Shareware Overload Trio 2/Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO/dir42/dblite.zip/INTRO.DBN

Text File | 1993-12-23 | 40KB | 526 lines

Thank you.  The records in this data base are intended to servce as a tutor
to help you learn dbLite.  To read these notes you will use the F5 key to
open and close this window.  F5 toggles the note window open and closed.
In fact, try it now. Pressing F5 once will close the window and pressing
it once more will open it. In order to read all the notes associated with
records you will use the F5 key (open and close the note window) and the
PgUp and PgDn keys.  Those keys will move you from record to record. Once
you close the note window you will be in EDIT MODE.  In that mode you can
enter information into your data base.  To move from record 1 to record 2,
you should press PgDn.  To go back, use PgUp. (not in NOTE mode [now]
only in EDIT mode [when you close this window]) So once you have read this
note window, you can close it with the F5 key.  PgDn to record 2 and then
press F5 again to open the note that is associated with (attached to) that
record.
To Review:

F5 opens and closes notes from the EDIT mode and NOTE mode.
PgUp and PgDn moves you from record to record (only in EDIT MODE).

Use that knowledge now to read the next note. (F5, PgDn, F5)
Okay, this window is an example of a note which you can attach to any
record.  You will set up records to store information about people, places
and things you want to keep track of. Databases are made up of units of
storage called records.  When you look at dbLite's EDIT MODE screen (the
one you see if you use F5 to toggle this window closed) you see four
windows running consecutively down the middle of the screen.  These windows
are designed to contain records.  They will show you four of your records
somewhere in your database.  The second window from the top is the focus
window.  This is where you will actually enter and edit your records.
(It's easy to identify because it has arrows pointing toward it)
Each record is made up of five regular fields.  The Down Arrow and Up Arrow
keys ( along with ENTER ) will allow you to move from field to field
within each record.  The easiest way to enter information into dbLite is to
type it line by line using ENTER to set the field information and move
you down to the next field.  When you are finished with field #5, ENTER
will move you to field #1 of the next record.  PgDn also moves you down but
you will find yourself in field #5 (if you were in that field when you hit
PgDn).  Use PgUp and PgDn to move up and down to view your records.  Use
ENTER to enter information a line at a time.
   Once you close this window with F5, you can ENTER 5 times to move to the
next record, then F5 to view its note.
The information which you are entering into your database will be organized
into units called records.  A record is a unit unto itself.  Each record
will then be broken down into sub-units called fields.  The best way to
make this concept understandable is to provide an example.  Let's use
people as our subject and create an example database.  Each person we will
be recording information on will be considered a record.  Information about
that person will be contained in fields.

  Field One: Alphonse Capone
  Field Two: 2121 Apian Way
Field Three: Roman, Illinois
 Field Four: 21212
 Field Five: [phone] fax: [phone]

Thus we have five fields, broken down into NAME, STREET ADDRESS, CITY &
STATE, ZIP CODE, PHONE NUMBERS.  As long as we are consistently entering
information of the same type in the same field of our database, we will be
able to organize that information in unique ways.  Close this note and go
to the next record.

                             F5 PgDn F5
As you can see, Al is a record in this database.  Each field in this
database can be used as an index. That is, we can organize the order in
which the records appear by any field.  Normally you would organize people
alphbetically.  The problem with Al is we have his first name first and his
last name last.  When we sort this database by field one, Al could be first
in line even though his last name starts with C.  So, we could make him
Capone, Al on line one but if we did that and we produced mailing labels,
it would look pretty formal when we mailed Al his stuff.  (that is not to
say that you may not want to simply order people in this manner, there is
no law against it) We have other fields available, however, which allow us
further indexing outside of what appears on a label.  Those fields are
called memos. Memos give us four more fields to utilize.

The first 5 fields (lines) in our record are each 35 characters long.
The memo fields are 4 in number and each have 20 characters.
This note window is composed of 21 lines of 75 characters.

