You should now be looking at the R:BASE window with the Database Explorer displayed. To confirm, you will see the main R:BASE caption read the "R:BASE 11", then your database name listed in square brackets, then "R:BASE Database Explorer" listed in square brackets.
•If you do not see your database listed in brackets, then connect to it now by selecting "Database" > "Connect to Database..." from the main Menu Bar. You will be prompted to locate your database files where they are stored on your computer. Once connected to your database, you will see the database name listed in the R:BASE 11 program caption, in brackets.
•If you do not see "R:BASE Database Explorer" listed in square brackets, then select the "Database Explorer" button on the main Tool Bar. It is the first button on the left and the hint displayed will read "Database Explorer".
At the Database Explorer window, you will see the "Navigator" listed on the left side of the window containing various menu options of R:BASE database modules (e.g. Tables, Views, Forms, etc.)
| 1. | Click on the Database Explorer button and choose "Forms" from the drop down menu (figure 1), then select the "Convert Form(s)..." menu option (figure 2). |
(figure 1) |
(figure 2) |
Upon selecting this option, a dialog will appear that may contain a list of the available forms to convert (figure 3). The forms listed are Windows-based forms that were created in a previous Windows version of R:BASE.
(figure 3)
| 2. | Individual forms can be selected and converted. Multiple forms can be converted by holding the [Ctrl] key and selecting individual form names. Or pressing the [Ctrl]+[A] keys will select all listed forms. Press the "OK" button to convert the selected forms. Conversion options include the ability to show errors, create a log file, and convert " into ' for form variables as check boxes. As the earlier steps advised to change the QUOTES setting from double quotes to an apostrophe, the last option will make legacy migrations much easier. |
The form(s) will convert and will be displayed in the Database Explorer.
| 3. | The database may contain DOS forms. Select the "DOS Forms" check box. The dialog may now contain a list of the available DOS forms to convert (figure 4). Any forms listed are DOS-based forms that were created in a previous DOS version of R:BASE. |
(figure 4)
| 4. | The "Properties" button provides a form conversion option to change single and double line characters to blank spaces, alter the Font (name, color, size, and style), Form Border (style and width), Form Background Color, Text (transparent), and Edit Objects (text color and background) (figure 5). |
(figure 5)
The following is an example of a form that was converted with the single and double line characters setting unchecked. This display may be beneficial in the conversion process to see how a form may have been divided into sections.
| 5. | Like with the Windows-based forms, the DOS forms can be individually selected and converted. Multiple forms can be converted by holding the [Ctrl] key and selecting individual form names. Or pressing the [Ctrl]+[A] keys will select all listed forms. Press the "OK" button to convert the selected forms. |
At this point, you can now enter the Form Designer to view and make changes to the forms. There are Issues and Suggestions to review for the converted forms. However, since many of the instructions below refer to specific control/object names and require a basic understanding of the Form Designer, it is recommended that you perform the conversions of the remaining modules (e.g. reports, labels), and then complete the R:BASE Tutorial before continuing.
From the Main Menu, choose "Help" > "R:BASE Tutorial". This tutorial covers step-by-step instructions on building a complete database and application from scratch providing the R:BASE relational logic as it adhere's to Dr. Codd's relational model. This is where one would learn how to quickly adapt to the R:BASE interface!
