The 640 MEG Shareware Studio 2/The 640 Meg Shareware Studio CD-ROM Volume II (Data Express)(1993).ISO/person/bf10.zip/BF.DOC

Text File | 1993-01-05 | 27KB | 639 lines

                      BiblioFile User's Manual
                            Version 1.0
                 Copyright 1993 by Michael Carnell
                           Data by Design
                           [phone]
                           P.O. Box 31994
                        Charleston, SC 29417

==========================================================================

                         TABLE OF CONTENTS

     A. Introduction                   K. Administration
     B. Getting Started                   - System Information
     C. Adding Books                      - Index Files
     D. Editing Books                     - Configuration
     E. Deleting Books                 L. File Types
     F. Setting Order of Books         M. Glossary
     G. Searching for Books            N. How to get Help
     H. Viewing Books in a List        O. Technical Specifications
     I. Limiting Books Shown           P. Keyboard Reference
     J. Reports                        Q. Other Programs & Services
        - Setting Up a Report          R. Legal Stuff
        - Printing a Report

=========================================================================

A - INTRODUCTION

    BiblioFile is a simple database system that can help you organize
your book collection.  Many years of experience in the book business and
computer programming have gone in to producing a program that is
extremely easy to learn and use, but also powerful.

    If you don't want to read this manual, don't.  Just follow the menus
and instructions in the program and you should be fine.  But if you have
a question, always realize that you can refer back here.

    All of the features of BiblioFile are available from the main menu.
This menu has nine basic sections.  Each section handles a different
type of task and may give you further options after being selected.

Next - displays the next book in the database.

Previous - displays the previous book in the database.

Top - displays the first book in the database.

Bottom - displays the last book in the database.

Add - presents you a blank record to add a new book.

Order - lets you select the order in which the books are displayed.
        They can be in order by Author, Subject, or Title.

Edit - lets you edit the book currently displayed.

Delete - marks the book currently displayed for deletion.  If the
         book is already marked for deletion, choosing delete will
         remove the deletion mark.

Search - will search for occurences of text anywhere in the record of a
         book.

Find - will find books by occurence of text in the field by which the
       database is ordered -- the Author, Title, or Subject.

Limit - lets you limit the books displayed and reported to those of
        a single Author, Subject, or Title, depending on the order.

View - will display a list of your books that you can scroll through
       in browsing fashion.  When you want to view a book in more
       detail, simply press Enter.

Clean - will permanently remove any books you have marked for
        deletion.

Report - This selection will enable you to print, file, or view a
         report of all the items you have in your collection.

Quit - exits the program.  You can also exit the program by pressing
       the Escape key from the main menu.

    You choose an operation by either pressing the key that corresponds
to the first letter of your choice or by using the cursor keys to scroll
back and forth through the list of choices and then pressing the Enter
key when the correct choice is highlighted.


B - GETTING STARTED

    To start BiblioFile simply type BF and press Enter from the disk and
directory in which the program resides.  For example, if you installed
the program to the C: drive, in a directory named \BF, then the following
command sequence will always work to start the program:
    C:
    CD\BF
    BF

    The first time that BiblioFIle is run, the setup will automatically
take place.  Among other things, this will involve the creation of the
database and index files.  When this has finished, you will be at
BiblioFile's Main Menu.

    You should exit BiblioFile through the Quit command or by pressing
Esc from the Main Menu.  As the program shuts down it updates some files
and indexes.  If you do not exit this way some of your valuable data may
be lost or damaged.


C -  ADDING BOOKS

    You select the choice "Add" by either highlighting it with the
cursor keys and pressing Enter, or by simply pressing the letter A.

    In the first blank, you will enter the author's last name, a comma,
and then the author's first name.  For example, Zelda Fitzgerald would be
entered as "Fitzgerald, Zelda".  Next you will enter the co-author or
editor's name in the same manner.

    Following that you should enter the title of the book.  For the sake
of consistency, the computer will automatically format the title to
be in all capital letters.

    Afer the title, you will enter all of the other particulars on the
book.  Remember that you can always go back and edit the information
later.

