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1991-08-09
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History of PopDBF Development
Future Features MAY include:
--------------------------------------------------------
o Mouse support
o Record level locking for network usage
o Modify structure
o Save database field selection
o Memo read/edit
o Index support
o Import/Export functions
o Count and Sum functions
o Support for .FRM files with @ SAY commands
Version 4.0 - Released (August 15, 1991)
----------------------------------------------------------
o Added swapping to disk or EMS to leave only 4K! Program
will default to the best swap possible, but this can be
overridden by a command line parameter. If swapping to
disk, you can specify the complete file name to be used
for the swap. This allows you to swap to RAM drives and
Network drives for a speedier response. You can also load
PopDBF high is you have enough memory.
o Added the ability to pop up over graphics. Though this
feature works, graphics video is not saved and part of the
graphics screen may be corrupted. This will be fixed, but
I left it in this version because it is only a visual
problem.
o Read-Write mode now opens databases in EXCLUSIVE mode for
access on networks. Read-Only mode will open databases so
that multiple access is possible. Record level locking is
not implemented in this version.
o Structure mode is now called Setup mode, but does
essentially the same thing.
o Added the ability to cut and paste data from the edit
screen to the underlying application. Cutting is done in
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 1
History of PopDBF Development
Edit mode and pasting is done via a separate hotkey.
Letter 'P' in the upper right border of the Edit window
indicates paste buffer has data. You can also paste data
to the current record, a different record in the same
database or a record in another database.
o Added the ability to print data from the Edit/Append
screen. This feature can be used to print labels or just
act as a faster, better print screen.
o Added the ability to print to a file. This is true when
printing from Setup, Browse, or Edit/Append.
o Files and Directories in the Pick window are now sorted
alphabetically.
o Added a field separator in the Browse window. Pressing
Shift-| will toggle. This defaults to no separator.
o Fields lengths can be sized temporarily now while in
Browse using Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right.
o Pressing ESCAPE while in a frequently accessed database
will now save the current mode and position.
o Border of Edit window now shows number of field pages.
o Pressing Alt-PgDn and Alt-PgUp in Edit mode will do the
same thing as PgDn and PgUp, but multiple page records
will stay on the same page of fields.
o Pressing Ctrl-V while in Edit mode will toggle verify mode
on and off. If verify mode is on, entering data in the
last position of a field will NOT cause the cursor to move
to the next field. Verify mode is indicated by a 'V' in
the border of the Edit window.
o The Hotkey can be disabled/enabled by using command line
parameter /I.
o Configuration program PopCFG allows you to change the
paste hotkey, which defaults to Ctrl-Alt-P. It can also
be used to change the speed and frequency of pasting.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 2
History of PopDBF Development
o Added support for European date and number formats.
Configuration program PopCFG allows you to select format,
date separator and type of decimal point.
o PopAID now creates the .DBT file if a memo field is
included in the database structure.
o When finding a record the ESCAPE key will now abort as it
should. All other keys are ignored and the message
reflects this.
o Pressing left arrow when being prompted for data will no
longer cause the cursor to move left if you are in the
first position.
o Added Alt-F5 to display the underlying screen. This
avoids having to swap out and back in just to see what was
on the screen.
o Files and Directories in the Pick window are now sorted
alphabetically.
o Page numbers are now displayed in the border of the Edit
window.
o A 'P' in the border of the Edit window indicates that
there is a data in the paste buffer. Shift-F4 will erase
the paste buffer.
o Added the ability to turn on Verify mode in Edit. This is
done by pressing Ctrl-V. A 'V' will appear in the upper
right corner of the Edit window border. In verify mode,
you must press ENTER to exit a field. Entering data in
the last position in a field will not move to the next
field automatically as it does when verify mode is off.
o Added a command line option to specify a database to open
when PopDBF is first activated (/y). This is similar to
passthru mode, but for TSR execution.
o Record counting is now visible when you do a Pack. This
at least lets you know that something is happening.
o Fixed a problem for LANs which occurred when changing to a
directory with no subdirectories and no files matching the
current file specification. Though no parent directory
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 3
History of PopDBF Development
entry will be displayed, pressing BackSpace will take you
to the parent directory.
o Fixed a problem which caused changes to a record to be
lost if doing a find found the same record (in essence
causing no movement).
o Fixed a problem with frequent databases which would not
remember going into Append or Edit mode after being in the
opposite mode.
o Added an arrow symbol to directory entries in the Pick
File window to indicate pressing ENTER will move to a new
directory.
