K E Y B A S E D A T A B A S E KEYBASE-2 : README : ADDITIONAL INFORMATION : FEBRUARY 1990 MEMORY UPGRADES Unicorn very strongly recommends that the ramdrive (Drive M:) is used wherever possible for both editing and searching a file. Keybase is designed to work best when using a file on drive M:. The 720k format drive B: disc drive is very slow. Alternatively use drive A: or an add-on disc drive/hard disc unit. For practical use, the PCW 8256 really needs to be upgraded to 512k for use with Keybase-2, the Isenstein 512k ramdrive add-ons are recommended by Unicorn for use with Keybase-2. The efficient working of a database depends on it's correct use. It is, after all, only a tool to be used either skilfully of unskilfully. There is nothing 'Magical' about a computer program. Try to keep each record size down to a minimum with as few fields as possible. The difference in speed will be noticed particularly on larger files. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- STANDARD DEVIATION This facility has been removed from versions 2.14 on - in order to speed up file-searching. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVE B: DISCS Drive B: (720k format) discs seem to be particularly prone to disc errors which could cause all of your data to be lost, which can be particularly tragic owing to the high capacity of the disc. Use only quality discs from a reputable supplier and BACK UP YOUR DISCS REGULARLY!. Persistent 'DISC FULL!' errors on a disc which still has space available is an early warning of an impending disc error. Use LocoScript-2 or Disckit to 'verify' the disc and check for errors. Don't reformat drive A: discs as drive B: or vice-versa, this can cause data-errors to occur. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAINTAIN Should any errors be introduced into the file, or the file become unuseable (Error 115), then remember that you can use Maintain at any time to re-create the index file. Maintain reads the original datafile from drive A: or B: and creates a new Index (KEY) and Data (DAT) file on drive M. Try using the new file, if o.k. then copy back to ANOTHER disc. NEVER erase or copy over the original datafile, keep as a backup. Maintain supplied with Keybase-1 is not compatible with Keybase-2 files. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FILE-RESTRUCTURING Don't forget that Keybase files can be restructured and re-organised, re-indexed, split and merged in the same way as Masterfile 8000 (TM) files. This may be achieved simply and quickly by using the File-Splitter supplied with the retail version of Keybase-2. A report is set up to be run as normal, but the file-splitter gives the option to produce the disc-output as a Random-Access file, or a 'Comma Separated' (CSV) file. It can even produce files for conversion to a SuperCalc2 spreadsheet. Files may be split and merged as often as you wish, there is no limitation to the number of times you can do this. As you can select to display/export ANY fields, then any non-indexed fields you output as the first eight fields of the extracted file will automatically become indexed on conversion to a 'daughter' file by Maintain, or if re-imported using the file-splitter into any current file which has fields large enough to receive the data. Note that the file-splitter supplied with Keybase-1 is not compatible for use with Keybase-2 files. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEYBASE-2 : README : ADDITIONAL INFORMATION : FEBRUARY 1990 OTHER PROGRAMS Keybase data can be exported to LocoScript 1 and 2 documents, and SuperCalc2 spreadsheets. You will be able to edit report (RPT) files with any worprocessor capable of dealing with an ASCII file such as PROTEXT. You will almost certainly be able to export data to any spreadsheet or database which can use an ASCII file, - consult the user manual concerned for instructions on how best to do this. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAVING DISC SPACE Old files which may never be needed again but have to be retained can cause a problem by claiming valuable disc-space. To save space, copy the Datafile (FILENAME.DAT) and file-structure file (FILENAME.VAR) to a spare disc which will act as an 'archive' disc. Should the file ever be needed again then these 2 files alone may be used by Maintain to re-create the whole file complete with index file (FILENAME.KEY). The 'access file' (FILENAME.ACC) is not essential. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOME SUGGESTED USES FOR KEYBASE :- Store details of credit cards, PIN numbers in a password-protected file. Staff qualifications, search for suitability for a particular job. Store details of your personal library, CD, record, video collections. Catalogue collections of stamps, paintings, models, photographs etc. Create your own telephone directory, reprintable as numbers change. Do simple accouting using the totalling facilities or output data in CSV Spreadsheet format and perform complex analysis using SuperCalc2. Keep a record of your personal posessions for insurance purposes, store descriptions of items and serial numbers, cost, purchase date etc. Store details of Share investments & transactions. Trainspotting, store locomotive details, do your own TOPS reports. Automotive/factory, store details of spare parts, part numbers etc. Personal planner/diary, edit & print out data as required. Haulage,- store & call up route restrictions, bridge clearances etc. Haulage,- store vehicle maintenance data, service schedules. Store personal customer data subject to Data Protection Act in a password- protected file. Run a small dating agency, match client requirements agains personal data. Taxi/Motorcycle courier use, to call up quotes for point to point delivery. Keep a car maintenance log, with date, mileage, expenditure, repairs. Small video hire,- store data of each video, current user, date out. Retail use,- store wholesale & retail prices, stock lists, re-order lists. Police, detective use,- store suspect/offender data, clues. Clubs, societies, trades unions,- store membership data. --------------------------------------------------------------------------  trades unions,- store membership data. -----------