PREP HLP
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.1
Prep -  Help Index
@11[ASCII delimited]
@14[DBF]
@3[Define]  
@10[File selection]  
@2[Input]  
@12[Long Records]
@4[Output]   
@13[No Returns]
.2
Prep -  Input Help
Monarch's input file can be any fixed format text file.  (These files are 
variously known as TXT files, formatted ASCII files, PRN files, RPT files, 
SDF files, etc.)  The following file types can also be used as input to 
Monarch, but require conversion with PREP:  

  - @11[Delimited ASCII]
  - @12[Long records].  
  - @13[No returns].  
  - @15[DBF files].  

@10[Select a file] to convert for use in Monarch.  Then select @3[Define] 
to specify the type of conversion.  

@1[Help Index] 
.3
Prep - Define Help
Your input file will be converted from one of the following file types:

   @11[ASCII delimited]
   @12[Long records]
   @13[No returns]
   @14[DBF]

The file will be converted to a fixed length ASCII file which can be used in 
Monarch.  After you define the conversion select @4[Output] from the main 
menu.   

.4
Prep - Output Help
The output file is the ASCII file being created for use by Monarch.  When
you select Output from the menu, PREP will list the directory you have 
selected as your output default in Monarch.  Select a file or type the 
filename and press [Enter].  	PREP will convert your file .  A new file will 
be created for use with Monarch and the input file will remain unchanged.  

@1[Help Index] @10[File selection]
.10
Prep -  File Selection Help
The file list box displays files found in Monarch's default input directory.  
Only files with the default extension are shown.   Subdirectories within 
the default directory are also listed. 

Procedure:    
1.  Type a file name. You don't need to type the extension.  Monarch 
    will use the extension specified in your defaults.
        or
    Choose an input file from the list.  

To see the files in a subdirectory, choose that subdirectory.  To move up 
the directory tree, press [BkSp].  To override the default path and 
extension, type a new path and extension.  

.11
Prep - Define ASCII delimited Help
PREP expands delimited files to fixed length files.  The delimiting 
characters and quotes surrounding character fields are discarded.

If you select ASCII delimited, PREP will prompt you for the delimiter 
character.  Enter the character that separates the fields in your file.  If 
it is an unprintable character like a tab, enter the character's decimal 
ASCII number preceded by "\". for example, TAB = \009.  

If the character fields in your file are surround by quotes, answer Y in 
response to, Are character fields "quoted"?  Press [F3] to accept your 
settings for conversion.  If the resulting records are longer than Monarch's 
maximum input line length of 256 character, PREP will create a multiple 
line record that will fit in Monarch.  

.12
Prep - Define Long records Help
Since Monarch has been optimized for report files which are designed for 
printing, it truncates lines longer than 256 characters.  PREP will break 
long lines into shorter segments which can then be treated as a multiple 
line detail.  

If you select Long records PREP will display the first record in the edit 
window.  Move the cursor to the beginning of a field where it is convenient 
to break the line and press [Enter] .  A counter at the upper right of the 
display will show you your character position.

If you want to remove a line feed, move to the end of the line and press 
[Del].  Pressing [F2] removes all line feeds.  Press [F3] to accept your 
definition for the conversion.  

.13
Prep - Define No Returns Help
In most fixed length data files, records end with a carriage return (CR) 
line feed (LF).  In some files the CR/LF is omitted.  The PREP utility 
allows you to break these files into detail lines which can be used in 
Monarch.  

The No returns option presents the file in a single line in the edit window.  
Move the cursor to the beginning of the second record and press [Enter].  
PREP will display several records aligned vertically.  If the fields do not 
appear in aligned columns, then you have not found the beginning of the 
second record.  Press [F2] and try again.  Press [F3] when the fields are 
correctly aligned.  

After you press [F3], if the records are longer than 256 characters, PREP 
will prompt you to break the record into shorter lines.  See Long records 
above.

.14
Prep - Define - DBF - Help
DBF files.  PREP converts DBF files to fixed length ASCII.  Memo fields are 
discarded.  Deleted records are retained and are marked with an asterisk (*) 
in the first character position.  You can exclude deleted records in 
Monarch.  Just set a trap that requires a blank in the first position.

.End
