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-
-
-
- Mail Call by Pro~Formance
-
- Version 3.0
-
-
- +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
- | With version 3.0, we've added a 2nd program: MC Express (MCE). |
- | And be sure to read about P~F Form (See Other Programs by |
- | Pro~Formance near the end of this manual). |
- | |
- | MCE: : : |
- | * MCE is a RAM-resident program to print envelopes from |
- | INSIDE your word processor--while you're writing a letter. |
- | * Just press a key to call MCE up, mark a name and address, |
- | choose from among many printing options, then print. |
- | * MCE works just fine all by itself. But it'll also save |
- | names/addresses to a file--so you can later Import them |
- | into Mail Call (effortlessly, no extra typing). |
- | * MC Express is optional and is available to registered |
- | users of Mail Call. It works with HP LaserJets |
- | (Orig./+/500/Series II) |
- | |
- | P~F FORM: : : |
- | P~F Form is two programs: Form Design and Form Master. With |
- | them you design, fill out and print professional-looking forms, |
- | in just minutes. Form Master links forms to a database, and |
- | fills forms out for you! And this is the SAME DATABASE Mail |
- | Call uses. So, with one set of programs, you can now manage |
- | almost every piece of paper in your office. |
- +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
-
-
-
-
- +------------------------------------------------------------------+
- | Please send correspondence (including suggestions & comments) to:|
- | |
- | RWS & Associates 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, Ca. 94117 |
- | (415) 863-0530 (10am to 5pm Pacific time) |
- | |
- | Your suggestions and comments are most welcome. |
- +------------------------------------------------------------------+
-
-
- Copyright (C) 1987-1989, Rob W. Smetana and Pro~Formance
-
- Mail Call and its Manual and support files are Protected by U.S. and
- International Copyright Laws: [Title 17 USC]. All Rights Reserved.
-
- Mail Call, MC\+, MC\25, MC Express, MCE, Pro~Formance, and P~F
- are Trademarks of RWS & Associates & Rob W. Smetana
-
- LaserJet, FX, P1351, 123, IBM are Registered Trademarks of:
- Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Epson Corporation, Toshiba America,
- Inc., Lotus Development Corp. and International Bus. Machines Corp.,
- respectively.
-
- Contents
-
- Mail Call in Brief ........................ a
- MC or MC\+ - Which suits my needs? ........ b
- System Requirements ....................... c
- Installing Mail Call
-
- Running MC, Choosing Options .............. 1
-
- Main Menu Options
- Adding/Editing Names .................... 2
- Notes & Tips .......................... 3
- The "Key" Field - BE SURE TO READ! .... 5
-
- Browsing ................................ 6
-
- Searching ............................... 7
-
- Printing ................................ 8
- Different Ways to "Print"
- Sorting & Specifying Ranges
- View & Edit ...........................
- Envelopes ............................. 9
- Personalized Documents (Letters, Memos) 11
- Directory / Reports ................... 13
- Labels ................................ 14
- Return Address/Multiple Labels ........ 15
- Mail Merge: Import From or Export To .. 16
-
- From (Return Addresses or Other Labels) . 18
-
- Utilities: Modem/Mail-Phone codes/Index . 19
-
- Managing Duplicate Names .................. 20
-
- Entering PCCs (Printer Control Codes) ..... 21
-
- Tips and Things You Should Know ........... 23
- Technical Information (Please Read) ...... 25
-
- License & Limited Warranty ................ i
- Other Programs from Pro~Formance .......... iii
- Registering/Ordering ...................... iv
-
- Version # ================= Update History =========================
- 1.5 -Optimized speed & record handling
- 1.7 -Added "Duplicate" capability to Edit function
- -Eradicated bug: Print fields not fully cleared on 2nd+ print
- 2.0 -MAJOR Revision. Added features (Print All/Ranges, Personal
- Letters, Alternate Return Addresses and Printer Codes, etc.)
- 2.2 -Added ALL features to ALL versions
- -Added envelope support for Series II LaserJets
- -Fixed inconsistent env. printing when soft fonts present
- 2.5 -Unlimited capacity. Changed name: Mail Master to Mail Call.
- -Create/use different database files
- -Use Mail Merge to easily share names among different files.
- 3.0 -Added MC Express (the RAM-resident version), fixed 2 bugs.
- =====================================================================
-
- Mail Call in Brief -a-
-
- Mail Call (MC) is a full-featured "mailing assistant." With it
- you can handle anything from simple tasks (like printing a memo
- or envelope) to managing large mailing list databases. On top
- of the usual powers to add, edit and delete names, MC's database
- features include:
- * The option to use different database files = UNLIMITED capacity!
- * A special "Key" field (create several databases in each file).
- * Browse, Search, Sort and Range features so you can view or print
- all names, one name or a specific group (range)-sorted as you like.
- * Powerful B-tree indexing for F-A-S-T! sorting and locating names.
- * Thirteen fields including a Message field (printable), and a
- Comment field (for information, not for printing).
- * The ability to "tag" certain printable fields as "non-printing."
- This lets you store, but not print, information useful to you.
-
- MC also lets you:
- * Print envelopes or mailing labels, personalized documents (form
- letters/memos), name & phone number lists, appointment schedules.
- * Print 1-99 copies of each label, up to 3 columns per page
- * Print 1-3 fields on envelopes: Return Address, To.., & a Message.
- * Specify Printer Control Codes (PCCs) to print fields in different
- type styles or fonts, with different line spacing, etc.
- * Alternate among:
- - 4 Return Addresses (Work, Home, None for pre-printed envelopes)
- - 3 Sets of of printer codes for Envelopes (9 PCCs in all)
- * Import names from, or Export names to Mail Merge files compatible
- with major word processors and database programs.
- * Dial phone numbers (with most, not all, Hayes-compatible modems).
-
- Finally, MC may be used to keep track of or print many things.
- We refer here to "Names," but you can store and track computer
- program names, lists of clients to contact during trips,
- products in inventory--anything you need labels or reports for.
- For example, one software company tracks (and prints labels for)
- both their software and registered users.
-
- We developed MC for 3 simple reasons. First, we wanted a fast,
- easy way to print envelopes or mailing labels. We often prefer
- envelopes, to avoid the "mailing list/junk mail" message that
- labels sometimes convey. But sometimes labels are more efficient.
-
- But, second, printing envelopes on laser printers is a pain in
- the a__. Indeed, a recent computer magazine included this issue
- among its list of "computer nightmares." Another author,
- discussing the "envelope crisis," said "No wonder so many
- laser-printed letters go out the door in hand-addresed
- envelopes." MC makes this an easy, even trivial task.
-
- Third, we needed database capabilities to take the drudgery out
- of continually re-typing names and addresses. The database had
- to be fast, easy to use, and reliable. In addition, it had to
- help us "segregate" clients and contacts based on our relation-
- ship with them. For example, some are interested in product X,
- some in service Y. Some are colleagues, some are friends, and
- some are on our Christmas card list. The database's "Key" field
- (and multiple-file capability) let you create many databases in
- one--letting you work with groups of names separately.
-
- MC or MC\+ - Which best suits my needs? -b-
-
- Mail Call had very humble beginnings - we needed a way to
- address envelopes on a laser printer. It stored a few names
- and printed envelopes nicely, and that's it. But as people
- started using it, they asked for more functions, more conven-
- ience--and Mail Call grew. Those who contributed (registered)
- got added features right away. Eventually, these extra features
- were added to all versions.
-
- To allow us to say thanks to those who registered and contrib-
- uted to Mail Call's development, we continue to offer 2
- versions: MC and MC\+ (MC\Plus). The main difference: MC\+
- gives you UNlimited capacity and flexibility. Use different
- database files to add more names. Or use different database files
- for different purposes (different people in your office, clients
- versus friends versus vendors, etc.)
-
- ------------------------------------MC--------------------MC\+--------
- Database Features:
- - Number of database files 1 No Limit
- - Number of names/file 32,600+ 32,600 +
- - Number of sub-databases Use MC's "Key" field to create sub-
- per file databases in each file.
- Together, these features give you unlimited capacity. Each time
- you Run MC, select the database file you want to work with.
-
- - Features: Add, Edit, Delete, Browse, Search, Sort, Range-to-Print
- - B-Tree Indexing (Which accounts for MC's FAST Searching/Sorting)
- - 4 separate Indexes for Name, Company, Zip Code and "Key"
- - Your "database" NEVER needs sorting (very time consuming),
- because the Indexes are ALWAYS sorted
- - Choose a Range to print: 1 to all, sorted on the field you choose
- .....................................................................
- Printing Options
- - Envelopes - 5 sizes ranging from Personal to 8 1/2 to 11
- - Labels - 8 sizes, plus a "roll-your-own-size" option
- - 1 to 3 columns per page. 1 - 99 copies of each label
- - 1 - 99 copies of "Return Address" labels (which can be ANY text)
- - Personalized Documents (like "form" letters, memos, brochures, etc.)
- - View & Edit
- - Reports: Names & Phone #s; or All Fields (Many ways to use this)
- .....................................................................
- Mail Merge
- - Import from/Export to files used by word processors, etc.
- - This is IN ADDITION to MC's Personalized Document feature -
- itself a "mail merge" feature
- .....................................................................
- Printers Supported
- - HP LaserJets (Laserjet/+/II), Epson & Toshiba
- - A "Standard Printer" option lets you use most any printer
- .....................................................................
- Dial your Phone (with many but not all Hayes-Compatible Modems)
- .....................................................................
- Configuration Options
- - Format Phone & "Mail Code" (For US or Overseas use or both)
- - Customize MC for use with your Modem
- .....................................................................
- MC Express--RAM-resident version of Mail Call (comes with MC\+)
-
- System Requirements -c-
- .....................................................................
- Computer: IBM or compatible DOS: 2.1 or later (Required)
- Monitor: Color or Monochrome Disk: Hard disk is fast, floppy OK
- Memory: 256-320k Printer: HP LaserJet, Epson or Toshiba
- (A "Standard Printer" option lets you use most any printer.)
-
- NOTE: MC "writes directly to the screen." It's fast, but may cause
- "snow" on some monitors. Configure DESQview or Windows accordingly.
- .....................................................................
-
- Installing Mail Call
-
- Nothing special; just run MC. You can configure MC to work
- with your modem, or change the format of Mail and Phone fields
- (overseas addresses). See steps 4 and 5 below. (Note: MC works
- with some, but not all modems. The Install Modem feature, and
- the file Dialme.BAS, may help if you have problems getting MC to
- dial. If you can't get it to work, let us know. Please be
- specific: Type of Modem, What Modem Commands you tried, etc.)
-
- 1) Copy MC.EXE to the disk or directory from which you'll run MC.
