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- ______________________________________________________________________________
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- Pacific Data Services
- ______________________________________________________________________________
-
- P.O. Box 119 Lakewood, WA 98259 (206) 623-8225
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- The Minister's Helper
-
- Introductory User's Guide
-
- Version 3.20
-
- Released January 9, 1989
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-
-
- The Minister's Helper software is the property of Pacific Data Services.
- You are granted a limited license to use this software on an evaluation
- basis. If you find the program useful and wish to continue using it,
- you must register your copy.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- (c) Copyright 1988, 1989 Pacific Data Services
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
-
-
-
- THE MINISTER'S HELPER
-
- REGISTRATION FORM
-
-
- By registering your copy of The Minister's Helper you will receive the
- latest version of the program on disk, a printed users guide, and you
- will support the future development and enhancement of the program.
-
- Thank you for your support!
-
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Registration: $39.95 per copy ($10 off list price) plus $3.00 shipping
- and handling. Washington State residents add 7% sales tax.
-
-
-
- Name:___________________________
-
- Address:___________________________
-
- City, State :___________________________
-
- Zip:_______________
-
-
- (__) Number of copies you wish to register.
-
- (__) Payment of $ ______ is enclosed (check or money order)
-
- (__) Please charge $______ to my (__) Visa or (__) MasterCard:
-
-
- Name as it appears on card:_________________________
-
- Card Number:_________________________
-
- Expiration date:_________________________
-
-
- Diskette Size: (__) 5-1/4" (__) 3-1/2"
-
-
-
- Send this completed form to:
-
- Pacific Data Services
- P.O. Box 119
- Lakewood, WA 98259
-
- (206) 623-8225
-
- CompuServe: 71270,3644
-
-
- For the orders outside the U.S., please add an additional $5.00
- and enclose an international money order payable in U.S. currency.
-
-
-
- i
-
- -- WARRANTY
-
- The Minister's Helper, and this manual, are provided AS IS without any
- warranty, expressed or implied, including but not limited to
- fitness for a particular purpose. PACIFIC DATA SERVICES SPECIFICALLY
- DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES. IN NO EVENT SHALL PACIFIC DATA
- SERVICES BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGE,
- INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL
- OR OTHER DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT.
-
-
- -- LICENSE
-
- The Minister's Helper software is the property of Pacific Data Services.
- You are granted a limited license to use this software for evaluation
- purposes. If you wish to continue using The Minister's Helper, you must
- register your copy. The Minister's Helper may not be used on a
- continuous basis in any location (i.e., business, home, school,
- or government office) without registering. If you wish to use
- The Minister's Helper in multiple locations concurrently, you should
- register one copy for each location or contact Pacific Data Services
- regarding site licenses.
-
- You are free to make as many copies as you wish and may distribute
- The Minister's Helper freely (in original form, including documentation).
- Recipients of copies you make are granted a limited license to use
- the program on a trial and evaluation basis. If the recipient wishes
- to use The Minister's Helper on a continuous basis, they should register
- their own copy.
-
- You may not sell or ask any consideration for this product. SIGs and
- BBSs may ask a nominal fee to cover their copying and distribution
- costs. OEMs wishing to bundle The Minister's Helper with other products
- should contact Pacific Data Services for details.
-
-
-
-
-
- QUICK STARTS
-
- (for those who don't read manuals)
-
- The Minister's Helper is executed with the command "HELPER." After entering
- this command the program will display your available options via pull-down
- menus or pop-up windows.
-
- Note: Make sure your CONFIG.SYS file has set FILES=15 or greater. If you don't
- have a CONFIG.SYS file consult your DOS manual.
