dBase 3 Plus: A Classic Database Management System for DOS
If you are a fan of retro computing or nostalgic about the old days of DOS, you might have heard of dBase 3 Plus. It was one of the most popular database management systems (DBMS) for CP/M and MS-DOS in the 1980s and early 1990s. It was widely used for creating, managing, and manipulating data files, as well as developing custom applications and programs. In this article, we will explore what dBase 3 Plus is, how to download and install it for free, and how to use it.
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What is dBase 3 Plus?
The history and features of dBase 3 Plus
dBase 3 Plus was developed by Ashton-Tate, a software company founded by George Tate and Hal Lashlee in 1980. It was based on an earlier product called Vulcan, which was created by Wayne Ratliff in 1979. Vulcan was inspired by JPLDIS, a DBMS developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Vulcan was later renamed to dBase II, and then to dBase III in 1984. dBase III introduced many new features, such as a character-based menu system, a built-in programming language called dBASE Programming Language (dBL), and support for multiple data types, indexes, relations, and queries. In 1985, Ashton-Tate released dBase III Plus, which added more features, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), a report generator, a form designer, a spell checker, a calculator, and a calendar. dBase III Plus was also compatible with other DBMS products, such as FoxBASE, Clipper, Paradox, and R:BASE.
The advantages and disadvantages of dBase 3 Plus
dBase 3 Plus had many advantages that made it a successful product in its time. Some of these advantages were:
It was easy to learn and use, especially with the menu system and the GUI.
It was powerful and flexible, allowing users to create and manipulate data files with various commands and functions.
It was versatile and customizable, enabling users to develop their own applications and programs with dBL.
It was portable and compatible, running on various platforms and systems, such as CP/M, MS-DOS, Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, VMS, OS/2, and Novell NetWare.
It had a large user base and a strong support community, with many books, magazines, newsletters, forums, user groups, conferences, training courses, and third-party add-ons available.
However, dBase 3 Plus also had some disadvantages that limited its potential and popularity. Some of these disadvantages were:
It was slow and buggy, especially when handling large or complex data files.
It was incompatible and inconsistent, causing errors or conflicts when working with different versions or formats of data files.
It was outdated and obsolete, lagging behind newer technologies and standards, such as SQL, relational databases, object-oriented programming, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), client-server architectures, and networked environments.
It was expensive and restrictive, costing hundreds of dollars per license and requiring a per-machine runtime.
It had a poor reputation and a declining market share, suffering from negative reviews, legal disputes, piracy issues, competition from other products (such as Microsoft Access, FoxPro, and Paradox), and a series of unsuccessful upgrades and acquisitions (such as dBase IV, dBase V, and Visual dBase).
How to download and install dBase 3 Plus for free?
The legal and ethical issues of downloading dBase 3 Plus
Before you decide to download and install dBase 3 Plus for free, you should be aware of the legal and ethical issues involved. dBase 3 Plus is not a freeware or an open source software. It is a commercial software that is protected by intellectual property rights and licensing agreements. Downloading, installing, or using dBase 3 Plus without a valid license or permission from the owner or the publisher is considered illegal and unethical. It may violate the terms of service, the end-user license agreement, the copyright law, or the trademark law. It may also expose you to potential risks, such as malware, viruses, spyware, or phishing. Therefore, you should only download and install dBase 3 Plus from authorized sources and with proper authorization.
The sources and steps for downloading dBase 3 Plus
If you have a legal and ethical reason to download and install dBase 3 Plus for free, such as for educational, research, or historical purposes, you may find some sources that offer it online. However, you should be careful and cautious when choosing a source, as some of them may be unreliable, untrustworthy, or unsafe. You should also check the compatibility and quality of the download file, as some of them may be corrupted, incomplete, or modified. Here are some possible sources and steps for downloading dBase 3 Plus:
One source is the Internet Archive (archive.org), a non-profit digital library that preserves and provides access to historical software, books, music, videos, and web pages. You can search for "dBase III Plus" on the website and find several versions of dBase 3 Plus available for download. You can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences, such as the language, the format, or the size. You can then click on the download button and save the file to your computer.
