CHANNEL 88(tm)   (c) Dr Jeff Software Co. 2009-11
USER'S GUIDE
=============
Does anyone really know what channel number that is on?  25 or 624?  Does that come
in Hi-def (HD), and if so, what channel number is that?  Do I get that channel (have 
I subscribed to it)?  Which "ESPN" or "HBO" channel is that?  Which station is that 
show on?  Who can remember all that, especially for many 100s of channels and shows.

BASIC DESCRIPTION
CHANNEL 88(tm) is a TV guide companion program that finds channel numbers for both the 
standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) versions of any "channel" or "show".  
Additionally, it finds all related channels.  For example, for "ESPN" it finds ESPN, 
ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Classic, and even ABC.  Finally, it reminds the user which 
channels are subscribed to (with a checkmark).
   Finding both SD and HD channel numbers is very useful since many homes have TVs with 
and without HI-def, and programs can come with and without HI-def as well.  And even 
when switching TVs to watch the same show, the channel numbers need to change if only 
one of the TVs has HD.
   (Note:  Programming is not provided by Channel 88; only the channel numbers are 
found -- which is essential to using a TV program guide.)
   Dr Jeff will provide one distinct channel data file for each of these major TV 
service providers:  Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, DirectTV, Dish, Verizon (FiOS), 
AT&T (U-verse).  Check our website for listings of these files, and download them at will 
(once the product is purchased).  Selection of which file to use is done by the user via 
file naming and/or loading (see below).

BASIC OPERATION
1. The main window ("form") for CHANNEL 88 should open with a momentary blue title block
-- just "click to start".  The single "form"" window can be used conventionally:
minimize, restore, close, resize, reposition, etc.
2. CHANNEL 88 will initially attempt to load all 3 data files (see below).  If it cannot 
find one of the data files, then the program will initially display "File not found" and/or 
"Data Not Loaded" error messages.  The files must be valid and located properly for Channel 88 
to function completely.  (Users must place the data files in the same folder as the program.)
3. There is no "data entry" required, except for check marks for channels subscribed to.  
All channel names and numbers, and shows, are provided via an external data file that 
comes with the product (see "data files" below).
4. To locate a station, the user simply clicks a selection in each of 2 or 3 channel 
data boxes:  general category (e.g., "sports"), followed by a specific channel name, 
which may be a "genus" or generic name (e.g., "ESPN" or "FSN"), followed by a specific 
channel variant (e.g., ESPN2" or "FSN/PT").
5. To locate a show, use the search text box, and enter the first two letters of any 
major word in the show title.  Then select the show from the found list box.
6. The user may use their "Favorites" and/or enter a "Search" as quicker alternatives 
to find channel numbers. Then the channel number display area lists the SD channel number 
and the HD channel number (if there is one) for the selection.
7. "Intellibuttons"(tm) - Dr Jeff uses intelligent, dynamic control buttons:  buttons 
appear and disappear, are enabled and disabled, and change color dynamically based on
current focus and user context.

DETAILS
1. Channels
In CHANNEL 88™, TV programs are broadcast/delivered on "channels" that have both 
"names" and "numbers".  For example, "ESPN" is a "generic" (or base) channel name, 
which has multiple "variants" such as "ESPN2", "ESPNU", "ESPN" (also a variant), etc.  
Each variant can have up to 2 channel numbers (for SD and HD).  The channel NAMES are 
searched, and the channel NUMBERS are delivered (in a special box).
   The set of channel NAMES is fixed, and may not be changed.

2. Channel Numbers
CHANNEL 88™ provides two sets of channel numbers, one for SD and one for HD.  Only a
limited set of channels have HD versions, while a very few channels come only in HD.
Channels not available in SD or HD are indicated by a "--" for the number.
   CHANNEL 88™ provides an initial default set of channel numbers for all channels
included in a database for each major provider.  The data is based on each provider's 
channel listings (which change over time).  Note that channel numbers vary by provider 
and also by region/locality (especially for local channels).
   Thus, in CHANNEL 88™, channel NUMBERS may be edited and saved by the user 
(implemented as "patches" stored in a separate user file, until deleted via a 
provided "Restore All" button).

