Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/database/collect.zip/README.2ND

Text File | 1991-09-26 | 24KB | 580 lines

             ┌─────────┐
           ┌─────┴───┐     │              (R)
         ──│         │o    │──────────────────
           │   ┌─────┴╨──┐ │  Association of
           │   │         │─┘  Shareware
           └───│    o    │    Professionals
         ──────│    ║    │────────────────────
               └────╨────┘    MEMBER



    This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
    Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware
    principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a
    shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member
    directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you
    resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
    technical support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP
    Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe
    message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. The OMB may be
    contacted by FAX by sending to the ASP FAX number: (616) 788 - 2765.
    In communication with the OMB please include a telephone number and /or
    FAX number if available.

   _________________________________________________________________________

   OVERSEAS ORDERS:

         Please Note:

    If you are ordering from outside the USA, please remember that the
    prices quoted are in U.S. Dollars. ($USD).

    For overseas orders, please add $5.00 USD for postage. This barely
    covers our cost. Also, please remember that any cheques are to be
    made out so that the bank will have no trouble guessing what the
    amount is.

    WARRANTY DISCLAIMER:

    Users of Collect! must accept this disclaimer of warranty:

    Collect! is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties,
    expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties
    of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes
    no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result
    from the use of Collect!.

    VENDOR / BBS INFO:

    Description:

       Collect! is a multi-version programmable collector's tool that can
       handle ANY collection. The two supplied versions allow working in
       either text or VGA graphics modes. Collect! is MORE than a record
       keeping database; it includes sample templates and data files to get
       you started. Collect! also offers powerful search capability, mouse
       support, common spelling files, and more. Graphics mode features
       sculpted 3d pushbuttons.





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          ╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
          ║          Collect! Ver 1.0x             ║
          ║             DUAL VERSION               ║
          ║   Individual's Collection Database     ║
          ║                                        ║
          ║   Copyright (c) 1991 by G.L. Alston    ║
          ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝



     ┌──────────────┐
     │ INTRODUCTION │
     └──────────────┘

      Collect! is an advanced specialty database that is used to
      keep track of the things people collect. It can also be
      used by small dealers of items like baseball cards, antiques,
      comic books, video / audio tape, records, fine arts, books and
      magazines. The list of collection types is practically endless.
      It will also serve to keep track of household inventory.

      Collect! offers unique features that make this collector's
      database faster and easier to use than any other product:

              * Common spelling file
              * Works in RAM memory, not the disk
              * All data on one screen
              * User changeable database templates
              * Mouse Support
              * Financial data
              * Masked printing

      Collect! is not as cryptic as some database products can be.
      Rather than using the standard menu system (Add, Change,
      Delete, etc.), Collect! uses pop-up windows and a mouse and
      is laid out to be easily understood.















       LET'S MAKE COMPARISONS:

       Now that we've gotten the basic propaganda out of the way, let's
       take a moment and discuss what some of these features mean. I aim
       to convice you that Collect! is THE best choice you can make to
       use a computer with your collection. We will make comparisons with
       other programs of the same general type. The comparisons will help
       show why Collect! is the best collection manager you can get. The
       programs we will compare to are of a general type; I.E. they are
       intended for the home / collector market. All programs have their
       place in the grand scheme of things. However, computer software is
       a business like any other, and I want your business the same as the
       other guys.


       COLLECTIONS:

       So what exactly is a collection? Everybody collects one thing or
       another. Some of you are very serious about collecting, and treat
       it as an investment. Others of you have small collections of this
       and that, and have no idea of the value. Given the proper tools,
       you may find that what you have is worth more than you thought!
       Therefore a collection is best thought of as an organised assembly
       of similar objects. Most software products act as "catalogues" in
       an attempt to help you organise.

       A lot of programs allow you to enter tons of data about your
       various collections. There are usually two drawbacks:

          1. Many Programs seem overly specialized. If you're
         not careful, you can wind up with a dozen or more,
         each catering to a particular class of object.
         You may have seen these or own one: video tape,
         CD's, records, guns, etc. Is this really necessary?
         Do you really own 5,000 guns or 50,000 tapes? Do
         you really want to learn 12 different programs?

          2. What you wind up with is tons of data, and in many
         cases, it is not particularly coherent. It is more
         organized, neatly typed, and sometimes easier to
         find. What you have is a record keeper: you succeeded
         in turning a $1000.00 computer into a $1.59 notebook.
         It's fast, but it's still a notebook.

