FillIt! Form Filler Package
Version 1.00a Documentation
by Alain Hanash -(c) 1990






























FillIt! is a software package that enables the user to fill
specific forms using a printer. This task usually requires a
typewriter, but with the help of FillIt!, one can do it with a
computer and a printer. FillIt! offers many features which
includes the options to link Dbase III or ASCII records to any
form template.
FillIt! is fully menu-driven and require very little input
from the end-user. It application can range from filling out
insurance claims, receipts, applications, miscellaneous forms,
etc...


DISCLAIMER WARRANTY
The author shall not be held responsible for any problems
that arises from the use/misuse of this program. The user is the
sole responsible party.



REQUIREMENTS:
- An IBM PC or compatible with PC-DOS/MS-DOS versions 2.0
or higher.
- A printing device (dot matrix printers, lasers, etc...)
Optional (Recommended)
- Hard Drive
- Mouse


USING FILLIT!
OUTLINE USE
1- Add font specifications
2- Print Grid (either on transparent paper or a test
copy of the form)
3- Create Form Template using grid
4- Enter or Link Data
5- Print Form

1) Adding Font(s)
The first step is to add a font to the program. A font can
be defined as a specific style of printing supported by your
printers. Example of fonts include: compressed, Script, Times,
double, Courier, etc. Each fonts has its own specification
(pitch, lines per page). Please check your printer manual for
more information about fonts and different specifications.

Select the "Add font option" from the main menu, enter the
name of the font followed by the ASCII codes that evokes the
printer to automatically use the selected font. (Please refer to
printer manual for ASCII codes). For example, the compressed mode
on some printers can be set by selecting ASCII character 27 (ESC
key)+ASCII character 15. In this case, the user should enter
"!27+15" followed by the [RETURN] key. The "!" indicates that
this string consist of ASCII codes and should be translated into
the appropriate ASCII Character. If it is omitted, FillIt! will
print the "27+15".
The user will then be prompted for the (Pitch x Inch) value
(Refer to Character Per Inch in Printer Manual) and for the
number of lines per page (Usually around 55-60). After entering
the appropriate data, the font format and specification will be
saved on disk.
The user is then given the option to print a grid using the
font information provided. If you choose to do so, position the
paper on the printer, press "Y" followed by [RETURN]. Refer to
{PAPER POSITIONING} Section in current manual.


GRID PRINTING & COORDINATE DETERMINATION
Grid can be printed after a font has been created or by
selecting "Print Grid" option from the Main menu. Grids can be
printed in two different ways. The first consists of printing the
grid on transparent paper. The transparent sheet can be placed on
top of any form to be filled and coordinates can be determined
and entered into the computer. The transparent paper can be used
as a template to create any other form without having to reprint
a new grid. Each created font should have a matching grid and
vice versa.
The second option consist of printing the grid on a COPY of
the form to be filled and then to determine the appropriate
coordinates. This option is less flexible in that at least 2
forms are needed to create a template and print one form but at
the same time, offers an easy way of determining coordinates.
Grid format can be controlled from the "Configuration" menu.
The grid option consist of a string of 2 characters (i.e.: "..",
{}). The default ".." can be changed to any 2 ASCII Characters
ranging from 1 to 255 by directly entering the actual characters
string (i.e.:[]) or indirectly, by placing an exclamation point
followed by the first ASCII code, a "+" and the second ASCII Code
(i.e.:"!192+217" --> This string will be translated into {}). A
list of ASCII character can be found in your DOS manual.
Grid Format: (Grid Format String: "..")

The following a sample grid:

A.......B........C........D........E........F........G........H..
12345678912345678912345678912345678912345678912345678912345678912
A1...............................................................
A2...............................................................
A3...............................................................
A4..................x............................................
A5...............................................................
A6...............................................................
A7...............................................................
The above "x" has the following coordinates: C3A4
The coordinate format is xy where x is the horizontal axis and y
is the vertical axis.



