Monster Media 1994 #2

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Text File | 1994-07-24 | 19KB | 423 lines

ACDT - Audio Compact Disc Tracker Version 2.0a (C) 1994 Mightysoft Productions 286 Nunn Street Commerce, GA 30529 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ** PLEASE SEE DISCLAIMER AND LICENSE CONTAINED IN APPENDIX ** ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** INTRODUCTION ***** ACDT was written for keeping a handle on an ever increasing CD stock pile. Quite frankly, I tire of ordering CD's from record clubs when I already have them. But that is just one advantage of using ACDT. You may print out a hard copy, (registered version only) so as to place all your CD's in alphabetic order and have a handy list for picking the right one to listen to. An itemized listing also helps in the event of disaster while dealing with your insurance company concerning settling a claim. Find that certain song quicker using the search function. As you can see the advantages are quite plentiful. The program was designed to make its use as simple as possible while retaining a certain level of professionalism. A sample data file is included to allow exploring the program before setting out on the enduring task of entering all those CD's lying around the house, apartment or where ever. Little reading of the instructions is necessary to begin putting your compact discs in order. We at Mightysoft thank you for chosing our products for your computing needs. If we can ever be of assistance, please write to us at the address given on the opening screen of this software. It is also our confidence that if you find ACDT of value and continue using it after a reasonable trial period, you will register your copy and recieve an undelayed printable registered version. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ***** This program was written to use limited computer resources. No need for expanded or extended memory, color video, hard drive or any other thing except what is hereafter listed. A hard drive is recommended to speed things up during disk read / write operations. * PC compatible computer (8086 or better) * DOS 3.30 or later * 512k Main Board Memory * Monochrome Monitor (color optional) * 1 Floppy drive (360k & up) * 1 Fix Disk (optional but rcommended) * 1 Printer (optional with registration) The limitation on the number of CDs stored in a data file is mainly associated with disk space. The actual numerical limitation is 4,294,967,295. ACDT internal design requires that it be run from the directory in which it was installed. Attempts to run the software from another location will solicit an error stating this fact. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** MENU OPTIONS ***** As released, ACDT has no native data base file to work with. A sample data file is included so as to allow users to work with the software before committing the time and effort of entering new data. The sample file may be loaded once the program is running on your system. Please see the section covering loading files for detailed instructions on loading and using this data. All options, with the exception of <Add> and <File> will not operate until there is actual data loaded to work with. You may add new data or load the sample data to try out the other features included in the software. To start the program running, change to the directory where you have installed the software and type <ACDT> at the DOS prompt. A delay timer will count down twenty seconds while an opening display screen is shown. Registration of your copy will remove this delay. What follows is an item by item discussion of the available menu options provided in ACDT. A short explanation is also provided during program execution in a window just to the right of the main menu window. In all such menus, use of the ARROW keys allows moving a high lighted bar to the desired option. Once high lighted, pressing the Enter key activates that option provided a data file containing data is loaded. *** ADD *** This menu option envokes the data entry screen where all new data entry will occur. The number of characters allowed in each field is related to the size of that field's input area. Moving from a data field to the next data field is accomplished by pressing either the Enter key or the TAB key. You may move the cursor to the previous field by holding down the SHIFT key while pressing the TAB key. The ARROW keys will move the cursor within the current data field's entry to facilitate editing that field's data. The DELETE key, INSERT key and BACKSPACE keys function within this capacity. Any non-extended keyboard keypress, (those not requiring special keypresses) are considered to be a legal data input character and will be added to that field's data when pressed. All other keys will cause a warning sound met by no echoing on the data field. After completing a new entry, press the ESC key. This will terminate the entry portion of this process and prompt you whether to save the entry to the data file. If you fail to enter any data while in the entry screen, you will not be asked whether to save this entry. *** DELETE *** Upon chosing this menu, item a window will open containing all items within the currently loaded data base file. A maximum of 15 items are shown within the window at any one time. Use the cursor control keys, (ARROWS, HOME, END, PgUp, PgDn) to highlight the desired data item to delete and press the ENTER key. A display window will open showing that items contents and prompting you to press the <D> key to delete this item. If you wish not to delete this item, press any other key. *** EDIT *** As with the "DELETE" menu option, this function also displays a window with each data item within. Highlight the item you wish to edit and press the ENTER key. This menu item then functions in likeness to the "ADD" menu option with the exception of the data fields already containing the data of the choosen record. Pressing the ESC key terminates the EDIT function of ACDT. If any changes were made you are asked whether to save that edited item. *** LIST *** For merely viewing records chose this menu item and press the ENTER key. Highlight the desired item as done previously in the two menu options prior to this and press the ENTER key. When you are finished viewing, press any alphanumeric key on the keyboard to return to the main menu. *** PRINT ─> *** This option facilitates the creation of either a hard copy or disk file of your data. After choosing this option you will be presented with another bar menu offering three sub-menu items. This is evident by the arrow following the name of this option. [OUTPUT TO PRINTER] - Creates a hard copy of your data to a printer that must be connected to LPT1. [OUTPUT TO FILE] - Creates a backup copy of your data to an available system floppy diskette. A list of available drives will be listed. [ABORT OUTPUT] - Allows a user to exit the output menu with creating either a hard copy or diskette file. When creating a diskette file, you may chose