
           MURAD: Multiple-User Rapid Applications Development(TM)

A Demonstration of the dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kits for dBASE Dialects



SUMMARY


   The dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kits for dBASE Dialects permit you

    * to develop multiple-user applications

    * to enhance existing multiple-user applications

    * to convert single-user applications to multiple-user


   The Kits provide powerful software complemented by extensive tutorial
information to give you the background knowledge you need to do network
programming and to use the Kit's power tools in an enlightened fashion.  The
result is that you produce PUBLICATION-QUALITY multiple-user applications in
EXTREMELY SMALL AMOUNTS OF TIME.



THE TWO THINGS YOU *MUST* KNOW ABOUT THE KIT


   Here are two most important things to know about the Kit:

 1. THE KIT WILL HELP YOU SOLVE One Hundred Percent OF THE NETWORK-Independent
    PROBLEMS YOU FACE IN MULTIPLE-USER PROGRAMMING:

    * Your application quality goes way UP!

    * Your development time goes way DOWN!

    * Your multi-user apps become way COOL!


 2. YOUR SATIFACTION IS UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED:

    * You must be DELIGHTED  or your money back.

    * Your users must be THRILLED  or your money back.

    * Your managers must be THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED  or your money back.


   Reviewers and customers alike say the Kit is a TRULY EXTRAORDINARY PRODUCT.

   Let's find out why, OK?



KIT COMPONENTS


   The dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kit for Clipper provides the
infrastructure of a comprehensive development environment suitable for

    * an in-house programmer,

    * a consultant, or

    * a software publisher.


It has many components:

    * a comprehensive multiple-user course with courseware.  (This course is
      at the advanced undergraduate/beginning graduate level.  Its
      prerequisite is a basic  not necessarily advanced  understanding of
      single-user Clipper programming.)

    * comprehensive step-by-step instructions for converting single-user
      applications to multiple-user or writing multiple-user applications from
      scratch.

    * implementation and quality control checklists.

    * portable source code libraries written in Summer '87 Clipper, Clipper
      5.01, and Clipper 5.2.

    * programming tools and support utilities for design, analysis, debugging,
      maintenance, and operations.

    * an error reporting system to enable diagnosis of and recovery from error
      and warning conditions.

    * facilities for security, audit trails, and computing accounting charges.

    * free technical support via phone in North America and via CompuServe and
      fax worldwide.




CRITICAL ACCLAIM


   Here are some excerpts from a review by Michael Britten of the dMILL All-
Networks Productivity Kit 4.1 for Clipper in the May 1992 issue of Greg Lief's
magazine "The Aquarium."  (The current version is 4.5.)


******************************************************************************

The Equation

            Docusoftware = Tutorials + Techniques + Tools

This one-of-a-kind product was developed by T. David Millican of Database
Software Consultants in Austin, Texas.  "Docusoftware," a trademark of the
company, "designates products in which documentation and software receive
equal attention during design and implementation."

If this seems like one of those cool ideas that sounds better in a brochure
than it turns out in real life, let me assure you that the esteemed Mr.
Millican is up to the task.  In fact, before I go through the usual litany of
features, I want to say right now that the Kit is an excellent investment.  I
also wish to emphasize that it has much to offer for all skill levels.

If you are about to code your first multi-user application from the ground up,
or have been given the task to covert an existing system from single to
multi-user, or even if you've been at LAN programming in Clipper for awhile, I
consider The dMILL Network Kit indispensable.  I can't imagine hand-coding a
multi-user system without this tool by my side.

...

Sitting down away from my computer and studying the tutorials was very
satisfying.  I experienced a lot of those "Eureka!" moments ... I depleted two
of those yellow highlighting pens when I was studying this stuff.  Maybe it
should just be printed entirely in yellow.

...

The routines in the current version are divided into four groups ... Resource
Contention, Windowing Services, Semaphore Services, and Condition Reporting
... A robust error-handling system [writes] fatal error and warning
information to .MEM files.  To examine the screen saves, saved memvars, and
other error reporting information, you select "Recover error and warning
information" from the main menu of [a provided utility].

