DDL Manager 1.1a Shareware Version Help

LICENSE INFORMATION
DDL Manager is a shareware program. You may use this shareware version for a trial period not to exceed 30 days. After that time, if you continue to use the program you must register your copy. Registered users receive full support, the latest version, a printed manual, and upgrade notification. Unregistered users receive only minimal support and are not entitled to telephone support.

ABOUT MM TECHNOLOGY
MM Technology is a consulting firm centrally located in sunny Northern New Jersey.  We are leaders in GUI design and implementation and use VB as the development environment of choice
If you have any requirements which you feel you would like to get us involved in, we would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line on compuserve : 71155,1010.

PRICING AND REGISTRATION
DDL Manager single user license     $  29.95
Postage and Handling - In U.S.        $   4.00
Postage and Handling - Outside U.S.$   6.00
10 User License                        $ 180.00
30 User License                        $ 500.00
Note :  All prices are in USD

REGISTER WITH COMPUSERVE
You can register via Compuserve by typing  "GO SWREG" and select registration ID #  1387.  Your compuserve account will be billed for $29.95 plus P & H.

REGISTER BY CREDIT CARD
To register by credit card, including M/C Visa Discover, and Amex please call Program  Software Library at  (800)-242-4775 and use registration ID# 10974.  
Your credit card will be billed for $29.95 plus P & H.

ABOUT DDL MANAGER
Welcome to "DDL Manager", a Data Dictionary tool, and an SQL Parser, it is an indispensable tool for any programmer wanting to use the MS/Access Database bundled with VB 3.0.  DDL Manager contains many of the routine functions you need to build, specify, and maintain a MS/Access Databases, but were somehow inexplicably left out of the VB 3.0 distribution. Here are some of the things you can do with DDL Manager...
- Test your SQL before including it in your program
- Add, Modify, Delete Tables
- Add, Modify, Delete Field Definitions
- Add, Modify, Delete Index Definitions
- Add, Modify, Delete QueryDefs
- Run SQL or QueryDefs against a Database
- Edit contents of any table in an editable grid
- Create Databases from scratch
- Delete Databases
- Copy Databases
- Repair and Compress Databases

USING DDL MANAGER
From the file menu Choose "File, Attach", and then choose any MS/Access version 1.1 Database. If you don't have one handy, you can choose the sample Database provided with VB. It is titled "Biblio.Mdb" and is located in the same place you installed your Visual Basic software. You can attach only a single Database at a time, since you are going to work with the Data Dictionary of that Database.  The best way to get started using the program, is to make a copy of a database and start changing some fields. The interface is fairly intuitive, so you shouldn't have much trouble getting going.

FILE MENU
[Attach]
You will be prompted to point to a database you wish to open to begin modifications to the Data Dictionary. Remember, always back up before you use DDL Manager on a Database !  If you attach to a database, and one is already opened, it will automatically be closed.

[Create]
Create a brand new database. You will need to supply some information like filename, Language, Sort order etc. 

[Close]
Close the database currently in your workspace. If there is no currently opened database, an error will be issued.

[Copy]
This is a very powerful feature, and one you should use often when working with the Data Dictionary of your database. Simply point to a source database you want to copy. DDL Manager will prompt you for a destination file name, which must be unique or an error will be issued. Use this feature often to create a quick backup of your database.

[Delete]
This is also a very powerful feature of DDL Manager, simply point to the database you want to delete, and DDL Manager will delete the database filer and all supporting files associated with it. 

[Repair]
Occasionally a Database can become corrupted, particularly if you manage somehow to save inappropriate SQL syntax as a QueryDef. Repair will fix these sorts of anomalies which can creep in from time to time

[Compress]
Reclaims unused space in the database, making operation and performance of the database more efficient.  You will be prompted to supply a file name for the Source and Destination Database Names. You must supply these in order for the compress to proceed.

[Exit]
If any Databases are opened in your workspace, they will automatically be closed and an orderly shutdown of the program will proceed.

TABLE
Use these options to make changes to Tables in your database. The technique for making changes are self explanatory. Bear in mind you can use your right mouse key to bring up the Add Modify Delete menu. This way you do not have to track across the screen with the mouse to select an option from the menu.

FIELDS
Add Modify Delete fields in a database. When you choose a table in drop down list box, the fields and indexes associated with the table are automatically shown.

INDEXES
Add Modify Delete Indexes in a table.  When creating an index, you can point to the field name of the filed you want to include in the index. you can also toggle whether it's sort order for ascending or descending.

QUERY
Add Modify Delete QueryDef's in a Database.  You can also copy a query to the clipboard and Paste a query from the clipboard into the SQL Text Box.  This is a very powerful feature, since your SQL can come from any number of places and be saved as a QueryDef. Note, that queries may have the "With OwnerAccess Option" set in the SQL String. This causes a problem with VB 3.0 and should be deleted before saving the query. There is another problem, when the SQL syntax contains a runtime parameter, this is primarily used in MS Access, and is not supported by DDL Manager at this time.

EXECUTING QUERIES
When modifying a query, you have the option to "Execute the Query". This is a very powerful feature. DDL Manager will  take the SQL string currently in the Edit Area, and send it to the database for processing. The returned Dynaset will be shown in a fully editable grid. This allows you to freely make changes to the content of your database. While this is very powerful, it's also quite dangerous since all changes are immediately reflected in the database. You are responsible for maintaining referential integrity.

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
[Focus]
You must first set the focus to an object before you can modify it. This means the current input focus must be on the Table Drop Down List box, in order to select any of the Table modification options.

[Right Mouse Button]
On the main screen, be aware you can use your right mouse button to pop up a menu asking whether you wish Add Modify Delete and object. This is convenient since you may not want to track across the screen to select a modification option.

GETTING HELP
You'll see a new window. On the left is a Topic Index. On the right is the Help information. To view help on a topic, simply click on that topic in the Topic Index. To return to DDL Manager, click the [Exit] button or the Return to Program command.

SUGGESTIONS
If you have any ideas or suggestions on how DDL Manager can be extended or improved, we would love to hear them. Drop us a line via Compuserve at 71155,1010.

SYSTEM LIMITATIONS
DDL Manager works only with MS Access Databases that are Version 1.1 or later !

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
The shareware distribution of this prgram assumes you have VB Version 3.0 or later, and you have installed the Access engine, when you installed VB. The Access engine DLL's and VBRun300.Dll are not included in this distribution.

SUPPORT
Its simple, First register then we will support you.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
DDL Manager is Copyright, 1993 by MM Technology and Chaim Herman.  All rights reserved.
