THE ATARI ST DATA HANDLER

                              Version 3.0

                   by Richard Guthrie


   This program is distributed under the shareware concept.  You are 
   free to copy the compiled version and give it away but if you use
   it please send $5.00 to:

            Richard Guthrie
            106 Forest Drive
            Fountain Inn, SC
                                29644


   For $10.00 I will send you the source code.  This may be handy for
   your own updates.  I am working on a disk directory program and 
   a label printer program that uses data handler.


    1.  After unarcing, you will find four files: DHANDL30.PRG, 
        DEFAULT.PRT, SAMPLE.DB, and README.DOC.

    2.  For the most efficient operation, I suggest you place these 
        files in a ramdisk and then run DHANDL30.PRG from that drive 
        source.  The program uses whichever drive you run it from as 
        the default drive but you may override default by setting 
        the drive path from the "FILES" menu selection.

    3.  To use a desk accessory, select "Use an Accessory" under the 
        "ACCESSORY" menu selection.  This allows you to then pick any 
        accessory you may have under the "DESK" menu selection.  When 
        you finish with an accessory, you must select "Return" under 
        the "ACCESSORY" menu selection.

    4.  Under the "DESK" menu, "About DATA HANDLER" is two pages of 
        helpful information on running the program.  Review this 
        material before proceeding.

    5.  I have attempted to design this data base as a very simple 
        and easy to use system for handling data.  Each screen has 
        instructions on what can be done within that screen.  Select 
        "Load DB" from the "FILES" menu and load in SAMPLE.DB.  You 
        can use this data to practice adding, updating, deleting, 
        searching, and sorting records.  You can see the results by 
        going to the "PRINT" menu and choose "All to Screen".  Within 
        a few keystrokes, you'll find the system very easy to use.

    6.  After you've finished a session with DATA HANDLER, be sure to 
        save your new data back to your disk.  Select "Save DB" under 
        the "FILES" menu.  The program will prompt you to do this.

    7.  An interesting feature also is the "Change DB" selection.  
        This allows you to change the names of fields or the lengths 
        of fields.  It will not allow you to delete or add fields.  
        This feature is very helpful in custom alignment of your data 
        when you print to the screen.

    8.  "Add New DB" allows you to set up a new data base and prompts 
        you through each step.  After creating your new data base, 
        you must save it to disk and then load it back in before 
        adding new records.

    9.  "Delete DB" is just as the name implies, be certain!!

   10.  During adding and updating records, you may date stamp a 
        field named "Date" as long as the field length is eight 
        spaces long.  Control D will put the system date in this 
        format: DD/MM/YY.  Also, sorting on a date is possible if the 
        field is named "Date" and the same format is used.

   11.  Under the "PRINT" menu, "Printer Setup" allows you to enter 
        your printer codes for fonts 1 and 3.  The default is for a 
        Panasonic 1091 so you may need to change these settings.  
        Function keys F3, F5, and F9 are the only active inputs with  
        this version.  If your print length is under 80 characters  
        long, font 1 will be selected.  If print length is over 80, 
        font 3 will be selected.  F9 is for printer initialization. 
        DEFAULT.PRT should be placed in the root directory only.

   12.  "Select Fields" under "PRINT" menu allows you to toggle any 
       field on or off for display or printing.  An asterick on the 
       left of the function keys indicates the field will be 
       displayed.  
    
Experimentation with the various functions of the program can 
teach you more than any doc file so have fun with the program and 
thanks for your support!!


Changes from version 1.0

1. In the Search mode, allows the previous and next record to by
looked at.

2. Removed the 1000 record limit.  The number of records max is now
determined by the amount of memory.

3. In the Search mode, when the last record is displayed, the NEXT
record displayed will be the first record found.  This allow the data
to be looped thru for viewing.

4. In the Update mode, you may look at all records as well as ask for
a specific record number.

5. In the Search mode, the search criteria can be in upper or lower
case.  This works when criteria # 1 (approximatly equals) is selected
only.  This is handy when the word you are searching for starts with
a capital letter.  The Search will find the word you are looking for
inside any larger string.

6. In the Search mode, you can now save what you selected as a .DB
file so that it is its own database or as a .TXT file so that you can
append that data to another data base file.

7. In the Search mode, you can delete all the records that you
selected at the same time.  It give you a warning but be careful.

8. In the FILES menu, you can APPEND any .TXT file to the data that is
in memory.  The appended data must be in record string format and match
the field layout of the data base.  You can create this type of .TXT
file in the Search mode.

9. In the SEARCH function there is an option to SELECT ALL.