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U S E R S' M A N U A L
H O M E B A S E V E R S I O N 2 . 0
Copyright 1987
Brown Bag Software
2155 So. Bascom Ave #114
Campbell Ca 95008
Tel: (408) 559-4545
1
HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
HOMEBASE 2.0
HomeBase is a complete Desktop Organizer. It has at least one up
on SideKick. Indeed, PC Magazine went so far as to say: "One way
to look at it is to say that Borland's product is a first-
generation organizer, while ... [Homebase] is second or third
generation. It delivers the most bang for the buck among desktop
organizers."
HomeBase will run on a 256k machine with two disk drives, but it's
really designed for computers with hard drives. This makes sense
in view of its extensive DOS services. It requires only 180k of
memory when it is resident in memory. HomeBase works with
virtually every program although you must sometimes take care to
stack the various elements correctly in the AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Once installed, HomeBase can be called on while just about any
other program is active and it can perform communication tasks
quietly in the background while other programs are working.
Primary HomeBase functions include: DOS services, linear database
services, editor/word processor, calendar/appointment book,
terminal communications, calculator and cut-and-paste operations.
The key combination <Alt><Shift><H> brings up HomeBase's main
menu, which lists major options:
Calculator <Alt><Shift><=>
Calendar <Alt><Shift><C>
DOS Services <Alt><Shift><D>
NoteBases <Alt><Shift><N>
Quickterm <Alt><Shift><Q>
Cut <Alt><Shift><K>
You can select the required function by using a smart cursor or by
pressing the indicated key combinations. Helpful messages are
displayed at all times on the prompt line, and context-sensitive
help is always available by pressing F1.
CALCULATOR
The "scientific-type" calculator has 26 memory variables, a "tape"
that can be saved or pasted into other work and a feature that
enables you to cut a column of figures from any other program
screen and move them into the processing area. Calculations can
be done in decimal floating point or hex. Conversions are
instantaneous.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
CALENDAR
In this Special Version of HomeBase, two calendars can be
maintained simultaneously so that an office secretary, for
example, can keep separate appointment calendars for two people in
her operation. A query facility enables you to respond to such
questions as: "When did Joe and Mary have lunch together?" or
"Give me a list of any time anyone in the office had a meeting
with Customer Jones." or "Total my expenses for the day and move
them over to the word processor so that I can write an excuse for
the boss.".
The "daily" calendar view divides the screen into two sections:
appointments for the day and to-do today. Appointments can be
annotated to any length and the to-do list can roll forward to
tomorrow (or any subsequent day) those items that you just didn't
quite finish today.
A "weekly" view shows a week's worth of days, each with a column
of highlighted hours representing appointments. Cursor up, down,
right and left, PgUp and PgDn are used extensively to zoom in and
out of various calendar levels.
In fact, all menus are reminiscent of Lotus 1-2-3 or Microsoft's
Multiplan. A list of possible selections appears at the top of
the screen with the default selection highlighted. You can move
across the list, highlighting the selections in turn or you can
simply hit the first letter of the desired selection.
DOS SERVICES
The DOS Services facility opens up with a single window and a list
of functions. These enable you to view up to four different
directories simultaneously and to mark files for copy, erase or
move operations. Additionally, you can make and remove
subdirectories, rename files and view files in display or edit
modes.
Subgroups of files can be selected (sorted) by pattern, name,
extension or date. Files can be manipulated one at a time or in
groups. In either case, all operations are visible to you. This
is the shell that DOS should have had originally.
DATABASE SERVICES
HomeBase's database services are very powerful, enabling you to
maintain Rolodex-type files, index card records, message records
or, in fact, any form you wish to create. Included in the full
HomeBase package is a template maker and report generator for use
with the system's linear databases. There is no real limit on the
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
number of databases that can be maintained. HomeBase even has a
query language for instantaneous retrieval of data through field
comparison.
TERMINAL SERVICES
HomeBase includes a smart terminal package that allows uploading
and downloading (ASCII or XMODEM) and fully automatic operation.
It also functions as an autodialer for voice communications,
through the NameAddress NoteBase.
In the auto-answer mode, HomeBase's terminal emulator can function
entirely in the background while you are working on something
else. For example, suppose you are working in 1-2-3 when a call
comes into the computer - your partner with a file to upload.
