SideKick

╔═════════════════════════╗ ║ WELCOME TO SIDEKICK FOR ║ ║ PRESENTATION MANAGER ║ ╚═════════════════════════╝ This README file contains important information. Please read this file in its entirety; we hope it will answer any questions you may have. The information in this README supersedes the information in the user's manual. Table of Contents ═════════════════════════════════════════ I. Getting Help II. Application Specifications III. Requirements IV. Common Questions and Answers V. International Issues VI. Corrections to the Manual VII. Files on the Disks VIII. Example Files IX. Table Structures X. Paradox Usage Notes I. Getting Help ═════════════════════════════════════════ Help is available on SideKick for PM from the following sources: 1. Type GO BORAPP on the CompuServe bulletin board system for instant access to the Borland forums with their libraries of technical information and answers to common questions. If you are not a member of CompuServe, see the enclosed special offer, and write for full details on how to receive a free IntroPak containing a $15 credit toward your first month's on-line charges. 2. Check with your local software dealer or users' group. 3. Write to: Borland International SideKick for PM Technical Support 1800 Green Hills Road P.O. Box 660001 Scotts Valley, CA 95066-0001 Please remember to include the serial number of your software, or we will be unable to process your letter. 4. Call the Borland Technical Support Department at (408) 438-5300 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm PST. Please have the following information ready before calling: a. Product name and serial number on your original distribution disk. Please have your serial number ready or we will be unable to process your call. b. Computer brand, model and the brands and model numbers of additional hardware. c. Operating system and version number. (The version number can be determined by typing VER at the OS/2 prompt.) d. Contents of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. e. Contents of your CONFIG.SYS file. II. Application Specifications ══════════════════════════════════════════ Time Planner Maximum 256 appointments per day Phonebook Maximum 2 billion cards Calculator Maximum 15 digit precision Notepad Maximum file size is 64K bytes III. Requirements ══════════════════════════════════════════ Minimum: - AT or 386 compatible computer - 3 Mb RAM (If you have only 3 Mb RAM, you must disable the DOS compatibility box by including the line PROTECTONLY=YES in your CONFIG.SYS) - OS/2 version 1.1 with Presentation Manager - High Density 3.5 or 5.25-inch floppy disk drive - EGA or IBM 8503 adapter and compatible monitor Recommended: - 4Mb RAM or more - Mouse - VGA - IBM 8513 or 8514 monitor IV. Common Questions and Answers ══════════════════════════════════════════ 1. DLL files Q: What is the function of the .DLL files? A: DLL files are libraries of subroutines that can be called from different programs. For example, one of the .DLL files in SideKick for PM is a Paradox .DLL file (PDOX.DLL) for data management within the Phonebook and Time Planner. 2. Open Applications Q: How many applications can be open simultaneously? A: With the default CONFIG.SYS setting of THREADS=128, about fourteen applications can be open simutaneously, although your computer runs more slowly with more applications open. 3. Menus Q: Why do some menu options have an '...' after them? A: An '...' indicates that a dialog box appears if you select this option. 4. Mouse versus Keyboard Q: What functions cannot be performed with the keyboard? A: A mouse is required for the following Phonebook functions: - Card Design - Table Formatting (changing column widths, and names of columns) 5. Phone Dialing Q: In the Phonebook, which special characters can be used and what are their effects? A: A comma (,) in the phone number can be used to add a two-second delay during dialing. Commas can also be used in a group to specify a longer wait period (,,,). You can also add hyphens and parentheses without affecting the dialing. For further information, consult your Hayes modem manual. 6. Find Box Q: In the Phonebook, how does the Find box differ from the Query option? A: If text is entered into the Find box, the Phonebook quickly finds the first card containing (in any of its fields)the text you typed. If text is entered into any field(s) in the Query card, the Phonebook only searches for cards that have matching text in the particular field(s) specified. Say the user enters "car"(without the quotes)into the First Name field in the Query card. When the Find or Find Next button is selected, only those cards that have First Name fields starting with "car" are displayed. For example, Carlos Smith and Carson Pierce would be displayed, but Oscar Reynolds would not be. If "car" is entered into the Find box, all three cards would be found, in addition to anyone living in Carson City, NV. 7. Card View Printing Q: When I print a card from the Phonebook, it doesn't look exactly like the screen. Why not? A: The screen display is more flexible than the printout in two ways: it gives you almost unlimited control over placement of elements, both horizontally and vertically, and it uses a proportional font. The display is translated to mono-spaced (fixed-width) characters for printing and only characters are printed, not borders. Sometimes the printout won't look quite as nice as the screen. 