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--------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- --------------- Ram-Man by Rob W. Smetana and Pro~Formance --------------- ------------------- ----------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Ram-Man -- RAM resident MANuals using any text file. Version 2.5 (11/91) Copyright (C) 1990-1992, Rob W. Smetana All Rights Reserved Ram-Man, Pro~Formance, P~F, and P-Screen are Trademarks of Rob W. Smetana INTRODUCTION ============================================================= Ram-Man is a RAM-resident (TSR) file browser. If you use "List," "Browse," etc., you'll understand the power of having the capabilities of those programs while INSIDE other programs! * Pop up your text file while you're working in virtually any text-based (not graphics) program. * BROWSE through it. * SEARCH, looking for a topic or phrase you're interested in. * LOOK UP words, which we'll read directly from your screen! We supply the RAM-resident "engine," you supply the text. Ram- Man preserves DOS memory by keeping ONLY its engine in memory. It displays your text from disk (hard or RAM disk recommended). You can change which file you're viewing without unloading Ram-Man. That means you load Ram-Man once, then change ref- erence guides as your needs or the programs you use change. Now, regardless of which text-based program you're using (or even at the DOS prompt), you can have on-line, pop-up help available -- at any time, at the press of a key. Examples: * The complete, on-disk manual for a program you're using. * A series of help screens or "Quick Reference Guides" (eg., tips on using DOS, tips on using a program). - You can display standard DOS text files, like those you create using an editor or word processor. - Or you can display special "screens" you create with programs like our P-Screen Screen Designer. * Appointment Calenders, To Do Lists. . . . etc. Other features: (<R> = REGISTERED versions.) * BROWSE through files -- line by line or page by page. And you can jump to the top or bottom of small -or- huge text files in 1/2 second or less. * SEARCH for topics relevant to your needs. * <R> "LOOK UP" reads a word directly off your screen THEN searches for it! BE SURE to read the section on Look Up for uses (eg., Quick reference, spelling, thesaurus, quotations). * UNLOAD Ram-Man and reclaim the memory it uses. * <R> RUN-TIME OPTIONS let you choose: - The "hotkey" you want to use to call Ram-Man up. - The size of the screen you want to use -- to let you switch between 25, 43 or 50 row screens at will. - The colors we use to display text. These options help ensure that Ram-Man's hotkey, colors and screen modes never conflict with the programs you use. CONTENTS ============================================================= Warranty and Disclaimer .................. a License .................................. b Registering Ram-Man: ..................... c INSTANT registration by phone Registering by mail Distributing Ram-Man ..................... d System Requirements, Running Ram-Man, Calling it up, Unloading it From Memory. 1 Run-Time Options (registered users) 43-50 Line Displays .................... 2 Changing Ram-Man's "Hotkey" ............ 3 Changing Colors ........................ 5 Choosing a File to View, Changing Files ... 6 MAIN MENU, Browsing Through Files, Searching ............................... 7 Look Up (a special form of Searching) ..... 8 Performance Hints, Compatibility .......... 9 IMPORTANT Notes on Text Files you Display . 10 Editing Limitations ....................... 11 Other Programs by Pro~Formance ............ i Ordering Ram-Man and Our Other Programs ... iv a WARRANTY & DISCLAIMER ============================================================= This product is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the results and performance of this pro- duct is assumed by you. We warrant only that any disks we sent you are free from physical and workmanship defects under normal use and service for a period of 90 days from the date shipped. Our entire liability, and your exclusive remedy, as to the disk, shall be to, at our option, either (1) return the purchase price; or, (2) replace disks which don't meet our limited warranty. * Since you can try "user supported" versions of our programs before ordering them, we offer no other warranty beyond that stated here. We'll gladly replace defective disks. But no refunds or credits can be issued. Neither Pro~Formance nor RWS & Associates, nor any of their of- ficers or employees shall be held responsible for: failures of this product to satisfy any needs, damages due to using this product, or any effects this program has on you, your business or operations. This product, its manual and any supporting materials may be modified or changed from time to time. They may contain opera- tional inaccuracies or typographical errors which may be cor- rected by future versions, if any. Registered users may be notified of available updates. b LIMITED LICENSE ================================================================ Ram-Man is NOT public domain or free software. It is distrib- uted as "user-supported" software