BUG 12/BUGCD1998_03.ISO/util/cdrlabel/readme.txt

Text File | 1998-02-11 | 21KB | 526 lines

cdrLabel v2.0  - 1/9/97
Copyright (c) 1997-8
Earle F. Philhower, III
[e-mail]

    [search for "-new-" to find the changed sections of this document]
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Introduction                                                         -new-

cdrLabel is a Windows 95/3.1 tool for creating labels for your
CD-Recordable and CD-ROM disks. It is different from all other label
utilities in that it can produce nicely formatted catalogs on these
labels, allowing you to easily find what files a CD-ROM contains without
even opening the case!  With version 2.0, both AUDIO and DATA CD labels
can be created.

Check out ZipLabel if you have a Zip drive and like the kind of
labels cdrLabel creates:
     http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/6552/ziplabel.html

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What's New                                                           -new-

Version 2.0:
The following new features have been added:
 * Unlimited "booklet" catalogs!
 * Audio CD support (Win95 only)
 * New label formats
 * Spine now opposable, read your CDs from both sides
 * Crop marks to make it easier to cut
 * Customizable borders
 * Printer setup dialog, can choose non-default printer and get WYSIWYG
 * Can place label anywhere on printouts
 * Very small font sizes supported
 * Up to 7 columns now available
 * Toolbar updated with more commonly used functions

The following bugs and annoyances have been addresses:
 * Strings now resize when font is changed
 * Canon BJC-620 driver oddity fixed (rotated text now prints properly)
 * "Save Before Exit" dialog fixed to appear at proper times
 * Creates number of copies specified in Print Dialog
 * File editor won't crash when operating on an empty label
 * Subdirectory window crashes on empty label fixed
 * Can read a completely blank disk
 * Cleaned up popup menus

Version 1.8-1.9(internal):
The following new features have been added:
 * Window Scaling
 * Protection From Accidentally Overwriting Labels
 * Directory-Only Scanning Mode
 * Background Colors for Body and Spines
 * Line Rulings Now Removable
 * File Editing Supports Multiple Selections
 * "Maxspect" Option For Image Scaling
 * Minor Interface Updates

The following bugs have been addressed:
 * Row Height Updates After Every Font Update
 * More PCL Printers Function
 * And others I've forgotten about.

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Disclaimer

cdrLabel is shareware, (c) 1997-8 by Earle F. Philhower, III.
I make no warranties as to it's correctness or functionality.  Use
it at your own risk.

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Shareware

cdrLabel is shareware, the best in "try before you buy."  If cdrLabel
is of use to you, a $15.00 registration fee is requested.  It is
easiest to use the "Print Order Form" from the Help menu to print out
an order form, or print out and fill in the "ORDER.TXT" file.
My mailing address is:
                     Earle F. Philhower, III
                     P.O. Box 6573
                     Laguna Niguel, CA  92607

PLEASE ENCLOSE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN INFORM YOU WHEN NEW
VERSIONS ARE RELEASED.  Please note that if you've already registered
for one version, you're registered for all newer versions, too.
Registered users will be informed when newer versions are available.

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International (non-US) Registrations                                 -new-

For international registrations feel free to skip the shareware fee and
just send a postcard to the P.O. Box above.  Make sure to include your
email so I can send any registation codes and inform you of new releases.

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Registered User Bonus                                                -new-

As an added bonus, registered users will have the option of customizing
their versions of cdrLabel.  The labels produced will then contain the
user's initials instead of "cdr."  Just include in your registration
note the initals you'd like to add, and I'll email you the codes necessary
to make cdrLabel do it.

If you've registered but I haven't sent you an email saying that I've
added you to my mailing list, PLEASE contact me before assuming the worst.

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Requirements

* Windows 95, NT, or 3.1(Win32s)
* 800x600 display recommended
* Printer (laser or inkjet recommended)
* Colored Paper (optional)
* Scissors

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Installation

There are two ways of installing cdrLabel:
 1. Use the included Setup program, which will make program groups
    and allow you to use the Uninstall program, or
 2. Just copy the executable file to any convenient directory.

