Contents Page
Contents

Message Center & Sign-Out Board

Configuration

Preserving Your Data

Installation (Including Network Setup)

Problems


Message Center and Sign Out
Message Center & Sign-Out Board

- Message Center -

The Message Center, intended for "while you were out" messages, is where you may create messages to be sent to other users on the network, and where you may read messages that have been sent to you.

When you enter the Message Center, you will be presented with a screen that lists your messages.  Pressing the envelope icon at the top of the screen (or pressing Ctrl-M) will take you immediately to a new Message Detail screen.  If  you prefer to view one of the messages on the Message Center screen, you may do so by double-clicking on the line containing its brief description.

The items on the Message Detail screen (the screen at which you enter a new message or read the detail of an old one) are generally self-explanatory.  The Subject field is the source of the brief description that appears on the Message Center screen after the message has been sent.  If you don't fill in the Subject field, the program will automatically assume that you want a portion of the Message field's first line to be used as the subject.

After you read a message, it will by default be tagged as having been read, and it will be date- and time-stamped, so that the sender will know when you read it.  All messages tagged as having been read by you will be moved to the bottom of your Message Center screen, clearing space at the top for new (unread) messages sent to you.  Also appearing at the bottom of the screen will be messages you have sent to others.  You may move messages you've received from the top to the bottom of the screen by dragging them with your mouse.  Note that this dragging facility works only for messages sent to you; it does not work for messages you send to others, which will always appear at the bottom of the screen.

Any message you send through the Message Center will appear at its recipient's computer screen within a minute of your sending it, assuming that the recipient is running this program either in the foreground (visible on his screen) or in the background (minimized).

In order to conserve disk space and to minimize file access times, a message will be automatically deleted from the system twenty days after being written.  But, if you don't want to wait that long, you may delete a message from your Message Center screen by pressing the Del key when its one-line description is highlighted or by dragging the message to the trash icon at the top of the screen.  You may also call the full message to the screen (by double-clicking it) and then selecting the "Delete message" check box.  Note that deleting an item sent to you will result in its disappearing from your Message Center screen, but it will not disappear from the sender's screen until it is actually deleted there.

If disk space and message access time are not concerns, you may increase the automatic deletion interval from twenty days to whatever you wish.  To do so, use the  /EM=XX   parameter  (see Setting Other Configuration Parameters at Start-up).

- Sign-Out Board -

The Sign-Out Board allows you to enter information about where you may be found when you leave the office and when you expect to return.

When you enter the Sign Out Board, you will be presented with a listing that shows all the people who have signed out and when each will return.  Clicking the door icon at the top of the Sign-Out Board (or pressing Ctrl-S) will automatically sign you in if you had been signed out; if you have not signed out, clicking the door icon (or pressing Ctrl-S) will tell the program that you wish to do so, and you will be taken to a Sign-Out Detail screen.  Double-clicking your line on the Sign-Out Board is another way to sign yourself in or out.

Double-clicking on someone else's line will allow you to sign him out.  If he's already signed out, double-clicking on his line will take you to his Sign-Out Detail screen, where you can read the complete detail that he entered when he signed out.

Note that anybody in the office may sign anybody else in or out.  To do so, simply double-click on that person's line on the Sign Out Board.  Alternately, you my sign someone in or out by dragging that person's line to the door icon at the top of the screen.  Whenever you sign someone else out, the program will automatically display that fact on the detailed Sign-Out Detail screen for that other person.

Each morning, all people tracked by this program will initially be listed on the Sign-Out Board as "not signed in".  If it weren't for this notice, you wouldn't know whether someone who has nothing by his name hasn't shown up today or whether he has shown up, but hasn't signed out.  When a person shows up for work in the morning, he should sign himself in by either clicking the door icon or double-clicking his line on the Sign-Out Board.  Since his line will then have neither "not signed in" nor any other sign-out information, anyone glancing at the Sign-Out Board will then know that he is somewhere in the office.


