
Lndbase & eShell
================


 Lndbase as a database model has been on the net since Jan 2000.
The first release however included just the raw database server which
was not easy to use (plus bugs).

 This release includes eShell, an amazing shell that can do really cool
stuff. I think you'll like it.


 So whats does this thing do ?

 30 minutes are enough to find out if it is really as cool as it claims.

 Lndbase basically is a user database where it forms a web of relevant data
elements by links. There are no arrays or structures, just links or relevant
elements and using this schema is what a computer is supposed to do anyway.


 A sample database is provided to see what's happening.


Quick Install
=============

Change to directory "src"
Type "make"
Hopefully a file "lndbase" will be generated.
Optionally copy this file to "/usr/bin"

Change to directory "eShell"
Type "make"
Hopefully again a file "eShell" will be generated in directory "eShell/objdir"
Optionally copy this file to "/usr/bin"


Make a directory ".lndbase" in your home directory (cd; mkdir .lndbase)

Copy the files from the directory "Sampledb" to ".lndbase"
(cd Sampledb; cp * ~/.lndbase)
This is the provided sample database.


Make a directory ".eShell" in your home directory and a directory
".eShell/exports" (cd; mkdir .eShell; mkdir .eShell/exports)

Copy the files from "eShell/Files/" to ".eShell"
(cd eShell/Files; cp * ~/.eShell)

Thats it.


eShell in action
================

First we must start the database.
For now the command is: 	lndbase -u ~/.eShell/lnsocket
Do not wait for it to finish, it is the server and it is listening
for client connections. Open another xterm or virtual console.

Then from X Windows start eShell.
The command is:			eShell


Ok, in Lndbase we have to start the web navigation from somewhere.
Lets search for "linux".

Click on the little blue button down left with the letters "lnd"
Type "linux" in the prompt "Search for:".

A new sheet should be drawn (if not I will commit suicide)

These are the links of the data element "linux"

That's it.


Click on any element and the on "Get Links".

Right click is more interesting.

Specifically may click on `tux'.`tux' is linked to a 16kB big element.
Right click on that pops up a menu with an option "View".
If the image processing program ImageMagick is installed on the system
the picture of a penguin will automagically appear.
If not, the listing of the group "sys.viewers" has an element "display"
which should be changed to "gimp" or whatever the custom image viewer is.


Right click on a URL element (www.lwn.net) has an option "Open WWW" which
will open a new netscape window with that URL.



So is that just a fun demo ?
============================

Nope. The model of the database and the shell macro language are very
powerful. Crazy things can be done with this shell.

Band records linked to songs, songs linked to lyrics and MP3 data and with a
button press the MP3 data may start playing.
People linked to e-mail addresses, recipies to food, cars to manufacturers,
phone numbers to offices, books to authors, URLs to last modification date,
english words to french words, dates to appointments.

More information on using the program starts at the file Doc/eShell.intro


Check http://students.ceid.upatras.gr/~sxanth/lndbase
for the latest version.
Feedback at <axanth@tee.gr> or <sxanth@ceid.upartas.gr>


How to stop this thing
======================

In eShell type ":quit"
In the running database server press Control-C


How to uninstall
================

Remove the files:	lndbase		eShell
and the directories:	~/.lndbase	~/.eShell
the extracted tar directories and the downloaded tar file.
