Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/database/pssst.zip/PSSST.DOC

Text File | 1987-02-08 | 19KB | 451 lines

                              pSSSt
                 A Suspense And Priority Manager
                           Version 2.0






























                          by ANGSC/DOSC

                         Maj Jim McMurry
                           AV 273-8303













                        Table Of Contents

     Set Up                                                3
     Configuration
     Initiation                                            4
     Phone
        Input
        Edit                                               5
        Search
        Delete
        Print
     Job Tracking
        Input
        Edit                                               6
        Complete
        Delete
        Print
     Priority Management
        Priority                                           7
        Non-Priority
        View
        Print
     Suspense Listing
     <RETURN>
     Backup                                                8
     Limitations
     Changes
     Credits
























     pSSSt  is  a  combination  suspense,   priority,  and  phone
management  program  designed to operate with dBase II under  MS-
DOS.   It  will  run  on any MS-DOS  computer  without  graphics,
however, screen displays are enhanced if running it on a Z-100 or
Z-150 (or compatible).


                           - SET UP -

     In  order  to run pSSSt you must either create a  disk  with
dBase II and the pSSSt files on it or create a directory on  your
hard disk with these files on it.   If you are using a Z-100, you
must  have the file ALTCHAR.SYS available in your root  directory
when  initially  booting  up.  Without this file,  you'll  get  a
display of letters rather than the desired graphics when  running
this  (and other) programs.   ALTCHAR.SYS is available on  MS-DOS
distribution  disk  1.   If  you desire the pSSSt  memory  jogger
feature  (a listing of your suspenses each time the  computer  is
turned   on),   you'll  need  to  either  modify  or  create   an
AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory to do that.

                         EXAMPLE:  DATE
                                   TIME
                                   DBASE PSMEMJOG


                        - CONFIGURATION -

     As it comes to you, pSSSt is configured for a generic MS-DOS
computer.   To  take advantage of many additional  features,  you
must run the configuration program.  Do this by typing:

                         DBASE PSCONFIG

     SINGLE  OR  MULTI-USER  - pSSSt  will  create  and  maintain
datafiles  for any number of users within the constraints of disk
space.   If  you select multi-user you will be prompted for  your
last name each time you initiate the program.   Your last name is
used to name the datafiles.   If you are the only one using pSSSt
on  your  computer,  you may select single-user  and  bypass  the
requirement  to enter your name each time.   In  addition,  pSSSt
will  store  your first name and use it occasionally  during  the
course of each session.

     BACKUP DRIVE - You are asked to select the drive you want to
use  for  backing up your datafiles at the end of  each  session.
Select  a  letter and pSSSt will use that drive if you  elect  to
backup at the end of a session.

     PRINTER - Select the type of printer you are using.   If you
aren't using one of the listed printers,  select user defined and
enter  enter  the  code  for  each  question  concerning  printer
operation.  If you don't know them, just answer with <RETURN>.

     COMPUTER  - Select  the type of computer you're  using.   Z-
100's are capable of some nice graphics.  Z-150's and compatibles
(such as IBM) are capable of quicker,  but not so nice  graphics.
If  you have a different computer or desire no  graphics,  select
(O).

     DELAYS  - pSSSt  has  built in delays  to  display  messages
during  the course of the program.   New users may want to select
(L)ong to give them time to study them.   After using the program
for  awhile,  you  may be familiar enough with  the  messages  to
select (S)hort messages.   After this selection, you are returned
to the system prompt and ready to go.


                         - INITIATION -

     To begin a session of pSSSt type:

                           DBASE PSSST

Of  course there many batch file schemes to do this for you,  and
if you are currently using one, you'll know how to integrate this
into your system.   The first thing you are presented with is the
advertising (everybody needs to be stroked once in awhile) and  a
menu  at the bottom of the screen.   You may advance through  the
menu  by  using the arrow keys and then hit <RETURN> to select  a
portion of pSSSt.   Note that a description of each major portion
of the menu is displayed on the right side of the screen.   We'll
now examine each of these major modules of pSSSt in order.


                   - PHONE (Rolodex System) -

     In all cases,  whether it be PHONE or one of the others,  if
the  date  you gave your system on bootup was prior to  the  last
date  pSSSt  was used,  you'll be prompted to enter  the  correct
date.   You'll  also  notice that the date is  entered  YY/MM/DD.
This  was necessary due to dBase II constraints.   The next thing
you'll  notice  if you are a new user is that pSSSt has  to  take
some  time to create your files.   Upon completion of that  task,
you  are presented with another menu at the bottom of the  screen
listing the modules of the PHONE system.

     INPUT - If you select INPUT, you'll be prompted to enter the
name of the person you wish to input to your phone  file.   pSSSt
will  search  for folks with that same last name,  and if  found,
will display them all and ask if you want to select one of  them,
or enter a new name.   This should prevent duplicate entries.  If
this  is a new name,  you are presented with a data entry screen.
Fill in any or all of the information.   Getting to the end of  a
block or hitting <RETURN> will move you to the next block.  After
you have proceeded past the last block, you are asked for another
last  name.   If you have no more to enter,  hit <RETURN> and you
will be returned to the PHONE menu.

