Tech Arsenal 1/Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO/tek-09/postcd82.zip/POSTNEW.DOC

Text File | 1991-12-26 | 12KB | 212 lines

                                             Peoria, Illinois
                                             December 9, 1991


                                 POSTCARD

                               117,536 bytes

             Defining the meaning of the term: "Mean and Lean"


     PostCard is a fast name, address and telephone directory that includes
its own dialer and terminal program and uses intuitive hot keys, in-memory
sorting and binary searching to speed its operation.

     PostCard's data  files hold  approximately 240  records each  and  are
stored in internal memory, which makes sorting or searching very fast.  You
can have  up to  50 data  files in  the current  version.   Because you can
change data files quickly and find any record in any data file quickly; you
can typically  access a  very large number of records in 5 seconds or less,
which is generally desirable but indispensable when you want to put someone
on hold  and dial a second number to link them in on a three-way conference
call.

      PostCard has  undergone extensive  on-the-job testing  and  basically
challenges the  way many  people use a telephone and, in some respects, the
way they  use a  computer.   Its design criteria have not changed since its
inception:   Speed is  first; ease of use is second; and size is third.  It
is designed  for people  who use  a phone  frequently and use software as a
tool rather than a form of entertainment or a status symbol; who don't have
a lot  of time  to spend  learning how  to use a piece of software; and who
evaluate software on objective criteria: how much will it do; how fast will
it do  it; how  much overhead  does it  require; and how much does it cost?
And...Can I  try it  BEFORE I buy it and see if it's as great as you say it
is?  To paraphrase an old cliché:  Value rests in the eye of its beholder.


     Some of PostCard's features include:


     1. PostCard has a small menu feature called LeMenu which allows you
        to store the paths and names of six frequently used programs or
        utilities and call them quickly by pressing one key.

     2. A perpetual calendar that will display each month from the year
        1899 to the year 2099.  When the calendar is invoked, it uses
        your computer's clock to display the current month. The <arrow>
        keys on your keypad can then be used to go backward or forward
        in time.

     3. A NotePad to attach a note up to 12 lines long to any record.
        When a record has a note attached,  the record number is dis-
        played in red when the record is current to inform the user a
        note is attached to the record.

     4. You can export a record from any data file and import it into
        any other PostCard data file quickly.

     5. Each record has a 40 character Note line that is displayed when
        the record is current.  In addition to keeping short notes on the
        Note line, you can imbed keywords and later search for them.
        During a search, PostCard will start with the note in the first
        record of a data file and proceed through each record's Note line.
        Each time PostCard finds the keyword, it will pause and you
        can dial a number or tell PostCard to go on searching for the
        next occurrance of the keyword. This is handy for selective dialing
        by subject or locating a record by criteria other than a name.

     6. You can print 3-line or 4-line address labels. Separate commands
        allow you to print a label for only the current record or print
        labels for all records in the data file. PostCard's label printing
        capability assumes your printer recognizes Epson control char-
        acters (most do) and small, continuous form Avery-type address
        labels.  The author uses an A/B switch box and two printers, one
        of which he bought used. There are many good, used impact
        printers on the market now that are ideal for label printing and
        priced very reasonably.

     7. PostCard uses intuitive hot keys to invoke its commands, but it
        also has a hybrid menu bar for users who prefer not to use Alt-
        or Ctrl- keys.  PostCard has always had a superior interface
        which makes it fast and easy to learn.

     8. Each record can hold two telephone numbers (home/work, etc.).

     9. PostCard can call a user-extendable area code file to look up the
        postal abbreviations of all states and the area codes of several
        hundred cities.  PostCard can also search for city or state names.
        This algorithm isn't perfect yet, but is far enough along to re-
        lease for general use.

    10. PostCard has an efficient line editor for quickly and easily
        modifying records and entering verifying responses. You can't
        delete a record, for example,  until you confirm that you really
        want to, but it doesn't take long to say yes, and once you do...
        Zam!  It's gone and the file resorted while other programs would
        still be sloshing through dialogue boxes or pulling in another
        record from disk. In fact, you can do just about anything quickly
        in PostCard because it was written to be fast, whether you're
        calling a voice phone, a bulletin board, printing a label, calling
        a utility program or just doing file maintenance.

    11. PostCard's binary search algorithm works with varying degrees of
        specificity.  You can search for 'Landers', for example by entering
        "L" or "la" or "Lan" or "LAND". But once you input how specific
        you want the search to be, it doesn't take long to get through
        240 records when they're in memory...whether they're in the front,
        the back or the middle of the file. Press <Enter> and you're there!

    12. For users who have screen blankers, PostCard can be set to stop
        updating the screen with the current time so it won't defeat
        your blanker.

