JCSM Shareware Collection 1993 November/JCSM Shareware Collection - 1993-11.iso/cl060/dblit12c.lzh/INTRO.DBN

Text File | 1993-09-07 | 14.2 KB | 190 lines

Thank you.  The first several records in this file will help to serve as an
introduction to dbLite.  To read these notes you will use the F5 key to
open and close this window.  F5 toggles the note window open and closed.
In fact, try it now. Pressing F5 once will close the window and pressing
it once more will open it. In order to read all the notes associated with
records you will use the F5 key (open and close the note window) and the
PgUp and PgDn keys.  Those keys will move you from record to record. Once
you close the note window you will be in EDIT MODE.  In that mode you can
enter information into your data base.  To move from record 1 to record 2,
you should press PgDn.  To go back you use PgUp. (not in NOTE mode [now]
only in EDIT mode (when you close this window) So once you have read this
note window, you can close it with the F5 key.  PgDn to record 2 and then
press F5 again to open the note that is associated with (attached to) that
record.
To Review:

F5 opens and closes notes from the EDIT mode and NOTE mode.
PgUp and PgDn moves you from record to record (only in EDIT MODE).

Use that knowledge now to read the next note. (F5, PgDn, F5)
Okay, this window is an example of a note which you can attach to any
record.  You will set up records to store information about people, places
and things you want to keep track of. Databases are made up of units of
storage called records.  When you look at dbLite's EDIT MODE screen (the
one you see if you use F5 to toggle this window closed) you see four
windows running consecutively down the middle of the screen.  These windows
are designed to contain records.  They will show you four of your records
somewhere in your database.  The second window from the top is THE edit
window.  This is where you will actually enter and edit your records.
(It's easy to identify because it has arrows pointing toward it)
Each record is made up of five regular fields.  The Down Arrow and Up Arrow
keys ( along with ENTER ) will allow you to move from field to field
within each record.  The easiest way to enter information into dbLite is to
type it line by line using ENTER to set the field information and move
you down to the next field.  When you are finished with field #5, ENTER
will move you to field #1 of the next record.  PgDn also moves you down but
you will find yourself in field #5 (if you were in that field when you hit
PgDn).  Use PgUp and PgDn to move up and down to view your records.  Use
ENTER to enter information a line at a time.

Close this window with F5-PgDn to the next record-Use F5 to view its note
The information which you are entering into your database will be organized
into units called records.  A record is a unit unto itself.  Each record
will then be broken down into sub-units called fields.  The best way to
make this concept understandable is to provide an example.  Let's use
people as our subject and create an example database.  Each person we will
be recording information on will be considered a record.  Information about
that person will be contained in fields.

  Field One: Alphonse Capone
  Field Two: 2121 Apian Way
Field Three: Roman, Illinois
 Field Four: 21212
 Field Five: [phone] fax: [phone]

Thus we have five fields, broken down into NAME, STREET ADDRESS, CITY &
STATE, ZIP CODE, PHONE NUMBERS.  As long as we are consistently entering
information of the same type in the same field of our database, we will be
able to organize that information in unique ways.  Close this note and go
to the next record.


As you can see, Al is a record in this database.  Each field in this
database can be used as an index. That is, we can organize the order in
which the records appear by any field.  Normally you would organize people
alphbetically.  The problem with Al is we have his first name first and his
last name last.  When we sort this database by field one, Al could be first
in line even though his last name starts with C.  So, we could make him
Capone, Al on line one but if we did that and we produced mailing labels,
it would look pretty formal when we mailed Al his stuff.  (that is not to
say that you may not want to simply order people in this manner, there is
no law against it) We have other fields available, however, which allow us
further indexing outside of the what appears on a label.  Those fields are
called a memo.  The memo gives us four more fields to utilize.

The first 5 fields (lines) in our record are each 35 characters long.
The memo fields are 4 in number and each have 20 characters.
This note window is composed of 21 lines of 75 characters.

