[comp.sys.ibm.pc] WordPerfect 5.0 as a text database

markxx@garnet.berkeley.edu (01/04/89)

I am considering using WordPerfect as a text database, and am
looking for some other people's ideas or reccomendations.

	I have been using WordPerfect for over 3 years, and
with the latest version it seems that it could be used as a
text database.  I will be primarily using it for bibliographic
information, as well as storing the text of inverview transcriptions,
field notes, and document summarys. To be able to search trough this
information, and then pull it into whatever document I am writing 
would be great. (And yes, I know about NotaBene - see below.) 


My Approach:

	While WordPerfect 5.0 is not a database program, it can 
be used as such if the following rules for your files are used:

	1) Use the document summary for your key words (ie. subject,
	   author, title, topics).
	2) Use the first page as an abstract or summary of the 
	   rest of the file.
	3) Use the rest of the file (page 2 onward) as normal. 

	To do a search, one could search 1, 2 or 3 from the directory,
	using Boolean operators. 

The Problem:

	While the above approach will flag files with hits, once
you pull up a document (one of the hits) then you will loose the 
results of your search.

The Question(s):

	1) Is is possible to NOT loose your search results?
	2) Are there any books etc, that you would reccomend that
	   focus on this aspect of WordPerfect? 
	3) Anyone yet written a macro that will do a search and pull
	   in the paragraph with the hit from within a document? (I
	   am going to be working on this one, so if you want a copy
	   let me know.  But if it's already been done, why duplicate 
	   effort? :-)

ANY input will be appreciate, especially related to working out
	this somewhat overlooked aspect of 5.0, and even persuasive
	attempts to convert me to another, better, program. (see below)

Please e-mail if possible.  If there is enough interest I will 
post a summary.

Why am I using WordPerfect and not NotaBene or AskSam?

	I have used NotaBene, and while it is great for some 
things, I already have hundreds of files in WordPerfect format,
and often need to merge text and graphics as well as some other
things NotaBene does not do (that I know of...correct me if I am
wrong,  I *would* switch if there was good reason).  I also think that
as a wordprocessor goes, WordPerfect is better than NotaBene (and I
know WordPerfect better!)
	AskSam, while from what I have read and the little I have 
played with it, seems to be a great text database, but is not a 
word processor, and would introduce one more step into working with 
my documents (conversions etc.)

Thanks!

Mark A. Ritchie (markxx@garnet.Berkeley.EDU)