This manual describes how to use DP4's core utilities to create and maintain DP4 databases. Previous experience of DP4 is not assumed, but a basic knowledge of fields, tables, roles, key fields, indexes and other relational database concepts would be a distinct advantage. The manual is divided into the following sections:
helps new users to become acquainted with DP4. It describes how to log onto DP4, how to use the main system menus, how to use the user interface, how to run DP4 utilities, programs and reports against the SALESORD database (used for examples throughout the manual) and how to test your DP4 printer selection.
provides information about DP4's implementation of the relational database model. You should read this before building a DP4 database. It spans a variety of concepts from entity modelling to database design tools.
tells you how to use the DP4 utilities to implement your database design. It covers these tasks: creating and modifying a database; entering, deleting and viewing data; printing the database structure; setting database security levels.
provides information that will enable you to develop a maintenance schedule that will ensure that your database continues to perform at its best. This section covers: setting up transaction and roll-back logging; backing up and restoring a database; recovering a database; checking the status and integrity of a database; counting the records in a database; reorganising a database; shutting down a database; running maintenance records from batch files.
Transferring Database Information
describes the DP4 utilities for transferring information into and out of DP4 databases. You can import data from many different sources, including spreadsheets, word-processed reports, other non-DP4 files and, of course, DP4 databases. This section covers: copying the database structure; copying data between databases; exporting data with Report Writer; importing data using an Importer program; transferring data with the load and unload facility.
shows you how to use the DP4 Text Editor to edit DP4 print files, how to use the DP4 Map Editor to create screen and print formats and how to use the DP4 Help Editor to create windows of help information for input fields in applications.
explains how to manage the users of a DP4 system, including maintaining the user list, editing a menu, using menu commands, managing menus
Creating an Automatic Demonstration or Test with Redirect
describes how to use the REDn program to create an automatic demonostration or test of your DP4 programs.
provides information for setting up databases that support multiple national languages at the same time. It covers these tasks: developing a multi-language application; translating maps into different languages; selecting the language preferences; specifying the collate characteristics of key fields; changing the database field headings and country-dependent fields for a new language.
explains the underlying file structure of a DP4 runtime system and information how a DP4 application updates the database using the post, commit and checkpoint mechanism and how you can change the database without recompiling your applications. The latter explains the rules of data independence.
gives you maximum limits information for the database
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