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1990-08-30
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VITTLES 3.0
+---------------+
! !
! VITTLES !
! !
! version 3.2 !
+---------------+
A Meal Management System
Written by Tandika Star
1990 Dimension Nine Software
This program is dedicated to working spouses, harried cooks, my
daughter, Laurie Bayne, my husband, Steve Baker, and anyone else who
hates weekly grocery shopping.
A special thank you goes to John Nicholson of FastKode BBS and Chuck
Haynes of Casa de la Luz BBS, in Alamogordo, New Mexico for their
wonderful beta testing and helpful suggestions.
VITTLES was written in Clipper.
Clipper is a trademark of Nantucket Software.
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VITTLES 3.0
********** REGISTRATION **********
This executable program is in the public domain. This means that you
do not have to pay any type of "registration fee" to use this
program. You may place this program and documentation in your club's
library, share it with friends and upload it to bulletin board
systems.
If you like this program and want to tell me so, or if you have any
questions or comments, I can be reached:
Mail Correspondence: Telephone:
Tandika Star Phone: (505) 479-6720
c/o Dimension Nine Software or: (505) 479-6725
2170 E. Tinker
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Telecommunications:
Netmail may be sent to 308/30 (Dog Canyon BBS), 308/60 (Casa De La
Luz BBS), and you may also leave messages for me (and obtain the
latest version of VITTLES) by calling the FastKode BBS: (505)
437-2280. The sysop is John Nicholson. There is no charge to
register or download. I am also active in the FidoNet National
Cooking Echo.
PLEASE NOTE: The source code for this program is NOT in the public
domain and is owned exclusively by Dimension 9 Software and
Consulting.
********** HISTORY **********
This manual is for version 3.2 of VITTLES. Changes from previous
versions are as follows:
***** CHANGES in version 3.2
None.
***** CHANGES in version 3.1
When you print the "table of contents page" for a recipe file, the
recipes are now in alphabetical order.
When you use the F2 function to add an item number to a recipe the
box is now moved over further to the right so that you can see more
of the recipe text.
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VITTLES 3.0
***** CHANGES in version 3.0
All of the new features in this version were added to the RECIPE
section of the program. The (H)elp has been expanded. While in the
recipe databases, you may now SEARCH for text strings. In addition, a
feature has been added to the Recipe section that will allow you to
choose an item number from a list displayed on the screen to be
entered into your recipe. (This is useful for those who are using the
Shopping and Grocery functions of VITTLES.) See the RECIPE section of
this manual for more details on these commands.
***** CHANGES in version 2.3
None.
***** CHANGES in version 2.2
All reports may be sent to the screen, printer or disk file.
You may "batch" import from a .TXT file. See the IMPORT instructions.
During the "Change Colors" menu selection the F-keys have been
changed to accommodate those users who have them side-by-side on the
left of the keyboard.
The border around the alert boxes has been changed to solid, rather
than a weird character.
While viewing a recipe, you may scroll through the instructions
portion by using [PG-UP] and [PG-DOWN] even if that portion is not
highlighted.
***** CHANGES in version 2.1
None.
***** CHANGES in version 2.0
There have been a large number of changes in the program since
version 1.1. Of them, the most significant to you would probably be:
VITTLES WILL NOW IMPORT AND EXPORT ASCII TEXT FILES!
You can now move a recipe from one recipe file to another. This can
be done one recipe at a time, or in batches.
In addition: Almost all of the submenu selections have been moved
from the F-Keys to single letter key commands. (Everyone but me HATED
using the F-Keys.)
The information on the screens is much more verbose. Instructions now
appear as you run the program. This is for those that don't R.T.F.M.
and just want to run the program right away.
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VITTLES 3.0
The system is "self-installing". You no longer have to go to the
INSTALL menu to get started. Just put VITTLES where you want it to
run, be sure you have some extra room, (VITTLES creates files the
first time you run it.) Type VITTLES at your DOS prompt and you're
off and running.
***** CHANGES in version 1.1
Changed print out width of recipe file from 60 characters to 70
characters so printed text matches screen better.
Speeded up algorithm for deleting items in the User's Shopping List,
and the Master Shopping List.
Added "SCRATCH SHEET" under the "MENU" options.
***** BUG FIXES in version 3.2
When editing the AISLE categories, if the down arrow was pushed too
many times, the program aborted. This has been fixed.
***** BUG FIXES in version 3.1
In previous versions, when importing a text file, if you put the
"&&&" flag as the very first thing, or the very last thing in the
file, VITTLES locked up. This is now fixed.
In version 3.0 when you used the F2 function to add the item number
to your recipe file, it didn't always let you scroll through the
items properly. Now you can scroll all the way through ALL the items,
not just the chosen category.
When deleting items from the Master Grocery list, VITTLES sometimes
lost it's place and went all the way to the bottom of the file. Now
it goes to the item just before the one you deleted.
***** BUG FIXES in version 3.0
The problem with printing most things that were more than 1 page in
length has been fixed.
***** BUG FIXES in version 2.3
When choosing which device to print to, if you pressed any other key
than the displayed ones, the program crashed. This has been fixed,
and now you can only exit by pressing one of the displayed keys.
When sending the table of contents to the printer (from a recipe
database) it would only print page 1 correctly. Thereafter, each page
had 1 listing. This has been fixed, and the pages print properly.
When viewing a recipe, the page-down and page-up to scroll the
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VITTLES 3.0
instructions portion didn't work properly all the time. Now it does.
There were STILL some pesky messages that didn't go away when they
served their purpose. I HOPE they all do now.
If you chose to print the table of contents to the screen (while in
the RECIPE portion of the program) AND there was only one screenful
of information, it zipped right by. Now it will pause and wait for
you to press a key.
