Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/database/dinfo25.zip/DINFO.DOC

Text File | 1991-04-25 | 10KB | 191 lines

                       dINFO MANAGER & REPORTER


      dInfo Manager & Reporter requires very little from the user
  beyond pointing at a desired action and hitting the ENTER key. It was
  designed this way from the start.

      The user can choose a report definition he or she has created from
  the first screen.  The report description is reviewed by moving the
  light bar to the desired report definition and hitting ENTER.  Fields
  from the primary and secondary file, if one was used, are displayed
  along with the active query if one was created for use with the report.
  The report definition can then be run or deleted.  Output can be sent
  to the printer, screen, or to a disk file.


  CREATING A REPORT DEFINITION FOR THE FIRST TIME

      dInfo Manager & Reporter creates three distinct types of reports.
  A single file report uses just one primary file.  A relational report type
  one uses both a primary and secondary file.  There is one record in the
  secondary file for each primary record.  A relational report type two uses
  both a primary and secondary file.  There are multiple secondary records for
  each primary record.  Your data detemines which type of report you will
  need to create.

      Creating a report is essentially the same process for all report types.
  First, the report type is chosen and then report parameters are entered.
  You can control things like the left margin, spaces between printed fields
  on the report, page width, page length, etc.  The only parameter that may
  be confusing to the new user is the subtotal parameter.

      Say, for example, you have a file of customer purchases like DORDER.DBF.
  It is indexed on customer number and you are trying to total the purchases
  for each customer and want a grand total of all purchases.  If you choose
  the subtotal option on the report parameter screen dInfo Manager & Reporter
  will print and sum all of the purchases for customer 100, display a subtotal,
  space, and then begin printing and summing the purchases by customer 200 and
  so forth.  Create a single file report for DORDER.DBF with the subtotal option.
  Total the QTY and SELL fields for practice.  The subtotal option's use will
  then become clear.

      You choose your primary and secondary files from a scolling list.  You
  choose the fields you wish to include in the report from scrolling lists.
  Nothing could be easier!  Just remember the following:

  1. A MAXIUM OF 27 FIELDS FROM EACH FILE MAY BE USED IN THE REPORT.

  2. THREE CALCULATED FIELDS MAY BE DEFINED PER FILE.

  3. MEMO FIELD PROCESSING IS LIMITED TO ONE MEMO FIELD IN A SINGLE FILE
     REPORT.

  4. FIELDS APPEAR ON THE PRINTED REPORT IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE
     SELECTED.

  5. IF YOU DO NOT ENTER A COLUMN HEADING FOR A FIELD THE FIELD NAME WILL
     BE USED AS A COLUMN HEADING ON THE REPORT.

  6. IF YOU ARE USING TOTALS, SUBTOTALS, AND/OR CALCULATED FIELDS EXPECT
     YOUR REPORT TO BE WIDER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SELECTED FIELDS ALONE.
     EXTRA SPACE IS ALLOCATED TO A FIELD BEING TOTALLED AND TO A CALC FIELD
     BEYOND THAT WHICH IS DISPLAYED BY THE FIELD SELECTION SCREEN.

  7. WHEN CREATING RELATIONAL REPORTS OR WHEN SELECTING THE SUBTOTAL OPTION
     BE CERTAIN TO SELECT KEY FIELD OF PRIMARY FILE AS FIRST PRIMARY FIELD
     SELECTED!  (** Very Important **)

  8. PRIMARY & SECONDARY FILE KEYS MUST BE IDENTICAL WHEN CREATING RELATIONAL
     REPORTS.   (** Very Important **)

  9. ALL OUTPUT CAN BE STOPPED WITH THE ESC KEY IF YOU DESIRE.



 CREATING A MAIL LABEL DEFINITION FOR THE FIRST TIME

     dInfo Manager & Reporter permits the creation of standard, large,
  or cheshire format mailing labels.  Simply take the Mailing Label Print option
  from the Utilities menu.  You will be asked to choose a primary file and
  primary file index.  Next you will be given the opportunity to query the primary
  file if you desire. In this manner you can select to filter out certain zipcodes
  or cities according to your preferences and needs.

