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1991-02-09
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DATAMAGE dBass files conversion utility
Conversion of a dBase file to the DATAMAGE format (standard, headerless random-
access files) should be accomplished in two steps. The CONVERTER.EXE program
will do the "raw" conversion, and make a new datafile in the DBSEFILE sub-
directory off \MAGE.
STEP 1:
The \MAGE\DBSEFILE dir was made by the automatic HD installation batch file.
Perhaps you have removed it since then. It MUST BE present to accept the
converted file as the CONVERTER program offers no choice of where to place it's
output. Nor does it support the re-organization of the file.
Before you start CONVERTR, be certain that there is no datafile currently in
the DBSEFILE dir. If a file is present it will be over-written and DESTROYED
by the next dBase file to be converted. Convertr will not inform you of it's
presence, nor will it offer you a chance to abort.
After starting convertr you simply enter the pathname for the dBase file to be
converted and an increment value for numbering the new records in the DATAMAGE
file, and the file is converted.
After the conversoin is complete start SCRNBASE and check the first, last and
some intermediate records in the new file. Your "raw" file will not be
indexed, and will contain exactly what the dBase file does with one exception:
at the time of this writing the character and note fields will be truncated at
the 35th character.
Future modifications to CONVERTR will include the option to expand these
fields. A char/note field of 105 bytes would produce three DATAMAGE fields of
35 bytes each, and the data would be moved in. This version of CONVERTR will
be distributed with the registered versions as soon as it's done. (My
customers don't think I should be spending time on DATAMAGE programs, they
think I should be writing THEIRS! and it DOES pay better....)
STEP 2:
After your file has been checked you may wish to modify it in order to take
advantage of more DATAMAGE features (indexing) and to expand the (cheezy) 10
character field names allowed by dBase. The only bad thing about re-naming the
fields is that POWER COPY will be un-able to automatically identify the fields.
Of course you can enter the data, you'll only do this once (per file).
The new file is re-organized like any other DATAMAGE file. Start the DBSEMAKR
program and edit the format to your liking. Then start POWER COPY and move the
data into the new format. This creates a permanent "home" for the new file,
and frees the DBSEFILE dir for the next dBase file, if any.
Before converting the next dBase file you should empty the DBSEFILE directory
by entering DEL C:\MAGE\DBSEFILE\*.*. Also note that the sahreware version
will fail to access files comprising over 300 records. Unless you have a
registered version there's not much point in converting files larger than 300
reacords, as you can't access them.