Copyright: Copyright © 1994, 95 Insight Software Solutions


SmartTracker Stamps Index

SmartTracker Stamps is designed to let you catalog, organize and track your stamp collection.

General Topics

  Colors

  Entering Stamps

  Exporting

  Importing

  Maintenance

  Report Options

  Report Viewing

  Searches

  Stamp Viewer

  User Definable Reports

  Troubleshooting

  Viewer Configuration

Main Window

Stamp Input Window

Search Window

Report Window

Menu Commands

Upgrade Policy and Support

INI File


Delete Database
You may clear out your entire database by selecting this option.  There are perhaps several reasons why you may wish to do this.  One is to perform an import of your entire database that you have previously exported.  Please note: You will be prompted twice to ensure that you really want to delete the database.


Stamps To Print
This indicates what stamps are to be passed onto the report.  It can be either the entire database or limited to those items found in a search.


Factor Quantity
By placing a checkmark by "Factor Quantity in Totals", the totals on reports will calculate by factoring the "quantity" of each stamp.  For example, if you list the cost as $2.00 and have a quantity of 10, then the total cost is $20.00 if you are "Factoring Quantity in Totals".  However, if you really mean that the cost was $2.00 for all ten stamps, then you should not select "Factor Quantity in Totals".


Modify (Reports)
The modify button takes you to the User Definable Report Window.  The report that is highlighted in the list box under Styles, will be copied into the User Definable Report Window and can be edited for change or can be given a new name to create a new similar report.  If "<NEW REPORT>" is the highlighted report, then creation of a new report takes place from scratch.


INI File

A file named TKSTAMP.INI is created in the default directory. This file contains all the initialization information for the program such as colors, fonts, etc.  It is in ASCII format and may be edited directly if so desired.  Removal of this file will reset all values back to the program defaults the next time the program is run and the file will be recreated.


Main Window

The Main Window is what appears when the program is first run.

Click on an area below for information on a given item.


Stamp Viewer

The stamp viewer lists the stamps that you have entered.  It lists the elements of each stamp in a row.  A horizontal scroll bar is present to allow you to move back and forth to view the stamp information.  The viewer maintains a configurable page size which is set to 50 as a default.  This means that there is a maximum of only 50 stamps at one time in the viewer.  You may scroll through these using the vertical scroll bar.  Simply press the PgUp or PgDn button to load in the previous or next page of stamps.  For large databases of stamps, the page size of 50 prevents extremely long waits that would occur in attempting to load the entire database.  The stamp viewer is also the recipient of searches.


Add
Selecting the Add Button takes you to the Stamp Input Window.  All fields will be set to their initial default values (mostly blank).  Information can now be entered about a stamp.


Edit
Selecting the Edit Button takes you to the Stamp Input Window.  All fields will be set to the values entered previously for the particular stamp selected.  Information can now be modified if desired.  When the Update button is pressed, the information will be saved overtop the stamp that had been selected.


Stamp Input Window

This allows you to enter all the information about a particular stamp or group of stamps.  Information includes the Country, Face Value, Market Value, Description, Catalog, Year, Quantity, Comments, Date Acquired, Topic, Type, Group, Condition, Cost and Miscellaneous items.  These characteristics can be cleared for an easy start-over of entering the stamp information as well as Canceling the whole input.  An easy method for adding new countries and for stamp identification in finding countries is also available.

Click on an area below for information on a given item.


Delete
Selecting the Delete Button allows you to remove the selected stamp from the data base.  You will be prompted to make sure that you want to delete the stamp before actual deletion takes place.


Close
Selecting the Close Button terminates the program.


Search
Selecting the Search Button activates the Search Window.  You may enter a variety of search information to locate the desired stamps.  All stamps which fit the search criteria will be moved into the Stamp Viewer.  A message appears in the upper left corner of the stamp viewer which states "SEARCH ON" to indicate that the stamp viewer contains search information.  In addition, the End Search button will activate which allows you to turn off the search.  While a search is on, you may continue to work as normal--copy, edit, delete, etc.  You may also use the export command which will limit the export to the search criteria only.


Help

Selecting the Help Button activates the help system.  The help system displays the main topic of the area from where help was selected.


Report
Selecting the Report Button activates the Report Window.  You may view and print a variety of reports.


Search Window

The Search Window allows you to enter search criteria to locate a given stamp.  The following information can be searched upon: Country, Face Value, Description, Catalog, Year, Comments, Topic, Type, Group, Faults, Color, Hinged, Gum, Condition, Cancellation and/or Miscellaneous  You may select to search on one item or multiple items.  For example, if you want to search for all 1990 stamps, then enter 1990 in the Year field.  If you wanted to search for all 1990 stamps from Bulgaria, then enter 1990 in the Year field and select Bulgaria in the Country field.  Where text is entered, you need only enter that portion of the text that you want a search to take place on.  For example, under description, you could enter "flower" to find all stamps that had the word "flower" in the description.  This would find all descriptions with "flower" and "flowers".  If you just wanted to find "flowers", then you would enter "flowers".

Once the search criteria has been entered, you select the OK Button and the search immediately takes place.  If for some reason you decide that you do not want to perform a search after all, then you may select the Cancel Button.  The Clear Button is available as a tool to quickly clear all the search fields so different search criteria can be entered.  Once search criteria has been entered, it is remembered so that the next time you want to perform a search, the last search criteria used will be present.


Report Window

The Report Window allows you to view or print a variety of reports.  The report type is determined by selecting a Sort Order and a Report Style.  All reports are User Definable and can be configured by selecting the Modify button.

