CD ROM Paradise Collection 4/CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso/hobby/bdata304.zip/README.TXT

Text File | 1995-03-16 | 15KB | 355 lines

NOTE: THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES VBRUN300.DLL, NOT NECESSARILY
INCLUDED WITH IT.  SEE SECTION III BELOW FOR DETAILS.

BirdData 3.04
Bird Breeders database/record-keeping program.

Print this file for program instructions.

⌐1991-1995 All rights reserved

By Don Bradner
Arcata Pet
600 F Street
Arcata, CA  95521

Compuserve address: 76130,1007
America OnLine: DBirdMan
Internet: [e-mail]

Contents of this file:

   A.  Note to users of BirdData 2.x
   I.  Program Description
  II.  Program Requirements
 III.  Installation
  IV.  Getting Started
   V.  Files that make up BirdData
  VI.  Troubleshooting
 VII.  Getting future upgrades
VIII.  Registration and distribution

A. NOTE TO USERS OF BIRDDATA 2.X.
This version of BirdData uses a completely different file
structure from previous versions.  It is possible to run
BirdData 3.0 and a previous version simultaneously without
harm.  It is recommended that version 3.0 be installed to a
completely different directory than 2.x, so that files don't
get "jumbled."

There is a conversion program included to convert 2.x files to
3.0 format.  An option to run it will display during Setup if
an older version is detected.  The conversion program installs
to your BDATA3 directory along with the rest of the files, so
it may be run later.  If the conversion is run after data has
been entered in 3.0 format, THE NEW DATA WILL BE OVERWRITTEN.
Consequently, the conversion should only be done once.  Your
version 2.x data will not be disturbed by the conversion
process.

If you are a registered user of a version prior to 3.0 there is
no charge to upgrade.  If, after installing version 3 you see
the shareware "nag" screen, it means that the SETUP program did
not find the version 2 registration key.  You need to manually
copy the key (BDATAREG.KEY) from your version 2 directory or
the distribution diskette to the version 3 directory.  In most
cases SETUP will take care of this automatically.

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION.
BirdData is a custom database for the types of records useful
to bird keepers.  The program is oriented towards the
needs of Parrot breeders, but may be useful to pet owners as
well.

Bird records include identification information, fields for 6
items of user-defined data, and weight/journal for up to 2000
lines.  Weight information may be shown graphically for
individual birds and various groupings of birds.  Bird records
are placed in user-defined groups.

There is a search function for bird records that allows
searching for a text string among any of the identification
items or the six user-defined items.

A handy daily-weigh function will locate all babies that are a
specific age or less on a specific date, and allow weights and
comments for that date to be entered.  This is useful both for
daily entering of data, or for entering groups of paper-written
info maintained on a per day basis.

Pair data includes identification information, information on
bird origins, free-form date-stamped diary entries, and ongoing
egglaying data.  The program will calculate hatchdates, based
on user input or prior data.

Pet data was maintained separately in previous versions, but is
integrated with the rest of the bird data in version 3.0.

Most records and lists may be printed to provide permanent
records.

Full documentation is included in the form of a Windows Help
file.  When you desire help, press your F1 function key for
context-sensitive help, or press the help key if you are in a
dialog box.

II. Program requirements.

BirdData requires an IBM compatible 286 or better, running
Windows 3.1, with at least 4 megs of RAM.  A 386 with 8 megs or
more is recommended.  A mouse is required for some funtions.
About 1 megs of hard-drive space is required to install, and each
bird record will use about 2K of disk space initially and more
as the data increases.

III. Installation.

If you obtained BirdData by downloading it from a computer
Bulletin Board (BBS) or another online source, one necessary
file may not have been included.  You will need a file called
VBRUN300.DLL, which is almost always available from any source
that would have BirdData.  On BBS systems the file will
usually be called VBRUN300.ZIP or VBRUN3.ZIP.  If you obtained
the program on disk, the file should be included and may be
called VBRUN300.DL_.  If it is missing, contact the supplier of
the program.  Registered versions obtained from the author
should always include VBRUN300.  If the file is included with
the program it should be installed by the setup procedure; if
it is independently obtained it should be unzipped and placed
in your Windows\System Directory.

