Copyright: Copyright 1997 SRO Systems


Contents
Installation and Requirements

Introduction

Overview

Registration

Support

* Press F1 to get help on using Help

Copyright 1997 SRO Systems


Introduction

What it is

Bill's Calendar is an easy to use Windows (3.1x, 95, NT) calendar program.  It was designed to provide the basic functions of a desktop calendar and scheduler without a lot of distracting and un-necessary features.

Bill's Calendar can keep text and audio notes, schedule daily tasks, duplicate repetitive events and auto-purge it's files.  The Calendar and Schedule can be printed in high quaility with any Laser or Inkjet printer, and you can even export your calendars to the WEB.

What it isn't

Bill's Calendar was NOT designed to replace a personal information manager (PIM).  There is (as of now) no facility for addresses or phone numbers, and no means of organizing and prioritizing tasks.


Support

Technical Support

SRO Systems maintains FAQ's (frequently asked questions) on our web site.  If you have a question, it may be most quickly answered there.

http://www.srosystems.com/bc_faq.htm

SRO Systems provides unlimited support via email to all registered users of Bill's Calendar.  We are also happy to answer general questions from unlicensed users.

Note that while we will attempt to provide phone support, we make no guarantee to do this with non "Site licensed" users.

Update Policy

We have no official "automatic" update policy for single user licensee's, and will NOT notify you when updates are available UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THIS.

Upon request, we will provide emailed "minor version" (i.e. 1.14 to 1.15) updates free of charge to any registered user.  Major version updates MAY be subject to a fee of up to 50% of the full version cost, or the difference (whichever is less).  Disk copies will be subject to current shipping and postal charges.

You can always find the latest SHAREWARE version of Bill's Calendar at the SRO web site.  We attempt, but do not guarantee 100% backward compatibility, so if you are a licensed user, we suggest you download and use the updated shareware version before requesting/purchasing an update.


Installation
Installation / Requirements

Installing Bill's Calendar

To install Bill's Calendar, run the "INSTALL.EXE" program from Windows.

The installer will install the Bill's Calendar program, as well as any required DLL files that are not on your system.

Depending on the number of required files, the install could use up to 750K of hard disk space.

Requirements

Hardware

To run Bill's Calendar, you should have at least a 25mhz 486 processor, 8 megabytes of Ram, and a 256 color video card.

We recommend a Pentium 60+ with "fast" video.

Software

- 16-bit version runs under Win 3.1x or 95
- 32-bit version requires Win 95 or NT

Bill's Calendar requires the Visual Basic runtime file to be in your Windows \ System directory.

 - The 16-bit version (Billcal.exe) requires VBRUN300.DLL.
 - The 32-bit version (Bilcal32.exe) requires VB40032.DLL.

If you do NOT already have these files, you can download them from most online services (and SRO Systems web site).

32-bit version note

Earlier versions of Windows '95 or NT may not include some required files.  If you receive a "File not found" error, please go to our web site.  The Bill's Calendar download page includes a link to these additional files.

Web site: 	http://www.srosystems.com
Page link: 	http://www.srosystems.com/bc_dl.htm
File link: 	http://www.srosystems.com/archives/vb4files.zip


SRO
Superior Realities Organization
P.O. Box 5028, Blue Jay, CA  92317

http://www.srosystems.com

PHN - (909) 337-7535

sro@srosystems.com
srosystems@compuserve.com


Over
Overview

Windows

Calendar

Notes

Schedule

Audio

Preferences

Actions

Display

Sounds

Menus


Actions Options
Action Preferences

"Action" preferences determine what the program does in reaction to performing certain actions (including starting the program).

Most actions are self expanatory, but we've included notes on each below.

Double-Click opens

Determines which editor is launched when you double click on a calendar day.

Ask for confirmation

If checked, the program will ask "Do you really want to do this?"

If existing data

Determines whether to merge with or replace any existing data in the "target date" during all operations that move data (including "duplicate").