     EDIT -  Selection of the EDIT feature works exactly as  does
the input feature.   Enter the last name,  then select the record
number  of  the guy you want to edit.   Hitting <RETURN> at  each
block will skip you to the next block without changing any  data.
Any of the data may be changed except the last name.

     SEARCH  - If  you  select SEARCH,  you  are  presented  with
another similar menu which allows you to select how you want  the
datafile  to be searched.   You have the option of selecting last
name,  first name,  rank,  unit number,  unit type,  ICAO, office
symbol, subject, autovon prefix, or state.  Select the search you
want,  then you are asked to supply the desired information.  You
need not supply the entire word or phrase, but must supply enough
to  make the desired output unique.   For  example,  suppose  you
selected a search by subject and supplied the subject "AIR".  You
would get a listing of all AIR COMMANDERS as well as a listing of
all AIR HEADS.   Be as specific as your memory allows.   Once the
search is complete, you are asked if you want output to screen or
printer.   You  may  want  to list it to screen  first,  then  to
printer later once you are sure it is the info you want.

     DELETE  - If  you  select  the DELETE option  of  the  phone
module,  you  are  asked  to either provide  the  name  you  want
deleted,  or enter (S)can.   If you enter a name,  all folks with
that  last  name  are displayed and you are asked which  one  you
really want to delete.   If you enter a record number to  delete,
it  will be done -- forever.   If you enter <RETURN>,  you  abort
that  operation  and  are asked for  another  name.   The  (S)can
feature  was  incorporated to encourage folks to clean  up  large
phone databases.   If you select scan,  pSSSt will go through the
alphabet letter by letter displaying names and asking if you want
to delete any of them.   You can scan a specific letter, or spend
some time scanning them all.  The phone database is common to all
users  of  pSSSt on each computer,  and can become  quite  large.
Periodic deletion of unused information is desirable.

     PRINT  - The print option of the phone module simply  prints
out  a master phone listing of all the folks in your datafile for
those  of you that like to keep lists of things laying around  in
drawers.


              - JOB (Tracking And Editing System) -

     This  portion of pSSSt is designed for maintenance  of  your
suspense items.   Priorities,  although entered here, are handled
further in the priority module.

     INPUT  - If  you select INPUT,  you are prompted to enter  a
description  of  the suspense item (or task).   All  letters  are
forced to capitals and semi-colons are stripped out as they wreak
havok during screen displays or printouts.   Once the description
is  entered and checked,  you are presented with the rest of  the
input screen.   Input works the same way as in the phone  system.
The  current  date is already entered for you,  however  you  may
change  it.   The  due date you give it drives the  suspense  and
memory  jogger  features of pSSSt.   You are given two  lines  of
initial  remarks,  however if more are needed,  you may enter the
edit portion where you are given more.

     EDIT - If you select EDIT,  you are presented with a list of
your  suspense  items based on due date and asked to  select  the
record  to  edit.   Upon  entering the  record  number,  you  are
presented  with  an edit screen with the  above  mentioned  extra
remark lines.   This edit works just as does the one in the phone
system.   Once that edit is complete,  the same list of suspenses
are  displayed for selection.   Hitting <RETURN> either gives you
some more suspenses to choose from (if there are any) or  returns
you to the jobtrack main menu.

     COMPLETE  - Selecting COMPLETE displays your suspense  items
and  asks you to select the record you wish to  complete.   Items
that  are  completed  in this manner are moved to  a  "completed"
datafile  for  the current year.   Records of  these  "completed"
items are maintained for 4 years and accessable as you will see a
later  on.   This "completed" file would be a good place  to  put
tasks  for ORI or deployment preparation as well as anything  you
may want to remember come OER time.   It probably isn't the place
to  keep things like "get a haircut".   Once an item is  selected
for completion, you are prompted for the completion date.

     DELETE - Selecting DELETE lists your suspense items the same
as above.  The difference is that when a record item is selected,
it  is moved to a "deleted" datafile which is only maintained for
the current calendar year.   This is where the mundane tasks  are
put once completed or once they become no longer viable.   When a
suspense  item's record number is selected,  you are prompted  to
give  a  reason for deletion.   Deleted items are  accessable  as
you'll see later.   You may want to know why it became "no longer
viable".

     PRINT  - The PRINT option of the jobtrack menu presents  you
with  another  menu.   Selecting CURRENT gets you a  printout  of
current suspense items.   Selecting COMPLETED gets you a printout
of this years completed items.  Selecting DELETED gets a printout
of  this years deleted items.   Selecting PAST allows you to  get
printouts of completed items from any or all of the last 4 years.
If  there  is no data available for one of those years,  you  are
told.   You  are  given the option of printing  this  information
either to the screen or printer.


