Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/busi/watzthat.zip/WATZTHAT.DOC

Text File | 1988-07-17 | 18KB | 413 lines

                             -  WATZTHAT  -

                      inventory listing and control


     This program creates, maintains sorts and prints a list of inventory
items.  It is suitable for use in homes and small businesses.  It will be
especially useful for maintaining insurance and tax records.  Instead of
continually referring to a cluttered box of receipts, a single disk data
file, which can be kept in a separate and secure place, stores and organizes
all the inventory information.  This is not a sales inventory program.  This
program keeps track of the items that you plan to keep, not the ones you plan
to sell.

     The program is extremely easy to use because it is entirely menu driven.
This is a helpful trait in a program which most people will probably use very
infrequently.  It is not even necessary to read this documentation, though
reading it (especially the section on building a list) will be extremely
helpful.  Though it is not as flexible as an inventory created with a spread
sheet or data base program, it is much simpler and can be run by almost anyone.

     The program saves the inventory list you create in a file named
INVENTRY.WTZ which is put in the current default drive or directory.  It will
reload this data file each time it starts unless you give it the name of
another file to load.  You can specify another file by giving its name (and
path) on the command line at start up.  Do this by entering WATZTHAT and then
your alternate file name. (e.g. A:>WATZTHAT MY-STUFF.DAT)   You can enter
WATZTHAT ? for a reminder of this fact.



                         FIRST GETTING STARTED

     As always, be sure to make a backup copy of the program before running
it.   To start the inventory program put its disk in the default drive (or
copy it into the default directory) and then enter its name, WATZTHAT, at the
DOS prompt.  ( eg. A:>WATZTHAT )   To see a demonstration, enter DEMO at the
prompt ( eg. A:>DEMO ) and the program will load a sample inventory list
after it starts.  All distribution files must be in the default drive or
directory for the demonstration to work.

     When WATZTHAT.COM starts for the very first time it creates an empty
data file on your default disk or directory named INVENTRY.WTZ.  The VERY
FIRST THING you must do is create a list by entering at least one inventory
item.  None of the other options in the program will work until they have a
list of at least one item to act on.

     To create a list:

     1) Choose the "View" option on the main menu,
     2) Next choose the "Add" function,
     3) Choose to "Append" a record because even though it is first, you are
        still adding to the end of the list.

     When entering data, a carriage return always saves the data in the
current field and takes you to the next field.  A carriage return before
entering any data will always cause a blank field to be saved, and move you
to the next field.  You can't go back to an earlier field while entering
data, so if you want to change something after you have entered it, complete
the entire record and then use the Modify procedure.  You may only enter as
much data in each field as there are dots.




                          MAIN MENU OPTIONS


        Please choose one of the following HIGHLIGHTED letters.


             View, modify, or create the inventory.
             Save the current inventory list to the disk.
             Get a different inventory list from the disk.
             Data about the current list.
             sOrt the current list
             sEarch the current list.
             Print the current list.
             Look at a specific record.
             eXit from the program.


             ?:


       (If you do not see highlighted letters on your screen adjust the
       contrast on your monitor until they appear.)



View    "V"
     This is the section of the program in which list maintenance is done.
It is used to view the entire list and to add, remove and change records.

Save      "S"
     Saves the current form of the list to its disk data file.  This new form
of the list will replace the list already on the disk so be sure you want to
save the list in its current form.

Get      "G"
     Replaces the list currently being processed with a new list loaded from
the disk.  The contents of the default directory will be shown if you answer
"Y" to the file listings question.  To see the contents of any other
directory, or to use wild cards during viewing, enter them instead of "Y" or
"N".  The alternate path must end with *.* (e.g. C:\WATZTHAT\DATA\*.* will
show all the files in the \DATA directory and C:\WATZTHAT\DATA\*.WTZ will
show only those files with the extension .DAT).  If you answer "N" the
program skips the listing of the files.
     This is also the best method for starting a new list.  If the file
specified for loading doesn't exist a new file with that name will be
created.  Therefor, to start a new list with a new file name simply enter the
new name you want to use and the program will create the file.

Data      "D"
     Shows basic information about the inventory file being used.  This is
the way to identify which inventory list (or which version of a list) is
currently being worked on in memory.  A short description of the list as well
as a page header for use during printing can be entered using this procedure.

Sort      "O"
     Sorts the list using the order chosen.  The list can then be resorted
with any of the other orders.  For instance, it can be sorted first by
original cost and then by year to get items arranged by cost within years.
Remember that the list can never by UNsorted.  You should always consider
saving a copy of the current list before sorting it.



