This manual is also available in Italian and Spanish.
This Handbook and the Program to which it refers are the copyright of Harvester Information Systems Ltd. © 1987. All rights reserved.
12 months warranty is given by Harvester Information Systems Ltd with regard to the program and its performance being substantially in accordance with this accompanying handbook.
No liability is accepted for loss or consequential loss from operator misuse or any defect or failure of the program howsoever arising.
Harvester Information Systems Ltd. reserve the right to make alterations and improvements to the product.
HARVESTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS LTD.
MARTIN HOUSE, 84-86 GRAY'S INN ROAD
LONDON WC1X 8AE.
"We develop systems for the Organiser."
Introduction Installing Letter Organiser Using Letter Organiser The Password Starting Paragraph Size Existing Documents Printing and Further Word Processing Copies Special Keys Commands
The LETTER ORGANISER is a companion program to Harvester Information Systems' Keyboard Tutorial, the Finger Organiser. It enables users who have a modest grasp of keyboard mastery to type out a memo, letter, list or report quietly, privately and legibly, and to rearrange, edit and print it, or transfer it to a larger office-bound computer or word processor.
Although anyone can use the LETTER ORGANISER it really comes into its own when in the hands of those who have completed the Finger Organiser typing tutorial course.
When you consider that twenty words a minute is a fair rate for longhand writing (which may be completely illegible and unintelligible to others, even if not to ourselves) then the ability to type up to the forty or more words a minute attained by those who have successfully completed the Finger Organiser typing tutorial makes the LETTER ORGANISER an extremely useful tool.
Many times it may not be possible to use a dictaphone because of the lack of confidentiality or incongruity of surroundings. Equally, the amount of space required to spread out paperwork for perusal and comment is often restricted or, on an aeroplane or a train, legibility is affected by movement or vibration.
With the LETTER ORGANISER your Psion Organiser II becomes perhaps the world's smallest word processor. Letters and reports, lists of items or names and addresses can be fed into files and manipulated in many ways. The only limitation on the size of your documents is the amount of memory space available within the Organiser or the datapack.
For those with the imagination and the resources, the day is here when a document or information from the Psion Organiser can be transferred via a suitable modem and a portable telephone to your base office anywhere in the world... and all with equipment that would not half fill a briefcase.
After plugging the Letter Organiser Datapack into your Psion Organiser you will want to make this invaluable program quickly accessible.
To do this you switch the Organiser on and press the MODE key. At the prompt 'INSERT ITEM' type 'LETTER' and press the EXEcute key.
The screen clears and returns you to the menu. but this time the name 'LETTER' is included as the first item on the top line.
To use Letter Organiser check that the cursor is situated on the 'L' of LETTER and press EXEcute.
The Harvester Information Systems Limited copyright message and logo message scroll across the screen until you press EXEcute when you are presented with the choice.
LETTER ORGANISER with sound (y/n)
If you do not want the sounds incorporated within the Letter Organiser program to be audible press the 'N' key; pressing EXEcute (or any other key except 'ON/CLEAR') will take you into the program with sound.
Letter Organiser is armed with a password facility which gives some protection for your documents against casual snooping. The password can be up to 16 characters long, and prevents the program from accessing the document. It will be used for any new documents until changed, cancelled with 'ON/CLEAR' or you quit from Letter Organiser.
If this protection is not required, pressing EXEcute at the 'SET PASSWORD' prompt will leave the document unprotected.
A protected document can still be deleted completely, or a similarly protected copy may be made.
When access to a protected document is required, it will not be given by Letter Organiser until the password is entered at the prompt 'NEEDS PASSWORD:'. To avoid typing the password many times when using several documents, or jumping backwards and forwards, the last password entered is provided as a default until Letter Organiser is exited. Care should therefore be taken to quit the program or change or cancel a password if the Organiser is being left unattended.
The next screen gives you the choice
LETTER SET KILL DIRECT HELP QUIT
These commands are explained more fully under 'Commands' but here, briefly, are their functions:
Note that if you wish to change the choice that you make at any menu, you are able to step back through the menus by pressing the ON/CLEAR key.
