PowerBASIC Gazette CyberEdition #23
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November
Thirtieth
2001

From: Bob Zale, President
      PowerBASIC, Inc.

Re:   PowerTREE -- "Under the Hood!"


To:   Our PowerBASIC customer


Dear customer,

As you probably know, we recently released version 1.1 of our
PowerTREE BTree Manager.  With better performance.  With better
reliability.  And perhaps even more important, at a better cost!
With PowerTREE 1.1, you'll receive the DOS version, the Win16
version, and the Win32 version, all three of them for just $99.
Less than half the previous cost.

So, with all this "hoopla", a lot of folks have started asking
some serious questions about PowerTREE.  Just what is it?  Just
what makes it so special?  Just how do I use it?

So "Stay Tuned" right here and "Read All About It!"...

Pricing and ordering information can be found at the very end
of this Gazette.  Questions?   Just email info@powerbasic.com
We'll do our very best to help.

                                      Regards,
                                      Bob Zale, President
                                      PowerBASIC, Inc.

==============================================================
==============================================================

PowerTREE -- "Under the Hood!"
By Lance Edmonds, PowerBASIC, Inc.


This article introduces the concepts of indexing, how to add PowerTREE
to your code, and provides a brief look "under the hood" of PowerTREE.

What is PowerTREE?
------------------
PowerTREE is a BTREE Manager that handles Index files using very high
performance Index search algorithms.  PowerTREE is designed to add
indexing facilities to your own database files.  Because PowerTREE
works independently of your main database files, you can use it to add
indexing facilities to any type of database.

And with the release of PowerTREE 1.1, performance has been improved
in many areas too.  If you are already using PowerTREE 1.0, you'll
love the reliability of PowerTREE 1.1...  so upgrade today!


What is an Index?
-----------------
An Index file is simply a small database file containing a "key" (such
as a Customer Name or Stock number) and a related "Reference Number"
(such as a random-access record number) of the record stored in a
"main" database file.  The record number is the "glue" that associates
an Index Key with a specific database record.

Internally, PowerTREE stores these Index Keys in sorted order using a
form of binary tree.  As a result, PowerTREE allows searches for keys
to be performed at much higher speeds than reading through an entire
main database file, just to locate a single stock or customer record.


Interesting concept - please tell me more!
------------------------------------------
Well, the easiest way to explain it is to look at a real world example.
Let's say we have random-access database file that contains stock
records, and the records in this file have been saved in the order that
they were created in (ie, there is no particular sorted order to the
stock records).

In order to locate a specific stock record, we would have to read the
entire data file, examining each record in turn.  With a flat, random
access file, this could involve reading a huge amount of data just to
find one record.  Moreover, the whole process would be repeated for the
next record search.  On a network, this will result in a very large
amount of data being moved about, and it would be very slow.


How does PowerTREE solve this?
------------------------------
We use PowerTREE to maintain an Index file for the stock numbers in
the main database file.  When we initially create the index file, we
pass the stock number and the record number to PowerTREE, and
PowerTREE handles all the details of sorting and storing all of the
index keys.  Later, when we need to locate a specific stock record,
one function call to PowerTREE will tell us which record number holds
the stock record.


But PowerTREE would need to search through the data too?
--------------------------------------------------------
Not at all!  Internally, PowerTREE uses a dual binary tree algorithm
to be able to locate a specific index key without reading every single
key in the index file.  In simple terms, PowerTREE can examine and
traverse its internal binary tree to locate a specific key with just
a few comparisons.  The result is a virtually instantaneous search for
the record number in the Index file, leaving us with the minor task of
reading the specific stock record from the main database file.

Once any key has been returned by PowerTREE, returning subsequent or
prior keys in the sorted index is even faster again.  We'll discuss
this in a little more detail later in this article.


How do I create an index?
-------------------------
Simple.  We simply define our key length, choose between single-user
or multi user mode, then make one simple function call to PowerTREE.
To add keys to PowerTREE, we simply call the "AddKey" function.


Sounds easy, but how do we search for keys?
-------------------------------------------
PowerTREE makes this very easy too - You can search for "exact matches"
or "partial matches" too.  For example, if you initially defined the
keys to be 10 characters wide, your search key would be 10 characters
long.  By specifying a key that is shorter than the index key width,
you can perform "partial matching". For example, "SMITH" would find
"SMITH", "SMITHY", "SMITHSON", "SMITHE", etc.

If you need compound index keys, for example, a name and a code, you
format the index that way yourself before passing it to PowerTREE.

PowerTREE offers a selection of search functions too, including
FindFirst, FindNext, FindPrevious, FindLastBefore, FindNextAfter, etc.


What about sorted reports?
--------------------------
Another common problem with the type of database file mentioned above
involves producing a sorted stock report.  With the flat-file
techniques discussed above, the entire database file would need to be
read, and each stock number and record number would be stored in
arrays.  Next, the arrays would be sorted, then finally, each record
would be read in sorted order, as the report is generated.


PowerTREE to the rescue again!
------------------------------
PowerTREE solves this problem by allowing you to retrieve keys in
sorted order.

Once any key has been returned by PowerTREE, obtaining the subsequent
or prior keys in the sorted index is even faster again.  This means
that producing sorted reports can be vastly simplified using Indexing
with PowerTREE.  Further, this approach will use a LOT less memory
and much lower disk I/O is required too.


Show me how it's done
---------------------
Ok, you asked for it!  The following shows the general strategy used
to read a complete index file in sorted order, starting at the very
first key.

DIM db AS INDEXBLOCK
db.MultiUser = 1                        ' Multiuser mode enabled
OpenIndex "datafile.idx", db            ' Open the index file
FindFirst "", db                        ' 1st key in the index file
WHILE ISFALSE db.ErrType                ' No errors?
  CALL GetMainDataRecord(db.RecordNum) ' Read/process actual data
  FindNext "", db                       ' Get the next key
WEND
CloseIndex db

For a descending report, we could simply replace FindFirst with
FindLast, and FindNext with FindPrevious.


