DFA (C) 1992--1995, Dirk Federlein
DFA is an SASG product
GUI created using Gadtoolsbox (37.300) (C) 1991--93 Jan van den Baard.
AREXX interface created using Arexxbox (V1.12) (C)
1992--93 Michael Balzer.
The MagicWB icons are (C) Copyright 1993--94 Martin Huttenloher
Installer and Installer project icon
(C) Copyright 1991-93 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced and distributed under license from Commodore.
INSTALLER SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS" AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE;
NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE. ALL USE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIABILITY
OR RESPONSIBILITY IS ASSUMED.
Registered trademarks are not marked separately. Therefore
absence of a trademark does not imply they are free.
Welcome to the documentation of DFA! Please, do not stop here, but continue reading -- it will be to your advantage!
Only by reading this manual carefully, can learn everything about the many different features of DFA! Some of your questions -- if not all of them -- which you might have at this time, will be answered here.
Please remember that I put a lot of time and effort (`blood, sweat and tears') into this manual -- please show your acknowledgement by reading this documentation (of course, you may feel free to register)!
Dirk Federlein
DFA supplies many outstanding features, some of them I'd like to mention here:
I strongly recommend use of the supplied install program to install DFA. It extracts the needed files from their archives and copies them to the correct places on your harddisk. It sets all needed tooltypes as well.
After the installation procedure has been completed, there exist the following files, or according to your installation, at least some of them, on your harddisk:
AmigaGuide or the Multiview program.
DVI format. To look at it or print it you
need TeX (e.g. PasTeX (C) Georg Heßmann).
KEYPATH to this drawer.
Example: setenv KEYPATH ENV:DFAUsually the install program has already done this for you.
After you have installed DFA (see section Installation, for more information), the default settings are used. These settings already allow you to use DFA and take a lot of advantage out of it. Please notice that the huge amount of settings, which can be tuned in the DFA-Preferences program, can only be saved in the registered version (see section The DFA-Preferences Program and section Registration for details)!
If you copied the DFA-Server (filename `DFA') into the `WBStartup' drawer, as it is recommended by the install program, DFA will be started each time the computer starts up; futhermore, an application icon for DFA is supplied on the Workbench screen.
This behaviour of DFA can be changed as described in section Tooltypes and section The DFA-Preferences Program.
As DFA tries to follow the "User Interface Style Guide" as closely as possible, it should be no problem (at least for advanced users) to figure out all the functions of DFA according to "trial and error". If you don't want any bad (?) surprises, just continue reading...
Beginning with DFA version 2.0, it is no longer a single program, but consists of several parts: The DFA-Server (see section The DFA-Server program); the DFA-Editor (see section The DFA-Editor program) and the DFA-Preferences program (see section The DFA-Preferences Program).
Certain functions that are used by more than one of these programs have
been exported into a socalled "shared library", the
dfa.library.
By doing so, it is possible now that DFA often uses less RAM than in former versions of DFA, even though it contains many enhancements! If DFA would still have been one single program, it would have been a size of about 300 KB and nearly noone would have copied it into the `WBStartup' drawer.
In spite of splitting the program into several parts, I tried to keep the known handling of DFA: one should think he works with one single program. To do so, the DFA-Server calls the DFA-Editor after the user hits the hotkey; the DFA-Preferences program on the other hand can be reached directly out of the DFA-Editor by selecting the corresponding menu item.
This new concept will be useful for people that start DFA on demand only and therefore don't need the AREXX and the Commodity part of DFA; these people may start the DFA-Editor directly (from the Workbench or Shell) and save the memory the DFA-Server would have taken (about 40 KB).
You can control DFA completely by mouse or by keyboard.
Some notes on the usage of the keyboard:
Shortcut The next entry becomes the active one,
the list scrolls accordingly.
Shift Shortcut The previous entry becomes the active one,
the list scrolls accordingly.
Read only listview:
Shortcut The list scrolls up.Sometimes the listviews can be controlled by the cursor keys, or it is possible to scroll page by page. If this is the case, the enhanced usage of that particular listview is described seperately on that place.
Shift Shortcut The list scrolls down.
NewList.
The DFA-Server (filename: `DFA') supplies the
commodity features (hotkey, access by the
Exchange program) and contains the complete
AREXX interface; furthermore it manages the application icon.
Please notice:
If you want to use any AREXX functions out of the DFA-Editor, you have to make sure that the DFA-Server is running.
If you click on the icon of the DFA-Server program once and activate the information program from the Workbench menu, you may change the following tooltypes:
ADDRESSFILE
If you use this tooltype, you can change the name of the address file
that will be loaded by DFA during startup (e.g.
`ADDRESSFILE=MyAddresses.dfa').
Please notice that, in this case, the file you set in the
DFA-Preferences program is not used.
CX_POPKEY
The preset hotkey is LCOMMAND F5, i.e. you can pop up the
DFA-Editor by pushing Left Amiga F5 (cf. `CX_POPUP').
You can change this hotkey using the following keywords:
LSHIFT left shift key
RSHIFT right shift key
CAPSLOCK caps lock key
CONTROL control key
LALT left alt key
RALT right alt key
LCOMMAND left AMIGA key
RCOMMAND right AMIGA key
NUMERICPAD numeric pad
MIDBUTTON middle mouse button
RBUTTON right mouse button
LEFTBUTTON left mouse button
F1-F10 function keys 1 to 10
UP cursor up
DOWN cursor down
LEFT cursor left
RIGHT cursor right
HELP help key
DEL del key
RETURN return key
ENTER enter key on the numeric pad; notice that you have
to set NUMERICPAD as well!
BACKSPACE backspace key
ESC escape key
SPACE space key
COMMA comma key
UPSTROKE upstroke key
A..Z, a..z "usual" keys
0..9, etc.
You can "mix" these keys, for example:
LSHIFT CONTROL F1
LALT CONTROL D
CONTROL NUMERICPAD ENTER
RCOMMAND RSHIFT A
CX_POPUP
If you set CX_POPUP=YES, you make the DFA-Server calling
the DFA-Editor immediately
after startup. Set CX_POPUP=NO to keep DFA "quiet"
until you pop up the DFA-Editor by hitting the hotkey, or clicking on the
application icon, or by starting the DFA-Editor directly from
the Workbench or the Shell.
CX_PRIORITY
With this Tool Type you can change the Priority of the DFA
commodity part. The default setting of CX_Priority=0 usually
doesn't need to be changed. For more information look up your manual
to the AMIGA--OS.
DFAEDITOR
This tooltype contains the filename (incl. the full path) that is used
by the DFA-Server to call the DFA-Editor. The
install program has usually set this tooltype according to your
wishes, you only have to change anything if you copied the
DFA-Editor manually to another place on your harddisk.
DONOTWAIT
This is a system Tool Type which forces the Workbench to not wait for
DFA to finish loading. You should not remove this tool type.
PORTNAME
DFA uses `DFA' for the portname. If there is another
program with the same portname, DFA attaches numbers
(`DFA.1', `DFA.2', etc.) until a definite name is found.
However, if you want your "own" portname, you can set it using the
tool type PORTNAME (e.g. PORTNAME=OtherDFAPortname). Please
remember that you have to adapt all example AREXX scripts, if you
change the portname!
If you start DFA from Workbench, the tooltypes described above
will be used. When you start DFA from Shell, these tooltypes
are used as well, as long as the corresponding .info-File is
present. You can give the following parameters to DFA that
overwrite the previous settings (within the .info file). The possible
arguments are described below:
ADDRESSFILE/K, CX_POPKEY/K, CX_PRIORITY/N,
CX_POPUP/K, PORTNAME/K, DFAEDITOR/K
This means you may...
