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1993-02-26
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LIGHTNING LETTERS DOCUMENTATION NOVEMBER 18, 1991
INTRODUCTION- EASY! Just bring up this menu with command "GO" -
REMEMBER- the startup command is -- GO
===================================================================
: L I G H T N I N G L E T T E R S M A I N M E N U :
===================================================================
: Help ...................... - Explains general steps :
: Input Data ................ - Builds current addresses :
: Browse/Edit Records ....... - Review or change address :
: Print Letters ............. - Print form letters or memos :
: Output Labels ............. - Print mailing labels :
: List Addresses ............ - Print current addresses :
: Transfer names Bank........ - Add addresses to AddrBank :
: Review Address Bank ....... - Scroll through AddrBank :
: Write out address bank..... - Print a list of AddrBank :
: DOS Command ............... - Run DOS, then return :
: Erase address bank......... - Erase address bank, CAUTION! :
: Change Form Letter ........ - Edit/Modify Mailing.cbl :
: Quit ...................... - End program, return to DOS :
==================================================================:
: Type a letter or move the highlight bar and press Enter :
===================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 26, 1993 New relaese contains senator names and addresses
in address bank (Formerly termed history file).
Formatting of batch letter now has option "Dear Senator .....".
Address insert provides, "The Honorable ......."
IF and only IF, the first word of the address is exactly - SENATOR
Other instructions are remain the same.
Leave E-Mail on EXEC-PC for Alfred Welch concerning the operation of
this program.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- November 18, 1991 This is a new release which will now be -
- compatible with any version of DOS. -
It also uses new editor for change letter -
- function with on-line help and improved DOS call.-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- This issue has enhanced documentation regarding alternate methods of -
- startup and problem resolution. -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lightning Letters is primarily designed to send form
letters with the appearance of a typed letter. It may
serve other useful functions such as printing mailing
labels and record keeping.
Method of operation:
To run this program type "GO" at the DOS prompt.
A sample form letter with file id of mailing.cbl is included.
You should create your own letter before serious use.
The quick thing to do is to use the change-letter function
on the main menu to start an editing session to compose letter.
The editor offers help with the F1 key.
See separate documentation for using TE, the text editor.
In making your form letter, note the special lines in
the example. A line beginning with DAT# tells the
system to write out the date from the computer clock and
insert it in alignment with the preceding line. A line
beginning with ADD# tells the system to insert your
current addresses at this point and space after. A line
beginning with SAL# tells the system to create a
greeting based on the last name found in line # 1 of the
current address record. Depending upon how you input
was coded, this line can be; Gentlemen:, Dear Mr. xxx,
Dear Miss xxx, Dear Ms. xxx, or Dear Mrs. xxx.
When you are satisfied with the contents of your letter,
proceed to enter your current addresses using the Input
choice from the main menu. The screens for this function
seem self-explanatory. Be sure to code the salutation
type correctly using keys 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. If there are
in your address entries they can be checked and changed by
useing the browse/edit function on the main menu. This
will scroll addresses. If you enter the displayed
numeric code for an address record, the complete address
will reappear, allowing you to change any or all lines,
or the greeting code value.
When you are satisfied with address entries, proceed to
set up your computer printer and use the print letters
function.
As printers sometimes jamb up, this function provides
for restart from a specified point in your list of
addresses.
When letters are printed you will want to print mailing
labels. The printer should be set up with 3.5" by
15/16" labels, one across. (Other label options may be
available in future enhancements). This function allows
the option of printing two dummy labels repeatedly until
you know the printer is properly aligned on the labels.
Again, the program also allows for a print restart from
any point in your list of addresses.
At this point you should have necessary output. Review
it for accuracy and mail your letters.
Now, you will probably want to store the addresses you
used in your AddrBank file. Use the Transfer to AddrBank
function on main menu. This makes life easier, as an
old address may be recalled from AddrBank, based upon a
match of the first address line. The AddrBank file is
also important for record keeping, and can be printed
from the main menu.
Should the AddrBank file become huge, you have the option
of clearing the entire AddrBank file using the Erase
AddrBank choice on the main menu. This is not normally
advisable, and shouldn't be required in a normal
environment.