    13. Users who have to provide an access code to use a phone carrier
        can use the tilde '~' as a dialing modifier which will permit them
        to expand PostCard's telephone number field from 18 to 28 digits.

    14. PostCard comes with easy-to-use utility programs to split PostCard
        data files into two separate files; translate PostCard data files
        into ASCII or delimited ASCII files for importing into mail merge
        programs, word processors, Windows' Cardfiler, etc.; print 4" X 6"
        continuous form postcards; and generate quick listings of each
        record in a data file with all of the information in an abbrev-
        iated and very readable format.

    15. You can use AirMail to call information services or bulletin boards
        and upload or download files, check and retrieve Email,  Chat, etc.
        All it takes to set up AirMail for communications is the addition
        of four parameters on PostCard's Note line: Baud rate, parity,
        echo and protocol, all of which is accomplished in an easy to
        learn format and is illustrated in a sample data file. You'll find
        more information about AirMail below because it is not a typical
        terminal program.


     AirMail uses  PostCard's records as a dialing directory.  It is small,
efficient and capable but sacrifices function for simplicity and speed.  It
has no  host, no  script language,  no color  graphics  capability  and  no
terminal emulations.   On  the other hand, it doesn't have seven screens of
parameters, numerous  help screens,  or a  manual two inches thick.  It was
written to  be used  in conjunction  with PostCard and, if you use PostCard
extensively, there  is no  other program that will let you shift from voice
to data  calls more  quickly.   AirMail was designed for people who need to
upload or  download files,  but don't call seventeen bulletin boards a day;
don't need  VT-100 emulation; don't need a host; and don't want to absorb 1
megabyte or more of valuable hard drive calling only a few boards a week.


     AirMail supports  traditional protocols  like Xmodem, but also permits
the use  of state-of-the-art protocols like Chuck Forsberg's Zmodem, Ymodem
Batch and  Ymodem-g, without  resorting to  complicated batch  files.   All
that's required  is that  DSZ.COM be  in the  default directory.  If it is,
AirMail effectively  insulates the user from DSZ.COM's complex command line
latches. The  same is true of John Bridges' TCQB.COM for CompuServe's Quick
'B' or  John Friel's  QMXFER.COM for Xmodem CRC and 1k Xmodem.  AirMail has
built-in interfaces for all three programs. In addition, advanced users can
invoke ANY external protocol merely by shelling out to the operating system
and calling  a fossil  driver from  the command line.  This is a compelling
advantage since  new protocols are being introduced regularly, and it takes
established packages as long as a year to include them.


     DSZ.COM is  not distributed with PostCard because it requires separate
registration with  its author;  but it's worth it. The author has witnessed
several popular  Comm programs  have difficulty  synchronizing  with  other
software, but  DSZ.COM has  NEVER BOMBED  no matter  what board  or host  I
called or  what kind  of software it was running; whether it was in a swamp
like Philadelphia  or the wide open spaces of Wyoming or Montana. There are
places in  this country that still have phone lines made of vermicelli, and
DSZ.COM has proven itself to be far  superior to  other implementations the
the author has used.



Effective with Version 8.2 the following enhancements have been added:


1. PostCard now includes a perpetual calendar that covers the years 1899 to
2099.   When the calendar is invoked, it uses your computer's internal date
and time  to display  the current month.  The <arrow> keys can then be used
to go forward or backward in time and to select a previous or future month.

2. PostCard  now incorporates  a new  AreaCode algorithm that uses an ASCII
file which  can hold  a huge number of cities and is modifiable by the user
using his  or her  word processor or an ASCII editor such as Qedit. It also
can search by either city or state.  This algorithm is not perfect yet, but
it is highly "useable".

3. An  obscure bug  in PostCard's NotePad was finally identified and fixed.
It caused spurious note names to be inserted into records that did not have
notes attached - but only under certain conditions. It took a while to find
this bug, but the hermetic pest has  now  been exorcised.

4. The NotePad has been improved in another way. Now if a record has a note
attached, PostCard displays the record number in red to inform the user the
record has a note attached.   This is useful for reviewing  notes from time
to time to eliminate old ones that are no longer needed.

5. V8.2  has also improved PostCard's shell routine.  Previous versions did
not keep  track of  the current  directory or  disk drive  before the  user
shelled out to the operating system and it was the user's responsibility to
restore the  drive and directory where PostCard and its files reside before
returning.   PostCard now notes the current subdirectory and disk drive be-
fore the shell takes place and restores them  upon returning.  Those of you
who are saying  "Its about time!" are asked to remember PostCard is written
by an amateur programmer who makes his living doing work people are willing
to pay for,  and who programs after  the storms have been washed,  the sink
unplugged, homework finished, etc.   PostCard will continue to be improved,
but there is nothing like registrations to get the creative juices flowing.

                                             -Jim Landers-