Software of the Month Club 1996 December

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Text File | 1996-06-20 | 16.7 KB | 375 lines

README.TXT 6/20/96 COLLEGE AID CALCULATOR (tm) CAC 96-7 (c) Copyright 1996, Think Ahead, Inc To Print this file: Press Alt-F, then P. To Exit Press Alt-F, then X. B E S U R E T O I N S T A L L : STRATS24.xxx STRATEGIES TO REDUCE COLLEGE COSTS: ------------------------------------------------- Our electronic book--can be found in your COL_AID directory. STRATEGIES... has been written in Rich Text Format (RTF)--a Microsoft standard, which may be read by Microsoft Word and many other word processors. Start your word processor, Choose File, Open, File Type: RTF or Rich Text Format, select the C:\COL_AID directory and the STRATS24.RTF file. Proceed as instructed. The same ICON procedure below will allow you to create an Icon for Strategies ... and COACH. If your word processor is not able to read the STRATS24.RTF file, you may use your word processor's ASCII file reader to open the STRATS24.TXT file instead. This format does not retain all of the formatting codes that RTF handles, such as Font sizes, Bold, Underline and Italics. COACH24.xxx Our tutorial (COllege Aid Calculator Helper) ---------------------------------------------------------- is also included in your COL_AID directory--COACH24.RTF and COACH24.TXT. Installation instructions are the same as for STRATEGIES above. COACH contains navigational instructions and a step-by-step tour of CAC. Also included are commentary about the ten sets of sample data already entered into CAC--and a glossary. S E E : ICON3.1 or ICON95 below for "how to" instructions. QUICK START -- See WIN95 + WIN 3.X + DOS below for details. ----------------------------------------------------------------- If you allowed CAC to perform these functions, no need to read: ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. AUTOEXEC.BAT needs SHARE /F:4000 /L:200 (locate before WIN) WIN95 NEEDS: C:\WIN95\COMMAND\SHARE.EXE /F:5000 /L:300 2. CONFIG.SYS needs BUFFERS=32 and FILES=50 (=150 in WIN95) 3. If installing from diskette--at A:\, type SETUP, press [Enter] --from a TEMP directory--at C:\TEMP, type SETUP, press [Enter] 4. Add CAC icon or at C:\COL_AID, type CAC and press [Enter] 5. Restart your computer. 6. Use your word processor to open STRAT24.xxx & COACH24.xxx Navigation within this README.TXT file. --------------------------------------- To Print README, press [Alt-F], then [P], then [ENTER]. Exit is [Alt-F], then [X]. Search: [Alt-S] (or just click your mouse on a menu choice) Edit is [Alt-E], however: If you wish to Edit README.TXT - customize it for future use: ------------------------------------------------------------- To cut & paste to suit your needs, save it now to a new name: Alt-F, A, C:\COL_AID\NEW_NAME.TXT (Use A_NAME you'll remember). MEMORY - DOS Installation: -------------------------- You will need either 4 MB of RAM with at least 2 MB of free (XMS) extended memory & 256 K free conventional memory or, if you have less than 4 MB of free XMS memory, you will need approximately 6 MB of free disk space (in addition to the 6.5 MB of disk space used for the CAC program files) for a virtual memory swap file. MEMORY - 8 MB needed in Windows 3.x and WIN95 --------------------------------------------- DISK SPACE: 10 MB needed during installation, 6.5 MB after. ----------------------------------------------------------- Old Computers - New Computers - WIN95 ------------------------------------- CAC is a 32 bit program, it will not run on an 8088 or 80286--and on a 386 it runs very slowly--(Those 486 upgrade chips do help.) And, CAC runs much faster under WIN95 than under Windows 3.x AUTOEXEC.BAT - DOS, Windows 3.x and Windows 95 setting procedure: ----------------------------------------------------------------- If CAC installs SHARE or if SHARE has been installed previously, you may need to adjust its location (or size). To do this, Go to C:\ (your DOS prompt). Type: CD\ and press [Enter]. Then, type EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT then [Enter]. The following line (and size) must be included after MOUSE. If you are using WIN 3.x automatic bootup, WIN must come after SHARE. SHARE /F:4000 /L:200 WIN95 ... C:\WIN95\COMMAND\SHARE /F:5000 /L:300 If SHARE comes after the WIN command, move the cursor to the position in front of the W of WIN, press [Enter], then type in the above parameters. Delete the occurrence of SHARE after WIN. Go to File, Exit, Save. For more information about SHARE, refer to your DOS manual. When you reboot, the changes will take effect. CONFIG.SYS - DOS, Windows 3.x and WIN95 setting procedure: ---------------------------------------------------------- At your C:\ DOS prompt (the drive that your computer boots from), type EDIT CONFIG.SYS and press [Enter]. One of the lines should say FILES=50 (more is OK; WIN95 requires 150). Another line should say BUFFERS=32 (more is fine). Increase the numbers if necessary. A DPMI memory manager such as HIMEM.SYS, QEMM.SYS or 386MAX must also be loaded. If you see one of these names (or if you are using another memory manager), you are all set. If not, add the following line (as the first line) to your CONFIG.SYS file DEVICE=C:\COL_AID\HIMEM.SYS (or refer to your DOS manual). DOWNLOADING CAC: --------------- 1. Follow the instruction of the service you have used. 2. Unzip COLAIDxx.ZIP or .EXE ... as instructed. WIN95 INSTALLATION: ------------------- 1. Click the [Start] button, then [Run]. 2. Type A:SETUP (or B:SETUP or C:\TEMP\SETUP) and press [Enter] 3. Follow the on-screen instructions. Use [Tab] to select color field--then press [Enter]. 4. Set up the CAC Properties & Icon for WIN95 operation: ICON95 ------ a. Click [Start], [Program], [Windows Explorer], [Col_aid] b. If Explorer is set to full screen, click middle top r. icon c. Click Size (right side of Explorer). CAC will be 1st now. d. [Left click] CAC then [right click] to bring up choice menu e. [Left click] [Create Shortcut] ... drag it to your Desktop. e. [Right click] then [left click] Properties. f. Click the Program file at top h. Click on: [Close on exit] and [Apply] This is IMPORTANT. i. Click on [Memory] DOS Protected DPMI memory should be 8192. j. Click on [Screen], [Full Screen] [Apply] [OK] k. Restart your computer. [Double Click] the CAC Icon. WINDOWS 3.x INSTALLATION: ------------------------- 1. At PROGRAM MANAGER, go to FILE, RUN, then: 2. Type A:SETUP (or B:SETUP or C:\TEMP\SETUP) and press [Enter] 3. Follow instructions. Remove Disk 2 after Exiting README.TXT (Use [Tab] to select field--then press [Enter].) 4. ADD THE CAC ICON TO THE PROGRAM GROUP OF YOUR CHOICE. (You may [Alt-Tab] to PROGRAM MANAGER right now to do this.) ICON3.1 ------- a. At Program Manager, choose File, New, Program, Item, OK. b. Description: College Aid Calculator c. Command Line: C:\COL_AID\CAC.BAT d. Working Directory: C:\COL_AID e. Click on CHANGE ICON, OK, Browse f. Double click the yellow file folder C:\ g. Scroll down to the COL_AID directory and double click it h. On the left, double click the CAC.ICO file, OK, OK. Done 5. See above for AUTOEXEC.BAT & CONFIG.SYS instructions. 6. Reboot your computer. 7. Start CAC by double-clicking the CAC icon. 8. Use your word processor to open STRAT24.xxx & COACH24.xxx (See detailed instruction on how to do this below.) DOS INSTALLATION (if you don't have WINDOWS or memory is low.) -------------------------------------------------------------- IF INSTALLING FROM A DISKETTE 1. Insert Disk #l into your A: or B: drive. 2. Go to the DISK DRIVE from which you are installing: At your C:\ or D:\ prompt, type A: or B: and [Enter] 3. Type SETUP and press [Enter]. Follow instructions. 4. Remove Disk 2 only after you Exit this README.TXT file. IF INSTALLING FROM A TEMP DIRECTORY 1a. If you downloaded CAC from the CAC's Home Page: At C:\ type CD\TEMP (Change Directory to where CAC is). Press [Enter], type colaid24 and press [Enter] again. (This will expand CAC's self-extracting zip file.) 1b. If you downloaded from a BBS or CDROM, follow their instructions for downloading. Then at C:\ type CD\TEMP (Change Directory to where CAC is and go to step 2 below.) 