| Settings |  |  |

Directory structure

1. The simplest is: Copy everything from "infobase.zip" into one directory with corresponding subdirectories.
2. But it is more advisable to separate the program from the data ! These can then be securely encrypted in a crypt-container (cf. "System" above) or protected from unwanted access on an external data carrier (USB stick).
3. And the (2.) has another advantage: If Info-Base is started without an open crypt-container or external data carrier, it opens an additional data set in the program directory. This protects the sensitive data from unwanted access (camouflage !).
   You can then save irrelevant stuff there, Info-Base automatically switches to the data in the program directory if it doesn't find the "hot" stuff.

All settings are stored in two files:

1. Local in the program directory of the respective user (InfoBase.ini) with the details of the tabs "Local" and partly "Environment". This allows each user (network) to have their own individual settings.
2. Global in the data directory (Global.cfg) for all users with the details of the tab "Global". These parameters affect the data and are thus valid for all users of the same data set.

Most of these settings are self-explanatory and can be easily tried out. They are therefore not all described in detail. Some are also available in the View menu or in the div. PopUp menus accessible.

Colors/Fonts

> The "spec." is the color for read only (editor and viewer). A Click on the pattern fields resets the values to the default values.

Global hotkeys

> In contrast to the numerous internal hotkeys, the 7 global (i.e. from any other programs etc. callable) can only be defined here.

> Clip import (2)

> The 1. and 2. hotkey are used in other programs, such as Browser, highlight text and import the source is acknowledged in the current running Info-Base. These are the first two templates used (not visible in the menu). cf. in addition below: Clip import browser !

> Search import (4)

> A four other global hotkeys can also be used to put any select text in other programs to the search (also additive with logical AND) in Info-Base . Up to 20 words from the marked text are extracted. Punctuation marks, brackets, special characters of the global settings, CR/LF and TAB are not taken into account. Terms not found are skipped !
> If the autocorrection is activated, it is also applied to this imported search string. This is useful when you automatically convert accents for easier search (in imported texts) with autocorrection. (e.g. à, á, â, ã, å to an a)

> Hotkey (1)

> When this hotkey is defined, a tray-icon is displayed. This can be used to activate or hide the Info-Base. This can be done alternately with the defined hotkey or with a click on the tray icon. With the right mouse button on the icon opens a small menu. If Info-Base is minimized, each of the other 6 global hotkeys automatically makes it visible again after the corresponding action.

Esc

> Esc will always go to the notes list first, but here (and only here !) it can either terminate the program or, if a hotkey is defined for activation and a tray icon is displayed, minimize it. In both cases the current stack is saved automatically.

Temporary filters / links

> This concerns the filters that can be entered directly from the note list or the global search with ALT+L and ALT+F in the respective menus .

Import delay

> All functions with global hotkeys (Clip import and Search import) require a little delay. The given 300 ms are sufficient for normal PCs, with older ones this can be increased.

Synchr. delay

> The Synchronize viewer also has a small delay, which also depends on the file size and kind to be landed. The 300 ms are a good empirical value, but can also be adapted.

Temporary list / editor

> It can be specified in pixels for the respective height of the smaller section. This is required for the function of "Extras" with Ctrl+Down and Ctrl+Up. The value is between 100 and approximately half the screen, although it may be adjusted automatically.

after editing

> Automatisch nach dem Editieren können 3 Funktionen ausgelöst werden:

> 1. Auto Correction Ctrl+F6 - according to AutoCorr.ubi
> 2. Spell Checker Ctrl+F7 - but only if the editor was exited with Esc !
> 3. The date after the globally defined Update date symbol (^)

Viewers

> The nature of the staggering and the height of the viewers can be set here.

> 1. 20-??? = Pixel - staggered vertically or horizontally. This method is suitable for notebooks and PCs with only one monitor.
> 2. 1-8 = Rows - vertical or horizontal. This is recommended for PCs with two or more monitors. The display can also take place across all monitors.
> 3. The Number (1-9) of viewers displayed.
> 4. The (initial) Height and Width in pixels can be freely chosen.
> 5. For the same Width as the Editor (of the notes, e.g. because of the line break), you only have to enter a number < 100.
> 6. Only the position (top and left) of the first viewer is saved and determines that of the others.