o In read/write mode, when opening a database that is
readonly or can't be opened due to a network violation, an
attempt will be made to switch to read-only mode and open
the file. Closing that database will cause the mode to
revert to read/write. I hope this makes life easier
for everyone.
o Changed the help display so that headings are now in the
same color as the help title. This makes the sub-topics
stand out and makes reading easier.
o Pressing ENTER in Setup View (formerly View Structure)
will now return you to either Browse or Append/Edit,
depending on which you were last in. Hopefully this will
make changing the setup easier.
o Added the /l option to specify the directory where the
master POPDBF.FRQ file is to be located. This allows
network users to load PopDBF from one location on the
network, but still have a personalized POPDBF.FRQ files.
o Pressing Backspace in the Pick window will now try to move
to the parent directory even if one doesn't exist. This
is especially helpful on LANs.
o All windows (Pick, Setup and Browse) are filled with
entries if at all possible. The only reason that the
entire window would not be filled is if there are not
enough files, fields, or records.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 4
History of PopDBF Development
o Find now positions the window (for Browse) or the cursor
(for Edit) in the field and on the text if successful.
Hopefully, it will make this function even more helpful.
o Fixed a bug which caused find to fail when searching for
data in large fields in Browse mode.
o Implemented the Wordstar "diamond" (kinda). The following
keys have the listed functions:
Ctrl-A same as Ctrl-LeftArrow
Ctrl-C same as PgDn
Ctrl-D same as LeftArrow
Ctrl-E same as UpArrow
Ctrl-F same as Ctrl-RightArrow
Ctrl-Q same as ESCAPE
Ctrl-R same as PgUp
Ctrl-S same as RightArrow
Ctrl-X same as DownArrow
o In the Pick window, Ctrl-B will change the file spec to
*.DBF and Ctrl-I will change it to *.??X (to show all
index files). Ctrl-N will show names of frequent
databases currently available.
o In Browse and Edit, Ctrl-K will now turn century on and
off instead of Ctrl-C.
o In Edit, Ctrl-J will restore the original field data,
Ctrl-N will position the cursor to the end of the field
and Ctrl-O will restore the entire original record data.
o Ascii characters greater than 127 are now allowed anywhere
character data input is valid. This will allow people
in Europe to search for data with accented characters,
etc.
o Fixed a problem which occurred when pressing BackSpace
through a number field from the field just after it. The
decimal point would disappear.
Version 3.7 - Released October 22, 1990
---------------------------------------
o Fixed bug with /T option which didn't work and sometimes
caused the system to hang.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 5
History of PopDBF Development
Version 3.7 - Released October 15, 1990
---------------------------------------
o Added the following major functions:
- COPY STRUCTURE, copies all or selected fields to new
database
- DELETE FILE, to delete any file from the pick file
window
- PACK, physically deletes records tagged for delete
- ZAP, physically deletes ALL records in the database
o The color scheme has been SIGNIFICANTLY changed. Also,
colors can now be configured along with the hotkey, using
POPCFG.COM. This program is now included with ALL
REGISTERED COPIES. If you like the old color scheme use
command line option /CO.
o The force monochrome colors command line option has been
changed from /M to /CM.
o The write file access command line option /W has been
replaced by /TW. You can now change any of the "toggle"
indicators (file access, field borders, insert mode, case
sensitivity) using the command line option /T<B,C,I,W>.
o Pressing PgDn while appending a record will NOT move back
and forth between the last record in the database and the
new record. This was a bug.
o Fixed a bug, which occurred when pressing Alt-M while in
an already open READ-ONLY database. This will now cause
an access error.
o Fixed a bug which occurred when specifying a default
directory on the command line (/D) and did not also
specify the drive.
o Fixed a bug which ignored the action option (/A) if it was
specified after the passthru option (/P) when PopDBF was
already resident.
o When trying to access PopDBF while in a graphics
application, a chime will sound, indicating that your
request was heard, but can't be accommodated. Pop-up over
graphics will be supported in the future.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 6
History of PopDBF Development
o Ctrl-U now toggles the record delete flag in the Browse
window, just like it does in the Edit window.
o Negative numbers are now supported.
o Support for FoxPro and dBase IV databases.
o The beep function was changed to be faster and quieter.
o When an error message is displayed, a chime will now
sound.
o ENTER key on numeric keypad now works like ENTER key.
o Moving to <parent> directory now positions selection bar
on that directory.
o Command line options may be combined (i.e. /mwz).
