CD-ROM Magazin 1995 November/CD_11_95.BIN/share95/tools/psacards/readme.txt

Text File | 1995-08-19 | 16KB | 393 lines

        ------- PSA Cards 2.5 for Windows NT 3.51 ------

     VERSION 2.5 WILL READ FILES WRITTEN BY EARLIER VERSIONS.
     EARLIER VERSIONS WILL NOT READ VERSION 2.5 FILES.

DESCRIPTION

     PSA Cards is an easy to use address program.  It looks
     like a card file and it works like a card file.  Just
     click on a divider tab or card to open or close it.

     PSA Cards is also an OLE 2.0 container application.
     This means that you can link or imbed objects
     (pictures, maps, documents, sound and video clips)
     created in other programs in your PSA Cards entries.


PSA Cards existing features:

 *   Print Rolodex cards, envelopes, mailing labels,
       shipping labels and address booklets.  Address books
       can be customized.
 *   Dial phone numbers
 *   Reminders for birthdays, anniversaries, or appointments
 *   Merge two PSA Cards files, keeping latest modifications
 *   Search any field for a text string and dated fields for
       a date or range of dates.  Includes searching for words
       that sound alike.
 *   Import data from an ASCII file or Microsoft CardFile
 *   Export any field or combination of fields to a file or
       the clipboard for use in a word processing program or
       spreadsheet.
 *   Object Linking and Embedding (OLE 2.0) container
       application
 *   Create groups of entries for organizing various types
       of lists.  These lists can be used to address Christmas
       cards, invitations, and to export addresses for mail merge
       in a word processor.  Powerful group editing features.
 *   No inherent limits on the number of entries or lengths
       of fields.
 *   On-line, context sensitive help
 *   3-D controls
 *   Written in C++
 *   Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and Windows 95 versions available
 *   Tool tips for toolbar buttons (Not available for Windows 3.1)
 *   Dockable toolbars (Not available for Windows 3.1)
 *   Double click an entry to edit it
 *   User selectable screen and printer fonts
 *   Type a letter to open a divider tab
 *   Separate dialogs for residential and business entries
 *   File backup command and backup reminder.
 *   Installation program


Version 2.5 New Features and Changes

New Fields

 *   Added a country field to addresses.
 *   Added domestic dialing prefix field.
 *   Added international dialing prefix field.
 *   Added left-right offset for envelope center feed
       printers.
 *   Added number of copies to print for each label

User Interface

 *   Improved keyboard access to dialog edit fields

Dialing Phone Numbers
 *   Added International dialing, including country codes in
       telephone numbers.
 *   Moved dialing setup to cards.ini / registry
 *   Added long distance prefix for domestic calls.

Printing

 *   Print Setup buttons in print dialog boxes.
 *   Move printing options to cards.ini / Registry.
 *   POSTNET bar codes, include Delivery Point codes and FIM.
 *   Sort envelopes and labels on ZIP code
 *   New field to set left-right position of envelopes in
       landscape mode for center feed printers.
 *   You can now print multiple copies of each label

On-line Help

 *   Added Windows 95 contents, and search facilities.
 *   Added access to readme.txt and installation log files
       from within the program in compliance with
       Windows 95 programming guidelines.

Install Program

 *   A new install/uninstall program, called InstallShield.
     InstallShield is from Sterling Technologies and was
     developed in cooperation with Microsoft for Windows 95.
     It can also be used with Windows NT 3.51.

     The new install program also implements an uninstall feature
     that will remove PSA Cards from your system.  To access this
     program, click on Settings command in the Start Menu, then
     the Control Panel, and finally double click the Add/Remove
     Program icon.

     In Windows NT, double click the Uninstall icon in the
     PSA Cards program group.  Be sure you want to uninstall
     PSA Cards before doing this.  Once started, the program
     immediately proceeds to uninstall PSA Cards.

     If you have addded files to the PSA Cards directory,
     Uninstall will not delete the directory.  Nor will it
     delete data files (other than sample.car) that you have
     created in the PSA Cards directory.

