Technical Information

Tutorial Version:

This version of the tutorial is based on our last printed tutorial but has been brought up to date using relevant commands and functions through filePro version 5.0.

Revision Date: 01/08/2001

Capacities, filePro:

Other filePro features

• Browse Windows

While you are looking at a record in one file, filePro Plus allows you to see records from another file in a "browse window," and even copy data from a record shown in a browse window into the record on your screen.

• Pop-up Screens

You can have a screen containing a complete record pop-up on your current screen; you can even update the record in the popup screen!

• "Fuzzy Search"

You can search for a record and retrieve "inexact" matches to your search value (as well as exact matches). This technique, called "Fuzzy Search," is very useful when you are not sure of the accuracy of your search value.

• Multiple Printer Support

filePro Plus supports multiple print code tables, several of which (for popular printers) are supplied with the program. You may define your own print code tables, as well. filePro Plus supports as many as printers as you would want to use.

• Full-featured, on-line debugger supported

• Individual file can span up to eight hard drives

• Reads and writes ASCII files (non-delimited with fixed length fields)

• Imports files in about any format including the following standard formats:

Ø        Delimited ASCII

Ø        DBASE or XBASE

Ø        DIF

Ø        WordStar

• Exports files in about any format including the following common formats:

Ø        Delimited ASCII

Ø        DIF

Ø        SYLK

Ø        WordPerfect

Ø        WordStar

• Sorts by following field types:

Ø        date

Ø        numeric

Ø        ASCII

Optional programs available for use with filePro Plus 

FPSQL - Easy-to-use, ad hoc query language.

FOXCOPY - Imports files in FOXBASE + format.

DBCOPY - Imports files in Dbase III or Dbase IV format. Used with DOS systems only.

FPCOPY - Copies or renames filePro Plus files.

FPTRANSFER - Transfers filePro Plus files to remote computers. Also converts files between DOS and LINUX/UNIX/XENIX operating systems.

NOTE: Later versions include some optional programs at no extra charge.

DEFINITIONS OF filePro Plus TERMS

Please familiarize yourself with the following terms before starting the tutorial.

Application - An application is the solution you create with filePro Plus to access a database(s) and turn it into useful information. For example: running a medical practice, or a police department.

Browse - Normally, filePro Plus displays one record at a time on the screen. Browse mode allows filePro Plus to display as many as 18 records on the screen at a time. The user can choose a record to work on from the browse screen.

Browse Lookup - filePro Plus allows the end user to specify, on the fly, a browse to be performed against other files. Fields from the records selected are presented in a window on the current data-entry screen.

Character - A character is a single letter, number, symbol or blank space.

Database - -A database is a collection of related information organized in files, records and fields. Separate files may share common information for purposes of connecting records in one file with records in another. For example, a customer file and an in-voice file may both contain a field for the customer number. This allows you to retrieve the invoices belonging to a customer, or find the customer belonging to an invoice.

File - A file is a set of related records. Examples of files are: customer information, products, and invoices.

Edits - Edits are field types. Edits specify the type of data the field may contain; other kinds of data will be rejected. Some edits take the characters that you type and modify them to conform to the edit. For example, the "allup" edit converts all the characters in the field to uppercase (capital letters). Edits make filePro Plus powerful and assure accurate data-entry.

Field - A field is a set of related characters; a category or type of information. Fields are the blanks you fill in when entering data. Examples of fields are: customer number, last name, first name, address, city, state, zip code.

Fuzzy Search - filePro Plus enables you to search for a record and retrieve "inexact" match to your search value (as well as exact matches). This technique, called "Fuzzy Search," is very useful when you are not sure of the accuracy of your search value.

Index - An index is a table that is used for high-speed access to records within a file. It is also used to join (connect) multiple files within a database.

Lookup - A lookup is filePro Plus’s way of connecting two files. Information from a file is "looked up" in order to extract data from, or post data to, that file.

Menu - The filePro Plus main menu lists all the options available for you to use. Each option may have its own menus, as well. This makes filePro Plus simple to use. A menu is a list of options to choose from. User menus are created with filePro Plus for the end user of an application.

Pop-up Screen - filePro Plus allows you to specify and view a complete record in a pop-up screen that appears on your current data entry screen. You can even update the record in the pop-up screen!

Processing - Processing is the special instructions, written by the user, which tell filePro Plus how to handle data input, data manipulation, and data output. A sequence of these instructions is called a "processing table". In filePro Plus, "processing" is synonymous with "programming." This makes filePro Plus flexible.

Record - A record is a set of related fields. Examples of records are: information about customer X, information about product Y, information about invoice number 445, Information about what you owe to vendor Z.

Standard Editing Keys - The following editing keys are available throughout the filePro Plus creation pro-grams. (Some creation programs have additional keys for special editing functions. Those keys and their functions are displayed at the bottom of the appropriate screen in each program.)

filePro Plus Standard Editing Keys (DOS)

NOTE. For LINUX/UNIX/XENIX systems see the filePro Plus Terminal Guide topic in the fPmanual.