HomeBase will answer the call and notify you (in the 1-2-3 screen)
that it has done so. Your partner can upload his file while you
stay in 1-2-3 or you can duck out of the spreadsheet, communicate
with the caller and then return to the spreadsheet without
dropping a character.
=================================================================
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE CONTINUING
=================================================================
The following conventions are used in this on-disk manual.
[Enter] This is the "Enter" key on your computer.
When you see this symbol in the command line,
you should press the "Enter" key. On some
computer keyboards, the "Enter" key is marked
as "Return" or with a bent arrow that runs
down and to the left.
Type: " " Characters surrounded with quotation marks
should be typed exactly as shown.
<Alt><Shift><H> Keys surrounded with < and > are to be pressed
simultaneously. The example on the left would
be interpreted as holding down the "Alt" and
"Shift" keys with your left hand and pressing
the "H" with your right hand.
While using HomeBase, just one keypress (F1) brings up a help
screen appropriate to what you are trying to do. Feel free to
experiment with HomeBase. Be brave. Try each HomeBase feature.
Play with the Calculator, the Calendar with alarms, the Notebase,
Cut and Paste, Quick Terminal with autodialer, and Dos Services.
There are 100 separate Help Screens which can teach you all you
need to know about HomeBase.
4
HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
*** PLEASE DO NOT JUST COPY THESE FILES TO YOUR DISK! ***
=================================================================
A QUICK LOOK AND CHECK-OUT OF HomeBase
=================================================================
If you are new to HomeBase, you can quickly run HomeBase directly
from the DISK 1 and 2 you have produced from the archives HB20D1
and HB20D2, respectively. However, we suggest that you use this
testing and play -- it does not make a permanent installation on
your disk and will disappear when you turn off your machine. You
will also need to have booted from a DOS disk with "FILES=20" in
the CONFIG.SYS file. The CONFIG.SYS file is explained later on in
this text.
To run quicky, type:
A:QUICKY<RETURN>
Answer the questions and do what QUICKY asks you to do.
=================================================================
HOW TO INSTALL
=================================================================
Insert the HomeBase Disk # 1 in floppy disk drive A:
Log onto Drive A: by typing:
A:<RETURN>
Run the install program by typing:
INSTALL<RETURN>
This will run a "batch file" that will install HomeBase for you.
You will be presented with various questions. If you do not answer
the questions correctly, you can run the install program as often
as you'd like. When the HomeBase install program is finished, it
will configure an AUTOEXEC.BAT file to automatically load HomeBase
when you power-up your machine. To "bring-up" HomeBase 2.5, press
the "ALT" key and the "Left Shift" Key at the same time. While
holding these two keys down, press the "H" key.
Brown Bag Software also provides a computer bulletin board that
can be dialed with a modem.
In addition to providing a convenient way to test HomeBase's
QuickTerm with your modem, the Brown Bag Bulletin Board also has
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
files and utilities online for use with Brown Bag Products.
Technical support for Brown Bag Software is available also. The
Brown Bag Bulletin Board is provided as a free service to Brown
Bag customers and non-customers alike. Our software support
technicians are NOT able to provide support for the Brown Bag
Bulletin Board.
=================================================================
SWAPPING
=================================================================
Swapping is an important feature of HomeBase, but you must
understand its limitations. Swapping is a great boon since it
reduces the memory required by HomeBase from approximately 170+K
to about 80K. Some programs, however, are not compatible with
swapping.
When you type Alt+Shift+H (or Alt+Shift+Shift), the HomeBase
kernel (HBKERNEL) program, which is always resident, first saves
the current executing task and then puts HomeBase in its place.
When you exit HomeBase the reverse occurs: HomeBase is written
back to disk and the original program reappears on your screen.
While the kernel is reading and writing to the disk to perform the
swapping you must "wait". On a hard disk you "wait" about 3 to 5
seconds. On a RAM disk, like VDISK supplied with DOS, you "wait"
about 1 second or less. We recommend that you use a RAM disk if
you have Expanded or Extended memory (such as the ABOVE type
board). If you do not have expanded or extended memory (i.e.,
memory that lies outside the normal 640k that DOS uses) then you
should NOT use a RAM disk for swapping since there is no advantage
-- either use hard disk swapping or use HomeBase in the non-swap
resident mode.
