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RBBS in a Box Volume 1 #2
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RBBS_vol1_no2.iso
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1989-02-10
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FORMS.EXE and REPORTS.EXE
--------- -----------
These programs came about from a need to have documentation for the
different screen and report forms that were being designed for some
very extensive Paradox v 2.0 applications. The programs will
extract the form or information and create a text file that can be
printed and stored with the other application documentation. The
text files are replications of the Paradox form or report design.
What you design is what you get.
OPERATION
---------
The first thing you will want to do is copy all the screen or
report form files (*.F?? or *.R??) into a separate directory or
onto a separate floppy. This is to protect your original files and
other important data from any possible damage or accidental eraser.
The programs also creates default output file name that are the
original name plus an 'A' at the end. The programs will automati-
cally rename output files for reports and screens which have more
than 3 character extensions. For instance, with Paradox v 2.0 you
may have up to 14 forms plus the standard form. In this instance
the output from EXAMPLE.F would be EXAMPLE.FA, the output from
EXAMPLE.F1 would be EXAMPLE.F1A. Forms and reports from 10 to 14
would be renamed following a hexadecimal scheme. Thus output from
EXAMPLE.F10 would be EXAMPLE.FAA and EXAMPLE.F14 would be
EXAMPLE.FEA. In this way output files should not interfere with
any other files. The file naming conventions are used with the
program REPORTS.
The programs are very simple to operate and have two modes of
operation.
Option 1:
---------
At the DOS prompt type FORMS (or REPORTS) hit enter and the program
will ask you for an input file name. DOS path are supported if the
files are not in the current directory. Enter the name you want to
copy to a text file and hit enter.
[drive:][path]filename.ext
Next the program will ask for an output file name showing to the
right that the default is the input filename. As previously de-
scribed the program will rename the output file appropriately so as
not to over-write the input file.
[drive:][path]filename.ext
All the normal limitations for DOS file name apply (8 character
name plus 3 for extension) and if a '.' is not detected one will be
added. Hit enter when you have the output file named and the
program will continue its operation.
The final question that is asked is if you want a straight ASCII
file or if graphic characters used for borders and boxes will be
left as is or converted to characters between 32 and 127 (normal
printing characters). Answer 'Y' and the conversion will be done;
answer 'N' and the conversion will not be done.
To cancel the programs operation at either of the 3 input lines you
may hit ESC and the program will terminate.
Option 2:
---------
At the DOS prompt type FORMS [drive:][path]filename.ext[,(Y or N)]
and hit enter. No other user intervention is required. The de-
fault output file name will be used and the answer to the straight
ASCII question will be answered. If you don't supply the answer to
the ASCII question the program will ask only that question. You
must use the comma (,) between the filename and the Y or N. In
this manner you may set up a batch file with all the forms or
reports you want converted.
Example: TEST.BAT
FORMS EXAMPLE.F1,Y
FORMS EXAMPLE.F2,N
FORMS EXAMPLE.F3,Y
.
.
.
In this way you can process all your screen forms without inputting
each individually. Likewise you may create a similar batch file to
process the report designs as well. The format is identical except
proceed each filename with the program name REPORTS. The 2 pro-
grams can be run from the same batch file.
PRINTING
--------
The text files produced by FORMS.EXE and REPORTS.EXE can be printed
on most dot matrix printer or other graphics capable printer. You
may have to send special code to the printer in order to print
ASCII characters in the range 128-255 if you use them in your forms
for borders and such. As an example for the Epson FX286e the codes
ESCt1 (chr$(27)+"t1") will select the Epson character graphics
table. This will not effect normal characters (ASCII character 1-
127) but will print the upper characters as they appear. You may
also need to edit the text files using any ASCII text editor
(Wordstar in non- document mode) to insert page breaks were you may
want then so that large screen files aren't split were they should-
n't be. If you don't have a wide carriage printer (and how many of
us do) you may need to reformat some of the calculated field de-
scription lines to print on 80 column paper or print in compressed
mode or both. This program only extracts the form and puts it into
a form that can be edited or just printed as is.
The output text files from the FORMS program contains the designed
screen form as it appears in PARADOX form generator plus:
Form Title
What line the field appears
Where the field starts
Where the field ends
What form page the field appears on
What field number (from associated table structure)
The fields are also subdivided into REGULAR, DISPLAY ONLY and
CALCULATED fields. With CALCULATED field the calculation used is
also displayed.
The output text files from the REPORTS program contains the de-
signed report as it appears in the PARADOX report generator plus:
Report Title
Printer Port
Right Margin
Number of Fields used
Page Length
Left Margin
Setup String
Number of Page Widths
Field type (Regular, Current Date, etc)
Summary type (for summary fields)
Summary Group (for summary fields)
Start Position
Line Number defined on
Display length
Calculation (for calculated regular and summary fields)
With this information anyone should be able to recreate any screen
form or report design for a damaged or deleted forms or report.
DISK CONTENTS
-------------
The files contained on this disk are:
FORMS.EXE The forms program
REPORTS.EXE The reports program
FRM-RPT.DOC This documentation file
OT.DB Sample Tables and Forms or Reports
OT.F1 " " " " " "
OT-TEMP.DB " " " " " "
OT-TEMP.R1 " " " " " "
REVIEW.DB " " " " " "
REVIEW.F2 " " " " " "
REVIEW.F10 " " " " " "
REVIEW.F6 " " " " " "
REVIEW.R1 " " " " " "
REVIEW.R10 " " " " " "
REVIEW.R11 " " " " " "
Questions, comments or inquiries should be directed to the address
on the last page.
Improvements to come: Support for Paradox v 3.0 (as soon as I
purchase a copy)
Copyright/License/Warranty
--------------------------
This document and the program file FORMS.EXE ("the software") are
copyrighted by the author. The copyright owner hereby licenses you
to: use the software; make as many copies of the program and docu-
mentation as you wish; give such copies to anyone; and distribute
the software and documentation via electronic means. There is no
charge for any of the above.
However, you are specifically prohibited from charging, or request-
ing donations, for any such copies, however made; and from distrib-
uting the software and/or documentation with commercial products
without prior permission.
NO FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS AUTHORIZED TO CHARGE ANY AMOUNT FOR
DISTRIBUTION OF COPIES OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION, OR TO
INCLUDE COPIES OF THE SOFTWARE OR DOCUMENTATION WITH SALES OF THEIR
OWN PRODUCTS.
THIS INCLUDES A SPECIFIC PROHIBITION AGAINST FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZA-
TIONS DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, EITHER ALONE OR WITH OTHER SOFT-
WARE, AND CHARGING A "HANDLING" OR "MATERIALS" FEE OR ANY OTHER
SUCH FEE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION. NO FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS
AUTHORIZED TO INCLUDE THE SOFTWARE ON ANY MEDIA FOR WHICH MONEY IS
CHARGED. PERIOD.
There is no restriction on the use of this software in commercial
or institutional environments.
No copy of the software may be distributed or given away without
this document; and this notice must not be removed.
There is no warranty of any kind, and the copyright owner is not
liable for damages of any kind. By using this free software, you
agree to this.
The software and documentation are:
Copyright (C) 1989 by
Russ Walter
RW Enterprises
1175 Hunter Dr.
Elgin, IL 60120