Category : A Collection of Games for DOS and Windows
Archive   : RSCARD21.ZIP
Filename : ROSSCARD.DOC

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S H A R E W A R E

Presents



R O S S C A R D S

Version 2.01


A Baseball Card Collectors Database




















Welcome to Fractured Femur SoftWare! You have selected
ROSSCARDS, a complete Baseball Card Database.


DISCLAIMER

THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED "AS IS", FRACTURED FEMUR SOFTWARE MAKES
NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. FRACTURED FEMUR SOFTWARE DOES
NOT WARRANT THAT THE PROGRAM WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR THAT
THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR
FREE. YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE
PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE YOUR INTENDED RESULTS AND FOR THE RESULTS
ACTUALLY OBTAINED.


Table of Contents

Introduction...........................................................3

Installation...........................................................3

Abilities..............................................................4

Operation..............................................................4

Troubleshooting........................................................6

Registration...........................................................7










A Very Special Thanks to James Fasnacht, who has been my programming tutor.
RossCards could not have been written without his help.













Introduction

Where did RossCards come from?

One day a friend approached me. He asked if it would be possible to create
a "Computer Program" which would log all his baseball cards, as well as, a
scanned image of each card. My friend felt documentation, and a scanned
image would make insuring his collection much easier. Hence, the road to
RossCards began.

Initially, RossCards was scanner hardware specific. The problem has been
overcome. You can use RossCards Image Database with any scanner which
produces PCX (Zsoft Paintbrush Format) images.

I am always eager for any feedback from users. It is the only way program
improvement is made. Please send any suggestions, complaints, or
discovered bugs with your registration.



Installation

RossCards passes from user to user in an archive format (*.ARC, *.ZIP,
*.LZH). To install RossCards:

1. Create a new directory on your hard or floppy disk.

2. Extract the archive into the new directory.

ROSSCARDS IS INSTALLED!

The archive should contain the files:

1. ROSSCARD.EXE

2. BANKHEAD.PCX - Demo scanned image.

3. SETDGE.COM - graphics TSR, enables viewing scans.

4. ROSSCARD.DOC - this document

5. ROSSHELP.HLP - on-line help files for RossCards

6. START.BAT - batch file needed to start RossCards

7. FFS.PCX - Fractured femur logo

8. CARDS2.* - Data and key example files

9. MODEL.DBF - This file is required for export of RossCard Data
to *.DBF data. DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE IT IS
REQUIRED!

RossCards creates several files the first time it runs. These files are
necessary to store all the data RossCards contains. The files are:

CONFIG2.*

If there are any other files present, BE VERY CAREFUL! Someone may have
been tampering with your copy.

One final note, I tried to write RossCards for the maximum number of
machines. Unfortunately, CGA screens did not have enough room for the
scanned images. Therefore, RossCards is limited to EGA and VGA screens.
RossCards requires 512K, but 640k is recommended. The more memory
available, the higher resolution you may scan.


Abilities

1. Creates Database of Baseball card entries.

2. Configures to access YOUR scanner utility. RossCards will run your
scanner utility from within the RossCard environment.

3. Prints reports sorted by player name/year/card company.

4. Can display scanned images of baseball cards.


Operation

Once installed, type START at the DOS prompt. A message states a
TSR graphic driver has been loaded. If all is well, the company logo for
Fractured Femur Software should be displayed. Press , and RossCards
will appear.

The Main Menu:

The user will note a menu. Use the Cursor Keys to move the highlighted
menu options. Pressing over any highlighted choice will
activate another screen. The menus are:

1. Configuration - stores path information to find your scanner
utility, and scanned images

2. Baseball Cards - accesses RossCards Database

3. Print Reports - if the printer is on, prints full list of entries

4. Scanner Utility - runs the scanner utility configured in the first
menu

5. Export Files - Exports RossCard files to *.DBF/ASCII format

The Configuration Menu:

I advise running the configuration menu first, IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO USE
YOUR SCANNER. Configuration is not necessary if no scanner or graphic
capabilities will be used. RossCards does require the user to have a
scanner and scanner utility to enable its graphic capabilities.

