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1990-02-17
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MASTERING
dBASE
IV
WITH EASE
QUICK
REFERENCE
MANUAL
THE ULTIMATE TRAINING TUTORIAL FROM: R&D
In less than 2 hours, you will have learned to create, edit,
and print a sophisticated document with dBASE IV. You will
be able to create a data entry form, report, and even your
own application program. R&D's training will even teach
you how to use dBASE IV's powerful command mode. You will be
well on your way to mastering the skills needed to use dBASE IV
with confidence in your professional career.
GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR R&D TRAINING PROGRAM
Getting Prepared
Follow the instructions that came with your
computer to start up your system.
Place your R&D training program diskette
in drive A:
Display the C:> prompt on your screen.
If you are using drive B:
Place your R&D training program diskette in
drive B:
Display the C:> prompt on your screen.
Begin
Type C:> R&D
Don't worry about uppercase or lower case letters.
Press the ENTER key.
In a few moments, a question will appear on your screen
asking you whether or not you have a color monitor. After
you answer the question with a Y or N you will begin
your training.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Displays the value of one or more ?/??
expressions.
Sends output directly to the printer. ???
Displays or accepts information in a specified @@
format at a given set of screen coordinates.
@CLEARS A PORT = Clears a portion of the screen or of @@...CLEAR
the active window.
@...CLEARALLOW = Allows you to change the colors of a @@...FILL
specific rectangular region on your screen or active window.
@...FILLDRAWS = Draws a box on the screen or active @@...TO
window with single lines, double lines, or specified
characters.
@...TOCREATES = Creates a character memory variable ACCEPT
for storage of keyboard entries.
Activates an existing bar menus and displays it for use. ACTIVATE MENU
Activates a previously defined pop-up for use. ACTIVATE POPUP
Restores access to the entire CRT screen. ACTIVATE SCREEN
Activates and displays a defined window from memory and ACTIVATE WINDOW
directs all output to that window.
Allows you to add new records to the end of the active APPEND
database file.
Copies records from an existing file to the end of the APPEND FROM
active database file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Adds record to a database file from information in an array. APPEND FROM ARRAY
Imports a file into a named memo field. APPEND MEMO
Gives you access to dBASE IV's Control Center. ASSIST
Computes the arithmetic mean of numeric expressions. AVERAGE
Starts a transaction, records changes made to a file BEGIN/END
and provides the option to rollback the changes. Also TRANSACTION
ends the transaction an commits the changes.
Full screen, menu assisted mode for editing and BROWSE
appending records in a database file.
Computes financial and statistical functions with your CALCULATE
data.
Allows you to call binary file program modules loaded in CALL
memory.
Stops the execution of a command file, closes all open CANCEL
files and returns to the dot prompt.
Full-screen command to display or change the contents CHANGE
of a record in the active database file.
Erases the screen and repositions the cursor to the lower CLEAR
left-hand corner of the screen.
Used to close alternate, database, format, index and CLOSE
procedure files.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Reads a file containing dBASE IV source code, and COMPILE
creates an executable object code file.
Searches for the next record in the active database CONTINUE
file that meets the condition specified by the most
recent LOCATE command.
Adds a field to a database file's structure which holds CONVERT
information required for multi-user lock detection.
Duplicates all or part of an active database file, COPY
creating a new file.
Creates a duplicate of any file. COPY FILE
Converts a list of index (.ndx) files into file tags COPY INDEXES
in a single .mdx (multiple index) file.
Copies the information from a single memo field to COPY MEMO
another file.
Copies the structure of the active database file to COPY STRUCTURE
a new file, but does not copy any records.
Creates a new database file whose records contain COPY STRUCTURE
the structure of the current file. EXTENDED
Converts multiple index (.mdx) file tags into index COPY TAG
(.ndx) files.
Fills an existing array with the contents of one or COPY TO ARRAY
more records from the active database file.
Tallies the number of records in the active database COUNT
file that match specified conditions.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Allows access to the database file design screen. CREATE or
MODIFY STRUCTURE
Forms a new database file from the structure created with CREATE FROM
the COPY STRUCTURE EXTENDED command.
Builds a view (.vue) file that is compatible with CREATE VIEW FROM
dBASE III PLUS. ENVIRONMENT
Allows access to the dBASE IV Applications Generator. CREATE/MODIFY
APPLICATION
Allows access to the dBASE IV label designer. CREATE/MODIFY LABEL
Allows access to the query design screen. CREATE/MODIFY
QUERY/VIEW
Allows access to the report designer. CREATE/MODIFY
REPORT
Allows access to the forms design screen. CREATE/MODIFY
SCREEN
Deactivates the active bar menu and erases it from DEACTIVATE MENU
the screen, while leaving it in memory.
