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1989-09-16
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Mystuff.Exe
Version 4.0
(c) September, 1989
by
Rad Delaroderie
PO Box 1991
Columbus, Ga.
31902
written in
Turbo Basic
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*********************
Program Requirements:
*********************
128K RAM
DOS 2.0 or later
IBM or compatible
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Idiosyncrasy:
*************
My programming philosophy is that a program shows its first sign of
failure the moment you have to pick up a user's manual to see what to
do next. With this in mind, let me make a few points, and then you
should never have to read this file again. If you do, leave me a
scathing message.
I can be contacted at the PO Box listed above, or at
Columbus Connection BBS
1-404-687-7309
Rad Delaroderie
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Packing List:
*************
This package, whether ZIPped or ARCed, should contain at least the
following files:
MyStuff.Exe (The executable program file)
MyStuff.Doc (This documentation file that you're reading now)
RadCat.Txt (A catalog of other available RAD Software programs)
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********************
Program Description:
********************
Mystuff.Exe is a personal inventory program that maintains a detailed
isting of your stuff. This type of data file is invaluable for
nsurance purposes. This program will also let you pull out
information in a variety of interesting ways that let you learn a lot
about your stuff that you would never otherwise know if not for the
processing abilities of computers when properly programmed.
Despite the complex abilities of MyStuff, the program is fairly self-
explanatory. However, you do need to be aware of the following
limitations:
* MyStuff will not hold more than 999 items
* If the total value of all your things exceed one million
dollars, that amount will not display properly on the screen,
although the math computations will be correct. (I'm not worried
about this: if you have that much, you've got an accountant
anyway...)
* 14 Basic categories are pre-defined as follows:
Appliances
Cash
Clothing
Computer Hardware
Computer Software
Electronics
Furniture
Jewelry
Other
Office Equipment
Tools
Vehicles
Weapons
Yard Equipment
If you wish to have a custom category list designed just for you,
send a list of 14 categories to me, along with an extra $5, and
I'll send you a custom program for you.
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To Install & Run:
*****************
The following instructions assume that you know next to nothing about
DOS or installing and running programs. I always try to remember that
new computer users are many, and I wish to make things as easy and
clear as possible for these new users.
Floppy disk based users-
Insert a blank floppy disk into Drive A. At the DOS prompt, type
the following:
a: (Enter)
format a: /v/s (Enter)
When the system finishes formatting the disk, it will ask for a
Volume Label. Type
Mystuff (Enter)
Now remove this newly formatted disk from Drive A and insert the
disk containing the Mystuff program files into Drive A. Type the
following:
Copy a:\Mystuff.* b: (Enter)
Follow the instructions as they appear on the screen. New users
should note that, on a single floppy disk system, your computer
considers your single drive to be both Drive A and Drive B. When
you are finished, you now have a usable Mystuff program disk.
Label the disk and make a copy for safekeeping. To run the
program, insert the Mystuff program disk into Drive A. If the
computer is off, turn it on. Type the following:
a: (Enter)
Mystuff (Enter)
The program will now run.
Hard Disk System-
At the DOS prompt, type the following:
c: (Enter)
cd\ (Enter)
md \mystuff (Enter)
cd \mystuff (Enter)
If the original Mystuff files are on a floppy disk, insert that
disk into Drive A and type the following:
copy a:\Mystuff.* c:\Mystuff (Enter)
If the original Mystuff files are already somewhere on your hard
disk, I'll assume that, if you knew enough to get them on your
hard disk already, you know enough to copy them to the Mystuff
sub-directory.
To start the program, type the following:
c: (Enter)
cd \Mystuff (Enter)
Mystuff
Mystuff.Exe creates a data file, called Mystuff.Dat, when you start
entering your items. Database-type programs are by their very nature
"file read/write" intensive. For that reason, performance is slowest
on a floppy disk, very fast on a hard disk, and lightning on a RAM
disk.
If a small sample Mystuff.Dat file is included in this package, you
may immediately get some idea of Mystuff's features without having to
enter your own items right away. When you are ready to establish your
own personal Mystuff.Dat file, you simply erase the sample file by
typing the following:
del Mystuff.Dat (Enter)
at the DOS prompt while in the Mystuff sub-directory, then start from
scratch with your own data file.
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Using the program:
******************
Mystuff starts with a title page containing author and copyright
information, and a brief description of the program. Pressing any key
then displays the focal point of the program-- the Main Menu.
The Main Menu has three choices:
* See the inventory of items on file
* Add an item to the inventory
* Quit the program
I use the "point & shoot" method for user choices. That is, you
simply use the spacebar or arrow keys to highlight your choices and
press the ENTER key. The program will immediately branch to that
section of the program. You can back out of any part of the program
with the ESC key, eventually returning to the Main Menu.
