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qBase V1.0
Query for dBase, Clipper, and Foxbase .DBF Files
Copyright 1990
Santa Clarita SoftWorks
Santa Clarita, California
1. What is qBase?
qBase was developed for quick and intuitive query reporting
of existing dBase type .DBF files. The user can design and
structure a custom inquiry in a matter of seconds with a printed
report generated as an option. There is no other demand placed
upon the user other than supplying their own .DBF files and a
minimal amount of database structuring knowledge.
This program will not change the user's files in anyway. It will
only read the original, create a temporary index, and delete that temporary
index. It will require at least 512k of memory with minimal requirements for
free disk space.
qBase was developed and compiled with Clipper version Summer 1987,
a Nantucket Corporation product and trademark.
2. Using qBase.
First step in using qBase is to path or place QBASE.EXE in
the current file directory. To execute qBase, key in QBASE and a
screen similar to Figure 1 will appear. Given any existing
dBase type file, qBase will detect the presence of that or any
other .DBF file in the current directory and the query starts
from that point.
-- FIGURE 1 --
qBase Query for dBase/Clipper/Foxplus Files
╔═════════════╗
║DRAWINGS.DBF ║
║DRAWMAST.DBF ║
║MASTER.DBF ║
║MRP.DBF ║
║PHONE.DBF ║
║PRODUCT.DBF ║ qBase Version 1.0
║PROGRAMS.DBF ║ Copyright 1989
║PURCHASE.DBF ║ Santa Clarita SoftWorks
║SCHEDULE.DBF ║
║STKROOM.DBF ║
----------> ║TIMECARD.DBF ║
║WORK.DBF ║
╚═════════════╝
Use Cursor to Locate File, Enter to Query, ESC to Quit
Select the desired file (TIMECARD.DBF) by moving the light bar to the
file's name and hit the enter key. A screen similar to Figure 2
will appear.
Page 1
-- FIGURE 2 --
Select Report Fields
╔═══════════════╗
║ EMPLOYEE ║
║ JOBNUMBER ║
║ HOURS ║
║ MONTH ║
║ WEEK ║
╚═══════════════╝
╔═══════════════╗
║ Enter - Select║
║ F5- Tags All ║
║ F6- Untags All║
║ ║
║ Sort Menu ===>║
╚═══════════════╝
REPORT FIELDS
The window title 'Report Fields' is the user's selection
menu for what fields will appear in the final report. To select the
desired fields hit the enter key while the field is highlighted by
the light bar, or hit the F5 function key to mark all of the data
fields for the final report. A checkmark will appear to the right
of the selected reporting data fields.
To access all of available fields in the user's file, scroll
down or up with the cursor keys to view additional data fields.
If you wish to alter the selection after marking, simply
press the enter key while highlighting the checkmarked field and
the field will be untagged and will not be presented in the final
report. To unmark all of the fields, press the F6 function key
to globally remove the checkmarks and return to a clean slate.
After selection of the fields, press the right arrow cursor
key to move to the next window for sort selection.
During the qBase session, the parameters that you are setting for
the query are being echoed at the top half of the screen. The message will
give a string that will be dynamically changed when you make the change,
and continued on to be printed on the final report.
Page 2
SORT FIELDS
Figure 3 depicts how the screen should appear after the
Report Field selection has been completed. The datafield list
will appear as it did in Report Fields window.
-- FIGURE 3 --
Select Report Fields Select Sort Fields
╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗
║ EMPLOYEE √ ║ ║ EMPLOYEE ║
║ JOBNUMBER √ ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║
║ HOURS √ ║ ║ HOURS ║
║ MONTH √ ║ ║ MONTH ║
║ WEEK √ ║ ║ WEEK ║
╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝
╔═══════════════╗
║ Enter - Select║
║ Order ║
║ Erase - Enter ║
║ Over Any Pick║
║ <=== Menu ===>║
╚═══════════════╝
This window will allow the user to select what order the
data will appear in the final query. A sort order is not
necessary for qBase and to by pass this window, use the right
cursor key to move on to the next field selection menu.