Erases the active popup menu from the screen while DEACTIVATE POPUP
leaving it intact in memory.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Deactivates specified windows and removes them from the DEACTIVATE WINDOW
screen, without releasing them from memory.
Allows access to the dBASE IV program debugger. DEBUG
Creates one- or two-dimensional arrays of memory variables. DECLARE
Defines a single option in a popup menu. DEFINE BAR
Defines a box to be printed around lines of text. DEFINE BOX
Assigns a name to a bar menu and associates an DEFINE MENU
optional message with the menu name.
Defines a single pad in a bar menu. DEFINE PAD
Defines a pop-up window's name, location, border, DEFINE POPUP
prompts, and message line.
Defines windows, borders and screen colors for windows. DEFINE WINDOW
Marks records in the active database file for deletion. DELETE
Deletes the indicated tags from multiple index (.mdx) DELETE TAG
files and closes index (.ndx) files.
Displays directory information similar to that displayed DIR
by the DOS DIR command.
Similar to the list commands, only displays one screen of DISPLAY
information at a time.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Executes a dBASE command file or procedure. DO
Structured programming command that selects only one DO CASE
course of action from a set of alternatives.
Structured programming command that allows command DO WHILE
statements between it and its associated ENDDO to be
repeated as long as the specified condition is true.
Full-screen command to display or change the contents EDIT
of a record in the active database file.
Causes the printer to advance to the top of the next page. EJECT
Either advances the streaming output to the defined EJECT PAGE
ON PAGE handler on the current page, or to the beginning of
the next page.
Removes a file from the disk directory. ERASE
Copies the open database file to a file format usable by EXPORT
PFS:FILE, dBASE II, Framework II, or RapidFile.
Searches and indexed database file for the first record FIND
with an index key the matches the specified character
string or number.
Identifies a user-defined function within a procedure. FUNCTION
Positions the record pointer to a specified record in GO/GOTO
the active database file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Menu-driven command that provides information about HELP
dBASE IV.
Structured programming command that enables conditional IF
processing of commands.
Creates dBASE IV files from PFS:FILE forms, dBASE II IMPORT
database files, Framework II database and spreadsheet
frames, RapidFile data files and Lotus .WK1 spreadsheets.
Creates and index in which record from a database file are INDEX
ordered.
Used in dBASE programs to prompt a user to enter an INPUT
expression from the keyboard. Data entry is terminated by
using the ENTER key.
Adds a single new record to the database file at the INSERT
current record location.
Creates a new database file by merging specified JOIN
records and fields from two open database files.
Uses a specified label format file designed with LABEL FORM
MODIFY LABEL to print, display or write labels to a
file on disk.
Used to view the contents of a database file in an LIST/DISPLAY
unformatted columnar list.
Displays directory information similar to that LIST/DISPLAY FILES
displayed by the DOS DIR command.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Outputs a list of commands that have been executed and LIST/DISPLAY HISTORY
are stored in the history buffer.
Provides information on how dBASE IV is using the LIST/DISPLAY MEMORY
computer's memory.
Provides information about the current dBASE IV session. LIST/DISPLAY STATUS
Displays the field definitions of the specified database LIST/DISPLAY
file. STRUCTURE
Identifies the workstations currently logged in to LIST/DISPLAY USERS
dBASE IV in a networking environment.
Allows the user to load binary files into memory. LOAD
Searches the active database file for a record that LOCATE
matches a specified condition.
Logs out the current user and sets up a new log-in screen. LOGOUT
dBASE IV full-screen text editor. MODIFY COMMAND/FILE
See CREATE commands. MODIFY
Moves a window to a new location on the screen. MOVE WINDOW
Indicators for comment lines in a program (.prg) file. NOTE/*/&&
Call the execution of a program if an error occurs, the ON ERROR/ESCAPE/KEY
ESC key is pressed, or the <<key label name>> key is
pressed.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Associates a pop-up menu with a pad of a given bar menu. ON PAD
Triggers and action when the streaming output reaches a ON PAGE
particular line on the current page during a ?/?? or
EJECT PAGE command.
Used for error trapping and recovery during full-screen ON READERROR
operations.
Associates an action with a bar menu pad. ON SELECTION PAD
Specifies the command or procedure that executes when a ON SELECTION POPUP
pop-up menu selection is made.
Removes records that are marked for deletion from the PACK
active database file.
Assigns local variable names to data items passed from a PARAMETERS
calling program.
Used to execute macros from the current macro library. PLAY MACRO
Structured programming commands that control a printjob.
