DP Tool Club 17/CD_ASCQ_17_101194.iso/vrac/am2320.zip/README.DOC

Text File | 1994-08-01 | 57KB | 1,010 lines

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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║         AutoMessage 2.03          ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  Copyright 1994 Russell Holloway  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  What Is AutoMessage V2.03 And How Can It Help Me?  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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AutoMessage 2.03 is a graphical message presentation system with graphics
comparable to those used by local cable television systems.  The program allows
users to quickly enter messages of up to 999 lines which it then displays with
professional results.  Because the program is graphical, display characters are
large, smooth, and legible from a distance (the display dimensions are 10 rows
of text with 20 characters per row).  Each line of the message is controlled
independently and can be underlined, doubled in size, left, center, or right
justified, shown at one of four speeds, and even be made to blink.  In
addition, each line can have one of sixteen colors for both the text and the
background.  New to this version is support for international characters (ASCII
characters 128 - 175, or ÇüéâäàåçêëèïîìÄÅÉæÆôöòûùÿÖÜ¢£¥₧ƒáíóúñѪº¿⌐¬½¼¡«»)

Other display features include a choice of five fonts, title functions (where a
top and/or bottom line can be left on the screen while the rest of the message
scrolls), a pause message function (for pauses of up to 999 seconds), and a
clear screen function.

Once a message is created, AutoMessage 2.03 has a myriad of display options.
The program can show from 1 to 300 different messages per session.  These
messages can be displayed either randomly or alphabetically.  You can show the
messages continuously, for a specified number of times, or for a specified time
limit.  You can also specify a delay between messages.  If you choose to have a
delay between messages, the delay can be filled with one of seven possible
intermission effects.  These effects can be chosen so that the same effect
appears each time, or so that a variety of effects appear in a random order.
Since each effect is shown in its own box on the screen during the selection
process, the user does not have to remember how each effect appears.

AutoMessage 2.03 really shines when it comes to ease-of-use.  All valid key
choices remain on the screen at all times, messages can be previewed at any
time during editing, and each line of text appears on the edit screen the way
it will be when it is displayed in the message.  In addition, the first few
lines of each message are displayed when searching for a message filename, and
the Escape key can be used to exit any situation.


Just about anyone can find a use for AutoMessage 2.03.  It is a powerful,
flexible, easy-to-use tool.  (On top of that, it's fun too!).

Potential users include business that would like a message/advertising system
for employees/customers/clients/patients/etc., educators who can use the
program as an advanced flash-card system, office workers who can use the
program as an informative screen-saver, and even home users who can use the
program as an attention-getting notepad, as a counter and timekeeper for
exercises, and even as a hands-free display system for recipes.

AutoMessage is only limited by your imagination.  It takes very little work to
produce attractive, attention-getting messages.  Once you begin using
AutoMessage, you will find more and more ways to take advantage of its
features.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  Program Requirements  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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To run this program, you must have 420 Kilobytes of free memory, and a VGA
monitor and VGA video card.  The program will run from a high-density floppy
drive and will work with any MS-DOS compatible computer.

The program has a limit of 300 messages.  Each message can have up to 999
lines, and each line can have up to 20 characters (each line can have 32
characters in the 32-column version).  The registered versions of the program
do not have any restrictions, but this shareware version does not support the
display of pictures between messages, background music, ASCII text-to-message
conversion, DOS command-line playback of messages, or all 10 fonts.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  What's New In Version 2.03?  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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I have added several new features to this shareware version of AutoMessage, and
a lot of new features to the registered version of the program.  In addition, I
have written another version of the program (AutoMessage32) that allows you to
have 32 columns of text per line.


The following features have been added to this shareware version:  Two new
fonts (Deco and Vogue) that will give you some more variety in your message
displays, a special feature called QuickShow that lets you quickly display
custom message setups without going through the 6 steps in Display Messages,
a Password option that will keep "accidental" keypresses from stopping message
playback unexpectedly, and international character support (ASCII codes 128
through 175) has been added.  In addition, several bugs have been fixed.


The following requested features have been added to the registered version:
Seven new fonts (Deco, Vogue, Pencil, Brass, Gordon, Script, and Cartoon) have
been included for a much wider font variety in message displays.  The
QuickShow feature (described above) has been added.  A command-line player that
allows you to play messages from a batch file with the same power that you have
in the main AutoMessage program has been added.  An ASCII text-to-message
converter that converts ASCII files into a format displayable by AutoMessage is
included.  An improved picture display program for intermission pictures has
been added.  The ability to show FLI animations between messages has been
added.  Background music (five songs used during message display) has been
added.  And the Password function and international character set support
mentioned above have been added.


