This is the PDS*BASE Data Base System to create relational data base files and programs. This "Shareware" type software is Copyright 1987 by PRO DEV Software. If you find this program useful, it is requested that you contribute $40 to: PRO DEV Software 545 Grover Road Muskegon, Michigan 49442 You will be placed on our mailing list for software update notices and notices of other PRO DEV Software. The next screen is the Help Menu. Main Help Menu A = Set Your Hardware Defaults B = Define A New Data Base C = Create Blank Data Base Files D = Print Your Data Base Definition E = Generate Posting Program F = Generate Report Program G = Generate Sort Program H = Generate Utility Program-Fix Files I = Do Your Own Thing Programming J = Load Existing Definition File K = Modify Existing Definition File L = Define Report Program M = Modify Report Program N = Print Instructions & Other Stuff Create Sub-Menu After you have established the hardware defaults with the Set-Up sub-menu, you are ready to define your data base. The "Define Data Base" sub-menu will allow you to define the file and field names in your data base. You can have from 1 up to 10 inter-related files in a data base. Each file can have up to 40 fields. The PDS*BASE Data Base system will automatically create relationships between a file and 1 or more related files. Highlight the "Define Data Base" sub- menu selection with the up or down arrow cursor keys and press Enter to select. You will then see the screen for defining the file and field names. The first thing you are asked, is to give your data base a name. This 8 character name will have ".DEF" added as the file name extender. This file will contain all of the information about each file in your data base. If you have a single file data base, then it will contain the file name and field information about that single file. You can have up to 10 stand-alone or inter-related files in a single definition. The term "inter-related" means a "Master" to "Detail" file type of relationship. Section 1.4 of the manual describes this hierarchal file structure in gory detail. Next, you fill in the name of each file in your data base. The first file is always a "Master" file - it has one field used for quick random access. If there are "Detail" or transaction type files associated with the "Master" file you enter the quantity of "Detail" type files for this "Master" file. After the number of the maximum possible records is entered for this file, you are asked for the name and information about the next file. To define the field information for a file, highlight the file name with the cursor keys and press F4. Fill in the information about each field. Press F3 to return to the file name side of the screen, highlight the next file name with the cursor keys and press F4 to define the fields for the next file. Press F2 when you are finished defining your data base. This will save the .DEF file. Please note that all F key instructions are shown on the screen. The "Blank Data Base" sub-menu will create the blank data base files after you have defined your data base. It is necessary to create the blank files BEFORE they are used. This is to set up the record pointers used to establish the automatic file relationships. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. You will be asked several questions before the blank files are written to either the floppy disks or to your hard disk. The "Print Definition" sub-menu is so you can retain a printed copy of the data base that you have defined. This printed record is necessary to allow you to Define Reports. The reports are defined by file and field numbers and the file and field numbers are shown on the printed definition. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. The "Posting Program" sub-menu allows you to create a stand alone BASIC language program to add, modify or delete records in the data base files. The generated program can be run without the PDS*BASE System disk. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. The "Sort Program" sub-menu is so you can generate a stand alone program to create special multi-field sorts for your report programs. The generated program is written in BASIC. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. The "Do Your Own Thing" sub-menu will generate just the "front end" of a BASIC language program. You write the "main" part of the program. The front end contains all of the sub-routines that read and write the actual data base records. You should understand Section 7 of the manual before using this sub-menu. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. The "Utility Program" sub-menu creates a stand alone BASIC language program to fix file pointer errors that may occur do to power outages, "cock-pit" errors, etc. A seldom used powerful utility. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. The unique feature of the PDS*BASE Data Base system is that it writes BASIC language programs for you. These BASIC programs can then be run by someone who does not have the PDS*BASE system disk. Modify Sub-Menu The "Load .DEF File" sub-menu selection will allow you to load an existing data base DEFinition file. All definition file names end with a ".DEF" extender. After you highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys, press Enter to select. Definition files are originally created with the "Define Data Base" selection on the "Create" sub-menu. It is necessary to "Load .DEF File" before you can use the "Report" sub- menu, or use the "Create" sub-menu selections other than the "Define Data Base" selection, to generate programs or reprint the Definition File. The "Modify .DEF File" sub-menu will allow you to modify the files and fields in an existing Definition File. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. All of the existing .DEF file names are shown. You use the cursor keys to highlight the desired Definition File name and then press Return (or Enter). The .DEF file is loaded and you see the "Define Data Base" screen for that definition. You can rename the Definition File, Data Base file names and modify fields. If you are modifying the Definition File for a "live" data base that contains actual data, you will need a program on the disk that you will be sent when you register your copy of the PDS*BASE Data Base system, to re-build or restructure your live file. Don't get mad at me if you didn't structure it right the first time. I need some- thing to get the "closet" users to send the author money. You have a full manual and no features of this program are disabled in the unregistered copy. This is more than some Shareware data base systems. Please register. Thanks!! Reports Sub-Menu BEFORE you use this sub-menu, we have to know what data base Definition File should be used. If you have already been working on a Definition File, that file is assumed. If you just started the PDSBASE.EXE program, select the "Load .DEF File" option on the "Modify" sub-menu to load an existing Definition File for a data base. The "Define Report" sub-menu option is selected by highlighting the sub-menu with the cursor keys. Press Enter to allow you to define a new Report Definition File (these files have an .RDF file name extender). You will see the Report Definition screen. The first thing you do is to enter the optional report title. Then you will be asked for the File and Field numbers for each column on the report. This is where you will need the printed data base definition file listing. If you can't locate the definition listing, print a new one with the "Create" sub- menu "Print Definition" option. The "Define Report" option keeps track of the columns used by each field. When the default number of columns is reached, a second line of column head- ings will be started. Only 2 lines of column headings are allowed. If you plan to use compressed print or a wide carriage printer, you can change the default number of columns with the "Report" sub-menu option "Report Width In Cols.". You should do this BEFORE you attempt to define a report that will exceed 80 columns. Pressing the F2 key will save the Report Definition File. The "Modify Report" sub-menu will allow you to redefine a Report Program. High- light this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. You will be asked for the Report Definition File name. The existing .RDF files are shown. You just highlight the desired file with the cursor keys and press Enter. You will see the Report Definition screen. After you are done modifying the report press F2 to save the .RDF file. The "Generate Report Prog." sub-menu option will create a stand alone BASIC language program to write your report. This BASIC program can be run without the PDS*BASE system disk. You need to own BASIC, BASICA or GWBASIC. Highlight with the cursor keys and press Enter to select. After you answer several questions, the BASIC program will be written to disk. The "Pica/Compressed (P/C)" sub-menu option allows wider reports to be written. Check your printer manual for the number of columns in the compressed print mode. It typically runs about 17 characters to the inch as compared to 10 characters to the inch for Pica. The "Report Width In Cols." sub-menu option allows you to specify the column width for a report taking into account the Pica/Compressed setting and the physical width of the paper in the printer when the report is printed. The "Report Width In Cols." sub-menu is selected by highlighting it with the cursor keys and pressing Enter. The default value is 80 columns for 8 1/2 inch wide paper with the 10 characters per inch Pica type style. If you have specified Compressed print, then you can print about 132 characters on an 8 1/2 inch wide page. The 132 assumes 17 characters per inch for compressed print. Check your printer manual for the CPI for your printer. If you have a wide carriage printer, you can get more width in characters depending on Pica or Compressed and the width of the paper. Be sure to specify the Report Width In Columns BEFORE you Define or Modify the report program. Set-Up Sub-Menu Define your hardware defaults FIRST before you use the PDS*BASE Data Base system any further. Use the "Save New Set-Up Values" sub-menu option so you won't have to do this again. The "Color Graphics Adapter" sub-menu option allows you to let this program know if you have a Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) card. If you do, high- light this option, press Return to select the option and press the Y key. You may have a CGA card and a single color monitor - still press the Y key so this program will know how to show the cursor. If you have an EGA card, press the Y key. If you do not have a CGA or EGA card, press the N key. The "Color Monitor" sub-menu option allows you to indicate if you have a color monitor. Highlight this sub-menu option, press Return to select and press the Y key to indicate color. If you have a single color monitor (amber or green, etc.) press the N key. If you obtained this PDS*BASE disk from someone else who had already set the default options, the following 3 option values could show confusing defaults. You may wish to ERASE PDSBASE.CFG at the DOS prompt to delete the previous default configuration file. The "Drive A: Num of Bytes" sub-menu option is so this program knows what kind of disk drive you have. Highlight this sub-menu option