PC Advisor 1996 November/PC_ADVISOR.ISO/sidekick/readme.txt

Text File | 1995-05-12 | 16.9 KB | 414 lines

                 Welcome to Sidekick for Windows 2.0
                             README File
                 ===================================


This file contains important information--please read all of it.
All information here supersedes information in the printed
documentation and online Help.

Table of Contents
------------------
 1.  Installation
 2.  Technical Support
 3.  Upgrading from a previous version of Sidekick
 4.  Changing the working directory
 5.  Sample files
 6.  Using Sidekick with PC Tools and Norton Desktop for Windows
 7.  Printing
 8.  YourWay users upgrading to Sidekick
 9.  Uninstalling Sidekick for Windows


1. Installation
----------------
 Sidekick requires a minimum of 5 MB of hard disk space to
 install, 1 MB of which must be on the same drive as your
 Windows directory, and a 386 processor or higher. After
 installation, however, Sidekick itself uses only 3 MB of
 hard disk space and requires a minimum of 500 KB free disk
 space for working with data files.

 NOTE: If you are upgrading from a previous version of Sidekick,
 make sure you read Section 5 of this README file: "Upgrading from
 a previous version of SKW."

 On some older machines, the available disk space is
 inaccurately reported to the installation program. If you
 have less than 10 MB of available disk space, and the
 program either will not install or the install unpack is
 aborted for no apparent reason, make 10 MB of hard disk
 space available and install again.

 Install will ask for your initials (up to 4 letters) to
 create your default calendar name.  Install then creates:
  o a directory called 'SKW2' on the C: drive (or whatever
    directory and drive you specified in the Install screen)
    and copies the program files into that directory.
  o a directory under 'SKW2' called 'DATA', which contains
    various data files used by Sidekick.
  o a directory under 'SKW2' called 'USERDATA', which will contain
    your personal Cardfile, Calendar and Notes data files.
  o a SIDEKICK.INI file in your computer's Windows directory
  o a Sidekick for Windows program group in your Program Manager

 To install Sidekick for Windows:
  1. Start Windows.
  2. Choose File|Run from the Program Manager.
  3. Place the Sidekick disk in the appropriate disk drive.
  4. Type A:INSTALL (or B:INSTALL if you're using Drive B)
     and choose OK.
  5. Follow the directions on the screen.
  6. To start Sidekick, open the Sidekick for Windows group
     in Program Manager and double-click the Sidekick icon.

Note: The install looks for the SIDEKICK.INI on your system
      to determine if a copy of Sidekick for Windows was
      already installed. If you are reinstalling Sidekick,
      you may want to back up any personal data files you've
      created in the Sidekick 'USERDATA' directory.



2. Technical Support
---------------------
 Starfish offers you a variety of services to help you with
 your questions.  Be sure to register your copy of Sidekick:
 registered users are entitled to receive technical support
 and information on upgrades and supplementary products.

Before calling for help, we suggest that you read the manual
and refer to the online Help system.

 CompuServe
   Users are encouraged to participate in a user supported
   forum on CompuServe (Go Starfish) to join discussions of
   the product and share information and utilities to
   maximize the benefits of Sidekick for Windows.

 Telephone Technical Support
   ([phone]

 Sales/Customer Services
   ([phone]

 International Support
   Starfish provides several language drivers for Sidekick for
   Windows.  See "Contacting Starfish" and "Extended Language
   Driver Support" in the online Help.

 Internet
   If you have a Web-browsing program, visit the Starfish Web
   site at http://www.starfishsoftware.com.


3. Upgrading from a previous version of Sidekick
-------------------------------------------------------------

 Make sure to close Sidekick 1.x and the Quick Menu before
 installing version 2.0. To remove the Quick Menu, choose the
 Remove command from its menu.

 Users of previous versions of Sidekick should note that, by
 default, Sidekick 2.0 installs into a new directory named 'SKW2'.
 Also, personal data files are no longer kept in the same
 directory as other program data. All new user files for the
 Cardfile, Calendar, and Notes are installed to a directory under
 'SKW2' called 'USERDATA'.

