TealMeal User's Manual

By Vince Lee, Tex Tennison, and Amanda Epume
Program Version 3.02
Last Updated: December 12, 1997

Description

Thank you for trying TealMeal. This is a simple but fun program designed to answer the age old question: "So where do you want to eat?"

TealMeal manages multiple databases of restaurants which can be selectively displayed by type or category. The database may be created or modified using full pilot-based editing functions. Additionally, databases may be edited on a PC using the included conversion programs when translate database files to and from an easily-editable text file format.


Installing

This archive contains the files:

TEALMEAL.DOC
This doc in text format
TEALMEAL.HTM
This doc in HTML format
TEALMEAL.PRC
The TealMeal program file
SAMPLE.PDB
A sample database file
SAMPLE.TEXT
A sample text database file for use with programs below
MEAL2TEXT.EXE
Database-to-Textfile converter program
TEXT2MEAL.EXE
Textfile-to-Database converter program
REGISTER.HTM
TealPoint Registration form in HTML format
REGISTER.DOC
TealPoint Registration form in text format
Use the Pilot installer to install the program file TEALMEAL.PRC. You may also optionally install the sample database file SAMPLE.PDB. If you do not, the program will not be useful until you create some restaurant entries (see instructions below). Additional restaurant files are available on our web site (www.tealpoint.com). You may install one or more of these restaurant files. Each will appear as a separate editable database on your PalmPilot (New for 3.0).

Instructions on how to use the PalmPilot installer are in the PalmPilot Handbook that came with your Pilot, PalmPilot, or WorkPad.


Using the Program

TealMeal is easy to use. The name of the current restaurant list appears in the upper right corner of the display, while its entries appear on the right half of the display. Selectable options appear on the left hand side and bottom of the screen.

The options on the left are types of restaurants you want to see, such as Thai, Mexican, or French. A restaurant will only appear on the restaurant list if one of the types of foods it serves is checked on the left. Checking more restaurant types will include more restaurants.

The options on the bottom represent special conditions for the shown restaurants, such as outdoor seating or cheapness. Restaurants will only be included if they satisfy all selected conditions. Thus, selecting more options will show fewer restaurants.

Once a list of acceptable restaurants has been created, three functions are available. To show more information on the restaurant, press on the Details button, which is shaped like a magnifying glass, after either clicking an entry in the list window or using the scroll up/down buttons to select the desired entry. To show a full-screen view of the notes field associated with each entry, click on the Notes button, which is shaped like a memo pad. To select the last option, click on the Wheel of Food button, which randomly picks a restaurant from the current filtered list.


Managing Multiple Databases

TealMeal supports multiple databases, a useful feature for travelers, allowing one to maintain different lists for different cities.

To create a new database, select New Database from the Database main menu. Once the database has been created, it can be accessed from the Goto Database menu item or by clicking on the name of the current database on the upper right corner of the display.


Custom Option Names

Option names for both restaurant types and special conditions can be changed by selecting the Custom Labels menu item. These names can be different for each database but are limited to 10 characters for restaurant types and 5 characters for special conditions.

Entry Editing - Pilot

To create a new restaurant entry, choose Create New Record from the Edit menu (shortcut Stoke-C). Alternately, to edit a existing entry, select it in the restaurant list and choose Edit Record from the Edit menu (shortcut Stroke-E).

Either of these options will bring up the editing screen, which resembles the Information screen. Enter a restaurant name, description, and check off all checkboxes that apply. Note that you must select at least one food category, or the record can never be shown.


Database Editing - PC

When you hotsync your pilot, the most current TealMeal database files are stored on the PC in a directory called BACKUP\, which resides in a directory named after your User ID. These files are named after the database names as seen from within TealMeal.

To edit the database file on a PC, run the included program MEAL2TXT to convert the PDB file into a text file, following the prompts for a source .DBS file to read and a target .TXT file to create.

After modifying the database, use the program TXT2MEAL to convert the text file back into a database (DBS) file which can be installed back onto the pilot using the pilot application installer.


Text File Format

The text file format is as follows:
	#
	# 
	# <5 comment lines>
	#
	#
	Custom Labels
	FoodTypeA 
	FoodTypeB
	FoodTypeC
	FoodTypeD
	FoodTypeE
	FoodTypeF
	FoodTypeG
	FoodTypeH
	FoodTypeI
	FoodTypeJ
	FoodTypeK
	FoodTypeL
	OptA
	OptB
	OptC
	OptD
	OptE
	>>>
	Restaurant1
	   FoodType FoodType FoodType...
	   Options Options Options...
	Description
	Description
	Description
	Description
	>>>
	Restaurant2
	   FoodType FoodType FoodType...
	   Options Options Options...
	Description
	Description
	Description
	Description
	>>>

	... and so on
	
The Custom Labels field is optional, and should not include fields which are subsets of any other field.

Acceptable DefaultFoodType entries are

Acceptable DefaultOptions entries are

Revision History


Contact Info

TealMeal is By Vince Lee, TealPoint Software
(c) 1997 All Rights Reserved.
TealPoint Software
454 Las Gallinas Ave, Suite #318
San Rafael, CA 94903-3618
We look forward to hearing from you.

Please visit us at www.tealpoint.com, or
email us at contact@tealpoint.com.

Thank you.

Registering

Currently, you may register by snail mail, electronically through our website using a First Virtual Bank account, with a credit card through PilotGear HQ. (www.pilotgear.com) 1-800-741-9070. For the first option, the enclosed registration form is provided for your convenience. You may use this form or simply send the following to the address above.

Disclaimer

We at TealPoint Software are committed to providing quality, easy-to-use software. However, this product is provided without warranty and the user accepts full resposibility for any damages, consequential or otherwise, resulting from its use.

This archive is freely redistributable, provided it is made available only in its complete, unmodified form with no additional files and for noncommercial purposes only. Any other use must have prior written authorization from TealPoint Software.

Unauthorized commercial use includes, but is not limited to:

  1. A product for sale.
  2. Accompanying a product for sale.
  3. Accompanying a magazine, book or other publication for sale.
  4. Distribution with "Media", "Copying" or other incidental costs.
  5. Available for download with access or download fees.
This program may be used on a trial basis for 30 days. The program will continue to function afterwards. However, if after this time you wish to continue using it, please register with us for the nominal fee listed in the program.
Thank you.