The Business Master (3rd Edition)

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**** ImageAccess **** INSTALLATION First, make a backup copy of your ImageAccess program disk. If necessary consult your PC-DOS/MS-DOS manual for a description of the Diskcopy command. Save the original program disk in a safe place and use the copy as the working program disk. Second, although it is possible to use ImageAccess on a floppy disk system, a hard disk system is almost a necessity if you wish to store a number of image files. To install ImageAccess on a hard disk use the following steps: 1. From the hard disk prompt type CD\ to be sure you are in the root directory. 2. Type MD\IMAGE (This will make a directory called IMAGE on the hard disk for the ImageAccess program, database files and image files.) 3. Type CD\IMAGE (This will place you in the IMAGE directory that was just created.) 4. Place your working ImageAccess program disk in drive A and type COPY A:*.* (This will copy all of the necessary files onto your hard disk.) 5. Type IA and the Image Access program will begin. **** ImageAccess **** INTRODUCTION Welcome to ImageAccess, a simple database program that associates a graphics image file with each text record. The result is a database of pictures. The potential uses of ImageAccess are limitless. ImageAccess can create an inventory of just about any collection or group of people, places, or things. Consider the possibilities: * Museums can catalog any collection including a description, price paid and an image for each item. * Clip art for desktop publishing can easily be organized by category, description and size. * Personnel files can contain photographs of employees for easy identification and security. * Collectors, genealogists, historians, writers, archaeologists, biologists and many others can use ImageAccess to attain quick access to photographs or images of interest. Whatever the subject matter of the images or photographs, ImageAccess will make their organization easier. Access to a specific image is only a few keystrokes away. Once entered, the database can be searched and images displayed or reports printed which include the data and images. **** ImageAccess **** WHAT HARDWARE DO I NEED TO RUN THIS PROGRAM? An IBM compatible computer with 512K of memory and an EGA or VGA display are needed. Bi-level and color images are displayed equally well on either display. EGA displays will dither the grayscale images while VGA displays are capable of 16 level grayscale images. A hard disk is strongly recommended. A source that produces image files in either PCX, MSP or TIF file format is also needed. This source can be a simple hand scanner or full page scanner, one of several paint programs or a video digitizer. Printers supported are the Epson LQ family of 24 pin dot matrix printers, the IBM Proprinter X24 series or the Hewlett-Packard Laserjet series. ImageAccess creates a simple database consisting of records that contain a user defined number of fields of information. In addition to each record's descriptive text, a file name of a graphics image, in TIF, MSP or PCX format, is attached to the record along with the size of the image in pels. For those wanting a fast introduction to how ImageAccess operates, a small sample database file, including graphics, is included. Follow the quick demonstration on the next page to see how it works. **** ImageAccess **** A QUICK DEMONSTRATION FOR NEW USERS Type IA and then press Enter to start the program. Press Enter to select the File command. Press Enter to load a previously created database. Press Enter to load the SAMPLE.DTA database. Press Esc to return to the File options. Press Esc to return to the main menu. Press Left arrow twice to highlight the Display command. Press Enter to select Display. Type a 1 and then press Enter to see the text of the first record. Press F10 to display the graphics image of the first record. Press any key to return to the text of the first record. Press Down arrow or Enter to display the text of the next record. Go to the line above which says press F10 and repeat. **** ImageAccess **** OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS To start ImageAccess simply type IA. The main menu will be displayed at the top of the screen with the File command highlighted. Display Exit File Input Options Report Query The different commands are selected by moving the highlight bar with the Left and Right arrow keys and then pressing Enter. Here are some additional details on the ImageAccess commands. The File Command The File command should always be selected first, either to create a new database file or open an existing database file. When the File command is selected a pull-down menu opens that displays the various choices. The four choices are: Create a database A file name of 8 characters or less is typed in to create a database file. The extension .DTA is automatically added to the name. After the name has been entered, an empty screen appears under the command line bar. A layout for the text portion of the database will now be created and stored. A simple example that stores an image of employees might be entered as follows: Name:_________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________ City:____________________________________ State:_______ Zip:__________ Position:_______________________________________ Division:_______________________________________ Employee Number:_______________ The field names, such as Employee Number, Name, etc., are simply typed in, followed by a colon for appearances. The length of each field is determined and entered immediately following the field name by using the F1 key. For example the Employee Number field is 15 characters long so the F1 key is pressed 15 times immediately following the field name. The background color for the field names will be in contrast to the field itself for easy identification. When all the field names and field lengths have been entered the Esc key is pressed and ImageAccess does some checking to see if the format is correctly done. The format can be accepted or edited further at this point. The entire screen can be used for the layout and more than one field name and field can be entered on a line. Lines can also be skipped and fields can extend onto several lines. The following keys perform special functions. The cursor can be positioned by using the Arrow keys. The Backspace deletes the character in front of the cursor. The Insert key enters a complete additional blank line at the cursor location and the Delete key erases a complete line at the cursor location. Load a previously created database A second pull-down menu opens that contains the names of the current database files, with the first name highlighted. The highlight bar can be moved with the Arrow keys. When the desired database file is highlighted the Enter key is pressed, and the file is loaded. Change the current directory A new directory can be chosen by typing in a valid path name. For example if a desired database is contained in directory \NEWPIX, this path name can be entered and the database then loaded. All path names must begin with a Backslash. Sort the database The records in the database can be arranged alphabetically by selecting a field on which to sort. When this option is selected a window displays the fields with