The World of Computer Software/World_Of_Computer_Software-02-387-Vol-3of3.iso/s/scbase22.zip/SCANBASE.DOC

Text File | 1992-11-30 | 7KB | 187 lines

                  SCANBASE

                Version 2.2


    ScanBase is a Windows program that enhances the use
    of your scanner radio.  The problem with most scanners is
    that once you've entered all your active frequencies it
    is very difficult to remember what each one is.  This is
    especially true of the newer scanners that can hold
    hundreds of frequencies.  Well, ScanBase will remember
    everything you need to know for up to 200 channels on your
    scanner.  Besides keeping a description for each frequency
    ScanBase will help you figure out which channels are active
    and will also keep track of which channels you've got
    locked out.

    IMPORTANT -  If you have already been using an earlier
    version of ScanBase be sure to read the UPGRADE.DOC file
    included in SCBASE22.ZIP.



    GETTING STARTED -

    ScanBase uses two data files to store all of the
    scanner information.  Copy SCANBASE.DAT and SCANBASE.BNK
    to your Windows directory along with the program file
    SCANBASE.EXE.  ScanBase will not work without both data
    files.  ScanBase is a Visual Basic program and requires
    that VBRUN200.DLL be in your Windows directory. VBRUN200.DLL
    is a MicroSoft run-time file for use with all programs
    written using Visual Basic 2.0.  VBRUN200.DLL is freely
    distributed and can be obtained from many computer bulletin
    boards (including CompuServe).

    Once you have Scanbase installed on your computer
    you can run it just like any other Windows program.  The
    first time you run it you will see the sample data from
    my own scanner.  It is a good idea to play around with the
    sample data before spending the necessary time to enter your
    scanner information.  Feel free to experiment.  None of the
    changes you make will be final unless you press the SAVE
    button or turn on AUTOSAVE (more about that later).  Pressing
    the RESTORE button will undo any changes since the last save.

    All of the frequency and descriptive information can
    be directly edited by clicking on any text box and entering
    information in the normal manner.  The tab key will move you
    from one box to the next, or you can just use the mouse to
    select any text box at random.

    If you feel like starting right in on your own data-
    base you can use the CLEAR button to clear all of the sample
    information.  If you then press SAVE you will write the
    blank info to disk and then you can start entering the data
    from your scanner.  The rest of the documentation includes
    specific information on each of the controls.





    INDICATOR LIGHTS-

    The red and green lights on the left side of the
    screen provide a quick indication of which channels you are
    actually using.  By default both lights are off.  If you
    have entered the frequency information and then get a hit on
    a particular channel pressing the counter button will increment
    the hit count by one and turn on the green light.  If you
    decide to put a channel on lockout (skip) you can turn on
    the red light by clicking on it.  A subsequent hit on the same
    channel will turn the light from red to green.  If you want
    to turn either light on or off manually you can just click on
    the light.



    COUNTERS-

    The counters along the right edge of the screen are
    used to keep track of the hits on each frequency.  As you
    listen to your scanner you can press the appropriate counter
    each time you hear something interesting.  A short period of
    scoring hits will soon show which of your frequencies are
    really active and which ones you might want to think about
    replacing.  Remember, you aren't going to get any hits on a
    frequency that you've got locked out.



    BANKS-

    The row of numbered buttons below the descriptions
    is used to instantly change from one bank to another.  ScanBase
    stores 20 banks of 10 channels each, for a total of 200 channels.



    SEARCH-

    Most scanners include a search feature that allows you
    to search through a range of frequencies looking for frequencies
    you may not already know about.  If you are using search mode
    and don't know if the frequency you found is already in your
    scanner you can use the SEARCH button to hunt through your
    database.  The SEARCH button is also a quick way to locate a
    frequency that you already know is in there somewhere.



    CLEAR-

    The CLEAR button is used to clear frequency information,
    descriptions, and reset the counters to zero.  The CLEAR button
    will allow you to choose to clear the entire database or just
    one bank at a time.  If you want to clear just one bank use the
    numbered bank button to select the bank first and then press the
    CLEAR button.  If you make a mistake you can press RESTORE to
    get the information back, provided you haven't already saved
    the changes (by pressing SAVE or having AUTOSAVE turned on).



    RESET-

    RESET is similar to CLEAR except that it only changes
    the counters to zero.  Again, you can reset one bank (select the
    bank first) or you can reset all channels.



    RESTORE-

    RESTORE will bring the database back to the point it
    was at the last time you pressed SAVE.  If you have AUTOSAVE
    turned on RESTORE will take you back to the last save (sometime
    within the last few minutes).



    SAVE-

    The SAVE button writes the database to disk.  Once you
    press the SAVE button all changes are final.  If you have entered
    information you don't want to risk losing press SAVE.  You
    should press SAVE before exiting the program to make sure
    your database stays current.



    AUTOSAVE-

    If AUTOSAVE is selected from the options menu the
    SAVE button will automatically be activated every couple of
    minutes.  The time interval will vary depending on the speed
    of your computer.  Even with AUTOSAVE turned on you should
    press SAVE before exiting the program.



    SCAN-

    If SCAN is turned on you will see a scan across any
    activated green lights.  The SCAN option doesn't really do
    anything, it just looks cool.



    TEXT COLOR-
    The TEXT COLOR option allow you to choose the color
    used in the data entry fields.  This is largely aesthetic,
    but may improve the display on some laptops and monochrome
    monitors.



    PRINT-

    PRINT is accessible through the File menu.  You can
    print out the information for one bank or print the entire
    database.  As with RESET and CLEAR you should select the
    bank number first if you want to print just one bank.