Welcome to the Music Organizer and CD PLayer

The Music Organizer is a Windows 95/98 program that lets you catalogue music (or anything
else that you may record) so that you have a current list of what you have recorded.
Music Organizer is also an audio CD player.

The program will allow you to record the following information:

Group/Artist Name.
Album Name.
Type of Music (Country, Pop, Rock, etc)
Number.
Up to 26 songs.
Media type (CD, Album, Cassette, etc).
Up to 2 producers.
Track number.
Playing Time.
2 Custom fields (which you name)
Quality
4 Lines for notes
Label Name
Catalog Number

The CD player will play the whole CD, an individual song, or any combination of songs
(and in any order) from a single CD.

Music Organizer also supports numerous sorting and printing methods.

This program is shareware, not freeware.  Feel free to test out the program for the
next 30 days.  If you intend to use the program after that, please register it.


How to get help in the Music Organizer

There are four ways to get help while in the Music Organizer.

1)  Click on the Help menu

2)  Press F1 on the keyboard.

3)  Click on the question mark on the toolbar and then the item that you want information on.

4)  If you are in a dialog box, click on the question mark at the upper right side of the box.
Then click on the item that you have a question about.


System Requirements

In order to run this program, you will need the following.

1)  Window 95/98.
2)  486 processor or faster.
3)  16 megs of RAM (the more the better).
4)  2 Meg of free disk space (plus space to store the data files of coarse).
5)  SVGA monitor.
6)  Mouse.
7)  CD ROM (if you want to use the CD player). I recommend that you get as fast a CD ROM
    as you can afford.  I don't know what the minimum speed would be for it to work well as
    a CD player.  All I know is that my 2 speed didn't work well (I replaced it because of
    that) and my 12 and 24 speeds work great.  I think the speed of your computer is also
    and important factor if you are trying to do other things while playing a CD. My pentium
    has a 12 speed CD ROM and it works better than my 486 even though it has a 24 speed.


Program Installation

Since you're reading this file, I assume that you are in the right directory and have unpacked
all of the files.  To install the program, just double-click on the SETUP.EXE file and the
program will install.  During the installation, you can select where you want the program to 
be installed on your hard drive and where you want it placed on your Start Menu.  The defaults
work just fine but you can change them if you like.

After the program is installed, just find where you put it in your Start menu and click on
Music Organizer.

Entering Albums

To enter an album, select one of the following commands to get started.

1)  Click on the "E" button located on the toolbar,
2)  Click on the Edit Menu and then click the Enter command, or
3)  Ctrl+E

Once you have used one of these commands, the Enter/Edit dialog box will appear

This dialog box will allow you to enter all of the information about the album.  The
Group/Artist name, music type, album name, producers, label, quality, and media type
blocks are combo boxes.  These boxes keep track of all the different artists, music types,
album names, producers, labels, quality, and media types that you have entered so far.
As you make new entries, these boxes are updated. When you click on the arrow on these
boxes, it will drop down a list that you can scroll through.  If you have entered an artist,
music type, album name, producer, label, quality, or media type that you would like to
use again, just click on the appropriate entry in the box.  The box will automatically
use the entry that you clicked on without having to type it in again.

To move from box to box, just hit the tab key or click on the box you want with the mouse.
To enter the song title, track number, and playing time, click on the tab at the top of
the box that is labeled "Songs".

There are 3 ways to enter the playing times for new albums. One, you can type it in
yourself (not a good option to me).  Two, you can click on the "Load Times from CD"
button and the program will get the times from the CD if there is an audio CD in your
CD ROM.  Three, if you have the "Auto load times for new record if CD is playing" enabled,
the program will automatically load the times without having to click the button.  For the
last method, Music Organizer has to be playing the CD and it has to be the CD that you are
entering at the time.

Click on the Tab labeled "Performers" to enter the performers, instruments, and vocals
for the Album.

The Enter/Edit dialog box shows all of the possible information that you can record about
an album.  You do not have to use it all.  The Options menu (under the View menu) will
allow you to select which fields are turned on or off.  For example, if you do not want
to record the producers, use the Options menu to turn off the producer's field and it will
not take up any space on the screen or when you print your list.

NOTE: If you use all capital letters, not only will you not be able to type in as many
letters, a lot of the fonts look terrible in all caps.

NOTE: You can select whether or not the word "The" at the beginning of a song, group, or
album is ignored when you sort your list.  So it is okay to put "The" before these and
still have the list sorted the way you want it.  You can select this by using the Options
command under the View menu.


Deleting albums

In order to delete an album, you first have to select the album that you want to delete.
To select the album, just click anywhere on the album entry once with the left mouse button.
The information in the entry will be highlighted when it is selected.  After you have it
selected, you can use any of the following methods to delete it.

1)  Ctrl+D,

2)  Clicking on the "D" button located on the toolbar,

3)  Selecting the Edit menu and then clicking on delete, or

4)  Clicking the right mouse button will bring up a small menu beside the cursor with the
delete command on it.

After you select one of these commands, a message box will appear and ask you if you are
sure you want to delete it.  There are four options in the dialog box.  "Yes" will just
delete the album the message box is asking you about.  "Yes to All" will delete all of
the selected albums without asking if you are sure you want to delete them.  "No" will
cancel that album from being deleted but you will still be asked about any other albums
that you have selected.  "No to All" will cancel the rest of the delete operation.

You can also select multiple albums to delete at the same time by using the SHIFT or Ctrl keys.
The SHIFT key will select all of the albums in between the two albums that you select.
To use it, first select an album by just clicking on it with the left mouse button.  Then
hold down the SHIFT key and select the last album in the list of albums that you want to
delete.  All of the albums in between the two albums will also be highlighted.  The Ctrl
key will allow you to select multiple albums but doesn't select the albums in between.



Modifying movies

In order to modify an album, you first have to select the album that you want to modify.
To select the album, just click anywhere on the album entry once with the left mouse button.
The information in the entry will be highlighted when it is selected.  After you have it
selected, you can use any of the following methods to modify it.

1)  Ctrl+M,

2)  Clicking on the "M" button located on the toolbar,

3)  Selecting the Edit menu and then clicking on Modify, or

4)  Clicking the right mouse button will bring up a small menu beside the cursor with the
modify command on it.

After you select one of these commands, the Enter/Modify dialog box will appear.
The dialog will also show the current information in each box.  Just use the mouse to
select the box you want to modify, or use the tab key until you get there.  Modify
whatever information you want to, then click the "OK" button when you are done.

Click to the "Songs" and "Performers" tabs at the top to change any information about
the songs or performers.

You can also select multiple albums to modify at the same time by using the SHIFT or
Ctrl keys.


Selecting a View

There are two different views available in the View menu.  Each of these views show
different information.

The default is the Normal View and the program will always start in that view.  This view
shows all of the information that you have entered about the album.

The Single Line Sorts view is a view that just lists some of the fields from the Normal
View.  This is a good view if you just want a quick list of which groups and albums you have.
It also takes up a lot less paper to print that the Normal View.


Sorting the movies

You can sort the list of albums by using one of the following commands.

1) Using the Toolbar buttons

2) Using the Sort Menu listed in the View Menu commands.



Printing the albums

Before printing the list, make sure that you have the list sorted the way you want it.
Then either use the Toolbar print button or the File Menu Print command to print your list.

Make sure that you preview what the list will look like by using the Print Preview
command from the File Menu.  Some of the bigger fonts that you can use may be to wide
to fit on the page properly.  Experiment with the fonts that you have available and
I'm sure you will find one that is both pleasing to the eye and that fits on the paper.

Also, look at the Options Menu under the View Menu.  The Options menu has a lot of options that
affect the way the list will print.  One of these options way be just the printing option
that you are looking for.


Disabling Auto Play

These are the steps necessary to disable the auto play feature for audio CD's.  If yours
doesn't automatically play audio cd's, then you don't have to change anything.

If you don't disable the auto play feature for the audio CDs, every time you insert an
audio CD, the computer will automatically load the built-in CD player.  This will prevent
you from playing the CDs with the Music Organizer and from getting the track times.  There
are 2 methods for disabling the auto play feature.  Choose which ever one you like.

Method 1

1. Double click on My Computer and then select the View Menu.
2. Select Folder Options and then the File Types tab.
3. Double click on AudioCD in the Registered File Types box.
4. The word "Play" will probably be in bold letters in the Actions box.  Click the Set Default button and "Play" shouldn't be bold anymore.
5. Click the "Close" button on each menu until you are back to the Desk Top.

NOTE: To enable the auto play for the CD, just repeat the above steps.


Method 2

Hold the SHIFT key down while inserting the CD.  You will have to hold it down for 10 to 15 seconds or so.  Then just release it and you are set.  Of coarse, you will have to hold down the SHIFT key each time that you insert another CD.  On my computer, the cursor will change to an Hour Glass figure twice while holding the shift key down.  After it changes back to the arrow the second time, I release the SHIFT key and it works fine.



Playing Songs

The CD player that is build into the program is capable of playing a whole CD, an
individual song, or any combination of songs (and in any order).

