Category : Dbase (Clipper, FoxBase, etc) Languages Source Code
Archive   : DB4TUTR.ZIP
Filename : DBASE4.DOC
dBASE
IV
WITH EASE
QUICK
REFERENCE
MANUAL
THE ULTIMATE TRAINING TUTORIAL FROM: R&D
In less than 2 hours, you will have learned to create, edit,
and print a sophisticated document with dBASE IV. You will
be able to create a data entry form, report, and even your
own application program. R&D's training will even teach
you how to use dBASE IV's powerful command mode. You will be
well on your way to mastering the skills needed to use dBASE IV
with confidence in your professional career.
GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR R&D TRAINING PROGRAM
Getting Prepared
- Follow the instructions that came with your
computer to start up your system.
- Place your R&D training program diskette
in drive A:
- Display the C:> prompt on your screen.
If you are using drive B:
- Place your R&D training program diskette in
drive B:
- Display the C:> prompt on your screen.
Begin
- Type C:> R&D
Don't worry about uppercase or lower case letters.
- Press the ENTER key.
In a few moments, a question will appear on your screen
asking you whether or not you have a color monitor. After
you answer the question with a Y or N you will begin
your training.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Displays the value of one or more ?/??
expressions.
Sends output directly to the printer. ???
Displays or accepts information in a @@
specified format at a given set of screen
coordinates.
@CLEARS A PORT = Clears a portion of the @@...CLEAR
screen or of the active window.
@...CLEARALLOW = Allows you to change the @@...FILL
colors of a specific rectangular region on
your screen or active window.
@...FILLDRAWS = Draws a box on the screen or @@...TO active
window with single lines, double lines, or
specified characters.
@...TOCREATES = Creates a character memory ACCEPT
variable for storage of keyboard entries.
Activates an existing bar menus and ACTIVATE MENU
displays it for use.
Activates a previously defined pop-up for ACTIVATE POPUP
use.
Restores access to the entire CRT screen. ACTIVATE SCREEN
Activates and displays a defined window ACTIVATE WINDOW
from memory and directs all output to
that window.
Allows you to add new records to the end APPEND
of the active database file.
Copies records from an existing file to APPEND FROM
the end of the active database file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Adds record to a database file from APPEND FROM ARRAY
information in an array.
Imports a file into a named memo field. APPEND MEMO
Gives you access to dBASE IV's Control ASSIST
Center.
Computes the arithmetic mean of numeric AVERAGE
expressions.
Starts a transaction, records changes BEGIN/END
made to a file and provides the option TRANSACTION
to rollback the changes. Also ends the
transaction an commits the changes.
Full screen, menu assisted mode for BROWSE
editing and appending records in a
database file.
Computes financial and statistical CALCULATE
functions with your data.
Allows you to call binary file program CALL
modules loaded in memory.
Stops the execution of a command file, CANCEL
closes all open files and returns to the
dot prompt.
Full-screen command to display or change CHANGE
the contents of a record in the active
database file.
Erases the screen and repositions the CLEAR
cursor to the lower left-hand corner of
the screen.
Used to close alternate, database, format, CLOSE
index and procedure files.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Reads a file containing dBASE IV source COMPILE
code, and creates an executable object
code file.
Searches for the next record in the active CONTINUE
database file that meets the condition
specified by the most recent LOCATE command.
Adds a field to a database file's structure CONVERT
which holds information required for
multi-user lock detection.
Duplicates all or part of an active COPY
database file, creating a new file.
Creates a duplicate of any file. COPY FILE
Converts a list of index (.ndx) files into COPY INDEXES
file tags in a single .mdx (multiple index)
file.
Copies the information from a single memo COPY MEMO
field to another file.
Copies the structure of the active database COPY STRUCTURE
file to a new file, but does not copy any
records.
Creates a new database file whose records COPY STRUCTURE
contain the structure of the current file. EXTENDED
Converts multiple index (.mdx) file tags COPY TAG
into index (.ndx) files.
Fills an existing array with the contents COPY TO ARRAY
of one or more records from the active
database file.
Tallies the number of records in the active COUNT
database file that match specified
conditions.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Allows access to the database file design CREATE or
screen. MODIFY STRUCTURE
Forms a new database file from the structure CREATE FROM
created with the COPY STRUCTURE EXTENDED
command.
Builds a view (.vue) file that is compatible CREATE VIEW FROM
with dBASE III PLUS. ENVIRONMENT
Allows access to the dBASE IV Applications CREATE/MODIFY
Generator. APPLICATION
Allows access to the dBASE IV label CREATE/MODIFY LABEL
designer.
