VOLTAG





Version 2.13

August 2, 1990





3.5" Diskette Labeler




















Contech Systems
P.O. Box 87542
Canton, MI 48187



1



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table Of Contents .........................................1
Introduction ..............................................2
Requirements ..............................................2
Registration ..............................................2
Disclaimer ................................................3
Registration Form .........................................4
Operation .................................................5
Menu Bar Commands .........................................5
Title .................................................5
Lib Ref ...............................................6
Read ..................................................6
Print .................................................6
Options ...............................................6
Show File Names ...................................6
Title/vol Id ......................................6
Lib Ref/vol Id ....................................6
Bar Fill Type .....................................6
Convert Under Bars ................................7
Ibm Graphics ......................................7
Use/no Priority Extension .........................7
Change Aspect .....................................7
1920 Mode Chr .....................................7
Drive .................................................7
Commands ..............................................7
Load Config .......................................7
Save Config .......................................8
Set Vol Id ........................................8
Microfeed .........................................8
Set Extensions ....................................8
Set Colors ........................................8
Align Label .......................................8
Exiting Voltag ............................................8
Configuration Files .......................................9
Labels ....................................................9



2


INTRODUCTION

VOLTAG is an application for printing informative, eye-
pleasing labels for 3.5" diskettes. It includes such
features as:

* VOLTAG graphically displays the amount of free
space left on each diskette

* User definable `priority extensions', the ability
to specify that files with specific extensions
(ZIP, EXE, COM...) be printed before others.

* Full Mouse support - all VOLTAG commands can be
accessed through use of the mouse

* Up to 63 file names can be displayed on each label

* Either the diskette title or the volume label
(your choice) is printed along the "spine" of the
label for easy identification of boxed or stacked
diskettes

* User-definable configuration files for default
settings

* Support for IBM graphics characters, if desired


REQUIREMENTS

VOLTAG requires 128K of available RAM, DOS 3.0 or higher,
and an IBM Graphics printer, Epson graphics printer, or
true compatible. Support for a mouse is included.


REGISTRATION

VOLTAG is distributed and marketed under the Shareware
concept. You may freely distribute copies of VOLTAG, as
long as it is in the original, unmodified form. It may not,
however, be bundled with other software packages without
prior written permission from Contech Systems.



3


You may freely use VOLTAG for a reasonable evaluation period
not to exceed thirty days. If you find it useful and
continue to use it after the evaluation period, you are
required to pay a registration fee of $12. Your
registration entitles you to product support and future
upgrades. To register, simply print and complete the
registration form included with VOLTAG (in this file),
enclose check or money order payable to Contech Systems,
and send to:

Contech Systems
P.O. Box 87542
Canton, MI 48187
ATTN: VOLTAG Registration

If you have any problems in executing VOLTAG, please contact
us at the above address, or through CompuServe EasyPlex mail
(ID 73477,2536). Although we cannot offer full product
support unless registered, we also cannot expect someone to
register if they cannot get the program to work at all!


DISCLAIMER

Under no circumstances shall Contech Systems or its
suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever, including
but not limited to loss of business profits or information,
business interruption, or any other loss arising out of the
use or inability to use this software product.



4


Voltag 2.13 Registration Form

Please complete the following form and send it to:

Contech Systems
P.O. Box 87542
Canton, MI 48187
ATTN: VOLTAG Registration

Name :___________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
City :_________________________ State:_____ Zip:________

Please check what applies:

____ Register me for one copy of VOLTAG. Enclosed is a
check or money order for $12.00.

____ Please send me site license information.

(How many computers ____)

Optional Information:

Computer Model:_____________________________________________

Video Type:______ Disk Drive Types:________________________

Operating System:__________ Operating Environment:__________

Languages used:_____________________________________________

This software will be used for: Home:_______ Business:______

I acquired this software from: (if BBS, please specify)

____________________________________________________________

Please use the following space for comments or suggestions

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________



5


OPERATION

To start, simply enter "VOLTAG" from the disk and directory
that contains the VOLTAG.EXE file. Read the opening screen
and press a key. You will then see the VOLTAG screen, which
consists of four areas as shown in Figure 1.



MENU BAR



DISKETTE
STATUS DISK
BOX

DIRECTORY BOX



OPTIONS
BOX





Figure 1

When first started, the directory box will be empty, and the
options box will contain the default VOLTAG options unless
you have modified them (see Configuration Files, below).
The diskette status box will also contain blanks instead of
diskette information.


MENU BAR COMMANDS

The Menu Bar at the top of the screen is where all commands
for VOLTAG are executed. To execute a command, simply
highlight it (either by using the arrow keys, or the mouse),
and press enter (or left-click). Note that when certain
commands are highlighted, a menu box of additional options
appears. To highlight these additional options, simply use
the up and down arrow keys or move the mouse.

The Menu Bar commands perform the following functions:

Title

The TITLE command allows you to assign the diskette a title
of up to 25 characters. This title will then be printed
along the diskette label spine, and in larger letters along



6


the top of the front edge of the diskette (if Title is
active - see Title/Vol Id under Options below).

Lib Ref

This allows you to specify a library reference name of up to
eight characters. This name will then be printed along the
spine of the label, with any other information such as Title
or Volume ID.