To install BirdData, insert the disk in your computer and
choose File/Run from the Program Manager.  Enter A:Setup or
B:Setup as appropriate and follow the prompts.  (If the program
files are already in a directory on your hard disk, enter the
appropriate path instead of A: or B:).

NOTE: Setup will not run if any other program is using
VBRUN300.DLL or any other library file used by the program.  An
error message will be generated, and you must end all such
applications before retrying the installation.  To be safe, it
is best to have only Windows running before installing BirdData
or any other program.

You may restart any other VBRUN300-using programs after
installation is complete.  Multiple programs may use the module
at once, with SETUP being an exception.

IV.  Getting Started.

The SETUP will create a "Bird" program group, with icons for
the program and the various text files.  Double-click the
BirdData icon to start the program.

The best way to familiarize yourself with the program elements
on screen is to click the help (question mark) icon, or choose
"Help" "Overview" from the menus.  In the helpfile's overview,
you may graphically choose different program elements to see an
explanation of their function.

Now click the "New Bird" icon (the "chick-in-shell").  Select a
category and input a bird's information.  Don't worry about getting
everything right; you can always edit it or delete the record later.

Add a couple of additional records, then try out the other
program elements as they relate to those records.  When you are
comfortable, you can convert any paper data you have to the
BirdData format and begin to use the program on a daily basis.

V.  Files that make up BirdData.

The files are compressed on the disk.  They are listed here
with their compressed and uncompressed names.  If you remove
BirdData from your system, be careful about deleting any
file with a .DLL or .VBX extension, since it might be used by
another program (save a copy just in case).  The setup program
only copies a file to your disk if it does not find the file
already or if this file is newer.

References to the BDATA3 directory mean the directory you chose
during installation for the program files.

Compressed      File Name        Type and where installed

BDATA3.EX_    BDATA3.EXE     Program, BDATA3 directory
BDATA3.HL_    BDATA3.HLP     Helpfile, BDATA3 directory
BDATA3.IN_      BDATA3.INI     Data file, BDATA3 directory
                SETUP.EXE      Setup Program, not transferred
        SETUP.LST      Used by Setup
SETUPBDT.EX_    SETUPBDT.EXE   BirdData Setup, Windows directory

VBRUN300.DL_    VBRUN300.DLL Library File, Windows\System directory
***note:  VBRUN300.DLL may not be included if the program was
obtained from an online source.  It will have to be obtained to
run the program and the setup program.  From on-line sources,
it is usually VBRUN300.ZIP or VBRUN3.ZIP.  If the program was
obtained on disk then the file should be included; if not,
contact the source of the disk.  If the file is obtained
separately, it must be installed in your Windows\System
directory BEFORE you run setup.

VER.DL_        VER.DLL      Library File, Windows\System directory
SETUPKIT.DL_    SETUPKIT.DLL     Ditto
CMDIALOG.VB_    CMDIALOG.VBX     Ditto
GRID.VB_        GRID.VBX         Ditto
WWPLIBR.VB_     WWPLIBR.VBX      Ditto

BDATAREG.KEY    BDATAREG.KEY Registration key, BDATA3 directory
***Note: BDATAREG.KEY included only with registered versions.

ICONWRKS.EX_    ICONWRKS.EXE Icon Editor, BDATA3 directory
ICONWRKS.HL_    ICONWRKS.HLP Help File, BDATA3 Directory
***Note: ICONWORKS included only with registered versions.

README.TXT     This file, BDATA3 directory
WHATSNEW.TXT   Program history file, BDATA3 directory
SCANNING.TXT   Info on scanning service, BDATA3 directory

*.IC_           *.ICO             Icon files, BIRDATA\ICONS
subdirectory There are a number of custom icons included with
BirdData; they were drawn by the author or by Sally Blanchard.
Sally's all have a file name beginning with 'SB'.  You may use
these as you wish, to replace the bird group icons in the
program defaults.  There is also a blank icon included to use as a
template for creating your own icons.  You will need an icon
editor; there are many free and shareware editors available;
IconWorks is included with registered copies from the author
and is directly accessible from the Tools menu.

BirdData will make a one-line section addition to your WIN.INI
file.  This entry tells the program the directory path to the
program files.

