Copyright: Paradox Expert Help
Citation: Copyright © 1985, 1995 Borland International.


Paradox experts

The experts perform Paradox tasks for you, after asking you a few questions about what you want.

To see what an expert does, select it and read the description below the white panel.

To use an expert,

Select it and choose Run Expert, or double-click the expert's icon.

You can perform other Paradox tasks while an expert is open, but you can have only one expert open at a time.

You can cancel out of an expert at any time.

More experts

In addition to the experts you see here, others automatically open in a design window to help you use the Button, Field, and Text tools. You can choose to have these three experts (and the Graph Expert) NOT run automatically when you place one of these design objects in a document. To do so, choose Edit|Preferences, click the Experts tab, and uncheck "Run experts when creating objects on documents."


Fields won't fit

Only fields of certain sizes, or a certain number of fields, can fit on the multi-record object. Fields that will fit are listed in the box on the right. Fields that got left out due to lack of space, or size constraints, are listed on the left. You may be able to substitute one or more fields on the left for one or more fields on the right.

To do so, select a field on the right, and click the < button to move it over to the "Won't fit" list. Then move a field from the left column over to the right column, using the > button. When you think you have an acceptable group of fields on the right, click the Done button.

If the "Fields that will fit" list is already acceptable without changing anything, click Accept.


Password needed

The table is password-protected. You need to know the password to use this table.


Paradox field catalog

The Paradox Field Catalog lists all the fields that have been pre-defined for use with the Table and Database experts.

Business or personal?

Select the category most likely to have the field you want to add to the table.

To add a field

1.	Select the table template most likely to contain the field you want to add.

With each table template you select, the list on the right changes to show the fields in that template. Select and right-click a field to see its type, how long it is, and any data restrictions (validity checks) placed on it.

A bracketed field is made up of several fields; select it and choose Show All to break out the composite field into its individual components. You can add a composite field, or you can add one of its individual components.

2.	When you decide on a field to add, select it and choose OK.

To add another field, click New Field again.

If you don't see the field you want

When you have completed this expert, you can use the Restructure Table dialog box to add a field that is not available in the field catalog. See Help|User's Guide Topics for information.

Cancel

Selecting Cancel does not cancel you out of the expert, but takes you back to the previous step, without selecting a field.


Button Expert

This expert lets you select from a wide variety of actions that you can assign to the pushbutton you just placed on your form. Whatever you select is what happens when you run your form and the button is clicked.

To use the expert

Select a category from the Categories list, and then select an action from the Actions list. Click the Next button.

Code on the button

The expert attaches ObjectPAL code to your button. This is what makes the button work. If you're familiar with ObjectPAL (the Paradox application language) and you want to edit the code, right-click the button in a Form Design window, and choose Object Explorer from the menu. From the Events page of the Object Explorer, double-click the pushButton event method to open an Editor window with your code displayed.

Don't want the Button Expert?

If you would rather work on your own, click the Cancel button. To prevent the Button Expert from opening whenever you place a button on a form, choose Edit|Preferences and click the Experts tab. Uncheck "Run experts when creating objects on documents." You have access to the Button Expert, however, only when this preference is checked.


What's the file name?

Specify a file.

Select it from the list, browse for it, or type its path and name in the text box.


Specify button style

In the Label Text box, type the text you want on the button. If your text is longer than the available button sizes, you can resize your button when you're back in the Form Design window.

Choose a font style. The Standard style is the Win95 style: MS Sans Serif, 8 pt. If you choose Use Style Sheet, the button will use the font from the style sheet for the current form.

You can either specify a bitmap for the button (in the Bitmap From File text box), use the default bitmap, or have no bitmap at all.

Choose a button shape. The Standard is the Win 95-recommended shape. The square button is larger.

Choices you make show up in the Sample Of Button box. When you've made the selections you want, click Do It!


Chart Expert

This expert helps you create a chart to display your data graphically.

You can create a chart on either a form or a report.

When you choose the Chart Expert from the Tools|Experts menu or the Experts button on the Toolbar, you'll be creating a chart on a new form or report, unless you already have a form or report open and a new chart object is selected.

You can have the expert open automatically when you use the Chart tool in a form or report:

1	Choose Edit|Preferences, click the Experts page, and check "Run experts when creating objects on documents." (You can do that now, if you haven't already.)

2	Open the form or report in a design window, and then choose the Chart tool from the toolbar. When you drag the Chart tool on your form or report, the Chart Expert appears to help you create the chart.


Which table or query?

Tables in the form or report's data model

If you are creating a chart in an existing form or report, the tables and queries in the data model of that form or report are listed in the box. Choose the table or query that has the data you want to chart.

This option is not available if the form or report doesn't have any tables or queries in its data model.

All tables available to me

You can create a chart to reflect the data stored in an existing table or in a table generated by a query. Paradox displays a list of available tables and queries in your working directory. Choose the table or query whose data you want to chart.

If the table or query you want to use is in a different directory, click the Browse button to search for the file. When you have located the file, double-click it. This returns you to the Chart Expert, where you'll see the file name list has been updated, and the file you selected is in the text box. Choose Next.


Displaying the data on a report

In this step, choose the way you want your data displayed. (You'll choose the fields whose data you want to chart in a later step.)

A single chart that displays all my information.

This will create one chart that reflects all the data you want to display from the table or query you chose.

One chart for each page in the report, displaying only the information for that page.

For example, if each page of your report displays data about an individual customer, the expert will create a chart on each page that reflects only the data for that customer.

One chart for each group in the report, displaying only the information for that group.

For example, if you have grouped on the State field of a table that contains customer data, the expert will chart the data for all the customers in each state. Therefore, you would have one chart for each state.


Grouping in a report

Choose a field by which you want to group your data. For example, you might want to group by month, or by country, or by company size, or by vendor.


Tabular or summary chart?

Tabular

This chart will show the actual values stored in the field(s) you specify (you'll specify the field(s) later). Each record of your table will be represented in the chart.

A tabular chart does not summarize data.

Summary

This chart summarizes the values in a field and displays the summary on the y-axis (the vertical axis). The summary values will be grouped by the field you specify for the x-axis.

You can summarize data from one or more fields.


One category or two?

Suppose you are creating a simple bar chart showing 1995 sales.

