ARM Club 1/ARM_CLUB_CD.iso/contents/apps/databases/progs/cdtracker/!CDtracker/!Manual/Manual

Text File | 1995-03-01 | 43.2 KB | 945 lines

CDtracker (v2.22)

This is the PD version of CDtracker. Version 3.00 includes full CD player
facilities and has more facilities than other such player programs. For
availability see the end of these notes.

CDtracker should run OK on all OS3.x machines. If it doesn't it may be worth
looking at Problems item 4) at the end of this file for a simple fix.

                              GENERAL OVERVIEW

CDtracker allows data relating to a CD collection to be kept, manipulated
and interrogated with the minimum of effort. It will run on a 1Mb machine
irrespective of the size of the database and data will take up less than
half the disc space of general purpose databases. If you have many CDs and
store them methodically, CDtracker will allow you to find a track on a CD by
telling you exactly where it is placed on your shelf.

The program can accept data from other databases (including CDIndex from
Archimedes World magazine) and can export in a variety of formats including
that of the PD Cassette inlay printer !Cassette. (Versions from 1.26
onwards.) It also has its own inlay printing facilities.

The program operates in the usual RISC OS manner and this help file assumes
knowledge of that system. The program is large with very many functions.
There are more than 20 menus, 37 windows and more than 700 icons.
Interactive Help is supported, so when learning, use the !Help application.
Help can be disabled from the Choice dialogue box when you no longer need
it.

This help file is divided into sections. The first lists the menus and
dialogue boxes and their purpose and the second describes the main window.
This should be enough to gain a basic understanding of the program.

The remainder of the file gives more information about the basic facilities
and more obscure facilities which will be useful on large databases.

The Application is installed by dragging to the required directory display.
It is intended for use on a hard-disc system but it will work on floppies.
Some features need the !Scrap facility and the program features its own
system files, SelectFile and Trackdump, which as the names imply store the
result of a Select/Find or Export operation. The program has been developed
on OS31.1 and OS3.5. and will not work on RISC OS2.

Section 1.

The Icon bar menu
=================

CATEGORIES. Data may be subdivided into categories. Choose the one you want
from this menu. The Select mouse button opens the category at the first
entry and Adjust, the last. A user defined description of each category is
also available here. Various System/Selection file descriptions are provided
by the program. A click on the file description has the same effect as
clicking the sub-menu with which it is associated.

ADD/DEL CATS. Add a new category complete with a file description. Or Delete
a category. Use of the RETURN key assumes 'Create'. The Delete button
deletes categories stored within the default directory but only Removes from
the menu of categories, those that are stored elsewhere.

FIND. Opens a dialogue box allowing the entire database to be searched.

SELECTIONS. Allows access to data extracted from the main files. The file
description is allocated by the program to indicate the source of the
Selection.

DELETE SELS. Deletes chosen selection.

CHOICES. Configure the program to your requirements.

BACKUP. To copy a category, or all categories, to another directory.

QUIT. Quits program.

The Main window menu
====================

The main window menu is available from all major program windows. It is not
available from the Choice dialogue and it is only available from the Find
dialogue box after the main window has been opened. Find and Choices are the
only dialogue boxes available independently of the main window.

INFO. Leads to Info boxes on either the currently selected category (CSC) or
the collection of categories known to the program. Ie. within the currently
selected directory plus any individually loaded.

FILE. Data manipulation facilities operating on the CSC.

EDIT. Edit facilities for the CSC.

REVIEW. The CSC is browsed in the chosen order.

SORT. Sorts the CSC by the chosen parameter.

SELECT. Extracts specified data from the CSC.

The File Submenu
================

ADD A CD. Allows entry of the data required for a new CD.

SAVE. Saves additional copies of CDtracker files. Or 'Moves' them in
conjunction with the SHIFT key.

SAVE AS. Saves or exports to other Applications Text or CSV versions of the
CSC or a Cassette file of the currently displayed CD. (Cassette is the
complementary tape inlay printing program).

IMPORT. Imports data from the TrackDump file to any position within the
existing file or adds it to an empty file.

APPEND. Appends data from the TrackDump file to the end of the existing
file. Not available on empty files.

EXPORT. Exports selected data to TrackDump.

PRINT. Prints from the CSC in a variety of formats.

TIDY. Checks the integrity of the CSC and corrects as necessary.

CATEGORY. Change the CSC.

The Export Submenu
==================

SELECTION. Export part of the CSC to TrackDump.

ALL. Export the whole CSC to TrackDump rearranging the file order to that
specified.

