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Precision Software Appli…tions Silver Collection 4
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Precision Software Applications Silver Collection Volume 4 (1993).iso
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BACKUP MODULE
When you select this menu option, a copy of the currently
loaded PDF file is saved to the current directory, with the
extension BAK appended to the filename.
For example, let's say that you are working with a file named
business.pdf. You have had this file for some time and so it
contains many addresses that would be too difficult or troublesome
to replace. This is when you should select Backup.
After you select Backup, the following message will be
displayed;
" A copy of _______ will be made and named _________.BAK."
The first group of dashes will be replaced with the name of
the currently loaded PDF file, which in this case is business.pdf.
The second group of dashes will read business.bak. An additional
prompt would then read;
"Do you wish to continue? y/n."
If you press the <Esc>, or the <n> keys, the operation is
halted and you will be returned to the main menu. Any other key
will let the operation continue.
The current directory of the current drive will then be
searched to see if the name business.bak is already in use. If a
file is located with that name, then you will be shown a menu that
reads;
The file BUSINESS.BAK already exists.
Do you wish to
(1) Replace BUSINESS.BAK with the current contents of BUSINESS.PDF
(2) Make new backup copy of BUSINESS.PDF and rename this backup?
Press the number of your choice or <ESC> to quit.
Pressing the number 1 will overwrite the previous contents of
the file BUSINESS.BAK with the current contents of BUSINESS.PDF.
This option will be the one that you choose most often. In fact,
if you make frequent backups this is the only option you would
choose, unless you wish to keep dated backups, such as, BUS791 -
July 1991, or BUS1091 - October 1991. If this is the case select
(2) to get the second menu option.
Pressing the number 2 will display the prompt;
" Enter new filename, (8 letters or less) >".
The name you input will then be scanned for on the current
directory. If it is found you will be prompted again for another
name. This process continues until a unique filename is found.
Then the program makes a copy of the file business.pdf, naming
the copy with the unique filename you supplied and adding the
BAK extension.
List-It! -19-
When the operation is complete, the screen will be cleared and
a final prompt will read;
" The file ________.PDF has been successfully
backed up to ________.BAK. "
The underline marks will be filled with the appropriate
filenames.
If one of your main PDF files becomes corrupted, or if you
inadvertently delete it, and are unable to retrieve the file, then
you need to use the backup copy you made. (You did remember to
back up your data files right?) However, before you attempt to use
your back up copies, you must rename the file and give it a PDF
extension.
To rename your back up copy issue the following command at
the DOS prompt:
C:\ren c:\phone\business.bak business.pdf
Or, alternatively, you can use whatever file management
software you are familiar with to rename the file with the PDF
extension.
Whichever method you use, you will then be able to start the
program and use the file as you did the original. Just remember to
back up the file before you quit the program.
List-It! -20- EXPORT/IMPORT
Choosing this option from the Utility sub-menu displays
another short menu. This is where you choose the operation you
wish; either importing a file or exporting the currently loaded
file.
EXPORT
The export operation allows you to make an ASCII copy of the
currently loaded PDF file. One that can be read from the DOS
command line by entering the command, "type file.pdf", (where you
substitute the name of the file in place of FILE).
Choosing this option creates the file: FILE.TXT. The name of
the file that is currently being used is stripped of the PDF
filename extension and has the extension TXT put in its place. The
current directory is then scanned to see if that filename already
exists.
If the filename is unique, then the contents of the
database are exported to the newly created file, one line at a
time, and are written in ASCII format. When the end of a record is
reached, the tilde (~) character is then written to the file
followed by a carriage return. This marks the end of the record.
The contents are exported in the same order that the print
module uses when printing out the entire contents of the database.
Last Name First Name
Address
City, State Zip code
Area code Phone
Contact
Company
Business Area code Business phone and extension
Fax Area code phone
Notes
~
However, if the file name does already exist, you are then
allowed to do one of 3 things.
1. Allow the program to continue, which will cause the
previous contents of FILE.TXT to be overwritten.
2. Give the program a new name under which to export the file.
3. Escape the operation.
List-It! -21- IMPORT
Import allows you to use an existing database, one created by
another program, so you will not have to re-enter your records
to use List-It!.
