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INDEXER.DOC
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1994-01-18
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COPYRIGHT (1994) MICHAEL CORT
PYRAMID PRODUCTIONS
11320 MONTFERRAND
FRANCE
* PROGRAMMING *
Michael Cort
* AF INDEX DATA COMPILATION *
Pete and Lee Mallabone
THE INDEXER
-----------
The INDEXER in itself is like a compilation of all those little
programs we have littering our disk boxes, allowing you to list
videos, list menus, list stamps, list photographs, list records,
CD's, news items, furniture and all those other things we never
organise in our lives and home. This is one stand alone program
needing at least 1Meg which does all these things on one disk.
NOW PLEASE MAKE SURE, THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND ARE USING A COPY OF
THE ORIGINAL DISK AND HAVE LOCKED IT AWAY IN A SAFE PLACE.
!! H E L P !!
PRESS [HELP] whilst in INDEXER and you get this FILE.
( If you use Muchmore )
( This help document is compatible with Muchmore if you have a )
( copy. It should be in your c: drawer press [help] whilst in )
( reading mode to get printing, share and all working details. )
OPERATING THE INDEXER
-----------------------
OVERALL
The principle of THE INDEXER is to enable you to find items as
quickly as possible, by referencing them under a main index and
then re-cross referencing them with other menu indices. The DMI
or the Dynamic Menu Index.
As a stand alone program the FULL FAMILY INDEXER v.2 can make up
to 14 indices on any subject of your choice. With the 540 menu
indices (DMI) available this should give you ample opportunity
to cover most subjects in each Index. In ea ch stand alone disk,
you should have room for over 8,000 entries divided between
the 14 indices. Should you find this AMIGA FORMAT INDEXER useful
then you can obtain the,
FULL FAMILY INDEXER v.2
from:
Pyramid Productions.
( see below )
AMIGA FORMAT INDEXER
This special edition AMIGA FORMAT INDEX allows you to Index your
copies of AMIGA FORMAT for years to come. We have included over
1300 references to items in the past issues of AMIGA FORMAT to
get you started with your own FORMAT INDEX. We have made in
the main general indices such as DELUXE PAINT and GAME CHEATS,
but have left it to you to make more specific indices to suit
your own requirements.
You will find a number of indices installed. The first covers
past issues and you can add you own items to this and the others
are clear, for you to begin and customize for your future use.
You will therefore have to devise your own new categories.
( see below )
THE INTERFACE
You are presented with a main central box which gives you all
the information, five mode control buttons marked in green in
the top right hand corner, and nine red control buttons with
which you can pick the category of your desired INDEX. To the
right of the title box (green), is a window displaying the
number of records and beyond that a little box which displays
your options and directions while you are operating the INDEX.
The instruction box will now be telling you to
"LOAD MENU".
<<<<<<<<<
TO LOAD "AMIGA FORMAT INDEX"
Pull down Menu 1 and "click" on "LOAD AMIGA FORMAT INDEX" - in
submenu 1.
Files will be loaded and you will then see the DMI loading.
THE DMI
THE DYNAMIC MENU INDEX allows you to make 540 separate indices
and displays them on nine categorised menus.
CONTROL MODULES
There are two control modes for the program.
SEARCHING and ENTERING
You can work in either of these two modes, and get in or out of
them by clicking on the button EXIT MODE.
SEARCHING
Within the `SEARCH' mode there are two ways of finding items.
SEARCH DMI or SEARCH ALL
SEARCH DMI
To use the DYNAMIC MENU INDEX click on SEARCH DMI then click on
the Category button that interests you. You will now be told to
choose an item from the Menu of that Category.
Go up to the appropriate menu which will now be in operation and
choose your desired subject.
Whilst in SEARCH DMI you can go back up to the same Menu or
change the Category by clicking the appropriate button. You can
also click on SEARCH ALL to change the searching method.
SEARCH ALL
You can of course go straight to SEARCH ALL, by clicking on this
button when you open the program. On clicking, you will be
presented with four string boxes to enter a search string.
The first box is `ghosted', as this is used for entering a new
DMI. The first open box will let you enter an Issue No after
which it will display all items from that particular issue. The
next box lets you enter a page number, and displays all items on
that page for the year. The last box allows you to enter any 33
letter string you choose, and searches all the records to see if
such an item exists.
You are only allowed to enter a string in one box at a time, and
you must therefore click on the search box of your choice before
entering.
To enter further searches just click on the desired string box
and it will allow you to enter a search. If you want to pop back
into using the DMI just click on SEARCH DMI after any search.
To exit you of course click EXIT MODE which brings you out of
any searching situation.
ENTERING
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
ENTER DMI OR ENTER NEW
Here again there are two methods of entering new items into
indices.
ENTER DMI
Click this button and you will be asked to choose a Category. Go
to the Menu chosen and choose the index under which you want
your new entry to be made.
The Menu will then place the DMI INDEX NAME in the first string
box and all you have to do is to then enter the Issue No, Page
and then your Comments. (see Comments below)
When you are satisfied with your entry (you can click any box to
change your entry) press F1 and your new reference will be saved
forever.
