************************** * D I G I C A R D 2 . 1 * ************************** Thank you for your interest in DigiCard. This text file provides you with info regarding DigiCard, system requirements, installation, and and new features. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the author. ================= WHAT IS DIGICARD? ================= DigiCard is a powerful free-form flash card program that will help you remember any information vital to your success. Whether you are a student or a working professional, you will find DigiCard an invaluable learning tool. DigiCard is easy to use, so you can take advantage of accelerated, computer-assisted learning in the least amount of time. Increase your learning speed and subject knowledge with DigiCard! ================= DIGICARD FEATURES ================= * Intuitive Windows interface with tool bar. * Extensive context-sensitive help. * Tutorials for beginners. * Use your favorite Windows fonts. * Database handling by the powerful Microsoft Access 1.1 engine. * Files saved in Microsoft Access format. * Read-only access and network (multi-user) support. * Compatible with text files from other flash card programs. * Printing on either Avery 5388 index cards or 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper (registered version). EDITOR FEATURES: ---------------- * Integrated editor with the ease of drag & drop. * Ability to compose questions and answers up to 32k in length. * Undo typing to ease composition and editing. * Info exchange with other Windows apps (through the Clipboard). * Editor Scripts, a time-saving feature for composition of questions and answers. * Search for cards based on keywords. VIEWER FEATURES: ---------------- * Three presentation styles (Sequential, Random, and KeyLink). * Two presentation formats (Question First and Answer First). * Card Shooter, a "hands free" presentation tool for automatic timed presentations. * Control over the discard status of any card in the deck. * Ability to save discard record on disk for later reviews. * Ability to save Viewer options on disk for later sessions. ======================== REGISTRATION INFORMATION ======================== * Registered users receive the following: 1) Removal of the start-up introductory window. 2) Ability to print (with preview) any or all cards. 3) License to use ALL future releases of DigiCard. 4) Copy of the latest registered version of DigiCard promptly mailed to your address. 5) "Strategies for Success," a companion guide to DigiCard loaded with helpful tips on how to boost academic and professional performance. 6) One year free CompuServe / Internet / BBS / US Mail support. * Registration is only $20 (S&H included!). * Users can register through CompuServe (GO SWREG, #2211) or by US Mail. =================== SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS =================== The system configuration required to run DigiCard 2.1 is: * 386 and above. * 4 megs or more of RAM. * 2 megs or more of disk space. * VGA graphics and up. * Windows 3.x and above. * A copy of VBRUN300.DLL in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. ============ INSTALLATION ============ 1) You have a choice of two methods to install DigiCard 2.1: a) Create a temporary directory and unzip the contents of the DigiCard zip file into that directory. OR... b) Unzip the contents of the DigiCard zip file onto a floppy disk (1.2 or 1.44m). This creates a permanent installation disk for DigiCard 2.1 (recommended). 2) Once you have completed the above, run SETUP.EXE from Windows. 3) Specify a directory where you want DigiCard to be installed. 4) Setup will create a DigiCard 2.1 Program Manager group. 5) If you do not already have the line "SHARE.EXE /L:500" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you should add it to enable file sharing under DOS and Windows. After adding this line, reboot your system to activate Share. Note: DigiCard may be distributed in multiple compressed files. If this is the case, unzip all compressed files into the same directory or a single disk before running SETUP.EXE. TROUBLESHOOTING SECTION ----------------------- ERROR DURING SETUP: Please note that VBRUN300.DLL is required (in the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory) for the Setup program to run. If an error is encountered during the setup process, the nature of the error will be reported to you by Setup. Errors encountered during setup are mostly related to the inability of Setup to overwrite a previous version of one of the system files. You can fix this by renaming the extension of the file in question to .BAK ( i.e., THREED.VBX to THREED.BAK) and re-installing DigiCard. [To access the file in question, log onto your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory either from DOS or from File Manager] ERROR AT RUNTIME: In order for DigiCard to execute properly, all of the system files outlined in the 'Distributed Files' section (i.e., all .VBX and .DLL files) must be present in order to run (normally installed to your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory). If for whatever reason a file is missing or a previous version is not replaced by DigiCard Setup, DigiCard will not run and the nature of the error should be reported to you. You can fix this by simply following the re-install procedure outlined above. If you encounter an error while opening a file (i.e., SAMPLE.CRD), make sure that file sharing is activated on your system. Using a text editor, check your AUTOEXEC.BAT file for SHARE.EXE. If Share is not present, add the following line to AUTOEXEC.BAT (assuming your DOS directory is in the path): SHARE.EXE /L:500 And reboot your computer. This should fix the problem. Please note that file sharing is innate to Windows for Workgroups and you do not need to load SHARE.EXE. ========================= HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR ========================= * CompuServe ID: 73542,1232 * Internet Address: rchen@orion.oac.uci.edu * BBS: Chips+ Connection (9 nodes) 1-714-556-3207 1-714-556-3208 1-714-760-3265 * US Mail: 6014 Verano Place Irvine, CA 92715-3159 ================ REVISION HISTORY ================ VERSION 2.1 (5-1-94) -------------------- NEW FEATURES: * Undo typing feature to ease card composition and editing. * Arrange icons function for asthetics. * Card Shooter -- "hands free" presentation tool -- automatic timed presentation. * File menu open items. The four most-recently opened files are represented sequentially under the file menu to speed up file access. * Editor Scripts available now as menu choices. * Fonts - now you can use your favorite Windows fonts under DigiCard. * Read-only access and network (multi-user) support. * Print. Supports printing of any or all cards on Avery form 5388 or on any 8.5" x 11" paper. Preview allows you to format and edit cards to your liking before printing (registered feature). BUG FIXES: * Viewer windows now support up to 32k bytes of text, rather than 1k. (Oops!) * GPF when opening large files now fixed. * 'Object variable not set' error followed by termination of DigiCard when opening is now eliminated. This error occurred on some users' machines because SHARE.EXE was not loaded. * SHARE.EXE is no longer needed, unless the 'Exclusive' flag (in the appropriate .CFG file) is set to false (true is default). CHANGES * To access the 'Go To...' feature, click once on the card number indicator on the toolbar (i.e., 'Card 1 of 51'). The 'Go To...' button is replaced by the 'Scripts' button on the Editor and 'Shooter' button on the Viewer. * DIGICARD.INI is now located in the DigiCard program directory (you may now delete the DIGICARD.INI file located in the \WINDOWS directory). VERSION 2.0a (4-10-94) ---------------------- BUG FIXES: * [Escape] key now exits forms. * Discard record now written to the appropriate .CFG file only. Previously it was written unnecessarily to both the .CFG file and DIGICARD.INI. * Changes do not take effect now when cancel is selected from Viewer Options menu. * When switching from KeyLink to other presentation styles while enabling all cards, not all cards were enabled. This is now fixed. * Better error trapping when attempting to open non-DigiCard files. VERSION 2.0 (3-15-94) --------------------- NEW FEATURES: * Implemented Microsoft Access 1.1 engine for data storage and handling. All DigiCard files are convertable to other database file types supported by Access (i.e., dBase, Fox Pro, etc.). * Added two keyword fields per card. * Added function for rapid search based on keywords. * Enhanced the presentation module by adding KeyLink presentation. * Simplified learning for novice users by adding context-sensitive help. This was done both in the form of status-line description of buttons and Windows help file when activated using the F1 key. * Added the ability for the user to specify the default module upon start-up. * Implemented a configuration file containing discard information and Viewer options unique to each DigiCard file. ----------------------------------- Copyright (C) 1994, Robert L. Chen. -----------------------------------