DP Tool Club 31/CDASC_31_1996_juillet_aout.iso/vrac/dayscan2.zip/DAYSCAN2.DOC

Text File | 1996-05-07 | 11KB | 247 lines

               DAYSCAN.EXE Version 2.0 - Frequency Database System
                    (C)1996 J. Mike Nichols, Mike Carpenter

WHAT IT IS:
-----------
DAYSCAN is a powerful database system designed by radio scanner enthusiasts
to be useful for many aspects of the scanning hobby, and also has uses for
more professional data manipulation. Key features of this version of the
DAYSCAN program include:

     1 Database of radio frequencies and users
       for the Dayton, Ohio area

 (+) 2 Ability to add and edit entries in the database (+)

     3 Powerful Search feature to search for most any item
       in the database by various sorting orders

     4 Strong QBE (Query By Example) abilities to filter
       the database entries by most any criteria

 (+) 5 User Report to print all entries which you have marked
       with channel (or channel and bank) numbers in
       whatever order or filtering you have selected

 (+) 6 Custom Report builder which will let you print any of
       the database fields you select in whatever order
       and filtering you have selected to file or printer

     7 Full Delete/UnDelete, Pack and Re-Index functions, and
       Dayscan will re-index if the indexes are deleted

     8 Pop-up boxes to help entry with State and Service type
       blanks, just press the first key to goto the choice

     9 Spreadsheet style view of data is also available to
       help view more at once

    10 Support for many popular printers, and additional Laser
       functions menu with common commands and options

    11 OnScreen display of date, diskspace, number of records

    12 OnScreen context sensitive help by pressing F1

    13 Programmable function keys to save time with repetitive
       data entry or comments

    14 Clone data from last entry with F2 key to save even more
       time in inputing data.

    15 Program comes with database file of common frequencies
       and more are available when registered.

HOW TO INSTALL:
--------------
First make a directory for the DAYSCAN files to reside in, then copy
the DAYSCN20.ZIP file into this directory. We will suggest a directory
name of C:\DAYSCAN for our example. Then you can un-zip the files by
running the program PKUNZIP, and entering the following command:
PKUNZIP DAYSCAN20.ZIP.

  When the DAYSCN20.ZIP file unzips, it will extract its main program
file, database files, and some other support files. (See the file
named FILELIST for information on each)  You can then run the program
for the first time by typing in the command DAYSCAN and enter.

  Once the program has run and you are satisfied with the installation
you can delete the zip file, or save it to share with others who might
benefit from the DAYSCAN program.


HOW TO USE:
----------
To start the DAYSCAN program, if not already running, just move
to your directory where the program is installed and then type
in DAYSCAN and press the ENTER key.

The first time the program runs, it will pause and create the
various index files that it uses to let you view the database
in various sorting orders. This should not take long on most
of todays PCs and a bar-gauge will show the progress of each
index as it is being created. If you get erratic operation or
index errors ever you can re-build the indexes with the command
on the menu.  In extreme cases where the files may be damaged
due to a power failure or hardware fault, you may have to delete
all the files with the NTX extension prior to re-running the
program.


ADD/EDIT/VIEW DATA
------------------
The main menu has a lightbar function where you can move the
lightbar up and down then press enter to select that option.
The first choice is ADD/EDIT/VIEW and will let you go to the
data view/enter screen for the frequency database.


MOVEMENT THRU THE DATABASE: You can move back and forth thru your
data screens with the arrow keys, with pg-up and pg-dn keys
and HOME and END keys. If the program is registered you can add
to the database with the insert key. The menus at the bottom
of the database screen can be selected with the arrow keys or
by pressing the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter
of that command.

EDITING AN EXISTING ENTRY: Press enter while the EDIT command
is highlighted or press the E key to edit the entry on screen.
Your cursor will move to the first line of the data, and can
be moved around to enter or change data. When you are done
with the edit, be sure to hit enter till off the screen to force
the updated data to be changed. If you make a mistake you can
hit the ESC key to abort the edit and your original data will
not be affected.

ADD A NEW ENTRY: To insert an new entry, press the INSERT key or
highlite the ADD menu choice, then press enter or just press the
A key for ADD. You will be presented with a blank screen to enter
the information into. When you get to the Service type you can
select from the list of existing types or if you have a special
catagory you can use one of the 4 user defined choices by entering
a 1,2,3 or 4 as type. Likewise at the state field you can press the
first letter of the state to enter the state more easily. When done
be sure to go to the last field by pressing enter and the new record
will be saved, and will automatically appear in the order you are
currently viewing. If you are entering a larger batch of records you
may desire to set the order to the first selection, entry order, and
then you can more easily see what you have entered last with the
view keys as the data will then be shown in the order it was entered.
Again, pressing escape will abort the current entry.