Is that it???
-------------
Absolutely.  PowerTREE handles all the low level index file locking
automatically, and PowerTREE for Windows is even thread-safe.  Index
keys can be up to 255 bytes long, and PowerTREE can handle index files
of up to 2 Gigabytes (DOS) or 2 billion keys (Windows).  PowerTREE for
Windows also offers a couple of Soundex functions too.


Can I delete keys?
------------------
Naturally!  When keys are deleted, PowerTREE simply erases the key
and updates the links from the previous key to the subsequent key -
totally automatic, with high efficiency.  PowerTREE 1.1 now maintains
more compact index files too, with significant improvements in the
"DeleteKey" function that contributes to ensuring top performance in
the PowerTREE key search functions.


Any other tricks up its sleeve?
-------------------------------
You bet!  The "record number" associated with each key does not have
to relate to an actual record number in a database file.  A PowerTREE
index file could be used as a simple database in its own right, say,
associating test scores with teams or individual players.

In another example, it could be an invoice number.  In one real-world
application we heard about, a company required a "memo" database to be
added to an established application.  Rather than redesign the main
database file, the solution was to store memo data in a separate file,
and use PowerTREE to cross reference the memo number to the invoice
number in the main data files.

That is, the key contained the memo number, and the record number
contained an invoice number.  When an invoice is viewed on the screen,
PowerTREE is used to quickly check for the presence of memos.  If one
or more memos exist, they can be retrieved from millions of other
memos in a fraction of a second.

The most interesting aspect of this example is that there is no direct
relationship between record numbers inside the main data file and
record numbers of the "matching" memo data held in another file.
PowerTREE provides a high-performance method of joining or associating
the data in one file to the data in another file.

Using PowerTREE, you don't have to use a flat file database - you can
create your own proprietary relative database file system using
similar techniques.

Summary
-------
We've taken a quick trip through the world of Indexing, and by now
you are probably already plotting new and cunning ways to use Indexing
to boost performance and add flexibility into your own applications.
PowerTREE offers fantastic performance at an affordable price.  Can
your applications afford to be without it?

PS:  If you have a PowerTREE success story, we'd love to hear about it!

==============================================================
==============================================================

PowerTree BTree Manager 1.1 (Now $99) is a brand new release of
this time-tested product.  If you like "Faster/Smaller", then
PowerTree is just what the doctor ordered.  PowerTree offers a
concise, proprietary B+Tree algorithm for indexed data management.
You design data files any way you want.  PowerTree uses them at
lightning speed.  You can access your list in zip code sequence,
alphabetically, or use virtually any other criteria.  You'll find
a record for "Clint Eastwood", out of thousands, in a heartbeat.

PowerTree is friendly.  Just 14 functions to learn, not hundreds,
and with auto-locking, multi-user/multi-threading is a breeze.
PowerTree was priced at $129/Win plus $89/Dos, but now it's just
$99 total for all versions combined -- Win32, Win16, Dos -- and
there's never a royalty for distribution with your code.  Buy it
once, use and distribute it forever.

To order, call us today at (800)780-7707 or (831)659-8000, fax
an order to (831)659-8008.  Place an electronic order on our web
site at www.powerbasic.com, or even mail it to us.   But no matter
the method, do it today and do it with confidence.  PowerBASIC
products, other than downloads, are offered with a money-back
guarantee for a full 30 days from the transaction date.


===================================================================
                      PowerBASIC Price List
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 PB/CC Console Compiler 2.0:  $159.00
   Printed manual:             $ 29.00
 PB/DLL GUI Compiler 6.0:     $189.00
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 PowerBASIC Dos 3.5:          $ 99.00
   Printed manuals - 2 book set:  $29.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 PowerTree BTree Manager Dos/Win:     $ 99.00
 PowerTree BTree Manager Upgrade:     $ 29.00
 PowerGEN Visual Designer for PB/DLL: $ 39.00
 QuickPak Professional for DOS:       $129.00
 PB/Vision for DOS:                    $ 20.00
 "Learning Basic" Book for DOS:       $ 39.95
 PB/Xtra III for DOS and Windows:     $ 49.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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 SQL Tools Professional Version:     $199.95
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------------------------

Order online at https://www.powerbasic.com   or just send an
email with all pertinent information to  sales@powerbasic.com
We'll take it from there!
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Most PowerBASIC products (those without printed books) can now be
delivered by electronic mail.  No wait for a package to arrive...
No high shipping costs...  For just $6 per order, no matter how
many products, we'll deliver directly to your computer.  If you're
outside the U.S., savings might be greater.  You won't pay taxes or
duties to a freight company or postal service, because they aren't
involved in the delivery.  Check your tax code to be sure, but some
countries charge no tax at all on transactions of this type.  It
could just be your lucky day!

====================================================================

PowerBASIC, Inc.                               (800) 780-7707 Sales
316 Mid Valley Center                          (831) 659-8000 Voice
Carmel, CA 93923                               (831) 659-8008 Fax

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All contents Copyright (c) 2001 by PowerBASIC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
PowerBASIC is a registered trademark of PowerBASIC, Inc.  PB/CC, PB/DLL,
PowerGEN, and PowerTREE are trademarks of PowerBASIC, Inc.  All other
brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners.

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                PowerBASIC Gazette - Electronic Edition
                          Volume 1 - Issue 23

PowerBASIC, Inc.                               (800) 780-7707 Sales
316 Mid Valley Center                          (831) 659-8000 Voice
Carmel, CA 93923                               (831) 659-8008 Fax

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