Atari ST - Regent Software - 1989
Informer (The)
_informer_(the)_2_2_02_regent_software.png?v=1788851718)
- Genre
- Database / Spreadsheet
- Year
- 1989
- Language
- [unknown]
- Publisher
- Regent Software
- Controls
- Mouse
- Distributor
- —
- Resolution
- Medium / High
- Developer
- Soft-Aware
- ST Type
- ST, STe, TT, Falcon030 / 0.5MB
- Licensed from
- —
- Programmer(s)
- [unknown]
- Country
- MIDI
- —
- Software
- English
- Version
- 2.02
- Box/Instructions
- English
- Number of Disks
- 1 / Double Sided
- License
- Commercial
- Dump
- Download
- Serial
- —
- Dump format
- MSA
- Protection
- —
OTHER VERSIONS WITH THE SAME TITLE (1)
INSTRUCTIONS
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//*********************************************\\
//*** README.202 - 06/20/90 ***\\
//*** ***\\
//*** I N F O R M E R II I N F O ***\\
//*** ***\\
//*********************************************\\
Dear INFORMER II User,
Well, here it is --- INFORMER II version 2.02.
As promised, everyone receives the first upgrade FREE!!! We think (hope)
that you will appreciate the new features, improvements and bug fixes.
If, for some reason, your disk is damaged or cannot be copied, please
return it ... we'll send another.
Many of you have been calling and asking when 2.02 will be sent - some
have called many times. Due to a persistent bug that kept reappearing,
we are way past our scheduled release date. THANKS FOR WAITING AND
BEING PATIENT - WE'LL TRY HARDER ON 2.03 !!!
We compiled a list of items that you indicated on the rating sheet
and put most of them in this version. Many of the remaining items
will be added in 2.03 along with some of our own ideas. Please send
in another rating sheet or drop us a note on what you'd like to have
added to upcoming versions.
/**********************************/
HINDSIGHT - is better than...
/**********************************/
One of the things we should have done was to put your registration
number in your manual (we do this now). If you don't know your number,
it is on the shipping label in the upper right corner. Please take the
time to record it into your manual. Speaking of registration, some of
you have not sent in the registration card, why not do it today?
/**********************************/
UPGRADES -or- "How to get ahead"
/**********************************/
Each INFORMER II user receives 1 free update. If you purchased version
2.00, you should have received 2.01 automatically. 2.01 users get 2.02
automatically, etc. To receive new updates, you must -either- purchase
an upgrade for $25 -or- purchase our support service. The service
entitles you to unlimited technical support and all upgrades that ocurr
in that year. The service costs $35 and covers the cost of development
and support. Either way, simply send in a copy of your original disks
along with a stamped, self-addressed mailer. To enroll in the service,
include $35. If you just want an update, include $25. Make checks or
~
money orders payable to Soft-Aware -or- include your Mastercard/Visa
number and expiration date. We will send an upgrade immediately if your
disks are behind, -or- we will keep them until the next version is
available.
/**********************************/
ADDRESS CHANGES - Where are you?
/**********************************/
Please notify us of any change of address...
/**********************************/
BACK TO THE FUTURES...
/**********************************/
Here is an example of what is planned for version 2.03 which we have
scheduled for release in September 1, 1990:
a) A significant upgrade to the manual.
b) 256 columns as opposed to 32.
c) a bigger, scrollable FORM - 4 or more quadrants.
d) Load/Merge Directory function - with this, you will be able to
read a directory into a Table...the end result will be a Table
whose records contain info on the selected directory.
e) Copy/Paste function.
f) Column Transfer function...copy column(s) from one Table to
another.
g) Multiple Selections. Many of INFORMER II's functions, such as
form printing, will have several selections. When the dialog
comes up, you will be able to select one of several selections
previously completed. Also, you will be able to chose several
different LIST and FORM layouts.
h) Set a Table as a Word Processing Table. When set, the Table will
look like a word processor. Features such as mail merge will
be included.
As you can see, we try to be vigorous with the upgrades!!! We want
INFORMER II to grow with your needs. (Like you, we also need revenue
to survive...and we're willing to work for it.)
/**********************************/
GEnie SUPPORT - BBS to bbs to ...
/**********************************/
As you may have seen or guessed, we no longer use GEnie for support.
The frequency was so little as to not deserve our attention.
/**********************************/
ERROR 101 - Oh! No, Mr. Dick!!!