Read

The READ command tells VOLTAG to read the directory of the
diskette in the currently active diskette drive. The
currently active diskette drive is indicated in the Options
Box. The directory is then listed in the Directory Box (as
space allows).

Print

This command causes a diskette label to be printed.

Options

This menu item consists of the following commands:

Show File Names

This command toggles the directory box display. If it is
activated, the directory last READ will be shown here, and
the file names will be printed on the label. If
deactivated, no names are shown and none are printed.

Title/Vol Id

Selecting this command toggles VOLTAG between printing the
Title (assigned with the TITLE command, explained earlier),
or printing the diskette's volume id.

Lib Ref/Vol Id

Selecting this command toggles VOLTAG between printing the
Library Reference (described above) or the diskette's volume
id.

Bar Fill Type

When the label is printed, VOLTAG prints a small bar graph
on the top of the label displaying the amount of free space
on the diskette (which, when the label is applied to the
diskette, will be on the BACK of the diskette). This
command toggles what style of bar graph is printed; solid
black or with slash marks.



7


Convert Under Bars

Often, diskette volume ids contain underbars (_) characters.
If this option is activated, these characters are replaced
by spaces when the diskette label is printed.

IBM Graphics

Selecting this command toggles whether standard keyboard
characters are used to separate parts of the label, or IBM
graphics characters. Use of the IBM Graphics characters
makes for a nicer label, if your printer has such
capability.

Use/No Priority Extension

This toggles VOLTAG between sorting files based on the
selections made with SET EXTENSIONS or alphabetically

Change Aspect

If your printer is not 100% compatible with IBM but uses ESC
3 to set variable line spacing, this feature will adjust
VOLTAG's operation to accommodate. If you print a label and
it is longer than the label, check your printer manual for
an ESC 3 code. If it has a value different than IBM's 216th
of an inch (sometimes 140 or 180), enter the value listed
and be sure to save your configuration.

1920 Mode Chr

Using this will allow VOLTAG to accommodate printers using a
different ESC code to print quad-density (240 dots per
inch). If your bar graph does not print correctly, look up
the quad-density code in your printer manual and enter the
character. For example, IBM uses ESC Z but some printers
use ESC z.

Drive

This command allows you to select which drive to make
currently active.

Commands

This option consists of the following commands:

Load Config

This allows you to load a configuration file. For more
information, see CONFIGURATION FILES, below.



8


Save Config

This commands saves a modified configuration file. For more
information, see CONFIGURATION FILES, below.

Set Vol Id

This allows you to assign a volume id to a diskette.

Microfeed

Each selection of this command advances the labels in the
printer by 3/216ths of an inch. This can be of use in
aligning the labels.

Set Extensions

This allows you to define what extensions should be given
priority when sorted. This is handy when a couple
executable files are nestled in with a bunch of data files.
Defining EXE and COM as priority extensions would list them
first on the label followed by a alphabetical listing of the
remaining files.

Set Colors

This command allows you to alter the screen and text colors
of VOLTAG.

Align Label

This feature is provided to help you load your labels into
your printer. First load your labels close to where you
think the need to be. Then select PRINT PATTERN, the upper
left corner of a box will be printed. if the pattern is too
far down the label (more than about 2mm) you will have to
roll the platen back by hand. (Remember with most printers
the power should be OFF when turning the platen knob.) If
the pattern is not far enough down the label, select
MICROFEED and try PRINT PATTERN again. Also adjust your
tractors side to side. The pattern should be about 4mm from
the left edge of the label. Once the proper alignment is
achieved, select NEXT LABEL. This will feed the label to
the beginning of the next one automatically, if it feeds to
far, check your feed aspect (CHANGE ASPECT).


EXITING VOLTAG

To exit VOLTAG, press either the escape key, or Right-Click.
You will be prompted as to whether you really wish to exit.
If 'Y' is entered, the program will exit to DOS.



9


CONFIGURATION FILES

When VOLTAG is activated, it looks in the current directory
for a file named VOLTAG.CFG. Failure to find this file in
the current directory causes VOLTAG to search in the
directory in which it was executed from (i.e. the directory
containing VOLTAG.EXE). If this file is found, it is loaded
and VOLTAG executes using the information within the file.
If no such file is found, VOLTAG will utilize its built-in
defaults. If you do not like the VOLTAG default settings,
you may specify your own. Simply change any of the settings
described in the MENU BAR COMMANDS section above, and
execute the command SAVE CONFIG. You will be prompted for a
file name. If you want VOLTAG to always start with the
defaults you specified, enter VOLTAG.CFG as the filename.
Also, as stated above, make sure this configuration file is
located in the directory that contains VOLTAG.EXE, or is in
the directory from which you start VOLTAG. You may enter
any other name for the configuration file if you prefer;
note, however, that these defaults will not be used the next
time you execute VOLTAG, unless you execute the LOAD CONFIG
command and specify the name of the file.


LABELS

VOLTAG is designed to use standard, one-per-column labels
for 3.5" diskettes. The actual measurement of such labels
is 2-3/4" X 2-3/4". These labels are available in small
quantities from most major software and computer supply
chains, and in larger quantities (usually at much better
prices) from mail-order computer supply companies.