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Document:	Rainbow dBASE II Command and Reference Pocket Guide
Order Number:	AA-CL61A-XV
Revision:	0
Pages:	26
Original Filename:

OCR Text

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dBASE II
An MSTM-DOS

Application
Command and Reference
Pocket Guide

dBASE II°

An MSTM-DOS Application
for the RainbowTM

Command and Reference

Pocket Guide
Developed by:
Ashton-Tate, Inc.
10150 West Jefferson Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90230

Digital Equipment Corporation
Maynard, MA 01754

First Printing

The software described in this manual is distributed
as part of Digital Equipment Corporation’s Digital
Classified Software (DCS) Program. This program
enables software developers to submit their software
products to Digital for testing according to Digital
quality standards for third party software. This software product has met the DCS standard specified in
the software product description (SPD) for this product. You should refer to the SPD for information about
these standards, the hardware and software required
to run this product, and warranties (if any warranty is
available).
The software described in this-manual is furnished
under a license and may only be used or copied in
accordance with the terms of that license. This manual is reproduced with the permission of Ashton-Tate,
Inc.

Except as may be stated in the SPD for this product,
no responsibility is assumed by Digital or its affiliated
companies for use or reliability of this software, or for
errors in this manual or in the software. Additional
support and/or warranty services may be available
from the developer of this software product. Digital
has no connection with, and assumes no responsibility or liabilities in connection with these services.
This manual is subject to change without notice and
does not constitute a commitment by Digital.

dBASE II is a registered trademark of Ashton-Tate, Inc.
MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment
Corporation:

DEC
DECmate
DECnet
DECsystem-10
DECSYSTEM-20
DECUS

DECwriter

DIBOL
MASSBUS
PDP
P/0OS
Professional
Rainbow

RSTS

RSX
VAX
VMS
VT
Work Processor
ilgliltlall
dlilgliltall

Contenis

InfroductoryNote .........................

Conventions ................ e

Typographical Conventions . .................

File NamingConventions . ...................

Field Naming Conventions . ..................

Limitations
. .......... .
coiiiiiiiiiinn..

ABASENDAtaTYPES ... oovv i eeeieeieennnnn

Cursor Movement and Control Keys ......

Full ScreenOperation ..........cccvivivenn...

dBASENlFleTypes ........cvvvvvnunennnS

TemMminology

.. .vvi it

Operators Used for Data Manipulation .........

Functions .................................

dBASEICommands ......................

SetCommands

................ccovviinn.

Structured Programming Commands. . ...

Introductory Note
This Pocket Guide is designed to supplement the

dBASE II User’s Guide and dBASE II Reference
Manual as well as the HELP file. The Guide has been

created to give you immediate access to information
vital to the operation of the dBASE II program. Where

necessary, references to the dBASE II User’s Guide
and Reference Manual have been placed in parenthesis. ‘G’ (for Guide) indicates a reference to the User’s
Guide; ‘R’ (for Reference) indicates a reference to the

Reference Manual. (Because the Reference Manual is

alphabetically ordered, page referrals for dBASE II
commands have been omitted.)

Conventions
Typographical Conventions
Lowercase

user-supplied information

UPPERCASE

explicit portions of dBASE Il commands

[...]

optional portions of dBASE 11
commands

<...>

user-supplied portions of dBASE 11

commands

File Naming Conventions
File names may be up to 8 characters (no spaces)
long

(See G2-2)

Field Naming Conventions
Field names may be up to 10 characters (no spaces) long,

must start with a letter, but can include digits and embedded colons

(see G2-3)

Limitations

(See RB-1)

dBASE |l Data Types

(See GZ»S,I R1-5)
C

Character data. Includes any printable console
(ASCII) character.

Numeric data for calculation. Includes numbers,
+, —.