Let's see a memo.  Close this note window. PgDn to the next record. Then
while holding down the Alt key press V (for View memo)

After you look at the memo window a little, then F5 to open the note.
Okay, we now have an additional four fields to use to help organize our
database.  We can order it by:  name
                                age
                                seniority
                                job title

One thing to remember: dbLite is a free form database.  There are no
"description" titles next to each field.  This is to allow you a certain
freedom.  You must be consistent with information you wish to sort (index)
by. That is, keeping name on line one.  If it is a customer name, such as a
business name, then it will be sortable pretty easily. IBM will sort after
AT&T because "I" comes after "A" in the alphabet. I suggest left justifying
everything at first until you become familiar with the program.  (start
typing at column one)

But if you are not interested in ordering (sorting) your information by
every field you create then you can be more flexible in how you use your
fields.  You'll notice that Al's phone numbers are both on the same line.
It's of little importance that his fax number isn't separate.  You can
search for "fax" to find all customers with fax numbers but you may not be
interested in arranging them that way.  (see next note)
Okay, keeping track of people, places and things is one use for dbLite.
Once entered that information is easily retrievable upon demand. You can
add contacts as they become known by appending to the database. Once added
a contact can be put into proper alpha order by sorting. Once enough
contacts are entered, a report can be printed and labels can be made for
address books and envelope addressing. Up to 1,001 contacts can be kept in
any one file.  The number of files you can have is up to you.  (there is an
ultimate limit but I doubt that you will ever find it using dbLite for a
small business or as a personal database)

Since it is "freeform" you can also use dbLite as a reminder system. Keep a
file called Things or TTD (for things to do). Enter your reminders as they
become known. Delete them as they are accomplished or just change the
number in the priorities field if you want to keep track of your
accomplishments.  That is, use one field (obviously always the same line)
to prioritize your things to do.  See the next record as an example.

Review: dbLite is (purposely) limited to 1,001 records per file and is
        most useful for a small business or "personal" data base.  You
        may have up to 245 "notes" in any data base.  If you are
        contemplating a large data base, try another program.
You can open your TTD or "Things" file when something occurs to you that
you must keep track of and make sure you get done.  If it involves
contacting someone, you can open your address file, F3 (to search) for your
contact person, get their phone number, or fax number and call them. As you
talk with them, you may need to append something to your schedule, so you
open your schedule file and jot down an appointment.  Each time a new
contact person is made, you can add a record either by Appending from the
Main Menu or just paging down to the last record and hitting ENTER or PgDn
or by using Insert from the Main Menu. You will find yourself moving
between files at will to store information as it becomes known to you. The
program should be up and running at your desk (in a work environment) so
that when you get an idea, you can enter it into the data base before you
forget it.  The same is true of new contacts.  As you get a card or when
you get telephone information, you can immediately enter that information
into ADDRESS data base.  You can APPEND RECORD (from the main menu), append
means add at the end.  You can Ctrl-End in Edit Mode (when your focus is in
the record itself and the menu is not show) and PgDn.  In dbLite, when you
are at the last record (which is where Ctrl-End will take you) when you
PgDn or Enter from the last line, you will automatically create a new
record.
                              F5 PgDn F5
There is no functional difference in the resulting record no matter how you
create that record.  The point is that a record can be created in any
number of ways.  In fact, if you are in the middle of several records and
you immediately want to insert a record at the point you are editing, you
can request from Main Menu (Esc from Edit Mode), select INSERT RECORD from
that menu and ENTER and a new record will be placed into your data base at
the point which you are editing.  You can then fill in the information.

So to review, to create a record, you can:

    1. Append Record from the MAIN MENU
    2. Ctrl-End/PgDn from the EDIT MODE
    3. INSERT RECORD from the MAIN MENU
    4. ENTER from the EDIT MODE while continuously entering new information
       and you are positioned on the last field of the current record.

Why so many ways to create a new record?  You will soon learn as you use
the program that depending on the situation, you will want the flexibilty
of working in different ways on different occasions.  If you are new to the
program and find that you have PgDn'd a number of times from the last
                             F5 Pg F5
Record and you have inadvertently created a number of new records without
meaning to you, you will wonder what to do.  A program which makes it easy
to create new records should make it equally easy to remove a record.
There are two ways, both from Menu Mode.  One uses the menu itself,
unimaginatively called Delete Record.  This command, selected from the Main
Menu by mouse or by cursor or by first letter (D) and ENTER.  You then will
be given a chance to change your mind and confirm your selection to Delete.
Actually, this is kind of a pain because you have to make a menu selection,
hit ENTER then ENTER again to confirm your decision.  So, for those who
live dangerously and don't want a chance to change your mind, we have the
F9 key.  Just position the record to be deleted in the focus window (the
one with the arrows pointed toward it) and in Menu Mode press F9.
Everytime you press F9 another record bites the dust.  If you inadvertently
create 3 or 4 records, just start at the last record created and (from Menu
Mode) hit F9 3 or 4 times and those records are deleted.

