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1994-08-06
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NOTIFY
Version 2.1
A date reminder program
Copyright 1988, 1993 Jules Brenner
Runtime module copyright Microsoft, Inc.
v2.0 Released 3/93 as SHAREWARE. Users are invited to freely distribute
this program in unaltered form for non-commercial use. If you find yourself
using this program regularly (as in adding and leaving it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT),
please send $15 with registration form (REGISTER.FRM) to:
Jules Brenner
P.O. Box 46116
Los Angeles, CA 90046-0116
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
WHAT IT DOES: It notifies you of dates and messages you put
in a file it creates and maintains (NOTICE.LST). It does
this automatically if you install NOTIFY in your AUTOEXEC
file. That way, NOTIFY is invoked every time you boot up
and, because it's not a TSR, does not take up valuable memory.
If it's added as the last item in AUTOEXEC, the notification
will be on your screen before you go to work. Alternately,
it can be invoked from the command line.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation:
NOTIFY is installed merely by copying NOTIFY.EXE and
BRT71EFR.EXE (the runtime module) to your hard drive.
For best and easiest results, copy them to a directory
that is in your path or in the root directory. If you
need help with this, please let us know and we'll send
you a detailed, step-by-step description.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYNTAX: The format, including optional [bracketted] parameters:
C>NOTIFY [mo/day message] [CANCEL [mo/day]] [I] [E day] [R] [L [day/mo]] [S] [D]
Where:
NOTIFY w/o params & w/o notices prints this syntax message
NOTIFY w/o params & w/ notices presents MENU
NOTIFY (date) (message) adds message (notice) from command line
I prompts for date and message for new insert
E (day) (message) adds notice for every (day)s
R reads and reports all notices for current date (used in AUTOEXEC)
L (date) lists notices for given date (must use mm/dd date format)
L (month) lists notices for given month
(must use month only format with month number & ending with "/")
L lists all notices
CANCEL [date] deletes notices for date or month specified or today
S displays this syntax message on your monitor
D displays the program documentation (this file)
V tells you which version of NOTIFY you're using
Notice that the delimiter is a space. You do not use slashes
except in the date field. One of my programming philosophies
is to require as few keystrokes as possible.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are two modes for input: directly from the DOS command
line and from the menu within the program.
To use in conjunction with AUTOEXEC.BAT, NOTIFY.EXE should be
placed either in your root directory, in a directory that is
in your path or the NOTIFY command must contain the path.
NOTIFY creates and will read only the NOTICE.LST that is in
the same directory that NOTIFY is in. If NOTIFY is moved
without also moving NOTICE.LST, a new NOTICE.LST will be
created and will not contain the notices in the original.
The file NOTICE.LST is created by the program when you
enter your first notice. This is done automatically.
Don't look for it in NOTIFYxx.ZIP.
DOS COMMAND LINE INPUT SAMPLES:
C>NOTIFY 8/25 8:00 - Buy 200 shares MICROSOFT
Everything after the date and a space is the message -- no
matter how many more spaces or other characters are used. Length
is limited to 256 bytes including the date. This notice (string)
will be posted to NOTICE.LST and be brought up on the date
indicated. The year is not a parameter since many notices,
such as in a birthday list, are recurring. Deletions are done
by you, not by the program. When the program finds a match
between the current date and a date in the notice list, the
appropriate notice(s) for that day will be printed on your screen.
In the above example, when booting on 8/25 and only on 8/25.
You can notify yourself not only for birthdays, but what day to
shop for the birthday card, what day to mail it for best effect,
what day to call the birthday boy or girl to needle them about
their age. Whatever you find useful.
OTHER EXAMPLES:
NOTIFY 11/5 Shop for XMAS cards
NOTIFY 12/26 Call Tracy to confirm New Year's Eve
NOTIFY 8/2 Send check for NOTIFY (only fair)
NOTIFY 7/16 SELL MICROSOFT IF BELOW 90
There's more: you can also post recurring notices. To remind
yourself about paying the rent on time, enter:
NOTIFY E 25 SEND RENT CHECK
The `E' stands for Every. That is, on the day specified (25th)
for every month.
`I' is the alternate way to insert a new message. With:
NOTIFY I (cr)
the program will prompt you for the date and for the message.
You'll be returned to the DOS prompt.