General

 *   Added backup directory path to cards.ini/Registry.
 *   Fixed dialog box colors for Windows 95
 *   Can now print registration forms from registration help
       topic.
 *   For Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51 all the cards.ini data
       has been moved to the Registry.
 *   When run under Windows 95, the program will use the
       Windows 95 common dialogs for file open, file save,
       and font selection.
 *   Changed sorting of entries to include a blank between
       the last name and first name, and to use language
       sensitive collating.  The sort order should be improved
       for most languages.

Windows 95 Features Not Yet Implemented

 *   Zero length files from the File - New command in Explorer.

Bug Fixes

 *   Fixed a bug which caused "Next" button to drop data
       from property sheets when creating a new entry.

********************** INSTALLATION **********************

   If you install PSA Cards 2.5 over a previous version,
   be sure to use the install program.  It installs new
   system DLL's from Microsoft in your windows\system
   directory.

   If you have saved your own data in the samples.car file
   from a previous version and are installing to the same
   directory, be sure to move or copy your old sample.car
   file to a different location.  The install program will
   overwrite the existing sample.car with a new version.

   INSTALLING FROM A FLOPPY DISK

     Run the setup program, setup.exe from the Program
     Manager, Start menu or Explorer.

   INSTALLING FROM A DOWNLOADED PSACARDS.EXE FILE

     1. Extract the program and help files by running
     pkunzip from the command prompt.

     2. Run the setup program, setup.exe.  It is best not to
     install the program in the same directory that contains
     the downloaded file.  You can delete this directory after
     the installation is finished.  Be sure to backup your
     downloaded ZIP file before deleting it from your hard
     drive.

SYSTEM LIBRARIES

     There are two system libraries (the *.dll files) which
     will be copied to your system directory by the setup
     program. These are new files from Microsoft.  This version
     of PSA Cards requires them.  In some cases (especially with
     Windows 95) a newer version of one more DLL's may already
     be present in your system directory.  In that case, these
     files will not be overwritten.

     If the setup program cannot replace an earlier version
     of a file because it is in use by another program, restart
     (reboot) you computer after the installation.  When a file
     can't be replaced because it is locked by another application,
     the setup program writes a file called wininit.ini in the
     Windows directory.  This file contains information on how to
     replace files as the system is started.  Windows looks for
     this file on system startup.

LOADING A DATA FILE ON STARTUP

     The installation program sets up PSA Cards to automatically
     open the file "sample.car" each time you select
     the PSA Cards icon.  If you want to open a different file
     on program startup, use the Program manager "Properties"
     command to change the Command Line entry.  The new data
     file name replaces "sample.car" after the program name
     (cards.exe).  Be sure to leave a blank between the program
     name and the file name.

     If you are running Windows 95:
     1. Right click on the Task Bar
     2. Click "Properties"
     3. Click "Start Menu Programs"
     4. Click "Advanced"
     5. Click on the "Programs" folder and look for the PSA Cards
        shortcut in the Contents pane.
     6. Right click on PSA Cards shortcut.
     7. Click "Properties"
     8. Click "Shortcut" tab
     9. Change "Target" line sample.car to the desired file.

     You can also start PSA Cards from the File Manager or
     Explorer by double clicking (or right click - Open) on
     any PSA Cards data file that has a .car file type.

REGISTRATION

     To become a registered PSA Cards user, and to receive
     notification of new releases of PSA Cards, send $25.00
     to:

          William L. Rogers
          PSA Software
          1319 Silk Oak Drive
          Fort Collins, CO 80525-5597

     Colorado residents please add 3% sales tax.  Fort
     Collins, Colorado residents please add 6% sales tax.

     WHAT YOU GET FOR REGISTERING

     *  Your registration code
     *  A personalized program diskette with the latest
        version of PSA Cards
     *  Notification of new releases
     *  Program support

     The file register.txt can be printed and used as a
     registration form.  A registration form can also be
     printed from within the program's Help topic for the
     Register command.  If you choose not to use a
     registration form, be sure to indicate that you are
     registering the Windows NT 3.51 / Windows 95 version
     so that I can mail the correct diskette.

     COMPUSERVE USERS

     If you are a CompuServe user, you can also register
     using CompuServe's Shareware Registration service.
     The registration ID for this program is 4620.  The
     fee is $25.00.  After CompuServe notifies me of your
     registration, I will e-mail your registration code
     and send your diskette via US mail.

