Welcome to the Readerware Newsletter
Readerware 2.92 is now shipping. New image positioning preferences,
user based loan tracker, batch mode barcode reader interface with
improved error handling. Export enhancements, new searches and more.
Plus, FAQ "Can I catalog my vinyl LPs with ReaderwareAW?".
Visit the Readerware
Newsletter archive, all back issues of the newsletter are online.
Readerware 2.92 Now Shipping
Release 2.92 is now available for all products (Readerware,
ReaderwareAW
and ReaderwareVW), and all platforms, (Windows, Mac OS X and Linux). A
full
list of the changes included in 2.92 is available online:
Readerware
2.92
changes
Some of the highlights in this release.
New image positioning preference added. You can now choose where
to
display the image in the detail view. The image and data portions of
the display have independent scroll bars and you can size each section
separately. In addition to allowing the user much
greater control of the image display, this also means that Readerware
can handle large image sizes.
New batch mode scanner upload in auto-catalog. Click on the Upload
button and the new batch upload dialog is displayed. You can select the
barcode reader type and upload an unlimited number of scans. Designed
to
better support LaserChamp/Flic scanners but can also be used with
conventional scanners. The data is captured and then validated once you
click the OK button. This provides for uninterrupted high speed batch
transfers from barcode readers.
Improved barcode and ISBN/UPC error handling. You can also copy/paste a
list of barcodes, ISBNs or UPCs.
Readerware now remembers the number selection in the detail view.
By
default Readerware selects the ISBN/UPC when you display the detail
view. Readerware will now remember the selection. So if for example the
Dewey Decimal Number is more important to you, Readerware will select
it automatically.
Export enhancements, you can now export the image file name. The
Generic UIEE export can now include the LO (Location), PR (Price),
PG (Page Count), SE (Series), KE (Keywords) and IM (Image filename)
tags.
The loan tracker is now user based. You can select borrowers from
the
list. Just enter a new borrower and a new list entry will be created
automatically as the loan is created.
Upgrade Policy
Most of you
know this by now but Readerware 2.92 is a free upgrade. All
2.x upgrades are free.
You can always download the latest 2.x release for free. If you ever
want
the latest version on CD, you can order it from the web site for $12.
By the way, Windows users will notice that the CD now has a new menu
system to make it easier to install the products and view the
documentation.
Readerware
CD
New Image Preferences
Readerware 2.92
includes a new image positioning preference. You can position the image
at the top, left, bottom or right of the detail view. The image and
data portions of the display now have independent scroll bars and you
can size each section separately, allocate as much space as you want to
the image or data sections.
You can easily hide each section. If you are making changes to your
database for example you might want to hide the image section and have
more space to display your data. When you want the image back, just
click on the divider button and it snaps back into place.
In addition to allowing you more flexibility when displaying your data,
this enhancement means that Readerware can handle much larger images.
Export enhancements in this release now make it possible to export the
image filename to TAB delimited, CSV and generic UIEE files. A lot of
users have requested this feature. It lets you transfer images to other
programs, web sites etc. There is a new Image filename column which you
can display in the table view and export.
Readerware
View Preferences
Readerware
Export
More on LaserChamp/Flic
Barcode Readers
This release of
Readerware includes enhancements to the way Readerware interfaces with
barcode scanners. With a conventional barcode scanner like the CueCat
or EconoScan, you can simply scan the barcode wherever you would
normally enter the ISBN or UPC. You can catalog, search, or check out a
book by scanning the barcode.
Batch scanners like the LaserChamp/Flic let you roam and scan your
books, music and videos on their shelves instead of moving them to your
computer. This is a great feature which can make it even easier to
catalog your collections. There is one issue though. As you scan a
barcode, Readerware will validate the input and convert it into an ISBN
or UPC. If there is an error, Readerware will display an error dialog.
This can interrupt the flow of barcodes. With a Bluetooth wireless
scanner, you could be in another room scanning directly into
Readerware. With the tethered version you could be transferring
hundreds of barcodes into Readerware. You don't want an error dialog
interrupting the flow.
