Getting started

Software-Promoter interface basics

Software-Promoter switching panel looks like the Microsoft Outlook panel and contains icons for all windows. All windows positions and grids settings save in database for later reusing. Centralized log messages panel and progress indicator are places at the bottom of all pages.

Grids

All data grids in Software-Promoter can be customized with "Customize grid..." command in pop-up menu. Most data grids support a quick search feature.

Type a search string when you navigate within the grid. A typed string will display and the grid will be filtered with your search mask. Press ESC to clear the filter and to show all lines again.
Most data grids support multiple line selection. There are shortcuts that active when you navigate:

Keys	Actions
"Space"	Invert selection of current item
"*"	Invert selection of all grid items
"+"	Select all grid items
"-"	Deselect all grid items

All entities (records) dialogs in Software-Promoter have same design. Unlike Windows interface guidelines, dialog windows in Software-Promoter are resizable and you can tune its size and positions, as you want. Input fields are placed in groups and groups are placed in special grid. All fields are required or non-required. Required fields cannot be blank. These fields are marked using bold font.

Auto-forms

Software-Promoter may handle many auto-forms at once. All opened auto-forms are placed in "Auto-Forms" tab. On the bottom you can see buttons with green (or red) balls that associates with each opened auto-form. Green ball indicates that web form is loaded and initialized loaded, red ball indicates that web form is in progress of loading.

Multiple instances handling

Software-Promoter does not allow running multiple instances. However, you may have multiple Software-Promoter databases in separated directories. In case of separated Software-Promoter databases it can run multiply instances at one time. Software-Promoter main window caption indicates what database file is used.

See also:

Before you begin

Before you begin

There you are installed Software-Promoter and you want to begin.

What you need to begin work with Software-Promoter? There are some chapters that describe this process step-by-step:

• Configure global preferences 
• Create identities. At least, you need to create one identity.
• Load latest sites collection using Import/Export Wizard.
• Import your PAD files or enter product data and version data directly.
• Fill out English description for each version. Also, you can fill out national descriptions.
• Generate PAD file for product version.
• Make Your First Submission

Configure global preferences

You need to review and fill out fields in the dialog window "Global preferences" to handle all operations correctly in future. If you complete this step, you can start use Software-Promoter. Another fields tune Software-Promoter behavior.

Create identities

Your personal information is stored in the identities. Identity fields are related to your personal info and your company info. It will uses to generate PAD files and for many other purposes. At least, you need one identity.

Each version links to the own identity. Many versions can share one identity. At first start Software-Promoter creates identity with a name "Default identity". If you use the old database created in Software-Promoter, all versions of all programs will be linked to this identity.

POP3 Accounts

Since version 3.30, Software-Promoter supports POP3 mail checking. You can define as many POP3 accounts as possible. Each POP3 record has ServerName, Login and Password properties. These accounts you'll use in the "New Orders" tab later.

Import/Export Wizard

Main purpose of this wizard is to backup and restore any parts of database. Import/Export functionality implemented for all record types (sites, products, versions, descriptions, submissions, registration orders, and message templates). In addition, this feature is very useful for exchange data between Software-Promoter instances.

Import/Export Wizard is the good way to share job between promotion team. Merging multiple Software-Promoter databases into common storage for centralization purposes is an easy and quick process.

Another applicability of this wizard is to keep privacy of customer's data when you work together with team members. Software-Promoter considers these fields as private: Login, Password, LoginCreated and Processed. Software-Promoter preserves Import/Export Wizard from saving these fields into transportable format and tries to preserve field values when you restore external sites collection.

Default file extension for external database parts is ".dtfs". However, this is an XML file in fact.

Especially for sites import Import/Export Wizard includes option for erase untouched sites after successfully sites collection updated. This feature enables full synchronization between master and slave sites collections including deleted sites.

Your first submission

To submit your software information to any software site:

• Open "Products" window using left switching panel;
• Change right panel page to "Submissions" and click the "Append" button on the right toolbar to append a new submission item;
• Software-Promoter will display the sites list where you will select any site or set of sites. If you already have submission of this version to a site named "www.site.com", then site "www.site.com" will not be display in the list. If site "www.site.com" is in a Paused state, it will not display too;
• Select mode of submission: "Auto-form" or "Message".

Auto-form mode

In this mode Software-Promoter displays only sites where options "Submission via Email" and "Paused" are unchecked. Software-Promoter opens separated "Auto-form" windows for all selected sites. Select appropriate auto-form from the drop-down list in left top corner. Usually, sites have auto-forms with label "Submit product" or so. Software-Promoter will load submission form from the site, fill in the required values and display the completed form, then click the "Submit" button or edit the values directly. If some fields were not filled out, fill in these fields by dropping macros from the left list to web form. When you drop macros into a field, the macro parses and the associated value will assign to the text field. After successful submission, close auto-form window clicking "Set as requested and close" from the "Actions" button menu.
After that the submission item will display in the submissions grid. Any time later you can open the properties and edit this information. To check the submission, press Ctrl+A or click the "Auto-forms" button when the cursor is on the submission item.

Message mode

Software-Promoter is shipped with some registration letters templates for your quick start. Modify it as you need and continue.

If you select the selected site supports only Email submissions, Software-Promoter will ask you for message template. When you select message template, Software-Promoter will generate as many messages as many sites you select. All messages will store in Software-Promoter outbox. You can hold messages and prevent holding messages to send. If message sent successfully, submission item will change status to "Posted". Usually, once the submission is complete, you will periodically check this status. When you found submitted product at specified site, change the submission status to "OK". Track the submission status using the auto-form called "Search product" or using Automated Google search. If site do not accepts your submission, then change status to "Time out". You may decide to re-submit product to site later or to mark the submission status as "Canceled". If site supports user activity statistics, check this periodically and save to submission properties for statistical analysis.

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