-
- ii
-
-
-
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
- Contents
-
- Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i
- Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
- QUICK STARTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
- Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
- Welcome
- Features
- Support
- Other Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
- Things You Should to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
- The Bottom Command Line
- The Pull-Down Menu System
- Pop-up Windows
- The Help System
- Installing The Minister's Helper. . . . . . . . . .7
- Hardware Requirements
- Required Files
- Running The Minister's Helper . . . . . . . . . . .8
- Record Input
- Displaying Record
- Searching for a Record
- Editing and Deleting Records
- Report Options and Configuration. . . . . . . . . 10
- Utilities and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
- In Closing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
- Appendix A: Custom Reports
- Appendix B: Technical Information
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Introduction
-
- Hello! Welcome to The Minister's Helper, a full-featured, user
- oriented productivity tool designed to help assist you in
- your daily church activity by tracking your personal contacts
- accurately and quickly.
-
- The Minister's Helper is designed to help you keep an accurate record
- of your members, staff, business associates, or whomever you
- regularly keep in touch with. No more will you have to "guess" at
- when you called on an individual last, or what took place during that
- call. No more laboring furiously to generate reports for your board
- or committee meetings. With a few keystrokes you will be able to print
- out a report detailing your personal contacts for a given period, i.e.,
- weekly, monthly, or quarterly. You will be able to instantaneously
- access your database by Name, Activity, Last Date contacted, Next Date
- to contact, or either of two user defined key fields.
-
-
-
- The Minister's Helper will record and maintain records of your most
- important asset - the PEOPLE in your organization!
-
- 1
-
-
-
- -- Features
-
- - Uses pull-down menu system, and pop-up prompts.
-
- - Capacity (software) of over 2 billion records. Realistic
- capacity is limited to available disk space.
-
- - Prints reports in multiple formats. Short Form, Long Form
- and Custom reporting available.
-
- - Mailing Labels - supports one-up format.
-
- - Includes context sensitive on-line help
-
-
-
- The Minister's Helper is easy to operate and you should be able to
- evaluate it effectively with this user's guide and the built-in
- on-line HELP system.
-
-
- We sincerely hope you find using The Minister's Helper profitable
- in your daily church activity.
-
- PACIFIC DATA SERVICES
- P.O. Box 119
- Lakewood, WA 98292
- (206) 623-8225
- CompuServe: 71270,3644
-
- 2
-
-
-
-
-
- -- Support
-
- The Minister's Helper, like many other fine "shareware" products,
- has been released by its authors to the public for evaluation. We
- allow and encourage free copying and distribution of the program
- (in its un-altered original form). We are committed to support-
- ing and improving The Minister's Helper, as well as developing
- additional products.
-
- If you find The Minister's Helper useful, you should register your
- copy. The shareware concept is meant to provide a full working
- copy to the user for evaluation, and NOT to give away the author's
- hard work. If you choose not to register, then erase or pass your
- copy on to someone else. You can register by sending $39.95
- (plus $3 shipping and handling).
-
- For registering you will be placed on our mailing list and will
- receive a complete User's Guide which goes into detail about
- the design and philosophy of the program. Besides comprehensive
- discussion as to the use and functions of The Minister's Helper, the
- manual includes tips and hints for getting the most out of the system
- and has a special "technical" appendix.
-
- Make checks payable to PACIFIC DATA SERVICES. Washington State resi-
- dents please add 7% sales tax. Send your registration and all
- other correspondence to:
-
- Pacific Data Services
- PO Box 119
- Lakewood, Washington 98259
- (206) 623-8225
- CompuServe: 71270,3644
-
-
-
- Please use the registration form at the beginning of this document
- when registering. (This is not a requirement but enables us to
- better understand your needs.)
-
-
-
- 3
-
- -- Other Products
-
- * The Parking Manager
- An integrated data base system designed to track the records
- for both small and large parking garages. The Parking Manager
- identifies such items as Owner, Car (Type, Description, and
- License #), Billing Rate, Location, etc. The system has
- multiple report options and supports mailing labels for all
- customers. Pulldown menus and on-line context sensitive
- help make The Parking Manager readily usable by both
- attendants and management personnel.
-
- List Price: $49.95
-
-
- * The Key Manager
- The Key Manager is similar in design to The Parking Manager
- although it supports the daily functions of tracking keys and
- the holders for churches, offices and apartment buildings. The
- Key Manager tracks the Owner (user), Key #, Key type, Entrance
- to, as well as multiple codes for identification and dup-
- lication. The Key Manager also supports Mailing Labels and
- incorporates the pulldown menu concept as well as on-line
- help.
