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Text File | 1991-08-20 | 38KB | 1,101 lines

█████▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ ███▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ ███████▒ ███▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ ▄▄▄▄▄ █▒ ███▒ █▒ ██████▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █████▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▒ █▀▀▀▀▀ █▒ █▒ █████▒ ██████▒ █▒ █▒ █▄▄▄▄█▒ █████▒ █▒ ███▒ ╔════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Collect! Ver 1.03 ║ ║ ║ ║ Individual's Collection Database ║ ║ ║ ║ Copyright (c) 1991 by G.L. Alston ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝ ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ATTENTION: │ │ │ │ For those of you who are using a floppy based │ │ system, place a copy of DOS (COMMAND.COM) on to the │ │ Collect! floppy. │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ┌──────────────┐ │ INTRODUCTION │ └──────────────┘ Collect! is an advanced specialty database that is used to keep track of the things people collect. It can also be used by small dealers of items like baseball cards, antiques, comic books, video / audio tape, records, fine arts, books and magazines. The list of collection types is practically endless. It will also serve to keep track of household inventory. Collect! offers unique features that make this collector's database faster and easier to use than any other product: * Common spelling file * Works in RAM memory, not the disk * All data on one screen * User changeable database templates * Mouse Support * Financial data * Masked printing Collect! is not as cryptic as some database products can be. Rather than using the standard menu system (Add, Change, Delete, etc.), Collect! uses pop-up windows and a mouse and is laid out to be easily understood. ┌──────────────┐ │ QUICKSTART │ └──────────────┘ Copy your copy of COMMAND.COM onto the Collect! floppy if you are using a floppy based system. Otherwise, be sure that COMMAND.COM is in the PATH on your hard disk. To start, type "Collect!" at the DOS prompt. The program will load. 1. Press the "F" key and then press "O". Press 'Enter' to load in a sample data file. 2. Press "V" and use the arrow keys to scroll through the records. Press "Esc" to bring you back to the main menu. 3. To quit Collect!, press "F" to pop up the file window, and "Q" to quit. 4. To print this manual -- at the DOS prompt, type: type collect!.txt > lpt1 including the word "type." This will use DOS to redirect the screen output to the printer. ┌─────────────┐ │ DATABASES │ └─────────────┘ A database uses the concept that information will always follow a given format. This format breaks down the individual pieces of information into blocks called "fields." Each group of FIELDS is called a "Record." As a 'for instance', take the case of a mailing list: Name Street City Zip Phone The above constitutes a RECORD. Each line of information is a FIELD. In the case of a mailing list, the database uses the same format for each and every RECORD, although the information in each FIELD will change depending on the RECORD viewed. A Rolodex (tm) is a database. Collect! is also a database, but it has twists: * You can modify the FIELD names for any type of collection. * The financial information can be used in a search. Generally, if you purchase a database, it can be rather expensive. The good news is that it will function as a mechanism to record your collection information. It will not, however, be of any use to you in looking for items that increased in value by any percentage. That's where Collect! comes in. This database is designed exclusively for the collector. RECORD EXAMPLE: (Movies Database) 1) Title : <---- 1 FIELD 2) Starring : 3) Running Time : 4) Movie Type : 5) Director : FINANCE DATA: 6) Year Made : 7) Condition : File Value : 8) Year Purchased: Paid out : 9) Purchase Price: Pct of change : 10) Current Value: 11) Studio : 12) Film Number : 13) Any Comments : ┌─────────────┐ │ DATA FILES │ └─────────────┘ Your collection will be contained in a disk file that is a group of records. This file is one you OPEN by name. Collect! limits the number of records in any given data file to 2000. You may, however, have as many data files as you have room for. As data files can be stored on floppy disks, the amount of data that could be ultimately stored is limitless. Using multiple data files for your collections also will help you organize. Rather than have a master file of all of your collections, having one named "China" and another named "Dolls" (for instance) helps you categorize. So why so few items in a file? Many database programs boast up to millions of records per file. Many reasons. Collect! : * works in RAM, not disk. It assumes a machine of minimum (modern) configuration. (640K) * is designed to catalog items that have some real value. If you have over a few hundred expensive items, like original Renoir paintings, you could buy your own accounting firm to do this for you. Many good collections comprise a couple of hundred individual items at the outside. Even massive collections such as valuable stamps usually do not exceed 500 or so items in a given category. * needs to be fast even on PC/XT technology, which many of you have. * needs to be able to operate on LCD screen laptop computers. A standard disk based database program will run the batteries down faster because the disk drive, a