  
  
-
What does DFA mean?
When I have been looking for an address database tool it was quite hard to identify
DFA as being such a tool.
Why didn't you choose another, more intuitive name for it?
In the very beginning of the existance of DFA, it was not much more than a tool for myself for managing
my own addresses. Therefore I did not worry much about a name for it and called it
Dirk Federlein's Address
database tool.
When I decided to release my program as shareware, I did not see a need for changing
this name. Even as I noticed that 'DFA' is not the ideal short name for an address utility, changing a name
of a program after it has been released usually is not a perfect solution.
-
Register DFA now? How about new versions and upgrades?
I'd like to register DFA now. However, as I read in the 'future' chapter of DFA, there will
be a completely rewritten version of it. I assume this version will cost an upgrade fee - right?
Wouldn't I save some money, if I wait until this version is done and register then?
As you may have read in the future chapter, completing the successor of DFA isn't a job that can be
completed within a few weeks. Until I will have finished it, I will have spend many hundred hours, if
not even more into it. Therefore, the DFA successor will be a major upgrade and I am sure it will
be worth the fee.
You could wait until this time has come, of course, but registering DFA now has several advantages:
-
You may use the fully registered version of DFA until the successor has been completed. This will be for more
than just a few weeks for sure. You will be able to use all (minor) updates that will be published until then
for free.
-
If you like the current version of DFA and use it, you should register. Remember that software that is
worth being used is worth being payed as well. When you register DFA, you will get the knowledge that
you are using it legally.
- If you support DFA now, you show me that you are interested in further development of DFA. Please notice
that investing many hundreds of hours into the successor of DFA makes only sense, if there is enough demand
for it.
- For all registered users of DFA there will exist the SASG upgrade offer, i.e. you will get the successor for
half of the registration fee.
You may still argue that it could be a bit unfair if you register short time before the DFA successor comes out.
Be sure that I will find a fair solution for such cases!
|
|
-
Appending an address database file
I appended an old DFA file to the current address database, but the appended addresses are not
displayed within the address listview!
Make sure that you activated the correct group flags. It could have happened that the appended
addresses do not have any group flags set. If this is the case, you will have to deactivate all group
check boxes in the DFA-Editor main window to see these addresses.
-
Accessing DFA via Arexx
If I access my addresses via Arexx, DFA does not seem to find all addresses - sometimes
it even finds no addresses at all!
Please notice that the AREXX commands access only the addresses that correspond to
the current group selection! To make sure that all addresses can be reached by Arexx,
you should either select all group flags in the DFA-Editor main window or use the
Arexx command "CHANGEGROUPS" accordingly.
-
Having problems using DFA's dialing feature
When I activate the dial feature of DFA, I notice some 'modem activity', but the number
is not dialed. Why?
After you made sure that all tips given in the documentation do not succeed, try the following: Insert one or
more '~' signs just behind the initialization sequence (usually 'ATZ'). Every '~' sign produces an additional
delay of about one second. There exist several modems that need a small delay just behind the initialization
procedure. If such a delay is not given and the dial string is sent to the modem just after the initialisation,
the modem cannot receive this command and therefore the dialing fails.
-
Handling of the group selection flags - part one
After I have entered a new address containing group flags that do not
match the current group selection, it is displayed in the address listview
nevertheless. This behaviour seems to be a bit inconsequent!?
Yes, indeed. However, for many people it would be even more confusing, if the new
address which they have just entered is not displayed at all.
-
Handling of the group selection flags - part two
Just after I had entered a new address, it was displayed in the DFA-Editor's
main window correctly. After I resized the window, the address has disappeared!
This problem should be seen together with the previous question. After a new
address is entered, it is shown in the listview, no matter if the group selection
fits or not. As soon as the window is resized, however, the listview entries are
reformatted and the group selection is noticed! This causes all entries to disappear
that do not match the current group selection.
-
Importing addresses from other address database tools
I would like to use DFA, but I am currently using another address database tool and have
many addresses that I manage with it. Do I have to re-enter all the addresses into DFA?
As DFA has an Arexx interface implemented, it should be quite easy to write an import script for
every address database tool. Actually, I have already written an import script for ADM. Adopting
this script for working together with other programs should be no problem. If there is enough
demand for it, I'll supply such scripts for download.
-
Saving Window positions
After I restarted the computer, DFA has "forgotten" all window positions I had adjusted
before - why?
To save the window positions, you have to save the DFA preferences. This can be done e.g.
by selecting the appropriate menu item of the DFA-Editor.
Please remember that the settings, and as a consequence of this, the window positions as well
can only be saved in the registered version of DFA.
-
Disable "Write Access" requester
As soon as I want to modify an address, a requester appears telling me that I need
"write access" before I may change my addresses.
Select the "Write Access" menu item of the DFA-Editor to get write access to you address data.
If you do not need the network mode, just switch it off in the Preferences and you will not see
such a requester in the future.
If you have any questions about DFA, feel free to ask by email.
|
|
What does DFA mean?
