home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2
/
The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO
/
info
/
pcf65.inf
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-06-08
|
22KB
|
548 lines
PC-FILE 6.5 IS HERE!
I hope 1992 has brought positive changes for you. I've been
listening carefully to what you'd like to see improved and added
to PC-File. In response to your suggestions, we've created one of
the finest updates to PC-File yet. We've added new features to
make PC-File 6.5 even more powerful, flexible and easy to use.
Here's a brief synopsis of what we've included in this update:
* SIGNIFICANT SPEED ENHANCEMENTS.
* NEW RELATIONAL UPDATE.
* FRIENDLY DIALOG BOXES COACH YOU THROUGH DEFINING RELATIONAL
LOOK-UPS.
* CONFIGURABLE TABLE VIEW.
* REDEFINING YOUR DATABASE IS GREATLY IMPROVED.
* NOW PRINT POSTAL BAR CODES--& 13 OTHER BAR CODE FORMATS.
* "GREATER THAN," "LESS THAN" AND "NOT EQUALS" COMPARISONS IN
SIMPLE SEARCH.
* NEW CALCULATION FUNCTIONS CONVERT STRINGS OF TEXT TO UPPERCASE,
LOWERCASE OR MIXED CASE. OR, COMBINE STRINGS OF TEXT.
* CUSTOMIZE COLORS FOR ANY PART OF YOUR SCREEN.
* THE PACK, REPAIR AND DATABASE DESCRIPTION UTILITIES ARE UPDATED
AND FULLY INTEGRATED.
* THE POP-UP CALCULATOR LOOKS JUST LIKE A "REAL" CALCULATOR WITH
NUMBERS AND FUNCTION BUTTONS.
* DATES BEFORE 1900 AND AFTER 1999 NOW SUPPORTED.
Please take a moment to read more about the new features in this
update and the benefits they offer you.
Sincerely, Jim Button
P.S. PC-File 6.5 requires a hard disk or high-capacity (1.2MB or
1.44MB) floppies, at least 450K available RAM, and DOS 3.0 or
higher.
A NEW DIMENSION OF POWER & PERFORMANCE: PC-FILE 6.5
SPEED
We've worked hard to speed up PC-File 6.5 in graphics mode and on
machines "tight" on memory. In our tests, viewing and editing in
Table View was between one and a half and seven times faster than
PC-File 6.0. Displaying menus, dialog boxes and help screens in
graphics mode saw comparable speed gains. On machines with
extended memory, speed improvements ranged from one and a half to
twenty times faster. The greatest performance gains were on the
machines with only the minimum amount of required memory (450K)
available, but with extended memory. Regardless, of the machine
or memory configuration, PC-File 6.5 is measurably faster in every
test.
RELATIONAL UPDATE OFFERS MORE POWER, GREATER FLEXIBILITY
Updating your data is easier with new Batch-Posting. Now you can
update information in related databases quickly and easily. With
the click of a few buttons you can tell PC-File to update an
address, subtract units from inventory, post information to
accounts payable--all without leaving the database you're in!
If you change your mind, just use the Undo function.
RELATIONAL LOOKUPS ARE IMPROVED, TOO!
We've brought this function up to speed with our graphical user
interface--no more memorizing complicated formulas. The new
relational look up dialog will coach you through every step of the
process. Just match the fields you want updated with the
information you want. PC-File does the rest.
REDEFINING IS A SEAMLESS OPERATION
Now, a Fast Redefine option lets you change field names, edit
masks, default data, automatic data and calculations. And, you
still have a Detailed Redefine option. PC-File 6.5 can even make
the changes "in place," so you don't have to rename a new database
when you're finished. A special feature has even been integrated
into each method to make defining relational lookup calculations
much easier.
SAVE UP TO FIVE CENTS ON EVERY LETTER YOU MAIL
Print a large variety of bar code output directly in your reports
--without special drivers or font cartridges--on most dot matrix
and laser printers! If you send out mailings of 500 pieces or
more, you can save between 2 and 5 cents per letter when using
Zip+4 bar-coded addressing! (Contact your local Post Office for
the most up-to-date information on discounts and addressing
standards.) Using Postal Bar Codes on your mailing labels insures
first class service because bar coded mail moves more quickly.
Any one of 13 bar code formats help you manage your inventory,
track shipping and receiving, control circulation and much more!
Bar Codes supported in PC-File 6.5:
UPC-A
UPC-E
EAN/JAN-13
EAN/JAN-8
3 of 9 (code 39)
Extended 3 of 9
Interleaved 2 of 5
Code 128
Codabar
Zip+4 Postnet
MSI Plessey
Code 93
Extended 93
UCC-128
SIMPLE SEARCH IS MORE PRECISE!
