INFOBASE version 3.0 and LETTER› TO PARENT were written by Roland› Fetzer especially for teachers. The› author is a teacher of Computer› Studies at JHS 49 in Brooklyn N.Y.››      SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - AN ATARI› 600,800,800XL,1200 130XE with at› least 48K memory; one or two disk› drives and an EPSON compatible› printer.››      TWO DISK DRIVE SYSTEMS - Go to› the Option 9 on the Main Menu -›  'CONFIGURE DISK DRIVES'. To the› prompt '# OF DISK DRIVES 1 OR 2'› answer 2. 130XE RAM Disk is not› considred a 2nd drive. Line # 190 in› INFOBASE will become 'D2:'›› BACK UP COPY - There is no DUP.SYS› on the disk because of the length of› the program.››      1. Turn on the Disk Drive›      2. Insert a DOS disk and type›         'DOS'›      3. Remove the DOS Disk and›         insert the TEACHER'S TOOL›         BOX Disk›      4. Select Option J›      5. Source Drive 1, Destination›         Drive 1. Follow the prompts›      6. Have a formatted disk ready›         for the copy›      7. DO NOT use a write protect›         tab›      8. DO NOT protect any of the ›         files››                                     ›         FEATURES OF INFOBASE ››      1. You can display records in a››          serial fashion.›      2. INFOBASE will search the›         file for a specific name›      3. You can correct a record or›         a field›      4. You can delete a record›      5. You can delete a file›      6. You can display all files›      7. INFOBASE can have an›         unlimited amount of files›      8. INFOBASE will print a›         student list›      9. INFOBASE will print›         individual student records›     10. INFOBASE will print mailing›         labels›     11. INOFBASE will print a›         student grade list›     12. INFOBASE will print a›         student-parent phone list›     13. INFOBASE will print an›         alphabetized Attendance›         Card›     14. The Attendance card can be›         for 28 to 31 days›     15. INFOBASE will print an›         alphabetical Grade Book›     16. INFOBASE will format a disk›     17. INFOBASE will allow GLOBAL›         Delete of Grade Entry›     18. INFOBASE will allow›         sequential input of grade›         entry›     19. INFOBASE can recover›         deleted records›     20. INFOBASE can lock files›     21. INFOBASE can unlock files›     22. INFOBASE can re-name files›     23. INFOBASE will check the›         spelling of file names›     24. INFOBASE can show available›         free disk space on Data›         Disk›     25. INFOBASE can compute a›         student average›     26. INFOBASE has mailmerge for›         an entire file›     27. INFOBASE can mailmerge ALL›         files on a disk at once›     28. INFOBASE can mailmerge›         individual records in a›         file›     29. INFOBASE is Menu Driven›     30. INFOBASE is written in›         Modular Basic››      CREATING A NEW STUDENT FILE -›  Have an empty FORMATTED disk› available with DOS on it. This will› be you DATA disk.›      When the prompt appears "PLEASE› INSERT DATA DISK IN DISK DRIVE" "IS› DISK IN DISK DRIVE (Y/N)"›      1. Remove INFOBASE disk›      2. Insert FORMATTED DATA DISK›      3. Answer YES›      The DATA DISK DIRECTORY  will› appear on your screen (DOS.SYS and› DUP.SYS). Since you did not yet› create a file answer the prompt "DO› YOU WANT TO USE ONE OF THE ABOVE› FILES (Y/N)" with the answer NO.›      To the prompt "DO YOU WANT TO› OPEN A NEW FILE(Y/N) answer YES. The› new file name cannot be longer than› 8 letters and the extender can be 3› letters long. It is suggested that› each class become a separate file.› Example:››      1. CLASS.704›      2. CLASS801.ENG›      3. CLASS605.RON››      A class file should not contain› more than 50 names, otherwise 2› parts of INFOBASE will not work, the› ATTENDANCE CARD and the GRADE BOOK.› If these 2 parts are not imporant› then there is no constraint on the› length of each file.››      USING A FILE ALREADY ON THE› DATA DISK - If a file is alreay on› the DATA disk, answer the prompt "DO› YOU WANT TO USE ONE OF THE ABOVE› FILES(Y/N)" with YES and then type› in the file name and extender the› way it appears on the screen. The› main menu will now appear.