Inside Natural - Table of Contents and Index
As noted earlier, this is a work in process.
The table of contents of recent issues appears in reverse Volume sequence
(although within a Volume, the issues are in ascending Number sequence).
Over time, this will be expanded to include all Volumes, and an index will be added as well.
Volume 16
Number 1 - February 2006
- Cover Story
- Systems in Transition
Data proliferation - Information Blight
- Natur Teknik
- Who is the "Bad Guy"?
USR0600 - Tracing a problem
- *OCCURRENCE
Number of occurrences of an array for a "V" dimensioned array
in a Parameter Data Area. Programming/design implications.
- EXAMINE
- Background
Statement of a performance problem.
- The simplest case
Looking for a single character, which is not there.
- But what if it is there?
The character is there.
- Large Target
Character is at the end of a long string
- FULL
Difference versus not FULL. Some good uses for FULL.
Number 2 - May 2006
- Cover Stories
- It really moved
Adabas moving an UPDATE'd record
- The Library Analogy
Use of READ BY ISN (rather than PHYSICAL) with UPDATE
- Natur Teknik
- XX aka SAVE AS
A useful little utility
- EXAMINE, SCAN, et alia
Inter platform performance discussion
- Incore Tables
Versus FIND NUMBER, READ, or HISTOGRAM.
- But what if the value is there?
Implications of a target in different table locations.
- Sorted Table/list (Binary Search)
Not as fast as IF..SCAN (or EXAMINE)
- Inner workings of EXAMINE
Problems with multiple matches
- Special Cases
Number 3 - August 2006
- Cover Stories
- The Philadelphia Conference
The Boston Natural Conference moves to Philadelphia
- The CPU Policeman
Origin of the new column
- The CPU Policeman
- Adjusting a Date Format Variable
How to save 25% on a simple task
- MOVE BY NAME
When this can be very expensive
- Natur Teknik
- The MOVE Table
Extensive discussion regarding formats for "source" and "target" in a MOVE statement.
- MOVE BY NAME implications
When source and target disagree
- A new service
Combining Consulting and Teaching
Number 4 - November 2006
- Cover Stories
- A Real Person
Avoiding "recorded hell"
- Philly Conference
Retrospective on the recent Natural conference
- Backup, Backup, Backup
Guard your laptops
- Lakes, Ponds, and the Glass Bottom Boat
- Oveview
History of the terminology
- Teminology
Relating Natural terminology to mine
- Commands
Natural's "nautical" commands (%W family of commands)
- Sailing the BOAT on the LAKE
Working with logical screens (LS and PS) much larger than physical screens
- REINPUT to where?
Natural's screen positioning for REINPUT
- Order Entry code with REINPUT
Example of REINPUT positioning
- Sailing the BOAT on the POND
Creating pop up windows
Volume 15
Number 1 - February 2005
- Cover Stories
- The Natural Conference
Preview of the 2005 Boston Natural Conference
- SpoD
Is this the year for SpoD to shine?
- Commands in Depth
- MU's then PE's
Overview of the discussion to follow.
Adabas aspects of MU's.
- Adding Records with MU's
Programming implications of STORE
- MU Maintenance
Programming implications of UPDATE
- Deleting occurrences of MU's
Programming implications and Associator effects
- USR1043
Direct Calls to Adabas from Natural.
The "old form" of UPDATE for MU's
- FIND & READ
Using MU's for FIND & READ
- PE's Overview
Adabas aspects of PE
- Adding Records with PE's
Programming implications of STORE
- PE Alternate definition
Different View definitions
- "Deleting" occurrences of PE's
Basically, you can not do this.
