Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/database/datamage.zip/DOCS.ZIP/MAGETUTR

Text File | 1991-09-26 | 34KB | 633 lines

DATAMAGE tutorial and WELCOME

The installation of DATAMAGE on your hard disk is completed.  I thought I might
take  an opportunity to say a few words about it.   DATAMAGE is a  system  that
has no specific purpose.  It offers the capability to process datafiles.   This
type  of data management system is commonly called a DATABASE.  Don't  let  the
name  scare you off.  DATAMAGE is easily the most user-friendly  of  databases,
and requires you to learn NO syntax!  If you wish to use a syntax you have your
choice of two: BASIC or C.

HYBRID METHODOLOGY

A Hybrid system consists of canned and user-originated software.  DATAMAGE  is,
as far as I know, the only true hybrid system that runs on PC hardware.

DATAMAGE  gives  you the ability to organize and record your files,  fill  them
with data and execute many powerful, general-purpose operations on your data.

Every effort has been made to make the origination of software interacting with
DATAMAGE files as easy as can be.  Sample source code is provided in BASIC  and
Microsoft  C.  The C libraries contain an ISAM and the usual windowing,  input,
etc.   They contain every feature needed to process a DATAMAGE file,  and  some
especially designed to make your programs pretty as well as useful.

USER-FRIENDLY

By now, you're probably thinking:  So, you gotta be a PROGRAMMER, hum?  On  the
contrary,  the system was designed for use by the neophyte.  It is the  purpose
of this written tutorial to take you by the hand and show you the POWER and the
SPEED of DATAMAGE.  Along the way you will notice it doesn't bite.

SPLIT SCREEN

DATAMAGE  uses  two windows:  The DATA DISPLAY AREA and the  DIALOG  BOX.   The
program  displays  all it's prompts and mini-menus in the dialog box,  and  all
it's data in the larger, upper data display area.  Soon, you will automatically
scan  the bottom of your screen for options and choices while looking high  for
display data.  This method is common to the entire system.

THIS TUTORIAL

We  are  going  to  take a stroll through DATAMAGE  and  learn  it's  function,
structures and capabilities.  We will leave many a stone un-turned, a door  un-
opened.   I'm not at all certain that I'm capable of exemplifying all the  ways
DATAMAGE could be used but I am sure that neither of us have the time.

I'll  just hit the high notes, visit the bright spots.  I'll do it in the  form
of  SAMPLE JOBS that one might, for any number of reasons, really want  to  do.
Please follow along ON YOUR COMPUTER.

PRINTING THIS FILE

The  VIEW program will print this text.  View starts printing atop the  current
page,  and  stops at the end of the file, or when you press a  key.   To  print
this  align the next heading atop your screen and press P.  Allow the  printout
to continue until the end of the file is reached.

After  you  press escape to end the VIEW program the HD_INST  batch  file  will
start DATAMAGE for you.  To start DATAMAGE after the install is completed enter
CD\MAGE then GO.  You should have the program up and running to participate  in
the following tutorial.

SAMPLE JOB 0 - CREATE NEW DATAFILE

The  DATAMAGE system menu offers six choices.  To create a new file use  option
number  five.   Just  press  5, no need to hit  return.   DBSEMAKR  loads   and
executes.  If the program fails to execute and returns you to the  GO  program
you need to place your COMMAND.COM in a path so that system calls can find it.

The first question is whether we wish to edit the structure of an existing file
or start fresh.  Opt to originate a new file.

The  next prompt asks us if we wish the new file to be accessible to the  POWER
MAIL  system.  If we will be needing to do mass mailings to the file  we  would
answer  yes and the program would define the first fields in the file  for  us,
according to the POWRMAIL datafile requirements.  We would then be free to  add
whatever fields we needed, up to the 200 field limit.

This time, opt no.  We will do no sticky labels from this file.

You  are prompted for the name of the first field.  Enter NAME.  It's a  string
field,  indexed  cross, 35 characters in length.  The field  appears  atop  the
screen  and the dialog box fills with DBSEMAKR's options.  Press A to  add  the
next field.  We will use several.

First field is PHONE NUMBER.  It's a string, indexed unique, at least 12 long.

Next field is NUMBER AND STREET, string, cross indexed, 35 long.

Next field is CITY, string, cross indexed, 25 long.

Next is STATE, string, no index, 2 long.

Next is ZIP CODE, string, no index, 10 long.

