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1990-12-21
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╚═══╝ ╚═══╝ ╙ ╚╝ ╙ ╙ ╜ ╚═══╝ ╙
Version 3.20
A Mail/Phone List Management Program
For IBM and TI Personal Computers
Copyright (C) 1982-1990
Orion E. Hill
361 Pickwick Drive
Napa, California 94558-6101 USA
(707) 252-0637
All Rights Reserved
***** ***** ** * ***** ***** ***** *****
* * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * ** * ***** * *
***** ***** * * * * * ***** *
Version 3.20
A Mail/Phone List Management Program
For IBM and TI Personal Computers
Copyright (C) 1982-1990
Orion E. Hill
361 Pickwick Drive
Napa, California 94558-6101 USA
(707) 252-0637
All Rights Reserved
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ................................................................. iii
License Agreement ....................................................... iv
Description ............................................................. 1
System Requirements ..................................................... 2
System Configuration .................................................... 2
Installation ............................................................ 2
Running CONTACT ......................................................... 3
Operations .............................................................. 3
Add Records ........................................................ 3
Change Records ..................................................... 5
Delete Records ..................................................... 6
Sort Records ....................................................... 6
Search Records ..................................................... 7
Display Records .................................................... 7
Print Record Lists ................................................. 8
Print Mailing Labels ............................................... 8
Select Files ....................................................... 8
Manage Files ....................................................... 9
Rename Files .................................................. 9
Copy Files .................................................... 9
Delete Files .................................................. 9
Merge Files ................................................... 9
Exit CONTACT ....................................................... 10
Copying Data Files ...................................................... 11
Handling Large Databases ................................................ 11
Appendix ................................................................ 13
Postal Abbreviations and Telephone Area Codes ...................... 13
Abbreviations for Street Designators ............................... 15
User Registration/Comment Form ..................................... 17
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page iii
PREFACE
Welcome to CONTACT, Version 3.20. This version is being released in two
forms, one for IBM Personal Computers, the other for TI Professional
Computers. These releases differ only due to the BASIC language compilers
used to create executable program files.
CONTACT is distributed as user-supported software under the "shareware"
concept. This means that, although CONTACT may be freely copied and distri-
buted, users must pay me for it. While I obviously have no way of knowing who
is using my program, I hope that the people who use it will like it enough to
purchase it and become registered users. All registered users are entitled to
software support and notification of new releases.
If you download CONTACT from a computer bulletin board, obtain the software
from a computer users' group, or are given a copy by a friend, I request a
$10.00 payment. If you cannot obtain CONTACT from these sources or want to
avoid expensive long distance calls and noisy telecommunication circuits, you
can order the program directly from me. For a $15.00 payment I will mail the
latest version of the program on a 5.25-inch floppy disk together with a
printed copy of the documentation.
Please send your payment, along with a completed registration form (or a
letter providing your full name, mailing address, and telephone number), to:
Orion E. Hill
361 Pickwick Drive
Napa, California 94558-6101
If you have any problems or suggestions concerning CONTACT, please contact me.
Any problems reported will receive my prompt attention. Your suggestions,
always appreciated, will receive serious consideration. To contact me, write
to the address printed above, call (707) 252-0637, or leave messages on either
of the computer bulletin board systems identified below.
The primary distribution points for the latest version of CONTACT are the
Grapevine BBS, (707) 257-2338, for the IBM release and the Santa Clara Valley
TIPC BBS, (415) 296-2503, for the TI release. Look for filenames beginning
with "CNTCT" followed by the version number. Also, as stated above, CONTACT
can be obtained directly from me.
Orion E. Hill
October 23, 1990
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page iv
LICENSE AGREEMENT
This computer software is the copyrighted product of Orion E. Hill, who
retains title to and ownership of the software. Purchasers are licensed to
use the software and to make copies of the program and documentation for your
own use and to give to others who would like to inspect it. You may not
charge for such copies, however, or in any way try to make money from this
program or any modified version of it without Orion Hill's written permission.
Computer users' groups are granted permission to charge a small amount, not to
exceed $4.00, to cover the costs of media, mailing envelopes, postage, and
handling required for distributing copies of the program and documentation.
