MCBase: the Music Collection dataBase system. Version: 2.4 Author: Harry Doldersum Weerselose straat 26 7623 DA BORNE The Netherlands, Europe. Phone: +31 (0) 74 266 8480 Fax: See phone. Standby on request. Host: See phone. Standby on request. Electronic mail adresses: CompuServe: 100270,2132 InterNet: 100270,2132@compuserve.com _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER MCBASE V2.x is SHAREWARE. Copyright (c) 1993, Harry Doldersum. This documentation is dated: March 1997. CONTENTS: 0. ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1. DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 2. WHAT IS MCBASE ?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 3. MCBASE REQUIREMENTS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 MCBase and your system's resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 What to do when MCBase V2.x is too demanding for your system? . . . .4 4. ABOUT MCBASE AND REGISTERING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Evaluation period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Evaluation limit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Register your copy of MCBASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 What happens if you choose to use MCBase without registering! . . . .6 MCBase license agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Important notes: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 MCBase disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 6. INSTALLING MCBASE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Installing MCBase from an archive file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Installing MCBase from the registered version disk. . . . . . . . . .9 Important remark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Configuring MCBASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Mouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Select methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Load configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Store configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 7. THE MUSIC COLLECTION DATABASE SYSTEM: HOW DOES IT WORK? . . . . . . 14 How are relations used within MCBase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Example: Adding a new album to the MCBase system. . . . . . . . . . 17 The "location code" and the MCBase system.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 8. USING THE MCBASE CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Using a dialog's controls & moving through a dialog . . . . . . . . 19 Dialogs and modal dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Multiple (edit) dialogs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Using scrollbars / scrolling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Using shortcuts & hotkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Using the memo editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Using a picklist-dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Using a find-dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 9. A TOUR THROUGH MCBASE'S MAIN MENU.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Accessing menu items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The "MCBase" pulldown menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 About... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Ascii table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Configuration settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Reindex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 DosShell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 The "Browse, edit & add" pulldown menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 general dialog functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Delete. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Information memo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Remarks memo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Previous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Next. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Select. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Add new . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Save. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Quit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Edit artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Edit album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Composer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Writer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit song. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Select producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Select category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The "Add..."-dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The "Browse..." dialogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The "Print" pulldown menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Report all.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 categories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 albums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 sorted by album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Summary for selected.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Summaries for all... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Page eject / FormFeed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 The "Editor" pulldown menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The "View handling" pulldown menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Cascade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Resize/move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Previous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Close. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Close All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 10. USING THE EDIT DIALOGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 While in an edit dialog's "Add new"-mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 While in an edit dialog's default "Edit"-mode . . . . . . . . . . . 31 11. USING THE BROWSE DIALOGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Browse for... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 by title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 by artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 by author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 by producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 by category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 by title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 by artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 by producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 12. USING THE PRINT OPTIONS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Report all.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 authors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 categories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 albums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 sorted by title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 sorted by artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 sorted by producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 sorted by title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 sorted by artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 sorted by author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 sorted by producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 sorted by album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Summary for selected.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Summaries for all... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 album summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 song summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 13. USING THE MCBASE TEXTFILE EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Available options and features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 New. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Save As. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Undo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Cut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Paste. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Clear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Find . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Replace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Repeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Show clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 14. THE MCBASE UTILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 GENMCB.EXE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 MCBCNVRT.EXE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 MCB_SAVE.BAT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 15. MAKING SAFETY BACKUPS OF YOUR DATA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Why bother making backups?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 How to create a standard backup.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Restore the database set from the standard backup.. . . . . . . . . 42 Using an archiver to create an archive file backup. . . . . . . . . 43 How to create an archive file backup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Restore the database set from the archive file backup.. . . . . . . 43 16. UN-INSTALL MCBASE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 17. ERROR MESSAGES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Known MCBase error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Reporting an error to the author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 18. INDEX.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Please note following: -a) All registration and ordering information may be found in the file ORDER.TXT, included with this package. - b) This document contains proprietary information which is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved and remain with the author. - c) The information contained herein, is subject to change without notice. All brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. 0. ASP OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT. Harry Doldersum is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP want to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at: ASP Ombudsman, 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 E-mail to: ASP Ombudsman at 70007.3536@compuserve.com 1. DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. 2. WHAT IS MCBASE ? MCBase is a relational database system that has been set up to assist in managing music collections, regardless of the media on which the music is recorded. MCBase is using 100% dBase III(+) compatible .DBF- & .DBT-files, the industry's standard, to process your data. This means that your data is stored in a transparent manner and always transferable to other applica tions. The primary target that MCBase is aiming at, is to generate alphabetic lists of all material present in the collection. The user can keep these lists near to his stereo, to serve as a handy and quick reference guide to quickly find specific items in his music collection. (This information can also be viewed onscreen, of course). The idea behind MCBase is, that nobody will start his computer system, just to find out where that darn Elvis Presley song is located. He will start a search instead: '... thought it was on the "Moody Blue"-album, but it isn't there. Maybe on the "Almost in Love"-album ?' A list with alphabetic songtitles, sorted on artistname, can be a relief at these times, and MCBase is now here to generate these lists (and many more) for you. All you have to do: Feed the system with the information about your music collection! P.s. : If you have another file in which the information on your collec tion already is gathered, and you would like to transfer it to the MCBase system, contact us. It's very lightly that we can work out a conversion-program (note: registration will be required). 3. MCBASE REQUIREMENTS. The version of MCBase, distributed as the shareware package, is suitable for XT-compatible computers and up. With your registration however, you will receive all the three currently available versions, which are: - XT compatibles Ment to be used on XT compatible computers. Requires 8086-processor (or higher), about 590kb conventional memory and MS-DOS version 3.x or later. - AT compatibles Ment to be used on AT compatible computers that have less than 2Mb EMS/XMS memory available. Requires 80286-processor (or higher), about 590kb conventional memory and MS-DOS version 3.x or later. - Protected Mode Ment to be used on AT compatible computers that have at least 2Mb EMS/XMS memory available. Requires 80286-processor (or higher), 2Mb EMS/XMS memory (or more) and MS- DOS version 3.x or later. Your memory manager needs to be FULLY compatible with HIMEM.SYS as delivered with MS-DOS. Note: "Protected Mode" is sometimes also referred to as "DPMI", which stands for "Dos Protected Mode Interface". You will be able to select the version that suits your hardware best. Expanded Memory Standard (EMS) and Extended Memory Standard (XMS) are both supported. VERY IMPORTANT: YOU WILL NEED TO SET THE FILES-VARIABLE, IN YOUR CONFIG.SYS-FILE, TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM VALUE OF 40, AS IN "FILES=40", OR HIGHER(!). (See your DOS-manual for further instructions on this topic). WINDOWS USERS SHOULD CONSIDER A SETTING OF "FILES=60" OR HIGHER! The size of the MCBase databases should only be limited by the available free space on your harddrive (and the available amount of conventional memory, where non-protected mode systems are concerned). Remark: At startup, MCBase checks to see if the configuration file MCBASE.CFG is present, with (among other things) the appropriate printer commandset. Select menu options "MCBase" - "Configuration" - "Printer" to perform printer configuration. (Printer configuring is discribed in section "INSTALLING MCBASE" - "Configuring MCBase" - "Printer" of this manual). MCBase and your system's resources. The performance of MCBase is depending very heavily on your system's resources. Actually, although the MCBase database system is able to run succesfully on XT-compatibles, we recommend to use a computer system that is able to use the protected mode version. Please also note following: - A) For non-protected mode systems, conventional memory is ESSENTIAL: the more you have available, the better. As the databases grow, the application will need more conventional memory to initialize all objects, databases and picklist-dialogs. - B) Apart from the above, overall processor and harddisk speed should be considered essential for MCBase's performance: the faster, the better! Some of MCBase's functions use a "filter" to gather the information needed from the database system: the performance of these "filter"-functions is completely depending on the performance of both processor and harddisk. What to do when MCBase V2.x is too demanding for your system? While MCBase version 2.x is defenitely able to function on all true compatible XT and AT systems, you might find that, depending on your system's hardware & speed, MCBase V2.x is functioning too slow on your computer system. This is due to both the newer method of programming, used for MCBase V2.x (which is a concept known as "Event driven"), as to the increased amount of relations to be handled in V2.x (which results in more accesses of the harddisk: the slower your disk, the slower MCBase V2.x will perform). If you find that MCBase V2.x is working too slow on your system, we would like to you to know, that the previous MCBase version, V1.x, is quite a bit less demanding on your system's resources and therefor might be more interesting for you! If this is the case, please request the shareware copy at our address, mentioned on the coverpage of this document. We will send you the latest MCBase V1.x shareware copy, free of charge. Registration prices for version 1.x can be found in the version 1.x documentation, which will be included on the disk, as textfiles. 