7.7    Multi-Level "Metabases" - Infinite Data at a Click

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       POWERFUL FEATURE -

       BlueBook can run any DOS program from a record,
       INCLUDING ITSELF.  This means it is possible to have
       nested databases of databases ("metabases"), arranged
       along the same lines as a PC's sub-directories.
       Databases are still separately accessible.

       A two-level metabase can contain (theoretically) over a
       billion records (32000 x 32000), each with two-click
       access to any amount of data.  And there's no need to stop
       there....

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       To set up a metabase, just create a database and start
       adding records, one for each "dependent" database you wish
       to hang off it.  For each record, click Exec/Edit, and
       enter

               BlueBook

       in the program line.  In Parameters, enter the path and
       file name of the database you want opened when you "Run".
       Hit <Enter>, then click Locate -- the full program details
       should be entered for you.

       If you now click Run/type R, the current database will be
       closed and the "lower level" one opened; and when you exit
       that, the opposite will happen.  You will be returned to
       the database and record you left.

       Metabases can have as many levels as DOS resources permit.
       At 17k per "instance" (level) of BlueBook, that means
       DEEP.  In practise, however, you won't need more than two
       levels, or possibly three, just like directories.

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       TIP - You can also run BBZip.Bat instead of BlueBook, of
       course, so keeping databases in zip-compressed format.
       See below, section 7.8.
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       VERY IMPORTANT:

       If you keeping databases on removable media, read the
       warning about "Run" and removable media in section 7.1
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7.8    File/Document Management, and Compression-in-place

       BlueBook is designed to work closely with PKZip/PKUnZip
       (the standard data compression format on PC's) to save
       your disk space.  It can even provide a whole zipfile or
       document/data management system, in or out of Windows, and
       databases can themselves be stored zipped, for economy.

       If interested, see the file "Zipping.Doc".

7.9    Locking and unlocking databases

       If you wish to protect a database from accidental changes,
       or store it on CD-ROM, or on any other non-writeable medium,
       you will need to lock it.  You can easily unlock databases 
       again provided they are stored on a writeable device.

       To lock a database, run the program BBRESET with the database 
       drive+path+name, followed by a /L.  For example:

          BBRESET  C:\DBASES\CONTACTS  /L  <Enter>

       To unlock, replace /L with /U.  For example:

          BBRESET  C:\DBASES\CONTACTS  /U  <Enter>
                
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       Note:  The Export command will work with locked databases, 
       but ONLY if they are held on, or have been copied to, a 
       writeable drive.   (This is because the output file is put
       into the same directory as the database itself.)

       The same is true of File/Text/Make, for the same reason.
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