However, certain caveats exist. First, your existing program
must be able to create an ASCII version of its database, with a
special character separating the records. Most programs out today
have this ability so there should be no problem in meeting this
requirement. You must convert your database to ASCII because
List-It!, as currently written, does not read databases in their
native format.
It would also be preferable, if you could have your program
export records in a way that matches the format shown on the
previous page. That is, by having name and address information in
a mailing list format, and by having area codes and phone numbers
on the same line. This is how List-It! exports records. If this is
not possible, then you must make sure that only one field gets
exported per line.
An example of one field per line in your exported file:
Last Name
First Name
City
State
Zip code and so on.
The second more immediate concern is that when importing
records that are not completely filled, the imported information
will not be placed into its proper field.
For instance, let's say that your records contain the
following fields; Company name, business area code, business phone
number and notes. Now suppose the area code field is empty, so of
course, nothing would be exported for this field. When List-It!
tries to import the information in this record, it will correctly
recognize the Company's name, but it will import the next line it
sees - the phone number - as the area code since that is the next
field it expects. Then from that point in the record, every field
will be treated incorrectly.
You can however, restrict misreading records to only those
records with missing fields, by insuring that there is a character
separating the records in your exported file. Again, most of
today's programs do this, so there should be no problem. Then when
you have finished importing you can go into the file, and edit
those records with the missing fields.
When you first select Import you will see a message warning
you that only ASCII text files can be properly imported. If you
try to import anything else, you will end up with garbage. It also
advises you of the problem created by records containing missing
fields. Just press a key to continue. You are then allowed to exit
the module, by pressing the <Esc> key.
List-It! -22-
You will next be prompted for the file name to import. You
must give the full path here, including the extension.
For example: c:\arc\data.txt
The program then checks to see that the filename given
represents an actual file. If it cannot find the file, you are
notified of that fact and allowed to enter a new filename. Don't
forget to use the full path!
Once the program has verified the existence of the file, it
takes the filename from the path, strips the extension txt and
appends PDF to it. It then checks the current working directory for
the existence of this newly created name, allowing you to give it a
new name, if the one you provided is already in use.
You will then see these filenames near the top of the screen;
File to import: c:\arc\data.txt
Save as: e:\listit\data.pdf (SEE NOTE)
Next you will be prompted with the message;
"Is there one field per line in the file to be imported? y/n"
Press the <y> key only if the answer is yes. Press another
key to continue.
You are next prompted for the character used as a record
separator, and for the total number of fields in a record from the
file that you are importing. This number should include every
field in the record, not just the ones that got exported. You can
get this number from the manual detailing the operation of the
other program or from the entry screen of the program, by just
counting the fields that appear on your monitor.
Next you will see all the fields in a List-It! record, with
an entry field beside each one. This is where you tell the program
the order the fields take in the database you are importing from.
The numbers you enter here are very important, so to be sure,
check the manual of the other database for the necessary order.
Pressing F1 activates a series of help screens, in case you
are stuck and don't know how to proceed. If you press the <Esc>
key at any field position, you will quit the Import module and
return to the main menu.
You MUST press the return key after entering each field's
number order.
NOTE: The program places the file data.pdf in the current working
directory. In this case the current working directory is the
listit directory of the E drive. Even if you had typed d:\data,
it would still build e:\listit\data.pdf.
List-It! -23-
If you have entered the same number twice, the program will
display those numbers in a different color to make the error more
visible. You must then move to the incorrect entry, with the up
or down cursor keys, and enter the proper order number.
When you are done ordering the fields press the <F9> key.
The program then counts the fields you have tagged, displays
the count and asks, "OK to proceed? y/n". The Import routine will
only continue if you press the <y> key, at which time it will
display the fields in sorted order and begin the import operation.
Press another key besides the <y> key, and you will be allowed to
re-enter any information you might have forgotten.
Once import begins, memory is set aside in RAM for each
record as it is read from the imported file. When the last record
is read, the program then writes the information to disk, saving
it under the name data.pdf. This file is then read back into
memory so that you can use it immediately.
The Import operation was timed with a text file containing 280
records of six fields each. The entire operation took about 70
seconds on an XT Turbo.
If all this seems a bit complicated, perhaps its time for a
walk through the Import process.
