JCSM Shareware Collection 1996 September/JCSM Shareware Collection (JCS Distribution) (September 1996).ISO/butility/fone63b.zip/FNHELP.DAT

Text File | 1993-10-25 | 26KB | 601 lines

** MS WINDOWS SUPPORT

FONE(tm) can be run under Windows.

Set it up in the same way you would set up any program under Windows:

Select "New" under the "File" menu, then use the "Browse" option to
find FONE.BAT in the FONE(tm) directory.  Make sure and specify the
FONE(tm) working directory, so that FONE(tm) can find its data files.

You can also use the PIF editor to set up a .PIF file so FONE(tm) runs
in a window, or just let it run as a full-screen display.  The full-screen
display looks a little better.

** DATABASE: SAVING NEW ADDED DATA

When entering or modifying data in the ADD, COPY/MODIFY, or MODIFY
screens, the data is saved to the database when you exit the screen by
pressing the ESC key.

However, the MENU ID field must be non-blank, since this is the
information that will appear on the menus.  If this field is blank,
the data will not be saved.

Note that "MENU ID" is one field, even though it appears as two on the
screen.  This feature allows you to organize your personal database
into sub-categories.  You are free to design your own method for taking
advantage of the fact that all entries are displayed alphabetically in
the menus.

** DATABASE: COPYING DATA TO NEW ENTRY

The COPY / MODIFY option is designed to allow you to quickly copy most of
the information from an existing entry into a new entry.

The COPY / MODIFY option will make a copy of an existing personal database
entry, then blank out the "MENU ID" field, and place you in the modify
mode for the new entry.

If you just press the Esc key right away, the copied entry will not be
added, since the "MENU ID" field is still blank.  You must at least fill
in that field, and you will probably want to modify the phone number and
some of the other data also.

** DATABASE: PLACING A CALL

You can place a call from the ADD, BROWSE, COPY/MODIFY, and MODIFY
screens.  Press F5 for FIRST (Day or Standard) rate, F6 for SECOND
(Evening or Discount) rate, or F7 for THIRD (Night or Economy) rate
pricing information to be displayed on the CALL screen, then press the
F4 key to initiate the call.  FONE(tm) will use your modem to dial the
number.  Most modems have a speaker over which you will hear the number
being dialed.  When you hear the dialing complete, then pick up your
telephone handset to make the voice connection, and press any key on the
computer keyboard to disconnect the modem from the circuit.

If you do not pick up your handset BEFORE pressing a key to disconnect
the modem, the connection will be lost! This is how you abort the call,
if you suddenly decide you didn't really want to make it.

You must have a modem attached to your computer, and have specified the
correct port number during the SETUP, to use the automatic dial feature.

If you do not have a modem, you can still use FONE(tm).  Just place
the call the way you would normally, using the data in your database.
Then enter the memo as a permanent record of your conversation.

Also see ENTERING A MEMO.

** DATABASE: FAST FONE

The FAST FONE menu is the first screen a registered user will see, upon
entry to the FONE(tm) program.  This screen allows you, with the minimum
of keystrokes, to rapidly place a call to any of your 26 most recently
called parties.

Press the letter corresponding to the MENU ID to be called, then press
F5, F6, or F7, depending upon which billing rate you wish to be
associated with the call.

If you have a modem, the call will be dialed, then the CALL screen will
be displayed.

** DATABASE: MODIFICATION DATE/TIME

When you add a new entry, or modify an existing entry, FONE(tm) marks it
with the current date and time.

This date/time stamp appears on most of the display screens as a
convenient indication of the currency of the data source.

** DATABASE: PRINTING AN ENTRY

FONE(tm) will print a report containing all information for a
personal database entry, call-log, and rate overview.  Select PRINT
from the PERSONAL DATABASE menu, then select the personal database
entry to be printed.

FONE(tm) does not generate any specialized printer graphics, so the
report can be printed on almost any printer.

** DATABASE: DELETING AN ENTRY

Choose DELETE from the main menu, then choose the personal database
entry to delete.  FONE(tm) will surround the MENU ID data with
the characters << and >>, and mark the entry for deletion.

With << in front of the name, the entry will now sort to the last
page of the menu.

The DELETE menu will remain on the screen, allowing you to rapidly
select a series of entries to delete, until you press the ESC key.

Also see: PURGING DELETED ENTRIES, UN-DELETING AN ENTRY

** DATABASE: UN-DELETING AN ENTRY

If you change your mind about a deleted entry, you can un-delete
it by choosing UN-DELETE from the main menu, then selecting the entry
to be restored.