    As you can see this is a very flexible system.  Beware though - care
must be taken when entering books into the system so that they can
be easily retrieved by the needed information.  Remember that to a
computer a 1st Edition is not the same thing as a First Edition and
Wm.  Faulkner is not the same person as William Faulkner.


D - DELETING BOOKS

    To delete a book, first display that book and then select Delete.
Once a book is deleted, it remains in the database until the Clean
function is performed.  At anytime before the database is Cleaned, a book
can be undeleted by displaying that book and then selecting Delete a
second time.  You will notice the word "DELETED" will flash on the top
line of the screen if the book displayed has been marked for deletion.


E - EDITING BOOKS

    When you want to change the information in the record of a book that
is displayed on the screen, just select "Edit."  When you do that, you
can then edit the displayed information just as you typed it in
originally.  If a particular item is correct, simply skip over it by
pressing Enter.  You can use the control key and the "Y" together,
Ctrl+Y, to delete an entire line.

    After completing your editing of the information you will be dropped
back to the menu.  Any changes you made will be saved automatically.


F - SETTING ORDER OF BOOKS

    By default, books in BiblioFile are displayed in order by author, but
the program can also display the books in order by title or by subject.
To change the display order, simply select Order, and then select the
order you desire.

    Note that the order you choose will determine the order for report
listings as well as all on-screen displays.


G - LOCATING BOOKS

    There are two ways to locate specific books within your collection.
The first is by using the Search command.  This will look for the
occurrence of a word or phrase anywhere in a book's record.  This will
search the author, title, description, and every other field.

    The second method is to use the Find command.  This will search for a
word or phrase in only one field of the record.  The field that will be
used is determined by the order of the database.  Therefor, if the
database is being displayed in order by author, then only the author field
will be examined to find the desired word or phrase.


H - VIEWING BOOKS IN A LIST

    If you select View from the main menu, you will be able to browse
through your collection in list form.  You can use the normal cursor keys
to scroll through the list both up and down and from side to side.  When
you press Escape or Enter to exit the list, the book that was highlighted
in the list will be the one displayed.


I - LIMITING BOOKS SHOWN

    If you want to limit the books shown or listed, you can do so by
selecting Limit.  You can then type in the text that will act as a filter
for books to be displayed.  The field that will be compared against the
filter is determined by the current order.

    For example, if you wanted to limit the books in a report to only
those with a subject of SCI-FI, you would first select an Order of
Subject.  Then you would select Limit and type in SCI-FI as the limiting
text.

    To remove a limiting filter, simply select Limit again and leave the
phrase blank, or change the order of the database.


J - REPORTS

    When you select Report, you will be given a menu of options.  If you
select Display, File, or Printer, the report will be generated.  If you
select Setup, you can choose which fields of the record you want included
in the report.  If you press Escape at this menu, you will return to the
main menu.

Setting Up a Report

    If you select Setup, you will see a list of all of the fields, such as
Author and Title, for the database.  By default, all of the fields are set
to be included in the report.  By changing the 'Y's to 'N's however, you
can elect to have some or all of the fields be excluded.

Generating a Report

    If you select Display, BiblioFile go through the process of composing
the report.  After all of the composition is done the report will be
displayed in a browse screen.  You can navigate this screen with the
cursor keys or press Escape to exit.

    If you select Printer, BiblioFile go through the process of composing
the report.  After all of the composition is done, the program will send
you a message saying that it is starting the printing process.  Then the
report will begin to print.  While the report is printing, the status of
the printer will be checked regularly.  If the printer is not responding
correctly, you will be given the chance to correct the problem or exit the
printing process.

    If you select to have the report sent to a file, BiblioFile will ask
you for the name it should give the file where the report is to be stored.
If you enter a valid file name, the program will save the report to that
file and return you to the menu.  If you enter an invalid file name, you
will be told so and then given the chance to edit the file name.  If you
want to give up, just press Escape.  When you have entered a valid
filename, the report will be generated.

    The file that contains your book-list is in plain ASCII text format.
Almost all word processors and desk-top publishing programs can use
material in this format.


