Gold Medal Software 3

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CDProW The CD Recordkeeping system for Windows by Perigee Systems. Copyright (c) 1993-1994 by Perigee Systems P. O. Box 920681 Norcross, GA 30092 Version 1.3.0 April 1994 Contents Contents 0-1 Overview 1-2 1 - Introduction 1-2 2 - Purchase, Copyright and Warranty Information 2-2 User Documentation 2-3 3 - How To Get Help 3-3 4 - How To Add Entries 4-3 5 - How To Change An Entry 5-3 6 - How To Delete An Entry 6-4 7 - How to View Additional Information 7-4 8 - How To Work With Titles 8-4 9 - Starting A New File 9-4 10 - Opening A File 10-4 11 - Saving A File 11-5 12 - Working With Reports 12-5 13 - Report Designer 13-5 14 - Printing 14-5 15 - Printer Setup 15-6 16 - Print 16-6 17 - Searching for Entries 17-6 18 - Search Window 18-7 19 - Search Type 19-7 20 - Search Location 20-8 21 - Search Value 21-8 22 - Track Titles 22-8 23 - Options 23-8 24 - Sort Options 24-9 25 - Sort Now 25-9 26 - Config Save 26-9 27 - Viewing The Recording List 27-9 28 - How to Import or Export 28-10 29 - Designing your Import or Export file 29-10 Description of CDProW fields 30-12 30 - Title 30-12 31 - Artist 31-12 32 - Description 32-12 33 - Medium 33-12 34 - Label 34-12 35 - Catalog Number 35-12 36 - Release Year 36-12 37 - Misc Keys 37-13 38 - Category 38-13 39 - Comments 39-13 40 - Collection Number 40-13 41 - Collection Location 41-13 42 - Composer 42-13 43 - Conductor 43-13 44 - Purchase Date 44-13 45 - Purchase Price 45-13 46 - Number of Disks 46-13 47 - Number of Tracks 47-14 48 - Total Playing Time 48-14 49 - Sound Rating 49-14 50 - Performance Rating 50-14 51 - Awards 51-14 Overview 1 - Introduction CDProW is the CD collection program that allows you to easily keep track of all of your recordings from within the MS Windows environment. Some of the features of CDProW include: 1.Easy entry of basic recording information. 2.Extensive additional information may be entered if desired. 3.Entry of song and track titles for each recording. 4.Extensive search capabilities. 5.Custom designed reports - you specify the columns you want to see on your report. 6.Extensive context sensitive help available at any time. 2 - Purchase, Copyright and Warranty Information CDProW is a shareware package. Shareware is not free. If, after an initial trial period not to exceed 30 days, you find the software useful and continue to use it, you must pay a license fee for the right to use it. During the 30 day trial period you are under no obligation to buy it. CDProW is not a demo version, is not crippled and does not annoy you with messages reminding you to pay for and register it. The license registration fee for CDProW is U.S. $25.00. To register, send: 1.Your name and address 2.Compuserve, America Online, Genie or Prodigy ID if available 3.Please name the BBS or online service where you acquired CDProW 4.U.S. $ 25.00 (check or money order) To: Perigee Systems CDProW Registration P. O. Box 920681 Norcross, GA 30092 Once you have registered, you will receive a registration number which must be entered using the Options / Register menu selection. This registration number unlocks the software so that you have unlimited use beyond the 30 day trial period. For support, contact the author at: Compuserve ID 72674,2434 or America Online screen name PerigeeSY1 or Send correspondence directly to the address above As a shareware program, you are permitted to distribute it, provided that you do not charge for it and that all files are distributed together along with all copyright information. This program is provided as is without any warranty, expressed or implied. MS Windows and Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft corporation. IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines. User Documentation 3 - How To Get Help Help is available at any time. Just enter F1 for context sensitive help, or F2 for the help table of contents. 4 - How To Add Entries All new recordings are added from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window. To get there, select Edit from the main menu, then select Recording Entry / Maintenance. Most entries on this window are optional. The only required fields are Title and Artist. When adding a new recording the combination of Title and Artist must be unique. If you already have a recording with the exact same title and artist, you will be warned and given the choice to cancel the add operation or to add another entry anyway. Once the recording has been added you can select the Addl' Info or Titles buttons to enter additional information. 5 - How To Change An Entry Changes to recordings are made from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window. To get there, select Edit from the main menu, then select Recording Entry / Maintenance. Before making any changes you must first locate the recording you wish to change. You do this by selecting a recording from the primary list or by moving through the recordings one at a time. You can also select a recording using the Locate button or menu selection. After making the desired changes, select the Save button or menu selection to apply the changes. If you leave this window without saving your changes first, all changes will be lost. From this window, you can optionally select Addl' Info or Titles to make changes to other information or track titles. 6 - How To Delete An Entry All recordings are deleted from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window. To get there, select Edit from the main menu, then select Recording Entry / Maintenance. Before deleting a recording you must first locate the recording you wish to delete. You do this by selecting a recording from the primary list or by moving through the recordings one at a time. You can also select a recording using the Locate button or menu selection. Select the Delete button or menu selection to delete the recording. You will be prompted to confirm the delete. 