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Quick Start
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    Really Quick Start

Make sure you've installed Comix (as described in the Installation Chapter).

Create a temporary directory.

Copy a:\util\dbgen.exe (a test database generator on your Comix diskette).

Let's write a quick program, test.prg:

    use demo
    index on last tag last
    list last

Now let's compile and link it:

    clipper test
    rtlink /stack:7168 file test, cmx52 lib cmx52

Now let's create a 10 record database and run the program:

    dbgen 10

    test

Whew!  Alright, if you've gotten to that point successfully, that's 90% of
what you need to do to put Comix to use.


    Next Step

The best way to start using Comix is to find a small program that you
already have working and get it to work with Comix.

Link Comix in as the default RDD (replacing DBFNTX) by linking with
cmx52.obj as well as cmx52.lib.

Now, get this program to work with Comix.  It may well work right away.

One thing you may have to change is how your app checks for the existence of
indexes.  You should _not_ hard code the index extension, but should instead
use the indexExt() function.  For example:

    if !file("last.ntx")
        index on last to last
    endif

should be changed to:

    if !file("last" + indexExt())
        index on last to last
    endif

This way the same will work for both the Comix and DBFNTX RDDs (as well as
others).

We next suggest that you glance through the commands and functions and pick
out one you'd like to use.  A favorite is to try out the EVAL clause of the
INDEX command to display progress as an index is being created.

Please note that if you use any of the Comix commands you must insert the
line:

    #include "cmx52.ch"

at the start of _each_ PRG which uses a Comix command.