power hungry device, needs to be running all the time. ┌──────────────────┐ │ RUNNING COLLECT! │ └──────────────────┘ Collect! uses pop up windows over a main screen area. The main system menu appears horizontally beneath the copyright notice: File View Search Print Utilities - - - - - All menu items, whether using the main system menu or any within a pop up window, are accessed either by pressing the highlighted letter key (shown here as underlined) or by moving the highlight bar with the ARROW (cursor) keys and pressing ENTER. To PRINT something, for instance, pressing either "P" or highlighting 'PRINT' will bring up the "Print" pop up window. You may also use a mouse if you prefer. The general Rule is that any window with a '■' in the upper left corner can be exited by clicking the '■'. The Mouse is NOT used in the editor. If the Mouse cursor is on-screen, it can be used. You also have the ability to click menu items and filenames, as well as the Up and Down arrows when on screen. The action inside pop up menus is the same. Once a window has been popped up, you can get back to the main menu by pressing the "Esc" (Escape) key or by clicking the upper left corner. Menu selections inside a window work as described above. Collect! is configured such that pop up windows will overlay. The "active" window is the one most whole. ┌─────────────┐ │ │ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ │ │ └───│ │ <---------- ACTIVE WINDOW │ │ └─────────────┘ If there are any instructions, they will appear in the window. ┌───────────────────┐ │ ON LINE HELP ! │ └───────────────────┘ At most points in the program, pressing the "?" key or clicking the "? = HELP" will bring up a context sensitve HELP pop up window. Press the ESCAPE key or click the upper left corner to exit the window. The HELP is available in all sub-menus as well. The On Line HELP should not be used exclusively in place of this manual. HELP is available at all menus and screen changes, and can be customized: each of the help subjects is contained in a *.HLP disk file. You may reword these using an ASCII text editor (no special formatting characters, such as in a word processor, can be used.) Just follow the existing format - 37 chars x 19 lines in each file. In this way, HELP can be customized for your (or your employees) special needs. ┌───────────────────┐ │ MENU SELECTIONS │ └───────────────────┘ ** = main menu selections ** FILE: used to access, save, and create disk based data files; enter DOS; and Quit the program. THE "FILE" WINDOW: 1) OPEN A window showing up to 57 data files is presented. You may scroll through the list by using the arrow keys to high- light the desired filename. Pressing ENTER will OPEN the highlighted file. You may also use the mouse in two ways: you may simply double-click the filename, or you can click the '( OK )' to open the highlighted file. If the AutoSave toggle is ON (see UTILITIES), a backup copy of the file is created upon OPEN. If you have been working on a file and forgot to Save it, A window will pop up that asks you to Save your file prior to OPENing the new one. 2) Save After you edit your database, use this to put the new data back on the disk. 3) New This starts a new database file. You will need enter the name you wish to call it, such as "dolls", etc. This action will erase the current file in memory. The new name will be tested to see if it is the same as an existing filename. If it is, Collect! will have you re-enter the name as it will NOT let you overwrite existing files. If you have edited any file you have OPENed, Collect! will give a warning that you need to SAVE the current file before starting a NEW one. You are next presented with a list of collection types to choose from. Enter a number corresponding to the type of collection your NEW data file is for. 5) DOS Shell Allows you to enter DOS while leaving Collect! running. You can do anything in DOS that you normally would, such as format disks or even run another program. Type the word "exit" at the command line prompt ( such as A:> , c:\>, etc. ) to return to Collect! and where you left off. The amount of memory left to run other programs will depend on your system memory. This shareware version of Collect! uses about 260K of RAM. 6) Quit Allows you to quit Collect! and return to DOS. Make sure you SAVE any changes you made to a database file before you quit. 7) ABOUT Gives you revision number, and any other needed info. ** SEARCH: used to search for records that either match or fall within a given pattern set or parameters. In the search window, a list of the data fields is presented. Also, there are financial data fields. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move the highlight bar to the field to search in. Press the "Enter" key to activate. At this time, the "how to search" window pops up: * = Equality * < Less Than * > Greater Than * - Range You should again use the Up Down keys to choose the type of search to be made in the field you selected. Note that the mouse will be inoperative for the DEFINE SEARCH TYPE window. Press "Enter" to activate. Note that alphanumeric (text) fields are searched as MATCH only. Standard numeric fields can be searched in any method. Common Spelling Data fields ( #4 and #7 ) are MATCH only. After entry of your search criteria, the window pops away and you can then select any other remaining (unused) data field to search in. This process can continue on ALL fields until "Esc" is pressed, OR until the search has narrowed the "found" records to less than 2 records. As each search criteria gets entered, it will appear in the search window. In the bottom of the search window is a display that shows the current number of records left to search in. LEFT: xx OF yy After the search is done, the search window will pop away, leaving the main screen. Near the top of the screen will be: Search Found XX Records Where XX is the number of matching records. The first matching record (if any) is displayed. If there were none, the first record in the file is displayed. The up and down cursor keys will cycle through all of the "found" records. To exit the search function, press the Escape [Esc] key. The currently shown record will stay on screen, and VIEW mode will start from that point for editing. Note that the Search 'found' records can be operated on in other ways - they can be printed out (See PRINT) or moved or copied into other files (see UTILITIES). ** VIEW: used to VIEW and EDIT the database file. The right side of the screen (at the border) is replaced with a scroll bar. This is a visual aid to help determine how far you are in the file: <----- Top (end) │ │ Scroll Bar Marker ------> █ <----- Current Position │ │ │ │ <----- Bottom (1st record) Near the bottom of the screen, instructions will appear. The keys pressed do not require <Enter> afterward. A single keypress will suffice. The mouse can be likewise used as well. To do the same thing as a letter key, click the appropriate box. To Scroll, click the Up and DOWN arrows on either end of the scroll bar. Holding the button down on an arrow will allow fast cycling. Release it to stop. Up Down ARROW keys to cycle through file. "F" to access the FIRST record. "L" to access the LAST record. "C" to CHOOSE a record number. "D" to DELETE the current record. "E" to EDIT. As you use the ARROW keys to cycle through entries, the scroll bar marker will move up and down to give a quick visual indicator of your position in the file. Using The "C" ( CHOOSE ) key is a fast way to get to a get to a certain position in large files. To Add a record to the file, Cycle to the last record, and click or press the UP arrow for the LAST record PLUS 1. The "E" (EDIT) Key: The up and down keys are used to cycle through the data fields in each record. To make a change, cycle through the record to the desired data field. The current information will appear in reverse video. The mouse is deactivated for editing. Start typing in the revised information and press the "Enter" key. Look for on-screen help at the screen bottom that will remind you that fields 4 and 7 are used for common data and are accessed using the F1 key. ┌─────────────────┐ │ COMMON DATA │ └─────────────────┘ When a common data field is accessed, a window will pop up and prompt you for numeric entry. One of these fields is CONDITION. ┌───────[ Condition ]───────┐ │ │ │ 1) Poor │ │ 2) Fair │ │ 3) Good │ │ 4) Very Good │ │ 5) Excellent │ │ │ │ Enter 1 - 5: │ └───────────────────────────┘ However, looking at the CONDITION field on screen (in your database record), you will see an alpha entry, such as "Excellent." The reason this was done is because we're too lazy to type "Excellent" for 70, 120, or more records. We wanted a way to enter common data without all that typing. We figured you might not relish typing this out either. One of the problems we've seen in most databases has two symptoms, but it's the same problem: Commonly typed data gets misspelled. Searches tend to suffer. People tend to abbreviate a lot. This winds up being confusing for others. Was "P" POOR or PREMIUM ? So, considering we were lazy and had a dislike for too much abbreviation, we came up with common spelling files. They are simply a shortcut to get readable, meaningful data on the screen or a printer. To finish editing, press the Escape "Esc" key, and you will return to the view mode. Press Escape once more when you wish to quit viewing; this will return you to the main menu. ** PRINT: Printing out data from Collect! Print will use any printer at LPT1, including Lasers. If you have only one printer, this is no problem. If your printer is serial, you will need to redirect the LPT1 output to the Comm port your serial printer is connected to. This uses the DOS MODE command: Mode LPT1 = COMx where (x) = port number Collect! printouts have the capability of being masked. Masking is much like the use of masking tape during painting. Masked data fields will not be printed. Print, when selected, assumes that you want to print a record or group of records in their entireity. THE PRINT WINDOW: 1) Print All Prints the entire database loaded in memory. 2) Print Last Search Prints all records from last search. If no search was ever performed, it prints all records. 3) Print Current Entry Prints the record currently on screen. 4) Print Entry Number Allows you to enter a record number to print. 