The World of Computer Software

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ The World of Computer Software / World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso / k / kp5.zip / KP5PAKC.EXE / KP5.HLP

Wrap

Text File | 1992-03-03 | 68KB | 1,501 lines

>Introduction ┌───────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ KP5 Help Document │ │ Copyright (c) 1991 by Peter Charpentier │ └───────────────────────────────────────────┘ Documentation for KP5 version 5.07, January 1992. This document describes the features and use of KP5, a keypunch system for PC's and compatibles. It is included in the KP5 package as KP5.DOC, and is also available online through the KP5 HELP system. KP5 is being distributed as shareware. This means that you are free to try it out and pass it around, as long as it is understood that if you decide to use it, you must register (and pay for) your copy. Registered users are entitled to technical support and free upgrades. If you do not have the registration form and disclaimer (REGISTER.DOC), write to me, on paper or electronically, at the address given in the "How to get HELP" section of this document. This document is arranged as a set of 'topics' that describe the day-to-day use of KP5. I suppose that the way to begin describing this program is to state what it IS, and what it is NOT, and where it belongs in a typical data management operation. WHAT IT IS: KP5 is a two-pass data entry editor. It was designed to facilitate the rapid and accurate entry and verification of data from well- designed data collection instruments. The end products are ASCII text files that may be processed by statistical or flat-file data management packages. WHAT IT IS NOT: KP5 is not a general data base management program, although it has within it a number of functions that are used to manage KP5 files. KP5 is not a forms-style data entry program: you cannot (efficiently) design data entry screens that resemble the data collection forms, nor can you build a computer-assisted interviewing system around KP5. If you require this type of data entry support, you should use one of the commercial database packages. WHERE IT BELONGS: KP5 is typically used as a data entry component in data management systems for survey research projects. In such operations, administrative functions -- anything involving subject contacts -- are managed using one of the commercial, business-oriented data base packages (FoxPro, Paradox, etc.). The volumes of research data from interviews are entered and verified using KP5, then regularly 'exported' to ASCII files. A statistical or flat-file management package, SAS, for example, takes over from there, and is used to maintain the master files for analysis. Because of the cost and training involved with specialized key-to- disk machines, many research projects now use service bureaus for large batches of data. KP5 provides an alternative: using KP5 on your own equipment, through data entry structures that you have designed and understand, brings the entire data flow under your control. The error detection and correction cycle can be as tight as possible, because newly entered and verified records are immediately available for processing. Quality control is up to you, not an outside agency. Some features: o All functions are accessed using a single set of drop-down menus. o Record sizes can be gigantic (32,000 characters). o No reasonable limit on file size. o A file may be set up in a matter of minutes. o Partial or 100% verification is supported. o A 'picture' may be designed that edits data type on input. o Data may be automatically duplicated between or within records. o Record keys may be made up of up to 255 characters among up to 10 fields located anywhere within the record. o Two-level range checking is supported. Any single or multiple character field may be defined to have a valid-value range, as well as a missing-value range. o Files may be password-protected. o Record keys may be validated against a master index file as they are entered. o KP5 data sets may be restructured, copied, merged, imported from ASCII files, and emptied. o Session statistics are automatically saved to disk, in dBase- III or ASCII text format. o Will work on floppy-disk systems with 350K memory (400K recommended). o KP5 is 'operator-tolerant': failure to properly exit the program should not result in data loss. >What's New This section describes new features since version 5.05 (the first general distribution version of KP5). Version New features See topic: 5.06 New UTILITES menu options: ■The UTILITIES menu Oct 1991 -Delete Exported -Global Flag Set 5.07 Numeric data entry fields ■Numeric fields Jan 1992 are now supported. dBase-III or ASCII ■Session statistics 'session statistics' files files automatically written. New FILE menu option: ■Shelling to DOS -Shell to DOS Verification 'bypass' ■The TABS mask fields may be defined, element for which verification is not enforced. >How to Start KP5 This discussion assumes that KP5 has been installed on a hard disk. If you are using floppies, refer to the text file README.DOC for suggestions on how to use floppy diskettes. Assuming KP5 has been properly installed, and the program directory is on the workstation's PATH, the simplest way to start KP5 is to issue the command: ┌────────────┐ │ kp5 │ └────────────┘ If the KP5 program directory is NOT in the PATH, you would have to include the program directory in the command: ┌───────────────┐ │ c:\kp5\kp5 │ └───────────────┘ This will load the program with no files open, so you will have to select Open from the FILE menu in order to get to work (more on that below). You may also specify, on the command line, which KP5 file you wish to process: ┌─────────────────────────┐ │ kp5 filename username │ └─────────────────────────┘ In this syntax, filename is the DOS path plus KP file name, and username is you (1-10 characters). For example: ┌──────────────────────────────────┐ │ kp5 \kp5\files\studyx theodore │ └──────────────────────────────────┘ DOS Note: If no username is given, KP5 looks for a DOS environment variable named USERNAME. If it is defined, KP5 will use it, and not prompt the user. You use the SET command to define the environment variable from DOS. For example: set username=Peter >Complete Command-Line Syntax The complete KP5 command-line syntax is as follows: ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ KP5 [filename [username]] [-B] [-M] [-C] [-S] │ │ [-X] [-V] [-N] │ │ [-R] [-T] [-E] │ │ [-A] [-O] │ │ [-K:<valid-key-index>][-I] │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ switches: -B use default black & white color set for CGA/EGA/VGA -M use default monochrome ('green screen') color set -C use default polychrome color set -S compensate for 'snow' on CGA displays -X export records and quit -V select Verified records (use with the -X switch) -N select New or modified records (use with the -X switch) -R restricted editing (forced entry of entire record) -T total verification mode (records must be 100% verified) -L record session information in the Log file (KP5.LOG) -E entries must be confirmed by pressing the Enter key -A write session statistics in ASCII format instead of dBase -O nO session statistics file will be written -K:<valid-key-index> open a 'valid-key' index file -I display the compile date, version, and registration The -B, -M, and -C switches are used to override the default and user-designed colors. The colors used by KP5 are stored in a configuration in the local directory, and so become the default the next time that KP5 is loaded from that directory. The -X switch is used to export records in 'batch' mode. See "How