Next is COMMENT 1, string, no index, 35 long.

Next is COMMENT 2, string, no index, 35 long.

Press  W  to  write  the file definition to disk.   As  directory  name,  enter
FRIENDS.    As   description  enter ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE   SAME   PLACE.   The
DBSEMAKR  program now offers to reserve initial space for this file.  Since  we
will not be doing much with it, opt no.   DBSEMAKR  writes the definition files
into the newly created directory off C:\MAGE called FRIENDS and ends, returning
you  to the system menu.  You are ready to use  this file.  All you need to  do
is to load it with the BASE program and enter data.

BASE PROGRAM FAMILIARIZATION

The  first  menu option runs a program called BASE.EXE.  Press your 1  key,  no
need  to  hit  return.  The BASE program that accompanies the shareware version
is not limited in any way, and will load files of up to 32,000 records.

Having loaded and executed BASE.EXE first presents a menu of the DATAMAGE files
it  found in directories off the MAGE directory made off the root on C: by  the
installation  batch  file.  This menu should show five files.

This menu window is similar to a lot of other programs, the flasher file  moves
with  the  up-down arrow keys, you hit return to select a file.   But,  take  a
moment to read the mini-menu in the dialog box.  Press H to read the  on-screen
help for loading files.  There's no sense in me writing it twice, no?

Now  that  you  know all about how to load files, even if  they're  on  another
drive, etc.  Load your new file called FRIENDS.  Opt to continue the startup by
entering records into the file.  Opt to use type-ahead mode.

The screen clears and you are prompted for an entry to fill each of the  fields
in the initial record of your FRIENDS file.  When the prompting stops you  have
the opportunity to go back and  check  your work.   Press home.  Look it  over.
If  you see a mistake use the up/down  arrow keys to align the flasher  on  the
offending field, press return to edit it, then hit return again when done.  The
dialog box keeps you informed of your  options at all times, refer to it  often
while learning the program.

After  you get it right press W to record your new record.  The screen  clears,
and  returns you to the BROWSE screen.  This would have been the  first  screen
after loading the file except that there were no records to browse.  Now, there
is one, and it sits lonely atop the data display window.

To enter the next record press F-1.  Don't use type-ahead mode this time.  Your
screen will not prompt you for the fields.  You will have to move to the  field
you wish to fill and hit return.  This can be useful for taking information off
the  phone, when you never know the order in which you'll get it.  Press  W  to
write your second record to disk after filling the fields with data.

Now you are looking at two friends names on the browse screen.  The flasher  is
beside  the second.  Press up arrow, and the flasher moves to the  first.   Hit
return, the first record is displayed for edit.  Press Q.  Move the flasher  to
the second record, hit return.  The second record is displayed for edit.  Press
Q to return to BROWSE.

By  declaring  the phone number field as INDEXED UNIQUE we stipulated  that  we
wanted all records to contain a different entry in this field.  If we have  two
friends who room together we are going to have a problem, because DATAMAGE will
reject records with duplications in the phone number field.  On the other hand,
should  we ever mistakenly attempt to enter a friend twice, the  computer  will
make us aware of our error by rejecting the second record on entry.

Let's  try it.  Get the phone number out of the second record you entered.   If
you don't remember it put the flasher on the second record and hit return.  You
can  print the record by pressing P, or just jot it down. Press Q to return  to
BROWSE.  Press F-1 to enter another record.  Do not accept type-ahead.

Type anything into the name field, say XXXX.  Go down to the phone number field
and enter the same number that you have in the second record.  Press return  to
record it, then W to write the record to disk.  The program rejects the  record
with an awful beep, and gives an error message.

We also declared the NAME, STREET and CITY fields as cross indexed.   Together,
these  three fields make up a unique index.  The program will allow  duplicates
of any two of these fields.  If a record is entered that has duplicates in  all
three of these fields it will be rejected.  To get all the details of  DATAMAGE
file indexing refer to INDEXING.DOC in the C:\MAGE\DOCS directory.

Press  Q  to abandon your failed record.  Let's work in a file that has  a  few
records  to  see  more of BASE.EXE.  Press alt and hit F-9.   Load  a  datafile
called CUSTOMER.  DATAMAGE will process as many datafiles as you care to create
and fill with data.

BASE PROGRAM OPERATION

CUSTOMER  is basically a name and address file.  In an hour or so we are  going
to  perform  some  real-world  processing  on  it.   But  first,  let's  become
acquainted with the TOOL, then try and use it.  Might be easier that way?

