*DBASE 
       HELP TEXT FILE DBASEMSG.TXT VERSION 1.12 FOR dBASE II v2.4
                Copyright 1983 Ashton-Tate and RSP, Inc.

        written by Wayne Ratliff, Jim Taylor, and Howard Dickler

                         INTRODUCTION
     
     This entry is intended to give you on-line information about your dBASE 
II  Database  Management  System.   It  explains the  disk  files  you  have 
received,  and  gives suggestions on tapping the power now available to  you 
for  data  management.   Using  the on-line HELP in  conjunction  with  your 
Manual,   you will soon be creating databases and writing command procedures 
to do your work. 





                    >>>>> type any key to continue <<<<<


                       HOW TO USE THE 'HELP' FACILITY

     Information about your dBASE  II  system can be obtained by typing 
HELP and any of the following key words: (e.g. HELP NEW )

          UTILITIES      FULL-SCREEN    LIMITS    BACKUP  
          INSTALL        NEW            ERRORS    CP/M
          EXAMPLES       FUNCTIONS      DBASE     HELP       RUNTIME
               (or any dBASE II command)

     dBASE will then look up the entry for the key word and display it.   If 
there is no information on the subject then dBASE will say "NO HELP MESSAGES 
FOUND".   When there is more text to display beyond what's shown,  then  you 
will see the word 

WAITING  (like this)
                   >>>>>  type any key to continue. <<<<<


       The essential dBASE II files on this disk are these:

               DBASE.COM      --main system program file
               DBASEOVR.COM   --all overlays and system messages
               DBASEMSG.TXT   --this HELP file (not necessary if you never 
                                use HELP)
               INSTALL.COM    --terminal installation program (not necessary 
                                after terminal is installed).

     Other  files  on the disk (or on other disks included with the  system) 
are not essential but are useful as described below:

*UTILITIES       
UTILITY FILES TO WORK WITH YOUR dBASE II SYSTEM:

     STARTUP.CMD    --this command file is intended to help you determine if 
                    your terminal is properly installed.  Type DO STARTUP 
                    after bringing up dBASE.
     SETS.CMD       --this command file will restore dBASE to all the 
                    default values of the SET parameters.  You may modify 
                    this file to restore your own list of parameters.
     DATESYS.CMD    --this command file will call an assembly language 
                    routine to check a date for validity, and then set the 
                    dBASE system date.
     LABELS.CMD     --this command file prints mailing labels.      
     NAMES.DBF      --database used by LABELS.
     CREATE.CMD     --this command file creates a command file with the 
                    usual and suggested command file documentation.
     DATER.CMD      --this command file demonstrates converting back and 
                    forth between calendar date and julian date.
     DATETEST.HEX    --fast assembly-language date checking routine which is 
                    called by several of the example programs.
     



     ZIP.COM        --a program run from CP/M which will greatly speed up 
                    the development of screens for data input and display.
     ZIPIN.COM      --the terminal installation program for ZIP; run this 
                    program if the terminal does not appear correct while in 
                    ZIP.
     ZSCRN.OVL      --part of ZIP.
     DGEN.OVL       --part of ZIP that generates dBASE files. 

*EXAMPLES
Some  files that are present with dBASE II are EXAMPLE files  (occassionally 
on a separate disk).  These files are intended to be useful as they are, and 
are internally documented well enough for you to customize them to suit your 
own purposes.  Each suite of programs listed is progressively more involved, 
so  you  can start at a level comfortable to you and work  up.   The  master 
program of each group is marked with a '>'.

               TICKLE FILE MANAGEMENT FILES (CARDFILE)
        > CMAIN.CMD                TEXT.DBF
          CPRINT.CMD               KEYWORD.NDX
          APPECARD.CMD             TICKLE.NDX
          TICKLE.FRM               EDITCARD.FMT


               CHECKBOOK MANAGEMENT FILES
        > CHXMENU.CMD              CHXINPUT.FMT
          CHXDEPOS.FMT             CHXBOOK.MEM
          CHECKS.DBF               DEPOSITS.DBF



               INVENTORY MANAGEMENT FILES
        > IMAIN.CMD                INVENT.DBF
          ISETUP.CMD               I'BYNMBR.NDX
          INVMAINT.CMD             I'BYDESC.NDX
          INVQUAN.CMD              INV'CONS.FRM
          INVREAD.CMD              INV'PRTR.FRM
          INVRPRT.CMD

               PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT FILES
        > EMAIN.CMD                EMPLOYEE.DBF
          ESETUP.CMD               EMPSCRN.FMT              
          EMP-ENTR.CMD             EMP-UPD.FMT
          EMP-UPD.CMD              EMP-PRT.FRM
          EMP-TERM.CMD             EMP-CONS.FRM
          EMP-RPRT.CMD             E'BYNMBR.NDX
          EMPLOYEE.MEM             E'BYNAME.NDX