Click on an area below for information on a given item.


Upgrade Policy and Getting Support

Upgrade Policy

The code (.EXE file) for the registered and unregistered versions of the program are identical, and it is the presence of a file STAMPS2X.DLL that is supplied with the registered version that causes the program to behave in a registered fashion. The presence of the DLL will also cause any further versions of the SmartTracker Stamps that still bear the 2.x release number to behave as registered versions, wherever you obtain them from. Versions that bear the 2.x release number will generally be for minor enhancements and bug-fixes. Any release containing major new functionality will bear the release number 3.x, and an upgrade fee will likely be chargeable.

NOTE: You may not distribute copies of the licensed version of this product. You may not distribute the STAMPS2X.DLL file in any form.

We will make new versions of SmartTracker Stamps available via the usual sources such as on-line services like CompuServe, AOL, the Internet and other BBSs and via disk vendors, shareware CD-Roms, etc.

The prime locations for new releases are as follows:

CompuServe: Library 4 of the UKSHARE forum

Internet: World Wide Web: http://www.smartcode.com/iss

                 FTP Site: ftp://ftp.smartcode.com

BBS: Rocky Mountain Software (801) 963-8721   Library 5 (F 5).

If you do acquire a newer version of SmartTracker Stamps simply ensure that the STAMPS2X.DLL file you received when you registered is either in the directory that SmartTracker Stamps program is in or is in your WINDOWS directory.

Getting Support

Before you reach for the phone, please make sure you have looked through this Help File first. If you have a question that this Help File doesn't answer, or are reporting what appears to be a bug then we will be pleased to hear from you. But if it is a question that is answered in this Help file then all we will do is point you to the relevant section, and you will just get an answer a little bit slower. This is not meant to be awkward, but we try to keep our costs down to allow us to produce this high quality software at value-for-money prices, and answering support calls is an expensive undertaking. After all, some of the major software companies either charge for support or provide it on premium-price phone numbers. We don't want to have to do that.

USA

Insight Software Solutions

P.O. Box 354

Bountiful, UT 84011-0354

USA

Phone	801 295-1890

Fax	801 299-1781

CIS E-Mail	71672,3464

Internet	71672.3464@compuserve.com

United Kingdom

Oakley Data Services,

3, Oakley Close,

Sandbach,

Cheshire CW11 9RQ

England.

Phone: 	(+44) (0)1270 759739

Fax:	(+44) (0)1270 765272

CIS E-Mail: 	74774,1347

Internet:	74774.1347@compuserve.com

Other

Please direct all correspondence directly to Insight Software Solutions in the USA.

This program is authored by:  Insight Software Solutions


Add (Menu)
Selecting Add from the Menu performs the same operation as the Add Button.


Edit (Menu)
Selecting Edit from the Menu performs the same operation as the Edit Button.


US Order Form
Insight Software Solutions Order Form

To print out the order form, select FILE | PRINT TOPIC from the menu.

Name: _________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

City: ___________________  State/Prov: ____________  Zip: __________

Country: ________________________

Day Phone: ________________   Evening Phone:  _________________

Payment Method:  [ ] Check   [ ] Money Order   [ ] Visa   [ ] MasterCard   [ ] Amex   [ ] Discover

Card Number: _____________________________________  Exp. Date:  ___/___

Signature:   _______________________________________________________

Diskette Size:   5.25"     3.5"   (Circle One)

Product Name	Quantity	US Dollars	Total

FINANCIAL SERIES

The Mortgage Analyzer	(DOS)	_______	$30.00	_______

The Mortgage Analyzer PRO	(DOS)	_______	$50.00	_______

The Debt Analyzer	(Windows)	_______	$25.00	_______

Annuity Ace Professional	(DOS)	_______	$25.00	_______

Loan Chief Professional	(DOS)	_______	$25.00	_______

SmartSum	(Windows)	_______	$29.00	_______

HOME/OFFICE/UTILITY SERIES

Smart Address	(Windows)	_______	$39.00	_______

Smart 'n Sticky	(Windows)	_______	$34.00	_______

SmartDoc	(Windows)	_______	$24.00	_______

SmartTracker Inventory	(Windows)	_______	$25.00	_______

SmartTracker Books	(Windows)	_______	$25.00	_______

HOBBY SERIES

SmartTracker Videos	(Windows)	_______	$25.00	_______

SmartTracker Stamps	(Windows)	_______	$25.00	_______

SmartTracker Coins	(Windows)	_______	$25.00	_______

ENTERTAINMENT SERIES

Word Search Rampage	(Windows)	_______	$15.00	_______

Crossword Construction Kit	(Windows)	_______	$15.00	_______

Word Search Constr. Kit	(Windows)	_______	$15.00	_______

Subtotal	________

(Utah Residents Only [6.125%])	Sales Tax	________

Shipping & Handling	________

U.S. First Class Mail (Air Mail to Canada)	$3.00

U.S. Priority Mail	$5.00

INTERNATIONAL (U.S. Air Mail)	$5.00

Total Amount Enclosed	________

Please send check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover order to:

(NOTE: We can only accept checks payable in U.S. Dollars drawn on a U.S. Bank)

INSIGHT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

P.O. Box 354

Bountiful, Utah  84011-0354

OR Phone or Fax your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover order to:

Tel: 801 295-1890	Fax: 801 299-1781

COMMENTS:


Delete (Menu)
Selecting Delete from the Menu performs the same operation as the Delete Button.


