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1992-09-10
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Welcome to
E N V E L O P E M A K E R
Version 3.4
Copyright (c) 89, 90, 91, 92
By: William R. Bauder
U S E R S G U I D E
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Highlight features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
What's New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Files on the disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Installation/Updating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Installing on a floppy only system . . . . . . . . . 3
Installing on a hard disk system . . . . . . . . . . 4
Updating on a floppy only system . . . . . . . . . . 4
Updating on a hard disk system . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Quick Start Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Running/Using Envelope Maker . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Running/Using Grab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Detailed Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Main Menu Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Add . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Use of the Attribute Symbol (^) . . . . . . . . 10
Use of the Tilde Character (~) . . . . . . . . . 11
Use of the Flip-bar (|) . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Grab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Setup menu selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Printer Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Envelope Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Delivery @ XLPI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Record Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Pack Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Font Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Undelete Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Colors Adjust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Quit Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Quit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Trouble-shooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Envelope Maker Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
ABBREVIATIONS
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
CPI Characters Per Inch
DOS Disk Operating System
LPI Lines Per Inch
TSR Terminate and Stay Resident
Page ii
Welcome to Envelope Maker and the world of easy envelope printing.
Envelope Maker is a full feature envelope printing application that
makes the job of printing envelopes a breeze.
This manual describes the use and operation of Envelope Maker. It
includes installation instructions, a getting started section, and
detailed descriptions of all Envelope Maker's functions and commands.
More than anything else, Envelope Maker was designed to be easy to
use. Operation is simplified with its intuitive pull-down and bar menu
design and many automatic smart features. Envelope Maker's Setup menu is
a smart menu. This unique menu design will automatically adjust itself
to environmental conditions.
The highlight features of Envelope Maker are:
- All pull-down menu driven functions.
- Automatic address record sorting.
- Flip name bar - to sort on peoples last name.
- Address record search argument.
- Attention line flip when label printing.
- Automatic selected record adjustment after Add or Edit.
- Bulk envelope or label printing.
- Bulk print from any one of four tag lists.
- Label maker with printer attributes.
- Grab TSR utility to import address data from any text file.
- 4 or 6 LPI Delivery Address line spacing.
- Automatic detection of adapter type (color or monochrome).
- Sixteen foreground and background screen colors.
- Built in full function editor.
- All LQ mode printing with most printers.
- Font selection.
- Automatic "smart" positioning of delivery address and attention
name lines on all fixed and custom size envelopes.
- Ability to:
- Dump address records to printer or file.
- Print envelops of any size and shape.
- Print up to four attributes on address title lines.
- Mix print attributes in any combination.
- Print an offset attention name line.
- Print single or continuous feed envelopes.
- Print Title-lines in color with a color printer.
Much effort was made to keep the program size as compact as poss-
ible. Envelope Maker is not a "RAM-CRAM" program.
Envelope Maker is also available in a European version. This ver-
sion supports the European standard size (DL, C4, C5, & C6) envelopes,
and A4 size paper.
What's New -------------------------------------------------------------
- Envelope Maker version 3.4 is an extensive upgrade from version
3.3. The design and purpose of the new features are to make the program
operate faster and be easier to use. Here's some highlights of new
features.
Page 1
- The record access routines and support file structures have been
completely redesigned. The speed and efficiency of all record management
functions can challenge even the B+ tree design. No longer will speed
diminish when large numbers of records are maintained. The difference in
speed between managing 32, or 32,000 address records will not be
discernable.
- The required number of support files have been decreased from four
to two. The ENV.PRO and TITLE.DAT files have been eliminated. This
change makes more efficient use of disk storage space.
- The need to enter and worry about attribute numbers, and Title Line
Edit under the Setup menu has been eliminated. You now can enter printer
attribute codes directly in the Add/Edit window.
- LaserJet II and III printer support. Print any envelope size in
your laser printer up to 8 1/2 X 11 inches. If you have a LaserJet III,
the point size on Title-lines can be set from 6 to 24 points.
- Custom envelope sizes are more easily entered and have "smart"
delivery address positioning. You no longer have to figure out and enter
lines and spaces. Only the size of the envelope need be entered, then
Envelope Maker will correctly place the addresses on the envelope
automatically.
- New bar style menus in the Grab and Add/Edit prompt windows.
- Record Dump can now give you a record listing dump of the tagged
addresses from the active tag-list.
- The Pack and Undelete utilities that were only available in the
Envelope Maker Utility are now under the Setup menu. Undelete operates
so fast, you'll think nothing happened.
- Envelope Maker boots-up and runs more friendlier. If your computer
has a PATH statement into the directory location of Envelope Maker, you
can run the program from any directory on your hard disk. The program
also checks the presence of the support files before it will run.
System Requirements ----------------------------------------------------
- Envelope Maker will run on the IBM PS/2, PC, PC/XT, PC/AT, and on
all IBM compatible computers. Minimum system requirements are:
- 128 KB of memory (more memory is required as more address
records are added).
- PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or greater.
- One diskette drive.
- A color or monochrome monitor with 80 column display.
- An Epson or IBM compatible dot matrix, Diablo standard daisy-
wheel, or HP compatible LaserJet II or III printer.
The number of records the program can maintain is limited to 32,750
or by available disk space.
