   Short FAQ about ViewDBF v3.8

  1) What is it?
  This plugin allow you to view structure and data of file-based DataBases.
It means one file = one table. For example, some old DB like dBase, Clipper,
FoxPro, etc based on the DBF files. Even VisualFoxPro from Visual Studio
use it.

  2) Why did I write it?
  My job now is to maintain big project on Clipper and convert data from
hundreds of DBFs into modern DB. DBU.EXE is a good tool, but usualy I need
to view structure of DBF only and don't need to browse... So I decide to
write this small tool.

  3) It doesn't work!
  As you can see above, in the most I work with DBF from Clipper. I won't
surprised if this plugin will not understand your DBF. If you have such "bad"
table, reduce it's size to 5-20 records and send it to me. Perhaps I'll fix
this problem. Also, I'll be glad if you send me format description of your DB.

  4) How to work with it, I try F11, F3 and???
  Very simple - select your DBF, and press Enter or (Ctrl+PgDn). You will
open DBF as a folder where each DBF's field is a file. Now you can see
structure, browse data with or without sorting, and even export data to CSV.
  If you like to use F3 key. You can add to file associations (read FAR
documentation how to do it) command "ViewDBF:!.!". It will open browse
window with default plugin settings. With all fields in their normal order
and without sorting data.

  5) I want to browse several fields simultaniously, but plugin shows me
     only one field.
  Try to select fields you want to browse/export with Insert key.

  6) I need to change some data in DBF.
  Sorry, but I am sure you have some special programs for this. Even your own
projects. Plugin ViewDBF is designed only for view, not for modify DBF. And
this is my last word, don't ask me about EditDBF please.

  7) FAR died!
  Don't panic, look at the version of your FAR. My plugin works only with FAR
version 1.70b3 or greater, not 1.70b2 or less!

  8) Where to send bugreports, messages, etc?
  E-mail: siberianowl@yahoo.com
  Fido:   George Brink 2:5004/6.500


Short history:
 v1.0
        First release.
 v1.1
      + Display the type of table
      + Now we can read DBF from Visual FoxPro (0x30)
      + In the structure we have new column Pos - field position from the
        begining of record.
 v2.0
     * Totaly rewritten. Changed all inner structure. Now we can add new
       formats with different headers.
     * Data in table is showing now through editor.
     + Export data to CSV.

 v2.1
     + Alert message if user press F3 (Browse) but table is empty.
     + Painting active cell
     - Fixed bug in export to CSV - didn't work with 8-bit characters.
     + Now we now format 0xF5 - FoxPro 2.* with memo.
     - Fixed Integer type of data in FoxPro tables.
     * This text now exists only in English... Sorry ;-)

 v2.2
     - ESC is usable to abort long output operations. At last I found this
       bug! :-)
     * Some speed-up and cosmetic changes
     + Added lock to the view of data.
     * Active cell now shown through stream block.
     + Ctrl+C/Ctrl+Ins now copy current cell in clipboard.
     + Sorting data in all output operations
     + Added column "Recno" to a browse mode

 v2.3
     - Some garbage in 'Add field to sort list'
     * Configuration menu
     * Predefined date formats changed to one custom format
     + Mark deleted records with asterisk
     * Column Recno in browse mode is now optional
     + Added 'plugin prefix', now you can add to file associates command
       ViewDBF:!.!

 v3.0
     * For browsing data we will use viewer, not editor!
       It also means - no active cells, no colors, and many others.
       But... much more speed! A lot of changes in inner structure.
       Totaly removed editor related code.
     + Optional field names in browse mode

 v3.1
     + New DBF format - 0x8B, "dBase IV with memo". I am not sure about
       correct name for this format. It is produced by MS Access 97 then
       you trying to export tables with memo fields to format dBase IV
       or dBase 5.
     + Name of table in the header of viewer (browse mode)
     * Viewer starts after loading DBF in memory. Data is sorting and text
       formating in background process.
     + Automatic reread header and data of DBF if table was changed by
       other process.
     + Ctrl+R - reread header of DBF.

 v3.2
     * Clipper can produce dBase3 DBF with charecter field length - 64K
     * Now, when we open DBF for reading, it opens with
       FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_WRITE. It was - FILE_SHARE_READ only
     + New format - dBase7
     + Symbols with code 0x09 and 0x0D, inside character field, converted
       to 0xFF in browse mode

 v3.3
     * One terrible bug with memory.

 v3.4
     * Some speed-up and cosmetic changes
     - Several minor bugs
     * Minimum FAR 1.70 beta 3 !
     * Fixed start from plugin menu.
     + Behavior in command line changed a lot!
       Command `ViewDBF:!.!` opens not plugin panel, but run viewer with
       full DBF data, default browse settings, all fields, no sorting. 

 v3.5
     - Export to CSV to a file with differnt name
     - Fixed export to CSV numeric values with decimal point
     + If we have not any selected fields and cursor is on the ".." - auto
       select all fields for browse mode.
     - Sometimes viewer fails with message "Could not open ..."

 v3.6
     - If the browse file is the only one file in %TMP% at the end of
       browse - viewer can kill %TMP% directory. Very rare problem... Fixed.
     * Title of FAR window now shows name of DBF, not a name of temporary
       file.

 v3.7
     + New option in configuration: Field separator for browse mode. By
       default symbol is: '' ASCII(179)

 v3.8
     * Some cosmetic
     + DateTime field in FoxPro dbfs.
       Warning! Plugin doesn't show the dates before January 1st year 1 AD.
     + New formats - *.FRX and *.PJX as FoxPro DBF