No matter how you have the list sorted, the CD player will work.  The way you have
the list sorted will affect whether you can select the whole CD or an individual song.
The simplest why to find out what you can play is by selecting the record with the left
mouse button.  If the left mouse button highlights the entire CD, then the player will
play the whole CD.  If you can just select an individual song with the left mouse button,
then the CD player will play individual songs.

My favorite sort for the CD player is the Artist - Short List sort.  This sort groups all
of the albums together under each Group/Artist and shows all of the songs and track numbers
for each song.  You can then use the left mouse button to select whichever song (or songs)
you would like to play.  If you would like to play more than one song, select the first song,
then hold down the Ctrl key and select any of the other songs that you would like to play.
It will also play them in the order that you select them.  I think the sort works much
better if you don't have "Sort Songs Also" selected in the Options menu (under the
Group/Artist tab).  If you have the songs sorted also, the albums are not listed together
and it is harder to select the songs that you want to play.  You can also select a lot of
songs in a row by selecting the first song with the left mouse button, then hold down the
SHIFT key, and then Select the last song in the list that you want to play.  The program
will then select all the songs in between the two songs also.

After you select the songs that you want to play, just click on the arrow on the tool bar
and the player will start.

The CD player box can be minimized while it is playing so that you can get it out of your way.


How to Register

If you like this program and would like to continue using it after the 30-day trial,
please register it.  To register, just send a check or money order made payable to
Retroware at:

Retroware
P.O. Box 803
Minot, ND 58702

Payment must be in US dollars.

After your registration is received, I will send you a password that will change your
copy of this program into a registered copy.  The registration screen will no longer be
display when the program loads and it will continue working after the 30 days period.

To order, just print out this page (the one in the program might be easier to print),
fill in your name and address, and mail it along with payment.

Music Organizer and CD Player Version 1.7

Number of Copies ________ at $10.00 each = _______.

Prices are guaranteed through Nov 1999.
Please allow 1 -2 weeks for delivery.

Name:  ________________________________     Date: ___________

Address: _________________________________________________

City:  _________________    State: __________    ZIP Code:  __________

Day Phone  ___________________   Evening Phone:  ________________

E-Mail Address:  ______________________________

Note: If you have an e-mail address, we will e-mail your password information to you.  Also,
this information is only registration purposes and to notify you of any furture updates or
bug fixes.  I will not give it to any other business (I value your privacy as much as my own).



Why Should I Register the Program?

The Music Organizer is shareware, not freeware.  Shareware is a great way to get good
programs without risk.  Not only can you download shareware and use it on a trial basis,
shareware is also a lot cheaper.  You don't have to pay for disks, packaging, advertising,
or middleman costs. Therefore, you can purchase it for just $10.00.   But for Shareware to
be successful, there has to be an honor system.  So if you intend to use this program after
30 days, please register it.  Thanks.

If you register the program, you will also get free downloads from our web page 
(http://members.aol.com/retroware) for minor revisions and any bug fixes (Of course, 
internet access and any long distance phone calls are yours to pay).  As long as the first 
number of the version number is the same as yours, the new version will work with your 
password.  Just download the new version and install it.  If the first number of the 
version has changed, you will be able to upgrade for half price if you registered a 
previous version.



After Registering

After you register the program, you will receive a password for your program in the mail
(e-mail if you gave me your e-mail address).  Load the Music Organizer and select
"Enter Password" on the welcome screen.  Make sure that you enter your name and password
EXACTLY as I have it typed.  After you have entered it, selected the "OKAY" button.
Movie Organizer will let you know whether or not the password is valid.  If it is not
valid, try typing it in again, paying very close attention to the letters and capitalization.
Once you have entered a correct password, you will never see the registration window again.
Make sure that you keep your password.  The only time that you should need it again is if
you have to reload Windows 95 again.  If you have any problems, please contact me by e-mail
at retroware@aol.com or write to:

Retroware
P.O. Box 803
Minot, ND., 58702.

Please do not share your password information with anyone.  Thanks.


License Agreement

Music Organizer
Copyright (c) 1997-99 Retroware
All Rights Reserved

Registered Version

You are free to use your copy of Music Organizer on as many home computers as you own.
But you need to buy a registered copy for each business computer that you plan to use it on.

You may not decompile or disassemble this program in any way.  Also, you may not share
any of your password information with anyone else.

Shareware Version

This is not free software.  But you may test it out for the next 30 days to see if you like
it or not.  If you intend to use it past the 30-day trial period, you must send a $10.00
registration fee to obtain a license and password to continue using it.  Unregistered use
after the 30 days is a violation of the copyright laws.  You are licensed now to freely
distribute the shareware version of this program, provided that it is in the original form
and that all of the files are included.  You may not charge or request donations of any
form for distributing this software.

Disclaimer of Warranty

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.