Sidebars

> The two sidebars (left: Global search and stacks and right: tags) can run each in 3 different types:

> 1. Show = Sidebar is displayed (Standard and recommended !)
> 2. Auto = Sidebare is displayed automatically and closed when they no longer have the focus. However that all functions are retained. This mode is useful for small screens.
> 3. Hide = Sidebar and their functionalities are disabled.
>    This corresponds (in the left list) a single stack mode, all the notes are in one stack and all functions of the global search, copy and move are disabled.

Drop-down

> Here you can set the maximum number (min.5) of visible lines of the dropdown windows of the two searches (F3/F4) and search/replace (F12). This depends on the size of the Info-Base window and for F3/F4 the size of the set font for the search fields.

> It can be useful to enter this number up to the bottom of the editor (e.g. 35) even with the maximum size for "Seach history" ("Environment"). If you are working in a network, the "Search history" should also be set to "Local".

> More intuitive settings, refer to the rapid change in the Main menu under View.

Attention: The information below the dividing line will not exported with Save settings. This allows you to set up the environment accordingly. Fields that begin with an "@" are marked, force after "OK" a restart.

However, if the storage location (local or global) is changed, the existing files should also be copied manually to the new directory and then the old files possibly deleted.

File manager

> Instead of the "File Explorer" from Windows you can use in file-links , if a file was not found or with Ctrl+Click in the editor, a (better !) file-manager to display the folder. For the path details see below (File paths) and %path% must be used for the parameters.

Browser

> With newer versions of Windows, unfortunately, it is increasingly difficult to use another, especially portable browser as standard. There is a small program for this in my "Toolbox ".
> If you want to use a different browser for Info-Base (links and online searches), you can select it here and thus become completely independent of a "guest PC".

> For that, the small and fast QtWeb is highly recommended (ideal for Wikipedia) - especially with Info-Base on a USB stick. It can also be accessed very easily from the user menu .

> The browser specified here can be temporarily deactivated in the View menu. The standard browser is then called.

e-Mail program

> Not just using another browser as the standard is unfortunately increasingly difficult with newer Windows versions. This also applies to e-mail programs (link "mailto:"). Any other (portable) program can be specified here for Info-Base.

Link (file)

> If you do not specify in "Link (file)" a program then Click on a file link while holding down the Alt key copies the file (but only if it is newer than a possibly existing and sufficient space !) to a location to be selected.

> Here, you can specify a program to call instead of copying with the file (path and name) as a parameter. This option is intended for MediaInfo, but can also be used for other programs (analysis or similar).

> For other than the associated players, viewers, browsers etc. the option with OpenWith.ubi is intended.

Viewer

> A viewer (synchronize viewer) may also be specified. This option is intended for the IrfanViewer viewer. The recommended parameters are predefined and can be adapted to your wishes.

Extensions

> Here you enter the file extensions (separated with "*") that the viewer should process. The Synchronize viewer function (Ctrl+F5) can only be started from a note with a link with one of the given extensions.

> The other specifications are command line parameters for the IrfanViewer. "/fs" stands for full screen and "/one" only allows one instance.
> These and many other settings can also be set directly in the options of IrfanViewer.

Sync. with

> is another type of synchronization. Here, the connection is made and noted by the program via the window title to the respective note from Info-Base. This is only with programs that specify the file name in the title and is primarily intended for media-files. The programs should be associated with the respective extensions, so that they start automatically when you click on the link. With foobar2000 , which is highly recommended, under "Default User Interface" under "Windows title": %filename% must be specified!

> The used programs are to be specified here with that part of the title that is not the file name. For example: "- SMPlayer*foobar2000*- IrfanView*- PDF-XChange Viewer" - separated with "*". From this, the search term for Info-Base is generated. Square brackets ("[]") are automatically removed. For file names on the right side of the title, the program name to be specified here may be shorter (e.g. IrfanViewer).

Online search

> You can specify 4 Internetsearch engines that can be called from the editor. If no special sequence (e.g. "search?q= ")is needed, they should end with "/".

Clip import browser

> 2 browsers (Windows title or a unique part of it) can be specified. This means that the link can be automatically attached to the text when importing a clip (see above). The only requirement is that the respective browser supports Ctrl+L to jump to the address bar. It should also be noted that the two global hotkeys (Ctrl+Shift+Q and Ctrl+Shift+A) do not collide with the browser's internal hotkeys.

Number search

> Here you have to specify the characters that should be automatically ignored during a number search (Ctrl+N). A space (not as 1. or last character !) should always be included.

