***PCBASE VERSION 1.1*** 

PCBASE is a simple to use yet powerful card index filing system which can
be used in a variety of applications. The program is menu driven and as
such is reasonably self explanatory. However a brief description of the
various menus, functions and limitations of the program is given below to
enable the user to get the most out of it. The program itself is still
developing and over the next few months it is intended to add extra
features such as multiple screen layouts, extended field types e.g date,
time, logical, calculated fields, and forced entry etc. In addition the
print facilities will be improved to allow report generating and label
printing for mail shots. 

If you like the program and have any useful suggestions to make for
improvements or if you are interested in upgrading as new versions become 
available please drop me a line at the address below, I will be pleased
to hear from you. 


For further info contact:-
			 Brian Perry
			 26 Cambria Green
			 South Hylton
			 Sunderland 
	                 Tyne & Wear
			 SR4 ONN

		 Tel 091 534 5872 (after 6:00pm) 



PROGRAM FILES 

a). PCBASE.COM The main database program
b). PCBASE.DOC This file 
c). SHRUBS.FMT ) 
d). SHRUBS.DAT } Example data files 
e). SHRUBS.SCN ) 



In order for PCBASE to work correctly it must have access to COMMAND.COM
which is part of the program used to boot DOS. The simplest way to do
this is to format a blank disc using the command FORMAT /S which will
copy the boot tracks and COMMAND.COM automatically on the disc after
formatting. Then copy PCBASE and the demo files onto the new working disc.
You will find that PCBASE will work quite happily on a single disc system
as there will be about 250k of disc space left for datafile storage. 

The example datafile SHRUBS is a trivial example really, but it does show
some of the capabilities of the program and is used below in the
description of how to use PCBASE. 

To start PCBASE insert the program disc into the drive, type PCBASE, and
press the enter key. The program will load and after a few seconds the
main screen will appear together with the main menu. The screen area is
divided into three sections. The top section displays information on the
current disc drive in use, the currently loaded datafile, the total
number of records in the file and the currently selected record number. 

PCBASE is an in-memory database. This means that the data files you
create are loaded in from disc and stored in memory all in one go. This
has advantages in that searching for data is particularly fast, records
do not have to be scanned on disc and then loaded into memory as required.
The disadvantage is that file size is limited and this case the maximum
size of a file is 65535 characters (which is still enough for the
majority of applications). The ammount of free memory available is
continuously displayed in the top right corner of the top status line.
You will see this value change as records are added or deleted. 

The middle area of the screen is used for displaying the various program
menus and is also the area where your datafile records are displayed. 

The bottom line of the screen is used to display the current date and
time together with the alarm status (more of this later). 

MAIN MENU OPTIONS 

1). Create new file. 
Selecting this will clear the screen and display the file definition
layout. You are required to enter the name of your datafile (filename),
an optional password and the number of fields you require in the range 2
to 32. 

When this is completed you will be asked to input the specification for
the fields you have defined. The field name can be any alphanumeric
character and can be upto 32 characters in length. The field type can
either be alphanumeric (enter T) or numeric only (enter N). Type checking
of the fields is done when data is added or edited within records so the
only input accepted for a numeric field is the following, -.0123456789 The
field length can be in the range 1 to 64 for alphanumeric fields and is
preset to 10 for numeric fields. 

When the file specification is complete the screen will clear with the
cursor positioned in the top left corner. This is the blank record card
on which you define your record layout. Text of any description may be
typed anywhere on the screen. The cursor keys, Home, End, PgUp and PgDn
may be used to move the cursor to the position on the screen that you
require. The current colour of the text displayed can be changed by using
the left and right arrow cursor keys in conjunction with the CTRL key.
You will see the current colour displayed on the colour bar on the top
line of the screen. 

Boxes and lines may also be drawn on the screen by using the function
keys F1 to F10. Each function key corresponds to a particular graphics
character as shown below: 

		F1= ┌	F2= ┐	 F3= └	 F4= ┘	 F5= ─ 

		F6= │	F7= ┴	 F8= ┬	 F9= ├	 F10= ┤

To erase unwanted text, position the cursor to the beginning of the text
and overtype with the space bar. 

PCBASE needs to know where on the screen you require the field data to be
displayed. To do this position the cursor at the point where you want the
field to appear and press the shift and F1 keys. A pop-up field menu will
appear with the defined field names on it. using the up and down arrow
cursor keys select the field you require and press F1. The popup menu
will disappear and the point on the screen where the cursor was
positioned will now display a bar indicating the position and length
boundaries of the required field. Repeat this exercise for the remaining
fields that you have defined. The field menu will display currently set
fields in highlighted video. To delete a field from the screen select F2
from the field menu. This will erase the field boundaries and allow the
field to be repositioned elsewhere on the screen layout. 

When your screen layout is complete press the Esc key to save the screen
layout. You will then be returned to the main menu. 