If there are any problems with the setup program, just perform option
(2) and send me some email ([e-mail]).

WINDOWS 3.1 ONLY:  Under Windows 3.1 you NEED to have Win32s v1.30c
installed, if you don't already have it check out the following URL to
get it:
            http://www.microsoft.com/kb/articles/Q122/2/35.htm

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Popup Menus

cdrLabel brings up a window containing a menubar and a WYSIWYG label
display.  There are also popup menus available inside the label
display by clicking your right mouse button in the window.  If you
right-click within the body of a label the body menu will appear,
and if you right-click in the spine on a label the spine menu
will pop up.  These are basically the same menus you see in the
menubar, but require less mouse-travel to use.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts should make creating labels easier:

   +      Increase number of columns
   -      Decrease number of columns
 Return   Load disk into label
   z      Zoom in/out of label
 Delete   Delete image from label
 Arrows   Move from front to back of labels
 Ctrl-P   Print label

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Templates

cdrLabel can now automatically store a small text file, a template, on
disks which it scans.  This template stores the following information:
    * General format, including font and colors
    * Paths to all images
    * Directories displayed/hidden
This is enough information for cdrLabel to create a new label when files
are added or removed.  Best of all, these files are normally under 5Kb!

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Using Templates

First, select the "Use Templates" option in the "File" menu.  This will
make cdrLabel search for a hidden file, "CDRLABEL.CLT", on each disk it
scans and read it's formatting in.

Now, insert your disk and read it in.  Set the font, directory tree, and
the images you want and select "Write Template" from the "Body" menu.

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Images and Strings

cdrLabel can import .BMP (Windows Bitmap) and .JPG (JPEG) files into
your labels. Simply select "Insert Image" from the "Body" menu and
you're on your way.  Labels can either be underneath the label text,
or above the text. Text will automatically flow around any images above it.

cdrLabel can also create free-form text strings, via the String menu.
Choose "Insert String," enter text in the dialog box, use the buttons
in the dialog to choose a font and foreground and background color.
If you want your text to appear above an image (as for captions, etc.)
use the String menu and choose "Background Color->Transparent".

To select an image in your label, left-click on it.  Click-and-drag to
move the label around.  Right-click to bring up a menu of options
to delete, center, or change the image's position relative to the
text.  "Above Label" makes the text flow around the image, while
"On Label" and "Below Label" place an image without text wrapping.

Use the little size-blocks to change an image's size, or use the
Image popup-menu's scaling options.

HINT: If you are having trouble dragging a tiny image, hold down the
      SHIFT key while you click the left button.  This turns off the
      size-blocks and always drags an image.

HINT: To setup a photo to be your label's background, perform the
      following steps.  (Remember, with a dark image it's easiest to see
      white text, and with a light image it's easiest to see dark text):
      * Insert Image
      * Image->Scale->Size To Body
      * Image->Below Label

Bitmaps of greater than 72dpi are supported automatically, so you can
scan an image in at a higher resolution than the screen supports, yet
still print out out at the higher resolution.  This is especially useful
for line art, where 72dpi conversion can cause excessive jaggies.

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Multiple Label Formats                                               -new-

cdrLabel allows seven different types of labels to be produced:
  * Catalog starts on front of label, is continued on the back.
  * Catalog starts on back of label, is continued on the front.
  * Catalog is only present on the front of the label.
  * Catalog is only present on the back of the label.
  * Both front and back pages contain the same catalog information
    (especially useful for audio CDs)
  * Two booklet formats, one with a blank back cover.

Simply choose from the File menu the format you most like and cdrLabel
will do the rest.  If you would like to produce a label with NO catalog
present, you can do this by selecting "Body->Columns->Unlined."

See the "Booklets" section for more info on how the booklets are created.

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Booklets                                                             -new-

With cdrLabel you can now create labels for you CDs with thousands of
files quickly and easily.  To begin, select "File->Label Format->Booklet."
You will be presented with the usual WYSIWYG display, but if you look
carefully you'll see that the front page had about 1/4" more whitespace
on it's left edge.  This is where your booklet will be fastened together.

