F A X M A N A G E R
version 1.20

Copyright 1990 - 1992 by Frank Cox
All Rights Reserved

OVERVIEW

FAX MANAGER prints FAX cover sheets, and maintains a database of the
names and FAX numbers of the people that you send FAXES to on a regular
basis.

A FAX cover sheet is the first sheet of paper transmitted when you
send someone a FAX. It states the name and address of the sender, the name
of the recipient, the number of sheets to follow the cover page, the date
and time the FAX was sent, and a telephone number for the recipient to call
if he doesn't receive the entire FAX in good condition (due to telephone
line noise or whatever). In addition, FAX MANAGER allows you to include a
short message (up to twenty lines long) on the cover sheet. In some cases,
a FAX MANAGER cover sheet is the only page you need to send.

FAX MANAGER can maintain a list of names and FAX phone numbers, so you
don't have to try to keep and update a "FAX address book" on paper.

If you wish, FAX MANAGER can also print out a stack of "blank" cover
sheets for later use.

REQUIREMENTS

FAX MANAGER runs on an MS-DOS or PC-DOS computer running DOS 3.x or
higher with either a colour or monochrome screen and at least one floppy
disk drive. A printer is also required. FAX MANAGER has the configuration
for HPII Laser Printers, Epson (or compatible) printers, IBM Proprinters,
Toshiba printers, Star NX-2400 printers, and Tandy printers built in.
Other printer types can be installed by the user.

OPERATION

To start FAX MANAGER, just type FM at the DOS prompt.

Configuration

Before you can use it, FAX MANAGER must be configured. Configuration
information is stored in the EXE file. If FAX MANAGER hasn't been
configured, it will automatically go to the Configuration screen. You can
enter the name and address of the sender, and the relevant telephone
numbers here. Hit the key when done. FAX MANAGER will not allow you
to exit until all required fields are entered on this screen.

The next screen allows you tell FAX MANAGER what type of printer you
have. First, you are shown a list of printer types and asked to pick one
of them by number. If you have one of the listed printers, just select the
appropriate number and the required configuration will be automatically
entered on the screen. If you do not have one of the listed printers,
select one of them anyway. The program will then allow you to customize
the printer configuration. (See the paragraph following regarding Laser
Printers.)

If you have one of the listed printers, under most circumstances you
are done with the configuration at this point and may hit the key to
exit this screen. (Note: I have found that some Epson-compatible printers
do not include the "Double-High" capability. If you have one of these
printers that does not include this capability, just re-type the Double
High On field to the same as the Double Wide ON field, and re-type Double
High Off to the same as Double Wide Off. If the printed cover sheet looks
a bit strange - if the top line isn't properly centered - you must change
these fields as specified here.)

If you do not have one of the listed printers, you will have to enter
your printer configuration yourself. Look up the codes specified on the
screen (Double Wide on/off, Double High on/off, Underline on/off, NLQ mode
on, and Printer Reset). The numbers are entered in decimal format, with
one space separating one number from another. FAX MANAGER will insist on
at least one number being entered in each field - if your printer does not
include one of the listed capabilities (such as Double High), you may have
to experiment a bit using some of the capabilities that your printer does
have in place of some of the listed fields. (Incidentally, if you have a
printer that is not directly supported by FAX MANAGER and you configure it
manually in this manner I would appreciate it if you would send me a copy
of the numbers that you use for each field. This way, I will be able to
include your printer type in the next release of FAX MANAGER.)

LASER PRINTER? (Y/N): Note that one of the fields in the Printer
Configuration Screen is "Laser Printer? (Y/N)". If this option is set to
"N" then cover sheets are printed on a 66-line page, and the double-wide
characters are centered over a 40-character line length. This is the
correct setting for most dot matrix printers that can print double-wide
characters. If this option is set to "Y", then cover sheets are printed on
a 60-line page, and all characters, including those supposedly double-wide,
are centered over an 80-character line length. This is the correct setting
for laser and inkjet printers that can not print double-wide characters in
the same manner as a dot matrix printer can. The HPII Laser Printer
setting listed on the Printer Configuration Menu substitutes bold-face
printing for what would be printed using double-wide characters on a dot
matrix printer.

Hit to exit the printer configuration screen. FAX MANAGER will
ask if you want to save the configuration. If you answer "Y", the current
settings specified on the configuration screens will be saved and will
become the default settings the next time FAX MANAGER is loaded. If you
answer "N", the current settings will not be saved. However, the current
settings will be used for the remainder of the present session regardless
of whether you specify "Y" or "N", and will remain in effect until you exit
the program or re-configure it again.

