**** IMPORTANT: *****
--------------
This is snapshot of BETA version! This archive holds only new executable
file. All DB related files like catalogs, examples, icons, manuals etc
should be taken from the previous DB archive, which remains available
from Aminet!
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db is a fast and small OS3.0 compliant multi purpose database program. It
currently supports many languages (English, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian,
Danish, German, Polish, Dutch, Italian, French, Spanish, Czech and
Portuguese, Hungarian).
This program is ShareWare. Previously, db used to display a shareware reminder
if not registered with a keyfile. This reminder has been removed as I've
decided to stop mailing keyfiles.
/David Ekholm
Why choose db?
--------------
I wrote after having tested numerous other PD database programs and always
found something lacking or irritating me. They might have dozzens of features
not found in db, but they lacked font sensitivity and a standard GUI look and
OS 3.0 behaviour.
Remember: db is a GENERAL database program. YOU decide what to store in it,
be it addresses, video collections spare parts or your invoices. I really
can't understand why people keep releasing databases with fixed fields all
the time.
When you use db you will notice that the user interface has been kept as
compact as possible (few gadgets, menus and windows). Still the functionality
in for example, searching and sorting is high. This is intentional.
I prefer few buttons with high functionality than the opposite.
Feature List
------------
A partial list of db's features include:
o Dynamic memory handling. Number of records and fields only limited by
free memory.
o GadTool based. (Use fields of string, checkbox, cycle and text type)
o Support for multi-line fields through textfield.gadget
o Mouse and keyboard driven.
o User definable fields and layout.
o Multiple views of the same database.
o The views can be designed through a simple to use GUI.
o Commodore's Clipboard for flexible interaction with other programs.
o AppWindow -just drag and drop database icons on db to load.
o Online MenuHelp -Press HELP key when selecting a menu item.
o Font sensitive.
o ASL requesters for flexible loads and saves.
o Localized.
o ARexx support.
o Dial numbers using a modem or loudspeaker.
o WB and Shell usage with Commodore's template parsing.
o Fast and flexible find function using AmigaDOS patterns.
o Listview browser.
o Filter function.
o Fast and flexible sort function. Multiple sort orders can be specified.
o 'Export View' and two standard ASCII export features.
o Automatic ASCII import (tab-separated ASCII).
History of changes
------------------
99-11-15 v3.6 beta ** THIS IS SNAPSHOT OF THE BETA VERSION! **
GOOD NEWS:
* DEFPATTERN argument was always ignored by previous
version of db
* Added ability change filed type in Layout editor.
* Added new REXX command "SortOrder" which changes
sorting order (0: A->Z, 1:Z->A). Note: the menu
item state won't be updated if use this command.
* Started expanding layout editor. It's now possible
to add new fields 'on-the fly'. IMPORTANT: the "+"
and "-" gadgets are available all the time but
your should NOT use them if you are not in layout
editor, otherwise GURU will drop you a visit for
sure. "-" may even not work (don't remember if
I finished this function, sorry).
BAD NEWS:
The last modification I've done in the DB's sources
are dated 14.03.1998, so they ain't fresh. As you
probably guessed, I am not doing DB development
any longer (after using DB for many years, I've now
switched to Amiga port of mSQL which I found more
flexible for my purposes and very fast for the amount
of records I've had in all my databases). Thanks to
msql.library (with ARexx port!) using SQL engine is
now as powerful as it should. Give mSQL a try as well
(shall be on Aminet as well). Companion tools are
also available (search for "msql")
I've released the sources as well. Anyone who wish
to continue the development, please feel free to
grab them and do anything you want.
97-09-24 v3.5 NEWS:
* DB is still alive (grin ;-) in spite of previous
announcements. Hope you like such news ;-)
* As David's dropped the DB project (at least for now),
starting from version 3.5 DB is developed by
Marcin Orlowski, so all your bug reports, oppinions
etc concerning DB should be mailed to him. Don't
forget to visit the DB home page (URL is placed above).
* Added TEXT type to view design toolbar.
* Added TEXTFIELD type to view design toolbar
(however you can't change its height in editor yet).
* Added abbreviations to Shell template
* Trailing ':' is no longer added to selector window's
title if the record label the title is based on,
already has it.
* Edit view related strings are now localized
* New CLI/tooltype DEFPATTERN (def. "#?")
* New CLI/tooltype DEFREXXPATTERN (def. "#?.(db|rexxdb)")
* Toolbox items call be also accessed via F1-F5 keys
directly from edit view window
* New menu item - reload current project
* New menu item - relaunch recently selected ARexx script
* Hungarian translation added. DB now supports 14 languages.
Unfortunately, most of existing translations
are a little bit outdated with this edition. Hope that
will change with next release, when all will finish their
holidays. For now you can use old catalogs so all newly
localized strings will appear in english.
97-03-16 v3.4 NEWS:
* This is probably the last version for the Amiga.
Please Read the preface section for more info.
* There is no more keyfile protection as I've decided
to stop releasing keyfiles. db is still ShareWare
however.
* You are now able to automatically run ARexx programs
every time a new record is displayed. This greatly
enhances the possibilities for custom database designs.
Read about the NEWRECORDRXFILE and NEWRECORDRXSTRING
RFF tags for how to do this. Also refer to the modified
"Relations" ARexx example enclosed with this version
for a demonstration.
* Added the ARexx command 'GetPortName' that returns the
name of the current ARexx port. (Some users can't use
the built in Address() function in ARexx for some
reason.)
* Polish catalog updated. Thanks goes to Konrad Dubiel.
* You get the source code for this version. (Separate
(archive. See the file db3.4src.lha on AmiNet).
Also read the preface about legal issues concerning
the source code.
96-09-11 v3.3 NEWS:
* The first field will automatically be activated when
a record is added.
* The cursor will remain active in the current field when
the user changes to search or sort mode with RAmiga +
hotkey.
* The Browser window's zoom gadget will now expand the
window to the full height of the screen instead of
shrinking the window. All suggested by Johny Hansson.
* Added the ARexx command 'UndoBuffer' that extracts the
old value of the current string gadget (the value prior
to user changes). Suggested by Richard Ludwig.
* A portuguese catalog has been added thanks to Fábio
Goes. db now supports 13 languages!
BUG FIXED:
* This bad bug has been hanging around since v2.10(!).
db would stop loading records if it hit an empty record.
This is fixed and db no longer saves empty records
either just to be kind to older versions.
96-03-18 v3.2 COMMENT:
* This is mainly a re-release of v3.1. v3.1 was released
to AmiNet but didn't show up for some reason.
NEWS:
* .catalog files for the following languages have been
updated: French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Dutch.
Also copy these files if this concerns you.
* You may now fix the window position for each view by
adding XPOS=<x position> and/_or_ YPOS=<y position> to
the RFF lines of your database (user request).
96-03-05 v3.1 NEWS:
* Multi-line fields are now supported using the
textfield.gadget (included) by Mark Thomas. Check out
the "Game Reviews" and "Windsurfing95" examples and
you'll see what I mean.
* You may now fix the window position for each view by
adding XPOS=<x position> and YPOS=<y position> to the
RFF lines of your database.
* Added the ARexx command 'CurrentView' to control views
from ARexx.
SHAREWARE NOTE:
* db is still ShareWare, but the save save limitation is
removed. Instead db will display a ShareWare reminder
for at least 10 seconds when started without a keyfile.
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