4. ABOUT MCBASE AND REGISTERING. (For registration and order information, see the file ORDER.TXT, included with this package). The copy of MCBase, marked "SHAREWARE version", it is NOT free software! Evaluation period: You may EVALUATE this copy of the MCBase database system for a period of 30 days (OR until you've reached the EVALUATION LIMIT for a database, which ever comes first), to determine if it meets your needs. After this trial period you must register your copy (by purchasing a registration key) at one of the given addresses (see the MCBase order forms in the file ORDER.TXT) OR STOP using this software. Evaluation limit: While in it's shareware status, MCBase is limiting itself to accomodate (roughly) 30 albums. We are assuming that when you have entered these 30 albums (or whatever database that might be the first to reach it's shareware evaluation limit), you're BEYOND the point of an EVALUATION USAGE. The shareware status is terminated IMMEDIATELY after adding the registration key to the MCBase database directory. == > SEE SECTION "MCBASE LICENSE AGREEMENT" FOR FURTHER INFO. <== Register your copy of MCBASE REGISTERING MCBase (purchasing a registration key) allows you to use the product after the evaluation period. Apart from that: - 1) You will receive the mentioned registration key, that will remove the shareware evaluation limit on the database system. Also, the registration key will enable you to upgrade FOR FREE to any other MCBase V2.x update! Just copy any new V2.x MCBASE.EXE-file over the old one, that's all. The newly obtained (shareware) version will recognize your registration key and will turn itself into a REGISTERED MCBase version. Further information on the registration key and how to use it, will be included with your registration key. - 2) You will receive the most recent version of MCBase on disk in 3 versions: XT-, AT- and protected mode versions. A manual is included on disk as a textfile. Software for MCBase V1.x database conversion will also be included. - 3) You will also receive notification of major MCBase updates and you will be able to obtain those updates with a 25% DISCOUNT off the normal registration price. (Payable = Registration price - Upgrade Discount + S & H costs). Minor updates can be obtained for Shipping & Handling costs only or for free from the MCBase software download pages on our InterNet website at: http:\\ourworld.compuserve.com\homepages\Harry_Doldersum\mcbhome.htm - 4) You have priority when questions might occur. Product support is available (through the use of postal mail, e-mail or fax) for an unlimited period of time. - 5) Registered MCBase users know they are helping to keep SHAREWARE "low cost / good quality"-software alive. NOTE: You can register using one of the orderforms within our ORDER.TXT file OR you can use an online registration service. All the required information about placing your ORDER can be found in the ORDER.TXT file. What happens if you choose to use MCBase without registering! As an unregistered shareware version, MCBase has evaluation limits on the maximum amount of processable items. As an example: the Album database is limited to 30 entries (See "evaluation limit"). Now, if you do NOT register MCBase and you enter MORE than this maximum amount of albums, you will be notified that your evaluation period has expired and that you are requested to register, if you wish to continue using MCBase. If you would ignore this request and would continue entering data, the editing functions (as several others) will soon be disabled. The reason for doing so is following: This package is SHAREWARE. IT IS NOT FREEWARE! MCBase license agreement. MCBASE IS NOT FREE SOFTWARE. The MCBase registration key, is STRICTLY PERSONAL and may not be duplicated other than for backup purposes on your personal behalf, as it turns the shareware version of MCBase V2.x into a registered version. By registering your copy of MCBase you do NOT become the owner of this software package, but you are granted the fully supported use of the MCBase database system. The MCBase software package will remain the total property of the author, Harry Doldersum, under all circumstances. Users are granted a limited license to use the SHAREWARE version of MCBase for a limited evaluation period (See "Evaluation period") in order to determine if the produkt meets their needs. Any other use of MCBase or use past this period requires registration. (PLEASE NOTE THAT CONTINUED USE AFTER THE EVALUATION PERIOD WITHOUT VALID REGISTRATION IS A VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT LAWS). All users are granted a limited license (and are encouraged) to copy the shareware version (NOT the registered version: DO NOT SHARE YOUR REGISTRATION KEY: SHARING YOUR REGISTRATION KEY IS A VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT LAWS) of MCBase only for the purpose of allowing others to try it, subject to the above restrictions as well as these: MCBase must be distributed in absolutely unmodified form, including all program, documentation and other files as found in the original MCBxxx.ZIP (xxx = version number) archive file. If you MUST repack the ZIP-archive then please make sure you include all files as found in the original archive. MCBase may not be included with any other product for any reason whatsoever without a written license from the author in person or his legal respresentative in these matters. No payment may be charged for the shareware version of MCBase, other than a fee to cover copying expences. Bulletin Board system operators may post the unregistered SHAREWARE version of MCBase on their BBS for downloading by their users WITHOUT written permission of the author (= Harry Doldersum) ONLY if the above mentioned conditions are met, and only if no special fee is necessary to access the MCBase archive file. Distributors of SHAREWARE and Public Domain software, MUST obtain written permission from the author (Harry Doldersum) before distributing MCBase and must follow the above mentioned conditions (EXCLUSIONS: PLEASE SEE "IMPORTANT NOTES" BELOW). Permission is almost always granted; this requirement is necessary to ensure protection for ourselves and MCBase users from unscrupulous individuals. Important notes: -1) You may not advertize MCBase as free software, but as SHAREWARE only! Please explain the shareware concept to prospective buyers. -2) Distributors, who are a member of the "Association of Shareware Professionals" (or those who follow the ASP's guidelines), do NOT need our written permission for distribution. -3) ALL distributors and/or BBS-systems must seize distributing MCBase within one month of written request by the author. For further information on distribution topics, see the file VENDINFO.DIZ: ANY distribution satisfying all the distribution requirements expressed in that data record is hereby authorized. MCBase disclaimer The author makes NO warranty of ANY kind, either express or implied. In NO event shall the author be liable for ANY damages or loss arising out of the use or inability to use this software, even if the author has been advised about the possibility of such damages or loss. The above includes (but is not limited to) ANY legal fees or costs. Without any limitation to the above: ANY dispute whatsoever (over any topic whatsoever) will be subject to binding arbitration by a Dutch Court of Law within the Netherlands. By using and/or handling this software, you agree to all terms mentioned in this document. 6. INSTALLING MCBASE. There are various ways in which you could have obtained a shareware copy of MCBase: from a disk vendor, a CDROM, a BBS or a network system. These shareware versions will be delivered to you mostly in an archive file. A registered version (with a valid registration key) will always come directly from us (or from an authorized reseller), on disk. Therefor, we shall discuss two methods of installation: from an archive file (= shareware version) and from a disk (= registered version). Installing MCBase from an archive file. IMPORTANT NOTE: this section discribes the installation of MCBase from the original "ZIP"-type archive file. It is very lightly that the various BBS sysops will convert this original archive file to a format that is standard on their system. Two other common archivers, that you might encounter, are ARJ (by Robert K. Jung) with the filetype "ARJ" and LHA (by Haruyasu Yoshizaki) with the filetype "LZH". Normally, you will have received the shareware version of MCBase as the archive file MCBxxx.ZIP (xxx = version number). If you did NOT receive MCBase as this archive file, then please make sure, you have at least the following files after extraction of the archive: MCBASE.EXE - MCBase executable file, for XT-compatibles and up. MCB_MAN.TXT - MCBase documentation file (as an ASCII-text file). ORDER.TXT - MCBase order forms. LICENSE.TXT - MCBase license agreement. REVISION.TXT - MCBase revision history. GENMCB.EXE - Utility to create a new (and empty) set of database files. INSTALL.TXT - MCBase installation guide, shareware version. README.1ST - IMPORTANT MESSAGE ON CONFIG.SYS'S "FILES=xx". FILE_ID.DIZ - Description file. VENDINFO.DIZ - Description file, according to VENDINFO standard. The following files (a demonstration database set) should also be included: MCB1.DBF MCB2.DBF MCB3.DBF MCB1.DBT MCB2.DBT MCB3.DBT MCB4.DBF MCB5.DBF MCB6.DBF MCB4.DBT MCB5.DBT MCB6.DBT (Your copy could be incomplete and you might get the wrong idea about the performance and documentation of the MCBase system). You will need PKWare's PKUNZIP.EXE to extract the archive. Use the following command to extract all files: PKUNZIP MCBxxx.ZIP In case of an ARJ-file format, use: ARJ x MCBxxx.ARJ In case of an LZH-file format, use: LHA e MCBxxx.LZH Installing MCBase on your system should not be very difficult, if you follow these steps: - 1) Copy the original MCBxxx.ZIP archive file to a floppy disk and store it in a safe place. - 2) Note: Among the extracted files, should be a demonstration database set. In case you don't want to use the demonstration database (anymore), execute GENMCB.EXE to generate a new set of datafiles. DELETE GENMCB.EXE after use! It generates NEW and EMPTY databases, so you wouldn't want to use it after you've been entering your own data. (You can retrieve another copy of GENMCB.EXE from the previously stored copy of the MCBxxx.ZIP archive file, should you need it). - 3) Create a new directory for the MCBase system, place the archive file in it and extract all files. - 4) Start your wordprocessor, import the ASCII-document MCB_MAN.TXT and print it. - 5) Run MCBase. If missing (which they should), the program will now create the neccesary index files (MCBxKEYx.NDX) and the configuration file MCBASE.CFG. Note: If an MCBASE.CFG configuration file was INCLUDED in the copy of the MCBxxx.ZIP archive file that you received, then delete this MCBASE.CFG prior to execute MCBASE.EXE. If the contents of this particular MCBASE.CFG configuration file does NOT match YOUR system's configuration, MCBase may not be able to complete initialisation. Also, if your copy of the archive INCLUDED the index files (MCBxKEYx.NDX), you should execute function "Reindex", in order to make sure that these indexes are valid. Again: The MCBASE.CFG file and the index files (MCBxKEYx.NDX) should NOT be included in the archive: these precautions, as written above, might save you considerable frustration. - 6) Access the dialog "Printer settings" (using the menu items: "MCBase - Configuration - Printer". Consult your printer manual for the correct commandset and see section "Configuring MCBase", topic "Printer" for assistance on printer configuration. After these steps you'll be ready to run the shareware version of the MCBase Music Collection DataBase system. Installing MCBase from the registered version disk. You received your registered version of MCBase on a disk on which all neccessary files are present. When updating from the shareware version to the registered version, you may simply add the registration key to your current copy of MCBase. Adding this key is sufficient to change any shareware version into a fully registered version of MCBase. Otherwise, in case you would like to upgrade your current version of MCBASE.EXE to a newer or more powerful version, or if you are (re)installing MCBase from scratch, please follow this procedure (consult your operating system's manual for any additional instructions and/or information): - 1) Switch your system to any appropriate disk drive and insert the MCBase program disk in this drive. (For your information: if you have selected drive "A:", your operating system's prompt will now read "A:\>" or similar). - 2) Start the installation program, by executing the command "INSTALL": A:\>INSTALL [enter] Please follow the instructions onscreen and continue with the instructions as found below, from "When the above steps are completed...". Some background information: what happens, during this installation procedure, is that you select the appropriate