/**********************************/
A limited few have incurred the dreaded "Logical 101 error". This ocurrs
when the program cannot determine what's going on. These ocurrances are
due to faulty data of some sort (probably due to INFORMER II). Pressing
RETURN only brings the message back. To correct the situation, press
RETURN until the nasty message goes away -or- reboot, reload the database,
save it as text (Save Table), then read it back using Load Table. The
1st method may take many, many, many iterations, so, use something heavy
to keep the RETURN or ENTER button down - eventually (depending on the
size of the database), the error will be cleared.
~
/**********************************/
COLOR/MONO - again.
/**********************************/
INFORMER II disks are labeled "COLOR" for use on medium color resolution
systems, "MONO" for use on high resolution monochrome systems, and
"COLOR/MONO" for use on either. The INFORMER II program itself was
designed to operate on both mono (high) and color (medium) resolution
systems. Since the distributed image files are resolution dependent and
are not transformed by INFORMER II, the appropriate HELP and TUTORIAL
disks must be selected. The sample databases (ending in DA2 and DA3)
can be used on either system and are not resolution dependent.
In most cases, the color version of the HELP and TUTORIAL disks are
included with the product. If, for any reason, you would like to swap
your HELP and TUTORIAL versions, return them to Soft-Aware along with
a stamped, self-addressed mailer.
--------------------- Version 2.01 - 10/12/89 ----------------------
(repeated)
-----IMPROVEMENT: THE CURRENT COLUMN NAME APPEARS IN THE FORM WINDOW TITLE.
When on the FORM, the current column name is added to the window title.
This allows you to remove the BOX TOPS and still see the box name
(perhaps to get more room on the FORM).
-----IMPROVEMENT: NEW RECORDS ARE ADDED TO THE SUBLIST (IF ON A SUBLIST).
When new records are entered and you are on a SUBLIST, the new record
is added to the sublist.
-----NEW FEATURE: TOTAL COLUMN ADDITIONS.
The menu function TOTAL COLUMN now includes two new lines which show
the highest and lowest values of the totaled column.
-----NEW FEATURE: NEW MATH ATTRIBUTES.
The math attribute for each column attribute now includes the following
symbols which can be used in math formulas. Each will perform its
function only on saved records (the current record in view may not have
been saved yet).
# - This symbol will produce the number of records on file + 1. It
can be used in the ID (KEY) attribute to number the records.
(This is a bad example if records will be deleted since a
duplicate key would be produced - see ">" below).
---- THE NEXT THREE SYMBOLS MUST BE FOLLOWED BY A COLUMN MARKER ----
? - This symbol will produce a total of entries PRIOR TO the
current record of the named column when on the FORM, and for
ALL RECORDS when a CALCULATE is performed from the menu. It can
be used to produce "running" totals. Example: If you had these
BOXES: a=CHECK #, b=AMOUNT, and c=BALANCE; and you wanted
"c" to contain the total of all previous AMOUNTS ("b")
including the current entry, then the math attribute for
column "c" could be "?b+b" (or the total of all prior entries
in "b" plus the current record). If a sort is performed or a
record is deleted, column "c" would not make sense. To correct
this, simply calculate column "c" from the menu and all entries
would be adjusted.
~
> - This symbol produces the highest value in the named column.
If the ID (KEY) math attribute was ">a+1", it would produce
sequentially numbered keys, even if records were deleted.
< - This symbol produces the lowest value in the named column.
-----BUG FIX: THE MATH ATTRIBUTE.
The math attribute was creating several problems. For example, the
formula "a-b" worked as "a+b", "a+10.1" was incorrect, etc. It now
appears that all is well.
-----BUG FIX: IMAGE NAMES.
When an image name is created whose length is greater than 42, a fatal
error occured. For example, if a column is defined as a picture type
and a name whose length is greater than 42 is entered and the image is
made to display, the fatal error occurs. All image names are now
truncated to a maximum of 42.
-----BUG FIX: MINOR BUGS.
Several minor problems (too many to list here) ocurred when reading or
writing text files. The errors produced nuisance to useless results.
-----NEW FEATURE: MERGE TABLE.
"Merge Table" has been added to the File menu. This allows you to
concatenate input text files (new files) with the current table on
the screen. The new data will be added to the end of the LIST. If the
new data has fewer fields, the extra fields will be blank. If the new
data has more fields, an appropriate number of new columns will be added
to the TABLE first. If the new file has more than 36 fields, it will not
be added. The physical position of the new file's fields will be copied
sequentially into columns a thru J respectively. If you MERGE into an
empty table, it will act like a LOAD (replacing the current table).