If no configuration is available, RossCards will quickly go from the
configuration menu to the entry screen. The user will be prompted for Path
information.

For Example:
Please Enter Path for Scanned Images:
C:\ROSSCARD\PCX


Changing configuration may be done by deleting the original configuration
(Press key). Enter the new configuration. If you change your
configuration, the key functions as an edit key rather than a
selection key.

Baseball Cards:

Selecting Baseball Cards will invoke the Entry Display Table. Card Entries
are displayed in a scrolling window. Use the cursor keys to select the
entry of choice. Special hot keys Available:

1. - Edits an existing Entry

2. - Adds and entry to the database

3. - Deletes an entry

4. - On-line help

5. - Displays full record listing

6. - Displays scanned PCX file to screen

7. - exits to main menu

RossCards will store unlimited records, that is, limited by disk space.

Print Reports Menu:

Selecting the Print menu will create a report listing all the
baseball cards in your database. Make sure your printer is on, and paper
is available. The report is written for Epson or Epson compatible
printers. If you do not have an Epson printer, you may have problems with
spacing.

Scanner Utility:

The Scanner Utility the utility listed in the configuration menu. Thus,
the user may run the software provided with his scanner from within the
RossCard environment. I suspect this feature is memory dependant. I own a
DFI hand scanner and it works fine. No bugs. However, I am but a humble
hobby hacker and have no access to other scanners. If your scanner utility
is very large, it may not fit in the RossCards shell. At this point I
don't know. I suspect most hand scanners will work with ease, but more
complicated desktop utilities may have memory demands. I have interest in
feed back!

The user must adjust the scanner for his/her needs. Card resolution will
be dependant on the memory available and your graphics type (EGA or VGA).
I have found the most useful settings to be 100 DPI/EGA/Photo Quality.
This creates a PCX file about 7K in size for each card. PCX files in the
300/400 DPI range are 25K and are too big for display. These large files
will create a straight line display from the RossCard View screen. The
overall goal for the scanned images was documentation not picture perfect
viewing. Each user will have to experiment with his/her own scanner
software.

Export Files:

The Export option allows exportation of RossCards native files to more
widely accepted formats, i.e. *.DBF and ASCII. My overall objective here
was to create an avenue for large collectors to exchange data for trade
or sale. Possibly opening up telecommunications among large traders.

Exit to DOS Menu:

Returns user to operating system and exits RossCards.


Trouble Shooting

1. My Scanner Won't Work.

A. Did you start RossCards with START.BAT? It is required to load
the graphics driver.

B. Do you have many TSR's present limiting your RAM to less than
512K?


2. I Cannot add records to RossCards.

A. Check your disk. Is it full?

3. RossCards will not view my Scanned Cards.

A. Did you configure your scanned image path in the Configuration
Menu?

B. Are you using too high a resolution? Try 100 DPI/EGA/Photo
setting on your scanner. Very large scans will produce a straight
line on the graphic screen.

C. Did you tell the scanner utility to save the file? Did you
tell the scanner utility to save it in the same directory as you
configured RossCard?




Registration
RossCards V 2.00


Please Make $15.00 check or money order payable to Ross Contino, and
return to:

Ross Contino
407 Deerfield Drive
Hanover, PA 17331


Name: ________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

City: ____________________________ State: ___ Zip: ----------------


BBS where you may be reached:

Name: __________________________________________________________

Number: (______)-______-________

Hours: ________________________

Disk Size: 3.5" 5.25"

Would you like to be notified of updates: Yes No
(Registered Users get Two Free Updates Registered Version)

Comment or Suggestions:

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

A registered version will be mailed to you as soon as possible.
Thanks for registering RossCards V 2.00 ------- Ross Contino.


You can reach me:

1. Compuserve -- User ID # 73327,1271/GEnie -- Address R.CONTINO

2. Microbe II (For Wildcat Users) -- (717)252-4543

3. War College BBS (FidoNet and FREQ'able) -- (717)243-0055