Database Utilities 1.5 Readme File

Database Utilities 1.5

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 GJL Software.

http://www.gjl-software.co.uk

mailto:dbu@gjl-software.co.uk

This application is 'SHAREWARE'.

Introduction:

"Database Utilities" is an enhanced MDI Database Desktop Utility with an Outlook style interface, with features provided to enhance database creation, editing, configuration, access, manipulation, BDE configuration and BDE management, data structure printing and delphi table source creation, plus many many other tools. It is an excellent and powerful tool for database, delphi and C/C++ developers alike especially those using the BDE. A "Must Have" Utility!

Version 1.5 has been developed on version 1.4 with plenty of new features for database development and maintenance, improved MDI interface, full database alias functionality, DAO functionality, improved data and structure printing when using aliases and bug fixes discovered from version 1.4!

System Requirements:

486 or Pentium Processor (Hi Spec Pentium recommended)
Windows 95 / 98 / 2000 / NT
BDE 5.xx(Downloadable free from Inprise's Homepage)
Internet Explorer 4 or higher

Viewing Recommendations:

Hi-Res Colours
Small Fonts
Minimum Resolution - 800x600
Recommended Resolution - 1024x768 or higher

Description Of Features:

1. 'Database Structures Utility':
This is the principle utility that encapsulates the viewing of database tables from a directory or BDE Alias, listing them in the left collapsable pane of the form, for quick access, either by Double-Clicking the Mouse or using the Enter Key, to view and manipulate the data in the selected table.

You can view the following, from the selected database and table:
- Data
- Fields
- Indexes
- Family Files
- Table Info
- Referential Integrity
- Table Security
- Stored Procedures
- Validity Checks

This Utility can view the Data in several formats.

Using the Normal Grid, you can do the following by clicking the check mark in the top left corner:
- Sort the Columns by clicking the titles of indexed fields
- AutoSize the Columns
- AutoWidth the Columns
- Display Boolean Fields as CheckMarks
- Display Images in the grid
- Display Memo fields in the grid
- Allow Row Sizing
- Show Memo fields at full size
- Display Cell Hints for columns not wide enough to display all the data
- Display Multiline Titles for Column Titles that are not wide enough
- Display the rows of data in alternating colors
- Print the grid data in a WYSIWYG format
- Print the entire dataset
- Export the grid in pipe delimited format
- Customize the grid to show/hide table columns
- Enable Multiple Row Selections
- Search the entire data
- Export the grid to HTML format
- Export the grid to Excel format

Using the Enhanced Grid, you can do the following:
- Sort all the visible Columns in ascending and decending order by clicking the titles of any field
- AutoWidth the Columns (Using the popup menu)
- Drag Columns to the Group Header Bar to Group-By them
- Display Images in the grid
- Display Memo fields in the grid
- Customize the grid to show/hide table columns
- Enable Multiple Row Selections
- Search the entire data
- Export the grid to HTML format
- Export the grid to Excel format

You can also view and print the following, from the selected database and table:
- Database Structures in full professional report format
- Database Structures in quick view format
- The actual data in the database
- The Delphi source code of the selected table

Full SQL Querying is featured in the application, including printing the SQL Query and the Query Result Set.

A feature of this program (which does not exist in Borland's DBD) is the viewing of any blob or memo field (including JPEG's) in the table, by double clicking on the appropriate image or glyph in the data grid. You can even save the data out as a text file or as bitmap/jpeg images or even import your own text files or bitmap images into the table.

Right mouse clicking on a selected table in the left collapsable pane brings up a given set of tools for manipulating the actual table you are working on, dependant on the table type.

These features are:
- 'Packing' the selected table a lot faster than DBD (without reversing the indexes)
- 'Emptying' the selected table a lot faster than DBD (without reversing the indexes)
- 'Adding or Deleting an Index' on the table
- 'Adding or Deleting a Field' on the table
- 'Exporting' the data from the table
- 'Reindexing' a corrupted table
- 'Reversing Indexes' corrupted by using other programs written in Delphi
- 'Renaming' the table
- 'Converting' dBASE tables to Paradox, ASCII and other dBASE tables with data and indexes, and vice versa for all formats
- 'Unlocking' locked tables
- 'Deleting' tables
- 'Version Changing' Paradox tables from one version to another
- Viewing the actual database 'language' of a given table

This utility is highly useful when you need to compare two or more large databases / directories, by opening two or more 'Database Structures' windows for particular databases / directories and never having to open a new window for each table within.

2. 'DAO Database Stuctures Utility':
This is the second principle utility of the system that encapsulates the viewing of MS-Access databases from a directory or BDE Alias using only the DAO in an Access style interface.

