FAMILY HISTORY DATABASE Version 2.02f FOR (AMOS PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARY) Programmed By Michael A Tate Special thanks to Roy Davey and his A500 plus problems Len Tucker (Totally Amos/AmosPDL) for his invaluable tips. First of all a word of warning to all users. When using this program ******************************************************************** * DO NOT STORE DATA ON THE PROGRAM DISK. IT CORRUPTS THE PROGRAM * ******************************************************************** Use a blank formatted disk for storing data on. Single disk users occasionally you will be asked to insert the program disk especially prior to printing. Once disk access has finished replace your data disk in the drive. CHANGES. Error on Family Group Report/Mothers Brothers/Sisters No4 now prints date of death instead of date of birth. Now possible to View reduced versions of Ancestor Chart and Family Group Report before printing to paper WHATS ON THE DISK. On the disk you will find the following programs etc. Database Module: The main program for storing family details. Printer Module: The module for printing out all information stored. Preferences: For use in selecting/storing your printer driver. DB_Docs: The documents you are reading now. AMOSSOURCECODE Source for both modules. I have decided to program this database in modules to allow maximum number of users to run the program without running out of memory. Getting Started If you are reading these docs then you have either inserted the disk into the internal drive or you are reading these docs by using a text reader. Insert disk into internal drive and wait for the workbench to load. Double click on the disk icon to produce the FHD window. In this window will be displayed the icons for the above programs. By double clicking on any of the shown icons the system will run the selected program. DATABASE MODULE Double clicking this icon will run the main program on this disk. Once the program has loaded you will be presented with the opening screen detailing the various credits. When you send bug reports please explain in detail how the bug occured so that I can imitate how the bug was caused and hopefully cure it. Please Wait Until Screen Disappears. Once done you will be presented with the Database Main Menu. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main Menu Screen. System Date. Open/Create Files Alter Show Record Number Add Record To File Alter System Date Show Record Number Load Database Print Search For Record Files Are Currently Default Settings TEXT WINDOW Exit Database Please select an item to perform by clicking on its box with the mouse. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- System Date This show the currently set system date. If no system date has been set then the date shown is 00/00/0000. Do not worry as this has no bearing on the use of the program. In FHD 1.00 & FHD 1.01 there was a great emphasis put on you entering todays date because the program showed the age of the person selected when viewing their record. This has been dropped in this version of FHD because the amount of coding required it was not feasible. Sorry to all you users who liked it!! When using the Print Page option (explained later) the current date setting is also printed with the other information. Open/Create Files Selecting this item will produce a simple questionaire in the text window. ie press 1 - Open Existing Files 2 - Create New File 3 - Close Existing File Selecting 1 is for opening a file that has already been created. DO NOT SELECT THIS if you have not used the program before as the program will not find a previously created file if you have not created one? If you have created a file then you will be asked if you wish to alter the default file settings. Pressing 'Y' the program will look for the data files under the settings shown on the main screen in the default file settings box. The default is DF1:FamilyDatabase if this does not exist you will be informed and asked to alter the file settings again. If you press 'N' you will first be asked to select the drive on which your data is stored ie DF0: DF1: DH0: DH1: Once you have selected your drive then you will be asked to enter the filename your data is stored under. This is restricted to 20 Characters. Selecting 2 is for creating a new file. Beware when using this option. If you create a new file with the same filename on a disk that contains a file with the same filename the old file will become inaccessible because when creating a file a new index file is created. This file contains the number of records stored in the file. When a new index file is written to the data disk the value is '0' hence making the other records unavailable. After selecting create a file you will be asked which drive the data is to be stored on. After this you will be asked what filename you wish the data to be stored under, again a maximum of 20 characters only for the filename. Once this has been entered the program will create the file on the blank formatted disk ready for you to enter data for your first record. It is advisable at this point to use the add record option and edit at least one field on your first record Selecting 3 is for closing a file that you have been working with so that if you wish to open an existing file or create a new file the file that is currently open will be closed and you may proceed to open or create another file. If