The Main Menu: ------------- Select the desired option with the mouse, highlighting with the cursor keys and pressing Enter, or by pressing the Hot Key-ALT key combination. The Options available are: Work on... Item File (Hot key: I) (enter property records here) Category File (Hot key: C) (enter the property categories here) Owner File (Hot key: O), (enter the property owners here) Location File (Hot key: L), (enter the property locations here) or go to Reports Menu (Hot key: R), (screen and printed copies) or Exiting from the program (Hot key: ESCape). You can also print a Shareware registration form for this program by pressing the F5 key. Although the Print Registration notice is visible for several screens, the registration form can be printed only from the Main Menu screen of the Shareware and the Standard Registered versions. The Property Item Menu: ------------------------ All screens display the records in alphabetical order by the item name, and have a speed search option which allows you to locate any record quickly. The options are: Add New Items / View by Item Name (Hot key: A) (New records can be added to your file only with this option. Automatically displays the property report form if file is empty. or view items by... > Category (Hot Key: C) (Lists only the records for the property CATEGORY which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) > Owner (Hot Key: O) (Lists only the records for the property OWNER which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) > Location (Hot Key: L) (Lists only the records for the property LOCATION which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) > Category & Location (Hot Key: t) (Lists only the records for the property CATEGORY & LOCATION which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) > Category & Owner (Hot Key: e) (Lists only the records for the property CATEGORY & OWNER which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) > Owner & Location (Hot Key: w) (Lists only the records for the property OWNER & LOCATION which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) > Category, Owner, & Location (Hot Key: g) (Lists only the records for the property CATEGORY, OWNER, & LOCATION which you select. Displays a No Record Found message if no matching records are found. Returns to the Property Item Menu screen if the file is empty.) or Exiting back to Main Menu (Hot key: ESCape) NOTE: When the "No Record Found" message is displayed, you must either press the ENTER key or double click on the "OK" button (in the message box) to remove the message from the screen and return to the Medical History Menu screen. The help screen cannot be accessed if the "No Records Found" is on screen. The Reports Menu: --------------- Most reports are listed in alphabetical order by the name of the item. The List by Date report is in order by the date in the date obtained field. Reports may be directed to any printer or com port, to a file, or to the screen. You may report on... All Records (Hot key: A) (List all items in the file.) or only the records for a selected... > Category (Hot key: C) (Lists only the items in the selected category.) > Owner (Hot key: O) (Lists only the items for the selected owner.) > Location (Hot key: L) (Lists only the records for the selected location.) or print > Warranty list (Hot key: W) (List only the items marked warranty YES on the property information form.) > Items by Date (Hot key: D) (List all items obtained between two user defined dates.) > Property Worksheet (Hot key: P) (Prints a blank worksheet.) Return to the previous menu by selecting the ESC = EXIT button. ================================================================== <> Reports: ------- All reports are listed in alphabetical order by the item name, and most display the amount entered in the cost field of the Property Report Form. A total dollar value is given at the end of the list for all of the items listed. Reports may be directed to any printer or com port, to a file, or to the screen. You may report on... All Records (Hot key: A) (List all items in the file.) or only the records for a selected... > Category (Hot key: C) (Lists only the items in the selected category.) > Owner (Hot key: O) (Lists only the items for the selected owner.) > Location (Hot key: L) (Lists only the records for the selected location.) or print > Warranty list (Hot key: W) (List only the items marked warranty YES on the property information form.) > Items by Date (Hot key: D) (List all items obtained between two user defined dates.) > Property Worksheet (Hot key: P) (Prints a blank worksheet, 2 per page.) Return to the previous menu by selecting the ESC = EXIT button. Creating a Report: ----------------- To create a report, select one of the above options. Depending on which report option you choose, one or more screens may be displayed which prompt you for the category and/or owner, and/or location information. When you have entered the desired selection(s), select the F-10 = OK button. List items by Date: If you selected this print option, a screen is displayed which asks for a starting and ending date for the search. If you leave the starting date zero filled, the report will list the items from the earliest possible date eg: 00/00/0000). The ending date defaults to today's date (if your system clock is correct). Accept the default by selecting F10 = OK, or change the date and select F10. The resulting list will display only the property items with a "date obtained" between the starting and ending dates. Report Destinations: The next screen shows the destinations that you can send the report to. (Most reports will be printed to LPT1 or viewed on the screen.) Use the mouse to click on the desired destination or use the cursor keys to highlight the desired destination. When the proper destination is highlighted, press ENTER then select the F-10 = OK button to begin the report. Selecting the ESCape button at any time will cancel the report. On all reports sent to