
    GEMvelope! the envelope printer
    Ver. 2.9 Manual

This document and all programs are Copyright 1990,1992 Roger Richards


Laser (and most other printers) will not feed an envelope in the
standard horizontal orientation for printing across it.  GEMvelope!
allows you to print an envelope, fed the long way, on almost any
printer.  This includes virtually all laser printers and most dot
matrix printers.  GEMvelope uses GDOS because it has font rotation
built in and there are nice fonts available, especially now that
Atari's FSM GDOS is becoming available.

GEMvelope features:

 -  Import allows extracting an address from a letter in almost any word
    processor format (or from the GEM/Atari clipboard). 
 -  Mail merge allows printing many envelopes, each with a different
    address imported from any database or text file you create. 
 -  Database browse feature for pasting one address from any database.
 -  Adjustable positioning for different size envelopes. 
 -  Load-able and save-able addresses and configuration. 
 -  HP DeskJet specific support.
 -  POSTNET bar code printing. (This will save you 2 cents per letter in 
    the near future according to the US Post Office!)
 -  A desk accessory version.
 -  Fully compatible with FSM and bitmapped GDOS fonts.


Installation and Setup:
-----------------------

You must have some form of GDOS (GDOS 1.1, G+PLUS, FSM-GDOS, or the
included FONTGDOS 2.0) installed on your boot drive.  If GDOS, a
printer driver, and fonts are already installed on your system, no
further setup in required to use GEMvelope.  Other GDOS programs such
as Easy Draw, Timeworks Desktop Publisher, WordUp, and Wordflair come
with the drivers and fonts needed for most printers.  If your computer
is set up to use any of these programs, no further setup is needed for
GEMvelope.  If GDOS is not installed, GEMvelope now comes with
FONTGDOS drivers and fonts to setup GDOS on your system.  If GDOS is
already installed on your system, at the minimum, your ASSIGN.SYS file
should include:

PATH = C:\GDOS.SYS\ ;or C:\GEMSYS\ or other directory with fonts & drivers
21 SLM804.SYS   ;or some other printer driver like FX80.SYS
ATSS12LS.FNT    ;or some other printer font like ATSS12EP.FNT

If you are using the PostScript driver from Timeworks DTP, you do not 
need any font files.

The included printer drivers and fonts are compatible with other
versions of GDOS if you would like to try them.  It has been reported
that these drivers are faster than most previous GDOS drivers, so it
may be worth it to try them out even though you have a working GDOS
setup.


Font GDOS installation:
-----------------------

The FONTGDOS folder contains four self-extracting archives in the
form of TOS programs.  The ACC_CPX.TOS contains the additional
accessories/CPX modules for controling FONTGDOS.  The other three
each contain fonts and drivers for a particular group of printers.
The three archives and the printers they support are:

300DPI.TOS    SLM.SYS         for SLM804 or SLM605 Atari Laser printers
              LASERJET.SYS    for HP Laserjet compatable printers
              DJ5.SYS         for HP Deskjet printers

9PIN.TOS      FX80.SYS        for Epson compatable 9 pin printers
              NX1000.SYS      for Star NX-1000
              OKI20.SYS       for Okimate 20

24PIN.TOS     NB15.SYS        for Epson compatable 24 pin (Star NB15-24)
              NECP.SYS        for NEC P6/P7 printers


To install FONTGDOS:

1. Copy FONTGDOS.PRG (found in the AUTO folder) to your boot drive
AUTO folder.

2. Copy the FONTGDOS folder to your boot drive. 

3. Run the TOS program in the FONTGDOS folder on your boot drive that
contains the driver for you printer.  (see above for printers supported)

4. Copy the ASSIGN.SYS and EXTEND.SYS files (produced from the
self-extracting archive) from your FONTGDOS folder to the "top level
or root" of your boot drive.

5. Copy the FONTGDOS.ACC accessory from the GEMvelope disk to your
boot drive.  (This is only needed to configure FONTGDOS.)

