Club Amiga de Montreal - CAM/CAM_CD_1.iso/files/161.lha/MemoPad.doc

Text File | 1988-04-27 | 18KB | 370 lines

  MemoPad and CheckMemo are products which may be freely distributed
  on the condition that they are not altered in any way, either by
  omission or addition to the contents of the ARC file.

  The author welcomes comments, suggestions for improvement, and any
  praise you may have for this product.  He may be reached at the
  following address:

                        Michael Griebling
                      COMPUTER INSPIRATIONS
                    150 Clark Blvd., Suite One
                   Brampton, ON, Canada, L6T 4Y8
                         [phone]

  In order to reward anyone wishing to be registered for a nominal fee
  of $20, for a limited time, a free upgrade will be given to the
  commercial release of MemoPad.  Suggested list price of the
  enhanced program is $45.  The commercial release is expected near the
  end of 1988.  FREE upgrades to the commercial version will be made
  available to any users who have registered before this release date.


                    Commercial Release Version
                    ==========================

  In order to better support users of MemoPad we will be producing a
  commercial version which may be known under a different name -- yet
  to be determined.  Our working name has been MemoPad V2.0.  Due to
  a significant number of changes we may be forced to change the name
  to better describe this new product.  Following is a partial list of
  planned features :

    1) An address book facility with an automatic telephone dialer
       will be added.

    2) A daily appointment utility will be supported which allows
       appointments to be booked at selectable intervals.

    3) The original MemoPad functions will also be available along
       with a facility to allow batch processing to be invoked via
       a dated and timed memo item.

    4) A speech facility will be added to allow memo items or
       appointments to be announced.

    5) More options will be added to give more flexibility in
       selecting screen colours, methods of repeating memos and
       appointments, and in reporting matured items.

    6) Text import/export into/from the address book, appointments,
       or memo items will be supported.

  Note that although all these additions are planned to appear in the
  commercial release we cannot guarantee that they will operate exactly
  as described above.  Whenever possible we will attempt to improve on
  our offerings and thus the list above may become obsolete.  Please
  contact us at the above address or telephone number to get up to date
  information.


                   Installing MemoPad & CheckMemo
                   ==============================

  There should be a total of 7 files for this program set.  As soon as
  you invoked `ClickMe', all the names (if they were de-arced) were
  auto-magically expanded out, so you won't have to go through the
  usual hassle of EXECUTING the Execute.Me file that is usual in these
  cases.

  Install MemoPad as follows from the Command Line Interpreter (CLI) :
  (Make certain there is enough disk space to hold the copied files.
   The MemoPad disk icon should be named `MemoPad:'.  Substitute the
   name/directory of the disk which is to hold the MemoPad utility
   in place of the dummy "Working Disk" name).

  FROM CLI :
      Copy MemoPad:CheckMemo to C:
      Copy MemoPad:MemoPad#? to "Working Disk"
      Copy MemoPad:CheckMemo#? to "Working Disk"
      Copy MemoPad:ClickMe#? to "Working Disk"
      Copy S:Startup-Sequence to S:Startup-Old

  Finally, in order to automatically invoke `CheckMemo' when the
  AMIGA is powered on, invoke your favourite editor to modify the
  following file : S:Startup-Sequence.  Place the line `CheckMemo',
  without the quotes, near the end of this file, just before the
  line containing `EndCLI > Nil:'.

  Note: you can also manually check the memo items at any time simply
  by typing `CheckMemo' from CLI or by clicking on the CheckMemo icon.
  If nothing happens except a disk access when you invoke CheckMemo,
  don't worry -- it just means that no memo items were found for
  today's date.

  The MemoPad utility, which creates the memo items read by CheckMemo,
  was placed on your working disk as part of the installation.  It is
  also possible to just drag the MemoPad icon over to your working
  disk.

                          MemoPad Operation
                          =================

  MemoPad is a WorkBench utility which runs in a separate window on
  the WorkBench screen. It is capable of allowing you to generate memo
  items which are simply dated reminders of appointments, birthdays,
  holidays, or any to do list.  Each memo item can be any length,
  limited only by the amount of memory or disk space where the memos
  are stored.

  When MemoPad is first invoked, it searches the S: startup directory
  for a file called MEMOPAD.DAT.  This file contains all the memo items
  which have been entered by yourself.  Naturally, the first time it is
  invoked, MemoPad won't find this file and will attempt to create one.
  At this time, you may get a message indicating that the WorkBench
  disk is required or that you should unprotect the write tab.

  During start-up, one other file is accessed : MEMOPAD.CUS.  This file
  contains user customization information which allows you to customize
  the MemoPad operation to your individual preferences via the
  CUSTOMIZE menu selection in MemoPad.  If this file is not found,
  MemoPad makes some assumptions and gives you a 24-hour clock, a
  day-month-year date, and a plain MemoPad title.  Naturally, you can
  customize all these parameters and the next time MemoPad is invoked,
  all your selections will be used.  By the way, the same selections
  will also be used by CheckMemo.