Let's see a memo.  Close this note window. PgDn to the next record. Then
while holding down the Alt key press V (for View memo)

After you look at the memo window a little, then F5 to open the note.
Okay, we now have an additional four fields to use to help organize our
database.  We can order it by:  name
                                age
                                seniority
                                job title

One thing to remember: dbLite is a free form database.  There are no
"description" titles next to each field.  This is to allow you a certain
freedom.  You must be consistent with information you wish to sort (index)
by. That is, keeping name on line one.  If it is a customer name, such as a
business name, then it will be sortable pretty easily. IBM will sort after
AT&T because "I" comes after "A" in the alphabet. I suggest left justifying
everything at first until you become familiar with the program.  (start
typing at column one)

But if you are not interested in ordering (sorting) your information by
every field you create then you can be more flexible in how you use your
fields.  You'll notice that Al's phone numbers are both on the same line.
It's of little importance that his fax number isn't separate.  You can
search for "fax" to find all customers with fax numbers but you may not be
interested in arranging them that way.  (see next note)
Okay, keeping track of people, places and things is one use for dbLite.
Once entered that information is easily retrievable upon demand. You can
add contacts as they become known by appending to the database. Once added
a contact can be put into proper alpha order by sorting. Once enough
contacts are entered, a report can be printed and labels can be made for
address books and envelope addressing. Up to 1,001 contacts can be kept in
any one file.  The number of files you can have is up to you.  (there is an
ultimate limit but I doubt that you will ever find it using dbLite for a
small business or as a personal database)

Since it is "freeform" you can also use dbLite as a reminder system. Keep a
file called Things or TTD (for things to do). Enter your reminders as they
become known. Delete them as they are accomplished or just change the
number in the priorities field if you want to keep track of your
accomplishments.  That is, use one field (obviously always the same line)
to prioritize your things to do.  See the next record as an example.





You can open your TTD or Things file when something occurs to you that
you must keep track of and make sure you get done.  If it involves
contacting someone, you can open your address file, F3 (to search) for your
contact person, get their phone number, or fax number and call them. As you
talk with them, you may need to append something to your schedule, so you
open your schedule file and jot down an appointment.  Each time a new
contact person is made, you can add a record either by Appending from the
Main Menu or just paging down to the last record and hitting ENTER or PgDn
or by using Insert from the Main Menu.  That's right, there are usually
several ways to accomplish things you want to do in dbLite.  Why?  Because
a program should work the way you want it to work, not the way you MUST be
trained to work.

dbLite has a lot of functionality.  It is pretty simple to use.  You are
currently reading your 7th note.  You are using a Shareware program.  It is
a fully functional, well documented program with help screens.  You can
figure out how to use it from the manual or just by playing with it.  You
can probably get about 80% of what it can do intuitively.  If you find it
useful, you may want to consider the advantages of registering it.

                              F5 PgDn F5
1.  This file is the tip of the iceberg in a full tutorial on what a
    database is and how to use it to your best advantage.  Even if YOU
    can figure out how to use this program, you may well consider seeing
    your secretary or co-workers or your better-half trained in its use.
    Registration brings the complete interactive tutor which will allow
    you to sit someone else down at the keyboard and have them learn
    how to use it.  Then THEY can help you catalog your inventory or your
    contacts.  Further, maybe YOU need help.  Even if you can use the
    program you probably don't want to sit down and read all the docs
    which will allow you to use all of its features.  Interactive learning
    can be accomplished on a laptop on a trip or in between work sessions.

2.  If you can learn to use dbLite from these interactive learning
    sessions, then you can further learn other subjects the same way. I am
    in the process of developing learning modules which will work from
    within dbLite.  You will have access to a quarterly newsletter
    offering these modules.  You will be offered periodic upgrades to the
    program (at only the cost of shipping and handling - five bucks).

3.  The price of the interactive tutor, newsletter and upgrades (at cost)
    is $10.00.  It makes your use LEGAL and it brings YOU extra value.
To: Mike Seither                      [make sure you fill in the record to]
    6900 Hastings St.                 [which this note is attached with   ]
    Metairie, La.  70003              [your name and address then WHEN    ]
($10 check or money order made out    [THE FORM IS COMPLETE PRESS ESC AND ]
 to: Mike Seither)                    [SELECT THE TYPE OF PRINTER YOU HAVE]
Please register my copy of dbLite version 1.2a.  Forward the latest version
with helpful utility programs and an interactive tutor.  Send me a
quarterly newsletter and qualify me for periodic major upgrades at only the
cost of shipping and handling ($5.00) which I have no obligation to buy.

Where I obtained dbLite :
What is my primary use  : [ ] business [ ] personal [ ] both
Kind of computer I use  : [ ] 8088/8086 [ ] 80286 [ ] 80386 [ ] 80486
             monitor    : [ ] color [ ] monochrome [ ] laptop / notebook
             hard drive : [ ] yes [ ] floppy only
Retail software used    :
Comments about dbLite   :



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