Maintenance (Menu)
Edit Lists

Rebuild Index

Pack Database

Reset Key

Delete Database


Exit (Menu)
Selecting Exit from the Menu terminates the program.


Report (Menu)
Selecting Report from the Menu performs the same operation as the Report Button.


Menu Commands
File

Reports

Options

Help


File (Menu)
Add

Edit

Copy

Delete

Maintenance

Exit.


Help (Menu)
Contents

About


Contents (Menu)
Selecting Contents from the Menu invokes the help system and brings you to the Index within it.


About (Menu)
Selecting About from the Menu displays the version number of the program and the copyright notice.


Maintenance List Window

The Maintenance List Window allows you to maintain a list of Countries and Topics for your stamps.  The software comes with predefined countries and topics which are commonly used.  You may however, at your discretion, add new countries and topics or remove them.  If you are only collecting three kinds (topics) of stamps, then you may wish to list just those topics as all others will have no meaning.  Alternatively, if you are collecting stamps from only one country, you may wish to list just this country.

You may add a country by filling in the country edit box and then selecting the Add Button.  To delete a country, you highlight the desired country inside the list box and then select the Delete Button.  If you wish to modify a country, you will need to first delete it, then add it back in with the correct spelling.  You may add, remove and modify Topics in the same manner.


Finding Countries

When beginning as a stamp collector, it is not always easy to identify which country a stamp originates from.  The following list shows many of the common markings found on stamps and indicates the country of origin.  As you become acquainted with stamps, many of these will become familiar to you and you will not need to reference this list.

A

AFGHAN

       Afghanistan

AFGHANES

       Afghanistan

ALGERIE

       Algeria

ANTIOQUIA

       Columbia

APAXMAI

       Greece

A PAYER TE BETALEN

       Belgium

APURIMAC

       Peru

AVISPORTO

       Denmark

AYACUCHO

       Peru

B

BAHAWALPUR

       Pakistan

BAHRAIN

       India

BAMRA

       India

BERCELONA

       Spain

BARWANI

       India

BASEL

       Switzerland

BATYM

       Batum

BEHAEHCKAR

       Russia

BELGIE

       Belgium

BELGIQUE

       Belgium

BELGISCH CONGO

       Belgian Congo

BHOPAL

       India

BHOR

       India

BIJAWAR

       India

BOGCHAH

       Yemen

BOGACHES

       Yemen

BOLIVAR

       Columbia

BOYACA

       Columbia

BRASIL

       Brazil

BUENOS AIRES

       Argentina

BULGARIE

       Bulgaria

BUNDESPOST

       German Federal Republic

BUNDI

       India

BUSSAIR

       India

C

CAHATOPyMb

       Bulgaria

CAMBODGE

       Cambodia

CAMBODIA

       French Indo-China

CAMPECHE

       Mexico

CAUCA

       Columbia

CCCP

       Russia

CENTIMOS

       Spain

CESKOSLOVENSKO

       Czechoslovakia

CHALA

       Peru

CHAMBA STATE

       India

CHAKHARI

       India

COCHIN

       India

COLIS POSTAL

       Belgium

COMUNICACIONES

       Spain

COMORES

       Comoro Islands

CONGO BELGE

       Belgian Congo

CORDOBA

       Argentina

COREA

       Korea

CORREO CHANADINA

       Columbia

CORRIENTES

       Argentina

COSTA ATLANTICA

       Nicaragua

COTE D'IVOIRE

       Ivory Coast

CPbNJA

       Serbia

CPNCKA

       Serbia

CTOTNHKN

       Bulgaria

CUERNAVACA

       Mexico

CUNDINAMARCA

       Columbia

CUZCO

       Peru

C.X.C.

       Jugoslavia

D

DANMARK

       Denmark

DEUTSCHE FELDPOST

       Germany

DEUTSCHE REICHG

       Germany

DEUTSCHOSTERREICH

       Austria

D'HAITI

       Haiti

DHAR

       India

DISTRITO 18

       Peru

DOPLATNE

       Czechoslovakia

DRZAVA

       Jugoslavia

DRZAVNA

       Jugoslavia

DUTTIA

       India

E

EESTE

       Estonia

EESTI

       Estonia

EE. UU. DE C.