 The Sidekick installation program automatically detects whether
 or not you have a previous version of the program installed.  If
 you have a previous version, and you have installed Sidekick 2.0
 into the default directory 'SKW2', none of the files in your
 'SKW' directory will be overwritten.  However, Sidekick 2.0 will
 not open your old data files the first time you run it.  To use
 your existing data, open each of your calendars, cardfiles, and
 notefilesin 'SKW\DATA', and save them into your 'SKW2\USERDATA'
 directory.  When you open the files, Sidekick automatically
 converts them to the Sidekick 2.0 format.

 When Sidekick 2.0 opens your version 1.x calendar files for
 the first time, it will convert the calendar to the new
 format, and save a copy of the version 1.x calendar under the
 extension .SKB. Similarly, Sidekick 2.0 converts your
 1.x cardfiles to the new format and saves a backup copy with the
 extension .SK1.  In the Calendar conversion process, to ensure
 data integrity, any inconsistencies detected in your files will
 be corrected for you, which may in some cases result in loss of
 some Calendar activities.

 If there is an error in opening the old data files, you may want
 to refer to your original Sidekick 1.x files for comparison.  In
 that case, use the procedure below to run Sidekick 1.x.

 Note: For a complete list of files included with Sidekick and
 their use refer to online Help. Choose Help|Search from within
 Sidekick and search for the keyword "Files."

  1.  Close Sidekick and the Quick Menu.
  2.  Using the Notepad, open the file SIDEKICK.INI in the WINDOWS
      directory.
  3.  Insert a semicolon in front of the line containing the text
      "DATA=C:\SKW2\DATA". Add a line below it that reads
      "DATA=C:\SKW\DATA".
  4.  Save the file and close the Notepad.
  5.  Open the File Manager. Navigate to the SKW directory (or
      wherever you installed Sidekick 1.x).
  6.  Double-click the file SIDEKICK.EXE. Sidekick 1.x launches.
  7.  Sidekick 1.x may try to open the files that have now been
      converted to Sidekick 2.0 format. Click OK if Sidekick
      tells you that the various files are not valid files.
  8.  Open your original Sidekick 1.x files in the SKW\DATA
      directory.
  9.  Write down any data that did not get correctly transferred
      into your Sidekick 2.0 data files.
 10.  Close Sidekick 1.x without saving.
 11.  Using the Notepad, open the file SIDEKICK.INI in the
      WINDOWS directory.
 12.  Remove the semicolon in front of the line
      ";DATA=C:\SKW2\DATA". Remove the line that reads
      "DATA=C:\SKW\DATA".
 13.  Save the file and close the Notepad.
 14.  Open Sidekick 2.0 as normal, and make sure to open the 2.0
      versions of your files if necessary.
 15.  Enter the changes you noted from your 1.x files.
 16.  Choose File|Save All, and close Sidekick.

 * Installing into your old SKW directory

  If you choose to install Sidekick 2.0 into your 'SKW' directory,
  overwriting your previous copy of Sidekick, any personal files
  (cardfiles, calendars, and notes) located in the 'DATA'
  directory will not be affected by the install.  However,
  program-specific data files, such as SpeedBar settings and print
  templates cannot be retained due to changes to the files.

  To install into your 'SKW' directory, over a previous version of
  Sidekick:

    1. Install Sidekick. (See Section 1 for steps to follow, but
       modify the install location to your 'SKW' directory.)
    2. After installation, if you want to consolidate your data
       in the same directory, move your existing personal data
       files from the 'DATA' directory into 'USERDATA'.

       Personal files may include any of the following:

       - Cardfiles having the extension .SDB and .TDB
       - Notes files with the extension .FDR, .HDR, and .SKN
       - Calendar files beginning with your initials and having the
         extension .SKW
       - Other files not stamped with the same date and time as
         Sidekick

    3. Delete the old cardfile print template files from the DATA
       directory:

       SKWLBPRM.SKW
       SKWPHPRM.SKW

       Deleting files is described in your Windows or operating
       system manual.