you examine your data disk using a directory utility you will discover the following files:- 'Filename' + '.fil1' \ 'Filename' + '.fil2' -> Main Data Stored Here 'Filename' + '.fil3' / 'Filename' + '.indx' -> Record Number Stored Here The files with the suffix '.fil' store the main data that you have entered using the database module. The file with the '.indx' suffix holds the number of records you have written to the above files. ALTER SHOW RECORD NUMBER When selecting this option you will be asked to select the record you wish to view using the SHOW RECORD NUMBER option. You will not be able to select a record below record 1 or greater than the amount of records already created. When you have entered the number and pressed return the number to the right of the SHOW RECORD NUMBER option will also change. ADD RECORD TO FILE When selecting this option you will get an error message if you have not previously opened a file to view. If you have opened the selected file you will be taken to the record edit screen (see later) of the next record in the file. Floppy disk users are allowed a maximum of 500 records to each file. A disk will contain 513 records before corrupting. ALTER SYSTEM DATE Here you will be able to enter the current date into the system. The default is 00/00/0000. When entering the date please insert whatever character you wish between the day-month and month-year. The program expects a divider and will throw up errors if they are not entered. ie you could enter 26/07/1992 or 26-07-1992 or any other character as you wish, only you must include a divider! SHOW RECORD NUMBER Before selecting this option you will notice a number to the right of this option. This is the record number you will view if you select this option. This number can be changed by selecting the ALTER SHOW RECORD NUMBER option described above. Once selected you will be shown screen one of the selected record. LOAD DATABASE PRINT When selecting this option any open files will be closed and the printer module will be loaded into memory and run. Be prepared for a small wait whilst the program is loaded,uncompacted and run. You will be asked to insert the main program disk into a drive if it is not already there. SEARCH FOR RECORD From here you will be presented another screen explaining that the search process only deals with the first three characters of a name. This is to cater for surname that are only three characters long and should not prove to be any inconvenience when searching for any given name. Once you have entered the surname you will be asked to enter record number you wish to start the search from. The search will continue from the record number entered to the end of the database. If the search highlights more than 20 records you will be asked to press a key for the search to continue. This will allow you to study all records highlighted and make a note of the record numbers. At the end of the search you will be asked if you wish to conduct another search or return to the main menu. Now able to quit at certain points. FILES ARE CURRENTLY To the right of this box you will see the status of the disk files. They will be either OPEN or CLOSED. DEFAULT SETTINGS Here you will see the current default settings for the data files. The default is DF1:FamilyDatabase Any settings that you select will be shown here. TEXT WINDOW When you are working with various options all text input/output and any error messages will be shown in this box. EXIT DATABASE As the title implies you will exit from the database after any files that you have OPEN have been closed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADD RECORD - SCREEN ONE This is the screen you will see when you click on the ADD RECORD option on the main menu. You will notice at the bottom of the screen there are ten 'click' buttons, of these only three are useable. The seven marked 'Not Used' are used later on in the View Record section. That leaves us with three marked thus Edit,Screen 2 and Database. EDIT BUTTON This 'removes' the buttons from view to make room for the text window. In the window you are asked to select a field to edit. A field is the areas on the screen shown in black text. The only exception to this is the Record Number at the top right corner of the screen. This number is altered automatically by the program itself every time you add a record to the file. To edit a field move the pointer with the mouse to the field required and click on it with the left mouse button. The text window will then clear and you will be asked to enter the new text for that field. When you have typed in your information and pressed return the text will again clear and you will be asked if you wish to edit another field or save record. To edit another field click the left mouse button once move the pointer to the next field and click a second time. Do this for every field you wish to edit. To save the record simply click the right mouse button once and the record will be saved to disk. The text window will disappear and the buttons will re-appear on screen. SCREEN 2 BUTTON When you click this button you will be presented with screen 2 of the record you are working on. The only difference between screen 1 and screen 2 is that the previously Screen 2 button is now Screen 1 this returns you to Screen 1. DATABASE BUTTON This returns you to the main menu when you have finished editing the record you are working on. To prevent you from