Program Configuration

- Persons -

Here, fill in the initials and names of the people you will be tracking with the program.  You may also designate identifying initials for resources, such as rooms, autos, etc.

- Setting Other Configuration Parameters at Start-up -

There are some less commonly used configuration parameters that are not set at the Configuration screen.  Instead, they are set at the program's start-up by the program properties you designate for Windows to load the program.  To modify the program properties, do the following:

A) Point to the shortcut icon.

B) Right-click on the shortcut icon and then select the Properties item in the menu that appears.

C) The "Properties" box will then open.  After "ULTIMATE.EXE" at the Target item, add a space and any of the following commands, each separated from the others by a space:

/EM=XX	Tells the program to change the automatic message deletion interval from its default of 20 days to the number of days specified by XX.  Ensure that only the program's main user includes this parameter in his shortcut.

/AM	Enables the Message Center's archive file.  Normally, messages that are deleted from the Message Center are lost forever.  But if you have sufficient disk space, you may elect to have a message saved to an archive file just before it is deleted from the primary message file.  To disable an archive that was previously enabled, substitute /DA for /AM.  Ensure that only the program's main user includes this parameter in his shortcut.


Preserving Your Data

The importance of backing up your data on a regular basis cannot be overemphasized.  Someday, your hard disk will fail, or your data will otherwise be scrambled or lost, and you had better be prepared.

Each and every day, you should faithfully back up all crucial data to either floppy disks or a tape.  Don't use the same disks or tape every day.  Instead, rotate among several sets of disks or tapes, using a different one each day.  That way, when you need to restore and one or two disks or tapes are faulty, you will still have others that will probably be intact.  One tape or set of disks should be set aside for each day of the week.  On Monday, use the Monday set; on Tuesday, the Tuesday set; and so, on.  Also maintain a set for the end of the last month.

Ideally, you should back up your entire hard disk every day.  But, if you find that to be a rather onerous task, you should at least back up this program's data files.  Assuming that the program's data is kept on drive C, the database files you need to back up are designated as:

C:\INTEGRA\*.DA*


Installation (Including Network Setup)

- Basic Installation -

If you have already executed the SETUP.EXE routine, this software has already been installed, so please skip to the Network Installation section below.

If you have not executed the SETUP.EXE routine (perhaps just having run the INSTALL.BAT routine, instead), you will probably want to set up a Windows icon for the program.  To do so, read on.

- Icon Creation for Windows 3.x -

The program's files should be located in an INTEGRA directory on your hard disk.  If you have Windows 95/NT, skip to the next section.  Otherwise, to complete the basic setup for Windows 3.x:

       1) Go to the Program Manager.  There, you will see that most of your programs are organized into program "groups".  Select the program group in which you wish to include this new program.  It doesn't make any difference which program within the group may be highlighted, as long as that group is the selected (or active) group.

       2) Now, select  File | New  at the Program Manager menu bar.

       3) A "New Program Object" box will open.  Select Program Item and press the OK button;

       4) A "Program Item Properties" Box will open.  Here's what you should enter:

Description:	SignOut

        Command Line:   	MSGCTR.EXE

                Working Directory:	C:\INTEGRA

  (assuming that the program is on drive C; if not, substitute

   the appropriate letter)

Shortcut Key:	None

       5) Next, press the "Change Icon..." button.  When you do, a "Change Icon" box will appear.  The File Name you should enter is:

C:\INTEGRA\MSGCTR.ICO

    (again assuming that the program is on drive C; if not,

      substitute the appropriate letter)

Now, press the OK buttons to save these program properties.

       6) If you're a registered user, see the Registered Users section below.

- Icon or Shortcut Creation for Windows 95/NT -

The program's files should be located in an INTEGRA directory on your hard disk.  Now, to complete the basic setup for Windows 95:

       1) Point to the Start button on the Task Bar.  When you  RIGHT-click the mouse, a menu will appear.  Select "Open" on the menu.