By pushing the hotkey (see section Tooltypes), you may invoke the DFA-Editor. You'll get the same effect, if you start the `Exchange' program of the Workbench and select `Show Interface'.
Using the `Exchange' program, you can stop DFA (hit `Remove'), or to make it inactive (hit `Inactive'), or active respectively.
The application icon supplies two functions:
Please notice:
To use the AREXX functions of the DFA-Editor, the DFA-Server has to run simutaneously.
The AREXX interface has been rewritten from scratch for DFA 2.0. Some commands have been added...
... some old commands have been changed or improved regarding their syntax:
Most of all, however, I've changed the order of the fields within an address item, which is returned by several commands like `FIRST', `NEXT', `GETCURRENT', etc.
The reason for doing so is that I thought it would be a good idea to have the same order of the fields in the AREXX interface as in the DFA-Editor edit window, as this makes it much easier to remember which meaning the different numbers of an address field have (cf. section Format of the Address Field).
DFA (i.e. the DFA-Server) usually accepts AREXX commands
at any time, even if the DFA-Editor and/or the DFA-Preferences
program is running at the same time.
It is possible, however, that the execution of an AREXX command
will be delayed if someone for example is just editing an address
within the Edit window of the DFA-Editor. The reason
for this safety protocol can be explained easily: As the addresses are
kept in memory only once, all DFA related programs have
access to the same address list. By the protocol described above, I
want to make sure that no part of the DFA package tries to
use addresses that another part of DFA has already deleted
(this would sooner or later cause the machine to crash).
The basics of the AREXX programming language can be found in the AREXX manual that comes along with AMIGA--OS 2.0 or better or in the "AREXX User's Reference Manual"(1).
The AREXX port that has to be used to address DFA is
`DFA', as long as you did not change this name by the tooltype
PORTNAME, as described in section Tooltypes.
This should only be done, if you have
another program running that uses the portname `DFA', as well, and
you don't want to use DFA's feature to choose a clear
portname.
A further remark on the Load, Append, and Save as
commands:
If you give a filename, you should always use the complete pathname, as otherwise it is very likely that the file can't be found or is written to a place you don't expect. Refering to the home directory of DFA doesn't make much sense, as DFA is often placed in another drawer than the address files and, furthermore, as DFA remembers the recently loaded filename and uses it for loading and saving.
Beyond the item Syntax,
the possible parameters are listed. The
description of the parameters follows the known style given by
Commodore, here is its meaning:
FORM/K either as
FORM=ALL or FORM=SELECTED or FORM=ACTIVE.
The equal sign = may be left out.
yes, on, no or off is expected (not case
sensitive). According to the keyword you provide, the option is
switched on or off respectively.
Please notice that you may not use the equal sign (=)
between the parameter and the modifier.
The following examples may give you an idea, how this switch can be
used:
gui input off output on gui input yes output ON gui input NO output offImportant: Starting with version 2.2 of DFA the behaviour of this /T switch changed a bit, so please adopt your Arexx scripts accordingly.
The exact syntax for every AREXX command can be found below, see section Arexx commands, for details.
Important:
The AREXX interface of DFA gives you a powerful instrument
to manage the stored addresses. A wider range of functionality,
however, implements more ways of loosing your data! This could happen not
only by a malfunction of DFA, but also by an improper used function or
parameter. Therefore, I encourage you to make regular copies of your
databases
to keep the potential damage as small as possible.
If ADDRESS/M is listed in the return code section, this
means that the corresponding command returns the wanted address if it
has been executed successfully. The address can be found either in the
variable given together with the AREXX keyword STEM or
VAR or in the default variable RESULTS.
Example:
/* Outputs the first address */ ADDRESS "DFA" OPTIONS RESULTS /* Please notice the full stop behind 'TEST' ! */ FIRST STEM TEST. SAY TEST.ADDRESS.2 EXIT
This short example outputs the name of the first entry of the address list.
The STEM keyword returns the address in the form of a list,
i.e. the address items appear in `TEST.ADDRESS.0' through `TEST.ADDRESS.25'.
In `TEST.ADDRESS.COUNT' you can find the number of entries of the
address array. The VAR keyword lets DFA return the
desired address as well, but the whole address is stored in one single
variable, separated by spaces. Please consult your AREXX manual
for further details.
The address fields correspond to the following "numbers":
About window of DFA is opened
FORCE
additionally. It is possible to use the PROMPT parameter, which
will supply a file requester to input the desired filename of the
address database to append.
RC2:
RC
and RC2 (see section The FREELOCK Command).
RC2:
/S switch I implemented the /T toggle
switch, which is more flexible.
ON or YES or off
(OFF or NO). If you call CHANGEGROUPS without any
parameter, the group selection keeps unchanged.
/* Activate groups 1 through 6 */ /* The group selection for groups 7 and 8 is not changed */ ADDRESS 'DFA' CHANGEGROUPS GROUP1 ON GROUP2 ON GROUP3 ON GROUP4 ON GROUP5 ON GROUP6 ON
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
EDIT 'COMMENT="A test that contains spaces"'Please remember to use
' for the outer and " for the
inner quotes!
Since version 2.2 of DFA has been completed, the behavior of
the /T modifiers has slightly changed. If you want to switch a
/T parameter on, you have to supply a `ON' or `YES'
just behind the according parameter. To switch a parameter off, use
the keywords `OFF' or `NO', e.g.
EDIT GROUP1 ON GROUP2 OFF GROUP8 ON SELECT ON
RC2:
New function of the DFA-Editor.
RC2:
/* * Example for an AREXX script that may be used in * connection with the New function of the DFAEditor. * * It sets the salutation and name fields with contents * */ address 'DFA' edittemplate 'salutation="Mr" name="<still unknown>"' exit
ADDRESS variable.
RC2:
ATTEMPTLOCK command
(cf. section The ATTEMPTLOCK Command), you should free the locked file as soon as
possible using the FREELOCK command, to give other members of
the LAN the chance to access this address file.
RC2:
RC2:
RESULT or within the variable you
can give together with the VAR or STEM keyword.
OR
UND.
OwnDevUnit.library:
OwnDevUnit.library is not used.
OwnDevUnit.library is used.
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
CURRENT) or all selected
(SELECTED) addresses are deleted! If you use the
KILL command without a parameter, it has the same meaning as
if you had given the CURRENT parameter, i.e. the current
address (as long as there is one) is deleted.
RC2:
ADDRESS.
RC2:
FORCE parameter. Please notice that using the
FORCE option throws away any changes you applied to the former
loaded addresses.
Instead of giving a filename, it is possible to use the PROMPT
parameter, which will supply a file requester to input the desired
filename.
RC2:
RC2:
FORCE option
additionally.
Using the parameter PROMPT enables a file requester to input
the new filename.
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
Edit window is opened and the current address is displayed,
if there is one. The execution of the Arexx script is halted
until the Edit window is closed.
RC2:
Edit window is opened only if there is a current address,
otherwise an error code is returned (see above).
RC2:
RC2:
WHICH can get the following keywords:
ALL
SELECTED
ACTIVE
FILE parameter gets a filename. The addresses are written
to this file instead of printed on the printer.
NLQ
FORM keyword can get the numbers 0 through 4.
These numbers have the same meaning as the order of the print forms in
the print window, but starting with 0 instead of 1.
0: Short address list 1: Long address list 2: Telephone list 3: mailing labels, [70mm x 46mm] 4: address cards
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
Salutation fields are searched.
First fields are searched.
Name fields are searched.
Street fields are searched.
c/o fields are searched.
ZIP fields are searched.
