Cream of the Crop 22/Cream of the Crop 22.iso/disk/recfilsh.zip/RECORDIT.DOC

Text File | 1996-09-14 | 22KB | 461 lines

                            THE `REC-A-FILE' PROGRAM DOCS!


   WHO NEEDS THIS PROGRAM?

   Everyone that has a computer, needs this program.  It is so versatile, & so
   absolutely simple to use and understand.  It is designed to allow you to
   keep track of all of your files, games, and programs, in individual
   Databases, that can be retrieved, viewed, deleted singularly, deleted en
   masse', printed singularly, and printed en masse'.


   HOW MANY RECORDS ARE ALLOWED IN THE SHARWARE AND REGISTERED VERSIONS?

   The shareware version allows the user to create, retrieve, browse through
   and print, 20 records of files, programs, etc.  The registered version
   allows the user to create 25,000 of these records.  Once created, you will
   find that 7,783 records are all that can be stored on a HDDS 3 1/2" floppy
   BACKUP disk.  This is quite a number of records.  Unless you have a tape
   backup system, there is no sensible way to save more than the 7,783 records
   to a backup target. So use a HDDS floppy disk to do it.  Of course you can
   manually compress them, with a program such as PKZIP, but they have to be
   unzipped to be used, and would still present the problem of incorporating
   them back into the original program.  There is no way around it.  Each
   record, regardless of the Data that you put into it, will always take up
   185 bytes of storage space.  7,783 of these records will fill the floppy
   disk, which has a total storage space of 1,440,000 bytes.  In most cases
   the user will find that this number of records will more than suffice.


   WHAT IS THE PROGRAMS BASIC FORMAT?

   The idea of the program is to allow the user to create as many different
   Databases as they want, to categorize their files, games, and programs and
   then it allows the user to:

      1 - RETRIEVE ANY DATA BASE.
      2 - BROWSE THROUGH ALL OF ITS RECORDS.
      3 - DELETE SINGLE RECORDS.
      4 - DELETE AN ENTIRE DATABASE.
      5 - SELECTIVELY PRINT SINGLE RECORDS.
      6 - PRINT ALL RECORDS IN AN ENTIRE DATABASE.


   HOW DO I GO ABOUT CREATING A DATABASE?

   Nothing could be more simple.  You simply run the program, press 1 for the
   ENTER mode, type a Database name, of your choosing, on the first Data entry
   line, and press the ENTER key.  That's it.  You have named a Database.
   Complete the entering of Data, Save it, at the prompt, & you have your 1st
   record entry.

   Normally you will be entering many records, at one session, that all relate
   to the same Database.  If you make an error in spelling, when you supposedly
   are retyping the `identical' Database name, you WILL NOT retrieve it along
   with the others, because if it is spelled differently, then you have created
   a NEW and DIFFERENT Database.  To prevent this from happening, we have added
   a feature.  Once you have saved a record to a Database, the screens Data
   entry lines will all clear, and the cursor will reside on the Database
   NAME line, awaiting your next entry of Data.  If your next entry is meant

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   to be a part of the same Database as the record you have just SAVED TO
   FILE, just press the ENTER key, with no other Data being entered.  The
   previously entered Database NAME will automatically be inserted on the
   line.  In this manner, you know there is no spelling error, and it means
   that you do not have to do that extra typing for each record, being
   entered into the SAME Database.


   HOW DO I ADD MORE GROUPS OF RECORDED DATA TO THAT SAME DATABASE?

   Actually, you don't really ADD TO the created record.  What you do is create
   a second, third, and fourth record, and so on, and just give these additional
   groups of Data the SAME NAME as the first one.  Now when you retrieve, using
   THAT NAME as the retrieval criteria, only records given that SAME NAME will
   be able to be browsed through, and will be treated as a single Database if
   you desire to PRINT, or ERASE that Database.  Of course the program allows
   you to PRINT and ERASE individually selected records, without involving the
   entire Database.