In the first example in this step, your chart would show total sales for each customer. The customer name (or other identifier) would appear along the bottom of the chart (x-axis) and total sales for that customer would be charted vertically along the y-axis.

In the second example in this step, your chart would break out sales by month. The customer name would still appear along the bottom of the chart, but you would have 12 bars charting sales to that customer [image] one for each month of 1995. The bars would be differentiated in a legend so that you could tell one from another.


Choosing the best chart type

You can choose from a variety of chart types for displaying your data. Click the chart type, and the example chart will change to reflect the type you choose. You can choose from 2-dimensional charts or 3-dimensional charts.

Area charts and stacked bar charts show the actual value each series contributes to the total [image] for example, how total sales are divided between regions. Because area graphs use lines to track values, they best show patterns created over time.

Bar charts compare values of different items in specific categories or at discrete points in time [image] for example, to contrast quarterly commissions for each sales representative, either by quarter or by representative. (A rotated bar chart is simply a bar chart rotated on its side.)

Column and pie charts compare individual values to other values and to the whole [image] for example, how yearly expenses break down into categories.

Line charts show the progression of values over time [image] a line chart is good for tracking sales, for example.

Surface charts plot rows and columns as intersecting lines on a surface that is suspended in a three-dimensional frame.

Ribbon charts and step charts are useful for showing a dramatic contrast. These charts work best when you are plotting a limited series [image] no more than five or six.


Choosing the x-axis

Data categories are plotted along the x-axis (the horizontal axis). The values in the field you choose as the category field become the labels placed beneath each division of the x-axis.

You may choose any field type, except OLE, binary, graphic, memo, and formatted memo fields. (The expert removes those field types from the list.)


Choose an additional X-axis field
Choose an additional field

Because you chose to summarize by the values in two fields, choose a second field by which to break down your data. This field's values become your chart's legend. The legend provides labels that tell the viewer what each series represents.

You may choose any field type, except OLE, binary, graphic, memo, and formatted memo fields. (The expert removes those field types from the list.)


Y-axis values

If the chart is a tabular chart, only numeric fields are valid choices for the y-axis.

For summary charts, any field type except OLE, binary, graphic, memo, and formatted memo field is a valid choice.

To choose a field, select it and click the > button, or double-click the field. If the chart is a summary chart, the Summary Operator list pops up, showing Sum, Min, Max, and Average. Choose the operation you want:

Sum	Charts the sum of the values in the field
Min	Charts the minimum value found in the field
Max	Charts the maximum value found in the field
Average	Charts the average of the values found in a field
If the summary operators shown are inappropriate to a field, the values in that field are counted, and the Count operator shows up in the Chosen Fields column.

If you are choosing more than one field, the order you put them in here, affects how they appear on the chart. If you were creating a bar chart, for example, the first field in your list would appear as the leftmost bar in every group of bars.


Give your chart descriptive titles
Giving titles to the chart

Chart Title

This title appears at the very top of the chart. It is the main title of the chart.

Chart Sub-Title

This title appears just below the main chart title. The sub-title allows you to provide additional information about the subject of the chart, for example, how the data is broken down.

X-Axis Title

This title appears horizontally just below the labels on the x-axis. Use this title to specify what data is charted along the x-axis.

Y-Axis Title

This title appears vertically just to the left of the labels on the y-axis. Use this title to specify what data is charted along the y-axis.


Name the new form or report

Your chart is being created on a new form or report (whichever you chose in the first step of the expert). In this step, give a name to the the new form or report, so it can be saved.

Once you have entered the file name, choose how you would like the Chart Expert to open the new file.

View the finished chart.

This option opens the new form or report and runs it so you can view the finished chart. If you then decide you want to make changes to it, click the Design button on the Toolbar to put the chart in a design window, where you can modify it.

Keep the form or report in a design window, so you can continue modifying it.

This option opens the new form or report in a design window, so you can modify the newly created chart.


Database Expert

The Database Expert lets you select a ready-to-use database structure which you can then fill with your own information. Each database includes a collection of tables, forms, and reports. You can modify any of them at any time, after completing the expert.

In the next step of the expert, you'll see the fields contained in the tables of the template you choose in this step. You can edit field names, add fields, and delete fields.

Select the database template that appears to match your needs, and click Next.

You have both personal and business databases to choose from:

Personal Databases

Checkbook is an online check register (deposits and withdrawals) for an account. It includes one table, a form for data entry, and five reports.

Address Book stores names, addresses, phone numbers, and so on. It includes a field for notes. This database has one table, a form for data entry, and two reports.

Music Collection lets you categorize and keep track of your records, tapes and CDs. In addition to text data, you can include cover graphics and sound files for each album. The database has two tables, a form for data entry, and two reports.

Home Assets lets you keep track of the possessions in your home, when and where you purchased them, warranty dates, and the companies you use to insure your possessions. It includes four tables, a form for data entry, and two reports.

Business Databases

Order/Inventory Tracking stores information about your customers, their orders, and your inventory. It includes an invoice report.

Contact Management can help you keep track of business contacts with people, maintain notes on those contacts, and keep track of tasks assigned to each one.

 	Job Costing helps anyone who is charging for services or materials manage their accounts. It helps to create customer estimates and invoices, and keep information on employees and their wages. The application shows profit margin percentage, by project.

Video Store Manager tracks information for a video rental store: It catalogs videos on hand, and it tracks customer and transaction information (check-in, check-out) for each rental.


Modify the tables?

The tables in the database template you chose in step 1 are shown in the drop-down list. When you choose a table from the list, its fields are shown in the Included Fields panel.

Decide if there are any fields you don't need

Take a look at the fields in each table. If you don't need one of the fields, select it and press the > button. This puts the field in the Removed Fields panel. If you change your mind and want to add it back in, select it and press the < button. It will appear at the bottom of the list. That's okay; its position in the list doesn't matter. To restore the fields of a table back to the way they were, click Restore. Restore affects only the one table you're dealing with. Any changes you made in other tables' fields remain as you changed them.

You can change a field's name

If you want to change a field's name, select it, change it in the Edit Name box, and then press Enter.

Fields surrounded by brackets are needed for linking tables, so you cannot remove them or edit them.

To add fields

Click the Add Field button. The Paradox Field Catalog appears. For help with the Field Catalog, click the Help button in the Field Catalog dialog box.

