Contents
Help Index

Choose from the following list of help topics available for allCLEAR for Windows:

Introduction... please, read first

Overview and Basic Concepts...

allCLEAR Scripts...

Creating Your First Diagram...

How to...

Commands...

Warnings and Errors...

Common Questions and Answers...


Commands

Choose from the following list of help topics on allCLEAR commands:

Menu Commands...

Windows and Dialog Boxes...

Buttons...

Editor Macros...

Mouse Commands...

Keyboard Commands...

Script Commands...


How to
allCLEAR Procedures

Choose from the following list for more help on how to:

Create a New Chart...

Write the Script...

Open an Existing Chart...

Copy and Existing Chart...

Edit the Script File...

Change Global Chart Properties...

Change Properties of One or Several Objects...

Add Free Elements to the Chart...

Save the Chart...

Print the Chart...

Print the Script...

Manage Script Files...

Manage Style Sheets...

View the Chart...

Export the Chart...

Work with Project Files...

Launch Diagrams and Applications...

Change Preferences...

Manage allCLEAR Windows...

Use Your Own Word Processor...

How to Embed allCLEAR Diagram in Another Application...


Questions & Answers
Questions and Answers

Choose from the following list of the most frequently asked "How to" questions:

How to Make Diagram Smaller...

How to Make Diagram Fit on One Page...

How to Export Diagram to Word Processor or Desk Top Publishing System...

How to Make Text Fit in Boxes...

How to Have Several Process Entry Points...

Choose from the following list of the most frequently asked "What  If..." questions and most frequently encountered problems with:

Importing allCLEAR Metafile into a Windows Word Processor or Graphics System...


Overview and Basic Concepts

Choose from the following list of help topics:

What Does allCLEAR Do...

How Does allCLEAR Work...

Who Can Use allCLEAR...

Requirements...

allCLEAR Diagrams...

Script Files...

Elements of a Diagram...

Style Sheet...


What Does allCLEAR Do?

It is a well known fact that people understand pictures better than words.  That is why at the most critical points of a presentation, we usually rely on pictures.  However, we can all write fairly well but few of us know how to draw or want to spend time trying.  For those people, who believe in the benefits of visual representation, but have neither time nor money for dealing with graphics artists, we introduce allCLEAR.

allCLEAR allows you to illustrate policies, processes, procedures and collections of ideas with diagrams.  Without you having to draw a single line.  Because allCLEAR produces and updates the diagrams right from your text, we call it the "automatic flow charter".  With allCLEAR, you can create several broad types of diagrams, including flow charts, hierarchical charts, organization charts, fishbone diagrams, data flow diagrams, decisions trees and others.


How Does allCLEAR Work?

allCLEAR was created to make flow charting a simple process.  Unlike other flow charting products, which require visualizing the diagram and drawing it, allCLEAR takes your written instructions and automatically creates the flow chart.

To create a diagram with allCLEAR:

1.  Using your favorite word processor (or allCLEAR editor), type in the information.  At the end of each entry, use one of the  punctuation marks to indicate a specific chart function.  For example, to create a single step in your process, simply end your entry with a period ( . ).  A question mark ( ? ) represents a two-way or a Yes/No decision.  A colon  ( : ) represents a multiple choice decision.  As you enter these easy to  remember cues, allCLEAR prompts you for the next step.

This process of writing an allCLEAR script file is beneficial in two ways - it helps you organize your ideas and assures that there is no ambiguity in interpreting them.  Thus, your diagrams always flow logically.

2.  Once you have entered your information complete with the punctuation marks, allCLEAR reads the document, analyzes it and automatically produces the diagram, all within a matter of seconds.  You can then browse the diagram on the screen in many different views, zoom in on details or zoom out to review the complete drawing and print the diagram to printer or file.

3.  Although allCLEAR is automatic, it is also versatile enough to give you all the tools to customize your diagrams.  Want to rotate the diagram or change its overall appearance?  A quick walk through the Global Style options and the whole diagram is re-mapped with the new layout.

Want to change the size, color or style of an individual box or line?  Just select it and the local style sheet gives you a variety of property choices.  Want to add free standing text or a graphic image?  Simply type in your information or paste a graphic image (from the clipboard) anywhere on the flow chart.  allCLEAR provides all the tools you need to modify any element of your diagram.

4.  Let's suppose that you need to update your policy or modify a process.  This happens to all of us quite often, so making changes should NOT be a cumbersome task.  With allCLEAR, changes are easy - just edit your document by typing in the new information or modify the old one.  allCLEAR takes it from there and automatically updates your flow chart.  Modifications and updates are available within seconds.

Thus, in a matter of minutes, allCLEAR helps you convert any information into professional quality flow charts.  Flow charting is no longer a drag with allCLEAR.  You do what you do best - explain the flow in your natural language.  We do what we do best - plan the diagram, drop the boxes, drag the lines and fit the text in the boxes.  Impress your clients with allCLEAR flow charts, use them every day to follow routine procedures, or put them into instruction manuals - whatever you do, the time you put into working with allCLEAR will be well spent.


Who Can Use allCLEAR?

allCLEAR is being used by people who want to effectively communicate information to others by enhancing their ideas with visual representation.  Here is a sampling of who is using allCLEAR and how it is benefiting them every day:

Quality Managers

communicate the company vision and ensure continuous improvement by distributing process flow charts identified by Quality Improvement Teams.

Quality Control Professionals

flow chart plant process flows are used in conjunction with SPC products to ensure   zero defects in an effort to become ISO 9000 certified.

Medical Professionals

document complex medical procedures to ensure easy understanding and to follow Joint Commission standards for accreditation.

Military Personnel

flow chart assist in describing emergency procedures, as well as promoting Total    Quality Leadership by graphically representing procedures to analyze and streamline them.

Accountants/Auditors

describe how to fill out cumbersome tax forms, as well as identifying deficiencies    during on-site audits.   The Financial Accounting Standards Board publishes special books, called Accounting Standards, where instructions are given in the form of flow charts.

Engineers

create detailed schematics of engineering operations and document trouble shooting procedures.

Managers

train personnel and manage multiple projects.

Human Resources

organizational charts, as well as company policies and procedural manuals,  are     distributed to new and existing employees.

System Designers/Programmers

use diagrams to communicate product specifications and functionality.

Technical Writers

provide illustrations of key procedures, such as installation, and menu structures to be used in manuals.

Teachers

support lectures to enhance students' understanding.

...and Many Others

refer to the \ALL2\ASAMPLES directory to see examples of the diagrams each of the above listed people created with allCLEAR.

Before using allCLEAR, you should be familiar with Windows and its main concepts and operating principles.  If you don't know what a file name is, how to execute a Windows application, or how to manage windows on your screen, you may need to learn more about Windows to understand some of the important items in this User's Guide.

You don't need any special skills to use allCLEAR.  The allCLEAR script language is very simple, easy to learn, and is designed to resemble English.  The language reference chapter and the sample files should provide you with enough guidance to achieve a great deal with allCLEAR.


Requirements
What Do You Need to Run allCLEAR?

You need the following equipment to run allCLEAR:

An IBM PC/AT, PS/2, or 100% compatible personal computer.

A  3.5" diskette drive on the PC to run the allCLEAR installation program.

A hard (or fixed) disk with at least 2 megabytes of free space for allCLEAR files.

At least 2 megabytes of memory.

At least 1 megabyte of virtual memory.  See Windows user manual for instructions on how to specify Virtual Memory.

A VGA-compatible graphics card and monitor compatible with Windows.

A mouse supported by Windows.

A printer or plotter supported by Windows.

You also need the following software to run allCLEAR:

MS-DOS or PC-DOS version 3.3 or later.

Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later.


allCLEAR Diagrams

Just like percentages are usually shown with a pie chart in business graphics, it is common to represent a process with a flow chart, a hierarchical structure with a tree chart, an organization with an org chart, and a decision path with a decision tree.   Many diagram types have different names associated with them in different fields.  However, most diagrams fit under one of these four broad categories:

Process Chart - Some examples of process charts:  flow charts, process flows, dataflow diagrams.

Tree Chart - Some examples of tree charts: hierarchy charts, fishbone diagrams, structure charts, family trees.

Decision Tree - An example of decision trees: cause & effect diagrams.

Org Chart - An example of org charts: company organizational charts.


Process Chart

A Process Chart represents a logical chain of steps which have to be executed in certain order, such as instructions on how to follow a culinary recipe or fill out a tax form.

Creating Your First Process Chart...

Guidelines for Writing a Script...

Script Commands...

How to Change Chart Appearance...

How to Save the Chart...

How to Open an Existing Chart...

How to View the Chart...

How to Print the Chart...

Any process consists of three categories of steps:

1. Steps which are simply executed one after another (for example, "Enter total income on line #24.").

2. Decisions which have to be made in the course of the procedure (for example, "Is your total income greater than $20,000?").

3. Instructions to proceed with a certain step in the procedure described above or below (for example, "Goto line #50.").

The first category of steps is represented with a symbol which has one or no line (or connection) going out of it.  The script statements which describe such steps are called "linear".  The second category of steps can have as many lines going out of it as there are alternative choices for the condition described by the decision.  The script statements which describe such steps are called "logical" or "branching".  The third category of steps is represented with a line going from one box to another.


Tree Chart

A Tree Chart is very different from the procedure diagram.  Instead of showing a sequence of events, it shows a hierarchical structure with no elements of logic flow in it.  A very common example of a tree chart is a diagram of a menu structure.

Creating Your First Tree Chart...

Guidelines for Writing a Script...

Script Commands...

How to Change Chart Appearance...

How to Save the Chart...

How to Open an Existing Chart...

How to View the Chart...

How to Print the Chart...

Any tree diagram consists of three categories of components:

1. The main component (or the root of the tree).

2. Components which are lower in hierarchy than the main component but still have subordinate components.

3. Components which are lowest in hierarchy and have no subordinate components.

The main component is always shown at the start of the diagram.  The tree then branches out to the second category of components which are represented at the appropriate levels of hierarchy.  The last category of components is shown at the last level of each branch of the tree chart.


Decision Tree

A Decision Tree is a combination of the procedure and tree diagrams.  It represents a hierarchical structure with some elements of logical decisions in it, such as structure and policy, for example.

How to Describe a Chart in a Script...

Script Commands...

How to Change Chart Appearance...

How to Save the Chart...

How to Open an Existing Chart...

How to View the Chart...

How to Print the Chart...

A decision tree consists of three categories of steps and components:

1. The main component (or the root of the tree).

2. Decisions which have to be made to determine further composition.

3. Other subordinate components of the tree.

The three categories are represented the same way as the corresponding categories on the procedure and tree diagrams.


Org Chart

An Org Chart is a special case of a tree chart.  It describes the organizational structure of a company.

Creating Your First Org Chart...

Guidelines for Writing the Script...

Script Commands...

How to Change Chart Appearance...

How to Save the Chart...

How to Open an Existing Chart...

How to View the Chart...

How to Print the Chart...

Any org chart consists of four categories of components:

1. The head of the organization (usually the President or CEO) or simply the name of the company.

2. People (or departments) who are subordinate to someone on a higher level, but still have other people (or departments) who report to them.

3. People (or departments) who are lowest in hierarchy and have no subordinates.

4. Assistants or secretaries who report to a particular person (or department) in the organization, but otherwise do not belong on any of the hierarchy levels.  The head of the organization is always shown at the top center of the diagram.  The org chart then branches out to the second category of components which are represented at the appropriate levels of hierarchy. The third category of components is shown at the last level of each branch of the org chart.  The assistants are shown in between the hierarchy levels, directly below the person to whom they report.

IMPORTANT:  Each person (or department) can have up to 2 assistants.


Script Files
allCLEAR Script Files

Basic Guidelines for Writing a Script...

Main Script Commands...

Complete List of Script Commands...

Script Macros...

An allCLEAR script file is the document which holds the text description of the information to be diagrammed.  This file looks pretty much like a regular English text document or an outline.  However, an allCLEAR script also contains the punctuation marks (or the script symbols), such as "?" or ":" or "(choice)", which identify the logical constructions. The allCLEAR script files can have any name and extension.  However, we recommend that you give them extension .ACL to differentiate between the script files and other documents.

How to Create a New Script File...

How to Open an Existing File...

How to Copy an Existing File...

How to Format a Script File...

How to Edit a Script File...

How to Use Your Own Word Processor...


Elements of a Diagram

Any allCLEAR diagram consists of the following elements or objects:

Boxes - complete with the text which is printed inside.

Lines - from one box to another, with arrows indicating the flow of information.

Choices - the choices for two-way (or Yes/No) decisions which are printed outside the boxes, as line labels.

Title - the diagram title.

allCLEAR generates these elements automatically, from the information contained in the script.  You can change properties of these objects. But whether or not they appear on the diagram is determined ONLY by the script file.  We will call these elements "DIAGRAM OBJECTS".

An allCLEAR diagram can also have elements which have been added by the user through the graphic editing mode.  These could be boxes, text, lines, or a graphic images (copied from the clipboard).  Unlike the Diagram Objects, these objects have no relationship to the script, are not generated automatically and have to be created by the user.  We will call these elements "USER OBJECTS".


Style Sheet
The Style Sheet

How to Change Global Style...

How to Change Local Style...

How to Add Free Elements...

How to Save Style Sheet...

How to Load Another Style Sheet...

The Style Sheet is an allCLEAR file which holds information on properties of all the diagram objects as well as all the user objects and their locations.  The concept of an allCLEAR Style Sheet is similar to the concept of a style sheet in a desk-top publishing system.  In a desk-top publishing system, a style sheet formats the TEXT in a document and assures that it appears in a certain way on the screen or printer.  In allCLEAR, the Style Sheet formats the DIAGRAM and determines which attributes it is to have when it is displayed or printed.  If the script file determines the "substance" of a diagram, the Style Sheet defines its "form".

An allCLEAR Style Sheet consists of the following three groups of information:

Global Style - global properties of the diagram, such as diagram artist, orientation, page layout, etc.

Local Style - local properties of certain diagram objects which user modifies to be different from the global properties.

User Objects - contents and location of objects which user added in the graphic editing mode.

The style sheet file always has the same name as the script file but another extension (.STY) and is located in the same directory as the related script file.  You can customize the diagram by modifying the Style Sheet and changing any of the properties.


Menu Commands

allCLEAR menu system consists of 8 pull-down menus.  Each menu item has a certain command associated with it or a further list of options.

Using a Menu...

File Menu...

Edit Menu...

Search Menu...

View Menu...

Group Menu...

Style Menu...

Window Menu..

Help Menu...

Each window in allCLEAR has a Control Menu box in the top left corner.  Control Menu commands are very important in allCLEAR operations.


Using a Menu

To open a menu:

MOUSE - Click the name of the desired menu on the menu bar.  (To move directly to a menu item, you can drag the selection cursor down the menu until the menu item is highlighted, and then release the mouse button.)

KEYBOARD - Press [Alt] to highlight the menu bar.  Then press [Left Arrow] or [Right Arrow] to select the menu you want.  Finally, press [Enter] to open the selected pull-down menu.  Note, that you can press [Alt] and the mnemonic letter for the menu, [F] for File for example, as a shortcut for opening the menu.

To close a menu:

MOUSE - Click anywhere outside the menu.

KEYBOARD - Press [Alt] to cancel the menu and move back to the allCLEAR main work space.  Or press [Esc] to close the menu but remain on the menu bar so that you can select another menu.

To choose an item from a menu:

MOUSE - Click the menu item.

KEYBOARD - Type the letter that is underlined in the item name (mnemonic letter).  Or use the [Up Arrow] or [Down Arrow] until you reach the item you want, and then press [Enter].

BUTTON BAR - Click the button on the button bar which corresponds to the desired menu item.

The following menu conventions are used in allCLEAR:

Dimmed command - This command is not available for use at the present time (for example, the system needs to be unlocked before you can use this command).

An ellipsis (...) following a command - A dialog box appears when you choose the command.  The dialog box contains options you need to select before the command can be carried out.

A check mark in front of a command - The command is in effect.  When you select the command, the check mark is removed and the command is no longer in effect.

A key combination next to a command - The key combination is a shortcut for this command.  You can choose this key combination to choose the command.


Control Menu
Using the Control Menu

The Control Menu is mostly used to close windows and dialog boxes.  Certain windows, such as Help and allCLEAR Alert with script error, can only be closed using the Control menu.

To open the Control menu:

MOUSE - Click the Control-menu box in the upper-left corner of the window or dialog box.

KEYBOARD - Press [Alt]+[Spacebar].

After the control menu is opened, you use the menu item selection techniques explained in the previous section.

IMPORTANT: To close a window, you can use the [Ctrl]+[F4] key combination without opening the Control menu.