MCBase-version for your system (MCBase is available for XT, AT and protected mode or higher) and that the appropriate files are placed in the MCBase-directory. Important remark: If your computer system is equipped with a 80286 (or higher) processor and you have 2Mb memory available (or more), you should install the "protected mode" version: this version will give you the maximum performance of both MCBase and your computer's resources! The files are all stored in archive files (except INSTALL.EXE and LHA.EXE). The following are the available archives and their contents: MCB_XT.LZH - MCBase executable for XT-compatibles. MCB_AT.LZH - MCBase executable for AT-compatibles, that are NOT able to support protected mode (see "MCBase requirements"). MCB_X86.LZH - MCBase executable (and support files) for protected mode systems (see "MCBase requirements"). MCB_UTIL.LZH- GENMCB.EXE: Utility to generate new database set. MCBCNVRT.EXE: Utility to convert MCBase V1.x databases to MCBase V2.x. MCB_DEMO.LZH- Demonstration database set. MCB_DOCS.LZH- LICENSE.TXT: License agreement. MCB_MAN.TXT: Documentation file (ASCII text). ORDER.TXT: Registration and order information. REVISION.TXT: MCBase revision history. MCB_WP5.LZH - MCB_MAN.DOC: Documentation file (WP5 format). ORDER.DOC Registration and order information (WP5 format). REVISION.DOC: MCBase revision history. (WP5 format). LHA213E.EXE- LHA archiver, version 213e. A freeware archiver, by Haruyasu Yoshizaki (Yoshi). Included for convenience: you will need an archiver to use with your backup-procedures. This is a self- extracting archive: it will extract itself upon execution. (Perhaps you should place this self extracting archive in it's own directory, before executing it). All documentation concerning LHA is included in this archive. Please note: The contents of the file MCB_WP5.LZH is NOT installed by the installation program, since the ASCII versions are already installed there. But if you have the WordPerfect word processor (or a word processor that is able to import WordPerfect V5 files) you may prefer to print this formatted versions of the MCBase documentation files. Extract the files with the command: lha e mcb_wp5 c:\mcbase\ (Use this command as described in section 15, "Restore...from the archive file backup"). If you choose NOT to use the INSTALL program, because you PREFER (or NEED) to install your registered copy of MCBase by hand: - A) Copy all archive files you need for your implementation (see below), to your MCBase-directory. - For XT compatibles, you will need the MCB_XT.LZH archive. - For non-protected mode AT compatibles (less then 2Mb memory), you will need the MCB_AT.LZH archive. - For protected mode AT compatibles (2Mb memory and 80286 processor or higher), you will need the MCB_X86.LZH archive. - If you WISH to use the demonstration database set, copy the MCB_DEMO.LZH archive file now. Note: MAKE SURE that you do NOT overwrite your existing MCBase V2.x database set (if available). - Also copy the remaining (so far unmentioned) archives and the LHA.EXE executable to your MCBase-directory. Now store your registered version disk in a safe place. - B) Go to the MCBase-directory and extract all archives, using following command: LHA e MCB*.LZH. This command will extract all archive files at once. (Otherwise, use this command: LHA e [filename.ext]). - C) Delete the extracted archives from your MCBase-directory, since they will not be needed any further. - D) Rename the MCBase executable of your choice (either MCB_XT.EXE, MCB_AT.EXE or MCB_X86.EXE) to MCBASE.EXE. When the above steps are completed, continue with these: - 1) Start your wordprocessor, import the ASCII-document MCB_MAN.TXT and print it. If you prefer, you might extract the MCB_WP5.LZH archive (using the above mentioned instructions) and print the formatted version of our documentation. - 2) Run MCBase. If missing, the program will now create the neccesary index files (MCBxKEYx.NDX) and the configuration file MCBASE.CFG. - 3) Access the dialog "Printer settings" (using the menu items: "MCBase - Configuration - Printer" to install your printer's commandset. Consult your printer manual for the correct commandset and see section "Configuring MCBase", topic "Printer" for assistance on printer configuration. After these steps you'll be ready to run your registered version of the MCBase Music Collection dataBase system. Configuring MCBASE. After installation, MCBase will be using the standard configuration, as stored in the MCBASE.CFG configuration file. If a new configuration file has been generated, please check and add the information needed for your system and requirements. Remark: In case a NEW configuration file is created, make sure you check AT LEAST the configuration dialog "Printer", for the printer settings. There is a "Defaults"-button available in this dialog: pressing it will install the configuration settings for standard EPSON printers (and compatibles). Then press the "Use"-button (to store the current settings in memory and select "Store Configuration" (Shift-F4) to store the current settings to the MCBASE.CFG configuration file. The configuration options can be found under item "Configuration settings" under the main menu item "MCBase", found on the menu bar. (Please see also section "USING THE MCBASE CONTROLS" for additional information on how to use the options and controls in these configuration dialogs) The available configuration options are following: - Colors is a dialog in which you can alter the colors, used by the MCBase system. Use: - A) Select a group to modify - B) Select an item from the group - C) Select your new fore- and background colors (an example, with the result of your selections, is presented in the lower right-corner of this dialog). - D) Press the "Ok"-button to accept the new settings or press the "Cancel"-button to discard them. In order to make any of the changes you made to the default colors permanent, you should select "Store configuration" when you're finished. - Mouse is a dialog in which you can alter your mouse's default behaviour. Use: - A) You may adjust the desired "double click"-speed with the scrollbar and/or reverse the mouse's button functions by checking the checkbox. - B) Press the "Ok"-button to accept the new settings or press the "Cancel"-button to discard them. In order to make any of the changes you made to the default behaviour permanent, you should select "Store configuration" when you're finished. - Select methods is a dialog in which you can set your preferences on the selection methods to be used on the various databases. Use: - A) Check the top checkbox in this dialog, if you would prefer to use uppercase characters only in the picklist dialogs. - B) Check the checkboxes under "Normal selection methods" (i.e.: selection methods used wile using the printjobs and editing the databases) for each database where you would prefer to use a find-dialog instead of the standard picklist dialog. - C) Check the checkboxes under ""Browse" selection methods" (i.e.: selection methods used for the various "Browse..." options) for each database where you would prefer to use a find-dialog instead of the standard picklist dialog. - D) Press the "Use"-button to accept the new settings, the "Defaults"-button to restore the default (= MCBase's standard internal values) settings or press the "Cancel"-button to discard the modified settings and keep the previous settings. The selected settings will be valid for the duration of the current session only. In order to make any of these preferences permanent, you should select "Store configuration" when you're finished. - Printer is a dialog in which you can set the required initialisation strings for your type of printer. Use: - A) Enter a "Setup" command (not required) which should be sent to your printer, prior to every printjob. - B) Enter the "Left margin" command (required), that will set your printer to the preferred left margin. - C) Enter the "Page length" in inches (required). This values format is in decimal inches (as in: ##.#). - D) Enter the "Top margin" in inches (required). This values format is in decimal inches (as in: #.#). - E) Enter the "Bottom margin" in inches (required). This values format is in decimal inches (as in: #.#). - F) Enter the "Condensed" command (required), that will switch your printer to condensed printing. - G) Enter the "8 lines/inch" command (not required), that will switch your printer to 8 lines/inch printing mode. - H) Enter the "Total reset" command (required), that will switch your printer back to it's default mode. This command is sent to your printer after each printjob. - I) check either one (or both) of the checkboxes for formfeed control. The first will send a formfeed to your printer at the end of each page, while the second will send a formfeed at the end of the printjob only. - J) Press the "Use"-button to accept the new settings, the "Defaults"-button to restore the default settings (for EPSON and compatibles) or press the "Cancel"-button to discard the modified settings and keep the previous settings. When you press the "Use"-button in this dialog, the syntax and format of the various entries are validated, to prevent problems. Should there be an error, then you will be notified by a messagebox. Select "Store configuration" to make the current settings perma- nent. Otherwise, the current settings will be used for the duration of the current session only. - Video is a toggle to switch from 25 line to 50 line video mode. This feature requires the EGA/VGA video standards a minimum. If your system does not support the EGA or VGA video standard, you will not be able to use this function. If you are in doubt if your system supports EGA/VGA, simply select the "Video" menu option: if EGA/VGA support is not available, you will be notified about it. Select "Store configuration" to make the current setting permanent. Otherwise, the current setting will be used for the duration of the current session only. - Load configuration resets MCBase to the configuration settings as most recently stored in the MCBASE.CFG configuration file. If you had any windows or non-database dialogs open on the desktop when you were storing it, you will find these items open again. (Note: The contents of the editor windows can only be restored on the desktop, when they were previously stored in a file). - Store configuration stores the current status of the desktop and the configuration settings in the MCBASE.CFG configuration file. If you have any windows or non-database dialogs open on the desktop when you select this option, then these items also will be stored in the configuration file. The very next time you will start MCBase (or when you select "Load desktop") you will find these items already opened on your desktop. (The contents of the editor windows can only be restored, when they were previously stored in a file). 7. THE MUSIC COLLECTION DATABASE SYSTEM: HOW DOES IT WORK? The MCBase system is built on 6 sets of database files (.DBF-files for the actual records and .DBT-files for the memo's belonging to these records), each with a supporting set of indexfiles, by which the information in the databases is accessed. How are relations used within MCBase. MCBase is a relational database system. What does that mean? Well, instead of entering an certain artistname (or whatever other relation you may need) for a number of times (once for each song, as you would have to do in a flat-file database system), you will now need to enter such an artistname ONLY ONCE! After you have entered it ONCE, all you have to do to relate a songrecord to this artist (or album, author, producer, category) is following: select the relation you need, by using a Picklist- or Find- dialog, so that it is inserted (by the system) into the song's database record. Each time that a song's database record is retrieved, all related information (as artist, album, author(s), producer and category) is retrieved at the same time, giving you full access to all required information at once. The following is a short description of how the database files are organized and how they all are related to each other. Remark: The ID-codes, mentioned in this section, are NOT VISIBLE within the MCBase-software. If a relation is selected to be used in a certain record, then this record itself, as stored in the database, will carry the selected relation's ID-code, but YOU will SEE only the DESCRIPTION of the selected relation, as it is stored in it's own database. The first set of files are MCB1.DBF & MCB1.DBT, which hold the following artist-information: - 1) Artist name. - 2) Period in which the artist is (was) active. - 3) Artist ID-code, to be used as a reference by the related databases. - 4) Artist information memo ("ARTINFMEM"), in which specific information about the current artist can be placed. - 5) Artist remarks memo ("ARTREMMEM"), in which your own opinion or remarks about the current artist can be placed. The second set of files are MCB2.DBF & MCB2.DBT, which hold the following album-information: - 1) Album title. - 2) Artist ID-code, which points to the related artist-record in the files MCB1.DBF & MCB1.DBT. - 3) Producer ID-code, which points to the related producer-record in the files MCB4.DBF & MCB4.DBT. - 4) Period in which the album was released. - 5) Album ID-code, to be used as a reference by the related databases. - 6) Album information memo ("ALBINFMEM"), in which specific information about the current album can be placed. - 7) Album remarks memo ("ALBREMMEM"), in which your own opinion or remarks about the current album can be placed. The third set of files are MCB3.DBF & MCB3.DBT, which hold the following author-information: - 1) Author name - 2) Period in which the author is (was) active. - 3) "Composer" field. If this field contains no value, then this author is NOT a composer. - 4) "Writer" field. If this field contains no value, then this author is NOT a writer. These two fields enable you to state (for yourself) if this author is (mainly) a composer, a writer or both. - 5) Author ID-Code, to be used as a reference by the related databases. - 6) Author information memo ("AUTINFMEM"), in which specific information about the current author can be placed. - 7) Author remarks memo ("AUTREMMEM"), in which your own opinion or remarks about the current author can be placed. The fourth set of files are MCB4.DBF & MCB4.DBT, which hold the following producer-information: - 1) Producer name - 2) Period in which the producer is (was) active. - 3) Producer ID-code, to be used as a reference by the related databases. - 4) Producer information memo ("PRDINFMEM"), in which specific information