Easily into dBase III Plus

Frontmatter

About this Book

Abstract

This book will allow you to become familiar with the main features of dBASE III PLUS. You will learn how to manipulate the information stored in a database file, display that information in a meaningful way using a report and create your own database files. The disk that accompanies this book contains several specimen databases for you to use and these will be referred to regularly throughout the text. The book is divided up into a number of lessons, each with its objectives clearly stated at the beginning and with a summary of the topics covered at the end. This means that you can, if you already have some knowledge of the program, pick up the points you need to learn at a clearly defined point. When you have finished this book you will be ready to continue your studies with the companion to it that takes you into the study of the dBASE III PLUS programming language so that you will be able to produce customised programs to help you in your use of database information.

Peter Gosling

What is a Database?

Abstract

A database is really nothing more than an electronic card index. Not very many years ago all information was stored on filing cards or in loose-leaf folders. Information was retrieved by thumbing through the entire file and extracting the information you required. This was a long and laborious method of information retrieval. With the appearance of computers the information previously stored, particularly on the punched cards used in office accounting since the early twentieth century, could be accessed rapidly and reports on that information printed out far faster than was ever possible before. Eventually when large-scale computer storage of data became practical and cheap it was possible to store very large amounts of information “on-line”, that is, immediately available, rather than stored away in boxes and filing cabinets.

Peter Gosling

Lesson One

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * set the default drive
• * use the DIR command to list the available database files
• * select a database by the USE command
• * use the LIST and LIST FOR commands
• * display the structure of a database file
• * use QUIT to leave dBASE III PLUS

Before you start using dBASE III PLUS you need to perform a simple operation depending on whether you are running the program on twin floppy disk system or a hard disk system.

Peter Gosling

Lesson Two

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * use AND, OR and NOT in listing selected data
• * search for matching strings
• * use the DISPLAY command
• * use the GOTO and SKIP commands
• * use BROWSE

Peter Gosling

Lesson Three

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * use ASSIST
• * use COUNT, SUM and AVERAGE
• * COPY database information into another file
• * use the REPLACE instruction to change database information
• * DELETE records
• * use PACK and RECALL In the first part of this lesson you are going to “streamline” your work by using the dBASE III PLUS ASSISTANT. This is a part of the dBASE III PLUS program that helps you to create commands without having to key them in, and make the inevitable typing mistakes! Usually you are placed in ASSIST mode as soon as you start the dBASE III PLUS program up. This is because of an entry in a file called CONFIG.DB. In it there is a line that states

Peter Gosling

Lesson Four

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * use LOCATE and CONTINUE
• * search for strings in specific fields
• * create Query files
• * sort a database
• * create Index files
• * use FIND

Peter Gosling

Lesson Five

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * create your own database file
• * EDIT database fields
• * use the LIST STRUCTURE command
• * use the MODIFY STRUCTURE command
• * APPEND records to a database file

Peter Gosling

Lesson Six

Abstract

In this lesson you will revise the use of:

• * the LIST and LIST OFF commands
• * the SUM command
• * the DISPLAY command
• * the SKIP command
• * the FIND command
• * the LOCATE command
• * indexing
• * the REPLACE command
• * the COPY command
• * the DELETE command

Peter Gosling

Lesson Seven

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * create a data entry screen
• * use the blackboard

Nowadays we expect computer programs to be “user friendly” and with a database program the aim is to make the entry and retrieval of data easy for the non-specialist user. Towards this end we can design our own screens so that the entry of data is made as much like filling a form in as possible.

Peter Gosling

Lesson Eight

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * print a report
• * print a report in conjunction with index files
• * create your own reports

A report provides you with a neat and tidy display of the data in your database collected together in a form which is easy to read. A report form has a .FRM extension.

Peter Gosling

Lesson Nine

Abstract

In this lesson you will learn to:

• * create and use memo files
• * use memory variables
• * copy dBASE III PLUS files into different formats
• * create a label file and print labels

Peter Gosling

Use of Function Keys in dBase III PLUS

Abstract

You will have used the function keys several times during these lessons. While in ASSIST some of them have special functions, so that pressing the F10 key rings up the list of field names used by a database and the F1 key toggles helpful information on and off. When not in ASSIST the keys have other functions and they can save you valuable typing time.

Peter Gosling

Summary of dBase III PLUS Commands and Functions covered in this Book

Peter Gosling

Backmatter