or "shareware." Non-registered users of this software are granted a limited license to "try out" the user-supported version, on a private, non-commercial basis, for the express purpose of determining whether it suits your needs. At the end of this trial period, you must either register your copy or stop using it. * Running Ram-Man 15-20 different times should allow you to decide if it's going to be useful to you. Therefore the "trial period" is set at 20 Ram-Man sessions. =============================================================== WARNING: You MAY NOT use this program in any organization or in the conduct of any business activity without a prior pur- chase or license arrangement. Ram-Man MAY NOT be distributed with any other product or service without a prior license arrangement. =============================================================== What does all this really mean? It's really very simple. Try it. Then either pay for it, or stop using it. * If you use this program, then you should pay for your copy. Ram-Man is NOT free, and we're not giving away free copies. We are giving you the chance to try it before you buy it. * Paying for this software allows us to stay in business and provide you with support, enhancements and updates. And : : : c TO REGISTER ================================================================= You may register in two ways: 1) INSTANTLY by phone ($15 with Visa or MasterCard); or, 2) by mail ($20). * Instant registration ($15) converts the "user supported" version into a fully registered version -- giving you INSTANT access to Ram-Man's advanced features (see below). - To register instantly, call us twice. On the first call, give us your Visa or MasterCard number, along with your name, address and phone number. After you call, we'll verify the charge card information and add your name to our list of registered users (to receive update notices). - Before you call us back, run Ram-Man. (Be sure you run it while you're logged onto the drive/directory which contains the file called Ram-Man.Exe.) -- When Ram-Man asks you to type in a number, DON'T. -- Instead call us while that number is still visible on your screen. -- We'll give you a different number to type in -- one which converts Ram-Man into a registered version. * To register by MAIL and receive the latest version on disk, send the registration form at end of this manual along your name, address, suggestions and $20 (including $3 shipping) to: Pro~Formance 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, Ca. 94117 +--WHEN YOU REGISTER : : :--------------------------------------+ | | | | | We appreciate the support and honesty of those who register. | | To "say thanks" in return, when you register you receive | | | | 1. Ram-Man "+" with advanced features like : : : | | | | - "Look Up" to read words directly off your screen, | | then search for them. | | | | - The option to change hotkeys as you run Ram-Man. | | | | - The option to change the colors we use to display text. | | | | - The option to use 43-50 line screens. | | | | 2. The latest version sent to you on disk (on request; +$5) | | | | 3. Phone support and more . . . | | | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ d DISTRIBUTING RAM-MAN ================================================================== Bulletin board Sysops, clubs and shareware distributors may copy and distribute shareware versions of Ram-Man, provided: *** Your company name IS NOT: California Freeware *** American Freeware US Freeware (or any other firm, group or association with "Freeware" in its name, literature, ads, etc.), which companies are PROHIBITED from distributing ANY products by Rob W. Smetana, Pro~Formance, RWS & Associates or their officers, staff or associates. *** Your company or group DOES NOT include among its staff, *** officers, associates, consultants, members, or directors RONALD CHORDIGIAN, members of his family or his assigns. *** Your ads, literature and company name DO NOT include: *** "free software," "freeware," "free" or other such terms which misrepresent "user-supported" software. (1) It is distributed in completely unmodified form. (2) You charge nothing other than a "disk distrubution fee" of up to $8.00 to cover distribution and handling. (3) You state YOUR fee is NOT payment or registration for OUR software. (4) You clearly encourage registration by stating that continued use justifies sending contributions to the developer. (5) You include on disk or in any "archives": Ram-Man.Exe, Ram-Man.Doc, and support files if any. WHAT'S NEW: VERSION HISTORY ================================================================== 2.3 (6/90) First public release 2.4 (7/90) Changed default hotkey to Ctrl-F1 so QuickBASIC users could call up Ram-Man. Limit lines to 200 to prevent problems if you "view" binary files. 2.5 (11/91) Fine tuning. 