Your  file  having  loaded  you are now looking at  the  BROWSE  screen.   Your
keyboard has many "hot" keys during browse.  The function keys cause things  to
happen.  Your navigation keys (up/down arrows, page up/down home/end) cause the
BROWSE  screen  to move it's display.  Your H key offers  the  usual  on-screen
help, and the escape key displays a listing of the keys and their assignments.

Press H and read the on-screen help....  Thanks.

Try  the  navigation.  Press your down arrow key a bunch of  times.   Hit  page
down, end, home.  What you are seeing is the same thing you would see were  you
to open any file cabinet: "tabs" sticking up identifying their file.

STEP-BY-STEP OPERATION

The  BROWSE  screen does MUCH more than merely display the  records  and  allow
editing.   It shows the affect of all the operations we have done.  Were we  to
execute  an operation that selected all the addresses with California as  their
state the BROWSE screen would then display only the california records, and all
subsequent operations could be directed at only those records.

These  steps are the execution of available functions, of which there  are  22.
Press  your  escape  key  to  see a listing of  these  functions  and  a  brief
description of them.  All functions have their own on-screen help.

Note  that you must press a key to return to the BROWSE screen before  your  F-
key  based  function can be called by pressing it's key(s).  So, just  hit  the
spacebar to return to BROWSE.

BASE FUNCTIONS

In  order to assimilate a system we need to know what it can do for  us.   This
will  be  quite  simple.  Press F-1.  Press 3.  Read  the  on-screen  help  for
entering records.  Thank you.

Keep hitting function keys until you've done F-10, and learned how DATAMAGE can
"index"  a file, or even PART of a file, any way you want it, and allow you  to
re-load the sorted (etc.) file quickly as a MARKER FILE.

Now,  hold your alt key down and hit F-1.  So, THAT'S how you get  the  records
back!   Keep going with your alt key 'till you've done Alt-F-10 and  found  out
how to escape the BASE program.

There's just three more.  Press ctrl-F1 and F-2.  MACROS, anyone?

Finally,  press return.  The record display/update function has it's own  help,
just press H.  The "hot" keys have their own help.  Press C, then 3.

SAMPLE JOB 1

In  this datafile we need to find the average rate of compensation  offered  by
companies  in California and Texas.  We want to know, based on our data,  which
state  pays more to software authors.  And we want a printout of the  companies
in  those  states publicizing a rate, in order on same.  And a set  of  mailing
labels to same.

SAMPLE JOB 1 METHOD

To  do  this  job in a STEP-BY-STEP manner we will first tell  the  program  to
ignore  all  the  records not from California companies,  then  to  ignore  all
records  from  California having no rate.  We will sort the  records  on  their
rate, then make our printout.  Finally computing our average, and printing  it.
And,  lastly,  we will create a MARKER FILE that will allow us to  re-load  the
results of our work later.  The label program: POWER MAIL will need the  marker
to make labels for only those records that fit our parameters.

EXECUTE SAMPLE JOB 1

Press return.  Examine the record.  The state information for each record is in
field 6 and the rate information, if any, is in field 12.  Press Q to quit  the
record, then press F-7 to select records on the basis of alpha data.

We will target only one field in this selection process:  the field holding the
record's state information.  Select field 6, state.

Opt  to EXACTLY MATCH case and spacing.  All we need, here.  Opt   for   strict
equality  comparison,  we want records that  EQUAL  the   search  string.   The
search string is CA.  In all caps.  The two-letter state code.

Your   screen  should say:  Object: records in current group Target:   Field  6
EQUAL   search string:  CA.  Press 1 to execute the selection if it does, 2  to
re-enter  your params if it doesn't.

After  the select process has executed you will return to browse.  Your  dialog
box will now say: GROUP IS:  and the number of records you found.  The  records
for non-California companies are gone from the screen!

Now,  to get rid of the records that list no rate.  Press F-8.  Since you  have
done  an initial select operation your select screen has another option  tacked
onto  the front of it.  This option allows the impending select to  affect  all
the records in the file or only the records we now have in the group.

If  you wanted to process TWO states you could add the second now by using  the
select-alpha  function again and opting to target ALL RECORDS.  You would  then
add the records found by the second select to the first.

This  time,  we want to get rid of some of the records we already  have;  those
having  no  rate  in field 12.  So, opt to target the records  in  the  current
group.   That way, the records we now have that don't pass the next  test  will
dis-appear, and cease to be processed.

