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WindBase 2.0
NickleWare
Bradley Nicholes
INTRODUCTION
WindBase is an application that was designed to help simplify data
collection, storage and retrieval. With the help of WindBase, you can
design custom data entry forms and at the same time create the database to
match. WindBase will also allow you to index and reindex your data by a
single field or multiple fields. This enables you to organize and retrieve
your data much more easily and faster as well. WindBase allows you to
create, store and view multiple database files all at the same time. Then
when you are ready to print your data, WindBase will print it in the same
custom layout or let you reorganize the data to best fit your needs.
REGISTRATION
WindBase is not public domain, nor is it free software. You are
granted a limited license to use this product on a trial basis. You are
also granted a license to copy WindBase, along with the documentation, for
the trial use by other users. If you wish to continue using the product,
you must send $25 to:
NickleWare
P.O. Box 393
Orem, UT. 84059 USA
If you would like an original disk or an update to the latest release of
the software, please add $5 for shipping and handling.
We encourage you to copy WindBase and share it with anyone who might
be interested in an easier way to gather, store and retrieve information.
GETTING STARTED
REQUIREMENTS -
Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher
IBM compatible PC 286, 386 or 486
Before proceeding, make sure that you have Microsoft Windows correctly
installed. Next create a directory called WINDBASE and copy the WindBase
software (WINDBASE.EXE) into this directory. WindBase is ready to be
started. Simply start WindBase from the RUN... menu selection of the
Windows Program Manager or add it to a Program Manager group by following
the directions for creating a group item in the Windows 3.1 User's Guide.
WHAT IS A DATABASE
A database is a collection of similar data records stored in a common
file or collection of files. A database management system such as WindBase
provides a means by which a user can easily store and retrieve this data.
CREATING A NEW DATABASE
To create a WindBase database first select DATABASE DEFINITION and NEW
from the FILE pulldown menu. WindBase will create a blank database
definition window and ungray the following menu selections:
FILE Menu:
DATABASE DEFINITION
SAVE...- Save a database definition and data files.
DEFINE Menu:
TEXT - This option creates a static text field in the current
database definition window.
EDIT - This option creates an entry/edit field in the current
database definition window.
CHECKBOX - This option creates a checkbox in the current
database definition window.
BITMAP - This option creates a bitmap field in the current
database definition window.
STYLES - This option displays a popup window that allows the
user to modify the attributes of the currently selected
TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP field.
DELETE - This option deletes the currently selected TEXT, EDIT,
CHECKBOX or BITMAP field.
TITLE - This option modifies the database title that appears
in the database window.
FONT - This option changes the text font for the current
database definition window.
Layout the database by selecting the desired fields from the DEFINE
pulldown menu as described in the CREATING A DATABASE FIELD section. Each
of the newly created fields can be resized and placed in the database
definition window where desired.
After all of the database fields have been created and defined, the
database layout can be saved and the database files created. To do this,
simply select DATABASE DEFINITION and SAVE... from the FILE pulldown menu.
A SAVE popup window will appear prompting the user to enter a path and file
name where the database files and associated layout files will be stored.
The user only needs to enter the primary part of the file name (file name
without the extension). WindBase will add the extension of .WB for the
database layout file, .DB for the database file and .IDX for the index file.
Once the file name has been entered and the user has selected the OK
pushbutton, the database definition and field layout files will be created.
If the database files already exist in the specified path, Windbase will
notify the user that the database already exists and the path or file name
must to be changed. Once a database definition has been saved and the
database created, WindBase will only allow the database fields to be
resized or repositioned. No new database fields can be added to this
definition. If there is a need to add or delete a database field, this
can be done as described in the CREATING A NEW DATABASE FROM AN EXISTING
section and the DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT section.
CREATING A DATABASE FIELD
By selecting the TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP options from the DEFINE
pulldown menu, the corresponding field will be created in the currently
selected database definition window. The new field will be created in the
upper left hand corner of the database definition window. A style popup
window will be displayed prompting the user to enter a name to identify the
newly created field and modify any of the field attributes if desired.
