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VDE172B.UPD
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VDE172B.UPD
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VDE 1.72B Update Information
E. Meyer - 31 Mar 1994
---------------------------------RECENT NEWS----------------------------------
REGISTRATION FEES
As of June 1993, registration and site license fees for VDE (including
the new spelling checker) have increased; see VDE.DOC. For information on
updating existing registrations, see ORDER.FRM.
VDE 2.0 IN DEVELOPMENT
Work has begun on VDE 2.0, which will be able to edit larger individual
files (up to the size of available memory). The projected release date is
late April 1994.
GENERIC (ANSI.SYS) SUPPORT DROPPED IN VDE 1.7
VDE no longer offers a Generic installation (for DOS screen output via
ANSI.SYS) on non-PC compatibles. Limited support will continue for some time
for VDE 1.65 as the last version to run on non-compatibles. If you are unable
to run the current version of VDE, you can order a copy of VDE 1.65C.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Several foreign language versions of VDE are under consideration or
development; one, Finnish, is now available. Please write if you need a
specific foreign version, or are interested in collaborating to produce one.
DEDICATED HP95/100LX VERSION: "fastWRITE"
Although "PC compatible", the Hewlett-Packard 95/100LX palmtops are still
different enough from ordinary PCs that extensive customization (beyond a
level that would be reasonable for VDE, as general purpose PC software) is
necessary for an editor to work optimally on them. As of June 1993, such a
version of VDE, called "fastWRITE", is offered as a retail product by ACE
Technologies. Like most PC software, VDE can still be used on LXs, but those
whose primary need is for an editor for the LX should consider fastWRITE,
which offers in addition:
* special HP LX-style command menus invoked by MENU key
* custom 40-column messages, no horizontal scrolling required
* full multitasking (popup/hotkey) ability under SWITCH! 2.0 API
* awareness of HP LX serial port power and light sleep features
* support for all 100LX video modes and "hotkey zoom"
Registered VDE users will be eligible for a discount toward purchase of
fastWRITE. Contact ACE Technologies at 2880 Zanker Rd. #103, San Jose, CA
95134, tel. (408)428-9722, (800)825-9977. Purchasers of fastWRITE will also
be entitled to a discount on an individual registration of VDE.
---------------------------------UPDATE GUIDE---------------------------------
The following is a quick guide, for users of previous versions of VDE, to
noticeable changes in operation. Please check VDE.REF and VINST.REF for full
details.
NEW IN VDE 1.72B
* A new command, ^[Del], deletes the entire current word (regardless of
the position of the cursor within it).
CHANGES IN VDE 1.72
* The PC up/down arrow keys now work in a manner more like most other
software: during consecutive use, the original cursor column will be
maintained (when possible) after moving across shorter lines. The ^E/^X keys
do not do this, retaining their WordStar behavior instead.
* WordPerfect file compatibility has been improved. /F mode can now
recognize and read WP version 6.0 files, as well as 5.0/5.1. It now writes WP
5.0 format, which can be read directly by WP 5.1 or 6.0 as well.
* Unformatted /U mode no longer interprets control codes as print effects
(it now behaves like /A mode in this respect, instead of /D).
* Soft hyphens (^P-) are now saved to disk in /D mode as well as the
WordStar and WordPerfect filemodes.
* Find (^QF) can now be used more easily to find hard returns in
documents. A search string BEGINNING with a return (^M) will match only hard
returns. (As in any position, a space before a ^M will match only soft
returns; a wildcard (^_) before it will match either.)
* The MenuBar now displays the main keyword in the header when a submenu
is displayed.
* Hard tabs in documents now display as a bidirectional arrow, instead of
the control code "I". (These do not display if CR/tab display (^OB) is off.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.71 UPDATE SUMMARY (Oct 1993)
* The VDE program is now in .EXE format (rather than .COM), and there is
no longer a separate VDEOPT.DAT file required for the AltE command.
* Two new macro commands, Esc? and Esc:, accept input directly from the
keyboard during macro execution. See MACRO PAUSE/INPUT.
* The macro chain command Esc& now has a variant Esc&& which calls
another macro definition, then returns. See MACRO PROGRAMMING.
* The old style "Esc key" macros, which some users felt had mnemonic
value, have been reinstated as aliases for function keys. See FUNCTION KEYS.
