ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 Shareware Freeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)

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______________________________________________________________ | | | - PHLBL - | |______________________________________________________________| Label/Rotary filecard/Postcard Printer Version 2.1 Released 07-15-91 COPYRIGHT 1989-1991 Phil Herron. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Herron Software P.O. Box 1288 Battle Ground, Washington USA 98604 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ________________________________________________________________ Preface.............................................. 0 New in this version.................................. 1 Introduction......................................... 1 Overview............................................. 1 Getting Started...................................... 2 System Requirements.................................. 3 Installing........................................... 3 Help................................................. 4 Syntax............................................... 4 File Selection Window................................ 5 Operating Screen..................................... 5 Menu functions....................................... 6 Data Storage......................................... 8 Data File Format - Default......................... 9 Data File Format - Options......................... 9 Comment line..................................... 9 Blank Line within Label......................... 10 Printer Attribute Command Line.................. 10 Margin Setting Line............................. 11 Label Height Setting Line....................... 11 Inter-Label Skip Setting line................... 11 Embedded DATE, TIME commands.................... 12 Data File Editing................................... 12 New Data Files.................................... 12 Existing Data Files............................... 12 Line Lengths...................................... 13 A. Data File Line Length....................... 13 B. Printing Line Length........................ 13 Label Heights..................................... 13 Miscellaneous Notes................................. 14 Printer Limitations............................... 14 Left Margin....................................... 14 Printing Example.................................. 15 Applications........................................ 15 Error messages...................................... 16 DOS ErrorLevel.................................... 16 Version History..................................... 16 Support............................................ A-1 Problem Resolution............................... A-1 Reporting A Problem.............................. A-1 Custom Modifications............................. A-2 Correspondence................................... A-2 Index.............................................. I-1 0-1 __________________________________________ DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY __________________________________________ THIS PRODUCT IS PROVIDED FOR EVALUATION, AS IS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE AUTHOR MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGE ARISING FROM EITHER THE USE OF OR THE INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT. ____________________________________________________________ EVALUATION PREFACE PAGE ____________________________________________________________ Shareware....................................... 0-1 License Terms................................. 0-2 Registration.................................. 0-2 Forms, Fees, Quantity discounts.............. 0-2 Evaluation Version.............................. 0-3 Distribution Authorization.................... 0-3 Evaluation Menu............................... 0-3 Virus Concerns................................ 0-3 - SHAREWARE - "Shareware" is a software distribution method which enables the potential user to obtain software at very low initial cost, for evaluation on a trial basis. You can evaluate the software in your own environment, on your own machine, with the programs and data that you normally use. You're not required to become a registered user unless the software meets your needs. Another benefit of Shareware is lower pricing. By minimizing the marketing and advertising expenses associated with more traditional software distribution methods, Shareware products can be priced lower. You don't pay for what you don't need or use. 0-2 - LICENSE TERMS - This product and its documentation are copyrighted and owned solely by the author, who reserves all rights to any benefits derived from it. It is distinctly separate from, and should not be confused with, those categories of software known as "public domain" or "freeware." You are granted the right to use