FORM READER Version 1.2u Shareware - freely distributable Replaces Form Reader v1.0u and v1.1u (frrd12w.zip replaces frrd10w.zip and frrd11w.zip) A decoder and formatting program for processing HTML form generated e-mail resulting from the mailto method. Does NOT require cgi capabilities. Runs independently from HTML form generators or HTML editors. By Ridgeley House Software. ==================================== Copyright (c) 1996 Curtis K. Aasen All Rights Reserved. ==================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Minimum Requirements 2.0 Overview 3.0 Installation 4.0 Basic Operational Instructions 5.0 HTML form overview 6.0 Additional Support 7.0 Registration 8.0 Version Changes 9.0 Disclaimer of Warranty ==================================== 1.0 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS In order to use Form Reader v1.2 on your computer, the following minimum requirements must be met: - minimum 80286 processor (80386 recommended) - Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later - A copy of VBRUN300.DLL in your computer's WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory ==================================== 2.0 OVERVIEW Form Reader is designed to interpret and format e-mail that is generated from a Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML) form and sent via a world wide web (WWW) browser. HTML forms that use the MAILTO action method to post can arrive as a single text string that is imbedded with various symbols and ascii hex codes making it very difficult to read. Form Reader will interpret these e-mail responses, format them, and provide the user the option to save the result as a text file, copy and paste the result to another application, or print the result. Form Reader will handle any HTML form e-mail response and HTML forms can be generated and changed independently from Form Reader. For webmasters who do not have Common Gateway Interface (cgi) capabilities on their web server, this program will allow them greater access to the use of forms on their web pages. Form Reader v1.2u is shareware and may be used free of charge for a 30 day trial period. Each copy in use must then be registered. ===================================== 3.0 INSTALLATION Copy the file FRRD12W.ZIP into a temporary directory. Use PKZIP or a compatible unzip program to unzip FRRD12W.ZIP in this directory. You should then have the following files in your temporary directory: cmdialog.vb_ frhelp.hl_ frrd12w.ex_ msafinx.dl_ read_me.txt sampfrm.ht_ samppost_ setup.exe setup.lst setup1.ex_ setupkit.dl_ ver.dl_ Use the Run command, which can be found under either the Windows Program Manager or the File Manager File pull-down menu, to select the executable file SETUP.EXE in the temporary directory to run. Follow the setup instructions. You will be asked to select a default directory to place your Form Reader program files. The default directory is C:\FORMREAD. You may change this to any drive and directory of your choice. You should have the following files in your default directory after the installation is complete: frhelp.hlp frrd12w.exe read_me.txt sampfrm.htm samppost You may wish to change the Working Directory to your e-mail folder directory by using the Properties option of the Windows Program Manager when you have the Form Reader icon highlighted. This will point Form Reader to your e-mail form responses whenever the Open command is invoked. NOTE: This program requires VBRUN300.DLL to run. You probably already have this file on your harddrive. If not you must obtain this file and place it in your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. You can obtain this program from most freeware and shareware program download providers. ===================================== 4.0 BASIC OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS OPEN Use this command if your e-mail program automatically has saved the e-mail form response in its own file. This may happen depending on the browser sending the response and your own e-mail reader. You may also use this command if you have copied and saved to disk the message portion of an e-mail form response. Use the FILE menu, click on the OPEN command, change the drive and directory to the appropriate location, click on the file that you wish to read, and then click on the OK button. The OPEN command may be used multiple times. New files will be appended to the bottom of the previous message. If you attempt to OPEN a file that has already been processed by Form Reader then the results will be unpredictable. You should try to avoid using the OPEN command on previously processed and saved Form Reader files. For more information see SAVE AS. You may wish to change the Working Directory to your e-mail folder directory by using the Properties option of the Windows Program Manager when you have the Form Reader icon highlighted. This will point Form Reader to your e-mail form responses whenever the Open command is invoked. A sample e-mail form response is provided as file SAMPPOST. It may be opened by Form Reader. PASTE SPECIAL If your e-mail reader does not save the e-mail form response to its own file, then you can simply highlight the message portion of the e-mail, do not copy the header portion. Copy the message to the clipboard (use your application's copy command). Go to Form Reader, use the EDIT menu, and click on the PASTE SPECIAL command. SAVE AS To save a converted and formatted e-mail form response to disk, use the SAVE AS command that is under the FILE menu. This will save the contents of your screen in a text format. You may then import this file into your favorite wordprocessor or editor. You may want to give the saved file a name that will distinguish it from the raw data file. If you attempt to open a previously processed Form Reader file, the results will be unpredictable. See the OPEN command for more information. PRINT The PRINT command, found under the FILE menu will print a copy of the screen to your printer. COPY & PASTE You may paste any copied text from the Form Reader screen directly into another application such as a wordprocessor, text editor, or an HTML editor. NEW The NEW command will clear the contents of your screen. All your current work will be lost and you will have to re-do your last steps. It is highly recommended that you save your work often. VIEW The VIEW command acts as a simple text reader. Use it to view previously converted and saved files. FILE PREFERENCES Default Open and Save directories can be set. This option is under the File pull-down menu. Set the comma delimiter option if you want commas inserted into your output. SOME HELP You can find these operating instructions under the HELP menu in Form Reader. ===================================== 5.0 HTML OVERVIEW The HTML FORM tag defines a fill out form in an HTML document. The ACTION attribute may be used to direct form responses to be sent to an e-mail address. This attribute uses the MAILTO command.
