Copyright: Alpha, The Pager Program  ® 1994  BB&C


MainScreen
Alpha, The Pager Program

Alpha, The Pager Program is a simple to use, but powerful interface to your alpha-numeric paging service.  In order to use this software you must have an alpha-numeric pager and service from a paging company that uses the standard paging protocol.  Alpha, The Pager Program, as you will see, is extremely easy to use.

You will notice as you move through the different areas of the program that help information will appear on the bottom of the screen. This help information will give a brief description about whatever your mouse cursor is currently over.  If you wish to find further, more in-depth information, about a topic, you can choose one of the topics below.

Send Message Screen

User Screen

Options Screen

Message Log

Problems & Technical Support

Limited Liability / Warranty Exclusion

Registering Your Software

Alpha, The Pager Program is copyright 1994 by Bradd Brown and Company.  All rights reserved.  No part of this publication, except with exceptions noted in this help file, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or translated into any language form by any means without the written permission of Bradd Brown and Company.


Send Screen
Send Message Screen

When you start Alpha, The Pager Program the Send Message Screen will appear.  If you have not already set your modem preferences and user information, you will need to do so before using the Send Message Screen.  You can set those options from the User Screen and Options Screen.

The Send Message Screen is very straightforward.  The box on the upperleft side is the user check list.  A user is someone you are able to send an alpha-numeric message to.  In this area simply click on the user(s) that you want to send the message to.  That user will be highlighted.  You may click on multiple users and have the message sent to all of them at once.

The other large box on the Send Message Screen is the area where you should type your message.  The box will limit the maximum number of characters that you can type in it dependent upon what you specify as the maximum character length on the options screen.

Near the lower right corner of the Send Message Screen you will see a box with some numbers in it.  In this area, a count is kept of how many characters you have remaining, that you can type.  When this number reaches 0 the message box will no longer accept any more characters.

There are two buttons on the Send Message Screen, a Send button and a Clear button.  The Send button will send your message to the user(s) that you have selected.  The Clear button will clear what you have typed in the message box.You should note that both of these buttons are disabled until you type something in the message box.

Once you push the Send button to send your message, the Send and Clear buttons will disappear and a Cancel Message Send button will appear. You can cancel the message send, at any time, during the process, by clicking on this button.


User Screen

The User Screen is an area where you enter information on the people who have alpha-numeric pagers that you would like to send a message to.  To display the User Screen you may either access it through the menu by pressing ALT-E then U, or press F4, or simply click on the USERS button.

To add new users to the system, first make sure that there are no names highlighted in the box on the right hand side. If there are, click on the Clear/Cancel button.  You can then enter the users name and pager number in the appropriate boxes. Once you have entered the information click on the Add/Update button to finalize your addition.

If there are already users entered into your system their names will appear in the box on the upper right area of the User Screen.  In order to edit any of these names, simply click on them with your mouse and their information will appear in the name and pager number box.

To delete users from the system, first highlight them by click on their name on the box on the right hand side. Then press the Delete button and they will be deleted.

The name contains the descriptive name of the person that you would like to be able to send a message to.  The pager number area is the pager, account or pin number that the paging system requires so that it knows who to send your message to.  On most systems this will be the pager number of the user.  On some systems you can enter a group i.d. in this area and the group name in the name area so that messages can easily be send to a group of users.


Options Screen

The Options Screen is an area where you can customize Alpha, The Pager Program so that it will work properly with your modem and your paging system.  The Options Screen also allows you to set some personal preferences.  To display the Options Screen you may either access it through the menu by pressing ALT-E then O, or press F4, or simply click on the OPTIONS button.

You will notice three boxes along the top of the options screen in which you can change the Comm Port, Speaker, and Tone/Pulse dialing settings for your modem.  The Comm Port setting should be set to correspond to the port your modem is on.  The Speaker setting allows you to turn your modem speaker on or off or at 3 pre-set volumes during dialing.  The Tone/Pulse setting should be set according to whether or not your phone company supports tone or pulse dialing. For fruther information on these settings see the manual that came with your modem.

Near the center left of the options screen there is a box you can check (click on it with your mouse) to turn on and off whether or not messages are logged to a file, that can be viewed later, after they are sent. THIS FEATURE WILL ONLY WORK ON REGISTERED VERSIONS.

The Send Time/Date check box allows you to send the time and date along with all of your messages.  You should be aware if you check this box it reduces the amount of characters that you can send in a message.

The System # area is where you should type the number that your computer should dial to connect to the paging service.  If you do not know this number contact your paging service to obtain it.

The Max Length area is where you put the number of characters that your paging company will accept for a message in one transmission.  The number is usually around 200.  Make sure that this number does not exceed the maximum characters allowed or your alpha-numeric pages may not be accepted by the paging system.  Consult your paging company for the number that you should use.

The Init String area is where you place the initialization string that activates your modem.  If your modem is not functioning properly with Alpha, The Pager Program it is probably because you do not have the correct initialization string set.  The default initialization string is &QW2B1.  This sets the modem for asynchronous mode (&Q), disables all result codes (W2), and sets it for US Domestic Industry Standard, Bell 212A (B1).  Your modem could possibly use different codes for these things.  Some modems work fine without any initialization string at all.


Message Log

The Message Log is an area where you can view messages that you have sent in the past.  To display the message log you may either access it through the menu by pressing ALT-F then L, or press F3, or simply click on the MESSAGE LOG button. THE MESSAGE LOG FEATURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE REGISTERED VERSION.

NOTE:  THE MESSAGE LOG WILL ONLY SHOW PREVIOUS MESSAGES IF YOU HAVE THE APPEND MESSAGES TO FILE OPTION CHECKED ON THE OPTIONS SCREEN.  The log will start a different file for each month automatically to help organize your messages and to make sure that the log does not get too big.