- FIND and READ
Using fields within a PE as search arguments
Number 2 - May 2005
- Cover Story
- Puzzlement
Overview of the forthcoming Boston Conference
- Feature - Warning
- When NOT to MULTI-FETCH
Implications of MULTI-FETCH with STORE
- Commands in Depth - PF Keys
- Overview
- Program Sensitivity
The most common use of PF Keys
- Duration
*LEVEL implications
- Tangent - NEWPAGE
*LEVEL implications
- Debugging/Development Sensitivity
Sensitivity ends when we return to *LEVEL = 1
- "Functions"
Programs, Terminal Commands, Monitor Commands
- Terminal Commands
A Windowing use
- Data
About to be made obsolete by Selection Boxes
- Help
- SET KEY ON/OFF
Changing PF Key assignments from screen to screen
- PA keys and %R
A very useful facility for end-users
- Debugging/Development Functions
- SET KEY DYNAMIC
Customizing key assignments
Number 3 - August 2005
- Cover Stories
- Memory Lane
The Adabas Newsletter
- From Memory Lane to the Future
Announced features for Natural
- Feature Article
- GDA's, AIV's & Global Variables
Everything you ever wanted to know about these three
mechanisms for sharing data across object boundaries.
- The Stack
- Accessing the Stack
The new USR4003; %.P and %.S; the Debugger
- Data Editor
- Inserting Entries
Working with Views in a Data Area
Number 4 - November 2005
- Cover Story
- Darmstadt Conference
Developers, Consultants, and Educators Conference
- Natur Teknik
- Layouts, an underused feature
Overview, syntax, invoking;
DYNAMIC versus non DYNAMIC
- PreProcessing Rules
A very important and powerful use for Layouts
- Selection Boxes
Witn an INPUT statement; inside a Map.
Programming implications.
- How Do I?
A special sort operation
- OPTIONAL Parameters
New facility for Parameter Data Areas
Volume 14
Number 1 - February 2004
- Cover Stories
- The Boston Conference
Preview of the 2004 Boston Natural Conference
- Outsourcing
Why does this go on???
- Natur Teknik
- DY Overview
The basics for the DY (Dynamic Parameter) facility.
Syntax shorthand; simple uses
- More DY
More sophisticated uses for DY, including Progress Bar Charts,
Data Bar Charts, Passwords.
- Version 6
- Overview
Basics of the new Open Systems Release
- User Defined Functions
When/when not to use.
- Natural Functions
- *TRANSLATE
- *TRIM
Number 2 - May 2004
- Cover Stories
- Boston Diary
Overview of the Boston Conference; highlights and more highlights
- Memory Lane
Review of Volume 1 Number 4
- System Functions
- *MAXVAL and *MINVAL
New Natural functions in Open Systems Version 6.
- Passing Arguments
- Using CALLNAT
The traditional method
- BY VALUE
New one-way transfer; value, not address pointer
- BY VALUE RESULT
New two-way transfer; value, not address pointer
- Arrays
Various techniques
- MASKs
Number 3 - August 2004
- Cover Story
- Australia Trip
Some travelogue material; and a discussion of Software AG acquisitions;.
- Short Shots
- A Short Quiz
Logical versus Physical Backout Transaction.
- DIVIDE and Conquer
DIVIDE precison; DIVIDE efficiency; Trans platform considerations
- Myth conceptions
Performance that runs counter to generally accepted knowledge
- Natur Teknik
- Where is the last one?
EXAMINE...DIRECTION BACKWARD
- EXAMINE; STARTING FROM..ENDING AT
Programming considerations
Number 4 - November 2004
- Cover Stories
- Backup, Backup
Surviving a hard drive crash (barely)
- Forecasting
PC Natural
- Commands in Depth GET, GET SAME, OBTAIN
- GET SAME
Basics using DBLOG
- Direct Calls Tangent
More on DBLOG
- Back to GET SAME
Uses for GET SAME
- GET SAME & UPDATE
- GET SAME in Structured Mode
- OBTAIN
And Structured Mode equivalent
- GET
using DBLOG
- GET & UPDATE
- GET without UPDATE
- Dealing with MU's and PE's
- Null Suppressed vs Not Null Suppressed
- MU & PE discussion
- READ'ing occurrences
Volume 13
Number 1 - February 2003
- Cover Story
- The best laid plans
Discussion re the Pacific Southwest Users Group meeting from January 2003.
