DBAG SYSTEM


 1)For  the  DBAG  system  to  run properly (hopefully) the following
   symbols must be set as shown in the supplied LOG.COM :

$ define    bag		disk:[whatever_directory]
$ DBAG      :==		"run/nodeb bag:dbag"
$ CLOSEB    :==		"run/nodeb bag:closeb"
$ set term/echo/vt100/ansi_crt/dec_crt

 2)Whatever_directory  must  contain  everything  that  comes  in the
   tape under dua0:[vax335.dbag.try], *.DOC files excepted.

 3)The  DBAG  system  can  be  used  as  an interactive system or via
   subroutine  calls  from  your  own  programs using a DBAG library.

 4)The  library  is DBAG.OLB. The documentation about how to call the
   procedures  is  given  in  *.DOC.  Note  that  there is a enormous
   amount  of  general  purpose  procedures,  that  can  perhaps   be
   interesting for other applications.

 5)DBAG is the normal interactive system.  CLOSEB  is  an independent
   program to close a base accidentally left open (^C, crash, a fatal
   error, etc); it is rather useful.

   Other user programs are also supplied:

     DBIMPORT  : to "import" data to the  DBAG  system,  use DBIMPORT
	         to convert sequential  ascci files into  DBAG  files,
	         loadable by use of interactive APPEND command;
     ERRORS    : list DBAG error messages;
     DBUSER    : sample program to show how to submit  DBAG  commands
                 from a FORTRAN program (see the source "DBUSER.FOR")
     EDITE     : sample  program  to show  how to use the DBAG editor,
                 with both DBAG and user-defined field types (see the
                 source "EDITE.FOR" and include file "VEDIT.OWN";
     MANDATORY : force all fields of a data base to be non-mandatory;
     VMS2RM    : program to help translating VAX/VMS fortran programs
                 into RMFOR fortran.
     DOCUMENT  : extract  "ad-oc" documentation from a fortran source
                 program;
     CROSS     : "cross-reference"  fortran subroutines and functions
                 calls;

 6)Once running DBAG you can give the command @bag:DEMO an enlightening
   demonstration will perform before your eyes.

 7)Don't forget that  a  file  AUTOEXEC.CMD, if present, is "executed"
   by DBAG at startup time. Write there the most used setups, eg, SET
   ALTERNATE TO X.X.

 8)Info about DBAG system is available: try HELP (usual on-line help)
   and NEWS (new features, known bugs, etc) commands.
   Use HELP command to get complete description on all DBAG commands
   (e.g. "help * to commands.doc").

 9)The file TIMEOUT.MAR contains a "read from terminal" with time out.
   Not used in DBAG but funny. TIME.FOR demonstrates its use.

10)DBAG  users  should be able to create at least one sub-process and
   should  have a  reasonable number of shared files quota as well as
   an oustanding number of locks (parameters FILLM, SHRFILLM and ENQL,
   eg, 100, 100, 600 respectively).

11)Unfortunately   the  present  version  of the Manual is written in
   portuguese! I am  sure hispanic speaking (reading) persons will be
   able to  understand it. Anyway the on line help is in english  and
   actually contains more uptodate information than the Manual.


                                           12-Aug-1988