PRINTJOB/ENDPRINTJOB
Allows the user to create local memory variables in a PRIVATE
lower-level program with the same names as memory variables
that were created in a calling program.
Identifies the beginning of a subroutine. PROCEDURE
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Creates and maintains security on a dBASE IV system. PROTECT
Designates specified memory variables and array elements PUBLIC
that you can use and alter in any dBASE program or
subprogram.
Closes all open files, terminates the dBASE IV session, QUIT
and returns control to the operating system.
Activates all @...GET's issued since the late CLEAR, READ
CLEAR ALL, CLEAR GETS, or READ command.
Reinstate records that are marked for deletion in the RECALL
active database file.
Rebuilds all active index (.ndx) and multiple index REINDEX
(.mdx) files in the current working area.
Deletes memory variables, opening memory space for other RELEASE
use.
Changes the name of a file. RENAME
Changes the contents of specified fields in the active REPLACE
database file.
Prints information from the active database using a report REPORT FORM
form created by CREATE/MODIFY REPORT.
Removes the integrity tag from a file. RESET
Retrieves and activates memory variables and arrays RESTORE
from a memory file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Restores macros that were saved to the current macro RESTORE MACROS
library.
Restores window definitions from a disk file to memory. RESTORE WINDOW
Works in conjunction with SUSPEND, it causes a RESUME
SUSPENDed program to continue executing.
Re-executes a command sequence that caused an error. RETRY
Restores control to calling programs, the dot prompt RETURN
or the Control Center.
Restores the database and index files to the state ROLLBACK
they were in before the current transaction.
Executes a specified DOS command, or any program RUN/!
which can be executed by DOS, from within dBASE IV.
Stores all or part of the current set of memory SAVE
variables and array elements to a disk file.
Saves the currently defined macros from memory to a SAVE MACROS
disk file.
Saves window definitions to a disk file. SAVE WINDOW
Simplified alternative to the DO WHILE command. SCAN
Searches for the first record in an indexed database file SEEK
with a key that matches a specified expression.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Used to choose a work area in which to open a database SELECT
file.
Displays a bar menu without activating it. SHOW MENU
Displays a pop-up menu without activating it. SHOW POPUP
Moves the record pointer forward or backward in a SKIP
database file.
Creates a new database file in which the records of SORT
the active database file are positioned in the ASCII
order of the specified key fields.
Initializes one or more memory variables after creating STORE
them.
Totals numeric expressions to memory variables or arrays. SUM
Debugging command to interrupt a running program. SUSPEND
Outputs blocks of text to the screen or printer. TEXT
Sums the numeric fields of the active database file TOTAL
and creates a second database file to hold the results.
Displays the contents of an ASCII text file. TYPE
Release record and file locks so that other users can UNLOCK
modify data.
Uses data from another database file to replace fields UPDATE
in the current database file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Opens an existing database file, and may open .mdx USE
and .ndx index files.
Causes all dBASE IV processing to pause until any key is WAIT
pressed.
Removes all records from the active database file. ZAP
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Records all output other than that of full-screen SET ALTERNATE
commands to a text file.
Saves each record to the disk after a single I/O operation. SET AUTOSAVE
Turns the bell off or on, and sets its frequency and SET BELL
duration.
Changes the default blocksize of memo fields and SET BLOCKSIZE
multiple (.mdx) files.
Changes the default border of menus, windows, SET BORDER
and @ commands from a single-line box to several other
user defined border characters.
Updates all fields, or only specified fields, SET CARRY
depending on the syntax used.
Used to create or open a catalog file. SET CATALOG
Allows the input and display of century prefixes in SET CENTURY
the year portion of dates.
Controls the display and screen position of the SET CLOCK
system clock.
Allows the selection of colors and display attributes SET COLOR
for use on color and monochrome monitors.
Determines cursor movement at the end of an array field. SET CONFIRM
Turns the screen display on and off from within a program. SET CONSOLE
Changes the symbol used for currency. SET CURRENCY
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Changes the position of the currency symbol from the SET CURRENCY
left of the currency amount to the right of the currency LEFT/RIGHT
amount.
Determines the format for date displays. SET DATE
Tool for locating errors in a program. SET DEBUG
Determines the number of decimal places dBASE IV SET DECIMALS
displays for the results of numeric functions and
calculations.
Allows the user to select the drive where all operations SET DEFAULT
take place and all files are stored.
Determines whether records that are marked for deletion SET DELETED
are included or ignored by other dBASE IV commands.
Determines how field widths are indicated in the SET DELIMITERS
full-screen mode.
Prevents transfers to design mode from the dot prompt or SET DESIGN
from the Control Center.