CURRENT CD. Export all tracks of the currently displayed CD to Trackdump.


Icon bar menu dialogue boxes.
=============================

ADD/DEL CATS. Enter a new category name (at least four characters) in this
box and a description of the category if required. It is fully protected
against duplicate entries. If a duplicate file name is entered and RETURN
pressed the default file description will be swapped with that already on
file. Do this if all you want to do is edit the description. RETURN after
inserting/editing the description attempts a file creation.

The box remains on screen for further Additions/Deletions if you click with
the Adjust mouse button. File Creations/Deletions are reflected immediately
in the Categories menu and the Category and Collection info boxes.

Delete only truly deletes categories that are stored in the default
directory. Files stored elsewhere are only removed from the menu of
categories. If a file containing more than 10 tracks is to be deleted (not
removed) a warning is issued.

ADD/DEL SELS. This is similar to the previous box. The current Selection (if
any) is the default file name.

CHOICES.

Data path. Drop a directory on to the path icon to change where you store
your data. Click OK (or press RETURN) to use it for the current session
only. This also accepts any other choice that has been set. Data may also
be kept as individual files outside a designated directory but although this
gives total (RISC OS type) flexibility it offers no real advantages - except
perhaps to floppy disc users.

Messages. The program can issue many warning messages which may become
annoying once familiar with the program. These can be progressively turned
off. 'Some' is probably the best compromise. 'Few' may cause you puzzlement
when the program corrects silly input all by itself. 'Off' is only for the
fool-hardy or infallible.

Cassette tape. Compact cassette tapes are always a little longer than
specified. The inlay printing facility squeezes as much music on each side
of the cassette as possible (as you probably do when recording). The few
seconds extra can often mean fitting an extra track on a side of tape.
Select the excess tape time you wish the inlay facility to take into
account. It also allows an average track duration to be entered which is
used in the absence of more specific information when printing a cassette
inlay. A minimum of 2½ minutes is imposed by the program as supplied
although this can be changed by editing the Defaults file, MeanTime.

Printer paper size. This is only relevant for draft printing and can take
full advantage of wide-carriage printers. The wide option provides more data
and in a less truncated form. The choice is immediately reflected in the
Print dialogue box. Printing via the !Printers application always gives the
'wide' output but achieves it on A4 paper by use of a small font. Don't use
draft printing on inkjet or laser printers.

Default window size. Controls how big the main window is when opened by a
Select click. Ie. Browsing mode.

Interactive help. Allows Help messages using Acorn Interactive Help program
or similar utility.

Beep on save. Useful when editing data. The program only records data
which differs from that already on disc. Saving unedited data does nothing,
but edited data is saved; up to 10 items at a time. The beep offers
reaasurance that all is well.

Skip tracks. Allows the user to jump through the data in defined jumps. Any
number from 1-99 may be input or the letter A. A (Auto calculate) indicates
a skip factor of 5% of the file size. A Skip of 1 is interpreted as 2.
Letter A in combination with a number assumes the number. No input assumes
Auto. Use RETURN or Save or OK to register the change. Changed data is
immediately reflected in the main window.

RETURN moves to next icon. Allows the RETURN key to do just that in the main
window.

Slab-in Icons. Controls whether icons use the 'pressed' varieties when used.
This option takes effect only when the program is next run.

The program will create a default Choice file if it doesn't find one when
run and will modify it if the data is moved to a new place in the directory
structure.

Main menu dialogue boxes.
=========================

ADD A CD. This box allows easy entry of a new CD, much of it can be input
from menus. A warning is given if attempting to add a new CD before the
track titles of the last 'new CD' are entered.

INSERT. Puts blank entries into the CSC. Generally used if an error has been
made when Adding.

DELETE. Deletes tracks from CSC. Generally used if an error has been
made when Adding.

IMPORT TRACKS. Takes data from TrackDump and enters it at the current file
position.

EXPORT SELECTION. Exports the chosen number of tracks from the current file
position, deleting them from the CSC if required. Excessive numbers export
to the end of the CSC. Exporting 'All' in File order is a quicker way of
passing the whole of the CSC to TrackDump.

PRINT. Allows printing in four selected orders or a cassette inlay on 80 or
132/6 column Epson compatible printers or via !Printers. Defaults to cassette
inlay and printing via the OS drivers. Draft printing defaults to the
carriage width set under Choices.

SELECT. Various select boxes allow chosen data to be extracted and placed in
the SelectFile.

Section 2.

