.OO=15 .EO=7 .FO=/i C‚O‚P‚Y‚R‚I‚G‚H‚T‚ ‚N‚O‚T‚I‚C‚E‚ (c) 1986 Precision Software Limited 6 Park Terrace Worcester Park Surrey England KT4 7JZ (01) 330 7166 First Edition September 1986; Revised November 1986 This manual, and the Superbase software ("Superbase") described in it, contain confidential information propri- etary to Precision Software Limited and are copyrighted with all rights reserved. Neither the whole nor any part of the manual or of Superbase may be copied, reproduced, transmitted, transferred, transcribed, stored in a re- trieval system, or translated into any language or com- puter language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written authorization of Precision Software Limited. C„o„n„d„i„t„i„o„n„s„ „o„f„ „A„u„t„h„o„r„i„z„a„t„i„o„n„ „o„f„ „B„a„c„k„u„p„ „C„o„p„y„ You may make backup copies of Superbase, but not of the manual. Every copy must include the same proprietary and copyright notices as the original. Superbase may only be used in conjunction with the Software Protection Device or Dongle included with the Superbase package. Installation of a copy of Superbase on your hard disk is permitted subject to these conditions. You may not make an extra copy of Superbase for the purpose of using it on another computer. You may not sell, loan, or give away a copy of Superbase. R„e„s„a„l„e„ „o„r„ „D„i„s„p„o„s„a„l„ You may sell, loan or give all the material you purchased, together with all backup copies, to another person. T„r„a„d„e„m„a„r„k„s„ Superbase is a trademark of Precision Software Limited. Amiga and AmigaDOS are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga inc. .FO=/ii L‚I‚M‚I‚T‚E‚D‚ ‚W‚A‚R‚R‚A‚N‚T‚Y‚ If there is a physical defect in the Superbase program disk, manual or dongle, Precision Software Limited will replace the defective item free of charge, provided you return the item to be replaced with proof of purchase to Precision Software Limited within 90 days of the date of purchase. In some countries the replacement period may be different; check with your software supplier. The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice and do not represent any commitment on the part of Precision Software Limited. No warranty is made with respect to Superbase, its quality or performance. Any and all warranties for merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose are expressly ex- cluded. The Superbase software is sold "as is", and you, the purchaser, are assuming the entire risk as to its quality and performance. In no event shall Precision Software Limited be liable or responsible to the purchaser or any other person or entity for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequent- ial damages, including but not limited to interruption of service and loss of business or anticipatory profits, res- ulting from any defect in or misunderstanding of the soft- ware or its documentation, even if Precision Software Lim- ited has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The warranty and remedies set out above are exclusive and in lieu of all others, oral or written, express or implied. Some laws do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liabilities for incidental or con- sequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. .FO=/iii ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ S‚U‚P‚E‚R‚B‚A‚S‚E‚ ‚C‚R‚E‚D‚I‚T‚S‚ Design and Programming: Simon Tranmer Additional Design: Bruce Hunt Additional Programming: Barry Walsh Testing: John Barrs User Guide: Tom Pumphrey and Bruce Hunt User Guide Master: Superscript and QMS KISS Printer Production: Repro Workshop Ltd Package Design: Creative Direction Ltd ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ R‚E‚G‚I‚S‚T‚R‚A‚T‚I‚O‚N‚ ‚A‚N‚D‚ ‚S‚U‚P‚P‚O‚R‚T‚ Please complete and return the User Registration Card, which is included in your Superbase package. O„n„l„y„ „r„e„g„i„s„t„e„r„e„d„ „u„s„e„r„s„ „w„i„t„h„ „a„ „U„s„e„r„ „N„u„m„b„e„r„ „a„r„e„ „e„l„i„g„i„b„l„e„ „f„o„r„ „f„r„e„e„ „s„o„f„t„w„a„r„e„ „s„u„p„p„o„r„t„.„ I†f† †y†o†u† †d†o† †n†o†t† †r†e†t†u†r†n† †t†h†e† †c†a†r†d†,† †w†e† †w†i†l†l† †n†o†t† †b†e† †a†b†l†e† †t†o† †a†s†s†i†g†n† †y†o†u† †a† †U†s†e†r† †N†u†m†b†e†r† †w†h†e†n† †y†o†u† †f†i†r†s†t† †c†a†l†l† †i†n†,† †a†n†d† †y†o†u† †w†i†l†l† †n†o†t† †b†e† †a†b†l†e† †t†o† †o†b†t†a†i†n† †f†r†e†e† †s†o†f†t†w†a†r†e† †s†u†p†p†o†r†t†.