Copyright: ByeLines Help File, compiled on   Fri Feb 21 05:53:07 1997
Citation: Copyright© 1996, 1997 YakWorks Software, All Rights Reserved


Version History

Background: ByeLines is written in Object Pascal (using Delphi Developer 2.0). I wrote and tested it initially on a 486/50 with 24 meg RAM; a 17” SVGA monitor set to 800x600 HiColor (16 bit); running Win95.

Version 3.2.2, 21 Feb 97

Fixed a bug in the “Database | Export Text File” routine and added a status guage to show export progress; added an option to include a “—“ on the first line before the signature; Updated database DLLs.

Version 3.2.1, 22 Dec 96

Fixed the problem of the screen flashing when starting minimized; added a “Rebuild” option on the “Database” menu; updated the help file.

Version 3.2.0.1, 29 Nov 96

Very small change - changed from diasbling some features in the unregistered version to limiting the database size to 15 taglines.

Version 3.2.0, 25 Nov 96

Very Important! If your upgrading, read the section on Upgrading in this help file!

Changed database engines - new engine is smaller and faster; fixed bug preventing users from setting program options, fixed problem with date/time macros; added otpion to disable date/time macros.

Version 3.1.0, 5 Nov 96

Added the ability to change up to 6 signature files simultaniously; changed to a new spell checker - you can now add words to the dictionary; added Cut/Copy/Paste routines; cleaned up more code (now uses 25% less memory!); fixed bug in command-line switches.

Version 3.0.4, 5 Oct 96

Reinstated disabling code for unregistered users; minor effiency changes in code.

Version 3.0.3, 1 Oct 96

Fixed a major flaw that caused the system to crash on some CPUs.

Version 3.0.1, 26 Sep 96

Fixed a bug that caused a message screen to show when starting ByeLines with a frequency setting of “OnLoad.”


Undocumented Features (a.k.a. Bugs)

Please report all Undocumented Features (bugs) or suspected bugs to me at “Ken@Kyler.com.” Bugs known to date are:

•	If you delete the database, you’re toast. You have to create a new one.

•	ByeLines does not recognize the “Start In” parameter of the Win95 program links.

•	On some computers, the screen saver will not start if the “variable” setting is less than the screen savers delay.


Table of Contents
ByeLines Table of Contents

The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Quick Start and General Information

Overview	Version History	Known Bugs
Registration	Registration Form	Time/Date
Watching it work!	Planned Improvements	Suggestions
Command Line Switches	Tagline Thief!	Curious?
Multiple Signatures	Norton Utilities	Upgrading?
ByeLines Copyright © 1996, YakWorks Software, All Rights Reserved.

For what’s new, see the version history.  Need “Step-by-Step” instructions?

ByeLines is a vastly improved version of SigGen32 (aka sKyler’s Signature Generator). Since so many enhancements have been made, I decided to change the name. Registered users of SigGen32 or sKyler’s Signature Generator can get a free registration key by e-mailing me (at Ken@Kyler.com) with their old username and registration key.

Don’t forget, you can always find the latest version at “http://www.kyler.com.”


Planned Improvements

General thoughts on improvements. Please offer feedback (to Ken@Kyler.com) if you think these would be worthwhile or if you have functions you would like to see.

•	Eudora 3 plug-in module.

•	I’m open for suggestions!


Embedded Time / Date

You can embed the current time or date using #TIME# or #DATE# macro. Place the macro anywhere in the signature (not the tagline!) and when you display the new signature the current time/date will be shown.

Change the time/date format by selecting the appropriate option from the “Options | Date/Time Format” tab.


Registration

BENEFITS OF REGISTERING (Registration Form)

The registration fee is a nominal US$10 ($15 if by credit card - the extra $5 covers the credit card processing fee charged by PsL). What that gets you is all future upgrades for free; full use of all ByeLines functions and unlimited email support. Please support shareware and register!

DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT (The legal part)

Users of ByeLines must accept this disclaimer of warranty: ByeLines is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of ByeLines.

ByeLines is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation.  Feel free to share an unregistered version with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system.  The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products.  If you find this program useful, are using ByeLines and continue to ByeLines after 30 days, you must make a registration payment.  Make your check or money order payable to “Kenneth R. Kyler.”  The registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time.  You must treat this software just like a book.  An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time.

Commercial users of ByeLines must register and pay for their copies ByeLines within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn.  Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Kenneth R. Kyler.

