On File
On File Database Management System was released in June 2024 by KSL in order to celebrate the anniversaries of CPC (40 years!) and CP/M-80 (50 years!). On File is a business application similar to the MSDOS-era PC applications and one of the most recent projects developed for CP/M. As per Cosmos, On File has been developed on the basis of all the hardware peripherals as well as the software that were (contemporary) available for the CP/M and the CPC6128. On File database is efficient, quick and reliable and can be used on an everyday basis using the CPC emulators. On File database uses the entire CPC screen as the platform for the records; thus there is plenty of space to edit user-defined fields. In addition, a wide variety of characters and symbols can be included in the fileds, hence the records can contain data beyond the typical and traditional text type. Setting up a new database using On File database is very easy and can be performed in three steps: 1) start the new file system by resetting the database and the master record, 2) frame/draw and edit the structure of the master record, 3) append new records in the database on the basis of the master record. On File database is fully dynamic, thus the user can modify the master record as well as any record anytime. Furthermore, the database can be either flat or relational. Children records include the ^ symbol followed by the relational key and one space, for example ^Z80 . Parent records include the relational key (not the ^ symbol) followed by one space, for example Z80 . On File database has maximum capacity of 200 records (400 KB). The original disk contains some demo master records (*.002 files), some demo records (*.REC files) as well as the boot sectors for CP/M 2.2 (v1.2).
In summer 2025 a new version of On File database will be released. It will provide capacity for 230 records (460 KB) and will also include On File Register, a RAM-disk based register book. The latter will provide capacity for a few thousands of single-field records. Hence, the user can set up e.g. a Register of Earthquakes (date, time, location, magnitude, depth, duration) using On File Register, while keeping detailed records of specific earthquakes (e.g. > 6 R) using On File Database. As per Cosmos, On File Register has a resume option in order to access the RAM-disk contents anytime and it also includes a color graphic screen saver.
On File database is disk-based, thus all the records are stored in the disk drive as stand-alone files. On the other hand, On File Register uses a single file to store the records, which is loaded in RAM-disk from the disk drive. The maximum capacity of On File database depends on the maximum directory entries (64/128/256/512 etc.), whereas the maximum capacity of the On File Register depends on the size of the RAM-disk and/or the disk drive. ROMDOS 800 KB disks which can store up to 256 files are ideal to run On File database. The 20 MB Dobbertin Harddisc or similar media which support more directory entries can also be used. On File database access the records directly by reading the related files from the disk, while On File Register access the records serially from the RAM-disk. For large register books which contain more than 64 records, a 16 KB "cache" memory is implemented in order to be able to move back and forth while reading the records. Notice, that the amount of data that can be stored and accessed using On File Database/Register resembles to the 16-bit world of computing (Other Computers:16 bit computers).
