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EnigmA Amiga Run 1995 November
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EnigmA AMIGA RUN 02 (1995)(G.R. Edizioni)(IT)[!][issue 1995-11][Skylink CD].iso
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db2.readme
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1995-09-28
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Short: Database program w OS3.0 look, user def...
Author: david-ek@dsv.su.se
Uploader: david-ek@dsv.su.se
Type: biz/dbase
An Introduction to db 2.9
-------------------------
db is a small and fast database program that I wrote after having tested
numerous other PD database programs and always found something lacking or
irritating me. They might have dozzens of features not found in db, but
they lacked font sensitivity and a standard GUI look and OS 3.0 behaviour.
My main need was to keep record on addresses and telephone numbers of friends
and companies. Before v2.0 db was fixed to be just an address and telephone
database, but that has changed. db was designed with user definable layout in
mind from start. Currently you have to use a file editor to specify the
database fields and layout as there is no GUI for that.
Anyway that's a one time job, then you just USE the database and have fun.
Complete GUI support will probably only be included in a ShareWare product
I plan to call REG or db3.0.
I want to give thanks to all of you who've sent me postcards. The changes made
to 2.9 is a result of your suggestions, bug reports and encouragement.
/David Ekholm
Feature List
------------
A partial list of db's features include:
o Dynamic memory handling. Number of records and fields only limited by
free memory.
o GadTool based. (Use fields of string, checkbox and cycle type)
o Mouse and keyboard driven.
o User definable fields and layout.
o Multiple views of the same database.
o Commodore's Clipboard for flexible interaction with other programs.
o AppWindow -just drag and drop database icons on db to load.
o Online MenuHelp -Press HELP key when selecting a menu item.
o Font sensitive.
o ASL requesters for flexible loads and saves.
o Localized.
o ARexx support.
o Dial numbers using a modem or loudspeaker.
o WB and Shell usage with Commodore's template parsing.
o Fast and flexible find function using AmigaDOS patterns.
o Listview browser.
o Filter function.
o Fast and flexible sort function. Multiple sort orders can be specified.
o 'Export View' and two standard ASCII export features.
o Automatic ASCII import (tab-separated ASCII).
History of changes
------------------
95-09-27 v2.9 NEWS:
* The ARexx support has been improved a lot.
db now supports more than 30 ARexx commands.
You are now able to easily make advanced applications
with relations and build complete economy systems.
(There is an invoice system comming for Swedish users.)
Check out the new example in Examples/Relations.
* All icons are NewIcons from now on. NewIcons look
much better than the original ones as they seldom
show up in wrong colour. To see the new icons you have
to install the NewIcons package. Otherwise the icons
will look like before with the exception of some
funny tooltypes in the icons.
(You can get NewIcons at Aminet:util/wb/NewIcons.lha)
* I've included the original .ct files next to the
.catalog files for each country to make it simpler
for helpful and skilled translators to provide me
with language updates as I release new versions.
95-08-26 v2.8 NEWS:
* Sorting now uses the superior Quicksort algorithm
(ACM 271). Alan Wigginton (author of QuickFile)
notified me on the terribly bad sort benchmarks
he got when sorting a large database using db.
It could take hours on an Amiga 500. Now even large
databases should sort in seconds. If you get into
trouble when sorting a large database now, please
set the stack to a higher value.
* db now sorts numbers correctly if you add the
FTYP=integer RFF tag to the internal field
specifcation. Look at the "Music" example!
* The whole database will be sorted on the active
field if you hold down the shift key while activating
the Browser. (A shortcut to sorting, one could say.)
(Some users want to have just the Browser list
sorted and some users want to have the whole database
sorted simpler. This is an intermediate better-than-
nothing solution until I figure out the best way to
do it.)
* Minor speed improvements when entering and exiting the
Browser has been made.
BUGS FIXED:
* NEWS, new bugs they say...
When using the keys to navigate in the Browser under
OS 2.0 or 2.1 (below v39) the system locks completely.
My first Guru in db :-( This has been fixed.
Thanks to Alan Wigginton for telling me about it.
(My ordinary testers all seem to use v39+ today.)
* Since v2.6 db didn't sort the Swedish ÅÄÖ characters
correctly. This is fixed.
(Don't use the LOCALESORT ToolType if you want Swedish
characters sorted correctly as there is a bug in
the Swedish language support in the OS. But DO use
LOCALESORT otherwise as this speeds up sorting and
_should_ make db sort your language specific text
correctly.)
95-08-16 v2.7 NEWS:
* Added a browser window that consists of a listview
where you can see fields from many records at a time.
The browser is handy when you don't even remember a
keyword to search for or when you want an overview of
the database. One way to start the browser is by
doubleclicking a field. There is on-line help also.
* Added two new tooltypes to further control the
apperance of fields (HIGHLABEL & NOBORDER).
See @{" Settings " link Settings} for more info.
* The following catalogs are updated (please copy them to
your directory): Norwegian, French, Polish, Swedish.
(Text that has changed will show up in English if
you use an old catalog.)