When entering items, it is faster to enter them in chronological
order. This is because if they are out of sequence the program
has to spend time sorting them and inserting them into the right
place in the files.
If you wish you can now choose a new category or an index from
the same menu in the same way as you searched above to write
your next entry.
ENTERING NEW DMI INDEX
By clicking on this control button you are first asked as to
which Category your new index will be listed. Click on your
choice and you will be presented with the first string box open
to enter in the new name.
There is only one discipline you have to observe in making
entries and that is DMI indices cannot start with a number. For
example, A600 is absolutely ok. Whereas if you entered 600A you
might get some peculiar results when searching.
You can of course click back on ENTER DMI within this entry
mode.
To cease entering click EXIT MODE.
COMMENTS
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
When entering COMMENTS in a new item, one can become quite
creative in the structure of your index. When the program
searches a DMI it will not only search the INDEX name but also
any mention of that index in the COMMENTS column.
It is therefore redundant to enter under an index, for example
called REVIEW, a record in COMMENTS which states REVIEW DELUXE
PAINT. Just write in DELUXE PAINT, and if after this you write
in capital letters ANIM- or any other code, then if you have
already an index called ANIM- then the DMI while searching will
also include this record. It is important when using this
facility to write these codes in CAPITAL letters. You can add
further indices to your choice and will, for example DSK1* to
add to all items on the first cover disk then DSK2* etc, etc.
This facility is of great value when you are not quite sure
which index to put a new item in. This is the spectacular
part of the INDEX in that it can cross-reference records under
many subjects.
You will note that we have made these type of DMI indices as
code words (WB-, ART-, EDU-, PC* etc etc) we have put such
things as a star or dash in these codes as just putting the
letters alone can obtain some interesting results. For example,
entering ART on its own could bring up the record of a HACK
available which makes a sound that rhymes with - ART, and a lot
of other peculiar references.
As we say above, we have limited our DMI's to general and
popular items. If you want to be more specific, then when you
make a new entry for one of your main interests, check first to
see if the subject already exists in the file, but without an
index. If it does, then create a new index in the name of that
subject, and all the existing references will then be included
in that Category and DMI.
You can also create a new DMI index on its own without any
reference to an item. This you do by clicking on ENTER NEW, then
enter the new DMI name in the first string, press return for
each of the subsequent string boxes leaving them empty, then F1
to save. This will then create a new DMI Index, but no record
will be saved.
CHANGING AN ITEM
Having found the item you require, scroll down to it with the
cursor keys until it is highlighted, then all you simply do is
press F5 and this record will be inserted in the string boxes.
Click on the box you wish to alter, then make the changes, then
press return and follow the instructions in the box that
appears.
DELETING AN ITEM
As above for changing, except press DEL and your offending item
has gone forever.
PRINTING
THE INDEXER has been created for the purpose of saving paper in
the home, so you will be prompted first if you really do want
to print off an Index. On pressing F10, you will be asked to
switch on your printer, after which you will press [RTN] There
are no fancy printing facilities involved here, this is just a
direct dump of the items you have listed at the particular time.
The best results can be obtained if your printer is switched to
EPSON mode.
NOTE: If you have a system requester appearing which says
"Printer not switched on", switch it on then click CANCEL, then
`left Amiga/N' to bring you back to the INDEXER screen.
CHANGING TITLES
This INDEXER is exclusively for indexing your " AMIGA FORMAT "
magazines and the editor would hate to think you were using it
or other magazines, albeit "Playboy" or "Womans Own" ! You can
therefore change the title of any Index! to what you want, so
long as it is called AMIGA FORMAT INDEX. Should you want to
desperately want to make an index for "BEANO" , "MILK PUDDING
RECIPES", your collection of "FAMOUS FALSE TEETH" or your record
CD, and video collection, then you will need the full family
INDEXER v.2 (see details below)
EDITING CATEGORIES
It is advisable when making a NEW INDEX to spend a lot of time
and thought planning the list of categories. But with the best
of organisation, one often finds that initial thoughts on a
subject have to be changed in midstream. This is purely a matter
on selecting Menu 1 when in the EXIT MODE situation, and
clicking on the list provided and changing it at will. It must
also be noted that it is not obligatory to make a full list of
categories when starting an Index, so one does have the option
to add further categories later. This facility can also be used
to align categories for their control buttons. Remember to fill
spaces! We have left the categories for future AMIGA FORMAT MAG
records open to your choice and to edit. Plan out your structure
of indices on paper before you commit.
Please remember, that all categories should be filled, if it is
only with a dash ( - ) if at the moment you are undecided.
DELETING AN INDEX
Something to be never done without considerable forethought, and
probably the simplest facility in the program. Click on DELETE
INDEX in Menu 1, you will then be prompted until you click on
the DEL button. Whereupon after a lot of machine noise, the
Index will be no more. This is probably best used when you are
first making a new Index and don't quite get the format correct.
In this version, we will not allow you to delete all the hard
work we have put into the past references, so you are stuck with
them.