Create your label as usual, but note that you can only add pictures or
text to the back and front CD covers, not the internal pages.

When you go to print out your label you'll see that there is more than one
page in the Print Dialog window.  Make sure you have "All x pages" or
a specific range checked in the Print dialog before you click OK.

Your printer will now spit out a first page, which will contain the back
CD slip and the front of your booklet, and a series of number pages.
Separate the pages and arrange them in order.  Attach them together using
three staples spaced evenly along the left edge of the booklet.  Viola,
instant CD booklet!  Poor quality ASCII drawing follows:

        +----===---+
        |: blahbla |    : <- staple
        |  hblahbl |
        |: ahblahb |    I've successfully fit 15 pages in a normal CD
        |  lahblah |    case with this method.
        |: blahbla |
        +---===----+

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Audio CD Support                                                     -new-

When run under Windows 95 (and possibly NT 4.0+) cdrLabel can catalog
Audio CDs.  Unfortunately, music CDs do NOT have their song names
digitally encoded on the disk, so you'll still have to enter the track
names by hand in the "Edit Files and Folders" dialog.  The individual
tracks will be read as "Trackxx.cda", and the comment will be the track's
running length in mm:ss form.

NOTE:  For best results when catalogging Audio CDs, make sure cdrLabel's
sorting mode is "Name" and "Ascending."

HINT:  When catalogging music CDs the "String" capability is very handy
       for adding CD title and band information.  Use a BIG font for the
       front title!

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Printer Setup                                                        -new-

There is a new Printer Setup dialog available from the File menu.  This
allows you to:
 * Select a Default Printer
     ZipLabel will then use that printer's font metrics to display the
     on-screen versions of labels, making the representation very accurate
 * Turn on and off crop marks
     Crop marks are 1 inch lines along the edge of the sheet indicating
     where cuts need to be made.  Especially handy for use with paper
     cutters.  Note most printers can only print up to within 1/4" of
     the paper's edge.
 * Select a Border Style
     If for some reason you don't like a thick solid border, you can
     specify any of four others, or even turn off the border completely.
 * Position the Printout
     You can specify the upper-lefthand corner of printouts, making it
     easy to use different paper sizes and perforated templates.

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Menu Items                                                           -new-

FILE
    Select CDROM Drive
        Brings up a dialog for you to select the drive letter to catalog.
        THIS DOES NOT READ IN A DISK!  See "Read CDROM" below.

    Label Format
        Selects the manner in which to display CDROM catalogs.  See
        "Multiple Label Formats" above.

    Directory Levels
        Determines how many levels of subdirectory cdrLabel will scan.

    Scan Directories Only
        When checked only the names of directories are scanned into cdrLabel.
        Use this option for disks where you have lots of directories that you
        want to see.

    Use Template Files
        When checked, cdrLabel automatically formats your label according
        to the template file stored on the CDROM.  If the disk doesn't
        have a template file, no action is taken.  See "Templates" for more
        information.

    Load/Save Label
        Store or retrieve a fully-formatted label from disk. Images, files,
        formatting, etc. are retrieved from the label file.

    Read/Write Template
        Store or retrieve formatting for the current label from the
        currently inserted CDROM.

    Clear All Labels
        Clears text from ALL LABELS, saves formatting

    Reset To Defaults
        Sets all fonts, colors, and settings to sane defaults.  Use this
        item when you've REALLY messed things up!

    Print
        Presents a printer dialog then prints the labels being edited

    Exit
        Leaves cdrLabel

BODY

    Display File Sizes
        Show or hide the file sizes for current label

    Display Extensions
        Show or hide extensions from the filenames present

    Display Comment
        Show or hide disk comment

    Columns
        Select either 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 0(unlined) columns of files
        When the "Lined" option is unchecked there will be no lines drawn
        between rows of files.

    Sorting
        Sort by Name, Extension, or File Size

    Set Fonts And Color
        Chooses the font and it's color for displaying files
        and directories and the disk comment.  With the dialog
        presented you can add additional font and color rules
        for different file types (i.e. all JPG files green, etc.)