Page 2
Files on the disk are:
EM.DOC . . . . . This document
EM.EXE . . . . . The main Envelope Maker program
EMU.EXE . . . . Envelope Maker Utility (Registered users only)
ENVMAKER.DAT . . Stores program defaults and address records
ENVMAKER.IDX . . Stores keys and index
GRAB.COM . . . . The grab utility TSR program
GRAB.DAT . . . . Temporary grab data file made by GRAB.COM
README.1ST . . . Shareware notice, order form, ETC.
Note: The GRAB.DAT, README.1ST, and EM.DOC files are not required for
program operation. You may exclude these files from your installation.
- Registered users receive one of two versions of the program file
(EM.EXE). The different versions will have a suffix, marked after the
release designation. Following is a list of all current suffix
designations and their meaning.
/D Shareware version, for 8088 CPUs and up.
/U Registered user version, for 8088 CPUs and up.
/F Registered user version, for 80286 through 80486 CPUs.
/UE European registered user version, for 8088 CPUs and up.
/FE European registered user version, for 80286 through 80486 CPUs.
Note: NEVER attempt to run the /F or /FE type on a computer that has an
8088 through 80186 CPU! It will ONLY run correctly if your computer has
an 80286 or higher CPU.
Installation/Updating --------------------------------------------------
- If you are updating from a previous version of Envelope Maker, skip
to the Updating Envelope Maker section.
- You may install Envelope Maker in any directory on your hard disk,
or on a floppy disk drive. Envelope Maker makes many disk reads in its
operation. Faster performance will be obtained when installed on a hard
disk. The only requirement is that the files EM.EXE, ENVMAKER.DAT, and
ENVMAKER.IDX be on the same drive and directory.
Installing on a floppy only system -------------------------------------
With your DOS system disk in drive A and a blank diskette in drive
B, type: Format B: <Enter>
After formatting, put this disk in drive A. Put the Envelope Maker
distribution disk in drive B, and type:
Copy B:*.* A: <Enter>
GRAB.COM MUST be on the SAME DRIVE or can access the drive where
EM.EXE is located (drives A: or B:).
Page 3
Installing on a hard disk system ---------------------------------------
At the C> prompt and with Envelope Maker distribution disk in drive
A, type:
Copy A:*.* C:\<directory of your choice> <Enter>
CD \<same directory as above> <Enter>
GRAB.COM MUST be located on the SAME DRIVE (C:, D:, etc.) as
EM.EXE. However, there's no requirement that it be in the same directory
as EM.EXE.
You're now ready to run Envelope Maker.
Updating Envelope Maker ------------------------------------------------
Updating a floppy only system ------------------------------------------
With your old Envelope Maker working disk in drive A, and the new
Envelope Maker distribution disk in drive B, type:
Copy B:\*.EXE A: <Enter>
Copy B:\GRAB.COM A: <Enter>
A: <Enter>
EMU <Enter>
Updating a hard disk system --------------------------------------------
At the C> prompt and with Envelope Maker distribution disk in
drive A, type:
CD \directory of old ENV.EXE location <Enter>
Copy A:\*.EXE C: <Enter>
Copy A:\GRAB.COM C:\directory of old GRAB.COM location <Enter>
EMU <Enter>
Floppy and hard disk systems:
- Select then run Convert from the EMU menu. Your old data files
(ENV.DAT and TITLE.DAT) will be converted to ENVMAKER.DAT and an index
file (ENVMAKER.IDX) will be made.
See page 19 for full details on the use of the Envelope Maker Utility.
You're now ready to run Envelope Maker.
Quick Start Tutor ------------------------------------------------------
Running/Using Envelope Maker
If you have a floppy disk system:
Log on to the drive location of EM.EXE.
If you have a hard disk system:
Change to the directory location of EM.EXE.
Page 4
To run Envelope Maker type: EM <ENTER>
- When Envelope Maker first boots-up you're presented with the main
screen. The main menu you see at the top of the screen selects all main
functions. There are two ways to select main functions. Press the left
or right arrow key to move the reverse video selection bar to the
desired function, then press the ENTER key. Or, the easiest way is by
pressing the high-lighted hot-key (first letter). This runs the function
immediately with a single key-stroke.
- If this is the first time you've run Envelope Maker, you need to
setup the program for your system. The Setup menu sets all program
defaults. Press the S key. The Setup menu will open with the highlight
bar on the Printer Select option. Press the P or ENTER key. Press the Up
or Down arrow key to select the printer that most closely matches or
your printer emulates. After you've chosen a printer, press the ENTER
key. Now you should select the envelope size you'll be using. Press the
E key to open the Envelope Size menu. As before, use the arrow keys to
select the desired envelope size, then press ENTER.
- There are three selections on the Setup menu that you may or may
not see. The first is the Font Selection choice. When a selected printer
has selective fonts, you'll see the Font Selection choice. If you see
the Font Selection choice press the F key, then select the desired font
using the arrow keys, then press ENTER. The next menu selection you
probably won't see at this time is the Undelete Records selection. This
choice is only displayed after you've deleted one or more records.
- The last Setup menu selection you may see is the Change Colors
option. The program automatically detects if you have a Monochrome or
Color display adapter and acts accordingly. If you have a Monochrome
adapter, or an EGA/VGA adapter in monochrome mode, then normal and high
intensity video is the defaults and no Change Colors option will be
seen. If you have a color adapter in color mode, then the screen may be
adjusted for three colors. Press the C key to open the Change Colors
window. Now press the N, H, or R key to adjust the Normal, Highlight, or
Reverse video color. With the up or down arrow key, adjust the color to
your choice. When the color is where you want it, press ENTER. Repeat
this procedure for the remaining two colors. When all three colors are
where you want them, press the ENTER key again.
