
    Mass Transit
    Version 1.0b2
    (BETA 2)


***  What is Mass Transit?

Mass Transit provides a convenient way to quickly reassign records
from one category to another or to delete multiple records at once. 
You can select individual records for categorization or deletion and
perform the action on all selected records at once.  This is much
quicker and easier than doing each record one at a time, the way
you'd have to do it without Mass Transit.


***  Okay, how money much do you want?

Nothing!  Mass Transit is freeware.  Don't send any money (unless
you really want to).


***  Great!  So how does it work?

The first thing to do is pick a database to work on.  You can only
work on one database at a time.  In the current version, only three
of the built-in applications are available to Mass Transit: Address
Book, To Do List, and Memo Pad.

Once you've selected a database, pick a category to view -- select
the category from the popup list right below the database.  This
popup will start out showing All records, but you can narrow it down
to a particular category.

When you've selected a category (or left it showing all records),
the boxed table in the middle of the screen will show all records in
the selected database and category.  You can scroll through your
records using the triangle buttons to the right (if present), or
using the hardware page up and page down buttons.

The checkboxes to the left of each item is the selection boxes. 
Later on, when you hit the "Go" button, the action taken will be
performed ONLY on those records in the current viewing category AND
that are selected.  Unselected records are unaffected, as are those
not in the currently selected category.

(NOTE: Do not confuse the selection boxes with the To Do List's
completion boxes.  Checking or unchecking the boxes in Mass Transit
will NOT mark To Do items as completed or uncompleted; go to the To
Do application for that purpose.)

Next, select an action.  You can choose to either delete the
selected records, or to move them to another category.  If you pick
"Move", you must also choose the destination category.

Finally, hit "Go!"  You will see a confirmation dialog.  If you
proceed, the selected records will be moved or deleted per your
choice.


***  Cool!  What else is there?

First, for your safety, after many operations the selection boxes
will be cleared.  This is to prevent undesired subsequent
categorizations or deletions.  (It was also easier to program it
this way.)

Second, look in the top right of the screen.  You'll see a little
key, much like the Security application.  And that's exactly what
that key reflects: the current state of security on your Palm
device.  If it's a solid key, then private records will not show up
in Mass Transit (and therefore, cannot be selected for moving or
deletion).  If it's a grey key, the private records will be shown in
the table.

Tapping on the key will let you toggle the security state.  Of
course, you must provide the proper password.  Note, however, that
the changes to security are local to Mass Transit.  This provides a
quick way to temporarily change the security level (and whether
private records are shown or not) without having to make a side trip
to the Security application.


***  Anymore?

That's all there is for BETA 2.  But several things are planned:

    - online help
    - "duplicate" action (in addition to move and delete)
    - preferences are saved
    - more applications supported
    - support for PalmOS 1.0
    
    
***  Hey, when I switch to another application and come back, Mass
  Transit doesn't remember my settings!
  
Sorry...  :)  That's because I haven't written the code yet to save
any preferences.  It's fairly simple to add, but I wanted to get a
version out before BETA 1 expired.  (NOTE: There is no expiration
date in BETA 2 -- I've learned my lesson!)


***  Ummm...  this is BETA software?

Yes, it is.  I've tested it moderately on both PalmOS 2.0 and
PalmOS 3.0, and it seems quite stable.  But everyone has different
software loaded and different data; I'm hoping to receive feedback
from BETA testers to locate other code defects that I might have
missed.

What this means is that, if you don't trust BETA software, wait
until the final version.  But I think it's pretty solid now, so you
might try it out anyway.

HOWEVER, SINCE THIS IS BETA SOFTWARE, PLEASE BACKUP YOUR PALM DEVICE
BEFORE USING MASS TRANSIT!


***  Hey!  I have a P1000/5000 and it won't work for me!

Sorry...  I did not have enough time to put in the PalmOS 1.0 calls
and version logic.  Don't worry, though, I will put PalmOS 1.0
support into the product.


***  Neat, but it would be cooler if it did this...
***  Looks nice, but it crashes as soon as I...
***  Uh, what's this button do?

Support, support, support.  For more information, to submit bug
reports, or to request enhancements, contact the author:

    Matthew D Moss
    moss@null.net
    http://www.io.com/~mmoss/



Version History
===============

1.0b2
    - Release 1998 June 30
    - Removed dynamic "database w/categories" detection; it didn't
      work very well.  Replaced with three built-in databases.
    - Revamped the interface a whole bunch.
    - Removed preferences; the old ones were not very useful and the
      new ones aren't ready yet.
    - Now include option for delete as well as move
    - Implemented localized security toggle
    - Tested on device running PalmOS 3.0 and emulator running
      PalmOS 2.0 and 3.0

1.0b1
    - Initial Version
    - Released 1998 May
