D e c 95	• How to get faster, more accurate data entry (teaming up @Msgbox, @Askuser and XUserselect) • Create and update your picklists in Write (advantages over traditional method) • Print group subtotals in a column of their own (to make report more readable) • Programming to determine a person's age based on date of birth • Faster program saves • When your @Msg message won't display • What causes whole fields of information to disappear? • How to force a selection be made from a picklist • Q&A sometimes creates "junk" files. How to recogzine and remove them • DOS command line tricks to quickly locate the files you need • Using the @Mod function to convert money to text and for timekeeping • Why you should make @Macro the last command in a field's program • Create reports (and mailing labels) with snazzy graphic lines and boxes
N o v 95	• How to ditto your data during Search/Updates (@Ditto normally works in Add Data mode only) • How to lookup, retrieve, and display information from a range of records (multiple record XLookups) • Easier multiple date searches • When you receive a "Too many returns" error message • Taking the Yes/No data type beyond merely "Yes" and "No" • When Speedy-Unique fields get in the way • How to automatically open a Write document (in the word processor) from a database record • Printing W2 and 1099 forms • Versatile picklists that respond to user preferences
O c t 95	• Database copying made easier (copying information between databases) • Use navigation programming to boost program functionality • Get more from batch posting and mass updates by taking advantage of programming options • Tips and techniques for creating multiple-database applications • Create a handy field navigation menu (jump to the field you select from a picklist) • Review of DTFSPECS - a utility that troubleshoots and helps you modify your databases faster • Alternate keys for the usual F11 and F12 clipboard copy and paste keys • How to check for lengthy names (to make sure they'll fit on labels or name badges) • Using a database to manage word processing documents • Converting money values to text • Storing pictures in your database - how to, and at what cost
S e p 95	• Useful tricks with posted text (batch posting "add" method yields neatly aligned colums of posted text • Using documents in a database • Q&A Win technique that simulates Q&A DOS posting feature • Secrets of running Q&A for DOS in Windows 3.1 • Mass updating to mark records for previous or following month • Simple programs that speed data entry (addresses and calculating a person's age) • Make macros work universally (on different computers with different drive setups) • Conditionally calculate a running total (and why you might want to) • The fast way to swap macro files • Highlighting negative numbers • Spell-checking database records • Printing merge documents that contain information from multiple databases
A u g 95	Q&A 5.0 Begins Shipping • In-depth review of Q&A 5.0 for DOS (covers all the new commands, functions, and features) • How to organize your report and macro lists • Marking modified records • Solve network printing problems • Using the same database in Q&A DOS and Q&A Win • Saving merge specs for repeated use • Solutions for "creeping envelope" problems (addresses creep up or down during printing)
J u l 95	• Create a documents catalog (advantages of storing documents in database records, and how to) • Fix mysterious database corruption (rebuilding indexes) • Technique that check to see if an account is overdue • Executing programming on imported records • Make sure past XLookup values remain unchanged even when the lookup file data has been updated • Print your data in professional-looking forms (review of PerForm form design software) • Using the Clipboard when running Q&A for DOS in Windows • Using posting to maintain transaction histories (keeping a summary of transactions in customer record) • Using XLookup with multiple search criteria (using two parameters to find the record you need) • How to extract the month, day, and year from a date value • Create a price-analysis calculator • How to add comments to a macro file
J u n 95	• Loops, arrays, and bubble sorting (complete bubble sort technique with progress meter) • Combine fields to create a new entry in a scrollable history field in the record • Sorting reports by derived values • How to subtotal time values in a report • Key combinations for launching alternate programs • Key combinations that can blow away a macro file • Technique for printing addresses on envelopes • Utilities for getting ZIP+4 and address corrections, and adding postal barcodes to your output (Dazzle)
M a y 95	• Create and print invoices with unlimited line items • Improving search performance • Fixing mailing label wrapping problems • Using IF-THEN logic with XLookups • Fix broken line-draw boxes • Setting a larger top margin for the first page of a document (to use letterhead, for example) • When a mail-merge program doesn't execute but prints the literal programming expression • Moving to Q&A Win from Q&A DOS (includes simulating custom menus, form design, and scripts) • Credit card validation routine correction • Run a report and return to the same record (Q&A Win) • Routine that accepts days, weeks, or months, and returns the future date • Using up laser label sheets
A p r 95	• Adding dotted lines (leaders) between report columns • Creating reports with snaking columns (like a phone book) • How to auto-update related records after adding a new record • How to suppress report columns • Searching for non-dates in date fields • Printing one page of a multipage report • Converting Q&A documents to WordPerfect DOS and Win • Fix blank lines appearing in address blocks • Automate cursor navigation • Make Q&A Win forms more readable • Creating an employee scheduling system • Pring a Q&A DOS screen in Windows • Get better screen prints on a LaserJet • Using your mouse to cut and paste (Q&A DOS) • Lenghen, shorten, or expand a field (Q&A Win) • Add a "secret field" to your database form
M a r 95	• Q&A DOS font solutions for laser printers • Create a custom investment tracker • How to combine several font files into one master font file • Troubleshooting soft fonts • Perform conditional XLookups • Find records with two matching values • Date- and time-stamp your reports • Design a time performance report • Protect fields from changes (without making them read-only) • How to make fields read-only • How to use the Program Spec (to program a database)
F e b 95	• Print labels one-at-a-time on your laser printer (and select where to start printing on the label sheet) • Automate label printing • Retrieve records where two address fields differ (such as business address and mailing address) • Why your fonts don't print • Create a database to automate address printing • How to search and replace fonts in a document • How to make the same value repeat in a report (such as three different Smiths) • Using DOS batch files to switch macro files and perform other "impossible" tasks • How to swap application configurations automatically • Master data entry form layout • Simplify and reduce programming using indirection (indirection and subroutines)
J a n 95	• Automate check writing and printing (plus program to convert dollars & cents to longhand equivalent) • Calculating future dates (includes months, years and days calculations) • Using @Num to match values between two databases • Adding a Comments field to a database, and how to search it • How to calculate discounts • Workaround for field naming restrictions • Making custom menus more reliable • Use "Real Tabs" to aling merge document columns • How to find out who has a birthday this month (database search technique) • How to restrict a field entry's length • Dedicated key field not needed for XLookups • Searching for irregular values (values that don't conform to a field's data type) • Credit card validation program • Use caution with @Add context function • Handling QABACKUP restore failures