Menus (below the dividing line)

> The 4 menus (Links [L:], Filters [F:], Macros [M:] and User [U:] can be stored in the program directory as well as in the data directory. If required, this can be switched here.

Last visits (F2), Filter history (Alt+F4) und Clipboard (Alt+C)

> These can either be saved locally in the program directory, globally in the data directory or not at all ("Off"). The maximum number of entries can be specified. The height of the window can easily be adapted to this maximum number using the Popup menu or the hotkey.

> Duplicate entries are automatically deleted.

Search history (Search/Exange, F3/F4 and 2 x F12)

> As well, the number of entries to be saved when exiting can be specified. As long as Info-Base is running, there is no limit!

> Duplicate entries are automatically deleted.

Start with

> Name of the stack that is opened when the program is started. If the field remains empty, the system starts with the last opened stack.

Alarm at startup

> The alarm can be triggered when starting the program:

> 1. Off = never
> 2. Once a day = once a day in the stack that was started with - (Shift+F4)
> 3. Always = always in the stack that was started with - (Shift+F4)
> 4. Global 1 x day = once a day in all stacks - (Shift+F3)
> 5. Global always = always in all stacks - (Shift+F3)

Picker (Alt+P)

> The picker can be saved either locally in the program directory or globally in the data directory. (like the menu's)

Attention: The information below the dividing line will not exported with Save settings .

If you want to particularly protect your data, you can store it either in a container protected with PW or on an external drive (HDD). Then, if the container is not opened or the drive is not connected, a local data set is automatically loaded, which can be filled with unimportant things and thus easily distract from the sensitive data.

However, if the path to the data is changed, the existing files should also be manually copied to the new directory and the old directory should then be deleted. The data generated by the forced restart can be overwritten.

This allows you to set up the environment accordingly. Fields that begin with an "@" are marked, force after "OK" a restart.

These settings (upper block) should only be changed when getting to know each other and trying things out. This defines the basic functions of the program. For some symbols, the respective keyboard layout should also be taken into account. (e.g. link delimiter)
Subsequent changes must then be performed in all stacks (*.ibi) and in some data files (*.ubi) (search/replace) to make the system work properly.

Care must be taken to ensure that unambiguity (e.g. for °, which also occurs in ^°) exists and no other combinations are changed unintentionally. Always save the entire Info-Base with all files before !

Date / Time

> The format of the date, which shall be indicated here is used for sorting by date, for alarm and for Ctrl+D. The year must be specified with 4 characters (yyyy), the month and the day with 1 or 2 (d or dd and m or mm ) characters. The "DateSeparator" is free and is in arithmetic also mixed recognized ('.' '-', '/' or whatever).

> For the date in the macros ( {{ ... }} ) of the templates and the picker this restriction does not apply if not to be "reckoned" with the date. It goes to the usual scheme, whereby the languagedepends on depends on the Windows setting:

> - c = Displays the date using the format given by the ShortDateFormat global variable.
> - d = Displays the day as a number without a leading zero (1-31).
> - dd = Displays the day as a number with a leading zero (01-31).
> - ddd = Displays the day as an abbreviation (Sun-Sat) using the strings given by the ShortDayNames global variable.
> - dddd = Displays the day as a full name (Sunday-Saturday) using the strings given by the LongDayNames global variable.
> - ddddd = Displays the date using the format given by the ShortDateFormat global variable.
> - dddddd = Displays the date using the format given by the LongDateFormat global variable.
> - m = Displays the month as a number without a leading zero (1-12).
> - mm = Displays the month as a number with a leading zero (01-12).
> - mmm = Displays the month as an abbreviation (Jan-Dec) using the strings given by the ShortMonthNames global variable.
> - mmmm = Displays the month as a full name (January-December) using the strings given by the LongMonthNames global variable.
> - yy = Displays the year as a two-digit number (00-99).
> - yyyy = Displays the year as a four-digit number (0000-9999).
> - h = Displays the hour without a leading zero (0-23).
> - hh = Displays the hour with a leading zero (00-23).
> - n = Displays the minute without a leading zero (0-59).
> - nn = Displays the minute with a leading zero (00-59).
> - s = Displays the second without a leading zero (0-59).
> - ss = Displays the second with a leading zero (00-59).
> - z = Displays the millisecond without a leading zero (0-999).
> - zzz = Displays the millisecond with a leading zero (000-999).
> - t = Displays the time using the format given by the ShortTimeFormat global variable.
> - tt = Displays the time using the format given by the LongTimeFormat global variable.
> - am/pm = Uses the 12-hour clock for the preceding h or hh specifier,
> - a/p = and displays "am" or "a" for any hour before noon, and "pm" or "p" for any hour after noon.

