****************************************************************************** * * * Amivision Software * * * * proudly presents * * * * *** PowerBase V2.00 *** * * * * (The POWERful dataBASE) * * * * PLEASE NOTE : This disk is public domain and is freely distributable. * * * ****************************************************************************** V2.00 released 09/09/1991 ** Please note : This demo version of PowerBase V2.00 is public domain and so is freely distributable , but all complete versions are licensed and are NOT freely distributable. ** Distributing complete versions of PowerBase is against the law! Programmed by Steven Rennocks : 1 Cherrington Drive , Great Wyrley , Walsall , West Midlands , WS6 6NE. Other projects include Formula One Challenge (also Licenseware) , Spectra , Cheatlister , All-Square , Rush-Hour , PowerBase Professional. -------------------------- About Amivision Software -------------------------- Amivision software is a group of four talented people who enjoy producing quality software for the Amiga. All our products are tested and updated regularly. For details of any Amivision products , or news of updates , special offers etc. , write to the address shown at the top of the document. Amivision software is always on the lookout for graphics artists , musically talented people and programmers. If you would like to join our group then please send a disk, containing some of your work to me. As long as your work is of a reasonable standard and you are keen to help with projects , etc. then we will accept you into our group and put you on our mailing list. Unfortunatly , due to a lack of income from licenceware , shareware , pd etc. we will be unable to pay you , but we can offer you some of our products free of charge if you send me a disk or disks and state what you would like. All work will be acknowledged and credited if used and you will be sent a list of new products regularly. Please note : Amivision software is not a company. ----------------------- About PowerBase V2.00 ----------------------- PowerBase has undergone some drastic changes since V1.67. The most major change is the programming language that PowerBase is written in. All of the earlier versions (V1.##) were written with AmigaBasic and so had some major faults that go with this language , such as lack of speed. So from V2.00 onwards , PowerBase has been written using a language that certainly does not lack speed. The difference in speed from V1 of PowerBase to V2 is like the difference between a Mini and Ferrari F40. The language of course being AMOS. PowerBase is also turbo charged , with the AMOS COMPILER. Which despite having one or two minor little bugs is highly recommended to all serious AMOS owners. (I hope the cheque is in the post Europress software(Mandarin)!) PowerBase was designed with user friendliness and powerful control over your database in mind. I hope you agree with me (the rather biased author) that I have to a large extent suceeded in my aims. (If you agree or even if you don`t or you would like PowerBase V2.01 then read the document on this disk entitled `About PowerBase V2.01`. PowerBase will handle upto 10,000 records on a 1 meg machine with no trouble! If you use the program regurarly then you should consider getting the latest version of PowerBase , V2.01 (see About PowerBase V2.01) ----------------- PowerBase V2.00 ----------------- A POWERful dataBASE program that has been fully written and compiled using AMOS and AMOS compiler. The system used by me (Steven Rennocks) to produce PowerBase was :- Amiga 500 , external disk drive , 1Mb of memory , and a poor quality television for display and AMOS + Compiler of course. For printer testing I have access to (thanks to L.Poole & Great Wyrley High School a Star LC200 and a Hewlett Packard Paintjet. Here are just some of the powerful features of V2.00 of PowerBase :- PowerBase incorporates a V.C.R style panel to allow quick editing , viewing, searching and filtering of your records. - Upto 10,000 records on a 1meg machine , upto 20 fields. - New fields can be added at any time. - The following field types are supported : Text (Letters, numbers & symbols) Numeric (Numbers and symbols) Date (Any legal date) Time (Any legal time) Percentage (0 to 100 %) External (Any IFF picture) Logical (Y/N or T/F). - Extremely complex filters are allowed. - Three view modes for your filters (Record , Page and Table views) - Output to (Screen/printer or a file) - Form designer (you can use as many forms for each database as you wish) - Will load/save PowerBase files as well as load Amibase V3.76 files. < SAVE function disabled on demo versions > - Sort on ANY field at any time with lowest or highest first options. - Complex search options (allowing searching for part or complete fields) - Include IFF pictures into your records. - Load and save your key macros. - Wide range of preference options can be loaded and saved. - Other options include :- Case dependancy (On/Off) Auto capitalisation (On/Off) Capitalise all All to upper case All to lower case Time and date These are just a few options from V2.00 of PowerBase. And now for the good and bad news :- The bad news ------------ This version of PowerBase V2.00 is set up to use 1 Meg of memory , but , unfortunatly due to the problems with memory assignment, it will not take advantage of more than 1 meg of memory. The good news ------------- There is a way round this problem , and so if you have more than 1 meg , then return your original PowerBase disk to me , stating how much memory you have and I will update your disk with a version of PowerBase V2.