to Export" topic for details. The -V and -N switches may be used to select verified and/or new or modified records for batch export. They have meaning only if the -X switch is also specified. The -R switch is for sadistic administrators. It invokes a 'restricted editing' mode which disables most of the cursor movement keys, and which requires the user to enter complete records. The user may go backwards to correct an error, but cannot go forward using the arrow or tab keys. The -L switch tells KP5 to maintain a log file. The log file is a running account of KP sessions, including dates and times each KP file is opened and closed, as well as selected file statistics (#records entered, verified, deleted, etc.). The log file is named KP5.LOG, and resides in the KP5 program directory. The -A and -O switches determine what type of 'session statistics' file will be written, if any. The default is dBase-III compatible (KP5STATS.DBF), but -A specifies ASCII text (KP5STATS.DAT) and -O suppresses statistics file generation. The -K: switch opens a valid-key index file. This is an ordinary index file associated with some 'master' KP5 file, and will be used to validate record keys as they are input. You must provide the DOS path and file name, eg, -K:C:\KP5\FILES\MASTER. The -I switch results in a display which shows the KP program version number, the registration number, and the registree's name. The -E switch causes KP5 to require that the user press the Enter key to confirm each entry, including menu selections. This also disables the AUTOWRITE feature: the Enter key must be pressed after a record has been filled in. Normally, KP5 automatically accepts entries as they are filled out. If you load KP5 with a ? as the only parameter, a screen showing the command-line switches will be displayed. >The KP5 Interface The KP5 interface consists of a single drop-down menu system, a series of dialog screens, and a record editor. THE MENU SYSTEM KP5 functions are accessed through a system of drop-down menus. This system is activated when KP5 is started. If the menu bar is not on-screen (for example, during data entry), you may usually activate it by pressing F10. To move between menus, use the left or right arrow keys, or press the space bar. To select an option from a menu, either highlight the choice using the up and down arrow keys and press Enter, or simply press the highlighted 'hot key' for the option. If KP5 was started using the -E command-line switch, you will have to press ENTER after the 'hot key'. Not all menu items are active (selectable) all the time. For example, if there is no file open, the DATA ENTRY menu has no meaning and so none of its selections will be active. There are five menus: FILE Functions that operate on the file or system level:quit, open/close, export to ASCII, list, printer setup, help. DATA ENTRY Access to records: enter new records, modify existing records, verify, look. RECORD Operations on the current record: delete, change record key, mark, blank, undo. FEATURES KP5 global features: sound, lock keyboard on error, allow entry into protected fields, define the 'fill character'. MASK Edit the five data entry mask elements: picture, tabs/attributes, minimum valid, maximum valid, minimum missing. UTILITIES Access to seldom-used but vital functions: pack, reindex, restructure, copy, empty, remove exported, global flag set, merge, set password, list mask structure, colors. Two menu selections have 'really hot' keys assigned to them. When a 'really hot' key is pressed, the associated function is activated, no matter what you are doing at the time (eg, the menu does NOT have to be displayed). The 'really hot' keys and their functions are as follows: Alt-P Printer Setup Alt-F1 Online HELP document (see "how to get HELP") DIALOGS There are a number of 'dialog boxes' or screens that KP5 uses to get information from you (file names and the like). There are certain keys that behave consistently during these occasions, and they are: F1 Context-sensitive HELP (see "How to get HELP"). F2 Finish the dialog and accept input. Esc Finish the dialog and cancel. Enter Finish field and advance to next field. Tab Advance to next field BackTab Go to previous field Ctrl-Backspace Erase (blank) the current field. F10 Activate the menu. arrows Move up or down within the dialog. Normally, the cursor will automatically advance when an item is completely filled in. This is called the 'autowrite' feature. If the autowrite feature is disabled, the user must press the Enter key to confirm each entry. The autowrite feature may be disabled either through the FEATURES menu, or using the -E command-line switch. Within dialogs, the usual editing keys are active: Ins, Del, Backspace, left and right arrows, Home, and End. >How to get HELP There are five levels of HELP available. The first is a 'context- sensitive' system activated by pressing F1. This system tries to provide help on whatever it is you are doing at the time. If no specific help is available, it displays general keyboard-usage information. The second kind of HELP is accessed by selecting HELP DOCUMENT from the FILE menu, or by pressing Alt-F1: this provides access to the online help document, which is what you are reading right now. You may print a single topic, or the entire document, from within this HELP facility. The file KP5.DOC is generated in this manner. The third HELP level comes in the form of 'item information' boxes that are displayed whenever you are required to provide information to KP5. For example, item information boxes guide you through the process of structuring a data set. The fourth kind of HELP is a listing facility that is loaded by pressing SHIFT-F1 whenever you are entering a file name, or looking for an existing record key. It presents a menu from which you may select. In the case of KP5 files, selected information from the file headers (label, number of records..) will also be displayed. The final kind of help is me: ┌───────────────────────────┐ │ Peter Charpentier │ │ 47 Meeting House Hill Rd │ │ Durham, CT 06510 │ │ │ │ CompuServe: 70053,705 │ └───────────────────────────┘ Be sure to indicate which version of KP5 you are using (select About.. from the FILE menu). >How to set up a new KP5 file Select Open from the FILE menu. A dialog box will be displayed, into which you must enter the DOS directory and KP5 file name. For example, to create a file named STUDYX in the C:\KP5\FILES directory, the dialog box will look something like this: ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐ │ KP5 File C:\KP5\FILES\STUDYX___ │ └──────────────────────────────────────┘ If KP5 finds a file with the specified name, it will be opened. However, if the file name is not found, you will be asked if you want to create a new file. When you respond with Y to that prompt, the FILE STRUCTURE dialog will be displayed. Into this screen you must enter: 1) The CARD SIZE 2) The number of CARDS per RECORD 3) The position(s) and length(s) of the RECORD KEY(s) This seems a good place to explain the basic elements of the KP5 file structure, so here goes. RECORDS AND CARDS EXPLAINED RECORDS are made up of one or more CARDS. In the old days (10 years ago), cards were made out of paper and had 80 columns. If your 'logical record' had more than 80 columns, you had to break it up into two or more cards, or 'physical records'. KP5 uses this paradigm, even if it seems a bit dated. Of course, KP5 cards may be of any reasonable length, and there is no law that says you ever have to use more than one card per record. However, you may want to, and here's why: If you have experience in survey research, you know that, during the pretest