This manual provides an introduction to C/Base, using an application called the Demonstration Subscription System to acquaint you with the software.
An application is a set of files, forms, reports, and menus designed to handle a particular data and information need. An example of an application would be the files, forms, reports, and menus used to run a magazine subscription business. Files to hold the magazine, subscription, and subscriber data form the basis of the application. Forms to enter the data into the files are needed along with reports to format the data from the files in meaningful ways. Finally, menus are provided which allow the user to run reports and access the forms needed to enter data into the files.
An application may be created with toolkit, a program that provides a structure for building applications. When developing an application with toolkit, the various files, forms, reports, and menus are defined and created by selecting the necessary options from the appropriate menu. You are guided through the development process by responding to a series of prompts displayed on the screen.
This manual begins with a chapter that explains how to use the Demonstration Subscription System application, in which you are guided through accessing the system and making menu selections. Information on the function keys and their use is provided along with numerous examples.
The chapters that follow present a detailed guide to building an application with toolkit. These chapters show you how to create an application by recreating the Demonstration Subscription System.
You first learn how to create the files used by the application. After you create the files, we discuss how to create data entry forms. Also covered in these chapters are the procedures and techniques for modifying files and forms.
Next, report development is detailed. This chapter begins by creating a simple report with the Report Generator. The report is then expanded to provide more information and to give you practice with some of the more complex facilities of the Report Generator. Reports that produce mailing labels, as well as reports that computed totals, are also presented in this chapter.
Finally, the creation of menus, that allows users access to an application system, is presented. This chapter outlines in detail the development of the application menu used in the Demonstration Subscription System. A menu having multiple columns is also presented.
This manual makes references to different keys on the keyboard in demonstrating the use of the C/Base software. Some of these keys are described below.
Throughout this manual there are references to the RETURN key.
The Back Space and is located on the main part of the keyboard in the top row on the right. Another key is located on the keypad. This key is used for cursor movement and does not erase characters.
The Line Feed key may not be on your keyboard. On some keyboards this function can be performed by pushing the Cntl-Return keys.
The Num Lock key must be off in order for the arrow keys on the keypad to be functional.
The Insert Character, Delete Character, Insert Line, and Delete Line functions are performed by the keys labeled: Ins, Del, Pg Up, and Pg Dn.
There are occasional references in this manual to a terminal screen. This refers to your monitor. When terminal is used by itself, the whole system (i.e. monitor, keyboard, and cpu), is being referenced.