Anyone distributing ByeLines for any kind of remuneration must first contact Kenneth R. Kyler at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering ByeLines immediately (However Kenneth R. Kyler must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of ByeLines).

You are encouraged to pass an unregistered copy of ByeLines along to your friends for evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Make your check or money order payable to “Kenneth R. Kyler” and mail to the address below.  Receipt will be acknowledged by e-mail. Be sure to include your e-mail address!

YakWorks Software
5108 Flanders Avenue
Kensington, MD 20895-1109
USA

E-Mail to “Ken@Kyler.com”

ORDERING BYELINES BY CREDIT CARD

You can order ByeLines for US$15 with MC, Visa, Amex, or Discover from Public (software) Library by calling 800-2424-PsL, 713-524-6394, by FAX to 713-524-6398, or by CIS Email to 71355,470 (71355.470@compuserve.com). You can also mail credit card orders to PsL at P.O.Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705. Ask for item #14677. The additional $5 covers the credit card processing fee charged by PsL.

You can order on-line at "http://www.pslweb.com/cgi-win/psl_ord.exe/ITEM14677". Complete the information requested on the link.

PsL will notify me of your order and I will e-mail the registration key directly to you. Please allow a day or two for this transaction. If you order on a Friday, it will be Monday or Tuesday before I get your key to you.

THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY.
I CANNOT BE REACHED AT THESE NUMBERS.

Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds, registration options, product details, technical support, volume discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be directed via e-mail to Ken@Kyler.Com.


Suggestions

Send bug reports, suggestions and comments to me via E-Mail at “BugReport@Kyler.com.” I sincerely appreciate constructive criticism.


Overview

ByeLines is comprised of a simple ASCII editor and a database of “taglines.” The basic function is to allow the user to create an ASCII signature and then append the selected tagline from the database creating a signature file. This file is then used by programs such as Pegasus, Netscape or Eudora as the “signature” on e-mail messages or newsgroup postings.

The format of the signature will be:

- [BOF] ------------
Signature text line
Signature text line (as many as you want; I suggest no more that three)
Tagline as appended from the database
- [EOF] ------------

It has a “sequencing” function that allows the user to select if or how often the tagline is changed. It can be set to change the tagline daily or weekly, or when ByeLines loads. The basic signature remains the same; only the tagline is changed. The user can select random or sequential selection of taglines.

It also has the ability to add new taglines to the database, edit existing taglines, or sort the entire database collection of taglines.


This is a simple ASCII editor. Type the text that you want to use for the “signature” portion of the signature file. The tagline will be appended to this.


Database Navigator

Click on the arrows to change taglines. The “|<” and “>|” buttons move to the end of the database in the direction the arrow points. The “<” and “>” buttons move one record in the appropriate direction. The “+” adds a new tagline; “-“ deletes the selected tagline; the “^” (triangle) edits the selected tagline; the “check mark” saves the edited or added tagline; the “X” cancels the tagline addition or editing; and the far right button refreshes the database.


This dropdown box will list all of your taglines.  Click on the one you want, and it will be displayed in the box below..


This is the text of the tagline. You can edit this text after clicking on the “^” (triangle).


The Database Menu

Select DB:  Use this to select an existing database. You must use either the database provided, or one that has been created by the Signature Generator (see below).

Create DB:  Use this to create a new database. The new database will be empty and you must populate it using the “Add” button.

Save DB As: Use this to save your database with a new name. It makes the “saved” database the active database.

Reopen: If you have opened any databases, the last 5 will be listed here. Click on one and it will automatically reopen that database.

Rebuild:  This completely rebuilds an existing database. If you have had problems with records not indexing correctly, try this. If that doesn’t work, send me an e-mail!

Merge DBs:  This will merge a second database with the active database. Duplicate records will be discarded.

Search and Replace:  This performs a global search and replace on the active database. Enter the text you want replaced with the new text and go get a cup of coffee!

Import Text File:  This will import any text file into your database. The taglines must not be multi-line and the first character of text must be in the first column. Each line of the text file will be made into a separate record.

Pack:  (Picture below) After you have deleted several records, run this to reclaim disk space. The active database is used. To do maintenance on a different database, it must be made the active database in ByeLines. Pack the database periodically when you delete lots of taglines.

Export Text File:  This will export your tagline file to the text file of your chioce. Bad news is, you can’t re-import the text file if you have multi-line taglines.


