                         What is Metrix?

Metrix  is a utility program that converts measurements  (length,
volume,  temperature,  etc.) from the US system  of  weights  and
measures to the International Standards (Metric) system and  vice
versa.   Over  1000  conversions can be found within  the  Metrix
system including both the more common conversions as well as  the
more exotic.

A  1991  executive order from the President of the United  States
has  declared that all Federal agencies must switch to the Metric
system in their procurements from the private sector.  It's  also
true that more and more U.S. exports are being refused by foreign
countries  because items do not conform to the  metric  standard.
We'd rather switch than fight!  As a result, Metrix was born.

Metrix  can  run as a standalone DOS application, or  it  can  be
started  as  a  TSR (terminate and stay resident)  program.   The
latter  option  is handy for performing a quick conversion  while
remaining in another application.


                            Copyright
                             Notice

Information in this document is subject to change without  notice
and  does  not  represent a commitment on the part  of  Financial
Systems Associates, Incorporated.  The software and documentation
may  be  used by a single purchaser on a single computer  system.
It  is  against the law to copy the software on any medium except
for  backup purposes.  No part of this manual or software may  be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or  mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information
storage  and  retrieval systems, for any purpose other  than  the
purchaser's personal use, without the express written  permission
of Financial Systems Associates, Incorporated.

Copyright 1992,  Financial Systems Associates, Incorporated.  All
rights reserved.


                             Program
                          Installation

To  install  the  Metrix system, make the  drive  containing  the
installation  diskette the current drive by  typing  A:  (or  B:,
etc.)  After you receive the A> or B> prompt, type the following:

                      INSTALL  S:  T:\PATH

where S: is the drive ID of the Source diskette drive, and T:  is
the drive, and PATH of the Target drive and directory in which to
install Metrix. Be sure to include the colon after the drive  ID.
If  the  drive  and  path specifications are  omitted,  an  error
message will be displayed, and you must restart the installation.
If  you  wish,  Metrix can be run directly from the  installation
diskette, although it is recommended that you first make a backup
copy of the Metrix software before proceeding.


                         Program Startup

To use the program, just type "METRIX" (no quote marks).  Program
customization is available by entering the startup options on the
DOS  command  line  (any combination of options  is  allowed)  at
program startup.  Each option must be preceded by a slash, and at
least  one blank space must separate each option.  An alternative
to   using   command  line  options  is  to  update  the   Metrix
configuration by using the Configurator screen.

The  sample command line below executes Metrix as a TSR with  the
default  hotkey of CTRL-ALT-M and redirects printing  to  a  disk
file.

             C> METRIX /T /P=C:\SPOOLQ\METPRINT.PRN


                          Command Line
                             Options

/?.....Displays a brief description of command line startup
       options.   An  incorrect command line parameter  will  also
       cause the same result.

/T.....Loads  Metrix  as  a TSR (Terminate and  Stay  Resident)
       utility  which  can  be activated via  the  CTRL-ALT-M  key
       combination.  The program will use about 56K of  memory  in
       TSR  mode.   The  "hotkey" may be changed to any  CTRL-ALT-
       character  by following the /T with the desired  character.
       For  example,  /TQ loads Metrix as a TSR  and  changes  the
       "hotkey" value to CTRL-ALT-Q.  Note that the default is  to
       run Metrix as a stand- alone DOS program, and not a TSR.

/U.....Unloads  Metrix from memory if it was invoked  as  a
       TSR.   If  you have loaded other TSR programs after  Metrix
       was  started, Metrix may not be able to successfully remove
       itself  from  memory if the succeeding  TSR  programs  have
       "snatched" the same interrupt vectors used by Metrix.

/WB....Sets the screen WRITE mode to BIOS (slower than  the
       default  value  of  direct, but may be necessary  for  some
       monitors and video cards).

/WD....Sets the screen WRITE mode to DIRECT video ram. This
       option  is automatically invoked by normal startup  and  is
       the fastest.

/Pn....Set the PRINTER port to LPT1 (default), LPT2, or LPT3
       where n is a single digit 1, 2, or 3.

