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         Readme File for Zip Source Shareware Web Application
                              Version 1.0
                      	     December 1998
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                 (C) Source Software Corporation, 1998

This document provides information on the setup and use of the Zip
Source shareware web application.

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CONTENTS
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1.  GENERAL NOTES
    1.1  Program overview
    1.2  Supported platforms
    1.3  Required files
    1.4  Program customization

2.  DATABASE SETUP
    2.1  About the database
    2.2  Importing Zip Source zip code data
    2.3  Importing comma delimited zip code data
    2.4  Manually entering dealer data
    2.5  Importing comma delimited dealer data
    2.6  Registering the ODBC data source
    2.7  Converting to Access 97
    2.8  Zip code data accuracy
    2.9  Test data



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Part 1: GENERAL NOTES
=====================

1.1  Program overview

     The Zip Source shareware web application is a working,
     customizable template for integrating dealer locator
     functionality into an existing web site.  It utilizes your
     existing zip code data to allow your customers to locate dealers
     near their homes.


1.2  Supported platforms

     The Zip Source shareware web application is written in Active
     Server Pages.  It will run under Microsoft's Internet Information
     Server and Microsoft's Personal Web Server.
     
     The application connects to the database via ODBC.  Although
     using the included Access database is recommended, the
     application should work well with any ODBC compliant database if
     the same database schema is used.


1.3  Required files

     The Zip Source shareware web application requires the following
     files:
     
     1  default.htm - This is the beginning of the application.  This
        page is where your users will enter their zip code and the
        maximum distance they want to travel.
     2  Global.asa - This file is used by ASP to initialize the
        application's global settings.
     3  result.asp - This file does the database lookups and
        calculations, and displays the results to the user.
     4  source.mdb - This file is an Access 95 database file that
        contains your zip code and dealer information.


1.4  Program customizations

     Because this program is written in HTML and ASP, it is fully
     user customizable using your preferred editor.  This enables you
     to give the Zip Source Shareware Web Application the same look
     and feel as the rest of your existing web page.  Any changes to
     the application's functional aspects, being any changes that are
     more than strictly cosmetic, can not be supported.  One aspect of
     the program that you are welcome to change, however, is the radii
     that can be selected.  The default ranges are;  all dealers, the
     closest dealer, and all dealers within 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100
     miles.  The HTML code inside the "cboDistance" combobox looks
     like this by default:

     <OPTION>Closest
     <OPTION>5 Miles
     <OPTION>10 Miles
     <OPTION>25 Miles
     <OPTION>50 Miles
     <OPTION>100 Miles
     <OPTION>All
     
     You are welcome to add any distances you like to this list
     provided the entry is a valid number, followed by a space, and
     the word "Miles".  Only entries that follow these rules will be
     understood by the system.


======================
Part 2: DATABASE SETUP
======================

2.1  About the database

     The included database is in Access 95 format.  It comes with
     several utilities built-in to import data in certain formats,
     edit dealer data, and register the database as an ODBC data
     source.
     
     When you open the source.mdb file in Access, you are presented
     with the database's splash screen.  All of the functions below
     are performed via the form's menu.  If your data is not in one of
     the supported formats, you can close the splash screen by
     clicking the close button in the upper right-hand corner, and use
     Access to import your data into the database.
     
     Comma delimited text files have each record on a separate line,
     with fields separated by commas and text data fields surrounded
     by quotation marks (").  Zip code fields are considered text.


2.2  Importing Zip Source zip code data

     To import a Zip Source data file, select "Import Zip Source Data
     File" from the "Zip Codes" menu.  You will be presented with a
     file selection dialog.  Once you select the proper file, the
     database will begin importing the zip code data from the file.
     This may take some time depending on the size of the file and the
     speed of your computer, so be patient.  Once the file has been
     successfully imported, you will be presented with a message box
     to inform you.


2.3  Importing comma delimited zip code data

     To import a comma delimited zip code data file, select "Import
     Delimited File" from the "Zip Codes" menu.  You will be presented
     with a file selection dialog.  Once you select the proper file,
     the database will begin importing the zip code data from the
     file.  This may take some time depending on the size of the file
     and the speed of your computer, so be patient.  Once the file has
     been successfully imported, you will be presented with a message
     box to inform you.
     
     The data in the zip code data file must be formatted as follows:
     
     "60601",1323,4572


2.4  Manually entering dealer data

     To manually enter dealer data, select "Edit" from the "Dealers"
     menu.  The Dealers table will open, and you will be able to add,
     edit, and delete individual records.  To close the Dealers table,
     click the close button in the upper right-hand corner of the
     table.


2.5  Importing comma delimited dealer data

     To import a comma delimited dealer data file, select "Import
     Delimited File" from the "Dealers" menu.  You will be presented
     with a file selection dialog.  Once you select the proper file,
     the database will begin importing the dealer data from the file.
     This may take some time depending on the size of the file and the
     speed of your computer, so be patient.  Once the file has been
     successfully imported, you will be presented with a message box
     to inform you.
     
     The data in the dealer data file must be formatted as follows
     (without the line break):
     
     "US Post Office","1859 S Ashland Ave",,"Chicago","IL","60608",
     "(312) 733-1156","http://www.usps.gov/"


2.6  Registering the ODBC data source

     The source.mdb database must be registered as an ODBC data
     source.  You can do this manually through the control panel if
     you prefer, but it can be accomplished much more easily through
     the database interface.  To register the ODBC data source, select
     "Register Data Source" from the "ODBC" menu.  You will be
     presented with a dialog prompting you for the data source name.
     The default is "Zip Data".  If you choose a different data source
     name, you must modify the Application("DSN") setting in the
     Application_OnStart event of the Global.asa file.  Once the data
     source is registered, you will be presented with a message box to
     inform you.


2.7  Converting to Access 97

     The source.mdb database was created in Access 95.  This ensures
     that it will work in both Access 95 and Access 97 without
     conversion.  Although there is no reason to convert the database
     to Access 97 format, you may do so if you want to take advantage
     of any of Access 97's newer functionality.


2.8  Zip code data accuracy

     The key to the Zip Source Shareware Web Application working
     properly is to have the most accurate zip code and location data
     as possible.  Incomplete zip code data can have two negative
     results.  First, if a dealer record has a zip code that cannot be
     found in the Zips table, that dealer will never be returned from
     a query.  Also, if an internet user enters a zip code that is not
     in the database, he or she will see an error stating that "The
     zip code you entered was not in our database.", and will be
     prompted to try a different zip code.  Also, if the location
     coordinates for the zip codes are inaccurate, then the user will
     be given inaccurate distances to the dealer locations.  For these
     reasons it is in your best interests to ensure that you use the
     most up to date and complete zip code data possible.


2.9  Test data

     The application is packaged with two comma delimited files
     containing test data.  The file testdeal.csv contains dealer data
     of several Chicago area post office locations.  The file
     testzips.csv contains zip code data for the Chicago area zip
     codes 60601 through 60620.  They can be loaded into the database
     using the comma delimited import routines outlined above.