period, the data collection instruments tend to change dramatically. It is usual to place the column specifications on the data collection form, generally in the right margin next to the data entry blanks. As the form undergoes revisions, you continually have to change column specifications, and if you are committed to just one large card per record, huge blocks of columns may have to be changed. This gets a little crazy after a while, not to mention expensive. Also, column specifications like '5385-5387' can be hard to place in the margin. We have found that a good strategy is to use a moderate card size of (say) 160 or 240 columns, but leave a blank 'expansion zone' at the end of each card. For example, if the card size is 240, we start a new card when the current column gets to around 200. With this setup, inserting new questions into a form involves reprinting a few pages, not the entire form. Similarly, the input programs used to read the records are easier to modify when insertions or deletions affect cards, not entire records. Another reason to stay away from huge card sizes is that the software used to read the ASCII files created by KP5 may have some record length restriction. You will probably never get into software trouble if you keep the card size below 256. To complete the file structure, you must provide the position and length of one or more RECORD KEYS. These are explained next. RECORD KEYS A requirement of KP5 files is that each record (NOT each card) must have a unique record key. KP5 files are always sorted (indexed, actually) by the record key. The record key is usually a subject ID code, but sometimes two or more fields must be combined to form a unique key. For example, in a hospitalizations data set, the unique key may be hospital unit number plus date of admission. Each record key is defined by 1) position and 2) length. KP5 assumes that all record keys will be located on the first card. If, for some reason, you have a record key on some other card, you must add the lengths of the preceding card(s) to its position. For example, if the card size is 240, and the key is on card 3, column 11, the key position will be 240+240+11=491. AN EXAMPLE Here is a reasonable facsimile of the file structure dialog screen for a hypothetical STUDYX. This file has two record keys: a five- digit subject ID at column 1, and a date (yyyymmdd) at column 23. ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ data set label KP5 file example │ │ card size 240 │ │ number of cards per record 8 │ │ total record length 1920 │ │ │ │ key(s): position length position length │ │ ─────┬──────────────────────┬───────────────────── │ │ │1. 1 5 │ 6. │ │ │2. 23 8 │ 7. │ │ .... .... │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The FILE STRUCTURE Dialog Screen (The above screen is squashed -- the real thing allows for up to ten keys) By the way, if you panic at this stage, press the Esc key. If you don't panic, press F2 when you are finished entering the record key(s), and the file will be created. A default mask will be constructed, but you will probably want to fine-tune it a bit (see "Designing the Mask"). The file is now ready for data entry. >How to open a KP5 file for data entry One way to open a file is on the command line; see "how to start KP5" for details. The other way is to select Open from the FILE menu. When you do this, a dialog box will pop up, into which you must enter the DOS directory and KP5 file name. For example, if the file is named STUDYX and is located in a directory named C:\KP5\FILES, the completed dialog box will resemble the figure shown below. ┌────────────────────────────────────┐ │ KP5 file C:\KP5\FILES\STUDYX___ │ └────────────────────────────────────┘ OPEN FILE Dialog If you like, you may press Shift-F1 to select from a list of all KP5 files found in the specified directory (eg, enter C:\KP5\FILES, or some other directory name, then press Shift-F1). You may open any file on this list by selecting it with the up or down arrow keys, then pressing Enter. If, after entering the name of a file that SHOULD exist, you get an "Ok to create new file?.." prompt, respond with N! The reason for the prompt is that KP5 did NOT locate the file in the specified directory, and assumes you want to create a new file. If you really do want to create a new file, see that topic. >How to enter new records into a KP5 file There are four steps involved in opening a file and entering new records into it. These are discussed below. Step 1. OPEN THE FILE Follow the instructions in "how to open a file for data entry". Step 2. SELECT 'ENTER NEW RECORDS' FROM THE DATA ENTRY MENU A RECORD KEY dialog, similar to that shown below, will be displayed. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────record key────────┐ ┌───current record key────┐ │ │ │ │ │ 00001 │ │ │ │ │ │ 19910325 │ │ │ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘ │ │┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ mode entry ││ ││ shift-f1 browse record keys ││ ││ f10 main menu ││ ││ ctrl. retrieve next record ││ ││ ctrl. retrieve previous record ││ ││ ctrl<─┘ access current record ││ ││ Esc return to main menu ││ │└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The RECORD KEY Dialog Screen There are two 'record key' boxes in this screen: the right-hand box shows the current record's key, and the left-hand box is a data entry area into which you enter the key for the new record. The current record key is explained in "How to verify records" topic -- it is not really important when you are creating new records. Step 3. ENTER THE RECORD KEY KP5 will search the file for the record key, and if it is NOT found, the record will be added to the data set. If the record key IS found, you will be notified, and asked if you want to MODIFY the existing record. Step 4. KEY IN THE RECORD Once the record has been added, control will pass to the RECORD EDITOR. This editor is used for entering, verifying, and modifying records. The cursor will be placed at the first normal, or 'unprotected', data entry position. Now what you do is, naturally enough, key in the record. See the next topic for a description of how the editor behaves during data entry. >The Record Editor The record editor screen looks something like this (the example shown is a little squashed -- the real thing has 80 columns): ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │peter studyx 3 records (0 deleted) data entry/modification│ │┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────┬─────────┐│ ││ f1 help f4 wrap√ f6 fill '9' f8 key f10 menu│■Error ││ ││<─┘ save sf4 prot√ sf6 dup f9 mark │ Message ││ ││Esc abort af4 lock f7 current sf9 delete af9 undo│ ││ │└───────────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────────┘│ │1 10 20 30 40 50 60> │ │╞═══╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪═╤═│ │00002 19910105 │ │ │ │╞═══╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪═╧═│ │────────────────╥──────────┬──────────╥─┬─┬─┬─╥─────┬───┬────┬─│ │0000219910105 ║PETER │06/01/1991║v│X│M│D║ 241│ 2│ 1│*│ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The RECORD EDITOR Screen The data entry area is between the 'rulers'. This is essentially a window into the record. For records with card sizes exceeding 80 columns, the window will 'slide' through the record as you key in the record. The data entry area will display up to twelve lines (cards) at a time. An 'information box' is displayed above the data entry area. The left portion of this box shows the active function keys. The right side is a message area, used by the range-checking and verify- error-condition routines. At the bottom of the screen is a 