Windows and Dialog Boxes

The most important building blocks of allCLEAR user interface are Windows and Dialog Boxes.  If you are familiar with Windows standards, you should not require any further instructions on how to use windows and dialog boxes.

Windows

When you click the Control Menu Box, the window control menu is displayed.  By using Control menu commands you can resize, move, minimize, maximize, and close windows.

The Title Bar shows the name of the action or document - window title.  If more than one window is open, the title bar for the active window (the one in which you are working) is a different color or intensity than other title bars.  By clicking and dragging the title bar, you can move those windows which are movable.  By using the Scroll Bar, you can move unseen parts of the window contents into view.  By clicking and dragging the Scroll Box button on the scroll bar, you can scroll faster.

The Window Border is the out side edge of the window.  By clicking and dragging on the border, you can size those windows which are sizable.

Using a mouse, you can click the Maximize Button to enlarge the active window so that it fills the entire screen, or you can click the Minimize Button to reduce the window to an icon.

The Menu Bar lists the available menus.  A menu contains a list of commands or actions which you can carry out.

Dialog Boxes

Dialog boxes display options you can select.  After you specify options, you can choose a command button (usually OK or Cancel) to close the dialog box and either carry out or cancel the selected options or command.

To move through the list of options in a dialog box, you can use the mouse or the [Tab] key.  To close the dialog box, you can use the command buttons or the Control Menu.


Buttons
Button Bar

The Button Bar is displayed right below the menu bar and gives you quick access to the commands and selections you use most often.  Use any of the buttons on the Button Bar by clicking it with the mouse.

New - Create a new file.

Open - Open an existing script and diagram.

Save - Save the file in the active window.

Print - Print the script or diagram in the active window.

Editor - Edit the script file with allCLEAR editor; make the script window active.

Diagram - Display the diagram; make the diagram window active.

Cut - Delete the selected object(s) or block of text and copy them to the clipboard.

Copy - Copy the selected object(s) or block of text to the clipboard.

Paste - Paste the selected object(s) or block of text from the clipboard at the current cursor position.

Undo - Undo the previous operation.

Zoom In - Scale the diagram up to the next zoom level.

Zoom Out - Scale the diagram down to the next zoom level.

Navigate - Display the diagram in Fit-in-Window view and choose the area on which to zoom in.

Global Style - Change global diagram properties through the Global Style.

Artist - Redraw the diagram with another artist; button works as a toggle for the five artists.

Orientation - Rotate the diagram; button works as a toggle for the four orientations.

Local Style - Change local object properties through the Local Style.

Branch - Select tree branch for local style operations.

Adjust Box to Text - Size boxes (all or selected) to fit all of the text inside without truncating.

Free Draw - Enter graphic editing mode for adding user objects and display the tool box.

Launch - Open attached diagram or launch attached application.

Find - Find the string of text in the script file.

Format - Format the script file.

Goto Line # - Go to the specific line number in the script file.

Help - Display the Index of available help topics.


Keyboard Commands

Following are detailed explanations of keyboard command in allCLEAR.  Keyboard commands can be used in addition or instead of Mouse Commands.

[F6] - Actual Size

displays the current diagram in actual size.

[Ctrl]+[F4] - Close Window

closes the current window.

[Alt]+[Spacebar] - Control Menu

displays the Control menu in the top right corner of the window.   Control menu allows you to close, move, and size the window.

[Ctrl]+[Ins] - Copy

stores the selected block of text to the clipboard.

[Shift]+[Del] - Cut

the selected block of text and stores it to the clipboard.

[Ctrl]+[Del] - Delete to End of Line

deletes all characters from the current cursor position to the end of the line.

[F10] - Display Diagram

displays the diagram of the current script file.

[PgDn] - Down a Page

scrolls the screen down one page.

[F2] - Edit Script

edits the script file.

[Ctrl]+[End] - End of Page

moves the cursor to the end of the current field or script file.

[End] - End of Line

moves the cursor to the end of the current script line.

[Alt]+[F4] - Exit

closes all windows, quits allCLEAR and exits to Program manager.

[F4] - Fit-in-WIndow

displays the current diagram in Fit-in-Window view.

[F1] - Help Index

displays index of help topics.

[Home] - Home

moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line.

[Alt] - Menu

activates the menu bar.

[Tab] - Next Field

moves to the next option.

[Shift]+[Ins] - Paste

retrieves the cut or copied text block or object from the clipboard and pastes it.

[Shift]+[Tab] - Previous Field

moves to the previous option.

[F7] - Print

prints the current diagram or script.

[F5] - Refresh

re-displays all of the window objects on the screen.

[F8] - Save

saves the current script file or diagram.

[-] - Scale Down

scale diagram down.

[+] - Scale Up

scale diagram up.

[F3] - Search  Again

repeats the previous find operation.

[Enter] - Select

activates the current menu option or command.

[Ctrl]+[Home] - Start of Field

moves the cursor to the beginning of the current field or script file.

[Alt]+[Backspace] - Undo

reverses the previous command.

[PgUp] - Up Page

scrolls the screen up one page.


Mouse Commands

Following are detailed explanations of mouse commands in allCLEAR for those users who are not familiar with the Windows command system.

Left-double-click the Control Menu button - Close Window

closes the current window.  The Control menu button is the gray button in the top left corner of the window with dot inside of it.

Right-click - Local Style

displays the Local Style for selected diagram objects.

Left-drag the Scroll Box button - Fast Scroll

scrolls the window relatively by as much as you dragged the Scroll Box.  The Scroll Box button is the small button in between the arrow buttons on the scroll bar.

Left-drag - Mark Text Block

marks a block of text for cut or copy.

Left-click the Maximize button - Maximize Window

maximizes the size of the current window  (i.e. Windows increases the size of the window to occupy the entire screen).   The maximize button is the right one of the two buttons in the top right corner of the window with the up arrow inside of it.

Left-click the Minimize button - Minimize Window

minimizes the size of the current window (i.e. Windows reduces the window to an icon).  The Minimize button is the left one of the two buttons in the top right corner of the window with down arrow inside of it.

Left-drag the user object - Move User Object

moves the user object to the location at which you release the left-down-click.

Left-drag the title bar - Move Window

moves the window to the location at which you release the left-down-click.

Left-click - Select

selects the option positioned under the mouse cursor.

Left-click - Select Diagram Object

selects the diagram object on which the mouse cursor is positioned for Local Style changes.

[Shift]+Left-click - Select Several Diagram Objects

selects a group of diagram objects for Local Style changes.

Left-drag image border - Size Image

sizes the area of the image and scales it to the size at which you release the left-down-click.

Left-drag window  border - Size Window

sizes the window to the size at which you release the left-down-click.

Left-click the scroll bar arrows - Slow Scroll

scrolls the window one line at a time.

Left-double-click - Quick Box Find

locates the box on the diagram which corresponds to the line in the script on which the cursor is positioned.

Left-double-click - Quick Script Line Find

locates the line in the script which corresponds to the box on the diagram on which the cursor is positioned.


Create a New Chart
Creating a New Chart

The first step in creating a new diagram is to open a new file.

1.  Select  New  from the File menu.

allCLEAR opens a Script window which is blank with a file NONAME01.ACL.   NONAME01.ACL is just a temporary name to point your attention to the fact that this new file is untitled.

2.  Describe the information, using punctuation marks.

How to Write the Script...

Main Script Commands...

Complete List of Script Commands...

Script Macros...

3.  Select Save from the File menu or press [F8] to save the new file.

Since your new file is still untitled, allCLEAR displays the Save As dialog box.

4.  In the "File name:" field, type in the new filename.

We recommend that you keep your script files in the \ALL2\ACL directory and that you always give them the extension .ACL.

5.  When you are ready to see the diagram of the information you have just entered, select Display Diagram from the File menu.

allCLEAR opens the Diagram window and automatically creates the diagram of the information you have just described.


Write the Script
Basic Guidelines for Writing a Script

How to Create a New File...

Main Script Commands...

Complete List of Script Commands...

Script Macros...

Using the allCLEAR Editor...

When allCLEAR generates a diagram, it looks for cues in the script file which determine the flow of information.  These cues are entered as punctuation marks (a question mark, for example, for a Yes/No decision, or a colon, for a multiple choice decision) and we will call them script symbols or script commands.  The script symbols are designed to make the information flow naturally, so that you will only have to remember a few simple rules.

The most important rules to remember:

Diagram Title - has to be entered at the very beginning of the script and followed by a blank line.  If there is no blank line after the title, allCLEAR will assume that it is the first box of the diagram.  Diagram title can have several lines - everything from the beginning of the file until the blank line will be treated as the title.

Single Step\Statement - a single step in a process or the last component in the tree/org chart hierarchy is entered with  . [Enter] at the end of the text line.  A period is the main script symbol.  In a statement (just like in a paragraph) the period has to be at the end of a line and followed by a carriage return.  Each statement is shown with a separate box on the diagram.

Two-Way Decision - a question which has only two possible answers (Yes/No, for example) is entered with  ? [Enter] at the end of the decision text line.  allCLEAR then puts in the template for the question (also called If) command and you can fill in what happens in either case.  This command creates a box which branches out into two lines, each line labeled with the text of the decision choices.

Multiple-Choice Decision - a decision which has more than two possible alternatives is entered with  : [Enter] at the end of the decision text line.  allCLEAR then puts in the template for the multiple-choice decision (also called Case) command and you can fill in what happens in each of the cases.  This command creates a box which branches out into as many lines as there are choices, each choice is shown in a box of its own.

Goto - a jump in the procedure is entered with  >name at the point where you want the procedure to JUMP FROM.  -name identifier (or label) needs to be inserted right before the point where you want the procedure to JUMP TO.  The label can be any word without spaces and has to be at the beginning of the line

Tree - a hierarchical structure, such as menu or organization, is entered with the  \ [Enter] command at the end of the head/root of the tree text line.  allCLEAR then puts in the template for the tree command and you can fill in all the components.  Any tree can have an Assistant - a box in between the hierarchy levels reporting strictly to the supervisor and having no subordinates of its own.  Assistant is entered with the & command in front of the text line.

A few other rules to remember:

You can describe the information in either Outline or Script mode.  In Outline mode, [Tab]  (or indent) is treated as a script symbol which controls the flow of information.  Thus, the end of any logical construction is indicated by the indent structure going back out to the previous indent level.  In Script mode, indents are ignored and should be used merely for visual formatting.  Thus, all the logical constructions have to have the corresponding end script symbol (\end, ?end, ;end and :end).

Every logical construction (tree, decision, loop, case, etc.) has an end.  For the diagram to be correct, you have to make sure that all the ends are in the right places.

allCLEAR automatically places text inside the boxes and inserts line breaks wherever necessary.   You can control the line breaks by entering  | (vertical bar) with spaces around it right where you want the line break.Following is the list of the most important allCLEAR script commands with examples.


Main Script Commands

Complete List of Script Commands...

Script Macros...

Outline Mode...

Using the allCLEAR Script Editor...

Following are the most important script commands with corresponding examples:

Statement - used in all diagram types to create a regular box for a step in the process or a component in a tree.

statement.

Example:

Have dinner.

Go for a walk.

If - used in process charts and decision trees to create a two-way decision box with only two alternative choices (a Yes/No question, for example).

question?

   (yes)

   (no)

?end

Example:

Are you hungry?

   (Yes) Have dinner.

   (No) Go for a walk.

?end

Case - used in process charts and decision trees to create a multiple decision box with several alternative choices.

decision:

   (choice 1)

   (choice 2)

   (choice 3)

:end

Example:

How hungry are you:

   (starving) Have dinner.

   (a little) Have a snack.

   (not at all) Go for a walk.

:end

Goto/Label - used in process charts to create a line indicating a jump in the procedure.  The point where the procedure JUMPS TO has to be marked with a Label.

>name

-name

Example:

-EAT

Have something to eat.

Go for a walk.

>EAT

Stop - used in process charts and decision trees to create an end box in the procedure or procedure branch.

last statement!

Example:

Have dinner.

Go for a walk!

Go to sleep.

Tree - used in tree charts, org charts and decision trees to create a box which is the root of a hierarchical structure.

top of the tree\

   branch 1.

   branch 2.

   branch 3.

\end

Example:

Dinner menu\

   Appetizer.

   Soup.

   Main course.

   Dessert.

\end

Assistant - used in tree and org charts to create an assistant box in between the levels of hierarchy.

&assistant

Example:

President\

&Secretary.

   Vice President 1.

   Vice President 2.

   Vice President 3.

\end

Text Line - used in all diagram types to force a line break in the box text.

first box line | second box line.

Example:

Have | dinner.

Go for | a walk.


Edit Script File
Using the allCLEAR Editor

The allCLEAR script editor is a standard Windows editor.  If you are used to Windows, you will have no problems finding your way around the editor.

Macros...

Outline Mode...

Block Operations...

How to Format File...

Search and Goto Operations...


Macros

Outline Mode...

For your convenience, the allCLEAR editor has built in macros for making templates of the major script commands.

To use the script macros:

1.  Enter the macro key and then press [Enter].  For example, for a Yes/No decision, after entering the text of the question, type:  Your text of the question?[Enter]

Or you can click the appropriate macro button.  allCLEAR then creates the template for the script command which you are trying to enter.  Thus, for a Yes/No decision (or an If), you will see the following:

Your text of the question?

    (Yes)

    (No)

?end

2.  You should then fill in the text of the branches as well as change the text of the choices (inside the parentheses), if you desire.

IMPORTANT:  If you have selected Outline mode for writing your scripts (in Preferences, File menu), the macros are implemented accordingly.

Following is the list of macros available in the allCLEAR editor:

IF  ?[Enter]

?

   (Yes)

   (No)

?end

CASE  :[Enter]                                                       .                                  .

:

   (1)

   (2)

   (3)

:end

LOOP  ;[Enter]

;

   .

;end

TREE  \[Enter]

\

   .

   .

   .

\end

ASSISTANT (tree with)

\

   &.

   .

   .

   .

\end

IMPORTANT:  You can choose to deactivate the keyboard macros (in Preferences, File menu) and only use the buttons on the button bar for implementing the script macros.


Format File
Formatting a Script File

allCLEAR also provides an option for formatting the script files.  When you choose to format a script file, it is modified as follows:

Beginnings and ends of logical structures are properly aligned.

All logical blocks are properly indented to reflect the nesting levels.

To format the script file:

1.  Make the Script window active.

2.  Select Format from the Edit menu.

allCLEAR formats the file.  Remember that the file has now been changed, so if you want to keep the changes, you need to save the file.


Block Operations

You can copy, delete, or move any block of text in the allCLEAR editor using the standard Windows procedure.

To delete, copy, or move a block of text:

1. Make the Script window active.

2. Mark the block which you wish to delete by clicking and dragging the mouse.

3. To copy the block, select Copy from the Edit menu or press [Ctrl]+[Ins].

4. To delete or move the block, select Cut from the Edit menu or press [Shift]+[Del].

5. To move or copy the block, position the cursor at the location where you want the block to begin and select Paste from the Edit menu or press [Shift]+[Ins].

6. To undo the previous block operation, select Undo from the Edit menu or press [Alt]+[Backspace].

If you are using Outline mode for writing your scripts, a convenient Block Indent feature allows you to indent the whole highlighted section of text.

7. To indent the block, press [Tab].  To outdent the block, press [Alt]+[Tab].  This feature is especially useful for "promoting" or "demoting" departments on an Org Chart.


Search and Goto
Search and Goto Operations

You can do the following search and replace operations in the allCLEAR script editor:

Find a string of characters (Find  option of the Search  menu).

Find one, several, or all occurrences of a string of characters and replace it/them with another string (Replace option of the Search menu).

Repeat the previous find or replace operation (Search Again option of the Search menu).

To find a string of characters:

1.  Make the Script window active.

2.  Select Find  from the Search menu.

allCLEAR displays the Find dialog box.

3.  Enter the string you wish to find in the "Search for:" field.  If you need the search to be case sensitive, click the Case Sensitive check box. Then click OK.

allCLEAR performs the search and positions the cursor on the first occurrence of the string.

4.  To find the next occurrence, select Search Again from the Search menu or press

[F3].

To replace a string of characters with another:

1.  Make the Script window active.

2.  Select  Replace from the Search menu.

allCLEAR displays the Replace dialog box.

3.  Enter the string you wish to find in the "Search for:" field.   Enter the replacement string in the "Replace with:" field.

You have three options for replace:

Case Sensitive (whether the search is case sensitive)

All Occurrences (whether you wish to replace all occurrences of the string or just the first one)

Prompt on Replace (whether you want to be prompted for confirmation of replace every time it is performed).