This product must be copied and distributed as a complete package, with no
omissions or additions. If a copy is being made for upload as a compressed
file to a computer bulletin board system, name the compressed file "CNTCTXXX",
substituting the CONTACT version number in place of the X's. Any copies made
must contain the following five files:
CONTACT.EXE -- CONTACT program (either IBM or TI release)
CONTACT.DOC -- CONTACT User's Manual
CONTACT.RCF -- User registration/comment form
README.1ST -- Document printing instructions
TESTFILE.CNT -- Example/test data
This program is warranted to perform substantially in accordance with the
documentation. If you report a significant defect, in writing, to Orion Hill
and he is unable to correct it within 60 days, the purchase price of the
software will be refunded to you. This refund of the purchase price will be
the only remedy available to you. In no case shall Orion Hill's liability
exceed the amount of the purchase price of the program, or $15.00, whichever
is greater, that has been paid to him.
In no event shall Orion Hill be liable to you for any damages, including but
not limited to any loss of profits or revenue, loss of savings, loss of use of
the program, loss of data, costs of recreating lost data, the cost of any
substitute program, or for any other special, incidental, consequential,
indirect or other damages arising out of your use or inability to use the
program, even if he has been advised of the possibility of such damages, or
for any claim by any other party.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 1
DESCRIPTION
CONTACT is a random access database management program designed for storing
name, address, and telephone information, for retrieving and displaying
records containing this information, and for printing record lists and mailing
labels. Files for records can be created, selected, renamed, copied, merged,
and deleted. Records can be added, changed, deleted, sorted, searched,
displayed, and printed. All operations are menu-driven for ease of use.
Extensive input error checking and format editing are employed.
An unlimited number of data files, each containing up to 32,767 records, can
be created, provided sufficient storage (disk) memory is available. Each file
requires a minimum of 160 bytes of memory space (32 bytes for a disk directory
entry plus 128 bytes for a header record). Each record added requires an
additional 128 bytes of space. When records in data files are sorted, extra
disk space is not required.
Records in a CONTACT data file are not statically numbered. Every time the
records are sorted, they are renumbered to reflect the current sort sequence.
The current sort order number of each record is visible whenever records are
displayed or listed. These numbers are used to access records for maintenance
and for designating ranges of records for display and print operations.
In addition to the letters in the English alphabet, lowercase and uppercase
letters in the German, Greek, and Roman (Latin) alphabets included in the
extended ASCII character set can be used in CONTACT. These multinational
characters are entered on your computer keyboard by holding down the ALT key
while typing in the three-digit ASCII code for the desired character on the
numeric keypad. Refer to the operating instructions manual for your computer
for a listing of these characters and their decimal codes. Unless your
printer is capable of printing these characters, however, they should not be
used.
The CONTACT program file is not copy-protected and can be copied to and run
from floppy disks, hard disks, and RAMdisks. Similarly, data files can be
accessed in disk drives designated A through J.
The cursor control keys and function keys, except for ESCAPE, BACKSPACE, HOME,
and PAUSE, cannot be used in this version of CONTACT. (These keys will be
active in a future version.) The ENTER and RETURN keys are functionally
equivalent.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 2
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Two releases of CONTACT 3.20 are available: one for International Business
Machines (IBM) Personal Computers and compatible computers, the other for
Texas Instruments (TI) Professional Computers and compatible computers. Both
releases require systems with a minimum of 192 Kilobytes (Kb) of random access
memory (RAM), operating under any version of the Microsoft Disk Operating
System (MS-DOS). Although CONTACT is designed for use with color monitors, it
also works with monochrome monitors. A graphics adapter is not required.
This version of CONTACT can be used with single-sheet laser printers which
emulate the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printer series and with continuous-form
dot matrix printers which emulate any of the following printer series: Epson
MX-80/100, Epson FX-80/100, Epson RX-80/100, TI 850/860, TI 855/857/865, and
IBM Graphic Printers.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
No special system configuration is usually required to run CONTACT. If the
program is to be run on a TI computer with more than 640Kb of system RAM,
however, a RAMdisk of at least 128Kb must be created if it is not already
present.
To improve performance, though, you may choose to add a RAMdisk and to
increase the number of disk buffers allocated in system memory. Using a
RAMdisk as a temporary location for data files is highly recommended because
all operations, especially sorts and searches, can be performed much more
quickly. Increasing the number of buffers can also result in more rapid
processing of data files located on floppy disks and hard disks. Ten to
twenty buffers should be sufficient.