about the current producer can be placed. - 5) Producer remarks memo ("PRDREMMEM"), in which your own opinion or remarks about the current producer can be placed. The fifth set of files are MCB5.DBF & MCB5.DBT, which hold the following catagory-information: - 1) Category name - 2) Category ID-code, to be used as a reference by the related databases. - 3) Category information memo ("CATINFMEM"), in which specific information about the current catagory can be placed. The last set of files are MCB6.DBF & MCB6.DBT, that bundle all information from the previous files together to a datarecord and also holds the following song-information: - 1) Song title - 2) The MCBase Location code: Where, within my collection, can I locate this song? - 3) Playing time in minutes and seconds. - 4) The date on which this song was released. - 5) The ID-code of the related album (if any). - 6) The ID-code of the related artist. - 7) The ID-code of the related composer. - 8) The ID-code of the related writer. - 9) The ID-code of the related producer. -10) The ID-code of the related category -11) Song information memo ("SNGINFMEM"), in which certain information on the current songtitle can be placed. -12) Song remarks memo ("SNGREMMEM"), in which your own opinion and remarks on the current songtitle can be placed. As you will notice from the above, the system is "building" it's information on these six sets of files in the following manner: Level 1 - User interface Level 2 - Artist, Author, Producer & Category databases Level 3 - Album database Level 4 - Song database Example: Adding a new album to the MCBase system. Suppose you just bought an album of an artist which is totally NEW to your music collection, then you would do the following to add the album to the MCBase database system: IMPORTANT: please note: ALL (UNIQUE) names & albumtitles need to be entered to their respective databases ONLY ONCE and are from then on SELECTABLE ITEMS for use with the higher database(s). See also the following section "Multiple edit dialogs". - 1) Check if the album artist (i.e. the artist who's name is on the albumcover) is already in your artist database. If not, then add his name. Do the same for the song artist(s) (see below), in case they are not the same. When adding an artist, a unique ID-code is generated for this artist, which will be used to identify the artist by in the other database-files. (This happens unseen, behind the scenes). Note: The SONG ARTIST is the artist that is performing the song: let's say it's a name like "John Doe". The ALBUM ARTIST is the artist who's name is on the cover, which could be something like "Micheal Smith and friends", where John Doe is one of these friends... - 2) Check for the presence of the album's producer in the producers database. If not listed, then add his or her name. - 3) Add the albumtitle to the album database. While doing this, you will have to select the album artist from a picklist generated from the artist database. (Press the "select artist"-button in the album dialog to invoke this picklist). This action will copy the selected artists ID-code into the current albumrecord. MCBase will use this ID-code to retrieve the correct artist information from the artist database when needed. The albumrecord will also receive it's unique ID-code, by which the system can identify it. Repeat the above for the album's producer. - 4) Check for the presence of the various authors in the authors database. Add those who are not already listed. - 5) Check for the presence of the song producer(s) in the producers database. Also add anyone who is not already listed. - 6) Check for the presence of the album's song categories in the category database. Add any category that is not listed. - 7) Finally, add the songrecords to the song database. While doing this, you will have to select the actual song artist which is performing the current song (multiple song artist can appear on one album), the related albumtitle, the related composer, the related writer (both from the authors database), the related producer and the related category. These actions will copy all the correct ID-codes into the various fields, which MCBase then will use to retrieve the correct artist, album, composer, writer, producer and category information from their respective databases when needed. After entering the above mentioned data, you will be able to look into this data from the various screens and you can print various sorted lists containing this data. (The exact use of each of the dialogs will be discussed in a later stage). The "location code" and the MCBase system. To enable the system to place all songs, belonging to the same album (or tape), in the correct order of appearance (in the printouts), the system is depending on a special code that the user enters in the field "Location code" for every songtitle. An example of using the location code is the following: - A) For singles you could use: "SI" for "Single", then a period as a delimiter and then the tracknumber on the single. So that would be: SI.1, SI.2, SI.3, SI.4 (and so on...) - B) For albums you could use: "LP" for "Long Play", then a period as a delimiter, then the sidenumber of the album, another period and the tracknumber of the current albumside. So that would be: LP.1.01, LP.1.02, LP.2.01, LP.2.02 (and so on...). This could be almost the same for Compact Discs (CD). - C) For tapes, however, you should use A STRICT FORMAT for the location code! This format consists out of a tapenumber, sidenumber and the tapecounter value. A location code like the following enables you to print a list with the EXACT contents of any tape: That would be: 12345.1.1234 For tapes, the tapenumber or -code MUST consist out of 5 digits, while a dilimiter (period) is regarded as a valid digit. Note: The first digit MUST be a value from 0 - 9: a dilimiter may not be used in this position for a tape location code!! Perticular for tapes, each song on tape MUST have a unique location code. The above examples are higly recommended. You are of course free to come up with your own ideas, but YOU WILL HAVE TO KEEP FOLLOWING IN MIND: ONLY THE LOCATION CODE FOR THE TAPES MAY (AND MUST) START WITH A NUMERIC VALUE! (The option "Report all tapes", that generates an overview list for all tapes, starts off at the first location code with "0" as first character and ends with the last locationcode with "9" as first character). 8. USING THE MCBASE CONTROLS Before continuing with a discussion on using the various dialogs and report windows available in MCBase, let's discuss how to use the various controls in these windows and dialogs: Using a dialog's controls & moving through a dialog Think of controls as every item you can access in a dialog box: an inputline, a checkbox, a button, a scrollbar... Whatever! To access these controls, you can use a mouse, select a shortcut (see "Using shortcuts" for further information) or you can use the tab-key to reach the control you need: every press on the tab-key takes you a control further in the dialog, while shift-tab will take you a control back. When opening a dialog, the LAST control in it has the focus. This is usually the Cancel- or Quit-button: pressing the enter-key in this stage will close the dialog. When pressing the tab-key, the focus will be moved to the FIRST control in the dialog, usually an inputline: enter your data and press the tab-key to go to the next control. If this control is a function-button that you wish to execute: press enter to execute the function represented by the button. (When using a mouse, just click on it). If the control is a checkbox: press the spacebar to check or uncheck it (mouse-users can click on it). Using the tab- and shift-tab-key sequences you can move around through the dialogs at will, without the need for a mouse. (Although having a mouse available would be preferable). Dialogs and modal dialogs A "modal dialog" is a special version of the normal dialog (= a window with entry fields and selection buttons) that MUST be handled before any other function can be selected. Only few dialogs have a "modal"-status. As an example, you may have a look at the various configuration dialogs. Multiple (edit) dialogs. An important MCBase feature that should be mentioned, is the ability to work simultaniously in various databases! By opening multiple edit dialogs you can switch back and forth between all different dialogs at will, by clicking on them, or by using one of the commands from the "Window"-menu: Next (press the F6-key) or Previous (use shift-F6). This enables you to work in all six databases at the same time: if you find that you need an additional author (for example), just open the appropriate dialog and add it to it's database on the fly. You will be able to use the new entry, right after pressing it's dialog's "Save"-button. Note: If you are editing an entry, who's data is ALSO displayed in another dialog at the same time, then the information PRINTED in that other dialog will NOT be updated after saving the edited entry. If you WANT to see the updated entry in that dialog, then you should re-select that entry (using that dialog's "select"-button). Using scrollbars / scrolling A scrollbar is a horizontal or vertical bar, as seen (for instance) on the bottom and the left of the memo editor dialog frames. - To scroll one line at a time, use your mouse to click on the arrow at either end. (Keyboard users: press an appropriate arrowkey). - To scroll continuously, click on the arrow at either end and keep the mouse button pressed. (Keyboard users: keep the arrowkey pressed). - To scroll one page at a time, click in the shaded area to either side of the scroll box (= the small square slider on the bar, between the arrows) (Keyboard users: use the page-up or -down key). Using shortcuts & hotkeys From the keyboard, you can use a number of shortcuts to access items and choose commands. You can get to, or activate, main menu items and dialog commands by pressing the Alt-key and the highlighted letter it the item's description. While in a submenu, you need to press only the item's highlighted letter to access or activate it. Also, some menu items are equipped with a hotkey. These hotkeys are noted at the rightside of that menu item. You can use a hotkey from anywhere in MCBase, you don't have to access the actual menu item first, unless a "modal dialog" is active on the desktop. (See "Dialogs and modal dialogs" for further information). Using the memo editors The memo editor works similar as the textfile editor. Only difference is, that the edited text isn't stored in an ascii textfile, but in a memorecord in the currently active database. The memo editors are only accessible when it's dialog isn't processing a new entry. The memo's are stored in a record's memofields: if you are processing a new entry, then these memofields aren't there yet. You're working beyond the end of file. After saving the new entry, the record has it's memofields available for editing. When saving the text with the memo editor's "Save"-button, it is immediately stored into the appropriate memofield. When editing a memofield, all record selection commands are disabled: this is a requirement, to prevent that the editor looses focus of the currently edited record. When "Save"-ing or "Quit"-ing the memo editor, these record selection commands are re-enabled. Using a picklist-dialog A picklist-dialog (also called a "listbox") is a selection dialog that lets you scroll through and select from the entries in a database. When invoking the picklist, the focus is on the last control in the dialog: the cancel button. Mouse users: Use your mouse on the scrollbar to scroll through the available entries and click on the entry you need, in order to select it. Keyboard users: Use the tab-key to go to the list of entries. When a focus bar (or a blinking cursor) appears in the list, use the arrowkeys and/or the page-up & -down keys to scroll through the entries. Press the spacebar to select the entry you need. Note: A "focus bar" is a bar that highlights the currently focused (= about to be selected) item in a picklist dialog. In case you know what you're looking for, tab to the list (or click on it), so that the focus bar appears, and then begin typing the first few characters of the entry you need: the listbox will take you to the first entry that matches the entered characters. Then press the spacebar to select the entry you need. Note: The picklist is upper- and lowercase sensitive, unless configured otherwise in the "Select methods" configuration dialog. Using a find-dialog A selection dialog like the Find-dialog can be used instead of a picklist dialog to approach very large databases, where the system might take too much time to collect the records for the picklist. See the section "Configuring MCBase" on further information on setting the preference for the Find-dialog. When other dialogs are already open on the desktop, the find-dialog will be preset to display that record from a database, that was either most recently focussed or most lightly to be needed. (This is depending on the instance that invoked the Find dialog). Access the inputline in the dialog (by either mouse click or tab-key) and enter the first few characters (or more) of the item you need and press the "search"-button. The dialog will present you with the first match found, after which you can continue your search by selecting the "previous"- or "next"-buttons. Press the "ok"-button when the desired entry is found or press the "cancel"-button to terminate the search. When pressing the "search"-button again, after walking through the database with the "previous"- and "next"-buttons, you will be returned to the first match that was found. Note: the find-dialog is NOT case sensitive. 