Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/018a/graphct2.zip/GRAPHCAT.DOC

Text File | 1991-08-21 | 24KB | 379 lines

                       G  R  A  P  H  C  A  T       V  2  .  0
                       ═══════════════════════════════════════

                          Clip Art Graphics Catalog Builder
                              and File Database Exporter

                                     QUICK START
                                     ═══════════

               GRAPHCAT V. 2.0 is not free software. Feel free to copy this
          entire package  and pass  it on  unchanged  to other  WordPerfect
          users. If you  use the  program, you should  register by  mailing
          $10. to:  Jerry Stern
                    1323 Mantle Street
                    Baltimore, Maryland 21234-6014
               Registered  users receive a disk  of clip art. (Specify disk
          size.)  Shareware  distributors  may distribute  the  program  in
          unchanged   form  if   they  charge   no  more   than  $5   as  a
          distribution/copying fee.

          The author assumes absolutely no damage liability, but the macros
          have been tested extensively, and please write with any problems,
          including DOS version number and WordPerfect release date.

          GRAPHCAT requires WordPerfect 5.1, release date 6/29/90 or later.
          It is a  WordPerfect macro that reads any disk  or directory, and
          creates a  pictorial  listing of  all the  graphics found.  After
          copying the macro  to the WP  macro directory, run  the macro  by
          pressing  Macro  (Alt-F10),  and entering  GRAPHCAT.  Answer  the
          prompts  for the  drive  and directory,  file extension,  catalog
          title, number of columns,  and graphic height. The  default value
          for the columns and height allow 28 graphics per page.

          INDEX and  INDEX5 (DOS  5 version  of INDEX) require  WordPerfect
          5.1,  any release date. These macros read any file directory, and
          convert the  directory listing into a  comma-delimited mail-merge
          file for use by PC-File or  dBase. Copy them along with GRAPHCAT,
          and  start INDEX in  the same way.  The prompts  are similar, BUT
          INDEX  can  use  any MS-DOS  wild  card  for  the extension,  and
          GRAPHCAT does not allow wild cards.

          FILEINDX  requires a  dBase-compatible database  program. PC-File
          5.01  or newer  is  highly recommended.  The files  FILEINDX.HDB,
          FILEINDX.DBF, and NAME.NDX compose a sample graphics database for
          PC-File. Copy them together to wherever you can reach them easily
          with the database program.These are the database files used  with
          INDEX  to create  a  database of  graphics  files (or  any  other
          files).  Load  these  files  into a  directory  readable  by  the
          database program, and run the program normally. Be sure to delete
          or overwrite the one sample record already in the file.

          The files with  a .WPG extension are  clip art. The  patterns and
          styles vary greatly, and  I'm not telling you what  they are--but
          try GRAPHCAT on them to get a feel for what the macro does.
          G R A P H C A T   V. 2.0                                        2

          What is GRAPHCAT?
          ═════════════════

               I've  been collecting  clip  art for  different projects.  A
          small  book, some  newsletters, signs,  and still  more pictorial
          projects.  I've drawn  some,  scanned some  paper  clip art,  and
          bought some disks  of pictures. I was beginning to  lose track of
          which disk had  what pictures. I needed  an index, a printout  of
          every graphic I've got, so I could keep them handy for reference.
               The  WPG  files  shipped  with WordPerfect  have  their  own
          printed picture indexes of art in the manual, but shareware disks
          of  PCX or  GEM files  are escapees  from that  elusive paperless
          office we all keep hearing about.  And clip art disks are uneven;
          some of them are full  disks of excellent art on related  topics,
          but others  are totally unrelated  pictures. Worse, there  is the
          occasional bad file on those  disks. Overall, shareware clip  art
          disks are worthwhile,  but a  printed index would  help sort  the
          good files from the fuzzy junk.
               And  the commercial  clip  art isn't  much  better. Oh,  the
          graphics  are  better, but  the printed  indexes are  printed too
          small, or on newsprint, or are  all mixed in with the pictures of
          every other graphic collection sold by that company.
               Meanwhile, my  co-workers on a newsletter  project wanted to
          see all their clip art. I kept their graphics on a separate disk,
          but they  wanted paper copies to refer to, so they could tell me,
          "Use that  butterfly picture from page two."  I began to create a
          sample document,  with every graphic  shown, and the  file names,
          and the disk  titles, and  immediately found that  there was  too
          much work involved. I had two  options: I could delegate the job,
          or write a  macro to do the job. Since I couldn't find anyone who
          would spend  three hours to  create the  index for  each disk,  I
          wrote  GRAPHCAT. It's  a lot  faster than  an assistant;  it only
          takes from  a few seconds to  eight minutes to  complete the job,
          depending  on  the speed  of the  computer  and the  size  of the
          graphics files.
               GRAPHCAT makes this task easy, so easy that nearly no effort
          is needed to create a new catalog for each directory or floppy of
          pictures.  If the macro is told the  drive and path of the files,
          the type of files on  the disk, like WPG or PCX, and the title of
          the disk, the computer should do the rest.
               With just that information,  the WordPerfect macro reads the
          appropriate directory, identifies the graphics files, sets  their
          sizes, locations,  and  options in  a  catalog, and  leaves  that
          catalog  ready to  print.  Once the  catalog  is built,  you  may
          preview it, print it, and save it if you want.
               However, I  don't recommend saving these  files because they
          will  be  slightly larger  than the  cumulative  size of  all the
          graphics in the directory.  What? I heard that.... I  tried using
          the  WP graphics-on-disk option  to save memory  space. It causes
          more problems than  it solves. Although it is possible to write a

