*************************[ CATALOG-ON-A-DISK ]****************************** ****************************[ version 2.00 ]******************************** Thank you for using CATALOG-ON-A-DISK. It is very easy to use. To get started just type: CATALOG . CATALOG-ON-A-DISK works on IBM XT,AT,386,486 and compatibles, on monochrome, CGA, EGA and VGA adapters, with DOS 2.1 or higher. No hard disk is required (although one is suggested for making catalogs). If you have been sent CATALOG-ON-A-DISK by a company sending you their catalog, and you are ONLY using the program to view that catalog you are not expected to register. However, if you want to use the program to distribute a catalog you must buy the program. See the section called "Distribution" in the manual for more information. This File is for the Shareware Trial Copy Version of CATALOG-ON-A-DISK. Use ORDER.FRM to Buy Your Registered Version. ******************[ The topics covered in this file are: ]****************** 1. Disk Contents 2. New Since The Manual Was Printed 3. Upgrading from Earlier Versions **************************************************************************** ****************[ A NOTE ABOUT OUR BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM ]****************** As of February 1991 our Bulletin Board System (BBS) has been on line. You may order any EmmaSoft product using the BBS, and registered users may get technical support there. In addition there is a growing collection of shareware programs, most notably those written by Association of Shareware Professionals authors. There is no charge for accessing this board, and downloads are unlimited (except by the daily time limit). The EmmaSoft BBS is an approved ASP BBS. 607-533-7072 2400,1200,300bps N,8,1 24 hours No access Fee **************************************************************************** ****************************[ 1. Disk Contents ]*************************** The following files are shipped with CATALOG-ON-A-DISK. If any are missing please contact EmmaSoft to make sure your have a good copy of the program. ASP.TXT Shareware and ASP Information CATALOG.EXE Catalog Reader CATALOG.INI Initialization File CATCOM.EXE Catalog-On-A-Disk Companion MANUAL.TXT The Manual for Catalog-On-A-Disk ORDER.FRM Ordering Information and Form README This File UPDATE.TXT List of Features in New Version VENDOR.DOC Shareware Distribution Info for Vendors and Sysops In addition, a sample catalog is shipped with CATALOG-ON-A-DISK. These files must also be included in your shareware copy: CATALOG.TL Category File CATALOG.FM Forms File Compressed Files |Text Examples ------------------------------------+----------------------------------------- In a Real Catalog These Would Be |In a Real Catalog These Would NOT Be Included On The Disk You Send |Included On The Disk You Send ------------------------------------+----------------------------------------- ABOUT.CM AIRCRAFT.CM |AIRCRAFT.TXT CMHLP.TXT CMHLP.CM CMOSHLP.CM |CMOSHLP.TXT COMP.TXT COMP.CM EXIT.CM |EXIT.TXT FIRST.TXT FIRST.CM FREE.CM |FREE.FRM HEADER.TXT HEADER.CM ORDERINF.CM |ORDERINF.TXT PET.TXT PET.CM SHARE.CM |SHARE.FRM SHAREWAR.TXT SHAREWAR.CM STEREO.CM |STEREO.TXT TOTAL.TXT TOTAL.CM VIDEO.CM |VIDEO.TXT ------------------------------------+----------------------------------------- ******************[ 2. New Since The Manual Was Printed ]****************** 3.1 HOW TO MAKE A CATALOG FILE Change "A catalog text file may have a maximum of 975 lines..." to "A catalog text file may have a maximum of 794 lines..." 3.7 HOW TO MAKE COUPONS AND OTHER SPECIAL FORMS You can tell CATALOG-ON-A-DISK which colors to use when viewing "Special Forms." On line TWO of the file, begin the line with a tilde (~), followed by "Main" for the main screen colors, "Help" for the help colors, or "Hilight" to use the hilight colors. If this line is missing from the file CATALOG-ON-A-DISK defaults to the "Main" colors. Example: ~Hilight 4.12 SETTING THE DATE FORMAT Two flags have been added to CATCOM for setting your date format. First, you set the format of the order of the month, day, and year, and whether the name of the month is used, or its number. To do this type: CATCOM -df A menu pops up. Put the bar over your choice of format. (Note: Although a dash (-) is used as a separater character on this menu, this may not be the real separater character used. Use -ds to set the actual character.) Next you may want to set the character that separates the day, month, and year. Type: CATCOM -ds[char] where [char] is replaced by the character you want. For example, if you want to use a forward slash (/) for your separater character type: CATCOM -ds/ To check the date format you have set, start CATCOM in interactive mode and press to review your settings. 5.2 COMMAND LINE FLAG SUMMARY (CATCOM.EXE) -df Set Date Format -ds[char] Set Date Separator Character Appendix C: WHERE FILES ARE CATCOM.EXE must be called from the directory it and its files are in. However, you can run CATALOG.EXE from another disk or directory if: 1. You have DOS 3.0 or higher, and all files are in the same disk and directory as CATALOG.EXE. (In such a case make sure the directory containing CATALOG.EXE is included in your PATH statement). 2. You set a DOS environment variable to tell CATALOG.EXE where its files are. To do this type (in autoexec.bat, or at the command line): SET CATALOG=C:\CATFILES Replace "C:\CATFILES" with the actual disk and directory the files are in. ******************[ 3. Upgrading from Earlier Versions ]******************* It's easy to convert your files from earlier versions of CATALOG-ON-A-DISK. Use CATCOM.EXE to do it for you in three steps. 1. Type CATCOM and press the key. Choose "Convert v1 to v2" Type in the name of the text file to convert.* 2. (This step is optional) With your text editor add a "header line" and/or a password 3. Use CATCOM.EXE to compress the converted file. Example: CATCOM -C CATEGRY1.TXT *Do NOT attempt to perform tis operation on a compressed (xxxx.CM) file.