LEARN-A-FORM Version 1.0
(C)Copyright 1989, Software Hut
All Rights Reserved











LICENSE AGREEMENT

This program is distributed "as is", without guarantee or warranty
of any kind. Furthermore, Software Hut and its author do not
warrant or guarantee the accuracy, the use, or the results of the
use of this program or its associated documentation. All warranties
are disclaimed.

Software Hut grants you permission to evaluate, use, reproduce,
and distribute this "shareware" version of the "LEARN-A-FORM" Utility
and its associated documentation on the express condition that this
program and associated files remain in their original state. It is
not permitted to modify, or change in any way, the files associated
with this software package nor is it permissible to receive any payment,
or benefit from, the reproduction or distribution of this software or
its documentation. The rights to modify this product or its components,
are reserved exclusively by Software Hut. After evaluating the
"LEARN-A-FORM" Utility and you find it to be useful, a required fee of
$49.95 will become payable and due. Please fill out and return the
registration form found at the end of this document. As a Registered
User of this program, you are entitled to unlimited support. Future
updates and enhancements, as they become available, may be ordered for
a small charge for shipping and handling. All comments and suggestions
for enhancements will be considered and greatly appreciated.

LEARN-A-FORM Version 1.0
(C)Copyright 1989, Software Hut
All Rights Reserved


INTRODUCTION

The "LEARN-A-FORM" Utility was created to provide a means of filling
out pre-printed forms using a PC and a standard printer. Each form
is 'learned' and stored on disk as a form image file. The data to
be merged with each form is also stored on disk for future printing.
The "LEARN-A-FORM" software package is complete with context sensitive
help to provide the user with a detailed description and usage for
each menu selection. All printers compatable with the standard IBM
Proprinter code sequences may be used.


OPERATION

Select a common directory such as '\forms' to place the archive file
'lrnfrm.arc'. After extracting the files from lrnfrm.arc, print out
the file 'SAMPLE.DOC'. This is a sample form which will be used
as a reference later in this document.
The 'lrnfrm.exe' and 'lrnfrm.hlp' files must be located and executed
in a common directory as suggested above. At the DOS prompt type
LRNFRM and press ENTER (If you are using a monochrome monitor type
LRNFRM /M). The copyright screen should be displayed and then cleared
after which the options menu should then be displayed. The left and
right arrow keys will move the menu selection horizontally while the
up and down arrow keys will move the menu selection vertically. By
pressing the F1 function key at any menu selection will display a help
screen for that particular item. A status line at the bottom of the
screen shows a brief description of the menu items that may be selected.

The form and data files will be stored in the current working directory
by default, but may be located anywhere by use of the 'Directory' menu
option. Using the cursor keys, highlight this menu option. The form and
data files may be stored in separate directories by changing the path
name associated with the 'Forms Directory' or 'Data Directory' selections.
For example, with the 'Forms Directory' highlighted, press ENTER. The
current directory path where all the form image files are stored will be
displayed. If a new path is desired simply type in the complete path
name and press ENTER.

LEARN-A-FORM Version 1.0
(C)Copyright 1989, Software Hut
All Rights Reserved


FORM IMAGE FILE

A form image file may be created in two ways. One is the 'Learn a Form'
menu selection and the other is the 'Edit a Form' selection. Select
the 'Edit a Form' menu item by using the cursor keys to highlight this
option and then press ENTER. Using the sample form as a reference type
in 'sample' and press ENTER. The UP and DOWN arrow keys will advance
to the next entry field, while the PgDn key will advance to the next
field image. Being careful not to change any of the entries, note the
Start X coordinate. It is the measure of the number of spaces from the
left side of the form to the first entry position or the first underscore
character after the label 'Name'. The Start Y coordinate is the measure
of the number of lines from the top of the form to this same point. The
End X position is the end of the input field associated with 'Name' or
the last underscore character. The End Y coordinate remains the same.
Press the PgDn key to advance to the next field image. The next item
is 'Phone Number'. It must be noted that each field on a common line
must be input first before advancing down to the next line. This is
because most printers are unable to feed paper in two directions. Press
PgDn until the label 'Distribution' is shown. Note that the End Y
coordinate is 3 lines greater than the Start Y coordinate. This is because
this data input field contains 4 lines of information. The 'Memo' field
is another example of a multi-line input field. Press 'ESC' to exit this
menu option. To create another form type in the name of the form to create
and press ENTER. If this is a new form, you will be asked to append new
data. Type 'y' at the prompt. The following data entry screen will be
displayed:
Label Number 1: Label ????
Coordinates
Start X= 001 Start Y= 001
End X= 001 End Y= 001

