The World of Computer Software/World_Of_Computer_Software-02-385-Vol-1of3.iso/m/mlabel25.zip/MLTLBL.DOC

Text File | 1992-07-22 | 47KB | 1,078 lines

MULTILABEL

Version 2.5

INTRODUCTION

Need a lot of labels? MultiLabel's your program. Using MultiLabel
with Microsoft Windows 3.x, you can create professional-looking
labels in just a few minutes. It's far easier to create and print
your labels in MultiLabel than by following the traditional path of
using a word processor or desktop publishing program to do the job.
Supplies are no problem, since MultiLabel uses standard Avery Laser
Labels...all of them!

Using MultiLabel, you have complete control over the entire design
process. Since you see your label on the screen, as it will appear
when printed, you can make as many changes as you like, as often as
you like.

PROFESSIONAL USERS

If you're a graphic design professional, or the owner of a small
print shop, MultiLabel's your answer too. Instead of your customers
trying to figure out what they want their labels to look like, they
can see the design on paper--before you send it to the printer. The
result is far fewer costly returns. You have a happy customer and
cash in your pocket.

There's even more. Using MultiLabel's multiple copy printing option,
you can print as many sheets of your customer's designs as you need.
Being able to offer your clients a quick batch of labels while they
wait can mean the difference between a sale and a walk-out.

MULTILABEL'S FEATURES

You can create just about any style of label with MultiLabel Here's a
list of some of the features of the program:

*WYSIWYG Design Screen
*Use Any Avery Laser Label Format
*Create Custom Label Layouts
*Use Any Font Available in Windows
*Insert Clip Art on Label
*Preview Clip Art Before Loading
*Automatic Serial Number Creation
*Line, Box, and Circle Drawing
*Bold, Italic, Bold-Italic, and Reversed type
*Adjustable Margins
*Margins display on WYSIWYG Screen
*Text Alignment Tools
*Split Lines of Type
*Automatic Bulleted Lists
*Scale and Position Graphics and Lines to .005" Accuracy
*Insert Character Formats inside Lines
*Print As Many Sheets of Labels as You Need
*Save Completed Labels to Disk.
*Easy-to-use Interface
*Online Help


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MultiLabel requires an 80286, 80386, or 80486 computer, with at least
2 MB of RAM. You also need Microsoft Windows 3.x, plus a hard disk and
mouse. For printing, any Hewlett-Packard LaserJet or compatible
printer with at least 2.5 MB of memory is your best choice. The
program does work with PostScript devices, but clip art images will
not print on PostScript printers. On Dot-matrix printers, clip art may
not be positioned accurately. For best results, TrueType fonts, or a
font-scaling program, such as Adobe Type Manager, are strongly
suggested. MultiLabel does not support the SuperPrint font scaling
software.

MultiLabel does support PostScript devices. However, clip art images
will not print on these printers in most cases. If you use a
PostScript printer, you must have matching screen fonts for your
PostScript fonts. If you use Adobe Type Manager, your system must be
set up properly to download fonts as needed.

Since MultiLabel is designed to use laser printer labels, use with
dot-matrix printers may not be satisfactory. Hewlett-Packard DeskJet
printers, however, will work with MultiLabel, with adjustments to the
Printer Fudge Factors, described below.

MultiLabel was written in Microsoft Visual Basic. To use it, as with
any Visual Basic program, the file VBRUN100.DLL, included on your
distribution disk, is required. If you do not have this file, you may
download it from the OsoSoft BBS at [phone], or from major
online services.

LICENSE INFORMATION

MultiLabel is a shareware program. This is the unregistered version,
which you may use for a trial period of 30 days. After that time, you
must register your copy. The fee for registration is $15, and entitles
you to support. You will receive a disk with the current registered
version.

Registration of a single copy of MultiLabel entitles you to use it on
as many computers as you have in a single location. If you have more
than one location where you use MultiLabel, you must register
additional copies for each location. A location is defined as a
separate building or floor of a building. Registered users are also
entitled to phone, E-mail, and FAX support.

There are three ways to register your copy of MultiLabel:

1. Send a check for $15, drawn on a US bank to:

OsoSoft
1472 Sixth Street
Los Osos, CA 93402

NOTE: For your convenience, use the OsoSoft Program Info command in
the Help menu to print a handy order blank.

2. If you prefer to register by credit card, you can call Public
(software) Library at [phone] and register with your Visa,
MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card. NOTE: THIS NUMBER IS
FOR ORDERS ONLY! There is a $4.00 fee for shipping and handling on
credit card orders.

3. If you are a CompuServe user, you can register online. Use the GO
SWREG command and register MultiLabel there. The $15 fee will be
charged to your CompuServe account.


