URL: http://www.firstbasesoftware.com/man/man1/dbcat.htm
Last modified: 12 September 1995
Copyright © by FirstBase Software.
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If only one database is specified, dbcat(1) will ask for another database name. If an output file specifying the output database is not provided using the -o flag, dbcat(1) will ask for an output file name. The default name (achieved by hitting <RETURN> at the output file name prompt) is concat.
The -b flag will run the FirstBase tool in batch mode, suitable for shell scripts. This mode produces no output on the terminal, thus can also be used when running the process in the background. The -y flag will run the tool at the terminal without pausing to ask the user if existing files can be destroyed and without displaying a 'picture' of the requested task.
The first database dictionary dbcat(1) encounters is assumed to be the shape of all subsequent databases. Beyond checking that a file is actually a FirstBase database, no other error checking is done to determine whether the current database matches the size and shape of the first one. If a file is not a FirstBase database, an error message is given, and processing continues.
Note that dbcat(1) does not follow indexes, but concatenates all undeleted records of each database to the output database.
Dbcat(1) allows an interesting tool oriented approach to data entry and data base management systems. Users can create personal databases that all have the same shape or structure by using the same database dictionary. Then each can work on their own database independent of others. When all are done, the databases can be concatenated together to form the union of all the databases.
Note: dbclean(1) is automatically run at the completion of this program to create a map file for the new database.
FirstBase User's Guide and Reference Manual