the evaluation version of this software on a trial basis for a limited amount of time, to decide whether to continue using (and therefore whether to register) the product. You can share the evaluation version of this software with others, so long as the limitations set forth in the DISTRIBUTION AUTHORIZATION section below are followed. - REGISTRATION - When you send in the registration form and fee, you'll receive by return mail a diskette containing the latest REGISTERED VERSION of the program and documentation. It will NOT include the Evaluation Menu front end of this version. Thus it will be easier to use, from either the DOS prompt or from batch files, and will also be 12K-15K bytes smaller, for more efficient disk storage and faster loading. The registered version WILL include any new functions or enhancements made to date. As a registered user, you can upgrade to newer versions whenever they become available, for a total cost of 50 percent of the then-current registration fee. REGISTRATION FORM and FEES The registration form and a pre-addressed mailing cover can be printed from the "Forms Printing" selection of the Evaluation menu, discussed below. The single-quantity registration fee is displayed on the Evaluation Menu screen. Each registered copy will be licensed for operation at a single location (on a single terminal or computer) at any one time. To use the software on more than one terminal or computer at the same time, the appropriate number of registrations must be made. Multiple-quantity registration fees are displayed in the "QUANTITY DISCOUNT" section of the Evaluation menu. You can take advantage of quantity discounts by ordering multiple registrations of one program or of several different programs at the same time. You also save on shipping and handling charges by registering several products together. 0-3 - EVALUATION VERSION - This software contains the complete and fully functional version of the program, the latest available at the time of this release. The program itself is identical to the REGISTERED version. For evaluation, a front end menu containing a documentation file viewer and forms printer have been added to ensure that: (a) Registration information and forms will not become separated from the program file. (b) Users who might be unfamiliar with the process of displaying a file's contents on the screen or printer will have no difficulty learning about, evaluating or registering this product. - DISTRIBUTION AUTHORIZATION - Shareware catalog/disk distributers, Online services, Bulletin Board systems, user groups and private individuals are authorized to distribute the evaluation version of this software by any convenient means, so long as the program, documentation and any associated files are distributed together and unaltered. - EVALUATION MENU - The program is invoked from the DOS prompt by typing its name and pressing the RETURN/ENTER key. An initial screen displays warranty and program information, then the Shareware Product EVALUATION MENU with the following functions: ESC - EXIT to DOS R - READ the documentation (THIS file) x - EVALUATE this program Q - QUANTITY Discount information F - FORMS printing menu - registration & mailer "R" displays this file one screen at a time, and prompts... <DownArrow> or Esc <DownArrow> indicates more is available, similar to the "MORE" prompt in other DOS utilities. Press a normal typing key such as the spacebar to continue, or the ESCape key to return to the Evaluation Menu. - VIRUS CONCERNS - If you'd like to evaluate this software but you're not sure where it's been, order a copy directly from the source. See the SHAREWARE PRODUCT CATALOG in the CATALOG.TXT file. PhLBL-1 - NEW IN THIS VERSION - Default data file now contains a sample mass-mailing advert- ising postcard using multiple printer attributes. New "reLoad" command reloads the current data file, for faster editing/testing cycles during complex layouts. Modified "Ruler" command displays each line's number and printer attribute. Print Quantity limit has been increased to 999. "Printing n of n" is displayed while printing. - INTRODUCTION - Label printers seem to come in two forms: too simple for versatility, or too complex for occasional use without a refresher course. This program began as a "quick and easy" label printer; most of the advanced features it's gained along the way are optional and can be ignored if not needed. When needed, they're shown in several help screens, and explained more fully in the following sections. PHLBL provides easy, rapid locating and printing of your most frequently used labels, cards and tags, such as return address labels or rotary file cards and postcards for advertising. For extensive mailing lists or labels sorted by name or zip code, you may also need a dedicated mailing list manager. - OVERVIEW - PHLBL loads, displays and prints labels stored in pure ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) disk files. For ease of use, PHLBL can load a default data file whenever run. Or it will display a "pick" window of some or all files in a subdirectory, then prompt for selection. Either way, you don't have to remember file names. In its default configuration, PHLBL prints up to 5 lines of text, using draft mode, on standard 15/16-inch-high labels. PhLBL-2 - OVERVIEW - continued By embedding optional commands in the label data file, PHLBL can be directed to print on various sizes of label/card stock, using a number of different printer attributes. Optional commands are available to: Add non-printing comment lines. Add blank lines within labels. Change from draft mode to 9 other printer attributes (each line can have a different printing attribute). Change the left margin setting. Change the label height to 1 through 15 lines. Change the inter-label skip setting to 1 through 99 lines. Add embedded date and time printing commands. Adding and editing labels can be done using the word processor or text editor that you're already familiar with, so there won't be any strange new word processor commands to learn. Text is entered in the same format as the label, card or tag to be printed. If your editor has import capabilities, blocks of text in other files or applications can be marked and transferred into label data files. - GETTING STARTED - To print this manual, use the command COPY PHLBL.DOC LPT1 Files included in this distribution: PhLBL.DOC - manual (this documentation file) PhLBL.EXE - executable program PhLBL.LBL - default data file The default label data file PhLBL.LBL demonstrates some of PHLBL's features and capabilities. Begin by entering PHLBL <return> on the DOS command line. PHLBL loads the default data file automatically, as long as it can be found in the current drive and directory or on the currently set path. When loading is completed, press function key F1; the first help screen explains menu selections and the keys used to move up and down through the data file. Other screens summarize the special commands and line attribute characters. PhLBL-3 - GETTING STARTED - continued The complete contents of PHLBL.LBL, including comments and special commands, can be viewed later with a file browser or text editor. For now, step through the label and card entries; some contain descriptive text rather than actual labels. Print a few sample labels to view the effects of the various printing attributes. Change the Margin Settings to determine those most useful with your printer, or to print on multi- width label stock. Then read the Data Storage and Data File sections below to begin setting up your own label data. - SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - PC, XT, AT or compatible. DOS version 2.1 or later. 256K or more RAM recommended. Maximum number of labels per data file depends on the amount of user memory (RAM) free after DOS, PHLBL and any memory-resident utilities are loaded. The registered version (without the evaluation front end) uses about 62K for operation, plus another 1310 bytes for each label. A 640K system with no memory-resident utilities will handle up to about 400 labels per data file. If the whole data file won't fit in memory, the user is notified, then normal operations continue. An Epson-compatible dot matrix printer is needed if printer attributes are used; most other printers will work for plain (draft) labels. PHLBL was developed using an Epson FX-85 dot matrix printer with this default configuration at power-up: Default pitch ......... Draft Pica Horizontal spacing .... 10 Chars per inch Vertical spacing ...... 6 Lines per inch - INSTALLING - The program can be run from diskette or from hard disk. No installation is necessary, other than copying the files to a drive and directory of your choosing. To run the program from other than its resident drive or directory, specify its location with the DOS PATH statement. PhLBL-4 - HELP - COMMAND LINE SYNTAX Can't remember the command line syntax? Issue the program's name without any parameters; it will load the default label data file PHLBL.LBL if found in the current subdirectory, or will display a file selection window containing files and subdirectories accessible from this point. HELP from within PHLBL From the operating screen, function key F1 displays help screens summarizing the navigation keys, menu selections, special and attribute commands. - SYNTAX - PHLBL [filespec] Where [filespec] is the file specification needed to reference a file; it can also be shown as [d:][\path\][filename.ext]. Wildcard characters * and ? can be used in specifying filenames and extensions. If no filespec is entered, PHLBL will search for the default data file PHLBL.LBL in the current drive and directory, and any others specified in the DOS "PATH" statement. If not found, a file selection window of the current directory will be displayed. For further information on filespecs and setting up a path, see your DOS manual. Examples of valid command lines: PHLBL - loads default file PHLBL.LBL, if found, or displays the file selection window. PHLBL *.