       While being organised is a good idea, there are many ways to do this.
       A collector's program should be a tool. Not just one to record stuff
       on a computer disk instead of paper, but one that can analyse and
       manipulate the information. Many programs, for instance, allow you
       to enter the price you paid for such and such an object, but offer
       very little manipulation. You are not really doing anything that
       cannot be done with a notebook - the computer allows you to compress
       the information into a smaller space, and allows you to locate some
       things a little faster.

       Therefore, great numbers of people have a perfect record of things
       they have collected, but do not seem to know what the values are
       like, where the money spent on the collection was wisely spent,
       or what (if any) trends there are in their buying / collecting
       habits. In effect, despite being more organised, you really don't
       know much more than before you GOT organised.






       Collect!, on the other hand, has a different philosophy. Like the
       other programs, Collect! allows you to amass tons of raw data and
       compress it to a disk. However, it is a true tool. Collect! can be
       set up to record data for ANY collection type. Yes, any.

       NO LONGER WILL YOU REQUIRE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS.

       As a matter of fact, we've included a number of samples with the
       program to help get you started. If you don't like one of them, you
       can always change it to suit your needs. You can also create your own
       as well. Lots of them. With Collect!, you now can use one master
       program for anything you collect. There is no need to learn how to
       use a dozen different programs.

       More importantly, Collect! allows you the chance to do something with
       the data. Part of the secret is the search engine.


       THE COLLECT! SEARCH ENGINE:

       So what is so special about searching? Most programs do this. Well,
       yes, but usually only to a point. The Collect! search engine allows
       for searching of ALL data fields simultaneously. Furthermore, it
       allows searching of unequal data, and data ranges. Here's a list of
       how a Collect! search can be made on a data field:

           MATCH ( = ) --- data field = target
           LESS  ( < ) --- data field < target
           MORE  ( > ) --- data field > target
           RANGE ( - ) --- low target < data field < high target

      Now, think about this for a moment. Let's say that your collection
      is, oh, somewhat common, like stamps. Remember that the Collect!
      search engine allows searches on ALL fields AND can use unequal data.
      Now you can construct a search like this:

            Country:          USA         (match)
            Issue Date:    1909 - 1932    (range)
            Denomination:   < 10 c        ( less)
            Current Value:  > $1.50       ( more)

      What Collect! will report back is this:

         US stamps, made from 1909 - 1932, with 10 cents or less
         denomination, and a current value greater than $1.50.

      And, you could always add MORE things to search for, like
      "RED coloured stamps" plus the above data; this can be done on
      ALL the data fields. Not only that, the method used is ridiculously
      easy - just choose the data field, choose the search type, and
      enter the target data. You don't need to learn any languages or
      an obscure syntax to put together a query.














      Collect! does not stop there. There are 13 data fields that you
      can enter data into, much like the other programs. The essential
      part of Collect! that makes it a tool and not a simplistic record
      keeper is the financial data. Of the 13 fields, 2 are used for
      financial data: how much did you pay, and how much is it worth
      now? The financial data allows Collect! to analyse data in a
      fashion much like a spreadsheet:

             Price Paid:                             100.00
            and
             Current Value:                          150.00

               infers -

             Change in Value:                         50.00
           Percentage of change:                      50%
      Percentage of value vs. the total value in the file:      2%

      In other words, the general appreciation and relative value of items
      can be seen. THIS CAN ALSO BE SEARCHED FOR!

      Now, you can add 3 more fields to the search list. But wait - this is
      inferred data, not data you entered. True. This is referred to as
      Dynamic Data. The search engine therefore allows searches to be made
      of data YOU DID NOT ENTER.

      In continuing the above example, let's now add PERCENTAGE OF CHANGE
      to the other 4 items. Let's also turn this into an 'unequal' criteria:

             Pctg of change:   > 25%   ( more)

      What you will now see is this:

         US stamps, made from 1909 - 1932, with 10 cents or less
         denomination, a current value greater than $1.50, with
         25% or more appreciation since purchased.