Allows access to the query design screen. CREATE/MODIFY
QUERY/VIEW
Allows access to the report designer. CREATE/MODIFY
REPORT
Allows access to the forms design screen. CREATE/MODIFY
SCREEN
Deactivates the active bar menu and erases DEACTIVATE MENU
it from the screen, while leaving it in
memory.
Erases the active popup menu from the DEACTIVATE POPUP
screen while leaving it intact in memory.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Deactivates specified windows and removes DEACTIVATE WINDOW
them from the screen, without releasing
them from memory.
Allows access to the dBASE IV program DEBUG
debugger.
Creates one- or two-dimensional arrays of DECLARE
memory variables.
Defines a single option in a popup menu. DEFINE BAR
Defines a box to be printed around lines DEFINE BOX
of text.
Assigns a name to a bar menu and associates DEFINE MENU
an optional message with the menu name.
Defines a single pad in a bar menu. DEFINE PAD
Defines a pop-up window's name, location, DEFINE POPUP
border, prompts, and message line.
Defines windows, borders and screen colors DEFINE WINDOW
for windows.
Marks records in the active database file DELETE
for deletion.
Deletes the indicated tags from multiple DELETE TAG
index (.mdx) files and closes index
(.ndx) files.
Displays directory information similar to DIR
that displayed by the DOS DIR command.
Similar to the list commands, only displays DISPLAY
one screen of information at a time.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Executes a dBASE command file or procedure. DO
Structured programming command that DO CASE
selects only one course of action from a
set of alternatives.
Structured programming command that allows DO WHILE
command statements between it and its
associated ENDDO to be repeated as long as
the specified condition is true.
Full-screen command to display or change EDIT
the contents of a record in the active
database file.
Causes the printer to advance to the top EJECT
of the next page.
Either advances the streaming output to EJECT PAGE
the defined ON PAGE handler on the current
page, or to the beginning of the next page.
Removes a file from the disk directory. ERASE
Copies the open database file to a file EXPORT
format usable by PFS:FILE, dBASE II,
Framework II, or RapidFile.
Searches and indexed database file for the FIND
first record with an index key the matches
the specified character string or number.
Identifies a user-defined function within FUNCTION
a procedure.
Positions the record pointer to a specified GO/GOTO
record in the active database file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Menu-driven command that provides HELP
information about dBASE IV.
Structured programming command that enables IF
conditional processing of commands.
Creates dBASE IV files from PFS:FILE forms, IMPORT
dBASE II database files, Framework II
database and spreadsheet frames, RapidFile
data files and Lotus .WK1 spreadsheets.
Creates and index in which record from a INDEX
database file are ordered.
Used in dBASE programs to prompt a user INPUT
to enter an expression from the keyboard.
Data entry is terminated by using the ENTER
key.
Adds a single new record to the database INSERT
file at the current record location.
Creates a new database file by merging JOIN
specified records and fields from two open
database files.
Uses a specified label format file designed LABEL FORM
with MODIFY LABEL to print, display or write
labels to a file on disk.
Used to view the contents of a database file LIST/DISPLAY
in an unformatted columnar list.
Displays directory information similar to LIST/DISPLAY FILES
that displayed by the DOS DIR command.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Outputs a list of commands that have been LIST/DISPLAY HISTORY
executed and are stored in the history buffer.
Provides information on how dBASE IV is LIST/DISPLAY MEMORY
using the computer's memory.
Provides information about the current LIST/DISPLAY STATUS
dBASE IV session.
Displays the field definitions of the LIST/DISPLAY
specified database file. STRUCTURE
Identifies the workstations currently LIST/DISPLAY USERS
logged in to dBASE IV in a networking
environment.
Allows the user to load binary files LOAD
into memory.
Searches the active database file for a LOCATE
record that matches a specified condition.
Logs out the current user and sets up a LOGOUT
new log-in screen.
dBASE IV full-screen text editor. MODIFY COMMAND/FILE
See CREATE commands. MODIFY
Moves a window to a new location on the MOVE WINDOW
screen.
Indicators for comment lines in a program NOTE/*/&&
(.prg) file.
Call the execution of a program if an error ON ERROR/ESCAPE/KEY
occurs, the ESC key is pressed, or the
<
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Associates a pop-up menu with a pad of a ON PAD
given bar menu.
Triggers and action when the streaming ON PAGE
output reaches a particular line on the
current page during a ?/?? or EJECT PAGE
command.
Used for error trapping and recovery during ON READERROR
full-screen operations.
Associates an action with a bar menu pad. ON SELECTION PAD
Specifies the command or procedure that ON SELECTION POPUP
executes when a pop-up menu selection is
made.
Removes records that are marked for PACK
deletion from the active database file.
Assigns local variable names to data items PARAMETERS
passed from a calling program.
Used to execute macros from the current PLAY MACRO
macro library.
Structured programming commands that PRINTJOB/ENDPRINTJOB
control a printjob.