An example HTML form has been included. The file SAMPFRM.HTM is a complete HTML coded file that is ready to be read by a web browser that supports forms such as Netscape 1.1N and Netscape 2.0. Also included is a sample e-mail response from this form. This file name is SAMPPOST and may be opened by Form Reader. Form Reader may have some interpretation problems if a form response includes the symbols "&" and "=". If a response includes these symbols, they may have to be removed manually with a text editor such as Windows Notepad. For more information you can access the Netscape HTML programming guide at: http://home.mcom.com/home/how-to-create-web-services.html ===================================== 6.0 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT You can obtain help by e-mailing any questions or comments to: ridgely@infi.net Please indicate the program name, version number, serial number, any error codes, and any other windows programs you are working with such as e-mail and/or web browsers. Any comments on possible future improvements or capabilities is greatly appreciated. You may also go to the following web address for any updates: http://www.infi.net/~ridgely/software/ NOTE: This program requires VBRUN300.DLL to run. You probably already have this file on your harddrive. If not you must obtain this file and place it in you WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. You can obtain this file from most freeware and shareware program download providers. ===================================== 7.0 REGISTRATION Registration cost options: e-mail only option - $7.00 e-mail and diskette option - $9.00 This is shareware. You may use it on a trial basis for 30 days. You are not under any financial obligation for the trial period. However, if you continue to use Form Reader after the trial period has expired you must register your copy by mailing $7.00 (seven US Dollars) to Curtis Aasen. You may also have a registered copy of the next available upgrade version (version 1.21 or better) of Form Reader mailed to you on a 3 1/2 inch HD diskette. This option requires an additional $2.00 (two US Dollars) for shipping and handling. Please indicate the program name, version number, serial number, and an e-mail address where the registration number can be sent (and a postal address for diskette option). Send the registration fee ($7.00 for e-mail only option or $9.00 for e-mail and diskette upgrade option) to: Curtis Aasen 123 Ridgeley Point Norfolk, VA 23505 USA Check or money order should be made payable to Curtis Aasen. Thank you. IMPORTANT: You should save a back-up copy of your original ZIP file and your registration number in case you ever need to re-install Form Reader on your hard drive. ==================================== 8.0 VERSION CHANGES Version 1.1 replaces version 1.0 which had an initialization file bug that prevented non-United States users from running Form Reader. This problem has been fixed with version 1.1. In addition, version 1.1 fixes a failure of the font name, font style, and font size characteristics from applying to the printer object. Version 1.2 replaces version 1.1 which was limited to less than 30 input fields. Version 1.2 has increased this limit to 100 input fields. There is now a file preference option so that default file Open and file Save directories may be set. A comma delimiter option has been added here. I'll let you figure out what you can do with a comma delimiter option. Also, a file View command has been added. In addition, the printer, save, and button bar features have been enhanced. ===================================== 9.0 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY FORM READER IS SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENTS INTO WHICH THIS PROGRAM MAY BE PUT, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. GOOD DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY TESTED WITH NON-CRITICAL DATA BEFORE RELYING ON IT. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE FORM READER PROGRAM. ANY LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO FORM READER PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE. ===================================== Curtis K. Aasen Norfolk, Virginia 4/13/1996