<<<The following information is supplied from a note published by
MultiMate International regarding importing dBASE II data into
MultiMate. It has not been tested with dBASE III, but should be
easily adaptable to that program.>>>
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                   dBASE II TO MULTIMATE MERGE
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   Many of our users have requested information regarding the
integration of dBASE II files with MultiMate for Merge. Such
integration can be achieved using select dBASE II commands, and
MultiMate's file conversion and key procedures.
   Before you get started, there are three database terms you
should understand: Field, Record and File. A field is the
smallest logical piece of information in a database such as a
name or an address. A record is a group of fields on a particular
subject such as a person or a company, and a file is a group of
records. The only limitations on the dBASE II data you can
integrate is that all fields must be of "character" type and your
file cannot contain more than 250 records - due to MultiMate
document limits. With these terms understood you should be able
to proceed.
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                           In dBASE II:
1. Select the file you wish to integrate and issue the dBASE
   "USE" command.
2. Using that file, issue the command "STORE CHR(195) TO x".
   (This is going to be a special field delimiter to be used by
   MultiMate's Merge system)
3. Then issue the command "COPY TO <filename> DELIMITED WITH &x".
   This will create an ASCII text file with each field surrounded
   by our merge codes and separated by commas.
4. Exit dBASE II and copy the ASCII file to the appropriate
   diskette or directory.
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                          In MultiMate:
1. Bring up MultiMate's File Conversion utility. (Double floppy
   users should put the utility disk in drive A:, and type
   "fileconv"; hard disk users should get into the MultiMate
   directory and type "fileconv".)
2. Select the first function on the Menu - ASCII to MultiMate.
   Enter the appropriate file name with a .TXT suffix, and the
   drive designations. Press F10. Once the conversion is
   complete, return to DOS and bring up MultiMate.
3. The next step is reformat the document for use in Merge.
   Select "Edit an Old Document" from the Main Menu and enter the
   apppropriate document name. Looking at your document from the
   edit screen, you'll see that each field is surrounded by merge
   codes and separated by commas. You'll now use a key procedure
   to insert each field name.
4. Position the cursor under the first merge code on the screen
   and press CTRL-F5 to begin building your key procedure. (A "B"
   should appear between the Caps Lock/Num Lock indicator to
   verify building has begun.)
5. Use the following sequence of keys for every field but the
   last one in each record.
      RIGHT ARROW - The first merge code should be left in
      place.
      INSERT - leaves you in insert mode for entry of the
      field name.
      {field name} - Enter the name exactly as in the primary
      document.
      ALT-M - adds a merge code at the end of your field name.
      RETURN -
      INSERT - ends the insert mode.
      F6 - search for the comma (you must enter {,} the first
      time.
      F6 - Actually executes the search.
      RETURN - Replaces the , with a <<.
6. When you reach the last field of your record, execute the
   above steps through the second insert. The last field of each
   record is already followed by a carriage return, so you need
   not search for it. Simply press the down arrow.
7. After completing the last field, press CTRL-F7 to prompt
   during execution of the KEY PROC to continue or stop. This
   will allow you to reexecute the KEY PROC for any number of
   records.
8. Next press F2 so each record will be on a separate page. Then
   close the KEY PROC with another CTRL-F5.
9. You should now be on your second record. You can reformat the
   remaining records using the KEY PROC. Press CTRL-F8, enter the
   appropriate name and reexecute the fiel until all your records
   are reformatted.
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Usint this procedure, you will now be able to create large
mailing lists in dBASE II and quickly reformat them for use with
MultiMate Merge.
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<<< Good luck!!! /Steve Silverwood/ >>>
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