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A U T O L A B L ! I I All-purpose Label Maker GuareGraphics 1600 Kumry Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 CIS [71311,2264] AUTOLABL! II - 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ...................................... 1 Requirements ...................................... 1 Registration ...................................... 1 Disclaimer ........................................ 1 Operation ......................................... 2 "Press a function key" ............................ 2 F1 - Change Setup ................................. 2 A. Number to print ............................. 2 B. Indent left margin .......................... 3 C. Lines between labels ........................ 3 D. Width of label .............................. 3 E. Length of label ............................. 3 F. Labels across sheet ......................... 3 G. Recall File ................................. 3 H. Save File ................................... 3 F2 - Current Label ................................ 3 F3 - Search ....................................... 4 Edit ........................................... 4 Delete ......................................... 4 Continue ....................................... 4 Stop ........................................... 4 F4 - Save ......................................... 4 F5 - Config File .................................. 4 F6 - Files ...................................... 5 F7 - Print ........................................ 5 A - Preview .................................... 5 B - Mini Feed .................................. 5 C - Pattern .................................... 5 D - Next Label ................................. 5 E - Set Styles ................................. 5 F - Set Text ................................... 5 G - Mask Line .................................. 6 H - Print ...................................... 6 F8 - Mark File .................................... 6 F9 - Shell DOS .................................... 6 F10 - Exit ........................................ 6 Customizing ....................................... 7 Notes and Suggestions ............................. 8 Registration Form ................................ 11 AUTOLABL! II - page 2 INTRODUCTION AUTOLABL! II is an all-purpose label making utility that is fully customizable for maximum flexibility. It can accommodate any size label from .25" x 1" to 3" x 5", inclusive, and as many labels across a sheet as required. Once set up for a particular usage, that configuration may be saved and loaded again at a later date. ANY printer mode or style, or combination, may be used for a line(s) of text, or alternatively, any line(s) on a list of entries may be "masked", or substituted entirely with the "SET TEXT" option. List previewing, label aligning, search and retrieve, and easy transfer of data from list to list are but a few more features. Every effort has been made to make AUTOLABL! II the finest label maker available. REQUIREMENTS AUTOLABL! II requires an IBM-PC, -XT, -AT, -PS2 or compatible with a minimum of 150K free memory and running under DOS 3.x or above, an EGA or VGA color graphics monitor, and an Epson or compatible dot matrix printer. REGISTRATION This program, like so many other fine programs offered as shareware, is the product of months of writing, testing and re-testing. Quite simply, it represents a lot of work. Registration of this program or any other program is not only a vote of confidence for the shareware system, but also ensures all of us of programming excellence in the future. You may use AUTOLABL! II for a period of 10 days, after which time you MUST register it at a cost of $10 dollars (US). Registration entitles the user to the latest version of the program without the shareware opening screen and with or without (your choice) a customized opening screen containing your name and serial number, as well as any product support that is required. Send the enclosed registration form and a check or money order to: GuareGraphics 1600 Kumry Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 CIS [71311,2264] Please allow 3 to 6 weeks for delivery. Site licensing is available upon request. DISCLAIMER Under no circumstances shall the author be liable for damages occurred by lost sales or lost income whatsoever, nor does the author assume responsibility for damages to equipment as a result of the use of this software. AUTOLABL! II - page 3 OPERATION AUTOLABL! II needs three files to run: AL2.EXE - The program AUTOLABL.OVL - The overlay file AUTOLABL.CFG - The configuration file The start-up command looks like this: AL2 [d:\path\config filename.ext] [/s] where: d:\path\configfilename.ext - an optional configuration file to use for the current session. /s - toggles the sound on/off. The AUTOLABL.CFG file is loaded by default if no command line option is given or if an error occurs when loading the command line configuration file. The "/s" switch toggles the sound to the opposite status than that set in the configuration file. See "CUSTOMIZING" for more on configuration files. "Press a function key..." The program starts by reading the config. file specified at the command line or AUTOLABL.CFG by default. An opening window is then displayed for 5 sec. (any key press will dismiss this window), after which the setup screen is displayed along with the prompt "Press a function key..." on line #24. ALL PROMPTING IS DONE ON THIS LINE, AND ALL ERROR MESSAGES ARE DISPLAYED ON LINE #1!! The only exception to this is when entering text on a label, which goes directly into a window