Current versions of all OsoSoft programs are available on the
OsoSoft BBS. Call [phone], 300-2400 bps, 8/N/1.


INSTALLATION

If you have manually installed other Windows software, you can
probably skip this section, although it's a good idea to read it in
any case.

To install MultiLabel, first create a directory especially for the
program. If you need help with the DOS MKDIR (MD) command, see your
DOS manual.

Now, copy all the files included with MultiLabel into your new
directory. You can use the DOS command line, the Windows File
Manager, or another Windows shell program to do this. Finally, copy
the VBRUN100.DLL file into your Windows home directory.

Now, start up the Windows Program Manager, if it's not already on the
screen. If you use another program shell, such as the Norton Desktop
Manager, you'll need to consult that program's instructions on
manually installing a new program. Otherwise, with Program Manager,
follow the instructions below:

1. Click once on the program group where you want the MultiLabel icon
to appear.

2. Click the Program Manager's File menu command.

3. Click the New command.

4. Click OK in the next dialog box to create a new program item.

5. Type MultiLabel, then press the <Tab> key.

6. Type the Path to your MultiLabel directory, then type MLTLBL.EXE.

Your entry should look like this (with your own path information):

C:\MLTLBL\MLTLBL.EXE

NOTE: On a few laptops and desktop systems, MultiLabel may cause
keyboard problems in it's default installation. If this occurs,
change the line above by adding NF to the end of the line. Now your
line will look like this:

C:\MLTLBL\MLTLBL.EXE NF

See the section below on the Flashing Scroll Lock LED for more
information.

7. If you use Windows 3.1, enter the path for your MultiLabel
directory in the Working Directory Field as well.

8. Check your information, then click OK.

9. The MultiLabel icon will appear in the program group box you
selected. You may have to use the scroll bars to find it, but you can
then drag the icon to a new location.

9. Remember: in order to save your new Program Manager screen, you
must check the Save Changes box when you exit Windows after loading
MultiLabel

This completes the installation of MultiLabel on your computer and
into Windows.

STARTING MULTILABEL

To run MultiLabel, start Windows, then double click on the MultiLabel
icon. That's all there is to it. However, if you use another program
shell in Windows, you may have to use a different technique to start
the program. Consult your shell program's manual for detailed
information.

THE MULTILABEL INTERFACE

When you start MultiLabel, for the first time, you'll have a short
delay while the program creates its font list and prepares the rest
of the program. A notice will appear on your screen as the program
loads. If you have a large font library, this may take up to a
minute. Once this list is created, MultiLabel loads the font list
from a file. If you add or delete fonts, MultiLabel will automatically
update your font list the next time you start the program.

Next, you'll see the MultiLabel screen, which is maximized to take up
the entire Windows screen. Unlike many other Windows programs,
MultiLabel uses command buttons and drop-down list boxes to perform
most functions. The commands you need to create label designs are
always right on the screen, grouped according to function. Tradition
Windows menus duplicate most button functions, and offer some
less-used commands.

FLASHING SCROLL LOCK LED

Due to a missing feature in Visual Basic, I was forced to flash your
Scroll Lock LED on and off rapidly.

On some systems, or with some other software running, this may cause
difficulty with text editing. If this happens, simply add the
parameter NF to the command line entry in the Program Manager's
Properties dialog box. Put a space between .EXE and NF Example:

If your <Num Lock> or other toggle key LED's flash, simply press the
offending key to shut the flashing off, or use the NF switch as
described above.

C:\MLTLBL\MLTLBL.EXE NF

This will solve the problem, but you'll have to press the Shift key
to force MultiLabel to update the line number when you move the cursor
to a new line with the mouse.

EDITING AND DISPLAY BOXES

You'll see two windows on the screen. At the top is the text-editing
box. Here, you'll enter and edit all the text to be included on your
label. Just below it is another box, where a WYSIWYG display of your
label appears. You can't edit directly in this WYSIWYG box.

Editing Text in MultiLabel

MultiLabel's editing box works just like your Windows word processing
program. You can simply type your text in the box. To position the
cursor in your text, either use the cursor keys or click the mouse
cursor where you want to type. If you select text by dragging with
the mouse, new text you type replaces the selected text.

Normally, to save time, MultiLabel only updates the WYSIWYG display
when you change formatting. If you want more frequent updates, click
the Edit menu and click on the Auto Updating Enabled command. This
will place a check-mark next to the command and MultiLabel will update
the WYSISYG display whenever you move to a new text line. Try it both
ways.

As you type, MultiLabel repeats all formatting from the previous line
whenever you press <Enter>. Use this feature to repeat formatting by
setting the formatting on any line, then continue your typing.

