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********************** * * * E Z - F O R M S * * * ********************** Reference Manual Revision A May 1985 Exclusive Distributor: Enerco Associates 403 NASA Road East, Suite 377 Webster, TX 77598 (c) Copyright 1985 by: MaeDae Enterprises All rights reserved. 1826 Wren League City, TX 77573 PREFACE EZ-FORMS is distributed under the "Shareware" concept. Feel free to pass copies to your friends and PC users groups. This program may be uplinked to bulletin boards provided this documentation file and sample forms are included. YOU MAY NOT SELL EZ-FORMS! Disclaimer: MaeDae Enterprises makes NO claims for or offers warranties of any sort with EZ-FORMS. MaeDae Enterprises assumes NO responsibility for any sort of damage resulting from the apparent or actual use of EZ-FORMS (mental or physical). MaeDae Enterprises DOES want to know of any problems users have with EZ-FORMS and will fix any "bugs" found by our users. We will also try to incorporate changes and enhancements based on our users suggestions. < i > TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OVERVIEW -------------------- 1 2. GETTING STARTED ------------- 2 3. KEY DESCRIPTIONS ------------ 4 4. SUGGESTIONS/EXAMPLE USAGE --- 5 5. PRINTER SUPPORT ------------- 6 6. REGISTRATION ---------------- 8 7. NOTES ON EZ-FORMS ----------- 11 < ii > OVERVIEW EZ-FORMS is a form-generating program that allows you, the user, to generate master forms tailored to your individual needs. EZ-FORMS allows you to create or revise a master form or a completed (filled out) form. A master form can be altered only if you are operating in the "create or revise a master form" mode. Master and completed forms can be stored as well as printed. Once a master form has been created and saved, it can be recalled an unlimited number of times to be filled out and then stored as a completed form. EZ-FORMS supports IBM (Epson) compatible printers as well as Daisy wheel printers, however only Epson and Prowriter compatibles can take advantage of the compressed mode used by EZ-FORMS when printing out larger forms. EZ-FORMS requires an IBM PC or IBM PC compatible with at least 256K of RAM. Direct screen memory access is used to provide high speed screen updates. This may make EZ-FORMS unusable on some "not too close" IBM PC compatibles. If after loading EZ-FORMS, you see only text, no borders, then you have a compatibility problem. If you provide MaeDae Enterprises with information on your screen memory starting address, MaeDae Enterprises will try to include your display adapter particulars in the EZ-FORMS defaults. IBM monochrome, color, and enhanced graphics adapters are known to work with EZ-FORMS. If you are using a IBM color graphics card with a "green screen" then you must use the DOS mode command that is on your DOS diskette to default to black and white (type MODE BW80 and then run EZ-FORMS). < 1 > GETTING STARTED Everything has a beginning. The ballerina begins by sticking her foot into her slipper, the college professor by finding his box of multicolored chalk, and you'll begin by loading DOS into your computer. If you are an experienced computer person then type EZ and skip to the description of the menu items. However, if you're like the Mae of MaeDae Enterprises (who just happens to be the one writing this section), then you'll need all the help you can get. So find the diskette that has your DOS on it. After loading DOS, type EZ and press enter. A wonderful display written by the Dae of MaeDae will come up (my husband really spent some time on this so please appreciate it)! At this point, some nice to know information will come up. Basically, if you are this far along, your computer has enough memory to run EZ-FORMS. Press any key. TA-DA! The MAIN MENU. The Main Menu options with descriptions are below. 1. Create/Revise Master Form: This option allows you to create a new master form or revise an existing one. You can designate the form size (maximum size is 86 lines by 130 columns), add (or delete) a border and draw horizontal or vertical lines (sorry no diagonal lines at this time). The cursor control keys are enabled, so you can "walk around" a newly created form. Once a form size has been selected, it cannot be changed under the current revision of EZ-FORMS. 