      As you can see, Collect! can be used as a real tool. It can assist
      in determining those members of your collection that either do not
      appreciate well or those that do. Used properly, you may be able to
      infer what items to add to a collection and which ones could possibly
      be deleted. Of course, many collections (probably most) are of items
      that you fond of, and will keep simply BECAUSE YOU LIKE THEM. On the
      other hand, there's also no harm in adding those items to your
      collection that you like that will also have a higher probability
      of being worth more. If you are going to be spending money on
      things you collect, you may as well spend wisely and treat it as
      an investment; in years to come, your children will undoubtedly
      appreciate your foresightedness. Who knows, maybe you'll decide to
      sell, retire early, and live the good life in the Bahamas.















       TWO PROGRAM VERSIONS IN ONE:

       Like a lot of you, I like graphics based systems. Adds a little
       sizzle to the day. However, a lot of you have not quite yet made
       the switch to VGA. EGA and CGA were livable in their day, but
       writing a graphics system for these is well, sort of like going
       backwards. The problem is this - how does one write a program
       with all of the current bells and whistles without limiting the
       program to the lowest common denominator? And what of the folks
       who prefer text for one reason or another?

       Easy. Collect!, as it comes to you, can run in either of two
       modes - text or VGA graphics. Each mode is actually a separate
       program; both share the same Data Files, and the same support
       files. Both use basically the same interface structure - once
       you can run one, you can run the other. You can enter and
       mainpulate the same data with either.

       The predominant interface method today uses a mouse. Both versions
       use the mouse. In TEXT mode, it is optional. In GRAPHICS, it is
       required. Either way, it make these programs FAST.

       The use of two programs in one also can help solve other problems
       as well: I take a Toshiba Laptop with me, but it won't handle the
       graphics. Collect! runs in text mode on it, while the computer
       at home runs in graphics mode. Stuff I do while away from home
       can be immediately loaded into the graphics version when I do
       get home. Also, think about the case where you may be taking your
       copy of the program to the insurance agent's office to get that
       wee bit of extra protection for your valuable collection - no
       telling what computer/monitor/mouse combination she is using.


       DATA VIEWING:

       There's a LOT of programs out there that in one way or another
       cater to the home collector and small business market. A lot of
       these are database programs. Most of these use the format that
       most of you have seen by now, in one form or another:

                1. Add a record
                2. Change or Edit a record
                3. Delete a record

       The odd part is that they ask you to enter which record number!
       A lot of you like this sort of thing. A lot of you haven't seen
       much else. Frankly, I do not like having to enter a record number.
       Too much to remember. Why should I, anyway? After all, I could do
       this almost as fast by turning the pages in a binder... Besides,
       it's not 1982 any more.

       You will not find this in Collect!  There's a better way.

       Collect! allows you to use a mouse to skim through records just
       by clicking the up and down arrows on a SCROLL BAR on screen;
       you can also use the cursor pad Up and DOWN arrow keys. ( I never
       really understood why other programs didn't take advantage of
       these. ) When you get to a record you wish to EDIT, simply click
       the EDIT button or box, type in the data, and that's it!








       Each record is shown in it's entirity on screen. No paging. You
       can skim and move around VERY fast this way; the scroll bar keeps
       you aware of the record's position in a Data File.

       Now, you don't have to remember the record number. Of course, some
       of you prefer this. Collect! is set up to allow you to do this, if
       you prefer. At least you have a choice.


       PRINTING:

       Collect! allows you to mask off any information from any record
       information you print out. Let's say you're a collectibles dealer.
       You don't REALLY want your potential customer to have a copy of
       how much you paid for something, do you?  Collect! can be used
       right in the shop to give quotes to customers on the spot. You
       can be choosy on what information you give out, and yet present a
       very high quality, computer generated price quotation. Contrast
       this with the majority of dealers who scribble something on a
       piece of paper if the quote is written at all. And think of the
       service to the customers - you could attach pertinent data to
       select objects. No more "How old is this clock?" stuff.

       You don't have to be a dealer, either. Traders can take advantage
       of this, as well as individuals who simply want a hard copy of
       their precious data but do not want prying eyes to know certain
       financial facts.


       STATISTICS AND GRAPHS:

       In the graphics version, Collect! can present graphs that plot your
       buying habits and investment stratagem by year. These are a quick
       visual indicators that can be readily understood without having to
       study reams of information. Again, Collect! is meant to aid you in
       managing your collection, not simply recording data.


       TECHNOLOGY:

       Now we will turn our attention to the creation of the programs; the
       discussion will be predominately about the graphics version.

       The graphics version was written with C++, version 2.0, from
       Borland International.

