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Text File | 1990-09-09 | 36KB | 715 lines

******************************************************************** * WHOWORKS * * Version 2.00 * * The Work Scheduling Program * * Copyright, 1990, by C. Kenneth Curtis * * 539 Woodland Drive, RD#2, Califon, NJ 07830, USA * ******************************************************************** WHOWORKS is a valuable program which allows the user to make, edit and print 5-week work schedules for up to 32 persons. WHOWORKS is easier and quicker than using a word-processing program. WHOWORKS runs on 100% IBM compatible machines and requires either an Epson, IBM or HP LaserJet compatible printer. ******************************************************************* * REVISIONS AND NEW FEATURES * ******************************************************************* WHOWORKS, version 2.00 contains numerous enhancements over the previous release 1.50. o Calendar functions are included for easier date selection. o New choices for width of schedule entries include 0-, 6- and 11-character display and print widths. No longer must you use a single-character code like 1, 2 or 3 to identify a shift, but rather actual times may be entered. Of course the 1-character field is still available. o Macro keys allow you to type schedules with a single keystroke. For example, the Alt-keys can be set up to enter start and end times like 7:30-17:00 thus saving 9 keystrokes. o Printouts in standard calendar format were added for those persons who did not prefer the matrix style. o Schedules for each individual and a master schedule can now be printed. o Colors can be changed from within the program rather than having to use a separate configuration program. o Smaller files sizes ( 12913 bytes versus 29116 ) means more than twice as many files per disk. o Several bugs were fixed. Sometimes changing the directory would hang up the computer. Titles were entered with 60 characters, but only 44 were saved. o A fee of $25.00 is requested if you use the program. ******************************************************************* * PUBLIC NOTIFICATION * ******************************************************************* WHOWORKS.EXE, USING_WW.TXT and *.WW_ files MUST be distributed as a set in their original unmodified form. Compacting for up/down-loading to/from bulletin board services is permissible if the uncompacting process produces the files in their original unmodified form. Selling or modification of the those files is strictly prohibited without my expressed written permission. A small fee for copying and distribution may be charged by a software distributor or copier if they notify me of their name and address. ( Note: This will allow me to send notice of future upgrades. ) You may freely copy this software and give it to your friends and associates; however IF YOU USE WHOWORKS, please submit $25.00 along with your name and address to C. Kenneth Curtis 539 Woodland Drive, RD#2 Califon, N.J. 07830, USA WHOWORKS is being marketed as a try-it-before-you-buy-it product. I have spent many hours writing and improving this software and would like to be compensated for this effort. From time-to-time I receive phone calls regarding WHOWORKS. I am glad to answer your questions or listen to suggestions for improvements. I have a full-time job during the day, so please call between 7:00PM and 10:00PM ( 19:00 and 22:00 ), New Jersey time, during working days or anytime during the weekends. Phone: 908-832-2123 ******************************************************************** * BEFORE STARTING YOU SHOULD KNOW * ******************************************************************** 1. This program opens several files simultaneously; therefore, there must be a CONFIG.SYS file on the boot disk with a FILES=7 statement ( more than 7 is ok ). Your DOS manual will explain what is a CONFIG.SYS file and how to edit or create one. 2. When the program starts, the Drive/Directory selection must be used to tell WHOWORKS where to find and save the schedule files, unless they will be in the default directory. The drive letter and colon MUST ALWAYS be followed by a backslash ( example C:\SCHEDULE ). If you want to specify only a drive ( such as A: ) it is still necessary to use a backslash ( example A:\ ). 3. All schedule files used by WHOWORKS have the extension ".WW_", and only 128 schedule files maximum per directory are permitted. 4. If you are using a monochrome monitor with a color card installed ( many laptop PC's do ), you may start the program by adding a command line switch "/m". Start the program by typing WHOWORKS /M This will tell WHOWORKS to use the monochrome colors to achieve good contrast. ******************************************************************** * STARTING AND USING WHOWORKS * ******************************************************************** 1. Starting and Learning: The best way to learn how to use the program is to create a sample file and then edit it. Start the program by typing "WHOWORKS". ( or "WHOWORKS /M" as described above. ) At the opening menu you must first select which drive and directory has, or will have the schedules files. The drive and directory for the schedule files is displayed at the top of the screen. There can be more than one directory which has schedule files; however, you can only log onto one at a time. A user might for example have the following directories: A:\ONCALL\FIREMEN A:\ONCALL\POLICE A:\ONCALL\RESCUE At this point you may want to exit from the program by moving the flashing, triangle-shaped pointer to "Quit" and pressing [Return], then create a special directory using the DOS command MD and then restart WHOWORKS. 