The Business Master (4th Edition)

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Text File | 1993-09-06 | 33.2 KB | 728 lines

/////////////// L h ////////////// L o h t ///////////// L h ttttt //////////// L i g g h hh t /////////// L i g g hh h t /////////// L i g g h h t ////////// LLLLLL ii g gg h h tt ///////// SSSS g //////// S S d g g /////// S d gg ////// SSS d ////// S p p ee ee dd d ///// S S p p eeee eeee d dd //// S S p p e e d d /// SSSS pp p eee eee ddd // p / p (tm) p PRESENTS M M CCCC MM MM C C l k M M M M C l k M M M M C l k M M M ee ssss ssss aa g g ee C l oo cc k k M M eeee ss ss a a g g eeee C l o o c k k M M e ss ss a a g g e C C l o o c kk k M M eee ssss ssss aaa g gg eee CCCC l oo cc k k g g g (tm) gg TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Overview 1.1 Features 2. Installing and Starting Message Clock 2.1 Making a back up 2.2 Hard Disk installation 2.3 Start up 2.4 License & Registration Reminder Screens 3. Command line switches 3.1 /B Background color 3.2 /F Foreground color 3.3 /M CGA graphics Mode 3.4 /S type Style 3.5 /D keyboard Disable 3.6 /W batch file Writing 3.7 Entering messages 4. Shareware concept & Ombudsman statement 5. Registration 5.1 Benefits of Registration 5.2 Contacting Light/Speed 5.3 Contact from Light/Speed 6. Message Clock license and disclaimer 7. Registration Form 8. BBS/Commercial Distribution Application Light/Speed 471 Shady Brook Heights Suite 19 Greenwood, Indiana 46142-8980 MCLOCK.EXE & README.EXE Copyright (c) 1993 Rick Dubbs _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Each user has permission to print a copy of this manual for her/his use. The printed manual may not be copied by any means. Credited excerpts may be used in a review. "Light/Speed", Light Speed with the lightning bolt, and "Message Clock" are trade marks of Rick Dubbs. All other trademarked product and company names are the property of their respective trademark holders. 1. Overview of Message Clock Message Clock has two main purposes: 1) Display the computer system's day, date, and time in a format that is easily read at a distance; and 2) Allow you to add a message of your own to personalize the display. Non-commercial users put Message Clock to work where other clocks are either too expensive or impractical. A large-format digital clock can cost hundreds of dollars, but if you use a computer for other applications Message Clock provides a large format at minimal cost. Amateur Radio operators customize Message Clock for their own stations and events. Commercial users provide Message Clock's display to customers as a service, or use it to call attention to their business, service, or product. We look at clocks out of habit. Banks use this fact by advertising their locations with an outside clock (those clocks always have the bank's name on them don't they). The computer display's illumination naturally attracts attention and allows your name or message to be communicated along with the time. As a customer service, Message Clock provides the date and company name information needed when writing a check. Message Clock running on a computer for sale calls attention to itself, and gives some pricing information or sales message. 1.1 Features - Display your own message on the screen along with the system clock's current day, date, and time. - Use one of four type styles for your message. - Alter the natural spacing between words in your message. - Blank the message line so just the day, date & time display. - Customize both the background and text colors. - Select one of five CGA display modes to widen the color selection available in that mode. - Disable the keyboard so that no one can stop Message Clock. - Message Clock can write its own batch files for start-up. - Message Clock runs on a minimal IBM-PC or compatible computer. You can put on older system to use even if it has only 256k of memory, a 4.77 Mhz CPU, and a graphics card. 2. Installing Message Clock Message Clock may be started from either a floppy or a hard disk. If a floppy disk is used, it may be removed after startup. Many of the commands needed to back up, install, and start Message Clock are operating system commands. Please refer to your operating system's documentation if you have any questions regarding their use. Directions for MS-DOS systems are given below. 2.1 Making a back up If Message Clock is routinely started from the floppy drive, you should make a working backup copy. This copy of the original distribution disk will insure against total loss of the Message Clock program in the event of disk failure. Using MS-DOS: (two drive system - both 3 1/2 or 5 1/4 & same density) 1. Place the MS-DOS disk in drive A 2. Enter DISKCOPY A: B: (The SOURCE disk is the distribution disk, the TARGET is your new disk.) 3. Place Message Clock in A, and a blank disk in B 4. Follow the directions on the screen Using MS-DOS: (two drive system - one 3 1/2 and one 5 1/4) 1. Place Message Clock in A, and a blank, FORMATTED, disk in B 2. Enter COPY A:*.* B: Using MS-DOS: (one drive system) 1. Place the MS-DOS disk in drive A 2. Enter DISKCOPY A: A: (The SOURCE disk is the distribution disk, the TARGET is your new disk.) 3. Follow the directions on the screen 2.2 Hard Disk installation To use Message Clock with a hard disk, it is recommended that a separate sub-directory be created. The example will use the name MCLOCK, but any other name is permissible. 1. Create the subdirectory for Message Clock (e.g. md\MCLOCK) 2. Make that subdirectory the current directory (e.g. cd\MCLOCK) 3. Place a copy of the Message Clock distribution disk in drive A 4. Enter COPY A:*.* 2.3 Start up When the directory containing MCLOCK.EXE has been selected, enter MCLOCK to start the program. The command MCLOCK ? or MCLOCK /? will give a list of the command line switches, and a brief description of their ranges. 