The SharkBase dbf Language
Historical Notes:
Shark (originally developed as VP-Info for business-type applications) is a dbf language/compiler intended as a high-speed version of dBase. Built on a modern version of the dBase file system, Shark can be visualized these days as a simplified SQL language which runs on simple local servers. In other words, it's a sophisticated relational database, similar to dBase, Clipper, and FoxPro languages but capable of querying large, standard data files. Building on the earlier VP-Info and dBase idea, SharkBase was subsequently developed for writing applications for large statistics and accounting purposes. Although capable of handling billions of records, SharkBase is still efficient, quick, stable, and very powerful. Shark's dbf data files are 100% compatible with dBase & Clipper files, and also OpenOffice/LibreOffice spreadsheet files such as .odt/.xls type files. The programming syntax is similar to dBase, and vintage dBase programs can be ported to SharkBase easily. Shark is also multi-user, multitasking on modern Windows systems using vDOS or DOSbox-X emulators.
The question somestimes comes up: who actually invented SharkBase? Where did it start? The scientistss who pulled it all together started with mathematicians David Clark and George Grätzer at the University of Manitoba with their idea for a fast,flexible database compiler that would work with standard database files such as were evolving at the time. One such evolutionary thread was VP-Info, the block-buster dBase compiler produced by Paperback Software in 1983. Grätzer is still widely known and respected for his contribution to the LaTeX math display language:
The result was a language called "dComp" which continued to evolve with contributions from many others, into its most recent iteration, SharkBase.
SharkBase is able to read and import/export the other dbf file types. Files, indexes, and memos are dBase compatible. Shark dbf data files can be imported into Open/LibreOffice and into Microsoft Office. Shark is able to sort out the enormous and clumsy PayPal annual summary CSV reports, a huge benefit for businesses selling on PayPal! Shark also contains over 200 advanced math functions, making Shark most useful for large, complicated statistical applications. In general, Shark is able to handle bigger projects, much faster, and more easily, than its older siblings.
Shark was first released in 1983 by Sub Rosa Inc as dCOMPtm. It was revised and released as MAXtm in 1985. Following the MAXtm release, it was revised and republished as VP-Infotm by Paperback Software in 1986, and was immediately popular because of its speed and stability. In 1990, the Clippertm-compatible (file and index) network edition was released by Sub Rosa Publishing Inc under the name SharkBasetm. The Clipper indexes proved to be not as popular as the dBase indexes, and this latest version of SharkBase uses a newer, enhanced dBase IV index capable of reading and writing any dBase file and index regardless of origin. Today, SharkBase with the latest .ndx indexing is published by Specialized Clinical Software and can be purchased on this website.
The basic single-user version VP-Info with dBase II indexes is still available as a free download from many sources. The latest multi-user, multi-tasking version SharkBase, with Shark's improved .ndx file indexing, and capable of reading any dbf file format, is available from this website. Both versions run on any version of Windows using any of several popular Windows-based emulators. The multi-user version of SharkBase (included in the download package), has the bonus feature of supporting multi-user record-locking.
SharkBase can also run as a single-user app without NetBIOS networking, exactly like VP-Info, but with all the later advanced file and math abilities.
DOS/Windows emulators:
Although it's possible to still run Shark on MS-DOS, it's really not practical! It essentially runs better as a Windows application using the vDOS emulator. The vDOS emulator is a Windows application, which calls and runs Shark with a 2-line command. Shark also runs on DOSbox-X. In an original MS-DOS setup, both Shark & VP-Info function normally, but with the slow speed and lower-quality MS-DOS display quirks as shown. Each environment handles print output differently: MS-DOS directs output to a device (LPT1, for example, which doesn't exist on a modern PC) or to a text file. SHARK on vDOS/Windows, on the other hand, easily prints plain text output to a Windows printer, or to a Windows text file.
vDOS and DOSbox are similar in origin, but DOSbox is optimised for single-user, single-tasking applications such as DOS games. vDOS can handle multi-user, multi-tasking business-type applications, and handles memory allocation automatically. Since later versions of Windows don't print to a DOS device (e.g. "LPT1" or "COM1"), SHARK on vDOS automatically directs its output to a standard Windows text file or alternatively to any installed Windows printer. DOS output limitations are not a problem with Shark since the Shark output is directed to a simple ".txt" file which can be easily printed from Windows, or accessed by any Windows print applications to create, for example, .doc or .pdf files. Both environments are subject to MS-DOS "8+3" file name limitations.
Long files names can be installed from the after-market using outside utilities if needed.Shark's output files are automatically handled by Windows; the tools for formatting Shark PRINTED output come with the included vDOS files package. Output files are directed by your Shark program and are transparent to the end-user.