In Readerware 2.92 you can click on the Upload button in the
auto-catalog wizard. Select your scanner type and scan or upload as
many barcodes as you want. When you are finished, click OK and then
Readerware will validate and convert the input.
New error handling makes it easier to deal with errors. If Readerware
detects invalid input you have the option of accepting it anyway or
rejecting it. Prior to 2.92 you had to answer this question for every
error. Now you can select the Remember this decision
option at any
time. Readerware will then handle all remaining errors in this session
the same
way.
The new upload dialog is designed for use with batch barcode readers
like the LaserChamp/Flic but can be used with any scanner. If you want
to scan multiple barcodes without interruption, click on the Upload
button, scan as many barcodes as you want, then click OK to process
them. You can even paste in lists of barcodes, ISBNs or UPCs. Right
click in the input area, (Mac users Control-Click), and select Paste
from the popup menu.
One question that has come up quite a bit lately concerns the
difference between the Bluetooth and tethered Flic barcode readers.
Both let you scan your books, music and videos on their shelves. Some
users thought that with the tethered reader, you had to be connected to
your computer to scan. That is not the case.
The only difference between the two versions is how they connect to
your
computer. The Bluetooth model is wireless, while in range, (30-50
feet), scans go directly into Readerware. If you wander out of range,
the device stores
up to 500 scans and transmits them once the connection is
re-established. With the Bluetooth reader you can wander around your
house or office scanning as you go.
The tethered reader connects via a serial or USB cable.
It will
also store up to 500 scans while disconnected. You
then connect the device to your computer and the scans can be sent to
Readerware. As the tethered version costs a lot less, it can be a very
good choice if you need the ability to scan away from your computer.
Serialio.com offers LaserChamp barcode reader solutions for Windows,
Mac OS
X, Linux, Palm OS, Pocket PC, and more. So Serialio.com has a solution
for all Readerware users. They offer complete bundles of both
the Bluetooth and Tethered scanners for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux
users. The bundles contain everything you need, the barcode scanner,
Bluetooth/USB adapters and software.
New Message Forums
The Readerware
website was recently upgraded, there are now phpBB based message forums
available. These offer a lot more features than the old forums. Anybody
can read the
message forums. If you want to post a message, you must first create a
user name, just click on the Register link.
There are FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) sections, user forums for
each product and general areas where you can discuss Readerware
related issues.
It is easy to post your own messages, just type in the message with new
lines and paragraphs just as you would in a word processor. You can
format your messages or add links by selecting text and clicking on
one of the formatting buttons.
An RSS feed is available so you can keep up with the discussions.
Please set you RSS reader to poll no more than once per hour. If you
need an
RSS reader, check out the free RSSOwl. As it is Java based it will run
on any platform, just like Readerware.
Take a look at the new Readerware Template Repository in the Message
forums. You can download Readerware report writer templates and
contribute your own.
The new Readerware Message Forums are a great improvement over the old
ones, so stop by and join the discussions.
Readerware Message Forums
Readerware Message
Forum RSS Feed
Readerware
Template Repository
RSSOwl
Loan Tracker Improvements
The Readerware loan
tracker is now user based. Rather than enter the name of the borrower
every time you check out an item, you can select from the list instead.
The first time you check out an item to a new borrower, enter their
name or other identifying information and create the loan. Readerware
will add the borrower to the list automatically as it creates the loan
record. Next time you can simply select the borrower from the list.
The borrower list is just like any other Readerware list field. You can
easily maintain it right there in the loan tracker window. If you need
to update a borrower, select the list entry, make the correction and
right click in the borrower field. Mac users should
Control-Click. Select Replace in Database
from the popup menu.
Use the same method to delete a borrower, select the item, right click
and select Delete
from Database from the popup menu.
FAQ:
Can I catalog my vinyl LPs
with ReaderwareAW?