For obvious reasons, you also have the option of running
DOS commands from the program. Most of us have this
need often to make different versions of the address
file etc.
SCREENS:
Help Screen from main menu
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ The purpose of this software is to facilitate sending the same letter or ║
║ memo to a group of individuals or customers. This is done in the following ║
║ manner: ║
║ 1. Create your letter as a flat ASCII file named mailing.cbl. ║
║ *Use the menu function to change existing form letter. ║
║ *A line beginning ADD# is required as the point of address ║
║ insertion. ║
║ *Line beginning DAT# gets clock date inserted and aligned with ║
║ the immediately preceding text line. ║
║ *Line beginning SAL# gets salutation "Dear Mr.-", "Dear Miss" etc. ║
║ 2. Input the addresses to send the letter to. ║
║ 3. Set up your printer and use Print Letters function to write them. ║
║ 4. Use the Output Labels function to print mailing labels 3.5 x 15/16. ║
║ 5. Store current addresses in AddrBank file using Transfer to AddrBank. ║
║ Additional features are optional. From this menu you can execute any ║
║ DOS command, erase all addresses stored in the AddrBank file, review the ║
║ Contents of the address or AddrBank files, or list the addresses or AddrBank. ║
║ ║
║ Additional Documentation will be found in file README.DOC. ║
║ ║
║ Shareware 1991, Alfred J. Welch ║
║ 2248 South 33rd Street, Milwaukee W. 53216 ║
╚═════════════════════════════════
Input screen- 30 character fields will be displayed in green
INPUT FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS
Shareware 1991 Alfred Welch
____________
║-------> 1
These 5 ║
lines ║ 2
print on ║
labels ║ 3
or ║
letters ║ 4
printed ║
___________║-------> 5
Enter address lines - QUIT entered at line 1 returns to menu
Input, In the following example, this address was found in the
AddrBank file and will be retrieved if the user presses the "R"
key. "QUI" or "qui" entered at the start of line one, will return
user to the main menu.
INPUT FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS
Shareware 1991 Alfred Welch
____________
║-------> 1 Joseph B. Smith
These 5 ║
lines ║ 2
print on ║
labels ║ 3
or ║ W A R N I N G !
letters ║ 4 ╚═══════════════════════╝
printed ║ ┌───────────────────────┐
___________║-------> 5 │ A record with this │
│ exact first line │
│ does exist in the │
│ AddrBank of addresses │
│ previously used. │
│ Hit x to exit EXIT │
│ Hit r to RECALL data │
│ Return ignores warning│
Enter address lines - QUIT └───────────────────────┘ to menu
The following displays the Browse/Edit option on the main menu.
It displays the data in the current address lists, and allows the user
to modify a record, if the proper number is entered. Only the "Q" key
for "quit" will return you to the main menu.
1. John B. Smith
2. Mary Ellyn Beknke ╔═══════════════╗
3. Laurie Bembenek ║╔═════════════╗║
║║LIGHTNING ║║
║║ LETTERS ║║
║║ ║║
║║ Shareware ║║
║║ 1991 ║║
║║Alfred Welch ║║
║║ ║║
║║ ║║
║║ ║║
║╚═════════════╝║
║ This screen ║
║ allows ║
║ scrolling ║
║ through ║
║ current ║
║ addresses or ║
║ updating a ║
║ record by its ║
║ displayed nmbr║
╚═══════════════╝
Enter number to edit record, M for More, Q to quit
The following screen is seen when the print letters option is
selected, giving the user a chance to cancel the print routine.
Select choice with left or right arrow, or enter Y or N. "Y" will
be the default if only the enter key is hit.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LETTERS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
IS PRINTER READY? Yes.... No-Exit
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ First choice requires Y or Yes to proceed. If no │
│ entry is made for second prompt (return key hit) │
│ job uses MAILING.CBL, the default file name. │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The following screen is part of the print letters function. It offers
the user the option of using a letter alternate to mailing.cbl, the system
designated text file. Printing will not pause between letters (for cut forms)
unless "Y" is entered at the second prompt.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LETTERS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Enter name of letter file
Pause between letters? Y/N
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ If no entry for file name. uses mailing.cbl, the │
│ default file name. Default value of "N" for the │
│ Pause between letters option is fastest. │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The following print screen is self-explanatory:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LETTERS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
PRINTING -- PLEASE WAIT?