5) Print Using Mask Pops up another print window for further choices using the print mask. 6) Set Up Mask This choice will bring up an instruction window as well as the work window. Essentially, you are shown a list of the data fields, and you toggle them in a masked or unmasked state by entering the field number. Masked fields (those that will NOT be printed) will show up in reverse video. To Mask the NAME field, for instance, type a "1" and press "Enter." The NAME field will then be presented in reverse video; any time you print using the mask, the NAME will be ommitted. To UNmask the name field, type "1" again, and NAME will show up in normal video; it can now be printed. The masking is saved to disk, and will stay the same until changed by you. PRINT USING MASK WINDOW: This window has choices 1 - 4 as in normal Print, but the mask is used. Why use a mask? If you are a dealer, masking off the "price paid" field would enable you to hand a printout directly to a customer. Likewise, a trader may not want privy information about an item being given out. A printout is much easier to generate than a typed or handwritten list, and is more convenient than memory alone. In the UTILITIES is another use for the mask. ** UTILITIES: used to Change Printout Header or Edit Database Fields. THE UTILITIES WINDOW: 1) Change Printout Name When Collect! prints records, it starts out by first printing a header. The default says "Collect! ver. 1.XX" You can change this to anything you prefer, such as "Mr. Bill's Baseball Card Emporium / Choklit Shoppe." When any printouts are made, the header precedes any of your collection data. This header comes up only once per printout. If you print 1 record, the header will be printed first. If you print out 20 records, the header will likewise be printed only once, NOT once per record. 2) Edit Collection Type The entire main screen window is cleared, and a series of letters (A-Z) are shown. Each letter is related to a type of collection. Collect! is allowed 26 different collection types per disk or directory. We have provided some startup samples: c = sports cards m = tape (movies) library s = stamp collection a = antiques / misc. t = audio library b = book library These samples can be kept as is or modified. Modification and creation of wholly new collection types is the purpose of the editor. Perhaps you can use one of the supplied samples with some modification. When you create data files that are used by Collect!, each is "keyed" to a collection type. This is the mechanism that allows you to LOAD the books data file and see the fields related to books on screen. The distribution floppy, for instance, comes with the following example data files: * Movies * Audio * Stamps * Antiques * Books The next step is to decide if you wish to modify an existing collection type or create a new one. Press a letter key at this point. If you choose an unused letter, you will see a default set of field names. If you choose a "used" letter, the corresponding fields are shown. If you press 'Esc', you will be returned to the main screen. To the right of these names is the expected entry type. The entry type is fixed; be careful not to insert TEXT data in a field that would normally expect numeric data. FIELD Entry Types: (1st 13 entries) * TEXT Alpha Numeric - e.g. letters and numbers, such as 1622 Wesson Ave. or John Smith. * INTEGER Numeric - Whole numbers in the range -32767 to +32767, such as 1111 or 1897 or -34. * FLOATING POINT Numeric - entry with a decimal point, such as 10.87 or 1298767986.098. SPECIAL FIELD Entry Types: (Entries 14 - 16) 14) EDITOR MESSAGE This is the reminder for pressing F1 key at entry #4 in the EDIT mode: ┌───────────────────────────────────────┐ │ To Change XXXX or CONDITION, Press F1 │ └───────────────────────────────────────┘ where XXXXX is what you would like to call the field. 15) FIELD 4 COMMON DATA FILE WINDOW NAME During operation of Collect! in the EDIT mode, pressing the F1 key at field # 4 pops up the common spelling file window. The window is labeled; this will change the name of the window. 16) DATABASE NAME When Collect! is up and running, the name of the database is put on the screen (Upper Left) for you. This entry allows you to name the database template what you wish. Screen entries are limited in length by the editor (It doesn't want you to let the Collect! screen data overlap.) To EDIT a field name, simply type the corresponding number and press 'Enter.' Then, begin typing the new name. Press 'Enter' when done. Press 'Esc' when you are done editing. You will be asked whether or not to save the changes. If YES, you proceed to editing of the Common Spelling File. If NO, you are returned to the main screen. You may wish to view a couple of included samples prior to creating a new collection type. Editing of the Common Spelling File is the same as above. Press 'Esc' when done and you will return to the main screen. The common spelling file will be automatically saved. 3) Auto Save Toggle Normally, data files loaded by Collect! are automatically backed up upon LOADing as a direct image. This can cause loading of large files to take a long time. The TOGGLE allows disabling of this feature. By default, it is "ON" when Collect! starts. To change the state, bring up the AUTO SAVE TOGGLE window and press ENTER. Subsequent presses will toggle the state ON and OFF. When it is in the desired state, Press ESCAPE to EXIT the window. You may also toggle the state using the mouse by clicking the text. 4) Mouse Toggle If you prefer to not use a mouse, you may toggle it off. This simply gets rid of the cursor and the mouse is not listened to. To restore, toggle by pressing ENTER. 