Another source is WinWorld (winworldpc.com), a website that offers a collection of abandonware and pre-release software. Abandonware is software that is no longer supported or sold by its owner or publisher. Pre-release software is software that is not officially released or finalized by its developer. You can browse the website by category or by platform and find "dBase III Plus" under the "Database" category or the "DOS" platform. You can then select the version that you want to download and click on the download link. You can either download the file directly or use a torrent client to download it.
A third source is OldVersion.com (oldversion.com), a website that provides old versions of various software for free. You can search for "dBase III Plus" on the website and find several versions of dBase 3 Plus available for download. You can compare the features and specifications of each version and choose the one that meets your requirements. You can then click on the download link and save the file to your computer.
The requirements and instructions for installing dBase 3 Plus
After you have downloaded dBase 3 Plus from a reliable source, you need to install it on your computer. However, since dBase 3 Plus is an old software that was designed for CP/M and MS-DOS operating systems, you may encounter some difficulties or challenges when installing it on modern computers that run Windows, Linux, Mac OS, or other operating systems. Therefore, you need to meet some requirements and follow some instructions to install dBase 3 Plus successfully.
One requirement is to have a DOS emulator or a virtual machine on your computer. A DOS emulator is a software that simulates or mimics the functions of a DOS environment on your computer. A virtual machine is a software that creates or runs a virtual computer within your computer. Both of them allow you to run DOS programs or applications on your computer without affecting your main operating system or hardware. Some examples of DOS emulators are DOSBox (dosbox.com), vDos (vdos.info), and DOSEMU (dosemu.org). Some examples of virtual machines are VirtualBox (virtualbox.org), VMware (vmware.com), and QEMU (qemu.org).
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Another requirement is to have a copy of MS-DOS or another compatible DOS variant on your computer. MS-DOS is an operating system that was developed by Microsoft in 1981 for IBM-compatible personal computers. It was widely used until Windows 95 replaced it in 1995. MS-DOS is still available from Microsoft as part of Windows XP or Windows Vista in the form of a command-line interface or a disk image. You can also use another compatible DOS variant, such as FreeDOS (freedos.org), DR-DOS (drdos.com), or PC-DOS (ibm.com). You need to have a copy of MS-DOS or another DOS variant on your computer to run dBase 3 Plus on a DOS emulator or a virtual machine.
Once you have met the requirements, you can follow these instructions to install dBase 3 Plus on your computer:
Create a folder on your computer to store the dBase 3 Plus files. For example, you can create a folder named "DBASE3" on your C: drive.
Extract the downloaded dBase 3 Plus file to the folder you created. You may need to use a file compression or extraction software, such as WinZip (winzip.com), WinRAR (rarlab.com), or 7-Zip (7-zip.org), to extract the file. You should see several files in the folder, such as DBASE.EXE, DBASE.HLP, DBASE.OVL, and DBASE.COM.
Launch the DOS emulator or the virtual machine on your computer. You may need to configure some settings, such as the memory size, the CPU speed, the sound card, the video card, and the keyboard layout, to optimize the performance and compatibility of the DOS emulator or the virtual machine.
Mount the folder that contains the dBase 3 Plus files as a virtual drive on the DOS emulator or the virtual machine. For example, if you are using DOSBox, you can type "mount c c:\dbase3" in the command prompt and press Enter. This will make the C: drive on the DOS emulator or the virtual machine point to the C:\DBASE3 folder on your computer.
Change the current directory to the virtual drive that contains the dBase 3 Plus files. For example, if you mounted the folder as C: drive, you can type "c:" in the command prompt and press Enter. This will make C: drive the current directory.
Run the dBase 3 Plus executable file. For example, if you extracted the file as DBASE.EXE, you can type "dbase" in the command prompt and press Enter. This will launch dBase 3 Plus on your computer.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation process. You may need to enter some information, such as your name, your company name, your serial number, and your installation options. You may also need to reboot your computer after the installation is finished.