After the database field has been created, it can be moved and resized as
explained in the MOVE AND RESIZING A DATABASE FIELD section.
SETTING ATTRIBUTES OF A DATABASE FIELD
Each TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX and BITMAP field defaults to a specific set
of attributes. These attributes may be modified through the STYLES option
in the DEFINE pulldown menu. When the STYLES option is selected a popup
window is presented that corresponds to the selected database field. The
EDIT, CHECKBOX and BITMAP fields require a field name that is later used
in the creation of the database. All other attributes in the styles popup
windows are optional.
MOVING AND RESIZING A DATABASE FIELD
Once a database field has been created, it can be moved or resized to
the desired position and size by dragging and dropping with the mouse
pointer or grabbing the field border and stretching it.
To move the field, simply place the mouse pointer over the top of it
and click the mouse button once. A dotted line will appear around the
field to indicate that it is now the currently selected field. The mouse
pointer will also change to a four direction pointer to indicate that the
field may be moved. With the four direction pointer over the top of the
selected field, press and hold the left mouse button down and while hold
down the button, move the mouse pointer to the desired position. A database
field may also be moved by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. To do
this first select the database field with the mouse as described above.
Then use the arrow keys to move the database field in the desired direction.
To resize a database field, select the field as described above, then
move the mouse pointer over the border of the selected field. As this is
done, the mouse pointer will change from a four direction pointer to a two
direction horizontal, vertical or diagonal pointer depending on the
direction in which the field may be resized. Then simply hold the left
mouse button down and move the mouse in the direction indicated by the two
direction pointer until the field is resized to the desired size.
DELETING A DATABASE FIELD
Once a TEXT, EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP field has been created, it may be
deleted. To delete a field, simply select it by placing the mouse pointer
over it and pressing the left mouse button. Once the field has been
selected, a dotted line border will appear around it. Then select DELETE
from the DEFINE pulldown menu. A confirmation popup window will appear
asking that the user to confirm the operation. Selecting the YES
pushbutton, will delete the field.
CHANGING THE DATABASE TITLE
To change the title that appears in the database window title bar,
select the TITLE option from the DEFINE pulldown menu. After making this
selection a popup window will be displayed allowing the user to enter a
database title. After entering the database title, select the OK
pushbutton and the database window title will change.
CHANGING THE DATABASE FONT
To change the font for the database window text, select the FONT...
option from the DEFINE pulldown menu. After making this selection a popup
window will be displayed allowing the user to select a new font. After
selecting the new font, select the OK pushbutton and the new font will
appear in the database window.
OPENING A DATABASE
To open an existing database the user must select OPEN DATABASE...
from the FILE pulldown menu. An open file popup window will be displayed.
This popup window allows the user to change directories and select database
files. There are four types of files that WindBase creates. The primary
name of each of the four files of a database is the name specified by the
user when the database was originally created. The extensions for each
of these files are as follows:
.WB - WindBase database layout file.
.DB - Database file.
.IDX - Database index file.
.WBN - Database bitmap file.
.PRN - WindBase page layout file.
When opening a database, any one of these files can be selected. Once
the database has been selected, a database window will appear with the
current database layout.
OPENING A DATABASE DEFINITION
An existing database definition can be opened by selection DATABASE
DEFINITION and OPEN... from the FILE pulldown menu. A database definition
that has been opened for modification can not have new database fields
created. The only modifications that are allowed are resizing and
repositioning of existing database fields. Once all of the modifications
have been completed, select DATABASE DEFINITION and SAVE... from the
FILE pulldown menu. If there is a need to add or delete a database field
from an existing definition, this can be done as described in the CREATING A
NEW DATABASE FROM AN EXISTING section and the DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT section.
CREATING A NEW DATABASE FROM AN EXISTING
A new database definition can be created from an existing definition
by selection DATABASE DEFINITION and OPEN AS... from the FILE pulldown menu.
