******************************************************** MEAL-MASTER README! File --- Version 8.06 ******************************************************** This file contains important information to help you get the most from Meal-Master. Please review this information before using the program. Beginning with version 8.06, Meal-Master is distributed as "freeware". This means that individuals and non-profit organizations can use the program at no charge. All others must contact the author for specific permission prior to using the software. INSTALLATION --------------------------------- As released by Episoft, Meal-Master is a single, self-extracting archive file, "MM806.EXE". Simply type "MM806" at the DOS prompt and follow the on-screen instructions. A different procedure may be necessary if you received your copy from a software distributor, time share service, or BBS system rather than Episoft. THE SAMPLE DATABASE ------------------- If you are using Meal-Master for the first time, and want to try it out without having to type in recipes, you can use the sample database provided. From the Main menu, select "U Utilities" then "I Import" and specify "SAMPLE.TXT" for the file name. On the next menu, select "M Mode: Automatic" then "S Start Importing". The sample database of 35 recipes will be loaded into the program, and you can immediately begin trying the search, shopping list, index, and other features of Meal- Master. CAUTIONS/COMMON PROBLEMS ------------------------ If you use the EMM386.SYS memory manager with its NOEMS option, and run Meal-Master under Microsoft Windows, and specify the "/EMS" switch when starting MM.EXE, then you may receive a "violated system integrity" message. There are three ways to correct this problem: 1) Do not specify the /EMS switch when starting Meal-Master, OR 2) Remove the NOEMS option from the EMM386.SYS line in your CONFIG.SYS file, OR 3) Create a PIF file for MM and specify zero for the "EMS Limit" and "XMS Limit" entries. Some monochrome displays driven by color adapter circuitry (particularly prevalent on laptop machines) often do not provide sufficient gray scale contrast to differentiate between the text colors used by the unregistered version of Meal-Master. If you encounter this problem with the unregistered version, try using the DOS command "Mode BW80" before running Meal-Master (the MODE command is found in the DOS directory). Registered users can use the MMCOLOR program to set the specific color combinations that work best on their machine. You must have the file CONFIG.SYS in the root directory of your boot disk, and it must contain the statement FILES=xx, where xx is a number that is at least 30 (at least 50 if you are using Windows, Desqview, or another environment that allows multiple applications running at once). If this file is missing, does not contain the FILES= statement, or specifies a value less than recommended, Meal-Master may not perform all functions. The PARM.MMF and CATFILE.MMF files created by some very old versions of Meal-Master are occasionally incompatible with a newer version. If you receive a "runtime error" when trying to start MM, try deleting these files and then restarting the program. This will initialize new files that are compatible with the current version. Sight-impaired users with speech-synthesis equipment should start MM with the "/C", "/T", and /NOCLOCK switches. The "/C" switch will route screen output through BIOS services, where speech synthesis software can intercept them. The "/T" switch (or "D" option on the Maintenance/Setup menu) will cause unit of measure "t" (teaspoon) to be displayed as "ts", and "T" (tablespoon) to be displayed as "tb". This eliminates the ambiguity that exists when using "T" and "t" with a speech synthesis device. Lastly, the /NOCLOCK switch inhibits continuous, second-by-second updating of the clock on the main menu. Instead, the clock is only updated when returning to the menu from a sub-menu, or when pressing a key (like space bar) on the main menu. FILES PROVIDED -------------- MMQUICK.DOC This file contains a short manual with enough information to get you started trying out Meal-Master. Additional documentation and problem solving tips can be found at the Meal-Master home page on the web. IMPORTF.DOC Provides a specification of how a file must be formatted to Import into Meal-Master. MM.EXE The main Meal-Master program file. README! The file you are now reading. FILE_ID.DIZ A short description file used when posting Meal-Master on electronic bulletin board systems for distribution. CONVERT.EXE Utility program to convert CompuChef (tm), Micro Cookbook (tm), Micro Kitchen Companion (tm), Chef's Accountant, and MasterCook (tm) files for Import into Meal-Master. (CompuChef is a registered trademark of Hillstepper Software, Micro Cookbook is a reg. trademark of Virtual Combinatics, Micro Kitchen Companion is a registered trademark of Craftsbury Software, Inc., and MasterCook is a registered trademark of Arion Software, Inc.) SAMPLE.TXT Sample Meal-Master Database, in Meal-Master Export format. (See instructions above for installation) *.MMP Assorted printer driver files. CHGCAT.EXE Utility program to manipulate category names in the database. This program will scan all recipes, collecting and organizing all category names. Each unique category is listed, along with information about how many recipes contain that category and whether it is on your personal category table or not. A new category name can be specified for any of the existing categories, and the update will be applied throughout the database. Also identifies "empty" categories and allows easier maintenance of the "valid category table" than is possible from within the main Meal-Master program. MMSTAT.EXE Utility program to analyze database usage. This program reports statistics about how many recipes are in the database, maximums and averages of ingredient and direction usage per recipe, and remaining capacity based on current averages and available disk space. MMCOLOR.EXE Utility program to set custom colors. Meal-Master allows background and foreground colors to be selected for Normal, Medium Intensity, High Intensity, and reverse video. TITLES.EXE Utility program to mass update the format of recipe titles throughout the database. Especially when importing recipes from multiple sources, some titles will be in all capital letters, some in all lower case letters, and some in a mixture. This utility lets you pick the way you want your titles to be stored, and updates the entire database using that style. MMM.EXE Menu "shell" program. This program provides an integrated menu from which the Meal-Master main program and all the utility programs can be accessed with a single keystroke, rather than exiting and starting each program from the DOS prompt. VERSION 8 RELEASE HISTORY For a history of MM changes, please go to our web site at: http://home1.gte.net/welliver LEGAL STUFF and LIMITED WARRANTY -------------------------------- Meal-Master (tm) is a trademark of Episoft Systems and Scott Welliver. All rights are reserved. Copying, distribution, and use is allowed by individuals and not-for-profit organizations. Businesses, government agencies, or any other for-profit organization must contact the author for specific permission before using or distributing the software. Episoft and Scott Welliver disclaim all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to this software and any accompanying written materials. This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have others, which vary from state to state. In no event will Episoft or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business reputation, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use this Episoft product, even if Episoft has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you. *** END OF README! FILE ***