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What's New
askSam 5.0 is not simply an upgrade where we add a couple of features. We have taken the opportunity to restructure and redesign askSam. The new architecture will provide us with a solid foundation from which to build the product for years to come.
Below are a list of changes and additions. Where possible, we've included Hypertext links to the new menus or features. We'll be updating this list as we complete the rest of the features before release.
Product Architecture
� Rewrote large parts of askSam as objects using C++. This simplifies debugging and makes it much easier for us to add features in the future.
� Separated the askSam Database Engine (the core engine upon which askSam is based) into a component (a DLL - Dynamic Link Library). For the first time, developers can create applications based upon the askSam database engine. The engine is available as a DLL or an ActiveX control (OCX) which can be accessed using standard programming languages such as Visual Basic, C, C++, and Active Server Pages for Web-based programming. You can access the data in your askSam database from Visual Basic and other programming languages.
We've included an example VB application with the askSam 5.0 Beta (called QOL.EXE). It contains 255 quotations (in an askSam 5.0 database called QOL.ASK). You can access and update this database from askSam 5.0, or you can use the VB application we've included with the Beta.
With the new programming capabilities, you can create Visual Basic data entry screens to simplify entering data into askSam. The data you enter can then be searched using askSam
5.
� Modified the file format to incorporate more robust data structures.
� askSam 5.0 is a 32 bit application which brings you a couple of benefits. First, askSam 5.0 supports long file names. Second, functions like packing and indexing are much faster than in previous askSam versions.
� Increased the maximum document size from 16,000 lines to an unlimited number of lines.
� Increased the maximum file size (from 4 gigabyte to 16 terabyte).
User Interface and Usability
We modified the user interface in some major and minor ways. As much as possible, we try to follow Microsoft conventions
� Updated the look of the tool bars and buttons
� Added Tool Tips to the buttons (pointing at a button tells you its function)
� Nearly every dialog box was updated.
� New Ruler (similar to the one in Word 97/Word 2000).
� We've added a wizard for the Delimited import and for Entry Forms.
� Added Page indicator to Status bar (if auto-pagination is turned on).
� Added a Search Results windows to display the documents returned by a search.
File Menu
� File Properties menu lets you set options for your file, display statistics about your database, and enter summary information.
� We added a setting in the File Properties menu which lets you hide your field characters. With this setting "on", you do not see the ] character which ends a field or the field character which starts a field.
� Improved password security. We've added multi-level passwords to askSam files. This lets you use passwords to restrict access to certain portions of askSam. For example, you could allow a user to add and edit a database, but restrict him from editing reports and entry forms. You set passwords by choosing the Security button in the File Properties menu.
� Improved encryption. askSam now uses 56 bit encryption to encrypt databases. You can turn on encryption from the Security button on the File Properties menu.
� Changes and Additions to Importing (see Import dialog)
- Added Word 97, Word 2000 import filter
- Added Microsoft Access import filter
- Added Microsoft Excel import filter
- Added updated WordPerfect import filter
- Added ODBC import
- Added Wizard for importing delimited data
- Added Microsoft Outlook import filter
- Import files selected by date (e.g. files newer than...)
- Import function is in a DLL so you can program custom import filters
� Added more format support to HTML export (fonts, background colors, indents, and spacing)
� Added support for exporting long field in CSV export
Edit Menu
� The Find and Replace features in askSam
5 let you replace carriage returns and tabs -- in addition to replacing text.
� Added support for OLE 2.0 and in-place editing.
View Menu
� Added Goto dialog which lets you jump to a specific bookmark, document name (we now allow you to name documents), line number, page number, report, entry form, or mail merge document.
� An askSam file is now made up of the following document types:
- Data Documents (these are the standard records in your database)
- Entry Form Documents (we now allow multiple entry forms per database)
- Report Documents
- Mail Merge Documents
You can switch between document types via the VIEW - DOCUMENT TYPES menu, or by selecting the Document Type dropdown in the horizontal scroll bar. When you switch to another document type, you can use the First, Previous, Next, and Last buttons to move through the documents of that type. It makes it much easier to navigate and edit reports, entry forms, etc.