***** BUG FIXES in version 2.2
Many of the prompts and response lines at the bottom of the screen
didn't go away when they were no longer needed. Now they do.
***** BUG FIXES in version 2.1
When choosing DELETE ALL from the SHOPPING menu, nothing was deleted
from the shopping list. Now it works!
An error message was generated when you tried to import the 13th file
in a row. That problem has now been solved.
***** BUG FIXES in version 2.0
Fixed the problem of adding a single menu entry to the shopping list.
***** BUG FIXES in version 1.1
Fixed "VIEW RECIPE" problem where if no files are chosen from the
"Scrolling Choice Box" the "No files on data drive." "Alert Box"
appeared.
Fixed "MASTER SHOPPING" problem where if the last item under "Soft
Drinks" was deleted, the system locked up.
Fixed "DEFAULTS" problem during choosing colors, where the third
group's color set made it "invisible" on many systems.
********** KNOWN and UNKNOWN BUGS **********
Bugs that have been found (and fixed!) in previous versions are
listed in the "HISTORY" section of this manual.
If you discover a bug in the program which causes it to abort or lock
up the computer, PLEASE let me know so I can fix it! I will need to
know what computer, drive configuration and the sequence of events
that caused the problem.
Versions 3.x and 2.x of this program were developed on an EVEREX
286/12 Step computer with 2 40M hard drives, a 3.5 floppy drive and a
5.25 floppy drive.
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VITTLES 3.0
Version 1.0 and 1.1 of this program were developed on a Zenith Z-183
laptop computer with a 20M hard disk and 3.5 floppy drive and an
external 5.25 drive. The external drive is designated as B:.
Whenever I try to use the B drive during the DEFAULTS option and it
is turned off or doesn't have a disk in it, the system locks up and I
have to reboot. At this time, I don't know if that is a problem with
this particular system configuration or is common to all. A warning
has been placed in the DEFAULTS section of this documentation
reflecting this problem.
********** INTRODUCTION **********
When I started back to work full time, my husband and my 16 year old
daughter took over the meal planning, shopping, and cooking. While
my daughter's cooking skills are fine, her organization is sometimes
scattered, and items were often left off the shopping list. It's all
right to forget to buy catsup for the hamburgers, and if you forget
the buns, you can make do with bread, but if you forget the ground
beef...@#$%&*@! My husband was not accustomed to grocery shopping
and required a VERY specific list. We also got tired of having the
'same old things' every couple of weeks. Being able to browse through
recipes and choose to add them to the weekly menu encouraged variety.
This program was written to help solve the problems. While it hasn't
made everything perfect, it has certainly improved the situation.
NOTE: My husband says this program won't help him until it pushes
the cart, writes out the check and carries in 70% of the groceries.
Oh well, you can't please everyone!
VITTLES is a database management system. Within the program you may
keep track of how groceries are arranged in your favorite store,
create weekly menus and shopping lists, and store your favorite
recipes electronically. The program is simple to use. Most options
can be accessed by pressing a single key.
********** SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS **********
The minimum system requirements to run VITTLES are an MS-DOS computer
using DOS 3.1 or higher, and two disk drives. VITTLES will run quite
nicely on a hard drive and has been tested extensively on one. A
color monitor is nice, but monochrome is adequate. While a printer
is not absolutely necessary, VITTLES generates many printed reports
and the program is not particularly useful without one.
********** MANUAL CONVENTIONS **********
The following conventions are used throughout this manual. Taking
time to familiarize yourself with these conventions will save you
time and confusion later on.
Section titles are centered and surrounded by attention grabbing
characters:
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VITTLES 3.0
********** SECTION TITLE **********
This will help you find the section you want quickly.
Subtitles begin at the left margin and have an attention grabber only
on the left side:
***** SUBTITLE
Whenever this manual is referring to a key on your computer keyboard,
it will be in shown in capital letters surrounded by square brackets.
For example:
[F10] [ESC] [ENTER] [A]
Whenever you have a choice of options, they will be separated by "|".
For example:
[ESC|ENTER]
You would press ONE of the keys, either [ESC] OR [F10] OR [ENTER].
Program prompts will be shown indented on a line by themselves
exactly as they appear in the program and information to be typed in
by you will be shown in curly braces with upper case letters. For
example:
FILENAME: {XXXXXXXX[ENTER]}
In the above example "FILENAME:" is the prompt VITTLES shows you.
"XXXXXXXX [ENTER]" indicates that you would type the filename,
followed by pressing the [ENTER] key.
Types of input are indicated as follows:
{NNNN} indicates numeric input
{MM/DD/YY} indicates a date in month/day/year format
{XXXXXX} indicates alphanumeric input
********** PROGRAM CONVENTIONS **********
***** MOVEMENT
[UP-ARROW|RIGHT-ARROW|LEFT-ARROW] are used throughout the program to
move between menu choices and displayed fields.
***** INFORMATION LINE
The bottom line of the screen is reserved as an "Information Line".
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VITTLES 3.0
It will display descriptions, error messages, optional choices and
"Highlighted Input Boxes".
***** HIGHLIGHTED INPUT BOXES
Whenever a "Highlighted Input Box" appears on the screen, you are
being asked to type information. Where a default value appears in
the box, it may be selected by pressing [ENTER]. If the [INSERT] key
has been pressed, it will be noted in the upper right corner of your
screen. ([INSERT] is a toggle. Pressing it again will turn it off.)
