 Help v1.21       SideFile's SF.HLP          (DON'T SAVE OR CHANGE THIS FILE!) 
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Every line in this file must be exactly 79 characters long plus a carriage     
  return/line feed for a total of 81 characters per line.  Take care NOT to    
  save this file from SideFile as the line lengths will be cut at the last     
  character on a line (spaces are stripped).  This will CORRUPT the help file. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tinkerers may carefully load the file into another editor such as WordStar non-
  doc as long as they can be certain that each line stays at the proper length 
  for SideFile's random-access retrieval of the file.                          
Also, the numbers on some lines (such as 25, 50, 75, etc.) are a reminder of   
  what line SideFile expects a section to start.  The first section starts at  
  line number 25.  SideFile reads both numbers and the *.  They are there to   
  help the programmers, so don't add extra lines.  And don't make sections     
  longer than they are, because the extra lines will not be read!              
BONUS - With the menu off and while looking at a no-header file (such as this  
  one), press the Alt minus key (top of keyboard) and the message 'CAUTION: No-
  header fill ON' should be displayed at the top.  This switch should not be   
  used by novices.  SideFile will now fill any no-header file with spaces to 79
  characters, allowing you to edit the file.  Also, this switch is an excellent
  way to fix a corrupted file due to improper line lengths from another editor.
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23  ,21                                                                   *    
GENERAL HELP  (For command help, highlight the menu command and press <F1>)    
                                                                               
To access the menu, press a ^(Ctrl)-key like ^F for File commands, or  just    
press the / key.  Commands issued with ^keys only, such as ^R^I for  RECORD    
Insert, will make the menu go away when finished.  Else the menu is  sticky    
(will return afterwards).                                                      
                                                                               
When  a command is highlighted, press the <F1> key to learn more about  it.    
Any  command not allowed in the current operating mode or with the  current    
file type will say ' (n/a)'.                                                   
                                                                               
Pressing <esc> or / to leave the menu allows the / key to later restore  it    
exactly where you left it.  Press a key when ready to leave this command...    
                                                                               
FUNCTION KEYS  (Will call these commands when menu system is not active)       
               Normal                                 Alternate                
F1-HELP General   F2-FILE Save         AF1-FILE DOS        AF2-FILE Load       
F3-RECORD Insert  F4-RECORD Delete     AF3-RECORD Append   AF4-RECORD Undo     
F5-COLUMN Sort    F6-RECORD Show       AF5-COLUMN Width    AF6-VIEW List       
F7-SEARCH Find    F8-SEARCH Replace    AF7-SEARCH Next     AF8-SEARCH Cont.    
F9-RECORD Goto    F0-COLUMN Total      AF9-RECORD Last     AF0-FILE Quit       
                                                                               
46  ,21                                                                  *     
NAVIGATING HELP  -  These  keys  allow  movement  around  the  screen  and     
throughout the file.                                                           
                                                                               
 STab - go left one column (lt arw)    Tab  - go right one column (rt arw)     
^Home - go far left column            ^End  - go far right column              
 Up   - go up one row                  Down - go down one row                  
 PgUp - go up one page                 PgDn - go down one page                 
^PgUp - go beginning of file          ^PgDn - go end of file                   
^W    - scroll up one row             ^Z    - scroll down one row              
^Q    - go home (top/left block)      ^E    - erase screen and redraw          
                                                                               
A pictorial view:                                                              
                                                                               
 STAB    TAB       ^HOME       home       UP ARW     PGUP      ^PGUP           
(Lt 1)  (Rt 1)     (Far lt)   (edit cmd) (Up 1)     (Up 22)    (Top)           
                                                                               
                   ^LT ARW     LT ARW    |cursor|    RT ARW    ^RT ARW         
                   (edit cmd) (Lt 1)     | pad  |   (Rt 1)     (edit cmd)      
                                                                               
                   ^END        end        DN ARW     PGDN      ^PGDN           
                   (Far rt)   (edit cmd) (Dn 1)     (Dn 22)    (Btm)           
68  ,16                           *                                            
EDITING  HELP  - These  keys  allow                                            
editing  of  data  when  in a high-                                            
lighted edit block.                                                            
                                                                               
 Home  - go beginning of line                                                  
 End   - go end of line                                                        
^Left  - go previous word                                                      
^Right - go next word                                                          
 Left  - go left one character                                                 
 Right - go right one character                                                
 Del   - delete character at cursor                                            
 BSp   - delete character at left                                              
^D     - delete to end of line                                                 
 Ins   - toggle insert mode on/off                                             
 Enter - accept changes                                                        
 Esc   - cancel changes                                                        
85  ,16                                              *                         
HEADERS  HELP - ASCII files readable by  SideFile  are                         
either header files or no-header files.                                        
                                                                               
Header  files  - contain a standard SF  format  header                         
line  as explained in the documentation.  This  header                         
line  tells  SF the type field, it's length,  and  the                         
total  record length.  All commands are available  for                         
this normal type of SideFile file.                                             
                                                                               
No-header files - contain no header line.  An  example                         
would be your AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your boot diskette.                         
Many commands are not available with this type of file                         
(mainly  SF's column oriented commands), and SF  reads                         
and writes these files as a matter of convenience  for                         
you.   No-header  files must contain no  lines  longer                         
than 79 characters.                                                            
102 ,21                                                           *            
FIELDS  HELP  -  SideFile  allows  three  types  of  data   fields:            
character, date, and number.                                                   
                                                                               
Character fields - standard everyday fields containing letters  and            
numbers combined.  Max length is 65.                                           
                                                                               
