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******************** * TLC Address Book * * by Tom Hayslett * ******************** Version 4.03, 21 May 1993 New additions to 2.0 and higher are marked with *** for easy identification and changes since 2.01 are summarized at the end of this document. Please read them, there has been a LOT of changes... So why another address book? Seems there are multitudes of them already written to cover just about every preference anyone could have. Well, none of the existing ones would work exactly the way my wife wanted it to so she designed this one and commissioned me to program it for her! This one is different folks, it contains two actual databases of names and addresses, not one. The first portion is pretty much the standard address book type offering all the normal (maybe a few more) features found in most of the others. It's extremely fast in all operations, even if you have all 500 address slots full. Sorting, searching, saving and loading have all been optimized about as fast as I can get them. So what's the second section? Well, it's really a 'date reminder' section, hence the name 'Date Minder'. It stores by month names and addresses of those with birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions that occur during the month. My wife was tired of trying to squeeze all the families childrens names and dates onto a comment line or two so this section was her specialty. Printouts will print by month in date sequence with or without addresses and you can even print mailing labels for all those with special dates for that month (or all months at once!). Entering data for a family is simple as all the relevant items need not be entered again, just click on the calendars to set the dates, change the first name and add a remark if you want. Let me move on now to the actual operation of the program, I would recommend that you load the program to work 'along' with these instructions. I. FILES The disk should contain the following: TLC_BOOK.PRG - the actual program TLC_BOOK.DOC - this document file TLC_BOOK.DAT - sample address file - OPTIONAL TLC_BOOK.CFG - sample printer configuration file - OPTIONAL That's it! The resource file ('.RSC') is embedded within the program. I hate having many data and support files on a disk so all TLC programs have the resource file in the program itself. Double click on the program file so you can view it while reading these instructions. For those of you that don't read these files, the program is fairly self explanatory, fire away... II. OPERATION - TLC ADDRESS BOOK While loading, the program first looks for a file named 'TLC_BOOK.CFG'. This is a printer configuration file that will load as the default anytime you start the program. It must be in the same directory as the program (this file is optional, it'll load it if you have it). Then the program looks for 'TLC_BOOK.DAT' as a default data (address) file to load. If you save your file as this filename and keep it in the same directory (or subdirectory) with the program, it will automatically be loaded each time you enter the program again, this is optional). The opening screen is the address book portion and is a normal GEM dialog box. You have 10 fields of information you can enter, Last Name (up to 20 characters), First Name (20 chars), Address 1 (51 chars), Address 2 (51 chars), Address 3 (30 chars), ***Post Code (10 chars) and ***Phone Number (30 chars). In addition, 3 comment lines are available with up to 63 characters each. The 'TAB' key will move from one field to the next or you may just point and click with the mouse to move the cursor to any field you wish. You may also use the cursor control keys (up and down arrows) to move between fields. *** Both the TAB key and the up and down arrow keys will wrap from the top or bottom of a record to the top or bottom when in the first or last field. Clicking on the 'TLC' icon (*** or pressing Alt T), in the upper left hand corner reveals info about the program. Editing is via the normal GEM modes, you may move the cursor with the arrow keys, use backspace or delete to remove characters or press the escape key to clear the entire line. ***Both the Return and Enter keys will advance to the next field or if you're in the last field of a record, they will advance to the next record. ***Clear home will always move to the first field of a record. Any additions or changes to the address shown will be kept when you leave this record (record number is displayed under the title as 'Record 007 of 235'). It is always in 'EDIT' mode to make changing any data easy. A. OPTIONS These are divided into 3 main groups, file options, record options and print options. 1. File Options File options are standard, 'Load' will allow you to load a data file of any name by presenting the standard GEM file selector. 'Save' works the same way, a file selector is presented allowing you to choose the name to save your file as. The program checks the disk you selected to ensure there's enough free room to save the file, if not, an alert will inform you. If the file exists, you will be offered 3 choices. You may abort saving, ignore the name conflict (which overwrites the original file) or have the original renamed with a '.BAK' file extension. This is a safety feature so you don't accidentally lose a good file. Remember that naming your file 'TLC_BOOK.DAT' makes it a default file that will load during program initialization. 