The 32-column version of the program is very similar to the 20-column version
of AutoMessage.  The only differences are that it permits 32 characters per row
of text, and has four of its own special fonts.  Both programs work in exactly
the same way, so you don't have to learn how to use an entirely new program.
Once you know one program, you know the other!  The cost of this program is
only $35, and you'll get a coupon to purchase the other version for just $15.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  How Do I Register AutoMessage 2.03?  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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If you find AutoMessage useful and continue to use it, you need to register it.
The registration fee is only $35 (for 1 copy), and with registration you get a
typeset manual, the latest unrestricted version of the program, free updates
for a year, 5 more fonts (for a total of 10), the command-line Player program,
the ASCII text-to-message Converter program, the ability to show GIF and PCX
pictures as well as FLI animations between messages, background music, and a
coupon to purchase the 32-column version of the program for only $15.

As an additional bonus, orders received before June 30, 1995 will include a
certificate to purchase the JCSM Shareware CD-ROM for only $9.95 + S&H.

If you choose to purchase the 32-column version of the program, it costs just
$35, and you get a coupon to purchase the standard 20-column program for only
$15.


░░▒▒▓▓ QUANTITY DISCOUNTS ▓▓▒▒░░
Both programs have the same quantity discounts.  If you purchase 2-5 copies of
either AutoMessage or AutoMessage 32, the price per copy is $30.  For 6-10
copies, the cost is $28 each.  For 11 or more copies, the cost per copy is $27.
When you order, you can mix AutoMessage and AutoMessage 32 to help you reach
the discount breakpoint you desire.  For instance, if you buy 4 copies of
AutoMessage and 2 copies of AutoMessage 32, you pay only $28 per copy.


I guarantee that if you purchase the software and you find a bug, the bug will
be fixed immediately at no charge to you.  If I am not able to repair the bug
that you find, your money will be refunded, and you can keep the materials you
received with registration.

The fastest and most convenient way to register AutoMessage is to call our
toll-free order line and use your credit card.  Our credit card orders are
processed through Public (software) Library.  You may pay using your Master
Card, Visa, American Express, or Discover Card.  The toll-free number is
800-242-4775.  If you are an overseas caller, the phone number is 713-524-6394.
For the 20-column version, tell the operator you are purchasing product #10827.
For the 32-column version, tell the operator you are purchasing product #10914.
There is a $10 shipping charge if you are ordering from outside the US and
Canada.  If you would like to FAX you order, the number is 713-524-6398.
Public (software) Library will also accept credit card orders through
Compuserve Information Systems.  Their CIS number is 71355,470.

If you would prefer to mail your order, I have provided a registration form in
several formats.

To print the registration form, you have 3 options.  First, you can run the
program INSTALL by changing to the disk and directory where the AutoMessage
files are stored, typing INSTALL, and pressing Enter.  (If you need further
instructions on how to run the INSTALL program, refer to the section titled
The INSTALL Program which begins at line 272).   This program will allow you
to print out the form to an ASCII compatible dot-matrix or laser printer.  (The
INSTALL program also allows you to install the program to the hard drive and to
read and/or print out this documentation).

Second, you can continue viewing this file until the form (which appears
between lines 236 and 258 of these instructions) is displayed on the screen.
Then, you can print the form by pressing Shift-Print Screen.

Finally, the form has been provided in a straight ASCII file called
REGISTER.DOC.  You may copy this file to your printer or load it into your word
processor.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

If you don't have a printer or don't want to worry with one, you have the
option of just writing out the information and mailing it in.

     If you choose to write out the information, here is all that I need:

          Your Name:
          Your Mailing Address:
          Floppy Disk Size: (5.25" high density, 5.25" low density, 3.5" high
                            density, or 3.5" low density)
          Number of Copies:
          Total Amount Enclosed:
          Which AutoMessage you want: 20-Column or 32-Column.

          ╒═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
          │  The price for either version of AutoMessage is $35.  │
          │  Shipping for orders outside the US & Canada is $10)  │
          ╘═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

Make your check or money order payable to:  Russell Holloway

                   The mailing address is:  Russell Holloway
                                            P.O. Box 54225
                                            Lexington, KY  40555-4225


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The form can also be printed out at this point using Print Screen.  Make sure
that the form is aligned on the screen between the dashed line following these
instructions and the dashed line following the form.  Then, just press Shift
and Print Screen at the same time and the form should be printed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dial 800-242-4775 for credit card ORDERS ONLY! Or print and mail in this form.
For the 20-column version, tell the operator you are purchasing product #10827.
For the 32-column version, tell the operator you are purchasing product #10914.
Other ORDER ONLY #s: Overseas 713-524-6394 : FAX [phone] : CIS 71355,470.
DO NOT dial the above numbers for information!  For INFO dial 1-800-815-6578.

            Your Name: ______________________________________________

 Your Mailing Address: ______________________________________________

                       ______________________________________________

                       ______________________________________________
     Floppy Disk Size: ( )3.5" High Density    ( )3.5" Low Density
                       ( )5.25" High Density   ( )5.25" Low Density
                                 ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
     Number of Copies: _______   │ Prices: AutoMessage 20-column version $35  │
                                 │         AutoMessage 32-column version $35. │
                                 │  (Shipping outside the US & Canada is $10) │
Total Amount Enclosed: $______   └────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Which Version of AutoMessage?  20-Column  32-Column  (Circle The One You Want.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Make your check or money order payable to: Russell Holloway.