with the cursor keys and press Return. Type in the number of bytes and press Return. If you don't know how many bytes your disk drive will contain, FORMAT a fresh disk in that drive. Consult your DOS manual for how to format a disk. When the FORMAT program is finished, you will see the number of bytes free. The "Drive B: Num of Bytes" sub-menu option is so this program knows what kind of disk drive you have. Highlight this sub-menu option with the cursor keys and press Return. Type in the number of bytes and press Return. The "Is Hard Disk Present" sub-menu option will show a default of "Y" if you do have a hard disk (assuming that the PDSBASE.CFG file was created on your computer). You may wish to change the default to N if you are preparing data base systems to run on non-hard disk computers for someone else. To change the default, highlight the sub-menu option with the cursor keys and press Return to select this sub- menu option. Then press the Y or N key. The "Printer Action Table" sub-menu option is so you can tell this program what printer you have. If you highlight this sub-menu option with the cursor keys and press Return, you will see the list of available .PAT files. Again, use the cursor keys to select your printer and then press Return. If you don't see your printer name, see Appendix D of the PDS*BASE Instruction Manual for how you can create a new PAT file for your printer. If you are creating BASIC programs for someone else, select the .PAT file for their printer. Be sure to select yours if you are going to print the PDS*BASE Manual or BASIC Primer. The "Work Files Drive & Path" sub-menu is selected by highlighting it with the cursor keys and pressing Return. If you have a 2 floppy disk drive computer, type "B:\" (without the quotes) and press Return. If you have a hard disk, you may desire to have the data base, definition and BASIC program files in a sub-directory different from the DOS default sub-directory where the PDS*BASE system files are located. Enter the full drive and path with a trailing back slash and press Return. The "Save New Set-Up Values" option is so you don't have to provide the options every time you run the PDSBASE program. After entering your defaults, highlight this sub-menu option with the cursor keys and press Return, Then, press the Y key. The new defaults will be saved to a file named PDSBASE.CFG. This file is read by the PDSBASE.EXE program when it is run. Tools Sub-Menu This sub-menu gives you several handy options to organize your disks and to print the PDS*BASE documentation. If you need to copy or move files while in this program, I recommend that you obtain and register a copy of the Shareware "FileFriend" memory resident utility. Most Shareware distributors and many bulletin boards carry the ColePro FileFriend system. The "Disk Directory" sub-menu will show you the names of the files on any drive on your system. Highlight this sub-menu with the cursor keys and press Return. You will be asked for the letter of the desired drive. The current DOS default drive will be shown. Press Return for the default or press the desired drive letter key. WARNING - This option works best if the DOS COMMAND.COM file is present. If you do not have a hard disk, try to have the COMMAND.COM file on the disk in drive A. Don't panic if you do not have COMMAND.COM on the disk, the file names may scroll off the screen if the quan- tity of files is large. The "Disk Free Space" sub-menu is handy if you are planning to create a new data base or report definition file. You can highlight this selection with the cursor keys and press Return. If the number of bytes is low, you may wish to use another disk before you create a new file. You will be asked for the letter of the desired drive. The current DOS default drive will be shown. Press Return for the default or press the desired drive letter key to see the bytes free. The "Delete File" sub-menu option will be selected when you highlight the sub- menu with the cursor keys and press Return. Type the full file name, with drive letter, colon (and path if the file is in another sub-directory) and press Enter. You will be asked to confirm the deletion. The "Rename File" sub-menu option is selected by highlighting it with the cursor keys and pressing Return. Type the full file name, with drive letter, colon (and path if the file is in another sub-directory) and press Enter. You will then be asked for the new file name for the selected file. The "Print PDS Manual" sub-menu is selected by highlighting it with the cursor keys and pressing Return. This is better than using the DOS command COPY PDSBASE.DOC PRN as this sub-menu option adds 7 spaces as a left margin. If you have previously specified a default Printer Action Table that has a Near Letter Quality value, you will be asked if you wish to print Near Letter Quality. Answer Y for NLQ. This slows down most printers, but you really should do the best job possible when printing my beautiful manual. (Don't get sick). Press N for draft quality. During the printing, you can press the Esc key to stop printing. You will want to stop the printing after the first page is printed. This is the form that you will rapidly fill out, place in an envelope, along with a check for $40, address to Pro Dev Software and rush to the Post Office. After that, you can start the printing again to print the remainder of the manual. (Don't forget the stamp on the envelope). The "Print BASIC Primer" sub-menu is selected by highlighting it with the cursor keys and pressing Enter. This is better than using the DOS command COPY PRIMER.DOC PRN as this sub-menu option adds 7 spaces as a left margin. If you have previously specified