After you have selected Import/Export from the utility
sub-menu, you will see the following;
(1) Import file.
(2) Export file.
Press number of your choice or <ESC> to quit.
Press 1 to enter the Import Module. A window will pop up
displaying the warning about only importing ASCII files. Press any
key to erase the window, and continue with the Import process.
You will next be prompted for the imported file's name.
Import:
Save as:
Enter file name to import. Include extension and path.
___________________________________________________________
Here you would enter c:\arc\data.txt. (That is, providing the
file you want to import is named data.txt and that it resides in
the directory arc of the C drive).
You must now answer the question relating to the ordering
List-It! -24-
of fields in the file you are importing from. Is there one
field per line? Answer yes by pressing the <y> key if that was how
you had the file created. Press another key if there is more than
one field per line.
You are now asked if there is a character used to separate
records.
It is VERY important that you enter the character your program
used as a record separator in creating the ASCII file. This is to
ensure that when records are not completely filled, incorrect
importing is limited to that one record, that is, the incomplete
record.
If there is no record separator press the <Enter> key. Then
enter the number of fields in your database. Enter 9 if you have 9
fields in the record. Here is the screen at this point:
Please enter character used as a record separator.
If there is no record separator press ENTER. ~_
Please enter total number of fields in file being imported. 9__
The following screen will then appear:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Import module Press <F9> when you are finished. │
╞═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╡
│ Importing file │
│ │
│ Import: c:\arc\data.TXT │
│ Save as: data.PDF │
│ Record Delimiter: ~ │
│ Total Records: 9 Last Name ___ │
│ First Name ___ │
│ Address ___ │
│ City ___ │
│ State ___ │
│ Zip ___ │
│ Area code ___ │
│ Phone ___ │
│ Company Name ___ │
│ Contact ___ │
│ Bus area code ___ │
│ Bus phone ___ │
│ Ext ___ │
│ Fax area code ___ │
│ Fax ___ │
│ Notes ___ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Figure 9
This is where you must check the order of fields in your other
database. Suppose that you have all the above fields, except for
the fields relating to business, contacts and fax, a total of nine
List-It! -25-
in all. And that they take the following order in your database;
First name, last name, address, state, city, zip code, area code,
phone number and notes. The screen will then look like this after
you have finished numbering the fields.
Last Name 2__
First Name 1__
Address 3__
City 5__
State 4__
Zip 6__
Area code 7__
Phone 8__
Company Name ___
Contact ___
Bus area code ___
Bus phone ___
Ext ___
Fax area code ___
Fax ___
Notes 9__
Then press the <F9> key. The program then totals the fields,
letting you know you there were 9 entries. It next asks if you wish
to proceed, giving you the option to go back and correct any
entries you have made.
If you do notice an incorrect entry was made and wish to
delete it, you must move the cursor to the field entry in question
and press the zero key. The incorrect entry will be replaced by
zero and then exchanged with an underline character when you hit
<Enter>.
After you have examined the screen and are satisfied with
the entries, press the <F9> key again and then the <y> key to
continue. The fields will be re-displayed in the order that they
will be imported and the import process will start.
The file C:\ARC\DATA.TXT is then read into memory one record
at a time. When the end of the file is reached, the file DATA.PDF
is created and the contents of the file just read are written to
disk. After DATA.PDF has been successfully saved, it is then loaded
back into memory, all pointers are adjusted, and you can use the
file as you would any other PDF file.
List-It! -26- LOAD FILE
The Load File option allows you to choose the PDF file you
wish to work with. When this option is selected, (from the Utility
sub-menu), a window will appear containing the names of any PDF
file the program finds in the current directory. (SEE NOTE)
You will also see within the window a highlight bar which
can be moved with any cursor key. To load in a new file, just
move the highlight bar to the desired file, hit <Enter> and the
file will be loaded.
The ability to keep your mailing lists and/or telephone
numbers in different files, gives you great freedom in structuring
those lists, especially as they grow in size. Business contacts
can be kept in one file, suppliers in another, and your
acquaintances in yet another file.