[The Kit's software] works like a champ! ... Even if you do not need the
software component of the Kit now, you may one day, and I still can't speak
highly enough of the educational value [of the Kit's tutorial component].

...

ALL IN ALL, THIS KIT IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT BY A REMARKABLE PERSON.


Michael Britten
Clipper Aquarium
May 1992


INTRODUCTION


   Welcome to a demonstration for the dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kits for
dBASE dialects from Database Software Consultants.  These Kits were written by
Publisher and Chief Software Designer T. David Millican, who is the author of
over two dozen dBASE-related articles and reviews, in addition to the standard
text and reference, "dBASE Dialects Software Engineering" (from Van Nostrand
Reinhold).

   The dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kits were developed as docusoftware(TM)
according to the company slogan "World Class Tools for World Class
Programmers."  Docusoftware products give equal weight to documentation and
software in design and implementation.  Elegant software libraries are
accompanied by extensive tutorials to support the informed and enlightened use
of power tools which permits you to approach the theoretical limits of
productivity!

   You can execute most of this demonstration program on a stand-alone PC
running IBM PC-DOS or MS-DOS version 2.0 or higher.  An extensive simulation
of resource contention between two simulated network workstations is included
so you can see how the software component of the Kits handles competition for
resources between two network users.

   If you have access to an MS-DOS network, then you can exercise the
multiple-user code in the demonstration program (choice "Demos" on the main
menu and "Concurrent Demo" on the submenu) by executing it on two (or more)
workstations.  This demonstration begins by permitting you to browse the text
file DemnInst.TXT, which contains the instructions for installing the
demonstration program DemoMenu.EXE on a network.  You can browse this file at
the DOS prompt via the command "TextBrow DemnInst.TXT", using the TextBrow.COM
utility included with the demo.



INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR A STAND-ALONE PC


   Here are installation instructions for a stand-alone PC or a workstation
which executes the demo from its local (unshared) hard disk.

 1. You must have DOS version 2.0 or higher and at least 250K free RAM.

 2. Some demonstration functions require disk writes.  We recommend that you
    do not remove the write-protection from the demo diskette (if you received
    this file on a diskette).  Instead, we recommend one of two installation
    methods: (1) copy the diskette contents to another diskette or (2) copy
    the diskette contents to a hard disk.  For example, if the diskette is in
    your A: drive and C: is your hard disk, you could execute the following
    commands at the DOS prompt:

    C:
    MD \KitDemo
    CD \KitDemo
    COPY A:*.* /V




HOW TO RUN THE DEMO


   To execute the demo from a DOS prompt, enter

     RunDemo

   This runs a batch file which sets your network name to "DemoUser" and
provides a value for the DOS environmental variable CLIPPER before executing
DemoMenu.EXE.  Alternatively, you can enter the following at the DOS level:

     SET NETNAME=<your name>
     DemoMenu

   For example, if your name is "Tom", code "SET NETNAME=Tom" with no blanks
around the equal sign.  If you receive the message "not enough memory" when
you execute DemoMenu, you will have to free up more memory.  The Clipper
environmental variable is "branded" into the .EXE file by Blinker, so you
cannot reset it at the DOS level with a "SET CLIPPER=" command.


THE DEMO ON THE NETWORK


   If you execute DemoMenu.EXE or RunDemo.BAT while logged onto the network,
you may also wish to reset the control memvar which controls the source of the
identification for the current user.  The default value is to get this
information from the DOS environmental variable NETNAME, but you may specify
this information to be retrieved with Clipper's NetName() function.  To do so,
choose "Concurrent Demo" under demos.


THE CONTROL MEMVARS


   There are over two dozen memvars used to control various aspects of the
behavior of Kit routines.  By altering the values of these memvars you can
obtain many different learning benefits.  The two biggest differences will
come from using some or all of the TRACE FACILITIES and some or all of the
SEMAPHORE FACILITIES.