                - PRIORITY (Management System) -

     The priority management module was designed to allow you  to
set  priorities if you deem necessary,  then force you to get rid
of  any  duplicate  priorities.   There are two  priority  lists,
those with priority and those without.   Assigning priority 0  or
hitting <RETURN> to bypass the priority field when entering  data
during  the  jobtrack input operation,  will put the task on  the
non-priority list.   Assigning any priority other than 0 will put
it on the priority list.

     PRIORITY  - Selecting  the PRIORITY option on the menu  will
put  you in the duplicate checking mode.   pSSSt will  check  for
duplicate  priorities,  and if found,  display those records  and
prompt for the record number to change, then what new priority to
give  it.   This goes on until there are no duplicate priorities.
It is suggested that this option be used first upon entering  the
priority module.   Other portions check for duplicates,  but this
is  by  far the fastest way to get rid of duplicates.   Once  the
duplicates  are  taken care of,  the suspenses are  displayed  in
order  of  priority  and you are prompted to  supply  the  record
number of the priority to change.   This is the "Big Picture" and
where you can change reletive priorities.   If you create another
duplicate priority during this process, you will be forced to get
rid of the duplicates.

     NON-PRIORITY  - Selection of this option gets you a list  of
non-priority tasks.   Selecting a record number then assigning  a
priority  other  than  0  will move a non-priority  item  to  the
priority list.

     VIEW - If you select the VIEW option, you are presented with
a  listing  of  the priority items just as  during  the  PRIORITY
option.   Duplicate  checking and priority changing works in  the
same manner.

     PRINT - The PRINT option of the priority module simply makes
you a printout of your priority items in the order of priority.


           - SUSPENSE (Listing To Screen Or Printer) -

     The  SUSPENSE  option  on the pSSSt main  menu  gets  you  a
listing  of  suspense  items identical to the listing  to  screen
during  the memory jogger option.   This is here to allow you  to
get hard copy as well as for those of you who wish not to use the
memory  jogger  feature.   You are asked if you  want  output  to
screen or printer after which you are presented with a listing of
your suspense items in the order:
                          OVERDUE ITEMS
                         ITEMS DUE TODAY
                  ITEMS DUE IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS
                   OTHER SUSPENSES FACING YOU



                          - <RETURN> -

     All  major menus of the pSSSt system have a  RETURN  option.
Each will return you to the previous menu, and in the case of the
main  menu,  will  exit pSSSt.   DO NOT exit pSSSt in  any  other
fashion  or  you are likely to lose data,  screw  up  your  index
files,  or both.  If the program seems to hang up and there is no
disk  access  going  on (no light flashing on your  disk  drive),
check  your printer.   If the program is trying to print and  the
printer is not on, the program will hang up.  Turn the printer on
and  it will resume.   In case of some other hangup you can  exit
pSSSt by hitting ESCAPE twice.   This will leave you at the dBase
dot  prompt with your files open.   Either exit dBASE  by  typing
QUIT  or type CLEAR at the dot prompt.   Either of these  methods
will close your files and prevent loss of data.


                           - BACKUP -

     When  you exit pSSSt via <RETURN> on the main menu,  you are
asked  if  you  wish  to  backup  your  data.    This  is  highly
recommended as pSSSt,  dBASE,  and other program software can  be
replaced  from your backup copies but data cannot unless you keep
it backed up.   If you select the (Y) option,  the current  years
suspense,  completed,  and  deleted files are copied to the drive
you specified during the configure session.   If you specfied  no
drive  (just hit return) during that session,  you will be  asked
which drive you wish to use.   Once backup is either accomplished
or bypassed, you will be returned to the MS-DOS system prompt.


                         - LIMITATIONS -

     The  major  limitation other than the physical size  of  the
fields  available for data entry is that a semi-colon entered  in
any  field used during printout to either screen or printer  will
really  mess up the display.   I used a routine to trap this  out
where  I  thought this was likely to occur.   In the interest  of
speed,  I did not do this in all cases where it is possible.  Any
other limitations are unknown to me at this time


                           - CHANGES -

     Version 2.0 is the current version of pSSSt.   I welcome any
and all comments and ideas.  Future plans for the program include
conversion to dBase III to increase the speed and compilation  so
that  users  without  access to dBase may use it.   Notes  as  to
future   changes   will  be  logged  in  this  section   of   the
documentation.


                           - CREDITS -

     Version  1.0  of pSSSt was written by Lt Col Denny  Hugg  of
ANGSC/DOS fame.   The major algorythms for version 2.0 were drawn
from that, however the coonass influence was removed.  Credit for
the graphics goes to TSgt G. "Mac"Feggan.  A month ago I couldn't
spell  grafics.   The  oldest  Captain  in  the  world,  Prof  Al
Morrison, is responsible for teaching me how to make some of this
work on the Z-150.   You can blame him for what I may do to those
machines  in the future.   Capt Charlie is a nit-picker as far as
screen displays go.  Thanks to him for the guidance.

              Foreward comments and suggestions to:
                         Maj Jim McMurry
                      3110 Mitchell Street
                     Madison, Wi  53704-2591
                           AV 273-8303

And  tell  your boss to tell his boss to tell his boss  that  our
orders should be renewed in the fall of 1987.