MPLUS UPDATE HISTORY

1.0 - Initial release May 1994
1.1 - Corrected problem with scrolling in Browse
      Corrected error in label printing
      Minor internal and cosmetic adjustments
1.2 - Added DOS 6.x compatibility
1.3 - Added ability to delete both records during Compare
1.4 - Improved indexing 
      Improved duplicate checking
      Added phone log
1.5 - Longer phone dialing prefixes
      Improved filename error trapping
      Added header label option
2.0 - Added printer codes for form letters
      Added printer codes for labels
      Added ability to save multiple label formats
      First screen is now list of files instead of menu
      Increased size of email field
      Added Phone 4 field
      Improved password protection
      Added some support for dates beyond 1999
      Minor cosmetic changes
2.1 - Improved duplicate checking
      Compare Two Lists is much faster now
      Improved support for dates beyond 1999
      Minor internal changes
2.2 - Improved indexing
      Corrections to label processing functions
2.3 - User can now change names of phone numbers
      Corrected copying records to newly-created list
      Corrected saved filters


     STARTUP: M-Plus will start by showing you the names of your existing
mailing lists, if any, and the option to create a new list. Select the list
you want by using the up and down arrow keys to highlight its name, and
then press <ENTER>. If you don't want to select a list at this time, you
can bypass this choice by pressing <ESC> or choosing "None of the Above".
This is explained in further detail under "A. Select a Mailing List". Once
you've made your selection, you'll see the Main Menu.

     PRINT LABELS: This will print the labels. You'll be asked how many
sets of labels you want, and may choose as many as 99. You'll also be asked
if you want to put the file name and description on the first label (as a
way of identifying the label set).

     LOAD SAVED LABEL FORMAT: If you have already saved some label formats
(as described on page 19), you can now recall one for use with your current
labels. If any formats have been saved, a list will be displayed on screen.
Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight the name of the format you want
to use, and press <ENTER>. If you want to delete the highlighted format,
press the <DEL> key. After recalling a label format, you still have the
option of changing it and saving it again, or you can simply use it as-is.

     INCLUDE PRINTER COMMANDS IN LABELS: You have the choice of assigning
printer commands to one or more lines of the label if you like. This
requires some understanding of how your printer works. Printer commands
allow you to change the appearance of a label by using different fonts,
italics, boldfacing, etc. If you want to do this, you will need to
understand the information provided in your printer manual, which should
list the commands.
     Your printer manual may refer to an "escape sequence" or "escape code"
or "escape character", which may also be abbreviated as "ESC" or "EC"; or
it may be referred to "CHR$(27)", "27" or "027". All of these mean
essentially the same thing, which is that a special character is used to
tell the printer that this is a command rather than text to be printed. For
your M-Plus labels, you will indicate this escape code by using these two
characters at the beginning of your printer code: "^[". For example, if
your printer manual lists the command as CHR$(27)+"E", you would enter it
this way: ^[E
     Some commands require more than one escape code. For example, if your
manual lists the command as CHR$(27)+"E"+CHR$(27)+"S", you would enter it
this way: ^[E^[S. This would also be the method used to enter two commands
on the same line.
     If you choose to use printer commands, you will have the choice of
entering a command for the start of the print job, and a command for the
end of the print job. It is not required that you enter either of these two
commands, but they may useful. A single command at the start of the job may
be all you need to set the font you want for your labels. You may need a
command at the end of the job to return the printer to its default
settings.
     If you like, you can also enter a different printer command for each
line of the label. The entry screen reminds you of the contents of each
line as you enter your printer commands. You can enter as many or as few as
you like.
     Note that any examples shown here probably will not work for your
printer. Each type of printer has its own set of commands. You must read
and understand the commands for your particular printer. There are many
different kinds of printers on the market, and we cannot answer questions
about them. If you don't understand which commands to use, you will need to
study the manual that came with your printer, or seek help from the
retailer or manufacturer.

     SAVE LABEL FORMAT: You'll be asked if you want to save your label
format. If you answer yes, you'll enter a name for the format, following
the usual rules for DOS filenames. Label format files are saved with the
extension MPL.

     PRINTER COMMANDS IN FORM LETTER: Each command (or group of commands)
must be entered on a line by itself. It will affect all the text that comes
after it, until you enter another command changing it. The commands
themselves will not be printed. A sample form letter might look something
like this:

          This text is displayed in the printer's default font.
          ^[(s1S
          This text is displayed in italics.
          ^[(s0S
          This text is in the default font again.

     Note that you will not see the special fonts on screen. They are
dependent upon your printer. Also note that the examples shown here
probably will not work for your printer. Each type of printer  has its own
set of commands. You must read and understand the commands for your
particular printer. There are many different kinds of printers on the
market, and we cannot answer questions about them. If you don't understand
which commands to use, you will need to study the manual that came with
your printer, or seek help from the retailer or manufacturer.

Note new email address: 74774.403@compuserve.com
For support and product information on CompuServe, GO RKWEST
Visit our WWW home page at http://execpc.com/~rkwest/

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