To review deleting records:
1.  Place the record you want to delete in the focus box (look for arrows)
2.  Select Delete Record from Main Menu and ENTER twice.
3.  Step 1., then F9 from Menu Mode
                             F5 PgDn F5
Sorting or ordering your records is accomplished by selecting Record Sort
from the Main Menu, entering a number from 1 to 9 and Enter.  There are
five fields in the record shown in the focus window and there are four
additional fields in the Memo Window.  Thus you can order (sort) your
records based on any one of those nine fields.  If you want to maintain a
list of friends or contacts you should enter information consistently in
the same fields each time.  Name should always be in the same field, such
as field one. In any field upon which you wish to sort, you should left
justify the field, or make sure if you include spaces before the text in
the field, that you always use the same number of spaces before the first
significant character.  If you use the record as a mailing label, you might
want to include a sort field in the memo area.  Phone numbers can also be
placed in the memo area. (Alt-M to edit Alt-V to make visible)  If you want
to sort your mailings by zip code, separate the zip code from the state on
a separate line (line 5 perhaps) and left justify it.  Then sort by line 5
and your mailing labels will then be in proper order. You can sort and
resort several times.  If you want records to be in city order first and
name order next, sort first by name then by city.  The most significant
sort should be last.  If you want to prioritize a list of records, number
then consistently with the same number of digits, i.e., 001, 002 or 01, 02
or 1, 2                         F5 PgDn F5
To review sorting:

1. Consistently enter data into the same field each time
   (name on line one, address on line two, zip in line five, or
    your method, but be consistent)
2. Start the body of the data in the same place on each line,
   either at text position 1 (left justify) or at 3 or 6 or whatever,
   just be consistent.
3. Don't worry about inserting your records into your data base at the
   place you want it to appear, have a scheme to sort your records and
   then you won't have to worry about placing records at the time they
   are entered, you can put them in proper order anytime by sorting.
4. Because you don't need to sort on every field or in every data base
   you only need to be consistent about entering data in a few fields.
   If you keep notes to yourself in a data base, you can free form them
   in any field in any order.  If you decide to prioritize them later,
   its no problem to add some numbers into any field.  A freeform data
   base doesn't REQUIRE you to always label your fields and structure
   your work.  YOU decide when you want structure and at what point.

                               F5 PgDn F5


                   SOMETIMES YOU DON'T NEED A NOTE.

                   THERE ARE A MAXIMUM OF 247 NOTES
                   AVAILABLE TO EACH FILE. IF YOU
                   OPEN THE NOTE WINDOW, A NOTE IS
                   AUTOMATICALLY OPENED AND SAVED
                   AND YOU HAVE USED ONE OF YOUR 247.
                   So if you plan to use all 1,001
                   records in a file, remember that
                   only about a fourth of them can
                   have a note of their own.

              Opening this window automatically creates a note
              which will be saved when you close it. You can
              abandon editing changes by Esc & choosing Return/
              Abandon but the note, even if it is blank can only
              be deleted when and if the record to which it is
              attached is deleted.
                                   F5
Searching can be one of the handiest features of dbLite.  Once you have
entered a number of your contacts, the program then becomes the quickest
way to find someone's phone or address.

    1.  Enter the names, addresses and phone numbers of your contacts
        into a file such as ADDRESS.
    2.  Set the default file name to load ( the one you just created )
         a. File Menu
         b. Name the Default Data File
         c. Type in the name of the file (no . extension needed)
         d. Enter
    3.  Whenever you start dbLite, the default file name will be the file
        that will load.  A file called dbLite.dfl will contain the name of
        the file you just selected.  If there is no dbLite.dfl file, then
        ADDRESS will be the default file.
    4.  Now when you start the program, the file that you use most often
        will appear automatically.



