There are four issues of EXTENSIONS that total 31 pages of well documented changes, additions, and instructions. These modifications can either be keyed into your computer or you can purchase the programs on tape. The tape, which includes issues 1-3 and Thomas Woods‘ BREAKTHROUGH code, will allow you to merge the first three issues to your existing PRO/FILE program in just minutes. Issue #4 will have to be keyed in manually irregardless of how the first three issues are done.
EXTENSIONS requires that Thomas Woods’ BREAKTHROUGH modifications be made. If you purchase the printed issues of EXTENSIONS, you will need to key in BREAKTHROUGH also.
EXTENSIONS and BREAKTHROUGH can be obtained as follows:
Robert C. Fischer
Rt. 2 Arizona St.
Emerson, Ga. 30137
EXTENSIONS issues 1-4/ $6.00 each
EXTENSIONS tape, contains issues 1-3, plus BREAKTHROUGH/ $18.00
Thomas Woods
P.O.BOX 64
Jefferson, NH 03583
BREAKTHROUGH, a newsletter not a tape/ $7.95.
I have all four issues of EXTENSIONS and the tape. I have keyed in 90% of the modifications myself, plus I have merged the EXTENSIONS tape with my own tape to see what would happen. My advice is to read and reread the instructions. Do exactly what they say to do. My short cuts did not work and they cost me several long distance telephone calls to find out that I should learn to follow instructions. Mr. Fischer is a high school teacher and knows how to write instructions. Read all of the instructions, then reread them before beginning the modifications. This will save you time, money, and frustration.
All the routines work as they should. All are useful, but maybe not for everyone. If you are an above average programmer, then you may be able to input only the specific modifications you need and save memory and time. The serious PRO/FILE user will probably want all the routines available. Some of the more commonly used modifications are described below. From this point on, I will refer to the PRO/FILE program with the EXTENSIONS modifications as PLUS 4.
The new SAVE FILE routine allows you to save the program and file separately. This can save time when loading and saving short files using tape. You can also append one file to the end of another file as long as their combined length does not exceed the limits of D$. After you append files, you can perform all the old and new actions on them. As a side note, D$ has been reduced to 27500 bytes. This was necessary to gain memory space for the additional routines contained in EXTENSIONS.
There are two Update routines:
Update #1 works like this; Type a “Search Command” | U. The program will asked you, “What line do you wish to change?”, “What data will be changed?”, then “What is the new data?” After answering each question, hit “ENTER”. The program will begin to automatically search and replace data in each file. This will only operate on phrases or blank spaces that begin with the left margin.
Update #2 works differently. Type in the command “EDIT”. The program promts, “EDIT PHRASE”. You type in your phrase. The program returns to the main menu. Nothing happens. When you need the “EDIT PHRASE” in a file, place the cursor anywhere on the screen where you want the “EDIT PHRASE” to appear and hit “AT”. If you are in the “OVER MODE”, it will print over what is already there. If you are in the “INSERT MODE”, the phrase will be inserted.
EXTENSIONS also makes it possible to reverse a two word phrase, such as a name, and print the first word last. You simply type the two word phrase as you want it alphabetized. In the case of a person’s name, this is usually the last name first. When you want the reversal routine to work, activate the “AUTO” mode. Before this feature became available, I put my names on two different file lines. Line one had the last name first then first name with no space between. This was for the purpose of alphabetizing. On the second line, I had the name as I wanted it printed on a mailing label. I sorted by the first line and printed out the second line. Now I have an additional line to use for data, because I can erase the second line and put a space between the last and first name. The program needs a space to know where to locate the second word. Only the first two words on the first line of the file are involved. Anything beyond the second position will be ignored.
With EXTENSIONS, you no longer have to go to the main menu to ADD or Edit a file. You can go directly to the next file by using some new commands. (See FIG. 1)
1) From Main Menu:
EDIT:EDIT PHRASE (Update 2)
T: Key Tick
DATE: Set Date
Search Command | U:Update 1
Search Command | T:Tally
Search Commmand | S:Sum
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2) From ADD or Edit Mode:
Step:Edit to Edit
TO:Add to Add
TO:Edit to Add
C)opy & hold ENTER:Name reversal
THEN:Print from Edit file
AT:Insert EDIT PHRASE
AND:Duplicate file
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3) Misc:
##:Do not send to printer.
> :Middle Search, resume search.
>=:Middle Search to Print out, resume AUTOsearch
to printout.
ENTER/SPACE:On/OFF-Name reversal in AUTOsearch
mode.
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Other New Improvements:
1) "ALL" defp command prints blank line between
files
2) Auto caps
3) Make back up copies of program.