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ The printer must finish before this program │
│ can continue. You will have an opportunity │
│ to restart in the middle if printer fails. │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The following apppears after all letters have gone to the printer. Mid-point
restart is permitted in case of printer jamb.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LETTERS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
IF RESTART IS NEEDED, ENTER NUMBER OF ADDRESS TO RESUME WITH-
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Often there are problems with printer paper │
│ flow which result in spoiled letters. Examine │
│ your output- To restart at address 3 enter 03 e.g. │
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────╒═══╕──────┘
│ │
╘═══╛
The following follow similar format for printing labels:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LABELS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
IS PRINTER ON, AT TOP AND LOADED WITH LABELS? Yes No-exit
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ You must enter a "Y" in order to proceed. │
│ │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LABELS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
IF RESTART NEEDED ENTER SEQUENCE NUMBER OF STARTING RECORD
┌───────┐
│ │
│ │
└───────┘
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ In case some letters must be reprinted, you can │
│ enter a 2 didit pointer to the first letter to │
│ resume with. e.g. Enter 4 to start with nbmr 4. │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The following gives the operator as many tries as needed to align the
printer with labels.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PRINT LABELS FUNCTION - LIGHTNING LETTERS ║
║ Shareware 1991 Alfred J. Welch ║
║ ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
DO YOU WANT TO PRINT TWO TEST LABELS? ...... Y/N
┌───────────────────────> HELP <─────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ In order to test printer alignment, you should │
│ print two test labels first. The test labels │
│ consist of asterisks in all five lines │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The following appears when "R" Review AddrBank File is selected on the main
menu:
╔═══════════════════════
║
Names and addresses from the AddrBank file ║ L I G H T N I N G
will scroll down here. ║ L E T T E R S
║
You may change a street address, delete an ║ Shareware 1991
address, or put address in list of cuurrent ║ Alfred Welch
addresses by hitting the "f" key. ║
║
║╔═════════════════════╗
║║ This screen provides║
║║ for scrolling or ║
║║ editing the file. ║
║║ ║
║║ Press enter for ║
║║ additional pages ║ ║║ until end of file. ║║
║║ ║
║║ Press F key to ║
║║ "FIDDLE" ║
║║ ║
║║ Press X to exit. ║
║╚═════════════════════╝
╚═══════════════════════
Once the "F" key is chosen during a AddrBank review, a screen such
as this will appear so you can designate the address to "fiddle" with.
Capital Management, Inc. 1---- W ║
P.O. Box 2936 H ║
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 I ║ L I G H T N I N G
C ║ L E T T E R S
United Health Inc. H ║
105 West Michigan Street 2---- ║ Shareware 1991
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 R ║ Alfred Welch
E ║
C * USE ║
Value Merchants, Inc. O THEN ║╔═════════════════════╗
Box 660922-6 3---- R RETURN ║║ This screen provides║
710 North Plankinton Ave. D OR ║║ for scrolling or ║
Milwaukee, Wi 53203-2405 SELECT ║║ editing the file. ║
T RECORD ║║ ║
Western Publishing Company Inc O USING ║║ Press enter for ║
Barbara Sutton 4---- NUMERIC ║║ additional pages ║
Dept. JV F KEY ║║ until end of file. ║
1220 Mound Ave. I ║║ ║
Racine, Wisconsin 53404 D ║║ Press F key to ║
FIMCO, Inc. D ║║ "FIDDLE" ║
111 E. Kilbourne Ave. 5---- L ║║ ║
Suite 1850 E ║║ Press X to exit. ║
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 ? ║╚═════════════════════╝
Attention: Personnel ╚═══════════════════════
The follwing screen is the last in the series to "fiddle" with records
in the AddrBank file. Select your choice to Change Address, Delete the
AddrBank record, or Add the AddrBank record to your list of current addresses
for printing letters and labels.