You can view previous months logs or any months log by using the Forward (>)
and Previous (<) buttons on the bottom of the Message Log screen.  The box to the right of those buttons show the month and year of the log you are viewing.

The log will display the time and date of the message, the name of who it was sent to and the message itself.  The message log will also indicate if there was an error when the message was sent.

To close the Message Log press the Close button on the bottom of the message log screen.


Problems
Problems & Technical Support

If you encounter problems using this program please check;

1 	That your modem works properly.  Try it with some other applications also.

2 	That your paging company supports the standard paging protocol.

3 	That the options settings are set in accordance with your system.

4 	That the initialization string is set properly for your modem.  Refer to your modem manual for setting information.  With most modems you can set the initialization string to  &QW2B1. (Note: The "AT" command at the front of the initialization string is optional)

If the &QW2B1 does not seem to work check your modem manual for the following type of settings;
&Q  =  Standard Asynchronous Mode
W2  =  Return Negotiated DCE (modem to modem) speed.
B1  =  Initiate call using BELL 212A/103 standard.

The baud rate is set at 300 baud which is the standard.  The parity, data and stop bits are set for 7,E,1 which is the standard.

If after doing these things you can still not resolve your problems you may contact BRADD BROWN AND COMPANY in the following ways;

•	On CompuServe at address   72144,2331

•	by writing to:

Attn: Technical Support
Bradd Brown and Company
BOX 720871
Oklahoma City, OK 73172

Comments or suggestions are welcome.


Limited Liability
Limited Liability / Warranty Exclusion

Bradd Brown and Company disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties are expressly and specifically dislaimed.  Neither Bradd Brown and Company, nor anyone else who has been involved in the creation, production, or delivery of this software shall be held liable for any indirect, consequential or incidental damages arising out of the use or inability to use such software even if Bradd Brown and Company has been advised of the possibility of such damages or claims.  In no event shall Bradd Brown and Company's liability for any damages ever exceed the price paid for the license to use the software, regardless of the form of claim.  The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit for consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oklahoma and shall inure to the benefit of Bradd Brown and Company and any successors, administrators, heirs and assigns.  Any action or proceeding brought by either party against the other arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.  The parties hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.  If any portion of this agreement is found unenforceable, it will not effect the validity of this agreement, which shall remain valid and enforceable according to its terms.


Registering
Registering Your Software

If you use this software for more than 30 days, you are required to to purchase a registered copy of the license to operate the software.  You will gain other benefits by registering this software.  Bradd Brown and Company grants permission for the NON-REGISTERED version of this program to be copied and distributed to others for evaluation purposes as long as it is distributed with the following files unchanged and intact:

•	ALPHA.EXE

•	ALPHA.TXT

•	ALPHA.HLP

•	MSCOMM.VBX

•	THREED.VBX

If you have registered this software the ALPHA.INI file should not be distributed to others, along with the above files, because it contains YOUR registration information.

To register Alpha, The Pager Program you can do so on Compuserve by entering GO SWREG.  The SWREG I.D. # is 3541.  Follow the instructions and prompts on Compuserve.  The price for registering on Compuserve is $17.95  ($15.00 + $2.95[US] S&H).  This is the quickest way for us to receive your order.  We will then send you back a 15 to 25 digit registration number that will enable all of the programs features.  If you supply an email address we will send the registration number back that way ASAP.  Should you have more questions, you may send us e-mail at Compuserve address 72144,2331.

If you do not have access to Compuserve you may print out a REGISTRATION FORM.  If you do not have a printer you can send $17.95  ($15.00 + $2.95[US] S&H) to the following location;

Attn: Alpha, TPP Ver 1.2
Bradd Brown and Company
Box 720871
Oklahoma City,  OK  73172

Either way you register you will be afforded the latest version of Alpha, The Pager Program and the registration number which will enable all of the programs features.  You will also be given technical support at the above listed Compuserrve address.

Upon REGISTERING the following software license will be in effect;

You may use this software on a single computer, and you may transfer it to another computer as long as it is used on only one computer at a time.  You may copy the software for backup purposes only.

You may transfer this software to another party if the other party agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this agreement, and you either transfer or destroy all copies in your possession whether in printed or machine readable form.  This includes all portions of the software.

You may not rent, sell, lease, sub-license, time-share or lend the software to a third party or otherwise transfer this license without written consent of Bradd Brown and Company.  You shall not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer or modify the software.

This license is effective until terminated.  You may terminate it at any time by destroying the software together with all copies, and any other material that you have pertaining to the software.  This license also terminates if you fail to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

This software and accompanying documentation are protected by United States copyright laws as well as international treaty provisions.  Any use of this software in violation of these laws constitutes termination of this license.


Registration Form

I would like to purchase ___ licenses for Alpha, The Pager Program. I have enclosed $17.95  ($15.00 + $2.95) for each license ordered.  I have the unregistered version 1.2.  I understand that if there is a later version available it will be sent to me.

Name _____________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

City __________________________  State ____  Zip _________

Phone Number (optional)  (______) ________ - _____________

Send completed order form to;

Attn: Alpha, TPP Ver 1.2
Bradd Brown and Company
Box 720871
Oklahoma City,  OK  73172


APPEND MESSAGES TO FILE OPTION

<Options Screen>


Message Log

<Message Log>


Options Screen

<Options Screen>


Problems & Technical Support

<Problems>


REGISTERING YOUR SOFTWARE

<Registering>


REGISTRATION FORM

<Registration Form>


Send Screen

<Send Screen>


User Screen

<User Screen>