A database is a collection of records. Think of each record as a single index card containing information about a single entity, such as an person or company. The database comprises collections of these index cards.

Each record is a collection of fields. The HomePrint Labels Database record consists of a set of predefined fields. The same fields are assumed to exist for each record of the database, but the data contained in corresponding fields from one record to the next may differ. For example, there may be a Last Name field in each record of your database. The specific last name in each record will probably be different.

Records in a database can be grouped. A group defines a subset of all records in the database. A record can be included in up to 14 groups. A user can assign each group the desired title. The group checkboxes on the right of the Database View allow easy control over including a databses record to a particular group.

Records in a database can be filtered. A user can easely make the product display only those records belonging to a particular group by using View Groups option. Or only those, containing certaing search pattern with the help of Find, Query and Serach All Fields commands. There records can be subjected to complex filtering by usin the combination of the groupd and search options.

HomePrint Labels has the ability to create, work with, and save databases. You can also merge, split, and sort databases, import and export data from text delimited, or vcard files. HomePrint Labels databases are manipulated through the use of selected items in various pull-down menus and the use of the Database View. Database View appears when you switch to Database in the main window and create a new, or open an existing database.

. To create a new database, click the New Database button on the left of themain window. Add the desired name into the New Database dialog box, and click OK. A new database appears in the databases list.

. To open an existing database, select it from the databases list.

The Database View is divided into three sections.

1) The leftmost section is the Browser Area, or simply the Browser.

2) The middle section is the Data Entry Area, the workspace that you use to modify the currently active record.

3) The rightmost section is the User Groups Area which provides for the selection of groups for a record. In addition, the Tool Bars appear on the top of the Database View.

Database Fields may contain letters, numbers, or a combination of both. Certain fields are verified for allowable data. Verification depends on whether the database is in domestic or international verification mode. The verification mode can be changed by selecting the Verification panel from the Preferences dialog box. Two radio buttons allow you to select the verification mode.

As an example of verification, in domestic mode, the address State field must be a legal two-character state abbreviation. In addition, the ZIP code must be either 5, 9, or 11 digits long. If you have not entered a valid state or ZIP code and attempt to exit the field, HomePrint Labels will display a dialog box warning you that the field did not pass validation.

The HomePrint Labels fields information:

. Salutation. The Salutation field can be used for a greeting or title that you would like to include in a mailing address, such as Dr., Ms., The Honorable, etc. The Salutation may be up to 25 characters.

. Date. If HomePrint Labels is set to Domestic Verification, enter the date in MM/DD/YY format. If HomePrint Labels is set to International, enter the date in DD/MM/YY format. The Date field will accept only numeric data separated by /. The Date field can be used to identify when the record was inserted into the database or when the record was last updated. Name The Name field is divided into First Name and Last Name sections.

. State. Enter the state abbreviation. The State field will accept 4 characters. However, only valid state abbreviations will be accepted if Verification is set to Domestic .

. ZIP/Postal Code Enter the ZIP or Postal Code. The ZIP/Postal Code field will accept up to 11 digits. If the Verification is set to Domestic , only 5, 9, or 11 digit ZIP codes will be accepted. You can place optional dashes in the ZIP code to separate the ZIP from the additional four digits and 2 digit delivery code (i.e., 12345- 1234-12).