2. Creating and Editing a Schedule File: Next, you must create a schedule file. Do this by moving the flashing pointer to "Edit/Create" and pressing [Return]. The next menu asks you to use the cursor keys to select an option followed by pressing [Return]. If there are no schedule files in the directory, none will be listed under the WHOWORKS FILES line. Later, after your schedule has been saved, its filename will be displayed there. Move the pointer to the "Create" option by pressing the left cursor key three times, then press the [Return] key. You will be asked to enter the file name for your schedule file. Type in a legitimate DOS filename ( example TEST ), without an extension, and press [Return] when you are satisfied with the name you have chosen. ( Please note, the file has not been created yet; only after being saved, as explained later, will it actually be written to the disk. ) If you had elected to create a file which already existed in the directory, an error would have been displayed. 3. The Action menu: The ACTION menu gives you many options to choose from. First, try the "Title" option. The title will be printed in large bold characters across the top when the master schedule is printed. It also appears as the first line, but not in bold print, for individual schedules. Use the cursor keys to position the flashing pointer to the "Title" option and depress [Return]. If this is your first time with WHOWORKS try typing "NURSES SCHEDULE" or "EMPLOYEE SCHEDULE" or another title more meaningful followed by a [Return]. Now try the "Footer" option. This causes a footnote-like message to be printed at the very bottom of your schedule. Use the cursor keys to move the flashing triangle to "Footer" and push the [Return] key. Type "Mike has picnic tickets" or some other message and then press [Return]. 4. Names/Emphasis option, Action menu: Names/Emphasis should be the next option to choose. Move the pointer to "Names/Emphasis" and press [Return]. You will now work at the bottom of the screen. Notice that there are 32 places available to enter names. These are numbered 01 to 32. The marks ( heart shapes ) and the emphasis ( + and @ ) will be discussed shortly. To enter a name, first use the cursor keys to move the highlighted bar to the desired number and begin typing the name followed by a [Return]. Move the highlighted bar to the next number, type the next name and so forth until all the names have been listed. Don't worry about rearranging the names, that can be done later. Mistakes are easy to change. Lets suppose that one of the names you had typed was "Buddy", but then having reconsidered your choice believe he would prefer to be listed as "Bud". Simply re-position the highlighted bar to his number and type the new name. Emphasis is added to a name by typing the "@" symbol. Emphasis only applies to landscape style printouts described later, but then it means the name will be printed white on a black background rather than the usual black on white. This feature makes those names stand out. Typically, lead persons or supervisory personnel might have their names emphasized and listed ahead of their group. Names do not have to be people names. You can type categories like "Day", "Evening" and "Night" or "Technician" and "Clerk" which can also be emphasized. When all the names have been entered, type [^Q] ( Control and Q keys ) to leave that action option. 5. Delete, Insert, Move option, Action menu: The "Del-Ins-Move" option allows the user to delete a name, insert a name between existing names or rearrange the order of the names. To enter this option, position the flashing, triangle-shaped pointer to it and press [Return]. The INSTRUCTIONS window on the screen shows the active keys. To delete a name, move the highlighted bar with the cursor keys to the desired name then press [^D] ( Control and D keys ). To insert a name move the highlighted bar to a number. When the [^I] ( Control and I keys ) are depressed, all of the names beginning with the highlighted are pushed back one higher- numbered position, and a new space is created just ahead of the highlighted bar. Be careful, however, because the name for 32 gets pushed out ( along with its schedule ) and will be lost forever. You must go back to the "Names/Emphasis" option after using [^I] to actually enter the inserted name; this option just makes the room for it. The "M" key and the [^X] ( Control and X keys ) work together for rearranging names ordering. The sequence to follow is position the highlighted bar to one or more names which are to be moved and depress the "M" key. A heart-shaped symbol will appear to the left of the respective number(s). If you make a mistake, hit the "M" key again and the mark will disappear. Next move the highlighted bar to a number. When [^X] is pressed, all of the marked names will be moved just ahead of ( at a lower number than ) the highlighted bar position. No names or schedules will ever be lost by using the [^X] key. They are only rearranged. To quit this option, use [^Q]. It is safe to quit even with marks left on the screen; they will be cleared automatically. 