Our target is disk data, field 12.  Our comparison option is > (greater  than).
Our comparitor is a keyboard entry: 0.  Check your screen and run it.

When  the numeric select ends you will, as always, return to browse.  You  will
have lost quite a few more records.  Having identified the group of records  we
wish to deal with, press F-6.  That's put the group in order.

Our target is disk data, field 12.  Upon returning to browse you will find your
group in order on rate.  Press home to see the low, end to see the high.

Now,  for  the printout.  Of course, the print function will print  only  those
records  on the screen.  But the essence of a report is that it  presents  only
the data we need; this saves paper, too.

So,  just before we go to press, press your alt key and hit F-2.  Opt to  enter
the I/O GROUP from the keyboard, then enter 1, 2, 8, 12, RETURN.  Now, press  6
to examine your group.  You should see fields 1, 2, 8 and 12.  Press any key.

Press 7 to accept your group.  You return to BROWSE.  Press return and look  at
a record now, then Q to get back to BROWSE.

To  print it, press F-3.  As a heading, say: CALIFORNIA COMPANIES IN  ORDER  ON
RATE.  After the printer stops you're back in BROWSE.  Press alt + F4,  compute
totals and averages.

Opt  to  print the output, heading as:  AVERAGE CALIFORNIA RATE.   Opt  for  an
average and target field 12.  Then, opt for no more totals/averages.

Now  we make the index or marker file to record our work.  Press F-10.  Opt  to
write a marker, call it CALIF and describe it as CALIFORNIA COMPANIES IN  ORDER
ON RATE.

To get the labels you need to end  BASE  and  use POWRMAIL.   So, press alt and
hit F-10 to exit the base program and return to the GO program.  Select  option
3   from  the  system  menu.  When POWRMAIL starts opt  to  use  the   CUSTOMER
datafile and the CALIF marker.  Use plain paper instead of labels.

Finally, we need to select  BASE  again and repeat the  above  for Texas.   You
will be surprised who pays better.  After you have processed both groups  press
F-10  to  load  first  the  California marker,  then  the  Texas  marker.   The
information can be recalled anytime.

SAMPLE JOB 1 WRAP-UP

Sample  job  1 illustrates how easy it is to define the records with  which  we
wish to work, process them and get output of only the selected records.

Press alt and hit F1, restoring all the records to their active state.  To  get
rid on the I/O group we used for the report press alt and hit F2, the I/O  menu
appears.  Press 2 to restore all fields, then 7 to accept the group.

FINDING RECORDS

Before  leaving  the  CUSTOMER file please take time to use  the  find  records
function.  Of course, before you try it, you have to know some data to try  and
find.  That's easy:  Press end.  Now, press return, and P to print the  record.
Use the right arrow key to go to the next record, print it.  Do 2 or 3.   Press
Q to return to BROWSE.

Now,  press home.  To execute the find records function press F-5.  First,  opt
to  find  the  target record by record number.  Enter the number  of  the  last
record you printed.  After finding the record press home.

Press F-5 again, and opt for the file indexes.  Enter any indexed data from the
records  you  printed  into  the corresponding prompt.   The  record  is  found
quickly.  You may fill any or all indexes, but you must enter at least one.

BINARY SEARCH

Before  we  can  BINARY SEARCH the CUSTOMER file we will need to  place  it  in
order.   Press  F-6,  opt for disk data as your sort  target.   As  your  first
parameter,  select the STATE field.  It's alpha sort format is NORMAL.  Opt  to
select a tie-breaker, use the CONTACT field, sort as a NAME field, execute.

When the sort finishes you are the proud user of the B-TREE index that you just
created  in  MEMORY.  You have not, as yet, created a disk file  to  hold  your
INDEX, nor do you need to.  It is now ready to use.

Now,  to climb around in the tree a little.  Note that your BROWSE  screen  now
displays  the records in the order in which you placed them.  Press F-5  again,
this  time go for the BINARY SEARCH.  Enter OR as your first parameter, in  all
caps,  and opt for strict equality in the search.  Your speaker beeps  and  the
dialog  box  informs you that case and spacing may not be ignored in  the  next
entry, which is a name field.  Enter MIKE BROWN.  Hit return.

