FirstBase: DBUGEN(1)

URL: http://www.firstbasesoftware.com/man/man1/dbugen.htm
Last modified: 12 September 1995
Copyright © by FirstBase Software.
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NAME

dbugen - generate updates within a FirstBase database

SYNOPSIS

dbugen [-b] [-y] [-d database] [-i index]

DESCRIPTION

Dbugen generates updates within a FirstBase database using an update dictionary defined via dbdupd(1). This update dictionary is used to determine the new value of each of the fields processed. Fields not mentioned in the update dictionary are not modified.

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.

Dbugen(1) first displays an image of the updates that will occur. The user has a chance to abort here. All updates are done in place, directly into the current database.

Dbugen(1) can change selected fields of selected records on a global basis. Any field can be cleared out, alphanumeric fields can be replaced, and numeric oriented fields (numeric, float, dollar) can actually be formulated during updates. See dbdupd(1) for more update details.

FILES

dbase: default name for the FirstBase database.
index: default name for the FirstBase index.
*.?dict: dictionary for FirstBase dbase or index.
*.idictu: dictionary for update generator.
*.cdb: FirstBase database.
*.idx: FirstBase index.

DIAGNOSTICS

For those of you who are more tool oriented, dbdupd(1) and dbugen(1) effectively implement a macro processor, complete with argument macros, for the FirstBase.

This tool uses a FirstBase index to process the database in a particular order. If this index is detected to be out of date or non-existent, it is regenerated automatically.