EXAMPLES
Clicking on this item in the first Menu will give you a list of
example indices, which give suggested ideas for formats and
layouts. These can be made in the full INDEXER v.2 ( see below),
so click on them to see the example layouts.
MAKING A NEW INDEX
Clicking on Menu 1 again, this will bring up a screen for you to
enter the details of the NEW INDEX. You can EXIT immediately by
clicking CAN, or start entering the NEW INDEX details. You can
click on any box at random to enter or press return to activate
the boxes in order.
The first box should contain the title of the Index.
The second box is to insert a code of no more than 3 letters
which will be the prefix for all files concerned with this
Index. If you are handy with the CLI, DIR the Amdex draw and you
will see all the files concerned with the AMIGA FORMAT INDEX
have the prefix "af". For a Magazine called SUPER SPORT, you
might use "ss".
The third box (title of second ENTER string) is the box with
which one must take the most care. This box and the fourth box
are where you enter the title of the second and third fields
when entering a new item. It is this third box value with which
the program sorts the items in an index. For example, the AMIGA
FORMAT INDEXER sorts all records on the issue number. If you
look at the examples, records can be sorted on dates, time,
pages, etc, but it is up to you to plan the best format for your
needs.
The fourth box is a secondary sort facility, which is explained
with the AMIGA FORMAT INDEX by giving the page number. The
INDEXER sorts first the issue, then after the page number. So
it is very important that the third and fourth boxes have
plenty of planning before committing to title.
NOTE:
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ENTER STRING BOXES 1 AND 2 ARE NUMERICAL
ONLY.
If you make these boxes (three and four) to represent a date,
or a time, then please remember when entering dates or time,
they should be separated as below. It will be noted that these
boxes will also only hold 4 digits. This means that on an Index
which is sorted by date, only day and month, or month and year
can be included. This would mean in for example the Newspaper
Indexer, (CHECK OUT DEMOS of FULL INDEXER v.2) which gives days
and month for sorting, that a new Indexer would have to be
opened annually. On the example of the Video Indexer, we place
the number of your cassette first and then the length of the
item in hours and minutes.
Entering time should always have figures separated by a full
stop.
TIME
Two fifteen = 2.15
DATE
1 March = 0301
Try out this facility even if as we say above, you can only have
an AMIGA FORMAT INDEX in this version, it will give you a good
idea of the capabilities of the full INDEXER v.2. Also take a
look at the demos of sample indices, by clicking on Demos in
the first menu.
HARDISC INSTALATION
-------------------
THE INDEXER
1. LOAD machine. Insert INDEXER in DF0: OPEN window of desired
partition. With mouse move icon AF. INDEXER! from Indexer
window and drop in chosen partition window. Likewise drop
INDEXER.DOC into partition window.
2. OPEN SHELL
Make following commands:
copy indexer:indexerfonts to sys:
copy indexer:libs/extend.library to sys:libs
copy indexer:s/AF.INDEXER! to sys:s
copy indexer:s/indexer.doc to sys:s
copy indexer:indexer to {chosen partition}: eg. sys:
copy indexer:amdex all to {chosen partition}:amdex
[ If not in your sys:c ] copy indexer:c/muchmore to sys:c
3. OPEN "ED" in SHELL and edit sys:s/INDEXER!
First line reads >> sys:indexer
If INDEXER is not in your sys: partition then change SYS: to
{chosen partition}:indexer -------- save.
4. OPEN "ED" in SHELL and edit sys:s/startup-sequence
Add this line after all the other assigns.
assign indexer: {chosen partition}: ( Don't forget the :)
[ The partition in which you have copied AMDEX ]
Then save.
5. Reboot and it should all work. Does on mine!
Do not forget, to read the instructions, just press help
when the program is loaded.
===============================
THE FULL INDEXER V.2
===============================
The INDEXER is very powerful and it ranks with a wordprocessor
or spreadsheet in the complexity of programming. The unique
DYNAMIC MENU INDEX sytem developed by PYRAMID for all it's
domestic applications is a wonder in inter-relational data
storage. After all, what other program has the capability of 540
indices, which can be cross referenced in so many different
ways, with instant recall?
Finally the INDEXER by this simplicity of use, at first seems to
be, but a small application. Do not be deceived. Like an
automatic gear box on a car, the INDEXER works hard beneath it's
simple interface. It sorts, it categorises, and searches
extremely quickly any item that is sought, yet it demands the
minimum of input. With this minimal input it is also capable of
storing vast amounts of records, just on one disc.
Yes the INDEXER is the first part of THE GREEN MACHINE system
from PYRAMID. A system, that will put the AMIGA into the lead
position as a home computer well into the 90's.
The INDEXER V.2 is obtainable from:
PYRAMID PRODUCTIONS,
EN RAMOUNAS
11320 LABASTIDE D'ANJOU. FRANCE.
PRICE: £21 / FF192 (UK Cheques payable: "PYRAMIDE PRODUCTIONS")
( Upgrade from V.1 owners £6 )
FINALLY:
HAVE FUN!!!
From: Michael CORT