   When you decide on another Database category name, so you can record a new
   category of files, you type in a new category name.  Now you will starting a
   NEW Database of recorded groups of Data.  Please note: All of the different
   Databases are saved and stored, in the SAME file, called MESSAGE.REC.  They
   are `plucked' from that file, individually, in the order entered, when you
   type a DATABASE NAME to be retrieved, (in the retrieve mode), and displayed.


   HOW MUCH DATA CAN I STORE, IN A SINGLE DATA RECORD?

   You are allowed 14 character spaces for entering the DATABASE NAME.  Then
   there are 3 lines, of 49 character spaces each, on which you can enter any
   text or integers you may desire.  Finally, there is a 14 character space
   line, where you enter a general location, such as BOX 1, DRAWER 3, etc.,
   which will point out a specific location.  You should try not to type more
   characters, on any line, than there are dashes provided.  If you do, your
   entry will be rejected, you will be prompted that it is `TOO LONG', the
   data that you typed on that line will be erased, the dashes will be
   replaced, and the cursor will return to the beginning of the line, where
   you can RE-TYPE it.


   WHAT SORT OF DATA IS THE PROGRAM INTENDED TO BE USED FOR?

   Actually, it is limited only by your imagination, but it was intended to be
   used for files, games, and program recording, with space to enter a brief
   description of the item.

   You only RETRIEVE one of these Databases at a time, because the program will
   individually select ONLY those that match your RETRIEVAL CRITERIA.  If you
   retrieve, and type UTILITY as the Database name to be retrieved, ONLY those
   records that you recorded under the Database name of UTILITY, will retrieve.
   Then you can browse through them, using the left and right arrow keys, print
   one, print them all, erase one, erase them all, or pick and choose to print
   as many or as few as desired.







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   CAN I ALTER A RECORD, ONCE I HAVE SAVED IT TO FILE?

   NO!  Being that there are only 5 entry lines to contend with, it is a
   simple thing to just ERASE that record, and make a NEW one.  If you are
   afraid that you might forget what data a record contained, after you have
   erased it, just selectively print that particular record, before you erase
   it, and then refer to the printout, as you create the NEW ALTERED VERSION.


   IF I MAKE A MISTAKE, WHEN I CREATE A RECORD, WHAT DO I DO?

   If you have pressed the ENTER key, and left the line on which the error was
   made, just continue, and complete the record.  You will then be asked to
   press either the S key to SAVE the record, or the R key to REDO it. If you
   have an error to correct, just press R.  Your cursor will then reside back
   on the first Data entry line, and you can retype it, or just press the enter
   key, which will retain that lines original Data.  Then the cursor moves to
   the next line, where you have the same options, etc.  When you get to the
   line that contains the error, correct it, press ENTER, continue on, and
   then press S, at the prompt, to SAVE it.


   CAN I PRINT A RECORD AT THE TIME THAT I ORIGINALLY CREATE IT?

   NO!  Printing can only be done in the RETRIEVAL mode, where you can print
   ANY individual record that matches your retrieval criteria, or by pressing
   1 key, you can print ALL records from the Database that matches your
   retrieval criteria.  Selective printing prints the displayed record only.


   WHAT IF I CREATE A DATABASE THAT I KNOW WILL CONTAIN ONLY TEMPORARY RECORDS?

   No problem!  If you create a record, or an entire Database, that you later
   wish to delete, simply DO SO, in the retrieval mode, using the appropriate
   KEY PRESS, to either delete the displayed record, or the entire Database
   that you have retrieved.  These options, and the keys to press, are all
   displayed on the ENTER and the RETRIEVAL screens, for your reference.


   WILL THE PROGRAM ALLOW ME TO BACK UP FROM MY PRESENT CURSOR LINE?