Also see: DELETING AN ENTRY

** DATABASE: PURGING DELETED ENTRIES

When you delete a personal database entry, it is not actually removed
from the database, but just marked as deleted.  The contents of the
MENU ID field is modified by surrounding it with special characters,
so that the entry will sort to the bottom of the menu.

Choose PURGE from the main menu, and all personal database entry entries
marked for deletion are purged from the database forever, thereby
compacting the database.

Warning:
Once the database has been purged of deleted entries,
those entries are permanently gone.

** DATABASE: IMPORTING DATA

You can import data from other programs into your FONE(tm) database!

■ The file must be in ASCII text file format, with commas between the fields.
■ The first line of the file must contain a list of field names, which
  describes the contents of the following lines, much like a mail-merge
  file format.  The field names must correspond to the fields in the FONE(tm)
  personal database.
■ The import file MUST contain, at least, either a NAME or MENU field.
  This is the only restriction on the combinations of fields that are allowed.
  If a NAME field is provided, but no MENU field, then the FONE(tm) database
  MENU field content is constructed by appending the content of the NAME field
  to the characters "PRSNL ".  For example, if the NAME field contained the
  text "Annabelle Jones", then the MENU field would be constructed as
  "PRSNL Annabelle Jones".
■ An example (2 lines) of a typical import data file is shown here:
  Line 1: MENU, NAME, ADDRESS, CITY, ST, ZIP, CTRYCODE, AREACODE, PRE, SUF
  Line 2: "PRSNL Smith","John Smith","123 Main",Mytown,CA,92169,1,619,555,1212

Also see:  IMPORT FIELD NAMES for a list of FONE(tm) database field names.
** DATABASE: IMPORT FIELD NAMES

The first line of your text import file must contain FONE(tm) database
field names.  The acceptable field names are listed below.

MENU     - (required) The MENU ID field is the key index field.
           FONE(tm) uses this field to manipulate the database.
NAME     - Full Name
DEPT     - Company/Dept
ADDRESS  - Street address
CITY     - Name of the City
ST       - State abbreviation
ZIP      - Zip or Postal code
COUNTRY  - Name of the Country
ZONE     - Time zone, from UCT/Zulu/GMT, (EST is -5, PST is -8)
INTLACC  - Telephone Number - Company code for instant access
CTRYCODE - Telephone Number - Country code
AREACODE - Telephone Number - Area or city code
PRE      - Telephone Number - Prefix
SUF      - Telephone Number - Suffix
NOTES    - Short note

The following fields contain Telephone Company general rate information
which is used to calculate the cost of the call.  If you have this
information available, you can import it also.  Otherwise, FONE(tm) can
look it up for you.  Just go to the MODIFY menu, select the entry,
then press F10, and FONE(tm) will look up the rate information.

COMMENT  - Comment relating to rate information
SERVICE  - Name of the telephone billing service
CALLTYPE - Type of call, (e.g. DIRECT DIAL)
EFFDATE  - Effective date of rate information
HRTITLE1 - The title of the first rate time period (e.g. DAY)
HRTITLE2 - The title of the second rate time period (e.g. EVENING)
HRTITLE3 - The title of the third rate time period (e.g. NIGHT)
HRDATA1  - DAY specification (e.g. 8am to 5pm Mon-Fri)
HRDATA2  - EVENING specification (e.g. 5pm to 11pm Mon-Fri)
HRDATA3  - NIGHT specification (e.g. 11pm to 8am Mon-Fri)


Next page has the actual rates...

The following fields describe the actual rates, in CENTS,
which are used to calculate the cost of the call.
You can import this info, or have FONE(tm) look it up, at your option.


RATE11   - DAY rate, 1st period
RATE12   - DAY rate, each additional period
RATE21   - EVENING rate, 1st period
RATE22   - EVENING rate, each additional period
RATE31   - NIGHT rate, 1st period
RATE32   - NIGHT rate, each additional period

PER1     - Length of 1st period (seconds, e.g. 60 for one minute)
PER2     - Length of 2nd period (seconds, e.g. 6 for some companies)

Also see:  IMPORTING DATA for the format of the import data file.

** DATABASE: IMPORT FIELDS (SPECIAL)

Some special IMPORT file field names are listed below.

PHONE    - If present, is split out into areacode, prefix, and suffix

If the following fields are present, and the NAME field is not,
then they are combined into the NAME field:

NAMEPRE  - Name prefix, like Mr or Mrs or Dr
FIRST    - First name
MIDDLE   - Middle initial or name
LAST     - Last name
NAMESUF  - Name suffix, like Jr or III or MD

If the MENU field is not present, or the field content is blank,
an attempt is made to generate the MENU field from the LAST/FIRST
data or the NAME data.  If it is still blank, the record is not added.