=================================================================
NOTES about SWAPPING
=================================================================
The 1 to 5 second delay applies only to the entry and exit of
HomeBase. Once you are inside HomeBase, jumping to the many
functions of HomeBase takes no time at all. Swapping only occurs
when you "escape" to the outside by typing Alt+Shift+Esc or
Alt+Shift+Return. ESC alone works only if there is just one active
HomeBase task; otherwise ESC jumps you to one of the remaining
active HomeBase functions.
The HomeBase screens will appear immediately if they have been
previously activated.
6
HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
HomeBase performs swapping by writing and reading a special
"hidden" 181K file named HBSWAP$$.HB$. Thus, there must be 181K
space free on your disk. This file cannot be deleted by DOS. The
swap file must be in the root directory. For greatest speed, the
swap file should be contiguous. If you don't know what this means,
don't worry about it.
If you use a RAM disk, only the swap file need be located there.
The HomeBase subdirectory can be on the hard disk. INSTALL will
ask you for the drive letter of the disk where you want the swap
file to be placed.
To install HomeBase in the swapping mode you can:
1) Specify it during the INSTALL program.
2) Specify it in the HBCONFIG.HB$ file.
Use your word processor to make or modify this file (which is
created by INSTALL). The first line should be:
D: S
where D: is the drive where the swap file should go. To cancel
swapping change "S" to "-S".
3) Specify it manually by typing "S" in the right spot on the
command line, e.g. to specify swap on drive D: type:
HB D: S
The drive letter and "S" or "-S" must precede the other letter
options permitted by HomeBase (such as I, D, Z, etc.). The colon
(:) must be typed after the drive letter (as shown above).
=================================================================
The "DO NOT SWAP" Warning Beep
=================================================================
HomeBase must never try to swap out a user program that is using
the asynchronous or timer-tick interrupts. If a modem sent a
character or a timer tick occurred, the CPU would jump to code
that no longer exists, i.e. it has been removed (swapped) to
temporary storage on disk.
HomeBase tries to detect programs that are unswappable, but
without prior knowledge about the user's program, there is no
infallible way to prevent errors. Thus, in rare cases, HomeBase
will try to swap out a program that should not be swapped out.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
HomeBase places itself as high as possible in memory, so that it
is unlikely to conflict with all but the largest programs. If you
have only 256K of memory, however, it is likely that part of the
main program you are running (like Lotus or a word processor) will
be swapped out during HomeBase operation.
HomeBase scans all interrupts for possible connections to the
program that is about to be swapped out and, if a conflict is
found, will not swap. However, in order to inform you that this
has occurred and to prevent further confusion, HomeBase plays the
tune "Yankee Doodle Dandy". Sometimes HomeBase plays this tune but
still allows swapping because the interrupt number is 50 or
greater. These interrupts are rarely used when the program is not
active. In any case, if you find a program that "fools" HomeBase
or causes a problem, you can put a "safety shield" around it by
using a batch program that runs the supplied SWAP.COM program.
=================================================================
SWAP.COM: A Safety Shield for Non-swappable Programs
=================================================================
The SWAP.COM program prevents swapping until an unswappable user
program has been terminated. You must create a "batch" file in
which SWAP OFF appears before the program and SWAP ON appears
after it. For example, if you find that the program YYY.COM needs
a safety shield, you would make the following batch file named
RUNYYY.BAT:
SWAP OFF
YYY
SWAP ON
Do not name this program YYY.BAT since when you type YYY, DOS
first tries to run YYY.COM or YYY.EXE before trying to run
YYY.BAT. Once this batch program is created (using an editor or
word processor), you need only type:
RUNYYY <RETURN>
(Make sure the SWAP.COM program has been copied from the HomeBase
distribution disk to your working disk).
=================================================================
Types of Programs that are Non-swappable
=================================================================
You cannot swap out programs that are using the ASYNC interrupts
or the timer tick interrupts. Terminal emulator programs use the
ASYNC interrupts, some word processor programs use int 8, 9 and
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
16, and some spreadsheet programs use the timer tick, int 8 and
1C.
Fortunately, if you have 640K of memory, then the non-swappable
part of your program will not overlap the memory that is swapped
out and replaced with HomeBase. Thus sometimes even non-compatible
programs will run perfectly well with HomeBase in the swap mode.
