IMPORTANT INFORMATION ===================== !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Before unzipping the application files in PRODUCT.ZIP ! ! please read LICENS.TXT. ! ! You must not unzip PRODUCT.ZIP only if you do not ! ! agree with the contents of LICENS.TXT ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Installation ------------ Please see INSTALL.TXT. -------------------------------------- | WARNING | | The shareware version has been | | "crippled". As long a unregistered,| | "nag" screens will appear now and | | then as a reminder to register. | -------------------------------------- Registration of Shareware ========================= Lite version (S3 and S3a) ------------ The registration fee is A$39.95 + A$6.00 for postage and handling. We can send you a registration number by email, and send you the printed manual and a floppy with all of our shareware by mail. Please use the form ORDER.TXT. Post it via mail, email or FAX to Berthold Daum lichtbild pty ltd 21 Margate St. LPO Box 6011 Cromer, Vic 3193 Australia CompuServe 100026,3365 INTERNET: 100026.3365@compuserve.com HomePage: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/lichtbild fax: +61-3-9584 9638 Alternatively, you can register via CompuServe (GO SWREG): Author: Berthold Daum Program Title: RepPoc V2.3 lite S3/S3A Program name: RepPoc.zip Registration ID: 3826 Fee: US$ 35.00 plus postage and handling Professional version (S3a only) -------------------- The fee for the professional version is consists of 1. Fee for lite version A$ 39.95 + A$6.00 postage and handling 2. Upgrade fee: A$ 19.95 Alternatively, you can register via CompuServe (GO SWREG): Author: Berthold Daum Program title: RepPoc V2.3 prof S3a - Upgrade Program name: RepPoP.zip Registration ID: 6984 Fee: US$ 15.00 plus postage and handling (You must be registered to the LITE version) Entering the registration number -------------------------------- Press MENU, / , ENTER, ENTER, then enter first name and the registration number. Note: The entered name must be part of the machines owner name. The registration number must be issued on the entered name. Professional version for S3a ---------------------------- The professional version has additional functions: - Creating spreadsheets from DATA files and updating existing spreadsheets with DATA file contents. NEW!!! Recommendation program ----------------------------- We distribute our programs directly to offer you the lowest prices as possible. Direct distribution depends very much on mouth-to-mouth recommendation. We would like to acknowledge this fact by honouring the recommenation of our products. If you are a registered user of any of our products, and another user quotes your name when he registers, we will send you a floppy disc with the newest versions of the products you had registered absolutely free ! RepPoc Version 2.3 - Release Notes =================================== Platforms --------- The program runs on PSION S3 and S3a and Acorn PocketBook I and II in native mode. On Acorn PocketBook I an extra OPL translator is required to create custom text functions. RepPoc can be run on the S3a-emulator and supports screen sizes up to 640x400. ( Set SERVER_PARAMS -X640 -Y400 -D in HCSERVER.PAR for the big screen) Requirements ------------ Please see the installation routine for details. For a full installation about 50k of disk space are required. We recommend to install the system on flash SSD, the REPORT folder on the internal disk. New in version 2.311 -------------------- Explicite helptext added in LITE version. New in version 2.310 -------------------- - Support for F11-Data added (Preferences). New in version 2.38 ------------------- - PROF version The spreadsheet generator can now handle type declarations: Prefix field names within the chevrons with Fn:: fix point with n decimal place (0...9) Sn:: Scientific with n decimal places (0...9) Cn:: currency with n decimal places (0...9) Pn:: percent with n decimal places (0...9) Nn:: thousandscomma with n decimal places (0...9) A:: Default G:: Floating point H:: Hidden B:: Bargraph D:: Date (number interpreted as days starting at 31.12.1899) accepts also date strings in system date format T:: Time (0.0...0.5...1.0 starting at midnight as in spreadsheet) accepts also time strings in system time format All of the above declarations will cause the generation of cells with numeric content. Columns without type declarations or cells with nonnumeric content are generated as strings. If the number n of decimal places is omitted, the system setting for the currency will be used. Example: <> <> (<<>> meaning chevrons) - PROF and LITE version The following text additional text functions are now available (do not appear in RPFUNC) Fn:: fix point with n decimal place (0...9) Sn:: Scientific with n decimal places (0...9) Cn:: currency with n decimal places (0...9) Pn:: percent with n decimal places (0...9) Nn:: thousandscomma with n decimal places (0...9) G:: Floating point D:: Date (number interpreted as days starting at 31.12.1899) T:: Time (0.0...0.5...1.0 starting at midnight as in spreadsheet) Fields with nonnumeric content are generated as strings. If the number n of decimal places is omitted, the system setting for the currency will be used. Example: as above New in version 