'status line'. The following items are displayed in the status line: - the record key - username - date created/modified - record flags (V-verified X-exported D-deleted M-marked) - the absolute record position - the card number and column - whether the current record position has been verified (indicated by a diamond in the extreme lower right corner) THE KEYBOARD DURING DATA ENTRY During data entry, certain keys have special actions. These are listed in the upper information box, but in abbreviated form. A more detailed explanation of the special keys is herein provided. F1 Help (shows the data entry specifications for the current position). F4 Switches the display mode between 'normal' and 'wrap'. In 'normal' mode, the data entry window slides to the right or left as you enter data. One card always takes up one display line in normal mode. In 'wrap' mode, cards are wrapped at the screen borders, each card may occupy two or more display lines, and the data entry window will not shift right or left. sF4 (Shift-F4) Enables or disarms the 'protect' feature. When protect is disarmed, data entry is allowed into protected areas. aF4 (Alt-F4) When a range check or verification error condition has been raised, pressing Alt-F4 overrides the error condition and accepts the entered value. When there is no error condition raised, Alt-F4 disarms the keyboard locking feature. When the lock feature is disarmed, KP5 will report, but not enforce, data entry and verification errors. F6 Pressing this key causes a designated 'fill character' to be copied into the current record. Copy proceeds from the current position to the next tab stop (or the end of the current card, if no tabs are assigned). sF6 (Shift-F6) This key causes whatever was entered into the PREVIOUS record (during the current data entry session) to be copied into the CURRENT record. The copy proceeds from the initial position to the end of the data entry field, as defined in the mask. If the cursor is not positioned in a multiple-column field, a single character will be copied. Old- timers recognize this function as the DUP key. F7 Activates the 'show current' feature. This causes whatever was in the current card BEFORE the data entry/verification session to be displayed below the data entry window. This feature is automatically activated when the verify error condition is raised. F8 Allows you to change the record key value. F9 Sets or releases the MARK flag for the current record. This may be used to identify problem records during data entry. Marked records may be listed and shown to a data manager or administrator for review. sF9 (Shift-F9) Sets or releases the DELETE flag for the current record. Deleted records must be removed in a separate step, using the PACK procedure on the UTILITIES menu. aF9 (Alt-F9) This is the UNDO key: any changes made while in the record editor will be 'undone', eg, the record will be restored to its pre-edit state. F10 Activates the main menu. Each of the actions carried out by the function keys explained in this section may also be selected from the RECORD or FEATURES menus. You may also select Help from the FILE menu, to check out this document while entering data. The following additional keys have special meaning: Enter Ends data entry and accepts the record. F2 Acts as an alternate Enter key. F3 Exit to DOS. Esc Cancels data entry. Tab Moves cursor to the next tab stop (if any). Shift-Tab Moves cursor to the previous tab stop. Numpad-Plus Acts as an alternate Tab key. Numpad-Minus Acts as an alternate BackTab key. (Numpad-Plus and Numpad-Minus are the '+' and '-' keys on the numeric keypad) RANGE CHECK ERRORS It is possible to set up the data entry mask so that valid-value and missing-value ranges are checked during data entry. If the range check error condition is raised, the keyboard will (normally) lock up, and a nasty message will be displayed in the information box. You have two options: 1) if you goofed, retype the field, or 2) if you need to override the error condition, press Alt-F4. If the error indicates a coding mistake, and the chucklehead who filled out the form is not around to resolve it, one thing you might do is leave the field blank (or set it to a missing value), MARK the record by pressing F9, then list the marked record(s) at the end of your data entry session. Put those yellow sticky things all over the form and place it aside. You may disarm the keyboard-lockup-on-error feature at any time using the Lock option on the FEATURES menu. When this feature is disarmed, range check errors are reported in the information box, but not enforced. When the cursor is located on a field for which an error condition has been raised, you may press F1 to diagnose the error. A 'details' box will be displayed, showing the defined valid and missing value ranges, along with the entered value. >Verifying records Verifying records is pretty much just like entering new records. You start a verification session by selecting Verify from the DATA ENTRY menu. The record key dialog pops up, and you will be expected to enter the key of an existing record to verify. Since you will be entering existing keys, the 'Current Key' box now has some relevance, and so will now be explained. HOW TO SELECT AN EXISTING RECORD KEY The most direct way to select an existing record key for verification (or modification) is to simply type it. However, you may also locate and retrieve record keys by 'cruising'. Here's how. There is always a 'current record', and its key is shown in the right-hand box on the record key dialog screen. You may change the current record by pressing Ctrl-left arrow (obtain the previous record) or Ctrl-right arrow (retrieve the next record). You may access (verify) the current record by pressing Ctrl-Enter. Another way to locate record keys is to press Shift-F1. This will display the record keys on a menu from which you may make a selection. The record key browser can select all keys, or a subset of keys based upon the record flags (exported / verified / marked / deleted). One obvious use of this screening capability in verify mode is to browse only unverified records. The browser operates much faster when you opt for all keys. VERIFICATION ERRORS During verification, the range-checking error handler is replaced by a verification error handler. This procedure raises the verification error condition whenever a keystroke does not agree with what was entered during the first pass. As with range checks, the keyboard will lock up, and you must either retype the old keystroke, or press Alt-F4 to accept the new keystroke. Records may be partially or 100% verified. You may partially verify a record by typing in a portion of the record, then pressing Enter. The arrow keys (NOT the Tab keys) may be used to skip over areas that are not to be verified. KP5 keeps track of the verification status of every character in every record, so it knows if a record has been fully verified. Whenever the verify flags are printed or displayed, lower-case 'v's indicate partial verification, while upper-case 'V's indicate 100% verification. If the -T the command- line switch was used when KP5 was loaded, 100% verification will be enforced (see "Complete command-line syntax"). >Modifying records Modifying records is easy: select Modify from the DATA ENTRY menu, then enter the key of the record you wish to modify. You may use the methods described under verification to locate record keys. HOW MODIFYING AFFECTS THE RECORD FLAGS When records are modified, the export flags are set to 'not exported'. The reason for this is that it is routine for administrators to regularly export to ASCII only those records flagged as verified but 'not exported yet'. By setting modified records to 'not exported', the regular export runs will include not only new, but modified records as well. The verification flags are not changed when records are modified, although there is nothing wrong with re-verifying a drastically modified record, just to be safe. >Looking at records There are times when people, especially administrators, need to just LOOK at records, without the possibility of (accidentally) modifying them. For this, select Look from the DATA ENTRY menu. 