                      
                       COMPULINK VIRTUAL MERCHANT
          
               World Wide Web Online Electronic Store Front                
                Copyright 1997 Jerry Woody and CompuLink

* LICENSE AGREEMENT

        Virtual Merchant and its Accompanying files are copyrighted works
protected by U.S. and international copyright law.  You are granted a
license to use your copy of Virtual Merchant only under the terms and  
conditions specified in this license agreement.
        Virtual Merchant is a commercial software product.  It is not free,
nor is it in the public domain.  Registration / License is 1 per physical
site.  Multiple sites require multiple licenses.
     
      USERS OF VIRTUAL MERCHANT MUST ACCEPT THIS DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: 
      VIRTUAL MERCHANT IS PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
         EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED
      WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. 
        THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE IS WITH YOU. 
         NEITHER COMPULINK NOR THE AUTHOR ASSUMES LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES,
          DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF
                      COMPULINK VIRTUAL MERCHANT.


NOTICE! - You may modify HTML code created by Virtual Merchant to customize 
it to your system/setting and fix any 'server' and display bugs you might 
encounter.  

YOU MAY NOT modify the unregistered display in the HTML code if the program
is not registered by you; YOU MAY NOT modify the registered display to 
someone else that has not registered; YOU MAY NOT manually add more than
3 stock items to the HTML code in unregistered mode.  Doing so will 
invalidate your license to use this program and CompuLink will prosecute 
at its discretion anyone caught doing so.


- Registered versions of this program cannot be returned for a refund.
- Prices may change without notice
- Unregistered versions are limited to 3 items
- You may not use this product in Unregstered mode for longer than 30 days
  without registering.

* DISTRIBUTING VIRTUAL MERCHANT

        You may freely distribute this UNALTERED shareware copy of
Virtual Merchant to BBS's, online services, friends, etc. 
        If you register Virtual Merchant, you may NOT distribute the 
registered Version (or portions of it) to anyone else.
        The Distributed Demo/ShareWare archive/disk may not be redistributed
if you delete, edit or add files to the original Archive/Disk.  


                                   SUPPORT

        Registered and Un-Registered users can obtain technical support 
              for CompuLink Virtual Merchant from the following:

Email jwoody@traveller.com
Fax : 1-(205)-739-0012
Send Question(s) along with an S.A.S.E. to CompuLink,  1832 County Road 384, 
Cullman Al 35057
Limited voice support is also offered.  However, we cannot return Long
Distant phone calls and we are in the office at different times of the day.
Our Voice Number is 1-205-737-1929 . If no one is there to take your call
please use one of the methods above for technical support.

* SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
        
        * An IBM PC Compatible Computer Running Dos greater than version 3.0
        * Virtual Merchant has been successfully run under Dos, DesqView,
          OS/2 and Windows 3.11
        * A VGA/Super VGA Monitor is recommended to access all the options
          available in Virtual Merchant
        * Virtual Merchant has been run on 8088 Xt's but a 286 or better
          IBM PC compatible computer is recommended.
        * An Epson compatible Printer on LPT1 is recommended for Data Printout
        * At least 4 Megabytes of Hard Disk Space
        * At least 512Kb of Memory
        * A copy of Pegasus Mail 

* FILES        
        
        The following files should be on the disk or in the Archive:

        VM.EXE      - Compulink Virtual Merchant Main Executable Program
        OFFLINE.HTM - HTML file for people to receive and order offline
        *.BIN       - Support Graphics
        STATE.DAT   - Preconfigured Location, Shipping and Sales Tax file
        INSTRUCT.TXT- Sample extra Instruction file for your Customers
        HELP.HTM    - Default Help File for your Customers
        *.ICO       - Main Menu icon Files
        ORDER.FRM   - Order Form

* INTRODUCTION        

        Virtual Merchant is a World Wide Web Electronic Store Front for Small 
businesses and retailers.  Highly Configurable and can be run WITHOUT CGI or 
other Server Side accesses. Features Include:
 
