Contents

Overview

Operation

Credits and History

Registration


Credits and History

This really cool, totally rad program was written by Mark Jesiel.

It was designed as a quick simple envelope printing program for windows.  After some help from a friend, it grew to what it is now.  Future editions will include even more features, that will make it even more  useful.  We must include credit to George Toft who helped in some  aspects of the developement.

Planned additions to PostMaster:

Add the option to place your own Logo in the upper left corner of the envelope

Add a new file system, enabling you to be able to print envelopes for an  entire 'address book' file.  Useful for say, Christmas cards, or club mailings

Any other useful addition thought by you, and brought to our attention


friend
What is a friend?

Someone who keeps telling you your program isn't good enough.


George Toft

The man We pulled from the dark depths of DOS Programming, to the light of Windows.


Who is Mark Jesiel?
Mark Jesiel

Thats me!!  The Programmer of this cool utility!


Overview

What is PostMaster v1.2?

PostMaster is a simple, really cool envelope addressing program.  You really need it if you print alot of envelopes on your computer.  PostMaster supports Business size (default), Personal size, and has an option  for custom size envelopes.  You can have postmaster run in the  background and shift to it to print an envelope.  It is fast and simple, with  very few commands to use, all the buttons are readily available for quick  access.


custom
Custom size envelopes.

Envelopes come in many different sizes.  Like all those cards you buy for your  special someone.  PostMaster is the first utility to allow you to print to a  custom size envelope just by telling it the height and width of the envelope.  PostMaster will do the calculations to place the addresses in the proper  place on the envelope.


Operation

To run PostMaster, double click on the PostMaster icon in Program Manager.  If you haven't set up an icon for PostMaster in Program Manager, see the  Windows user guide for how to do that.  If you installed PostMaster using  the included setup program, than setup already made a program manager group  and Icon for PostMaster.

The PostMaster window has several buttons which control the program.

Select one of the following items to learn more:

Return Address

Business Button

Personal Button

Custom Button

Open Button

Save Button

Help Button

About Button

Print

Clear & Paste

Options

Quit


Return Address

Your last used return address is automatically loaded into  the return address box in the envelope upon startup.  To change this  just click in the return address box and type in your  new return address.  Or click on the Options button and select open  return address.  This will open a dialog box exactly like the Open dialog  for the main address.  You may choose any address you have on file for your  new return address.  As with the address Open dialog, whichever address file  you have selected, postmaster will display the address in a window for you  so you do not have to remember all those short DOS filenames.   The address that is displayed in the open dialog is the address that will be  placed in the return address window when you press 'OK'.


Business Button

Sets up PostMaster to print on a standard size 4 1/8" by 9 1/2" envelope.  This size is commonly referred to as a 'Business' envelope.  For laser  printers, you should feed the envelope into the printer centered, and with  the right edge as the leading edge.  For dot matrix printers, butt the  envelope up to the upper left corner of the carriage.


Personal Button

Sets up PostMaster to print on a standard size 3 5/8" by 6 1/2" envelope.  This We refer to as a Personal size envelope.  For laser printers, center the  envelope with the right edge as the leading edge.  For dot matrix printers  butt the envelope to the upper left corner of the carraige.


Custom Button

Lets you enter the size for a custom envelope.  You must enter the  dimensions in inches.  Do not enter an identifier, just the numeric  value (ie. 5.5).  This allows you to print on those odd size envelopes that  come with all those cards you buy for that special someone.  If you enter  either number as a 0 or leave it blank PostMaster will ignore the whole  thing and not change the current settings.  Some trial and error may be  required to get 'perfect' results.


Open Button

Opens a file which is a saved Address.  These files will have the  .env extension.  This will allow you to print envelopes out  rapidly without having to enter addresses over and over.  The currently  selected address will be displayed in a window below the 'OK' and 'Cancel'  buttons.  Which ever address is in the window, that is the address that  will be placed in the address box on the envelope when you press 'OK'.  You may also 'Double-click'the address file name in the file box and that  will do the same as clicking the 'OK' button.  This is a very helpful feature that is unique to PostMaster.  This prevents you from having to remember all those short 8 letter DOS filenames.  As long as the address you want is in the window, you're set.  Press 'OK' and it'll be copied to the address workspace in the main PostMaster window.


DOS

That archaic character based operating system based on the old PC's of yore.   Unfortunately, Windows relies on DOS for file access.


.env definition
.env

The extension for envelope files used by PostMaster.


Save Button

Lets you save an Address to disk for future use.  This keeps you from  having to retype or remember an address.  This automatically will save the  address with the extension '.ENV' so you don't have to type the extension.

