Category : Databases and related files
Archive   : STAFF3.ZIP
Filename : ADDENDUM.DOC

MSC - Morariu Software Consulting
Im Mainfeld 23, D-6000 Frankfurt/M 71, Tel:069-6702652, FAX:676017
------------------------------------------------------------------


STAFF-BASE Version 3.0 - Additional features .

As any complex software, STAFF-BASE is also an evolving product
in a permanent improvement process. Additionally to minor chan-
ges, which enhance the user friendliness, and the overall effi-
ciency of the program, following major features and features have
been included.

1 - Copy a Data Block.

In the Input/Update Data-Table it is now possible to copy a data
block to an area defined by the user. To define a block you must
mark two opposite corners of the corresponding data area by
typing in . To copy the information, move the cursor to
the upper left corner of the area where the data should be co-
pied, and type .

If the target area is already filled in with information, this
will be overwritten. If the upper left corner of the data table
is positioned after the last record, all the lines of the data
block will be appended to the DB file as new records. In the
cases in which the source data block is "wider" than the remain-
ing space between the upper left corner and the right margin of
the data table, information will get lost.

2 - Replicate the content of a cell of the data-table.

This function of the data-table is useful when an information
has to be entered in many other cells, e.g. in a row, in a col-
umn, or over an specific area. You enter the data once, and copy
it using following procedure: With the cursor on the data to be
copied press , move cursor to the first definition corner
of the data area where it should be copied and press ,
move the cursor to the second definition corner and press
.

3 - CASE OPERATION:

For changing the case of the characters at a field level in one
record move the cursor to the desired field and type:

- - to change lower case in upper case.

- - to change upper case in lower case.

- (proper).





1




MSC - Morariu Software Consulting
Im Mainfeld 23, D-6000 Frankfurt/M 71, Tel:069-6702652, FAX:676017
------------------------------------------------------------------


For changing the case of the characters at field level in all
the records move the cursor to the desired field and type:

- , *, , U - to change all lower case in upper
case.

- , *, , L - to change all upper case in lower
case.

- , *, , P - to change all lower case to initial
capitals (proper).

4 - More than 3 indexes for Fast Find.

Now you can perform Fast Find operations using more than 3 Index-
es. The program is working now with sets of indexes. Each set is
containing 3 possibilities for index search. The Fast Find pull
down menu is giving the possibility to switch from one index set
to another. A total of 33 index sets, with a total of 99 simple
or combined indexes, can be defined. The additional indexes are
generated using the same command sequence: U, R, I....



5 - Complex Queries.

Additional to filtering you can use now a complex query proce-
dure. The query procedure can be selected with the command se-
quence: O, V, Q. This allows a more accurate query than the
selection by means of the Criterion option. The options are:

- Select a Query - This allows you to select among the queries
previously created.

- Create a Query - This allows you to create the query. The
creation of the query is described bellow:

- Select the first field name to be considered in the query
string, and press . At the and of the field name list
there are the possibilities to choose the parenthesis - E.G.
"(" and ")" - for the cases that nested queries are desired.

- Select with the vertical keys the relational operator to be
used. The relational operators available are: =, >, <, <>
(not equal), >=, <=, and $ (occurrence of a substring).
Confirm the desired relational operator with .






STAFF-BASE Version 3.0 - Additional features .




MSC - Morariu Software Consulting
Im Mainfeld 23, D-6000 Frankfurt/M 71, Tel:069-6702652, FAX:676017
------------------------------------------------------------------


- As next you have to enter the Value desired. The value can
be a number, a character or a date. Be careful to use the
installed date format.

- The next menu is showing the logical operators which can be
used. These are:

- AND - when both expressions are true,

- OR - when either expression is true,

- NOT - when either expression is false,

- AND NOT, and

- OR NOT.

- The last option is a closing parenthesis (")"), which
might be useful when nested queries are being set up.

- Repeat the steps listed above until the query is complete.

- You can watch the explicit query being set up in the mes-
sage line located approximately at half height of the screen
above the windows with the field names, the relational, and
the logical operators.

- After completing the query close it by pressing .

- Save the query if you want to use it again in the future. A
name has to be provided to store the query. It is a good
practice to document a query, mentioning also the file name
to which it belongs, for easier identification.

- The next menu is for defining the sorting order for the
information to be printed. After finishing the definition of
the sorting order press .

- After a while the data table with the selected records is
shown.

- Without Query - This shows the data table with all the re-
cords of the DBF file. After selecting this option the possi-
bility is given to specify the sorting order.








STAFF-BASE Version 3.0 - Additional features .




MSC - Morariu Software Consulting
Im Mainfeld 23, D-6000 Frankfurt/M 71, Tel:069-6702652, FAX:676017
------------------------------------------------------------------


6 - Use of data stored in dBASE IV format.

This version is recognizing also data stored in dBASE IV format.
You are asked if you want to convert the data to a dBASE III
format, which is actually used by STAFF. The fields using float-
ing point format are converted to standard numeric format. The
memo fields of the dBASE IV files are not converted, and the
information is getting lost. The dBASE IV indexes will not be
considered, but you can create new ones, using the STAFF index
generation facility.


7 - Dialing

If you have a modem-telephone connection installed, and the DB-
File contains valid telephone numbers you can use the dialing
function of STAFF to dial desired numbers. This might be very
useful for people phoning frequently, and using large telephone
lists. By indexing the DB-File upon the relevant fields you can
get a very efficient means to handle the telephone burden. The
telephone numbers can contain the signs (, ), and -, these being
ignored at dialing time.

The dialing function is working only from within the Fast Find,
and View/Sort Data-Tables.

After installing STAFF you have to run the program INSTDIAL.COM
in order to assign the COM Port.

For more complex dialing assistance we recommend the use of
DBSYS-DIAL. This is a program which permits the time and cost
control, re-dialing when busy, and is generating a log file.


Frankfurt am Main, 27.07.1991

















STAFF-BASE Version 3.0 - Additional features .