City fields are searched.
State fields are searched.
Country fields are searched.
Birthday fields are searched.
Phone fields are searched.
Fax fields are searched.
EMail1 fields are searched.
EMail2 fields are searched.
EMail3 fields are searched.
Comment fields are searched.
RC2:
/* * Look for all names beginning with M. * Make no difference between upper and lower case. */ ADDRESS 'DFA' SEARCH 'M#?' IGNORECASE NAME
SEARCH.
If the search succeeded, the found address is returned. If the
DFA-Editor is currently running, the address listview is
updated.
RC2:
RC2:
RC2:
QUERY parameter, the current address is not selected,
but its selection state (0 or 1) is returned.
RC2:
OR or AND.
SALUTATION, FIRSTNAME, NAME, CO,
STREET, ZIP, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY,
BIRTHDAY, PHONE, FAX, EMAIL1, EMAIL2,
EMAIL3, COMMENT.
If you want to delete a sort criteria, just give CLEAR instead of
a field name.
Sort parameters:
RC2:
Below the usual error code that can be found in the RC
variable (2) the AREXX interface of
DFA returns a second return value in the variable RC2,
which describes in further detail what has gone wrong.
Bolow you'll find the error numbers and their meaning:
Symbolic Name Meaning 10 RXERR_NONETWORKAPPEND....Could not append file, as the network mode is activated 11 RXERR_MODIFIED...........The address file has been changed 12 RXERR_NOFILENAME.........No filename has been supplied 13 RXERR_NOCURRENT..........No current address available 14 RXERR_NOFIRST............No first address available 15 RXERR_NOICONIFY..........Iconifying the Editor went wrong 16 RXERR_NONETWORKKILL......Deleting addresses is not allowed while in network mode 17 RXERR_NOLAST.............There is no last address 18 RXERR_NOLOAD.............The address file could not be loaded 19 RXERR_NONETWORKNEW.......It is not possible to enter new addresses in network mode 20 RXERR_NONEXT.............There is no next address 21 RXERR_NONEXTSEL..........There is no next selected address 22 RXERR_NOPREV.............There is no previous address 23 RXERR_NOPREVSEL..........There is no previous selected address 24 RXERR_SYNTAX.............The AREXX command contained an syntax error 25 RXERR_WRITEALL...........The "printing" of addresses (all) into a file went wrong 26 RXERR_WRITESEL...........The "printing" of addresses (selected) into a file went wrong 27 RXERR_WRITECURRENT.......The "printing" of the current address into a file went wrong 28 RXERR_NOSAVE.............The address file could not be saved 29 RXERR_NONETWORKSAVE......Saving your address database is not allowed in network mode 30 RXERR_NOTFOUND...........The wanted address could not be found 31 RXERR_NONETWORKCLEAR.....Unselecting addresses is not allowed while being in network mode 32 RXERR_NONETWORKSELECT....Selecting addresses is not allowed in network mode 33 RXERR_NONETWORKSORT......Sorting addresses is not allowed while being in network mode 34 RXERR_NONETWORKEDIT......Editing addresses is not allowed while being in network mode 35 RXERR_OPNPRT.............Could not open printer device 36 RXERR_CRTEXTIO...........Could not reach the printer (ExtIO could not be initialized) 37 RXERR_CRTPORT............Could not reach the printer (Could not open message port) 38 RXERR_NOMEM..............No more RAM available 39 RXERR_NORELOAD...........Reloading the address file went wrong 40 RXERR_NOWRITELOCK........could not get write access to the address file 41 RXERR_NODIR..............Could not locate the needed drawer 42 RXERR_NOFILE.............Could not find the address file 43 RXERR_APPENDFAILED.......Appending an address file went wrong 44 RXERR_ENVCHANGED.........Execution of the current AREXX command has been canceled, as the environment changed (e.g. new address file) 45 RXERR_NOEXTERNAL.........Trying to access the external file had no success 46 RXERR_NOSERIALDEV........Could not open serial device 47 RXERR_NOPHONENUM.........Current address doesn't have a phone number 48 RXERR_SERNOCARRIER.......Phone: No Carrier 49 RXERR_SERNODIALTONE......Phone: No dialtone 50 RXERR_SERRING............Phone: Ring 51 RXERR_SERBUSY............Phone: Line is busy 52 RXERR_SEROK..............Phone: Modem sent 'Ok' 53 RXERR_SERERROR...........Phone: Modem recognized an error 54 RXERR_SERCONNECT.........Phone: Data connect 55 RXERR_SERVOICE...........Phone: Voice connect 56 RXERR_SERUNKNOWN.........Error caused by the serial device 57 RXERR_OPNPRFS............The preferences file could not be opened
The DFA-Editor is the graphical user interface of DFA.
It can be started seperately or may be invoked (by the hotkey for example) out of the DFA-Server.
If you click once on the DFA-Editor icon and then activate the Information program of the Workbench, you may adjust the following tooltypes:
PUBSCREEN
If you enter the name of a public screen together with this
tooltype, you may select an alternate (public) screen
for the DFA-Editor to open on.
For example:
PUBSCREEN=TERM
If the given public screen exists when the DFA-Editor comes
up, it opens its window(s) on this screen, otherwise on the default
public screen, usually the Workbench screen.
UPPERPUBSCREEN
If you enter `UPPERPUBSCREEN=YES', you tell the
DFA-Editor to open its window(s) on the frontmost
public screen. If the current frontmost screen isn't public,
the DFA-Editor comes up on the screen you selected with the
tooltype PUBSCREEN; if this fails as well, the
DFA-Editor opens its window(s) on the default public screen.
GUIDEFILE
To make the online help work, the DFA-Editor has to know
where to find the online help file. This can be done via the tooltype
GUIDEFILE. This tooltype is usually already set by the install
program.
DFAPREFS
As the DFA-Preferences program can be started directly out of
the DFA-Editor, the DFA-Editor has to know where to
find the DFA-Preferences program. The complete path name must
be given with the tooltype DFAPREFS and is already set by the
install program usually.
If you start the DFA-Editor from the shell (or the CLI), it uses the tooltypes of the corresponding `.info' file! However, you may overwrite these settings by giving one or more of the following CLI parameters:
PUBSCREEN/K,UPPERPUBSCREEN/K,GUIDEFILE/K,DFAPREFS/K
This means, you may use...
The main window of the DFA-Editor can be resized using the sizing gadget on the lower right corner of the window. The window contents automatically adapts to the new window dimensions.
As the main window is a socalled application window, you may drag the icon of an address file on this window and drop it to let the DFA-Editor load the corresponding address file.
The main window of the DFA-Editor gives you the following possibilities:
Cursor down The next address becomes the current one.
SHIFT+Cursor down The list scrolls up by one page.
CRTL+Cursor down The last address becomes the current one.
Cursor up The previous address becomes the current one.
SHIFT+Cursor up The list scrolls down by one page.
CRTL+Cursor up The first address becomes the current one.
The current entry is selected.
SPACE To make this state visible, the current entry
is leaded by a `>' character.
RETURN Activates the Full window, as long as
there is an active address item.
SHIFT+RETURN Activates the Edit window, as long as
there is an active address item.
SHIFT+SPACE Set the start of the block or the end of the
block respectively
RSHIFT+[a-z] Quick--Search:
Right-Shift together with a letter activate
the first address starting with this letter
You may select entries of the address list with Shift Left
Mousebutton or Middle Mousebutton Left Mousebutton (3-Button
mouse needed); alternatively you may hit SPACE on the keyboard.