that graphically represents a label. The sound may also be toggled on/off at this prompt ONLY by pressing ALT-S. F1 - Change Setup If you wish to change any of the information displayed press F1. You will then be asked which field you wish to change. Enter the letter (A...H, in bright text at the beginning of each field) to be changed. Enter a new value, then a new letter if a different field is to be changed. When all editing is done, press <ESC> to exit and return to function key control. Note: ALWAYS enter file names before changing dimensions since the current dimensions will be changed to that specified in the file once it is loaded, UNLESS you are starting a new file. A. Number to print - Enter number of labels to print. If you are printing an entire file, this would be the number of copies of the file. AUTOLABL! II - page 4 B. Indent left margin - This value is in number of characters and provides an easy way of aligning the labels without having to adjust them in the printer. C. Lines between labels - Not all labels have the same spacing between them. For example, most 1" x 3.5" labels use one blank line, but 2.75" x 2.75" labels use two. D. Width of label - This is the width of the labels you plan to use during the current session, OR the width of the labels you will eventually be using if starting a new file. This number should be rounded to the nearest quarter inch (a 15/16 inch label is about as close to an inch as you can get!). E. Length of label - Same rules apply here as with the width. F. Labels across sheet - AUTOLABL! II can use as many labels across a sheet as you want, but the usual number is from 1 to 3. G. Recall File - This is a previously saved file that you wish to search, edit, print, etc. It is only active if it is "marked". The number of entries in the file and the intended label size are displayed to the right. H. Save File - When starting a new file or adding to a previously saved file, enter the file name here. A new or current label will automatically be saved to this file using F4 - Save. Also displayed on this screen is the lines of text/label and the characters per line, relating to the length and width respectively, as well as the number of search hits encountered for the two files. F2 - Current Label This option pops up a window drawn to scale for the selected width and length. If no label is current, then you may immediately start to enter the text. If a label is current, then it will be displayed and you are asked if you want to clear this label to begin a new one. You then have a chance to edit the label by entering the number of the line to edit. The current text on that line is left on the "label" until the new text is entered, followed by <CR>. This process will continue until you answer "N" when asked to edit the label, after which the window will be dismissed and function key control re-gained. The numbers to the left are line numbers while the letters to the right represent the particular printer style or mode selected for that line. If the letter is preceded by an "M" then that line has been masked; if the letter is flashing then that lines text has been "set". See F7 - Print below for details. AUTOLABL! II - page 5 F3 - Search Searches are done on the "marked" file by simply entering the text to search for, followed by the line number to search (or <CR> for all lines). The time for a search can be drastically reduced for a very large list if, for example, you know you have put all the towns in an address list on line #4. Text searches are case insensitive. A search may also be done by entry number, if known. Precede the number by the "@" character, then enter the number. For example, to get entry #361, enter "@361" at the "Text to search for" prompt. If the search is unsuccessful, the prompt line will display the message "No Hits!". If the search is successful, the "hit" will be displayed in a pop- up "label" dimensioned to the width and length specified in the Setup screen. If the dimensions in the file differ from these dimensions, any text "over run" will be clearly visible. Four options are then offered: Edit - The "hit" may be edited with the option to save. Saving will replace the previous entry with the edited one. Delete - You will be asked for confirmation before the entry is deleted. Continue - Skip this hit and continue with the search. Stop - The search is halted and the "hit" then becomes the current label. This allows you to then edit this label and add it to the END of the list rather than replace the original entry, a useful option if an addition is ALMOST the same as an existing entry. F4 - Save To save the current label to the Save File, press F4 - Save. When constructing a list, this option makes it quick and easy to compile the list without having to re-enter the file name every time. Check to see if a Save File has been entered first. F5 - Config File You may open any AUTOLABL! II configuration file from within the program using this option by entering the file name in the usual manner: d:\[path] [filename.ext] [/s] Note that the "/s" switch may also be added at this point to toggle the sound. In the event that the file is corrupt or nonexistent, the file AUTOLABL.CFG is automatically loaded instead. This is why it is imperative that this file be in the same directory as AL2.EXE at all times, or the program will be terminated. AUTOLABL! II - page 6 F6 - Files Sometimes it may be useful to transfer information BETWEEN files rather than from one file to another. F6 simply swaps the Recall File and the Save File, making this process simple. F7 - Print The print function key opens a window that contains