The Main Window
===============

The window has the dual function of both displaying the data and editing it.
Select clicking on the icon bar icon opens the window for browsing and
Adjust clicking for editing. The difference is that the latter opens the
window fully and gains the caret immediately.

As only main files can be edited using the window facilities, System files
and Selection files (or empty main files) will always open a small (browse)
window irrespective of the mouse button used.

Writable icons.

Any reasonable data can be entered in the writable icons. The pointer
changes shape over writable icons. String entries are 'tidied' into a
uniform format.

Label entry may be performed by menu selection. Editing the Label name or
the Year of issue edits not just the current track but the whole CD.

Incrementing and saving data.

The up/down icons increment the numeric data and it can be saved by pressing
RETURN or F3 or using the 'Save' button. SHIFT F3 or an Adjust 'Save' takes
you to the next record.

Copy forward

The 'Copy Forward' buttons enter data into the following track (etc.) if it
is blank. With SHIFT they copy it whether blank or not. Warning: CDtracker
checks data mainly by reference to the CD title. When editing a CD title you
take sole charge. There is nothing to stop you editing a CD title to
whatever you like, the program can only assume you have many CDs with the
same title or one with an unusually large number of tracks. If you enter
more than 99 consecutive identical CD titles 'Tidy' will create a second
disc as CDs cannot have more than 99 tracks. It is sensible to be careful
with the SHIFT Copy Forward buttons!

Data is checked for integrity where practical. Eg. No recording dates after
the issue date. However edited disc and track numbers are not checked
relative to their neighbours to check a consecutive sequence. Only 'Tidy'
does this. Editing these numbers should be exceptional, eg. after use of
'Insert' as 'Add CD' will always enter a consecutive sequence.

Moving around the file.

The Video style buttons take you around the file. You have the choice of
going to the first track of each CD. The next track, the very first/last
track or using the Skip button. F5 and ⇧F5 give the option to go directly to
a specified track or CD.

Indexing.

The small rectangular buttons adjacent to writable icons load 'Sort indices'
associated with the writable icons. If the file isn't sorted a sort
operation occurs. When an Index is loaded an alpha/numeric choice appears to
allow immediate access to items beginning with the chosen letter. Select
goes to the first such letter and Adjust to the last.

The program remembers all the items you have examined with the Index
facility and if you re-index an item with SHIFT depressed you will be taken
back to the position you were at when last using that particular Index.

The (S)ort' icons browse in the chosen sorted order. The 'End' icons alongside
the 'Sort' icons go to the alphabetically first/last of the CSC.

General.

All options operate in reverse if the Adjust mouse button is used.

The coloured disc allows an Adjust click to terminate lengthy operations
(sort excluded). If the operation involves 'All files' a Select click causes
the operation to immediately jump to the next category.


Function Keys
=============

Key shortcuts are detailed on corresponding menus.

CONTROL C              - Copy
CONTROL K              - Delete dialogue box
CONTROL M              - Save data
CONTROL V              - Paste
CONTROL X              - Cut
CONTROL Z              - Deselect Music category
F1                     - Collection info box
Shift F1               - Category info box
F2                     - Add a new CD
CONTROL  F2            - Close all windows
F3                     - Save current data
SHIFT F3               - Save current data and move to next track
CONTROL F3             - Save the Currently Selected Category to a new directory
CONTROL/SHIFT F3       - Save CSC as Text file
F4                     - Find
SHIFT F4               - Search for track by name
CONTROL F4             - Search for performer by name
CONTROL/SHIFT F4       - Search for CD title
F5                     - Direct access to specified File entry
SHIFT F5               - Direct access to specified CD number
F6                     - Sort alphabetical fields
SHIFT F6               - Sort numerical fields
CONTROL F6             - Sort all fileds
F7                     - Search by Record label name
SHIFT F7               - Search by track duration
CONTROL F7             - Search by Recording date
CONTROL/SHIFT F7       - Search by issue date
F8 or Esc              - Undo. Cancel changes to main window data if not yet Saved
F10                    - Open the Choice dialogue box
SHIFT TAB/Home         - Go to first entry
Page up                - Go to previous entry, Caret set in Track title
CONTROLPage up         - Go to previous entry, Caret remains in existing field
Page down              - Go to next entry, Caret set in Track title
CONTROL/Page down      - Go to next entry, Caret remains in existing field
⇧⇧TAB                  - Go to last entry
CONTROL left cursor    - Go to previous track
CONTROL right cursor   - Go to next track
CONTROL Up cursor      - Go back by skip factor
CONTROL Down cursor    - Go forward by skip factor

Most windows

CONTROL A              - Delete letter to right of cursor
CONTROL S              - Toggle case of letter to right of cursor
CONTROL D              - Delete word at cursor (or to right if space)
CONTROL Q              - Swap characters adjacent to cursor


Section 3.