Fields you add to a table will appear only in the table. They will not appear on forms and reports. To have them appear on a form or report, you can modify the form or report in a design window to include your new fields. See Help|User's Guide Topics for information on how to do this.

When you are finished with this step, click Next.


Storing and accessing the database

Database Location

Type in the path and directory name where you want to store all the files that make up this database. If you haven't already created the directory, the expert will create it for you.

To use the database

The larger databases have a small "launcher" form with buttons for launching the various forms and reports that make up the database. This launcher will appear when your database is first created. To launch a form or report, click the appropriate button on the launcher.

To use the smaller databases, open the form associated with that database, and begin entering your information. The reports for each database are accessible from a button on the forms.

To use the database the next time you open Paradox

Select your database from the Startup Expert, or open the Project Viewer and select your database from the directory you stored it in. Then open the appropriate form.

If you choose one of the larger databases (one with a launcher), you can open the launcher by choosing the appropriate form.


Field Expert

This expert helps you create a field object by offering you a list of styles and added ObjectPAL functionality, without requiring you to write any code. You select from a list of functions, and the Field Expert attaches the necessary code to the field object.

Don't want the Field Expert?

If you would rather work on your own, click the Cancel button. To prevent the Field Expert from opening whenever you place a button on a form, choose Edit|Preferences and click the Experts tab. Uncheck "Run experts when creating objects on documents." You have access to the Field Expert, however, only when this preference is checked.

Select the display type you want:

Edit field	A field in which values can be edited.
List	Displays a list in a list box. If the list is longer than the box, scroll arrows appear.
Drop-down list	A one-line field with a Down arrow. Clicking on the arrow displays a list of choices. Choosing one puts it in the combo field/box.
Check box	A check box can be checked or unchecked. If there is more than one check box in a group, any number of them can be checked.
Radio buttons	These present mutually exclusive choices within a group.
Toggle buttons	Offer an on/off choice.


Attach to a table?

Attach Field

Select this, if you want your new field to display data from a field in a table. If you select this, then when the form is run, any new data entered in the field object will be added to the table.

You can browse for a table, then select a field. To select a field, highlight it, and then click the Next button.

Do not attach field

Select this, if you don't want data in your new field to change field values in the table.


What is your data source?

The table you choose must have at least one field that can populate a list.

Enter the values manually

Select this if you want to type in the list values yourself.

Load from a table now

Select this if you want the values for this field to be taken from a table just once and not reloaded every time the form is used. If the values in your chosen field are constant, you would want to select this option. (The values are then saved with the form.)

Load each time the form opens

Select this if you want your drop-down list updated every time the form is opened. If the values in your chosen field change, you would want to select this option.


Sorting and filtering

Sorting

If you choose ascending or descending order, you can choose to remove duplicate entries from your list.

Filtering

To filter the data that appears in the list,

1.	Check the Filter Data On check box.

2.	Select a field. Its values become available in the drop-down list.

3.	Select a value from the drop-down list.

The selected filter restricts the values being entered into the list.


Manually identifying items

In the text box, type the words that you want to appear in a list or drop-down list, or beside a radio button, and press Enter. Your description appears in the list box in this step. Type another description, and press Enter, and so on.

To put the list in ascending order, click the Sort List button. You can also use the Up and Down arrows to change the order of the items. Highlight an item and click an arrow to move it to another position in the list.

To modify an item, highlight it and click the Modify Item button.

To remove an item, highlight it and press the Remove Item button.

Note:	Your list should have no duplicates.


Values for "checked" and "unchecked"

Type the values you want the check box to have when it is checked and when it is unchecked.


Default value

If you don't want the field to start with a default value, leave the Value field blank.

Note:	If this field is bound to a table, you cannot set a default value, since the field is filled from the table.


Special functionality

The functions available to lists are in the panel on the right. Check any you want.

Functions available to other fields are listed on the left. Highlight a function to see a description of it in the panel below the list. Highlight the one you want, and click the Next button.


Selecting a field style

Select a style from the list on the right to see a sample of it in the panel on the left.

When you decide on a style, highlight it, and click the Do It! button.


Form Expert

This expert can create a form that displays data from one or two tables. (If you need a form that displays data from more than two tables, choose File|New|Form, and proceed from there.) After the expert creates the form you specify, you can modify the form if you want to.

Two-table form

For a two-table form, you'll be specifying both a master table and a detail table. The two tables must have at least one field in common. (That is, each table has a field that stores the same data, for example, ID number. The fields must be the same type and size.) Paradox uses the common field to find all the records in the detail table that go with a record in the master table.

The master table is the primary table. The detail table contains details about a record in the master table.


Choosing a layout

Master table and detail table

If your form is drawing data from two tables, you'll be specifying both a master table and a detail table. The two tables must have at least one field in common. (That is, each table has a field that stores the same data, for example, ID number. The fields must be the same type and size.) Paradox uses the common field to find all the records in the detail table that go with a record in the master table.

The master table is the primary table. The detail table contains details about a record in the master table. Usually, there is a 1-to-many relationship between the master table and the detail table. For example, a customer (stored in the Customer table) can place many orders (stored in the Orders table). In this example, Customer is the master table and Orders is the detail table.


The master table

The master table is the primary table [image] the one you want Paradox to look at first. Paradox starts with the master table and then finds matching records from the detail table. The detail table (which you will specify in the next step) contains details about a record in the master table.

Browse

Click Browse to look for the name of the table in another directory.


The detail table

The detail table must have at least one field in common with the master table.

The master table is the primary table. The detail table stores details about a record in the master table.


Linking two tables

Paradox can link tables using any fields they have in common. The common fields show Paradox which record(s) in the detail table match each record from the master table.

Common fields

The fields that your tables have in common are listed in the first box. Their relationship is described in the second box.

If you accept the default selection, just click Next. If the default selection is not the common field you need to link on, select the field you do want to link on, and then click Next.

No fields in common?

If your tables have no fields in common, they are not linkable. You may still want to display two tables on a form, but the data from the two tables will have no relationship.


Selecting fields to display

Select the fields you want to display on your form.

If you are creating a two-table form, select fields from the master table in this step. You'll select fields from the detail table in the next step.

To add a field to the form

Select it, and click the > button (or double-click the field name).

To add all fields, click >>.

To remove fields from the form

Click < to remove one field (or double-click the field name).

Click << to remove all fields.