                             F5 PgDn F5
Now that your main file is loaded and you are in Menu Mode, hitting F1
shows you your function key definitions for that mode.  You already know
that F5 opens the note window (you can use Alt-N <for note> too).  Now you
know F1 gives you help.  F3 is the Search/ReSearch key.  The first time you
hit F3 in any session, you will get a text requester.  Type in the text
string that you wish to find.  The shortest exclusive part of any name is
all you need.  You don't need to type the whole name.  Just the last name
or part of the last name should do it.  If you forget someone's last name
but you know their first name, then F3 will eventually find it for you.
Every time you press F3 you will get the next occasion (ReSearch, eh?) of
your selection.  It will start at the first part of the file and work
forward.  Once it reaches the end of the file, it will rotate back to the
start and begin again.  You will constantly, moving forward, find and
Re-find each occasion of the text you enter.  To change the the searched
for text to something different, you will need the menu.  Select Search
Menu, Text Search to change the requested text.  To review:

    ∙ Set up your most frequently used file as the default
    ∙ Start dbLite, press F3 to search and enter a contact to find
    ∙ Continuing to press F3 will continue to find other occasions of text
                                  F5 Pg F5
Okay, searching for records is pretty straight-forward.  F3 alone the first
time you begin the search, enter enough text to identify what you are
looking for and ENTER.  Every time you press F3 from that point on will
find every occasion of those letters in your data base.  To search for a
different set of text, use the Main Menu, Search Menu, Text Search and
change the inputed text.  Now pressing F3 will look for the new text.  It
will find each occasion of that new text.  Of course you can look for
numbers too.

By now we have convered adding, deleting, sorting and searching for
records.  Later on, I recommend going back over the information you have
covered so far.  Re-reading those records after you have become more
familiar with the program will reinforce the information.  You now have a
better frame of reference for the earlier information and it should now be
a lot clearer to you.

Please continue now to the next record where we will begin to go over
outputting your records to reports, listings and labels.

You will no longer see the F5 hint at the bottom of the screen, as you
should now know how to open and close the note window.
You will find that labels are a handy way of keeping your records.  They
will function nicely for correspondence (addressing letters).  They also
serve the purpose of allowing you to take your contacts with you when you
are away from your computer.  Once you have created a file of your
contacts, you can sort them into alphabetical order and then print labels.
Purchase an inexpensive DayRunner or DayRunner clone and apply the labels
into your address book.  You can additionally make labels for your schedule
and apply them as well.  When you have access to your computer, you will
find dbLite much easier to use as an address book than a DayRunner but you
will not always have access to your computer unless you have a laptop or
notebook and can keep it running.  As you update your records, you can
print only those records which change and apply the new labels only.
Labels are handy because they are modular.  It would be no fun to have to
reprint all the pages in your contact book every time you added two or
three people, but labels are easy to print individually.

To print labels: Choose Print Menu from the Main Menu and select the type
of printer your have and if you wish to print all the records as labels or
just the focus window's record.  The following records show more on
printing.

┌┤ LASER PRINTERS ──────────── ├┐   This is an example of the Print Menu.
││      Envelope                │   It is accessed by selecting Print Menu
││      Listing                 │   from the Main Menu.
││      Deposit                 │
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)     │
││┌LASER PRINTER LABEL STOCK    │
│││     This Label <───────────── One Sheet (30 labels) of the focus record
│││     All Labels <───── One of every record printed once on sheets of 30
││┌COPYING MACHINE LABEL STOCK  │
│││     This Label <───────────── One Sheet (27 labels) of the focus record
│││     All Labels <───── One of every record printed once on sheets of 27
│┌DOT MATRIX PRINTERS           │
││      Envelope                │
││      This Label <───── User selected number of the focus record
││      All Labels <───── User selected number of each record
││      Listing                 │
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)     │      printed on continuous pin feed
└───────────────────────────────┘       label stock (single row)