To add RAMdisks and/or buffers, you must enter the proper commands in a system
configuration (CONFIG.SYS) file located in the root directory of the disk in
the drive from which you start or restart your system. Refer to your DOS
manual for instructions on creating and modifying CONFIG.SYS files.
INSTALLATION
No special installation is required for CONTACT. Simply insert the floppy
disk containing the CONTACT program into a disk drive and, if desired, copy it
to a hard disk or a RAMdisk. You should also make a back-up copy of the
program disk.
A floppy disk containing the CONTACT program may be permanently removed from a
drive once the program begins to run. A disk containing a currently selected
data file, however, must remain in its drive location until you are ready to
select another file or exit the program.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 3
RUNNING CONTACT
To start CONTACT, enter "CONTACT" at the appropriate DOS prompt. After the
program loads into the system memory, first the title screen and then the main
menu screen will appear.
MAIN MENU
1 ADD RECORDS
2 CHANGE RECORDS
3 DELETE RECORDS
4 SORT RECORDS
5 SEARCH RECORDS
6 DISPLAY RECORDS
7 PRINT RECORD LISTS
8 PRINT MAILING LABELS
9 SELECT FILES
10 MANAGE FILES
11 EXIT CONTACT
On the Main Menu screen, SELECT FILES, Option 9, is highlighted to denote its
default status whenever no file is currently selected. This function is used
to designate a file, either a new file or an existing one, to be opened. The
name and drive location of any currently selected file is displayed in the
upper-left corner of the screen. The current system time is displayed in the
upper-right corner of the screen. This feature displays the correct time only
if the computer system clock/calendar has been properly set.
A file must be opened before any record maintenance, sorting, searching,
displaying, or printing activity can occur. Only one file can be open at a
time. An open file is automatically closed whenever any file selection,
renaming, copying, deletion, or merging operation is initiated.
Floppy disks containing CONTACT data files may be changed only while in SELECT
FILES or MANAGE FILES.
OPERATIONS
Performing operations with CONTACT is very easy. The major features of each
function that can be selected from the CONTACT main menu and their use are
described below.
1. ADD RECORDS
This function is used to add records to a file. Default information--data
which will be used if none is entered for an individual record--for city,
state or province, postal code, telephone area code, and identification code
can be specified. New records are appended to any already in a file. When-
ever records are added, CONTACT resets the sort status of a file to "unsorted"
and its maintenance date to the current system date.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 4
Each record has the following eight fields:
NAME: This field is used for entering both personal names and
business names. Switching between PERSONAL NAME and
BUSINESS NAME modes is accomplished by entering only the
letters "P" or "B." The default mode is PERSONAL NAME.
For personal names, data must be typed in this order:
courtesy title (if desired), given names and/or
initials, surname, and designations (if any). Compound
names containing hyphens and apostrophes may be entered.
If a surname is a compound name divided by one or more
spaces (for example, "de la Cruz"), type an asterisk (*)
in place of each space to indicate that the parts are to
be treated as one unit. Acceptable courtesy titles are
Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Dr., and Rev. Acceptable designa-
tions are Jr., Sr., II, and III. Additional informa-
tion, such as a title of rank or an honorific, profes-
sional, or business title (for example, "Mayor," "M.D.,"
or "President"), may be typed on the same line as a
personal name if separated from the preceding name by a
comma. CONTACT will automatically reformat personal
names for alphabetical listings by surname.
For business names, data can be typed in any way
desired. These names will not be reformatted.
From an alphabetization viewpoint, it can be advanta-
geous to treat some business names as personal names,
using the PERSONAL NAME mode for entry. For example, if
you want "Harold Smith & Son, Inc." to appear on sorted
lists under "Smith" instead of "Harold," type it as it
is written except insert a comma after the surname. On
lists the name will then appear as "Smith, Harold, &
Son, Inc." Or, for example, if you want "The Water
Works" to be listed under "Water Works" instead of
"The," then type it as it is written except type an
asterisk in place of the space in "Water Works." On
lists the name will then appear as "Water Works, The."
