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|                                                                          | 
|                  Shareware Customer Database Program                     |
|                             Version 1.3                                  |
|                Copyright 1996 Robert J. Manning, author.                 |
|                South Bay Computer Assistance, Lomita, CA                 |
|              Shareware version summary documentation 12/96               |
|                                                                          |
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| See the file REGISTER.TXT for a registration form, or you can print one  |
| from the HELP | ABOUT window in the program.                             |
|                                                                          |
|            Robert Manning, PO Box 2011, Lomita, CA 90717 USA             |
|                                                                          |
|          Email: RobertM782@aol.com or 76022.1630@compuserve.com          |
|             Pager: (310) 723-0676 (Calls returned collect)               |
|                                                                          |
|            Visit the SBCA Web Page for other SBCA programs at:           |
|           http://members.aol.com/robertm782/private/sbcapage.htm         |
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   INTRODUCTION

   The Shareware Customer Database program is a small self-contained
   database program that will let you keep track of your customer data,
   and the programs they purchase from you.

   The program is handy for shareware authors who would like to use a
   simple database to track customer information. Intended for use by
   Shareware authors, the program was written as a demonstration of
   how one could use Borland Delphi to create a database program that
   does not rely on the Borland Database Engine.

   The program is fully functional. The registered version of the
   program includes full source code and project files for Delphi 1.
   Also, as program development continues, the registered version
   will contain new features and functions not available in this
   shareware version.

   Features include:

   * Tracking of customer names, addresses, phone, email, and
   contact names; application name, version, serial, build date,
   package type and contents, price and balance information.
   * Toolbar button database nagvigation.
   * Database printouts with about 5 records per page. Can adjust
   printer setup, fonts and font effects, including color.
   * Sort data on most all fields and automatically saves the
   sorted data to the current file.
   * Create, open, and save any number of files.
   * Full featured text editor.

   Programming topics demonstrated include:

   * Random Access database methods, including emulating the
   functions of the Delphi Database Navigator component.
   * Printing using the Printer.Canvas, Pascal-style Writeln()
   functions, printing memos, centering text, using fonts.
   * Checking edit boxes for numeric entries.
   * Using status bars for hints and program status.
   * Extracting character data from fixed length strings.
   * List Insertion Sort, sorts the random access file using a linked list
   and dynamic memory allocation.
   * Implementing a 'Splash' screen in four lines of code.
   * Implementing a 'Nag' window at program exit.

   Changes in version 1.3:
   * Added 'Stats' page for calculating customer stats and printing them.
   * Removed an unneeded declaration for the DBCtrls unit that was
     causing the program not to run on systems without the BDE!
   * Other modifications or fixes throughout the program.

   Changes in version 1.2:

   * Implemented full feaured text editor.
   * Other modifications or fixes throughout the program.

   Changes in version 1.1:

   * Fixed the file saving functions when opening or creating a file.
     Wasn't checking entry validity before saving when another file was
     open.
   * Reconfigured main menu, added toolbar functions.
   * Up-down arrow keys will perform previous/next record functions,
     like the left-right toolbar buttons. Also, home-end keys now act
     like the first/last record buttons.
   * Other modifications or fixes throughout the program.


   INSTALLATION

   Installation consists of unzipping the download archive and copying
   the program to any directory you like. No other installation, support
   files or installation utility is required.


   TOOLBAR FUNCTIONS

   Each of the toolbar buttons has a hint assigned to it, which will
   display in a status line at the bottom left of the main window.
   More detailed information on each button function follows, in order
   from left to right.

   Create File
   This function will create a database file for you. The default
   extension is *.DAT. Note that the program will only work with files it
   creates.

   If another file is already open when you activate this function, the
   current record will be saved and the file closed.

   You will need to specify a file name for the database file before
   you store data in it. Yes, I know, it's usually the other way around,
   I'm not getting that fancy with this!

   Open File
   This function will open a database file previously created with the
   program and allow you to operate on it.

   Be aware of opening files ending with .DAT that this program
   didn't create! If the data displayed looks strange, better to close
   the file and make sure it's the right file type.

   Close File
   This function will close the current file in use. You'll be prompted
   to save any changes that are pending.

   Print File
   Prints the current file to your printer. You can select the font to use
   in printing with the 'Select Printer Font' button.

   Depending on your printer and the font used, four or five records
   will fit on a page.

   (Note: the following eight buttons function about the same as the
   Database Navigator component in Delphi).

   First Record
   Navigates to the first record in the database file.

   Prior Record
   Navigates to the previous record in the file.

   Next Record
   Navigates to the next record in the file.

   Last Record
   Navigates to the last record in the file.

   Add New Record
   Clears the data entry form and prepares to append a new record
   to the database file.

   Delete Record
   Deletes the currently displayed record.

   Post Data
   Saves any changes to the current file. The status bar signal for
   Modified will disappear after you post changed data.

   Cancel New Record
   Cancels the add new record function and returns you to the last
   record in the database file.

   Calculate Statistics
   Calculates some stats on the records in the file, displaying the
   results in a string grid on the Stats notebook page.

   Help and Information
   Displays this help information.

   About
   Displays information about the program, prints a registration form.


   OTHER INFORMATION

   Program Functions
   Most program functions are contained within the main window 
   toolbar, and now most are implemented within the main menu.
   Status line hints will appear to indicate menu functions and
   various other program items.

   Status Line
   The status line at the bottom of the window contains three 
   sections. The first section on the left side displays help
   hints for the various toolbar buttons.

   The second, middle section will display the file name when a file 
   is open, the current record in the file being viewed, and the total 
   number of records in the file.

   The last section on the right will display the word "Modified" if any 
   part of the current database file's records have been modified. 
   Click on the Post Data button to save changes.


   REGISTRATION

   Users of the program who register will receive the complete
   source code for the program. The code is commented and well
   spaced for easy reading. The nag screen and delay will also be
   removed.

   Compuserve Members: GO SWREG #13761 to register online!

   Please feel free to send an email with your comments and questions
   to the author. If you'd like to know how the program was made,
   please register. A registration form can be printed from the About
   screen, or can be found in the file REGISTER.TXT.

   The Shareware version is fully functional, though the registered version
   will contain some other functions since development of the program is
   ongoing. Those who register will receive the latest version of the
   program, along with full source code useable in Borland Delphi version
   1.0 (about 2200 lines total, including the automatic declarations
   created by D1). Though developed in D1, I'm sure that most of
   the code is quite useable in Delphi 2.

   If you'd like to register, please send $10 (U.S. Dollars only, check 
   or money order) to the author listed below. Add $5 if disk 
   package is to be shipped outside the U.S.A.

   If you wish, the registered program package can be sent by 
   Email anywhere in the world. The files will be sent UUEncoded
   unless you're a member of AOL or CIS.

   Author Contact Information:

   Robert Manning
   PO Box 2011
   Lomita, CA 90717 USA

   Email:
   RobertM782@AOL.COM
   76022.1630@COMPUSERVE.COM

   Web Page:
   http://members.aol.com/robertm782/public/sbcapage.htm

   Pager (Calls returned Collect):
   (310) 723-0676

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|                                                                          | 
|                  Shareware Customer Database Program                     |
|                              Version 1.3                                 |
|                Copyright 1996 Robert J. Manning, author.                 |
|                South Bay Computer Assistance, Lomita, CA                 |
|              Shareware version summary documentation 12/96               |
|                                                                          |
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