- This is enough setup for now to get you started. The Detailed
Descriptions section explain the remaining options. Press the Q or
ESCape key to exit the Setup menu. Any changes you made take full effect
when you Quit the Setup menu.
- It's now time to enter your first address into the database. Press
the A key to start the Add function. The Add function is one of two ways
to enter address data into the database. To start you out on the "right
foot", enter your name in this manner:
Lastname |Firstname MI <ENTER>
Note the use of the Flip-bar character (|). You should always type a
space before the Flip-bar to keep the names separated. Continue entering
your address into the remaining lines. When you're done, press the F10
function key. You'll now see a prompt asking if the data you entered is
correct, along with the Lotus style menu. Press the N key if the data is
not correct, or the Y key if it is correct.
Page 5
- From the Main menu, press the R key, to select your address as a
Return address. Find your address by pressing the Page Up or Page Down
key. You will find your address inserted into the listing in alphabetic
order by lastname. This is the reason for using the Flip-bar. Enter the
number you see by your address, then press the ENTER key. You'll see
your address placed in the Return Address position on the main screen.
Note that your name is now in the correct Firstname MI Lastname order.
- Now select a Delivery address. Press the D key from the main manu.
Select any address you desire from the sample addresses that come with
the program, the same way you selected a Return address. After entering
the number and press ENTER, you'll see the address placed in the
Delivery Address location on the main screen.
- You're now ready to print-out the selections you've made. Because
this is the first time you'll be printing and it's only a sample, there
is no reason to waste an envelope at this time. Load a piece of single-
sheet or continuous-feed paper into your printer. Make sure your printer
is ON-LINE and ready to print. Now press the P key from the main menu to
start the Print function. The first thing the Print function does, is to
check if your printer is ready to print. When the program finds your
printer ready, you'll see a prompt to Press Any Key to proceed. Now
press any key. The address data will be printed to the paper.
- This first sample print-out is a good way for you to get a feel of
how Envelope Maker prints, and to see if your setup is correct. Hold a
blank envelope of the size you selected in back of the print-out. Are
the addresses positioned correctly? Note the line spacing of the
delivery address. Line spacing should be 4 LPI if the Delivery @ XLPI
selection toggle on the Setup menu is 4 LPI. Are any extraneous
characters printed on the paper? If there are, you should try a
different printer selection, then print another sample.
- The sample addresses in the database are for information only and
something to get you started. You may delete these from the database
when you wish. Here's the way to delete an address. From the main menu
press the E key to start the Edit function. Enter the number of the
address you want to delete, then press the ENTER key. The address you
selected is now in the Edit window. Press the F10 function key. From the
menu below the Edit window, press the D key. At the "Confirm" prompt
press the Y key. The record will be deleted from the database. CAUTION!
You should NEVER delete all of the address records from the database.
The program MUST have a minimum of one record in the database.
- All main functions allow you to back-out of the function by
pressing the ESCape key. The Delivery, Return, Label and Edit functions
deselect the address, then returns to the main screen when pressing the
ESCape key. When you press the ESCape key at (Y/N) prompts, it's the
same as pressing the N key.
Page 6
Running/Using Grab -----------------------------------------------------
- GRAB.COM is a memory-resident (TSR) utility program that will allow
you to save address data from within another application (word processor
or data base). The next time you run Envelope Maker, you can upload this
data into the program.
- Grab may be loaded from your AUTOEXEC.BAT, other BAT file, or DOS
prompt before running the application in which it will be used. Since
Grab can be easily uninstalled, a good strategy would be to install Grab
before running your application, then uninstall Grab after exiting your
application. This way, it only uses RAM when needed. Grab only uses 1536
bytes of RAM while resident. If you load another TSR program after Grab,
it will NOT uninstall.
To install Grab in memory type: GRAB <ENTER>
To uninstall Grab from memory type: GRAB U <ENTER>
- Before Grab installs itself in memory, it first does a disk-wide
search for the file EM.EXE. After finding EM.EXE, Grab remembers the
path to the file. This path will be where Grab writes the saved data to
the GRAB.DAT file. Grab will only install when finding EM.EXE. So, it is
imperative that GRAB.COM is on the same drive as the Envelope Maker
program. It doesn't matter what drive/ directory the EM.EXE, GRAB.COM,
or your application is. It always writes the GRAB.DAT file to the
directory location of EM.EXE.
- The Default "Hot Key" is Alt-G.
- Grab will copy up to a 32 column, 5 row portion of a text mode
screen to the file, GRAB.DAT. These dimensions are the same as address
data fields.
- While running an application and you wish to save an address, press
ALT-G to initiate Grab. When Grab first pops up, the Grab cursor will be
seen in the top-left corner of the screen. Grab creates its own cursor,
moved around by the four arrow keys. To mark an address, first move the
Grab cursor to the upper-left hand corner of the address, then press the
ENTER key to anchor the corner. The arrow keys now open the reverse
videoed window. Pressing the ENTER key again will pop up a mini help
menu showing the two command options. After marking the desired block of
text, pressing the S key saves the address to the GRAB.DAT file. Grab
then terminates, releasing you to your application. Pressing the ESCape
key will abort the Grab operation.
- When address data writes to the GRAB.DAT file, it appends the data
to the end of file. You may mark and save around 200 address records.
