Both `DIARY-2000' and this User Guide are Copyright. (c) 1995 Dave Freeman. ___________________________ =============================================== `DIARY-2000' ---- USER GUIDE =============================================== 1. WHAT IS `DIARY-2000' AND WHAT CAN IT DO ? -------------------------------------------- `Diary-2000' is an interlinked modular system of hypertext script files which give you a five-year desk diary to the end of the year 2000. (The second half of 1995 is also included, giving you 5½ years in total). The system is linked to a text editor to enable you to create, edit and save diary pages (one for each day) plus other pages of information such as public holidays, anniversaries, correspondence log files, etc., etc.. (The `QED' text editor by Darren M. Greenwald is included on this disk but you could use your own word processing program to create the diary `pages' if you prefer). You can also call-up your Address Book (or database prog.), Accounts (or spreadsheet prog.), your Word Processor, the Calculator and Clock (if you have one installed on your system). You can also display your favourite pictures (or animations), one for each month of the year. The program does not rely on pull-down menus for its operation. Everything can be effected by clicking the left mouse button ONCE on inter-active screen boxes, making it both quick and very simple to use. If you use `Diary-200' to enter another program (database, word proc., etc.) all the menus and facilities of that program will operate as normal. Similarly, when you are in the `Diary-2000' program, the pull-down menus relating to the hypertext (AMIGAGUIDE) program are available. 2. STARTING `DIARY-2000' FROM THE WORKBENCH OR SHELL: ----------------------------------------------------- You can start `Diary-2000' from the workbench by double-clicking on its icon with the left mouse button. To start `Diary-2000' from the CLI, insert the distribution disk into any drive and type the following at the CLI prompt:- DIARY-2000:AMIGAGUIDE DIARY-2000:DIARY To QUIT `Diary-2000', either click in the close gadget (top left corner of the screen) or selct `Quit' from the Amigaguide pull-down `Project Menu'. 3. MOVING AROUND THE `DIARY-200' PAGES: (If you're already familiar --------------------------------------- with AMIGAGUIDE you can skip this section). Okay, you've started the program and now you've got the opening page. This is the `DIARY-2000 --- CONTENTS' page. Now click the left mouse button ONCE in the large box `Important Notice' near the top of the page. This will bring another page onto the screen (press SHIFT + the down arrow on your keyboard to scroll down the page, or use the mouse to `drag' down the bar on the extreme right). After you have read (and digested) the page contents, click the left mouse button ONCE in the `CONTENTS' box, located in the bar across the top of the page. This will return you to the `Diary-2000 --- Contents' page. The row of boxes across the top of the page are as follows:- CONTENTS This will always return you to the contents page for the module you are currently in. `Diary-2000' has seven modules, one for each year (1995-2000) and one for the Information Section. INDEX Click here to bring up the `Index' page. This page is always opened as a separate window over the top of the window you are currently using. You can close the Index either by clicking in its `close gadget' (top left corner of the screen) or by selecting `Close Window' from the pull-down `Project Menu'. (see section 7 below -- USING THE `DIARY-2000' INDEX PAGE). HELP Click here to bring up a `help file' explaining all the Amigaguide boxes, buttons and menus. Pressing the keyboard `HELP' key will also bring up this file. Close the file as you would for INDEX (see above). RETRACE Clicking in this box will take you back to the last page that you viewed. You can keep `retracing' all the way back to the opening page. BROWSE< and BROWSE> Clicking in these boxes lets you browse backwards (<) and forwards (>) through the SCRIPT FILE. In `Diary-2000' you can use this within EACH year module to browse backwards and forwards through the months. THE PULL-DOWN MENUS There are three pull-down menus (Project, Edit and Navigation) but only one of these, the Project Menu, is of any real use in this program. Project Menu - Print: Prints the current page. (Keyboard equivalent `Right Amiga + P') - Close Window: Closes the current window. (You could also use the window's `close gadget'). - Quit Quits the program. (Keyboard equivalent `Right Amiga + Q') ============================= USING `DIARY-2000': ============================= 4. `DIARY-2000' CONTENTS PAGE: ------------------------------ This is the first page you will see when you run `Diary-2000'. At the top of the page is the `Important Notice' box. You should have already seen what happens when you click anywhere inside that box (see sectn. 