ORGANIZATION: Enter the organization name (or any other data that
fulfills your need).
STREET/BOX ADDRESS: Enter the street address or post office box number.
Periods in the abbreviation "P.O." should not be typed.
If they are entered, CONTACT will automatically remove
them.
CITY: Enter the name of the city. If no information is typed,
the default data for CITY will be used if any has been
specified.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 5
STATE/PROVINCE: Enter the two-letter abbreviation for the name of the
state, province, or territory. Only an abbreviation
authorized by either the United States or Canadian
postal service will be accepted. (See Appendix.) If
no information is typed, the default data for STATE/-
PROVINCE will be used if any has been specified.
POSTAL CODE: For locations in the United States, enter either a five-
or nine-digit Zip Code (no hyphenation allowed). For
Canadian locations, enter a six-character postal code
(no spacing allowed). If no information is typed, and
the data for CITY and STATE/PROVINCE are the same as the
default data for those fields, the default data for
POSTAL CODE will be used if any has been specified.
TELEPHONE NUMBER: Enter either the area code and telephone number, or
enter just the telephone number (no spacing or hyphena-
tion is allowed). If only a seven-digit number is
entered, the default data for AREA CODE will be incor-
porated if any has been specified. Telephone data will
not be printed on mailing labels.
ID CODE: Enter any combination of characters desired for sort,
search, or descriptive purposes. If no information is
typed, the default data for ID CODE will be used if any
has been specified. As an option, this data can be
printed on record lists and mailing labels.
Pressing <ESC> while the cursor is in any field will abort the add record
operation. Pressing <HOME> while the cursor is in the ID CODE field will move
the cursor to the NAME field; data for all fields then must be reentered.
Abbreviations may be used when entering surnames and the names of businesses,
organizations, and cities. During sort operations, CONTACT automatically
handles all proper names beginning with any of the following abbreviations as
though they are not abbreviated: 1st (First), Ft. (Fort), Mt. (Mount), Pt.
(Point), St. (Saint), Sta. (Santa), and Ste. (Sainte). In addition, names of
cities beginning with any of the following abbreviations are also treated as
though not abbreviated: E. (East), N. (North), S. (South), and W. (West).
CONTACT automatically edits proper names after entry and, in almost all
instances, removes all unnecessary spaces, commas, and periods. Also, any
lowercase letters found in the STATE/PROVINCE and POSTAL CODE fields are
converted to uppercase letters. If any field is left blank, it will appear as
empty space when lists or labels are printed.
2. CHANGE RECORDS
This function is used to change records in a file. Any change in a field
requires that all data for the field be retyped. If a field by which the
records are currently sorted is modified, CONTACT resets the sort status of
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 6
the file to "unsorted." Changes to other fields do not affect the sort
status. All changes cause CONTACT to reset the maintenance date to the
current system date.
Enter the current sort order number of the record to be changed. (Use SEARCH
RECORDS or DISPLAY RECORDS to identify the record number.) Rules for entering
data are the same as those in ADD RECORDS. To skip a field, just press
<ENTER>. Pressing <ESC> while the cursor is in any field aborts the change
record operation. Pressing <HOME> while the cursor is in the ID CODE field
moves the cursor to the NAME field.
3. DELETE RECORDS
This function is used to flag active records in a file for deletion. The
flagged records are not actually removed from access until the file is next
sorted. Deletions have no affect on the sort status of a file, but CONTACT
does reset the maintenance date to the current system date. Records flagged
for deletion will be skipped when record lists or mailing labels are printed.
Enter the current sort order number of the record to be deleted. (Use SEARCH
RECORDS or DISPLAY RECORDS to identify the record number.) At the verifica-
tion prompt, type "Y" to continue or "N" to abort. If the delete procedure is
allowed to continue, a second verification prompt appears. Typing "Y" at this
prompt will result in the record being cleared of data and flagged for
deletion.
4. SORT RECORDS
This function is used both to sort (alphabetize) the records in a file and to
remove from access any records previously flagged for deletion. On completion
of the sort operation, CONTACT resets the sort status of a file to the current
sort mode. If sorting begins and then is aborted, however, the sort status is
reset to "unsorted," signifying that the file is not completely sorted. If a
record flagged for deletion is removed, CONTACT resets the maintenance date of
a file to the current system date.