As mentioned above, the Configuration section is automatically
selected only if the program has not been previously configured. You may
re-configure the program at any time by selecting the Config menu option at
the main program screen.

Entering Data

Enter data into the configuration screens and the main program screen
by simply typing it in. Move around between fields with the tab key, the
return key, or the up and down arrow keys. Move around within a field with
the left and right arrow keys, the backspace key, or the delete key. An
insert mode has also been built in - hit the INS key to toggle insert on
and off within each field. The size of the cursor will increase when
insert mode is on.

FAX MANAGER attempts to act in a semi-"intelligent" manner when it
comes to entering data. For example, only numbers, parenthesis and dashes
will be accepted for input into the telephone number fields; letters will
be rejected.

A note about telephone number format: Previous versions of FAX
MANAGER were designed to work with the 3-3-4 North American telephone
number format only, i.e. (123)456-7890. I have received numerous requests
to make this format more flexible and allow for internation telephone
numbers that may include more or less digits than the North American
standard. Therefore, this version of the program will accept telephone
numbers in any format you choose, up to twenty digits. I decided to throw
a bit of a twist in here to keep things easier for North American users -
if a telephone number contains ten digits FAX MANAGER will automatically
re-format the number to the 3-3-4 format, i.e the parenthesis and the dash
will be plugged into the telephone number for you. Therefore, if you enter
a number like 1234567890 into any of the telephone number fields, the
program will change it to (123)463-7890. Hopefully this will save a bit of
typing for North American users and it should not inconvenience anyone else
as FAX MANAGER will simply leave a telephone number in the format you
entered it in when the number contains more or less than ten digits.

Selecting Items From the Menu

After configuration, FAX MANAGER will take you to the main program
screen. Here you may enter the information that you want printed on your
FAX cover sheets (name of recipient, etc.) or select other options from the
menu.

Move back and forth between the menu and the main program screen by
hitting the key. Hit once, and you will be at the main menu.
Hit again, and you will be back on the main program screen.

You move around the main menu by hitting either the first letter of
the option you want to select (i.e. "P" for Print FAX) or by moving the
highlight with the arrow keys, space bar, or tab key and hitting the return
key on the option you want to select.

Main Program Screen

Here you may enter the name of the recipient of your FAX and other
relevant data.

To print "blank" FAX cover sheets which you can fill in with a pen
(the old-fashioned way) later, do not enter any data on the main program
screen.

Enter/Edit Message

This is a simple message editor that will allow you to enter a message
of up to twenty lines which will be printed on the bottom of your FAX cover
sheet. Use the arrow keys, the backspace and delete keys, and return to
move around the screen. Hold down the ALT key and hit C to clear all
message text currently entered. If there is a default message present as
described in the following paragraphs, you will be asked if you want to
clear all the message text, i.e. blank the whole thing, or keep the default
message text.

In response to several requests, I have added an insert mode to the
message editor. Hit the INS key to toggle insert on and off - an indicator
will show at the bottom of the screen when insert mode is on.

Hitting the return key in the middle of a line will "break" the line
at that point and move the text to the right of the cursor down one line.

Note that "pushing" text off of the bottom of the screen (past the end
of the message editor, line 20), either with the insert mode or through use
of the return key as described above, will result in loss of the text that
gets pushed off of the screen.

Hold the CTRL key and hit Y to delete an entire line. The text below
the cursor will move up one line.

The message editor is not intended to be a full-fledged word
processor, but it should be adequate for any short messages you wish to
send.

You can create a default message, which will always be included on
your cover sheets. Simply write the message you want to save as a default
using the message editor, then hold down the ALT key and hit S to save the
default message text. From here on, whatever you typed will become the
default message on any cover sheets you print. However, the default
message will NOT be included on any FAX cover sheets you retrieve via the
Load FAX option unless the message was included when the cover sheet was
originally saved. (The reason for this is fairly obvious - you may have a
different message saved with the cover sheet and you don't want to over-
write it. You can, of course, retrieve the default message simply by
clearing the existing one using ALT-C as described above.)

The default message may be changed at any time by simply re-saving it
using the ALT-S key combination described. ALT-D will allow you to delete
the default message if you decide you no longer want a default message.

Hit to exit from this screen and return to the main menu.