4.  Review the selections for the three options and change the ones you wish by clicking the appropriate check box.  Then click OK.

allCLEAR performs the search and replace as requested.  It then informs you of how many occurrences of the find string have been changed.

To goto a particular line number:

1.  Make the Script window active.

2.  Select  Go to Line Number from the Search menu.

allCLEAR displays the Go to Line Number dialog box.

3.  Enter the number of the line you wish to locate.  Then Click OK.

allCLEAR positions the cursor on the line with the desired number.


Quick Find

allCLEAR also offers the Quick Find feature which helps you locate a particular line in the script or a particular box on the diagram.

To find a line which corresponds to a box:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Double-click with the left mouse button on the box you want to find.

allCLEAR finds the line in the script which corresponds to the chosen box, jumps to the Script window and positions the cursor on that line.

To find a box which corresponds to a line:

1.  Make the Script window active.

2.  Double-click with the left mouse button on the line you want to find (the cursor can be positioned anywhere on that line).

allCLEAR finds the box in the diagram which corresponds to the chosen line, jumps to the Diagram window and positions the cursor on that box.

IMPORTANT:  If you are using your own Windows word processor rather than the allCLEAR editor, the Quick Find feature is not available.


Change Global Style
Changing the Global Style

If you want to change any of the global diagram parameters, such as orientation or size of ALL the boxes, you need to modify the Global Style.  Changing the Global Style is an option you will use a lot during your allCLEAR sessions.

To change global appearance of the diagram:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select Global from the Style menu.

allCLEAR displays the Global Style dialog box in the center of the screen with all the current selections for Diagram, Title, Choice, Box, Line and Page Properties.

The Global Style Dialog box consists of four parts:

Objects - the leftmost group of radio buttons allows you to select for which object (line or label, for example) you wish to change global properties.

Categories - the center group of radio buttons allows you to select which category of properties (distances or font, for example) of the selected object you wish to change.

Properties - the right most group of selections which allows you to change the actual properties of the object (line type or font size, for example).

Command Buttons - the four buttons on the bottom of the dialog box which allow you to implement or cancel the changes you have made.

3.  Click the object properties of which you wish to change. allCLEAR displays the corresponding list of categories on the right.  You can also use mnemonic letters to choose the object.

4.  Click the category of properties which you wish to change.  allCLEAR displays the corresponding set of properties on the right.

5.  Make your selections by clicking the desired choices.  You can use the [Tab]  key to move through the fields and then the cursor keys to choose the property.

6.  When you finish making all the changes, click OK.  To go back to the original settings, click Cancel.

IMPORTANT:  Please remember that you don't have to click OK after making each selection.  You should take your time and change properties of all the objects.  Then, you can click OK and let allCLEAR redraw the diagram and apply all the new properties.


Properties
Global and Local Style Properties

Select the category of global or local properties for which you would like more information:

Global Diagram Properties:

Diagram Type

Diagram Artist

Diagram Direction

Diagram Distances

Global Title Properties:

Title Font

Title Alignment

Global and Local Box Properties:

Box Shape

Box Size

Box Outline

Box Effects

Box Font

Box Alignment

Global and Local Line Properties:

Line Style

Line Arrow

Global and Local Choice Properties:

Choice Font

Choice Position

Global Page Properties:

Page Layout

Page Size

Page Margins

Page Border

Page Footer


Diagram Type
Diagram Type is the most important attribute of the diagram.  When you create a script file, you should always decide before hand which diagram it describes. allCLEAR offers four diagram types:  Process Chart, Tree Chart, Decision Tree and Org Chart.

When you first create a script file and display the diagram, allCLEAR automatically determines the diagrams type from the script symbols used in the file.  Initially, the diagram type is always set to Auto Detect.   If you find that allCLEAR made a mistake in determining a diagram type (for example, you were creating a tree chart and allCLEAR is showing a flow chart), you should change the diagram type to the proper selection.


Diagram Artist

Diagram Artist property determines the shape or layout of the diagram.  There are many different ways a graphics artist, for instance, can layout a drawing.  Similarly, allCLEAR offers four different "artists" for each diagram type.  Please remember that, when you change the diagram artist, allCLEAR generates THE SAME diagram which simply LOOKS different.  For Process Charts, the artists mostly differ in the way the lines are drawn from the branching or logical statements (If, Loop, and Case).  For Tree Charts and Org Charts, the styles mostly differ in the way the clusters of the last level components are positioned.  For Decision Trees, the artists differ the same way they do for tree diagrams.  The branching statements (If in particular) are always shown the same way on decision trees.

Control property allows you to control the flow of information when the diagram orientation changes.  For example, when direction of a Tree of Org Chart changes from Up to Left, it may be necessary to reverse the order of the choices for the top branch.  The Control property allows you to do just that.

IMPORTANT:  You should always try to choose the artist which makes the diagram clearer and smaller.  The best way to experiment with artists is to use the artist button.  As the artist changes, you can immediately see its effect on the page layout.


Diagram Direction

Diagram Direction property determines which way the diagram flows and where the beginning of the diagram is.  You can choose the top of the diagram to be directed Up, Right, Down and Left.


Diagram Distances
Distances Between Boxes determines the horizontal and vertical distances between centers of all the boxes on the diagram, in the units selected in Preferences.

Distances Between Lines determines the distances between all the lines on the diagram, in the units selected in Preferences.

You should change these properties to make the diagram more compact and fit on the desired number of pages.  For example, if you have a diagram which is 4 pages and only has one or two boxes on one of the pages, you should slightly change the distances between boxes to get it to fit on one page.  On the other hand, if you have a complex process flow and lines are too close together to differentiate between page connectors, you should increase the distances between lines until the diagram becomes clear.


Font
Font Type Face property determines which font type is used to write the text.  You can choose between all the type faces available in your Windows environment.

Font Size property determines which size of font is used to write the text.  A larger font size is recommended for diagram title.  A smaller font size is recommended for bx text.  The font size choices are shown in points.

Font Style property determines which style of font is used to write the text.  You can choose any combination of Bold, Italic, Underline and Strikethrough font styles.  If none of the check boxes are selected, the style is normal.

Font Color property determines the foreground color of the text.  Choose between the 16 available colors.


Title Alignment
Title Alignment property determines how the diagram title is positioned Left  (in the left top corner of the first page),  Center (in the center of the first page),  Right  (in the right top corner of the first page).  If the title has multiple lines, the text is left-justified, centered, or right-justified according to the alignment selection.


Box Shape
Box Shape property determines which of the 170 available shapes is used for the current category of statements, if in Global Style, or for the selected box(es), if in Local Style.  If in Global Style, you can change universal assignment of box shapes for regular statement, if, case, choice, loop, start, stop and assistant categories of statements.

Box Color property determines the background box color for the current category of statements (the color of the outline is selected under Outline category).


How to Make Text Fit in Boxes

Obviously, if the diagram is large and you want to conserve the space, you should select the small box size.  When the text is too long to fit in the chosen size of the box, allCLEAR displays the ellipse (...) sign after the last word that fits.

You have four options for dealing with this situation:

1.  Increase the universal size of the boxes (through Global Style) up to the size which will completely fit the longest text.  If you use this method, all the boxes on the diagram will have uniform size.  However, this method will produce the largest diagram.

2. Select Adjust Box to Text from the Style menu.  allCLEAR then automatically increases the size of those boxes that have long text and decreases the size of those boxes that have short text.  Or select Grow Box to Text from the Style menu.  allCLEAR then automatically increases the size of those boxes that have long text and leaves others unchanged.

3.  Select All Unfitted Boxes from the Group menu.  allCLEAR automatically selects all the boxes that have long text.  You can then use the Local Style (see the next chapter for instructions on working with the Local Style) to change properties (such as font and alignment) of the selected box (or boxes).  Smaller font, for example, will help fit more text into the same size box.

4.  Edit the script file and either shorten the text of the statement that is too long to fit in the box or break it into two.


Box Size
Box Size property determines the universal size of all boxes, if in Global Style, or of selected box(es), if in Local Style.  You can choose small, medium, large or custom box size.  For custom box size, you can define the horizontal and/or vertical dimension of the box in units selected in Preferences.  If the Maintain Proportions option is selected, as you change one of the box dimensions, the other changed accordingly to maintain the overall proportions of the box.

How to Make Text Fit in Boxes...


Box Outline
Box Outline Line Type property determines the style of the line for box outline.  You can choose between the 6 available line styles.  Please note that if you want the text to be printed without a box around it, simply select none as the outline property for box style.

Box Outline Line Thickness property determines the thickness of the line for box outline.  You can increase or decrease the line thickness shown in units selected in Preferences.

Box Outline Color property determines the foreground color of the box outline.  Choose between the 16 available colors.


Box Effects
Box Shadow effect property determines whether or not the boxes have 3-dimensional effect of shading.  You can select Depth (1 through 8), Direction and Color for the Shadow property.

Box Cascade effect - property determines whether or not the boxes have 3-dimensional effect of cascading.  You can select Depth (1 through 8) and direction for the Cascade property.

IMPORTANT:  Shading and cascade make the diagram bigger.   Some diagrams might greatly benefit from de-activating shading and/or cascade (in terms of how many pages they occupy, in particular).


Box Alignment
Box Text Alignment property determines how the text is positioned inside the boxes Left (text is left justified), Center (text is centered in the box), Right (text is right justified).

Box Text Margins property determines the vertical and horizontal margins for box text.  The margins are shown in the units selected in Preferences.


Line Style
Line Type property determines the style of the line.  You can choose between the 6 available line styles.

Line Thickness property determines the thickness of the line.  You can increment or decrement the line thickness shown in units selected in Preferences.

Line Color property determines the color of the line.  Choose between the 16 available colors.


Line Arrow
Line Arrow Location property determines whether the lines on the diagram have an arrow at the Start or End or both.

Line Arrow Color property determines the fill color of the line arrows.  You can choose between the 16 available colors.


Choice Position
Choice Position property determines how the choices are positioned in relation to the line - Above/Right (on top for horizontal lines and to the right for vertical lines),   On Line, or Below/Left (below for horizontal lines and to the left for vertical lines).


Page Layout
Page Line Connectors property determines how each diagram page is keyed to the adjacent page.  Each line which crosses the page break originates and ends with an index box with a key letter printed inside.  You can activate or deactivate Line Connectors.

Page Sides properties determine whether the diagram is built with single pages or double page setting.  If your left and right margins are the same, whether you select   Facing Pages or not, makes no difference.  If you select Facing Pages, you should indicate whether you want the first page to be the Left or the Right one.  This option is available to facilitate the incorporation of allCLEAR diagrams into reports and other documents.

Page Orientation property determines how the pages of the diagram are oriented in relation to the long and short sides of the paper.  Thus, portrait orientation means that the diagram's top is at the short side of the page, and landscape orientation means that the diagram's top is lined up with the long side of the page and that the diagram will be printed sideways.  Orientation is a very important Global Style parameter which greatly affects diagram space requirements.


Page Size
Paper Size property determines the size of the diagram pages which are drawn to fit the paper size.  You can choose between all the paper sizes available in Windows for the selected printer.


Page Margins
Page Margins property determine the amount of white space between the edges of page and borders.  You can change the Top, Left, Right and Bottom page margins.  Obviously, in order to put the diagrams into some sort of a binder (a three-ring, for example), you need to make the left margin bigger than the right one.  If you have selected Facing Pages, this setting affects the left margin of the right page and the right margin of the left page.


Page Border
Page Border Line Type property determines the style of the line for the border.  You can choose between the 6 available line styles.

Page Border Thickness property determines the thickness of the line for the border.  You can increment or decrement the line thickness shown in units selected in Preferences.

Page Border Color property determines the foreground color of the line for the border.  Choose between the 16 available colors.


Page Footer
Paging properties determine whether the diagram pages have Page Numbers and Page Maps.  If Page Maps are selected, the footer contains the numbers of the adjacent page(s) on the Left, Top, Right and Bottom.

Doc Information properties determine what information (if any) is printed at the bottom of the diagram pages.  You can choose any combination of User Name, Company Name     (taken directly from the software license and registration information), File Name, and     Date/Time stamp of when the file was last updated.  You can also control whether the footer is printed on the First Page only, All Pages or on the Last Page only.


Save Style Sheet
Saving the Style Sheet

When you are finished making changes to the diagram and you are satisfied with the way it looks, it is time to save the changes.

To save the Style Sheet:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select Save from the File menu.

allCLEAR saves the new Style Sheet in the .STY file, which has the same name as your script file.  When you save the Style Sheet, the following information is saved:

all the changes to the Global Style.

all the changes to diagram objects made through the Local Style.

all the added user objects and their locations.

If you try to exit from allCLEAR or close the Diagram window without saving changes to the Style Sheet, allCLEAR will display a standard warning and you will have to decide then whether you want to save or abandon the changes.


Local Style
The Local Style

After you finish working with the Global Style and you are satisfied with appearance of the diagram as a whole, you may want to make some further changes which affect one or several of the diagram objects.  For example, you may want to:

Change properties of a particular box or group of boxes, such as shape, color, outline, font, etc.

Change properties of a particular line or group of lines, such as style, thickness, color, etc.

Change properties of a particular If or Loop choices, such as color, font, alignment, etc.

These changes are performed by using the Local Style in allCLEAR.

To make local changes:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select the diagram object or group of objects which you wish to change.

3.  Call up the Local Style and change properties of the object or group of objects.

4.   View the effect of local changes.  If other changes are desired for the same object(s), call up the Local Style again.

5.  Unselect the object or group of objects and select another for more local changes.

6.  To make local changes permanent, save the diagram.


Unselect Objects
Unselecting Objects

When you several objects are selected, you may want to unselect one object, several objects or all objects.

To unselect objects:

1.  To unselect ONE object in a group of selected objects, click that object.

2.  To unselect ALL objects in a group of selected objects, click an object of the same type which is not part of the group or select Unselect All from Group menu.


Branch Operations

For tree charts, decision trees and org charts, you can select a group of boxes and lines which belong to the same Branch.  A branch begins with the root box and includes all the boxes, which are directly or indirectly subordinate to that box, and all the lines to and from those boxes.

To select all objects on a branch:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select the box which is the root of the branch.

3.  Select Branch from the Group menu.

If your selection is correct and the box you have identified as the root does have a corresponding branch, allCLEAR will select all the objects which belong to this branch.

To customize the branch properties:

1.  Call up the Local Style by selecting Local from the Style menu or single-clicking with the right mouse button.

allCLEAR displays the Local Style dialog box with all the available options.

2.  In addition to being able to change properties for all lines and boxes on the selected branch, you can change the Branch Artist.  The same five artists as those in global diagram style are available for branches.  You should use the branch styling feature to make your diagram look more compact.

Tree and org charts can be greatly enhanced by emphasizing a certain branch with different artist, box and/or line properties.


Select a Group of Objects
Selecting a Group of Diagram Objects

allCLEAR offers a way to automatically select a certain group of boxes, more specifically all boxes which are located in the same row, column or branch on the diagram.

To understand the concept of Row or Column, you need to think of the diagram as having a Grid for boxes.  Each box is a cell in the grid.  All boxes on the same vertical level of the grid constitute a row.  All boxes on the same horizontal level of the grid constitute a column.

To select all boxes on the same column or row:

1.  Click one of the boxes in the group.

2.  Select Row from the Group menu to mark all of the boxes in the same row.

3.  Select Column from the Group menu to mark all of the boxes in the same column.

allCLEAR marks all of the boxes in the identified row or column.

Once you have used one of the automatic group selection methods, you can unselect objects or add objects to the selected group by pressing the [Shift] key and clicking the objects you wish to add.


Select Diagram Objects
Selecting Diagram Object(s)

The first step in customizing the diagram is to select the object or group of objects.

To select one object:

1.  Point to the object you wish to customize and left single click it with the mouse.

allCLEAR shows you which object is selected with a special selector mark .

2.  To select a different object, click the new object.  This unselects the previously selected object.

3.  To simply unselect the selected object without selecting a new one, click the selected object.

You can change properties of several objects at the same time by selecting a group of objects.

To select several objects:

1.  Click the first object.

allCLEAR shows that it is selected with the special selector mark.

2.  Point to the next object.  Hold the [Shift] key while you click the next object.

allCLEAR now shows both objects as selected.

3.  Repeat Step 2 for other objects you wish to select at this time.

Related Topics:

Select a Group of Objects...

Customize Selected Objects...

Unselect Objects...


Change Local Style
Customizing Diagram Object(s)

How to Select Objects...

After you have selected the object(s), the next step in customizing their properties is to call up the Local Style Sheet.

To change the Local Style:

1.  Select Local from the Style menu or single click the right mouse button.

allCLEAR displays the Local Style dialog box.

IMPORTANT:   Please remember to use the single click when you are selecting objects.  Left double click on the box takes you into the editor and goes to the line which corresponds to the text in the box.

