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DBEditor Version 1.0 Documentation
DBEditor was created to allow quick and easy modifications to any
dBase format Database. Of course, no utility would by any good if
it didn't allow you to Import and Export data from standard formats
(Comma Delimited, CR/LF Delimited and Fixed Length). DBEditor was
designed to be simple to use and is therefore menu driven. I could
have made the program flashy, but I choose functional instead.
The following pages are a brief outline of the program functions:
Keys: [Enter] means the ENTER or RETURN key on your keyboard.
[Esc] means the ESCAPE key.
[Up], [Down], [Left] & [Right] refer to the ARROW keys.
[Insert] means the INSERT or INS key on your keyboard.
[Delete] means the DELETE or DEL key.
[Home] refers to the HOME key.
[End] means the END key.
[PgUp] & [PgDn] refer to PAGE UP (PGUP) and PAGE DOWN (PGDN).
[Space] means the SPACE BAR.
1.0 - Check / Modify a Database.
Functions to Convert data to Proper Case, Check for
duplicates, Remove Bad and/or Empty Records and Convert LF/CR
pair to a CR/LF pair (standard format).
1.1 - Convert to Proper Case.
Proper Case is the normal means that we view certain
text. That is, the first character of every word is
Upper case as in:
This Is Proper Case. It Is Good For Names,
Addresses, Etc.
DBEditor is a smart program in that it converts names
such as:
bobby mcfarren
to:
Bobby McFarren
DBeditor is a perfect tool for address lists, and
customer databases.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Finally, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of
fields. A picklist is a list of items from which a
sub-group can be selected. Select the fields you want
to use by pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
DBEditor will now begin converting the selected fields
to proper case. A status box will be displayed showing
the percentage of completion. At or near 100%, the
program will stop briefly to close the open files and
clean up it's mess. This brief pause is normal.
1.2 - Check for Duplicates.
In every database, there is the likelyhood of
duplicates. Many times in customer databases, these
duplicates are disguised by misspelling or garbage in
the data. DBEditor solves this problem by allowing you
to compare records against your specific fields by
actual data or by the 'sound' of the data.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
Now, you will be presented with several "Message
Boxes". Message Boxes are informational windows that
allow you to choose an option (or sometimes simply
acknowledge the message) by "pressing" or selecting a
"button". Using your right and left arrow keys as well
as the right and left Tab keys, you can highlight one of
the small boxes containing the responses. Press [Enter]
to select your desired choice or [Esc] to abort.
Your first message box will prompt you to compare based
on the "sound" of the selected fields. That is, "Smith"
versus "Smythe".
Next, you will be asked if you wish to delete
(permanently remove) the second duplicate record. I
recommend that you delete records only after first
viewing them. In this way you can be sure that you
haven't deleted any wanted records.
Then, you will be prompted to print a list of the
duplicates as they are found. Answering "Yes" will
allow you to select the fields you wish to print. When
the list is printed, each record will include it's
record number. This allows you to manually delete or
edit the records through the 'Browse / Edit Data' option.
DBEditor will now begin comparing the selected fields
for duplicates. First an Index based on the selected
fields will be built, the the comparison will take
place. A status box will be displayed showing the
percentage of completion. At or near 100%, the program
will stop briefly to close the open files and clean up
it's mess. This brief pause is normal.
1.3 - Remove Bad / Empty Records.
Bad and/or Empty records are records that have garbage
in them or have empty key fields. Records like this in
a database often times cost a great deal to keep.
DBEditor allows you to pinpoint bad and/or empty records
and (optionally) remove them.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
After selecting the fields to use, you will be prompted
for a list of the characters that designate a 'Bad'
record. Generally, these characters include:
~`!@#$%^&*()_-+={}[]\|:";'<>?/
Now, you will be presented with several "Message
Boxes". Message Boxes are informational windows that
allow you to choose an option (or sometimes simply
acknowledge the message) by "pressing" or selecting a
"button". Using your right and left arrow keys as well
as the right and left Tab keys, you can highlight one of
the small boxes containing the responses. Press [Enter]
to select your desired choice or [Esc] to abort.