Print FAX

This option allows you to print the FAX cover sheet. This will work
in one of two ways. If any data has been entered on the main program
screen, FAX MANAGER will verify that the required fields are present. This
means that data must be entered in all fields on the main program screen
excepting only the Attention: field which is optional. If no data has been
entered on the main program screen, FAX MANAGER will ask how many copies of
a "blank" FAX cover sheet should be printed.

At this point, provided the printer is turned on and has paper in it
and so forth, the FAX cover sheet should be printed. The data, if any,
currently on the main program screen will be included on the FAX cover, and
the current date and time will be automatically printed in the appropriate
location on the cover sheet as well. Any message currently entered into
the message editor will be printed on the bottom of the cover sheet.

Note that when printing "blank" cover sheets, a space will be left for
you to manually fill in the date and time on the cover sheet. Also, any
message entered into the message editor will still be included on the
"blank" cover sheets. This feature may or may not be useful to you.

Load FAX

This option allows you to load the name and FAX number of a person or
company which you have previously saved (using the Save FAX menu option).
Fields loaded include the recipient name, the attention line (if any), the
recipient's FAX telephone number, sender's name, number of pages sent, and
the message, if any.

The names of all currently saved recipients will be displayed in
alphabetical order on the screen when the Load FAX option is selected.
Move the highlight around with the arrow keys, and hit return on the name
you want to load. At this point, you must answer some questions regarding
whether you want to keep the existing message and so forth, but they should
be self-explanatory and should be easier to use than to explain here.

This screen also allows you to delete unwanted or no longer needed
recipients from the database. Hit the D key on the name you want to delete
- the program will confirm that you really want to delete the entry, and it
will be removed from the list.

Save FAX

This option allows you to save the name and FAX number currently
entered in the main program screen. Fields saved include the recipient
name, the attention line (if any), the recipient's FAX telephone number,
sender's name, number of pages sent, and the message, if any.

Previous versions of FAX Manager would allow you to save up to forty
names in the database. This limitation no longer exists. You can save
"lots" of names in the database now, limited only by available disk space
and memory. You can delete some names from the database if required by
using the delete option described above under the Load FAX heading.

FAX Directory

This prints out a listing of all the names and FAX telephone numbers
currently in the database. You may want to post it beside your FAX
machine. You can also print the directory to the screen, if you wish.

Config

This selects the configuration options which are explained above under
Configuration.

Quit

When this option is selected, FAX MANAGER exits back to the DOS
prompt.

FILES

FAX MANAGER stores its configuration information (name of sender,
etc.) right inside of the main program file. So what, you may ask. Well,
this means that you may, if you wish, have multiple copies of the FM.EXE
file on your disk under different names, each of which has its own
configuration. For example, if I were to make a copy of FM.EXE called
FM2.EXE, I could then fire up FM2 and have it set for a completely
different company or person as the sender.

FAX MANAGER also creates a file (or two) on disk for its own use. To
facilitate use of the program by multiple people, the name of the database
file which contains the names and FAX telephone numbers in the database is
derived from the name of the program file, with one exception listed below
under COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS. FM.EXE will create a file called FM.DAT
which will hold the FAX database. FM2.EXE will create a file called
FM2.DAT, FRED.EXE will create FRED.DAT and so forth.

The default message text, if any, is stored under the name of the
program file with a .MSG extension. In other words, FM.EXE will create a
file called FM.MSG to hold the default message text, FM2.EXE will create
FM2.MSG, etc.

FAX MANAGER always stores its database file and default message text
in the directory in which the program file is stored. FAX MANAGER searches
the MS-DOS environment to find the location of the executable, so you can
have the program along your path, in a different directory, or wherever you
wish - as long as the database file and default message text (if any) is in
the same directory as the program, FAX MANAGER can find it.

CONVERT.EXE

FAX MANAGER 1.10 DATABASE FILES ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH DATABASE FILES
CREATED BY PREVIOUS VERSION OF FAX MANAGER! As the amount of information
stored in the database has been increased to include the message and the
name of sender and what-not, the structure of the database file has
changed. Therefore, attempting to use FAX MANAGER 1.20 with a previous
database will cause the program to crash.

To address this problem, I have written a little conversion program
called, amazingly enough, CONVERT. CONVERT will update a FAX MANAGER 1.10
database file to the new format required by FAX MANAGER 1.20. Therefore,
if you have been using FAX MANAGER 1.10 you can simply update your database
files and avoid having to type all of your data back in.

