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Readerware 2.95 Now Shipping

Readerware 2.95 changes

iPod support, take your Readerware databases with you on your iPod.

A new way to browse your database. The thumbnail view displays all your cover art. Just hold the mouse over an image and a popup displays full information on the title.

You can now sort your search results on any number of columns. Click on a column header to sort. Hold down the sort modifier key and click on additional columns to add them to the sort.

Drag and drop improvements. You can now update an existing record, drag and drop a new image etc.

New Windows installers, you can now select which products you want to install. A new update installer makes upgrading to the latest release of Readerware a breeze. There are changes to the Linux installation and on Mac OS X the Readerware installers are distributed as zip files now that Apple has dropped Stuffit support from Mac OS X 10.4, (Tiger). Readerware now ships with Java 5 on Windows and Linux.

Readerware includes better network time out handling, network requests will now time out if a server is not responding.

The Readerware Server can now run as a Windows service. Plus there is a new non GUI server available for all platforms.

Upgrade Policy

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

iPod Support

Readerware uses the iPod Notes facility so an iPod with Notes is required. You were looking for a good reason to get a new iPod Nano weren't you?

Readerware 2.95 includes an iPod Notes export so you can easily convert your database to iPod Notes format. You can store your book, music and video databases on your iPod.

The first thing to do is to decide what columns you want to include on your iPod. You can include any column except Comments. You can transfer as many columns as you want in the order you want. Obviously the more columns you include, the more space your database will take up on your iPod.

The best way to define the columns is to create an iPod table view. You can create as many table views as you want in Readerware, each with a different set of columns, in any order:

• Select the Preferences menu item, Views tab.
• Select the Default Table view in the left list.
• Click on the Copy button, you will be prompted for a new name, enter say iPod
• Your new view will appear in the left list, select it.
• In the right list select the columns you want to export. Those that have a green check mark next to them will be exported, those with a red X will not. Double clicking on the column name toggles between the two. Use the Up and Down buttons to change the column order.
  

Your iPod should appear as another disk drive on your system. Click on the Browse button in the export wizard and select your iPod Notes folder. Readerware will create the database right on your iPod.

To use Readerware on your iPod, select the Notes function. By default this appears under the Extras menu but you can change your iPod Settings and have it displayed in the top level menu so that your Readerware databases are nice and handy.

Select Notes and you will see your Readerware databases. Select the appropriate database and Readerware will display a top level list of the database contents. For books that is a range of authors, for music it is artists and for video it is titles. Select from the list and you will see the items. Use the iPod scroll wheel to quickly locate the item you are looking for. It is a simple interface but it lets you quickly drill down and find the items you want.

Readerware on your iPod
Readerware Export

Give Readerware this Holiday

Yes, it's that time of the year again. If you are trying to decide on the perfect gift for the book, music and movie lovers on your list, consider Readerware.

Free USB and PS/2 CueCat barcode readers are available. A bundle of the three Readerware products and a barcode reader makes a great gift for the serious collector. Prices start at $85, all prices include shipping.

You can also give any individual product on CD for just $50. Either way Readerware makes a great gift idea.

Just follow the link below to place your order. When ordering as a gift, please be sure to include the name of the recipient so that the license key will be generated in the correct name. Just select the gift option when ordering or enter the information in the comments field. The package can be shipped directly to the lucky person or to you. International orders are welcome, there is an additional $10 shipping charge for all orders shipped outside the US and Canada.

Check the Readerware barcode reader page too for more gift ideas.

Readerware Gift Ideas
Great Deals on Barcode Readers

Readerware Thumbnail View

Browse your database by cover art. The Readerware thumbnail view displays the cover art for each item. You can easily scan your collection for a favorite title. Hold the mouse over an image and Readerware will display a popup window with full details on the item.

No mouse required, you can also navigate through the images using the cursor keys to move up, down, left or right. Use Page Up and Page Down to scroll a full page, use the Escape key to close the popup window.

Double click on any item or hit the Enter key to display it in the detail view. You can edit, delete or check out any item from the thumbnail view.

If you want Readerware to start in the thumbnail view or any view, just change the default search. Set things up exactly the way you want, perform the search you want, select the view you want and then click on the Search->Save as Default Search menu item.

Next time you start Readerware it will display your database in the thumbnail view automatically.

Readerware Thumbnail View
Changing the default view

Drag and Drop Update

Up until now Readerware always added a new record to the database when you used drag and drop. With Readerware 2.95 you have four possible choices:

• Add - Add a new record to the Readerware database. Readerware will extract the data from the web page and add a new record to the database. This is the default drop action.
• Replace - Replace the currently selected record with data from the web. Readerware will extract all the data from the web page and replace the existing database contents with the new data. If there is data in fields that were not available on the web, the database field contents are unchanged.
• Update - Update the currently selected record with data from the web. Readerware will extract all the data from the web page but only database fields that are currently empty will be changed.
• New Image - Readerware will add or replace the current database image with the new image. You can drag & drop an image file (a GIF or JPG file) from your hard drive or the web. You can also drag & drop an entire web page and Readerware will extract just the image.

Readerware Drag & Drop
Readerware Drop Actions

Multiple Column Sort

You start a sort the same way you do now by clicking on a column header. This becomes the primary sort column.

To add additional columns to the sort hold down the sort modifier key and click on the column headers. You must add the columns in the desired sequence.

For example if you want to sort your database by Category, then by Author and then by Title, you would start by clicking on the Category column header. Hold down the sort modifier key and click on Author, then Title.

You can always click again on a column header to toggle the sort sequence. In the previous example if you wanted to sort Author in reverse sequence, you would click on the Author column header twice. The first time to add the column to the sort, the second time to reverse the sequence.

Readerware displays arrows of differing size in the column header to indicate the sort status. You can tell which columns are sorted, the order of the sort columns and the sequence by looking at the arrows in the column header.

The sort modifier key varies by platform. On Windows and Linux it is the Control key. On Mac OS X it is the Command or Apple key.

Sorting the Table View

Message Forums

One question that comes up is how do I find other Readerware users in my area? The message forums can help you communicate with other Readerware users.

When you register for the forums, you can optionally enter your location. Enter your city and state or city and country. Then other local users will be able to find you.

From any forum page click on the Memberlist link. You can browse the list or sort by location. Private messaging is enabled so you don't even have to list your e-mail address for other users to be able to contact you.

If you are interested in meeting other Readerware users, be sure to register for the forums or update your existing profile to include your location.

There is also a new FAQ section in the forums. Have a question about Readerware
products? Be sure to visit the new Forum FAQS.

Readerware Message Forums

FAQ: How can I copy a record?

You can also make changes as you copy a record. Suppose you wanted to add another book by an author already in the database. Display the closest match in the detail view. Make any changes, the title, publication date, ISBN etc. Then click on the Add button. Readerware will add a new record to the database containing the contents of the original record with your changes.

Sites News

ReaderwareVW now has support for amazon.de

Thanks to everyone who worked on these new sites.

Readerware Support

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