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VIDLIB.DOX
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1987-12-01
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****************************************
The Video Librarian: A Short User Guide
----------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
-----------
VIDLIB is a public domain program for storing information about
video cassettes. The information stored for each tape is:
CATEGORY: A user-defined classification, such
as ADULT, MUSICAL, FOREIGN, etc.
LOCATION: A text field for where the tape
is kept, such as CLOSET, VIDEO
CABINETTE, ON LOAN, SLOT 22, etc.
TITLES: There are two title fields for
each tape.
NOTES: A text field for any other
information you wish to keep.
TIME: A field for storing the
amount of time remaining on
a tape.
These fields are all optional (there are no required fields).
They are also free-form, meaning that they will accept any
value in any format. Text is converted to upper case.
MENUS
-----
VIDLIB uses a bounce-bar menu system. To select an option,
use the UP and Down arrow keys to highlight your choice
and press the Enter (or Carraige Return) key.
SAMPLE DATA FILE
----------------
The VIDLIB archive file contains a sample data file to
help get you started. To access this file, select the
menu option, "Load an EXISTING data file". At the
file name prompt, enter the word SAMPLE. When the ACTION
MENU appears, select the option, "VIEW, MODIFY, or
DELETE Tapes". Then use the arrow keys to scroll
through the data base.
FILE EXTENSIONS
---------------
When creating a NEW data file, VIDLIB appends the extension
of DAT. When loading an EXISTING data file, VIDLIB saves the
previous version with the extension of BAK. When transferring
your data to an ASCII file, VIDLIB uses an extension of TXT.
Existing files with these names will be overlaid.
COMBINING FILES
---------------
Two data files can be merged together with the /b option,
for example:
copy /b sample.dat + myfile.dat
UPDATING AND MISC TIPS
----------------------
Just like LOTUS, user interaction in VIDLIB
occurs entirely in memory. You are advised
that lengthy periods of data entry should be
punctuated by SAVES.
A mistake, such as an accidental deletion can
be reversed in two ways:
1. Do not save your changes.
2. Copying the backup file
into the data file.
Take backups.
MEMORY REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
A 256K machine with no resident software can support a data
base containing about 1,000 video tapes. As memory size
increases, the size of the data base can increase
correspondinly. Of course, you can also use multiple
data files to circumvent any memory constraints.
PRINTING
--------
To obtain a "hard-copy" of your tapes, select the OUTBOUND
INTERFACES option from the ACTION MENU. The printer function
terminates with an HP LaserJet control sequence for a page
eject.
MISC
----
VIDLIB was first uploaded to CIS - go ibmsw, on 12/14/87.
You can contact me through CIS: 72307, 3311. I am especially
interested in hearing from anyone who taped any of these:
* The Ring of the Nibelungen series (broadcast on
PBS in 1981 before I had a VCR)
* The Brideshead Revisited series (which I
accidentally erased to the eternal
chagrin of my wife)
FILE LAYOUT, INTERNALS, AND OTHER GIBBERISH
-------------------------------------------
The following code fragment provides the internal
record layout used by VIDLIB.
typedef struct
{
qint hash_key;
qstring05 signature;
qstring20 category;
qstring40 title[2];
qstring20 location;
qstring40 notes[1];
qstring05 times;
} tape_record;
VIDLIB uses a forward linked list data structure
which is sorted by concatenating the category and title
elements.
Printing is done through service 0 of interrupt 17h and
directed to LPT1. The function for doing this is...
unsigned int chr_to_lpt1
(
unsigned int chr
)
{
asm mov ax, chr
asm mov ah, 0
asm mov dx, 0
asm int 17h
asm mov al, ah
asm and ax, 1
}
The program itself is written in TURBO C, using the large
memory model.