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This is an introduction to systems programming using dBASE IV as a first programming language. The author uses dBASE IV (version 1.1 or 1.5) because it is the easiest language to learn initially, and applications can be up and running more easily and quickly.
This textbook is very easy to use. The results of commands are shown on monitor screens illustrated in the text. Page two begins the creation of a data base with immediate interaction with the computer. Students know exactly what they are doing because of the clear and concise explanations and because they have a view of their screens in the text. If the student's screen does not match, he or she can just backtrack. Little backtracking will be necessary because the language is so exact. The text is self-teaching.
"I like the way the author begins at a low level with one example and continually develops the same example in increasing complexity. Littlefield presents the material so that it is easily understandable to beginners and also interesting to experienced users." — Larry Fudella, Erie Community College
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Creating Your First Database
1.1 Preparing Your Diskette
1.2 Getting Into dBASE4
1.3 Creating a Database
1.4 Appending Records to a Database
1.5 Editing the Database
1.6 Browsing the Database
1.7 Appending to Your Database White in EDIT
1.8 Listing Your Database
1.9 Quitting from dBASE4
1.10 Example II: A Checkbook/Budget Account
1.11 Summary
1.12 Review
1.13 Laboratory Work
1.14 Exercise
2. Editing Your Database
2.1 Modifying your Database
2.2 Deleting Fields from the Database Structure
2.3 DISPLAYing your Database One Page at a Time
2.4 Deleting Records from your Database
2.5 Inserting a Record into a Database
2.6 Useful Features of the BROWSE Mode
2.6.1 Appending new data in BROWSE
2.6.2 Entering Data into a Database by Field
2.6.3 Browse Menu Options
2.7 Example II: Expanding the ACCOUNTS database
2.7.1 Navigating Around the Database in BROWSE Mode
2.8 Summary
2.9 Review
2.10 Laboratory Work
2.11 Exercises
3. Ordering a Database
3.1 Sorting a Database
3.2 Erasing a Database
3.3 Indexing a Database
3.3.1 Creating Individual (.NDX) Indexes
3.3.2 Indexing on Two Character Fields
3.4 Use of a Multiple or Production (.MDX) Index
3.4.1 Making a Multiple Index on LASTNAME + FIRSTNAME
3.4.2 Indexing on a Date Field and Character Field
3.4.3 Indexing on Numeric and Character Fields
3.4.4 Indexing on a Logical Field
3.4.5 Indexing in Descending Order
3.5 Selecting the Master Index in a Production (.MDX) Index
3.5.1 Selecting Individual (.NDX) Indexes
3.6 Deleting Indexes
3.7 Example II: Use of INDEXing Options in ACCOUNTS Database
3.7.1 Use of the UNIQUE Option
3.7.2 Use of the FOR Option
3.8 Summary
3.9 Review
3.10 Laboratory Work
3.11 Exercises
4. Columnar Reports
4.1 The Report Form Generator
4.1.1 Creating a Columnar Report
4.1.2 Modifying Report Forms
4.2 Example II: Quick Layout for ACCOUNTS Database
4.2.1 Using Group Bands with Subtotals
4.2.2 Printing a Group Report
4.3 Example II: Use of the Calculated Field in a Report Form
4.3.1 Use of a Running Sum of a Field in the Detail Line
4.4 Summary
4.5 Review
4.6 Laboratory Work
4.7 Exercises
5. Conditional Reports & Searches
5.1 Selecting Records in a Database
5.2 Conditional Reports
5.2.1 The HEADING Clause
5.2.2 Relational Operators
5.2.3 Use of the SET FILTER Command
5.2.4 Conditional Report Using a Date Funtion
5.2.5 Conditional Report Using the Substring Relational Operator
5.2.6 Use of the Logical Function LIKE(,) in a Filter
5.3 Calculations
5.3.1 The COUNT Command
5.3.2 Logical Operators
5.3.3 The SUM Command
5.3.4 Arithmetic Operators
5.3.5 The AVERAGE Command
5.3.6 Use of the CALCULATE Command
5.4 Searches
5.4.1 Searching Using the LOCATE Instructions
5.4.2 Searching Using the FIND and SEEK Commands
5.4.3 LOCATE Search versus INDEX Search