8. Table View Printing Q: How can I control the printout of a Phonebook? A: When a Phonebook is printed, the output reflects the current table view. You can control the layout of the report in a number of ways: - Remove fields from the card using the Design menu. These fields won't be shown in the table view or on the printout. - Rotate the columns, using [Alt]+[R] - Change column names - Change the widths of columns 9. Decimal places Q: In the Calculator can I limit the display to only 2 decimal places? A: Yes. Choose Edit/Change Format. Select Fixed in the Calculator and then enter the required digits of precision, in this case 2. 10. Precision Q: In the Calculator, I get different results from the example tapes in the manual. A: The calculator is probably set to display a different degree of precision than was used when the examples in the manual were calculated. To change the precision, choose Edit/Change Format. 11. Time Planner and Phonebook files Q: In the Time Planner and Phonebook, which files are created when you choose New? A: Four files are created when New is selected in the Time Planner: PLANSxxA.DB - The appointments database PLANSxxA.PX - The appointments database index PLANSxxN.DB - The notes database PLANSxxN.PX - The notes database index Two files are created when New is selected in the Phonebook: PHONExx.DB - The phone database PHONExx.PX - The phone database index In addition, the following files are created when necessary: PHONExx.SET - The phone database settings PHONExx.FRM - The phone Card View form PHONExx.SPD - The Speed Dial settings for the Phone database. where xx represents a two digit number (00-99). 12. Valid file names in the Time Planner and Phonebook Q: In the Time Planner and Phonebook, what are the restrictions for valid file names? A: None of the extensions for file names used in the Time Planner or Phonebook can be changed. File names used by the Time Planner are limited to seven characters. (OS/2 and DOS allow eight characters. The eighth character is used by the Time Planner.) 13. Save in the Phonebook and Time Planner Q: In the Time Planner and Phonebook, why is the Save option always unavailable? A: The Time Planner and Phonebook save all information automatically, so it is unnecessary for the user to explicitly save appointments or cards. 14. Sound Effects Q: In the Time Planner, what are Sound Effects for (in the Preferences dialog box)? A: The optional Sound Effects selection generates an audible alert when the Time Planner needs to notify you, for example, when an alarm is set off. 15. Time Q: When I open the Time Planner, SideKick displays the wrong time and doesn't open with today's date. A: Your computer's clock time or date are set incorrectly. To reset the computer's clock, use the OS/2 Control Panel, found in the Utilities Group in the Start Programs window. 16. Forms and Graphics Adapters Q: When I open the example databases, (COMPANY or HOTELS) the default form is used instead of the one provided on the disk and an error message appears. A: The example files automatically use the .FRM file. However, there are three different graphics adapters standards, EGA VGA, and 8514 high resolution. The .FRM files can only be used on the same kind of graphics adapter that they were created on. There are forms provided for each standard. If you are using a VGA monitor, the form will be displayed with no error message. If you are using an EGA or 8514 monitor, you need to do the following to use the example .FRM form: First, go to the C:\SIDEKICK\PHONE OS/2 command line prompt. For an EGA monitor type: COPY HOTELS.EGA HOTELS.FRM for the HOTELS example and COPY COMPANY.EGA COMPANY.FRM for the COMPANY example. For a VGA monitor, it is unneccessary to change the form since VGA is the default. However, if you need to change formats at some point to VGA after using a different standard type: COPY HOTELS.VGA HOTELS.FRM for the HOTELS example and COPY COMPANY.VGA COMPANY.FRM for the COMPANY example. For an 8514 monitor type: COPY HOTELS.BGA HOTELS.FRM for the HOTELS example and COPY COMPANY.BGA COMPANY.FRM for the COMPANY example. V. International Issues ══════════════════════════════════════════ You can switch between international configurations by using the Control Panel. The following restrictions apply when changing international formats: Number format The decimal separator must be a , (comma) or . (period). Any other separator causes the default separator for the selected country to be used. Time format The time format can be either 24 hour or 12 hour am/pm format. The only allowable time separators are : (colon) and . (period). Any other separator causes the default separator for