The user will then be prompted to select an existing database definition
to use as the template for the new database definition. Once a database
definition template has been selection, a database definition window will
appear containing all of the same fields that existed in the selected
database definition template. The user can then add, modify or delete
database fields as described in the Creating A Database Field Setting
Attributes Of A Database Field and Deleting A Database Field sections
DELETING A DATABASE
To delete a database the user must open the database as described in
the OPENING A DATABASE section. Once the database has been opened and
selected, pull down the FILE menu and select DELETE DATABASE. A
confirmation popup window will appear allowing the user to confirm the
action. If the OK pushbutton is selected, the database along with its
associated files will be deleted.
DELETING DATABASE RECORDS ONLY
To delete all of the database records without deleting the database
definition, simply pulldown the FILE menu and select DELETE ALL RECORDS.
A confirmation message box will appear prompting the user to confirm the
delete all records action. If the user selects the YES pushbutton, WindBase
will then delete all of the records from the currently selected database
without deleting the definition.
ENTERING AND EDITING DATA
To enter and edit a record within a database the user must first open
the database as described in the OPENING A DATABASE section. Data can be
entered into any of the EDIT fields, CHECKBOXes or BITMAP fields. Once the
desired data has been entered, select ADD from the RECORD pulldown menu.
This will add the record to the database.
Modifying a record can be done in the same manner. After the data has
been completely modified, select MODIFY from the RECORD pulldown menu.
Bitmap data can be pasted in from the clipboard or read in from a file
by using the normal clipboard paste option under the EDIT pulldown menu or
selecting the PASTE FROM A FILE option. Also by double clicking on a
bitmap field, the user will be presented with a popup menu which will allow
a bitmap to be stretched to fit within the bounds of the field or in normal
view. The popup menu also provides the PASTE FROM A FILE functionality for
reading in the bitmap data from a .BMP file.
MOVING AROUND A DATABASE
Searching and browsing through the records of a database can be done by
selecting SEARCH, PREVIOUS and NEXT from the RECORD pulldown menu. To
search for a specific record, simply enter in the data or part of the data
into the field by which the database has been indexed. Then select SEARCH
from the RECORD pulldown menu. WindBase will search the database for the
first record that exactly matches or is the closest match to the data
entered. By selecting the NEXT or PREVIOUS options from the RECORD
pulldown menu, the user will be able to step through each record one by one
forward or backward.
DELETING A RECORD FROM THE DATABASE
To delete a record from the database, simply select the record in the
same manner as described in the MOVING AROUND A DATABASE section. Once the
desired record has been selected pull down the RECORD menu and click on the
DELETE option. A confirmation popup window will appear allowing the user
to confirm or reject the action. If the user clicks on the YES pushbutton,
the record will be deleted from the databases.
DEFINING AN INDEX
One of the selections under the FILE pulldown menu is the option to
define or set a new default INDEX for a database. After selecting this
option, a popup window will appear that contains two list boxes. The first
list box on the left contains a list of the currently defined indexes for
the selected database. By highlighting one of the index names in the list
box, the name will appear in the entry field at the top right-hand side of
the popup window. The second list box will display a list of the fields
currently defined in the selected database with the selected index definition
fields highlighted.
A new index can be created by first entering in a new index name into
the INDEX NAME entry field above the INDEX DEFINITION list box. Then by
dragging and placing the database field names within the INDEX DEFINITION
list box into the desired order and highlighting them by click on them with
the mouse, the user is able to define a new index definition. After the
new index has been defined, click on the DEFINE pushbutton beneath the
INDEX DEFINITION list box and the index will be created and added to the
current database index list. Once an index has been defined, it can not be
modified or deleted. The only way to remove index definitions is by
selecting the REINDEX option from the FILE/INDEX cascade menu. This option
will remove all of the defined indexes and recreate the PHYSICAL and PRIMARY
indexes.
REINDEXING A DATABASE
To reindex a database, first open the database as described in the
OPENING A DATABASE section. Once the database has been opened and the
database window selected, pulldown the FILE menu and select REINDEX from the
INDEX cascade menu. This will remove all of the currently defined indexes
for the selected database and restore the base PHYSICAL and PRIMARY indexes.
