Monster Media 1996 #15/Monster Media Number 15 (Monster Media)(July 1996).ISO/os2/bvs_pm10.zip/BVS_PM10.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1996-04-05 | 33KB | 453 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Snake-Byte Help Intro ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Snake-Byte Incorporated presents the OS/2 Presentation Manager version of the
Automated Episode Guide.

This is a full-featured OS/2 Presentation Manager program that makes it easy to
view information on this popular TV show.

If you are reading this file from the Online Help (by hitting F1 while the
A.E.G. is running), choose CONTENTS from the OPTIONS menu above for the Table
of Contents to this Help file.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. How To Run This Program ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

How To Run This Progran

If you are reading this page, you must have figured out how to run the program
on your own (or are reading the .INF help book).

There are several ways to run this OS/2 PM A.E.G.

(These methods assume that you have already unarchived the .ZIP file into a
directory somewhere on your hard drive)

USING THE A.E.G. FROM AN OS/2 COMMAND LINE SESSION:

Simply, CD to the directory that the OS/2 PM A.E.G. .EXE file resides. Type the
filename of the executable file and the PM program window should appear on your
desktop. See the "How To Use This Program" section for details on maneuvering
around the program.

USING THE PM A.E.G. FROM AN OBJECT ON YOUR DESKTOP:

Create a permanent directory somewhere on your hard drive for the PM A.E.G.
Move the contents of the .ZIP file into this permanent directory (the .EXE
file, the .HLP file and the aeg_inst.cmd REXX script are the only "required"
files, you can delete the rest of the files if you want to. But, please read
the shareware notice in this readme.txt before deleting!).

From an OS/2 command line session (full screen or window) run the REXX script
named aeg_inst.cmd. It will create a desktop object for the PM A.E.G. After
this desktop object is created, you can move it anywhere you want to (into a
folder, onto your LaunchPad, etc.) Double click on the PM A.E.G. icon to run
the program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. How To Use This Program ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

How To Use This Program

When you first run the A.E.G., a large PM window will appear on your screen. It
will have the title and version of the A.E.G. on the top border, three menu
titles on the menu bar, and a group of TOOLBAR BUTTONS.

You can choose options from the three menus on the menu bar in order to display
the various information contained in the A.E.G. The three menus are EXIT,
EPISODES and HELP. Each of these will contain at least one option underneath
(but probably more than one).

NOTE: the buttons on the toolbar perform the same actions as the items listed
on the EXIT and HELP menus


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. The Automated EpGuide Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Automated Episode Guide Window

You can choose program options from the drop down menus or the buttons on the
toolbar (see diagram above).

You can also click the right mouse button anywhere in the program's window for
a Context Sensitive Popup Menu with the same options as the ones on the drop
down menus or toolbar.

If your mouse pointer hesitates over one of the buttons on the toolbar, a
Floating Help Window will appear with a brief description of what action that
button performs.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Menu Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Menu Options

Here's a rundown of each of the three menu titles and the options that may
appear beneath (I have paraphrased some menu options because they may be
different depending on the specific A.E.G. that you're running)

EXIT: Contains only one option, Exit. Use this to Quit/Exit the program.

EPISODES: Usually contains several items, normally SEASON 1, SEASON 2 and so
on.

HELP: Usually contains several items, normally HELP, DISCLAIMER, INFO, ABOUT,
SHAREWARE and OTHER SBI PROGRAMS.

NOTE: These menu items can be accessed from the drop down menus or via the
context sensitive popup menu (right mouse click anywhere in OS/2 PM A.E.G.'s
window to activate this popup menu)

Also, each item on the HELP menu, plus EXIT can be activated by pushing it's
matching button on the toolbar.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Picking A Menu Option ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Picking A Menu Option

To choose things off any of the drop down menus or from the CONTEXT SENSITIVE
POPUP MENU, you simply move your mouse down until that option is highlighted
(the menu option will be reversed, like a button that has been pressed).

Each menu option has one character UNDERLINED. This is the KEYBOARD SHORTCUT
for that given menu option (See the section that follows about Keyboard
Shortcuts).

The MENU OPTIONS on the EPISODES menu and the same items on the context
sensitive popup menu have little arrows pointing to the RIGHT of each option.
These arrows mean that this option has ANOTHER sub-menu.

You can cascade these sub-menus by highlighting the menu option (the sub-menu
will automatically pop up to either side of the menu option that you are
currently highlighting).

You can then move your mouse pointer onto the sub-menu in order to highlight
the various options on that sub-menu. Be sure to hold down the left mouse
button until you are on the sub-menu item that you want to choose! It takes a
bit of dexterity on the longer sub-menus. If that's too hard, read the section
on using Keyboard Shortcuts.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.4. Keyboard Shortcuts ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Keyboard Shortcuts

The option on the three menus on the menu bar and the various options on the
CONTEXT SENSITIVE POPUP MENU have ONE character UNDERLINED

The underlined character represents the KEYBOARD SHORTCUT for THAT menu option.
Most people prefer to use their mouse pointer to click on the options, but
these keyboard shortcuts perform the same actions as the mouse.