BUT PLEASE EXPERIMENT FIRST!
=================================================================
RUNNINGFROM A FLOPPY DISK
=================================================================
Insert the HomeBase Disk # 1 in floppy disk drive A:
Log onto Drive A: by typing:
A:<RETURN>
Then execute HomeBase by typing:
HOMEBASE<RETURN>
If you want the Calendar and NoteBase files stored (*.NBD files)
on a user defined disk or directory (such as B: or C:\HBNOTES),
add this line at the beginning of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that was
created with the install program. The directory must exist prior
to using this command. To create a directory, type:
MD \DIRECTORY
Where directory is the name of the directory you have chosen.
Set the HBPATH by typing:
SET HBPATH=C:\HBNOTES<RETURN>
USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE!
Put this line at the beginning of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
Because of the wide variety of user programs that conflict with
each other, you may find that the Install Program has failed to
accommodate your particular programs. If this happens, READ ON!
After you have run the Install Program, re-boot your machine by
pressing: Ctrl+Alt+Del. Press all three keys at the same time.
When the reboot has finished, HomeBase should be installed and you
can call up HomeBase as shown on the screen by typing Alt+Shift+H.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
=================================================================
STARTING
=================================================================
Once HomeBase is installed on your disk, you can load it
automatically at boot-up or call it up
manually.
Here's How:
Reboot your machine. If the Install Program has properly modified
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you will see the following message on the
screen:
Press Alt+Shift+H for HomeBase.
Press both the ALT key and the left SHIFT key at the same time and
then press the H with another finger to activate HomeBase.
=================================================================
MANUAL LOAD
=================================================================
If you do not want HomeBase to automatically load on power-up or
the Install Program has failed, you can manually start HomeBase by
typing:
HomeBase<RETURN>
The batch file called HOMEBASE.BAT will initiate HomeBase and give
you the same message given by Automatic load (see above).
If HomeBase does not appear on your screen when you type
Alt+Shift+H please see the "Problems" section.
=================================================================
FILE MAINTENANCE (HBCLEAN)
=================================================================
Most databases, HomeBase's NoteBase system included, require
occasional file maintenance. When a record is deleted from a
NoteBase, it is only marked for deletion. You must run the HBCLEAN
utility to actually purge the deleted information and reclaim file
space. This helps you keep your NoteBases down to the minimum size
and your system at its maximum efficiency.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU BACK-UP YOUR HOMEBASE FILES
PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY DOS OR UTILITY FUNCTIONS ON THEM.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
HOMEBASE DATA FILES HAVE THE ".NBD" EXTENSION AND CAN BE
BACKED UP WITH THE DOS COPY COMMAND.
To perform a file maintenance, enter the subdirectory where your
NoteBases are stored and type:
HBCLEAN *.nbd<RETURN>
The file HBCLEAN.EXE must also be present to perform file
maintenance. If you use your NoteBases frequently, you should get
into the habit of running HBCLEAN once a week or so.
=================================================================
CLEANUP (FOR FLOPPY DISK SYSTEMS ONLY)
=================================================================
HomeBase uses several files during its installation that are no
longer needed once the installation is complete. We have provided
a utility called "CLEANUP" that recognizes and erases these for
you. It can be used in one of two ways:
If you type:
A:CLEANUP<RETURN>
then all install-related programs will be erased from the working
copy (not the master) of HomeBase Disk 1.
Optionally, if you type:
A:CLEANUP HB<RETURN>
The lesser used HB utilities will also be erased. This second
option is for those who want to keep HB utilities on a separate
disk.
The program is safe. You will be asked if it is ok to cleanup.
When the program is done, you can erase cleanup and read-me by
typing:
ERASE CLEANUP.*
ERASE READ-ME
=================================================================
IF YOU NEED HELP
=================================================================
On-Line, context-sensitive help is available at any time by
pressing the F1 function key.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
The F1 function key is usually located on the left hand, top
portion of the keyboard. On some computers the Function Keys are
located on the top of the keyboard.
To exit help, press the Esc key.
In HomeBase, the Esc key exits the current HomeBase application
window. If you press escape a number of times, you will
eventually close all of the HomeBase windows and exit to DOS.
