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: Standard Level Options (Hot key: S), View/Update Deluxe Level Roster (Hot key: D), Print Deluxe Level Rosters (Hot key: P), View/Edit Look Up Tables (Hot key: L), or Exiting from the program (Hot key: ESCape). The Standard Level Menu: ----------------------- The Options are: Viewing the Standard Roster by: Model Railroad Name (Hot key: N) list all equipment records in alphabetical order by model RR reporting marks. Category-Type (Hot Key: C) list all equipment records alphabetically by category. Printing the Standard Level Rosters (Hot key: P) Print Standard Level Rosters: ---------------------------- The option are printing all the records in the file by: Equipment Category-Type (Hot key: C) Model Railroad Name (Hot key: N) The records are listed in alphabetical order by Catgeory or Model RR reporting marks. If there are no records in the file, the program will print the page headings and then return to this menu. The Deluxe Level View/Update Menu: --------------------------------- The Options are: Viewing the Deluxe Level Roster by: Model Category-Type Model Railroad Name and Number Model Scale Model Manufacturer Prototype Category-Type Prototype Railroad Name and Number (There are no Hot Keys for these options.) If you select the Model Category-Type, Railroad Name and Number, or Scale tables, the program will display the appropriate lookup table and you must select the category - type, reporting marks, or scale that you wish to view. If you change your mind, press the ESCape to Exit button on the lookup table. The Deluxe Level Print Menu: --------------------------- The Options are: Printing ALL the records by: Equipment Category-Type Model Railroad Name Printing only records for a selected: Equipment Category-Type Model Railroad Name (There are no Hot Keys for these options.) All Deluxe list show the total number of model pieces listed and the total current value of the items listed. The print all options will list the records in alphabetical order by Category-Type or Railroad reporting marks, breaking between each group change. If you select the Equipment Category-Type or Model Railroad Name options, the program will display the appropriate lookup table and you must select the category-type or model reporting marks that you wish to print out. Only the records for the Category or model RR reporting marks selected will be printed. If there are no matching records, the page headers will still print and you will return to this menu. If you change your mind, press the ESCape to Exit button on the lookup table. The View/Edit LookUp Menu: ------------------------- Traintrax uses lookup tables (or "pick lists") for certain areas of information. When you select this menu option, you can view any of the three lookup file tables. You can add new information, edit, or delete existing information. The same lookup tables are also available from within the TrainTrax data entry forms. The lookup tables and the related menu hot keys are: Category/Type of Railroad Equipment (Hot key: C), Railroad Names and Reporting Marks (Hot key: R) and Model Scale (Hot key: S). See the topic LookUp Tables in the Using the Tables section for further information. ================================================================== <> The Standard Level Tables ------------------------- The Standard Level Category Table: This table displays all the model equipment records in alphabetical order by equipment Category/Type. The Standard Level Railroad Name Table: This table displays all the model equipment records in alphabetical order by model railroad name and road number. 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 either of these tables, the Standard Equipment Information Form will be displayed automatically. Complete the form as explained in the Standard Form area of this help file or exit by pressing ESCape or double clicking the ESC = EXIT button.) Both Standard tables have a Speed Search which allows you to quickly find any record. The Speed Search field is active when you open the table. Simply type in the information for the Category-Type or Model RR Reporting Marks you wish to find, press the DownArrow or Tab key, and the scrolling highlight bar will go to the first record in the file which matches your search criteria or comes immediately after it if there are no matching records. You can select any existing record to view or edit. To select a record, move the scrolling highlight bar to that record (use the Speed Search option, the cursor keys or use 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. You can also delete any existing record by selecting it in a similiar manner and pressing or double clicking the DEL = DELETE button. Select the ESC = EXIT button to return to the previous menu. The Deluxe Level Tables: ----------------------- All of the Deluxe 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/PageDown to move a page at a time, or press Control and PageUp/PageDown to move to the top/bottom of the list. The six Deluxe viewing tables are: all the records for a selected: Model Equipment Category-Type, " Railroad Name " Scale " Manufacturer Prototype Equipment Category-Type " Railroad Name Model Catgeory, Model Name, Model Scale Tables: ---------------------------------------------- When you choose to view your model railroad files in one of these tables, you are presented with a look up or pick list of the available choices. Highlight and select the desired category, roadname, or scale. Only the records for the Category, Model RR Reporting Marks, or Scale selected will be listed on the table. If you change your mind, pressing the ESC/EXIT button on the lookup table returns to the Deluxe Menu screen. If there are no matching records, a "No Records Found" message will be displayed. Select INS/ADD to clear the message window and bring up the Model Information Form. Select ESC/EXIT to clear the message and return to the Deluxe Menu screen. (You can also press ENTER or select the OK button to clear the message. The viewing table will remain and you must then choose either the INS/ADD button or the ESC/EXIT button.) Model Manufacturer, Prototype Category, & Prototype Name Tables: --------------------------------------------------------------- The three remaining tables display all of the records in the file in alphabetical order by Model Manufacturer, Prototype equipment Category, or Prototype RR Reporting Marks. These three tables also have the Speed Search option to assist in quickly finding a specific record. The Speed Search field is active when you open the table. Simply type in the information for the Model Manufacturer, the Category-Type, or RR Reporting Marks you wish to find, press the DownArrow or Tab key, and the scrolling highlight bar will go to the first record in the file which matches your search criteria or comes immediately after it if there are no matching records. 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 either of these tables, the Deluxe Equipment Information Form will be displayed automatically. Complete the form as explained in the Deluxe Form area of this help file or exit by pressing ESCape or double clicking the ESC = EXIT button.) You can select any existing record to view or edit. To select a record, move the scrolling highlight bar to that record (use the Speed Search option, the cursor keys or use 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. You can also delete any existing record by selecting it in a similiar manner and pressing or double clicking the DEL = DELETE button. Select the ESC = EXIT button to return to the previous menu. The LookUp Tables: ----------------- You can access each of these Lookup Tables from the Main Menu or from within the Standard or Deluxe data entry forms. You can add or edit any information in these lookup tables from within the data entry forms or from the Main Menu option. However you can DELETE information from these tables only from the Main Menu option. * NOTE that the tables displayed from the Main Menu are slightly different than those displayed from within the data entry forms! To Add new information into any of the LookUp files, select the INS = Add button. Fill in the requested information and press the Enter key or the F10 key to Save the new information. (Press the DownArrow, RightArrow, or Tab key to move to the next field on multi-field forms. To return to a previous field, use the LeftArrow or UpArrow key. You can also use the mouse: point directly to the input area of the field and double click.) All fields on the lookup file information forms must be completed. Referential Integrity: --------------------- The LookUp files are directly related to information entered into the model equipment data file. You CANNOT delete any information from any of the LookUp files IF that information is referenced in any of the model equipment records. (You will receive an error message.) The lookup information in the related equipment 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 model equipment records will be AUTOMATICALLY changed. The LookUp Information Forms: ---------------------------- Each of the LookUp Tables has its own information entry form. All of the information fields are required entries. To add new look up information, press the INSert key or double click the INS = ADD button. When accessing a lookup table from the Main Menu, you can view or edit an existing record by moving the scrolling bar to highlight the desired record and pressing ENTER or double click the ENTER to Edit button. You can delete any unreferenced lookup record by selecting it with the highlight bar and pressing DELETE or by double clicking the DEL = DELETE button. When accessing a lookup table from within a data entry form, you can view/edit a lookup record by highlighting it and pressing the F8 KEY or by double clicking the F8 to EDIT button. you can import the lookup record information to a field on the data entry form by highlighting the desired record and pressing ENTER or double clicking the ENTER to SELECT button. ================================================================== <> Using the Equipment Information Forms: ------------------------------------- Both the Standard and Deluxe information forms are blue. Non-active entry prompt fields are shown in gray lettering while the data entry fields are shown in bright white. When an entry field is activated, the prompt changes to gray with blue lettering and the entry field changes to gray with black