The light bar is used for selecting fields in sorting the
final query. Use the Enter key to mark the first field in the
sort order. A number '1' (EMPLOYEE) will appear to the right of
the that field designating it as the first field in the ascending sort
order. To add another field for the sort order, hit the Enter
key while highlighting the desired field and a number '2' (MONTH) will
appear to the right. Continue to select fields for the sort
order by the light bar and enter key until the final sort order
has been determined and marked with a numeric character.
To change the sort order, simply place the light bar on a
previously selected field and use the enter key to erase all of
the numeric marks and start over.
Finalized the sort order by using the right cursor key to
move into the Criteria selection menu.
Page 3
CRITERIA FIELD
To construct the query, the third window as pictured in
Figure 4 is used for selecting what field will be the 'subject'
for criteria. Press the enter key on the a select field (EMPLOYEE)
and arrowhead will appear to the right point to the field name. To
change this 'subject' field, hit enter on the same field to blank
out the arrowhead, or hit the enter key on another field for a
new selection. There can only be one field selected in this stage.
-- FIGURE 4 --
TIMECARD.DBF is sorted on EMPLOYEE, MONTH
Where
Select Criteria Field
╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗
║ EMPLOYEE √ ║ ║ EMPLOYEE 1 ║ ║ EMPLOYEE ║
║ JOBNUMBER √ ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║
║ HOURS √ ║ ║ HOURS ║ ║ HOURS ║
║ MONTH √ ║ ║ MONTH 2 ║ ║ MONTH ║
║ WEEK √ ║ ║ WEEK ║ ║ WEEK ║
╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝
╔═══════════════╗
║Enter - Select ║
║ Query ║
║F10 To Query ║
║NONE for ALL ║
║<=== Sort Menu ║
╚═══════════════╝
If no query to a specific condition is required, hit F10
function key without marking any field will give a complete
display and report of the database.
Hitting the F10 function key with marked a field, a fourth
window will appear as shown in Figure 5. The fourth window is a
menu for possible logic operators queries.
Page 4
-- FIGURE 5 --
TIMECARD.DBF is sorted on EMPLOYEE, MONTH
Where EMPLOYEE
Select Criteria Field
╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗
║ EMPLOYEE √ ║ ║ EMPLOYEE 1 ║ ║ EMPLOYEE ║
║ JOBNUMBER √ ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║
║ HOURS √ ║ ║ HOURS ║ ║ HOURS ║
║ MONTH √ ║ ║ MONTH 2 ║ ║ MONTH ║
║ WEEK √ ║ ║ WEEK ║ ║ WEEK ║
╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Equal to Not Equal to ║
║ Greater Than Between ║
║ Less Than Sounds Like ║
║ Greater Than/Equal Contains ║
║ Less Than/Equal BLANKS or 0 ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════╝
All Records Equal to (=)
The logic condition commands are listed below require no
explanation, but there are some noted features about qBase's use
of them:
Equal to - Will collect all records meeting criteria,
and if in a character field, keying only a single
character will identify all records beginning with that
character. Blank entry will present all records.
Greater Than - All records greater than and not
including the subject.
Less Than - All records less than and not including
the subject.
Greater Than/Equal - All records greater than and equal
to the subject.
Less Than/Equal - All records greater than and equal to
the subject.
Not Equal to - All records not exactly equal to the
subject.
Between - All records between a set of limits, and not
including the two subjects.
Sounds Like - All phonetic sound 'alikes' based on the
Soundex algorithm.
Contains - All records containing sub-string, either as
a whole record equaling the sub-string or in part.
Blanks or 0 - All blank records or containing zero (0).
Page 5
Select the operator by highlighting the logic command and
hitting the enter key. A prompt will appear requesting the
operator to input specific data (EMPLOYEE = CURREY) for the query.