You are limited to 36 lines of text in MultiLabel

LEFT SIDE BUTTONS

On the far left of your screen is a vertical row of buttons, in three
groups. These buttons handle basic file and printing operations.

The Text Group

This group has just two buttons:

[Edit] -- This button returns the cursor to the text editing box.
Since MultiLabel always returns control to this box, you'll rarely, if
ever have to click this button.

[Exit] -- Click this button to leave MultiLabel You'll be asked
whether you want to save the current file. Click [No] for an
immediate exit, or [Yes] to save your current label.

The Label Group

Several buttons make up this group, which deals with files and your
label design as a whole.

[Update] -- This button updates the WYSIWYG display. To prevent
excessive delays, some commands used in MultiLabel do not
automatically update this display. Any time you want to see an
updated version of your label, just click this button. Note: you can
also update your display by moving the cursor to a new line of text
in the editing box, if the Auto Update option is checked in the Edit
menu.

[Clear] -- This button clears your current label from the screen and
from memory. You'll be asked to confirm this command.

[New] -- This button clears your current label and prepares MultiLabel
for an entirely new label, with no filename attached.

[Load] -- The Load command lets you retrieve an existing label design
from your hard disk. You'll see a typical Windows file opening dialog
box, listing the files available. Normally, your label designs will
have the file extension .LAB, unless you specify a different
extension.

[Save] -- Saves the current label with the current filename. No
prompting takes place, and the design on the screen at the time of
the save overwrites any previous data. If no filename has been
assigned to the current label, the Save As dialog box will appear.

[Save As] -- Lets you assign a new name for a label design. If you're
creating several variations of the same label, be sure to use this
command to prevent overwriting a previous design. If you enter a
filename without an extension, MultiLabel will add the .LAB extension.
It's best to stick to the default extension to avoid making changes
in the dialog box when you load designs.

[Print] -- This button prints your labels, after asking you how many
sheets to print.

NOTE: If you use serial numbers in your labels, print only one copy of
the label sheet at a time, since multiple sheet printing uses your
printer's multiple copy commands. If you print multiple copies, all
sheets will have the same serial numbers. If you need multiple sheets,
print each sheet separately, using the print command and one copy.

[AddArt] --This button opens a dialog box for loading graphical
images. You'll see a list of files in the BMP (Bitmap) format,
including clip art files shipped with your copy of MultiLabel.
MultiLabel can use images only in Windows BMP format.

To preview clip art images, click once on a clip art file in the
filename box. If you click just once, you'll see a preview of the
image in the size it will appear on your label. If it's too small or
too large, you can scale it later from within MultiLabel. If you click
on an invalid file, MultiLabel will simply ignore your selection. By
clicking on additional clip art filenames, you can preview all the
graphics you have available. Naturally, you can use normal Windows
techniques to find files on other drives and directories.

To place an image onto your label, double click on the file name you
want to load, or click OK to load the current image. If you click
Cancel, no image will load.

[Serial #] -- Inserts a serial number at the cursor position, after
asking you for the starting serial number. This serial number
automatically increments when you print, and is saved in label files.
When you load a serialized label, it automatically starts at the next
number. You can insert serial numbers anywhere in a line of text. If
you need continuous numbering for multiple sessions of running
MultiLabel, be sure to save your label after printing to update the
serial number.

NOTE: Serial numbers can't be used with the Split Line at Tilde
alignment option.

NOTE: If you use serial numbers in your labels, print only one copy of
the label sheet at a time, since multiple sheet printing uses your
printer's multiple copy commands. If you print multiple copies, all
sheets will have the same serial numbers. If you need multiple sheets,
print each sheet separately, using the print command and one copy.

The Layout Group

[Format] -- Lets you choose one of the many Laser Label formats from
Avery. As an alternative, you can design a custom label format for
other sheets of laser labels. Formats are saved when you save a label
file. The current Avery product number appears above this button.

[Margins] -- This button lets you set customized margins for your
label. These margins affect only the top and sides. The default is .1
inch. If an offset has been added with the next button, that offset is
added to the margin automatically.

NOTE: It is entirely possible for you to create text which extends
beyond the right and bottom of your label. This text will print, so
watch the WYSIWYB box to make sure all your text fits on the label.


RIGHT SIDE COMMANDS

On the right side of the editing and WYSIWYG screens are three other
groups of commands. These deal with text formatting and graphics.
Some of these are buttons, while others present options in list boxes
for easy selection. Starting from the top:

Text Attributes (Insert Within Line)

These buttons allow you to insert boldfacing, italics, etc. within a
line of type on your label. When you click one of these buttons a
code, such as <Bold>, is inserted in your text, telling MultiLabel to
change the attributes for all characters following the code. To
remove such a code, use normal text editing tools to delete it in the
text editing box.

