Databases
XTree has a viewer for dBase III and IV .DBF files. It can also be used with other database programs which use the same format, e.g. Foxpro. The formatted view shows one record per line, with the top line showing the field names. All fields are shown: there is no facility to show only selected fields.
The column width allocated to each field is the larger of field width and field name. This means that frequently the display is very much wider than one screen, and horizontal scrolling is necessary. The horizontal arrow keys move the display by the usual two characters, as in most other XTree View modes, but in addition you can scroll by one field at a time using the Tab key: Tab to scroll right, shift-Tab to scroll left. When scrolling vertically, the top line showing the field names does not scroll, remaining visible at all times.
Individual records or groups of records may be extracted and moved to a separate file, or to the printer, by keying G (Gather). This will copy only complete records, and you cannot include the top (field name) line.
To view the database structure, key S; this opens a window showing the structure, i.e. field name, type, width, in a scrollable list. As a consequence you cannot use S as an alternative for F9 to start a search.
If you know the record number of a particular record, you can jump straight to it by using F2.
Spreadsheets
XTree Gold has viewers for Lotus 123, Excel and Quattro spreadsheet files. Cell co-ordinates are shown on the top line and down the left margin, while the second line gives the co-ordinates of the highlighted cell and its contents: where a cell contains a calculated value, this shows the formula.
To scroll horizontally, both the arrow and tab keys move by one cell at a time. The co-ordinates in the top line and left margin change to follow horizontal and vertical scrolling.
G (Gather) may be used to copy the contents of a cell, or a block of cells of any size, to a file or the printer. To jump to a particular cell, key F2 and the co-ordinates. Use F9 for a text search; S is not available as an alternative.
Tom Ruben