As an example, we'll produce a PDF file for a very specific
purpose. Let's say you need to maintain the addresses of your
bowling club members, so that you can mail them notices of
upcoming events or notify them when league fees are due. This
would be easier if you had a separate file with only the members
of the bowling league included. To build such a file, take the
following steps. (These steps assume these addresses already exist
within another PDF file).
First select copy from the Utility sub-menu. Then type in
bowling when asked for the name to save the copied file to.
The original PDF file will then be copied and the copy will
be named bowling. Then you go to Load File from the utility
sub-menu and load in the file bowling. Choose the Look module to
scan the records and delete each one that doesn't need to be
included. (All those that aren't members of your bowling league.)
When you have reached the last record, return to the main menu and
select Zap. This will permanently remove the records you deleted.
You will now have a file named bowling that only contains members
of your bowling league.
NOTE: This is normally the directory that you launched List-It!
from. For instance, if you were in the root directory of the C
drive, had a sub-directory named mail which contained the program
List-It!, and then typed:
c:\mail\lst.exe
Then the root directory will be your current directory, and
the program will search the root for PDF files. If however, you
also want to keep your data files in the directory mail, then
before you run List-It! you must change the current directory to
mail. To accomplish this type the following, (or put it in a batch
file, to save yourself the typing.)
c:
cd /mail
lst
List-It! -27- COPY MODULE
This menu option makes a copy of the currently loaded PDF
file, and then renames it with a name of your choice.
When you select this option you are prompted with the question:
" Enter new file name - (8 letters or less) > ".
You then enter whatever name you wish. The program scans
the current directory to see that this name does not duplicate the
name of an already existing file. If the program finds another
file with the same name, you are prompted with the message;
"File already exists.
Press <Esc> to quit or any other key to try again."
You can then either return to the main menu by pressing the
<Esc> key, or press another key to enter a different filename.
This process is continued until a unique filename is found.
Once you have unique file name, it will be used to name the
copy of the currently loaded PDF file. The extension PDF will then
be appended. You will now be able to load this copy and use it as
you would any other PDF file. (To load the file you must select
the menu option Load File on the Utility sub-menu.)
One possible use of this option would be when you want to
split the original data file, (LISTIT.PDF), into 2 files because
it is now too large and too slow to use efficiently. There are
many business contacts, as well as personal contacts, and you feel
that you want to have them in separate PDF files. To split the
file take the following steps:
From the main menu press <u>, then <c>. Type in the word
business at the prompt. A copy of LISTIT.PDF will be made and named
BUSINESS.PDF. Then press <Esc> to return to the main menu. Now you
have to load in the newly created file. Press <u> then <l>, and
move the highlight bar to BUSINESS.PDF and hit <Enter>. The file
BUSINESS.PDF will be loaded.
Now all you have to do is delete all the personal contacts
from the file. Then, if you want to make these changes
permanent, select Zap from the main menu. All personal contacts
will now be permanently removed from the database BUSINESS.PDF.
You can of course, duplicate this process to create a file
with nothing but personal contacts. Repeat the above steps but
name the copy PERSONAL and delete the business contacts.
List-It! -28- COLOR CHANGE MODULE
When the program first loads, it checks your equipment
to see what color mode your system is running in. If it
finds that your system is running a monochrome monitor, then you
will not be able to access this option. If you did, then a
window would pop up telling you that a color monitor is necessary
to access this menu selection.
If you do have a color monitor, or even better, an EGA/VGA
monitor, then you can customize the colors the program uses to your
liking.
What follows is displayed when you first choose this option.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Color change menu │
│ │
│ │
│ F2: To change background color │
│ F3: To change foreground color │
│ F4: To change menu bar color │
│ F5: To change the first letter color │
│ F6: Restore original color settings │
│ F7: To save current colors to disk │
│ F9: Quit │
│ │
│ Press number of desired choice │
│ │
│ │
│ Color >> │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Figure 10
Each of the function keys, (F2 thru F5), allow you to change
the color of some part of the screen. You can change the background
of the monitor. You can change the color of any characters written
to the screen. You can also change the color of the line drawn
underneath the main menu, or the color of the first letter of each
menu option. Once the screen colors are to your liking you can
press the <F7> key and save the color selections to disk.
Don't worry, if you do not explicitly save your color
selections to disk. When you select Quit from the main menu, the
program checks to see if the color attributes have been changed.