Date fields - for dates of type YY-MM-DD or DD-MM-YY.  A period (.)            
can be defined instead of the dash (-) as the separation character.            
These fields must be exactly 9 in length, and are identified by a @            
in the header.                                                                 
                                                                               
Number fields - for numbers only, always displayed with two decimal            
places.   These  fields  must  be exactly 11  in  length,  and  are            
identified by a # in the header.                                               
                                                                               
Sample header line (first line in a SF formatted file):                        
                                                                               
Character          |Date   @|Number   #|                                       
Mastercard payment  87-04-30     300.56                                        
                                                                               
Keep in mind that SF files are always pure ASCII.                              
124 ,17                                                             *          
MODES HELP - SideFile operates in either MEMORY or DISK-based modes.           
                                                                               
MEMORY-based - all data is loaded and kept in memory while using  the          
file.   This makes for quick, easy access and manipulation  of  data.          
You  must  save this type of file prior to quitting SF, or  you  will          
lose  all  changes.  The only limiting factor with  MEMORY  files  is          
available  memory.  SF allocates over 40000 bytes for  MEMORY  files,          
more  than  enough for most needs.  Up to 1000  records  are  allowed          
(depending on record length).                                                  
                                                                               
DISK-based - random-access mode whereby the file is kept on disk  and          
only  active  records are pulled into memory as needed.   This  data-          
manager  conventional mode is not as quick or easy.  It is  certainly          
less  forgiving as changes are immediately written to disk.   However          
it quells the one limit of the MEMORY mode - size of the file -  with          
a  limit  of 30000 records.  Most column-oriented  commands  are  not          
available.                                                                     
142 ,18                                                             *          
REPORTING  HELP  -  These Kut and Axis  parameters  determine  report          
formats sent to the printer, screen, and disk files.                           
                                                                               
Kut / Axis                                                                     
v     v                                                                        
                                                                               
DATA FILES                                                                     
On  / X - one line only per record                                             
On  / Y - one line per field (use arrows to move through file)                 
On  / Z - records displayed in 'raw' format                                    
Off / X - one or more lines per record                                         
Off / Y - one line only per field                                              
Off / Z - records displayed in 'raw' format                                    
                                                                               
TEXT FILES                                                                     
---/- - all choices are in 'raw' format                                        
                                                                               
Field totals reported in X and Y axis modes for found records only.            
161 ,19                                                                  *     
DEFAULTS HELP  (Set these default switches prior to entering SideFile)         
                                                                               
The following switches may be put in the DOS environment or entered on the     
command  line  to  change  SF defaults.   Check  documentation  for  more.     
Command  line switches take precedence over environment settings and  must     
start with a /.       n = single digit number       (?) = original default     
Environment: SET SIDEFILE=AnBnn  -or-  Command line: SF DATAFILE /An/Bnn       
             SET SFHELP=D:\DIR                                                 
An   Axis type (0=X) 1=Y 2=Z           N    Normal date display on (off)       
Bnn  Bottom print margin 10-99 (54)    O    backward date display on (on)      
D    Disk-based filing on (off)        Rn   Reverse color 1-7 (m=7 c=3)        
F    Fast screen write on (off)        S    Sort file backup file off (on)     
Hnn  High color 09-15 (m=15 c=14)      Tn   Top print margin 1-9 (1)           
I    date spacer . (-)                 U    Unkut view mode on (off)           
J    date spacer - (-)                 V    Version only (testing only)        
K    Kut screen columns on (off)       W    Wait for print paper on (off)      
Ln   Low color 1-7 (m=7 c=6)           X    dir spec initially * (*.*)         
M    Memory-based filing on (on)       Z    menu initially off (on)            
Pn   Print rules (0=internal) 1=epson internal 2=external file SF.PRT          
181 ,22                                                                   *    
SIDETRAN HELP  (May be run from within SideFile with DOS command)              
                                                                               
In addition to SF's normal ASCII file format which will translate to almost    
any  program  (including  dBASE  II SDF format  and  1-2-3's  PRN  format),    
SideTran,  SF's  conversion utility, will translate SF files  to  and  from    
dBASE  II's file format and ASCII delimited-type file formats (also  usable    
by most programs).                                                             
                                                                               
dBASE II - ST translates character, number, and logical field types to  and    
from dBASE II to SF.  Logical fields are not used by SF but ST will ask  if    
you  wish one-length fields to be logical fields when converting  to  dBASE    
II.   Number  fields are respected, but should be 11 or less  in  width  in    
dBASE  II.  SF date fields are not used by dBASE II, but ST asks about  any    
nine-length  fields when converting back to SF.  Field names are  converted    
(spaces are filled with :). Keep SF's limits in mind when translating  from    
dBASE  II (1000 or 30000 records, min 2 - max 16 fields, max  field  length    
65, max record length 250, 2 or more fields, etc.).                            
                                                                               
ASCII  DELIMITED  -  similar  to ASCII transfer,  except  that  fields  are    
remembered in the conversion.  Simply define header data when converting to    
SF  (headers  are  not  kept).   ST  defaults  to  the  extension   [.TXT].    
Example:  'John','Doe', 5000.00 ,'Paid'                                        
204 ,21                                                                   *    
FILER HELP  (More help available on commands after loading/creating a file)    
                                                                               