Logical data. Includes Y,y, T,t for True, or N,n,F.f
for False

Cursor Movement and Control Keys
Full-Screen Operation (all modes):
For special controls used in conjunction with Edit,

Modify, Append, Create or Insert, see (G2-34, 2-35
or R5-1 - 5-5.
PREVIOUS RECORD

;Qfiag?g; FIELD

wa&afg DATA

———

?;XETMNGSAQX’E“M{{QE;

CINSERT/OVERWRITE

NEXT RECORD

dBASE Il File Types
PRG

command file

(See R1-9,
G4-1)

.DBF

database file

(See R1-7,
G2-2)

FMT

format file

(See R1-10,
G5-16)

FRM

report form file

(See R1-10,
G3-44)

.MEM

memory file

NDX

index file

(See R1-9)

(See R1-10,
G3-38)

JTXT

text output

(See R1-10,
G3-27, 3-31,
5-11)

Terminology
(See R6-1)
<commands> or

any valid dBASE command or

function

character string(s) In most
instances must be delimited with

single quotes (‘ '), double quotes
(““ ), or brackets ([ ])
<estring exp>

an <exp> whose contents is
defined as Character in type. May

be a cstring, a memvar or field
with character content, or any
combination of these items and
operators.

any non-alphanumeric character

used to demarcate data, e.g., single
quotes (‘ ), double quotes (*“ '),
brackets ([ ]), colons (: :), commas
(,,), etc.
<exp> or

an item or group of items and
operators whose value can be

determined by dBASE II. <exp>s
may be defined as C, N, or L

depending upon the “type” of data
they contain.
<exp list>

a list of expressions delimited with
commas.

<field>

a record field name.

a list of field names delimited with

commas.
<file>

name of file you wish to create or
access.

name of index file you wish to
create or access.

<key>

the portion(s) of a database file
used to create an index file.

the name of a memory variable.

list of memory variables delimited
with commas.

a number which dBASE II regards

<n>

as a literal value.
<numeric exp>

an <exp> whose content is defined
as Numeric.

command option specifies range of

<scope>

records dBASE II must treat in
executing command. <scope> has

three possible values: ALL records
in file, NEXT n records in file;

and RECORD n. Default value
varies from command to command.

allows batch manipulation of files

of same type and/or with matching
cstring in filename; allows batch

manipulation of groups of
<memvars> with matching cstring

In name.

Operators Used for Data Manipulation

(See G3-8, R2-10)

Logical Operators (listed in order of
precedence)
()

parentheses for grouping

NOT.

logical not (unary operator)

AND.

logical and

OR.

logical or

substring logical operator

Arithmetic Operators (listed in order of
precedence)

()

parentheses for grouping

multiplication

division

addition

subtraction

Relational Operators
<

less than

greater than

equal to

<> or #

not equal to

less than or equal to”

greater than or equal to

String Operators
+

string concatenation

string concatenation blanks moved to far
right

Functions
(See R2-1 - 2-9, G5-1 - 5-7)
*

deleted record function evaluates as a logical True if
current record is marked for deletion.

——
T

#
record pointer (a system memory variable) stores the

number of the current record.
&
macro function permits the use of a <memvar>’s stored
value in a command line. (<memvar>’s value must be a

‘cstring’)
I(<cstring exp>)

upper case function converts all lower case characters to
upper case.

$(<exp>, <start>, <length>)
substring function extracts the specified part of <exp=>
from the given starting position for the given length.

@(<cstring exp 1>, <cstring exp 2>)
substring search function yields an integer value indicating
where the first string appears in the second.

CHR?({’mzmeric exp>)

yields the ASCII character equivalent of a numeric
expression.

DATE ()

name of system variable containing the system date
EOF
End-Of-File function evaluates as a logical True when last
record of USE file has been surpassed.

FILE (<file>)

file function evaluates as a logical True if named file exists
on disk in use.
INT (<numeric exp>)

integer function truncates everything to the right of the

decimal to form an integer.
LEN (<cstring exp>)

length function returns the number of characters in the

specified <cstring exp>.

RANK (<cstring exp>)
returns the (ASCII numeric) value of the leftmost

character of <cstring exp>.

STR (<numeric exp>, <length>, [<decimals>])
string function converts specified portion of <numeric
exp> into a cstring.

TEST (<exp>)

test can be used to determine if an expression is valid.

TRIM (<cstring exp>)

trim function removes trailing blanks from specified
cstring.

TYPE (<exp>)

type function indicates data “type” of indicated <exp>.
VAL (<cstring exp>)

value function converts a cstring (composed of numerals)
into a numeric expression.

dBASE || Commands
?<exp>

evaluates and displays value of <exp>.

(See G2-23)

@<coord> [SAY <exp> [USING ‘picture’]][GET
<var> [PICTURE ‘picture’]]

format console screen or printer output.

