UPGRADING from PPRO 2.00 (or later) to 2.11 =========================================================================== If you are already using PPRO 2.00 (registered or Shareware release), all you need to do is copy the new .EXE files to your PPRO disk or directory. PPRO 2.11 is fully compatible with 2.00's data and index files. If you are using PPRO 1.00 or 1.01, you will need to run the PPROCONV utility to convert your old data file to 2.x format. Follow the directions in the README.1ST file. CHANGES and IMPROVEMENTS IN PHONE-PRO v2.11 =========================================================================== BUG FIXES: 1> FORMAT: PPRO 2.0 had a bug which caused new data files to be created with an invalid format type for printing. As a result, PPRT would ignore the cards in the data file and print only the dividing lines unless the user deliberately chose a print format using PPROINST. The bug is fixed, and any lingering invalid code will default to BOOK format. 2> INDEX SAVE: PPRO 2.00 automatically wrote changes to the data file immediately, but did not update the index until you pressed F10 to exit. A side effect of this was that if you called PPRT from within PPRO, PPRT would be unaware of any additions or changes you made during your PPRO session. PPRO 2.11 now saves the index changes to disk before you exit, call PPRT, or open a DOS shell. 3> FULL PRINT: PPRT started a Full Print at the initial letter of the first entry in your data file. The idea was to catch entries like '3Com Inc.' which fall before 'A'. The bug was that if the first entry was 'Del Rio', you got no pages for A, B, or C. PPRT 2.11 will start printing with the initial of the first card in your file or with 'A', whichever comes first. 4> EXTENDED DIALING CODES: The Shareware version of PPRO 2.00 had a problem with extended dialing codes. This has been fixed. USER-SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS: 1> EXIT KEY: To cut down on accidental exits, PPRO will now ask 'Are you sure you want to exit?' before terminating when you press F10. For those like myself who HATE 'Are you sure?' prompts, SHIFT-F10 provides an unquestioned exit. 2> SPEED SEARCH: You may now use Speed Search with first names. Suppose you want Walter Smith, but you have Anne, Jerry, Paul, Sharon, Theresa, and Walter in your file. Press TAB to start Speed Search and start typing 'SMITH' until Anne Smith comes up, then press TAB again. The prompt changes from 'Last Name:' to 'First Name:'. Now type 'W' for Walter. You can keep typing to narrow it down more (say between Joe, Jerry and Josh). NOTE: Speed Search will only look for first names using the SAME EXACT last name. In the example above, 'SM''W' will find Walter Smith but will NOT advance to William Smythe. If you want to try a different last name, press SHIFT-TAB (labeled BACKTAB or just |<-- on some keyboards). What you entered for the last name will reappear; you can backspace and change the last name or just add more characters to narrow it down. The FIRST NAME is destroyed when you back up this way, but you can still TAB again to put in a first name. 3> CONDITIONAL SAVE: PPRO 2.00 saved the index to disk every time the program ended, whether changes were made or not. This gets to be time-consuming with a slow system or a large database. PPRO 2.11 will only rewrite the index file if you make changes. 4> DIALING PROMPTS: The blinking text got pretty annoying, I agree. PPRO 2.11 displays most of its messages in solid (non-blinking) letters. Only the 'DIALING COMPLETE' message blinks now. The 'WAITING TO REDIAL' message has been changed to include a count- down showing the number of seconds remaining before the next redial attempt. SUPPORT NOTE: I now have my own BBS for supporting PPRO users. It is called the Niche Software BBS, and can be reached around the clock on (301) 990-7820. That's in Gaithersburg, MD and should be local to the 202 (Washington, DC) node of PC-PURSUIT. When you call in the first time, leave me a message and tell me that you are a PPRO user. I will give you access to the special PPRO questions area where you can receive direct support. Registered users can also download upgrades from the BBS, and will get first crack at any new enhancements. LAST COMMENTS: These changes and adjustments have all been the result of user requests. Some other suggestions that I am still working on include: a) Direct support for multiple data files b) Logging of calls made with date/time stamp and notes c) Longer field lengths, particularly for phone numbers d) Context-sensitive help (to replace the generic HELP file) e) User-definable screen colors f) A utility to rebuild corrupt index files g) Mouse support h) Making PPRO RAM-resident. Based on my initial researches, a RAM-resident PPRO is still a long way off. The rest of the list should turn up in PPRO 2.2, which I will start working on as soon as I get a couple of other things out of my hair. Until then, I'll take any other suggestions you may have to add to the list. Michael Raugh 17729 Topfield Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 990-7820 (BBS)