Highlight  file with <Up/Down/PgUp/PgDn>, or enter filename in edit  block.    
To  view part of dir, enter dir spec [*.SF], which must contain a [*].   Do    
not  enter drives [A:] or dirs [\WORK] in dir spec.  Use <F3/F4> to  change    
drives/dirs,  and <F2> to change to initial drive/dir.  Max files shown  is    
100.   Files may be read/written to current drive/dir only (except  SAVEing    
where they will always be written to their home drive/dir).                    
                                                                               
Don't pick programs ending in  [.COM], [.EXE], [.DBF], etc, unless in  DOS.    
Pick MEMORY for smaller,  faster filing or DISK for larger, slower  filing.    
Moved files must go to another dir on same disk, like  FILE > \SUBDIR\FILE.    
Use SideTran to convert  dBase II [.DBF] and  ASCII delimited [.TXT] files.    
If coming from EDITOR (^F^F), can only use  F1-F9 on highlighted filenames.    
                                                                               
FUNCTION KEYS (ALT FKEYS)                                                      
 F1-Help (AF1-DOS or DOS commands)   F2-Change to initial drive/dir            
 F3-Change to new drive              F4-Change to new dir (subdirectory)       
 F5-See file (AF5-See WS file)       F6-Move file to dir on same disk          
 F7-Rename file                      F8-Delete file                            
 F9-Run DOS programs                 F0-Pick MEMORY/DISK mode (AF0-Quit SF)    
226 ,18                                                                 *      
FILE  Load  - Load an existing file from disk, or create a new  one.  The      
current file will be discarded if in MEMORY mode, so remember to save  it      
first.  You will be returned to the FILER, as with other filing commands.      
There is no way to undo the FILE Load command once you  decide to discard      
a file.                                                                        
                                                                               
Attempting  to   load  a non-existent file starts the 'create  new  file'      
process.   SideFile  will ask you for field  types, lengths,  and  names.      
After  file creation, you can change the file structure with the  various      
COLUMN  commands.  Remember to use the '@' or '#' symbols  instead  of  a      
number  for  the  field length when creating or  adding  date  or  number      
fields.                                                                        
                                                                               
Defining only one field creates a no-header file (a simple text file)  in      
which the maximum line length will be 79 characters.                           
                                                                               
Loading  an existing file prompts SideFile to check its limits -  maximum      
line length, minimum/maximum number of fields, etc.                            
245 ,21                                                                  *     
FILE  Save  - (MEMORY only)  Save the current file to  disk  and  continue     
operations.   Whenever  you  make substantial changes to  your  file,  you     
should  consider  saving  the  file by pressing the  <F2>  key.   This  is     
especially  important when you are about to issue a command  that    could     
change  the  data in your file considerably, such as  sorting  or  casing.     
This way, if you regret the change, simply reload the freshly saved file.      
                                                                               
The FILE Save command always saves to the originally loaded file name, the     
true working file shown in the FILE Type window.                               
                                                                               
FILE  Squeeze  - (DISK only)  Remove all blank records  from  the  current     
file.   This command acts like a file packer, and is useful  for  deleting     
those records previously blanked.  This command is performed automatically     
after using the FILE Write or COLUMN Sort commands on a DISK file.             
                                                                               
Remember that squeezing can take a while if your file is large.   SideFile     
will  check  to be sure there is enough space  remaining  on  the  current     
file's  home  disk to perform the FILE Squeeze operation.  There  must  be     
disk free space of at least the size of the current file or SideFile  will     
issue an error message.  As an example, to FILE Squeeze a 30K file,  there     
must be over 30K free space remaining on the disk.                             
267 ,15                                                                 *      
FILE  Write - Save the current file to disk as another SF formatted  file      
with a new name of your choice (may create a new file).                        
                                                                               
You may save the current file to any disk drive you have on line, and  to      
any  proper file name.  Be careful of the file name you choose,  however,      
because  FILE Write does not, repeat does NOT, check to see if  it  over-      
writing an existing file.                                                      
                                                                               
You  have three choices when writing a file with this command.   You  may      
save all of it, part of it by a FIND criteria, or part of it by a  record      
number range.  In any case, the current header will always be saved  with      
the file.                                                                      
                                                                               
This  command  is  SideFile's vehicle for splitting up large  DISK  files      
into smaller MEMORY files.                                                     
283 ,15                                                          *             
FILE Read - Read a SF file from disk, appending it to the  current             
file.   The file you choose to merge should  have the  exact  same             
field layout as the current file, or you will end up with a  mess.             
This  is  not  true,  however, with  no-header  text  files.   The             
commands  are similar to  those you get when first loading a  file             
into  SideFile.  You may join a file from any other disk that  you             
have on line.                                                                  
                                                                               
SideFile  will  check that the header line is the same  length  as             
that  of  the  current file, and then remove it  as  the  file  is             
appended.  If  you plan  to  make a large file with this  command,             
you  should enter  the current file in the DISK-based mode  first.             
                                                                               
This  is SideFile's vehicle for  combining  smaller  MEMORY  files             
into large DISK files.                                                         
299 ,23                                                                  *     
FILE  Print  - Print the current file to the printer in the  current  VIEW     
format.   You  can print all of the records or only records that   fit   a     
certain  FIND specification.   This  operates  just  like  the  VIEW  Find     
command.   The  records will also be printed with  the  same axis   format     
that is in affect for viewing,  listing,  etc.                                 
                                                                               
If  printing  to the  printer, continuous  feed  is assumed  and  required     
unless  you  have changed the defaults.  You may press <enter> to stop and     
restart  the printing  command.  If you press <esc>, the printing will  be     
stopped as soon  as your printer buffer clears.                                
                                                                               
