***** MemO-Net On-line Manual - Version 1.31 *****
When using your Internet browser, mail software or just reading documents, have you been wanting to jot down Internet links - Web sites and e-mail addresses - and other information, such as file references, for later use? And found it a nuisance to always keep paper and pen at hand, then transfer, file, and keep track of the information? And afterwards go through several procedures to use it? Or, if you've been using a word processor, like Word, being obliged to make a special Memo file and keep it open on the screen?
MemO-Net simply and systematically lets you note, file and keep information, then later retrieve and use it with a few clicks of your mouse. A click on a URL address will immediately connect you to your browser or e-mail software. A click on your file reference will call up your file.
With user-friendly installation and use, it's a software application that will save time and increase your efficiency.
***** Installing MemO-Net
Double click on MemO-Net.exe to run the file. A Dialogue Box will open on the screen suggesting the installation of the file in the folder c:\Program Files\MemO-Net. Or you can put it in another destination folder. Click the Unzip button to start decompressing the files. Click Close to shut the Dialogue Box.
You no longer need the MemO-Net file now, but make a backup copy on your hard disk or on a diskette in case you need to reinstall MemO-Net or put it on another computer.
Go to the destination folder, select MemO-Net.exe and right click on it. On the drop menu, click Shortcut. Select the MemO-Net shortcut for 3 possibilities: drag it to your Desktop, in your Start-up menu or, if you want it to automatically appear when you open Windows, in your Start folder.
Warning: MemO-Net, written with Visual Basic 5, needs the VB5 library. If you don't already have one in your system, you'll need to download it from, for instance:
Double click on the MemO-Net shortcut. The main window opens which is empty, since this is the first time you're using it. It will hereafter contain your information. The window is now at its minimum height. You can reduce its width and enlarge it up to full screen. The "-" button minimizes the window. Click on the icon in the System tray to restore it.
The target window simultaneously opens in the upper right corner. Always visible, you can keep it where it is, resize it or drag and drop it wherever you wish.
If you don't like the picture in the Target ;-), put your own bmp-file in the MemO-Net folder with the name "user.bmp"!
Your MemO-Net icon also appears in the System Tray in the bottom right corner of your screen to the left of the digital time.
***** Using MemO-Net
To create (or later rename) a category file, right click on the Category label (upper left corner of the main window), click Create, type in the category name, and validate by clicking OK (or press Enter). Then you can create up to 20 categories, for example: My emails, Business, News, etc.
1. Seizing links from source
a) Software with drag and drop capabilities
Select or click on the desired link (Web, FTP or e-mail), while holding down your mouse button as you drag it on MemO-Net's main or target window. As you release the button, a Dialogue Box appears. The address will be in the upper part. Under the line, in the lower part, write your commentary or ideas, and possibly choose a category. Validate with the OK button or the Enter key. The URL link and your commentary are now bound together on a list in a category file.
b) Software without drag and drop capabilities
Highlight the desired link, copy it (Ctrl+C) into your Clipboard, then double click on the Target window, which is the same as Paste (or Ctrl + V). As you release the button, a Dialogue Box appears, and proceed as above.
2. Seeing your links and notes
When you've finished seizing links, go to the main window of MemO-Net. By clicking on any link in the list, you'll see its accompanying commentary in the zone after the end of the list because the two are bound together in your MemO-Net List. If you prefer to see the commentaries in the list, right click on the list and choose the Swap Links/Notes command.
3. Connecting with the Link
Select the desired link on your MemO-Net list with a click on it. By clicking the Call button, MemO-Net connects you with its source.
If the link is a valid Web address, such as http://www.yahoo.com, it will automatically call your browser (a message will then ask you to connect to your server). If it's an e-mail address, your mail software will be called up. You'll see an empty new ready-to-use message box already addressed to the sendee and with your own return address. All you have to do is type your message and send. If it's a file reference, such as a Word document, the application is launched with this file.
4. Other References
- The Note/Link area (below the list) has space for 2 lines, but you can add any number of lines by using Ctrl + Enter when editing the note. Or, you can resize this area by moving the bar between the Links list and the Note field.
- You can manually note references to a program or file on your hard disk. Begin the link with "file://". For example:
file://notepad.exe
file://c:/windows\readme.txt
- You can also drag a file icon from the Windows Explorer and drop it to the MemO-Net main or Target window.
- Internet favorites are also welcome. For instance, you can directly drag existing Favorites from Internet Explorer 4 Favorites menu. For other versions of Explorer as well as for Netscape, just type in your preference.
- A click on the Category label goes to the next category (if exists).
