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Text File
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1986-10-11
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116 lines
Documentation file for VIDEOSTO.ARC
Authors: Shay O. Walters and Philip D. Moore
Para-Soft
P.O. Box 6273
Columbia, SC 29260-6273
Phone: 803-799-0180
Compuserve: 73247,1163
GEnie-MAIL: SHAY
This is a set of programs designed to keep records for a video-tape
rental store. It DOES NOT do thue accounting functions, but it DOES:
1. Maintain a list of members with addresses, phone, bank-card info,
membership status, and a list of tapes currently checked-out.
2. Maintain an inventory of tapes with title, primary actors, subject,
rating, and current check-out status.
3. Generate mailing labels for different categories of members.
These programs will allow you to keep track of the tapes (by number)
and the reports will show which tapes are overdue, etc.
RUNNING THE VIDEO SYSTEM
These programs are actually CP/M programs, but they will run under
MP/M allowing access to the database by more than one terminal. Also,
support is provided to allow you to run the programs on an IBM-PC.
This demo is configured to run on an IBM-PC or compatible.
You must have ANSI.SYS declared in your CONFIG.SYS file. The programs
will work with almost any type of CRT display when running under
CP/M (or MP/M), but this demo DOES NOT include the terminal configuration
program. See the TERMINAL.DOC file for info on setting-up definitions
for different types of terminals.
Load the programs onto your hard disk (with MSDOS, I suggest that
you use a subdirectory).
Under CP/M, type "STARTUP" and press return.
-----------------
FOR MSDOS USERS
-----------------
If you have a NEC V20 chip, use the VSTART batch file to run the
programs.
If you do not have a V20 chip, use the ESTART batch file to run
the programs.
NOTE -- Both of these batch files assume that the programs are
loaded onto drive C: (It may be any subdirectory). If you are not
running on drive C:, you must edit the appropriate batch file and
change the ASSIGN command ("assign a=d" for example, if you are running
on drive D:).
These programs use a formatted screen display. The IBM-PC keys
have the following special functions:
TAB move to next field in sequence.
RETURN same as TAB
DOWN-ARROW same as TAB
UP-ARROW move to previous field.
BACKSPACE backspace within a field.
LEFT-ARROW same as BACKSPACE
RIGHT-ARROW move to right within a field
ESC (Escape) exit from screen
ALL function keys, HOME, END, PGUP, PGDN, etc are the same as ESC.
------------------------------
CP/M (and compatible) users:
------------------------------
Before you start, read the INITPARM.DOC documentation. You may
run these programs on any drive or user, but there are values in the
INITPARM.PAR file you will have to set.
Also, rename STARTUP.CPM to STARTUP.COM.
---------------------------------------------
More info on the formatted screen handling
---------------------------------------------
Note that some fields require certain types of input. Some fields
will always display upper case, some will only accept numeric input, etc.
Date fields perform complete validation of the date. You cannot enter
"12/44/86" for example, nor will it allow "2/29/87" (not a leap year).
When exiting from a screen, any errors found on the screen will be
described on the bottom line of the screen, and the cursor will be
positioned to the field in error.
You may abort the programs at any time by typing ctrl-C. A safety
message will appear at the bottom of the screen asking you to confirm
whether or not to abort. If you press "Y" (or "y"), the program will
terminate and the DOS prompt will reappear. NOTE that the preferred
method of exiting from the programs is to return to the main menu and
enter "EX".
The report programs are configured for an Okidata Microline-92
printer, and will automatically switch to compressed print for those
reports which are too wide for the 80-column mode. Normal print will
be automatically selected for those reports which will fit into 80
columns.
Refer to the INITPARM.DOC file for information on configuring
the programs for other printers.
If you have any problem running this demo, or have any other
questions, please contact me at the address given at the top of
this document.