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Text File | 1992-01-05 | 25KB | 540 lines

BookBase.Exe Version 3.0 (c) January, 1992 by Rad Delaroderie PO Box 1991 Columbus, Ga. 31902 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ********************* Program Requirements: ********************* 128K RAM DOS 2.0 or later IBM or compatible --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************** Contact Information: ******************** I can be contacted at the PO Box listed above, or at * CompuServe, ID 74730,3526 * GEnie, RAD4 * Columbus Connection BBS Columbus, GA 1-404-687-7309 RAD Software Area * DataLink BBS Baton Rouge, LA 1-504-778-0015 RAD Software Area --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************* Packing List: ************* This BookBase package should contain at least the following files: BookBase.Exe (The executable program file) BookBase.Doc (This documentation file that you're reading now) RadCat.Exe (A catalog of other available RAD Software programs) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************** Program Description: ******************** Do you have a lot of books? Are you a book lover, or even perhaps a book collector to some extent? If so, BookBase is definitely for you. BookBase is an inventory program that lets you easily enter and maintain a listing of your book collection. BookBase will also let you retrieve information in a wide variety of interesting ways that let you learn a lot about your books that you would never otherwise know if not for the analytical ability of computers when properly programmed. Despite the complex abilities of BookBase, the program is friendly and a snap to learn. I had considered developing a context-sensitive help system for it, but BookBase is so intuitive that even a novice will be an expert at this program in just a few minutes. However, you do need to be aware of the following limitations: BookBase can hold up to 10,000 books on file if installed on a hard disk. However, if you use a 360k floppy disk system, you will run out of disk space after about 750 book entries. If you use 720k disks, you're limited to about 1,500 book entries. If you use 1.44m disks, you're limited to about 3,000 entries. This latest version of BookBase (v3.0) is a significant upgrade that includes features registered user said they wanted. For instance: * A "quick listing" option has been added to the report printout choices (see "Printing Options" below for more details). * All entry data fields are fully editable within fields, and cursorable between fields, in the "Add Entry" and "Modify Entry" modes. * BookBase has complete "program path" memory; that is, it remembers all choices you make when you maneuver through the program options-- when you return to that portion of the program at any later time, it automatically offers that "program path" as the default highlighted choice. You simply keep hitting the <Enter> key over and over to get exactly where you were the last time you were in that part of the program! If you wish to choose a different path, simply touch the <SpaceBar> to highlight your preference. Your hands never have to leave the main part of the keyboard, although the cursor keys are also fully and intuitively functional if you wish to use them. * The searching and sorting algorithms-- which have always been the fastest anywhere-- have been considerably optimized, and are now even faster. My programs are a magnitude faster than any database application programs developed under DBase, RBase, Works, FoxBase, or any other commercial platforms! * All changes to the data file are written to disk on the spot, so you never lose data even if you unexpectedly lose power! * All sorting and sub-listing is done in memory (and at the speed of memory), so you never have temporary files to clutter your disk and slow operations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***************** To Install & Run: ***************** The following instructions assume that you know next to nothing about DOS or installing and running programs. I always try to remember that new computer users are many, and I wish to make things as easy and clear as possible for these new users. Floppy disk based users- Insert a blank floppy disk into Drive A. At the DOS prompt, type the following: a: (Enter) format a: /v/s (Enter) When the system finishes formatting the disk, it will ask for a Volume Label. Type BookBase (Enter) Now remove this newly formatted disk from Drive A and insert the disk containing the BookBase program files into Drive A. Type the following: Copy a:\BookBase.* b: (Enter) Follow the instructions as they appear on the screen. New users should note that, on a single floppy disk system, your computer considers your single drive to be both Drive A and Drive B. When you are finished, you now have a usable BookBase program disk. Label the disk. Put the original disk in a safe place. To run the program, insert the BookBase program disk into Drive A. If the computer is off, turn it on. Type the following: a: (Enter) BookBase (Enter) The program will now run. Hard Disk System- At the DOS prompt, type the following: c: (Enter) cd\ (Enter) md \bookbase (Enter) cd \bookbase (Enter) If the original BookBase files are on a floppy disk, insert that disk into Drive A and type the following: copy a:\BookBase.