'Erase' presents a file selector allowing you to choose a disk file to delete. ***You will be asked to confirm the deletion only if you have the warnings option turned on. 'New' allows deleting all data currently in memory so you can start a new file. Again, confirmation is requested unless you have warnings turned off. 2. Record Options Most of these are self explanatory but just in case I'll go over them. 'First' takes you to the first (number 1) record in your file. 'Last' does just the opposite, it takes you to the last record in your file. 'Next' will only be available when there are records after the current record your on and it will advance to the next record. Likewise, 'Previous' will only be available when there are records preceding the current record you're on. 'Add' is only available when you have less than the maximum of 500 records in your file and it can be chosen from anywhere regardless of the record you're currently on. It will automatically go to the last record +1 for you to enter new data. 'Delete' deletes the record currently shown on screen and resequences the remaining addresses. 'Sort' offers a dialog box that lets you choose what field you want the file sorted on (Last Name, First Name, Address 1, Address 2, Address 3, Post Code or Phone Number). 'Search' offers a small dialog box allowing you to enter ANY search string (you may choose whether the search is 'case sensitive' or not by clicking the appropriate button). The search begins from the record AFTER the one currently displayed on screen and goes through the last record. This is done very quickly and you may enter letters or numbers to search for. ***The search begins by EITHER pressing 'RETURN', selecting Alternate S (^S) or clicking on the search button. You will be shown the current record being searched. 3. Print Options There are two options here, Print and Configure. Selecting either will take you to another screen that will be explained later. 4. Other Options Five other options exist, the first being 'Information'. This one is easy, selected it shows you how many address records you have in memory, how many date records, the amount of memory used by the program to store the records you have entered and available RAM. ***Next is the 'Warnings' option. If you select this, you will be shown alert boxes warning of the consequences before you do anything that might destroy your file in memory. With this turned off, you are NOT warned (i.e. the 'Undo' key will take you directly to the desktop). This caters to both expert and novice users. The next option is to 'Enter Dates' which takes you to the 'Date Minder Data' section (B), another is 'Date Minder' which takes you to the "Date Minder' section (C). Both of these options let you choose to turn the 'Dates' feature on or off. If you turn dates on, you will enter that section and carry the current date as set in your STs memory. With the dates turned off, you go to the default settings. The last option is 'Desktop' which obviously exits the program. ***** WARNING ***** Without warnings turned on, clicking on this box or pressing the UNDO key will take you directly to the desktop. If in doubt, turn warnings on. Be sure you have saved your file if you made any changes to it! III. OPERATION - DATE MINDER DATA (Section B) This section can be entered from either the address book or the date minder. If you select 'Enter dates' from the address book you'll come to this section with all relevant fields reflecting data from the address record you were on (i.e. last name, first name, address 1, address 2, address 3, and post code). ***If you had the dates option turned on, the date will reflect the current date in your STs memory (day, month, and year). With the dates option turned off, the date defaults to Jan 01, 1900. Moving through the name and address fields is the same as with the address book. If you want to change a field (for example, the first name), tab to that field (or point and click), press the escape key and enter the relevant data. A. OPTIONS 1. Date Record Options Three large boxes appear across the top of the form labeled "Anniversary", Birthday" and "Other". These are toggle boxes, clicking on one (*** or using the appropriate keystroke) deselects the others. There are three miniature calendars across the bottom left hand side of the screen, the first is for the month. Simply click on the relevant month and the date in the upper section will change to reflect your choice. Next is the day calendar numbered (oddly enough), 1 - 31. Click on the day you want to save with the date record. Next is the year box, the first two positions are '19' (you're out of luck if you have any friends or relatives born in the 1800's), there are two options to complete the year. First is the decade (third position of the year) and second is the year (fourth position of the year). All clicks will reflect your choice in the date in the upper section. The 'Date record' number is also shown at the top as well as the total number of date records. That's it! 2. Other Options The only three other options at this point are one, 'Add More' which goes to the next available record and keeps all the information you have on screen except the remarks. This happens VERY quickly so watch the record number. This is used to enter multiple dates or occasions for certain people (i.e. you may want to enter both a Birthday AND Anniversary date for a certain someone special, know what I mean Verne?). Second option is 'Delete' which will delete the entry shown on screen. If it's the last entry in the Date