9. A TOUR THROUGH MCBASE'S MAIN MENU. Accessing menu items. MCBase's pulldown menu structure may be accessed by either mouse or keyboard, in the following manner: - 1) You can point & click at a menu item. When clicking on an item on the menubar, this will result in a pulldown menu on this item, from which you can select the actual item (or another pulldown menu) you need, by another mouse click on it. - 2) You can select a menu item by walking through the menu's using your cursor keys (activate this mode by pressing the F10 function key first) and hit the "return"- or "enter"-key when you reach the item (or pulldown menu) you need. - 3) You can select a menu item by entering it's shortcut or hotkey. (See "Using shortcuts and hotkeys" for further information). All the items on the menubar (as the dialogs) support you with a hint, describing their function, on the statusline. The available pulldown menu's on the menubar are: - 1) MCBase Provides a submenu from where configuration options and system utilities can be accessed. - 2) Browse, edit & add Provides a submenu from where entry's in the databases can be added, edited and/or viewed. - 3) Print Provides a submenu from where various reports of the information in the databases can be printed. - 4) Editor Provides a full featured multiple file text editor, to allow you to create and edit any ascii textfile (for maintaining wishlists, for use as a system editor or what ever you can think of). - 6) View handling Provides a submenu with various manupilation options for the various views (= dialogs and windows) Let's have a look at the various items in these pulldown menu's, one by one: The "MCBase" pulldown menu The "MCBase" pulldown menu, presents us the configuration options and sytem utilities (See the previous section "Accessing menu items" also): - About... is an information dialog. In the shareware version, the "About..." dialog will remind you that should register your copy of MCBase, if you wish to continue using it after the evaluation period has expired. In the registered version, this dialog will display your name (or the name of your MCBase supplier, should you have purchased a pre- registered version) and the minimal system requirements for which this version of MCBase V2.x has been compiled. - Ascii table is a table in which you can find the decimal (and hex) values of any (extended) ascii character. When you select a character you need (by clicking on it), the table will display the selected character, it's decimal value and it's hex value. To enter such an (extended) Ascii character into your text, you should go to the required position in your text and hold down the ALT-key while typing the decimal value for the required character. Example: To enter the character "‰", hold down the ALT-key and type this character's decimal value of 137: ‰. (Perhaps you should also see your operating system's manual for information on entering extended Ascii characters). - Calendar is a dialog that supplies you the current date. By clicking on the up- and down arrows in the dialog, you can wander up and down the months of this, or any other, year. - Configuration settings is a submenu in which may find the following items (please see "Configuring MCBase" for their descriptions): - Colors - Mouse - Select methods - Printer - Video - Load configuration - Store configuration - Pack checkes all databases on entries that are marked "Deleted" and physically removes these from the databases. Please note: Any entry, marked "Deleted", still used to be accessible within the "Edit..."-options, to enable you to undo a "Deleted"-status. After performing "Pack" on your databases, any entry you had marked as "Deleted" is physically removed from the databases and therefor cannot be accessed anymore! - Reindex UPDATES all indexes related to the MCBase system. Should you, for some reason, require all the indexes to be TOTALLY REWRITTEN, then exit MCBase (Alt-X) and simply delete them. Next time you start MCBase, the software will notify you the indexes are missing and will start creating new ones. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: When deleting these index-files, delete only the files who match the following mask: MCB?KEY?.NDX, as the "?" wildcard character may represent any valid figure or character. (See your operating system's manual for further information on deleting files). - DosShell temporary exit to the system prompt. You are positioned at the system prompt, in the MCBase directory, from where you can execute DOS-commands. (Make sure that you return to MCBase, since all databases will remain opened!). You may return from the DosShell, by entering the command EXIT at the system prompt. (This option is available in the Protected Mode version only). - Exit closes all databases and exits MCBase. You are returned to the system prompt (or your menu program from where you invoked MCBase). Important: You must ALWAYS use "Exit" to leave MCBase. Otherwise some databuffers might not be able to write their data to the database set, wich will corrupt your data! You should NEVER simply turn of the power, while MCBase is still running! The "Browse, edit & add" pulldown menu The "Browse, edit & add" pulldown menu provides us with a series of dialogs to add new entry's to the databases or to edit or browse through the existing ones. A discussion of their exact use will follow in a later stage. Remark: The following general dialog functions may appear in the various Browse, edit & add dialogs as a minimum: - Delete is a checkbox, where you can set the current record's "Delete"-status. - Information memo enables editing of the current record's information memo. - Remarks memo enables editing of the current record's remarks memo. - Previous moves you one entry towards the beginning of the current database, in alphabetical order. - Next moves you one entry towards the end of the current database, in alphabetical order. - Select enables you to select another record, using either a "picklist"- or a "find"-dialog. (This depends on your settings in the "Select methods"-configuration dialog. - Add new enables you to add a new entry to the current database. (Puts an Edit-dialog in it's "Add new"-mode). - Save stores the current status of the edited record to the database. - Quit closes the active dialog, without saving the data in it. Here's a short discription of the available editing dialogs: - Edit artist enables you to access an existing record in the artist database for editing purposes Supported record selection functions in this dialog are the general dialog functions. - Edit album enables you to access an existing record in the album database for editing purposes Supported record selection functions in this dialog are the general dialog functions and has the following functions added: Select artist enables you to relate the currently edited album entry to an artist entry from the artist database. Select producer enables you to relate the currently edited album to a producer entry from the producer database. - Edit author enables you to access an existing record in the author database for editing purposes Supported record selection functions in this dialog are the general dialog functions and has the following checkboxes added: Composer Check this box, if the currently edited author is a composer. Writer Check this box, if the currently edited author is a writer. Please note: The settings in the "Composer" and "Writer" checkboxes are for your personal information only. At the moment, the MCBase system is not making further use of it. - Edit producer enables you to access an existing record in the producer database for editing purposes Supported record selection functions in this dialog are the general dialog functions. - Edit category enables you to access an existing record in the category database for editing purposes Supported record selection functions in this dialog are the general dialog functions. - Edit song enables you to access an existing record in the song database for editing purposes Supported record selection functions in this dialog are the general dialog functions and it has the following functions added: Select artist enables you to relate the currently edited song entry to an artist entry from the artist database. Select album enables you to relate the currently edited song to an album entry from the album database. Select composer enables you to relate the currently edited song to a composer (author) entry from the author database. Select writer enables you to relate the currently edited song to a writer (author) entry from the author database. Select producer enables you to relate the currently edited song to a producer entry from the producer database. Select category enables you to relate the currently edited song to a category entry from the category database. The "Add..."-dialogs are equal to the "Edit..."-dialogs, except that they all start out in the dialog's "Add new"-mode, until the new entry is saved by selecting the "Save"-button, after which the dialog is set to it's default "Edit"-mode. While in "Edit"-mode, selecting the "Add new"-button in a dialog, will bring you (back) to this dialog's "Add new"-mode. At that moment, after pressing the "Add new"-button, the system will ask you, if you would like to copy the currently selected relations to the new record (might be handy, while adding a new album). While a dialog is in it's "Add new"-mode, all record selection commands (Previous, Next, Select & Add new) are disabled, since the (currently edited) record is BEYOND the physical end of file. The memo editing routines are also unavailable while the dialog is in it's "Add new"-mode. Store the record by selecting the dialog's "Save"-function and edit the memo's next. For further information on "Add new" and other edit dialog usage, see "USING THE EDIT DIALOGS". The "Browse..." dialogs, on the other hand, are quite a bit different from the "Edit" dialogs: the same information is there, but it is not accessible for editing (except the memo's). When a browse option is invoked, a picklist-dialog will be generated, carrying the selectable items (or you will be presented a find-dialog, to find the required item. This depends on your settings in the "Select methods" configuration dialog). When making the selection, using either the picklist or the find dialog, a browse dialog is invoked that presents you with the details about the selected song (or whatever). (The browse option's picklist (if used) will remain in the background and can be reselected by simply clicking on it). For further information on browsing, see "USING THE BROWSE DIALOGS". The "Print" pulldown menu The "Print' pulldown menu provides some submenus from where various reports on the information in the databases can be printed. Following reports (printjobs) are available: - Report all... Provides a submenu with following entries: artists This option will report all artists found in your collection. authors This option will report all authors found in your collection. producers This option will report all producers found in your collection. categories This option will report all the categories found in your collection. albums - sorted by title This option will report all albumtitles found in your collection, sorted on albumtitle. - sorted by artist This option will also report all albumtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the artists name. - sorted by producer This option will also report all albumtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the producers name. songs - sorted by title This option will report all songtitles found in your collection, sorted on songtitle. - sorted by artist This option will also report all songtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the artists name. - sorted by author This option will also report all songtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the authors name. - sorted by producer This option will also report all songtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the producers name. - sorted by album This option will also report all songtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the related album name. tapes This option will report a list, with all songtitles found in your collection, that are recorded on tape. - Summary for selected... Provides a submenu with following entries: artist - album summary This option will report a list, with all albumtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected artist. - song summary This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected artist. author This option will also report a list, with all song- titles found in your collection, for a pre-selected artist. producer - album summary This option will report a list, with all albumtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected producer. - song summary This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected producer. category This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected category. album This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected album. - Summaries for all... Provides a submenu with following entries: artist - album summary This option will report a list for each artist (seperately), with all albumtitles found for this artist in your collection. - song summary This option will report a list for each artist (separately), with all songtitles found for this artist in your collection. author This option will report a list for each author (seperately), with all songtitles found for this author in your collection. producer - album summary This option will report a list for each producer (seperately), with all albumtitles found for this producer in your collection. - song summary This option will report a list for each producer (seperately), with all songtitles found for this producer in your collection. category This option will report a list for each category (seperately), with all songtitles found for this category in your collection. album This option will report a list for each album (seperately), with all songtitles found for this album in your collection. - Page eject / FormFeed This option will cause your printer to eject the current page. For further information on the printjobs and how to use them, please see section "USING THE PRINT OPTIONS". The "Editor" pulldown menu The "Editor" pulldown menu provides a full featured 64Kb multiple file text editor, to allow you to create and edit ascii textfiles (for maintaining wishlists, for use as a system editor or what ever you can think of). Please refer to section "USING THE MCBASE TEXTFILE EDITOR" for a complete discussion of the editor and it's use. The "View handling" pulldown menu The "View handling" pulldown menu provides a submenu with various window and dialog (= views) manipulation options: - Tile will tile all windows (NOT the dialogs), currently open on the desktop, from top to bottom. - Cascade will divide the available desktop space between all windows (NOT the dialogs), currently open op the desktop. - Resize/move will enable you, to resize or move the active window (NOT dialogs: these can only be moved). Keyboard: Using only the cursorkeys you will be able to move the window across the desktop. Using the cursorkeys in combination with the shiftkey, you will be able to resize the window. Terminate this status by pressing the enter-key. Mouse: Move the active window by clicking op the topline of the window's frame. Hold your left mousebutton pressed down, while you drag the window to the desired position. Then release the mousebutton. Resize the active window by clicking on the lower right corner of the active window. Hold your left mousebutton pressed down, while you resize the window by moving it's lower right corner to the desired position. Then release the mousebutton. - Zoom will zoom the active window (NOT a dialog) to maximum size. Selecting this command a second time, will reset the active window to it's former size. - Next will take you to the next window (or dialog), open on the destop. - Previous will take you to the previous window (or dialog), open on the desktop. - Close will close the currently active window or dialog. Any (edited) data in a dialog is ignored. - Close All will close all windows and dialogs currently open on the desktop. Any (edited) data in a dialog is ignored. 