       Columbia

EGYPTE

       Egypt

EGYPTIENNES

       Egypt

EINZUZIEHEN

       Danzig

EIRE

       Ireland

ENAPIOMON

       Greece

EONIKH

       Greece

EPMAKb

       South Russia

ESCUELAS

       Venezuela

ESPANA

       Spain

ESPANOL

       Spain

ESTADO DA INDIA

       Portuguese India

ETAT FRANCAIS

       France

ETHIOPIE

       Ethiopia

ETHIIOPIENNES

       Ethiopia

F

FARIDKOT

       India

FEZZAN

       Libya

FILIPINAS

       Phillipines

G

GENEVE

       Switzerland

GEORGIE

       Georgia

GEORGIENNE

       Georgia

GRAND LIBAN

       Lebanon

GRONLAND

       Greenland

GUADALAJARA

       Mexico

GUANACASTE

       Costa Rica

GUINE

       Guinea

GWALIOR

       India

H

HAUTE VOLTA

       Upper Volta

HELVATIA

       Switzerland

HIRLAPJEGY

       Hungary

HnEIPOE

       Epirus

HOBy

       Montenegro

HOLKAR

       India

HRVATSKA

       Croatia or Jugoslavia

HYDERABAD

       India

I

IDAR

       India

IIAPA

       Serbia or Montenegro

IIAPE

       Serbia or Montenegro

IIETb

       Bulgaria

IIOPTO MAPKA

       Serbia

IIWTA IIAPA

       Serbia

IIOYIIIA

       Russia

IIOYTA

       Russia

INDE

       French India

INDOCHINE

       Indo-China

INDORE

       India

INSTRUCCION

       Venezuela

IRANIENNES

       Iran

ISLAND

       Iceland

ISTRIA

       Jugoslavia

ITALIA

       Italy

ITALIANE

       Italy

J

JAIPUR

       India

JAVA

       Dutch Indies

JEEND STATE

       India

JHALAWAR

       India

JHIND

       India

K

KAMERUN

       Cameroons

KARJALA

       Karelia

KASHMIR

       India

KATHIRI

       Aden

KGL. POST FRM

       Denmark

KISHANGARH

       India

KLAIPEDA

       Memel

KORCA

       Albania

KORCE

       Albania

KPHTH

       Crete

KROON

       Estonia

K.U.K. FELDPOST

       Austria

KUWAIT

       Kuwait

L

LAIBACH

       Jugoslavia

LAS BELA

       India

LATVIJ'A

       Latvia

LATWIJA

       Latvia

LIBAN

       Lebanon

LIBANAISE

       Lebanon

L'OCEANIA

       French Oceania

LUXEMBOURG

       Luxemburg

M

MACAU

       Macao

MACAV

       Macao

MAGDLENA

       Columbia

MAGYAR

       Hungary

MAGYARORSZAG

       Hungary

MARIANEN

       Marianna Islands

MARRUECOS

       Spannish Morocco

MAURITANIE

       Mauritania

MEJICO

       Mexico

MENGE

       Outer Mongolia

MN

       Korea

MOCAMBIQUE

       Mozambique

MORA

       Ukraine

MORVI

       India

N

NABHA

       India

NACIONES UNIDAS

       United Nations

NANDGAM

       India

NED. ANTILLEN

       Netherlands Antilles

NEDERLAND

       Netherlands

NED. INDIE

       Dutch Indies

NEZAVISNA

       Croatia

NEEUW GUINEA

       Dutch New Guinea

NOPTO PORTO

       Serbia

NORGE

       Norway

NOUVELLE CALEDONIE

       New Caledonia

NOUVELLE HEBRIDES

       New Hebrides

NOWANUGGUR

       India

NOYT MAPKA

       Azerbaijan

NOYTA

       Russia

O

OAHAMAPKA

       Finland

OAXACA

       Mexico

OCEANIE

       French Oceania

OESTERREICH

       Austria

OFTERREICH

       Austria

OSTERREICH

       Austria

OFFENTLIG SAK

       Norway

OIL RIVERS

       Niger Coast

OKCA

       Russia

ORCHA

       India

OTTOMANES

       Turkey

P

PATIALA

       India

P.C.C.P.

       Russia

PERSANE

       Persia

PERUANA

       Peru

PILIPINAS

       Phillipines

PINGIN

       Ireland

POCCIR

       Russia

POLSKA

       Poland

PREUSSEN

       Prussia

PUTTIALA

       India

Q

QARKU

       Albania

QINDAR

       Albania

QINTAR

       Albania

QU'AITI

       Aden

R

RAROTONGA

       Cook Islands

REICHSPOST

       Germany

REP. DI S. MARINO

       San Marino

REPUB. FRANC

       France

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE

       France

REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

       Dominican Republic

REPUBLICA ORIENTAL

       Uruguay

RETYMNO

       Crete

ROMAGNE

       Romania

ROMANA

       Romania

ROMANIA

       Romania

R.S.M.

       San Marino

RUANDA

       Belgian East Africa

S

SAARGEBIET

       Saar

SAHARA ESPANOL

       Spanish Western Sahara

SAHARA OCCIDENTAL

       Spanish Western Sahara

SANTANDER

       Columbia

SARKARI

       India

SAURASHTA

       India

SEGNATASSE

       Italy

SEN

       Japan

SN

       Japan

SHQUIPENIA

       Albania

S.H.S.

       Jugoslavia

SIBERSKE

       Siberia

SIRMOOR

       India

S. MARINO

       San Marino

SOKOLSKI SLET

       Jugoslavia

SOMALIA

       Italian Somaliland

SONORA

       Mexico

SORUTH

       India

SOUDAN FRANCAIS

       French Sudan

SOURASHTRA

       India

STOTHHKH

       Bulgaria

SUIDAFRIKA

       South Africa

SUIDWES AFRIKA

       South West Africa

SUOMI

       Finland

SVERIGE

       Sweden

SWAZIELAND

       Swaziland

SYRIE

       Syria

SYRIENNE

       Syria

T

TCHAD

       Chad

TELEGRAFOS

       Philippine Islands

TOGA

       Tonga

TO PAY

       Great Britain

TOSCANO

       Tuscany

TRAVANCORE

       India

TUNIS

       Tunisia

TUNISIE

       Tunisia

TURK

       Turkey

TURKIYE

       Turkey

U

UAPCTBO

       Bulgaria

V

VALLEES D'ANDORRE

       Andorra

VATICANE

       Vatican City

VENEZ

       Venezuela

VENEZOLANO

       Venezuela

VETEKEVERRIA

       Albania

W

WADHWHAN

       India

WENDEN

       Russia

WN

       Korea

WON

       Korea

WUN

       Korea

X

XEJEPA

       Montenegro

Y

YCTAB

       Montenegro

YEN

       Japan

YN

       Japan

YKPAIHCbKA

       Ukraine

Z

ZELAYA

       Nicaragua

ZUIDWEST AFRIKA

       South West Africa


Adding Countries

Selecting the Add Button from the Stamp Input Window activates the Maintenance List Window.  Here you may maintain a list of Countries and Topics for your stamps.  The software comes with predefined countries and topics which are commonly used.  You may however, at your discretion, add new countries and topics or remove them.  If you are only collecting three kinds (topics) of stamps, then you may wish to list just those topics as all others will have no meaning.  Alternatively, if you are collecting stamps from only one country, you may wish to list just this country.


