3.0    BLUEBOOK - AN OVERVIEW

3.1    What is BlueBook?

       Technically, BlueBook is a dual index, flat-file, free
       text database of fixed length records.  In other words, it
       isn't dBase, Access or Paradox: just a simple, highly
       convenient "indexed card file".  (VERY simple, but also
       surprisingly powerful and flexible.)

       That's deliberate.  Small is beautiful, we think, and less
       is more.  Why spend a fortune on a bloated, feature-laden,
       disk-hungry PIM (personal information manager), or waste
       time with a complex relational database, if what you
       really need is instant, no-fuss access to a wide variety
       of EASILY stored information.

       BlueBook will give you this, and more.

       It will let you compile long, internally cross-referenced
       lists of ANYTHING (up to 32,000 items per database), and
       search them FAST, by keyword.  It can also provide an
       effective document management system, a quick access,
       unlimited capacity menu program, or anything else you can
       dream up that involves a list; even simple computer-based
       training!

       BlueBook is a DOS program with an attractive graphical
       interface.  You can drive it with a mouse or by single
       keystroke commands.  Clicks and keystrokes can be freely
       intermixed.  It can launch any other DOS program,
       including Windows and itself.

       It can't run Windows applications directly, of course,
       but it does run seamlessly under Windows, and works very
       well in conjunction with it.

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       If you ask BlueBook to run ITSELF from a record, you are
       creating a "metabase" -- a database of databases.
       Metabases can go many levels deep, like a directory tree,
       but even at only two levels you can theoretically access
       over a billion records (32000 x 32000).  BlueBook is a
       simple and inexpensive program, but NOT a trivial one!
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3.2    What is a BlueBook database?

       Three related files which MUST reside together in the same
       directory.  They all have the same name (the name of the
       database), and extensions starting with "BB" -- .BBL,
       .BBI, and .BBD.

       "<DBasName>.BBL" is a look-up table, always 2048 bytes
       long.  "<DBasName>.BBI" holds indexes, and is optimised
       for searching.  "<DBasName>.BBD" holds all remaining data.

       Each record has a searchable free-text KEY field up to 48
       characters long.  Keys can contain anything at all.
       Records also have a 20 character TOPIC or GROUP line; four
       lines of NOTES, 62 characters each; and three 20 character
       supplementary fields for telephone numbers, or anything
       else you want to use them for.  With version 2, you can
       search (and replace in) all these as well.

       If you need more text, either create a joined record or
       offload it to a file.  External files can be accessed
       instantly, with just two keystrokes or mouse clicks
       (assuming you have a suitable editor or viewer program:
       BBView.Com is supplied).

3.3    BlueBook.Exe and BBMain.Exe

       The program BlueBook.Exe is only a launcher program.
       It runs BBMain.Exe (the "real" BlueBook), and any other
       programs required.

       BlueBook.Exe uses just under 18k and remains always in
       memory (until you eXit).  It can live anywhere on your
       system.

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       BBMain.Exe, which BlueBook.Exe HAS to be able to locate,
       MUST be in either your current directory or one that is
       mentioned in the PATH statement in your AutoExec.Bat
       file.  Likewise, BBView.Com and BlueBook.Hlp, and
       (preferably) BlueBook.Doc.
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3.4    External utilities

       Five integral utility programs are included: BBReset,
       BBRestor, BBTrim, BBIni and BBView.

       BBView.Com, is a file viewer, required to display database
       listings from within the program.  It has no Windows icon.

       BBIni.Exe lets you update the various options in the
       BLUEBOOK.INI quickly and easily - you can also edit the INI
       file directly, of course.

       The other three programs will be needed seldom, if ever:

       - BBTrim physically purges a database of "deleted" records.
       - BBRestor backs down a database which has been backed up
         from within BlueBook (which can easily be done manually).
       - BBReset forcibly resets the "database in use" flag.

       This flag is set ON when a database is opened, and remains
       ON if BlueBook is "crashed" by power failure, power-down,
       Ctrl+Alt+Del, the Reset button, or Windows.  (BlueBook
       itself is extremely robust!)

       TAKE CARE USING BBReset.  If a database is flagged as in
       use when it isn't, it has been closed abnormally: access
       is denied because it MAY well be corrupt.

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       NB:  BBView.Com is actually a public domain file viewer
       program called Scan (no point in re-inventing the wheel!).
       Scan has been renamed to ensure that a file viewer is
       always available specifically to BlueBook, but it is NOT a
       part of BlueBook for copyright purposes.
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