- Natur Teknik
- Globals, SET GLOBALS, FORMAT and ZP
This series of articles uses the ZP (Zero Print) parameter to demonstrate
the functionalities (when applied, range of control, etc) of Globals,
SET GLOBALS, and FORMAT, as well as statement and variable level overrides.
- The ZP "hierarchy"
- FORMAT
- SET GLOBALS
- Getting the Decimal Point there
An interesting way to use the Stack.
- Readers Forum
- HISTO/FIND
An approach to doing the equivalent of a READ LOGICAL
by a super descriptor when one of the super's component
parts is a field within a Periodic Group. Adabas does
not permit such a functionality, therefore neither does Natural.
- Messages from the Developers
- Dynamic Variables
A subprogram which "parses" HTML code in a Dynamic Variable.
- REQUEST DOCUMENT
Basic options for this new statement, plus an example.
- Interacting with the Web
Using Natural to download information from the web based
on user input.
- More Natur Teknik
- MASKs
Everything you wanted to know about MASKs. Okay, not everything.
Due to space constraints this issue, this article will conclude
next issue.
Number 2 - May 2003
- Cover Story
- Seminar Announcement
Discussion of the seminar series with Andreas Schuetz on Natural 3 and 4,
Internals and Externals.
- In Depth - MU's and PE's
- This series of articles discusses many aspects of reading and updating
Multiple Valued Fields and Periodic Groups.
- Multiple Valued Fields
- Reading MU's
- OBTAIN tangent
- Syntax tangent
- MU Maintenance
- Periodic Groups
- Reading PE's
- PE maintenance
- Natur Teknik
- Direct Calls
Using the SYSEXT program USR1043 to issue a Direct Call to Adabas.
The Direct Call will issue an "old form" of the update facility
for Multiple Valued Fields.
- DISPLAY - column headers and widths
Potential problems for the unwary
- Calendar Routine
The showpiece of the issue. A Natural program that creates an interface that is basically
identical to the standard Windows Calendar Date Input routine.
Number 3 - August 2003
- Cover Story
- New use for an old computer
An approach to avoiding PC Viruses, and other infections.
- Natur Teknik
- Which NAME was that
Labels and Line References
- References to System Variables
Labels and Line References for System Variables
- What happened to the Record
Adabas records moved as a result of an UPDATE
- FOR versus EXAMINE
Performance Comparison
- SCAN
Performance vs EXAMINE
- A Simple Trick
A trick to improve performance of an EXAMINE
- Incore Tables
Using Large Alpha Variables for incore Tables
- Natural 4 Preview
Highlights (not detailed discussions) of V4
Number 4 - November 2003
- Cover Stories
- World Wide Tour
Retrospective of the joint teaching tour with Andreas Schuetz
- A word to the wise
Protecting your laptop while onboard an airplane
- The Boston Conference
Announcement of the 2004 Boston Conference
- In Depth
- FIND NUMBER
Peformance; versus HISTOGRAM ; saving ISN lists
- More In Depth
- Dynamic Variables
Natural's new facility for variable lengthed Alpha
and Binary Variables. Space considerations; versus Long Variables.
Volume 12
Number 1 - February 2002
- Cover Story
- The new name
New name for, and meeting announcement for EMEA NPUG meeting
in Lucern.
- Commands in Depth
- REINPUT
A series of articles on REINPUT.
- Syntax & Overview
- REINPUT versus REINPUT FULL - an explanation and examples
- MARK options
- USING HELP
- Natur Teknik
- REINPUT USING HELP
Use of this statement/option to "read" data from a Map
while in a Helproutine.
- %CCW
Alternative method to read data from a Map while in Helproutine.
