OPTION: How is the program normally loaded and run? - You will be
presented with another table of options and you should
highlight the correct option and press <return>. There is an
added option here called "REFERENCE". This is provided for
programs which cannot be loaded from BASIC. For example a
NON BASIC program such as a PASCAL langauge file cannot be
loaded from BASIC and to attempt to do so would crash the
program so you would set the option for files such as these
to REFERENCE. All programs held on the database with options
set to REFERENCE will be denied access through the Loading
Gateway (see later in this manual). In our example we know
that Krazy Ladders is *RUN from basic so we highlight the
*RUN option and press <return>.
SOURCE: Where did the program original come from? This field
provides the space for you to enter the company name or
individual who supplied the program. Ie. Superior Software,
8-bit Software Etc. You need to enter the approproiate
details using the keyboard and press <return> when finished.
In our example Krazy Ladders was purchased from LadderSoft so
we enter this into the field and press <return>.
FILENME: The DISC filename of your program. This cannot be more than
7 characters long if the program is stored on a DFS disc, or
10 characters long if stored on an ADFS disc. Do not include
any directories or directory paths in this field - just the
filename of the program in question. In our example the disc
filename of Krazy Ladders is Krazy1 so we enter KRAZY1 and
press <return>.
DFSADFS: Simply highlight the appropriate option and press <return>.
Our Krazy Ladders program is on an ADFS disc so we highlight
ADFS disc and press <return>.
You will now be asked to CONFIRM
ABANDON or
REVISE your entries. If you ABANDON your
entries then the computer will abort the option and return to the main
menu without saving anything to the database. If you REVISE your
entries then the computer will blank the current record and return to
the top (program) field of the same record. If you CONFIRM your
entries then the computer will proceed as follows ...
Having confirmed your entries the computer will ask you for a
directory. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING VERY CAREFULLY AS THE COMPUTER
BEHAVES IN 2 DIFFERENT WAYS DEPENDING ON WHETHER DFS OR ADFS WAS
SPECIFIED ...
If you have specified the program as being held on a DFS disc, then
you may only enter ONE LETTER such as "L" or "R" etc. Pressing
<return> without entering anything defaults to the $ or Root
directory.
If you have specified the program as being held on an ADFS disc, then
you will be given a maximum of 2 lines (80 characters) to input your
directory path starting from the root ($) directory. If your entry
takes up one line or less then you will have to press <return> twice
to proceed, otherwise once is sufficient. If you enter nothing at all
(ie. just press <retrurn> twice, then the Root ($) Directory is
assumed.
______________________________________________________________________
In our example Krazy Ladders is in directory $.GAMES which we enter
onto the system and press <return> twice to proceed.
You will now, once again be asked to CONFIRM
ABANDON or
REVISE your directory entry only
if you specified the program as being ADFS format. YOU WILL NOT BE
ASKED TO CONFIRM IF YOU SPECIFIED THE PROGRAM AS BEING DFS FORMAT.
As before, if you select abandon then the whole option will be
abandoned and you will be returned to the main menu. If you select
REVISE then you will be asked to enter the ADFS directory path again.
If you confirm then the computer will proceed as follows ...
Finally, you are given the option to enter up to 3 lines of notes on
the program details you have just entered. The flashing block cursor
positioned under the heading PROGRAM NOTES indicates the computer is
ready for your input. Just start typing your notes. Do not worry
about words spilling over onto the next line as the computer will
automatically tidy or "wordwrap" your text in order to keep up
presentation. Pressing the <return> key will either take you to the
next line or will complete note entry depending on which line you are
on. In our example we can write a note such as "Basic Game involving
levels and ladders. Use Z and X for left & Right & Return to Fire".
Once you have pressed <return> from the 3rd line you will for the last
time be asked to CONFIRM
ABANDON or
REVISE your note entries. If you are happy with your
notes then select CONFIRM. If you wish to change your notes then
select REVISE. If you wish to abandon the whole record and return to
the main menu then select ABANDON.
Assuming you CONFIRMed your entry, the computer will pause for a while
as it saves the record to disc. Once completed you will be asked if
you would like to enter ANOTHER record or FINISH record entry. If you
select ANOTHER then the computer will move onto the next blank record
and offer it for completion, otherwise you are returned to the main
menu. This concludes how to ADD programs to the database. You might
like to carry on adding a few more records until you think you have
got the hang of it.