PAPER POSITIONING
It is extremely important that paper positioning be uniform.
Paper should be positioned in exactly the same way when printing
the grid and printing the form, otherwise, output will be
misprinted on the form.
Various printers have automatic paper positioning. Users
equipped with such hardware will be able to achieve precise
printing tasks.

CREATING FORM TEMPLATE
To create a form template, select appropriate option from
main menu. User must enter the name of the form. You will then be
given the option to link the form to an ASCII or DBase III file:

- ASCII File
If you select this option, the program
will read all the data (Carriage return
separated) from the ASCII file and store them
in the form file. The user can then place the
appropriate coordinates next to the data to
be printed on the form. An example would be
when trying to fill job or school
application, all data can be placed in the
ASCII file and then a template can be created
for each of the different applications
without having to enter the DATA each
different time.

-DBASE III
This option will read the different
fields from a Dbase III header file. The user
should then define the coordinates for the
desired fields. Next, the user will then be
prompted to select the index field which will
be used to read records from the index file.
If for example you have a database containing
names and addresses, the index field should
be the "last name" field.
A field can be printed more than once by
simply entering the field number enclosed by
the "@" character (.i.e.:"@[email protected]" to use field
#2) in any available slot in the form
template. FillIt! supports up to 100 slots
per form template. (This number will be
greatly increased in future releases). When a
DBASE III linked form template is printed,
FillIt! will read all the records found in
the database and then will then prompt the
user to select the desired record to be
printed. This release of FillIt! can only
read up to 300 entries. This can be a useful
option when printing addresses on envelopes,
to fill out receipts, fill out insurance
claim forms, etc...

If a data string or a field is not
assigned a valid coordinate, it will be
ignored by the program and will not be saved
in the form template. The form template will
be saved on disk and can be used any time in
the future. It is important to remember that
prior to printing any form, a template must
be created. However, once this is done, the
template can be used to print an unlimited
number of forms from which the template was
created.


COLORS
FillIt! colors can be changed using the configuration
option. The following is a list of color codes to be used to
perform this task:

Foreground + Background Foreground Only
==================================================
Black =0 Gray =8
Blue =1 Light Blue =9
Green =2 Light Green =10
Cyan =3 Light Cyan =11
Red =4 Light Red =12
Magenta =5 Light Magenta =13
Brown =6 Yellow =14
White =7 High Intensity =15
===================================================
Foreground, background, text foreground, border foreground,
border background, highlight foreground, highlight background
colors can be modified.



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
- Share Your Templates
It would be highly appreciated if template(s) created for
popular forms be uploaded to your local bulletin board and
distributed to various other BBS around the country. This will
provide ALL FillIt! Users with a huge array of templates and
thus, better variety. Your input will insure the continued
success of this package.
- Reporting Problems
To report any bugs or problems encountered while using
FillIt!, please call the DATA BIT BBS at (703) 719-9648 and leave
a message to Alain Hanash or write to the following address:
Alain Hanash
Project: Fill-It!
6845 Elm Street - Suite #603
Mclean, VA 22101

- Comments
The author appreciate any comments you have to offer
concerning this program. Comments can include:
- Future options to be added
- What you like about the program
- What you don't like

FINAL NOTES
If you like FillIt! then please register it. Registration
fee is of $25.00 and will entitle you to the following:
- Next Major Release Free (by Mail or BBS)
- 24hr access (through BBS) to the most current update of
FillIt! with reported bugs Fixed
- Unlimited BBS Support (Messages)

and most importantly, you will be supporting the "SHAREWARE"
concept.
To register, type "REGISTER" from DOS. FillIt! will print the
registration. Reposition the registration form/paper correctly,
select the "Print Form" option from the Main menu, chose
REGISTER.FRM, enter the correct Data, press [ENTER] to print.


* DBASE III is a trademark of Ashton-Tate Corporation.