When [INSERT] is on, characters typed on the keyboard will be
inserted at the cursor and all characters to the left will be moved
over. When [INSERT] is off, all characters typed on the keyboard will
overwrite the characters in the box. The following key(s) perform the
indicated actions:
[INSERT|CTRL-V] toggle insert mode
[LEFT-ARROW|CTRL-S] one character left
[RIGHT-ARROW|CTRL-D] one character right
[CTRL-LEFT-ARROW|CTRL-A] one word left
[CTRL-RIGHT-ARROW|CTRL-F] one word right
[HOME] first character
[END] last character
[DEL] delete character at cursor
position
[CTRL-G|BACKSPACE] destructive backspace
[CTRL-H|CTRL-T] delete word right
[CTRL-Y] delete from cursor position
to end
[CTRL-U] restore default value
[ENTER] accept the value in the box
and exit
***** SCROLLING CHOICE BOXES
Whenever a "Scrolling Choice Box" appears on the screen, you are
being asked to select one of the items in the box. The following
key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[UP-ARROW] up one item
[DOWN-ARROW] down one item
[HOME] first item in window
[END] last item in window
[PAGE-UP] up one "window-full"
[PAGE-DOWN] down one "window-full"
[CTRL-PAGE-UP] top of choices
[CTRL-PAGE-DOWN] bottom of choices
[{letter}] next choice having the same
first letter
[ESC] abort (does not select any item)
[ENTER] select item
***** ALERT BOXES
"Alert Boxes" are used throughout the program to give you information
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VITTLES 3.0
or to ask you to choose between options. They are drawn centered on
the screen using the same colors as "Highlighted Input Boxes". The
bottom line of the box will indicate which actions you may take. The
box will remain on the screen until you press the requested key.
****** GETTING STARTED **********
The first time you run VITTLES, it will generate the necessary system
files. They are:
SYSPARM.MEM 174 bytes
AISLE.DBF 1507 bytes
ASLE.NTX 2048 bytes
CATEG.NTX 2048 bytes
MASSHOP.DBF 3226 bytes
ITEMNO.NTX 2048 bytes
USHOP.DBF 529 bytes
UITEM.NTX 2048 bytes
MENU.DBF 268 bytes
MDATE.NTX 2048 bytes
RECIPES.DBF 227 bytes
RECIPES.DBT 512 bytes
RECIPES.NTX 2048 bytes Total of 18461 bytes
If you are using a floppy system, be sure you have enough room on the
VITTLES disk. (And bear in mind that when you add to the data bases,
the sizes of the files will increase!)
***** FLOPPY DRIVE SYSTEM
Create a bootable system disk and copy the file "VITTLES.EXE" to it.
Insert the disk into your A: drive and boot the system. At the
system prompt type:
{vittles [ENTER]}
***** HARD DRIVE SYSTEM
Create a subdirectory for the VITTLES program by typing:
{md \vittles [ENTER]}
Copy the file "VITTLES.EXE" to this directory. To run the program
type:
{cd \vittles [ENTER]} {vittles [ENTER]}
***** THE OPENING SCREEN
When you run the program, the opening screen will be displayed for 20
seconds. You may [PRESS ANY KEY] to exit sooner. VITTLES then
proceeds to check the default system drive (A:\) for the system
files. If this is the first time you've run VITTLES, a message will
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VITTLES 3.0
be displayed telling you that it is checking the system files, and
then it will proceed to create them.
***** THE MAIN OPTIONS SCREEN
After the installation is completed, the "Main Options Screen" will
be displayed. Use [RIGHT-ARROW] and [LEFT-ARROW] to move between the
menu selections.
********** NAVIGATING THE PROGRAM **********
Whenever VITTLES asks you for information in a "Highlighted Input
Box", you should press [ENTER] when you have finished typing your
response. The following instructions assume you understand this, and
will not advise you any further when to press [ENTER] unless it is
necessary to activate one of a list of choices.
The "Main Options Screen" shows 7 selections across the top row:
UTILITY AISLES GROCERY SHOPPING RECIPES MENU QUIT
Use [RIGHT-ARROW|LEFT-ARROW] to move between the selections. The
bottom line of the screen will give you a brief description of each
category. To choose an option, press [ENTER]. You may also press the
first letter of the option to make your selection.
A submenu will appear under each main menu, offering further
selections. Use [UP-ARROW|DOWN-ARROW] to move between selections. To
choose an option, press [ENTER]. You may also press the first letter
of the option followed by [ENTER] to make your selection.
********** UTILITY **********
If you choose UTILITY from the Main Menu, a submenu will appear with
the following choices:
DEFAULTS CHANGE COLORS REBUILD INDEXES
***** DEFAULTS
Allows you to change the default drive/paths for the system files and
the recipe files. It also allows you to change the screen colors.
You may save your selections or use them just during this session.
If you choose to save them, they will be the default selections every
time you boot the program until you change them again.
***** CHANGE COLORS
Selecting this menu item will allow you to change the colors that
appear on your screen while VITTLES is running. When you exit the
program, your original colors will be restored.
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VITTLES 3.0
The following key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[F2] choose main foreground (text) color
[F3] choose main background color
[F4] choose enhanced foreground (text) color
[F5] choose enhanced background color
[F6] choose unselected foreground (text) color
[F7] choose unselected background color
[ESC] exit, use old colors
[ENTER] exit, use new colors
As you press the various function keys, the colors will rotate
through the available choices. There are 8 choices for background
colors and 16 for text. (If you have a monochrome monitor, you will
have fewer choices.)
***** REBUILD INDEXES
If your system files are behaving erratically or you have
inadvertently erased your index files or if you have modified your
.DBF files outside of the VITTLES program environment, you will need
to re-index your system files.
