Copyright: Visual Help Copyright ® 1993-1994 Firas Bushnaq


Contents

Overview

Creating a Database

Adding Information

Viewing Information

Finding Information

Editing Information

Deleting Information

Printing the Database

Field Types

Helpful Hints


Overview

Philosophy

This program is based on the idea that most people do not need an expensive, feature-packed database.  What the common person needs is a simple, efficient database to help them keep track of the people, places and things in their lives.  EZDB is the solution.

Summary

The basic steps you will follow when working with an EZDB database are:

•	Define the database by specifying the types of information you want to put in the database.

•	Add data to the database.

•	Use the database to retrieve information, modify the data, or add new information.

•	Finally, you may want to produce a hard-copy image by printing the database.

These simple steps are easy to learn with EZDB.  Return to Contents to select a topic to learn more.


Creating a Database

Name your database

To create a database select the menu command File, and then the sub-command Define.  You will see the Database Name Dialog Box.

Enter the database name, (up  to eight characters long) and select OK.  If you change your mind you can select Cancel and start over.

If the name you select is already being used, you will get a warning message.  Use a differenct name or delete the existing database.

After you select OK, you will see the Define Dialog which will let you define the information to be included in your database.

Define your database

To add a field to your database definition you must:

•	Specify the field name, and

•	Select the Field Type

The Enter button will add your field definition to the box at the top of the dialog, and clear the information at the bottom.  You can continue to add more fields to your database in the same way.

If you want to add a field in the middle of your list of fields, highlight a field in the list at the top of the dialog and then add your new field.  It will be inserted right after the highlighted field.

Making changes to the definition

If you want to change a field you have already entered, double-click on the field in the box at the top.  The field definition is transfered to the Field Name and Field Type areas at the bottom.  This removes the field from the database definition.  If you want you can make changes to the field and select the Enter button.

Selecting the Clear button will remove all field definitions and allow you to start over.

When you have finished defining the database fields, select Done.  This will save the database definition.


Topic1
Adding Information

Open the Database

First you must open the database you want to use.  Select the command File and then Open.  You will be given a file selection dialog which lets you choose from available databases.  Note that there is a check box for Read-Only mode.  If you open a database in Read-Only mode you will not be allowed to add/delete/or modify its records.

After you open your database you will see a blank record form.  At this point you can not enter data.

Add the Data

You must be in Add Mode to enter data into the database.  This is accomplished by selecting the command Data and then Add.  A group of three buttons will appear at the bottom right of the window.  You are now able to enter information into the record form.

After you have filled in the record form select the Add button to add the new information to the database.  If you don't want to add what you have typed select the Clear button to start over.  The Cancel button will end Add Mode and the buttons will disappear.

You can also add records by hitting the <Enter> key.  This allows you to quickly add records with just the keyboard.


Viewing Information

Enter Viewing Mode

To begin viewing the information select the command Data and then View.  This puts you into viewing mode.  You will see the first record on the database.  Also, a column of six buttons will appear at the bottom right of the window.

Browse Through the Data

The Next button allows you to move through the database, viewing each record in order.  To locate a specific record see Finding Information.

To quit the view mode select the Cancel button.

Additional Options

There are additional functions you can perform in View Mode:

•	Edit the fields of the visible record and select the Modify button to modify the record on the database.

•	To add a new record that's similar to the record in view, make the changes and select the Add button.  The edited information is added as a new record to the database.  The original record remains unchanged on the database as well.

•	If you are editing a record and want to restore the original version, just use the Reset button.

•	You can delete the record in view my using the Delete button


Finding Information

Beginning the search

To begin a search, select the menu command Data and then Find.  You will be presented with a Search Criteria dialog box.  Select a field to search on and then specfiy the value you want to search for.

If the search field is a text field you may use wildcard characters in the search definition.

You can also specifiy if text field searches will be case sensitive by checking the box at the bottom of the dialog.

