******************************************************** *** *** *** DTRWHIZ Version 3.0 *** *** *** ******************************************************** DTRWHIZ - A data connectivity utility which links VAX-11 DATATRIEVE with a variety of spreadsheet tools including DECalc, MultiPlan and Visicalc. DTRWHIZ uses CALLABLE DATATRIEVE to extract data from DATATRIEVE and then creates an intermediate file containing the data in a format acceptable to the utility selected to receive it. Once the intermediate file has been created, the user exits from DTRWHIZ, invokes the selected utility and instructs the utility to read the intermediate file. Examples for each of the supported utilities will be presented later in this help message. It is assumed that the DTRWHIZ user is familiar with both DATATRIEVE and the utility for which the data are to be extracted. Through the use of the COMMAND FILE and BATCH FILE options in DTRWHIZ, the DATATRIEVE side can be made quite simple. These options also are described later. Simply stated, DATATRIEVE commands can be pre-defined in a file and that file can be invoked from within DTRWHIZ. This eliminates the need for users to remember complex DATATRIEVE commands while enabling them to benefit from the data manipulation capabilities of DATATRIEVE. { DTRWHIZ DATA EXTRACTION SYNTAX } - How to get your data out of DATATRIEVE After invoking DTRWHIZ (ie. 'RUN DTRWHIZ'), the user READY's the desired DOMAIN then issues one of the following DTRWHIZ commands followed by a DATATRIEVE Record Selection Expression (RSE). The only restriction is that the RSE must be valid for the DATATRIEVE 'LIST' command. (DTRWHIZ actually uses the LIST command to extract the data prior to reformatting it.) If represents a valid Record Selection Expression, then the format of the DTRWHIZ extraction commands is - { DECALC } { MULTIPLAN } { VISICALC } { DTRWHIZ DATA EXTRACTION QUALIFIERS } - How to get your data the way you want it Once the extraction command has been accepted and processed, DTRWHIZ asks for - {ORIENTATION - NORMAL or TRANSPOSED?} Normal orientation would look the same as the results of a DATATRIEVE 'PRINT' command, Records become Rows, Fields become Columns. With Transposed Orientation, Fields become Rows and Records become Columns. {USE HEADINGS?} If desired, the Field Names will be included as Headings in the output file. For Normal Orientation, the Headings will appear above the Columns. With Transposed Orientation, the Field Names will occupy the First Column of Each Row. {LOCATION WITHIN THE UTILITY?} This refers to the location of the Top-Left Corner of the data rectangle. NOTE: For VISICALC and DECalc, the Location is determined from the position of the cursor at the time the data is loaded into the spreadsheet. {OUTPUT FILE NAME?} This is the name of the file that will contain the reformatted data. This is the file name to be referenced when loading the data into the utility. {DELIMITER CHARACTER?} DECalc separates data items in a table file with a delimiter character. DECalc will need to know this character when it processes a table file. It defaults to . { LOADING EXTRACTED DATA INTO THE UTILITIES } - How to use the data Each of the supported utilities has a unique approach to loading foreign data (ie. data produced outside the utility). In the following examples the symbol will indicate where to supply the OUTPUT FILE NAME selected within DTRWHIZ. { DECALC } \ST { MULTIPLAN } TOS (Set format to Symbolic) TL { VISICALC } /S#L { DTRWHIZ COMMANDS AND FEATURES } - Beyond the basics The following commands are recognized by DTRWHIZ, all other commands are passed to DATATRIEVE. These commands are described in more detail later. { NODEFAULT } Gives the user more control over the format of the output. { DEFAULT } Returns DTRWHIZ to the default formatting mode. { VMS } Gives the user access to VMS Command Level from within DTRWHIZ. { HELP } Displays this information. { @ } Invoke a COMMAND FILE. { BATCH } Invoke a BATCH FILE. { FIXMISSING } Allows replacement of missing data with some value. { NOFIXMISSING } Disables FIXMISSING mode. { MISSVAL } Indicates data to be replaced. { MISSFIX } Specifes value to use in place of missing data. { NODEFAULT MODE } Format: { DTRWHIZ> NODEFAULT } Under NODEFAULT MODE, the user can specify the Orientation, Use of Headings, and Location in the Spreadsheet for each Field in the individually. This might be useful for complex spreadsheets where data are to be entered into cells which are not contiguous. NOTE: Visicalc and DECalc are NOT supported under NODEFAULT MODE. { VMS } Format: { DTRWHIZ> VMS } or { DTRWHIZ> VMS command } Through this command users can enter system command mode or simply execute a single system level command (eg. DIRECTORY, EDIT, DELETE, etc). In the first case (ie.'VMS' alone), the user enters system level command mode and remains there until the LOGOUT command is entered. The user is then returned to DTRWHIZ. In the second case (ie. 'VMS command'), the 'command' is executed as a system level command and, upon completion of the command, is returned to DTRWHIZ. NOTE: This feature is implemented through the use of SPAWNED SUBPROCESSES. { @ } - COMMAND FILES Format: { DTRWHIZ> @filename } DTRWHIZ will look to the file specified for commands and will continue reading commands from the file until the end of the file is reached. DTRWHIZ then will return to input from the keyboard. NOTE: DTRWHIZ will be read from the Command File ONLY when a COMMAND is expected. Input for which the user is prompted will still be read from the keyboard. All 'formatting' input (eg. Orientation, Use of Headings/Row Names, and Location information) is to be entered from the keyboard. Also, use of the DATATRIEVE '*.' prompt for input feature from within a Command File will cause DTRWHIZ to look to the keyboard for the response to the prompt. { BATCH } - BATCH FILES Format: { DTRWHIZ> BATCH filename } Like the '@filename' command, the 'BATCH filename' command causes DTRWHIZ to read commands from the file specified except that ALL INPUT is read from the Batch File until the end of the file has been reached. Input thereafter is read from the keyboard. NOTE: A Batch File may contain other BATCH FILE commands or COMMAND FILE commands. Command Files may contain BATCH FILE commands or other COMMAND FILE commands as well. However, if Batch File 1 invokes Batch File 2, control will be returned to the keyboard at the end of Batch File 2 even if more commands remain in Batch File 1. The same applies for COMMAND FILES. But, if a BATCH FILE invokes a COMMAND file, control will be returned to the BATCH FILE at the end of the COMMAND FILE. A COMMAND FILE invoking a BATCH FILE behaves the same way. Therefore, a BATCH FILE can invoke multiple COMMAND FILES (and vice versa). { FIXMISSING MODE } Format: { DTRWHIZ> FIXMISSING } Format: { DTRWHIZ> MISSVAL string } Format: { DTRWHIZ> MISSFIX string } Under FIXMISSING MODE, data fields which contain no entry can have a value substituted by DTRWHIZ. When this mode is active, any entry which matches the MISSVAL string is replaced by the MISSFIX string. These strings have default values but can be changed by the user at any time with the MISSVAL and MISSFIX commands. { USAGE NOTES } * The DATATRIEVE EDIT facility is not supported. * Continued commands are supported. However, since DTRWHIZ does not look for a ';' to indicate the end of a command, breaking the command line at a 'logically complete' location will cause DATATRIEVE to execute the command rather than prompt for continuation."