* c:\BookBase (Enter) If the original BookBase files are already somewhere on your hard disk, I'll assume that, if you knew enough to get them on your hard disk already, you know enough to copy them to the BookBase sub-directory. To start the program, type the following: c: (Enter) cd \BookBase (Enter) BookBase BookBase.Exe creates a data file, called BookBase.Dat, when you start entering your books. Database-type programs are by their very nature "file read/write" intensive. For that reason, performance is slowest on a floppy disk, very fast on a hard disk, and lightning on a RAM disk. If a small sample BookBase.Dat file is included in this package, you can use it to immediately get some idea of BookBase's features without having to enter your own books right away. When you are ready to establish your own personal BookBase.Dat file, you simply erase the sample file by typing the following: del BookBase.Dat (Enter) at the DOS prompt while in the BookBase sub-directory, then start from scratch with your own data file. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ****************** Using the program: ****************** BookBase starts with a title page containing author and copyright information, and a brief description of the program. Pressing any key then displays the focal point of the program-- the Main Menu. The Main Menu has three choices: * See the inventory of books on file * Add a book to the inventory * Quit the program I use the "point & shoot" method for user choices. That is, you simply use the spacebar or arrow keys to highlight your choices and press the <Enter> key. The program will immediately branch to that section of the program. You can back out of any part of the program with the ESC key, eventually returning to the Main Menu. Let's look at the features available in each of the above three choices in more detail below-- ********************************* Add a book to the inventory list- ********************************* If you highlight this option and press the <Enter> key, you will be presented with an entry screen. BookBase lets you enter a book in an easy simple manner. When entering information in each field, note that the entry lines are fully editable; that is, you have basic word processing capabilities, including Insert/Overtype, Delete, Home, End, etc. Also note that, when adding a new book to your index, default entries will be offered based on the last entry you gave for that field. For instance, if you just finished entering a Science Fiction with a 1988 copyright date, and then decide to enter another book, "Science Fiction" will automatically appear as the default entry for the category field, and "1988" will automatically appear as the default entry for the copyright year, etc. If you want to make a different entry, simply start typing your new entry from the leftmost character position and the default entry will vanish when you hit your first typewriter key. On the other hand, if you wish to just edit the default entry, then begin typing at any position other than the leftmost position. This makes entering multiple similar cards a breeze! Once you have typed in the information in the entry fields, just press the <F10> key to save the entry and add it to your computerized inventory! Let's look at each of entry fields in more detail below: Category- Here you should enter the subject matter or theme of the book. Possible entries include Fiction, Adventure, Biography, Science Fiction, War, Humor, Romance, Manual, Textbook, etc. Also note that there is plenty of room to enter more than one category. You could, for instance, type "Fiction, Adventure, Spy Thriller" if you want to. The reason it's important to be aware of this will become more apparent when you read below about the powerful search and sub-listing features of this program. Author- In order to properly utilize the sorting capabilities of BookBase, you should always enter the author's name in a LastName, FirstName format. For instance: Clarke, Arthur C. or Smith, Joe & Brown, John Title- You should enter the title of the book here. Volume- If the book is one of a sequence of books, enter the volume number here. Edition- Enter the edition number, if applicable, here. (c) Date- Enter the Copyright Date here. This is usually a year entry. ISBN (International Standard Book Number)- Enter the ISBN number here or, if you prefer, the Library of Congress number. Be forewarned, however, that many of the newer books only list an ISBN number. If the book is an older one, however, there will not be an ISBN number listed. In my opinion, the best method is to enter the ISBN number if it's available, and the Library of Congress number if the ISBN number is not available. For your interest, the ISBN classification system was developed in the United States 1967 and adopted internationally in 1969. Publisher- Enter the book publisher's company name here. Pages- Enter the number of pages contained in the book. Key Phrases- This entry field, deceptively, is one of the most useful and powerful features of this program. Here you may enter key words or phrases that characterize the book in a way that will let you associate it with other books when you use the search and sub-listing capabilities of this program. For example, if you have a personal interest in aircraft, you can enter "aircraft" as a key word for any book that refers to planes, regardless of author or type book, and later produce an instant listing of all of your books that make any reference to aircraft! You can enter as many key words or phrases as will fit in a 74-character space. You may separate the phrases and words by commas, spaces, or any other delimiter you wish to use. The more you think through and utilize this feature, the more powerful and useful this program becomes! Comments- This entry field allows you to enter miscellaneous comments. This field