K - ADMINISTRATION

    By pressing F8, you can tell the program about your particular
printer.  Most dot matrix printers use a page length of 66, while most
laser printers use a page length of 60.  The default settings are for page
length of 60 lines, a left margin of 5 characters, and a top margin of 5
lines.  The printer is set to use port LPT1 unless you specify otherwise.
If you need different values enter them in here.

    Besides the printer, you can also set up the monetary symbol you
wish to use.  The default is for a dollar sign, but if you need
something different, feel free.  You can enter a pound sign "£" by
holding down the Alt key and typing 156 on your numeric keypad.

    The selections you make will take immediate effect when you are
returned to the menu.  Your choices are saved in the configuration file
and will stay in effect until you change them.


L - FILE TYPES

BF.EXE  - The executable BiblioFile program.

BF.DBF  - The dBASE compatible database files of all books.

BF?.IND - The index files used to keep track of the database.
               This index is NOT dBASE compatible.

BF.CFG  - The program configuration file that records such
               things as whether there is a color monitor.

BF.DOC  - This document.


M - GLOSSARY

Backup - A second, or even third, copy of your work made to guard
against unforseen disasters.

Batch File - A special file with the extension .bat that tells the
computer what actions to take.  A batch file is essentially a small
program.

Boot (Boot Up)- The process a computer goes through when it starts
operation.  It is "pulling itself up by its bootstraps."

Cost - The actual amount that was paid for a book including all
shipping charges.

CRT - See Monitor.

Cursor - The small rectangle or underline character on the computer
screen that shows the user where what he types will be put.

Cursor Keys -The four arrow keys on the computer's keyboard, usually
on the right side, that enable the user to reposition the cursor.

Disk (Diskette) - The magnetic media on which programs and data are
stored.  Removable disks are referred to as floppy disks and fixed
disks are referred to as hard disks.

Disk Operating System (DOS) - See DOS.

DOS (Disk Operating System) - The great guiding program that tells
the computer how to operate and interact.  It underlies all other
programs in the same way that the knowledge of reading and learning
guides us through reading any particular book, magazine or
newspaper.

Enter - The large key on the keyboard, to the right side of the
letter keys, bearing the word "Enter" or "Return" or a broken arrow.
If your keyboard has a numeric keypad there may also be one on the
right side of that keypad.  The Enter key is used to tell the
computer that it can process whatever you just typed.  In word
processing it is used to end a paragraph.

Field - The individual parts of a record in a database.  A phone
book database might have a field for the name, another for the phone
number and another field for the address.  A single grouping of
these three fields is a record.  There would be one record for each
person.  All the records for everyone in the phone book would make
up the database.

File - A file is how the computer stores information.  It is a group
of information that may be related by purpose, data source or
format.

File Names - A file name is the label by which a file is identified.
It can be a maximum of eight characters long plus a three character
extension separated from the name by a period.  Thus the format for
a file name is "XXXXXXXX.XXX".  See appendix E for information about
the file names this program uses.

Fixed Disk Drive - See Hard Drive.

Floppy Disk - A removable magnetic storage media.  The terminology
of a "floppy disk" originates from the days of the 8" disks which
were in fact very floppy.  This term applies both to the new 3 1/2"
and 2" disks as well as the 5 1/4" and the antiquated 8" disks.

Format - The process of formatting a disk makes it useable to the
computer.  Formatting basically arranges magnetic guidelines on the
disk so that the disk drive can stay in the proper lanes.
Formatting a disk that already contains information will
irreversibly send that information to Never Never land.

Function Keys - The 10, 12 or now even 16 keys along the side or top
of the keyboard labeled F1, F2, F3 and so on...

Hard Disk - See Hard Drive.

Hard Drive - A non-removable, therefore "fixed", magnetic storage
media.

Index - A file which keeps track of the order of records in a
database based on different fields.  One index might keep track of
records in a database alphabetically by name while another index
file might keep track of records in the same database by the
address.  Indexing is the process of creating an index.

Menu -A list of choice from which you select the operation you wish
to perform or have the computer perform.

Monitor (Screen) - The television like device used to display
information on a computer.  Monitors may also be referred to as CRTs
which is short for Cathode Ray Tube.

Path - The path is a kind of map to tell the computer where a file
is located.  The path will include the drive letter and subdirectory
where a file resides.  The path for the file in the subdirectory
called "BF" on the C: drive would be "C:\BF".