Performing "greater than," "less than" and "not equals"
comparisons in Simple Search makes it even easier to find exactly
the information you need without having to use a Formula search.
VIEWING & EDITING IN TABLE VIEW IS EASIER THAN EVER
Now, you can choose which fields to view and the order they are
displayed in Table View.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR SCREEN COLORS
Change the colors on each part of your screen with just a click of
a button. You can even see what your choices look like as you
make them.
UTILITIES ARE FULLY INTEGRATED
The pack, repair and database description utilities are updated
and fully integrated into PC-File 6.5 with new point-and-click
dialogs and familiar menus. When a Pack or Repair function is
complete, your indexes are rebuilt and you're automatically
returned to your database. There's no need to type anything on
the command line.
NEW FUNCTIONS
New calculation functions allow you to convert text to upper,
lower or mixed case. You can combine text from different fields
to create the information you really need. PC-File 6.5 will even
"grab" just the first or last word from one field and combine it
with another.
HANDY POP-UP CALCULATOR
This calculator works and looks just like a desktop calculator
except you can use it with your PC-File data to perform Relational
Look-ups and other calculations. Analyze and manipulate your data
with point and click ease.
PC-FILE 6.5 IS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Now PC-File accepts dates before 1900 and after 1999. Because
PC-File 6.5 lets you display dates as eight or ten character
fields, you can now distinguish between dates in different
centuries.
PC-FILE 6.5 LAN IS AVAILABLE NOW!
PC-File 6.5 Network Version supports true multi-user capability.
Now, anyone can view a record that is being modified. If a
locking conflict occurs, the program explains who you are in
conflict with. Reports, letters and graphs can be generated by
multiple users at the same time. You get a complete booklet
dedicated to the needs and interests of network users. The
PC-File 6.5 Network version still comes in a five pack--a
license to install on up to five workstations as well as up to
five sets of documentation.
Call ButtonWare's order line at: 1-800-JBUTTON (1-800-528-8866)
for ordering information.
=============================================================
INFORMATION FOR USERS OF PC-FILE 5.01 AND EARLIER VERSIONS OF
PC-FILE
Features added in PC-File 6.0
GRAPHICAL INTERFACE
Graphical gadgets including dialog boxes, list boxes, scroll bars,
check boxes, and radio buttons.
Pull-down menus for easier access to common features.
Support for both Graphics and Character modes. Run in Graphics or
Character mode on VGA, EGA and some monochrome monitors. Run in
Character mode on CGA and some monochrome monitors.
Full mouse support with commands available at the click of the
mouse. Use your mouse to select any menu, menu item, list box
item, field, text, etc.
Select files from a file selection dialog box, which shows you
available drives, subdirectories and files.
Select fields for reports, letters, indexes, etc. from a list by
simply pointing and clicking with the mouse.
IMPROVED DATABASE DEFINITION/CHARACTERISTICS
Define edit masks, default data, and calculations when defining
your database.
Easier Paint define. Pick the field type and field length from a
menu. Format the screen by placing characters to represent the
data.
Calculations can be 120 characters (previous limit was 53).
PC-File 6.0 adopts dBase databases when you open the database, not
while browsing the directory.
Easier database redefinition (cloning).
IMPROVED DATA ENTRY FEATURES
Undo key to undo changes to the current field without undoing
changes to other fields.
Modify and delete records in Table view.
Modify data quickly and easily by simply clicking on the data.
Modify mode is now the default, allowing you to modify without
telling PC-File to modify. Changes are automatically saved when
you move to the next record.
Read-only mode prevents unwanted and unintentional modifications
or deletions to your databases. You can view and search databases
in read-only mode.
EASIER INDEXING (SORTING)
Easier multiple field indexes. Simply pick the fields to index
from a list.
Rebuild all indexes with one command.
Delete any index, including the current index.
Pick the index to switch to from a list.
IMPROVED REPORTS AND LETTERS
All report and letter writer commands are accessible from
pull-down menus.
Select portions of fields for Row reports.
Redesigned Free Form reports. Pick fields to include in report
from a menu. PC-File 6.0 remembers which field you picked.
Free Form reports now support all commands including .IF, .ELSE,
.GROUP, .CP, etc.
.REFORMAT and .ENDREFORMAT commands for reformatting paragraphs in
letters.
Extended Language (Command) reports--no longer a 405 line
(command) limit.
IMPROVED PRINTER SUPPORT
New printer commands to set printer styles to bold, italics,
underline, etc.
Postscript support for reports and letters.