'Look' mode is similar to modify mode, except that it is impossible to actually modify data. An added feature in Look mode is that, even when the record editor is running, the Ctrl-left and Ctrl- right keys are active, allowing you to retrieve adjacent records without exiting to the record key dialog. >Exporting records to ASCII files As I have probably mentioned a few dozen times, the idea behind KP5 is to prepare ASCII text files for processing by statistical or data management software. KP5 files (files with names like *.KPF) are NOT ASCII text files. They must be 'exported' to ASCII before they can be used. There are two ways to export records: you may do it interactively, using the menus, or you may do it in batch mode, by using KP5 command-line options. Following is a discussion of each of these methods. HOW TO EXPORT USING THE MENUS Select Export from the FILE MENU. The export dialog screen will be displayed. Into this screen you specify the name of the ASCII file to be created, as well as any record selection criteria. A facsimile of the export dialog screen is shown below. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ export (ASCII) file name C:\KP5\FILES\STUDYX.DAT________ │ │ │ │ exported N minimum date __________ │ │ verified Y maximum date __________ │ │ marked __ │ │ remove trailing blanks? N │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The EXPORT Dialog Screen The information that you enter into the dialog box is as follows. o The name of the ASCII file to be created. o Whether to select records based on whether or not they have already been exported (Y-select EXPORTED records, N-select UNEXPORTED records, blank-ignore the export status). o Whether to select records based on whether or not they have been verified (Y-select 100% VERIFIED records, N-select UNVERIFIED records, P-select PARTIALLY or 100% verified fields, O-select partially verified records ONLY, blank-ignore verification status). o Whether to select records based upon the MARK flag (Y-select MARKED records, etc.). o Whether to select records based upon the date they were created or last modified. o Whether to remove trailing blanks from the exported ASCII records. Depending on the record layout, this may save a considerable amount of disk space. In the above example, records that have been verified but not yet exported will be selected. This is the usual selection criterion for exported data. Deleted records are NEVER exported. The ASCII file record length will be determined by the CARD SIZE value of the KP5 file. The number of physical ASCII records generated per logical record will be the same as the CARDS PER RECORD value. HOW TO EXPORT RECORDS IN BATCH MODE As explained "The complete command-line syntax", the -X, -N, and -V command-line switches may be used to generate export ASCII files. Thus, it is possible to write batch files that export records, then feed them to other programs that add them to master files, check for logical consistency errors, etc. In batch mode, the export file name is always <filename>.DAT, where <filename> is the name of the KP5 file. For example, the command line: kp5 c:\kp5\files\studyx peter -x -n -v ..will generate an ASCII file named c:\kp5\files\studyx.dat. That file will include all the verified records that are new or modified. WARNING: in batch mode, the target ASCII file will be replaced if it already exists. >Listings KP5 supports a variety of listings, or reports. Before you generate a report, it is a good idea to make sure the printer is correctly defined (see "Printer Setup"). Select List from the FILE menu. A pop-up menu, providing the report options, will be displayed. There are three kinds of reports: o A 'basic' listing that describes the file structure, and shows record counts (total, exported, verified, deleted, marked). o An 'abstract' listing that includes a file structure report plus a list of record keys and flags. o A 'full' listing that includes a file structure report plus a listing of records. The abstract and full listings may be restricted to a subset based upon record flags, user name, and/or date of last access. If you select either abstract or full, the listings dialog screen will be displayed. The purpose of this dialog is to allow you to enter a record-selection criterion. A reasonable facsimile of this screen is shown below. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Printer type HP LaserJet/DeskJet │ │ Destination Printer │ │ Extended Charset Yes │ │──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ Full line size (80/132) 80 │ │ │ │ exported __ minimum date __________ │ │ verified __ maximum date __________ │ │ marked __ │ │ deleted __ user __________ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The LISTINGS Dialog Screen For full listings, and depending on the printer type and card size, you may be asked to specify a LINE SIZE. If you enter 132 columns, a slightly more readable printout will be generated. The remaining items are used for restricting the list to subsets of records. The criteria are ANDed together. For example, if you enter PETER for 'user name' and enter N for 'verified', you will obtain a listing of records entered by PETER that were not verified. Criteria that are left blank will be ignored. For example, Y for 'verified' selects verified records, N selects unverified records, and blank causes verification status to be ignored. If you don't like what you see regarding printer type and printout destination, press F10, select Printer Setup from the FILE menu, and change it (or press the 'really hot' key, Alt-P). You will be returned to the report options dialog screen right where you left off. >Printer Setup The Printer Setup option on the FILE menu allows you to specify 1) what kind of printer you have, and 2) where the printout should be directed (eg, to a file or to the printer). The PRINTER SETUP dialog box is shown below. ┌───────────────────── Printer Setup ─────────────────────┐ │┌───────────────┐ │ ││Exit │ │ ││Type of printer│ Printer type HP LaserJet/DeskJet │ ││Destination │ Destination Printer │ │└───────────────┘ Extended Charset Yes │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The PRINTER SETUP Dialog The dialog is controlled by the pop-up menu at the left. Press T to change the printer type, and D to change the printout destination. Press E to exit and save the definitions. The printer setup information is saved in the KP5 configuration file. The various printout-generating dialogs in KP5 display the current printer setup information. This is to give you a chance to change it, by pressing F10 and activating the menu system, before printing. >Designing the Mask The data entry 'mask' consists of five elements, or records: o A PICTURE that determines what kind of character (if any) can be entered into each position. o A TABS/ATTRIBUTES element that defines the tab stops, as well as a number of special 'attributes' that a record position may have. o A MINIMUM VALID record that contains lower limits for 'valid' (non-missing) ranges. o A MAXIMUM VALID record that contains upper limits for valid ranges. o A MINIMUM MISSING record that contains