LAYING OUT A PRINTER PAGE
WindBase allows the user to print a database record in a different
format than what was originally defined. Creating a printer definition
is similar to creating a database definition. Select PAGE SETUP from the
FILE pulldown menu. A database window will appear with the current database
definition. When the page layout window is created, the working area is
adjusted to reflect the current size of a physical printer page according
to the printer definition. The working area can be scrolled within the
printer page definition window by using the scroll bars along the sides of
the window. If the printer page definition has not already been created,
it will default to the current database definition. The database fields
can be moved and resized as described in the MOVING AND RESIZING A DATABASE
FIELD section. While in the printer page definition mode the user will not
be able to create new EDIT, CHECKBOX or BITMAP fields, but the user may
create new TEXT fields. The user is also allowed to change the text of a
CHECKBOX or any previously existing TEXT field. Once the printer page has
been laid out as desired, select DATABASE DEFINITION and SAVE... from the
FILE pulldown menu. The printer page definition will be saved and used
whenever a record is printed from the corresponding database.
PRINTING A RECORD
To print a record, first select the desired record as described in the
MOVING AROUND THE DATABASE section. After the desired record has be
selected, pulldown the FILE menu and select PRINT. The current record will
be printed using the defined printer page definition. (The printer page
definition must have been defined as described in the LAYING OUT A PRINTER
PAGE section.).
VIEWING / MANIPULATING MULTIPLE DATABASES
Because WindBase was implemented as a multiple document interface
application, it allows the user to open, maintain and view more the one
database at a time. As each database file is opened, WindBase creates a new
database window and lays out the database on the working area. Switching
from one database to another is as simple as placing the mouse cursor over
the desired window and clicking the left mouse button. This will select
that database and window as the current database. All of the WindBase menu
options will then apply to that database. Each of the database windows can
also be minimized to avoid cluttering up the desktop with too many windows.
Then, as desired, each database window can be restored or minimized as the
user moves from one database file to another.
DATA IMPORT AND EXPORT
WindBase will allow the user to import or export data from or to a text
file. To import data from a text file, first open the database as described
in the OPENING A DATABASE section. Once a database has been opened, select
IMPORT from the FILE pulldown menu. The user will be prompted to select
the text file containing the data to be imported. Once the import file has
been selected, an import window will appear allowing the user to set the
type of delimiter that WindBase should look for to delimit each field of a
database record. After selecting a delimiter, the user should select the
RESET FILE pushbutton. At this point WindBase will read in and display the
first record from the import text file. The data import window also
contains three options for importing the data. These three options are
importing a SINGLE record at a time, importing ALL records at one time or
importing a specified number of records. Once one of these options has
been selected, the user can click on the IMPORT pushbutton to begin
importing and adding the data to the database.
There are also two other pushbuttons which allow the user to move
through import data or cancel the import operation. These two pushbuttons
are SKIP and CANCEL. By selecting the SKIP pushbutton, the current import
record will be skipped and the next record will be read in and displayed.
Data export is similar to data import. By selecting the EXPORT menu
option, the user will be prompted to specify an export file name after which
an export window will appear that looks similar to the import window with
the exception of the ADD RECORD TERMINATOR checkbox. This checkbox
instructs WindBase to add a carriage return and line feed to the end of
each record regardless of the selected field delimiter. This allows the
resulting output to be written in a format that is more suitable for
reporting. As described above the user should specify the field delimiter
and export option WindBase should use. Then by clicking on the EXPORT
pushbutton, WindBase will export the data into a text file.
MENU OPTIONS
FILE MENU
OPEN DATABASE - Open an existing database for uses or modification.
DATABASE DEFINITION
NEW - Create an empty database layout window.
OPEN... - Open an existing database for user or modification.
OPEN AS... - Open an existing database definition as a template
for creating a new database.
SAVE... - Save the currently selected database or printer page
definition.
DELETE DATABASE - Delete the currently selected database and the
associated files.
