Meridian Data has a nice free CPL to automatically create a Concordance database from a load file. But what if you need to load the file into an existing database? This CPT automatically detects delimiters, automatically maps field names where possible, lets you edit the mappings, then walks you through the import dialog.

When I first saw Concordance as a paralegal in the early 1990s, I was immediately turned off by the strange half-Windows, half-DOS interface and told our litigation support folks they should send it back. When I  joined the litigation support staff in 1994 and conducted a systematic product evaluation, I realized it was the best option available in large part because the Concordance Programming Language (CPL) allowed us to fill in missing features and reduce the number of “training issues.”

Concordance has come a long way since then, but many functions are still only available through CPLs and the examples out there still have less than user-friendly DOS interfaces.

I’ve used the experience gained from 16 years of CPL programming to create what I call the “DEB Interface Library.” These are functions you can paste into your own CPL code to help you create somewhat more user-friendly input forms and progress meters.

Unfortunately, there are glitches with the btmenu() function in recent versions  so I was forced to use the very DOS-y menu() instead of the more Windows-y pop-up lists I prefer.

Sample Combo Box, showing field name popup menu active.

Sample Progress Meters. Any number can be created and updated simultaneously.