Country
This is where you select the stamp's country of origin.  If the country is not in the list of countries, then you may select the Add Button where you can add the country to the list.  If you are unsure of what country the stamp comes from, you may select the Find Button which may be able to assist you in locating the country.


Face Value
This is the value of the stamp that is printed on the stamp.


Market Value
This is the actual worth of the stamp if it were to be sold.


Description
This is a description of the stamp.  This may be a simple description of what is on the stamp, words that appear on the stamp or just about anything you wish to enter that will distinguish this stamp from others.


Catalog
Many stamps have been given catalog numbers by different organizations.  If you use the cataloging system of one of these organizations, then you can enter the catalog number for the given stamp.

Important:

Please note that both characters and numbers can be entered in as a catalog number.  As such, sorting of the catalog number is character based on not numeric based.  What does this mean?  Because of the nature of character based sorting, the following condition will occur:

  123

  14

  210

  28

when in reality, what is most likely desired is 14, 28, 123 and 210.  To properly make these sort, you will need to add leading zeros to the numbers.  This produces the following:

  0014

  0028

  0123

  0210


Year
This is the year that the stamp was issued.


Quantity
This is the number of stamps that you have that fit the particular description.  Remember, if the condition is different between several of the same stamp, you probably would want to list them separately.


Comments
This is for adding any additional comments you would like to make about the stamp.


Date Acquired
This is the date that you acquired the stamp.


Topic
It is possible to group stamps by topics and many collectors do indeed collect by topic.  Many possible topics are available.  Some would include stamps that deal with Space, Cats, Fish, Flowers, Art, or Maps.  Because of the wide range of topics available, it is possible to create and modify the list of topics.  You may modify this list by selecting the Maintenance command under the File command in the menu.  Alternatively, the Add Button located in the Country block also takes you to the Maintenance List Window.


Stamp Type

Stamps fall under several category types.  Listed below are some of the most common types collected.

Regular

These are stamps that typically are produced year after year without change and are the most common type of stamp to be found.

Commemorative

These are stamps that honor anniversaries, special events, and important people.  These stamps are usually produced and sold for a fixed length of time.

Coil

These are stamps that come in rolls.  Rolls of stamps are intended for dispensers and vending machines.

Air Mail

These are stamps that are used to send mail overseas and out of the country of origin.  These usually have the words "Air Mail" right on the stamp.

Special Delivery

These are stamps that are used for special delivery of mail and usually contain the words "Special Delivery" right on the stamp.

Postage Due

These are stamps that are applied to a letter by the local post office indicating that additional postage is due before the letter can be received.

Revenue Stamp

These are stamps that are used for collecting taxes on special papers or products.  These are not postage stamps.

Official Stamp

These are stamps that are provided for each of the government departments which are valid as prepayment for official government mailing.

Souvenir Sheet

This is a sheet of stamps that was issued as a souvenir of the philatelic (stamp collector) gatherings. It was usually distributed at such gatherings.  It is not valid for postage.

Other

This allows you to classify your stamp in any other way you desire.


Stamp Grouping

Stamps can be collected in different groupings which include the following:

Single

This is a single stamp and your collection will usually be largely comprised of single stamps.

Se-tenant

This is a pair, strip or block of stamps that are connected together which may differ in design, value or surcharge.

Block

This is a group of stamps that are connected together that is at least two stamps wide and two stamps high.

Booklet Pane

This is a sheet of stamps that has been designed and cut to fit inside booklets of stamps.   These booklets are commonly found in stamp vending machines.

Pane

This is a portion of a sheet of stamps and can vary in size.

Sheet

This is an entire page (sheet) of stamps as produced by the postal service.

Envelope

This is a pre-stamped envelope where the stamp is built right into the envelope.

Full Booklet

This is a full book of stamps where the stamps have been designed and cut to fit inside the booklets.   These booklets are commonly found in stamp vending machines.

Other

This allows you to classify any other type of stamp grouping you desire.


Condition

Stamps fall into several categories of conditions.  The value of the stamp is effected by the rarity of the stamp and the condition of the stamp.  Stamps in better condition will obviously be worth more than those that are not.  Listed below are the common conditions used in rating stamps.  In addition to the general ratings listed below, you can specify the specifics of the particular stamp you are cataloging.  You may specify any number of predefined faults or enter your own description in for one.  You can specify the color, gum status, hinge status and cancellation status.

Superb

This is a stamp that must be perfect.  The color must be bright and the stamp must be clean.  It must be perfectly centered and all perforated teeth must be present.  A thin spot, crease or tear would disqualify a stamp from being Superb.  The full original gum must be present on a mint stamp and used stamps must be lightly and clearly canceled.

Very Fine

This is a stamp which is considered above average and is close to being considered Superb.  The color must not be faded and it should not be soiled.  It must be well centered but does not need to be perfectly even.  All perforated teeth must be present and the paper should not have any defects in it.  The full original gum must be present on a mint stamp and used stamps should be lightly canceled.

