
This information file will provide an overview of four packages:
        
        1 - the On-Line SalesDoor
        2 - VisuaLink Database System (including Navigator)
        3 - ClickCom Communications Package
        4 - SalesPCX External Protocol

It has taken over a year and a half to upgrade the old On-line SalesDoor
package. The intent of this upgrade was twofold, one - to provide the
SalesDoor with more functionality and two - to create a commercial product.

The objectives were to provide a database structure, operator utilities,
photographic viewing capabilities, increase the order taking capabilities,
provide unlimited sized text information files for any product, standalone
ability, and a number of misc. changes and minor enhancements.
The new database structure is Novell Btrieve thereby allowing for high speed
data searches, key indexing and large volume databases as well as LAN
capabilities.
The operator utilities provide full database maintenance, auto installation,
password and security, multi-system control, hard disk backup and restore, 
database recovery, multiple language maintenance, full online help, data
convertor from old SalesDoor format, full business, operations, messaging
and communications configurations as well as system analysis and database
monitoring.
The photographic viewing works with 320 x 200 x 256 PCX files with each
product having the ability to have a single photo and text file associated
with it. Once a user has made the request to view a certain product, the
user's screen will split horizontally and the picture will be displayed in
the upper half with the scrollable text file being displayed in the lower
half. The user then has the ability to switch the picture or the text file
into full screen mode.
The order taking has been improved and now includes multiple shipping points
per client/user, multiple freight companies, downloadable invoices, as well
as 15 levels of taxation.
The standalone capabilities allow our product to operate without a bulletin 
board behind it. Full communications and line monitoring have been built
into the product.

The shareware version of our product is called the On-Line SalesDoor and
the commercial version is the VisuaLink Database System. They are basically 
the same product with the following exceptions:
1 - VisuaLink can be operated standalone.
    On-Line SalesDoor requires a BBS behind it. Over 75 BBS's are supported.
2 - VisuaLink has printed, bound manuals and packaging.
    On-Line SalesDoor has electronic manuals.
3 - VisuaLink will operate with CLICKCOM, SALESPCX, and NAVIGATOR
    On-Line SalesDoor will operate with CLICKCOM and SALESPCX
All other functionality is the same between the two products.

ClickCom, SalesPCX and Navigator: what are they and how they evolved.

We required a communications package which would allow the viewing of PCX
based photographs so we developed ClickCom. At this point, we also realized
that there may be people who are currently using products such as QMODEM,
TELIX, PROCOMM, etc. and would not want to change to ClickCom just to view
photographs so we took portions of ClickCom and created SalesPCX which is an
external communications/viewing protocol. This now allows users of other
communications packages to add SalesPCX to their protocol list and view the
PCX images. 
We then decided to create a very special version of ClickCom called the
Navigator and supply it with the commercial version only. With the commercial
version, the system operator has the ability, through the system utilities,
to "Generate a Navigator". This is a version of ClickCom which includes the
screens and advertising specific to the store or BBS that generated it. When
a Navigator is generated, the phone number(s) for the store or BBS are placed
in the Navigator's dialing directory. The dialing directory is then locked
so that no other phone numbers can be added thereby allowing the Navigator
to only dial the machine that created it.

I hope that this explains the delay between Version 3.5N and 4.0 as well as
clearing up some of the issues as to the price increase for the SalesDoor.

As always, if you have any suggestions, critisism or praise, we will gladly
accept all. For you registered users who have suggestions and if your idea 
fits into our overall plan for this product, you will receive at least 
recognition in our documentation, if not more.

Thank you for using our product and if we can be of any assistance, please
contact us at either (416)444-5643 - BBS or (416)444-2501 - Voice or by mail
at: 
        Perigee Software Corporation
        95 Barber Greene Rd., Suite 207
        Don Mills, Ontario
        M3C 3E9
        Canada