/P=FN..Print to a file instead of LPTn. (Note that the equal
       sign  indicates that a disk output file will be  used).  FN
       must  be  a  valid  DOS  filename.   Drive  and  path   are
       optional.  If the file already exists, new print data  will
       be appended to the end of the file.
      
       Both   the  /P  file and printer options  cannot  be  used.
       Specifying  the  print-to-file  option  will  override  the
       print-to-printer default.

/HFB...Sets the Foreground (F) and background (B) colors  for
       HELP  screens.  Values for F and B are shown  below.   Note
       that  both  F  and B cannot be the same values because  the
       resultant   screen   display   would   effectively   become
       invisible.   Also  note  that some combinations  may  cause
       blinking.   The default colors for HELP screens  are  "HB",
       white foreground on a blue background.

       A=Black      E=Red          I=Grey            M=Light red
       B=Blue       F=Magenta      J=Light blue      N=Light magenta
       C=Green      G=Brown        K=Light green     O=Yellow
       D=Cyan       H=White        L=Light cyan      P=Bright white

/NFB...Sets the Foreground (F) and background (B) colors for
       NORMAL  screens. Values for F and B are the same  as  HELP.
       Note  that  both F and B cannot be the same values  because
       the  resultant  screen  display  would  effectively  become
       invisible.   The  default  colors for  NORMAL  screens  are
       "AD", black foreground text on a cyan background.

/CFB...Sets  the  Foreground (F) and background  (B)  color
       values for the pop-up CALCULATOR window.  Values for F  and
       B  are the same as HELP.  Note that both F and B cannot  be
       the  same values because the resultant screen display would
       effectively become invisible.  The default colors  for  the
       CALCULATOR  are  "HE",  white  foreground  text  on  a  red
       background.


                            Main Menu

    The  program itself is easy to use and menu driven.  When the
    opening menu appears, use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to  move
    the  lightbar to the category of measurement to be converted,
    then  press  the  ENTER key.  The selected category  and  its
    available items will appear.
    
    The  first five conversion categories contain the more common
    Metric  conversions used most frequently such as  length  and
    distance,  weight, temperature, etc.  The sixth  category  is
    simply  a  summary  of  Metric  abbreviations.   The  seventh
    category,  Conversion  Table Reference,  contains  over  1000
    conversions  which may or may not be found  in  the  previous
    five categories.
                                
     
                                
    
                           Conversion
                             Screens

    Move  the  cursor by using the arrow keys to the item  to  be
    converted and type in a numeric value.  As soon as either the
    ENTER  key is pressed, the input field is full, or the cursor
    is  moved off of that entry, a result will be calculated  and
    displayed  on the right side of the screen.  Some conversions
    produce multiple results.  For example, using the Length  and
    Distance  screen,  entering a value in the "inches"  category
    produces four results:  meters, millimeters, centimeters  and
    microns.  Most conversion screens have several function  keys
    available.   Each function key and a one word description  of
    its use is displayed at the bottom of each screen.
                               
    
    
                          Function Keys

    F1   This  is  the on-line HELP request.  Pressing  this  key
         activates  a  help  screen  appropriate  to  the   current
         conversion  or  menu screen.  When multiple  HELP  screens
         are  available, use the PGUP and PGDN keys  to  scroll  to
         the next or previous HELP screen.
    
    F2   Pressing this key activates the pop-up CALCULATOR.  Once
         the  calculator is on-screen, additional function keys are
         available  for miscellaneous calculator related  functions
         such  as  CLEAR, RECALL, CLEAR ENTRY, etc.  The calculator
         acts  the same as any hand-held calculator.  Enter a value
         followed   by   a   plus  sign  (+),   minus   sign   (-),
         multiplication (*), or division (/) operator.   The  final
         value  for  the calculation must be followed by  an  equal
         (=) sign.
    
         A  special feature of the calculator allows the  entry  of
         an   alphabetic   character  which  corresponds   to   any
         conversion  result  item on the  right  half  of  the  con
         version  screens.   This  feature lets  you  perform  addi
         tional  calculations on current conversion results without
         having  to enter a long string of numbers.  Values entered
         into  the  calculator must not exceed  nine  integers  and
         fourteen decimal positions. If arithmetic overflow  occurs
         in  the result, the letter "E" appears next to the answer.
         Attempting  to  divide  by zero  also  produces  an  error
         indication.
       
