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ZScroll
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ZScrollE.doc
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1991-09-18
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Documentation of ZScroll
How to use ZScroll
ZScroll V1.00 is a neat scrolly-proggy for ASCII-Files. It is
designed to run in multitasking - could be started via the CLI
only, though, as follows:
ZScroll/ZScrollE Filename [speed (0-9)]
- Filename: The name of the textfile you want to scroll across
your screen. The prog, however, does not check if you
are really feeding it ASCII-files. So, if you try to
scroll a non-ASCII you may get a mess at your screen.
Probably this could be useful when searching text in
unknown files.
- [speed]: Optional parameter. Type -0, -1, -2,...,-9 to set the
speed of the scroll (actually the pause between
printing two characters). -0 means maximum speed and -
surprise! - -9 is deadly slow. The last one may be
useful for owners of turbo-boards but I could not test
it. (Default is -1)
Running the prog with RUN is the most sensible way to start it
because it was originally designed to be able to read the doc-
file of a PD proggy while running it.
If everything`s OK ZScroll opens a small window at the bottom
of the workbenchscreen. You can move this window up and down on
the screen. The text then scrolls from right to left side (cur-
rently I`m working on an Arabic version of the proggy, which
scrolls from left to right.........). Reaching the end of the
text it restarts. You can quit ZScroll by clicking at the close-
gadget at the top left corner of the window.
Error Messages
If an error occurs ZScroll informs you with the following
messages about it:
- Not enough memory: Allocating mem for the text went wrong.
Probably it helps to kill unused tasks or to close superfluous
windows.
- File not found: the textfile does not exist or you have given a
wrong path so that it can`t be found.
- Opening textfile failed.
- Read Error: file was found but is corrupt and could therefore
not be opened.
Program & Problems
The source-code which could be found in this directory, too, is
documented in detail (maybe too much). So it should be no problem
for the programmers among you to alter the code corresponding to
your wishes. I just want to give you a few notes about its prob-
lems.
The flickering of the scroll is no fault of ZScroll itself but
of the scrollroutine of the graphics-library. Furthermore, the
more tasks are running at the same time, the slower the scroll
moves. This effect increases with the chosen speed.
When starting ZScroll in the startup-sequence you should NOT
use speed -0 because it then gets most of the system`s time and
your Amiga will not be able to get on in the startup-sequence.
Just test it for yourself!
It is essential for ZScroll that your computer is running in
text mode 80 and with the standard topaz font. Only under these
circumstances the prog will work correctly!
The End!
ZScroll is my first "not-too-short" proggy written in assembly
language, so your suggestions, wishes, bug reports,... are wel-
come indeed. If you just like the proggy and find it useful, also
send a few words to the adress below - I`ll keep updating it, if
you want me to!!!
ZScroll is public domain. However, I can take no responsibility
for anything the program does (although it should just do what I
described above!).
The adress you should write to is:
Mark Zeindlinger
Derfflingerstr. 6
A - 4240 Freistadt
AUSTRIA
P.S: If someone among you feels offended by my bloodily horrible
English I would like to apologize humbly!