Documentation for SEARCH.BAS Ver 1.0
by David Fuller Warwick, R.I.
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SEARCH is a Basic program written to allow easy access to all RANDOM
files by means of a search and (or) report. It does not matter whether the
file is an ISAM file or not. All that is needed is a file with a ".BSI"
extension which contains the MAPPED variables for the file that is to be
searched. The file name and record size are kept in DATA statements at the
end of the program along with descriptions that are displayed in a selection
menu.
All files are opened with a 512 record size and read as unformated
(`X') data. The information is then converted to the format specified by the
MAPPED statements in the INCLUDE file. The user is prompted for search
criteria which can be select on one or all fields. Operators are also allowed.
The user can then select output to the screen or printer. Printed reports can
be saved and recalled and are automatically sorted by the first fields
selected to be printed (up to three fields sorted). The program converts
binary and floating point numbers and will sort by those fields if selected.
The user will be promted to enter the number of decimal places for each
numeric field on the report.
I have found many uses for this program. We are using a modified
version of Alph Accounting and there are many files which do not have report
generators associated with them. It is also handy for backup files if you
need to see some piece of imformation but do not want to restore the whole
file. Many files contain link fields or counters that are not diplayed
on the screen but are stored in MAPPED variables. Its nice to be able to see
the information they contain without having to write a program to do so.
MAPPED variables can be very complicated and this program will be
able to understand most normal file structures including arrays. Unformated
fields are ignored but the space they take up is not. First and second level
arrays are handled but if some crazy programmer has constructed third level
arrays they will not be interpreted properly. The ORIGIN symbol `@' will also
be handled properly allowing the user to see the original variable contents.
The user INPUT routines in this program uses Micro Sabio's INFLD.SBR
which has been renamed to INPUT.SBR. The INPUT.SBR came with our Alpha
Accounting package. The INFLD routine adds a lot more features such as
preloading and displaying defalt entrys, function key interpretation, timer
functions, and formated output. If you don't have either of these routines
this program will not run.
To use this program simply put the names of the files you want to
access in DATA statements at the end of the program using the same format as
the samples already included and compile the program. If printed reports
are selected, SEARCH will create SRCH.SRT which will be used to sort the
report and SRCH.RPT which is the actual file that will be sent to the
spooler. The report format is saved ina sequential file with an ".SRP"
extension added to the file name give by the user.
Because this program reads every record in the file the process
can be a little slow on some files. The routines in the program that do
most of the work have been put at the beginning of the program so it will
run faster.
I would like to thank James A. Jarboe who wrote VUERAN.BAS because
I have used his program for quite a while and it has allowed me to fix and
(or) save a lot of screwed up data over the last couple years. I also learned
from his program how to read all files with 512 record size regardless of
the size if the records stored in them and how to convert unformated
binary and floating point information to thier values.
I had a lot of fun writing and debugging this program. I hope all
the little insects are gone. Please give me some feed back about this
program, good or bad. I'm always willing to make modifications to suit
someone elses needs.
David Fuller
PO Box 8767
Warwick, R.I. 02888
401-467-2900