3.6 Browsing Facilities
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once you have entered a few records onto your database, you might like
to look through the information held on your database with no specific
search pattern in mind. The Browsing Facilities option is provided
for general viewing and printing of records. Select "Browsing
Facilities" from the main menu and press <Return>. You will shortly
be presented with a blank record screen and the computer will prompt
you for a RECORD No. Pressing <Return> at this point will
automatically select the first record on the database. However, if
you would like to start your browsing at record 10 for example, you
would enter 10 at the RECORD No prompt and press <Return>.
Once you have decided where to start your browsing, the computer will
display the record details on the screen and provide a sub-menu in the
lower half of the screen similar to the illustration which follows ...
______________________________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM : Krazy Ladders
CATEGORY : GAME
DISC : GAM01
OPTION : *RUN
SOURCE : LadderSoft
FILENAME : Krazy1
DFS ADFS : ADFS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FORWARDS
BACKWARDS
PRINTER
SCREEN
RECORD
FINISH
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RECORD No 1
As before, you must use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to highlight your
desired option before pressing the <Return> key. The first two
options on the sub-menu (FORWARDS and BACKWARDS) will move you either
FORWARDS one record or BACKWARDS one record on the database depending
on which option you select. The record number currently showing is
always indicated on the bottom right of the screen. The other shown
on the sub-menu have the following effect ...
3.6.1:- PRINTER
This command provides the option to send records details to the
printer. You can either dump the whole database onto the printer, or
you can specify which record to START printing at and FINISH printing
at. Upon selecting the PRINTER command you will be prompted for a
"START RECORD No". Enter the record number you wish to START printing
at and press <return>. If you leave the field blank (ie. just press
<return>) then the computer defaults to the first record in the
database. Secondly you will be asked for a "STOP RECORD No".
Likewise this is the record number to FINISH printing at, and as
before, leaving this record blank will default to the LAST record on
the database. Finally you must confirm that your printer is on-line
and ready to print by entering "Y" and pressing <return>.
3.6.2:- SCREEN
This option will start listing all record NAMES and numbers on the
screen starting from the record number at which you are browsing. The
option to jump to a specific record number is provided at the end of
each screen of data, and also when the computer reaches the end of the
database.
3.6.3:- RECORD
This option provides the facility to directly jump to any record on
the database by entering it's number. Useful as it saves having to
step through records one by one.
3.6.4:- FINISH
This command will exit the Browsing Facilities and return you to the
main menu. Always use this command to exit Browsing Facilities so
that database records can be updated properly. Never press <break> as
this can cause loss of data.
______________________________________________________________________
3.7 Revising Facilities
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This option is very similar in operation to the Browsing Facilities,
except the option is provided to amend information held on the
database, plus the added facility of viewing and/or amending record
notes and directory paths if applicable. To enter Revising Facilities
you should highlight the appropriate option from the main menu and
press <return>. After a short pause the computer will prompt for a
RECORD No. You have the facility to jump to any record on the
database at this point by entering it's corresponding number.
Pressing <return> without entering anything will default to the first
record on the database. Once you have entered your appropriate record
number the computer will display the contents of that record on the
screen as depicted below ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM : Krazy Ladders
CATEGORY : GAME
DISC : GAM01
OPTION : *RUN
SOURCE : LadderSoft
FILENAME : Krazy1
DFS ADFS : ADFS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FORWARDS
BACKWARDS
MAINTAIN
RECORD
FINISH
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RECORD No 1
Standard facilities to move FORWARDS, BACKWARDS, jump to a RECORD and
FINISH are provided in exactly the same way as in the "Browsing
Facilities" in section 3.6 above. The extra option here is the
MAINTAIN option which, when selected, will provide you with another
sub-menu as illustrated below ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM : Krazy Ladders
CATEGORY : GAME
DISC : GAM01
OPTION : *RUN
SOURCE : LadderSoft
FILENAME : Krazy1
DFS ADFS : ADFS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE
DELETE
DRPATH
NOTES
DONE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RECORD No 1
______________________________________________________________________
These commands provide the facilities to edit part or all of a program
record. The option to view/amend NOTES and DIRECTORY PATHS is also
provided within this menu. Options when selected have the following
functions.