2.4 License & Registration Reminder Screens The first time you start Message Clock you will be asked to agree to a portion of the User's License. If you do not agree, Message Clock will stop and you will exit to a DOS prompt. If you do agree, Message Clock will write the file MCLOCK.RRS to the default directory. MCLOCK.RRS contains the date the you agreed to the User's License. If Message Clock starts and it can not find MCLOCK.RRS in the current directory, you be asked to agree to the User's License again. A screen is periodically displayed reminding you to register Message Clock. Whether or not this screen is displayed depends on the date stored in the file MCLOCK.RRS. If you have not registered your copy of Message Clock before a month is up, a reminder screen will be displayed at the start and the end of the program. (this will last for about a week) The reminder screens will continue to appear for about a week every month. The reminder screen at the start of the program will clear on its own in about 20 seconds. So, if you are starting Message Clock from a batch file, it will operate without any additional input from you. The reminder at the end will always require any keystroke to clear. When you register Message Clock, you will receive a command line switch to allow you to skip over any license or reminder screens. If you run Message Clock from a write-protected disk (including a CD-ROM), you will get a disk error when Message Clock tries to write MCLOCK.RRS. You can certainly run Message Clock without MCLOCK.RRS, but you will be presented with the License Agreement & Disk Error screens each time. Just copy Message Clock to a writeable disk to avoid both the error and the screens. 3. Command line switches If the command "MCLOCK ?" (or "MCLOCK /?") is entered, Message Clock will respond by listing the command format structure expected for start up. After the command MCLOCK, six options are listed that start with a slash bar (/). Each of these options is called a switch because it changes the state of a feature of Message Clock. Two of the switches, /D and /W, turn a feature on. The other four switches vary how a particular feature behaves while Message Clock is running. The switches may be entered in any order. You MUST use spaces between command line switches, but never in a switch. Example: This is a correct use of space MCLOCK /B2 /F14 /D My message Example: This is the wrong way to use space MCLOCK / B2 /F1 4 My message 3.1 /B Background color The color of the background is set with this switch. You may choose any one of 16 colors. Message Clock uses Green (2) as its background unless it is changed using the switch. If a number is entered outside the permissible range, the default color Green (2) is used. 0 Black 4 Red 8 Dark Gray 12 Light Red 1 Blue 5 Magenta 9 Light Blue 13 Light Magenta 2 Green 6 Brown 10 Light Green 14 Yellow 3 Cyan 7 Light Gray 11 Light Cyan 15 White 3.2 /F Foreground color The color of the Message Clock text and display is set with this switch. You have the same 16 color choice as listed above. Message Clock uses White (15) as its foreground unless it is changed using the switch. If a number is entered outside the permissible range, the default color White (15) is used. Example: To start Message Clock with Red text on a Yellow background MCLOCK /B14 /F4 3.3 /M CGA graphics mode The CGA graphics adapter has less color capability than EGA or VGA. There are five different CGA modes. Four of the modes allow a choice of background color from the 16 standard colors above, but only offer three possible foreground colors in each mode. The quality of the graphics in these modes is also limited to a rougher, low resolution. When Message Clock detects a CGA graphics adapter, it automatically sets itself to use the fifth, high resolution, mode. The graphics are sharper and the foreground may use any of the 16 standard colors, but the background color is always black. If a background color (other than black) is desired in CGA, a mode selection must be made with the /M switch. In the four low resolution modes, one of three listed foreground colors may be selected (/F). The background may be any of the 16 standard colors (/B). Here are the color options by mode: /F1 /F2 /F3 /M0 Light green Light red Yellow /M1 Light cyan Light magenta White /M2 Green Red Brown /M3 Cyan Magenta Light Gray /M4 High resolution graphics mode (any foreground color on black) Example: To start Message Clock with WHITE text on a RED background using a CGA graphics adapter: MCLOCK /B4 /F3 /M1 3.4 /S type Style The message line may use one of four different type styles (fonts). These type styles affect the way the message looks, and how easy it is to read the message. The thin font is used as the default. /S1 Thin (stick letters) /S2 Thick /S3 Serif /S4 Old English 3.5 /D keyboard Disable When Message Clock starts, it disables the keyboard and clears the keyboard buffer of any previously entered keystrokes until the "(Y/N)" answer choice is provided at the end of the license agreement. The /D switch will disable the keyboard again after that question is answered. No further keyboard input will be accepted by the computer. The only way to stop Message Clock would be to turn off the computer. This will prevent the program from being stopped from the keyboard. 