NOTE: This option will NOT re-index your recipe databases. To do
that, choose EDIT from the RECIPES submenu. Choose the recipe file
you want to re-index. When the first recipe in the file is displayed,
press [A] to add a new record. The display will change to the new
record and display it. Now choose [D] to delete this new record.
Adding and then deleting a new record will force the database to be
re-indexed.
********** AISLE **********
The aisle database contains the category names and numbers and the
order in which the categories appear in your favorite store. The
aisle number field is the only editable field in this data base. You
may change the order that the categories are in by changing the aisle
number (0 thru 99.) You may put more than one category in each
aisle. The advantage of keeping your categories in order is that
your shopping list will be printed in the order you specify. This
way, you can start at one end of the store and go down the list in
order. (If you regularly shop at more than one grocery store, good
luck; it seems like no two are set up the same!)
If you choose AISLES from the Main Menu, a submenu will appear with
the following choices:
EDIT PRINT
***** EDIT
If you choose EDIT from the submenu, a new window will appear. The
following options perform as indicated:
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VITTLES 3.0
[E] edit
[P] print
[ESC] exit, return to Main Screen
***** [E] - EDIT
The only editable field is the aisle number. The "Information Line"
prompt will appear:
Enter new aisle number:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box." Type the desired number.
NOTE: Changing the order of the aisles will not affect anything
except printing the users shopping list and this display. All other
displays will remain in the default order.
***** [P] - PRINT
Prints a list of the categories in the order they appear on the
screen.
***** [ESC] - EXIT TO "MAIN OPTIONS SCREEN"
Returns you to the "Main Options Screen".
***** PRINT
If you choose PRINT from the submenu, a list of the categories will
be printed in the order they appear in your database. (This is the
same as choosing [P] from the EDIT window.)
********** GROCERY **********
The Master Grocery Database consists of 5 fields:
1. Item Number
2. Unit Size
3. Description
4. Unit Price
5. Multiplying Factor
The item numbers are assigned by VITTLES. The "Unit Size",
"Description" and "Unit Price" fields are all editable, and may
contain any pertinent information. The "Unit Size" field may be up
to 15 characters. The "Description" field may contain up to 40
characters. The "Unit Price" field may be up to $99.99. The field for
the "Multiplying Factor" is either "Y" (for yes) or "N" (for no). It
is used to calculate the number of items added to the Shopping List.
If it is "N", the item will appear only once on the list when added
from recipes. If it is "Y", the quantity will be incremented
accordingly.
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VITTLES 3.0
If you choose GROCERY from the Main Menu, a submenu will appear with
the following choices:
EDIT PRINT
***** EDIT
If you choose EDIT from the submenu, a new window will appear on your
screen and you have the following options:
[A] add a new item to the list
[G] go to a specific item number
[D] delete the highlighted item
[P] print the entire list
[E] edit the highlighted information
[ESC] exit, return to the Main Menu
***** [G] = GOTO ITEM #
Allows you to move to a specific item number. The "Information Line"
will display the following prompt:
Item number:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type the number of the item
you want to go to. VITTLES will then move the cursor to the requested
item number or the next closest number.
NOTE: This can be very handy for moving around in your Master
Grocery List. To go to the beginning of a specific category, simply
type the number of the category at the "Highlighted Input Box".
***** [A] = ADD NEW ITEM
Adds a new item to the Master Grocery List. You may have up to 99
items in each category. A "Scrolling Choice Box" will appear on the
screen. [UP-ARROW|DOWN-ARROW] will allow you to move between choices.
Press [ENTER] to choose a category or [ESC] to abort. VITTLES will
then proceed to calculate the next available item number in the
category you have selected. The "Information Line" will display:
Description:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type the description of the
item. VITTLES will add the new item to the database and it will be
displayed on your screen. To edit any of the other fields, move to
the field and press [E]. The default "Multiplication Factor" is
'"Y".
***** [D] = DELETE ITEM
Deletes an item. All following item numbers in the category will be
moved up to fill in the hole. The "Information Line" will display:
13
VITTLES 3.0
Delete Item Number nnn [Y/N]:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". "nnn" is the assigned item
number. The default response is "N" and can be selected by pressing
[ENTER]. If you want to delete the item, press [Y].
NOTE: You cannot delete category headings!
(BE CAREFUL: If you have already added item numbers to your recipes,
this could cause problems!. See HELPFUL HINTS.)
***** [E] = EDIT
To edit a field, move the cursor to the field and press [E]. The only
way to change the item number is to move the item to another
category. A "Select Choice Box" will appear displaying the various
categories. When editing the unit size field, the "Information Line"
will display:
Enter New Unit Size:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type the new information or
press [ENTER] without typing anything to keep the default.
When editing the description field, the "Information Line" will
display:
Enter new description:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type the new information or
press [ENTER] without typing anything to keep the default.
When editing the unit price field, the "Information Line" will
display:
Enter new unit price:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type the new information or
press [ENTER] without typing anything to keep the default.
Pressing [E] while the cursor is in the "Multiplying Factor" field
will toggle the field between "Y" and "N".
NOTE: You cannot edit category headings!
***** [P] = PRINT
Prints the entire master grocery list.
***** [ESC] = MAIN MENU"
Returns you to the "Main Options Screen".
***** PRINT
14
VITTLES 3.0
If you choose PRINT from the submenu, the entire Master Grocery list
will be printed. (This is the same as choosing [P] from the EDIT
window.)
********** SHOPPING **********
The Shopping List is a "sub-set" of the Master Grocery list. It
consists of the things you actually plan to purchase when you go to
the store.
