This episode features MegaFiler, originally released in 1984 by XLEnt Software.  This is a database featuring a powerful search and reporting engine.  It was developed by Jerry Kwit.

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Logo

 

Supplement Scans

Manual cover:

MegaFiler in Action

Booting

Booting version 1:

Booting version2.1:

 

Program loading BASIC XL runtime during boot:

Menu

Version 1:

 

Version 2.1:

Functions

Dos Functions

Menu:

Disk Directory:

Format Disk:

Erase File:

Lock File:

Unlock File:

Rename File:

Contents

Specifying the database name and drive number:

Displaying the structure:

New Database

Loading new database program:

Naming the database (8 characters max):

Specifying the drive to store it on:

Defining the fields:

Exiting the field editor:

Enter Data

Specifying the name of the database to open:

Entering the drive the database to open is on:

Viewing the database structure and confirming if a formula needs to be entered:

Entering a formula:

Entering repeating fields:

Entering database records:

Access Database

Specifying the database name to access:

Entering the drive the database is on:

Entering the retrieval key:

For version 2, is there an index file to use?

Entering the search criteria:

Program performs search for matching records:

 

Matching records displayed one at a time:

Option menu:

Exiting access database:

For version 2, specifying an index file to use when opening:

Report Generator

Specifying the name of the database to report on, and entering the drive number:

Entering the retrieval key:

Answering the index question in version 2, and specifying the index to use:

Retrieval key being loaded:

Specifying a sort:

Naming the report:

Entering the data (or subtitle, freeform field):

Here you have the opportunity to save the matches to a new file:

Specifying fields for the report (note the asterisks):

Answering if there is any report totaling to be done:

Answering if there are any subtotals to be done on key field changes:

Get the printer ready:

Printing:

Report complete mini menu:

Exiting reporting:

Label Generator

Specifying a database to generate labels from (or not if doing personal labels):

Answering if personal labels should be generated.  This should be asked first to avoid entering a database name since personal labels are entirely free form:

Entering fields for labels:

Label printing options confirmations:

Status while printing:

Label mini menu:

Personal label definition:

For both data and personal labels you are prompted to print more when printing is complete:

Exiting the label generator:

Modify Database

Specifying the database name to modify:

Entering the drive the database is on:

Modify menu (shows the existing structure):

Adding a new field:

Changing a field:

Deleting a field:

Saving new structure:

With new database saved, go to DOS and rename the DBTEMP files to the real DB file name you want:

Sort Database

Specifying the database name to sort and drive number:

Specifying which fields to sort on:

Loading the sort fields:

Specifying the sort direction:

Specifying the index file name and drive to store the index on:

Confirmation the index was created:

Printing

The dataset entered is a listing of all Inverse ATASCII episodes including the season, episode, title, and length in time.

Printing record from Access Data:

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-5-acc-prtrec.pdf

Report (sorted by Title):

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-6-rpt-idxtitle.pdf

Report (sorted by Season and Episode):

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-6-rpt-idxnototals.pdf

Report (sorted by Season and Episode with season length totals):

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-6-rpt-idxtotals.pdf

Labels (from dataset, alignment test):

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-7-lbl-a-1-align.pdf

Labels (from dataset: season, episode, hours and minutes):

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-7-lbl-a-1-out.pdf

Labels (personal: static definition):

https://inverseatascii.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/s6e04-prt-7-lbl-b-out.pdf

 

Show Links:

• AtariMania: http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-megafiler_29351.html
• Inverse ATASCII S4E02 XLEnt First Word Processor: https://inverseatascii.info/2017/11/02/s4e02-xlent-software-first-xlent-word-processor-supplement/

Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.