the lower limits for missing value ranges. These elements are edited using the 'mask editor', which is available from the MASK menu. Modifying a mask element is very much like entering a data record. It is not necessary to modify any of the mask elements, as KP5 will cook up a default set for you. However, most users feel the need at some point. The general usage of the editor is explained in "The Mask Editor", and details for using the editor for each of the mask elements are given in separate topics. >The Mask Editor The Mask Editor is the means by which the five mask elements may be modified to fit your record structure. No matter which element is being edited, there are certain keys that behave similarly. These are explained below. Enter Pressing Enter causes the current mask definitions to be save (on your approval), and exits the mask editor. F2 Same action as the Enter key. Esc Cancels mask edit. sF3 (Shift-F3) Switches between the five elements, maintaining the cursor at its current position. F1 Displays a HELP screen that is specific to the current mask element. cF1 (Ctrl-F1) Switches the contents of the 'information box' at the top of the mask editor screen. F10 Activates the menu. Details on how to use the Mask Editor for each of the mask elements are provided in separate topics. >Mask Editor: The Picture mask element The PICTURE is probably the most important mask element. It is used not only to define the kinds of data that may be entered, but also to determine what areas may be used for data entry. A picture editing screen is shown below. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ @ any character ! uppercase ││ ││ f1 help 9 numeric (0-9) ^ nonblank character ││ ││cf1 more.. # numbers (0-9,blnk) $ nonblank+uppercase ││ │└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ │1 10 20 30 40 50 >│ │╞═══╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤═══│ │99999!@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@99999999@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ │ │@@@@@@#############################!@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ │ │╞═══╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧═══│ │Tab Prot vCpy Strt End kyCpy 1 │1 │1│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ The PICTURE Editor If you look at the default picture for any KP5 file, you will see a record that is filled in with '@'s. The @ tells KP5 to accept ANY character into that data entry position. Other so-called 'editing characters' have different meanings: @ - any character 9 - digits (0-9 only) # - numeric characters (0-9, blank, '+', '-', and '.') ^ - any non-blank character ! - any character; will be converted to uppercase $ - any non-blank character; will be converted to uppercase These characters are displayed in the 'information box' at the top of the PICTURE editing screen. Modifying a mask is simply a matter of entering the appropriate editing characters into the proper places in the record. If a character is entered into the mask that is NOT one of the above editing characters, that position will be considered a 'protected field'. What is a protected field? I hear you ask. Read on: PROTECTED FIELDS A 'protected' field is a region into which data entry is normally prohibited. To illustrate, consider the scenario described in the section about setting up new files. Under that scheme, the card size was 240 columns, but most cards were blank starting around column 200, to allow for 'expansion' within the record. Those blank areas should be protected from data entry, at least until the expansion takes place. Protected areas are usually blank, but they may contain data that is to be 'hard wired' into each record. For example, you may want to place a constant 'file code', or 'record layout code', somewhere in each record. This code will be the same for each record. It is possible during data entry to temporarily 'unprotect' a protected area. Defining protected fields is usually accomplished by typing whatever it is that is supposed to be there. For example, use the space bar for blank protected fields, type 'A123' if a file code is supposed to have that value, etc. The only problem that should arise is in the case where a protected field is supposed to contain one of the editing characters (say that the file code is 'A009'). In that case, you will have to manually protect the position(s). You do that by pressing Ctrl-F4, which is one of the 'attribute function keys' that are shared between the PICTURE editor and the TABS/ATTRIBUTES editor (see the discussion of the TABS/ATTRIBUTES editor). Protected areas appear in the PICTURE editor in reverse video. You may also verify that a position is protected by looking at the 'attribute status' display at the bottom of the screen. All of the possible attributes are displayed in this line, and the attributes for the current position are highlighted and in uppercase. SPECIAL KEYS FOR THE PICTURE EDITOR ONLY The PICTURE editor sports an enhanced set of editing keys, at least compared to the data entry record editor. Insert mode and destructive deletes are supported, so columns may be shifted left or right as you wish. Ctrl-End will blank out (protect) the rest of the current card. You may also insert and remove entire cards. All of the special keys are explained in a special HELP screen available by pressing F1. It is important to remember that the PICTURE editor ONLY affects the data entry mask, and NOT the actual data. For example, inserting a new card in the PICTURE will NOT insert blank cards in the actual records. The number of cards in the file structure will remain the same (cards below the insertion point will be shifted down, and the last card will be removed). If you want to add or remove columns or cards in the data set, use the KPI utility program that is shipped with KP5. >Mask Editor: The Tabs/Attributes mask element Each position in a KP5 record may have any of five 'attributes': tab, vertical copy, key copy, field start, and field end. In the TABS/ATTRIBUTES editor, you set attributes by typing in 'surrogate characters' for each of the attributes. These are: t, v, k, n, b, [, and ], as shown below in the sample TABS/ATTRIBUTES mask editor screen. ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ ││ b bypass verify f1 help ││ ││ t set tab v vertical copy [ field start cf1 more.. ││ ││ n numeric k key copy ] field end ││ │└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ │1 10 20 30 40 50 >│ │╞═══╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤════╪════╤═══│ │kkkkk [ ] kkkkkkkkt bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb │ │vvvvvt t │ │vvvvvt │ │╞═══╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧════╪════╧═══│ │Tab Prot Vcpy Strt End kycpy 1 │1 │1│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ TABS/ATTRIBUTES mask editor TABS To set a tab stop, enter a 't' in the appropriate position. KP5 will beep when the cursor meets a tab stop during data entry, so many users set tab as audible cues that indicate to the data entry operator where the cursor is. A really good data entry operator rarely looks at the screen, so audible cues are most helpful. Another use for tab stops is in conjunction with the 'fill key'. When the operator presses the 'fill key' (F6), a 'fill character' is entered into the record, starting with the current position and proceeding to the next tab stop. The most common use of the 'fill key' is to fill with 'not applicable' codes. For example, if the response to the question 'do you smoke?' is NO, the rest of the current smoking section should be coded as 'not applicable'. If the convention is that 'not applicable' codes