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"PAT'S FOOD SHOPPER" Version 1.0 Documentation Manual 2 "PAT'S FOOD SHOPPER", Version 1.0 (c) Copyright 1990, Pat Boudreau This program may be freely copied and distributed on a non- commercial basis only, provided that the program, documentation, and data files on the original distribution diskette are not changed or modified in any way. Furthermore, all files present on the original distribution diskette must be present on any copies made for distribution. This program is being distributed under the shareware concept. Try my program and see if you like it. If you use it, you must register with the author. The registration fee is $20.00 and the registration form can be printed out by selecting option #4 on the main menu of the program. Upon receipt of the registration fee you will be sent, direct from the author, the following: 1. Your registered copy of the program that doesn't display the first two message screens. 2. Future versions, as they become available, free of charge. Future versions plan to include: - Update one attribute on all items, and all attributes on one item. - User defined group names, an inventory feature, and help screens. - A setup option to configure the software package to your needs. - User defined meals (select 7 meals instead of 50 or so items). - Tracking of caloric values (calories per meal, per person). - Sales tax and deposit attributes, and a coupon feature. - Suggestions that you, the registered user, would like to see. Your support will make this a truly successful project. Thank you. Please Note: It is highly recommended that you read through this documentation manual before using the program. Option #4 on the main menu of the program allows you to either view the documentation on screen or print it. Disclaimer: The author makes no guarantees or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the fitness of use of this product or the accuracy of the accompanying documentation. The author also assumes no liabilities for any damages resulting from the use of this product. These damages, whether actual or imagined, include but are not limited to: financial, emotional, incidental, and or otherwise. 3 Table of Contents: Topic Pg # Minimum Requirements --------------------------------------------- 4 Installation and Startup ----------------------------------------- 4 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------- 5 Major Option Sub-Option OPTION 1.0: ATTRIBUTES 1.1 - Display Attributes ----------------- 6 1.2 - Update Names ----------------------- 6 1.3 - Update Prices ---------------------- 6 1.4 - Update Units ----------------------- 7 1.5 - Update Aisles #'s ------------------ 7 Option 2.0: ITEMS 2.1 - Display ---------------------------- 9 2.2 - Create ----------------------------- 9 2.3 - Delete ----------------------------- 9 2.4 - Sort ------------------------------- 10 Option 3.0: SHOPPING LIST Introduction to Option 3.0 --------------- 11 3.1 - Selection of items ----------------- 11 3.2 - Display ---------------------------- 11 3.3 - Delete Items ----------------------- 12 3.4 - Sort and Print --------------------- 12 3.5 - Update Quantities of Items --------- 13 Option 4.0: Documentation and Registration 4.1 - Display Documentation Manual ------- 15 4.2 - Print Documentation Manual --------- 15 4.3 - Display Registration Form ---------- 15 4.4 - Print Registration Form ------------ 15 Option 5.0 Quit This Program and Return to DOS ----------------- 15 Error Messages --------------------------------------------------- 16 Glossary --------------------------------------------------------- 17 4 Minimum Requirements: DOS 2.0 or higher, 256 K RAM (384 K RAM may be required on future versions) Installation and Startup It is highly recommended that you make a backup copy of the original distribution diskette. Use a working diskette. Put the original away for safe keeping. This will also allow you to make a copy of the original distribution diskette at a later time for distribution to friends, without making any changes or modifications to the files on the original distribution diskette. It is also recommended that you make regular backups or copies of all the *.FS files from your working diskette. These are the data files. If anything happened to your working diskette, having a copy of the most recent price changes or new items would be invaluable. This information may be difficult to reconstruct, if at all. Under no circumstances should you attempt to alter any of the *.FS files by means other than through the use of the "PAT'S FOOD SHOPPER" program. Doing so may result in run-time errors. The following files should be present on the original distribution diskette that you receive: HEALTH .FS SUPPLIES.FS DAIRY .FS PRODUCE .FS BREADS .FS SNACKS .FS FISHMEAT.FS FRZNFOOD.FS CANNED .FS BEV .FS STAPLES .FS MISC .FS SHOPLIST.FS REGFORM .FS INITSCRN.FS DOC .FS FS .EXE Check to make sure all of the above files are present. If not, you don't have the complete package and the program may not work properly, if at all. If you have a hard or fixed disk, copy all of the files into a subdirectory of its own. To run, the program must have all of the *.FS files present in the current subdirectory of the default drive. To start the program, at the DOS prompt simply type FS, ENTER, and you're up and running. If the program file, FS.EXE, is located on another drive or subdirectory, precede the "FS" with the drive name or subdirectory of where FS.EXE resides, such as A:FS or C:\FOOD\FS, or have its name included in the path statement. This may be a situation where you have several sets of data files, the *.FS files. One set of data files for each store. These sets of data files may be located on different diskettes or in different subdirectories. The program file, FS.EXE, needs only to exist in one place. Locate yourself where the data files are, and then call upon the program file by preceding its name with its location or have its location included in the path statement. 