- Help for output only fields.
A useful technique for a user friendly interface.
- Performance Tips
Relating to MOVE and ASSIGN and array subscripting.
- Array versus String
Timing comparison for MOVE, IF against arrays, strings, and substrings.
- FIND FIRST vs FIND (1)
Uses DBLOG to compare commands issued for these statements.
Number 2 - May 2002
- Cover Stories
- Happy Anniversary to S.L.ROBINSON & ASSOCIATES
Retrospective on company's 25th anniversary
- Software AG Partner
S.L. Robinson & Associates becomes a Technology Partner
of Software AG.
- Natur Teknik
- Array shift
Moving array occurences; an exercise in efficiency
- Understanding MU notation
Dealing with various methods for specifying and referencing
MU occurences.
- Back to the problem
Continuation of the array shift exercise
- Natural on the PC
- The Natural Reporter
Overview of this powerful facility incorporated within Natural on the PC.
Examples of creating labels, envelopes, etc.
-
Commands in Depth
- The Stack
Discussion of the statement and many of its options.
Number 3 - August 2002
- Cover Stories
- The Boston & Sevilla Conferences
Tentative agendas
- Simply Natural
- Natur Teknik
- Compressing across field boundaries
Interesting programming "trick"
- Integer & Binary formats
How are they different; how are they similar.
- IF...Left & Right
Discussion of the effects of different formats on different
sides of an IF statement.
- IF...SCAN
Efficiency comparison with EXAMINE and FOR loops.
- Alpha/Numeric; yet again
An Edit Mask anomoly.
Number 4 - November 2002
- Cover Stories
- The Boston Conference
A retrospective and a look ahead to 2004
- Some light entertainment
An interesting syntax "flaw" and discussion
- Command in depth
- Control Variables
A series of articles on many of the uses for Control Variables
- The Basics
- AD= CD=
- IF MODIFIED
- REINPUT problems
- Bit Map of a Control Variable
- MARK
- AD=P (Protect)
- Natur Teknik
- Scrolling through the park vertically
Programming "trick" to change Natural's tab order
- Flip-Flop
Interesting problem. Reversing integers in an alpha field.
Application is middle eastern language translation.
Volume 11
Number 1 - February 2001
- Cover Stories
- Deja Vu
SAGA Software back in the fold; acquired by Software AG Darmstadt
- Boston Conference
Preliminary notice for the 10th Boston Natural Conference
- Simply Natural
Commercial re the release of Simply Natural
- Commands in Depth
- DISPLAY
This is an extensive series of articles pertaining to DISPLAY
- The Basics
- Column Headers
- Field Widths
- Logical Tabbing (T*)
- Multiple DISPLAYs
- Identical Suppress
- Multiple fields in one column
- Row headers
- MU's, PE's, and arrays
- Vertical tabbing (P*)
- Empty Line Suppress
- NEWPAGE
- System Functions
Number 2 - May 2001
- Cover Stories
- Do you XML?
Report on Experience 2001, Software AG conference.
XML dominated the vendor presentations.
- Edit MASKs
Sets the stage for the rest of the issue
- Natur Teknik
- Numeric Edit Masks
- Numeric IF...MASK
- Alpha edit Masks
Number 3 - August 2001
- Cover Stories
- Boston and Darmstadt Natural Conferences
Overview of the two upcoming conferences
- Coding Environments
- A funny bug
A bug with MOVE EDITED and a date format variable
- WRITE WORK FILE
Some performance tests and analysis
- Natur Teknik
- DAER and MARGOTSIH SDRAWKCAB
Read and Histogram backwards..new Natural feature
- READ .. STARTING WITH ISN=
Another new Natural feature
- Is it there? Where?
Comparison of IF, EXAMINE, SCAN, etc.