To use CONVERT, change to the directory where your FAX MANAGER
database files are stored and type CONVERT FILENAME where FILENAME is the
name of the FAX MANAGER database file that you wish to convert. Therefore,
CONVERT FM will convert a database file called FM.DAT to the new format,
CONVERT FRED will convert a database file called FRED.DAT to the new
format.

CONVERT serves no purpose other than that of updating a FAX MANAGER
1.10 database file to work with FAX MANAGER 1.20. Therefore, after
updating your previous database files, you can throw CONVERT.EXE away. Of
course, if you have not been using a previous version of FAX MANAGER then
this whole thing does not apply to you and you can delete CONVERT.EXE and
ignore this section altogether.

COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS

You can change the name of the database file which FAX MANAGER will
load and use by specifying its name on the command line that you use to
fire up FAX MANAGER. For example, if FAX MANAGER is called the default
name FM.EXE, you can give the command:

FM DATA

and FAX MANAGER will use the database file called DATA.DAT instead of
FM.DAT. As described under the FILES heading above, FAX MANAGER would
otherwise use FM.DAT automatically if we had simply cranked up the program
by giving the command FM with no argument.

In any event, the database file must still be located in the directory
in which the FAX MANAGER program itself resides! If the FAX MANAGER is in

the directory C:\FM>, you can't have a database file in C:\DATA>! Call
your data files what you wish, but put them in the proper directory or FAX
MANAGER won't find them. Actually, you don't really have to worry about
this, as FAX MANAGER will automatically put all files where they are
supposed to be. As long as you don't move them around between directories,
you have nothing to worry about. If you re-arrange your directories, just
be sure that the FAX MANAGER database files go along with the FAX MANAGER
program, and you have no problem. (Note: DON'T CONFUSE THIS WITH ANY TYPE
OF COPY PROTECTION! FAX MANAGER is NOT copy protected in any way, and you
may freely distribute it to anyone you wish for that person to try out
himself.)

The command line argument RESET will de-configure (un-configure?) the
FAX MANAGER program, blanking out all of the sender fields, printer type
selected, and so forth. The next time the program is fired up, it will
automatically go to the configuration screen. You may want to give the
command:

FM RESET

before giving FAX MANAGER away to someone else, so that they will receive a
"clean" copy in the same condition that you received it in.

EXECUTABLE FILE COMPRESSION PROGRAMS

There are a few programs around which will compress a program file so
that it will take up less of your valuable disk real estate but still run
in the same manner as it did when it was un-compressed. The ones I am
familiar with are called PKLITE, LZEXE, DIET and TINYPROG. All of these
programs do much the same job with varying degrees of efficiency.

As FAX MANAGER stores its configuration in its EXE file, you can not
save the configuration if you have compressed FAX MANAGER with one of these
programs or a similar program. This means that if you use an executable
file compression program to compress FAX MANAGER, you should still keep an
un-compressed copy of FAX MANAGER around in case you want to re-configure
it.

FAX MANAGER will work fine after being compressed with one of these
programs, other than that you can't re-configure it and save the
configuration. You can still change the configuration for the current
session.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FAX MANAGER would not have been possible without the comments and
testing by Tony Phillips of Akron, Ohio and Chris O'Neill of Winnipeg,
Manitoba. Thanks are also due to Robert Swift of Estevan, Saskatchewan for
the wording of the copyright, warranty and distribution sections of this
documentation. Also, thanks to the clerical staff of the Town of
Kindersley Administration Office (Nancy, Denise, Linda and the two
Bonnie's) who found themselves running various test versions of this
software throughout its development, and to Phil at the swimming pool for
"making darn sure" that I didn't release another FAX MANAGER without
including a utility to convert a previous database file to the new format.

Thanks to Ken Wecter ("The Computer Doctor") of Fresno, California for
providing the information needed to get FAX Manager to work with a laser
printer.

Users of this program have also provided much input into its
development. If you sent in a suggestion, you may find that it has been
incorporated into this version of FAX Manager. Actually, this program has
become much larger and more full-featured than I had originally intended it
to be. But who's complaining, right?

COPYRIGHT

The FAX MANAGER program is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by
Frank Cox.

THIS IS NOT FREE SOFTWARE! If you paid a "public domain" vendor
for this program, you paid for the service of copying the program, and not
for the program itself. Rest assured that nothing ever gets to the author
of this product from such a sale. You may evaluate this product, but if
you make use of it beyond a reasonable trial period, you must register your
copy.