3). Below that box there are three columns of boxes: `Information', `Year' and `Utils'. (All of these boxes are repeated on each of the monthly calendar pages so you don't have to return to the `Contents' page every time you want to access them). THE `INFORMATION' BOXES Now click on the first box (`Personal') in the `Information' column. This brings up another page with some more boxes --- Identity, Medical, etc.. Beneath each box are some suggestions as to what they might be used to record. When you click on any box on this page, you enter the `QED' text editor with a new, empty file where you can enter any information you wish. (The file-name `Information - Personal' will be shown in the page's title bar). All of the `QED' pull-down menus are available: use the QED `Project Menu' to QUIT the text editor and return to the `Diary-2000' `Personal - Identity' page. (If you record information on any text editor page, you must SAVE the file before quitting QED or the data will be lost). Now click ONCE in the RETRACE box at the top `Information - Personal' page; this returns you to the `Diary - Contents' page. Click the box labelled `Hard & Soft'. This page shows a series of boxes relating to goodies for your Amiga. Clicking in any of the highlighted boxes will return you the text editor where you can create a file containing details of things you might want to buy (specs., prices, suppliers, etc. for comparison). The (visible) top half of the page refers to hardware; scroll down to the bottom half for software items. Don't forget to save any text files you create before `quitting' the text editor and returning to the `Diary - Contents' page. The last two boxes in the `Diary -Contents' page's `Information' column contain details of comparative times around the world and conversion tables. These are `information only' pages and do not generate any text files. Now click in the `CONTENTS' box at the top of your current page. THE `UTILITY' BOXES The third column of boxes, `Utils' will be explained later (see section 6) but for now lets turn to the `Year' column. THE `YEAR' BOXES Click on the box labelled `1996' and a new page `1996 - CONTENTS' will appear on the screen. You are now in a different `module' exclusively for the year 1996. When using the program, the only apparent difference as you change modules is that each one has its own separate `Contents' page. THE `CHANGE PALETTE' and `CHANGE PENS/PAPER' BOXES - At the bottom of the opening page are two panels labelled `Change Palette Colours' and `Change Pens/Paper Colours'. These boxes are there to help you to change the screen colours more easily. Their useage is fully explained in the "HOW TO CUSTOMISE DIARY-2000" separate document file's Section 2, `Changing the Screen Colours'. 5. `YEAR' CONTENTS PAGE: ------------------------ This page has two columns of boxes containing the names of all the months of the year. Click on any one to bring up the `Calendar Page' for that month. At the bottom of the `Year - Contents' page is a box labelled "Return to `DIARY - CONTENTS' page". Clicking this box does exactly what it says, it returns you to the contents page of the `Information' module. 6. THE `MONTHLY CALENDAR' CONTENTS PAGES: ------------------------------------ If you clicked on any month from the `Year' contents page, you will now have the calendar (and a whole lot of other things) for that month on your screen. This is the heart of the `Diary-2000' system and the page that you will use most of the time, so let's look at all the boxes. THE `CALENDAR' BOX In the top left quarter of the screen is the calendar box for that month. Click on any date to open up the text editor and generate a `diary page' for that day. Enter some text and SAVE the page. The next time you click on the same date your diary page with the text you saved will re-appear on the screen. You can then add to or edit the page as you wish, but after editing you must SAVE the page again to preserve the edits. (If you only view the page, without editing, you can close it without saving). THE `UTILITY' BOXES Moving over to the top right of the page, there are eight `Utility' boxes. Four of them are also available from the programs opening screen to enable you to access them without having to go into calendar mode first. Time/Date - Shows a digital clock and current date on screen (but only if your system has a clock installed). When the clock's window is `active' you can access all the system clock's pull-down menus. Click the clock's `close gadget' to quit the clock.. Calculator - Brings the Amiga system's Calculator onto the screen. Click its `close gadget' to quit. Address Book - This executes a batch/script file file that (see FOOTNOTE) changes the current directory and runs the database program containing your Address Book. Accounts - Works the same way as `Address Book' but points to (see FOOTNOTE) the program that runs your accounts. Access your Another batch file that points to your favourite Word Processor - word processor, so you can write letters without (see FOOTNOTE) first quitting `Diary-2000'. Open Amiga SHELL - Yes, you guessed right. This one opens up a SHELL window giving you access to anything that can be run from the CLI. Mail Log - This one is