If you hit RETURN, it has the same effect as if you had selected
the Full button: The current address is displayed in another
window in further detail (please see section Full for
details). Synonymously you may hit SHIFT RETURN to envoce
the Edit window (see section Edit).
SHIFT SPACE sets the start and end of the block. After the
block end is set, the selection state of all items between start end
end of the block is toggled, i.e. the selected addresses become
deselected and vice versa. The same result can be reached if you use
the left mouse button together with the SHIFT qualifier.
The Quick Search function
gives you a mean to navigate to the near of the desired address
quickly. DFA always looks for the 1st sort criteria;
therefore, your address must be sorted to make the Quick Search
function work correctly.
Please notice that you may change the fields of the addresses that are
displayed in the address listview using the DFA-Preferences
program.
ALT+Cursor down The list scrolls up by one line.Of course, the list can only be scrolled if there is 1st an active entry and 2nd more lines to display than visible at the same time. The contents of this listview can be configured in quite a wide range (see DFA-Preferences: Panel Listview, for details).
ALT+Cursor up The list scrolls down by one line.
Ok (or RETURN) all entries
of the address list are selected that match the pattern. The
difference to the Search function is that 1st you can't toggle
case sensitivity and 2nd all address fields are searched through.
Furthermore, all matching items are marked, and the first
matching item is activated. A detailed description of the allowed
search patterns can be found in section Search.
At the lower end of the main window of the DFA-Editor you can
find the gadgets Quit
and Remove.
If you hit Quit, the DFA-Editor is terminated! The
DFA-Server, if it is currently running, is not ended however,
so you can still reach the DFA-Editor by a doubleclick on the
application icon
and/or the hotkey (default: Left Amiga F5)
If you select Remove, not only the DFA-Editor is ended,
but also any currently running DFA-Server.
If you terminate the DFA-Editor using Quit or
Remove, the addresses are saved if they had been modified before.
This behaviour can be customized in the DFA-Preferences
however.
It is possible reach the so called tool gadgets from the DFA-Editor. Using these gadgets, you can easily reach the following functions :
Edit, you may change the current entry. If there is
no current address, this button is "ghosted" and can't be
selected (cf. section Edit).
New, you may enter a new address. The
functions within this window are nearly the same as within the Edit
window; see section New for details.
Search Next can be selected only if there has been given a
search pattern previously using the Search function. If this is
the case, the next matching entry is displayed (not marked!).
Print, another window pops up which
gives you several ways to print your addresses, as it is described in
section Print.
Sort sorts the complete address list. As long as you use the
default setting, the list is sorted by name, first name and city (in
this order). If you prefer another sort order, you may change it in
the DFA-Preferences.
Please notice that there is a corresponding menu item for every tool gadget. All functions can, therefore, be reached by keyboard shortcuts as well!
The About window gives you some useful information about the
program and the author:
The window which pops up as soon as you select the Info menu
item, gives you some useful information:
DFA's AREXX port. Usually
this is `DFA'. However, you can change the portname by changing
the PORTNAME tooltype (of the DFA server program!)
If you have already started a program that uses the portname
DFA, DFA adapts the portname by appending "numbers" (e.g.
`DFA.1', `DFA.2',...) until a clear portname is found.
If you want to create a new, i.e. empty address file,
you use this menu item. A new address file named unnamed.dfa is
created. You may use the Save as... menu item to save this
address file under another name.
Be careful:
Please, never use Save as default after you created a new
file to save it, as the new address file (the empty one!) would
overwrite your old "default" address file, which means that the old
addresses would have been lost!
Use Open to load another address file. The currently loaded
addresses are not kept in memory but replaced by the loaded! After you
selected Load, a file requester pops up, which lets you enter
the address file. Notice that only files with the proper format can be loaded
--- files that have been created by DFA before!
Files with the wrong format can't be loaded by DFA and the
addresses in RAM are kept unchanged!
Append allows you to append further addresses to the existing
ones. The addresses in RAM are not deleted before. Be
careful! If you append two identical address lists, every entry will
appear twice, which is usually not desired.
It is possible to set the group selection for the addresses that are to be
appended in the little window that appears after you selected
Append. These group selection flags are set to all addresses
that shall be loaded!
Please notice that existing group flags of addresses in the file to append are not erased! This means that you may only add new group flags to the addresses but not unset existing ones!
Ok accepts the set group selection and appends the selected
address file; Cancel not only cancels the group selection, but
the complete appending procedure, i.e. no addresses are appended!
Save saves the addresses with the current name. The current
name is either the one you entered in the preferences (default:
`DFA:Addressfiles/Default.dfa') or the one you selected before when loading an
address file.
Save as saves the address as well. However, you are able to
select a filename before (a file requester pops up). This may be
useful if you have several address files for different purposes, or
you've created a new address file just before (cf.
section New file) and want to enter a new name for
your address file.
The addresses will be saved with the name specified in the preferences
(default: `s:adr.file'), if you select Save as default, even
if you loaded a file with another name before.
Be careful:
If you have loaded an address file with other than the default name
before (or you've created a new address file), you should not use
Save as default, as the current address file would
overwrite the default address file.
Quit ends the DFA-Editor! The DFA-Server, if
it is currently running, is not ended, so the DFA-Editor
still can be reached by a double click on the application icon
or by the hotkey (Default: Left Amiga F5).
Select Remove
to end not only the DFA-Editor but a currently running
DFA-Server as well.
If you end the DFA-Editor using Quit or Remove
DFA, the addresses are saved if they have been modified. This
behaviour can be customized in the DFA-Preferences program
however.
Shows the current entry in a separate window. All fields of the address are displayed here; See section Full.
Using Edit gives you the chance to change the current address
item, if there is one. If there is no current entry, the corresponding
button is "ghosted" and can't be selected (see section Edit).
Select New to enter a new address. The functions inside
of this window are exactly the same as within the Edit window;
see section New for details.
Use Kill to delete either the current entry (if there is one)
or all marked addresses. To make sure that nobody deletes precious
addresses, a savety requester pops up.
This function makes it possible to copy the current address to the clipboard (unit 0).
Every other program that supplies clipboard support, can access these data.
After you have selected this menu item, another window pops up that allows you to change the group flags of one, several or all addresses fast and comfortably.
Any of the 8 cycle gadgets takes effect to the corresponding group flag. You may either keep, set or clear each flag.
Please notice that these actions take effect only to the active addresses, i.e. the addresses that can be seen within the main address listview.
Hit Active to change the current address (if there exists one),
Marked to change all marked addresses and All to (un)set
the group flags of all (visible) addresses.
Another window pops up that allows you to enter several search criteria (cf. section Search):
Search Next can be selected only, if there has been given a
search pattern previously using the Search function. If this is
the case, the next matching entry is displayed (not marked!).
After you have selected Print, another window pops up, which
gives you several ways to print your addresses, as it is described in
section Print.
Sort sorts the complete address list. As long as you use the
default setting, the list is sorted by name, first name and city (in
this order). If you prefer another sort order, you may change it in
the DFA-Preferences.
Another window pops up, which allows you to dial phone numbers (cf. section Dial).
This menu item has the two submenus All and None;
accordingly all group flags are either selected or deselected.
The DFA-Preferences program is loaded. Please notice that the
tooltype DFAPREFS of the DFA-Editor has to be set
correctly to enable the DFA-Editor to find the
DFA-Preferences program! This has usually already been done
by the install program.
The window that pops up will be quite familiar to you, as it is exactly the same as in section Edit or section New. You may enter several presets here, which are automatically copied into the corresponding fields, just before you enter a new address. The template strings are saved in the address file, so it is possible to have different templates for every address file.
This toggle menu switches the usage of the template script on or off. As soon as the Template script is not used, the usual template address will be used (see section Edit Template.
