Specifications and Requirements ------------------------------- Software Title: My Personal Diary (Version 4.3) Author or Company: Chris Maresco 105 Bayview Avenue E. Patchogue, New York 11772 TEL: (516) 654-2908 E-Mail: CMaresco@AOL.COM 75207.2232@COMPUSERVE.COM Registration Fee: $24.95 Location: Windows Forum Software Library (AOL) Filename: MPDIARY.ZIP Filesize (ZIPped): 313,675 bytes Filesize (unZIPped): 363,552 bytes Keywords: Maresco, PK204, Journal, Calendar, Events, Password, Security, Win 3.1 Requirements: Windows 3.1, mouse recommended. Rating (1-10): 9 Date of Review: 6/13/95 Installation ------------ Installation Rating: 9.5 Description of Installation Process: You will need to extract the program files (from the downloaded MPDIARY.ZIP file) into a temporary directory. Then run SETUP.EXE. This launches the installation program which first displays a "readme" text file and then asks which directory you would like to have the program installed into (if you want it in a different directory from the default just type it in). It also has an option setting ALL installation programs should have - the choice of Installing All Files or NOT Overwriting Existing Files that are Newer. The installer then creates a Program Manager group and icons and asks if you wish to view My Personal Diary's Help files. (Don't forget to delete the files in the temporary directory once installation is complete. They are no longer needed.) Features -------- Listing/Description of Features: Each diary is linked to a Personal ID and a Password. All files are encrypted so no one can view them without knowing the exact ID and Password. To create a new diary simply enter a new Personal ID. The program then prompts for a Password for that diary. My Personal Diary's File Menu has options for: Today's entry, Open, Save, Open Treasure Chest (a storage area for special personal info like ATM PIN numbers, online passwords, bank account and credit card numbers, location of valuables, super secret wishes/dreams or anything special you want safe from prying eyes), Print Current Entry, Print Multiple Entries, Print Preview, Printer Setup, Archive (create backups of your diaries), Export as a Plain Text File (this will export any entries as an unencrypted ASCII text file readable by any text viewer/editor), and Exit My Personal Diary. It has a Toolbar with buttons for the most frequently used commands (Help, Open, Save, Save as Text File, Open Treasure Chest, Open Address/Phone List, Open To Do List, Print, Print Preview, Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Find, Find and Replace, Find Next, Search Multiple Entries, Previous Entry containing Searched Text and Next Entry containing Searched Text. It also has a Status Bar giving you information on each function of My Personal Diary. Its Browse Menu has options for going Up/Down one Day/Month/Year and Jump to Date. The Edit Menu has options for: Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete and Clear All. The Search Menu lets you: Find, Replace, Next and Search Multiple Entries (New Search, Next Entry and Previous Entry). The Organizer Menu lets you call up the Address/Phone List and/or the To Do List. The Options Menu has Configuration and Change Password as its items. The Help Menu calls up My Personal Diary's Help and also its About Screen. The To Do List lets you record up to 20 items per day. It has a calendar field (for selecting the day) and a To Do List field (which displays your current entries). Near the bottom of the screen are the Status (Done or Pending) and Description (detail of the To Do entry) displays. Clicking on any entry will show you the information in these displays. Double clicking on any entry calls up the To Do editor so you can modify an entry. There are buttons for Add (add a new To Do item), Edit (Modify existing To Do Item), Delete (remove an item) , Roll Unfinished Items (moves unfinished items to any date you choose and adds them to that days To Do List), Ok (closes the To Do List saving any changes), Cancel (closes the To Do list without saving any changes), Print Day (prints out the selected day's To Do List) and Help (calls up the To Do List Help file). There are also Up/Down buttons to the right of the To Do List so you can change the priorites of your entries (select an entry and then use the Up/Down buttons to move the entry through the list). The Address/Phone List has fields for Last Name, First Name, Address 1, Address 2, City, State, Zip Code, Phone Number, Alternate Phone Number, and Notes. Buttons allow you to access its features like New (add a new listing), Delete (remove a listing), Search (by last name - this feature is case sensitive so make sure you capatilize), Previous Entry, Next Entry, Beginning of List, End of List, Ok (closes the Address/Phone List saving any changes), Cancel (closes Address/Phone List without saving any changes), Print List (prints alphabetical, by last name, list showing Name, Phone and Alternate Phone Numbers), and Help (calls up Address/Phone List Help file). My Personal Diary's Print Preview shows you exactly how your entries will print out. It has a Toolbar with buttons for Previous/Next Entry, Single Page View, Facing Page View, Zoom In, Zoom Out, Print and Close Print Preview. Help/Documentation Rating: 9 My Personal Diary comes with "readme" text and Windows format Help files which cover almost any questions you may have about the program. Summary ------- My Personal Diary version 4.3 is one of the nicest personal information programs around. It has a very nice looking and easy to use interface and is loaded with little enhancements. Its freeform daily entries are great for ANYONE to record ANYTHING. I'm already using one diary for my correspondences, another for my hobbies and another as a personal journal. The abilty to save your entries as text files is another great feature. The To Do and Address/Phone Lists are really handy as well. You can even have Address/Phone and To Do Lists which are unique to each user by specifying a file name and directory for them in My Personal Diary's Configuration (the default is to have one Address/Phone List and one To Do List which is accessible to all users. Because of this these particular features are not encrypted as is all other entries in My Personal Diary). The thing I really like is the security. If you have to share your system with others it is nice to know there is a secure place where you can store your thoughts, ideas, etc. I truly recommend this delightful little info manager. It is well worth every penny of its $24.95 registration fee. I hope we see more from Chris Maresco very soon. Problems and Suggestions ------------------------ List of Problems found: There were no confilcts, GPF's or program errors encountered during my evaluation of this software. The only problem I found is in using the Tab key in your daily entry. On the screen text will tab 5 spaces to the right for each press of the Tab key but, when you go to Print (or Print Preview) the entry there will be a small square for each Tab and your text will not appear as it does on the entry screen (the text starts one space to the left of the small squares). Suggestions for improvements: 1). It would be nice in this "age of the information superhighway" to have an E-Mail field (and maybe a FAX number field) in the Address/Phone List. Also, it would be nice if the notes field was a bit larger. 2). Add the ability to copy To Do and Address/Phone List entries to the Clipboard. Technical Support: ------------------ Technical Support Rating: 9.5 Description: All inquiries made about the program were answered in less than 12 hours (via E-Mail) with intelligent and helpful responses. Technical help is available via E-Mail, snail mail or phone so you won't have a problem connecting here. What do you get when you register? ---------------------------------- If you do not have the most recent version of My Personal Diary when registering you can receive it on diskette. If you are registering the most recent version then you will receive the code to disable the registration reminders. You are then entitled to free technical support by regular mail, telephone or E-Mail. You are also entitled to free minor upgrades of the major version you register. Chris Maresco also offers a mailer you can receive once you are registered. Disclaimer ---------- (DISCLAIMER: This review is provided for information/entertainment purposes only. The author will not be held responsible or liable for any problems which may occur in the use of any of the reviewed software. The author will also not be held responsible if the program reviewed does not operate, in the way stated. With there being so many system configurations possible confilcts/problems can arise which may prevent the reviewed software from operating in the way indicated. This is not the responsibility of the reviewer.)