The File Menu

Select Signature:  Use this to select an existing file. The file must be an ASCII file. A good example would be Eudora 2’s primary signature file which has the filename “signatur.pce” (or for Eudora 3, “Standard.txt”). If you have not created a file or if you did not elect to use the default file during setup, then I recommend that you create one from scratch using ByeLines.

Save Signature:  This saves an open file. You cannot rename or “save as” with this selection.

Save Signature As:  Use this to save your file with a new filename.

Register:  This opens a registration screen for unregistered users. Once registered, this menu item disappears and the locked functions of ByeLines are enabled.

Change Tag Now:  Changes and saves the tagline immediately.

Demo:  If you want to watch the program cycle through taglines, then set the sequencer to either random or sequential (on the “Options” tab) and then select Demo (again on the file menu). It will cycle through taglines displaying a new one ever 2 ½ seconds or so. To quit, press the “Stop Demo” button.

Exit:  Terminates the program. If you try to quit when Random or Sequential have been selected, it reminds you that the program will not auto-sequence your tagline.


The Spell Menu

Tagline:  This will spell check the tagline shown in the Tagline Editor.

Signature:  This will spell check the signature (less tagline) shown in the Signature Editor.


The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Return to Table of Contents


The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Return to Table of Contents


The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Return to Table of Contents


The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Return to Table of Contents


The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Return to Table of Contents


The mouse icon turns to a hand when positioned over an item that contains information.

Return to Table of Contents


ByeLines can change up to 6 signature files simultaniously. Double click on a box to select (or change) a signature file. After selecting a file, a form will be displayed allowing you to select the signature portion of the file. Click once on the box to set that file as the active file in the editors. The filename with the blue text is the active file.


Click on the button with the X to remove the file.


Random:  This sets ByeLines to use random taglines when appending new taglines to your signature.


Sequential:  This sets ByeLines to use the next tagline in the database when appending taglines to your signature.


Daily: ByeLines will change the tagline on your signature once each day. The change happens at midnight unless you turned off your computer, then it will change it whenever you start ByeLines again.


Hourly: ByeLines will change the tagline on your signature once each hour.


Variable: ByeLines will change the tagline on your signature at an interval you specify. Any number of whole minutes can be used starting at one (1).


On Load: ByeLines will change the tagline on your signature each time ByeLines starts.


Warning on closing:  If you select this option, when you terminate ByeLines and the frequencer setting is either “daily” or “weekly” and the sequencer setting ir either “random” or “sequential” you will get a warning that reminds you that the tagline will not be changed until the next time you start ByeLines.


Disable Tagline:  This decouples the tagline database from the signature editor. In other words, a tagline cannot be appended to your signature file. What you see is what you get!


Not Configured - This option allows you to select a mail reader to launch after ByeLines changes the tagline. You can set ByeLines to close after that. Click on this and you get a file menu. Then select your mail program. The program name will appear here.


Spawn on Close: If this is checked, then the mail reader you selected above will be started when ByeLines closes. You can do the same thing by using the “StartUp” command line switch
(ex: “ByeLines.exe startup”).


Show Toolbar?  This option hides the toolbar if “unchecked” and resizes the screen.


Show Hints?  This option will disable the hints that are shown when the cursor is positioned over an item.


Use Taskbar Tray?  This option prevents the program icon from being placed in the taskbar notification area (in the lower right-hand corner of the screen).


Tagline at Top?  This determines where the tagline is placed in the signature file.


Signature Editor
Using the Signature Editor

The signature editor is a simple ascii editor. Type the text you want for your signature. Be sure to put a carriage return at the end of each line (except the last line). Select the tagline you want to use and then click on “Display Draft.” I strongly recommend that your signature not exceed four (4) lines total (including the tagline). It is considered poor form, bad netizenship, etc. Signatures should not exceed 72 characters across (wide). Taglines, by my design of the database, cannot exceed 255 characters. However, anything over 72 characters wide will wrap and mess up your signature unless you use a carriage return.

If you don’t like it and want to start over, click on “Clear Editor,” retype your signature and click on “Display Draft.” If all you want to do is change the tagline, select a new tagline and click on “Display Draft.” Once you have the combination you like, click on “Save Sig.”


Tagline Database
Using the Tagline Database

This should be fairly intuitive. You can add, edit or delete taglines. Follow the instructions presented on screen.