� Added BACK and FORWARD functions like in a Web browser. By pressing ALT+Left Arrow, you move to the document previously viewed. The ALT+Right Arrow key moves you in the opposite direction. This is similar to the BACK and FORWARD function in your browser.
� The History List now records all documents and files you access (not just the ones accessed via the Hypertext function.
Actions Menu
� Search Results window. When you search in askSam 5.0, a list of documents selected by your search is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on a document listed in the Search Results, displays that document in the top Window of your screen. The Search Results window remains open at the bottom of your screen until you close it. The Search Results window:
- Lets you to edit and delete documents and continue your search where you left off.
- Shows the number of hits in the database
- Shows the number of hits in each document
- Shows the context of the hit
- Shows any field or fields from the document
You can customize the Search Results windows to display specific fields as well as the hit context, number of hits, or other document information. These customized views can be saved and easily accessed from a drop down menu in the Search Results toolbar.
In addition, you can use the DEL key to delete documents that are listed in the Search Results dialog (the INS key undeletes deleted documents).
To try out the Search Results windows, simply enter a search. The Search Results window automatically opens. See the Sample Reports file for example of Search Results views.
� Support for parenthesis in Boolean search logic. askSam now lets you use parenthesis to create search expressions like:
red and (black or white) and blue
You can use parenthesis in the command line, the Boolean Search dialog, and the Advanced Search dialog.
� We modified the Search Multiple Files command. It now searches through multiple askSam files and returns a list of the files which contain your search request. You can click on these files and see the individual hits in the Search Results window.
� Stored Searches save frequently used searches and let you can execute these searches from the ACTIONS - STORED SEARCHES menu. You can also use them as the selection criteria for reports.
Document Menu
� askSam now supports multiple entry forms in your askSam file. For example, an address file could have a form for businesses and a different form for friends. A bibliographical file could have an entry form for books, one for magazines, one for newsletters, and Web sites.
You can have an unlimited number of Entry Forms in each file, and you define a name for each Entry Form.
Choosing DOCUMENT - ADD, inserts your default Entry Form. Choosing DOCUMENT - ADD OTHER will display a list of Entry Forms in the current file.
See the Bibliography database for an example of multiple entry forms in a file.
� Entry Forms can be added to a specific location in a file or inserted into an existing document. The location where an Entry Form is added or inserted can be saved with the Entry Form.
See the Bug Tracking Database for an example of inserting an Entry Form multiple times into a single document.
� askSam 4 lets you place fields in an Entry Forms using tabs. This lets you use proportional fonts in your Entry Forms without having the fields move as you enter data. This was a major request we had from version 3. See the Bug Tracking Database for an example.
� The new Entry Form Wizard makes is simple to set up Entry Forms.
� The Delete Duplicates command (Document - Delete Other - Delete Duplicates) lets you delete duplicates in two ways. You can have askSam automatically delete all duplicate records (without user verification), or you can have askSam list duplicate documents, and you can manually delete the appropriate documents.
� The View Deleted Documents command (Document - View Deleted Documents) lists deleted documents in the Search Results window. You can undelete a document by selecting it in the Search Results window and pressing INS (Insert) or choosing Document - Undelete.
� Changes to Bookmarks
- Increased the length of bookmark names to 256 characters
- Allow bookmarks to be renamed
- Added an icon for bookmarks so you can see where they are set
- Unlimited bookmarks per document (previously this was limited to 256)
� Changes to Hypertext
- Link directly to other askSam files (without inserting a bookmark)
- Added a link to document names
- Added a link to stored searches
- Added a link to Entry Forms (askSam 4 can add or insert multiple forms)
- Links to URLs now open your browser or email to execute. For example:
Go to www.4expertise.com
Email 4expertise
- Entering a URL or email address will automatically create a hypertext link
- Unlimited number of links per document (previously this was limited to 256)
- Added CTRL+K as shortcut key (like Microsoft Office)
- Added menu option DOCUMENT - CLEAR HYPERTEXT LINK
� Document Properties menu lets you set options, display statistics, and enter summary information about your document.