F-VF

Many stamps do not quite fit in the category of very fine, yet they are much better than what is considered fine.  The F-VF (Fine-Very Fine) category fills this nitch.  This is a stamp which falls between Fine and Very Fine.

Fine

This is a stamp which is desirable, but is not usually as bright or well centered as a Very Fine stamp.  The margins on the stamp are usually not very even.  All perforated teeth must be present, but some may be short.  The full original gum must be present on a mint stamp and used stamps may be heavily canceled, but must not render important parts of the stamp unreadable.

Good

This is a stamp that is often way out of center and heavily canceled.  It may be lightly creased.  It cannot have any tears or thin spots on it.  This is the average stamp which is contained in most approval packets and books.

Poor

This is a stamp which is heavily canceled and perforations may go deep into the design of the stamp.  Perforations may be missing and the stamp may be heavily creased or slightly torn.  These stamps are many times referred to as "Filler" stamps--meaning that you use them for filler in your collection until you can find a better one to replace it.


Miscellaneous

There are many miscellaneous categories for stamps.  Some of the more popular ones are listed below and explained.

Overprint

This is a stamp which has had some printing placed over the original stamp.  Overprints are commonly used at times when a change in government occurs or a country is taken over by another in a war.

Precancel

This is a stamp where the cancellation has been applied before it has been mailed.

Surcharge

This is a stamp that has been overprinted where the overprint changes the face value of the stamp.

First Day Cover

This is an envelope containing a stamp that has been canceled on the first day that the stamp was issued.

Souvenir Card

This is a card that was issued as a souvenir of the philatelic (stamp collector) gatherings. It was usually distributed at such gatherings.  It is not valid for postage.

Postal Card

This is a post card that contains the stamp (postage) on it.  The price of the postage is included in the cost of the card.

Pen Cancellation

This is a stamp that has been canceled by use of a pen.  This usually occurred prior to the use of modern post office cancellation equipment.  Pen cancellation usually consisted of a line drawn through the stamp, initials or full names by the postal employee.

Other

This allows you to classify any other type of miscellaneous or special item about the stamp.


Stamp Update
Selecting the Update Button saves all the information about the stamp and returns you to the main window.


Stamp Cancel
Selecting the Cancel Button aborts any changes you have made regarding the stamp.  You are returned to the main window.


Stamp Clear
Selecting the Clear Button removes all information about the stamp that may have been entered and sets all values to the initial default values.


Sort By
You may have your reports sorted in one of six ways--by Country, Topic, Stamp Type, Group, Condition or Catalog Number.  Where sorting creates a group (Country, Topic, etc), a subheading consisting of the group name will appear above each group.  If you desire to limit your report to say one country or one topic, then you can do so by first searching for the particular country or topic and then proceeding to the report section.


Style

The style of the report determines the amount of information you want printed about each stamp.  These consists of a list of report names.  The software comes with several reports already predesigned for you.  However, these reports are completely user definable and they can be changed or copied and new reports created using the Modify button.


View/Print
Selecting the View/Print button generates the desired report and sends it to the Report Viewing window where it can be viewed or printed.


Cost
This is the price that you paid to obtain the stamp.


Exporting

You may export stamp information to an Ascii Delimited File.  The Ascii Delimited File format is supported by most other programs with import capabilities.  This format creates an ascii file with each element of the database surrounded in double quotes and separated by commas.  Great flexibility is given with the export feature--you may specify which items to export and the order in which to export them.  You can also limit the number of stamps to export by using the Search mode.

Select Items

The Export Window displays a list of check boxes consisting of each of the stamp elements.  Simply check the box and that element will be exported.

Select Order

Following each check box is an edit box which specifies the order in which to export.  For example, if you want the first item of each record to be the "Comment" field, then enter a "1" in the edit box following the "Comment" checkbox.   Before any exporting takes place, a check is made to verify that the order is okay.

Select Stamps

You may export the entire database of stamps or you may limit the number of stamps to export.  Limiting the stamps is done through use of the search facility.  If a search is currently in progress when the export facility is invoked, then only those stamps which were found in the search will be exported.  A database status box appears in the lower left corner of the export window indicating whether the entire database will be exported or if only the search criteria will be exported.

Button Action

The "Export" button is used to activate the export once all the export criteria has been selected.  Once pressed, you will be prompted for a file name to export to.  After exporting is complete, the options you selected for export will be saved so that they will appear the next time the export feature is used.  The "Cancel" button simply aborts the export process.

NOTE: Please be aware that the date format for both importing and exporting takes the following form: dd Mmm yyyy (12 Jun 1995)


Importing

You may import stamp information from an Ascii Delimited File.  The Ascii Delimited File format is supported by most other programs with export capabilities.  This format creates an ascii file with each element of the database surrounded in double quotes and separated by commas.  Much flexibility is given with the import feature--you may specify which items to import and the order in which to import them.

Select Items

The Import Window displays a list of check boxes consisting of each of the stamp elements.  Simply check the box and that element will be imported.

Select Order

Following each check box is an edit box which specifies the order in which to import.  For example, if the first item of each record to be imported is the "Comment" field, then enter a "1" in the edit box following the "Comment" checkbox.   Before any importing takes place, a check is made to verify that the order is okay.

Button Action

The "Import" button is used to activate the import once all the import criteria has been selected.  Once pressed, you will be prompted for a file name to import from.  After importing is complete, the options you selected for import will be saved so that they will appear the next time the import feature is used.  The "Cancel" button simply aborts the import process.