-
- When you run MC the 1st time, it creates two files with the
- extensions ".DAT" and ".IDX." These files are called "MailCall"
- --unless you asked MC to use a different file name (see Running MC).
-
- 2) To print MC's manual (MC.Doc), type COPY MC.DOC PRN.
- * Be sure your printer's on and has about 30-40 sheets of paper
- * Set your printer to print 66 lines/page.
- * The tables and screen examples will print better if the font
- or type style you use is FIXED (not proportionally) spaced.
-
- 3) Put the line "BUFFERS=##" (## = a number from 10-25) in the
- Config.Sys file in your root directory. "Tips & Things you
- Should Know" has more.
-
- 4) Modem: To customize MC for your modem, run MC and press
- [U]tility then [I]nstall Modem. (Modems must be strictly Hayes
- compatible.)
-
- 5) Non-US Phone/Mail formats: To customize the way MC displays
- and prints phone numbers or Mail (Zip) codes, run MC and press
- [U]tility, [F]ormat.
-
- Other files that came with Mail Call, like MC.Doc or Readme.Bat,
- aren't needed for MC to run. Store them once you've reviewed them.
-
-
- Running MC, Choosing a Database File to Work With -1-
-
- You can run MC in 2 ways. At the DOS prompt type either:
- MC MC will create or use MailCall.DAT and MailCall.IDX
-
- MC FileName MC will create or use "FileName.DAT" & "FileName.IDX."
- (MC\+ only. Registered users.)
-
- When you include a FileName: (include FileName ONLY, NO extension)
- * File names can be a 1-8 letter file name, or Path plus file name.
- - MC XMAS will create/use an Xmas.DAT on the current drive
- - MC B:\XMAS will create/use Xmas.DAT on drive B:
- * If MC can't find FileName.DAT, it'll ask if you want it created.
- - If you say yes, MC creates BOTH FileName.DAT and FileName.IDX.
- * BOTH the ".DAT" and ".IDX" files MUST be in the SAME PATH.
-
- Using different FileNames adds flexibility and capacity:
- * Use different database files for different purposes
- - Business and personal - Different client groups
- - Different database files for different people in your office
- * With multiple files, your capacity is unlimited.
- * MC's Mail Merge feature is a quick, convenient way to share
- names--some or all of them--between different database files.
-
- Choosing Options
-
- When you run MC, it's Main Menu appears at the bottom of your screen:
- [A]dd Name [B]rowse [S]earch [P]rint [F]rom [U]tility [Q]uit
-
- At most of MC's menus, you pick options by pressing the 1st letter
- of the option you want--shown in brackets "[ ]." So, to Add a
- Name, press [A]. To Browse, press [B]. Etc. But, when editing
- text, use Function Keys F1-F10 to select options. Why the dif-
- ference? Because when editing, MC assumes letters you type are
- part of the text you're editing.
-
- At the Main Menu you may:
- [A]dd Name Add a new name
- [B]rowse Browse through the names in your database
- [S]earch Search, searching on Last Name, Company or Key
- [P]rint Print (many options, see below)
- [F]rom Add or Edit From.. (Return Address printed on envelopes)
- [U]tility Install a modem (if you want to use MC's Dialing
- feature), Format Mail & Phone fields, Rebuild the Index
- (in case of damage)
- [Q]uit Exit MC to DOS
-
- You can edit Return Addresses (From ...) either from the Main Menu,
- or when you print envelopes. You may enter 4 Return Addresses
- and toggle among them. See "Return Address" for more.
-
- You can [P]rint either from the Main Menu, or while your Adding/
- Editing names, Browsing or Searching. From the Main Menu,
- [P]rint gives you many printing options, and you can print 1
- name, all names, or a sorted list of names that match criteria/
- range you specify. Pressing [P]rint elsewhere lets you print
- Envelopes, Labels or Personalized Documents for the name displayed.
-
- To Dial the phone, first display a name using Add, Browse or Search,
- then press [D]ial. We'll now discuss MC's options in detail.
-
- Main Menu Options: ADDING / EDITING NAMES -2-
-
- To ADD a name, press [A]dd Name at the Main Menu. To EDIT a
- name, use Browse, Search or Print (View/Edit) to find a name,
- then press [E]dit. The procedures for Adding new names or
- Editing existing ones are about the same. A "database screen"
- pops up; the bottom looks like this: (This screen's also used
- during Browse/Search/Print to show names found.)
-
- +-----------------------+|First & MI----------|Last---------------+
- | Name | | |
- | +---------------------+-------------------|
- |Title (Name/Comment/?) | |
- | +-----------------------------------------|
- | Company (Comment/?) | |
- | +-----------------------------------------|
- | Street (Floor/Code/?) | |
- | +-----------------------------------------|
- | City | State | | |
- | +------------+-+----------------+-+-------|
- |Zip Code | Phone | Key | .....-.... | | (...) ...-.... | | |
- | +------------+-+----------------+-+-------|
- | Message (Printed) | |
- | +-----------------------------------------+
- | Comments | Salutation | | |
- +---------------------- +-----------------------------------------+
- [F1]Help [F2]Save [F3]Clear [F5]Print [F6]Dial [F8-F9]Dup [F10]Quit
-
- ** Read "Notes & Tips." Title, Company and Street may be used for **
- ** ANYTHING (e.g. use Company AND Street for multi-line addresses).**
-
- When editing, most options are selected with Function Keys.
-
- [Up/Dn] Cursor keys (or [PgUp/PgDn] or [Return]) changes fields
- [F1] Displays a Help screen showing MC's editing features
- [F2] Saves any changes or additions you've made
- [F3] Clear means one thing when Adding names, another when Editing
- * When Adding Names: Clear means "Prepare to Add Another."
- The fields will be cleared, and the "First Name" field
- will be highlighted, ready for you to enter another.
- (See both [F8]Dup and **NOTE**)
- * When Editing: Clear means DELETE this record. If you
- confirm, the fields on both the screen and disk will be
- cleared, and "Deleted" will appear in the Key field.
- (See [F8]Dup and **NOTE**)
- [F5] Let's you Print what you've viewing (Several options)
- [F6] Dials the phone number
- [F8-F9] "Dup" means "Duplicate"- To reduce typing and restore
- deleted names. Whenever you Save or Delete a name, a
- "snapshot" of it is taken.
- * If you delete a name by mistake, [F8] restores it.
- * If you're Adding a new name, or Editing another one, press:
- - [F8] to dup EVERYTHING from the last name Saved/Deleted
- (BE CAREFUL with F8. Everything will be replaced.)
- - [F9] to dup the field you're currently in
- [F10] Quit Adding or Editing.
-
-
-
- **NOTE** -3-
-
- When you press [A]dd Name at the Main Menu, MC searches for any
- names you've deleted, so blank disk space can be efficiently
- re-used.
- * If MC finds one, you'll see "Deleted" in the Key field.
- These will also be visible if you [B]rowse or [S]earch
- on Key and specify "Deleted" as a Search Phrase.
- (See Notes and Tips below.)
-
- * BE SURE to delete the word "Deleted" when adding a new name.
- - Move to the Key field, press Ctrl-Home.
-
- * ALSO, when "adding" to a Deleted name, you CAN'T press [F3]
- to add another. To add another, return to the Main Menu,
- and press [A]dd Name.
-
-
- ADDING / EDITING NAMES -- Notes & Tips
-
- How MC Works (Or, It Might Help You to Know) ::::
-
- * Both the ".Dat" & ".Idx" files are vital. Back up both regularly!
- - The "Idx" (Index) file allows VERY fast searching and sorting.
- Without it, some of MC's more advanced functions won't work.
- - We hope your index file is never be damaged. But if it is,
- MC's [U]tility function has an option to "Regenerate the Index".
-
- * After MC updates ".Dat" and ".Idx" files, it closes and
- re-opens them. This is added security to ensure your work's
- saved to disk, and is not vulnerable to power surges or
- accidents. It accounts for a brief pause you may notice when
- a record is saved.
-
- Tips to Help You Make the Most of MC's Features ::::
-
- * Any field may be left blank. But Last Name, Company, Zip &
- Key are used for Searching/Sorting. Leaving them blank limits
- your options.
-
- * To enter a name just for printing, save, print, then delete it.
-
- * Please review MC's editing keys--press [F1] when editing.
- Note the "Oops/Undo" key: [Alt-U]. If you accidentally
- delete all or part of a line, press [Alt-U] IMMEDIATELY
- to restore it. Pressing [F8] or [F9] can also help
- restore/duplicate records.
-
- * As mentioned above, you may use Title, Company, & Street for
- ANYTHING. MC gives you space for all 3, but doesn't care how
- you use them.
- continued . . .
-
- Notes & Tips (continued) -4-
-
-
- * @ -- The "at" sign is the "Don't Print Me" flag
- - If "@" appears in the First Column of Title, Company or
- Message, the field(s) will NOT print on envelopes, labels,
- reports, etc.
- - This is useful to: 1) Keep notes to yourself, knowing they won't
- be printed; or, 2) To temporarily suspend printing of a
- field without having to delete it, and later re-enter it.
-
- * When you [A]dd Name, MC tries to re-use disk space made blank
- when you deleted a name--MC looks for "Deleted" in the Key field.
- - When adding names, be sure to delete "Deleted" from the Key field.
- - Otherwise, leave it alone. Changing it unnecessarily may
- mean MC can't find and re-use blank disk space; it'll just
- consume more.
-
- * Zip Code and Phone # fields are "formatted"--e.g. (...) ...-....
- - As you type in these fields, the cursor skips across
- parentheses, hyphens and spaces to the proper positions (you
- fill in the dots).
- - To leave part of a field blank (e.g. the Phone # Area Code
- or the last 4 Zip Code #s), use cursor keys to move over it.
-
- * Intend to Print Labels? Many of MC's fields are at 40+
- characters wide: Name, Title, Company and Message. This
- EXCEEDS what some labels can handle. Anything beyond the
- limits of the label's size won't print. So, if you plan to
- print labels narrower than 5 inches, you may have to LIMIT
- what you enter in these fields.
-
- * If you've reached the maximum number of records in your
- database (32,600+), and try to add another, Mail Call asks
- if you want to write over the last one.
- - If you press [N]o (don't save as last), your only option
- will be Dial. When you exit Edit, the new name will be lost.
- - When you're at the maximum and want to add another, Browse
- to find a name to delete, press [E]dit, [C]lear (Delete),
- then enter another.