If you have selected several like objects (boxes or lines, for example) with different properties, the Style Sheet will show properties of the first selected object.

Depending on the object(s) which are selected, some of the Local Style options may not be available.  For example, if you have not selected any lines, the Line     option in the list of objects on the left will be grayed out.

2.   Make the desired changes to the properties of objects.   When ready, click     OK.  If you don't want your changes implemented, click Cancel.

3.   You can use the Adjust Box to Text option for those boxes which are too small to fit the text completely.  Just select the box(es) which you want to adjust and then click the Adjust button or select Adjust Box to Text from Style menu.

IMPORTANT:   We recommend using the Adjust Box to Text option in Local Style rather than Global Style mode.  Most of the boxes will then remain uniform in size and only those which really needed adjusting will change.

allCLEAR implements the changes and displays the modified diagram.  Depending on the type of local changes, allCLEAR may have to recalculate the entire diagram (for example, if one box becomes bigger in size, all the boxes have to change their position and pagination has to be readjusted). If you are just changing color of the boxes or the fonts, the new diagram will reappear instantly.

4.  Review the changes you have just made very carefully.  All the selected objects continue to be marked, so you can make sure that everything is the way you want.  If you wish to make additional changes, click with the right mouse button again to get the Local Style.

IMPORTANT:  Please remember that, once you make local changes, it is best not to change the Global Style.  If you do, the Local Style changes may be overwritten.

When you are done customizing diagram objects and are satisfied with the results, save the diagram.


User Objects

After the diagram is generated and you finish making Global and Local Style changes, you may find that you want to make some final touches which are not possible through the script.  For example, you may want to annotate the chart with some free floating descriptions which are not tied to a particular box.  Or you may need to place your company logo on the diagram.  You can make these final touches in allCLEAR, using the Free Draw Tools.

As you remember, objects which are not generated automatically from script but added by the user are called User Objects in allCLEAR.  There are four types of user objects:

Lines - straight angle lines with or without arrows.

Text - free text positioned anywhere on the diagram.

Boxes - any one of the allCLEAR shapes with text printed inside.

Images - graphic images copied from the clipboard.

Choose below which topic you would like to see more help on:

Add User Objects...

Change Properties of User Objects...

Manipulate User Objects...

Save User Objects...


Add User Objects
Adding User Objects

When you are ready to make final touches to the diagram, save the Style Sheet to make sure that you can come back to it in case you need to.

To add user objects:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select Draw Tool Box from the Edit menu.

allCLEAR displays the floating Draw Tool Box window in the top right corner of the screen.

3.  Click the tool you wish to use.  From the shape of the cursor you can tell which one of the tools is currently selected.  You can add free:

Text...

Angle Line...

Box with Text...

Image from the Clipboard...

4.  When you are done adding user objects, select Draw Tool Box again from the Edit menu or select Close from the Draw Tool Box window's Control Menu.


Draw Tool Box

  Cursor:

Select - Select user object

  Cursor:

Text - Draw free text

  Cursor:

Line - Draw angle line

  Cursor:

Box - Add box with text

To Front - Bring object forward

To Back - Send object back


Add Line

You can draw a straight or angle line which connects any two points on the diagram.

To draw a line:

1.  Select the Line tool.  Position the line cursor at the starting point and click once with the left mouse button.

2.  Move the cursor to the first turning point (for the line to make an angle) and click once with the left mouse button.  Repeat this operation as many times as many angles you want the line to have.

IMPORTANT:  You cannot draw a line across page breaks.  Stop the line at the edge of the page and then begin a new line on the other page.

3.  When the last segment of the line is done, double-click with the left mouse button to place the line.  The new line will have the line properties selected in the Global Style.  You can then change the properties of the new line or move, delete, copy or bring it to front/back.


Add Text

You can add free text (one or several lines of text) anywhere on the diagram.

To add text:

1.  Select the Text tool.  Position the text cursor at the point where you want the text to begin and click with the left mouse button.

allCLEAR now displays the User Object Style dialog box so that you can enter the new text and select its properties.

2.  Type in the text which you wish to add.  The text will appear exactly as you type it, including line breaks and carriage returns.  The new text will be left-justified unless you use spaces to position it otherwise.  You can use the Cut, Copy, Paste and Undo buttons to copy text to/from the clipboard.

3. To change text font properties (such as type face, size and color), click the     Font category and make the desired selections.

4.  When done, click OK to place the text.  If you change your mind, click Cancel.

When you click OK, you can see the new text on the diagram exactly the way it will appear on the printer.  You can now change the properties of the new text or move, delete, copy or bring it to front/back.


Add Box with Text

You can add a box (one of the allCLEAR shapes) with text anywhere on the diagram.

To add a box:

1.  Select the Box tool.  Position the box cursor at the point where you want the top left corner of the box to be and click with the left mouse button.  allCLEAR now displays the User Object Style dialog box so that you can enter the new box text and select various box properties.

2.  Type in the text which you wish to appear inside the new box.  The text will be placed in the box and aligned automatically so, don't worry about spacing it.  If you wish to start a new line, use the new line ( | ) script symbol with spaces around it.  Carriage returns will be ignored.  You can use the Cut, Copy, Paste and Undo     buttons to copy text to/from the clipboard.

3.  To change box properties (such as text font, alignment, box shape, color, effects, etc.), click the appropriate category make the desired selections.

4.  When done, click OK to place the box.  If you change your mind, click Cancel.  When you click OK, you can see the new box on the diagram exactly the way it will appear on the printer.  You can now change the properties of the new box or move, delete, copy or bring it to front/back.


Add Image from Clipboard
Image from Clipboard

You can place an image from the clipboard anywhere on the diagram.

To add a graphic image:

1.  Open the application in which the image is created (it can only be a Windows application).  Select the image and copy it to the clipboard.

2.  Return to allCLEAR.  Select Paste from the Edit menu.  Position the paste cursor where you want the left top corner of the image to be.  Click with the left mouse button to place the image.

You will see the graphic appear on the diagram.  It will be exactly the size it was on the clipboard.  The image will be selected and its area will be indicated with four corner points.

3.  To scale the image up or down, size the image area by dragging one of the corners.  When you drag and release the left mouse button, the image is sized according to the new area.


Change User Objects
Changing User Objects

Once user objects have been added to the diagram, you can select them and change their properties the same way you work with local properties of diagram objects.

To modify user objects:

1.  Make sure the cursor is back to the selection arrow cursor.

2.  Click the user object whose properties you wish to change.

You will see the selected object marked on the diagram.

IMPORTANT:  Only one user object can be selected at a time.

3.  Click with the right mouse button to bring up the User Object Style dialog box.  Change the desired properties for this object.  When done, click OK.  If you change your mind, click Cancel.

4.  If you want to change the length or angles of a line, simply pull the appropriate end or angle line points to stretch the line in the desired direction.

allCLEAR applies the new properties to the selected user object.  The object continues to be selected.

5.  To unselect the object, click it again or select another.


Manipulate User Objects
Manipulating User Objects

In addition to changing properties of user objects, you can do the following with the selected user object:

Delete - use the Cut option of the Edit menu to delete the selected user object.  You can also press [Shift]+[Del].

Copy to Clipboard - use the Copy option of the Edit menu to copy the selected user object to the clipboard.  You can also press [Ctrl]+[Ins].

Paste - use the Paste option of the Edit menu to paste the user object previously copied to the clipboard.  When you select Paste, you need to position the paste cursor at the new object location and click with the left mouse button to complete the paste operation.  You can also press [Shift]+[Ins].

Move - drag the user object which you wish to move.  When you move the mouse without releasing the left mouse button, you will see the cursor change to indicate that you are in the process of moving the object.  When the hand cursor is positioned at the desirednew location, release the left mouse button. You will see the user object move to thenew location.

Bring to Front - when you add user objects, they are placed in the background of diagram objects.  In other words, if diagram and user objects overlap, diagram objects are printed over user objects.  To bring the selected userobject to front, click the Bring to Front tool on the Draw Tool Box.

Send Back - to send the selected user object back, click the Send Back tool on the Draw Tool Box.  When you are finished adding and modifying user objects you are satisfied with the way the diagram looks, it is time to save the changes.

Coordinates of user objects in allCLEAR are relative to the page on which they are originally located.  If you modify the script or Global Style and the diagram changes so that the page which contained user objects no longer exists, all the user objects from that page will show up on the first page.


Manage Windows
Managing Windows

For those users who are just starting to use Windows, following are a few tips for managing the windows on the allCLEAR screen:

If you can't find your Script or Diagram window, activate the Window menu.  The last section shows you all the windows which are currently open.  The check mark on the left indicates the window which is active.  To make another window active, just click on it in the Windows menu.

To arrange your windows, select Tile or Cascade options from the Windows     menu, depending on your taste. The default Tile or Cascade selection is made in     Preferences, File menu.

Unless you need to copy sections of one script file to another, try not to have more than one diagram open at the same time.  If you do, make sure you carefully keep track of which changes to which diagrams or scripts you want to save.

Minimize the windows for those diagrams to which you want to come back sometime later during this session.  For each window that is minimized, allCLEAR shows an icon with description and filename below.  When you can't find an icon for a window which you minimized, it may be obstructed.  Select Arrange Icons from the Windows menu to see all the icons clearly.

In several situations you may need the diagram to be redrawn.  For example, you may be using an external word processor to edit your script file and allCLEAR has no way of knowing when your script file changes.  Then, when you come back to allCLEAR from your word processor, select Refresh from the Window menu (or press  [F5]) to redraw the diagram and see the changes you have made.  You can also use Refresh in any other instance to redraw the diagram and refresh the Diagram window.

When you have multiple files open at the same time, you may want to close them all without going through each one of them.  Close All option of the Window menu allows you to do just that.


View Diagrams
Viewing Diagrams

Viewing diagrams on the screen is an important step in allCLEAR operations.  When you change the appearance of the diagram through the Global or Local Style, the changes are performed immediately and you can see exactly how the diagram layout is affected.  It is important to review the diagram (for the number of pages and general layout, in particular) before you waste any time or paper printing it out.

When the diagram is displayed on the screen, you can:

Scale the diagram to zoom in or zoom out

Navigate to a particular area on the diagram and zoom in on it.

Quickly find a line in the script which corresponds to a particular box.

Launch a diagram which is attached to a particular box of the diagram currently displayed.


Scale Diagrams
Scaling Diagrams

Several options are available for scaling and zooming diagrams in allCLEAR.

To scale the diagram:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  To scale the diagram so that all of it fits in the window, select Fit-in-Window     from the View menu or press [F4].

3.  To show the diagram as it will actually appear on the printer (WYSIWYG view), select Actual Size from the View menu or press [F6].

4.  To scale the diagram up to double its size, select Double Size from the View     menu.

5.  To scale the diagram up to the next zoom level, select Scale Up from the View menu (the [+] key also activates this option).

6.  To scale the diagram down to the next zoom level, select Scale Down from the View menu (the [-] key also activates this option).

allCLEAR has a total of 7 zooming levels available for zooming in and out.


Navigate Diagrams
Navigating Diagrams

While the diagram can be extremely large, the window is usually smaller than the screen.  When the details of the diagram are visible, you lose the sense of where you are.  On the other hand, with a zoomed out view, you cannot see the details.  So, sometimes it is necessary to point to an area kind of in the dark and then zoom in on it to see the details.  Something like navigating a ship in the sea.  This feature is called "Navigate".

To navigate to an area:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select Navigate from the View menu.

allCLEAR shows the whole diagram in the Fit-in-Windows view and displays the Navigator cursor.

3.  Point to the approximate area which you would like to review and simply click on it (with the left mouse button).

allCLEAR displays the diagram in the Actual Size view, so that the area of your choice is in the center of the screen.


Launch
Launching Attached Diagrams or Applications

allCLEAR allows you to "launch" diagrams or applications (objects) attached to boxes right from any diagram view.   In order to attach a diagram or an application to a particular box, you need to use the Attach script command right after the script line which corresponds to that box.   You can attach multiple objects to a single box and use descriptions for attached objects.  Please review the following Help topics for more information on how to attach objects to diagram boxes:

Attach Script Command...

Attaching Objects to Boxes...  (examples of various Attach commands)

To launch the attached file:

1.  Select the box to which you have attached a diagram or application.

These boxes are marked with the special arrow flag in the top right corner (on display only).

2.  Select Launch from the View menu.

An alternative method to steps 1 and 2 is to click the arrow displayed in the top right corner, next to the box.

If the selected box has more than one attached objects, the list of those objects (or their descriptions) will be displayed.   You should then double-click the object which you wish to launch at this time.

If the attached file has extension .ACL, allCLEAR will open the Diagram and Script windows with that file and display its diagram.  If the attached file has another extension or is an executable for an application (an .EXE file), allCLEAR will launch that application.


Print Diagram
Printing Diagrams

Printing the diagram to the printer is the final step in the process of generating an allCLEAR diagram.  After you have made changes to the diagram and reviewed it on the screen, it is time to see how the diagram looks in hardcopy.  Printing diagrams with allCLEAR is very quick and mostly depends on the speed of your Windows printer.

To  print the diagram:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select Print from the File menu or press [F7].

allCLEAR displays the Print Diagram dialog box.  The Print Diagram dialog box allows you to select the following print settings:

Printer - choose from the list of printers installed in Windows for your system.

Printer Setup - run the Windows Printer Setup program to choose a printer which has not been previously installed, to redirect output to File, or to change various Windows-controlled printing options.

Pages - select the range of pages to be printed (default is All).

Copies - enter the number of copies to be printed (default is 1).

Color/Gray Scale - whether the diagram is to be printed with colors or converted to black and white.  For color printers, colors are printed as chosen.  For non-color printers, colors are converted to gray scale.  If this option is not selected, all lines, outlines, text, etc. are printed black with white background.

Fit on One Page - scale the diagram down so that all of it fits on one page.

Print Empty Pages - whether or not allCLEAR is to print the empty diagram pages.  In certain cases, for complicated process flow charts in particular, the diagram layout can require several empty pages.  If you are printing a diagram for paste-up, you might want to print the empty pages so that all the segments are available.

3.  Point to the option you wish to change and click on it to make your selection.  You can also use the mnemonic letters to select options.

4.  When all the print options are set according to what you want, click OK or press  [Enter] to begin printing.  Click Cancel in you change your mind.

allCLEAR begins printing and displays the Print Status window.

5.  If you wish to cancel print, click Cancel to come back to the menus.


Export Diagram
Exporting Diagrams

In certain situations, you may wish to incorporate an allCLEAR diagram into another document. allCLEAR supports the standard Windows metafile format (also referred to as WMF). You can export diagrams to Windows metafile via disk file or via clipboard.

To export the diagram to a Windows metafile and import it into another Windows application:

1.  Make the Diagram Window active.

2.  Select Export to WMF from the File menu.

allCLEAR displays the Export to Windows Metafile dialog box.

3.  Make your selection of export destination (disk file or clipboard), page range and diagram options (whether to fit on one page and whether to print empty pages). Then click OK to begin exporting.

If you choose disk file as export destination, the following rules will apply:

If you don't choose to fit on one page, allCLEAR outputs one WMF file per diagram page.  For example, if the diagram has a total of four pages, allCLEAR outputs four different WMF files.

Each file has the same name as the ACL file, except for the last two characters; the last two characters are the two digits of the page number.  For example, assuming the script file is called FILENAME.ACL, its diagram has four pages, the following four files will be created:  FILENA01.WMF, FILENA02.WMF, FILENA03.WMF, and     FILENA04.WMF.

The output file(s) will be created in the same directory where the diagram and script files are.Once the diagram generation process is completed and the diagram is exported to clipboard or to file, you are ready to import it into the desk-top publishing, paint, or other graphics system of your choice.

4.  Invoke the Windows application into which you wish to import the diagram.  Identify the area where the diagram will be located.

5.  If you exported the diagram to the clipboard, simply select Paste from the Edit     menu in that application.  If you exported to a file, load that file (file type is Windows Metafile).

Most Windows applications can read WMF file format.


Preferences
User Preferences

You can change the following global settings for allCLEAR operations:

Units - Inches, Centimeters or Pixels for displaying measurement settings, such as margins, line thickness, etc.

Windows - default Tile or Cascade for opening new windows.

Button Bar - whether or not the button bar is visible.

Editor Options - Tab size (the number of characters for indent), whether you are going to use Outline or Script mode for writing your scripts, whether the Keyboard Macros should be activated, and whether the warnings are to be displayed during script processing.

To change preferences:

1.  Select Preferences from the File menu.

allCLEAR displays the Preferences dialog box.

2.  Modify the desired settings.  Click OK when done.allCLEAR will remember the new Preferences for the next session unless you specifically change them again.