record section, the fields will be blanked out but if there are date records after it (see section C), all records are moved down 1 position. The third option is simply 'Return'. This will store the info you have on screen and then return to either the address book or Date Minder, depending on where you entered this section from. At this time, all the date data you entered or changed will be stored and sorted in month sequence. A dialog box always appears to inform you of the action the program is taking. III. OPERATION - DATE MINDER (Section C) When entering this section, all dates you have entered for the month of January (***or with the 'dates' option selected, the current month as set in your ST) will be shown listed in day sequence (i.e. 11, 14, 23, etc). Across the top of the screen the fields being shown are detailed. DD/MM/YY is the sequence the date is shown in. The title '?' will have an 'A' for anniversary, 'B' for birthday or 'O' for other. Of course the names are shown, listed as first name then last name. The remarks field is also shown after the name. To edit any of the data shown, just point to the record you want to edit and click on it. You will be taken to section B and all data pertaining to that record will be shown (i.e. name, addresses, dates, type, etc.). At the top is the actual date record number you're working on. All functions here operate just the same, if you change anything it is kept when you click on 'Return' which returns you to the Date Minder section. If you delete this record, the record number following it will be shown. If you change the date, the record will move to the new month as applicable when you return to the Date Minder section. A. OPTIONS 1. Date Record Options The bottom left hand corner displays a calendar of months, to view a different month simply click on the one you want to see. If there are more date entries for that month than can be shown on one screen, the 'Next page' and 'Back page' buttons will be active. The 'New entry' button takes you to the Date Minder Data section (B) with all fields blanked out. You may enter Date records without having a corresponding address record entry. The two sections can be totally separate. 2. Print Options This works just like the print options in the address book section. The buttons 'Print' and 'Configure' take you to their respective screens for further action. 3. Other Options Two other buttons exist, one to return to the address book and one to exit to the desktop. ***Like the main screen, if you have warnings activated, a warning exists for exiting the program. IV. OPERATION - CONFIGURATION (Printer) This screen has 9 text fields, the first is strictly a comment line that will be displayed after you load the configuration file. For example, you may have two printers and entering a note here will remind you which the program is set for. The next 4 fields are for entering printer control codes. Time to dig out the printer manual and look up the decimal codes for your printer. They are usually two digits with the first being '27'. Enter the decimal codes in the spaces provided, separated by a comma with NO spaces in between. For example, thew standard codes for BOLD print are 27,69. That's exactly how you'd enter them on that line, just as the default shows. I should mention here that these codes are optional, the program is set to work with any 'Epson compatible' as a default. Going to this screen will show you the default codes and allow you to edit them. The next editable field is the 'Button text' field. You may enter a descriptor for the special type of text you set (i.e. enter Script) and that text will be shown in the Style button on the print screen. ***The next field is for entering the number of lines per page. The default is 60 and is what you need for 8 1/2 x 11 size paper. You may reset this if you're trying to print a different page size (i.e. A4, etc.) The next 2 fields only apply to mailing labels. Number of spaces allows you to set the number of blank spaces from the left your printer will leave when printing labels. The second number is the total number of lines per label. The standard American size labels should be set for 5, this allows proper spacing in between. British labels are a different size and 8 prints them fine. Either of these numbers can be set at any number up to 99 which allows you to print any size of labels. *** Version 1.52 change There are three buttons at the bottom of this page, Load Config File allows you to load a different configuration file (in case you have multiple printers or multiple styles) and Save Config File which allows you to save to disk any modifications you made. The Exit button is just that, it returns you to the spot you left. Any changes you made will be good for the current session but you must save them to disk to be able to use them later. In addition to saving your printers settings, saving a configuration file also saves your settings for 'Dates' and 'Warnings'. Be sure you have them set to your preference before saving the configuration file. V. OPERATION - PRINT SCREEN This screen has many options available, listed below are the different headings and what the buttons in each group do. A. Print Which? This allows you to select printing the addresses, dates or both. B. Style Lets you choose Draft, Bold (or whatever style you set bold to in your configuration) or condensed. C. Page Size Let's you choose from 3 different page sizes, 8" x 10" (normal size), 3.5" x 6" (Mini compressed) or 3.75" x 