-
-
- The "Key" Field -- Powerful & Flexible -5-
-
- The "Key" field is one of MC's most powerful features. It lets
- you create many different databases in one, and it's especially
- powerful when combined with MC's Sort and Range features. A
- "Key" is just a 1-8 character label or code you use to group
- someone or something. Some examples:
- * Realtors show which property people want (Key = "1-Family")
- * Doctors Roger and Joanne identify their clients. (Key = "Roger")
- * Sales people identify the product or service clients are
- interested in. (Key = "Model-XV")
- * Other sales people put the date they want to follow up with
- clients. (Key = "11/12" or "Mon-5/16")
- * Marketing or market research firms group people by demographic
- group, job or income level or type of industry they work in.
- (Key = "VicePres")
- * To keep track of inventory, companies use keys showing the
- category each product belongs to. (Key = "Printer")
- * Software distributors identify the category each program fits
- into. (Key = "WordProc" or "DataBase")
- * ....the list is as endless as the imagination of people using MC.
-
- Here are some examples of the FLEXIBILITY AND POWER of MC's key.
- * Your firm just replaced product "PC-X09" with much-improved
- "PC-X20." You want to CALL all "PC-X09" users to: 1) Tell them
- a new model's just been introduced; and, 2) Schedule a demo.
- - PC-X09 is one of the keys you used when you entered names
- into MC. To call each PC-X09 user, just tell MC to Search
- on Key, scanning for "PC-X09." As MC displays each PC-X09
- user, you press [D]ial and MC calls them for you!
- - Each time you schedule a demo, you press [E]dit and change
- key to indicate the date and time of your demo (eg.,
- "M-9:30" for Monday at 9:30). When all your calls are done,
- you use MC's Directory/Reports feature to print a list of
- your appointments.
-
- * Your database contains 390 names: friends, colleagues and
- members of a small trade association "XYZ Association," of
- which your the President (Key = "XYZ Assc"). You want to
- write all XYZ Assoc. members.
- - At MC's Print Menu, you press [P]ersonalized Document, and
- tell MC to find "XYZ Assc" members. MC prints personalized
- letters for each.
- - When done, you press [E]nvelopes at the Print Menu. MC
- prints all the envelopes for you.
-
- * You want to test a new marketing brochure to see if the
- response is the same for high income (Key="$100k+") and low
- income ("$5-10k") people.
- - Your brochure's are printed, but you need envelopes. At
- MC's Print Menu you press [E]nvelope and first scan the key
- field for "$100k".
- - When that's done you scan for "$5-10k" and print remaining
- envelopes.
-
- These examples just scratch the surface. But they reveal how
- simple codes or labels in MC's key field let you easily manage
- subsets of names. As you read below about MC's other features,
- think about how they can be combined with the key field codes
- to serve your needs best.
-
- Main Menu Options: BROWSE -6-
-
- Browse and Search are similar in that they both let you find a
- name in your database, then let you Edit it, Print, Dial the
- phone number, or Quit--return to the main menu. They differ in
- how you get to the name in the first place.
-
- Selecting Browse from the Main Menu will clear the screen and
- show MC"s "database screen" (See Adding/Editing for an
- example). Browse then displays the first name in your database,
- and lets you scroll forward or back. The Browse function is
- "circular"- when you reach the last name in your database,
- Browse returns to the first.
-
- NOTE: Browse is the only MC function that does NOT rely on the
- Index. It displays names in the order you entered them. If you
- suspect the Index is damaged, Browse through your database. If you
- see something strange, you can: 1) [E]dit a name then Save it; or
- 2) Regenerate the Index from the Main Menu [U]tiliy function.
-
- During Browse, your options, shown at the bottom of your screen, are:
-
- [N]ext [B]ack [E]dit [P]rint [D]ial [Q]uit
-
- [N]ext Displays the next name (Or, press Return, PgDn or Down)
- [B]ack Displays the last name (Or, press PgUp or Up Cursor)
- [E]dit Lets you Edit or Delete a name
- - To Delete a name, press [E]dit, then press [F3] Clear.
- [P]rint Takes you to MC's Print Menu. Because a name is "active"
- you may print Envelopes, Labels or Personalized Documents.
- You WON'T be asked for Sort or Range information (since
- there's nothing to sort, only 1 record is active).
- - If you choose to print an Envelope, the name will be
- re-formatted, and displayed along with the return
- address as it would appear on the envelope. Not
- displayed will be the Phone number, Comment and
- any fields you "tagged" as non-printing. (See "@"
- under Adding/Editing)
- - If you choose to print Labels, you'll be asked
- how to format them (see Print Option: Labels)
- - If you choose to print a Personalized Document,
- you'll be asked the name of the file to merge.
- You'll then be asked if you want to [P]review the
- letter, and how you want it formatted. (See
- "Personalized Documents" for details.)
- [D]ial Will dial the phone number
- - If you haven't installed the modem yet, you'll be
- asked to do so. (press [U]tility at the Main Menu).
- - If the phone number's invalid (e.g. you haven't
- entered one), you'll be told so.
- - Finally, if the phone number you entered includes
- an Area Code, you'll be asked if it's your own.
- Some phone systems dislike having the local Area
- Code dialed. So we don't.
- - If you have no modem, and press [F6] anyway, an
- error message will print. MC will then return you
- to the Main Menu.
- [Q]uit Quit Browsing and return to the Main Menu
-
- Main Menu Options: SEARCH -7-
-
- When you select Search, you'll be asked for two responses:
- * Search on: [L]ast Name, [C]ompany or [K]ey?
- * Enter a Search Phrase
-
- A "Search Phrase" is a character or phrase you want MC to look
- for. It can be 1 character long, up to the number of characters
- in the field (e.g., Key = 8, Last Name = 22). It can appear
- ANYWHERE in the field.
-
- Once you enter a Search Phrase, MC's database screen will appear.
- MC searches for every occurence of the Search Phrase you entered.
-
- If MC finds no matches, it prints "No Matches Found." Otherwise,
- MC shows how many matches it found and the first matching name.
- MC then pauses, giving you options to:
-
- [N]ext [B]ack [E]dit [P]rint [D]ial [Q]uit
-
- [N]ext Displays the next match (Or, press Return, PgDn or Down)
- [B]ack Displays the last name (Or, press PgUp or Up Cursor)
-
- These are "circular"--when you reach the last (first) match, MC
- goes to the first (last). Edit, Print, and Dial are the same
- for Search as for Browse. Please refer back 1 page.
-
- Notes & Tips:
- * As you type the search phrase, it'll be capitalized.
-
- * You can (and may want to) enter short, partial phrases. Example:
- - Suppose both Ann Smith and William Smythe are in your database.
- - You search on Last Name and enter "SM" as the search phrase.
- - Both Ann Smith and William Smythe will "match" and be printed
- - But, Blacksmith also matches (includes "sm") and will print.
-
- Using partial phrases is useful when you can't remember the
- exact spelling, but you know it has "xxx" in it. And the
- longer the search phrase, the "pickier" MC will be in finding
- a "match"--a record must match on the entire phrase. So, it's
- often useful to use search phrases as brief as possible. The
- only downside: MC may find more "matches" than you expected.
-
- * In our example above, "sm" was near the end of "Blacksmith"--
- illustrating your search phrase does NOT have to start with
- the 1st letter of the field. If your phrase is ANYWHERE in
- the field, it'll "match."
- - This differs from the way the Sort and Range features work.
- There, MC scans left-to-right, so "sm" would have to be the
- first 2 letters in the field to be considered a match.
- - One Implication: Since the search phrase can be anywhere,
- Search looks through your ENTIRE index to find matches. Search
- is FAST! But Sort & Range may be more effective with large
- databases. Sort & Range stop looking after the 1st non-match.
-
- * [S]earch can tell you how many "Deleted" names exist.
- - At the Main Menu press [S]earch, then [K]ey. Enter "Deleted"
- as the Search Phrase (or "Del" depending on other Keys used).
- - When MC "displays" a deleted record, press [E]dit and add a name.
-
- Main Menu Options: PRINT -8-
-
- Pressing [P]rint at the Main Menu takes you to MC's Print Menu.
- You now choose: How you want to "print;" Which records you want
- included; and, How they should be sorted. You may print:
- [V]iew / Edit [E]nvelopes
- [P]ersonalized Documents ("form letters")
- [D]irectory/Reports [L]abels
- [R]eturn Labels (Multiple) [M]ail Merge File
-
- We'll discuss each option shortly. When you choose a print
- option (except [R]eturn Labels), MC ask 2 questions:
- (1) Sort on What? -- [L]ast Name, [C]ompany, [Z]ip Code or [K]ey
- (2) Which Range? -- Starting Where? Through What?
-
- Note that here you may sort on Zip Code. Search omits this option.
-
- To print All records, just enter A-Z when asked for the Range
- (0-9 for Zip Code). If you want a subset of records, enter a
- search range telling MC where to start, and where it should
- stop (eg., M-Z to print last names from M through Z). Here
- are some guidelines for entering a Range.
- * As with the Search option, you may enter partial phrases--1
- character up to the number of characters in the field (8 for Key).
- * Unlike Search, Sort & Range scan from left-to-right, examining
- ONLY the number of characters you entered as Starting/Through
- ranges. For example, you sort on Zip Code and enter Start: 0
- Through: 22. MC will look for ONLY those Zip Codes STARTING
- with 0, 1, 20, 21 or 22. "23012" would NOT match--it contains
- 0, 1, and 2, but BEGINS with 23.
- * The range is inclusive: 0-22 selects all Zip Codes 0 THROUGH 22.
- * MC won't include "Deleted" names. Use Search/Browse to find these.
-
- Sort and Range can be used in simple or very creative ways--
- especially when combined with the clever use of other fields
- like Key. For example:
- * Sort mail by Zip Code to qualify for lower postage rates
- * Print appointment schedules sorted by Day BY Time (Key: Mon-9:30)
- * Organize clients by Title, Level, Responsibility, Company size
- or Geography for use in marketing or promotions.
-
- Print Option: View / Edit
-
- View / Edit may be used in many ways. One use is to quickly edit
- or change every record in a particular group. Another use is to
- check the range you specified BEFORE you print to (and waste?) paper,
- envelopes or labels--the "Directory/Reports" option can do the same.
-
- When you intend to print many records, begin by choosing View/Edit
- at the Print Menu. Select a sort field and specify the range. MC
- will display each record via its database screen. If a record
- appears that you didn't expect, you have two options. Edit the
- field you sorted on so it "won't match" next time. Or change the
- Sort field or Range.
-
- When all records matching your range have been displayed, MC will
- return to the Main Menu. If you now want to print to envelopes,
- labels or documents, press [P]rint. MC saved your input, so just
- press [Return] at each prompt if everything you saw was OK.