1 RUNNING AND CALLING UP Ram-Man ============================================================= SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS =================== Ram-Man runs on IBM-compatible PCs, ATs, 386s, etc. It writes "directly to the screen;" set up DESQview or Windows accordingly. It displays standard DOS text files with NO word processor for- matting codes, and with each line ending in a carriage return- line feed. See Compatibility/Limitations. TO RUN Ram-Man ============== At the DOS prompt type: Ram-Man [options] <cr> -or- loadhi Ram-Man [options] <cr> ( <cr> means press <Enter> or <Return> ) 1. See "Run-Time OPTIONS" for details on "options." 2. Ram-Man consumes about 27k bytes of memory. (Versions you don't receive directly from us consume about 30k.) - But, if you use QEMM, Qram, 386max, or similar program, you can use "loadhi" to load Ram-Man into "high" memory -- above DOS' normal 640k region. - This means Ram-Man will take away NO memory from the programs you use. CALLING UP Ram-Man -- Ram-Man's "Hotkey" ========================================== Once you've run Ram-Man, call it up by pressing Ctrl F1 (hold down the Ctrl key, then press function key F1). Ram-Man pops up in text mode only (it beeps if you're in graphics mode). 1. See "OPTIONS" for tips on changing Ram-Man's "hotkey." 2. The first time you call up Ram-Man, we'll ask you to enter the name of the file you want to display. UNLOADING Ram-Man ================= To unload Ram-Man and reclaim the memory it uses, at the DOS prompt type: Ram-Man /u <cr> where "/u" means "unload." You may be unable to unload Ram-Man if: * You loaded Ram-Man into "high" memory using "loadhi." * Or you loaded another RAM-resident program after Ram-Man. In either case, try it. If we can't unload safely we'll tell you. In this case, the only way to remove it is to re-boot. 2 Run-Time OPTIONS ============================================================= (These options are available to REGISTERED users.) To choose options, run Ram-Man like this: Ram-Man /d /h### /# <cr> -or- loadhi Ram-Man /d /h### /# <cr> ^ ^ ^ | | | | | | Display 43-50 lines of text ------ | | | | Change Hotkey ------- | | Specify Colors ------ You may enter these options in any order. But there should be at least one space separating them. There MUST be NO space between "/" and the option, or between "/h" and "###." USING 43 or 50 LINE SCREENS Ram-Man /d <cr> =========================== If you plan to use 43 or 50 line screens, you might want to start Ram-Man like this: Ram-Man /d <cr>. * "/d" tells us you may be using screens with 43 or 50 lines. * We'll set aside (ie., consume) an extra 4000 bytes of memory to save and restore larger screens. And we'll then display 43 or 50 lines of text. NOTE: Whenever you call it up, Ram-Man checks to see how many lines are currently on your screen: 25, 43 or 50. * If you're in 43 or 50 line mode AND you asked us to set aside more memory, we'll display 43 or 50 lines of text. * But if you did NOT ask us to set aside more memory, we'll display 25 lines of text -- regardless of how many lines are on your screen. That's because you didn't set aside the extra memory we'd need to restore the underlying screen. 3 Run-Time OPTIONS (continued) CHANGING HOTKEYS Ram-Man /h### <cr> ================ You can change Ram-Man's hotkey (Ctrl F1) if it conflicts with a program you're running, or if you just want to use a differ- ent hotkey. To do so start Ram-Man like this: Ram-Man /h### <cr>. * "/h" tells us you want to change hotkeys. * Replace "###" with 3 (and ONLY 3) characters indicating which keys you want to press. Note there must be NO space between "/h" and "###." A hotkey consists of two keys: a SHIFT key and a TRIGGER key. The Shift key is the key you hold down. The Trigger key is the key you press while the Shift key is held down. By default, Ram-Man pops up when hold down Ctrl and press F1. If you change hotkeys, you must specify BOTH Shift AND Trigger keys. Choose a hotkey by picking two numbers from Tables 1 and 2 below. Then combine them into "###." The first character in "###" indicates the SHIFT key (the key or keys you want to hold down). It must be 1-9 or A-F. Table 1: Shift Key Codes ================================================================= Enter: To Use: ------ ------------------------------------- 1 .............. Right Shift 2 Left Shift 3 Right Shift - Left Shift 4 Ctrl 5 .............. Ctrl - Right Shift 6 Ctrl - Left Shift 7 Ctrl - Left Shift - Right Shift 8 Alt 9 Alt - Right Shift A .............. Alt - Left Shift B Alt - Left Shift - Right Shift C Alt - Ctrl D Alt - Ctrl - Right Shift E Alt - Ctrl - Left Shift F .............. Alt - Ctrl - Left Shift - Right Shift 4 Changing Hotkeys (continued) The 2nd and 3rd characters in "###" indicate the TRIGGER key. Numbers for most (but not all) keyboard keys are in Table 2 below (with the decimal equivalents of hexadecimal numbers). REMEMBER: You must enter a 2-digit number for the Trigger key. So, for numbers 1-8 you must enter "0#" not just "#". Table 2: Trigger Key Codes =================================================================== To Use: Space A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R Enter: 57 30 48 46 32 18 33 34 35 23 36 37 38 50 49 24 25 16 19 =================================================================== To Use: S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 , Enter: 31 20 22 47 17 45 21 44 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 51 =================================================================== To Use: . / \ = [ ] F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 Enter: 52 53 40 13 26 27 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 87 88 =================================================================== EXAMPLES: ========= We want to use this Hotkey. So we run Ram-Man like this: --------------------------- ----------------------------------- Alt 1 Ram-Man /h802 (8 = Alt, 02 = 1) Ctrl F10 Ram-Man /h468 (4 = Ctrl, 68 = F10) Alt - Left Shift Space Ram-Man /hA57 (A = Alt-Left Shift, 57 = Space) 5 CHANGING COLORS Ram-Man /# <cr> =============== To specify the colors used to display text, type: Ram-Man /# <cr> Where: "#" is a number from 1 to 127 indicating BOTH foreground AND background colors. Use the charts below to choose #. NOTE: It's easy to try a color, unload Ram-Man, then try another: Ram-Man /# (replace "#" with your color number) Ram-Man /u (unload it from memory--after trying it) Ram-Man /# (try a different color) Step 1: Choose a Foreground Color ---------------------------------- CGA, EGA or VGA monitors can display 16 colors numbered 0 - 15. Choose a foreground color from this list: Foreground (FG) Colors --------------------------------------------------------------- Black Blue Green Cyan Red Magenta Yellow White Normal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bright 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Step 2: Choose a Background (BG) Color, then Calculate "#" ----------------------------------------------------------- From the left column of the table below choose a background color. Then follow the instructions on the right to calculate "#." For this Background Color: Use a # from: To determine that number: ========== ============= =================================== Black 1 - 15 Just use the Foreground # you chose. Blue 16 - 31 Add 16 to the Foreground number. Green 32 - 47 " 32 " " " " Cyan 48 - 63 " 48 " " " " Red 64 - 79 " 64 " " " " Magenta 80 - 95 " 80 " " " " Yellow 96 - 111 " 96 " " " " White 112 - 127 " 112 " " " " Examples: =============================================================== Normal White on Blue: ram-man /23 ( 7 + 16 = 23) Bright Cyan on Blue: ram-man /27 (11 + 16 = 27) Bright White on Red: ram-man /79 (15 + 64 = 79) Black on White: ram-man /112 ( 0 + 112 = 112) 6 CHOOSING WHICH FILE TO REVIEW ============================================================= (Be sure to read PERFORMANCE TIPS) The first time you call up Ram-Man (ie., you press "Ctrl F1" or the hotkey you choose), we'll ask which file you want to review. * We'll display the drive/directory you're on (the "current path"). * Just enter the name of the file you want to review. See LIMITATIONS: EDITING. It's important that you enter the COMPLETE PATH to the text file you want to review: the Drive, Directory and file name. Do this even if your file is on the current path when you first call Ram-Man up. * If you enter ONLY a file name, and then change drives or directories, Ram-Man will look for your file on the drive/ directory you're NOW on. Your file won't be there! * But if you enter the complete path, you'll be able to change drives or directories to run your programs and Ram-Man will know where your text file is. Obviously you should leave your text file on the drive/direc- tory you specified for as long as you want to review it. If you specify a removable disk (eg., floppy or Bernoulli disk), and then remove that disk, when you next call Ram-Man up, it won't be able to find your file. An error message will appear. NEW FILE ======== Once you've called up Ram-Man, you can change the file you're viewing. In other words, load Ram-Man just once; then, as your needs change, ask it to display a different file. Press Ram-Man's hotkey to call it up. Then press Alt - N (New file). Ram-Man displays the "current path" -- the name of the file you're viewing along with it's drive and directory. * Edit (type over) the name shown to reflect the new path. * See LIMITATIONS: EDITING. 7 MAIN MENU, BROWSING THROUGH FILES ============================================================= When you press Ram-Man's hotkey, we'll display the last page you were viewing (the first page the first time you call us up.) Your options (Main Menu) are shown at the bottom of your screen: Up/Down PgUp/PgDn Home/End = Browse Esc = Quit Alt-S = Search Alt-L = Look Up Alt-N = New File * Press ESC to exit and return to your application or DOS. * Press Alt-N (New File) to review a different text file. * Press Alt-S to search for something (see SEARCHING). * Press Alt-L to look up a word on your screen (see LOOKUP). To browse through files: To move: ------------------------- -------------------------------- Press Up/Down cursor keys Up or down a line Press PgUp/PgDn Up or down a page Press Home/End To the top or bottom of the file SEARCHING ============================================================= Press Alt - S (Search) to search for a word -or- phrase. Enter up to about 22 characters; then press <cr>. (See LIMITATIONS: EDITING). Ram-Man searches forward, starting wherever you are down through the end of the file. This lets you continue searching for multiple