ASSISTANT............Database Assistant
WORK MENU............The WORK Sub-Menu
FILES MENU...........The FILES Sub-Menu
BUILD MENU...........The BUILD Sub-Menu
EDIT MENU............The EDIT Sub-Menu
RUN MENU.............The RUN Sub-Menu
PRINT MENU...........The PRINT Sub-Menu
UTILS MENU...........The UTILS Sub-Menu
OTHER MENU...........The OTHER Sub-Menu
SETUP MENU...........The SETUP Sub-Menu
ASSISTANT
Database Assistant
Description:
The Database Assistant provides pull-down menu access to
most of dCLIP's commands and functions. In fact, a good
way to see the available features in dCLIP is to run
through all of the selections on the menu and try them out.
The status of the currently selected work area will be
displayed in the top 3 lines of the display above the
main menu bar selections.
There are two ways to access the Database Assistant Menu.
As mentioned in the CONFIGURATION section, you can have
dCLIP start up in Assist mode by adding the following line
to your DCLIP.SYS file:
START=ASSIST
Or you can just type ASSIST at the DOT-Prompt.
The Database Assistant Main Menu consists of nine general
options and sub-menus:
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ð Work Files Build Edit Run Print Utils Setup Other
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A sub-menu is selected by using the cursor right/left arrow
keys and pressing (ENTER) or by placing the mouse cursor
over the desired item and pressing the left mouse button.
Alternately, a sub-menu can be selected by pressing the
the same key as the High-lighted letter in the desired menu
item.
When a sub-menu is displayed a sub-item is selected by
using the up/down arrow keys and pressing (ENTER) or by
placing the mouse cursor over the desired sub-item and
pressing the left mouse button.
Alternately, a sub-item can be selected by pressing the
the same key as the High-lighted letter in the desired menu
item.
Source/Library:
HELP
WORK MENU
The WORK Sub-Menu
Description:
The WORK sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Save Work Areas To .DCW File ³
³ RestOre Work Areas From .DCW File ³
³ Build A New Work (.DCW) File ³
³ Edit Work File Contents ³
³ Delete A Work (.DCW) File ³
³ Select a Default Driver (RDD) ³
³ Select a Work Area ³
³ Report / Label Form Manager ³
³ Display Status of all Work Areas ³
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-- SAVE WORK AREAS TO .DCW FILE --
This menu selection will prompt the user for the name and
description of a file which will be used to store all
information about all work areas currently in use. The
default extension if not given is .DCW and an associated
file with a .DCX extension is used to store the image of
all Browse and Edit screens for currently used work
areas if they exist. All information about each work
area including database name, data driver, indexes, tags,
file paths, relations, and record pointers are saved
to be used later when restoring work areas.
-- RESTORE WORK AREAS FROM .DCW FILE --
This menu selection will pop up a list of .DCW files in the
current default directory. The name of each file and its
long-description will be displayed for the user to make a
choice. After choosing a file from the list, the user will
also be prompted if he/she wishes to close all currently
used databases before restoring work areas from the
selected file. Databases will be opened in the first
unused work areas, not necessarily the work areas that were
in use when the information was saved.
-- BUILD A NEW WORK (.DCW) FILE --
A new .DCW file can be created by taking a snapshot of open
work areas as described above in menu selection 1 or by
Building a Work file using the work-file editor. Infor-
mation about the databases and indexes you wish to open
is entered on the screen and then saved into the .DCW file.
You will be prompted to assign a file name and a long
description. If no extension is given to the file name it
will be given the .DCW default extension. If no path is
included in the file name, it will be created in the
DEFAULT directory.
A menu will appear with options to ADD, EDIT or DELETE
items in the .DCW file. Press (A) to Add a new record
to the .DCW file. Each item is a record in the file and
individual items can be one of four (4) types:
S - Open Database File in SHARED mode
E - Open Database File in EXCLUSIVE mode
I - Open an Index File
R - Set a Relation to another Database File
You will be prompted to enter a file name. If you select
S, E or R above then the file name must be a database file.
