
Each Module in the Shelter Island Press system is acutally a stand-
alone database comprised of a MainFile and several possible SubFiles.
Within each Main File are individual records or data cards.  Imagine this
as nothing more than an electronic file cabinet with different drawers for
each Tracking Module.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                                        │
│                                                                        │
│              ┌──────────────────┐                                      │
│          ┌───┘   Foods Index    └───┐     MainFile = Foods Index       │
│          │     ┌─────────────────┐  │                                  │
│          │ ┌───┘   Vegetables    └──┴┐    SubFile  = Vegetables        │
│          │ │     ┌───────┐           │                                 │
│          │ │     │ Corn  │           │    Records  = Corn              │
│          │ │     │ ┌─────┴─┐         │               Peas              │
│          │ │     └─┤ Peas  │         │               Beans             │
│          │ │       │ ┌─────┴─┐       │               etc.              │
│          │ │       └─┤ Beans │       │                                 │
│          │ │         │       │       │                                 │
│          │ │         └───────┘       │                                 │
│          │ └────────────────────────┬┘                                 │
│          └──────────────────────────┘                                  │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

MAIN FILE

The Main File is comprised of ALL members of the tracking area (e.g. ALL
foods).  To add a new member to a file you simply choose the (F)ile
command from the top menu line and then choose the (A)dd submenu item.

SUBFILES

A SubFile is actually a sorted file compiled from the Main File. For
instance if you wanted a list of all vegetables in the FOOD file you would
search the Main File for that criterion.  Once this SubFile has been
sorted you may save it to the disk as a semipermanent database.  You may
add a record to any subfile.  However when you add to a Subfile the Main
file is automatically updated also.  In this manner the MainFile always
remains current.  There is really no limit (other than the storage
capacity of your disk) to the number of SubFiles you may compile.  For
help on setting up a sort see the help menu item SEARCHING & SORTING.