        Various label stock numbers are defined in your manual and
                  in the files Laser.Dbl & DotMatrx.Dbl
┌┤ LASER PRINTERS ──────────── ├┐
││      Envelope                │
││      Listing  ──────────────────────>
││      Deposit                 │        This is the same listing done
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)     │        either using Dot Matix or Laser
││┌LASER PRINTER LABEL STOCK    │        Printers.  It produces a print
│││     This Label              │        out showing 14 records per page
│││     All Labels              │        in the format:
││┌COPYING MACHINE LABEL STOCK  │
│││     This Label              │    Field_1          Field_4
│││     All Labels              │    Field_2          Field_5
│┌DOT MATRIX PRINTERS           │    Field_3          [ <Record_#> ]
││      Envelope                │
││      This Label              │        Each record uses three lines
││      All Labels              │
││      Listing  ────────────────────── >
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)     │
└───────────────────────────────┘
 Laser printer users may find that the Laser Printer Label Stock format of
 three records across may be a nice alternative to the listing report.

┌┤ LASER PRINTERS ──────────── ├┐
││      Envelope                │      John Smith           Fred Farmer
││      Listing                 │      1221 Ridgewood Way   123 City St.
││      Deposit                 │      Pellerin, WA         Average, CA
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)  ───────── 11112                21111
││┌LASER PRINTER LABEL STOCK    │      889-1616 .         . 616-8989
│││     This Label              │                .       .
│││     All Labels              │                 .     .
││┌COPYING MACHINE LABEL STOCK  │      John Smith   889-1616  │ Hershey Haw
│││     This Label              │      Fred Farmer  616-8989  │ Betty Boop.
│││     All Labels              │
│┌DOT MATRIX PRINTERS           │  The report will take the first line
││      Envelope                │  (if it is text) and the last line
││      This Label              │  of each record and print them down
││      All Labels              │  four columns of name, phone#, line
││      Listing                 │  name, phone#.  You can use it to output
││      2 x 4 List (phone#) ──────────
└───────────────────────────────┘  different things than name and phone #
at your discretion but that is its basic intention.  If the first line is
not text, it will go to the second line and print it instead.

┌┤ LASER PRINTERS ──────────── ├┐
││      Envelope  ────────────────────────────>
││      Listing                 │
││      Deposit                 │     Laser printers feed envelopes from
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)     │ a manual slot above the normal feed tray
││┌LASER PRINTER LABEL STOCK    │ When you select LASER PRINTERS, Envelope
│││     This Label              │ from this menu you will be instructed to
│││     All Labels              │ load your envelope. At that time feed it
││┌COPYING MACHINE LABEL STOCK  │ in face-up putting the postage area in
│││     This Label              │ first ( with the return address area at
│││     All Labels              │ the back ), then hit enter and follow
│┌DOT MATRIX PRINTERS           │ instructions.  The program is designed
││      Envelope ─────────────────────────────> to work with legal size
││      This Label              │ envlopes but will work okay with letter.
││      All Labels              │
││      Listing                 │ Dot Matrix users will load the envelope
││      2 x 4 List (phone#)     │ into the manual friction feed print area
└───────────────────────────────┘ and position the envelope WHERE YOU WANT
THE ADDRESS TO APPEAR ( the row on the envelope ).  It will space over to
the correct line but will not feed the envelope prior to printing.  This
helps users with pull type tractors which tend to jam.
... and its note to a file called "Capture.Dbl".

Many programs allow you to "mark" a number of records to be copied or
printed or moved.  dbLite uses its "capture" feature to give you this
ability.  Step one in any capture process is to delete the old
"Capture.dbl" file or rename it.  To delete it use Main Menu - File Menu -
Delete A File - type Capture and ENTER.  This will eliminate the old
capture "scratch pad" file.  If the contents of the capture file are
important to you and you wish to retain them, rename the file.  Use Main
Menu - Capture Menu - Rename Capture.dbl - type an appropriate file name
and ENTER.  Remember, you do not need to append the .dbl to any name which
you type at a prompt in dbLite.  All DOS file names are limited to eight
(8) characters.  Once the capture is deleted or renamed you may then
proceed to "capture" (which is similar to "marking" or "pasting") certain
selected records by either selecting Main Menu - Capture Menu - Capture
This Record or from the Main Menu pressing F4, which is the speed key for
this command.  The focus record is then appended to the file
"Capture.dbl". Next, locate each record which you would like to include in
your group and "capture" it.  Once all records are captured you can then
load "Capture.dbl" from the Main Menu - File Menu - Load File and print
those records or start a new file or transfer them to another file.
... another, load the file to which they are to be transferred, select Main
Menu - Capture Menu - Append Capture Records To This File.  The files will
be added to the end of your last record.  You can then sort them into
proper order with the rest of the records in this file.  Additionally you
can print the records in Capture.Dbl.