lettering. The fields are activated in order from top to bottom and left to right. The Standard Level Form: ----------------------- There are six data entry fields on the Standard level equipment information form. The REQUIRED entry fields are marked with an * below. As you add each new record, notice that the Record number (shown in the upper right hand corner of the form) increases. Adding New Records: ------------------ Enter the information requested and press the DownArrow or Tab key to advance to the next entry field. Notice that the fields (prompt and entry) change color when they are activated. The Standard data fields are: Model Road Number: Enter the equipment road number. * Model RR Name: Enter the REPORTING MARKS as shown in the Railroad Name LookUp table. To access the lookup table for this field, leave the field blank and press the DownArrow or Tab key. Select the proper railroad Reporting Marks from this lookup table and import it to this field on the Standard form. If the proper RR Name information is not already entered into the lookup table, you can enter it at this time. * Equipment Category: Enter the category as shown in the Category-Type LookUp table. You can access this table, import information from, or add new information to the lookup table in the same manner as the Name LookUp table * Model Scale: Enter the Scale information as shown in the Scale LookUp table. Access, import, or add is explained for the other two lookup fields. Model Manufacturer: Enter the company who made the model. If scratchbuilt, use that term or leave the field blank. Equipment Model: Enter the specific equipment information (eg: 40' wood sheathed, 4-6-0 Pacific, 30 foot outside braced, etc.) 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 NOT entered information into a required field, that field will be activated and the appropriate lookup table will be displayed. Select the correct information from the lookup table and reSave 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. When you save a new record, a blank equipment information form is displayed and you can continue adding new records. The information from each field is "remembered" and is carried over to the succeeding new record. To enter the same information as the previous new record, press the F-3 key and the information is entered. If the carried over information is correct, advance to the next field or enter the correct information and advance to the next field. Viewing/Editing Existing Records: -------------------------------- Once the selected record form is displayed on the screen, you can edit any field by activating it (use the cursor keys, tab key, or point to the field with the mouse and click the left mouse button ONCE). The required entry fields must still contain valid information as noted above. Save the edited record by pressing F-10 or selecting the F10/OK button. Press ESCape or select the ESCape/Exit button to abort the edit. The F-3 carry over feature does NOT function in the edit mode! Deleting Existing Records: ------------------------- When you select a record to be deleted, the record form for that record is displayed on the screen with all of the entry fields shown in gray. You can only select F-10/OK (to delete the selected record) or ESCape/Exit to abort the record delete. Once delete, the record cannot be recovered. If deleted in erro, it must be re-entered as a new record. NOTE also that the deleted record number is not available for reuse. Printing a Record: ----------------- You can print a copy of any record displayed on the screen by pressing F-5 or selecting the F5/Print button. This print function is active whenever there is a record form on the screen, even if the form is blank. (You receive an error message if your printer is not ready. Correct and retry or abort.) The Deluxe Level Form: --------------------- There are 15 data entry fields on the Deluxe level form. The five REQUIRED entry fields are marked with an * below. The Deluxe form also includes a note field which will hold 180 characters of miscellaneous information. As you add each new record, notice that the Record number (shown in the upper right hand corner of the form) increases. Adding New Records: ------------------ Enter the information requested and press the DownArrow or Tab key to advance to the next entry field. Notice that the fields (prompt and entry) change color when they are activated. The Deluxe data fields are: Model Road Number: Enter the equipment road number. * Model RR Name: Enter the REPORTING MARKS as shown in the Railroad Name LookUp table. To access the lookup table for this field, leave the field blank and press the DownArrow or Tab key. Select the proper railroad Reporting Marks from this lookup table and import it to this field on the Standard form. If the proper RR Name information is not already entered into the lookup table, you can enter it at this time. * Equipment Category: Enter the category as shown in the Category-Type LookUp table. You can access this table, import information from, or add new information to the lookup table in the same manner as the Name LookUp table * Model Scale: Enter the Scale information as shown in the Scale LookUp table. Access, import, or add is explained for the other two