To start or continue a letter or report, position the cursor on LETTER and press EXE to reveal the prompt
DOCUMENT NAME: A:
Type in the name of the document. The name should not exceed 8 letters and can be all letters or any combination of letters and numbers provided that the first character is a letter. After entering your document name press EXE.
if you are starting a new document, the program checks that you really intend to start a document rather than use an existing one, asking
NEW MEMO (y/n)
Assuming that 'Y' or EXE is pressed, the prompt
SET PASSWORD:
allows you to restrict access to the new file with any sequence of up to 16 characters. Pressing EXEcute leaves the file unprotected. (You can clear the screen of a previously set password by pressing ON/CLEAR and EXEcute.) The screen will then show something like
SPACE IN A: FREE 3984
In the above instance this shows that there is space within your Organiser's internal memory for approximately 3984 characters or letters. This equates to approximately 16 full paragraphs. If you are about to type in a very long letter you may need to save the memo to Device B or C (the upper or lower datapack plugged into your Organiser). Whether you save to the Organisers internal memory or to a datapack you can always add to or otherwise edit your memo at any time by the use of the ADD or EDIT commands built into the program.
The screen will automatically clear after a few seconds (or immediately after pressing any key) to reveal
A:FILENAME 01:20 MON 02 FEB 1988
This informs you that the document is being formed initially in the machine's internal memory. Also displayed is the date and time which is automatically electronically stamped on the document. Pressing EXE takes you to the next screen where we can begin to type your document.
A:FILENAME 1
The top left hand section of line 1 shows the reference that you have given to the letter.
Each paragraph of the Letter Organiser is designed to hold a maximum of 252 characters or letters, approximately 50 words. If you want to continue, then simply press EXE when the Organiser bleeps that the current paragraph is full, and continue typing.
As a measure of the size of paragraph which can be typed by the Letter Organiser, the preceding paragraph is the exact size of the maximum to be typed.
When you wish to start another paragraph press the EXEcute key. Line 2 will clear and the next paragraph number will be shown on line 1.
When you have finished your letter, press EXE to complete your paragraph. The next - empty - paragraph will be displayed. At this stage pressing EXE again will take you to the menu for existing documents.
Apart from being a stand-alone memo pad the Letter Organiser is designed to be used with larger computers and word processors and final tidying up of documents can be completed at that later stage. However, if you intend to type straight from the Organiser to a printer and wish for a neat typed layout then you will need to limit your paragraph lengths to those indicated. ie. 252 characters or approximately 50 words.
When a file name is entered for a document that already exists on the device being used, or if a file is picked from those present as seen with 'DIRECT' and chosen with 'Use', the program checks to see if the data is protected with a password.
After entering the correct password, the choice presented is
ADD DISPLAY EDIT INFO DIR QUIT
and this is the menu you will return to whenever you finish work on a document. The commands are alphabetically listed and fully explained in the 'COMMANDS' section.
Printing or exporting to another computer or word processor is generally possible provided that you also have the Psion RS232 Link. For printing directly from the Organiser to an Epson-type printer you will also need Psion's Organiser Link Up Adaptor.
Using the Organiser model XP. selective printing or exporting can be done with Letter Organiser. The CM model does not have sufficient memory to utilise this facility so all printing or exporting of files will need to be carried out directly from the RS232 link. This procedure is straightforward and is explained in the Psion RS232 Link handbook.
Ensure that 'COMMS' appears on the main menu (by pressing ON/CLEAR when the Link is in place) and enter Letter Organiser. After entering your file name (from 'LETTER' or 'DIRECT'), choose the 'DISPLAY' option. If you don't want to start printing from the first paragraph, move to the line or paragraph that you would like to print from.
Press 'P' for Print. You will first be able to confirm or change the choice of starting from the beginning or from the line currently on the screen (changing your selection with the arrow keys). You then choose to use settings for an Epson-type printer, or alternatively, whatever settings you have previously set your link to.
'Print Width' appears as a prompt, and the required width in characters is entered, eg. 80. (0 will use the full width that the printer is capable of or is set up for.) The number of blank lines you wish to leave between paragraphs or items is then set (between 0 and 9). Finally pressing EXEcute at the prompt 'Printer Link OK' will start sending your information
Each paragraph or item will start on a new line. Printing will continue until the printer needs to start a new line, or the 'width' set is reached. sometimes in the middle of a word. For best results, rather than printing direct from the Organiser, the document may be transmitted to most full word processors. Communication software is available to receive information in this manner for most computers. There is a program listed in the Psion Link booklet, in IBM PC Basic, and at the end of this handbook, for the Sinclair QL.
