Magnum One/Magnum One (Mid-American Digital) (Disc Manufacturing).iso/d6/lbl421.arc/LABELER.DOC

Text File | 1990-07-05 | 14KB | 457 lines

LABELER    Version 4.20


A PC-DOS / MS-DOS Disk Labeling Program





Copyright (c) Guardian Software






















          Written by Ken Buetow

          Guardian Software
          PO Box 39
          St. Clair Shores, MI  48080-0039
          [phone] or [phone]

          Electronic Mail to CompuServe [71001,613]



Program and Documentation Copyright 1986,1989 Ken Buetow and Guardian
Software.  All rights reserved.


PC-DOS is a trademark of IBM Corporation
MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation
EPSON is a trademark of Sieko Epson Corporation

Introduction

Tired of trying to find a disk because you were to rushed (in my case,
lazy) to do a proper job of labeling it?  Can't fit all those filenames on
it anyway?  Need to distribute a large number of disks, or just one and
make sure it gets back to you? Then LABELER is just the thing for you.

LABELER is a menu driven utility that will produce high quality disk labels
with a minimum of effort.


Registration Information

LABELER is distributed as shareware, which means if you've dwonloaded it
from a bulletin board or obtained it from a friend, you can try it out
before you decide whether you'd like to keep it.  Like all shareware, if
you decide to keep LABELER, you must pay a registration fee.

LABELER is copyrighted program protected by both U.S. and international
copyright law.  You are authorized to use it without charge for a limited
period of time (not to exceed 30 days).  After this time you must register
and pay for LABELER to continue using it.


License Agreement

(1)  The LABELER program and all other programs and documentation
distributed or shipped with it are copyrighted works protected by U.S and
international copyright law.

(2)  LABELER is a commercial software package.  It is not free nor in the
public domain.

(3)  If you wish to use LABELER after the 30 day peroid, you must register
and pay for LABELER.  If you decide not to use LABELER you must remove it
from your computer, although you are allowed to keep copies to pass along
to others.

(4)  You may use your registered copy of LABELER on a single computer.  You
may use LABELER on more than one computer provided there is no possibility
of LABELER running on more than one machine at a time.

(5)  You may copy LABELER for archival purposes and to distribute to
others.  If you give copies to others, please ensure that they get all of
the distributed files.

(6)  You may not distribute LABELER other than through individual copies
passed to friends and associates.  Specifically, you may not place LABELER
in any commercial library without express written consent by Guardian
Software.

(7)  If you do not agree with the terms and conditions of this License you
do not have permission from Guardian Software to use LABELER and must
remove it from your computer.

LABELER Features


- Produces labels on 7 standard size one-up tractor fed labels.

- Add your own label size definitions (up to ten total sizes).

- Uses any one of your printer ports.

- Prints labels for disks that aren't even DOS formatted.

- Add comments to each filename.

- Print a batch of up to 32000 labels for one disk with a single command.

- Uses Epson printers and their compatibles (including LQ series).

Installation


Your LABELER disk (.ZIP file if downloaded from a BBS) that you received
should contain the following files.  Those marked with an asterisk are
required for proper operation of LABELER.

     LABELER.EXE * Program Executable File
     LABELER.DOC - Program Documentation
     LABELER.HST - History of Revisions
     LABELER.PAS - Program Source Code (Turbo Pascal)
     LABELER.MSK - Sample MASK file
     LABELER.DRV - Printer driver (made by you)
     LABELER.CFG - Configuation file (made by Labeler's 'W' command)
     LABELER.LBL * Label definition file
     LBL420.ZIP  - Authorized BBS upload file
      (other).DRV - Various printer driver files (varies with version)

To install on a hard drive copy the above asterisked files to the hard
drive in a subdirectory that is referenced by the path.  Then copy the
proper printer driver file to the same subdirectory using the name
LABELER.DRV.  For example 'copy A:EPSON-LQ.DRV C:\DOS\LABELER.DRV' will
setup LABELER to use an Epson-LQ compatible printer.




Using LABELER


Command Line Options

By starting LABELER with command line swiches it is possible to temporarily
override the configuration file and print multiple copies of a label at one
time.