   NO!  Being that there are only 5 lines maximum, to contend with, it is an
   easy task to simply continue to the end, then press R to REDO, if you have
   reason to access a line that you have already passed over.


   DO I HAVE TO ENTER THE DATE, SO I HAVE A RECORD OF THE DATE OF ENTRY?

   NO!  The computer will automatically enter the date of entry, for each
   record, as you create it.  The accuracy of this date entry, is totally
   dependent on the accuracy of the date that your computer is SET AT.  If
   your computer date is not correct, the date on the records will also be
   wrong.  To set your computer date, just go to DOS, type DATE and press
   the ENTER key.  You will be prompted to enter the MONTH, DAY, and YEAR,
   in a MM/DD/YY format.  Do so, and press the ENTER key.  There, it's done.






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   HOW DO I KNOW IF ANYTHING THAT I HAVE TYPED HAS AFFECTED MY RECORDS?

   No matter what you type, where you type it, how often you REDO and then
   RE-TYPE it, nothing ever affects your actual SAVED RECORDS FILE, until
   you actually press the S key, when prompted, and SAVE IT.  You can quit
   from almost any line in the program, at any time, and if you have not
   saved the record, nothing that has been typed on it will have any affect
   on your SAVED RECORDS FILE at all.  It will be as though you never started
   the record in the first place.


   I WILL WANT TO MAKE BACKUP COPIES, OF MY RECORDS.  IS THIS DIFFICULT?

   NO!  A batch file exists that lets you save your records automatically, to
   either the A:DRIVE or the B:DRIVE.  They are called SAVEA and SAVEB, and
   SAVEA saves to the A:DRIVE and SAVEB saves to the B:DRIVE.  When you quit
   the program, you will be in the C:\MYFILES directory, and your DOS prompt
   will show you this.  This is where all of the program files exist, which
   includes all of the various BATCHFILES, that are a part of this program.
   When you QUIT, just type SAVEA or SAVEB and press the ENTER key.  You will
   be told what is about to happen, instructed about inserting and removing
   floppy disks, and told how to ABORT carrying out the BATCHFILE, if you do
   not wish to continue with it.  Nothing is done, without you first being
   informed of what is about to happen, and given a chance to ABORT.


   I HAVE MORE THAN ONE COMPUTER.  HOW DO I UPDATE ONE AFTER ENTERING NEW
   DATA ON THE OTHER ONE?

   There are 2 files named GETA and GETB.  Once again, one references the
   A:DRIVE and the other the B:DRIVE.  When you quit the program, after making
   entries, your first concern should always be to SAVE your additions, to a
   BACKUP disk, in your floppy drive.  For this you would use the SAVEA or the
   SAVEB Batchfiles, as was explained earlier.  Now you have a backup disk that
   contains the MOST RECENT DATA UPDATES.  Transport this disk to the other
   computer that also contains the RECORDS PROGRAM, and insert it in the floppy.
   Now go to the RECORDS PROGRAM directory (C:\MYFILES).  While in DOS in that
   directory, type GETA or GETB, depending upon whether your BACKUP DISK is in
   the A:DRIVE or the B:DRIVE.  When you press the ENTER key, you will be once
   again prompted as to what is about to happen, and told that you are now
   going to copy your SAVED RECORDS FILE into your present directory on the
   Hard Drive, FROM THE FLOPPY DRIVE.  You are told that your Hard Drives file
   will be WRITTEN OVER and lost, then you can continue or ABORT.


   I UNDERSTAND ABOUT NEEDING A BACKUP DISK, BUT CAN I MAKE A BACKUP DISK THAT
   WILL ALLOW ME TO RUN THE PROGRAM `FROM THE FLOPPY DRIVE', IF I WANTED TO?