-
- Print Option: Envelopes -9-
-
- Whether you enter the Print Envelopes option from the Main Menu,
- Browse, Search or Add/Edit, just follow 4 easy steps to print
- your envelopes:
-
- 1. Enter/Edit a Return address or Printer Control Codes (Optional)
- 2. Select an envelope size
- 3. Select a printer (MC saves this the 1st time; later, just confirm)
- 4. Confirm your printer (LPT1 only) is ready (MC will double check)
-
- When envelope printing begins, the screen you were viewing will
- be replaced by a "mock envelope" something like the one below.
- The "printable" database fields will be re-formatted as they'll
- be printed. (Any blank fields, or fields you tagged with "@"
- won't appear.). If you've already entered a Return Address
- (From..), it'll be printed below where we've shown "Your Name,"
- etc. Otherwise, the "From.." area will be blank. Leave it
- blank if you use pre-printed envelopes.
-
- +[From . . . ]-----------------------+-----------------------+-----++
- | Your name | | ||
- | Company | | ||
- | Address | +-----+|
- | City, State & Zip Code | |
- | (Blank, Phone #, or ?) | |
- +------------------------------------+ |
- | |
- / /
-
- | +[To . . . ]-----------------------+
- | | Name |
- | | Title (if entered without "@") |
- | | Company (if entered without "@") |
- | | Address |
- +[Message - 33 Characters shown]-+ City, State & Zip Code |
- | Your message (if any) | |
- +--------------------------------+----------------------------------+
- [R]eturn Address (From) [E]dit PCCs [P]rint [Q]uit
-
- Note your options at the bottom of our "envelope":
- [R]eturn Allows you to Add or Edit a Return Address (or toggle
- among 4 Alternates). See "Return Addresses" for more.
- [E]dit PCCs Means Edit Printer Control Codes. You may enter
- separate codes to control printing From, To and Message
- fields. You may toggle among 3 sets of PCCs--9 in all.
- (Entering and editing PCCs is discussed later.)
- [P]rint Means "I like what I see, let's go!"
- [Q]uit Exit. If you asked that more than 1 name be printed,
- MC displays: ## more to go. Press: [N]ext [Q]uit.
- Otherwise you'll return to the Main Menu, or Add/Edit,
- Browse or Search.
-
- When you press [P]rint, MC will ask you to: (When printing
- more than one envelope, MC asks you this just once.)
-
- *Select an Envelope Size *Select a Printer *Press [R]eady to begin
-
- continued.....
- Printing Envelopes (Continued) -10-
-
- Envelope Size: Choose from among 5 envelope sizes (inches shown)
- Envelope Sizes Useful for
- -------------- -------------------------------------
- [A] 3.5 x 6.5 Personal letters, checks, etc.
-
- [B] 4 x 9.5 Standard, "business-size" envelope
-
- [C] 6.5 x 9.5 Floppy Disk Mailer, or about the
- [D] 7 x 10 size of standard or legal size paper
- folded in half (e.g. booklets)
-
- [E] 8.5 x 11 Standard letter-size paper (unfolded)
- (proposals, announcements, newletters)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
- Note: If your envelopes differs from these (e.g. "4 1/8 x 9
- 1/2"), select the size that's closest, then adjust the fields
- to fit the envelope size you use. (See "You Should Also Know")
-
- Selecting a Printer:
- Next, MC asks you to press A-E to choose a printer. (Your choice
- is saved. Next time, just confirm by pressing [Return].)
-
- [A] HP Laserjet (Std./+) [B] HP LaserJet II [C] Toshiba [D] Epson
- [E] Standard Printer (If you choose [E] Standard, it'll be up to
- you to set your printer up, and send any codes need for line/
- character spacing. MC will send NO printer codes at all.)
-
- As printing begins, MC sends 3 control codes to your printer to
- ensure fields print in the right spot: (See Technical Info:
- Printer Control Codes)
- - Reset/Initialize - 6 Lines/Inch - 10 Characters/Inch
-
- The second and third codes (6 Lines - 10 Characters/inch) are
- also sent after the From... and To... fields are printed. The
- reason: You may have used Printer Control Codes to change
- line/character spacing for 1 or more fields (e.g. proportional
- spacing, expanded/compressed type). If these are left active,
- the next field might print in the wrong place. (NOTE: Other PCCs
- may be sent to: allow printing all the way to the bottom, or turn
- on Landscape/Manual Feed. See "Technical Info" for details.)
-
- [R]eady:
- Finally MC asks you to press [R]eady once you've checked your
- printer. (Before printing actually starts, MC also checks that
- your printer's ready: On Line, Has Paper, etc. If not, another
- window pops up asking you to "Check the printer; press [R]eady.")
-
- Printing More Than 1?
- When your envelope is printed, press [Q]uit. If you requested a
- Range (more than 1 name) be printed, MC will now display:
- ## more to go. Press: [C]ontinue [N]on-Stop [Q]uit
-
- NOTE: Non-Stop is meant for Laser Printers--MC sends a "Reset"
- to eject the envelope. With other printers, MC does NOT move
- down, you must. If you press [C]ontinue or [N]on Stop, MC prints
- the next name. It won't ask about Size or Printer again. If
- you want to change this, press [Q]uit, then start over, specify-
- ing a different range, if appropriate.
-
- Print Option: Personalized Documents -11-
-
- MC's Personalized Document option is like the "mail merge"
- feature of many word processors. While often referred to as
- "form letters," documents can be anything: memos, announcements,
- promotional materials, invitations, Christmas letters, etc.
-
- This option lets you to send the same document to one person in
- MC's database, all of them, or some subset chosen with Sort/
- Range. Whenever MC finds a "merge key" in the document, it merges
- information from your database into your document. MC also
- contains features not found in some mail merge facilities. First,
- you may edit "on the fly." Before MC sends your document to
- your printer, it's displayed on the screen allowing you to edit
- it before it's printed. Second, if your document contains "&prompt"
- MC will pause so you can type in a unique message or comment to
- each recipient. Third, you can send PCCs to control printing.
-
- Here's an example of how a "personalized" letter might begin:
- ..................................................................
- &date
- +-----------------------+
- &name |NOTE: Please look at |
- &title |MC's examples. At the |
- &company |DOS prompt, TYPE: |
- &street |SAMPLE.DOC, SAMPLE2.DOC|
- &city |MEMO.DOC and LETTER.DOC|
- +-----------------------+
- My dear &salutation. It's been a long time. How have you been?
- ...................................................................
- Here's how to use the Personalized Document feature.
-
- * First draft a document with your word processor. Be sure to:
- - Save it to disk in ASCII format. This is important. MC makes
- no attempt to strip out the embedded control characters many
- word processors use for formatting, controlling the printer, etc.
- - Press [Return] after Each Line to ensure all lines end with a
- CR/LF--Carriage Return/Line Feed. (Turn Word Wrap OFF.)
-
- * When creating your document, place one or more of the following
- "merge keys" in your document wherever you want MC to place data:
- &Date &Name &Title &Company &Street &City
- &Salutation &Message &Comment &Prompt
-
- - A "merge key" is an ampersand (&) followed by a word. The word
- may be capitalized or not (&DATE, &date, and &Date are the same).
- There must be no space between the "&" and the word. And you
- must spell the word as it appears above or MC won't recognize it.
- - Ampersands may appear on both sides of the word (eg., &date&).
- This is the format used by some word processors, maybe yours.
- - Use "&prompt" whenever you want to manually type something
- into a document (e.g. a different greeting or message to each
- recipient). You may use &Prompt as often as you like. Whenever
- one's found, MC pauses waiting for you to [E]dit, DELETE "&Prompt"
- and add your text. If you don't delete "&Prompt," it'll print.
- - One merge key may appear on a line. If two or more appear,
- only the first will be substituted.
-
- TIP: LETTER.DOC and MEMO.DOC are very easy ways to send a quick
- letter or memo, without using a word processor.
- Personalized Documents (continued) -12-
-
- When you request [P]ersonalized Document, MC asks you:
- (1) TO WHOM should I send this? What's the Sort key and the Range?
- (2) DOCUMENT TO MERGE? Enter the name your word processor used when
- saving your document. For a directory of file names, press [F2].
- - Enter the Drive and Directory ([Return] = current drive)
- - Use cursor keys to move to the file you want, press [Return].
- (3) [P]REVIEW OR [N]ON STOP? Press [P]review to begin. MC displays
- up to 21 lines of text on your screen, and pauses before printing.
- You can double check and edit your document if needed. Later,
- when you're sure everything's working OK, press [N]on Stop. MC
- will begin printing without pausing. You'll be able to pause.
- (4) LEFT MARGIN? If you want MC to indent each line of text, enter
- a left margin of 1-9 spaces. Margins aren't shown on your screen.
- (5) LINES PER PAGE? The # of lines printed before MC sends a form
- feed/page eject--usually: 55-60. Enter "0" for none (you control).
- (6) SEND A PCC? To set up your printer. If none, press [Return].
-
- As MC reads your document, it replaces "merge keys" like "&name" with
- information from your database (or your PC). Specifically:
- * &name is replaced by First and Last Name fields combined.
- * &city is replaced by City, State and Zip Code fields combined.
- * &date is read from your PC's internal clock. If this clock's incor-
- rect you can either set it, edit each document to correct the date,
- or remove &date from your document. (See DOS manual to set Date.)
- * MC will NOT PRINT lines that have merge keys, but for which MC
- CAN'T find replacement text. While this is usually OK, sometimes
- it's not. Look back at the example on the last page.
- - If Title (or Company) for a particular person were EITHER blank or
- tagged as "non-printing" ("@"), the line with &title (or &company)
- would not print. This is OK--blank lines here are inappropriate.
- - But, if Salutation was blank (you forgot to enter it?), the
- ENTIRE LINE "My dear ... How have you been?" would NOT print.
- This is probably not what you intended.
- - Solutions: 1) Place "merge keys" on separate lines by themselves.
- 2) Ensure each database record has text in fields you want printed.
-
- Whether you selected [P]review or [N]on Stop, MC displays your
- document on the screen, up to 21 lines at a time, 80 characters/
- line. Left Margins, if any, are NOT shown on your screen, so you
- may edit a full 80 characters of text if you need to. If you
- pressed [N]on Stop, MC goes on to the next page; "Press any key"
- to pause/abort. If you pressed [P]review (or included "&prompt"),
- MC pauses. Your options:
-
- [C]ontinue Print next page (Or document for next name)
- [E]dit Edit what's on the screen
- [N]on-Stop Print non-stop. You can still pause or abort printing
- [S]kip Skip this name. Go to the next (if 2+) or return.
- [Q]uit Merge Abort printing. Return to the Main Menu.