                         The mailing address is: Russell Holloway
                                                 P.O. Box 54225
                                                 Lexington, KY  40555-4225



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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  How To Run AutoMessage 2.03  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  The INSTALL Program  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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To get AutoMessage to work, you first need to run the INSTALL program that
comes with AutoMessage.  If you received this program through the mail, you
will be installing it from a floppy disk drive.  If you downloaded AutoMessage
from a bulletin board, you will probably be installing it from a hard disk
drive.

(NOTE: if you are installing both the 20 and 32-column versions of the program,
you can save some disk space by putting both programs in the same directory.
The programs will not interfere with each other, and since some files can be
shared, less disk space will be used.)

If you are installing from a floppy disk, first make sure that the computer is
at the DOS prompt.  This prompt will look something like A:> or B:> if you have
a floppy-based system, or like C:> or D:> if you have a hard disk-based system.
Next, make sure that the AutoMessage disk is in the floppy disk drive, and that
the drive is ready to be used.  Now, enter the name of the floppy drive in
which the AutoMessage disk is place.  For example, if the AutoMessage disk is
in drive A:, type A: and press Enter.  If the disk is in drive B:, type B: and
press Enter.  Next, type INSTALL and press Enter.  You should now see a screen
with a heading at the top that says AutoMessage Version 2.03 Installation
Program.  If you see this screen, you are ready to install the program.  If you
get an error, such as FILE NOT FOUND or BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME, you are
either using the wrong floppy, or you are trying to install the program from
the hard drive.  If this is the case, go back to the top of this paragraph and
follow the instructions again.

If you are installing from a hard drive, first make sure that you are at the
DOS prompt.  The prompt will look something like C:> or D:>.  Next, make sure
that you are in the directory where you uncompressed the AutoMessage files.
Now, type INSTALL and press Enter.  You should see a screen with a heading at
the top that says AutoMessage Installation Program.  If you see this screen,
you are ready to install the program.  If you get an error such as FILE NOT
FOUND or BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME, you are probably not in the proper drive
or directory.  Make sure that you are trying to run INSTALL from the proper
drive and directory, then try typing INSTALL and pressing Enter again.


When you start the INSTALL program, you are given a menu with 6 choices:
1) Install AutoMessage, 2) Read Documentation, 3) Print Documentation,
4) Print Registration Form, 5) Display Registration Form For Print Screen,
and 6) Exit.

You can select these choices either by pressing the number next to the choice
that you want or by moving the highlighted bar up and down with the cursor
keys and pressing Enter when the choice you want is highlighted.


1) Install AutoMessage:  If you select this choice, you will be presented with
a screen that allows you to install the AutoMessage files to a hard drive.
This option really doesn't do anything other than copy the AutoMessage files
from one disk to another.  So, if you already have the files in the directory
where you want them, this step is unnecessary.

The Install screen will ask you for the disk drive letter as well as the
directory to which you want to install the AutoMessage files.  AutoMessage
defaults to copying the files to hard drive C:, and to putting the files in a
directory called AUTOMESS (C:\AUTOMESS).  These settings should work for most
users.  If these settings do not apply to you, change them to reflect your
configuration.  When the settings are the way you want them, press Enter and
the installation procedure will begin.  If the program detects that you don't
have enough disk space, it will inform you of this, and return you to the Main
Menu.  AutoMessage needs about 1 megabyte of disk space to work properly.  If
you don't have enough room, clear up some disk space and run the INSTALL
program again.

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2) Read Documentation:  This choice allows you to read the README.DOC file.
Move through the document with the cursor keys, the Page-Up and Page-down keys,
and the Home and End keys.  To exit back to the Install Menu, press the Esc
(Escape) key.

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3) Print Documentation:  This choice allows you to print the README.DOC file.
This option prints only to a printer that accepts straight ASCII codes.  This
applies to just about every printer on the market with a few exceptions (Early
HP-Laserjet printers, Postscript printers, etc.).  If you have one of these
printers, just load the file README.DOC into your word processor, and print it
that way.

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4) Print Registration Form:  This choice allows you to print the registration
form on a printer that accepts straight ASCII codes.  If your printer cannot
print these codes, try using choice 5 (Display Registration Form For Print
Screen).  If choice 5 doesn't work, I have included the file REGISTER.WP, which
is a WordPerfect version of the form, and REGISTER.DOC which is a text-only
version of the form.  If you are unable to use any of these methods to print
the form, refer to the first page of these instructions for details on writing
out your order by hand.

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5) Display Registration Form For Print Screen:  This choice will display the
Registration Form to the screen so that you may either copy down the
registration information by hand, or press Shift-Print Screen to print the
information out.