››      MAIN MENU:›      ›      1. Enter Names›      2. Display Names Serially›      3. Search for a Name›      4. Correct a Record›      5. Files on the Data Disk›      6. PRINT MENU›      7. SPECIAL FUNCTION MENU›      8. Delete a Record›      9. Configure Disk Drives›     10. MAILMERGE›     11. End›› 1. ENTER NAMES - The prompt appears› "I AM CHECKING FOR THE END RECORD› AND DELETING IT.". If you are› starting a new file you do not have› an END record and the program goes› into the data entry screen. If you› are adding names to an existing file› the END record will automatically be› deleted.›      If you are finished with a file› and you want to close it you must› enter the word "END" for the field› labeled STUDENT. All the other› fields can remain empty. You will pe› prompted to do so when you are› finished with entering names to the› file. If this practice is not› followed then the last name will be› lost when using PRINT ATTENDANCE› CARD and PRINT GRADE BOOK. The END› record is never printed››      FIELD LENGHTS›     ›      1. STUDENT = 25 letters›      2. PARENT  = 25 letters›      3. ADDRESS = 25 letters›      4. CITY    = 13 letters›      5. STATE   =  2 letters›      6. ZIP     =  5 letters›      7. PHONE   =  9 letters›      8. GRADE   =  3 letters›      9. SEX     =  1 letter››      INFOBASE will not allow you to› exceed these field lengths. If you› do exceed them then a prompt will› appear telling you your field was› too long and asking you to re-enter› it.›      Each record MUST contain at› least 2 fields. The STUDENT field› and the SEX field must be completed› for ATTENDANCE CARD and GRADE BOOK› program to work.››      GOOD DATA BASE PROCEDURES - BE› CONSISTENT! If you always follow the› same procedure then you will have no› trouble. For instance, decide› whether you are going to use a comma› or not››      1. STUDENT: Fetzer, Roland›      2. PARENT: Mrs. Katherine Herk››      For the PARENT field you must› use a MR. MRS. MISS in order that› the mailing labels are addressed› correctly.›      For the SEX field it is› suggested that you use "B" for boys› and "G" for girls. PRINT ATTENDANCE› CARD and PRINT GRADE BOOK use these› letters to alphabetize by sex, boys› first, girls second. If you use "M"› and "F" the order of sort will be› girls first, boys second. REVERSE› SORT can be done on the screen but› is NEVER printed. Only normal sort› is printed.›      When you have completed all› fields the prompt "ARE ALL ENTRIES› CORRECT(Y/N)" appears. If you answer› YES then the data will be recorded› on the data disk. If you answer NO› then the prompt "ENTER NUMBER OF› INCORRECT ENTRY" appears. You will› have a chance to correct any field› that you wish.›      If you answer the prompt› "ANOTHER NAME(Y/N)" with YES then› you go back and create another› record. If you answer NO then the› prompt for creating the "END" record› appears.››      2. DISPLAY NAMES SERIALLY - If› you select this option then you can› view all the records in the order in› which they were entered.››      3. SEARCH FOR A NAME - This› option will search for a record by› the first 3 letters of the student's› name. If these first 3 letters are› misspelled then the program will not› find it.››      4. CORRECT A RECORD - The› program  searches for the name by› the first 3 letters. You then can› correct any field that you wish by› entering the corresponding number.›      5. FILES ON DATA DISK - This› option shows you all the files on› your DATA DISK››      6. PRINT MENU - This option› directs you to the PRINT MENU››      7. SPECIAL FUNCTION MENU - This› option directs you to the SPECIAL› FUNCTION MENU››      8. DELETE A FILE - This option› erases a file from the DATA DISK."››      9. DELETE A RECORD - This› function uses the CORRECT A RECORD› option and erases the student's› name. Once this is done INFOBASE› cannot find the record.›      To delete you select #1 and› press ENTER 2 times and answer YES› to the prompt "ARE ALL ENTRIES› CORRECT(Y/N)"›› 10. MAILMERGE - This option directs› you to the MAILMERGE MENU.›› 11. END - This will end the program› and put you in the default screen› color.››      THE PRINT MENU:››      1. Print Student Names on File›      2. Print Complete Record-›         Search›         File›      3. Mailing Label-Search File›      4. Mailing Label-Entire File›      5. Print Student & Grade-›         Entire File›      6. Print Student, Parent &›         Phone File›      7. MAIN MENU›      8. SPECIAL FUNCTION MENU›      9. Print Attendance Card›     10. Print Grade Book›     11. End››      1. PRINT STUDENT NAMES ON FILE› - Set the paper to the top of the› form. INFOBASE will ask you for a› title for this page.