THE CATALOGUE COLLECTOR DOCUMENTATION === ========= ========= ============= Due to the lack of dedicated application software on the Amiga, I have written a number of programs (mainly statistical applications) which would be of use to a majority of Amiga users. My aims when writing these programs is to make them quick & easy to use, trouble free and to maximize the use of data entered. I expect that few programs are 100% error free and can't be improved in some way. I have worked hard in trying to eliminate bugs and produce a quick & easy to use program. If you find any bugs in the program or indeed can suggest any improvements then please inform me by post and I will try to eliminate the bugs for future versions of the programs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PROGRAM === ======= When the program loads it checks that the following files are available for use in the current directory: * Catalogue-Collections [DIR] (including all files) * Catalogue-Collector-Manual You must have the swiss font in the fonts directory. Once the check has been carried out, the manual will be loaded. You will know when theses operations have finished as the title screen will be displayed listing new features of the current version. A scroll text will also be visible at the bottom of the screen. You can adjust the speed of thee scroll text by using the left/right arrow keys. Left to speed up & right to slow down. THE MENU === ==== The menu screen is the place where you are able to select the options from the menu. Another scroll text is visible at the bottom of the screen giving you some details about the file and some other information. To select from the menu is easy, simply point the mouse icon over the option of your choice and click the left mouse button. You will note that the icon will light up on selection. Once the operation that you have selected is finished you will be returned to the menu again. If you select an operation that can't be carried out when you don't have any items entered then an error message will be shown below the options. If you have a file that has been involved in disk operation then you will note that at the top of the menu will be a box containing the name of the current file. ENTERING NEW ITEMS ======== === ===== If you have not yet entered any items, then you will be asked to define the type of catalogue that you are designing. To do this simply click on the relevant box using the left mouse button. For every new item you will be presented with a screen showing the details of the item (media type, name of tracks and name of item). Use the cursor keys to select the data item (you will see a cursor on the far right). To enter a new name for any of the items, simply use the keyboard when you have the relevant data item selected. The number in the top right hand corner indicates the current length of the data item. Use the left/right cursor keys to determine the media type for this item. Once you have finished simply click the left mouse button. Remember that you can only exit if you have entered the name of the item and at least one track. If at any time you wish to delete all the details from an item then simply click the right mouse button. Once you have finished entering you will be asked if you wish to enter another item, simply click the left mouse button on you choice (yes/no). EDITING ITEMS ======= ===== To edit an item, you must select the item that you wish to edit. You will be presented with a screen containing six icons : FIRST : Bring up first item in catalogue SEAR. : Search for an item (or closest sounding name) PREV. : See previous item NEXT : See next item EDIT : Edit name of item LAST : Bring up last item in catalogue Simply click on the respective icons to select the item. Use the right mouse button to bring up the editing screen (see above). DELETING ITEMS ======== ===== To delete an item you must simply select the item (using the selector described above). You will be asked to verify your decision once you have made your selection. All items after this item in the catalogue order will decrease by one position. PREFERENCES =========== The preferences screen allows you to rename the file that you are currently using aswell as re-define the type of file that it is. You can define how many of the items on the file you wish to save to a new file. It also allows you to turn off the scrolltext on the menu screen. The options can be selected by clicking on the respective icons below. SORTING ITEMS ======= ===== To sort a catalogue into alphabetical order simply select this option from the menu. This operation may take a bit of time. A gauge will show you how much time is to go until the operation is complete. VIEW ITEM CONTENTS ==== ==== ======== To view the contents of an item you must simply select the respective item using the item selector (described above). VIEW ITEM TITLES ==== ==== ====== This option allows you to view all the titles in the catalogue, or just a selected bunch. You must select whether you wish to view all or selected items. To select simply click in the upper part of the screen for the upper option and the lower part of the screen for the lower option. You must then click on ok or cancel operation. If you have selected to view all items then you will see all the item titles on the screen. Click the left mouse button to flip through pages (if necessary). The selected option requires you define the type of information that the selected items should have. This would be the media type and what letters the item must contain. You will see the following items : MEDIA : Selects the type of media CONT. : Allows you to enter what the items must contain COMP. : Compiles the list Use the left mouse button to select the options and to flip through pages in the list. VIEW STATISTICS ==== ========== This process is similar to viewing titles. You must select whether you wish to view selected or general statistics. If you decide to do selected statistics then you will get the screen as described above. This allows you to define what type of data the statistics are based upon. To exit the statistics page simply click the left mouse button. SIZE CHART ==== ===== The computer will compile the chart which may take some time (on large catalogues). A gauge will show the progress of the compilation. Once the chart is compiled you will see a screen with three icons allowing you to flip through the chart (previous/next screens). You may also exit at any time by clicking on the exit icon. The number at the side of some items tells you what number in the list that this particular item is (1 being the biggest). VIEW GRAPH ==== ===== You will be presented with a choice of the type of graph that you may view. Select this using the procedure described above. The first option brings up a graph on the size of items. The graph type (line/bar) can be changed by clicking on the option from the icon panel below. You may also see a mean line (the average), this can be toggled on and off by selecting the mean icon. To exit, simply click on the exit icon. The other option brings up a graph categorising the types of item that are in the catalogue. Press the left mouse button to exit. SEARCH ====== This option allows you to search for a track or item. You must select whether you wish to search for a track or item and then enter the characters that must be contained in the tack or item. A list will be shown listing all the matches (yellow print) and best matches (green print). LOAD ==== You can load a file at any time, but remember that you will be deleting the present file. Simply select the file from a list of twenty. This list will show you the length and type of each file. The selected file is shown at the bottom of the screen. You must then select ok or cancel the operation. A gauge shows the status of the operation whilst the file is being loaded. SAVE ==== You must then select which of the files you wish to overwrite (with the details of the current file). A gauge shows the status of the operation whilst the file is being saved. EXTERNAL LOAD/SAVE ======== ========= You are able to import files or save files to or from a different directory by selecting the respective option. You must define the full path of the file. Remember that if you load a non compatible file then the program will crash. THE MANUAL === ====== The manual that you are currently viewing can be brought up on the screen or printed. Simply select whether you wish to print or view when prompted to. You will note that the first time you use the manual it will take some time to load on floppy disk but be patient. During viewing the manual, you may wish to stop the scrolling, this is done by simply click on the stop icon. Pressing the right mouse button will continue the scrolling. To exit from the manual simply click on the exit icon. PRINT ITEM CONTENTS/TITLES ===== ==== =============== This is the same of the viewing operation except for the fact that the details will be output to the printer. Make sure to connect the printer and place it on line before hand. You may escape from printing at any time by pressing the escape key. STARING A NEW FILE ======= = === ==== To start a new file at any stage, you must select this option. You will be asked to verify your choice and then the current file will be deleted, thus allowing you to start a new file. QUIT ==== If you wish to quit the program at any time, simply select this option and verify your choice. NOTE : The program was designed to be very easy to use. You should not even really need to refer to the manual. ----------------------------------------------------------------------