all the little embellishments that make AUTOLABL! II so useful. These are: A - Preview A list may be previewed. A most useful application of this feature is to see if a list saved as one label size will fit onto labels of a smaller size. The previewed list is displayed as though you were printing to sheets containing one label across and any text that is too long will obviously run off the left side of the "label". This option is also useful to simply browse the contents of a list. Pressing "S" will stop the preview and go back to the previous screen, while "P" will pause the scrolling for closer examination. Press and hold any other key to "speed scroll". B - Mini Feed A "mini feed" is a 1/216 inch line feed for extremely accurate label alignment. C - Pattern This is a label alignment pattern. The pattern in this case is two arrows that are printed in the upper left hand corner of the label showing the top and left hand margins. This in conjunction with the "mini feed" option above and the left margin indent from the Setup screen save the user from the frustration of having to adjust labels in the printer. This procedure may be done over and over again on the same label until the alignment is perfect, then... D - Next Label Form feeds to the next label. E - Set Styles You may use any one of eight user defined styles on any one line of text. Simply enter the line number, then the mode of choice (A...H). The choices for each line are shown with the default setting being "A". An "M" indicates that line is "masked" and an "S" indicates that lines text has been set. Press <CR> when all styles have been entered. See below for details. F - Set Text Any line on the label may have the text "set" so that line will have the same text for all of the labels in a list. Choose a line number, then enter the text to insert. Selecting the same number again will disable the set text option for that line. AUTOLABL! II - page 7 G - Mask Line A "masked" line is simply a line whose text will not be printed. Thus you may save a lot of information per entry on, say, a mailing list, but print out only the address by masking the lines containing the extraneous information. Choose the line number to be masked. Selecting the same number again will unmask the line. H - Print Begin printing. You will be asked whether to print the Current label only or the Entire "marked " file. A counter indicates the label number being loaded (single label) or the entry number being loaded (entire file). Printing may be stopped at any time by pressing <ESC>. Realize that the printer will continue until the buffer has been emptied, which may take some time. F8 - Mark File The marked file is the "active" file for printing, previewing, or searching and shows up on the Setup screen as a "√" to the far left of the file name. Before you print, preview or search, check the "check"! F9 - Shell DOS You may temporarily leave AUTOLABL! II to do some file moving and general housekeeping, then return by typing "EXIT <CR>". When re- entering the program, AUTOLABL! II will re-open any files designated as Recall or Save files, just in case they were moved or deleted accidentally. In so doing, the label width and length on the Setup screen will also be reset to the Recall files' data, or in it's abscence, the Save files' data. If both files are missing, then the label size will be set to the size present before the DOS shell. Most other information, including the "Current Label" will remain unchanged. F10 - Exit Before leaving the program, you will have the chance to save all of the information on the Setup screen to a new configuration file. This includes the Recall and Save files but DOES NOT include the "Number to print". So when you want to print out the same mailing list, just load this configuration file (either at the command line or using F5 - Config File). You will NOT have to reset the styles for each line of text or any masked lines or lines with set text: ALL is saved. AUTOLABL! II - page 8 Customizing The ability to edit configuration files is at the heart of AUTOLABL! II's versatility. You may change ANY of the fields in a configuration file to suit your needs with a pure ASCII text editor or a word processor that can save in ASCII format, which MOST can do. Have your printer manual handy to find the required ESCape codes. There are, however, a few rules to keep in mind: - KEEP all quotation marks, even if there are two together. (i.e. if they look like this: "" ) - DO NOT add extra quotation marks or put quotation marks within quotation marks. - KEEP all commas separating fields. - Use the ASCII format for all ESCape codes. Line #1 of a typical configuration file might look like this: 1,"LPT1:",1,3.5,2,1,1,"MYFILE.TXT","YOURFILE.LBL" | | | | | | | | | A, B ,C, D ,E,F,G, H , I where A = Sound - 0=off, 1=on B = Output - usually printer port LPT1: or LPT2:, but may also be COM1:, COM2:, SCRN: (output to screen) or a file name. This is the only parameter which cannot be changed from within the program. Don't forget the colon for all options but a file name! C = Default label width (from .25" to 3"). D = Default label length (from 1" to 5"). E = Number of labels across the sheet. F = Number of characters to indent the left margin. G = Number of lines separating each label. H = Recall File Name. I = Save File Name. Lines #2 to #9 are for ESCape codes. The following example is representative: "Ital Undrlne",27 45 1 27 52,27 45 0 27 53,10 | | | | A , B , C ,D where A = Name to display for this style or mode (no more than 12 characters long). B = Code On - These may be any combination of compatible codes. In the above example, the "27 45 1" selects underlining and the "27 52" selects Italics. Separate each by a space. C = Code Off - Be sure you turn off EVERY mode or style turned on. D = Characters per inch for the style selected. This is "10" for normal width text, but will be larger for condensed or smaller for double width text. AUTOLABL! II - page 9 The remaining lines are dependent on the number of lines available for the label size selected and are used for any text that has been "Set", masking (0=off, 1=on), and style or font used for that line. Examples To write a new label and save it to a new file: - After the Setup screen has been successfully changed to reflect the label size you will be using (F1), enter the name of the file you wish to create as the Save File (option "H"), then press F2 - Current Label. Enter the label text and edit if need be. Press F4 - Save, and the label is saved. To enter a new one, press F2 again, clear the label of all text if desired, and repeat the process. To transfer an entry from one file to another file: - Enter the name of the source file as the Recall File and the target file as the Save File. Be sure the Recall File is "marked", then do a search for the entry to be saved (F3). When the right entry is found, edit it if desired (press "E"), then press "S" to stop the search and make this hit the Current Label. Now press F4 - Save, and the entry is added to the Save File. Note that once the entry has become the Current Label, it may be further edited using F2. Preview a file written as one size to see if it will fit another: - Enter the file to be previewed, THEN change the Setup to reflect the new size. "Mark" the file, press F7 - Print, press "A" to begin the preview and watch carefully as the labels scroll by for any text that may overstrike the right hand border. Using a style that has more than the default 10 characters/inch: - AUTOLABL! II assumes 10 characters per inch when the Current Label window is displayed. This is the size of "normal" (pica) text. However, some styles can squeeze more than this in an inch (i.e. Elite (12 CPI), Condensed pica (17.16 CPI), or Condensed elite (20 CPI)). If you wish to put more and smaller text on a line simply use a larger label, but remember that if larger text is used on other lines you cannot use the whole line. Also, you will have to go back and change the Setup screen to the actual label size before printing. Notes and Suggestions - When editing a configuration file, remember to use a PURE ASCII text editor. There are many such editors available, and most word processors will save files in pure ASCII format. AUTOLABL! II - page 10 - AUTOLABL! II can use border and graphic characters, which is great for making custom disk labels. To use them, hold the ALT key down and enter the ASCII number for the character on the NUMBER PAD (not the top row of numbers on the keyboard), then release the ALT key. You may extend underlining to the end of a label by pressing the space bar until the cursor is in the last character position on the line, then press ALT-255. This places a "dummy" character at the end of the line, and the underlining will continue until the end, not just under the text. The ASCII characters NOT supported are: 2, 3, 5-14, 18, 20, 21, 27-31, 253. - Always print one label first. This will make absolutely certain that your labels are aligned correctly. If you are printing a whole file, do a search for entry #1 (F3, then enter "@1" for the search string), make this the Current Label by S)topping the search and print it. - LABELS: they come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, textures and adhesive properties, and are available from many sources. As is the case with most things, if you buy in bulk you will save a heck of a lot of money. -> NEVER, EVER, EVER LEAVE LABELS IN THE PRINTER! <- Get the message? The labels curving around the roller tend to peel off if left there for a period of time, and you may just end up with a gummy mess. * Once the labels are in place, move the print head back one notch from its normal position. Remember that a label with the adhesive and the backing is quite a bit thicker than a single sheet of 20# paper! * Do NOT try to turn the roller in EITHER direction while the printer power is on. * Do NOT turn the roller backwards with labels loaded, even with the power off. - AUTOLABL! II does NOT reset the printer upon entry into the program. This allows users to "customize" their printer by presetting modes before entering the program. If you have preset the printer mode (i.e. user-defined graphics), you may want to choose a "Draft" printer mode, since the other modes might (but not necessarily) cause some conflicts. Experiment! AUTOLABL!II was written in old fashion basic, and compiled using the Microsoft (R) QuickBASIC Compiler Version 4.5 - (C) Microsoft Corporation AUTOLABL! II - page 11 AUTOLABL! II REGISTRATION FORM Name:________________________________________________ Company Name:________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________ City, State, Zip:________________________________________________ Media: [ ] 5 1/4" or [ ] 3 1/2" (check one) Do you want the opening window to display your name and serial number (otherwise no window at all)? _________________ Send check or money order for $10 (US) to: GuareGraphics 1600 Kumry Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 CIS [71311,2264] Comments or suggestions:_____________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Where did you hear about/obtain AUTOLABL! II?________________ _____________________________________________________________ * Thanks for using AUTOLABL! II *