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6) Exit:  This choice takes you out of the INSTALL program and back to DOS.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  The SETUP Program  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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There are two ways to run the SETUP program.  First, SETUP is run automatically
the first time AUTOMESS is run (or whenever it can't find the CONFIG.DAT file).
The second way is to type SETUP when you are at the DOS prompt in the AUTOMESS
sub-directory.  SETUP can be run from the DOS prompt any time you want to
change the defaults that AUTOMESS uses to create messages.

To run SETUP from DOS, first make sure that you are at the DOS prompt.  The
prompt will look something like A:> or B:> if you are using a floppy drive, or
C:> or D:> if you are using a hard drive.  Next, make sure that you are in the
directory where you uncompressed the AutoMessage files.  Do this by typing
CD\AUTOMESSAGE (or whatever DOS name you used to install the AutoMessage files)
and pressing Enter.  Now type SETUP and press Enter.  If you do not see the
SETUP program screen, or you get an error such as FILE NOT FOUND or BAD COMMAND
OR FILE NAME, make sure that you are in the proper directory and that you typed
SETUP and pressed Enter.

When SETUP is run, it presents you with a screen that asks for your preferences
on justification, screen color, text color, display speed, and display font.
Remember, you are not locked into these choices when you run AutoMessage; you
can change any of them as you are writing or editing a message.

The SETUP program shows exactly how your choices will look as you select them.
This is the same way the lines will look when AutoMessage shows messages.
However, when AutoMessage shows real messages, you have 10 lines of display
with up to 20 characters on each line (32 characters in AutoMessage 32).

A new feature in this version of AutoMessage is the F6 Password option.  This
feature was suggested by William Jordan of Nashville, Tennessee.  If you set
a password, the program will require you to enter that password when you try
to manually exit from message playback.  If you have no password, you will not
be prompted for one when you manually exit from a message.  If you forget your
password, you will have to run the SETUP program again and press F6.

Don't worry if you're not exactly sure how you want things to look the first
time SETUP is run.  If things aren't the way you want, simply exit AutoMessage
and run the SETUP program again.

The SETUP program will give you an initial indication of how AutoMessage works.
You are given all possible choices on the screen at the same time, and you can
immediately see the results of any changes that you make.  Written instructions
are really not necessary in most cases, and options do pretty much what you
expect them to do.

Next, we will assume that you have run the SETUP program and are now ready to
begin using AutoMessage.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  The AutoMessage Program  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  Starting AutoMessage  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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To start AutoMessage, first change to the disk drive and directory where you
installed the program.  Most likely, this will be a directory called AUTOMESS
on drive C:.  If you used a different drive or directory when you installed
the program, just substitute that drive and directory for C:\AUTOMESS.

To change to the AUTOMESS directory, first get to the DOS prompt.  This will
look something like A:> or B:> if you are running DOS from a floppy disk drive,
or like C:> or D:> if you are running DOS from a hard disk drive.  When you get
to DOS, change to the disk drive where you installed AUTOMESS.  Most likely,
this will be hard drive C:.  After you have changed to the proper disk drive,
type CD \AUTOMESS (If you used a name other than AUTOMESS, substitute it here)
and press Enter.  You should now be in the directory where you installed
AutoMessage.

AutoMessage will not run properly if it is run from another program.  For
instance, if you are running WordPerfect and you use Shift-F1 to shell to DOS,
there won't be enough memory to run AutoMessage.  However, AutoMessage runs
fine under Microsoft Windows.

Now, to start running AUTOMESS, just type AUTOMESS and press Enter.  If you get
an error like BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME, make sure that you are trying to run
the program from the right disk drive and directory (refer to the first two
paragraphs under STARTING AutoMessage to see how to do this).

If this is the first time that you have run AUTOMESS, the program will
automatically run the SETUP program.  The SETUP program sets the defaults that
AutoMessage uses during message creation.  If you see the SETUP PROGRAM screen,
go to the previous section on The SETUP Program.

If you have already run SETUP, you should see a menu with four choices: 1) Show
Messages, 2) Change Messages, 3) Create Messages, and 4) Exit Program.  If you
do not see this menu or the SETUP menu, read through the instructions under
Starting AutoMessage again.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  AutoMessage Main Menu  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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After SETUP has been run and a configuration has been saved, AutoMessage will
start by showing you the Main Menu.

The opening menu presents you with four choices: Show Messages, Change
Messages, Create Messages, and Exit Program.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  Show Messages  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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────────┐
STEP 1: │ The normal way to show messages that you have already created is to
────────┘ use SHOW MESSAGES.  (The other way is to use the PLAYER program which
is included with the registered version.)  When you select this option, the
program checks the current directory for stored messages.  If it does not find
any, it informs you that you must first create a message and then takes you
back out to the Main Menu.