Automatic Actions

Save current calendar to wallpaper...

If selected, Bill's Calendar will change your desktop wallpaper to display the current calendar on exit.

Open on startup

Opens the selected editor(s) on startup if there is data in today's date

Purge Data

If checked, Bill's Calendar will clean up any notes, schedules and audio that are older than the specified age.


Display
Display Preferences

Display preferences gives you control over the appearance of calendar graphics and fonts.

The top section is comprised of font and color settings for various calendar items.

Only True Type fonts are allowed.

The bottom section controls how the calendar window is drawn.  Disabling some features can improve drawing speed on machines with slow video.

Note: Many of these settings also affect the PRINTING and EXPORT of the calendar.  (i.e.  disabling "Display day's notes" removes notes from your printout as well).


Sounds
Sound Preferences

Controls the use of sounds in Bill's Calendar's interface and alarms.

Interface sounds highlight user actions, like clicking a menu or pressing a button.

Alarm sounds are played when the alarm dialog is shown.


Search
Search Window

The search window helps you locate a word or phrase in any of your notes or schedules anywhere in the calendar.

- You can search for notes, schedules or both.
- You can search only in the current month, or search all calendar dates.

The Search Results list will show you where and when any matches were found.

You can "View" or "Go To" any item listed in the Search Results list.  "View" simply shows you the selected note or schedule, while "Go To" changes the active calendar date to the date of the selected item.


Notes
Notes Window

Simply a place to type your daily notes.  The font used here can be changed in "Display Preferences" .

Note that while the text in this window wraps as you type, only a "hard return" (enter) will cause text to wrap in the calendar display and printouts.


Schedule
Schedule Window

This is where you enter daily tasks.  You can have one entry (any length) for each hour in a day.

-Click in the notes column to enter your schedule text.

-Set an alarm for any hour in the day by double clicking on the alarms column.

-Print the schedule by selecting "Print" from the File menu.

NOTE: Bill's Calendar creates a data file for each month which contains schedule data.  This means you could potentially have dozens of files on your hard disk (especially if you use the duplicate function).  While the calendar will automatically delete empty files, it may be a good idea to use the 'purge' option (in "Action Preferences") to have the calendar automatically remove old schedule files.


Audio
Audio Window

The audio window controls the playback and recording of "audionotes".  There can be one file (unlimited length) per day.  Bill's Calendar records 8-Bit 11Khz mono audio files, creating the smallest file generally suitable for voice recording.

Note: This is not a 'sound editor' any more than the notes window is a 'word processor'.  It is only for playback and recording, hence the lack of edit commands and waveform display.

Save (without asking) the current audio file.

Erase the current audio file.

Revert to the last saved audio file.

Fast (left mouse) and slow (right mouse) rewind.

Fast (left mouse) and slow (right mouse) forward.

Play audio from current position (indicated by lt. blue bar).

Stop playback or recording

Start recording from insertion point (lt. blue arrows).

Select insertion or overwrite recording mode.

You can set the recording 'insertion point' by clicking on the timeline.

NOTE: Bill's Calendar creates separate wave files for each "audionote".  This means you could potentially have dozens of large files on your hard disk (especially if you use the duplicate function).  It may be a good idea to use the 'purge' option (in "Action Preferences") to have the calendar automatically remove old wave files.


Alarm
Alarms

The alarm dialog lets you set the time, message and status of alarms for the currently open schedule.

Alarms will appear in a dialog box, and optionally play a sound (see sound preferences).


Duplicate
Duplicate Data

The duplicate function eliminates the need to re-enter repetetive data.

You can duplicate any data up to 999 times by day, week, month, quarter or year intervals.

There are a few things to be aware of:

1) Bill's Calendar copies the actual data (not pointers), so duplicating large amounts of data (especially wave files) hundreds of times can be time consuming, and can end up using lots of space on your hard drive.

