                    
	       Welcome to Collector's Showcase for Windows!


               Copyright 1994 Ken Smith / Natural Software 

			  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


This program was written with the use of Toolbook and portions of this 
program are copyright Asymetrix Corporation 1992.


Collector's Showcase for Windows is distributed as an evaluation product.
This means that any fee that you may have paid for this program was a
duplication fee and not a license. If you like our program, please 
register and receive the latest version with documentation and telephone 
support for only $25.00. Please see section 8 for further registration 
details.

     You are encouraged to copy this disk and show your friends. 


    

Contents:	System Requirements.........................1	
		Installation Instructions...................2
		What is Collector's Showcase?...............3
		Other Great Uses for Collector's Showcase...4
		Setting up Multiple Collections.............5	
		Printing....................................6
		Restrictions on this Disk...................7
		How to Register.............................8
		Distributing this Disk .....................9
		Giving Credit where Credit is Due..........10






	

			  1: System Requirements



Minimum system requirements to run this program are as follows:

	IBM - PC or compatible with 80286 or higher processor 
	2 Megabytes RAM 
	A VGA Color Monitor
	Mouse or similar pointing device
	Windows 3.0 or higher
	DOS 3.1 or higher
	2 Megabytes of free hard disk space


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			2: Installation Instructions



Collector's Showcase has been developed to be as easy to use as possible. 
This ease of use concept includes the installation process. To install this 
program perform the following steps:

	1 - Start Windows
	2 - Insert the floppy disk into the appropriate drive bay
	3 - From Program Manager, select RUN from under the FILE menu
	4 - In the dialog box, type A:Setup or B:Setup
	5 - Follow the on-screen instructions

The setup program will automatically install all the required files, create 
a Windows group and install the Collector's Showcase icon, ready for your 
use. The installation process also recommends that you accept the default 
adjustments to your Autoexec.bat file. You may manually change it yourself 
if you prefer. Your existing Autoexec.bat file is saved and renamed 
OLDAUTO.BAT, should you wish to revert to it at a later date. 

To start the program, simply double click on the Collector's Showcase icon.



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			3: What is Collector's Showcase?



Collector's Showcase is a very easy to use program designed for anyone who 
wants to collect or catalog virtually anything! Unlike many other programs 
designed for collectors, this one DOES NOT tell you how to organize your 
collection. Collector's Showcase is fully user definable in its ability to 
custom design the program to suit your individual needs. 

The program comes with 23 different types of collection formats pre-set for
you. However, if you do not find a collection that matches yours, you can 
very easily change all of the groups to your liking with a double click of 
the right mouse button! You will find more information on some of the 
powerful features of this program under the "How do I?..." menu included in
the program. 

Some of the other exciting features include:

>  Optional password to open the program and / or view financial details
>  9 Main data entry fields
>  12 Details fields each capable of holding up to 32,000 characters
>  Optional sorting of the database each time the program is started
>  Automatic calculation of your collection's total value
>  Scrolling index
>  Customized printed reports
>  And much more!


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	      4: Other Great Uses for Collector's Showcase

Even if you are not a collector, you may still find other uses for the 
program. One of the pre-set classifications in the Quick Setup Menu is  
Home Inventory. Two possible uses for this category are;

	1: As a permanent off-site record of all your household possessions 	
	   that could be stored in a safety deposit box or with your 
	   insurance company. If there were a fire at your home, you and 
	   and your insurance company would have a record of all of the 
	   items of value, complete with serial numbers, etc.

	2: This information would also be very helpful to the police if
	   there were a break-in at your home. It is reported that 30% 
	   of all stolen property is eventually recovered, but only 10% 
           can be traced back to the rightful owner, due to lack of proper 
	   identification.  


Here are a few more. . .

	Cataloging information on Herbs, Recipies, Vacation Spots, 
	Current Events, Software Programs, Investments, Service 
	Contracts, almost anything.


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		    5: Setting up Multiple Collections

It is not uncommon for a collector to have interest in more than one type
of collection. Setting up multiple applications of Collector's Showcase is
reasonably easy and makes a lot of sense to separate your collections. For 
this example we will assume that you wish to collect watches and baseball 
cards. This setup should be done BEFORE you start entering information into
your database to eliminate having to delete excess screens.

	1 - Start the program
	2 - Under the file menu, select SaveAS
	3 - In the dialog box, type Watches.TBK
	4 - Click on OK 
	5 - Exit the program
	6 - In Program Manager, place the mouse cursor on the Collector's 	    
	    Showcase icon. With the CTRL key held down and the left mouse 	
	    button held down, drag the icon. A copy of the original icon 
	    will be created. Release the mouse button and CTRL key.
	7 - Click once on the new icon to highlight it.
	8 - Click on the FILE menu in the top left corner of your screen to
 	    open it. Select PROPERTIES.
	9 - The word Collector's Showcase will be highlighted in the 	    	   
	    DESCRIPTION box. Replace it with Watches
	10- Place the cursor at the begining of the COMMAND LINE box.
	11- With your right arrow key move along until you see the portion 
	    \Collect.tbk . Change it to read \Watches.tbk.
     	    IMPORTANT: If you should accidentally erase the entire command 
	    line, it should read exactly like this: 

		C:\Showcase\Tbook.exe C:\Showcase\Watches.tbk	

	12 - Click on the OK button. You have now made a file just for your 
	     watch collection. Repeat all of the steps for the baseball
 	     collection you wish to have.	

