CATALOG.APP
By Jeff Bankston
First published April 14, 1994

CATALOG.APP is a small FoxPro project that converts TAPCIS-compatible
CIS catalog files with the .CAT extension into an xBase database with
the DBF extension. In this current revision, the only restrictions present
are that the source file must have the .CAT extension as per what TAPCIS
generates and the source file must also reside in the current directory 
where CATALOG.APP resides. To run the application, enter 'DO CATALOG<cr>'
from the command window in Foxpro. If you do not have FoxPro v2.0, then
you need the FoxPro redistributable files FOXDST.ZIP in the ZNT:TIPS forum.
From the DOS prompt, with all files in the same directory, enter

FOXPRO CATALOG<cr>

to start the application.

There are three files in the archive CATCVT.ZIP which are:
1) CATALOG.APP ----> the application itself
2) CATALOG.TXT ----> this text file
3) TESTDBF.DBF ----> the template database
Please keep all three files in the same directory; in fact, this is a 
requirement of the template database.

This version is neither fancy nor pretty, but is pretty 
functional given the amount of work required to build the 
program. Future versions and updates are strictly dependent on 
user feedback. While this one is quite functional, I have run 
out of time for all the neat spiffy things I wanted to do, so 
this will have to suffice unless bugs are found.

This program is also free for useage, no fees or such are employed. 
However, this file may not be posted to any BBS or other part of CIS 
without the express written permission of the author..... ME! I just 
want to be able to track how much the program is being used; I don't 
care about the rest of it. 

UPDATE - 01 May 1994; latest update is Build 4 version 1.29 which adds
a little more error checking, different timer reporting functions, and
fixes a bug in the path commands needed for the program.

UPDATE - 03 May 1994; I usually don't post patches this close together,
but I found a nasty one affecting running of the program. CIS catalogs
have a DESCRIPTION limit of 549 characters; however, these 549 characters
can exist in quite a few lines! I found one DESCRIPTION that was 22 lines
long! Usually, they don't go over 8 or 10 lines. I added the capability
to process up to 25 lines of a DESCRIPTION, and I also added a new field
in the database that stores the name of the forum as a field entry. This
is useful when you want to combine databases and be able to sort files
based in a particular forum from this combined database. I also included
a Windows PIF file that works well on my system.

Send all feedback and comments to me at CIS 72241,1204. I take all 
comments, good, bad, and indecent...... especially the good.

Jeff

