APPLICATION NOTE #155
 CONVERTING A DBASE TEXT FILE TO XYWRITE FORMAT
 Rev. 01
 RELATED FILES: MAIL.PGM


 dBASE is a database management program produced by Ashton-Tate. It 
includes a capability for creating an ASCII text file that you can 
export for use with other programs.  This application note describes 
a XYQUEST-developed program that modifies the dBASE text file to make 
it suitable for use with XyWrite's Mail Merge feature.


 dBASE TEXT FILE FORMAT
 Using dBASE, create an ASCII text file with the following format:

   /Books, Etc/,/86 Main St/,/Madison/,/AL/,35758
   /The Train Store/,/26 Channel Lane/,/Chelmsford/,/MA/,01824

 Notice that each record starts with a slash and ends with a carriage 
return. The fields in the addresses are separated by slashes and 
commas.

 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
 To make it easier for you to use the dBase text file with the XyWrite 
Mail Merge feature, XYQUEST has developed a program that eliminates 
the commas and extra slashes, and produces a data file that uses a 
single slash as a field separator. (See Note #1.)

 This program, called MAIL.PGM, is available on request from XYQUEST's 
Technical Support department. It is also reproduced at the end of 
this application note.

 PROGRAM OPERATION
 To use MAIL.PGM to modify a dBase text file:

 1.  Copy MAIL.PGM onto your working disk or into your XyWrite 
directory if you
     have a hard disk.

 2.  Call the dBase text file to the screen.

 3.  Run the program.

       F5run mail.pgm<CR>

     Result:  The text file now has the following format:

       Books, Etc/86 Main St/Madison/AL/35758
       The Train Store/26 Channel Lane/Chelmsford/MA/01824

 A slash separates the fields and a single carriage return separates 
the records.

 MAIL MERGE SEPARATORS
 XyWrite uses a single carriage return as the default field separator 
and two carriage returns as the default record separator. The data 
file created in the previous section has different separators. To use 
it with XyWrite's Mail Merge feature, you must make sure the field 
separators are compatible with XyWrite. You have two choices:

 *  Change the default separators in your printer file to match your 
dBASE text
    file

 *  Modify the separators in the dBASE text file to match the XyWrite 
defaults

 To change the default separators:

 1.  Create a new printer file (see Note #2). For example:

       Type:  F5new separatr.prn<CR>

 2.  On the first line, enter the label that identifies the file as a 
printer
     file.

       Type:  ;PR;<CR>

 3.  On the next line, enter the FS (Field Separator) command and a 
slash.

       Type:  FS</<CR>

 4.  On the third line, enter the RS (Record Separator) command and 
the two
     ASCII characters that comprise the XyWrite line return (ASCII 13 
and ASCII
     10).

       Type:  RS<{ASC-13}{ASC-10}<CR>

 5.  Store and load the printer file, along with your regular printer 
file. For
     example:

       Type:  F5load separatr.prn+3epsonfx.prn<CR>

 Result:  XyWrite now recognizes a slash as the Mail Merge field 
separator and a single carriage return as the Mail Merge record 
separator.

 If you prefer to use the default field separators, you need to 
further modify the data file created by dBASE III Plus and MAIL.PGM:

 1.  Call the file to the screen. For example:

       Type:  F5call mail.txt<CR>

 2.  Be sure the cursor is at the beginning of the file and issue  a 
CI (Change
     Invisible) command to change the single carriage returns to two 
carriage
     returns (see Note #3).

       Type:  F5ci /Cntrl-<CR>/Cntrl-<CR>Cntrl-<CR>/<CR>

 3.  Move the cursor to the top of the file and change the slashes to 
carriage
     returns.

       Press:  CtrlHome

       Type:  F5ci !/!Cntrl-<CR>!<CR>

 Result: The file MAIL.TXT now uses the XyWrite default Mail Merge 
separators.

 PROGRAM CONTENT
 MAIL.PGM is reproduced below.  If you plan to recreate this program 
yourself, you must follow the rules for creating a XyWrite program 
file. For more information, refer to Chapter 5 of the XyWrite 
Reference Guide.

 TF BC ci !/,/!/! XC TF BC ci !/,!/! XC TF BC ci !{ASC-10}/!{ASC-10}! 
XC TF BC se !/! XC CL <<sx01,<<cp>>>><<if<<pv01>>==0>>RC <<ei>><<ex>>

 Note #1  Blank Fields. If your dBASE text file contains blank fields, 
MAIL.PGM will insert double slashes (i.e., //).

 Note #2  Separator Printer File. You can also enter the FS< and RS< 
settings directly into your standard printer file. The advantage of 
creating a new printer file for Mail Merge separators is that you can 
then easily use different sets of separators for different data 
files. There's no need to constantly modify and load your standard 
printer file. However, if you are planning to use a special printer 
file for Mail Merge separators, be sure your standard printer file 
does not contain any RS< or FS< lines.

 Note #3  Carriage Returns on the Command Line. To enter a carriage 
return character on the command line:

   Press:  Ctrl<CR>