FAX MANAGER is fully functional in an unregistered state. It is not
"crippled" in any way.

WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER

The author makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the
quality or performance of this program. The author will not be held liable
for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting
from the use of this program. Your use of this program constitutes your
agreement to this disclaimer and your release of the author from any form
of liability or litigation.

DISTRIBUTION

This is "user-supported" software. You are hereby granted a license
to distribute this copy of FAX MANAGER and its documentation, subject to
the following conditions:

1. FAX MANAGER may be distributed freely without charge in
evaluation form only.

2. FAX MANAGER may not be sold, licensed, or a fee charged for its
use. If a fee is charged in connection with FAX MANAGER, it must cover
the cost of copying or dissemination only. Such charges must be clearly
identified as such by the originating party. Under no circumstances may
the purchaser be given the impression that they are buying FAX MANAGER
itself.

3. FAX MANAGER must be presented as a complete unit, including this
documentation. Neither FAX MANAGER nor its documentation may be amended or
altered in any way.

4. By granting you the right to distribute the evaluation form of
FAX MANAGER, you do not become the owner of FAX MANAGER in any form.

Any other use, distribution or representation of FAX MANAGER is
expressly forbidden without the written consent of Frank Cox.
REGISTRATION

Registering FAX MANAGER allows you to use the product after the trial
period. Registered FAX MANAGER users will be notified of future updates to
FAX MANAGER. Most importantly, registered users know they are helping to
make sure that high-quality software like FAX MANAGER continues to be sold
in this low-cost way.

FAX MANAGER registration costs $20. Payment may be in the form of check or
money order in Canadian currency if in Canada, or by US or international
money order in US currency elsewhere. Payment should be made out to:


Frank Cox
P. O. Box 2694
Kindersley, Saskatchewan
Canada S0L 1S0

COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, BUGS??

Any comments, suggestions for future enhancements or bug reports
should be sent to the author at the above address. If you have worked out
a setup for a different printer not currently directly supported by FAX
MANAGER, I would appreciate it if you would send it to me. Future versions
of FAX MANAGER may include direct support for more printers if I know what
their setup is.

As noted above, FAX Manager development is largely user driven. If
you have a idea for a feature you would like to see in FAX Manager, send it
to me and I'll see what I can do for you. I might not be able to
accommodate everything that everyone wants, but I'll certainly do my best
to keep FAX Manager development moving along if the demand is there.

You can also send me Fidonet or Internet mail, or call my BBS if you
wish.

THE BIG ELECTRIC CAT, (306)463-3117 or (306)463-4681, 23 hours a day,
7 days a week. Just leave a message for the Sysop.
Fidonet address 1:140/53
Internet address [email protected]

HISTORY:

Version 1.0 released January 1, 1991. Initial release.

Version 1.0d released September 11, 1991. FAX MANAGER now stores its
configuration within its EXE file. Added support for Toshiba and Star NX-
2400 printers. Added support for multiple database files, called by either
command line argument or varied program name. Fixed a bug where the
allowed field for the "Attention:" line was two characters too long (it
over-ran the edge of the paper if you filled the field completely). The
Load FAX command now returns you to the data entry screen rather than the
menu bar. FAX MANAGER can now find itself on disk - you don't have to be
in the directory where the program resides, you can have it along your path
or wherever.

Version 1.10 released January 1, 1992. Fixed a bug where the
Directory function quit working in version 1.10d. (Shucks, there's always
one more thing.) The Directory can now be printed to the screen, if you
wish. Added support for HPII Laser Printers. Added support for default
message text. The program now saves "everything" in the database,
including the message text, the name of the sender, and whatever else.
Added error checking to the printing routine so it will trap an "out of
paper" error in the middle of a page. Removed the 40-record limit from the
database - it can now grow as large as available memory and disk space
allow.

Version 1.20 (this one) released November 26, 1992. Added an insert
mode to the message editor and the data entry screens. Added support for
"international" telephone numbers. Fixed the HPII Laser Printer
configuration so it won't print extraneous "happy faces" any more. (Funny
thing about that, the previous configuration worked fine on a so-called "HP
Compatible" Panasonic laser, but printed "happy faces" on a genuine HPIIID
Laser Printer.) Fine tuned a bunch of stuff, and made it work a bit better
and faster. As this is Canada's 125th birthday year, added the "Proudly
Canadian" log-out screen for colour monitors. Wrote the CONVERT.EXE
program to allow for updating version 1.10 database files to work with the
current version.