a default Printer Action Table that has a Near Letter Quality value, you will be asked if you wish to print Near Letter Quality. Answer Y for NLQ. This slows down most printers, but you really should do the best job possible when printing my informative Primer. (Don't quit now). Press N for draft quality. The BASIC Primer is for those of you that wish to learn the basics of the BASIC language (pun intended). It takes you from scratch and brings you up to everything you need to write your own "Main Programs" for the PDS*BASE Data Base System. This alone is worth the registration fee. Please register!!!!!! During the printing, you can press the Esc key to stop printing. The "Print ASCII File" sub-menu (select with cursor keys and press Enter) will allow you to print any ASCII or text type of file. You will be asked for the full path and file name. If you wished to print (for example) a file you have created named TERRFIC.PDS on the B disk drive, type B:TERRFIC.PDS and press Return. Press Esc to stop printing. Quit Sub-Menu I don't know why you would wish to quit this wonderful program and return to the DOS prompt, but I guess that you need to eat and do other IMPORTANT things. Fortunately, the first sub-menu option is "No" so that you can think twice about leaving this masterpiece. Highlight "Yes" with the down arrow and (sob) press Enter. Watch out - A big "Gotchya" is coming. You "closet" users will be REMINDED that you really should register your copy of the PDS*BASE Data Base system (that means SEND ME MONEY). When you register, I will tell you how to avoid the "Gotchya" screen. When you register, you will be sent the latest version of the PDS*BASE system disks. As an incentive to register, I will send you another NON SHAREWARE (that means you don't give it to anyone else) disk that will contain a program to write mailing label programs (with mail merge capability for many word processors). You will receive a program to restructure "live" data base files. This will allow you to add or delete fields and change the maximum number of possible records in a data base that already contains live data records. If you haven't registered yet ***** PLEASE REGISTER NOW !! ***** The Definition File Name Unlike many other data base systems, that keep the information about the fields in a file in the header record in each file, the PDS*BASE Data Base system keeps all file and field infor- mation in a Definition file; separate from each data file. This is what gives you the power to automatically relate fields in one file with records in another file. This DEFinition file will contain all of the field and automatic file relationships for up to 10 related files. It may have information on just one or two files if you have only one or two files. Enter up to 8 characters (letters or numbers). The PDS*BASE system will add the DEF file name extender. Before you use any other characters for a file name than letters and/or numbers, check your DOS manual for legal characters to use in a file name. Weird charcaters can cause the dreaded illness of "Crash!". In other words, this program will die and you will see one of those cryptic error messages. If you are modifying a previous DEF file, you can give the Definition File a new name. This is if you got to this point when you used the "Modify" sub- menu selection to "Modify .DEF File" and you have selected an existing DEF file name. You selected to Define a new data base DEFinition file, but you didn't define any file names or field information for the DEFinition file. You can try again, if you wish. You entered a data file name on the left side if the Definition screen, but you didn't define any fields for that file. Highlight that file name with the up or down arrow and press F4 to fill in the information on the fields for that file. You have been modifying a DEFinition file. You pressed F2 to save the reDEFinition. Since that DEFinition file name already exists on the disk, you were asked if you wished to over- write the existing file. You answered "N". Thus, you can now over type the present DEFinition file name with a different (new) name so that you will save the reDEFinition with the new name; thus, not over- writing the existing DEFinition file. You pressed Esc while on the file name side of the data base DEFinition screen. You may not wish to save this DEFinition or reDEFinition. If you actually wish to save the DEF file, answer Y. If you wish to further add to or modify the DEFinition, you can select the "Modify DEF File" sub- menu - thus, answer Y. If you really wish to dump your work on this DEFinition, then answer N. If you wish to save the DEFinition file to a different disk, you can change disks now. BE SURE that the new disk is already formatted or this program will crash. A DEFinition file with the same name already exists on the disk. If you answer Y, the previous version of the DEFinition file with this name will be overwritten. If you answer N, you will be given an opportunity to change the name of the DEFinition file. You really should print the Definition listing. This will give you a ready reference that you will need when you are defining a Report program. It will also give you warning messages if you have more than 3 files and/or more than 128 characters in any of your data base files. The BASIC default is a maximum of 128 characters. This can easily be expanded if you follow the warning messages in this print out. The DOS default for the number of files can also be changed. You are about to have the PDS*BASE Data Base system write a BASIC language program for you. It will be tailored to the data base that you have defined. Use up to 8 letters and/or numbers