Next, you will be asked if you wish to delete
(permanently remove) the Bad / Empty records. I
recommend that you delete records only after first
viewing them. In this way you can be sure that you
haven't deleted any wanted records.
Then, you will be prompted to print a list of the
records as they are found. Answering "Yes" will
allow you to select the fields you wish to print. When
the list is printed, each record will include it's
record number. This allows you to manually delete or
edit the records through the 'Browse / Edit Data' option.
DBEditor will now begin comparing the selected fields
against the list of bad characters you entered earlier
and checking to make sure there is even data in the
field. A status box will be displayed showing the
percentage of completion. At or near 100%, the program
will stop briefly to close the open files and clean up
it's mess. This brief pause is normal.
1.4 - Convert LF/CR to CR/LF.
This function is little used and little needed. It
would not even be here were it not for the fact that one
of my good friends ran into this strange problem using
this program. It seems that files with records that
terminate in a LineFeed/Carriage Return (LF/CR) pair
will not be imported into a DBF properly. To solve this
problem, the LF/CR conversion function was created.
(Import will automatically call this function when needed.)
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the data file drive and directory. Enter the location of
the files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of files.
Highlight the file you wish to use and press [Enter] or
press [Esc] to abort the process.
DBEditor will now begin converting the LF/CR pairs found
in the file to CR/LF pairs. A status box will be
displayed showing the percentage of completion. At or
near 100%, the program will stop briefly to close the
open files and clean up it's mess. This brief pause is
normal.
2.0 - Browse / Edit Data
After comparing or modifying a database, you may want to view
and/or edit the data. The Browse/Edit function will allow you
to do just that. It shows you fifteen records at a time, and
will allow you to view the data left and right. Valid
keystrokes are:
[F1] = Help
[F2] = Find a Record
[F3] = Goto a Record
[Up/Down] = Move Up/Down 1 row
[Left/Right] = Move Left/Right 1 col.
[PgUp/PgDn] = Move up/down one Page
[Home] = Move to Left column
[End] = Move to Right column
[Insert] = Insert a Blank Record
[Delete] = Delete Current Record
[Ctrl-Left] = Move display left
[Ctrl-Right] = Move display right
[Ctrl-PgUp] = Move to top of file
[Ctrl-PgDn] = Move to Bottom of file
[Ctrl-Home] = Move to first column
[Ctrl-End] = Move to last column
any other key= Data input.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for the
database drive and directory. Enter the location of the DBF
files or press [Enter] to accept the default. [Esc] aborts
the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files (files with
the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file you wish to use and
press [Enter] or press [Esc] to abort the process.
The Browse/Edit Screen will the be displayed.
3.0 - Import / Export Data.
What database utility would be complete with out the ability
to import and export data? And, of course, we must have all
the standard formats:
Comma Delimited,
Carriage Return/Linefeed Delimited &
Fixed Length
3.1 - Import Data from ASCII.
An ASCII file is one of the standard formats listed
above. DBEditor will convert the selected file into a
dBase format for processing.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the data file drive and directory. Enter the location of
the files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of files.
Highlight the file you wish to use and press [Enter] or
press [Esc] to abort the process.
Now you must tell DBEditor what kind of file this is
that you are attempting to convert. Select "Delimited"
if the file is a Comma or CR/LF delimited file or "Fixed
Length" if the file is a fixed length file. If the file
is delimited, you will prompted for the type of
delimiters being used (Commas or CR/LF).
You now have the choice of using an existing DBF file or
creating a new one. If you create a new file, you must
know the structure of the file. That is, you must know
the Field Names, types, and lengths.
If you choose to use an existing file, you will then be
prompted for the database drive and directory. Enter
the location of the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept
the default. [Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of the existing
DBF files (files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight
the file you wish to use and press [Enter] or press
[Esc] to abort the process.