This toggle menu item switches the usage of the postprocess on or off. As soon as the postprocess script is used, the AREXX script that may be selected from within the DFA-Preferences, will be executed after the input of a new address.
Dieses Umschalt-Menü schaltet die Nutzung des Nachbearbeitungs-Arexx-Skripts ein oder aus. Sobald das Nachbearbeitungs-Skript benutzt wird, wird nach der Eingabe einer neuen Adresse das in den DFA-Preferences eingestellte AREXX-Skript ausgeführt.
This menu item can only be selected if you have activated the network mode before.
Starting with version 2.0, DFA supplies a simple network mode. This network mode has been developed to make it possible for several connected computers to use the same address file. The problem that comes up, when an address file is used by more than one user at the same time is the following:
If several users change the address file at the same time, the last saved address file overwrites the previously saved ones. The previously saved changes are lost!
DFA tries to solve this problem in the following way:
If the network mode is active, all operations that change the address database are forbidden, i.e. saving, changing, marking of addresses is not possible. It is allowed however, to view the addresses (`Full'), to scroll within the address list, to print the addresses and so on.
If you want to do some changes on the addresses, you have to obtain write access to the address file. This can be done using the AREXX command `ATTEMPTLOCK' or by selecting the menu item `Write Access' in the DFA-Editor.
If your try to get write access was successful, you may change the addresses. If you've completed your changes, you should free the write access using either the AREXX command `FREELOCK' or the menu item `Write Access' in the DFA-Editor. After you have done so, other members of the LAN can get write access to this address file.
Instead of getting permanent write access, the DFA-Editor supplies the socalled "auto lock mode". This mode is activated automatically, as soon as you've switched on the network mode. If you want to change anything, the DFA-Editor tries to get write access to the address file automatically and releases the write access as soon as the change is done.
Select this menu item, if you want to load another preferences file. Using this feature of DFA makes it possible to use different settings for different purposes, i.e. for different address files.
As the window coordinates and several other settings of the DFA-Editor are saved together with the preferences that can be tuned in the DFA-Preferences program, there is the opportunity to save the preferences not only from within the DFA-Preferences program, but from the DFA-Editor as well using this menu item.
If you want to save the settings with another name than the default (this makes sense, if you use different preferences files), select this menu item. A file requester pops up and you may select the wanted file name.
All AREXX scripts can be reached not only by the functions keys, but by these menu items as well.
Using one of these menu items, it is possible to sort the address display of the DFA-Editor. Depending on which menu item you select (`Salutation', `Name', etc.), the addresses are sorted in the desired way.
This sorting has only effect to the displayed addresses and is not permanet, i.e. the sorting refers to the display of the addresses only, and not to the internal managment of the addresses! Because of this, the original order of the addresses is restored, as soon as you change the group selection, for example; the addresses are saved in the original order as well.
Someone may ask now by himself, what sense a sort function make that
has an effect only for quite a short time. But wouldn't it be nice to
sort the addresses by their ZIP on demand, just to look which
people live near to each other. Or sort the display by the city and
you have all addresses of a specified town listed one beyond the
other.
On the long run, such a sorting doesn't make much sense. Therefore, to sort the addresses permanently, the usual sort function in connection to the DA-Preferences programm has to be used.
Please notice:
If you've just sorted your display, the Quick Search
function (RSHIFT <letter>) cannot work correctly! In this case,
restore the original sort order; either by changing the group
selection or by selecting the "normal" sort function.
Full can only be selected if there is a current address! If
this is the case, another window pops up (title: Full
address...), which displays all fields of the current
address.
If there is an external file for the current address, you may select
the View external button to start the ASCII viewer
together with the corresponding external file.
7
Please notice that the ASCII viewer of your choice may be entered in the DFA-Preferences program (cf. section Edit).
The listview that displays the different fields of the current address may be scrolled as follows:
Cursor down The listview scrolls up.
Cursor up The listview scrolls down.
Below this listview there is a gadget panel that may be used to step through the addresses:
Ok
closes the window, Edit
opens the Edit window. The Edit window is described in
further detail in section Edit.
If a current address exists (cf. section Full), a window pops up, where you may change any part of the address. The string gadgets have some additional features compared to the "original" ones:
NewList).
As soon as no string gadget is activated, you may move through the address list using the cursor keys:
Cursor right Show next address Cursor left Show previous address SHIFT+Cursor right Show next selected address SHIFT+Cursor left Show previous selected address CRTL+Cursor right Show last address CRTL+Cursor left Show first address
The Edit fields are:
Address Address
First First name
Name Name
c/o may be used for additional information
Street Street/No.
Zip Zip
City City
State State
Country Country
Birthday Birthday
Phone Telphone number. Seperate multiple phone numbers
by a pipe sign (|).
Fax Telefax number
Email1 email address # 1
Email2 email address # 2
Email3 email address # 3
Comment Comment
Please notice that it is possible to enter more than one phone number
into the Phone field. These numbers can be dialed correctly as
well, as long as you separate them by a pipe sign (|).
Using the Address selected checkbox you may set (or unset) the
selection state of the current address.
If you hit External
you activate the ASCII--Editor (default:
`ed'). This makes sense if you want to enter a long text (for
example: How to find the way to Joe User, living in New York City).
When you have finished your input, save the file with the given
name and quit the editor. The DFA-Editor remembers the file
name, so it is then possible to access this external file e.g.
from the Full window (cf. section Full) or from the
Edit window to modify it.
As soon as there is an external file for the current address item,
the Del. button can be used to delete
an external file as soon as you no longer need it.
All external files get their unique file name from DFA. This
file name is guaranteed to be unique within the given directory
(default: `s:DFAExternals'). DFA only saves the
filename -- not the file itself, so this is completely up to you.
Please do not change the filename given by DFA, as if you do
so, DFA will no longer be able to find this file! If you want
to delete one (or more) external files, you have to use the
Del. function of this window. This is the only way to make sure
that not only the file itself is deleted, but the filename, which is
stored by DFA as well!
You may set your favourite ASCII editor, as well as the wanted directory for the external files, in the DFA-Preferences program.
Hit Ok
to use the changes; if you select
Cancel
instead, all changes are discarded.
New opens a window that looks exactly like the Edit
window! Nearly all functions within this window are the same as in
the Edit window (see section Edit for details),
with the following exceptions:
Edit Template
(cf. section Edit Template), are copied into the
new address fields just before you can start entering new data.
EDITTEMPLATE for
example.
The advantage you can get out of this feature is that it is possible
now to enter non-constant data into the address fields automatically. For
example you could write a script that enters the current date into the
comment field of the new address.
EDITTEMPLATE does nothing but to
change the fields of the template address. In connection with the
New command of the DFA-Editor, however, this AREXX command can
be seen to be "local", i.e. the changes you are doing in this AREXX
script are valid for the currently new address only! After you've entered
the address, the usual template address is restored.
In every other context, the changes you do using the EDITTEMPLATE
AREXX command, stay permanent!
Not all AREXX commands can be used within this AREXX script,
due to the conflicts this could lead to (e.g. the AREXX command
EDIT).
If you are not sure, if the usage of an AREXX command is possible
--- just try it out.
New function of DFA works.
GETCURRENT e.g. can't return it.
EDITOTEMPLATE out of the template script.
Edit--Window is opened -- the new address can be entered.
EDITTEMPLATE command works no longer local here!
Furthermore the GETCURRENT command does return the just entered
new address.
Next New button, you may finish the input of the current
address and start to enter another one, without having to leave the
window.
You may enter several search criteria in this window.