NOTE: Please be aware that the date format for both importing and exporting takes the following form: dd Mmm yyyy (12 Jun 1995)

CAUTION: You must make sure that order and number of fields selected matches that of the file you are importing from.  Undesirable results may occur if they do not.  When in doubt, test the import with one item first to make sure it will import in the way desired.


Copy
Selecting the Copy Button takes you to the Stamp Input Window.  All fields will be set to the values entered previously for the particular stamp selected.  Information can now be modified if desired.  When the Update button is pressed, the information will be saved as a new stamp.  The previous stamp that had been selected will remain intact.  You will find the copy command very useful for stamps that are very similar.


Copy (Menu)
Selecting Copy from the Menu performs the same operation as the Copy Button.


End Search Button
Pressing the End Search button will deactivate a search.  The stamp viewer will reload using the entire database.  The "SEARCH ON" message is removed to indicate that a search is not in progress.


Options (Menu)
Colors

Viewer

Import

Export

Reports


Color Selection Window

The Color Selection Window allows you to setup the colors you wish to appear on the selected window.  The selected Window is selected when using the color menu option.  As color options are made, the selections appear on the window.  This way you can visualize the impact.  You may cancel the color selection process simply by pressing the Cancel button.  To use the colors you have selected, press the OK button.  The following color options are available:

Background

This is the color that will fill the background of the window.

Major Titles

Many windows have large lettered titles on them.  This sets the color for them.

Minor Titles

Many windows have average sized titles on them  This sets the color for them.

Edit Background

This is the color that will fill the background of any edit boxes that may be on the window.

Edit Text

This is the color of the text that will be inside the edit boxes.

Radio and Check Boxes

This is the color that any radio or check boxes will appear in.

3D Colors

Many windows contain 3D looking boxes surrounding different items on the screen.  This option lets you choose one of two color schemes to give the 3D affect.

Predefined Color Sets

Several predefined color sets are included with the software.  You may simply choose one of these if you find them to your liking.  Or you may choose one and then modify one or two items to better suite your tastes.


Colors (Menu)

This allows you to configure the colors for many elements of the window.  You may do this to all windows or to a particular set of windows.  This option brings up a submenu consisting of the windows which can have their colors changed.  Selecting one of these options takes you to the Color Selection Window.  The submenu options are as follows:

All Windows

This will set the colors for all color configurable windows.

Main Window

This sets the color only for the opening main window which contains the viewer.

Edit Window

This sets the color for the edit window.  The edit window is where you enter information in about a particular stamp.

Search Window

This sets the color for the search options window.

Report Window

This sets the color for the report options window.

Maintenance Windows

This sets the window for all the maintenance type windows.  This includes the Import Window, Export Window and the List Maintenance Window.


Report Viewing Window

This window is for viewing the reports prior to printing them.  It consists of a large scrollable window that contains a page of the report.  You may use the scroll bars to view the different parts of the current page.  A menu bar exists at the top of this window to allow for several actions.  They are as follows:

Print

This brings up a submenu with four options.  One is for printing the current page you are viewing and one is for printing the entire document.  The other two are for saving the current page or the entire document out to an ascii text file.

Next Page

This creates and displays the next page of the report.  If you are on the last page, then nothing happens.

Previous Page

This creates and displays the previous page of the report.  If you are on the first page, then nothing happens.

Exit

This exits the report viewing window and returns to the report options window.

Setup

This allows for selecting and setting up of your printer for the printed report.

Help

This simply invokes the help system.


Rebuild Index

It is possible for your index files to become corrupted.  This may happen by not exiting the program properly (shutting the computer of while the program is running) or by other means.  As a result, some stamps may not show up in the viewer or in reports because they cannot be found in the appropriate index.  Selecting this option will rebuild your index files correctly so that the problem will go away.


Pack Database

This program uses DBase compatible files.  When a deletion of a stamp occurs, it is only marked as deleted.  To physically remove the deleted stamps from the database, a process called "packing" must occur.  Selecting this option will "pack" the database and thus free up space.  It is recommended that you pack your database every once in a while.


Reset Key

The program maintains a counter to use as a unique KEY in the database for each new stamp.  If this counter gets out of sequence with the number of stamps, an error message claiming a "Unique Key" must be used will occur when a new stamp is added.  Selecting this option will automatically reset this counter to the correct value thus resolving the problem.


Troubleshooting

Help!!! Things just don't seem to be working right!  I'm getting strange error messages!  What can I do???

This section covers a couple of the most common errors that you might run into while using this (or any other Database type) program.  Two options are built right into the program which can take corrective action for their respective problems.  These two options are Rebuild Index and Reset Key.  These are accessed via the menu system by first selecting File and then Maintenance.


Viewer Configuration

You may configure the Stamp Viewer to your liking by selecting the order of items and the width of each item.  You may also select only those items you wish to see in the viewer.

Stamp Element

The Viewer Configuration Window displays a list of check boxes consisting of each of the stamp elements.  Simply check the box of the element that you wish to appear in the viewer.

Column Order

Following each check box is an edit box which specifies the order in which to display the stamp elements.  Placing a '1' in the box will indicate that the element is to be displayed first.  A '2' indicates that it will be second.  When setting the order, you must start at "1" and use consecutive numbers.  An error will be displayed if numbers are duplicated or used out of sequence.

