Version 4

Version 4

Version 4.1

February 1994

Search for names using asterisk (*).

This is very useful when there are several similar names. Enter AUST* or SMITH* and the screen will display all names starting with the letters "Aust" or "Smith" respectively. In the left-most column will appear a letter A, B, C, etc. To select a name just enter that letter in the leftmost column.

DEL (or Delete) Key

The DEL key now deletes the character displayed at the cursor, while BACK-SPACE deletes the character to the left of the cursor. Previously DEL deleted the character to the left of the cursor. This applies to all aspects of Lewis LETTER MAGIC, including data entry, word processing and notepads.

Wildcards when entering a File Name

Frequently Lewis LETTER MAGIC asks for the DOS file name, particularly when reading or saving letters/documents. You can now use wild-cards (* or ?), and the program will display all matching names. You can select the required file name with a single key-stroke.

Saving a Blank File

If you attempt to save a blank letter/document, you receive a warning question.

Printing a Name with Semi-Colons

In Lewis LETTER MAGIC, a name is entered with a semi-colon as a pivot, to make searching easier. We enter as "SMITH; John; Mr", so we can search for SMITH, and the program prints as Mr John SMITH.

However in some cases, particularly reports, we might want the name to appear with semi-colons. When doing ad-hoc reports, there is now an additional choice "Name With Pivots". We could even choose @W to substitute this into a letter/document.

Version 4.0

November 1991

Notepad

This is a major new feature that lets you keep permanent free-form comments about each customer or name.

At the main name screen for LETTER MAGIC, there is a choice K = Notepad. This will give you a clear screen where you can enter notes. For each name there can be at most 99 lines of notepad.

If the choice says K = Notepad*, the asterisk indicates that there is some notes in the notepad for that name.

There are some limited word-processing facilities on notepad entry, mainly on cursor movement and deletion. The list of commands are displayed in the bottom panel. Note that there are meanings for the function keys F1 to F10.

It is possible to set up abbreviations for commonly used phrases on notepad.

Data Entry Conventions

The F2 function key can be used to accept any data screen. The old method of Control-A still works.

In any data entry, the control key together with the left or right key moves the cursor five positions left or right.

Printing

Printing option for underline & bold for Laser printers that are HP-Laserjet compatible.

Printing option to have condensed printing for either Laser printers that are HP-Laserjet compatible, or Epson-compatible dot matrix printers.

Printing option for delayed-action printing, useful in some network configurations.

Can permanently store the diskette drive for backup - useful if you backup to drive B. From the Program Menu (not Main Menu), choose S = Setting Up; M = Miscellaneous Parameters; and change "Diskette Drive for Backup or Format".

String Search

Can search by string contents in All-Name Activities. This is very useful when selecting a group of names. It is also excellent when you are trying to recall a name record, and you cannot remember the main name under which the entry was made.

This example shows how to get a report of all contact persons with the name "Smith". From A = All-Name Activities; choose R = Reports; enter Category; and range of names. Select by contact person, and for "From" hit F1 key. When asked for "Sequence to Search for" enter SMITH . Lewis LETTER MAGIC will search for all names whose contact person includes the string of letters "SMITH" (in either upper or lower case).

Other New Features

The F1 function key can be used to recall today's date, as an alternative to the full stop.

If you have more than 12 categories, the plus key + will now display all categories.

You can recall the file name of a letter or document from the list of standard names by using function keys. Function key F9 recalls the previous file name, which can even be edited in case of a spelling mistake.

Labels can be printed on a page during All-Name Activities. Useful for Laser Printers. From the Main Menu, choose S = System Options; A = Address Label Parameters; and for "Labels before Form-Feed" enter the number of labels in one column on the page.

Labels can be printed directly onto envelopes. A new parameter lets you specify the number of blank lines before the printing of the label commences. From the Main Menu, choose S = System Options; A = Address Label Parameters; and enter "Blank lines before Printing".

Lewis LETTER MAGIC topics: Introduction | Details | Upgrades | Prices | Multi-User