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 (2024) 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. It 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 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.
The 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 is disk-based and has a 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 will be released. It will provide capacity for 230 records (460 KB) and will also include On File Register, a RAM-disk single-file 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 and duration) using On File Register, while keeping detailed records of the earthquakes that were stronger than e.g. 6 Richter 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 supports the On File screen saver.
On File is an ideal application for the ROMDOS D20 80 track disks, which can store up to 256 files in a single directory user (tested and working using On File 2025). The 20 MB Dobbertin Harddisc or similar media which support up to 512 directory entries can also be used. Notice, that the amount of data that can be stored and accessed using On File and On File Register is huge for the CP/M-80 world.
Good applications are like good songs, they never die.