occurrences of the same phrase. Searches are "case-insensitive" -- "My Phrase" is considered the same as "my phrase" or "MY PHRASE." While searching, these messages appear at the bottom of your screen: ==================================================================== * While it's looking, Ram-Man displays "Searching Esc = Quit." Press Esc to cancel the search. * If Ram-Man finds your phrase: - Your phrase will appear on the TOP 1-2 lines of your screen. - Ram-Man displays "[Enter] = Find Next" on the bottom line. That means press Enter (<cr>) to tell Ram-Man to look for the next occurrence of your search phrase. -- Press ESC to quit searching. -- Press cursor pad keys to browse up or down. * If Ram-Man can't find your phrase, it displays "<<Not Found>>." - Remember, we search forward (down). Your phrase might be above where you started. To find out, you can press Home (move to the top of the file), then press Alt - S again. 8 LOOKUP =============================================================== Lookup, available to registered users, is a special case of search. But instead of asking you to type in a word or phrase, we'll read a word off your screen! USES: Because of the Lookup feature, Ram-Man can be used for many things other than just viewing text files: * A dictionary, thesaurus or terminology reference guide. * A guide to hachneyed or poor terms or phrases, with suggestions on how to correct them. * Phone numbers, office, apartment or building directories. * Quotations, author references, etc. . . . To use Lookup: * BEFORE you call up Ram-Man, move the cursor so it's on any letter in a word (or on the space or punctuation mark immediately after a word). * Press Ram-Man's hotkey to call it up. Now press Alt-L (Lookup). - Ram-Man re-displays the underlying screen, reads a "word" off the screen, then searches the file for that word. - While searching, Ram-Man displays the messages discussed under Searching. For details, please look back a page. NOTES: * Lookup is designed to find "words" -- a group of letters surrounded by a space, punctuation, parentheses, etc. (but not phrases or numbers). Words CAN include characters used in French, Spanish, German, Italian or other languages. - When you press Alt-L, Ram-Man searches the screen back- wards looking for the "beginning" of the word: a space, parenthesis, hyphen, etc. or the left side of your screen. - When it finds the beginning of a word, it reads forward, again until it finds a space, hyphen, punctuation mark, etc. - If Ram-Man finds no "word," it prints an error message then returns to your file. * As with Search, Lookup scans forward from wherever you are in the file. If the word is above where you are, we won't find it. If this happens, press Home, then press Alt - L again. 9 PERFORMANCE TIPS =============================================================== Keep your text file on the f-a-s-t-e-s-t disk drive possible. * Since we display text from disk, the speed of your disk drive greatly affects how quickly we can display text. * Text files displayed off of RAM disks give you the great- est speed. Hard disks are fine. Floppy disks can be 10 times SLOWER than hard or RAM disks! * Even if you don't normally use RAM disks, we urge you to create one to store your text files. COMPATIBILITY =============================================================== As with all RAM-resident (TSR) programs, until you're certain they work with a specific application, always save your work before calling them up. Ram-Man won't pop up if you're PC is in graphics mode (it just beeps). Other than that, we haven't found any applications yet with which Ram-Man is incompatible (though there may be some). * Please let us know which programs Ram-Man: 1. works with; and, 2. conflicts with. Microsoft products like QuickBASIC and Word prefer to control the keyboard (and the rest of the PC) themselves. If you call up Ram-Man in the QuickBASIC environment: * You may only be able to PAGE down. Line down/up, PgUp, Home and End may not work. * To overcome these QB limitations, either shell to DOS (press Alt-F, then D), or run the program you're working on. Then press Ram-Man's hotkey. You should then be able to browse through files normally. 10 TEXT FILES (Important!) =============================================================== Ram-Man is very reliable and should pose no problems with most applications. But, if you try to display the wrong type of file, Ram-Man may lock up, possibly crashing your underlying application. Please heed the comments below. Ram-Man is designed to work with plain-vanilla, DOS text files. * To see if a file is compatible, at the DOS prompt type: "type filename <cr>." If you can read the text, if it looks formatted properly, and if you see no strange looking characters, Ram-Man should be able to display it. - NEVER display a "binary" file: ".exe," or ".com" files, or files saved by word processors like Word Perfect or Word. Doing so may crash both Ram-Man and your underlying appli- cation. You'll probably have to re-boot your PC. - To ensure you DON'T display a "binary" file, Ram-Man won't display a file with "lines" longer than 200 characters. "Lines" must end in the normal Carriage Return/Line Feed. If lines are too long, Ram-Man tells you "Lines exceed 200 char- acters." It then returns to your application. - Ram-Man will display "low and high ASCII characters" -- like those often used to create boxes, lines and shading. Ram-Man won't expand tabs (it displays a squarish oval). * Text files should have no word processor formatting codes. And each line MUST end in a carriage return-line feed (CR-LF). This is critical since we scan for these to figure out where lines begin and end. Files created with word-wrap ON often have no CR-LF at the end of each line. * Ram-Man displays 80 columns of text. It simply ignores the rest of longer lines. 