SLICE (c 1989 Lightning Word Corp & Volkswriter Ltd)
  The Easy Way to Integrate
                  from VOLKSWRITER Ltd, The Sanderson Centre,
                       Lees Lane, Gosport, Hants  PO12 3UL
                       telephone (0705) 511679  FAX (0705) 502176

 (This version of SLICE has a limited lifetime: it will not work after
  the end of February 1991;  if you find it useful and wish to purchase
  SLICE, contact Volkswriter to obtain the full version, including manual).

SLICE is a large (over 64k) TSR (Terminate/Stay Resident) program: when it has
been loaded, it remains resident even after you load the next program.  This
can drastically reduce the amount of memory available to you: it may be
impossible to load some programs (e.g. a desktop publisher) subsequently
without first unloading SLICE by the method described below.

SLICE acts like a data exchange between your word processor, your
spreadsheet (1-2-3 format) and your database programs (dBase format).
Information from spreadsheet or database files comes into SLICE and is
then funnelled out to your word processor, spreadsheet or database.
SLICE eliminates time-consuming cut-and-paste operations - you just
slice information from one format into the other.    Since SLICE works
from the files themselves, you do not need to load the spreadsheet or
database programs to get at the information.  The operation is simple:
        1. stay in your destination program (word processor, database or
            spreadsheet);
        2. use a simple keystroke to bring SLICE into action
        3. mark the data you need - and then transfer it at a keystroke.

Your CONFIG.SYS file should allow for at least FILES=20 and BUFFERS=20.
If you would like to be able to start SLICE from any directory, copy its files
into a permanent place (like C:\SLICE), and add this to your PATH.  Once SLICE
is in memory, it is awakened by keying CTRL and 5 (from the numeric pad).
To remove it from memory, key CTRL and DEL.

While in SLICE itself, the following keys are useful:

        TAB and shift-TAB scroll the screen right and left
        PgUP and PgDN scroll the screen up and down
        F1 provides HELP

        F2 selects a single ROW from the screen
        CTRL-F2 selects ALL rows from the screen

        F3 allows you to specify input criteria
        F4 actually does the slice - transferring data to your active program

        F6 selects a single COLUMN from the screen
        CTRL-F6 selects ALL columns from the screen

        F7 starts a search within a dBase column
        F8 continues a search (search next) within a dBase column
        F9 or ESC exits from SLICE - putting it to sleep
        F10 displays your active program's screen

If you are using a MOUSE, you can click on the function key icons with the
LEFT button.  Selecting a row (F2) or column (F6) is done by positioning on the
selected row or column, press the LEFT button and drag horizontally (for the
row) or vertically (for the column).  The RIGHT button will escape from SLICE.

The \SLICE directory on SuperDisk has some sample files of the various types
available so that you can test the abilites of this program: if you wish to use
them, make sure they are on the same physical disk that you are logged onto
when you load your destination program (e.g. your word processor): SLICE is
able to change directories, but not able to change drives when looking for the
source files from which it will transfer data.    (To load a source from
another drive, you must EXPLICITLY key the path to it, rather than select from
the list of nominees that SLICE will automatically provide).

File formats here offered:
        .WKS are for Words & Figures, Lotus 1-2-3 or Symphony
        .WRK and .WK1 (also .WR1) are for Lotus 1-2-3 or Symphony
        .DBF is for dBase


SUMMARY OF SAMPLE

1. Position to the SLICE directory, and key SLICE [ENTER]
2. Load your favourite word processor (almost any will do).
3. Load the sample file called SAMPLE.TXT - which should be in the
    \SLICE directory, anyway.
4. Move the cursor to the end of the file, at the left margin on a blank line.
    (SLICE will move data to wherever the cursor is).  Put your word processor
    into INSERT mode (rather than TYPEOVER or REPLACE).
5. Wake up SLICE by keying CTRL and 5 (numeric pad); from the menu that now
    appears, choose 1 or 2 (Words & Figures / Lotus Worksheet); now you will
    see a list of available files (of that format) if any exist.
6. Using the cursor keys (or mouse), move the selection bar over the name of
    the file from which you want to select data; the names of subdirectories
    and .. (the parent directory) are available as well, to move to other
    places on the disk.  For example, select PROPERTY.WK1 and press [ENTER].
    Alternatively, you may KEY a filename (if needed, including the drive
    and the path to it) followed by [ENTER].
7. The information from this file is displayed on the screen, with SLICE
    commands summarised at the bottom.  Keep in mind that your word processor
    is still running. (You can confirm this by peeking with F10 - the next
    keystroke will bring you back into SLICE).
8. Now select the information to be transferred from this spreadsheet file into
    your word processing document: using cursor keys (or mouse), move the bar
    over the ADDRESS (for example); press F2 - which will highlight the entire
    column heading row, and the cursor moves down to the first address line.
9. For each row within this column, you may highlight examples by pressing F2,
    or bypass each by pressing the cursor down key.
10.Select the column itself by pressing the F6 key: the items chosen within the
    column should now be underlined (mono monitor) or displayed in red.
11.Move to any other column - for example, COST: press F6 again, and note that
    costs will be highlighted only from rows previously selected: what is now
    highlighted is a SELECTION of data from the original table - a mini-table
    in effect.  We are now ready to transfer this mini-table into our word
    processing document.
12.Press F4 to start the transfer operation: a box appears, permitting various
    formats for the actual transfer: it is simplest to choose 1.    Those data
    portions you selected from the table will be copied into the word processor
    just as if you had keyed it.  After the transfer is complete, SLICE will
    redisplay the spreadsheet in case you wish to select more data.  Press F9
    or ESC to return to your word processor.

Other features you may wish to know about are:
        (1) TEMPLATES, which allow you to customise how marked data will be
            formatted when the transfer takes place: templates are written into
            files (which you would keep for future slicing) with the
            extension name .TPL.    Documenting and demonstrating these is
            beyond the scope of this experimental version: please contact
            the authors of SLICE for further information.
        (2) SEARCHING (for dBase files): employed by keying F7 and then a
            search string.  For numeric fields, inequality searches can be
            made: for example =50 would search for a value of 50, but <50
            would search for any value lower than 50.  Conditions allowed are
            <, =, >, <= (less or equal), >= (greater or equal), and
            != (not equal).    Keying F8 will resume a search for the NEXT
            string or value matching the search criterion.  This will enable
            you better to determine rows/columns that are desired for transfer.
        (3) INPUT CRITERIA: you may limit which records are being displayed
            from the source document (if it is Lotus or dBase format) by
            specifying criteria (conditions): pressing F3 will bring up a
            separate screen, inviting you to list conditions that must apply
            before a record is displayed.  If you would like to experiment
            with this, press F3 - this will talk you through the options
            available.  If you wish to ensure that this feature works as you
            require before you buy, please contact the authors of SLICE.

            SPECIAL MAIL ORDER:
            SLICE retails at £68.95, but note in our Mail Order pages that
            you can now obtain it at the SPECIAL price of £34.50.