The way to ACTIVATE the keyboard shortcut is to press the <ALT> key on your
keyboard (it should be a small key on either side of your <SPACE BAR>).

When you press the <ALT> key, you will notice that the first menu title on the
menu bar is highlighted (it will look like a button that has been pressed).
This means that the highlighted option is now activated and can be chosen by
pressing your <ENTER> key.

For example, if you hit <ALT> and the EXIT menu title is highlighted on the
menu bar, if you were to hit <ENTER> the menu beneath the EXIT title will drop
down.

Note: You can use your cursor arrow keys to move the highlighted area back and
forth on the menu bar (or up and down within a drop down menu; the same goes
for the context sensitive popup menu).

For example, to pick the second episode of the first season of the TV show in
this A.E.G., use the following keystrokes (in order and don't hold any key down
during the process):

<ALT> E 1 2


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.5. Accelerator Hot Keys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Accelerator Hot Keys

Certain items on some of the menus may have an F Key listed on the far right of
a given menu option (F2 on the Help option or F9 on the Exit option).

These are ACCELERATOR KEYS that can be used as another alternative to the
previously listed methods of executing menu options.

Hot Keys help for this Snake-Byte Program:

<F1> Summons THIS online help file

<F2> Totally Useless Help Message Box

<F3> Weasely Disclaimer

<F4> More Info On This Program

<F5> About the program and the programmer

<F6> Obnoxious Shareware Notice

<F7> Other Snake-Byte Programs

<F9> Quit and Exit the Program

These HOT KEYS can be used at almost any time while the program is running. The
only exceptions are when a message dialog box (the Weasely Disclaimer, for
example) or the online help is activated.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Obnoxious Shareware Notice ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Harsh Reality of Trickle Down Economics

This program took a whole lot of hard work to produce. I have completely
re-designed the OS/2 Presentation Manager Automated Episode Guide engine,
adding ONLINE HELP, a TOOLBAR and a CONTEXT SENSITIVE POPUP MENU. This took
several weeks of honing the OS/2 PM code and a week of entering the data and
debugging and proof reading the output). This all resulted in many thousands of
lines of C/C++ code!

And, unfortunately, nothing in life is free. But this nifty little program
almost is! That's right -- you can clear your conscience and assure that
there'll be future updates to this program (as well as other neato-frito
programs from Snake-Byte Inc.) for the ridiculously reasonable, almost-FREE sum
of $5.00

How can we afford to let this rare jewel of a program go for the piddly little
amount of $5.00?!?!

Because, here at Snake-Byte Inc., we deal in VOLUME! VOLUME!! VOLUME!!! We'll
eat a bug to make a sale! Come on down to our Midnight Madness sale and...Wait
a minute. Wrong sales pitch. Sorry. Anyway, you get the picture. <Insert normal
shareware begging/pleading/demanding here>.

What do you get for your $5.00? That warm-tummy feeling of satisfaction knowing
you did the RIGHT thing. This program is in no way Crippled. I detest
CrippleWare and decided early on that I wouldn't do that kind of thing. So,
there is no Registered Version. What you have now is the fully-functional
program. It contains one little shareware notice option on the Help menu (that
you don't even have to look at if you don't want to) and it shows that NAG
SCREEN only when you exit the program, so it doesn't inconvenience you before
or during the program's execution. (And if that gets your shorts in a bunch,
send me a 3.5 disk plus return postage and the registration fee and I'll
compile you a special version sans nags!).

Here's where to send the cash/check/money order:

Will Morgan

2516 Wood St.

Texarkana, Tx  75503


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. To People Outside The USA ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A Note To Fans Of This TV Show From Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom, or
anywhere else outside the United States.

Because this TV Show is popular overseas, a perplexing question came up
recently from a person in the United Kingdom: How do I get the proper currency
to register the A.E.G.?

Well, John McCoy came up with a solution to this problem. His email message
follows:

Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996

From: John A. McCoy

All I did was take my VISA card to a Bureau d'Echanges (currency exchange) and
say:

"I would like to buy <amount> US, American Dollars, please." It took a while
for the clerk to follow my intent, but I eventually got <currency amount> in
odd-looking money. I slipped both into an airmail envelope and added stamps,
and an address. Hopefully the correct address.

You don't need a card to buy currency, any Bx will take any currency and sell
you any other, and that day's rate for swapping is marked prominently.

The rate you buy dollars with sterling pounds is LESS than the rate you buy
pounds with dollars. And they charge a commision, but these rules and extras
are also made prominent. Have to be, by law.

John A. McCoy


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Program History ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The History Of This Program

o Version 0.9  Beta version. Honed the mechanics of the OS/2 PM program.

o Version 1.0  First release version of this 32 bit OS/2 PM program. This
  version features redesigned episode info dialogs that are easier to read!
  This is also the first OS/2 PM A.E.G. to feature the new Context Sensitive
  Popup Menu, the Toolbar, the Floating Help Windows and the Online Help
  features!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Known Bugs and Problems ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Known Bugs and Problems

One small one: The Floating Help Windows use mouse coordinates to calculate
when they should pop up to describe a Toolbar button. If you drop down a menu
from the menu bar and don't release the left mouse button while scrolling down
through the menu options, when you are at the same mouse coordinates as one of
the toolbar buttons, one of the floating help windows will appear onscreen OVER
the drop down menu.