More advanced usage.

Adding a CD
===========

This is straight-forward except perhaps when adding a compilation disc or a
Boxed set of discs. If it is a compilation it may not be a good idea to
enter anything for 'Performer' or 'Year of recording'.

Box Sets may be entered one disc at a time, which is probably best, or as
one single disc. This will require the disc number to be edited later. Do
this by editing the first track of each disc, followed by 'Tidy' which will
revise all the remaining disc and track numbers. (Unless you have entered
silly numbers in which case 'Tidy' will set them to something more
sensible). It is not necessary to enter either the 'Label' or 'Year of
issue' on second or later discs when entering Box Sets separately. In fact
if the first discs in a set haven't been given this information and it is
entered on any subsequent disc, the whole set will be given the same label
or issue year or both.

The 'COPY' icons take data from the main window so that you don't have to
re-input data on Boxed Sets.

Editing
=======

It is intended that the program will comprehensively check the integrity of
data and prevent silly entries. Menus and icons are shaded in various
circumstances. These variations are an empty file, a file with only one
entry, a SelectFile, a TrackDump file or a Special Selection file (and
during any lengthy operation on any file type). Except with those items on
the Edit menu (Cut/Paste etc.) none of the Special or System files can be
edited because they are subsets of the main data. If they are incorrect,
edit the main files. You cannot make a Selection from the SelectFile neither
will TrackDump allow Import or Append or Export. Selection files accept most
operations but you cannot Tidy them because they often contain data from a
variety of CDs. For the same reason, the 'jump to CD' dialogues are not
available on any but main files.

The Add CD dialogue causes track numbers to be entered in sequence
automatically but it is possible to edit them subsequently. If you do this
accidentally the Tidy function restores order. Tidy carries out a large
number of other checks and puts things right. If the current screen is
corrected you will hear a beep. Remember that edited data isn't saved unless
you press RETURN or 'Save' or F3 so if you accidentally alter (say) a track
title, you can restore it by flipping to the next track and back again or
more simply by use of F8 or ESCAPE.

Selecting
=========

There are 8 different selection boxes of 4 varieties. Selecting on Track
Title, Performer and CD title allows up to 10 strings (entered in any
position or sequence) to be searched and the result put into TrackDump.
Label selection is similar except that it also has a menu icon from which
labels can be chosen. These dialogue boxes allow the input string to be
surrounded by a space with the space icons. This enables the word 'wind' to
be isolated from 'window' for example. Select facilities are case
insensitive.

Selecting 'Year of recording' and 'issue' is too simple to require
explanation.

The Time selection box looks complex but the principle is the same. 10
durations can be entered with a plus/minus tolerance. If the calculate
button is used the data entry can be in wholly in seconds (up to 99) if you
prefer.

All these selection boxes will search 'All files' if the Adjust mouse button
is used.

The Find box allows the input of 1 to 3 strings in any combination and looks
for a match. The 'space' option is provided as well as the ability to search
all files and save the results. The last match remains on screen (even when
checking on a new category commences) until another is found. Any item on
screen can be seized by Selecting the Disc icon and editing of that file or
entry can begin.

All Selection/Find options can be terminated by clicking Adjust on the Disc
icon in the main window. If searching all files, Select terminates the CSC
and continues with the next.

The Find box obtained from the Icon bar menu differs from that on the main
menu only in that it automatically assumes an 'All files' search when none
has been selected. This allows quick and direct entry to the Find facility
without going to the trouble of selecting an arbitrary category first when
all you plan to do is check whether you own a particular disc etc. without
being sure of its category.

Insert
======

This merely puts spaces within a file in case you have missed out just one
or two tracks and wish to enter them individually. The Copy Forward buttons
allow existing information to be automatically entered into the following
spaces. Remember to use Tidy to revise the Track numbers.

Delete
======

Entering too large a number assumes Deletion to the end of the file.
Pressing RETURN before OK allows you to see the last deletion to check you
have got the number right. If you change your mind and enter a new number,
it is always with reference to the original file position. No entry or zero
assumes 1 and you are warned of impending deletion.

Import
======

Puts the contents of the TrackDump file at the current file position.

Append
======

Appends the contents of the TrackDump file to the end of the current file.