4. Changing the working directory
----------------------------------
 By default C:\SKW2 is set as the working directory for Sidekick
 2.0 and the Import and Export tools. However, you can change the
 working directory to the same location as your data files
 (in C:\SKW2\USERDATA), or to any other directory you want.

 To change the working directory to the location of your data
 files, follow the instructions outlined below:
  1. Switch to Program Manager.
  2. Select the icon labeled "Sidekick."
  3. Choose File|Properties from the Program Manager.
  4. Change the working directory in the Properties dialog box
     from C:\SKW2 to C:\SKW2\USERDATA (or to the USERDATA
     directory of the path you specified during installation).

 You can change the working directories for the Import and Export
 tools in a similar manner as outlined above.


5. Sample files
----------------
 The following sample files are included with Sidekick:

 In the SKW2\SAMPLES directory:

   Sample cardfiles
     800NMBRS.SDB    AT&T 800 numbers for airlines, hotels, etc.
     SOFTWARE.SDB    Descriptions of Starfish software
     VIDEOS.SDB      Information on videos and learning aids
     WINELIST.SDB    Catalog of wines

   Sample Reports
     WINELIST.RPT    Report on wines

 In the SKW2\USERDATA directory:

   Sample cardfiles
     BUSINESS.SDB    Sample business address book (default)
     PERSONAL.SDB    Sample personal address book

   Sample notefiles (Notes module)
     Sidekick        Several tips and ideas for using Sidekick
     Template        Sample form letters for mail merge


6. Using Sidekick with PC Tools and Norton Desktop for Windows
---------------------------------------------------------------
 With some configurations of PC Tools for Windows, when you switch
 between desktops while Sidekick is open, a "docked" SpeedBar or
 LaunchBar will move with the active desktop independent of the
 main Sidekick window.

 To prevent the SpeedBar or LaunchBar from moving with the active
 desktop, you can change them to floating palettes by dragging
 them with the mouse, or hide them using the Show options on the
 Sidekick View menu. They will then remain with the Sidekick
 window until the next Windows session.

 When installing Sidekick under Norton Desktop 2.0, you may
 receive error messages when the Installation program attempts to
 automatically create the Sidekick icons.  Ignore the error
 messages and Sidekick should be installed.  You can then create
 the icons manually.


7. Printing
-------------
 When using a pre-defined template to print cardfiles or
 calendars, you may need to adjust the template's margins slightly
 for your specific printer.  For example, increasing the top
 margin slightly, and decreasing the bottom margin by the same
 amount will cause the text to print lower on the page.


8. YourWay users upgrading to Sidekick
----------------------------------------
 All cardfile and calendar files created in YourWay are
 compatible with Sidekick.  Report files are not.  Cardfile
 extensions are now .SDB and the calendar file extensions are
 now .SKW.  YourWay files can be renamed to the correct extension
 and then simply opened in Sidekick.

 Installing Sidekick

  1. Be sure you do not have YourWay or the Quick Menu running
     when you install Sidekick. Follow the installation
     instructions.

 Renaming YourWay's Cardfiles

  1. Open the File Manager.  Click on the YOURWAY directory so
     it is highlighted. (If your data files are stored elsewhere,
     click on that directory.)
  2. Choose File|Copy.
  3. In the Copy dialog box, type "C:\YOURWAY\*.YDB" (don't
     type the quotes) into the "From:" text box.  Type
     "C:\SKW2\USERDATA\*.SDB" into the "To:" text box.  (Change
     the location for the Sidekick directory if yours is located
     on another drive or has a different name.) Click OK.  This
     will copy and rename all the cardfiles in the YOURWAY
     directory to the SKW2 directory.  If you do not want to
     rename all the cardfiles, select only the ones to rename
     before opening the Copy dialog box. (Ctrl-click on each file
     name to select it.)
  4. Your cardfiles are now ready to be opened in Sidekick.
     Close the File Manager and open Sidekick.  Choose
     File|Open in Sidekick's cardfile to open any of the
     renamed cardfiles.