Who said vinyl was
dead? This question has been coming up a lot lately, so for all you
vinyl collectors out there, here is how you can catalog your
collections with ReaderwareAW.
ReaderwareAW allows you to automatically catalog
an item in two ways:
Auto-Catalog
- Scan the barcode or enter the UPC, ReaderwareAW looks up the product
using the UPC and catalogs it for you complete with cover art.
Drag and Drop
- Search for the album at any one of the supported sites, then drag and
drop from your browser to ReaderwareAW and it is cataloged.
Most vinyl releases predate the barcode. Many artists actually resisted
efforts by the major labels to add barcodes to albums feeling that the
barcode interfered with the album cover art. Even albums with barcodes
are typically not listed at online retailers. So auto-catalog
will not normally work.
But you can use drag and drop to easily catalog vinyl. Drag and drop
from the excellent All Music Guide. They
have album listings and reviews going back decades.
Another good site for cataloging and buying both US and European vinyl
is eil.com They have great cover art.
The Library of Congress has many older vinyl listings. Go to The
Library of Congress search page. Enter
the artist name in the search field and select the Name field from the
drop down list.
If an album has also been released on CD, you can drag and drop the
CD version from any supported online retailer and change the format.
Drag and drop works best if you have your collection organized by
artist. Do an artist search at All Music Guide, Barnes and Noble,
Tower, Amazon, LOC etc. Pick the matching title, drag and drop, Hit
back in your browser to return to the artist list, pick the next title,
drag and drop and so on.
Readerware
Drag and Drop
All Music Guide
eil.com
The
Library of Congress
Sites
News
Drag and drop support has been added for two new sites:
Genealogyinprint.com has been created
to serve family historians, genealogists, re-enactors, authors,
students and anyone else who is stimulated by American genealogy and
history. You can now drag and drop book and CDROM listings from
Genealogyinprint.com to catalog
EIL.com are the world's biggest online Record Shop for new, rare,
collectible, used and hard to find CDs, vinyl records, CD singles,
picture discs, 12", 7" records, limited editions, promos, imports and
music memorabilia from the UK (England), USA, Japan, Germany, France,
Canada, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina covering
the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s!! A great resource for vinyl
collectors.
Be sure to check out the following sites. If you like their listings,
support the sites.
Genealogyinprint.com
EIL.com
Readerware Support
There is nothing more important than answering your questions. You can
always e-mail support@readerware.com and expect a reply in a couple of
hours. 24 hours maximum. Unfortunately e-mail communications are not as
reliable as they once were. Spam and the various schemes people have
dreamed up to combat spam are interfering with normal e-mail
communications.
If you have not received a response to your support request within 24
hours, something has gone wrong.
- Check any Spam or message filters, the response may be there.
- Check with your ISP or system administrator. Sites are
implementing various defense
mechanisms which often block legitimate e-mail. For example AOL and
Earthlink are still squabbling and this has resulted in AOL blocking
all
e-mail from Earthlink as Spam.
- If you are using a challenge system, please check to see if your
response is being held. I do try and respond to challenge e-mail, but
it can mean your response is delayed.
- If you are using AOL, check your Mail
Controls.
If you have not received a response within 24 hours, don't wait any
longer, send a follow up e-mail or post to the Readerware message
forums. If possible try and include an
alternate e-mail address. I will re-send your answer from another
e-mail server to all addresses you specify.
Obviously Spam is a real problem. But it is important to
realize that none of the defense mechanisms are anywhere near 100%
accurate. There is nothing more frustrating for you than feeling
ignored, you aren't being ignored. Every e-mail you send is answered
promptly. From this end there is nothing more frustrating than taking
the time to create a reply that is never seen then getting a "why
aren't you responding" e-mail a couple of days later.
All support e-mail is answered within 24 hours, if you don't get that
response, check your anti-spam measures and try again.
Thanks.
Your Feedback
Your feedback is always welcome and does make a difference. Please send
in your comments. E-Mail support@readerware.com.
Thanks for your support.
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