
                   VCRBase, Version 2.0

VCRBase  maintains a database of your video collection in 
a  practical and powerful manner.  The entry field format 
takes  into  account  the  wide  variety of ways in which 
different   people   collect  different  kinds  of  video 
presentations.   The  sort  and find features, especially 
when  key phrases and comments are carefully thought out, 
provide   a   powerful  means  of  selective  information 
retrieval  with  the accuracy and speed available only by 
computers.



                      The Main Menu


The Main Menu is the central focus of the program.


From  here,  you  can  choose to see entries currently on 
file, add an entry, or quit the program.


To  choose  one of the above options, use the spacebar or 
arrow  keys  to  highlight the option and press the ENTER 
key.


                       See Entries

Choosing  this  option allows you to examine your entries 
currently  on  file.   You  are  first  asked whether you 
would like to see all the entries, or certain entries.

If  you select "All Entries", you are asked to select how 
you  wish  the list sorted.  Highlight one of the options 
and press the ENTER key.

If  you select "Certain Entries", you are asked to choose 
which  field  you wish to find by.  You are then asked to 
type  the phrase, word, or partial word you wish found in 
that field for all your entries.

                  Displaying the Results

Whether  you choose "All" or "Certain" entries, your data 
file  is  sorted  and/or  entries found very quickly. The 
program  then displays the first of a list of your sorted 
or found entries.

At this point you have several options:  You may
F2 -  Printout one or all of the listed entries,
F4 -  Modify any field in the currently displayed entry,
F8 -  Delete the currently displayed entry, or
Esc - Return to the Main Menu.

Simply press the appropriate key.

                     Adding an Entry


This  entry  screen  was  designed to facilitate entry of 
various   kinds  of  video  presentations.   Whether  you 
collect  only  movies,  or TV documentaries, or a mixture 
of  video  presentations, you should be able to make your 
entries here in a practical manner.

If  you  wish  to abort an entry, simply press the Escape 
key at any time...

Let's  look  at  each  field  of the entry screen in more 
detail below--

Show Title:

     If it's a movie, TV show, etc., enter its title.
     
     NOTE:  In    order   to   let   the   program   sort 
            realistically,  enter  titles that start with 
            "The" or "A" as follows:  Dirty Bunch, The

Episode Title:

     This  is  a  subset  description of the show title.  
     For  instance, if this is a TV show entry, enter the 
     title  of  the  episode.   If it's the third part of 
     PBS  series  on whatever, enter "The Immune System", 
     or   "Spiders",   etc.    If   it's   an   ABC  News 
     presentation,   enter   "Evening  News",  or  "Night 
     Line", etc.

(c) Date/Year:

     Almost     all    commercial    presentations    are 
     copyrighted,  and  many people like to keep track of 
     that.   If  it's  a home video recording, you should 
     enter the date of the recording.

Starring:

     Here  you may enter the name(s) of those persons who 
     are  in  the  recording,  whether  it's a commercial 
     video  or  a  private  recording.  If you enter more 
     than  one  person's  name,  enter  the  primary name 
     first.   That  will be the name the program sorts on 
     when requested.
     
     NOTE:  In    order   to   let   the   program   sort 
            realistically,  enter  names  in  the  format 
            LastName, FirstName.
            
            i.e.: Capshaw, Kate
                  Post, Markie

Tape Label/#:

     Most  people  label  their  tapes  in  some  manner, 
     usually  with some kind of numbering system.  If you 
     do, you can enter the label or number here.

Tape Counter:

     If  there  is  more than one video presentation on a 
     particular  tape,  enter the tape counter number for 
     the beginning of this particular presentation.

Length:

     Enter  the  length  of  the  presentation  in  total 
     minutes.

Key Phrases:

     If  used  wisely,  this  is  the most powerful field 
     entry  you  can  make.  Here you may enter key words 
     or  phrases that can be later used to associate this 
     entry  with  any other entries that also include the 
     same  key  word or phrase.  This allows you to user-
     define  any  associative  indexing  system you wish, 
     and  later  create  a  sub-list based solely on your 
     indexing preference.
     
     For  example,  suppose  it's  important to you to be 
     able  to find and display lists according whether an 
     entry  is  a  comedy, documentary, drama, game show, 
     etc.  If  this is the case, make sure to note in the 
     Key  Phrase  field  of  all  entries  whether it's a 
     comedy,  game  show,  etc.  Then, at any later time, 
     you  can  create  a  sub-list,  for instance, of all 
     game  show programs by choosing (from the Main Menu) 
     "See  Items",  "Certain Items", "by Key Phrase", and 
     then  type  "Game"  in  the input box that appears.  
     The  program  will  then search, find, and present a 
     sub-list  of  all  entries that have the word "Game" 
     in their Key Phrase field!

Comments:

     This  field  reflects  my  awareness as a programmer 
     that  it's impossible to design an entry screen that 
     will   satisfy   everybody.    Here  you  may  enter 
     anything  that you think should be entered and isn't 
     provided for elsewhere.
     
     As  an additional benefit, this field is included in 
     the  "Certain  Items"  options, so you can find this 
     entry  by  telling the program to search all comment 
     fields for a certain phrase, word, or partial word.


Quit the program:

     You  will  be  asked  to confirm.  If you press "y", 
     the  program  will  exit.   If  you  press  "n", the 
     program will return to the Main Menu.