* - file selection window of current dir. PHLBL A: - file selection window of A: root dir. PHLBL C:\LA\*.L* - file selection window C:\LA, files *.L* PHLBL MyFile.Lbl - loads MyFile.Lbl, or halts if not found. Filespecs shown above are also valid from the main menu "NewFile" command prompt. PhLBL-5 - FILE SELECTION WINDOW - A file selection "pick" window is displayed: - When the command line argument (the filespec) includes DOS wildcard characters. - When no filespec is entered, but default file PHLBL.LBL is not found in the current subdirectory (or on the path). - When the main menu's "NewFile" command is selected, and its prompt answered by a <Return> key with no filespec, or a filespec containing wildcard characters. The window displays a sorted list of files and/or directory names (up to 500) that match the filespec entered. Normal intensity is used for filenames, high intensity for directories. A selection is made by moving the reverse-video block to the desired location using the cursor arrow keys, then pressing the <Return> key. "..\" is the "parent" directory to the current one, so if you're in C:\LA and select "..\", you'll get a list of files in C:\, the root directory. By selecting directory names, you can get a file list from anywhere on the current drive. - OPERATING SCREEN - After a data file has been loaded, the screen display appears; line numbers are included here only for explanation purposes. 1 __PhLbl_______________________ 2 |______________________________| 3 Label 1 of 20 File C:\LA\PHLBL.LBL 4 Tagged Margin 0 Lines/Skip 5/1 Attr BDDDD 5 .-------------------------------------------------------. 6 . This comment line begins with a period in column 1 7 .-------------------------------------------------------. 8 Label text line 1 . Label text line 2 . ... . `-------------------------------------------------------' 24 25 F1 <Up-Dn> Print Tag Find Newfile reLoad Ruler Settings Esc Line explanation: 1,2 - Program name/copyright block 3 - Label number (highlighted if first or last in file) - Filespec of current data file. 4 - Tag/UnTag status window: blank if label not tagged. - Margin setting: May be embedded in the data file; can be changed from the main menu's Settings submenu. PhLBL-6 - OPERATING SCREEN - continued Line explanation: continued 4 - Lines/Skip setting: defaults are 5/1. Both can be embedded in data files; Lines: height of label or other printing stock. Skip: lines between labels. - Printer Attributes assigned to this label: One character for each line in the current label. Default is D for Draft; others may be embedded in the data file using the "@Axxx..." command. 5 - Comment border - displayed if comment is attached. 6 - one-line comment (if any) attached to current label. 7 - Label top border; can be switched to a ruler. 8 - One to fifteen lines display current label contents, . depending on label length and Lines setting (described . above). Label lines can be any length; however, only . the first 79 chars will be displayed or printed. n n+1 Label bottom border; can be switched to a ruler. 24 - Message/Prompt window. 25 - Bottom line on the screen is the main menu. - MENU FUNCTIONS - Most of the menu functions are explained from within PHLBL by pressing function key F1. Below are a few additional notes. PGUP and PGDN These keys provide larger movements than the UpArrow, DownArrow and spacebar keys when navigating around large data files; for each key press, they move up or down by approximately 10% of the total labels in the data file. PRINTING Submenu: P - Print single label. For quick printing of single labels from the main menu, press the "P" key twice. Q - print Quantity of labels. Enter number of labels to print, or press <Return> to accept default quantity, or press <Escape> or <Q> again to avoid printing. Pressing the Escape key during quantity printing will stop the program from sending more labels to the printer. However, if the printer includes text buffering, printing will continue until the buffer is emptied. The surest way to terminate printing in progress is to turn off the printer's power switch. PhLBL-7 - MENU FUNCTIONS - continued TAG and UnTAG selections: The main menu "T" key reverses the Tagged state of the currently displayed label (if already tagged, that label becomes untagged, and vise versa), then advances to the next label. Tagged status is indicated by the word "Tagged" in reverse video on the left side of line 4. FIND Submenu: L - find Label text (in first line of label) C - find Comment line text T - find Tagged label(s) U - find UnTagged label(s) Case is ignored in text searches. A search can be repeated without reentering parameters by issuing <Control-L>. To search from the beginning of the data file, first return to the top by pressing <Home> or <Control-PgUp>. NewFile: Use this command to select a different data file. Prompts for a filespec, then either loads that file or displays the file selection "pick" window. ReLOAD: This command is usually used after data file editing; it reloads the same data file currently displayed by PHLBL. After loading, ReLOAD attempts to access the label displayed earlier, by counting through the labels to find its prior position. If labels were added or deleted before ReLOAD, the count will be off by the number added or deleted. RULER: The ruler function is off at program start. Its status depends on how many times the Ruler key (in the main menu) is pressed: 1 - Ruler ON. Label top and bottom borders change to horizontal scales. Line numbers and attribute characters are displayed in reverse video columns at one side of the screen. 2 - Ruler ON. Reverse video columns are repositioned to the other side of the screen. 3 - Ruler OFF until selected again. Whenever the ruler is on, a single press of the F1 help key brings up the Printer Attribute Character help screen. PhLBL-8 - MENU FUNCTIONS - continued SETTINGS Submenu: Contains selections for changing the left margin and the printer assignment. M - set printer left Margin. Changes the margin from the default value or one set by an embedded "@Mxx" command. Can be used to print on label stock wider than "one-up". Enter new margin, or press <Return> to accept default quantity, or <Escape> or <M> again to escape. P - select Printer number. Selects printer 1, 2 or 3, if more than one printer installed. Default is printer number 1. Enter new printer, or press <Return> to accept default, or <Escape> or <P> again to escape. - DATA STORAGE - PHLBL works with any number of data files on any drive, so labels can be stored in as many files as needed for convenient handling. Except for default data file PhLBL.LBL, whose name is not changable, data files can use any legal DOS name, with or without an extension. Labels can be grouped by filename, extension, subdirectory, and even by disk drive. Some examples: Subdirectory \BIZ-INT (Business, internal) Data files Inv.LBL (product inventory labels) DiskLabl (diskette labels) FileLabl (file folder labels) RoloLabl (rotary file cards) Govt.LBL (taxing authorities) Subdirectory \BIZ-EXT (Business, external) Data files Vendors.LBL (suppliers) Customer.LBL (customer list) MailList.1 (mailing list 1) MailList.2 (mailing list 2) Advert.Crd (mass-mailing ad postcards) Subdirectory \PERSONAL Data files Personal.LBL (personal contacts) Xmas.LBL (Christmas card list) Tape (audio, video cassette labels) PhLBL-9 - DATA FILE FORMAT: DEFAULT - Text is stored in the data file in the same format it will have when output to the printer. An example of a data file containing three very basic labels: Label 1, line 1 Label 1, line 2 Label 1, line 3 These labels will use default parameters for printing: Draft Label 2, line 1 attribute, zero left margin, and 5 lines per label. Label 3, line 1 Label 3, line 2 One or more blank lines must separate a label from its neighbors; any block of text without a blank line is considered one label. A blank line contains only a carriage return (entered by pressing the Return or Enter key). Blank lines within a label are explained later. - DATA FILE FORMAT: OPTIONS - Any of the below options may be added to a data file to override default parameters or add features. Sample data file PHLBL.LBL contains examples of most of the options. COMMENT LINE Begins with a period (".") in column 1, and is ignored by the label printer. Data files can include any number of comment lines. Comment lines separated from any label by a blank line are not attached to any label, so are never displayed. Those without a blank line below them are attached to the following label. The last comment line above a label is displayed on the screen with that label, and its contents can be searched using the "Find" function. It might be used to contain control information, such as the date entered (for later purging): . 10-22-90 Customer ID 12345 or words and abbreviations for making label selections: . Vendor label 1 of 3 PhLBL-10 - DATA FILE FORMAT: OPTIONS - continued Some sample comment lines: . This comment block is not attached to a label; .....it can be used for internal notes. . This comment displays with label, and is searchable. Label One, line 1 . This comment line is NOT displayed on screen, . nor is this one... . but this comment line IS displayed, and is searchable. Label Two, line 1 BLANK LINE WITHIN LABEL Begins with a dash, "-" in column one, and can contain no other characters. Forces a blank line within the label when displayed or printed. Label One, line 1 - Label One, line 3 PRINTER ATTRIBUTE COMMAND LINE Begins with @A in column one, and changes the printer's default