     You will then enter the label module.  Choose the create option from
 within the label module.  Assign the label file a unique and meaningful name.
 Select the modify contents option.  Press F2 to choose field names for each
 line of the label you wish to create.  Follow the prompts and press F10 when
 you are done.  Be sure to choose the proper format and dimensions from within
 the dimensions selection.

      By experimenting with the other options you'll find that you can tag
 select records and print only them if you choose.  You can now print your
 mail labels and recall the new label definition you've just created whenever
 you wish. Just remember the following:

  1. Be certain to choose the proper format and dimension from within the
     dimension option.  You can make adjustments to the default sizes as you
     wish.

  2. Create index files keyed on the fields by which you want to order your
     label printout.  If you want labels to be printed in zipcode order then
     be sure to create an index file keyed on zipcode etc.

  3. Make use of the test pattern and correct your alignment before beginning
     a large label run. (** Very Important **)

  4. Make use of the query builder to select or filter your primary file when
     printing labels if you don't wish to create a label for every record in
     your file.

  5. You can pause and stop printer output with ALT-C if your label run jams
     in the printer.  It's not the most sophisticated way to do so, but it
     certainly works and no harm will be done to your files.  Remember, even
     if you use ALT-C to pause and stop output to the printer the printer will
     only stop after its buffer is empty.

  6. A sample label definition (DMAIL.LBL) is provided on your diskette.  You
     can experiment with changes and printing by selecting it.  First select
     the Process Mailing Labels option from the Utilities menu.  Then select
     DMAIL.DBF and DMAIL.NDX as your primary file and index.


 CREATING A FORM LETTER

  Form letter creation is actually quite simple.  It is also a data driven
  process.  As a tutorial, select the Process Form Letters option from the
  Utilities menu.  Select DLETTER.DBF & DLETTER.NDX as your primary file
  and index.  Do the following:

  1. Create a Form -  Use F3 to place the current date anywhere you wish.
                      Use F2 to select and position field names on your letter.
                      Respond 'Y' to the Convert to Proper Format prompt.

  2. Save the Form -  Strike F10 when you are done typing your letter.

  3. Select the option to send the output to a file.

  4. Examine the file FORMLETR.PRN after exiting the program. You'll see how
     the program drew all the information from DLETTER.DBF into your letters.


 DUPLICATE FIELD CHECKING

     Take the Duplicate Record Check option from the Utilities menu.  Simply
 select the field or fields for dupe checking.  The report of duplicates can
 be viewed on the screen, sent to a disk file, or the output can be sent to a
 printer.


CREATE A NEW INDEX FILE

    Simply select this option from the Utilities menu. Select a primary file.
 Select the field(s) you wish to index on and give the new file a name. That's
 all!  dInfo Manager & Reporter does the rest!


dINFO DATABASE MANAGER

    The database manager is completely menu driven and allows you to add, edit
delete, search for, and view your database records.  It is completely data
driven and requires no special instructions beyond the following:

   1.  ( ** VERY IMPORTANT ** )     ( ** VERY IMPORTANT ** )
It is recommended that you select an INDEX FILE to use with your primary
database file.  If you want to do a KEY SEARCH simply use the LOCATE
function to find a key EQUAL TO your search value.   This will result
in very quick indexed searches of the database.  This speed is especially
important when working with LARGE files.  Remember the EQUAL TO option is
designed for searching a KEY FIELD.  Select an index file with the proper
key you need to search.  Use the Index Builder from the Utilites Menu to
create an index file if need be.  The other LOCATE functions - GREATER THAN
OR EQUAL TO - LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO etc are designed to be used on NON-KEY
fields.  Remember, searching NON-KEY fields with the EQUAL TO option will
normally result in misses!

   2.  You can select to view/edit only a subset of your database fields if
you wish.  The first prompt asks if you wish to browse all the fields or select
a subset.  Experiment with both options.  If you only need to make edits on some
of your fields you'll experience quicker processing if you just select these
fields from the first prompt.

   3.  If you view a record and hit enter on a specific field you will be
repositioned to that field when you leave the vertical view.

   4.  When adding records you must go back in and edit the record to enter
information into any memo fields you might have in the file.  This results in
safer processing.