=================================================================
SHORTCUTS TO HOMEBASE MODULES
=================================================================
The <Alt><Shift><Esc> key is just one of several "hot keys" you
can use as a short-cut way to enter and use HomeBase. The help
screen mentioned above lists them. <Alt><Shift><Enter> and
<Alt><Shift><Spacebar> are particularly helpful for jumping
quickly between various parts of HomeBase and your original
program. Here are some more Hotkey combos for quickly entering and
using the HomeBase module of your choice:
KEY COMBO Result
-----------------------------------------------------------------
<Alt><Shift><N> Accesses NoteBase
<Alt><Shift><Q> Accesses QuickTerm Communications Program
<Alt><Shift><=> Accesses Calculator
<Alt><Shift><E> Accesses Editor
<Alt><Shift><D> Accesses DOS Services
<Alt><Shift><Esc> Leaves HomeBase Module & Returns to What You
Were Doing
=================================================================
CHANGING WINDOW SIZES
=================================================================
The size of many of the windows can be changed by hitting the
NumLock key and using the arrow keys to "press" the window against
the side of the screen. Hitting the Home key will return the
window to its full size.
=================================================================
HOMEBASE ALARMS
=================================================================
HomeBase creates and maintains a file called HBALARMS.HB$ which
contains all the alarms that have been scheduled (for all
calendars). Each time you boot up your computer and start
HomeBase, HBKERNEL reads in the alarm file and schedules all
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
alarms for that day. Alarms from all previous days are deleted,
but in case you have the date set incorrectly, a backup file
called HBALARMS.$H$ can be used to undo the accident. (See
HBALARMS.COM below.)
HomeBase recognizes only the first 12 alarms set on a given day.
If alarms were originally scheduled with the earliest first, then
running the HBALARMS.COM program after the first few alarms have
gone-off will allow the remaining alarms to be set up. Alarms on
the same day, but previous to the current time, will immediately
display and thus be immediately flushed out of the system when you
press <Alt><Shift><End>.
Up to 4 alarms set for the same time (perhaps from separate
calendars) will show on one alarm screen. If more than 4 are
pending, the remaining alarms will show when the user gives the
release signal (<Alt><Shift><End>).
=================================================================
CALCULATOR
=================================================================
To select the calculator, press <Alt><Shift><=>.
Try adding or subtracting numbers by typing, for example, 34+4,
then hit [Enter]. For further information on the calculator, hit
the F1 key for help.
To exit from the Calculator, press the Esc key by itself, or hit
<Alt><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.
NOTE: When you exit a feature using <Alt><Shift><Esc>, you'll
freeze that feature, so that the next time you call it up, you'll
enter exactly where you left off. When you exit using Esc or a
series of Esc's, the next time you call up that feature, you'll be
starting from scratch.
=================================================================
CALENDAR
=================================================================
Press <Alt><Shift><C> to bring up the Calendar section of
HomeBase.
Highlight one of the calendar names using the up or down keys and
press "D" (for day).
What you'll see is the daily appointment calendar. You can reach
help from here by hitting the F1 key. You can try inserting some
information in the appointment slots...and don't worry when you
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
seem to have filled up a slot...just keep typing and you'll notice
more space opening up as you need it.
* Hit Esc to get back to the main calendar menu.
* Move the highlighting cursor along the menu on the top of
your screen by using the left and right arrow keys located on
your numerical keypad. As you highlight a choice, hit the F1
key for information on each selection.
=================================================================
THE HOMEBASE CLOCK
=================================================================
The HomeBase Clock appears in the upper right hand corner of your
screen. If you prefer not to have this feature present, there are
two ways to turn it off.
* Temporary (<Alt><Shift><T> then scroll it off). To turn off
the clock, just hit <Alt><Shift><T> and then press [Enter] a
few times. When you want the clock to reappear, just press
<Alt><Shift><T> again.
* Permanent (Change Autoexec.bat file). If you prefer not to
have the clock at all, then use the HomeBase Editor to change
the information in the line beginning with: HBKERNEL
At some point in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file you will find the
combination C12 or C24, sometimes followed by a lone number.
Just change this to -C0. Then hit <Esc> and "Write" the file
to disk. Reboot your computer, and the clock will be gone.
