============================================================================= Thank You For Trying "PHONEBOK" for Windows! A FREEWARE PROGRAM FOR WINDOWS by Stephen G. Dunn 50 Hillside Drive Hanover, MA. 02339 CompuServe 70034:2454 InterNet 70034.2454@compuserve.com ============================================================================= - This program is intended as a small scale personal information manager for use under Microsoft Windows V3.1. I realize that there are many other programs available which handle much the same (or similar) functionalities, but in my experience, all these programs suffer from a common weakness - an everything-including-two-kitchen-sinks list of "features", resulting in a more-or-less incomprehensible user interface and a more-difficult-than-necessary user learning curve. PhoneBok is designed to be easy to learn, simple to use, and yet contain enough functionality to be useful in the "real world". - It requires the "VBRUN300.DLL" file (not included here since it is widely available from most BBS's, Compuserve, etc - and it is rather large, so why force you to download something you probably already have when it's your nickel!) as well as four others mentioned below. - This program offers you the ability to record and use personal information related to people (as in a "White Pages" type phone book), as well as information relating to companies (as in a "Yellow Pages" type phone book). - You can cause PHONEBOK to Link people to companies to create your own phone listings for any company you want. HINT: Use this LINKing feature! You won't be disappointed! - In addition, it provides a "To Do" list feature for managing various and sundry day-to-day items, allowing you to SORT, filter, etc (most of the main features I have found in other "To Do" list managers). ============================================================================= DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROGRAM ============================================================================= - This program may be freely copied and distributed for personal use. No fee is required for the use of this program, although the author of this program retains all rights of authorship (and will gratefully accept any and all donations of a monetary nature!). The source code for this program is available - please contact me for details if you are interested. - If you do chose to distribute this program, you *MUST* distribute the "PHONEBOK.EXE" file, the "PHONEBOK.HLP" file, the "HISTORY.TXT" file, and this "README.TXT" file together, unaltered. ============================================================================= INSTALLATION AND USE ============================================================================= - In addition to "PHONEBOK.EXE", the following files are required to run this program ( all these files can be freely distributed ): COMMDLG.DLL CMDIALOG.VBX MSMASKED.VBX VBRUN300.DLL PHONEBOK.HLP - The first four files above should be copied directly to your WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory. [NOTE: Please do not accidentally overwrite any files which may be of later date than the ones included herein!] - The "PHONEBOK.EXE" and the "PHONEBOK.HLP" files can be installed to any subdirectory on your heard disk EXCEPT THE ROOT DIRECTORY. I recommend you create a subdirectory named, for example, "C:\PHONEBOK\" and put PHONEBOK.EXE into this subdirectory. Note that the "PHONEBOK.HLP" file MUST be in the same subdirectory as "PHONEBOK.EXE". So do all your data files (see below). - With the exception of "VBRUN300.DLL", all files necessary for use are included in the original distribution file. If you did not receive all the files you need, please feel free to contact me at the address above if you need help in getting them. - During normal operation, PHONEBOK.EXE will use the following files: PERSDATA.SGD - contains your "White Pages" personal info CORPDATA.SGD - contains your "Yellow Pages" corporate info TODOITEM.SGD - contains your "To Do" list data COCAPTNS.SGD - contains the text of your Corporate Grouping Criteria / Filters. Note that I have included a "default" set along with this program, but that you can change the text of any or all of these items at your convenience. PDCAPTNS.SGD - contains the text of your Personal Grouping Criteria / Filters. Again, I have included a "default" set to get you started. The following file is OPTIONAL, and is NOT created nor maintained by PhoneBok, although the data IS used by PhoneBok during normal operation (if you don't want to be bothered creating it, you don't have to!) USERDATA.SGD - THIS FILE MUST BE CREATED BY YOU USING A PLAIN TEXT EDITOR (the MS-DOS "EDIT" program, or even "EDLIN", will work fine. So will any word processor which can save its output files as plain ASCII text). - This file contains data specific to YOU which can be used by PHONEBOK during normal execution, defined in the following way (NOTE: you MUST leave a blank line for any item you do not want to use - this file MUST contain 6 lines even if you use only one of them!) Line 1 - your full, formal name Line 2 - your company title, if any Line 3 - your nickname (how cute can I get, huh?) Line 4 - your street address (part 1) Line 5 - your street address (part 2) Line 6 - your City, State, and Zip code - The above files MUST be located in the same subdirectory as the PHONEBOK.EXE file. - NOTE: Each entry in your "Yellow Pages" or your "White Pages" phone books requires 2,048 bytes of disk storage space. Each entry in your "To DO" list requires 512 bytes of disk storage space. The ultimate size of your data files is determined by available disk space. HOWEVER, the "Export" functions are currently limited to a maximum of approx 500 records. ============================================================================= OUTPUTS ============================================================================= PhoneBok provides three different types of outputs, depending on which menu choice you make. [1] Direct to printer - these reports (the "Full Details" and the "? Line Summary") send their output directly to the printer. I have formatted these outputs for both LaserJet and Dot Matrix printers. NOTE: You *MUST* have either the "Arial" or the "Times New Roman" TrueType font (which came as part of the Microsoft Windows software) installed and available in order to use these output options. [2] Direct to Microsoft Word for Windows or Microsoft Write. These outputs are the "Letter" and the "Memo" reports, which simply use your choice of one of these word processors to create a simple personal letter or business type memo, and then allow you to fill in the body of the letter/memo, then save it or print it, etc. If I had access to more different Windows-based word processors, I could offer more choices for this! [3] Direct to Microsoft Word for Windows. These are named "Export" outputs, and use the capabilities found specifically in Word for Windows to create "merge table" documents, which can in turn be used to create mass mailings, mailing labels, envelopes, etc. Again, if I had access to more different Windows-based word processors, I could offer more choices for this! ***************************************************************************** - NOTE: This program is provided on an "as-is" basis, and the author assumes no liability whatsoever for anything, at all, ever. By using this program at all, you implicitly aggree to assume all risks, and to hold the author harmless in every way, shape and form. This is all legalese for "Use This At Your Own Risk"! ***************************************************************************** - I hope this is enough to get you going, and I hope you enjoy the program! I greatly value any feedback you may have on this program - the best way to reach me is via Compuserve mail (70034:2454) or via "snail mail" to the address above. - I'm not sure at this time what other features / improvements (other than new formats for hardcopy outputs) / enhancements / etc I will be putting into future versions. That's where I need YOUR help - let me know what you'd like to have PHONEBOK do.