If you select I then the file name must be an index file.
-- Database File(s) --
If you are entering information about a database file, then
you will also be asked to assign an ALIAS name to the file.
Choose any name up to 10 characters long. The default
alias will be the same as the prefix of the database file.
You may also enter an "Optional Filter Expression" to
assign to the database after it is opened. If the filter
expression is invalid, i.e., it includes functions or data-
base fields that are not in the database, then it will
not be established as the default filter.
You must select a "Data Driver (RDD)" to use when opening
the database file. If the field is left empty, a pick-list
of available drivers (those linked into the dCLIP engine)
will pop-up to choose a driver.
You may enter a default "Record number to select" after
opening the database. If the number is left as 0, then
the data pointer will be placed at the top of the file.
You may enter a default "Index Order" to choose a desired
index file. If the number is left as 0, then the last
index opened will be selected.
-- Index File(s) --
If you are entering information about an index file, then
you will be prompted to enter a file name. The file name
must be the name of an index file that is associated with
a database that was added to the .DCW file as a S/E/R
record. You will also be asked to enter the ALIAS name of
the database file associated with the index. The alias
must be the same as any ALIAS assigned so the database will
be selected before attempting to open the index.
If the index is a "Combined Index" such as .CDX or .MDX
file, then the index will be opened and all the data
about the tags in the information will be written to a
.DCT (tag information file) so dCLIP can rebuild the index
and all the tags if the index file cannot be found.
You may enter an optional "Index Tag to Select" as the
default controlling index. If no Tag name is entered then
the first tag in the index will be used as the default.
If the index is a singular-style index such as .NTX,
.IDX, or .NDX, then the index will be opened and all the
data about the index will be entered on the screen.
The "Index Key Expression", "Index Condition" (conditional
indexes only), "Unique" or "Descending" flags will be
displayed on the screen and stored in the .DCW file so
the index can be re-built if the index file cannot be
found. You may edit this information if you wish to
change anything in the index when it is rebuilt.
-- Relations --
If you are entering information about a relation to
another database you will be prompted to enter a file name.
The file name is for reference only and will not be used
when setting the relation.
You must enter a "Primary (Parent) File Alias" that is
the same name as an ALIAS that was assigned in a record
that was type S or E wo the database will be properly
selected and the relation can be established.
You must enter a "Secondary (Child) File Alias" that is
the same name as an ALIAS that was assigned in a record
that was type S or E wo the database will be properly
selected and the relation can be established.
You must enter a "Parent Field Name" that is a valid
field name in the file associated with the Parent alias.
-- EDIT WORK FILE CONTENTS --
Select this option if you wish to change the information
in a .DCW file. You will be prompted to edit the file
name and the long description.
A menu will appear with options to ADD, EDIT or DELETE
items in the .DCW file. Press (A) to Add a new record
to the .DCW file. Press (E) to EDIT the selected record
or press (D) to DELETE the selected record.
When Editing a record you must input the information in
the same manner as when adding a new record. See BUILD
A NEW WORK FILE above.
-- DELETE A WORK (.DCW) FILE --
This menu selection will pop up a list of .DCW files in the
current default directory. The name of each file and its
long-description will be displayed for the user to make a
choice. After choosing a file from the list, the user will
also be prompted if he/she wishes to delete the selected
file.
-- SELECT A DEFAULT DRIVER (RDD) --
You may choose a default data driver (RDD) to use for
opening data files. All RDD's linked into the dCLIP engine
will be displayed in a pick-list. Choose an RDD from the
pick-list as the RDD you wish to use when opening databases
with the USE command from the dot-prompt or other database
opening windows.
-- SELECT A WORK AREA --
Use this selection to select a new work area from 1 - 255.