SideFile  will first ask you for a 'title' for your  report.  If you  give     
one,  it  will  be centered at the top of the first page,  with  the  date     
right-aligned on the next line.  If the file is multi-field, and the  VIEW     
Kut switch is ON, and the VIEW X-axis view is active, the field names will     
be printed at the top of the report.                                           
                                                                               
All  number  fields will be totaled at the end of the  report.   The  same     
criteria used for field names will be used to determine if the totals  are     
to be printed at the bottom of the totaled column or separately at the end     
of  the  report.   Additionally, the length of  the  printed  record  with     
dividers  must be less than 75 characters for the totals to be printed  at     
the bottom of each number column.                                              
323 ,9                                    *                                    
FILE Image - Print the current file to disk                                    
in the exact same format as the FILE  Print                                    
command, except that print attributes  such                                    
as  bold face  and form feeds are  stripped                                    
from the report.  The file name  you choose                                    
will be over-written if it exists.                                             
                                                                               
You can include all or part of the file  by                                    
choosing record numbers or a FIND criteria.                                    
333 ,9                                               *                         
FILE  Filer  -  Returns you  to the FILER  to  perform                         
disk and built-in DOS procedures.  You can change  the                         
active disk drive and/or subdirectory here.                                    
                                                                               
While  in  the  FILER via  this  command,  you  cannot                         
press <enter> to do something with a file.  The  FILER                         
prompt  will read 'File to F1-F9', denoting  that  you                         
must press a function key for a disk-related  command.                         
Pressing <esc> will take you back to the EDITOR.                               
343 ,15                                                  *                     
FILE Type  -  Offers a quick file structure summary of the                     
current  file  in  use.   It  will  display  the   current                     
available (free) memory if in MEMORY mode or the available                     
(free) disk space on the file disk in DISK mode.  The free                     
memory can be useful to you if your file is getting large,                     
and you are taking steps to reduce its size.  Notice  that                     
the  free  memory will increase as you delete  records  or                     
size down columns with the COLUMN Width command, or delete                     
columns with the COLUMN Delete command.                                        
                                                                               
You   should  start  considering  a  DISK-based  load   if                     
available  memory  approaches zero bytes left.   Use  disk                     
free  space as an indicator of how big your file  can  be,                     
and  as  an input when deciding to SORT  or  SQUEEZE  your                     
file.                                                                          
359 ,20                                                              *         
FILE  DOS - Exit SideFile temporarily to DOS.  You are given a  choice         
of entering the command from within SideFile (which allows SideFile to         
return  immediately after the command is finished) or of going to  DOS         
to  enter   your commands.  SideFile will not quit, but  will  instead         
load  a copy of your command processor (COMMAND.COM) so that  you  may         
essentially  perform  DOS  commands or run  other  programs  while  in         
SideFile without having to quit and restart SideFile.                          
                                                                               
This  option's  effectiveness  depends on how  much  memory  you  have         
available.  If you have too little, DOS will tell you.  Also a copy of         
COMMAND.COM   must  be  available  on  your  SideFile  disk   in   the         
subdirectory in which you started SideFile.  If you are using DOS 3.x,         
then  COMMAND.COM  may be specified with the COMSPEC function  and  be         
located on another disk (see your DOS manual for an explanation of the         
COMSPEC  function).   If it is not found  (or  sometimes  if  you  are         
using an earlier DOS version), SideFile will issue an error message.           
                                                                               
Be  sure  you  do not run any programs  that  become  memory  resident         
(terminate and stay resident) from SideFile or from any other  program         
that allows this feature.                                                      
380 ,12                                                         *              
FILE  Quit  - Use this command to end the  SideFile  program  and              
return to DOS.  If you have made changes to your MEMORY file, you              
will be reminded of such and asked whether you still wish to quit              
SideFile.   If  you do not answer with 'Y', you  will  remain  in              
SideFile  with  your data in tact.  You may then issue  the  FILE              
Save  or  FILE Write command to save your data   first.   If  you              
answer  'Y', you will be returned to DOS and any changes made  to              
the file in use will be lost and not saved to disk.                            
                                                                               
If  you issue the FILE Quit command with no changes made to  your              
file or your file is DISK-based, you will be immediately returned              
to DOS without further prompting.                                              
393 ,15                                                   *                    
RECORD  Insert  - Insert a record at the  cursor  position.                    
This  works  similar  to  RECORD  Insert  except  that  the                    
inserted record will be blank.                                                 
                                                                               
In DISK mode, if you are not near the end of a large  file,                    
then  SideFile will ask you if you really wish to  do  this                    
instead of appending a record at the end of the file.  This                    
is because SideFile will have to rewrite every record  from                    
the addition point to the end of the file, which can take a                    
while with large, DISK files.                                                  
                                                                               
Also,  in MEMORY mode, if you have a column in  the  column                    
buffer,  SideFile will ask if you wish to clear the  buffer                    
as  a  safeguard  to  be sure you are  ready  to  lose  the                    
buffered data.                                                                 
409 ,17                                                     *                  
RECORD  Delete - Delete a record from the file, which may  be                  
later inserted into the file with the RECORD Insert  command.                  
This  is  only true for the last deletion made.   Any  column                  
deletions  or  additions  will automatically  flush  the  row                  
buffer.                                                                        
                                                                               
In  DISK mode, if you are not near the end of a  large  file,                  
then  SideFile  will ask you if you really wish  to  do  this                  
instead of appending a record at the end of the file. This is                  
because  SideFile will have to rewrite every record from  the                  
addition point to the end of the file, which can take a while                  
with large, DISK records.                                                      
                                                                               