7 - How to View Additional Information The Additional Information window contains additional fields for a recording. To get there, select the Addl Info button or menu selection from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window or select Additional Information from the main menu after selecting a recording from the list. 8 - How To Work With Titles The Titles window contains a list of track titles for a recording. To get there, select the Titles button or menu selection from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window or select Titles from the main menu after selecting a recording from the list. Before working with titles, it is necessary to set the number of tracks for a recording. This is done from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window. From this window, set the Number Of Tracks field to the number of tracks on the recording. 9 - Starting A New File Selecting New from the File menu clears the current set of recordings and starts a new file. After entering recording information, make sure you select Save As from the File menu in order to save your changes as a named file. 10 - Opening A File Select Open from the File menu in order to locate and load an existing file of recordings. A dialog box is presented that allows you to change the drive and directory in order to locate the file you wish to load. 11 - Saving A File Select Save from the File menu in order to save all changes to an existing file. If you have not previously saved the file, then your only option is Save As from the File menu. Selecting this option presents a dialog box which allows you to change the drive and directory and to give your file a name. 12 - Working With Reports The Reports option from the main menu allows you to design, load and save custom report definitions. A custom report is one that you design. You select the number and order of the columns that will be printed. Any number of different custom report definitions can be saved and recalled whenever you need to use them. Follow these steps to use a custom report: 1.To use an existing report, select Open from the Reports menu or use the Open Def button from the report design window.. 2.To design a new report, select Report Designer from the Reports menu. 3.Select Save or Save As from the Reports menu to save it or use the Save Def button from the report design window.. 4.Select Print from the File menu to print your custom report. 13 - Report Designer The report designer allows you to define your own custom reports. Each report definition can be saved to a different file name and used whenever it is needed. Designing a custom report is as simple as selecting fields to print from a list of available fields. The fields are then printed on the report in the order they are selected by you. If you make a mistake, you can delete fields that you have selected. Each column has a default width based on the size of the field selected. You can optionally change the width of each column. After designing a report, select the Close button to return to the primary recording list. You can then Save your custom report definition, or proceed directly to the Print option from the File menu to print your custom report. The Clear button is used to clear all entries in the selected list and to start designing a new report. 14 - Printing Printing of reports involves the following steps: 1.Perform Printer Setup 2.Design or load a custom report 3.Use Search to limit the contents of the report 4.Start Printing 15 - Printer Setup Select the Printer Setup option from the File menu to setup the printer. This must be done prior to any printing. The Heading and Detail fonts should each be selected using this window. To change a font, select the Set Heading or Set Detail buttons. These buttons will display a dialog window that allows you to select a font along with font size and other settings. After making changes, select Close to return to the primary window. The printer settings only affect the current session. If you exit the program without saving the configuration from the options menu, then these settings will be lost. 16 - Print The Print option from the File menu initiates printing of reports. There are 2 kinds of reports available: 1.A standard report 2.Custom reports The standard report is always available and is a simple list of recordings in the current file. Custom reports must first be designed and loaded using the Reports menu. Custom reports allow you to select any number of columns for a report in any order. The sequence of entries listed on a report is determined by the sort order. To print a report: 1.Select the type of report (standard or custom) 2.Change the report heading if desired 3.Select Setup if necessary to setup printer fonts 4.Select the Entries to print (all or search results) 5.Select Print to start printing 17 - Searching for Entries There are 2 methods available to search for specific recordings: 1.Use the Locate Button from the Recording Entry / Maintenance window 2.Use the Search window The Locate button locates a recording based on the title you have entered. It matches the title you enter to the titles of all other recordings, stopping at the first recording found that matches. The Search window allows much greater flexibility in searching for specific words, categories, etc. Also, the Search window provides the ability to find multiple recordings while the Locate button method only finds a single recording. The Search window is also used to limit the number of recordings that will be printed on a report. 18 - Search Window This window is used to initiate a search of all recordings. You may wish to do this when you are looking for a particular recording, want to see a list of all recordings for an artist, see a list of all recordings that are of a particular category, etc. The results of this window affect the primary recording list. You may choose to see all recordings listed or just the results of a search. Report printing may also be affected by the search results. You have the option to print all recordings or just the results of a search. Follow these steps to initiate a search: 1.Select the Search Type 2.Select the Search Location 3.Enter the Search Value 4.Select the Search Button to start the search When a search is completed, this window will be removed and you will be presented with the primary recording list which will display the results of the search. 