-
- List Price: $49.95
-
-
- * The Executive Tickler
- An operational twin to The Minister's Helper, this program
- enables business professionals to track their clients and
- other personnel. The Executive Tickler provides multiple
- multiple report formats with user defineable key fields.
-
- List Price: $49.95
-
-
- * The Mortgage Manager
- The Mortgage Manager is a complete mortgage servicing system
- developed for management of diverse portfolios with multiple
- billing rates and options. The Mortgage Manager tabulates
- various Escrow and Service fees, Amortization Rates and
- Schedules, periodic loan reports including monthly, quarterly,
- and IRS reporting for individual and portfolio segments.
-
- The Mortgage Manager is adaptable for individual Financial
- Institutions and a customized system will be quoted upon
- request.
-
- Base Price: $2,999.00
-
-
- * RGEN - The Random Number and Date Generator
- A easy to use random generator for auditors, quality control
- personnel or anyone requiring statistical randomizations.
-
- List Price: $19.95
-
-
- 4
-
- Things You Should to Know
-
-
- This section discusses some of the operational "basics" of The
- Minister's Helper.
-
-
- -- The Bottom Command Line
-
- As you run The Minister's Helper, the bottom line of the screen
- summarizes the functions that are available to you. It is always
- present, and should speed your use of the program as you become fam-
- iliar with its many capabilities. Most of The Minister's Helper's
- functions are activated by the PC's function keys. The bottom line
- identifies the operation of these keys (as well as any othersthat
- may be active).
-
-
- -- The Pull-Down Menu System
-
- The Minister's Helper uses the popular "pull-down" menu system as its
- primary user interface. After your start The Minister's Helper, you
- will see a row of four "choices" for you to choose from. You may
- select any of the choices by moving the highlighted bar to the item
- of your choice (using the left or right arrow keys) and then pressing
- "Enter" (which we will also refer to as <CR>).
-
-
- -- Pop-up Selections
-
- In numerous circumstances The Minister's Helper will prompt the
- user for a selection via a pop-up window. When a window appears
- pressing return selects the option and <Esc> returns the user
- to the previous screen.
-
-
- -- The Help System
-
- As mentioned earlier, The Minister's Helper includes built in on-line
- help. Just press <F1> at any time while running the program for
- instant help. Some help screens have multiple pages and provide
- you with pertinent information related to your location in the program.
-
- 5
-
-
-
- -- Editing within The Minister's Helper
-
- All data entry fields within The Minister's Helper may be
- edited using the following keys:
-
- Key Alternate Function
- ------------- -------------- -----------------------
-
- <Enter> Accept entry
-
- <Esc> <Ctrl-Break> Quit without changing
-
- <Left Arrow> <Ctrl-S> Cursor left one character
-
- <Right Arrow> <Ctrl-D> Cursor right one character
-
- <Ctrl-Left Arrow> <Ctrl-A> Cursor left one word
-
- <Ctrl-Right Arrow> <Ctrl-F> Cursor right one word
-
- Home <Ctrl-Q, S> Cursor to beginning of line
-
- End <Ctrl-Q, D> Cursor to end of line
-
- <Del> <Ctrl-G> Delete character at cursor
-
- <Backspace> <Ctrl-H> Delete character left of cursor
-
- <Ctrl-End> <Ctrl-Q, Y> Delete to end of line
-
- <Ctrl-Y> <Ctrl-X> Delete entire line
-
- <Ctrl-Home> Delete from beginning of line
-
- <Ctrl-T> Delete one word right of cursor
-
- <Ins> Toggles insert mode
-
- <Ctrl-R> <Ctrl-Q, L> Restore original content of line
-
-
-
- 6
-
-
-
- Installing The Minister's Helper
-
- -- Hardware Requirements
-
- The Minister's Helper will run on an IBM PC/XT/AT/jr (or compatible)
- with at least 256K of memory and 1 disk drive. The program was
- for obvious use on lap-top machines and will run on all truly
- IBM compatible portables.
