PIROUETTE A Database Management Program Version 1.0 Copyright (c) 1989 by DeMars & Tilley Box 7737, Berkeley, CA 94707 TECHNICAL STUFF SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Pirouette requires the following: o A true IBM-compatible computer; o 640K of random access memory (RAM); o PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or higher; o Two floppy disk drives, or one floppy and one fixed disk; o any ASCII printer (sorry, postscript printers aren't supported). PROGRAM LIMITATIONS Pirouette has the following limitations: o 99 fields per database; o 99 database files per DOS directory; o 25 windows open simulatenously; o A maximum with of 256 for character fields. There is no practical limit on the number of records a database file can hold. COMPABILITY WITH OTHER DATABASE PROGRAAMS Pirouette's files are fully compatible with those used by dBASE III, dBASE III+, FoxBASE, dBXL, Quicksilver, and Clipper. Pirouette can also use files created with dBASE IV, provided they include no memo fields or floating-point numeric fields. dBASE III, III+, and IV are trademarks of Ashton-Tate. Clipper is a trademark of Nantucket Corporation. Quicksilver and dBXL are trademarks of Wordtech corporation. Foxbase is a trademark of Fox Software. -2- LICENSE AGREEMENT Pirouette is not free! It is distributed as part of a marketing concept called "Shareware". The shareware idea means that the authors still own the program, and reserve all rights granted them under copyright law, except one. You are granted the right to freely reproduce this program, and to use it for EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY. If you wish to continue using the program on an ongoing basis, whether for business or personal use, you must pay a license fee. A registration form, including a rate schedule, will be found in the file LICENSE.TXT. User groups, businesses and individuals who charge a fee for duplicating this program are also advised to review this file. Distributors must also register (no charge is involved in distributor registration) and are subject to some special restrictions. DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION? We tried to be thorough when we designed this program, but we recognize that there's always room for improvement. Therefore, we intend to release improved versions of Pirouette at least once a year. If you have an idea you'd like incorporated in our next release, don't be shy. Write to us at Box 7737, Berkeley, CA 94707. -3- WARRANTY The authors make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. DeMars & Tilley shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising from a failure of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. The authors shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use or misuse of the program. In no event will DeMars & Tilley be liable for any damages, including any lost profits or other damages arising out of the user's use of or inability to use the program, or for any claim of any other party. -4- TABLE OF CONTENTS Installing the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Introduction to Database Concepts . . . . . . . . . 7 Database Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Types of Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Related Databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Opening Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Bypassing the Opening Menu . . . . . . . . . . 11 Initializing the Directory . . . . . . . . . . 12 Commands and Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Creating a Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Formatting the Input Window . . . . . . . . . 14 Manipulating Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Restricting Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Relating Databases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Saving the New Database . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Database Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Cursor Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Data Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Altering the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Using Buffer Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Concluding a Data Entry Session . . . . . . . 26 Advanced Data Manipulation . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Working with Multiple Databases . . . . . . . . . . 30 Generating Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Report Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Report Editing Window . . . . . . . . . . 33 Getting Fancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Housekeeping Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Appendix A: Masks Appendix B: Functions and Formulas Appendix C: The Sample Databases -5- INSTALLING THE PROGRAM Pirouette can be used on either a system with a fixed disk or one with two floppy drives. The hard disk system is recommended, since hard disks are inherently faster than floppies. INSTALLATION ON A HARD DISK Create a directory for the program by using the DOS makedir, or md, command: C:\>md \piro Then transfer to this directory using the changedir, or cd, command: C:\>cd \piro Next, insert Pirouette disk 1 in the A> drive and copy the files: C:\>copy a:*.* Repeat this procedure with disk 2. The software is now installed on your hard disk. Type PIRO to run the program. INSTALLATION ON A TWO-FLOPPY SYSTEM Simply make copies of both disks, saving the originals for backups. Insert disk 1 in your A> drive, and disk 2 in your B> drive. Switch to the B> drive and type B:\>A:PIRO to run the program. OTHER REQUIREMENTS Check to make sure your CONFIG.SYS file contains the following line: files=20 If it does not, add this line. (CONFIG.SYS will be found in the root directory on your hard drive, or on your boot disk if you are using a two-floppy system). Files can also be set to greater than 20, if desired. -6-