1c. If you are copying floppy disks to a TEMP directory: Copy all of the CAC files to a TEMP directory. To do so, if you do not already have a TEMP directory: at C:\ type MD\TEMP (Make Directory) and press [Enter]. To go to TEMP, type CD\TEMP (Change Directory) [Enter]. To copy files from a diskette to TEMP, type A: [Enter]. Insert Disk 1 into A:\ drive, type COPY *.* C: [Enter]. (*.* means everything on the disk will go to C:\TEMP) Remove Disk 1; insert Disk 2; type COPY *.* C: [Enter]. Type C: [Enter] to go back to the TEMP directory 2. Type SETUP [Enter]. Follow instructions. 3. See above for AUTOEXEC.BAT & CONFIG.SYS instructions. 4. Reboot your computer. 5. At your C:\ DOS prompt: type CD\COL\AID, press [Enter] 6. Type CAC and press [Enter] again. 7. Use your word processor to open STRAT24.xxx & COACH24.xxx (See detailed instruction on how to do this below.) CAC NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS --------------------------- For a brief explanation of navigating within CAC, choose HELP at CAC's Main Menu or HELP from CAC's SELECT Menu. For detailed HELP on all the various workings of CAC, COACH--COllege Aid Calculator Helper (our tutorial) can be reviewed. See COACH below. TROUBLESHOOTING, TECHNICAL DETAILS ---------------------------------- If CAC takes much more than 45 seconds to load on your old 386, read below. If problems arise, and all else fails, please see the following instructions. Additions, updates or modifications to this notice are available on our Web home page. (address below) CAC WILL NOT BOOT -- Windows 3.x -------------------------------- 1. Did you reboot your computer after installing? 2. SETUP error: "Error reading drive A" - Keep pressing "Retry." Disk drive may need cleaning - disk may be defective. 3. Fatal Error 1307 ... Not enough memory - read next item. Using a drive other than C:\ or a STACKED / DOUBLED drive: ---------------------------------------------------------- CAC may not like running on a compressed drive or a drive other than C:\. However, it could work out. In order to run on a drive other than C:, the A4.VMC file may need to be edited. If line 4 of this file says Swapfile = C: and you did not install CAC on C:\, use an ASCII editor (Windows Notepad or the DOS Edit command) to change this drive designation to the one being used. OPTIMIZING MEMORY: ------------------ Once changes have been made to AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS as explained above, you can use your computer's memory management program to optimize your computer memory. The DOS 6 program that does this is MEMMAKER. (If you are using QEMM or another such program, refer to your user manual.) For MEMMAKER, the process is easy. At the DOS prompt, type MEMMAKER and press [Enter]. Follow the instructions on the screen. "Express Setup" should be just fine. Optimizing memory should cause your programs to run faster and/or more reliably. Read about MEMMAKER in your DOS 6 manual. Slow performance ... Boot-up taking a long time: ------------------------------------------------ You may need to do some computer house-cleaning. When was the last time you defragmented your hard drive? Are there old programs or program fragments clogging your disk? Once your disk is clean and organized, you should speed along. Using a 386? You may also want to look into one of those 486 speed doubling chips and a math co-processor. Both would improve performance. Unless you have a special way that you are already using to defragment your hard disk, you may want to utilize the DOS command DEFRAG to handle this job. The process is easy, and can make your various programs (especially CAC) run faster. At the DOS prompt, type: DEFRAG and press [Enter]. Select your hard drive letter and press [Enter]. Follow instructions. Press [F1] for Help. Read your DOS manual for more information. Math co-processor ----------------- When you installed CAC, you were asked if you would be running under Windows. If so, CAC searched to see if you had a math co-processor. If not, CAC installed a virtual math