If this print button doesn't work, try 'File', 'Print' from your Browser's menu Bar. You can also use 'Save As' to Save this page to your PC.

• If you intend to UPGRADE an EARLIER VERSION of Showman that is already installed on your machine go to the 'Registered Users - Upgrades- page where you will find full instructions.
• If this is your FIRST installation of Showman, please read this document BEFORE proceeding with the installation
• Showman 2.8 is designed for use on Machines running Windows 2000, Windows Xp, Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• If your machine is running Windows 95, 98 oe Windows Me, please click on the button named 'New Users Win 95, 98 and Me' on the Showman Main page.

Installation Showman 2.8 and General Information

The ‘ShowMan 2.8’ module is called ‘ShowManSetup.Exe’. Download this file (approx 18.5 megabytes) to a NEW EMPTY folder on your hard disk (eg; C:\Temp).

Next, RUN the downloaded 'ShowManSetup.Exe' file to Install ShowMan. When ShowMan 2.6 is installed, it will offer, by default, to install to a folder called ‘C:\Program Files\Showman 2’. You can change this location if you wish, but t here is no real point.

During installation, you will be asked which 'Shortcuts' to Showman you wish to be installed. I suggest that you select 'Desktop' as one of the places - but it's up to you.

Other important Notes concerning a FULL Installation

• During the installation of Showman, you may get a message that one or more items (typically DLL or OCX files) cannot be installed. The usual reason for this is that the file in question already exists on your machine and is being used by Windows so it cannot be replaced. You are offered the choice of 'Retry' or 'Cancel'. 'Retry' seldom works - you should choose 'Cancel'. This WILL NOT abort the installation, but just POSTPONE the installation of THAT FILE until you RESTART Windows, which you will be asked to do when the installation ends - you should restart at that time to ensure correct updating of the files.
• If problems arise during installation, due to the automatic action of Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programmes it may be a good idea to temporarily disable thes programmes - some of these programmes, in trying to protect your PC, will prevent installers from working properly. This DOES NOT mean that there are viruses or spyware in Showman.
• To temporarily disable such programmes, the best way is to RIGHT CLICK on their icon in the 'Tray' area (ie where the time is displayed) of the TaskBar and select Suspend, Exit, Unload or similar option.
• When you NEXT restart your PC these programmes will restart again.
• To protect your PC from external threats while any such programmes are temporarily disabled, you could DISCONNECT your PC from the Internet by unplugging the Phone/Cable connection.
• Some of these protection programmes will ask you if certain actions should be permitted - if you have disconnected from the Internet, any such questions posed during the installation of Showman can be accepted.
• Registering the Program - If you wish to register this programme in order to be able to use it in your organisation, please read the 'Register' file. You can access it from the 'Help' menu when Showman is running and the Programme Integrator’ screen is displayed. It explains how to Register the program so as to release its' full potential, and how much it costs to register.

UNINSTALLING SHOWMAN

Use 'My Computer', 'Control Panel', 'Add/Remove Programs'. Select ShowMan 2.8 from the list, and then click on 'Add/Remove', click on ShowMan and choose 'Uninstall'.

• N.B. When programmes are uninstalled, NOT EVERYTHING is removed. Any Files and/or Folders (normally containing DATA and CONFIGURATION Information) created by the USER AFTER the original installation was finished will normally be left.
• It is left to the USER to Manually remove any such items.

Download Links

Download ShowMan 2.8 (app 18.5 megabytes)

Download ShowMan 2.8 FULL Manual in PDF format (app 4 megabytes as a ZIP file)

Download ShowMan 2.8 Help File (app. 12.3 megabytes)

More Information

The Help File and Full Manual (downloadable from the links above will provide you with more information about the Files and Folders installed by Showman, the Manuals available, the Help System and all other aspects of the programme, including information about Backing Up and Restoring Showman files.

Before experimenting you should ‘Back Up’ the Data and Configuration files. You will then be able to restore these files at any time while you test and experiment.

N.B. If you want to replace the 'Demo’ sample files and you didn’t back them up before experimenting – you can Uninstall and then Reinstall ‘ShowMan’.

If you have a Registered copy of the suite, keep a BACKUP copy of the file 'REGISTER.INF'. By restoring this file to the installation folder your registration status is restored.

• Press the F1 key for Help at any time that ShowMan is running.

FULL and BRIEF MANUALS ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM

Showman installs a FULL manual in 'pdf' format - this can be opened from the ShowMan 'Integrator' screen - but you will need to have a FREE '.pdf' reader programme like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit Reader installed on your machine.

Showman currently contains 14 ‘Brief Manuals’ in total, excluding the one on Registering the programme, describing various aspects of the programme.

When you have installed Showman, I STRONGLY RECCOMMEND that you 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. The 'Setting Up ...' manual is especially important.

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

After Showman has been installed, the three manuals above and also the FULL manual are accessable from the ‘ShowMan’ folder on the WINDOWS START menu.

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

a) Using Windows Explorer or Total 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 to install 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. Each of 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.)