   YES!  The program contains files specifically to create this kind of a
   BACKUP disk.  They are named MAKDISKA and MAKDISKB, once again referencing
   both the A:DRIVE and the B:DRIVE.  From the directory C:\MYFILES, type
   the appropriate MAKDISK? Batchfile, and press ENTER.  The entire program,
   as well as your SAVED RECORDS FILE, will be copied to either the A or the B
   drive, depending upon which of the two filenames you typed.  From that point
   on, just use this disk as your BACKUP disk.  I always try to convince people
   to create and use 2 BACKUP disks, because they can be damaged and become
   useless.  Having 2, gives you sort of an edge, if one does get damaged.  If
   you use the MAKDISK Batchfile, obviously the program files will take up some
   of the byte storage capacity of the floppy disk.  This means that you will
   not be able to SAVE as many records to that particular floppy BACKUP disk,

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   as you could without the program files being on it.  Approximately 385
   less records can be stored on this type of a BACKUP disk.  Once you have made
   this PROGRAM DISK, just use the SAVEA or SAVEB Batchfile to backup to it.


   HOW DO I GO ABOUT RETRIEVING, BROWSING, ERASING, AND PRINTING, ONCE I HAVE
   SAVED RECORDS TO MY DATABASE?

   It's as simple as can be.  The initial MAIN MENU gives you the option of
   pressing 1 to access the ENTER mode, 2 to access the RETRIEVAL mode, or
   Q to QUIT the program.  Just press 2, and you access the RETRIEVAL mode.
   You are asked, via the blinking cursor position, and the screens text, to
   enter the name of the Database that you want retrieved.  It is, of course,
   absolutely necessary that you type the name of the Database EXACTLY as it
   was when the original records were created and saved.  Always use the
   UPPER CASE (capital letters), when entering the Database name.  This
   program Automatically puts itself in the UPPER CASE mode, when it is run.
   However, in typing the Data lines in, you may desire to use LOWER CASE
   letters.  Therefore, always check to be sure that you are in UPPER CASE,
   when typing the Database to be retrieved.  If you type a Database name,
   and you are told that there is `NO SUCH NAME ON FILE', and you are CERTAIN
   that you have spelled it correctly, you will find that your problem is
   that the CAPS LOCK wasn't ON, when you entered the name of the Database.

   Once you have typed the name of the Database, and pressed the ENTER key,
   the first record created, that matches your Database name, will be
   retrieved, and displayed to you on the monitor screen.  To browse through
   the rest of the Database, just press the righthand ARROW key (cursor key).
   Once you have progress with the righthand arrow key, using the lefthand
   arrow key reverses the Browse.  This allows you to view all records on file
   for that Database.  A line, on the screen, tells you initially how many
   records exist for that particular Database, before you even start to
   browse through them.  That same line also tells you WHICH number record,
   of that amount, you are actually viewing, at the present time.  It will
   say RECORD #1 OF 38, and when you press the righthand arrow key it will
   then say RECORD #2 OF 38, and so on.  The numbers are automatically
   adjusted, in the same manner but in reverse, if you use the lefthand arrow
   key to change the direction in which you are Browsing.  If you browse to
   the upper or lower end of your retrievable records, you will hear a BEEP,
   and (depending upon whether you are browsing up or down numbers), either
   the first or the last record, of your retrievable record group, will just
   Re-display, with no numerical advancing taking place.

   If you wish to print a record that is being displayed, just press the 2 key
   and if you want to print ALL of the records for that Database, just press
   the 5 key.  The key numbers, and the actions that they cause to take place,
   are all available, for your reference, on the retrieval screen.  If you wish
   to retrieve a different Database, when browsing, press 4 for the Retrieval
   screen, enter the new Database name, and press the ENTER key.

   If you try to print, and your printer is OUT OF PAPER, or is TURNED OFF, you
   will get a prompt telling you to check your printer, and then press any key
   to continue from where you left off.  If your printer runs out of paper while
   you are printing, this same prompt will be displayed, allowing you to put in
   more paper, and then continue.  If you get this printer problem prompt, and
   you DO NOT turn the printer ON, or you DO NOT correct the OUT OF PAPER
   problem, the only way to quit the program is to turn off your computer.
   There is NO WAY to circumvent the ERRORHANDLER routine, other than to
   fix the problem, or turn off the computer.