If you choose SHOPPING from the Main Menu, a submenu will appear on
your screen and you have the following choices:
EDIT DELETE ALL
***** EDIT
Use the arrow keys to move between fields and records. The following
options perform as indicated:
[=|+] increment quantity
[-] decrement quantity
[A] add a new item to the list
[D] delete item entirely
[P] print the list
[ESC] exit, return to the Main Menu
***** [=|+] = INCREMENT
Increments the "Quantity" field by 1. The maximum value allowed in
the "Quantity" field is 99.99. You may not increment category titles.
***** [-] = DECREMENT
Decrements the "Quantity" field by 1. If the value of the field is
already 1, the "Information Line" will display:
Use [D] to delete item.
You may not decrement category titles.
***** [A] = ADD ITEM
Add an item from the Master Grocery List to the Shopping List. If the
item is not on the Shopping List yet, it will be added and the
quantity will be set to 1. If the item is already on the Shopping
List and the multiplication factor field is "Y", the item will be
incremented by one. If the multiplication factor field is "N" and the
item is already on the Shopping List. Nothing will happen. A
"Scrolling Choice Box" will appear allowing you to select the item to
add to the Shopping List. Press [ENTER] to choose an item or [ESC]
to abort. You may not add category titles.
15
VITTLES 3.0
***** [D] = DELETE ITEM
Deletes an item from the Shopping List. You may not delete category
titles.
***** [P] = PRINT
Prints the Shopping List. If the "Quantity" field contains a
fractional amount, it will be rounded up to the next whole number
before it is printed. (My grocery store will not allow me to
purchase 1/2 jar of peanut butter!) An estimated total cost will be
printed at the bottom of the list. The accuracy depends on the
accuracy of the "Unit Price" fields in the Master Shopping List.
***** [ESC] = MAIN MENU
Returns you to the "Main Options Screen".
***** DELETE ALL
Deletes all the old items in the Shopping List. An "Alert Box" will
appear giving you an opportunity to abort by pressing [ESC]. To
continue, press [ENTER].
********** RECIPES OPTIONS **********
The recipe database consists of 6 fields:
1. Recipe Number
2. Tagged (always Y or N)
3. Recipe Name
4. Key Ingredients
5. Source
6. Instructions
The "Recipe Number" field corresponds to the record number in the
database. The "Tagged" field is used for batch operations. The
"Recipe name can be up to 40 characters in length. The "Key
Ingredients" field may have up to 30 characters. The "Source" field
may contain up to 40 characters. The "Instructions" field may be up
to 64K in length. (I sure don't want to make anything that requires
that much reading!) You may have up to 9,999 recipes in each file if
disk space allows.
If you choose RECIPES from the Main Menu, a submenu will appear with
the following choices:
EDIT MERGE CREATE NEW DELETE IMPORT
***** EDIT
16
VITTLES 3.0
This option allows you to add, modify, print and otherwise manipulate
the selected recipe file. If there are no recipe files on the disk,
an "Alert Box" will appear. Otherwise a "Scrolling Choice Box" will
appear on the screen containing the available recipe file names.
Select the file you want to view. A window will open on the screen
and you will be shown one recipe at a time, starting with the first
recipe in the file, with as much of the instructions as fit in the
window. The following key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[TAB|DOWN-ARROW] next field
[LEFT-ARROW|UP-ARROW] previous field
[+|=] next recipe
[-] previous recipe
[A] add a new recipe
[D] delete the recipe
[E] edit the highlighted
field
[F] search for a string of
text
[G] choose the number of the
recipe to view
[H|F1] help
[L] look at the
"find" list
[M] add this recipe to the
menu file
[P] print
[S] add ingredients from
recipe to Shopping List
[T] toggles the tag between
No or Yes
[U] change ALL tag fields
to "N"
[X] change ALL tag fields
to "Y"
[PAGE-UP|PAGE-DOWN] scroll thru instructions portion
[ESC] exit, return to Main Menu
***** [TAB|DOWN-ARROW] = NEXT FIELD
NOTE: [RIGHT-ARROW] and [DOWN-ARROW] do not appear on the list at the
top of the EDIT window.
Moves the cursor to the next field. The movement will wrap around to
the beginning. Each field will be highlighted when the cursor is on
it. You cannot move the cursor to the "Recipe Number" or "Tagged"
fields.
***** [LEFT-ARROW|UP-ARROW] = PREVIOUS FIELD
NOTE: [LEFT-ARROW] and [UP-ARROW] do not appear on the list at the
top of the EDIT window.
Moves the cursor to the previous field. The movement will wrap around
17
VITTLES 3.0
to the end. Each field will be highlighted when the cursor is on it.
You cannot move the cursor to the "Recipe Number" or "Tagged" fields.
***** [+|=] = NEXT RECIPE
Displays the next recipe in the file. If there are no more recipes,
the "Information Line" at the bottom of the screen displays:
Bottom of file.
This display will go away when you press another key or all by itself
in 5 seconds.
***** [-] = PREVIOUS RECIPE
Displays the previous recipe in the file. If there are no more
recipes, the "Information Line" at the bottom of the screen displays:
Top of file.
This display will go away when you press another key or all by itself
in 5 seconds.
***** [A] = ADD A NEW RECIPE
Adds a new, blank recipe to the file. All new recipes are added to
the end of the file. The recipe numbers will be calculated for you.
The default "Tagged" field will be "N".
***** [D] = DELETE THIS RECIPE
Deletes the displayed recipe. The following prompt will appear on the
"Information Line":
Delete recipe number: n [Y/N]:
"n" is the recipe number to delete. The default response is "N". When
you delete a recipe, the numbers move up to fill in the empty space.
