This document describes how to create and use a sort parameter set with
ACsort.

Example.dbf is a database file containing books I have read and books I
want to read.  The sort parameters created here will sort the database
with the books I want to read at the beginning, sorted by author and
title, followed by books I have read, sorted by author and title.

The database has a field labeled "Read".  Books I have read have an
entry in this field, usually in the form of 1997/09 to indicate the
year and month.  For books I want to read, the entry is blank.

After installing ACsort:

Copy Example.dbf to the \dat directory.  Example will appear in the
list under the ACsort icon.

Highlight Example and press enter.

Action is highlighted and SORT is displayed

Press the Tab key to show the pick list.  Choose NEW and press Enter.

NEW now shows against Action.

Press Enter.

Enter a name for the Parameter Record, for example, Books Read.  Press
Enter.

Action is highlighted and SORT is displayed with the first fields of
the database set up in the sort parameters.

Press the Tab key to show the pick list.  Choose EDIT and press Enter.

EDIT now shows against Action.

Press Enter

The name of the Parameter record, "Books Read" is highlighted.  The
lines entitled Primary, Secondary etc are now prefixed by a dot, the
usual Psion convention to indicate that they can be edited.

Use the cursor down key and hightlight the Primary field.  Press Enter.

Set up as follows:

.field                    Read:
.sort on word (0 - 999)   0
.words in sort (1 - 999)  999
.sensitivity              Empty
.use supersort?           No
.direction                ascending empty fields at start

Press Enter

Use the cursor down key and hightlight the Secondary field.  Press Enter.

Set up as follows:

.field                    Author:
.sort on word (0 - 999)   999
.words in sort (1 - 999)  0
.sensitivity              Folded
.use supersort?           Yes
.direction                ascending empty fields at end

Press Enter

Use the cursor down key and hightlight the Tertiary field.  Press Enter.

Set up as follows:

.field                    Author:
.sort on word (0 - 999)   0
.words in sort (1 - 999)  999
.sensitivity              Folded
.use supersort?           No
.direction                ascending empty fields at end

Press Enter

Use the cursor down key and hightlight the Quaternary field.  Press Enter.

Set up as follows:

.field                    Title:
.sort on word (0 - 999)   0
.words in sort (1 - 999)  999
.sensitivity              Folded
.use supersort?           Yes
.direction                ascending empty fields at end

Press Enter

Use the cursor down key and hightlight the "verbose?".  Choose No.

Press Enter

"Books Read" is highlighted.  Press Enter.

"Action" is highlighted and SORT is displayed.

Pressing Enter at this point will sort the database.  Do it now.

After the data file has been sorted, you are back at the System screen.


Highlight Example again and press Enter.

Note that "Books Read" is sort parameter set selected and the action
displayed is SORT.  Pressing Enter would sort the datafile again.

If you wish to choose the default sort parameter set, press Tab and
choose Default Parameters.  Or chose any other parameter set you have
created.

The other option is DELETE.  This removes the current parameter set.