Your  BROWSE moves to MIKE's record.  Now, let's try and find a  record  that's
not  there.  Search again, for NM as the state and JOSE ORTEGA as the  contact.
Your  BROWSE moves, just like before.  Jose is not there but, if he  were,  you
are now at the place where his record would be in the current order.

Press  HOME  and try it one more time.  This time enter PA as  the  state,  and
press return on the second entry.  Do it again, if you like, with a state  that
is not in the file - RI.

If  you wish, save your index by pressing F-10.  You can re-load it later,  and
save  the time the SORT routine takes.  See the INDEXING.DOC file for  more  on
DATAMAGE's indexing features.

SAMPLE JOB 2 - CRUNCHING NUMBERS

To  do some math we'll need a file with several numeric fields.  Press  alt and
hit F-9  to load  another  datafile.  This time select SDB2.  This file has  32
records,  8  squares,  circles, boxes and tubes.  Press  return   and   examine
the records.   Please  find the dimensions for the item and that  field  number
13 holds the item's area or volume in inches, and number 14 feet.

Sample  job 2 is to find the area of the two dimensional figures and  write  it
into 13 and 14, and find the volume of the three dimensional figures and  place
it the same place, then sort the records on the result and make a marker file.

Press Q to quit the record you're looking at.  Press ctrl and hit F-2.   Select
AREA_VOL.MAC  from the menu of macro files recorded in the SDB2 datafile.   The
next  screen cautions you to ready your printer, but this macro doesn't  print.
Just before you press return to start the macro, note the time.

Yeah, that's right:  It aint too slow!

Your screen now shows the records in order on the results of the  calculations.
Press alt and hit F-8.  Opt to place the counters on the screen.  Counter 1 now
holds the area/vol in sq./cu inches, and 2 feet.

The macro you just ran was recorded from your BROWSE screen.  I just pushed the
right  keys, in the right order, and let the DATAMAGE do the rest.   I  started
with the file as it was when it loaded, pressed ctrl and hit F-1, then did  it.
When I had done it I pressed ctrl and hit F-1 again and closed the macro  file.
Now you could enter 5,000 more circles etc. and it would still work.

Press alt and hit F-1 restoring all records to the group.  Now the file is back
like  we  found it when we loaded it from disk, but the  numbers  computed  are
still  in fields 13 and 14.  Press F-9.  The write code option will  write  the
same code into all records in the current group, in this case all 32 records in
the file.  We will use it to zero fields 13 and 14.

Before  getting into how to use the calculation function I need to do a  little
background.  DATAMAGE provides two "spare" numeric "fields" for each record  in
the  current  group.   These two can be thought of as two  fields  that  aren't
there.   These  COUNTERS (for want of a better  name) exist in  the  computer's
RAM,  making  them  extremely fast.  If your computer runs out  of  memory  the
counters   exist   in temporary disk files, and are still faster  than  picking
through the main file.

The  COUNTER  fields  make  a perfect place  to  store  transient  data  during
calculations.   It's  important  that  you  remember  that  the  COUNTERS   are
associated with a record; each record OWNS two counters.  And the numeric  data
contained in those two counters relates to that record.

The  macro took me fifteen minutes to write, and the full treatment would  boor
even me to sleep.  Let's just do one of the figures, say, the circles, OK?

The  very  first thing we need to do is to get rid of the  boxes,  squares  and
tubes  so we can process the circles.  So hit F-7, target field 1,  search   on
strict  equality  and  exact  matching for CIRCLE.   Now,  BROWSE  shows  eight
circles.

Press  return  and  look  at a record.  There is only  one  dimension  for  the
circles.  Remember which field it's in (I don't!).  Press Q to exit the record.

The formula for area of circle is:  pi X (radius squared)

Press alt and hit F-3.  The calculation routine.  Just watch how simple it  can
be!    Select  disk data as the first value and select the  field  holding  the
circle's  one  dimension (#6).  As the operation select divide; we need to  cut
the  diameter  in half to get  the radius.  As the divider  select  a  keyboard
entry and enter 2.  Place  the results in counter 1.  Name counter 1 RADIUS.

Now,  BROWSE shows your results for each record.  Press alt and hit F-3  again.
Select  as your first value counter one.  Operation is multiply.  Second  value
is counter one.  Destination counter one.  Name counter one RADIUS SQUARED.

Go  for  the calculation routine again.  First value:  counter  1.   Operation:
multiply.   Second value:  keyboard entry: 3.14159 (pi).  Destination:  counter
1.  Name counter one AREA IN SQUARE INCHES.