HINT: You'll get the best results if you use these inserted commands
sparingly. If you want to format an entire line, use the commands in
the next group of commands.

NOTE: You cannot use these internal codes inside split lines.

NOTE: You cannot place two formatting codes next to each other. At
least one character or space must separate formatting codes. For
example, to add boldfacing AND italics, insert a bold code before a
space, then an italic code just before the word to be italicized.

[Normal] -- This inserted <Norm> code shuts off all other codes. For
example, to boldface a single word, insert a <Bold> code immediately
before the word, then a <Norm> code immediately following the word.

[Bold] -- Inserts <Bold> in your text. Any font may be boldfaced.

[Ital] -- Inserts <Ital>.

[Underline] -- Inserts <Under>.

[Subscript] -- Inserts <Subs>.

[Superscript] -- Inserts <Supr>

NOTE: [Superscript] and [Subscript] allow you to position text above
or below the current line. Text size is reduced to 66% of the
original text. This may affect line spacing on your label.

NOTE: You cannot use any of the above buttons on lines which have the
Split at Tilde attribute, (See below). If you try, you'll see a
message box telling you this.

[Bullet] -- This button inserts a standard bullet character at the
current cursor position in the text editing box. Use it to create
bulleted lists on your label. You can insert bullets anywhere in your
text, and even in split lines.


Text Attributes (Whole Line)

Unlike the previous set of commands, these commands affect an entire
line, and offer a great deal of control over your formatting. You
should use these commands whenever possible, rather than the inserted
commands.

[Line] -- Displays the current line number, as determined by the
position of your cursor in the text editing box.

[Dupe Previous] -- This button repeats the formatting of the line
above the current line. This is useful whenever you want duplicate
formats on several lines. Just format the first line to contain that
format, then move to the next line and click this button. All line
attributes will be duplicated.

[Font] -- This drop-down list box displays the current font, and lets
you change a line to another font. Click on the arrow to drop down
the font selection list. Scroll through the list, then click on your
font selection. You'll see a sample of your selected font in a box
just above this list box. To set a default font for the entire label,
see the information on the Make Current Font the Default command,
below.

[Size] -- Displays the current font size for the current line. Click
the arrow to drop down a list of available font sizes for the line.
Sizes range from 4 to 36 points, in one-point intervals for the
smaller fonts. If you want a font size (whole numbers only) not shown
on the chart, just enter the number in the size display area and
press <Enter>. NOTE: if your font size is two-characters long, you
may have to edit the size twice.

HINT: Changing the font size of a blank line affects line spacing.
Use this trick to adjust line spacing in 1-point intervals.

[Align] -- This control affects the alignment of the selected line.
The current setting shows in the display area. To change, click the
arrow, then select your option. You can choose, left or right
aligned, centered, or split lines.

NOTE: For split lines, you need to insert a tilde (~) in the text box
where you want the line to split. MultiLabel will automatically
separate the two halves of the line. You cannot reliably insert
internal formatting codes in split lines.

Normally, lines are split with the left half aligned with the left
margin and the right half aligned with the right margin. By inserting
spaces before or after the text, you can create custom alignments,
such as blocks of text centered on both sides. Experiment to create a
label that looks right to you.

[Style] -- Four check boxes control text attributes for the entire
line. The Normal box, when checked, overrides all the others. You
may, however, check as many of the others as you wish, creating even
Underlined Bold Italic text.

NOTE: You can turn off any of these attributes within a line, by
using one of the inserted buttons described above.

[Rev.] Makes text on the line reversed, with white letters on a black
background. You can increase the width of the black section by adding
spaces before and after the text.

NOTE: Large font sizes may show a thin white line between spaces if
you add spaces to extend the black area.

The Graphics Objects Group

This group controls line drawing, plus positioning and scaling of
both line drawing objects and inserted clip art images.

[Object] -- This drop-down list box lets you select an individual
object for editing. As a default, the word PIC shows in the display
area, identifying a clip art image as the current object. If you do
line drawings, each line, box, or circle gets an object number, which
appears on the WYSIWYG screen with the object. To manipulate an
object, click the down arrow, then select the object of your choice.
You may create up to 12 line-drawing objects.

[Width] -- This box controls the width of line drawing elements.
Widths range from 1 to 24 pixels on the screen, which translates
roughly to point measurements on the printer. If you change the
current setting, it will affect the current object, if present, or
the next object you draw.

[Draw] -- This check box enables line drawing. Click it before
attempting to create a line, but after selecting the object type,
line width, etc. MultiLabel will automatically select the next
available object number.

[Line], [Box], [Circle] -- These options, only one of which can be
highlighted, determine the type of object you want to draw.