6.75" (Mini compressed). ***If you set the number of lines to other than 60, use the 8" x 10" setting. The number of lines you set will override the page size. *** NOTE : The small page sizes are disabled until you set the 'Style' to condensed. D. Type Lets you choose between 'Page' or 'Labels'. *** NOTE : Setting the page size has no effect when you elect to print labels. They will print in bold or condensed with the number of lines set in the configuration file. E. Print Select 'All' or 'One'. This pertains to addresses only. Selecting 'One' will still give you the option of printing the address you were on or printing multiple copies of one address (a great way to print your own 'RETURN' address labels). F. Duplicate Names? Select either 'Don't Stop' or 'Stop'. This one was for Chris. Selecting 'Stop' will stop printing when it finds a duplicate name. Both the first and last names must match exactly for the program to stop. It will stop on the duplicate, show it to you and give you 3 options, Abort to abort all printing, Print it to print the entry shown or Skip it to continue printing with the next address or label. *** NOTE : This only works with addresses, NOT with dates. I have tons of duplicate entries in my Date Minder section, some for birthdays, some for anniversaries, etc. You shouldn't need it to stop on duplicates here. G. Date Minder Options These only effect the printing of dates. All Months prints everything in the Date Minder section from January to December and This Month will only print the month you were on when you selected 'Print' (The current month is displayed just above these options). You may also choose to print the date data with or without addresses here. Why print pages by month? These are handy to store in the front of your address book. You can see at a glance who has a birthday, anniversary, etc, coming up. My wife uses these pages to carry to the local Hallmark shop when she buys cards for the occasions. 'Labels' is easy to understand, mailing labels for that months events are printed saving you the effort of hand addressing all the cards.a for giving me the idea to add this. *** NOTE : If you go to the Print Screen from the address book and choose to print dates for 'This Month', the program will print the month you were last in (or January) if you haven't gone to the Date Minder section yet. H. Other Options Load Config allows you to load a different printer configuration file right from the print screen. Abort is simple, it leaves the printing section without printing anything. I. Print It! This will print based on what you set all the options to. Notes: At the top of the Print Screen, the comment you entered in your printer configuration file will be shown. If you don't use a config file, the comment will be Standard 'Epson' compatible codes. When you go to the print screen, all your options will be as you last left them except for Print Which?. It will default to addresses if you came from the address book and dates if you selected Print from the Date Minder section. VIII. TYPICAL USE I hope you've been looking at the screens while reading this, for some reason things sound more complicated on paper than they really are. The program is simple to use and most can master it in just a few minutes. The real 'meat' of this program (i.e. why it's different than most), is the fact that it stores the date section and address sections independent of one another. If you have a relative with several children that you send birthday cards to (I have a LOT of brothers with kids), just enter your relatives name in the address book and choose 'Enter dates'. You can then edit the first name of all their kids with the appropriate dates. Later, printing labels is a snap! You can also enter certain 'card sending' holidays such as Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day etc. Enter them as the first of the applicable month but with comments reminding you what they are (please see the sample data file, go to the months of May and June for an example of this). I also use this program to track contributors. I enter the names and addresses, dates they contributed and the version number they got. When updates are ready, I can zip out labels to everyone. It also helps me track when I deposited checks by entering those dates in the Date Minder section! Another good use is to enter all the software companies you deal with (including magazine subscriptions), the way Uncle moves me around I need this to have all the relevant addresses readily available (and printing labels too!). At Christmas time, my wife prints labels on everyone entered in her 'Date Book' 8-), she never forgets who she's already sent cards to. If she still has the label, she still needs to send a card. Her address book doesn't get 'sloppy' after Christmas either with a bunch of penciled in changes, she sits at the Mega and fixes them up. It's also great for keeping track of users groups. You can enter everyones names, addresses, and the dates their dues are up for renewal. It makes printing labels for newsletters and such a snap! That should be good enough to give you a few ideas, it sure saves us time. IX. SYSTEM CONFIGURATION The program itself only occupies about 100K of your available memory. It will store up to 500 addresses and up to 500 dates (***more are available if you request it when contributing), with all information pertaining to them. The program is written in GFA Basic version 3.5 (ST'e' compatible) and should run on all versions of