************************************ * * * VEHICLE * * * * MAINTENANCE * * * * Version 4.2 * * * ************************************ Gary LaRonge 3023 Wilderness Loop S.E. Olympia, Washington 98501 (C) Copyright 1988 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE Version 4.2 DESCRIPTION: VEHICLE MAINTENANCE provides a type written check off sheet listing items to be serviced at pre-defined intervals. The check off sheet may be used as a "memory jogger" to prevent over looking items that should be maintained or the sheet may be presented to a service agency and used as an indication of the work you would like accomplished by the agency. Using VEHICLE MAINTENANCE is quite easy. The data base is created by inputting up to five (5) maintenance intervals i.e., 5000, 10000, 15000, 30000, and 60000 "miles" for vehicles or you may use "hours" as the maintenance period criteria for items such as generators, sno- mobiles, air compressors, etc. The maintenance period criteria is followed by a description of the maintenance items you would like serviced at each of the specified intervals i.e., change oil, replace oil filter, replace air filter, check brake pads, etc. Any of the interval item descriptions may be added to, deleted from, or edited as required without leaving the program. After the file has been created, and the appropriate data has been entered, save the file using a unique name that in some way identifies the machinery to which it pertains. Some names that you might consider are vehicle type (MUSTANG, PICKUP, BIGTRUCK, SNOMOBIL, AIRCOMP etc.) or license number (DAT111, FGH089, etc.). The method you choose is not important as long as it is meaningful to you. The VEHICLE MAINTENANCE print option- Enter the current mileage or hours and maintenance due or maintenance overdue will be displayed. At this point, a sheet of items due may be printed. That's all there is to it! INCLUDED FILES: VEHMTC42.TXT- This documentation. VEHMTC42.EXE- The main program. MTCFIX.EXE - A program to convert [.MTC] files created by earlier versions of Vehicle Maintenance to the version 4.2 format. SAMPLE.MTC - A sample vehicle maintenance file. This file may be used to practice editing, printing, etc. until you feel comfortable enough to create your permanent files. MTCINSTL.BAT- A batch file to assist getting started using VEHICLE MAINTENANCE on a hard disk. TYPEDOC.BAT - A batch file to automate document printing. NOTE- DOS Version 2.0 + is required. -1- New in Version 4.0- Sorted directory. Configuration file written from main program. "Write over existing file" protection. Password protection option. Automatically determines color or mono video adapter. NOTE- If you are using a color video adapter and a monochrome monitor, it will be necessary to use the configuration option for the program to operate correctly. Menu options and files selectable by number. Monitors disk free space. <10k free is reported. Supports Path and drive specifications. Improved editing and screen displays. loads faster. Runs faster. - Version 4.1- A few bug fixes. - Version 4.2- Change of address LETS GET STARTED: If you have previously been using VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, it will be necessary to convert your existing data files using MTCFIX.EXE. If you are a new user of VEHICLE MAINTENANCE just skip this section. To convert your files type MTCFIX and follow the prompts. MTCFIX will display all the information and instructions required. If data files written with an earlier version of VEHICLE MAINTENANCE are executed from VEHICLE MAINTENANCE version 4.2 the results will be undesirable. In the event an MTCFIX conversion fails, it will be necessary to start new files using VEHMTC42. You might try running it twice. ******************************************************************* NOTE- MAKE BACK UP COPIES OF YOUR DATA FILES BEFORE CONVERSION. ******************************************************************* To install VEHICLE MAINTENANCE on a hard disk, place the floppy disk containing VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 4.2 and the files previously mentioned in drive A: and type MTCINSTL . A directory named C:\MTC will be created on the hard disk and the files on the floppy disk in drive A: will be copied to the new directory. When the file transfer has been completed, type C: to access the hard disk, then type CD\MTC to change directory to the new maintenance directory. Version 4.2 supports a configuration file that is named VEHMTC40.CNF. If you are using a color monitor and the [.MTC] files are located in the same directory or are on the same diskette as VEHMTC41.EXE it will not be necessary a configuration file. If you need to configure the program, it may be done by holding down ctrl and pressing F1 when the "Press to continue" prompt is displayed below the opening screen. The configure option allows you to define up to 19 characters to be displayed as line 1 of the opening screen, to define whether or not you are using a color or monchrome monitor, and to define the drive or path to find the [.MTC] files. -2- Version 4.2 also supports