@database DiaryConv.Guide
@author "Owen Birnie"

@node MAIN "DiaryConv"
				@{b}DiaryConv@{ub}

			© Copyright, 1998, Owen Birnie.

		@{"  " link WHATIS} What is DiaryConv?
		@{"  " link ABOUT} About DiaryConv.
		@{"  " link LEGAL} Distribution.
		@{"  " link INSTALL} Installation of DiaryConv.
		@{"  " link USAGE} How to use DiaryConv..

		@{"  " link ABOUTZ88} About Cambridge Computers' Z88.
		@{"  " link TRANSFER} Transferring files to the Z88.

@{b}DiaryConv is a very rough and ready piece of coding. It's not very user friendly,
it doesn't adhere to Workbench standards, it just works. I wrote it for my own purposes.
I was amazed to discover how popular the Z88 still is and so, if you think that this
program will be of use to you, then feel free to use it. @{ub} 
@endnode

@node WHATIS "DiaryConv: What is it?"
DiaryConv is a program that allows you to copy files from Digita Organiser
and import them into the Z88's Diary function natively. (That is, is the Z88
think's that it's a real Diary file.)

DiaryConv runs on the Amiga although the source (DiaryConv.bas) should be
included with this archive. If you have the source, then it will run on
quite a few different platforms.

NOTE: You still need a @{"program" link TRANSFER} to get the converted file off your Amiga
and onto your Z88.
@endnode

@node ABOUT "DiaryConv: About it."
DiaryConv is a small BASIC program. DiaryConv.bas should be part of the same
archive that this guide file was in. DiaryConv itself is compiled under
HiSoftBasic V1.02 (Very old!) but the code is fairly generic. I know that
it runs on QBASIC under MS-DOS.

There is a problem with the compiled version of DiaryConv. When you exit the
program, it may or may not alter the screen colours. Sorry. This is the
fault of the HiSoftBASIC compiler. But it's more stable that Microsoft's
AmigaBASIC so the compiled version got it ;)

DiaryConv has been tested on the following:-
	Original Commodore A1200, Viper '030/50Mhz, 8Mb FastRAM, Kickstart
	39.106, Workbench 29.29 and a hard drive. Your mileage may vary....

DiaryConv was compiled under a very old freebie version of HiSoftBASIC. I
believe that it as version 1.02. As I do very little BASIC programming, I
saw no reason to upgrade this.

DiaryConv.bas also works (slowly) under AmigaBASIC v1.2 by Microsoft. If
you still have this, you need to go into Prefs/Sound and make sure that
both the Flash Display and the Make Sound options are not selected. Run
NoFastMem before running AmigaBASIC. Save stuff regularly, as it may crash
without warning. (Apparently, as the A500 was a 16/32 bit machine, the
programmers at Microsoft used the top 16bits for other uses. Now that the
A1200 and others are true 32bit machines, this causes problems.)

DiaryConv.bas will also run on MS-DOS and Windows 3.x machines that have
QBASIC.EXE.It may work under Windows '95 and NT 4.0.
@endnode

@node LEGAL "DiaryConv: Distribution."
You can use DiaryConv, rip off the code, change the icons, pretend that it
was all your own work, or whatever. If you want, you can make a donation
to a charity of your choice and you may consider yourself a "registered
user". If you want to, drop me an e-mail.

There are no warranties supplied with this software. The software works on
my Miggy and system. It may do horrible things to yours.

		@{b}*** You have been warned. ***@{ub}

Contacting me:-

			Owen Birnie

			8, Castle Street,
			Buckingham.
			United Kingdom.
			MK18 1BS

			E-mail: owen@gxn.net

I don't know how long any of the above will be valid.
@endnode

@node INSTALL "DiaryConv: Installation."
You've obviously managed to unarchive the archive since you're reading this.

Drag the DiaryConv icon to where ever you want to run it from. Do the same
with the source and documentation too. (Or you can delete it, but you'll
probably be sorry!)
@endnode

@node USAGE "DiaryConv: Usage."
Before you use DiaryConv, you need to do a few things in Organiser:-

Go into Organiser and open the Organiser file that contains the diary entries
that you want to transfer to the Z88.

Select the "Print" icon or select "Print" from the "Project" menu.

Make sure that "Section" reads "Diary" and "Layout" reads "Daily List".
Enter the dates that you wish to transfer and then select "Print to File".

On clicking "Print", you will then be prompted for a file to save the entries as.
Enter something like "RAM:Diary.txt"

You can now exit Organiser.

Double click on the DiaryConv icon. (or run DiaryConv.bas from a suitable BASIC
interpreter.)

You get the following:-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter name of file to be processed: [RAM:Diary.txt] |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you saved the file with the default filename shown, just hit <Return>.
Alternatively, type your filename in.

If your file doesn't exist you'll get a weird error. (Error handling is not the
strong point of DiaryConv.

You will then get:-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Enter name of file to produce: [DF0:Z88/Diary.txt] |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I usually store a copy of the diary file on a floppy that I take with the Z88)

Hit <Return> to accept the default, or enter the location that you want the
file to go.

You will then see a list of months go by. These are months as specified in the
source file. The days that have entries will be printed too.

The program will then exit.

NOTE: If you are using the HiSoftBASIC compiled version of FileZ88, the
screen colours will change. I don't know why. You can go into Prefs/Palette
to reset them.

If you take a look at the file produced by DiaryConv, you'll find that you
can load it into the Z88 Diary function.
@endnode

@node ABOUTZ88 "About the Z88."
Many people are coming into the computer industry now having never heard of
Sir Clive Sinclair. This is quite sad is it harkens back to a time when
computers were hobbies rather than just tools. Still, the bottom line about
the Z88 is that it's small, black, got a full size keyboard, and runs for
about 24 hours on four AA batteries. When all you want to do is make some
notes whilst away from home, why shell out three grand on a Wintel box
when the Z88 for less than £100 will do the job just as well.

I forgot to add that it's got a VT52 terminal emulator which when you
administrate SPARC hardware is a very useful tool.

For more info, take a look at @{u}http://www.menaxus.demon.co.uk/z88/z88home.htm@{uu}
@endnode

@node TRANSFER "Transferring files to the Z88."
There are a number of programs on the internet that will transfer files to
and from a Z88. Some of these require the PCLink EPROM.

In the same place that you got DiaryConv, you should find FileZ88. This
program requires nothing else except a serial cable as it supports the
Imp/Export tool on the Z88.
@endnode