db3ScrnGen version 3.1 Page 1

Copyright 1985 David W. Terry



db3ScrnGen is a dBase III(tm) Screen Editor and Program Generator designed as
an editing environment where Screens can be easily designed and then with the
push of a button a dBase III program which reproduces and utilizes your screen
is produced.

The program is being distributed under the TRYWARE concept, that is: You may
TRY the program at your own pace, without pressure, copy protection hassles,
or paying for something you can't use. You decide for yourself if it suits your
needs.

What's the price? Nothing if you DON'T use it. If you do USE it or find it
of benefit to you, a small charge of $20.00 is required. This gives you the
right to use the program, make as many backups as necessary, receive
notification of any updates to the program, and receive one free update on
disk (others updates will be distributed either through Public Domain, or
on Disk from me at a $5.00 nominal charge for the disk, shipping and handling).

WARRANTY:
Unlike most software that today merely warrants the diskette it is supplied on,
this program is warranted that it functions as is claimed in the documentation
or in it's accompanying help screens, so long as the program, documentation or
help information is not tampered with or altered in any way.
If for any reason the program fails to perform as is claimed and you have paid
your $20.00 fee, the program will either be fixed and sent free of charge, or
you will receive your money back (minus $5.00 if you have received a copy on
disk and not returned it).


Send all money, inquires, orders, suggestions, etc. to:

David W. Terry
3036 So. Putnam Ct.
West Valley City, Ut 84120

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DESIGNING YOUR SCREENS:
-----------------------

When the program first comes up (after the initial screen), you are greeting
with a blank slate with a line down on the bottom for messages and other
information.

To create your screen, simply type on the screen as you would like the basic
screen to appear, putting in the names of Input or Output fields, dbase III
functions, etc.

For Example:


[Time()] dBase III Input Screen [Date()]
============================================================================

Please Enter the following:

Name: [Name]

Address: [Address]

City: [City] State: [State] Zip: [ZipCode]



In the above example, the the brackets [] are including only to show which
areas will then be given a meaning as explained below.

The names TIME(), DATE(), NAME, ADDRESS, CITY, STATE and ZIPCODE are all
either Input, Output, or Input/Output fields. These can be marked by
positioning the cursor at the beginning of one of the fields and pressing
[Alt-B] then moving to the end of the field and pressing [Alt-B] once again to
mark the area, then press either [F3] or [F4] to designate the field as an
input or output field.

For Example:

To designate TIME() as an output field, move the cursor to the letter "T"
press [Alt-B], move the cursor to the ")" and press [Alt-B]. The field is
now highlighted (this is the same for block copy, block move, and block fill).
Now press the [F3] key to designate the marked block as an Output Field.

To designate NAME as an Input/Output field, do the same as the above
to highlight the block, then press [F4] to designate the field for Input or
Output (dBase naturally prints the current contents of NAME before allowing
performing the GET in an @ say...get statement).

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GETTING HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT:
------------------------------

Pressing the [F1] Help key at any time will give you help as to what keys
have what meanings when using the program. If there is insufficient information
on the Help screen, you may get more detailed information by pressing the key
in question.

For Example: To find out what the key combination [Alt-B] does, simply
press [F1] to view the main help screen then hold down
the [Alt] key while typing the letter [B].



GENERATING THE DBASE PROGRAM:
-----------------------------

To generate the program which will print the screen you have designed,
outputting the output fields and reading in the input fields, simply press
the [F7] key. Then enter the name of the program to generate (for example:
MYPROG.PRG). That's all there is to it.



SAVING YOUR SCREENS:
--------------------

Pressing [F10] will save the screen as you have designed it, making changes
to your program a simple matter of loading in the screen, modifying it, and
then re-generating the program. (Example: MYSCREEN).
NOTE that a '.SCN' is appended to the file name.


LOADING YOUR SCREENS:
---------------------

Loading your previously saved Screens requires you to press the [F8] key, and
then enter the name you used to save the screen. (Example: MYSCREEN).
NOTE that a '.SCN' is appended to the file name.


VIEWING A DIRECTORY:
--------------------

To view a directory, whether it be the default, another directory, or a
directory on another disk, simply press [Alt-D] and then enter the path
information including wildcards etc, the same as you would at the DOS prompt.
(Example: C:\DBASE\*.PRG).

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This program was originally developed as an aid for myself and my colleagues
in quickly producing nice looking screens for dBase III programs. We are
heavy users of dBase III and realizing that the time spent encoding a program
is often the most expensive part of the development costs, this program
was therefore intended to be quick, easy to use, and yet powerful.

I encourage anyone who is currently written dBase III code to at least take
a look at the program and try it out. If it doesn't suit your needs, you
have three choices: 1) write a letter, I'll see if I can help, 2) give the
program to someone who can use it, or 3) erase it and never use it again,
hmmmm, nobody would do that would they???