6. Format options, Action menu: Before starting a schedule, you must specify the report format. Move the flashing pointer to the Format option and press [Return]. You are given a choice of 0, 1, 6 or 11 characters. Each of these specifies how many characters can be used to identify the assignments. It also determines which master schedule printout styles are available and how much information can be displayed on the screen during scheduling. 0-character formats: This format is usually chosen when you simply want to let the individual know that he or she is scheduled for that day. The start time is irrelevant. Master schedules may be printed in portrait or landscape mode. An entire 5-week schedule will be displayed on the screen during scheduling. 1-character formats: This format is chosen when a single character can be used to identify when individuals are to work. For example, "1", "2" or "3" could indicate first, second and third shifts or "D", "E" and "N" could indicate day, evening and night. Likewise, "H" could be holiday and "V" vacation. Master schedules may be printed in portrait or landscape mode. An entire 5-week schedule will be displayed on the screen during scheduling. 6-character formats: This format is best when the start time must be written out as in 11:30, 11:30A, 11:30P and 23:30. This format can also be used instead to specify something about the assignment. An example might be which room to use: 201, 332, 14C, etc. or which department to cover: MENS, SPORTS, CAMPG, etc. Master schedules may only be printed in portrait mode. One week at-a-time will be displayed on the screen during scheduling. 11-character formats: This format can be used to give start-end times like 11:00-4:00. It can also be used for assignments as mentioned above in the 6-character format. Master schedules may only be printed in portrait mode and they require two lines per individual ( more paper to get a complete schedule ). Five days at-a-time will be displayed on the screen during scheduling. If this is your first time with WHOWORKS, try the 1-character format. Later, come back and try the others. Enter the number of characters to use and then press [Return]. 7. Schedule option, Action menu: The actual schedule input is done with the "Schedule" option. Move the pointer to that option and push [Return]. A new screen will appear. The screen layout depends upon which format you chose earlier. A 0- or 1-character format shows 35 columns, with 1 day per column. A 6-character format shows 7 columns and an 11-character format shows 5. Days and dates are listed along the top of the screen. Moving the right and left cursor keys moves the highlighted day left or right. Moving up and down changes names. [^Q] is used to quit this screen. You will be taken back to the action menu. Below are described how to set dates, moving through the schedule and making assignment entries. 7a. Selecting a start date, Schedule screen: The first step in scheduling is to enter the desired starting date. The start date is the left-most date on the scheduling screen. WHOWORKS gives you two options to set the start date. You can enter the date directly by depressing [^D] ( Control and D keys ) or you can view and select a calendar month by depressing [^C] ( Control and C keys ). If [^D] is pressed, the date is entered in day-month-year form followed by return. If [^C] is pressed, three calendar months will pop up and 5 options will be available. You can advance the calendar display using the "Forward" option, or you can move the calendar display back a month-at-a-time with the "Backward" option. The "Enter Date" option allows you to type in the date in month-year form. That month's calendar will be displayed when the screen is refreshed. The "Pick" option causes WHOWORKS to select the center calendar to set the schedule dates. "Quit" returns you to the schedule screen without changing the start date. After entering a date with [^D] or picking a calendar month with [^C], the dates and days will automatically be adjusted across the top of the scheduling screen. 7b. Movement keystrokes, Schedule Screen: Movement keystrokes are listed on the left side or the bottom of the screen, depending upon which format has been chosen. To make a schedule entry, use those movement keys to select the intersection of a date and a name, as indicated by the high- lighted rectangle. There is only enough room to hold 16 names on the screen at one time; therefore, to see the others and to make their entries, the screen must be scrolled by using either the Cursor up/down keys or the Control and Page up/down keys. There is an indicator near the screen bottom showing which day ( Day # 1 to 35 ) and which name ( Who # 1 to 32 ) is highlighted. 7c. Making schedule entries, Schedule screen: The entries typed on the schedule are usually a matter of an individual's taste and organization practice. The number of characters which can be entered is based upon the format previously set. To enter an assignment just begin typing a letter or numeral. In 6- and 11-character formats, the important thing to remember is that the left-most character tells WHOWORKS whether an assignment has been entered. If the character is NOT a space, WHOWORKS believes an assignment has been entered and it will appear in the printouts. But if the first character is a space, WHOWORKS will not include the entry in printouts. If you wish to change an entry which already has an assignment, move to that position and begin typing the new assignment. If you wish to delete that entry ( remove the assignment ) make sure the field is filled with spaces. 