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Text File | 1991-10-01 | 33KB | 775 lines

tm PostCardMaster Version 3.50 '*Mastering Your Mail' From Unicorn Software Limited Created By: Charles P. Schell IV Copyright (C) 1987-91 Unicorn Software Limited All Rights Reserved PostCardMaster is a Trademark of Unicorn Software Limited _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Unicorn Software Limited P. O. Box 911 Wabash, IN 46992 CIS 70272,3317 Unicorn Software Limited is 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- 9427 or send a Compuserve message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536" LICENSE AGREEMENT PostCardMaster is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but PostCardMaster must be distributed in unmodified, complete form, including this Reference Guide and License Agreement. Also, PostCardMaster may not be distributed in conjunction with any other product. 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 PostCardMaster and continue to use PostCardMaster after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $25.00 to Unicorn Software Limited, P.O. Box 911 Wabash, IN 46992-0911. Or you can use your MC, Visa, AmEx, or Discover by calling the Public(software)Library at 800-2424-PsL or 713-524-6394 or by FAX to 713-524-6398 or by CompuServe to 71355,470 or by mail to PsL, PO Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705. These numbers are for ordering only, order # 10213. For information about dealer pricing, site licensing, shipping of product, returns, latest version number or technical support call 219-563-HOME or write to Unicorn Software Ltd. directly. The $25.00 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's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. The PostCardMaster cataloging program is protected by United States Copyright Law and International Treaty provisions. All rights are reserved. Non-registered users of PostCardMaster are licensed only to use the program on a trial basis for the sole purpose of determining whether or not it meets their requirements. All other use requires registration. Commercial users of PostCardMaster must register and pay for their copies of PostCardMaster within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Unicorn Software Limited. You are encouraged to pass a copy of PostCardMaster along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the PostCardMaster system, free updates, and another Unicorn Software program to try. WARRANTY Unicorn Software Limited makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. Unicorn Software Limited shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct, indirect, special or consequential arising from a failure of this program to operate in the manner desired by the user. Unicorn Software Limited shall not be liable for any damage to data or property which may be caused directly or indirectly by use of the program. IN NO EVENT WILL UNICORN SOFTWARE LIMITED BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY. The License Agreement and Warranty shall be construed, interpreted and governed by the laws of the state of Indiana. Contents Concept & Features....................................................... 1 Getting Started.......................................................... 2 QEMM & UNIEMM.COM........................................................ 2 Mouse Users.............................................................. 2 The System & Universals.................................................. 3 PostCards................................................................ 4 WordWrap................................................................. 4 Addresses................................................................ 5 Data Entry Screens....................................................... 6 Update & Delete.......................................................... 6 Close 'Nuf............................................................... 6 Lists&Labels............................................................. 6| KomboZ................................................................... 6 Print Outs............................................................... 7 Find!.................................................................... 7 Utilities................................................................ 8 Default SetUp & Printer SetUp............................................ 8 Import/Export............................................................ 