Manage Style Sheets
Managing Style Sheets

Save Style Sheet...

Load Another Style Sheet...

Default Style Sheet...

Following is the basic procedure for loading and saving Style Sheets in allCLEAR (most of this happens without your input):

You create a new script file, called NEWFILE.ACL, for example.

allCLEAR displays the diagram of the new file and applies the default Style Sheet, called DEFAULT.STY.

When you exit allCLEAR or save and close the new file, allCLEAR saves its Style Sheet in a file, called NEWFILE.STY.

allCLEAR creates this file in the directory where the script file is located.

Next time you open the file NEWFILE.ACL, allCLEAR loads the Style Sheet     NEWFILE.STY.  When you make changes to the appearance of the diagram, the changes are always saved in NEWFILE.STY file.

IMPORTANT:  Please do not try to edit the style sheet files.  You can only make changes through the allCLEAR menus and then save the Style Sheet.


Load Another Style Sheet
Loading Another Style Sheet

An operation you may need to perform quite often while managing allCLEAR Style Sheets is to load an existing Style Sheet and apply it to the current diagram.

To load another Style Sheet:

1.  Make the Diagram window active.

2.  Select Open from the File menu.

3.  When the Open dialog box appears, change file type to .STY - allCLEAR Style Sheet.

4.  From the list of .STY files, click the one you wish to apply.  If you don't see the desired file on the list, you may want to change directory.  When ready, click OK.

allCLEAR displays the Open Style Sheet dialog box.

5.  Specify which of the new Style Sheet settings you wish to apply.  If you want everything to be applied, leave all the options checked.  When ready, click OK.

allCLEAR loads the existing Style Sheet and applies it to the script file.  You should remember that, if the current script file is different from the script file related to the new Style Sheet, allCLEAR will do its best to apply the Local Style and User Objects.  In some cases, however, the result may not be to your satisfaction and you will have to put some more work into customizing the diagram.

In addition, although you have loaded a Style Sheet with a different name, when you close the current script file, its Style Sheet (.STY file with the same name as the script file) will get updated or created, if it does not exist.


Deafault Style Sheet
The DEFAULT Style Sheet

For your convenience, allCLEAR comes with the DEFAULT Style Sheet.  It is called  DEFAULT.STY and is located in the \ALL2\ACL directory. The purpose of the Default Style Sheet is to give you a starting point for managing the Style Sheets in allCLEAR.  There are two things you can do with the DEFAULT Style Sheet:

You can load the DEFAULT Style Sheet and overwrite the current one.  To do this, select Open from the File menu, change file type to .STY, directory to \ALL2\ACL, and select DEFAULT.STY.

You can modify the DEFAULT Style Sheet by saving any existing Style Sheet as the DEAFULT.  To do this, click the Save as Default button which is found on any Global Style dialog box.

IMPORTANT:  When you save any Style Sheet as the DEFAULT Style Sheet, only Global Style settings will be saved.  Any Local Style or user objects will be ignored.


Manage Script Files
Managing Script Files

Open an Existing File...

Save the File with a New Name...

Copy an Existing File...

Edit the Script File...

Use Your Own Word Processor...

All of the file management activities in allCLEAR are organized in the File menu.  The default file extension for allCLEAR script files is .ACL and it is associated with allCLEAR script file type in your Windows environment.  So, if you double click the   .ACL file in Program Manager, you will find yourself editing the file using the allCLEAR editor.

We recommend that you keep all of the script files that you create in the     \ALLCLEAR\ACL directory.  After the allCLEAR installation, that directory has four sample files, one for each diagram type.


Print Script
Printing a Script File

In the process of working with your script file, you may want to print it.  When printed, the script file is properly indented and formatted using the built-in allCLEAR printing utility.

To print the script file:

1.  Make the Script window active.

2.  Select Print from the File menu or press [F7].

allCLEAR displays the Print Script dialog box.  You can change:

Printer - choose from the list of printers installed in Windows for your system.

Printer Setup - run the Windows Printer Setup program to choose a printer which has not been previously installed, to redirect output to File, or to change various printing options (such as fonts, page orientation, etc.).

Number of Copies - enter the number of copies you want printed (default is 1).

File Name - name of the script file is printed in the top right corner of every page.

User Name - name of the allCLEAR user is printed in the bottom right corner of every page.

Company Name - name of the company is printed in the bottom right corner of every page.

Page Numbers - pages are consecutively numbered in the top right corner.

Date/Time - the date and time when the script file was last updated is printed next to the file name on every page.

Line Numbers - lines are consecutively numbered.

Border - every page has a border with header and footer titles separated with lines.

3.  Make the desired changes most selections are toggled by clicking the appropriate check boxes.  When ready, click OK

allCLEAR begins printing your script file.

4.  To abort printing, click Cancel.


Use Your Own Word Processor
Using Your Own Word Processor

If you choose, you can use any word processor or editor with allCLEAR to create and edit script files.

Following are most of the formats supported by allCLEAR:

ASCII

Word Perfect

Lotus WK1

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word for Windows

dBASE

You can also use any other word processor, as long as it can save files as ASCII.

To use your own word processor:

1.  In your word processor, create a document and describe the information you wish to diagram.  Use allCLEAR punctuation marks to determine the flow of information.

2.  Without exiting the word processor, save the script file.   This file should have extension other than .ACL.

3.  If allCLEAR is already running, press [Alt]+[Tab] as many times as necessary to get to the allCLEAR application window.  If allCLEAR is not running, start it from Program Manager.

4.  When in allCLEAR, select Open from File menu.  In the Open File dialog box, change file type and/or file extension to the one you need.  Then select the file you want from the list of files.

allCLEAR will read the file, convert its format and displays the diagram.  When you open a file which has extension other than .ACL, only the Diagram window will be opened.

5.  To go back to editing the script file, press [Alt]+[Tab] as many times as necessary to get back to your word processor application window.  When ready to see the effect of changes on the diagram, save the file.

6.  Back in allCLEAR, select Refresh from the Window menu or press [F5].  Only then will the diagram be updated.

IMPORTANT:  When allCLEAR processes the script file, whether for diagram generation, it first converts it to ASCII format.  Thus, all the Word Processor control sequences, such as underline or bold text, will be lost.  Always remember NOT TO spend time formatting the text with your Word Processor while editing an allCLEAR script file.

If allCLEAR reports a problem with file conversion, save the file as ASCII from your word processor prior to displaying the diagram or opening the Script window.


Spreadsheets
Working with Spreadsheets

This is an advanced feature of allCLEAR for Windows.  Please refer to pages 9-12 through 9-22 of the User's Guide for instructions on how to create your scripts within Lotus or Excel spreadsheets.


DBF Files
Working with DBF Files

This is an advanced feature of allCLEAR for Windows.  Please refer to pages 9-23 through 9-25 of the User's Guide for instructions on how to create your scripts within DBF files.


Project File
Working with Project Files

When you are working on a project which consists of several diagrams, you can open them all at the same time by using an allCLEAR Project File.  A project file is an ASCII file which simply lists the different .ACL files which are part of this project.

To create and use a project file:

1.  Run  the Notepad editor from Program Manager.

2.  Enter the name and directory of all .ACL files which is part of this project, each file on a new line.  For example:

C:\ALL2\ACL\FILE1.ACL

C:\ALL2\ACL\FILE2.ACL

C:\ALL2\ACL\FILE3.ACL

3.  Save the file and give it extension .PRJ, for example:

MYPROJECT.PRJ

4.  Go to allCLEAR and select Open from the File menu.

5.  In the File Open dialog box, change File Type to .PRJ - allCLEAR Project File.  Then, when you see your file on the list, select it and click OK .

allCLEAR opens all the script file and displays all the diagrams which belong to this project file.


Warnings and Errors

Choose the error or warning number for which you would like help:

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Error #1
Error #1:  Empty if

Line ###,  File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: No script symbols found between ? and ?end.

Check for language mistake.

PROBLEM: You placed an if structure with neither statements nor choices in between the ? and ?end script symbols.

SOLUTION:  The if structure cannot be empty.  Add at least one statement or choice (or simply a pair of parentheses) in between the ? and ?end.


Warning #2
Warning #2:  Goto with no label

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

WARNING ##: Goto found with no matching Label.

Check for proper pairing of  >LabelName and -LabelName.

PROBLEM: You placed a goto script symbol into the script without adding a matching label.  allCLEAR has added a box "NEEDED FOR LABEL" at the goto position.

SOLUTION:  Every goto must have a matching label in the same script.  Add a label script symbol with the same label name as the goto before the script line for the goto's destination.


Error #3
Error #3:  Choice without case or if

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Choice found outside of an if or case.

Place the () within an if or case structure.

PROBLEM 1: You entered the choice script symbol into a script and forgot to put the case begin or if begin script symbols ahead of it in the script, and the case end or if end after it.

SOLUTION:  The choice script symbol is only allowed within a case or if structure.  Add begin and end script symbols for the proper structure before and after the choice.

PROBLEM 2: You accidentally placed a word in parentheses at the beginning of a script line, and it is being mistaken for a choice script symbol.

SOLUTION: Reformat the text of the script line so at least one word comes before the parentheses.


Error #4
Error #4:  Duplicate labels

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Duplicate copies found of this label.

Only one copy of each -LabelName is allowed in a script.

PROBLEM 1: A label was placed in a script more than once.

SOLUTION: Remove all the duplicate copies of the label, leaving only one copy in script for each label name.

PROBLEM 2: Another label was added to a script with the same label name as an existing label.

SOLUTION: Change the label names in the duplicate labels and their matching gotos, so that they all use different names.


Error #5
Error #5:  Improper construction

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Improper language construction.

Check for language mistake.

PROBLEM: You made a mistake in the script file which is not covered in any of the error messages.  For example, you forgot to close the parentheses for one of the if or case choices.

SOLUTION: Check the script file carefully to make sure all the constructions are done according to the allCLEAR language rules.


Error #7
Error #7:  Improper connection

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Diagram cannot be connected properly.

Check diagram type.

PROBLEM: There are neither boxes nor connection lines on the diagram.

SOLUTION: Check the script file to make sure it contains the script.  Also check the diagram type setting in the Style Sheet.


Error #8
Error #8:  \end found in a procedure

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Tree found in process chart.

Change the diagram type to tree, org chart or decision tree.

PROBLEM: You tried to create a Process Chart from a script that contained a tree structure.

SOLUTION 1: A Process Chart cannot be produced from a tree structure.  Remove the tree structure from the Script file.

SOLUTION 2: Tree structures can only be used with Tree/Org Charts or Decision Tree diagrams.  Change the Diagram Type in allCLEAR to produce one of these three acceptable types of diagrams.


Warning #9
Warning #9:  Connection to END OF SCRIPT added

Warning ##: Connection to END OF SCRIPT added

to make the script logically complete.

EXPLANATION: allCLEAR cautions you that it had to add a connection (leading to the procedure STOP box).  This connection is not described in the script.

COMMENTS: Make sure that this is what you intended and not a mistake.  A common problem resulting in this situation is when there is a loop at the end of the script file and the "False" (or No) branch is not described.


Warning #10
Warning #10:  END OF SCRIPT added

EXPLANATION: allCLEAR cautions you that it had to add a stop box "END OF SCRIPT" at the end of the procedure.

COMMENTS: Make sure that this is what you intended and not a mistake.  A common problem resulting in this situation is when there is a loop at the end of the script file with no statements after it.


Warning #11
Warning #11:  Missing include file

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Cannot find include file.

PROBLEM 1: You entered an include script symbol into a script and misspelled the name or path of the external script file.  The external script file referenced in the include does not exist in the specified directory.

SOLUTION: Make sure that your include script symbol is entered correctly (the format is #C:\PATH\FILENAME) and that the external script file exists.

PROBLEM 2: You entered an include script symbol into a script and misspelled the name of the internal script.  The internal script referenced in the include does not exist inside of the script file.

SOLUTION:  Make sure that your include script symbol is entered correctly (the format is #INTSCRIPTNAME) and that the current script file contains the corresponding internal script (INTSCRIPTNAME=...=end script symbol).


Error #12
Error #12:  File includes itself

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: File includes itself.

PROBLEM: You have an include script symbol which references an external script with the same name as that of the current script file.

SOLUTION: Check the include script symbol and make sure it directs allCLEAR to include an external file other than the script file itself.  If you are trying to include a section of the script file, the way to do it is by making it into an internal script with the = and =end script symbols.


Error #13
Error #13:  No connections

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: More than one box, no connections.

Check diagram type.

PROBLEM: Several single script symbols found which are not connected to anything.

SOLUTION 1: A Tree diagram cannot be produced without the tree structure.  Add the tree begin and tree end script symbols at the appropriate places in the script file.

SOLUTION 2: Change the diagram type in allCLEAR to produce the Process Chart.


Error #14
Error #14:  ? without ?end

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: If begin found with no matching if end.

Check for proper pairing of ? and ?end in the script.

PROBLEM: The if end script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the if structure.

SOLUTION: Every if structure must end with the if end script symbol, which is ?end on its own script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol after the last script line for the if structure.


Error #15
Error #15:  ?end without ?

Line ###: Error ##: If end found with no matching if begin.

Check for proper pairing of ? and ?end in the script.

PROBLEM: The if begin script symbol was left out of the script at the start of the if structure.

SOLUTION: Every if structure must start with the if begin script symbol, which is ? at the end of a script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol at the end of the script line which starts the if structure.


Error #16
Error #16:  ; without ;end

Line ###,  File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Loop begin found with no matching loop end.

Check for proper pairing of ; and ;end in the script.

PROBLEM: The loop end script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the loop structure.

SOLUTION: Every loop structure must end with the loop end script symbol, which is ;end on its own script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol after the last script line for the loop structure.


Error #17
Error #17:  ;end without ;

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Loop end found with no matching loop begin.

Check for proper pairing of ; and ;end in the script.

PROBLEM: The loop begin script symbol was left out of the script at the start of the loop structure.

SOLUTION: Every loop structure must start with the loop begin script symbol, which is ; at the end of a script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol at the end of the script line which starts the case structure.


Error #18
Error #18:  : without :end

Line ###,   File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Case begin found with no matching case end.

Check for proper pairing of : and :end in the script.

PROBLEM: The case end script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the case structure.

SOLUTION: Every case structure must end with the case end script symbol, which is :end on its own script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol after the last script line for the case structure.


Error #19
Error #19:  :end without :

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Case end found with no matching case begin.

Check for proper pairing of : and :end in the script.

PROBLEM 1: The case begin script symbol was left out of the script at the start of the case structure.

SOLUTION: Every case structure must start with the case begin script symbol, which is : at the end of a script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol at the end of the script line which starts the case structure.

PROBLEM 2: The loop end script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the loop structure.

SOLUTION: Every loop structure must end with the loop end script symbol, which is ;end on its own script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol after the last script line for the loop structure.


Error #20
Error #20:  \ without \end

Line ###,   File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Tree begin found with no matching tree end.

Check for proper pairing of \ and \end in the script.

PROBLEM: The tree end script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the tree structure.

SOLUTION: Every if structure must end with the if end script symbol, which is \end on its own script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol after the last script line for the tree structure.


Error #21
Error #21:  \end without \

Line ###,   File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Tree end found with no matching tree begin.

Check for proper pairing of \ and \end in the script.

PROBLEM:  The tree begin script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the tree    structure.

SOLUTION: Every tree structure must start with the tree begin script symbol, which is \ at the end of a script line, and followed by a carriage return.  You must add this script symbol at the end of the script line which starts the tree structure.


Error #22
Error #22:  { without }

Line ###,  File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Comment not closed by end of file.

Comment must be closed!

PROBLEM: The comment end script symbol was left out of the script at the end of the comment text.

SOLUTION: Every comment must end with the comment end script symbol, which is }.  You must add this script symbol at the end of text which you don't wish to appear on the diagram (or at the end of the comment text).


Warning #23
Warning #23:  STOP added

EXPLANATION: allCLEAR cautions you that it had to add a stop box "STOP" and a connection to it in the middle of the diagram.

COMMENTS: Make sure that this is what you intended and not a mistake.  A common script resulting in this situation is when there is a series of unresolved ifs (or ifs with only the Yes branch described).  In this case, allCLEAR shows a STOP in the procedure as the No option for all of the unresolved ifs.


Warning #24
Warning #24:  Diagram has more than one beginning

EXPLANATION: allCLEAR cautions you that the procedure has more than one starting points.

COMMENTS: Make sure that this is what you intended and not a mistake.  A common script resulting in this situation is when there is an unconditional goto jumping forward over a few of the following procedure steps.


Warning #25
Warning #25:  Diagram has more than one end

EXPLANATION: allCLEAR cautions you that the procedure has more than one stops.