Upon completion of the data entry hit enter and a continuation window
will appear on the left side of the screen (Figure 6) asking the user if
additional parameters are to be added to the inquiry. qBase is case
sensitive; in this example, Currey will have to be all capitals (CURREY)
to access all of Currey's timecard records.
-- FIGURE 6 --
TIMECARD.DBF is sorted on EMPLOYEE, MONTH
Where EMPLOYEE is equal to CURREY
Select Criteria Field
╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗
║ EMPLOYEE √ ║ ║ EMPLOYEE 1 ║ ║ EMPLOYEE ║
║ JOBNUMBER √ ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║
║ HOURS √ ║ ║ HOURS ║ ║ HOURS ║
║ MONTH √ ║ ║ MONTH 2 ║ ║ MONTH ║
║ WEEK √ ║ ║ WEEK ║ ║ WEEK ║
╚══════┌────────────┐ ╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝
│Additional │ ╔═════════════════════════════════════════════╗
│Criteria? │ ║ Equal to Not Equal to ║
│ NO │ ║ Greater Than Between ║
│ .AND. │ ║ Less Than Sounds Like ║
│ .OR. │ ║ Greater Than/Equal Contains ║
└────────────┘ ║ Less Than/Equal BLANKS or 0 ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Record Criteria?
CURREY
Logical .AND.
Three choices are given:
NO - No Further Conditions Required
AND - If Both Conditions are True
OR - If Either Condition is True
Selecting either of the last two choices will continue the
process of selecting a second condition for the query report.
The entry process is the same for the second condition operator,
finalized with the enter key (Figure 7). Selecting .AND. in this case
with MONTH BETWEEN 03 AND 06 shows:
Page 6
-- FIGURE 7 --
TIMECARD.DBF is sorted on EMPLOYEE, MONTH
Where EMPLOYEE is equal to CURREY and MONTH
Select Criteria Field
╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗ ╔═══════════════╗
║ EMPLOYEE √ ║ ║ EMPLOYEE 1 ║ ║ EMPLOYEE ║
║ JOBNUMBER √ ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║ ║ JOBNUMBER ║
║ HOURS √ ║ ║ HOURS ║ ║ HOURS ║
║ MONTH √ ║ ║ MONTH 2 ║ ║ MONTH ║
║ WEEK √ ║ ║ WEEK ║ ║ WEEK ║
╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝ ╚═══════════════╝
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Equal to Not Equal to ║
║ Greater Than Between ║
║ Less Than Sounds Like ║
║ Greater Than/Equal Contains ║
║ Less Than/Equal BLANKS or 0 ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Lower Record Criteria?
03
Upper Record Range?
06
All Records Within a Range (||)
The sorting (if any) and condition search process occurs
with a screen similar to Figure 8 appearing with final query
result. This inquiry screen can be scrolled by using the cursor,
Page Up/Down, Home, End, and Tab keys.
Page 7
-- FIGURE 8 --
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ TIMECARD.DBF is sorted on EMPLOYEE, MONTH ║
║ Where EMPLOYEE is equal to CURREY and MONTH is between 03 and 06 ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
EMPLOYEE JOBNUMBER HOURS MONTH WEEK
══════════════════════════════╤═══════════╤═════════╤═══════╤════════════
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 36.00 │ 04 │ 07
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 10.00 │ 04 │ 28
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 40.00 │ 04 │ 21
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 35.00 │ 04 │ 14
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 12.00 │ 05 │ 05
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 35.00 │ 05 │ 19
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 22.00 │ 05 │ 12
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 29.00 │ 05 │ 26
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 14.00 │ 05 │ 31
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
TIMECARD.DBF Browse Module F7 - Print Report ESC- Return
To print the report, function key F7 will pop a window print
menu requesting optional printer commands (Figure 9).