     [/D=d] to specify the drive that contains the diskette the label is
intended for.

     [/L=l] to specify the default 'Library' name to be placed on the
label.

     [/M=m] to specify mask file to use.

     [/N=n] to specify label name.

     [/O=o] to specify printer port to use.

     [/P=p] to have labeler print p copies then return to DOS.  Must be
used with [/N=n] or [/M=m] for disk label to get a name.

     [/S=s] to specify the default label size with 0 being the first size
in the label definition file (1 1/2 x 15/16).

Example:

      LABELER /d=a /n='This is a test' /p=3 /s=0


LABELER Commands


B - Blank Label

Will print a blank label.  It will attempt to read the mask file form
comments to place on the label but the disk will not have its directiry
read.  This is mostly for games that have a non-standard dos format (self
booting only type disks).


C - Continuation Labels

Will toggle between writing as many labels as it takes to print all
filenames or will print just one label no matter how many filenames there
are.


D - Disk drive selected

Will cycle through all available drive letters.

L - Library of

Allows you to print your name on the label.


M - Mask file loaded

Name of the current MASK file.


N - Name

Name that will appear on the top line of the label.  Can be affected by the
current MASK file.  See Appendix (Tech Notes).


O - Output Printer Port

Selects printer port to be used.  Doesn't check to see if the port really
exists or has a printer hooked up to it until it tries to print.


P - Print

Will read the mask file, read the disk's directory, sort the disk's
directory then print the label.


R - Registration Form

Will print a registration form and mailer on your printer.


S - Size

Will cycle through the available sizes of labels described in LABELER.LBL.
The Wrap that shows up on some sizes indicate that that size will print a
wrap around flap for the top and back of 3* disks.


W - Write Configuration file

Will write the current status of C, D, L, O, and S commands to the
LABLER.CFG file that is read at startup. IE. saves current status.


Q - Quit

Will return you to the DOS prompt.

Using the Editor

LABELER includes a very primitive editor for manipulating the auxilliary
files.  It also has some quirks like it doesn't allow blank lines in a
file, but neither do the file formats, so it works out alright.

To start the editor use the 'M' command and type the name of the file you
wish to edit (usually a .msk or MASK file).  The editor uses a insert or
type-over mode.  An underline cursor indicates type-over and a block type
cursor is used when in the insert mode.  The cursor position keys (arrows)
will move you up, down, etc.  Home and end will take you to the front or
end of the line.  Control Y  (^Y) will delete an entire line.  In the
insert mode if you use the ENTER or return key to end editing a line, a new
blank line will be inserted beneath the one you are working on.  In the
type-over mode you will just go down to the nex line (no blank one).  Using
the cursor movement keys to go down after editing a line in the insert mode
will not cause a blank line to be inserted.

Appendix A (Error Messages)




Disk drive X: not ready ...

There are several causes for this error.  The most likely is that you do
not have a disk inserted into the drive.  But, it can also be caused by
tring to read a disk that has a non-standard DOS like some games, or there
may be some physical damage to the disk.


Printer not ready ...

This is usually caused by the printer not being on-line.  It can also
happen if you are out of paper, there is a paper jam, selected printer port
does not exist or there is no printer hooked up to it.


Unable to locate LABELER.EXE

LABELER must know where it is located to be able to find the auxilliary
files that it uses.  It starts by looking on the current drive in the
current directory then searching along the path.


Problem reading ...

One of the auxilliary files has not been found or is damaged in some way.
Some of the auxiliary files have a tight structure control, so be sure to
read and understand Appendix B (Tech Notes) before attempting any
modifications.

Appendix B (Tech Notes)




Structure of Printer Driver Files

The following lines are an example printer driver file (EPSON-FX.DRV)
and is made of a series of Decimal codes that instruct the printer to
perform the operations listed.  The characters after the semi-colon are
remarks and are optional but the 'space space ;' is required.  The lines
must appear EXACTLY in the following order with no blank lines.

