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R.Beddard, Ian Braby, Mike Case, Tony Cox, G.C.Denney, John Dobson, R.C.Dorrance, Steve Drain, John Driver, Vic Gerhardi, C.M.Glover, S.P.Gray, F. W. Halliday, Gerald Hughes, B. P. James, Robin Jarvis, Charles Jenkins, N. A. Joseph, Dr Warren Kovach, Chris Lewis, Thomas Malinowski, M. Meijeraan, Francis Musgrave, M. Parker, Dr. L. Ratnasabapathy, C. M. Robinson, S.Fraas, K.G.Woolf, Roy Woodward, Matthew Soar, H.E.Shaw and John Hudson.

Image RemovedzBASE Quick start guide

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This guide is no substitute for reading the manual. Indeed, this guide will merely scratch the surface of zBASE capabilities. However, since zBASE needs liveware to make use of those capabilities, it is important to the authors that the liveware should feel some early reward for the effort of getting familiar with zBASE. Those rewards are plentiful in this guide.

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With the INDEX on display on the Z88, open the clear perspex cover labelled '1 2 3', and insert the zBASE Application ROM in slot 2. Close the perspex cover. (See the Fitting & Using the ROM.)

The menu bar should be moved on the APPLICATIONS INDEX until it is highlighting the zBASE application.

Press to run zBASE.

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When the } symbol, known as the curly prompt appears, type the word QUIT followed by . This action ends the use of zBASE. In version 1.2 you need to confirm the return to the APPLICATIONS INDEX, by pressing any key.

This is the only proper way to exit from zBASE. If the  key is used, and the zBASE suspended application is KILLed, open database files will not be properly closed and permanent damage will occur to the data files.

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The first real job is to create a data file. To do this, the file structure must be defined. This definition is done in PipeDream. Highlight the PipeDream application and press . This creates a new PipeDream suspended application.

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Type in the following lines, exactly as shown.

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Now press FS, followed by the file name, PHBOOK.DEF. Then move the cursor down 4 lines using the ò, to the question, 'Save plain text'. Enter a Y for YES and hit .

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That has created the definition file for a phone book database. Now return to zBASE by pressing W.

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Database open in 1: is PH.DBF
COMP STRING 15
PHONE STRING 17
NAME STRING 20
KEYFIELD STRING 5
62 bytes/rec

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Now create an INDEX file for easy searches.

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That will establish an index file for use later.

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Data input

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}APPEND BLANK
}LET 1:COMP$=" "
}LET 1:PHONE$="020-7833-1212"
}LET 1:NAME$="Insp Bond"
}LET 1:KEYFIELD$="Bond"
}APPEND BLANK
}LET 1:COMP$="Short Brothers"
}LET 1:PHONE$="01494 885555"
}LET 1:NAME$="Morris Short"
}LET 1:KEYFIELD$="Short"

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With at least a few records entered, a FIND process is required. This may be done directly at the curly prompt, or as for appending, by means of a command file as described in Indirect variables.

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Note that only the first FOUR characters of any command need be used.

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Looking for matches in an UNINDEXED file.

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NB. The key used must be the one on the left of the keyboard. (No we don't know why either.)

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To close the file, enter
}USE

To re-open the file type
}USE PH.DBF INDEX PH.NDX -ENTER-

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To check whether a file is open, type
}DISP STATUS

To check a file structure, enter
}DISP STRUCTURE

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To return to the Z88 APPLICATIONS INDEX, enter
}QUIT.

NB. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE QUIT COMMAND IS USED AS THE METHOD OF CLOSING zBASE. If zBASE is KILLed as a suspended application, loss of data will occur because the files will not be properly closed.

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zBASE programs - two startup examples.

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An alternative method of entering data is to write a command file that makes it all a bit easier.

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A few more records should be entered to give the database something to get its teeth into.

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FINDing using a command file.

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