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SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:

AUTOFILE is an easy to use program that allows the user
to store all types of data in a logical and easily retriev-
able form. The "AUTOFILE" you create is actually three
files: a keyword list, an index of location pointers, and
the data file. The data is stored in units called pages.
A page is equal to one screen of eighty columns by twenty
lines.

The data to be stored is typed on the screen in a
completely free-form manner, indexed on up to fourty-two key-
words, and saved as one page. When recalled, the page will be
re-displayed exactly as it was typed.

Data retrieval can be done by selecting one of your
pre-defined keywords, or by a simple sequential string search.
Because of its unstructured approach, AUTOFILE can be used for
a variety of applications. You can store inventory records,
keep a list of special events, store recipes and index on
major ingredients, etc.

MINIMUM SYSTEM CONFIGURATION:

- 64K IBM PC
- One Disk Drive
- Eighty-Column Display

GETTING STARTED:

Follow these steps to begin a new file:

PROMPT YOUR RESPONSE
------ -------------

1) A> AUTOFILE (You must have
an AUTOFILE.BAT file
which contains the command
BASIC AUTOFILE /S:512

2) > Enter filespec: Enter a filename of 1-8
characters. You may use
a drive spec, but NOT an
extension.

3) > File Not Found.
Create? (Y or N) Y

Program will now initialize the required files and display
the Maintenance Menu.

MAINTENANCE MENU:

The last line of the screen is used by the program to
display menu choices, ask for responses, or give informational
or error messages. The error messages will flash and program
execution will be suspended until the ESC key is pressed.




The Maintenance Menu displays the following choices:

K - Keywords D - Data E - End Program

Keywords -- Takes you to the Keyword Maintenance
Sub-Menu where you may add or delete
keywords.
Data -- Takes you to the Data Maintenance
Sub-Menu where you may perform several
operations on your Data Pages/Screens.
End Program -- Closes files and returns you to the DOS
'A>' prompt.

INDEX MAINTENANCE MENU:

The keyword maintenance sub-menu displays the following
choices:

A - Add D - Delete R - Return to Menu

Add -- Add keywords to the list.
Delete -- Delete keywords from the list.
Return -- Returns you to the manintenance menu.

Keywords can be from 2 to 12 characters long. When a
page of data is to be saved, it will be searched for these
keywords. If one or more is found, the location of the page
will be added to a chain of pointers associated with that
keyword. Keywords may be added or deleted at any time, but
it is more efficient to select all the keywords you will
need when first creating the file. When a keyword is added
later, the entire data file will be searched to build the
chain for that keyword.

DATA MAINTENANCE MENU:

The data maintenance sub-menu displays the following
choices:

A - Add E - Edit D - Delete P - Print N - Next
F - Find R - Return

Add -- Add a page of data. See Special Heading
on full screen mode.
Edit -- Make changes to the displayed page. See
special heading on full screen mode.
Delete -- Delete the page currently displayed.
Print -- Print the page currently displayed.
Next -- Display the next page of data using the
same criteria as the previous Find.
Find -- Retrieve pages of data either by keyword
chain or sequential string search. When
prompted enter the number of the keyword
or a string of characters to search for.
When performing a string search, the
system will consider capital letters to
be different from their lower case form.
(It's suggested that you enter all data in
upper case for safety's sake!)
Return -- Returns you to the maintenance menu.








FULL SCREEN MODE:

When you have selected the functions of Add or Edit on
the Data Maintenance Menu, the cursor moves above the heavy
white line. You are now in the full screen mode. You may
type your data anywhere between the heavy line and the
screen title, in any form you wish. While in this mode
certain keys perform special functions.

Up/Down Arrows : Moves the cursor up or down one
line while remaining in the same
column.
Left/Right Arrows : Moves the cursor left or right
one space without erasing the
displayed characters.
Left Tab : Positions the cursor at the
beginning of the current line.
Right Tab : Positions the cursor at the
end of the current line.
PgUp : Positions the cursor at the
beginning of the first line.
PgDn : Positions the cursor at the
beginning of the last line.
Home : Positions the cursor at the
beginning of the first line.
Ins : Inserts one space into the current
line at the cursor position after
shifting the line from the cursor
to the right.
Del : Deletes the character the cursor
is on then shifts the remainder of
the line to the left to fill the
gap.
F1 : Moves all the lines of data from the
cursor to the bottom down one line
and inserts a blank line. (Opens
the data).
F2 : Deletes the line that the cursor
is on then shifts all lines below
up one line to fill the gap. (Closes
the data).
F3 : Repeats the line that the cursor
is on while shifting the data down
one line to make room.
F4 : End the add or edit function, save
the page, and return to the sub-menu.
Enter key : Moves the cursor to beginning of
the line below the current line.

NOTES ON OPERATION:

* If during the course of editing a page a keyword is
deleted, the location pointer chain will not be updated.
A 'Find' command on that keyword will still display this page.
If this happens frequently you can update the pointer chain
by deleting the keyword (Keyword Maintenance Menu) and
re-adding it immediately.










* If you have several pages to delete during a seesion,
it is more efficient to delete all pages at once rather than
to delete one, edit another, delete another, and so on.

* Several AUTOFILE datasets can reside on the same
diskette. The only limitation is the amount of disk and
directory space available.

* To delete an AUTOFILE dataset simply use the DOS
DEL/Erase command and delete the three files: YOURNAME.KEY,
YOURNAME.IND, YOURNAME.DAT.

* You may leave as many blank lines as you wish between
lines of data on a page without using more disk space.
Blank lines are not written to the file.

* In general, the fewer keywords you define the faster
the program will execute. Try to use only what you need.

* Never use the break key to exit the program. The
index file and keyword file will not be updated unless the
program is ended normally (End Program).