FIDDLE - AddrBank - LIGHTNING LETTERS
Shareware 1991 Alfred Welch
█▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀█
█ Enter Choice █
█ █ 1 Barbara Sanders
█ Add to active lst█
█ █ 2 1231 Kinikinic Ave.
█ Delete this one █
█ █ 3 Milwaukee, Wi. 78653
█ Change address █
█USE: █ 4
█Or A, D, C ─┘ █
█ █ 5
█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
Enter address lines - no data entered leaves line as is
FILES:
There are three modifiable data files in the system.
ADDRE.DAT is the driver for most functions and contains
your current addresses. It has a size limit of 50
addresses. If this is too small, contact the
programmer. File AddrBank.FIL contains the AddrBank of
addresses used. It is a direct access file, the key
being the first address line. When transferring
addresses to AddrBank, any address which has a duplicate
first line in the AddrBank file will over write the
similar AddrBank record. File mailing.cbl is the text
form letter you will customize and print.. Again.
remember the the special lines this text contains as
explained above.
KILL.BAT:
This bat file should not be needed. What it does is to
remove the screen handler from memory. The screen handler,
VIDPOP, will not normally remain in memory and this situation
only occurs when the program aborts abnormally. In that case,
kill is executed to clear the handler. Note- this program
doesn't start up if VIDPOP is in memory from aborted run.
HINT! HINT! The address file is a sequential file. The
end of the current list of addresses is signaled to the
software with ^^^ appearing in the first 3 characters
of the first line of an address record. If you want to
abbreviate your list of addresses for test purposes,
you can you browse/edit to alter the placement of the
end point, anywhere between 1 and 50. The data input
function offers the alternative of adding your new
records at the end of present entries or eliminating
present entries by over writing them.
===================================================================
: L I G H T N I N G L E T T E R S M A I N M E N U :
===================================================================
: Help ...................... - Explains general steps :
: Input Data ................ - Builds current addresses :
: Browse/Edit Records ....... - Review or change address :
: Print Letters ............. - Print form letters or memos :
: Output Labels ............. - Print mailing labels :
: List Addresses ............ - Print current addresses :
: Transfer names to AddrBank - Add addresses to AddrBank :
: Review AddrBank File ...... - Scroll through AddrBank :
: Write AddrBank to print ... - Print a list of AddrBank :
: DOS Command ............... - Run DOS, then return :
: Erase AddrBank ............ - Erase all AddrBank CAUTION! :
: Change Form Letter ........ - Edit/Modify Mailing.cbl :
: Quit ...................... - End program, return to DOS :
==================================================================:
: Type a letter or move the highlight bar and press Enter :
===================================================================
Shareware Alfred J. Welch $15 Registration fee desired
======================================================
2248 South 33rd Street, Milwaukee, Wi. 53215
phone (414) 383-9908
SYSTEM DESIGN
This program is more a product of evolution than plan. It is therefore,
hybred and uses some C modules, COBOL programming and utilities.
There must be inter-program communications between VIDPOP, and RUN.EXE.
Most other files included play a vital role and must be kept in the same
directory.
README DOC Documentation
MENU DOC "" ""
RUN EXE COBOL run module (licensed for distribution).
MAILING CBL Form letter, ASCII text
VIDPOP COM Screen Handler
WORKFILE OBJ COBOL compiled application
INSTALL EXE Install (Drive A to Drive C only)
GO EXE This is the startup command file
MAILLIB LIB Library of screen images
HISTORY FIL AddrBank data file with previouly used addresses
HISNDX NDX File of index keys to AddrBank.FIL
HISSAV SAV .SAV files are empty backups for clearing AddrBank
NDXSAV SAV "" ""
ADDRE DAT This data file contains your current addresses
GOTWO EXE This is an alternative to GO.EXE if GO doesn't work
WRK A86 Workfile required in disk directory for sorts
TE DOC The following are the Text editor files, downloaded
TE EXE as a public domain product.
TEG HLP
TEMOD EXE
TEREAD 1ST
NOTE: TE.EXE is a public domain editor, information as to it's source is
displayed upon entering change-letter function.
ALSO: read te.doc.