Export
======

The dialogue box operates in the same way as for 'Delete'. Exported data
always goes to TrackDump so it can be restored to any file by using Import.
If the Clear option is used within the Export dialogue the specified data is
replaced by blanks. This option causes a warning to appear before the
Export/Clear operation takes place.

The Export menu allows export of complete categories or the current CD only.
Main files are held in the order you enter them. The Export all option
allows the file to be sent to TrackDump with the data re-arranged in the
sorted order. Some of these sequences are not very useful. A file of CD
tracks in duration order has only limited use but you may wish to revise
your main file to alphabetic sequence of 'CD title' or 'Year of issue'.
Using the Adjust mouse button on a menu will export the file in the reverse
chosen sequence. If you do this and subsequently browse the file in sorted
order with the Adjust mouse button you may find yourself somewhat confused!

Export can be terminated by use of the Adjust button on the disc icon. The
output file is suitably annotated to indicate it is incomplete.


Section 4.

Detailed information
====================

The System Files

There are two System Files, SelectFile and TrackDump.

SelectFile always hold the result of the most recent Select search.
TrackDump holds the result of the last Export operation from a CDtracker
file or CSV (or other) import and can be Imported to any other file or the
SelectFile.

System Files can be manipulated but not edited. Changing the duration etc.
of an entry in a System File would be changing the data to something which
is incorrect. All editing should be done on the source category.

When viewing a System File the Program status box will display "Looking at"
in all circumstances when it would show Editing on ordinary files. The file
description box (off the Music files menu) will show why the information is
held. The Music category display in the main window will show the category
(or external file) from which the displayed System File track was sourced.
If you file your actual CD collection in the same sequence and category
divisions as you do within the database, the category and CD number displays
shown in the main program window when looking at System Files will enable
you to select the right CD instantly from your CD store after making a
computer search for the required Track title or Performer's name etc. This
is a very important feature for owners of large CD collections especially as
the sequence of CDs within the database can be varied with careful use of
the Sort and Export facilities so as to match any preferred physical CD
storage order.

Because the CD number shown at the top right of the main window is not a
consecutive series of numbers when viewing any but the main files (and track
1 of the CD may not have been included in any Search or Selection), the
ability to jump from track 1 of one CD to track 1 of the next is disabled
when viewing System or Selection files.

The case of a System File name is not important but the program will
sometimes put it back to the default. Eg. SelectFile. It is not advisable to
meddle in any way with directory names within the application although the
program will restore the Defaults, CDdata and Selections directories if they
should be deleted.

Adding data

When adding a new CD it is possible to re-enter the same CD title as that
which precedes it and retain the same disc number. CDtracker will assume
that you have accidentally entered too few tracks and wish to extend the
existing CD. If the existing CD has a valid record label entered it will
take precedence over the subsequent entry and be used on the extension. If
there is no existing label name the new name will be used for the whole of
the CD. Ie. both the existing entry and its extension. If this is not what
is required the label can be edited for the whole CD by appropriate input
from any track. Exactly the same logic and facilities apply to the CD's year
of issue. If you wish to enter two CDs with the same title they must not be
adjacent entries in any Music category.

File Backups

CDtracker files are most conveniently stored within the Application and it
is unnecessary to look at them. But if you don't want to keep the files
within the Application, or if you want to keep several complete CD
collections entirely separately, the Choice options allow this to be done.

If you decide to keep the files within the Application and never look at
them, you may want to make backups. The Backup option on the Icon Bar menu
allows backup files to be dragged to any directory display. Main files,
System Files and Selections are all accessible and the default name is that
of the CSC. You can also type a file name into the writable icon. Invalid
names are rejected. Note that file names entered in this way must match one
in the currently selected group. Ie. either Categories or Selections.

To back up the entire database, select the 'All' Icon provided and drag any
valid file name to the directory display. Back up without the 'All' option
set is largely duplicated by the 'standard' Save file facility from the Main
menu.

CDtracker files can be dragged to Applications as well as directory displays
but the result will not be especially useful. The All files option is
ignored when files are dragged to Applications.

CDtracker files can be dragged into CDtracker and copied to the currently
selected directory; including update of the information boxes. The program
will warn if an existing file will be overwritten. All CDtracker files
dragged to the Application and those existing within the application at
start-up are checked thoroughly for valid data by a variety of mathematical
checks as well as by file type. Any file renamed to "Deselected" will be
ignored!

Files can of course be dragged to the appropriate directory display in the
usual way but will then only be available to CDtracker when next run or the
file is double clicked. This causes CDtracker to update its list of files.

