By: 2J3
Use: Versatile Database
Program name: DBase
Associated program/file/s: Dbdat DBsort
Language: Basic
General info: A database that I wrote for a friend
for his Commodore 64. He wanted to keep
a record of his dives.
There are 11 field headings in the
database. These headings are easily
altered, so you can tailor it to suit
your own needs.
If you want to change the number of
records in the database, then alter the
value of Q%. If you alter the value of
Q%, the database will allow for this
when loading in previously saved data.
Here follows a feeble excuse:
I wrote this program for a Commodore 64
which has no PROCedures of course. The
program uses GOSUB and GOTO which I
normally avoid.
Instructions: CHAIN"DBase"
The main menu presents you with record
1. There are a number of single
keypress choices. They are:
(F)orward Move to records.
(B)ackward with these
(G)oto commands
(A)dd. Add a new record.
(E)dit. Edit the present record.
Enter the code of the
item you wish to edit.
Note that if you enter
an empty string for the
date, you in effect
delete that record.
(L)oad. Load a previously saved
data file and field
headings. The program
will give you the option
to increase the number
of records in the
database if Q% is larger
than the number of
records in the
previously saved file.
(S)ave. Save the present data
file and field headings.
(P)rinter. Toggle printer on/off.
(U)tils. This is a sort routine.
The program "DBsort" is
loaded. Follow the
prompts to sort by any
of the fields.
Before pressing U, SAVE
your data using option S
as all data in memory
will be lost.
To alter the field headings, change the
data statement in the last lines of the
program accordingly. Remember to ensure
that there are 11 headings.
The field headings in the database are
saved and loaded with any of the data
that is entered. This means that you
can have several different databases
all of different sizes which will all
run from the same program.
By: 2J3
Use: Test/revision database
Program name: selftes
Associated program/file/s: none
Language: Basic
General info:
I wrote this program at the request of
someone who is new to computers and
wanted to be able to enter a series of
questions and answers into a database
so that she could have the program ask
the questions for revison.
Instructions: Firstly, put the program SELFTES onto a
blank disc if you are using DFS, this
is to avoid CAN'T EXTEND errors when
the data is saved.
The very first thing that the program
asks for is a name of the data file to
load in. If you are running this
program for the first time there will
be no data file, therefore just press
RETURN without entering a name.
The menu then appears. There are 6
choices, select one of these choices:
(L)oad. After confirmation Y/N,
the program starts from
scratch. Enter a filename
and previously saved data
will be loaded.
(S)ave. Save the present data to
disc.
(A)dd. Add a new question and
answer. Enter the question
and answer. Separate the
question from the answer
with two stars ie **
You would make a typical
entry like this:
How old am I?**37
Then press RETURN.
(E)dit. Edit a question and answer.
The program will ask for
the number of the question
and answer.
Enter the number.Then enter
the question and answer in
the same way as when using
the ADD option. Pressing
RETURN without entering
anything will delete that
question.You can use cursor
editing to copy parts of
the original question and
answer if you wish.
(R)ead. This option allows you to
see all the questions and
answers that you have
entered so far. You are
given the option to send
the output to your printer.
(T)est. Commence a test. You can
have all the questions
asked in sequence from 1 to
wherever you may have
reached in entering the
data. Or you can have the
questions asked at random.
Enter "S" for sequential or
"R" for random.
If you get more than 50% of
the question correct you
score 1 point. If you get
the question 100% correct,
you score 2 points.
Press ESCAPE at any time to
quit.
Finally, if you want to change the
number of questions in the database,
alter Q% at the very start of the
program before starting to enter data.
Once you have started entering data you
cannot change the number of questions
for that file. The program saves and
loads Q% with the data, therefore
whenever you load in data, Q% will be
set correctly for that particular data.
Unfortunately backing up tape can be a
difficult job. There are so many
ponderables. I.e. file name lengths are
longer than allowed in DFS, so this
program names them from A to Z
accordingly and gives you the
opportunity to save a record of the
file name and re-named filename.
Even if you can manage to handle that,
sometimes a program will insist on
calling TAPE again. If you can alter
this, and have a model B, you may find
problems with the program overwriting
DFS itself and making the whole thing
seem pointless.
Instructions: When the program is run it firstly will
ask you if you want a record of loads
and saves to be sent to the printer.
This is advisable because the program
re-names files to get around problems
caused by tape file names sometimes.
Next the program gives you the
opportunity to select the first save
file name. Enter an upper case letter
of the alphabet. As files are copied
the letter goes up by one. When Z is
reached it starts at a1 to z1. After z1
is passed, it starts at A again.
The program will go on for ever. So
swop tapes and discs as needed. The
program will halt when a disc is full,
so keep an eye on the number of files
being transferred.
When a copy is finished. Compare the
names on the printout and *RENAME the
files accordingly. Here are some common
problems you will have to sort out:
Several names all the same.
Names too long
Odd characters in the name.
No name.
Instructions to *RUN, *LOAD or CHAIN
with no file name.
Several switches back to TAPE
Files overwriting a filing system from
&E00
Total incompatability.