6. Reboot your computer and you should see a message durring the boot
process indicating that FONTGDOS is installed.  After your computer is
finished booting, select the "Printer Selector" desk accessory and
select which printer driver you need by clicking in the "Current
Printer" box.  Click on the name of the Printer driver you want.
Then click on Save.  

You should now have a working GDOS setup.  The ACC_CPX.TOS
self-extracting archive contains the other accessories/CPX's from
Atari that are documented in the FONTGDOS.TXT file.  If your computer
bombs when you boot up, make sure that there is an EXTEND.SYS file in
the top level directory of your boot drive.

Once you have confirmed that FONTGDOS prints properly to your printer,
you may want to delete the rest of the TOS programs in the FONTGDOS
folder on your boot drive.  (These are self extracting archives that
contain drivers and fonts for other printers.)


GEMvelope setup:
----------------

The program version of GEMvelope is called GEMVELOP.PRG and requires 
GEMVELOP.RSC to reside in the same directory.  For your convenience
NeoDesk users can use a custom icon found in GEMVELOP.NIC to represent
GEMvelope.  I find it handy to put the icon for GEMvelope on the
NeoDesk desktop so that it is always a mouse click away.

The accessory version of GEMvelope is called GEMVELOP.ACC and does not
require the GEMVELOP.RSC file.  Copy it to the root (top) directory of
your boot up drive to install it.  The GEMvelope accessory also runs
fine from within MultiDesk (from CodeHead) as a resident or MDX
accessory.  Running GEMvelope as a MultiDesk MDX is very convenient
and takes very little memory.  Using the accessory within an
application should be tested before routine use.  GEMvelope allocates
a big chunk of memory when you select it from the desk menu and some
applications do not allow this.  Each time GEMvelope is opened as an
accessory it loads the GDOS printer driver and fonts for that driver,
when you exit GEMvelope the memory used is returned back to the
system.  The accessory should work within any program which leaves
enough free memory when it runs.


Using GEMvelope:
----------------

All of the controls for GEMvelope are located in the window you 
see when you run the program.  The horizontal position of both the 
return and the main address is adjustable in 1/8 inch increments.  In
addition, the main address is also adjustable vertically.  There are a
set of adjustment buttons with arrows in them and reference lines that
show what they adjust.  Note that the main address horizontal position
is measured in relation to the return address position.  This is so
that the return address horizontal position may be adjusted to the
length of an envelope and the main address is just an offset from the
return address.  The default position for the return address is 8.5
inches from the right side of the envelope and 0.25 inch from the top 
of the envelope.  This top position may not be changed (if you would 
like to have it adjustable, let me know!)  The main address default
is 3 inches offset from the return address and 2 inches from the top
of the envelope.  Printing the return address is optional.  Clicking 
on the small square box to the left of "Print return address" will
toggle it on or off.  Two additional settings are "Envelope Size" and 
"Offset".  Envelope Size is only critical if the POSTNET bar code is 
printed.  Offset allows the "top" of the envelope to be shifted.  For 
the SLM804, Offset should be set to 0 since you feed an envelope all 
the way to the left of the manual feed slot.  For the SLM605, and 
some other laser printers that center a manually fed envelope, the
Offset should be set to compensate for how your printer feeds the
envelope.

One additional text line is available and is placed at the bottom
left of an envelope.  This is for adding messages like "Attention:
John Doe" or "Personal & Confidential".  Its' position is 1/2 inch
above the bottom of the envelope as determined by the Envelope Size
adjustment.

To make printing on dot matrix printers easier, an option called "Flip
printout" is available that will print the return address starting at
the left of an envelope.  This allows for easier positioning and for
enough of the envelope to remain in the printer carriage to finish
printing the envelope.  If Flip printout is selected, the "Offset" is 
set to 4.25 inches automatically which is the typical height of an
envelope.  This is because the Offset is always measured from the top
of the envelope which is now on the right side.  This may be adjusted
to work best with your printer and the size of the envelope you are
printing.

This version of GEMvelope has a special HP DeskJet mode which is
selected by clicking on the option box called "DeskJet".  Selecting
the DeskJet mode will set the return address possition to 8.0
inches.  This is as far left as the DeskJet can print.  Also, the
Offset is set to 0 inches and should remain at this value.