interesting. It tells the Text Editor to open up TWO text files simultaneously, one for recording letters you receive and the date you replied, the other for recording letters you send and the date you receive a reply. If you use the QED text editor, both files will appear on the screen at the same time! (You must save BOTH files before quitting and you must quit BOTH files). If you're like me and can't remember whether you replied to Aunt Fanny's last letter, or can't remember when you posted that software order and if it is time to start chasing them, this one will solve all your problems. ? ? ? - Just press it and see, then use the `RETRACE' box to return to the Calendar page. FOOTNOTE: The Address Book, Accounts and Word Processor programs are accessed by executing batch files. YOU MUST CHANGE THESE BATCH FILES TO POINT TO THE PROGRAMS ON YOUR SYSTEM. Instructions on how to do this are contained in the separate doc. file, "Customise-Diary". THE `THIS MONTH'S' BOXES The next set of boxes, `This Month's------' are located just below the Utility boxes. They refer to events happening this month. Anniversaries - This box opens the text editor and creates a page where you can record Birthdays, Anniversaries, Fixed Annual Renewal dates, etc.. Because all of these dates are fixed you only need to create this file for one year. Every other year will then access the same file for the corresponding month. Memos - This will open up a text file where you can record memos, reminders, etc. for that month. Each year requires its own separate Memo files. Holidays - This opens a text file where you can record dates of Public Holidays for each month. Because some dates vary from year to year, each year needs its own set of Holiday files. THE `INFORMATION' BOXES Moving downwards again, the next block gives you direct access to the Information Files described in section 4. above. You can use the `RETRACE' box to get back to the Calendar Page. THE `PICTURE OF THE MONTH' BOX Clicking in this box (bottom right of the screen) will display your pictures, one for each month. The program will look for the pictures on the disk in drive DF0: so you must first copy your pictures onto that disk. Then you MUST RENAME the picture files - Pic1, Pic2, Pic3 etc.. Pic1 will be displayed from the `January' screen, Pic2 in `February' and so on. Picture files may be `crunched' using PowerPacker and both ILBM and HAM pictures are okay. When displaying a picture, hit the SPACE BAR to return to the diary `Calendar' screen. I have included two pictures for display in Jan and Feb but after you have viewed them you can delete these files (the filenames are Pic1 & Pic2) and substitute your own pictures, giving them the same names. THE `MONTH' AND `YEAR' BOXES Below the `Calendar' section are boxes labelled with the months of the year and with the years from 1995 to 2000. (The current year is not shown). Click on any named `month' box to go directly to its calendar page. You can also use the two `BROWSE' boxes at the top of the page to browse backwards and forwards within the current year, one month at a time. Click in any `Year' box to move to that year's `Contents' page, then select the month you want to open. (To get back to the `Diary - Contents' page from any Calendar page, click the `CONTENTS' box at the top of the page, then click the "Return to `Diary-Contents'" box at the bottom of the next screen). 7. USING THE `DIARY - 2000' "INDEX" PAGE: ----------------------------------------- At the top of every page is a box labelled `INDEX' (see Section 3 above). Click once in this box to call up the `Diary-2000' `Index Page'. The `Index Page' provides you with a means of quick and easy direct access to almost all of the `Diary -2000' facilities. THE `YEAR' BOXES On the left side of the Index Page is a column of boxes labelled with the years 1995 - 2000. Click in any of these boxes to go to the `Contents' page of the corresponding year. THE `MONTH' BOXES Against each year is a horizontal row of boxes labelled with the months of the year. Click in any box to go to the `Calendar' page for the corresponding month of that row's year. THE `ANNIVERSARIES' BOXES Below the `Year' boxes is the word `ANNIVERS' and along side it a horizontal row of boxes labelled with the months of the year. Click in any month's box to call up the `Anniversaries' file for that month. If you have not yet created a file for that month, you can do so now. (Don't forget to save the file before closing the text editor). THE `INFORMATION' BOXES At the bottom left of the screen are six `Information' boxes labelled Personal, Business, Hard & Soft, World Times, Travel and Conversions. Just click once in any box to call up the named page. (Using these pages is fully explained in section 4 above). THE `UTILITIES' BOX At the bottom right of the screen are six of program's eight `Utilities' boxes. (The `Open SHELL' and the ` ??? ' boxes have been ommitted from the Index Page). Click any of these boxes to call up the named utility or file. (Their use is fully explained in section 6 above). NOTE: If you open a `Calendar Page' from the Index Page, the Calendar page you have selected will REPLACE the Index page and will be displayed ON TOP OF THE PAGE FROM WHICH YOU SELECTED `INDEX'. This means that if you open a Calendar page in the normal way (from that year's `Contents' page), then select `INDEX' and then select a different Calendar page from the Index page, you can toggle the display between both selected Calendar pages by using the `front page to back' gadget in the top right corner of the screen. 