> e.g. {{dddd}}, {{dd.mm.yyyy}} for "Monday, 03.01.2022"

> A special feature that not one of the settings because they only works in Templates and the Picker (macros) is the Hebrew date. It can be generated using {{hebl}} for Latin letters or {{hebu}} for Hebrew letters (Unicode, but only from 1740 to 2240). For this purpose the small program HebDate.exe is also included. It is based on the same functions.

Counter

> There are three different counters: one temporary (search and replace only ), one continuous, and one that resets daily and can be e.g. attached to the date. The leading zeros can be specified in the macros.

> - temporary = {{#0}} or {{#0000}}
> - continuous = {{0}} or {{0000}}
> - daily = {{%0}} or {{%0000}}

> You can (should) place a clickable character after and before the actual number to get uniqueness. (e.g. "<B{{0}}x>")
> A "{{0000}}", {{#0000}} and {{%0000}} always generates 4 or more digits.

> If these counters are used in the network (i.e. each user can create new notes, but has his own global counter), the uniqueness can be lost !
> It is easy to be countered with a preceding or following character for the respective user.

Attention: Care should be taken to ensure that the following symbols are unique:

Field symbol

> This means that a field can be referred to where you can jump by pressing Ctrl+Tab . (To fill out) eg. "Name_", "Str_" etc.

Tag symbol

> Each note can be provided with any tags that are just recognized by this symbol by the program. It should be noted that the first tag-symbol per note must be preceded by a space !

Bookmark symbol

> (always in the first place of a note) is used for rapid selection of single notes with F7 and filtering with Alt+F7.

Bookmark tag

> The field can remain empty, but then the automatic linking of the bookmark (F7) with the code (tag) to be specified here is switched off. For set the tag symbol (|) must be somewhere in the note after a space .
> However, if a character is specified (e.g. ´ or % or &), this code is set or deleted when the bookmark, which is always only related to one stack, is switched on and off. This also enables a global search for bookmarks or markers in all stacks. If this code (tag) is changed, the templates may also have to be adapted !

Link IDs

> To generate a link (CTRL+H), will search for these characters and everything after that, used up to the first space (more or less unique) identification of the note.

Alarm symbols

> that is the alarm tag and expected a date, and this is triggered date is less than or equal to the current. It is very advisable to take one of the Link IDs twice! This allows also to create a link to a note, which is more (with time) or less (no time) clearly.

Update symbols

> There are 3 different update symbols, but they should only appear once per note - only the first one will be updated with Ctrl+F11 and Ctrl+F12

> Updated from the respective symbol ("^", "^{") and "^°") until the next CR/LF, TAB, Space or the closing brackets (">)]}").

> In addition, Ctrl+F11 checks whether a file link ("file:") exists on the note and the update always refers only to the first file link per note.

Link delimiter

> Is used for internal links to separate the search terms from each other. But the separator is excluded from the search ! That can be changed quickly in View if necessary.

Note delimiter

> This allows notes to be divided into individual "departments" (sections). This is required for the functions Join (Alt+F9), Split (Alt+F10), Roll up / down (Alt+F11 / F12) and is used in linear calendars (Extras) etc.

File delimiter

> Is used for export/import (e.g. Reading data from the old Info-Select) required.

Space in links

> Spaces are allowed in file- and folder names but not in a "clickable" link. Therefore, a replacement character must be specified. The default is "°" and it should not use characters that are not allowed in file and folder names, such as ":", "*", "?", "|", "<", ">", '"' etc. cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filename

Separator (1st character)

> If the symbol specified here is the first character of a stack-name or a tag and becomes a heading in the stack-list or the tag-list. Thus, these lists can be made clearer. It also helps navigate through extensive stack and code lists. If you press a characters in the lists, he immediately goes to the next one that starts with this one. So by entering this separator you select the appropriate heading and then the character with which the searched code or stack begins. This makes it easy to quickly select stacks or codes with the same initial letter.
> If the separator is changed here, all previous headings are automatically adjusted.