A pick-list will be displayed showing the status of all
255 work areas. If a database is opened in the selected
work area, then the work area chosen will be selected. If
no database is open in the selected area, then a sub-menu
will be displayed to allow the user to open a new database
in the selected area.
-- REPORT / LABEL FORM MANAGER --
This selection will invoke the report management system
for creating new report or label forms or for sending
a report to the screen or printer. The the separate
section titled REPORTS.
-- DISPLAY STATUS OF ALL WORK AREAS --
Use this selection to display a verbose status of all
information about all work areas in use, including
databases, indexes and tags, relations, etc.
FILES MENU
The FILES Sub-Menu
Description:
The FILES sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Select/Open Database File ³
³ Select/Open Index File ³
³ ClOse Selected Data File ³
³ Close IndeX File(s) ³
³ Close All Database Files ³
³ Dos/Database File Directory ³
³ Copy File(s) ³
³ Delete File(s) ³
³ MoVe File(s) ³
³ ReName File(s) ³
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-- SELECT/OPEN DATABASE FILE --
Use this selection to select a new work area from 1 - 255.
A pick-list will be displayed showing the status of all
255 work areas. If a database is opened in the selected
work area, then the work area chosen will be selected. If
no database is open in the selected area, then a sub-menu
will be displayed to allow the user to open a new database
in the selected area. When opening a new database, you
will be prompted to select a data-driver (RDD). You must
be sure to use the RDD that supports the database type
you wish to open.
-- SELECT/OPEN INDEX FILE --
Use this selection to select an already opened index file
or to open a new index file.
A pick-list will be displayed showing the status of all
open indexes. You may select a new controlling index
from the list, select no index, close an index or open
a new index.
-- CLOSE SELECTED DATA FILE --
This selection will close the database in the currently
selected work area and all associated indexes. All modi-
fications made to the database and/or indexes will be
saved to disk.
-- CLOSE INDEX FILE(S) --
This selection will close all open index files in the
selected work area. All modifications made to the
indexes will be saved to disk.
-- CLOSE ALL DATABASE FILES --
This selection will close ALL open databases and index
files. All modifications made to all the databases and
indexes will be saved to disk.
-- DOS/DATABASE FILE DIRECTORY --
This selection will display a directory listing of all
databases in the current DEFAULT directory or a list of
any file type in the current DOS directory. You will
be prompted to enter a path and file spec. If left
blank then a listing of databases will be displayed,
otherwise a listing of dos files will be displayed.
-- COPY FILE(S) --
This selection will copy any dos file from any directory
to any new file name in any other directory, or a set
of files by a wildcard argument.
-- DELETE FILE(S) --
This selection will delete any dos file from any
directory or a set of files by a wildcard argument.
-- MOVE FILE(S) --
This selection will move any dos file from any directory
to any other directory, or a set of files by a wildcard
argument. Moving a file is basically a combination of COPY
and DELETE above.
-- RENAME FILE(S) --
This selection will rename any dos file in any directory
to any new name.
BUILD MENU
The BUILD Sub-Menu
Description:
The BUILD sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Create Database File ³
³ Create Index File ³
³ Create a New Index Tag ³
³ Delete An Index Tag ³
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-- CREATE DATABASE FILE --
This selection will allow creation of a new database file.
The database created will be of the type supported by the
currently selected default data driver (RDD). You will be
prompted to enter the name of the new database. If you
do not include an extension, then the default extension
for the selected RDD will be used. For example, if you
are using the DBFNTX driver, then the extension will be
.DBF. If you do not include a path then the file will be
created in the DEFAULT directory.
A database-structure editor will allow you to add new
fields, replicate a group of fields, etc. to design the
structure of the new database.
-- CREATE INDEX FILE --
This selection will allow creation of a new index file for
the currently selected work area.
The user will be prompted to enter the name of the index
file to create and a reference list of field names will
be displayed to help the user enter an index expression.
A pop-up "condition-builder" may also be invoked to
aid in creating the index expression from a pick-list of
fields.