5 INTRODUCTION: Welcome to "Pat's Food Shopper". This a completely menu-driven program designed to aid you in selecting and creating a grocery shopping list. It will tell you, throughout the item selection process, the dollar total of the list. It will then sort the list according to aisle # when printing so that items within the same store aisle will be grouped together on the list. I have found from personal experience that this is a real time saver. I don't know how many times I have gone through the grocery store and, after going through 5 or 6 aisles, discovered that I overlooked an item on my shopping list that didn't get picked up in aisle # 1. This program is best suited if you do most or all of your shopping at one grocery store. It is entirely possible, however, to have several sets of data files - one for each store - if so desired. In the beginning, a small investment of time is needed to customize this software package to suit your specific needs and situation. Take a few minutes to map the grocery store and determine where items are located. Do this by assigning them aisle #'s. This takes relatively little time to accomplish, and the benefits are well worth it. With all of the information on disk, selection of items for the shopping list later on is simple and fast. Information associated with an item can be changed or updated at any time. The program is split up into five major options. Within each major option are several sub-options. The main menu displays the name of each major option along with a brief description of each sub- option. The options are discussed in more detail in the following sections. Select the number of the desired major option and press ENTER. Once you are inside a major option, select the number of the desired sub-option and press ENTER. Once you are inside a sub-option, select the desired group #. Some sub-options don't have group #'s, depending on their purpose. The program won't allow a number selection that doesn't exist. Press ESC or BACKSPACE and try again. BACKSPACE backs you up one character at a time and ESC takes you back to the beginning of your input. In certain parts of the program you are prompted to type in text. This may be the name of an item, or simply a "Y" or "N" for a yes or no action to be taken. Regardless of where you are located in the program, upper case or lower case alphabetical characters, or a combination of both, may be typed in. It is a matter of personal preference and doesn't affect the operation of the program. Take note of the message that often appears at the bottom of the screen. It will tell you of alternative actions that can be taken instead of choosing a number selection. As a rule of thumb, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters backs you out of the program to the previous screen or option. There are a few exceptions, but they will always be noted in the message at the bottom of the screen. 6 OPTION 1.0 ATTRIBUTES Option 1.1 - Display Attributes of Items This option allows you to display items along with their associated characteristics or attributes. Attributes are things such as Name, Price, Units, and Aisle #. Items in each group have been provided as examples of how this information will appear when displayed. You may at some later time probably want to update these items or delete them altogether and create new ones. Options 1.2 through 1.5 - Update the Attributes You may update any of the four attributes - Name, Price, Units, and Aisle # - with these options. Option 1.2 - Update Names The name can be up to twenty characters in length. Keep information between brackets. This helps you to stay within the maximum number of characters allowed when prompted for an input. Pressing BACKSPACE or ESC before pressing ENTER will allow you to correct a mistake. Items with the same exact name cannot exist within the same group. If you attempt to ENTER a name that already exists in that group, the program beeps and again prompts you for the name. Variations of a name, such as "Diapers-large" and "Diapers-small", are permitted. If updating the name of an item which is also on the current shopping list (last list created), the name of that item is also updated on the shopping list. When prompted for a price, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters causes the current name to remain the same. An item can only be selected if it is being displayed as a choice. If there are more than 40 items, press ENTER without the input of any characters. This scrolls to the next 40 items, allowing an item here to be selected and updated. Option 1.3 - Update Prices This is the price of the product per unit. Units are things such as lb., gal., box, bottle, each or anything you specify in the "Units" attribute. The price should be the cost of one of these units. Prices must be from $0.00 to $99.99. Entering ".5", ".50" and "0.50" work equally as well and is a matter of preference. Decimal points are not necessary, however, and whole dollar prices may be entered as a "2" or "3". Do not use the "$" symbol when entering the price. When displayed, however, this same number will always be displayed as "$ 0.50". The price can be up to five characters in length, including the decimal point. Keep information between brackets. This