Purpose: Combines a database of names, addresses, phone numbers, and memo-IDs with a Hayes-compatible autodialer.
Format: CARDFILE [d:][filespec]
Remarks: CARDFILE is normally loaded with a specific database (filespec) by being listed as a line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. You can swith to another database by repeating the command with a different filespec at the DOS prompt. The Alt-Right Shift key combination pops up the CARDFILE window, and Esc returns you to your application. Within the window, the Function keys are assigned thus:
F1 - Begin/save a new or edited card
F2 - Edit the card currently displayed
F3 - Delete the card currently displayed
F4 - Search all cards for a text string
F5 - Save datafile to disk
F6 - Dial the phone number currently displayed
All card data entry and editing is done in overstrike mode. The backspace key deletes the previous character and the four cursor keys can position the cursor anywhere in the record area. Enter moves the cursor to the start of the next line. You can page through all of the cards with the PgUp, PgDn, and Enter keys. The HOME and END keys let you jump quickly to the first or last card, respectively.
To search the database, press F4 and enter a text string. Pressing Enter resumes the search (which is not case-sensitive) after a match; Esc cancels the search. An alternate way to find a name quickly is to press Alt and a letter key. To find "Smith," for example, hit Alt-S, then use PgDn or Enter to skip past "Sagamore" and "Siddhartha."
When used with Hayes-compatible modems, F6 dials the number currently displayed. At the prompt, pick up the phone and press the Spacebar to break the modem connection. The CARDFILE autodialer ignores all non-numeric characters except the comma, which inserts the pause sometimes needed to access an outside line.
Because CARDFILE is a memory-resident program, it must assume rather than change the modem parameters. By default, CARDFILE is initially configured for a 1200-baud modem connected to the COM1. Using DEBUG you can change the value at :0182 from 0 to 1 to change from COM1 to COM2, to 2 for COM3, etc. Similarly, to change to a different baud (bps) rate, change the value at :0184h from the default 83h, as follows:
300 baud 43h
1200 baud 83h
2400 baud A3h
4800 baud C3h
9600 baud E3h
The "ATDT" (dial) and "ATH0" (hangup) strings are at addresses :0185h and :018Ah, respectively. While they can be changed (especially substituting a "P", ASCII 80 for the "T" in the dialing command, note that each sequence must be 4 bytes long. The dial string must be delimited by a zero byte, and the hangup string must end with 0Dh and 00.
To save memory, the card capacity may be lowered from the default 255 (FFh) at :0169. Each record takes 192 bytes. And if the Alt-Right Shift "hot key" conflicts with other software, change the default value 09 at address :036A to a combination of the following:
Right-Shift 1
Left-Shift 2
Ctrl 4
Alt 8
Note: While CARDFILE will operate under DOS 2.x, its critical error handler is only fully effective with DOS 3.x.
