leigh@cache.DEC (Allen Leigh @SHR1-3/E29 DTN 237-3255) (03/27/85)
A few weeks ago, I announced the availability of RDBMS/AT, a relational
database system in Atari BASIC. At that time it was only available on
DOS 3 disks. With the help of my 1010 cassette recorder, I've ported
RDBMS/AT to DOS 2 disks, and I'm again announcing the availability of
the software.
After sending out a number of DOS 3 disks, I discovered that two
modules were partly missing (BLDRDBMS.V1 and RDBMS2.V1); I had the
Atariwriter driver for the Gemini 10X loaded at the time I made my
master DOS 3 disk, and there was not enough room in memory for all of
the code in those two modules. I apologize for this mistake, and in
making my DOS 2 masters, I have doubled checked that each module is
intact. Two DOS 2 disks are required, one for code and one for
documentation.
The following information is a repeat of the description given out
earlier.
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The database manager is called RDBMS/AT and provides the following
functions:
1. A standalone builder program written in Atari BASIC to build the
database. You can have as many fields in each record as you want,
and the length of each field can be as long as you want. The fields
can be either REAL or CHARACTER values. You can have as many records
in each relation as you want, and you can also have as many
separate relations as you want, limited only by the memory
available.
2. Six subroutines that can be included in the source of application
programs. These routines provide a "user view" of the database.
(a) Obtain ADEF Table. The ADEF (A DEFinition) table is used by the
standalone program to build the database. Your application program
uses this subroutine to learn the characteristics of the database.
(b) Get a New Record with Default Values. Your application program
uses this subroutine to obtain a new record from the database
manager. The fields in the record contain default values as
specified by the ADEF table. Your program places new values in the
fields.
(c) Insert a Record into the Database. Your application program
uses this subroutine to request that the manager place the record in
the specified relation.
(d) Select a Record from the Database. Your application program
uses this subroutine to obtain a record from the specified relation.
(e) Update a Record in the Database. Your application program uses
this subroutine to change values in a record in the specified
relation. The manager obtains the record from the database, updates
the values, and returns the record to the database.
(f) Delete a Record from the Database. Your application program
uses this subroutine to remove a record from the specified relation.
3. Various routines to support the linked lists that comprise the
database and perform the disk I/O. These routines provide a
"physical view" of the database.
The DOS 2 program diskette contains the following files:
1. BLDRDBMS.V1 The builder program
2. RDBMS1.V1 A template for an application program that contains the
proper interface for RDBMS/AT.
3. RDBMS2.V1 The subroutines comprising the "user view".
4. RDBMS3.V1 The subroutines comprising the "physical view".
The source code contains many comments to help you understand the code.
The comments do not have BASIC line numbers and are thus thrown away
when the code is loaded into memory.
The DOS 2 documentation diskette contains the following files:
RDBMS0.DOC thru RDBMS5.DOC The users manual, formatted by Atariwriter
for the Gemini 10X printer. The manual
contains 25 double spaced pages.
This version of RDBMS/AT should be thought of as a prototype version to
gain functionality. I've made no attempt to optimize the program in any
way. As a result, the program takes up 15,683 bytes in memory leaving
only 10,185 bytes (48K 800) for your application program. However, I
feel it is a very useful tool and can be the basis of some powerful
application programs.
People who obtain RDBMS/AT are welcome and encouraged to modify and
expand the code and to convert it to other languages. There are only two
restrictions that I impose. First, that your version contain an edit
history containing the author's name and version number of EACH
proceeding version back to my original version which is V1.0. This edit
history must be in both the users manual and each source file. I feel
that all persons involved with public domain programs should be given
credit for their work. Second, that NO versions of RDBMS/AT
be used in ANY way for commercial purposes. Public domain programs
should remain free for all to use and enjoy.
If you would like a copy of RDBMS/AT, send me two DOS 2 formatted
diskettes and a SASE.
Allen Leigh
93 Shirley St. RFD 2
Pepperell, MA 01463
(617) 433-2108