BirdData will create a number of .REC files and .NDX files in
your BDATA3 directory for the storage of data.  If you follow
good backup procedures, these are the most important to
backup, along with BDATA3.INI.

VI.  Troubleshooting.

Errors will frequently relate to a corrupted .INI file. You may
load BDATA3.INI into Windows Notepad or a similar text-only
editor and look for obviously bad entries.  Always make a
backup of the file before changing any entries, since it is
easy to make problems worse.

Some errors may be corrected by use of the Rebuild Indices menu
item in the Category menu.  If a specific record causes
problems all of the time, either restore a backup copy or else
delete the record and do an index Rebuild.  In the latter case
you would lose that record's data, which is a good reason to do
frequent backups.

VII.  Getting future Upgrades.

When you register BirdData with the author, you will receive a
copy of the latest version and a registration key that removes
the startup screen.  That key file will work with future
versions of the program, so no upgrade fee will be required.

Current versions of BirdData can always be found on Compuserve
in the Pet forum.  At this writing it is in library 1 of
PETSONE.  Current versions are also posted to the America
OnLine Pet Care Club.  Use the keyword "Pet" and look in the
bird section of the library.  Current versions are uploaded to
the internet archival site CICA.  Address is
ftp://ftp.cica.indiana.edu/pub/pc/win3/pim.  This site has many
mirror sites worldwide as well.

Registered users who do not have online access may get a disk
copy from the author for a fee of $5 ($7 non-US).  Send a short
note indicating your registered status and requesting the
latest copy.  Please use the same name under which you are
registered.

VIII.  Registration and Distribution.

BirdData is shareware.  Free use is extended to any user for a
reasonable evaluation period;  typical idea of "reasonable" is
30 days.  If use is continued, the program should be registered
with the author.  Registration fee is $25.  Registrants receive
a disk copy of the latest version of BirdData.  A convenient
form for registration is included below and in the Help file
(and may be printed from there).  Until you register, there
will be a startup screen asking you to register, which you will
have to respond to.  When you register, this annoyance will go
away. Otherwise, this version is complete and un-crippled in
any way.  As a registration incentive, the author will provide
on request two free scanned images from your original prints or
slides, when sent with the registration.  See the file
"SCANNING.TXT" for details.

Commercial use:  BirdData may be used commercially, as long
as there is a registered copy for each computer/terminal that
is using it.

You may freely distribute BirdData as long as no fees are
charged for the program, and all necessary files are included.
Shareware services may charge their normal fees for
distribution of the disk, so long as it is clear to the
purchaser that they are not buying the program itself.

If you are a registered user, do not distribute the file
BDATAREG.KEY, which identifies you as the user (This
identification shows up in the startup logo and the About box).

The author is very interested in feedback from users.  Please
feel free to make contact at the address shown at the beginning
of this file with any comments/questions/problems.

BirdData version 3.04
Registration Form

Thank you for registering.  There are several registration
methods available:
With a credit card you may order by FAX: [phone]
               or Phone: [phone] PST, ask for Don.

By mail, with check, credit card, or money order in US Dollars
To:    Don Bradner
    Arcata Pet
    600 F Street
    Arcata, CA 95521-6301

Compuserve members may register on-line: GO SWREG, program registration
number is 3986.  Note that this costs US$30.00 (includes any sales tax
or Air Mail costs).  This is a slightly higher price than by other
methods, due to added costs imposed by Compuserve.

Registration price is US$25.00, including postage within the US.

Number of registrations desired_______x 25.00 =   $____________
  California residents add $1.81 per reg. for sales tax________
  Non-US add $1.00 per registration for air mail   ____________
                                      Total       $____________
Software will be sent on 1.44 meg 3-1/2 inch disk.

Registrants Name:      __________________________________________

Mailing Address:       __________________________________________

City/State/Zip/Country:__________________________________________

Phone number (     )______________________

If paying with a credit card:
Card type:  _VISA    _MasterCard   _AMEX    _Discover

Card Number:  _______________________________Exp Date: _________

Signature to authorize charge: ____________________Date:___________

Where did you get BirdData?
__BBS or on-line service  Which one?___________________________

__Software/Shareware service  Which one?________________________

__Shareware CD-ROM  Which one?_________________________________

__Friend

__Other ____________________________________
(optional) Comments about BirdData:

_______________________________________________________