3. Shows
CHANNEL 88™ includes a database of more than 400 of the current major shows, in the 
following categories:
  a. Prime time (all regular shows in 8-11pm slot)
  b. Talk shows (morn, aft, eve, late)
  c. Entertainment (e.g., Entertainment Tonight, Access)
  d. Comedy
  e. Game shows
  f. Sports
  g. Kids/cartoon shows
  h. Soaps
  i. Reality/talent
  j. Info shows (e.g, those found on Discovery, Nat Geo, etc.)
  k. Sci fi

INcluded in the "Shows" database:  regularly scheduled series or shows on major stations
EXcluded in the "Shows" database:  one-time shows, mini-series, shows on minor stations 
or in syndication (which can show up on any, or  multiple, stations) 

4. Search
CHANNEL 88™ includes a quick search entry box, as a means to more quickly find a 
channel name -- avoiding the usual initial category lookup -- or a TV show.  This is 
handy when the channel category is not so obvious and would itself have to be searched 
for.  Radio buttons are used for choosing to search for "channels" or "shows".  (Color 
of search box changes to match.)  Search "shows" does multi-word searches (not needed 
for "channels") -- searches all major/ capitalized words in show name.  A "Last" button 
is also provided to readily retrieve the last quick search.

5. Favorites
CHANNEL 88™ includes a separate list box for user-selected "favorite" channels --
thereby providing quick selection of often used channels.  This list is saved in the
accompanying user data file.

6. Subscription Channel Set
CHANNEL 88™ identifies which channels are subscribed to via simple check marks
displayed in the channel name box.  (We assume ALL variants of a base channel are
subscribed together, so only the base channels are check marked.)  The user is 
responsible for checkmarking channels, and then saving (in the user data file).  
Once saved, it will be loaded upon each program activation.  This info can be user 
updated later, at any time, when subscriptions change.

7. Local Channels
Both the names and numbers of local channels vary by locale.  A representative
sample of local channels is provided for each provider as a default.  While the names 
may not be changed, the channel numbers may (else the program would become too unwieldy).
Three "blank" local channel names are also provided (named, "XKW1", etc.) to allow adding 
up to 3 extra channel number pairs.

8. Changing/Editing Channel Numbers
When TV providers change channel numbers, or a channel number error is discovered, 
users can edit the channel numbers displayed anytime, via the "Change" button (when
enabled).  These changes become "patches" to the channel number database during the 
current session; they are not permanent until saved via the "SAVE" button.

9. Restoring Channel Numbers
If #8 above is used to patch the channel number database, the original channel number
set may be restored in its entirety via the "Restore" button.  When the "Restore" 
button is clicked, the "patches" database is emptied -- for the current session only; 
the "SAVE" button must be used to save the change.  The original database is reloaded 
any time the "File/Open/Main" menu command is invoked, or when the program itself is 
re-started.

10. Changing TV Service Providers
CHANNEL 88™ comes with a set of channel data files (containing channel names and their pair
of numbers) -- one for each TV Service Provider (TVSP) supported at the time.  At initial 
release, CHANNEL 88™ comes with two such files:
   1. Verizon FiOS
   2. Direct TV

Currently, "Verizon FiOS" is configured as the default TVSP file, simply by being named as
"chan88-Main.drj".  Users can change the default (the file loaded at startup) simply by
renaming any other Dr Jeff formatted TVSP data file (e.g., "chan88-DTV.drj") as the "Main"
data file ("chan88-Main.drj").
   TVSP data files may also be changed dynamically, i.e., during program sessions, via the
"File/Open/Main" menu command.  Users will be prompted with the default name at first, but
simply select the "other file" option (a Windows file explorer dialog box opens).
   Caveat:  "Favorites" entries are linked to whichever TVSP data file they were last saved 
under, and will display the previous channel entries -- thus may have some entries invalid 
for the current TVSP (see "Multiple Data Files" below).