TOS. Large address books may require 512K memory users to disable some desk accessories. There is no minimum hardware requirement, it runs fine on a system with only one single sided floppy drive as well as running great from any folder or partition on a hard drive. It functions perfectly with the hordes of 'enhancements' I've run it with (i. Turbo ST 1.8, Quick ST 2.1 and loads of AUTO folder programs). As with all 'TLC' programs, it runs in either high or medium resolution modes. X. SHAREWARE **** TLC Software ********************************************************* S P E C I A L *************************************************************************** As a Christmas special, the entire collection of TLC programs can be yours (registered versions of course), for the miniscule fee of $10! What a bargain, a disk full of programs and documentation. If you're interested in the GFA source code to all the TLC programs, that can be yours for a $20 contribution. This will come on 2 DS/DD disks unless you request a single DS/HD disk. As a minimum, the TLC Utilities disk includes: o - TLC Book - A combination address book and date keeper. Version 4.x now prints phone books as well as address books, mailing labels, date books, and date labels. It allows as many entries as your systems memory will hold and has full hot key access. Also new is the ability to merge multiple address books and you can even print addresses, dates, or labels to disk! Supports any printer and works in ST & TT resolutions except low. o - TLC View - An accessory or program that loads your TLC Book address databases into a GEM window without leaving the GEM program you're using. o - TLC Attributor - Allows renaming volume labels, files, changing files attributes (read only, hidden, system, etc). Runs as a program or accessory in all but low resolution. Allows setting the fast load bit as well as updating the date/time stamp on files. It also allows deletion of those pesky files TOS won't delete at times. o - TLC Formatter - Accessory/program to format 3.5" disks in 80-82 tracks, 9 or 10 sectors per track. FaST option reads and writes faster than 'twisted' or 'skewed' formats and is 100% compatible with all ST programs. All formats are MS DOS 5.x and DR DOS 6.x compatible, in fact, FaST formatted disks read and write twice as fast on the messy dos systems! Formats backwards and allows aborting to cover mistakes. Supports multiple automatic drive switching and detects presence of a HD 3.5" disk (yes, it does FaST tricks to them also!) o - TLC Fixer - Allows changing ASCII or HEX strings in programs or data files. Runs as an accessory or program in all resolutions except low. Will do multiple searches, ask before changing, keep backups etc. Uses hot keys or GEM. o - TLC Icon Maker - Creates icons in .RSC files from DEGAS medium or high resolution (.PI2, .PI3) pictures, for use with DRIs RCS2 or Kumas K- Resource. o - The TLC Sound Machine - Allows playing and manipulating digitized sounds created with DigiSound, SoundOff, MasterSound, ST Replay and more. You can modify the sounds and save them to disk in several formats. o - TLC Show - A quick and dirty Spectrum picture viewer for those times you don't want to load a slide show program and set a series of buttons to display a picture or two. o - TLC RSRC - Creates GFA Basic 3.x compatible ASCII LST files from resources created with DRIs RCS2 or Kumas K-Resource so you can merge it into your program and include your resource file in your program. Prints full instructions in the LST file. Now this includes a sample program and source code showing proper implementation. o - TLC Mega - A short accessory or program that allows you to change the CPU speed of the Mega STe. Also displays TOS and GEMDOS version numbers. Includes small auto folder programs for speed switches while booting up. All these programs for one low $10 price. Please make checks payable to: Tom Hayslett 210 Fairmont Drive Hampton, VA 23666 804-766-3691 *** SUMMARY OF CHANGES: Version 2.02, 23 Dec 91 - Added a default file name to the save option for both data and config files. The default is the same name you (or the program) loaded. - Added the 'Wrap around' feature to the search box. If the search reaches the last record it will 'wrap' to the first record and continue searching if you have this selected. It defaults to ON. - Added 2 optional sort fields to the sort box. Now you can choose up to 3 fields to sort on, in any order you like. Select which sort item you want (1st, 2nd or 3rd) by either pressing F1, F2 or F3 or by clicking the appropriate button and then click on which field you want sorted in that position. Selecting 'None' clears that sort field. All changes will be reflected in the buttons to show you exactly what you've selected. Version 2.03, 27 Dec 91 - Changed the ^P (Alternate + P) keystroke in the Print Box to a RETURN. It's a more natural keystroke to press RETURN or ENTER. - Added a new button to the main dialog called 'Find Date Address ^C'. This one saves a lot of work. If you change someones address in your address file, just press Alt C (or click on the button) and the program will search for any entries in the DateMinder section that have the same last name! If found, you'll see a new dialog box listing the name and address (and occasion), found and offering you 4 options: 1) Change and continue - Click this or press RETURN or ENTER and the address in the date record will be made to match the address you had up in the address book. It then