To use an example, you are required to send certified mail to five of your
contacts.  You need a label for each envelope, and three more for the
certified tickets and your record.  Clear your capture file.  Load your
contacts file. F3 and enter the first name.  When located, capture that
record four times. Use Search, Text Search, enter the next name and capture
it four times.  Repeat the process for the other contacts.  You now have a
file (capture.dbl) with 20 records.  Before loading it, locate your own
return address and capture it 10 times. (This will give you return address
labels for your forms and envelopes).  Now load the Capture file,
CAPTURE.DBL and print a sheet of laser labels and you are set to do your
mailing.



                                  [F5]
  I would further suggest reading the manual if you can tolerate it.  The
program has features to allow you to perform math calculations on the fly
and additionally to help you balance your checkbook. Alt-= and Alt-A
  You can consult a calendar from Menu Mode with the F2 key.
  You can auto-switch between ADDRESS, THINGS and SCHEDULE with the F8 key.
  You can copy whole records and notes with the Alt-B and Alt-O keys.
  You can mark and copy lines with Alt-L and Alt-C.
  You can convert a record or a note to a file with Alt-F.
  Learning your quick key combos of function keys and Ctrl keys to help you
move among your records, save on the fly and quick capture, save, delete
and quit will save you a lot of time.
  Most of all you should complain to me in writing if the program has
problems or lacks features which you would like to see fixed.
  dbLite as you see it before you, is a completely user-driven program.  It
must continue to improve.  If you use it and you feel it is close to being
what you want but it needs a little fine tuning, then send me a line and I
will see to it that it is improved.

Good luck with the program,

Mike Seither
        **********   dbLite Command Key Reference Note   **********
 Normal Edit Mode keys: Up_Arrow∙Dn_Arrow∙PgUp∙PgDn∙Home∙End∙Ctrl+Home
 (should be intuitive)  Ctrl+End∙F1∙Ins∙Del∙Esc∙Enter
   Keyboard combo     Result               works with         Alternate
   -------- -----     ------               ----- ----         ---------
    Alt+ Ins        inserts line            records & notes
    Alt+ Del        deletes line            records & notes
    Alt+ L (line)   marks line              records & notes
    Alt+ C (copy)   copies marked line      records & notes
    Alt+ B (buffer) marks record or note    records & notes
    Alt+ O (output) copies record or note   records & notes
    Alt+ V (view)   view memo window        records
    Alt+ M (memo)   edit memo               records                F11
    Alt+ N (note)   edit note               records & notes        F5
    Alt+ =          caluculate line         records
    Alt+ A (accum.) insert calc result      records
    Alt+ F (file)   create record/note file records & notes
    Alt+ D (date)   insert date at cursor   records & notes
              Function quick keys from Record Menu Mode
    (F1) Help (F2) Calendar (F3) Search (F4) Capture (F6) DOS Shell
    (F7) Save (F8) File Carousel (F9) Delete Record (F10) Quit, Abandon
Dear Mike,
Please register me as a user of dbLite.  I want the latest version of
dbLite, registered with my serial number, mailed to me immediately.

Name: ______________________________________             Disk Size

Addr: ______________________________________           3 1/2: ______

Addr: ______________________________________           5 1/4: ______

City: ___________________ State: ________ Zip: ________

Please enclose a check or money order made out to Mike Seither in the
amount of $10.00. (Single User License Fee)

Mike, I received dbLite 1.2i from: __________________________________

mail to:       Mike Seither
               6900 Hastings St.
               Metairie, La.  70003
∙ FILL OUT THE FORM ∙ PRESS [ESC] ∙ SELECT PRINTER TYPE ∙ PRESS [ENTER]  ∙