This page describes databases and files used by CSDS.

Abbreviation Database

SQABBREV/SQABBREV1.DB

The abbreviation database translates abbreviations into their corresponding expansions. For example, if you type an abbreviation such as PTO, PAOC, PSOC or PATHOC the program replaces it with Pass The Ocean.

The supplied abbreviation database contains abbreviations for most calls. Each call has two default abbreviations:

1. the concatenation of the first letter of each word of the call.
2. the concatenation of the first two letters of each word of the call.

For example, the default abbreviations for Split Phantom Waves are SPW and SPPHWA. If you type an abbreviation for which there are duplicate expansions, the program prompts you to select the desired expansion (e.g., if you type ST, the program displays a dialog box asking if you want Swing Thru, Slide Thru, Star Thru, etc.). The abbreviation database can be edited to add your own favorite abbreviations. You can also remove abbreviations or expansions that you never intend to use.

Limitations:

• The length of an abbreviation plus the length of its expansion can not exceed 92 characters

Notes:

• An Abbreviation is a text string without any spaces. Abbreviations are automatically converted into uppercase within the abbreviation database.
• An Expansion may be any combination of uppercase and lowercase characters, and may contain spaces.

In addition, the following intrinsic abbreviations are available: B\ Boy BS\ Boys C\ Center CS\ Centers CB\ Center Boy CBS\ Center Boys CC\ Center Column CD\ Center Diamond CG\ Center Girl CGS\ Center Girls CL\ Center Line CW\ Center Wave ES\ Ends EB\ End Boy EBS\ End Boys EG\ End Girl EGS\ End Girls G\ Girl GS\ Girls H\ Head HS\ Heads HB\ Head Boy HBS\ Head Boys HC\ Head Corners HG\ Head Girl HGS\ Head Girls L\ Leader LS\ Leaders O\ Outside OS\ Outsides S\ Side SS\ Sides SB\ Side Boy SBS\ Side Boys SC\ Side Corners SG\ Side Girl SGS\ Side Girls T\ Trailer TS\ Trailers

The direction of the slash (/ or \) doesn't matter (both HS/ and HS\ are converted to Heads), and the slash does not need to be followed by a space or punctuation (For example, HS\PTO is converted to Heads Pass The Ocean).

Ceder Chest

MDB/CederChest.mdb

Contains Ceder Chest Definitions from www.ceder.net for A1, A2, C1, C2, C3A and C3B.

Some definitions area also available for Basic, Mainstream, Plus, and C4.

Contra Calls

MDB/ContraCalls.mdb

Dance

MDB/Dance.mdb

Individual dance files DANCE/<name>.DNC, DANCE/<name>.FRM

Dates Database

MDB/Dates.mdb

The Dates Database tracks where and when individual sequences were called.

Each record contains a date, a location, and a list of sequences called on that date at that location.

Limitations:

• The location (place at which a sequence was used) must be of length 1 to 32 characters.
• No more than 30 different sequence databases may be entered for a given date.

Definitions

MDB/Definitions.mdb

The Definition Database contains square dance definitions from www.ceder.net. These are all definitions other than the Ceder Chest Definitions.

FAQ

MDB/faq.mdb

Getin/Getout Databases

SQUAREDB/GETIN.DAT, SQUAREDB/GETOUT.DAT

Getin databases contain the first few calls of a sequence starting from a squared set.++++

Getout databases contain the last few calls of a sequence (resolves).

Two databases are initially supplied:

1. GETIN database
   • contains the first few lines (usually 3 or fewer) of a sequence.
   • useful for creating opening biggies
   • useful for fixing sequences in which two (or more) dancers are swapped, such as when the Side Men are out of sequence.
    
2. GETOUT database
   • contain resolves.
   • When writing a sequence in graphics mode, the GETOUT database can be searched for all the getouts from the current position. A window is displayed listing several getouts from the current position. You can then examine the displayed getouts, but perhaps for some reason (such as bad flow, wrong level, etc) you decide that you don't want to use any of them. You can then exit the getout display, execute another call, and then search the resulting position for possible getouts. Also, when viewing the list of getouts, if you notice that a particular getout is not included in the list, you can add it.

In addition, the program automatically creates/updates a NEWGETIN database if the 'Generate getins using getin tree' command is selected, and automatically creates/updates a NEWGO database if the 'Generate getouts' command is selected.

Notes:

• Neither the GETIN database nor the GETOUT database can be renamed or deleted.

Limitations:

• A getin/getout database name must be of length 1 to 8 characters.
• Getins/getouts are applicable only to 8-dancer choreography and a fixed number (26) of formations.
• Dancers within the formation must be symmetric.
• The text of a getin/getout can not exceed 200 characters. This includes spaces and punctuation. Also, each line in the getin/getout contributes 2 to this length (for the carriage return and linefeed).
• By design, the level of a getin/getout is automatically determined by the program. The level can not be edited. This is so that when a call changes levels, the getin/getout records can automatically be updated.

Help

MDB/Help.mdb

List Database

MDB/List.mdb

The list database contains calls, concepts, formations, identifiers, directions, numerics, and other square dance terminology. Each record in the list database is assigned a unique number (known as the handle) that is used within the other databases as an index to uniquely identify the particular call, concept, formation, identifier, etc. Each record also contains information such as the level, the minimum number of dancers required, the number of parts in the call, and flags such as whether or not the call is sex-dependent.

