Copyright: ® 1994 Jonathan R. Schwartz.


Help Contents
Contents

INTRODUCTION

Why This Program

What it Does:

Installation:

FILES

File Format

Multiple Data Files

HOW TO WORK IT:

Warning

Menu of the Main Window

Buttons on the Main Window

Finding a Record

Dialing a Number.

Printing

Disclaimer

Legal Whatfors


Why This Program

This program is intended to do only one thing - to allow you to store names and addresses, plus other information about the people you know, and to feed it back in the forms you need.

I wrote this program to fill a need I have had for years.  The fancy address databases can cost plenty, and do more than I need or want to pay for.  The simple ones don't do enough.  The Tree Frog Address System is, as Goldilocks said, "just right" - for me.  Try it and see if it fits your needs also.

Gray Tree Frog Address System

© 1993 Jonathan R. Schwartz

Prodigy DSHJ11A

Compuserve 71736,336


What it Does:

1.  Stores names, addresses, phone numbers in a flat file (which means you can copy it into any word processor and play with it if you want, and no need to worry about the data format becoming obsolete)

2.  Allows you to search on ANY field at all, just by typing in part of what you are looking for.

3.  Allows you to scroll up and down and accross the grid with the arrow keys.

4.  Dials the number of the selected person (home or work), and allows you to drag and drop any field from the grid onto the dialhome or dialwork buttons.

5.  Will copy the chosen person's info into the clipboard.

6.  Allows you to use as many data files as you want.

7.  Prints reports on all or selected records (use any field)

8.  Creates comma-separated mail merge files which can be read into many word processors - on all or selected records, home or office address.

9.  Prints mailing labels (single row on dot matrix printers, triple row on laser printers) for all or selected records, home or office address.  Please note:  the only real difference between the dot matrix setting and the laser printer setting is that laser printers eat envelopes sideways, and print only full sheets of labels.  If you wish to print labels 3 across on a dot matrix printer,  just tell the Tree Frog that your dot matrix is a laser printer.  In many cases it will work.

10. Prints envelopes for the selected person - home or office address.

11. You can create separate icons for each data file you have, by including the name of the file as a parameter in the command line - (i.e.  C:\MAIL\MAIL.EXE MYFILE.DAT)


Installation:

1.    Place MAIL.EXE and MAIL.INI in any directory of your chosing.

2.    Move the other files into your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory, IF you do not have NEWER versions already there!

3.    Create an icon in your Windows Program Manager by selecting

File

New

Program Item

then your directory and MAIL.EXE

you can follow MAIL.EXE with the path and name of

a data file (myfile.DAT) if you wish, otherwise the program

will create MAIL.DAT where you installed the program.

You must have VBRUN300.DLL in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory to run this program.


File Format

The gtf Address System does not use a data base or indexed file.

It was intended to keep all information as plain text, which could then be transported anywhere.

The entire data file is a single run-on record, with the characters ZZZZZ at the end of each name and address.

Any word processor can simply replace the ZZZZZ with a carriage return to separate the records if desired.

The individual records are sorted when you start the program.  For speed purposes, it is not recommended to have more than 1000 records in each file.

You can keep each type of contact in a separate file, with a windows icon for each


Multiple Data Files

You might have many reasons for separating your data into different files - Little League vs Christmas Cards, Business vs Family, whatever.  You can create a new file by clicking on File, then Select/New File.  You will be presented with a dialog box to give your new file a location and name.  Afterwards, you can access that file through the menu.  You can also create a windows icon for each data file.

The example below assumes that you have installed the program in a directory called TFMAIL, and all of your data files are in a directory called MAILDATA.

To set up separate icons for each data file, from the Program Manager, click

File

New

Program Item

Description =

your data file (I.E. GOLF)

Command Line =

C:\TFMAIL\MAIL.EXE C:\MAILDATA\GOLF.DAT

(this is the name of the program, followed by the name of your file)

Working Directory =	C:\TFMAIL

OK


Warning

I have tried to make this as simple as possible.  One thing to remember is that clicking on a field will clear all fields, UNLESS you have first selected MODIFY! or ADD!.   Hitting ENTER will complete the action! - Use TAB to move around.


Menu of the Main Window

The Main Menu looks like the image below.  The top of the screen has your name, whether you are Searching for a record, Adding one or Modifying one, and the name of your data file.

The Menu line has the options listed below.  You can select an option by clicking on it, or by pressing the ALT key and then the underlined letter.

Related Topics:

Files

Adding a Record

Clear the Screen

Clipboard

Modifying a Record

Finding Next and Previous Matches with the Menu

Deleting a Record

Changing Screen Color


Files

The File menu allows you to Select an existing file or create a New file  You can also modify your printer setup and exit the program.  By default, the program will open a file called MAIL.DAT.  However, you can create other files using this menu option, and open them directly by adding the name of the file to the  run-time command.  See also Multiple Data Files.