                  Changing the Data File Directory
                  ================================

  We felt that everyone would have WorkBench in their drive during
  startup, so this is where MemoPad normally assumes it will find your
  memo items.  If you don't like these files on your WorkBench disk,
  then it is possible to change the directory where MemoPad will look.
  device to some other disk.  MemoPad and CheckMemo both accept an
  optional parameter on the command line which is the directory which
  they will use in place of the default S: directory.  To change from
  the default simply edit the S:Startup-Sequence file again, replacing
  the `CheckMemo' line with `CheckMemo DIRECTORY', where DIRECTORY is
  replaced by a directory or device string.  As an example, if we wish
  the MemoPad files to be placed on our working disk, WORK:, and in
  the MemoFiles directory, we would enter `CheckMemo WORK:MemoFiles'
  into the S:Startup-Sequence file.  Whenever invoking MemoPad, you
  will also have to remember to specify the new directory in the
  CLI invocation line, so for our example, we would type :
  `MemoPad WORK:MemoFiles'.

  If invoking MemoPad and/or CheckMemo from the WorkBench, simply edit
  the INFO file from the corresponding WorkBench menu, after having
  selected either the MemoPad or the CheckMemo icon, and place the
  desired new directory specification as the first item in the
  `Tool Types' string gadget.  Thus our example from above would
  require that the default tool type entry of `MEMODIR=S:' be
  changed to read the following instead : `MEMODIR=WORK:MemoFiles'.
  Don't include the quotes.  Be sure to do this for both the MemoPad
  and CheckMemo icons.


                        Operating Instructions
                        ======================

  Creating a Memo Item
  --------------------
  Click on the ENTER button to create a memo item.  The total number
  of memos should increase by one and the newly created item will be
  automatically assigned today's date.  The comment field will be
  blank.  To enter some text, just point to the line where the text
  is to be placed and click with the left mouse button.  Then type
  the memo text.  A RETURN will automatically take you to the next
  line of the comments.

  Comments longer than five lines can be created by clicking on the
  down arrow under the comment scroll bar.  The scroll bar will reduce
  to half its original size.  The text which is displayed represents
  those five memo lines located in the scroll bar range.  Thus, if
  we created a new page of comments, we now have a total of ten
  comment lines available for this memo item.  The scroll bar's
  position illustrates where we are within this ten line range.  By
  clicking on the down arrow repeatedly, additional comment pages in
  multiples of five lines are created.  New pages are created as soon
  as the scroll bar reaches the bottom of its container and the down
  arrow is clicked.  The only limitation to the comment size is the
  amount of memory available.  A help message will let you know when
  you run out of memory.

  The up and down arrows work in cooperation with the scroll bar to
  advance the comment window up or down by a single line of text.
  Click on the up arrow to move up a line and click on the down arrow
  to move down a line.  Pages of five lines are traversed by clicking
  just within the scrolling container either under the scroll bar to
  move down five lines or above the scroll bar to move up by five
  lines.

  A trailing blank page of comment lines is automatically deleted once
  it is no longer visible.  The scroll bar also changes its size
  and position to reflect the reduced number of comment lines.
  Blank page deletion occurs either when the scroll bar is dragged to
  the top of the scroll container or repeated clicks on the up arrow
  cause the blank page to scroll off the comment area.


  Viewing Memo Items
  ------------------
  The date window, which normally is used to set a memo item's date,
  can also be used to display all the memo items for a given month.
  Just click on the VIEW button and all memo items for the current
  month will be highlighted in the date window.  Any dates with more
  than one item will be outlined.  To see the contents of one of
  these memo items, just click on the highlighted date.  The related
  memo item will be displayed in the main window. (You may have to
  move or QUIT the date window in order to see the full memo text.)
  Multiple memos on a single date are displayed in a similar manner.
  Once the first memo item has been shown, the MORE button in the
  date window will light up to indicate that additional items are
  available.  Click on the MORE button to see these memos one at a
  time.


  Printing Memo Items
  -------------------
  The Print menu options give printer output from all the memo items or
  just the memo currently being displayed.  By displaying only selected
  items, then invoking the single memo print option from the menu, it
  is possible to selectively print only those memos due for a single
  day.  The amount of space on the left of the printed memo items can
  be altered by adjusting the printer left margin from within
  Preferences.  Make certain that the right margin is adjusted so that
  sufficient space is available on the print line to contain a full
  line of comment text.


  Repeating Memo Items
  --------------------
  MemoPad lets you specify repeated memo items which occur fairly
  regularly on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis for a fixed
  length of time.  To generate such a memo item, first you'll have to
  enable repeats by selecting one of the repeat choices in the REPEAT
  MEMO menu list. By default, repeats will be disabled as is shown by
  the checkmark in front of the "No Repeat" menu item.  Choose one of
  the repeat options and use the NEXT or PREV buttons to get to the
  memo you wish to have repeated.  Click on the DATE button, and use
  the Date Window controls to get to the starting date to be repeated.
  Click on the desired date.  All repeated dates will now also be
  selected.  Use the Date Window controls to check them if you don't
  believe it could be that easy.  Click on the OK button to close the
  Date Window and accept the chosen date; otherwise, just click on
  the QUIT button to keep whatever date was originally on your memo
  item.