settings, beginning with the label following it. Each attribute command remains in effect until changed; if all labels in a file use the same set of non-default attributes, only one command is needed at the top of the file. Alternatively, any label can be given different attributes by placing a command above that label. The format is @Axxx... where up to 15 attributes can be assigned, one for each line in the longest label. Any label line without an attribute letter will use the attribute assigned to that line in a previous label (or "Draft" default if it's the first label). To avoid ambiguities, an attribute command should include a letter for each line in the label(s) following it. Attribute letters are the first letters of the possible line attributes: Bold, Compressed, Draft, Elite, Huge, Italic, NearLetterQuality, Small, Underlined, Wide. From within PHLBL, function key F1 displays a help screen listing all line attributes and their corresponding characters-per-inch parameters. PhLBL-11 - DATA FILE FORMAT: OPTIONS - continued Following the "@A", case and white space (spaces, tabs) are ignored. @Aiiiii Sets all five lines to ITALIC attribute. @A I I I I I Same as above. @A BcDeH Sets line 1 to BOLD attribute, line 2 to COMPRESSED, line 3 to DRAFT, line 4 to ELITE, line 5 to HUGE. MARGIN SETTING LINE Begins with @M in column one, and replaces the default left margin. Margins are set in 0.10 inch increments, and can range from 0 to 255. Default is zero. This example sets the left margin to 42 for all subsequent labels (or until another @M line is encountered): @M42 LABEL HEIGHT SETTING LINE Begins with @L in column one, and sets the maximum number of printing lines in a label. Height can range from 1 through 15 lines; default is 5. This example sets label height to 12 lines: @L12 An @A command should be used before or immediately following an @L command, to assign attributes for each line. Otherwise, each line will use a prior or default attribute. INTER-LABEL SKIP SETTING LINE Begins with @S in column one, and sets the number of lines to be skipped after each label. Range can be from 0 through 99 lines; default is 1. A skip setting of 3: @S3 To maintain correct label registration in the printer, the sum of the height and skip settings must equal the number of lines from the top of one label to the top of the following label. PhLBL-12 - DATA FILE FORMAT: OPTIONS - continued EMBEDDED DATE, TIME COMMANDS Begin in any column within a label. Cause the current system date or time to be displayed on screen, and printed when the associated label is printed. Example: System date is !@DATE; system time is !@TIME. - DATA FILE EDITING - For basic operation, an editor and PHLBL can be run alternately from the DOS prompt. If you have a standard text editor with jump-to-DOS ("shell") capability, you can create/edit the data file in it, then shell to DOS to run PHLBL. For fast swapping, a pop up memory- resident editor and/or task-switching software (DoubleDos, Software Carousel, DesqView, etc.) can be used. NEW DATA FILES Several methods of getting label text into a data file: * Type the text into an editor and save the file to disk. * Many applications are capable of exporting data or printing labels to a disk file in pure ASCII. The file can then be edited as needed. * While running other applications, import data to a memory- resident editor by block marking and transferring. EXISTING DATA FILES If the data already exists in a file: Edit or add to it using any text editor. Whenever the file is loaded in PHLBL, its full filespec is displayed near the top of the screen. To view new labels or changes: Save the edited file to disk, then switch back to PHLBL. If the file was previously loaded into PHLBL, reload it by selecting "reLoad" from the main menu. Otherwise run PHLBL and load the file. Finally, search for the label of interest. PhLBL-13 - DATA FILE EDITING - continued LINE LENGTHS A. DATA FILE LINE LENGTH Comments and label lines can be any length in the data file, but only the first 79 characters of each will be displayed by PHLBL. Depending on the printer attribute and the width of your output forms (labels, rotary file cards, etc.), label text lines may have to be shorter than 79 characters, as discussed below. B. PRINTING LINE LENGTH To print the maximum line length, you'll need to select an appropriate attribute for the width of your label or card stock. In "Draft" mode (10 Cpi), a 79-character line is 7.9 inches long. The same line is only half that length when "Small" mode (20 Cpi) is used. To find the maximum line length for a particular application... Given: Cpi for default Draft mode 10 Label width 3.5 inches Left Margin setting 5 If the left edge of the label is aligned with margin 0, a margin of 5 shortens the printing area by 5/10ths inch, to 3.0 inches. At 10 Cpi, 3 inches will hold 30 characters. LABEL HEIGHTS Default values