If the program finds one or more messages, it presents you with a list of these
messages in a window at the right center of the screen.  This menu will list
the names of up to 50 messages at the same time.  If more than 50 messages are
found, you can list the names by using cursor keys displayed on the screen.

To aid in the selection of the proper messages for display, the first 22 lines
of each message are shown in a window at the left side of the screen as you
highlight them.

To select a message for display, highlight it using the keys shown on the
screen and then press the space bar.  The box to the left of the message will
then be highlighted in red.  If you change your mind, just highlight the
message again and press the space bar.  The box will then turn to black and the
message will no longer be selected.  You can highlight as many of the messages
as you want.  You may also select and deselect all of the stored messages by
pressing the F1 key.


▓▒░New Feature: QuickShow░▒▓
An added option in version 2 is the QuickShow feature.  This is addition
greatly simplifies the playback of messages from within the program.  When you
run the program for the first time, QuickShow will show the DEMO message
continuously and use the RANDOM effect for intermissions.  However, you can set
up QuickShow virtually any way you want.  To set up QuickShow, just go through
Display Steps 1-5 like you usually do.  When you get to STEP 6, you can then
press F10 and everything you selected in Steps 1-5 will be stored.  From this
time on, whenever you press F10 in Display STEP 1, these selections will be
loaded and used for message playback.  It is important to remember that if you
delete a message that is being used by QuickShow, QuickShow will not work
properly.  If it so happens that you do delete a Message that QuickShow is set
to display, you will have to set up QuickShow again.


I have included 6 demonstration messages in this shareware version.  You can
modify these messages in any way you choose.

The first message, ADVERTIS, will give you an example of how you can use
AutoMessage to advertise specials, events, new products or services, etc.

The second message, DEMO, gives an overview of the features of AutoMessage and
provides some ideas about how to create your own messages.

The third message, EDUCATE, shows how you can use AutoMessage in an educational
setting.  AutoMessage can be used much like an automatic flash card system.

The fourth message, EXERCISE, shows how to use AutoMessage to assist you when
you are doing repetitious exercises.  How often have you lost count when doing
exercises?  AutoMessage will keep up with your repetitions, as well as provide
an accurate time delay between sets of repititions.

The fifth message, HOURS, is an example of how to use AutoMessage to inform
customers about business hours.  The colorful, animated messages in AutoMessage
are much more attractive and attention-getting than any paper sign.  Also,
AutoMessage gives a more professional image to your establishment.

The last message, ILLBBACK, is a short message that can be used to inform
others at what time you will return, how long you take for lunch, to whom to
talk in your absence, etc.

You can change any of these messages to suit your tastes, or you can just
delete them and make new messages from scratch.


After you have selected the messages you want to display, press the Enter key
to advance to Step 2.  If you press Enter and you haven't selected any
messages, the program will take you back to Step 1 where you can either
select a message or return to the main menu.


────────┐
STEP 2: │ At this stage you are asked about the order in which you would like
────────┘ to display your messages.  There are only two choices, but there
differences are important.


F1-RANDOM │ will randomly display all of the messages you have selected.  There
──────────┘ is a possibility that a message can be shown several times in a
row, but the odds of this happening decrease with the number of messages that
you select for display.


F2-ALPHABETICAL │ will alphabetically display all of the messages you have
────────────────┘ selected.  Unless you have selected only 1 message, there is
no possibility that a message will be displayed twice in a row.  The
alphabetical order is determined from the name of the message itself.


────────┐
STEP 3: │ At this stage you select the number of times that you want to display
────────┘ the selected messages.


F1-CONTINUOUS │ will continuously display your messages until you press a key.
──────────────┘


F2-TIMED │ will display messages in random or alphabetical order until the
─────────┘ amount of time you have entered has elapsed, or until you press a
key.  You can enter a time of up to 999 Hours, 59 Minutes.


F3-COUNTED │ will either display messages in random or alphabetical order the
───────────┘ number of times you have selected, or until you press a key.  Each
message counts once, so if a message is displayed randomly twice in a row, that
counts as two messages.


────────┐
STEP 4: │ At this stage, you select the amount of time you want to wait between
────────┘ messages.  If you want messages to show with no break between them,
just select a time delay of 0 Minutes, 0 Seconds.  There will be some extra
delay between messages depending on the size of the next message, and the speed
of your computer.


────────┐
STEP 5: │ In this step, you select the intermission effect that will be shown
────────┘ between messages.  If you selected a time delay of 0 in the last
step, the choice you make at this step is irrelevant.  If you want the screen
to stay black between messages, select F1.  If you want the program to randomly
pick between the intermission effects, select F2.  Otherwise, the program will
show only the effect that you choose.  For instance, if you select F3 Lines,
the program will only show the Lines Intermission between messages.  If you
picked F2 (Random), each display will appear on average 1 out of every 5
messages.