››      2. PRINT COMPLETE RECORD-SEARCH› FILE - Set the paper to the top of› the form. INFOBASE will print all› fields in the record plus the file› name of any student that is› selected.››      3. MAILING LABEL-SEARCH FILE -›  Set paper to the top of the form.› INFOBASE will print the complete› address of any student selected. On› top of the address label are the› first 6 letters of the student's› name and the file name. Frequently› student names are different from› parents name. Without this feature› it would be difficult to match an› address››      4. MAILING LABEL-ENTIRE FILE -›  This is the same as above except› the address for the whole file is› printed.›      You can increase or decrease› the SPACING between labels by› INSERTING or deleting an "? #4" in› line 2520 of INFOBASE. List INFOBASE› and change it to fit your needs.››      5. PRINT STUDENT & GRADE-ENTIRE› FILE - Set the paper to the top of› the form. INFOBASE will print a list› of student names and their grades››      6. PRINT STUDENT, PARENT &› PHONE FILE - Set the paper to the› top of the form. INFOBASE will print› a list of student names, parent› names and phone numbers.››      7. MAIN MENU - This option› returns you to the main menu.››      8. SPECIAL FUNCTION MENU -›  Directs you to the SPECIAL FUNCTION› MENU. All the programs on the this› menu are on "INFOBASE.A"››      9. PRINT ATTENDANCE CARD - Set› the paper to the top of the form.› ATTENDANCE CARD is a 2 page form.› You have to select a sort. REGULAR› SORT will alphabetize names› regardless of sex. SORT BY SEX will› alphabetize by sex. A file may NOT› have more than 50 names. Example of› the prompts:››      WHAT GRADE? School grades 6,›      7 etc.›      WHAT CLASS? 7-1,8-5 etc.›      WHAT SUBJECT? Engl(Max 4›      letters)›      WHAT HOME ROOM? 306,354 etc.›      WHAT MARKING PERIOD? 1 or 2›      etc.›      TEACHER'S NAME? Do not use MR.›      MRS.››      You can reverse sort on the› screen but INFOBASE will only print› in a descending alphabetical order.› You can specify how many copies you› want. You can select a month with› 28,29,30 or 31 days. You can go back› and print a month with different› days. The program will print page 1› again and then ask you to select a› month.››     10. PRINT GRADE BOOK - Set the› paper to the top of the form. GRADE› BOOK resides in VIRTUAL MEMORY. This› means that the available memory of› the 48K computer was exhausted and› the computer uses the Disk Drive as› an extension of its memory. This› requires disk swapping with a one› Disk System. Just follow the› prompts. A file may not contain more› than 50 names otherwise GRADEBOOK› will not work.›      GRADE BOOK  is a 2 page form.› You have print choices››      1. Page One and Two›      2. Page One Only›      3. Page Two Only›      4. Return to Special Function›         Menu›      5. Return to Main Menu›      6. End Program››      You can specify how many copies› you want.››      FILE SELECTION - You must› ALWAYS  select a file with the FILES› ON DATA DISK function before› INFOBASE will work.››      THE SPECIAL FUNCTION MENU:››      1. Format a Disk›      2. Files on Data Disk›      3. Print Grade Book›      4. Global Delete of Grade›         Entry›      5. Sequential Input of Grade›         Entry›      6. Recover Deleted Records›      7. Lock a File›      8. Unlock a File›      9. Rename a File›     10. Delete a File›     11. Show Available Disk Space›     12. Compute Student Average›     13. RETURN TO MAIN MENU›     14. MAILMERGE MENU›     15. End››     1. FORMAT A DISK - The program› prompts you to put a disk to be› formatted into the disk drive. It› shows you if there are any files on› the disk and ask if it is O.K. to› erase these files. If you answer YES› then the formatting beginns. When› you insert an unformatted disk into› the drive it takes a few seconds› longer than normal because the› program is cheking to see if there› are any files on the disk.››      2. FILES ON DATA DISK - See› previous discussion.››      3. PRINT GRADE BOOK - See› previous discussion.