DBVIEW.EXE is Copyright 1993 T & T Engineering All Rights Reserved. By T. A. Kulaga P.O. Box 97000 Kirkland, WA 98083-9700 This version of dBVIEW is NOT public domain or free software, but is being distributed as "shareware" for EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY. REGISTRATION ============ To register the DOS database viewer DBVIEW.EXE program, send $10.00 to the above address and you will receive a registration serial number with instructions on how to register your copy of the program. Registering your copy of the program will remove the registration screen displayed each time the program is exited. Source code can be provided on request to registered users for an additional $35.00 fee. So what do you get for registering? Good question. You will receive a serial number which can be used to register your copy of the program and remove the annoying registration screen. Not much, is it? Well, $10 isn't much, either. However, this is a lifetime registration. All future revisions to this program are included in this registration. NOTE: A disk will not be sent to you when you register, only a registration serial number. If you absolutely need a copy sent to you on a DISK please enclose an additional $7.00 with your $10.00 registration fee to cover the costs of shipping and handling. Remember to specify the disk size desired. LICENSE ======= DBVIEW is distributed as shareware for evaluation purposes only. This means that you are granted a limited license to use it for a period of 30 days. If you find it useful and decide to continue using it after the trial period, registration is required. Registered users will be granted a just-like-a-book license which means a registered version of the software can be used by more than one person and can be moved from one computer to another so long as there is NO POSSIBILITY of it being used by two different persons on two different computers at the same time, just like a book can not be read by two different persons in two different places at the same time. DBVIEW PROGRAM SUMMARY =============== This program is a viewer of dBASE format database files. This includes files created by dBASE III, dBASE III+, dBASE IV, Clipper, Foxbase, Foxpro, and other dBASE compatible programs. This program can be used as a direct replacement for the Norton Commander DBVIEW program which allows dBASE files to be viewed. This program differs from the Norton Commander program in the number of features provided: specifically FoxPRO files can be viewed in addition to dBASE files, and memo fields can be viewed. NOTE: To use this program in place of Norton Commander's DBVIEW program, copy the DBVIEW.EXE file to the sub-directory containing the Norton Commander program files. Function key F3 in Norton Commander will call this program whenever a .dbf file is highlighted. NOTE: A Windows program for viewing database files is forthcoming. Watch for it on your local BBS. The name to look for is DBV-WIN. NOTE: A smaller version of this program is being developed. It is identical to this program except that it has been trimmed in size by more than one third by deleting the on-line help, removing the point and click file selection window (replacing it with a simple text entry field), and shortening the text messages. The purpose of this version is to reduce the executable file size for faster loading and less disk space usage. Watch for it on your local BBS. The name to look for is DBV-SM. DEMO ==== Included for demonstration and tutorial purposes is a small database of various quotes and sayings. This database is a FoxPro database which contains memo fields and can be viewed by typing DBVIEW DEMO The first memo field contains a varied amount of information which may be useful. It discusses the various options and shows how they may be used. The database contains the various types of fields encountered and illustrates how they are displayed. If you like the sayings in the demo database, you may be interested in knowing that I am compiling a large database with a program which displays these sayings. Watch your local BBS for the program titled SAYINGS. A windows version is also forthcoming. DBVIEW USAGE SUMMARY ============= To start the program, at the DOS prompt use the following syntax: DBVIEW {filename}[.dbf] The filename and extension are optional. If the filename is not used, a point and click type file selection window will be opened. The database extension must be specified if it is different than .dbf. Any associated memo file will be opened automatically and does not need to be explicitly specified. After the program is started, the program is controlled either by pressing the appropriate function key via the keyboard or by clicking the left mouse button when the mouse cursor is located on the desired menu function. The cursor keys can be used to navigate through the records of the database. CURSOR KEY ACTION ---------- ------ UP Previous record DOWN Next record LEFT Shift fields to left (oriented as in browse mode) CTRL-LEFT Shift fields to far left, first field first RIGHT Shift fields to right CTRL-RIGHT Shift fields to far right, last field PAGEUP Previous record or screen PAGEDOWN Next record or screen