3.7.1 UPDATE:-
This option allows the editing of the record currently displayed at
the top of the screen. It does not allow editing of Directory Paths
or Program Notes as this is done via another option. Upon selecting
this command the cursor will jump to the first field of the record
(ie. the PROGRAM field), blank the exiting data out and await your
revised data. Pressing <return> without entering any new information
will restore the field to it's original form and move to the next one.
You should amend information exactly as if you were entering new
details, but take care that you do not unintentionally amend the
CATEGORY, OPTION or DFS ADFS fields by pressing the <return> key too
quickly. Please note that you will still have to highlight the
CORRECT OPTION when amending these fields even if you are leaving one
or more of the fields unchanged. Once you have amended the "DFS ADFS"
field and pressed <return>, you will be asked to CONFIRM
ABANDON or
REVISE your field
amendments. Selecting REVISE will restore the record to it's original
form before any amendments were made, and move the cursor to the top
field ready to re-start amending. Selecting ABANDON will abandon the
amendment and return you to the second sub-menu as illustrated in the
second diagram above. Selecting CONFIRM will amend the record on the
database, and then it to will return you to the second sub-menu as
illustrated above.
*** Important Note ***
If you amend the "DFS ADFS" field from one to the other then the
computer will ask you for a new directory path before saving the
amended details to disc. You should enter this new directory
information in the same way as adding a program record to the
database. Once your amendment is complete you will be asked to
CONFIRM, REVISE or ABANDON as normal before being returned to the
second sub-menu.
3.7.2 DELETE:-
This option acts as a DELETE/UNDELETE tag for single records.
Selecting this option will mark the current showing record for
deletion. A flashing message saying "Deletion Pending" will confirm
this. If you select DELETE again after marking the record for
deleton, then the record will be "un-deleted". For full information
on marking and deleting records, please refer to a later section in
the manual on deleting records.
3.7.3 DRPATH:-
This option will behave in one of two ways depending on whether the
current showing record has been classed as DFS or ADFS (see the DFS
ADFS field). Upon selection the computer will show the current
directory path and will prompt you to PROCEED onwards, or to CHANGE
the information displayed. Selecting PROCEED will return you back to
the second sub-menu. Selecting CHANGE will do one of the following...
If the program record has been classed as DFS then you will be
prompted for a single letter directory ie. "L". Pressing <return>
will default to the $ (root) directory and save the amendment to disc.
______________________________________________________________________
If the program record has been classed as ADFS then you will be
provided with 2 lines or 80 characters in order to specify the correct
ADFS directory path from the $ (root) directory. Make the neccessary
amendments then press <return> either once or twice until you are
asked to CONFIRM, REVISE or ABANDON your amendment. Provided you
confirm you will be returned to the second sub-menu after your
amendment has been saved to the database.
3.7.4:- NOTES
This option will display the current program notes held under the
currently selected record number and offer these notes for amending.
Selecting PROCEED will return you to the second sub-menu without
amending the notes. Selecting CHANGE will clear the existing notes
and prompt you to enter fresh ones. Do not be afraid of fitting words
onto a single line as the computer will "wordwrap" your amendments in
order to keep up the presentation of your notes. Once finished, keep
pressing <return> until asked to CONFIRM, ABANDON or REVISE your new
notes. Provided you CONFIRM your new notes will be saved and the
computer will return you to the second sub-menu.
3.7.5:- DONE
This option is selected once you have completed all necessary
amendments to the current selected record, and you will be returned to
the FIRST sub-menu as depicted in the FIRST diagram in section 3.7.
3.8 Searching Facilties
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This option is one of the most powerful on the SYSTEMS server as it
allows easy and flexible searching routines that helps to locate and
display a desired program record as easily as possible. Highlight the
"Searching Facilites" option from the main menu and press <return>.
After a short pause you will be presented with a blank record and the
computer will prompt you to ENTER SEARCH DATA. You enter search data
in much the same was as adding a new record to the database by
stepping through each field entering the search data desired. However
it is worthwhile going through each record in turn explaining how the
computer will treat such entries when searching records.
PROGRAM : This is "non case-sensitive". For example, entering
"KRAZY LADDERS" will successfully match "krazy
ladders" and "Krazy Ladders" and "KRAZY Ladders".