reflects my awareness as a programmer that it's impossible to write a program that satisfies everyone's preference for entry fields. There will be serious book collectors, for example, for whom it's very important to be able to note in the program on what shelf or in which cubbyhole a particular book is located-- or perhaps a book collector who wants to enter both the ISBN & Library of Congress number. The comment field is 74 characters wide, and provides ample room for you to include whatever information you consider worthwhile or important. ****************** See the inventory- ****************** This Main Menu option lets you view your inventory of books in a powerfully flexible manner that could never be accomplished in a practical way with a paper index filing system. Upon highlighting this option and pressing the <Enter> key, you are presented with a sub-menu that asks whether you would like to see All books on file, or Certain books in the file. ********* All books ********* If you wish to look at all of your books on file, simply highlight this choice and press the <Enter> key. The program will then present you will another sub-menu that gives you choices of how you want the list sorted. The entire list can be sorted alphabetically by Category, Author, Title, Copyright Date (chronologically), or by Publisher. Highlight which way you want the list sorted and press the <Enter> key. ************* Certain books ************* If you wish to only look at certain books in your file, simply highlight this choice and press the <Enter> key. The program will then present you with another sub-menu to gives you choices of how you want define the limited list of books you want to see. The entire file can be searched according to a certain Category, Author, Title, ISBN, Publisher, Key Phrase, or Comment. Highlight which way you want to search the list by and press the <Enter> key. The program will then ask you to enter the phrase, word, or partial word that you want the program to find in the particular field you chose. You do not have to enter a complete word. For instance, if you want to find all books that have "Aircraft", "airplane", or "airplanes", in the Key Phrase field, then simply enter "air" as your search phrase, and press the <Enter> key. The program will locate every book that has that particular sequence of characters in the Key Phrase field. ********************** Displaying the Results ********************** Whether you've chosen All Books or Certain Books, the program will go through the entire list extremely quickly, using a very efficient sorting (All books selected) or finding (Certain Books selected) algorithm, and then display information about the first book in the sorted or found list. The <Spacebar>, <UpArrow>, & <DnArrow> keys go through the list of books one at a time. The <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys will page through the list 10 books at a time. The <Home> key brings you immediately to the first book in the list, and the <End> key brings you immediately to the last book in the list. The bottom line of the screen displays the options that are available to you at this point. You may Print, Modify, and Delete as follows: Printing Options- Pressing the <F2> Function key allows you the choice of printing either the entire sorted or found list, or just the book entry currently shown on the screen. Simply highlight your choice and press the <Enter> key. If you choose to print the entire list, you are given a sub-choice: Do you want to print a quick list of books, where each entry in the list is listed by Category, Author, & Title on one row (42 entries to a page), or an expanded list, where all available information from each entry is printed (3 entries to a page). Highlight your preference and press the <Enter> key. Suggestion: Set your printer in the compressed (17 cpi) mode or at least the elite mode (12 cpi) when printing book lists. The printout looks better and, at least for me, is easier to read. Modify Option- You can modify any field in any displayed book entry. Press the <F4> Function key, use the <Arrow> keys to highlight which field you wish to modify, and then edit that field. When you are finished editing, just press the <F10> Function key to save your changes. Delete Option- Pressing the <F8> Function key will, after asking you to confirm by pressing "y", cause the program to permanently delete that particular book from your data file. ***************** Quit the Program- ***************** If you wish to Quit the program, simply highlight that option and press the <Enter> key. After asking you to confirm by pressing "y", the program will immediately terminate. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************* Registration: ************* If you find that you are using the review version of this program regularly, please send $10 for the latest full-featured version of a program that is commercially worth a lot more than that. Make sure you specify the program name, version number, and the type floppy disk you need. (Use the order form in the accompanying RadCat.Exe file, or <PrntScrn> the Shareware message/order form that appears near the beginning of the review version of this program.) If you wish to use this program in a commercial or institutional environment, contact me and we'll make arrangements. Finally, if this is the review version, you are encouraged to freely distribute copies of this program for others to review. However, please make sure to include all the files originally included in this package. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of BookBase.Doc File