Prompt - A character used by the computer to signal the user that it
is ready for information or an instruction.  From DOS the prompt is
usually something such as "A:>" or "C:\BF>".  There are many
variations of prompts.

Record - The individual sections of a database.  A record is made up
of fields.  A phone book database might have a field for the name,
another for the phone number and another field for the address.  A
single grouping of these three fields is a record.  There would be
one record for each person.  All the records for everyone in the
phone book would make up the database.

Re-Index - The process the computer uses to recreate and reorder an
index file.

Reset - To restart the computer by means of pressing the Control,
Alternate and Delete keys at one time, Ctrl+Alt+Del, or by a
hardware reset switch.  This should NEVER be done while running
BiblioFile or any other program unless it is totally unavoidable for
it may damage data files.

Return - See Enter.

Screen - See Monitor.

Scroll - To go up and down or side to side through the list of items
in a menu.  You do this by using the cursor keys.

Setup -The process used to make a computer program's settings match
both the hardware it is being used on and the user's preferences.

Subdirectory - Divisions and subdivisions of the storage space on a
disk.  Each different subdirectory will contain related things.  One
subdirectory may contain all word processing files while a different
sub-directory might contain only accounting files.  Sub-directories
are much like chapters in a book.

System Prompt - This is the prompt you are given from DOS.  See
Prompt.

Value - The fair retail market price of an item.

Window - A section of the screen that operates separately from the
rest of the screen.  It is like a screen within a screen.  There may
be more than one window open at a time and they may overlap each
other.

Working Copy - The copy of a program and its related files that you
use in your day to day work.


N - HOW TO GET HELP

    Throughout your use of the program you can get help with an area of
difficulty by using the on-line help or by looking up the information in
this manual.

    Here are a few of the most common questions.

Q: When I try to start the program I get dumped out the screen says:

   Program halted
   Error #  2 (File not found)
   Unable to open index: [file name]

   What is wrong and how can I fix it?

A: The program is looking for index files that either got erased somehow
   or were never created.  Refer to the section on index files in this
   manual to see how to delete the bad file and create a new one.


Q: When I try to print something I get an error message saying the printer
   is not ready.  What is the problem?

A: The computer is trying to talk to the printer but can't do it.  Is the
   printer on?  Does it have paper?  Are the cables tight?  Is the printer
   port set up correctly from F8, the printer setup?

    If you hit a really hard problem, you can always contact me.  One way
to do this is through the electronic bulletin board system I operate, The
Book Board.  Just use your modem and favorite communications software to
call the board at [phone].  Even if you don't have a problem, please
call the board sometime.  There is a lot of good information to be had
there.

    The next option would be to send a letter.  Send any and all mail
to:     Data by Design
        P.O. Box 31994
        Charleston, SC 29417

    If you want to talk directly to a person, I can be reached at
[phone].  There is an answering machine available if I am not, and I
do return all calls.


O - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Hardware Requirements

The following is the minimum hardware required to run BiblioFile:

 - An IBM PC compatible computer with at least 512K free RAM (random
   access memory) running DOS version 3.0 or later.

 - At least 1 floppy drive.  A hard drive is recommended.

 - Any monochrome or color monitor.

 - A printer is necessary for printing reports.

Windows, OS/2
    BiblioFile will run under OS/2, Windows 3.0, and Windows 3.1
although it makes no use of the mouse or other GUI tools.  BiblioFile is
strictly a character-based DOS program.

DOS 5.0
    BiblioFile is completely compatible with version 5.0 of DOS.  It
also works fine with the DOS Shell and the Task Swapper.

QEMM and DesqView
    BiblioFile will works well with QuarterDeck's memory managers and
multi-taskers.


P - KEYBOARD REFERENCE

Esc         From a list of choices - exits without choosing.
            From a note screen - exits without saving changes.

Tab         Jumps forward one field in a record.

Shift+Tab   Jumps backward one field in a record.

PgDn        Jumps to the end of a data entry screen.

Enter       From a list of choices - selects the current choice.
            From a data entry screen - moves to the next field.

Ctrl+Y      Deletes the text to the end of the line.