9| UPGRADING TO 3.50........................................................10 Error Messages...........................................................10 Technical Support........................................................11 Upgrade History..........................................................12 A line in the far right margin indicates new or changed information in the| manual and/or program. | Concept: The program will help you compose post cards and maintain addresses on disk. The primary purpose of the program is to print post cards, and address them for you. Post cards cost 1/3 less than the price of a letter and in some cases are equally as good ie meeting notices, invitations, change of address. This program is a replacement for an earlier Unicorn program released in 1984 called FORWARD2 Features * Standard Address entries for Name, Salutation, Key, 4 line Address, Phone Number & Remarks. * Standard PostCard entries for Title, Salutation, Sign Off, and 16 lines of text. *Text WordWraps and Right Justifys (Optional). *User inputs Return Address block, Signature Block. * User sets screen colours, default data drive, and printer codes. * The choice of obtaining Print Outs for all data or a Criteria. * Criteria selections for specific Key or User make pick and chose individual names. * Print Outs available: An abbreviated listing, sample PostCards, Address Labels, PostCards, 2 Way Cards, 3X5 Cards, Roladex Cards, Return Address Labels, or a Kustom Listing. * Find! feature helps you locate any of the Address entries for specific variable. User can also Find! on text from any line in a PostCard. * Quik Info Key (F1) will supply user with Quik Info the user enters into the system. * Close Nuf' feature that allows partial 'wildcard' style entries to be used for Criteria and Find! options. * Choice of indexing by: Name, Zip Code, Key or Telephone Number. * Build For Speed resequences entire file for speed. * Chase Ghost option rids file of accidentally added blank records. * User names data file. -PostCardMaster 1- Getting Started: DO NOT INSTALL THE PROGRAM IF YOU ARE ALREADY USING IT! SEE THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO UPGRADE THE PROGRAM. The following files must be on the same drive/subdirectory: COLOUR.SET HELP.PLS HELP.DBT NEWUSER1.DAT NEWUSER2.DAT PCMSTR.EXE PRINT.SET UNIEMM.COM QEMM.SYS And Other Extended Memory Managers: Occaisionally a problem will be incurred by a person using QEMM.SYS or other extended memory manager. This has to do with the way that the SYS file manages memory vs the way that the program wants to use the extended memory (The program will attempt to use extended memory automatically, if it is available). On the distribution disk there is a program called UNIEMM.COM (This can be renamed to any legal file name EXCEPT the name of the EXE program). If you attempt to run the program and get a DOS ERROR or RUN ERROR message at the top of the screen, use the UNIEMM utility to start the program. It will tell the program you are using an extended memory that has this anomoly and command the program to remain in low memory instead of switching to extended memory. After passing these instructions to the program, the program will start with no other commands needing to be entered. Mouse Users: YOU must activate the mouse prior to the start of the program. Two Button Users: The Left Button serves as the return/enter key, The Right Button is the ESC key. Three Button Users: Same as two button Users, and the middle button is the F1 key. Type PCMSTR or UNIEMM to start. When you first start the program, the computer will bring up the Default Set Up screen first. Just enter the info requested. When you name the Disk Drive, the program will automatically copy the data files to that drive for you ! So Have A Disk In The Drive And Ready ! The program will not do any further copying on its own. In order to create new data disks see below (Default SetUp). -PostCardMaster 2- Colours: Color Letter ------------------ Black N Blue B Green G Cyan BG Red R Magenta RB Brown GR White W ------------------ Data Drive: The drive where you want your data files (A,B,C, etc). Does not have to be the same as the drive where the program is located. Date Format: You have the following choices: A=American MM/DD/YY {Default} B=British DD/MM/YY F=French DD/MM/YY G=German DD.MM.YY I=Italian DD-MM-YY Right Justify: This refers to right justification of the PostCard text during the WordWrap process. The program will add additional blank spaces between words to make the lines come out even on both sides (Like this document). If you chose to leave it off (N) the lines will not have any blank spaces added. See the examples for WordWrap below. You can always go back and change any of these settings by using the Set Defaults option on the Utilities Menu. The System: Is designed using KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) so not much information is needed to get started. Here are a few notes to help you use the system: Universals: The ESC key will take you back one menu (Mouse Users use Right Button). -PostCardMaster 3- The box in the upper right hand corner of the screen will contain information on how to move around, and data entry tips. The last line of the screen will tell you what the highlighted