=================================================================
CHANGING TO 24 HOUR CLOCK (Change Autoexec.bat file)
=================================================================
If you would rather have a twenty-four hour clock onscreen, then
you can use your Editor to make the change. On the line beginning
with "HBKERNEL", change the C12 to C24. Hit the <Esc> key,
"Write" the file to disk and reboot your computer.
=================================================================
SNAPSHOT TIME AND DATE (<Alt><Shift><Y>)
=================================================================
To get a date and time displayed once, just type <Alt><Shift><Y>.
The time will not keep running on this "snapshot" and when you
scroll the screen, the clock will disappear again.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
=================================================================
CUT & PASTE
=================================================================
Cut and Paste allows you to mark and copy anything on your screen
and paste it in anywhere you like. Cut and Paste can hold this
copy in its memory while you change software, so that you can
actually cut something from the screen of one program and paste it
into the screen of another.
HOW TO CUT
* Hit <Alt><Shift><K>
* You'll notice that the cursor becomes a large, blinking
block.
* Place the large, blinking, block cursor at the beginning of
the text to be cut from the screen, using the up, down and
left and right arrow keys to steer.
* Hit the big Plus key on your numeric keypad.
* You'll notice the cursor will stop blinking.
* Use the arrow keys and the PgUp and PdDn keys to highlight
the area you wish to copy.
* Hit the [Enter] key and your screen and cursor will return to
their normal state.
HOW TO PASTE
* Place your normal cursor wherever you wish to paste in
whatever you've copied from the screen.
* Hit <Alt><Shift><P>
=================================================================
DE-INSTALL HOMEBASE AND HBKERNEL FROM MEMORY
=================================================================
The De-install option (located under Options, from the Main Menu
of HomeBase) now permits you to remove HBKERNEL, HBASYNC, HBVSI,
as well as the main module HB. Removing the other modules gives
you about 70 to 80K more memory, but you will lose features such
as the alarms and background capture. Also, if you de-install the
kernel, you will lose any programs which were made resident or are
running after the kernel. Thus, DO NOT DE-INSTALL the kernel if
you are running any other program. You must be at the DOS prompt
15
HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
(like C:>) before you call up HomeBase and use the De-install
option.
=================================================================
DOS SERVICES
=================================================================
You can access DOS Services one of two ways...as indeed you can
any of HomeBase's features. You can either bring up the HomeBase
main menu and select DOS Services from the index of features that
appears, or you can hit the three-key combination of
<Alt><Shift><D> that will take you directly to that feature
without using the HomeBase main menu.
Either:
* Hit <Alt><Shift><H> to bring up the main menu and then select
DOS Services.
Or:
* Hit <Alt><Shift><D> to directly select DOS Services.
To view a directory:
* Move the highlighting cursor bar to the drive you wish to
select in the window on the upper right. Use the up and down
arrow keys on the numeric keypad.
* Hit S (for Select).
* Move the highlighting cursor bar along the horizontal menu at
the top of your screen, hitting the F1 key to view Help for
each option.
* To open another directory window, use the tab key (the one
with the left arrow at the top and a right arrow on the
bottom) to make the Volumes Index "active" again. Now, use
the up or down arrow keys to select the next volume you wish
to view.
* The tab key moves you between active windows.
* Using the tab key, try making one of your directory windows
the active window, and then use the up and down arrow keys to
scroll through the files in that directory.
If either your program or DOS changes or deletes a file, DOS
Services must update its own directory. Press the Esc key and
then [Enter] to update.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
=================================================================
EDITOR
=================================================================
* Either select Editor from the main HomeBase menu, or hit
<Alt><Shift><E>.
* Select "Edit" from the horizontal menu at the top of your
screen.
* At this point you are in the Editor. For the editor
commands, hit the F1 key.
* Try typing a few lines.
* Hit Esc to get back to the main Editor menu.
* Select "Write" to save your file. You will be prompted for a
filename.
* To bring in a file that already exists on your disk, select
"Read". Then select "Edit" to edit the file.
=================================================================
NOTEBASE
=================================================================
Each entry into a NoteBase has a "key", i.e., a word or two that
is used to find it again or to find it during a search of similar
entries. "Hughie Programs", "Jason Notes" and "Mike Notes" are
three examples. You can search for "Notes" to list all notes, or
just "Hughie" to list all of Hughie's stuff.