Detailed Descriptions --------------------------------------------------
Main Menu Selections ---------------------------------------------------
- To take advantage of Envelope Maker's many advanced features, read
the following detailed descriptions.
Page 7
Delivery ---------------------------------------------------------------
- The Delivery menu selection allows you to select the data you wish
to print as a delivery address. You also may search for records, tag or
untag address records, and select or name any one of four tag lists.
- Each address selection screen of the Main menu, Delivery, Return,
Label, and Edit have the same pull-down bar menu. This menu has five
commands (Get, Tag, Search, Name, and Clear). Select commands by moving
the reverse video highlight with the left or right arrow keys, or by
entering the first letter of the command. Details on these commands will
follow.
- The address selection screen displays six records at a time from
the database in ascending alphabetical order. To the left of each
address, in reverse video, is the address record number. Below each
record number you may see one or two symbols. If the record is tagged, a
√ symbol will be displayed. If the record has printer attribute codes, a
Æ symbol will be displayed. Printer attribute codes are not displayed on
selection screens. On the bottom of the screen are the four tag list
names. The active tag list is displayed in reverse video.
The following keys control address selection functions:
Page-Down - Scrolls the address records up six records.
Page-Up - Scrolls the address records down six records.
G - Get Delivery address selection. Enter the record number, then
press the ENTER key. You'll then see the address placed on the
main screen in the correct address location.
T - Tag/Untag a record. To tag a record, enter the record number,
then press the ENTER key. A tagged record displays a √ mark
below the record number on the screen. To Untag a record,
enter the record number, then press the ENTER key. Note the √
mark disappear.
S - Search for record by name. This function will find a record by
searching on an argument. Enter a single letter or a full name
you want to search for at the prompt, then press the ENTER
key. The screen with the closest record-match will pop-up. You
don't need an exact match with the search argument. The search
is case insensitive, and only made on Title lines (first line
of data). The search will be made on the characters you enter
at the prompt, for the same number of characters into each
Title line.
N - Name/Rename the active tag-list. You have thirteen characters
to name the active tag-list to anything you wish. Enter the
name you want at the prompt, then press the ENTER key. Note
the name change on the bottom screen line.
C - Clear all tag marks. - After making this selection, press the
ENTER key. This will untag all address records from the active
tag-list. Note that there are four tag-lists. This command
ONLY clears tag marks from the active tag-list. The remaining
three tag-lists are not affected by this command.
Page 8
F1, F2, F3, F4 - These function keys select the active tag-list. F1
selects list 1, F2 selects list 2, ETC. The active tag-list
name is in reverse video on bottom of the screen. The
addresses that print during Bulk printing, will be those
addresses tagged from the active tag-list.
ESC - Pressing this key will return you to the main screen and also
deselect any Delivery, Return, Label, or Edit address.
- Tag marks are saved in the ENVMAKER.DAT file. The only way to
remove a tag from a record, is to untag the record using one of the two
above procedures.
Return -----------------------------------------------------------------
- The return address defaults to the address selected, the last time
you ran Envelope Maker. You may select any address from the database you
wish. If you don't want to print a return address, enter this function
then press the ESCape key. This will deselect the Return address. See
the Delivery section for a description of all available commands.
Label ------------------------------------------------------------------
- This function allows you to select an address for printing on 3 1/2
X 15/16 inch labels. Upon selecting this function the first thing you'll
see is the same screens of address data seen when selecting data for an
envelope. Only now, you'll be choosing the data you wish to print as a
label. Enter the address record number, then press the ENTER key. The
main screen with a window will appear, and the Selected Label in it.
- Suppression of double-high print attributes during label printing
is dependent on the number of lines of address data. If an address has
less than five lines of data, the double-high attribute is active. This
attribute is suppressed when the address has five lines of data. This is
done because only five 1/6 inch spaced lines will fit on a 3-1/2 X 15/16
inch label.
- Label printing to laser printers is not supported. If you are a
laser printer user, DO NOT attempt to print labels.
Add --------------------------------------------------------------------
- This function is for adding address data to file, and when using
the attribute symbol (^ caret, see below), printer attributes. The first
thing you'll see is the edit window pop open on the screen. On the
bottom of the editor window, there is a status line. This line shows the
status of the Insert/Delete, Caps Lock, Number Lock and Shift keys.
- Below the edit window is the prompt window. Only when the highlight
edit bar is on the first line will the window display the printer
attribute codes applicable to the selected printer. Press function key
F10 at any time to complete the add or edit.
Page 9
- The prompt window asks you if the data entered is correct. The menu
below this prompt has three commands, (Yes, No, and Delete). Select
commands by moving the reverse video highlight with the left or right
arrow keys, or by entering the first letter of the command. Note the
message below the menu change when using the arrow keys. A description
of each command follows:
Y - Pressing the Y key will write the new or edited record to the
database. If you have come from the Grab function, you will be
returned to the Grab function and shown the next grab record, if
any. Otherwise you're returned to the main menu.
N - Pressing the N key will return you to correct the address data.
D - If you're in the Add function, pressing the D key will abort Add
returning you to the main menu. If you're in the Grab function, the
same thing will occur except you'll be returned to Grab. Only from
the Edit function will you be able to delete an address record.
- After adding or editing a record, it's sorted in ascending alpha-
betical order. The sort is case insensitive, and only on the first line
of address data. The last four lines of address data are ignored during
a sort. Any selected record (Delivery, Return, & Label) is adjusted to
maintain the same selected address.