COMMENTS: Make sure that this is what you intended and not a mistake.  A common script resulting in this situation is when the script contains several stop (!) script symbols.


Error #26
Error #26:  LabelName found in a tree or decision tree

Line ###, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Goto found in tree/org chart or decision tree.

Change diagram type to Process Chart

PROBLEM: You tried to create a Tree, Org chart or Decision Tree from a script that contained a goto script symbol.

SOLUTION 1: Tree, Org Charts and Decision Trees cannot be produced from a goto.  Remove the goto from the script file.

SOLUTION 2: Gotos can only be used with Process Charts.  Change the Diagram Type in allCLEAR to produce this type of diagram.


Error #27
Error #27:  ; or ;end found in a tree or decision tree

Line ###,  File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Loop found in a tree/org chart or decision tree.

Change diagram type to Process Chart.

PROBLEM: You tried to create a Tree, Org Chart or Decision Tree from a script that contained a loop structure.

SOLUTION 1: Loop can only be used in Process Charts.   Remove the loop structure from the script file.

SOLUTION 2: Loop can only be used in Process Charts.  Change the Diagram Type in allCLEAR to produce this type of diagram.


Error #28
Error #28:   :, :end, ?, or ?end found in a tree

Line ###, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Case of if found in tree/org chart.

Change diagram type to Process Chart.

PROBLEM: You tried to create a Tree or Org Chart from a script that contained a case or if structure.

SOLUTION 1: Tree and Org Charts cannot be produced from a case or if structure.  Remove the case or if structure from the script file.

SOLUTION 2: Case or if structures can only be used with Process Charts or Decision Trees.  Change the Diagram Type in allCLEAR to produce one of these types of diagram.


Error #29
Error #29:  Goto is closed on itself

Line ###,  File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Goto loop is closed on itself.

Check for language mistake.

PROBLEM: You have a goto and label script symbols which creates a line (no boxes) closing on itself.

SOLUTION: The problem arises only when where is no statements after either of the two labels, for example, when your script contains a construction like this:

-B

>A

-A

>B

Remove one of the goto script symbols or insert procedure steps between the -B and >A or between the -A and >B script symbols.


Error #32
Error #32:  No printer installed

PROBLEM 1:  You have not installed any printer drivers in Windows.

SOLUTION:  Go to Program Manager, Control Panel, Printer Manager and add printer driver for your printer.

PROBLEM 2:  The printer driver installed in Windows is not a graphics printer.

SOLUTION:  If you don't have a graphics printer, you will not be able to print allCLEAR diagrams.  If you do, go to Printer Setup and change the current printer selection.


Error #33
Error #33:  Not enough memory

PROBLEM 1:  There is not enough memory available for allCLEAR to run or complete its operation.

SOLUTION:  Press [Alt]+[Tab] to see what other Windows applications you are running.  You will have to choose one or two which you can close before you can run allCLEAR.


Error #34
Error #34:  Invalid branch selection

PROBLEM 1:  The selected box does not have any subordinates.

SOLUTION: Select a different box which is, in fact, the head of a branch.

PROBLEM 2:  Diagram type is Process Chart and you are trying to select a branch.  Process Charts do not have branches.


Error #35
Error #35:  Too many fonts

PROBLEM 1:  You have selected more than 16 different fonts for this diagram.

SOLUTION:  Change some of the Local Styles for boxes or choices and make sure you are not using more than 16 different fonts.


Error #36
Error #36:  Cannot write work file

PROBLEM 1: allCLEAR cannot access the \ALL2\TEMP directory.

SOLUTION: Check your hard disk to see if it has been damaged. If you are running a Network version of allCLEAR, make sure you have read and write rights to the \ALL2\TEMP directory.

PROBLEM 2: Your hard disk does not have enough free space for allCLEAR to write the temporary files.

SOLUTION: Your hard disk is completely full and you will need to remove some files before you can work with allCLEAR.

PROBLEM 3: \ALL2\TEMP directory does not exist.

SOLUTION: You must have accidentally removed the temporary directory after allCLEAR installation.  Make a directory called "TEMP" in the \ALL2 allCLEAR program directory and try again.


Error #37
Error #37:  Internal Error - code XXX

PROBLEM:  Something in your script or environment configuration caused allCLEAR to crash.

SOLUTION: Please send your .ACL and .STY files to CLEAR Software as soon as possible to report the problem.  Please note the code # and the exact circumstances of the crash.  We greatly appreciate your help in resolving this problem.


Error #39
Error #39:  NONAME?.ACL is reserved

PROBLEM 1:  You have tried to save the script file under a NONAME?.ACL name.  These names are reserved for new untitled files.

SOLUTION Choose a different name.


Error #50
Error #50:	  Missing source file

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Cannot find source file.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: You have removed the script file from the current directory (or the data diskette with that file) after the file was selected and allCLEAR started its processing.

SOLUTION: Check the current directory and make sure that it does have the script file allCLEAR is trying to process.  The reselect the file (or select a different file) and try again.


Error #51
Error #51:	Too many connections

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Too many connections in diagram.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: The diagram is too complex and contains more than 128 connections coming out of a single box.

SOLUTION: Split the script file into two or more and diagram each part separately.  If the diagram exceeds this limit, it is probably, not going to be helpful.


Error #52
Error #52:	 Too many labels

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Too many labels in diagram.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: The script contains more that 200 different -LABELNAME script symbols.

SOLUTION: Make sure to remove all the -LABELNAME script symbols which are not being referred to with any of the gotos.  You should try to keep your script simple and use structures like if, case, and loop to control the flow of the procedure, whenever possible.


Error #53
Error #53:  File conversion problem

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Couldn't convert source file.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: allCLEAR couldn't perform the conversion to ASCII on the script file necessary for its analysis procedures.

SOLUTION 1: Check the script file for damage.  Make sure it contains no binary characters which don't belong there.

SOLUTION 2: If you are using an unusual word processor, output the script file as ASCII from the word processor prior to processing it with allCLEAR.


Error #54
Error #54:	 File conversion problem

Line Unknown,  File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Converted source is not a text file.

Unable to complete the current operation

PROBLEM: The result of allCLEAR script file conversion is not an ASCII file.

SOLUTION 1: Check the script file for damage.  Make sure it contains no binary characters which don't belong there.

SOLUTION 2: If you are using an unusual word processor, output the script file as ASCII from the word processor prior to processing it with allCLEAR.


Error #56
Error #56:  Can't open temp file

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Cannot open temporary file.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: allCLEAR cannot open the temporary data file necessary to complete script analysis procedures.

SOLUTION  1: Check  \ALL2\TEMP directory to make sure it has enough free space to create scratch files.


Error #57
Error #57:  Memory problem

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ##: Out of memory.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: The free RAM available for allCLEAR is not sufficient to complete script file analysis procedures.

SOLUTION: Close some of the applications which are currently running in Windows.


Error #58
Error #58:  System error

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Internal error - call CLEAR SOFTWARE.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: allCLEAR ran into an extreme situation which has not been anticipated.  For example, your script has a nesting structure of more than 100 levels deep.

SOLUTION : Call CLEAR Software, Inc. technical support line to report this problem.


Error #59
Error #59:  Incorrect file format

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Source is not a text file.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: Your script file is not one of the formats supported by allCLEAR.

SOLUTION : allCLEAR supports Word Perfect, Microsoft Word, Excel, Lotus WK1, and DBF file formats.  If your file is not one of those formats, save it as ASCII in your word processor before reading it with allCLEAR


Error #60
Error #60:  Cannot open file

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : File opening error.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM 1: There is not enough free disk space to write the temporary disk file necessary to complete the script analysis procedures.

SOLUTION : Check the \ALL2\TEMP directory and make sure it as at least 100K free space.

PROBLEM 2: The \ALL2\TEMP directory has too many files and allCLEAR is not able to create another one.

SOLUTION : Clean up the \ALL2\TEMP directory and try again.

PROBLEM 3: Disk error is reported for some other reason.

SOLUTION : Check your hard disk for problems.


Error #61
Error #61:  Too many includes

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Too many internal script includes.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: allCLEAR has a stock problem because the internal script includes go more than 30 levels deep.

SOLUTION : Change your script file to make sure that the internal includes are not nested to such an extent.


Warning #79
Warning #79:  Missing end symbol, using outline

EXPLANATION:  allCLEAR cautions you that there is a missing end symbol for one of the logical constructions and it is going to process the file in outline mode.

COMMENTS:  It is best to find the problem and add the missing end symbol to assure accurate diagram.


Error #63
Error #63:  Too many includes

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl  CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Too many external include files.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: allCLEAR has a stock problem because the external script includes open more than 30 levels deep.

SOLUTION : Change your script file to make sure that the external includes are not nested to such an extent.


Error #64
Error #64:  Too many boxes

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Too many boxes in diagram.

Unable to complete the current operation

PROBLEM: The diagram is too complex and contains more than 2,048 boxes.

SOLUTION : Split the script file into two or more and diagram each part separately.  If the diagram exceeds this limit, it is probably, not going to be helpful.


Error #65
Error #65:  Disk problem

Line Unknown, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Problem accessing disk.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM 1: You have removed the data diskette (containing the script file) or opened the disk drive.  allCLEAR cannot access the disk.

SOLUTION : Put the diskette back in.  Make sure not to touch the data disk after allCLEAR begins processing files.

PROBLEM 2: Disk error is reported for some other reason.

SOLUTION : Check your hard disk for problems.


Warning #76
Warning #76:  Empty box, box added

EXPLANATION:  allCLEAR cautions you that it had to add a box "EMPTY BOX" to the diagram.

COMMENTS: Make sure that this is what you intended and not a mistake.  A common script resulting in this situation is when there is an if or case begin and end but there is nothing inside of it.  In these situations, allCLEAR shows an "EMPTY YES" box or "EMPTY CHOICE" box respectively.


Error #77
Error #77:  Language parsing error

Line ###, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Language parsing error.

Unable to complete the current operation.

PROBLEM: An internal error has occurred during script file processing.

SOLUTION : Please contact CLEAR Software, Inc. technical support to report the problem.


Error #78
Error #78:  Inconsistent script

Line ###, File: filename.acl   CHART TYPE

ERROR ## : Script has both tree and flow symbols.

Change diagram type to Process Chart.

PROBLEM: You tried to create a Tree, Org chart or Decision Tree from a script that contained a goto script symbol.

SOLUTION  1: Tree, Org Charts and Decision Trees cannot be produced from a goto.  Remove the goto from the script file.

SOLUTION  2: Gotos can only be used with Process Charts.  Change the Diagram Type in allCLEAR to produce this type of diagram.


Script Commands
Script Commands...

Script Macros...

Choose from the following alphabetized list for more information on any of the script commands:

Assistant...

Attach...

Case...

Comment...

Goto...

Hide...

If...

Include...

Label...

Loop...

Outline...

Paragraph...

Shape...

Show...

Statement...

Stop...

Text Line...

Text Select...

Title...

Tree...

YesNo...


Assistant Command
Assistant

The assistant script command is used to create a box on an Org chart in between the levels of hierarchy for an assistant or secretary.

& assistant name.

Restrictions: No more than two assistants per box.

Diagram Result:  A diagram box is created for the assistant right below the parent box and above the next level of subordinates.


Attach Command
Attach

Attaching Objects to Boxes...  (examples of various Attach commands)

Launching Attached Diagrams or Applications...

The attach script command is used to identify the name of a script file or a Windows application which is attached to a box on the diagram.  This option does not affect the way the diagram looks, but is used while viewing diagrams to automatically launch the attached chart or application.

Launch from here.

{*ATTACH  (description of object 1) filename1.ext; (description of object 2) filename2.ext  }

Script Rules:

The Attach command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Attach command and the file name.

Descriptions of attached objects must be entered in parentheses in front of the file or application names.  If there is only one attached object, you description will never be displayed.

To attach multiple objects to the same box, they must be entered in the same Attach command, separated with semicolons.

Extension .ACL is assumed unless specified otherwise.

Working directory is assumed unless specified otherwise.

If the attached file is associated with an application in Windows, that application will be launched with the file.

Diagram Result:  Attach does not affect the diagram.   Boxes which have objects attached to them are marked with special arrow flags in the top right corners, on display only.


Case Command
Case

The case command is used to illustrate a multiple choice decision by creating a multiple branching point on a Process Chart or Decision Tree diagram.

Decision :  --> case begin

   ( choice 1 )  --> decision choices

   ( choice 2 )

   ...

   ( choice n )

:end  --> case end

Script Rules:

The case begin script symbol - : - must be at the end of the script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The case choice script symbols - ( ) - must be at the start of the script lines.

A carriage return is not required after the case choice script symbol; other script symbols may follow a choice on the same script line.

Each case structure must contain at least one case choice.

Any number of script lines may follow each choice.

Diagram Result:  A diagram box is created for the case begin with a separate branch leaving it for each case choice.  Each case choice creates a branch leaving the case begin diagram box.

Restrictions: Not allowed in Tree and Org charts.


Comment Command
Comment

A comment is used to mark off sections of a script that should not be included in the diagram.  Comments are typically used as documentation for the people who need to read the script file.

{ Comment Text }

Script Rules:

Characters within the comment script symbol are ignored by allCLEAR.

Comments may be placed before a script line, in the middle, and even at the end of a script line.

Comments can include multiple script lines.

Restrictions:  Comments cannot be nested one inside of another.

Diagram Result:  Anything within the comment script symbol is ignored when the diagram is created.


Show Command
Show

Hide Command...

The Show command is used to direct allCLEAR to begin showing the script symbols, such as question marks, colons or periods, which have previously been hidden using the Hide command.

{*SHOW  ALL} --> show all script commands

{*SHOW  !} --> show only one specified script command

{*SHOW  .  !  ?  :  ;} --> show several specified script commands

Script Rules:

The Show command must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The Show command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Show command and the option.

An option list is entered with each option separated by spaces.

Once the Show command is reached in a script, that new format remains in effect until the script is finished.

The default for this command is SHOW ALL.

Diagram Result:

The SHOW directive has allCLEAR display the script symbols on a diagram.


Hide Command
Hide

Show Command...

The Hide command is used to direct allCLEAR to hide the script symbols, such as question marks, colons or periods, and not to display them on the diagram.

{*HIDE  ALL} --> hide all script commands

{*HIDE  !} --> hide only one specified script command

{*HIDE  .  !  ?  :  ;} --> hide several specified script commands

Script Rules:

The Hide command must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The Hide command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Hide command and the option.

An option list is entered with each option separated by spaces.

Once the Hide command is reached in a script, that new format remains in effect until the script is finished.

The default for this command is Hide ALL.

Diagram Result:

The HIDE directive keeps allCLEAR from displaying the script symbols, such as the question mark, on a diagram.


Outline Command
Outline

Outline Mode...

The Outline command clarifies whether the information is entered into a script using only indentation (Outline On, Outline Mode) or script commands (Outline Off, Script Mode).

{*OUTLINE  on}  -->begin script in Outline mode

{*OUTLINE  off}  -->go back to Script mode

Script Rules:

The Outline command must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The Outline command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Outline command and the setting.

Once the Hide command is reached in a script, that new format remains in effect until the script is finished.

The default for this command is OUTLINE OFF.

Restrictions:  When OUTLINE is ON, spaces and tabs are interpreted as script symbols.

Diagram Result:  The resulting diagram is unchanged.


Paragraph Command
Paragraph

The Paragraph command allows you enter information into a script without using periods at the end of statement script lines.  When PARAGRAPH is OFF, a script line which ends with a carriage return but no period is treated like a statement and displayed in its own box.

{*PARAGRAPH  on}  -->go back to paragraph per box mode

{*PARAGRAPH  off}  -->begin line per box mode

Script Rules:

The Paragraph command must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The Paragraph command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Paragraph command and the setting.

Once the Paragraph command is reached in a script, that new format remains in effect until the script is finished.

The default for this command is PARAGRAPH ON.

Diagram Result:  The resulting diagram is unchanged.


Shape Command
Shape

The Shape command is used to assign one of the 170 allCLEAR shapes to a particular script line.  The same can be achieved by selecting the appropriate box on the diagram and changing its shape through Local Style.

{*SHAPE  n}  Text of script line.

Script Rules:

The Shape command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Shape command and the shape number.

Restrictions:  Single box shape assignment is overwritten by the Local Style selections.

Diagram Result:  Produces a box with the indicated shape.


YesNo Command
YesNo

The Yesno command is used to change the default text for two-way decisions.  The default text is used when the script does not specify the actual text for either of the If choices.

{*YESNO  YesText  NoText }

Script Rules:

Up to 30 characters of text may be automatically substituted for the words Yes and No when the if structure and loop structure are drawn on a diagram.