		        
			  Two notes to the above: 

   1: File names can be a maximum of 8 characters  Example: Baseball.TBK

   2: Only run one collection database at a time. Multiple running copies 
      may run extremely slow depending upon your processor speed.


After you have completed the process the second time you will find that you 
have 3 icons in the Showcase group. Watches, Baseball and Collector's 
Showcase. You can keep Collector's Showcase empty and use it as a template
for any future collections you decide to catalog.

				 IMPORTANT

As you are aware, this version of Collector's Showcase is restricted and 
provided for the purposes of evaluation. When you purchase the full version
of the program, the installation routine will overwrite the shareware files
It is only fair that you understand this before you spend a lot of time 
entering your data. You will have to start your collection fresh when the
new program arrives.



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				6: Printing

One of Collector's Showcase many features is its powerful print options 
which allow you to design and print a report that includes all or part of 
the information you want presented. Here is a very brief overview of how 
to print a simple report. There are many other options in this powerful 
feature which are explained in the registered user's documentation you 
will receive when you purchase the full package.

To print a single report containing information on one or all of your 
records, perform the following steps:

1 - Select PRINT from the Green menu bar

2 - The Print Dialog Box appears

3 - A list of available record fields is shown on the left side of the box

4 - Highlight the first field that you wish to print and click on "ADD"

5 - Continue adding all the fields you want to print - They will be in the
    order in which you selected them 
 
6 - Near the middle of the Print Dialog box you will find the STYLE box - 
    select "GROUPS"

7 - Beside the STYLE box you will find the GROUPS ACROSS box - click on 1

8 - Below the boxes, you will find the PAGE RANGE box - if you wish to print
    only the current record, click on "THIS PAGE ONLY" - If you want all 
    records with information in the fields you selected earlier, click on 
    "CURRENT BACKGROUND"

9 - You may now click on the "PREVIEW" button to see what the first page of
    your report will look like. If you want to zoom in on the page, select
    "ZOOM" from under the SETTINGS menu in PRINT PREVIEW

10 -You may also adjust the margins of the Preview Screen by selecting SHOW
    MARGINS from the SETTINGS menu - To make adjustments, grab the dark  
    margin lines and drag them to the position you want

11 -If you want a Header or Footer to be included in your report, you will 
     find these commands under the SETTINGS menu

12 -You may now select PRINT REPORT from under the FILE menu in the PRINT 
    PREVIEW screen   

NOTE: Once you set up your printing format, the system will default to it 
      until you change the settings again. 



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			7: Restrictions on this Disk



This version of Collector's Showcase is distributed as an evaluation product
and is a full working program in every way with one exception. The program 
is coded to allow you to enter up to 20 records and should be considered 
for evaluation only. You may print, sort, select, change any or all of your
records to see how powerful and easy the program is to use. If you agree 
that this program is great value at $25.00, please register. The full 
program will allow you to enter up to 32,000 records! 

				

			        IMPORTANT

As you are aware, this version of Collector's Showcase is restricted and 
provided for the purposes of evaluation. When you purchase the full version
of the program, the installation routine will overwrite the shareware files.
It is only fair that you understand this before you spend a lot of time 
entering your data. You will have to start your collection fresh when the
new program arrives.



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	   8: How to Order Your Copy of Collector's Showcase



If you agree that Collector's Showcase is an excellent value, please 
register and you will receive the latest full-blown version of the program 
capable of storing up to 32,000 records with documentation, all for just 
$25.00 (US Funds) plus $3.00 for shipping and handling.

Overseas residents please add $7.00 for shipping and handling. 
($32.00 total) US FUNDS

Canadian Residents please add GST. 

PLEASE NOTE: Overseas residents please make sure that your cheque is drawn 
on an International bank in US Funds and includes a clearance number on the
lower portion of the cheque. Cheques without this will not clear.

To order, start the program and select REGISTER under the FILE menu. A 
ready to use order form is built into the program and will print at the 
click of a button. It's that easy!

	
    Natural Software P.O. Box 761 Virgil, Ontario  Canada  L0S 1T0
		


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			9: Distributing this Disk



INDIVIDUAL COMPUTER USERS AND COLLECTORS:

Individuals are encouraged to copy and distribute this disk to all who 
may find it of interest, provided that nothing is added or deleted from 
the program files and that these files are only used with this program.



SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTORS:

You are given permission to make, distribute and promote copies of this 
program by mechanical, electronic or other means under the following terms:

 
A - Nothing may be added or deleted from the program files and that these 
    files may only be used with this program.

B - That no more than $10.00 is charged for the distribution of this 
    program as a stand alone or bundled shareware product.

C - That your customer is made aware, with the use of printed materials,
    that this is a shareware program. 

D - That it is agreed that the author and Natural Software shall not be 
    responsible for the use, misuse, damage or loss of data as a result of
    the proper or improper use of this program. 



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		   10: Giving Credit where Credit is Due

This program is the result of many, many hours of hard work and has been 
developed to provide you, the collector, with an easy-to-use tool to 
catalog your collections. I truly hope you find it helpful. It would not, 
however, have been possible to produce this if it wasn't for the efforts 
of the many dedicated individuals at Asymetrix Corporation who developed 
the tools which were used to write this program, in a product called 
Toolbook. I tip my hat to you guys and girls. You have one heck of a great
product there!

I would also like to thank a dear friend, Dave Patterson, who has been 
equally helpful in the development of this product with his continued 
support and suggestions. Thanks Dave!  

			  Written by Ken Smith

	     Copyright 1994 Ken Smith / Natural Software

			  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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