Description dBase IV 1.5

DBASE IV version 1.5

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dBASE IV v1.5 product description

NEW FEATURES FOR dBASE IV V1.5

EASIER AND MORE EFFICIENT INSTALLATION ROUTINE

	Automatic CGA sensing
	Automated disk caching installation
	Windows 3.x preparation
	Improved network detection
	Developer's Edition has been eliminated Template language compiler now included RunTime facility available separately
	International editions and translations install enhanced
	New dBINFO Utility
	More efficient and extensive data compression added

USABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS

	Increased number of work areas from 10 to 40
	Mouse support for menu selection and navigation within the various design screens, browse and edit.
	Improved caching performance of DBCACHE (Hyperdisk)
	Printer driver enhancements
	Selectable CONFIG.DB files
	Help system improvements Including on-line help for every operation and command
	Improved documentation

INDEXING AND DATA SELECTION ENHANCEMENTS

	Improved indexing algorithm
	New and improved index functions: DESCENDING(), FOR(), TAGCOUNT(), TAGNO(), UNIQUE()
	Data selection enhanced with smart key filter

NEW CONTROL CENTER AND QBE DESIGN SCREEN FEATURES

	Editable multi-file views
	Automatic and user selectable query optimization
	Calculated fields now support linking fields
	Calculated fields now deletable
	Improved summary operations with calculated fields
	Improved handling of complex index tags
	Ascending or descending index indicator
	Option to keep speedup indexes
	Recreation of lost index tag
	Eliminating duplicate records in a join
	Improved SHIFT-F1 Pick List expression builder
	View skeleton wrap around

ENHANCEMENTS FOR DEVELOPERS

	Open Architecture Control Center
	C language-like, low level I/O functions
	Smart key filter for improved record selection
	Enhanced BLANK support
	Enhanced keyboard command
	New SCROLL clause for @ SAY/GET commands to scroll an area of the screen.

HARDWARE/SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

	PC-DOS or MS-DOS version 2.1, 3.0 thrugh 3.31, 4.01, and 5.0.
	IBM PC, PC XT, Personal Computer AT and PS/2 or compatible.
	640K system required. dBASE IV and its applications will use 450k.
	Hard disk required with 3.5Mb minimum available space.

NETWORK/NETWORKING SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

	Novell Advanced NetWare/286 v2.2 and NetWare 386 v3.11
	3Com 3+ Share v1.60 and 3Com 3+ Open v2.0
	Lantastic v4.00 **
	Banyan Vines v4.01 and 100% compatibles with above Networks

** v3.02 as listed on the side of the dBASE box is not correct. dBASE IV v1.5 was actually certified on v4.00.

dBASE IV v1.5 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

IMPROVEMENTS AND COMPATIBILITY

Q. Can I use my word processor/text editor with dBASE IV?

A. The TEDIT facility in dBASE IV version 1.5 permits the installation of a third party word processor/text editor.

Q. What data field types does dBASE IV support?

A. dBASE IV v1.5 supports: character, numeric, floating numeric, date, logical and memo (large text) data types.

Q. Are dBASE III PLUS applications fully compatible with dBASE IV version 1.5?

A. dBASE III PLUS applications are compatible with dBASE IV. dBASE IV was designed to be upwardly compatible with dBASE III PLUS. However, in order to extend the functionality and include the internal compiler, some areas may require slight modification.

Q. How do I convert files from dBASE II and dBASE III to dBASE IV?

A. Files from dBASE III and dBASE III PLUS are completely upward compatible to dBASE IV. Files from dBASE II can be upgraded with the dCONVERT utility which is provided in the product.

INSTALLATION AND MEMORY

Q. Can you install dBASE IV v1.5 in less than 640K of RAM?

A. You can install dBASE IV v1.5 with as little as 450K of memory available at the DOS prompt.

Q. Does dBASE IV support Extended or Expanded memory?

A. Yes, if Extended memory is available. Upon installation, dBASE IV v1.5 will automatically determine whether your system has extended or expanded memory and install the appropriate files. dBASE IV will take advantage of that memory by using its integrated disk cache to enhance performance. In addition, the dBASE IV Server Edition is written to run in "Protected Mode" (Extended Memory) and can use up to 15MB of memory for application space or performance. It has an integrated disk caching facility that allows users to cache data and overlay files as well.

Q. How does the disk caching facility work in dBASE IV v1.5?

A. The integrated disk caching option in version 1.5 uses extended or expanded memory for caching data and program overlays to reduce disk access and improve system performance. The disk cache is installed as an option when installing 1.5. When installed, it is automatically loaded and then removed from memory when users quit dBASE IV v.1.5 and has been improved over dBASE IV v1.1 making it more robust, especially for use with Windows 3.x and DOS 5.0. The amount of memory used by the cache can be controlled by setting parameters.

Q. What if I already have a cache program?

A. You may use your current disk cache program with dBASE IV. However, the caching facility in dBASE IV 1.5 can only be used with dBASE IV.

ADDITIONAL PRINTER SUPPORT

Q. Does dBASE IV v1.5 support Postscript printers?

A. dBASE IV v1.5 supports the Apple LaserWriter and other fully compatible Postscript printers. In addition, XON/XOFF support for serial Postscript printers is fully supported.

Q. Is the Printer Driver Toolkit promised in the dBASE IV Developer's Edition version 1.0 included in 1.5?

A. The printer driver toolkit is available through Borland Technical Support. We do not plan to ship this as part of dBASE IV v1.5.

NETWORK AND DISTRIBUTION ISSUES

Q. What should I get to put dBASE IV on a LAN?

A. A full system of dBASE IV version 1.5 needs to be installed on a LAN, providing access to one workstation. Additional users can be added with any number of dBASE IV version 1.5 LAN Packs and expanded to meet user needs. The dBASE version 1.5 LAN Pack comes in either a 1 user count or a 10 user count.

Q. Can you explain what a LAN version is?

A. The dBASE IV Lan Packs are expansion packs for dBASE IV version 1.5. It allows either an additional one user or an additional 10 users to access dBASE IV when it is isntalled on a file server on a network. They are EXPANSION pack and not full dBASE IV systems. You must have a copy of dBASE IV v1.5 to use them.

Q. Do I need a LAN Pack for RunTime?

A. No. The optional RunTime module allows developers to create applications using RunTime to network without the necessity for a LAN Pack.

Q. How can I increase the performance of dBASE IV on a LAN? RunTime?

A. Owners of the dBASE IV v1.5 RunTime module are licensed to distribute an unlimited number of copies with their applications, in accordance with Borland' runtime license agreement. RunTime supports applications in both single-user and networked environments.

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