2). Load file from disc 
Selecting this option allows a previously created file to be read from
disc into memory. If a password was used during creating the file you
will be asked to input the password. NOTE you cannot access the file
whatsoever without entering the correct password, so do not forget it. 

The sample datafile (SHRUBS) may be loaded into memory using the method
just described. When asked to enter the password type PLANTS in uppercase
characters as shown. The example datafile is a list of plant shrubs with
their various classifications and planting requirements etc. (Handy for
the gardeners amongst you). 

3). Save file to disc
Allows the datafile currently in memory to be saved to disc. 

4). Manipulate data file.
Selecting this option produces a new menu on the screen. This is the
section of the program which allows the datafile to be viewed and edited
as required. See later. 

5).Print datafile. 
Records on the file can be printed either selectively or as the total
file. Just follow the on screen prompts when requested. NOTE a printer
must be connected for this option to work correctly, otherwise the
program will lock up. 

6). Tools
This option gives access to a variety of utilities for managing files on
the disc together with the alarm set/reset facilities. 

7). Return to DOS 
This will exit the program and return to the operating system. If a file
is currently in memory the program will give you the option to save it to
disc before returning to DOS. 

MANIPULATE MENU OPTIONS. 

1). Display file 
This allows the entire file to be viewed on a broadsheet basis. Up to 18
records can be viewed at any one time whilst displaying up to three
fields (truncated in length to 24 characters). The following commands can
be used:- 

left cursor key   =   scroll 1 field to the left 
right cursor key  =   scroll 1 field to the right 
up cursor key     =   scroll 1 record backward 
down cursorkey    =   scroll 1 record forward 
PgUp              =   scroll 18 records backward (1 page)
PgDn              =   scroll 18 records forward (1 page) 
Home              =   display first 18 records
End               =   display last 18 records 
ESC               =   return to main menu 

Note that the first field (LATIN in the example datafile) is always in
view. This is our "key" or reference field. 

2). Display record 
This allows individual records to be displayed edited and deleted (if
required). The screen will clear and the previously designed screen
layout will appear with the cursor at the start of the first field. Note
that the cursor is only half size. This signifies that we are in the
"MOVE MODE" and can move the cursor to another field by using the up and
down arrow cursor keys. If we wish we can move the cursor to a selected
field and press the <enter> key. The cursor will change to full size and
we can now enter search data for that field which will be used to search
for a record with that field data in it. If the search is succesful the
relevant record will be displayed. If the search fails then an error
message is displayed and you will return to the menu. For example if we
wish to display the record for the shrub GORSE we would move the cursor
to the field "POPULAR NAME" and press the enter key. The cursor would
change size and we can type in the search requirement, in this case GORSE.
Pressing enter when completed will cause the appropriate record to be
displayed. We could have typed in "GO", "GOR", "GORS" or even "G" as
PCBASE searches for the first record to match the given search criteria.
Typing "ORSE" i.e. missing out the "G" would have produced a "RECORD NOT
FOUND" message as the first characters in the record are significant. 

At any time when a record is displayed on the screen you may use the
cursor keys to move between fields and edit those fields as you require.
Note that when entering text, field data must not include a comma (,) as 
this is used internally by the program for field seperation. The program 
therefore will ignore any attempts to input a comma as part of a field.
The PgUp and PgDn key will display the previous and next records
respectively. 

If you do not wish to search for a particular record you may default to
the current record by pressing the <enter> key twice when in the "MOVE
MODE". 

The currently displayed record may be deleted from the datafile by
pressing the F2 function key.

Pressing ESC at any time will return you to the menu. 

3).Add record 
An empty screen layout is displayed with the cursor at the start of the
first field. You may enter the field data as you require using the cursor
keys or <enter> key to move between fields. You may move back to a field
after data has been entered to edit mistakes using the cursor keys. When
the record is complete pressing the PgDn key will add the record to the
data file and make a new empty record available for editing. NOTE: all
entered text in the record is converted to upper case characters. Also a 
comma (,) is not allowed in the field data as already described above.

Pressing ESC will return to the menu. 

4). Edit card layout. 
This will display the previously defined card layout on the screen. You
may edit the layout as you wish in the same way as was done when the card
was first created. When editing is completed you may save the new layout
and return to the menu by pressing the ESC key. 

5). Sort file 
Option 5 will allow you to sort the datafile on any required field. The
field menu will be displayed and from this you will select the required
field to sort on using the cursor keys and pressing <enter> when complete.
You will then be given the choice of sorting in either ascending or
descending order. The time taken to sort records depends to a large
extent on the number of records and fields in the data file therefore a
fast sorting algorithm has been used to reduce this time to a minimum. 

6). Create Sub-file 
One of the more powerful facilities of PCBASE is the ability to create a
subfile. The subfile options allow you to search through the main
datafile for records which match a certain criteria e.g. all people named
Smith or all invoices greater than £500.00 but less than £1000.00 etc.
All records which match the search pattern will be moved to the front of
the main datafile where they can be manipulated as if they were
independant of the main file. Selecting this option will display a new
set of commands a brief summary of which is given below. 