Change printer configuration "on the fly".
MACROS
A master macro file, PCFILE.MAC, loaded when you start PC-File.
Each macro can store up to 1000 characters.
Store up to 27 macros per file.
Each macro file can contain a startup macro which is automatically
played back when the accompanying database is loaded.
Macros use English commands like {ENTER}, {ALT-F}, etc., making it
easy to understand and modify macros.
Pop up a list of available macros anywhere in the program.
Macro files are now stored with a MAC extension.
SNAPSHOT LABELS
Store up to 5 snapshots per configuration profile.
Attach reports to snapshot definitions, allowing for more
sophisticated snapshots. Include memo fields, IF, ELSE
statements, etc.--any report command.
Define snapshot letters.
DIALING
Define a default long distance dialing string.
COM3 and COM4 support.
IMPROVED DOCUMENTATION
Completely rewritten, reformatted, fully illustrated
documentation. The files used in the examples are included with
the program as sample data files.
Three manuals--Getting Started Booklet, Tutorial and User Guide.
User Guide includes chapter table of contents and sidebars
providing hints and tips on making better use of PC-File 6.0.
IMPROVED HELP
All help text completely re-written.
Scrollable help windows, allowing more detailed information on
specific features.
General help message describing basic techniques and common
keystrokes.
MISCELLANEOUS
File Find assistance to locate databases, reports, letters, and
other files on any drive. Very useful when you don't know where
the file you want is stored.
Faster Global modify now that the screen doesn't update with each
record.
Faster importing now that all indexes are rebuilt at the end of
the import process.
Status window with status bars showing number of records selected
and percent completed.
Access secondary programs from within PC-File, including PC-Label,
PC-Pack, PC-Fix and DBRPT.
Integrity check to verify the validity of the main PC-File 6.0
program file.
NEW TERMS
We have used different terms for certain features in PC-File 6.0
than in previous versions of PC-File. These terms were changed to
match industry standards, which makes PC-File more understandable
to new users. However, as a user of a previous version of
PC-File, you need to be aware of these changes so you can find the
features you're familiar with.
Browse is now called Table view. With Table view, you see
multiple records at one time in column/row format.
Cloning is now called Redefine. The Redefine option is located on
the File menu, and allows you add new fields, delete existing
fields, change field lengths and/or types, change the data entry
access order of the fields in the database, and change field
characteristics, such as the field name, field default data
(constants), edit masks, and calculations.
Complex search is now called Formula search.
Sorting is now called Indexing. The Sort option and Index
operations in previous versions have been combined into the Index
option on the File menu.
User-defined indexes are now called Formula indexes.
Smart keys are now called Macros.
Command reports are now called Language reports.
Peachtext format for import/export is now called Line-delimited.
FEATURES NO LONGER SUPPORTED
Certain configuration profile parameters:
/AUTOSKIP (no PC-File 6.0 equivalent)
/BG,n, /BGW,n, /FG,n, and /FG2,n (replaced by /COLOR,n)
/EGA and /VGA (PC-File 6.0 defaults to graphics mode on capable
monitors. To turn graphics mode off, use the /CHARMODE
parameter.)
/ENTER (no PC-File 6.0 equivalent)
/EXPERT (no PC-File 6.0 equivalent)
/FASTVIEW (Fast screen writes are now the default. If you want to
turn fast screen writes off, you can use the /NOSNOW parameter,
the opposite of /FASTVIEW.)
/KEYIN,xxx (replaced by the startup macro, *, in the macro files)
/LBL (replaced by /SNAP1,xx,xx through /SNAP5,xx,xx. You need to
redefine your snapshots by selecting a report you want to use for
the snapshot label.)
/NODESC (descriptions are now only displayed for the highlighted
file, and are not read for more than one file at a time.)
Teach mode: To display the context-sensitive help screen, press F1
or choose the Help option on the Help menu.
Internal print screen key (CTRL-P): Because many of you will run
PC-File in graphics mode, you will need to use a special screen
capture program that allows your printer to print graphics
screens. If you run PC-File in character mode, use the
PrintScreen key.
Mouse menu: Because the items on the mouse menu are now supported
by selecting options on the main menu bar, the mouse menu is no
longer necessary. You can also use hot keys to access the
commands that were on the mouse menu.
Relative record number: To select a record based on its relative
position in the database, search for a record which places you at
that relative position. For example, to display a record in the
middle of a name and address database, search for a last name with
the letter M. This places you around the middle of the database.
PC-Calc+ and SYLK Import/Export formats: PC-File 6.0 no longer
supports the PC-Calc+ format on import or export or the SYLK
format on export. To import from or export to PC-Calc+ or
programs which use the SYLK format, we recommend you use the DIF
format.
