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README.DOC
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1992-01-14
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5KB
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94 lines
Welcome to FishBase ][!
This new version (v2.7) of FishBase ][ has many new features. Four new
fields have been added to the fish form. They are TIME, TIDE, and two
additional COMMENT lines. These changes were made at the request of many
registered users. Because of the changes, old data base files created with
versions of FishBase ][ prior to version 2.5 are no longer compatible.
There is a program on this disk that will update any old FishBase data base
files to make them compatible with versions 2.5 and up. The program is called
CONVFB.EXE and is fast and easy to use. One other problem arises because of
the addition of these four new fields. A 360k floppy disk will now hold
only about 640 fish forms instead of the original 800.
To get FishBase up and running on your machine, insert the distribution
floppy disk into your A: disk drive and type "A:install" (without the
quotes) while the C:> prompt is displayed. This is only necessary if you
are running off a hard disk. Floppy disk users can simply type FB to start
the program.
Once the installation process is finished, the INSTALL program will
automatically start FishBase running for you. The next time, all you need
to do to run the program is type FB2.
Converting Old FishBase data base files:
If you have any FishBase data base files that were created with versions of
FishBase prior to v2.5, you need to convert them to the new file format. If
you're using a hard disk, first make sure you are in the FBASE directory,
and that the files you want to convert are there too. Then type CONVFB. You
will then be asked to enter the drive letter of the disk drive where your
FishBase data base files are located. Enter the letter of the disk drive
(A:, B:, C: etc.). Next, you will be asked for a destination disk drive
where you want the newly converted data base file to be written. Enter the
letter for your destination disk drive (A:, B:, C: etc.). After specifying
the SOURCE and DESTINATION disk drives, a list of data base files
(those with the .DAT file extension) will appear on your screen. Use the
UP/DOWN arrow keys to move the pointer to the file you want to convert, then
press ENTER. The conversion program will save a copy of your original data
base under the same name but with the files extension .OLD on your
destination disk drive. It is suggested that you keep these .OLD files until
you are sure that everything is working properly. The newly converted files
will be about 38% bigger than their .OLD counterparts, so be sure there is
enough disk space available on your destination drive.
If your FishBase data base files are on floppy disks, the same conversion
method described above will work, except that you will need to more careful
to insure that the destination drive can hold the larger converted files.
Insert the distribution diskette into drive A: and type CONVFB to run the
conversion program. Once the program starts, remove the distribution disk and
insert your disk containing the data base file you want to convert. When asked
for a SOURCE drive, enter A:. If you have a second floppy drive, enter B: for
a DESTINATION drive. You can also specify your hard disk as the destination
drive. If you only have a single floppy system, with no hard drive, you can
still convert your files if they are small enough. You can tell if both
you original data base file and the newly converted one will fit on your
floppy disk with the following formula:
Original File Size x 1.38 = Converted File Size
For example, the SAMPLE.DAT file supplied with FishBase ][ was originally
86510 bytes in length, so....
86510 x 1.38 = 119384 bytes
This means there needs to be at least 119384 bytes free on the DESTINATION
disk drive.
If you are already a REGISTERED USER of FishBase ][, and you cannot convert
your old data base files for use with version 2.6, I will do it for you.
Please send me a floppy disk containing the ORIGINAL data base file you want
converted along with $3.00 to cover my expenses. I will return your original
disk together with another disk containing the converted file. This service
is offered to REGISTERED USERS ONLY.
NOTE:
Because of the many old versions of FishBase ][ still in circulation, and in
use every day, it is impossible for the conversion program to determine if
a file needs to be converted to this new format or not. The conversion program
will mark all data base files that have a date newer than FishBase ][ version
2.5 with three "***" (asterisks) when they are listed on your screen.
To print the manual:
The distribution disk contains an extensive FishBase ][ operators manual.
It is stored in a file called FB.DOC. To print the manual, insert the
distribution floppy into your A: disk drive and type "COPY A:FB.DOC PRN:"
(without the quotes). It is highly recommended that you read the manual in its
entirety, even if you have used FishBase ][ before. This new version has lots
of new features!
Good fishin'!
Dick Olsen