technology 1
Dear MDTS Owner:
Several customers have asked about the technology of MDTS, including
capacity, sorting processes, and so on.  Here is some information.
MDTS is derived from dBASE III+ (compiled by Clipper '87) and thus has
a data capacity of ONE BILLION records - to the limits of a hard disk.
As a "rough estimate" you will need between TWO and FIVE megabytes of
hard disk space for every 1,000 members.  The exact space required by
your application will be determined by your particular data mix.  This
2-to-5 Meg estimate is based on the sizes of the data files (Members,
Pledges, Giving & Letters) PLUS the sizes of the index files.
The only sort process, actually a copy in sorted order, is performed
during one of the data deletion steps.  (see the manual)  This will,
of course, require FREE hard disk space equal to the size of the file
you are sorting.  If you don't have enough free space (a DOS DIR will
show you free space) simply remove marked records with the no sort.
All of the reports, and the mailing labels, use data indexing (just as
you use the index of a book) to find and print information.  The form
letter process, mailing labels, and some reports (see the manual) give
you the opportunity to print only selected records.  You may now print
a single donation statement for that member who panics at tax time.
The MDTS printing process uses the DOS printer calls (this is part of
the Clipper compiler) which means that your RAM-based print spooler is
used if you have one.  Some programs bypass DOS and take control of
the ROM, thus disabling any print spooler you may have installed.  Of
course, this also means that you are responsible for configuring your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file to establish any printer protocols that are needed
by your particular mix of hardware and operating system software.  All
MDTS printing is standard text, so this should not be difficult.
Remember that custom reports, or modifications to existing reports,
cost $10 each - IF the new/modified report is possible at all.  If you
need the name and address on the donation statement in a new spot to
fit a window envelope, or if you have a need for some data not printed
in the existing A-to-R reports, send me a letter.  Be sure to include
a COMPLETE list of your requirements - and a printed example showing
the way you want the new/revised report to look.
Above all, keep communicating.  I can't know your program needs if you
don't write and tell me.
Tom Smith, Tom&Cat Programmer
technology 2
I have recently had two questions about the internal operation of the
MDTS program - which I will answer here.
The first question concerns the way in which MDTS indexes data, in
this case the way in which the Name & Number report prints data when
the Number ordering is selected.  The particular user did not like a
report that had the numbers in what that user thought was the wrong
order.  If you enter "member numbers" that are actual numbers, say of
3 digits each - and if you do not enter each number to be the same
SIZE number, zero-filling so 1 is entered as 001 - any report that is
based on the number index will look "funny" to humans.  Of course, the
thing to remember is that a computer is NOT a human, and it is able to
do ONLY what the designer tells it to do.  In this case, conventions
in the computer industry (not just MDTS!) say that data sorts/indexes
will be first by the value of an item, and next by the SIZE of items.
This means that 1 is smaller than 2, and 1 is also smaller than 01.
Another example would be to enter last names of AA AB and AC.  They
will show on the "browse" screen in just that order.  If you change
AA to aA, the aA will now drop to the bottom of the browse list.  This
is because the coded value of a is LARGER than the coded value for A.
The second question concerned the screen print option, and the fact
that it produced a "mess" on screen.
This is no longer true.  All screen printing (viewing) has been
formatted for your easy pre-view of a report.
Of course, printing to the screen is time consuming in that you must
press the return key to advance to the next page.  I do not recommend
this option if you have very much data to print.
Remember, if you have Clipper '87 and want to customize for yourself,
the source code for MDTS is sold for $55 - after you register if you
purchase from a dealer, or immediately if you buy direct from T&C.  A
sale of the source code is for YOUR PERSONAL USE ONLY.
I hope that this helps you understand a little better how MDTS works.
Write and let me know what you like or don't like about the program.
multiple files
Version 4 of the Member and Donation Tracking System is now available!
You will now have the capability of having "upto" 26 (A-thru-Z) "SETS"
of data and code files in your MDTS directory.
This means that you will be able to keep several year's worth of
information "current" for immediate updates or reports (you may now
print a donation report in April for that member who always loses
reports printed at the end of the year and then panics at tax time).
Or, if you are a "service provider" you will be able to keep several
different sets of data/code files in a single directory for easy
recording of information for as many as 26 different organizations.
As always, this update is only $10 for registered MDTS customers.
The MDTS source code is still $55 - requires Clipper '87 or later.
Remember that source code purchases are for YOUR OWN USE ONLY - you
MAY NOT use the MDTS source code as the basis of a program which you
then sell to other individuals or organizations.
You will also be able to copy entire "data sets" -- such as when you
need to keep last year's data available while entering new data.
By the way - do YOU have any ideas for further program enhancements?
If so, please take the time to send me a letter describing your idea.
Remember that custom reports (if possible) are still only $10 each.
Send me a letter (and a sample layout) describing the report that you
need.  I will tell you if your report is possible, and you may then
send me the $10 for an updated program.
I would like to thank all of you for making MDTS a success.
Vers-1  4-87 first production version of MDTS issued
1988 ongoing revision to "internalize" reports
Vers-2  1-89 data scrolling on screen, more reports
1-90 screen preview of "formatted" reports
Vers-3  4-90 expand member file for "skill bank" data
Vers-4  1-91 expand program for A-thru-Z data/code sets
Tom Smith, Programmer