consist of strings of 9's, then the operator would press F6, then press 9. KEY COPY FIELDS Key copy (k) fields are normally set by the program. However, you may have the record key duplicated anywhere in the record by setting the 'k' attribute. Warning: this procedure is not recommended for records having multiple keys. The program will attempt to duplicate the entire multiple key as it finds enough 'k's, which may not be what you want. I recommend that vertical copy (next paragraph), NOT key copy, be used wherever possible. Key copy fields are super-protected; they cannot be unprotected as can normal protected fields. The ONLY way to change record keys is by using the 'key name' key (F8) available in the record editor. THE VERTICAL COPY ATTRIBUTE A position that has the 'vertical copy' (v) attribute will have copied into it whatever was entered into the preceding card at the same column. In the sample screen, columns 1-5 of cards 2 and 3 are set for vertical copy, which means that columns 1-5 of the first card will be copied straight down onto the next two cards. This happens to be a record key field (subject ID), so the result is that the subject ID will be entered into the first 5 columns of each card. Vertical copy fields are automatically protected. FIELD START and END The [ and ] characters are used to define data entry fields that have more than one column. When a field has been defined in this way, any range checks defined in the remaining mask elements will operate on the entire field, not each character individually. If a data entry position has neither attribute, it is assumed to be a single-column field. NUMERIC FIELDS Numeric fields are evaluated as numbers during range and verification checks (eg, '005.3' and '5.300' are equivalent). In addition, entries will be right-justified on input. To define a field as numeric, first set its start and end points with the [ and ] keys. Next, position the cursor anywhere in the field and press the 'n' key. See the NUMERIC FIELDS topic for more information. BYPASS VERIFY FIELDS Bypass verify (b) fields are those for which you will not require verification. For example, you may not wish to verify a 'fuzzy' field such as one containing a free-text comment. A record will be considered 100% verified if all fields except for the bypassed ones have been verified. MULTIPLE ATTRIBUTES It is possible to set multiple attributes in the same position, but, obviously, only one attribute character may be displayed. To clarify things, the 'attribute status' display in the lower left corner of the mask editor shows all of the attributes for the current position. ATTRIBUTES VIA FUNCTION KEYS It is also possible to set (and release) attributes using function keys. To see which keys do what, press Ctrl-F1. The information box display will change, showing all of the function key assignments. For example, Ctrl-F4 may be used to protect a field, and Ctrl-F9 will define a field as 'numeric'. The function key assignments are common to both the PICTURE and TABS/ATTRIBUTES editors, which means that you may set attributes from within the PICTURE editor. The function key assignments may be displayed from within the PICTURE editor, also by pressing Ctrl-F1. ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │cf1 more.. cf4 protect cf7 field start f4 wrap f10 menu │ │cf2 set tab cf5 vert copy cf8 field end sf3 switch <─┘ save │ │cf3 unprot cf6 key copy cf9 numeric Esc cancel│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ATTRIBUTES function keys >Mask Editor: The Range-Check mask elements The remaining mask elements (MINIMUM VALID, MAXIMUM VALID, MINIMUM MISSING) define ranges for validity checks. These mask elements work with the FIELD START and FIELD END attributes, set by the TABS/ATTRIBUTES editor, to check data as they are input. For a given field, any, all, or none of the range values may be defined. The range-check mask elements may be used to define data types that are not included in the PICTURE editing characters. For example, say that two fields are to be defined: a 1-column field containing a number in the range 1-3, followed by a three-digit number in the range 001-240. The missing value codes for the first field are 7 (refused), 8 (unknown), and 9 (not applicable). Similarly. the missing value codes for the second field are 997, 998, and 999. Blanks are prohibited in the first field, but allowed in the second. The mask elements might look like this: PICTURE 9### ATTRIBUTES [ ] MINIMUM VALID 1001 MAXIMUM VALID 3240 MINIMUM MISSING 7997 IMPORTANT NOTE: Unless a field has been defined as numeric, it will be treated as a character string for the purpose of range-checking. This means that numbers should be right-justified and left-zero- filled (eg, '001', not ' 1'). A NOTE CONCERNING RANGE CHECKS Even though I have implemented range checks in KP5, you might want to think twice about using them. The reason is that range checks are generally used to trap CODING mistakes, not DATA ENTRY errors. The latter are controlled by double-pass keying (verification). It is usually the case that when a coding error is found during data entry, it cannot be immediately resolved. The operator must put the form aside, and wait until the data manager or some other administrator can determine what to do about the error. This process can slow down considerably the data entry operation. We have found that the place to check for coding mistakes is at the point at which the exported ASCII records are input and added to the master statistical files. Batches of records with errors are thus identified and resolved at some regularly scheduled time. >Numeric fields It is now possible to define a 'numeric field' in a KP5 mask. Values entered into numeric fields will be automatically right- justified, or aligned to a decimal point position if one is defined in the picture. Range checks will be evaluated numerically (up to 19 significant digits) instead of as characters, so you don't have to worry about left-zero-fills. HOW TO DEFINE A NUMERIC FIELD The first step is to define a standard field in the TABS mask editor, eg, place a '[' where the field starts and a ']' where it ends. Next, while still in the TABS mask editor, position the cursor anywhere within the field and press 'n'. The field should fill up with n's and the attribute display at the lower left should indicate NUM. THE PICTURE MASK FOR NUMERIC FIELDS You may use any picture-editing characters for numeric fields, although usually you would use either '#' or '9'. If you place a period ('.') in a numeric field's picture, a 'decimal anchor' will be defined at that position. If a decimal anchor is defined, then entered values will be aligned around it. ENTERING NUMBERS If a decimal anchor exists for a numeric field, the entered value will be right-justified to the anchor position as soon as: - the '.' key is pressed - the space bar is pressed - the cursor leaves the numeric field via an arrow or tab key If there is not a decimal anchor, the entered value will be right- justified to the last position as soon as: - the operator presses the space bar - the cursor leaves the numeric field via an arrow or tab key Note that a decimal point will be placed in the field only if the operator keys it in: a decimal anchor is NOT a protected, 'constant' field. ENTERING NON-NUMERIC DATA INTO NUMERIC FIELDS So-called numeric fields do not have to be numbers. You may define a numeric field to accept entry of any datum that you would like right-justified, or aligned at a decimal anchor. For example, epidemiologists do a lot with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. These codes look like fixed decimal