/database                                                 December 2006This subdirectory contains the IDL procedures, mostly written by Don Lindler,(ACC/Goddard) to create and access an IDL database.    Although the coresoftware is quite old (written in 1987?), it still allows the use of a simpledatabase well suited to the IDL environment. The LaTex file database.tex in the/text directory describes  the use of the database procedures with an emphasison astronomical  applications.    The database procedures require the non-standard system variables!PRIV, !TEXTOUT, and !TEXTUNIT.   These can be added to the IDL session by using the procedure ASTROLIB.Sample astronomical catalogs, formatted as IDL databases, are available in the/zdbase directory.   These include the Yale Bright Star Catalog, the RC3 Galaxy catalog, and a catalog of HST observations.Dec-2006:    Automatically enlarge the index (.dbx) file if necessary.   Avoid             use of EXECUTE() if possible.Nov-2006:    A version of DBBUILD in the /V61 directory now allows up to 50              input items, and does not use the EXECUTE() routine.26-Sep-2006: Removed DBCOMPRESS since DBDELETE now calls TRUNCATE_LUN to              compress the file after removing entries.	     14-Jul-2006: DBCREATE - New MAXENTRY keyword to override hardcoded #maxentries	     24-Sep-2002:  DBTARGET() - Find database entries within specified radius of                      supplied astronomical target name.                   20-Sep-2002: DBPRINT - New /AdjustFormat will adjust the format length for                 string items to the maximum length for the entries to be                 printed.    23-Jul-2001: DBCREATE, DBFIND, DBFIND_SORT, DBXVAL, DBINDEX_BLK, DBBUILD -             Now allow user to specify items with 64 bit or unsigned integer             datatypes.2-Dec-2000:  DBINDEX, DBEXT_IND - Now allow multiple-valued index items             Minor updates to database.tex file17-Nov-2000: DBFIND, DBFIND_ENTRY, DBFIND_SORT, DBSEARCH, IMDBASE - Now                have a Count keyword; deprecate use of !ERR11-Oct-2000: DBXVAL - Work for multiple-valued strings08-Aug-2000: DBPRINT - Change a loop index to type LONG (sigh...)5-Feb-2000:  DBPRINT - Only byteswap when necessary, for much improved speed.1-Nov-1999:  DBINDEX, DBEXT_DBF - Now allow a maximum of 18 instead of 15 items