The name of the currently selected font is shown in a box underneath
the address.  To change to another font, click on this box and a font
selector dialog is displayed showing all of the fonts available on
your system.  The font selector supports up to 128 fonts.  To the 
right of the font box is the font size.  Three choices are available: 
10, 12, and 14 point.  The "Info" button displays various information
about your GDOS setup, fonts, and page size.

This version of GEMvelope includes optional POSTNET bar code printing. 
Selecting the "Print POSTNET" option box causes the current address
to be scanned for nine numbers starting at the end of the address. 
The first nine numbers (ZIP+4) found will be placed in a box to the
right of "Print POSTNET".  If nine digits are found, they are placed
in the POSTNET box.  If not, the digits that are found are displayed
in the box but they are "greyed" out.  A POSTNET code will not be
printed if the numbers in this box are greyed out.  The address may be
re-scanned for a valid nine digit ZIP at any time by clicking on this
box.  It is important that the bar code be placed in the right
position.  The bottom of the barcode should be between 3/16 and 5/16
inch above the bottom if the envelope.  GEMvelope uses the "Envelope
Size" to locate the barcode but be aware that the "Offset" also
affects the position.  If you would like further information on
envelope printing standards, the US Post Office has a free publication
called "A Guide To Business Mail Preparation."

The "Load" and "Save" buttons will load or save the current 
addresses; including the positions, font, and the optional 
selections, to a disk file.  These files will automatically have the
.GLP extension added to them.  If you save a file with the name
"DEFAULT.GLP" GEMvelope (program version) will automatically load
this file when you run the program.  (The accessory looks for
DEFAULT.GLP in the root of the boot drive.)  The nine digit number
determined by a POSTNET scan is not stored in a GEMvelope file, but
each time a GEMvelope file is loaded, a POSTNET scan is done.  


When ready to print, you may feed an envelope through an SLM804 laser
printer like this:

 ________________________________________________
|  __________________
| |                  |
| |  ___             |
| | |   |            |
| | |   |            |
| | |___|            |
| |                  |
| |                  |
|_|           ^      |___________________________
  |           |      |
  |           |      |   Feed the envelope in the long way,
  |           |      |   right side of the envelope first.
  |                  |
  |                  |
  |                  |
   \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/


If you have an SLM804, pull the paper bin drawer out until the red
light goes on (this tells the SLM804 GDOS driver to use the manual
feed slot) and then click on "Print".  When the green light goes on,
slide the envelope into the printer holding it against the left edge
of the slot.  The SLM804 will grab it and do the rest!  

If you are using a SLM605, you will need to set the "Offset" 
adjustment so that the manual feed guide which centers the envelope is
compensated for.

If you are using a DeskJet, before you print, make sure the envelope
is placed in the envelope feed slot of the DeskJet as the manual
instructs.  (As the manual states it is important to push the
envelope in the slot until it stops.)  Do not feed the envelope by
pressing the DeskJet up and down buttons, GEMvelope will command the
DeskJet to feed the envelope for you. When you select Print from
GEMvelope, the DeskJet will feed the envelope and start printing.
Note: to print an envelope you must not have the Epson emulation
cartridge installed.

If you are using a dot matrix printer, select the "Flip page" option,
feed the envelope the long ways with the bottom of the envelope 4 1/4
inches from the left end of the carriage.

After you click on the Print button (and before your printer actually 
starts printing) you may abort printing by pressing and holding the
"shift" or "alternate" key.


Extracting and Merging Addresses:
---------------------------------

GEMvelope allows several options for taking an address from the files
generated by other programs and importing them to the address of an
envelope.  The "Extract" button allows importing a single address
extracted from any file used by a word processor.  The "Paste" button
allows pasting from the Atari/GEM clipboard.  The "Merge" button
allows you to print any number of envelopes with the main address
merged from a variety of database formats.