to make up your program name. Consult your DOS manual for legal file name characters. If you use bad characters, this program will CRASH! If you wish to reuse one of the BASIC program names that may be shown presently on the screen, use the cursor keys to highlight the existing file name and press Enter. If you do reuse a name already on the disk, you will be asked if you wish to over write the existing file by that name. You used a BASIC program file name that is the same as a file already on the disk. Thus, you are bring asked if you wish to overwrite that existing file. If you answer Y, the old file will be replaced with the new BASIC program. If you answer N, the program writing will be aborted so that you have a chance to use a different file name. This program tried to find the file named DBMANAGE.SRC in the DOS default drive. You will have to end this program and at the DOS prompt, copy the DBMANAGE.SRC file on to the disk. This file is on the PDS*BASE Data Base master disk when you received it. This program tried to find the file named DBSORT.SRC in the DOS default drive. You will have to end this program and at the DOS prompt, copy the DBSORT.SRC file on to the disk. This file is on the PDS*BASE Data Base master disk when you received it. This program tried to find the file named DBOPSUB.SRC in the DOS default drive. You will have to end this program and at the DOS prompt, copy the DBOPSUB.SRC file on to the disk. This file is on the PDS*BASE Data Base master disk when you received it. This program tried to find the file named DBUTIL01.SRC in the DOS default drive. You will have to end this program and at the DOS prompt, copy the DBUTIL01.SRC file on to the disk. This file is on the PDS*BASE Data Base master disk when you received it. You have entered the DEFinition file name. If it is on a different disk, you have a chance to change disks now. The requested DEFinition file was not found on disk. You either entered an incorrect file name, or the file is on a different disk. Try again. What can I say further?, You can only press P to indicate Pica (10 CPI) type or C for compressed type. Many printers give you about 17 CPI for compressed. Check your printer manual for actual Characters Per Inch. You are being asked for the Report Definition File name. All of the Report Definition File names have an extender of ".RDF". This file contains all of the information that allows the PDS*BASE Data Base system to write a BASIC program to print reports from your data base files. The requested Report Definition file was not found on the disk. You entered the name incorrectly, or the file is on some other disk. You just loaded an existing Report DEF. File that has a different value for Pica/Compressed than the current default value in the "Reports" submenu. The RDF file will be changed to the current sub-menu default unless you change the default to match the RDF file value. You just loaded an existing Report DEF. File that has a different value for Width In Cols. than the current default value in the "Reports" submenu. The RDF file will be changed to the current sub-menu default unless you change the default to match the RDF file value. You just pressed Esc to abort defining a Report. If you did that by accident, you can press Y to go back to defining the report. The Report Definition File you are about to save has the same name as a file already on the disk. If you press Y, the existing file will then be overwritten be the file you are about to save. Press N to not save the RDF. The Printer Action Table (PAT) file could not be found on the disk. Check the "Defaults" sub-menu entry for the PAT file and see if it is correct or if it is on the disk. If you are creating a Report program that requires compressed print, the value used (of ASCII code 15) may not be correct for your printer. If you are about to print one of the PDS*BASE Data Base instruction manuals, it will not be possible to use Near Letter Quality printing. Try to fix the problem indicated by the error message. Enter the name of the data file. Use up to 8 letters or numbers. Check your DOS manual for other legal characters for use in file names. A file name extender of ".DAT" will automatically be added to the 8 character file name. If you are ready to define fields for this file, press the F4 key. If you wish to insert a file name, press F5. If you wish to delete a file, press F7. If you are finished defining this data base, press the F2 key. If you wish to abort without saving the definition, then press the Esc key. Hey!! - You just pressed F6 to insert this file. Then, you have the audacity to try to leave this field name blank. Either fill in the file name and later define some fields for this file, or press F7 to delete this file. You can't use the F6 key to insert a Detail file. Use the up arrow cursor key to place the cursor on the Master file name, press Enter to position over the Detail Quantity field. Then increase the Detail quantity. This will automatically insert the Detail file. You have gone to a lot of work to define fields for this file. Answer Y if you really want to dump those fields down the bit bucket. It would really play havoc if I let you get away with having 2 files in a data base with the same file name. Try again You have just entered a Master file name. A Master file will be such that any record can almost instantly be accessed via one of the fields. On the other hand, a Detail file is not a random access file. One or more records in a Detail file are connected via automatic file record number pointers with one record in the Detail file's associated Master file. Section 1.4 of the manual describes this relationship. It