Draw [Black] or [White] Options -- These options control the color of
the object you are going to draw, or change the color of an existing
object. Black is the default color.


DRAWING AN OBJECT

To draw an object in the WYSIWYG screen, first select the type of
object ([Line], [Box], [Circle]), then set the width for the lines
used to draw the object. Next click on the [Draw] checkbox. Move the
mouse pointer inside the WYSIWYG display and depress the left mouse
button at the starting point of a line, the upper left corner of a
box, or the center of a circle. While holding the button down, drag
the mouse pointer to a new location. A rubber-band image of your
object will appear as you draw. Draw slowly for best results. When
the object is approximately the right size, release the left mouse
button to place your object on the screen. A number will appear next
to the object to identify it. Don't worry if size or positioning
aren't exactly correct. You can move or size any object later.

NOTE: MultiLabel does not check to make sure your object is within the
boundaries of the label. That's your responsibility. Objects
extending past the label's edges WILL print outside the label's
boundaries.

[Move], [Size] Options -- These two options determine whether the
scroll bars (see below) move or size the current object.

[Scroll Bars] -- Both horizontal and vertical scroll bars are
available to control positioning of graphical elements. Depending on
which of the option buttons above has the highlight, you can
manipulate objects in .005 inch increments.


MOVING AN OBJECT OR CLIP ART IMAGE

Start by selecting the object in the [Object] list box. Next, click
on the [Move] option button.

To move the object in .005" increments, click on the [Up], [Down],
[Left], or [Right] arrows on the appropriate scroll bar.

To move the object in .1" increments, click the scroll bar regions
between the arrows and the position button  (thumb) on the scroll bar.

To move the object in larger increments, click and drag the position
button (thumb) on either scroll bar.


SCALING A LINE DRAWING OBJECT

First, select the object you want to resize, then click the [Size]
option button. Then, use the scroll bars, as described above to alter
the size of the object. The increments are the same as when you move
an object.

SCALING A CLIP ART IMAGE

1. First, select the PIC object in the [Object] list box.

2. Click the [Size] option button.

3. Use the scroll bars with the same increments as described above to
change the size of your image. The horizontal bar increases or
decreases the horizontal dimension. The vertical bar alters the
vertical dimensions. The upper left corner of the image remains
fixed. Once the image is the size you want, you can re-position it
with the [Move] option.

NOTE: For true proportional scaling of images, use the Graphics
Scaling command on the main menu to display the scaling submenu.
You'll find a complete description of this submenu in the section of
this manual on Menu Commands.

[Erase Selected] -- This button erases the current image, as
identified in the [Object] list box. This erasure is temporary.

[Restore] -- This button restores objects deleted with the [Erase
Selected] button. Objects remain in memory unless removed by the
[Clear] button, the [Draw] command is given, or until a new file is
loaded.

[Erase All] -- This button removes all graphical elements from the
screen. As with the erase selected button, the image remains in
memory, and can be restored with the Restore button.


MENU COMMANDS

Some, but not all button and list functions are duplicated in
traditional Windows menus. Other functions, less-often used, are
offered only in menus.  For duplicated instructions, see the
information in the section above for the equivalent button command.
Here's a rundown:

FILE MENU

New Label Design -- Clears the current label and set up for a new
design.

Open Label File -- Open an existing .CAR label design file.

Save Current Label -- Saves the current label with the current
filename.

Save Current Label As... -- Lets you save the current design under a
different filename.

Insert Graphic File -- Lets you select a clip art image for insertion
in your design.

Print Sheet(s) of Labels -- This command prints one or more sheets of
your labels. You'll see a dialog box asking how many sheets to print.

MULTIPLE COPIES

The print option lets you print multiple copies, using your printer's
built-in multiple copy command for increased speed. Just enter the
number of copies you want.

NOTE: If you use serial numbers on your labels, see the section on
serial numbers above before printing.

Update Font List -- This command updates your font list at any time.

Exit -- Quits MultiLabel, with a confirmation box.


EDIT MENU

To use this menu, you must first highlight text in the text-editing
box by dragging the mouse over the text you want to use. Then, give
one of the commands, or its keyboard shortcut.

Copy -- Sends a copy of selected text to the Windows Clipboard. Use
<Ctrl>+<Ins> as a shortcut.

Cut -- Removes selected text from the editing box, then stores it in
the clipboard. <Shift>+<Del> is the keyboard shortcut.

Paste -- Copies text from the Windows Clipboard to the current cursor
location in the editing box.. Shortcut: <Shift>+<Ins>.

Auto-Updating Enabled -- This command, referred to above, is normally
off. Click it to add a check mark and enable updating whenever you
change lines in the text editing box.