10. USING THE EDIT DIALOGS Following is a discussion on the use of the various MCBase edit dialogs. The use of the various controls and function buttons has already been discribed in an earlier stage: See the sections "A TOUR THROUGH MCBASE'S MAIN MENU" and "USING THE MCBASE CONTROLS" for further information. While in an edit dialog's "Add new"-mode A dialog is switched to "Add new"-mode when selecting an "Add ..."-item from the main menu, or when selecting an edit dialog's "Add new"-function button. The dialog is then ready to process a new entry: - add data in the inputfields - set all relations of the new entry to the other databases, by using the various "select ... " function buttons. Select the correct relation for your entry from the selection dialog invoked by these buttons. If a relation is not available, just open it's databases "Add ..."-dialog also and add the relation you need to it's own database. Then switch back to the previous dialog and select the newly added relation into the new entry for which you needed it. These things can be done simultaniously! While a dialog is in it's "Add new"-mode, all record selection commands (Previous, Next, Select & Add new) are disabled, since the (currently edited) record is BEYOND the physical end of file: you are not IN the file, until the record is saved! For the same reason, the memo editing routines are also unavailable while the dialog is in it's "Add new"-mode. Store the record by selecting the dialog's "Save"-function and edit the memo's next. While in an edit dialog's default "Edit"-mode The dialog is ready to modify an existing entry: When selecting the "Edit ..."-dialog from the main menu, a selection dialog (either the picklist- or the find-dialog) is invoked, from which you can select the record to be edited: - modify the data in the inputfields - (re)set any relations of the entry to the other databases, by using the various "select ... " function buttons. Select the correct relation for your entry from the selection dialog, invoked by these buttons. If a relation is not available, just open it's databases "Add ..."-dialog also and add the relation you need to it's own database. Then switch back to the previous dialog and select the newly added relation into the new entry for which you needed it. These things can be done simultaniously! 11. USING THE BROWSE DIALOGS Following is a discussion on the use of the various MCBase browse dialogs. The use of the various controls and function buttons has already been discribed in an earlier stage: See the sections "A TOUR THROUGH MCBASE'S MAIN MENU" and "USING THE MCBASE CONTROLS" for further information. When accessing the main menu option "Browse, edit & add", you will see a submenu from which the first item reads "Browse for...". Using one of the options given here, you will be able to browse for any album and/or songrecord. Depending on your "Select methods"-configuration settings, the system will use either the picklist-dialog(s) or the find-dialog(s). - Browse for... Following options are available for browsing: Song Once you've selected a songrecord for a closer look, it will be presented to you in a dialogbox of it's own, giving you all related information. In case you would like to modify this song record's information, as displayed in the "Browse a song" dialog, then you should select the dialog's "Song edit mode" button. This button will invoke the "Edit/add a song" dialog, while having that very same song record already retrieved. The information stored in the various memo records, related to this song, may be accessed by pressing the "Select memo dialog"-button, which will invoke a dialogbox from which you may pick ANY of the related memo's. (See "Using the memo editors" for further information on memo's). While using following ... Picklist dialog(s): Preselection: select filter. Select songrecord from additionally generated & filtered picklist dialog. Find dialog(s): Preselection (= find dialog's "1st criterion"): select filter. Select songrecord (= find dialog's "2nd criterion"), using the selected filter. (Find dialog will be preset to the first match found by the filter). ... the selection methods are: - by title This option will enable you to browse the songs, while sorted on title. - by artist (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the songs, while sorted on title, for a specific artist only. You will be asked to make a pre-selection on the artist who's songs you wish to see. - by author (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the songs, while sorted on title, for a specific author only. You will be asked to make a pre-selection on the author who's songs you wish to see. - by producer (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the songs, while sorted on title, for a specific producer only. You will be asked to make a pre-selection on the producer who's songs you wish to see. - by category (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the songs, while sorted on title, for a specific category only. You will be asked to make a pre-selection on the category from which you wish to see the songs. - Album Once you've selected an albumrecord for a closer look, it will be presented to you in a dialogbox of it's own, giving you all information. In case you would like to modify this album record's information, as displayed in this dialog, then you should select the dialog's "Album edit mode" button. This button will invoke the "Edit/add an album" dialog, while having that very same album record already retrieved. If the system is using the picklist-dialog(s) (which is the standard configuration), the system will include the songs related to this album in that dialog also, as a picklist. In case you would like to take a closer look at any of these songs, then simply click on the selected title. (See previous section "Browse for song" for further information). Otherwise, if the find-dialog(s) are selected in the "select methods"-configuration , you may continue the search for one of this album's songs using another find-dialog (see below). The information stored in the various memo records, related to this album, may be accessed by pressing the "Select memo dialog"-button, which will invoke a dialogbox from which you may pick ANY of the related memo's. (See "Using the memo editors" for further information on memo's). - by title (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the albums, while sorted on title. Picklist dialog: Select albumtitle from list. Find-dialogs: - 1st criterion: albumtitle. - 2nd criterion: songtitle from selected album (optional). (Find dialog will be preset to the first song found by the filter). - by artist (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the albums, while sorted on title, for a specific artist only. You will be asked to make a pre-selection on the artist who's albums you wish to see. Picklist dialogs: Preselect artist. Select album from additional picklist with this artists albums only. Find dialogs: - 1st criterion: artistname - 2nd criterion: albumtitle (Find dialog will be preset to the first album found by the filter). - 3rd criterion: songtitle from selected album (optional) (Find dialog will be preset to the first song found by the filter). - by producer (uses filter) This option will enable you to browse the albums, while sorted on title, for a specific producer only. You will be asked to make a pre-selection on the producer who's albums you wish to see. Picklist dialogs: Preselect producer. Select album from additional picklist with this producers albums only. Find dialogs: - 1st criterion: producername. - 2nd criterion: albumtitle (Find dialog will be preset to the first album found by the filter). - 3rd criterion: songtitle from selected album (optional).(Find dialog will be preset to the first song found by the filter). 12. USING THE PRINT OPTIONS. The "Print' pulldown menu provides some submenus from where various reports on the information in the databases can be printed. All these options operate in a similar manner: - 1) Select the report you need from the menu structure - 2) You will be presented with a "Confirm"-dialog, where you are required to confirm or cancel this printjob. (Please also make sure your printer is online and sufficiently loaded with paper). - 3) When selecting a printjob from the "Summary for selected..." submenu, you will need to make a pre-selection using a picklist- or find-dialog. See section "USING THE MCBASE CONTROLS" for information on the use of these dialogs. Remark: All printjobs can be terminated by pressing the CTRL-BREAK keys simultaniously. (Note that this key sequence can only be read and serviced during the process of printing a line: when you give a CTRL-BREAK key sequence in the middle of a search-sequence, you will see no response until the next printable line is located). Following reports (printjobs) are available: - Report all... Provides a submenu with following entries: artists This option will report a list, with all artists found in your collection. The number of albums and songs by each artist is included in the report. authors This option will report a list, with all authors found in your collection. The number of songs written by each author is included in the report. Also included is a remark if the author wrote the music, the lyrics or both. producers This option will report a list, with all producers found in your collection. The number of albums and songs by each producer is included in the report. categories This option will report a list, with all the categories found in your collection. The number of songs in each category is included in the report. albums - sorted by title This option will report a list, with all albumtitles found in your collection, sorted on albumtitle. The related artists and producers, as the number of songs on each album, are included in the report. - sorted by artist (uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all albumtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the artists name. The albumtitle, the related artists and producers, as the number of songs on each album, are included in the report. - sorted by producer (uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all albumtitles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the producers name. The albumtitle, the related artists and producers, as the number of songs on each album, are included in the report. songs - sorted by title This option will report a list, with all songtitles found in your collection, sorted on songtitle. The related artists, albums and location codes are included in the report. - sorted by artist (uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all song- titles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the artists name. The songtitles, the related artists, albums and location codes are included in the report. - sorted by author (uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all song- titles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the authors name. The songtitles, a tag, stating if the author wrote the music, the lyrics or both, the performing (i.e. related) artist and the location codes are included in the report. - sorted by producer (uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all song- titles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the producers name. The songtitles, the related producers, artists and location codes are included in the report. - sorted by album (uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all song- titles found in your collection, but this version is sorted on the related album name. The songtitles, the related albums, artists and location codes are included in the report, while the songtitles are listed in order of appearance on the album. tapes This option will report a list, with all songtitles found in your collection, that are recorded on tape. (Also see section: The "location code" and the MCBase system) The location code, the songtitles, the related albums and artists are included in the report, while the songtitles are listed in order of appearance on the tape (i.e.: the location code). - Summary for selected... Provides a submenu with following entries: artist - album summary (uses filter) This option will report a list, with all albumtit- les, found in your collection, for a pre-selected artist. The report will include the selected artist in each pageheader, listing each album found, the number of songs on this album and the location code for this album's first song. - song summary (uses filter) This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected artist. The report will include the selected artist in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related album and the songs location code. author (Uses filter) This option will also report a list, with all songtitles found in your collection, for a pre-selected artist. The report will include the selected author in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related album and a tag, stating if the author wrote the music, the lyrics or both. producer - album summary (uses filter) This option will report a list, with all albumtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected producer. The report will include the selected producer in each pageheader, listing each album found, the number of songs on this album and the location code for this album's first song. - song summary (uses filter) This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre- selected producer. The report will include the selected producer in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related album and the songs location code. category (Uses filter) This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre-selected category. The report will include the selected category in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related artist and the songs