NETWORK INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS


   Browse the text file DemnInst.TXT, which contains the network installation
instructions.  You can print this file with the DOS command "PRINT
DemnInst.TXT" or print a side-by-side page view in landscape mode on HP
LaserJet printers from the DOS prompt with "LaserPrn DemnInst.TXT" (using the
LaserPrn.COM file provided with the demo).

   You can read DemnInst.TXT onscreen from the DOS prompt by entering
"TextBrow DemnInst.TXT" (using the TextBrow.COM utility included with the
demo).  But the easiest way to read the instructions is to choose "Concurrent
Demo" under "Demos"!



ASSISTANCE


   Call us at (512) 477-3423 or send e-mail to CompuServe 73667,56 if you need
help in executing the demo.

   Note that the demo contains some of the services from DmUtil.EXE, the
omnibus utility which is distributed with the Kit.  DmUtil supports Kit users
with a combination of courseware, design aids, and maintenance functions.  For
example, programmers use DmUtil to create and edit configuration files for
individual users or groups of users.



PARTIAL FILE LIST



RunDemo.BAT    This batch file sets DOS environmental variable NETNAME and
               then executes DemoMenu.EXE.  The CLIPPER variable is "branded"
               into DemoMenu.EXE and will be ignored if set.
DemoMenu.EXE   The executable code of the demo.
DemoIntr.TXT   An introduction to the dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kits and
               prerequisite network concepts.
DemnInst.TXT   Network installation instructions.
Company.TXT    Information about Database Software Consultants.
Semaphor.DBF   An empty semaphore table.
DmCtrVar.MEM   Control variables for Kit routines in DemoMenu.
ReadMe.TXT     This file.
ReadMe.BAT     A batch file to browse ReadMe.TXT.
Order.FRM      A form to use to order dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kits.
TextBrow.COM   A text browsing utility.
LaserPrn.COM   Prints two page images per sheet on HP LaserJet printers.



   NOTE: Some of the files are marked with the "read-only" attribute.  See the
documentation for the MS-DOS ATTRIB command for more information on this file
attribute.  To delete the files from your hard disk, enter "ATTRIB -R *.*"
followed by "DEL *.*".



PRODUCT HISTORY AND TECHNICAL REVIEWS


   The first dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kit supported the Clipper dialect
and was originally called "dCL-Net Library."  You can read a sparkling review
of this product on page 112 of the June issue of Data Based Advisor.  Version
3.0 was the last version of the kit which was called "dCL-Net Library;" the
name changed to dMILL Network Kit for Clipper with the release of version 4.0,
and to the dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kit for Clipper at release 4.11.

   The May 1992 issue of Greg Lief's Clipper journal "Aquarium" contains a
lengthy rave review of the Kit, which is called "INDISPENSABLE ... AN
EXCELLENT VALUE ... FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS ... A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT BY A
REMARKABLE PERSON!"  This review is stored on the demo diskette as
Brit-Rev.TXT and can be accessed from the demo's menu.

   This product is endorsed by Buzzwords International for use with their
product, dANALYST GOLD.  There is more information in the tutorial.



MESSAGES AND WINDOWS


   The Kit uses a state-of-the-art windowing technology.  You can control the
colors and initial positions of message windows, and your users can move or
hide these windows when they appear.  The current demonstration uses this
windowing technology.

   The windowing routines in versions 4.x are *IMPLEMENTED* and *DOCUMENTED*
for general use.  With these routines, a programmer can easily provide a
state-of-the-art look to the portions of an application which display
messages.  This approach guarantees a consistent appearance of all the
messages which a user might see.



DISTRIBUTION PERMISSION


   You may distribute copies of this copyrighted demonstration diskette (or
its files) to anyone without payment to Database Software Consultants as long
as (1) you do not charge for the diskette beyond a shipping and handling fee
and (2) you do not change the files on the diskette in any way.



               
                  The dMILL All-Networks Productivity Kit   
               
                         DON'T LOG ON WITHOUT IT!!!         
               