LAYOUT MENU

Select Label Format -- This command shows you a list of available
label formats, with Avery Product numbers, dimensions, and notes
about the label format. Be sure to match the number with your label
type. The Custom menu command lets you create formats for other types
of labels.

NOTE: If you create custom layouts, be sure to save them as blank
labels. Then, when you need to create more labels in that format, you
can load the blank label file as a template.

Margins -- Sets margins for label text.

Printer Fudge Factors -- Not all printers work identically. If your
labels print slightly out of alignment, use this menu and its
submenu to add or subtract measurements, in inches, to compensate.
You can set the top space, left space, and the vertical or horizontal
gap between labels. Enter positive or negative numbers.

NOTE: These fudge factors are saved with labels, so you can create a
blank label to act as a template for future labels.

Hewlett-Packard DeskJet users: Use the Top Space fudge factor with a
measurement of -.25 to compensate for that printer's top margin. This
will keep your labels from printing off the page. You may have to
experiment with this setting.

FORMAT MENU

Make Current Font Default -- this command sets all empty lines of a
label design to the font currently shown in the font selection list
box. Lines already having another font name will not change.

Insert Character Styles in Line -- This command opens another menu,
which lets you insert character formatting commands inside text lines
in the editing box. These functions are the same as those in the top
group of buttons at the right of the screen.

Insert Serial Numbers -- This command works just like the [Serial #]
button. See that section of the document for more information.


PICTURE SCALING MENU

The functions in this menu are not duplicated with on-screen buttons.
Here you can re-scale a clip art image you've added to your design.
All scaling percentages affect the image as it currently appears --
not the original image. Just click on the percentage of change you
want.

Custom -- This button brings up an input box which lets you enter a
customized scaling percentage for your clip art image. Type in a
value between 1 and 500 to scale your image, then click OK. Remember,
these figures are percentages and, in most cases values ranging from
25% to 250% are most likely to give the effect you want.

HINT: Avoid large scaling changes whenever possible, since image
quality will deteriorate if the image is scaled too small or too
large. If you need a major scaling change, try editing your image in
a paint program before using it in MultiLabel

HELP MENU

Help with MultiLabel <F1> -- This command opens a new window, which
presents help information for MultiLabel On the left of this screen is
an index of topics covered in the main help screen. To get help on a
topic, just click on the topic's name. You can scroll through the
list with the scroll bar to find other topics. Once the program finds
the topic, the index name will appear highlighted at the top of the
screen to the right, with the help information below. If your
information cannot be read all on one screen, use the vertical scroll
bar next to the help screen to move through the information.

About -- License and registration information for MultiLabel. You'll
need the version number if you make a support call.

OsoSoft Program Information -- Find out about other OsoSoft programs.
You can even fill out and print an order form without leaving
MultiLabel

TUTORIAL SECTION

In this section of the manual, you'll go through the process of
creating a label, using all the features of the program. Just follow
the steps below.

1. After starting MultiLabel, select a format for your label with the
Layout Menu or the [Format] button. Be sure your labels you'll be
printing on are same as the ones you select.

2. If the current font displayed under the Font box is not the one
you want to use for most of the text in the label, choose another
font, then give the "Make Current Font Default" command in the Format
menu.

3 Now, enter text for your label in the text editing box. Press
<Enter> after each line. The formatting from the previous line will
carry over to the next line. If you'll place blank lines in your
label, enter them now. You can alter the font size on blank lines to
adjust vertical spacing.

4. Click on the first line of text in the editing box, then, using
the command buttons and lists on the right of the screen, select a
font, size, alignment, and any other formatting changes you want on
that line.

Repeat this sequence for each line. Remember: You can use the [Dupe
Previous] button to duplicate the formatting of the line preceding
the current line.

5. If you need split lines, with text on both sides of the label,
move the cursor to the line to be changed, then insert a tilde
character (~) where you want the line to split, and type the right
side of the line. Of course, you can do this when you first enter the
text for the line as well. To split the line, select "Split Line at
Tilde" in the [Alignment] list box.

HINT: MultiLabel normally updates the WYSIWYG display only when you
change a formatting option, or when you press <Enter> or click the
[Update] button. If you turn on Auto Updating, to avoid delays, always
use the mouse to move from one line to another. Just click with the
cursor where you want to work. Using the cursor keys means that the
WYSIWYG display updates after each <Cursor Up> or <Cursor Down>
keypress.

6. You can adjust the position of characters on your label by
inserting spaces at the beginning or end of text. Experiment to get
just the effect you want. Click the [Update] button to view your
changes.