››      4. GLOBAL DELETE OF GRADE ENTRY› - This function erases the grades› from every student record of a› selected file. The program shows you› briefly the grade and then it› deletes it.››      5. SEQUENTIAL INPUT OF GRADE› ENTRY - This function lets you enter› a new grade for the entire file. It› shows you the STUDENT'S NAME and his› OLD grade. It prompts you to enter a› new grade. Example: 80S, 75A, 55U› etc. If you leave the entry BLANK› then the program retain the  old› grade.››      6 RECOVER DELETED RECORDS -›  This function shows you the deleted› records and lets you restore them if› you want to. If there are no deleted› records then you are returned to the› SPECIAL FUNCTION MENU. Deleted› records show everything but the› STUDENT name which you have to re-› enter. This is the only field you› can re-enter.››     7. LOCK A FILE - This function› asks you for the filename to be› locked. With a locked file you› cannot add or delete anything. To› lock ALL files on the Data Disk type› for the filename the wild card› symbol "*.*"››      8. UNLOCK A FILE -  This› function asks you for the filename.› To unlock ALL files use the wild› card symbol "*.*"››      9. RENAME A FILE - You are› first asked for the old file name› and then for the new file name.››     10. DELETE A FILE - This› function asks you for the file name› and then asks you "ARE YOU SURE?" If› you answer yes then the program› continues and deletes the file.››     11. SHOW AVAILABLE DISK SPACE -›  This function shows you how many K.› bytes of free space you have on the› DATA DISK(Single Density)››     12. SPELLING CHEKER ROUTINE -›  The lock, unlock, rename and delete› fucntions have a spelling checker› routine. If you misspelled a› filename then the routine will look› up the correct spelling and show it› to you.››     13. COMPUTE STUDENT AVERAGE -›  You have 3 choice menu with this› function. 1. NORMAL AVERAGE  2.› AVERAGE ROUNDED OFF TO THE NEARESR› MULTIPLE OF 5  3. AVERAGE ROUNDED› OFF TO NEAREST MULTIPE OF 5 PLUS A› CONDUCT GRADE.›      The program shows you the› STUDENT'S NAME and the OLD GRADE. It› asks you to enter the test marks. To› get the average you press RETURN› TWICE.›      To save the average you press› the OPTION KEY. You can re-do the› average of all test marks by› pressing the SELECT KEY. You can› enter a NEW average by pressing› SELECT KEY and then entering the NEW› average and pressing RETURN TWICE.› The program will not accept a grade› larger than 100›      The conduct grade normally is a› one characte letter grade such as 0,› S, N, U, etc››     13. RETURN TO THE MAIN MENU -›  Returns you to the beginning of the› main program››     14. MAILMERGE MENU - directs you› to the MAILMERGE SECTION›› 15. END - This ends your program and› puts you in the default screen› color.››     MAILMERGE - INFOBASE will work› with most Word Processors that› support Mailmerge functions.› Mailmerge is a procedure whereby you› can create a form letter or document› and INFOBASE will insert the name,› address etc into each letter› automatically. You can do this for› everyone in your file or you can› select individual records. EXAMPLE:›    ›    MRS. CATHERINE FETZER›    22 MONACO AVE›    ELMONT, NY. 11003››                  JANUARY 5, 1987›››    DEAR MRS. CATHERINE FETZER››      YOUR SON FETZER, ROLAND HAS› IMPROVED IN COMPUTER STUDIES. HE IS› HOWEVER STILL WEAK IN ASSEMBLY› LANGUAGE. PLEASE COME AND SEE ME.›››                         SINCERELY,››                         MISS BEETLE›› You create a form letter or TEMPLATE› with your Word Processor. EXAMPLE:››    >›    >›    > > >››                  JANUARY 5, 1987››    DEAR >›››     YOUR SON > HAS IMPROVED IN›    COMPUTER STUDIES.HE IS HOWEVER› STILL›    WEAK IN ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE.PLEASE››    COME AND SEE ME.›››                        SINCERELY,›››                        MISS BEETLE››      INFOBASE will insert the› information wherever there is a >›      On the mailmerge program you› have to select the fields that you› want in the right order, so the› appropriate information is in the› right place on the form letter. For› the above letter you would have to› select the fields as follows:››      2(PARENT), 3(ADDRESS), 4(CITY),› 5(STATE), 6(ZIP), 2(PARENT),› 1(STUDENT)››      2,3,4,5,6,2,1››      This data is taken from the› chosen file and is recorded under› its own filename on the DATA disk.