11 LIMITATIONS: EDITING =============================================================== By design, Ram-Man's editing features are limited -- to keep memory requirements to a minimum. For example, when entering a search phrase or the name of a file to view: * Backspace and cursor keys move the cursor but don't erase. To erase text, you have press the space bar or type over it. Home and End keys do nothing. * Similarly, Esc won't cancel the edit. If you begin enter- ring something and then change your mind, you can "space over" what you typed in then press <cr>, or just press <cr>. - If you started a Search and your search phrase is blank, Ram-Man just returns to browse mode. But if you entered ANYTHING and then press <cr>, Ram-Man will begin the search. Press Esc to cancel it. - If you were entering a file name, if the name is blank or Ram-Man can't find the file, it'll ask you if you want to re-try or quit. Press Esc to quit. i Other Programs by Pro~Formance (Call or write for details) .................................................................. Professional Scribe (Pro~Scribe) PS Express (PSE) .................................................................. Pro~Scribe is our widely-acclaimed program to help you improve anything you write (or help you improve the writing of others: your staff, students, etc.). Pro~Scribe is used around the world in companies like IBM, Hewlett Packard, Lockheed, Citibank, Mobil Oil, Bank of America to help improve memos, letters, manuals, documentation, contracts, promotional material, etc. * It examines your writing for many types of writing mistakes. * You can look at overall results for an entire letter, report, etc. Or, if you like, Pro~Scribe will look at your writing line-by-line. * Pro~Scribe shows suspect problems, and offer suggestions. * Results are shown numerically, and with several colorful graphs. * It comes with two manuals (in addition to a Quick Ref. Guide) - One covers basics: To install/run PS, and basic guidelines. - "Effective, High-Impact Writing" has more writing tips. * It's colorful, fast, fun, and a terrific value: $39 for both Pro~Scribe and PS Express (PSE). How are Pro~Scribe and PSE different? First, PS Express is a RAM-resident program. That means it's always ready to help when you need help most -- while you're actually writing. Run PSE, then run your word processor and start writing. When you need help, just press a key. * When PSE pops up, just mark the text you want PSE to look at. A window pops up instantly with feedback on your writing. * PSE is like having an English teacher looking over your shoulder, gently coaching you as you write. Pro~Scribe gives you everything PSE does, and much, much more. It reads files saved by your word processor, or you can type text directly into PS. Like PSE, Pro~Scribe shows how complex your writing, words and sentences are. It also offers you: * Feedback on "Word Wasters" (5 categories of writing errors). * Three RGL (Running Grade Level) options, giving you line-by- line feedback. * An option to flag complex words and Word Wasters in each line. * A Personal Interest score--showing if you write as you speak. * Options to: customize the program, print results on your printer, get help interpreting results. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) .................................................................. inform-Z (see Mail Call) Professional Forms Design .................................................................. inform-Z is a complete form system. Built-in features include: easy form design, math, "auto-edit," high quality printing, etc. Design, edit and print forms with inform-Z (lesson forms included). * Draw lines or boxes, or add shading, in several styles. * Enter text, auto-centered inside boxes if you like. * Automatically date, sequence number and time-stamp your forms. * Math options (+-/*) add spreadsheet convenience, speed and accuracy. * Quick, easy block options: Copy, Move, Erase, Shading. * Vary fonts, type styles and line spacing. Then use inform-Z or Mail Call to fill out forms. * "Auto-Edit" fields lets you quickly skip through a form, editing just fields you "marked." On order forms, for example, enter Quantity, Description, Price per Unit. inform-Z' math options will even do the math for you! * Let Mail Call fill in other information for you -- pulling names, addresses, etc. from your database, putting them right where you want them. Produce high-quality, professional looking forms in minutes with Epson printers or HP LaserJets (+/500/Series II or later). And you DON'T need expensive font cartridges or soft fonts for lines, boxes, shading, etc. We use built-in features for these. "But, I don't have a LaserJet or an Epson" you say. Not to worry. inform-Z has two other printer options so it works with any printer. Together, inform-Z and Mail Call can help you manage almost every piece of paper in your office. Forms: Invoices, Purchase Orders, Personnel Forms, Work Orders, Work Schedules, Travel or Expense Reports, Accounting Forms, Application Blanks, Org. Charts As Well As: Letters, Memos, Envelopes, Mailing Labels, Person- alized Documents, Reports, Client or Employee lists. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) .................................................................. Mail Call and MC Express (MCE) Our mailing assistant .................................................................. Mail Call (MC) is a full featured mailing assistant. Add names to a database, then Browse through them, Search, Sort, etc. You can PRINT: * Envelopes in several sizes. * Mailing labels (several sizes plus a "roll-your-own-size" option) 1 to 99 copies of each label, 1 to 3 columns across. * Personalized documents (like "mail merge form letters"). * Forms with auto-edit, date, sequence number & math features! * Reports, phone books, appointment schedules, etc. Mail Call offers UNlimited capacity -- use as many database files as you want. And its "Mail Merge" option lets you Import or Export names to files used by word processors or other database programs. MC Express, a "RAM-resident" program, that lets you: 1) print enve- lopes while INSIDE your word processor; and, 2) lets you "write out" names & addresses to a file you can later "import" into MC (to save you from having to re-type them). MCE is optional and works with ALL versions of the HP LaserJet. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) .................................................................. P~F Presents .................................................................. P~F Presents is a DESKTOP PRESENTATION system with 2 programs: P-Screen and PFP. With P-Screen you: (The next page has more on P-Screen) .................. * Design screens (or "slides"). * Save screens in libraries (or print them or save as Ascii files) With PFP you: ............. * Create presentation agendas ("slide shows") which can include: - Menus which "branch" to various parts of your presentation, depending on the option your viewer selects. - Timed slides (PFP pauses, then automatically shows the next) - Special effects: sound and display effects, loops, etc. * Display your presentations, or let others do it by themselves. A "use monochrome" option lets you display presentations on virtually any monitor. One set of slides fits all monitors! * Display "Text" slides (ANY monitor) or "Graphics" or Both! Possibilities: .............. * Sales presentations * Management/Staff briefings * Training programs * Tutorials or Demos * Meetings * Highlight product information * Highlight investment opportunities * Advertise on disk * Customer information * Tourist guides * Restaurant guides * Directories (Names, phone #s) And on and on and . . . .................................................................. The Survey Catalyst (TSC; a commercial program, not shareware) .................................................................. The Survey Catalyst is for anyone who works with attitude or opinion surveys. It helps you create surveys in minutes or hours--not days! * TSC includes a database of thousands of survey items--like items used in most Fortune 1000 companies' employee surveys. - You can review items, edit them or add new ones. - OR, when you see an item you want to add to a survey, just press a key and add it--fast and simple. * And TSC's many printing options let you create "camera-ready" copy - Group items by Category, by Response Scale, or Randomize them. - Print response scales Above or Beside items (or not at all). - Print key punch instructions (or not at all) - Print a title--at the top or bottom of each page. - Or, print your survey "to a file"--to dress it up later. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) .................................................................. Pro~Stamp Stamp Collection Manager .................................................................. Pro~Stamp is a full-featured assistant to manage stamp collections. * Pro~Stamp is very easy to use: Pull-down menus, Extensive Help Screens, Calculations done for you, Select "Type" & "Condition" from menus. * Add information to "worksheets." They're set up like most popular collectors' manuals (eg., Scott). But we add "spreadsheet" convenience by doing calculations for you! * Track small to huge stamp collections, with ease and convenience * Multiple file options add flexibility. Use different work- sheets for different subsets of your collection. * Spreadsheet convenience: Automatically calculates values of each stamp and its Increase/Decrease in value. Calculate the value of your entire collection with a press of a key. * Sort your