Limitations:

• The name of a list must be of length 1 to 8 characters.
• The name of a level must be of length 1 to 4 characters.
• The text in a list database record (e.g., the name of the call, concept, identifier, formation, etc.) can not exceed 38 characters.

Levels Order File - *** OBSOLETE, transfer data to LIST DATABASE

The Levels Order File (LEVELS.DAT) contains the levels of square dancing (e.g., B, MS, PLUS, A1, A2) as well as other 'levels' that are used to hold square dance terminology not explicitly on another list.

The following levels are initially supplied: MISC B BV MS MSV PL PLV A1 A1V A2 A2V C1 C1V C2 C2V C3A C3AV C3B C3BV C4A C4B C4C C4D C4E C4F C4G

MISC is used to hold miscellaneous information that is not explicitly on any other list. This includes fractions, identifiers such as Boys or Girls, formation names, etc.

B, MS, PL, A1, A2, C1, C2, C3A, and C3B are the standard lists.

BV, MSV, PLV, A1V, A2V, C1V, C2V, C3AV, and C3BV are for calls that are used at the base level but are not explicitly on that list. For example, Cast A Shadow is on the A1 list, and Cast A Shadow Don't Spread is on the A1V list.

C4A, C4B, C4C, C4D, C4E, C4F, and C4G contain C4 calls. This is my particular partitioning of the C4 list. I call the calls on C4A through C4D. C4E is for calls that I'm considering using. C4F is for calls that I have decided not to use (although other C4 callers may use them), and C4G is for obscure or defunct C4 calls.

Lyrics Database

MDB/Lyrics.mdb

Music Database

MDB/Music.mdb

Parse Database

SQPARSE/SQPARSE.DAT

The parse database translates square dance text into lists of handles pointing into the list database. Parsing allows a call to have multiple spellings. For example, a call such as Left Allemande could be spelled as Left Allemande, Left Allemand, Allemand Left, AL, LA, etc. The parse database would translate each of the aforementioned text strings into the handle '1429' which uniquely identifies an Allemande Left within the list database.

Limitations:

• The text for a parse database record can not exceed 50 characters.
• The maximum number of handles per parse database record is 6.
• The level of a call can not be successfully determined if the call is on two separate lists. For example, Recycle is on the MS and A2 lists. The program determines the level by selecting the least of the two levels. The same problem exists for Explode (Plus, A1), Reverse Explode (C1, C4D), and Rotates (C1, C2, C3B).

Parts Database

MDB/Parts.mdb

Permute

PERMUTE/PERMUTE.DAT

Sequence Databases

SEQ/<name>.SeqMdb

Sequence databases store square dance sequences. A given sequence database can hold only one of the following types of sequences:

• normal sequences (sequences that start from a squared set and end with a resolve)
• opening biggies (normal sequences containing only a few calls)
• singing call sequences (either corner progression or R-H Lady progression)
• stir the bucket routines
• modules (such as Zero Box to Zero Line, Static Set to Zero Line, etc.).

It is recommended that sequences be stored and grouped by level and type of sequences. For example, you might have the following sequence databases for A2 level sequences:

• A2 for 'normal' A2 sequences.
• A2U for asymmetric A2 sequences.
• A2WS for A2 workshop sequences.
• A2SCS for A2 singing call sequences.
• A2Q for A2 'quickies' (opening biggies).
• A2-2CPL for two-couple A2 sequences.

Sequence database names must be between 1 and 8 characters in length and may not contain any spaces, periods, colons, or slashes.

Limitations:

• The name of a sequence database must be of length 1 to 8 characters.

Snapshot Database

SQPROOF/SQPROOF.DB

The Snapshot Database contains information on how to execute calls.

Each database record consists of a before and after picture, as well as other information such as each dancer's Active attribute and Roll attribute both before and after the call.

Limitations:

• If any dancers are at 45 degree angles, all dancers must be at 45 degree angles. Some dancers can not be at 90 degree angles while others are 45 degree angles.
• Snapshot database records can not contain more than 12 dancers per record.
• The maximum number of handles in a snapshot record is 18.

Square Dance Cue Sheet Database

MDB/SquareCue.mdb

The Square Dance Cue Sheet Database contains cue sheets from the music database at www.ceder.net.

Round Dance Cue Sheet Database

MDB/RoundCue.mdb

User Info File

userinfo.mdb

The user info file translates author ID into author names, and contains encoded information for user keys.

Web Choreo

MDB/WebChoreo.mdb

Other Databases

Pictures, Error Log, Registry, SEQ.PRT

The Getin Tree (GETINTREE.DAT) is created by the CSDS program. The Getin Tree is a hierarchial tree showing the first three lines of text from each record in your normal 8- dancer sequence databases. The Getin Tree can be used to automatically generate getins (which are added to database NEWGETIN).

A Dance (Dance\*.dnc and Dance\*.frm)

The Sequence Print List (Seq\Seq.Prt) is a list of sequences waiting to be printed. When a new sequence is created, the database name and index of the sequence is added to the print list. When a sequence is edited, viewed, or imported, it can also be added to the print list. After a sequence has been printed, it is removed from the print list.

The CSDS Initialization File (Csds.Ini) contains information saved between invocations of the program.