Special Selections

After a 'Select' operation the program gives the option of saving the data
to a named file. It is only necessary to do this if you are going to use the
data again or you are about to make another selection, because the data is
always filed under 'SelectFile'. Specially saved SelectFiles are called
'Selections' and are accessed from the Icon Bar menu in the same way as
Categories. When selected and available in the main window they too can be
manipulated but not edited. However the available range of manipulations is
greater than with SelectFiles. A secondary selection is possible, for
example.

Deleting 'Selections' is similar to deletion of other files. Note that the
name of the currently selected Selection is the default choice in the Delete
box so to avoid typing its name select it before deleting.

Both System Files and Selections contain data to indicate from which of the
main files individual selected tracks were extracted. It therefore follows
that if you delete a main file the data in the Selections files could become
out of date. For this reason if a main file is Deleted or Created the System
Files will be emptied and the Selections files will be deleted to avoid the
possibility of bad data being presented later. These files will also be
emptied/deleted when the program is Quit if a Music category has been loaded
from outside the default directory.

TrackDump files holding information imported from an external CSV file or
from the CDIndex application (© Archimedes World) cannot be coded with their
CDtracker source (there isn't one) and are therefore exempt from being
emptied while holding CSV or CDIndex source data. This means you can create
a new CD tracker file to store them permanently without losing the data
needed to fill the file.

In other circumstances the loss of a Selection file is not very important as
it is easy to recreate but if you intend to keep a meaningful database you
should spend some time considering whether to split it into categories and
if so what they should be. Frequent amendment should not be necessary in a
carefully constructed system.

Searching can often produce more than bargained for. A Search for 'wind' for
example will also find 'window'. To avoid this you can place a single space
on each side of the search string. If you think the search might then miss
the selected word when it is the first or last item in the Searched string,
don't worry; it won't.

File Descriptions

The option to create a new file provides for a file descriptor. This can be
amended by attempting to recreate an existing file name. File descriptors
are displayed by the Category info menu option or in the case of System
files by choosing the sub-menu option from the Music File menu.
System/Selection files are automatically given useful descriptions which can
be edited if required.

Record Label Names

A large selection of Record label names is available to the program. It is
permissable to rearrange the sequence of names in the file such that the
ones you use most are nearest the top and avoid having to scroll down the
Menu, but a long list in non-alphabetical order may prove difficult to use.
Note that only names up to 15 characters long are permitted and to reduce
the menu width these are truncated to 12 on the Menu.

Messages

The message file should be tampered with only with care. Increasing message
lengths may disturb the window design or cause a program failure due to
exceeding memory allocations. The Message file itself gives some guidance on
this. The Messages which consist of numbers, Two, Three, Four, Ninety one
etc. will make nonsense of some program facilities if changed (language
translation excepted).

Memory allocation

A WimpSlot of 256K is enough to run the program with as many files as you
like so long as no single file consists of more than 1,000 or so tracks etc.
which all start with the same character. (This represents the most severe
drain on memory). Smaller files may run with 224K but probably not less.
Files with many more than 1,000 entries starting with the same character may
need more than 256K. It is estimated that every extra 100 entries (over
1000) of the same initial character may require up to 5K (in the worst
possible circumstances) so it would seem allocating another 64K would easily
handle 2,000 records.

It is emphasised that these figures relate not to normal files with entries
well distributed Alpha/Numerically but only to unusual files where the same
initial character is dominant. Eg. A collection of all available Elvis
Presley CDs would be memory demanding when sorting on Performer's name, but
not on other parameters. If you have a file of perhaps 25,000 entries it
should not need more memory than 256K so long as its contents are evenly
distributed over the alphabet. Lack of memory manifests itself by the
program just stopping in the middle of sorting but no data is lost.

The WimpSlot may be changed by editing the !Run file.

The program multi-tasks with other Applications (and to a limited extent
with itself) whenever a longer operation (sorting, exporting selecting from
large files) is in progress.

Multiple copies of CDtracker may be run (but only from the same filing
system). Editing one will dynamically update the others but this will be
seen only if both (or more) are seeing the same data.

Warning Sounds

Generally speaking a low pitched sound indicates that you have made an
illogical choice (eg. attempted to go beyond the end of the file) or that
you have made a choice unnecessarily. (Eg. Loaded a Sort index which is
already available). Warning sounds are not affected by the 'Choice' options.