Search    "E"
     Searches the names and or the descriptions in the list for whatever text
is entered.  It finds every occurrence of the text string entered so it will
find "ants" in "pants".  To find only whole words enter a space before and
after the word. (e.g. " ants ")  To use this procedure effectively it is wise
to be consistent in entering data.  If a store's name, is always entered in
exactly the same way, all items purchased there can be quickly located.

Print     "P"
     Prints the list using the format chosen.  The list currently in memory
is the one that is printed so it is possible to sort the list, print it for
future reference, and then restore your original list with its original order
by reloading it from the disk.
     A page header may be used.  This is set in the "Data about file"
function.  The date when the list was last modified (NOT the date when it is
being printed) is also put in the header of each page.  All printing assumes
an 80 character line and a 66 line page.

Look at   "L"
     View all the data in a single record.  By entering P, for previous, and
N, for next, it is possible to view records backward and forward through the
whole list.

Exit      "X"
     Exit the program and return to the operating system.





                           MODIFY RECORDS MENU


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Add Remove Modify View Chart Save    ?:_    Quit  move: PgUp/PgDn; Home/End



     Whenever the cursor is at the question mark any of the following
commands can be entered by typing their highlighted letters.  If you do not
see the highlighted letters adjust the contrast on your monitor until they
appear.


Add     "A"
     Under this option you have two choices.  You can either Append a record,
which always puts the record at the end of the list, or you can Insert a
record at any position within an existing list.  When you start a list the
first record is always appended, after that you can append or insert items in
any order.  It is possible to organize a list either by adding random entries
and sorting them latter, or by inserting new items into already existing
categories so that like items are grouped together.
     Before entering any data read about the suggested contents of the data
fields.  They are described below in "Building a List".

Remove  "R"
     Removes the indicated item from the list.  Once removed items can not be
resurrected except by reloading the entire backup data file (named .BAK)
from disk.



Modify  "M"
     Allows for modification of an already existing record.  Any field within
the record can be changed.  Entering a carriage return skips to the next
field with no change; any entry will entirely replace the old information.
Entering a zero in a numeric, or a blank (space bar) in a letter field clears
the field.  You may not edit the chart of categories while modifying a
record.

View    "V"
     View all the data in a single record. (same as View on the main menu)

Chart   "C"
     The chart of categories appears for review or editing.  Enter 20 to
edit the chart. (All you really need enter is the 2.)  The chart may also be
viewed, but not edited, by entering C at the main menu.

Save    "S"
     This saves the current list to disk.  The backup file .BAK is created
when you first start to work with a data file and NOT each time you save it.
This means that the .BAK file always contains a copy of the list as it was
when you first started working with it.  It is therefor always possible to
return your data to its condition at the start of work.  The .BAK file is
just a safety precaution.  Since a .BAK file is automatically changed each
time a file is opened no file with the extension .BAK should ever be used for
active data storage.  This function is identical to Save on the Main Menu.

Quit    "Q"
    Returns you to the Main Menu.

move
     These commands use the cursor control keys to move through the list.

     *>  The Home and End keys (as well as the keys for letters T and B) move
     directly to the top and bottom of the list.
     *>  The Page Up and Page Down keys (and the keys for U and D) move
     up and down through the list one screen at a time.
     *>  The Arrow keys move the list up and down by one line.
     (After any change is made to a record the listing is always adjusted to
     make that record the fourth one from the top of the screen.)




                             BUILDING A LIST


Name:
     Name is used as a specific identifier, not as a general description.  If
the serial number of an item is important for its identification then that
information should be included with the name.  Name is currently set at the
maximum size which will allow for effective use of most printers.

Number in Record:
     This is not necessarily the total number of items of a given kind that
you have on hand.  This entry represents the number of items collected in
this specific record of the list.  It often makes sense to put similar items
into different records.  If, for instance, you have items of the same kind
that were purchased at different times, or for different amounts, it may be
easiest to keep them straight by listing them in separate records.  The
number in this field is used to calculate total cost of the entire record.



Year purchased:
     This can be either the year purchased or the year put in service.
Insurance companies and the IRS recommend having this information.

Original cost:
     The amount originally paid for the item.  If a record includes more than
one item this entry is the cost of a single item.  The total value of the
record is calculate automatically by multiplying this amount by "number in
record".