** DATABASE: RE-INDEXING

The database menu is driven from a sorted database index on the MENU ID
field.  If some sort of anomaly occurs, and the menu appears to not
reflect the data in the database, you should choose to RE-INDEX the
database.

Some events which could cause such an anomaly include:
  - Shutting off the power while in the FONE(tm) program
  - Re-booting while in the FONE(tm) program
  - A disk or other error during execution of the program

** DATABASE: BACKUP

It is very important that you backup your personal database periodically.
You wouldn't believe the number of excuses we and others have used when
soliciting help from the experts in trying to recover lost data.

The basic rule should be to ask yourself periodically, "How comfortable
am I with losing everything I've done since I last backed up my data?"
If the answer is, "Not very comfortable", then it's probably time to
backup your data again.

The simplest method is to copy your database to a formatted diskette with
the following DOS command:

  COPY PERSONAL.* A:

If you own a commercial back up utility, then by all means use it.
Many of these also perform data compression, allowing you to squeeze
a large database onto a small floppy diskette.

** CALL SCREEN: TIMING & CALL COST

After placing a call from the CALL screen, you can begin automatic timing
of the call by pressing the F5 key.  Stop timing by pressing the F5 key
again.

If you use the "shell to DOS" option, then return to the program, the
timing function will accurately log the entire time.

** CALL SCREEN: ENTERING A MEMO

From the CALL screen, you may enter a new memo, or edit a previous
memo in the memo field.  To make an initial entry, just type the text.
FONE(tm) will automatically add the date and time of your entry to the
memo.

If a previous memo exists, the F3 key will become active, and will allow
you to swap between the current memo and previous memo(s).  Press the F3
key, and your current memo will be replaced by the previous memo in the
NOTE PAD field.  Press F3 again, and the current memo will re-appear.
The F3 key can be used to toggle back and forth between the current memo
and the previous memo(s).

The following standard editing keys are supported for editing memo text:
  Cursor Up/Down/Left/Right
  Page Up/Down
  Home/End
  Tab/Shift-Tab
  Insert/Delete/Backspace
  Enter/Return



The following additional keys are also supported:
  Ctrl-Y to delete a line
  Ctrl-N to insert a blank line
  Ctrl-Cursor Left/Right to move left/right a word at a time

There IS a limit to the memory which can be allocated to the memo data,
and it will be different for each user, depending upon how the computer
is configured.  We suggest that you limit your total memo entries for
each personal database entry to about 60 lines.

As the number of personal database entries which also have memos increases,
so will the time to find a particular memo increase.  If you experience
an unacceptable delay between the time you select a service for the
CALL screen, and the time the screen appears, you can decrease
this time by making hard copies of some of your infrequently-used memos,
then deleting those memos.

** CALL SCREEN: DELETING A MEMO

FONE(tm) remembers your note pad memo entries and makes them
available on the CALL screen with the use of the F3 key.
If you wish to conserve disk space by deleting old memo entries,
just use the Ctrl-Y (delete line) sequence to delete all lines
in the old memo entry.

** CALL SCREEN: THE CALL LOG

Each time a timing session on the CALL screen is stopped, FONE(tm) will
offer you the opportunity to add an entry for the timed call into your
personal call log.  Just answer "Y" when the program asks if you want
to log the timed session.

The name of the log file is PERSONAL.LOG.

The FONE(tm) program has a PRINT LOG selection on the personal database
menu, which allows you to print the log file with page formatting.

The log file is a plain text file, which you can edit with any text editor,
if you would like to remove some or all of the log entries.  Each field
in the file is surrounded with quote (") marks, and the fields are separated
by commas (,) so that the log file can easily be loaded into a spreadsheet
or database program.

** CALL SCREEN: MANUAL LOG ENTRY

You can manually force an entry to be written to your personal call log
from the CALL screen, by pressing SHIFT-F5.  FONE(tm) will prompt you
for the missing information (date/time of call, length of call) first,
then will write an appropriately priced call entry to the log.

This is a slick way of bringing the call log up to date with the calls
you made outside of FONE(tm), so that the monthly bill screen will be
more accurate.

** MONTHLY BILL SCREEN

This screen is available from the main menu, and allows you to enter your
recurring (Monthly) charges once, then adds the cost of all calls logged
during any month you choose.  Use the PGUP or PGDN keys to select the
desired month.  A hard-copy capability is also provided through the use
of the F6 key.