-
- Editing Merged Documents:
-
- Edit a merged document to add a unique message to each recipient, to
- change words or phrases, add a date if your PC hasn't a clock, etc.
- Here are some guidelines: (Please read carefully)
- * You may erase lines--fill them with blanks. These lines will print.
- To "delete" lines, use your word processor first, then run MC.
- * MC prints lines of any length. But, you may edit lines ONLY up to
- 80 characters. MC TRUNCATES longer lines if you try to edit them.
- * Lines longer than 80 characters may seem truncated; they'll print OK.
-
- Print Option: Directory/Reports -13-
-
- MC's Directory/Reports option has many, many uses, particularly
- when combined with the clever use of fields like "Key." This
- option lets you print sorted lists of Names and Phone Numbers,
- or Names, Phone Numbers plus all other "printable" information -
- not tagged with "@." People have used MC's Directory/Report
- option to print:
-
- * Everything in their database to help them find duplicates.
- * A list of records matching the range you selected BEFORE you
- print (and possibly waste) envelopes, labels, or "form" letters
- * Lists of names for whom Personalized Documents, Envelopes or
- Labels will be printed--to ease collating chores
- * Appointment schedules sorted by Day AND Time. In our example under
- "The Key Field," the Key was edited to read "322-11" for "Monday
- at 11:00." MC used this to print appointments sorted by Day/Time.
- * A list of clients sorted by Company or Product or Region, etc.
- * A list of potential clients sorted by Product AND Region (e.g. Key =
- "X09West" or "X09East"), Title by Industry (e.g. Key = "CEOBank")
- * All products their firm offers sorted by category
- * Computer programs listed by the disk they're on/category they're in
-
- To request a Directory Listing or a Report:
-
- * Press [P]rint at the Main Menu. Then press [D]irectory/Reports
- at MC's Print Menu.
- * Select a Sort Field. Then indicate the Range you want printed.
- * MC will now ask if you want to print:
-
- [N]ames & Phone #s or, [A]ll Printable Fields
-
-
- That's it. MC will print on both your screen and printer, and will:
-
- * Print Names and Phone Numbers, or All "printable fields"--in-
- cluding Title, Company, Message and Comment (if not tagged with @).
-
- * Print a "heading" for each "group" of records. The heading is
- each unique entry in the field you sorted on. It's followed by
- all records matching that entry. (Only the 1st letter of Last
- Name is printed.) For example:
- - You sort on Zip Code. MC prints the 1st Zip Code it finds, fol-
- lowed by all records with that Zip Code. When the 2nd Zip Code
- appears, MC prints it, followed by all records with that code, etc.
-
- * Print a place for you to write in a phone number if none is found.
- Later you can enter them into MC if you want.
-
- * Send No PCCs to your printer. To print in a certain font, or with
- certain line spacing, set your printer up before running MC. (Or
- start another MC print option until it sends PCCs, then abort.)
-
- * Print about 55 lines per page, and then send a form feed/page
- eject. You may want to set your printer up to print 66 lines/page.
-
- While MC's printing, press any key to pause.
-
- Print Option: Labels -14-
-
- You can print two kinds of labels. Press [L]abels to print
- standard "mailing labels"--for each name matching the
- Sort/Range information you enter. Press [R]eturn/Multiple to
- print multiple copies of 1 of 4 "Return Addresses" in MC's
- database (Return Address can be any text).
-
- In both cases, MC asks for information it needs to properly
- format labels- described below. The Return/Multiple Labels
- section refers back to this. (Some information is critical for
- laser/less relevant for other printers.)
-
- * SIZE OF LABELS? 8 sizes plus "roll-your-own" options (See Notes)
-
- - Sizes are: (Width by Height shown in Inches AND Columns by Lines)
-
- 1) 2 5/8 x 1 (25x6) 2) 3.5 x 9/16 (34x3)
- 3) 3.5 x 15/16 (34x5) 4) 3.5 x 1 7/16 (34x8)
- 5) 3.5 x 2 (34x12) 6) 4 x 15/16 (39x5)
- 7) 4 x 1.5 (39x9) 8) 5 x 15/16 (49x5)
-
- - To "roll-your-own," enter the label size: # of Columns &
- Lines. Columns means the # of characters that will print
- across the label at 80/inch. The # of lines from top to
- bottom assumes 6 lines/inch.
-
- * COLUMNS? The # of columns of labels (1-3) across a page of
- labels. If you use multi-column sheets, be sure to read Tips
- & Notes below.
-
- * SPACE BETWEEN COLUMNS? If you said there were 2 or more
- columns, enter the # of spaces between columns (or use it
- to shift printing).
-
- * SKIP ROWS OF LABELS? (Laser Printers) If some labels on a
- "page" are used, this lets you to skip ROWS of blanks.
-
- * DOWN FROM TOP? (Laser Printers) Some laser printers won't
- print on the top 2-4 lines of a page. Labels made for laser
- printers account for this. But if you use labels not made for
- lasers, enter a number to tell MC to begin printing "#" lines
- from the top of each page.
-
- * INDENT FROM LEFT? MC skips the first 2 columns. This option
- lets you create a wider left margin by skipping an additional
- 1-9 spaces.
-
- * # OF COPIES? You may print 1-99 copies of EACH label.
-
- * PAGE EJECT AFTER # LINES? In many cases the default (60) is
- OK. For "continuous" labels, set this to the # of lines/label.
- MC stops printing the label it's on when this # is reached
- (includes Down From Top). Usually this is fine. Experiment
- to find the right number.
-
- * PCC? MC will send a Printer Control Code to your printer just
- once, at the start of the printing job.
-
- Printing Labels (continued) -15-
-
- Notes & Tips: Printing Labels (Important! Please read carefully)
-
- * Answering the questions above gives you great control over
- label formats. This is especially useful with laser printers -
- which print "pages" not labels. Experiment (with paper) to
- find the best combinations for you.
-
- * "Indent From Left" creates a left margin that affects ALL
- labels printed. If you're printing 2+ columns, the 2nd and 3rd
- columns shift right too. "Space Between Columns" shifts EACH
- column right, after the 1st column.
-
- * MC will print Title and Company--unless their 1st character is "@."
-
- * If a printer error occurs midway through, try to resume. If
- that doesn't work, start over and specify a Range to skip
- names already done.
-
- * MC prints the maximum number of characters allowed by your
- label (shown above beside each label size). Some of MC's
- fields EXCEED what some labels will print: Name, Title,
- Company and Message can have 40+ characters. To print
- labels smaller than 5 inches wide, you may have to limit
- what's entered in these fields. Or, experiment with different
- sizes of fonts plus different label sizes (or "roll-your-own").
-
- * MC prints assuming 10 characters/inch and 6 lines/inch. If
- you alter this and don't reset it between labels, results may
- be undesirable. 6 lines/in. is critical for ALL labels; 10
- characters/in. is particularly important with multi-column
- sheets of labels. Proportional, compressed, or enlarged fonts
- may NOT WORK with multiple columns.
-
-
- Print Option: Return Address / Multiple Labels
-
- The Return/Multiple print option lets you print 1 or more copies
- of a "Return Address" which can be any text--anything for which
- you want many labels printed with the same text. MC lets you
- store 1-4 Alternates. Entering or editing "Return Address" is
- discussed later.
-
- MC asks 9 questions in order to print labels, discussed on the
- last page. Once you answer these questions, MC asks:
-
- Which Return Address? (1-4)
-
- Enter 1-4 to tell MC which of the 4 alternates you want printed.
-
- When you edit "Return Addresses" you may enter text AND PCCs on
- each line. This allows you to vary fonts, line spacing, etc.
- line-by-line! But this can cause trouble when printing labels
- if embedded PCCs alter character or line spacing from 10 cpi/
- 6lpi. See "Return Address" below for details.
-
- Print Option: Mail Merge -16-
-
- Mail Merge lets you Read or Write mail merge files used by other
- programs: word processors or database programs. It also lets you
- share or move subsets of names among database files MC can use.
-
- You can "Import" names into MC from existing mail merge files,
- or "Export" names to a file other programs can use. MC supports
- comma-delimited, ASCII files, like those supported by most
- programs. Here's an example:
-
- "Jane","Simpson","","XYZ Corp","123 Main St.","Albany, NY 10015","Jane"
-
-
- Here are some tips regarding the format MC needs.
- * Fields should be enclosed in quotation marks -- "". This
- ensures commas INSIDE a field aren't read as the end of
- a field. (Note: Albany, NY)
-
- * First and last names must be separate. This ensures last
- names ending in "Jr.", "Esq." etc. are handled correctly.
-
- * City/State/Zip Code can be separate or combined (see below).
- - MC processes combined City/State/Zip codes by looking for a comma
- after City. State is assumed to be 2 characters; Zip is the rest.
- - Different "combined" formats may cause MC to misread the field.
-
- * "" must appear for blanks--note the 3rd field above is blank (Title).
-
-
- To use MC's Mail Merge feature:
- * Press [M]ail Merge at Print Menu. Then press [I]mport or [E]xport.
-
- * If Exporting, specify a Sort field and Range to tell MC what
- to export.
-
- * Next, enter the name of the file to use. Press [F2] for a directory.
- - If you're Exporting to a file that already exists, MC adds to it.
-
- * MC now displays: (Note separate AND combined City/State/Zip)
-
- First Last Title Company Street City State Zip
- Combined City/State/Zip Phone Key Message Comment Salutation
-
- For each one, enter a number telling MC the order that field is
- coming in (if Importing) or going out (if Exporting). Enter 0
- or press Enter if a field is not incoming/outgoing. You can
- use City/State/Zip fields separately, or combined--but not both.
-
- MC has 13 fields in its database--Name (2) through Salutation. But:
- - You needn't Import/Export all of them--press Enter to ignore fields.
- - You can Import/Export records with up to 99 fields. For
- example, if Street is the 17th field in a 38 field record,
- enter 17 for Street. BUT, one of MC's 13 fields MUST be the
- LAST field--there's no other way to tell MC the maximum number
- of fields. This may require Exporting a field you don't
- need, or "sacrificing" a field while Importing.
-
- continued . . . . .
-
- Mail Merge (continued) -17-
-
- When Importing names, MC displays each one giving you options to:
- [E]dit [N]on Stop [I]gnore [S]ave [Q]uit
-
- [E]dit Edit this name. To save it, you MUST do so while in Edit.
- [N]on Stop Continue reading and saving names non-stop
- [I]gnore Ignore or skip this name, don't save it
- [S]ave Save this name, then continue
- [Q]uit Abort Merge. Return to the Main Menu
-
- If you press [N]on Stop, you can press any key to pause or
- stop. If you pause, press: [Q]uit, or [C]ontinue (or [N]on
- Stop to continue going non stop again). [Q]uit takes you back
- to the Import menu, where you can Edit/Ignore/Save/Quit/Non Stop.