Data entry

Data entry in string writable icons is checked before entry to modify data
which is dubious. Preceding an entry with spaces will have no effect. Any
character including 'top bit set' is allowable later in the string. Initial
letters of the first word will be forced to upper case. So will disembodied
letter 'i's and "i?' etc. at the end of strings. A screen-full of such
'mistypes' will be simultaneously corrected when Saved. There is no such
data modification within the Select/Find dialogue boxes where you may wish
to search for odd characters and the search is case insensitive anyway.
Except within file name and numeric icons, ^A, ^S, ^D, ^⇧Q are available to
delete letter and words or swap characters' case or position. Ie. the same
facilities as in Computer Concept's style and Publisher document processors.

This Manual suggests a recommended method of data input. Any other sequence
which you may adopt is acceptable but the program will try to stop you doing
anything too silly. For example a CD issue date before 1983 is rejected as
are future dates, but if you insist on trying to sabotage the data file by
making, for example, the first track on a CD other than 1 nothing is done to
prevent it. You will have to resort to Tidy to rectify the damage (or edit
it manually).

It is permissible for the first disc of a Boxed Set to be other than Disc 1
as some user's choice of category may require this. Eg. A database with its
Music categories divided by date and a CD set which spans both categories
(dates). Tidy therefore doesn't assume that all CDs start from Disc 1, only
that those with the same Titles have Disc numbers which increment by 1.

File Export/Import

CSV and Text files dragged from CDtracker to a directory display can be
subsequently loaded into other suitable Applications such as Edit or
Impression. Any commas present in the four string fields are converted to
semi-colons.

Some Applications accept CSV files dragged directly from CDtracker. Among
them are Edit, DeskEdit, StrongEd, Impression 2.19 (window only), Eureka and
MasterFile.

Cassette is a PD program allowing custom designed Cassette box inlays.
CDtracker will save the currently displayed CD in Cassette's file format.
Unfortunately Cassette versions before 1.25 had a problem with direct
transfer of data and Cassette files must be saved to disc first. Updates are
not available from the author of Cassette because he has swapped his A310
(and a lot of money) for a 66Mhz 486! !Cassette is now maintained by me.
Address below.

CSV files dragged to CDtracker must consist of 10 items (comma separated of
course) followed by a linefeed character. Other formats will have
unpredictable results. The 10 items should be:-

CD track title   - Any string
Performer's name - Any string
CD title         - Any string
CD label         - Any string
Minutes          - Any number. Numbers over 99 or negative
                   are taken as zero.
Seconds          - Any number. Numbers over 59 or negative
                   are taken as zero.
Disc Number      - Any number. Numbers over 10 or negative
                   are taken as zero.
Track Number     - Any number. Numbers over 99 or negative
                   are taken as zero.
Year Recorded    - Any number. Only the least significant two
                   are accepted.
Year Issued      - Any number. Only the least significant two
                   are accepted.

Strings need not be within quotation marks. There is little merit in
including Disc and Track Numbers in the file as if they are wrong or absent
the Tidy function will correct/insert them once the file has been made a
permanent CDtracker file. Ie. Imported from TrackDump to a user named file.
Disc and Track numbers omitted from the CSV file must be indicated by the
appropriate number of commas.

Files belonging to the © Archimedes World program, CDIndex will also load
into CDtracker if the CDIndex files have been produced in a sensible
fashion. CDIndex allows tracks on a CD to be non-consecutive (ie. gaps in
the data) and CDtracker attempts to remedy this failure. However CDIndex
also allows the number of track titles allocated to a CD to be different
from the number of tracks entered on the CD! CDtracker will load the number
of titles specified by CDIndex or the number of titles entered, whichever is
fewest. This is a shortcoming of CDIndex files, not of CDtracker.

CDIndex files loaded to CDtracker's Trackdump System file will have CD
numbers allocated and this will be retained when the file is imported to a
main CDtracker file. (TrackDump data does not usually run in any neat
sequence and CD numbers are therefore not usually retained). Because CDIndex
is a poorly written program its files can form an illogical structure, it is
strongly recommended that the resulting CDtracker file is Tidied immediately
it is amalgamated into the main database.

The Backup facility will work not only to the Filer but also to other
Applications such as Edit and Impression, however the "All files" option is
switched off if this is attempted. The resultant files are not very
readable.

Choices

The Path section is very important. As supplied, CDtracker is configured to
store data within its own directory, 'CDdata'. However if this is
unsuitable, create an empty new directory where-ever you choose. Then drop
the directory icon on the Path arrow icon. The display updates. If you click
the OK icon the new directory will be used for the current session. If you
Save choices it will become the default and used at start up. This procedure
allows easy switching between as many directories as you wish.