If they are different from the original colors then they are
automatically saved. Then when the program is run again, these
saved colors are brought back and used. So you only have to select
colors once, and the program will always use your selected colors
in the future.
List-It! -29-
Any color changes you make to the background or foreground,
are used as soon as you exit one of the color sub-menus. However,
the other selections concern the main screen display area, so you
can not see these changes until you exit the color change module.
If the colors are not to your liking, then re-enter the color
change option and choose again.
To select a color while in any color change sub-menu, just
press the number alongside the desired color. The selected color
will then appear in a small box next to the words, "Color >>".
This gives you the chance to see how the color displays on your
monitor. The colors can also be selected by pressing the up or
down cursor keys. They will respectively advance or reduce the
color attribute. Each press of these keys displays a different
color.
Pressing <F2> allows you to change the background colors.
You can select from the following eight colors:
Black, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Brown, and Light Grey.
When you press the <F3>, <F4>, or <F5> keys, you are shown 16
colors from which you can select a new color. They are:
Black, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Brown, Light Grey,
Dark Grey, Light Blue, Light Green, Light Cyan, Light Red,
Light Magenta, Yellow, and White.
Selecting the <F6> key restores the colors that originally
came with the program, the colors that I feel are the most
attractive and pleasing to the eye, on a VGA monitor. They are
listed here:
The line under the menu bar is colored Cyan.
The background is Blue.
The foreground is Yellow.
The first letter of menu choices is colored Light Red.
Selecting the <F7> key gives an explicit command to save the
current colors to disk.
To quit the color change menu and return to the main menu,
press either the <F9> or the <Esc> keys.
List-It! -30- RENAME FILE
The Rename file option, reached from the Utility sub-menu,
allows you to change the name of the database that you are
currently using.
You will be prompted for the name you wish the file to have.
Use any name you wish as long as it is no more than 8 letters
long. Type in the name and press the <Enter> key. The program will
make sure that the name you give it is unique, that is, that it is
not already in use.
If the filename is found to be unique, then the database is
renamed, and the following message is displayed;
"FILE.PDF was successfully renamed to FILENEW.PDF.
Where FILE.PDF was the original name and FILENEW.PDF is the
new name.
However, if the program finds that the new filename is already
in use, then you will be prompted with the message;
"The file FILENEW.PDF already exists."
You are then allowed to re-enter a new filename or you can
press the <Esc> key to exit the module.
If the program was not able to rename the database file then
the message;
"Unable to rename file ______ to ________.",
will appear on your screen.
List-It! -31- GET INFO
This menu option will show you several figures, telling you
about the status of the PDF file you currently have loaded. One
figure (Records), shows you the amount of records the database can
hold. It arrives at this figure by taking a look at the total RAM,
(not including extended or expanded memory), you have available in
your machine after the program is loaded. It then divides that
amount by the record size.
There is currently a fixed limit to the number of records
you can enter because the program loads the entire database into
memory. This limit is reduced even further if the program is
operated from a floppy disk, since the database is placed into the
same drive that the program is operated from. So please realize
that in order to use the larger record capacity of the program you
must operate it from the hard drive.
Also remember that the program gives you the option to choose
the PDF file, (database), you wish to use so that, in effect, there
is no limit to the number of records you can work with, as long as
you split them up into separate files.
The next figure is Records Used. It will show you the number
of records that exist within the currently loaded PDF file.
The last figure, Records Left shows the number of records you
can enter into the database. This amount is reduced by the number
of records that have been deleted, since they still physically
exist and take up space within the file.
As an example; if you have space for 1200 records, your
database contains 200 records, and you have deleted 25 records then
you still have space for 975. (1200 - 200 - 25 = 975).
The last figure, Records To Zap, shows the number of records
that have been tagged for deletion. Remember that when you delete a
record, it is not permanently removed but only tagged. You always
have the option to bring back or un-delete these records. This
figure will be zero after you Zap your file or, if you haven't
deleted any records.
A help window can be activated while you are viewing the Get
Info window. It is the same window you see when you are in the
utility sub-menu, and you press <F1> when the Get Info function is
highlighted.