are used whenever a data file does not include the "@Lnn" (label height setting) or "@Snn" (skip lines setting) commands. Label height in lines : max 15, default 5. Lines skipped between labels: max 99, default 1. On a 6 line per inch printer, the defaults handle 15/16th inch high labels: five lines of text, one skip line between labels. PhLBL-14 - MISCELLANEOUS NOTES - KNOWN LIMITATIONS with OLDER PRINTERS Epson FX-85 (and possibly other models): "Elite" mode is not available in IBM mode. Epson FX-80 and its wide version, the FX-100: "Small" mode will not print at 20 characters per inch, since these printers don't accept Compressed and Elite attributes at the same time. When sent a line with the attribute of "Small", they print in Elite mode. To get the most compact printing, use the Compressed attribute. "NLQ" mode prints in draft on these printers, since they don't include Near-Letter-Quality capability from the factory. LEFT MARGIN If a margin setting is needed for your standard label/card stock, you should only have to set it once, with an embedded command near the top of each data file. The Settings submenu "M" command can also be used to set the left margin to another value. This might be necessary when first setting up data files, or for nonstandard stock, or for label sheets containing more than one label across. For label stock wider than "one-up": Print the left-most labels with the standard margin setting, then run the labels through the printer again, with the margin setting increased to print subsequent columns of labels. A manually set margin remains in effect until the program is exited or a new data file is loaded. To keep a margin permanently, it must be entered into the data file. For typical usage with similar labels/cards/tags grouped together in separate data files, only one setting for Left Margin, Lines and Skip is usually needed in each data file. PhLBL-15 - MISCELLANEOUS NOTES - continued Printing Example To print various labels from any one data file: 1 - Move through the data file and Tag each label to be printed. 2 - Home or Ctrl-PgUp to move back to top of data file. 3 - Find/Tagged to search for first tagged label. 4 - Print to send each label to printer in selected quantity. 5 - Ctrl-L to search for next tagged label. 6 - Repeat steps 4 - 5 until no more Tagged labels are found. - APPLICATIONS - Typical output formats: Labels... Diskette, tape cassette labels Cable and connector labels Hardware bin labels Parts inventory labels Product pricing labels Storage container labels Recycling container labels (Glass, Plastic, Tin, ...) Warning labels (Urgent, Rush, Fragile, ...) Cover labels for reports, binders, notebooks File folder labels Address book entries Mailing labels Shipping labels Name tags Cards... Mass-mailing advertising post cards "3x5" index cards Rotary file and Rolodex(tm) cards Library circulation cards, catalog cards PhLBL-16 - ERROR MESSAGES - "Out of memory; file only partially loaded - Any key..." Not enough memory is available to hold the complete data file. Operations can continue, but some of the labels will not be available. See the "SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS" section for details. Remedy: either unload some memory-resident utilities to free up some memory, or reduce the size of the data file. - DOS ERRORLEVEL - Upon termination, the program returns a DOS ErrorLevel value which indicates how the program ended, and which can be used for subsequent operations in a batch file. For further information, see the "IF ERRORLEVEL" batch command in your DOS manual. ErrorLevel List: 0 - Successful 2 - Specified file not found 3 - Input parameter is out of range. 4 - Input parameter contains an illegal character. 5 - Missing parameters. 27 - ESCaped out of a file selection window. - VERSION HISTORY - 1.0 Initial release. 1.1 Added @Lnn command to handle larger labels, index and rotary cards. 1.2 Added provision for selecting printer number. 1.3 Added a "pick" window for selecting data file. 1.4 Added Wide printer attribute (8.5 Cpi). Corrections to Printer number selection/assignment. 1.5 Margin selection moved from Main menu to Print submenu. Printing quantity selected is now retained during run. 2.0 Added new label movement commands, Tag/UnTag function. Added Find function: searches for Tagged/UnTagged labels, or text in comment or first line of label. 2.01 Documentation revisions. 