Note!

Currently, PostMaster will only prompt you before overwriting an existing  file if you include the extension.  So to ensure maximum safety and  prevent from overwriting files, add the .ENV extension yourself.


Help Button

Brings up this Help file.


About Button

Brings up the 'About' screen. This gives me credit, and lets you  know what version you are using.  For those of you who are peekers and pokers  there is a hidden message in the About box.  In fact there is a hidden  message in the main PostMaster window as well.


Quit
Quit Button

This button will quit postmaster without having to choose close from the  control box in the upper left corner.  Alternate way to quit is to use the  universal windows close key combination 'ALT-F4'.


Registration
Registration.

PostMaster v1.2 is considered Shareware. With shareware, you as the user are  given the important opportunity to try before you buy.  You may use PostMaster  on your computer, try it out and see how it fulfills your needs.  We also  encourage you to give copies to friends to try out.  After 30 days  you are obligated to register PostMaster by sending in the small registration  fee.  If you do not desire to register PostMaster, than you are obligated to  remove the software from your computer.  All this is on an honor system, Please  respect the efforts of others. To register PostMaster please leave me E-Mail on  Compuserve.  Then send in your registration fee to the address below.

To register or for further information, you can contact me via Compuserve mail at address:71554,3102

Tropical Software

3137 Nautilus Court

Orlando, FL 32827

Thanks for trying PostMaster v1.2


Giving copies of PostMaster to friends

You may freely distribute PostMaster to friends and associates.  In fact we  encourage it. The only requirement is that PostMaster must be distributed  with all associated files.


Printing
Printing with PostMaster

When you click the print button in the main postmaster window, your envelope will be printed to the default printer.  If you are using a Laser Printer, and have chosen that under the printer setup option, then PostMaster will automatically shift your laser printer to landscape mode to print the envelope and then back to portrait mode when it is done printing.  To change the printer  type select "printer setup" from the options button.  You may then choose whichever printer you will be using, and PostMaster will always remember your printer type selection for next time you use PostMaster.

Note

Prior to printing your first envelope, select "PrinterSetup" from the options button, and choose the type of printer you will be using with PostMaster.  The default is to use Laser printer.

Laser Printers

When using a laser printer, follow these simple steps:

1.  Insert envelopes using manual feed, centered with the right edge of the  envelope the leading edge.

2.  Print.

Dot Matrix Printers

When using a Dot Matrix Printer, follow these simple steps:

1.  Insert the envelope into the printer butted up to the upper left  edge of the carraige.

2.  Print, selecting Dot Matrix from the option box.

Note: When you print your first envelope, use a normal sheet of paper  for the first attempt.  As all Dot Matrix printers are slightly different  you may need to make slight adjustments to get perfect results.


Clear & Paste

The Clear and Paste buttons provided with the address and return address  windows, provide a couple useful functions.

The Clear button will clear the current address in its associated window.  The Paste button will paste an address you have copied to the clipboard  from another application, (say, Word Processor), to its associated  address window.


Options
Options Button

The Options button provides for five important, yet seldom used functions.

Change return address font.

This allows you to change the font the return address is displayed and  printed in.  We are limiting the display size to 14 point, so as to fit  the whole address in the window.  Also, you can't display a printer  font on the screen, so postmaster will not change the displayed font  if you choose a printer font, yet the printed output will reflect  the change.

Change address font.

This does the same for the address window as changing the return  address font does for the return address.

Open return address.

This option allows you to open a new file for use as the return  address.  You may use the same .env files as for addresses, so your  selection of return addresses is unlimited.

Save return address.

This option allows you to save a current return address to  disk for future use, either as a return address or main address.  Please note:  postmaster will only prompt you before writing over an existing file  if you add the extension .ENV yourself.

Printer setup.

This option brings up a dialog box that allows you to set up PostMaster for use with either a Laser or Dot Matrix printer.  You only need to set this option once, and PostMaster will remember your Printer setup the next time you run PostMaster.

Register!

It allows you to register  PostMaster by entering the registration number you get from us at  Tropical Software.  Entering the registration number will change the  program to a registered version.  It will disable the shareware  messages.  You may  register this Software by contacting us via Compuserve or U.S. Mail  and send in $10.00 for full registration.  We will send you your own  personal registration number via compuserve or U.S. Mail, whichever  is fastest. As a side note.  For all registered users of PostMaster  v1.2, We will send them registered copies of the next future upgrade  to PostMaster free of charge.

U.S. Mail:  Tropical Software

3137 Nautilus Court

Orlando, FL 32827

Compuserve:  71554,3102