=================================================================
QUICKTERM (COMMUNICATIONS PACKAGE)
=================================================================
In order to use QuickTerm, you must have a modem installed on your
computer.
Once you have set up all the information you need for a particular
host computer you wish to contact, use the "Write" command found
on the main Autodialer menu to save the configuration. Once you
have done this, the name of the host computer will appear on your
autodialer index. When you wish to call a particular host, just
use the highlighting cursor bar, and the Select command on the
horizontal menu to automatically select the correct configuration
and dial for you.
17
HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
Remember to "WRITE" your configuration when you have finished
setting it. Set the name, number, baud, etc., but then Esc until
you see the "Write" option.
Press "W". This will WRITE the configuration into the autodialer
file on disk.
=================================================================
AUTODIALER
================================================================
In order to use AutoDialer, you must have a modem installed on
your computer.
HomeBase contains a "voice" autodialer. The "Name and Address"
NoteBase is set up to be utilized this way. Just hit <Alt><D> to
dial the FIRST NUMBER. To autodial any other number in the Name
and Address file, move your cursor to that number and hit
<Alt><D>. Any template NoteBase can now be built to contain
autodial fields. You'll find a simple option to do this within
the template maker.
=================================================================
MOST COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
================================================================
IMPORTANT NOTE:
THE FOLLOWING FIXES TO HomeBase MAKE REFERENCES TO THE HBKERNEL
COMMAND LINE OR HBVSI COMMAND LINE. THESE LINES CAN BE FOUND IN
THE AUTOFLOP.BAT FILE ON DRIVE A: IF YOU HAVE A FLOPPY DISK SYSTEM,
OR IN AUTOHARD.BAT IN THE ROOT DIRECTORY OF DRIVE C:
YOU CAN EDIT THIS FILE WITH ANY ASCII BASED TEXT EDITOR.
=================================================================
GENERAL FIXIT PROCEDURE FOR ALL PROBLEMS
================================================================
For diagnostic purposes, remove all programs, and utilities from
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file for the time being, and reboot your system
from a "PLAIN VANILLA" DOS diskette with no AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE.
Temporarily remove all internal cards (hardware) that are not
absolutely essential (modems, network cards, etc.). When you get
HomeBase working, replace the software and hardware one piece at a
time until you find which one is responsible for the failure.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
=================================================================
MODEMS
=================================================================
Set the switches of your MODEM so that Ring Detect and Carrier
Detect are alive and accurately detect the state of the phone
line. For example, on a HAYES EXTERNAL MODEM, switches 1 and 6
need to be up. If you have a HAYES 1200B Internal, you need to
set switches 1 and 2 up and switch 3 down. If your MODEM has no
switches, (like the Hayes 2400B) you usually must do a "software
set" by running HomeBase and using the following keystrokes:
KEYSTROKES PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------
<Alt><Shift><Q> runs Quickterm
T start Terminal
[Enter] skip setting the phone number
AT &C1 &D2 S0=1 &W attention, CD, DTR, answer on 1 ring, write
Esc exit terminal
Esc exit HomeBase
This procedure works with the newer "switchless" Hayes and other
brand Modems. Once this procedure is done you DO NOT have to
repeat it. Your modem is permanently changed to the new settings.
=================================================================
MONO GRAPHIC SCREENS
=================================================================
Some monographic screens require a modification to the default
installation. You will know if you need to perform this operation
if, when you bring HomeBase up, you cannot see the letters
underneath the highlighted bar or cannot see the highlight at all.
Computers with monochrome screens on color emulation display
boards and computers with LCD or plasma displays will need to have
the screen colors set in the HBVSI line using one of the following
sequences:
Monochrome Screens: HBVSI 33k 0 14 6 0 0 0 96 0 0 0 3
LCD screens: HBVSI 33k 0 6 6 0 0 0 96 0 0 0 15 0 0 255 7
Gas Plasma screens: HBVSI 33k 0 14 5 F
In order to run HomeBase properly from a batch file it is
necessary to have a file called CONFIG.SYS in the root directory
of the boot disk at boot time. This file must contain the
following line and may contain others:
FILES=20
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
=================================================================
IF YOU DON'T GET ON-LINE HELP
=================================================================
Your CONFIG.SYS file, located in the Root Directory of your disk
must contain the command line:
FILES=20
If you don't have this line or a line with FILES equal to a number
greater than 20, HomeBase will not be able to access its on-line
help or data files.