helps you to stay within the maximum number of characters allowed when prompted for an input. If updating the price of an item which is also on the current shopping list (last list created), the price of that item is also updated on the shopping list. This is provided for updating prices while not having to update the current shopping list all over again. This allows the current dollar total of the shopping list to fluctuate with changing prices. This can also be very useful when updating prices after already selecting your shopping list. 7 Items which are taxable or which have a deposit of some kind should have this extra cost included in the price of the item. Future versions of my program will include tax and deposit attributes so that these types of costs are accounted for automatically. When prompted for a price, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters causes the current price to remain the same. An item can only be selected if it is being displayed as a choice. If there are more than 40 items, press ENTER without the input of any characters. This scrolls to the next 40 items, allowing an item here to be selected and updated. Option 1.4 - Update Units Units are the sizes in which items are commonly purchased. Units can be up to seven characters in length. Keep information between brackets. This helps you to stay within the maximum number of characters allowed when prompted for an input. Please note that whatever unit you give an item is the same unit that you will be prompted for in selecting the shopping list. For instance, you give "Milk" units of "Gal". You will be prompted, when selecting items on the shopping list, for how many "Gal(s)" are desired. If updating the unit of an item which is also on the current shopping list (last list created), the unit of that item is also updated on the shopping list. When prompted for a unit, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters causes the current units to remain the same. An item can only be selected if it is being displayed as a choice. If there are more than 40 items, press ENTER without the input of any characters. This scrolls to the next 40 items, allowing an item here to be selected and updated. Option 1.5 - Update Aisle #'s The aisle # can be up to three characters in length. Keep information between brackets. This helps you to stay within the maximum number of characters allowed when prompted for an input. The aisle you shop in first should be aisle #1, and so forth. Letters, whole numbers, or both may be used. An aisle # may also be expressed as "A6" or "6A". When prompted for an aisle #, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters causes the current aisle # to remain the same. An item can only be selected if it is being displayed as a choice. If there are more than 40 items, press ENTER without the input of any characters. This scrolls to the next 40 items, allowing an item here to be selected and updated. If updating the aisle # of an item which is also on the current shopping list (last list created), the aisle # of that item is also updated on the shopping list. Sorting of the shopping list is done according to the alphabetical and numerical values of the aisle #'s. Aisle #'s, when sorted, are grouped on the shopping list as follows: Aisle #'s expressed as "???" will be grouped together and appear first on shopping list. Amongst themselves, they will be sorted in the order in which the items they belong to were selected to be on the shopping list. Aisle #'s beginning with alphabetical characters will be grouped together and appear second on the shopping list. Amongst themselves, they will be sorted in alphabetical order. 8 Aisle #'s beginning with numbers will be grouped together and appear third on the shopping list. Amongst themselves, they will be sorted in numerical order first and alphabetical order secondly. What this means is that if you have aisle #'s with the same numerical value but are also followed by letters, the alphabetical part of the aisle # will also be sorted. To give an example: you have three aisle #'s, "6B", "6C", and "6A". They will be sorted in this order: "6A", "6B", and "6C". Aisle # "6C" will come before aisle # 7, and so forth. This can be very useful when a very large aisle exists and you want to break it up into two or more sections. 9 Option 2.0 ITEMS Option 2.1 - Display Items This option allows you to display the names of items in a group. It is very similar to option 1.1 with one exception - it doesn't display the other three attributes, just the names. This is a quick way to find out if a particular item exists in a group. It will display forty names per screen instead of only 20 names per screen as in option 1.1. Option 2.2 - Create Items This option allows you to add items to a group of your choice. A maximum of 80 items are allowed in each group, for a combined total of 960 items in 12 groups. When prompted for the name of a new item, if ENTER is pressed without the input of any characters then no item is actually created and you are brought back to the previous menu. If you do input characters for the name, then an item is created. You are then prompted for its remaining attributes of price, units, and aisle #. Notice what happens to these remaining attributes, however, when pressing ENTER without the input of any characters. The program will give these attributes values of its own. These are called default values. They are the ones shown between the set of brackets to the immediate left of where you are prompted for an input. The default price is $ 0.00. The default units and aisle #'s are given question marks. The number of question