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LIGHT-ROM 1 (Amiga Library Services)(1994).iso
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d956.lha
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DDBase
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database
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ddbase.hlp
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1993-11-25
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Create*
21
Synopsis: Creates a database.
ShortCut- c (LowerCase)
Enter How many fields you wish to have.Next enter the field name
,see Field Types, next enter the length.You will then be asked
for the 'Field Type'.
SELECT: STRING | DATE | INTEGER | BBOX | FBOX | TEXT
STRING Input Data any Format
DATE Input data as Date DD/MM/YY
INTEGER Input Data as Numeric.
BBOX Displays as text in a BevelBox
FBOX Displays as text in a Flipped Box
TEXT Displays as text.
ASCII Will display ASCI file in field definition.
IFF Will display IFF file.
Select Continue Search for More
Create*
14
Synopsis Creates Database
Continued-
After you have defined your fields you now have to position them
on the screen using the Mouse. When the field is in the desired
position press the left mouse button. After you have positioned
all of your fields you will then be able to add data as you wish.
However If you have made a mistake this can be easily rectified
by using the functions found in Organise.
See Organise Add Field/Delete Field/Edit Field/Move Field
Delete*
7
Synopsis: Deletes current record
ShortCut- D (UpperCase)
Selecting this will result in LOSS OF DATA make sure that you
have backed up your data before using this function.
Sort*
10
Synopsis: Sorts Records
ShortCut- S (UpperCase)
This function allows you to sort your data by any field.You
can also sort numerically as well by string. After you select
this function the select field requester appears. The sort
routine is very fast and is case insensitive. In case you were
wondering DDBASE uses a type of Shell Metzner sort routine.
Load*
10
Synopsis: Loads a previously saved file.
ShortCut- l (LowerCase)
This function does what it says- loads data from disk. The file
requester has a pattern matching to '.ddb', this is added to all
files saved with DDBASE.This makes finding and loading a lot
easier. (Nico Francois is worth his weight in gold)
Add*
12
Synopsis: Adds a record to the database
ShortCut- Cr (CarriageReturn)
To add data just press the return key and then just type in your
data and then select Accept or Cancel. Easy isn't it.
Also if you have any external fields you can choose the ASCI file
from a File Requester (Reqtools of course) ,so if you have more than
one external field it might make sense to keep all your external files
in the same directory.
Edit*
5
Synopsis: Edits current record
ShortCut- e (Lowercase)
Print*
5
Synopsis: Allows user to print using various output.
ShortCut- p (LowerCase)
See Help in Print Section.
Searching*
13
Synopsis: Will send data to printer when you use the
search function.
ShortCut- p (LowerCase)
You have the option to Output To Printer or a File.
If you elect to output to a file you can select the Path and Filename
with a requester.The data will Output to the screen and the file.
Selecting this function any data output from the next search will
be output to the screen and to the printer in the format you have
selected, Table View or Record View.
Envelope*
9
Synopsis:Will output the selected fields to a Label or
Envelope.
ShortCut- e (LowerCase)
You will be asked for the tab position and then it will print
the current record (Selected Fields)
Print All*
7
Sysnopsis: Prints all the records.
ShortCut- a (LowerCase)
This function will print all the records in the format that
you have selected.
Current*
6
Synopsis: Prints Current Record
ShortCut- c (LowerCase)
Prints Current Record in the format you have chosen
Table View*
9
Synopsis: Print Format
ShortCut t (LowerCase)
Prints selected fields horizontally accross the Paper. After
reaching 65 lines you will be asked to insert a new sheet of paper.
If you use tractor feed then set your printer to the top of the
next page.
Record View*
5
Synopsis: Print Format
ShortCut r (LowerCase)
Prints Selected fields vertically down the paper.
Form View*
8
Synopsis: Print Format
Shortcut f (LowerCase)
Prints all fields as they appear on the screen. Saying that it will
not display Bevel Boxes etc just the field Text and Data.
Save As*
6
Synopsis: Saves DataBase
ShortCut s (LowerCase)
Produces a ReqTools File Requester so you can choose what name to
save the database with.