CTRL-PGUP Go to first record HOME Go to first record CTRL-PGDN Go to last record END Go to last record ESC Exit the program Additionally, the mouse changes shape based on its screen location. Near the top and bottom of the screen, clicking the left mouse button will cause the previous or next record to be displayed. Near the left or right of the display, clicking the left mouse button causes the previous or next field to be displayed. The right side of the screen is a scrollbar for mouse movement and a relative indication of where the current record is in relation to all the records in the file. Clicking the left mouse button on either the up or down arrows at either end of the scrollbar displays either the first or last record, respectively. Clicking the left button while the mouse cursor is in the upper or lower half of the scrollbar is the same as pressing the Page-Up or Page-Down keys, respectively. DBVIEW FEATURES ======== þ Quick help F1 þ Database file info can be viewed F2 þ Field info can be viewed in a scrollable window F3 þ Record info can be viewed in browse mode F4 or 'B' þ Run WPVIEW program (Norton Commander) SHIFT F4 þ Specify a record number to go to F5 þ View another .dbf file without exiting F6 þ Search for a text string F7 or 'F' þ A thermometer shows relative location in the file as the search is being conducted. þ Memo fields can be viewed, one at a time F8 þ 25/50 line display toggle for VGA monitors F9 þ Deleted records are identified (The word 'DELETED' appears on the top line, and while in browse mode * appears on left side of window.) þ The current record and total record count is displayed þ Full mouse control of menus and record/field movements þ Any file of dBASE format can be read, including the special files FoxPro uses for report forms, screen formats, etc. þ If the database file has a bad format, Norton Commander's WPVIEW program is loaded as a default file viewer. This allows the file to be viewed, one way or the other. þ File selection is via a point and click style window þ Memo fields expand to full screen width when less than 8 fields are displayed on the screen. Normal size is a quarter of the screen. þ Mouse scrollbar on the right side of the display. þ The default color can be changed to green on black by setting an environment variable: SET DBVIEW=GREEN DBVIEW KNOWN BUGS ========== At this time, there is only a few known bugs or glitches in the software. 1) After being cleared, error messages do not always restore the screen background color. A black area is left on the screen where the error message appeared. This area will disappear when the screen image is redisplayed (switching to browse mode, pressing HOME, etc.) 2) Loading another file (F6) will stop functioning after a random number of files (but a lot of them) have been loaded via the F6 function. A warning message pops up telling you that you cannot load another file. I'm still trying to figure this one out. It is not fatal since the previous file is still loaded. Just exit and re-run the program to view another file. 3) The DBVIEW program is not network aware. That is, if the database file to be viewed is already in use and locked, the DBVIEW program will report a GENERAL FAILURE and not be able to view the file. This isn't really a bug, just a feature which has not been programmed yet. DBVIEW can read files on networks which are not being accessed by others. Any other bugs or program enhancements can be reported to the Author at the address above. ERROR MESSAGES ============== The database handling routines do numerous checks for errors: file not found, file is corrupted, out of memory, read fault, etc. The program handles all error messages, exiting the program for fatal errors or performing other actions as appropriate. PROGRAMMER INFORMATION ====================== dBVIEW is written in Microsoft QuickC and uses the SCL1 library of screen and mouse functions. A library of generic database handling routines was developed to support this program and others which are being developed. The program was compiled with the medium memory model. The intention was to provide a very compact and fast database file viewer. DBVIEW The following is provided due to the litigious society in which we live in: WARRANTY DISCLAIMER =================== T&T Engineering provides the shareware version of dBVIEW "as is" and without any warranty. To the extent permitted under applicable law, T&T Engineering disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. T&T Engineering makes no representation or warranty that the software is fit for any particular purpose. T&T Engineering shall not be liable for any damages resulting from the use of this software, including but not limited to loss of profit, data, or use of the software or special, incidental, or consequential damages or other similar claims, even if T&T Engineering has been specifically advised of the possibility of such damages. Note: Microsoft QuickC, SCL1, Norton Commander, dBASE, Clipper, Foxbase, and Foxpro are registered trademarks/tradenames of their respective companies. Trademarks of other companies mentioned appear for identification purposes only and are the property of their respective companies.