Default List and Menu Selection:
Set Page Length: Default = 66
Margins: Default = Left: 05 Right: 80
Condensed Print Default = Off
Page 8
-- FIGURE 9
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ TIMECARD.DBF is sorted on EMPLOYEE, MONTH ║
║ Where EMPLOYEE is equal to CURREY and MONTH is between 03 and 06 ║
║ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
EMPLOYEE JOBNUMBER HOURS MONTH WEEK
══════════════════════════════╤═══════════╤═════════╤═══════╤════════════
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 36.00 │ 04 │ 07
CURREY │ 14555101 │ 10.00 │ 04 │ 28
┌──────────────────────────┐1 │ 40.00 │ 04 │ 21
│ qBase V1.0 │1 │ 35.00 │ 04 │ 14
│ Copyright 1989 │1 │ 12.00 │ 05 │ 05
│ Santa Clarita SoftWorks │1 │ 35.00 │ 05 │ 19
│ ----------------------- │1 │ 22.00 │ 05 │ 12
│ * Print Features Menu * │1 │ 29.00 │ 05 │ 26
│ Set Margins │1 │ 14.00 │ 05 │ 31
│ Set Page Length │ │ │ │
│ Set Condensed Print On │ │ │ │
│ Start Printing (LPT1) │ │ │ │
│ Return to qBase │ │ │ │
└──────────────────────────┘ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
TIMECARD.DBF Browse Module F7 - Print Report ESC- Return
If printing is requested, the printer should be set on for
continuous feed. The screen will remain in the inquiry mode of
qBase.
Some additional information about printing with qBase. This program
is designed to be formatted by the user. Custom formats should fit within
the media and printer limitations. Margins, page lengths, and condense
printing should be set together to present the optimal report output. qBase
has been developed and tested on conventional dot matrix and laser
printers with consistent results. Printing formats have been designed to
be "best fit", meaning, to get the most information in the least space
with the best appearance.
To return from the inquiry record screen, hit the ESC key
and it will return qBase back to the Criteria Selection Menu (Figure 4).
From this point, the user may start over with different criteria
selections using the cursor keys switching between the other menus.
Page 9
4. qBase, Version 1.1
Scheduled to be release in June 1990, Version 1.1 of qBase will
incorporate many new added features. A short list of key additions are:
a) Editing Mode - the user will be able to edit the data file after
the query has been reported.
b) Global Replacements on a Query - find all records that
meet a condition or set of conditions, replace that query field's
data range with a new value.
c) Multiple Database Files - find a condition for the two tables
with a common field.
d) Print to File - ASCII file with a .TXT extension
e) Selection of Printer Ports - LPT1, LPT2, and COM1.
f) Access .DBF files from any directory or drive.
g) Increased Number of Fields for Printing - Currently 11 is max.
5. Registration
qBase V1.0 is released under the shareware concept. If you find
continual use to be a habit, registration and $25.00 is requested.
Santa Clarita SoftWorks
attn: RJ Matthews
P.O. Box 2664
Santa Clarita CA 91380-2664
Registered users will receive Version 1.1 of qBase for a $10.00 upgrade
version charge.
This program is provided AS IS without any warranty, expressed or
implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose.
Santa Clarita SoftWorks hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this
product, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Santa Clarita
SoftWorks cannot and will not be liable for any special, incidental,
consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any
other reason, even if Santa Clarita SoftWorks or an authorized
Santa Clarita SoftWorks agent has been advised of the possibility of
such damages. In no event shall the liability for any damages ever exceed
the price paid for the license to use software, regardless of the form
and/or extent of the claim. The user of this program bears all risk as to
the quality and performance of the software.
qBase is a Shareware product. As such, it is made available to
the general computing public for evaluation. Users are licensed to
operate qBase on their personal computers for the purpose of test
and evaluation on a trial basis for a limited trial period. It is not
possible to reasonably define any definitive limits of a fair and
equitable time period for evaluation, therefore it is left to the user's
judgement and sense of fair play as to the time required to make a
decision as to its usefulness. If the user decides the program is not
of sufficient merit to warrant purchase through registration with Santa
Clarita SoftWorks, the program should be removed from their personal computer.
Otherwise, if the program is deemed useful and is in regular use on the
user's personal computer system, registration with Santa Clarita SoftWorks
is required.
Page 10