Eight alphanumerical sort modes are available for selection:
1 NAME: Business and Personal Mixed
2 NAME: Business; then Personal
3 ORGANIZATION
4 CITY
5 STATE/PROVINCE
6 POSTAL CODE
7 TELEPHONE NUMBER
8 ID CODE
Sorts by CITY actually sort first by CITY and then by STATE/PROVINCE;
similarly, sorts by STATE/PROVINCE actually sort first by STATE/PROVINCE and
then by CITY.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 7
Select the appropriate sort mode. Then, if prompted, indicate whether all
(English alphabet) letters should be treated as uppercase letters by typing
"Y" for yes or "N" for no. (This prompt will not appear for sorts by POSTAL
CODE or TELEPHONE NUMBER.) Treating letters in proper names as uppercase
results in the best alphabetization for lists, but requires considerably more
processing time. Sorting identification codes in uppercase is also advisable
if the case of a letter is not significant.
During sort operations, all proper names beginning with any of the following
abbreviations are automatically handled as though not abbreviated: 1st
(First), Ft. (Fort), Mt. (Mount), Pt. (Point), St. (Saint), Sta. (Santa), and
Ste. (Sainte). Names of cities beginning with any of the following abbrevia-
tions are also handled as though not abbreviated: E. (East), N. (North), S.
(South), and W. (West). In addition, all names beginning with a lowercase
letter are treated as though beginning with an uppercase letter.
5. SEARCH RECORDS
This function is used to search for records containing specified strings of
characters. By searching for records known to exist, it can also be used to
determine the current sort order number of each record. Eight search modes,
one for each field of a record, are available:
1 NAME
2 ORGANIZATION
3 STREET/BOX ADDRESS
4 CITY
5 STATE/PROVINCE
6 POSTAL CODE
7 TELEPHONE NUMBER
8 ID CODE
Select the appropriate mode and enter a search key: the string of characters
for which you want to search. For postal codes and telephone numbers, omit
any hyphens or spaces. ("Wild-card" characters, special characters used to
take the place of any character, also cannot be used.) Then indicate whether
the search should be letter-case sensitive, whether the search operation
should automatically continue after the first match is found, and whether
entire records or only their searched fields should be displayed. Matching
records or their fields, preceded by their sort order numbers, will be
scrolled on the monitor screen in groups of either seven or twenty-eight.
6. DISPLAY RECORDS
This function is used to display records on a monitor screen. By checking the
information displayed on the screen, this function can also be used to deter-
mine the total number of records in a file and the criteria by which the
records are currently sorted. By displaying all records, the current sort
order number of each record can also be determined.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 8
Indicate the range of records to be displayed by entering the sort order
numbers of the first and last records to be viewed. To display all records,
enter "1" as the first number and a string of 9's as the last number.
Records, preceded by their sort order numbers, in the range requested will be
sequentially scrolled in groups of ten on the screen. To pause (suspend) the
scrolling at any time, press <PAUSE>; to resume scrolling, press any key.
7. PRINT RECORD LISTS
This function is used to print record lists on 8.5" by 11" paper. CONTACT
automatically sets compatible printers to print six lines per inch at a pitch
of either 16.7 or 17 characters per inch, depending on the printers. Records
flagged for deletion will be skipped. To ensure sequential numbering of valid
records, files should be sorted immediately prior to initiating this operation
to remove any records flagged for deletion. If a description has been entered
for the currently selected file (see SELECT FILES), the description will be
printed on lists as the title.
Enter the range of records to be included in the list, then indicate whether
identification codes should be printed and the type of printer being used.
Then press <ENTER> to begin printing or press <ESC> to abort the operation.
8. PRINT MAILING LABELS
This function is used to print mailing labels mounted on continuous-form paper
on dot matrix printers or on label sheets on laser printers. Up to five lines
of text can be printed on labels 15/16-inch in width. On dot matrix printers,
labels in five lengths can be printed: 2.5, 3, 3.25, 3.5, and 4 inches. On
laser printers, labels in two lengths can be printed: 2.63 and 4 inches. Up
to five columns of labels can be printed across a page. CONTACT automatically
sets compatible printers to print six lines per inch at appropriate pitches.