5) Copy / Cut / Paste This selection uses data from the LAST SEARCH and brings up another menu window. The Last Search data can be moved into other files (which erases the records in the current file) or copied into other files (which leaves the current file intact.) If you choose an option for an EXISTING file, the filename window (See FILE - OPEN) pops up for you to choose the file to add to. If you choose to move or copy data to a new file, you are asked for a FileName. Should the filename already exist, Collect! will NOT let you overwrite this - you must come up with a unique name. The last option is Modem File. This is simply a mechanism to copy search data onto the disk as ASCII text that can be viewed, such as using the DOS 'TYPE' command. The data is grouped with the appropriate field names and the MASK is used. For all practical intents and purposes, this selection does the same thing as PRINT Last Search (Using Mask) except that the data is routed to the disk instead of the printer. The new file (DOS extension ".MOD") can then be sent via disk or MODEM to another collector for trades, to another dealer for inventory purposes, or to other interested parties. The receiving party can then use DOS or a word processor to PRINT out the file as if Collect! had printed it. ┌────────────────────────────────┐ │ FILES AND BACKING UP OF DATA │ └────────────────────────────────┘ Files used by Collect! use a DOS extension of .ADB and .BAK. The .BAK file is created as soon as the .ADB file (your database) is OPENed, and it is an image of the .ADB file that got OPENed. This is done to provide you with a last resort way of saving your data. Normally, you never see the backups, nor do you see the .ADB DOS extension; when you load a file you enter just the primary name. (see Auto Save discussion about backups.) If you do lose your primary file and require use of the backup, exit Collect! to DOS (Use the DOS Shell as described above) and rename the backup. For instance, if you were somehow to lose your database called "DOLLS", what you lost was the file DOLLS.ADB. The backup would be called DOLLS.BAK, and you could then use the DOS 'RENAME' command as follows: A:> rename dolls.bak dolls.adb This will now be OPENable by Collect!, and Collect! will then create another backup as soon as you OPEN the file name "DOLLS." A batch file called "NAME.BAT", provided on the distribution floppy, does the same thing; however, it is easier to use: A:> name dolls If possible, you should use 720K or higher capacity disks so that all of your database files (and their backups) get saved properly. Better yet, place Collect! on your hard drive; just remember to make file backups and place them in a safety deposit box. The batch file "ADB2A.BAT", provided on the distribution floppy, will copy all of your .ABD database files to a formatted floppy disk in drive A: C:\Collect!>adb2a After all, it IS the database files that are important to save; this batch file copies them over in a fast way so that you do not have to back up the whole drive. The batch file "COLLINST.BAT" will create a subdirectory on your hard disk and install Collect! ┌─────────────┐ │ SHAREWARE │ └─────────────┘ As this program is distributed as "shareware", you should know a little about the concept. Shareware is not free. Basically, if you use this program and you like it, we would like to be paid for it. Shareware is a method of distribution that allows you, the user, to obtain quality software without going through a middleman. Many of today's best known programs either ARE shareware or got their start this way. One of the wonderful things about shareware is the "try before you buy" philosophy; you can "test drive" the software as much as you like. You also are free to make copies and distribute them at your discretion, providing that you do not charge a fee for any distribution. Each recipient can also try Collect! and register if they can use it. Upon registration, we will send you a manual and a new registered version of the program. You will also receive free upgrades for One Year, and a copy of the Windows 3 version upon release. To register, send a cheque or money order for $ 25.00 to the following name and address. Please do not send cash, as this is very risky. By sending a cheque, you have a perfect record; it is for your protection. Specify the media (3.5" or 5.25") if you wish; otherwise we ship 5.25" disks by default. L.J. Alston 1320 Standiford Ave, Ste #242 Modesto CA 95350 orders: (209) 522 - 8666 FAX / days Otherwise Voice 6 - 9 PM PST. CIS 76040,2247 GEnie G.ALSTON5 Attn: Collect! 1.03 If you do not register, we hope that you can forward a copy of the program to someone else. If you use the program and do not register, you have no worries other than your own conscience. We would really appreciate hearing from you regardless. If you do not find the program to be worthy enough to register, please drop us a line and tell us why. Our registered users may be able to benefit, and we may be able to create a product better suiting your requirements. G.L. Alston May, 1991 Collect! is copyrighted material (c) 1991 G.L. Alston All rights reserved. DOS and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Armonk, New York. REGISTRATION ORDER FORM NAME:________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP:______________________________________________ Product: COLLECT! Version: 1.03 NUMBER of COPIES:____________________________________________ x $25.00 / copy: ___$________________________________________ TOTAL: ___$________________________________________ MEDIA TYPE: 3.5" 5.25" (circle one) Make cheques payable to: L.J. Alston Collect! is shipped first class U.S. Mail. Allow up to 15 working days for delivery.