@(#)README Mdb 1.9 97/06/23 (Linux Edition)
AUTHOR: Erland Hedman (erland@wrsec.fr)
INTRODUCTION:
Mdb is a Motif based Database Manager. It is oriented to
fulfill the needs of an organized address and phone book
utility that takes advantage of the freeware equivalent to
troff, "groff", the freeware PostScript Pretty Print utili-
ty "mp", and finally the ispell spell checker.
FEATURES:
A Motif based database manager intended to maintain
Phone Book and Address databases.
Multiple Folder and Layout Management.
Import and Export of databases in a simple TAB separat-
ed format that can be understood by other (PCs & MAC)
programs.
Export of address books in Netscape's HTML format.
Uses troff/groff to assist in Addressing Label print.
Uses "mp" to assist in formatting hard copy Phone Books
suitable for several predefined Personal Organizers.
Runs ispell as a part of the Motif application to check
and correct spelling errors. The spell checking is done
word for word as you type them into mdb's editors.
Built in Motif front-end for mail, mailx and sendmail,
complete with CC list dialogs, spell checking, save to
sent folder and inclusion of a signature file and uuen-
coded/compressed attachments.
The database is completely configurable by means of a
built in configurator.
BACKGROUND:
The original reason for developing this program was a need
for a simple address and phone book manager to fulfill the
authors need of a better organized environment in terms of
keeping this kind of information on-line, up to date and
easily maintained. The very first version did not have any
GUI at all, and was not intended to be distributed to the
world. However, the application started to grow as new fea-
tures were added, and the need of an efficient user inter-
face became obvious. This situation challenged me to take
my first step into Motif Programming technique, and the re-
sult was `mdb', which simply reads: "Motif-database". Al-
though it should be understood that I in my daily profes-
sion, are not a database programmer, nor a Motif applica-
tion programmer, I still hope you can find it useful some-
how. In any case I want to take the opportunity to communi-
cate my enthusiasm of Motif programming which I found un-
usually stimulating and fun, partly due to the high reward
in terms of gained functionality as new features were
added. Since I am working within a market organization as a
Systems Support Engineer, the functionality of mdb is ori-
ented to, or perhaps limited to the needs within my hori-
zons as a Customer Support Engineer.
LITERATURE REFERENCES:
Motif Programming Manual Volume Six.
OSF/Motif Programmer's Reference, Release 1.2.
OSF/Motif Style Guide, Release 1.2.
INTERNATIONALIZATION:
Mdb Version 1.9 is tested in the "C" and "sv" (Sweden) Lo-
cales. In order to add other locales there may be some unix
to Mac/PC character translation needed to be done (if you
want to exchange data with those) in the following modules:
import.c, export.c and print.c.
For non "C" locales, "groff" (as opposed to troff) is high-
ly recommended. See GROFF switch in print.c.
The Addressing Label Print routine defaults to metric val-
ues as exposed by the Scales.
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT:
Unix System V, Release 3, R32V2. SYSV, USG.
Unix System V, Release 4, R40V4. SVR4.
Solaris 2.4 (SunOS 5.4).
Linux 2.0.30 (RedHat)
GNU gcc version 2.7.2.
GDB version 4.16, DDD version 2.1.1 on top of GDB.
Editor vi, later VIM (a vi clone with Motif GUI)
Motif Version 1.2.2, 1.2.3 and 2.0.0.
mp Version 3.3.2
groff Version 1.10.
ispell version 3 and 4.
USAGE:
mdb -layout <ResourceFile> -hrz
Where:
ResourceFile: - The mdb database layout.
hrz: - Horizontal orientation.
Defaults: ResourceFile = Mdb. Orientation = Vertical.
TO BUILD AND TEST:
$ mmkmf
$ make
$ make install
The configuration files and the database files installs in
/usr/local/lib/mdb and in $HOME/.mdb according to defines
in the Imakefile template. Mdb uses built in values for
"XFILESEARCHPATH" and "XUSERFILESEARCHPATH", and they de-
faults to the above mentioned installation directories +
current working directory for config files.
$ mdb &
If mdb starts successfully, go to the Folder meny and se-
lect a folder and make it writable. Then you could try to
use the File->ImportDB to import the test database file
"testdb.tab". Now you can start to exercise the features of
mdb.
Try to print the manual pages by using the "Help->Index"
button.
Please use the <Help> and F1 buttons extensively. There is
help attached to almost any widget. Also buttons within
menu cascades gives help by using the `help on context'
(the F1 key) action.
There is one bonus application included here: smterm.c. It
is used to exercise the pseudo terminal functionality. This
application uses ListTree.c. ListTree is copyrighted by
Robert W. McMullen, under the terms defined in the file LI-
CENSE.
TO BE DONE:
Overall database improvements, especially performance im-
provements when collecting items for print. You can keep
the size of folders reasonable simply by defining a new one
in the configurator. Approximately 1K to 1.7K items per
folder should be resonable in most cases on a local file
system.
KNOWN PROBLEMS:
Should not be used with pre 1.2.2 versions of Motif.
Uncomplete alphabetic sorting on machines not supporting 8
bit characters (non C locales only).
Motif Version 1.2.2 does not handle Shared Text Source in
Scrolled Text Widgets well. This problem seems to be par-
ticular for Solaris 2.x, and it will cause a crash of mdb
when the Remarks and Email dialogs are dismissed. Undef
SHARED_SOURCE, or install the latest SUN Motif patches.
See `SHARED_SOURCE' in edit.c and mail.c
Attached child applications (ispell) are controlled by
means of a slave pseudo-terminal device. This part of the
application is tested on SUN Solaris 2.x and Linux only,
but should run on other SVR4 machines. If you want to dis-
able this feature, undef TTYMON in the Imakefile.
See ttymon.c, smterm.c
With the fvwm window manager, placement of dialogs may not
be as expected if the fvwm resource "NoPPosition" is on.
COPYRIGHT:
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this
software and its documentation is hereby granted with-
out fee, provided that the above copyright notice ap-
pear in all copies and that both that copyright notice
and this permission notice appear in supporting docu-
mentation. The author makes no representations about
the suitability of this software for any purpose. It is
provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.
DISCLAIMER:
THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS
SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MER-
CHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR
BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS
OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CON-
TRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS
SOFTWARE.
Erland Hedman (erland@wrsec.fr).