a valid printer port or the screen, a message box will appear which shows the progress of the report. Selecting the ESCape button will cancel the report. If there are no records in the file or no matching records to print, or if you attempt to access an non valid port, the program will automatically return to the Reports Menu screen without printing anything. You can also select "file" as the destination. If you do enter a file name at the prompt and select the F-10 = OK button to save the report. The report will saved to the current drive/directory as an ASCII file and can be viewed and/or printed later with any word processor. Viewing a Report on the Screen: ------------------------------ If you choose to send the report to the screen, you can toggle the screen height between 25 row and 50 rows by selecting the Change Video Mode button (Hot key: C). Once you have the report displayed on the screen, you can choose to send it to the printer by selecting the Print Report button (Hot key: P). You will then be prompted to select which port to send the printed copy to. Use the left and right cursor keys to highlight the correct port and press ENTER to begin the printed report. Select the ESCape button to exit the screen and return to the Reports Menu. ================================================================== <> The Add New Items \ View by Item Name Table: -------------------------------------------- When you access the property item file from this option, you can add new items, and view, edit,or delete existing items. THIS IS THE ONLY TABLE WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO ADD NEW PROPERTY ITEMS. To quickly locate an item, enter the item name in the speed search field at the top of the screen. (If you press ANY alphanumeric key, the speed search field is automatically activated. When you have entered the item name or partial name, press the down arrow key to complete the search. Speed search will highlight the first item name which matches your search entry. If there is not an exact match, it will go to the first item AFTER your search entry.) NOTE: The table contains MORE than 70 columns of information per line item and scrolls horizonally as well as vertically. You can scroll the lines left and right using the Left and Right arrow keys, the mouse on the horizonal scroll bar at the bottom of the list display, or the Home and End keys. You can scroll the lists vertically using the Up and Down arrow keys, the mouse on the vertical scroll on the right side of the list display, or press the PageUp/PageDown to move a page at a time, or press Control and PageUp/PageDown to move to the top/bottom of the list. Using the Selected Category, Owner, and Location Tables : ---------------------------------------------------------- When you access the property item file from these options, you can view, edit, or delete existing records. You cannot add new items from these tables. If there are no categories, owners, or locations in the respective files, the tables are not accessed and you return to the Item Menu screen. When you choose to View a Selected Category (or a Selected Owner, or Selected Location, or any combination of the three), the lookup table(s) for the appropriate file will appear and you must select the category, owner, and/or location that you wish to view. You can select the ESCape button to cancel the option. These tables also have the speed search option. (If you press ANY alphanumeric key, the speed search field is automatically activated. When you have entered the item name or partial name, press the down arrow key to complete the search. Speed search will highlight the first item name which matches your search entry. If there is not an exact match, it will go to the first item AFTER your search entry.) NOTE: Most tables contain MORE than 70 columns of information per line item and scroll horizonally as well as vertically. You can scroll the lines left and right using the Left and Right arrow keys, the mouse on the horizonal scroll bar at the bottom of the list display, or the Home and End keys. You can scroll the lists vertically using the Up and Down arrow keys, the mouse on the vertical scroll on the right side of the list display, or press the PageUp or PageDown to move a page at a time, or press Control and PageUp/PageDown to move to the top/bottom of the list. How to Add New Property Item Records: ------------------------------------- See the Help section on Using the Forms for more information on the Property Report Form If you are in the Add New \ View \Update All Records table, you can add new records by pressing the INSert key or by double clicking the INS = ADD button. (If there are NO RECORDS in the file when you access this table, a blank Property Report Form is automatically displayed. Once you have entered property items into the file, you must select the INS = ADD option to add more. Complete the form as explained in the Property Report Form area of this help file or exit by pressing ESCape key or double clicking the ESC = EXIT button.) How to View / Edit a Property Item: ----------------------------------- You can select any existing record to view or edit. To select a record, use the speed search option or move the scrolling highlight bar to that record (use the cursor keys or the mouse with the scroll bar on the right side of the table), then press ENTER or double click the mouse on the ENTER = Select button. The property item highlighted by the scrolling bar is the one selected. How to Delete a Property Item: ------------------------------ You can also delete any existing record by selecting it in a similiar manner and pressing or double clicking the DEL = DELETE button. When the medical history information form is displayed for the selected record, you must press the F10 key to actually delete the record from the file. If you do not wish to complete the delete action, press ESCape or select the ESC = EXIT button to abort the action. This will also return you to