selecting the add record option and then returning to the main menu without editting the record the program will save the record as it is. This is just a failsafe within the program to stop the programs index system getting confused. When using the add record option you do not have to enter information into every field. You can further edit each record from the View Record option as discussed in the next section. When selecting add record screen 2 the three buttons work the same as for the buttons in add record screen 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIEW RECORD - SCREEN ONE This is reached by selecting the View Record Number option from the Main Menu. As with the edit screen we are now shown the same information however all ten buttons are now active, they are as follows:- Edit : Search : Database : Print Page : Screen 2 Show Father : Show Mother : Prev Record : Next Record : Goto Record EDIT BUTTON This is the same as on the edit screen ie edit a field. SEARCH BUTTON This takes you to the Search For Record screen where you will be able to search for a record by surname. However once you have finished with the search routine you will return to the main menu and not back to the view record screen. DATABASE BUTTON As previously explained you will be returned to the main menu. PRINT PAGE BUTTON This will give you a print-out of all the information available for that record. Remember if you do not have a printer connected then DO NOT SELECT THIS OPTION!!! you have be warned. SCREEN 2 BUTTON This button replaces screen one with screen two and shows you the information that goes with that screen. On screen two this button is shown as SCREEN 1 show that you can return to screen 1 if you wish. SHOW FATHER BUTTON This will replace the information shown on the screen with the information of that person father. However it will only do this if the FATHERS ID field has been editted to show the record number of that persons father. SHOW MOTHER BUTTON As with the show father button explained above this shows the information of the persons mother. The same rule applies as above for mothers record. PREV RECORD BUTTON This will show the information of the record one back from the one currently being shown. ie if you are looking at record number 8 it will show the information for record 7. NEXT RECORD BUTTON This will show the information for the next record in the file. ie you are viewing record 8, it will show you the information for record 9. GOTO RECORD BUTTON If you wish to jump forward or backward more than one record you will get the opportunity here. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIEW RECORD - SCREEN TWO This screen although shows different information than screen one the functions of the buttons are the same apart from the screen button as it will now show Screen 1 instead of Screen 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINTER MODULE OK no opening screen on this module, it`s straight into the main menu. MAIN MENU SCREEN DATE Alter File Settings Alter System Date Blank Questionaire 1 Print Database Blank Questionaire 2 Male Ancestor Line Blank Ancestor Chart Female Ancestor Line Family Group Report Load Database Module Ancestor Chart Search For Surname Print Report For Default Settings Text Window Exit Print Program The Print Report For and Default Settings are not options for selection but show information concerning different reports. DATE Again as in the database module this is the date that will be printed on your reports and charts and does not affect system operation. ALTER FILE SETTINGS This option allows you to alter the Device and Filename concerned with your data disk.Remember to alter the settings if your data is stored anywhere other than the default settings. ALTER SYSTEM DATE This option is the same as the option in the database module. The same rules apply concerning the dividers. BLANK QUESTIONAIRE 1 & 2 When selecting these options you will print out a two page questionaire that in my opinion is suitable for sending to a relative to complete. Bear in mind that when sending the questionaires that a hand written note explaining why you are sending the relative a questionaire will always be appreciated and may even produce information that you may not be storing in your database but is however useful. It always pays to be courteous. BLANK ANCESTOR CHART This option will print a blank version of ancestor chart (see below) that is also useful for sending to relatives with the questionaire and also it helps you to plan your database. FAMILY GROUP REPORT This prints to paper or screen a report for a given record number/person and includes the following information:- Grandparents on father`s side Grandparents on mother`s side Father and Mother Upto three spouses Upto nine children Upto eight brothers and sisters Upto eight aunts and uncles on fathers side Upto eight aunts and uncles on mothers side Each record shown also details that records database number,Surname,Given Names,Date Born and Date Died. When first selecting this option you will be asked to enter the record number on which the report is to be based. When the number has been entered the program will get that record from your data disk if it is in your disk drive and will show the Given Names ansd Surname in the Print Report For box. You will then be asked to confirm that this is the correct record. If it is the program will collect all the information