*EXIT
*FULL SCREEN
               FULL-SCREEN CURSOR MOVEMENT CODES --ALL COMMANDS

     ctrl-X moves cursor DOWN to the next field (also ctrl-F)
     ctrl-E moves cursor UP to the previous field (also ctrl-A)
     ctrl-D moves cursor AHEAD one character
     ctrl-S moves cursor BACK one character
     
     ctrl-G deletes the character under the cursor
     <Rubout> or <DEL> deletes the character to the left of cursor

     ctrl-Y blanks out current field to the right of the cursor
     ctrl-V toggles between overwrite and INSERT modes
     ctrl-W saves any changes made and returns to dBASE (Superbrain ctrl-O)

                    IN EDIT MODE
     ctrl-U toggles the record DELETE mark on and off
     ctrl-C writes current record to disk and ADVANCES to next record
     ctrl-R writes current record to disk and BACKS to previous record
     ctrl-Q ignores changes to current record asnd returns to dBASE
     ctrl-W writes all changes to disk and returns

                    IN BROWSE MODE
     ctrl-B pans the window RIGHT one field
     ctrl-Z pans the window LEFT one field

                    IN MODIFY MODE
     ctrl-T DELETES current line, moves all lower lines up
     ctrl-N INSERTS new line at cursor position
     ctrl-C scrolls down a half page
     ctrl-W writes all changes to disk and returns to dBASE
     ctrl-Q ignores all changes and returns

                    IN APPEND MODE
     <enter> when cursor is in first position of first field will terminate 
             APPEND command 
     ctrl-W writes record to disk and moves to next record
     ctrl-Q ignores current record and returns to dBASE




           CONTROL KEY STROKES WHEN NOT IN FULL SCREEN
     ctrl-P toggles your printer ON and OFF
     ctrl-R repeats the last executed dBASE command
     ctrl-X clears the command line without executing command
     ctrl-H backspace
     ctrl-M acts exactly like a carriage return
*INSTALL
In order to use dBASE II's Full-Screen editing facility,  your terminal must 
be  properly installed.  Many dBASE formats are pre-installed.  If yours  is 
not,  your  screen will appear jumbled when you attempt to perform such full 
screen  operations as APPEND or EDIT.   To correct this,  you  must  install 
dBASE II by running the dBASE II installation, INSTALL.COM, called from your 
system  as  INSTALL.   Since you may diagnose your terminal's status at  any 
time by running STARTUP.CMD (called from the dBASE II "." prompt by entering 
the  command DO STARTUP),  you would be wise to use it before attempting  to 
INSTALL  dBASE  II.   It will tell you if you need to run  the  installation 
program, and can be used later to check the results if you do. 



*EXIT
*BACKUP
*CP/M
                
                    CP/M OPERATING SYSTEM
     This information is applicable to CP/M version 2.2.  For most computers 
using this operating system, you  will  need to do the following:

I. Operating System
     
   A. Copying the system disk --

      1. Place  CP/M  system  disk on drive A and a blank disk on          
         drive B.

      2. Format  the   blank disk with the format utility provided  on  your 
         CP/M system disk if necessary.  Copy the system tracks to the blank 
         disk  by  running  the  SYSGEN.COM  program  (or  similar  program) 
         provided on your CP/M system disk.

      3. Use  PIP to bring the PIP.COM over to  the  blank  disk.  
         The syntax is as follows:

               A>PIP B:=A:PIP.COM[OV]

      4. Put the new disk containing PIP and SYSGEN.COM on drive A and dBASE 
         system disk on drive B, then type the following:

               A>DIR B:

      5. Check to see that the following files are displayed:

               DBASE.COM                DBASEOVR.COM
               DBASEMSG.TXT             INSTALL.COM
               STARTUP.CMD


      6. Type the following:

               A> <ctrl-C>
               A>PIP A:=B:*.*[OV]

   B. CP/M limitations that affect dBASE

      1. Disk limitations --
         a) With CP/M system disk on drive A, type the following:
               A>STAT B:
            The disk capacity remaining indicates how much storage 
         in kilobytes is available for dBASE.

         b) The following equation will allow you to calculate the 
         number of dBASE records which can be stored on the disk:

               Kilobytes of storage dBASE records will use on disk 
          = ((recordsize * number of records) + 521) / 1024

   C. CP/M error messages that may occur --
      The expression "x:" represents the disk drive name.   


     

 
      1. "BDOS ERROR ON x: BAD SECTOR"
         An  error  in  reading or  writing  the  disk.   Possible 
         problem may be: 
     
           a) disk format is different from the one the  disk 
              drive is designed to read.
           b) disk was not inserted  properly  in  the  disk 
              drive.
           c) disk drive malfunctioned when reading the disk.
           d) disk is bad due to excessive wear  or  foreign 
              particles on the surface of the disk.

      2. "BDOS ERROR ON x: SELECT"
         This  error  occurs  when  selecting a  disk  drive  not 
         available to the computer.




      3. "BDOS ERROR ON x: READ ONLY"
         This error occurs when there is an attempt to write on a 
         disk that has been given a read-only status.   A disk  is 
         assigned  a read-only status when the disk drive door has 
         been  opened or when a write-protect tab has been  placed 
         on  it.  If  the  disk  does  not  have  a  write-protect          
         tab  on  it,   you  can  use  the  warm  start  procedure          
         (control-C) to reset the disk when in CP/M,  or the RESET          
         command when in dBASE.
*EXIT
*NEW
> New commands and changes to dBASE II version 2.4  

       New commands:

       HELP -- user aid command.
       REINDEX -- realigns and updates existing index file.
       TEXT -- displays multiple lines of text, terminated by ENDTEXT.
       RANK( ) -- function; returns ASCII value of first character.