In this shareware version, you will notice the words "DISPLAY OF GIF, PCX, AND
FLI FILES SUPPORTED IN REGISTERED VERSION ONLY" in the box over F8 Picture.
The registered version of the program allows you to display GIF and PCX
pictures as well as FLI animations between messages.  You can choose any GIF or
PCX picture with a resolution of up to 640 x 480 pixels and 16 colors.
The program will also show any standard FLI animations.  Further details of
this feature appear in the documentation that comes with the registered
version.


────────┐
STEP 6: │ In this step you review the choices that you have made.  If all looks
────────┘ correct, just press Enter and the show will begin.  If something is
not right, press the Backspace key until you get to the step that will correct
it.  Pressing Escape at any time will take you back to the main menu.

During Display, you can press any key to stop.  You will then be taken back to
step 6.  From here, you can return to the main menu, restart the display, or
modify the display settings.

░▒▓ New Feature: Password ▓▒░
If you have elected to use the Password feature (Passwords are set using the
SETUP program), you will be prompted to enter a password before the program
will exit.  If you enter the wrong password, the program will beep and continue
displaying messages.  The program will wait five seconds between each keypress
for you to enter the password.  Remember to press Enter once you have typed in
the password.

░▒▓New Feature: QuickShow▓▒░
As described in STEP 1:, QuickShow can be used here to store the selections
that you have made in STEPS 1-5.  Then, message display can start directly from
STEP 1 just by pressing the F10 key.  To use this feature, just make the
selections that you want in STEPS 1-5.  When everything is set the way you
want, press the F10 key and the selections will be stored.  The program will
then give you a short sequence of tones and a message telling you that the
QuickShow information has been successfully saved.

QuickShow is also useful with the command-line player that comes with the
registered version.  If the PLAYER program is run without specifying any
messages, it will look for the file stored by QuickShow and use it to play back
messages.  This feature lets even those who know nothing about command-line
parameters use all the feature of AutoMessage from DOS.  More details about
this feature appear in the documentation that comes with the registered
version.


░▒▓New Feature: Background Music▓▒░
The registered version of the program allows you to have a background musical
score (five different songs) that plays while messages and intermission effects
are displayed.  This score is played through the PC-speaker so you don't have
to have any special equipment to use this function.  More information about
this feature appears in the documentation that comes with the registered
version.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  Create Messages  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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To make a new message, first select Create Messages.  When this option is
selected AutoMessage will first present you with a master format window.  This
window will give you a preview of the overall format of the message.  You can
change each line as you enter the message, but each line will default to this
master format.  You can go back and change the master format any time you want
while you are entering the message.  However, you should remember that any
changes you make will effect the entire message.  If you change the colors in
the master format, each line in the message will then take on these new colors.
The same holds true for any changes you make in display speed and
justification.  If, for example, you have a message with ten lines already
entered and you make a master format change, each of these ten lines will take
on this new format.  This happens regardless of any changes you have already
made to these lines.

Since the Master Format initially takes on the values you saved using the SETUP
program, you will not usually need to make any changes to this format.  So,
when you enter the Create Messages menu option, you will usually just need to
press Enter or Escape immediately to start entering the message.  However, this
option will always be available if you want to make any changes.

It is important to remember that each message is totally independent of any
other messages.  Any changes you make using the Master Format or the SETUP
program will have no effect on messages you have already saved.

There are different ways to access extended characters based on your language
version of DOS.  For English versions of DOS, the only way to access extended
characters is through the numeric keypad.  To access the ¥ (yen) character,
you must hold down the Alt key while typing 157 on the numeric keypad.  157 is
the ASCII code of ¥.  This will only work if you hold down the Alt key while
typing all three letters.  If you release the Alt key before finishing, the
results will be unpredictable.  If you are using a foreign language version of
DOS, some of the extended keys will appear on your keyboard.  Most languages
are directly compatible with ASCII.  However, you may have to experiment to
find the right combination to get the characters you want.  Refer to your DOS
manual for more information about extended characters.  AutoMessage supports
extended ASCII codes 128 to 175.

We're now ready to start entering a message.  Try entering a few characters and
see how they look.  For the purpose of speed, the program will let you keep
typing as it draws characters at the bottom, so if it appears that the
characters are disappearing, stop typing and they will quickly catch up.

After you have typed a few characters, you can then see how some of the
commands work (note that all possible commands are listed on the screen).


Cursor Up │ This key moves up the display by one line.  When you reach the
──────────┘ first line, this key no longer has any effect.


Cursor Down │ This key moves the display down by one line.  When you reach line
────────────┘ 999, this key no longer has any effect.


Page Up │ This key moves the display up by 15 lines.  When you reach the first
────────┘ line, this key no longer has any effect.


Page Down │ This key moves the display down by 15 lines.  When you reach line
──────────┘ 999, this key no longer has any effect.


Delete │ This key deletes the current line.  Be careful - it doesn't ask
───────┘ whether or not you are sure you want to delete; it just does it.