† Please remember, when requesting support, to make available: * Your User Number * The version number of your copy of Superbase * A clear statement of your problem While we are proud of our ability to help users solve their problems, we ask you to remember that only a precise description of a problem can lead to a precise solution. North American support is available from Progressive Peripherals and Software, 464 Kalamath, Denver, CO 80204. Telephone (303) 825 4144. .FO=/iv S‚E‚T‚T‚I‚N‚G‚ ‚U‚P‚ ‚S‚U‚P‚E‚R‚B‚A‚S‚E‚ To get you up and running quickly, we've included this short summary of what you have to do when you set up a Superbase system. Y„o„u„ „N„e„e„d„ * An Amiga computer with at least 512K of RAM. * Some formatted disks. A second disk drive is optional. M„a„k„e„ „a„ „B„a„c„k„u„p„ „o„f„ „t„h„e„ „P„r„o„g„r„a„m„ „D„i„s„k„ Use either the CLI "copy" command or the Workbench copying procedure to make a backup copy of the Superbase disk, or to install the program on a supported hard disk. Store the original in a safe place. You have now made an authorized copy of Superbase. To run any copy, you must the software protection device described below. U„s„i„n„g„ „t„h„e„ „S„o„f„t„w„a„r„e„ „P„r„o„t„e„c„t„i„o„n„ „D„e„v„i„c„e„ „(„D„o„n„g„l„e„)„ Insert the dongle that comes with the Superbase package into the games port marked with a "2" on the right-hand side of the computer. The dongle must be present while Superbase is loading and throughout its operation. L„o„a„d„ „S„u„p„e„r„b„a„s„e„ Insert the Superbase program disk, and double click on the disk icon when it appears on the Workbench. Double click on the program icon when the disk window opens. When the start up screen with the copyright notice is displayed along with the "Please open a file" message, you have a choice: * Work in the same directory as the Superbase program .FO=/v * Change to another directory If you don't mind that the Superbase program and its demonstration files use a large amount of disk space, you can continue as you are. Just open or set up a file from the Project Menu, and get to work. C„h„a„n„g„e„ „D„i„r„e„c„t„o„r„y„ Alternatively, you can switch to a directory on another disk. Place a formatted disk in the drive you wish to work with. You can remove the Superbase disk from the drive, or, if you have two drives, leave it there. The Superbase program (not the data) is completely memory resident and does not need to access the program disk during operation. Select the Directory Change option from the System Menu. Type in the name of the drive you wish to work on (usually df0: or df1:), or the volume name of the disk (e.g. datadisk:). You can follow this with a directory pathname if you have already set up a directory structure using the CLI "mkdir" command (e.g. datadisk:myfiles/customers). Now you can set up a new file and start working with Superbase. ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ H‚O‚U‚S‚E‚K‚E‚E‚P‚I‚N‚G‚ Superbase does not include disk housekeeping functions. The most common functions are these: * Disk copy or Backup * File copy * File delete * File rename * Make directory All are available from the Workbench or CLI, and you should familiarize yourself with them. You can run the CLI from Workbench at the same time as Superbase. To use it, make the Superbase window smaller, click in the CLI window, and type in your commands. .FO=/vi H‚O‚W‚ ‚T‚O‚ ‚U‚S‚E‚ ‚T‚H‚I‚S‚ ‚G‚U‚I‚D‚E‚ Part I is G‚e‚t‚t‚i‚n‚g‚ ‚t‚o‚ ‚K‚n‚o‚w‚ ‚S‚u‚p‚e‚r‚b‚a‚s‚e‚, a light and easy introduction to the basics of Superbase. You should read this before reading any of the other sections. G‚e‚t‚t‚i‚n‚g‚ ‚t‚o‚ ‚K‚n‚o‚w‚ ‚S‚u‚p‚e‚r‚b‚a‚s‚e‚ provides you with the essential information you need to use Superbase effectively: opening files, viewing records, using the Control Panel, and searching the database. It's intended to give you lots of examples and practice, without being too much of a class- room lecture. Part II is W‚o‚r‚k‚i‚n‚g‚ ‚w‚i‚t‚h‚ ‚S‚u‚p‚e‚r‚b‚a‚s‚e‚. This is the main part of the User Guide, which explains in detail the various menu options and provides useful guidelines on how best to use each option and the system. Three tutorials give you the chance to consolidate your knowledge of setting up files, entering data, and using some of the important Process Menu options. Part III is the R‚e‚f‚e‚r‚e‚n‚c‚e‚ ‚G‚u‚i‚d‚e‚. This is a q„u„i„c„k„ „r„e„f„e„r„e„n„c„e„ „ g„u„i„d„e„. It's designed for experienced users who want a brief reminder of the function of each menu option, but it's also a very useful way for a new user to get an idea of the system as a whole. There are six A‚p‚p‚e‚n‚d‚i‚c‚e‚s‚. Appendix A is a list of error messages and explanations. Appendix B gives details and examples of how to use the important LIKE logical operator. Appendix C provides a list of the functions available in the Superbase programming language, most of which may be used in Superbase Filter Command Lines and Formulas. Appendix D provides a full list of the reserved words that constitute the Superbase programming language, and so may not be used as field names. Appendix E lists ASCII codes and decimal equivalents. Appendix F describes some of the major additional features available in the advanced version of the database, Superbase Professional. Appendix G provides you with some useful tips on how to get the most from Superbase .FO=/vii C‚O‚N‚T‚E‚N‚T‚S‚ PART I : GETTING TO KNOW SUPERBASE Loading Superbase................................I-1 Superbase Menus..................................I-3 Opening a File...................................I-4 Main Display.....................................I-6 Control Panel....................................I-8 Opening Fields to View...........................I-11 Paging...........................................I-12 Moving