Proudly Serving Wisconsin

---

Wisconsin Data General Business Basic

Data General Business Basic, commonly referred to as Business Basic or BBx, is a business-oriented programming language that originated from Data General Corporation in the late 1970s.  It is a high-level programming language designed for developing business applications, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.  Business Basic is known for its simplicity, ease of use, and powerful database integration capabilities.

Key Features:

1. Simple Syntax: Business Basic has a straightforward syntax that resembles natural language, making it easy for developers to learn and use.
2. Strong Typing: It is a strongly typed language, meaning that variable types are explicitly defined and enforced during compilation.
3. Database Integration: Business Basic provides built-in features for seamless integration with databases, allowing developers to easily perform operations such as data retrieval, manipulation, and storage.
4. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Business Basic applications can run on various operating systems, including Data General's own DG/UX, as well as Windows, Linux, and Unix platforms.
5. Modular Programming: Business Basic supports modular programming techniques, enabling developers to organize code into reusable modules for better maintainability and scalability.
6. GUI Development: It offers capabilities for building graphical user interfaces (GUIs), allowing developers to create user-friendly applications with interactive interfaces.

Wisconsin Database Options in Business Basic

1.  ISAM (Indexed Sequential Access Method)

ISAM is a file-based database management system that allows for fast access to data records.  It organizes data in a sequential manner with indexes for quick retrieval.

2.  RDBMS (Relational Database Management System)

Some implementations of Business Basic may integrate with relational databases such as IBM DB2, Oracle, MySQL, or SQL Server.  These databases store data in tables with relationships defined between them.

3.  DBF Files

Business Basic applications may also use DBF (dBase File) format files for storing and managing data.  DBF files are simple flat-file databases commonly used in conjunction with programming languages like dBase and FoxPro.

4.  Custom Database Systems

In some cases, organizations may develop or utilize custom-built database systems tailored to their specific needs and requirements.  These systems may vary widely in complexity and functionality.

It's essential to note that the choice of database depends on factors such as the size and complexity of the data, performance requirements, integration capabilities, and the preferences of the development team or organization.  Business Basic applications can interact with databases through various methods, including native file operations, SQL queries, or API calls provided by the database management system.

Wisconsin Reading an ISAM File in Business Basic

Using OPEN, READ, and CLOSE Statements

In Business Basic, you can use file I/O statements to read data from an ISAM file.

10 OPEN "DATAFILE" FOR INPUT AS #1
20 READ #1, FIELD1, FIELD2, FIELD3   ' Read data fields from the file
30 PRINT "Field 1: "; FIELD1
40 PRINT "Field 2: "; FIELD2
50 PRINT "Field 3: "; FIELD3
60 CLOSE #1

Replace DATAFILE with the name of your ISAM file.  The OPEN statement opens the file for input, the READ statement reads data fields from the file, and the CLOSE statement closes the file after reading.

You may need to handle index files separately to perform indexed lookups or navigate through the records efficiently.

Wisconsin Reading Data from a DBF File in Business Basic

Using OPEN, READ, and CLOSE Statements

In Business Basic, you can use file I/O statements to read data from a DBF file.

10 OPEN "DATAFILE.DBF" FOR INPUT AS #1
20 WHILE NOT EOF(1)
30     INPUT #1, FIELD1$, FIELD2$, FIELD3$   ' Read data fields from the file
40     PRINT "Field 1: "; FIELD1$
50     PRINT "Field 2: "; FIELD2$
60     PRINT "Field 3: "; FIELD3$
70 WEND
80 CLOSE #1

Replace DATAFILE.DBF with the name of your DBF file.  The OPEN statement opens the file for input, the INPUT statement reads data fields from each record in the file, and the CLOSE statement closes the file after reading.

You may need to adjust the field names (e.g., FIELD1$, FIELD2$, FIELD3$) based on the actual field names in your DBF file.