SEARCH - The search function is powerful and needs a little bit of
explanation prior to use. The search is fast, as it is performed
on the current sort order index. So you must select the order that
you wish to search from. To find a frequency with search, set the
order to FREQUENCY first. To find a user/agency name, set the order
to USER/AGENCY first.  Then when you press the S for search, you
will need to enter the item you are searching for, and if this is
not a number, it will be case sensitive. Partial names are ok too,
but it will be searching for the letters at the first of the name.
For example, you might search for US ARMY by inputing US as the
search for item.  However just ARMY or using lower case letter for
US will not work. You can use the query function (explained further
in this document) to find occurances of words anywhere in a given
field - and then find ARMY in the "US ARMY" entry.  If your entry
is not found you may go with the closest match - this is really
useful with frequencies. For example you search for 461.7250 and
if its not there but an entry with 461.745 is, you will see it if
you choose to accept the next closest match.  From there you could
press the V key to view the frequencies on either side of it.


DELETING AN ENTRY: To delete an entry, go to that entry with the
usual methods, and then hit the D key or the DEL key or cursor
to the UN/DELETE choice on the menu and press ENTER. The word
DELETED will flash at the top of the screen. The information will
stay in the file until you use the PACK database option on the
main menu, but will not be printed in reports.  If you have deleted
an entry and wish to UNDELETE it, just press the U for undelete while
the entry is visible on screen and the word DELETED will go away.
You can also hit the D key again to turn on and off DELETED.


VIEWING THE DATABASE IN SPREADSHEET FORMAT: To see the data in a
multi-line format select the V option from the menu - VIEW. The
screen will blank, and then show the information in a format
where each line is an entry. You can then use the cursor keys
to move up and down and further to the right or left to see the
fields not on screen.  Press ESC to return to the normal screen.

HELP: Press F1 at most anyplace in the program to see a help screen
that applies to the area in the program where you were when you
called for help.  Esc will exit, and some screens have more pages
as indicated at the bottom edge of the screen.

EXIT:  Just press ESC to exit the program, or X or move the cursor
to the eXit menu command and press ENTER. All these will return you
to the main menu screen.


QUERY: This section takes some practice to use completely but some
of the more common examples are already saved as queries for you to
use, and learn from as examples. Again, F1 will give you more help.



COMMENTS:
---------
This program is the result of thousands of lines of code and was
the product of a team of people working together to get you the user
a useful tool for use with radio frequencies. We are interested in
your suggestions and comments about it and welcome them. Please
address them to the address shown below.


FUTURE:
------
If enough interest is shown, a windows specific version could be made
for distribution. This version though DOS based, will work acceptably
in the OS/2, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups, or
Windows95 environment. Your suggestions will help shape future releases
of DAYSCAN. Registered users will be notified of updates and new products
of interest for scanner users.


WHAT IT COSTS:
--------------
DAYSCAN version 2.0 is a shareware program with a registration fee
of $20.00 fee for non-commercial use. Contact Mike Carpenter at the
address below for information on commercial application of this program.
To register the program, fill out the form enclosed in the distribution
file and send to the address you will find on the form. You will receive
a key file and the larger frequency database after registering. Once these
files are copied to your DAYSCAN directory, your program will have all
the features unlocked, and will show you as the registered user. As with
all shareware, the future of the program depends on your interest. The
developement team has spent considerable time and money to bring this
program to its present state - please register it if you wish to use
it beyond a quick limited demo, or dis-continue use if not. Thanks!!


WARRANTY:
---------
   The usual shareware warranty - none, except to promise that it
will take up space on the disk. The author is not responsible for
any damage or loss due to its use, period. Dayscan has been tested
on a variety of machines under various versions of operating systems
and has been found to be safe under our tests. Obviously we cannot
test it under every conceiveable combination of equipment & software.
Please notify us if the program causes any unusual activity with
other software or hardware you may run it with.


WHERE TO GET MORE:
------------------
   The latest version of this and many other utils and tech help
files are available on the support BBS listed below and thru the
mail at the address below.

Support BBS:   250 Illusions BBS
               [phone]
               2400-28.8 BPS, 8/N/1
               24 Hours a day/7 days a week

Phone Support: [phone]
               You call will be returned as soon as possible!