Selecting detail fields

To add a field to the form

Select it, and click the > button (or double-click the field name).

To add all fields, click >>.

To remove fields from the form

Click < to remove one field (or double-click the field name).

Click << to remove all fields.


Video screen or printer?

Specify if your form is mainly for display onscreen or for printing. (If you specify Video Screen, you can still print the form. Likewise, if you specify Printer, you can still use your form for onscreen display and editing.)

Select a page size

Click the Down arrow beside the edit box to select a page size.

If you selected Video Screen, you'll see a list of screen resolutions (640x480, 800x600, and so on). If you selected Printer, you'll see paper sizes (Letter, Legal, A4, and so on).

Select a printer

If you selected Printer, specify the printer you'll use.

Page orientation

If you selected Printer, specify whether you want the form to print vertically on the page (Portrait) or horizontally (Landscape).


Specifying a style sheet

A style sheet determines the appearance of objects on the form. To see the look of each style sheet, select the style. The left-hand panel changes to reflect that style.

When you determine the style you want, select it, and then click the Next button.


File name and location

Type a file name for your form. Paradox will add the extension .FSL. The form will go into your working directory, by default. If you want to put the form in another directory, type a drive and path, or click Browse to browse for a location.

After the form is created, the expert can run the form so that you can view and edit data, or it can open the form in a design window, so that you can modify the design. Select the option you want.

Do It!

Click the Do It! button to create the form. Once you click Do It!, you exit the expert, and your form is created.


Text Import Expert

This expert helps you import delimited or fixed-length text into Paradox tables.

Delimited text file

In a delimited text file, fields are separated by a special character, such as a comma, and delimited by a special character, like a quotation mark. Data in a delimited text file you import must be arranged in a format that is appropriate for a database table. Before you import, you should make sure that your text file has the same type of data in each field and the same fields in every row. Each line must end with a carriage return/linefeed combination.

If you want to import data that is not delimited by special characters, see if the program the data is in will export to a delimited file. Then you can import that result to a Paradox table.

Note:	The expert does not recognize a tab as a field separator. If your text file uses tabs to separate fields, you can import by choosing File|Import and choosing the Import button.

Fixed-length text file

In a fixed length text file, each field starts at a certain position in the file and is of a specific length. Data from mainframe computers is often in this format.

Your options

If you haven't used this expert before, only one option is available to you [image] "Create new import settings." Click the Next button to proceed to the next step.

What are import settings?

They are a set of instructions you give to the expert. If you have used the expert to import text before, and you gave a name to your settings, you can use them now, if appropriate. You can use them as is, or you can modify them. If you choose to use existing settings, select the name of the settings from the drop-down list box.

The last settings you specified are available to you, even if you didn't name them.

The expert saves all your settings in a Paradox table.

If you use existing settings with no changes

If you choose this, the expert takes you right to the last step. If you want to make sure existing settings are okay, choose the Modify option.


Specify your text file

Browse for the name of the text file you want to import, or type its path and name in the text box.

Specify if the file was created in a Windows or DOS application. (If you know it uses the OEM character set, specify DOS; if it uses the ANSI character set, specify Windows.)

If you've chosen to use an existing import setting, a text file name will already appear in the text box. You can change it if you want, then click the Next button.


Specify the table you're importing into

The default

If you're creating new import settings, the expert will import your text file data into a new table, unless you specify otherwise. A default name for a new table appears in the text box. The default name is the same as your text file, but with a .DB extension. If this is okay, click the Next button.

Specifying the table

If you already have a table you want to import to, browse for the name of the table, or type its path and name in the text box.

Append or overwrite?

If you select Append, your imported data will be

Appended to the end of your table, if the table is not keyed

Inserted in the correct order, according to the key, if the table is keyed

If you select Overwrite, your selected table will be overwritten with the data you're importing.


Where does your data start?

If your data doesn't look right, there may be a few lines of header information before the actual data.

Scroll down a bit. If you see a line that looks like the first valid data record, select it. If not, you are probably trying to import a file that isn't correctly set up for importing to a database table.


Fixed length or delimited?

If you're not sure if your data is considered fixed-length or delimited, look at the examples of fixed-length and delimited data shown in the example boxes at the bottom of this step. Select the one your data looks more like.


Specifying field starting positions
Specifying starting positions (fixed-length data)

Red markers are already in place where the expert thinks your fields begin. Use the >> and << arrows at the bottom of the box to scroll through your text file and check the markers.

Changing a marker

If you need to change any marker, position the mouse pointer over the first character of a field, and double-click to produce a red bar over that character.

To remove a red bar, double-click it.

If you want to revert to the expert's "best guess," click the Reset button.

To clear all markers from the line, click the Clear button.

The ruler is there to help you determine starting positions, so you don't have to manually count characters.


Specify delimiters and separators
Check field types, names, and sizes

Are these field names, types and sizes correct for the target table?

Editing

You can edit in the Field Name, Type, and Size columns just as you would in the Create Table dialog box. If you want to change field type, you can right-click in the Type column to display a list of Paradox field types, then select one from the list. You may notice that some field types are not in the list, because you cannot import data into those types (memo type, graphic type, and so on).

Borrowing

If you know that another table has the field names, types and sizes you need for this table, you can "borrow" that table's structure. Click the Borrow button, and select a table. If the borrowed table's specificationss are not appropriate, your sample data disappears. Click Reset to cancel the borrowed specifications.

Resetting

If you change your mind about changes you've made, including borrowing another table's structure, click the Reset button to return all specifications back to what they were when you first got to this step.


Check field types, names, and sizes
Specify delimiters and separators

The expert thinks you are using the delimiter and separator characters shown in the two text boxes in the lower left of this step. If this is correct, you don't have to do anything. If it is not correct, type the correct delimiter and separator.

Note:	The expert does not recognize a tab as a field separator. If your text file uses tabs to separate fields, you can import by choosing File|Import and choosing the Import button.

Which fields are delimited?

Specify if all fields in your file are delimited, or only text fields. When importing, the expert will ignore fields that are not delimited.

A "text field" contains alphanumeric data. A field that is not a text field contains only numeric data.


Saving your settings

If you think you'll have future use for the settings you just specified, give them a name so you can use them again. For example, if you commonly import changing data from the same place, you would want to save your settings.

If you want, you can have the expert generate a script that will perform this import, and you won't even have to open the expert to perform the import. Just run the script.

If you check both boxes, the name of your settings and the name of your script will be the same, except that the extension .SSL will be appended to your script. The script will be stored in your working directory.


Label Expert

This expert helps you create mailing labels in a variety of standard and custom label formats.

When you highlight a label type, a description of the label appears on the right.

If the label format you want to use is not listed here, you can add it to the expert. To add a label format, click Define New Label.


Defining a new label

Either select a label category from the list, or make up a category of your own, and type it in the Label Category text box.

In the bottom text box, type a description for your label. The description can be 32 characters long.

Clicking Cancel cancels your work here and takes you back to step 1 of the expert.


Specifying label dimensions

Choose inches or millimeters (at the bottom of the step). Type numbers in the edit boxes or use the Plus and Minus buttons to specify the dimensions of your labels. You may be able to get most of this information from your label order sheet or the box your labels came in.

You can watch the illustration on the left change as you change your dimensions.

Clicking Cancel cancels your work here and takes you back to step 1 of the expert.

Label Dimensions	Description

#Across	The number of labels across your sheet, from side to side

#Down	The number of labels down your sheet, from top to bottom

Width	The width of one label, from left side to right side

Height	The height of one label, from top to bottom

Horizontal Pitch	The measurement from the right edge of one label to the left edge of the next label

Vertical Pitch	The measurement from the bottom edge of one label to the top edge of the next label

Paper Dimensions	Description

Width	The width of the paper your labels sit on

Height	The height of the paper your labels sit on

Side Margin	The measurement from the left edge of the paper to the left edge of the first label

Top Margin	The measurement from the top edge of the paper to the top edge of the first label

Text Offset	The measurement from the right edge of a label to the left edge of the next label (moving horizontally)


Choosing a table or query

If the table or query you want is not listed here, click Browse to look for the name of the table.


Font, size, and style

The box at the bottom of this step shows you an example of your choices. As you make different selections, the example changes.


Specifying printing order and label feed

If you choose...	Then

Left to Right	Labels print from left to right across the page.

Newspaper Style	Labels print from top to bottom down the first column, then the second column, and so on.

For some label types, another option appears that lets you specify how you're feeding the label page into the printer. For example, when when using a wide-carriage printer, or feeding a narrow label page into a laser printer, you can specify whether you are positioning the labels on the left, the right, or in the center.


Setting up your label

The empty box represents your label. In the box, place your fields where you want them, and add commas, spaces, and so on, as necessary.

To add a field to the label,

1.	Place the insertion point where you want the field to appear.

2.	Choose Place Field.

If you make a mistake, delete the field using the Delete or Backspace keys.

You can add your own text and spaces. Just place the insertion point where you want text or spaces to appear, and type.


Naming and viewing the labels

Your labels are a Paradox report. Type a name for the report in the text box. The report will be stored in your working (current) directory unless you specify otherwise. To select a different directory, use the Browse button, or type a path to the directory. After the path, type a report name.

View the labels onscreen

If you choose this, the expert shows you the labels onscreen but does not print them yet. When you want to print the labels, choose File|Print.

Print the labels now

The expert prints your labels onto your label paper. (Make sure your label paper is in the printer.)

Modify the labels in a Report Design window

Normally, you won't have to do anything with the label report, but if you want to modify it for some reason (maybe you want to add a graphic, for example), the expert opens the report in a design window, where you can change the labels to suit your needs.


Launcher Expert

The Launcher Expert will create a small tabbed form that you can use to open or launch selected forms, reports, queries, scripts, executable files, and so on, with the click of a button.

You can create a new launcher, or you can use or modify settings you already specified for an existing launcher.


Which files?

Click a tab and select the files you want to run, or access, from each tabbed page of your launcher form. The files displayed in the lists are the ones in your working directory. You can browse for files in other directories.

In the "Other" category, you can place text files, executable files (like a word processor, a WWW browser, a spreadsheet program, and so on.

If you browse for a file, then return to an earlier tab, notice that the files listed, if any, are from the directory you browsed to. If that's not the one you need, browse again for the directory you want.

Once you select files, you can change the order in which they appear on the tabbed page by using the Up and Down arrows. Select a file, and use an arrow to move it to another position in the list.


Captions for the launcher buttons

Type the instruction or title you want to see (or you want users to see) beside each launcher button. For example, beside a button that will run a report of the day's orders, you might type "Day's Orders" or "Show Today's Orders."

If you want your launcher form to remain small, you'll want to be brief.


Customizing the launcher

Since the window caption will appear in the launcher's title bar, you'll want it to be short.

You can choose to have tabs at the top of the launcher or at the bottom.

Window style

The window-style launcher

Is a "child" window and cannot move outside of the Paradox Desktop.

Can be covered by other, larger windows.

Because it is a window, it can be selected from the Window menu.

Can be maximized and resized.

The dialog box-style launcher

Is not a "child" window, and you can move it outside the Paradox Desktop.

Stays on top of Paradox "child" windows, remaining available to the user.

Cannot be maximized or resized.

Otherwise, the windows look and act the same.

Check boxes

If you check the first check box, you'll be able to choose the launcher from the Windows Start menu (under Programs|Paradox Launchers). You can also choose it from the Project Viewer (the forms list).

If you check the second box, the launcher will open at the bottom lower left of the screen. After that, it can be moved anywhere.


Saving settings

You can use any name up to 255 characters to describe these launcher settings. The settings are saved in a Paradox table accessed by this expert.

If you want to overwrite settings you have specified previously, select the name of those settings from the drop-down list

If you choose to edit the launcher form, the expert will leave you in a Form Design window after creating the launcher.


Mail Merge Expert

This expert helps you merge data from a table into a form letter.

After you click the Do It! button in the last step of the expert, you'll be taken to the word processor you choose in step 2.

What is a mail merge?

A mail merge lets you mass-produce letters, contracts, memos, and so on, that are identical except for the individualized data you merge into them from the table. Once you specify placement of the fields you want to use, the merge happens automatically.

The result is many copies of your form letter, but pertinent information from the table has been inserted in each copy (for example, you may want the name and address of a customer inserted at the top of the letter and their most recent order date somewhere in the body of the letter).

What are merge settings?