continues searching for another matching last name. 2) Change and abort - Click or press Alt+C to fix the address and then return to the address book. 3) Skip - Click or press Alt+S to skip the date record found but continue searching for another matching last name. 4) Abort - Click or press UNDO to abort and return to the address book. This routine is very quick and displays the number it's searching while doing it. - Added CR (Carriage Return) symbols to many of the alerts to help identify keystrokes. Version 2.04, 30 Dec 91 - Added a counting routine when printing multiple copies of the same address label. Now when printing your own return address labels, the program shows how many it has printed so you can more accurately choose when to press the HELP key to abort printing. - Internal changes that are mostly transparent to you but I did free up some memory (over 3K). The program is getting large enough that I'm starting to sweat the 512K limit I've tried to stay within. (You wouldn't normally use anywhere near the 512K UNLESS you filled the program up with all 500 addresses and 500 date records that had every line completely filled.) Version 2.05, 20 Jan 92 - Added 2 new options to the printing routine for the date records called 'month' and 'page'. This chooses whether your date entries will print a separate month on each page (as was previously the default) or if you select page, it will fill the pages even when the month changes. The different months ARE separated so they're easily spotted. - The 'Info' box use to show number of addresses and dates as well as memory used and memory available. These have been changed to a more meaningful set of statistics (for most people anyway) and look like this: Maximum records : xxxx Address records : xxxx Date records : xxxx Current file size : xxxx - A few people have asked for the maximum record (500) to be increased so I have added routines that will check available memory and automatically set the maximum number of records your system will allow (at that time). Of course, items such as print spoolers, ram disks, etc. that use memory will change the maximum number. 500 is still the minimum number it will allow but it increases the number depending on your STs memory. If you save a huge file (over 500 addresses) and try to load it later when you've used a lot of memory, it won't let you. It will check the file and warn you if your limit is smaller than the file size. Just reboot without the extra memory used and your max is back up there. - When checking addresses for matching date records, it now shows the date as well as the occasion. - Some buttons toggled too fast for 16 Mhz machines. I just received me Mega STe and the buttons continuously switched on and off when trying to click on them. This now works properly. - Fixed a critter in the search box. When using the alt key command to toggle a button, any entry in the text field after that would keep toggling the button on and off. Squashed! - Added a form feed to the printing routines when you press the 'HELP' key to abort printing. - Corrected several areas (printing routines) that wouldn't align the names properly if either a first or last name wasn't entered. Version 2.06, 24 Mar 92 - Corrected a bug (they're still around???) that wouldn't let you save a file if: you had warnings turned on and selected 'New' (F4), entered new names and then tried to save a file. Silly me, I forgot to reset a variable. It's history... Version 3.00, 24 May 92 - Changed the 'Erase' button on the main screen to 'Merge'. Now you can merge multiple address (and date) files (assuming the total number of addresses is less than the total your system will handle. You may merge as many files as you like up to the maximum number of records your system will hold. - Added a new button in the print box under 'Addresses', 'Dates', and 'Both' called 'Phone Book'. When you select this, you'll get a simple printout like this: Name (first & last), phone number. If no phone number is entered for a particular record, none will print. - Added another new print option, 'Disk' (Alt + D). Now you can print anything to disk just as you can to your printer. This is great for creating files to use with a mail merge program. All the options are the same as printing to your printer. When you select your options and then select 'Disk', the fileselector will appear allowing you to choose a filename to create. If the file exists, the program offers a backup or ignore function as in other file saves. Of course it checks for enough free space and will warn you if it thinks there isn't enough. CAUTION! You can print multiple labels to disk just as you can to your printer (return labels) and the program continues printing until you abort the process by pressing the HELP key. It does show you the count of how many it has printed but there's no way to see if your disk has enough room for this since you control the number it prints. You can fill a disk quickly this way and then you'll get an error. Why you'd want to print multiples of 1 label to disk is beyond me but forewarned is fore prepared. As always, if you find any problems with these updates, please write to me and let me know. I don't have any beta testers here so I try to thoroughly test all revisions myself but you never know what may slip through. Version 3.02, 31 July 1992 - Several contributors have written concerning the printing of multiple labels (return address labels). I had previously added a counter as I believe the problem