If data directories contain files (or applications etc.) other than
CDtracker files the unwanted files are ignored. If a data directory
containing no valid CDtracker files is loaded a warning is issued unless
warning messages are set to 'Few'. Note that a CDtracker file will be
rejected if it is not type &50 or if its length does not pass an
arithmetical check or if its internal structure does not meet certain
criteria. System and Selection files will be held inside CDtracker's
internal CDdata directory irrespective of the data directory loaded.

All options can be Saved which then become the Default which is available at
start up or when subsequently selected. Naturally the act of Saving beeps
only if you have selected that option.

Printing any but the smallest files produces huge amounts of data. If you
use a 132 column draft printer or print via !Printers a useful amount of
data can be crammed into one line. Even then the Track title, Performer's
name and CD title are truncated to 40, 37 or 34 characters, the greatest
space being allocated to that which has taken Sort priority. CD Labels are
truncated to 9 characters.

If you use an 80 column draft printer some data is not printed at all. The
choice of printers only affects draft mode printing and may be made from the
Preferences Box.

The file 'MeanTime' within the Directory 'Defaults' contains a single
number (in EDIT format) which sets the default cassette inlay duration and
can be changed if required to any figure between 120-999.  Lower numbers
assume 120. If either of these files is absent when the program is run
suitable default files are created automatically. If the MeanTime file is
corrupted with alpha characters or blank or in any way bad it is rewritten.

Updates and enhancements.

This program is the PD version of CDtracker. The full version (3.00) has
very comprehensive CD player facilities with instant finding within the
database of any disc being played. There is also a version that can file
longer titles than 45 characters. These are available (with the source code)
to registered owners of CDtracker. This costs £10 for a lifetime of updates
at cost of postage only or £6 if registered with the original disc from the
SmartCD+ package. Versions 3.00+ read SmartCD+ files directly to CDtracker.
The author will incorporate any new facilities into the program that
registered users may reasonably require.

Problems with version 2.22

1) When using the Find routine the program continues to search for the next
match. If the wanted match is followed immediately by another there may be
no time to stop the routine by Adjust clicking on the Disc Icon. Solution:-
Click as soon as possible and review the file backwards. If however the
match was at the end of a file it may be necessary to select the previous
file. The alternative approach of seeking confirmation every time a Find
operation is to be continued is much more of a nuisance than very
occasionally missing a match.

2) My dot matrix printer broke down while writing this program and is too
expensive to repair. I haven't changed the code that worked at that time but
haven't been able to test it since. If it fails in any way please let me
know.

3) My laser printer prints to the edge of the paper. Some printers may clip
output of Selection files and Trackdump which are wider than those of main
files. Again, please advise if this becomes a problem.

4) A recent revision to the program should avoid this problem so the
following paragraph is hopefully unnecessary - but just in case I coded it
wrong...

The Choices file used by CDtracker includes data 'personal' to the user's
own computer system. When transferred to another machine the program may
refuse to start up. This is easily cured by deleting the Defaults directory
inside the application. (Hold SHIFT and double click on the application's
filer icon.) The program will replace it with a new one when next run.

5) This program has been squashed to reduce its size. I don't trust the
things and the one I used produced a program that wouldn't run if all its
squashing options were used. Who uses IF as a variable name!!! Hopefully
the very small amount of squashing employed will not have introduced bugs.

Malcolm R Knight
5 Coptefield Drive
BELVEDERE
Kent
DA17 5RJ

0181-310 5617

Bug fixes on v2.22

When exporting to !Cassette the Performer's name from the next CD on the
database could get entered.

This manual gave an out of date list of key Short Cuts, this is now amended.

The only other change since version 2.21 concerns a window which had blue
text and didn't look good on non-multi-sync monitors. Now black!

Acknowledgements:-

The !Help facility is by permission of The Data Store, BROMLEY, Kent.
Very helpful people. Give David or Harold a ring when you need to buy Acorn
stuff.

For constantly criticising the program and coming up with quite a lot of good
ideas and even one or two very good ideas, Toby Smith. Hope you don't fail
your degree course through spending too much time at that old A4000, Toby.

For design of the Choice dialogue box, the Start up emblem (which is much
better in a 32,000 colour mode) and general bug hunting duties (and
occasionally finding the right page of the PRM), Mike Whiteman.

To Mark Bright for fixing his Cassette program so that it imported data and
giving me the use of his source code and permission to revise and distribute
it.


23 February 1995