D e c 96	• A database that automates creating and sending faxes • Q&A DOS and large hard disks • Tweaking Keyword reports for the exact output you need • Random record selection • Setting column layouts in Q&A Win documents • Reports that show only the latest or earliest records within a group or category • When modifying one database can create problems in others • Undocumented Q&A clipboard features
N o v 96	• Create a power clipboard (copy and paste text or variables elsewhere, then return to record) • Remedy for Q&A 5.0 XLookup glitch • Q&A dates and the 21st century • How to find the field name when programming • Calculating percentages (quantity and cost as percentage of total) in a inventory database • Making the Install Printer screen inaccessible to users • Making auto-filled fields inaccessible • Printing 1099 forms • How to know if you’ve got enough disk space to copy a database • Use a Q&A quirk to get faster XLookups • Postal barcoding for labels and envelopes • A program debugging tool • Custom sorts with subtotals • Zero-fill leading spaces in a text field (e.g. 00002345) • Sort numerically on a text field • Launch Windows programs from Q&A • The mysterious "500N"
O c t 96	• Merging data with complex forms (using printer control codes to create the form in the printer) • Defrag misinformation • Calculate miles per gallon for each vehicle in a fleet • What to do about error #06A8 • How CHome and Goto act differently in programming • Q&A 5.0 changes in function key assignments • Store and retrieve temporary variables by XPosting them to a "variables" database • Available function keys for macros • Separate combined city, state, and ZIP field into component fields • Report Retrieve Spec glitch finally solved (evaluation of DTFSPECS and DTFCHECK utility programs) • How to find the User ID you used to log into a Q&A database
S e p 96	• Mass update and batch post in a multiuser environment • When items are missing from your picklists • Pop-up selection lists • Debugging navigation programming • Undocumented syntax for the REM (programming comments) statement • Mysterious "500N" not harmless • Upcoming birthday reports • Using the @Field field reference function to cut down on programming needed • Speed comparison with Q&A running in DOS and in Windows 95 • How to save money on mass mailings (getting your addresses standardized)
A u g 96	• Faster retrieves for variable date ranges • More Windows-like gadgets you can add to your database forms • All about Speedy (indexed) fields • Making database screens easier to navigate • Fixing label creep • Getting check amount subtotals • Print multiple fields in a single report column • A database that lets you compose and playback tunes on your PC’s speaker (@Play command) • Good programming style and practice • Useful tricks with @Askuser and @Msgbox • Program debugging tip
J u l 96	• Database that tells you customer’s local time and whether they’re open (including a lookup database with world, state, and province time zones) • Optimizing record search and retrieval speed • Create an upcoming birthday report • On-record-exit programming (includes how to beat the merge document programming limitation) • Add a quick address block maker to your database (to paste complete name & address elsewhere) • Making DTFSPECS (a Q&A database utility) easier to use • Making line draw and merge fields coexist in a document • Performing report summary calculations on-the-fly • Mysterious "500N" appearing on Main menu
J u n 96	• Using a database (instead of a custom menu structure) to navigate your applications • Pop-up selection lists and large databases • Personal startup switches and macro files • Program debugging technique • Rounding report columns • Problems opening large documents • Choose which phone number to autodia • Putting on-record-exit programming to work • How to enter fractions or decimals and get the same result • Using the powerful @Instr (in string) command • Indent subtotal and subcount labels for better-looking reports • How to perform all kinds of useful date calculations • How to make macros loop (repeat) until a specified condition is met
M a y 96	• Fast hot-key searches across multiple fields • Avoid "comma" bug in merge documents • How to modify and combine font files • Calculate the percentage by customer • Conditionally print one of two addresses in a merge document or label • Fixing "spacey" documents • How to pass parameters to functions that require them • All about using the Retrieve Spec • Create an automatic phone dialer • Automatically increase or decrease a field’s value by unit increments • Create a custom macro set for each database you use
A p r 96	• Create a scrollable history field in a database • Don’t run DEFRAG via @Shell • How to use a database to perform complex report calculations • When a record won’t merge-print • Q&A 5.0 mail-merge bug workaround • Differences between External Programs and Alternate Programs • Part of screen disappears on notebook PC • Single-key picklist control • Print ordinal dates in mail-merge documents • Easy-to-manage, easy-to-use picklists • Conditionally suppress report calculations • Quick Answer programming contest winner and solution • How to create and manage custom picklists for a network (conditional picklist access on user-by-user basis. Allow adding to picklists on-the-fly)
M a r 96	• How to include bitmap files in a merge-printing • How to run Gosubs during a batch posting • Create a Userselect "Special Action" menu • How to "type-check" in Q&A (how Q&A converts different data types such as text, numbers, money, dates, yes/no, etc.) • Another date bug side effect • Date bug can be double-trouble • Automatically create a new record to post to, then post to it from the record you’re on • Alert users to data entry goofs • Using a RAM drive with Q&A • Trouble installing Q&A 5.0 • Make @Fn (current database) compatible with XUserselect • Make the @Askuser box default to "Yes" • Create attractive shaded text areas in merge documents • Set auto-insert mode for data entry • Using @Fedit to automatically expand field • Make mouse buttons run macros • Which icon does what (Q&A Win)
F e b 96	• All about setting columnar report global options • Update your personal dictionary • Early field reports on Q&A 5.0 • Sure-fire wholesale database record retrievals • Review of Q&A utility database that tells you what and where your programming errors are • WYSIWYG word processing • Create new subdirectories on-the-fly with @Shell • XLookupr and data encoding tricks • More on quick-edit picklists • Create a versatile external program launcher
J a n 96	• How to merge two databases into one • The XUserselect (picklist) command and case sensitivity • Copy a field’s value to use later • Calculate elapsed working days • Fix creeping envelope addresses • Macro-driven report problems solved • Streamline tasks with custom Windows-like gadgets on your database forms • How to create a custom dialog box in a database • Technique for fast record tagging / untagging • How to use Gosubs (go to subroutine) in programming • Converting text values to money format