PC-PLUS 1990 SUBJECT INDEX.


1. RUNNING THE PROGRAM.

The program file, INDEX.EXE, and the data file, supplied as 
INDEX.TXT, must be stored in the same directory. 

To start a run type INDEX <RETURN>. Optionally, with DOS 
versions 3.0 or later, the path may be added, e.g. if the two 
index files are in the directory INDFILES on your hard disk :-

                  C:\INDFILES INDEX <RETURN>

will run the program from any other directory.

The program looks for the file INDEX.TXT, if this is not found 
it asks you to enter a name. 

Renaming the 1990 data file to INDEX90.TXT, and the previous 
years files to INDEX88.TXT and INDEX89.TXT, allows you to store 
all the files in the same directory and select the appropriate 
one when the program is run.


2. THE PROGRAM OPTIONS.

The first screen shows the four program options :-
                                           
                     L - List Index       
                     S - Search Index     
                     H - Help             
                     D - Return to DOS    
  
Options are selected by pressing the appropriate highlighted 
letter. 


3. LIST INDEX.
                                                 
The first prompt is :- 
                                                 
                   List from ('A'..'Z') _     
                          to ('A'..'Z') _     
                                                 
Enter the required range. Either upper or lower case letters 
are accepted. Only keys, with initial letters in the selected 
range, are listed. Main keys are shown followed by their sub-
keys.       

The next prompt is for the output device :-
                                 
                       S - List to screen        
                       P - List to printer       
                       Q - Quit
                  
Press the appropriate highlighted letter.            

Listings sent to the printer, which must be connected to the 
parallel port, have a maximum of 78 characters to a line and 60 
lines to a page. A form feed character, #12, is output at the 
end of each page.

3.3 The listing.

Each key is followed by one or more issue and page numbers e.g. 
45-67 refers to page 67 of issue number 45 (June 1990). 

Page numbers preceded by an 'S', refer to the supplements e.g. 
45-S7 references page 7 of the Printer supplement, supplied 
with the June issue.


4. SEARCH INDEX.

The program searches for all occurrences of a specified string. 
The prompts are :-
          
                       Search string:
                       Ignore case (Y/N)?
                       Word search (Y/N)? 
                   
4.1 Search string.

Enter a string with up to 20 characters.

The Left and Right arrow keys move the cursor over the field so 
that data already entered can be edited.

The Home and End keys move the cursor to the beginning and end 
of the field respectively.

The Up arrow converts the letter under the cursor to upper 
case, the Down arrow key converts it to lower case.

Note that, when <RETURN> is pressed to enter the string, only 
the highlighted characters to the left of the cursor are saved. 
An exception is when the program shows a default response. In 
this case just press <RETURN> to accept it.

4.2 Ignore case.

Press Y to find all occurrences of the string, regardless of 
the case of the letters, or N to find only strings which match 
exactly. 

In the index, upper case letters are used to start keys, sub-
keys and names e.g. a case sensitive search for 'Disks' finds 
the key 'Disks' but not 'Hard disks'. Ignoring case, both keys 
are found.

4.3 Word search.

Press Y to find only complete words and phrases, or N to find 
any occurrence of a string. Generally a word search is most 
useful. An exception is when you are searching for numbers e.g. 
a word search for '386' finds '386' but not '386SX'. With word 
search turned off, both keys are found.

4.4 The Listing.

The program prompts for the output device (section 3.2).

Main keys, containing the required string, are displayed 
followed by their sub-keys.

Sub-keys, containing the string, are displayed preceded by the 
associated main key.


5. HELP.

Three on line help screens, summarising the information given 
in this document, are provided.


6. THE INDEX.

The PC-PLUS index is compiled using the JELCS-INDEX program, 
reviewed in issue 50 (November 1990).