Oh wow, you're right! I see now that under MAME options there is a "Slot Devices" that has a printer selection option. I overlooked that I guess, thinking it was unrelated to printing. I'll need to dig into CP/M-80 configuration options more and see if I can get it talking to the emulated printer. Thank you very much for the heads-up!
Hopefully someone more learned than myself about modern database programming will chime in. I'm not sure what current system offers both the database and development features in such a seamless package. That said, on the Mastodon post for this article, I was told, "Learning dBASE isn't for naught" and was directed to https://xharbour.org/ as a modern dBASE/Clipper implementation. (haven't had a chance to try it yet, personally)
Since someone else posted my article instead of me, I felt compelled to clarify who I am. Just trying to navigate social media waters to the best of my ability.
Thanks for writing this! I remember reading about dBase II as a kid, and now that I’m (much!) older and actually using some of the databases of today, I have sometimes wondered what those older personal-computer databases looked like.
Author here, and thanks for reading. I'm glad to hear stories from a developer POV about those days. It's interesting uncovering subtle interface changes as I investigate various applications. It makes sense to me to not use Return for fields, especially when fields could gradually accommodate longer and longer blocks of text. Being able to naturally type multiple paragraphs, say for a "Notes" field in a database, would make sense.
Yes, it makes sense when viewed like that, and was probably a necessary change.
DOS chose Enter though because in those days mist data capture was numbers. Lots and lots of numbers. Data capturers could track the left hand down the column (so keeping place on yhe paper) any type with the right. Enter is right there in the keypad so only one hand needed.
Switching to Tab means 2 hands needed on the keyboard, so difficult to keep track on the paper.
Typically also, on DOS screens there was very little multi-line entry. Addresses were multiple entry fields, and so on. Tab was pretty much not used (outside of word processing).
If I went back now, to design the standard keyboard, I'd add dedicated "Next" and "Previous" buttons on the numeric keypad. No need for Enter there.
The HN community seemed to enjoy my previous post about Deluxe Paint. I cover all productivity software genres and hardware, which has kept me busy for a while. This week, I've circled back around to the Amiga, looking at Scala Multimedia MM300.
In addition to learning Scala, I discuss the IFF file format, a little about ARexx, do some genlocking, write a poem in tribute to a UI/UX stalwart workhorse, and give instructions on using a modern smartphone as a video source into WinUAE for Scala graphic composition that you can use in a Twitch/Discord livestream. Truly, a little something for everyone. I hope HN enjoys it!
Thank you! I used Scala back in the day, loved it. Just recently I was searching for some information on it, any scraps at all, and found nothing. Thank you for fixing that!
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