Let's look at the features available in each of the above three
choices in more detail below--
**********************************
Add an item to the inventory list-
**********************************
If you highlight this option and press the ENTER key, you will be
presented with an entry screen. Mystuff lets you enter an item
in an easy simple manner. When entering information in each
field, note that the entry lines are fully editable; that is, you
have basic word processing capabilities, including Insert,
Overtype, Delete, Home, End, etc.
Also note that only the date field is a "required" entry; that
is, you may press the ENTER key without typing anything in the
other fields if you wish. The program will insert "n/a" for you.
******************
See the inventory-
******************
This Main Menu option lets you find and/or collate your entries
in a way that could never be accomplished in a practical manner
by "thumbing through" or using a card index filing system. Upon
highlighting this option and pressing the ENTER key, you are
presented with a sub-menu that asks whether you would like to see
All items on file, or
Certain items.
*********
All items
*********
If you wish to look at All of your items on file, simply
highlight this choice and press the ENTER key. The program
will then present you will another sub-menu that gives you
choices of how you want the list sorted. Highlight which
criterion you want the list sorted by and press the ENTER
key.
*************
Certain items
*************
Here is where you can utilize the most powerful processing
feature of this program. If you wish to put together a
limited user-defined list of entries in your file, simply
highlight "Certain items" and press the ENTER key. The
program will then present you with another sub-menu that
gives you choices of how you want define the list of items
you want to see. Highlight which criterion wish to search
the list by and press the ENTER key.
The program will then ask you to enter the phrase, word, or
partial word that you want the program to find in the
particular field you chose. You don't have to enter a
complete word or phrase. The program will locate every item
that has that particular sequence of characters in that
field.
**********************
Displaying the Results
**********************
Whether you've chosen All items or Certain items, the
program will go through the entire list extremely quickly,
using a very efficient sorting (All items selected) or
finding (Certain items selected) algorithm, and then display
information about the first item in the sorted or found
list. The spacebar, down arrow, and up arrow go through the
list of items one at a time. The PgUp and PgDn keys will
page through the list 10 items at a time. The Home key
brings you immediately to the first item in the list, and
the End key brings you immediately to the last item in the
list.
The bottom line of the screen displays the options that are
available to you at this point. You may Print, Modify, and
Delete as follows:
Print Option-
Pressing the Function key F2 allows you the choice of
printing either the entire sorted or found list, or
just the item entry currently shown on the screen.
Simply highlight your choice and press the ENTER key.
Suggestion: Set your printer in the compressed (17
cpi) mode when printing item lists. The printout looks
better and, at least for me, is easier to read.
Modify Option-
You can modify any field in any item entry. Press the
Function key F4 and then highlight which field you wish
to modify and press the ENTER key. You can then enter
whatever modified information you wish and press the
ENTER key.
Delete Option-
Pressing the Function key F8 will, after asking you to
confirm, cause the program to permanently delete that
particular item from your data file.
*****************
Quit the Program-
*****************
If you wish to Quit the program, simply highlight that option and
press the ENTER key.
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********
Request:
********
I love compliments. I welcome critiques. I'm open to suggestions.
I'll listen to advice. I'll consider criticisms. I'll ignore
sarcasm. I'll seethe over insults. No matter what, I encourage
feedback one way or the other. The bottom line is that someone else's
point of view always gives me a wider perspective on my work. So if
you have something to say, make the effort and get in touch with me.
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Expectations:
*************
If you find that you use the limited version of this program
regularly, and you are any kind of gentleman or lady, I know you'd
send a miserly $5 for a full-featured version of a program that is
commercially worth a lot more than that. Make sure that you specify
the program name, version number, and the type floppy disk you need.
(Use the order form at the bottom of the accompanying RadCat.Txt file)
If you wish to use this program in a commercial or institutional
environment, contact me and we'll make arrangements.
Finally, if this is the limited version, you are encouraged to freely
distribute copies of this program for others to review. However,
please make sure to include this MyStuff.Doc file, the RadCat.Txt
catalog file, and the sample MyStuff.Dat file along with the
MyStuff.Exe file.
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History:
********
MyStuff.Exe
Version 1.1
January, 1989
Mystuff.Exe
Version 2.0
May, 1989
* Considerable reworking of the analysis section of the coding
Mystuff.Exe
Version 2.1
June, 1989
* User caught a very careless bug that caused a crash when you
try to delete an item. My apologies.
Mystuff.Exe
Version 3.0
June, 1989
* Editing features added to data entry fields
* Even faster sorting routine
Mystuff.Exe
Version 4.0
September, 1989
* Screens now functional in either color or monochrome
* More efficient algorithms
* Even faster sorting routine
* Limited version released
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End of Mystuff.Doc File