Searchable Knowledge Base Version 3.0.2
=======================================

The purpose of this program is to store and then enable flexible retrieval 
of pieces of information from a database.

This program was developed after I got sick and tired of rummaging through 
folders full of paper for that small tid bit that I wrote down what seemed 
like an eternity ago.

The program has 3 sorting/filing fields - a Major Topic, Minor Topic and 
Sub Topic.  There is a field for entering key words and then a big memo field 
for detailed entry of your piece of information.


Installation V3.0.2
-------------------

Unzip the file into any directory and run Setup.exe

If you downloaded the complete install:

This will install the program, the data files and the Borland Database Engine, 
an interface to the Paradox tables used to store the data.

If you downloaded the program files only:

This will install the program, the data files only.  There is an assumption that
you already have the Borland Database Engine on your machine.

This program is supported from a web page:

http://shareware.sjwales.net


Upgrading to Version 3 from an earlier release
----------------------------------------------
If you are an existing user of Version 1 or 2 of the program, you will need to 
take a couple of extra steps.  Before extracting the files from their archive 
copy your existing data files and back them up.  Take an extra copy and 
call the files olddata.* and leave them in the data directory.

i.e. from a DOS window do:

copy knowledge.* olddata.*

There are another pair of files in the data directory, named 'temp.*'.  
It is not necessary to rename or copy these files - they are not 
converted as a part of this release.

Now, extract the new, empty data files into the data directory and the 
program file, DLL and help files into the program directory.

Running the program for the first time will prompt you to run the 
conversion routine and optionally remove the old files when done.


Licensing
---------

This program is shareware.  The registration fee is $10 in United States 
currency.  The help file and the license.txt file contain more information 
about licensing.  Send email to Steve.Wales@mincom.com or sjwales@attbi.com
for more information about registering this software.

I can accept Visa Card and Mastercard payments through PayPal.com.  Please
visit the following URL:

https//secure.paypal.com/refer/pal=sjwales%40attbi.com

I would appreciate it if you would register within 30 days of first using 
the product if you intend to keep it.


Distribution
------------

This program is freely distributable.  Send to anyone as long as the full 
contents of the zip file are sent in an unmodified form.


Home Page
---------

This program will be distributed in the future via announcements in Usenet 
newsgroup comp.os.ms-windows.announce (and upload to SimTel.Net) as well as 
at my web page at http://shareware.sjwales.net


Requirements
------------

This program requires a Microsoft Windows 32 bit operating system in order 
to run.  The program was developed under Windows 95, but should also run 
under Windows 98, Windows NT and Windows 2000.

You need a minimum resolution of 800x600 to fit the forms on the screen.

Packing List V3.0.2
-------------------
KNOWBASE.EXE         - Executable
KNOWBASE.HLP         - Help File
KNOWBASE.CNT         - Help Table of Contents
README.TXT           - This File
LICENSE.TXT          - Licensing Information
UNZDLL.DLL           - DLL to control unzipping files

DATA\KNOWLEDGE.DB    +
DATA\KNOWLEDGE.PX    |
DATA\KNOWLEDGE.MB    |
DATA\KNOWLEDGE.FAM   +- The database files.
DATA\KNOWLEDGE.TV    |
DATA\TEMP.DB         |
DATA\TEMP.PX         +

There is also an assortment of .htm files that will reside in a directory
called Help.

Plus assorted files from Borland's Database Engine that will end up in the
c:\Program Files\Borland directory.

Packing List V3.0.2 Upgrade
---------------------------
See above.  Since the update consists of added functionality and database 
changes, all files are redistributed.

Bug Reporting, Enhancement Requests and Troubleshooting
-------------------------------------------------------

Please contact the author, Stephen Wales at Steve.Wales@mincom.com or
sjwales@attbi.com.


Revision History
----------------

Version 1.0 - 01/05/99

Initial Release


Version 1.1 - 02/04/99

Make View the default button on the results form
For the Attach File Dialog on the insert form, make
  the following changes:  Default to c:\ as the starting
  directory, change the title from 'Open' to 'Attach
  Linked Document', set up a list of available filters
For the Attach File Dialog on the update form, make
  the following changes:  change the title from 'Open'
  to 'Attach Linked Document', set up a list of available
  filters for file types and default the open dialog
  initial file and directory to the file listed in the
  Linked Document box, if there is one, else c:\
If closing the following forms via highlighting the OK
  or Close button and pressing enter, it would invoke a
  blank search.  Fixed this error.  Forms affected:
  Options, Help, Contact the Author
Allow a web URL to be stored as a linked document.
Added a registry setting to set the current program version
  and warn the user that they have a new version in case
  data conversion is necessary.  The user will not see this
  the very first time they ever run this program, regardless
  of the program version.
Fixed error in Registration Code Logic so that if an incorrect
  key is somehow stored in the registry, it will still keep
  the program marked as unregistered
If, when viewing a record, you press update and then change the
  topic values, drop back to the results grid instead of
  returning to a blank view screen.
If the results grid is empty and you double click on it, you will
  be told that there are no records to review.
Added Print functionality.  Can print to the Windows Default
  printer or save to a file of the user's choice.  Print only
  available from the detail view form at this stage.


Version 1.1.1 - 03/23/99

If invoking the save button on the update form via alt-s
  the saves were not made because the focus had not left
  the memo field.


Version 1.1.2 - 06/10/99

Shortcut printing to Control-P


Version 1.2 - 08/05/99

Remove use of .INI file and place information in the Windows
  Registry
Allow user defined location of data files from the options form.
When closing the Results form, Refresh the Search form topic
  drop downs then, displaying a message on the Results form
  Status bar.
Made the refresh of the topic drop downs options (see options
  form) on close of results form or after an insert.
Implement optional case insensitive searches.  You can do it
  either way, case sensitive is faster, but either way works.