-
- Tips: Mail Merge
- * Mail Merge is a very fast way to share names between different
- database files MC (or other programs) can use. Example, to
- create a Mail Call database of just your East Coast clients:
- - Select Mail Merge, then press [E]xport.
- - When asked for the Sort field, press [Z]ip code. When
- asked for the Range, enter, say, 0 and 19999 to select Zip
- Codes 00000 through 19999.
- - Give MC a file name to write records into (eg., Clients.Est).
- - When done, quit MC, then re-run MC. But, this time include a
- file name (eg., MC E-Client). MC creates a new database file.
- - Add and delete a dummy name (see next point). Then from
- the main menu press [P]rint, then [M]ail Merge, then [I]mport.
- - Tell MC what file to import (Clients.Est in our example).
- Tell it what order fields are coming in. Then sit back as MC
- reads in each name--if you press [N]on Stop, MC moves quickly.
-
- * There must be at least 1 name in a database to choose Mail Merge.
- To create new databases by reading in a mail merge file, you must:
- - Press [A]dd Name, and enter anything -garbage- in the name fields.
- - Press [F2] Save. Then press [F3] Clear (to delete the name)
- then Quit to the main menu..
- - Now, at the main menu, press [P]rint then [M]ail Merge.
-
- * For Mail Merge to work right, DON'T include quotes ("") when
- typing text into MC's fields.
- - Above we said quotes are used to delimit each field. MC
- (and other programs) may interpret quotes INSIDE a field as
- the end of a field.
- - Anything read from that point on may be misread.
-
- In Case Of Trouble . . . .
- If MC misread's fields, or starts out right, then seems to go awry...
- * Be sure each record has the same number of fields. "Records"
- are a person or thing. "Fields" are separate parts of a
- record like Last Name, Title, City, Salutation, etc.
- - Most programs work properly only with FIXED FORMAT records--
- the same number of fields in each record, in the same location.
- * Be careful with quotes and commas.
- - Be sure there are no quotes INSIDE fields. They should only
- surround fields.
- - If there are commas inside fields (eg., Albany, NY), the
- field must be enclosed in quotes--or the comma = End of a field.
-
- Main Menu Options: RETURN ADDRESS -18-
-
- You may enter Return Addresses (or any text you want labels for)
- either from the Main Menu (press [F]rom), or when printing
- Envelopes (press [R]eturn Address). And you may enter FOUR
- different ones:
- * For use by different people in your office
- * One for business use, one for personal use (no company or title?)
- * For use with different printers or fonts, or different situations
- * Leave 1 blank for use on envelopes with pre-printed return addresses
-
- Editing Return Addresses is a simple process. From the Main Menu,
- MC displays its "Envelope Screen"--the top of which looks like this:
-
- +[From . . . ]----- -[Alternative: #]-+--------------------+------+
- | | | |
- | | | |
- | | +------|
- | | |
- | | |
- +--------------------------------------+ |
- | |
- / /
-
- You may enter 1 to 5 lines of TEXT AND/OR PCCs (See below). All
- 5 lines will print--including blank lines you leave between
- others. While editing, your options are:
-
- [F1]Help [F2]Save & Exit [F7]Alternate [F10]Quit--Changes=Temporary
-
- [F1]Help Displays a summary of MC's Edit Keys
- [F2]Save/Exit Saves your text to disk, then exits
- [F7]Alternate Toggles among 4 alternate "Return Addresses." The
- number of the Active Alternative is displayed.
- - If you made changes to an alternate, and you want
- them saved, press [F2] BEFORE pressing [F7].
- [F10]Quit Exits. Any changes made will NOT be saved but WILL
- be active during this session.
- - If you made changes you want to UnDo (and they
- weren't saved), press [F7] to re-load alternates
- from disk.
-
- Enter BOTH Text AND PCCs . . .
-
- Unique to this option is the ability to enter BOTH text AND PCCs
- on the same line--letting you vary fonts, print styles, etc.
- line-by-line. It can also cause problems when printing labels--
- if you fail to reset your printer to 10 characters/inch and 6
- lines/inch when you change it. (See "Technical Info: Line &
- Character Spacing" for more on this.) To enter PCCs, follow the
- guidelines discussed under "Editing PCCs."
-
- Main Menu Options: UTILITY FUNCTIONS -19-
-
- Press [U]tility at MC's Main Menu. Then you can: : :
-
- [R]egenerate or Create the Index
-
- Because MC's Index file (".IDX") is vital to MC's advanced features,
- this option lets you regenerate the index if it's ever damaged.
-
- * When you press [R]egenerate, MC will ask if you want to proceed.
- If you don't really need to, press [Return] to exit.
- * There's a fast way and a slow way to regenerate the index.
- - Fast: Start with a fresh index. Before running MC, rename
- the ".Idx" file (eg., type RENAME MailCall.IDX MCBACKUP.IDX).
- Then run MC. When MC finds no index file, it creates a new one.
- (NOTE: This only works if you're using MailCall.Dat--the default.)
- - Slow: If you don't rename the index, MC must first delete
- existing index entries, then add new ones. Of the two,
- deleting is slowest.
- * As MC proceeds, it shows you how far along it is, and what
- it's adding.
-
-
- [I]nstall a Modem
-
- MC needs to know 4 things to dial through your modem. Three of
- these (how to Initialize, Dial and Hang up) are pre-set. Change
- them only if they don't work with your particular modem. (see
- "Technical Info: Modem") MC also needs to know which serial
- (COM) port to use. To install a modem, tell MC:
-
- * Which serial (COM) port to address? Enter 1 or 2.
- * Initialize - Enter the code needed to set up your modem
- * Dial - Enter the "dialing" string - example "ATDT"
- * Hang up - Enter the "hang up" string - example "ATH0"
-
- This information is saved to disk. So unless you change modems,
- you need do this but once. If you install the wrong serial port
- number, MC may abort when you dial, possibly locking up your
- PC. Be sure to enter the right serial port #. Finally, some
- users have reported trouble dialing through some modems (eg.,
- US Robotics). To help you find the proper codes we included a
- file called DIALME.BAS. Run it using BASIC; experiment with
- different codes. To do this, type BASIC DIALME.
-
- continued . . .
-
-
- UTILITY FUNCTIONS (continued) -20-
-
-
- [F]ormat Phone or Mail Code (Zip) Formats
-
- Do your phone number and mailing code formats differ from those
- used in the U.S.? If so, this option lets you customize MC so
- you can enter and display these fields in the format appropriate
- for your situation.
-
- * Use the "|" character to tell MC where to accept input; other
- characters may be used for "visual" formatting. For example,
- suppose your mail code looked like "TGE-933," enter
- "|||-|||" as your mail code format.
- * Everything you enter will print, except "|".
- * Keep the formats as simple as possible. We strongly
- recommend you use only blank spaces, hyphens or parentheses
- to format either field. Other characters may cause problems--
- especially during Mail Merge.
- * If MC finds an invalid or blank format, it defaults to the
- U.S. format.
- * The same formats will be used for all names in your database.
-
-
- MANAGING DUPLICATE NAMES
-
- With hundreds or thousands of names in your database, there may
- be duplicates: wasting disk space/paper/postage. Here's a
- way to find duplicate names.
-
- * Press [P]rint, then press [D]irectory/Reports (OR View/Edit)
- * Sort on Last Name, and use a Range of A - Z
- * MC's sorted report should make it clear which are "dups"
- * We suggest you do this a 2nd time, but this time sort on Zip Code
- * Now [S]earch or [V]iew/Edit. Edit duplicate names and Clear/
- Delete them
-
-
-
- Editing Printer Control Codes (PCCs) -21-
-
- Enter PCCs when printing Envelopes, Personalized Documents or Labels.
-
- ENVELOPES: You may edit up to 3 control codes to tell your
- printer how From.., To.., and Message fields should be printed.
- For example, print From .. or your logo in one type style, then
- switch to another type style for the To.. field. This may
- require changing line spacing as well as switching fonts. And,
- when the Message is critical, you might switch to large, bold
- type for this field. You may enter 3 different sets (of 3)
- PCCs--9 in all. Toggle among them by pressing [F7]. Different
- sets may be used for different printers, situations, etc.
-
- DOCUMENTS/LABELS: One PCC may be entered--sent before your text is.
-
- Entering PCCs is rarely fun. But we did 2 things to ease the
- task. First, Envelope PCCs are saved each time you edit them and
- select Save. They're loaded automatically when you run MC, for
- you to use or edit. (Alternate #1 is loaded when you start MC).
-
- Second, we simplified How you enter them. Example, suppose you want:
- Bold, 5 Lines per Inch
-
- For 3 different printers, here's what PCC codes "might" look
- like if entered using Lotus 123's Setup Printer feature or
- BASIC. Examples like these may be found in many printer manuals.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
- HP LaserJet
- Using Lotus 123 \027\(s3B\027\&l9.6C
- In BASIC Lprint Chr$(27);"(s3B";Chr$(27);"&l9.6C";
-
- Toshiba P1351 (High Qual. Font 2)
- Using Lotus 123 \027\49\48\027\42\50
- In BASIC Lprint Chr$(27);"L10";Chr$(27);"*2"
-
- Epson FX (Emphasized Mode)
- Using Lotus 123 \027\65\14\027\69
- In BASIC Lprint Chr$(27);"A";Chr$(14);Chr$(27);"E";
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- The "Chr$(27)" or "\027" you see above represent the "Esc" key on
- your keyboard (the term "Escape Code" is often applied to PCCs).
-
- Now let's enter these PCCs into MC. (Envelope PCCs are entered in a
- window like the one below; PCC windows elsewhere use just 1 line.)
-
- +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
- | You may now enter 1-3 Printer Control Codes. |
- |Press: [F5] to Save PCCs [F10] to use PCCs this session only. |
- |[F7] toggles among 3 sets of PCCs. "Label" describes purpose of set|
- |To enter Esc -Chr$(27)-, just press Esc. To enter ASCII #s <32 or |
- |>126, press the ALT key and enter the ASCII code on Numeric KeyPad.|
- | |Label-----+ |
- | | | |
- | +----------+ |
- +[From]----------------+[To]------------------+[Message]------------|
- | | | |
- +----------------------+----------------------+---------------------+
-
- Entering PCCs (continued) -22-
-
- To enter PCCs, follow these simple guidelines.
-
- * To enter Esc, Chr$(27), just press [Esc]. That's it. A
- left-pointing arrow will appear on your screen--represented
- here by "<".