       Supplemented Commands:

       APPEND,INSERT,EDIT,CREATE -- can use a format file for screen control.
       BROWSE           -- can be given a list of fields to work with.
       DISPLAY STATUS   -- shows databases/indexes in use and SET settings.
       READ & REPLACE   -- can be directed not to perform disk accesses 
                when non-key data is changed.
       RELEASE          -- can release subsets of memory variables.
       RESTORE          -- can restore additively to existing memory variables.
       SAVE             -- can save subsets of memory variables.
       SET RAW ON       -- eliminates extra spaces in DISPLAY and ? commands.
       UPDATE           -- replace clause can have WITH phrases.
*EXIT
*?
*??
> ?    -- Evaluates  and displays the value of an  expression.   In  command 
       file  (and elsewhere) can be used without expression to space down  a 
       line at output.
      
          . ? 6/3
            2
          . ? 'CITY'
            CITY
          . ? CITY (field of file in use)
            Managua
 
> ??   -- Same as ?, but displays result on same line as entry.
*EXIT
*@
> @    -- Displays user formatted data on the screen or printer at specified 
          x,y coordinates (x = line, y = column ).

          Syntax: @ <coords> [SAY <exp> [USING '<picture>']]
                             [GET <variable> [PICTURE '<picture>']]

          @  3,23 SAY AMOUNT * 1.06 USING '$$$,$$$.99'
          @ 14,23 SAY "ENTER PHONE" GET PHONE PICTURE '(###)###-####'
          @ LINE+2,45 SAY TOTAL USING '99999.99'
*EXIT
*ACCEPT
>  ACCEPT  -- Prompts  user  to enter character string  information  into  a 
       designated memory variable. 

           Syntax: ACCEPT ['<prompt cstring>'] TO <memvar>

           . ACCEPT "What is the worst sin?" to SIN
           What is the worst sin?: [user's response stored to SIN]
           . ? SIN
           [user's response displayed]  
*EXIT
*APPEND
> APPEND FROM <file> [FOR <exp>] or 
> APPEND FROM <file> [SDF] [DELIMITED] [FOR <exp>]
       -- appends data FROM a database or file in System Data Format 
       file to the database in use. Records marked for deletion in 
       FROM <file> will not be appended.

                 e.g., APPEND FROM MAILLIST FOR NAME = 'N' 
                       APPEND FROM TEST.TXT DELIMITED 
 
> APPEND BLANK -- appends a blank, i.e. empty, record to file in use.

> APPEND -- allows user to add new records to database in use.  (If index is 
       also in use, the index file is automatically updated).    
*EXIT
*BROWSE
> BROWSE [FIELDS <field list>] -- Brings up Full-screen viewing and editing 
       of the database in use. 
*EXIT
*CANCEL
> CANCEL -- In a command file, stops command file execution and 
       returns user to dBASE "." prompt.  

           Command file fragment:
               ACCEPT "What should this humble machine do next?" to NEXT
                      IF NEXT = 'Q'
                           CANCEL 
                      ENDIF                
*EXIT
*CHANGE
> CHANGE -- Permits Non-Full-Screen editing of database in use by field. Hit 
       ESCape key to terminate CHANGE mode.

            Syntax: CHANGE [<scope>] FIELD <list> [FOR <exp>]

            . CHANGE ALL FIELD ZIP FOR ZIP = '90045'
            RECORD: 00123
            ZIP: 90045
            CHANGE? 
               (Enter the characters to be changed and hit return.
            Add new data at the TO prompt, or hit return to go to 
            the next appropriate record.)      
*EXIT
*CLEAR
> CLEAR  -- Closes all database in use, releases all memory variables, 
           and Selects Primary work area. 
> CLEAR GETS -- makes dBASE forget about all GET statements still 
         active, but without erasing the screen. 
*EXIT
*COPY
> COPY -- Copies the database in use or only its structure TO another 
         file. COPY will create the TO <file> if it does not yet exist, 
         but will destroy an already existing file of that name.  Will not 
         copy records marked for deletion. 

      Syntax: COPY TO <file> [<scope>] [FIELD <list>] [FOR <exp>]
              COPY TO <file> [SDF] [DELIMITED [WITH <delimiter>]] [FOR <exp>]
              COPY TO <file> STRUCTURE [FIELD <list>]
*EXIT
*COUNT
> COUNT -- Counts the number of records in database file in use.  

          Syntax: COUNT [<scope>] [FOR <exp>] [TO <memvar>]
                  e.g., COUNT NEXT 25 FOR GRADE > 'B-' TO DEANLST 
*EXIT
*CREATE
> CREATE [<filename>] -- Creates a new database file.  User will be prompted 
       for file structure.
*EXIT
*DELETE
>