0-character formats will only display a "#" on the schedule. This means the person is scheduled that day. Pressing any letter or digit key enters the '#' symbol. Pressing [Space] removes it. Read the section below on Editing Keys. This describes how to move the cursor, erasing the rest of the entry, insert and overwrite modes, etc to simplify your entering data. 7d. Repeat and Alt-Keys, Schedule screen: The [^X] and Alt-Keys can greatly simplify your typing effort while scheduling in the 6- and 11-character formats. Each time an entry is made, WHOWORKS temporarily remembers it. Rather than having to type a lengthy entry like 8:30-5:00 over and over, you can just press the [^X] key to repeat the last entry. That is, type an entry like 8:30-5:00 at the first assignment and then move through the entire schedule typing [^X] everywhere that same assignment should appear. The Alt-letter keys, Alt-A through Alt-M can be set up with the WHOWORKS configuration option, described later, to automatically type entries with a single keystroke. If your organization has a limited number of fixed schedule periods like the example following, these times can be tied to an Alt Key. 5:30-10:30 Alt-A 10:00-4:00 Alt-B 3:30-9:00 Alt-C 8:30-1:00 Alt-D Now, instead of typing in each entry, that manager would only need to press one of four keys at each assignment. Of course he or she could still enter special assignments by typing in the usual manner. 8. Saving and Quitting, Action menu: The most important thing to remember is to SAVE your work. Do this by moving the flashing, triangular pointer to the "Save" option in the Action menu and pressing [Return]. A message will flash on the screen to show you that the file is being saved. When you are done scheduling, the names are ordered properly and the title and footer say what you want, then use [^Q] to leave the action menu. Just in case you forgot, there is one more chance to save your work. You will be asked to press the "S", "L" or [Esc] keys. If you are sure your work was saved, push L, otherwise, select one of the other keys as appropriate. 9. More about Editing and Creating files: If you had been following the above steps, you would now be returned to the Edit/Create menu. You must make another decision: "Create" another file, "Copy then Edit" an existing file, "Edit" an existing file, or "Quit" back to the main menu. Notice that the file which you just created is now listed below the WHOWORKS FILES line. If you want to edit that file, or any other, select the "Edit" option, use the highlighted bar to select the file and as always push [Return]. The Copy then Edit option allows you to leave an existing schedule file in the directory, and yet make a new schedule similar to the first without having to re-enter all of the names and assignments. When this option is selected, you are asked for the new file name, after which, you may freely edit the information to make the new schedule. 10. Printing Schedule Files: The schedules can printed by moving the pointer in the main menu to "Print" and pressing [Return]. At the next screen, select the option depending upon which printer ( or compatible ) you have by moving the flashing pointer and depressing [Return]. Next, use the cursor keys to move the highlighted bar to the proper file and again press [Return]. You may print schedules for individuals who are named on the schedule by selecting the Individual option. After selecting this option, you must mark the names of each person to receive a printout by moving the highlighted bar to their name and then depressing the "M" key. A heart shaped symbol will appear beside the selected names. To remove a heart, move the bar to the name and again press "M". Press "P" when all of the names have been tagged to start the printing process. Each individual receives 2 sheets for their convenience. The first is in calendar format. Assignments are placed on the calendar and underlined with <<+++++++>> to emphasize the assigned days. The individual may post this on his or her refrigerator at home and "pencil in" other activities. The second sheet is a simple listing of the dates and assignments which can be carried in a wallet or purse. Master schedules can be printed in landscape or portrait mode depending upon whether 0-, 1-, 6- or 11-character format was chosen. Landscape mode is available for 0- and 1-character formats. The entire 5 week schedule is printed on a single sheet in matrix form. Each date is listed across the top of the page and all names are listed down the left border of the paper. Assignments are printed at the intersection of the name and date. ( The term "landscape" comes from the orientation of the paper; the long direction is horizontal the way most landscapes are painted. ) Portrait mode is available for printing all master schedules no matter how many characters are specified to display the assignments. These are printed in calendar format. Only the names of those assigned will be printed in each day. If there is not enough room to print an entire week on the paper, because too many names are listed, additional sheets will be printed until all 5 weeks have been printed. (The term "portrait" comes from the orientation of the paper; the long direction is vertical the way most portraits are painted. ) Select the "Quit" option when printing has completed, or, if there is another