-
- * To enter a "keyboard" character (e.g. A), just press the
- character. Beware that case matters--upper/lower case can
- mean very different things in PCCs.
-
- * To enter "non keyboard" characters (those with ASCII values
- < 32 or > 126), hold the Alt key down, and enter the ASCII number
- on the NUMERIC KEYPAD (Not the numbers at the top of the keyboard).
- - In the Epson example above, Chr$(14) was required. To enter
- it, hold the Alt key down and enter 14 on the Numeric Keypad.
- - Certain "control characters" are reserved by MC for
- editing. These can't be entered in PCCs: BackSpace (8) and
- Carriage Return (13).
-
- * If the quotation mark (") is a valid PCC, enter it. But DO
- NOT use it to delimit "strings". We eliminated the need for that.
-
- Here's what the PCCs in our example would look like if entered
- into MC. Note we've eliminated the need to type all those "\",
- "Chr$", or quotation marks. And this enables you to "easily"
- enter very long PCCs.
- -----------------------------------------------["<" = Esc]--------
- HP LaserJet <(s3B<&l9.6C
-
- Toshiba P1351 <L10<*2
-
- Epson FX <E<A (Can't show Chr$(14) here. Use imagination.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- Other points:
-
- * While editing Envelope PCCs, you have the following options.
- To make your changes temporary (active this session only),
- just press [F10].
-
- [Dn/Up/PgDn/PgUp]Change Fields [F1]Help [F5]Save [F7]Alternate [F10]Exit
-
- [F1]Help Displays a summary of MC's Edit Keys
- [F5]Save Saves your PCCs to disk, then exits
- [F7]Alternate Switches among 3 sets of PCCs.
- - Be sure to save your work before you toggle sets.
- [F10]Exit Returns to the Envelope Print routine
-
- * The PCC for the To.. field affects the entire field. In other
- words, you can't enter PCCs for separate lines in To.. field.
- However, when editing From (Return Addresses) you may include
- PCCs AND text on the same line, varying styles line-by-line.
-
- * Remember, after From and To fields are printed, MC sends PCCs
- to ensure 6 lines/10 character per inch. So if, for example,
- you need 4 lines/inch for both From and To fields, you must
- enter the PCC twice--once for each field.
-
- Tips and Things You Should Know -23-
-
- ...............................................................
- Don't edit your ".Dat" or ".Idx" files outside MC! You may
- destroy them!
- ...............................................................
-
- ...............................................................
- Buffers to speed things up
- ...............................................................
-
- When working with database-type programs like MC, you can speed
- things up by keeping "disk reads" to a minimum. One way you can
- help: increase the buffers -- space in memory your PC uses to
- store information read from from disk. The bigger the buffer
- space (up to a point), the more data is kept in memory--
- reducing the need to read it from disk (which is slow). So if
- you haven't already done so, add these lines to your CONFIG.SYS
- file (or create CONFIG.SYS on your PC's "boot drive"):
-
- Buffers=20 (Any number between 15-25 should be OK)
- Files=15 (To ensure MC/DOS can open all files they need)
-
- ...............................................................
- Asprn
- ...............................................................
-
- Asprn is a memory-resident utility program published by PC
- Magazine. Once you set it up (easy) and load it, Asprn allows
- you great control over what your printer does. You put "trigger
- keys" like "~A" or "~T" in Personalized Documents or even in
- MC's database fields. When these are sent to your printer,
- Asprn "intercepts" them and sends a printer control code (PCC)
- to your printer. (When you set Asprn up you told it which PCC
- to send for each trigger key. PCCs are entered the same way in
- both ASPRN and MC--nothing new to learn.) With MC + Asprn you can:
-
- * Print each line on envelopes or labels in different fonts/styles
- * Have complete control over Personalized Documents--changing to
- Bold for this word, Italic for this one, change margins/line spacing.
-
- ...............................................................
- Adjusting Fields for Printing
- ...............................................................
-
- The "From" field is much bigger than you'll normally need: 5
- lines and 40 characters/line. This gives you flexibility and
- control over how each line prints. Similarly, when you're
- editing database fields, you may insert spaces in front of First
- Name, Address, Title, Company and City to move printed lines to
- the right. More specifically,
-
- * MC prints each field High & Left (upper left of each region).
- * Experiment to see how this works with your printer. (Paper first?)
- * To adjust text to the right or down, use MC's editing features
- --insert tabs/spaces, or move lines up or down. These spaces/
- lines are saved with your text. Next time the correct spacing
- will still be available.
-
- Tips (continued) -24-
- ................................................................
- Printing Tips: Printing Envelopes on Laser Printers
- ................................................................
-
- Laser printers, like the HP LaserJet, print envelopes in
- Landscape mode. And envelopes are often fed manually into a
- Manual Feed Slot. MC turns on Manual Feed when printing
- envelopes on HP LaserJets.
-
- * When MC prints envelopes, the symbol "PE" will flash on the prin-
- ter's display, prompting you to feed an envelope into the printer.
-
- * Suggestion: Open the flap of the envelope first -- the part
- with the glue. By unfolding the flap, you'll reduce the chances:
- - The printer will jam due to the extra thickness of the flap
- - The heat from the printer will seal the envelope
-
- * LaserJets (Series I) print envelopes as if they were standard
- letter-size pages. So, while most printers begin printing in the
- Upper Left corner, LaserJets print envelopes in the Lower Right
- corner of what would be a letter-size piece of paper. Example:
-
- +---------+ - If this was a letter-size piece of paper coming out
- +----+ | the FRONT of a LaserJet, the envelope fields would
- | |\ | be printed within the section marked "Env."
- | | | |
- |Env.| | | - If you're testing MC on paper, expect to see address
- | | | | fields printed as in this example. (Series I ONLY).
- | |/ |
- +----+----+ - And, when feeding an envelope into the manual feed
- slot, BE SURE to place the BOTTOM of the envelope all
- the way to the Right (facing the rear of the printer). The flap
- would open to the left. See your printer manual for details/examples.
-
- ..................................................................
- Printing Tips: Printing Labels on Laser Printers
- ..................................................................
-
- LaserJets also print labels as if they're standard letter-size pages.
-
- * Experiment to see if sheets of labels print correctly if
- loaded from the paper tray. If not, feed them manually.
-
- * Printing a 1-column sheet of labels can be done, but it's
- tricky. The printer expects a full sheet of paper. But you
- can tape (carefully) 1 column of labels to a 1/2 sheet of
- paper (labels on left), and feed this into the manual feed
- slot--again with labels on the left.
-
- ..................................................................
- Printing Tips: Other Printers
- ..................................................................
-
- On Toshiba, Epson or other non-laser printers, MC begins
- printing as soon as you Press [R]eady. Printing starts right
- where you've positioned the envelope or label -- MC does not move
- down or over first. So, just position the envelope or label,
- and press [R]eady to begin.
-
- Technical Information: Line and Character Spacing -25-
-
- To successfully print envelopes and labels, MC must be able to
- "move around" at 10 characters/inch (10 cpi) and 6 lines/inch (6
- lpi). If you change this, and don't reset it, subsequent fields
- or labels may misprint. For example, suppose you're printing
- labels, 3 columns across the page.
- - Each label allows 34 characters (at 10 cpi).
- - MC prints the 1st label in a row. If your text had fewer than 34
- characters, MC shifts right enough spaces to reach 34 (and adds 2+
- spaces for the gap between labels). MC then prints the 2nd label.
-
- But, suppose you invoked a compressed font with 15 characters/
- inch not 10. After printing label #1 (34 characters plus 2
- spaces), MC would "think" it was positioned over the 2nd label.
- But the printer would be over the right side of label #1--where
- printing of #2 would begin. Or suppose you invoked a proportionally
- (versus fixed) spaced font--one producing lines of varying lengths
- (depending on the text) which are often shorter than with fixed
- fonts. They can wreck havoc when printing 2+ columns of labels.
- Solutions/Alternatives/Suggestions:
- * Use fixed spaced fonts only. OR, use MC's PCC capabilities to
- reset to 10 cpi/6 lpi AFTER you change them.
- * With fixed-spaced fonts/type styles (other than 10 cpi),
- experiment with different label sizes, or "roll-your-own."
- You may find a combination that works.
- * Proportionally spaced fonts work fine with envelopes or single-
- column labels. For 2 columns, do 1, turn page around & do other.
-
- Technical Information: Printer Support
-
- MC supports printers by HP (LaserJets), Epson and Toshiba. A
- Standard Printer option lets you use most any printer. To help
- you confirm your printer will work with MC, we summarize here
- the Printer Control Codes (ie., Escape Codes) MC sends for basic
- functions--each would be preceded by Chr$(27) (Escape). Numbers
- in parentheses are ASCII codes for control characters. MC uses
- these for Envelopes only. You specify PCCs for labels/documents.
- -------------------Function-------------------
- Printer Model Reset 10 Char./Inch 6 Lines/Inch Other
- ===================================================================
- Epson @(16) P 2 (8) *
- Toshiba (26)I E12 L08 2 *
- HP LaserJet E (s0p10h12v0s0b3T &l6D
- - Landscape &l10
- - Manual Feed &l3H
- - Right Margin &a106M
- ===================================================================
- * Epson: Enable to receive Toshiba: Clear all tab stops
-
- Technical Information: Modem
-
- These codes are used to "dial through your modem." In case of
- trouble, check your manual and run DIALME.BAS. If nothing
- works, let us know.
- Baud, Parity, Data, Stop Bits: "300,N,8,1"
- Initialize: "ATE0 S7=60 S11=55 V1 X1 S0=250!"
- Dial: "ATDT" + phone #
- Hang up: "ATH0!
-
- LIMITED LICENSE i
-
- Mail Call is "user-supported" software. But it's NOT "freeware."
- You're granted a limited license to try MC for a limited period.
- You may use it or copy in the manner described below (only).
- You may not modify or alter MC in any way without our prior
- written approval.
-
- PERMISSION TO USE AND COPY MC
-
- If you ARE a registered user (bless you):
- - You've either made a contribution to continue using MC, or
- ordered MC (any version) from us.
- - You're granted a license to use Mail Call for both personal
- and business purposes. And we'll try to keep you posted of
- enhancements and/or revisions to Mail Call.
-
- If you're NOT a registered user:
- - You're granted a limited license to try MC out 10-20 times.
- If, after this "demo period," you decide you want to continue
- using MC, we ask that you register as described below. Running
- MC 10-20 different times should allow you to decide if it's going
- to serve you needs. Therefore the "trial period" is 20 MC sessions.
