ANTIC DATABASE - MANUAL››     Antic dataBASE is an easy-to-use›file manager with all operations›menu-driven.  Antic dataBASE makes it›simple to create your own mailing›lists, phone directories, household›inventories, catalogs of your music,›videotapes, software, books or›magazines -- any kind of interactive›data file.›     Antic dataBASE requires an Atari›8-bit computer with at least 48K and›a disk drive.››XXX›     Antic dataBASE saves your›updated information on disk and›presents it back to you either on›your computer screen or in hardcopy›from your printer.  You can keep a›mailing list on disk and quickly›access any individual's address or›phone number.  You can even have your›Atari select all names and addresses›with a specific ZIP code or telephone›area code.››XXX››     GETTING STARTED›     Here's how to make your Antic›dataBASE disk:›     1.  Format a fresh disk with DOS›2 or 2.5.  Be sure to WRITE DOS FILES›to this disk.  This will be your›Antic dataBASE disk.›     2.  ANTICDB.EXE is the filename›of the Antic dataBASE program.  Copy›it to your Antic dataBASE disk.›ANTICDB.EXE is on the "B" side of the›August '87 Antic Monthly Disk.›     3.  Put your Antic dataBASE disk›into your drive and rename›ANTICDB.EXE as AUTORUN.SYS.››XXX›     To start the program, turn off›your Atari and place your ANTIC›dataBASE disk into drive 1.  Remove›all cartridges.  (If you have an XL›or an XE, hold down the [OPTION]›key.) Turn on your Atari and Antic›dataBASE will start automatically.››XXX›     At the title screen, press any›key to get the main menu:››A. File Directory G. Add New Record›B. Change Drive   H. Modify Old Record›C. Create File    I. Print Records›D. Modify File    J. Display Records›E. Exit to DOS    K. Display Fields›F. Format a Disk  L. Sort File››     First, format a disk for your›data files.  Then select C from the›main menu to Create a File.  Enter a›short file description and a filename›at the prompts.  The inverse bars›show how long each entry can be.››XXX›     The third prompt asks for the›"Number of Fields in Record (2-8)" --›this is the amount of different items›you want to store in each record.›For example, in an address file you›might want to store each person's›name, street address, city, state,›ZIP code and telephone number.  Each›of these is a "field," and Antic›dataBASE can search or sort an entire›file based on the contents of a›field.››XXX›     Important:  once you've created›a file, you can go back and alter the›labels assigned to each field, but›you can't change the number of fields›in an existing file.›     Think hard before answering the›prompt "Field Length (1-37)."  You›can set it only once.  The shorter›your fields, the more you can store›on a disk.  But if a field is too›short, you'll have to start›abbreviating information.››XXX›     When all fields are defined, the›screen clears, a summary of the file›definition is displayed and the›prompt "Press (Y) to Save File"›appears.  Pressing any other key›returns you to the main menu.›     SIZE LIMITS›     While creating the file you›probably noticed the "Record Size"›number.  Keep an eye on this total as›you define the file, because the›number equals the sum of all the›field lengths defined up to this›point.  The maximum is 128.››XXX›     How much you can store in a file›depends on the length of the records,›disk density and the number of other›files on that disk.›     MAIN MENU›     A.  File Directory -- maintained›in a file called INDEX.  All database›files must have a DB extender, which›is automatically assigned to files›created by Antic dataBASE.›     B.  Change Drive -- lets you›specify which disk drive will be used›in all data management operations.›     C.  Create File -- for creating›a new database.››XXX›     D.  Modify File -- lets you›either delete a file or change›labels.›     E.  Exit to DOS -- even if you›have a MEM.SAV file on your disk,›you'll have to reboot Antic dataBASE.›     F.  Format Disk.›     G.  Add New Record -- lets you›add a record to an existing database›file.›     H.  Modify Old Record -- lets›you change an existing record, such›as an address or phone number.››XXX›     I.  Print Records -- sends any›or all records from a file to the›printer.  You can print partial›records as well.›     J.  Display Records -- prints›the contents of any or all records to›the screen.›     K.  Display Fields -- shows the›fields defined for the records in any›one or all of the database files on›that disk.›     L.  Sort Files -- you can sort›on any field in a record and in›either ascending or descending order.›However, you can't sort a file of 200›or more sectors.››XXX›     HINTS›     1.  Sorting is based on the›ASCII codes of the letters and›numbers in the field.  An abbreviated›ASCII table follows.  (See your›favorite computer manual for a›complete chart of ASCII values.):›     CHARACTER VALUES›     0 - 9      48-57›     A - Z      65-90›     a - z      97-122››     Using this system, the word›"ZODIAC" would appear BEFORE the word›"aardvark" -- but AFTER a word like›"07-APRIL".››XXX›     2.  Use Antic dataBASE to delete›any database files, because your DOS›won't update the INDEX file.››