- the EGA.
-
- -- Required Files
-
- The necessary files to run The Minister's Helper are:
-
- * HELPER.EXE {Executable program}
- HLPR320A.EXE
-
- * HELPER.DAT {Data Base}
-
- * HELPER.DEF {Defines video display characteristics}
-
- * HELPER.IX1 through .IX7 {Index Files}
-
-
- YOUR CONFIG.SYS FILE MUST HAVE SET FILES=15 OR GREATER. If you don't
- have a CONFIG.SYS file or are unsure of how to create one consult
- your DOS manual.
-
- The Minister's Helper requires one valid record to be available
- for proper system operation. If there is not at least one available
- record the system will report this condition to the user who will
- then be asked to enter at least one valid record.
-
- Note: When transporting the system from one machine to another it
- is only necessary to copy the .EXE and .DAT file. The index
- files can be recreated using the Utilities - Rebuild Index option
- from the main menu and the video definition file (.DEF) is recreated
- by the program if it is not found on the default drive.
-
- 7
-
-
- Running The Minister's Helper
-
- FILE options:
-
- -- Inputing Records
- The first pull-down menu includes an input option for adding new
- entries into your data base. You need not worry about entering
- contacts in any specific order as The Minister's Helper will
- manage all sorting and sequencing for you.
-
- KEY FIELDS: The data data fields labeled Key #1 and Key #2 are
- there to allow the user to input any two items of special
- interest. These fields add greatly to the flexibility of the
- program. This type of field makes it very easy to make custom
- reports via key criteria which you the user select.
-
- Remember: With Key #1 and Key #2 your imagination and creativity
- is the only limit!
-
- -- Displaying Records
- The File-Display option allows the user to examine the data base
- in various ways. A pop-up option menu prompt the user for
- display sequencing in any of the following ways:
-
- As Input : Displays records in the order which they were
- input into the system. Note: In some cases when
- a record is deleted the system will reuse the
- deleted record in order to conserve file size
- prior to adding additional new records. This
- may alter the display as input order.
-
- By Name : Displays each record in alphabetical order by
- name.
-
- By Activity : Displays each record in alphabetical order by
- activity.
-
- By Zip Code : Displays each record in numerical order by zip
- code.
-
- By Last Date: Displays records by Last Date starting with the
- earliest date and sequencing through the latest
- date.
-
- By Next Date: Displays records by Next Date starting with the
- earliest date and sequencing through the latest
- date.
-
- By Key #1 : Displays records alphabetically by Key #1.
-
- By Key #2 : Displays records alphabetically by Key #2
-
-
-
- 8
-
-
-
- -- Searching for Contacts
- The Minister's Helper allows the user to query the data base
- by either Name, Activity, Last Date, Next Date, Key #1, or Key #2.
- These searches allow the user to rapidly find a contact reference
- in numerous ways.
-
- A WORD ABOUT SEARCHING: The Minister's Helper will prompt the
- user for a Search Code. This code can be exactly the word or
- number the user is looking for or anything close. If the system
- does not find an exact match to the search code it will display
- the next record available. Example: If the user was searching by
- name and input "TA" as a search code and there were no names
- beginning with "TA" but there was a "TERFIELD" in the data base
- the "TERFIELD" record would then be displayed. The user would
- then have the option of stepping through the data base to find
- the desired match. If no close solutions are found the user is
- notified and the display begins at the top of file.
-
- -- Editing Records
- At any point were a contact record is displayed on screen, the
- user may edit any or all of the information shown by pressing
- <F3>.
- This option allows the user to step through the individual fields
- and make any desired change.
-
- -- Deleting Records
- To delete records the user may display the chosen record via
- Display or Search. To execute the delete the user enters <F3>
- to edit followed by <F7> to delete. Upon verification the record
- is removed from the data base.
-
-
- 9
-
-
- REPORT options:
-
- There are four basic steps to creating a report within The Minister's
- Helper:
-
- 1. Select the report order from the pop-up option menu. Reports
- may be printed in descending order by Name, Activity, Last
- Date, Next Date, Key #1, and Key #2.