Enter an appropriate label for each field on the form along with its
starting and ending coordinates. To determine where each field falls
on a line and column boundary, a ruler or preferably an overlay may be
used. The top left corner of the form is the reference point for all
measurements. If the first entry field for example is 4 lines down from
the top of the form and 3 spaces in from the left of the form, then the
starting X coordinate would be 3, and the starting Y coordinate would
be 4. Another example is shown in the help screen by pressing F1. Using
the UP and DOWN arrow keys will advance to the next entry field, while
the PgDn key will advance to the next field image.


LEARN-A-FORM Version 1.0
(C)Copyright 1989, Software Hut
All Rights Reserved


The second option for creating a form is the 'Learn a Form' menu selection.
Highlight this option and press ENTER. At the prompt, "Do you wish to
create a form" type 'y'. At the next prompt, type the name of the form you
wish to create and press ENTER. Follow the instructions on the screen and
use the F1 function key for more detailed instructions. Insert a form into
the printer at the desired starting position. Alignment of the form is
critical to insure that each data entry field is on a line and column
boundary. The right and left arrow keys will move the print head right and
left, while the down arrow key will move the print head down a line. The
HOME key is used to return the print head to the home position. The
printer will output an underscore character '_' for each right arrow key
typed and a less than character '<' for each left arrow key typed. These
characters should line up with the field on the form which will later
contain the input data. This method of capturing a form image is much more
difficult and tedious then using the 'Edit A Form' function in conjunction
with an overlay placed on top of the form. Each data entry field should
have a descriptive label associated with it. After the label is entered,
the starting block x and y coordinate will be displayed. Using the arrow
keys as described above, move the print head over the beginning area of
the first field. Press the F10 function key which will display a second
x and y coordinate for the ending block. Again, use the arrow keys to move
the print head over the desired ending position of the data entry field.
Press F4 to save these entries. Continue in this manner until all fields
are stored. If a mistake is made by entering to many line feeds, the form
must be repositioned and the above process repeated. This is because the
form can only move in one direction.


MERGING DATA

After a form image is built or learned, the next objective is to merge
data with each field. To do this, cursor to the MERGE menu selection
and press ENTER. Using the sample form as a reference, type 'sample'
for both the form and data files. Each label field of the form is
displayed as the window title. Pressing F10 will advance to the next data
entry field. Press 'ESC' and exit this option. To enter different data on
this sample form, highlight MERGE and press ENTER. Enter the form you wish
to use, in this case 'sample', followed by the name of the data file to be
merged with this form. Each label field of the form that was created will
be displayed as the window title. Simply type in the desired text and press
the F10 function key which will then advance to the next data entry field.
This menu selection comprises a mini editor, to make text entry and editing
much simpler. The editor commands and functions are detailed in the help
screen by pressing F1.

LEARN-A-FORM Version 1.0
(C)Copyright 1989, Software Hut
All Rights Reserved


PRINTING

To print a form, the type style must be chosen. The available print
styles are STANDARD, COMPRESSED, and NLQ (near letter quality). With the
printer turned on and the sample form loaded and properly aligned in the
printer, highlight the STANDARD style and press ENTER. The command for
this style will be sent to the printer. Next highlight 'PRINT A FORM' and
press ENTER. Type in 'sample' for the form and data file names. The form
will be filled in with all the data that was input during the MERGE
option.



REGISTRATION FORM

As a Registered User of this program, you are entitled to "unlimited
support". Future updates and enhancements, as they become available,
may be ordered for a small charge for shipping and handling. All
comments and suggestions for enhancements will be considered and
greatly appreciated.

This utility limits the user to three forms and three data files only.
If the number of forms and data files is exceeded, a registration
statement will be displayed on the screen. Registered Users will
receive a formal copy of "LEARN-A-FORM" on a 360K Floppy Disk along
with a users manual. This copy of the utility will also allow an
unlimited amount of form and data files to be created.



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LEARN-A-FORM UTILITY REGISTRATION VERSION 1.0

NAME ____________________________________________

STREET ADDRESS ____________________________________________

CITY, STATE ____________________________________________

ZIP ____________________________________________

COMPUSERVE ID. ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
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Please send above registration form and $49.95 to:

SOFTWARE HUT
1118 MOOK STREET
BRANDON, FL. 33510