       2) A "Start Menu" box will appear.  Double-click on the "Programs" folder.

       3) A "Programs" box will appear, showing the sub-folders currently included within the Programs folder.  Double-click on the folder in which you wish to include this program.

       4) A box showing the programs contained within the folder will appear.  Select   File | New   at the box's pull-down menu.  Then, select "Shortcut" at the sub-menu that appears.

       5) A "Create Shortcut" box will appear.  Into the "Command Line" item, type

C:\INTEGRA\MSGCTR.EXE

       6) Then, you'll be asked to select a name or title for this program or shortcut.  Type in anything that is meaningful to you.

       7) The new program will then be added to the folder.  Point to it and RIGHT-Click.  In the menu that appears, select "Properties".

       8) A "Properties" box will appear.  Select the "Shortcut" tab and then press the "Change Icon" button.  When the "Change Icon" box appears, type

C:\INTEGRA\MSGCTR.ICO

and press the OK button.

       9) Back at the Properties box, press the "Apply" button and then the OK button.

      10) For network installation, see the section devoted to Installation in the program's on-line help.

9) If you're a registered user, see the Registered Users section below.

- Network Installation -

Running the program on a network requires only minor modifications to the basic setup described above.   Basically, you need to add two or three items of information that let the program know where to locate the data files, who the MAIN user is, and (optionally) who THIS user is.  You do so by adding some parameters to the program icon's (or shortcut's) "properties".  First , we shall set up the Main User's machine.  Decide who will be primarily responsible for this program within your office and designate him as the Main User.  Then, go to his computer and do the following:

A)  With Windows 3.x, highlight the program icon.  With Windows 95, point to the program's shortcut.

B)  With Windows 3.x, select  File | Properties at the Program Manager menu bar.  With Windows 95/NT, right-click on the shortcut icon and then select the Properties item in the menu that appears.

C) The "Properties" box will then open.  After "MSGCTR.EXE" at the Command Line field (or the Target item in Windows 95/NT), add a space and then the following three items (each separated from the others by a space):

 /MD=x:\xxxxxx   is the parameter defining the Main Directory where the program's data files

are to be found (x:\xxxxxx being the drive and directory

designations).

 /MU=xxx             is the parameter defining the Main User (xxx being his initials).  The 	main user is the one who is responsible for the program.  He is the

only one who will be able to enter the program's users into its database

and do a couple of other things.

 /TU=xxx             is the parameter defining This User (xxx being his initials).  This parameter

is optional, its minor advantage being that it will cause the program to

bypass its "Who are You?" prompt when loading into memory.

For example, you would enter at the Command Line (or Target) field:

        Command Line:          MSGCTR.EXE  /MD=F:\INTEGRA  /MU=ABC

if you wished to locate the data files in the INTEGRA directory on drive F, the Main User's initials were ABC, and you didn't wish to designate This User.

After saving the modified properties, be sure that you subsequently use this shortcut to enter the program.  No other shortcut that you may find in the Windows environment will have these properties.  Do not assume that just selecting this program's name from some list in Windows will cause this shortcut to be executed.  Take note of where this shortcut is being stored or displayed; use it, and it alone.

After saving the modified properties, you may have a couple of other minor things to do.  If youre going to be using the program on a Novell network, you must flag all the programs files as "sharable" immediately after installation onto the server.  To do so, go to the directory containing the program (e.g., F:\INTEGRA) and run, "FLAG  *.*  SRW".

Some networks, such as LANtastic, may, by default, be using a program called SHARE, which might prevent more than one person from using the program at the same time.  If you find that only one person is able to use the program at any given time, try removing SHARE from the environment on each computer in the office, as well as from the networks environment.

Once the Main User's machine has been set up, you are ready to handle each of the other workstations in the office.  Go to each workstation and follow the Basic Installation.  The program properties you enter will be almost identical to those found on the Main User's system as described above.  Assuming that all workstations refer to the server as the same drive (e.g., "F:"), the only differences among the various computers' properties setups will be the  /TU  item, since the local user (This User) will differ from machine to machine.