   F3    This  function key toggles back and forth between United
         States (US) and Metric (IS) conversions.  For example,  on
         the  Length and Distance screen, the items being converted
         "from"  are  in  US units, and the items  being  converted
         "to" are in IS units.  Pressing F3 will reverse this.
    
   F4    Pressing  F4 will CLEAR all conversion results  on  the
         right   side  of  the  screen  to  zeros.   Metrix   never
         automatically resets any results to zero.

   F5    Pressing  F5  will PRINT the contents of any  conversion
         screen.   When  printing,  only  the  conversion  data  is
         printed.  Date, time, horizontal and vertical lines,  etc.
         are  never printed.  A page eject is issued after printing
         of the screen is complete.
    
         Printing  may  be  redirected to a disk file  via  command
         line  startup  options or by changing  the  configuration.
         When  printing to disk, if a file already exists with  the
         same  name used in the command line or configuration,  any
         additional printing will be appended to that file.
    
   F6   The  F6 function key invokes a SEARCH of the Conversion
        Reference  Table.    Since  there  are  over  1000   items
        contained in this category, you may initiate a search  for
        an  item  you are converting "from".  It is only necessary
        to  enter the first few characters of the item name.   For
        example,  entering  "ME"  (no quotes)  will  position  the
        screen  to the one and only "Megameters" entry.   Entering
        "MET"  will  position  the screen to  the  first  of  many
        "Meters"  entries.   If a match of the characters  entered
        is  found, that item will appear at the top of the screen.
        If  not  found,  the  next highest  item  in  alphabetical
        sequence will appear at the top of the screen.
    
   F9   When  changing  program options via  the  Configuration
        Screen,  pressing  F9 will perform a TEMPORARY  UPDATE  of
        the  program options you have changed.  After  Metrix  has
        ended,  the  previously  selected options  (those  in  use
        before you pressed F9) will be re-established.
    
   F10  When  changing  program options  via  the  Configuration
        Screen,  pressing F10 will perform a PERMANENT  UPDATE  of
        the  program options you have changed.  After  Metrix  has
        ended,  the  new  options  will  remain  in  effect  until
        changed  again either by use of the command  line  startup
        options or using the Configuration screen.
    
  Note: To  restore the configuration to the originally supplied
        values,  simply  delete  the  file  "METRIXCF.DAT"  before
        starting  Metrix.  When the program initializes  the  next
        time  it  is run, the configuration file will be recreated
        with default values if it is missing.
    
                         Special Screens

    There are two screens which operate somewhat differently than
    the standard conversion screens.  Each is described below.
    
    Conversion Table Reference
    
        This screen contains over 1000 conversion items including
        many of the common measurements we use every day such  as
        inches  to  feet, feet to rods, barrels to gallons,  etc.
        which  are  not  necessarily  Metric.   When  using  this
        screen,  in addition to the F6 search function (described
        above under "Function Keys"), the scrolling keys are also
        available.  The UP and DOWN arrow keys, PGUP, PGDN, HOME,
        and  END  keys  are  active to help you  manually  scroll
        through the many conversions available.
        
        Use the PGUP and PGDN keys to scroll forward and backward
        a  screen at a time.  Use the UP and DOWN arrow  keys  to
        scroll  forward and backward a line at a time.  The  HOME
        key  repositions the display to the first page,  and  the
        END key positions the display to the last page.  The pop-
        up  calculator  is  also  available  for  use  with  this
        category.
        
        You  may  add your own items to the reference table  file
        "METRIXDF.DAT."  Just be sure that you follow the  format
        of existing items, and that any new items are inserted in
        strict alphabetical sequence.
   