If your word processor supports the Atari GEM clipboard and if an
application has written a SCRAP.TXT file, then clicking on the Paste
button will cause it to be pasted to the main address.  If the size of
the pasted text is larger than the number of lines available for the
address, a box then pops up with two options: "Advance" and "OK".
Clicking on Advance will move each line of the main address up once
and the next line of the scrap file will be placed at the bottom.
This allows you to scroll through the scrap file to position the main
address if necessary.  Click on "OK" when finished.

The Extract feature attempts to make up for the lack of a well
supported clipboard feature in the ST software market.  The Extract
button will allow you to open a file created by almost any word
processor and allow you to find and extract an address which may be in
it.  When Extract is selected a file selector will appear.  Select any
word processing file, like a letter, which contains an address.  The
first six lines of the file will be placed in the main address and a
box pops up with two options: "Advance" and "OK".  Clicking on Advance
will move each line of the main address up once and the next line of
the file will be placed at the bottom.  This allows you to scroll
through the file until an imbedded address is located and positioned
properly in the main address.  Since most letters contain the address
of the receiver near the beginning, it should be quickly found.

Database address merge:
-----------------------

GEMvelope supports the most popular formats of data that may be
exported from a database.  This Standard delimited format (or SDF) is
supported in some form by almost every database: Tracker ST (from Step
Ahead Software), Cardfile (from GT software), dBASE, dbMAN, DBMaster
One, Base Two, SuperBase, etc.  GEMvelope comes with configuration
files for both Tracker ST and Cardfile.  They are named TRACKER.GLP
and CARDFILE.GLP.  Just load these files and you are ready to Merge
from the Tracker ST export file or the Cardfile .DAT file.  

You may easily set up GEMvelope to work with a wide variety of
database files or you may just create one manually, as it is a simple
ASCII file.  GEMvelope supports both comma and TAB delimited files.
Here is an example of a comma delimited file:

"Name","Company","Address","City","State","ZIP","Country"
"first line","second line","third line","forth line","fifth line"
"Roger Richards","754 N. Bolton Ave.","Indianapolis","IN","46219-5902"

In the above case, each "quoted" field will be placed on successive 
lines of the main address.  Each record is on a separate line and 
will be considered a separate address.  GEMvelope will also allow you
to merge with an SDF file that does not have quotes delimiting the 
fields:

Name,Company,Address,City,State,ZIP
Roger Richards,754 N. Bolton Ave.,Indianapolis,IN,46219-5902

Note that you will not be able to have a comma ',' embedded in any
field in this type of file, otherwise it would signify the next line
of the address.

GEMvelope also supports TAB delimited files where the commas in the
above example are replaced by tabs.  Most databases will have no
problem producing either of these file formats; but if your database
does not seem to, SDF files may be created by using the report feature
and print to disk options.  When creating a report, the following
options are usually needed: no margins, a page width a minimum of the
total width of the fields, no top or header spaces, bottom or footer
spaces, a paper height of one line, and no form feeds.  If you are
using the report feature of a database to create the SDF file, you are
free to add the quote delimiter to selected fields as long as they are
added in pairs.  As you can see, it is also easy to create you own SDF
file in a word processor or text editor.  Just save the file in ASCII
format.  There is a sample merge file called MERGE.DAT on the disk.

Merge Setup:
------------

You may configure GEMvelope to merge a particular type of database
file with the "Setup..." button.  This brings up a dialog for setting
up the format of the database merge file and also assigns where fields
are printed on what address lines.  It works like this:

Interfield string: +       +
Field:         1   |   2   |   3
               |   |   |   |   |
               v   v   v   v   v

     Line 1:  1_   _  2_   _  3_
     Line 2:  5_  __  __  __  __
     Line 3:  6_  __  __  __  __
     Line 4:  7_  ,   8_      9_
     Line 5:  0_  __  __  __  __
     Line 6:  0_  __  __  __  __
     