2) Though you can have an unlimited number of schedule and wave files, the notes data file is limited to roughly 60K per year.  This works out to about four lines of notes every day for the whole year.  You're not likely to ever reach this limit, but it's there, so we thought you should know.


Range Delete

Range delete lets you select two dates, and kill everything in-between.

It can be used in concert with the 'purge' option to control the amount of data you (and the calendar) have to deal with.


Registration
Registering Bill's Calendar

When you register Bill's Calendar, you not only help us (and all shareware authors) continue writing quality shareware, you will also receive the latest version (with no annoying "guilt" screen) as well as unlimited technical support via email.

Prices

  *  Single user licence : 	$19.95
  *  Site license for up to 10 copies :  	$75.00
  *  Site license for up to 50 copies :  	$199.00
  *  Licence for up to 150 copies	:  	$275.00
  *  Unlimited (1 location) license  	:  	$499.00

Register Online

On the Web

Register on the Web via secure server with your Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Bravo, Carte Blanche or Diners Club Card.  Your software will be shipped same day.

Go to http://www.srosystems.com/bc_reg.htm.

NOTE: If you have an Internet connection, Bill's Calendar can take you directly to it's page on our Web site.  Simply click on "www.srosystems.com" in Bill's Calendar's "About" screen.

On Compuserve

If you have a Compuserve account, you can register on Compuserve's shareware registration forum.  Just log on to Compuserve and "GO SWREG".

16-bit version is SWREG ID# 15833
32-bit version is SWREG ID# 16096

Register by mail

Print and complete the registration form "bcreg.txt", and enclose check or money order payable to:

SRO Systems
P.O. Box 5028
Blue Jay, CA  92317-5028

Include your email address, and we'll send the program SAME day we get your check!

Register by phone

You can order Bill's Calendar over the phone with any major credit card by calling "The Ordering Network" at (503) 624-8889 (M-F, 10am - 5pm PST).


Menus

File Menu

"Save" - Save current data (schedule, notes, preferences).

"Restore" - Reload notes and current schedule from disk.

"Print" - Print the current calendar to the default printer.
"Printer Setup" - Opens Windows printer configuration dialog.

"Import" - Imports a previously saved "BCD file"
"Export" - Creates a "BCD file" to export calendar data.

"Export to Web" - Creates HTML to post calendars to the Web.

Edit Menu

"Copy", "Paste" and "Delete" operate on all data in the selected date.

"Duplicate" lets you copy data repeatedly.

"Range Delete" removes blocks of data between dates.

Opens the Search window.

Opens	"Action Preferences"
-	"Display Preferences"
-	"Sound Preferences"
- 	"Status Labels"


Calendar Window

The main screen is intended to imitate the look of a standard desk calendar.

Change dates with the < & > scroll arrows, or by right-clicking on the date label.

Icons next to each date show presence of notes, schedule or audio for that day.  Notes are displayed in the lower half of the date box.  These options can be modified in the 'display preferences' dialog.

You can resize the calendar and place it anywhere on your desktop.  It will remember where you put it the next time it's run.

If you shrink the calendar enough, it will hide everything but the dates, so you can save desktop space and still have access to the calendar.

Basic Operation

Right-Click on a date to show a context-menu with the commonly used menu commands.

From here you can open the editors, move and duplicate calendar data, and format the display of calendar notes with "status labels".

Double-Click on a date to open one of the edit windows (notes, schedule or audio).  By default, the Notes window will open, but this can be changed in "Action Preferences" dialog.

Click and hold the left mouse button on a date to drag it's contents to another date.

Preferences

Bill's Calendar has action, display and sound preference dialogs that let you modify the calendar appearance and behavior to suit your tastes.