(See G4-11, 5-13)
ACCEPT [‘prompt’] TO <memvar>
prompts user to input cstring into specified <memvar=>.
Input requires no quotes.

(See G4-10)

APPEND [BLANK]

add record(s) or blank, formatted record to database

file.

(See G2-26)

APPEND FROM«<file> [SDF] or
[DELIMITED][FOR<exp>]
appends data from a database or system data format file
into database file in use.

(See (G3-26)

BROWSE [FIELDS<field list>]
allows full screen “window” viewing and editing of

database file in use.

(See G2-8)

CANCEL
aborts command file execution.
CHANGE [<scope>] FIELD <list> [FOR <exp>]
permits selective editing of records by field.

(See G3-34)

CLEAR
“resets” dBASE.

(See G4-20)

CONTINUE

continues a LOCATE command.

(See G3-42)

COPY TO <file> STRUCTURE [FIELD <list>]
copies structure of file in use to designated file.

(See G3- 21)
COPY TO <file> [<se§pe>}[FIELD <list>]
[FOR <exp>]

copies file in use to designated database file.

(See G3-22)

COPY TO <file> [<scope>] [FIELD<list>]
[SDF] [DELIMITED [WITH <delimiter>]]

[FOR <exp>]
copies data from file in use to file with designated name

and format.

(See (G3-29)

COPY TO <file> STRUCTURE EXTENDED

creates a database file whose records represent the
structure of the file in use.

(See G3-23)

COUNT [<scope>][FOR <exp>][TO <memvar=>]
counts records that satisfy some condition. Default value
is all records.

(See G3-49)

CREATE |[<file>]
initiates creation of database file.

(See G2-2)

CREATE <newfile> FROM <oldfile> EXTENDED
creates database file whose structure is determined by the

data contained in the records of the <oldfile>. (Used with

COPY STRUCTURE EXTENDED.

(See G3-25)

DELETE [<scope>][FOR <exp>]
marks specified records for deletion.

(See G2-28)

DELETE FILE <file>
deletes specified file.

(See G2-28-2-29)

DISPLAY [<scope>][<field list>][FOR <exp>][OFF]

displays records of database file in use.

(See G2-18)

DISPLAY FILES [ON <disk drive>]

[LIKE <skeleton>]

displays files on disk. Default values: database files, logged

drive.

(See G2-20)

DISPLAY MEMORY

displays current <memvars>s.

(See G3-7)

DISPLAY STATUS
displays system information: e.g., system date, files open,

index files and keys, and all SET parameters.
DISPLAY STRUCTURE

displays structure of file in use.

(See G2-20)

EDIT [n]
initiates selective editing of database file in use.

(See G2-7)

EJECT

commands printer to perform a form feed (eject page)
ERASE

clears console screen.

(See G4-17)

FIND <cstring>

locates first record in indexed database file whose <key>

matches the specified <cstring>.

(See G3-41)

GO or GOTO <n> or <TOP>, or <BOTTOM>
positions to specific record or place in the database file in

use.

(See G4-20)

HELP [<command verb or other entry>]

accesses Help File overview or specific Help File entry for

brief explanation of specified command mode, function,
etc.

INDEX ON <key> TO <file>
creates an index file for the database in use.

(See (G3-38)

INPUT [‘prompt’] TO <memvar>
prompts user to enter <exp> into already named

<memvar>.

(See G4-11)

INSERT [BEFORE][BLANK]

inserts a new record anywhere in database file.

(See G2- 26)
JOIN TO <file> FOR <exp> [FIELDS <list>]
creates new database file by merging records of files in use

in Primary and Secondary areas for which FOR <exp>
evaluates as logical True.

(See G5-12)

LIST [<scope>][<field list>][FOR <exp>][OFF]
lists records of file in use.

(See G2-13)

LIST FILES [ON <disk drive>][LIKE <skeleton>]
lists files on disk. Default values: logged drive, database files. (See G2-17)

LIST MEMORY
lists current <memvars>.

(See G3-7)

LIST STATUS

lists system information e.g., system date, files open, index
files and keys, and all SET parameters.

LIST STRUCTURE
displays structure of file in use.

(See G2-17)

LOCATE [<scope>][FOR <exp>]
finds first record which satisfies specified condition. Use

Continue to reach next such record.