How to use dBase 3 Plus?
The basics of dBase 3 Plus commands and syntax
After you have installed dBase 3 Plus on your computer, you can start using it to create and manipulate data files. A data file in dBase 3 Plus is a file that contains one or more records of data. Each record consists of one or more fields of data. Each field has a name, a type, and a size. For example, you can create a data file named CUSTOMER.DBF that contains records of customer information. Each record may have fields such as NAME (character type, 20 characters), ADDRESS (character type, 30 characters), PHONE (character type, 10 characters), and BALANCE (numeric type, 8 digits).
To create and manipulate data files in dBase 3 Plus, you need to use commands and syntax that follow certain rules and conventions. A command is a word or a phrase that tells dBase 3 Plus what action to perform. A syntax is a set of symbols and rules that define how to write a command. For example, to create a data file named CUSTOMER.DBF with four fields named NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, and BALANCE, you can use this command and syntax:
CREATE CUSTOMER (NAME C(20), ADDRESS C(30), PHONE C(10), BALANCE N(8))
This command tells dBase 3 Plus to create a data file named CUSTOMER with four fields. The parentheses enclose the field definitions. The field name is followed by a space and then by a field type and size in parentheses. The field types are C for character and N for numeric. The field sizes are numbers that indicate how many characters or digits can be stored in each field.
Some other examples of commands and syntax in dBase 3 Plus are:
USE CUSTOMER
This command tells dBase 3 Plus to open and use an existing data file named CUSTOMER.
APPEND BLANK
REPLACE NAME WITH "John Smith", ADDRESS WITH "123 Main Street", PHONE WITH "555-1234", BALANCE WITH 100
This command tells dBase 3 Plus to replace the values of the fields in the current record with the specified values. The field name is followed by a space and then by the word WITH and then by a value in quotation marks or a number.
LIST NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, BALANCE
This command tells dBase 3 Plus to display the values of the specified fields for all records in the current data file. The field names are separated by commas.
The examples of dBase 3 Plus applications and programs
In addition to creating and manipulating data files, you can also use dBase 3 Plus to develop your own applications and programs. An application is a collection of data files, commands, functions, and procedures that perform a specific task or function. A program is a sequence of commands, functions, and procedures that are executed by dBase 3 Plus. You can use dBL, the built-in programming language of dBase 3 Plus, to write your own applications and programs. dBL is a structured, procedural, and interpreted language that supports variables, data types, operators, expressions, statements, control structures, functions, procedures, arrays, and files.
To write an application or a program in dBL, you need to use a text editor or a word processor to create a text file that contains your code. You can use any text editor or word processor that can save files in ASCII format, such as Notepad, WordPad, or WordStar. You need to save your file with a .PRG extension, such as CUSTOMER.PRG. You can then run your file from dBase 3 Plus by using the DO command. For example, if you have a file named CUSTOMER.PRG in the same folder as your data file CUSTOMER.DBF, you can type "DO CUSTOMER.PRG" in the command prompt and press Enter. This will execute your file and run your application or program.
Here are some examples of applications and programs that you can write in dBL:
A program that calculates the total balance of all customers in the CUSTOMER.DBF data file:
USE CUSTOMER TOTAL = 0 GO TOP DO WHILE .NOT. EOF() TOTAL = TOTAL + BALANCE SKIP ENDDO ? "The total balance of all customers is: ", TOTAL
This program opens the CUSTOMER.DBF data file and assigns zero to a variable named TOTAL. It then goes to the first record and loops through all records until it reaches the end of the file. For each record, it adds the value of the BALANCE field to the TOTAL variable and skips to the next record. After the loop ends, it displays the value of the TOTAL variable.