Also,  in  MEMORY mode, if you have a column  in  the  column                  
buffer, SideFile will ask if you wish to clear the buffer  as                  
a  safeguard  to be sure you are ready to lose  the  buffered                  
data.  This command is not undoable in DISK mode.                              
427 ,12                                  *                                     
RECORD Append - Add a record to the  file.                                     
SideFile  will automatically skip  to  the                                     
end of the file for the addition.                                              
                                                                               
In  MEMORY mode, if you have a  column  in                                     
the  column buffer, SideFile will  ask  if                                     
you   wish  to  clear  the  buffer  as   a                                     
safeguard to be sure you are ready to lose                                     
the buffered data.                                                             
                                                                               
Consider   VIEW   Append   for   appending                                     
multiple records.                                                              
440 ,12                                               *                        
RECORD  Undo  -  (MEMORY only)  Insert  at  the  cursor                        
position  the  last  record  deleted  from  the  record                        
buffer.   If  no deletions have yet been  made  (record                        
buffer is empty), then nothing will be inserted.   Keep                        
in   mind  that  any  column  additions  or   deletions                        
automatically flush the record buffer.                                         
                                                                               
RECORD Blank - (DISK only)  Blank the record at  cursor                        
position (not undoable).  You can remove these  records                        
at anytime by using the FILE Squeeze command.  This has                        
been  done to prevent you from having to  rewrite  many                        
records to disk every time you make a deletion.                                
453 ,4                                *                                        
RECORD  Show - (headers only)   Display                                        
the  entire  current  record  in   view                                        
temporarily.   For  those  files   with                                        
records longer than screen length.                                             
458 ,4                                *                                        
RECORD Goto  - Go to a specified record                                        
number.   You can later use the  RECORD                                        
Last  command  to go  back  to  current                                        
record.                                                                        
463 ,4                                *                                        
RECORD Last  - Go to a previous  record                                        
number.   Use  this  command  after   a                                        
RECORD  Goto command to jump  back  and                                        
forth between two sections of the file.                                        
468 ,12                                                      *                 
COLUMN Insert - (MEMORY with headers only)  Add an empty  data                 
column  to  your file.  This works similar  to  COLUMN  Insert                 
except  that the added column will be blank.  You  cannot  use                 
this  command  if your file only has one column (a  text  file                 
with no header).                                                               
                                                                               
The largest size possible for a column being built in a multi-                 
column  file  from within SideFile is 65  characters.  If  you                 
continue  to build the new column, then all rows will  have  a                 
new column, of the size that you specify, added at the  cursor                 
position.  The combination of all columns can total a  maximum                 
of 250 characters.                                                             
481 ,17                                                                *       
COLUMN  Delete  -  (MEMORY with headers only)  Opposite  of  the  COLUMN       
Insert  command.   Whereas the COLUMN Insert command allows you  to  add       
columns to the file, this command will delete columns. All data that was       
in this column will also be deleted for every record.  But the data will       
all  be  deleted  to the column buffer for retrieval  later  should  you       
desire  to do so with the COLUMN Undo command.  There must be more  than       
two columns in your file already for this command to work (SideFile does       
not  allow one-column header files).  If you perform the  COLUMN  Delete       
command  in  its entirety by mistake, issue the COLUMN Undo  command  to       
retrieve the deleted data.                                                     
                                                                               
Keep  in  mind  that if you add, append, delete, or insert  a  row,  the       
column  buffer must be flushed first. So use this command  closely  with       
the COLUMN Undo command for moving columns, etc. only, unless you wanted       
a  permanent  deletion to begin with.  Also, if you add columns  with  a       
column  in  the  delete  buffer, later when you  try  to  retrieve  this       
buffered column, there may be insufficient memory to do so.                    
499 ,13                                                   *                    
COLUMN  Append - (MEMORY with headers only)  Add  an  empty                    
column  to the file.  This works similar to  COLUMN  Insert                    
except  that the added column will always be blank  and  at                    
the far right of the file.  You cannot use this command  if                    
your file only has one column.                                                 
                                                                               
The  largest  size possible for a column being built  in  a                    
multi-column  file from within SideFile is  65  characters.                    
If  you continue to build the new column, then all  records                    
will  have a new column of the size that you specify.   The                    
combination  of  all  columns can total a  maximum  of  250                    
characters. SideFile will automatically skip to beyond  the                    
last column for the addition.                                                  
513 ,8                                  *                                      
COLUMN Undo - (MEMORY with headers  only)                                      
Insert  the last deleted column from  the                                      
column buffer into the file at the cursor                                      
position.   If  there is nothing  in  the                                      
column buffer then nothing will happen.                                        
                                                                               
Keep  in mind that any row  additions  or                                      
deletions must flush the column buffer.                                        
522 ,23                                                                  *     
COLUMN  Sort  - Sort the file on a certain column.  This sort will  be  in     
ascending  alpha-anumeric  order.  You may only sort on one  column  at  a     
time.  But you can re-sort as often as you wish.  And you may sort on  any     
position  within  the  column itself, if the command  is  given  with  the     
function  key.   Note that your file is not 'indexed' as with  some  other     
programs, but each record is actually placed in the sort order.                
                                                                               
In  MEMORY mode, if you save your file after a sort, it will be  saved  in     
the  newly  sorted order.  If the file was unsorted prior to  issuing  the     
COLUMN  Sort  command, there is no way to completely undo  it  other  than     
reloading  the  file  from disk before saving it, unless  you  issued  the     
COLUMN Order command first.                                                    
                                                                               
