Introduction

     This is a demonstration version of MacAgent.  The only features that are disabled are the ability to keep track of an unlimited number of submitted works and to print the information.  This was done so that you could evaluate the program’s features while still giving you an incentive to pay for it.  If you have any questions or suggestions while evaluating MacAgent, please contact me.  My e-mail address is:

     jafl@alice.wonderland.caltech.edu

     I will usually be able to answer you within 24 hours.

     Or you can send me regular mail at:

     John Lindal
     P.O. Box 4092
     Point Dume, CA  90264
     USA

Ordering

     When you purchase MacAgent, you will receive a personalized copy of the program, the companion “Guide to Successful Publishing” which contains inside information on how the publishing business works, and data files for use with MacAgent that contain the names and addresses of the major book and magazine publishers.

     To purchase MacAgent, please send US$25 (check (paper, not rubber) or money order) to:

     John Lindal
     P.O. Box 4092
     Point Dume, CA  90264
     USA

     and please let me know if you have an e-mail address.  I won’t discriminate, so if you don’t have e-mail, I’ll send you MacAgent via regular mail.  But it will be much easier for you if I have your e-mail address because I can then send you updated versions of MacAgent as soon as they are ready, and I can more easily answer any questions and deal with any problems you may have.

The On-Line Help System

     It is my belief that the only truly useful on-line help system is a graphical, interactive system where you can point to something and get instant information about it.  Some programs do this by simulating a HyperCard stack.  With the advent of Balloon Help, however, this has become obsolete.  Balloon Help is a graphical, interactive system where you point at something with the mouse in order to get information about it.

     MacAgent is therefore fully equipped with Balloon Help.  You can turn it on at any time by using the Balloon Help menu in the upper right-hand corner of your menu bar.

     Of course, Balloon Help can’t fully explain every nuance, and it is probably impossible to design a perfectly self-explanatory interface for any useful program.

     I have therefore added this on-line manual to describe the concept and features of MacAgent.  Pull down the Help menu for a list of topics.

     This on-line manual is even “smart.”  While working with any window, select “Help...” from the Apple menu (or press the “help” key on extended keyboards) to automatically select this window and display the section relevant to what you are working on.

Future Versions

     If you have any suggestions for improving this program, please let me know.  The program was, after all, written to help you.

Disclaimer

     I have tried to debug this program on all the common Macs.  However, I can’t guarantee that it will work with all systems.  If the program does crash, let me how it happened (the last thing you saw on the screen before the crash, error messages, and error numbers are very useful!), and I’ll do my best to fix the problem.