lookup fields. Model Manufacturer: Enter the company who made the model. If scratchbuilt, use that term or leave the field blank. Equipment Model: Enter the specific equipment information (eg: 40' wood sheathed, 4-6-0 Pacific, 30 foot outside braced, etc.) Paint/Color: Descriptive field for color of the model or special design, etc. Material: What is the model made of? (plastic, brass. etc. Location: Where is this model now? * Cost: What was the original cost for this model? Current Value: How much is this model worth now? Use the note field to explain if necessary. Prototype Manufacturer: Who built the prototype for this model? Prototype Model? What is the actual prototype for this model? * Prototype Railroad: The reporting marks used by the railroad the model is based on. Since this is a required field and the required information must also be in the Name LookUp table, you should enter NONE for both the name and reporting marks to be used for models with no actual prototype. Prototype Road Number: Enter the number for the actual prototype or leave blank is not applicable. 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 NOT entered information into a required field, that field will be activated and the appropriate lookup table will be displayed. Select the correct information from the lookup table and reSave 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. When you save a new record, a blank equipment information form is displayed and you can continue adding new records. The information from each field is "remembered" and is carried over to the succeeding new record. To enter the same information as the previous new record, press the F-3 key and the information is entered. If the carried over information is correct, advance to the next field or enter the correct information and advance to the next field. Viewing/Editing Existing Records: -------------------------------- Once the selected record form is displayed on the screen, you can edit any field by activating it (use the cursor keys, tab key, or point to the field with the mouse and click the left mouse button ONCE). The required entry fields must still contain valid information as noted above. Save the edited record by pressing F-10 or selecting the F10/OK button. Press ESCape or select the ESCape/Exit button to abort the edit. The F-3 carry over feature does NOT function in the edit mode! Deleting Existing Records: ------------------------- When you select a record to be deleted, the record form for that record is displayed on the screen with all of the entry fields shown in gray. You can only select F-10/OK (to delete the selected record) or ESCape/Exit to abort the record delete. Once delete, the record cannot be recovered. If deleted in erro, it must be re-entered as a new record. NOTE also that the deleted record number is not available for reuse. Printing a Record: ----------------- You can print a copy of any record displayed on the screen by pressing F-5 or selecting the F5/Print button. This print function is active whenever there is a record form on the screen, even if the form is blank. (You receive an error message if your printer is not ready. Correct and retry or abort.) The LookUp Information Forms: ---------------------------- To add new look up information, press the INSert key or double click the INS = ADD button. All fields are required entries. When accessing a lookup table from the Main Menu, you can view or edit an existing record by moving the scrolling bar to highlight the desired record and pressing ENTER or double click the ENTER to Edit button. You can delete any unreferenced lookup record by selecting it with the highlight bar and pressing DELETE or by double clicking the DELete = Delete button. When accessing a lookup table from within a data entry form: you can view/edit a lookup record by highlighting it and pressing the F8 KEY or by double clicking the F8 to Edit button. you can import the lookup record information to a field on the data entry form by highlighting the desired record and pressing ENTER or double clicking the ENTER to Select button. ======================================================================= <> 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! TrainTrax 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 TrainTrax beyond the evaluation period, you are expected to register your use of the program. You may freely copy and distribute the Shareware version of TrainTrax, 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: RRTRAX.EXE, RRTRAX.HLP, and RRTRAX.TXT. The file names created when you run the program are: RRCAT.*, ROADNAMES.*, SCALES.*, & ROSTER.*. You may NOT copy and distribute the registered versions of TrainTrax. TrainTrax Registration: ---------------------- The registrant will receive a registered copy of TrainTrax (latest version). The program will be personalized with the registrant's name entered on the opening menu screen, and a includes MicroSoft compatible mouse driver. 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 registration is $20.00 (plus $5.00 for shipping/handing). ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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 =================================================================