Snap*
20
Synopsis: Takes a snapshot of current record
ShortCut P (UpperCase)
Those of you who have not heard of the utility 'SNAP' © Mikael
Karlsson, may find this quite strange. When selected the program
will save the current record to T: as snap{nn}.ddb. NN is updated
for each record you Snap so after for instance you Snap 2 Records
the directory T: would look something like this:
1.Ram Disk:> dir t:
snap1.ddb
snap2.ddb
1.Ram Disk:>
The reason why the current record is displayed in a Requester is
quite simple SNAP © by Mikael Karlsson does not work due to the
BevelBoxs.
New*
8
Synopsis:Deletes the whole database or data
ShortCut n (LowerCase)
You have the option Kill! | Data | Cancel. Selecting Kill! will
delete the data and the data structure (fields etc). Whereas
Delete Data will only clear the data leaving the data structure in
tact.
UpDate*
7
Synopsis: Edit Current Record using Selected Fields only.
Shortcut u
Useful if you add a field after you have entered some data. Just
select the fields you wish to UpDate {See Organise}.
Notes*
13
Synopsis: Create a small ASCII File.
Shortcut N
Useful for creating small text files on the fly for use with a
ASCII field. If the file exists then you can Overwrite or Append the
file.If you choose to Append then the last page is displayed first
so you can add more data to the end.
You can however only edit the current line you are entering, if you
wish to edit a ASCII file you can by using a text editor, for longer
text files you would use this method anyway.
Save*
9
Synopsis: Save data direct without the option of a File
Requester.
ShortCut v (LowerCase)
Save will only work if their is a database that has either been
loaded or has previously been saved.In other words if the file
path and name is null ("") it will not work
ASCII*
10
Synopsis: List [Ext]ernal Asci File
ShortCut x (LowerCase)
You can display any external records stored in the External field
definition.
To scroll the file press the left mouse key. To exit press the right
mouse key.
Organise*
8
Synopsis: To alter fields and Import and Export Data
ShortCut o (LowerCase)
I believe that these functions make DDBASE stand out from other
Database programs. To be able to alter the fields and their
position to Add fields or delete them with ease.
Select Fields*
10
Synopsis:Select the fields you wish to print
ShortCut s (LowerCase)
You have the option to select All | Select | Cancel. By selecting
All this will enable you to print all the fields.With Select you
can choose the fields that you want printed and their length. Enter
how many fields you wish to use. The field requester will appear on
the right and a list of chosen fields on the left.
Calculations*
8
Synopsis: Select fields you wish to Calculate the Sum of.
Shortcut Non (At the Moment)
Choose Select|Cancel. To select fields click on select and enter how
many fields you wish to use.Then with the Mouse select the fields from
the requester.
Export DATA*
21
Synopsis: Exports data with out the field information.
ASCI or SuperBase Format
ShortCut x (LowerCase)
ASCI
The selected fields will be output to a file. This will be useful
to transfer data from one database to another or for a mail merge
file for use with a word processor.
SuperBase
The data will be output in a format that SuperBase can Import. Also
you will find a second file with a '.hlp' suffix, this file
contains the field name and length of the records.To use the data
in SuperBase you will first need to create a database that has the
same amount of fields and the correct length.To find out how to do
this look in the SuperBase manual.
Import DATA*
17
Synopsis: Merges Data ASCI or SuperBase Format
Shortcut i (LowerCase)
Merges data to database.Their must be the same amount for fields in
the file to be imported otherwise all sorts of problems will
occur.However the actual length of the fields on the file to be
imported is not important,BE WARNED if the fields are longer than
the current database then they will be trimmed to the size of the
current field lengths.
Import SuperBase
Will import data that has been previously exported from Superbase
Enter the field seperator ie ',' or '*' whatever you set in Superbase
SuperBase ©Precision Software.
Edit Field*
17
Synopsis: Allows you to edit any field.Also change the length.
.................Delete Field.
Shortcut e (LowerCase)
Displays the Select Field requester.After selecting the field you
can change or alter the field name.After pressing return you can
change the field length.Also you can change the Field Type.
Delete Field
After selecting Edit and Selected the Field you choose to delete.
It must be noted that deleting a field not only deletes the
specified field but also the corresponding data in the database.
See Create
Move Field*
14
Synopsis: Allows you to move any field to a new position.
ShortCut m (LowerCase)
You have the option to change all the fields or select
field. Change all fields is the same procedure you went
through with Create after defining your fields.