2.36 ------------------- - Dial setup has been removed. Instead the system setup is used. New in version 2.35 ------------------ - German language version available in lite version, too. - Dial procedure has been simplified. - Automatic shutdown of DATA application if data file is found locked - Spreadsheet functions now under an own title. - New spreadsheet function includes now the update function. - Revised setup procedure saves some flash memory when multiple applications are installed on one disk. New functions in Version 2.3 ---------------------------- - Break processing A parameter in the SORT function allows to show only the records where the SORT criterion has changed. A flag field informs text functions if sort criterium 1 or 2 have changed or will change (see RPFUNC.DOC). Break processing relies on sorted selection sets. The following standard text functions are provided: SORTED:: Checks for sorted selection set. If not sorted, report generation is aborted, and sort function is started. The same check is done by the following functions: NEW1::field Print field only if sort criterium 1 has changed. BRK1:: Counter for changes of sort criterium 1. POS1:: SUM1::field MAX1::field MIN1::field MEAN1::field Similar to POS,SUM,MAX,MIN,MEAN, but the values are reset when sort criterium 1 changes. NEW2::field Print field only if sort criteria 1 or 2 have changed. BRK2:: Counter for changes of sort criterium 2. Reset when sort criterium 1 changes. POS2:: SUM2::field MAX2::field MIN2::field MEAN2::field Similar to POS,SUM,MAX,MIN,MEAN, but the values are reset when sort criteria 1 or 2 change. - Conditional paragraphs. When the return string of a text function contains chr$(0) the text following that character until the end of the paragraph is skipped. When the return string of a text function contains chr$(12) a page break will be inserted after the current paragraph. The following standard text functions are provided: IF::field Print rest of paragraph if field content is >= "0" SKIPIF::field Skip rest of paragraph if field content is >= "0" HDR0:: Print rest of paragraph if the first character of sort criterium 1 has changed. HDR1:: Print rest of paragraph if sort criterium 1 has changed. HDR2:: Print rest of paragraph if sort criteria 1 or 2 has changed. TRL0:: Print rest of paragraph if the first character of sort criterium 1 will change. TRL1:: Print rest of paragraph if sort criterium 1 will change. TRL2:: Print rest of paragraph if sort criteria 1 or 2 will change. NPAG0:: Insert page break after current paragraph if the first character of sort criterium 1 will change. NPAG1:: Insert page break after current paragraph if sort criterium 1 will change. NPAG2:: Insert page break after current paragraph if sort criterium 1 or 2 will change. CHAR1:: Returns the first character of sort criterion 1. - As set of global variables has been provided to store values between the invocation of text functions. (see RPFUNC.DOC). - Sort prompt can be forced. This option can be set in Preferences or in the Sort function itself. If set, the Sort function will be invoked whenever a selection set becomes unsorted. - Prompts for data file, search and sort criterium when a file is opened can now be suppressed. This option can be set in Preferences. - Easier modification of text functions. RepPoc no longer locks RPFUNC.OPA, so this module can be retranslated while RepPoc is active for easy testing. Before loading the default text functions .:\app\reppoc\rpfunc.opa, RepPoc will look into the \APP\ folders on all three drives. If the module is found there, it will be taken from there So, transfer of RPFUNC.OPA to .:\app\reppoc\rpfunc.opa is no longer required during the testing stage. - It is now possible to edit the data file with the DATA application while RepPoc is active. If the data file has been changed, RepPoc will restart with the new version of the data file when control is passed back to RepPoc. In this case all records become unmarked. - A special function (PSION-J) allows to invoke the DATA application directly out of RepPoc. The DATA application will be positioned to the current record. (S3a only) - Instead of using WORD for editing of forms and reports you can use F11 if installed. You can select the word processor of your choice via Preferences (PSION-Q). F11 makes typing easier and assist during insertion of text functions into forms. - The selection set size has been increased to 1024 records on S3a. - The operators ==,<<>>,<<,>>,<==,>== have been added for comparing numeric values. New function in Version 2.2 --------------------------- - It is now possible to process OPL-data files (ODB) in the same way as Database files. The ODB files can only consist of string fields. RepPoc will generate dummy field labels for each field. - Dummy field labels are now displayed in grey colour (S3a only). - New text function UC1:: converts the first character of a string into upper case, the rest into lower case. - New predefined form : ROLODEX to print addresses in the ROLODEX format. - New output modes for letter documents - into one document: the traditional method as in Version 2.1 - manual: a separate document is created for each record. The WORD application is invoked and you can modify and print each letter separately. Leave the WORD