the current viewing table. Use caution with the Delete option, once you have deleted a record, it cannot be recovered. If you erase a record accidently, you must re-enter it as a new record. The LookUp Tables: ----------------- You can access the Lookup Tables from the Main Menu or from within the Property Report Form. You can add category, owner, or location information in these lookup tables from within the Property Report form or from the Main Menu option. However you can EDIT and DELETE information from these tables only from the Main Menu option. Also Note that when you access the lookup tables from within the Property Report Form, you MUST select a Category, Owner, or Location to import to the Property History Form. (There is no EXIT option from these tables.) The LookUp Tables also have a speed search option to help you locate a category, owner, or location. (If you press ANY alphanumeric key, the speed search field is automatically activated. When you have entered the item name or partial name, press the down arrow key to complete the search. Speed search will highlight the first item name which matches your search entry. If there is not an exact match, it will go to the first item AFTER your search entry.) To Add new information into any of the LookUp files, select the INS = Add button. Complete the requested information and select the F10 = OK button to save the new information. Referential Integrity: --------------------- The LookUp files are directly related to information entered into the Property Items data file. You CANNOT delete any information from any of the LookUp files IF that information is referenced in any of the property item records. (You will receive an error message.) The lookup information in the related property item records must be changed or the records deleted before you can delete the LookUp information. If you change any of the LookUp file information, the related information contained in any property item records will be AUTOMATICALLY changed. Selecting Records to View or List: ---------------------------------- Highlight the Category, Location, and/or Owner for the property items that you wish to view or list. Select the Enter to select button (or press ENTER). The selection tables also have the speed search option. Only the records for the selected criteria will be displayed. ================================================================== <> Using the Information Forms: --------------------------- The data entry areas of the information forms are gray. Non-active entry prompt fields are shown in blue lettering while the data entry fields are shown in black lettering. When an entry field is activated, both the prompt field and the data entry area change to a blue background with bright white lettering. The fields are normally activated in order from top to bottom and left to right. You can select any entry field out of order using the mouse and double clicking on either the prompt area or the entry area. The Property Report Form: ------------------------ There are four data entry fields on the Property Item form. The REQUIRED entry fields are marked with an * below. The record is saved immediately when you press F10 or select the F10 = OK button. Should your computer hang up or crash for any reason, you won't lose the saved data. Adding New Property Items: -------------------------- Enter the information requested and press the DownArrow or Tab key to advance to the next entry field. To advance FROM a "radio button" field, press ENTER. (Press the up arrow key to return to the previous entry field. You CANNOT "pass" a "radio button" field and return to a previous field using the up arrow key.) Entry fields can also be chosen by double clicking on them with the mouse.) Notice that the fields (prompt and entry) change color when they are activated. The data fields are: * ITEM NAME: This is a 40 character field. You should enter a generic term first then be more descriptive. Press the down arrow key to accept the entry and automatically proceed to the next field. DESCRIPTION: Another 40 character field for any additional descriptive information. SERIAL #: A 20 character field for the serial number of the item (if applicable). In the case of credit cards, enter the card account number. WARRANTY: ( ) NO ( ) YES This is a "radio button". You MUST select either the NO or YES button. (Use the left or right arrow keys to toggle between the two choices. When the desired choice is highlighted, press the ENTER key to select it. The selected choice will display a dot in the circle.) The NO button is the default. If this is the correct choice, simply press the ENTER key to advance to the next field. EXPIRATION DATE: Enter the date that the warranty expires. You can also use this field to enter the expiration date for a credit card. The date is entered in MO/DA/YR format and only valid complete dates are accepted. (EG: 02/14/94) WHERE OBTAINED: A 40 character field for the name of the store, company, etc. that you obtained the item from. DATE OBTAINED: Enter the date that you obtained the item. The date is in MO/DA/YEAR format and must be a valid date. (EG: 02/14/1994) COST: $ What did you pay for this item? Enter a value up to 999,999.99 (not in my house). The entry begins from the left side of the field. Use the right arrow key to move to the proper beginning column for amount you wish to enter. The decimal point will be automatically placed. * CATEGORY: This field is for the Property Category. The entry here must be in the Property Category lookup file, and must be entered exactly as it is shown in the lookup file. You can type the category entry in, or import it from the lookup table. If the lookup table is accessed, you must select a category to continue. Highlight the desired category and press ENTER to import it to the Property Report Form. If the desired category is not in the Category Table, you can add it at this time (while the Category table is displayed on the screen, select INSert = ADD and complete the category information form). Then highlight the newly entered Category and import it to the Property Report Form. * OWNER: This field is for the Property Owner. The entry here must be in the Property Owner lookup file, and must be entered exactly as it is shown in the lookup file. You can type the entry in, or import it from the lookup table. If the lookup table is accessed, you must select an owner to continue. Highlight the desired owner and press ENTER to import it to the Property Report Form. If the desired owner is not in the Owner Table, you can add it at this time (while the Owner table is displayed on the screen, select INSert = ADD and complete the owner information form). Then highlight the newly entered Owner and import it to the Property Report Form. * LOCATION: This field is for the Property Location. The entry here must be in the Property Locatioy lookup file, and must be entered exactly as it is shown in the lookup file. Type the entry in, or import it from the lookup table. If the lookup table is accessed, you must select a location to continue. Highlight the desired location and press ENTER to import it to the Property Report Form. If the desired location is not in the Location Table, you can add it at this time (while the Location table is displayed on the screen, select INSert = ADD and complete the location information form). Then highlight the newly entered Location and import it to the Property Report Form. NOTES: This is a 236 character field for whatever miscellaneous information, descriptions, etc. that you wish to add. When you have finished entering information into the form, press the F-10 key (or select the F-10/OK button) and the new record will be saved. If you have left a required field blank, that field will be activated and the lookup table (if applicable) will be displayed. Complete the required information and Save the record. If you decide to not complete the record, press ESCape or select the ESCape = Exit button to abort the record. NOTE that you cannot abort the form if you are presently in a required field. You must complete these fields and advance to a non-required field before you can abort the record. The LookUp Table Information Forms: ----------------------------------- Each form contains one 25 character length alphanumeric field which must be completed. Each entry MUST be unique. If you attempt to save a category which duplicates one that already exist, you will receive an error message. When adding a new category, owner, or location, or modifying the current ones (A category file is included with the Shareware version of the program), select F-10 = OK to save it. You can select ESCape = EXIT to abort the form. =================================================================== <> What is Shareware? ----------------- Shareware is a marketing method which allows computer users to try a program BEFORE they buy it. If the user likes the program AND continues to use it beyond a specified period of time, he/she is obligated to register the use of that program with the author. Since the Shareware registration fees are usually small in contrast to comparable commercial offerings, the software user can receive quality computer programs at a reasonable cost. These registration fees also support the program authors and encourage them to produce more and better quality products. If, on the other hand, the user doesn't like the Shareware program or does not continue using the program, he/she simply deletes it and pays nothing! Stuff! is distributed as Shareware. It is not free!. You are granted a limited license to use this program for a 21 day period for evaluation purposes. If you continue to use Stuff! beyond the evaluation period, you are expected to register your use of the program. You may freely copy and distribute the Shareware version of Stuff!, PROVIDED that the program is not modified in any way and is kept in its original form with all files intact. The files included with the Shareware version are: STUFF.EXE, STUFF.HLP STUFF.TXT, SICATS.DAT, and SICATS.K01. The file names created when you run the program are: SIITEMS.*, SILOC.*, & SIOWN.*. You may NOT copy and distribute the registered versions of Stuff!. Stuff! Registration: -------------------- There are two levels of registration available for this program. Standard: The registrant receives a registered copy of the latest version of the program. The differences between the Shareware version and this Registered version are: 1) Mouse support, 2) The opening menu screen shows "Registered Version" instead of Shareware notice. The Standard registration is $25.00 (plus $5.00 for shipping/handling). Deluxe: The registrant receives registered copies of Stuff! and StufPlus (an addressbook/label maker) (latest versions). Both programs will be personalized with the registrant's name entered on the opening menu screen and include mouse support. Additional program support is provided, as well as a free upgrade (if any are made) during a 12 month period from the date of registration. The Deluxe registration is $35.00 (plus $5.00 shipping/handling). --------------------------------------------------------------- WARRANTY: The author disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to the suitablity of this software for any purpose other than that for which it was designed. The author shall not be liable for any damages arising from the loss of any data, or non compatability of this program with any other software or hardware, or damage to any equipment which might result from the use of this software. Thank you, Doug Scott ================================================================== <> Shareware programs currently available from Doug Scott(1993/94): --------------------------------------------------------------- AUTOTRAX (Automobile Expense Tracker) Version 1.1 A menu-driven database system to record the expense of owning and maintaining up to 99 vehicles. Define your own expense categories, then