History of PopDBF Development ============================= Future Features include (in order as they will be done): -------------------------------------------------------- o Create database (almost finished!!!) o Swap to disk or EMS leaving 2-3K footprint o Network version (hopefully in version 3.8, finally) o Modify structure o Memo read/edit Version 3.7 - Released October 15, 1990 --------------------------------------- o Added the following major functions: - COPY STRUCTURE, copies all or selected fields to new database - DELETE FILE, to delete any file from the pick file window - PACK, physically deletes records tagged for delete - ZAP, physically deletes ALL records in the database o The color scheme has been SIGNIFICANTLY changed. Also, colors can now be configured along with the hotkey, using POPCFG.COM. This program is now included with ALL REGISTERED COPIES. If you like the old color scheme use command line option /CO. o The force monochrome colors command line option has been changed from /M to /CM. o The write file access command line option /W has been replaced by /TW. You can now change any of the "toggle" indicators (file access, field borders, insert mode, case sensitivity) using the command line option /T. o Pressing PgDn while appending a record will NOT move back and forth between the last record in the database and the new record. This was a bug. o Fixed a bug, which occurred when pressing Alt-M while in an already open READ-ONLY database. This will now cause an access error. o Fixed a bug which occurred when specifying a default directory on the command line (/D) and did not also specify the drive. o Fixed a bug which ignored the action option (/A) if it was specified after the passthru option (/P) when PopDBF was already resident. o When trying to access PopDBF while in a graphics application, a chime will sound, indicating that your request was heard, but can't be accommodated. Pop-up over graphics will be supported in the future. o Ctrl-U now toggles the record delete flag in the Browse window, just like it does in the Edit window. o Negative numbers are now supported. o Support for FoxPro and dBase IV databases. o The beep function was changed to be faster and quieter. o When an error message is displayed, a chime will now sound. o Enter key on numeric keypad now works like Return key. o Moving to directory now positions selection bar on that directory. o Command line options may be combined (i.e. /mwz). However, options with variable length arguments must be last (i.e. /p). No spaces may separate options /D and /P and additional text. o Arrow indicators were added to windows to provide information on valid directions of cursor movement. o Default action now displays as a descriptive word. o Video routines have been optimized and speeded up. o Hot keys for frequently used databases (Alt-1 etc.) can be used from anywhere in the program and previous positions and modes are retained. Also, Alt-dash and Alt-= can be used to access up to 12 frequent databases. In addition, each directory can contain a .FRQ file so that the frequently used databases can be application dependent. If a .FRQ file is not found in the current directory, PopDBF will look in the directory where POPDBF.COM is located. o Commercial version now includes KBSPEED, a keyboard speed-up program, and ARROW, a TSR position display program, which are NOT included in shareware registered copies. Version 3.6 - Released February 8, 1990 --------------------------------------- o Commercial version includes a program, POPCFG.COM, to configure the hotkey. This is NOT included in the shareware version! o Path option from Pick File Window has been replaced by Dir option which functions like the change directory command in DOS. This same option is now used to change drives just as you would in DOS. o You may enter a specific file, including drive and path, by pressing F3 from Pick File Window. o Added command line option to specify default action, /A. The default action is taken for each file when Enter is pressed. It can be changed at any time by pressing F5. o The frequently used database file can optionally specify the action to be taken when the appropriate hotkey is pressed (Alt-1 thru 0). If the file name, in POPDBF.FRQ is preceded by one of the following letters, A B E or S AND a space the action taken will be the same as pressing Alt and that letter. o Added a warning when leaving Edit or Append and changes that you have made have not been saved. o Changed all prompts for input to use left and right arrow keys, home, end, delete and insert. CTRL-Y will always blank input field. o Changed the pass-thru function so that it can be used even if PopDBF is already loaded in memory. o Pressing PgDn while in Append will now position you to the last record in the file in Edit mode. Pressing PgDn in Edit mode when on the last record will take you into Append. o Pressing ESC from Structure, Browse, or Append/Edit will always return you to the Pick File window. o Fixed problems caused by not recognizing an extended keyboard. These were primarily in Edit and prevented certain key combinations from doing what they were supposed to do (i.e. Ctrl-Delete). o Fixed a bug which occurred when Ctrl-PgUp or Ctrl-PgDn was pressed while appending an empty database. o Fixed a bug which allowed invalid months and days in date fields. o Fixed a bug which zeroed numeric fields when the RETURN key was pressed after editing a preceding date field. o Fixed a bug caused by insufficient video storage and occurred when using help while editing a record. o Fixed the /D command line, which option did not work correctly when no drive was specified. Version 3.5 - Released November 3, 1989 --------------------------------------- o Program is now just one version, EDIT. However, a READ-ONLY version is available upon request. o Made necessary changes to join ASP. Demo version is fully functional with the only difference being the registration information screen, not included in registered copies. o You no longer have to be in the directory where POPDBF.COM is located when you load PopDBF into memory for context sensitive help to be available. However, POPDBF.HLP does need to be in the same directory as POPDBF.COM. o The default number of fields has been reduced from 128 to 64 and the default edit buffer has been reduced from 2K to 1K. This is just to reduce the default memory footprint. You can specify /F128 and /E2048 on the command line to use the old values. o To make the pop-up more instantaneous, only directories WITHOUT an extension are available in the