If records flagged for deletion are found, labels bearing the words "RECORD
DELETED" will be printed.
Enter the range of records to be printed, then indicate whether identification
codes should be printed, the number of labels across a page to be printed, the
type of printer being used, and the length of the labels being used. Then
press <ENTER> to begin printing or <ESC> to abort the operation.
9. SELECT FILES
This function is used to create or select CONTACT data files and must be used
before any records can be added, changed, deleted, sorted, searched, dis-
played, or printed. This function can also be used to display the names of
all of the CONTACT data files in a disk directory.
CONTACT automatically appends the filename extension ".CNT" to each file
created. This extension never needs to be entered. Files that do not have
this extension cannot be recognized by the program.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 9
When prompted for a filename, enter the name and then the drive location of
the file you want. If found in the default (current) directory on the disk in
the drive specified, the file will be opened for activity. If not found, a
new file will be created if any records are subsequently entered.
If the name of an existing file is not known or you would like to view the
names of all of the CONTACT data files in the default directory of a disk,
press <ESC> when prompted for a filename, then enter a drive location.
A brief description of the designated file can also be entered or updated when
selecting a file. This description will be used as the title for printed
record lists. If the description of an existing file is updated, CONTACT
resets the maintenance date of the file to the current system date.
10. MANAGE FILES
This menu option provides a selection of four functions used to manage CONTACT
data files. Pressing <ENTER> or <ESC> instead of entering name or location
information for a file will abort these functions.
RENAME FILES: This function is used to rename files.
Enter the name and then the drive location of the file to be
renamed. Then enter the new name for the file.
COPY FILES: This function is used to copy files to other disks and/or to
other files. When copying a file to another file, you can
enter a new filename to create a new file or enter an existing
filename to replace (overwrite) an obsolete file.
Enter the name and drive location of the file to be copied,
then the name and location for the duplicate file.
If insufficient memory space is available on the target disk
for a new file, the message "DISK IS FULL. OPERATION
ABORTED." will be displayed. You must then either clear space
on the disk and try again, or use a different target disk.
DELETE FILES: This function is used to delete files. Once deleted, a file
cannot be retrieved (unless you use a file recovery utility).
Enter the name and drive location of the file to be deleted.
When prompted, type "Y" to delete the file or "N" to abort
this function.
MERGE FILES: This function is used to merge data in source files into
preexisting destination files. On successful completion of
the merge operation, CONTACT updates the number of records in
the destination file, resets its sort status to "unsorted,"
and resets its maintenance date to the current system date.
The source files are not deleted.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 10
Before initiating any merge operations, use the DOS SIZE
command to verify that sufficient memory space remains on the
target disk where your destination file resides to accommodate
the source file(s) you want to merge.
Enter the name and drive location of a source file, then the
name and location of the destination file. Records in the
source file will be copied and appended to the destination
file.
If insufficient memory space is available on a target disk,
the message "DISK IS FULL. OPERATION ABORTED." will be dis-
played. You must then clear space on the disk and try again.
11. EXIT CONTACT
This function is used to exit CONTACT and return to the computer operating
system.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 11
COPYING DATA FILES
CONTACT data files are updated immediately whenever any maintenance activity
occurs. To minimize losses due to user errors, machine failures, and environ-
mental disasters, therefore, back-up and archive copies of these files, like
all other important computer files, should be made on a regular basis.
Copies of CONTACT data files can be made by using either of two methods.
First, the COPY FILE function in CONTACT can be used. This method has the
major advantage of copying only the active records in a source file; thus the
"duplicate" file created can actually be smaller in size than the original and
require less disk space. (The original file may contain both active records
and inactive, "deleted" records which can never be erased from a random access
file, although they can be overwritten.) The second method is to use the DOS
COPY command. This method has the major advantage of copying a file in less
time and may be used to copy more than one file.
HANDLING LARGE DATABASES
If you anticipate creating a large database, one containing more than several
thousand records, you should consider dividing the records into several files.
(Each CONTACT data file actually can hold up to 32,767 records.) Using
several smaller files can be advantageous for several reasons, the main one
being that sort and search operations on these files can be completed much
more quickly. The disadvantages are that maintenance involves several files
and that these files must be merged into a single large file for global
searches and, often, for printing lists and labels. Setting up only one file
may be best for some applications, while multiple files may be best for other
applications.