-- CREATE INDEX TAG --
This selection will allow creation of an index tag to be
added to an existing combined index (.CDX, .MDX) or to
create a new combined index. The user will be prompted
to enter the name of the index file to create and the
name of the tag to assign to the index. A reference
list will be displayed to help the user index an index
expression. A pop-up "condition-builder" may also be
invoked to aid in creating the index expression from a
pick-list of fields.
-- DELETE INEX TAG --
This selection will allow deletion of an index tag in
a currently opened combined index (.CDX, .MDX) by
displaying a pick-list of available tags.
EDIT MENU
The EDIT Sub-Menu
Description:
The EDIT sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Entire Database File (Browse) ³
³ Current Database Record (Edit) ³
³ Modify a Label Form File ³
³ Modify a Report Form File ³
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-- ENTIRE DATABASE FILE (BROWSE) --
This selection will invoke the Database Browser system
and a browse window will be created for the current work
area or any previously created (persistent) browse
window will be recalled.
-- CURRENT DATABASE RECORD (EDIT) --
This selection will invoke the Database Full-screen
editing system and an edit window will be created for the
current work area or any previously created (persistent)
edit window will be recalled.
-- MODIFY A LABEL FORM FILE --
This selection will invoke the Label Form editor to
modify or create a label (.LBL) form file. A label file
is a file that contains information about formatting the
data for printing on columnar or tabular labels. The
field-list from the currently selected work area will be
available in a pop-up pick-list to aid in editing the
file information. See the separate section titled
REPORTS for more information.
-- MODIFY A REPORT FORM FILE --
This selection will invoke the Report Form editor to
modify or create a report (.FRM) form file. A report file
is a file that contains information about formatting the
data for displaying or printing in columns. The field-list
from the currently selected work area will be available in
a pop-up pick-list to aid in editing the file information.
See the separate section titled REPORTS for more
information.
RUN MENU
The RUN Sub-Menu
Description:
The RUN sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Run An EXE File ³
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-- RUN AN EXE FILE --
This selection allows the user to run any other DOS program
via the dCLIP "Dos Gateway" system. You will be prompted to
enter the name of any program to run. Enter the program
and its parameters exactly as you would run the program from
the dos prompt.
If no path is given then the currently selected DOS directory
and any existing DOS path or APPEND path will be search for
the program executable file.
PRINT MENU
The PRINT Sub-Menu
Description:
The PRINT sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Text File ³
³ Database File Structure ³
³ Printer Configuration ³
³ Print Label(s) ³
³ Print Columnar Report ³
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-- TEXT FILE --
This selection will print the contents of any text, source-
code, or documentation file. If no path is given, then the
file must exist in the currently selected DOS directory.
-- DATABASE FILE STRUCTURE --
This selection will print the structure of the database
opened in the currently selected work area.
-- PRINTER CONFIGURATION --
This selection will invoke the Printer Manager main menu to
allow the operator to select a printer driver for use with
other print output routines, to add a new printer driver
to the printer database or to edit any existing printer
driver. See the separate section titled PRINTER DRIVER.
-- PRINT LABEL(S) --
This selection will invoke a print-output routine to allow
selection of a label form (.LBL) file and a set of
scoping conditions for outputting the information from the
currently selected database to printer labels. See the
section titled REPORTS for more information.
-- PRINT REPORT --
This selection will invoke a print-output routine to allow
selection of a report form (.FRM) file and a set of
scoping conditions for outputting the information from the
currently selected database to the screen or printer in a
columnar format. See the section titled REPORTS for more
information.
UTILS MENU
The UTILS Sub-Menu
Description:
The UTILS sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Database File Utilities ³
³ ASCII Character Chart ³
³ Function Key Manager ³
³ Data Search ³
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-- DATABASE FILE UTILITIES --
This selection will pop-up another sub-menu with 22 utility
programs for modifying or reporting information in the
currently selected database. These utilities include
Counting, Summing, Averaging, Copying, Appending, Importing,
etc. See the section sub-titled DATABASE UTILITIES under
the main title of DBMS for more information.