Wisconsin Working with Indexes in Business Basic

Creating Index Files

In Business Basic, you can create index files to optimize data retrieval based on specific fields.

10 OPEN "DATAFILE" FOR INPUT AS #1
20 INDEX ON FIELD1, FIELD2 TO "INDEXFILE.IDX"
30 CLOSE #1

The INDEX ON statement creates an index file named "INDEXFILE.IDX" based on the values of FIELD1 and FIELD2 in the "DATAFILE".  This index file will optimize searches based on these fields.

Using Index Files

Once created, index files can be used to optimize data retrieval and facilitate efficient searches.

40 OPEN "DATAFILE" USING "INDEXFILE.IDX" FOR INPUT AS #2
50 SEEK "SEARCH_VALUE"   ' Search for a specific value in the indexed field
60 INPUT #2, FIELD1, FIELD2, FIELD3   ' Read data fields from the file
70 PRINT "Field 1: "; FIELD1
80 PRINT "Field 2: "; FIELD2
90 PRINT "Field 3: "; FIELD3
100 CLOSE #2

The OPEN USING statement opens the "DATAFILE" using the index file "INDEXFILE.IDX" for input.  The SEEK statement searches for a specific value ("SEARCH_VALUE") in the indexed field, and the INPUT statement reads data fields from the file.  Finally, the CLOSE statement closes the file after reading.

Working with index files allows for faster data retrieval and optimized searches, improving overall performance in Business Basic applications.

Business Basic has evolved over the years, with various vendors offering their own implementations and extensions of the language.  While it may not be as widely used today as other programming languages, it still has a presence in certain industries and legacy systems where it has been historically employed.

Wisconsin Business Basic Commands

Data Types and Variables

• DECLARE: Declares variables.
• LET: Assigns values to variables.
• READ: Reads input from a file or terminal.

Control Structures

• IF...THEN...ELSE: Conditional branching.
• DO...LOOP: Iterative loops.
• GOTO: Unconditional branching.

String Handling

• LEFT$, RIGHT$, MID$: Extract substrings.
• CONCAT$: Concatenates strings.
• STR$: Converts numbers to strings.

File Operations

• OPEN: Opens files for input or output.
• READ: Reads data from a file.
• WRITE: Writes data to a file.

Database Access

• SELECT: Retrieves data from a database table.
• INSERT: Inserts data into a database table.
• UPDATE: Updates data in a database table.

Subroutines and Functions

• SUB: Defines subroutines.
• FUNCTION: Defines functions.
• RETURN: Exits a subroutine or function.

Error Handling

• ON ERROR: Defines error handling routines.
• ERROR: Raises an error condition.
• RESUME: Resumes execution after an error.

Wisconsin Math Commands in Business Basic

Arithmetic Operations

• +: Addition
• -: Subtraction
• *: Multiplication
• /: Division
• MOD: Modulus (remainder of division)

Math Functions

• ABS(x): Absolute value
• INT(x): Integer part of a number
• ROUND(x): Rounds to nearest integer
• SQRT(x): Square root
• EXP(x): Exponential function
• LOG(x): Natural logarithm
• LOG10(x): Base-10 logarithm
• SIN(x): Sine
• COS(x): Cosine
• TAN(x): Tangent

Constants

• PI: Value of pi
• E: Value of Euler's number (e)

Wisconsin Screen Manipulation in Business Basic

Clearing the Screen

To clear the screen, you can use terminal control commands or clear specific rows and columns in a display file.

10 PRINT CHR$(27) + "[2J"  ' Clear screen using terminal control command
20 REM Clear specific rows and columns in a display file
30 DISPLAY CLEAR

Writing to Specific Rows and Columns

To write to specific rows and columns on the screen, you can position the cursor using terminal control commands or specify row and column coordinates in a display file.

40 REM Write to specific rows and columns using terminal control commands
50 PRINT CHR$(27) + "[1;1H"  ' Move cursor to row 1, column 1
60 PRINT "Hello, World!"