marks is equal to the maximum # of characters allowed for that type of attribute. If you are uncertain as to what the price, units, or aisle # is, just give it the default value. You can always go back and update it later in option 1.2 through 1.5. When displaying the attributes, or displaying or printing the shopping list, these default values stick out like sore thumbs. This makes them easier to spot when you need to find them. Items given a default value for aisle # will be grouped together and appear first on the shopping list. Names can contain up to twenty characters in length. Prices can contain up to five characters in length, including the decimal point, and must be from $ 0.00 to $ 99.99. Decimal points are not necessary, however, and whole dollar prices may be entered as a "2" or "3". Do not use the "$" symbol when entering a price. Items which are taxable or which have a deposit of some kind should have this extra cost included in the price of the item. Future versions of my program will include tax and deposit attributes so that these types of costs are accounted for automatically. Units can contain up to seven characters in length. Aisle #'s can be up to three characters in length and contain letters, whole numbers, or both. Keep information between brackets. This helps you to stay within the maximum number of characters allowed when prompted for an input. Option 2.3 - Delete Items This option allows you to delete an item in a group. The remaining items are re-numbered when displayed. Selecting the letter "D" instead of the number choice of an item will allow you to delete all items in that group. Be careful with this command - you can wipe out a lot of information in one keystroke. Deleting all items from 10 all groups at the same time is not allowed. This was an intentional aspect of the program to have some degree of protection against indiscriminately losing all of your data. If an item is selected which is also on the current shopping list, the item will be removed from the shopping list as well. An item can only be selected if it is being displayed as a choice. If there are more than 40 items, press ENTER without the input of any characters. This scrolls to the next 40 items, allowing an item here to be selected and deleted. Option 2.4 - Sort Items This option allows items within a group to be sorted by alphabetical order according to name. This makes it easier to find items in a group when selecting items for the shopping list. Selecting the letter "S", instead of a group number, will sort all items in all groups at one time - a real time saver. 11 Option 3.0 SHOPPING LIST Introduction to Option 3.0 This is the third major option and deals with most aspects of the shopping list. When first gaining access to this section, you will be prompted "START A NEW SHOPPING LIST? (Y/N)_". Selecting "N" loads the current or last shopping list on which you were working. You can then add to it and so forth. Selecting "Y" erases the current or last shopping list so that a new shopping list can be started. Be careful - you can wipe out your current working shopping list by selecting "Y". Option 3.1 - Selection of Items This option allows you to add to the current shopping list the items you want to buy. Select a group #. After selecting a group # and then having its items displayed, notice that the current total is displayed at the bottom of the screen. This increases with every item selected, unless an item has a price of zero. The current total lets you know the bottom line while selecting items. This makes it much easier when trying to stay within a budget. Then select an item # within that group. You will be prompted for a quantity. The quantity represents how many units of the item you want. Let's say you selected milk and the price shown is $2.00 / Gal. Selecting a quantity of "1" Gal(S) will place the item on the shopping list and add $2.00 to the current total. Selecting a quantity of "2" Gal(S) will add $4.00 to the current total, and so forth. The program calculates the price multiplied by the quantity, to come up with the cost for that item. Entering fractional quantities are allowed and must be entered as a decimal. For instance, "1.5" Gal(S) is fine and will properly calculate the current total. Entering a quantity of zero or one that begins with an alphabetical character causes a beep and again prompts you for the quantity. When prompted for a quantity, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters brings you back to the previous menu and this item is not added to the shopping list. Items can occur only once on the shopping list. If you select an item that is already on the list, the program beeps and displays such a message. Press ENTER to continue and you are brought back to your previous choice of items. This is a very useful function. In the process of selecting items for the shopping list, it is sometimes easy to forget that an item has already been selected. This function alerts you to the fact and does not allow the item to be added twice. It can be an annoyance having the same item listed twice, not to mention the fact that it artificially inflates the current total. There is a limit of 200 items that can be on the shopping list. Attempting to put more than 200 items on the list causes a beep and an explanatory message is displayed. An item can only be selected if it is being displayed as a choice. If there are more than 40 items, press ENTER without the input of any characters. This scrolls to the next 40 items, allowing an item here to be selected and placed on the shopping list. Option 3.2 - Display Current Shopping List This option allows you