** RATES: ZZZ WIDGETTelComCo

ZZZ WIDGETTelComCo is a fictitious or bogus telecommunications vendor
that has been included in our reference data base to help the user
in building their own Personal Data Base of Point-to-Point calls.  The
fictitious company provides SAMPLE data that the USER MUST MODIFY to
comply with their own Telcos' Name, Service, Rates, and Hours for
discounts.

When unable to get data loaded to your data base from the reference
services listed, the user should use ZZZ WIDGETTelComCo.  Several
service types are provided such as:

   LOCAL, for getting sample data for calls within your area code.
   MEXICO, for sample rates and hours of service to Mexico.
   CANADA, for sample rates and hours of service to Canada.
   WATS, business service and rates/hours.
   International, for calls between countries.

The user must then edit this data to accurately represent the
commercial service that is being used.

** RATES: SAMPLE CALL TIMES

FONE(tm) defaults the sample call times on the RATE and CALL screens to
3, 10, and 30 minutes.  If you'd like to substitute your own preferences,
press the F3 key on the RATE screen, or the F7 key on the CALL screen, and
enter your preferred sample call times in minutes.  FONE(tm) can handle a
surprisingly large number of minutes, but don't go crazy on us!

** RATES: VOLUME DISCOUNTS

FONE(tm) Overview will allow you to specify the volume discount rate, if
one is applicable to the call you are pricing.  Simply press the F2 key
when at the rate screen, and all of the displayed rates will be reduced
by the percentage you specify.

** SETUP: ALTERNATE ORIGIN

This FONE(tm) option, available only to REGISTERED USERS, on the utility
menu, allows you to specify that you are calling from an alternate location,
so that call pricing from "anywhere to anywhere" may easily be evaluated.

While you are evaluating call pricing from the alternate location, your
personal database will not be available, since the call pricing information
in your database is relative to your registered user location.  Only the
RATE OVERVIEW menu items will be functional during the alternate origin
call pricing evaluation.

When you are finished evaluating call pricing from alternate call origins,
select REDO SETUP from the utility menu to re-establish your normal call
origin information, or just exit the FONE(tm) program.

The alternate call origin location information that you enter will not be
saved when you exit the FONE(tm) program.  The next time you enter FONE(tm),
your original information will be in effect.

** SETUP: MODEM PORT

FONE(tm) provides automatic telephone number dialing if you have a
Hayes-compatible modem connected to your computer on a serial port.

If you do not have a modem, you can still use FONE(tm).  Just place
the call the way you would normally, using the data in your database.
Then use the other features of FONE(tm) to conveniently record your
personal database entry data.

If you have a modem attached to your computer, you must specify the
serial communications port to which it is connected.

On the SETUP screen:
   - Enter "A" if you do not have a modem
   - Enter "B" if the modem is connected to serial port 1
   - Enter "C" if the modem is connected to serial port 2
   - Enter "D" if the modem is connected to serial port 3
   - Enter "E" if the modem is connected to serial port 4

Also see PULSE OR TONE DIALING.
** SETUP: PULSE OR TONE DIALING

You may select the method that FONE(tm) uses for dialing numbers.  On
the setup screen, enter a "Y" after "Tone Dialing" if your modem and
phone line both support tone dialing.  Otherwise enter "N", and
FONE(tm) will send pulse dialing commands to the modem when dialing.

Just a reminder:  You must have a modem connected to your computer,
and have specified the port to which it is connected, for auto-dialing
to work.

Also see MODEM PORT.
** SETUP: SCREEN COLORS

If you have a color monitor, you may choose your favorite colors for the
Introduction screen, the Menus and Announcements, and the Exit screen.
The Data Input screen, Browse screen, Modify screen, Call In Progress
screen, and Setup screen colors are predetermined by the program.

When you first enter FONE(tm), the program will automatically
determine what type of monitor interface hardware you have.  Based
on that information, the SETUP screen will contain a default
value for the "Color Monitor" field.  The field will contain a "Y"
if FONE(tm) has determined that you probably have a color monitor,
or an "N" if the program thinks you have a monochrome monitor.

You can override this value by moving to that field with the TAB key,
and specifying a "Y" if you have a color monitor, or an "N" if you
have a monochrome monitor.

