THE SEQUENCE COMMAND

Regardless of the sequence in which records are arranged in the database, you can display (and output) them in any other sequence by means of the View: Sequence command (eg, you can display the cards in alphabetical order by first-author surname). The Custom sequence command allows you to sort on more than one field, using the FIRST INDEXED item in each field as the key.

Note that:

1. Numbers and dates come after alphabetic strings.
2. You can sort on any indexed field, whether or not it is present in the current alternative format.
3. HYPHENATED words are ranked on their composite form (eg, SACKVILLEWEST).
4. Words joined by an UNDERLINE are also sorted on their composite form with the underline ranking as a space.
5. The Sequence command can be slow when using such a large database. When a sequence is in force, the selection commands (eg, Exclude, Undo one level, Select) may also be slow because the records have to be resorted every time the selection changes; you may find it easier to leave the database unsorted while selecting, and sort it afterwards.

THE ALTERNATIVE FORMATS

View: Change format - Some formats, alternative to the native format, have been designed by me:

BOXED consists of the NATIVE-1 format with borders round each field, and is eight lines deep.

HOGARTH consists of the fields AU, TI, DA, NB, and is three lines deep.

NATIVE-1 consists of all the fields except RF, and is eight lines deep; it is, however, not as wide as the NATIVE format.

VWATJPD consists of the fields AU, TI, PJ, PP, DA, and is five lines deep.

WOOLMER consists of the fields AU, TI, NB, DA, and is three lines deep.

The following consist of as much as the fields listed as will fit together on one line, with the fields appearing as in the order given:

LOTIPJDA - LO, TI, PJ, DA
NBTIAUDA - NB, TI, AU, DA
TIPJDALORF - TI, PJ, DA, LO, RF
TIPJDARF - TI, PJ, DA, RF
VWATNDL - AU, TI, NB, DA, LO
VWATPDL - AU, TI, PJ, DA, LO
VWAUTILO - AU, TI, LO
VWJ - PJ
VWJDPAT - PJ, DA, PP, AU, TI
VWTPDL - TI, PJ, DA, LO

PRINT OR EXPORT?

The File: Print command prints to a printer using the ACTUAL layout of the current card format; the Export command writes only the DATA.

If you want PRINTED OUTPUT, the File: Print command will usually be adequate. It normally prints records exactly as they appear on the screen.

For MORE ELABORATE printed output, you will have to use another program, such as a word processor, to process the text for printing outside Cardbox. Use the File: Export command and direct the output to a data file from where your word processor can pick it up and you can edit it further.

Both commands output only the records in the current selection, either FROM THE CURRENT RECORD ONWARDS or from the beginning of the selection.

THE PRINT COMMAND

If you intend to print to a printer, make sure that the printer is ready before you perform the command. Then choose File: Print: it is likely that you will be taken to a menu showing my printer. If you click on Settings, it is likely that Cardbox will default to your printer; if so, you will be able to modify your printer�s settings.

THE EXPORT COMMAND

The File: Export command will output according to the following Conversion Types:

Comma-separated file (*.txt, *.csv) - suitable for reading by another database program

Print-to-disk records to a file (*txt) - suitable for reading by a word-processing progra; the idea is that if you are faced with a program that wants to import data in a way that doesn�t match any of the standard formats, you create a Cardbox format that makes your records look exactly right when you view them on the screen

File in Internal format (*.dmp) - suitable for reading by another Cardbox program

File in External format (*.ext) - suitable for reading by another database program

XML (Extensible Markup Language) file (*.xml) - suitable for structured data to be shared between different programs; Web browsers will be able to open any XML document and display it by using a �stylesheet