the first name highlighted. The highlight bar can be moved with the Arrow keys and the field selected by pressing Enter. A check is then done to see if the sort will fit in memory. An additional database file is then created in proper order with a temporary name TMPxxxxx.DTA, with xxxxx being a unique number. If TMP1.DTA exists then the new file will be call TMP2.DTA, etc. These files can be renamed through the PC-DOS/MS-DOS rename command. The .DTA extension should be preserved so that ImageAccess will recognize it as a database file. To exit from any of the pull-down menus press Esc. The Input Command After a database file has been created records can be entered by selecting the Input command. The next available record number will be displayed and the user created layout for the record appears on screen where the text will be entered. Only a minimal amount of editing can be done when text is entered and there is no word wrap at the end of each line. When the text has been entered press the Esc key and a prompt for an image file name will appear under the text. This file must have a TIF, MSP or PCX extension. The TIF (Tagged Image File Format), MSP (Microsoft Paint) and PCX (PC Paintbrush) are among the most common image file formats and most scanners support one or more of these formats. The Display Command Once records with text and an image file name have been entered they can be viewed by using the Display command. When the Display command is first entered the user is prompted for a record number. After typing in the desired record number and pressing Enter the text portion of that record is displayed. The bottom line contains the file name of the graphics image associated with the record and its size in pels. To see the image press F10. When necessary the displayed image will be automatically reduced to fit on the screen. If the image size is too large it is reduced by 2, 4, 8, etc., until it will fit on the screen.Very large images or dithered ones may suffer in appearance because of this. When the image files are printed the full size image is used. While the image is appearing or after it is complete, pressing any key will return you to the text portion of the record. Depending on the image's size it may take some time for it to be painted on the screen. When at the text portion of the Display command there are six keys that are active. They are: Enter - Display the text of the next record. Down arrow - Same as Enter. Up arrow - Display the text of the previous record. F10 - Display the graphics image. F9 - Edit the current text. F8 - Edit the current image file name. Esc - Quit the Display command and return to the main menu. The Options Command When the Options command is selected a pull-down menu opens and displays the four Options choices. They are: Select a printer The Select printer option has four choices. The Enter key toggles the current selection and the Esc key sets the current selection. The default setting is for the Epson 24 pin printers.The choices are: Epson LQ-800, LQ-1000, etc., series (24 pin printers) IBM Proprinter X24 series (24 pin printers) HP Laserjet series Generic printer - text only (no images will be printed) Select color or gray scale for graphics images The Select color/gray scale option allows the user to toggle either option.The default setting is gray scale. Select 8514A graphics driver The Select 8514A driver allows users with this graphics card to set up higher resolution graphics. The 8514A graphics card displays 1024 x 768 pixels on the screen in either 16 or 256 colors depending upon the memory in the graphics card. If your computer does not have this option and it is selected the computer may lock up or perform erratically. The default setting is to leave the 8514A driver inactive. Set report page The user can select the number of records that will be printed on each page of a report. Each record consists of its text and the graphics image associated with the record. The range of acceptable values is from 1 to 10, with 2 being the default value. Depending on the size of the images users may need to change this value to avoid having the images printed across a page break. When ImageAccess is initially started the default options settings are used. When these settings are changed ImageAccess automatically saves the changes and uses them as the default settings the next time the program is started. The Report Command The Report command allows simple reports to be printed that include the graphics image. When this command is selected the user is prompted for a report that includes all the records in the database, a range of records or selected records. An A, R or S should be entered. If a range of records are desired the user is prompted for the first and last record wanted. If selected records are desired the user is prompted for a search string. A word or phrase of up to 40 characters can be entered and the records in the database, including the image file name, will be searched for this particular string. The search is not case sensitive, so typing in "The" will also find "the". Note that searching for "The" will also identify "They" as a match. The only records printed will be those that contain text that matches the search string. The size of printed images will vary depending on the dots/inch (dpi) setting when the images were scanned. If a 24 pin dot matrix printer is used, which prints at 180 dpi, images scanned at 200 dpi will be reproduced at a slightly increased size. Images printed on a Laserjet printer will appear at normal size when scanned at 300 dpi. The Query Command The Query command prompts the user for a search string and then displays the records (in order) that contain text that matches the search string. After a match is found, and the text of that record is displayed, there are three active keys. They are: Enter - Find the next match. F10 - Display the graphics image. Esc - Quit the Query command. The Exit Command The Exit command quits the ImageAccess program and returns to the DOS prompt. REGISTRATION FORM Copies of this program may be freely shared with other users. Shareware users are invited to support the author and register their copies. The form found below should be used for registration. Registered users will receive an enhanced version of ImageAccess that allows access to additional image file formats including TIF 256 level grayscale, and two compressed TIF formats. The enhanced version also allows snapshots of image files to be sent to the printer with a single keystroke. The program will be sent in a attractive binder that includes a printed manual. The registration fee is $49. and should be made out to: Theron Wierenga, P.O. Box 595, Muskegon, MI 49443 Name____________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ City_______________________________________State_____Zip________ Disk size desired: 5 1/4 in._______ 3 1/2 in._______ How did you receive your copy of this program?__________________ ________________________________________________________________ What type of computer and equipment are you using with ImageAccess?____________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Suggested improvements__________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ImageAccess is a software product of Wierenga Software P.O. Box 595 Muskegon, MI 49443