 * Parses and Stores New Orders from mailto: forms to customer database
 * Creates HTML 'on the fly' Main Menu Page, Frames Page, Order Form,
   Offline Catalog/Order Form and Help Page.
 * Auto checks Credit Card Number and/or Online Draft Check Routing Number
   for authenticity.
 * Highly configurable:  
   - Add/Delete the type of payment you will accept (Credit Cards [Credit
     Card Typs], Draft Checks, Checks, Money Order, C.O.D or Cash.
   - Personalize your storefront with information about your business and
     where you're located.
   - Rapidly Add, Print, Edit, Search or Delete Items you have for sale.  
     Items will be generated in a html catalog and html order form format 
     for display on the web.
   - Rapidly Edit, Print, Delete, Search and Search Unfilled Customer Orders
     Taken over the Internet.
   - Items ordered are automatically subtracted from the stock database
     inventory number.
  * Order Confirmation emails are auto-sent to the customer once an order is 
    received.
  * No CGI/Perl scripting required.  Virtual Merchant collects orders via
    a combination of HTML Frames, HTML Code and mailto: forms and email.  
  * Increased Security.  Orders stay on the server only until you pick up your
    email.  After that the data resides on _your_ machine.
  * Easy Graphical Interface.  Quickly find items and customers.
  * Built in text editor to customize shipping and tax rates to up to 70
    locations you define. Configuration Menu also allows default postage and
    taxes.

        If you have a Demo/Shareware Version of Virtual Merchant some features 
will not be available until registered.  The most notable is the inability to 
add more than 3 stock items to the database and unregistered notices on the
confirmation email and web pages generated.

* INSTALLING VIRTUAL MERCHANT WITH DOS

1. Make a directory on your hard disk drive, such as VM
   (To Make a directory under plain dos just type MKDIR VM)
2. Change to That Directory (CD VM)
3. Copy CVM1.EXE into that directory 
4. CVM1.EXE is a self extracting Archive.  It will the unarchive all the
   support files into the directory.
   (NOTE: You may have this file in a "zip" or archived version.  You will
    need an unarchiver [such as pkunzip, etc.] to unarchive it.)
5. Then just run VM.EXE . (You cannot run Virtual Merchant from the path 
   statement but must be in the actual directory to run it)

* INSTALLING VIRTUAL MERCHANT WITH DESQVIEW

1. Follow Dos steps 1-4 Above.
2. From the DesqView menu choose add a program. All the parameters should
   be the same as the Big Dos 
3. Virtual Merchant should be run from a Full Window under Desqview

* INSTALLING VIRTUAL MERCHANT WITH OS/2

1. Open a dos session and follow Dos steps 1-4 above
2. You may use the Run command or select a program icon for Virtual Merchant
3. Virtual Merchant should be run from a Full Window under os/2

* INSTALLING VIRTUAL MERCHANT WITH WINDOWS 3.11

1. Click on Main Icon
2. Click on Ms-Dos Prompt
3. Follow DOS steps 1 - 4 as described above
4. type EXIT
5. Close your Main Window
6. Under File from the Program Manager Select NEW
7. Select New Program Group
8. In Description type Virtual Merchant or Online Store or Whatever you want
9. Under File from the Program Manager Select NEW
8. Select New Program Item
9. On Description type VM
10. On Command line type c:\vm\vm.exe
11. On Working Directory type c:\vm
12. Select an icon if you wish
13. Select OK
14. Virtual Merchant is now installed in Windows

(Confused?  Here's a Quicker Method. Follow Steps 1 - 3 above.  Once that's
Done just type VM .  When you're done with Virtual Merchant just type EXIT and
it will bring you back to Windows.)

Using the directions for Windows 3.11 as an example, follow the directions 
in your Windows 95 manual on how to install 16 bit Dos programs into Windows 
95.

NOTE: IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF THE STEPS ABOVE JUST INSTALL VIRTUAL 
MERCHANT AS YOU WOULD ANY PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE INSTALLED IN THE PAST.
                                       
* WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING MULTIMEDIA STEP BY STEP INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS.  PLEASE CHECK HTTP://WWW.HSV.TIS.NET/~JWOODY/CLIBRARY.HTML
FOR AVAILABILITY.

STEP BY STEP: GETTING STARTED:
------------------------------
Assuming you have installed VM.EXE and is working on your system
the following is a step by step guide on getting running quickly.