Columns...................................I-13 Form View Design.................................I-14 Summary..........................................I-16 The Key Lookup Button............................I-16 The Filter Button................................I-19 Fifteen Minute Tutorial..........................I-25 Other Filter Based Options.......................I-28 The External File Button.........................I-29 PART II : WORKING WITH SUPERBASE The Project Menu Using the Project Menu...........................II-1 New File: Overview...............................II-1 Setting Up a New File............................II-2 The File Definition Requester....................II-4 Creating a New File..............................II-5 Text Field.......................................II-6 Numeric Field....................................II-7 Date Field.......................................II-10 External File Field..............................II-12 Formulas.........................................II-13 Validation Formula...............................II-13 Calculation Formula..............................II-16 Required Field...................................II-18 The Add Button...................................II-18 The Del Button...................................II-19 Concluding File Definition.......................II-19 Creating Indexes for a File: New Index...........II-14 Thirty Minute Tutorial...........................II-22 .FO=/viii Open File........................................II-34 Open Fields......................................II-36 Open Index.......................................II-37 Open Query.......................................II-39 Close File.......................................II-39 Edit: Changing the File Definition...............II-40 Save.............................................II-41 Remove...........................................II-45 Quit.............................................II-47 The Record Menu Using the Process Menu...........................II-48 Editing Features.................................II-48 Record New.......................................II-53 Record Save......................................II-54 Record Edit......................................II-55 Record Duplicate.................................II-55 Record Remove....................................II-56 Twenty Minute Tutorial...........................II-57 The Process Menu Update...........................................II-62 Query: The Heart of Superbase....................II-66 Query Report.....................................II-74 Report Example...................................II-76 Query Filter.....................................II-83 Relational Queries...............................II-83 Query Order......................................II-86 Query Output Destination.........................II-88 Remove...........................................II-89 Import...........................................II-91 Export...........................................II-93 Print............................................II-95 Labels...........................................II-96 Thirty Minute Tutorial...........................II-100 The Set Menu Output Device....................................II-110 Views............................................II-110 Paging...........................................II-112 Options..........................................II-113 Default Formats..................................II-117 .FO=/ix The System Menu Version..........................................II-118 Directory........................................II-118 Status...........................................II-119 List.............................................II-121 Reorganize.......................................II-121 The External File System External File Fields.............................II-123 Viewing External Files...........................II-125 Image Menu.......................................II-126 Record Menu......................................II-127 Control Menu.....................................II-128 Querying External Files..........................II-131 PART III : REFERENCE GUIDE Project Menu.....................................III-1 Record Menu......................................III-3 Process Menu.....................................III-4 Set Menu.........................................III-6 System Menu......................................III-7 External File System.............................III-9 Control Menu.....................................III-9 Record Menu......................................III-10 Image Menu.......................................III-11 APPENDICES Appendix A: Error Messages.......................A-1 Appendix B: LIKE examples........................B-1 Appendix C: List of Functions....................C-1 Appendix D: Reserved Words.......................D-1 Appendix E: ASCII Codes..........................E-1 Appendix F: Superbase Professional...............F-1 Appendix G: Tuning for Optimum Performance.......G-1 Index