Activates a checking program in dBASE IV which compares SET DEVELOPMENT
thecreation dates of the compiled object (.obj) file with its
program source (.prg) file.
Determines whether @...Say commands are routed to the SET DEVICE
screen, printer, or a file.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Selects between a monochrome and a color monitor, SET DISPLAY
and determines the number of lines displayed.
Retained in dBASE IV for compatibility with SET DOHISTORY
dBASE III PLUS.
Displays command lines from dBASE IV programs on the SET ECHO
screen and/or printer as they are executed.
Establishes whether a newly created database file is SET ENCRYPTION
encrypted if PROTECT is used.
Lets you halt the processing of a dBASE IV program by SET ESCAPE
pressing the ESC key.
Determines whether a comparison between two character SET EXACT
strings requires the strings to be the same length.
Allows a user to open a database file on a multi-user SET EXCLUSIVE
system for exclusive use.
Defines a list of fields that may be accessed by one SET FIELDS
or more files.
Allows display of only those records of a database SET FILTER
that meet a specified condition.
Retained in dBASE IV for compatibility with SET FIXED
dBASE III PLUS.
Allows a form to be used with the READ, EDIT, SET FORMAT
APPEND, INSERT, CHANGE, or BROWSE commands.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Makes dBASE III PLUS programs that contain the SET FULLPATH
functions MDX(), NDX(), and DBF() dBASE IV compatible by
suppressing the display of the full pathname.
Used to program a function key. SET FUNCTION
Determines whether or not column titles are shown SET HEADING
above each field for LIST, DISPLAY SUM and AVERAGE.
Determines whether a pop-up window with dBASE IV SET HELP
Help options appears, when a command is incorrectly
entered at the dot prompt.
Stores executed commands in a history buffer. SET HISTORY
Changes the time display to either a 12-hour or SET HOURS
24-hour clock.
Opens the specified index files, both index (.ndx) SET INDEX
and multiple index (.mdx).
Enables the display of prompts. SET INSTRUCT
Determines whether the enhanced screen attribute is SET INTENSITY
used for full-screen operations.
Determines whether a lock is applied to records in SET LOCK
multi-user systems.
Adjusts the printer offset for the left margin for all SET MARGIN
printed output. Does not affect video display.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Changes the delimiter character used to separate the SET MARK
month, day and year in the date display.
Adjusts the width of memo field output. SET MEMOWIDTH
Used for dBASE III PLUS only. SET MENU
Displays a user-defined character string on the SET MESSAGE
bottom line of the screen is SET STATUS is on.
Positions the database file to the record immediately SET NEAR
following the potential location of the sought-after
key in that file.
Defines the update interval of the record counter for SET ODOMETER
commands that display a record count.
Sets up any open index file or tag as the master index. SET ORDER
Specifies the directory search route that dBASE IV SET PATH
follows to find files that are not included in the
current directory.
Controls the display of the SQL SELECT command, and SET PAUSE
stops the display of data after each command.
Changes the character used for the decimal point. SET POINT
Determines the number of digits that dBASE IV uses SET PRECISION
internally in all math operations the use type N numbers.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Directs all output not formatted with the @...Say SET PRINTER
command to the printer or to a file.
Opens a named procedure file. SET PROCEDURE
Specifies the time interval between file checks on a SET REFRESH
network.
Links two open database files according to a key SET RELATION
expression that is common to both files.
Sets the number of times dBASE IV tries a network file or SET REPROCESS
record lock command before producing an error message.
Prevents the unintentional overwriting of an existing file. SET SAFETY
If SET SCOREBOARD is on and SET STATUS is off, SET SCOREBOARD
display toggles for Num, Ins, Del and Caps on line 0 of
the screen.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Changes the symbol used for the numeric separator from SET SEPARATOR
the comma to a specified character.
Allow access to all records in linked files that match a SET SKIP
particular key.
Lets the ? and ?? commands print a space between the SET SPACE
printed expressions.
Activates the interactive SQL mode in dBASE IV. SET SQL
Determines whether the status bar is displayed at the SET STATUS
bottom of the screen.
Halts the execution of a program after each instruction. SET STEP
Determines whether the response to certain dBASE IV SET TALK
commands is displayed.
Turns the catalog file title prompt on and off. SET TITLE
Activates the debugger when a error occurs in a SET TRAP
program or ESC is pressed.
Specifies the size of the type-ahead buffer. SET TYPEAHEAD
Determines whether all records with the same key value SET UNIQUE
are included in the index (.ndx) or the multiple
index (.mdx) file.
Performs a query created in the Control Center or from SET VIEW
the dot prompt.
Sets a default window that allows you to edit a memo SET WINDOW
field within this default window.