If you choose to create a new DBF file, you will be
prompted for the name of the file. You will the be
presented with a screen similiar to the Browse / Edit
screen where you can create the structure of your
database.
Valid Field Names can contain any letter (A-Z), any
number (0-9, except as the first character) and an
underscore (_). DBEditor will beep at you if the
character you are trying to enter is not the one it
expects.
Valid Field Types are "C" for character string, "N" for
number, "L" for logical (TRUE or FALSE) and "D" for date.
Valid lengths are from 1 to 999 characters. (Dates and
Logicals are set at 8 characters and 1 character
respectively.)
Valid decimal places are from 0 to 9. (Character
Strings, Dates and Logicals are set at 0 automatically.)
After you have completed entering the structure of the
database, DBEditor will prompt you to save the structure
and begin importing the data.
DBEditor will now begin importing the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
3.2 - Export Data to ASCII.
An ASCII file is one of the standard formats listed
above. DBEditor will convert the selected file DBF out
to a the selected format.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
Now you must tell DBEditor what kind of file this is
that you are attempting to convert. Select "Delimited"
to convert to a Comma delimited file or "Fixed Length"
to convert to a fixed length file.
Finally, you must tell DBEditor where to put the data.
The program will default to "OUTPUT.TXT", but you may
enter any valid DOS file name.
DBEditor will now begin exporting the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
3.3 - Merge to Databases.
Merging to databases allows you to bring data stored in
one file into another. This means you can bring two
files of slightly different formats together based on
the fields of the same name.
After selecting this option, you will be warned that
only fields with the same names will be saved. That is,
fields in the second file that have names that match
fields in the first file will be brought into the first
file. Select "Continue" if you really want this process
to take place.
If you choose to continue, you will be prompted for the
database drive and directory to gather data from.
Enter the location of the DBF files or press [Enter] to
accept the default. [Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
You will then be prompted for the database drive and
directory to Merge data into. Enter the location of the
DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default. [Esc]
aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
DBEditor will now begin merging the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
4.0 - Database Utilities.
Database utilities are a group of utilities to manipulate an
existing database. These utilities include Sorting, Indexing,
Deleting Records, Printing Records and Editing a DBF Structure.
4.1 - Sort Database to a File.
Sorting a Database allows you to view your data in
another light without disturbing the original file.
DBEditor will allow you to sort your data on any field
or group of fields in the database.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
DBEditor will now begin sorting the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
4.2 - Create Database Index
Indexing a Database allows you to view your data in
another light without disturbing the original file.
Like sorting, DBEditor will allow you to index your data
on any field or group of fields in the database. The
difference between sorting and indexing is that an
indexed file requires the original DBF to be useful.
Any changes made to the original file while the index is
not present will not take place in the index. Indexes,
however, are generally much smaller than the original
file and can be created much more quickly.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
DBEditor will now begin sorting the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
4.3 - Deleting Records from a DBF
This function allows you to globally delete records from
your database. The function uses a standard dBase
DELETE clause requiring a logical (TRUE or FALSE)
operator.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
You will now be prompted to Delete ALL the records from
the database or some of them. Selecting ALL records
will return you to the menu after permanently removing
ALL the records.
If you choose not to delete ALL the records (the
default), you will be prompted for a Logical Condition.
Examples of valid logical conditions are:
RECNO() > 0
RTRIM(field) <> ""
field = DATE()
.NOT. DELETED()
Logical operators are:
=, <>, >, >=, <=, .and., .or., .not.
Valid Functions are:
CTOD("mm/dd/yy") returns a valid date
DATE_ON < CTOD("01/01/90")
DATE() returns todays date
DATE_ON = DATE()
DELETED() returns TRUE if a record is deleted
DELETED()
EMPTY(<field>) returns TRUE if a field is empty.
EMPTY(LNAME)
INSTR(<s1>,<s2>) returns TRUE if s1 is in s2
INSTR(STATUS, "ABCDE")
LOWER(<string>) returns lower case string
LOWER(SAL) = "mr."