CONFIGURATION :
1) At the main menu you will see Icons with descriptions and Hot Keys that 
are Magenta at the top of the screen.  Press C for Configuration (or click on
the icon with your mouse).
2) Select Main Configuration by Pressing the Hilited Letter or Click with Mouse
Here you can customize Virtual Merchant to your System and your Preferences.
- ! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THE PATH TO WHERE PEGASUS MAIL STORES
INCOMING MAIL AND OUTGOING MAIL !  
- ! NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO \ (backslash) AT THE END OF THE PEGASUS MAIL
PATH STATEMENT !
- You will need to edit the path to where Pegasus mail stores and sends mail
on your system.  In the example I have Pegasus mail store and send mail from
the C:\TIS\PMAIL\MAIL directory.  It is very important that you have the 
path correct.  You can make the path whatever you want but Pegasus Mail
must be told to store and send mail from that directory.
- ! THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!
If your full email address is not correct it will not mail you orders.
You will need to change the Email Address to YOUR email address and take
out my sample email address.
- The other settings are pretty much self explanatory.  You need to type in
YOUR name and your STORE name.  If there are any extra payment comments 
include them and they will be put on your inform.htm (order form) HTML file.
Select payment options and if you accept credit cards which type you accept.
You will need to enter your regular mailing address for people who download
your catalog and want to order offline.
- Another important field in the Main Configuration is to put in your Default
Shipping and Taxes.  These default settings will be displayed on your order
form (inform.htm) and will be used in calculating order totals.  You may
specify different shipping and taxes for different states, locations, 
countries, etc. in the SHIPPING AND TAX CONFIGURATION SUBMENU.
3) From the MAIN CONFIGURATION MENU press S or Click you mouse on Shipping and
Tax Configuration.  You will be presented with a full screen text editor that
has pre-loaded settings for each state.  Notice that there are 3 "fields" for
each location.  The first line is the Location Name.  The second line is the
Shipping for this location.  If it is the same as the DEFAULT then put DEFAULT
on the shipping line otherwise put in the amount of shipping required for that
location.  The third line is the Sales Tax for this location.  If it is the 
same as the DEFAULT then put DEFAULT on the Sales Tax line otherwise put in the
amount of Sales tax required for that location.  You may edit the Names, etc.
in this text file.  Using the online editor you may edit/add up to 70 locations.
4) From the MAIN CONFIGURATION MENU press E or click with mouse on EDIT ONLINE
HELP FILE.  This is the help file shown in the startup frame of your store to
instruct them on how to navigate and order online/offline.  Virtual Merchant
comes with a default file (help.htm) but you can edit it as you please.
5) When finished Press Q or click on QUIT to return to the main menu.
* You may give extra instructions to your shoppers by editing the INSTRUCT.TXT
file that is included in this archive.  If Virtual Merchant finds it, it will
display the file in your order form (inform.htm) file.

DATABASE MAINTENANCE:
1) Before you can have Virtual Merchant Create HTML files; you MUST have items
for sell in your Database.  At the Main Menu press D or click on the DATABASE
MAINTENANCE icon.
2) Press A or Click on ADD NEW ITEM FOR SELL.  You will be presented with
a fairly straightforward Entry Menu.  A few fields you MUST fill are:
- Items Number.  This is how Virtual Merchant processes orders.  IT'S
IMPERATIVE THAT YOU GIVE EACH ITEM FOR SALE AN UNIQUE ITEM NUMBER.
- Department.  IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU FILL IN THE DEPARTMENT FIELD.
For example: Say you are running a Comic Book Shop.  One Department could
be New Comics.  Another could be Old Comics.  And so on.  Or, you can
have just one department for your entire store: Comics , for example.  If
you do not assign a department for an item (and you may have as many items
in a department as you wish) an error will occur.
- You will need to fill in the Inventory Number field.  This can be 1 to
32000.
- You must fill in the Short Description field (which is shown in the 
inform.htm file).
- You need to put something in the Long Description field about the product
as this is displayed in the catalog HTML files.
- The Price Field.  To be able to calculate the order, a price must be
assigned to the item.
3) The rest of the Items Section in the Database Maintenance Section is
fairly straightforward.  You can edit an item by supplying the item number.
You can delete an item by item number or by browsing items.
4) The remainder of the Database Maintenance program is consists of Customer 
Database Utilities.  Among the most critical is the Search for Unfilled
Orders.  Here, you may search orders you haven't filled yet and mark them
filled when you have sent the order.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PRINT OUT EACH CUSTOMER ORDER AS SOON
AS IT ARRIVES.  THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TO MORE EASILY SEE THE ENTIRE ORDER.