is possible to have up to 9 Detail files associated with one Master file as long as the total number of both Master and Detail files does not exceed 10. Enter the number of Detail files associated with THIS Master file. If this is a "Stand-Alone" Master file, press Enter to leave the quantity of associated Detail files for this Master at zero. If you had checked this handy HELP screen before entering the number of Detail files for this Master, you would have known that the total of both types of files can NOT exceed 10. To delete a Detail file, move the cursor over the Detail file name and press the F7 key. This will lower the quantity of Detail files for this Master file. One of the unique features of the PDS*BASE Data Base is that you will never get a "Disk full" error message. This is accomplished by pre-setting the maximum number of records that can ever be in this data file. For a Master file this fixed maximum quantity allows almost instant random access without the need for index files. I recommend that you estimate the maximum number of possible records that will be placed in this file, and add about 20% for a safety factor. You MUST enter a quantity greater than zero. Try again . . . I had to stop somewhere. I also wished to stay with Integer variaables to save memory. Actually, if you enter 32000, it can be automatically raised to the next higher prime number of 32003. Try a lower quantity of records. The "Hashing" type of fast random access, without separate index files, works most efficiently if the maximum number of records is a prime number. Answer Y (or just press Enter) to round up to the next higher prime number. You can't insert another file if the maximum number of both Detail and Master files would exceed 10. Records in Detail files are chained to records in an associated Master file. Thus, you can't have Detail files with- out an associated Master file to chain to. Place the cursor on each Detail file name for this Master and press F7. Enter a unique (for this file) name for this field. Any character is OK; even blanks (hear that dBASE ?). These names will appear on the screen of the generated BASIC programs, so make the name descriptive. Press F3 when done defining fields to return to the file name side of the screen. What more can I say? What gives??? You just pressed F6 to insert this field and now you don't want to give it a name. If you can't think of a name for this field, press F8 to get rid of it. (Some people's kids!). When you plan to input data for this field into the data file, how many characters will be required; how "wide" should the field be? If this is to be a numeric field that will have a decimal point, allow a space for that decimal. If it is a Date field, allow 8 spaces. The BASIC language limits you to 254 characters in a STRING variable. If you compile the generated BASIC program, the limit is much higher. However, I haven't seen a screen that shows more than 132 characters and 80 is standard. Press the space bar to toggle between Required and Optional. You can also press either R or O. If a field is Required, the generated BASIC program to post records to your data files, will "insist" that a value be entered. A random access search field MUST be required. Here is where you define what kind of data will be put in this field. C = Character or Alpha/Numeric No math will be performed on this field. I = Integer - Numeric - Whole numbers only - no decimal R = Real numbers (with decimal point) D = Date MM-DD-YY format Press the space bar to toggle between types or press the letter of the type. BASIC eventually runs out of STRING space. I had to stop somewhere. Thus, you are limited to 40 fields per file. The PDS*BASE system will not worry about space on the disk if the files are going to be placed on a hard disk. However, if you are creating a system that is to run on floppy disks, the system will attempt to fit the data files on the available floppy disk drives if you answer N. You have indicated that you will be running your application on a hard disk computer. However, you may have more than 32 megabytes (thus, partitions with drive letters other than "C") or you will be on a Local Area Network where you could have any drive letter from A to Z. Enter the drive letter. Wow! - You have a large number of files where the files are spread over 2 or drives. This has exceeded the DOS limit of 15 file buffers. You really should get a hard disk. They don't cost that much nowadays. Sorry . . . Wow! - You have exceeded the available disk drive capacity for the files you have specified. I suggest either you define smaller files or get a hard disk drive. They don't cost that much now. You have a small system, file wise, where you may be able to fit the files and the generated programs all on a single drive. Thus, you may wish to enter "A" to run entirely on drive A:. This is just a copy of the actual .DEF file. You can get the same print out by issuing the following at the DOS prompt COPY filename.DEF PRN It looks like you renamed a DEFinition file from the DOS prompt. The first line in the DEF file has the name of DEF file when it was first created. If You wish to reuse a DEF file with a new name, use the "Modify .DEF File" sub- menu and let PDS*BASE do the work. WE are about to create the blank data files for your data base. If the files are being written to a floppy disk, be sure the disk(s) is already formatted. If the files already exist on either the floppy disk or your hard disk, the current data (if any) in these files WILL BE DESTROYED. You may wish to back up the data files to another disk if this is the case. Esc = Abort operation Just in case you are using a disk where