LTRIM(<string>) returns a Left Trimed String
LTRIM(SAL) == ""
MAX(<n1>, <n2>) returns max of n1 and n2
MAX(AGE, USES) > 5
MIN(<n1>, <n2>) returns min of n1 and n2
MIN(AGE, USES) < 5
RECNO() returns current record number
RECNO() > 5 .and. RECNO < 10
RTRIM(<string>) returns a Right Trimed String
RTRIM(LNAME) == ""
SUBSTR(<str>, <start>, <length>)
returns string starting at start and
taking the next length characters
SUBSTR(SAL, 1, 2) = "MR"
UPPER(<string>) returns UPPER case String
UPPER(SAL) = "MR."
DBEditor will now begin sorting the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
4.4 - Print Records from a DBF.
This function allows you to print a listing of the
records in your database. Using this function, you can
get a complete listing of selected fields in your
database including record numbers.
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
Then, you will be prompted with a "Picklist" of fields.
A picklist is a list of items from which a sub-group can
be selected. Select the fields you want to use by
pressing [Space] on the Highlighted field.
DBEditor will now begin printing the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
4.5 - Edit Database Structure
Often times, when using a database, we find the need to
modify the structure of the file. One of the big
problems has always been moving the data around.
DBEditor will place data with matching field names in
their proper places, and, if there is no match, DBEditor
will attempt to place the data back in the same logical
position (data from field #3 goes back into field #3) if
the field types are the same (field #3 was and still is
a character field).
After selecting this option, you will be prompted for
the database drive and directory. Enter the location of
the DBF files or press [Enter] to accept the default.
[Esc] aborts the process.
Next you will be prompted with a list of DBF files
(files with the extension ".DBF"). Highlight the file
you wish to use and press [Enter] or press [Esc] to
abort the process.
You will the be presented with a screen similiar to the
Browse / Edit screen where you can edit the structure
of your database.
Valid Field Names can contain any letter (A-Z), any
number (0-9, except as the first character) and an
underscore (_). DBEditor will beep at you if the
character you are trying to enter is not the one it
expects.
Valid Field Types are "C" for character string, "N" for
number, "L" for logical (TRUE or FALSE) and "D" for date.
Valid lengths are from 1 to 999 characters. (Dates and
Logicals are set at 8 characters and 1 character
respectively.)
Valid decimal places are from 0 to 9. (Character
Strings, Dates and Logicals are set at 0 automatically.)
After you have completed entering the structure of the
database, DBEditor will prompt you to save the structure
and begin copying the old data.
DBEditor will now begin copying the data. A status
box will be displayed showing the percentage of
completion. At or near 100%, the program will stop
briefly to close the open files and clean up it's mess.
This brief pause is normal.
5.0 - Change DB Editor Colors.
Color is one of the many wonders of computers. Today, we like
to see things in bigger, brighter, bolder colors. With DB
Editor, you select your own colors.
Selecting this option will present you with a group of small
windows with labels. To the right you will see a menu.
Highlight the window you want to change, and press [Enter].
Your menu will change to the FOREGROUND Color Menu. Highlight
the color selection (as you move between colors, the window
color will change). Press [Enter] if you are finished
changing this windows color, or press [Tab] to change the
BACKGROUND color.
Your menu will change to the BACKGROUND Color Menu. Highlight
the color selection (as you move between colors, the window
color will change). Press [Enter] if you are finished
changing this windows color, or press [Tab] to change the
FOREGROUND color.
When finished changing colors, press [Esc] to return to the
main menu.
Note: From any menu except the main menu, [Esc] will always back you
up to the previous menu. Any errors that occur will be
displayed in a message box and, unless you have encountered
this error before the main menu, you will be returned to the
main menu.
I hope you find DBEditor useful. If so, please send $25.00
(check or money order) to:
Tim Beck
251 Douglas Drive, #161
Oceanside, CA. 92054-7838
Registered users will also receive free updates, a printed
manual and other helpful utilities. (Postage of $1.50 will be
charged for updates)
-- // End of Documentation // --