Category : Databases and related files
Archive   : DATAMAGE.ZIP
Filename : RECDMCRO.HLP

"MACRO RECORDING HELP"

"A MACRO is like a computer program; a way to do a job needing done."
"Unlike any programming language I know of, the user resorts to no syn-"
"tax, text editor nor compiler. To write a program in this non-language"
"you need know only two commands: START and STOP."

"After you issue the start, or begin MACRO recording, command you will"
"enter a MS-DOS legal filename and a description of what the macro does"
"containing up to 35 characters. The speaker will beep, and the dialog"
"box will announce that MACRO RECORDING HAS BEGUN."

"You will then return to browse. The RECORD ENTRY, RE-NUMBER RECORDS,"
"LOAD ANOTHER FILE and END PROGRAM functions are now off-line and will"
"not be operable until you end the MACRO."

"Now, do the job in your normal manner. As you perform your work the"
"program will record the multi-record functions you select, and the"
"parameters you specify. The only exception to this is the I/O group."
"Always set up the I/O group from within the MACRO, unless you want all"
"datas to be listed in your reports. The MACRO merely records, then"
"re-loads, the I/O group you set up, however you do it."

"When your job is finished press Ctrl-F1 again and close your completed"
"MACRO file. Examine the results of your efforts carefully and, if you"
"made any mistakes, delete the MACRO and start over."

"Only multi-record functions will be recorded in the MACRO. You may"
"display records and change the primary/secondary data displays but the"
"macro will not repeat these operations. The purpose of the MACROs is"
"to facilitate rapid execution of the operations necessary to assemble"
"or extrapolate data needed frequently. They also provide a way for an"
"employee to get data he/she needs, though perhaps is incapable of dir-"
"ecting the program to generate, and get it consistently and correctly."