 Renaming YourWay's Calendar files

  1. Open the File Manager.  Click on the YOURWAY directory to
     highlight it. (If your data files are stored elsewhere, click
     on that directory.)
  2. Find all the calendar files.  These are all the files in the
     YOURWAY directory that begin with your initials and have a
     .YWY extension. When you installed YourWay, the program
     prompted you for up to four initials to aid in identifying
     your personal files.  For example, if your initials were ABC,
     YourWay would have created ABCTASK.YWY, ABCDATA.YWY,
     ABCMAST.YWY, and other similar files.
  3. Highlight all these calendar files except one: the *INIT.YWY.
     Do not highlight or rename this file.
  4. Choose File|Copy.
  5. In the Copy dialog box, the files that you've just
     chosen should automatically be listed in the "From:"
     text box.  Type "C:\SKW2\USERDATA\*.SKW" into the "To:" text
     box.  Click OK.
  6. All the calendar files are now in the Sidekick directory
     and are ready to be used in Sidekick.  Close the File
     Manager and open Sidekick.  Open the calendar file you
     need in Sidekick's calendar by choosing File|Open.

     NOTE: Multi-Day events (YourWay called them Conferences)
     will have to be edited.

 Using Sidekick

   Do not have YourWay and Sidekick open at the same time.

   IMPORTANT: To ensure that Sidekick runs correctly, you should
   also remove the following files from your WINDOWS directory:

      MACRODLL.DLL
      MEETINGS.DLL
      MICRDATE.DLL
      MICRFLOA.DLL
      QMHOOKS.DLL
      YWDLGDLL.DLL
      YOURWAY.INI
      CMCLIP.YWY

   Once you are certain you no longer need backup files, you can
   delete the YOURWAY directory and all the YourWay files.


9. Uninstalling Sidekick for Windows
-------------------------------------
 Before removing Sidekick from your system, you may want to back
 up any personal data files you've created in Sidekick.

 To uninstall Sidekick 1.x:
  1. Back up any Sidekick data files you want to keep, or move
     them to your 'SKW2' directory, if you are removing
     Sidekick 1.x to make room for Sidekick 2.0.  Make sure to
     save your personal data files into C:\SKW2\USERDATA.
     Personal files may include any of the following:
     - Cardfiles having the extension .SDB and .TDB
     - Notes files with the extension .FDR, *.HDR, and *.SKN
     - Calendar files beginning with your initials and having the
       extension .SKW
     - Other files not stamped with the same date and time as
       Sidekick
  2. Delete the C:\SKW directory and all of the files/directories
     it contains.
  3. If it exists, delete the file CMCLIP.SKW from your Windows
     directory.
  4. If necessary, delete the Sidekick 1.x and Quick Menu icons
     from the StartUp program group in Windows.
  5. If you never registered your copy of Sidekick, open your
     WIN.INI file in your WINDOWS directory and remove the line
     LOAD=C:\SKW\REMIND.EXE.

 To uninstall Sidekick 2.0:
  1. After backing up any Sidekick data files you want to keep,
     delete the C:\SKW2 directory and all of the files/directories
     it contains.
  2. Delete the file SIDEKICK.INI from your Windows directory.
  3. If it exists, delete the file CMCLIP.SKW from your Windows
     directory.
  4. If necessary, delete the Sidekick and Quick Menu icons
     from the StartUp program group in Windows.
  5. If you never registered your copy of Sidekick, open your
     WIN.INI file in your WINDOWS directory and remove the line
     LOAD=C:\SKW2\REMIND.EXE.

 Except for any data files you backed up, Sidekick for Windows
 is now completely removed from your system.