password protection. To install a password, hold down ctrl,shift,alt and press F10 when the "Press to continue" prompt is displayed below the opening screen. Once a password is installed, it is necessary that it be correctly entered to access the program. In most cases, the use of a password will not be necessary. If you opt to use password access, DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSWORD or you are in serious trouble. To execute VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, Type VEHMTC42 . When the opening screen is cleared, you will see the main menu which displays the following choices; 1- SELECT maintenance file 2- PRINT maintenance due 3- FILE maintenance 4- DELETE maintenance files 5- CREATE maintenance files 6- EXIT to DOS Let's explore the options- "SELECT maintenance file" is normally going to be your first selection after creating new files. Define the type of file you wish to open. The choices are "hours" or "miles". Enter the number of the the file of choice. When the file choice is completed the file will be read and the program returns to the main menu awaiting another selection. "PRINT maintenance due" When selected, you will need to enter the current mileage or hours of the selected equipment. The input range is limited to 1 - 999,999. The input value is processed to determine the appropriate maintenance interval and notification of maintenance status is returned. A print menu provides the choices of "Print Mtce Due", "Return to Menu", or "Exit to DOS". The print selection requires the date you would like printed on the hard copy. The date may be entered manually or automatically. If the automatic selection is chosen, the current date in the computer time clock is used. Once the date is entered, a title containing up to 45 characters may be input after which a printed sheet containing the title, date, current mileage and maintenance due for the specified maintenance interval, as well as the mileage or hours of the next scheduled maintenance period is generated. Choosing "Return to Menu" simply returns to the main menu and "Exit to DOS" just exactly that. "FILE maintenance" provides access to the file editor. Depending upon your typing skills, you may spend a lot of time using this feature. It's probably a good idea to become comfortable with the file maintenance options. As with the rest of the program, the editing module was written with ease of use as a priority so I don't think you will have any trouble here. It begins with a menu offering the following options; Change line Add line Insert line Delete line Return to Main Menu -3- "Change line" allows access to a file to correct typos, add missing words or generally restructure the previously entered text. The current maintenance items are displayed on the screen preceded by line numbers. Simply enter the line number that contains the text to be revised. When the line number has been entered, the selected text will begin to flash, verifying your choice. You may now enter the revised text at the entry line indicated at the bottom of the screen. Completion of the revision brings forth a "more?" prompt. If your response is yes, you reenter the editor in the current maintenance interval. If your response is no, the file is automatically saved and you are returned to the menu. Please note that if a change is entered and "Y" entered at the more? prompt and the edit option is exited the file changes will not be saved. A save does not occur until the more? prompt receives an "N". The "change line" selection may also be used to view the maintenance items listed for a specified maintenance interval. To exit "change line" without making corrections, press . "Add line" permits an extra line to be added to the bottom of the current maintenance interval items. If the file is already full (22 items), no additions are permitted and a notification of the file full status is displayed. "Delete line" will remove the selected line number from the file and move all remaining lines up one line to "close the gap" in the maintenance item list. "Return to main menu". You guessed it. That is what it does. When a file is altered, it is automatically saved if you entered "N" at the edit "more?" prompt. Don't bother looking for a separate "save file" option, there isn't one. "ERASE maintenance files" should be used with caution. DO NOT confuse this option with an editing function. This selection ERASES THE FILE OF CHOICE FROM THE COMPUTER DISK !!!. To use this option it's simply a matter of selecting the chosen file as you have previously done. After the file has been selected, you are given a chance to change your mind at the next prompt which is "Press for menu or to continue". Choosing will cause the selected file to be erased and is your opportunity to bail out. "CREATE maintenance files" is where the maintenance intervals and maintenance items per interval are defined. To start, you are asked to define the maintenance period criteria in "hours" or "miles", you may then enter the maintenance intervals. Maintenance intervals are the mileages or hours that you want maintenance performed. The