***********************************************************************
* Some cautions about ISAM access method -- *
***********************************************************************
The initial version of this program used a file handler for indexed files
which worked well with DOS 3.2, but not other versions. Therfore, the
direct access to the AddrBank file now is accomplished with ISAM methods
written in COBOL. This should allow almost instantaneous direct access
respose on a 386 machine, regardless of the number of records in the
AddrBank file. There are trade-offs that have to be made in designing
any ISAM data base. This design will never require more than 2 or 3
i-O operations to retrieve a record from the AddrBank file. However, each
record stored is located according to the first letter of the address line.
As there are 122 buckets for each letter of the alphabet, therefore, if
more than 122 addresses begin with the letter "A", the additional keys
will be forced into the overflow record 27 along with records beginning
with special characters. It should be noted that the direct access is
performed only at data-input time and in the transfer to AddrBank function.
CAVEATS:
I. The AddrBank file and its index file must remain
a matched set. If index file HISNDX.NDX is changed
outside of normal operations, access to AddrBank.FIL
will fail. All the kings men wont be able to fix it.
II. Your ISAM system can become corrupted by losing or
otherwise getting the AddrBank and index out of sync.
If this happens, addresses in your AddrBank file will
be lost so backing up a good database is advisable.
III. The limitation of file size has been mentioned. The
theoretical AddrBank file limit is 3294 records. In
practicality, most users would experience index
overflow if about 2000 randomly chosen address names are
entered. If you want to use the program commercially
so that more file size is needed, contact the author
about a custom design to meet your needs.
******************************************************************************
|-------------------|
| GO.EXE |
| Initiates the run|
---------------------
|
---------------------------------
SCREENS | VIDPOP.COM |
MAILLIB.LIB-->| resident utility |
--------------|------------------
|
-----V------
| RUN.EXE | COBOL
| |
-----|------
Address List | Address History
================== ============ ============================.
| ADDRE.DAT |<-->| |<--->| HISNDX.NDX-- AddrBank.FIL |
================== | WORKFILE.| ============================
| OBJ |
Letter Text | |
==================<-->| |---->===================
| MAILING.CBL | ============ | Printer Lists |
================== | ===================
|
V
---------------------------------
| |
V V
============================= =============================
| Printed mailing labels | | Multiple Printed Letters |
============================= =============================
EXAMPLE:
Input text file--
_______________________________________________________________________________-
1225 Easy Sreet
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
DAT#
ADD#
SAL#
As of December 15, 1991, I am moving to Hollywood California. I do
plan to keep in touch with all my friends and associates. My new address
is listed below.
1771 El Ceritto
Hollywood, California 87632
The new phone number will be announced later.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tiegs
________________________________________________________________________________
Printer Output adjusted to- ___________________________________________________
1225 Easy Sreet
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
November 13, 1991
Donald Trump
1771 7th Avenue
Suite 213
New York, New York 12398
Dear Mr. Trump:
As of December 15, 1991, I am moving to Hollywood California. I do
plan to keep in touch with all my friends and associates. My new address
is listed below.
1771 El Ceritto
Hollywood, California 87632
The new phone number will be announced later.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Tiegs
________________________________________________________________________________
Once started the program hopefully will not fail. Inexperienced users
might create problems for themselves in running DOS commands from the
menu, however. If DOS commands are used to change drives, change the
current directory, rename or delete system files the system can crash.
Should the program lock up with the keyboard still operating, the task
can be aborted with Cntrl-C. This situation removes the main program
but leaves VIDPOP in memory. You would then have to employ KILL.BAT
to remove VIDPOP prior to next run.
Please report any problems not explained here to the author.
REGISTRATION- Please register so I can get some feed-back. (Cash too)
If you want to use this product you must register. You will be entitled
to one hour of free support to customize your application. You will also
receive any updated versions. It is my plan to incorporate the
form letter function into a complete small business package.
To register send:
name-
address-
city-
state-
zip-
phone-
bulletin board id (optional)-
fee- $15.00
Alfred J. Welch
2248 S. 33rd Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
The author greatly appreciates your comments and
suggestions...
*** Also open to contract programming, any popular language.