SeriousB Hints of the Week

Exclude records with blank data from search

Want to exclude records with no data at a certain prompt? Use the two
characters ">&" which translates to "greater than nothing" since
almost every alphanumeric character is "greater" than the "&"
character. For instance, in an invoice listing, you might want to
exclude invoices with no entry at the PO# prompt (no purchase order).
The search entry would be the six characters >&~PO# which says
"greater than nothing at the PO# prompt". To list only invoices with
"nothing" at the PO# prompt, the search entry would be the six
characters <&~PO#

Easy way to include all records for a year

Don't enter 1/1/06<12/31/06 in the Search Dialog to pull up records
for 2006! Just enter the year, like 2006

Listing undated records between two dates

Suppose you have dates in customer information, address, inventory
records, or any other non-transaction records. You can access just the
records between any two dates by typing the two dates into the 'Other
items...' search window, followed by the prompt name where the dates
are entered.

For instance, suppose you update the "Date of last invoice" into your
address records at a prompt in the ADDRESS named "DLI". You have a
label format and would like to print address labels for addresses with
a 'DLI' between 1/1/06 and 12/31/06. You would enter in the 'Other
items...' search window:

1/1/06<12/31/06~DLI

( ~ is the tilde next to the "1" key )

System Global Search and Replace

Looking for a file? MiserDOS now includes a global "Search and
Replace" feature. Just add the two characters "/R" to the end of the
search phrase. For instance, the command:

     DIRA *.* (407-383)/R -.EXE -.DLL

         will find all files in your system that do not contain ".EXE" or
".DLL" in the filename but that include the characters "407-383". It
will allow you to replace them with new characters. This is a great
way to change your area code in all your programs, for instance. But
it is a dangerous function because you could corrupt programs by
changing executable files. MiserDOS shows you the surrounding
characters in each file. Be sure not to click on "Replace" unless you
recognize that it is in a data or text file. If you don't understand
this warning, do not use this feature because inadvertently changing
the wrong file could cause BIG PROBLEMS!

     You do not need to replace anything. You can just elect to "skip"
each match that is found. This is a great way just to search for files
containing your search string because MiserDOS displays the
surrounding characters (it only lists filenames if you don't add "/R".

A quicker way to update SeriousB

You can update your program by going directly to the web address:
www.micromiser.com/ftp/ and download from the list of files. The file
sizes and dates can be compared with your existing SBW files. If you
know how to unzip files and do not care about updating the free
applications (see date after each application on the Home page),
download file SBW.ZIP and unzip it into your Windows directory. If you
are installing for the first time, or need to update the applications,
or don't know how to unzip files, download file SBW32.EXE.

Set opening screen

Tired of always starting at the Main Menu screen, then using the
pull-down menus or Speed List to enter or look up records? Now you can
make SeriousB always start at the Input Screen you prefer, and always
return to the Input Screen after running pull-down Main Menu
selections (available on the Input Screen if you did not set
"simplified screens"). Select 'File | Setup Options | Set opening
screen' to select the default Input Screen.

Want a traditional dialog box look?

To give SeriousB input screens the traditional dialog box appearance,
select 'File | Setup options | Input Screen color' and choose color
scheme #1.

Automatic reminder windows

Would you like reminder windows to pop up automatically? If so, do
this:
1. On the Input Screen, place the cursor at a prompt having a reminder
window.
2. Select the 'Setup' button (if there is no 'Setup' button, go to the
Main Menu and select 'File | Setup options | Simplify screen | Full
Display').
3. In the Setup Window, use the <down arrow> key to place the
specifier beginning with "G W" in the edit window. Attach an upper
case "A" to the last number, e.g. "G W ADDRESS 1,3,5A"
4. Select "Quit" and save your change.
The reminder Window will now pop up automatically.

Report backups

If you use the Report Setup screen often, the automatic format backup
notice may become bothersome. To get rid of it, select 'File | Setup
Options | Global Commands' and enter FORMAT BACKUP NOTICE OFF

Latest features

You can quickly review the latest features by searching for the two
characters "%%" (two percent signs in a row) in the SeriousB manual.
This will find features added in the last few months.

View records

Did you know that, when you pull up an existing record on the Input
Screen, you can view it in three different ways? Just select the
'View' button.

List headings

If you would like to quickly list all headings in a record on the
Input Screen, including hidden fields and heading numbers, just type
the <Alt>Q hot key combination.

Phone numbers

Do you type a lot of 10 digit phone numbers? Here's a way to get
SeriousB to add the dashes for you anywhere in the program:

1. Select 'File | Setup Options | Global Commands'
2. In the window type in all caps: ADD PHONE DASHES

Search Dialog

Suppose you want to pull up just records where the data at the second
prompt is the same as the data at the fourth prompt. In the 'Other
items...' search windows, you would enter 2=4
The search entries 2<4 and 2>4 also work. If both data items are
numeric, you get a numeric comparison. If either is not numeric, you
get an ASCII string comparison. If both are dates, you get a date
comparison.

This is the only search feature that requires prompt numbers instead
(others allow the prompt name). If you are unsure of the prompt
number, type the <Alt>Q key combination at the Input Screen.

Report Setup

Here's a trick to move items in a report format with just three mouse
clicks:

1. Select 'File | Utilities | Report Setup' and load a format showing
text.
2. Right-click on any text (in black) at the top or left of the
report.
       (The blue 'Manual Edit Text' window appears at the bottom right.)
3. Move the mouse to a new location on the report and left-click.
       (Notice the column and line number change in the 'Edit Text'
window.)
4. Click the right mouse button (closes menu selections, same as
'Done' or <Enter>).
       The text is moved!
This trick works on most other report items such as system date, page
number, etc., as long as they are not at the bottom right of the
report.

MiserDOS

Here's a way to convert all your data files into the minimum number of
neat files, all near the maximum size, also removing any records
marked as deleted and padding within shortened records. This doesn't
affect operations, it just makes the file displays neater. There are a
few cases where you may have unnecessarily short data files: 1) If
you're advanced enough to have selectively manipulated the files, 2)
Previously set the maximum size to a small size, 3) unusual editing or
a "Search and Replace" which substantially increases the size of
records. Resizing files may increase data access speed. Always run
'File | Utilities | Backup' before resizing files. To resize files:

1. Select 'File | MiserDOS'
2. Type RESIZE then hit <Enter>

SeriousB Editor

Here's a way to run the SeriousB Editor from a desktop icon. The
editor has a few general purpose features you might like: 1) can set
maximum line length (adds carriage returns), 2) can sort lines, 3) can
add your own menu button to load selected files. The main advantage is
that the editor does not add formatting characters like headers, tabs,
or "end-of-file". To run the editor from the desktop:

1. Open "My Computer" at the desktop
2. Right-click on the "SBWSU" program file (usually in drive C,
Windows folder)
3. Select 'Create Shortcut'
4. Drag the shortcut icon onto the desktop with the left mouse button.
5. Right-click on the new icon.
6. Select 'Properties | Shortcut'
7. Click to the right of the entry in the 'Target' window
8. Add a space, then the two character ED. For example:
C:\WINDOWS\SBWSU.EXE ED
9. Click OK to close the Window.
10. Right-click on the icon again. Select 'Rename' and type a name for
the icon.

By the way, you could create up to two more icons for other purposes.
Just add a different "parameter" besides ED (step #8 above). If you
add "MDOS" the icon will run MiserDOS. If you add "DO" the editor will
automatically load your "Do List" (file C:\DO). Click on 'Help' in the
editor to read about Do List features.