location code. album (Uses filter) This option will report a list, with all songtitles, found in your collection, for a pre-selected album. The report will include the selected albumtitle on each pageheader, listing each song found, the related artist and the songs location code. - Summaries for all... Provides a submenu with following entries: artist - album summary (uses filter) This option will report a list for each artist (seperately), with all albumtitles found for this artist in your collection. These reports will include the selected artist in each pageheader, listing each album found, the number of songs on this album and the location code for this album's first song. - song summary (uses filter) This option will report a list for each artist (separately), with all songtitles found for this artist in your collection. The report will include the selected artist in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related album and the songs location code. author (Uses filter) This option will report a list for each author (seperately), with all songtitles found for this author in your collection. The report will include the selected author in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related album and a tag, stating if the author wrote the music, the lyrics or both. producer - album summary (uses filter) This option will report a list for each producer (seperately), with all albumtitles found for this producer in your collection. The report will include the selected producer in each pageheader, listing each album found, the number of songs on this album and the location code for this album's first song. - song summary (uses filter) This option will report a list for each producer (seperately), with all songtitles found for this producer in your collection. The report will include the selected producer in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related album and the songs location code. category (Uses filter) This option will report a list for each category (seperately), with all songtitles found for this category in your collection. The report will include the selected category in each pageheader, listing each song found, the related artist and the songs location code. album (Uses filter) This option will report a list for each album (seperately), with all songtitles found for this album in your collection. The report will include the selected albumtitle on each pageheader, listing each song found, the related artist and the songs location code. 13. USING THE MCBASE TEXTFILE EDITOR The textfile editor, included with MCBase, is a multiple file editor for textfiles of a max. file size of 64kB each. The number of open files the editor is able to process simultaniously is totally depending on your system's resources. The maximum number of files, that you can have open on the desktop simultaniously, is currently limited to about 20 files. (On XT-compatible systems, the maximum number of files may be limited to 1 (one) file, due to memory limitations. If the available memory is not sufficient to open another file, you will be notified about this. Available options and features - New will open a new, untitled window for text editing purposes. - Open will open an existing (text) file for editing, which you will be able to select from a file selection dialog. You are able to move through subdirectory's, by clicking on the subdirectory names. Note: Since the symbol ".." stands for "parent directory", selecting this symbol will take you to it. Selecting the symbol "." will have no effect, since it means "current directory". See your operating system's manual for any further information, if necessary - Save will save the currently edited window to it's original filename, as mentioned in the window's title bar. If the file is currently untitled, you will be prompted for a filename. - Save As will enable you to save the currently edited window to another filename then it's original. You will be prompted for a filename. - Undo will restore the LAST modification you have made to the text in the currently edited window. UNDO requires that you have made this modification with the CUT, COPY, PASTE or CLEAR block functions. All CUT & COPY blocks are (temporary) stored on the clipboard, so if you should need the block of text, that you have selected in an earlier stage, you will be able to find it here. Please note that the clipboard is NOT automatically saved upon MCBase exit! In case you wish to store the clipboard, do following: - access the clipboard window, by selecting it from the "Editor" submenu - save the contents of the clipboard window by selecting the "Save as" option from the "Editor" submenu. - Cut will remove any block of text, previously marked using either mouse or keyboard (using the shift- & cursor- keys) which is then available for use with the Paste- option until another block is marked and Cut (or Copied). - Copy will copy any block of text, previously marked using either mouse or keyboard (using the shift- & cursor- keys) which is then available for use with the Paste- option until another block is marked and Copied (or Cut). - Paste will insert the block of text, previously Cut or Copied. - Clear will remove any block of text, previously marked using either mouse or keyboard (using the shift- & cursor- keys). - Find will enable you to search for a string. Find will start the search from it's current cursor position and can be instructed to search case sensitive and/or to search for whole words only. - Replace will enable you to replace a string for another. Replace will start the search from it's current cursor position and can be instructed to search case sensitive and/or for whole words only, to prompt you before replacing the strings and/or to replace all. - Repeat will enable you to repeat a previous Find or Replace action. - Show clipboard will bring you to the clipboard window. The clipboard window is, in fact, just like any other editing window. Consider it an editwindow with a yet untitled file, containing the currently selected block of text. If you wish, you can select the Editor's "Save as" menu option to store the current contents of the clipboard to a file. 14. THE MCBASE UTILITIES. Following is a general description of the MCBase utility programs. You will find detailed instructions on their use during operation, on screen. GENMCB.EXE Database generation utility. Requirements: See "MCBase requirements". Purpose: Create a new and empty database set for use with MCBase V2.x. If a complete database set already exists, then you will be notified about this and you will be enabled to terminate operation. MCBCNVRT.EXE Database convertion utility. Requirements: See "MCBase requirements". Purpose: Convert the MCBase V1.x database set to the MCBase V2.x database set. If a V2.x database set does not exist, create one with GENMCB.EXE. In order to function, the MCBase V1.x database set must reside in the same directory as the V2.x database set. Also is the presence of your registration key file (MCxxxxxx.KEY) required. MCB_SAVE.BAT Batch program. Requirements: No special requirements. Purpose: Sample batch program, to illustrate how to make backups of you MCBase database files, making use of an archive utility as LHA.EXE. 15. MAKING SAFETY BACKUPS OF YOUR DATA. Why bother making backups? We suggest that you should create safety backups of your data, to prevent disaster when your system would suffer a major powerfailure or other disturbance, that could cause the database set to be damaged or corrupted. If you have backups available and such a problem WOULD arise, then you are able to simply replace the defective database set with the latest backup version, loosing only the data that was modified (or added) since the latest backup session. You should refresh your backups on a regular basis. (And don't forget to include your configuration file MCBASE.CFG in the backup procedure every now and then). How to create a standard backup. The basic form of a database backup is following: - A) Take the disk, to store the backup on, and place it in any drive (we will assume that you have used the A:-drive). - B) Go to your MCBase directory - C) Copy the database set from the MCBase directory to the disk, using following command: copy *.db? to a:\ This command will copy all .DBT and .DBF files (the database set) to drive A: (Otherwise, see your operating system's manu- al for a similar command). Restore the database set from the standard backup. If your original database set should is damaged or corrupted, you are able to restore it from this backup, as follows: - A) Insert the disk with the backup files in any drive. (We will assume that this will be drive A:). - B) Go to your MCBase directory. - C) Copy the backup database set from the drive to the MCBase directory, using following command: copy a:\*.db? This command will copy all .DBT and .DBF files (the database set) to the MCBase directory, overwriting the original (and damaged) set. Using an archiver to create an archive file backup. As your database set will grow, you will outgrow the possibility to fit your entire backup onto a single disk. When this occurs, you should switch to using an archiver program (like, for instance, the freeware LHA archiver by Haruyasu Yoshizaki (Yoshi), included with the registered version of MCBase). This excellent archiver program will compress your database set to a fraction (some 10%) of it's original size. How to create an archive file backup. Using the LHA archiver, you may create an archive file backup as follows: - A) Insert the disk, to store the archive file on, in any drive (we will assume you used the drive A:). - B) Make sure that LHA is either in a directory that is included in your path statement or still in your MCBase directory (as originally installed). - C) Make sure your MCBase directory is activated (we will assume your MCBase directory is "C:\MCBASE"). Your system prompt should now read "C:\MCBASE>". Compress the database set to the LHA-archive (filetype: .LZH), using following command: lha a a:mcb_data.lzh *.db? | | À------- Mask for database set | À---------------------- drive letter & archive file name À---------------------------- command switch "a" = add See the LHA documentation, included in the LHA archive LHA213E.EXE, for further info on LHA usage. Restore the database set from the archive file backup. If your original database set is damaged or corrupted, you are able to restore it from this backup, as follows: - A) Insert the disk with the backup files in any drive and note the drive letter (for this example, we will assume you placed the disk in drive A:). - B) Make sure that LHA is either in a directory that is included in your path statement or still in your MCBase directory (as originally installed). - C) Make sure your MCBase directory is activated (we will assume your MCBase directory is "C:\MCBASE"). Your system prompt should now read "C:\MCBASE>". Extract the backup database set from the drive to the MCBase directory, using following command : lha e a:mcb_data.lzh c:\mcbase\ | À--------- file extract path (optional) | À---------------------- drive letter & archive file name À----------------------------- command switch "e" = extract 16. UN-INSTALL MCBASE. To un-install MCBase, trace following files and delete them when found (if available, they should reside in either your MCBase directory or in your path): MCBASE.EXE - MCBase executable file. DPMI16BI.OVL - DOS Protected Mode Interface RTM.EXE - Run Time Manager, needed for protected mode. MCB_MAN.TXT - MCBase documentation file. ORDER.TXT - MCBase order form. LICENSE.TXT - MCBase license agreement. REVISION.TXT - MCBase revision history. GENMCB.EXE - Utility. MCBCNVRT.EXE - Utility. FILE_ID.DIZ - Description file. VENDINFO.DIZ - Description file. MCBASE.CFG - Configuration file. MCB1.DBF & MCB1.DBT - Artist database MCB2.DBF & MCB2.DBT - Album database MCB3.DBF & MCB3.DBT - Author database MCB4.DBF & MCB4.DBT - Producer database MCB5.DBF & MCB5.DBT - Category database MCB6.DBF & MCB6.DBT - Song database Delete all MCB?KEY?.NDX files, where "?" is a digit within the range of 1 - 8. (You could also use a command like DELETE MCB?KEY?.NDX or similar: consult your operating system's manual for information). If any *.CPL files ([random filename].CPL) exist in your MCBase directory, you may delete these also. They are old picklist pages, which were not removed after use: this shows that MCBase was once terminated improperly? (Think of a powerfailure or similar occurance). When the above files are traced and removed, your MCBase directory should be empty. If not, then the remaining files are from your own hand: please judge them on an individual basis, to prevent loosing valuable data! You may now complete un-installing, by deleting the MCBase directory. 