to display the current shopping list, 20 12 items at a time. The "PgUp" and "PgDn" keys will allow you to view the previous and following screens, respectively. "Home" and "End" keys will allow you to view the first and last screens, respectively. Pressing ENTER brings you back to the previous menu. Option 3.2 always shows you an updated shopping list. Back out of this option and add or delete some items, or simply change some of their quantities. When you come back to option 3.2 to display the shopping list, these changes will be reflected. The current total is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Changes to the number of items or their quantities causes changes to be reflected in the current total as well, unless these changes involve items with prices of zero. Take note of one of the headings at the top of the screen. Look at the last column on the right. It reads "GP#". This stands for "Group #". This refers to the number of the group in which the item is located. "HEALTH AND BEAUTY AIDS" is "GP#" 1, "HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES" is "GP#" 2, and so forth. This is very useful information. If you want to change an attribute of an item, it may be possible at times to forget where the item is located. "GP#" tells you this. Items are displayed in the order in which they are selected to be on the shopping list. This will change, however, after option 3.4 is executed. Option 3.4 sorts the shopping list according to aisle # and then sends it to the printer in this same sorted order. The shopping list is also saved to file in this new sorted order. As a result, displaying the shopping list using option 3.2, after executing option 3.4, will show the items in their new sorted order. This can be helpful. Items displayed on the screen in the same order as the printout in your hand can make items easier to locate and compare. Option 3.3 - Delete Items From Current Shopping List This option allows you to delete or remove items from the current shopping list. The shopping list is displayed and you select the number of the desired item. The remaining items are re-numbered to reflect this change in the shopping list. The current total is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Deletions from the shopping list updates the current total. A new lower current total will be displayed after each deletion is made, unless the item being deleted has a price of zero. Only an item that is actually being displayed can be selected. If the first 20 items are being displayed and you select item # 24, nothing happens. Press BACKSPACE to backup one character at a time or ESC to backup all the way to enter a new item #. "PgUp", "PgDn", "Home", and "End" gets you to the particular screen where an item is located so that the item can be selected and deleted. The "PgUp" and "PgDn" keys allows you to view the previous and following screens, respectively. "Home" and "End" keys allows you to view the first and last screens, respectively. Pressing ENTER without the input of any characters backs you out to the previous menu. Option 3.4 - Sort and Print Current Shopping List This option simply sorts the current shopping list according to aisle # and then sends it to the printer in this same sorted order. If you have an unusually long shopping list, be patient. The sort may take some time. Future versions of "PAT'S FOOD SHOPPER" will include a setup option. You may decide that only whole numbers, and no letters, are going to be used in the aisle #'s. This fact can be 13 entered into the setup option. Every time the program is subsequently run, the program automatically recognizes this preset condition and won't sort alphabetically, just numerically. This will make the sort much faster. If you wish to print out a second copy of the same shopping list, it won't go through another tedious sort. The program knows if the shopping list has already been sorted. If so, it immediately sends the shopping list to the printer. If any more items are added to the shopping list or if any aisle #'s of items on the shopping list are changed or updated, it will re-sort before printing the next time option 3.4 is executed. Deleting items from the shopping list does not cause a re-sort when option 3.4 is subsequently executed. Deleting items doesn't change their order. It simply takes the remaining items and "squeezes" them closer together. When using option 3.2, items are displayed in the order in which they are selected to be on the shopping list. This will change, however, after option 3.4 is executed. In addition to sorting and printing, option 3.4 also saves the shopping list to file in this new sorted order. As a result, displaying the shopping list using option 3.2, after executing option 3.4, will show the items in their new sorted order. This can be helpful. Items displayed on the screen in the same order as the printout in your hand can make items easier to locate and compare. Sorting is done according to the alphabetical and numerical values of the aisle #'s. Aisle #'s are limited to three characters in length. The aisle you shop in first should be aisle #1, and so forth. Letters, whole numbers, or both may be used. An aisle # may also be expressed as "A6" or "6A". Aisle #'s, when sorted, will be grouped on the shopping list as follows: Aisle #'s expressed as "???" will be grouped together and appear first on shopping list. Amongst themselves, they will be sorted in the order in which the items they belong to were selected to be on the shopping list. Aisle #'s beginning with alphabetical characters will be grouped together and appear second on the shopping list. Amongst