An application that allows users to enter and update customer information in the CUSTOMER.DBF data file:
USE CUSTOMER DO WHILE .T. CLS ? "Enter customer name (or QUIT to exit): " INPUT NAME IF NAME = "QUIT" QUIT ENDIF LOCATE FOR NAME = NAME IF FOUND() ? "Customer found." ? "Current address: ", ADDRESS ? "Current phone: ", PHONE ? "Current balance: ", BALANCE ? "Do you want to update this customer? (Y/N) " INPUT CHOICE IF CHOICE = "Y" ? "Enter new address: " INPUT ADDRESS ? "Enter new phone: " INPUT PHONE ? "Enter new balance: " INPUT BALANCE REPLACE ADDRESS WITH ADDRESS, PHONE WITH PHONE, BALANCE WITH BALANCE ? "Customer updated." ENDIF ELSE ? "Customer not found." ? "Do you want to add this customer? (Y/N) " INPUT CHOICE IF CHOICE = "Y" APPEND BLANK REPLACE NAME WITH NAME ? "Enter address: " INPUT ADDRESS ? "Enter phone: " INPUT PHONE ? "Enter balance: " INPUT BALANCE REPLACE ADDRESS WITH ADDRESS, PHONE WITH PHONE, BALANCE WITH BALANCE ? "Customer added." ENDIF ENDIF ENDDO
This application opens the CUSTOMER.DBF data file and loops indefinitely until the user enters Q UIT to exit. For each iteration of the loop, it clears the screen and prompts the user to enter a customer name. If the user enters QUIT, it quits the application. Otherwise, it searches for the customer name in the data file. If the customer is found, it displays the current information and asks the user if they want to update it. If the user answers yes, it prompts the user to enter the new information and replaces the old information with the new one. If the customer is not found, it asks the user if they want to add it. If the user answers yes, it appends a blank record and prompts the user to enter the information and fills in the fields with the entered values.
The tips and tricks for optimizing dBase 3 Plus performance
Although dBase 3 Plus is an old software that may not run as fast or as smoothly as modern software, there are some tips and tricks that you can use to optimize its performance and improve your experience. Here are some of them:
Use indexes to speed up data access and sorting. An index is a file that contains pointers or references to records in a data file based on a key field or expression. An index allows you to quickly locate or sort records in a data file without scanning through the entire file. You can create an index file with the INDEX command and use it with the SET INDEX command. For example, if you want to create an index file named CUSTOMER.NDX based on the NAME field of the CUSTOMER.DBF data file, you can use this command:
INDEX ON NAME TO CUSTOMER.NDX
Use filters to limit data access and display. A filter is a condition or expression that determines which records in a data file are accessible or visible. A filter allows you to focus on a subset of records in a data file that match your criteria without modifying or deleting the original data. You can set a filter with the SET FILTER command and clear it with the CLEAR FILTER command. For example, if you want to set a filter that only shows records with a balance greater than 100 in the CUSTOMER.DBF data file, you can use this command:
SET FILTER TO BALANCE > 100
Use memory variables to store and retrieve data values. A memory variable is a named location in memory that can hold a data value of any type. A memory variable allows you to store and retrieve data values without using a data file or a field. You can assign a value to a memory variable with the STORE command and retrieve it with the ? command or by using its name. For example, if you want to store the value of 100 in a memory variable named TOTAL and display it, you can use these commands:
STORE 100 TO TOTAL ? TOTAL
Conclusion
dBase 3 Plus is a classic database management system for DOS that was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. It allows you to create, manage, and manipulate data files, as well as develop your own applications and programs with dBL. Although dBase 3 Plus is outdated and obsolete by today's standards, it still has some historical and educational value for retro computing enthusiasts or nostalgic users. You can download and install dBase 3 Plus for free from some online sources, but you need to be aware of the legal and ethical issues involved. You also need to have a DOS emulator or a virtual machine and a copy of MS-DOS or another DOS variant on your computer to run dBase 3 Plus. You can use various commands and syntax to work with data files in dBase 3 Plus, and use some tips and tricks to optimize its performance.