One  more.  First value: counter 1.  Operation: divide. Second value:  keyboard
entry:  144  (square  inches in square foot).  destination:  counter  2.   Name
counter 2 AREA IN SQUARE FEET.

Now, how might we get our hard-won figures onto that disk?

Calculation:  First value: counter one.  Operation: replace  Destination:  disk
data: field 13.  And so for counter 2 into field 14.

Now, might we even get a report, in order on area?

As   usual,  you will need to use the I/O GROUP function to  inhibit   unwanted
data from your report and save paper.  Hit return.  Look at a record and decide
what fields you need on the report, suggest only name and dimensions.  Remember
their  field  numbers  or jot them down, in any order.  Press Q  to  return  to
the BROWSE display.

Press  alt and hit F-2.  Opt to enter the group from the keyboard.  Enter  your
numbers.   Press return when finished.  Back at the I/O GROUP menu, press 6  to
verify your group, then 7 to accept it.

Now, we need to sort it on the area of the figures.  Press F-6, opt to sort  on
counter one.  Then Hit F-3, name the report CIRCLES WITH AREAS.

Notice  that the records have the counters listed after the data  you  selected
and  placed in the I/O GROUP.  The counters will always print if active,  along
with your name for their contents.  To deactivate the counters you simply do  a
calculation with an entry of zero, replace and a counter as target.  Then  they
won't print.

Since  we'll  need  to re-load this vital information later  on  we'll  made  a
marker.   Press F-10, opt to write a marker.  Call it circles.  Describe it  as
circles in order on area.  Write it to disk.

Press  alt  and hit F-1.  Now all records are restored to the  BROWSE  display.
Press  F-10,  and opt to load a marker.  Select the marker made by  the  macro:
area_vol.mkr.   Your browse screen now is EXACTLY in the state it was when  you
wrote  the  marker.  Press alt and hit F-8.  Opt to place the counters  on  the
screen.  Press return.  Note that the counters are displayed in the dialog  box
during record display.

SAMPLE JOB 3 - FILE FRAGMENTATION

There  are  many reasons for file fragmentation:  Someone wants  our  info,  on
DISK, so they can work with it; they have a DATAMAGE, too.  We decided to  keep
52 separate customer files by state because the one file was getting too big to
handle.   We  are moving a group of records into our dead customer  file,  etc.

Sample job 3 is to make a new datafile on drive A: with the same format as  the
CUSTOMER datafile.  Into it we need to copy all our records having a rate.  The
information  is to be sorted by state and, within state, in order on  rate.

To  do  this  it is necessary to make some preparations  outside  the  DATAMAGE
system.  So, press Q to quit the record you're in, then press alt and hit  F-10
to exit BASE.  The system menu re-appears on your screen, hit return.

Take  a  blank floppy and shove it in A:.  Enter A:.  Enter CD.   The  response
should be A:\.  If it's not, set your default drive to A:.

Enter MD CUSTOMER.  Enter COPY C:\MAGE\CUSTOMER\*.SAD A:\CUSTOMER.

The  .SAD  files contain the file setup.  Now you have a directory on  A:  (all
DATAMAGE  files are in their own directory!) that contains a blank  format  for
the CUSTOMER file, but has no records.  Enter DIR CUSTOMER.  You should see:
HEADINGS.SAD, KEY.SAD and CITYNAME.SAD.

Enter C:.  Enter GO to re-start DATAMAGE.  Having created our destination,  the
rest  can  be  done  from within the system.  From  the  system  screen  select
BASE,  then load CUSTOMER.  To selectively move records from this file we  will
need to create a MARKER FILE that contains the records we wish to move, in  the
order we wish to move them.

Our parameters were:  records with rate in order on state then rate.

First, press F-8.  Opt to target a single field, rate (#12).  As the  operation
use greater than.  As comparitor use a keyboard entry of zero.  Execute.

To  place our group in order we need to sort on two parameters: The first rate, Then we will sort alpha on  the  state.
the second state.  Opt for normal alpha sorting, execute.

Now, to make a marker file press F-10.  Opt to write a marker.  Call it MOVE.

To  exit  BASE  press alt and hit  F-10.   From the system menu select  program
number  4,  POWER  COPY.  When POWER COPY loads it presents a  menu  of  files.
Flashing atop the screen it says it wants the SOURCE file.  Select CUSTOMER.