- Automatically Running the Program -

If you want the program to be run automatically whenever you enter Windows, copy the new icon to the Startup group.  If you don't already have a Startup group,

       A) Go to the Program Manager and select   File | New   at the menu bar.

       B) At the New Program Object box, select "Program Group" and press OK.  A "Program Group Properties" box will then open. Enter the following:

                Description:           STARTUP

                Group File:            (leave Group File blank)

       C) Press OK.

After you have a Startup group, youre ready to copy the new icon into it.  To do so, highlight the new icon.  Then select   File | Copy   at the menu bar.  A "Copy Program Item" box will open.  At the "To Group" box, enter "STARTUP", and then press OK.  That's it.  When you next enter Windows, this program will run automatically.

- Registered Users -

If you have registered as a user, you have a serial number printed on the distribution disk's label.  You now need to let the program know that you acknowledge your serial number.  To do so,

   1) Go to the program manager and select   File | Run   at the menu bar.

   2) At the Run box, enter

C:\INTEGRA\MSGCTR.EXE /RP

at the Command Line field.  This command assumes that you have loaded the program onto drive C.  If not, substitute the appropriate letter.  For instance, if you loaded the program onto drive F,

F:\INTEGRA\MSGCTR.EXE /RP

 would be entered instead.

   3) When asked for your serial number, enter it.

Once you've completed this process, the program will skip the registration info screen when loading.  But you may confirm your serial number and the number of network workstations for which you are registered by selecting   Help | About   at the Main Screen's menu bar when running the program.


 Problems

-Video-

     - If vertical and horizontal scroll bars appear when the program loads, your window borders may be too wide to allow enough space for this program's screens to display in full.  Reduce the size of your window borders to 1 by running the "Desktop" program (usually found in "Control Panel" group in Windows' Program Manager).

     - If gibberish appears anywhere in the program, the problem is that the video driver you are using cannot produce all the fonts used by the program.  Try another driver.  Video drivers are selected in the Windows "Setup" program (usually found in the "Main" group in the Program Manager).

     - If text on the screen or printer seems improperly sized or does not seem to fit neatly into the areas where it should, there are two possible reasons:

One possibilty is that the video driver you're using may not be optimal.  Some drivers seem to be incapable of producing text of a selected font at the correct size, especially at the higher resolutions.  If you have a choice between a driver that uses Large Fonts or one that uses Small Fonts, choose the Small Fonts driver.  Video drivers are selected in the Windows "Setup" program (usually found in the "Main" group in the Program Manager).

Another possible cause of poorly fitting text is that you may be missing some font files.  Or you may be using font files that have been altered by other software.  This program relies upon the following original fonts supplied by Microsoft Windows:  Arial, Modern, and Courier New.  If they seem to be unavailable, they may be somewhere on your hard disk, but not installed.  Try using the Windows "Fonts" routine (found in the "Control Panel") to find and install (or add) them.

- Printer -

     - If fonts appear to be improperly sized, or if gibberish appears on the printout, make sure that the printer driver that you have installed into Windows is specifically matched to your exact printer model and that the driver was supplied by the printer's manufacturer, not Microsoft.  A "close" match or "emulation" may not be good enough, and Microsoft's drivers are generally less reliable than those provided by printer manufacturers.  If you must use Microsoft drivers, consider using one for a related printer.  If that doesn't work, try one for an earlier model in the same manufacturer's line (for instance, if you have an HP LaseJjet 4, you might get the results you desire by using a LaserJet II or LaserJet III driver).  This program does nothing fancy with your printer.  It relies entirely upon Windows to handle the printing.  So why do other programs appear to work with your printer and its current driver?  Perhaps because those programs don't rely upon the same Arial and Courier New fonts that this program does.  Or perhaps the other programs are somehow bypassing Windows to print directly to the printer.  Be assured that if your Windows printer driver is a good match for your printer, this program's output will be fine.