Column Width

Following the Column Order is another edit box which specifies the width (in characters) to allow for the stamp element.  For example, if you specify 20 characters for the stamp description, then those descriptions which are longer will be truncated and the truncated part will not show up in the viewer.  Please note that proportional spaced fonts are used in the viewer.  When specifying a width of 20, more or less than 20 characters may fit in the space allotted depending on the characters themselves.

Page Size

This allows you to specify the number of stamps to load into the Stamp Viewer at one time.  The current range is from 10 to 1000.  You may ask: What page size should I use and what impact does it have?  The biggest concern here is a factor of time.  Using large page sizes requires more time to load an entire page into the Stamp Viewer.  However, once in the viewer, you can scroll through the stamps more quickly.   The trade off is the ability to scroll through more stamps quickly versus waiting for the stamps to load into the viewer.  Our recommendation is to keep the Page Size relatively small at around 50 or 100 stamps.

Sort Order

You may select one of several ways to have the viewer sort stamps.

Font

The viewer can be configured with any True Type font that is present on your system.  Simply press the "New" button to select a new font.

Buttons

Several buttons are present  The Ok button is used to accept the selections which have been made.  Once pressed, the Stamp Viewer will be updated and the Viewer Configuration Window will close.   Your configuration choices will be saved.  The Cancel button simply aborts the configuration process.  The Re-order button will resequence the order of the Stamp Items automatically for you.  The New button allows you to select a new font. The Help button opens the help file.


User Defined Reports

This window allows you to create your own report layouts.  The description of the report appears as an item in the "Style" list box on the Report Window where it can be selected and used.  The following items can be configured for a report: Report Name, Report Width, Font, Report Content, Report Titles, and Miscellaneous.  In addition, the following actions can be taken upon the report: Update, Delete and Cancel.

Click on an area below for information on a given item.


Report Name
This is a descriptive name of the report and does not actually appear on the report.  This name appears as one of the choices in "Style" list box on the Report Window.


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Edit Report Line Windows
Edit Report Line Window

This window allows you to design an individual line that will appear in the user definable report.  You may specify up to 20 items to appear on the line.  These items can consist of database elements, blanks or labels.

Line Item

This consists of a list box which allows you to choose the item to be presented on the line.  It contains an option for a label (<LABEL>), an option for blanks (<FILLER>) and options consisting of the database elements.  If the report line is for Totals, then the database elements will only contain those items which can have totals applied to them.  Selecting an item will place it at the current location in the line.  At the bottom of the screen, there will be an illustration of where the items will be in the line.

Size

This specifies the number of spaces to allocate to the item.  If the item is to big to fit in the space allocated, it will be truncated.  If you try to allocate more space than is currently available on the line, the amount of space will be truncated to the maximum available size.

Label

This is only available if the Line Item selected is a label (<LABEL>).  This is the actual text that you want to appear on the report as the label.

Buttons

Buttons available are Ok and Cancel.  The Ok button simply accepts the information and returns you to the previous window.  The Cancel button allows you to abandon any changes that you have made.

NOTE: Labels are always right justified while database elements are always left justified.  You may therefore wish to place blanks (fillers) between labels and database elements.


Report Width
You may specify a report width of 90 characters which produces a larger, more legible report.  Alternatively, you may specify a report width of 120  which will allow you to pack much more information on each page.


Report Font
You may choose from any True Type font that has been loaded on your computer.  This font will be used as the report font.  You may optionally select to bold or italicize the font without having to go and rechoose the font.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 120 column reports are designed to work with a 10 Point size font and 90 column reports are designed to work with a 12 Point size font.  Different fonts have slightly different space variations for the same point size.  A small range of font sizes are permitted (9 - 14) to allow you to choose the size you feel fits best for your report.  Be cautioned that the larger font sizes may cause your fields to run together on the reports in which case it is recommended that a smaller sized font be chosen.


Report Content
Each database item can occupy up to 12 lines of information.  You enter the number of lines you wish each item to use.  Each line has a button associated with it.  Pressing one of the buttons takes you to the Edit Report Line Window where you can specify the layout of the particular line.  Each line may have labels, blanks and database elements placed on them.   As the line format is created, the basic format of the line is displayed below.  Totals allows the total amount of all items, costs and/or values to be displayed in the report.  Pressing the Mod Totals Line button takes you to the Edit Report Line Window where you can set up how the totals line is to look.  Please Note: It is possible to create statistic/summary only reports by setting the number of lines to be used to zero and entering a definition for the Totals Line.


Report Titles
You may specify up to three report headers which will appear on the top of each page of the report.  Use these for your name, address, phone, import information about your collection or for anything appropriate.


Report Miscellaneous
There are two items available under the miscellaneous section consisting of Column Headers and Page Numbers.  Column Headers are only available for reports which use only one line for each database item.  Selecting this option will automatically place a column header at the top of each page and at the start of each new group (depending on the sort order specified) in the report.  Selecting Page Numbers causes the report to show page numbers at the bottom of each page.


Report Update
The Update button simply saves all the report layout information and makes it available as a report option.  If the Report Name has been changed, then you will be prompted to see if you want to overwrite the old report with the new name or to save out a brand new report with the new name.  NOTE: You can very easily create similar report layouts with very little effort by modify an existing report and simply changing the report name.


Report Delete
The Delete button removes the report layout from the computer.  The delete button is only active if the report name has not been changed.


Report Cancel
The Cancel button allows you to abandon any changes that you have made.


Report Layout
As each line is created, the basic format of the line is displayed in this box.  It gives a general idea of how the body of each database item will appear on the reports.