***** [E] = EDIT FIELD
Edit a field. To edit a field, move the highlighted bar to the field
and press [E]. Type in the new information. The name of the recipe
will always be in capital letters. When you choose to edit the
"Instructions" field, you will be allowed to scroll around the
instructions window and edit the text. If you are familiar with
dBASE III or CLIPPER or WORDSTAR, you shouldn't have too much
trouble. The following key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[UP-ARROW|CTRL-E] up one line
[DOWN-ARROW|CTRL-X] down one line
[LEFT-ARROW|CTRL-S] left one character
[RIGHT-ARROW|CTRL-D] right one character
[CTRL-LEFT-ARROW|CTRL-A] left one word
18
VITTLES 3.0
[CTRL-RIGHT-ARROW|CTRL-F] right one word
[HOME] beginning of current line
[END] end of current line
[CTRL-HOME] top of window
[CTRL-END] bottom of window
[PAGE-UP] up one "window"
[PAGE-DOWN] down one "window"
[CTRL-PAGE-UP] top of instructions
[CTRL-PAGE-DOWN] bottom of instructions
[CTRL-Y] delete line cursor is on
[CTRL-T] delete word right
[CTRL-B] reform paragraph
[F1] display help screen
[CTRL-W] stop editing, save changes
[ESC] stop editing, do not
save changes
The "@" character is special, and is reserved for adding items to the
shopping list. You should not use it for anything else in your
instructions.
----------------< NEW FEATURE !!!! >------------------------
If you are editing the "Instructions" area of a recipe, you can have
VITTLES automatically fill in the item number from your master
Grocery List! Position your cursor where you want the number to
appear and press F2. VITTLES will display a list of categories to
choose from. After you've chosen a category, VITTLES will display the
list of items. When you press [ENTER] to select an item, VITTLES will
insert the "@" and the item number right where your cursor was. This
makes it fast and easy for those of you who are using the automated
grocery/shopping functions.
----------------< NEW FEATURE !!!! >------------------------
***** [F] = FIND
The screen will clear, and you will be asked for the text you want to
search for. VITTLES does not distinguish between upper and lower case
text. You may put different information in each field or leave some
of them blank.
After VITTLES has searched through all of the recipes in the file you
are viewing, you will be shown a box with all of the matches listed
by recipe number and name. To choose the one you want to look at,
move the highlight bar to your choice and press [ENTER].
***** [G] = GOTO RECIPE #
The prompt:
Recipe number:
will appear on the "Information Line" followed by a "Highlighted
Input Box". Enter the number of the recipe you want to go to.
VITTLES will attempt to find the recipe you requested. If the number
19
VITTLES 3.0
you type is greater than the highest recipe number, VITTLES will go
to the last recipe in the file.
----------------< NEW FEATURE !!!! >------------------------
***** [H] or [F1] = Help
When you request help, VITTLES will now display a list of subjects.
By choosing one from the list, a brief description of the available
options and sometimes a simple explanation will be provided.
----------------< NEW FEATURE !!!! >------------------------
***** [L] = LOOK AT
This works in conjunction with the [F]ind command. IF you have
already searched for a text string, pressing [L] will display the
list of recipes it found. If you have not already defined a search
string, VITTLES will prompt you for the same information as in the
[F]ind function.
A couple of things makes VITTLES "forget" what it was looking for. If
you [A]dd a new recipe, [D]elete a recipe or choose a different
database to look at, you will have to give it the text you are
searching for again.
***** [M] = ADD TO MENU
Adds the name of the recipe, the recipe file name and the recipe
number to the menu database. No date or order will be assigned.
***** [P] = PRINT
An "Alert Box" will be displayed offering several options. The
following key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[C] print a shortened list, consisting of
the recipe number and the recipe name
(Similar to a table of contents)
[A] print all of the recipes in the file,
one recipe to a page
[ENTER] print the displayed recipe only
If you press [ENTER] (to print this recipe only,) you will be asked
if you want to print to [P]rinter or [F]ile. If you choose [F], your
recipe will be printed to a disk file. The name of this file will be
Rnnnn.TXT. VITTLES will choose the "nnnn" (number), and will use
sequential numbers. Files that already exist will NOT be
over-written. VITTLES will simply go to the next consecutive number.
[ESC] aborts from the print function
***** [S] = ADD TO SHOPPING LIST
20
VITTLES 3.0
Add all of the specially marked items to the Shopping List.
NOTE: Before using the "S" option, read the instructions in HELPFUL
HINTS for ADDING RECIPE INGREDIENTS TO THE SHOPPING LIST.
***** [T] = TOGGLE TAGGED FIELD
Toggles the "Tagged" field between "Y" (for yes) and "N" (for no).
***** [U] = Untag All Recipes
NOTE: This option doesn't appear on the list at the top of the EDIT
window, but if you press [U] all of the TAG fields will be changed to
"N" throughout the entire recipe file.
***** [X] = Tag All Recipes
NOTE: This option doesn't appear on the list at the top of the EDIT
window, but if you press [T] all of the TAG fields will be changed to
"Y" throughout the entire recipe file.
***** [ESC] = EXIT
Returns you to the Main Menu.
***** MERGE
Choosing this option will allow you to move TAGGED recipe files from
one database to another. When you choose this option from the RECIPE
submenu, prompts will appear giving you the opportunity to choose the
source and destination databases. Merging recipes will NOT delete
them from the original file!
