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info about the new dfw database format

Starting from version 2.3.1.5, Darts for Windows 2008 now have its own database format and file extension. The file extension of the new format is .DFW. When you install Darts for Windows 2008, it will register the dfw file format as Darts for Windows own file format.
This is long step in the direction of making Darts for Windows a complete all round program for both the everyday player and large organisations
organising the biggest tournaments in the world. It also makes the program a lot more user friendly.

When a program has its own file format and the software is also programmed and prepared for it, it’s only to double click on any dfw database file to have
Darts for Windows opening it and setting the open database as the new active database. In previous version of Darts for Windows, the Microsoft Access file format was used. I have also included the option to open the old Access file format in DfW by right clicking in file Explorer and then open the MDB file
using the "Open with" in the shell menu as any other program having its own file extension.
Beware that all old MDB databases will be converted on the fly to the new DFW format when opening it in version 2.3.1.5 or later.

It’s now also possible to open a Darts for Windows database from the command prompt by entering the following command (database name
and path is only a sample): "C:\Program files\Darts for Windows\dartsforwin2008.exe" "C:\Database\anydatabase.dfw".
You can now create a shortcut on the desktop and have a database file< name as a parameter, and then you can have different shortcuts for different databases.

Note that Darts for Windows 2008 still supports the old MDB file format, but, as previous stated, opening a MDB file in DfW will convert it on the fly to the new DFW format. A DFW file is not compatible with Microsoft Access.

how to create a new blank database without opening darts for windows 2008
Open the file Explorer and browse to your Darts for Windows database folder.
The default database folder is "C:\Program files\Darts for Windows\database" (see picture below)

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In the sample below, I have used my own datbase folder (C:\MyDatabases).


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To create a new blank .DFW database, we start by right clicking in the Explorer window to activate the shell menu (see picture below)

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Continue by clicking on the item "New" and then from the sub-menu, click the item "Darts for Windows database" (see picture below).


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When the "Darts for Windows datbase" item is clicked, Explorer will create new blank database with the
file name "New Darts for Windows datbase.dfw". Rename the database to a suitable name. The datbase is now ready to be used in Darts for Windows. Click to highlight the datbase file, then right click the database in the Explorer to show the popup menu. From the popup menu "Open with", click the sub-menu "Darts for Windows" and the file will open in Darts for Windows
and become the new active database. The database can also be opened by doubleclicking on it, but sometimes the Explorer locks the file handle and you will get an error message. If you do, just restart Darts for Windows. This is a bug in Windows, not in DfW.


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The new database....


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The new active database opened in Darts for Windows....


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open a MDB file from file explorer

To open an old Darts for Windows MDB from the file Explorer, do as described in the article above to browse to your darts for Windows database folder, then right click in the Explorer window, click the "Open with" item and then "Darts for Windows" from the sub-menu (see picture below).
The MDB file will now open in Darts for Windows and at the same time the file will be converted to the new dfw file format
(the file extension will be changed to .dfw). The newly opened database will also be set as the active database.


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create shortcuts with parameters to open different databases

From version 2.3.2.5, Darts for Windows supports database file names as paramaters in a shortcut. This is very handy if you have several different databases used on a regular basis. To create the shortcut, start by right clicking on your desktop and the click "New -> Shortcut" as shown in the picture below.


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The new shortcut dialog box....


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The new shortcut with the "C:\MyDatabases\Lakeside2007.dfw" as parameter. Repeat the steps to create more shortcuts with other databases as paramaters.


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  ©2006-2007 Roger Boyesen