Global Amiga Experience

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Global Amiga Experience / globalamigaexperience.iso / applications / databases / audio_video / videoassistent / english / video-assistent.doc < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1995-07-10 | 45KB | 1,235 lines

Program documentation Version 1.3 Copyright 1994/95 by Erdelt Computertechnik Video-Assistent Author: Andreas Erdelt © 1994/95 by Erdelt Computertechnik All rights reserved. This documentation and the belonging software is copyrighted. It may NOT be copied (even partially), reproduced, multiplied, spreaded or translated into another language. Legitimated user are only permited to load the program into the computers memory for running the program. Apart from making a safety-backup it is not legitimate to multiply, copy or to sell this program or to give it away otherhow. Liability (no liability) This program and this documentation was made with most the possible carefulness. Despite this errors can occure. Erdelt Computertechnik is not liable for any damage (direct or indirect) appearing as result of using or not using this program. This includes the case that Erdelt Computertechnik was informed of the possibility of such damages. This text replaces all contrary spoken or written declarations concerning the liability. Trade-marks: Most of the software or hardware designations used in this documentation are registered trade-marks and are therefor protected by law. All information in this documentation is published without consideration of possible protection by patent. Trademarks are used without guarantee of free use. If you have suggestions for improvements or extensions or if you detect errors in the program please send a message to us. Do not forget to add your version number, series number and computer configuration. Please send mail to: Erdelt Computertechnik, Luebbecker Str. 84, 31603 Diepenau About this Demo-version With this Demo-version of Video-Assistent you can use ALL functions. The only restriction is that you can only use Tape-numbers up to 20. So you can test Video-Assistent for yourself and if you like it you can register at the adress below. You can use and distribute this Demo-version as you like. But copy all files in this archive, please. You can register for this program by sending the amount of US $35 to the following adress. This includes also all P+P. Erdelt Computertechnik Luebbecker Str. 84 31603 Diepenau Germany You will get a full working Version of Video-Assistent. Table of contents 1. Introduction 1.1 General 1.2 Requirements 1.3 Contents of package 1.4 Installing the program 2. Working with Video-Assistent 2.1 Main input mask 2.2 Input film data 2.3 Form of date inputs 2.4 Form of time inputs 2.5 System gadget particularities 2.6 Calculating remaining time 3. Search for a film 3.1 Search for correspondence 3.2 Search for exclusion 3.3 Area wide search 3.4 Combining search criterion 3.5 Example search 4. The filerequester 4.1 Filerequester with OS 1.3 4.2 Filerequester with OS 2.0 4.3 Loading a file 4.4 Saving a file 5. Menus 5.1 Projekt menu 5.1.1 New 5.1.2 Load 5.1.3 Save 5.1.4 Save as 5.1.5 Print 5.1.6 Info 5.1.7 Quit 5.2 Tape menu 5.2.1 Information 5.2.2 Return from lend 5.3 Film menu 5.3.1 Add new 5.3.2 Change 5.3.3 Delete 5.4 List menu 5.4.1 Alphabetical list 5.4.2 Remaining time list 5.4.3 Lend list 5.5 Genre menu 5.6 Channels menu 5.7 Options menu 5.7.1 Deutsch 5.7.2 Funktion keys 5.7.3 Color 5.7.4 Recorder 5.7.5 Settings 5.7.6 Genre-menu 5.7.7 Channels-menu 5.7.8 Save 6. Dialog windows 6.1 Function key window 6.2 Color window 6.3 Recorder window 6.4 Setting window 6.5 Print window 6.5.1 Alphabetic list 6.5.2 Alphabetic list with all data 6.5.3 Tape number list 6.5.4 Tape number list with all data 6.5.5 Lable (top) 6.5.6 Lable (side) 6.5.7 Lable (side) number only 6.5.8 Lend list 6.5.9 Remaining time list 6.5.10 Empty list 6.6 Edit labels 7. Errormessages 8. Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 1.1 General With the program Video-Assistent you have bought a powerful tool to manage your video tapes. The program handles up to 9999 tapes with a maximum of 255 films on each. Only limitation is the memory in your computer. All entries are managed dynamicaly. So the memory really needed is allocated only. Fields without entries do not waste memory. 1.2 Requirements Video-Assistent works on every Amiga-Computer with Kickstart 1.2 and above and supporting a pal-screen. 1.3 Contents of package Included in this package is one 3.5" disk and a registration card. This card should be sent back immediately. A printed documentation in english is not available. On the disk are the following files: Video-Assistent The programm Video-Assistent.pre Presets for Video-Assistent Video-Assistent.fkt The function key Video-Assistent.guide AmigaGuide® file documentation Demo.dat An example file for film data Demo_eng.dat An example file for film data with localization ReadMe An ASCII file with additional information or changes, not mentioned in the handbook The ReadMe file is only existent if there are changes or extensions. 1.4 Installing the program If you have only one floppy drive you can start the program directly from disk. To install the program to a harddisk you only have to copy all files to the desired directory. 2. Working with Video-Assisent 2.1 Main input mask In the main window all entries concerning a film are made. Further more the most important functions of the program can be reached with buttons in lower area. Following is an overview to all datafields in wich you can make entries with a short explanation wich data can be entered in there. fieldname purpose max. length Tape number Tape number 4 chars Length Tape playing time 3 chars Time Left display remaining time 3 chars Type Tape type 18 chars Title Film title 60 chars Original Title Original film title 60 chars Country/Year place/date of production 30 chars Script Author of skript 30 chars Director Directors name 30 chars Music Film music composer 30 chars Actor Actors names 120 chars Genre Genre 30 chars Comment Remarks 120 chars Recording date 10 chars System Recording system, e.g. VHS 20 chars Channel TV station 18 chars Counter from Beginning of film 4 chars Counter to End of film 4 chars Time from Beginning of film 4 chars Time to End of film 4 chars Film length Film time (minutes) 3 chars Grading 1 chars Lend to Whom did you lend the tape 30 chars Lend since When did you lend the tape 10 chars There are 5 buttons. Description from left to right. The first button indicates wether the film is recorded on a tape recorder with Hi-Fi vacilities or with normal sound (Lo-Fi). The second button shows more about the sound. Mono sound in mono quality Stereo sound in stereo quality Bilingual two different languages on right and left sound channel Surround Dolby-Surround sound The third button shows the screens size. Total fills your TV screen totaly Scope Cinema-scope film, with the black stripes above and under it. The fourth Button indicates the color. "B/W" black/white "Color" todays standard "Colored" "Color+B/W" color and black/white The fifth button shows if the film was recorded in "longplay" or "shortplay". In the lower area of the window there are some buttons for better program control. Add New The entered data are stored as new film entry. Change Confirm changes to film data called by search function. Clear Clears whole window for new input. List Calls the dialog window for alphabetical film list. The two search arrows are for browsing through the film entries. The upper arrow searches in forward direction and the lower arrow does the same in backwards direction. (See also 3. Search for a film) The printer symbol opens the dialog window for printing. A detailed description of this function is given in 6.5 printer window. 2.2 Input film data To start input you have select "New" in the project menu to create a new project. The program allocates the neccessary memory and you can begin the film data input. Select the field "Tape number" and enter a valid number. After pressing the enter key the cursor jumps to the field "Length". Here the tapes total playing time is to be entered. E.g. you enter 240 for a tape with 4 hours playing time. Next you can enter the manufacturer and the marking of the tape in the field "Type". In the field "Title" the film title is stored. If you have at least valid entries in the fields "Tape number" and "Title" the film can be added to your film list. To do this just click the button "New". A short message appears, indicating that film data was stored. 2.3 Form of date inputs Into the fields "Recording date" and "Lend since" any date can be entered. The following entries are valid: 12.12.1991 or 12.12.91 or 121291 or 120591 or 12.5.91 Incorrect are: 32.12.1991 There is no month with 32 days 29.2.91 1991 was not a leap-year 12591 not enough numbers given On the other hand "12.5.91" is correct, because here the numbers are separated by dots. You can separate the numbers with any character which is not a cipher. 2.4 Form of time input This field can have two different names. The name is dependent on the used tape-recorder. If you own a tape-recorder with real time display the field has the name "Time from". Otherwise its name is "Counter from". In the realtime mode you can enter a time from 0 hours 0 minutes to a time of 9 hours 59 minutes. You have to separate the numbers with blanks or any other character which is not a cipher. Examples: 0 10 correct 010 incorrect, the separation between hours and miutes is missing 0h10 correct 10 34 incorrect, maximum is 9 hours and 59 minutes In the counter mode you can enter a counter position. This has to be a number from 0 to 9999. If you have given data in the dialog window "Recorder" for all used tapes the films playing time is calculated and entered in the field "Film lenght". (See also 6.3 Recorder window) 2.5 System gadget particularities You can enter the tape recorders video system into the field "System". In most cases only one system is used, e.g. VHS. So you can store the prefered system in the system field in the dialog window "Recorder". Just pressing return in the main window at the system field without entering anything inserts the prefered entry automatically. Additionally there is the possibility to select the system quickly by numbers. For this you can enter a cipher from 1 to 9. The program replaces the number with the corresponding system itself. The ciphers mean the following systems: 1 = VHS, 2 = S-VHS, 3 = VHS-C, 4 = S-VHS-C, 5 = Video 8 6 = Hi-8, 7 = Beta, 8 = Video 2000, 9 = VCR. 2.6 Calculating the remaining time During the entry of your first film you probably noticed that the field "Time left" was skiped. In this field the remaining time on the tape is inserted by the program automatically, and unlike most other programs Video-Assistent calculates the real remaining time. Other programs calculate the remainig time on the tape this way: remaining time = total playing time - length of films Unfortunately this is not a good method. E.g. you record a film of 90 minutes lenght. Because the film was broadcasted 10 min. too late you record 10 min. commercials in front of the film. If you calculate with the film length (90 min.) you will get a wrong result. Video-Assistent uses for its calculation the data from "Time to" or "Counter to". This makes an exact calculation possible. And for a correct calculation of the remaining time it is recommended to fill this field properly. The use of counter data leads to correct calculation either. (See also 6.3 Recorder Window) 3. Search for a film To search for a film first enter the desired search criterions in the main window fields. Entries can be made in the following fields: Tape number , Title , Original title , Country/Year , Script , Director , Music , Actor , Genre , Comment , Date , System , TV station , filmlength , Grading The search can be executed with the two "search arrows". The upper arrow searches in forward direction and the lower arrow starts the search in the other direction. Alternatively you can use the cursor "up" and "down". Here you have to be sure that no inputfield is active. Otherwise another field is activated. 3.1 Search for correspondence Enter the desired search criterion in the corresponding field, e.g. the name "Sean Connery" in the field "Actor". Click the upper search arrow. Now the first film is displayed in which Sean Connery is Actor. Click the upper search arrow once more and the next film fitting to the search criterions is displayed. On the otherhand you can click the lower search arrow to search backwards. If you come to the end of the film list you will be informed by a short message and the search criterions are displayed again. You are free to edit the search criterions, e.g. make changes or add entries. Here after you can activate the search again with the search arrows. If you click the lower search arrow the search begins with last entry in your film list. This allows you to move faster to an entry close at the end of your list, specially in a very long film list. 3.2 Search for exclusion Enter "!" right befor the search criterion and all films are chosen which do not show the search criterion. E.g. you enter "!Comedy" to the field "Genre". The search will show you all films but comedies. This function can only be used in the textfields, not in fields where you have to enter numbers. 3.3 Area wide search If you want to limit the search to a certain amount of tapes you can enter e.g. "1-20" to the field "Tape number". Now only films on the tapes with number 1 to 20 are displayed. Do you wish to see all films from tape number 30 on, just enter "30-" to the field "Tape number". Now all films on the tapes with number 30 and above are displayed. You can enter areas to the following fields: Tape number , Recording date , Length and Grading. Examples: Search for a particular number "10" Search up to a number "-10" Search from a number "10-" Search in a certain area "10-20" 3.4 Combining search criterion If you have entries in more than one field these are logical "and" combined. E.g. you put "12.12.1992-1.2.1994" to the field "Recording date" and "Sean Connery" to the field "Actor". Now all films are selected in which Sean Connery is an actor and which are recorded in the time between 12.12.1992 to 1.2.1994. All search criterions are considered for printing the first three lists and for making an alphabetical list. So you can easily print a list of all action films. 3.5 Example search Please load the file "Demo.dat" included in this package first. If you do not know how to load a file with a filerequester, please read section 4 (The filerequester). Press the button "Clear". The field "Tape number" is now active. Please enter "1" and press return key. The program puts now the known data of tape 1 to the corresponding fields. Click to the upper search arrow. Now the first film ("Asterix - Operation Hinkelstein") is displayed. Click to the upper search arrow again and the next film ("Brennpunkt L.A. Lethal Weapon II") is displayed. Now clear the main window by pressing the button "Clear", select the field "Actor" and enter "Connery". Click to the upper search arrow and the first film with Sean Connery is displayed. Click to the lower search arrow. Now you get a short message "No film found!" and the main window now shows the search criterion "Connery" in the field "Actor". Now click the button "List". In an extra window all films with the entry "Connery" in the field "Actor" are listed. Here you can select the desired film. Double click to the name "Jagd auf Roter Oktober". The list window disapears and the film data is displayed in the main window. You may change the entries and click the button "Change". Now the changes are stored. Clear the main window again. Enter "Comedy" to the field "Genre" and "1-6" to the field "Tape number". Click the button "List". You now get a list of all comedies on the tapes 1 to 6. Select "Abort" in the listwindow and the listwindow disapears. The search criterions are displayed in the main window again. Delete the entry in the field "Tape number". Then click the button "List". As you can see much more films are listed in the listwindow because you removed the limitation in the field "Tape number". Select "Abort" and add "!" in front of your entry in the "Genre" field. Select now the "List" button and you get a list of all films without the entry "Comedy" in the "Genre" field. We hope the search function is now a little more understandable. 4. The filerequester In the file selection window you can determin the name of the file you wish to load or to save. The filerequester contains a selection list with files and directories and some buttons for locating the desired file. With draging the rollbar or clicking the rollarrows you can browse through the whole file list. If the file is located in anoter subdirectory or on another floppy disk you can find the file by using the buttons. If you work with OS 1.3 you will get the filerequester included in this program. If you use OS 2.0 or higher the filrequester included in the operating system is taken. 4.1 Filerequester with OS 1.3 Root: select main directory of floppy or harddisk Parent: select the directory above Disks: list all mounted devices Verzeichnis: name of directory which contents is shown Datei: name of selected file Ok: Load or Save the selected file Abbruch: Abort 4.2 Filerequester with OS 2.0 Refer to the documentation of your operating system. 4.3 Loading a file To load a file with film data select "Load" in the "Project" menu. Select the desired file and click "Ok" and the file is loaded into the memory of your computer. The progress of loading is displayed graphicaly. After loading the file you will get a message with the number of loaded films. 4.4 Saving a file There are two ways to save a file with film data. First you can select "Save as" in the "Project" menu and then input the name of the file. After clicking "Ok" the file is saved under the given name. If you loaded a file and made changes to it you can save it by selecting "Save" in the "Project" menu. If you created a new file the filerequester appears and you have to specify the file name. After clicking "Ok" the file is saved. 5. Menus 5.1 Projekt menu 5.1.1 New Creates a new file. If there was file in memory befor which was not saved, you are asked wether to delete the old changes or to abort this function. 5.1.2 Load Loads a film data file from disk to computer memory, e.g. the demofile included in this package. A filerequester appears with which you can select the file. (See also 4. The filerequester) 5.1.3 Save Selecting this menu entry saves the current file (in computer memory) to floppy or to harddisk. If the filename was not specified before a filerequester appears. You can now name the file and/or select a subdirectory. 5.1.4 Save as Same function as "Save", but here the filerequester appears and you can select another name for the file. 5.1.5 Print The dialog window "Print" is activated. Here you can select the list to be printet and start printing.(See also 6.5 Print window) 5.1.6 Info The version number is displayed. 5.1.7 Quit Exit the program. If there were changes in the film data which are not saved you have to confirm this action. 5.2 Tape menu 5.2.1 Information Herewith information about the current tape (its number is entered in the field "Tape number") and the films on it is displayed. Further more the number of all tapes and films in the current file is shown. 5.2.2 Return from lend When you get back a tape you had lend out and want to book it back, you can do this here. 5.3 Film menu 5.3.1 Add new Same function as the butten "New" in the main window. 5.3.2 Change If you made changes to film entries, you can store them in the current file. 5.3.3 Delete The film currently displayed in the main window is deleted from the file. Please be carful with this function because a deleted film can only be restored by entering all data again. Before deleting you have to confirm it again. Note: This option was implementent only to remove a film from list which is lost because of recording a new film over more than one old film. If you record a new film on an allready used tape while just overlaping one old film with the new one, call the old film with the search function, overwrite the entries and select the "Change" button. If you delete the film by selecting "Delete" and add the new film with "Add" the program estimates the film being recorded at the end of the tape. Calling tape information will display the new film at wrong place. So only "Delete" a film if it is second overlaped by a new film. Example: You recorded two films with a length of 50 min each. Now you wish to record a film of 95 min length over the two old films. For this you call the first old film on the tape with the search function. Then change the entries to the new ones and store them with "Change". Because the new film is longer than the first of the old films you only have 5 min left of the second of the old films. The second film (old one) is now to be erased from list by "Delete". By doing this all films are stored at the right place in the list. This makes possible the managing of the films right order automatically by the program. 5.4 List menu 5.4.1 Alphabetical list Selecting this menu entry will call the dialog window "Alphabetical list". Here the films are listed in alphabetical order. You can scroll the list by clicking the scrollarrows. You can also use the cursor keys on the keyboard. To select a film move the selection bar to the desired film and click "Ok" with left mouse button. Alternatively you can doubleclick the desired film or just press return key. Search criterions are considered. E.g. you can display a list of all comedies. To do this just enter "comedy" in the field "Genre" in the main window and call "Alphabetical list". 5.4.2 Remaining time list Selecting this menu entry will call the dialog window "Remaining time list". Enter the desired remaining time in the main window ("Remaining time" field". Then select "Remaining time list". Now all tapes with sufficient remaining time are listed. You can scroll the list by clicking onto the scroll arrows. By clicking the "End" button the window is closed. 5.4.3 Lend list Selecting this menu entry will call the dialog window "Lend list" All tapes you lent are listed. With the scroll arrows you can brouse through the list and close the window by clicking on "End" button. 5.5 Genre menu Here you can find the most common genres. Select one entry and it will appear in the "Genre" field in the main window. Starting with version 1.2 of Video-Assistent you can directly enter a number between 1 and 32 in the field "Genre" and the program will automatically set the genre from the genre-menu. Also you can edit the genre-menu. 5.6 Channels menu Here you will find some important european tv stations. Selecting one will enter it to the corresponding field in the main window. Starting with version 1.2 of Video-Assistent you can directly enter a number between 1 and 32 in the field "Channel" and the program will automatically set the channel-name from the channel-menu. Also you can edit the channel-menu. 5.7 Options menu 5.7.1 Deutsch This menu entry let you select the german text for Video-Assistent. You can specify the tooltype "English" to get the english version on startup. 5.7.2 Funktion keys This menu entry calls the dialog window "Function keys". Here you can assign the function keys with program functions or any text you like. (See also 6.1 Function key window) 5.7.3 Color This menu entry calls the dialog window "Color". Here you can adjust the screen colors (See also 6.2 Color window) 5.7.4 Recorder window This menu entry calls the dialog window "Recorder". Data relating to your videorecorder can be entered here. (See also 6.3 Recorder window) 5.7.5 Settings This menu entry calls the dialog window "Settings". (See also 6.4 Setting window) 5.7.6 Genre-menu This menu entry calls the dialog window "Edit genre menu". Here you can select your preferred genres. In the stringgadget you can edit the entry. After pressing "return" the next entry will be displayed and can be edited. On every next "return" all menu entrys will appear and can be edited. After editing one or more entrys you can select "use" for closing the requester and the menu will be automatically change. Notice all changes will only stay for this session. If you want permantly change the menu select "save" and the changes will be saved to disk. Selecting cancel will not change anything and your changes will be lost. Notice, when selecting "Save" also the changes for the channels-menu will also be saved. 5.7.7 Channels-menu This menu entry calls the dialog window "Edit channels menu". Here you can select your preferred channels. In the stringgadget you can edit the entry. After pressing "return" the next entry will be displayed and can be edited. On every next "return" all menu entrys will appear and can be edited. After editing one or more entrys you can select "use" for closing the requester and the menu will be automatically change. Notice all changes will only stay for this session. If you want permantly change the menu select "save" and the changes will be saved to disk. Selecting cancel will not change anything and your changes will be lost. Notice, when selecting "Save" also the changes for the genre-menu will also be saved. 5.7.8 Save With selecting this menu entry all adjustments concerning the options are saved. The relating file is saved in the programs directory and adjustments will be restored when the program is loaded the next time. 6. Dialog windows 6.1 Function key window Here you can allocate the function keys at your will. You can choose wether simply a text is put out a program function is executed. In the upper left corner of the window there is a button, indicating wether this is only done by pressing the function key only or this is also done in connection with the shift and/or alt key. So you can allocat up to three options to a single function key. "Normal" means the function is executed if the key is pressed only. "Shift" and "Alt" mean the function is done when function key and the relating key (shift or alt key) are pressed at the same time. Under this button there are 10 buttons marked with "F1" to "F10". Select one of it. The selected button is highlighted. Now you can choose a function from the function selection list on the right. For this just click to the desired function. If you close this window by clicking "Ok" the function is available by pressing the relating function key. To specify a text for a function key just activate the relating text field (right to the button) and enter the text. Confirm your entry with return key. For this it is not necessary to select a certain button ("F1" to "F10"). You only have to enter the text to the field. Alocating a programs function to a function key requires a selection of one button ("F1" to "F10"). Function keys envoking a function are marked with * in the textfield. This mean the function key executes a function. If you enter the * yourself and the name of a function the relating function is NOT executed but text is put out when the function key is pressed. So you can only aquire a function by using the function selection list. You can scroll the function selection list with the scroll arrows. 6.2 Color window Here you can adjust the programs screen coulours. In the upper area there are four fields showing the 4 colors used by the program. Selecting one of the fields you choose the color to adjust. To select a field just click on it or use the cursor right/left keys. The currently selected field is marked by a border. The selected color is also displayed in the huge field on the left. With the 3 sliders for red, green and blue you can adjust the three basic colors individually. You can change the basic colors with the keyboard, too. The relating keys are underscored. Pressing the key will increase and pressing shift together with the key will decrease. Clicking "Ok" will confirm your adjustments. Clicking "Reset" will set all colors to the values valid at the time you invoked this window. Select "Abort" and the window is closed and all colors are set to the previous values. 6.3 Recorder window Here you can enter general information relating to your video recorder. This data is necessarily needed to display certain basic settings in the main window automatically. So you do not have to enter every time these entries again and again. These settings can be entered: Name: The recorder type and name. Video System: Here you can enter the system your recorder supports. E.g. "VHS" for the Video-Home-System. This entry is automatically inserted into the relating field when just pressing return in this field in the main window. If your recorder has Hi-Fi facilities, you can tell the program by selecting the box for Hi-Fi recorders. The setting for the relating button in the main window is set to Hi-Fi as default. Real Time: Select this option if your recorder has a real time display. Counter: Select this option if your recorder has a counter only. The lower area of this window is only useful for recorder with counter display. By entering only two counter values for each tapelength the program can calculate the filmlength automatically. Enter the total playing time of the tape to the column on the left. For a VHS tape E240 you would enter 240. The next field requires the counter value the recorder display after playing the half of the tapes total playing time. This is 120 min for a VHS E240 tape, or 2 hours. Then note the counter display after playing the total playing time of the tape. This is for a VHS E240 240 minutes (4 hours). It is important to let your recorder really play this time. Do not wind the tape to the end. Most tapes have a few minutes more than the total playing time indicates. By winding the tape forward to the end you probably read wrong counter values. So enter the counter value which is displayed after playing the time. You have to enter these data for each tape with differing total playing time. Surely this means a certain efford but it is worth it. With this you simply get a substitute for a real time display. If you enter the data exactly the program can evaluate a filmlenght with a precision of ± 1 minute. 6.4 Setting window Here some basic settings can be adjusted. There are the following possibilities: Auto Add New: Activate this option to automatically add a film to the current film list. Pressing enter in the last field "Lend since" will add the film data to the film list. If you specified a concrete film with the search option and chaged entries the changes will be stored, of course. In this case the film is not stored in the list a second time. Increasing Tape Number After "N" Films: Selecting this option the program increases the tape number automatically after entering e.g. 2 films. This is useful when entering films the first time. You do not have to enter the tape number yourself then. A reasonable value is 2, because you probably record two films on one tape. Auto Filmlength: Selecting this option makes the program calculate the filmlength by concerning the start and end value. This is even possible with a tape recorder with counter display. (See also 6.3 Recorder window) 6.5 Print window You can activate this window in 3 different ways: 1. the menu Project-Print 2. the menu shortcut (right amiga + P) 3. Clicking the printer symbol in the main window In the dialog window "Print" you can choose between 7 Lists and 3 different labels. The button "Quality" toggles between draft and LQ printing quality. The button "Form Feed" determins wether the printers paper transport is activated after printing or not. To the fields in the upper area you can make the following entries. Copies - number of copies you wish to print Left border - begin printing at this position From tape number to tape number - here you can restrict additionally the area of tapes to be printed. This is useful if you wish to print out the tapes you last entered. Remaining Time - Here you can enter the time remaining on the tapes you wish to list in a remaining time list. To select the desired list or label click to the relating field or the relating text. You can also use the cursor up/down keys for this purpose. The current field is displayed as selected. Additionally you can vary textatributes for "Alphabetic list with all data" and "Tape number list with all data". Select one or more of the fields left of "Underscore", "Bold" and "Italic". You can select any combination of these. The lists mentioned above are printed concerning the specified atributes. This makes reading these list easier. Select "Print" and the print job is started. Select "Abort" and the print window is closed. No output to printer. The "Test" button is to test label printing. Select an option for label printing and then click the "Test" button. Now a block is printed which should be at the label center. If it is not you can adjust the horizontal offset. If you also have a vertical offset please adjust the paper at the printer yourself. The different print outs: 6.5.1 Alphabetic list Here a list of all films is print out in alphabetical order. Search criterions in the main window are concerned. 6.5.2 Alphabetic list with all data The list contains all data you entered for the films. Here the search criterions are concerned, too. 6.5.3 Tape number list The same data is printed as in "Alphabetic List" but films are listed in the order of tape numbers and position on the tape. Search criterions are concerned. 6.5.4 Tape number list with all data Here the print out is made due to the tape number (ascending order) and film position on the tape. All data is printed, search criterions are concerned. 6.5.5 Lable (top) Labels for the top of the tape are printed (e.g. Zweckform Nr. 3628). 6.5.6 Lable (side) Labels fitting to the side of a tape is printed (e.g. Zweckform Nr.3629) Additionaly the tape number is printed a the labels right. 6.5.7 Lable (side) number only Only the tape number is printed to the label. 6.5.8 Lend list All tapes lend out are listed. 6.5.9 Remaining time list If you are searching for a tape with an amount of free capacity you can get a list here. All tapes are listed with at least the specified amout of remaining time. You have to enter the desired remaining time in the relating field. If no entry is made the pragram concerns 1 min remaining time. An entry to the field is recommended. 6.5.10 Empty list An empty list is printed in which you can make handwritten entries and input them into the computer later. 6.6 Edit labels In this dialog window you can edit settings for labels on a papersheet. This is important for laserprinter or other printers which can only print on single sheets. Notice that the labels must be in an inch format on the papersheet. The labels had to be in a format that is nearly equal to the needed format. The first button "Labeltype" let you select a format to edit. You can edit four formats for each label (top or side). Two formats are predefined. You must enter a valid number in each stringgadget. If you had to enter a value of "0" please enter a "0" in the corresponding stringgadget. The meaning of the stringgadgets: Papiersize Width: widht of the papersheet Heigth: height of the papersheet Nonprintable area Left: left border where your printer can´t print Top: top border where your printer can´t print If you don´t know the nonprintable area you can measure it up as follows: Load the "demo_eng" file. Now select the dialogwindow "Print". Set the left border to "1" and print the alphabetic-list. Now you can measure the "mm" from the first "V" to the top and to the left. Use this two values for the nonprintable area. Notice: If you are using different printer drivers you had to measure these values for each printer-driver. Because different printer-drivers could have different borders. Labels Width: Width of one label Heigth: Heigth of one label Left border: left border to the first label Right border: right border to the first label Top border: top border to the first label Bottom border: bottom border to the lowest label Labelspace from top to bottom: The distance between the labels in vertical direction. If you have a distance of "0 mm" please enter a "0". Labelspace from left to right: The distance between the labels in horizontal direction. If you have a distance of "0 mm" please enter a "0". With the button "Cancel" you close the labeleditwindow without changes. With the button "Use" you close the labeleditwindow with performing the changes until the next start of "Video-Assistent". With the button "Save" you close the labeleditwindow with performing the changes and save it to disk. 7. Errormessages "Changes couldn't performed !" You had to use "New entry". You can only change a Film which is in the database. "Year is not correct !" You specified the year in a wrong way. Check the format of your input. "Month is not correct !" You specified the month in a wrong way. Check the format of your input. "Day is not correct !" You specified the day in a wrong way. Check the format of your input. "Make new project first !" Make a new database with "Project/new" before you enter a film. "Length of tape is missing !" The playing time couldn't be calculated. The length of the tape inminutes is missing. (Only if you use the counter). "Filmlength over 999 minutes !" You tried to enter a filmlength greater than 999 minutes. "Cassettlength over 999 minutes !" You tried to enter a filmlength greater than 999 minutes. "Tapenumber couldn't be changed !" The Tape No couldn't be changed with "Change". Use "New Entry" instead. "Can't open File !" The specified Drawer or File can't be opened. Perhaps it is in use by another program. "Printer not ready !" Couldn't open the printer. Perhaps it is in use by another program. "Error during load !" Can't load the specified file. Perhaps disc or fild is corrupted. "Error during save !" Can't save the videodatafile. Perhaps the disc is full. "Can't save prefs !" Can't save preferences or functionkeys to disc. Perhaps the disc is full. "Couldn't print graphics !" Your printer does not support the printing of graphics. "No film found !" There was no film wich matches your search criterias. "No film to print !" There a no films in the database to print. "Not enough memory for larger database !" There is not enough free memory for more tapes. Try quit another program. "No Title !" You tried to enter a film without a title. The title is necessary to insert the film in the database. "No more film found !" There was no more films wich matches your search criterias or the last shown was the last in database. "Tapenumber not in use !" There is no information about a Tape with the Number you specified. You didn't use this Indexnumber. "No tapenumber present !" There was no Tape number in Field "Tape No" of the main mask while you select "Tape/Information"¸ "No tapenumber !" You tried to enter a film without a tape number. The tape number is necessary to insert the film in the database. "No data !" There are no films in memory. Try to load a database or enter some. You can't print any films. "Not a Video-Assistent database !" You tried to load a file which is not a Video-Assistent Database. "No database for demoversion !" You tried to load a database which was created with a full version of Video-Assistent. "Wrong version !" You tried to load a database wich was created with a newer version of Video-Assistent. "Not enough memory to load database !" There is not enough free memory to load the database. Try to quit another program. "Testprint only available for labels!" The function "Test" in the printing requester is only available for the printing of lables. "Illegal tapenumber !" The Tape Number is only legal in the range between 1 - 9999. "Illegal playing time !" You tried to enter a playing time of more than 10 hours. "List of lend tapes full !" You tried to lend out more than 100 tapes. "Counter must not be zero !" In the Requester "Recorder" is an entry with counter with value 0. Please correct. "Mathlibrary not available !" The mathlibrary is not available. "Counter not defined !" There is no counter for the specified tape in Requester "Recorder". "Illegal counter !" You tried to enter a counter greater than 9999. "Can't load labeldata !" Couldn't load the file with the datea for labels. Check wether the file "Video-Assistent.eti" is in the same drawer as the program Video-Assistent. If not, copy it to this drawer. "No labeldata available !" There are no datas for the labels. "Missing at last one entry !" In the Requester "Define Lables" is at last one entry missing. Check all entries and complete the missing fields. "Illegal width of paper !" The width of the paper is out of range. "Illegal height of paper !" The height of the Paper is out of range. "Illegal offset for nonprinting areas !" The offset for nonprintable areas on the top or left is out of range. "Illegal width of label !" The width of the label is out of range. "Illegal height of label !" The height of the label is out of range. "Illegal left border !" The left border is out of range. "Illegal right border !" The right border is out of range. "Illegal top !" The top border is out of range. "Illegal bottom !" The bottom border is out of range. "Illegal label distance !" The distance between the labels is out of range. "Illegal input in paperwidth !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Illegal input in paperheight !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Illegal input in nonprintable areas !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Illegal input in width of labels !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Illegal input in height of labels !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Illegal input in label border !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Illegal input in label distance !" Only digits "0-9" and "." are legal. "Printer ignores margins !" Either printer or driver does not support the requested margins. Check your settings in Printer. Printing is still continued. "Printer don´t support condensed !" Either printer or driver does not support the demanded font. Check your settings in Printer. Printing is still continued. "Printer don´t support elite !" Either printer or driver does not support the demanded font. Check your settings in Printer. Printing is still continued. "Printer does not support italic !" Either printer or driver does not support the demanded font. Check your settings in Printer. Printing is still continued. "Printer does not support letterquality!" Either printer or driver does not support the demanded quality. Check your settings in Printer. Printing is still continued. "Printer does not support draftquality!" Either printer or driver does not support the demanded quality. Check your settings in Printer. Printing is still continued. 8. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following persons: - Stephan Neuhaus for the english translation and beta-testing. - Hugo Immig for his work of correcting the german documentation. - Markus A. Litters, Ralf Bischof and Kai Nebe for beta-testing. - Rolf Heidelmann for additional beta-testing.