                                
    Metrix Program Configurator
    
        To  change  some  program options either  temporarily  or
        permanently  (rather than entering startup parameters  on
        the  command  line)  you  may use  this  screen  to  make
        temporary  or  permanent changes  to  the  program.   The
        configurator  has  its  own set of on-line  help  screens
        which  explain the options available.  Function  keys  F9
        and  F10  are  available  for this  screen  (see  above).
        Program options that may be changed are the following:
        
           Colors for Normal, Calculator and Help screens
           Screen write mode -- BIOS or Direct RAM
           Always start as a TSR
           TSR hotkey
           Printer port -- LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3
           Printer redirection to disk
           File name of disk print file
        
       
                                
                           Operational
                              Notes

Metrix  uses  both overlay files and data files  to  process  its
information.  Therefore, the program  must know where these files
(.DAT and .OVL extensions) are located.  If they are in the  same
directory  as  METRIX.EXE,  and that directory  was  the  current
directory  when  Metrix  was  executed,  there  is  no   problem.
However, if Metrix is executed when the current directory is  not
the  Metrix  directory, you must supply an  environment  variable
which  tells Metrix where its program files reside.  Use the  DOS
"SET" command as follows:

                       SET METRIX=D:\PATH

This environment setting specifies the drive ID and path to where
the  Metrix  overlays and data files reside.  Do  not  include  a
trailing  backslash after the path.  If you plan on using  Metrix
frequently,  place  the above SET command  in  your  AUTOEXEC.BAT
file.

If  the  message "SCREEN SC00 OVERLAY LOAD ERROR"  is  issued  at
program  startup,  you probably need to set the  above  mentioned
environment variable.


                         Technical Notes

If  you are running DOS 5.0 or above, and Metrix is loaded  as  a
TSR,  Metrix  is  aware of whether or not it is loaded  above  or
below  the  640K memory line.  As a result of this  "UMB"  (Upper
Memory  Block)  awareness, the program is  able  to  perform  all
functions, including unloading itself, successfully regardless of
where in memory it resides.

To  load Metrix in the high memory area (above 640K), use the DOS
"LOADHIGH" command.  About 56K bytes of free memory are  required
to  load  Metrix as a TSR. There are two conditions that  prevent
TSR  Metrix  from successfully unloading.  Metrix  cannot  unload
itself if another TSR is loaded after it, and the subsequent  TSR
program  steals any of the same interrupt vectors used by Metrix.
A  second condition preventing Metrix from unloading is  when  no
user-defined interrupt vector (60h through 66h) is available when
the  program  is initially loaded.  In either case,  Metrix  will
proceed to load and run correctly as a TSR; however, it will  not
be able to unload itself from memory if requested.

The DOS interrupt vectors redirected by Metrix when it is run as
a TSR are the following:

    Interrupt 08h                  Timer
    Interrupt 09h                  Keyboard keypress
    Interrupt 16h                  Keyboard read
    Interrupt 24h                  DOS critical error
    Interrupt 28h                  DOS idle
    Interrupt 60h through 66h      First free user interrupt
                                   vector found in this range
    
When Metrix is not running as a TSR, only interrupt 24h, the  DOS
critical error handler, is redirected.


                          Distribution
                            Diskette

A  packing  list of all Metrix program files appears  below.   Be
sure  that all of these files are present or Metrix will not run
properly.

    METRSC00.OVL       METRSC42.OVL        METRSC93.OVL
    METRSC10.OVL       METRSC50.OVL        METRSC94.OVL
    METRSC12.OVL       METRSC60.OVL        METRSC95.OVL
    METRSC20.OVL       METRSC70.OVL        METRIXCF.DAT
    METRSC22.OVL       METRSC80.OVL        METRIXDF.DAT
    METRSC30.OVL       METRSC90.OVL        METRIX.EXE
    METRSC32.OVL       METRSC91.OVL        METRIX.TXT
    METRSC40.OVL       METRSC92.OVL



                     DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

Users of Metrix must accept this disclaimer of warranty:

"Metrix  is  supplied as is.  Financial Systems  Associates  Inc.
disclaim  all  warranties, expressed or  implied,  including  and
without  limitation,  the warranties of  merchantability  and  of
fitness for any purpose. Both the author and publisher assume  no
liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may  result
from the use of Metrix."

                    REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration  of  this  product permits you  to  receive  a  free
upgraded  version  of  the software should  such  upgrade  become
necessary  due to a major malfunction of the software.   You  may
also be notified of future product offerings.

All correspondence and registration information should be sent to
the following address:

                                
                                
                  Financial Systems Associates, Inc.
                       148 N. Washington St.
                       Delaware, Ohio  43015
                                
                                
                       Compuserve: 71641,3244
                       America Online: SRWiz