Otherware/Otherware_1_SB_Development.iso/amiga/misc/comixbas.lha/Comix/CB250.DOC

Text File | 1992-06-14 | 12.6 KB | 287 lines

                               Comixbase 2.50
                                    by
                               Terence Russell

                           [e-mail]
                          [e-mail]

What is Comixbase?
==================
    Comixbase is a custom database for small comic collections (max 65535).
    It requires Workbench V36 or greater (Thats WB 2.0 to you and me).
    (If you're still using WB 1.3 or lower ... GET A LIFE! :-)
    (Included in the archive is a sample Comixbase database. This is included
     to give you an idea of how the database could be setup. To start your
     own database run the program CBI101).

Legal Crap
==========
    At the very end of this text where it belongs!

What are Cbase's features?
==========================
         * 65535 maximum comic collection size.
         * 3500 maximum number of text strings in each text category.
           (Based on an average of 20 characters per string.)
         * Sort by Title (prime key) and Issue (secondary key).
         * Generate compact report:
            eg Action: 10-24,45,48,111-113
         * Reports the collection size and value.
         * Keep track of 9 artists in 3 fields: Writer, Penciller, Inker.
         * Two note strings for detailed information on a comic.
         * 6 line buffers to reduce entering repetitive data.
         * Fully Intuitionized interface.

    For each comic the following information is stored in various data fields:

    * Title
    * Publisher
    * Special (IE: Annual, Summer, Limited, Gfx Novel)
    * Note (This field is meant to be used for anything however I use it
        for the odd comic which may need an extra description.
        IE: Silver edition/bagged/Spidey UPC).
    * 9 artist fields which breaks down into 3 Writer fields, 3 Pencilers,
        and 3 Inker fields.
    * All of the above mentioned fields may be up to 40 characters in length.
    * Issue (This field includes the issue number as well as the number
        of copies of this comic which are owned up to 31).
    * Date (This field is divided into 3 parts: Time In The Month, Month,
        and Year. Time In The Month can be 1 of 3 words, "early, mid, or late",
        and can be excluded. The Month part is the first 3 letters of a
        month and can be excluded only if the Time In The Month field has been
        excluded. The Year part must be present and is a value from 1900 to
        2155. You may enter the year as a value from 0 to 255, but a value of
        1900 is added to that.)
    * Value (This field holds a dollar value from 0.00 to 655.35. Obviously
        I'm using a 2 byte fixed point representation.)

    All of the above fields add up to quite a bit of information for each
    comic and using a general database which contains all those fields, you
    would end up with some huge data files. In fact I originally used
    Superbase Personal (TM) and found that when I wanted to add the 9 artist
    fields the data files blew up from 50K to 140K. The database also became
    quite slow (even running from a ram drive). When I created this program
    (circa Feb. 91) and moved all the information over to this format that
    140K file shrunk down to 45K.
    (How that was achived will be explained in another text.)

What about functions?
=====================
    Currently (2.50) the database has 4 main functions (one of which I would
    like to make hidden and automatic, but would also like to add a function
     which is currently supported by an external file.):

    * First and quickest of the functions is [Total Value]. This function
      quickly goes through the entire list counting the number of comics and
      adding up their values. This function takes into account duplicates.

    * Second is the [Issue Report] function which creates an ascii formatted
      Report file on the RAM: drive. It is a Title/Issue report for the
      entire database and has the following format:
          Action Comics: 444-450,461,475-490,492,494
          Dark Horse Presents: 30-47,49
          etc.
      It only shows you what you have in terms of runs on each title.
      (This of course can be easily expanded in the near future.)

    * Third is a Sort function which will put the database into a Title/Issue
      order and will update the index. This is used after each session of
      adding new comics. (I will soon make this an automatic function.)

    * Finally the largest and most important function is Edit.
      This function allows you to do detailed editing of individual comics.
      Here is where you will add new comics, delete comics no longer in your
      collection, and edit old comics to reflect new prices or whatever.

Using the Edit function.
========================
    Within the editor you may do 3 things, movement through records, record
    editing, and record deletion.

    Movement
    ========
        There are 3 types of movement in Comixbase:

        * First is single stepping using '-' and '+' or their gadget equivalents
          of '-prv' and 'nxt+'. Single stepping allows the user to move to
          the next or previous comic record.

        * Second is title jumping using the left and right arrow keys or
          the gadgets labelled '<<--' and '-->>'. This allows the user to
          quickly move to the first or last issue of the next or previous
          title.

        * Third is the specific Title/Issue search using 'f' or the gadget
          labelled 'Find'. This movement asks the user for the title to
          search for and an issue number to stop at.
          The title can be wild carded so that "j*l*eur*" will find in my
          collection the title "Justice League Europe".
          The program will stop at the issue number given by the user if it
          finds a match, or will stop at the issue number which is closest
          to it.

    Editing
    =======
        Editing itself breaks down into 3 types:

        * First is a Straight edit of the currently displayed comic.
          With the Straight edit you simply change the field data of this
          comic record. This is useful for updating the comic's value.

