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1995-04-01
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▀█▀▀ D R A W ▀▀▀█▀
v1.0
ANSI Screen Editor
Copyright (c) 1994-1995 ACiD Productions(tm)
∙ ∙ ∙
Designed By
Sinned Soul of ACiD Productions
Programming By
Skull Leader of ACiD Productions
∙ ∙ ∙
Quality Assurance
RaD Man of ACiD Productions
Artwork By
Sparr, Lord Jazz, Stone The Crow, Soul Blazer, and Gangstar
┌──────────────┐
│ Introduction │
└──────────────┘
ACiDDraw is a utility for manipulating ANSI and ASCII text. It is based
upon Ian Davis's TheDraw (tm). Many of it's basic features, and their
organization parallel TheDraw. In addition to these, however, it has
many refined and added features. The authors of this utility have sought
to include, within an efficient and tightly organized program, the most
useful tools for manipulating ANSI and ASCII text that could be
conceived. The ideas of some of the most experienced artists in these
areas have been implemented in every way possible, to create, what we
hope, is the most useful utility of this type to date.
┌─────────────────────┐
│ System Requirements │
└─────────────────────┘
■ 286 processor or better.
■ DOS v3.30 or higher. (Not tested under Windows, or OS/2)
■ 480k Free memory. (Approx)
■ CGA video card and monitor.
■ MCGA video card and monitor for 50 line mode and VGA viewing.
■ SVGA video card and monitor for Hi-Res viewing.
┌────────────────────────┐
│ Suggested Requirements │
└────────────────────────┘
■ 1 Meg of free extended memory (For multiple pages)
■ SVGA video card, with VESA support.
■ Mouse with a Microsoft compatible mouse driver.
┌──────────────┐
│ New Features │
└──────────────┘
ACiDDraw v1.0 includes the following new features over ACiDDraw v0.5α :
■ Supports up 4 (2 for unregistered) pages.
■ Usage of XMS for multiple pages.
■ Dos Shell.
■ Pascal and C saving ability.
■ Extended background colors (a.k.a. iCE Colour)
■ Full screen editing.
■ Global commands.
■ Block loading, and text alignment commands.
■ Undo command. (For block commands)
■ Sequential file saving.
■ File name guessing when saving.
■ Configuration file is built into the executable.
┌───────────┐
│Bug Fixes │
└───────────┘
■ More efficient and proper save routines.
■ Scrolling bugs are fixed.
■ Binary load EOF is now detected.
■ Fix for previous undo command.
■ No longer requires enhanced keyboard.
┌─────────────────────┐
│Unregistered Version │
└─────────────────────┘
ACiDDraw v1.0 is considered shareware, and is on a "try and buy" system.
If you find ACiDDraw useful, then please feel free to register the program
using the methods described at the end of this document.
In order to encourage users to register ACiDDraw, several features have
been removed from the program. These include,
■ Limit of 2 pages.
■ Tab position cannot be altered.
■ Intense background colour are not available.
With your registration and registration fee, you will receive the latest
copy of ACiDDraw, personalized with your own name. All of the unregistered
features will be removed, you will also receive free technical support directly
from the creators of ACiDDraw.
For more information on registration please see the end of this document.
┌────────┐
│ Notice │
└────────┘
This version of ACiDDraw is being release to you as is. All bugs
should be reported to either Skull Leader or Sinned Soul. The authors take
no responsibility for lost work, or damaged equipment caused directly or
indirectly by this program. ACiDDraw cannot be modified in any way with
out the written consent of either author. Finally, the charging of monetary
fees by any unauthorized party for the circulation or use of this utility
is expressly forbidden.
┌────────────┐
│ The Editor │
└────────────┘
The editor consists of either a 80x24 or 80x49 (80x25,80x50 in full
screen mode) viewable area. There are up to 4 pages, at 1000 lines with
80 columns or 500 lines in 160 column.
The following keys will allow you to maneuver through the viewable page :
Arrow Keys : This keys allow you to move the cursor to different
positions around the viewable screen. The program
will scroll the window to allow you to view the
entire virtual page.
Page Up/Page Down : These two keys are keys which will allow you to
maneuver around the virtual screen quickly.
It will move the screen either up a page, or
down a page.
Tab : This will position your cursor to a position
preset by the tab configuration. (See tab setup)
Shift-Tab : This will position your cursor to the previous
position set in the tab configuration. (See tab setup)
Ctrl-Left : This will shift anything on the right hand side of
the cursor over to the left by one. This affects the
entire length of the virtual screen. (See undo
function.)