option does. All menu entries can be selected with the light bar, or by pressing the first letter of the option (Mouse Users when highlited the Left Button will activate the option). The F10 key will bring up Help for a particular item, if no Help is availble for that item, it will allow you to enter the help index. From the index you may select any of the topics of help available. The Help file was not written by the same person who wrote this manual, therefore it might help better explain something to you than this manual does and vice versa. The file HELP.DOC has all of the Help screens in ASCII format so you can print or view them outside of the program. The F1 key will bring up the Quik Info screen. The data for this screen is entered by YOU. Select the Quik Info SetUp option from the Utilities menu to enter data.(Mouse Users: Hit the Middle Button). The Main Menu: Lets you get into the PostCard or Address systems, obtain print outs and go to the Utilities. The PostCard and Address systems let you Add, Update and Delete within the your files. PostCards: You can enter the Title of the PostCard, a Salutation (Dear, Attention, etc) a sign off (Sincerely, Lovingly Yours,etc) and 16 lines of text. Lines left blank are skipped on print outs. WordWrap: This feature is an option during Add and Update operations while working on PostCards. What it will do is allow you to type in the PostCard without paying attention to carriage returns, then when you hit the PageUp key it will re format the text for you (and Right Justify if you have it turned on. Here is an example: You Enter: Just a quick note to let you know that our offices have moved we are no longer in the burned out warehouse down by the dock s, but are now located in the shiny new Acme-Wiley Building d owntown. Our phone numbers remain the same, but our new addr ess is listed on the reverse side of this card. Keep in touc h. -PostCardMaster 4- WordWrap: Just a quick note to let you know that our offices have moved we are no longer in the burned out warehouse down by the docks, but are now located in the shiny new Acme-Wiley Building downtown. Our phone numbers remain the same, but our new address is listed on the reverse side of this card. Keep in touch. WordWrap & Right Justify: Just a quick note to let you know that our offices have moved we are no longer in the burned out warehouse down by the docks, but are now located in the shiny new Acme-Wiley Building downtown. Our phone numbers remain the same, but our new address is listed on the reverse side of this card. Keep in touch. It enables you to type as fast as you want with no cares as to where the carriage returns should be. ******WARNING****** When WordWrapping a Synopsis that has previously been Wrapped with Right Justify ON you might have problems. The program does not understand grammar and might try to wrap things that do not need to be. Example(From Above) Just a quick note to let you know that our offices have movedwe are no longer in the burned out warehouse down by thedocks, but are now located in the shiny new Acme-WileyBuilding downtown. Our phone numbers remain the same, butour new address is listed on the reverse side of this card.Keep in touch. If this happens, just use the INS and DEL keys to fix it. Addresses: You can enter a Key (This is 3 alphanumeric characters REL for relative, BUS for Business etc) , a Salutation (John, Bill, Sir, etc), Name (Brandy Inc, John Smith), a three line address (Use the first line for Company Name if you need to), 10 digit Zip Code, Telephone Number and Remarks. Lines left blank are skipped on print outs. -PostCardMaster 5- The Data Entry Screens: Any of the data entry screens shown in Add, Update, or Delete can be 'zipped' through by hitting the PageDown key. The ESC key will abort the screen. Update And Delete: When you select either of these options the screen will display up to 32 names or PostCard titles. Move the light bar to the one you want to Update or Delete and press the enter key. The ESC key will take you back to the Main Menu and the PageDown key will bring up the next 32 names/titles. When the program reaches the bottom of your file it will start again. You also have the option of looking for a name or or title (This will always be the last option displayed, so use the end key to get to the bottom and return to select). Close 'Nuf: In the Update, Delete, and Criteria. When you enter the key, title, name or ZipCode, etc you do not have to enter the entire thing. For example when entering a name you wish to deal with you do not have to enter the full name, only the first few words, or even letters. In Update this will allow you to view all the records that are Close 'Nuf to what you entered. EXAMPLE: Entering "John" will bring up "Johnny", "Johnathan" ,"Billy John Taylor" and "Johnqual" Lists&Labels: You have a choice of working with All addresses or selecting a Criteria. Criteria