2. Complete a Master Form: With this option, you can retrieve, and complete a copy of a master form. Text added to the original master form can be manipulated, however, any text which is part of the master form can't be changed. (I really know this works!) 3. Revise Completed Form: Here you can recall a completed form for revision. This option is the same as option two, except you're not starting with with a "clean slate" master form. You have complete freedom to revise any portion of the form except for the master form outline and text. 4. Print a Form: This option gives you full access to the computer directories and drives to allow you flexibility in searching out and printing forms. If you have an Epson or Epson compatible, then you can take advantage of the compressed print format for larger forms. < 2 > 5. Utilities: This section lets advanced users really "play" with EZ-FORMS. You will be able to manipulate forms -- erase, copy, rename, and even export a master form to a standard ASCII DOS file. (Dae won't allow Mae too much access here. I think he thinks I'll destroy something). 6. General Information: For those of you who will just have to run EZ-FORMS before reading the documentation, here is a short overview. 7. Exit to DOS: All good things must come to an end. Choose this option if you want to leave EZ-FORMS and return to DOS. < 3 > KEY DESCRIPTIONS Generating a master form consists of determining form dimensions, drawing lines, and adding appropriate text. EZ-FORMS defines the numeric keypad keys, the keyboard keys, and function keys to make this task easy. KEYPAD KEYS: With the exception of the insert and delete keys, all keypad keys are non-destructive, that is, the character under the cursor is not changed. left arrow - move cursor one space left right arrow - move cursor one space right up arrow - move cursor up one line down arrow - move cursor down one line page up - move screen up one page (24 lines) within form page down - move screen down one page within form home - move screen to upper left portion of form end - move screen to lower left portion of form insert - inserts desired number of spaces at the cursor while moving rest of line right delete - deletes character under cursor and moves rest of line to left to fill in space FUNCTION KEYS: These keys perform different functions depending on whether you are working on a master form or a completed form. Master Form Completed Form ----------- -------------- F1 Help F1 Help F3 Draw Border F10 Exit F4 Erase Border F5 Draw Line F6 Erase Line F10 Exit Note: For F5 and F6 position the cursor at the beginning point and press the function key once. Then position cursor at the ending point and press the function key again. F5 and F6 can be used for either vertical or horizontal line drawing/erasing. KEYBOARD KEYS: All letters and numbers are entered as you normally would from the keyboard. Some keys are special keyboard keys which are a combination of the control key (or ALT) and another key. In these cases (for example the control right arrow), hold the control (or ALT) key down and press the second key (in this case, the right arrow key). The special keyboard keys are: control right arrow: move cursor to right side of form control left arrow: move cursor to left side of form return: move one line down, start of line backspace: move cursor one position left along with rest of line The Master Form mode has the following additional keys: Alternate I: insert line Alternate D: delete line < 4 > SUGGESTIONS/EXAMPLE USAGE STEPS FOR EXAMPLE: Creating a form named TEMP. 1. Bring up EZ-FORMS. NOTE: You must be in DOS with EZ.COM on the diskette in the active drive or have it on your hard disk in the active directory. (That's just my husbands way of saying STICK in the EZ-FORMS diskette and go). Type EZ and then press enter. 2. Press any key to go from the EZ-FORMS logo to the Main Menu. 3. Select 1 for Create/Revise Master Form. The screen will clear and you will be presented with a menu of all the existing master forms. 4. Type TEMP and press enter. A menu will appear asking you to define the form size. 5. Select 3 for a 40 line by 80 column form. You are now in the edit mode for a master form. 6. Press F3. A border will appear around the entire form. Notice that the bottom of the form is missing. We are only looking at the 1st 24 lines of a 40 line form. 7. Press PgDn. The rest of the form will now appear. 