QUICK DATA BASE


     Overview

          Quick  Data  Base  is  a keyword  index  database  program  that 
     basically only does one thing,  but does it quite well:  look up data 
     fast.   Each  data  record is associated with a number  of  keywords.  
     These keywords are loaded into memory, so finding matches occurs very 
     fast.   The database is quite easy to use.  You could probably use it 
     by following the prompts and menus.  But brief instructions follow:

     Find

          At the "Enter keywords..." prompt enter from one to 12  keywords 
     or short phrases of 22 characters or less to define the scope of your 
     search.   Since the program looks for exact matches to all  keywords, 
     the more you enter,  the more restrictive your search.   For example, 
     with  the magazine database,  to find reviews of adventure games  you 
     might enter "adventure",  "game" and "review".   Just entering "game" 
     finds too many records.

          Press  Return on a blank line to quit  entering  keywords.   The 
     number  of records with matching keywords found is shown.   You  have 
     the  option  of displaying or printing them.   If you  display  them, 
     there  is  a pause between each to give you the option  of  printing, 
     editing, or deleting the record, or jumping forward.

     Edit

          You  have  simple editing facilities to change the data  in  the 
     records  as  they are displayed.   Keywords cannot  be  edited.   Hit 
     Return on each field to accept the data as displayed.

     Delete

          This  "marks" the record for deletion.   It won't be  physically 
     removed  from the file until the end of your session,  so be sure  to 
     exit  with  the  "Quit"  menu option  if  you  deleted  any  records.  
     "Packing" a database is slow work, so be patient!

     Jump

          When  more  than five records remain to be  displayed,  you  can 
     "jump over" intervening records to get deeper into the  database,  so 
     you don't always have to single-step from the beginning.

     Add

          At the "Enter keywords..." prompt enter the keywords for the new 
     record.   Use keywords that you are likely to think of when you  want 
     to find this record again.   Then enter the data for each  field.  If 
     you  make  a mistake,  hit Return on a blank line or  choose  "Redo". 
     "Next" adds the record to the data file and brings you back to  enter 
     the next record,  while "Exit" adds the record and returns you to the 
     main  menu.   "Abort" cancels data entry and returns you to the  main 
     menu.

     Utilities

          Under the "Utilities" menu,  you can back up a database,  change 
     its name,  change the field names,  print the entire data  file,  and 
     print the entire keyword file.

          When  you  back up a database,  the first five  letters  of  the 
     database name plus QDB, KEY, and DAT will form the backup file names, 
     and  the  extender for all three will be BAK.   You can  specify  the 
     drive and/or folder you want the backup files put in.

     Multiple Databases

          The  easiest  way to use more than one database is  to  put  the 
     three files for one database and a copy of QUICK_DB.TOS in a  folder.  
     The QDB file must be named INFO.QDB.  The database will automatically 
     load when you run the program.

          Another way is to rename the program to QUICK_DB.TTP.  Then you 
     only need one copy.   In the TTP dialogue box, enter the name of the 
     database to use.  If it's inside another folder or on another drive, 
     specify    the    device    and/or    pathname.      For    example: 
     b:\database\friends.   In this case, each QDB file has its own name.  
     A  null  entry in the box makes the program  use  INFO.QDB.   (Note: 
     don't use extenders in your folder names!)

     Create Your Own

          To  create  a new database,  just run the TOS program  inside  a 
     folder without INFO.QDB,  or run the TTP program and enter garbage in 
     the  dialogue box.   A new database is always created in the  current 
     directory.  Specify the name you want for the database.

          A  database can have from one to four data  fields.   The  first 
     field  is always three lines long and subsequent fields are one  line 
     long.   Enter  the field name you want for each.   Press Return on  a 
     blank line when you have as many fields as you want.

          Specify how you want the info file named.   (Remember,  the  TOS 
     version uses only INFO.QDB.)  Verify your choices.  Now hit Return to 
     start entering data!

     Specs

          A  database consists of three files:  the database  "info"  file 
     (with  a "QDB" extender),  the keyword file (with a "KEY"  extender), 
     and the data file (with a "DAT" extender).   A database theoretically 
     can contain up to 32,766 records.   However, half-meg systems will be 
     memory limited,  and floppy-based systems will be disk limited.  With 
     an average of four keywords per record,  a four-field database  could 
     have  about 600 records on a single-sided disk.   A  database  cannot 
     span disks.


     Tim Ekdom  --  CIS: 72575,1473  --  March, 1987
     Please read the "Author Information" in the utilities menu.