APDL Public Domain 1/APDL_PD1A.iso/database/database_2/!DataBase/!Help/TextFile

Text File | 1995-03-04 | 9.4 KB | 228 lines

€N.B.☓ Use ◰PageUp☓ and ◰PageDown☓ keys to scroll the text.

€INTRODUCTION☓

◰DataBase☓ is a simple personalized database maker; you can use it to
create and edit all sorts of archives. This application has been
designed to operate in the multi-tasking window environment of the
RISC-OS Desktop. File type &12D is utilised by this application for
any datafiles used. However, the files are essentially ASCII or
text files, and therefore compatible with !Edit and a wide range of
other applications.

€APPLICATION LOADING☓

Insert ◰DataBase☓ disc in the drive. Click with Select on the drive
icon in the iconbar to open the disc directory window. Double click
with Select on the ◰!DataBase☓ or DataBase datafile icon. The
application instal its icon in the iconbar.

€MAKING NEW DATABASE☓

Click with Menu on the application icon in the iconbar to display
the iconbar menu. Then click with Select on the ◰Create☓ item to
display the ◰Card layout☓ window and follow the next instructions.

€FIELD ADDING☓

Click with Select on the card-shaped icon with ◰+☓ sign in the the
◰Card layout☓ toolbox. Then type in the field title (max 15
characters), the icon lenght, the text lenght (max 36), and the
field default text and press Return after any inserting. Then click
with Select or Adjust to choose the title foreground colour and the
field icon foreground and background colours. Notice that if the
outline fonts are used the range of colours is from 0 to 7 only. At
last click with Select on a radio button to choose the field type
and the text justification type. Notice that the maximum number of
fields is 18 and the date format is ◰dd/mm/yy☓.

€DISPLAY FIELDS☓

Click with Select on the down arrow-shaped icon in the ◰Card layout☓
toolbox to move forward one field. To move back one field click
with Select on up arrow-shaped icon.

€FIELD EDITING☓

Click with Select on the writable icon in the ◰Card layout☓ window
and move the caret using Delete and arrow keys. After any
modifications press Return. To delete all text press ◰Ctrl+U☓.

€CARD LAYOUT ENDING☓

Click with Select on the card-shaped icon with ◰END☓ word in the ◰Card☓
◰layout☓ toolbox to quit the card layout design and display the
◰DataBase☓ window.

€MAKING NEW ARCHIVE☓

Click with Select on the application icon in the iconbar to display
the ◰DataBase☓ window. Then follow the next instructions.

€RECORD ADDING☓

Click with Select on the card-shaped icon with ◰+☓ sign in the right
corner of the ◰DataBase☓ toolbox. Then type in the fields of the
record in the ◰DataBase☓ window and press Return after any inserting.

€RECORD EDITING☓

Click with Select on the field writable icon in the ◰DataBase☓ window
and move the caret using Delete and arrow keys. After any
modifications press Return. To delete all text press ◰Ctrl+U☓.

€DISPLAY RECORDS☓

Click with Select on the first arrow-shaped icon in the ◰DataBase☓
toolbox or press ◰Ctrl+⇩☓ to display the last record in the edited
file. Click on the second arrow-shaped icon or press ◰Shift+⇩☓ to
move forward one record. Click on the third arrow-shaped icon or
press ◰Shift+⇧☓ to nove back one record. Click with Select on the
right arrow-shaped icon or press ◰Ctrl+⇧☓ to display the first record
in the edited file. The next card-shaped icon shows the number of
the displayed record and the other the record total number in the
edited file.

€RECORD SEARCH☓

Click with Menu on the ◰DataBase☓ window to display the main menu.
Then click with Select on the ◰Search☓ item or press F4 to display
the ◰Search☓ window. Click on the pair of arrow-shaped button to
choose the field. Click on the menu-shaped button to select the
comparator. Click with Select on the ◰String☓ writable icon, type in
the search string and press Return. Click with Select on a radio
button to choice the search type. Click on the opt button to
control the case sensivity in searching. To see the found records
click on the arrow-shaped icons in the ◰Search☓ toolbox.

€SORT RECORDS☓

Click with Select on the ◰Sort☓ item in main menu or press F5. In the
Sort window click on the radio buttons to choose the descending or
ascending sorting. Then in the ◰Sort☓ field window select the field
for sorting. At last click on ◰Sort☓ button to start the operation or
on ◰Cancel☓ to abort it.

€DELETE RECORD☓

Click with Select on the ◰Delete☓ item in main menu or press F6. In
the ◰Delete☓ window click with Select on a radio button to choose the
delete type. If your choice is ◰Selection☓ type in the numbers of the
first and last records to delete. At last click on ◰Delete☓ button to
continue or on ◰Cancel☓ to abort the operation. In the dialog box
showed click on ◰NO☓ button to abort the command. Click on ◰YES☓ button
to delete the selected records.