They are a set of instructions you have previously given to the expert and saved. If you have used the expert to do this particular mail merge before and saved your settings, you can use them now. The expert saves all your settings in a Paradox table.

When can I save my settings?

You can save them at the end of the expert.

What other files get created?

You will end up with three files:

Your form letter.

A data file to hold the data you're merging into your form letter. The name of this file repeats the first four letters of your form letter name, followed by _MRG. For a WordPerfect or Paradox merge, the file extension of the data file is .DB. For a Microsoft Word merge, the file extension is .RTF.

A file that holds the result of the merge [image] that is, all your letters with their individualized data merged in (you can save this file, or not).


Your form letter

Word Processors you can use

You can use this expert with the word processors listed in the list box. If you don't have these word processors, you can use "Paradox Report."

Does your form letter already exist?

You can use an existing form letter, or you can write your form letter after completing the expert.

If the form letter already exists, specify it now (include the extension, if it has one). If you're going to write it after completing the expert, you'll give it a name at the end of the expert.

Note:	You can use a form letter you've already written in Paradox, if you want keep merge fields as they are. If you need to add or change merge fields, create a new form letter in the expert (to simplify this task, you can import the text of your existing letter by choosing Paste From).


Which table has the data?

Choose a Paradox or dBASE table.

If your data is in two or more tables

If the data you want to use is in two or more tables, first run a query that gathers the necessary data into one table. To do this,

1.	Choose File|New|Query.

2.	Select the tables that contain your data (hold down Ctrl to select two or more tables).

3.	Use the Join Tables Toolbar button to join your tables.

4.	Check the white boxes of the fields you need for your merge.

5.	Click the Run Query Toolbar button.

The data you need is now gathered into one table.


Do you want to sort by a field?

When you chose a table in the previous step, the expert selected all the fields in your table. All these fields will be available to you in a list when you work with your form letter.

In this step, you can choose fields to sort on, if you want. For example, you may want to sort on a "postal code" field for pre-sorted bulk mailings. Or, once the merge is run, you may want to add personal notes to certain letters (you can do this in a word processor), and if the letters are sorted, it's easier to find them.

Fields you can sort your letters by

Available sort fields are listed. (Some fields, such as memo and graphic fields, cannot be used for sorting, so they are not listed here.)

You can refine your sort by choosing more than one field. Your letters will be sorted first on the topmost field in the Sort By list, then by the second field, and so on.

You can change the order of Sort By fields, using the Change Order arrows.


Formatting the data

If you want a format that doesn't appear in the field's list

You can create custom formats for these field types: number, money, date, time, timestamp, and logical.

To create a custom format that you can use in your form letter,

1.	Open a table that has the appropriate type of field. (It doesn't have to be a table you're using for the mail merge.)

2.	Right-click the field.

3.	Select Properties from its menu.

4.	Select the Format page, then choose Create New Format.

This puts you in the dialog box where you can create a custom format for the field. (For help in the dialog box, click the dialog box Help button.)

5.	In the above dialog box, check the Permanent check box to make your format available whenever you use Paradox.

Any custom format you create in this way will appear in the expert's list.

If you create a custom format now, it will take effect when you restart the expert.


The last step

What you see in this step depends on the choices you've already made in the expert. The help below is for both possibilities.

The name of your mail merge settings

Type a name that describes your merge. You may use up to 40 characters. This is not a file name [image] this is a name the expert uses in a table where it stores your specifications.

If you have already written your form letter, these two sections apply to you:

Edit form letter or perform merge?

If you're placing the merge fields for the first time, or you need to edit your form letter, select the first button.

If you've used the expert to place the same fields in this form letter before, and you don't need to edit the letter, then you're all set to run the merge.

You can select Run The Merge, and then click the Do It! button. A new file will be created in your word processor that includes all your personalized form letters. To print your letters, choose File|Print.

Do It!

When you click Do It!, the expert will perform the action you selected above. In either case, you'll exit the expert and be left in your word processor, with instructions for completing the merge.

If you have not written your form letter yet, then these two sections apply to you:

The name of your form letter

Give a file name to the form letter you're going to write, so the expert can link your table data with your form letter.

Do It!

When you click Do It!, the expert will open your word processor or the Paradox Report Form Letter Editor (whichever you have chosen) and you can then type your form letter and place fields.


Mail Merge Expert: Paradox Form Letter Editor

Type your form letter in this screen, inserting merge fields where you want them. When you click the Run Merge button, your finished form letter will appear as a Paradox report. You can modify it in a Report Design window, if you need to, but you should insert your merge fields here.

Insert Field

To insert a field, place the insertion point where you want the field, and then click the Insert Field button. Select a field from the list.

You can insert a field more than once.

Change Properties

Click the Properties button and then click Properties on its menu to see the Text Properties dialog box, where you can change font, alignment, line spacing, and color. Either set your properties before typing, or highlight what you want to change and then choose the properties you want.


Mail Merge Expert: You are now in Microsoft Word
You are now in Microsoft Word

Click the Insert Merge Field button to see your merge fields.

1.	Type (or edit) the text of your form letter, using the Insert Merge Field button to place fields. (Place the insertion point where you want your field, and then select a field from the list.) You can use a field more than once.

2.	When your letter is complete, choose Tools|Mail Merge.

3.	Click the Merge button in the 3rd step of the Mail Merge Helper box.

4.	Make selections in the Merge box, if you want, and then click Merge.

Your form letters are created.


Mail Merge Expert: You are now in WordPerfect
You are now in WordPerfect

Click the Insert Field button on the Merge feature bar. A dialog box appears, listing your merge fields.

1.	Type (or edit) the text of your form letter. When you want to place a field, position the insertion point where you want your field, select a field from the list, and then choose Insert from the dialog box (or double-click the field). You can use a field more than once.

2.	When your letter is complete, close the dialog box.

3.	Choose Tools|Merge. The Merge dialog box appears.

4.	Click the Merge button near the bottom of the Merge dialog box.

5.	Click OK.

Your form letters are created.


Mail Merge Expert: Your merged form letter is now a Paradox report
Your merged form letter is now a Paradox report.

To page through it, use the arrows in the Toolbar.

To print it, choose File|Print.

To modify it, choose View|Design Report. You can modify the form letter as a whole; however, you cannot make changes to individual letters, as you can in a word processor.