� Document Names can be set in the Document Properties menu. You can set hypertext links to a document name (rather than using a bookmark). You will also be able to display document names in the Search Results windows.
Reports
� Field names are inserted in the report layout as "Hot Fields". The field name will display followed by a button. Clicking on this button lets you modify the settings for this field. You can drag and drop these Hot Fields in your report layout.
� Fields in the report layout can be set on tabs. The fields can be output using the alignment form the tab (left, right, centered, or decimal).
� Page layout settings are saved with a report. This lets you define a report for a specific paper or label size and save all the settings with your report.
� The IF STATEMENT command lets you use IF STATEMENTS in your reports. See the Bibliography.ask file or the Sample Reports.ask file for examples.
� The Conditional Field setting in the Insert Field dialog, lets you output a field based upon a condition. See the Bibliography.ask file or the Sample Reports.ask file for examples.
We've added two types of IF statements to reports. A banded IF... and a conditional IF. The conditional IF works on a single field. For example: If a number field were greater than 70, you could have askSam output the text "above average". If the field were equal to 70, you could output "average". If the field were less than 70, you could output "below average".
The Banded IF affects more than a single field. For example, if the TYPE field contains book, you could output certain fields in a certain order. If the TYPE field contains journal, you could output other fields. See the Bibliography example file.
� The askSam 4 report writer supports bands for Headers, Footers, Group Footers, the Output Separator, and IF bands.
� Report links let you jump from a report to a specific document in your askSam database, by clicking on the data in the report. In askSam 4, you can save the report output, and the report links remain active.
� Stored searches can be used as the selection criteria for reports
� In the Report Properties dialog, you can set a background color for the report output.
� Added the ^i command which numbers items output in a report.
� Added a report setting which lets you select a field as "Required for Selection". askSam will only select documents in the report which have this field.
� Added a report setting which lets you set "Output All Occurrences" on a per field basis.
Format Menu
� Change from line based formatting to paragraph based formatting. This more closely corresponds to the way word processors work, and allowed us to implements styles.
� Modified the askSam Word Processor to support more than 100 fonts.
� Added Styles (Style Menu). Styles simplify formatting and add flexibility to the way you can modify the formatting of your database. askSam supports both Character and Paragraph based styles. Styles can be used in data documents as well as entry forms.
� Spacing Before and After paragraphs. The Paragraph menu lets you specify extra spacing to be added before or after a paragraph.
� The Line Spacing setting in the Paragraph menu, lets you specify an exact amount of space to place between lines (very important for printing forms).
� Added a "Bar" tab, a "Field" tab (for fields in Entry Forms), and leaders to the Tab menu.
� Added support for up to 16 million text colors
� Unlimited number of graphics and OLE objects per document (previous limit was 256).
� The askSam word processor can now scroll through large graphic images.
Tools Menu
� Added a new spell checker. The new spell checker offers more features than our previous one, and will give us the ability to offer dictionaries in other languages (German, French, Spanish, Dutch, and more).
� Improved the Pick List feature. You can create pick lists by importing text files. Makes it easy to set up large pick lists from texts you have in a spreadsheet, database, or word processor. You can export pick lists to text files (so you can edit them, or import them into other askSam databases). In addition, the pop up pick list window automatically resizes to display the longest item in your pick list.
� Improved the Tool bar customization. Added Drag and Drop support, tool tips, and multiple tool bars.
� Added keyboard customization. You can define a set of shortcut keys to access any askSam function.
� Automatic repagination setting added to the Options menu.
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