file to be printed, repeat the above procedure. ******************************************************************** * EDITING KEYSTROKES * ******************************************************************** The keystrokes listed below can be used to rapidly edit various entries such as the names, footer, title, date, schedule entries and filenames. [Cur Left] and [Cur Right] keys: Moves the cursor position left or right. [^Cur Left] and [^Cur Right] keys: Moves the cursor position 8 characters left or right. [Home] key: Moves cursor to left side. [End] key: Moves cursor to right side. [Tab] key: Erases entire line. [^End] key: Erases all characters above and to the right of the cursor. [Delete] key: Deletes only the single character above the cursor. [Backspace] key: Erases the character to the immediate left of the cursor. [Ins] key: Toggles between the over-write and insert modes. In the insert mode, characters are inserted at the cursor location. The cursor is a small blinking underline. In the over-write mode, a typed character simply replaces the character above the cursor. The cursor changes has a box shape. ******************************************************************** * OTHER INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW * ******************************************************************** 1. Revising a schedule is easy. You do not have to redo all the names, dates and schedule data. You only have to edit the items which are different. The starting date will be new, but probably, most of the same names will appear and be in the same order, and likely much of the schedule will be similar. Of course it depends on your particular situation. Subsequent changes are usually easier than creating the first schedule. There are two ways to call up an existing file for editing. First, make the "Edit/Create" choice in the main menu. All of the files in the current directory will be listed, and you will be asked to select one of three options: "Create", "Copy then Edit" or "Edit". "Edit" allows you to alter an existing file and then save the altered version. "Copy then Edit" loads an existing file but saves it under a different name; the original file will still remain on the disk unchanged. 2. Each time you try to resave a file which already exists, the existing file is renamed with a ".BAK" extension, and then a new file with the ".WW_" extension is created. Thus, some degree of security exists to overcome disasters. 3. Each file occupies 12913 bytes. 27 schedule files, including the backup's, will fit onto a 360K floppy disk. ******************************************************************** * CONFIGURING WHOWORKS * ******************************************************************** Screen colors and Macro key definitions may be configured in WHOWORKS. Changes will take place immediately during the session in which these are changed; however, to take effect permanently, that is each time WHOWORKS is run, the changes must be saved. The first step is to make sure you are logged onto the the disk drive and directory where the WHOWORKS.EXE program is located. You can do this from the main menu or you can quit to DOS and change the default drive and directory. 1. Screen Colors: Users with color systems can easily change the screen colors used in WHOWORKS. From the main menu, select the "Configure" option. Then select the "Screen Colors" option. All of the color pairs will be displayed. Each color has two attributes, the foreground color ( such as the letters you are currently reading ) and a background color, which is as the name suggests, the area behind the characters. These two attributes together are called a color pair. Sample text is displayed for each color pair. The foreground attribute can have one of sixteen different values and the background can have one of eight values. Use the cursor keys to move the highlighted bar to the color pair number which you desire to change. Depress "F" to change the foreground color and "B" to change the background. Try different combinations until an appealing combination is displayed. Then move to the next color pair and do the same thing. Some users have color cards installed in their computer but have a monochrome monitor. This set up will display shades of gray. Many laptop PC's are built this way. In these cases, it is strongly suggested to use the monochrome colors which are preset into WHOWORKS by pressing the "M" key. 2. Macro Keys: Frequently used keystrokes for typing schedule entries may be stored permanently and then recalled with the Alt Keys. From the main menu, select the "Configure" option and then the "Macro Keys" option in the configure menu. Each of the available Alt Keys will be listed along with their substitutions beside. To edit the characters, move the highlighted bar over the Alt key letter and begin typing. Remember, the left-most character must be a non-space character or WHOWORKS will ignore the assignment in the printouts. 3. Saving the configuration: When you select the "Quit" option in the configuration menu, you have a choice of saving the changes permanently or not. You can keep the changes temporarily, for this session only, by pressing the "L" key. You can permanently save the changes by pressing the "S" key. Just in case you forgot to set the directory shown at the top of the screen to that containing the WHOWORKS.EXE program, pressing the "D" key allows you to make the directory change.