4) Will not print out "Search is Complete"
5) New way of avoiding print out blank file lines
6) Cursor wrap around
7) Sinclair microdrive set up for saving, loading
and appending
8) plus more modifications to the program.
FIG. 1: SUMMARY OF NEW PRO/FILE PLUS 4 COMMANDS
(Robert C. Fischer's EXTENSIONS)
TALLY and SUM are two different mathmatics routines.
Here is what Sum will do:
SUM = arithmetic on a whole file line.
SUM 1 = Running a total of all files.
SUM 2 = Total of just the file on the screen.
Here is what TALLY will do:
SUM 1 = Total of left side of screen.
SUM 2 = Total of right side of screen.
Both SUM and TALLY will do arithmetic, such as; 50+20-10.
Putting “##” in the first spaces on the first line of a file will prevent that file from being sent to the printer. I use this to keep my directory from being printed out.
When Mr. Woods wrote BREAKTHROUGH, I sent for it right away. I keyed in the machine code, transferred my files and started alphabetizing them. Unfortunately, my computer locked up on some of the files. I corresponded with Mr. Woods to find out why. He had no solution to my problem. Some time later, I received a telephone call from Mr. Fischer. He was experiencing the same problem. He wanted me to send him my program and files. Using his and my files, he found the why of the problem. Talking with Mr. Woods, it was decided the solution was a rewrite of the BREAKTHROUGH machine code. This was more work than either of them wanted to undertake. Mr. Fischer has an alternate solution to the problem. Since using his suggestion, I have not had a crash or locked computer. If you have had a similar problem, get EXTENSIONS #3 for a discussion of the problem and a remedy.
Before giving my evaluation of the modifications, I would like to make the following observations:
1. To accommodate the modifications, Mr. Fischer had to make room for them by assigning many variables. It takes lots of time and effort to redefine the variables, as well as enter all the new routines. There are lots of places you can make mistakes. If you are not good at programming, then order the tape.
2. If you purchase the printed EXTENSIONS and intend to make the changes yourself, then realize there are changes to the changes. Between issues, Mr. Fischer continued his work and some times found new or better routines. So he made changes to the changes, when he felt it was necessary.
3. In the ADD and EDIT mode, the input seems somewhat slower as a result of the changes. If you are an accomplished touch typist, then you may get frustrated at the slower responce. It does not bother me, because I am an accomplished hunt and peck typist. (See note.)
4. Mr. Fischer has made no effort to include many of the new commands in the main or other menus. He has added no “HELP” page. I tried to add such a page, but found there was not enough memory left without reducing D$ even more.
5. Depending on the way you purchase PRO/FILE, BREAKTHROUGH, and EXTENSIONS, the total cost runs anywhere from around $53.00 to $62.00 (the tape versions are actually more economical). This sounds very expensive. Then I remembered, I paid $69.00 for MSCRIPT. I added two modifications that upped my total cost for MSCRIPT to $82.00. Still, for good business software, it is worth the cost. Remember, you do not have to purchase all the issues at one time. You can spread the cost over several months by purchasing one issue at a time. As you complete an issue, you can use the modified program while you are adding the next issue to a separate copy. The files are saved separartely and can be loaded into the revised programs.
In my opinion, six items need to be corrected to improve EXTENSIONS:
1) The literary style of the printed version changes from the first issue to the last. In issue #1, Mr. Fischer used headings for each section, but by issue #4 there were no headings. All the information is there, but headings would make it easier to find specific topics. Headings are handy if you forget how the routine is activated and you want to look back into the documentation to find the instructions.
2) The changes to the changes should be fixed.
3) I believe EXTENSIONS should be reworked to make all four parts into one whole. Having all four issues on one tape would eliminate the need to manually key any of the modifications into your computer.
4) I do not like the reduced file size even if it is just 500 bytes.
5) I do think a “HELP” page would improve user friendliness.
6) The total cost of just the EXTENSIONS programs could be as much as $31.95. This is more than the original PRO/FILE cost me. If you do not need the printed EXTENSIONS, I would just order the tape and issue #4. This will keep the cost down some.
I would recommend PRO/FILE plus EXTENSIONS (PLUS 4) to anyone who wants a good data base that has been made even better. Mr. Fischer is friendly and helpful. Give him a call if you have problems. He is fairly fast depending on his work load at school. In most cases, you will have your tape in 7 to 10 days. I don’t know if he holds orders until checks clear. You might want to telephone him and ask, if delivery time is important. Mr. Fischer has made PRO/FILE even more flexible and useful. I have MASTERFILE, but I think PRO/FILE plus EXTENSIONS is better for my needs. If you use PRO/FILE, you need EXTENSIONS.
Note: As a courtesy, I mailed Mr. Fischer a copy of the first draft. His only comment was regarding observation #3. He says key response is not slower. You be the judge.