Note: This doesn't affect the operation of the program in any way. It's just a
picky little annoyance.

Work-arounds: If this little bug annoys you, (a) Use the Keyboard Shortcut to
drop down the menu and the cursor keys to scroll down the menu options or (b)
click the left mouse button to activate the drop down menu, then release the
left mouse button. The menu will still be open and active. You can now move
your mouse pointer to whichever option you want without the floating help
windows appearing.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Bug Reports ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Swatting Any Pesky Insects

If you encounter any problems with this program (either bugs in the actual
mechanics of the program, or misspellings and/or incorrect info in the various
episode data fields) please drop me a line at one of e-mail addresses in the
last section of this document. I will try and implement the fix in the next
version of the program that I release.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Future Versions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Big Plans For The Future!

What?!?! The new Toolbar, Context Sensitive Popup Menu, Floating Help Windows,
and Online Help System features weren't enough for you?! Whoah, tough crowd.

Seriously, I'm always tinkering with my programs, and here are a few things
that may (or may not?) appear in future versions:

I will update this program if/when new episodes/seasons are completed. If the
show no longer exists on television, the only updating I can do is to correct
any misspellings and other errata. If you spot something that is wrong, email
me and I'll include the correction in the next version.

I want to add some printing routines so you can print out a brief episode list,
eps by season, a particular episode by itself or a full blown,
everthing-included EpGuide.

I want to add some global search routines.

I'd really like to add some multi-media stuff to the program, like sound clips
or maybe some pictures. But due to the legal ramifications, this dream may
never come true. Slimy show-bid'ness lawyers just love to prey on the little
guys who use the images and sound clips of their copyrighted and trademarked
clients.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. Other A.E.G.s ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Other Automated Episode Guides

Other A.E.G.s? Yes, TV Buffs and Couch Potatoes! I plan on releasing a series
of A.E.G.s for various TV shows based on this A.E.G. ENGINE.

If you're interested in seeing an A.E.G. for your favorite show, contact me via
one of the methods described below. Production of other A.E.G.s depend on the
availability of information about the show (on Internet) and whether or not the
show's info translates well to a single screen in the A.E.G.

Read the section in this document entitled Other Snake-Byte Programs for a list
of the currently available Automated Episode Guides.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Other Snake-Byte Programs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Other programs by Snake-Byte Incorporated...

AUTOMATED EPISODE GUIDES for the following TV shows:

o Mystery Science Theater 3000

o Star Trek: The Next Generation

o Star Trek: Deep Space 9

o Star Trek: The Original Series

o Babylon 5

o The Simpsons

o The X-Files

o Quantum Leap

o Beavis and Butt-Head

Also by Snake-Byte Incorporated:

The DALLAS COWBOY FANATIC'S COMPANION v1.1

Note: 32 bit DOS, 16 bit Windows, 32 bit Win32s/Win95/WinNT, 32 bit OS/2 Text
Mode and 32 bit OS/2 Presentation Manager versions of all of the above programs
are available, so if you have a friend or relative that would be interested in
any of these programs but they don't use OS/2, tell them about the DOS and
Windows versions!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. Getting These Programs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

How To Get Any Of These Snake-Byte Programs

All current versions of Snake-Byte Inc. programs are ALWAYS available on the
FTP site at ftp.cleaf.com under the path /pub/mst3k/snake-byte

You can also point your World Wide Web browser to the following URL:

http://www.cleaf.com/~wmorgan/snake.html


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Credits ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Extra special thanks to Frank Miller, my C programming guru. If it weren't for
Frank, I probably would've given up on C programming within the first few days.
He has helped me solve many of my seemingly endless beginner's problems.

Special thanks to Peter Fitzsimmons and all the OS/2 programming gurus on the
Fidonet OS/2 Programming Echo which is a gold mine of info for OS/2 programming
beginners, like me.

Another special thank you goes to all the OS/2 programming gurus who are
responsible for the Electronic Developer's Magazine, an OS/2 .INF file full of
great information on just about anything you can think of. If you're a beginner
or intermediate who wants to learn some nifty things about OS/2 programming,
RUN, don't walk to the Hobbes OS/2 FTP site or CD Rom and check out these
fantastic help files!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Contacting The Author ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Contacting The Author Of This Program

Want to thank me for such a fantastic program? Bitch me out for wasting your
download time and hard drive space? Suggest future additions to this program,
corrections on the data/info or ideas for future programs? Lonely and just need
a cyber-shoulder to cry on? Well, for all these reasons except that last one
there, you can contact me by one of the following methods:

o Fidonet Netmail: 1:3819/128.103

o Fidonet Echos:  MST3K, NFL and OS/2

o Internet email:  [e-mail]

o US Snail Mail:  (See Address in the Shareware Nag)