7. Once all your text is in place, you may want to add lines,
circles, or boxes, using the tools in the Graphics Tools group of
commands. See the instructions above for details. Remember: you can
alter or delete any graphical element at any time.

LINE, BOX and CIRCLE HINTS: Don't forget that you can draw in white,
as well as in black. You can erase part of a line or other object by
drawing over it in white. This allows a great deal of flexibility.

8. You may want to add a clip art image to your label. To do this,
click the [AddPic] button, or use the "Insert Graphic File" command
in the File menu. Select your graphic from the file list in the
dialog box, then click OK to place it in the upper left-hand corner
of the label. Remember, clicking once on a filename in this dialog
box lets you preview your clip art images. Once you find the image
you want, click OK or double-click on the filename.

You can use any of the tools described earlier to position and size
your image. Remember, if you change either the height or width of an
image, you'll affect its proportions. To size an image without
altering its proportions, use the commands in the Graphic Scaling
menu.

9. Check your label design frequently, making changes wherever
necessary. Once you're completely satisfied, Use the [Save] button or
Save command to save your label. Then print a label sheet on plain
papre and inspect the results.

HINT: It's always best to print a sample sheet of any new label
design before committing to actual labels. Hold the sample sheet
behind the blank label sheet, then hold the pair up to the light.
You'll be able to see any misalignments easily.

NOTE: Due to differences in resolution between screen images and
printed output, you may notice minor differences in your label. Check
your printout, then make changes in your design to produce the
results you want.


EDITING YOUR DESIGNS

Once you've designed a few labels, you can use them as templates for
future label designs. MultiLabel Professional comes with a number of
stock label designs you can use as templates. It's easy to make
changes.

Editing Text

To replace existing text with new text, the easiest way is to
highlight existing text by dragging over it with the mouse, one line
at a time. Once the text is highlighted, just type your new text,
which will automatically replace the highlighted text. You can use
this feature to create label templates. Just create a sample label,
using dummy text for each line, then save it.

Controlling Line Spacing

You can make fine changes in the spacing between lines of text. To do
this, make sure there's at least one blank line between the lines you
want to change. Then, position the cursor on a blank line and change
the font size for that line. You'll see the changes on your screen.
You can make changes in 1-point (1/72") intervals. If you need a font
size smaller or large than those offered in the font size list, enter
it in the display area of the list. MultiLabel does not accept
fractional font sizes.


Placing Text Beside Clip Art Images

You'll often want to position text next to or around clip art images.
To do this, use the [Alignment] options. For example, to position
text to the right of an image, choose the Right Aligned alignment
option, then add spaces after the text to move it left to the
position you want. Similarly, use the Left Aligned option to position
text to the left of an image. This time, however, place your spaces
to the left of the text.

To wrap text on both sides of an image, insert a tilde (~) where you
want the text to break, then choose the Split at Tilde alignment
option. Once again, pad the text with spaces to achieve the position
you need.


Working with Split Lines

MultiLabel's ability to split lines is very powerful, letting you
position blocks of text on both sides of the label. Normally, the
right half of the line is left-aligned, while the right half is
right-aligned. Often, however, you'll want to center blocks of text
or manipulate the alignment in other ways. As described above, use
spaces to pad the text until it's aligned just the way you want.
Click the [Update] button to view your changes. It only takes a few
seconds to completely re-align your label.

NOTE: Don't use Serial Numbers on split lines. Alignment may not be
accurate.


Printing Samples

When working with complex label designs, it's always a good idea to
print occasional samples of your design on plain paper for checking.
As mentioned above, your printed image may vary slightly from the
image in the WYSIWYG screen. After printing a sample, you can make
changes to correct slight misalignments.


MULTILABEL TIPS AND HINTS

As with all software, there are a number of tricks and techniques you
can use to save time and effort. Here are some ideas for using
MultiLabel: Printing

Printing layout sheets and sheets of labels takes time. MultiLabel and
Windows have to compose graphical pages before a page emerges. You'll
need a little patience.

For maximum quality when printing MultiLabel label designs, be sure
your laser printer has a good toner cartridge. If you can set print
density, choose a medium or dense setting to achieve dark blacks for
reproduction.

MultiLabel can handle 16-color clip art images, but the final output
will depend on how your printer interprets the colors in your clip
art. You'll get the best results by far if you choose black and white
line drawings, rather than color or gray-scale images.

Creating Multi-Color Labels

You can use MultiLabel to produce multi-colored labels for printing by
a print shop. Simply design a complete label, with graphics and all
text elements. Then, delete information which will not print in a
color and print a layout sheet showing just the material for one
color. Print a sheet for each color to be used on your label.