- The maximum number of address records is limited to 32,750 records.
This number of records will give you an ENVMAKER.DAT file size of
5,993,350 bytes, and an ENVMAKER.IDX file size of 655,000 bytes. Each
address record requires 203 bytes of disk space. Be sure you have
sufficient disk storage space before adding large numbers of records.
Use of the Attribute Symbol (^) ----------------------------------------
- Use the attribute symbol when you want customized Title Lines. The
term "Title Line" simply means the FIRST line of an address. To have
good looking title lines with print attributes, it's important to under-
stand the use of the attribute symbol.
- Before each address is printed to a envelope or label, the print
routines checks each address for attribute codes. The print routine then
processes these codes, adding printer attribute control codes.
- Be CAREFUL not to confuse the ^ symbol (caret) with the Control
key. The ^ symbol is on the shifted 6 key. The available attributes are
dependent on the selected printer, so you may, or may not see all the
possible attribute codes. To start an attribute hold down the shift key,
type ^, then a letter from the below chart to start the desired attri-
bute. To end the attribute, type the ^ plus letter key again. The pro-
portional print code (^P) should only be used at the start of the Title-
line. If you start proportional print, the entire address is printed in
proportional print. Note that ^P has no stop code. All codes MUST be
entered in upper-case letters as shown.
- For Dot-matrix printers, the attribute codes are as follows:
Page 10
^C - Start/Stop Compressed print (15 cpi for LQ class printers)
^I - Start/Stop Italic print ^B - Start/Stop Blue/Cyan
^H - Start/Stop Double-high print ^V - Start/Stop Violet print
^W - Start/Stop Double-wide print ^Y - Start/Stop Yellow print
^P - Start Proportional print ^O - Start/Stop Orange print
^R - Start/Stop Red/Magenta print ^G - Start/Stop Green print
- For Laser printers, the attribute codes are as follows:
^I - Start/Stop Italic print ^P - Start Proportional print
^X - Start/Stop 6 point print ^C - Start/Stop 8 point print
^1 - Start/Stop 10 point print ^4 - Start/Stop 14 point print
^6 - Start/Stop 16 point print ^8 - Start/Stop 18 point print
^0 - Start/Stop 20 point print ^2 - Start/Stop 22 point print
^H - Start/Stop 24 point print
Note: Any of the above point stop codes starts 12 point print.
- For Diablo daisy-wheel printers, the attribute codes are as follows:
^H - Start/Stop Bold print ^P - Start Proportional print
- Failure to stop an attribute code will automatically put the cor-
rect stop code after the title-line. Let's say you put a ^I start code
at the start of the title-line, but omitted the ^I stop-code at the end.
The ^I stop-code will be automatically inserted at the end of the title-
line.
- You may use attribute codes in any combination, and for any length
of text. Bracket a single letter, or a complete line of text with one or
more attribute symbols. To print "Acme Widgets, Inc." in double-high,
double-wide letters, enter "^H^WAcme Widgets, Inc. ^H^W" (no quotes). If
you want to print the A, W, and I of Acme Widgets, Inc. in double-high,
double-wide letters, enter "^H^WA^H^Wcme ^H^WW^H^Widgets, ^H^WI^H^Wnc."
(no quotes). The only limitation on entering attributes and text is the
physical length of the line (51 characters). Turning attributes on and
off too often can make you run out of space quickly, on a not-so-long
title-line.
Use of the Tilde Character (~) -----------------------------------------
- You may print an attention name line when an address record is used
as a Delivery or Label address. The guidelines for using this feature
are as follows:
1. The attention name line MUST be the last or fifth line of data.
2. The line MUST begin with the ~ (tilde) character.
3. Do NOT use this record as a return address.
- When you select address data as a Delivery address with an atten-
tion name line, the fifth address line will print on the envelope below
and to the left of the delivery address. It is important to have the
correct envelope size selected. The offsets are dependent on the
selected envelope size.
- When selecting data as a Label address with an attention name line,
it will print to the label like this:
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Acme Widgets, Inc. Acme Widgets, Inc.
1234 N. Main Street <-- This Address Attn: John R. Doe
Gotham City, ST 12345 will become --> 1234 N. Main Street
Gotham City, ST 12345
~Attn: John R. Doe
Use of the Flip-bar (|) ------------------------------------------------
- This feature allows you to maintain your address data with names of
people sorted on last name, while names of companies or other businesses
sorted regularly. This feature is only effective on Title-lines.
- Use of the Flip-bar will allow you flip the text that's in front of
the bar, with the text that's after the bar. A name entered like:
Lastname |Firstname MI
Will output this data to the screen, or printer:
Firstname MI Lastname.
- Using the Flip-bar along with attribute codes can confuse the
correct placement of the Flip-bar. Just bear in mind that when the Flip-
bar "does-it's-thing", that everything is flipped on the Title-line,
including attribute codes.
Edit -------------------------------------------------------------------
- Use this function when you wish to edit an address that's already
in the data file. First you'll see the same screens of address data when
you select an address for printing. Only now, you'll be choosing the
data you wish to edit. After making your selection, the main screen
appears with the same window as the Add function. The address you chose
to edit is in the editor window. See the Add function for a full
description of all available commands.
