The Find File, File Open Dialog works in the normal windows way, allowing you to find and open a file for Mini-Edit to operate on. A few minor points on proper use are made below.

Current Path The current path shows where in the file system you are looking. As a rule it is best to keep your database files in the same directory as the Mini-Edit application. [Top]

File Type The file type works in the normal way and defaults to displaying *.ITS files. Keep in mind that older database files may be of the *.MDB type (the drop down box allows you to select *.MDB files, along with any file type). Aside: If you open an older *.MDB file and the tool does not see a similar file with the *.ITS extension, it will offer to upgrade the file you have opened to the current file style and will automatically create the missing table and sort the existing data entries into the new tables. The older tables (DEs, MSGs) will not be disturbed. This can be useful if you will be dealing with the subject file for any length of time. [Top]

Open button The open button works in the normal way, and Mini-Edit begins the process of opening the selected file. Background Data: This process involves an examination of the file to detect what tables it has which are of interest to Mini-Edit, followed by a basic examination of each table to confirm it has certain minimal required fields. The act of opening an older file more or less brings it up-to-date with any structural changes needed by the database, any new terms in the supporting fields, and other minor changes. During the open process, the fields listed in the ASN_Fields table of the MEdit_Settings.mdb file are used to determine if the table being examined is to be treated as an ITS table. When you open each individual table this process is continued for that table and additional fields may be added. Thus, if you want to make an older file current (which is often required to use it in some of the tools), simply open that file, then open every table of interest to you. The tool makes you do this manually for each file you need because often (particularly for data stewards) a user may have a need to keep old copies of files. The tool takes an optimistic approach to the tables themselves and does not mind additional fields it does not understand being associated with each table. It ignores these fields in it own operations. This allows legacy meta data from other tools to co-exist in the records of the tables. Tables which are not one of the standard named tables, or do not have the minimum data fields to be detected as a Mini-Edit table, can also co-exist in the file without problems. [Top]

Cancel button The cancel button is used to dismiss the Dialog without selecting a file. The former file and table (if one was selected) will remain the active table and file. Like most actions that are aborted, the minor error message is displayed and this event is entered into the log. [Top]