NOTE: When merging text, it is imperative that the input text be
correct. Specifically, each line of input MUST have the same number
of fields.
NOTE: Processing input text takes substantially longer than reading
an INFORMER II database. This is especially true when there are
many records already in the existing database.
~
- 06/20/90 -
-- Version 2.02 --
-----NOTE: Read the UPGRADE.DOC file for more info.
-----NOTE: As of 6/01/90, Soft-Aware has discontinued the "FareWare"
program due to its incompatibility with our new marketing programs.
We thank the many participants who made a few bucks with us.
-----NOTE: As with most updates, the program is larger and uses more room
normally used by data. In fact, there are 12,638 fewer bytes for data.
-----TIPS/COMMENTS: ASCII TEXT FILES.
When saving a text file (i.e. Save Table) and there is a ", (double quote
plus a comma) in the text, the output will be incorrect. This may be
resolved by CHANGING ", to ~~ (or some obscure text) before saving,
then CHANGING ~~ to ", after it is read back in (i.e. Load Table).
-----TIPS/COMMENTS: FILE NAMES.
Please note that INFORMER II databases have a suffix of the format
DAx where x is 1 for lo-rez, 2 for medium rez and 3 for hi-rez. Even
though the file selector defaults to the appropriate type, files
created on a different resolution system may be read simply by changing
the suffix. In fact, the suffix can be any TOS-allowable entry (there
is no INFORMER II restriction on the suffix).
-----NEW FEATURE: FILE SELECTOR AT START-UP.
When the program is first executed, the file selector appears. The
default file name is "INFORMER.DAx". If you name your primary database
with this name, all you need do is press RETURN. If you prefer a
different database, enter its name. If you want to start with a new
file, click on CANCEL.
-----NEW FEATURE: SELECTING COLUMNS.
When on the LIST, you may now select a column simply by pressing the
appropriate key. For instance, to select column "a", press a. To select
column "A", press Shift-a or caps-lock-a.
-----NEW FEATURE: REPORT SUBTOTALS.
This feature includes the following:
- automatic sorting,
- skip lines or page advance after subtotals,
- print -or- supress the totals, record counts, or detail lines.
An sample report is shown below.
When PRINT/REPORT is selected from the menu, a new dialog appears. The
first option to select is the "[DO] [DO NOT] Sort & Subtotal". If DO
NOT is selected, no sorting or subtotaling will occur. If DO is
selected, the column markers entered in the line labelled "SUBTOTAL
using Columns..." will automatically be sorted and subtotaled. When
making entries in this line, enter the highest level first followed by
the remaining less significant columns. For example: to sort a report
by School (Column a), Department (b) and Teacher (c), enter "abc".
Each entry must be valid (an existing column) and no spaces are
allowed. The next line allows entries for the space-after-subtotal
option. Valid entries are: blank (no action), 0 (for advance to new
page), and the digits 1 thru 9 (number of lines to skip after total).
If DETAIL is selected, detail lines (ex. lines 5 and 6 below) will
print. If not selected, detail lines or underscore lines will not
appear.
~
If SUBTOTAL RECORD COUNT is selected, then the number of records
constituting the current subtotal will appear either on the far left
of the underscore line if present (see line 7), -or- on the first
subtotal line. The count is preceeded by the # symbol.
If TOTALS is selected, the subtotals and report totals will appear.
Subtotal lines contain column totals for each column whose "TOTAL"
attribute is YES. If the attribute TOTAL is YES and the column is not
numeric, the total will be the number of non-empty entries followed
by "c" (for count). If TOTAL is NO, nothing will appear for that column
on the total lines. For each subtotal column, asterisks indicate a break
point. The asterisks are overlayed by a record count (ex 2c******
on line 8) -or- by the detail (ex East***) if DETAIL is not selected.