required for the report and when ready ask you to ensure that the printer is ready to print. Once the report has been printed you will be return to the control of the menu screen. ANCESTOR CHART This will print to screen or printer a chart of the following type:- 8. +0000 +----------------+ | +0000 4. | \ +--------------+ Connencting Records | | / 2. | | +27 +----------+ +----------------+ | | 9. +28 1. Start | +----------+ etc.. 3. There will be fifteen records shown on the printout. I have not made the program print out every record that is linked to the start record for a number of reasons. Firstly it can be a waste of paper printing a chart for a side of the family that has not been entered in the database yet. Secondly it gives you a choice of following a particular line of ancestors and you only have to print out what you need. As with the family group report you will be asked to enter the record number on which chart is to be based. Once satisfied the chart will be printed with the selected record being printed at position 1 of the chart. That persons father will be printed in position 2 and mother in position 3. At the end of the eigth to fifteenth records there will be either a number or four 0000`s. If there is a number that will be the number to use if you wish to print another chart following that line of ancestors. If there are four 0000`s then there is no record available in that particular line. For example if you look at the chart above you will notice that record eight has two sets of zero`s but record 9 has 27 in the father position and 28 in the mothers position. Therefore the line continues to the ancestors of record 9 but ceases at the end of record 8. Before printing to paper it is now possible to print to the screen to see if the information is what you want without wasting paper. A number of limitations were needed to fit the procedure into the program. Firstly I have only allowed the first fifteen characters of the first name to printed and seventeen of the surname. This was done to allow me to fit the fifteen records on screen.In some situations this may cause the display to look rather untidy. Obviously the print to paper function contains more information than the screen function. When you leave the print to screen function you will have to re-enter the Ancestor chart function and enter the record number again before you are able to print to paper, this allows me to keep track of the various windows in the program. Again once printing has finished you will be returned to the control of the menu screen. PRINT DATABASE This option will print the entire database to paper in the following manner:- Record:- 1 Given Name. Surname. Fathers Id. Mothers Id MALE ANCESTOR LINE This will print all the male ancestors in line from a given record in the following format:- Record: 1 Given Name Surname DoB DoD (start record) | Record: 2 " " Surname " " ( Father ) | Record: 3 " " Surname " " (Father`s Father) etc. FEMALE ANCESTOR LINE This will print the same as male ancestor line but using the female side. LOAD DATABASE MODULE This will load an run the database module. Please allow for a slight delay whilst the program loads, unpacks and runs. SEARCH FOR SURNAME This is the same as the search routine in the database module. However alter the file settings to point to the data file you want to conduct the search on before selecting this option. EXIT PRINT PROGRAM This will cause the program to close down and return you to the workbench. WARNING. DO NOT SELECT A PRINT MODE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PRINTER CONNECTED!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A previous version of this Database was released as Licenseware through DeJa Vu Software of Wigan. I would like to thank all those people who paid for the Licenseware version (some of whom have contacted me) for their support, however Deja Vu ceased trading and in oversight?? did not pay me anything in royalties. To date they have declined to reply to my letters, therefore I hope that the purchasers of the licenseware version do not feel aggrieved that I have now released this as PD. I do not intend to update the programs further hence the source code on the disk. Please feel free to adapt the program code to your own taste. If you do produce a better version I would be grateful for some acknowledgement in the program, however my main intent with writing this program was to stimulate others to be produced and now feel that more Genealogy programs are entering the market. I have allowed for the use of storing data on DH0: and DH1:, however I do not yet possess a harddrive to test this process I therefore cannot be held liable for any faults or lost data that may occur. One problem that has only occurred to one user so far is that occassionaly after an editting session record one has been overwritten by another record. The only way I have found to solve this is with a wordprocessor capable of loading the data files. I use Transwrite (tm) to load in the .fil1 file and change the id number at the beginning of the file to read 1. It is then possible to load the file into the database and re edit record one.So far I have been unable to re-create the problem myself.However if you come across this problem please let me know if possible how you created it. Please send any bugs/ideas to:- Michael A Tate 22 Welland Avenue Gartree Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7RW