19 - Search Type The search type determines the kind of search that will be performed. You have the following options: 1.Text Search 2.Category Search 3.Medium Search A Text Search is allows you to search individual fields within all recordings for a text string that you enter. If you select Text Search, then you must also enter a Search Location. A Category Search allows you to view all recordings that have a given category. You must select the category from the pull down category list for this type of search. A Medium Search allows you to view all recordings that are on a given medium. You must select one of the mediums from the option box. 20 - Search Location The search location identifies the fields that will be inspected during the search. Any number of fields may be selected for the search. The Set All button is a convenient way to set all fields on. Select Case Sensitive Search if you want the case of the search string to matter. If this is not selected, the case does not matter. This means that a search string of 'abc' will match a recording of 'abc', 'ABC', 'Abc', etc. At least one search location must be selected for a Text Search. Search location has no affect on a Category or Medium search. 21 - Search Value This is the value that you want to find. Some type of search value is always required. The actual value entered depends on the Search Type . 1.Text Search - Enter the value you want to find in the Text To Find field. 2.Category Search - Select the category you want to find from the pull down list. 3.Medium Search - Select the medium you want to find from the listed options. 22 - Track Titles This window is used to view and change the track titles for a recording. The total number of tracks available to change are controlled by the Number Of Tracks field on the Recording Entry / Maintenance window. Before working with titles, it is necessary to first set the Number Of Tracks to a value greater than zero. To enter or change a track, perform the following steps: 1.Select the track to change from this List Of Tracks. 2.Change the title name in the Track Title field. 3.Select the Save Entry button to update the track list. 4.Select Save to keep all changes. If you wish to discard your changes, select Cancel. 23 - Options The options menu allows you to perform the following functions: 1.Select the Sort Options. 2.To immediately sort the file. 3.To Save the current settings to a configuration file. 24 - Sort Options This dialog box allows you to change the current sort options. The following options are changed: 1.Sort Mode 2.Sort Sequence The Sort Mode can be automatic or manual. If automatic is selected, then the file is always kept in the proper sequence as determined the by Sort Sequence. If manual is selected, then you must use the Sort Now menu item to sort the file whenever you wish. The Sort Sequence can be by Title or Artist. If Title is selected, then all recordings are sorted in ascending sequence based on the recording title. If Artist is selected, then the recordings are sorted by the Artist name. 25 - Sort Now Select this menu item to manually sort the file of recordings whenever you wish. You must use this option to sort the file if a manual sort mode was selected on the Sort Options window. 26 - Config Save Select Automatic Config Save to save any configuration changes every time you exit the program. Turning this option off requires that you select the Save Config Now option whenever you wish to save the current configuration. The following items are saved as part of the current configuration: 1.Sort Mode 2.Sort Sequence 3.Heading Font 4.Detail Font 5.Save Config Settings 27 - Viewing The Recording List The recording list is the primary window for viewing recordings. It allows you to easily view a list of all of your recordings or to view the results of a search. The recordings are listed in sequence by Artist or by Title depending on the Sort Option settings. The Filter box allows you to select which recordings to view - either all recordings or the results of a search. You can view more information for a recording by selecting it from the list and then selecting one of the options from the Edit menu. The available menu choices from this window are: 1.File Menu - Opening and Saving file, Printing Files, Exiting the program. 2.Edit Menu - Going to different edit windows to view or change recording information. 3.Search Menu - initiates a search for specific recordings. 4.Reports Menu - Designs, Loads and Saves custom report definitions. 5.Options Menu - Define Sort options and save options to a configuration file. 6.Help Menu - Initiates help functions. 28 - How to Import or Export Importing and exporting data is started by selecting Import/Export from the main File menu. You are then presented with the File Import and Export window that allows you to define your import or export file, select the file to import or export and then to start the import or export process. The steps necessary to import data are: Design your import file Create your import file Select the import action Define your import file Select the import file Start the import process Review import errors The steps necessary to export data are: Design your export file Select the export action Define your export file Select the export file name Start the export process 29 - Designing your Import or Export file Import and export files are comma delimited files. This means that each field that you want to import or export is separated with a comma. Optionally, you can change the character that separates each field from a comma to any other character you choose using the Delimiter field. Each import record must end in a carriage return