          All Rights Reserved                          (C) 1991 Jerry Stern
          G R A P H C A T   V. 2.0                                        3

          macro that  uses that  feature and  provides the  capabilities of
          GRAPHCAT (I've done it  while developing GRAPHCAT), such  a macro
          must reset default directories to floppies, and reset  them again
          AFTER printing,  and the  files would not  print properly  unless
          printed  while the  default  directories were  reset. That  early
          macro worked 95% of the time, and totally locked up everything 5%
          of the time. It's history.
               WordPerfect corporation has a  habit of tinkering with their
          software. There  are many  different versions of  WordPerfect 5.1
          for  MS-DOS systems. Some of their releases are mostly bug fixes,
          and  a few  new drivers for  new hardware; the  new releases also
          include minor  new features. The  6/29/90 release included  a new
          macro command, {SYSTEM}entry. It can copy  a file name off a List
          Files  (F5) menu. GRAPHCAT uses  that macro command,  so users of
          earlier versions of WP should upgrade.
               To  check your  WP release  date, press  Help (F3)  from the
          document screen of WP. The release date will be in  the top right
          corner  of the introductory help screen. To upgrade to the newest
          release of WP  5.1, call  WordPerfect with your  credit card  and
          license number and  place the  order--the cost as  of Summer  '91
          ranged from $10-$22,  depending on  how many disks  they have  to
          ship.  Instructions  for installing  the  upgrade  come with  the
          disks, but be sure  to check for, and read, a  README file on the
          #1 disk  of each type.  That README  file will list  the features
          added to the program in that release. (WP  sales phone number, as
          of  Summer '91,  is 1-800-321-4566  or 1-801-225-5000.)  I cannot
          speak  for  WordPerfect  Corporation,   so  of  course  all  such
          information  is subject  to change--call  and ask  amounts before
          sending them money.


          PROMPTS
          ═══════

               Start  GRAPHCAT from  a  blank document  screen by  pressing
          Macro  (Alt-F10), typing  GRAPHCAT, and  pressing Enter.  A full-
          screen  display will appear, as shown below. At the first prompt,
          enter  the drive  name  and  path  for  the  subdirectory  to  be
          searched. You may omit the ending backslash if you like. GRAPHCAT
          is  smart enough  to accept  the path  name either  way. Pressing
          Cancel (F1) at this prompt will end macro execution.
               The second prompt asks for the file type. Because  a disk of
          graphics  might contain  nearly anything  besides graphics,  each
          catalog must be limited to one type of graphic file, such as WPG,
          TIF,  or GEM  files.  Any  type  of  graphics  file  readable  by
          WordPerfect may be entered here. If your files are kept sorted by
          what  they  are, such  as  DrawPerfect pictures  together  as WPG
          files, or scanned  artwork as TIF  files, they will  be ready  to
          inventory. If the files  are mixed, simply run GRAPHCAT  once for
          each type of  graphic file  on the disk.  The resulting  catalogs

          All Rights Reserved                          (C) 1991 Jerry Stern
          G R A P H C A T   V. 2.0                                        4

          could be printed separately,  or edited together. Pressing Cancel
          at this prompt moves the cursor back up to the  first prompt, and
          at each  following prompt, pressing  Cancel will move  the cursor
          back up one prompt.
               The  third prompt asks for a title, and the macro will place
          that title in  a header on each page of  the catalog. I recommend
          entering the name  of the graphics collection or the  name of the
          archived backup for that collection, such as "Business Graphics--
          BUSINESS.ZIP" in this area.

          ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
          ║                    G  R  A  P  H  C  A  T              V. 2.0 ║
          ║                  (C)1991 Jerry L. Stern                       ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║ Enter the drive:\path to search.           (e.g. a:\picture1) ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║ Enter the file type to find.             (e.g. WPG, PCX, GEM) ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║ Enter the title for the catalog pages.  (e.g. Picture File 1) ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║ How many columns across should there be?          (default 4) ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║                                                               ║
          ║ How tall should the graphics boxes be?           (default 1") ║
          ║                                                               ║

               The next two prompts  request the number of columns  and the
          height to make each graphic. WordPerfect will calculate the width
          to keep the graphics true to scale, room permitting. If less than
          about twice the height of  a graphic is available for  the width,
          some  graphics in horizontal format will be compressed to fit the
          column. For four columns, a height of one inch allows ample room,
          and 28 images fit on one page. Other  combinations that work well
          include 8 columns with a height of 1/2" for very simple graphics,
          resulting in 13 graphics  per column, and 104 graphics  per page.
          For highly  detailed graphics, try  two columns of  1.6" graphics
          for eight graphics per page.
               After  the last  entry has  been made,  GRAPHCAT  will begin
          loading  the  graphics into  the  document.  As each  graphic  is
          loaded, the macro announces  the new graphic on screen.  When the
          directory of graphics is large, this process will be considerably
          faster if there is  expanded memory available for WordPerfect  to
          use, but  hard disk space  will be substituted  automatically. If
          your  system does  not have  expanded memory,  be sure  that your
          default directory is set to a hard drive, rather than a floppy.
               IF  GRAPHCAT and WordPerfect  decide that a  graphic in your
          sample directory  is not  a proper  graphics file, GRAPHCAT  will

          All Rights Reserved                          (C) 1991 Jerry Stern
          G R A P H C A T   V. 2.0                                        5

          print that message  in your  catalog, along with  the bad  file's
          name.  You may delete that message after the catalog is prepared,
          or  you may  try to convert  the bad  graphic or  edit it  with a
          graphics  program, resave it, and run GRAPHCAT again. Because not
          every   version  of   every  graphic   format  is   supported  by
          WordPerfect,  I prefer  to leave  the message  in the  catalog to
          identify a  file that may be usable in other software, but not in
          WordPerfect.
               When  the catalog  is finished,  the screen display  will be
          replaced by the  new catalog  page and a  reminder comment.  (The
          comment  will not print.) You  may, and should,  preview the page
          before printing. When using more than four columns, long graphics
          names may wrap to the next  line, reducing the number of graphics
          that fit on a page. If the  names wrap, reset the base font to  a
          narrow or  thin typeface, using Format  (Shift-F8), (3) Document,
          (3) Initial Base Font, and choosing a small font.
               A  page full of graphics  will print slowly,  and some laser
          printers may not  have enough internal memory to print  a page of
          that complexity. On a laser printer, if  the entire page does not
          print,  try printing  the page  at a  lower setting  for graphics
          quality, or use fewer columns.


          INDEX, INDEX5, and FILEINDX
          ═══════════════════════════

               INDEX is  a WP macro  that reads a  directory of files,  and
          converts  that directory  listing  into a  file  that a  database
          program can import  and add to a database. INDEX5  is the version
          of  INDEX that  runs in  MS-DOS  5.0, and  FILEINDX is  a set  of
          database  files for PC-File 5.0 or  dBase to use in importing the
          files created by INDEX.
               Why  two versions of INDEX?  DOS 5's DIR  command is greatly
          changed  and improved over that  of previous versions  of DOS. If
          you  are running  DOS 5, but  are not  using the  new SET DIRCMD=
          command  to set defaults  for DIR, you may  use either version of
          INDEX, but the  INDEX5 version  will run slightly  faster, as  it
          takes advantage  of some of the  new options for DIR.  If you use
          the SET DIRCMD=  command with the /p option, you must use INDEX5.
          If you are using an older version of DOS, you must use INDEX.
               The file produced by INDEX is a "comma-delimited mail-merge"
          file. Most database  programs can import these  with no problems.
          Although I  created  the FILEINDX  format  for keeping  track  of
          graphics  and clip  art, the format  and the INDEX  macros can be
          used just as  easily to form a master catalog of  every file on a
          hard disk,  or any category of  files you choose. In  addition to
          the information from the  directory and whatever label  you enter
          while running  INDEX, the FILEINDX  data screen  allows room  for
          comments,  because  it isn't  always  possible  to remember  that
          RX12-76.CGM is a picture of a troll at a bridge.

