          nB (nano Base) - 1996.06.16

          Copyright (c) 1996   Daniele Giacomini

          This program is  free software;  you can  redistribute it  and/or
          modify it under the  terms of the GNU  General Public License  as
          published by the  Free Software Foundation;  either version 2  of
          the License, or (at your option) any later version.

          This program is distributed in the  hope that it will be  useful,
          but WITHOUT ANY  WARRANTY; without even  the implied warranty  of
          MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the  GNU
          General Public License for more details.

          You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
          along with  this program;  if not,  write  to the  Free  Software
          Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

          Send your  comments, suggestions,  bug reports  and english  text
          corrections to:

          Daniele Giacomini
          Via Turati, 15
          I-31100 Treviso
          Italy

          daniele@system.abacom.it

          -----------------------------------------------------------------

          First of all, I am sorry for my bad English.

          nB ("nano Base": "n"  = "nano" = 10**(-9)  = "very little") is  a
          little DOS  xBase written  in CA-Clipper  5.2  that can  help  to
          access .DBF file created with different standards. nB can  access
          files created with Fox Pro 2, dBASE IV, dBASE III, dBASE III PLUS
          and CA-Clipper.

          nB is:

          *    a dot command interpreter,

          *    a macro executor (a program interpreter), slow but usefull,

          *    a macro recorder (a program writer),

          *    a .DBF, .FRM, .LBL utility,

          *    a simple reporter.

          nB may be usefull:

          *    for CA-Clipper programmers who may need a all-in-one tool,

          *    for everyone who  need something like  "dBaseIII" and  don't
               want to pay for it (that is: for everyone who like a  little
               free xBase).

          Macro files can be written with a normal text editor or inside nB
          with the  help of  the internal  macro recorder.  The macro  file
          structure is a  simplified version of  a CA-Clipper program.  The
          macro interpretation is slow, but you don't need to complile  and
          link (that  is: you  don't need  CA-Clipper). nB  recognise  only
          functions and not commands.


          nB normal syntax is:

          nB [<nB_parameters>] [<macro_filename>] [<macro_parameters>]

          To run nB, just type the word "NB" and press [Enter] to  execute.
          It will run in command mode, this means that it will look like an
          old xBASE command prompt.

          To run  the program  as a  macro interpreter,  type the  word  NB
          followed from  the macro  file name  with extention  (no  default
          extention is supposed). If parameters are given, after the  macro
          file name, these will be  available inside the public  variables:
          c_Par1, c_Par2, ..., c_Par9. c_Par0  will contain the macro  file
          name (see the macro file  BROWSE.&). nB will terminate  execution
          when the macro terminates.

          These parameters are available for nB:

          -c   Suppress the copyright notice. It  is usefull when using  nB
               for macro interpretation.

          -w   Suppress the "Wait-Wheel" if not desired. It is the  "Wheel"
               that appears  at top-left  when a  macro is  interpreted  or
               other long elaborarions are executed.

          -?   Shows a short help.


          nB macro "compilation" syntax is:

          nB -m <source_macro_filename> [<destination_macro_filename>]

          With   the    -m    parameter,   nB    "compiles"    the    ascii
          <source_macro_filename> into <destination_macro_filename>.


          What's new?

               Changed the  licence  to  GNU General  Public  Licence.  The
               source is now included.

               Added a macro recorder/editor.

               Added HTP, the Help Text File system.

               Added a Status line at the top of the screen.

               Added the PROCEDURE - ENDPROCEDURE statement for macroes.

               More functions are availables for macro use.

               TB() function is changend: more parameters added.

               DIR() function is  changed: returned  data is  a little  bit
               different.

               The wait bar  is now at  the screen top  to avoid  conflicts
               with the natural display scroll

               Corrected a bug inside RPT() with large lines.

               Other minor changes.

               Other minor bug corrections.


          If you like the program, I will be happy to know it, for  example
          receiving a e-mail.

          Will you tell me if you like this work?

          Comments, suggestions, bug reports  and english text  corrections
          are welcome (and needed) to make a better nB.

          Write to:                     Daniele Giacomini
                                        Via Turati, 15
                                        I-31100 Treviso
                                        Italy

          or send your e-mail to:       daniele@system.abacom.it

