Copyright (C) 2001 FirstBase Software, Inc. All rights reserved. FirstBase --------- FirstBase is an open source RDBMS and Application Builder. It consists of a large set of end user programs designed to create, manipulate, scan, organize, view, and format relational database and database systems under the Unix/Linux environment. The FirstBase tools are used to produce and maintain information tracking applications and systems of data based on relational databases while still maintaining the flexibility of Unix/Linux software tools. Using a Unix/Linux tools approach creates an easily learned, dynamic, and highly productive database management platform. FirstBase features a unique approach to building database applications. Using full screen dictionary and data editors, database structures are defined and records of information are modified. When desired, custom data views and entry forms can be created, set of data can be organized using any combinations of fields, and tabular or free form printouts can be generated. Installation Instructions ------------------------- See the file INSTALL for generalized installation instructions. FirstBase uses the GNU `configure' method of generating system dependent Makefiles in each source directory. Note that the default installation is to install /usr/local/firstbase as the FIRSTBASEHOME directory, with binaries in $FIRSTBASEHOME/bin, libraries in $FIRSTBASEHOME/lib and scripts in $FIRSTBASEHOME/scripts. Basically, this is something like ./configure make make install If the `configure' script fails to generate workable Makefiles on your system, please try and work out the options needed for your particular system so I can fix them. After installation, one environment variable needs to be added, and two PATH areas need to be modified. FIRSTBASEHOME ------------- The environment variable FIRSTBASEHOME needs to be added. If you are using a c-shell style shell, use something like the following: setenv FIRSTBASEHOME /usr/local/firstbase If you are using a Bourne type of shell, use something like this: FIRSTBASEHOME=/usr/local/firstbase export FIRSTBASEHOME PATH ---- The PATH of each user needs to be modified to locate the firstbase binaries and scripts. Using the FIRSTBASEHOME environment variable is the best way to do this. If you are using a c-shell style shell, use something like the following: set path=( $path $FIRSTBASEHOME/bin $FIRSTBASEHOME/scripts ) If you are using a Bourne type of shell, use something like this: PATH=$PATH:$FIRSTBASEHOME/bin:$FIRSTBASEHOME/scripts export PATH MANPATH ------- One last path to tweak if you want the man pages to be available using the man command: Add $FIRSTBASEHOME/man to the MANPATH environment variable. Demonstration Applications -------------------------- At this point, the `fb' command will be in /usr/local/bin and should be usable. Try it. From the FirstBase MAIN menu, choose the Application Menu by typing `app' and a <RETURN>. You can play around with the two database areas, Rolodex and Phone, and the sample source code area. Each has a menu. The Rolodex application demonstrates most every aspect of getting at data stored in a FirstBase database. For documentation on FirstBase, start with the Postscript manual located in $FIRSTBASEHOME/doc/fb-manual.ps. Bugs and Comments ----------------- Please report any bugs to fb-bug@firstbase.com. Please send comments to fb-comments@firstbase.com. --- $Id: README,v 9.4 2001/01/22 18:03:06 john Exp $