In  DISK  mode, this command will sort the entire file on the  column  the     
cursor is on, just like MEMORY-based sorts.  There must be disk free space     
on  the disk that the current file came from equal to at least  two  times     
the  size  of the current file (the file to be sorted)  or  SideFile  will     
issue an error message.  As an example, to SORT a 40K file, there must  be     
over  80K of free space remaining on the disk (40K if /S option used).   A     
FILE Squeeze is automatic after a DISK sort. If your file is large and you     
are  using floppy media, the sort can take a while, although the  sort  is     
optimized with a 40K memory buffer for all disk operations.  The DISK sort     
is very nice on a RAMdisk.                                                     
546 ,20                                                                  *     
COLUMN  Width - (MEMORY with headers only)  Either enlarge or  shrink  the     
size  of  a  particular column in all of the records in  your  file.   You     
cannot use the COLUMN Width command if your file only has one column (text     
file).  Also remember that you cannot size a date or a number column.   If     
you  elect  to  reduce  the size of a column, you can  lose  data  in  the     
process.   The loss of data that is possible by shrinking a column is  not     
reversible except by re-loading the file before saving it.                     
                                                                               
You  will  hear  a small beep whenever you try to decrease  the  width  to     
remind you that any clipped data will be lost unless you elect to not save     
the  file.   SideFile does not keep hidden data as part of the  column  as     
some spreadsheet programs do.                                                  
                                                                               
The following keys work when in the COLUMN Width command:                      
                                                                               
 Left-Arrow - decrease column width by one character                           
 Right-Arrow - increase column width by one character                          
^Left-Arrow - decrease column width by five characters                         
^Right-Arrow - increase column width by five characters                        
 Esc - quit the COLUMN Width command                                           
567 ,11                                   *                                    
COLUMN  Name  -  (headers  only)   name  or                                    
rename  a column title.  Remember a  column                                    
name  can only have up to 1 character  less                                    
than  the field length (2 less  for  number                                    
and date columns). This means that there is                                    
no  room  for a name in a field  of  length                                    
one.   Instead  SideFile will assign  it  a                                    
fake letter name, similar to a spreadsheet,                                    
while  the  file  is in  use.   The  letter                                    
depends  upon what column number the  field                                    
actually is in.                                                                
579 ,16                                                            *           
COLUMN Order - (MEMORY with headers only)  Build a temporary  column           
filled  with numbers starting with 101.  The reason is as  its  name           
implies,  to  check the 'order' of your data at the  present  state.           
You  can  then issue a COLUMN Sort command  for  experimentation  or           
enhanced browsing with the confidence that all you have to do to get           
back to the original 'order' is to sort on the check column.                   
                                                                               
You  can have a many 'order' columns as you wish (within  SideFile's           
limits), but one is usually enough.  The name of the column will  be           
'ORD'. If you add a record after building this column, and then sort           
on the 'order' column, the added record will fall depending on  what           
you entered in its 'order' field.                                              
                                                                               
You  should  probably  erase the 'order'  column  before  your  last           
planned  FILE Save command, or the column will be saved  along  with           
the rest of the file.                                                          
596 ,9                                    *                                    
COLUMN  Case -  Change every letter in  the                                    
column  for every record to upper or  lower                                    
case.  You should consider saving your file                                    
before  using  this command in  the  MEMORY                                    
mode in case you don't like the results.                                       
                                                                               
This command can take a while in the  DISK-                                    
based   mode  as  every  record   must   be                                    
rewritten to disk during the operation.                                        
606 ,20                                                            *           
COLUMN Redate - This command will reverse date column options.   You           
should consider saving the file first.  With a large DISK file, this           
command could take  a  while. Basically, you have three choices:               
                                                                               
1.Reverse the date format for dates and the default shown in a  date           
edit  block.   This would be DD-MM-YY or  YY-MM-DD,  depending  upon           
whether  you have set the /N and/or the /O switch  as  configuration           
options.   After  changing all dates in the current field,  it  will           
then  switch the edit block cursor default to the new format.   This           
format will remain the same for all date columns.                              
                                                                               
2.Switch  the  date  edit block cursor default  only,  in  case  the           
default set is incorrect for the active file.                                  
                                                                               
3.Change  the date spacer used for dates.  The program default is  a           
dash  '-',  unless  changed with the /J switch.  This  command  will           
change the dash for a period '.' in both places of every date in the           
column.   This option has been added for those who wish to  do  date           
greater  than  or date less than searches.  The dash ends  up  as  a           
subtraction factor when trying to find specific date fields.                   
627 ,15                                      *                                 
COLUMN  Total - (headers only)  Total  all  of                                 
the  data in one number column in all  records                                 
in  your  file.   The  result,  if  between  -                                 
999999.99  and  9999999.99, will  be  properly                                 
displayed  as a two decimal result, like  that                                 
of  currency.  All previously  calc'd  columns                                 
that have visible totals on the screen will be                                 
totaled  at the beginning of the next to  last                                 
line on the display screen beginning with (=).                                 
All  totals  are  lost  whenever  the  display                                 
screen is refreshed.                                                           
                                                                               