***** CREATE NEW
This option allows you to create a new recipe file. If you are using
a floppy drive system, you should put a formatted disk in the data
drive BEFORE choosing this option. While you may have more than one
recipe file on a floppy disk, it is not a good idea, especially if
you plan to put a lot of recipes in each file. The amount of space
each recipe takes is variable depending on the length of the
instructions. Watch your disk space carefully. An "Alert Box" will
appear. [ESC] will allow you to abort from this option without
creating a new file. When you press [ENTER] the following prompt
will appear on the "Information Line":
Filename:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type in your file name. This
may be any valid MS-DOS file name of 1 to 8 characters. Do not type
in an extension. You may abort at this point by pressing [ENTER]
without typing any file name. After entering the file name, an alert
box will appear asking you to confirm your selection. You may abort
21
VITTLES 3.0
at this point by pressing [ESC]. If you choose to continue, a new
recipe file will be created on the recipe disk/path. An "Alert Box"
will appear letting you know if the operation is successful or not.
If it is, you may now add recipes to the new file.
***** DELETE
If you choose this option from the RECIPE submenu, you will be able
to delete an ENTIRE recipe file ==< AND >== all of it's contents!
Use with discretion!
***** IMPORT
VITTLES will now allow you to import an ASCII text file into your
recipe database. The rules are:
1. the file must have an extension of .TXT
2. the file must be in the same directory/subdirectory
as your recipe databases
3. each RECIPE in the file must be less than 64K in length.
(The size of the text file may be larger.)
Follow the information printed on the screen. VITTLES will strip
garbage characters from the file as it imports. You may have to
reformat your paragraphs after the file is imported.
You may put more than one recipe in your text file. Separate each
recipe by the characters "&&&". They do not have to be on a line by
themselves. Example:
This is recipe #1 information.
&&&
This is recipe #2 information.
&&&This is recipe #3 information.
For the above example, VITTLES will create 3 recipes in the
destination recipe database. ALL the recipes in a text file will go
into the SAME recipe (destination) file.
If you use the following format, the recipe name, main ingredients
and the source will be filled in automatically:
NAME:xxxxxxxxx (maximum of 40 characters for the name)
KEY:xxxxxxxx (maximum of 30 characters for the ingredients)
SOURCE:xxxxxx (maximum of 40 characters for the source)
You must have each item on a separate line. You must end each line
with a carriage return.
It is not mandatory to put this information (NAME, KEY, SOURCE) in
your text file. If you don't use it, VITTLES will fill in these
fields with default values.
********** MENU **********
22
VITTLES 3.0
There are 5 fields in the menu database:
1. Date
2. Order
3. Description
4. Recipe File Name
5. Recipe Number
The date is represented as {mm/dd/yy} and is always 8 characters.
This database is sorted on the "Date" field plus "Order" field. The
"Order" field may be from '0' to '99'. The "Description" field is the
recipe name, or other information of your choosing. The next two
fields are not editable by the user. They are filled in by pressing
[M] while viewing recipe files. These fields are also used when
adding items to the User's Shopping List.
If you choose MENU from the Main Menu, a submenu will appear on your
screen and you have the following choices:
EDIT DELETE ALL SCRATCH SHEET
***** EDIT
The following key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[S] add ingredients from recipe to User's
Shopping List
[A] add new record
[D] delete record
[E] edit the highlighted field
[P] print
[ESC] exit, return to Main Menu
***** [S] = ADD TO SHOPPING LIST
Add ingredients from the recipe to the User's Shopping List. An
"Alert Box" will be displayed offering several options. The following
key(s) perform the indicated actions:
[ESC] abort this option
[ENTER] add the items for the highlighted record only
[A] add the items from ALL the records
[B] add items from records between two dates
If you do not have a hard disk drive, an "Alert Box" will appear
prompting you to insert the needed recipe disks in the drive. If you
choose to skip a particular disk (pressing [ESC] when asked for the
disk) VITTLES will proceed to the next disk.
If you press [B] the "Information Line" will display the following
prompt:
First day:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box".The default is:
23
VITTLES 3.0
" / / "
which is equivalent to no date. Type in the date using the following
format:
{MM/DD/YY}
The "Information Line" will then display:
Last day:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". The default is:
" / / "
which is equivalent to no date. Type in the date using the following
format:
{MM/DD/YY}
If the "Last day" is less than the "First day" the "Information Line"
at the bottom of the screen will display:
Date conflict.
and no items will be added to the User's Shopping List.
The length of time it takes to add the items to the User's Shopping
List is directly proportional to the number of recipes you are
adding. The "Information Line" at the bottom of the screen will
indicate the progress.
***** [A] = ADD NEW ITEM
Adds a new, empty record to the menu database. You may then use [F8]
to edit the fields.
***** [D] = DELETE AN ITEM
Deletes the record the cursor is on.
***** [E] = EDIT FIELD
You will not be allowed to edit the "Recipe Name" or "Recipe Number"
fields. These fields are filled in automatically by pressing [M]
while viewing recipe files.
To edit a field, move the cursor to that field and press [F8]. The
"Information Line" will display a prompt asking for the new
information, followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Type the new
information.
***** [P] = PRINT
24
VITTLES 3.0
Prints records from the menu database. The "Information Line" will
display:
First day to print:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Enter the date of the first
day you want to be printed. The "Information Line" will then display:
Last day to print:
followed by a "Highlighted Input Box". Enter the date of the last
day you want to be printed.
Each of the requested records will be printed on a separate line. In
addition to the date, the day of the week will be printed. If the
menu item has been added from a recipe, the name of the recipe file
and the recipe number will be printed.
***** [ESC] = EXIT
Returns you to the Main Menu.
***** DELETE ALL
Erases all the old records in your MENU database. An "Alert Box"
will display a warning message and you will be given a chance to
abort by pressing [ESC]. To continue press [ENTER].
***** SCRATCH SHEET
Prints a blank menu scratch sheet that can be used to plan meals.
********** QUIT ***********
Choosing this option will allow you to exit the program and return to
DOS. You may change your mind by choosing "No" from the submenu.