Search starts the search. If a matching item is found, the
address listview scrolls to the corresponding place and the matching
entry becomes the current one.
Cancel terminates the search.
This window contains all functions that may be used to print the addresses.
All), the marked (Selected)
and the active address (Active). If there is an active item, it
will be shown in the Active Item field.
PRT:) or to a file
(File). If you print your addresses to a file, the settings
below don't take effect. Notice that always all parts of an address
are written to the file!
NLQ or
Condensed style (or both).
If you select Formfeed,
a formfeed is performed after the very
last printed address entry. To switch this off will be useful,
if you want to print a few address labels only and you don't want to
waste these sheets.
File for output, a file requester will be
opened, which allows you to enter the filename. Be careful! This
output file is not compatible to the internal address file
format (default: `s:adr.file'); so don't overwrite this (these)
file(s). To write the addresses to a file may be useful if you want to
export addresses, but don't wan't to use AREXX.
If you send your addresses to the printer (PRT:), another
window is opened that displays the progress of printing. You may stop
the output after every complete address (Cancel). If only the
active item is printed, no progress indicator is shown.
Cancel terminates the complete printing process.
Please notice:
Of course, DFA's abilities to print are a bit limited, and it can't compete with the abilities of a DTP program. I think, however, that it does make much more sense to let programs print your addresses that are specialized in printing. Such programs give you much more features and often result in a much better printing quality than an address utility could ever reach. So DFA should be used to supply the stored addresses to (spezialized) printing programs and not not print the addresses by itself. An ideal mean for this purpose is the AREXX port for sure, which is not only part of DFA, but of many printing programs as well.
Even if your favourite printing program doesn't have an AREXX port, you may use DFA's AREXX interface to export and format the address, so other programs can easily use them.
For owners of modems only!
If you have a modem connected to your computer, it is possible to let the computer dial the stored phone number(s). If you have entered more than one number into the phone field, they must be seperated by a pipe sign (|). When you start dialing a status window pops up. You may either dial the current address or all selected addresses.
You can cancel the dialing at any time (Cancel) or skip the current
number (Skip).
To be able to let the computer dial phone numbers, it is needed that
you connected your modem to the socket and your phone to the modem.
After DFA has successfully dialed the number, you have to
transfer the connection from the modem to the phone; hit Cancel
to do so.
If the line is just busy, DFA redials until it succeeds or the maximum number of phone calls is reached.
The modem settings can be changed in the DFA-Preferences program.
The DFA-Preferences program (filename: `DFAPrefs') may be used to configure DFA. It can be started from the DFA-Editor (menu item `Settings->Preferences') as well as directly from the Workbench or the Shell.
If you click on the DFA-Editor icon once and then activate the Information program of the Workbench, you may adjust the following tooltypes:
PUBSCREEN
If you enter the name of a public screen together with this
tooltype, you may select an alternate (public) screen
for the DFA-Preferences program to open on.
For example:
PUBSCREEN=TERM
If the given public screen exists when the DFA-Preferences
program comes up, it opens its window(s) on this screen, otherwise on
the default public screen, usually the Workbench screen.
UPPERPUBSCREEN
If you enter `UPPERPUBSCREEN=YES', you tell the
DFA-Prefs program to open its window(s) on the frontmost
public screen. If the current frontmost screen isn't public,
the DFA-Preferences program comes up on the screen you
selected with the tooltype PUBSCREEN; if this fails as well,
the DFA-Preferences program opens its window(s) on the
default public screen.
GUIDEFILE
To make the online help work, the DFA-Preferences program has
to know where to find the online help file. This can be done via the
tooltype GUIDEFILE. The default for this Tool Type is set by
the install program.
If you start the DFA-Preferences program from the shell (or the CLI), it uses the tooltypes of the corresponding `.info' file! However, you may overwrite these setting by giving one or more of the following CLI parameters:
PUBSCREEN/K, UPPERPUBSCREEN/K, GUIDEFILE/K
This means, you may use...
From the main window you can reach all subwindows. You may either open one subwindow at a time or several subwindows at the same time.
Please notice that all settings that you confirm using Ok
become active at once and stay active until you change them again or
leave DFA.
Saves the preferences.
Saves the preferences temporarily to `ENV:DFA/DFA.prefs', i.e. the preferences stay active until you reboot the computer.
Removes a running DFA application, i.e. the DFA-Server and the DFA-Editor will be terminated, if they are currently running.
Quits the DFA-Preferences program.
In the About window you'll find something useful about the
program itself and the author:
A file requester pops up and you may select another than the default preferences file. After loading the preferences file, all open windows are updated to the new settings.
See See section Save Preferences.
A file requester pops up and you may enter the name under which you want to save the current settings.
See See section Use Preferences.
See See section Remove DFA.
See See section Quit Preferences.
All values are reset to the builtin default values.
The preferences are reset to the vaules last saved in in `ENVARC:DFA/DFA.prefs'.
The preferences are reset to the vaules last saved in in `ENV:DFA/DFA.prefs'.
XPos and YPos make it possible to
enter the application icon's position
on the Workbench screen (referring to the upper left corner of the
screen)
Alternatively to this direct input of raw coordinates there is a more
convenient possibility to change the application icon's position:
As soon as you click (once) on the cycle gadget Open position
window, a small window (title: Move me) is opened. This window
can be moved (using the mouse) on the Workbench. As soon as the
position fits your wishes you should click on the gadget Close position
window (the same gadget as before, just with another text in it). The
Move Me window is closed and the new icon position is displayed
in the XPos and YPos gadgets.
Using the checkbox gadget Show,
you can switch the application icon on and off.
It is possible to reach the DFA-Editor via an menu item of the Workbench's "Tools" menu while the DFA-Server is running. To enable the menu item, switch this checkbox on.
There are several ways to make sure that your addresses are saved regularly:
Quit or Remove.
Remove function (i.e. you quit the
complete DFA application), but not if you use the Quit
function.
Be careful:
Please notice that the functions Quit and Remove of
the DFA-Editor are exactly the same, if you don't have
the DFA-Server program running at the same time! If there is
running only the DFA-Editor and you've choosen Remove
only for auto save mode, changed addresses are not
saved, if you select Quit in the DFA-Editor.
If you want DFA to save an icon together with the address files, you have to switch this checkbox to ON state. To get an icon for every address database file make sense e.g. if you like to use DFA's application window.
If you select this checkbox, DFA tries to use an alternate window layout for some windows. E.g. the edit window will appear with more space for the string gadgets. If you select this hires mode and don't have anough space on your screen (640x400 pixels should be sufficient), DFA falls back to the original space-saving window layout automatically.
Not everyone likes DFA informing everybody about how many
addresses are sorted, saved, loaded and so on. If you select
Secret Mode, instead of the number of addresses, three dots are
displayed.
Starting with version 2.0, DFA supplies a simple network mode. This network mode has been developed to make it possible for several connected computers to use the same address file. The problem that comes up, when an address file is used by more than one user at the same time is the following:
If several users change the address file at the same time, the last saved address file overwrites the previously saved ones. The previously saved changes are lost!
DFA tries to solve this problem in the following way:
If the network mode is active, all operations that change the address database are forbidden, i.e. saving, changing, marking of addresses is not possible. It is allowed however, to view the addresses (`Full'), to scroll within the address list, to print the addresses and so on.
If you want to do some changes on the addresses, you have to obtain write access to the address file. This can be done using the AREXX command `ATTEMPTLOCK' or by selecting the menu item `Write Access' in the DFA-Editor.
If your try to get write access was successful, you may change the addresses. If you've completed your changes, you should free the write access using either the AREXX command `FREELOCK' or the menu item `Write Access' in the DFA-Editor. After you have done so, other members of the LAN can get write access to this address file.