application with PSION-X, and WORD will be invoked again with the next letter. - automated: same as manual, except that printing and exitting the WORD processor is done in an automated way. Make sure, the correct printer was set up for the form sheet. This mode is only available on S3a. Manual and automated mode are more flexible for creating letters. You can use form sheets that contain WORD-header lines and WORD-foot lines. Also the page numbering is done for each letter separately. In addition these method do not build up huge output files. Do not connect the WORD printer driver to a printfile when you use these modi as with each record a new printfile would overwrite the old printfile. Instead, print to a real printer. - Printing interruptable with ESC-key. New functions in Version 2.1 ---------------------------- - Group processing. One formsheet can now refer to multiple records from the data file, e.g. «1.Name» «2.Name» «3.Name» ... «9.Name». The maximum record number in a formsheet defines the group size. The record number always comes first, before the name and before an optional text function. RepPoc will read as many records are required to process the form sheet, and will then continue with the next group of records. This feature is especially helpful for processing multi-column layouts, e.g. for labels. (See LABEL.WRD), - Numeric functions can also be prefixed with a record number and will then apply only the record with the specified number within the group. Example: «1.SUM::Amount» «2.SUM::Amount» ... This feature can be used for column sums. If not prefixed with a record number, the function will apply to every record of a group. New function in version 2.0 --------------------------- - New TextStyle TR for trailer paragraphs. Trailer paragraphs are printed only once at the end of a list. - Some text functions (like date::) can be used not only in Body text but also in header paragraphs (HA,HL) and trailer paragraphs (TR). - New numeric functions: pos:: current position in list (no argument) sum:: sum of the numeric value of that and the above fields. max:: maximum of the numeric value of that and the above fields. min:: minimum of the numeric value of that and the above fields. mean:: mean of the numeric value of that and the above fields. All these functions can be used in both body and trailer. 0 is assumed for nonnumeric fields. - New form type: PSION-C creates now optionally a form of type "report". This form is similar to a list, but fields are separated by TABS instead of commata, and a trailer is generated with sum:: functions below each column. - The name functions in RPFUNC have now a logic for titles: given:: and intial:: remove now titles like Prof and Dr from the first name - A new name function title:: returns any title strings, like "Prof.Dr." in a name. If no title is found it return "Mrs./Mr.". If the name string was empty it returns "Madam/Sir" - Text function country:: can now also return the country name on phone numbers with country code instead country name (+61-x-xxxxxx) - New menu function PSION-E and PSION-D to edit or delete a form sheet. - Assistant, helping to construct complex search and sort criteria. - Field labels that contain blanks can now be used. They must be placed inside chevrons (« »). (The assistant will place any label inside chevrons.) - professional version: Creation of PSION-S3/S3a spreadsheet files from DATA files, and updating of spreadsheet files with DATA contents. - Native version for S3a supporting the big screen with ZOOM function. Program Description ------------------- RepPoc is a report writing and mail merging program based on the PSION WORD and DATA formats. It can be used to create lists, labels, letters, envelops from selected database records. The print layout is controlled by forms created with the WORD application. To create a report you need: a database file (DAT\ folder) a form (WORD document) (REPORT\FORMS\ folder) an output file (WORD document) (WRD\ folder) a search criterion The above file specifications and the search criterion are stored in a report file (REPORT\ folder). This saves you typing if you want to run the same report again and again. When you start the report application, you are first prompted with the name of the DATA file and the search criterion. At this stage you may want to modify this information. All changes will be kept in the report file selected. You can also re-specify the search criterion using the PSION-F function (or the TAB key). This changes will go into the selected report file, too. Limitations ----------- - Only a selection set of 256 records (1024 on S3a) can be viewed or sorted, but you can print more. - Records with a total length of more than 1022 bytes are not processed. - Fields with more than 255 characters are not processed. - only the first 32 fields of a record can be processed. - OPL data files (ODB) can be processed when they contain only string fields. Searching --------- The search criterion can be complex. It can consist of several conditions. 'condition' has the following construction: fieldspec operator value or fieldspec value 'fieldspec' has the following construction: label or label[n] n=1...9 n identifies line number for multiple line fields. or txtfunc::label or txtfunc::label[n] n=1...9 'label' denotes the field of the DATA record, e.g. Name: or Work: (Phone symbols are not written). 