          All Rights Reserved                          (C) 1991 Jerry Stern
          G R A P H C A T   V. 2.0                                        6

               To use INDEX, run  the macro in the  usual way, by  pressing
          Macro  (Alt-F10), typing  INDEX  or INDEX5,  and pressing  ENTER.
          Answer the prompts  that appear on screen in the  same way as for
          the prompts in  GRAPHCAT, with one exception. The  second prompt,
          for a file mask, may use any legal  MS-DOS wild card, such as T??
          for all  files with an  extension starting with  T, or *  for all
          files. (GRAPHCAT will not work with a wild card extension.)
               The screen  will flicker twice as WordPerfect  shells out to
          DOS to retrieve  the directory to be converted and  saves it to a
          temporary file called c:\delete.me. The  macro will automatically
          erase  the temporary file after retrieving it into WP. Then INDEX
          will search the listing, removing spaces as needed, and inserting
          commas between  columns, resulting  in the  comma-delimited list,
          STORED  IN DOCUMENT 2. That list must be saved as a DOS text file
          for the database  program: Save the file  by pressing Text In/Out
          (Ctrl-F5), (1) DOS Text, (1) Save, and entering the file name for
          the data file.

          IMPORTANT:
               When you first set up a database of clip art  or other files
          in a database, you will read and process many directories. I have
          allowed for that process  in INDEX. Always start the  INDEX macro
          from Document 1, which must be totally empty. If it is not empty,
          INDEX will  remind you to empty it, and remind  you how to do so.
          When INDEX  completes  its work,  the list  of files  will be  in
          Document 2. For the next disk, Switch (Shift-F3) back to Document
          1,  and run the macro again. The second list will be added at the
          bottom of the  existing list.  Once you have  run each  directory
          through INDEX, save  the list as  a DOS text  file, exit WP,  and
          import the data from within the database program.


          IMPORTING INTO PC-FILE
          ══════════════════════

               Here  are  the  steps for  the  import  from  within PC-File
          V. 5.0: Run the program,  and enter the disk and  directory where
          the  FILEINDX files are located. Place the cursor on the FILEINDX
          name  and press F10. From  the main menu,  choose Utilities, then
          Import,  then Mail Merge. Enter the drive, and then the directory
          name of the location  of the DOS text file. PC-File  will display
          the  file names for that directory.  Place the cursor on the list
          filename,  and press F10. Choose to Overwrite the data already in
          the database  ONLY IF THIS WILL  BE THE FIRST  BATCH OF FILENAMES
          ADDED. OTHERWISE,  CHOOSE APPEND  DATA. For  each  entry you  may
          choose to  add the information, or skip to the next record, or to
          quit,  or to press  X and let PC-File  continue through the list,
          adding all the data to the  file. Choose Yes several times to add
          the first  few records manually  until you are  sure the file  is
          being imported correctly, and then choose X to finish the import.

          All Rights Reserved                          (C) 1991 Jerry Stern
          G R A P H C A T   V. 2.0                                        7

          IN GENERAL
          ══════════

               Don't attempt  to edit these macros  from within WordPerfect
          5.1; these  macros are  too large  to  work with  for even  minor
          changes from that  editor. All  the macros in  this package  were
          created using the Editor of  WordPerfect Office, which speeds  up
          the  development time for creating  large macros, and  so lets me
          add features that would be impractical otherwise.
               GRAPHCAT and both INDEX  macros have error trapping routines
          built in to prevent garbage entries, and to turn off Reveal Codes
          if  needed, and  will  not try  to  run if  you  start them  with
          anything in  Document 1. If you wish to import the catalog or the
          file  list into a  document, run the macro  first, and then merge
          the other text or formatting into the catalog or file list.

               Since starting to catalog my clip art collection, I've found
          pictures I didn't know I had, and I've  used some of those in new
          projects. Now  that I don't have to hire extra help to create the
          listings,  I can find the picture I  want in no time, and, better
          yet, I  can take the picture  notebook with me to  a co-worker, a
          client,  or  a conference,  and I  don't  need to  borrow someone
          else's computer and be  at the mercy of someone  else's operating
          system.


          REGISTRATION
          ════════════

          GRAPHCAT V.  2.0 is not free  software. Feel free to  copy this entire
          package and  pass it on  unchanged to other WordPerfect  users. If you
          use the program, you should register by mailing $10. to:
                                        Jerry Stern
                                    1323 Mantle Street
                              Baltimore, Maryland 21234-6014
                      [phone] (after 11/91 use area code 410)

               Registered users receive a disk of clip art. (Specify disk size.)
          Shareware distributors may distribute the program in unchanged form if
          they charge no more than $5  as a distribution/copying fee. The author
          assumes  absolutely  no damage  liability,  but the  macros  have been
          tested extensively, and please write  with any problems, including DOS
          version number and WordPerfect release date.

          There is a registration  form provided with the GRAPHCAT macros on the
          second page of the file README.DOC.

          WordPerfect is a registered trademark of WordPerfect Corporation.
          PC-File is a registered trademark of ButtonWare, Inc.


          All Rights Reserved                          (C) 1991 Jerry Stern