** USER MANUAL

I have prepared a complete, and well documented Users Manual for FONE(tm).
The User Manual is very detailed, and was written to serve as a tutorial/
instructional guide for the Novice PC User, or as a handy reference text
for the more experienced PC User.  To encourage New Registrations, I will
send out copies of the User Manual for FONE(tm), by return mail, on a PC
compatible diskette.  The User Manual is in Standard ASCII format suitable
for printing.  For a limited time I will provide Registered Users with the
FONE(tm) User Manual on diskette for only $5.00 plus a shipping charge
of $5.00.  The List Price of the User Manual is $11.95 plus Sales Tax, plus
the shipping/handling fee of $5.00 or $16.95 plus tax.  Again, if you
Register your copy of FONE(tm), the User Manual is yours for only $5.00.
Quantities are limited.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:      EUGENE L. WOODS, PE/EE
                           Engineering Systems Specialist
                           P. O. Box 261267
                           San Diego, CA 92196 / USA
                           TELEPHONE (Voice):  [phone]

** CALCULATOR: FILE TRANSFER TIME

Use this screen to calculate how long it will take to transfer a file to
or from an on-line telecommunications service.

Since different services support different connection baud rates, and have
different amounts of file transfer overhead, you must fill in the fields
at the bottom of the screen with the usual transfer rates of the services
you usually call.

You can perform a sample calculation at the top of the screen, to calculate
how long it took for a file transfer.  Then take the transfer rate
which is calculated, and enter it in the transfer rate field on the line
corresponding to the service for the file transfer you just timed.

Once these fields are filled in, the information will be remembered.

Then, just enter the size, in kilobytes, of the file to be transferred,
and the time to transfer the file to each of the services listed will
be displayed.

** CALCULATOR: FAX TRANSMIT TIME

Use this screen to calculate how long it will take to transmit a FAX.

Since different FAXes and phone lines may take different amounts of time,
you will need to fill in the fields at the bottom of the screen with the
typical FAX transmission rates of your usual connections.

You can perform a sample calculation at the top of the screen, to calculate
how long it took for a previous FAX.  Then take the transmit rate per page
which is calculated, and enter it in the transmit rate field on the line
corresponding to the connection you just timed.

Once these fields are filled in, the information will be remembered.

Then, just enter the size, in pages, of the document to be FAXed,
and the FAX tranmission time to each of the connections listed will
be displayed.

** CALCULATOR: GENERAL PURPOSE

A general purpose calculator is available from the utility menu, the
RATE OVERVIEW screen, and the CALL screen.  This calculator works
with the + - / * keys on the numeric keypad, and will provide a hard copy
of the calculator tape to your printer when you press the F7 key.

** MISC: MOUSE SUPPORT

FONE(tm) now recognizes if you have a mouse driver installed!  You can
move the data entry cursor directly to a field by moving the mouse
cursor to the field and clicking with the left mouse button.  This
feature is available in the SETUP, ADD, COPY/MODIFY, MODIFY, and
MONTHLY BILL screens.

** MISC: DOS SHELL

You can shell out to DOS, and use DOS commands outside of FONE(tm),
by pressing the F8 key from the CALL screen.  Note that FONE(tm)
uses a significant amount of RAM memory, therefore some memory-intensive
DOS commands may not have enough RAM left to function.

When you are done using DOS commands, type EXIT to return to FONE(tm).

Be sure to change directory (cd) back to the FONE(tm) directory before
exiting from DOS back to FONE(tm).  If you don't, FONE(tm) may not
be able to find its associated database files.

** MISC: TIMING FUNCTIONS OUTSIDE OF FONE

You can use FONE(tm) to time another process outside of FONE(tm) by pressing
the F5 (start timing) key while in the rate screen.  Then press the F8 (DOS
shell) key to temporarily leave FONE(tm).  While you are doing other things,
FONE(tm) is keeping track of the elapsed time, and will display it when you
type EXIT to return to FONE(tm) later.  In addition, FONE(tm) will update
the rate display during your absence.  When you return to FONE(tm), press
the F5 key again to stop the timing process.

** SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

FONE(tm) requires a PC-compatible with an 80286 or higher processor,
running DOS 3.3+, 5.0, or 6.0.

The database library which FONE(tm) uses is not compatible with DOS 4.0x,
or DOS 3.2 or lower.

** END
============================================================================
===========================  FORMATTING GUIDE  =============================
============================================================================
         1         2         3         4         5         6         7
1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456
============================================================================

FILE ID: FNHELP.DAT

- Edited by Gene Woods on 2-23-92.
- Updated 92/09/09 by SK Hushing III.  Describe mouse support.
- Updated by SKH, 93/06/06.  Added Windows and Monthly Bill topics.
- Updated by SKH, 93/07/04.  Re-organized to take advantage of color menus.

COPYRIGHT (c) 1986-92, BY EUGENE L. WOODS, PE/EE.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
                       P.O. BOX 261267, SAN DIEGO, CA 92196 / USA

THE TITLE/FILENAME, CONTENTS, AND MANNER OF PRESENTATION ARE FULLY PROTECTED
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.  COPYING OR REPRODUCTION IS FORBIDDEN
WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR/PREPARER.