Network mode may be used to switch the
network mode on and off. Please notice, however, that using this feature
makes only sense if you really have a network installed and want to
access the same address file from several computers.
This window may be used to configure the main (address) listview of the DFA-Editor:
Each line of the address listview contains one address. Each line may have up to eight columns. Each column can display any field of the particular address.
12345678...if there are all groups flags set. For every group that isn't set, instead of the corresponding group number, there will be displayed a minus sign (`-'). Some examples:
123----- Only the groups 1,2 and 3 are set 1-3-5-- Only the groups 1,3 and 5 are set ------78 Only the groups 7 and 8 are set -------- No group flag is set
Weight gadget that is too large,
the program corrects the value and replaces it with the highest
possible number.
As the display of the group flags needs a fixed number of eight
characters, it is not possible to give a weight for this field.
Used [%] and Free [%], which
display the used and free space respectively.
Column gadget) and then hit the
Clear column gadget.
Please notice that "empty" columns are not possible! Only the
columns in front of the first cleared column are displayed.
Example:
You have set the columns 1,2,3 and 4 to the fields `Name', `FirstName', `Phone' and `Town'. If you clear column 3 (`Phone') and select
Ok, only columns 1 and 2 (`Name' und `FirstName') are still visible.
Ok you accept the changes you've done; if the
DFA-Editor is currently running, the changes are applied to
it and are visible at once. Cancel discards the changes.
This all may have sounded a bit complicated, so I'll give you an example that shall make clear in a step by step procedure, how to configure your "own" format for the address listview:
Let's say, you want the following format of the listview's lines:
<First Name> <Name> <Phone> <Group Flags> 30% 30% 40% ---...then you should do like this:
Click on the
Columnsgadget until `Column 1' is shown. Now select `First name' in theFieldslistview and enter `30' into theWeightstring gadget. Click once on theColumnsgadget -- `Column 2' appears. Select `Name' in theFieldslistview and enter `30' into theWeightstring gadget. Click on theColumnsgadget once again -- `Column 3' appears -- and select `Phone' from theFieldslistview. Please enter `40' into theWeightstring gadget. One more click on theColumnsgadget brings `Column 4' to front. Now select `Group flags' from theFieldslistview. Please notice that theWeightgadget is displayed "ghosted" now and, therefore, no input into this gadget is possible; this is not needed either, as the group flags always need eight characters. Please click on theColumnsgadget one more time to make `Column 5' visible. SelectClear columnto make sure that the 5th column is "clear". HitOkto make the changes active -- if the DFA-Editor program is currently running, all changes will be visible at once.
Below the address listview of the DFA-Editor main window, there is another listview called "Panel listview". This is used to make further information about the current address visible. It is possible to display up to 16 lines. Every line can display any field of the address; the line title may be changed as well.
Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the number of lines that are visible at a time.
Lines cycle gadget makes the next line
number visible (`Line 1' through `Line 16'). After the last line
number (16) `Line 1' is displayed again.
Lines).
Clear
Column) it is needed here as well to explicitly delete lines you don't
want to use any longer. Please notice that only lines in front of the
first "cleared" line are displayed, even if there are lines with
contents behind the first cleared line. This means that empty lines
are not possible.
Ok you accept the changes and a currently running
DFA-Editor program is updated at once. Cancel discards
the changes.
The following example may help you to understand the Panel listview
configuration more easily:
Let's say you would like to get the following format in your
Panellistview<Title> <Contents> <Line 1> EMail: [EMail 1] <Line 2> [EMail 2] <Line 3> Comment: [Comment]Terms between the `[' and `]' brackets describe field names, terms between `<' and `>' brackets serve as description.
First click on the
Linescycle gadget, until `Line 1' appears (after the window has openedLine 1is usually visible already). Now select `EMail 1' from theFieldslistview and enter `EMail:' into theTitlestring gadget. Now click on theLinesgadget once -- `Line 2' should become visible. Select `EMail 2' from theFieldslistview and delete the contents of theTitlestring gadget, if it isn't empty already. One more click on theLinesgadget brings `Line 3' to front. Select `Comment' from theLineslistview and enter `Comment' into theTitlestring gadget. After one more click on theLinesgadget, please click on theClear linegadget to delete line four, if it isn't empty. HitOkto accept the changes. If the DFA-Editor is currently running, the changes will be made visible at once.
First of all, a few words about the group flags and their purpose and meaning:
It is possible to separate your addresses into groups and set the different group flags for every address item. Let's say you're using the first three (out of a maximum of eight) group flags and you've named them `Private', `Business' and `Other' (see section Groups, for more information).
Now you can set the `Private' flag to all private addresses, the `Business' flag to all business related addresses, and the `Other' flag to all address that don't belong to any of these groups. Of course, you may set more than one flag at a time, if an address is a private one and business related as well, for example.
In the main window of the DFA-Editor you can select the groups you would like to see within the address listview (or use the AREXX command `CHANGEGROUPS' accordingly). If you want to see the private and the business addresses, activate both checkbox gadgets. Please notice that all actions, for instance, printing and searching are performed on the active (i.e. displayed) addresses only!
In the
Groupswindow of the DFA--Preferences (cf. section Groups) you may set which kind of relation between the groups you like. If you have activated more than one group at the same time (in the example above `Private' and `Other'), you may select either the relation `via 'OR'' or the relation `via 'AND'':
- via 'OR' Every address that has at least one of the wanted flags set, is displayed. If you activate `Private' and `Other', all addresses will be displayed that have either set the `Private' or the `Other' flag or both flags.
- via 'AND' Only those addresses are shown that have set at least the groups you selected in the DFA-Editor main window. If the `Private' and the `Other' flags are both set, only addresses will be shown that have at least the `Private' and the `Other' flag set; addresses that have set only one of these flags are not shown.
Groups that don't have any group flags set can be made visible by deselecting all the group flags in the DFA-Editor main window (i.e. all check boxes are "empty").
Let's shift to the settings that are possible here:
Group _1 The group's name is `Group 1', its
shortcut is the digit 1
Pri_vate `Private' is used for the group name, the
keyboard shortcut is the v
Other (_3) `Other (3)' is the group's name, the digit 3
its keyboard shortcut
The length of the group titles is limited to 15 digits to make sure that no title overwrites the window contents and/or border.Please notice:
Even if it is possible to use any keyboard shortcut you like, as long as it is a usual letter, you should remember that DFA does not check if the keyboard shortcut you enter is unique within the DFA application. Therefore, you have to make sure by yourself that the keyboard shortcuts you want to use are not being used by other gadgets.
Please notice as well that the shortcut for the different groups are not only used within the DFA-Editor main window, but have to be unique in e.g. the DFA-Editor
Editwindow as well.The shortcuts which are guaranteed to be unique within the complete DFA application are the digits 1 through 8, which is the default as well.
Ok, the changes become active. If you hit Cancel
instead, all changes are lost.
The fonts that shall be used by the DFA-Editor and the
DFA-Preferences program can be set in this window. If you
don't change the default setting (Use System Font for every
font), all program parts use the fonts you set in the Font
Preferences program of the Workbench. Alternatively, you may set
any font you like for each of the four fonts used.
The settings set here only have meaning if you have a modem connected to your computer and plan to use DFA to dial the stored phone numbers.
Furthermore you should have a phone connected to your modem!
The following settings may be changed:
ATDP Pulse dial (default)
ATDT Tone dial
ATX3DP#WP Makes the modem wait for a dialtone after
sending a number (#). So it is possible
to call from a extension line.