If you want to create a new database, go to the “Database” menu, select “Create DB,” enter the name of the new database and click okay. Presto! You have a new database loaded . . . but guess what . . . it’s empty! Use the “Add” button and put in your new taglines. Taglines are limited to 255 characters.


Watching it work!

If you want to watch the program cycle through taglines, then set the sequencer to either random or sequential (on the setup menu) and then select Demo (again on the setup menu). It will cycle through taglines displaying a new one ever 2 ½ seconds or so. To quit, press the “Stop Demo” button.


The left frame dispays the filename (and path) of the signature file in use. If you click on “Save Sig” then this is the file that will be saved. The right frame displays the sequence in which taglines will be changed.


The left frame displays the filename (and path) of the database file in use. If you modify the database, this is the database that will be changed. The right frame displays the frequency that the tagline will be changed.


Starts or stops the timer. If the timer is off, then the tagline will not be changed automatically.


ByeLines Mail-In Registration Form

Mail to:	YakWorks Software	Date: ___________
5108 Flanders Ave
Kensington, MD 20895-1109

Name:	____________________________________________________

Address:	____________________________________________________

City:	____________________________________________________

State:	____________________________________________________

Zip:	____________________________________________________

Phone (optional):	____________________________________________________

Email Address:	____________________________________________________
[REQUIRED!]

Name to be used:	____________________________________________________
(ex: Patty Smith)

Where did you get ByeLines? TUCOWS / WinSite / YakWorks’ Web Page

Other:  __________________________________________

Please make personal checks or money orders (in the bank-busting amount of US$10) payable to “Kenneth R. Kyler.” DON’T FORGET to include your E-Mail address! I will send your registration key back via E-Mail!

ORDERING BYELINES BY CREDIT CARD

You can order ByeLines for US$15 with MC, Visa, Amex, or Discover from Public (software) Library by calling 800-2424-PsL, 713-524-6394, by FAX to 713-524-6398, or by CIS Email to 71355,470 (71355.470@compuserve.com). You can also mail credit card orders to PsL at P.O.Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705. Ask for item #14677. The additional $5 covers the credit card processing fee charged by PsL.

You can order on-line at "http://www.pslweb.com/cgi-win/psl_ord.exe/ITEM14677". Complete the information requested on the link.

PsL will notify me of your order and I will e-mail the registration key directly to you. Please allow a day or two for this transaction. If you order on a Friday, it will be Monday or Tuesday before I get your key to you.

THE ABOVE NUMBERS ARE FOR CREDIT CARD ORDERS ONLY.
I CANNOT BE REACHED AT THESE NUMBERS.

Any questions about the status of the shipment of the order, refunds, registration options, product details, technical support, volume discounts, dealer pricing, site licenses, etc, must be directed via e-mail to Ken@Kyler.Com.


It slices, it dices, it julienne’s . . . okay, okay . . . it doesn’t julienne . . .

But where else can you get a signature and tagline generator that does all this for only ten bucks?


Command Line Switches

ByeLines may be started with the following command line switches. I recommend that you make a second icon to start ByeLines if you use these switches. That gives you the option to start the program and make changes to the database without invoking the command line options. One shortcut (icon) would start Byelines normally and the other would invoke the command-line switch.

“/Unload” - This causes ByeLines to terminate after startup. This does the same thing as setting the frequency to “On Load” However, it will also terminate after changing the tagline. (ex: “C:\Program Files\ByeLines\ByeLines\ByeLines.exe /unload”.)

“/Start” - This does the same thing as “Unload” plus it will start the designated mail reader.  (ex: “C:\Program Files\ByeLines\ByeLines\ByeLines.exe /start”.)


Tagline Thief!

When you’re reading a newsgroup post or an e-mail message, and you see a tagline or quote that you think would make an excellent addition to your database of taglines, steal it! To use the Tagline Thief! ByeLines must be running.

To use the Tagline Thief!, highlight the text you want in the message your reading and copy it. Then right-click on the ByeLines icon in the taskbar notification area (aka Tray) to bring up the popup menu. Click on Tagline Thief! And presto! . . . it’s now in your database.


Use this to select an existing signature file. The file must be an ASCII file. A good example would be Eudora’s primary signature file which has the filename “signatur.pce” (or for Eudora 3, “Standard.txt”).  If you have not created a file or if you did not elect to use the default file during setup, then I recommend that you create one from scratch using ByeLines. Same as using the “File|Select Signature” menu item.