You will be prompted to move all records in the source file or the records in a
marker  file,  select marker operation and, of course, use MOVE.MKR.

Then,  same  menu,  but it wants the TARGET file.   Press  escape.   Enter  A:.
Select  the  only file on the menu of files on A: CUSTOMER.  The  program  will
inform that the target file has no records, that's OK.

Use  the  source record numbers, opt for automatic pairing  on  absolute  field
numbers.  POWER  COPY will display the pairings for edit.  Since  none  of  the
fields have been changed it has found them all.

Press escape to see the functions for this screen.  Press spacebar to return to
pairing  display.  Hit F-9 to accept the current  pairings.   The records  will
be copied across to the file fragment in drive A:.

POWER  COPY, having done the simple task we offered it, ends.  This program  is
capable of much more than this simple usage.  It can establish record  pairings
by a key field and move data from ALL MATCHES found in the source file into the
target file.  It can pack datafiles.  See the docs for POWER COPY.

Press  1 from the system menu.  When BASE displays the menu of the four  sample
files  on  C: press escape.  Enter A:.  The menu will now show  our  new  file.
Select it, and browse it to be sure the data came across OK.

APPLICATIONS MAKER

APPLICATIONS MAKER is a fourth generation language.  To try this program select
six from the system screen.  There is a sample APPLICATION in the SALES  sample
datafile.  This APPLICATION handles inventory operations for a small  business.
Select  it in the same manner, by using the EDIT option from the initial  menu,
then targeting the SALES datafile.  You might do well to print the  APPLICATION
on your printer.

When  you  test-execute this application you will be prompted  for  the  record
number  of the new record to be created in the SALES datafile.  You  may  allow
the computer to select one for you.  There are no records in this file.

Then a window will open on the screen and you will select the desired operation
from the four possible options.  For your first trip through it go all the  way
to the top of the window with your up arrow key, and hit return on ENTER SALE -
PRODUCE INVOICE.

Next, a customer in the CUSTOMER datafile must be identified as the  purchaser.
You may select your customer by entering his record number, or by searching the
file  via the FILE INDEXES.  The records in this file start at number 100,  and
increment  by  100.  You might also type in the phone number  818-703-8112,  or
fill the CONTACT field with MIKE BROWN.

The  APPLICATION then identifies up to four items ordered by the  customer  and
gets  the  number ordered, displays the number of items on hand, and  gets  the
number of items to ship.  The items in the TESTIVNT file are numbered  starting
at 10, and increment by 10.

The first prompt is for a record number.  If you bypass this entry (by pressing
return)  you  can identify an inventory item by it's code.   Valid  codes  are:
WL90, AR12, CW11 and CW44.  If you bypass the entry a window will open on  your
screen  and the records in the datafile will be listed in it.  You may use  the
up/down  arrow,  page up/down and home/end keys to browse the file  and  select
your item by hitting return with the item highlighted.

Before attempting to put APPLICATIONS MAKER to any use of your own PLEASE  read
the APCNMAKR.DOC file in your \MAGE\DOCS directory.

THE DOCUMENTATION

In the C:\MAGE\DOCS directory are this file, and many others.  All the programs
have their own document file.

VIEW.EXE  is also recorded there.  It will display/print any of the .DOC  files
that  come with DATAMAGE.  You're in the C:\MAGE\DOCS dir and you want to  view
and maybe print the MAIN.DOC file.  Enter VIEW MAIN.DOC.  All the DATAMAGE .DOC
files  are ascii files.  You might wish to copy VIEW to your \DOS directory  so
you can use it anytime.

Also found there is sample source code in BASIC  and  C.   The  BASIC  consists
of POWRMAIL.BAS, MAILLIB.BAS and MAGE.QLB.  This file is  the  source code  for
POWER MAIL, the sales mail manager, and is ready to compile with  the Microsoft
BASIC Compiler 6.0b, or Quick Basic.

The  C  consists of a "core library": HCWP_LIB, an "ISAM":  MAGEISAM.C,  and  a
control routine that makes calls into these files: MAGEDEMO.C.  There are  also
text  files:  HCWP_LIB.TXT and MAGEISAM.TXT that contain my comments on  the  C
files and their content.

THE END

Please   read the ORDER.FRM in the C:\MAGE directory to register DATAMAGE.   To
print  this  form simply enter COPY REGISTER.FRM LPT1 from the  MS-DOS  command
line.  The form must be filled in and returned with registration.