5.5 Summary
5.6 Review
5.7 Laboratory Work
5.8 Exercises
6. Labels, Mailmerge Reports and Forms
6.1 Label Form Generator
6.1.1 Creating a Label Form
6.1.2 Printing Sample Reports
6.2 Mailmerge Report Form
6.2.1 Importing a Text File Letter into the Mailmerge Layout
6.3 The Screen Generator
6.3.1 The Format File
6.4 Summary
6.5 Review
6.6 Laboratory Work
6.7 Exercises
7. Command Files & Memory Variables
7.1 Introduction to Command Files
7.1.1 Creating an "Add Records" Command File
7.1.2 Use of the WAIT Command in the COMPPACK Command File
7.2 Memory Variables
7.2.1 Use of System Memory Variables
7.2.2 Design of the Print Report Command File: COMPREPO.PRG
7.2.3 Design of the Label and Mailmerge Command Files
7.3 Design of a Search/Edit Command File
7.3.1 The @ and SAY Display Intructions
7.3.2 The GET and READ Instructions
7.3.3 The Design of COMPEDIT.PRG
7.4 Design of a Menu Driving Command File
7.5 Summary
7.6 Review
7.7 Laboratory Work
7.8 Exercises
7.9 Term Project
8. Selection
8.1 Structured Programming
8.2 Flow Charts
8.3 Binary Selection
8.4 Example of Binary Selection, COM_EDIT.prg
8.5 Multiple Selection - The DO CASE Structure
8.6 Alternative Data Entry Commands
8.6.1 The INPUT Command
8.6.2 The ACCEPT Command
8.6.3 The WAIT Command Revisited
8.7 Saving, Restoring and Releasing Memory Variables
8.8 The REPLACE Command
8.8.1 Example Using the REPLACE Command for Block Replacements
8.8.2 The REPLACE ALL Command
8.9 Program Example Using ACCEPT, INPUT, WAIT and REPLACE
8.10 Summary
8.11 Review
8.12 Laboratory Work
8.13 Exercises
8.14 Term Project
9. Iteration
9.1 Introduction to The Loop
9.1.1 The DO WHILE Command
9.1.2 Example if Use of DO WHILE Loop
9.2 Design of a Delay Loop
9.3 Use of DO WHILE Loop with EOF() Function
9.4 The Deletion Program - COM_DELE.prg
9.5 Design of a Fast Indexed Search Program
9.5.1 The LOCATE WHILE Instruction
9.5.2 Use of the FOUND() Function
9.5.3 An Example of Indexed Search - COM_EVAL.prg
9.6 Use of the SCAN-ENDSCAN Instruction
9.6.1 The Design of a Range Search Program
9.6.2 Example: The Design of COM_GRAD.prg
9.6.3 Use of the SCAN-ENDSCAN Loop for a LOCATE Search
9.6.4 Use of the SCAN FOR ... Loop
9.7 Remarks on the use of the WHILE Clause
9.8 Summary
9.9 Review
9.10 Laboratory Work
9.11 Exercises
9.12 Term Project
10. System Organization
10.1 Bottom Up Systems Design
10.2 The Systems Structure Chart
10.3 Menu Driver Program with Pop-Up Windows
10.3.1 Design of Menu Sub-Modules
10.4 Use of Windows in Sub-Menus
10.5 Program Structure Chart
10.6 Use of Procedures in dBASE
10.6.1 Appending Programs Together to Form COM_PROC.prg
10.6.2 Design of a Prodecure Driver Program
10.7 Comments About Compiled Code in dBASE IV
10.8 Summary
10.9 Review
10.10 Laboratory Work
10.11 Exercises
10.12 Term Project
11. Controlling Your Environment
11.1 The SET Command
11.1.1 The SET Mode
11.1.2 The SET FUNCTION TO Command
11.1.3 Setting a Color Display
11.2 The CONFIG.DB File
11.2.1 DBSETUP Routine
11.3 Password Protection
11.4 Backing Up Your System
11.4.1 Backing Up a Floppy Diskette
11.4.2 Backing Up Between Different Types of Media
11.5 Running DOS Commands While in dBASE
11.5.1 Macros
11.6 Modifications of COMPCLAS System
11.7 Summary
11.8 Review
11.9 Laboratory Work
11.10 Exercises
11.11 Term Project
12. Debugging & Documentation
12.1 Debugging
12.1.1 Using the Debugger
12.1.2 Use of SET TRAP Command to Locate Errors
12.1.3 Obtaining a Printed Trace of Your Program Execution
12.1.4 Use Modular Programming to Minimize Errors
12.2 Creating Help and Reference Screens
12.2.1 Creating Help Screems
12.2.2 Creating Reference/Help Screens
12.3 Documentation
12.3.1 Brief Narrative of System Function
12.3.2 User Instruction Guide
12.3.3 Sample Reports
12.3.4 Program Structure Diagram
12.3.5 System Structure Chart Diagram
12.3.6 Database Contents List
12.3.7 List of all Indexes & their Keys
12.3.8 Fully Documented Program Listings
12.3.9 Optional Documentation