Ctrl-Right : This will shift anything on the right hand side of
the cursor over to the right by one. This affects
the entire length of the virtual screen.
(See undo function.)
Ctrl-Y : This will move every line below the cursor up one,
deleting the row below the cursor. (See undo function.)
Ctrl-I : This will move every line below the cursor down one,
deleting the very last row. (See undo function.)
F1-F10 : These keys will display special ASCII characters,
these ASCII characters are preset in the program.
The current character which will be display by press
any one of these keys are listed on the top right
corner of the screen. There are 15 sets of these
characters all preset, and each set can be selected.
ALT-1 to 10 : This will change the set which is currently being used,
sets 1 through to 10 can be selected using the ALT key.
Ctrl-1 to 5 : This will allow you to select the current sets from
11 through to 15.
ALT-C : This command will prompt you if you want to clear
the screen, if you agree it will proceed to
clear the current page.
ALT-E : This command will allow you to switch between
two possible pages. Each page is separate from
the other page in contents and SAUCE description.
ALT-J : This command will cause ACiDDraw to drop to a
Dos shell. ACiDDraw will look for the Comspec
environment command for the path to Command.Com.
If XMS or a disk space is available, then ACiDDraw
will be able to provide more memory in the dos shell.
Note - You must have multiple pages in order to be able to
switch between pages. See configuration for more
information.
Ctrl-PrintScreen : This command removes the status bar from the top for
full screen editing. Allowing you to edit the screen
in either 80x25 or 80x50. To retrieve the status
bar simply hit Ctrl-PrintScreen again.
Numbers and alphanumerics can be displayed by pressing the corresponding
key on the keyboard. All shift combined with the numeric and alphanumeric
are also valid entries. Special ASCII codes can be entered by holding down
ALT key, typing the ASCII code in the keypad and then releasing the ALT key.
┌────────────────┐
│ Color Changing │
└────────────────┘
The editor has the ability to select between 16 normal foreground
colors, 16 blinking foreground colors, and 8 background colors. With the
ability to selection between blinking and intense background colors. (See
blinking/intensity option)
The current color determines what attribute the next character displayed
will have.
Escape : This key will pull down the quick palette menu,
(Quick Palette) which allows you to easily change colors with arrow
keys. The up and down arrows allow you to change
the foreground colors. The BB beside the foreground
colors represents a blinking color. The left and
right arrows change the current background color.
The mouse can also be used to select the colors from
quick palette. (see section on mouse support) To
select a color, place the cursor on top of the colors
you want and press the left button.
If ACiDDraw is in intense background color mode, this
menu will change and allow you to choose between
16 foreground color and 16 background colors.
Ctrl-A : This key will bring a menu which allows you to select
which color you want. All the colors are displayed, and
both the foreground and background colors must be
entered. Either arrow keys or numeric entry will
work in this menu.
Ctrl-Left : This key will select the previous background color
available.
Ctrl-Right : This key will select the next background color
available.
Ctrl-Up : This key will selected the next foreground color
available.
Ctrl-Down : This key will selected the previous foreground color
available.
NOTE - Some of the Ctrl keys may not work if you do
not have an enhanced keyboard.
Alt-U : This key will change the current color to the one
located just under the cursor position.
┌──────────────┐
│ Viewing Keys │
└──────────────┘
ALT-M : This key toggles between a 25 and a 50 line display.
(Line Toggle) A 50 line display is only available with a VGA adapter.
ALT-V : This key allows you to view the current page in
(VGA Viewing) a simulated VGA environment. It will try to convert
the characters which are in text mode into a graphics
mode. The resolution which it is first displayed
can be selected in the configuration menu.
F1 : While viewing in the 320x200x256c mode, ACiDDraw has
the ability to change to higher resolutions. These
higher resolutions are only available to people with
a SVGA or Super Video Graphics Adapter. This key
will display the vga at 320x200x256c mode.
F2 : This will change the resolution to a 640x480x256c mode,
which is only available on a SVGA video card. The
video card is auto-detected.
F3 : This will change the resolution to a 1024x768x256c
mode, which is only available on a SVGA video card.
The video card is auto-detected.
It is possible to view each page in VGA, by selecting the proper page
in text mode, then using ALT-V to view it. If the picture does not fit onto
a single VGA screen, you will be able to scroll the VGA using the up, down,
page up and page down arrow keys. It ESC to return back to the editor.
┌────────────────┐
│ Setup Commands │
└────────────────┘
ALT-T : This key combination will allow you to edit the position
(Tab Setup) at which the cursor is placed when a TAB or Shift-Tab
is placed. Each marker is a place where the cursor
jump, the cursor will jump to the next marker from
its current position. You can either set each tab
location, or you can set the interval at which
a marker is placed.
