GENERAL HELP ~~~~~~~~~~~~ File Requester info. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some of the functions in PowerBase present you with a file requester. This file requester has now been updated to the latest Amivision Software file requester and is far more user friendly than the standard AMOS requester. For those who have not come across this requester before , here is a brief description of its operation: The device names are displayed in boxes ie DF1: DF0: RAM: . If there is no disk in a drive then the box for this device will not be shown. To get a listing of a device simple click the corresponding box when the disk is not being accessed. Boxes will only appear for the devices you have connected to your system , so Dh0: will not appear unless you have a Hard disk drive connected. To view inside a directory (ie df0:C/) you should double click on the directory in the list. The PARENT button 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 allows 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. SET DIR - is equivalent to the CD command in CLI or the DIR$ command in AMOS and sets 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. Instructions for beginners ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * A database or a database file consists of records and each record consists of several fields. e.g. You could store the details of your book collection etc.etc. Firstly decide what the fields will be ie. Name of the book , author , publisher , price etc. Then you enter the records , ie the information. Name of the book : Charlie and the chocolate factory Author : Roal Dahl Publisher : Puffin Price : 3.99 * The best tip for beginners is not to try and use too many of PowerBase's features at once. Just use the ones you specifically need and then slowly you can learn to use the more poweful features. * You will notice that there is no add record option this is because this is done for you. If you have 10 records in your file all with information in them , then record 11 will be blank and has been added for you. * Save your database quite regularly to ensure you do not lose all of the information in event of a power cut or a software failure etc. * Use the timed autosave feature. * If you do set the passwords please write them down somewhere just in case you forget them and get locked out of your own database! * If you do get locked out of your databases becuase you can`t remember the password then contact me (Steven Rennocks) because I have a solution. * Press {HELP} when on the main screen for more information * If you have any problems with POWERBASE then don't hesitate to write to me enclosing a SAE (Address is on the about author option). DISPLAY BAR AT TOP OF SCREEN ---------------------------- This shows the version of Powerbase you are running. The file you have loaded. The date The time Alarm set. An * is shown next to the time if the alarm is set. No. of fields The gadget on the far right of the display bar is the screen size gadget. Clicking on this once will reduce the display to just the display bar and the rest of the screen will be black. This is to prevent damaging your monitor. Clicking the gadget again will restore the screen to its original size. The last but one gadget on the right is the bring to front / send to back gadget. Clicking this once will send the PowerBase screen to the back of all other open screens such as workbench etc. so that you can access other programs (multitasking). ** To bring PowerBase back to the front you must press LEFT AMIGA and A (Sorry about this combination , it is not my fault!) The gadget on the left of the display bar is the close gadget ie QUIT if you do click this it will ask you if you really wish to QUIT just in case you have accidentally selected this. ** Your name and address has been encoded into this program and so any unauthorised distribution of this disk can be traced to you!!! Software piracy is theft. ** Phone or write to me for details of the latest updates Steven Rennocks , 1 Cherrington Drive , Great Wyrley , Walsall , West Midlands, WS6 6NE , England.