It is good practice to keep a backup copy of any document worth keeping, particularly if it is in the internal memory where a battery failure could cause it to be lost. Copying can be done using the 'DIRECT' command in the first menu.
Pressing EXEcute once the cursor is on the 'D' of 'DIRECT' shows a directory of data files on a chosen device. Pressing EXEcute displays each succeeding name. The top line of the display is 'C/H/K/N/Q/U'. Pressing 'C' for Copy when the required file is displayed allows it to be copied to a device chosen with 'MODE' or the arrow keys. The file name appears again, and can be accepted as it is, or changed to another name if desired.
In a similar way a file can be Used from 'DIRECT', and displayed, edited or printed, or files can be Killed or given a new Name.
Used with Menus, to select an item, before confirming with 'EXE'. In 'DISPLAY' will start and control the scrolling of a line across the screen, and holding an arrow key down will greatly increase the scroll speed. When editing, these keys will move your cursor back or forward along the line. In other places, will act the same as the Down and Up arrows respectively.
Used to select an option from a menu before pressing 'EXE'. When editing a word or line, the arrow keys will take you to the beginning or end of the line. Also used in 'DISPLAY' or 'EDIT' to increase or decrease the paragraph number, or to change various options. Except where in 'Edit' mode or a menu, the '+' and '-' keys respectively (without shift) will have the same effect.
Confirms a menu selection, document name, phrase or paragraph entered, or used instead of 'Y' when a Yes/No response is expected. When DISPLAYing a document, 'EXE' will also skip through the records in the same way as the Up arrow or '+'.
Pressing this key usually takes you back to the preceding menu, the same as QUIT, or acts as a 'No' response. When adding or editing a paragraph, or a file name, it will clear the current entry, though for a paragraph, this can be reversed if done accidentally, by pressing ON/CLEAR or EXE a second time and answering 'N' to the prompt "SAVE (y/n)?".
DEL with SHIFT deletes the character under the cursor. DEL on its own deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
Allows you to add to any chosen memo. The program automatically takes you to the beginning of the last paragraph of the memo which can be edited or continued if required. When you wish to move to the next paragraph, press EXEcute. When you have finished ADDing press EXEcute twice to return to the menu. At any time the cursor can be moved with the left and right arrow keys, and the paragraph contents edited using the DEL or SHIFT and DEL. The paragraph can also be deleted using ON/CLEAR, though if this is done in error the paragraph can be recovered by pressing ON/CLEAR a second time or answering 'N' to the prompt "SAVE (y/n)?".
From 'DIRECT', will allow the file shown to be copied to a different device, with the opportunity to change the name if desired.
Lists all the names of the data files containing letters or reports or other information. You can choose which device, A: the Organiser's internal memory, or the datapacks (if fitted) in devices B or C.
At the message ** END OF PACK ** no further files can be found and Letter Organiser informs you of the amount of space remaining.
Programmers should note that procedures will not show up on this directory, only data files.
Shows all the data files on the device chosen in a similar way to 'DIR' but allows you to select a file and Use, Copy, Kill or reName it. The top line of the screen therefore shows 'C/H/K/N/Q/U'. Pressing H would further advise you that these stand for
'Copy/Help/Kill/Name/Quit/Use'.
Programmers should note that procedures will not show up on this directory, only data files.
Allows you to view or Print the text of your letter or report and easily move through the paragraphs or items, without any chance of changing or deleting them. The left and right arrows are used to scroll a paragraph across the screen and stop it at any place. The up and down arrows (or '+' and '-' without shift) increase and decrease the paragraph or item number and so quickly move through the document, and the '<' or '>' (without shift) move to the first or last item.
'F' allows you to Find any required word or expression, and 'G' will quickly Go to any paragraph number. 'H' indicates which arrow commands mean
'next/back/first/last'
and that 'F/G/H/P/Q', the commands on the screen stand for
'Find/Goto/Help/Print/Quit'.
In addition to all the 'DISPLAY' facilities (except 'print'), Edit allows you to amend, add to or delete all or part of any paragraph, subject only to the limit of 252 characters per line. Move allows a paragraph to be transferred anywhere else in the document. The top line of the display shows the available commands 'E/F/G/H/M/O' and the paragraph number. Pressing 'H' would show that these mean Edit/Find/Goto/Help/Move/Quit.