ALT-O : This is the main configuration for the program.
(Configuration) Since this function has the ability to change
page sizes at run time, ACiDDraw will automatically
ask if you want to save the current page.
NOTE - Be careful to save all your work on all
pages before changing page sizes.
The configuration can also be edited, and reset without
loading the program. To edit the configuration type
ACiDDRAW !CONFIG <┘
This will bring up the configuration screen, and exit back to the operating system when done.
If you need to reset the configuration for any reason,
without loading the program, simply type
ACiDDRAW !RESET <┘
This will reset all of the options in ACiDDraw to the
default.
This is a brief description of some of the commands available in the
setup menu.
Screen Width : This option sets the number of columns the
screen will have at startup, either 80 or 160.
Screen Resolution : This option will set the screen resolution at
start up, either 80x25 or 80x50.
Use XMS Memory : This option will allow you to choose whether
or not ACiDDraw will use XMS memory.
With out XMS memory ACiDDraw will not have
multiple pages.
Number of Pages : This will set the maximum number of XMS pages
which ACiDDraw will use. (1 XMS page will
take up 160k of XMS memory)
Blinking Cursor : This option, if on will make the cursor appear
to be flickering. This is useful when editing
a screen which uses characters which hide the
cursor.
Length of ANSI : This option will set the method at which ACiDDraw
determines which is the last line of the ANSI.
Possible options are entire page, the position
of the cursor (anything about will be saved), and
auto-detect.
Filename Guessing : This new option will cause ACiDDraw to try and
determine what the file name should be called
when saving. This is based upon the filename
which was loaded and the saving format of the
image. This option will become evident when
you enter the filename to save an ANSI as. The
filename can still be edited before saving.
File Backup Format : This option will allow the user to select what
action should be taken when trying to save
a file with the same name as another. Possible
options are overwrite, .BAK which will backup
the existing file with the extension .BAK, and
sequential.
The sequential save is a unique feature, this
option will automatically give the file an
extension of .001 - .999 depending on what files
already exist. This option can be used to save
images in a progressive order.
Start ANSI With : This option will determine whether ACiDDraw will
Default Color reset the color of a ANSI file to the default
grey on black. This option, if on will place
a esc[0m before an ANSI file.
End ANSI With Default : This option is like the one above, except it
Color sets whether or not to reset to a default
grey on black after an ANSI file.
Ascii Save Method : This option, either full or optimize will
set whether or not to try and place a carriage
return (if possible) for ASCII files which
do not take up the entire line (Optimize)
Write Tab : This option will set whether or not to
Configuration save the tab configuration to disk after
tab positions are set.
Swap File Path : This is the path in which to place a swap
file when ACiDDraw shells to DOS. (If no XMS
is available)
IMPORTANT - For this version, it is NO longer required to re-enter the
program after changing a page size, but any work in the pages
will NOT be saved.
┌─────────────────────┐
│ Additional Commands │
└─────────────────────┘
ALT-S : This is the key combination to save an ANSI.
(Save ANSI) The following save methods are available
ANSI : Standard method for storing graphics in text
mode. The length of the ANSI is automatically
detected on the first blank line. The
characters per line option determine how many
characters there will be before a carriage
return. An extension of .ANS is automatically
placed onto a file with no extension.
ASCII : This method uses all the ASCII characters, but
without ANSI color and movement codes. The
line length is also auto-detected.
BINARY : This is a raw binary dump of the entire virtual
screen. No length and width data is mentioned
in the file. You must use sauce to determine
these.
PASCAL : This format is used for the ability to
import images directly into pascal programs.
NOTE - Be careful when saving an image over
400 lines. This will cause the pascal
array to be greater than 64k.
C : This format is used to allow images to be
imported in to the C language.
ALT-L : This is the load menu, it is allows you to choose which
(Load ANSI) file you want to load. Any file with the extension
of .BIN is loaded with a binary format, any other file
is treated as an ANSI file.
ALT-D (Within Load ANSI menu) : Deletes selected file, upon confirm-
ation from the user.
ALT-D : This menu will allow you to choose whether or not
(Sauce Description) SAUCE will be attached to the end of the file.
It will also allow you to choose a name, group and title
for your work. The date, size, dimensions, etc. are
are automatically updated for you when you save.
NOTE - Each page is capable of holding an individual
description.