=================================================================
CLOCK
=================================================================
Some programs incorrectly take over the clock tick interrupts and
conflict with HomeBase. Just turn off HomeBase's clock. Change
the HBKERNEL line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or HomeBase.Bat files
to read:
HBKERNEL -C0
"-C0" shuts off the clock.
You can just type <Alt><Shift><T> to temporarily toggle the clock
on.
=================================================================
LOTUS 1-2-3
=================================================================
With Lotus 1-2-3 revision 2.0, you need to drop the HomeBase
on-screen clock by removing the "C12 300" in your HBKERNEL command
line and replacing it with a "-C0".
=================================================================
APPLICATIONS WHICH TRAP <Alt><Key> COMBINATIONS
=================================================================
Superkey, Displaywrite 3 and Deskview, for instance, trap some or
all <Alt><Key> combinations for their own purposes. The
<Alt><Shift> combination should, therefore, be changed to
<Ctrl><Shift>. For example, using the HBKERNEL line parameters:
P=29 42. 29 and 42 are the keyboard scan codes for Ctrl and Shift
on the standard IBM keyboard. This may not be correct for other
makes of keyboards or may not be a valid combination for your
computer. In this case, you will need to determine correct
combinations from your computer's user manual.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
=================================================================
DOS COMMAND EDITORS
=================================================================
DOSEDIT and CED should be run after HomeBase has been installed.
=================================================================
CHANGING WINDOW SIZES
=================================================================
The size of many of the windows can be changed by hitting the
NumLock key and using the arrow keys to "press" the window against
the side of the screen. Hitting the Home key will return the
window to its full size.
=================================================================
STEPS TO FIX PROBLEMS
=================================================================
1) Eliminate the keyboard speed repeat (e.g., HBKERNEL K=40 0).
The keyboard speed repeat or speed key speeds-up the repeat
when you hold down a key, such as underlining.
2) Eliminate the keyboard buffer (e.g., K=0 0). The keyboard
buffer is an extension to DOS's 16 key buffer. HomeBase's
keyboard buffer can be extended to 127 characters for
extremely fast typists.
3) Eliminate the clock (e.g., HBKERNEL -C0) HomeBase has an
on-screen clock in the top right corner of the screen; some
programs do not like it.
4) Eliminate the screen interrupt (e.g., HBKERNEL -G=16). By
eliminating this when the screen saver is activated, it will
not return when the screen is updated by a program, only when
the user types a key.
5) Eliminate all special programs -- start from scratch. Try to
find out which program is the source of the problem. Often,
two programs interact so that one alone will work, but both
do not. If you find one or two programs which do not work,
try changing the order in which you load them.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
REGISTRATION FORM
-----------------
You may register your copy by filling out the following form and
mailing it to the listed address along with your check.
When you register for a fee of $89.95 + $5 shipping, you will
receive:
- The latest version of HomeBase on disk.
- The latest Users' Manual.
- Toll-Free Technical Support for 1 year.
When you register for a fee of $49.95 + $5 shipping, you will
receive:
- The latest Users' Manual.
- Non-Toll-Free Technical Support for 1 year.
When you register for a fee of $29.95, you will receive:
- A license to use the copy of HomeBase currently in
your possession.
- Non-Toll-Free Technical support on a Pay-As-You-Go
basis.
You MAY NOT give copies away or sell HomeBase in connection with
any commercial product, service or venture without our written
permission.
Mail checks to: Brown Bag Software, File #41719,
P.O. Box 60000, San Francisco,
Ca 94160-1719.
California residents: Please add 7% tax.
Or call 408-559-4545, 800-523-0764 (800-323-5335 in CA).
MC/Visa/Amex Accepted
In addition, you will be supporting software distributed under the
shareware concept and will be contributing to the further
development of HomeBase and other shareware products.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
Mail To:
Brown Bag Software
File #41719
Box 60000
San Francisco, CA 94160-1719
NAME _________________________________________
COMPANY ______________________________________
ADDRESS ______________________________________
CITY/STATE ___________________________________
ZIP __________________
Serial # on the Opening Screen 2253056038
How did you first learn about HomeBase or where
did you first obtain a copy of HomeBase? If a
Bulletin Board, please give telephone number.
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
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