Adding a Record

To add a record, click on Add! on the main menu and start typing.  Use the mouse or TAB between fields.  Hitting ENTER will save the record.  The Add! switch will remain on until you click CancelAdd!.


Clear the Screen

The Clear! option on the main menu will remove any information showing in the top part of the screen.


Clipboard

Selecting Clipboard! from the main menu will copy the selected record into the windows clipboard


Modifying a Record

The Modify! option on the main menu will allow you to change the current record.  Normally, clicking on any field will clear the upper part of the screen.  When Modify has been chosen, you can click freely on any field you wish to change.  Hitting ENTER will write the modified record to disk.


Finding Next and Previous Matches with the Menu

Next! and Previous! on the main menu are two ways of finding the next or previous match of the text you are searching on.  You can also click on the Next or Previous buttons.  In addition, when you make a record current, the Next button is activated so that you can continue a forward search just by pressing ENTER.  If you found a record by typing in part of any field, Next! and Previous! will find the next partial match.  If you selected a record by double-clicking on the grid, Next! and Previous! will find the next exact match for that field.


Deleting a Record

Click on the Delete! option on the main menu to delete the current record.


Changing Screen Color

Selecting Color! on the main menu will bring up a set of slide bars to select the color of the background and the labels of the main screen.  Simply slide the button to the right or left with the mouse, or click on the arrows at either end of the bar.  Choose the colors that look best on your monitor, and click on Select Colors.


Buttons on the Main Window

There are six buttons at the bottom of the main window.

Related Topics:

Finding the Next Match with the Buttons

Finding the Previous Match with the Buttons

The Print Button on the Main Window

Modem Port Settings

Dialing with the Buttons


Finding the Next Match with the Buttons

The Next button will find the next record that matches your search value.  After you find a record, either click on this button to find another match, or, since it receives the focus automatically, you can just press ENTER.


Finding the Previous Match with the Buttons

The Previous button will find the previous record found.


The Print Button on the Main Window

The Print button will bring you to the Print Window, where you can choose between printing labels, envelopes, reports or mail-merge files.


Modem Port Settings

The Modem Port selection box allows you to tell the program where your modem is.  This setting is stored in the MAIL.INI file.


Dialing with the Buttons

The Dial Home button will dial the home phone number of the selected record.  It will also dial the home phone number of any record that is dragged from the grid at the bottom of the screen and dropped on it.

The Dial Work button will dial the work phone number of the selected record.  It will also dial the work phone number of any record that is dragged from the grid at the bottom of the screen and dropped on it.


Finding a Record

To find a record, start typing in any field.  The first record that contains the letters you have typed (anywhere in the field) will move to the top of the grid.  Hit ENTER to select that record.  Once you have selected a record, the focus moves to the 'Next' button.  Just keep hitting ENTER to see further matches.  To go backwards, either click on the 'Previous' button, or use the menu.

You can also retrieve a record by double-clicking anywhere on the grid line.  In that case, selecting Next or Previous will retrieve only further exact matches.


Dialing a Number.

The Gray Tree Frog will dial any number - as long as you have a modem attached to your computer.  Use the radio buttons on the Modem Port box to indicate the address for your modem.

The Dial Home button will dial the home phone number of the selected record.  It will also dial the home phone number of any record that is dragged from the grid at the bottom of the screen and dropped on it.

The Dial Work button will dial the work phone number of the selected record.  It will also dial the work phone number of any record that is dragged from the grid at the bottom of the screen and dropped on it.

Do not pick up the phone while the computer is dialing!  Wait until all numbers have been dialed.  Then, pick up the handset and click on the button, which is now labeled Release.


Printing

By printing, the Gray Tree Frog means printing envelopes, labels, reports, and also creating a mail-merge file for your word processor.

To get to the Print Screen, click on the Print Button, or type ALT+P.

The top of the print screen contains a menu to set up your printer, change your return address, and cancel.

The bottom of the print screen contains your choice of dot matrix or laser printers.  These are generic settings.  The dot matrix printer will (for now) print only a single row of labels.  The laser printer will print three across.   Please note:  the only real difference between the dot matrix setting and the laser printer setting is that laser printers eat envelopes sideways, and print only full sheets of labels.  If you wish to print labels 3 across on a dot matrix printer,  just tell the Tree Frog that your dot matrix is a laser printer.  In many cases it will work.

Related Topics:

Envelopes

Labels

Mail-Merge

Reports

Return Address


Envelopes

At the present time, the gtf Address System is set up to print hand-fed envelopes only, one at a time.  The name and address selected in the main window is the one printed.  You can select either the home or the business address.  The return address printed on the envelope may be changed by using the Change Return Address menu option on the print screen.  This information is saved in the MAIL.INI file in the directory you are running the program from.

To print the envelope, click on the Home or the Work button in the section of the Print Screen labeled Legal Envelope.

Remember that the envelope buttons will print the selected name only.


Labels

You can print labels for all or only a few addresses in your list using the Print Screen.  This can be a bit tricky the first time, but then should be quite easy.

