Night Owl 9/Night Owl CD-ROM (NOPV9) (Night Owl Publisher) (1993).ISO/043a/smcomic1.zip/COMICPGM.DOC

Text File | 1993-04-14 | 8KB | 187 lines

                 ┌────────────────────────────┐
                 │       Joseph Teller        │
                 │   8 A Middle Street Court  │
                 │    Waltham, Mass 02154     │
                 │                            │
                 └────────────────────────────┘

 ┌───────────┐
 │PROGRAM :  │
 └───────────┘

        The Silver-Ware (Tm) Comic Book Collector's Personal Mage
                   Release Version 1.0  April 1993
                 Copyright (C) 1993 By Joseph Teller

 ┌───────────┐
 │PURPOSE :  │
 └───────────┘

        This program is designed for the personal comic book collector
  but is also usable by the small, single-outlet dealer in comic book
  back issues for tracking stock. Its written by a previous manager of
  a comic book store who also collected and is meant to cover both needs.

        It's designed to be simple, concise and under as much control
  of the user as possible.

 ┌───────────────┐
 │REQUIREMENTS : │
 └───────────────┘

        This program obviously needs a PC. Anything from a 286 on up
  should work fine. Dos 3.2 or greater with at least a 20 Meg Hard
  Drive and Ansi (or one of the pseudo Ansi Drivers) is needed. All
  that you absolutely need is included in the package. You will also
  want a copy of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.

 ┌──────────┐
 │SETUP :   │
 └──────────┘

        Unpack all the files into a single directory. You must then
  either rename Ted.com to Q.Com or choose another ASCII text editor
  to use (Recommended : QEDIT, an excellent Shareware product that
  you should definately use and register!) and rename it Q.exe or
  Q.com (it doesn't matter to the system).

        Program runs by simply typing  "COMIC" and pressing Enter!

 ┌───────────────┐
 │USAGE NOTES :  │
 └───────────────┘

        Ok, there are 5 basic commands on the menu. Two of these
  use the editor and two create ASCII Text sheets that can be printed
  out or viewed online with any standard text file viewer or similar
  feature (Including LIST and the List command built into 4DOS amoung
  other means) or viewed in the text editor (type : Q Filename).

        Comic.LST  is the list of comic titles that the computer
  uses for operations. Note the first line in the file should always
  be 1 higher then the maximum number of titles, and should be added
  to whenever you add a title. I suggest keeping the List Alphabetic
  for your own reference, just always add a new title in its proper
  Alphabetic spot in the list. Assign the new number (based on the
  Number at the page top) when adding a title, and then increase the
  top number by one. Just keep to the same format and you'll be fine!

        Comic.1 is a sample Catalog file for a title. You'll have one
  of these for each title and it should follow the structure within.
  (Issue #, Code Letter, Condition Code - either Alpha like VG NM or
  the new Overstreet 1-100 numeric scale, Cover price or price paid
  for the issue upto 999.99, and Overstreet Book Value upto 999.99, and
  then any memos you wish to keep like artists and signed copies etc).

        The Codes we use in the code field are:

            G - Graphic Novel
            P - Trade Paperback
            R - Reprint (counted in comics total but not counted
                in total stories)

        Its best to ALWAYS keep the files in numeric order by issue
  internally. You can leave blanks anywhere on the line except the
  issue number if you don't know a piece of information - you can
  always go back in and re-edit a field.

 ┌─────────────┐
 │THE REPORTS: │
 └─────────────┘

     Okay, the remaining two commands of import are those that
  create reports for you.

     COMIC.OWN  is a quick reference carry-around inventory of issues
  you own by issue number. It won't give conditions, but WILL include
  a code if one exists for the issue. It intent is for bringing with
  you when you go off to buy new material so you don't duplicate your
  existing collection or overbuy stock (depending on how you use the
  program). It also gives you totals of how many comics of a title
  you have, and grand totals on the physical size and how many books
  of each category you have.

     COMIC.VAL  gives a summary for each Title on how many comics you
  have of a title, the total amount spent on the title and the total
  value of the title. It also will give you a grand total of the
  amount your collection cost you and what its worth at 100% Overstreet.

 ┌───────────────────┐
 │SPECIAL FEATURES : │
 └───────────────────┘

     There aren't too many other features beyond what we've covered,
  except the system WILL keep backups of the reports in case of a
  problem.

     COMICO.BAK  - Backup of the last run of COMIC.OWN

     COMICV.BAK  - Backup of the last run of COMIC.VAL

 ┌────────────────┐
 │DISCLAIMER :    │
 └────────────────┘

     As per usual and is legal, I take NO responsibility for the
  usage or misusage of this software package and make no promises as
  to its suitability to do anything in your life. I also make no
  promises that any copy from any source except directly from my own
  BBS will be free of bugs, viri, bombs, trojans or junk ads. This is
  part of the problems with the Shareware distribution system, but
  the chances of something bad happening are VERY small (less than
  5% according to latest figures). If in doubt, always backup your
  harddrive before installation and always make sure to run SCAN or
  some other virius checker over new software you acquire from a
  public BBS outlet just to be safe.

 ┌───────────┐
 │SUPPORT :  │
 └───────────┘

     Although the program is fairly cut-and-dried and in tests has
  proved efficient and bug free, there are always folks who would
  either like to be sure to get the latest version or that have some
  sort of suggestion or customization they can think of that the
  program needs to better suit them.

     For such I offer support via my bbs, The Silver Mage's Guild
  BBS in Waltham Mass at [phone]. The bbs operates 24 hours
  a day, 7 days a week except for 5pm to 11pm on Friday Nights when
  it runs maintenance. Its currently for 1200/2400 baud connects,
  but should have 14.4 maximum speed by the end of this month.

 ┌───────────────┐
 │REGISTRATION : │
 └───────────────┘

     Okay, this is where Authors either Beg for money, threaten
  horrible things, warn you of a time-bombed virus or tell you about
  all the neat features you won't get if you don't send them a check.

     I don't like begging, and it hardly ever produces funds.

     Time Bombs and Virus things are what give authors and shareware
  a bad name in the industry.

     Neat features? Perhaps.....

     Threats? Well, I can threaten to stop writing shareware.... :-)

     So, I'm asking folks who use this for their collections or stores
  to send along $10.00 to register this program. Also include your name,
  mailing address and voice number. I will with this establish for you
  a Personal account for the support bbs under your name and mail you
  back the information. This account includes support for ALL the
  Various Silver-Ware programs, a large amount of FREE DOWNLOADS from
  the bbs, access to all features and updates for all software.

     If you don't have a modem but want to be notified about updates,
  new programs and new releases then send along the above information
  and state you don't have a modem and I'll send you information via
  regular mail.

     Checks, Money Orders etc should be made out to Joseph Teller and
  mailed to the address at the top of the docs.