3.6 /W batch file Writing Batch files are special DOS command files that instruct the computer how to operate or how to run programs. They contain DOS commands along with some special batch commands. Batch files may be created by using an ASCII text editor, or a word processor in its plain ASCII mode. Batch files always use the extension .BAT. Since the custom features of Message Clock can be set only at the command line, the best way to start Message Clock is to use a batch file to hold the command MCLOCK plus all of the command line switches and messages for different purposes. Different batch files may be created to hold different command line switch and message combinations. The /W switch will write a simple batch file containing the commands used to start Message Clock, plus a special batch file command line to prevent DOS from displaying those commands. The default name for this batch file is CLOCK1.BAT, but any DOS name up to eight legal characters may be entered after /W to give the batch file another name. (Your DOS manual has full information on filenames, but you can use almost any name made up of just letters and numbers). Example: To create a batch file with the name LUNCH.BAT MClock /WLUNCH Out to Lunch Message Clock will create the batch file LUNCH.BAT then return to the system prompt. To start Message Clock using the batch file just created enter LUNCH at the prompt. 3.7 Messages The message may be entered anywhere on the command line after the MCLOCK command. Any text may be used, but messages over about 40 characters may be difficult to read. The default message "Welcome to Message Clock" will be displayed if no other message is entered. The proportions of the letters are automatically changed to make the message fit completely on the message line. If the message does not look quite right, try using some extra spaces between the words in the message. Also, a change in type style can make a difference in the looks of a message. Message switches: // A leading slash "/" may be used to start a word in a message if it is preceded by a slash. Example: MClock //This message will start & end with a slash/ /. If no message text follows this switch on the command line, the message line will be blank. /- This allows for customized spacing of a message by substituting a space for every "-". Remember, no spaces are permitted in a command line switch. If several words need special spacing, the entire message must be entered using "-" for every space in the message. Example: MClock /-This-message-has-a-big----------space-in-the-middle 4. Shareware concept & Ombudsman statement (From the Association of Shareware Professionals) "Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. "Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. "Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware- related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536." Additional information is available in the SHR-WARE.DOC file. 5. Registration Message Clock is a "Shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using Message Clock and continue to use Message Clock after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $15 to Light/Speed. The $15 registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it is being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Commercial users of Message Clock must register and pay for their copies of Message Clock within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Light/Speed. Anyone distributing (vendors & BBSs) Message Clock for any kind of renumeration must first contact Light/Speed at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering Message Clock immediately (However Light/Speed should still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of Message Clock.). More information for Disk vendors and BBS sysops is available in the files: VENDOR.DOC, SYSOP.DOC, FILE_ID.DIZ, and VEND&SYS.FRM. You are encouraged to pass a copy of Message Clock along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find it useful. 5.1 Benefits of Registration Your registration buys you more than just piece of mind, and a "warm fuzzy" feeling for using Message Clock ethically. Your support drives the development of additional features. If Message Clock is going to improve, it will only happen if users take the time to register their copies, and suggest features that would benefit them most. Registration gets you a command line switch that bypasses the license agreement at the start of the program. You will then be able to start and run Message Clock from a batch file with no additional keyboard intervention. You will also receive a copy of this manual. And the number for telephone support (NOT an "800" number). Your registration gives you license to use any release of this (v1.x) and the next version, and you will be sent automatically the next full version (v2.x) when it is produced. 5.2 Contacting Light/Speed The best way to contact Light/Speed is by mail. All letters will be answered within two working days. All questions and comments are welcomed, and suggestions for additional features are solicited. Light/Speed 471 Shady Brook Heights Suite 19 Greenwood, Indidna 46142-8980 Please include: 1. Computer brand, model, and the brands and models of any additional hardware. 2. Operation system and version number. (The version number is given when you enter VER at the DOS prompt.) 3. Contents of your AUTOEXEC.BAT File. 4. Contents of your CONFIG.SYS file. Telephone support is usually available from 6PM - 8PM Tuesday through Saturday. Messages left at other times will usually be answered by mail within two business days. All users (registered & unregistered) receive equal service, but having your registration number available will reduce the amount of information needed in a phone message. Please have all of the computer system hardware and software information listed above available when you call. 5.3 Contact from Light/Speed You will be contacted by Light/Speed in the event that any partial revisions are made to Message Clock that address any questions that you might have had. While these minor program revisions will not normally be sent to you automatically, you are free to upgrade to any 1.x release according to the terms of your license. Registered users should keep Light/Speed informed about their current address to be certain to receive timely release notification. 