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U S E R S' M A N U A L
H O M E B A S E V E R S I O N 2 . 0
Copyright 1987
Brown Bag Software
2155 So. Bascom Ave #114
Campbell Ca 95008
Tel: (408) 559-4545
1
HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
HOMEBASE 2.0
HomeBase is a complete Desktop Organizer. It has at least one up
on SideKick. Indeed, PC Magazine went so far as to say: "One way
to look at it is to say that Borland's product is a first-
generation organizer, while ... [Homebase] is second or third
generation. It delivers the most bang for the buck among desktop
organizers."
HomeBase will run on a 256k machine with two disk drives, but it's
really designed for computers with hard drives. This makes sense
in view of its extensive DOS services. It requires only 180k of
memory when it is resident in memory. HomeBase works with
virtually every program although you must sometimes take care to
stack the various elements correctly in the AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Once installed, HomeBase can be called on while just about any
other program is active and it can perform communication tasks
quietly in the background while other programs are working.
Primary HomeBase functions include: DOS services, linear database
services, editor/word processor, calendar/appointment book,
terminal communications, calculator and cut-and-paste operations.
The key combination <Alt><Shift><H> brings up HomeBase's main
menu, which lists major options:
Calculator <Alt><Shift><=>
Calendar <Alt><Shift><C>
DOS Services <Alt><Shift><D>
NoteBases <Alt><Shift><N>
Quickterm <Alt><Shift><Q>
Cut <Alt><Shift><K>
You can select the required function by using a smart cursor or by
pressing the indicated key combinations. Helpful messages are
displayed at all times on the prompt line, and context-sensitive
help is always available by pressing F1.
CALCULATOR
The "scientific-type" calculator has 26 memory variables, a "tape"
that can be saved or pasted into other work and a feature that
enables you to cut a column of figures from any other program
screen and move them into the processing area. Calculations can
be done in decimal floating point or hex. Conversions are
instantaneous.
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
CALENDAR
In this Special Version of HomeBase, two calendars can be
maintained simultaneously so that an office secretary, for
example, can keep separate appointment calendars for two people in
her operation. A query facility enables you to respond to such
questions as: "When did Joe and Mary have lunch together?" or
"Give me a list of any time anyone in the office had a meeting
with Customer Jones." or "Total my expenses for the day and move
them over to the word processor so that I can write an excuse for
the boss.".
The "daily" calendar view divides the screen into two sections:
appointments for the day and to-do today. Appointments can be
annotated to any length and the to-do list can roll forward to
tomorrow (or any subsequent day) those items that you just didn't
quite finish today.
A "weekly" view shows a week's worth of days, each with a column
of highlighted hours representing appointments. Cursor up, down,
right and left, PgUp and PgDn are used extensively to zoom in and
out of various calendar levels.
In fact, all menus are reminiscent of Lotus 1-2-3 or Microsoft's
Multiplan. A list of possible selections appears at the top of
the screen with the default selection highlighted. You can move
across the list, highlighting the selections in turn or you can
simply hit the first letter of the desired selection.
DOS SERVICES
The DOS Services facility opens up with a single window and a list
of functions. These enable you to view up to four different
directories simultaneously and to mark files for copy, erase or
move operations. Additionally, you can make and remove
subdirectories, rename files and view files in display or edit
modes.
Subgroups of files can be selected (sorted) by pattern, name,
extension or date. Files can be manipulated one at a time or in
groups. In either case, all operations are visible to you. This
is the shell that DOS should have had originally.
DATABASE SERVICES
HomeBase's database services are very powerful, enabling you to
maintain Rolodex-type files, index card records, message records
or, in fact, any form you wish to create. Included in the full
HomeBase package is a template maker and report generator for use
with the system's linear databases. There is no real limit on the
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HomeBase Users' Manual Copyright Brown Bag Software 1987
number of databases that can be maintained. HomeBase even has a
query language for instantaneous retrieval of data through field
comparison.
TERMINAL SERVICES
HomeBase includes a smart terminal package that allows uploading
and downloading (ASCII or XMODEM) and fully automatic operation.
It also functions as an autodialer for voice communications,
through the NameAddress NoteBase.
In the auto-answer mode, HomeBase's terminal emulator can function
entirely in the background while you are working on something
else. For example, suppose you are working in 1-2-3 when a call
comes into the computer - your partner with a file to upload.
HomeBase will answer the call and notify you (in the 1-2-3 screen)
that it has done so. Your partner can upload his file while you
stay in 1-2-3 or you can duck out of the spreadsheet, communicate
with the caller and then return to the spreadsheet without
dropping a character.
=================================================================
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE CONTINUING
=================================================================
The following conventions are used in this on-disk manual.