8. CONCLUSION: -------------- Well, that's just about everything on how the program works. HAVE FUN! I have tried to test everything but there is always a chance that a few typing errors have slipped through. All of the system calls and links work fine, but if you call up a file which is supposed be titled, for example, "Holidays - Apr96" and the title bar actually reads "Holidays - Apr97", that is a typing error for which I apologise. (See the separate doc. file `Customising Diary-2000' for details of how to correct any errors). 9. CUSTOMISING `DIARY-2000': ---------------------------- Included with this disk is a separate document file ("Customise-Diary") containing some notes on how to customise `Diary-2000' to your requirements and notes on running the program on various disk configerations. It also contains some appendices which should help you to make your changes. Even if you don't intend to make any `personalised' changes to the program you should read this file as it may help you to save memory or to make more room on this disk for generated text files. It also explains how to run `Diary-2000' with one or two floppy disk drives and with a hard disk. ============================================= If you have any problems with this program, or ideas for future `Amigaguide' projects, or if you're just curious about Thailand, please write to me at the following address. All letters will be answered, even if you don't pay the shareware fee: Dave Freeman | Tel: (6638)-25O3OO or 25O311/2 12 Johnathan Court | 146/45-46 Tuppraya Road | ( NOT between 7pm and 2am UK time ) Pattaya City | Cholburi | THAILAND 2O26O | Sorry, I don't have a modem so there is no E-Mail address. ============================================= ____________________________ _______________________ Amigaguide is Copyright QED is Copyright Commodore-Amiga Inc. Darren M. Greenwald ____________________________ ________________________ ============================================= I M P O R T A N T N O T I C E ============================================= `DIARY-2000' is Shareware. Th is means that the nominal fee you have already paid covers the cost of a blank disk, postage and the right to examine and try out `DIARY-2000'. Effectively, you have the utility "ON APPROVAL ONLY". If you like `DIARY-2000' and intend to use it, please pay the required shareware fee of £10 (UK) or US$15 (in CASH only, please--no cheques!). Payments should be sent by AIRMAIL to the following address: DAVE FREEMAN Tel: (6638)-25O3OO or 25O311/2 12 JOHNATHAN COURT 146/45-46 TUPPRAYA ROAD PATTAYA CITY CHOLBURI THAILAND 2O26O (Sorry! No E-mail address, at least NOT YET). ________________________________________________________________________ | | | IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE SHAREWARE FEE (or think this program is not | | worth £10) PLEASE SENE ME A DISK CONTAINING SOME OF YOU FAVOURITE | | PD SOFTWARE PROGRAMS/UTILITIES (with docs. if possible). All letters | | will receive a reply. ( Mail should be sent by `Airmail' as surface | | post from Europe takes 6 weeks! ). | |_______________________________________________________________________| All registered users (ie who have paid the £10 shareware fee) will receive a FREE disk-based "Travel Guide to Thailand". In addition to the usual tourist information, the Guide contains lots of useful insights into the things that most guide books won't tell you. You will also receive details of all updates to the `DIARY-2000' utility and any future software developments. * * * * * So, you've already got the program. Why should you bother to send off any shareware fees? Well, the AMIGA is well supported by some really excellent PD software. But have you considered that if Commodore's problems continue commercial software distributors may be reluctant to stock products for the AMIGA? I have already had difficulty in obtaining one program, ("Sorry, it's no longer available for the Amiga" from three companies, contrary to their current advertising). And can you still buy software for the Spectrum? It is important to support all PD software releases and those who spend countless hours producing them to ensure that at least one source of programs for an excellent machine continues to thrive. On a more personal note, I have three dogs, two gold-fish and a hungry AMIGA to support, so please be generous. If you have any problems with `DIARY-2000', ideas for improvements or if you just feel like writing about nothing at all, you can contact me at the above mailing address. =====================================