WECOME TO PIROUETTE!

               If  you're  reading  this,  we  assume  you're  seeing  this
          program for the first time.  Therefore, here's  a  quick  summary
          of what Pirouette does.
               Pirouette  is  a  database  management program.  That is, it
          allows you to put data into  a  computer  file  in  an  organized
          manner,  and  then regurgitate it in a variety of forms (reports,
          mailing labels, form letters, etc.).   Admittedly,  Pirouette  is
          not   unique   in   its   function.   However, we have endowed it
          with certain features  which  make  it  preferable  to  competing
          programs for most uses.
               Specifically,   we   designed   Pirouette   to  fulfill  the
          following four requirements:
               First, we wanted to make data entry as  swift  and  easy  as
          possible.   Data  input  is  the scourge of the computer age, and
          while there is currently no  way  to  eliminate  it,  it  can  be
          streamlined.   With  this  in  mind, we have incorporated several
          features which can cut your key entry by as much as one-third.
               Second,  we  wanted  to  allow  for   a   high   degree   of
          customization,  without  requiring any programming on the part of
          the user. Consequently, Pirouette gives the user a high degree of
          control over the appearance of input screens and printed output.
               Third, we wanted to let users create databases of  unlimited
          size.  Thus,  while  the  program  requires  640K of memory, this
          memory is used almost entirely by the PROGRAM, not the data. Data
          is loaded into memory only one record at  a  time,  so  any  file
          limitations  are  imposed  by  your  disk size, not your system's
          memory.
               Finally, we wanted to  give  the  user  "relational"  power.
          Relational database managers (as opposed to "flat file" managers)
          let   the   user   work  with  multiple,  interrelated  databases
          simultaneously.  The advantage of a relational database system is
          twofold: (a) it minimizes the amount of disk storage  space;  and
          (b) it minimizes key entry (where have we heard that before?).
               We  believe  that  Pirouette  has  achieved all these goals,
          while remaining relatively easy to use.  We hope you agree.


                                          -- DeMars & Tilley









               Pirouette  was  originally  shipped  on two 5.25" diskettes.
          The contents of each is as follows:


          Disk 1:
          -------
          READ.ME          This file.
          PIRO.EXE         The Pirouette program file.


          Disk 2:
          -------
          LICENSE.BAT      A batch file which prints the license agreement.
          MANUAL.BAT       A batch file which prints the Pirouette manual.

          LICENSE.TXT      The Pirouette license agreement.
          MANUAL*.TXT      Program documentation.

          *.DBF            Sample database files.
          *.DBT              "       "       "
          *.WDW              "       "       "

          *.SPC            Sample report specifications.

                                       *  *  *

               Be advised that Pirouette is fully protected  by  copyright.
          You  are  granted  a  temporary  license  to  use the product for
          EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY!  Read the license  agreement  contained
          in LICENSE.TXT!

                                       *  *  *

               All  document  files (*.TXT) have been formatted to print on
          8.5" x 11" paper, 10 characters per inch, with 1" margins on  all
          sides.