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SLMRHELP.TXT
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1993-09-30
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/*************************************************************************/
/* Text File : SLMRHELP.TXT */
/* Programmer : Todd Fiske */
/* */
/* Purpose : Brief documentation for SLMRHELP.MAC */
/* */
/* Revision : 09/30/1993 - first version */
/* History */
/* */
/* Language : SAL 1.0 (Pre-Release) */
/* */
/*************************************************************************/
-- Overview
This is a set of macros to help in editing messages and replies in TSE when
called from the Silly Little Mail Reader (SLMR) QWK packet reader.
Actually, although primarily designed for use with SLMR, it may very well
work with any QWK packet reader that uses an external editor, given minor
alterations.
-- Why SLMRHELP
When editing replies in TSE, SLMR will dump the entire message text into
the editor. Invariably, the next several steps I have to take are:
move to the end of the file
turn word wrap on
enter the salutation to the person to whom I'm replying
At this point, I can charge ahead with my reply, snipping little quotes out
of the "parent" message, and generally typing furiously away. When I'm
done, I have to delete the remainder of the parent message so it won't be
sent as part of my reply. It eventually occured to me that TSE has macro
"hooks" that could be used to automate these entry- and exit-processing
tasks. SLMRHELP is the result.
-- Contents and installation of this package
This package contains these files:
SLMRHELP.MAC compiled macros
SLMRHELP.S SAL source code
SLMRHELP.TXT this file
Put SLMRHELP.MAC in your TSE macro subdirectory (normally C:\TSE\MAC). Put
the source code file in your TSE source subdirectory (normally C:\TSE\SRC).
This file, SLMRHELP.TXT, can be read online in TSE or in a file viewer such
as LIST, or you can print it by using the command:
copy slmrhelp.txt lpt1
or whatever printer port is applicable for you. Finally, store the
distribution archive in a safe place.
SLMRHELP.MAC should be kept in your TSE macro subdirectory so that TSE can
find it no matter what other subdirectory or drive you may be in.
-- Setting up SLMR to use SLMRHELP
SLMR lets you choose how to prepare the parent message for replying to in a
number of different ways. It also gives you a few options for setting up
your external editor. Here are the basic settings you need to use, or at
least should take advantage of:
1> send the full message
2> send the message header - this is *required* for SLMRHELP to take
action
3> quoting method is optional - I use "single"
4> set the editor string to include the full path and filename, and
include the "load macro" flag - for example, mine is:
c:\tse\e.exe -lslmrhelp.mac
To be honest, there are many other options available within SLMR, and I
have not tried them all. I've simply settled on the few that do what I
need. Should intrepidity prevail, I might explore some of the other
options, but for now, I'm satisfied. On the other hand, if you know of any
useful tricks, please pass them on, and by the same token, I will modify
SLMRHELP to take advantage of anything I learn about.
-- Notes on using SLMRHELP
By loading SLMRHELP.MAC on the command line with the -L switch, its
operation is automatic. The entry processing is handled by a WhenLoaded()
macro which TSE executes as soon as the macro file is loaded. If SLMRHELP
determines that it is indeed in an SLMR reply file, it will hook the
routine ExitProcess() to _ON_EXIT_CALLED_, so that when you use your normal
save/exit key, ExitProcess() is called automatically to clean up the
message.
The first thing that SLMRHELP actually does is to try to find the "From:"
token in the message header. This has two purposes: a> to verify that we
are indeed in an SLMR reply file and so continue processing, and b> to find
the name of the person being replied to.
If the "From:" token is not found, SLMRHELP assumes that you aren't
replying to a message, so it will bypass most of its entry processing. The
only thing SLMRHELP will do in this case is to turn WordWrap on, and set
the right margin to 79, assuming that you are either creating a new
message, or editing a reply that you just wrote.
If the "From:" token is found, SLMRHELP assumes that you are replying to a
message, and will perform the entry processing. Firstly, the senders name
will be located and "properized" (in a relatively simplistic manner), and
inserted into a simple salutation. Presently, the salutation will come out
looking like this:
"Hi Todd -"
If you want to use a different greeting, you'll need to edit and recompile
the macro. At some point, I may try to make use of a settings file to
handle this and other options, but for now, this is how it works.
SLMRHELP will add a "tear-line" to the end of the message you're replying
to. This creates a visual barrier between the original message and your
reply, but the main purpose is to allow SLMRHELP to delete the original
message when you're through editing. During exit processing, SLMRHELP will
search for the tear-line, and delete everything in the file up to and
including that point. SLMRHELP will also delete the blank line directly
after the tear-line, so don't type anything in that area.
Also, don't edit the tear-line itself, or else SLMRHELP will not be able to
find it during exit processing, and the tear-line and the remainder of the
original message will be returned as part of your reply. Of course, SLMR
will let you go in and edit the reply again, just in case.
SLMRHELP also keeps track of what the primary message-editing buffer is
when the program starts. This lets you load other files and be assured that
the clean-up processes will only occur on your actual reply or new message.
-- Wrapping it up
I have only tested this system under "normal" conditions, ie, I haven't
gone out of my way to try to break it. I'm sure I could if I worked at it
hard enough. Anyway, these macros should work well for you too, but please
understand that you use them at your own risk.
If you have any questions or suggestions about the use of these macros,
contact me via any of these services:
SemWare BBS TODD FISKE mail : Todd Fiske
CompuServe 70451,1424 P.O. Box 9715-244
Delphi TFISKE Portland Maine 04104-2000
These files are placed into the public domain.