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January 2nd 2009 -The NEW Free Upgrade is now available - it has significant improvements over earlier versions. It will upgrade ANY previous version of Showman installed since July 2003.

The NEW Version Number is 2.6

About Showman

Go to the 'About Showman' item on the button bar above

or

Click Here to download the NEW ShowMan '.pdf' manual (app. 3.8 megabytes - it is included in the FULL and UPGRADE downloads) - this is downloaded as a ZIP file.

Upgrading to Showman 2.6.

• If you have a REGISTERED Version of ShowMan, or want to upgrade an older 'Demo' version, go to the UPGRADES topic (Button, above)

• CLICK HERE see list of changes and bug fixes in ShowMan Up to AND INCLUDING January 2006 (version 2.5).
• CLICK HERE see list of changes and bug fixes in ShowMan SINCE January 2006 (version 2.6).

New Users - FULL Version Notes

Please read the 'Preinstall Readme' topic ESPECIALLY if you are using Windows 95 or 98 - ie any version of Windows BEFORE Windows Me.

This 'Readme' is accessible from the button bar above.

Although originally designed for a typical 'Country Show', this programme can easily be set up for use in most events where Entrants and/or Entries are organised into 'Groups', and where they may compete for Trophies and Prizes.

See 'About ShowMan' for more information.

• Full and Upgrade versions of Showman were Last Uploaded in January 2006 - N.B. Windows NT has not been tested
• CLICK HERE to Download a FULL version of Showman  2.6 - approximately 20 megabytes.
• ShowMan has been tested in Windows 95, 98, 98SE, Me, 2000, Xp Home, Xp Pro and Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate)
• File size app. 20mb. The large increase is mainly due to the inclusion of a FULL Manual in pdf format, and the Help file is much larger.
• This download is a 'Demo' version. It is limited to One Section of 20 Classes and 10 Entries per Class. It is NOT limited in any other way
• Please read the 'Pre-Install' Readme topic accessible from the links bar above, or download it from that page - it provides information you should know before installing Showman, or if you want to evaluate the new version, having previously installed an EARLIER 'demo' version.
• It also explains the situation with regard to Microsoft Data Access support packs that are required to run Showman if you are using Windows 95 or 98. Please read the topic 'M'Soft Support Packs' if you are using Windows 95 or 98.

  The version of Windows that you are using will be displayed when you start Windows.

• If you are using Windows Millennium, Windows 2000 or Windows Xp you DO NOT need the Support Packs, and you can download and install the 'Showman Demo' as described in the 'Pre Install Readme'.
• Please report any peculiar behaviour or programme 'crashes' to me - it would be particularly useful to know what you were trying to do when the problem occured.
• Also, if you have any suggestions for improvements let me know.
• Click here to send me an email in the event of problems or if you have any suggestions

BRIEF MANUALS ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM

There are currently 14 ‘Brief Manuals’ in total, excluding the one on Registration.

There is also a FULL '.pdf' manual which can be opened from the ShowMan 'Integrator' screen - but you will need to have a '.pdf' reader programme like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit Reader installed on your machine

When you have installed Showman, you can access these manuals as described below.

Please read and possibly print the following three brief manuals BEFORE using the programme. They will explain the way the programmes work, what you need to know before using the suite, and help you avoid errors.

• ‘Overview of the ShowMan Suite’ (file ShowManual.Rtf)
• ‘Setting Up the ShowMan Suite’ (file ShowmanSet.Rtf)
• ‘Putting Showman to Work’ (file ShowmanToWork.Rtf)

These three manuals above are accessable from the ‘ShowMan 2’ folder on the WINDOWS START menu after the programme has been installed.

Once the programme has been installed, all manuals can be accesses as follows –

a) Using Windows Explorer or Windows Commander, you can open the ‘TipsFiles’ folder and open any of the manuals, including the above, with your favourite word processor.

b) The ‘Manuals’ Tab of the Programme Main Integrator Menu provides access to ALL of these ‘Brief Manuals’, from where you can VIEW them.

c) The Menu Bar of the ‘Editor’ module will also provide access to all of these manuals from the menu item ‘Brief Manuals’ - from where you can View, Print and even EDIT the manuals. This is the best place to view them.

d) The FULL '.pdf' manual can be opened from the ShowMan 'Integrator' screen .

GENERAL

Running the Programs

To START Showman 2, double click the Icon on the Desktop, or use one of the other shortcuts you chose during installation.

The programme briefly displays an ‘About’ screen, and then shows the ‘Programme Integrator’ page. Each of the Four icons along the LEFT HAND side of the page will open a panel along the top right half of the screen. Eachof these panels will display three or four icons providing access to the various routines in Showman, which are grouped roughly in accordance with the task.

Unless you turn it off on the Integrator screen, you will see 'Brief Information' panels displaying a brief explanatory note on most items on the various screens in ShowMan, as the mouse cursor passes over them.

Please use the Help Menu and other Help features in the program. The answers to most queries that I get are covered in the documents listed below or in the Help File.

Don't forget that you can press the ‘F1’ key at any time to get help. The Help you will see will relate directly to the programme page that is currently open, and in some cases, to the CONTROL that has the FOCUS. Use the TAB key to move the FOCUS to a control. The TAB key is the key above the Caps Lock key, often displaying two 'barred' arrows facing in opposite directions.

(The Help File defines the two terms above – use the ‘Find’ option when the Help file is open.)

Registering the Program

If you wish to register this programme please read the 'Register' file. You can access it from the 'Help' menu when the Programme Integrator’ screen is displayed, and also from the Editor ‘Brief Manuals’ menu mentioned above.

It explains how to Register the program so as to release its' full potential, and how much it costs to register.

If you have already registered Showman, BACK UP a copy the file ‘Register.Inf’.

Problems, Bug Fixes and Upgrades

You can access a Frequently Asked Questions page by clicking on the FAQ button ABOVE or on the Home Page.

Development is ongoing and any fixes and information on upgrades will be available from the Upgrade link above

Major Upgrades will generally be available from the 'Upgrades' Button on the menu bar at the top of this page.

Smaller upgrades that do not require alterations to any Windows components or Configuration files will usually be made available from a link on this page.

CB September 2008