In DISK mode, all records in the file will  be                                 
read  from  disk to obtain the  total  of  the                                 
field.                                                                         
643 ,5                             *                                           
COLUMN Kut - (headers only)   Toggle                                           
display of columns to multiple  (all                                           
columns)  or single (current  column                                           
only).   Can  speed  up  the  screen                                           
display for slow systems.                                                      
649 ,19                                                               *        
SEARCH  Find - Find data within the records of your file by field.   In        
other  words, the SEARCH Find command is field sensitive.  If you  tell        
it  to  look  for 'TO DO' in the first field, then  it  will  find  all        
records  containing 'TO DO' in the first field only.  This  command  is        
also  non-case  sensitive.  That is, if you search for 'to do'  or  'TO        
DO', you will find 'TO do', 'To Do', 'TO DO', 'to do', etc.  Note  that        
this is different than the SEARCH Replace command for obvious  reasons.        
If  you  answer with a blank edit block to either the first  or  second        
prompt, the SEARCH Find command will be canceled. Pressing <enter> will        
pause  the  display.  Press <enter> to start the scroll  again.   Press        
<esc> to stop the listing.                                                     
                                                                               
If  you  enter  '<', '=' or '>' as the first character  in  the  search        
block, then SideFile will use 'greater than', 'equal to' or 'less than'        
criteria  for  the find criteria.  It only makes sense to  put  numbers        
after  one of these characters.  This also works for the 'find'  option        
of the FILE Print and FILE Write commands.                                     
                                                                               
With SEARCH Find, the find starts at the current position in the file.         
669 ,6                            *                                            
SEARCH  Next - Use this command  to                                            
repeat   the   last   SEARCH   Find                                            
criteria, without having to specify                                            
it  again.  If the criteria is  not                                            
found then SideFile will end up  at                                            
the last row in the file.                                                      
676 ,6                               *                                         
SEARCH  Absolute - This command  works                                         
just  like  the  SEARCH  Find  command                                         
except  that  it will only  find  data                                         
that is an exact match.  It would  not                                         
find  'TO  DO' if asked for  'to  do',                                         
etc.                                                                           
683 ,14                                              *                         
SEARCH Replace - Replace data in the records by field.                         
In  other words, the SEARCH Replace command  is  field                         
sensitive.   If  you  wish  to  replace  'test'   with                         
'testing', it will only be done for records containing                         
'test ' in the field you specify.  The SEARCH  Replace                         
command  is  also  case sensitive.  That  is,  if  you                         
search for 'to do', you will not find 'TO DO', 'ToDo',                         
etc.   Also the replacement string is case  sensitive.                         
Note  that  this  is opposite  from  the  SEARCH  Find                         
command.                                                                       
                                                                               
With SEARCH Replace, the first possible change will be                         
made  (starting at the current position in  the  file)                         
and then the command will stop.                                                
698 ,5                                   *                                     
SEARCH Continue - This command works  just                                     
like  the  SEARCH Replace  command  except                                     
that it will continue the find and replace                                     
process  with  the last  defined  criteria                                     
from the current position in the file.                                         
705 ,8                                   *                                     
SEARCH Global - Use this command to repeat                                     
the  last SEARCH Replace condition to  the                                     
end  of  the file.  If  the  criteria  for                                     
replacement  is  not found  then  SideFile                                     
will  end up at the last row in the  file.                                     
Be careful here because SideFile does  not                                     
ask  if  you  wish to  continue  with  the                                     
global replacement.                                                            
713 ,8                                                             *           
VIEW List - This command lists records depending on the current VIEW           
format.  The VIEW format is dependent upon the VIEW Kut and VIEW  ?-           
axis  switches.   It  is important to note that  the  VIEW  switches           
affect  print/screen/disk  reporting.  Whenever you issue  the  FILE           
Print  or  FILE Image commands, the output will be exactly  as  seen           
with  the  VIEW List command.  So experiment with  different  switch           
settings  to determine how you wish your report to look.  VIEW  Find           
and VIEW Replace are also affected by these switches.                          
722 ,5                                              *                          
VIEW  Find - This command finds  text in the  current                          
VIEW format  for  all records.   SEARCH  Find is also                          
available.   This  command  is  field  sensitive  and                          
non-case sensitive.   Can  also do specific  totaling                          
by find criteria: all 'trip expenses' or '>100.00'.                            
728 ,6                          *                                              
VIEW   Replace  -  This   command                                              
replaces text in the current VIEW                                              
format  for all records.   SEARCH                                              
Replace is also available.   This                                              
command  is field  sensitive  and                                              
case sensitive.                                                                
735 ,12                                       *                                
VIEW  Append  - (headers  only)   This  command                                
appends multiple records to the file.  It works                                
similar  to RECORD Append except that  you  may                                
continue   to   append  many   records   in   a                                
traditional database format. In MEMORY mode, if                                
you  have  a  column  in  the  column   buffer,                                
SideFile  will ask you if you wish to have  the                                
buffer cleared first, as a safeguard to be sure                                
you are ready to lose the buffered data.                                       
                                                                               
This  command does not work if you are using  a                                
no-header file.                                                                
748 ,20                                                                  *     
VIEW  X-axis - This command will force the file to be displayed along  the     
x-axis  (left  to right) of the display screen when using  the  VIEW  List     
command.   All records are shown from left to right with dividers  between     
the fields.  If a record length is longer than the display, then  SideFile     
contracts each field in order to keep the record on one line.  If a  field     
is  contracted for viewing, you will be reminded by a  high-lighted  right     
arrow  at the end of that field.  This is SideFile's default startup  mode     
and it is great for browsing either short or long record files.                
                                                                               
You can switch to a more traditional approach in which the symmetry of the     
x-axis  is retained but all of each record is shown by using the VIEW  Kut     
command.   It affects the x-axis view mode discussed here when  using  the     
VIEW List command to look at multi-field files.  If your records are  less     
than the size of the display screen, then this view will look the same  as     
the one above.  But if a record length is longer than there is room for on     
the  display  screen, the following fields and dividers wrap to  the  next     
line of the screen.                                                            
                                                                               