collection on any of several fields (Scott Number, Country, Value, Type, etc). * Print entire worksheets, or print a range you specify. * Customizable: Configure fields your way, edit printer codes. .................................................................. SPARKLE / MENU MAGIC Add some sparkle to your batch files. .................................................................. Sparkle is an AMAZING utility to enhance batch files, use from DOS, or use through other programs (via "shell"). One small (9k) program offers these many features: * MENUS Turn ANY text screen into a vertical or horizontal "scrolling bar" menu! Or use the ASK option (see below) to ask the user to press a key to make a choice. * SOUND Over 35 sound effects, ranging from simple to the William Tell Overture! * WINDOWS Create windows on screen in over 250 styles, with or without shadows, and in any color. * QUICKPRINT Display text anywhere on the screen in any color. * ASK Ask the user to press a key -- to get a menu choice or to simply pause. - You can display any message you like in any color. - You can specify which keys are "valid." For example, suppose your menu had 3 choices and you ask someone to press 1, 2 or 3 to choose one of them. Just tell Sparkle that "123" are your "valid keys." Sparkle will wait until one of these keys (or Escape) is pressed -- then tell you which one was pressed. * PAUSE You can pause for brief moments (1/3 second) or for several minutes. And Sparkle even gives you the option to let your users "press a key" to interrupt a pause and move on. * MONITOR Determine what type of monitor is active. This is useful to help you: 1. Choose appropriate colors for things that follow; or, 2. Determine if you can display graphics images. And Sparkle now includes MENU MAGIC (MM). MM is a "fill-in- the-blanks" menu maker. It also writes your batch files for you! * Just run MM and type in the options you'd like in your scrolling bar menu. Also add a title if you like. When you're done, choose the colors you'd like for your menu. * Then press a key and MM will: - Save your menu screen to an executable ".Com" file. Just run your menu screen, and it pops up instantly -- with colors, shading, etc. Or, if you prefer, when MM writes your batch file, it'll use Sparkle's WINDOW and QUICKPRINT options to draw your menu. - Write your batch file, ready to run. This batch file will display your menu screen, and then call on Sparkle to turn this into a scrolling bar menu -- complete with mouse support. T O O R D E R : : : For fastest delivery, CALL with a credit card number. F ______________________________________________ M Rob W. Smetana Pro~Formance R ______________________________________________ A T 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, CA 94117 O ______________________________________________ I O (415) 863-0530 M ______________________________________________ L Make checks payable to:: Rob W. Smetana Phone ( ) ______-________ Date ___/___/___ ================================================================== rm 2.5 == Program # of Copies Price/Copy Total ============================================================================ inform-Z Professional Forms Design _________ $49 $ ________ Mail Call (Without / With MC Express) _________ $40 / $49 $ ________ Pro~Scribe & PS Express _________ $39 $ ________ P~F Presents (With Copyright / Without) _________ $49 / $79 $ ________ Multi-Print (ultimate text printer) _________ $39 $ ________ P-Screen (Plus / PS Professional) _________ $29 / $49 $ ________ Pro~Stamp Stamp Collection Manager _________ $29 $ ________ Ram-Man RAM-resident Reference Guides _________ $19 $ ________ Sparkle AND Menu Magic _________ $29 $ ________ The Survey Catalyst (TSC)/TSC Demo Disk _________ $595 / $5 $ ________ Protege (Specify Age Range: ________ ) _________ $25 $ ________ ============================================================================ PACKAGE DISCOUNTS (Call about quantity discounts and site licenses) ============================================================================ Mail Call & inform-Z _________ $79 $ ________ P-Screen Pro & P~F Presents _________ $109 $ ________ (Professional versions of each) The Works! 1 of each (exc. TSC) _________ $219 $ ________ ============================================================================ Shipping & Handling $4/copy (US/Canada) Total Number of Programs ----->> _______ $8/copy (Non-US) $ ________ ================================+=========================================== PAID BY: | Subtotal $ ________ | ___ Check or Money Order | Calif. residents, add 8.5% tax $ ________ +-----------------------+------------------- ___ Master Card ___ Visa | TOTAL $ ________ ===========================+=============================+==================== *** Orders from Outside the US: International Money Orders, US Funds ONLY.*** THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED for credit card orders (we can't proceed w/o it). Credit Card Number: ___________________________________ Expires: ___|___ Signature (Required for credit card orders): ______________________________ Be sure name at top is as it appears on your credit card.