you have other files, I check for free space just before creating this file. Get the other files off this disk to have a successful data file creation. If you are just going to "look-at" data in your custom main program, you don't want the generated program to contain the rather large sub-routines that create or modify records. Typically, a report type of program would not create or modify records. Thus answer N. However, if your program will create or modify records, answer Y. If you wish, a series of lines that are DATA statements containing the field names can be included in your generated program. If you desire this, answer Y. This is a rather important question if there is room for all of the files on 1 floppy disk or you are using a hard disk. You may wish to run the programs on various drives where you set the DOS default drive prior to running the programs. If this is the case, you do not want the programs to look for the data base files in a fixed drive letter. If this is the case, Answer N. However, if your DOS default drive is A: or C:, etc., but the data files will always be in drive B:, then you will answer Y. This may be required if you are on a Local Area Network and your programs are running from the DOS default of K: and you have linked drive letter F: to the location on the LAN that contains your data files. These drive letters are just for example. Answering Y will add several lines of BASIC code to your generated program to handle printing the date on each page. If you are printing to 11 inch paper, the default of 58 lines of printed info is what I like. You may prefer more or less lines. If the paper is shorter, you will type in a smaller figure. Label stock would require 6 or 8 lines as an example. Somebody or something has been messing with the SRC file that we are trying to use. Check over your original disk to find a version of this SRC file that has "*31" as the last line. If you are "Registered" with PRO DEV Software, I will send you a new disk if you send me the disk that I sent to you using a re- usable disk mailer. If you just got the PDS*BASE system disk from a distributor that includes this corrupted file, they should get you a good disk if they are worth anything. Of course, if you are a "closet" user that hasn't registered with me SEND ME MONEY and I will send you a good disk. I have never issued a corrupted disk to a distributor or to a user group, etc. PLEASE REGISTER !! While running the Create or Modify Report sub-menu, you modified the sort formula and created a BASIC syntax error. I suggest that you recheck your modification and, if necessary, consult the BASIC Primer manual that is on the PDS*BASE Documentation disk. Enter the title to appear at the top of your report when the generated report program is run. It will be centered. This is where you must have a printed copy of the data base DEFinition file. That print out has assigned a number to each file and field in your data base. After you enter the file and field number for this report field, that field name will be shown on the screen just below where you type in the file and field numbers. The first field on the report MUST be the random access search field from a Master file. If you have asked for several report fields from one file and you are calling for a field from another Master file, you will be asked which previous report field will give the random access value to reach a record in this new Master file. Let me know if any other $40 data base system gives you this POWER! If you ask for a file and field from a Detail file, it must be a Detail file associated with the Master that you have already used for previous fields on this report. If you wish to insert a field, press F6. If you wish to delete a report field, press F8. Press F2 (while on the File # question) to indicate you are finished. What gives? - You just pressed F6 to insert a field, and now you don't want to enter a file number. Check your DEFinition print out. You just asked for a file number that is greater than the number of files in your data base. Check your DEFinition print out. You just asked for a field number that is greater than the number of fields in the file you are on now. This Report Generator can handle only one Detail File associated with one Master File. The structure of the generated program would have to be modified by you for more Detail Files. You must have changed your mind. You have called for a field in a Detail file. However, the Master file for this Detail file has not been used yet for any previous columns in this report. The ONLY way to get to a chain of Detail records is through a record in the Master file associated with the Detail file. You have specified a Detail file field. There may be more than one record in the Detail chain of records for the associated Master record. Do you wish to report on just the First or Last record in the chain, or All records in the chain. You can toggle choices with the space bar (then Enter) or by pressing the F, L or A key. You have up to 3 lines to enter a title for this report column. The width of the column will be controlled by the width of the title that you enter now, or the width of the actual data field; which ever is greater. If you enter all column headings with just 1 or 2 lines then only the space for 1 or 2 lines will be used on the report. You have filled the "Width In Col." as specified on the Report sub-menu. You already did that once and we wrapped the column headings to a second line. This program is not set up to wrap to a third line. You may have to write your own main program for this complex a report. The starting column was calculated for you based on one space