and line feed character. Each field that is considered a "string" field must be surrounded by the String Delimiter character. This character is normally a double quote ("). Track titles have special treatment. They are considered a single string field, so you must surround the group of all track titles with the string delimiter character. Within the track string field, you must separate each track with the Track Delimiter field which is normally the semi colon (;). This track delimiter is used to determine where each track title ends. When importing track titles, it is not necessary to also specify the Nbr Of Tracks field. This field will be calculated based on the actual number of track titles imported. Each field that is imported must be of the correct type and must contain a correct value. This means that if a field is a number (such as the Purchase Price field), then you can only import a numeric value into this field. If a field is defined as a date (such as Purchase Date), then you can only import a date value. The Medium field must be one of the following single character codes: C Compact Disk T Cassette R LP Album D DAT O Other When importing data, you only have to specifiy the fields that you want to import. For example: If you do not want to import Composer or Conductor, then you do not need to define those fields in the Import definition. When the records are imported, those fields that you do not specify will be left blank. There are, however, 2 required fields: Artist and Title. When importing, both of these fields must be defined. One of the best ways to see the format that you must use for importing data is to export the demo file that is supplied with CDProW. Simply select all fields to be exported and then review the export file with a file editor. Example 1: Fields imported: Artist Title Release Year Nbr of Disks "Artist one","Title one",1994,3 "Artist two","Title two",1994,1 Example 2: Fields imported: Artist Title Purchase Date Purchase Cost Track Titles "Artist one","Title one",03/01/1994,16.95,"Track one;Track two;Track three;" "Artist two","Title two",12/31/93,17,"Track one;Track two;Track three;" "Artist three","Title three",,,"Track one;Track two;Track three;Track four;" In Example 2, track titles are shown with the track delimiter field between each track. Also, the 3rd record does not contain the Purchase Date and Purchase Cost fields. Note that commas are left as place holders for these fields. Description of CDProW fields 30 - Title The title of the recording is entered here. When adding a new recording, this is one of the required fields. 31 - Artist The artist name is entered here. When adding a new recording, this is one of the required fields that must be entered. As recordings are added, a list of all artists is created. The artist field contains a pull down list of all other artists that have been used. You can use this list to make sure your artist names are consistent. 32 - Description This is a one line description of the recording. 33 - Medium This describes the medium used to store the recording. The possible choices are: 1.Compact Disk 2.Cassette 3.LP Album 4.DAT 5.Other 34 - Label This field stores the recording label that publishes the recording, such as Capitol, RCA, Epic, etc. It is important to store this information for insurance purposes. 35 - Catalog Number The catalog number is a unique identifier used by the recording company to identify this recording. It can usually be found on the back or edge of a recording or somewhere within the liner notes. It is important to store this information for insurance purposes. 36 - Release Year This is the year that the recording was originally released. 37 - Misc Keys This is a set of three key fields that can be used to identify and group recordings. They can be used for any purpose. 38 - Category The category describes the type of recording, such as Classical, Rock, Country, etc. There are several standard categories that are already setup but you can add as many other categories as you need. By entering a new category in the field, it is then added to this list of available categories and is available to be used for other recordings. 39 - Comments This is a large area where you can enter additional comments about a recording. 40 - Collection Number This field can be used to store your own unique number for this recording within your collection. This is useful if you already have some numbering system for all of your recordings. 41 - Collection Location This field can be used to identify the location of the recording within your collection. If you have some numbering system for a very large collection, you may want to keep track of the location by shelf number, row, etc. 42 - Composer This field stores the composer's name for a classical recording. 43 - Conductor This field stores the conductor's name for a classical recording. 44 - Purchase Date This is the date that the recording was purchased. 45 - Purchase Price This is the original purchase price of the recording. 46 - Number of Disks This field stores the total number of disks or tapes for the recording. The scroll bar adjacent to the field can be used to change the value in the field. 47 - Number of Tracks This field stores the total number of tracks on the recording. The scroll bar adjacent to the field can be used to change the value in the field. 48 - Total Playing Time This field stores the total playing time for the recording in whole minutes. The scroll bar adjacent to the field can be used to change the value in the field. 49 - Sound Rating This field can be used to track a sound quality rating for the recording. The scale is 0 to 10. The scroll bar adjacent to the field can be used to change the value. 50 - Performance Rating This field can be used to track a performance quality rating for the recording. The scale is 0 to 10. The scroll bar adjacent to the field can be used to change the value. 51 - Awards This large field is used to enter any awards that the recording might have received.