The Field editable texts (three per line) assign a particular field in
the database to a line (only numbers are allowed).  The Interfield
strings allow for up to two specified characters in between each field
on the same line.  In the above example (for a Cardfile .DAT file):
the first three fields are "first name", "middle initial", and "last
name".  Therefore the first field on line 1 has a number 1, the first
interfield string has one space, the next field has a 2 (assigning the
"middle initial" field), followed by another space, then a number 3
which assigns the "last name" field.  The Cardfile database field 4
is data not used in a mailing address so is not used, GEMvelope will
skip any fields not assigned.  Line 2 has only field 5 assigned which
is the "company name" field in Cardfile.  Note that if a field is
blank it is skipped and not printed.  Line 3 contains the "address"
field and line 4 contains the "city", "state" and "ZIP" fields with
appropriate interfield strings.  Another note: the interfield string
will not print if the field following it is empty in a particular
database record.  For instance in the above example, if the "middle
initial" field is blank, then the extra space added in an interfield
string will not be printed.

This merge setup information is saved with every .GLP file.

Doing a Database Merge:
-----------------------

When you chose the Merge SDF function and select a file, you are asked
if you want to print envelopes "One by One", "Continuous", or
"Browse".  The Browse option will read in the merge file and display a
scrolling selector to allow browsing the entire merge file.  This
feature is very handy for checking to see if you are properly set up
to read your database file.  Only the first 32 characters of each
record is displayed.  You may use the scroll bar to search for a
specific record which is usually in alphabetical order.  Clicking on a
particular record will copy that record to the address.  Click on the
close button in the upper left corner to abort the browse.  When
opening a database file with Browse, GEMvelope must index the file
which may take a bit of time (this indexing of the file may be stopped
by pressing and holding the Shift or Alternate keys).  Once a database
file is opened for browsing, you may open it again and GEMvelope will
keep the index of the file just browsed so multiple opening of the
same file is very fast.  The accessory version of GEMvelope is much
slower at indexing a database due to memory limitations.

The Merge "One by One" option allows for viewing each merged address
before deciding to print.  In this mode, the Merge button is used to
merge the next address from the SDF file.  You must manually click on
the Print button to print this envelope.  In this mode the Print
button is made default so a simple return will print and the Merge
button is bolded and will remain so until the last address in the file
is merged.  To abort this merge mode, click on the Exit button--you
will not exit the program.  The Merge "Continuous" option will merge
and print one address after another automatically.  Hold down the
"Shift" or "Alternate" keys to abort the printing.  If POSTNET
printing is enabled, each address merged will be scanned for a nine
digit ZIP and, if found, the POSTNET will be printed.


Conclusion & Thanks
-------------------

Thank you for your purchase of GEMvelope!  I believe it can save a
lot of time and make some pretty envelopes to boot.  If you have not
purchased this program, please do.  I waited a long time for a
program like this (the PC & Mac market has had several for years),
but no one seemed to think there was a big enough market.  The Atari
market is small.  Please support developers of Atari software; the
investment in our Atari computers is worth nothing with out the work
of dedicated Atari developers.  GEMvelope is allowed to be used on
only one computer at a time.  If you are a business, please purchase
a copy for each user and computer.  Synergy Resources is a member of
the IAAD, the Independant Association of Atari Developers.


To register send $30. to:

Roger Richards
Synergy Resources
754 N. Bolton Ave.
Indianapolis, IN  46219

The latest version of GEMvelope will be mailed immediately.

If you need support, it is best to write or use GEnie EMail.  My GEnie 
EMail address is:  R.RICHARDS2

IF if you need immediate help, call me at (317) 356-6946 evenings 
6 - 11 PM Mon. - Thur. Eastern Standard Time or Central Daylight Time.

Please let me know what you would like to see added to GEMvelope in
the future.  Thank you for your support!

................................clip.......................................

GEMvelope order form

Send me GEMvelope ($30 + $2 shipping US)

Name:_____________________________________________________________

Addr:_____________________________________________________________

City:________________________________ St:____________ ZIP:___________

Phone:_____________________________

Email address (GEnie preferred or CIS):___________________________


Computer:______________________________________ Memory:____________

Printer:________________________________ Printer Memory:____________

Do you currently have GDOS and what type:___________________________

Suggestions:_________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