is that the program prints labels so quickly, the user is pressing the 'HELP' key to abort printing but there are plenty still in the buffer. To remedy this, I have now added another small dialog box that lets you enter the number you wish to print. Hopefully this will do the job. Version 3.03, 15 Nov 1992 - I have changed the way the program reads a printer configuration file so now there are 2 ways to enter the codes for your printer. The old method of entering decimal codes separated with a comma is still valid. In addition, you may enter codes in the format most new lasers will read them, i.e. character strings. The only requirement is that the strings be separated from decimal codes by enclosing them in the ' symbol. For example, the decimal codes to make an Okidata Laser 400 (Hewlett Packard Laser Jet II compatible), switch to condensed modes are as follows: 27,38,107,50,83 the new method allows you to enter: 27,'&k2S' note that the escape character must be entered in decimal followed by a comma, then you enclose the laserjet command string in single quotes and the program will properly translate them. I have included a configuration file for the Okidata that will help you figure out this method if you load it and look at it. The obvious advantage to using the new method is that you may now use the different internal fonts of your laser printer. Version 4.00, March 28, 1993 I didn't think there was much more I could add, I was wrong. - I added an option (new button) to the dialog box that searches for matching date addresses. The new button allows you to delete that date record and continue searching. - I changed the way the title prints on the address book pages. Instead of printing TLC Address Book it now prints Addresses of and the registered owners name. - I put the alert back in that asks if you really want to exit (even with warnings turned off) if you click on desktop or press UNDO from the Date Minder section. Several users requested this as they had accidentally pressed UNDO from that screen and lost some input. - I added the capability to print labels using the multiple label sheets (i.e. laser labels). This option is fully configurable to any label sheet you have. The configuration dialog has been expanded to include number of labels across (3?), number of labels per page, number of lines down to the first label (no more misaligned label prints), etc. Look at the configuration dialog and set it to your choice. I purchased labels from MEI (# 05160) and they work great! No more switching to the dot matrix printer to print labels. This also works when you print to disk, it will print addresses across in multiples. - Finally, I added a new button to the main dialog called View (alternate + V). This puts all your addresses in a GEM window that you can scroll through. To exit, either click on the close window gadget or click on any name shown in the window. Clicking on a name returns you to the main dialog with that name and address shown. - Oops! Bug fix -- if you added a new name and address and then merged another file, the program didn't retain the name you just added. History. Version 4.01, 29 Mar 1993 (Yep, the next day...) Why didn't I just add this to yesterdays work and keep it at 4.00? Well, a few letters (and checks 8-) had stacked up while I was trying to finish the new version. I immediately sent out all the packages with 4.00 when it was done. Anyway, there's a little something I've been wanting to add to the program but I keep forgetting. Damien reminded me when he added it to ReNameIt (<- plug for a GREAT program). - Now you can have the program autoload any data file by dragging it onto the program filename or icon. It will use that as the default file instead of only 'TLC_BOOK.DAT'. - One other small addition (based on a suggestion by Damien Jones), the 'Oops, make sure you've saved any changes' dialog has been made a little more intelligent. If you load a file and make any changes, the alert appears asking if you want to save your file before you do anything that may destroy it (i.e. load a new file, exit, etc.) This will happen whether you have warnings turned on or not. Likewise, even with warnings on, if you load a file but don't change anything, the alert won't appear when you exit. Version 4.02, 11 Apr 93 - Based on a suggestion, I added an option for you to choose whether you want to 'View' your names in either First Name Last Name or Last Name First Name sequence. The box to select this is on the configuration screen. This setting will be saved in your configuration file. - I changed the title of what use to be the Printer Configuration box to just TLC Config. I also moved toggle buttons there of ALL settings that are saved when you save a configuration file (i.e. dates on or off for both adding dates and going to the Date Minder section, warnings, and now view preferences. Version 4.03, 21 May 93 - Oops, a bug slipped into version 4.02. If you clicked the down arrow in the view window with less than a full window of addresses, whamo! That's been fixed. While I was in there, I figured out a way to make the window scrolling MUCH smoother. - And last, this version is being distributed with version 1.0 of TLC_VIEW. It's a small program (or accessory, based on the file extension), that allows you to load an address book (up to 200 names) so that you can view addresses while in a word processor or any other GEM based program. It's an early version bit it works. Read the documentation on the program. Time to rest...