intervals chosen should be multiples of interval 1. -4- An example- Using the "mile" definition, Interval 1= 5000, Interval 2= 10000, Interval 3=15000, Interval 4=30000 and Interval 5=60000 or using the "hour" definition, Interval 1= 10 , Interval 2= 20, Interval 3= 40, Interval 4=80, Interval 5=160. Using a format other than the one described may provide unpredictable results. Feel free to experiment. You may certainly try other combinations, just be advised the attempt may not be successful. If an incompatible format is used, the problem will show up in the print option where the mileages or hours and maintenance interval will be incorrectly calculated. After the intervals are entered it is just a matter of entering the data you would like for each maintenance interval. Assuming an interval structure of 5000, 10000, 15000, 30000, and 60000 miles, an example of appropriate item entries would be; Interval 1= 5000- Change engine oil (5 qts.- 7/16" wrench) Replace engine oil filter (APEX # nnnn) Check lights Check Brakes Interval 2= 10000- Replace air filter (APEX # nnnn) Interval 3= 15000- Inspect SMOG control system Check transmission and differential levels Interval 4= 30000- Check tire wear Check tire pressures (26 psi) Interval 5= 60000- Replace engine coolant (7 qts) Replace transmission gear oil (4 pts) Replace differential gear oil (4 pts) The minimum interval 1 value that may be entered is 5 and the maximum value is 20,000. Selecting the [.MTC] file containing the above data would provide a check off listing the items of each maintenance interval that may be evenly divided into the current mileage. Using the sample data- if the print option is selected, and a mileage of 30000 entered, a print out would be generated that contains all items in intervals 1, 2, 3, and 4 because 30000 miles is divisible by each of those interval values. If the mileage entered were 60000 then all items of all intervals would be printed. Entry of an odd value such as 35000 miles would result in printing only the items in interval 1 because 35000 cannot evenly be divided by 10000, 15000, 30000, or 60000, as required, however 35000 can be evenly divided by 5000. It really is less confusing than it appears. A maximum of 66 characters per line will be accepted. It is not necessary to enter all 5 possible maintenance intervals, Press F10 when you wish to quit interval entry. It is also unnecessary to enter all 22 possible items before entering the next interval, press F10 if you wish to move on before the interval file is filled. Files created using the "hour" format will be saved as .HRS and files using the mile format will be saved as .MTC. "EXIT to DOS" is the end of biz!. -5- -A CLOSING NOTE- In most situations, pressing will get you out of a place in which you don't wish to be. If your needs require tracking more than 10 pieces of equipment, ask about our COMMERCIAL VERSIONS of Vehicle Maintenance and Vehicle Expenses. The commercial versions are also inexpensive, inter-active and make tracking vehicle maintenance requirements of many vehicles much easier. Gary LaRonge 3023 Wilderness Loop S.E. Olympia, Wa. 98501 This software is provided "as is" and offers no warranty, express or implied. The author accepts no liability for this softwares use or misuse, or any consequential, incidental, special or exemplary damages attributed to it's use. -6- My thoughts on contributions for shareware. Pretty simple, If you decide to use this software and wish to contribute the suggested value I will be forever grateful, If you feel you can't afford the suggested amount, contribute what you think will better suit your budget. If you want to use the software and contribute nothing, I guess you will probably do just that. The down side of using shareware and failing to contribute for its use is becoming more and more evident. A few years ago, it was not difficult to find full featured software readily available but now, thanks to those who don't wish to support a fine system, we are seeing more and more "teaseware", that is software that has been released without being fully implemented. One of the beauties of the shareware system, besides extremely low cost, is the opportunity to test new software and be sure it suits ones needs before spending a couple of dollars and with "teaseware" that benefit is being restricted. Let's not destroy the system altogether. The thought of being restricted to purchasing commercial software is not a pretty one. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Please mail to: Gary LaRonge 3023 Wilderness Loop S.E. Olympia, Washington 98501 Please add my name to the list of registered users of- VEHMTC42 (Individual use - $ 5.00) (Commercial use - $20.00) NOTE- Commercial registration includes the next release on disk. BUSINESS NAME- __________________________________ DEPT- ___________________________________________ NAME- ___________________________________________ ADDRESS- ________________________________________ CITY, STATE- ____________________________________ ZIP CODE- _______________________________________ Please accept my sincere thanks, Gary