7). Column total
This allows a cumulative total to be displayed of all entered records on a
specific numeric field. The field menu will be displayed from which you 
can select the specified field. Only a numeric field can be selected. With
the cursor positioned at the required field press the enter key. The 
column total for that field will then be calculated and displayed on the 
screen . Pressing ESC will return you back to the main menu.


SUB FILE OPTIONS
Options 1 to 5. 
These are the main search options and comprise of: 

1). =         (Select records that equal the search pattern). 
2). <>        (Select records that do not equal the search pattern). 
3). >=        (Select records that are greater than or equal to the given 
              search pattern). 
4). <         (Select records that are less than the given search pattern). 
5). Character (Search for records which contain the given search pattern). 


To use the above select the required option. The field menu will be
displayed and then using the cursor keys move to the field that you
require the search to be made on and then press the enter key. The screen
will then prompt for you to enter the search data. 

Using our shrubs datafile as an example, supposing we wish to locate all
deciduous shrubs that grow to a height of 7 feet or more but less than 10
feet. 

We would first select option 1. (=). From the field menu select the field
CLASSIFICATION and for the search criteria we would type DECIDUOUS. The
datafile will then be searched and all records of deciduous shrubs would
be placed in the subfile (there should be 4 of them). We can now select
option 3 (>=) and from the field menu select HEIGHT as the search field.
The search criteria will be 7. Now the subfile will contain 3 records.
Finally we select option 4 (<) and from the field menu again select
HEIGHT. This time we specify 10 as the search criteria. The subfile will
now contain 2 records both of which will be deciduous shrubs with heights
of between 7 and 10 feet. 

Option 5 will allow searches to be perfomed on sub strings. For example,
in a name and address datafile, typing "ITH" in response to the search
criteria would select records for "SMITH","SMITHSON","WITHERINGTON" etc. 

6). Display subfile. 
This allows records in the subfile to be displayed and edited. The
functions are as those described above for displaying records. 

7). Save subfile to disc 
The subfile can be saved to disc under a new file name with this option.
If a password was used in the main file then this is used for the new
file. The subfile contents are not erased from the main datafile. 

8). Sort subfile 
This is identical to the mainfile sort option but works only on the sub
file records. 

9). Delete subfile from main file. 
All records in the subfile will be deleted leaving the subfile empty. The
records are also deleted form the main file. When the records are deleted
you will be returned automatically to the manipulate menu. 

10). Print subfile 
Records can be selectively sent to the printer as per the print option
for the main file. 



TOOLS MENU 

Options 1 to 6 of the tools menu are to allow selection of the disc
drives and file maintenance and should prove to be self explanatory. 

7). Set Alarm PCBASE includes a feature which allows you to set upto 8
alarms each of which can be set to go off at different times. When an
alarm is activated the computer will beep for approximately 5 seconds and
an optional message will be displayed on the screen. Pressing the ESC key
will remove the message from the screen and cancel the alarm setting.
Alarms which have been set are indicated on the bottom status display
with the relevant alarm number in highlited video. 

To set an alarm from option 7 move the cursor to the message section of
the screen for the alram number you require and press the enter key. the
cursor will change shape and you may type in any message up to 32
characters in length. Pressing enter once more will cause the cursor to
reduce size again and we may move the cursor to the time setting. Press
enter and type in the time that you require the alarm to activate. Press
enter once more and move the cursor to the corresponding alarm number.
Press enter and change the 0 to a 1 to activate the alarm. The format for
the time is shown below:- 

			09:30:00 

Note that the alarm cannot be activated unless there is a valid time
specified. The message is optional. 

Pressing ESC will return you to the manipulate menu. 


8). Enter DOS Shell
This allows the user to temporarily exit PCBASE and return to DOS. Any of 
the normal DOS commands can be executed and even other programs run. Care 
must be exercised however, that the dormant PCBASE program is not 
corrupted by any DOS activities or secondary programs. To return to PCBASE
type in "exit" and press the enter key. PCBASE will restart from where you
originally left it. All datafiles etc. should still be intact.
	    _________________________________________ 

                       PCBASE SPECIFICATION
                       -------------------- 

1). MAXIMUM FILE SIZE 				65535 characters. 
2). MAXIMUM NUMBER OF RECORDS IN FILE 		32767 records. 
3). MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FIELDS PER RECORD 	32
4). MAXIMUM FIELD LENGTH 			64 charcters or 10 numeric 
5). FIELD TYPES 				Text or numeric. 

ALL RECORDS ARE STORED AS VARIABLE LENGTH TO MAXIMISE MEMORY SPACE.
OPTIONAL PASSWORD PROTECTION ON DATAFILES.

PCBASE has been tested on the following machines.

	1). IBM PCXT.
	2). IBM AT.
	3). Walters IBM 386 clone.
	4). Amstrad PC1512 monochrome.
	5). Amstrad PC1512 colour.
	6). Amstrad PC1640 colour.     
			_________________________________________