Version 1.2.1 - 08/07/99

Fix Minor bug with case insensitive search.  If one of the
  topic categories was blank, then that row would not be
  returned.


Version 1.2.2 - 08/09/99

Fixed a Minor Memory Leak.


Version 1.2.3 - 09/09/99

On update and insert forms, after the record is saved,
  disable the linked document field along with all the
  other fields, re-enabling it as required through the ;
  life of the form


Version 1.2.4 - 12/07/99

Was getting List Index Out of Bounds on Insert of a new
  record.
Same was happening on Update of an existing record.


Version 1.2.5 - 01/01/00

A bug was discovered where if the Paradox alias was in the BDE
  config, when it went to change it (which it always did, even
  if the path in the registry (from View/Options) was the same
  as the path in the BDE config, then the modify failed because
  the modify was using the wrong alias name (Doh!)
Also changed it so that it only attempts to modify the alias if
  the alias name is different to the registry name.
Non Registered users who have passed their evaluation period
  now also have to wait longer for the program to start.  It
  is still fully functional otherwise - it just takes a bit
  longer to load.


Version 1.3.0 - 08/27/00

Added support for multi user access to the database.


Version 2.0.0 - 08/29/00

Changed the Splash and About forms to grab version information
  from the compiler version information instead of having to
  hard code it onto each form.
Added capability to email a tip to someone.
Added ability to specify a specific file within a Zip File to
  be connected to the Linked Document.  Added to Insert Form,
  Update Form and Review Form.
Changed Database to store File from Zip file.  Added conversion
  logic to startup in order to automatically convert from old
  file format to new file format.  Optionally delete old files
  at completion of conversion.
Move all Data Access components to a newly created Data Module in order
  to centralize data access points.
Modified Help File to bring it in line with all of the newest
  changes.
Updated Icon to reflect Version 2.
Update About Form to include a hot link to the web page.


Version 2.0.1 - 09/06/00

Internal correction to point code to the UNZDLL.DLL in the
  Application executable directory rather that in the
  C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.
Changed conversion logic for database conversions to that
  it only does it if major version changes.


Version 2.0.2. - 09/15/00

Changed the test and setting of the BDE Local Share flag.
  Check the status directly from the registry and update
  it's status by a write to the registry.
Changed to warn if a file exists in the TEMP directory when
  trying to unzip a file for viewing.


Version 2.1.0 - 09/21/00

Added ability to import multiple facts at the same time via
  use of a preformatted input file.  Input is validated before
  load and once all is valid, load can proceed.
  (This was never finished at this release - only partially
   implemented)


Version 2.1.1 - 12/08/00

Inconsistent usage of the Database Alias - program was auto creating
  'Knowbase' when DataModule was looking for 'KBASE'.  Synchronized
  these


Version 2.2.0 - 02/08/01

Finish code started with version 2.1.0 - give ability to import
  multiple facts simultaneously from a preformatted input file.
Correct a bug where when sending an email to the author would allow
  you to send the message even without the return address specified.
Change the author contact address from stephenw@na.mincom.com to
  Steve.Wales@tequinox.com.
Add a timer for unregistered users that sends a nag message every
  2 minutes to remind them to register if the trial period has expired.

Version 2.2.1 - 03/13/01

If going to load an input file and Cancel is hit on the input file
  dialog, don't display the load errors form, just cancel it and
  return to the main form.


Version 2.2.2 - 03/15/01

Added DbiSaveChanges API call after posts to the table in order to
  ensure that all buffers were flushed and written to the table in
  order to help offset any possible data corruption.
Found a bug in searching.  If none of the three major keys are
  selected in search (only enter a detail text token to search on)
  and there is a record in the database with no major topic entered
  then it would return a message for a badly constructed SQL statement.


Version 2.2.3 - 03/22/01

Fixed a minor memory leak


Version 2.2.4 - 07/30/01

When trying to view a file contained in a zip file by double clicking
  on the file name in zip file (does that make sense?) it would start
  a process to view it but it was hidden.  Fixed that.


Version 2.2.5 - 12/18/01

Changed the URL of the website.


Version 3.0.0 - 02/08/02

Made the date of the last compile appear as the date on the splash and
  about forms.
Provide Support for multiple database locations from one client.
Added new option under View menu to tell you which database you are
  connected to.


Version 3.0.1 - 02/26/02

When multiple databases are present, allow selection of one (on the options
  Form) to be the default.  If one is tagged as the default, load that one
  automatically at startup - don't ask, just do it!
Rename Menu option 'Import' to 'Database'
Add new option 'Select New Database' in order to change the active database
  without having to stop and start the program.
Added new button to Results form - Export - to export the data to a text file
  in the same format expected by the import process - allows for sharing of
  data between databases for the program.
Converted help from Windows Help to HTML based forms.
Updated Autoconvert to cater for new Data Field
Changed the main text field from Memo to Rich Edit and provide Font Support.


Version 3.0.2 - 03/12/02

Had to replace the Control key for Color from Ctrl-C (Copy) to Ctrl-R on the
  Update & Insert screens.
When selecting the menu option to select a new database from the Search form,
  have it default to the current selection, rather than the first one in the
  list.


Thanks for trying the program.  I appreciate your registrations.

Stephen Wales
Steve.Wales@mincom.com
sjwales@attbi.com
AIM: AussieScum
ICQ: 2321167
Thursday, March 14, 2002.