Networking

> It is a very simple (!) system to allow multiple users to easily share the same data (stacks) on a network. Once you have loaded a stack, it is locked for all others - via the ReadOnly of the respective file. There are the following setting options:

> 1. Off
>    the stacks are not locked. This is the usual setting for a only user and should be the norm.
> 2. Only temp. stacks
>    only the temporarily opened stacks (Alt+F5) are locked for other users when loading.
>    This can be set up for data exchange at a central location (server). The actual local stacks remain unaffected.
> 3. All stacks
>    all stacks are locked for other users when loading. In this state, search/replace (F12) in all stacks is disabled and copy/move (F10/F11) to locked stacks is not possible.

> However, this only works properly if all users have selected the same setting (see above)!

> Attention: If Info-Base while networking (setting 2 or 3) finished not normally, then the ReadOnly of the last used stack file cannot be deleted pershaps. Then one must do this by hand.

Backups

> An automatic backup, which take place at the 1st start per day, is strongly recommended. The entire data directory and some files from the previous day are backed up, whereby the following must be observed:

> 1. The backup can be done in 2 stages: first with one from 1-30 backups and then an optional second stage from A-Z after the daily ? x backups.
>    They are in the subdirectory for the "Backup" data as Bak-1 to Bak-30 and possibly as Bak-A to Bak-Z.
> 2. In another respective subdirectory "Local" important files (*.ubi *.set *.ini) from the program directory are also saved.
> 3. If the rhythm (1.) is changed, it may be necessary to delete the superfluous old backups manually.
> The stacks from the backups can easily be opened temporarily with Alt+F5 in order to recover accidentally deleted data or changed stacks etc. The date of the individual directories provides information about the date of the backup.

> In the same way it is also possible to save manually on any other data medium or directory !

min. ID length

> To create an internal link for a specific note, an ID (for example, from a number or date) can be automatically generated with Ctrl+H.
> Here, the minimum required length (Characters) of this ID is specified. If it is shorter, no link will be created.

max. title link length

> Often for notes can not generate a unique ID for an internal link. Then an (almost unique) link can be formed from the first line (title) with Ctrl+I.
> Here, the maximum length (Characters) is defined and depends very much on the design of the title of the note.

max. Headline length

> At the 2. template (Clip import - Ctrl+Shift+A) a headline can be generated automatically if a CR/LF is found in the first part of the clip with a length (Characters) to be specified here. Since this setting is dependent on the width of the editor, all users (in the network) should set the same width in View .

Words before hyperlink

> Before a hyperlink (Ctrl+H), words from the headline of the note can be helpful. The maximum number can be specified here. At "0" only the pure link is generated.

Attention: The following characters "¬" (#172 and U+00AC), "¶" (#182 and U+00B6) and "·" (#183 and U+00B7) should not be used. They are used to display the special characters in the editor (Ctrl+BkSp).

The other characters are briefly discussed, the relevant functions. All information given here are based on experience.

File paths

> With 5 placeholders (path variables), path specifications in the Info-Base are automatically adjusted:

> 1. ..\ = the program directory (e.g. "D:\InfoBase\")
> 2. %usb% = the drive (e.g. "D:\")
> 3. %data% = the data directory (e.g. "D:\InfoBase\Data\")
> 4. %temp% = the directory for temporary data (e.g. "D:\InfoBase\Data\Backup\")
> 5. %files% = the directory of linked files (e.g. "D:\InfoBase\Files\")

> These 5 variables always contain an "\" at the end. For example, a link could be look like this: "file:%files%Archive\Instruction.pdf"

> These 3 directories must be present and will be displayed the first start in the directory of Info-Base as "..\Data\", "..\Files\" and "..\Data\Backup\" is created automatically. They can be changed later as desired.

> 1. The path to the data (%data%) contains all stacks, the global data and settings. If it is changed (with "@" marked), a restart is required.

> 2. The path to external files (%files%) is used as default for links (Alt+F/O) on the notes for directories with documents, photos, audios, videos etc.

> 3. The path to temporary data (%temp%) is used as default for Open temporary (Alt+F5) and Save as (Shift+F2).
>    This can also be a directory in a network through which different users can exchange data. Such loaded stacks are marked by a (TEMP) and can of course also be called in the link menu or as link in a note: "file:%temp%Test.ibi

> If the specified data directory (%data%) is not found when the program starts (e.g. closed Crypt container or USB stick or external HDD with the global data not inserted), a corresponding message is displayed and the program is aborted.

> A temporary directory ("can be deleted") is then created in the program directory, which is automatically deleted at the next start, if the external data medium (see above) is accessible again.