co-processor. If you installed CAC under DOS and answered "no" to the "Will you be running CAC under Windows" question, and later decide you want to run under Windows, go to the Program Manager, select Run (type SYSEDIT), click on system.ini, go to the [386Enh] section and insert the line DEVICE=C:\COL_AID\WEMU387.386 and Exit, Save and reboot your computer. Now you may run under Windows. WINDOWS 3.x Memory Settings --------------------------- Go to Program Manager, open the Control Panel, open Enhanced, open Virtual Memory. Swapfile Setting Size should be 10,000 or more; nearer to 25,000 is best. Click on Change, and enter a New Size (if necessary). Swapfile type should be set to Permanent (click on the far right side of the Type down arrow to change). Cache size of 512 KB is recommended Choose "32 Bit Disk Access" if allowed on your computer. "32 bit File Access" may not be a good choice. After making changes click on OK and reboot as instructed. Read your WINDOWS manual for more information. WINDOWS 3.x CRASH: ------------------ If CAC just disappears ... is gone ... and in a flash, you see a screen full of EEEEs and #s, the word "granular" and addresses ... suddenly you find yourself back at the Windows Program Manager or whatever program is next behind CAC, you have most likely experienced a memory conflict. CAC is sometimes a brat. It likes to be first. Most likely, if this occurs, you will have had more than one program running at the same time under WINDOWS, and CAC and one of the others simultaneously attempted to utilize the same memory address. Restart your computer. Then let CAC be first. This (and adjusting Windows Memory per above) should work. 386MAX on a Monochrome or CGA Monitor ------------------------------------- You need to add this statement to the device line in your CONFIG.SYS file: EXCLUDE A000-B000 QEMM on a Monochrome or CGA Monitor ------------------------------------ You need to add this statement to the device line in your CONFIG.SYS file: NOVIDEOFILL PROBLEMS NOT SOLVED BY THE ABOVE? --------------------------------- If you experience a different kind of installation problem, and solve it, please let us know what you did--see our address below. We'll update this file at our World Wide Web site. Thank you. Please provide us with some feedback ------------------------------------- We want to make CAC be all you need it to be - press Q from CAC's Main Menu to access the Questionnaire. Thanks. Deleting CAC from your hard drive - 386 with no Math Co-processor ----------------------------------------------------------------- If during installation, you told CAC that you would be running CAC within Windows--and later you delete CAC, an error message will appear when you reboot Windows. Just press [Enter] to continue. To eliminate the message (which harms nothing), go to Program Manager, Run, type SYSEDIT, click on system.ini, at the [386Enh] section delete the line: DEVICE=C:\COL_AID\WEMU387.386. DISCLAIMER ---------- Formulas from the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE-Institutional Methodology 1996-97 Computation Specifications are used in this application with permission of the College Board. (c) 1995 by the College Entrance Examination Board. All rights reserved. The College Board has not reviewed, and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of either the programming or the results in this application. Think Ahead, Inc. and Bob Fesler, Jr., author of College Aid Calculator have made a sincere effort to achieve accuracy. However, be advised, you, (not us) are responsible for your own data entry and thereafter for how you utilize the data produced. CAC is a tool for testing your strategies. When in doubt, consult your favorite advisor on what to do next. Think Ahead, Inc. dba College Aid Calculator Bob Fesler, Jr., author PO Box 5G, Dresden, ME 04342 CollegeAid@maine.com http://www.maine.com/collegeaid VoiceMail and FAX: 1-207-737-2802 To Print this file: Press Alt-F, then P. To Exit, Press Alt-F, then X. After Exiting, remove disk from installation drive and restart your computer.