Here is a sample report with comments on the left, right and below:
Line
1 01/04/89 << TABLE 1 >> Page 1 Column a = School
2 09:30:00 Your Name Here -Sublist- b = Dept (no total)
3 School Dept Teacher Number c = Teacher
4 ------ ---- ------- ------ d = Number
5 East Math 1 200
6 East Math 1 6 Dialog selections:
7 #2 ------ ---- ------- ------ 1) DO Sort & Subtotals
8 2c 2c****** 206 2) SUBTOTAL = 'abc'
9 3) SKIP = '321'
10 East Math 2 94 4) PRINT DETAIL
11 #1 ------ ---- ------- ------ 5) PRINT REC COUNT
12 1c 1c****** 94 6) PRINT TOTALS
13 3c *****3c 300
14
15
16 East Shop 1 6
17 #1 ------ ---- ------- ------
18 1c 1c****** 6
19 1c *****1c 6
20 4c***** 4c 306
21
22
23
24 West Math 12 5
25 #1 ------ ---- ------- ------
26 1c 1c****** 5
27 1c *****1c 5
28 1c***** 1c 5
29 ====== ==== ======= ======
30 5c 5c 311
31 1s 2s 3s
32 abc Records printed = 5
Line 31 shows the subtotal selections "abc" ranked from hi to low
followed by an "s" (for sort sequence). Line 32 contains the sort
selection ("abc") and the total number of records on the report.
It is important to note that the skip selection ("321") will apply
only for the highest level in the current subtotal set. As an example,
line 8 is followed by 1 skip line because the skip selection for
column c is 1. Line 20 is followed by 3 skip lines because the skip
selection for column a is 3.
~
-----NEW FEATURE: FORM PRINTING - HARD AND SOFT NEW PAGE.
When form printing, you may want to print a line only if it is not
blank. This can be done by using the soft newline symbol (!) as opposed
to the hard newline symbol (/) in the forms format. As an example,
suppose you are printing mailing labels and you don't want blank lines
in between. Suppose column b is the name, c is address line 1, d is
address line 2, and e is address line 3. An old format of
>>>>>b/>>>>>c/>>>>>d/>>>>>e/// could be replaced with
>>>>>b!>>>>>c!>>>>>d!>>>>>e!// .
Using the following records:
b c d e
Record 1: Ralph 10 Main Anytown, USA
Record 2: Sharon 20 Main Apt 1 Newplace, CANADA
this would be the result using:
the old format & the new format
LINE
1 Ralph Ralph
2 10 Main 10 Main
3 Anytown, USA
4 Anytown, USA
5
6
7 Sharon Sharon
8 20 Main 20 Main
9 Apt 1 Apt 1
10 Newplace, CANADA Newplace, CANADA
11
12
Notice that line 3 does not print using the new format because a
"soft" newline was used. Notice also that "unused" newlines are added
to the end of each record. THE SOFT NEWLINE ONLY WORKS WITH FORM
PRINTING A N D WHEN 1-UP ONLY IS SPECIFIED.
-----NEW FEATURE: FORM PRINTING - CURRENT RECORD ONLY.
The Print Forms dialog has a new button selection named "PRINT Current
Record". If selected, only the current record will print. The current
record is defined as either the top record in view while on the LIST
or the currently displayed record if on the FORM.
-----IMPROVEMENT: COLUMN ATTRIBUTES:
The MATH attribute length has been increased from 25 to 55. The CHANGE
attribute has been eliminated. The TOTAL (print) has been added. If
this selection is NO, no total for this column will be printed on
reports generated by selecting PRINT REPORT (from List). If YES is
selected, totals will appear for numeric columns and an entry counts
will appear for non-numeric columns.
-----IMPROVEMENT: SIMPLE "WILDCARD" USAGE FOR MODIFY SUBLIST, CHANGE, FIND:
The format for wildcard usage is *x...x, x...x* and *x...x*. Where
x...x means the argument and the asterisk (*) determines position.
*x...x means ending in, x...x* means beginning with, and *x...x*
means containing. The format x...x (no asterisk) means "exactly
equal". The wildcard format is used with MODIFY SUBLIST, CHANGE, and
the FIND menu selections. As an example and using FIND, the following
table applies:
~
Search Argument Data Action
--------------- --------------- ----------------------
*100 100abc Not found
*100 abc100 Found
*100 abc100xyz Not found
*100 100 Found
100* 100abc Found
100* abc100 Not found
100* abc100xyz Not found
100* 100 Found
*100* 100abc Found
*100* abc100 Found
*100* abc100xyz Found
*100* 100 Found
100 100abc Not found
100 abc100 Not found
100 abc100xyz Not found
100 100 Found
-----IMPROVEMENT: MODIFY SUBLIST:
As stated above, the arguments now include a simple wildcard notation.