PROGRAM FILE
All Dr Jeff products come with a single ".exe" file encompassing the program.  Such 
files are encapsulated in a ".zip" archive to get around mail server and system 
restrictions (and secondarily for compression).  The version number is contained in 
the file name itself (e.g., "Channel88_v1.0").  Users need only double-click the 
".exe" program file, or its shortcut, to launch the product.

DATA FILES
(**Note:  Only the FULL product supports data files as described below; the "DEMO"
version is limited as described in another section below.**)

CHANNEL 88(tm) makes use of 3 separate data files:
  1. Main (channel names & numbers)
  2. Shows (show names linked to channels)
  3. User (favorites, subscription states (check marks), and user patches)
 
These 3 files MUST be successfully extracted and saved into the same folder as the 
program file.  If the data files are all saved correctly, then the program will load 
silently (no error messages).  If you fail to extract and save any data file, then 
the program will initially display "File not found" and/or "Data Not Loaded" error 
messages.  Moreover, you may get spurious errors when attempting to reference the missing 
file data -- whenever you click on a selection.

MAIN Data File (named "chan88-Main.drj")
   The "Main" data file must indeed be named "chan88-Main.drj" upon starting the program, 
or else the program would have no channel data to work with.  However, the user may use the 
"File/Open/Main" menu to load any appropriate main data file for any provider -- 
including dynamic loading to switch provider databases.  Most of the time, however, the
user should merely rename the main data file for their particular provider as "chan88-Main.drj".
This is the file which is always initially loaded.
   The channel "categories" and "shows" will remain fixed across all providers.  However, 
the full channel lineup, and channel numbers, will change across the spectrum of provider
data files -- thus from one "Main" data file to another.

SHOWS Data File (named "chan88-Shows.drj")
   The "Shows" data file must indeed be named "chan88-Shows.drj" upon starting the program.
There is no alternative naming, and no other files to load.  All show data is included in 
this single file.  However, since shows are routinely added and terminated by TV programmers,
this file will be periodically updated (see below).

USER Data File (named "chan88-User.drj")
   The "User" data file contains 3 sections:  favorites, subscription states (check marks), 
and user patches.  This file does not actually have to be initially found, since it is 
supplied as empty anyway.  The program simply provides a null data set plus all checkmarks
marked if the file is not loaded.  However, any user supplied edits are lost until the file 
can be located.
   Moreover, all the user channel number edits, or "patches", can be deleted (thus restoring 
the original data) via the "Restore" button.  Note:  This deletion of all patches persists
for the current session only, unless/until the "SAVE" button is clicked.

Multiple Data Files
   CHANNEL 88 supports the use of multiple data files for both User and Main, via the 
"File/Open" and "File/Save As" commands.  Upon program startup, the initial files loaded 
will always be the ones named "chan88-Main.drj" and "chan88-User.drj".  However, any compatible 
data files may be subsequently loaded (one of the Main files provided, or any User file
that had been previously saved from within the program).  Thus, any number of sets of 
"Favorites" or other user data may be utilized; and TV provider databases may be dynamically
switched.
   However, swapping "Main" data files (per provider channel data) may result in some 
"Favorites" entries being invalid for the swapped in Main file.  However, they will be restored 
whenever the original data file is re-loaded.  Or, at the user's discretion, they may be 
temporarily, or permanently, edited onscreen.

Updates
   CHANNEL 88 uses a "Shows" data file that is continually updated with new shows.  The TV 
service provider data files are occasionally updated.  Additionally, TVSPs may choose to use 
the Dr Jeff website to provide their customers with convenient channel guide updates.  Users 
should periodically check our website (the Digital Living Room products page) for such updates.  
   Updated data files may be downloaded FREE from the Dr Jeff website at any time.  Program
updates (new versions) may be also be downloaded FREE by orignal purchasers (only).