17. ERROR MESSAGES. If you follow the instructions in section "MCBASE REQUIREMENTS", it is very unlightly that you will experience one (or more) of the error messages mentioned here. If you SHOULD get one of these error messages, please make sure ALL requirements mentioned in section "MCBASE REQUIREMENTS" are met. Known MCBase error messages Error: Runtime error 004 at ... Description: Too many open files. Setting for "FILES=xxx" in CONFIG.SYS to low. See "MCBASE REQUIREMENTS" for minimum setting. (If the error persists: increase the setting). Error: Runtime error 002 at ... Description: File not found. IF you get THIS error, than it due to the same cause as runtime error 004, mentioned above. Otherwise you would have received the messagebox: "The MCBase database files are incomplete!" or the messagebox: "The indexes are reported incomplete..." instead. See "Runtime error 004 at ..." for further information. Error: Runtime error 103 at ... Description: File not open. A file could not be opened. IF you get THIS error, you will also have had either runtime error 002 or 004, mentioned above. See "Runtime error 004 at ..." for further information. Error: Stub error (2003): Can't find dpmi16bi.ovl. Description: The file DPMI16BI.OVL is not where it is expected. Make sure it resides in either the MCBase directory or in your path. Error: Loader error (0001): Out of memory. Description: Memory is occupied by other applications or is not sufficiently available. Error: DPMI Error (4001): Insufficient memory for initialisation. Description: Also out of memory. Memory is occupied by other applications or is not sufficiently available. Error: Messagebox: "Error reading desktop file". Description: An error occurred while the desktop file (= configuration file MCBASE.CFG) was read. Possibly the file MCBASE.CFG is damaged? Try to read it in again (use "Load Configuration"). Otherwise you will need to check your configuration settings and restore them, using "Store configuration". Error: Messagebox: "Error: Invalid desktop file". Description: The current version of MCBASE.CFG does not belong to the current version of MCBASE.EXE. This error will occur if the configuration file's layout has been changed between MCBase-versions. (Layout changes will be noted in the file REVISION.TXT). You will need to create a new configuration file, as shown in section "Configuring MCBase". Error: Messagebox: "Not enough memory to complete operation". Description: Out of memory. Memory is occupied by other applications or is not sufficiently available. If this error occurs while invoking a picklist-dialog, switch to a find-dialog instead. (See "MCBASE REQUIREMENTS" for further information). Error: Messagebox: "The MCBase configuration file MCBASE.CFG is not found?" Description: The file MCBASE.CFG is cannot be located. If you are doing a new installation, then this is correct: MCBASE.CFG is NOT included in the archive, since it MUST contain the information of YOUR system ONLY. (See "Configu- ring MCBase" for further info). Otherwise, locate your MCBASE.CFG or restore it from your most recent backup. Error: Messagebox: "The indexes are reported incomplete..." Description: The indexes (MCB?KEY?.NDX) are incomplete. If you are doing a new installation, then this is correct: the indexes are NOT included in the archive, since they can be generated at installation. Otherwise, they have been removed or lost. (May occur after a powerfailure during MCBase's operation). MCBase will now create a new set of indexes. Error: Messagebox: "The MCBase database files are incomplete!" Description: The database files (MCB?.DBF and MCB?.DBT) are incomplete. One or more database files have been removed? Restore them from your latest backup. If you do not have a backup, your data is lost. MCBase will now terminate. You may create a new (and empty) set of databases, using MCBase's GENMCB utility. Error: Messagebox: "This function will be re-enabled after your registration key is installed...". Description: For the shareware version, further access to this function is disabled: you have reached the evaluation limit. If you would like to continue using MCBase, please see section "ABOUT MCBASE AND REGISTERING". Error: Keyboard functions are behaving improperly. Description: Keyboard definition is incorrect. Load the proper keyboard definition by adding a line like following to your autoexec.bat file: LOADHIGH KEYB.COM US Please refer to your MS-DOS and hardware documention for the appropriate setting for your system. Error: Statusline message: "Device access error" Description: Device cannot be accessed. The currently accessed device (probably your printer?) is not ready for usage. Correct the problem and press enter to retry or ESC to cancel. (If the current function was a printjob, you might need to terminate the printjob by giving a CTRL-BREAK key sequence). Error: Runtime error 029 at ... Description: Application has terminated after fatal error. A fatal error has occurred: please see below: "Reporting errors to the author". Error: Runtime error 203 at ... Description: Heap overflow error Memory is occupied by other applications or is not sufficiently available. (See "MCBASE REQUIREMENTS). Error: Runtime error 216 at xxxx:yyyy Description: General protection fault. Fatal error, which defenitely should NOT occur. Should you get this error, please do following: - If your system is using another memory manager than HIMEM.SYS (as delivered with your copy of MS-DOS) then please replace this memory manager with HIMEM.SYS and try again (please see your MS-DOS manual for instructions). (The QEMM memory manager, for example, is known to have these problems (occasionally) with some applications). - The General protection fault can also be caused by defective indexes. If you recently switched your system off (or suffered a power failure) while MCBase was still running, then that may have corrupted the indexes some- how. If this is the case, then executing MCBase's Reindex command will solve the problem. (Otherwise delete all indexes (*.NDX) and restart MCBase, so it will create NEW indexes from scratch). - If the above suggestions do not solve this error, please report the error to the author (see below). Reporting an error to the author If the above descriptions and suggestions do NOT solve the problem then please do following: - a) Try to duplicate the error and document the actions and events that trigger it. - b) Document the values for "xxxx.yyyy", given in the errormessage. - c) Report the above *directly* to the author. 18. INDEX. "Add new"-mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, 26, 31 "Add..."-dialogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 "Browse..." dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 "Confirm"-dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 "Edit..."-dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 *.CPL files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Album artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Archive file backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Ascii table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ASP Ombudsman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Backup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 archive file backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 standard backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Browse for... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Song. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Building information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Checkbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Colors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Config.sys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Files=40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 checkbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 function-button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 inputline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Copyright laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ALBINFMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ALBREMMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Album . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ARTINFMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ARTREMMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 AUTINFMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 AUTREMMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 CATINFMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MCB1.DBF & MCB1.DBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 MCB2.DBF & MCB2.DBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 MCB3.DBF & MCB3.DBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MCB4.DBF & MCB4.DBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MCB5.DBF & MCB5.DBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MCB6.DBF & MCB6.DBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 PRDINFMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 PRDREMMEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Demonstration database. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 44 Disabling commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 26, 31 Discount Discount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 DosShell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 DPMI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Edit & Add Edit album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Edit author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit album dialog Select artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit author dialog Composer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Writer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edit dialog general Add new . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Delete. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Information memo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Next. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Previous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Quit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Remarks memo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Save. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Select. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Edit song dialog Select album. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Select composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Select producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Select writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Editor Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Copy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Find. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 max. file size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 number of open files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Paste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Repeat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Replace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Save. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Save As . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Show clipboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 store the clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 subdirectory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Undo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Evaluation limit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 6 Evaluation period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 6, 22 Exit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Find dialog's criteria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 33 Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 20 Focus bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 FormFeed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Function-button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 GENMCB.EXE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Hint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Hotkey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 22 ID-code Not visible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Inputline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 LHA archiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Limited license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Load configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Location code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 strict format for tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 MCBase About.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Ascii table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Colors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 conversion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 dBase III(+) compatible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Disclaimer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 DosShell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Exit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 idea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 6 MCBase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 register (buy). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Reindex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 tailormade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 MCBCNVRT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Memo editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Memofield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Memory manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Browse, edit & add. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Configuration settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 cursor keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 keyboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 22 Load configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 MCBase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 point & click . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Select methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Store configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 View handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Modal dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 22 Not enough memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Page eject. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Preselection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Printjob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 35 "Confirm"-dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 terminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Protected Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Recommended hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 REGISTERED MCBASE USERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Reindex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 35 Scroll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Scroll box. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Scrollbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Select methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Selection dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 31 Shareware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Shareware evaluation limit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Shareware status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Shortcut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 22 Song artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Standard backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Store configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Unique ID-code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Upgrade FOR FREE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Video mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 View handling Cascade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Close . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Close All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Next. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Previous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Resize/move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Zoom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30