However if you choose to select the field that you wish to
move,choose Select.After selecting the field from the Field
Requester, all the existing fields will be displayed.All you have
to do is to move your new field to the correct position and press
the left mouse button.
Add Field*
10
Synopsis: Add field
ShortCut a (LowerCase)
Allows you to Add another field.A string requester appears for you
to enter the name of the new field.Then you enter the length. You
then have to select the Field Type. After this you position the new
field using the mouse, when it is in the desired position press the
left mouse button.
Statistics*
8
Synopsis: Displays Information about your Database
Shortcut = S (UpperCase)
Will display a requester displaying how many records,fields and
displaying all the fields with their length and Field Types.You
can also print the information.
Draw Box*
21
Synopsis: Draw Flip / Bevel Boxes
Shortcut = b (LowerCase)
Select BEVEL|FLIP|RBOX|CIRCLE|DELETE|CANCEL
BEVEL Draws a bevelbox {GADTOOL}
FLIP Draws a flipbox {GADTOOL} (DDBASE will not run on OS1.3)
RBOX Draws a rounded box.(Best on Square Boxes or small ones)
CIRCLE Draws a circle.
DELETE Deletes Last Box Drawn
CANCEL Exits from the routine.
Position pointer to the top left corner of the box that you wish
to draw, then press the left mouse button.
Move the pointer to the bottom right corner, you will notice the
rubber banding effect. When the box is to your desired size press
the left mouse button.
If you are drawing a circle start from the centre and work to the
Right.
NOTE: You can only go from Left to Right and not Right to Left.
Replace*
9
Synopsis: Search for a character/word and replace it.
ShortCut b (LowerCase)
Enter the word you wish to change in the requester and then enter
what you wish it to be changed to.
Answer 'Accept' or 'Cancel' to exit without proceding.
=*
21
Synopsis: Search Database (Case Insensitive)
Shortcut =
With this function you can search the database using any of the
fields.Any field that you do not want to use just leave blank. You
can use `^' `=' `*' `|' (thats shift + \).
Using '^' {In String} You would use this :- ^fred -: this would
search that field for any occurances of 'fred' in the field.
Using '|' {Left String} You would use this :- |fred -: this would
search that field for the left part of the field that equals
'fred'.
Using '=' {Exact Match} You would use this :- =fred -: this would
search that field for an exact match.
See ? Quick Search Select Continue for MORE
=*
9
Continued....
Using `*' {Range} You would use this :- *Peter|Oscar -: This would
display all the records from Peter to Oscar. If you want to do a
range with a date or the field length isn't sufficient to enter your
range the just enter `*' and after to have entered all your other
search criterea you will be able to enter your range using a string
requester.
?*
9
Synopsis: Quick Search (Case Insensitive)
Shortcut ?
This function will search all fields for any occurance of the
search word. Example :- If you entered 'fred' it would try to find
any occurance of fred in any of the fields. This is
case insensitive.
|«*
7
Synopsis: Move to start of Database
Shortcut Cursor Down
When a database has been open it moves to the start.
««*
7
Synopsis: Moves to the previous record
Shortcut Cursor Left
Displays the previous record.
º*
7
Synopsis: Goto Line No
Shortcut Space
Allows you to Jump to any Record.
»»*
6
Synopsis: Displays the next record
Shortcut Cursor Right
Displays the next record.
»|*
7
Synopsis: Moves to Last record
Shortcut Cursor Up
Moves to the last record.
About*
6
Synopsis: Tells you all about me!
Shortcut A (Uppercase)
What can I say!!!!
Prefs*
19
Synopsis: Allows the user to alter some operations of DDBASE
Shortcut f (LowerCase)
LOAD Set On/Off. When On DDBASE will attempt to load the file
Defined in the FileName Gadget
FILENAME Select the 'R' Gadget (short for Requester) and then select
a file from the File Requester.
PRINT This option sets the page Length for output to a printer.
SEE the Print section.
SEPERATOR This allows you to enter the field seperator.This is useful
when you are exporting or importing data from SuperBase.
{SuperBase ©Precision Software}
SELECT Continue Search For More!
Prefs*
20
Continued
CALCULATE Calculate when searching [=].Will open a window and display
all the selected fields.{See Calculations}
PATH Set the Path for DDBASE.Keep all your files here.