Zip File
   All files are stored in the zip file on the Dr Jeff Software product purchase 
web page for user download when initially purchased. The user may return as often as wished 
to our Digital Living Room page to download updates or additional files.  (These files are 
not used by the "demo" version.  Ergo, it is of no use to download them for the demo -- and 
thus they are not included in the demo zip file -- see below.)

ERRORS
Dr Jeff attempts to isolate or "trap" all errors so that the program itself never hangs.
When so trapped, errors result in an alert style message box with an appropriate error message 
-- which can be closed, and the program can  continue.  In the hopefully seldom event of an 
untrapped error, a ".NET" originated error message appears, with a choice of continuing anyway 
or terminating the program.  (All errors of any type should be reported to Dr Jeff, along with 
all displayed support info, at <support@drjeffsoftware>.)

Error Types (listed in order of increasing severity):
1. "Demo Alert!" messages are not errors.  This is to warn you that you are using a "Demo" 
version, and the operation is not supported.
2. "File Alert!" messages are not errors per se.  This is to report that the file to be 
"Opened" is not valid or cannot be found.  (All files automatically loaded on startup must 
be located in the same folder as the program.)  Such errors allow the program to continue, 
but with limited results (lacking data).  Make sure both data files described above are named 
correctly and are located in the same folder as the program.  Try using the "Open" File 
command to manually load the files.
3. "Program Alert!" messages are indeed errors -- ones resulting from a program bug.  
4. "Unhandled exception" messages are severe errors --  ones not caught by Dr Jeff's 
judicious use of error trapping code.
5. Error message:  "missing .dll files"
Your PC does NOT have the "Microsoft.NET Framework" adequately installed.

INSTALLATION
Dr Jeff makes installation of all its products easy and reversible.  "Installation" merely
involves extracting all files from a single zip archive file into a single folder.  There is
no separate installation process as is common for most PC software -- and no "uninstall"
either.

Follow these steps:
1. Download the single Dr Jeff file (.zip), and click "save" on the zip dialog box (saving 
to the user PC, in a folder of choice).
2. Next simply double-click the ZIP file, and your ZIP program should open (if you have one).
5. Choose "extract ALL" (from your ZIP program's window) and save ALL files in the same folder.  
6. Double-click the ".exe" program file, or its shortcut, to launch the product.
(Note:  If you wish to open any ".drj" data file by itself as a plain text file, select your
PC's "Notepad" program to do this.)

============
DEMO VERSION
============
The CHANNEL 88(tm) "demo" version is sub-functional:
1. All channel NAMES and relationships will be accurate (same as Full product).
2. However, Channel NUMBERS will be merely made up values for "demo" purposes.
3. "Shows" will only load the first 100 entries (about 1/4 of the shows).
4. The "User" data file is not used at all (extra data may not be user loaded or saved).
5. This implies that no "check marks", favorites or patches are loaded or saved (but may
be modified during use).
6. The only "File" menu command enabled is the "File/Preview Favs"; the "Data" and "Help" 
commands are still enabled.
============
***WARNING:  DEFAULT DATA FILE NAMES SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED (else those files will not be found 
by the program when it loads, resulting in error messages).  If the file cannot be found, make 
sure it is located in the same folder as the program (that is the default path).

***.NET
The demo program is a ".NET" application, which requires the PC it runs on to have the 
"Microsoft.NET Framework" installed on the user Win/XP, Vista or Windows 7 PC (which most users 
already have, or should have.  Best to use a Vista or Windows 7 PC, since they come with .NET 
installed.
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TO CLOSE:  if online, click browser BACK button; if running program, close this window.
LAST EDIT:  8/3/11