One of the most useful features of the MAIL LIST ORGANIZER is the
ability to search for specific records by choosing one or more Search
Conditions.

  

A Search Condition is a way the computer searches through the Mail
List and selects only the records which meet that condition.

In the MAIL LIST ORGANIZER, we have tried to simplify the search
procedure as much as possible.  In order to do this, our aim is
create an English-like sentence that describes ONLY the records you
want in your final report or printout.

Virtually any kind of search can be created using one or more of
these clauses.  Once you get a basic understanding as to the use of
these clauses, you will have access to the full power and versatility
of the MAIL LIST ORGANIZER.

  

Now, let's look at a simple example.

Let's say you want to print labels only for companies located in the
city of Milwaukee.

When you select the SEARCH CONDITION option, you will see the
following screen displayed:

  Screen 1 
 ߰
     M A I L I N G    L I S T    S E A R C H   P R O C E D U R E   
 İ
      Choose the field to use for the search by using <> <>      
                                                                   
                              CODE                                 
                              COMPANY                              
                              ADDR1                                
                              ADDR2                                
                              CITY                                 
                              STATE                                
                              ZIP                                  
                              PHONE                                
                              FAXPHONE                             
                              FIRST                                
                              LAST                                 
 İ
                            <Esc> to Exit                          
 


This screen lists all the fields in you current Mail List.
The two different kinds of clauses that make up Search
Conditions are "Action" and "Joining" clauses.

  

                      "A C T I O N"   C L A U S E S

In order to begin a Search Condition, you must combine a field with
an "action" clause.  There are 6 "action" clauses available to you,
and they are listed below.

                  Ŀ
                   - is the same as or starts with - 
                       - is exactly the same as -    
                         - is not the same as -      
                            - comes before -         
                            - comes after -          
                        - contains the string -      
                  

In our example, you would use the down arrow key <> to highlight
CITY. When you press <Enter>, you will see this screen:

  Screen 2 
 ߰
     M A I L I N G    L I S T    S E A R C H   P R O C E D U R E   
   
                                                                   
                   Your selected field is: CITY                    
                                                                   
             The records included in the search should be          
             all those records where CITY:                         
                                                                   
                   is the same as or starts with                   
                       is exactly the same as                      
                         is not the same as                        
                            comes before                           
                            comes after                            
                        contains the string                        
                                                                   
   
           Example: "tom smith" is the same as "TOM SMITH"         
 

As you arrow up or down through the list, you will see examples on
the bottom of the screen that will show you how the clauses are used.
In this situation, you want all records in which the CITY is the same
as Milwaukee.  You would therefore highlight the first option and
press <Enter>.  The following screen will then be displayed:

  Screen 3 
 ߰
     M A I L I N G    L I S T    S E A R C H   P R O C E D U R E   
   
                                                                   
               PLEASE ENTER THE CITY FOR CONDITION?              
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
       ENTER:                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
   
                         Press <Esc> To Cancel                     
 

Type in the word "Milwaukee".  It doesn't matter whether you use
upper or lower case letters.

With this clause, you can even use the first part of the field to
search with.  If you say "CITY is the same or starts with MI", you
would bring up not only companies in Milwaukee, but also Minneapolis,
Michigan City and Millport, assuming that these cities are on your
mailing list.

After entering "Milwaukee", you will see the following screen:

  Screen 4 
 ߰
     M A I L I N G    L I S T    S E A R C H   P R O C E D U R E   
   
    Press <Enter> when you've chosen all your Search Conditions.   
                                                                   
  For your search, you want all those records in which:            
  CITY is or starts with MILWAUKEE                                 
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                  but limited to                                   
                  but should not include                           
                  and also                                         
                  and all other <fieldname> except                 
   
                  No more conditions...begin search                
   
    <> <> Select options       No more conditions to be met   
 


As you can see, we've now constructed a simple Search Condition
sentence:

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       CITY is or starts with MILWAUKEE"

If these are the only records you want on your labels or in your
report, there are no more conditions.  Therefore you can begin the
search. Just press <Enter>.