themselves, they will be sorted in alphabetical order. Aisle #'s beginning with numbers will be grouped together and appear third on the shopping list. Amongst themselves, they will be sorted in numerical order first and alphabetical order secondly. What this means is that if you have aisle #'s with the same numerical value but are also followed by letters, the alphabetical part of the aisle # will also be sorted. To give an example: you have three aisle #'s, "6B", "6C", and "6A". They will be sorted in this order: "6A", "6B", and "6C". Aisle # "6C" will come before aisle # 7, and so forth. This can be very useful when a very large aisle exists and you want to break it up into two or more sections. When printing the shopping list, a new column heading is seen. It is located on the far right and is called "NOTES". This is provided so that the shopper may write down any comments about an item. Maybe this item was observed to have a new price, rather than the one currently seen on the shopping list. Make a written note of this new price and update the price of that item later on at home. 14 Option 3.5 - Update Quantities of Items on Current Shopping List This option allows items already on the current shopping list to have their quantities updated. Select the number of an item on the list that you want to change. The current quantity is displayed and you are prompted for a new quantity. If an attempt is made to enter a quantity of zero or a quantity that begins with an alphabetical character, the program beeps and again prompts you for the quantity. When prompted for a quantity, pressing ENTER without the input of any characters causes the current quantity to remain the same and brings you back to your previous choice of items. Only an item that is actually being displayed can be selected. If the first 20 items are being displayed and you select item # 24, nothing happens. Press BACKSPACE to backup one character at a time or ESC to backup all the way to enter a new item #. "PgUp", "PgDn", "Home", and "End" gets you to the particular screen where an item is located so that the item can be selected and its quantity updated. The "PgUp" and "PgDn" keys allows you to view the previous and following screens, respectively. "Home" and "End" keys allows you to view the first and last screens, respectively. Pressing ENTER without the input of any characters backs you out to the previous menu. The current total is displayed at the bottom of the screen. It changes every time the quantity of an item is updated, unless that item has a price of zero. This is a handy feature when wanting to know what the immediate bottom line will be when changes in quantities are made. 15 Option 4.0 - Documentation and Registration Option 4.1 - Display Documentation Manual Selecting this option allows you to view the documentation manual on the screen, twenty lines at a time. "PgDn" shows the next screen and ENTER backs you out to option 4.0. Option 4.2 - Print Documentation Manual This option sends the documentation manual to the printer so that you may have a hard copy of it. The manual is nineteen pages long. Option 4.3 - Display Registration Form Selecting this option allows you to view the registration form on the screen, twenty lines at a time. "PgDn" shows the next screen and ENTER backs you out to option 4.0. Option 4.4 - Print Registration Form This option sends the registration form to the printer so that you can fill it out and mail it in. The registration form is one page long. Option 5.0 Quit This Program and Return to DOS This option ends the program, clears the screen, and returns you to DOS. Be sure to make backup copies of the *.FS files, the data files. Having a copy of the most recent price changes or new items can be invaluable. This information may be difficult to reconstruct, if at all. 16 Error Messages If an error occurs, the program beeps several times and then displays a message. The message tells you that an error has occurred and why. Things that can go wrong range from printer and disk drive errors to errors of unknown causes. If the "File Not Found" error occurs, this usually means that one of the *.FS files is not present. Check the directory listing on the diskette. The "Installation and Startup" section on page 4 of this manual lists all of the files that should be present on the original distribution diskette you receive. Compare this list with what is actually on the disk to see if you have all of the *.FS files present. If all of the *.FS files are not present, the program may not work properly, if at all. If an error occurs and there is no way to immediately correct the problem (turn on printer, etc.), you are trapped and won't be able to continue on in the program. Pressing ENTER simply causes the same error to occur. You can, however, exit to DOS from this point. While holding down the CONTROL key, press the BREAK key. Then press ENTER. This causes the program to terminate and bring you back to DOS. Under no circumstances should you attempt to alter any of the *.FS files by means other than through the use of the "PAT'S FOOD SHOPPER" program. Doing so may result in run-time errors (error #62). Registered users - please try using your most recent backups of the *.FS files before writing to the author for assistance. If an unknown error has occurred, registered users please take note of the error number. Mail this error number, along with a DS/DD diskette containing all of the *.FS files that existed at the time the error occurred, to the author. An explanation of what sub-option of the program was being used at the time and any other symptoms would be extremely helpful to me in pinpointing the problem. I will make an immediate attempt to correct problems that registered users are having. Please include the registration number with on any correspondence. 