********** HELPFUL HINTS **********
***** BACKING UP YOUR FILES
The most important helpful hint I can give you is to BACK UP your
files! After you have gotten your master shopping list just the way
you want it, it would be a shame to have to start all over again from
scratch! The same goes for your recipe files. The cost of a disk is
less than the value of the aggravation you will have from a lost
file!
***** DO YOUR MASTER SHOPPING LIST FIRST
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VITTLES 3.0
It is a good idea to set up your master shopping list before anything
else. While it might seem like a lot of work, it will be worth it.
If you are going to take advantage of adding items from recipes to
your shopping list, you MUST do it first. Enter all the items you
buy on a regular basis. (You might want to go through your cupboards
to see what you usually stock.) If you discover that you are having
major problems getting a master grocery list set up, you can download
one already made from the bulletin board systems listed under the
"REGISTRATION" section of this manual. The file is called
VITSHOP.ZIP.
***** ADDING RECIPE INGREDIENTS TO THE SHOPPING LIST
Taking advantage of adding ingredients from your recipes to your
shopping list can be very handy. To do so, you will need to add a
special "code" to your recipe files. The format is as follows:
{@ITEMNO QUANTITY}
The "@" tells the program that the following two numbers are
important information. The "ITEMNO" the item number from your Master
Shopping List. The "QUANTITY" is optional. It represents the amount
of the item you wish to add. This number can have up to 2 digits and
2 decimal places. Examples:
RIGHT WRONG
@1234 6 @1234 100
@1234 6.5 @1234 1.625
@1234 .25
@1234 0
@1234 more text
Being able to use decimal quantity amounts can be quite useful.
Consider onions. We purchase them in a 5 lb. bag. I figure there are
10 onions per bag. If a recipe calls for "1/2 onion, chopped", I
enter a quantity of ".05". This works out fairly well, and we don't
usually run out of onions. (I use this method with carrots, potatoes
and other items that come in groups.)
If you use "0" (or leave out the quantity entirely,) VITTLES will
make sure the item is on your list, but it will not increment the
amount. This is useful if you want to make sure you have paprika,
but don't need 4 bottles of it if you've added 4 recipes that call
for it!
You may place the "code" anywhere in your file. I usually put it on
the line with the list of ingredients, so I can see what I am
referring to. If you put in an item number which is not assigned to
anything in your master list, VITTLES will ignore it. If you choose
to add a recipe to the shopping list that you have not "coded", don't
worry, VITTLES will still check to see if there is anything to add,
but nothing else will happen.
In addition, VITTLES has a special feature available to you while
your are editing the instructions portion of a recipe. Pressing F2
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VITTLES 3.0
allows you to choose from your grocery list and enters the code for
you automatically. See the RECIPE section of this manual for more
details.
***** USING THE SCRATCH SHEET
Use the scratch sheet to plan out balanced meals before you sit down
at the computer. (Laurie was big on desserts and main dishes, but she
often forgot vegetables!) We punch holes in the sides of the old ones
and save them in our recipe book. They are handy to refer back to
when you can't decide what to put together to make a complete meal.
You could also print the scratch sheet to a disk file and then edit
it with your favorite word processor. We've started doing this with
suggested menus printed in magazines and cookbooks. When I can't make
up my mind what to serve with something, I can use these menus for
ideas!
********** FINAL NOTES ***********
I hope you enjoy using VITTLES and find it useful for your menu
planning. Used properly, it can be a very powerful program. If you
find any bugs, have any comments, or want to establish a "recipe
exchange", let me know. Changes and improvements in the program are
dependent on the response of the users.
********** APPENDIX A - VITTLES SYSTEM FILES **********
System files:
VITTLES.DOC Documentation file
VITTLES.EXE Program
SYSPARM.MEM A small file containing the system
default parameters
AISLE.DBF The database containing the various product
categories
ASLE.NTX An index of the aisle order for the
AISLE database
CATEG.NTX An index of the category numbers for
the AISLE database.
MASSHOP.DBF The database containing the master
shopping list.
ITEMNO.NTX An index of the item numbers for the
MASSHOP database.
USHOP.DBF The database containing the user
shopping list
UITEM.NTX An index of the item numbers for the
USHOP database.
MENU.DBF The database containing the menu records.
MDATE.NTX An index of the menu dates and order numbers
for the MENU database.
The recipe files consist of the filename and the following
extensions:
27
VITTLES 3.0
filename.DBF The database containing the recipe header
information.
filename.DBT The database containing the recipe
instructions.
filename.NTX An index of the recipe numbers for the
.DBF file.
********** APPENDIX B - THE AISLE CATEGORIES **********
The Aisle Categories are as follows:
1. VEGETABLES - FRESH
2. FRUIT - FRESH
3. CONDIMENTS
4. SALAD DRESSINGS
5. BAKING
6. CAKE MIXES
7. FROSTINGS
8. JELL-O
9. PUDDING
10. DRIED MIXES
11. SPICES
12. FRUIT - CANNED
13. DRINKS - JUICE
14. VEGETABLES - CANNED
15. SOUP - CANNED
16. SOUP - DRY
17. PASTA
18. DRY STAPLES
19. ETHNIC
20. BREAKFAST
21. SNACKS - MUNCHIES
22. BEEF
23. PORK
24. LAMB
25. CHICKEN
26. TURKEY
27. FISH
28. PAPER GOODS
29. TOILETRIES
30. MEDICINAL
31. CLEANING
32. FROZEN
33. VEGETABLES - FROZEN
34. FRUIT - FROZEN
35. BREAD
36. DAIRY
37. CHEESE
38. BABY PRODUCTS
39. PET SUPPLIES
41. DELI
42. MISCELLANEOUS
43. SOFT DRINKS
28