'txtfunc' denotes a valid text function (see below). If a field has no label, it is addressed via a dummy label: field#nn with "nn" being the field number (starting from 1 for the first field). Valid operators are: = <> < > <= >= for alphanumeric comparisons (not case sensitive) == <<>> << >> <== >== for numeric comparisons If no operator is used, the condition is that the field denoted by 'label' has to contain the value (not case sensitive). Values are specified without quotes and can contain blanks. However, they must not contain logical operators and paranthesis as separate tokens. Conditions can be combined with logical operators such as NOT AND OR ( ) Example: work: germany and not ( notes: = no mail or field#5 berlin ) selects german business contacts but excludes the ones with the remark "no mail" or where the second line of the address (field#5) contains "berlin". Search criterions treat multiple line fields (created with Shift-Enter) as a whole. Alternatively to a complex search criteria, you can enter the usual search string, too. The string will be sought in any field of each record. This is the only form of search criterion that can contain wild cards. Only the records matching the search criterion are displayed. You can scroll the records and from record to record in the same way as in the DATA application. You cannot, however, update records. You can use the dialling function, by pressing the dialling key. Printing -------- Despite of the name of this function, RepPoc does not output to a printer. Instead it prints into a WORD document. This document can then be opened with the word processor, modified and printed to any appropriate printer. However, this method can create a problem, as the output file can become to large for the disk. If this happens, simply divide your report into parts by modifiying the search criterium. Add, for instance, Name: < m for the first part and Name: >= m for the second part. When the print function is started, you are prompted for the form sheet and the output file. Changes made here will be stored in the current report file. After the output file was created, you have the possibility to invoke the word processor immediately and print you file from there. However, you may want to leave RepPoc first and initiate the printing from a separate task if you run into memory problems. For letters, two more print modes exist. Instead of creating one big document, RepPoc can create a single document for each letter. It will invoke the WordProcessor for each letter to print the document. On an S3a this can be done in an automated manner. Generating letters as individual documents has the advantage that headers and footers appear with each letter and that the page number is correct. Form sheet ---------- You need a form sheet for printing. RepPoc gives some help to create new form sheets. Use PSION-C to create a new form sheet. The new sheet will contain a title paragraph, a header paragraph (in the case of lists), and a body paragraph. The body paragraph will contain field specification of the current data file enclosed in ® ¯ (left chevron, right chevron). The chevrons can be entered via CNTRL-174 and CNTRL-175 (or CNTRL-1 then "l", and CNTRL-1 then "r" )but it is much more comfortable to generate a form sheet with the PSION-C function and to delete the fields not needed. Field specifications are given in the same way as for search criteria and can contain text functions and line numbers. In addition field speci- fications can be prefixed with a record number for group processing. The record number denotes the position of the record within the record group processed with one formsheet. The body paragraphs have slighty different layouts depending on the form type (list, label, letter). For letters, e.g. the body paragraph will start a new page. After you have created a new form, you can edit immediately using the PSION word processor. The word processor will be invoked automatically. When you have done you changes, press PSION-X to return to RepPoc. If you decide to modify after you have left RepPoc, move the highlight under the WORD icon, press TAB, navigate to the REPORT\FORMS folder, move the highlight to the new form and press ENTER. Now you can rearrange the keywords, include some more text or tabs, etc. Apart from the standard style sheets: HA,HB,BT,BL we have included some new style sheets: HL for list and report header LE for list and report entry LB for label LT for letter PB for page break (internal) TR for report trailer The style sheets HA, HL, and TR play an important role during report generation: Only the bodytext is repeated. The bodytext is defined as the part between the last HA or HL style paragraph and the first TR style paragraph. Empty paragraphs of style PB are inserted automatically at the beginning of each repetition if a form contains at least one LT paragraph is found in the bodytext. So, letters start always with a new page. Multiple line fields -------------------- These fields were created in DATA using Shift/Enter. When displayed all lines are displayed. However, during searching or when printed, only the first line is used, unless specified otherwise. You may