after the last report field. You may wish more space. You may also wish to cause much more space as you wish to modify the gener- ated BASIC program to insert your own special field. One use for a special field would be for calculated totals on several fields in the report. If you set the starting column number to 999, this will indicate that this is to be an INVISIBLE report field. An Invisible field is used to store it's value to "look up" the Master record for a later report field. You can now control the justification of the data as it is printed on the report. It can be Left, Right or Center justified. Toggle the choices with the space bar (then Enter) or press the L, R or C key. (Try this in dBASE). You have stumbled across a real hum- dinger of a feature. If you know about the BASIC PRINT USING command, you will recognize this window. Take a look in your BASIC manual to see how you can modify this window to print numbers with imbedded commas, decimals where you want them and leading dollar signs. Some may scoff at my having a data base system that runs in BASIC, but look at what I just gave to you. You can easily control what your printed report looks like. ALL THIS AND MORE for only $40. I had to stop somewhere. Thus you are limited to 40 fields on your report. You can write your own main program to have more fields if you desire. Keep in mind that most reports are supposed to be easy to read. Even 40 fields could be mind-boggling (how's that for an excuse?) If you are going to modify the sort formula, you should understand both the BASIC language and have read-up on this feature in Section 4.2 of the manual. By modifying the sort formula, you can sort on several fields at the same time or sort on part of a field. You have attempted to modify the sort formula and you do not have the same quantity of left parenthesis as right. The Work File Drive is displayed. You can press Enter to select that drive. Or, you can enter any valid drive letter. A non-exsistant drive letter will cause unpredictable results. If you are familiar with the SHELL feature, I am going to try to use the DOS "DIR /W/P" command. To do this, I look in the DOS environment to see where COMMAND.COM was when you booted. Then I check to see if it is still there. If so, a secondary command pro- cessor is loaded so the DIR command can be SHELLed. This allows me to use the /P feature to cause a pause when the screen overflows with file names. If I can't locate COMMAND.COM I just use the BASIC "FILES" command. If so, and you have a LOT of files, they may scroll off the screen. You have been asked for the full name of the file. If the file is not in the DOS default drive (and path), include the drive letter, a colon (the path) and the full file name. For example: B:FILENAME.EXT or with path C:\PDS\FILENAME.EXT The second example is where the file is in the PDS sub-directory. You specified a file, drive (and/or path) name that could not be found. You have a chance to change your mind in case you made a mistake. The original file name was found, now you need to enter the new name for that file so that it can be renamed. The new file name already exists on the disk. You will need to use a different new file name for the rename process. If your printer is not on, the program will probably crash. If you are on a Local Area Network and you forgot to LINK to a LAN printer, the results will be unpredictable. Put the PDS*BASE Documentation disk in drive A and try again. End Of Generated Program You are about to cause the PDSBASE system to write a BASIC language prog- ram for you. When you RUN this program and then the program ends, where do you want to end up? M = RUN the menu program MENU.BAS that will allow you to run other BASIC programs or return to the DOS prompt. B = Return to the BASIC Ok prompt. Then you will have to type RUN"progname to run another program or type SYSTEM to return to the DOS prompt. D = Return to the DOS prompt. Printing The PDS*BASE Manual You can print the Registration Form (PLEASE fill it out and send to PRO DEV Software with check ASAP) and the TOTAL instruction manual by typing T. This will take some time. Or you may have been printing the entire manual and you pressed Esc to stop printing for some reason. Thus, it is possible to print selected Sections. 0 = Section 0 is the Table Of Contents. 1 through 8 are the 8 Sections of the main part of the manual. At least print and read Sections 0 and 1 to get an over-view of the PDS*BASE Data Base system. A through F are the Appendices. I = The Index. R = The Registration Form. If you are using the PDS*BASE system beyond the evaluation stage, you must send PRO DEV Software the requested registration fee for continued use. You need to press Enter or T to print the entire manual. Press 0, 1, 2, to 8 to print one of the 8 Sections. Press A, B, to F to print an Appendix. Press I to print the Index. Press R to print the all important Registration Form. Since you have pressed an invalid choice, you are being returned to the TOOLS Sub-Menu. This is a Master field that is either a Real or Integer type. You may have report or group totals on this field if you answer Y. Otherwise answer N. When you press F2 to save this report definition, you will be asked for the field for which to print group totals (each time the group value changes). For example, you have a Master file to keep track of your checks. You have a field for Account Number. You will sort the report by Account Number and wish a Sub Total for each Account. Enter the File and Field number for the Group Sub-Total field. If you do not wish Group Sub-Totals, enter zero for the file number. Then, you will only get a report total.