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   Should you have cause to ERASE a record(s), it works identical to the
   print routine, and you can ERASE ONLY THE DISPLAYED RECORD, or you can
   ERASE THE ENTIRE DATABASE, which means erasing every record that you
   saved with that same Database name.  Be certain to press the CORRECT KEY
   in this case, because if you press key #6, to erase ALL of the Database,
   it will do so immediately, and not give you a chance to change your mind.


   WHAT DO I DO IF I FORGET THE NAME OF A DATA BASE, AND CAN'T RETRIEVE IT?

   If this should happen, just enter a question mark for the NAME of the
   Database that you want to retrieve.  The question mark will become the
   RETRIEVAL CRITERIA, and this will then retrieve ALL DATABASES.  This means
   that the first record you ever created, will be displayed, and when you
   press the righthand arrow key, the second will be displayed, and so on.
   It will make no difference, to the computer, what the Database name is
   on the saved records.  They will ALL be retrieved in exactly the same
   order in which they were originally entered.  This will give you a chance
   to view all of them, until you come to the one that you forgot, and you
   can see what the NAME of that particular Database was.  I suggest that
   you make a list of the different Database NAMES that you use, as you
   create your records.  You may think that you will remember them, but as
   time passes, and you find more and more uses for the program, and you
   create more and more different Databases, it is easy to forget some of
   them.


   HINTS:

   Because it is EASY to forget a Database NAME, from time to time, I have made
   a Database named DATABASE NAMES.  Each time I create a NEW Database NAME, I
   create another record for the DATABASE NAMES Database, and use the lines of
   the record to record my NEW DATABASE NAME.  Here is an example of what I
   might put on the records lines.

   1 - DATABASE NAME:  PUZZLES.
   2 - THIS DATABASE CONSISTS OF ALL FILES, GAMES,
   3 - OR PROGRAMS THAT DEAL WITH PUZZLES.
   ENTRY DATE: (Automatically entered) LOCATION: NOT APPLICABLE

   Note that I stated NOT APPLICABLE, in the LOCATION spot, because I will
   probably have many PUZZLE files, or games, that will individually be
   stored in DIFFERENT locations, ie drawers, file boxes, etc.

   Now, if I forget the DATABASE name that I used for one of my Databases, I
   can just type DATABASE NAMES, as my retrieval criteria, and press the
   ENTER key.  This will retrieve all of the entries for this Database of
   records.  Then I can browse through them, until I find the one I forgot,
   and then go back to the Retrieve menu, (by pressing the 4 key), and
   retrieve it.  Another good idea would be to printout the DATABASE LIST
   category, and keep it handy, as a reference.


   SUMMARY:

   I think that this pretty well covers the program.  I hope that you find
   it useful, and that you will register it with us.  The cost of the program
   is only $15.00, plus $2.00 S&H.  If you wish to order by phone, and use
   your credit card, there is an additional $1.00 charge.  Do not send cash,
   and it is preferred that you do not send a personal check, but if you do,

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   it will be accepted.  Allow time for personal checks to clear, before you
   expect delivery of the program, as people have taken advantage of us, in the
   past. We have had to make this our present policy.  We honor MasterCard,
   Visa, and Discovery.  If you order by mail, tell me what size disk you
   prefer, and write your name and address clearly.  If you order by phone,
   call [phone], or the alternate 466-4994, and have your credit card
   handy.

   Our mailing address is:

                             Fred Barbee
                             C/O Util-Disks co.
                             N13602 Indianhead Drive
                             Minong, WI. 54959

   Thank you, in advance, for your interest.
                                            Sincerely,
                                            Fred R.Barbee
                                            Senior Programmer.










































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