Just substitute # by the number you would
usually enter to get a dialtone.
Serial device field.
Use OwnDevUnit checkbox. If there is no `OwnDevUnit.library'
installed on your computer, it can't be used of course.
The input you can do into Init String, Hangup String,
PredialString and Suff. Dial String, can be found in
the manual of your modem. In addition to the strings listed there,
DFA supports the following command sequences:
Tab character.
Escape character.
The file and pathnames used by DFA may be set here.
More comfortable than to enter the pathname into the string gadgets manually is to hit the button just behind the corresponding string gadget. If you do so, a file requester pops up and you may select the desired file or pathname.
Save as default.
ed, which can usually be found in the `C:' drawer of your
workbench, is an appropriate tool for example (default: `ed').
more program that comes along with your Workbench programs
(default: `more').
It is possible to bind one AREXX script to any function
key (F1 through F10) and any "shifted" function key
(SHIFT F1 through SHIFT F10). You may toggle between the 2
function key blocks using the Qualifier cycle gadget.
If you don't like to enter the name of the AREXX script (including its path) by hand, you may alternatively hit the button gadget just behind the corresponding string gadget (keyboard shortcut: SHIFT <digit>). If you do so, a file requester will pop up and the desired AREXX script can be selected.
The AREXX scripts you enter here can only be reached via the function keys from the main window of the DFA-Editor. In the `rexx' drawer of the DFA distribution, some example scripts can be found; all files suited for this purpose have the extension `.dfa'.
Into Template script you may enter the AREXX script, you want
to use together with the New function to change the template
address. Use script toggles the usage of this script on or off
respectively.
The Postprocess script field may be used to enter an AREXX
script, which is executed after a new address has been entered. Use
p.process script toggles this script on or off.
Hit Ok to accept the changes or Cancel to quit the
window and discard the changes.
The addresses can be sorted by (nearly) every field of an address.
To manage this, you may enter up to four sort criteria here. The most
important one is Sort criteria 1. If two addresses can't be
distinguished by this criteria alone (e.g. if there are identical names),
the second sort criteria (Sort criteria 2) is used. If a distinction is
still impossible, the third sort criteria is used and so on.
Ok accepts the changes. Please notice that the addresses are
not resorted automatically. To sort your addresses using the
modified sort criteria, you have to explicetly select Sort in
the DFA-Editor (or use the corresponding AREXX command).
Cancel ignores the changes.
It is possible ot let DFA open its own custom screens. As long as you don't use this feature, DFA opens up on existing public screens. This behaviour can be customized by using the corresponding Tool Types.
Custom screens can be set for the DFA-Editor and for the DFA-Prefs program seperately.
This software is provided as is without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. By using DFA, you agree to accept the entire risk as to the quality and performance of this package.
In no event (unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing) will any copyright holder, or any other party who may redistribute this package as permitted above, be liable to you for damages, including any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use this package (including but not limited to loss of data or data being rendered inaccurate or losses sustained by you or third parties), even if such holder or other party has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Of course, DFA has been tested rather extensively before it was released. In case you find any bugs in DFA I please you to send me a bug report. See section Bug Reports.
Since Version 2.1 of DFA has been finished, it is an product with the SASG quality brand.
The advantages, which grow out of this can be looked up within the registration/information program.
Information about registration sites, the SASG, the shareware fee, payment methods etc. can be found there as well.
The registration program can be started either seperately or directly out of the about requester of DFA.
Before you register, you have the opportunity to test DFA in
great detail. However, when using the unregistered version you can't
save the preferences (this feature is disabled); all changes you
perform using the DFA-Preferences program stay active only
until you reboot your computer. The window positions are therefore
not saved as well.
In spite of all this restrictions it should be possible to see if
DFA is what you expect. As soon as you use DFA
regularly, however not later than after 21 days, you have to register!
You'll get your personal keyfile, a TeX manual (in German and English) and an AMIGAGUIDE manual (German and English). All manual files are on the disk only and not printed!
You'll find my address below, see section Important Addresses.
I'm continuously working on DFA and I'll publish updates from time to time. These updates will be fed into the following electronic nets:
If you have access to such a electronic net, you can get the latest version of DFA quickly and cheaply. Many electronic mailboxes supply the latest version of DFA as well, e.g.
BBS via Fido-FileRequest. The magic for the FileRequest is
DFA. Any other SASG product may be requested as
well.
Alternatively you may order your update directly from me. Please use the registration program for this purpose -- as you've already done when you've registered.
Fred Fish will get DFA to include it in his library. However, it will
last a few weeks until DFA finds its was on these floppy or
compact disks respectively.
In spite of the fact that every release version is tested very thoroughly before it is published, I can't guarantee that there are no more bugs in it.
This fact can be understood more easily, if you know that the source code of DFA takes up about 2 MB up to now!
So I ask you to report any bugs you discover. If you have any ideas what should be improved in future versions of DFA, please feel free to write, (mail or email, doesn't matter) giving me any suggestions.
Bug reports can be sent by ordinary or elecronic mail. The address can be found in section Important Addresses.
E-mail reaches me always, no matter to which of the above addresses you write. If you prefer to send "normal" mail, you should send it to Aschaffenburg.
While DFA V1.2x supported seven different languages, version 2.0 of DFA comes along only with english and german language support. This restriction has several reasons:
Since version 2.1 has been finished, the french program texts are available as well!
Since DFA got its Arexx--Port, it comes along with an Arexx script that displays coming birthdays. This script had, besides several pros, one real con: It needed much time to process a (long) address list.
Out of this reason DFA now comes along with an addition tool that does the same job, but much faster.
It can be started out of the shell, with the command:
CheckBirthday ADR=ADRESSFILE/A BEFORE=DAYSBEFORE/N AFTER=DAYSAFTER/N DELAY/N
The meaning of the different parameters:
ADDRESSFILE
BEFORE
AFTER
DELAY
Starting from Workbench is possible as well! Please notice that you
have to make sure that you have adjusted the tooltypes to your needs.
These tooltypes have the same names as the shell parameter.
Additionally the WINDOW tooltype is available that gives you
the chance to set the output window position and size, like:
WINDOW=CON:20/20/400/200/Geburtstage/AUTO/CLOSE/WAIT
The minimum configuration for the usage of DFA consists of any AMIGA computer that runs at least AMIGA--OS 2.0 and 1 MB RAM.
As the addresses are completely kept in RAM, as more you have as better it is.
A harddisk is not needed, but recommended. If you don't have a harddisk, you should posses at least two disk drives and make sure that your boot disk still has enough free space.
If you run (at least) Workbench 2.1 on your system, you may change the native language if you like (use the Locale preferences program of the Workbench to do so).
If you run version 3.x of the operating system, you can enjoy some additional (mostly optical) features of this OS version.
Show check box gadget in the Miscellaneous Window
of the DFA-Preferences program (cf. section Miscelleneous) twice. Now the application icon should appear
on the desired position, as long as there is no other icon that
occupies this position on the Workbench.
Write Access in the
Settings menu of the DFA-Editor.
CHANGEGROUPS accordingly.
Many people helped me to make DFA what it is today. Therefore I would like to thank...
RemindBirthday utility is done by him
as well.
Magic User Interface (MUI).
Thanks a lot to all DFA users to be so patient while waiting for DFA V2.0 such a long time. I do really hope it is worth the time you've waited for it!
See AMIGAGUIDE documentation.
ADDRESSFILE
CX_POPKEY
CX_POPUP
CX_PRIORITY
DFAEDITOR
DFAPREFS
DONOTWAIT
GUIDEFILE
PORTNAME
PUBSCREEN
UPPERPUBSCREEN