     Whether you register by CompuServe or by US mail, if
     I have your e-mail address, I will endeavor to send
     your registration code as soom as I receive your
     registration.  Otherwise you will receive your
     registration by return mail along with your diskette.

     Registered users enable me continue to improve PSA
     Cards and implement your suggestions.  The income also
     pays for the computer and software I use to do this.
     If you use PSA Cards on a regular basis and find it
     useful, please register.  This version of PSA Cards
     allows you to update your data file 20 times before
     registering.  After the 20th update you will still be
     able to access your data, but will not be able to save
     changes to the file until you enter your registration
     code using the Registration command in the Help menu.


DISCLAIMER

     Although PSA Cards has been carefully written and
     tested, no claim is made as to its reliability and
     freedom from bugs.  This software is provided "as-is"
     without warranty of any kind. In no event shall PSA
     Software be liable for any damages whatsoever arising
     out of the use or inability to use PSA Cards.


INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONVERTING MICROSOFT CARDFILE FILES

     Importing data from a program like Microsoft CardFile
     poses a problem. PSA Cards has specific data fields for
     each type of information that it stores.  That is, it
     makes a distinction between say a street address and a
     phone number. CardFile does not.  There are only two
     fields in CardFile -- the index line and text.
     CardFile data can be converted to input for PSA Cards'
     ASCII import function if the information on each card
     is in a consistent order and the file contains no
     imbedded objects (remove all OLE stuff).

     There is a grubby little DOS application in this
     package called convert.exe.  Convert reads a CardFile
     file and attempts to find the appropriate places for
     field delimiters in the card and writes an output file
     for the import function in PSA Cards:

          CardFile file -> Convert.exe -> PSA Cards ASCII
          import

     Convert uses the following rules to insert field
     delimiters.

     *    Newlines (carriage return, line feed) are replaced by a
          delimiter.

     *    Multiple newlines only generate one delimiter.

     *    A comma followed by a blank is replaced by a delimiter.
          This can be turned off (option c-).

     *    If comma-blank is being replaced by a delimiter, the
          index line  will always generate two fields.  The second
          field may be empty.

     *    A single blank after a letter followed by five digits
          will be replaced by a delimiter.  This is assumed to be the
          ZIP code.  This can also be turned off (option z-).

     Convert writes a field definition record as the first
     line of the output file.  It assumes that the delimiter
     is ! and that the fields are in the following order:

          !lname1 fname1 street city state zip phone1
          comment

     If your CardFile has a different order or different
     fields, the first line of the output file will have to
     be edited.  Use the DOS editor, or Notepad.  Be sure to
     use "No conversion" if you must use Write.  You may
     also have to fix up individual records if your input
     file is not consistent enough or you encounter
     situations not handled properly by the above rules.
     You can also edit individual cards once they have been
     imported to PSA Cards.

     See the on-line help for PSA Cards for more details
     about the file import function in PSA Cards.

     Convert has been tested with files written by the
     CardFile in Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and Windows NT.
     I can only assume that the same program is used in
     Windows 3.1.  There is an example CardFile file
     included.  It is called cardfile.msc.  If you turn on
     Convert output to the screen (/s+) you can pipe your
     output to "more".  To see how Convert works, type the
     following command in DOS or a DOS window while in the
     PSA Cards directory:

          >convert  /s+  cardfile.msc  imptcard.adr  |  more

     Then run PSA Cards from Windows and use the "Import..."
     command (File menu) to read imptcard.adr.


KNOWN PROBLEMS

     *    The Equation Editor for Microsoft Word does not always
          work properly with OLE 2.0 container applications.  This
          version of PSA Cards will not recognize the Equation
          Editor.  Word itself and its other associated OLE
          servers work OK.

     *    The Help buttons in the OLE dialog boxes for Change
          Icon and the OLE File Browser do not do anything.

     *    Context sensitive help for the Object command in the
          OLE menu does not link to the correct help topic.

     These bugs are related to OLE 2.0 components supplied
     by Microsoft.


BUG REPORTS AND FEEDBACK

     Please send bug reports, and suggestions for new
     features to CompuServe User ID 72064,1437, or
     Internet: [e-mail] or US mail to me
     at the above registration address.  I can't fix bugs
     or add new features if I don't know about them, so let
     me hear from you.

     I hope that you find PSA Cards useful.

          Bill Rogers