70 REM Write to specific rows and columns in a display file
80 DISPLAY AT(10, 20) "Hello, World!"  ' Write "Hello, World!" at row 10, column 20

Wisconsin Calling an Operating System Command in Business Basic

To call an operating system command in Business Basic, you can use the SHELL statement followed by the command you want to execute.

10 SHELL "DIR"  ' Executes the DIR command (Windows) or ls command (Unix/Linux)

The SHELL statement executes the specified command in the context of the operating system.  You can use it to run any command that is available in your operating system's command line interface.

Wisconsin Using RFORM in Business Basic

The RFORM statement allows you to format output based on a format string.  You can specify placeholders in the format string to represent where data should be inserted, and provide corresponding data values to fill those placeholders.

10 A$ = "John"
20 B$ = "Doe"
30 C = 25
40 RFORM "Name: %1 %2, Age: %3", A$, B$, C

In this example, the format string "Name: %1 %2, Age: %3" contains three placeholders: %1, %2, and %3.  These placeholders will be replaced with the values of variables A$, B$, and C respectively when the RFORM statement is executed.

So, if the values of A$, B$, and C are "John", "Doe", and 25 respectively, the output of the RFORM statement will be "Name: John Doe, Age: 25".

Wisconsin Encrypting Data in Business Basic

Using Encryption Functions

In Business Basic, you can use encryption functions to encrypt your data.

10 DATA "Secret Message"
20 READ MESSAGE$
30 ENCRYPTED_MESSAGE$ = ENCRYPT_FUNCTION(MESSAGE$)
40 PRINT "Encrypted Message: "; ENCRYPTED_MESSAGE$

In this example, replace ENCRYPT_FUNCTION with the appropriate encryption function available in your Business Basic environment.  This function will encrypt the data stored in the variable MESSAGE$ and store the encrypted result in ENCRYPTED_MESSAGE$.

Keep in mind that the specific encryption functions and algorithms available to you may vary depending on your Business Basic implementation and any additional libraries or extensions you have access to.

Wisconsin Decrypting Data in Business Basic

Using Decryption Functions

In Business Basic, you can use decryption functions to decrypt encrypted data.

10 DATA "Encrypted Message"
20 READ ENCRYPTED_MESSAGE$
30 DECRYPTED_MESSAGE$ = DECRYPT_FUNCTION(ENCRYPTED_MESSAGE$)
40 PRINT "Decrypted Message: "; DECRYPTED_MESSAGE$

In this example, replace DECRYPT_FUNCTION with the appropriate decryption function available in your Business Basic environment.  This function will decrypt the data stored in the variable ENCRYPTED_MESSAGE$ and store the decrypted result in DECRYPTED_MESSAGE$.

Ensure that you use the correct decryption function and provide the appropriate key or parameters required for decryption.  Failure to do so may result in incorrect decryption or failure to decrypt the data.

Wisconsin Printing to a Printer in Business Basic

Printer Control Commands

You can use printer control commands to send data directly to a printer device.  This method allows you to control the formatting and layout of the printed output.

10 OPEN "LST:" FOR OUTPUT AS #1  ' Open printer device for output
20 PRINT #1, "Hello, Printer!"   ' Print to printer
30 CLOSE #1                       ' Close printer device

Printer Files

Alternatively, you can write data to a printer file and then send the file to the printer using operating system commands.

40 OPEN "PRINTER.TXT" FOR OUTPUT AS #2  ' Open printer file for output
50 PRINT #2, "Hello, Printer!"          ' Write data to printer file
60 CLOSE #2                             ' Close printer file
70 SHELL "COPY PRINTER.TXT LPT1"        ' Send printer file to printer (Windows)

Wisconsin Making an Audible Beep in Business Basic

To make an audible beep in Business Basic, you can use the BEEP statement.

10 BEEP

The BEEP statement emits a beep sound from the computer's speaker.  You can use it to provide audible feedback to the user or to signal certain events in your program.