CONVERTING FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF PC-FILE
PC-FILE 5.0 AND PC-FILE:DB
Databases: PC-File 5.0 and PC-File:dB databases are compatible
with PC-File 6.0. No conversion is necessary. Please note,
however, that PC-File 6.0 allows only 78 characters per line on
the record layout. If you have fields or text in the 79th or 80th
position, you need to modify your record layout. PC-File 6.0 no
longer allows the following characters as part of the record
layout: @, #, \, $, or ~. These characters are interpreted as
field markers when redefining a database. Field names ar e now
limited to 10 characters. PC-File ignores the 11th and 12th
characters in existing databases, reports, letters and graphs.
Index files: Most PC-File 5.0 and PC-File:dB indexes are
compatible with PC-File 6.0. Some indexes may need to be rebuilt
using PC-File 6.0.
Reports: PC-File 5.0 and PC-File:dB reports are compatible with
PC-File 6.0. No conversion is necessary.
Letters: PC-File 5.0 and PC-File:dB letters are compatible with
PC-File 6.0. No conversion is necessary.
Graph files: PC-File 5.0 and PC-File:dB graph files are compatible
with PC-File 6.0. No conversion is necessary.
Configuration profiles: As mentioned above, some configuration
profile parameters are no longer supported. However, PC-File 6.0
will read all PC-File 5.0 and PC-File:dB configuration profiles,
even those that contain parameters no longer supported. Snapshot
labels need to be redefined. This is easy with PC-File 6.0--you
simply "attach" an existing report to the snapshot label feature.
Macros: Because the menus and keystrokes have changed, PC-File 5.0
and PC-File:dB macros are not compatible with PC-File 6.0. You
must redefine your macros. Using the Recording option on the
Macros menu or the CTRL-Y keystroke should make this task easy.
PC-FILE+ (VERSIONS 1.0, 2.0, AND 3.0)
Databases: PC-File+ databases are not directly compatible with
PC-File 6.0. However, the data itself can be easily transferred
to PC-File 6.0. We have provided a program called FCONVERT which
creates PC-File 6.0 databases from your PC-File+ databases.
FCONVERT is installed with PC-File 6.0. PC-File 6.0 allows only
78 characters per line on the record layout. If you have fields
or text in the 79th or 80th position, you need to modify your
record layout. Also, PC-File 6.0 no longer allows the following
characters as part of the record layout: @, #, \, $, or ~. These
characters are interpreted as field markers when redefining a
database.
Reports: PC-File+ reports are compatible with PC-File 6.0. No
conversion is necessary.
Letters: PC-File+ letters are compatible with PC-File 6.0. No
conversion is necessary.
Graph files: PC-File+ graph files (*.GR) are compatible with
PC-File 6.0. No conversion is necessary.
Configuration profiles: As mentioned above, some configuration
profile parameters are no longer supported. However, PC-File 6.0
will read all PC-File+ configuration profiles, even those that
contain parameters no longer supported. Snapshot labels need to
be redefined. This is easy with PC-File 6.0--you simply "attach"
an existing report to the snapshot label feature.
Macros: Because the menus and keystrokes have changed, PC-File+
macros are not compatible with PC-File 6.0. You must redefine
your macros. Using the Recording option on the Macros menu or the
CTRL-Y keystroke should make this task easy.
PC-FILE/R AND PC-FILE III
Databases: PC-File/R and PC-File III databases are not directly
compatible with PC-File 6.0. However, the data itself can be
transferred to PC-File 6.0. We have provided a program called
FCONVERT which creates PC-File 6.0 databases from your PC-File/R
and PC-File III databases. FCONVERT is installed with PC-File
6.0. Relational lookups need to be redefined because the format
is different in PC-File 6.0.
Reports: PC-File/R and PC-File III reports are not compatible with
PC-File 6.0. You must redefine your reports using PC-File 6.0.
Letters: PC-File/R letters are compatible with PC-File 6.0. No
conversion is necessary.
Configuration profiles: As mentioned above, some configuration
profile parameters are no longer supported. However, PC-File 6.0
will read all PC-File/R and PC-File III configuration profiles,
even those that contain parameters no longer supported. Snapshot
labels need to be redefined. This is easy with PC-File 6.0--you
simply "attach" an existing report to the snapshot label feature.
Macros: Because the menus and keystrokes have changed, PC-File/R
and PC-File III macros are not compatible with PC-File 6.0. You
must redefine your macros. Using the Record option on the Macros
menu or the CTRL-Y keystroke should make this task easy.