-
- 2. Set the report format using the <F7> option. The available
- formats are:
-
- * Long Form: Prints a complete contact record
-
- * Short Form: Prints Name, Activity, Last Date, Next Date,
- Key #1, and Key #2.
-
- * Mailing Labels: Prints only fields applicable to labels.
-
- The default report format is the long form.
-
-
- 3. Direct report output to the desired device. The supported
- devices are:
-
- * Printer: A standard line printer connected to LPT1.
-
- * Screen : The video display terminal.
-
- * COM1 : The COM1 port for serial communication.
-
- * File : A user defined file to be used for any purpose.
- The user is prompted for a file name and all
- output is directed to that file in standard
- ASCII format.
-
- 4. Input the desired report criteria. High and Low values
- are used to allow the user to created customized lists on
- Name, Activity, Zip Code and Dates with individual parameters
- used to set key field report criteria.
-
-
- When the desired report options are selected press <F2> to initiate
- the report.
-
- NOTES: * THE DEFAULT REPORT WILL PRINT ALL RECORDS TO THE SCREEN IN
- THE SPECIFIED ORDER IN THE LONG FORMAT.
-
- * REPORT OUTPUTS TO FILES MAY BE USED BY MOST MAJOR WORD
- PROCESSORS FOR MERGE FILES WITH A MINIMUM EFFORT. USE
- THE WORD PROCESSORS ASCII CONVERSION ROUTINE AND INSERT
- THE APPROPRIATE COMMAND CODES.
-
- 10
-
-
-
- Running The Minister's Helper
-
- UTILITIES options:
-
- -- Refresh Data
- This options rebuilds all indexes used by The Minister's Helper
- and packs each data file. This option should be run whenever
- data corruption is suspected.
-
- -- Back-Up
- When selected, this option will create a back-up of The
- Minister's Helper data base. BACK-UPS SHOULD BE DONE ON
- A REGULAR BASIS. The back-up is directed to the A drive.
-
- When restoring archived data the user must rebuild the index
- files using the REBUILD NDX option immediately upon restarting
- the system.
-
-
- OPTIONS selections:
-
- -- Output to:
- This selection sets the default output device for the ongoing
- session. The output device is defaulted to the screen each
- time the program is executed.
-
-
- -- Lbl. Spacing
- The label spacing option allows the user to adjust the print
- spacing between mailing labels. This option accommodates
- mailing labels of various widths.
-
-
- -- Colors
- Various display colors are available to customize The Minister's
- Helper to individual preferences. When selecting a new color
- option the user must restart the program to effect the
- video changes.
-
- -- Key Names
- This feature allows the user to change the prompt name for
- each of the two key fields. This allows the prompt name to
- accurately describe the data in each field.
-
-
- 11
-
-
- Final Thoughts --
-
- We sincerely hope that you find The Minister's Helper to be work-
- saving, friendly, and helpful. Please pass it along to your friends.
- Remember that you can help us improve The Minister's Helper with your
- support (by registering) and with your comments and ideas. If you
- find any bugs or need assistance, do not hesitate to write or call.
- We try to answer all our correspondence as soon as possible and are
- committed to making The Minister's Helper a useful tool for your
- business activity.
-
- Pacific Data Services
- P.O. Box 119
- Lakewood, WA 98292
- (206) 623-8225
- CompuServe: 71270,3644
-
-
-
-
- -- Appendix A
-
-
- THE MINISTER'S HELPER CUSTOM REPORT DEVELPMENT PROGRAM
- ------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Minister's Helper custom report development program was created
- to allow non-standard reports within the program. Details of this program
- are included in The Minister's Helper User's Guide available when you
- register your copy. Registered users are eligible to participate in this
- program.
-
-
- -- Appendix B
-
- TECHNICAL INFORMATION
- ---------------------
-
- This appendix is included in The Minister's Helper User's Guide available
- upon registering.
-
- 12
-
-
-