(See G3-43)

MODIFY COMMAND <file>

calls dBASE II's text editor and brings up designated file
for modification.

(See G4-2)

MODIFY STRUCTURE
allows structural modification of database file in
use.

(See (G3-16)

NOTE or *

commands dBASE II not to read the rest of command
line. Used to insert programming comments in command
files.

(See G4-15)

PACK

eliminates records marked for deletion.

(See G2-29)

QUIT [TO <list MS-DOS level commands

or .COM files>]
terminates dBASE II and returns control to operating
system. Optionally calls system level programs.
(See G1-5)
READ

initiates full-screen editing of a formatted screen, and
accepts data into GET commands.

(See G4-13)

RECALL [<scope>][FOR <exp>]

reinstates records previously marked for deletion.
(See G2-29)
REINDEX

updates index files not in use during alteration of

corresponding database file.
RELEASE [<memvar list>] or [ALL] or [ALL LIKE
<skeleton>] or ALL EXCEPT <skeleton>]

“eliminates unwanted <memvars> from current
memory.

(See G3-5)

REMARK
permits display of following characters. In command file is

used to output comments to screen or print.

(See G4-20)

RENAME <oldfile> TO <newfile>
permits renaming of file.

(See G4-20)

REPLACE [<scope>] <field> WITH <exp>
[,<field2> WITH <exp2>... ][FOR <exp>]-

replaces the value of specified fields of specified records
with stated values.

(See G3-32)

REPORT [FORM <filename>][ <scope>][FOR
<exp>][TO PRINT]

generates or accesses existing Report Form File for output

of data in user-defined format.

(See G3-44)

RESET [<drive>]
reset MS-DOS after disk swap.

RESTORE FROM <file> [ADDITIVE]
retrieves and activates <memvars> previously saved in
.MEM file. Deletes all current <memvars> unless Additive
option employed.
RETURN

terminates a command file and returns control to calling
file or interactive mode.

SAVE TO <file> [ALL LIKE <skeleton>][ALL

EXCEPT <skeleton>]

saves all current (designated) <memvars> to .MEM file.
SELECT [PRIMARY] or [SECONDARY]

switches between dBASE II's primary and secondary work
areas.

(See G4-19)

SET

see below for all SET commands.
SKIP [+/—n]
moves forward or backwards through the records of the
file in use. Default value: +1, +n.

(See G2-21)

SORT ON <key> TO <file> [ASCENDING] or
[DESCENDING]

creates a version of the database file in use whose records
are arranged alphabetically or numerically according to the
information contained in the field specified as the SORT
<key>. Default value: ascending.

(See G3-36)

STORE <exp> TO <memvar>

computes the value of <exp> and stores it to the
designated <memvar>.

(See G3-4)

SUM <field list> [TO <memvar list>] [<scope>]
[FOR <exp>]

computes and displays the sum of numeric fields.

(See G3-50)
TOTAL TO <file> ON <key> [FIELDS <field list>]

[FOR <exp>]
generates a summary version of an indexed or pre-sorted

database file which contains the totals of numeric fields
for records (in the use file) bearing the same <key>.
(See G3-51)
UPDATE FROM <filename> ON <key> [ADD <field
list>] or [REPLACE <field list>]

allows batch update of file in use by drawing upon
information from designated FROM file.

(See G5-11)

USE <file> [INDEX <file list>]
opens a database file and (optionally) engages desired
index files.

(See G4-18)

WAIT [TO <memvar>]

suspends dBASE II operation until a single console
character is entered; optionally stores the latter to a
designated <memvar>.

(See G4-10)

Set Commands
(See G5-8)
The default value of each SET command of ON/OFF type
is indicated by order of presentation: OFF/ON indicates

default value of OFF; ON/OFF a default value of ON.
SET ALTERNATE TO [<file>]

creates designated file (type .TXT) for saving screen

output to disk. Repeated without [<file>], closes . TXT file.

SET ALTERNATE OFF/ON
ON sends screen output to disc file created with previous

command; OFF shuts off output.

SET BELL ON/OFF

ON rings bell when invalid data entered or field boundary
passed; OFF turns off bell.
SET CARRY OFF/ON
When using APPEND (full-screen), ON enters data from
last record into present record; OFF turns off function.