14 18 20 27 70 27 72 27 84 27 57 27 50  ;init_str
27 51 18                                ;line_spacing to 6/72 inch
27 83 00                                ;sub_on
27 84                                   ;sub_off
27 69                                   ;emp_on
27 70                                   ;emp_off           For
14                                      ;dbl_on            Epson FX,RX,MX
20                                      ;dbl_off
15                                      ;cond_on
18                                      ;cond_off
27 71                                   ;dbl_st_on
27 72                                   ;dbl_st_off

Init_str sets the powerup condition of the printer... 10 cpi, 6 lpi no
fancy stuff like double height, double wide, emphasised, subscript, etc.
You may wish to turn on letter quality in this line.  But sometimes the LQ
letter height will cause the lines to run together making the label
unreadable.

The next line sets the line-feed height to 6/72 (12/144 18/216 24/288
30/360) of an inch.

Sub_on and sub_off turn on and off the Superscript mode.

Emp_ is for emphasised.

Dbl_ is for double width.

Cond_ is for condensed mode.

Dbl_st_ is for double strike mode.

If you printer doesn't support any of these modes you still need a line
like '00  ;sorry I can't do that one' to keep the other options in their
proper place.

Structure of Label Format Files



Here is an example of the Labeler.LBL file:

1 1/2 x 15/16    N  2  5  1  2  N  14
2 1/2 x 15/16    N  3  5  2  2  N  23
2 3/4 x 1 7/16   N  3 11  4  2  N  25
2 3/4 x 1 7/16   Y  3  3  4  1  N  25
2 3/4 x 1 15/16  N  3 17  4  2  N  25
2 3/4 x 2 3/4    Y  3 19  4  3  N  25
3 1/2 x 15/16    N  4  5  3  2  Y  16
4 x 1 7/16       N  5 11  1  2  Y  18
     |           |  |  |  |  |  |   |
     |           |  |  |  |  |  |   +-- Max number of chars in title
     |           |  |  |  |  |  +------ Print title double width?
     |           |  |  |  |  +--------- number of line feeds to next label
     |           |  |  |  +------------ number of chars between names
     |           |  |  +--------------- number of rows of names
     |           |  +------------------ number of cols of names
     |           +--------------------- Print wrap flap for 3* drives?
     +--------------------------------- Size


This file is highly structured.  Each line MUST be exactly 37 characters
long and the position of every thing is very important.  Be sure to save
the original copy of LABELER.LBL under another name if you decide to play
around.

Structure of MASK files


A mask file is a file that is placed directly as written onto the label
that you print.  It can be used to display comments or to comment just one
file.  The top line of a MASK file is the title that will show up on the
label.  All other lines are made up of filenames and comments seperated by
a colon, like "filespec.exe:This is the comment".  For example:

LABELER      Version 4.20
:
:
:Labeler - 3* and 5* disk labeling program
:          uses 6 different size labels
:
:
labeler.exe:Executable file
labeler.pas:Source code for Labeler
labeler.doc:Labeler documentation
labeler.hst:History of Revisions
labeler.msk:Sample mask file
*.drv:Various Printer Drivers
:
:(c) Guardian Software 1986,89
:

LABELER     Version 4.20 is the title of the Disk.

The next 6 lines are comments that will show on the label as is.

The next line associates a filename and a comment and will print it next to
the name when the label is printed.

The line that reads "*.drv:Various Printer Drivers" will MASK out (means
will not show all) the files that end in .DRV, so only the one filename and
comment will show on the label.  The way this works is as the disk
directory is being read it, each filename is compared to the ones already
read in (including the *.drv) and if it is already there (like EPSON-FX.DRV
would match *.drv) it is not printed on the label.

If you use a filename in a mask file that doesn't appear on the disk it
will print on the label anyway.... so be careful.

The comments that you use in a mask file can fill up the whole label, which
means that you don't really have to list the filenames, you can force them
off the label to make room for startup instructions, copyright information,
serial numbers, addresses or anything else you want on there.  The editor
can even accept the high order graphic characters by holding the <ALT> key
typing the 3 digit code on the keypad then releasing the <ALT> key, to make
great labels.  Experiment on paper though, labels are expensive sometimes.