Bill's Calendar Registration Form

  Name        : ______________________________________

  Company : ____________________________________

  Address   : ____________________________________

         ____________________________________

         ____________________________________

  Email      : ____________________________________

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

Version   (    ) 16-bit (Win 3.1x or '95)	(    ) 32-bit (Win 95 or NT)

Format : Please check one:  3.5"  ____  Email only  ____

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  (    ) Single user licence - $19.95
  (    ) Site license for up to 10 copies :  $75.00
  (    ) Site license for up to 50 copies :  $199.00
  (    ) Site licence for up to 150 copies:  $275.00
  (    ) Unlimited (company) duplication  :  $499.00

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  8.25% Tax ________  (California residents only)
  Subtotal _________
  Shipping     $2.00  (OUTSIDE CONTINTENTAL U.S. add $2 - $4 total)
  Total    _________

  Enclose check or money order payable to:

SRO Systems
P.O. Box 5028
Blue Jay, CA  92317-5028

Legal Stuff

SRO Systems will not be held responsible for any damages which may occur  due to the use or mis-use of this product.  No guarantee or warrantee is either expressed or implied.  By purchasing this product the consumer is accepting agreement with these terms.


Status Labels

"Status Labels" are a convenient way to highlight text to set certain notes apart from others.

You can change the name of the label, as well as it's font, size and color.

These labels are shown in the calendar context menu, and when applied to a day's notes, the notes will be drawn in the font and color assigned to the status label.


Export to Web
Export Functions

Bill's Calendar allows you to export data to be used by another copy of the calendar, or for publishing to the web.

Export BCD File

A "BCD" file is how Bill's Calendar lets you move data between two copies of the program (i.e. one at home and one at work).

A BCD file contains all your calendar data for a certain range of dates in one file (except wave files, which are stored separately).

Export BDC File Name

Name for your BCD export file.  Do NOT include and extension, the extension ".bcd" will be added to this file name.  Long file names can be used with the 32-bit (Win95) version of the calendar.

Export to:

Shows the directory to create the BDC export file in.  This should be set to an empty directory on your hard disk, or to a removable drive.  Click the change button to choose a directory.

Export Dates:

Enter the range of dates you would like to export.  This can include any valid range of dates in the calendar (from Jan, 1976 to Dec, 2026).  The BDC file will contain entries for every date in the range (even when there's no data), so you should limit this to as small a date range as you can.

Include (schedules, audio)

Selects whether to include your schedules and audio in your export file.

NOTE: If you include audio, make sure the destination directory (especially if it's on a 3.5 disk) will have enough space for the wave files.

Export to HTML

"Export to HTML" lets you post your calendar to the Web, including (if you choose) notes, shedules and audio.

The html files created will maintain most font and color options selected in "Display Preferences".

HTML Document Titles

Prefix to all html document descriptions.  This will appear in the title and "meta tags" of your calendar and schedule html files (as shown below).

<TITLE>Bill's Calendar for December 1997</TITLE>
<META NAME="Keywords" CONTENT=Bill's, calendar, schedule>

Export to:

Shows the directory to create html files in.  This should be set to the directory on your hard disk where you keep html files for your web site.  Click the change button to choose a directory.

Exclude notes marked...

To keep certain notes from appearing in your Web calendar, select one of your status labels here.  Notes marked with the selected status label will not be included in the Web calendar.

Include (schedules, audio)

Selects whether to include your schedules and audio in your Web calendar.  Schedules are created as separate web pages with links from (and back to) the calendar.  Audio is shown as a "speaker icon" and will play when clicked (in browsers that support wave playback).

To add the calendar to your Web site, add a link to the calendar file from your web page.  The name will be in the format; "bcMMYYYY.htm", where MM is the month and YYYY is the year.

Ex: If you export your March 1998 calendar, the html file would be named "bc031998.htm", and the link would be
"<AHREF="bc031998.htm">March 1998 Calendar</A>"

NOTE: Html documents that are no longer part of the calendar (or excluded) will be deleted from the destination directory.

Ex: If you exported a calendar for November with schedule and audio on the 5th, and then later exported another copy with nothing on the fifth, the files "bcsc1105.htm" and "11051997.wav" would be deleted from the destination directory.