* There are now 16 variable tab stops, rather than 8. Also, the Esc-Tab
command (for variable tab in hard tab mode) has been replaced with Alt-Tab.
* The screen shift commands, formerly Esc-arrow key, are now Alt-arrow
key, and work only with the grey arrows of the AT keyboard.
* The MenuBar {sCreen:} selection has been renamed to {View:}.
VINST 1.71
* In addition to the new "Esc key" aliases, function key definitions now
offer twice as much available space. VINST can read and convert .VDF files
from previous versions.
* There is a new video installation for the Diamond Speedstar VGA board,
and a new printer driver for the HP Laserjet 4P printer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.7 UPDATE SUMMARY (Jun 1993)
* VDE now offers an integrated spelling checker for registered users.
AltH checks one word, AltJ checks the rest of a document.
* A new command ^OU toggles display of function key labels on the bottom
line of the screen.
* There is no more "MenuBar MODE", determining how the [Esc] key
functions. Instead, the menus are always available, invoked by ^[Esc] or
L.Shift-Esc.
* The "Macro keys" Esc0-Z, which existed to support non-PC compatibles,
have been removed, along with ".VDK files". The autoexec macro Esc0 has been
replaced by the ability to designate any one of the function keys as autoexec.
The Esc& command now requires a function keyname, for example "Esc&^F7" to
chain to Ctrl-F7.
* The Esc$ command has a new argument, "$" (Esc$$), to cancel special
error handling in macros, returning to halting on any error.
* The print command ^KP now reads an empty init string ('' alone) as a
request not to send the init string built into the driver. If desired, this
can be followed (after a space) by another non-empty init string '...', to use
as a substitute.
* The find/replace functions ^QF/^QA now use option "I" for Ignore-case
(instead of "U"ppercase as before). Also, ^QA no longer has an "A"lign
option; realignment simply depends on whether AutoFormat is on.
* The menubar selection {File:neW} now performs the ^KD function, not ^KL
(it saves the current file, instead of abandoning it).
* Several minor changes in key usage have been made, including ^[Break]
(instead of ^U as before) to abort command input.
* A new version 1.2 of the CTRLCAPS utility provides a complete swap of
functions between the [Ctrl] and [CapsLock] keys. Many users requested this
change from the previous dual function of the [CapsLock] key.
VINST 1.7
* The "Generic ANSI.SYS" installation is no longer available. As of VDE
1.7B, the HP95LX and 100LX palmtops are no longer automatically detected; they
must be selected as "not-quite-compatibles" in VINST.
* There are three new User Options: to prompt for a filename to edit if
none was specified on the command line; to choose the character to use for the
strikeout effect (^PX); and to determine whether Cut (AltC) also deletes the
block. There is no longer a choice for the function of the ^[BkSp] key.
* VINST offers new printer drivers for Canon Bubblejet and LBP laser
printers, and the C.Itoh 8510/NEC 8023 dot matrix printer.
* VINST 1.7 can, as usual, read and convert .VDF files from previous
versions. Because their internal structure was identical, you can also rename
any .VDK files to ".VDF" and read them as function key definitions.
VINST 1.7A will now allow you to enter a function key definition up to
255 bytes long (not just 127); and when editing definitions, [Enter] alone now
works as it does elsewhere, leaving the existing definition (or label, or Q/N
option) unchanged. To blank (remove) the definition, use ^[Enter]. To blank
the label or Q/N status, use [Space].
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.65 UPDATE SUMMARY (Feb 1993)
* There is a new "Protected mode", toggled by the command ^KO, that
engages automatically if you load a file with the DOS R/O attribute.
* In the File Browser, the plus key "+" acts to tag or untag files, and
you can invoke the Browser from the command line by entering VDE with a
command like VDE *.DOC.
* You can add a page/line number in square brackets "[]" after a filename
to go to (^QI) that position immediately upon loading the file.
* A number of MenuBar entries have been redesigned.
VINST 1.65
* The quote key used by VINST for alphanumeric data entry in hex strings
is now ['], which most people think of as the "single-quote", instead of [`]
as before. Also, the double-quote ["] can now be used to duplicate the pre-
existing value.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.64 UPDATE SUMMARY (Aug 1992)
* ^KM (not ^PZ) now sets a place mark. ^QM (not ^QZ) goes to a place
mark. ^PZ now inserts an actual ^Z, as you would expect.