You can also enter partial information such as
"KRAZY" in order to search for "Krazy Ladders" or
"System Krazy" or "The Krazy Ladders" etc. If you do
enter partial or "near exact" information then you
must be sure to invoke the "Ne SEARCH" option when
prompted to (see below).
CATEGORY : If you know which category your desired program falls
into then you may enter this as it will help narrow
down the search. If you don't know then select
IGNORE FIELD from the option list.
DISC : If by any chance you DO know the disc reference then
it can be entered here. However in 90% of cases this
information will not be known, and pressing <return>
will ignore this field and move onto the next.
______________________________________________________________________
OPTION : Select an option from the table presented. If this
information is not known then select IGNORE FIELD
from the menu displayed.
SOURCE : If you know the source of the program, then enter it
here (ie. Superior Software). Field is "non case
sensitive".
FILENAME : If known, enter the DISC filename, else leave blank.
DFS ADFS : If known, enter which type of filing system the
program is stored on as this will help narrow down
the search, otherwise select IGNORE.
It is worth noting that NONE of the above field entries are mandatory
and it is indeed possible to have a totally blank search record which,
of course, will cause the computer to match every single record on the
database. You can enter as little or as many search paramaters as you
like. Obviously the more paramaters you enter, the more specific the
search will be. Once you have completed the DFS ADFS search field (or
not as the case may be) and pressed <return> you will be asked to
CONFIRM
ABANDON or
REVISE your search paramaters. ABANDONing
will return you to the main menu. REVISEing will clear all search
paramaters entered and return you back to the PROGRAM field to enter a
new set of search data.
CONFIRMing will take you to a sub-menu where you must state how the
search is to be performed. Before we go on to describe this though,
let us illustrate, using our "Krazy Ladders" example, how a typical
search pattern might look once entered onto the system...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM : Krazy
CATEGORY : GAME
DISC :
OPTION :
SOURCE :
FILENAME :
DFS ADFS : ADFS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
START Rec
SEARCH No
Ne SEARCH
To PRINTR
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In the example above, we know the program contains the name "Krazy"
and that it is a GAME. We also know that it is stored on an ADFS
format disc. Having entered this information, we must now tell the
computer how the search is to be performed by completing the 4 fields
which have appeared in the lower half of the screen. These fields
have the following meanings and should be completed as directed if
necessary ...
______________________________________________________________________
START Rec : The record number at which to commence your search. This
field should only be used if you have a good idea of
approx. what record number your desired program is stored
under as it can help reduce search times. If you have no
idea, then pressing <return> will start the search from
record 1.
SEARCH No : This field states how many records you wish to search
before abandoning the facility. Again this should only be
used if you have a good idea whereabouts in the database
your desired program is stored. Leaving this field blank
by pressing <return> will default to ALL records.
Ne SEARCH : Pressing "Y" will switch ON the "NEAR SEARCH" or "FUZZY
SEARCH" option. This field only affects the search data
entered in the PROGRAM field explained at the beginning of
section 3.8. In our example we have entered "Krazy" in
the PROGRAM field above. If we were to switch the "Ne
SEARCH" option ON by pressing Y then the computer would
match all the following ...
Krazy
Krazy Ladders
Krazy Pilots
System Krazy
The Krazy Computer
And if the "Ne SEARCH" option was switched OFF by pressing
"N" then <return>, the computer would match ...
Krazy
but the computer would NOT match ...
Krazy Ladders
Krazy Pilots
System Krazy
The Krazy Computer
Pressing <return> at this field thus leaving it blank will
automatically switch "Ne SEARCH" OFF. If you are ever in
any doubt as to how to use this option, then it is always
best to leave the Ne SEARCH on, by entering "Y" and
pressing <return>.
To PRINTR : Finally, this option allows the findings of the search to
be sent to a printer. If you would like to print the
results of your search then you can do so by entering "Y"
<return> at the prompt. Entering "N" <Return> or just
leaving the field blank by pressing <return> will switch
the PRINTER option OFF.
Once the above four fields have been completed, you will be asked to
CONFIRM, ABANDON or REVISE your entries. ABANDONing will return you
to the main menu, REVISEing will move the cursor back to the "START
Rec" field and CONFIRMing will commence the search.