to send the file to a preexisting or non-existant subdirectory. If the subdirectory does not exist you will be prompted for its creation. Not allowing the creation of non-existant paths will abort the output process. *** SEARCH ─> *** Use of this menu option also offers sub-menu choices as evident by the arrow to the right of its name. Two program functions are accessed through this menu. [START SEARCH] - starts the search process by prompting for a string which to search for. Each record in the data base will be searched displaying each as they are found. Early termination of the search process is accomplished by pressing the ESC key. [SETUP SEARCH] - Here is where you tell the system which data fields to search for matching data. You must specify at least one field in order to invoke the START SEARCH option. [ABORT SEARCH] - When you are done searching for specific records you can chose this option to complete the search portion of ACDT. Pressing the ESC key also serves this purpose. The case (capitol and non-capitol letters) of the entered search criteria does not effect matching the data searched. (Example: searching for <THAT> will match <That>, <that>, <ThaT> and so on.) In like manner, searching for <that> will match any record data containing those letters whether they be upper or lower case or embedded within another string. *** SORT ─> *** Rearranging your data in alphabetic order, either accending (A-Z) or decending (Z-A) is accomplished using this menu item. Again, choosing this menu item will present you with more sub-menu choices. [BEGIN SORT] - Sort the data file according to the sort criteria set before hand. (See Sort Setup) [SORT FIELD SETUP] - Allows you to chose the order and data field on which to conduct to the sort. [SORT INFORMATION] - To preview the sort pattern and data field to be used for sorting. [ABORT SORT] - Complete the sort function and return to the main menu. This menu option can also be chosen by pressing the ESC key with this menu window open *** FILE *** This menu option allows changing data files to be used by the program. Enter a valid DOS file name without extension. ACDT uses the name <.DAT> as the extension not requiring one being specified. In the event of using an extension, it will be stripped off and <.DAT> will be added in its place. You may select the SAMPLE.DAT file for trying the software before entering your own information. Just Enter the name <SAMPLE> in the prompt window. That is all there is to. You are not prepared to search, sort, list and give it the once around. Optionally, DIR may be entered in the place of a file name to display a list of available file. Entering nothing at this prompt or pressing the ESC key will abandon specifing any new data file to be used. *** QUIT *** Use this menu option to terminate program operation and return control of your computer the Operating System. Choosing to quit ACDT with this menu option will terminate the program with no last chance to change your mind. You may also quit program operation by pressing the ESC key while the main menu is active. This option does provide a last ditch chance to change your mind. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS ***** *----* DATA FILE SECURITY *----* After a data file has been changed and prior to terminating the program or specifing another file to be used, you will be asked if you would like to backup the existing data file. If you so chose to make a backup, the program will check to insure a file name with the same name does not already exist. If it does you shall be asked whether to over write that file. *----* HARD COPY OUTPUT *----* Printing of the data is not available in an unregistered copy of this software. To register your copy and recieve a registered version with complete printing ability containing no delay at the start of program execution refer to the introduction screen for price and mailing address. When registering, please specify the disk media type you would like to recieve and allow up to two weeks for delivery. *----* MONOCHROME SYSTEMS *----* ACDT checks to insure your system is capable of using color prior to doing so. You can force ACDT into monochrome mode by including the command line switch /M as follows... C:>ACDT /M *----* SORT PRECEDENCE *----* When sorting a data file, certain rules apply to what may be used as the sort field reguardless what is specified in the SORT FIELD SETUP menu. A sort using the artist's first name is replaced by the artist's last name if no first name has been entered in the data field. Like wise, a sort using the artist's last name when none exist causes the program to substitute the artist's first name. All other fields will be used for sorting whether they are empty or utilized fields. This will result in empty fields appearing first in the sorted data file. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** SPECIAL KEYPRESSES ***** <F1> - Toggle the sound capability of ACDT on and off as you like. Sounds are associated with situations that require attention. <F2> - Allows use of the computer's operating system. <Esc> - One key quit request. Chosing to terminate program operation by this means ACDT will request a verification keypress. <F10> - Displays an information screen concerning ACDT. ─*** APPENDIX ***───────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** WARRANTY ***** There is no warranty associated with ACDT other than that offered for a registered version. Mightysoft warrants that product to free of material defect for a period up to but not exceeding ninety (90) days from the original date of purchase. Mightysoft assumes no liability for damages either tangible and or intangible. The user of this software agrees to accept such liablities by simple consequence of using ACDT. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── No preaching about shareware protocol or solicting of funds! Full knowledge of shareware practices is assumed. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ***** LICENSE AGREEMENT ***** *** UNREGISTERED COPIES *** Mightysoft licenses this software for personal use for a period of not more than thirty (30) days from the time ACDT is first executed. This license also includes the right to copy and distribute the software as a not for profit action. Mightysoft retains full ownership and all rights to this software. *** REGISTERED COPIES *** Mightysoft licenses this software for use on one computer system at any given time. A user my use this software on a home computer and another system provided the copies are not in simultaneous operation. The licensee may not copy ACDT for any purpose other than for the purpose of archieval and safe storage. Niether may the licensee distribute this software to any other party for any reason except as described hereafter. Transfer of this software is permissable providing the recieving party agrees to, assumes and abides by the provisions of this license agreement. In the event of transfer, all copies and materials must be transfered to the recieving party.