Allows the user to create local memory PRIVATE
variables in a lower-level program with
the same names as memory variables that
were created in a calling program.
Identifies the beginning of a subroutine. PROCEDURE
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Creates and maintains security on a PROTECT
dBASE IV system.
Designates specified memory variables and PUBLIC
array elements that you can use and alter
in any dBASE program or subprogram.
Closes all open files, terminates the QUIT
dBASE IV session, and returns control to
the operating system.
Activates all @...GET's issued since the READ
late CLEAR, CLEAR ALL, CLEAR GETS, or READ
command.
Reinstate records that are marked for RECALL
deletion in the active database file.
Rebuilds all active index (.ndx) and REINDEX
multiple index (.mdx) files in the current
working area.
Deletes memory variables, opening memory RELEASE
space for other use.
Changes the name of a file. RENAME
Changes the contents of specified fields in REPLACE
the active database file.
Prints information from the active database REPORT FORM
using a report form created by CREATE/MODIFY
REPORT.
Removes the integrity tag from a file. RESET
Retrieves and activates memory variables RESTORE
and arrays from a memory file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Restores macros that were saved to the RESTORE MACROS
current macro library.
Restores window definitions from a disk RESTORE WINDOW
file to memory.
Works in conjunction with SUSPEND, it RESUME
causes a SUSPENDed program to continue
executing.
Re-executes a command sequence that RETRY
caused an error.
Restores control to calling programs, RETURN
the dot prompt or the Control Center.
Restores the database and index files ROLLBACK
to the state they were in before the
current transaction.
Executes a specified DOS command, or any RUN/!
program which can be executed by DOS, from
within dBASE IV.
Stores all or part of the current set of SAVE
memory variables and array elements to a
disk file.
Saves the currently defined macros from SAVE MACROS
memory to a disk file.
Saves window definitions to a disk file. SAVE WINDOW
Simplified alternative to the DO WHILE SCAN
command.
Searches for the first record in an indexed SEEK
database file with a key that matches a
specified expression.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Used to choose a work area in which to open SELECT
a database file.
Displays a bar menu without activating it. SHOW MENU
Displays a pop-up menu without activating SHOW POPUP
it.
Moves the record pointer forward or SKIP
backward in a database file.
Creates a new database file in which SORT
the records of the active database file
are positioned in the ASCII order of the
specified key fields.
Initializes one or more memory variables STORE
after creating them.
Totals numeric expressions to memory SUM
variables or arrays.
Debugging command to interrupt a running SUSPEND
program.
Outputs blocks of text to the screen or TEXT
printer.
Sums the numeric fields of the active TOTAL
database file and creates a second database
file to hold the results.
Displays the contents of an ASCII text file. TYPE
Release record and file locks so that other UNLOCK
users can modify data.
Uses data from another database file to UPDATE
replace fields in the current database file.
COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Opens an existing database file, and may USE
open .mdx and .ndx index files.
Causes all dBASE IV processing to pause WAIT
until any key is pressed.
Removes all records from the active ZAP
database file.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Records all output other than that of SET ALTERNATE
full-screen commands to a text file.
Saves each record to the disk after a SET AUTOSAVE
single I/O operation.
Turns the bell off or on, and sets its SET BELL
frequency and duration.
Changes the default blocksize of memo SET BLOCKSIZE
fields and multiple (.mdx) files.
Changes the default border of menus, SET BORDER
windows, and @ commands from a single-line
box to several other user defined border
characters.
Updates all fields, or only specified SET CARRY
fields, depending on the syntax used.
Used to create or open a catalog file. SET CATALOG
Allows the input and display of century SET CENTURY
prefixes in the year portion of dates.
Controls the display and screen position SET CLOCK
of the system clock.
Allows the selection of colors and display SET COLOR
attributes for use on color and monochrome
monitors.
Determines cursor movement at the end of an SET CONFIRM
array field.
Turns the screen display on and off from SET CONSOLE
within a program.
Changes the symbol used for currency. SET CURRENCY
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Changes the position of the currency symbol SET CURRENCY
from the left of the currency amount to the LEFT/RIGHT
right of the currency amount.
Determines the format for date displays. SET DATE
Tool for locating errors in a program. SET DEBUG
Determines the number of decimal places SET DECIMALS
dBASE IV displays for the results of
numeric functions and calculations.
Allows the user to select the drive SET DEFAULT
where all operations take place and all
files are stored.
Determines whether records that are marked SET DELETED
for deletion are included or ignored by
other dBASE IV commands.
Determines how field widths are indicated SET DELIMITERS
in the full-screen mode.
Prevents transfers to design mode from the SET DESIGN
dot prompt or from the Control Center.