the selected country to be used. VI. Corrections to the Manual ══════════════════════════════════════════ Page 19, Cutting and Pasting Tape Entries First Paragraph You can select, or highlight, cells from the tape by dragging--that is, pressing and holding the mouse button-- over the cells or pressing the space bar to begin the selection, arrow key to extend the selection and shift+space bar to end the selection. If you drag the pointer past the upper or lower boundary of the visible tape, the tape automatically scrolls so you can extend your selection. Page 40, Notepad Basic Keystrokes Please note the following keyboard assignment changes: Ctrl+Right Arrow - Moves the insertion point just past the word to the right. Ctrl+Left Arrow - Moves the insertion point just past the word to the left. Shift+Ctrl+Arrow - Selects by words in the direction of the arrow. Ctrl+Backspace - Deletes all text from the beginning of the line to the insertion point. Alt+Right Arrow - Not used. Alt+Left Arrow - Not used. Page 86, Timeplanner The keyboard shortcut for moving forward or backward a day, week or six months in the Daily View, Weekly View, or Monthly View, respectively, is Alt+< and Alt+>. Page 112 Preferences Diagram The screen shot is shown incorrectly. Select Preferences from the Preferences menu to see the correct Preferences dialog box. VII. Files on the Disks ══════════════════════════════════════════ Disk 1 SETUP.EXE - Installation program CONTENT1.PGN - file required by Setup program NOTEPAD.EXE - Notepad program NOTEPAD.HLP - Notepad help file TIMEPLAN.EXE - Time Planner program PLANNER.HLP - Time Planner help file MORTGAGE.TXT - Financial function sample file HOTELS.BGA - High resolution Hotels form file HOTELS.DB - sample Phonebook database file HOTELS.EGA - EGA Hotels form file HOTELS.FRM - Default Hotels form HOTELS.PX - sample Phonebook database index file HOTELS.SET - settings file for Hotels database HOTELS.SPD - speed dial file for Hotels database HOTELS.VGA - VGA Hotels form file DATES.DLL - program code for date conversion EDITBOX.DLL - file required by Phonebook PDOX.DLL - program code required by applications to access Paradox files PHELP.DLL - program code required for the help system README.TXT - this file Disk 2 STARTPG.EXE - part of the Installation program CONTENT2.PGN - file required by the Setup program CALC.EXE - Calculator program CALC.HLP - Calculator help file PHONE.EXE - Phonebook program PHONE.HLP - Phonebook help file PHONE.DB - sample Phonebook database file PHONE.PX - sample Phonebook database index file COMPANY.BGA - High resolution Company form file COMPANY.DB - sample Phonebook database file COMPANY.EGA - EGA Company form file COMPANY.FRM - Default Company form COMPANY.PX - sample Phonebook database index file COMPANY.SET - settings file for Company database COMPANY.SPD - speed dial file for Company database COMPANY.VGA - VGA Company form file REINDEX.EXE - Paradox index file repair utility TUTILOS2.DOC - documentation file for TUTILOS2 TUTILOS2.EXE - Paradox file repair utility VIII. Example Files ══════════════════════════════════════════ Included with your SideKick for PM are the sample Phonebook data files Company and Hotels. The example files Company and Hotels have associated form files COMPANY.EGA, COMPANY.VGA, COMPANY.BGA and HOTEL.EGA, HOTEL.VGA, HOTEL.BGA. Renaming the appropriate files to COMPANY.FRM and HOTEL.FRM is necessary for the Phonebook to access them. *.EGA - for Enhanced Graphic Adapter/Monitor combinations *.VGA - for Virtual Graphics Array/Monitor combinations *.BGA - for VGA with 8514/A expansion and monitor. Rename the files based on the display adapter and monitor configuration of your system. For example: If you have an EGA card with an EGA monitor, rename the files HOTELS.EGA to HOTELS.FRM and COMPANY.EGA to COMPANY.FRM. IX. Table Structures ══════════════════════════════════════════ The PHONE table structure is: Last Name A20* First Name A20* Middle Name A20* Code A10* Title A35 Company A50 Address A50 City A20 State A15 Zip A10 Home Phone A30 Business Phone A30 Alternate Phone A30 Notes A255 The Time Planner maintains two sets of Paradox data files, PLANS00A and PLANS00N. The PLANS00A table structure is: Date D* Start Time A5* End Time A5* Order S* Alarm Time A5 Type A25 Description A80 The PLANS00N table structure is: Date D* Order S* Line Number S* Line Text A80 Legend: A - Alphanumeric (ex: A25) Any combination of characters and spaces up to a specified width. Maximum width is 255. D - Date S - Short integer An asterisk next to a field type indicates that it is a key field (ex: A4*) X. Paradox Usage Notes ══════════════════════════════════════════ Paradox Files in SideKick: The Time Planner and Phonebook main data files are actually Paradox data files. The Time Planner and Phonebook check the files when they are loaded to verify that they are appropriate Time Planner or Phonebook files. Therefore, each table's structure must always be the same as the structure of the default .DB file, and related index files (.PX) must also be present