"Datab" a non-relational database, or card index program, by Philip Taylor

  Datab runs on Atari ST(E) or Falcon with a high resolution monitor.

  There is no field typing - all fields are single-line character strings,
  limited in length only by their display on screen, see below.

  Datab database files are stored in one of two interchangeable formats viz.
  (i) `delimited ASCII Export-Import' format, or (ii) `address-label'
  format.  In both cases there is an optional header created and maintained
  by Datab, consisting entirely of normal ASCII characters in the range 32-
  127.

  Example of delimited ASCII Export-Import format:
  "Accra","Ghana","Africa"
  "Amman","Jordan","Asia"
  "Amsterdam","Holland","Europe"
  etc.

  Here the delimiters are the default IBM PC double-quotes & commas; but any
  other delimiters can be specified before loading or saving a database
  file.  For example a more compact and legible form is:
  Accra|Ghana|Africa
  Amman|Jordan|Asia
  Amsterdam|Holland|Europe
  etc.

  Here is the same file with a header:
  **  Database file for Atari DataB, by P. Taylor
  **  Format = delimited ASCII, one line per record:
  **  field1|field2|field3
  **    Capital
  **    Country
  **  Continent
  **  Date of last edit =  6-Jul-1993
  Accra|Ghana|Africa
  Amman|Jordan|Asia
  Amsterdam|Holland|Europe
  etc.

  Example of `address-label' format.  Each field occupies a line, and there
  is a blank line between records:
  Accra
  Ghana
  Africa

  Amman
  Jordan
  Asia

  Amsterdam
  Holland
  Europe

  etc.

  A variable number of fields is allowed in both formats; but internal blank
  fields are only possible with delimited export-import format.

  Because Datab databases are stored in `flat' files i.e. no special non-
  printing characters, they can be manipulated by word processors, used as
  data files for mail-merge operations, transmitted electronically, viewed
  on the screen, edited with a text or file editor, printed from the
  Desktop, etc.  The `label' format is often very suitable for printing with
  a simple mailer program.
  Also, because Datab can use the delimited ASCII format of the PC world
  directly (without conversion), exchange with other database programs and
  spreadsheets is generally simple.

  Datab does not itself provide any printing facilities!  Nor at present are
  there facilities for selecting and saving a sub-group of records.

  The Help key (or F1) shows the following menu:
    F1 or Help = Show this menu
    Insert = append a new record
    Alt F = Find string /a = all fields, /c = case sensitive,
      /e = exact match with whole field, /n = not match i.e. mismatch
    Alt N = Find Next
    Alt G = Goto record #
    Alt E = Enter a special (accented) character
    Alt C = Count things /a = all fields, /c = case sensitive, /e = exact
    Alt K = Sum number fields
    keypad + = Next record
    keypad - = Previous record
    Alt B or Control keypad + = Last record
    Alt T or Control keypad - = First record
    Alt S = Save file and Exit
    Alt A = Save As
    Alt X = Sort database
    Alt D = Define format, delimiters, fieldnames and header
    Home  = cursor to left margin
    Control Delete = Delete a record
    Undo  = exit program

  When a record is displayed on screen, the four cursor keys operate in a
  conventional way and allow you to move among and within fields.  The
  Delete and Backspace keys also operate normally.  To enter characters,
  just type them in anywhere & anytime.  There is no `overwrite' mode;
  additional characters are always inserted.
  The Return key is similar to the down-cursor key in moving the cursor to
  the next line/field:  it differs in that it moves from the last field of
  one record to the first of the next.  Hence the Return key is appropriate
  for entering multiple new records.  The latter are appended to the
  database; you can subsequently use Alt X to re-order the whole database.
  Optional field names are displayed in reverse-video at the left side of
  the fields:  all fields are shortened by the length of the longest
  fieldname.

  The maximum number of fields is 25 i.e. the number of lines on a high
  resolution monochrome monitor.  The maximum number of characters per field
  is 78 being the width of the screen minus an indent of 2; or fewer if you
  define fieldnames.  [By arranging for the display to scroll
  vertically/horizontally, these limits may be overcome.  Source code in
  HiSoft Basic is provided with this program to allow for such extensions in
  capability...]

  The maximum number of records depends on available memory: note that the
  entire database is held in memory while processing.  The program itself
  occupies c. 38k, and a typical address list of 500 persons occupies about
  40k, so that perhaps 5000 addresses can be accommodated in a 520ST (1/2Mb)
  computer.

  RE-ORDER, APPEND, INSERT or DELETE FIELDS
  At the `Load' prompt, enter # and then define a mapping from the fields of
  the database file to the fields of its image in memory.
  Suppose for example that the database file has 5 fields, then the default
  `field numbers' are 1,2,3,4,5 where the values refer to the file while
  their positions refer to the database in memory.
  If you specify field numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6 this will append a new field at
  the end of each record.
  If you specify 6,1,2,3,4,5 this will insert a new field at the beginning
  of each record.
  If you enter 1,2,6,3,4,5 this will insert a new field between the present
  second and third fields.
  2,1,3,4,5 will invert the order of the first two fields.
  5,4,3,2,1 will reverse the order of all fields.
  2,3,4,5 will delete the first field.
  1,2,3,4 will delete the last field.
  1,2,4,5,6 will delete the third field and append a new one.
  etc. etc.

  DEFINE DIMENSIONS OF DATABASE
  This is only necessary when creating a new database or before you load a
  new database and you would run out of memory because the default
  dimensions assumed by Datab - 25 fields, 1000 records - don't accord well
  with the actual dimensions.  At the `Load' prompt, enter # and then enter
  the true dimensions of the database to be loaded.

  DEFINE THE DELIMITERS OF A DATABASE
  This can always be done before saving (with the Alt D command); however to
  load a new database with non-standard delimiters for the first time, enter
  # at the `Load' prompt and then specify the delimiters.  Any ASCII code
  can be entered by typing 1-3 digits on the numerical keypad, followed by
  Enter.  [This technique works also for entering special characters e.g.
  accented ones, into the `Find' string].


  DataB Filenames
  The default file extension is .DB which is automatically appended if you
  enter a filename, for either loading or saving, without a dot (and
  following 1-3 characters).
  The `list files' feature, obtained by entering * in response to the Load
  prompt, lists only database files with this .DB file extension.



                                                                 Summer 1993
                                                               Philip Taylor
                                                                     Glasgow