WRITE HTML:
1) Once you have entered all the Configuration Data and Stock Database
Items you're ready to create your online store.  All the work is done by
Virtual Merchant.  From the main menu press W or click on the Write HTML
icon.  The following files will then be created:
INFORM.HTM  - This is the order form users fill out when ordering a product.
              It contains your email address, mailing address and other
              store specific information, a listing of items you have for
              sell with the short description, item number and price, and
              shipping and sales tax information.
FRAMES.HTM  - This is the main Frames Control file that starts the online
              store 'frames engine'.
SUBMENU.HTM - This file contains a listing of all your departments so users
              can quickly navigate your store by switching between departments.
              A listing of all items in the department will appear in the right
              frame window.  Also is a quick checkout link and help file link.
MAIN.HTM    - This is the 'starting point' of Virtual Merchant on your web 
              site.  Virtual merchant must be started from MAIN.HTM for the
              program to work correctly.  You should make a link to main.htm
              from your home page.  For example: 
              <a href="http://yoursite.com/main.htm">Our Online Store</a>
CATALOG.ASC - This is the offline catalog in ascii format that users can
              shop your site offline.
ORDER.ASC   - This is the offline order form in ascii format that users can
              shop your site offline.
2) Once Virtual merchant has created the Online Files, Simply upload the
following files to your web site:
*.HTM 
*.GIF
*.ASC
(Remember, make a link to MAIN.HTM from your HOME PAGE).

IMPORT EXPORT:
1) Once you have uploaded all your store files (listed above) to your web
site and put items into the stock database; you're ready to start collecting
orders.  Press I or clink on the Import Export icon.
2) From the Import/Export Functions Sub-Menu Press I or click your mouse on 
Import / Export Orders.  This will search the file directory that you specified
in the Main Configuration that Pegasus Mail stores incoming messages.  It will
look for the files MERCHANT.PMM and MERCHANT.PMI (see Setting Up Pegasus Mail
Below on how to install mail filtering rules and folders).  If new incoming
order(s) order found it will take them, parse them and write them to the 
Customer Database File (customer.dat).  You may then view them from the
Database Maintenance SubMenu as describe above.
3) You can export your entire Customer Database and Stock Database to an
ascii file or Printer by pressing the correct letters or clicking your mouse
on the function you want from the Import/Export Functions sub menu.  You
will be asked, depending on the function, for a filename to export the
datbase to or a printer port number (usually 1) to print the database to.


Now you are ready to install Pegasus Mail...

SETTING UP PEGASUS MAIL:
========================
Pegasus mail is copyrighted and written by David Harris and Pegasus Software.

Pegasus Mail is a Free internet email program.  Virtual Merchant relies on it 
to transport data to and from the internet.  The latest version of Pegasus 
Mail for Windows, Windows95, Mac, Dos, etc. can be found MANY places on the
internet.  The USA home page for Pegasus mail can be found at
http://www.pegasus.usa.com  .  You will need to download the latest version
for your system. Installation of Pegasus Mail for your system will not be
covered here.  Please read the documentation that accompanies Pegasus Mail
for instructions on setting up Pegasus Mail for your system.  The following
example is for Pegasus Mail for Windows v2.54/R1 (win16).  Depending on which
type version/OS of Pegasus Mail you use, some parts may be different.  Once 
you have Pegasus Mail up and running you will need to do the following:

While in Pegasus Mail:
1)  Click on FILE
2)  Click on MAIL FOLDER
3)  Click on NEW
4)  Keep "Message Folder" for the Default
5)  For Long name put:  MERCHANT
6)  For FileName put:  MERCHANT
7)  Click OK

8)  Click on TOOLS from Pegasus Mail Main Menu
9)  Click on Mail Filtering Rules
9)  Click on Edit New Mail Filtering Rules
10) Click on Rules Applied when Folder is Opened
11) Click on Add Rule
12) Click on As an Expression
13) Click on Anywhere in Message
14) For Trigger text put:  *VIRTUALMERCHANT=TRUE*
15) For Action click on Move
16) Click ONCE on MERCHANT
17) Click on the OPEN Button at the Right
17) Click on OK
18) Click on Save

Pegasus Mail is now configured for Virtual Merchant.  Double check the 
paths to incoming/outgoing mail to make sure the path in Pegasus Mail and 
Virtual Merchant match.  Also, be sure you have Pegasus Mail configured 
properly before installing the Virtual Merchant steps listed above.