To set up a multiple-file database and then create a large sorted file, begin
by determining the field by which you will usually want records sorted. Next
divide your records, using alphanumeric, geographic, or other appropriate
criteria, and enter them into several classification files. Then sort each of
the files. Finally, merge the files in proper order into a new, composite
file.
For example, a composite file sorted by name (business and personal, mixed)
can be achieved by first creating and entering data into the following three
files:
AH -- for names beginning with letters A through H (and with digits)
IP -- for names beginning with letters I through P
QZ -- for names beginning with letters Q through Z
Next sort each file by name (business and personal, mixed). Then copy file AH
to create file AZ, which will become the composite sorted file. Finally,
merge first file IP and then file QZ into file AZ.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 12
During a merge operation, records in a source file are actually copied and
appended to a destination file, so all of the records now in file AZ are in
the correct order. The files originally created--AH, IP, and QZ--remain
available for future updating.
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 13
APPENDIX
POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS AND TELEPHONE AREA CODES
FOR THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND THEIR TERRITORIES
As of October 23, 1990
STATE/PROVINCE/TERRITORY ABBR AREA CODE(S)
------------------------------ ---- ------------------------------------
Alaska AK 907
Alabama AL 205
Alberta AB 403
American Samoa AS (Country Code 684)
Arkansas AR 501
Arizona AZ 602
British Columbia BC 604
California CA 209 213 310* 510* 408 415 619 707
714 805 818 916
Colorado CO 303 719
Connecticut CT 203
Delaware DE 302
District of Columbia DC 202
Federated States of Micronesia FM (Country Code 691)
Florida FL 305 407 813 904
Georgia GA 404 912
Guam GU (Country Code 671)
Hawaii HI 808
Idaho ID 208
Illinois IL 217 309 312 618 708 815
Indiana IN 219 317 812
Iowa IA 319 515 712
Kansas KS 316 913
Kentucky KY 502 606
Labrador LB 709
Louisiana LA 318 504
Maine ME 207
Manitoba MB 204
Marshall Islands MH (Country Code 692)
Maryland MD 301
Massachusetts MA 413 508 617
Michigan MI 313 517 616 906
Minnesota MN 218 507 612
Mississippi MS 601
Missouri MO 314 417 816
Montana MT 406
Nebraska NE 308 402
Nevada NV 702
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 14
STATE/PROVINCE/TERRITORY ABBR AREA CODE(S)
------------------------------ ---- ------------------------------------
New Brunswick NB 506
New Hampshire NH 603
New Jersey NJ 201 609 908
New Mexico NM 505
New York NY 212 315 516 518 607 716 718 914 917*
Newfoundland NF 709
North Carolina NC 704 919
North Dakota ND 701
Northern Mariana Islands MP (Country Code 670)
Northwest Territories NT 403
Nova Scotia NS 902
Ohio OH 216 419 513 614
Oklahoma OK 405 918
Ontario ON 416 519 613 705 807
Oregon OR 503
Palau PW (Country Code 680)
Pennsylvania PA 215 412 717 814
Prince Edward Island PE 902
Puerto Rico PR 809
Quebec PQ 418 514 819
Rhode Island RI 401
Saskatchewan SK 306
South Carolina SC 803
South Dakota SD 605
Tennessee TN 615 901
Texas TX 214 409 512 713 806 817 903 915
Utah UT 801
Vermont VT 802
Virgin Islands VI 809
Virginia VA 703 804
Washington WA 206 509
West Virginia WV 304
Wisconsin WI 414 608 715
Wyoming WY 307
Yukon Territory YT 403
* Area Code is not yet in service. Currently scheduled effectivity dates are
as follow: 310, September 1991; 510, November 1991; 917, 1992
CONTACT 3.20 User's Manual Page 15
ABBREVIATIONS FOR STREET DESIGNATORS (STREET SUFFIXES)
Authorized by the United States Postal Service
As of October 23, 1990
WORD ABBR WORD ABBR WORD ABBR WORD ABBR
----------- ---- ----------- ---- ----------- ---- ------------ ----
Alley ..... ALY Estates ... EST Lakes ..... LKS Ridge ...... RDG
