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1992-02-22
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Page 1 of 5 'What a Life', Version 2.0a.
(c)1992 Ecola Design, PO Box 13402, Portland, Oregon USA 97213.
Send $40 for latest registered version & illustrated maunal.
============================== INTRODUCTION ==================================
--------- 'WHAT A LIFE' is software to record and explore your life! ---------
Create a growing record of your life as you remember it.
- Record up to 2600 recollections of the events and eras of your life.
- Arrange them chronologically and by 18 areas of interest.
- Write a brief memo about each, using a built-in word processor.
- Export selected information.
- Continually build this record of your life, adding and revising at any time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commands:
- Use commands listed on the BOTTOM LINE of the screen.
- Press <F1> to get HELP or a list of additional commands.
- Follow the pop-up 'NOTICE' messages.
- Look for useful information at the TOP LINE of the screen.
Text:
- Enter text when promted. Press <ESC> to cancel, or <ENTER> to accept.
- Press <INSERT> to toggle between two text modes:
--> Insert Mode (new characters will push others to the right)
--> Overwrite Mode (new characters will replace others)
================================ STARTING ====================================
------ To run 'What a Life' on your computer, enter the command 'WLIF'. ------
The program begins by asking if you're using a COLOR monitor. Press <Y> for YES
if you're using COLOR. You must press <N> if using MONOCHROME, otherwise some
text may seem to be invisible.
To BEGIN:
- Start the program at the DOS prompt... Enter 'WLIF'
- Read & acknowledge the opening screens... Press keys as directed
This takes you to the the MAIN MENU. Continue by following the screen messages.
~~~~~~~~~
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a sample data file named 'SAMPLE.LIF' depicting the life of a
fictional person. Browse through this file to become familiar with the program
features. After exploring this file, you'll be able to create new life data
files for yourself or others.
To EXPORE:
- Get to the MAIN MENU... See above
- Select 'Retreive an EXISTING file'... Press <E>
- Enter the name of the sample file... Enter 'SAMPLE'
Page 2 of 5
============================ ENTERING DATES ==================================
-------------- Revise all DATES using special shortcut commands. ---------------
Dates are shown in the DAY-MONTH-YEAR format (such as '22 MAR 1956'), and are
always REVISED (never entered from scratch). Use these commands to REVISE:
<- -> (arrow keys) - Position the cursor below the part to revise
^ v (arrow keys) - Increase or Decrease Day/Month/Year
0 to 9 (number keys) - Enter new digit for Day/Month*/Year
ESC - Cancel, and restore the date to its previous condition
ENTER - Accept the date shown, and continue
* Note: Press number keys <1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0> for months 1 - 10 (JAN - OCT).
Press <Q> for month 11 (NOV), and <W> for month 12 (DEC).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dates for EVENTS are revised in pairs (beginning/ending dates). Add'l commands:
? (question mark) - Shows a blank space at Day or Month column. Useful when
you know an approximate date, but not exact day or month.
= (equal sign) - Makes the date 'Equal to' the opposite date of the pair.
Useful for events lasting just one day, like birthdays.
! (exclamation pt) - Shows the symbol '{!}' for the ending date, meaning the
event is currently on-going, and has not yet ended.
=========================== DEVELOPING A FILE ================================
------ Build your file by adding and revising ENTRIES, MEMOS, and THEMES. ------
ENTRIES record eras or events in your life... something happening over a span
of time such as 'Living in Bali', or on a specific date such as 'Wedding Day'.
Enter the BEGINNING DATE, the ENDING DATE, and a few descriptive words.
EXAMPLE -- '1 JAN 1985 ... 24 DEC 1987 Worked on avocado ranch'
If the event happens on just one day, make sure the beginning and ending dates
are the same; otherwise, enter the earliest date it could have occured and the
latest date it could have occured. Later, you can revise to be more specific.
MEMOS store more details about each entry. Press <LEFT ARROW> to view the memo
for any entry, then <F3> to use the built-in word processor.
THEMES represent areas of interest by which entries may be associated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE -- Start a NEW FILE and review your initial entries. Press <F3> to
revise text or dates if necessary. Press <F2> to add new entries, entering text
describing an event & the date(s) it took place. Each new or revised entry is
sorted into the list chronologically; check the memo, then add/revise more!
HINT -- When revising dates, refresh your memory by considering other events
of the same era (for instance, birthdays). You can press <F5> to PAUSE an edit.
Page 3 of 5
=========================== NAMES OF THEMES ==================================
------- Develop a list of THEMES, which you can use to associate entries. ------
Using themes helps you focus on certain aspects of your life. The names of the
themes can be entirely of your own creation.
A new file starts with just one theme, 'Birthdays'. Any entry which relates
to one of your birthdays is associated with this theme. Press <F6> to add the
names of more themes to the master list. Here's some possible choices:
Education Residence Possessions World Events
Family People Travel Wealth
Jobs Health Relationships Hobbies
These are examples only; name your themes after the aspects of your life you
want to explore, or topics which may help you remember your life's details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press <F6> to add, revise, and delete theme names. Use these commands:
F2 - Add a new theme name to the list. You can create up to 18 themes.
F3 - Revise the text of an existing theme. Use this command when you want to
keep the theme as it is, & want to change spelling or use different text.
F4 - Delete a theme name. This command deletes the theme NAME only; entries
which were members of this theme are not affected.