Note concerning upper and lower case: If the notice is posted
on the command line (not using 'I') the result will always be
in upper case even if input in lower case. Entering notices
under the 'I' parameter, however, will preserve whatever case
you input.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The preceding switch options all pertain to entering your notices into
NOTICE.LST. The following pertain to reading and/or listing existing
notices:
In order to (R)ead NOTICE.LST for the current date's messages,
you must use the `R' switch. If you add NOTIFY to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT, be sure to include it in order to get the desired
results. As:
NOTIFY R (cr)
Just plain NOTIFY does something else as the syntax description
above indicates.
To list ALL the members of the notice list, use the `L' switch.
To list all notices for a given date use:
NOTIFY L 4/15
To see all notices for a give month use:
NOTIFY L 11/
Listing notices for a specific day or month is available only
from the command line and is not yet provided as a menu choice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those are the reading and listing options. The next set of options relate to
maintaining the notice list and program operation & info:
To check the syntax from the command line, use the `S' switch.
You may cancel notices at will. If you type
NOTIFY CANCEL
all notices for the current date (if your system has a clock or
if you entered the date) will be CANCELLED. If you type
NOTIFY CANCEL 6/28
all notices for 6/28 will be CANCELLED. And,
NOTIFY CANCEL 8/
will delete all notices for August. Simple? We hope so.
To make it even more so, you can do most of the above from the
handy, internal menu. Just type
NOTIFY M (cr)
and it will be accessed.
Various error conditions will bring you to the menu, as well.
You can read this documentation file with NOTIFY (rather than
with a text editor or word processor). This is the 'D'
option:
NOTIFY D
When you use this option, NOTIFY will look for NOTIFY.DOC
in the current directory. But, if it's not found, it'll
prompt you for another directory or drive. That means you
need to invoke NOTIFY while in the directory with NOTIFY.DOC
or know where it is. The prompt gives you the opportunity
to place a floppy in a drive, then enter the drive spec.
To abort the readout, press the [ESCAPE] key. Use any
other key to scroll down. It will not scroll back, however.
That's where you need that text editor or word processor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The V switch:
V is for Version. Just in case you want to check to see
which version you're using, this switch will tell you. It
would be nice if all shareware had this option as a universal
standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLOR: NOTIFY now takes advantage of color monitors.
It does this automatically by looking into your system
to see if color is implemented. If you have a black &
white system, it won't attempt to print in color.
The only thing that needs to be pointed out is that
monochrome VGA monitors will be seen as color monitors
to NOTIFY. Owners of this kind of video will be familiar
with shades of grey representing different colors. Expect,
then, that the menu choices will not read as distinctly
as on a pure black and white monitor but that scrolling
with the up and down arrows will show a slight change of
grey intensity to indicate the active selection. If you
have a color or black & white monitor this small problem
won't apply to you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINTING HARDCOPIES: The syntax screen may be sent to your
printer by using NOTIFY S and then typing your SHIFT-PRTSC
keys. This is known as a screen dump. Be certain your
printer is on and connected before doing so.
To print the registration form or this document file, type:
COPY REGISTER.FRM LPTx:
or
COPY NOTIFY.DOC LPTx:
where the 'x' is the number of the LPT port your printer is
connected to. In most cases, it'll be number 1.
Alternatively, try:
COPY REGISTER.FRM PRN:
COPY NOTIFY.DOC PRN:
It can, of course, be printed through your text editor or
word processor, as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDITING NOTICE.LST
Your list of notices is maintained in a data file called
NOTICE.LST and will be created and stored on the same
directory with NOTIFY.EXE. It is an ASCII file,
meaning that it can be easily modified with any text
editor. While NOTIFY itself controls what goes into it
and out of it, there may be some things NOTIFY can't do.
If you add a notice with the wrong syntax, for example,
a line may be added that isn't a notice. To remove it,
use your text editor. NOTIFY can not yet remove errant
lines. Remember, you can use your registration to request
modifications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATES: The best way to get the latest version of NOTIFY
is to register it. Watch for later versions on the BBSs
you contact but BBSs may not get upgrades and improvements
as promptly as registered users.
If you're a registered user (if you send in your $15 payment),
you'll get the registered version of the latest version.
It may or may not be more current than the unregistered
version you've been using, but all those annoying extra messages
and pleas for fees will be gone!
As a registered user, the next upgrade will be sent you free.
After that, you'll be notified when significant upgrades
become available.
Another advantage of registering is that you can request
a standalone version not requiring BRT71EFR.EXE. Yet
another is that you get to make suggestions for future
upgrades that will be taken seriously (though not necessarily
used).