Additionally, when the equal operator is used, the first argument may
be of the format 9...9M where 9...9 is a whole number and where "M"
indicates a RECORD multiple. In other words, to make a sublist whose
content is every fifth record, enter 5M in argument 1. The numeric
portion of this notation DOES NOT in any way refer to record content.
-----IMPROVEMENT: CHANGE:
You may now CHANGE records using 3 arguments instead of one. You may
also start the process from the top record as opposed to the current
record. It is important to know that CHANGE DOES NOT process all 3
argument sets concurrently. The first "of:/to:" set is processed for
the entire set of records, then the second set is processed for all
records, and finally the third set is processed. Remember that simple
wildcard notation is used for the "of:" argument and NOT for the "to:"
argument. To change all a's to z's, enter:
of: *a*________
to: z__________
-----IMPROVEMENT: FIND:
You may now FIND records using 3 arguments instead of one. You may
also start the process from the top record as opposed to the current
record. It is important to know that FIND DOES process all 3 arguments
concurrently. The first argument is processed for the current record,
then the second argument is processed for the current record, then the
third. The process now goes on to the next record. Remember that
simple wildcard notation is used (i.e. 0 is different than 0* ).
To find phone numbers whose area code is 714 , enter 714* .
-----IMPROVEMENT: SELECTED COLUMNS:
Columns may now be selected/deselected by simply keying in that
column's marker (when on the LIST only). For example, to select
column a while on the LIST, simply press the a key. Clicking on the
column header of box header still works too. Only 1 column may be
selected at any one time. Columns remain selected (even after saving)
and are never deselected automatically by the program.
~
-----IMPROVEMENT: VIEW MOVEMENT:
When on the LIST or FORM, pressing CONTROL + ARROW UP will advance
the view to the top. CONTROL + ARROW DOWN will advance the view to
the bottom. On the LIST, CONTROL + ARROW LEFT will "slide" the view
to the far left and CONTROL + ARROW RIGHT will "slide" the view to
the far right. On the FORM, CONTROL + ARROW LEFT and RIGHT move the
cursor to the 1st and last box respectively.
-----IMPROVEMENT: COPYING RECORDS:
When on a new record and an identical KEY is entered (in col a ),
that record is displayed followed by the dialog box which now reads
COPY, OLD, and NEW. If COPY is selected, the record remains in view,
the KEY is erased awaiting a new entry. If NEW is selected, the
record is erased, the KEY remains, and the cursor advances to the
next input box. If OLD is selected, the record remains and the cursor
advances to the next input box.
-----BUG FIX: END-OF-MEDIA DETECTION.
When outputting a file, prior versions did not notify the user if there
wasn't sufficient space. A short file would be written and when read
back in, a "Version mismatch" error ocurred. Now, the user is notified
when there is insufficient space.
-----BUG FIX: MATH CALCULATIONS.
Default values were not "acting" like math formulas. The value would
only apppear on new records and when the box was empty. The default
now replaces the current box if: AUTO-MATH is on, if the keypad "*"
is pressed, or ReCALC is selected from the menu.
-----BUG FIX: MATH CALCULATIONS.
Any calculated result whose value was between -1 and +1, and whose format
contained decimals, and whose signifcant places were zeros - the leading
zeros were suppressed. Ex. .00123 erroneously changed to .123 .
-----BUG FIX: MATH CALCULATIONS.
In a non-numeric field, the math function "copy" did not copy. For
example, if column b was a date and column c had the math attribute "b"
(intending to copy b into c), no copy was performed.
-----BUG FIX: PREV KEY (FUNCTION KEY 9).
When on the FORM and on last record, the PREV key skipped the last record.
For example, suppose the Table contained records 1,2,3 and 4. Suppose also
that you were now on record 5 (beginning a new record) and you pressed
PREV (F9). The view would advance to record 3 instead of record 4.
-----BUG FIX: SKIP ATTRIBUTE.
When the inputting sequence was not in alphabetical (or original) order,
spurious results would ocurr during data entry for skip-attributed fields.
-----BUG FIX: FORM PRINTING.
At the end of the last form, extra lines would sometimes appear.
-----BUG FIX: GRAPHIC IMAGES.
When input boxes contained images, the box was not completely cleared.
-----BUG FIX: DELETE COLUMN.
If the FORM input sequence was not the original, data would sometimes
be destroyed or altered.
- END -