========================== THEME ASSOCIATIONS ================================
-------------- ASSOCIATE each entry with any relevant theme(s). ----------------
Press <RIGHT ARROW> to check the theme assoications of an entry. A list of
all the themes will appear; those themes with a 'star' symbol next to them are
the themes with which the entry is associated.
To change an entry's theme association, move the pointer to each theme and
press <SPACE> to turn the 'star' on and off.
EXAMPLE -- For the entry 'Ski patrol in the Alps' you might place a 'star'
next to the themes 'Jobs', 'Travel' & 'Residence' (or any other group which you
decide is relevant). Each entry can be a associated with as many themes as you
wish, or a associated with no theme at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES:
- Entries with NO theme associations are in a special group, 'Entry w/o Theme'.
- When adding NEW entries, verify they are associated with appropriate themes.
- Add, revise, or delete theme NAMES only by pressing <F6> at the main screen.
Page 4 of 5
=============================== CUSTOM RANGE =================================
-------- Adjust the RANGE to focus on a selected time periods or themes. -------
A file holds up to 2600 entries; but not every entry must be displayed in the
list all the time. Press <F7> to define a custom DATE RANGE or THEME RANGE:
DATE RANGE: A span of time bounded by two dates. If an event happens at any
time within these dates, it will be shown on the list.
--> You may also specify 'UNLIMITED' date range.
THEME RANGE: A list of theme names. If an event is a associated with any of
these themes, it will be shown on the list.
--> You may also specify 'UNLIMITED' theme range.
An entry must fit into BOTH ranges to be included in the list. EXAMPLE -- The
Date Range can be '1 JAN 1970 ... 31 DEC 1979' & the Theme Range can be 'Jobs'.
The list will change to show only JOBS occuring at any time in the 1970s.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want EVERY entry to appear in the list, set both ranges to 'UNLIMITED'.
It's possible to define a range into which NO entry can fit. If this happens,
create new entries which fit the range, or adjust again & make the range larger.
=============================== CUSTOM STYLE =================================
----- Adjust the STYLE of the list, using any of these optional reminders: -----
MEMO - A symbol next to any entry which has a memo.
DURATION - A vertical bar representing the length of time of an event.
ENDING - Extra lines, when needed, to show ending dates (noted by a 'dot').
DATE - The beginning or ending date (whichever is opposite) of each event.
THEME - The name of a selected theme, appearing next to any entry which is
associated with that theme.
ENTRY - The text of a selected entry, appearing next to any other entry which
might have happened at the same time.
MEMO, DURATION, & ENDING reminders can be turned OFF & ON in any combination.
DATE, THEME, & ENTRY reminders each appear on the right side of the screen; so
turn ON only one of these reminders, or choose BLANK to turn them all OFF.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press <F8> to adjust the STYLE; or, you can use these commands:
S Toggle the right-side style between BLANK, DATE, THEME, & ENTRY.
Alt+S Set the THEME reminder to the current entry's theme association.
Ctrl+S Set the ENTRY reminder to the current entry.
Ctrl+PgUp If THEME or ENTRY style is on, move UP to next matching entry.
Ctrl+PgDn If THEME or ENTRY style is on, move DOWN to next matching entry.
Page 5 of 5
================================ EXPORTING ===================================
--------- EXPORT selected information to a printer or to a text file. ----------
Press <F9> to select and export some of your life information. The information
will be exported in the current STYLE of the list. Choose:
ENTRIES: Either 'Current Entry' (the date & text of the current entry)
-or- 'Current Entry, Including Memo' (as above, plus its memo)
-or- 'Current List of Entries' (the list appearing on the screen)
-or- 'Current List, Including Memos' (as above, plus any memos)
DESTINATION: Either 'Printer' (the printer connected to your computer)
-or- 'Text File' (a new DOS file created on a disk drive)
Press <ENTER> to proceed. Select a printer, or enter the name of a text file.
--> 'Printer #1' refers to 'LPT1:' and 'Printer #2' refers to 'LPT2:'.
--> The extension '.TXT' is added to the name of any new text file you enter.
Do not specify an extension when entering the name of a new text file.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HINT -- Customize RANGE and STYLE to get different lists to export.
================================= SAVING =====================================
----- SAVE the file often. Return to the Main Menu to exit the program. -----
Press <F10> for FILE options. Press <S> to SAVE & EXIT; this returns you to
the Main Menu. Press <R> to SAVE & RESUME; this guards against unexpected data
loss, and also deletes a temporary file and frees disk space!
'What a Life' uses these DOS FILE TYPES:
.EXE - Executable file. Just ONE file, 'WLIF.EXE', runs the whole program!
No support files of any kind are required.
.FAM - Life data file. This is the file that's created to store all the
information you record about each life. Just ONE file per life
is used. Create a new '.LIF' file for each new life you explore.
.BAK - Back-up file. When a '.LIF' file is saved, the PREVIOUS version is
renamed with the extension '.BAK'.
.TXT - Text files, created when exporting information to a file.
A temporary file named '(DELETE!.ME)' is created while running the program.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE -- Since ALL THE ENTRIES AND MEMOS for each life are stored in just ONE
file, that file can become huge. Keep enough disk space available to handle the
DATA file, the back-up file, and the temporary file. SAVE & RESUME often.