FAQs
What is the difference between dBase III Plus and dBase IV?
dBase IV was released by Ashton-Tate in 1988 as an upgrade to dBase III Plus. It introduced some new features, such as support for SQL, multiple users, multiple windows, mouse input, menus, dialogs, buttons, scroll bars, graphics, fonts, colors, sound, printer drivers, spreadsheet functions, macro recorder, debugger, linker, compiler, and external modules. However, dBase IV was also criticized for being slow, buggy, incompatible, and inconsistent, and losing market share to other products, such as Microsoft Access, FoxPro, and Paradox. Ashton-Tate tried to fix the problems with several patches and updates, but eventually sold the product to Borland in 1991.
How can I convert dBase 3 Plus data files to other formats?
There are several ways to convert dBase 3 Plus data files to other formats, such as Excel, Access, CSV, SQL, or XML. One way is to use a conversion software or a service that can read and write dBase 3 Plus data files and other formats. Some examples of conversion software are DBF Converter (dbf2002.com), DBF Viewer (dbfviewer.com), and DBF Manager (dbfmanager.com). Some examples of conversion services are Zamzar (zamzar.com), Convertio (convertio.co), and Online-Convert (online-convert.com). Another way is to use a data import or export feature of another software that can handle dBase 3 Plus data files and other formats. Some examples of such software are Excel, Access, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and SQLite.
How can I run dBase 3 Plus on Windows 10?
To run dBase 3 Plus on Windows 10, you need to use a DOS emulator or a virtual machine that can run DOS programs on Windows 10. You also need to have a copy of MS-DOS or another DOS variant on your computer. You can follow the same instructions as described in the previous section on how to download and install dBase 3 Plus for free. However, you may need to adjust some settings or options of the DOS emulator or the virtual machine to make it compatible with Windows 10. For example, you may need to enable compatibility mode, disable fullscreen mode, change the display resolution, or adjust the sound volume.
What are some alternatives to dBase 3 Plus?
If you are looking for a modern database management system that can replace or surpass dBase 3 Plus, you have many options to choose from. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can select a software that is suitable for your platform, your budget, your skill level, your data size, your data type, your data structure, your data security, your data analysis, your data visualization, your data integration, your data manipulation, your data development, or your data deployment. Some examples of modern database management systems are:
Microsoft Access: A desktop database management system that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. It allows you to create and manage relational databases with a graphical user interface and a programming language called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
Microsoft SQL Server: A server-based database management system that runs on Windows. It allows you to create and manage relational databases with a query language called Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and a programming language called SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
MySQL: An open source database management system that runs on various platforms. It allows you to create and manage relational databases with a query language called Structured Query Language (SQL) and a programming language called MySQL Workbench.
Oracle: A commercial database management system that runs on various platforms. It allows you to create and manage relational databases with a query language called SQL and a programming language called Oracle Database Express Edition (Oracle XE).
SQLite: A lightweight database management system that is embedded in various applications and devices. It allows you to create and manage relational databases with a query language called SQL and a programming language called SQLite Studio.
Where can I learn more about dBase 3 Plus?
If you want to learn more about dBase 3 Plus, you can find some resources online or offline that can provide you with more information, guidance, or support. Some of these resources are:
The official website of dBase LLC (dbase.com), the current owner and publisher of dBase products. You can find news, updates, downloads, documentation, tutorials, forums, blogs, podcasts, webinars, events, products, services, and support related to dBase products.
The Wikipedia article on dBase (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBase), which gives an overview of the history, features, versions, variants, and legacy of dBase products.
The dBase FAQ (dbasefaq.com), which answers some frequently asked questions about dBase products, such as installation, configuration, compatibility, troubleshooting, programming, and conversion.
The dBase User's Group (dbug.org), which is an online community of dBase users and developers. You can join the group and participate in discussions, exchanges, collaborations, and events related to dBase products.
The dBase books and magazines, which are published or written by experts or enthusiasts of dBase products. You can find some of them online or offline, such as The dBASE Book (thedbasebook.com), The dBASE Reports Book (thedbasereportsbook.com), The Clipper Connection (clipperconnection.com), and The dBASE Advisor (dbaseadvisor.com).
I hope this article has helped you to learn more about dBase 3 Plus and how to use it. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for reading and have a nice day! 44f88ac181
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