17 Glossary Attribute A characteristic of an item. It describes an item.There are four attributes. They are: Name, Price, Units, and Aisle #. Aisle # Aisle # is an attribute of an item. It describes an item's location in the grocery store. It can be up to three characters in length and contain letters, whole numbers, or both. Current The Current Shopping List is the shopping list that Shopping exists at the moment. It also means the last shopping List list created. Although you may have created a shopping last week, it is still the current shopping list. It ceases to be "current" if you select "Y" in option 3.0 when prompted "START A NEW SHOPPING LIST? (Y/N)_". Current The Current Total refers to the total amount of money Total that will be spent on the current shopping list. It changes when items are added to the current shopping list or items already on the current shopping list have their quantities updated, unless these items have prices of zero. Data Files Collectively, these are referred to as the *.FS files found on the original distribution diskette. They are the files with filename extensions of "FS". They must all be present in the current subdirectory of the default drive for the program to work properly. Under no circumstances should you attempt to alter any of the *.FS files by means other than through the use of the "PAT'S FOOD SHOPPER" program. Doing so may result in run-time errors (error #62). Registered users - please try using your most recent backups of the *.FS files before writing to the author for assistance. Default These are values assigned to the attributes of items if Values you do not specify a value. The default value for price is $ 0.00. The default values for units and aisle # are "???????" and "???", respectively. The name of an item has no default value. Default values are assigned in option 2.2 when you are prompted for an attribute value and press ENTER without the input of any characters. Error Number The number that is generated when an error occurs and refers to a specific type of error known to the author. 18 Group The name of a category in which items are found. There are 12 groups and a maximum of 80 items can exist in one group. Group # The number of a group in which items are found. It ranges from 1 to 12. Item A term referring to something purchased in the grocery store. It has four attributes - name, price, units, and aisle #. It is found in a group and is also listed on the current shopping list. Main Menu The screen displaying the five major options with a brief description of each sub-option. Major Option One of the five choices available on the Main Menu. They are: 1. ATTRIBUTES 2. ITEMS 3. SHOPPING LIST 4. DOCUMENTATION AND REGISTRATION 5. QUIT THIS PROGRAM AND RETURN TO DOS Name Name is an attribute of an item. It describes the identification of an item. It can be up to 20 characters in length. Original The diskette you receive from a distribution company or Distribution friends. It should contain all of the files listed on Diskette page 4 of this manual. If you plan to distribute the software package to others, do not change or modify any of the files on the original distribution diskette. Path Refer to your DOS reference manual for an explanation of Statement how the path statement is used and configured. Price Price is an attribute of an item. It is equal to the cost of one unit of an item. It should include any extra costs of the item, such as a tax or deposit. It can contain up to five characters, including the decimal point, and must be from $ 0.00 to $ 99.99. Decimal points are not necessary, however, and whole dollar prices may be entered as a "2" or "3". Program File The file found on the original distribution diskette with the name "FS.EXE". The program can be started by typing, at the DOS prompt, FS, ENTER and you're up and running. It is the only file on the original distribution diskette that does not need to be in the 19 current subdirectory of the default drive for the program to work properly. Locate yourself where the data files are and then call upon the program file by preceding its name with its location or include its name in the path statement. Quantity The number of units of an item which is on the current shopping list. Whole or fractional numbers are allowed, such as 1 Gal(S) or 1.5 Gal(S) of milk. If fractional, the number must be represented as a decimal. Quantities of zero are not allowed. Sub-option One of several choices within a major option. Units Units is an attribute of an item. It is the size in which items are normally purchased. They are things such as LB, GAL, QUART, BOTTLE, JAR, EACH, PIECE or anything that you specify. Whatever unit you give an item is the same unit that you are prompted for when selecting the quantity of an item to be on the shopping list. The price of an item should equal the cost of one of these units. Working The diskette containing all of the data files that have Diskette been customized to suit your specific needs and situation. It is first created by making a copy of the original distribution diskette. Put the original away for safe keeping and use the copy as your working diskette. It is also recommended that you make regular backups or copies of all the *.FS files from your working diskette. These are the data files. If anything happened to your working diskette, having a copy of the most recent price changes or new items would be invaluable. This information may be difficult to reconstruct, if at all.