Use this to select an existing database. You must use either the database provided, or one that has been created by ByeLines. Same as using the “Database | Select DB” menu item.


This saves an open signature file. You cannot rename or “save as” with this selection. Same as using the “File | Save Signature” menu item.


This will spell check the signature (less tagline) shown in the Signature Editor. Same as using the “Spell | Signature” menu item.


This will spell check the tagline shown in the Tagline Editor. Same as using the “Spell | Tagline” menu item.


This will change your tagline immediately based on the Sequencer Settings in the Options menu.


Reloads the last signature file used.


C’Ya! . . .


Click on the arrows to change taglines. The “|<” and “>|” buttons move to the end of the database in the direction the arrow points. The “<” and “>” buttons move one record in the appropriate direction.

Changing the tagline automatically updates the display. If you like it, save it!


Norton Utilities for Windows 95 and ByeLines

Norton Utilities for Windows 95 has a feature that protects files when they are deleted so that you may restore them at a later date in necessary. Unfortunately this has an unpleasant side effect. When ByeLines is running, it is constantly writing to several files. This causes Norton Utilities to increase the protected cache by up to 6 files every time it cycles (if you have all signature files enabled). This isn’t necessarily a good thing.

If you use Norton Utilities I suggest that you add “*.body” to the exclusions list. To do this, right-click on the Trash Can and open the properties option. Select the Norton Protection tab, click on the Exclusions button, type “*.body” in the edit box and click "add."


Reset Screen Size Defaults Button:  This button will reset the ByeLines screen to the default settings. Use this when you’ve screwed up the screen size beyond all hope!  First click on the “Screen Size Locked” checkbox, then click on this button.  Lock the screen size when your done.


Show Splash Screen?  Come on! This is obvious!


Screen Size Locked:  When checked, the screen size is locked.  Click on it to unlock and resize the screen.


Minutes:  This shows the number of minutes that will elapse between tagline cycles when the frequency is set to variable.


This is the signature and tagline display.  If you click on the navigator buttons, the tagline will be changed here.  If the “Save Sig” button is enabled, that means the file hasn’t been saved. You must save it to use it.


If you don’t know all of the tagline, start typing the first few words here and it will find it for you!


Upgrading ByeLines from previous versions

Upgrading from ByeLines 3.1.X.X or earlier:

If you have any version of ByeLines earlier than version 3.2.X.X currently installed, and you are upgrading to Version 3.2 or later, you need to do the following:

1. Backup everything in your ByeLines program directory and it's subdirectories.  Install and run the database converter. The converter can be found at “ftp://ftp.kyler.com/pub/ByeLines/Beta/BLConverter.zip .” I recommend that you install the converter in the same directory where ByeLines now resides. Convert all your old ByeLines 3.1 databases.

2. Uninstall BOTH the converter AND ByeLines 3.X. Use the "Custom Uninstall" option. Save the ByeLines program directory and its subdirectories. Uninstall the Borland Database Engine (BDE). If you need to switch back, you can run the BL304 installation and reinstall the BDE.

3. Go into your registry (using REGEDIT) and delete the following keys: (all keys are under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER root key.)

"Software | YakWorks | ByeLines | MRU DB Items" and

"Software | YakWorks | ByeLines | Configuration | DBFile"

4. Install ByeLines 3.2.

Upgrading from Version 3.2.X.X

Run the upgrade installation utility. Make sure that ByeLines is not running. DO NOT uninstall ByeLines! Run the patch over the existing version.


Step-By-Step Instructions

1.  With ByeLines running, go to the “Signatures” notebook tab.

2.  Double-click (with your left mouse button) on one of the boxes to the right of a button with a red “X.” This will bring up a standard Windows 95 “File Open” dialog box.

3.  Navigate to the directory where your signature file is loacted. If your using Eudora 3, this will be a subdirectory called “Sigs” found in the same directory where the program file is located.

4.  Select the file to use (example: “Alternate.txt”).

5.  ByeLines will then prompt you to highlite the “signature” portion of the text. If you added a custom signature to the existing file, then don’t highlite that part, otherwise, highlite all the text.

6.  Go to the “Display Notebook tab. This will show you what the final signature file will be with a tagline appended. If you don’t like the tagline, click on the database navigator in the toolbar. It is to the left of the “Start/Stop Timer” button.

7.  Save the file!