VIDEOZ – Looking after your daily video tapes.
This program was originally written about 1992 to track the daily tapes we
used to record programs and films off the TV. There are several database type progs
for cataloging collections but we needed one to replace the ‘notebook’ that
most people use for the smaller collection of regularly changing recorded
programs. The main reason we computerized it was to have an ‘archive’ of
previously seen films and programs - we often taped things we had taped before.
First release was on a Psion II for our own use only and was modified over
several Psions up-to the current one on a Psion Siena. This has had to be a
total re-write and was also used to learn a Palm language called C.A.S.L.
(Compact Application Solution Language) which is windows based. This is
available from www.caslsoft.com.
The place for CASL programs and example sources are at Franks CASL
page at:-
http://frankscaslpage.home.att.net/
Before Installation
Conduit
(you do not need to do this to try the program, only if you want to
backup the data)
You will need to ‘register’ the CASL conduit with your Pilot sync software
this will enable the databases to be backed up every time you sync. To do this
run caslreg.bat .If you have already registered the CASL conduit from any other
CASL program, you can forget this step.
CASL Runtimes
A runtime program is needed on your Palm. This will be used by all CASL
programs so if you have it already then forget this as well. If not then double
click the runtime to install :-
CASLRT.PRC - The CASL runtime.
Latest runtimes can be found at http://www.caslsoft.com
.
Right, now you can install VIDEOZ. Double click on vidz.prc and it will be
added at the next Hotsync.
UPDATING from 1.01n or earlier
Install the vidzup102d.prc along with the vidz.prc. This next order is
important as the data files are changed. DO NOT RUN VIDEOZ BEFORE THE
UPDATE. Run the update first and quit it when complete. Your data is
now changed. Run VIDEOZ and check your data. All old datafiles and update
programs are automatically removed.
Removal of Installation
To remove the program, delete the files from the Palm. Run dereg.bat on the
PC to remove the casl conduit. If you still have other CASL programs then
ignore this last step.
The data and program is split into two main areas :-
Tape file which will have one entry for each tape you have. Its index
is alpha/numeric of two digits to allow you to identify your tapes to the
system.
Archive File which is the file where all previously seen programs can
be (optionally) stored for reference.
In use
Adding a blank tape
On first use it takes you into the screen to add a new blank tape and
creates the ‘tape file’. Give the tape a code of 2 digits and also a tape size
eg. 180 minutes. For the first use you should create at least one tape. The
tape number must be unique as it is the files index. If it is not unique then
it will not be created. It will then drop you to the main screen. There is a
limit of 40 tapes that the system can handle. If you have more than this you
probably need a different type of program like a database archive!
Main screen
This is the screen that replaces your old notebook by tracking what is on
each tape. We will go over the data on this :-
- Size and tape ID
on the first line.
- 6 description lines.
One for each of up-to 6 program recording segments. Just type on these for
your program or film name. Whenever you move to another tape or quit the
screen for any reason these descriptions will be updated.
- Index points –five
single character fields. We use them to note if the 2/3/4/5/6 segment is
started on an index point. You may not have this feature on your video.
All we put in is ‘Y’ or leave blank.
- Watched – Used to
track if you have watched part of the tape yet. Again single character.
Put in what you want. We leave blank for not started, 1-9 for 10%-90%
approx. distance through and ‘Y’ for completed.
- ‘>’ and ‘<‘
are just used to step forward or backwards through the tapes.
- ‘Date’ - Just puts
today’s date on the top line between Size and Tape . Used to
remind you when you recorded the tape.
- Select – This is at
the top right and brings up a scrollable list of all the tapes. Quicker
for navigating than > and < . You can scroll with the pen on the
up/down arrows or with the Pilot up/down hard buttons. Simply tap
the tape to select it. The scroll box displays tape number, size, and as
much of description 1 as fits.
- MENU -> System ->
Add Tape– This lets you add or delete tapes from your system. See
adding a blank tape above for adding. To delete, enter a tape number
(forget the size text line) and after confirmation it will be deleted. You
will be informed if the tape is not found.
- MENU -> System->
Find Blank – This will fill the selector with a list of ONLY blank
tapes, ie. It will miss out any that are recorded on. Tap the tape of
choice to navigate to it.
- Erase – When a tape
is completely seen and you want to make it ‘blank’ again. Pressing this
will allow you to erase all data from the tape and optionally archives the
watched programs. Options are CANCEL to do nothing, ADD to add them to the
archive or CLEAR to just erase the tape, If you want to add only some then
you should clear the fields on the screen first then use the ADD for the
remainder. The date on the screen will be added to the archive and if this
is blank then today's date is used. Please note CASL does not allow
duplicates in a file therefore this is checked on ERASE and each program
will only be added if it is unique. You will not be warned about
duplicates.
- Search – Enters the
archive record section updated by the ‘erase’ button. All programs that
filter through here are added into an indexed file that is searchable to
see if you have previously seen the program (the main reason we wrote the
program in the first place).
- MENU -> Help ->
About - Gives version number and our contact details.
Archive Screen
This is full of the previously seen programs for you to check back on.
- 4 groups of title and
date which show 4 consecutive records from the archive.
- A text line to enter your
search word.
- Find – Press this
when ready to search the text entered above. This is extremely quick,
searching 1400 records in less than a second. Unfortunately it only
searches from the beginning of the Program description. This is a CASL
limitation. The screen will show the next 4 records from the nearest match
of your search word.
- --> this jumps
forward to the next 4 records in the file. If you reach the end you may
see the last record repeating. Again caused by limited error messages –
but hardly dangerous !
- First - Goes to the
first 4 records.
- Back – Goes back to
the main screen.
- Delete – This will
delete the first displayed record on the archive screen. To delete a
record therefore, you must find it exactly to make it the top record. This
saves me programming and keeps the code smaller.
- Purge – Perhaps your
archive is getting too old and full. To purge it you will use this button.
Next to the purge button is a text field and enter in here the year to
delete eg. 97 or 1997. On confirmation of purge, the system will delete
every record whose date ends in the digits you supply. You must enter at
least 2 characters for deletion to work.
- Edit a record – There
is no specific edit although this can be achieved. Simply delete the
record as above and add a new one via the main screen by using a blank
tape to create the name and then selecting erease. Again this saves code
and keeps the program small. If there is enough people not happy then I
may add this facility explicitly.
This program is freeware, is underdeveloped, and buggy. Please email
suggestions to Jeff and Nicki Johnstone at jeff.johnstone@ukonline.co.uk
Web : http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jeff.johnstone/contents.htm
Please let us know if you use this or know of a better one out there that we
may use !
Release History
1.00d – first external release 7 August 1999
1.01n - 8 August 1999
- option in erase added to
clear tape and not archive data. This previously had to be manually
cleared from the fields.
- Check for duplicates added
in erase routine when archiving.
1.02d 23August 1999
- Added 2 more description lines
, index points and watched markers.
- Program 'vidz 102 update'
supplied to upgrade database to be compatible point above.
- Serious bug where in most
conditions show 2-4 would not be added to the archive.
- Cosmetic changes.
1.03n 11 November 2001
- Updated to work with CASL
version 3.xx.
1.04
- 2 characters to purge
added, previously no characters would delete the full archive
1.05
1.06
- Conversion to CASL form
builder screens.
1.07
- Added selector in New Tape
for size.
- Cosmetic tidy up from 1.06.
1.08
– 29th December 2001
- Added Blank Tape Selector.
- Prepared for colour
version with some internal mods.
1.10
– 7th July 2002
- Increased the number of
tapes to 40.