RUNNING VIRTUAL MERCHANT AFTER YOU HAVE INSTALLED IT AND PEGASUS MAIL:
======================================================================

Once you have successfully completed the steps above you are ready to 
run Virtual Merchant on a regular basis.  Briefly, it works like this:  
A person enters his/her order in the INFORM.HTM on the internet.  The form 
is mailed to you.  Pegasus Mail sees that it is intended for Virtual Merchant 
and moves it to the MERCHANT Folder.  When you run Virtual Merchant, Virtual 
Merchant will take the message(s), parse the information and store them in 
the customer.dat file.  An order confirmation is put in the Pegasus Mail
outgoing message directory as a queued mail (You can then go into Pegasus
Mail and click on Send All Queued Mail).  Actual items ordered are stored in 
*.ORD files.  You then Search for unfilled orders, print them out if you 
want, fill them, and mark that customer order as filled.

- STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
============================
You can run pegasus and virtual merchant whenever you wish, but a number of 
times a day is a good idea.
1) Run Pegasus Mail.  Select get incoming mail.
2) Exit Pegasus Mail.  Run VM.EXE.
3) From Virtual Merchant Main Menu, select import export.
4) Select Import incoming data.  If any messages for virtual merchant are 
present (in your pegasus mail directory under the file MERCHANT.PMM) it 
will parse and import it.
5) From the Main Menu select Database Maintenance.  Select Find Unfilled 
Orders.

SUMMARY:
========
Virtual Merchant uses new techniques to allow people to "escape" from the 
confines of cgi scripts and bin access etc. to make their web sites, either 
profitable and/or stand out from the rest.  Since new techniques are used,
you may need to re-read this manual a number of times or print it out.  If
you have any trouble setting it up please contact me at jwoody@traveller.com
and I'll try to help anyway possible.

If your group or organizations would like to have Virtual Merchant on your
web site but don't want to go to the trouble of setting it up and maintaining
it please email us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We hope that you find Virtual Merchant fun, useful and easy to use.  
Comments and suggestions are always welcome; especially from people who
have registered / purchased a license.

Since the Internet Records sharing and web pages are not done by many (any)
programs, if you just can't get the hang of it email jwoody@traveller.com
with your questions (but TRY to get it working FIRST).

As with any software; future versions (if any) will depend on the consumer/
computer user.  If not many people purchase Virtual Merchant then there
is no need to update the program and develop it to its fullest potential.

If you would like to register / purchase a license for Virtual Merchant 
please find the enclosed file ORDER.FRM .  Print it out, fill it out and
send $29.95 plus shipping to have your registered full featured program 
rushed to you.

Registration of $29.95 is for single site license only.  If your school, 
government organization, group, etc. wishes to purchase multiple license
please contact us.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                  TROUBLE SHOOTING AND TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

Q.  How do I navigate the Main Menu?
A.  If you have a mouse active and see the mouse cursor, you can click the
left mouse button on an icon to go to a particular area.  Otherwise, you 
can press the Capitalized Letter for a function (for example : C onfiguration
you would press C) to go to a sub-menu.

Q.  It tells me to use the up and down arrow keys to navigate the sub-menus,
but nothing happens.
A.  You probably are using the up and down arrow keys on your number pad.
You'll need to turn the NUM LOCK key OFF; otherwise you'll be pressing
"numbers" instead of the arrow keys.

Q.  I'm running Windows but there's no mouse cursor when I run Virtual 
Merchant from Windows!
A.  Virtual Merchant requires a Mouse driver set for MicroSoft Mouse Driver 
/ Serial Mouse .  If you have a mouse there should be a mouse driver that 
came with it; either on your hard disk or on a floppy disk you got with 
your mouse.  Usually the name of the driver is MOUSE.COM  .  Following the 
instructions that came with your mouse and mouse driver, install the mouse 
driver either when the computer is booted up or via a batch file when 
running Virtual Merchant.  If you do not have a mouse driver or understand 
how to load a mouse driver contact CompuLink or the support department of the 
makers of your operating system on how to install a mouse driver.  

Q.  When printing I get a device error or some other error.
A.  You must have paper in your Printer when printing.  Also, You must know
which parallel port your printer is connected to. When printing files 
it will ask you what port your printer is on.  It's usually 1 but may be 
different from your system.  Consult your computer manual or makers of your 
computer to see what port your printer is on.

Q.  When VM runs I get either a device error or the screen looks funny.
A.  Virtual Merchant must be run with a monitor and/or video card supporting 
up to 256 colors and displaying graphics at least 640 x 480 in size.

Q.  What is CompuLinks upgrade policy?
A.  Each registered user is entitled to ONE free upgrade to the next Major 
release.  For example, if you are a registered user of Version 1.0 then you 
can receive a free version of Version 2.0 (excluding shipping, handling and 
printed manual cost).  Then, when version 3.0 is released; you would pay the 
difference (if any) in the price for version 2.0 and version 3.0 for 
upgrading to version 3.0 .  CompuLinks upgrade policy is subject to 
change at any time without notice.  Prices are subject to change at 
any time without notice.