However, options with variable length arguments must be
last (i.e. /p). No spaces may separate options /D and /P
and additional text.
o Arrow indicators were added to windows to provide
information on valid directions of cursor movement.
o Default action now displays as a descriptive word.
o Video routines have been optimized and speeded up.
o Hot keys for frequently used databases (Alt-1 etc.) can be
used from anywhere in the program and previous positions
and modes are retained. Also, Alt-dash and Alt-= can be
used to access up to 12 frequent databases. In addition,
each directory can contain a .FRQ file so that the
frequently used databases can be application dependent.
If a .FRQ file is not found in the current directory,
PopDBF will look in the directory where POPDBF.COM is
located.
o Commercial version now includes KBSPEED, a keyboard speed-
up program, and ARROW, a TSR position display program,
which are NOT included in shareware registered copies.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 7
History of PopDBF Development
Version 3.6 - Released February 8, 1990
---------------------------------------
o Commercial version includes a program, POPCFG.COM, to
configure the hotkey. This is NOT included in the
shareware version!
o Path option from Pick File Window has been replaced by Dir
option which functions like the change directory command
in DOS. This same option is now used to change drives
just as you would in DOS.
o You may enter a specific file, including drive and path,
by pressing F3 from Pick File Window.
o Added command line option to specify default action, /A.
The default action is taken for each file when Enter is
pressed. It can be changed at any time by pressing F5.
o The frequently used database file can optionally specify
the action to be taken when the appropriate hotkey is
pressed (Alt-1 thru 0). If the file name, in POPDBF.FRQ
is preceded by one of the following letters, A B E or S
AND a space the action taken will be the same as pressing
Alt and that letter.
o Added a warning when leaving Edit or Append and changes
that you have made have not been saved.
o Changed all prompts for input to use left and right arrow
keys, home, end, delete and insert. CTRL-Y will always
blank input field.
o Changed the pass-thru function so that it can be used even
if PopDBF is already loaded in memory.
o Pressing PgDn while in Append will now position you to the
last record in the file in Edit mode. Pressing PgDn in
Edit mode when on the last record will take you into
Append.
o Pressing ESCAPE from Structure, Browse, or Append/Edit
will always return you to the Pick File window.
o Fixed problems caused by not recognizing an extended
keyboard. These were primarily in Edit and prevented
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 8
History of PopDBF Development
certain key combinations from doing what they were
supposed to do (i.e. Ctrl-Delete).
o Fixed a bug which occurred when Ctrl-PgUp or Ctrl-PgDn was
pressed while appending an empty database.
o Fixed a bug which allowed invalid months and days in date
fields.
o Fixed a bug which zeroed numeric fields when the ENTER key
was pressed after editing a preceding date field.
o Fixed a bug caused by insufficient video storage and
occurred when using help while editing a record.
o Fixed the /D command line, which option did not work
correctly when no drive was specified.
Version 3.5 - Released November 3, 1989
---------------------------------------
o Program is now just one version, EDIT. However, a READ-
ONLY version is available upon request.
o Made necessary changes to join ASP. Demo version is fully
functional with the only difference being the registration
information screen, not included in registered copies.
o You no longer have to be in the directory where POPDBF.COM
is located when you load PopDBF into memory for context
sensitive help to be available. However, POPDBF.HLP does
need to be in the same directory as POPDBF.COM.
o The default number of fields has been reduced from 128 to
64 and the default edit buffer has been reduced from 2K to
1K. This is just to reduce the default memory footprint.
You can specify /F128 and /E2048 on the command line to
use the old values.
o To make the pop-up more instantaneous, only directories
WITHOUT an extension are available in the Pick file
window.
o You can now get from any major area to any other major
area by directly pressing some ALT key combination. The
major areas are: Append records, Browse records, Edit
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 9
History of PopDBF Development
records, File selection, view Structure. Pressing ALT and
the proper capital letter will take you to that area.
o Pressing the ALT key will cause the status line to show a
menu with the areas described above and the appropriate
letter highlighted as well as other options.
o Help has been greatly improved both in content and
functionality. You can now scroll up and down through
help and hotkey out of it.
o You can now change the file access mode from anywhere by
pressing Alt-M. File access mode must be read/write to
Edit or Append.
o Frequently used files feature. A file named POPDBF.FRQ
can contain up to 10 fully qualified database file names
for access from the Pick file window using Alt-1 through
Alt-0.
o Current field and record are now shown with their
corresponding maximum (i.e. 10/200).
o While finding text the record number in the window border
will reflect the current record being searched.
o Added ability to search on a selected field or fields.