Report Expert

This expert can create a report that draws data from one table or two tables. If you need a report that draws data from more than two tables, choose File|New|Report, and proceed from there.

After the expert creates your report, you can modify the report if you want to.

Two-table report

For a two-table report, you'll be specifying both a master table and a detail table. The two tables must have at least one field in common. (That is, each table has a field that stores the same data, for example, ID number. The fields must be the same type and size.)

Paradox uses the common field to find all the records in the detail table that go with a record in the master table.

Master table and detail table

The master table is the primary table. The detail table contains details about a record in the master table. Usually, there is a 1-to-many relationship between the master table and the detail table. For example, a customer (stored in the Customer table) can place many orders (stored in the Orders table). In this example, Customer is the master table and Orders is the detail table.


One or more?

Choose to display one record per page or multiple records. If you choose one record per page, data is displayed down the page in a column. If you choose multiple records per page, data is displayed in a tabular format.


Selecting a table

If you're creating a one-table report

Select the table that contains the data you want to use in your report.

If you're creating a two-table report

Select the master table in this step. The master table is the primary table. The detail table (which you will specify in the next step) contains details about a record in the master table.

Browse

Click Browse to look for the name of the table in another directory.


Selecting a detail table

The detail table must have at least one field in common with the master table. (That is, each table has a field that stores the same data, for example, ID number. The fields must be the same type and size.)

The master table is the primary table. The detail table contains details about a record in the master table.


Linking two tables

Paradox can link tables using any fields they have in common (same size and type, and storing the same information). The common fields show Paradox which record(s) in the detail table match each record from the master table.

Common fields

The fields that your tables have in common are listed in the first box. Their relationship is described in the second box.

If you accept the default selection, just click Next. If the default selection is not the common field you need to link on, select the field you do want to link on, and then click Next.

No fields in common?

If your tables have no fields in common, they are not linkable. You may still want to display data from two tables on a report, but the one set of data will not be related to the other.


Selecting fields to display

You can double-click a field name to move it between lists, or use > to move one field at a time, and >> to move all the fields over to the Display These Fields list.

If you're creating a two-table report

The fields from the master table you specified are listed on the left.

You'll select fields from the detail table in the next step.


Selecting detail fields

The fields from the detail table you specified are listed on the left.

You can double-click a field name to move it between lists, or use > to move one field at a time, and >> to move all the fields over to the Display These Fields list.


Video screen or printer?

Target output

Choose Printer if you want the report designed mainly for printing (but you can still use it onscreen).

Choose Video Screen if you want the report designed for onscreen display. (A report designed for onscreen may not look good in print, so if you plan to print it, choose the Printer option.)

Available page sizes

If you selected Printer, paper sizes (Letter, A4, Legal, and so on)  are listed here. If you selected Video Screen, screen resolutions (640x480, 800x600, and so on) are listed here. Pick the one you want.

Available printers

Available only when Printed Output is selected. Specify the printer you want the report to print to.

Page orientation

Available only when Printed Output is selected. Specify if you want text to print sideways on the page (Landscape) or vertically (Portrait).


Specifying a style sheet

A style sheet determines the appearance of objects on the report. To see the look of each style sheet, select the style. The left-hand panel changes to reflect that style.

When you determine the style you want, select it, and then click the Next button.


Headers and footers

A header is text that prints at the top of each page.

A footer is text that prints at the bottom of each page.

If you want a title in the header, type it in the Title Text box. (The header will be centered in the report.)

Headers and footers can also print the following information that differs for each page. Check the appropriate button or checkbox beside the option.

Page Numbers	Select the style you want, if any. Then specify whether you 1) want the page number printed in the header or in the footer; and 2) where in the header or footer you want it positioned.

Date/Time	Check Display Date if you want today's date printed on the report (it will appear in the default Windows format; for example, 6/23/95).

Check Display Time if you want the time the page was printed to appear on the report (it will appear in the default Windows format; for example, 10:52 PM).

Specify where you want the date and/or time to print. (If you have selected both date and time, they always print together.)


Naming the report

Type a file name for your report. Paradox will add the extension .RSL. The report will go into your working directory, by default. If you want to put the report in another directory, type a drive and path, or click Browse to browse for a location.

After the report is created, the expert can

Run the report so that you can view its data onscreen

Print the report without showing it onscreen

 	Open the report in a design window, so that you can modify the design.

Select the option you want.

Do It!

Click the Do It! button to create the report. Once you click Do It!, you exit the expert, and your report is created.


Table Expert

This expert helps you create a table where you can store your data.

The columns in a table are called fields, and they organize your data into categories (for example, "Phone Number," "Last Name," and so on). The horizontal rows are called records.

This expert lets you choose fields from various tables templates to create a table of your own.

To choose fields for your table

Highlight a table template to see that table's fields listed in the middle column.

To include all the table's fields in your new table, click the >> button.

To select one field at a time, highlight the field, and then click the > button.

If you change your mind about a field you've already chosen, highlight the field you don't want in your table, and then click the < button.

You can select fields from more than one template.

You can choose from "business" and "personal" templates.

You can use a field more than once. Each subsequent selection is numbered, and you can edit the name.

As you add fields, they appear at the end of your list. You can change field order (use the Change Order arrows).

To edit field names

You can edit a field name in the Edit Name box, but don't change the intent of a field. For example, don't edit a date field to be "Product Description," because the field has been set up to accept only dates.

You can right-click on a field name to see this information:

What type of field it is

How many characters it will accept (with some field types, there is no restriction.)

Any restrictions put on the field to make sure valid data is entered into it. A restriction might be a minimum or maximum value, a default value, a picture, and so on.

(A picture is a specification of how data can be entered in a field, including characters that appear automatically. For example, for a U.S. social security number, a picture might look like this: ###-##-####. This is the only way the field will accept data, and the hyphens will appear automatically.)

If you want to change field type, size, and so on, you can do so after the table is created: when you get to the last step of the expert, select Edit The Table's Structure.

To change the order of fields

Select a field and use the Change Order arrows.

To add a field

If you want to add a field that is not in one of the table templates, you can do so after your table is created: when you get to the last step of the expert, select Edit The Table's Structure. That will take you to the screen where you can add fields, edit field length, and so on.


Do you want a key?

The key field(s) will appear as the first field(s) in your table.