Q.  Virtual Merchant just won't run on my system and / or I don't want to 
take the time to following the installation instructions above ; can I have 
a refund?
A.  Unfortunately with the problem of software piracy, once registered you 
cannot get a refund.  CompuLink offers a shareware / demo version of 
Virtual Merchant that people can "Try before you buy." .  The demo 
version can be obtained via the internet at the web site at http://www.hsv.
tis.net/~jwoody or by anonymous ftp at ftp.traveller.com/pub/users/jwoody/
outgoing .  You can also order a demo copy on a floppy disk for $5.  
So, plenty of opportunities are given to the potential user to test drive 
the program.  Once registered, no refunds can be given.

Q.  I lost my registered version and/or I sent you a letter by U.S. Mail and 
haven't gotten a reply.
A.  As indicated in the contact information at the beginning of this manual, 
CompuLink will not answer mail sent via U.S. Mail service that is not 
accompanied with a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.  If you lose your 
registered disk you will need to send a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED DISK MAILER 
WITH A 3 1/2 INCH BLANK FLOPPY DISK to receive a replacement registered 
diskette.

Q.  What is [ESC] and [CTRL][F10] or [ENTER]?
A.  When you see instructions in Virtual Merchant such as the ones above,
it means to press that key (or a series of keys).  For Example, [CTRL][F10]
means to press the [CTRL] key AND the [F10] key at the same time.

Q.  I have no idea how to set up Pegasus Mail.
A.  Pegasus Mail is written by another company and you will need to consult
the help files accompanied with Pegasus Mail or ask for help via the
Pegasus Mail Support Site.

Q.  I have Pegasus Mail set up but don't know what to do first!
A.  You must have at least some knowledge of your internet account.  You 
must know your POP3 address, your email address, your email password on
your server, etc.  Your Internet Service Provider will know the answers
to the basic questions needed to set up Pegasus Mail. 

Q.  I have Pegasus Mail going but can't get mail from Virtual Merchant to
toss in the MERCHANT folder even though I followed your example exactly!
A.  Some versions of Pegasus Mail -may- have different filtering rules.
If so consult the online Pegasus Mail help file.  The example given above
for tossing incoming orders to the MERCHANT folder _will_ work on the
Pegasus Mail version tested since extensive beta testing was done with it
and it _did_ toss the incoming orders correctly if the instructions above
are followed.  If you absolutetly can't get it to toss you can 'toss' the
incoming mail orders manually by using the move command in Pegasus Mail
and moving it to the MERCHANT folder.

Q.  Ok, I have Pegasus Mail set up and working and it's tossing incoming
orders to the MERCHANT folder and I have Virtual Merchant working but
when I run Import Incoming Orders it doesn't do it!
A.  If there are mail messages in your MERCHANT folder (you can manually
check this by opening up the MERCHANT folder in Pegasus Mail) and Virtual
Merchant isn't importing messages from the MERCHANT folder it could be
two things:
1) You do not have the path to MERCHANT.PMM and MERCHANT.PMI set correctly
in Virtual Merchant.  People have been positive that they have the path
set correctly but on further investigation they do NOT have the path
set correctly and/or they have a backslash (\) in the path statement when
they shouldn't.  Double check to see where Pegasus Mail is storing 
MERCHANT.PMM and MERCHANT.PMI and then make sure the path is correct to
it in the Main Configuration in Virtual Merchant.
2) Orders are actually tossed.  You must Click on the Database Maintenance
and then the customer utilities (view,print,etc.) to view incoming orders.

Q.  Why can't I use MY email program instead of Pegasus Mail???
A.  Unfortunately, practically every email program stores incoming mail
and outgoing mail in different formats... and even that sometimes changes
from version to version.  Pegasus Mail was chosen since it is relatively
easy to install, it runs on a variety of Operating Systems, Programs can
be easily interfaced with it and it's FREE.


Q.  I get an error when running Virtual Merchant that's not listed above.
A.  If you get an error when running Virtual Merchant not discussed above 
you may contact CompuLink via the contact sites listed at the beginning of 
this document.  Please be SPECIFIC when reporting a "bug" in  the software.  
If it can be found and duplicated the bug will be fixed and a fixed registered 
exec (if you have registered Virtual Merchant) will be sent to you.