    Background Color
        You can set the background color of the label body to be
        printed with this option.  Note that this is actually going to
        print the color on your printer, not just on screen, and may
        consume LOTS of ink.

    Read CDROM
        Reads the disk directory into the label.  This can also be
        accomplished by double-clicking on the body of a label.
        If "Use Templates" is selected in the File menu, also reads
        template and applies formatting, images.

    Edit Files and Folders
        Brings up a dialog for editing the label entries.  To modify a
        file, simply click on it in the list, and edit the information
        displayed.  Hit RETURN or click on the Change button to update
        the entry.
        Move entries up and down in the list via the "Move Up" and
        "Move Down" buttons.
        To remove the selected file from the list, click on "Delete."
        Additional lines can be created by clicking on "Add New" and
        entering the new file's information.
        Checking the "Subdirs" box will display the directory's
        contents on the label.
        To edit a subdirectory, click on the directory and then press
        the "Edit Subdirectory" button.

    Edit Label Comment
        Allows you to enter a new comment line.  The comment line is the
        last line printed on the bottom of the label, normally
        containing disk free space, etc.

    Choose Subdirectories
        Brings up a dialog allowing you to select which directories you
        want expanded on the label.

    Clear Label
        Clears everything from this label, both images and text

    Zoom
        Zooms in or out of the label.  When zoomed out you can still
        perform all operations, but can see both front and back labels.

SPINE
    Edit Spine Text
        Change the text printed on the label spine

    Spine Font
    Spine Color
        Chooses the font and it's color for displaying files

    Alignment
        Specify how the spine label should be justified

    Background Color
        Sets the background color for the disk spine.

    Display "cdr 650"
        When checked, shows the "cdr 650" box in the spine.

    Color CDR Logo
        Colors the box containing "650" in red.

STRING
    Modify Text
        Modify the selected string's text, font, color, etc.

    Font...
        Only change the font of the currently selected string.

    Foreground Color
        Only change the font color of the currently selected string.

    Background Color
        Change the background of the currently selected string
        to/from transparent and colored.

    Automatically Size
        When checked, size the string's bounding box to the minimum
        size.

    Orientation
        Rotate the string 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees.

HELP

    About cdrLabel
        Information about program and author

    Print Order Form
        Presents a dialog to be filled out with name, address, etc.
        Then prints out a filled-in order form that can be mailed off.

    Enter Registration Codes
        Allows registered users to enter codes to customize the "cdr."

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Using the Printed Labels                                             -new-

Cut out the labels, it should be pretty obvious where to cut and where
to fold.  Insert into the CDROM jewel case, admire just how cool it looks,
and then go make some more!

See the "Booklets" section above for more info on cutting and folding
CD booklets.

Try using some colored heavy-bond copier paper.  Packs of 5 colors can
be bought at any office supply store, and make it very easy to classify
your disks (i.e. RED=backups, GREEN=games, etc.)!

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Special Thanks

I would like to thank all of the cdrLabel/ZipLabel users, whose comments
have made cdrLabel a reality.

Also, the JPEG decoding routines are taken from JPEG-6a sources, and
they'd like me to say: "this software is based in part on the work of
the Independent JPEG Group."  These guys make no warranty as to their
JPEG decoder, and neither do I!

Finally, thanks to all the registered users for their feedback and
support.  Keep the suggestions and bug reports coming in!

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Bug Reports

If cdrLabel crashes on you, or doesn't print out correctly on your
printer I'd like to hear about it.  Please make sure to include the
following information to speed things up:

* Operating System
* Printer Type, Language(PCL, GDI, PS), Connection(network, local, etc)
* Series of operations to cause failure (if it's repeatable)

Just saying "cdrLabel crashed on me!" is about as useful as saying "My
car's broken" to a mechanic over the phone. ;)

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Future Directions

* CDDB Online Audio CD-ROM Catalog Interface!
* Free rotation of images and text?
* In-place editing of strings, selecting of directories?
* Importing file icons?
* User suggestions, of course

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-Earle F. Philhower, III
 [e-mail]
 http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/6552