Before we continue, let's briefly look the other Action clauses.

                     ******************************

                        "is exactly the same as"

We've already mentioned that with the clause, "is the same or starts
with", you can use just a part of the word for a search.  This is
fine until you have two similar words.

For example, let's say you've used the word "CON" to stand for
Construction, then used "CONCRETE" for Concrete contractors.  If you
search for all "CON", you will also bring up "CONCRETE".  To make
sure you only get "CON", use the "is exactly the same as" clause.

                     ******************************

                          "is not the same as"

This simply means that you want to exclude something in your search.
If you don't want the city of Milwaukee included in you list, use
this clause.

                     ******************************

                             "comes before"

Suppose you want to send all companies with the letters A thru L a
brochure one week and send the rest of the companies the brochure the
next week.  Select COMPANY and use the "comes before" clause with
"M". Now you have:

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       COMPANY comes before M"

                     ******************************

                             "comes after"

You might think that to get the rest of the companies, just use:

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       COMPANY comes after L"

The problem is, a computer is very precise.  Using this statement
clause, you will get all the letter L's.  Since L comes before LA or
any other combination of letters that begin with L, your list will
include all companies that begin with L.  You can get around this by
saying:

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       COMPANY comes after LZ"

                     ******************************

                         "contains the string"

A string is a group of characters or numbers.  A word is a string. An
address is a string, or part of an address is a string.

If for some reason you wanted to locate all companies that have the
word PLUMBING in their name, use the "contains the string" clause.
Now you have:

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       COMPANY contains the string PLUMBING"


  

                    "J O I N I N G"   C L A U S E S

The true power of Search Conditions is seen when you want to narrow
the scope of the search down even further.  You do this by joining
one or more Search Conditions to the original condition.

Using our example, let's see how we can accomplish this.

The "joining " clauses used to create Multiple Search Conditions are:

                Ŀ
                   but limited to                    
                   but should not include            
                   and also                          
                   and all other <fieldname> except  
                

                     ******************************

                          "but limited to"

This clause has the effect of narrowing down the search even more.
Let's say you want to include all the construction companies in the
city of Milwaukee.  And let's also say that you use the REM (Remark)
field to describe what kind of business the company is.  And one of
the descriptions you use is CONCRETE.

You've already limited the search to Milwaukee.  Now you use this
joining clause to add to your sentence:

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       CITY is or starts with MILWAUKEE but limited to:

When you select this joining clause, you will immediately be returned
to screen 1 to select a field.  In this case you will add

       "REM is or starts with CONSTRUCTION"

to your sentence.

      "For your search, you want all those records in which:
       CITY is or starts with MILWAUKEE but limited to REM
       is or starts with CONSTRUCTION"

While this sentence will not win a style contest, it does get the
idea across.

When Screen 4 pops up now, you will be on:

                    "No more conditions...begin search"

If you have no more conditions, press <Enter> and your search will
begin.

                     ******************************

                        "but should not include"

This joining clause obviously has the effect of excluding certain
records. If you want to include all companies in the city of
Milwaukee EXCEPT construction companies, you would use this clause.

                     ******************************

                               "and also"

This clause will expand your search.  If you want to include all
companies in city of Milwaukee AND in the city of Chicago, use the
"and also" clause.

                     ******************************

                   "and all other <fieldname> except"

This may be the most difficult joining clause to understand.

If you want to include in your search all companies in the city of
Milwaukee, AND also all other States EXCEPT the state of Wisconsin,
use this clause.

Your final list will then include all companies located outside of
the state of Wisconsin AND those companies located in the city of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But there will not be any companies from
Madison, Racine, Kenosha or any other city in Wisconsin.

  

Like most new things, the best way to learn how to use this program
is to just work with it.

The Search Routine used in this program is designed to help you
narrow down a list so that it includes only the records you want.
Ultimately, we've included the Search Routine with this version of
the program to save you time and money.

In this way, you will see for yourself the benefits involved in the
full usage of the MAIL-LIST ORGANIZER.