- WRITE TITLE
Description of a common INCLUDEs
- EXAMINE FULL
Compares EXAMINE and EXAMINE FULL
Number 4 - November 2001
- Cover Stories
- Boston & Darmstadt conferences
Reflections on the two conferences
- How to get performance using the right Natural statements
This is a series of articles built around the presentation
by Thomas Frischmann at the Darmstadt conference
- System Variables and DECIDE
- IF
- Arrays
- More on Arrays
- WRITE WORK FILE
- READ WORK FILE
- Did you know? Seldom used or unknown features of Natural
This is a series of articles built around the presentation
by Andreas Schuetz at the Darmstadt conference
- COMPRESS NUMERIC
- IC and LC
- %C and %Z
- Ampersand Variables
- Variable sizing
- Array subscripts
- External Objects
Volume 10
Number 1 - February 2000
- Cover Stories
- Simply Natural Available
Simply Natural is now out of Beta and available
- Millenium Tips
Note that Scott Sinclair will be contributing a column called "Millenium Tips"
- Commands in Depth
- FIND versus READ
Functional and Quantitative analysis
- FIND NUMBER versus HISTOGRAM
Similar analysis for FIND NUMBER and HISTOGRAM
- Millenium Tips
- Extending XREF
Designing to take advantage of XREF. Reader commentary & suggestions as well as Scott's column.
- Natur Teknik
- MOVE LEFT?
MOVE LEFT JUSTIFIED and SUBSTRING not compatible
- EXAMINE TRANSLATE
An incompatibility between mainframe and PC, now resolved.
Number 2 - May 2000
- Cover Story
- The Boston Conference
A brief history of the Boston Natural Conferences
- Millenium Tips
- Phantom Bytes
Using "out of range" bytes for a Super Descriptor
- Component Development
Breaking code up into modular units
- Readers Forum
- Documentation Tip
Locating subroutines in a program
- Adding Fields to a PE Group
Real world approach to a familiar problem
- Number of Array Occurrences
Feature request results in Variable dimensioned arrays in subprograms.
- Commands in Depth
- The Three Modes Structured, Mixed, Report
In-depth discussion of differences/similarities/idiosyncracies.
Number 3 - August 2000
- Cover Stories
- Boston Conference
Reflections on recent Boston Conference
- A Natural Virus
Contemplation on what would constitute a Natural "virus"
- Millenium Tips
- Implicit Array Limits
The new "V" notation for array dimensioning in Subprograms
- The rarely used %J
"Calling" a Helproutine
- More on %J
An interesting use for %J (creating pop-up windows)
- Scan All Libraries
SAG-L code to search for a given text string in a library.
- Natural Version 4
- Looong Variables
Up to 1 Gig in length for Alpha and Binary Variables
- *Occurrence
New System Variable which indicates the number of passed occurences of an array.
- Natur Teknik
- SCAN vs MASK vs EXAMINE
Timing comparisons
- Centering Alpha Field
Different approaches to a common problem
- WEB, wave of future
Some ramblings about potential problems with the Web
- Bit Mapping 101
Different approaches to storing "bit-data" and performing Boolean operations on them.
Number 4 - November 2000
- Cover Stories
- Natur Teknik
- Random Number Generator
Different programs for this function
- Yet More Random Number Generators
Includes discussion of "pseudo random"
- Is that your Final Answer?(re FIND NUMBER)
Scanning Problem
- REPEAT'?. Really.?
Version anomolies
- REDEFINE..Sometimes
Interesting discussions re REDEFINE in external Local and Parameter Data Areas.
- Millenium Tips
- Bit Manipulation
Similar discussion to preceding issue re OR and XOR of bit maps in Natural.
- CSUBUB
Construct routine to submit the contents of the source area to the internal reader.
- USR0080
Changing the name and type of the source area "object".
- Natur Teknik (again)
- From A to F but not musically
Sign representation for packed and unpacked numbers
- Simply Natural
Commercial for Simply Natural upon its one year anniversary