Ctrl+T      Deletes the word to the right.

Ins         Toggle between overwrite and insert mode.

F1          Help.

Shift+F1    Displays program documentation from disk.

F2          Program information.

F8          Printer setup.

F9          System information.

F10         Print registration form.


Q - OTHER PROGRAMS & SERVICES

    Each one of the programs listed below is marketed as shareware
version.  So, just like BiblioFile, you can try the programs out before
you buy them.  The shareware versions of these programs can be found on
The Book Board electronic bulletin board system.  They can also be
obtained from many shareware vendors and other BBSes.

BookBank
    BookBank is a comprehensive program for book collectors and lovers.
It keeps track of what books you own, what they are worth, and full
descriptions.  It also tracks the dealers and other collectors you
associate with, and helps you develop and track your own want-list.
Multiple search formats and reports can be sent to screen, printer, or
file.  Pulldown menus make it fast, powerful, and easy to use.  This is
the step-up from BiblioFile and the smaller sibling of BookStor.

BookStor
    The program for O.P.  and collectible book dealers, BookStor helps
dealers to track stock, customers, other dealers, sales, catalogs, wants,
and much more.  Full accounting records are kept and account statements
and purchasing reports can be produced.  Complete details are recorded for
every item.  There is even a spelling checker for item descriptions.  Menu
driven, pop-up help, pop-up calculator and much more!  It can also export
all catalogs and reports for use in publishing.  This program is a must
for the collectible book dealer.

The Book Board
    The Book Board is an electronic bulletin board system open to book
collectors and dealers.  The Book Board is the distribution point for all
of the software produced by Data by Design.  It's also a place to receive
technical support.

    Additionally, The Book Board is a place for people interested in books
to gather and share information, files, and programs.  The Book Board is
open to all callers and is online 24 hours a day.  By subscription, The
Bookman's Online Reference Guide can be accessed from The Book Board.

    To access The Book Board, simply use your favorite communications
package in conjunction with your modem and computer.  Your system should
be set to 8-N-1.  The number is [phone].  If you need any
assistance, please let us know!

The Bookman's Online Reference Guide
    The Bookman's Online Reference Guide is an electronic price and points
guide for out-of-print and collectible books.  Accessed by modem through
The Book Board, the guide provides valuable information on how to identify
collectible books and contains estimates of the fair market value of those
books.  The information in this service is culled from thousands of actual
listings in auction records and dealer catalogs.  Additional information
is obtained directly from publishers, collectors, authors, dealers, and
bibliographers.

    For more information on the Bookman's Online Reference Guide or to
subscribe, please either call or write.  You can also find out more or try
a demo by calling The Book Board.


R - LEGAL STUFF

BiblioFile is a trademark of Michael Carnell and use of it is prohibited
without prior consent.  Copyright (c) 1993 by Michael Carnell.  All rights
reserved.  This work may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any
way or by any means, including but not limited to photocopying or
transcription, without the prior written consent of Michael Carnell.

WARRANTY PROVISIONS
Michael Carnell warrants this software will substantially conform to
published specifications and to the documentation, provided that it is
used on the computer hardware and with the operating system for which it
was designed.  Michael Carnell also warrants that the magnetic media on
which the software is distributed and the documentation are free from
defects in materials and workmanship.  Michael Carnell will replace
defective media or documentation at no charge provided the item is
returned within 90 days of delivery.  If Michael Carnell is unable to
replace defective media or documentation or correct substantial software
errors, Michael Carnell will refund the license fee.  These are the sole
remedies to any breach of warranty.

WARRANTY LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER OF ALL LIABILITY
All warranties for this product expressed or implied, including
merchantability and fitness for purpose, are limited to a period of 90
days from the date of purchase, and no warranties, expressed or implied,
will apply after that period.

In no event will Michael Carnell be liable to any purchaser for damages,
lost revenues, lost wages, lost savings, or any other incidental or
consequential damages arising from purchase, use or inability to use this
product, even if Michael Carnell has been advised to the possibility of
such damages.


                          Michael  Carnell
                           Data by Design
                           [phone]
                           P.O. Box 31994
                        Charleston, SC 29417