Note that field names are not shown in the VIEW X-axis mode.  VIEW  X-axis     
(contracted or VIEW Kut ON) is the default axis upon starting SideFile.        
769 ,16                                                       *                
VIEW Y-axis - This command will force the file to be  displayed                
along  the y-axis (top to bottom) of the display  screen.   The                
VIEW  Y-axis  mode insures that you see all of the  data  in  a                
record  when  you look at it by displaying it  field  by  field                
underneath  one another.  The best way to understand  the  axis                
commands  is  through  experimentation.   Another  VIEW  ?-axis                
command may at times not show all of your data (VIEW X-axis  at                
times),  but  rest  assured it is all there.   You  may  always                
change back to the y-axis to prove that.                                       
                                                                               
If you select VIEW Kut ON while in the VIEW Y-axis mode with  a                
multi-field file, then records will be shown at the top of  the                
screen  one at a time.  Use the <arrow keys> to go  forward  or                
backward in the file.  <Esc> will halt the display.  This is  a                
traditional database display that can be very useful for  files                
with many fields.                                                              
786 ,8                                       *                                 
VIEW Z-axis - This command is very similar  to                                 
the  VIEW X-axis mode for multi-field  records                                 
and   the  VIEW  Y-axis  mode  for   one-field                                 
records,  except  that  there  are  no  record                                 
numbers shown.  Also, no dividers are added to                                 
the  multi-field view.  All of the  record  is                                 
always  shown  in this mode,  which  could  be                                 
considered the 'raw' display mode.                                             
795 ,17                                                      *                 
VIEW  Kut  - When viewing records in the default  VIEW  X-axis                 
(contracted  or VIEW Kut ON) view mode, records may  be  shown                 
only partially on the screen to keep every record on one line.                 
This is the default (which can be changed).  You can switch to                 
a  more traditional approach in which the symmetry of  the  x-                 
axis is retained but all of each record is shown by using  the                 
VIEW Kut command to switch to the x-axis (expanded or VIEW Kut                 
OFF) view mode.  If your records are less than the size of the                 
display screen, then this view will look the same as with VIEW                 
Kut ON.  But if the record length is longer than there is room                 
for  on the display screen, the following fields and  dividers                 
will wrap to the next line of the screen.  If you are in  VIEW                 
X-axis  view  mode with VIEW Kut ON using  multi-field  files,                 
then when you select VIEW List, records will be shown one at a                 
time  at  the top of the screen in a very  traditional  sense.                 
You  may then use the arrow keys to move forward and  backward                 
through the file.                                                              
813 ,4                      *                                                  
VIEW   Status  -   Use   this                                                  
command to display the status                                                  
of  the VIEW ?-axis and  VIEW                                                  
Kut switches.                                                                  
818 ,23                                  *                                     
MULTI-COLUMN EDIT BLOCK HELP - The follow-                                     
ing keys are active when in a multi-column                                     
edit block:                                                                    
                                                                               
 Home  - go beginning of edit block                                            
 End   - go end of edit block                                                  
 Left  - go left one character                                                 
 Right - go right one character                                                
^Left  - go left one word                                                      
^Right - go right one word                                                     
 Del   - delete character at cursor                                            
 Bsp   - delete character left of cursor                                       
^D     - delete to end of line                                                 
 Ins   - toggle insert mode                                                    
 Esc   - leave edit block with no change                                       
                                                                               
If 'remembered' data is in the edit block:                                     
pressing  <enter>  will accept  the  data;                                     
pressing <space bar> or <alpha> key  while                                     
at   column  one  will  erase  the   data;                                     
pressing  <right arrow>,  <^right  arrow>,                                     
<end>, or <ins> will allow editing of  the                                     
'remembered' data.                                                             
842 ,9                                   *                                     
SINGLE-COLUMN EDIT BLOCK HELP - When in an                                     
edit block that has only one column, press                                     
one  <alpha> key to answer  the  question.                                     
Normally, a default answer will be  shown,                                     
such as 'N'.  Pressing <enter> will accept                                     
this  default  as the answer.   To  choose                                     
another  answer,  press  the   appropriate                                     
<alpha>  key.   Pressing  <esc>   normally                                     
aborts the procedure.                                                          
852 ,22                                                                *       
CREATE NEW FILE HELP - If you answer 'Y', SideFile will help you  create       
a  new file.  You will need to supply the number of fields you wish  the       
file to have.  Then you must tell SideFile the types, lengths, and names       
of these fields.  SideFile will lead you through these questions.   Your       
answers can be changed later when in the EDITOR with SideFile's  various       
COLUMN-oriented commands.                                                      
                                                                               
Important:  If you wish to create a DATE field, remember to enter a  '@'       
instead of a number when asked for the field length.  It will default to       
9  in length.  Similarly, for a NUMBER field, enter a '#' instead  of  a       
number for the length.  It will default to 11 in length.                       
                                                                               
Next question:  To create a text file  (like a batch file or  note pad),       
enter '1' when asked for the 'number of fields',  and the file  will be        
immediately created.                                                           
                                                                               
If  you change your mind about creating a new file, simply press  <esc>.       
But, remember, you can always abort your new file later, so if in doubt,       
go ahead and create it.  We think you will enjoy it!                           
                                                                               
- Security Software.                                                           
                      Press a key to return to the previous question ...       