do so, by specifying Name:[n] n = 1..9 for the n-th line of the Name: field. Text functions -------------- RepPoc provides some useful text functions. Functions are specified in the following way: function::label or function::label[n] or if they have no argument function:: A full description of all text functions is contained in RPFUNC.DBF (PSION database file) as an online reference. However, you may want to write some custom text function. You do this by adding them to RPFUNC.OPL. The programming guidelines are described in RPFUNC.DOC. It is a good idea to document all changes in RPFUNC.DBF. Standard forms -------------- We have already included some standard forms: PHONES.WRD landscape format phone list LETTER.WRD standard letterhead FAX.WRD FAX cover sheet ENVELOP.WRD DL1 envelop LABEL.WRD address labels ROLODEX.WRD ROLODEX format address cards You may want to modify these forms according to your requirements and the printer you use. Sorting ------- After pressing PSION-S (sort function) you can specify up to 2 sort fields (full fieldspec possible including text functions) and the sort direction (ascending/descending). Note, that not the whole file but only the selected records are sorted. Although we have implemented QuickSort, it can take a while to sort depending on the size of the selection set and how the records are preordered. You may then view or print the records in sorted order. You can interrupt the sort process by pressing any key. You can reduce the selection set to only the records where the sort criterion has changed. A variety of text functions can react on changes in the sort criterion and allows you to create sophisticated reports with breaks, subtotals and totals. Marking ------- During viewing, you may mark the selected records be pressing PSION-M or Shift/Enter. When you print, you have the option to print only the records marked. The mark symbol is shown in the top right corner of the screen. MS Word compatability --------------------- When you create a new form sheet (PSION-C) you may select WordDataFile. This will generate a list format form sheet, not containing any blanks and replacing all special characters in field names in the header line with underscore. Field merge entries are set between double quotes; so each later data entry will be surrounded by double quotes to avoid problems with comma. The title entry is supressed. You may then modify this form sheet to your reqirements using the WORD processor. Then you use REPPOC to generate a list document from this form sheet. Read the resulting document with the WORD processor and store it as ASCII text file to your PC (Save as, text). You may do this directly when MCLINK is active or first store it locally and transfer it later with MCLINK. On the PC you use the resulting file as DATA file in the usual way: With Word for Windows for instance, create a new document, then choose Print merge, attach the file as DATA file. Then use the insert_merge_field button to create field entries in the master document. The advantage of this approach compared to direct mail generation from the PSION computer is that you can include graphics like logos into your letterheads and envelopes. Preferences ----------- The preferences allow you to specify - if the sort function shall be invoked every time the selection set becomes unsorted (especially when the file is opened). - if you want to be prompted for data file, search criterion and sort criterion when the file is opened. - if you want to use WORD as word processor or if you prefer to work using F11. F11 is a WORD enhancer distributed by us. Spreadsheets ------------ Only in professional version. First use the function "New spreadsheet" and define the maximum number of lines. RepPoc generates a title line and a control record. You may want to alter the title line or the control record. The control record is used to generate the values later on. You can also copy this new spreadsheet into other existing spreadsheets. Then use the "Update spreadsheet" function to insert the values. When the contents of the DATA file have changed, use the update function again, to replace the old values with the new ones. For more details about this function see the manual. Troubleshooting --------------- 1. Line feed between entries is missing. Examine the form sheet. The last paragraph is probably not closed, i.e. when the cursor is moved to the end of the document, it will be at the end of the last line and not below the last line. Press ENTER to bring the cursor below the last line. 2. List headers or other header paragraphs repeat with the body text. You probably changed the format of these paragraphs. The WORD application has created a new style sheet (e.g. ZA) and assigned it to the paragraph. RepPoc cannot identify the paragraph as header paragraph because they have different names now. You can: a) reapply a Header Style sheet to the header paragraph (HA,HB,HL) and accomplish the necessary changes by modifying the settings of the header style sheet. b) create a short paragraph below the header paragraph and apply a header style sheet (HA,HB,HL) to it. 3. Conditional paragraphs don't appear at all. The paragraph was probable defined above a header paragraph. Move the paragraph to a position after the last header paragraph.