-- ASCII CHARACTER CHART --
This selection will display a screen with the 256 ascii
characters and their equivalent decimal value.
-- FUNCTION KEY MANAGER --
This selection will invoke a menu-system for displaying
and modifying the contents of the DCKEY.DBF database which
is used to store information for loading the 40 function
keys ( F1-F10, Shift/F1 - Shift/F10, etc. ). See the
sub-section titled FUNCTION KEYS for more information.
-- DATA SEARCH --
This selection will invoke a utility program that searches
all fields in a database file or set of database files for
a matching string of text and list all occurences of the
found text.
The output can be sent to the screen, printer or a file and
all occurrences where the text is found will be listed as
follows:
Data File(s) to Search: ALL
Text to Find: 555
File Record Field Text
----------- ------ ------------ ---------------------------
CUSTOMER 123 PHONE 555-1212
MAILLIST 23567 PHONE_NUM 555-7845
OTHER MENU
The OTHER Sub-Menu
Description:
The OTHER sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ HELP System ³
³ TUTORIAL System ³
³ DOS Gateway ³
³ Change DOS Directory ³
³ DOT-Prompt ³
³ Exit To DOS ³
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-- HELP SYSTEM --
This selection will invoke the HELP manager for displaying
HELP information for any command or function or general
menu. The HELP system also will allow the operator to
search for help based on any text string, to print the
help text for any specified command, function or menu, or
to print an entire manual from the HELP database.
-- TUTORIAL SYSTEM --
This selection will invoke a data-driven tutoring system
designed to teach how to use all Clipper commands and
functions and dCLIP commands and functions.
This learn-by-example tutoring system utilizes both the
dot-prompt interpreter and the turbo-compiler/linker
features of dCLIP to run code samples for demonstrating how
to use each command or function by executing code in a
live environment.
Description text and code samples are saved in memo fields in
the DCTUTOR.DBF database and can be easily modified by the
operator.
-- DOS GATEWAY --
This selection is used to display a menu of user-defined
programs to run via the DOS gateway system. The GATEWAY
provides for set-up of up to 24 programs that can be
executed by simply pressing a key after the menu is
displayed. This command is functionally equivalent to the
GATEWAY command.
-- CHANGE DOS DIRECTORY --
This selection is used to select a new DOS drive and/or
directory. Note: Changing the DOS directory will not
change the directories searched for data files and index
files unless the DEFAULT directory has not been set to a
value. If the DEFAULT directory is empty (SET DEFAULT TO),
then the DOS directory will be used as the default for
database files, index files, form files, etc.
-- DOT-PROMPT --
This selection will invoke the dot-prompt interpreter to
allow you to enter any clipper command. See the section
sub-titled DOT-PROMPT under the main section titled
OVERVIEW.
-- EXIT TO DOS --
This selection will terminate the dCLIP program and return
to DOS.
SETUP MENU
The SETUP Sub-Menu
Description:
The SETUP sub-menu consists of the following sub-items:
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³ Change Screen Colors ³
³ Change Environment ³
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-- CHANGE SCREEN COLORS --
This selection invokes a utility for configuring the color
of all dCLIP menus and submenus.
dCLIP checks for the existence of a DCCOLOR.AR file first
in the current directory, then in the SET DCLIP= directory.
This file contains the contents of the DCCOLOR color array.
If a DCCOLOR.AR file does not exist then the default colors
are used, otherwise the color array is loaded from the
information in the DCCOLOR.AR file.
-- CHANGE ENVIRONMENT --
This selection invokes an environment editor that provides
a user-friendly method of viewing the entire Clipper and
dCLIP environment and editing any variable by simply select-
ing the desired variable from the pick-list and pressing
(ENTER) to edit.