enter the vehicle number, the expense category, the date, the mileage (odometer reading), the cost, and up to 70 characters of notes on the expense. On fuel purchases, you also record the number of gallons purchased and the cost per gallon. AUTOTRAX computes the miles driven and the miles per gallon. Then search for all vehicle expenses occurring within any time period, by vehicle, by category, or by vehicle AND category. (How much did you spend on car number 1 between 04/01/92 and 06/30/92? How much did you spend for taxes on your cars during 1992? How much did you spend on payments for car number 2 between 09/01/91 and 12/31/92?) The records matching the search criteria you enter will be displayed on the screen, along with a total dollar amount. Then select any record to view, edit, delete, or print. You can also print a listing of these same records (and the total). Select the fuel use table and see the overall fuel use for a selected vehicle (shows total miles driven, total fuel costs, total gallons used, the average cost per gallon, and the average miles per gallon). AUTOTRAX comes with on-line help screens at most stages of the program, a built-in data backup utility, and a small on disk instruction manual (which can be printed out). (Shareware: $25) ================================================================= TRAINTRAX (Model Railroad Catalog) Version 3.1 A menu-driven database system to help keep track of a MODEL RAILROAD collection. A two level system which allows you to enter as much information a you wish. For the Deluxe level, you can enter the following information on your collection of rolling stock (type of equipment, the model scale, model manufacturer, model name or number, model railroad name and road number, the prototype railroad, road number & manufacturer, color or paint scheme, original cost, current value, location, and miscellaneous information in the 180 character note field. Then search your collection by model category-type, model scale, model railroad, model manufacturer, prototype category-type, or prototype railroad. You can use one of several print options: (print information on an individual piece of model equipment; print out the entire collection alphabetically by model category-type or model railroad; or print only the records entered for a specific model category-type or railroad.) Convenient look up tables popup for the category-type of equipment, model scale, and railroad name and reporting marks. Now with completely context sensitive on-line help screen, (Microsoft compatible) mouse support (registered version), and other improvements. (Shareware: $20) ================================================================= SIGHTS & SOUNDS (Videos) Version 1.1 An easy to use database system for video tape and laser disc VIDEO collections. Define your own categories and movie ratings. Decide how much information to enter on each video with a two level system. For the Deluxe level, you can enter the following information on your collection: type of video (tape or disc), the title, stereo or not, the movie guide rating, the video category, the length, the file or tape number, the stars, the director, the producer, the year released, and miscellaneous information in the 120 character note field. Then search your collection by title, category, rating, file number, star's name, director, producer, or year released. The starsearch function lets you search four different fields to find what videos the selected star was in. Many available print options: (print information on an individual video record; prints freeform labels; print out the entire collection alphabetically by title, or by file number,or print only the records entered for a specific video category or movie rating, or print an insurance listing containing the individual and total values of your video collection.) Convenient look up tables pop up for the video category, and the movie guide ratings. On-line help throughout the program. Microsoft mouse compatible. Two levels of registration: $25.-$45 ================================================================= FAMILY MEDICAL HISTORY Version 1.0 A database system specifically designed to record the medical history for you family. Keep track of immunizations, injuries, illnesses, treatments, and more with this easy to use program. Many available viewing\reporting options (report on all records within a user specified date range or only the records entered for a specific category and/or family member within a given date range). Reports can be directed to any printer port, the screen or saved as an ASCII file. Convenient look up tables pop up for the user defined medical categories and family members. On-line help throughout the program. Microsoft mouse compatible. Two levels of registration: Standard is $25. Deluxe which includes a bonus Family Hereditary History program is $35. ================================================================== STUFF! (Property Inventory) Version 1.0 Keep track of almost any kind of property (electonics, credit cards, vehicles, tapes and records, important papers, and more) with this easy to use speciality database. Includes popup tables for the unlimited user defined categories, locations, and owners. View items by category, location, owner, or by any combination of the three. Context sensitive on line help. All report options, including a warranty listing, show total $ value of the items listed. All reports can be sent to any printer port, the screen, or saved as an ASCII file. Designed for the home owner, but also suitable for a small business/office. Two registration levels: Standard is $25 and provides a registered copy of the latest version of Stuff!, Deluxe is $35 and provides personalized copies of Stuff! and StuffPlus (an address book/label maker). Both registered versions are MicroSoft mouse compatible (the Shareware version does not have mouse support). end of file =================================================================