       Normally, this is a Who Cares? sort of thing that is simply not
       discussed in program documentation. I feel it to be important. Why?
       Collect! VGA uses techniques that have evolved relatively recently
       in the programming world. A very high number of programs out there
       for sale right now use, well, older technologies, and less
       sophisticated methodry as a direct result. Those of you who know
       something about software engineering will know this term:

     Object Oriented Programming (OOP).










       The importance here is that Collect! is positioned technologically
       to take full advantage of advances as they come along. Some of the
       programs out there, while quite good, are written such that they will
       not be able to keep up quite as well or do as many things. What this
       means to you is that Collect! will be upgraded as time goes along in
       an easily discernable way. For instance, while you are reading this,
       the Microsoft Windows version is being readied for release.

       It is important that a program will operate in the user's favourite
       environment. It should NOT be the other way around.

       Ask yourself this: will that program you bought last year be upgraded
       to run on Windows, or will you have to go into text mode to please IT?
       Will it ever use a mouse, or take advantage or graphics? Or is it a
       technological Black Hole?

       As you know, Collect! is already running in text and VGA graphics
       modes. Both modes will share data files. The Windows version will
       likewise share data files. Other enhancements to the existing
       versions are already in the works.


       LET'S TALK MONEY:

       When you register Collect!, you automatically recieve all upgrades
       for FREE for a year. The $25 I am asking for this program is not
       a great deal of money, especially when you consider that programs
       that are capable of far less cost just as much and even more. This
       program is also far cheaper than the available alternatives to
       intelligently managing your collection. Sure, you can do this, but
       it will take a database AND a spreadsheet to do it. Not only that,
       when you buy Collect! you are actually getting 2 programs. The free
       upgrade will of course include the Windows version; if you buy now,
       you will probably get your Windows version within 6 - 8 months.

       Think about it. I am offering a pretty good deal here. Not only that,
       the programs on the disk are presented IN THEIR ENTIRITY for your
       honest evaluation. It works like this: I give you two COMPLETE
       programs to try out. If they don't do what you want, erase them or
       give them to someone else. If they do, I am trusting you to do the
       right thing and pay for them; the program is more than capable of
       paying for itself in the money and time it will save you. When you
       pay for Collect! you'll receive another version for Windows as part
       of the FREE upgrades for one year. You will own one of the best
       collector's packages you can buy. You'll also know that by helping
       support the development effort, Collect! will continue to evolve and
       become even more powerful. The more powerful Collect! gets, the more
       power you will have to wisely manage your collections.

       Now is that a deal, or what?

















       WHAT'S ON THIS DISK:

       On this disk is 2 installation files:

           TEXTINST.BAT  - installs text version

           GRAFINST.BAT  - installs graphics version

       You will need to adjust these if you want them to install to
       a drive\directory other than:

           C:\TEXTCOLL - text version

           C:\GRAFCOLL - graphics version

       Use a text editor to modify the drive specifications.

       The rest of the files are primarily self extracting archive files.
       A self extracting file is a file that contains lots of little
       compressed files inside of it, and it is run like a program. In a
       way, it IS a program whose main function is to give birth to a
       bunch of other programs and files. When you run one of these, files
       start popping out. It's generally not too messy.

       Otherwise, this disk is shipped with a copy of the Public Domain
       Utility, BROWSE.COM, written (I think) by the illustrious
       Charles Petzold, a true giant among software engineers. Readers
       of PC MAGAZINE enjoy his insightful columns.

       If you are reading this by way of the README command, it is Browse
       that is doing all of the work. ( Beats the heck out of the old
       Control-S business, eh? )

       As the version(s) you require gets installed, please read the manual.
       Just like this case, type README and Browse does the rest. To PRINT
       a manual, position the paper at a perforation, and type:

          TYPE COLLECT!.TXT > LPT1

       This causes DOS to redirect the screen output to the printer.

       DO NOT TRANSFER HELP (*.HLP), TEXT (*.TXT) or COLLECT!.* FILES
       BETWEEN THE DIRECTORIES IF YOU ARE RUNNING BOTH VERSIONS. YOU MAY
       TRANSFER SUPPORT (*.00*), DATA (*.ADB), DEFAULT (*.DEF), AND
       DEFINITION (*.DBF) FILES.

       If you do run both versions, you may indeed be able to skip one
       manual and read just one.

       REQUIREMENTS:

       Text -      Minimum of 400K FREE RAM / 512K total
       Graphics -  Minimum of 512K FREE RAM / 640K total