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PRP Ver. 1.1
02-05-90
P O L I C E W A R E tm
Terry Aaron
1124 Coral Street
Red Bud, Illinois 62278
618-282-6754
POLICE REPORT PRINTER
Thank you for using PRP. There are few public domain programs available
for law enforcement applications. Realizing the need for computer based
programs, I set out to write this and a few other programs for what will
hopefully be a beginning of law enforcement computer applications.
This is a simple straight-forward program that simply reduces some typing.
It was developed using the data for our agency. I will make modifications
for anyone needing them. Simply following the prompts and answer the
questions on the screen.
Public domain/Shareware has provided me with many programs and
utilities over the years, and this is my opportunity to return something
using this concept. This program is copyrighted to protect the efforts of
the author from theft, however this does not apply to duplication and
distribution for the benefit of any person, firm, or entity that wishes
to use it in a manner that is stipulated herein.
The program itself contains appropriate instructions, disclaimers, and
registration information. Please read and follow this information. As
a user you accept all responsibility for consequences arising from the
use of this program.
I hope that you enjoy this program. If you have any suggestions, or
ideas for other law enforcement applications, or bug reports; please
send them to me at the above address.
About the author -
Terry Aaron has been a police officer for eight years in rural Southern
Illinois. He became interested in computing in 1981 and began with a
Commodore Vic 20 4k computer. Over the years he progressed through the
ranks to an administrative level and is currently Administrative
Assistant and Computer Coordinator for the city of Red Bud, Illinois.
He is a self taught programmer and computer consultant on a part time
basis. His current software is mainly directed to service the law
enforcement community.
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R E G I S T R A T I O N
***********************************************************************
Name __________________________ Phone (optional) ____________________
Street Address ________________________ City ___________ State _______
Zip Code _______-______
Type of Computer: ____ IBM PC ____ IBM XT ____ IBM AT ____ PS2
Compatibles = _____ ____ ____ ____
Other _______________________________________________________
Program Name: PRP Other: _________________________________
Forward to : PoliceWare, Ltd.
1124 Coral Street
Red Bud, IL 62278
You will be entitled to free versions of this program as substantial
upgrades are made. For the cost of disks and mailing of upgrades, a
nominal fee of $10.00 is requested.
**********************************************************************
Please comment on the program below:
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Program Instructions
PRP.EXE will run under MS-DOS with 128k RAM. It will run from floppy
disk or hard disk. This is the users preference.
After loading PRP from your default drive and directory it will begin
to run. After the heading and the copyright notice you will be at the
Main Menu. This menu gives you the following choices:
1. Run Report
2. Print Hardcopy
3. QUIT
4. Change Data
Since the default information may not suit your needs you should first
select number 4, Change Data. This will take you to the Change Data
sub-menu with the following choices:
1. Change Signature
2. Change Data Questions
3. Change Year
4. Show Questions
5. Return to Main Menu
Initially you should select numbers 1 & 3.
#1 - Change Signature
Change Signature allows you to change the default file, PRPSIG.DAT,
so that it will contain the signature that you wish to use. This need
only be done once, if you always use the same signature, or change this
at any other time that you require a different one. Be sure that the
file PRPSIG.DAT is in the same directory as the program.
#2 - Change Data Questions
Changing the Data Questions. This menu option is reserved for a future
revision and will not function in the previous version 1.0 or in this
1.1 version. Version 1.1 (this version) will however let you edit this
data or replace it with your own by using external methods that I will
explain to you later.
#3 - Change Year
Change Year allows you to change the default file, PRPYEAR.DAT, so that
it will contain the current year. Enter the current year. This need
only be changed once a year. Be sure that the file PRPYEAR.DAT is in the
same directory as the program.
#4 - Show Questions
Show Questions will allow you to view the questions or review the
questions and answers.
#5 - Return to Main Menu
Returns you to the PRP programs Main Menu. From here you can create
a report and print it.
Now from the Main Menu here are your choices again:
1. Run Report
2. Print Hardcopy
3. QUIT
4. Change Data
Since you should now have changed the default data you are ready to
select #1, Run Report.
#1 - Run Report
Selecting Run Report from the Main Menu starts a process of questions
and input. First you will be asked to enter the month for the report.
You are required to enter a month. Silly words will be accepted but
keep in mind that a real month of the year would be best. You may use
abreviations however the full spelling looks better. The program will
convert your input to all upper case.
#2 - Print Hardcopy
Print Hardcopy first checks to see if you have input data for the report.
If not, you will be instructed to run the report first and you will be
taken back to the Main Menu. If you have already run the report then you
will be prompted to get your printer ready and on-line. Pressing any key
at this point will send the data to your printer. If, for some reason,
your hardcopy was not in alignment, or for any other reason, you may
select this option as many times that you wish. (Multiple copies are not
an option as the copy machine is usually used).
#3 - QUIT Program
This option ends the PRP program and prints the author information as
well as the SHAREWARE notice. If you use this program please comply
with the user registration information. This will entitle you to any
future updates and puts you on my mailing list. The above form has
been printed for your convienience.
#4 - Change Data
Described above. Changes default data.
To Edit the Data Questions:
Experienced users may edit the data questions. Use an ascii text editor
such as Edlin, or any other true ascii editor, or a word processor that
allows you to save in the ascii format. First make a backup copy of your
disk with all PRP files or copy the PRP.DAT file to another disk. You
may now load PRP.DAT into your editor. Your editor should now contain
21 lines of text. Each line contains the data for each question (line)
of the report. Each line is enclosed with quotation marks. It is very
important that you edit these carefully. Be certain to maintain the
quotation marks in each line. You must also be sure that you maintain
21 lines of text. Fewer lines will cause the program to halt. More
lines may not affect the program but will not be included in the report.
Also you may experiment with the length of the lines. If you have some
line that is longer than this data, it is possible that it will cause a
minor screen format problem when you run PRP. As long as you take care
when making any changes, deletions, or additions to this data, you should
have no problems. If you make changes and PRP haults or creates some
other problem, just replace your PRP.DAT with the original one and get
some help editing your own. Feel free to contact me if you do not have
a source of help or if you have any ideas to improve PRP or to report any
bugs (little critters that cause problems in software).