Samples of these two windows are on the following page:
List-It! -32-
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Find Browse Sort Zap Enter Delete Print Utility Quit │
╞═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╡
│ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │Directory │ │
│ │Backup │ │
│ │Import/Export │ │
│ │Load file │ │
│ │Copy file │ │
│ │Change colors │ │
│ ╔════════════════════════╗│Rename file │ │
│ ║ Memory Available for: ║│Get Info │ │
│ ║ 1235 Records ║│Undelete │ │
│ ║ 6 Records Used ║└──────────────┘ │
│ ║ 1229 Records Left ║ │
│ ║ 0 Records to Zap ║ │
│ ╚════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Figure 11
The above screen shows that there is currently room for 1235
records. There are currently 6 records in the file. 1229 records
can still be added. And no records have been deleted. If any record
had been deleted, the Record to Zap figure would equal the number
of deleted records.
The second help window follows:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Find Browse Sort Zap Enter Delete Print Utility Quit │
╞═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╡
│ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │Directory │ │
│ │Backup │ │
│ ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Total Records - The largest number of records your ║ │
│ ║ database can hold. Linked to available RAM. ║ │
│ ║ Records Used - Number of records in your database.║ │
│ ║ Records Left - Number of records you can add. ║ │
│ ║ Records To Zap- Number of records you have deleted ║ │
│ ║ but have not yet zapped. Zapping your database ║ │
│ ║ removes all deleted records. So if you haven't ║ │
│ ║ zapped your database in a while, you will be able║ │
│ ║ to undelete any records that have been marked for║ │
│ ║ deletion. ║ │
│ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Figure 12
List-It! -33- UNDELETE
When you delete a record from the database, the program
does not physically remove it. As stated earlier in the discussion
of the Zap module, the record is merely tagged for deletion.
Nothing else is done. It still remains in the database, but the
program and you, cannot access the record.
The program first tests the delete tag of each record before
displaying it or, if you are within the Find module, to see if it
contains the search characters you are looking for. If this tag is
set, then the program goes to the next record.
This module allows you to bring back those records that have
been deleted, as long as the database has not been Zapped yet.
Choosing this option causes the program to search for all
records whose delete tags have been set. If none are found then you
will be shown a message to that effect.
Records that do have the delete tag set will display on the
screen along with the prompt;
"Undelete this record? y/n"
Pressing the <y> key resets the delete tag in the record to
zero. If you press any key other than the <y> key then nothing is
done to the displayed record and the next record with its delete
tag is then displayed. This process is continued until the last
record with its delete tag has been displayed. You will then see
the following message;
"There are no more records marked for deletion."
This feature was added with the knowledge that you always seem
to need information from a record that has been deleted. So I
designed it as a fail-safe. But please remember that since deleted
records still exist and take up space within the database, that
they can, if your database is large enough, cause the program to
work slowly. If you've been maintaining the same PDF file for a
while and have never Zapped your file, then it is quite possible
that you could have as many, if not more deleted records than
records that display.
If this is the case, and you notice the program running slower
than usual, then to improve the program's performance, make a copy
of the PDF file calling it something like oldset. You can then
safely zap your database, knowing that if you ever have need of one
of those old addresses or contacts, you can just load oldset and
undelete what you need.
List-It! -34- REORDER
This option allows you to reorder or change the order that
the records in your database take. This option also affords you
another view of the records in your database, besides the one
given to you in the Browse module. In Browse you are shown one
record at a time. In this module, you are shown 19 records at a
time, which some might find to be a more convenient way to view
your records.
For instance, suppose you are maintaining a certain order
in your database, so that you can take advantage of special Postal
Rates. Or maybe you are keeping your database in a certain order
for when you print out your records. But you notice that there are
a few records that need to be relocated. You would then need to
choose ReOrder from the Utility sub-menu.
Upon entering this module, you will be shown the first 19
records in your database, one per line. A pointer arrow will also
be displayed at the first record position. The command area at the
bottom of the screen shows the active keys here.
You use the up and down cursor keys to move the pointer arrow
to the record that needs to be moved. You can also use the Page Up
and Page Down keys or the End key to move the arrow. Once the arrow
is pointing at the desired record, you hit the Enter key. This
record will then be highlighted.
Now you must move the pointer arrow to the location in the
database you wish to move the record to. Let's say you wish to
move the selected record to the 33rd position in your database.