5. Contextual Menus
MemO-Net has three contextual popup menus: the Category menu (right click on the Category label, in the upper left corner of the main window), the Links/Notes menu (right click on the list in the center of the main window) and the Miscellaneous menu (right click on the MemO-Net icon in the System Tray or click on the Misc. button in the icons bar).
a) Category menu
Categories are used to classify your information in separate files. This menu allows you to:
- Create a new Category (a maximum of 20 categories is allowed);
- Rename this Category: change the name of the current category;
- Delete this Category: remove the current category and all its information. If you only have one category, you can't delete it (but you can still rename it); note that a dialogue box lets you choose an answer.
b) Links/Notes menu
It includes all the functions related to the selected item in the list:
- Add a new Link: manually add a new link, which you can also do by double-clicking on the target window;
- Paste a new Link: assuming there is something in the clipboard, this command opens the Add/Edit Link dialogue box and paste the text of the clipboard in the Link field; you can also use this command after deleting a link (see below);
- Swap Links/Notes: links in the list and attached note in the field below the list, or notes in the list and attached link in the field below the list. It's your choice!
- Sort the list: after execution of this command, the list currently displayed is sorted in alphabetic order.
- Call this Link: depending on the type of the selected link, this command invokes your Internet browser, your e-mail software or the related application; same as double-clicking on an item in the list;
- Edit this Link: modify the selected link and commentary on the list;
- Copy this Link to the Clipboard: copy the link to the clipboard, for instance to transfer it to another application;
- Move this Link to Category: move the selected item from the current category to another existing category;
- Delete this Link: trash the selected link and commentary on the list (you can also use the Del key); if you do that by mistake, select the Paste command in the Links/Notes menu to retrieve it.
c) Miscellaneous menu
- Add a new Link: same as in the Links/Notes menu; useful when the main window is reduced, so you can add a link from the system Tray popup menu;
- Search: search words or characters in your links or comments;
- Save Data: save the information on your disk. Although it is done automatically when closing your computer, this function is especially useful because it keeps newly acquired links before your machine can block;
- Export to Html: export the whole MemO-Net database to a Html file readable with your Internet browser; this file, named "MemO-Net.html", is located in the MemO-Net folder;
- Options: modify MemO-Net software options; see below;
- First Aid!: some visual help information for the beginner;
- Help: consult this help file;
- About: consult the version of MemO-Net; please also feel free to contact me or visit my Homepage by clicking the related link;
- Quit: leave MemO-Net.
Options Sub-Menu
- Save Context: save position and format of the main window (even when reduced) and the target window in order to retrieve them at next start-up; choosen options in this menu are also saved, as the Swap Links/Notes switch;
- Little Target: if checked, the Target window has no title bar;
- Target on Top: if checked, the Target window is always visible (on top). If not, it may be covered with other window applications;
- Manage Favorites: if checked, a colored icon is displayed in the lower left corner of the main window. You can reverse the state of this option by clicking on the icon (then it becomes grey).
When a new link is created with the option enabled, a corresponding Internet Favorite is added in the Windows Favorites folder. So, you can directly use it with the Microsoft Internet Explorer. Each favorite is created into its own category sub-folder, under a main folder named MemO-Net. The other related commands such as Delete, Move, Edit... also act on the Favorites while the option is enabled. Note that a checkbox in the Add/Edit dialogue, allows you to temporarily bypass the behavior of the Manage Favorites option.
- Save Context on Exit: if checked, the Save Context command is automatically activated before exiting the program;
- Remove from Registry: delete all reference to MemO-Net in your Windows Registry if you want to deinstall MemO-Net (or after a crash); a dialogue box lets you choose an answer...
6. Icons bar
The more useful commands are available in the lower area of the main window: Add a new Link, Edit the selected item, Copy the selected item, Call the selected item, Search, Save Data and Miscellaneous menu. Just click on the button to launch the related command.
7. Leaving MemO-Net
Click on the menu item Close, or on the "X" in the top right corner of the main window.
MemO-Net automatically saves all links and commentaries on your list and unloads itself from memory. It thus doesn't need to take up extra memory and space on the computer. Note that the context is also saved if the Save Context on Exit option is checked.
***** Software status
MemO-Net is a freeware. You can use it as you like, give it to others or install it on any number of machines. For commercial use, please contact me.
THE AUTHOR HAS NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANY MALFUNCTIONING OF THIS SOFTWARE.
***** Thanks
I want to thank MemO-Net users for their invaluable suggestions, ideas, positive criticisms and for beta-testing this software, especially: Alain Grenet (France), Bart Kruger (The Netherlands), Keiji (Japan), Wei Wang (China). This outcoming version of MemO-Net is also theirs!
***** Contact
Please send me an e-mail at alainpi@usa.net with your comments on MemO-Net, problems you may encounter and improvements you'd like in future versions. I'll appreciate your help and advice, and look forward to hearing how you like it!
If you want to be informed by e-mail about new updates, please let me know.