GUIDE Use Amigaguide for Help. AmigaGuide needs to be in the C
directory and ddbase.guide in the Path directory.
DATE Use DD/MM/YY or DD MMM YYYY (12/06/93 or 12 Jun 1993)
SAVE This saves the preference settings.
USE This saves the preference settings to Ram:env/sys/.
USE+SAVE Take a guess at this one... Thats correct it saves the
Preference Settings to the current prefs (env:sys/) and to
prefs/Env-Archive/sys/.
String*
6
Synopsis: Field Definition- String Field
ShortCut s (LowerCase)
Defines the current field to input strings {Alpha/Numeric}
Date*
22
Synopsis: Field Definition- Date Field
ShortCut d {LowerCase}
Date Type 1 DD/MM/YY
Date Type 2 DD MMM YYY IE. 12 Nov 1993
Defines the current field for a Date input.
NOTE: It is very important that you specify a date field BEFORE
you enter any data.
If you have already created a database and have entered some data
you will be alright if you Add a Date field.
On the other hand if you wish to change a current field to a Date
field you will first have to Export the database, select New `delete
data' , then change the field type and Import the data back in.
Alternatively you could add another field and use the UpDate function
to enter the correct dates.
Integer*
6
Synopsis: Field Definition- Numeric Data Input
ShortCut i {LowerCase}
Input Numeric data.
BBox*
8
Synopsis: Field Definition- Display Field
ShortCut b {LowerCase}
Displays field title only. The field title is embodied in a
BevelBox .NOTE You need only set the field length to 1.
Text*
7
Synopsis: Field Definition- Display Field
ShortCut t {LowerCase}
Displays field title only.
NOTE You need only set the field length to 1.
FBox*
7
Synopsis: Field Definition- Display Field
ShortCut f {LowerCase}
Displays field title embodied in a flipped bevel box.
NOTE You need only set the field length to 1.
External*
20
Synopsis:Will Display external ASCII File
ShortCut e {LowerCase}
You may have as many external fields {upto 20} as you like.
You should set the field length so it will be adequate for
storing the file path and name.A typical external field would
look something like this:
Workbench:documents/reqtools/reqtools.doc
The field name would be for example - Documents. The field length
= 40. This should be enough for most purposes but you can have
Longer/Shorter fields if you wish.
On the main screen a External field will be displayed as a gadget
To view the External File just click the gadget.
Please see the tutorial.
Iff*
10
Synopsis: Displays ILBM IFF Pictures
ShortCut p
Similar to External but displays a IFF File instead.If you wish to
print your picture then select `Searching' from the `Print'
requester before viewing the file.
See External
External Gadget*
11
Synopsis: To display a External Field
Shortcut Non
A gadget that when pressed will display a ASCII file that has the
Path and Name stored in the Field.To see the Name and Path of a
External field select Snap.A External field Gadget can be identified
by a blue broken border.
See External, Snap.
Iff Gadget*
10
Synopsis: To Display a IFF Picture
ShortCut Non
A gadget when pressed will display a IFF Picture that has the name
and path stored in the field.A IFF Gadget can be identified by a
blue Border.Just to see the contents of the field select Snap.
See IFF, Snap
Guide*
10
Synopsis:Use AmigaGuide when Help Key is pressed.
Shortcut Non
Instead of pressing Help and then clicking the gadget you need help
with, a Help file in AmigaGuide is used.
This gives more information overall but shares the same information
about the gadgets.
Path*
12
Synopsis: The path for the system files.IE. Help files etc
Shortcut Non
This enables you to put DDBASE in any directory on a Hard Disk or
floppy and the Help files - DDBASE.HLP and DDBASE.GUIDE anywhere
you wish,DDBASE will know how to find them.
Ideally you would put DDBASE and the supporting files in a directory
along with the database files you create and then set the path to
this directory. IE Path == 'DH0:Database/' .
Calculate*
12
Synopsis:When set will calculate selected fields
Shortcut Non
When set it will display the fields,either all the fields or the fields
you have selected {see Organise Select Fields}.
If you have selected the fields you wish to use {See Organise Set-Calc}
when you use Search or Quick Search the Sum of the fields will be
calculated.