- The Delete option does not remove address data from the disk. The
data record remains in the ENVMAKER.DAT file, and the key record remains
in the ENVMAKER.IDX file. The deleted record number is removed from the
active area of the index and inserted into the inactive area. It remains
there until the Pack or Undelete utility is used. If you've accidentally
deleted an address record, it can be recovered by using the Undelete
option under the Setup menu.
Grab -------------------------------------------------------------------
- The Grab function imports address data marked and saved by the Grab
utility TSR program. When the grab data file (GRAB.DAT) is empty, you'll
see an error message, not allowing you to proceed. If the GRAB.DAT file
is larger than 32750 bytes (around 200 records), the Grab function will
abort.
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- When there's data in the GRAB.DAT file, you'll see the first record
in the window. Below this window is the prompt window. The first line
will tell you how many records are in the GRAB.DAT file and the
displayed record number. The menu below this prompt has three commands,
(Yes, No, and Delete). Select commands by moving the reverse video
highlight with the left or right arrow keys, or by entering the first
letter of the command. Note the message below the menu change when using
the arrow keys. A description of each command follows:
Y - Puts you immediately into the editor, allowing you to edit the
address before adding it to the database. After adding a record
you're shown the next grab record, if any. After you've added the
last record, you're returned to the main menu.
N - Pressing the N key will show you the next grab record, if any.
After shown the last record, you're returned to the main menu.
D - This function will allow you to delete the GRAB.DAT file from the
disk. You should delete the GRAB.DAT file only after you have added
the records you want to the database. This function is the only way
to delete the GRAB.DAT file.
ESC - This key will abort Grab, allowing you to return later to add the
Grab data to the address database.
Print ------------------------------------------------------------------
- Select this function when you're ready to print an envelope or
label. If you've selected a label, Print assumes that you want to print
a label. With no label selected, Print assumes you want to print an
envelope. Selecting Print with a label selected, but wanting to print an
envelope, abort Print by pressing the ESCape key. Then select Label from
the main menu and press the ESCape key. This will de-select the label,
enabling you to print the envelope.
- Before proceeding with a Print operation, be sure the Step option
setting is correct for the type of envelopes you'll be printing. See
Page 16 for the Step option details.
- Note to all laser printer users. Set your printer Job Size to
Letter for all envelope printing. DO NOT set your printer to one of the
printer envelope Job Sizes. Placement of the Return and Delivery
addresses on any envelope up to 8 1/2 X 11 inches will only be correct
when the Job Size is set to Letter. You should also set your printer to
10 CPI pitch and/or 12 points spacing (defaults) before printing. Make
your font selection with your printer control panel from an internal or
cartridge font. The program will not disturb the font number you select.
- Envelope Maker will allow you to print an envelope with the return
address only, the delivery address only, or both addresses. With neither
address selected, nor tagged addresses in the active tag list, the Print
function will abort.
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- When the active Tag list has tagged addresses, you'll see a prompt,
asking if you want to Bulk print the tagged addresses. If you answer yes
at this prompt, all the tagged addresses will be printed to envelopes or
labels, dependent upon having a label selected or not. You'll see that
the first tagged address appear in the delivery address position of the
screen, or label window. Bulk printing only prints tagged addresses, and
ignores any normally selected delivery or label address. When answering
no "N" at this prompt, only the single selected envelope or label
address will print. The bulk prompt only appears when there's tagged
addresses in the active tag-list.
- With no label selected, you'll next see a prompt asking you to
position the envelope in the printer. With a label selected, you'll see
a prompt asking you how many labels to print. During Bulk printing, the
number entered at this prompt, should be the number of each tagged
address that you want to print. You may enter a number no higher than 99
at this prompt.
- If your printer's off or off-line, an error message will appear.
Envelope Maker also will detect an out of paper condition on most
printers. After the program detects a printer error, you can back-out to
the main menu by pressing the ESCape key.
- The actions taken during printer initialization are; (1) reset, (2)
buffer clearing, (3) NLQ/LQ mode enabled, and then font selection. After
initialization, printing will start.
- The printer will not move the envelope or label before printing
starts. Therefore, it's IMPORTANT to position the envelope or label(s)
to EXACTLY where you want printing to start. Always position an envelope
in the printer as if it were to print a return address, though none may
be selected. Positioning to the delivery address area is automatic, and
determined by (1) the envelope size, (2) the number of lines of address
data, and (3) the Delivery @LPI (4 or 6) setting. It may be a good idea
to test the print-out on regular paper before committing to an envelope.
- After an envelope prints, it either advances 5 1/2 inches from the
return address starting point, or it will eject from the printer. This
advance is dependent on the Step option setting. When delivery address
and attention name line positioning interferes with this advance, a form
feed command will eject the envelope from the printer.
- During Bulk printing, after each tagged address prints, you'll see
the next address appear in either the delivery address location or label
window. If you have the Single Step option in effect, you will see a
prompt telling you to load the next envelope. When the Continue Step
option is in effect, all the tagged addresses will be printed without
interruption. After printing all tagged addresses, the program returns
to the main menu. The Step option doesn't affect label printing. Label
printing is normally done on continuous feed label stock.
Setup Menu -------------------------------------------------------------
The Setup menu is a pull-down smart-men providing many useful functions.
The following describes each menu selection in detail:
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Printer Select ---------------------------------------------------------
- It is important to select your printer from this menu before doing
any printing. When you select a printer from the Printer Selection Menu,
this sets the correct control sequence strings for the print routines.