› It is suggested a Mailmerge file› should have an extender of ".MMG."›      When you mailmerge a file you› can mailmerge ALL files on the disk› at the same time under the same› Mailmerge file you have created.› They all will have the same fields› recorded.››      INDIVIDUAL RECORDS MAILMERGED -›  When you Mailmerge Individual› records the program searches for the› name  you have selected. when it› finds it you press SELECT to accept› this name for mailmerge, or you can› select the other options. To save› all you names to the Disk so that› they can be used in Mailmerge press› START and SELECT at the same time.› If you want to reach the end of a› file, in order to record your› selections to the disk, pick a name› such as 'XXX' which is not on the› disk and then press START and› SELECT.››      FIELD SELECTION - It is most› important that you select the fields› in the right order as they are› needed in your letter or document.› The more fields that you select the› longer the disk drive will have to› work. See the Sample Letter.›      Use the Mailmerge file that you› have created (extender .MMG) with› your Wordprocessor. Also see you› Word Processor Manual for more› information on Mailmerge. I use the› FIRST EXLent Wordprocessor by David› Castell.(SHIFT-CNTRL-O)››      TECHNICAL NOTES - INFOBASE  was› written in MODULAR BASIC. Each› section was written and tested› separately. Printer control codes› are for the EPSON FX-80 printer and› are the same for all EPSON› COMPATIBLE PRINTERS.›       The INFOBASE  fields were› limited bacause ATARI BASIC "INPUT› #" can access only 110 bytes› sucessfully. The INPUT# was used› because of its simplicity.›      The GRADEBOOK program was› written using VIRTUAL MEMORY because› INFOBASE is larger than the free› RAM(32.3K) available on a 48K› computer. In VIRTUAL MEMORY the› computer uses the DISK DRIVE as an› extesnion of the memory. It deposits› important variables on the disk and› when it needs them retrieves them.› The INFOBASE disk cannot have a› write protect tab on in for this› reason. The price to be paid for› this procedure involves disk› swapping in a one drive system. The› file name used by the computer to› store the variables is "WRITE.VAR"› and it is created and accessed› automatically. When INFOBASE is› loaded into the memory very little› free memory is left.›      In the GRADEBOOK program the› FORCED READ MODE of programming was› used. What this means is that the› computer reads the program, writes a› new line into the program and then› executes the program including the› new line it wrote. The FORCED READ› LINE is #6600 in INFOBASE.A.› INFOBASE.A  is the SPECIAL FUNCTION› MENU section and GRADEBOOK.› INFOBASE.B is the MAILMERGE section› of the program››      LETTER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION››      The LETTER program prints your› School Name in bold face letters as› well as the department and the› teachers's name on the letterhead.›      When the prompt "THE› INFORMATION ON THIS SCREEN WILL› MODIFY ALL SUBSEQUENT REPORTS"› appears and you answer the prompt› "ARE ALL REPORTS IN THE SAME SUBJECT› AREA" with a YES then the program› will NOT ask you for the teacher's› data again regardless of the number› of letters that you print. This is› done to speed up entry of› information. It will print the same› subject area and teacher information› in all subsequent letters. If you› answer NO to the prompt it will ask› for a new subject area for each› letter. DO NOT use MR., MRS., or› MISS in any entry.›      The prompt "DID YOU MAKE A› MISTAKE. DO YOU WANT TO START ALL› OVER AGAIN" gives you a chance to› enter the teacher's data again.››      The program gives you a preview› of your completed letter. It shows› you the high grade, the low grade› and the average grade. It decides› whether  a student passes or fails› depending on the average grade. A› passing letter must have and average› of 65 or better. The LETTER program› also keeps track of how many› different letters that you have› printed. Extensive use of the FORCED› READ MODE of programming was used.› For an explanation see TECHNICAL› NOTES.›       If you have any comments or› suggestions about these programs,› they are welcome. Please write to:››      ROLAND FETZER›      22 MONACO AVE›      ELMONT, N.Y. 11003››