SET COLON ON/OFF

ON displays colons which delimit or bound input
variables; OFF hides colons.

SET CONFIRM OFF/ON
ON waits for <return> before skipping to next field in
full-screen mode; OFF skips to next field as soon as

present field is filled.

SET CONSOLE ON/OFF

ON sends all output to screen; OFF suspends all output to
screen.

SET DATE TO <MM/DD/YY>
sets or resets system date.

SET DEBUG OFF/ON

ON sends output from SET ECHO and STEP to print;
OFF sends output to screen.

SET DEFAULT TO <drive>
commands dBASE II to regard specified drive as default
drive for all future operations.
SET DELETED OFF/ON

ON prevents dBASE II from reading/processing any
record marked for deletion following a command which
has <scope> as an option. OFF allows dBASE II to read
all records.
SET ECHO OFF/ON

ON allows monitoring of command file execution by
echoing all commands to screen; OFF suppresses echo.
SET EJECT ON/OFF

ON causes REPORT command to trigger a form-feed
(page eject) before sending report to print; OFF disables
the page eject.

SET ESCAPE ON/OFF

ON enables user to abort command file execution by
hitting ESCape key; OFF disables ESC key.
SET EXACT OFF/ON
ON requires exact match in any comparison between two
strings (e.g., in use of FOR <exp> or FIND command);
OFF allows matches between strings of different lengths.

SET FORMAT TO [<file>]
accesses specified file (type .FMT) containing custom

made screen/print format for use in conjunction with
APPEND, EDIT, INSERT, etc.

SET FORMAT TO <screen/print>
directs output from format file to screen or printer.
SET HEADING TO <cstring>

saves <cstring> internally and inserts it as REPORT
header line. (cstring limited to 60 chars.)

SET INDEX TO [<file list>]

sets up index files for use with corresponding database file.
First listed .NDX file will be engaged as the active index;

all other NDX files will be automatically updated to
reflect any changes to the database file.

SET INTENSITY ON/OFF

ON enables inverse video or dual intensity during fullscreen operations (if hardware permits); OFF disables
these features.

SET LINKAGE OFF/ON
ON enables simultaneous movement of record pointers in
both Primary and Secondary work areas in response to

commands which only permit downward movement

through a file (i.e., commands with <scope>). OFF
suspends pointer linkage.

SET MARGIN TO <n>
sets left hand margin of printer to <n>.

SET PRINT OFF/ON
ON directs output to printer; OFF cuts off output to
printer.

SET RAW OFF/ON
ON LISTs and DISPLAYSs records without inserting

spaces between fields; OFF inserts an extra space
between fields.

SET SCREEN ON/OFF
ON enables full-screen operation with APPEND, EDIT,

CREATE, etc. OFF disables full-screen operation.
SET STEP OFF/ON

ON aids debugging of command files by halting execution
after performing each command; OFF disables STEP.
SET TALK ON/OFF

ON displays results of commands on screen; OFF
suppresses display of results.

Structured Programming Commands
DO <file>

accesses and executes a command file (type .PRG).

(See G4-2)

DO CASE

CASE <expl>
<statements>

CASE <exp2>

permits choice of one and only

one of several possible execution
paths, i.e., CASE <expl> through

CASE <expN>. When CASE

<exp> evaluates as logically True,

CASE <expN>

the following statements and

commands will be performed.

OTHERWISE
<statements>

ENDCASE

OTHERWISE clause for

alternate execution path is
optional. DO CASE structure
must be terminated with
ENDCASE.

Lie
i-

DO WHILE <exp>
<statements>

LOOP
<statements>

ENDDO

opens a structured command

loop. The following commands
and statements will be executed
until <exp> evaluates as a logical

False. An optional portion of DO
WHILE, LOOP causes command

file to jump back and re-evaluate

DO WHILE <exp>. Structure
must terminate with

ENDDO.

IF <exp>
<statements>

ELSE
<statements>

ENDIF

(See G4-7)

permits conditional execution of

following statements and

commands. Optional ELSE
provides an alternate path of
execution. Structure must
terminate with ENDIF.

(See G4-4)

TEXT
<any text>

ENDTEXT

allows the output of text
information from a command file.

dBASE II will read everything as
text for output until it encounters
an ENDTEXT command.

e
Rs
SR

N AA A L

e e

(See G5-13)