AmigaBase to also support your language then please
contact me. For translating the AppStrings.source file into a new
language I offer you a free registration of AmigaBase!
Installer
---------
Installer and Installer project icon
(c) Copyright 1991-93 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced and distributed under license from Commodore.
INSTALLER SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE;
NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY
OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED.
Icons
-----
Many icons used in AmigaBase are copied from the DefaultIcons set
which is distributed e.g. on the Meeting Pearls CD 3, directory
Contrib/DefaultIcons. The icons used herein are Copyright by
Michael-Wolfgang Hohmann and Angela Schmidt (for a more detailed
Copyright description see MP3).
Thanks
------
Thanks to
o Mats Granstrom for many ideas and his funny jokes and comments.
o Ralph Reuchlein for ideas and beta testing.
o Thomas Fricke for the AmigaBase and Data icon.
o Mads Lie Jensen for the Danish catalog file and other things.
o Eyal Teler for many bug reports and ideas.
o Falk Hildner, Wolfgang Brodowski, Dirk-Michael Brosig, Hartmut
Jäger, Michael Klingbeil, and Waldemar Karwath for beta testing
and some example projects.
o Paolo Costabel and Werther Pirani for the Italian catalog file.
o Fabien Larini and Tattoo Mabonzo for the French catalog file.
o Peter Wastholm and Mikael Fors for the Swedish catalog file.
o Ronald Sloot for the Dutch catalog file.
o Jorge Acereda for the Spanish catalog file.
o Krzysztof Wojdon and Joanna Baluka for the Polish catalog file.
o Timo Karjalainen for the Suomi catalog file.
o All other beta testers.
o Jürgen Brust, Michael Janich, Nico François, Michael Greenhalg,
Jan Ulbrich, Andy Buck, Ralf Biedert, Petra Mössner, René Schuster
and all registered AmigaBase users.