Insert │ This key inserts a new line.  It pushes any text below it down by one
───────┘ line and adds a new line that conforms to the settings made in the
Master Format window.


Home │ This key takes you to line 1 of the message.
─────┘


End │ This key takes you to the last line you have edited.
────┘


Esc │ This key gets you out of Create Messages and takes you back to the Main
────┘ Menu.  If the current message contains any text, you will be asked if you
want to save the current message.  If you do, press Y and follow the
instructions.  If you do not want to save, press N.  Otherwise, press C or
Escape again and you will return to the message without saving or exiting.


F1: Justification │ This key changes the justification of the text on the
──────────────────┘ screen.  Try using this option a few times to see what
occurs.  Make sure that you refer to what happens in the preview window because
this is exactly the way that the text will appear when the message is
displayed.  Remember, any changes you make with this option will effect only
the line that you are currently editing.  Any lines that have not yet been
edited will default to the settings shown by the Master Format window.

Note that as you make changes with F1, the window just to the right of the
Entry Window will indicate these changes.  This window is also important for
other functions because it reflects changes in Underline, Text Type, Font, and
Speed.


F2: Text Color │ This choice is fairly obvious.  When you press F2, the text
───────────────┘ color of the current line changes.  There are 16 possible text
colors, but the program will not allow you to set a text color equal to the
screen color (if you want the text color to equal the screen color you really
want a blank line).  The text color will cycle through all of its colors as
long as you press F2.  Any changes you make with this option will effect only
the line that you are currently editing.


F3: Screen Color │ This choice works in exactly the same way as the text color,
─────────────────┘ except that it changes the color of the text background.  As
with the text color, you cannot set the screen color to equal the text color.
Any changes you make with this option will only effect the line that you are
currently editing.


F4: Display Speed │ This choice changes the display speed of the line you are
──────────────────┘ currently editing.  Changes to this setting do not appear
in the preview window.  The speed varies from 100% to 25%.  At 100%, the
message will display as fast as the hardware in your computer and display card
will allow.  However, at 75% and below, the message text will display with a
delay between each character.  This decreased speed should be about the same
regardless of the hardware used to display it.

Try using this option a few times and then preview the results.  You can then
better judge what speed settings do what on your equipment.  As usual, any
changes you make with this option will only effect the line that you are
currently editing.


F5: Text Size │ This choice allows you to select Normal or Double sized text.
──────────────┘ This is a good effect for calling attention to a particular
line.  One thing to remember about this choice is that it cuts down on the
number of lines that can be displayed on the screen at the same time.
Normally, you can have 10 lines of text from top to bottom.  However, since
Double text is twice as high as Normal, it takes up twice as much screen space.
Therefore, if every line is Double size, you can only have 5 lines of text on
each screen.  The width of the display is not effected, you will still have 20
characters per line (32 characters in AutoMessage 32).  And again, any changes
you make with this option will only effect the line that you are currently
editing.

F6: Underline Text │ This choice allows you to turn underline on and off.  Both
───────────────────┘ Normal and Double sized text is underlined.  The only
thing to remember about this option is that if you select Blinking Text (F9),
the underline does not blink, only the text it underlines.  And guess what, any
changes you make with this option will only effect the line that you are
currently editing.


F7: Pause Display │ This option will stop the display for as many seconds as
──────────────────┘ you tell it to.  When you press F7, it will examine the
line on which you are currently working.  If this line contains information,
Pause Display will insert a line so that this information is not lost.  If the
line is blank, then Pause Display will simply replace it.  If you fail to enter
a number when Pause Display asks you for a delay time, it will default to 0
seconds and have no effect on the message display.  Pause Display is also used
in conjunction with F9 (Blinking Text).  To get text to blink, you must first
select it with F9.  This alone will not cause the text to blink.  You must then
issue a pause display.  The text will not blink until the message reaches this
pause.  You can put the pause display on the line below the blinking text, or
you can put it several lines below, just so long as the text that is to blink
stays on the screen.


F8: Clear Screen │ This option does just what it says.  It clears off the
─────────────────┘ screen and starts the display from the top.  There are a
couple of things to remember about this option, though.  If you have selected a
top title (F6), a bottom title (F7), or both, Clear Screen will not effect
them.  Only text that is between the top and/or bottom title will be cleared
away.  However, if you issue two Clear Screen commands in a row, the top and/or
bottom title will be cleared away.


F9: Blinking Text │ This option provides a way to make text on the screen blink
──────────────────┘ to attract special attention.  Any text can be made to
blink (except for the top and bottom titles); however, only one line on each
screen can be made to blink at a time.  Also, to get text to blink you must
issue a pause command (see F7 Pause Display for details) at least 1 line after
the blink command.


F10: Next Font │ Unlike any of the above choices, Next Font effects the entire
───────────────┘ message.  In this version of the program, 5 fonts are
provided: Courier, Roman, Helv, Deco, and Vogue (The registered version of the
program includes 5 more fonts:  Pencil, Brass, Gordon, Script, and Cartoon).
You can see how each of the fonts will look by repeatedly pressing F10.  The
only restriction with this command is that you can only have 1 font per
message.