€COPY RECORD☓

In the main menu click with Select on the ◰Copy☓ item or press F8 to
copy the displayed record at the end of the archive. In the dialog
box showed click on ◰NO☓ button to abort the command. Click on ◰YES☓
button to copy the record.

€RECORDS PRINTING☓

Click with Select on the ◰Print☓ item in the main menu or press F7 to
display the ◰Print☓ window. Click with Select on the arrow-shaped
button in the right top corner of the window to choose the paper
type. In the ◰Selected fields☓ window select the fields to include in
the printing row. The number on the right side shows the field
lenght. The ◰Max☓ icon shows the maximum lenght of the row, the ◰Used☓
icon the current lenght and the ◰Free☓ icon the available characters.
Then click on a radio button to select the print type. In the ◰From☓
◰record☓ writable icon type in the number of the first record to
print and press Return, in the ◰to☓ writable icon type in the number
of the last record and press Return. The ◰Print records☓ icon shows
the total number of the records to print. At last click with Select
on the the ◰Print☓ button to start the printing. Click on the ◰Cancel☓
button to abort the operation. During the printing click on the
◰Stop☓ button in the ◰Printing☓ window to quit it or on the ◰Pause☓
button to suspend the printing and on ◰Continue☓ to resume it.

€DATAFILE INFO☓

Select the ◰File info☓ item in the main menu to display the
informations about the edited Database file.

€DATAFILE LOADING☓

Drag the DataBase file icon to the application icon in the iconbar
or to the ◰DataBase☓ window. On double clicking on the DataBase file
icon it's also possible load it.

€DATAFILE SAVING☓

In the main menu move the pointer on the ◰Save☓ item arrow to open
the ◰Save as☓ sub-menu. Select ◰Data☓ item to open ◰Save data☓ window and
save the edited file as archive. In the ◰Save data☓ window click with
Select on a radio button to choose the save type. If your choice is
◰Selection☓ type in the numbers of the first and last records to
save. Type in a valid file name in the writable icon and drag the
file icon from the ◰Save data☓ window to a directory viewer. To save
an already saved file click with Select on the ◰OK☓ button in the
◰Save data☓ window or on the ◰Save☓ item in the main menu. To open
quickly the ◰Save data☓ window press F3.

€DATAFILE SAVING AS CSV☓

In the ◰Save as☓ sub-menu move the pointer on the ◰CSV☓ item arrow to
open the ◰Save CSV☓ window. In the ◰Save CSV☓ window click with Select
on a radio button to choose the save type. If your choice is
◰Selection☓ type in the numbers of the first and last records to
save. Type in a valid file name in the writable icon and drag the
file icon from the ◰Save CSV☓ window to a directory viewer to save it
in the Comma Separated Value format compatible a wide range of
other applications. Notice that the date fields are saved in
special format.

€DATAFILE AUTOSAVING☓

This option lets you automatically save as archive an edited file
at regular intervals. In the main menu move the pointer on the ◰Save☓
item arrow to open the ◰Save as☓ sub-menu. Select ◰Autosave☓ item to
open ◰Autosave☓ window. In the ◰Autosave☓ window switch on the ◰Active☓
button, type in a number between 1 and 99 in the ◰Every minutes☓
writable icon and press Return. The autosave timer only starts when
you edit the datafile. If the ◰With prompt☓ button in the ◰Autosave☓
Window is switched on, at each time interval an alert box prompts
you. Click on the ◰YES☓ button to save the file. Click on the ◰NO☓
button to postpose the saving and restart the autosave timer.

€HELP UTILITY☓

Click with Select on the ◰Help☓ item in the iconbar menu to load the
◰Applications Info Utility☓. For further help on using ◰DataBase☓
use the Acorn ◰!Help☓ application found on ◰RISC OS Applications☓
◰Disc 1☓ (RISC OS 2) or on ◰Resources☓ directory (RISC OS 3).

€USE FONTS☓

Click with Select on the ◰Use Fonts☓ item in the iconbar menu and
re-load DataBase to use the outline fonts in the icons of the
program windows. Click on the ticked ◰Use Fonts☓ item and re-load the
application to use the system fonts.

€CLEAR EDITED FILE☓

Click with Select on the ◰Clear☓ item in the iconbar menu. In the
alert box click on ◰YES☓ button to delete all data of the edited file
and create a new database. Click on ◰NO☓ button to abort the option.

€QUIT APPLICATION☓

In the iconbar menu click with Select on the ◰Quit☓ item. If the
datafile is edited but not saved an alert box prompts you. Click on
the ◰YES☓ button to save the datafile. On clicking on the ◰NO☓ button
you quit the application and lose all data.

€NOTICE☓

If you find any program bugs or have any suggestions for
improvement, please do not hesitate to contact me.

◰Raffaele Ferrigno - Via Andrea d'Isernia, 16 - 80122 Napoli - Italy☓
◰E-mail: [e-mail]☓
◰Arcade BBS: #986 (Raffer)☓