- It is only necessary to make this selection the first time running
Envelope Maker, or if you change printer type. With subsequent runs of
the program, your printer selection will remain the same as from the
previous session.
- Select the printer from this menu that most closely matches or your
printer emulates. Because the ALPS printer prints double-high characters
below the normal line, this selection will suppress this attribute. All
but the Epson LQ and Star NX-2400 selections, select control codes for
compressed attribute print. When selecting compressed print with either
the Epson LQ or Star NX-2400 printers, they'll print at 15 CPI pitch.
Envelope Size ----------------------------------------------------------
- It is important to select the envelope size you'll be using. This
selection sets the variables that position the address and attention
name lines on an envelope. Three factors determine positioning of the
delivery address on all envelope sizes; (1) the envelope size, (2) the
number of lines of address data, and (3) the Delivery @LPI (4 or 6)
setting.
- If your envelope doesn't match any of the fixed size choices, move
the selection bar to one of the two Custom Envelope Size (#1 or #2)
selections, then press the ENTER key. Upon answering Yes, to the
different size question, you will be prompted to enter the height and
width of the envelope. Press the ESCape or N key if you don't want to
change the displayed size.
- Enter the size of the envelope you want at the Height and Width
prompts. Sizes are entered in whole numbers and fractions of an inch.
Always enter a space between the whole number and fraction. The input
routines will not accept improper fractions and must be in 1/8 inch
increments. The only proper fractions you can enter are, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8,
1/2, 5/8, 3/4, and 7/8. After you've completed the size entry, press the
ENTER key. The maximum size is 13 inches high by 15 inches wide. The
minimum size is 3 inches high by 6 inches wide.
- It is only necessary to make this selection once, or if you change
envelope size. Once you select an envelope size, it remains in effect
until making another selection. The next time you run Envelope Maker,
the envelope size selection will be the same as the previous session.
Delivery @ XLPI --------------------------------------------------------
- You may choose a line spacing of either 4 or 6 LPI when the deliv-
ery address prints. Either press ENTER, with the selection bar on this
selection, or the D key, and you'll see LPI toggle between 4LPI and
6LPI. The delivery address is automatically correctly positioned for
either line spacing.
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Step -------------------------------------------------------------------
- This selection controls how an envelope or paper advances in your
printer. Use the Single option for single feed envelopes during envelope
printing, or single sheet paper during a Record dump. Use the Continue
option for continuous feed envelopes while printing envelopes or
continuous feed paper during a Record dump.
- Either press ENTER, with the selection bar on this option, or the S
key, and you'll see Step toggle between Single and Continue.
Record Dump ------------------------------------------------------------
- This utility will allow you to download address data to the printer,
or a text file. When you choose to download to a text file, this file
can be easily viewed, edited, or printed with your favorite text editor.
This file is a pure ASCII text file named RECORD.DOC. If you choose,
download to printer, address records will be printed twenty records per
page on standard 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper. You may press the ESC key to
return to the Setup menu main screen.
- If the active Tag list has tagged addresses, the first prompt will
ask if you want a Record Dump of the tagged addresses. If you answer yes
"Y" at this prompt, only the tagged addresses will be dumped. When
answering no "N" at this prompt, the entire data file will be
downloaded.
- The next prompt asks if you want to dump to printer or file. A file
named RECORD.DOC will be made when you select dump to file.
- If you want to dump to the printer, be sure the Step (See the Step
option) selection is correct for the type of paper you're using. With
Step set for Single, printing will stop at every page full so that you
may change paper. If you have a Laser printer, always use the "Continue"
Step option.
- When dumping to a printer, NEVER use a proportional or scalable
font. The address data printed in the right columns will not line-up
correctly if you do. Be sure your printer is set to a 10 CPI (12 point)
fixed space font before dumping to a printer.
Pack Database ----------------------------------------------------------
- The Pack utility does two things to the address data (ENVMAKER.DAT)
file. It removes all deleted records from the file, and then puts all
records in ascending alphabetical order. It creates a new file in this
process.
- Pack should be run periodically if you add and/or delete many
address records. Envelope Maker will run faster, and more efficiently
after running Pack. Since Pack removes deleted records from the file,
you MUST be certain you won't want those records at some later date.
There will be no way to recover those records after running Pack.
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- Because Pack creates a new file, this is a rather slow operation.
Pack will write approximately 6000 records per minute on a hard disk.
You must have sufficient disk space to perform this operation. Pack
requires the size of your ENVMAKER.DAT file, in free disk space to
complete successfully.
Font Selection ---------------------------------------------------------
- This menu selection is only active when a printer has selective
fonts. You won't see this menu choice when a selected printer doesn't
have font control. The Setup pull-down menu will be resized dependent on
the printer selected. Make a font selection BEFORE printing a label or
envelope.
- Because Laser printers have so many fonts and font combinations,
this menu selection is inactive if you've selected a Laser printer.
Select the desired font from your printer control panel. The program
will not alter you selection.
- The font selections shown are all the possible fonts that a printer
can produce. The selections may be resident in your printer, or the
printer may need one or more optional cartridges to produce the font.
Envelope Maker cannot detect optional font cartridges. Be sure your
printer can produce a font before selection.
- Make your font selection choice, then press ENTER. If you don't
want the program to disturb a font selection you make with your printer
control panel, choose the Null String option.