Working With Clip Art Images

MultiLabel accepts only Windows BMP (bitmap) files as clip art images.
Graphics programs, such as Windows Paint, supplied with Windows 3.0,
can create these tiles. You can convert other file types to BMP
files, using any of a number of format conversion programs, such as
HIJAAK, Publisher's PaintBrush, and others.

The size of your image is important. Art for labels is quite small,
almost never exceeding 1" in any dimension. Since MultiLabel deals
with 300 Dot Per Inch (DPI) printers exclusively, it's clear that a
300 X 300 pixel image will print as a 1" square.

While MultiLabel can handle much larger images, it's usually better to
scale large images in a program specifically designed to do that.
Windows Paint can handle preliminary scaling quite well. If you have
a scanner, you can create your own clip art in minutes. Simply scan
the image, then use your scanner software, or a program like Zsoft's
Publisher's Paintbrush, to produce a BMP file approximately 300
pixels in each dimension. Naturally, tall narrow images will use
other dimensions, but you get the idea. While black and white line
images reproduce best in MultiLabel, it's worth experimenting with
16-grayscale or 16-color images. Just save them as BMP files, then
pop them onto your label.

You can also create clip art images with any paint program which can
produce Windows BMP files. Creating custom logos isn't difficult at
all. Also, a number of clip art libraries are available, both
commercially and as shareware. Most often, however, these images will
need conversion to BMP format.

Finally, if you're not happy with the way an image prints in
MultiLabel, remember these tips:

1. Very thin lines often don't print well.

2. Large black areas may present problems for your laser printer, and
sometimes don't reproduce as completely black.

3. Reducing a large image to label logo size often results in loss of
detail.

4. Increasing the size of tiny images, such as Windows .ICO icon
files usually results in jagged lines on your printout.

5. Keep your images simple for maximum impact.

6. Complex line drawings usually don't work as well as iconic art
which attracts, but doesn't confuse, the eye.

7. For best results, set the density adjustment on your printer to a
medium or dense setting. The darker your blacks, the better your
label will look.

8. Select the feed option for your printer which sends the paper on
the straightest path possible through the printer. Usually this means
using the read output tray.

9. Printing takes time. Depending on your design, printing a sheet of
labels can take up to 5 minutes, or even longer on PostScript
printers. Please be patient.

Lines, Boxes, and Circles

You cannot draw a graphical element which extends into a clip art
image. The line will end at the edge of the image. You can, however,
overwrite text with a line graphic. Let the WYSIWYG display be your
guide. Be careful not to let lines, boxes, or circles extend past the
label's borders. Always check the WYSIWYG display for conflicts, and
print plain-paper samples if you're working close to the label's
edge.

Use the [Update] button to see the results of your changes. As you
draw and move lines, text may not appear if it has been overwritten.
[Update] to see the actual image.

Use the [Draw White] option to create special effects. Combining
thick lines with intersecting white lines can create interesting
effects. You can create quite complex drawings using the line drawing
tools alone, including simple logos.

You can also draw boxes or circles around existing text on your
design. It's best to first create the text, then follow up with
lines, boxes, and circles. Use the positioning scroll bars for
precise sizing and placement.


DESIGNING EFFECTIVE LABELS

MultiLabel doesn't design your label.....You Do! With MultiLabel, your
options are almost unlimited, and you can quite easily produce either
an excellent design which will produce a powerful impact on those who
see it. On the other hand, you can just as quickly produce an ugly,
ineffective label.

The best way to get ideas for label designs is to study labels others
use. Which labels jump out at you? Which labels present an effective
appearance? Which ones do you think are loud, garish, or
inappropriate? By looking at many label designs, you'll soon develop
an eye for good design.

Still, there are a few basic principles to think about:

Make the label fit your purpose. If it's a product label, include
your company's logo and set type to match your other stationery. If
you're printing labels for computer diskettes, you can include
information to help the user know what to do with the disk.

Don't overdo the use of fonts. While it's amazingly easy to include
multiple fonts using Windows, MultiLabel and Adobe Type Manager, try
to resist the temptation. Typically, your best bet is to choose one
attractive font for your name, company name, or other main lines,
then use a simpler font, such as Helvetica for details, such as
address and telephone number information.

Similarly, watch your use of graphics. A garish or highly ornamental
graphic is usually not the most effective tool in label design.
Instead, select a company logo, or a simple line drawing which will
catch the reader's eye without shocking him or her. Most companies
have discovered that a highly-memorable icon logo is far more
effective in reminding people about the company than an ornate image.

The same thing applies to line, boxes, and circles. Keep your design
simple for best results. Don't let a too-bold line object overpower
your label. After all, you want your customers or clients to remember
your name or company name....not a line.

Finally, if your label needs to display several items in a list, try
using MultiLabel's bullet feature. It's automatic and effective.