There are 2 boxes at the top of the print screen, labeled 'Field' and 'Value to Match'.  When you first open the Print Screen, the 'Field' will be blank, and the 'Value to Match' will be ALL.  This will print all names in your file.

To select only a few names, click on the drop-down arrow next to the 'Field' box.  You will see a list of all the types of information available for each record.  Click on the field that will have information you want to match.  For example, you might want to select people who work in a particular Business City.  So click on that.

Then in the 'Value to Match', type in all or part of the name of the city.  When you click on the button labeled 'Work' in the Labels box, you will get labels for all matching names and business addresses.

You might have in the Comments for some records the phrase 'came to fundraiser last year'.  By selecting Comments in the 'Field', and typing came to fundraiser in the 'Value to Match', you will print labels for everyone with that information.

If you are looking for people in a particular area code, typing 1-212- (assuming that is how you entered the phone numbers) would give you a listing of everyone in New York City.

The reports and labels will include ALL records, unless you first choose a field to match (click on the down arrow on the 'FIELDS' field on the print screen) and then replace 'ALL' with the pattern to match.

Once you have selected the records you want, click on the Home or Work button in the Labels section of the screen.

 Please note:  the only real difference between the dot matrix setting and the laser printer setting is that laser printers eat envelopes sideways, and print only full sheets of labels.  If you wish to print labels 3 across on a dot matrix printer,  just tell the Tree Frog that your dot matrix is a laser printer.  In many cases it will work.


Mail-Merge

The Gray Tree Frog will create a comma separated mail-merge file that can be used with word processors and spreadsheet programs.  The process is the same as creating printed reports or labels.

There are 2 boxes at the top of the print screen, labeled 'Field' and 'Value to Match'.  When you first open the Print Screen, the 'Field' will be blank, and the 'Value to Match' will be ALL.  This will print all names in your file.

To select only a few names, click on the drop-down arrow next to the 'Field' box.  You will see a list of all the types of information available for each record.  Click on the field that will have information you want to match.  For example, you might want to select people who work in a particular Business City.  So click on that.

Then in the 'Value to Match', type in all or part of the name of the city.  When you click on the button labeled 'Work' in the Labels box, you will get labels for all matching names and business addresses.

You might have in the Comments for some records the phrase 'came to fundraiser last year'.  By selecting Comments in the 'Field', and typing came to fundraiser in the 'Value to Match', you will print a report of everyone with that information.

If you are looking for people in a particular area code, typing 1-212- (assuming that is how you entered the phone numbers) would give you a listing of everyone in New York City.

The reports and labels will include ALL records, unless you first choose a field to match (click on the down arrow on the 'FIELDS' field on the print screen) and then replace 'ALL' with the pattern to match.

When you are ready to create the file, click on the button labeled Print to Disk in the Mail Merge section of the Print Screen.


Reports

You can print a report of all or only a few addresses in your list using the Print Screen.  This can be a bit tricky the first time, but then should be quite easy.

There are 2 boxes at the top of the print screen, labeled 'Field' and 'Value to Match'.  When you first open the Print Screen, the 'Field' will be blank, and the 'Value to Match' will be ALL.  This will print all names in your file.

To select only a few names, click on the drop-down arrow next to the 'Field' box.  You will see a list of all the types of information available for each record.  Click on the field that will have information you want to match.  For example, you might want to select people who work in a particular Business City.  So click on that.

Then in the 'Value to Match', type in all or part of the name of the city.  When you click on the button labeled 'Work' in the Labels box, you will get labels for all matching names and business addresses.

You might have in the Comments for some records the phrase 'came to fundraiser last year'.  By selecting Comments in the 'Field', and typing came to fundraiser in the 'Value to Match', you will print a report of everyone with that information.

If you are looking for people in a particular area code, typing 1-212- (assuming that is how you entered the phone numbers) would give you a listing of everyone in New York City.

The reports and labels will include ALL records, unless you first choose a field to match (click on the down arrow on the 'FIELDS' field on the print screen) and then replace 'ALL' with the pattern to match.

After selecting the records you want, click on the Home or the Work button in the section of the Print Screen labeled Reports


Return Address

You can change the Return Address printed on envelopes by clicking on Change Return Address on the print menu.  You will be presented with a window in which you can type your name and address.  Like your chosen colors, the type of printer, and your modem port, this information will be stored in a file called MAIL.INI.


Legal Whatfors

This program is SHAREWARE, and is copyrighted 1993-1994 by

Jonathan Schwartz

39 Village Lane

Burlington, CT 06013

Compuserve       71736,336

Prodigy          DSHJ11A

PPORIENT created by Paul Poellinger, Compuserve 70732,3576

THIS SOFTWARE IS SOLD 'AS IS' AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.  BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED.  GOOD DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY TESTED WITH NON-CRITICAL DATA BEFORE RELYING ON IT.  THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM.  ANY LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE.