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1992-02-28
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PERFORMER - READ.ME File
This file contains last minute information that was not available at the
time the User's Manual was printed. Information about changes and
enhancements to PERFORMER will be documented in this file.
========================== TABLE OF CONTENTS =============================
* Screen Saver
* Set up to print envelopes on a laser printer
* Prompts of Printout Options
* Printing from the Notepad or Document Writer editing screen
* User Database and Private Contact Screen Settings
* Specify date ranges when printing Contact Records' information
* Counting contact records for a Group Criteria
* More flexibility in using modem
* Automatic re-dial from the last 20 dialed numbers
* Using 'SET TMP=' DOS command to specify temporary directory (Advanced)
* Enhance records grouping routine (Advanced)
* Set up to print multiple-column mailing labels on a dot-matrix printer
* Set up to print mailing labels on a laser printer
* Set up to print addresses in uppercase on envelopes and mailing labels
* Perform operation on a "Group" of contact records
* Perform operation on a "Range" of contact records
* Print form letters, envelopes, or labels for "ranDom" contact records
* Selective Browse
* Private Appointment, To-Do, and Expense Files
* Printout Options Bar Menu
* Running in TSR Mode
* Fax Board Interface
* MCI Mail Interface
==========================================================================
==============
* Screen Saver
==============
To avoid the situation of "burning" a permanent image onto your monitor,
PERFORMER can be instructed to invoke a Screen Saver to temporarily blank
the monitor if no key is pressed after a period of time. To specify the
number of minutes to activate the Screen Saver, use Option 7 "Monitor
Settings" from the "Set Up & Customization" Menu.
==============================================
* Set up to print envelopes on a laser printer
==============================================
To set up PERFORMER to print envelopes on a laser printer:
1. Select Option 4 "Printer & Page Layout" from the "Set Up &
Customization" Menu
2. Select "4. Envelopes" to set up envelope layout
3. Enter "Y" to the prompt "Laser Printer:"
4. Enter the Control Codes to set up the laser printer to print
envelopes
5. Enter Top Offset
6. Enter Left Offset
Example: The control codes for printing Commercial-10 envelopes on
a HP LaserJet II printer are:
- Control Codes :
* Start : CHR(27)+'E'+CHR(27)+'&l1O'+CHR(27)+'&l3H'+
CHR(27)+'&a16L'+CHR(27)+'&l14E'
* End : CHR(27)+'E'
- Top Offset : 10
- Left Offset : 42
For the control codes to print envelopes on your laser printer,
please consult your printer's Owner's Manual.
=============================
* Prompts of Printout Options
=============================
PERFORMER can now detects the status of your printer automatically.
The prompt "Is printer LPT1 ready [Y/N]?" will not be displayed when
you send output to the printer.
To prevent unneeded keystrokes, the prompts "Ready to display [Y/N]?"
and "Ready to send printout to <filename> [Y/N]?" are also eliminated.
=============================================================
* Printing from the Notepad or Document Writer editing screen
=============================================================
To print the content of a notepad or a form letter while you are in
the editing screen, press the [F8] function key.
===================================================
* User Database and Private Contact Screen Settings
===================================================
You may create Private Contact Screen Settings for your User Databases.
This is particular useful when you need to create different databases
with different field labels and sorting sequences. For instance, you
may have three databases; one for customers, the other one for vendors,
and the third one for friends and relatives.
To create User Database with Private Contact Screen Settings:
1. Create a new User by using Option 8 "User Set Up & Database"
from the "Set Up & Customization" Menu
2. Enter information for the new user record
3. Enter "Y" at the prompt
"User Database not in User Directory. Create new database [Y/N]?"
4. Enter "Y" at the prompt
"Use Private Contact Screen Settings for the new database [Y/N]?"
================================================================
* Specify date ranges when printing Contact Records' information
================================================================
You may now specify a date range when printing information about you
contact records. Here are the steps:
1. Select "Print" from the Contact Screen
2. Select "Contact_Record" to print
3. Enter types of records to print
4. Enter "Y" at the prompt "Specify Date Range"
5. Enter date range.
===============================================
* Counting contact records for a Group Criteria
===============================================
Two new fields have been added to the Group Criteria screen:
1. Record Counted Date
2. Record Counted Quantity
+======================== Group Criteria Listing =========================+
| Group Group Criteria Utilize Record Counted |
| ID Description Type Mean File Date Qty |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 213CUS Clients in the 213 Area Code QBE N | 10/01/90 1 |
| CA-CUS Contacts in California Boolean N | 09/25/90 3 |
| CLBK10 Call back the next 10 days Boolean N | 08/11/90 0 |
| OCTCUS Created in October 1989 Boolean N | 10/16/90 3 |
| PRES Presidents of all companies QBE N | 08/21/90 2 |
| RNDCUS Random selected records Random N | 10/12/90 2 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+===========================================================================+
To count the number of records in a group of your contact database:
1. Select 'Group' from the Contact Bar Menu
2. Select a desired Group Criteria
3. Select '3. Count Matched Record'
=================================
* More flexibility in using modem
=================================
Five new entries have been added to the Modem/Phone Settings screen:
1. Modem Initialized String
2. Hang Up (go on hook) String
3. Local Call Suffix
4. Long Distance Suffix
5. International Suffix
||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Modem/Phone Settings |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
| 1. Enable Auto-Dialer [Y/N]? : N |
| |
| 2. Modem : Modem Initialized String : S0=0 S7=60 S8=02 S11=55 |
| Hang Up (go on hook) String: H0 |
| COM Port : 1 [1,2,3,4] Baud Rate : 1200 |
| Tone/Pulse : T [T=Tone,P=Pulse] Parity : 0 [0,1,2] |
| Speaker On : Y [Y=On,N=Off] Data Bits : 8 [7,8] |
| Volume : M [M=Medium,H=High] Stop Bits : 1 [1,2] |
| |
| 3. Telephone : Phone Picture Clause : ###-###-####xxxxxxxx |
| Your Area Code : 818- |
| Local Call Prefix : Suffix : |
| Long Distance Prefix : 1- Suffix : |
| International Prefix : 011- Suffix : |
| |
| 4. Edit Phone Log Allowed [Y/N]? : Y |
| |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
===================================================
* Automatic re-dial from the last 20 dialed numbers
===================================================
A new option called 'Redial' has been added to the Tel Bar Menu (see below.)
With this option, you may perform phone redialing simply by selecting a
number from a listing of 20 last-dialed phone numbers.
Tel: 1-Outbnd 2-Outbnd 3-Outbnd Inbound Terminate Redial ModemInit .....
Here are the steps:
1. Select 'Tel' from the Contact Bar Menu
2. Select 'Redial' from the Tel Bar Menu
3. You will be presented with a listing of 20 last-dialed numbers
4. Use the arrow keys to move to the desired entry, and press <Enter>
========================================================================
* Using 'SET TMP=' DOS command to specify temporary directory (Advanced)
========================================================================
A temporary directory in PERFORMER is a directory where all the temporary
files are stored. Processes such as saving memory image before running
an external application or creating 'Mean File' while grouping records
are required to create one or more temporary files. The default temporary
directory is a sub-directory named 'TEMPDIR' under the PERFORMER system
directory. You may overwrite that default setting by using the DOS command
'SET TMP='. For instance, the command 'SET TMP=C:\TEMP' will make
C:\TEMP the temporary directory of PERFORMER.
TIPS: Since you can specify where PERFORMER should create its temporary
files, you can speed up the processes of shelling out to DOS and creating
'Mean File' by specifying a RAM Disk (if you have one) as the temporary
directory.
=============================================
* Enhance records grouping routine (Advanced)
=============================================
An intellegent records garthering routine has been implemented in
Version 2.1 to greatly improve the speed of creating Mean Files
when you activate a Group Criteria.
For those users who have a large database (from 3000 to 100,000
records or more,) we recommend the following:
1. Set "Utilize Mean File?" to "Y" when setting a Group Criteria
2. If your computer have a RAM disk, use the DOS command "SET TMP="
mentioned above to specify a temporary directory in the RAM disk.
For more information, see "Entries of a Group Criteria Record" in
Chapter 4, "Contact Screen."
========================================================================
* Set up to print multiple-column mailing labels on a dot matrix printer
========================================================================
You may set up PERFORMER to print multiple-column mailing labels on a
dot matrix printer by:
1. Select '8. Set Up & Customization' from the Main Menu
2. Select '4. Printer & Page Layout' from the Set Up & Customization
Menu
3. Select '5. Labels' to set up label parameters
4. At the prompt 'Laser Printer', enter 'N'
5. At the prompt 'Label Lenght', enter the desired label length
6. At the prompt '# Of Columns:', enter the desired number of columns
7. You will be presented with a 'Labels Print Positions' window
8. Enter the desired printing positions.
For instance, if you are using 2-column 4" x 15/16" labels, here
are the settings:
Laser Printer: N
Label Length : 6 Lines
# Of Columns : 2
Labels Print Positions: - Column 1 started at: 5
- Column 2 started at: 46
- > Column 2 ended at: 79
===================================================
* Set up to print mailing labels on a laser printer
===================================================
You may set up PERFORMER to print mailing labels on a laser printer by:
1. Select '8. Set Up & Customization' from the Main Menu
2. Select '4. Printer & Page Layout' from the Set Up & Customization
Menu
3. Select '5. Labels' to set up label parameters
4. At the prompt 'Laser Printer', enter 'Y'
5. At the prompts 'Start:' and 'End:', enter the desired control codes
which you would like to send to your laser printer before and
after printing the labels. One example of the control codes is to
set up your laser printer to print at a particular font size.
6. At the prompt 'Label Lenght', enter the desired label length
7. At the prompt '# Of Columns:', enter the desired number of columns
8. You will be presented with a 'Labels Print Positions' window
9. Enter the desired printing positions
For instance, here are the settings for some popular Avery laser
labels:
AVERY #5160, #5260, #5660 (1" x 2 5/8", 30 labels/sheet)
Laser Printer: Y
Control Codes: - Start: CHR(27)+'(s12h'
- End : CHR(27)+'(s10h'
Label Sheet Margins: - Top : 0
- Bottom: 3
Label Length : 6 Lines
# Of Columns : 3
Labels Print Positions: - Column 1 started at: 0
- Column 2 started at: 33
- Column 3 started at: 66
- > Column 3 ended at: 99
AVERY #5161, #5261 (1" x 4", 2-column, 20 labels/sheet)
Laser Printer: Y
Control Codes: - Start: (leave empty)
- End : (leave empty)
Label Sheet Margins: - Top : 0
- Bottom: 3
Label Length : 6 Lines
# Of Columns : 2
Labels Print Positions: - Column 1 started at: 4
- Column 2 started at: 45
- > Column 2 ended at: 79
AVERY #5162, #5262, #5662 (1 1/3" x 4", 2-column, 14 labels/sheet)
Laser Printer: Y
Control Codes: - Start: (leave empty)
- End : (leave empty)
Label Sheet Margins: - Top : 3
- Bottom: 3
Label Length : 8 Lines
# Of Columns : 2
Labels Print Positions: - Column 1 started at: 4
- Column 2 started at: 45
- > Column 2 ended at: 79
========================================================================
* Set up to print addresses in uppercase on envelopes and mailing labels
========================================================================
To print addresses in uppercase (recommended by the U.S. Postal Services)
on envelopes and mailing labels, please issue following DOS command at
the DOS prompt (or inserted it into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file):
SET ADDRESS=UPPERCASE
====================================================
* Perform operations on a "Group" of contact records
====================================================
If You are currently using PERFORMER version 2.05 or ealier, please notice
that the "Group" option in the prompt "For Individual, Group, or All
Contacts [I/G/A]" has been eliminated in Version 2.1. To perform
operations on a "Group" of contact records, here are the steps:
1. Select the desired Group by activating a Group Criteria
2. At the prompt "For Individual, Range, or All Contacts [I/R/A]", enter
"A" for "All".
====================================================
* Perform operations on a "Range" of contact records
====================================================
A range of contact records can now be specified when you perform
operations such as printing form letters or envelopes, or transferring
contact record to a second User Database.
For instance, to print report for a range of contact records while you
are in the "Printout Options" bar menu:
1. Select "Setup"
2. Enter "R" at the prompt "For Individual, Range, ranDom, or
All Contacts: [I/R/D/A]," then press [F10]
3. Select one from nine displayed ranges (Record ID, Contact ID,
Company, etc.)
4. Enter starting and ending ranges and press [F10]
5. Select "Printer" and to send output to the printer.
=======================================================================
* Print form letters, envelopes, or labels for "ranDom" contact records
=======================================================================
To print form letters, envelopes, or labels for random contact records
while you are in the "Printout Options" bar menu:
1. Select "Setup"
2. Enter "D" at the prompt "For Individual, Range, ranDom, or
All Contacts: [I/R/D/A]," then press [F10]
3. Select "Printer" and to send output to the printer
4. Enter the Record ID for the contact you would like to print letter,
envelope, or label
5. Repeat Step 4 to print for another contact.
==================
* Selective Browse
==================
The Browse command in the Contact Screen now allows you to select the fields
and the sequences you would like to browse through the Contact File. For
instance, to browse the Contact File with the fields Company, City, State,
and Country:
1. Go to the Contact Screen by selecting Option 1 from the Main Menu
2. Select Browse from the Contact Bar Menu
3. From a displayed set up screen, enter 1, 2, 3, and 4 to next the fields
Company, City, State, and Country, respectively.
4. Press [F10].
===============================================
* Private Appointment, To-Do, and Expense Files
===============================================
You now create multiple Appointment, To-Do, and Expense Files for a User
Database. This feature is particular useful for users of Multiuser LAN
Version because it allows more than one users to share the same database
and at the same time each user can have his/her own private Appointment,
To-Do, and Expense Files.
To set up private Appointment, To-Do, and Expense Files:
1. Go to the Set Up & Customization Menu by selecting Option 8 from
the Main Menu
2. Selecting '8. User Set Up & Database'
3. Select a desired User Record
4. A screen similar to the one below will be displayed
+===================================================+
| |
| User ID : SAMPLE |
| User Name : Sample User Name |
| User Title : Sample User Title |
| User Password : SAMPLE |
| User Directory: |
| |
| Manager Privilege [Y/N]? : Y |
| |
| Use Private Appointment File [Y/N]? : N |
| Use Private To-Do File [Y/N]? : N |
| Use Private Expense File [Y/N]? : N |
| |
+===================================================+
5. To set up to use private Appointment, To-Do, and Expense Files,
enter 'Y' to the three prompts at the bottom of the displayed
screen.
===========================
* Printout Options Bar Menu
===========================
Two new options were added to the Printout Options Bar Menu, Transmit and
Fax, as follows:
Printout Options: Printer Monitor Disk Transmit Fax Setup NewPage
'Transmit' allows you to send printout to MCI Mail in the format of Instant
Message, Fax Message, and Paper Mail. For details, see "MCI Mail Interface"
below.
'Fax' allows you to send printout to any Group III Fax Machine in the world.
For details, see "Fax Board Interface" below.
=====================
* Running in TSR Mode
=====================
TSR stands for Terminate-Stay-Resident. When PERFORMER is in TSR Mode,
it stays in memory at all time and allows you to switch to and from your
favorite programs, such as Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect, with the touch of
a hot key.
How To Run PERFORMER In TSR Mode?
To run PERFORMER in TSR Mode, please do either one of the following:
1. Start PERFORMER by entering 'PERFORMER TSR' at the DOS prompt, or
2. Press [Ctrl+Alt+P] while in PERFORMER.
Switch To And From PERFORMER
To switch between PERFORMER and the foreground application, press
[Ctrl+Alt+P].
Memory Swapping
Before going into TSR mode, PERFORMER will swap itself, all but 20K
RAM, from memory. The speed at which PERFORMER swaps depends on the
swapping resources available. Examples of the swapping resources are:
1. Extended Memory: If an XMS driver such as HIMEM.SYS is present
and enough Extended Memory is available (at least 1 MB,) PERFORMER
will use it as the swapping resource. To turn off the use of XMS
Memory for swapping, issue the DOS command 'SET TSRXMS=OFF'.
2. Expanded Memory: If an EMS Manager such as QEMM 386 is present
and enough Expanded Memory is available (at least 1 MB,) PERFORMER
will use it as the swapping resource. To turn off the use of EMS
Memory for swapping, issue the DOS command 'SET TSREMS=OFF'.
3. RAM Disk: PERFORMER can also use space on a RAM Disk as the
swapping resource. To specify the RAM Disk PERFORMER should use,
for swapping, issue the DOS command 'SET TMP=<directory>'. For
instance, if E: drive is a RAM Disk, issue the DOS command
'SET TMP=E:\'.
4. Hard Disk: If neither one of the above three swapping resources
is available, PERFORMER will use the current hard disk as the
swapping resource.
=====================
* Fax Board Interface
=====================
Hardware Requirements
To send Fax from PERFORMER, you will need either one of the following:
1. A CAS-Compliant (Communicating Applications Specification,
developed by DCA and Intel) Fax Board such as the Intel
SatisFAXtion Board, or
2. Any Fax Board comes with program allowing you to send Fax using
a DOS command. One example of such programs is BitFAX come with
the ZOOM/FaxModem.
Before You Can Send Fax
If you are usinga CAS-Compliant Fax Board sich as the Intel
SatisFAXtion Board, be sure a CAS Manager (device driver and memory-
resident program) is present prior to running PERFORMER.
If you are using a non-CAS-Compliant Fax Board, you will need to set
up the FAXSEND.BAT batch file to tell PERFORMER how it can find and
run the FAX program. (See below)
PERFORMER will determine whether a CAS-Compliant Fax Board is installed
by detecting whether a CAS Manager is present. If so, it will run an
internal fax routine to interface with the CAS Manager to send Fax;
otherwise, it will pass two parameters, <FileName> and <FaxNumber>,
and run the batch file FAXSEND.BAT. The effect is as though the
following command is issued at the DOS prompt:
FAXSEND <FileName> <FaxNumber>
For instance, if you are using BitFAX and it is installed in the
C:\BITFAX directory, your FAXSEND.BAT file should contain the following
commands:
C:
CD\BITFAX
BITFAX -f%1 -p%2
Or if you are using The Complete Communicator and it is installed in
the C:\CC directory, your FAXSEND.BAT file should contain the following
commands:
C:
CD\CC
CCOMSEND %1 %2
CFAX
What Can I Fax From PERFORMER?
There are two types of text can be faxed from PERFORMER:
1. Printouts that can be printed, displayed, or saved to disk can
also be faxed.
2. Any Text file in ASCII format.
Sending Printouts as Fax
Anything that can be printed from PERFORMER such as letters, notes, or
reports can also be faxed. To send printouts as Fax:
1. Select Fax from the following Printout Options Bar Menu:
Printout Options: Printer Monitor Disk Transmit Fax ...
2. Specify the scope of recipients by pressing I, M, R, or A from
the following Fax Recipient(s) Bar Menu:
FAX Recipient(s): Individual Multiple Range All
3. Correct recipients' information if necessary
4. Press [F10].
For instance, to fax a Memo to a contact:
1. Go to the Contact Screen (Option 1 from the Main Menu)
2. Locate the desired contact record
3. Select Notes
4. Select a desired notepad
5. Press F8 to print
6. Select Memo from the following Print In Format Bar Menu:
Print In Format: Note Letter Memo Fax
7. Select Fax from the following Printout Options Bar Menu:
Printout Options: Printer Monitor Disk Transmit Fax Setup...
8. Select Individual from the following FAX Recipient(s) Bar Menu:
FAX Recipients: Individual Multiple Range All
9. A window displaying the recipient's name and fax number will
appear. Correct the information if necessary.
10. Press [F10].
Sending Any Text File as Fax:
To fax a Text File:
1. Select Option 4 from the Main Menu
2. Select "F. Fax Board Interface"
3. Enter the name of the Text File to fax
4. Specify the scope of recipients by pressing I, M, R, or A from
the Fax Recipient(s) Bar Menu below:
FAX Recipient(s): Individual Multiple Range All
5. Correct recipients' information if necessary
6. Press [F10].
====================
* MCI Mail Interface
====================
Hardware And Other Requirements
To transmit message via MCI Mail from PERFORMER, you need:
1. A Modem
2. An MCI Mail Account (with ID, User Name, Password) given to you
at the time you subscribed to MCI Mail
3. The MCI IDs (or Names) of those you would like to send Instant
Message.
For more information about MCI Mail, please call 800-444-MAIL.
In Washington, D.C., please call 202-833-8484.
If You Are Transmitting MCI Mail Instant Message
Before you can send Instant Message to a particular contact, you need
to know the contact's MCI ID and enter it into the Contact ID field.
For instance, if you have created a contact record for our company
(Performer Systems,) you can set up to send Instant Message to us
by entering '479-2718' (our MCI ID) to the Contact ID field.
What Can I Transmit Via MCI Mail?
There are two types of text can be transmitted from PERFORMER:
1. Printouts that can be printed, displayed, or saved to disk can
also be transmitted.
2. Any Text file in ASCII format.
Transmitting Printouts Via MCI Mail
Anything that can be printed from PERFORMER such as letters, notes, or
reports can also be transmitted. To transmit printouts:
1. Select Transmit from the following Printout Options Bar Menu:
Printout Options: Printer Monitor Disk Transmit Fax ...
2. Select Instant, Paper, or Fax from the following Transmit MCI
Bar Menu:
Transmit MCI: Instant Paper Fax Setup
3. Specify the scope of recipients by pressing I, M, R, or A from
the Transmission Recipient(s) Bar Menu below:
Transmission Recipient(s): Individual Multiple Range All
4. Correct recipients' information if necessary
5. Press [F10].
For instance, to transmit a Memo as Instant Message to a contact:
1. Go to the Contact Screen (Option 1 from the Main Menu)
2. Locate the desired contact record
3. Select Notes
4. Select a desired notepad
5. Press F8 to print
6. Select Memo from the following Print In Format Bar Menu:
Print In Format: Note Letter Memo Fax
7. Select Transmit from the following Printout Options Bar Menu:
Printout Options: Printer Monitor Disk Transmit Fax Setup...
8. Select Instant, Paper, or Fax from the following Transmit MCI
Bar Menu:
Transmit MCI: Instant Paper Fax Setup
9. Specify the scope of recipients by pressing I, M, R, or A from
the Transmission Recipient(s) Bar Menu below:
Transmission Recipient(s): Individual Multiple Range All
10. A window displaying the recipient's name and fax number will
appear. Correct the information if necessary.
11. Press [F10].
Transmitting Any Text File:
To transmit a Text File:
1. Select Option 4 from the Main Menu
2. Select "E. MCI Mail Interface"
3. Enter the name of the Text File to transmit
4. Select Instant, Paper, or Fax from the following Transmit MCI
Bar Menu:
Transmit MCI: Instant Paper Fax Setup
5. Specify the scope of recipients by pressing I, M, R, or A from
the Transmission Recipient(s) Bar Menu below:
Transmission Recipient(s): Individual Multiple Range All
6. Correct recipients' information if necessary
7. Press [F10].
Transmit Using Other Communication Program
If you have a favorite communication program and would like to write your
own script to transmit MCI Mail messages, you need to create a batch file
named TRANSMIT.BAT to tell PERFORMER how to find and run the communcation
program. (See below.)
Prior to transmitting messages through MCI Mail, two files are generated,
an Address File and a Message File. The Address File contains
information of the recipients, and the Message File contains the message
itself.
PERFORMER will determine whether to use an external communication program
by detecting whether the TRANSMIT.BAT file is in the PERFORMER System
Directory. If so, it will pass two parameters, <AddressFile> and
<MessageFile>, to TRANSMIT.BAT. The effect is as though the following
command is issued at the DOS prompt:
TRANSMIT <AddressFile> <MessageFile>
For instance, if you have created a script file called MCISEND.ASP to
send message using Procomm Plus and it is installed in the C:\PCPLUS
directory, one example of your TRANSMIT.BAT should be as follows:
COPY %1 C:\PCPLUS\ADDRESS.TXT
COPY %2 C:\PCPLUS\MESSAGE.TXT
C:
CD\PCPLUS
PCPLUS /fMCISEND
===============
* End of Text *
===============