The Yesno command must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The Yesno command must follow the opening left brace and asterisk, with no spaces in between.

There must be at least one space between the Yesno command, the text of the Yes choice, and the text of the No choice.

Once the Yesno command is reached in a script, that new format remains in effect until the script is finished.

Diagram Result:  The first option in the YESNO command replaces the word Yes on a diagram, and the second option replaces the No.


Goto Command
Goto/Label

Multiple Process Entry Points...

The Goto command is used along with the Label command to draw a line from one diagram box to another.

-Labelname

JUMP TO here.

...

JUMP FROM here.

>Labelname

Script Rules:

The Goto command can be placed at the beginning or end (after the period) of the script line.  There should be no spaces between the > command and the labelname.

The label command must be placed at the beginning of a line and should not contain spaces.  Upper or lower case label names are treated identically.

For every goto there must be a matching label in the same script.

There may be any number of gotos for a single label.

Label names may be up to 30 characters long, and may not contain spaces.

Restrictions:  Gotos are only allowed in Process diagrams.

Diagram Result:  The goto script symbol causes an arrow to be drawn from the diagram box before the goto to the diagram box after the label.  The label name within the goto is not displayed on the diagram.


If Command
If

The If command is used to illustrate a question with two possible answers, which are assumed to be Yes and No by default.  It creates a two-way branching point on the diagram.

Question ?  --> if begin

   ( Yes )  --> if choices

   ( No )

?end  --> if end

Script Rules:

The if begin script symbol - ? - must be at the end of the script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The if choice script symbols - ( ) - must be at the start of the script lines.

A carriage return is not required after the if choice script symbol; other script symbols may follow a choice on the same script line.

Each if structure must contain at least one if choice.

Any number of script lines may follow each choice.

If there are no if choices, all script lines within the if structure are assumed to be part of the yes choice.

Diagram Result:  A diagram box is created for the if begin with two branches leaving it; text found on the if begin script line is placed in the diagram box.  Each if choice creates a line leaving theif begin diagram box.  Lines are labeled with the text of the if choices.

Restrictions: Not allowed in Tree and Org charts.


Include Command
Include

The Include is used to add the contents of an external script file at any point in a diagram, allowing commonly used script lines to be written once and used in many different places.

#Filename

Script Rules:

The include script symbol must be on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

An include may be repeated any number of times for the same external or internal script.

Include file names may be entered in upper or lower case.   File names used in the include do not need the .ACL extension, and may be in either upper or lower case.

The file name may contain any legal DOS file specification, such as the drive letter followed by a colon, or a subdirectory path.

Diagram Result:  The include does not affect the diagram directly, but the diagram boxes for the included script are placed in the diagram at the point of the include.


Title Command
Title

allCLEAR provides a way to title your diagrams.  The Title is displayed on the first page of the diagram and its properties can be changed using the Global Style.

This is the diagram title  --> the very first line in the file

                                           --> need a blank line here to create title

First box on the diagram.

....

Script Rules:

To have the first script line displayed as a title on the diagram, it must be followed by a blank line.

A script line used as a title doesn't need a script symbol at the end of the line.

Diagram Result:  Other than the title produced, this script line has no affect on the diagram.


Loop Command
Loop

The Loop command is used to illustrate a repetitive set of steps on a Process Chart.

Question ;                                                    --> loop begin

  Step repeated while condition is true.   --> repeating steps

  ...

;end                                                             --> loop end

Script Rules:

At least one script line must appear within a loop structure.

The loop begin script symbol must be placed at the end of a script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The loop end script symbol must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

Restrictions:  Not allowed in Decision Trees, Tree or Org Charts.

Diagram Result: The Loop command creates a diagram box with two branches leaving it.  One branch is labeled with the word No, and ends at the diagram box after the loop end; the other branch is labeled Yes, and ends at the diagram box after the loop begin.  Diagram boxes for script lines within the loop structure are placed along the Yes branch.


Statement Command
Statement

The Statement is the basic building block of a script.  It represents a single step in a procedure or detail in a list.

Statement text .

Script Rules:

The Statement command must be at the end of the script line and be followed by a carriage return.

Diagram Result:  Creates a box on a diagram.


Stop Command
Stop

The Stop command is used to describe an ending or exit point in the middle of a procedure.

Last step !

Script Rules:

The Stop command must be at the end of the script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The Stop command has to be used at the end of If or Case branches to prevent them from "falling through" to the step which follows the if or case end.

A script may have any number of stops.

The stop is not needed at the end of a script.

Restrictions:  Not allowed in Tree and Org charts.

Diagram Result: The Stop command creates an end box on the diagram, with no outgoing lines.


Text Line Command
Text Line

The text line is used to force a line break in the text on a diagram box at a particular place.

First box line  |  Second box line.

Script Rules:

The Text Line command may be placed anywhere within a script line, and may be repeated any number of times.

The Text Line command must have spaces on both sides.

Diagram Result: The text line forces the text within a diagram box onto a new line.


Text Select Command
Text Select

The Text Select command an excerpted portion of a script line to be displayed in a diagram box.

Text [ display this text only ] Text

Script Rules:

The text select script symbol may be placed anywhere within a script line.

Multiple text selects may be used to mark out several portions of a single script line.

Text select script symbols may not be nested one inside of another.

Diagram Result:  When the text select is used in a script line, only the text within this script symbol appears in the diagram box.


Tree Command
Tree

Outline Mode...

Assistant...

The Tree command produces a hierarchical diagram structure, also used for organizational charts.

Top of the tree \

   Branch one.

   Branch two.

   ...

\end

Script Rules:

The tree begin script symbol must be at the end of the script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

The tree end script symbol must be placed on its own script line, and be followed by a carriage return.

Restrictions:  The Tree command cannot be used in Process Charts.  Tree structures may not contain a goto, label, or loop commands.

Diagram Result:  A diagram box is created for the tree begin, with a branch leaving it for each script line within the tree structure.

IMPORTANT:  Outline mode is, probably, the most convenient for doing trees.


Open Existing File
Opening an Existing File

If you want to work on a diagram or script which has been created earlier, you need to open the corresponding file(s).

To open an existing file:

1.  Select Open from the File menu.

allCLEAR displays the Open File dialog box which shows the list of files of the selected file type in the selected drive and directory.

2.  Click the filename which you wish to select - it now appears in the "File Name" field.  If you are sure, click OK or press [Enter].  The alternative way is to type in the desired file name in the "File Name" field.

allCLEAR loads the script file, processes it and displays its diagram.  You will see two windows:

the Script Window with the script file

the Diagram Window with the corresponding diagram.

The Diagram window is active and the two windows are tiled.  You have three options for opening the file in allCLEAR:

Open both the Script and the Diagram window (default)

Open the Script window only

Open the Diagram window only

To change the default File Open options:

1. Click the Editor check box to unselect the Script window so that only the diagram is displayed.  Or click the Diagram check box to unselect the Diagram window so that only the script file is displayed.

If you cannot find your file on the list, check the current path setting in the File Open dialog box.  allCLEAR works with any file directory accessible to your PC.

To change the current path:

1.  In the Directories list box of the File Open dialog box, double click the drive and/or directory which you wish to make current.  Or position the cursor on the desired drive and/or directory and press [Enter].

You can see the current path displayed in the center of the dialog box.

2.  You can change the files to list setting by entering a different extension mask in the File Name field.  For example, you can display all the files in the current directory by typing: *.* [Enter], or you can use the File Type field to select another type of files to list.


Save with New Name
Saving the File with a New Name

Let's suppose that you have changed the script file and its diagram, and then decided that you want to save it under a new name, keeping the original file intact.  Or, let's suppose that you want to make a copy of a script file and its diagram before you start working on it.  Both of these tasks are accomplished by saving the file under a new name.

To save the file under a new name:

1.  Open the file and make the Script window active.

2.  Select Save As from the File menu.

allCLEAR displays the Save As dialog box.

3.  In the "File Name' field, enter the new filename (or click the name of existing file which you wish to overwrite) and click OK.

allCLEAR checks for a file with that name and, if it exists, asks you whether or not you wish to overwrite it.  When the save operation is completed, the script and diagram windows contain the new files.

IMPORTANT:  When you choose to save the script file under a new name, the Style Sheet file with that new name will also be created (or updated).


Outline Mode

You can choose to write your scripts in Outline rather than Script mode.  This means that you can use indentation or [Tab] to identify the beginnings and ends of logical structures and omit the end commands (such as ?end or \end).  In addition, in Outline mode, for tree and org charts, you can omit the tree begin command (\).

Please remember that if you are using Outline mode, you have to be very careful about pressing the [Tab] key the right number of times and keeping the indentation structure of the script extremely clean.  An extra space or [Tab] may be interpreted as a level indicator.

Following is an example of the same script written in Outline and Script modes:

Script Mode

Are you hungry?

   (Yes) Have dinner.

   Dinner menu\

   Appetizer.

   Soup.

   Main course.

   Dessert.

   \end

   (No) Go for a walk.

?end

Go to sleep.

Outline Mode

Are you hungry?

    (Yes) Have dinner.

              Dinner menu

                  Appetizer.

                  Soup.

                  Main course.

                  Dessert.

    (No) Go for a walk.

Go to sleep.


File Menu

New - create a new script and diagram.

Open - open an existing script and diagram.

Close, [Ctrl]+[F4] - close the currently active window.

Save, [F8] - save the currently active script or diagram under the same name.  If allCLEAR is running as a server of an Embedded Object to another client application, this menu option becomes Update and performs update of the embedded diagram object.

Save As - save the currently active script and diagram under a new name.

Edit Script, [F2] - open the Script window and enter the allCLEAR editor.

Display Diagram, [F10] - open the Diagram window and display the diagram.

Print, [F7] - print the Diagram or the script, whichever is active.

Printer Setup - run Windows printer setup to change print settings or add another printer.

Preferences - change allCLEAR user preferences.

Exit, [Alt]+[F4] - close all windows and exit the allCLEAR application.


Edit Menu

Undo, [Alt]+[Backspace] - undo the previous edit operation.

Cut, [Shift]+[Del] - delete the selected object(s) block of text and place it on the clipboard].

Copy, [Ctrl]+[Ins] - copy the selected object(s) or block of text to the clipboard.

Paste, [Shift]+[Ins] - place the object(s) or block of text from the clipboard to the current cursor position.

To Outline - convert script file to Outline mode, remove all \ and \end, ?end, etc. and put in the necessary indents.

To Script - convert script file to Script mode, add missing ?end, :end, etc.

Format - format the current script file.

Macro Buttons - show/don't show the script macro buttons on the button bar.

Draw Tool Box - open/close the free draw tools for adding user objects.


Style Menu

Global - activate Global Style and change global diagram properties.

Local - activate Local Style for the selected object(s) and change object properties.

Adjust Box to Text - size all the selected boxes up or down to fit the box text completely.

Grow Box to Text - size all the selected boxes up, if necessary, to fit the box text completely.


View Menu

Fit-in-Window, [F4] - scale the diagram down until all the pages fit in the Diagram window.

Actual Size, [F6] - display the diagram exactly as it will appear on the printer, in WYSIWYG view.

Double Size - scale the diagram up so it is 200% or its actual size.

Scale Up, [+] - scale the diagram up to the next zoom level.

Scale Down, [-]  scale the diagram down to the next zoom level.

Navigate - display the diagram in Fit-in-Window view and zoom in on selected area.

Launch - open attached diagram or application.


Group Menu

Row - select all boxes on the same row as the one currently selected for Local Style operations.

Column - select all boxes on the same column as the one currently selected for Local Style operations.

All Boxes - select all boxes on the diagram.

Down - select all diagram boxes on the same column, but below the one currently selected for Local Style operations.

Branch - select all diagram objects on the same branch for Local Style operations.

All Unfitted Boxes - select all boxes which are too small to fit the complete box text.

Unselect All - unselect all the currently selected diagram objects.


Window Menu

Tile - tile all open windows.

Cascade - cascade all open windows.

Arrange Icons - make all the icons for minimized windows visible.

Close All - close all the open windows.

Refresh, [F5] - update the information in the current window.

List of Open Windows - activate particular window.


Search Menu

Find - find a string of text.

Rplace - find one or all occurences of a string of text and replace it with another.

Search Again, [F3] - repeat the previous find or replace operation.

Go to Line Number - locate the line with a particular line number in the file.


Help Menu

Index, [F1] - display the index of help topics with help search options.

Keyboard - get help on keyboard equivalents to allCLEAR commands and buttons.

Commands - get help on allCLEAR commands, menus and buttons.

Using Help - get help on how to use the allCLEAR help system.

About allCLEAR - show a brief information screen about the current version of allCLEAR.


Introduction
Dear allCLEAR User:

Welcome to allCLEAR for Windows!

Please take a few moments to read the following introduction.  I believe that, once you understand the general approach of allCLEAR for Windows, you will be able to get started right away without having to read the manuals.  You will also find you can easily access even the more advanced and powerful features.

General Approach of allCLEAR for Windows:

allCLEAR generates diagrams from any script file.  A Script File is a text description of the diagram complete with punctuation marks (script commands) indicating the flow of information.

Diagram consist of objects - boxes, box text, lines, labels, and titles.  These objects are generated automatically from the script file.   We will call them "diagram objects."

You can modify the global appearance of the diagram (change properties of all diagram objects)

through the Global Style.  To access Global Style, click with the right mouse button.

You can further customize the appearance of the diagram by changing properties of one or several diagram objects (such as one box or a group of boxes).  To do that, select the object(s) first by clicking them with the left mouse button (or [Shift]-click to select multiple objects).  Then click with the right mouse button to modify  the Local Style for the selected object(s).

You can add free elements (not related to the script) to the diagram using the Draw Tool Box.  These free elements or "user objects" can be a box with text, lines, text or graphic image from the clipboard.

allCLEAR works with 2 different files per single diagram:  filename.acl - script from which the diagram is generated and filename.sty - Style Sheet with Global and Local attributes for all the diagram objects and all the user objects.

Quick Sample Session:

1.  Select Open from the File menu.

You will see a choice of 4 script files (one for each of the 4 diagram types supported by allCLEAR).  These files are in the \ALL2\ACL\ directory.

2.  Click one of the files, then select OK.

allCLEAR opens two windows - the Script window with the script and the Diagram window with

the diagram of the selected file.

3.  When the diagram is displayed, select Scale Up/Down from the View menu to find the view that is best for you.

4.  Click the Artist and Direction buttons on the button bar to change the layout and direction of the diagram.  These buttons are short cuts for changing the Global Style properties.

5.  Select Global from the Style menu or click with the right mouse button to modify the global settings of the diagram.  allCLEAR displays the Global Style dialog box.  You should go through and select all the items in the leftmost options box to find out which properties you can change for every one of the diagram objects.

6.  Select Edit Script from the File menu to see or modify the script file.

7.  To display the diagram again, select Display Diagram from the File menu or click the Diagram window to make it active.  allCLEAR refreshes the Diagram window.

8.  To select one of the diagram objects (box, line or choice), click it with the left mouse button.   To select several diagram objects, hold down the [Shift] key and click all the objects which you want to select, one after another without releasing the [Shift] key until all objects are selected.  To select a certain group of objects, use the Group menu.

9.  To change properties of selected objects only, select Local from the Style menu or click with the right mouse button.

allCLEAR displays the Local Style dialog box with the available options.

10.  Change some of the properties for the selected object(s), then select OK and watch allCLEAR redraw the diagram with the new settings.

11.  If you are looking at a particular box and want to quickly locate the corresponding line in the script file, double-click that box with the left mouse button.  To locate a box on the diagram which corresponds to a particular line in the script, double-click that line with the left mouse button.

12.  To print the diagram to your printer, select Print from the File menu or press [F7].

13.  To save the diagram, select Save from the File menu.  allCLEAR updates (or creates) the Style Sheet file for the current script file.

Good Luck:

I hope you enjoy working with allCLEAR and find it beneficial in your daily tasks.   We look forward to hearing from you, if you have any questions or simply would like to comment on any aspect of the product.

Sincerely,

Vadim Yasinovsky,

President


Error #30
Error #30:  File too big to be converted to Script Mode

PROBLEM:  The script file is too big to be successfully converted from Outline to Script mode.

SOLUTION:  If you must convert to Script mode, split the file into two parts and then convert each part separately.  Or keep writing your script in Outline mode.


Error #31
Error #31:  Unable to format script file

PROBLEM:  The script file is too big to be successfully formatted.

SOLUTION:   If you must format the file, split the it into two parts and then format each part separately.


Error #38
Error #38:  Unable to paste image

PROBLEM:  You have tried to paste an image whose size exceeds 64K.  This image is too large for successful paste.