ALT-R : This command will restore a backed up file onto the
screen. Before a BLOCK command, the image will be
backed up. If after preforming a single block command
(i.e Copy, Move, Fill, Load) or a commands such as
delete/insert line, delete/insert column it is possible
to retrieve the image as it was before it was modified.
Note-This function is partially limited, you cannot undo
multiple commands, nor can you reverse the undo command.
This function is not available for simple key commands.
ALT-B : This allows you to select a block and perform functions
on this selected area of screen. After blocking
a certain area certain optional are available.
Copy or Move : Copy allows you to stamp a block multiple
times onto the screen, Block moves the
blocked area to a new location.
Flip X/V : This flips the block horizontally,
"X" being a regular byte for byte flip,
while a "V" will flip any ASCII characters
which have a horizonal mirror image.
Flip Y/W : This flips the block vertically,
"Y" being a regular byte for byte flip,
while a "W" will flip any ASCII characters
which have a vertical mirror image.
Fill : Allows you to fill a blocked area
with either the current foreground,
background, both, or fill the blocked
area with a selected character, with or
without the current attribute.
Page : Allows you to paste your block onto a
separate page, (if another one is
available)
Outline : Allows you to outline a blocked area
with a single, double, or a mix.
The selected set determines which is
drawn, set 1 single line, set 2 double
set 3 mix, set 4 mix. The color of the
outline is determined by the current
drawing color.
Save : Allows you to save a block, using
either of the formats.
Load : This command will allow you to load another
image into the selected area. After
blocking an area, and hitting "L" another
menu will appear, which will allow you
to load another file. A blocked area will
show you the area which will be taken from
the loaded file and placed into the
image. Hit "S" to load the image into
your page.
Text : Several text options are available,
such as centering, left justification,
and right justification. These will
justify any characters, to a position with
in the blocked area.
Erase : This command will blank out the area
behind the block.
Delete : This command will shift everything
to the left of the block into the blocked
area.
ALT-H : A multi-screen help menu can be called up using this
key combination. Inside summarizes most of the
commands. To page through all four screens, use
either the page up or page down key.
ALT-X : This command allows you to exit ACiDDRAW, if the
ACiDDraw detects that the CURRENT PAGE has been
changed before it was saved, it will prompt you
if you want to save it.
┌──────┐
│ Bugs │
└──────┘
Although ACiDDraw has been through many hours of testing, it is not
bug free. If you discover a bug, please notify the authors on the internet
address below. All users who have a registered copy of ACiDDraw, will
receive a free update of ACiDDraw.
┌─────────────────┐
│ How to Register │
└─────────────────┘
1. Print out or duplicate order form below
2. Fill out the order form.
3. Mail order form along with Cheque or Money Order for $20 US or $25 CAN
4. Make all Cheques or Money Orders out to ACiD Productions Canada.
┌─────────┐
│ Pricing │
└─────────┘
A fully registered copy of ACiDDraw costs $20 US or $25 CAN. If you are
outside of North America, send in either American or Canadian funds
(US Preferred).
With this you will receive the latest registered copy of ACiDDraw on
the size of disk you requested. The registered version of ACiDDraw
will allow have your personal name engraved into the program, and
all of the features enabled. Plus technical support will be available
to users who register.
--------------[ CUT HERE! CUT HERE! CUT HERE! CUT HERE! ]--------------------
┌────────────┐
│ Order Form │
└────────────┘
Name: __________________________________
Address: __________________________________
Apartment #: __________________________________
City: __________________________________
State/Prov: __________________________________
Zip/Postal Code: __________________________________
Country: __________________________________
Voice #: (___) ___-____
Ordering info
Number of copies..................[ ] X $20US/$25CAN = _______
Sales tax (only in Ontario)................... Add 7% = _______
Total................................................ = _______
* Note: All residents of Ontario must pay PST.
Comments and/or Suggestions:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
--------------[ CUT HERE! CUT HERE! CUT HERE! CUT HERE! ]--------------------
Note: All information will be kept confidential.
Send order forms to: ACiD Productions Canada
P.O. Box 94535
2900 Steeles Avenue East
Thornhill, Ontario
CANADA
L3T 7R5
┌───────────────────┐
│ Where to Reach Us │
└───────────────────┘
Comments, bug report, suggestion, etc can be forwarded to either
Sinned Soul or Skull Leader at the following locations :
via the internet:
aciddraw@razor.shadow.net (ACiDDraw Feedback Account)
or
aciddraw@cyberspace.com
Note : We will try to answer all of the messages we receive, but
those users who have a registered copy of ACiDDraw will
take precedence.
SAUCE00ACiDDraw Documentation Sinned Soul ACiD Productions 19950401Lv P â