  Finding a Dated Item
  --------------------
  The FIND button and the related menu item will let you find one memo
  out of the list of memo items which you have defined.  Click on this
  button, use the Date Window controls to maneuver to the desired date,
  and click on the date to be found.  Click on the OK button and the
  first memo item with this date will be located and displayed.  This
  date search may be cancelled by clicking on the QUIT button.  If the
  date is not found, a message indicating this will be displayed in the
  Help Window.  A trick, which may be used to find any memo item in
  a given month might be to select the daily repeat for a month before
  clicking on the Date button.  Any date which is selected will now
  cause a search throughout the entire repeat range for any matching
  memo item dates.


  Help Window
  -----------
  The Help Window is a context sensitive help feature which displays
  help messages as various buttons and/or menu selections are made.
  It is located in the top rightmost portion of the MemoPad window.


  Automatic Memo Item Backup
  --------------------------
  There is never any need to worry whether or not all your memo items
  have been saved to disk!  MemoPad will automatically update the disk
  file, as soon as it notices that some memo item has been changed.
  Even if some other program should cause the AMIGA to crash in a
  shower of fireworks, you'll be secure in the knowledge that your
  memo items are safe.


                        About the Modula-2 Source
                        =========================

  We, as a company, provide the source code for MemoPad and CheckMemo
  primarily to give interested individuals the tools for programming
  the Amiga using the Intuition-based interface in Modula-2.  Included
  in the source are many examples of gadget-based control, menu
  initialization and use, window creation and manipulation, and
  requester window use. Although bits and pieces of what we do are
  available in other programs, we feel that having an example which
  unites all the working principles required to produce a full program
  is beneficial to novice AMIGA programmers.  Our primary aim, of
  course, was to produce a program from which others could see how to
  work within an Intuition-based environment using Modula-2; and in
  this respect, we feel that we have succeeded.


                            Acknowledgements
                            ================

  As always, there are a bunch of people behind the scenes who must be
  thanked for their contributions, either direct or indirect, to a
  program such as this.  Firstly, thanks to TDI for their Modula-2
  compiler, which may not be fastest or the best, but it certainly was
  the first.  Secondly, thanks to all the people who have contributed
  public-domain programs to demonstrate Modula-2 concepts and give
  others source code examples upon which to build.  In particular,
  thanks to Richie Bielak for his FastTextIO routines, used in this
  previewer and thanks also go to Jerry Mack for his TextTools module
  used in MemoPad. We also appreciate the artistic talents of Anna Lise
  Scheel, Colour Consultant, for her work on MemoPad.  Thanks also to
  all the Beta test sites (you know who you are) for their assistance
  and helpful comments.  Thanks also to the people who brought us
  PowerWindows which was used as a starting point for the design of
  windows, gadgets, menus, and requesters used in both MemoPad and
  CheckMemo.  Although, the Modula-2 extensions to this program are
  VERY buggy and have been given inadequate thought, the tool has been
  useful. Finally, thanks to the makers of the Amiga -- without whom
  none of this would have been possible.


                               Bug Fixes
                               =========

  Much as we hate to admit it, a few bugs crept into the V1.0 release
  of MemoPad and CheckMemo.  Thanks to the people who pointed out the
  bugs (people tend to do that).  All known bugs as listed below have
  been exterminated :

     Bug 1.0-1  The programs stomped over memory location 00000000
                while starting up and initializing the Date window.
                Although this bug didn't usually cause the programs
                to crash, sometimes, if another program depended on
                something in memory location 00000000, a crash could
                occur.  As a matter of fact, if both MemoPad and
                CheckMemo were running together (yes, they can do
                that too), closing down one would cause the other
                one to crash the Amiga.  In our defense, the bug
                was traced to a pointer to a pointer which the
                current V3.0a TDI Modula-2 compiler doesn't seem to
                handle very well.  PowerWindows forced us to use
                the awkward pointer to a pointer syntax (they must
                be `C' programmers!), hence our memory stomping.

     Bug 1.0-2  To our shock, we discovered that the DOS date was
                in error by one day (at least during this leap year).
                It worked fine last year. ;-)
                A new algorithm is now being used.

  To date no bugs have been reported for MemoPad V1.1.  Please let
  us know if you find any in this V1.2 release.


                        About Computer Inspirations
                        ===========================

  Although COMPUTER INSPIRATIONS is fairly new to the AMIGA and other
  personal computers, we have gained considerable experience in
  software and hardware development from work in the aerospace industry
  and from a university environment.  We are committed to bringing
  quality products to AMIGA owners at affordable prices.  We will make
  certain that all our products reflect this attention to detail and
  we will respond promptly to any customer problems or concerns.

  Michael Griebling,
  President, COMPUTER INSPIRATIONS