SOLUTION:  If you are copying an image from another application, goback to that application and choose a smaller image.  If you are copying an allCLEAR metafile, you will have to re-create it without selecting "Fit in One Page."  Then, each page will have to be pasted separately.


Create Your First Diagram
Creating Your First Diagram

The first step in creating a new diagram is to open a new file.

1.  Select  New  from the File menu.

allCLEAR opens a Script window which is blank with a file NONAME01.ACL.   NONAME01.ACL is just a temporary name to point your attention to the fact that this new file is untitled.

One of the first things you need to decide on is what type of diagram you want to create.  If you need to flow chart a procedure, your diagram type will be Process Chart.  If you are diagramming a hierarchical structure, such as organization of a company, your diagram type will be Tree or Org Chart.

allCLEAR Diagrams...

Creating Your First Tree/Org Chart...

Creating Your First Process Chart...


Create Tree/Org Chart
Creating a Tree/Org Chart

Let's create an org chart of the ficticious Generic Company (you can substitute different names or positions as you type in the information).

1.  If you haven't opened a new file yet, do so now.

2.  On the top line of the script file, let's enter the diagram title.  Type:

Generic Company, Inc. [Enter]

[Enter]

The second [Enter] makes a blank line.  (This blank line is important - it tells allCLEAR that the first line is a title.)

3.  Type the following text:

Jim Smith, President [Enter]

[Tab]  Sue Jordan, VP Sales [Enter]

       Karen Wallach, VP Finance [Enter]

       Neil Stern, VP Operations [Enter]

Now, let us see what our chart looks like so far.

4.  Select Diagram option from the File menu, or press [F10].

allCLEAR opens the Diagram window and displays the chart.  We will now go back to the script and add several new people, making them work on the lower level of hierarchy.

5.  Select Edit Script option from the File menu or press [F2] - allCLEAR will go back to the Script window.  Add a few subordinates to the Vice Presidents.  Make sure you maintain the indentation strcuture.  Here is an example of what you can do:

Jim Smith, President

[Tab]  Sue Jordan, VP Sales [Enter]

            [Tab]  Kim Austin, National Sales Rep [Enter]

                   Lee Bentley, International Sales Rep

            Karen Wallach, VP Finance [Enter]

            [Tab]  Simon Ross, Controller [Enter]

                   Sarah Benton, Accountant

            Neil Stern, VP Operations [Enter]

            [Tab]  Henry Smith, Office Manager [Enter]

                   Sam Jones, Personnel [Enter]

6.  Press [F10] to display the diagram again.  You can see that allCLEAR has automatically added the new people to the chart.

Now, let's add a secretary who works for the President to the organization.

7.  Press [F2] to go back to editing the script file.  Make the following change:

Jim Smith, President [Enter]

[Tab]  &Nancy Krohn, Seceretary    --> add this line

[Tab]  Sue Jordan, VP Sales [Enter]

            [Tab]  Kim Austin, National Sales Rep [Enter]

                   Lee Bentley, International Sales Rep

            Karen Wallach, VP Finance [Enter]

            [Tab]  Simon Ross, Controller [Enter]

                   Sarah Benton, Accountant

            Neil Stern, VP Operations [Enter]

            [Tab]  Henry Smith, Office Manager [Enter]

                   Sam Jones, Personnel [Enter]

8.  Display the diagram and see how it has changed.  You can now experiment with different customization options by changing the Global or Local Style.

Change Global Appearance of the Chart...

Customize Properties of Several Chart Objects...

Whe you are finished writing the script and customizing its appearance, it is time to save it.

9.  Select Save from the File menu or press [F8] to save the new file.

Since your new file is still untitled, allCLEAR displays the Save As dialog box.

10.  In the "File name:" field, type in the new filename.  For example, type:

MYORG.ACL

and click OK.

allCLEAR saves the script file and the corresponding Style Sheet in the \ALL2\ACL directory.


Create Process Chart
Creating a Process Chart

Let's flow chart a procedure of how to fill out a tax form - something everyone is familiar with.

1.  If you haven't opened a new file yet, do so now.

2.  On the top line of the script file, let's enter the diagram title.  Type:

How to Fill Out Income Tax Return Form [Enter]

[Enter]

The second [Enter] makes a blank line.  (This blank line is important - it tells allCLEAR that the first line is a title.)

3.  Next, let's enter the first few steps of the procedure.  These will be what are called statements in allCLEAR, or regular sentences ending with a period and carriage return.  Add the following text:

Enter your first and last name.[Enter]

Enter your SS#.[Enter]

Now, let us see what our chart looks like so far.

4.  Select Diagram option from the File menu, or press [F10].

allCLEAR opens the Diagram window and displays the chart.  We will now go back to the script and continue describing the procedure.

5.  Select Edit Script option from the File menu or press [F2] - allCLEAR will go back to the Script window.  We have come to a point in the procedure which requires a person to do different things depending on whether or not a certain condition is true.  We need to enter a two-way decision or what is called an if in allCLEAR.  Type in the text for the question followed by a question mark:

Do you have any dependents?[Enter]

Notice that as soon as you type ? and press [Enter], allCLEAR understands that you have entered a question.  It immediately creates the appropriate template and inserts the "Yes" and "No" answers in parentheses.

6.  Let's continue describing the procedure.  Enter the instructions of what a person should do in both cases (Yes and No) within the format of the template.  For example:

Do you have any dependents?

    (Yes)  Enter number of dependents.

    (No)   Enter 1 as number of dependents.

?end[Enter]

Enter total number of exemptions.[Enter]

7.  Press [F10] to display the diagram again.  You can see that allCLEAR has automatically added the decision and the new steps to the diagram.

We will now learn how to enter multiple-choice decisions, called cases in allCLEAR.

8.  Press [F2] to go back to editing the script file.  Then type in the text for the multiple-choice decision followed by a colon:

Check box for your filing status:[Enter]

Notice that, as soon as you type : and press [Enter], allCLEAR understands that you have entered a multiple-choice decision.  It immediately creates the appropriate template and inserts the three choices (numbered 1 through 3) in parentheses.  If you don't want your choices to be numbers, you can substitute any words or sentences, provided the choices are enclosed in parentheses.

9.  Let's continue writing the instructions and type in the different choices and steps to take.  Replace the numbered choices in parentheses with the appropriate text, as follows:

Check box for your filing status:

    (Single) Make sure you can file as head of household.

    (Married, jointly) Check this box even if only one has income.

    (Married, separately) Enter spouse's SS# and name.

:end [Enter]

Enter wages, salaries, tips, etc.[Enter]

Enter non-employment compensation.[Enter]

10.  Display the diagram and see how it has changed.  You can now experiment with different customization options by changing the Global or Local Style.

Change Global Appearance of the Chart...

Customize Properties of Several Chart Objects...

Whe you are finished writing the script and customizing its appearance, it is time to save it.

11.  Select Save from the File menu or press [F8] to save the new file.

Since your new file is still untitled, allCLEAR displays the Save As dialog box.

12.  In the "File name:" field, type in the new filename.  For example, type:

MYFLOW.ACL

and click OK.

allCLEAR saves the script file and the corresponding Style Sheet in the \ALL2\ACL directory.


How to Make Diagram Smaller

Combination of the following can help:

1.  Reduce box size by changing the Global box size or Adjusting Box SIze to Text.  If you are using smaller boxes, you should also reduce box font size.

2.  Reduce distances between boxes or/and between lines.

3.  Try another Diagram Artist.  This can make a big difference.

4.  Get rid of box effects.  Shading and/or cascading make diagrams bigger.


Multiple Process Entry Points

Some processes may have multiple beginnings or entry points.  So that the diagram would strart with several boxes on top and continue on to one box below.  For cases like that, you need to use the goto/label command and use as many gotos (in the beginning of the file) as there are entry points.  For example:

Get Paper.

>start

Find a Pen.

>start

Make Coffee.

-start

Any more excuses?

   (Yes) Give it up.

   (No) Start writing.

?end


Error #40
Error #40: Insufficient Disk Space

PROBLEM:  You are running very low on available disk space on your working drive (drive where allCLEAR script files are).  allCLEAR is unable to complete the current operation.

SOLUTION:  Free up some space on the working drive.  If you have more than one drive, change the working directory path to another drive.


How to Fit Diagram on One Page
How to Make Diagram Fit on One Page

1. The easiest way to fit the diagram on one page is to select fit-in-one when printing or exporting the chart.

Also combination of the following can help:

2.  Change from portrait to landscape page orientation or vice versa.

3.  Reduce box size by changing the Global box size or Adjusting Box SIze to Text.  If you are using smaller boxes, you should also reduce box font size.

2.  Reduce distances between boxes or/and between lines.

3.  Try another Diagram Artist.  This can make a big difference.

4.  Get rid of box effects.  Shading and/or cascading make diagrams bigger.

5.  Check page margins and reduce them is you can.  Also try having no border.


Error #41
Error #41: Unable to Convert Metafile

PROBLEM: You have tried to paste from a metafile which is either corrupted or is not in the standard WMF Adobe format.  allCLEAR is unable to convert the graphic image.

SOLUTION:  If you are certain that the metafile format is standard WMF Adobe, create the file again using the application which you had used before to create it.  Re-creating the file may solve the conversion problem.


Error #42
Error #42: Cannot Paste Image in Script Window

PROBLEM:  You have tried to paste a graphic image from a metafile into the Script window.  allCLEAR is unable to complete the current operation.

SOLUTION:  You can paste graphic images while in Diagram window only.  Make the Diagram window active an then try pasting the graphic image again.


Error #43
Error #43:  Script Error

PROBLEM:  Your script file contains an unbalanced logical constuction.  For example, you have a ? without a corresponding ?end.

SOLUTION:  Print your script to find the problem and correct it.


Error #244
Error #44:  Box Size Exceeds Page Size

PROBLEM:  You have chosen a large box size which makes a single box larger than a page.  Or you have chosen a small paper size which would not fit one of the large boxes completely.  allCLEAR is unable to apply this change to the diagram.

SOLUTION:  Reduce the size of the box or choose larger paper size.


Error #45
Error #45: Diagram is Too Big

PROBLEM:  Your script file is too long and the Process Chart exceeds the allowed size limitation.  allCLEAR is unable to create the diagram.

SOLUTION:  Try to split the script file into two parts and create two separate diagrams.  You can reference the second diagram from the first one by using the ATTACH command.


Error #46
Error #46:  Parser Failed - Unable to Read Work Files

PROBLEM:  allCLEAR is unable to read temporary work files created in the \ALL2\TEMP directory.

SOLUTION:  If you are running very low on hard disk space, free up some space on the working drive and try again.

SOLUTION: Check your hard disk to see if it has been damaged.  If you are running a Network version of allCLEAR, make sure you have read and write rights to the \ALL2\TEMP directory.

If neither of the two above situations is true, please send your script and style sheet files to CLEAR Software, technical support department with a brief explanation of the problem.  You can use our Bulletin Board to download the files.


Problem Importing Metafile
Problem Importing allCLEAR Metafile

When I import allCLEAR metafile into my Word Processor or Graphics System, the box shapes look strange, especially those that involve arcs (e.g. circles or ellipses).

This is a very common problem for importing an allCLEAR metafile into Corel Draw or an older version of Word Perfect.  When these products interpret the metafile, they reverse all the arcs.  The solution is not easy, but here is how you can resolve this problem:

1.  Prior to creating the metafile, edit the A2W.INI file located in the C:\WINDOWS directory.  Find the line in the file which reads as follows - ArcFix=0.  Change that to read ArcFix=1 and save the file.

2.  Goto allCLEAR and create the metafile.  After you are done creating metafiles, goback to the A2W.INI file and change it back to what it was.   If you don't do this, the allCLEAR views will be distorted and show reversed arcs.


OLE
OLE - Object Linking and Embedding

allCLEAR, ver 2.0A and higher offers a new feature, called object linking and embedding (OLE).  This feature lets you edit a diagram in allCLEAR and automatically transfer the edited diagram to one or more applications, such as desk-top publishing or graphics systems.

Clipboard Operations Versus OLE...

Embedding allCLEAR Diagrams in Another Application...

OLE lets you exercise control over various objects within a compound document.  A compound document is a file containing one or more items created with different Windows applications.  These items are referred to as OLE objects.  A chart created in allCLEAR can become an object in any application which can serve as OLE client.

OLE operates on a server/client relationship.  The application which is used to create the OLE object (or the application which "serves" the object) operates as the Server.  The application which holds the compound document and controls all the objects (or the "client" application which is being served), operates as the Client.

IMPORTANT:  allCLEAR can only operate as a server.


Embed an allCLEAR Diagram
How to Embed an allCLEAR Diagram

OLE - Object Linking and Embedding...

Clipboard Operations Versus OLE...

Let's assume that you will be using Microsoft Write as the client application to create the compound document.

METHOD 1 - Starting from the Client.

To embed an allCLEAR diagram in Microsoft Write:

1.  Start Microsoft Write and open or create the compound document.  Position the cursor at the point where you want the allCLEAR diagram inserted.

2.  From the Edit menu, select Insert Object.  You will see a dialog box with the list of all the installed server applications.  Select the allCLEAR Diagram option and click OK.

3.  Control now automatically transfers to allCLEAR (the server).   You have two choices - create a new diagram or open an existing one.  Click the appropriate button.

4.  When you are ready to go back to Write and embed the diagram, from the File menu, select Update.  This saves all the changes, transfers control to the client application and inserts the embedded diagram.  OLE relationship is now established.

5.  To edit the embedded object, simply double-click it in the client application.  This will envoke allCLEAR with the appropriate diagram.  Once the changes are completed, from the File menu, select Update to save the changes and goback to the client application.

METHOD 2 - Starting from the Server.

To embed an allCLEAR diagram in Microsoft Write:

1.  Start allCLEAR by double-clicking its program icon in the Program Manager.

2.  Open an existing diagram or create a new one.  This diagram will be your OLE object.

3.  From the File Menu, select Export to WMF.  When the dialog box with options appears, select Export to Clipboard.

4.  Go back to Program Manager and start Microsoft Write.

5.  Open an existing document or create a new one - this is the compound document in which the allCLEAR diagram will be embedded.  Position the cursor at the point where you want the allCLEAR diagram inserted.

6.  From the Edit menu, select Paste or Paste Special.

7.  If you choose Paste, the diagram becomes an embedded object.  If you select Paste Special, you will see a dialog box with two choices - allCLEAR Diagram or Picture.  To use OLE method, choose allCLEAR Diagram.  To use standard Clipboard method, choose Picture.  Then click OK to complete the Paste Special operation.  OLE relationship is now established.

8.  To edit the embedded object, simply double-click it in the client application.  This will envoke allCLEAR with the appropriate diagram.  Once the changes are completed, from the File menu, select Update to save the changes and goback to the client application.


Clipboard Operations Versus OLE
Clibboard Operations Versus OLE

The Clipboard is the standard way to transfer data between Windows applications.  To move data via Clipboard, you first open the application used to create the object, then select and copy the object to the Clipboard.  Then you open the application, into which you want to transfer the object, and paste it from the Clipboard.  After that operation is completed, if you need to edit the object, you must return to the original file, make the necessary changes and repeat the complete procedure.

When you use OLE, as opposed to standard Clipboard method, you never repeat the copy and paste sequences.  Once the object is embedded in the client application, if you make changes to the object using the server application, they are automatically transferred to the embedded object (provided you choose to Update the object).


Attaching Objects to Boxes

Attach Script Command...

Launching Attached Objects...

Please open EXAMPLES.ACL located in the ALL2\ACL directory and ATTACH.ACL located in the \ALL2\ATUTOR directory to see how Attach command can be used and to try launching attached objects from allCLEAR diagrams.

1 - Attach an allCLEAR diagram

What to do if engine overheats.

{*ATTACH  ENGINE.ACL}

When you activate Launch from this box, allCLEAR will open ENGINE.ACL diagram.

2 - Attach multiple allCLEAR diagrams and use object descriptions.

What to do if engine overheats.

{*ATTACH (evaluate engine condition) ENGINE.ACL;  (tow car to dealer) TOW.ACL}

When you activate Launch from this box, allCLEAR will display a list of descriptions of all the attached objects.  (If there is no description for a particular object, the filename will be displayed in the list.)  You then need to select which object you wish to launch at this time.

3 - Attach multiple applications and applications with filenames.

Run various applications.

{*ATTACH  (Run Lotus Freelance) FL.EXE; (Edit a text file with Notepad) NOTEPAD.EXE file.txt; \ALL2\README.WRI }

The first attach will launch Lotus Freelance application.  The second attach will launch the Notepad application and start it automatically with file.txt.  The third attach will launch Microsoft Write with allCLEAR readme file - this is because .WRI extension is associated with Microsoft Write application in the Windows environment.