DELETE ALL RECORDS - Delete all records in the currently selected
database.
INDEX
DEFINE/SET DEFAULT - Define and set the default indexes for the
currently selected database.
REINDEX - Reindex the currently selected database.
IMPORT - Import data from a text file.
EXPORT - Export data to a text file.
PAGE SETUP - Create or modify the printer page layout for the
currently selected database.
PRINT - Print the active record from the currently selected database.
PRINTER SETUP - Change the printer attributes
EXIT - Close all open databases and exit WindBase.
EDIT MENU
UNDO - Undo the last entry field action.
CUT - Cut the currently selected entry field text to the clipboard.
COPY - Copy the currently selected entry field text to the clipboard.
PASTE - Page the clipboard contents to the currently selected entry
field.
PASTE FROM FILE - Paste a bitmap from a file.
CLEAR - Clear the currently selected entry field text.
SELECT ALL - Select all of the text in the currently selected entry
field.
RECORD MENU
ADD - Add a record to the currently selected database.
MODIFY - Modify a record in the currently selected database.
DELETE - Delete a record from the currently selected database.
CLEAR - Clear all fields in the currently selected database window.
SEARCH - Search for a record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
NEXT - Display the next record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
PREVIOUS - Display the previous record in the currently selected
database based on the selected index.
FIRST - Display the first record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
LAST - Display the last record in the currently selected database
based on the selected index.
DEFINE MENU
TEXT - Create a Text field in the currently selected database window.
EDIT - Create an edit field in the currently selected database window.
CHECKBOX - Create a checkbox field in the currently selected
database window.
BITMAP - Create a bitmap field in the currently selected database
window.
STYLES - Modify the attributes of the selected field in the
currently selected database window.
DELETE - Delete the selected field in the currently selected
database window.
TITLE - Modify the title of the currently selected database window.
FONT - Select a new font for the currently selected database window.
WINDOW MENU
TILE - Tile all open database windows within the WindBase main window.
CASCADE - Cascade all open database windows within the WindBase
main window.
ARRANGE ICONS - Arrange all database window icons within the
WindBase main window.
CLOSE ALL - Close all open database windows.
HELP MENU
INDEX - Display the WindBase help file.
ABOUT - Display the WindBase About Box.
SPECIAL FEATURES
DRAG AND DROP - Whenever an item such as a database field is being
repositioned within a database definition window , the item may be dragged
and dropped. This means that an item can be selected with the mouse
pointer, and while holding the mouse button down, move the pointer to a new
position. When the mouse button is released the selected item will be
placed at the mouse pointer position.
CLIPBOARD - The clipboard is a convenient way of transferring data
between WindBase and other Windows applications or between different
WindBase databases or records. To use the clipboard functions simply
highlight any text that is displayed in an entry field, pull down the
EDIT menu and choose COPY or CUT. The COPY function will place a copy of
the highlighted text in the Windows clipboard. The CUT function also
places the highlighted text in the clipboard but also removes it from
the entry field. To retrieve text from the clipboard, place the cursor
at the position inside an entry field where the clipboard text should be
inserted or appended. Then pull down the EDIT menu and choose PASTE. The
clipboard text will be placed in the entry field at the cursor position.
ENHANCEMENTS
The following is a list of the new features and enhancements that have
been included in version 2.0 of WindBase:
o Data Import and Export functionality.
o Database Text and Printing Font Selection Per Database Definition.
o Ability to Store and Retrieve Bitmap Graphical Data.
o Addition of Windows 3.1 File Open, Save As... and Font dialogs
EXITING
When you have finished using WindBase, you should exit via the EXIT
selection from the main window's FILE menu. If you forget and turn your
computer off before exiting, WindBase can not guarantee that your database
files have been saved completely. It is very important that you always exit
WindBase via this selection.
NickleWare
Copyright (C) 1990-93 Bradley Nicholes
CompuServe: 72730,1002
This documentation must accompany the WindBase software.
NickleWare or Bradley Nicholes shall not be liable for any damages, whether
direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from the use or failure
of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user.