Undelete Records -------------------------------------------------------
- This menu choice is only active when there are deleted records in
the inactive area of the index. You won't see this menu choice when
there are no deleted records. The Setup pull-down menu is sized
dependent on weather there are deleted records being maintained.
- If you have accidentally deleted one or more records, Undelete will
recover those records. After running Undelete, this menu choice will
disappear from the Setup menu, and all undeleted records will be in the
correct ascending alphabetical order.
Colors Adjust ----------------------------------------------------------
- This menu selection is only active with computers that have a color
adapter and are in color mode. With monochrome adapters, or with EGA/VGA
adapters in monochrome mode, this selection is not active, nor seen on
the Setup menu. The menu size is dependent on the type and active mode
of your video adapter.
- Use by following the screen prompts to adjust the three screen
colors to your choice. You have sixteen colors available for foreground
and background video.
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Quit Setup -------------------------------------------------------------
- The last remaining selection of the Setup Menu is to return to the
main Envelope Maker screen. You may also return to the main menu by
pressing the ESCape key. All changes made under Setup are in full effect
after returning to the main menu.
- When you quit, all selections made under the Setup menu are fully
functional. These settings will remain the same when you quit Envelope
Maker and run the program again. The only way to make a Setup menu
change is to enter this function, then make the change.
Quit - Main Menu -------------------------------------------------------
- Quit is the last selection on the Main Menu. ALWAYS exit Envelope
Maker with this selection! When you quit Envelope Maker, all changes
made during a session are saved in the ENVMAKER.IDX and ENVMAKER.DAT
files. Then the video adapter will be reset for normal eight color back-
ground video. If you've made changes under the Setup Menu, or added/
deleted records, and do not exit with Quit, the ENVMAKER.DAT or
ENVMAKER.IDX files may become contaminated. The fix for this problem
will be covered in the following section.
Trouble-shooting -------------------------------------------------------
- Much effort has gone into making Envelope Maker easy to use and
trouble free. Program prompts for key-board input only accept a correct
response, or what the program is looking for. Keyboard input routines
just keep looping until receiving a correct response.
- As with many things, something will always happen that doesn't make
any sense. If there is ever a problem with Envelope Maker that you can't
fix, work around, or figure out, I want to know about it! Please write
me a letter describing the problem in detail. Bear in mind that whether
I can fix your problem or not will depend largely on how well you
describe the problem. Before doing that however, there's a few things
you may try.
- The Envelope Maker program and the two support files (ENVMAKER.IDX
& ENVMAKER.DAT) must always be on the same drive and directory. The
program will not run if it doesn't find these files. Both of these files
are binary access files, but the records are accessed by random access.
The ENVMAKER.DAT file has a 100 byte header where program settings are
maintained. After the header comes the data record area of the file.
Each data record occupies 183 bytes. You can find out how many records
the data file contains by the following formula: (FILESIZE - 100) / 183.
- ENVMAKER.IDX is the index file. The structure of this file is
unique and has two separate storage areas. First is the key area where
each data record key is maintained. Each key record is 18 bytes long.
After the key area comes the index in one continuous area of the file.
When the number of records is below 16,375, the index will load in and
Page 18
out of memory with a single disk access. The index contains both the
order of active and deleted address records. A problem with this file
could be encountered if you don't exit Envelope Maker normally, or loose
power in the middle of an Envelope Maker session. When you add or delete
records while running Envelope Maker, changes are only made to the index
array in memory. When exiting the program, the index file is updated
from this array. The only way to fix an index file problem is to use the
Index utility in the Envelope Maker Utility. This utility is only
supplied to registered users.
- Other problems can be compatibility in nature; (1) your printer
doesn't work, or (2) print the way you think it should. The printer port
that Envelope Maker outputs to is LPT1. Use of the DOS MODE command will
be required when connected to a port other than LPT1. If your printer
doesn't work correctly with any of the available printer selections,
please let me know. If you can send me enough information, I'll gladly
add your printer to the selection menu.
Envelope Maker Utility -------------------------------------------------
The Envelope Maker Utility (EMU.EXE) provides functions for fixing
problems in Envelope Maker support files. The following description
details each of these functions. This program must be in the same
directory where Envelope Maker and support files are located for correct
operation.
Index ------------------------------------------------------------------
- Index will rebuild a damaged or contaminated index file (ENVMAKER.
IDX). This operation requires that the data file (ENVMAKER.DAT) be in
good condition, however. The old index file is ignored and a new file is
made in this process. Although not required, the index file can be
deleted from the disk before running this utility.
- This utility can completely re-index a fully loaded data file with
32,750 records. Every key field is regenerated from the data file. This
operation may take several minutes to complete when re-indexing large
data files.
Convert ----------------------------------------------------------------
- Convert builds a new data file (ENVMAKER.DAT) from the old data
files (ENV.DAT & TITLE.DAT) made by earlier versions of Envelope Maker,
to be compatible with version 3.4 and above. The old ENV.DAT file is
renamed to ENV.OLD after the conversion. The address records are sorted
in ascending alphabetical order and an ENVMAKER.IDX file is made. When
not finding the ENV.DAT file, Convert will abort.
Run EM -----------------------------------------------------------------
- Use this selection to run Envelope Maker directly from EMU. This is
not a DOS shell nor child process operation. When you run Envelope Maker
with this selection, all system RAM is restored before Envelope Maker is
executed. It operates as if Envelope Maker was run from the DOS prompt.
Good luck and Happy Envelopes. William R. Bauder
Page 19