(When the following sections refer to pressing Shift and a function key, i.e.
Shift F6, remember to press and hold the Shift key while pressing the function
key at the same time.)

Shift F6: Make Top Title │ This option allows you to make a title that will
─────────────────────────┘ stay at the top of the screen regardless of what
happens with the rest of the message.  Text is scrolled beneath the top title,
and if a Clear Screen command is issued, only the text below this title is
cleared away.  To get rid of this top title, you must issue two Clear Screen
commands in a row.  This function works along with the Make Bottom Title (Shift
F7).  One thing to remember about this function is that whenever it is used in
the message it will clear away the rest of the screen.  The only exception to
the above rule occurs when you have a bottom title.  Selecting a new Top Title
will not clear away the current bottom title.  Also, the top (as well as the
bottom) title is not effected by the Blinking Text command.  All other commands
work normally.  You can issue the Make Top Title command whenever you want in a
particular message.  Just remember that it clears away all but the bottom title
(if there is one) when it is issued.


Shift F7: Make Bottom Title │ This option allows you to make a title that will
────────────────────────────┘ stay at the bottom of the screen regardless of
what happens with the rest of the message.  Text is scrolled above the bottom
title, and if a Clear Screen command is issued, only the text above this title
is cleared away.  To get rid of this bottom title, you must issue two Clear
Screen commands in a row.  This function works along with the Make Top Title
(Shift F6).  One thing to remember about this function is that whenever it is
used in the message it will clear way the rest of the screen.

The only exception to the above rule occurs if you have a top title.
Selecting a new Bottom Title will not clear away the current top title.  Also,
the bottom (as well as the top) title is not effected by the Blinking Text
command.  All other commands work normally.  You can issue the Make Bottom
Title command whenever you want in a particular message.  Just remember that it
clears away all but the top title (if there is one) when it is issued.


Shift F8: Master Format │ This option allows you to change the current Master
────────────────────────┘ Format.  It calls up the same screen that is
presented when you first select Create Messages.  This function works the same
way when it is called from the message as it does when Create Messages is first
selected.  It is important to remember that any changes you make here effect
the entire message.  If you change the colors, all lines in the message are
changed, including any lines you have already edited. The same goes for changes
made in justification and display speed.


Shift F9: Save Message │ This option allows you to save the message you are
───────────────────────┘ currently editing.  This option also comes up
automatically when you press Escape to exit the message and the message
contains information.  The screen should then present you with any necessary
instructions.  It is a good idea to use a name that is indicative of the
contents of the message so that you can find it more quickly.  However, this is
not absolutely necessary since all messages are automatically previewed before
you load them back in.


Shift F10: Preview Message │ This option allows you to preview the message you
───────────────────────────┘ are currently editing.  This is the way the
message will appear when displayed using the Show Messages selection from the
Main Menu (except no intermission effects are shown).  The message will repeat
until you stop it by pressing any key.


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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓║  Change Messages  ║░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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This selection works essentially the same way as Create Messages.  The only
two exceptions are:  A Load Message menu initially appears in place of the
Master Format menu; and a Shift F5: Load Message choice appears on the screen.

Since Change Messages differs so little from Create Messages, I will only
document the two exceptions listed above.  Just refer to the Create Messages
section for information on all the other functions.

When you first select Change Messages, you will be presented with a menu asking
you what message you want to load.  The directory is searched for all messages
that have been saved, and then they are presented on a selection list.  You can
move up and down through this list like you move up and down through a message.
All of the allowable keys are displayed on the screen, and no other keys have
any function.

You can get an idea of the contents of each message as you highlight it in the
Load Menu.  At the left of the screen in the Entry Window, a preview of the
first fourteen lines of each message will appear.  When you have highlighted
the message you would like to edit, press Enter and the message will load.


Shift F5 │ Pressing Shift and F5 brings up the Load Messages Menu.  This can be
─────────┘ done at any time during editing.  This menu is the same as the one
that first appears when you select Change Messages from the Main Menu.  You
should remember that if you load a new message with this function, it will
first erase the message on which you are currently working.  When you first
press this button it will ask if you want to save your current message.  If you
select (N)o, the program will then erase the message you are currently editing.
It will not erase it from the disk, but it will erase any changes you have
made.

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To contact Russell Holloway (The author of this software):
                          Phone : [phone]

                         Address: Russell Holloway
                                  P.O. Box 54225
                                  Lexington, KY  40555-4225

            Electronic Addresses: Compuserve     - 72144,1376
                                  Internet       - [e-mail]
                                  America Online - RUSSELL660
                                  Prodigy        - KWFA42A
                                  FIDOnet        - Russ Holloway @1:2370/31
                                  VirtualNET     - 51@6061
                                  Scriptnet      - 51@606000