8. Press F5 for a line. Move the cursor to the right side of the form by pressing Ctrl and the keypad right arrow. Press F5 again. We have just drawn a horizontal line on line 17 of our form. Don't worry about the "-" in column 1 of the form overwriting part of the border. Just press F3 once more to restore the border. 9. Be creative. Walk around on the form and type in text, make vertical lines, or anything you desire. Refer to this manual or press F1 (Help) then select 4 for more information on the key functions. Don't forget to press 5 to resume editing. 10. Press F10 (Exit). We are ready to save our masterpiece. 11. Select 6 (Save and Exit). When asked for the file name type TEMP and press enter. TEMP will now be saved. 12. Select 2 (Complete a Master Form). A directory of master forms will be displayed. Type TEMP and press enter. 13. You are now in the "complete a form" mode. Walk around on the screen and "fill out" the form you generated earlier. Notice how the the master form itself is protected from erasure. 14. Press F10 (Exit). We have now completed a master form. 15. Select 6 (Save and Exit). When asked for the file name type TEMP01 and press enter. We have just saved our first completed form (notice the 01 we added after TEMP in the file name, this allows easy reference later). 16. We are now back at the Main Menu. From here you can print TEMP or call it in for further revision. 17. When you are done, press 7 (Exit to DOS). < 5 > PRINTER SUPPORT If you don't have a printer, then you've got problems. This section assumes you have no problems (at least not printer type problems). EZ-FORMS supports various dot matrix and daisy wheel printers such as type Epson MX, FX, and RX series, the Prowriter dot matrix, and the C.ITOH Starwriter series printers. EZ-FORMS requires you to define your printer type before you can print out the desired forms. (I nearly died of panic before I found out what Dae means really isn't so bad.) When you select the Print option, a printer selection menu will come up. The various printers, organized into groups or types will appear. Find which type your printer falls under and enter that as your selection. ** Note: If you have a printer (example MX-100) which can handle wide forms and want to use compressed print on narrow (80 column) paper, then type 1 (for MX-80) instead of type 2 (for MX-100). ** Printer specifics is the next display which will appear. Basically, if you've tried printing out forms and you get everything (including the border) double spaced, or know that your printer double spaces with most software, then answer "NO" for line feeds. As for the question of where your printer is connected, life will be so much easier (especially if you're a beginner) if you go ahead and "hook" it up to LPT1. If your printer is connected this way then answer yes to the second question. Cars have brakes, math tests erasures, and Mae insisted Dae put a "second chance" in the software. If there's an error, here is your opportunity to correct it with the third question. Once your printer type is defined EZ-FORMS will write a file to your default drive (PFORMAT.DEF) containing your printer definition. If you change drives or directories, and wish to print a form then you must re-define your printer type. If you are working from a floppy disk, then make sure that you do not have the disk write protected. If you are defining your printer type and the diskette is write protected, you will receive an Abort, Retry, Ignore statement. Remove the diskette and take the write protect tab off. Insert diskette into drive and press R. Now it should work. Mae really does bring some interesting problems to my attention. (Hey, guys, this one really isn't my fault. - Mae) Anyways, here are some notes to help keep your association with EZ-FORMS on a friendly basis. < 6 > 1. Most printers can print 66 lines per page. Most of the pre-defined forms are 65 lines x 80 columns. Adjust your printer so that the first line prints at the very top of the page. 2. Some printers have micro-justification (usually controlled by a switch inside the printer). Make sure this switch is off before using EZ-FORMS (usually this means turning off the switch AND turning the printer off and back on). If your printer uses micro-justification then the right border of the printed form will NOT line up. 3. If you do not have an Epson compatible or Prowriter dot matrix printer, then you can't use the compressed print mode. 4. Printer types 1, 2, and 3 can handle up to 86 lines x 130 column forms. 