2.1 Added advertising postcard example in default data file. New "reLoad" command. Enhanced "Ruler" cmd to show line numbers & attributes. Increased Printing Quantity limit from 99 to 999. Added display of the label number ("Printing n of n") being output while printing. Printer Ready checking changed to allow retries. A-1 - SUPPORT - The first user to document and report a problem that we agree needs attention, will be sent a free upgrade with the correction when it's been made. Registered users will receive an upgraded registered version; unregistered evaluators receive an upgraded evaluation version. - PROBLEM RESOLUTION - Things to try prior to reporting a problem: 1 - Reread the documentation to make sure you understand what we thought we understood when we wrote it. 2 - If the system reports "Bad command or file name" when you attempt to run the program, its executable file (or at least the file name you specified) was not found. First, make sure no typos or misspellings have crept into your command line; next, try changing your PATH setting, or make the drive & directory where the program resides the "current" drive & directory. 3 - If the program is being run from a batch file, try deleting lines previous to the line that actually invokes the program, to see if some prior activity is causing the problem. 4 - If you have any memory-resident or "TSR" utilities installed (pop-up calculators/note pads, keyboard enhancements, etc.), try removing them from memory and running the program again to see if the problem reoccurs. - REPORTING A PROBLEM - If the problem persists, please document it as thoroughly as possible; we have to be able to duplicate it before we can begin to resolve it. Include at least the following: 1 - Problem program's name and version number. 2 - Where and how you obtained the problem program. 3 - Address and/or phone number where you can be contacted. 4 - Version of DOS you are using. 5 - Machine type, drives, memory, etc. 6 - Programs executed prior to the problem. 7 - Anything that might relate to the problem; for example, listings of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files, or any batch files used to run the program. 8 - Any relevant printouts. A-2 - REPORTING A PROBLEM - continued NOTE: Registered users receive the utility UserResp.Exe on the distribution diskette; it can be used to print a pre-addressed mailer and a problem report. - CUSTOM MODIFICATIONS - If custom modifications to this software are needed for your particular application, please write to the below address with complete details of your requirements. - CORRESPONDENCE - We welcome any comments or suggestions you might have concerning improvements and future enhancements to this product. Send all correspondence and orders to: Phil Herron P.O. Box 1288 Battle Ground, Washington USA 98604 I-1 - INDEX - !@date 12 File selection window 4,5 !@time 12 Filespec 4,5,6 @Axxx cmd 6,10 Find 7,9 @Lnn cmd 13 Function key 2,4,10 @Mxx cmd 8 Help screen 2,7,10 @Snn cmd 13 Highlighted label number 5 Applications 15 Home key 7,15 ASCII 1,12 Huge attribute 10 Attribute, printer 2,6,10 Import 2,12 Bad command or file name A-1 Installing 3 Basic labels 9 Intensity 5 Blank line separator 9 Italic attribute 10 Blank line within label 2,10 Jump-to-DOS 12 Bold attribute 10 Label height 11,13 Characters-per-inch 10 Label registration 11 Command line argument 5 Left margin 8,11,14 Comment 3,6,9 Line lengths 13 Compressed attribute 10 Lines per inch 3 Control-L 7,15 Loading 2 Control-PgUp 7,15 Margin 8,11,14 Cursor arrow keys 5 Margin setting 3,5 Custom Modifications A-2 Mass-mailing 1,8,15 Dash 10 Memory-resident 3,12,A-1 Data File Format 9,10 Menu 2,4,6 Data file won't fit in memory 3 Multi-width label 3 Data storage legal DOS name 8 Navigating 4,6 Data storage subdirectory 8 New in this version 1 Date, time 12 NewFile cmd 4,5,7 Default configuration 3 Near-Letter-Quality 10,14 Default data file 1,2,4,5,8,9 NLQ 10,14 Default pitch 3 Notes, misc. 14 Default printer 8,10 One-up 8,14 DOS Errorlevel 16 Operating screen 4,5 DOS version 3 Optional cmds 2 Dot matrix 3 Out of memory 16 DownArrow 6 Override default 9 Draft attribute 10 Parent directory 5 Draft labels 1,3 Path 2,3,4,5,A-1 Editing - data file 12 Period comment delim 5,9 Elite attribute 10,11,14 PgDn, Pgup 6 Embedded DATE, TIME cmds 12 PhLBL.DOC 2 Embedding optional cmds 2 PhLBL.EXE 2 Epson-compatible 3 PhLBL.LBL 2,4,5,8,9 Error messages 16 Pick window 1,5,7 Example data storage 8 Postcard 1,8,15 Example printing 15 Pre-addressed mailer A-2 Example printing line length 13 Print buffer 6 Exporting 12 Print quantity 1,6 File browser 3 Print single 6 File name 1,4,A-1 Print terminate 6 I-2 - INDEX - continued Printer assignment 8 Status window 5 Printer attributes 3,6,10 Subdirectory 1,4,5 Printer limitations 14 Support A-1 Printer power switch 6 Syntax 4 Printing Submenu 6 System date 12 Printing the manual 2 System requirements 3 Problem Reporting A-1 System time 12 Prompt 1,5,6 Tabs 11 Purging 9 Tag 5,7,15 RAM 3 Task-switching 12 ReLoad cmd 1,7 Text buffering 6 Return key 5 Text editor 2,3,12 Reverse video 5,7 Underlined attribute 10 Root directory 5 UnTag 5,7 Ruler 1,6,7 UpArrow 6 Search for default data file 4 UserResp.Exe A-1 Search for text 7 White space 11 Settings submenu 8 Wide attribute 10 Skip, inter-label 11,14 Wildcard 4,5 Small attribute 10 Word processor 2 Spaces 11