You can also force the search string to be found entirely
within one field to avoid finding part of a string in one
field and the rest of it in adjacent field.
o Changed the key that moved the cursor to the first blank
character after any data in a field in Edit from Alt-End
to End. Ctrl-E will now move to the last position in the
field.
o Changed the century toggle key from Ctrl-D to Ctrl-C.
o Added two new command line arguments. /D will allow you
to specify an initial directory and /Z will start the
Browse window in zoomed out (expanded) mode.
o Fixed an error which occurred when deleting some
characters in a field while in Edit and then pressing the
End key. The error did cause a Divide Overflow error,
which forced a reboot.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 10
History of PopDBF Development
o Fixed an error which occurred when no files or directories
were found in the current directory on the current drive.
Now zero files are displayed and you can use F3 to change
drives or hotkey out.
o Fixed an error in the find next which didn't beep when
sitting on the last record in the file, but should have.
o Fixed an error which occurred when all fields in the
structure were marked (numbered). EDIT would perform
strangely when using the hotkey to exit and re-enter.
Version 3.4 - Released August 17, 1989
--------------------------------------
o Added message when trying to edit record in read mode.
o Added Alt-END to go to first position AFTER last non-blank
character.
o Fixed a bug that caused underlying applications to
terminate when exiting PopDBF. This really got fixed on
8/24/89, but only a few people fell between the cracks.
Version 3.3 - Released July 24, 1989
------------------------------------
o Added the ability to view an index expression from the
File Selection window.
o Added ability to specify a default file specification by
pressing function key F4 from the File Selection window.
o Added ability to copy any record onto the current record
being appended or edited. (EDIT version only)
o Added ability to move a word at a time. (EDIT version
only)
o Added system date stamp. (EDIT version only)
o Fixed many minor bugs in the edit routine. (EDIT version
only)
o Fixed a bug which occurred when specifying a pass-thru
filename that contained wildcards.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 11
History of PopDBF Development
o Fixed file selection to handle 0 files found.
o Smaller default buffer sizes.
Version 3.2 - Released June 17, 1989
------------------------------------
o Fixed a bug which occurred when editing a character field
that was longer than 60 bytes. The field was edited
correctly, but the cursor was positioned incorrectly.
Version 3.2 - Released May 31, 1989
-----------------------------------
o There is now a "pass-thru" mode so you can use PopDBF
without installing it into memory. You may also specify a
file name with this option and go right to browsing that
file.
o Should work with all dBASE IV files.
Version 3.1 - Released May 27, 1989
-----------------------------------
o Fixed bug when assigning a mark and no other marks exist.
o After panning to the right, executing a ZOOM did force
browse display to begin with first field, but now works.
o You can now adjust the size of the read buffer in bytes,
the size of the edit buffer in bytes (EDIT version only),
and the maximum number of fields. This is done by
specifying command line parameters when loading PopDBF
into memory.
o All windows now have shadows to give a 3-D look.
Version 3.0 - Released April 26, 1989 (first release to BBS)
------------------------------------------------------------
o Included the EDIT capability!!.
o Fixed the find-next to start at the record after the one
the bar is on instead of the second record from the top of
the window.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 12
History of PopDBF Development
o Changed find and find next to be F7 and F8 for easier
operation.
o Failure of either a find or find next now causes the bell
to sound.
o Added to /W switch to start in EDIT mode.
Version 2.55 - Released April 9, 1989
-------------------------------------
o Dates are now formatted correctly as MM/DD/YY. Also, you
can now press Alt-D when browsing to toggle the century on
or off. When on, the date is formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
o Memos now show as the word 'memo'.
o Pressing F10 from FILE SELECTION will now work correctly,
even if an alternate path had been specified
Version 2.54 - Released April 6, 1989
--------------------------------------
o Fixed a bug in the find routine that could have caused
system crashes.
o Pressing the hotkey while entering find text now exits
back to the browse window instead of beginning the find.
o You can now assign sequence marks to unmarked fields.
o When printing records you may elect to limit the printing
to only those records in the print range that meet a
previous find condition.
o Alt-F1 will pop-up a help window with information about
general keyboard movement.
o Pressing PGDN in file selection or view structure when
there are less than a window's worth of entries now moves
the bar to the last entry in the window.
Version 2.53 - Released April 1, 1989
-------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 13
History of PopDBF Development
o If help file is not found, error message did not show
where it expected it to be located.
o After panning to the right, executing a GOTO or a FIND did
force browse display to begin with first field, but now
works.
Version 2.52 - Released on March 25, 1989 (1st release)
-------------------------------------------------------
o Context sensitive help improved both in the area of speed
and text.
o Added ability to toggle case sensitivity indicator while
in the find window.
Copyright (c) 1989-91 Bowen Software Page 14