5. Printer types 4, 5, and 6 can only print forms up to 66 lines x 80 columns. < 7 > EZ-FORMS REGISTRATION Three levels of registration are available: (1) FULL REGISTRATION - $40.00 BENEFITS: a. Unique Registration Number. Every time someone registers for full registration using your unique registration number, a $10.00 commission will be paid directly to you. You will also receive the latest version of EZ-FORMS free and all updates for one year. b. Bound printed users manual with quick reference card. c. Phone support for one year. After the first year, you can subscribe for additional phone support and updates for $20.00 per year. d. Quarterly newsletter containing announcements of new software releases, bug corrections, announcements of update releases, etc. e. Membership in Form Exchange Service. We will act as a focal point so members can exchange useful master forms. Mail in several of your forms (on diskette), and we will return your diskette with a selection of other forms in your requested field of interest. (2) LIMITED REGISTRATION- $30.00 BENEFITS: a. You will receive the latest version of EZ-FORMS plus one update free. b. Bound printed users manual with quick reference card. c. Phone support for one year. d. Quarterly newsletter containing announcements of new software releases, bug corrections, announcements of update releases, etc. e. You may upgrade to full registration by paying an additional $10.00 within 30 days. This offer expires 30 days after registration. < 8 > (3) NO REGISTRATION- $10.00 a. A copy of the latest version of EZ-FORMS. (all pre-defined forms will not be supplied) b. Notification of other software products developed by MaeDae Enterprises. c. You may upgrade to full registration by paying $30.00 (add $3.00 shipping) within 30 days of registration. Send all registrations and inquires to: Enerco Associates 403 NASA Road 1 East, Suite 377 Webster, TX 77598 (713) 482-0210 We accept Visa and Master Charge by mail and phone. If you choose full registration and are registering by phone we will give you a registration number immediately. You will then be able to use option 7 from the EZ-FORMS main menu (Registration) to immediately update your registration number. We will mail out your copy of EZ-FORMS normally within 48 hours. If you just can't wait to give EZ-FORMS to a friend, but want to use the full registration AND register by mail then: - Use your social security number or Federal Identification Number as your unique EZ-FORMS registration number. - We then use this number as the registration number. - When your friends choose full registration we will send the $10 commission to you. We must receive your paid order for full registration before paying any commissions. UPDATING THE REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1. Make a back-up copy of the EZ-FORMS diskette and put the original diskette in a safe place. Work ONLY from copies! 2. If you have a write protect tab on the diskette please remove it. 3. Load EZ-FORMS. (Type EZ and press enter) 4. Press any key to go from the opening credits to the Main Menu. 5. Choose option 7 (Registration). 6. When asked for the registration number type in either your social security number, Federal Identification Number, or assigned registration number. All registration numbers are nine alphanumeric characters without spaces. 7. It will take about 90 seconds for EZ-FORMS to locate the registration number and update it. 8. If the file EZ.COM is not on your disk then you will receive a error message. If this occurs, then copy EZ.COM to the default drive and try again. < 9 > REGISTRATION FORM - EZ-FORMS ver A NAME MAIL TO: ENERCO ASSOCIATES -------------------------- 403 NASA ROAD 1 EAST ADDRESS SUITE 377 ----------------------- WEBSTER, TX 77598 ----------------------- (713) 482-0210 ----------------------- REGISTRATION NUMBER (SEE OPENING EZ-FORMS SCREEN) --------------------- REGISTRATION DESIRED: (1) FULL REGISTRATION - $40.00 (COMMISSION, BOUND USER MANUAL, NEWSLETTER, ------ 1 YR FREE UPDATES, AND PHONE SUPPORT) (2) LIMITED REGISTRATION - $30.00 (BOUND USER'S MANUAL, NEWSLETTER, ------ 1 FREE UPDATE, AND PHONE SUPPORT) (3) NO REGISTRATION - $10.00 (LATEST VERSION OF EZ-FORMS WITH DOC ON DISK,----- NO PHONE SUPPORT) POSTAGE AND HANDLING: ADD $3.00 PER ORDER $3.00 ------ TOTAL METHOD OF PAYMENT: CHECK| | CHARGE CARD| | CASHIER'S CHECK| | MONEY ORD| | VISA MASTERCHARGE CARD # EXP DATE --- --- --------------------- ------- TEXAS RESIDENTS ADD 5.125% SIGNATURE ____________________________________ TERMS: ALL MAIL AND PHONE ORDERS MUST BE PREPAID. CHECKS TAKE AT LEAST 10 BUSINESS DAYS TO CLEAR. ALL ORDERS SHIPPED AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS RECEIVED (CHECKS MUST CLEAR BANK). PERSONAL DATA WILL YOU ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR US? 1. WHAT TYPE OF COMPUTER ARE YOU USING EZ-FORMS ON? -------------------- 2. HOW MUCH MEMORY DOES IT HAVE? K BYTES -------- 3. WHAT TYPE OF PRINTER IS ATTACHED? --------------- 4. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT EZ-FORMS? -------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE EZ-FORMS? ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- THANK YOU < 10 > NOTES ON EZ-FORMS A collection of information relating to EZ-FORMS is listed below. These items didn't seem to fit into any of the other sections but Dae insisted the info needs to be passed on to you. GENERAL: 1. EZ-FORMS rev A was written in Pascal. The source consists of 3800+ lines of code. 2. Screen manipulation, including windowing, is handled by writing directly to screen memory. This provides extremely fast screen updates and allows high speed text scrolling on the screen. Checks are performed to determine if your system is color or monochrome. The corresponding section of memory is used. 3. EZ-FORMS is a "Shareware" software package. Please provide suggestions for improvement when you register your copy. EZ-FORMS will continue to improve as long as people suggest improvements and contribute toward its development. Reference the registration form. 2. If you have chosen an Epson compatible printer, then EZ-FORMS will use compressed print and adjust the line spacing as necessary to fit your form to fit on a single sheet of paper. SAVING: 1. Retyping the file name is required only if you have created a new master form or filled out a master form. If you are editing an existing form then press enter when asked for file name and the original file name will be used. 2. Before saving, a check is made to ensure sufficient space is left on the diskette and that the file doesn't already exist. If a problem occurs, EZ-FORMS will prompt you for the necessary action. DEFAULT DRIVE: EZ-FORMS allows you to change the default drive so that you can have full access to all the drives on your system. If an error occurs while saving to one drive, you can always switch to another drive and try again. CHANGE DIRECTORY: Many of the menus allow you to change directories. You can access all the directories available on the default drive if you are using DOS ver 2.0 or later. < 11 > FILE NAME EXTENSIONS: 1. EZ-FORMS uses the file name extensions FRM and FOF to designate master form and completed (filled out) form respectively. You won't extensions unless you ask for a complete directory listing from the utilities menu or from DOS. 2. Master forms, when saved to disk, consist of only the text with a 128 byte header containing information about the form size. 3. Completed forms, when saved to disk consist, of the text alternated with the character attribute along with the 128 byte header. MEMORY USAGE: Memory resident programs, such as SideKick or printer spoolers will subtract from the amount of memory available to run EZ-FORMS. If you have only 256K of memory and load in any memory resident programs, then EZ-FORMS may not run. FUTURE PLANS FOR EZ-FORMS: Future versions of EZ-FORMS will have expanded capabilities provided a demand is demonstrated for this package. If you find EZ-FORMS useful I urge you to register your copy and get the latest version. Future versions will include: 1. Full wordprocessing capability including block move, block copy, and word wrap in both the master and completed form modes. 2. Printer support for many other printers, to include bolding for selected portions of the text. 3. Color support to show on-screen text bolding, underlining, and other wordprocessing options. 4. Optional password checking prior to allowing master forms to be revised. 5. Several diskettes containing additional master forms will soon be available. Forms to be included cover business, accounting, and engineering fields. 6. Mae has already started pulling her hair out documenting the new EZ-FORMS, (Dae really has no mercy), so be sure to register your copy. < 12 >