        * Second is the Copy edit which allows you to create a copy of
          the currently displayed comic and then save it as a totally new
          comic. This is very useful when adding a comic to the collection
          which has data that is found in another comic. (This cuts down on
          your typing.) Typically this would be used when you have (for
          example) Flash 47 and you want to add to the database Flash 48,
          all you would have to do is copy Flash 47 and make some minor
          changes and then save it as Flash 48.

        * Third is the New edit which clears all fields and allows you to
          start with a clean slate (so to speak). Once you've added all the
          data for this new comic simply save it and there will be a new
          comic record in the database.

        --- STARTING AN EDIT MODE ---
        You may go into any one of these three editing modes by selecting
        the appropriate gadget or by pressing 'e', 'c', or 'n' on the
        keyboard. Another way to start up the Straight editing mode is by
        moving the mouse over top the comic record and clicking the left
        button.

        --- CURSOR MOVEMENTS ---
        Once in either of the three modes you may move the cursor around
        by using the arrow keys, the return key, or by pointing and clicking
        with the mouse. The cursor will not appear in an area where there is
        no data (with the exception being the very end of the data in a data
        field.)

        --- FINISHING AN EDIT MODE ---
        To save any changes or to save a new comic record click on the "Save"
        gadget or press "Ctrl S". To escape without making any changes from
        the edit modes click on the "eXit" gadget or press the ESCape key.

        --- DELETING CHARACTERS ---
        The backspace key deletes to the left of the cursor.
        The Del key deletes under the cursor and to the right.

        --- CHANGING A FIELDS DATA ---
        If you make a change to a field you must press the return key after
        you are done with that field. This is to let the program know
        that it must update database with regard to that field.
        (You do not have to do this if you selected the New editing mode.)

* * * * --- USING THE EDITING MODE BUFFERS ---
        With the editing mode buffers you may store or retrieve the data
        for an entire field. There are 6 buffers and initially they are empty
        and represented by the string '----'. When a buffer contains data it
        is represented by the string 'data'. To find out what is stored in a
        buffer simply click on it and its contents will be displayed.

        --- STORING DATA INTO A BUFFER ---
        To store a field's data in a buffer, first position the cursor on the
        field you wish to store. Next click on the 'Stor' gadget and then
        click on any one of the six buffers where you would like to store the
        information.

        If the buffer was previously empty it's text will change from '----'
        to 'data' and the data which was stored in that buffer will be
        displayed. If the buffer previously contained data, that data will
        have been wiped out and replaced by the new data.

        --- CLEARING A BUFFER ---
        If you store a blank or empty field (one containing nothing, not even
        space characters) in a buffer which contains data, that buffer will
        be emptied and the text 'data' with be replaced by '----'.

        --- RETRIEVING DATA FROM A BUFFER ---
        To retrieve data from a buffer, position the cursor anywhere on the
        field where you would like to copy the buffers data and then click on
        the 'Rtrv' gadget, the cursor will disappear. Next click on the
        buffer containing the data you wish to retrieve. The data will have
        been copied to the field.
        (Remember to save the comic record once you are done with it.)

        --- NON-RETENTION OF BUFFER DATA ---
        The buffers will only retain their data while you are using the
        Edit FUNCTION. If you exit to the main menu and then use the Edit
        FUNCTION again the buffers will all be empty.

        --- CANCELING A BUFFER OPERATION ---
        At anytime during either a store or retrieve operation if you would
        like to cancel that operation, simply click on some place within
        Comixbase's window and if the cursor reappears the operation has
        been aborted.

    Record Deletion
    ===============
        To remove a comic record from the database (either because you no
        longer have the comic or the record was added by accident) press 'd'
        or click on the gadget 'Del'. The program will then ask you if you
        really want to delete the comic. Press 'y' or 'n', or click on the
        'Y' or 'N' gadgets.

        The comic data is not really removed from the database, its just made
        inaccessable to you the user. The reason for this is because removing
        immediately would require creating new database data files. Instead
        that task is left for the restructuring program CBR164 (current).
        (In the near future I want to incorporate CBR into Comixbase as a
         main menu function.)

Miscellaneous
=============

    * The program adjusts its display window upon starting up for the system
      font (the menu bar font).
    * The program will attempt to use for its main font the 8 point font
      called System. If this font is not available it will default to
      the ROM font Topaz 8.
      This font can be found in the COMIX directory. To install it in your
      FONTS: directory, copy it from the command line with the command:

        copy sys#? to fonts:

    * In an 8 colour (3 bitplane) environment the program makes use of one
      extra pen. The default colour of this pen may make the text
      unreadable. In that case the colour I use is a pastel yellow which
      looks quite nice.
    * I would like to add menus, default settings, non-english language
      support, an on-line help mode, more reports, comic record buffering,
      make the restructure program a function of Comixbase, and other
      goodies.

Legal Crap « & ⌐
================
    This program is copyrighted in all but 49 of the 50 American states.
    (The copyright is of course void where prohibited.)

    This program may not be used in anyway by people who are associated with
    creating weapons. (Unless of course the weapons are really destructive!)

    Not in anyway affiliated with BLAZEMONGER Inc. ⌐ Dan Barrett
























    "Thank God!"