and up-to-date. Be sure to exit all SideKick for PM applications normally, especially if you have been adding or changing data. Don't turn off your machine with applications minimized; close them from their system menus or restore them and use their Exit menus to exit. You can also choose Shutdown Now... from the Shutdown menu in the Task Manager to close applications. This will close ALL open applications. Because Phonebook and Time Planner files are Paradox data files, they can be manipulated readily within Paradox. With some limitations, discussed below, Paradox 2.0 or 3.0 and Paradox OS/2 can view Time Planner and Phonebook data files while the Time Planner or Phonebook is active. Paradox 2.0 or 3.0 and Paradox OS/2 can also modify SideKick for PM files. Paradox sessions can make changes in either Edit or CoEdit mode, but must have exclusive use of the file being changed in either case. Concurrent Access: If only one copy of the Time Planner is open to a particular file, the user can freely edit and move between Daily, Weekly and Monthly views. However, if more than one copy of the Time Planner is open to a particular file, or a Time Planner session and a Paradox session are both open to the same file, the Daily view is not available from within the Time Planner, and the file can only be opened for viewing within Paradox. If only one copy of the Phonebook is open to a particular file, the file is freely editable. However, if more than one copy of the same file is open in Phonebook and Paradox OS/2 sessions, or in multiple Phonebook sessions, the file is read-only and is not editable. During concurrent access to SideKick's datafiles, the Tools/Info/Who command will show SideKick sessions as Paradox 2.0 sessions. This is due to the usage of Paradox 2.0's dynamic link library. 4Mb RAM or more is recommended when using Paradox OS/2 in conjunction with SideKick for PM. Concurrent Access Using Paradox OS/2: In order to to access the files at the same time as the Time Planner or Phonebook, you must specify during installation that Paradox OS/2 is on a network (Network Type "Other") and give Paradox OS/2 the following command-line parameters when you launch it: PDOXOS2 -MULTI -NET C:\SIDEKICK\ This tells your Paradox OS/2 session that other Paradox sessions or other applications may be accessing its files, and that the PARADOX.NET file that controls concurrent access will be in the C:\SIDEKICK directory. (Be sure to include the final backslash, as shown above.) Be sure to use the -MULTI command line option; without it, Paradox's lockfile mechanism, which protects data integrity while allowing concurrent access, cannot operate. If SideKick resides in a drive or directory other than C:\SIDEKICK\, replace "C:\SIDEKICK\" with the parent directory of the PHONE and TIMEPLAN sub-directories. Alternatively, you may supply this information in the "Start Programs" window. If you are just installing Paradox OS/2 or want to re-install it, you can specify during the installation that the PARADOX.NET file will be located in c:\SIDEKICK\, and omit the -net option at start-up. If you install Paradox OS/2 in the Start Programs window, specify that it is not an OS/2 Presentation Manager program and that it should run in a text window. Concurrent Access - Paradox 2.0 or 3.0: Paradox 2.0 or 3.0, running in the DOS compatibility box, can share files with SideKick's Time Planner and Phonebook. To allow Paradox 2.0 or 3.0 to share SideKick for PM files, you must specify during installation that you will be sharing data on a network. Select network type OTHER. If you have already installed Paradox 2.0 or 3.0 for stand-alone use, you must re-install to select a network type. You'll probably also want to specify the location of your PARADOX.NET file - usually C:\SIDEKICK\, as discussed for Paradox OS/2 - so you don't have to enter it from the command line. You must also use the -SHARE command line option, so Paradox 2.0 or 3.0 recognizes that it is running in a multi-user environment. Your command line will say, at least: PARADOX2 -SHARE or PARADOX3 -SHARE To allow Paradox's lockfile mechanism to control concurrent access, be sure that you always use the -SHARE option. You may also use the -NET option to override anything set through installation, or the -USER option to provide a username. Paradox File Extensions: Paradox can maintain and manipulate the following files: All .DB files All .PX files All .SET files Within the Phonebook, the .SET file maintains the current Table View settings such as column width and order. Paradox's .SET file is a superset of Phonebook's .SET file. Therefore, all features of the Paradox .SET file are not supported in Phonebook. Supported settings that can be manipulated between Paradox and SideKick for PM's Phonebook include ColumnSize, and ColumnRotate. The associated file PHONE.PX is the index file for PHONE.DB. The Phonebook will automatically create additional data files for: Speed Dial .SPD Card Design .FRM These files are not Paradox files and cannot be manipulated through Paradox.