Commodore 64 User Manual page 76

RECOMMENDED DATA BASE
PROGRAMS
Data bases keep track of things like mailing
lists, grocery lists, personnel information, etc. A
data base program can take separate pieces of
information and rearrange them in a different
order. For instance, you can take a mailing list
arranged in alphabetical order and ask your
computer to print out the labels in zip code
order for the Post Office. You can also select
information for people whose ages fall only
within a certain range, if that information has
been put in each person's record.
For a simple mailing list FOR THE VIC AND
64, you can't beat TOTLLABEL from TOTL
Software, Inc. This is a very versatile and useful
mailing list program. If used WITH THE VIC,
your computer will need 8K of extra memory.
For a more elaborate data base program, we
recommend Flex File 2.1 from Webber Soft
ware, for both the VIC and the 64. The VIC
version requires memory expansion; both ver
sions require a disk drive. It is a reliable, simple
program that has been popular on larger Com
modore computers for several years. With it,
you can set up your own fields, do math cal
culations, sort alphabetically, and print reports.
An even better version of CMD's popular and
versatile program. The Manager, is also
expected FOR THE 64 soon and will be sold
directly by Commodore.
RECOMMENDED COMPUTER
LANGUAGES
A computer language is a set of instructions
which you can use to communicate with your
computer. The language that is built into your
VIC or 64, Microsoft BASIC, is a more sophis
ticated version of the original BASIC language.
With computers, some languages are better for
certain purposes than others. Certain computer
languages are better for graphics, others are
better for mathematical functions, and so on.
FOR THE VIC, there is a version of FIG FORTH
available from HES, and a well-done Vanilld
PILOT from Tamarack Software. If you need
the Logo language for the VIC, you can try
Turtle Graphics from HES. Logo [and other lan
guages that use turtle graphics) are used to
move the cursor in different directions so that
graphics can be created. By using simple com
mands, children can easily use these
languages.
FOR THE 64, there is also Vanilla PILOT from
Tamarack Software, a PILOT from Commodore,
and Logo {an enhanced version of Terrapin's
Apple Logo) from Commodore. The CP/M
operating system and some of the thousands
of programs that work with it are now avail
able from Commodore. The UCSD Pascal lan
guage should also be forthcoming from
Commodore.
A truly fantastic but little-known language
called COMAL will soon be available FOR THE
COMMODORE 64. This is a simple yet power
ful language which is used for teaching. Devel
oped in Denmark as a first computer language
for schools, it combines the best elements of
BASIC and Pascal into one structured com
puter language for beginners. It is in the public
domain, with lots of help in how to use it
being provided by the COMAL Interest Group
of Madison, Wisconsin.
The Pascal and COBOL languages, which are
more complicated and sophisticated than
BASIC, eventually will be available FOR THE
64. These languages, often used for business
applications, can perform certain complex
operations in less time than it would take
using BASIC.