Version 1.0b3 fixes several bugs and adds more function to the Software Inventory stack. This is a list of the significant changes:
-- • v1.0b3 -- 9/10/94
Fixed a bug in the Print Report handler.
Fixed an extra space in data problem by adding a space filter.
Added a routine to delete cards without a software name.
Changed Notes Expand/Contract handler to use Shift/Option Keys
Changed Date and Amount to right aligned.
Added a Total to the Amount field.
Filled empty Purchase Amount and Purchase Date fields zeros
Added an Export routine dump all inventory data to a text file.
Added an Export Button that can be copied to earlier versions.
Added an Import routine that accepts the Ascii file from the Export.
For current users of the Software Inventory stack
This update provides new Export... and Import... functions and a Total for the purchase amount in the Inventory Report. It also contains two buttons on the first Inventory card that will let you transfer the data from your current stack to this one by means of an Ascii file.
To transfer inventory from your current Software Inventory stack, follow these steps:
(1) Close your current stack if it is already open.
(2) Open version 1.0b3 and navigate to the first inventory card. Notice the two buttons in the upper right corner called "Export Button" and "Copy Export Button".
(3) Click on the "Copy Export Button". A dialog will explain what will happen.
(4) Click on "Continue" in the dialog. This will now happen:
a) The Export Button will be copied and placed on the clipboard.
b) You'll be shown a dialog box listing your files.
c) Click on the box to Open a stack in a new window.
d) Scroll to the name of your current inventory stack and open it.
e) The Export button will be transferred to your current stack.
(5) Click on the Export Button that is now in the upper right corner of your current stack. It will show you a Dialog box that explains what you can do. You can Cancel or Continue. If you continue, you'll be asked to supply a name for a new file. After you type in a name, a copy of the contents of the stack will be extracted and stored in the file that you named. The data in your current stack will not be disturbed.
(6) Switch to the version 1.0b3 stack by choosing Next Window from the Go menu or typing Command-L. If the version 1.0b3 is not on the desktop then choose Open Stack from the File menu. Choose the Import... menu item from the SoftInv menu to bring the data from the Ascii file that you named in step (5). Once this operation is finished, your new version should be ready to use.
Instructions for New Users
This stack is designed to help you keep an up to date record of the software you have installed in your computer. The design and the scripting is my own work except for four XFCNs written by employees of Apple Computer, Inc. Mike Byrne wrote the ExtractVersion() and FilterDirectory() XFCNs. Eric Carlson and Anup Murarka wrote the FileVersion() XFCN. John Crossley wrote the Volumes() XFCN.
Having the information online will be handy when you need to talk with vendors about their software. The stack will also serve as a central place where you can always find, beside the vendor's telephone number, your date of purchase, registration number, the version of the software and any notes you want to make about the software.
The stack is menu driven. The SoftInv menu includes 16 items. They are: About SoftInv..., SoftInv Help, Add To Inventory..., Select Vendor Data... , Sort Inventory List..., Hide Inventory List, Clear Inventory List..., Make Software List... Hide Software List, Make Vendor List..., Sort Vendor List..., Show Vendor List, Import..., Export..., Print Report..., and Registration... .
As it is currently set up, you can ask for 4 different software lists:
-- Programs
-- Control Panels
-- Startup Documents
-- Stacks.
Once you have generated one of the lists you can:
-- automatically create an inventory card by clicking an item in the list
-- manually enter your own data such as purchase date, registration number, etc.
-- pick vendor name and address data from the list that's included or type it in
-- enter notes or contact information that you want
-- automatically generate a hypertext based inventory list of all the inventory cards
-- print out each of the four software lists and the inventory list.
If you have multiple copies of a program installed, each copy will be listed. The first time I ran the stack on my computer it listed five different copies of TeachText that were installed in various folders on the hard disk. I used Find... to locate and remove all the duplicate software.
The stack will look at all the disks you have installed, including external hard disk, floppy disk, and CD-ROM disk whenever you ask it to make any of the software lists. Depending on the content of your disk(s) and the speed of your computer, this could take several minutes.
Online help is available for each of the four sections of the program. The help field that comes up is keyed to the section you are working in.
This is freeware, but if you would like to be on my user list, print and mail the Registration Form or send me your name and address via email at ArthurD12@AOL.com or DieliAV@eWorld.com. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