Select the Enter button to begin the search.  The Cancel button will abort the search.

Searching the Database

After specifying the search criteria you will see the first record which is a match.  A column of buttons also appears at the bottom right of the window giving you the following options:

•	Next - find the next record which matches the search criteria.

•	Cancel -  stop the search.

•	Add - add the edited record to the database, leaving the original copy in the database.  This button is only active after you change a field in the visible record.

•	Modify - save the modified record in place of the original copy.  This button is only active after you change a field in the visible record.

•	Reset - reset the record to it's original field values.  This button is only active after you change a field in the visible record.

•	Delete - deletes the visible record from the database.


Editing Information

Editing information can be accomplished in either the View Mode or the Find Mode.  Enter the View Mode by selecting the Data, View commands.  Enter Find Mode by  selecting the Data, Find commands and filling out the search definition.

Find the record you want to edit, then modify the fields on the screen.  Select the Modify button to put the altered record onto the database, replacing the original version.

The Add button will add the altered information to the database without deleting the original record.  This is a good way to add records which have many identical fields.


Deleting Information

Find the Record You Want to Delete

A record can be deleted once it is in view.  To bring a record into view, either use the Data, View commands to browse through the database in View Mode, or use Data, Find to search for the record you want using Find Mode.

Delete The Record

Select the Delete button to delete the record from the database.


Printing the Database

Setting up the Printer

You can set up your printer by selecting the File menu command and the Printer Setup.  A dialog box appears which lets you configure your printer.  You can also reach this dialog box by first selecting the Print command and then Setup from the Print dialog box.

Printing

To begin printing the database select the menu command File and then Print.  The Print dialog box allows you to set some options for the print job.  The Setup button will let you configure your printer.

Select the OK button to begin printing.  While the database is printing you can select the Cancel button to terminate the print job.


Field Types

Text

A text field contains any combination alphanumeric characters.  This type of field is used to hold any information that doesn't fit into the other field types.  Text fields allow for wildcard searches.

Integer

Integers are whole numbers that can range from - 2,147,483,648 to +2,147,483,647.  When inputing an integer always omit the commas.

Decimal

Decimals are numbers which may not be whole numbers.  Decimals have an accuracy of about 15 digits.

Money

Money fields will show the currency as well as a decimal number.  When inputing money fields you do not have to type the currency symbol.

Time

A Time field has the hour, minutes, seconds, and AM or PM separated by colons (:).  Some examples of valid times are:  1:0:0:am, 5:30:00:PM, 8:25:42:AM.

Date

A date field can be in one of two formats. The first format is mm/dd/yyyy.  Where mm stands for the number of the month, dd the day, and yyyy the four digit year.  Month and date can be 1 or 2 digits.  The separator can be either a slash (/) or a dash (-).

An alternative format is dd-MON-yyyy where dd is the day, MON is the three letter abbreviation for the month, and yyyy is the four digit year.  The separator can be either a slash (/) or a dash (-).

Memo (not yet implemented)


Helpful Hints

1 	EZDB works with a database in a 'live' manner.  This means any changes, additions, or deletions you do are actually made to the files on disk.  You will not have a chance to undo the modifications you make.  Making a backup copy of your database files is recommended to protect your information.

2 	Use wildcards to speed up finding information.


Wildcard Characters

Definitions

Wildcard characters can be used when searching on a text field.  The ? wildcard will match any single character.  The * wildcard matches any number of characters at the beginning or end of a string.

Examples

Search Value   Text that will match        Text that won't match

      J?m             Jim, Jam, Jem                    Jm
      Sm*             Smith, Smothers, Sm         Snazzlefrass
     *ones            Jones, trombones               cyclone


Contents

<Contents>


Field Type

<Field Types>


Find Mode

<Finding Information>


Finding Information

<Finding Information>


Overview

<Overview>


View Mode

<Viewing Information>


wildcard characters

<Wildcard Characters>


wildcard

<Wildcard Characters>