* Filemode /A is now truly ASCII text, and does NOT interpret control
codes as printer commands, allowing them to display and print directly. A new
filemode /D (Document) is now the default; it DOES interpret control codes.
* There is a new find/replace option "W" for "whole word only".
* Different .VDI (installation) files can now be loaded with the AltU
command, or with a semicolon on the command line.
* Block write (^KW) now offers a choice of Overwrite or Append if the
named file already exists.
* The Esc* command has a new toggle "X,x" to control margin release.
* Print toggles/switches (^PS, etc) always insert in document modes,
rather than overstriking, regardless of INSERT status.
* Prompt input now uses ^Y (not ^X) to erase the entire entry.
* The ^QT command will report "not found" if the given character doesn't
occur -- unless it is ^Z. ^QT^Z will still delete to the end.
* In the file browser, pressing [Esc] returns you to the ">dir" prompt,
where another directory or filespec may be given; press [Esc] again to exit.
* VDE is now DESQview aware. It will multitask more efficiently, and no
longer needs special installation to handle direct screen writes. See
MULTITASKING and SCREEN SIZE for further information.
* Backup (.BAK) files are handled more like they were before 1.63: every
MANUAL save (^KS,^KX etc) once again updates the BAK file. Autosave does not.
VINST 1.64
* The printer driver "Reserve header space?" option has been replaced by
"Top margin if header used" and "Lines between header and text".
* There is a new User Option to select a default right justification
setting for documents (on or off).
* There is a new (separate) screen color for error messages.
* The Generic installation now asks whether it will be running on an IBM
PC. Answer Yes to allow display of PC graphics characters.
* Screen colors for the HP95LX are still distinct from the IBMPC colors,
but are now also user-changeable. To change them you must run VINST on the
95LX (still selecting the "IBMPC" installation).
* There is a new 132-column installation option "T" for Trident SVGA.
* As of 1.64C, VINST can accept and display PC keystrokes like [PgUp] in
macro key definitions.
============================= VERSION HISTORY ==============================
1984-1987: Development of "Video Display Editor" for CP/M computers.
VDE 1.0 (Dec87): First MSDOS release, for IBM PC compatibles only.
1.01 (Dec87): Faster; several bug fixes; minor changes to VINST.
1.1 (Jan88): Edit 2 files; AltE; AltT,D; DOS shell; ANSI installation.
1.2 (Mar88): AltW; AltM; AltS; ^OQ; ^QT,^QI; AltG; [F]-keys; word count.
1.21 (May88): Auto indent; enhanced ^OI; ^PL is pagebreak.
1.22 (Aug88): AltO; AltA; AltI; append to files; enhanced ^KP, display.
1.3 (Jan89): Edit 6 files; AltC,P; AltV; improved ^QA, ^U; /5 mode.
1.31 (Mar89): ^K#; ^KZ; macro keys A-Z; AltU; ^OD.
1.4 (Jul89): MenuBar mode; Esc"; proportional format/print mode.
1.5 (Dec89): 8 files; ^KA; enhanced ^KF, ^OW/AltF, ^QF; use less memory.
1.51 (Mar90): /P, /X file modes; ^]; ^K^; improved proportional mode.
1.52 (Apr90): Various small improvements and fixes.
1.53 (May90): ^QL,N; /M mode; ^PG; foreign language/KEYBxx compatibility.
1.54 (Sep90): Small improvements; supports enhanced keyboard, F11/F12.
1.6 (Dec90): Auto format; Justify; ^OG; {User}; /U; improved ^U, ^OD.
1.61 (Mar91): Envelope printer; /C mode; enhanced AltE, block marking.
1.62 (Oct91): Supports UltraVision, HP95LX palmtop, Tandy keyboard.
1.63 (Jun92): Autoexec macro; ^\; enhanced ^QF,^OI,^KF,^KA,AltG, etc.
1.64 (Aug92): Whole-word find; dual /D,A modes; DESQview aware.
1.65 (Feb93): Protected mode ^KO; File tagging; [goto#] option.
1.7 (Jun93): Spelling checker; ^OU; HP100LX. Now PC compatibles only.
1.71 (Oct93): Esc?, Esc: for macro input; small improvements.
1.72 (Jan94): Reads WordPerfect 6 files; small improvements.
----- Eric Meyer, 3541 Smuggler Way, Boulder, CO 80303 USA -----