You must move the pointer arrow until it is at the 33rd record
position. Then hit the Enter key to select this position. A window
will pop up, asking if you wish to move the record. The top line
will display the actual record numbers. For instance, it might
read; Move record 67 to 33
When you hit the <y> key the record will be moved. You can
move as many records as you wish, there is no limit. Once you move
a record you will see on the bottom of the screen the words,
Undo Swap, next to the F8 key. If you were to press this key, then
the last move that was made would be undone. In other words, the
record that used to occupy the 67th position and was moved to the
33rd position, will then be moved back to the 67th position.
When you exit this module and you have moved at least one
record, then the entire database, in its current order, will be
written to disk. This just means that when you use the ReOrder
module to change the position of one or more records in your
database, then the entire database, will be written back to disk;
thereby saving the changes you have made. This is done
automatically.
As always, help is available when you press the F1
key.
List-It! -35- AFTERWORD
I believe that this manual covers all the functions the
program has at this date, (1/27/92). Future versions will of
course, include more functions and refinements, and the inevitable
minor bug fixes. If you can think of some refinements or
improvements, please feel free to contact me. Then, if I agree
about the usefulness of the suggestion, I'll make the addition,
and submit the new version to the author of the suggestion.
So please, if you find the program to be of use, do the right
thing and register. Because then you will give me the incentive to
keep the program growing in abilities and functions.
Please send any comments, questions or suggestions, to me at
the following address:
Luis Sanchez
2625 SE 2nd Court
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Or you can send E-Mail to me through Compuserve. My address there
is: # 71237, 2721.
Compuserve is probably the best way to get a hold of me. Just allow
a few days for a reply.
For the encouragement, I thank you.
List-It! -36- LICENSE
List-It! version 1.0, and all future versions to come, are
the copyrighted property of Luis Sanchez. They are not public
domain software, nor are they free software. They are placed in
the public domain under the user supported shareware concept.
This program may not be used in any commercial venture, nor
as a sales aid of any kind, without registering it with the
author.
Corporate and government users are required to register
their copies.
THIS IS NOT A FREE PROGRAM
Under the shareware concept, you are allowed and in fact
encouraged, to freely copy and distribute this program to others
as long as it is not modified in any way (including, but not
limited to decompiling, disassembling or otherwise reverse
engineering the program,) and as long as all documentation files
accompany it.
REGISTRATION
If you find yourself using List-It! after a few weeks, you
obviously consider List-It! to be of some value. Please do the
right thing and register your copy. You've had the opportunity to
freely test-drive the program, to see if it proved useful to you.
So, in all fairness, you should respond in kind and send in your
registration fee.
This would allow for continued support and maintenance of
the program and will ensure that future programs will be issued
through this channel.
Registering your copy entitles you to notifications of
future upgrades and/or bug fixes. Another reason to register is
that I will send you a copy of the program without the shareware
messages.
Distributors of public domain software or user supported
software may only distribute List-It! after first obtaining
written permission. Please write for details.
When registering your program, please use the form outlined
in the file LST-REGI.DOC.
List-It! -37-
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
THIS SOFTWARE AND MANUAL ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT
WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER
WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE
PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED.
GOOD DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE
THOROUGHLY TESTED WITH NON-CRITICAL DATA BEFORE RELYING ON IT.
THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. ANY
LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT
REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE.
IN NO EVENT WILL LUIS SANCHEZ BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY
DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY LOST PROFITS, SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO
USE THIS PROGRAM, OR FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY.
List-It! -38-
ORDERING INFORMATION
A List-It! registration grants you the right to use the
program on a regular basis. Registration includes mailed
notification of updates and priority support through the mail.
You can purchase an individual registration for $19.95. This
fee covers registration of the program, plus the costs of mailing
a copy of the latest version out to the user. Of course, I can not
guarantee that when you send me the registration fee, the version
that I mail to you is different from the version you already have.
THE REGISTERED COPY WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY SHAREWARE
COMMERCIALS.
These prices shall be good through the end of December 1992,
after which, prices, conditions and/or terms will be subject to
change.
When registering your program, please use the form outlined
in the file LST-REGI.DOC.
List-It! -39-