You can view all of the following, from the selected MS-Access Database:
- Tables: Including the Structure and Data
- Queries: Including the SQL and the Output Data
- Forms: In Preview, Normal or Design Mode, Via OLE
- Reports: In Preview, Direct Print or Design Mode, Via OLE
- Macros: Via OLE
- Modules: Via OLE
- User Info:
- Security Info: Including Adding / Deleting Users and Groups

Other features of the utility include:
- Creating New MDB Databases
- Creating New Access Tables
- Editing Access Tables
- Deleting Access Tables
- Renaming Access Tables
- Viewing Table Attributes
- Creating New Queries / Stored Procedures
- Editing Queries / Stored Procedures
- Deleting Queries / Stored Procedures
- Renaming Queries / Stored Procedures
- Visually showing Query / Stored Procedure Type
- Searching on any field in a table / query for a given value
- Multiple deleting of records within a table / query
- Selecting which columns to view in the data grid
- Exporting the data from the selected table / query

This utility uses the same Normal and Enhanced Grids that the first utility uses with all the same features listed in the Database Structures Utility.

Like above, a feature of this utility, is the viewing of any blob or memo field in the table, by double clicking on the appropriate glyph in the data grid. You can even save the data out as a text file or as bitmap images or even import your own text files or bitmap images into the table.

3. 'Database Packer Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to quickly pack either one or more tables of both dBASE and Paradox types from a selected directory or Alias extremely quickly, without the problem of reversing indexes.

4. 'Database Empty Table Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to quickly empty either one or more tables from a selected directory or Alias extremely quickly, without the problem of reversing indexes.

5. 'Database Language Changer Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to quickly change the table language of either one or more tables of both dBASE and Paradox types from a selected directory or Alias extremely quickly, without the overhead of using DBD on single tables at a time.

6. 'Database Converter Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to convert dBASE tables to Paradox, ASCII and other dBASE tables with data and indexes, and vice versa for all formats.

7. 'Database Backup / Restore Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to quickly Backup or Restore one or more tables from / to a selected directory or Alias extremely quickly, 'including' non-data files, using a zip compression method. Once run, the utility lets the user know the compression ratio used. All files are backed up to *.bck files.

8. 'Database Export / Import Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to Export any data to ASCII CSV files and also to Import any ASCII CSV files to a selected table. By ASCII files I mean most forms of CSV type files including fixed length and delimited.

9. 'Repair and Compact Access Tables Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to quickly repair and compact, just repair or just compact one or more MS Access tables in a given directory or Alias extremely quickly, using the DAO.

10. 'Paradox Table Repair':
This is a utility that allows the user to quickly verify and if necessary repair a Paradox Table in a given directory or Alias extremely quickly.

11. 'SQL Query Builder Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to visually build queries from a selected directory or Alias extremely quickly.

You can use drag'n'drop methods:
- to put the tables into the client work area
- to include fields from the table in the 'select' clause (in grid columns)
- to change the order of selected columns

You can used the right mouse click:
- to set the table link options
- to set the values of selected columns properties

The utility can generate the actual SQL query on the SQL page and the result set on the Results page. It also allows the user to save / re-open the visual query made, to a *.qb file as well as exporting the result set data, to Paradox, dBASE or ASCII tables.

This utility uses the same principal Grid as the first two utilities use with all the same features listed in the 5Database Structures Utility.

12. 'Structure Printing Wizard Utility':
This is a wizard utility that allows the user to view and print the entire Database Structure/s of a selected alias. The user can select individual tables or all tables from the alias and either preview them or print them directly in a professional report format.

13. 'Table To HTML Wizard':
This is a wizard utility that allows the user to export and print the Database Table/s from a selected alias to HTML format. The user can select individual tables or all tables from the alias and either preview them or save them directly in a professional HTML report format.

14. 'BDE Configuration Manager Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to edit or create the BDE Idapi32.Cfg File, without having to use a different program to do it. Using this utility you can also test the access to a particular Alias to see if the connection still exists as well as creating and testing the connectivity of InterBase databases.

15. 'BDE Properties Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to view all the BDE settings in a quick format as well as all the version stamps of the BDE files. It also shows:
- What Aliases exist
- All BDE Driver Names
- All BDE Language Drivers
- All BDE Repositories
- All BDE Users accessing specific data

This utility uses the same principal Grid as the first two utilities use with all the same features listed in the Database Structures Utility.

16. 'BDE Alias Manager Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to create, edit or delete Aliases of the BDE.

17. 'Create New Table Utility':
This is a utility that allows the user to create dBASE, Paradox and Access databases and tables using the BDE.

Disclaimer, Warranty and Licence:
No warranties expressed or implied. I am not responsible for any problems with other software or hardware, that might arise from the use of this program. You use this program entirely at your own risk. The trial program can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments, provided that this notice is not modified in any way, without my expressed written consent and that the program is registered by each new owner.

Database Utilities Normal Registration Information

(See Section Further Below For Information For Users Upgrading From Version 1.4)

Registration fee: $59,99

If you would like to register Database Utilities, you can do the registration online on
the Internet at https://secure.element5.com/register.html?productid=101786&language=English.
Alternatively, you can go to http://www.shareit.com and enter the program number there: 101786.

Database Utilities Upgrade Registration Information

Registration fee: $39,99

If you would like to register Database Utilities, you can do the registration online on
the Internet at https://secure.element5.com/register.html?productid=101788&language=English.
Alternatively, you can go to http://www.shareit.com and enter the program number there: 101788.

If you have any comments about the program, or you have found some bugs, or perhaps you may have some ideas on improving the program then please email me.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 GJL Software - March 2000.