If you let the expert define a key

The expert will make up an ID field and number your records consecutively. (This will be their primary sort order. You can choose additional fields you want to sort on in the next step.)

When you don't need a key

If your table is small and not related to other tables, you may not want a key. However, if you want your records to always be sorted in a certain way, then you'll want to create a key yourself.

Sorting

Paradox sorts your records on the key field(s), so after you enter data in a record, the record will jump to its "correct" order, according to what you typed in the key.


Choosing a key

Not all fields are allowed to be key fields. The list on the left shows only the fields that can be key. (For example, a graphics field can't be key, because Paradox has no way to sort on it.)

The field(s) you select as the key will appear as the first field(s) in your table.

Sorting

Paradox sorts your records on the key field(s), so after you enter data in a record, the record will jump to its "correct" order, according to what you typed in the key.

In the next step, you can choose other fields to sort on too.


Fields to sort on

For each field you check, the expert will create a "secondary index." (The table's key is the primary index, so other indexes are called secondary.) You will normally see your records sorted by the primary index, but by using the Table|Filter command (or Form|Filter from a Form window), you can choose any of your secondary indexes to sort on.

Why you would want an index

Letting you change the sort order is only one purpose of an index. Indexes speed up table-searching operations, because all Paradox needs to look at is the index (and not all the data in a record) in order to find the records you've asked for.

You also need indexes when you are drawing data from more than one table for a form or report. In these cases, you have to "link" the tables; an index gives you a field on which to link.


Naming and viewing the table

Type a file name for your table (the expert will add the extension .DB.) Then select the action you want from the list, and click Do It! Once you click Do It!, you exit the expert, and your table is created.

View the table and add data

You'll see your table and can begin adding data to it. (Paradox saves your data as soon as you enter it and move to another record.)

Add data to the table using a form

The expert creates a data-entry form that shows the fields of your table.

When you type data in the form, Paradox stores the data in your table.

When you exit, Paradox will ask if you want to save the form (the data you entered is saved automatically).

Edit the table's structure

Before you see your table, you can modify it in these ways:

Add and edit fields

Change field type

Change field size

Change the key

Add secondary indexes (for alternative sorting and linking)

Specify other field criteria (called "validity checks")

If you choose this, you'll be taken to the screen where you can make these modifications. (Otherwise, you can modify your table at any time by using the Table|Restructure Table command while your table is open on the Desktop.)


Text Expert

This expert helps you create a text object by making it easy to choose from a variety of styles and special effects. You can save your chosen settings and use them again when you use the expert.

In this step, you can type in your text, or you can paste in a .TXT, .PXT, or .RTF file that has the text you want.

To select a file to paste, click the Paste From button. Use the Paste From dialog box to find your file, then double-click the file. The contents of the file are pasted into your text object. You can use the down arrow to scroll down through your text.

To clear the Text box of all text, click the Reset Button.

Don't want the Text Expert?

If you would rather work on your own, click the Cancel button. To prevent the Text Expert from opening whenever you place a button on a form, choose Edit|Preferences and click the Experts tab. Uncheck "Run experts when creating objects on documents." You have access to the Text Expert, however, only when this preference is checked.


Select text formatting

Click the drop-down arrows to select from the four drop-down lists.

Choose a style from the Style panel.

A sample of what you choose appears in the Sample Of Text panel.

Saving the style

If you think you might use this set of styles again with this expert, click the Save Style button. Give the style a descriptive name, and click OK. Your style name is added to the Style list in the expert, and you can choose it when you use the expert again.

Note:	If you're using this expert from a read-only directory on a network, you cannot save custom styles.


Special effects

When you choose an effect, you can see what it will look like in the Sample panel.

If you choose Shadow, the color you chose for your text in the previous step will be the foreground color. You can choose a background color from the drop-down list.


Centering

Auto-centering

Check Auto-centering to specify that the text object automatically centers itself within the confines of its container. The centering occurs the first time you place the object and again each time you run the form. This allows you to move the text object to another container and guarantee that it is centered properly.

Centering style

Choosing Both will center your text object both vertically and horizontally.


Startup Expert

This expert helps you get started in Paradox. Click the button beside what you want to do, and then click Next. If you have no data and you're new to Paradox, you might want to open the Sample database (the fourth selection) and use it to follow along with the examples in the Quick Start.

You have four choices

The first choice is to use the Database Expert. This expert lets you select a ready-to-use database template and helps you customize it to meet your needs.

If you select the second choice, and click Next, the expert will ask you to give a name and the path to a location for a new database.

When you want to work in this database in the future, you'll see its name listed in the Startup Expert and also in the drop-down list box in the Project Viewer. You can select the name of the database to open it (this spares you from having to type or browse for the entire path to the database).

Once you've named your database, you can begin creating tables. Step 2 will ask you if you want to use the Table Expert to help you create a table.

If you already have a database, and it's all in one directory, you can give a name to it using this expert, so that you don't have to type the full path to the database every time you want to use it.

If you have already given names to databases (either using this expert or the Alias Manager) the expert displays their names in the fourth choice. You can highlight one, and choose Next. The expert will open the Project Viewer, with your chosen database as the "working directory."

Note:	The name you give to a database that resides in one directory is called an alias in Paradox.

To dismiss the Startup Expert

If you want to dismiss the Startup Expert and open the Paradox Desktop, click Cancel.

If you don't want to see the Startup Expert again, check the box beneath the globe. If you turn it off now, but you want to use it again in the future, choose Edit|Preferences, click the Experts tab in the Preferences dialog box, and check "Run Startup Expert each time Paradox loads." The next time you start Paradox, you'll see the Startup Expert.


Specify a name and location

Database name

Type a name for the database in the text box. The name can be up to 30 characters long and can contain spaces.

Database location

Browse for a database location, or type a path in the text box.


Creating your own database

The first thing you need in a database is at least one table to store your data.

 If you use the Paradox Table Expert, you'll be able to choose from table templates that may meet your needs. You can delete fields you don't need, and edit the names of other fields, if you want to. All your fields don't have to come from the same template. You can select fields from different templates to construct your table. And you can cancel out of the Table Expert at any time.

If you choose to create a table on your own, the Expert will open the Create Table dialog box. Follow the instructions in the bottom panel of the dialog box, or click the Help button for help.

If you choose to go to the Paradox Desktop, the Startup Expert will close, leaving you at the Paradox Desktop.