Be sure to mention the version number you're using on the
registration form (REGISTER.FRM).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our catalogue:
If you like NOTIFY and find it useful you may well find
some of our other utilities equally so. We urge you to
read UTILITY.LST to see all the ways we've found to make your
computing better. Our utilities usually, if not always,
do things that are both unique and needed. The needs
may not be yours, but the list is certainly worth checking
out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update history:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8/6/94 2.11 Just a small correction in this document.
3/26/93 2.1 Cancel all notices in a specified month.
Bug corrections.
V switch added to tell you the version number.
2/28/93 2.0 Color is added.
Creating and reading NOTICE.LST on
same directory as NOTIFY rather than
on the default directory. This
allows placement in any directory.
More error trapping added.
7/1/92: 1.1 Added the listing of date & month
notices. Compiled under BASIC 7.1
7/5/91: Version 1.03: Additions to file archive and to this
document file, including registration
option below. Registration form now
included.
1/15/89: Version 1.02: Compiled by QuickBasic 4.5 therefore
smaller .EXE file and quicker.
10/10/88: Version 1.01: Small bug corrected.
I welcome your comments, reports on bugs and suggestions. You
can write even if you're not registered -- you won't be reported
to the BBS police. If you do register, please send a feed back
note with your registration check.
REGISTRATION OPTION:
As an alternate to remitting a fee, you may purchase our book, THE BRENNER
RESTAURANT INDEX, A Computerized Guide to Selected Restaurants in the Greater
Los Angeles Area. Its cover price is $12.95, plus $1.07 sales tax if you live
in California. The book is available in a few book stores in L.A., such as
Book Soup, Dutton's and Samuel French. Or, go to your favorite book store
and ask them to order it from us. Once purchased, send us a copy of your
receipt or invoice and your request to register NOTIFY.
By purchasing the book, you get two for one: the book AND the registration.
And, now, the commercial:
Among restaurant books, this one is quite unique. It's organized in such a
way that it will help you pick your restaurant according to what
considerations are important on any given occasion. In L.A., with its
massive size, it's common to find yourself in a part of town you don't know
too well. Just check the restaurants in the Location section for those in
that specific area, and you get an immediate summary of the selected
restaurants there (and, on your way there). Another section sorts the
restaurants by cost in case you're on a budget or want to just consider a
certain price range. If you're in the mood for a particular kind of food,
check the Cuisine section. Finally, there's the alphabetical listing. All
restaurant listings include vital details, including special dishes, hours,
parking, credit cards, and more.
WARRANTY: No warranty expressed nor implied. To our
knowledge, there is nothing in this program that can be
considered a risk under normal usage, but the risk of using it
falls entirely to the user.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This was written with an assist by Jake
Angelin, who is credited also with doing the BBS uploading.
APOLOGEA: Because of time constraints, I've gotten the program
to work the way I essentially need it, but haven't totally
polished it. I therefore have some trepidation
about how bug free it is. One thing I know: you should
stick to the prescribed syntax carefully. Any departure from
it may cause unknown results.
I take no responsibility, but I do recommend you
practice on a dummy file to learn your way around the program.
I hope you'll find the effort worth while. The program is
polished a little more with each registration. I guess you
could say that I need to know that others care and that users
do their duty by paying the modest fee. In the meanwhile, I
use it constantly and it certainly makes my life and
appointments a whole lot easier.
TECHNICAL NOTES: NOTIFY was originally written with QuickBasic
3.1, under DOS 2.1. Of course, it works under subsequent
versions of DOS, although it has not been tested on OS/2.
It should run under real mode of that operating system.
This edition was compiled under BASIC 7.1.
LAST WORD: I have a preference for utilities that are simple,
flexible and not memory resident. I wrote this program as an
alternative to a similar program I had problems with. Mainly
it was too verbose. You'd get a report even when booting on a
day for which there were no notices. You'd also get a large
logo and another appeal for the registration fee. No good.
Outside of the extra time it takes to boot the program from
your AUTOEXEC.BAT and have it check for messages, you won't
be aware of NOTIFY until you get a date match or if you want
to use it intentionally, like to add or delete notices. It
is otherwise invisible and, best of all, does NOT take away
those increasingly precious bytes of memory!
I hope you find it useful.
Jules Brenner
Los Angeles 1993
Compuserve 72202,657