Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/database/datamage.zip/DOCS.ZIP/DBSEMAKR.DOC

Text File | 1991-02-28 | 7KB | 121 lines

                       DATABASE INSTALLATION PROGRAM:

The  DBSEMAKR  program installs new datafiles designed by the  user.   It  also
loads  and  edits  existing datafile structures, then  writes  a  new  datafile
definition in another directory.  The POWRCOPY program can be used to move data
from one or more files into a new format.

To  start the program select install user-designed datafiles from the  menu  of
the  GO program.  DBSEMAKR will load in the normal manner and ask  whether  you
wish  to  load/edit an existing file, or start fresh.  If you opt  to  edit  an
existing file you enter the name of the directory where the established file is
recorded and the format is loaded and displayed.

If  you  opt to start a new file the program asks if you wish the  file  to  be
assessed  by the POWRMAIL program.  If you may desire to do a mass  mailing  to
the  persons/organizations detailed in the file then you must opt to  make  the
new  datafile  compatible  with POWRMAIL, or originate  your  own  label  print
program.   When  the  program displays the fields  automatically  dedicated  to
POWRMAIL none of them will be indexed.  You may alter the indexing any way  you
wish,  but  you  may alter neither the class nor the  length  of  the  program-
generated fields.  Doing so will render the file un-accessible to POWRMAIL.

Perhaps  you are installing an inventory file.  Since you will have no need  to
mail  things to your stock, opt for a file that is not accessible to  POWRMAIL.
The  dialog  box  will  guide you through the first  field,  then  it  will  be
displayed.

The  data  display  of  the DBSEMAKR program is quite  similar  to  the  browse
function  of  the BASE program.  You "navigate" by pressing the  up/down  arrow
keys, the page up/down and home/end keys.  When the number of the desired field
is flashing it will be the object of the functions selected.

Pressing the return key causes the program to re-prompt you for the details  of
the  high-lighted field.  If you don't wish to change what's there  just  press
return.  Pressing the "A" key causes the program to prompt you for the  details
of a new field, then adds that field to the end of the file.

When  you are specifying or correcting a field you are first prompted  for  the
name.   If the name you enter has been used it will be rejected.

If you are editing a field you can not change it's basic storage type.  You can
not change a string field to a date, or a numeric to a string.  To do so delete
the field, then use the insert function to replace it.

If  you are entering a new field you  are asked  the type of data to reside  in
that field.  It can be date, string, numeric or dollar. If you  select   alpha-
numeric  data  you  will, unless all indexes have been  used,  be  offered  the
opportunity to establish an index for the new field.

If  you  select  numeric data storage you will be prompted for  the  number  of
decimals  to record in the field.  If a number is entered or otherwise  written
into  the  field  it will be automatically rounded  to  the  specified  format.
Selecting  the  numeric storage mode automatically assigns a  length  of  eight
bytes to the field.

If  you select the date format a length of ten will automatically  be  selected
for  the field.  The first date field you enter will prompt you for the  format
for all date-formatted fields in the file.  It can be MM/DD/YY/ or DD/MM/YY.

The  last  part  of  the definition process specifies  the  maximum  number  of
characters allowed in the field.  The maximum number is 35 for string data, and
numeric data ALWAYS occupies eight bytes per field.  When you specify a numeric
or date field the length of ten or eight will be automatically chosen.

Inserting  a new field will move the high-lighted field (and those that  follow
it)  "down" one, then prompt you for the details of a new field to be  inserted
in  that  position.   Deleting  a field will remove it,  and  bring  all  those
following it "up" one.

Your progress may be printed at any time, as many times as you wish.

When you have your datafile designed as you wish press "W" to record it to  the
disk.   You  will be prompted for a name to be assigned the new  directory  the
program will make to hold the new datafile.  You will also enter a 35 character
description  of  the  datafile.   The  directory  name  and  the  user-assigned
description  will both be displayed when the BASE program makes a menu  of  the
files on that disk.

The  operation  of  this program is really simple.  As usual,  the  dialog  box
guides you and makes you aware of your options at any given time.  The  program
has a single help file that is displayed by pressing "H" from the data  display
screen.   If you become confused during the program opt to view  the  on-screen
help.

Before starting the DBSEMAKR program your datafile should be carefully designed
to  efficiently  record  data  pertinent to the  record  and  to  exclude  non-
indicative or overly-long portions of your current paper filing system.

Telling  you how to define your file is beyond the scope of these  instructions
due  to  lack of information on my part.  You will find, in the  next  section,
some concepts and "tips" gleaned from having read/written too much data on  too
many disks.

INITIAL DISK SPACE:

The  program will reserve initial disk space for the new/reorganized  datafile.
Whether you are entering or copying the data into the file your disk space will
end up fragmented due to records being written into three files.

The initial disk space option allows you to reserve disk space for a number  of
records   you   chose.   The  three  files:  CTRLFILE.RAD,   FILEINDX.RAD   and
YOURDATA.RAD  will be filled with blank records and no fragmentation caused  by
the program will occur.

If  you're  not short on disk space reserving space for your files  is  a  good
idea.  It speeds index and record number searches by having all the target data
in one place on the drive, thusly eliminating many stepping operations.

If  your file should exceed the number of records allocated the  programs  will
begin  allocating disk space as you require it, as usual.  Your files  are  not
limited to the number of records initially specified.

REORGANIZING FILES:

DATAMAGE  files  tend to collect a following of macros, I/O groups  and  custom
screens  over the course of time.  All these record fields within the  file  to
use again and again.  DATAMAGE will find it's field, even if the file has  been
reorganized.   But it has to be there.  Think carefully before deleting  fields
from established files, you might be ruining a macro or screen!