What Vehicle History? 2.4c Vehicle
service history tracking, reporting, and
billing plus parts inventory. Tracks
one or a fleet of cars, trucks,
tractors, big rigs, etc.; mechanics,
departments, cost of parts, labor, etc.
*NEW* Improved printer error handling.

What Vehicle History? 2.4c Vehicle
service history tracking, reporting, and
billing plus parts inventory. Tracks
one or a fleet of cars, trucks,
tractors, big rigs, etc.; mechanics,
departments, cost of parts, labor, etc.
*NEW* Improved printer error handling.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS FILE

1. New & updated features 3. File list
2. Upcoming features 4. Installation notes

Shareware vendors see VENDOR.DOC BBS sysops also see SYSOP.DOC

1. New & Updated Features

2/26/94 VERSION 2.4a/b/c

Fixed problem with selection windows "locking up" on computers without a
mouse. Fixed problem with laser printer soft fonts. Improved printer
error handling.

2/22/94 VERSION 2.4

Parts inventory tracking has been added. I have released this version
before finishing the inventory reports so people could begin setting up
their inventory as well as to encourage a few more people to register.
Many data entry bugs were fixed, including an embarassing problem which
prevented entering any data if data bases were empty (such as with
first-time users).

Mouse support is about 90% finished - every screen has mouse support to
some degree. On most screens the function keys listed at the bottom of
the screen can be "clicked" upon to activate the function.

Types of service includes two rates which are intended to override the
standard labour rate (a "flat rate" field and a "special hourly rate"
field). These fields will be activated in the next release.

For consistency, I have changed the F3/Sales Tax Override key to F5.
Where applicable, the F3 key lists options available for a field and the
F2 key is used to go to an entirely different page (e.g., on the
inventory screen, F2 is used to go to a different inventory item and the
F3 key is used in some fields to list options for that field).


2. On The Drawing Board


Here's where WVH is headed:

I will add the "smarts" to WVH so it can figure out the average
number of miles or hours a vehicle is used every week, month, etc. so
that it can predict when, for example, a 10,000 mile tune-up would be
likely to occur. Once I get this working I can have WVH do automatic
scheduling such as, "Oil change every 5000 miles", etc.

Soon WVH will have the ability to purge history which is older than
a given date. For shops which maintain other people's vehicles I will
be adding the ability to print an invoice immediately after service
information is entered.


3. FILE LIST

Unregistered Edition files:

FILE_ID.DIZ * Description of WML for BBSs
DESC.SDI * Description of WML for BBSs
WVH.EXE What Vehicle History? programme
WVH.HLP Help file
WVH.TXT * Documentation in ASCII - TYPE WVH.TXT > PRN to print it
WVH.WP * Documentation in WordPerfect 5 format
FKEY.LST Function key list (used by the programme)
PRINTER.DAT Printer definitions
ORDER.FRM Order form for WVH and other software
VENDOR.DOC * Information for Shareware distributors
SYSOP.DOC * Information for bulletin board sysops
READ.ME * This file

The above files may be copied & shared freely as a complete, unmodified
set. Files marked with [*] are not needed during operation of WVH and may be
deleted from a disk if space is a premium, however, please include _all_ of
the files in copies of WVH you distribute. If you use INSTALL it will
remove some of the unneeded files. I would appreciate it if you would keep
the ORDER.FRM file handy on your disk until you decide whether WVH suits
your needs.


Registered Edition files:

The Registered Edition contains an extra file which is to be used
only by registered users:

CONFIG.WVH Your registration key, preferences settings, history values,
and some other operating values

If you wish to share WVH with a friend or BBS, I suggest you share
the original archive file (WVH2*.EXE or .ARJ or .ZIP) which you got from
me or a BBS. Alternately, you can copy the files from your hard disk
and then type "DEL A:CONFIG.*" to make an Unregistered Edition (use "B:"
if you use drive B:).


4. INSTALLATION NOTES

If you received your copy of WVH on disk it should have INSTALL.EXE
on it. Using INSTALL is faster than installing or updating manually and
it will not touch your AUTOEXEC or CONFIG. Just put the floppy in a
drive and type "A:INSTALL" or "B:INSTALL" depending on your computer.

Manual installation (for example, if you have received WVH from a
bulletin board) is as follows:

1. Make a directory (e.g., "MD \WVH")
2. Go to that directory (e.g., "CD \WVH")
3. Extract the archive. If you are updating an older installation,
just overwrite old files with new files - your data will remain
intact.


INSTALLING ON FLOPPY DISK

WVH can be run from a 720k (or greater) floppy disk although it will
run _very_ slowly as its primary function is working with disk files.
Data files may be on a different disk than WVH.EXE and its supporting
files so you may use a two floppy system.

Running on a 720k floppy disk there is about 180k of free space. A
service entry will take around 1k bytes (depending on number of parts
entered), so I would figure that you could track a few vehicles from
assembly line to junk yard in this space. Just the same, a hard disk is
best since it is so much faster and safer.

To make a "working" floppy disk:

1. Keep the original disk for making new back-up copies.
2. Use the DOS command "Diskcopy a: a:" (or "b: b:") to make a
"working" copy of the floppy disk.
3. Use the DEL command to erase files marked with [*] above -- this
will give you more room for data files. For example, you will
want to "DEL B:WVH.WP" and "DEL B:WVH.TXT" (change the "B:" to
an "A:" if necessary).


DOCUMENTATION FILES

If you have WordPerfect 5, just load WVH.WP. Instructions to
reformat and print are in a comment at the top of the file. If you
don't have WordPerfect or a way to convert the WVH.WP file to your word
processor, then enter "TYPE WVH.TXT > PRN" at the DOS prompt. WVH.TXT
is an ASCII file generated from WordPerfect for a "standard printer" and
this command will send it to the printer on port LPT1:. You can
substitute the "PRN" with "LPTx:" where the "x" is 1, 2, or 3.

Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Grazie,
Angel Babudro Box 132 Paonia, CO 81428-0132 USA
Work/Home: (303) 527-6756 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Mountain Time
The Researcher's BBS: (805) 949-8151 ("j;136" to join conf. #136)