Pick file window. o You can now get from any major area to any other major area by directly pressing some ALT key combination. The major areas are: Append records, Browse records, Edit records, File selection, view Structure. Pressing ALT and the proper capital letter will take you to that area. o Pressing the ALT key will cause the status line to show a menu with the areas described above and the appropriate letter highlighted as well as other options. o Help has been greatly improved both in content and functionality. You can now scroll up and down through help and hotkey out of it. o You can now change the file access mode from anywhere by pressing Alt-M. File access mode must be read/write to Edit or Append. o Frequently used files feature. A file named POPDBF.FRQ can contain up to 10 fully qualified database file names for access from the Pick file window using Alt-1 through Alt-0. o Current field and record are now shown with their corresponding maximum (i.e. 10/200). o While finding text the record number in the window border will reflect the current record being searched. o Added ability to search on a selected field or fields. You can also force the search string to be found entirely within one field to avoid finding part of a string in one field and the rest of it in adjacent field. o Changed the key that moved the cursor to the first blank character after any data in a field in Edit from Alt-End to End. Ctrl-E will now move to the last position in the field. o Changed the century toggle key from Ctrl-D to Ctrl-C. o Added two new command line arguments. /D will allow you to specify an initial directory and /Z will start the Browse window in zoomed out (expanded) mode. o Fixed an error which occurred when deleting some characters in a field while in Edit and then pressing the End key. The error did cause a Divide Overflow error, which forced a reboot. o Fixed an error which occurred when no files or directories were found in the current directory on the current drive. Now zero files are displayed and you can use F3 to change drives or hotkey out. o Fixed an error in the find next which didn't beep when sitting on the last record in the file, but should have. o Fixed an error which occurred when all fields in the structure were marked (numbered). EDIT would perform strangely when using the hotkey to exit and re-enter. Version 3.4 - Released August 17, 1989 -------------------------------------- o Added message when trying to edit record in read mode. o Added Alt-END to go to first position AFTER last non- blank character. o Fixed a bug that caused underlying applications to terminate when exiting PopDBF. This really got fixed on 8/24/89, but only a few people fell between the cracks. Version 3.3 - Released July 24, 1989 ------------------------------------ o Added the ability to view an index expression from the File Selection window. o Added ability to specify a default file specification by pressing function key F4 from the File Selection window. o Added ability to copy any record onto the current record being appended or edited. (EDIT version only) o Added ability to move a word at a time. (EDIT version only) o Added system date stamp. (EDIT version only) o Fixed many minor bugs in the edit routine. (EDIT version only) o Fixed a bug which occurred when specifying a pass-thru filename that contained wildcards. o Fixed file selection to handle 0 files found. o Smaller default buffer sizes. Version 3.2 - Released June 17, 1989 ------------------------------------ o Fixed a bug which occurred when editing a character field that was longer than 60 bytes. The field was edited correctly, but the cursor was positioned incorrectly. Version 3.2 - Released May 31, 1989 ----------------------------------- o There is now a "pass-thru" mode so you can use PopDBF without installing it into memory. You may also specify a file name with this option and go right to browsing that file. o Should work with all dBASE IV files. Version 3.1 - Released May 27, 1989 ----------------------------------- o Fixed bug when assigning a mark and no other marks exist. o After panning to the right, executing a ZOOM did force browse display to begin with first field, but now works. o You can now adjust the size of the read buffer in bytes, the size of the edit buffer in bytes (EDIT version only), and the maximum number of fields. This is done by specifying command line parameters when loading PopDBF into memory. o All windows now have shadows to give a 3-D look. Version 3.0 - Released April 26, 1989 (first release to BBS) ------------------------------------------------------------ o Included the EDIT capability!!. o Fixed the find-next to start at the record after the one the bar is on instead of the second record from the top of the window. o Changed find and find next to be F7 and F8 for easier operation. o Failure of either a find or find next now causes the bell to sound. o Added to /W switch to start in EDIT mode. Version 2.55 - Released April 9, 1989 ------------------------------------- o Dates are now formatted correctly as MM/DD/YY. Also, you can now press Alt-D when browsing to toggle the century on or off. When on, the date is formatted as MM/DD/YYYY. o Memos now show as the word 'memo'. o Pressing F10 from FILE SELECTION will now work correctly, even if an alternate path had been specified Version 2.54 - Released April 6, 1989 -------------------------------------- o Fixed a bug in the find routine that could have caused system crashes. o Pressing the hotkey while entering find text now exits back to the browse window instead of beginning the find. o You can now assign sequence marks to unmarked fields. o When printing records you may elect to limit the printing to only those records in the print range that meet a previous find condition. o Alt-F1 will pop-up a help window with information about general keyboard movement. o Pressing PGDN in file selection or view structure when there are less than a window's worth of entries now moves the bar to the last entry in the window. Version 2.53 - Released April 1, 1989 ------------------------------------- o If help file is not found, error message did not show where it expected it to be located. o After panning to the right, executing a GOTO or a FIND did force browse display to begin with first field, but now works. Version 2.52 - Released on March 25, 1989 (1st release) ------------------------------------------------------- o Context sensitive help improved both in the area of speed and text. o Added ability to toggle case sensitivity indicator while in the find window.