ebab7d0da53c51438720d60c6e2e467c - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

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<p><b>PC-File</b> was a <a href="Flat-file_database" title="Flat-file database">flat-file database</a> <a href="Computer_application" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer application">computer application</a> most often run under <a href="MS-DOS" title="MS-DOS">MS-DOS</a>.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Software">Software</h2></div>

<p>It was one of the first of three widely popular <a href="Software" title="Software">software</a> products sold via the <a href="Marketing" title="Marketing">marketing</a> method that became known as <a href="Shareware" title="Shareware">shareware</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-InfoWorld_Jan_1985_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-InfoWorld_Jan_1985-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It was originally written by <a href="Jim_Knopf" title="Jim Knopf">Jim "Button" Knopf</a> in late 1982, and he formed the company Buttonware to develop, market, and support it.

</p><p>The program was usually distributed for the cost of <a href="Diskette" class="mw-redirect" title="Diskette">diskettes</a> by local <a href="Users'_group" title="Users' group">user groups</a>. There was no <a href="Copy_protection" title="Copy protection">copy protection</a> and a manual was distributed as a file on the same diskettes as the program. It was extremely simple to use and extremely stable. It ran on just about any PC, while competing commercial products costing hundreds of <a href="United_States_dollar" title="United States dollar">dollars</a> were often picky and full of <a href="Software_bug" title="Software bug">bugs</a>.

</p><p>Knopf originally wrote the software for his own use to manage a church mailing list, on an <a href="Apple_II" title="Apple II">Apple II</a>. Later, he ported it to <a href="CP/M" title="CP/M">CP/M</a>, and then to MS-DOS. Other people heard about it, and started requesting copies. Eventually, the cost of sending out update disks inspired Knopf to include a note requesting a small cash donation to offset the expenses. The response was overwhelming, and when his income from PC-File exceeded "ten times" what he was making from his job at IBM, he decided to turn Buttonware into a full-time business.

</p><p>By June 1984 Knopf estimated that he had released 15 versions of PC-File, incorporating many user suggestions. He said that 50,000 copies were being used, and that about $1,000 in $45 checks arrived daily.<sup id="cite_ref-InfoWorld_Jun_1984_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-InfoWorld_Jun_1984-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After PC-File version 3.0, Buttonware released PC-File/R, which had limited "relational" capabilities. In 1987, PC-File+ was rewritten to use the popular <a href="DBASE" class="mw-redirect" title="DBASE">dBASE</a> III file format.

</p><p>PC-File for <a href="Microsoft_Windows" title="Microsoft Windows">Microsoft Windows</a> v8 was published by Outlook Software / Ace Software (previously Good Software) in 1994. This version works on Windows 3.1, 95, 98, and XP, but uses the <a href="8.3_filename" title="8.3 filename">8.3 file naming</a> convention. PC File will not run on Windows 7 64 bit, even in the XP compatibility mode, but will run in 'XP Mode'.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Reception">Reception</h2></div>

<p>In a 1984 review of databases, <i><a href="PC_Magazine" class="mw-redirect" title="PC Magazine">PC Magazine</a></i> found that "quite a few ... rough edges" existed, but concluded that "on a performance/price basis, [PC-File III] may be the best money you'll ever spend".<sup id="cite_ref-obrien19840612_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-obrien19840612-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<ul><li><a href="PC-Write" title="PC-Write">PC-Write</a></li>

<li><a href="Bob_Wallace_(computer_scientist)" title="Bob Wallace (computer scientist)">Bob Wallace</a></li>

<li><a href="Andrew_Fluegelman" title="Andrew Fluegelman">Andrew Fluegelman</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFWatt1985" class="citation magazine cs1">Watt, Peggy (January 14, 1985). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=-i4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18">"'Shareware' Makers Expanding"</a>. <i>InfoWorld</i>. Vol. 7, no. 2. p. 18. <a href="ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649">0199-6649</a>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-InfoWorld_Jun_1984-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-InfoWorld_Jun_1984_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFWatt1984" class="citation magazine cs1">Watt, Peggy (June 11, 1984). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=wy4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36">"Software for a Donation"</a>. <i>InfoWorld</i>. Vol. 6, no. 24. p. 36. <a href="ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649">0199-6649</a>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gurus.org/margy/pc-file.htm">The Complete Guide to PC-File, Version 5.01</a></i></span>

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<li id="cite_note-obrien19840612-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-obrien19840612_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFO'Brien,_Bill1984" class="citation magazine cs1">O'Brien, Bill (1984-06-12). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=amQldGdl9LkC&pg=RA1-PA177">"PC-File III: Best Performance for Price"</a>. <i>PC Magazine</i>. p. 177<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 October</span> 2013</span>.</cite></span>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li><i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ddj.com/184403976?pgno=2">Article about Jim "Button" Knopf</a></i>, from Dr. Dobb's Journal</li></ul></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-03-12" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=PC-File&oldid=1280154370">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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