6. Message Clock license and disclaimer Message Clock is not free or "public domain" software. The copyright, and all rights of use, distribution, and compensation are reserved by the author. Some rights are granted to users and distributors subject to the following restrictions: UNREGESTERED USERS: You may evaluate Message Clock both in terms of usefullness and compatibility. If you decide that Message Clock is safe and effective, then ANY further program use, without registration, is a violation of copyright. REGISTERED USERS: You may use Message Clock in both commercial and non-commercial environments. You may use any release of version 1.x and any release of any future version 2.x. ALL USERS: You may make unmodified copies for your back-up or for friends. Any copies you make must contain all of the original distribution files. (A list of the current distribution files is located in README.) No one is permitted to give, sell, rent, loan, or transfer user rights at any time. DISTRIBUTORS: All rights of commercial and non-commercial distribution of Message Clock are reserved by copyright. Permission to distribute Message Clock is granted as follows: COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTORS (non-ASP): Please complete a distribution registration form before any distribution action, including flyer, advertisement, or catalog preparation that mentions or includes Message Clock, is started. BBS SYSOPS & COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTORS (ASP): Please complete a distribution registration form as soon as the decision is made to distribute or post Message Clock. ALL DISTRIBUTORS: Please send a copy of any description or review that you use for Message Clock. You must distribute all of the original files (see README for the current list), but you may combine the files into an archived package and add some information files as necessary to use your distribution method. You are also encouraged to substitute your company or BBS name for Light/Speed's name in DEMO.BAT. MESSAGE CLOCK IS LICENSED "AS-IS". LIGHT/SPEED MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROGRAM, ITS QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN PARTICULAR, IT IS NOT GUARANTEED TO PREVENT OR DETECT DAMAGE TO YOUR DATA, PROGRAMS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL LIGHT/SPEED BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS FOR LOST PROFITS OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO CASE SHALL LIGHT/SPEED'S LIABILITY EXCEED THE LICENSE FEES PAID FOR THE RIGHT TO USE THE LICENSED SOFTWARE. THE LICENSE AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED, INTERPRETED AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA. Light/Speed 471 Shady Brook Heights Suite 19 Greenwood, Indidna 46142-8980 REGISTRATION INVOICE Name___________________________________________________________________ Position_______________________________________________________________ Company________________________________________________________________ Street_________________________________________________________________ P.O. Box__________________ Suite_________________ Apartment____________ City_______________________________________ State____ Zip_______-______ ______/_______-______________ ______/_______-______________ telephone fax I have already accepted delivery of Message Clock, and am satisfied with its usefulness during the trial period. I agree to the license terms contained in the Message Clock documentation file (README.EXE), and I want to continue to use Message Clock. I understand that if I find Message Clock is unsatisfactory any time in the next three months that my registration fee will be refunded. Please register _____ Message Clock license(s) at a cost of $15.00 per license for a total license registration cost of $_______.00. ___________________________ Signature Please remit the total registration cost in a check or money order to Light/Speed. Upon receipt of your registration fee, Light/Speed will send you your registration number and license screen bypass code. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Optional customer service questions: My use of Message Clock is ___commercial ___non-commercial. I received Message Clock from a: ___friend ___BBS ___disk service Name of the BBS or disk service___________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________ Phone_____________________________________________________________ You may make any comments or suggest any features you want on the back of this invoice, or write Light/Speed any time at the above address. >>> See README for instructions on printing a copy of this invoice. <<< Light/Speed 471 Shady Brook Heights Suite 19 Greenwood, Indidna 46142-8980 Distribution Application Name___________________________________________________________________ Position_______________________________________________________________ Company________________________________________________________________ Street_________________________________________________________________ P.O. Box__________________ Suite_________________ Apartment____________ City_______________________________________ State____ Zip_______-______ ______/_______-______________ ______/_______-______________ telephone fax I/We have examined Message Clock, and would like to make it available for our customers/users. This operation is primarily: _____disk distribution service ____BBS other_________________________________ Customers/users ____will not _____will be charged a fee to receive Message Clock. Please provide typical examples of charges/media types: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Message Clock ____will not _____will usually be distributed with other software on the same disk. Light/Speed's name ____will not _____will be changed in DEMO.BAT. That line will be changed to:_______________________________________________ Please enclose any descriptive or review copy you use in relation to your distribution of Message Clock besides what is provided in FILE_ID.DIZ. >>> See README for instructions on printing a copy of this invoice. <<<