Pro/File Cartridge

Probably the most useful type of computer program is the data base since almost anyone can find a need for it and because it can be effectively 3 used without a printer.

For Timex computers, Tom Woods has twice provided high quality programs in this field with ZX PRO/FILE for the TS 1000 and then with PRO/FILE 2068. Just get out old copies of Timex oriented magazines and newsletters and you will find consistently high praise for these programs.

Now Tom has a new version on cartridge for the TS 2068. This is much more than you may expect. Sure, it loads instantly and has much greater capacity (37,000 bytes), but it also has many new capabilities.

First, let me briefly list the elements of the program which are essentially unchanged. Each file can have up to 15 lines of 32 characters each. Multi-word searches are still available and the program is still very flexible, easy to use, and very fast. Besides these things, the improvements found in the manual which could be added yourself are almost all included as is Tom’s machine code sort routine and a DATA save (thank goodness).

About the only negative changes are an extremely small reduction in speed due to extensive bank switching and a reduced ability to make changes due to the use of a cartridge, although you can make some.

Enhancements to the original routines include the ability to calculate numeric information on any line you wish (this refers to the TALLY routine in the original manual), built in programming allowing a choice of seven printer interfaces, the ability (when using a full size printer) to print different file lines on the same line of paper, TALLY information can be printed out in the position you wish as well, and when adding more than one file at a time, you can bypass the main menu.

Totally new routines include duplication of files (saves time with files that are similar), separate sets of files can be merged together, you can start a search from any point in the files (useful when your printer breaks down halfway through a search), and you can adjust the INK and PAPER for color or black and white TVs. For those who wish to use an IBM compatible keyboard, you’ll be pleased to know that the cartridge includes the necessary software. His documentation shows you what hardware modifications are needed.

For those with special drive systems, you can make the program exit to regular BASIC to permit saving on these devices (instructions for a couple are provided as examples). Of course, you can also write special BASIC routines for other purposes as well.

All the above improvements are valuable and worth the investment, especially if you don’t have the ori+ ginal PRO/FILE 2068, but I saved the best for last. When you input a search command, besides being able to search for single or multiple words you can also perform a NOT Search or an OR search! In fact, AND, OR, and NOT can all be combined! The power this provides is fantastic and as you use it, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it.

For all of the following examples, I’ll use situations I actually deal with in the band classes I teach. The AND search is pretty straight forward. If I search for “Flute AND l2th-” I would find only the flute players who are seniors. If I extend it to “Flute AND 12th- AND MB-” I would obtain all senior flute players in the marching band (MB- is my code for marching bank). That’s pretty easy to understand.

The NOT search is essentially the opposite of AND. To compare with the above example, if I search for “Flute NOT 1l2th- NOT MB-” I would get every flute player who is not a senior and who is not in marching bank. Since I have instrumentalists who are in the color guard during marching season, a more typical situation would be a need to list only those marching band members who are not in the color gurard. I just do this’ search: “MB- NOT RIFLE NOT FLAG”. It is a little unusual at first searching from this opposite viewpoint, but it soon becomes second nature and Tom explains it well in the documentation.

The OR search is especially useful to me. Often I do a printout of the band according to the section they are in. Therefore I would first search for “Piccolo” and when done, search for “Flute” and then “Clarinet”, ect. All those searches were annoying, but with OR I can search for “Piccolo OR Flute OR Clarinent OR Saxaphone” and the computer will print all the piccolo players followed by flutes, ect. I’m sure most of you can think of times you wished you had this capability.

The OR search can get a bit complicated when used in combination with the other commands. Think of it as a divider. For example, the command “Flute NOT 12th- OR Clarinet AND 12th- OR Saxophone” would result in the computer first finding every flute player who IS NOT a senior. When this is done, the computer will find every clarinet player who IS a senior. Finally it will find every saxophone player. See how the use of OR divides up the search command? If not, Tom explains it better than I do and gives examples of what to watch out for.

Simply put, to me the new search capabilities alone are worth the price and everything is just a bonus. I strongly recommend it to anyone who needs to keep. track of names, addresses, phone numbers, recipes, collections or just about any other records you can think of.

The PRO/FILE Cartridge for the TS 2068 is priced at $59.95 plus $1.50 for postage, and is available from the author, Thomas B. Woods, PO Box 64, Jefferson, NH 03583.