Activates a checking program in dBASE IV SET DEVELOPMENT
which compares the creation dates of the
compiled object (.obj) file with its program
source (.prg) file.
Determines whether @...Say commands are SET DEVICE
routed to the screen, printer, or a file.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Selects between a monochrome and a color SET DISPLAY
monitor, and determines the number of lines
displayed.
Retained in dBASE IV for compatibility with SET DOHISTORY
dBASE III PLUS.
Displays command lines from dBASE IV SET ECHO
programs on the screen and/or printer as
they are executed.
Establishes whether a newly created SET ENCRYPTION
database file is encrypted if PROTECT is
used.
Lets you halt the processing of a dBASE IV SET ESCAPE
program by pressing the ESC key.
Determines whether a comparison between SET EXACT
two character strings requires the strings
to be the same length.
Allows a user to open a database file on a SET EXCLUSIVE
multi-user system for exclusive use.
Defines a list of fields that may be SET FIELDS
accessed by one or more files.
Allows display of only those records of a SET FILTER
database that meet a specified condition.
Retained in dBASE IV for compatibility with SET FIXED
dBASE III PLUS.
Allows a form to be used with the READ, SET FORMAT
EDIT, APPEND, INSERT, CHANGE, or BROWSE
commands.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Makes dBASE III PLUS programs that contain SET FULLPATH
the functions MDX(), NDX(), and DBF()
dBASE IV compatible by suppressing the
display of the full pathname.
Used to program a function key. SET FUNCTION
Determines whether or not column titles are SET HEADING
shown above each field for LIST, DISPLAY SUM
and AVERAGE.
Determines whether a pop-up window with SET HELP
dBASE IV Help options appears, when a
command is incorrectly entered at the dot
prompt.
Stores executed commands in a history SET HISTORY
buffer.
Changes the time display to either a SET HOURS
12-hour or 24-hour clock.
Opens the specified index files, both SET INDEX
index (.ndx) and multiple index (.mdx).
Enables the display of prompts. SET INSTRUCT
Determines whether the enhanced screen SET INTENSITY
attribute is used for full-screen operations.
Determines whether a lock is applied to SET LOCK
records in multi-user systems.
Adjusts the printer offset for the left SET MARGIN
margin for all printed output. Does not
affect video display.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Changes the delimiter character used to SET MARK
separate the month, day and year in the date
display.
Adjusts the width of memo field output. SET MEMOWIDTH
Used for dBASE III PLUS only. SET MENU
Displays a user-defined character string on SET MESSAGE
the bottom line of the screen is SET STATUS
is on.
Positions the database file to the record SET NEAR
immediately following the potential location
of the sought-after key in that file.
Defines the update interval of the record SET ODOMETER
counter for commands that display a record
count.
Sets up any open index file or tag as the SET ORDER
master index.
Specifies the directory search route that SET PATH
dBASE IV follows to find files that are not
included in the current directory.
Controls the display of the SQL SELECT SET PAUSE
command, and stops the display of data
after each command.
Changes the character used for the decimal SET POINT
point.
Determines the number of digits that SET PRECISION
dBASE IV uses internally in all math
operations the use type N numbers.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Directs all output not formatted with the SET PRINTER
@...Say command to the printer or to a file.
Opens a named procedure file. SET PROCEDURE
Specifies the time interval between file SET REFRESH
checks on a network.
Links two open database files according SET RELATION
to a key expression that is common to both
files.
Sets the number of times dBASE IV tries a SET REPROCESS
network file or record lock command before
producing an error message.
Prevents the unintentional overwriting of SET SAFETY
an existing file.
If SET SCOREBOARD is on and SET STATUS SET SCOREBOARD
is off, display toggles for Num, Ins, Del
and Caps on line 0 of the screen.
SET COMMANDS
FUNCTION KEYSTROKE
Changes the symbol used for the numeric SET SEPARATOR
separator from the comma to a specified
character.
Allow access to all records in linked files SET SKIP
that match a particular key.
Lets the ? and ?? commands print a space SET SPACE
between the printed expressions.
Activates the interactive SQL mode in SET SQL
dBASE IV.
Determines whether the status bar is SET STATUS
displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Halts the execution of a program after SET STEP
each instruction.
Determines whether the response to certain SET TALK
dBASE IV commands is displayed.
Turns the catalog file title prompt on SET TITLE
and off.
Activates the debugger when a error occurs SET TRAP
in a program or ESC is pressed.
Specifies the size of the type-ahead SET TYPEAHEAD
buffer.
Determines whether all records with the SET UNIQUE
same key value are included in the index
(.ndx) or the multiple index (.mdx) file.
Performs a query created in the Control SET VIEW
Center or from the dot prompt.
Sets a default window that allows you to SET WINDOW
edit a memo field within this default window.
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