From 'Edit' allows changes to be made to the displayed paragraph. The paragraph can also be deleted with 'ON/CLEAR'. When 'EXE' is pressed to enter the changes, you are asked if you want to keep the new version of the paragraph rather than the old one, and pressing 'ON/CLEAR', 'N' or 'Q' would restore your original version - very useful if you press ON/CLEAR and erase a line by accident.
From 'DISPLAY' or 'EDIT' will find any word or phrase required (in any mixture of upper and lower case), and put the line containing it on the screen. The first time it is used, or a new phrase is looked for, the search starts from the first line. Subsequent use of 'Find', using the same phrase continues the search from the line after the one displayed.
From 'DISPLAY' or 'EDIT', will jump to any paragraph number that you enter.
There are various Help levels available from different parts of the Letter Organiser program.
Gives useful information regarding:
You can quickly move through each of the above items of information by pressing any key; alternatively Letter Organiser will move through them under its own control and then return to the menu which called INFO.
Permanently deletes any data file. At the prompt
KILL NAME?
type in the name of the file to be deleted and press EXEcute. You may type in further names until you press EXE without a name or ON/CLEAR. (The file 'MAIN' appears on every device and will not be deleted by this command.) To delete several files it may be easier to go back to the 'DIRECT' command.
From 'DIRECT' you can permanently delete the document named on the screen, though as the data cannot be recovered, you are asked to confirm this. The prompt 'KILL A:NAME?' appears, and you can as usual escape using 'ON/ CLEAR', 'N' or 'Q'.
This enables you to type in a letter or report of any length subject only to the limitations of the memory of the Organiser or the datapacks connected to it. Must be used to start a new document, but it is often easier to use 'DIRECT' to choose an existing document to look at or continue with, without having to remember and type in its exact name.
From 'Edit', will move the paragraph on the screen to the position requested.
From 'DIRECT', allows the document or data file name to be changed.
From the 'DISPLAY' option, will print or export a document provided that you have a Psion RS232 Link Up Adapter attached to a printer.
Several options are provided and detailed in the section on printing. As a final check the prompt 'Printer Link OK?' allows a last chance to escape from this option.
Firstly allows you to change the device that will be used from A, the internal memory, to B or C, one of the datapacks.
You can then change the speed at which information will scroll across the screen. Decreasing the number shown from 4 will decrease the scroll delay, or increasing it will decrease the scroll speed.
This command appears on several of the menus and has the effect of moving back through the program from menu to menu until QUITing Letter Organiser completely when the message GOODBYE is displayed.
From 'DIRECT', chooses the document on the screen, to be continued, edited, displayed or printed.
'Superbasic' program to transmit or receive data through the serial port SER2.
100 BAUD 9600 110 WINDOW#1,512,206,0,0 120 CLS:PRINT"RS-232 COMMUNICATION PROGRAM"\\ 130 PRINT"(T)ransmit or (R)eceive" 140 a$=INKEY$(-1):IF (a$ INSTR " rRtT")<2:GO TO 140 150 PRINT\\:INPUT"ENTER FILENAME :";F$ 160 IF F$="":CLS:STOP 170 IF a$="T" OR a$="t" 180 COPY_N "flp2_" & F$ TO ser2hz 190 ELSE :COPY ser2hz TO "flp2_" & F$ 200 END IF 210 COPY "flp2_" & F$ TO scr_ 220 a$=INKEY$(-1):CLS:GO TO 150
To transfer information to or from a microdrive rather than a disk, "mdv1_" or "mdv2_" should be used throughout instead of "flp2_". If the information is to be imported into one of the Psion programmes, the file name should have the extension '_exp'.
Whilst we believe that it is technically possible for almost any computer and word processing system to use material exported from The Letter Organiser it is impossible to carry out trials on every combination of computer, word processor and printer.
In most cases the transfer of data should be straightforward and the relevant sections of the handbooks for your equipment should be consulted.
We welcome feedback from Letter Organiser users as to the routines that they use with their combinations of computers, word processors and printers. We hope to eventually publish a compendium of such information in order to make it widely known.
DATAPACK ARTWORK BY CHARLES WILSON