will let you choose the addresses by Key, ZipCode,Individually or Comboz. When selecting Individually the screen will display the names in the file and you just pick the numbers of the ones you want. Selecting the number a second time will deselect the address. In the lower left corner of the screen the total number of address you are dealing with will be displayed. This is helpful in determining how many PostCards, labels, etc to load in the printer. KomboZ: Selecting this entry on the Criteria screen will let you combine up to four Criteria. For example you want a listing of all Addresses that are Key B and the name is Shubert. Select the Key entry from the KomboZ screen, then type in B next select the Name entry, when you do that you will have a choice of making the statement And or Or. (Chose And in this example) then you can enter the Shubert. The program will find all records meeting that Criteria and take you to the Forms menu. (If you had selected Or in the -PostCardMaster 6- above example you would have gotten all records for Key B or anyone named Shubert. {even those not Key B}) A more complex example would be Key A or Key B and Name S and ZipCode 4. (You would get all Keys A or B with a name that starts with S and a ZipCode that begins with 4.) Print Outs: The From... & Address Labels: Are printed for 3" X 15/16" pinfed labels. The program will let you test printer alignment before printing. You can print from 1 to 99 automatically. The PostCard & Address Listings: Will print out on regular paper for storage in a notebook etc. 3X5 and Rolodex Cards: Will provide you with cards in those formats. PostCards: Lets you choose which card to match with the address data you have requested. After printing the cards you have the choice of turning the cards around and having the computer address them or exiting. The PostCards are printed to the standard 4X6 size. 2 Way Cards: This option is for times when you want to elicit a response from the person you are sending a card to. You select the card to them first, then the card you want returned to you. Once printed the cards are torn off in twos and then folded in half and either stapled or taped. The first card is addressed to them, the second to you. It is difficult to explain, just try it. Multiple Cards: | | Lets you print out as many of a particular post card as you desire without| addressing them. This can be used to print postcards for use with labels| obtained from another source, ie a mailing list service. | | Incoming Cards: | | This prints out multiple cards, and then addresses them to you. These can| be used to include with a letter or a product to obtain feedback. | -PostCardMaster 7- Kustom List: Lets you pick out the contents for a print out. Find!: You can perform searches on the following items in the address file: Name, Address, Phone, Remarks or Key. Additionally, you can Find! text from within any PostCard. Once the first Found! screen appears: hit the PageDown to Find! the next record, PageUp to go back and ESC to quit. Utilities: Indexing: You can put the file in Name, Zip Code, Key or Telephone Number order by selecting the appropriate option. Build For Speed: Should be run occasionally to keep the file in sequential order for speed. Ghost Buster: This feature should be run if you get blank records in your data file, by accident. Default SetUp: Same as above. If you wish to create a new data disk, just blank out the Data Drive or insert the letter "Z" and then hit the page down key. You will then have the opportunity to name a new Data Drive and File Name. Printer SetUp: This allows you to customize the printer codes used by the program. These codes can be found in your printer manual. The codes that the program has when originally distributed are for the Epson FX100. You will need to know the code for 10 cpi (Pica), 12 CPI (Elite), Enlarged, Condensed (17CPI) and Double High/Wide. If your printer cannot handle double high/wide DON'T PANIC, just leave it blank; the program will use Enlarged for that entry. You do not have to enter the ESC part of the code, the program will add that automatically. You can enter the letter ESC code or the number it does not matter: ie ESC code 119 can be entered as "119" or "w". (Do not enter any " "s!) -PostCardMaster 8- Return Address: This lets you put in your own address. If you wish to have a different name, ie Jones Inc, on the return address, just put your own name in Signature and the company name in the Name Blocks. QuikInfo SetUp: This allows you to enter up to 6 lines of information you can have displayed whenever you hit the F1 key. This is useful for putting your Keys in for use during Updates & Adds. Address Import: | | This lets you bring in existing address data from other sources and use it| in PostCardMaster. The data must be in pure ASCII and be delimited by "'s.