numbers, except that trailing blanks are important and many start with an alpha character. A KP5 numeric field may be set up to accept ICD codes with a picture like this: !!!!.!!! When a code like 'E83', '140.9', or '20.0' is entered, followed by pressing the space bar, the entry will be correctly aligned and the cursor will advance to the next field. The numeric range check will be bypassed if the entered value is not numeric. >Session statistics files generated by KP5 A session statistics file consists of records that provide summaries of keypunch sessions. A record is generated each time a KP5 file is closed. By default, the statistics file generated by KP5 is dBase-III compatible and named KP5STATS.DBF. However, the file will be ASCII text and named KP5STATS.DAT if the -A command- line switch is used, or suppressed entirely if the -O switch is used. KP5 attempts to place the statistics file in the program directory (usually C:\KP5); if this cannot be done (on a network with restricted access to that directory, for example), the file is placed in the same directory as the KP5 file that was most recently processed. The dBase record structure, as well as the layout of the ASCII text file, is as follows: Field Field Name Type Width 1 DATE Date 8 Date (YYYYMMDD) 2 FILE Character 8 KP5 file name 3 USER Character 10 User name 4 TIMEIN_HH Numeric 2 Time started (hours) 5 TIMEIN_MM Numeric 2 Time started (minutes) 6 TIMOUT_HH Numeric 2 Time finished (hours) 7 TIMOUT_MM Numeric 2 Time finished (minutes) 8 ELAPSED Numeric 6 Elapsed time (minutes) 9 KEYSTROKES Numeric 6 #keystrokes 10 RATE Numeric 6 #keystrokes/hour 11 ADDED Numeric 6 #records added 12 VERIFIED Numeric 6 #records verified 13 MODIFIED Numeric 6 #records modified 14 DELETED Numeric 6 #records deleted 15 EXPORTED Numeric 6 #records exported 16 N_RECORDS Numeric 6 total #records in file 17 DIRECTORY Character 64 KP5 file DOS directory >The UTILITIES Menu The UTILITIES menu provides access to functions that are not necessary for normal processing. These functions are discussed in this section. COPY FILE This procedure is used to make a copy of the KP5 file, optionally removing deleted records as it goes. You may also use DOS for the same purpose (eg, COPY or XCOPY), but DOS will not fix the file header to reflect the new data set name. This is not a big deal, since KP5 will do this, on your say-so, when the new file is opened. The COPY FILE procedure is included for administrators who wish to isolate their data entry operators from the DOS command line. COPY STRUCTURE This procedure makes a copy of the file structure and mask. It is used to initialize a new file having the same characteristics as the current KP5 file, but no records. UPDATE This procedure is used to update the current file with records from another KP5 file. Normally, records having the same keys in the update file will replace records in the current file, although you may prevent this. EMPTY This procedure removes all records from the current KP5 file, but keeps the structure and mask intact. Obviously, it is not for the faint of heart, and will require you to confirm (twice) that it is your intention to zap the file. DELETE EXPORTED (*new in 5.06*) This procedure will delete all exported records in the current KP5 file. The PACK procedure (below) must then be run to physically remove the deleted records. Make a backup first: you never know when one of those supposedly 'finished' records will come back to haunt you. GLOBAL FLAG SET (*new in 5.06*) This procedure allows you to set or release the DELETE, EXPORT, and/or MARK flags for ALL records in the current KP5 file. For example, you may use it to remove all record marks. RESTRUCTURE This procedure allows you to make structural changes to the KP5 file. You may change the card size, number of cards per record, and key locations. If the file has records in it, they will be truncated or padded with blanks if the card size is adjusted. If you increase the number of cards per record, one or more blank card(s) will be appended to each record. If the number of cards per record is decreased, one or more card(s) will be removed from the end of each record. If the key definitions are changed, the file will be re-indexed. If what you want to do is insert or remove columns or cards from the data set, you probably should use the utility program, KPI.EXE, which is shipped along with KP5 (see Appendix V). The RESTRUCTURE procedure built into KP5 will always operate on data 'in place'. MASK STRUCTURE REPORT This procedure generates a printout of the mask structures. It may be a long printout, since one line is printed for each data entry position. PACK This procedure removes deleted records from the KP5 file. The PACK procedure requires free disk space in order to make a temporary backup of the data set, but it will check first to make sure enough is available. INDEX Run the INDEX procedure if you think the index has become 'trashed'. Normally, KP5 will sense this condition and automatically reindex the file, but there may be times when it won't. Symptoms of a damaged index are: failure to locate records that you know are in the file, or retrieval of the wrong records, or catastrophic lockups when retrieval is attempted. Indexes tend to get out of whack when KP5 is 'abnormally terminated' (the machine locks up or is turned off or rebooted while the program is running). ASCII IMPORT This utility allows you to import data from an ASCII data set into the current KP5 file. The structure of the ASCII file must match that of the KP5 file, eg, there must be the same number of physical records (cards) per logical record. KP4 IMPORT This procedure is used to convert KP4 files into KP5 files. It is not necessary to have a KP5 file open when KP4 IMPORT is run -- a new file will be created from the information in the KP4 file and mask (KP4 is the prior incarnation of the KP system). FILE PASSWORD Select this option if you want to add password protection to a KP5 file, or if you want to change a file's password. The password will be required whenever the file is opened, packed, emptied, or restructured. WARNING: Do not forget the password! It is stored in the file header in encrypted form, and you may not be able to hack it out (at least, I HOPE you won't be able to). You may remove password protection entering a blank password. COLORS This procedure is used to modify the colors used by KP5. The color set will be saved in a configuration file named KP5.CFG in your current directory. If you wind up with crazy colors, and want to restore the default set, simply erase the configuration file, or use one of the colorset command-line switches (-m, -b, or -c) the next time you run KP5. VALID KEY INDEX This option establishes a 'valid-key' file for the current session. The valid-key file is some master KP5 file that contains a complete set of record keys. Using a valid-key file ensures that only valid record keys will be entered, and is useful when entering records for some pre-defined set of respondents. >Shelling to DOS There may be times when you would like to use DOS while running KP5. For example, you might want to create a new KP5 in some directory, but you forgot to create the directory first. Or, you might want to delete files to free up disk space prior to packing or copying a file. The process of temporarily exiting to the DOS environment is called shelling to DOS, and you may do this by selecting Shell to DOS from the FILE menu. As a precaution against accidentally manipulating any open files (a sure recipe for disaster), the Shell to DOS option is not available whenever a KP5 file is open. To return to KP5, type EXIT at the DOS prompt.