Annex ..... ANX Expressway EXPY Landing ... LNDG River ...... RIV
Arcade .... ARC Extension . EXT Lane ...... LN Road ....... RD
Avenue .... AVE Fall ...... FALL Light ..... LGT Row ........ ROW
Bayou ..... BYU Falls ..... FLS Loaf ...... LF Run ........ RUN
Beach ..... BCH Ferry ..... FRY Locks ..... LCKS Shoal ...... SHL
Bend ...... BND Field ..... FLD Lodge ..... LDG Shoals ..... SHLS
Bluff ..... BLF Fields .... FLDS Loop ...... LOOP Shore ...... SHR
Bottom .... BTM Flats ..... FLT Mall ...... MALL Shores ..... SHRS
Boulevard . BLVD Ford ...... FRD Manor ..... MNR Spring ..... SPG
Branch .... BR Forest .... FRST Meadows ... MDWS Springs .... SPGS
Bridge .... BRG Forge ..... FRG Mill ...... ML Spur ....... SPUR
Brook ..... BRK Fork ...... FRK Mills ..... MLS Square ..... SQ
Brug ...... BG Forks ..... FRKS Mission ... MSN Station .... STA
Bypass .... BYP Fort ...... FT Mount ..... MT Stravenue .. STRA
Camp ...... CP Freeway ... FWY Mountain .. MTN Stream ..... STRM
Canyon .... CYN Gardens ... GDNS Neck ...... NCK Street ..... ST
Cape ...... CPE Gateway ... GTWY Orchard ... ORCH Summit ..... SMT
Causeway .. CSWY Glen ...... GLN Oval ...... OVAL Terrace .... TER
Center .... CTR Green ..... GRN Park ...... PARK Trace ...... TRCE
Circle .... CIR Grove ..... GRV Parkway ... PKY Track ...... TRAK
Cliffs .... CLFS Harbor .... HBR Pass ...... PASS Trail ...... TRL
Club ...... CLB Haven ..... HVN Path ...... PATH Trailer .... TRLR
Corner .... COR Heights ... HTS Pike ...... PIKE Tunnel ..... TUNL
Corners ... CORS Highway ... HWY Pines ..... PNES Turnpike ... TPKE
Course .... CRSE Hill ...... HL Place ..... PL Union ...... UN
Court ..... CT Hills ..... HLS Plain ..... PLN Valley ..... VLY
Courts .... CTS Hollow .... HOLW Plains .... PLNS Viaduct .... VIA
Cove ...... CV Inlet ..... INLT Plaza ..... PLZ View ....... VW
Creek ..... CRK Island .... IS Point ..... PT Village .... VLG
Crescent .. CRES Islands ... ISS Port ...... PRT Ville ...... VL
Crossing .. XING Isle ...... ISLE Prairie ... PR Vista ...... VIS
Dale ...... DL Junction .. JCT Radial .... RADL Walk ....... WALK
Dam ....... DM Key ....... KY Ranch ..... RNCH WAY ........ WAY
Divide .... DV Knolls .... KNLS Rapids .... RPDS Wells ...... WLS
Drive ..... DR Lake ...... LK Rest ...... RST
CONTACT 3.20
USER REGISTRATION/COMMENT FORM
USER IDENTIFICATION (Please type or print)
Full Name: ______________________________________________ Date: _____________
Organization: ______________________________________ Dept.: _________________
Street/Box Address: __________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: _____ Postal Code: __________
Telephone: Home - (______)_________________ Work - (______)_________________
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
Computer Brand and Model: ____________________________________________________
Configuration: ______________________________________________________
MS-DOS Version: __________ IBM PC Emulator and Version: _____________________
Printer Brand and Model: _____________________________________________________
PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE SECTION(S) BELOW
1. REGISTRATION
Please register me as a legal user of CONTACT. My payment of $_______________
($10.00 minimum) is enclosed. I understand that registered users are entitled
to software support and notification of new releases.
Checks or money orders should be made payable to "Orion E. Hill."
2. SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS, AND/OR OTHER COMMENTS
Please describe in as much detail as possible. Use the other side of this
form and/or attach additional sheets as necessary.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
==============================================================================
Please mail this form to: Orion E. Hill
361 Pickwick Drive
Napa, California 94558-6101
