This section is still under constuction. Come back later for How To tips.

HandyShopper User's Guide: How To...

Sometimes the basics of how to use HandyShopper, and even the in-depth look at all the features and functions is not enough for a user to really get to know the program. This page contains several examples of how to do common things in HandyShopper with step-by-step instructions and illustrations so that they don't get lost. Suggestions for new How To sections are welcome via the Contact page.

How to use the Unit Price column
How to assign a list of items to a store
How to use HandyShopper's Import/Export feature
How to print HandyShopper lists
How to make a copy of a list

How to use the Unit Price column

Figure

Figure

	Figure Figure

How to assign a list of items to a store

Figure

Figure

	Figure Figure

How to use HandyShopper's Import/Export feature

Importing from MemoPad:

Import format details: Items can begin with '-' or the bullet character (149 decimal, 0x95 hex, 225 octal). If the second line begins this way but the first line does not, the first line is assumed to be a title, and is skipped. The fields are recognized in the following order. Required fields are marked with * and other fields may be omitted: Quantity -- '@4.5' sets the quantity to 4.5. Unit -- 'u:xyz' sets the units to 'xyx'. Price -- '45.69' sets the price to 45.69. Prices may be negative, and may optionally begin with the currency symbol, but may not end with the currency symbol. Aisle -- 'a:123' sets the aisle to 123, or 'a:G' sets the aisle to G. Description * -- for items beginning with '-' or the bullet character the description can be more than one line. Note -- the '|' character separates the description and the note text. Imported items are placed in the current view category and store (or Unfiled if the category/store is All). If the Need view is selected, imported items are marked as needed. Imported items use the default auto-delete and taxable settings. You can import a list from a MemoPad memo. The list is imported into the current category and current store.

Tap the Menu area next to the graffiti area.

Select "Options", then "Import from MemoPad..."

Select the memo from which to import the list.

Tap the "Import" button.

When importing, the new items are placed in the current category (or Unfiled if "All" is the current category). If you are in the "Need" view, then the new items are also marked as needed items. The items are also associated with the currently selected store (if "All Stores" is selected, then the new items are not associated with any stores).

Memo Format for Importing

HandyShopper currently support two different basic formats for the list that can be imported.

Format 1: Bullet Marks

This is the format that HandyShopper uses when it exports a list to the MemoPad.

Each item begins with a bullet mark, which is either a dash ('-') or the bullet character (the graffiti stroke is backslash, dot), followed by a space.

Next comes the Quantity, which is a number followed by '@'. (This field is optional; if you omit it, the quantity is set to 0).

Next is the Price, which may or may not begin with a '$'. (This field is optional; if you omit it, the price is set to $0).

Next is the Aisle, which must be 'a:' followed by a number (for instance, 'a:3' means aisle 3). (This field is optional; if you omit it, the aisle is set to 1).

Anything following the above fields is put into the Name field. Line breaks are considered to be part of the Name field, unless they are immediately followed by a bullet character (or dash).

Example:
My shopping list:
- cereal
- 2@ 1.49 Pringles
- 5.99 batteries
- a:27 sci-fi books
- 4@ .99 2-Liter bottles of pop
- 3@ a:4 cookies for party
party is at Greg's house
(this is 3rd line of party item)
- 14.99 box of logs for fire

Format 2: No Bullet Marks

If you do not use bullet marks, then line breaks are used to determine when to start a new item. Other than that, this format is the same as Format 1.

Example:
newspaper
3@ towels
$5 cat food
1@ $5.99 AAA batteries
2@ $1.89 a:3 soup

Known Limitations

If you export a list, make some changes, and import it again, the imported items are ADDED to your list. This means that you will now have duplicate copies of each item that you exported and then imported. You can use the "Purge for Import..." command to delete all the items from the current view, and then import the list. Note, the "current view" is filtered to show only All, Needed, or Coupon items from the current store and current category. You can put bullet characters in the description of an item. But if you export the list, and then import it again, the bullet characters may be interpreted as new items instead of as part of the description. To avoid this, make sure that the bullet character does not immediately follow a line break. Not all fields can be exported. Only the Quantity, Price, Aisle, and Description can be exported. There is currently no way to export which stores an item is associated with.

Figure

Figure

Importing from MemoPad: Import format details: Items can begin with '-' or the bullet character (149 decimal, 0x95 hex, 225 octal). If the second line begins this way but the first line does not, the first line is assumed to be a title, and is skipped. The fields are recognized in the following order. Required fields are marked with * and other fields may be omitted: Quantity -- '@4.5' sets the quantity to 4.5. Unit -- 'u:xyz' sets the units to 'xyx'. Price -- '45.69' sets the price to 45.69. Prices may be negative, and may optionally begin with the currency symbol, but may not end with the currency symbol. Aisle -- 'a:123' sets the aisle to 123, or 'a:G' sets the aisle to G. Description * -- for items beginning with '-' or the bullet character the description can be more than one line. Note -- the '\|' character separates the description and the note text. Imported items are placed in the current view category and store (or Unfiled if the category/store is All). If the Need view is selected, imported items are marked as needed. Imported items use the default auto-delete and taxable settings. You can import a list from a MemoPad memo. The list is imported into the current category and current store. Tap the Menu area next to the graffiti area. Select "Options", then "Import from MemoPad..." Select the memo from which to import the list. Tap the "Import" button. When importing, the new items are placed in the current category (or Unfiled if "All" is the current category). If you are in the "Need" view, then the new items are also marked as needed items. The items are also associated with the currently selected store (if "All Stores" is selected, then the new items are not associated with any stores). Memo Format for Importing HandyShopper currently support two different basic formats for the list that can be imported. Format 1: Bullet Marks This is the format that HandyShopper uses when it exports a list to the MemoPad. Each item begins with a bullet mark, which is either a dash ('-') or the bullet character (the graffiti stroke is backslash, dot), followed by a space. Next comes the Quantity, which is a number followed by '@'. (This field is optional; if you omit it, the quantity is set to 0). Next is the Price, which may or may not begin with a '$'. (This field is optional; if you omit it, the price is set to $0). Next is the Aisle, which must be 'a:' followed by a number (for instance, 'a:3' means aisle 3). (This field is optional; if you omit it, the aisle is set to 1). Anything following the above fields is put into the Name field. Line breaks are considered to be part of the Name field, unless they are immediately followed by a bullet character (or dash). Example: My shopping list: - cereal - 2@ 1.49 Pringles - 5.99 batteries - a:27 sci-fi books - 4@ .99 2-Liter bottles of pop - 3@ a:4 cookies for party party is at Greg's house (this is 3rd line of party item) - 14.99 box of logs for fire Format 2: No Bullet Marks If you do not use bullet marks, then line breaks are used to determine when to start a new item. Other than that, this format is the same as Format 1. Example: newspaper 3@ towels $5 cat food 1@ $5.99 AAA batteries 2@ $1.89 a:3 soup Known Limitations If you export a list, make some changes, and import it again, the imported items are ADDED to your list. This means that you will now have duplicate copies of each item that you exported and then imported. You can use the "Purge for Import..." command to delete all the items from the current view, and then import the list. Note, the "current view" is filtered to show only All, Needed, or Coupon items from the current store and current category. You can put bullet characters in the description of an item. But if you export the list, and then import it again, the bullet characters may be interpreted as new items instead of as part of the description. To avoid this, make sure that the bullet character does not immediately follow a line break. Not all fields can be exported. Only the Quantity, Price, Aisle, and Description can be exported. There is currently no way to export which stores an item is associated with.	Figure Figure

Figure

Figure