Replacement cost:
     The total amount it would currently cost to replace an item with one of
a comparable kind.  This can include additional but necessary costs such as
tax and shipping.  As with "current cost" if a record includes more than one
item this entry is the cost of one single item.

Category:
     Each record can be assigned to one of 19 categories.  The current chart
of categories appears when the cursor reaches this field.  Assign the record
to an existing category by entering its number.  If the number of an
undefined category is entered you will be prompted for that categories new
name.  You may edit the chart by entering 20.  Categories are always sorted
in ascending order so be sure that the items you want at the start of the
list are assigned to the lowest categories.

Description:
     The field Description &/or Purchase location is for any other incidental
information about an item.  This might include such things as where it is
kept, or its current condition.  The original purchase location or exact
purchase date can be helpful when there is a collection of paper receipts
which must be coordinated with the inventory list.




                                OTHER

System requirements:

            IBM PC, XT, AT or close compatible
            MS/PC-DOS 2.0 or latter
            150K. of memory (RAM)
            Monochrome (Hercules is OK), CGA, or EGA monitor
            Any printer which understands ASCII codes


Adding place holder records:
     Sometimes you may want to insert lines into the list for the purpose of
formating (e.g."   ***   OTHER STUFF   ***  " ).  When this is done it is
essential that these entries do not contain a numeric value in any of their
fields.  If they do, it will corrupt the totals for the entire list.  When
adding a formatting line to a list it is best to insert it as a new record
rather than modifying an existing record.  If it is a new record there is no
possibility that it will contain a residual value.







                              MIXLISTS.COM

     This simple program, which is menu driven and easy to run, allows items
to be moved between lists.  It has a few limitations which are sometimes
circuitous but are essential to preserve list integrity.  In order to avoid
creating different files with the same name through willy nilly additions,
items from one file can not be ADDED to an another EXISTING file. Any
addition of items always results in the creation of a NEW file.

     For instance, to move items from one list into another list, first, use
the Export function to put the items you want moved into a new file with a
new name.  Second, combine this new file with the existing file you want to
add the items to and give it another new name.  This insures that each
variation of a list will have a distinct name.


The two procedures:

     1)  "Combine files" will combine the contents of two inventory data
files into a third new file with all the records of both.  The records from
the first file named will come at the start of the new list and are
followed by those of the second file.  The combined file has all of the
category names and all of the original category assignments from the first
file.  The category names and all category assignments are removed from the
second file as it is added in order to preserve the integrity of the original
chart.

     2)  "Export records" will either move or copy a section from one list
into a second newly created file.  When "moving" a section, that section is
deleted from the old list.  When "copying" a section the old list remains the
same.  The new file has the category names and assignments of the original
file.





                              WATZ2DIF.COM


     This conversion program allows WATZTHAT data files to be transformed
into a row-wise DIF format so that the data can be integrated into other
programs.  There are some advantages to maintaining an inventory with a simple
program like WATZTHAT.  DIF conversion makes your inventory data available to
many other programs.

     Syntax:
         WATZ2DIF  [ input-file-name  ( output-file-name)]

     Both input and output file names can be supplied on the command line.
If the input file isn't found or the output file already exists the program
will abort.  If only one name is supplied (eg INVENTRY.WTZ) the output file
name is automatically set to the input file name with .DIF as the new
extension. (eg INVENTRY.WTZ becomes INVENTRY.DIF).  If no file names are
given the program will solicit them.




     These are user supported shareware products.  Futzing around with the
program is free, but if you are using WATZTHAT to maintain your personal
inventory a contribution to its author is in order. ($10 is suggested)   You
may not use this program in a commercial or governmental environment without
paying a site license fee of $20.

     You are encouraged to share this program through bulletin boards and
with your friends.  You may not, however, charge a fee for any copying or
distribution (excepting only recognized users' groups), nor may you
distribute it in other than its original, complete and unmodified form.

     Comments, contributions, bug reports, and questions should be sent to:



                             James MacDonald
                                 SOFTEXT
                            4021 Davis Pl. NW
                           Washington, DC 20007

                                71121,3611


     The author has taken due care in developing and testing the
effectiveness of these programs, but the programs are provided "as is"
without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not
limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose.  The entire risk as to the results and performance of the
programs is assumed by the user.  In no event will the author and copyright
holder be liable to you for any damages, including any lost profits, lost
savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of or inability to use this program.  Your use of the programs constitutes
your agreement to these conditions.



                WATZTHAT is Copyright (c) 1988 James MacDonald