-
- +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
- |Each Copy Used In a Corporation, Business, Trade MUST Be Registered.|
- +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
- This means, if you're using MC for any business purpose or in the
- context of conducting business, you are required to register and
- submit the registration fee for each copy used. Site Licenses and
- multiple-copy discounts are available. Write to the address below.
-
- TO REGISTER ......
-
- A Registration & Order form is at the end of MC's manual.
-
- To register your copy, or order the latest versions, send your
- Name, Address, registration fee and any comments/suggestions to:
-
- RWS & Associates 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, Ca. 94117
-
- Distributors
-
- Bulletin board SYSOPS, computer clubs, and shareware distributors
- are encouraged to copy/distribute Mail Call (not MC\+), provided:
- (a) Your adds/company name/literature DON'T mention "free."
- "Free" or "freeware" misrepresent "user-supported software."
- (1) It's distributed Unmodified (All files & Copyright notices intact)
- (2) You charge nothing for the software manuals, etc.
- You may charge up to $10.00 to cover distribution and handling
- (3) You clearly state your fee is NOT payment or registration for
- the software
- (4) You clearly encourage contributions/registration by stating that
- continued use justifies sending contributions to the developer.
- (5) You include all files mentioned in ReadMe.BAT including:
- MC.EXE, MC.DOC, Sample/Sample2.DOC, Letter.Doc and Memo.Doc.
-
- Three Questions About Registering.... ii
- WHAT IS SHAREWARE
-
- I GOT A COPY FOR NOTHING. WHY SHOULD I PAY A REGISTRATION FEE?
-
- I GOT MC FROM A COMPANY THAT "SELLS" SHAREWARE PROGRAMS.
- I PAID THEM FOR MC. WHY SHOULD I REGISTER WITH YOU?
-
- These are good questions. Here's a response. (Our response
- applies to user-supported software in general, not just MC.)
-
- Shareware is NOT free software. A better term is "user-supported"
- software. Why? Because authors of "shareware" spend long, hard
- hours developing and debugging programs, and writing manuals.
- They DEPEND on your support (and comments and an occasional "thank
- you") to keep going--to justify the time and sweat. You get to "try
- it before you buy it," to see if it works and meets your needs.
- You get to enjoy the result, at very reasonable prices. And regis-
- tering your copy (supporting the author) brings you other benefits
- as well. These include (depending on the author and the program):
- the latest version often with new, more or better features,
- extra "goodies," a printed manual, phone support, updates, etc.
-
- Shareware "works" because people like you (1) are honest; and,
- (2) understand authors will stop "sharing" their work if they
- receive no support. In short, if you fail to even acknowledge
- the contributions authors make, or support their efforts (even
- modestly), the well will dry up. The only one to lose will be
- you (and the "shareware distributors"). Since you made no
- contribution anyway, the developer loses nothing.
-
- In response to the third question, many firms now "sell" user-
- supported software (or shareware). They charge you a fee for
- their time and the expense of sending you a disk. NONE of the
- fee you give them goes to the author of the software. So when you
- pay $2-$5.00 for a disk full of software, you're NOT supporting
- the person who spent their time developing ideas you're now enjoying.
-
- DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY AND LIMITED WARRANTY
- This product is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind.
- The entire risk as to the results and performance of this product
- is assumed by you. We warrant only that disk(s) sent you (if
- any) is free from physical defects and workmanship 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.
-
- Neither Pro~Formance nor RWS & Associates, nor any of their
- officers or employees shall be held responsible for: failures of
- this program to satisfy any needs, damages due to using MC, or any
- effects this program has on you, your business or operations.
-
- MC, its manual and its support files may be modified or changed
- from time to time. MC may contain operational inaccuracies or
- typographical errors which may be corrected by future versions
- if any. Registered users may be notified of available updates.
-
- Other Programs by Pro~Formance For details, write: iii
-
- Pro~Formance 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, Ca. 94117
- ..................................................................
- Professional Scribe (Pro~Scribe) PS Express (PSE)
- ..................................................................
- Pro~Scribe and PSE help you improve anything you write (or help
- you improve the writing of others -- your staff, students, etc.)
- Pro~Scribe/PSE are used in companies like IBM, Hewlett Packard,
- Lockheed, Citibank, Bank of America to improve memos, letters,
- manuals, documentation, contracts, promotional material, etc.
- * They examine your writing for many types of writing mistakes.
- * You can look at results for an entire letter, report, etc.
- Or, if you like, they'll look at your writing line-by-line.
- * They show suspect problems, and offer suggestions.
- * Results are shown numerically, and with several colorful graphs.
- * They come 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.
- * They're colorful, fast, fun, and a terrific value: $35 for both!
-
- 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. 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 type right into PS).
- Like PSE, Pro~Scribe reveals the complexity of your writing and gives:
- * Feedback on "Word Wasters" (5 categories of writing errors).
- * Three RGL (Running Grade Level) options (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.
-
- ..................................................................
- P~F Form (see Mail Call) Form Design (PFD) // Form Master (PFM)
- ..................................................................
- Form Design and Form Master are a complete form system: form
- design, math, print, database and "auto-edit" features all built in.
-
- Design, edit and print forms with P~F Form Design. (samples included)
- * Draw lines or boxes, in several styles. Shade areas.
- * Math options (+-/*) add "spreadsheet" convenience and accuracy
- * Enter text, auto-centered inside boxes if you like
- * Quick, easy block options: Copy, Move, Erase, Shading
- * Vary fonts, type styles, line spacing
-
- Then use either PFD or PFM to fill them out and print them.
- * PFM pulls names, addresses, etc. from your database, putting
- them right where you want them.
- * Auto-Edit lets you quickly skip through a form, editing
- just fields you "tagged." For example: On order forms--
- Quantity, Description, Price per Unit, Tax, Total.
- * Press a key to do all the calculations for you!!
- continued . . . .
-
- P~F Form (continued) iv
-
- Produce high-quality, professional looking forms in minutes with
- an HP LaserJet (+/500/Series II or later). And you DON'T need
- expensive LaserJet font cartridges or soft fonts for lines, boxes,
- shading, etc. We use the LaserJet's built-in features for these.
- "But, I don't have a LaserJet," you say. Not to worry. PFD/PFM
- have two other printer options so they work with any printer.
-
- Finally, PFD/PFM will work with the same database files as Mail
- Call--letting you can manage most 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, etc.
- As Well As: Letters, Memos, Envelopes, Mailing Labels, Person-
- alized Documents, Reports, Client or Employee lists.
-
- ..................................................................
- 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. For example:
- -- Which product do you want information on?
- -- Which topic (in a tutorial) do you want to review?
- - Timed slides (PFP pauses, then automatically shows the next)
- - Special effects: animation, sound, loops, exploding windows
- * Display your presentations, or let others do it by themselves.
- A "use monochrome" option lets you display presentations on
- virtually any monitor.
-
- 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 . . .
-
-
- ..................................................................v
- Pro~Formance Screen Design (P-Screen)
- ..................................................................
- P-Screen is a screen: "design," "library/database" and "display"
- system all in one. Use it to design screens for programs you write,
- or for program demos, prototyping, word processing, batch files, etc.
-
- Design
- * Draw/Join lines or boxes, in several styles
- * Fill areas with shading, or Paint entire screens or selected areas
- * Enter text, auto-centered inside lines or boxes if you like
- * Quick, easy block options: Copy, Move, Erase, Shade, Paint, UnDo
-
- Save/Load/Libraries
- * Save screens to or Load screens from Ascii files or Libraries.
- Since you can load Ascii files, you can use most any "screen
- capture" program to save EXISTING screens to disk. Then, load
- them into P-Screen, add color, then save them to a library.
- * Libraries give you the convenience of 1 file to store up to 50
- screens -- in color, complete with names and descriptions.
-
- Using Libraries in Your Programs, Demos, etc.
- * We supply three routines to display your screens. Call one to
- read screens from libraries, another to display your screens.
- (These routines work with QuickBASIC 4.0 +.)
- * It's easy to write programs to access screen libraries.
- - You can load and display 1 screen at a time.
- - Or load 2 or more screens into arrays, then pop them up instantly.
-
-
- ..................................................................
- 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.
- * TSC also comes with dozens of response scales. When you print
- surveys, TSC prints the right response scale--automatically.
- * And speaking of printing, TSC's many options let you create
- "camera-ready" copy--as you want it, fast!
- - 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 (optional)
- - Print a title--at the top or bottom of each page.
- - Or, print your survey "to a file"--to dress it up later.
-
-
- ----------------+------[ To Order : : : :]-----+-----------------
-
- ____ Copies of P~F Presents (P-Screen\+ AND PFP\+) ... $_________
- ** $49 per copy ($75 without the Pro~Formance copyright
- introducing each presentation. Call about custom options.)
-
- ____ Copies of P-Screen: Programmer's Edition ........ $_________
- ** $25 per copy
-
- ____ Copies of Mail Call + (MC\plus) ................ $_________
- ** $45 per copy WITH MC Express MCE works with
- HP LaserJets, original through Series II.
- ** $40 per copy WITHOUT MC Express (MCE)
-
- ____ Copies of P~F Form (Both PFD\+ and PFM\+) ....... $_________
- ** $45 per copy (Note the "packages" below)
-
- ____ Copies of Professional Scribe Writing Assistant . $_________
- ** $35 per copy (for BOTH Pro~Scribe & PS Express)
-
- ____ Copies of BOTH P~F Form and Mail Call\+ (17% off) $_________
- ** $75 for PFD, PFM AND Mail Call and MC Express ($4/shipping)
-
- ____ Shoot the works. Send 1 of each .......(25% off) $_________
- ** $149 for the works (+ $10 shipping)
-
- ____ Send information on The Survey Catalyst
-
- Add $2/copy shipping/handling (Non-U.S.: $8) $_________
-
- California residents, please add 6.5% tax $_________
-
- Total enclosed........ $_________
-
- (NON-U.S. orders: International Money Orders please. U.S. Funds)
- (We reserve the option to adjust registration fees.)
- -----------------+-------[ Mail to ]-------+----------------------
-
- Name: _____________________________ Today's Date: ___________
-
- Company: __________________________ Phone: ( ) _____-______
-
- Address: ________________________________________________________
-
- City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________
-
- -----------------+-------------------------+----------------------
- Send this to:
- Pro~Formance
- 132 Alpine Terrace Please make your check payable to:
- San Francisco, CA. 94117 R. W. Smetana
- (415) 863-0530 (10-5 Pacific time)
- -------------------+-------------------------+--------------------
-
- Which version of Mail Call do you now have? ______________
- Where did you get your current copy of Mail Call? ________________
- My Computer's a:_________________ My Printer's a:________________
- My Monitor is: (circle one) Mono / Color
-
- Please use the other side for comments and suggestions.