## that will use all of the memory available to your machine. ------------------------------- PowerBase V2.00 instructions. ------------------------------- Each option and function will be described and examples of usage will be given if necessary. Any reference to clicking the mouse button , refers to the left mouse button , unless otherwise stated. The default screen or main screen as it may be refered to is the screen containing the V.C.R style panel , the current record number and the contents of the current record. Pressing {HELP} while on the main screen will show you some keyboard shortcuts as well as the estimated no. of more records , the date and the alarm time setting if it has been set. Some of the function in PowerBase present you with a file requester. This file requester is the standard AMOS file selector and is not terribly user friendly. If you own AMOS or have used any previous AMOS produced programs you should be okay. For those who have not come across it before , here is a brief description of its operation: Clicking the right mouse button when the disk is not being accessed will display a number of device names (ie. Devs etc.) as well as the disk names of DF0 and DF1 DH0 if you have them. Clicking one of these will give you a directory of that device. The little `o` at the top left is the PARENT icon and takes the directory back to the previous path (i.e "PowerBase:Files/" then click the PARENT symbol and the directory will change to "PowerBase:"). The slider bar and up/down arrows allow you to view all of the current directory. A file can be chosen by clicking its name and then either clicking its name again or clicking the O.K button. QUIT - cancels the selection of a file. SORT - sorts the files into near alphabetical order. SET DIR - is equivalent to the CD command in CLI or the DIR$ command in AMOS and set the current directory to the default directory. That is just a short run down of the file selector and more can be found out just by using the requester. If you have the preference option (Record slider bar) set to ON and you have some records in your database you will see a slider bar above the V.C.R style panel. This bar allows quick and easy access to your records. V.C.R panel ------------- || Pause - use when rewinding or fast-forwarding ## Stop - use when rewinding or fast-forwarding |< Goto first record. << Rewind records. < Previous record ^ Edit current record. (If one of the fields you have set up is of EXTernal type then you will not be able to edit that field as normal. For an external field you have to click on the IFF ^ icon to choose an IFF picture filename. The external IFF picture can then be viewed with the IFF disp. icon.) > Next record >> Fast forward records. >| Goto last record. ? Search. You have to enter into each field the part of that field you wish to search for from the current record. (ie. If one field is the NAME of people and you enter `a` as a search parameter , then all names containing the letter `a` will be found.) = Exact search. You have to enter into each field the exact field data you wish to search for from the current record. (ie. If again one field is the name of people you would have to enter the full name of a person to find.) IFF ^ If one of the fields you have set up is of type EXTERNAL you will be presented with the AMOS file requester and asked to choose an IFF picture file to put into this field. IFF DISPLAY This will display an IFF picture of an EXTERNAL field if you have one set up. FILTER Allows you to pick and display certain records , depending on certain conditions. For example if you had a file of peoples addresses and one of the fields was postcode. To find all the people in the Walsall area , you would :- Make sure nothing is highlighted.(If it is click on CLEAR) Click on the POSTCODE field so it is highlighted. Click on the LIKE expression so it is highlighted. Type in the following :- WS* Then click on OK. All the postcodes that begin with the letters WS will be filtered out and displayed in the filter viewing mode.(See Filter Display) Taking the same example as above , but if all the people with a Walsall POSTCODE AND with a SURNAME begin with the letters F through to S you would do the following. Make sure nothing is highlighted.(If it is click on CLEAR) Click on the POSTCODE field so it is highlighted. Click on the LIKE expression so it is highlighted. Type in the following :- WS* Click on the AND logical expression so it is highlighted. Click on the SURNAME field so it is highlighted. Click on the LIKE expression so it is highlighted. Type in the following :- [F-S]* Click on OK. The LIKE expression is an extremely powerful part of the PowerBase filter options. The following are acceptable special characters for use in with this option :- * Any number of preceding or following characters. i.e *S would find all the enteries in that field that end with an S. *EN* would find all the enteries that contain EN. F* would find all the enteries that start with an F. ? Must be same number of characters. i.e ???N??K? would find all the enteries where the 4th letter is an N , the 7th is a K and the length must be 8 chrs. This would find the name RENNOCKS. [a-b] Will find all the enteries in a field that are one character in length and =a through to =b. i.e [5-7] would find numbers 5,6 and 7. [a-b]* Will find all the enteries in a field that being with the character a through to character b. i.e [C-K]* would find all enteries whose first character is C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J or K and has any number of following characters. When you are viewing the filtered records , you have three options buttons to choose from :- Quit - Will stop filtering and return you to the standard edit screen. Auto - Will automatically display the filtered records without you having to click the mouse on the NEXT option. Clicking the mouse button when this option is selected will stop Automatic filtered record display mode (what a mouth full that was!) Next - Displays the next filtered record. The next record can also be displayed by just clicking the left mouse button anywhere other than the three buttons. The Project Menu ---------------- Load a database - Loads a PowerBase compatible file. Erasing the previous file from memory. Load an Amibase file - Will load an Amibase V3.76 file. Save a database - Saves a database in PowerBase format. Disk options - Change directory - Allows you to change the default directory. - Delete a file - Deletes a specified file from disk. - Make directory - Makes a new directory on disk. - Rename a file - Renames a specified disk file. - Free disk space - Tells you the disk space you have left. File status report - Give a status report on the current database in memory. About PowerBase - Try it! About Amivision - Try it! About the author - Try it! Clear current database - gives the option to Save the Database first , don`t do it or Yes to clear. Quit - Allows you to select Don`t do it , Save first or Yes Quit. The System Menu --------------- Field Names - Use this option to create a new database or to editing the fields of the current database. To create a new database you must clear the current database and then select this option. For each field you can enter a field name of upto 20 characters. Choose a field type:- 1) Text - Allows text,numbers and special characters. 2) Numeric - Allows numbers and special characters. 3) Date - Allows a date in the format dd-mm-yyyy (20-08-1991) 4) Time - Allows a time in 24hr format HH:MM (23:30) 5) Logical - (Y)es/(N)o or (T)rue/(F)alse. 6) External - Allows an IFF picture to be loaded into a record. 7) Percentage - Range from 0 to 100% For each field you also enter the maximum width of an entry in that field. i.e 5 if your longest entry is "STEVE". Some field types have a fixed width that you cannot alter. Text - Any length Numeric - Any length Date - 10 chrs. dd-mm-yyyy Time - 5 chrs. hh:mm Logical - 1 chr. Y/N or T/F External - 40 chr. (An IFF picture filename) Percentage - 3 chr. (0 - 100%) Design new form - Allows you to reposition the fields to a more suitable layout. Click on the field you wish to move and drag it about to the position you require and then let go of the left mouse button. Click right mouse button to return to the main screen. File heading - Allows you to give a heading to your current file i.e BOOKS. Reset form postions - Resets the positions of your fields as changed with the design form layout option back to the default. Load form - Allows you to load just the form positions from the disk. Save form - Allow you to save just the current form positions to disk. The Edit Menu ------------- Swap current - & Prev. rec - Allows you to swap over the current record and the previous record. & Next rec - Allows you to swap over the current record and the next record. & Rec.no. - Allows you to swap over the current record and a record number that you specify. Goto specific rec. - Allows you to goto a record number that you enter. Clear search - Clears the search parameters from the search and exact search option off the V.C.R panel. Copy rec. to - next & erase prev. - copies the current record to the next record , completely overwriting what was previously there. - next & move rest - Moves all the following records on by one and copies the current record to the next, preserving what was there. - all records - copies the current record over all of your records (be careful with this option!) - ? following recs. - copies the current records over the next ? records , overwriting them. - ? imaginary recs. - inserts ? copies of the current record between the current and next record. - record no. ? - allows you to copy the current record to record number ? - record range - allows you to copy the current record to a range of records. Delete record - erases the current record. Delete ? recs. - Allows you to delete a range of records from ? to ? Insert record - Inserts a blank record after the current record. Insert ? records - Allows you to insert ? blank records. Erase record contents - Erases the contents of your current record. Estimate recs - Estimates how many more records you have room for in memory. The Sort Menu ------------- Lowest first - Allows you to select a field to sort in and then sort with the lowest i.e A or 1 or earliest date/time first. Highest first - The opposite of lowest first. Unsort records - An option to allow you to unsort your records to give them that just entered look! The Options Menu ---------------- All to UPPER case - converts all enteries to UPPER case. All to lower case - converts all enteries to lower case. Capitalise all - Automatically capitalises all enteries. i.e ste > Ste Auto capitalise on/off - Allow you to choose if you want your records capitalised as you enter them. Case dependancy on/off - Chooses for use in the search/sort and filter sections whether a=A or a<>A. Filter output - Screen - (Default) displays all filter output to the screen. Printer - Sends the filter output to the printer. File - Sends the filter output to a disk file. Filter display - Record view - Displays one record on screen at once. Page view - Scrolls the display up to display more records. Table view - Displays records in a table. Filter fields - Allows you to choose which fields will be displayed when filtered. A tick means the field will be displayed and the cross means that won`t be displayed. (simple huh!) Click on the field name to toggle on/off. Display time - On - Allows you to choose if you would like a 24HR clock on the displaybar at the top of the screen or not. The first time you choose this option the time and date will be gathered from the system clock. - Off- Turns the clock off. - Change - Allows you to change the time. Alarm - Set - Allows you to set the alarm and turns the alarm on. On - Turns the alarm on. Off - Turns the alarm off. Alter date - Allows you to change the date that is loaded from the system clock. The date is displayed by pressing the {HELP} key on the main screen. The Preferences Menu -------------------- Colour palette - Allows you to change the screen colours to suit your preference. A number of set palettes are already defined for you on the right. Simply click on one to change the palette to the one chosen. Move the sliders to alter values of red,green and blue in the colour selected. Click on the box on the left to go to the next colour. UNDO - Undoes any palette change you have made. O.K - Sets the change you have made. DEFAULT - Changes the palette to the default settings. Adjust screen position - Allows you to alter the hardware position of the screen to suit your display. Change mouse pointer - Arrow (Default) Big Arrow Crosshair Clock Volume level - Select volume level of sound output. Key repeat speed - Set the time it takes for a key to repeat when held down. Default key speed - Allows you to set the key speed back to normal. (Very useful if you make a mistake with the option above!) Speed of FF/Rewind - Allows you to decide how quick the FastForward and Rewind options are. Auto filter speed - Allows you to change the delay between records being displayed with the AUTO option on the filter utility. Record slider ON/OFF - If you want the record slider bar above the V.C.R panel on or off. Define function keys - Allows you to define key macros for the F1-F10 keys. Clear function key macro - Clears the key macros Load macro - Just loads a key macro Save macro - Just saves a key macro Load prefs - Allows you to load a set of preference options. Save prefs - Allows you to save a set of preference options. If I have missed anything , I am deeply sorry! (let me know what i`ve missed) (PHEW!) That`s about the lot. If you thought that was a lot of options and functions , then you have seen nothing yet! Get hold of PowerBase V2.01. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- If these instructions are a bit hard to take in then print them out and read them at your leisure. (What was that ?) You can`t because you don`t have a printer. Help is at hand : a full printout of these instructions and details of other Amivision Software projects can be obtained by just sending 200 pence to the address shown below , to cover Postage & packing. If any help is needed with any of my productions then contact me and I will do my best to help. Any offers of work etc. should be sent to S.Rennocks. If you would like to join Amivision software then read the instructions at the top of this document. If you encounter any problems with PowerBase , or would like to join Amivision Software , or would like details of Amivision products then write to me. If you have any ideas for features , functions or improvements of PowerBase I will be happy to hear from you. ************************************************************************** Buy Formula One Challenge ,a highly addictive formula one management game. ************************************************************************** Details of all Amivision products can be obtained by writing to me. PLEASE NOTE: If payment is required then make all cheques/postal orders etc. made payable to Steven Rennocks. Steven Rennocks , 1 Cherrington Drive , Great Wyrley , Walsall , West Midlands , WS6 6NE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amivision software consists of :- Steven Rennocks - Manager and main programmer. Leon Poole - Musician and designer. David Rennocks - Designer and play tester. James Carr - Programmer and play tester. Disk compiled by : Steven Rennocks Instructions : Steven Rennocks PowerBase V2.00 programming and graphics : Steven Rennocks For details about PowerBase professional or joining Amivision software then read the top of this document. Thanks go to the following people for their help and assistance in making the most POWERful dataBASE possible :- Sandra Sharkey - at the offical AMOS PD library. Francois Lionet - for AMOS and the Compiler. Voodoo Software - for AMOS 3D Leigh Geary - for some utility compilation disks. Keith Grant - for Amibase V3.76 Leon Poole - for some assistance. Electronic Arts - for Dpaint I,II,III & coming soon IV. Europress/Mandarin Software - for AMOS + Compiler + 3D I guarantee PowerBase V2.00 to be the best value for money database on the AMIGA to date. There may also in the near future (late 91) be a professional version of PowerBase (originally titled PowerBase Professional). This version will , if it is accepted be commercially marketed. (Please keep a lookout for further details and release dates etc.) If any company is would be interested in marketing PowerBase Professional then please contact me and I will send you a list of new/enhanced features. If you use this program regularly then consider the latest version of PowerBase V2.01. Read the `About PowerBase V2.01` file on this disk for more details.. ******** Buy Formula One Challenge a four player commercial quality formula one management game. Set up your cars , buy drivers , strike up an engine deal and a tyre deal with a tyre manufacturer and try to win the formula one drivers and constructors championships. Choose your tyre depending upon the variable weather and make pitstops. Incredibly large,speedy and detailed graphics with great sound fx and music, to accompany the action of a great management game. Make sure you have not made any appointments before playing this game because you will find yourself cancelling or missing them! Formula One Challenge is licensed to Deja Vu Software and is available from most Amos Licenceware distributers. ******** Steven Rennocks , 1 Cherrington Drive , Great Wyrley , Walsall , West Midlands , WS6 6NE. That`s all folks.