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Gold Medal Software - Volume 3 (Gold Medal) (1994).iso
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GENSETUP.HLP
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1994-03-05
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╒═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
│ General Setup │
╘═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛
To get system information, select screen colors, setup the modem
parameters for auto-dialing, assign fields, install printers, select
a printer, or select a printer emulation for printing POSTNET
barcodes, select General Setup in the main menu.
A) System Information
B) Select Screen Colors
C) Set Modem Parameters
D) Field Assignment
E) Install Printer(s)
F) Select Printer
G) Bar Code Printer Emulation
A) System Information
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This selection will display information about the FILES statement in
your CONFIG.SYS file and your DOS version.
The FILES statement in your CONFIG.SYS file must be set to 20 or
greater. This will allow you to select a database and any of it's
accompanying files. DDFile will not be able to access any more files
than specified by the FILES statement. The following files and files
handles are needed by DDFile:
1) The template file for printing labels, letters, and lists uses 2
file handles.
2) If you are using Zippy, 2 more file handles are needed; 1 for the
zippy database and 1 for an index on the zippy database.
3) When a database is selected, 2 file handles are used and if the
database contains any memo fields since a file handle is needed
for the DBT file.
4) If any index files are selected, 1 file handle will be needed for
each index file. Up to 15 index files may be selected for a
database at any one time pending enough file handles are
available.
5) Your DOS operating system automatically uses 5 file handles
before even entering DDFile.
Up to a total of 27 file handles may be needed at any one time. It is
suggested that your FILES statement be set to 30 or higher.
If you are running a DOS version earlier than 3.30, the maximum
number of files that DOS will recognize is 20. If you are running DOS
version 3.30 or later, the maximum number of files DOS will recognize
is 255.
You can edit the CONFIG.SYS file with Copy/Rename/Delete/Edit Files
in the main menu. See File Management in the on-line documentation.
The FILES statement is placed on a line by itself towards the top of
the CONFIG.SYS file. Simply type FILES=30 then save and exit the
file. You will need to quit DDFile and reboot your machine in order
for DOS to read the updated CONFIG.SYS file and setup your system
accordingly. Rebooting is done by pressing the <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and
<Del> keys all at once and then letting up.
If you try to access more files than is defined by the FILES
statement, you will get a run-time open_error() that will exit you
from the program. This should cause no harm to your data. However you
will need to increase the number of files your system can use.
Upon selecting "System Information", if the FILES statement can be
found in DOS, the FILES setting will be displayed. Otherwise, you
will be informed that it could not be found.
Next, your DOS version will be displayed.
Next, if the FILES statement could be found in DOS and you are
running DOS version 3.30 or later, you will be informed that handles
was set to the FILES setting. If your version of DOS is earlier than
3.30 and the FILES statement is found, file handles is set to the
FILES statement as long as it is not greater than 20.
Next, the total number of files currently in use will be displayed.
This includes the 5 that DOS uses.
B) Select Screen Colors
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
If your system reports a monochrome card, colors will be set to
monochrome unless you say it does not have a mono card.
There are three choices to be made for screen colors:
1) Screen background color.
2) Boxes and text other than fields.
3) Menu light bars and fields.
By default the vaules are #1 for the background color, #214 for the
box and text color and #514 for the menu light bars and fields color.
These can be changed to suit your preference.
C) Set Modem Parameters
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This selection will allow you to define Prefix #1, Prefix #2, COM
Port and Calling Card #. These are used by pressing <F8> while
editing records to auto-dial the area code and/or phone from the
current record on your installed modem if there is one.
The Prefix #1 and #2 are for dial commands. The dial commands will be
dialed prior to the area code and phone number located in the record.
If the area code is empty, it will be ignored. The Calling Card #, if
defined, will be added to the end of the phone number.
The following are three prefix codes and their use with a Hayes
compatible modem:
"," = PAUSE: When placing a call from an office with the phone
connected to a PBX, it is necessary to dial an access code, usually
the number 9, to get an outside line. This is done by dialing a "9,"
prefix code. The "9" accesses an outside line and the "," pauses for
another dial tone. Multiple commas may be used for a longer pause
time.
"P" = PULSE and "T" = TONE: By default the modem will dial in Tone
mode. If you need to dial in Pulse mode simply insert the "P" into
the Prefix code. The "P" and "T" can be inserted anywhere within the
prefix code, dialing part in Tone and part in Pulse.
Some long distance calling companies have codes for long distance
collect calls and other types of codes that may also be used in the
prefix codes.
The COM Port can be any existing COM Port on your machine. If the COM
Port does not exist, nothing will happen when dialing a number.
D) Field Assignment
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This selection will allow you to assign fields in the database to any
of the field uses listed in this sub-menu. Upon making a selection, a
window of fields will open allowing you to select one. Some of the
following require the field to be a certain type and length. For more
on field types and lengths, see "Creating/Modifying a Database" in
the on-line documentation.
Carrier Route
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed to do carrier route reports and labels. This must
be a character type field.
Street Address
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by Zippy to automatically insert "P.O. Box" into
if the zip code entered belongs exclusively to a post office.
After selecting the field to use, you will be allowed to edit
"P.O. Box" to say "Post Office Box" or anything else.
City
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by Zippy to automatically insert the city name
based upon the zip code entered. After assigning the City field
you will be asked if you want the city name to be entered in all
UPPER case or UPPER/lower (upper 1st character, lower rest) case.
State
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by Zippy to automatically insert the 2-character
state abbreviation based upon the zip code entered and also for
printing bulk reports/labels. This must be a character type field
with a length of 2.
Zip Code
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by Zippy to automatically insert the city, state,
and area code and also used for printing bulk reports/labels.
This must be a character type field with a length of either 5 or
10 (zip+4).
Area Code
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by Zippy to automatically insert the area code
based upon the zip code entered and also by the <F8> command
while editing records to dial a phone number on your modem.
Phone
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by the <F8> command while editing records to dial
a number on the modem.
Record Date
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Assigning a date field to be the Record Date will cause today's
date to be automatically inserted into this date field for all
newly added records.
Tickler Date
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed by the Tickler. The Tickler may be run after first
selecting a database if a date field has been assigned as the
Tickler Date field. For more on running Tickler, see "Getting
Started" in the on-line documentation.
Filter
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed in order to create a Filter. This field must be a
logical field and can be added to any database with Create/Modify
Database Files in the main menu. See "Creating/Modifying a
Database" in the on-line documentation.
Duplicate
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This is needed in order to check for duplicate records. This
field must be a logical field and can be added to any database
with Create/Modify Database Files in the main menu. See
"Creating/Modifying a Database" in the on-line documentation.
E) Install Printer(s)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Printer drivers are not mandatory to print labels, letters, or master
lists. However, they will allow you to customize the output using the
printer macros available for your printer. There is a master printer
driver file of over 980 printer drivers that accompanies the
registered version of DDFile. Simply select all the printers you
will be using with DDFile then exit.
F) Select Printer
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This selection will allow you to select a printer from the installed
list of printer drivers. A printer must be selected in order to use
printer macros in the printing templates and also to send escape
(printer) codes to the printer before printing.
G) Bar Code Printer Emulation
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This selection will allow you to select the printer to emulate for
printing bar codes. First, select your printer or one that your
printer can emulate. Your printer manual should tell you which
printers your printer can emulate. To print barcodes, the barcode
macro must be placed in your template and the zipcode must be either
9 or 11 digits. Next, you can test your printer.
Direct output to: ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
See Appendix B in the on-line documentation for further instruction
in what to enter in this box. This is put in the appendix because the
instuctions are the same for three other locations in this program.