| You will be prompted for the location and file name to import. Remeber to| use the extension!, ie IMPORT.TXT. | | The format and characters used for the import is: | | Name 30 | Address Line 1 30 | Address Line 2 30 | Address Line 3 30 | Zip Code 10 | Salutation 15 | Key 3 | Phone 12 | Remarks 60 | | Each record needs to be on the same line in the text file! | | A sample input file might look like this: | | "USL","POB 911","Wabash,IN","","46992","Charles","ZZZ","219/563-HOME","" | | **Notice that blank lines still had a "" to mark them!** | | Export Address: | | Same as import, only in reverse. You will be promted for the name and| location of the file you wish to contain the exported data. This will| allow you to use the data from PostCardMaster in other progams. | Shell To DOS: You can exit temporarily to DOS by using that option on the Utilities -PostCardMaster 9- Menu. The file COMMAND.COM must be on root directory of the same disk as the other program files to do this. You must return to the subdirectory/drive of PostCardMaster prior to entering EXIT to return to the program. Upgrading To 3.50: In order to maintain your old data files from previous versions you MUST perform the following steps: 1. On your current work drive/directory, rename the file COLOUR.SET to COLOUR.OLD. ie RENAME COLOUR.SET COLOUR.OLD. 2. Copy ALL the files from version 3.50 to your work drive/directory. 3. Start the program and when the Default SetUp screen appears go to the block for Data Drive and enter a capital X, then hit the PageDown key. 4. The program will grab your old defaults and use your old data files automatically. 5. Registered Users have the option of sending their old COLOUR.SET file to Unicorn Software (along with .75 postage) and having the upgrade performed for them. Error Messages: Error Messages will appear at the top of the screen when an error occurs. The most common errors are "Open" which means the program can't find the data files and "Printer not ready". You will be given the choice of correcting the problem or aborting. Problems: If you encounter any problems with the program WRITE! Unicorn believes in supporting its programs and has been doing so since the first one was released in 1984. Enjoy! Charles P. Schell IV Author -PostCardMaster 10- Technical Assistance & Latest Versions: Both registered and unregistered Users can obtain technical assistance by calling (219) 563-HOME (4663). Unregistered Users will need to provide the name and address of where they obtained the software from in order to gain this assistance. This will let us go back to that company if they are distributing an older version and it helps us track who is distributing the program. The number is manned (by a human) from 6:00 to 9:00 PM EST, all other hours by an answering machine. ******************* Unicorn Software Support conferences exist on the following BBSs: ** The Kokomo BBS: 317-457-9100 ** The RoadHouse BBS: 317-784-2147 (FIDONET 1:231/290) Both BBSs allow first time downloads and will always have the latest versions of Unicorn's software. Unicorn Software programs are available via "File Request" from The RoadHouse BBS (1:231/290). You can FREQ the magic name "UNICORN" from 1:231/290 for information on Unicorn Programs and their FREQable "magic" names.) ******************* Also, we monitor the Shareware conference on the following networks: RIME, Intelec, NANet, MediaNET, and NAPNet. The regional hub for RIME in Indiana (IBM-NET) will upload any of Unicorn's files to the net on request: ** IBM-Net BBS: 317-882-5575 ******************* All of Unicorn's programs are also available through the Shareware Distribution Network (SDN), and may be downloaded from any SDN location. The Central Indiana SDN contact point is: ** Someplace BBS 317-353-9981 (FIDONET 1:231/120) ******************* The above listed BBSs will always have the latest versions within hours of release. Additionally, these BBSs have proven to be reliable and worth the cost of every minute of connect time. Even if you are not looking for our latest versions: Give Them A Call! -PostCardMaster 11- Upgrades 2.60 Bug that caused screen overwrites fixed. Feed line fixed that caused prob- lems with some printers fixed. 3.00 Program now ready for 4 X 6 Cards in accordence with latest USPS guidelines. Added 3 lines to post card 3.10 Added ZipCode to Criteria Menu Changed Update/Delete functions to light bar driven menus. 3.20 Added WordWrap & Right Justify to PostCards. Improved & Speeded Up Close 'Nuf. Added ComoZ & Custom Form Added Telephone Number & Remarks to address file 3.25 Added Quik Info (F1) option Fixed All known bugs 3.30 Added date formats for France, Britain, Italy, and Germany Added Find! feature to assist in locating records. Textured backgrounds added and menu appearance changed. 3.40 Mouse Support added Context sensitive help added 3.50 Added Multiple Card and Incoming Card print outs Added Import and Export options -PostCardMaster 12-