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- ZeST Desktop Applications
- -------------------------
- 1991, David Becker
-
- The ZeST interface, desktop and applications should run on all ST platforms.
- 520ST users should remove all desk accessories and auto programs.
- ZeST requires a monochrome monitor.
-
- When first run you will be presented with the desktop, five icons on the
- right, and a credit box in the centre. Click within the credit box to remove
- it (you can recall this box by pressing the right mouse button from within
- the empty desktop). The first four icons from top to bottom are the,
-
- CALENDAR
- DATABASE(address book)
- TYPEWRITER
- and
- PAINT PROGRAM
-
- The icon with the big 'X' at the bottom of the screen is the eXit button.
- Simply press once with the left mouse button while pointing at an icon to run
- its application. All applications run in 'static' windows with close buttons
- in the upper left hand corner. To exit any program simply click within
- its close button. Applications may be called from within other applications
- but only the window on the top will be running. As each window is closed the
- program beneath will be re-activated. You may click the eXit icon only when
- there are no programs running.
-
- Calendar
- ----------------------------------------------
- If your ST's system date is set correctly then the calendar will open to the
- correct month and year. Use the arrow buttons on the left to step backward
- or forward through the months. The buttons at the bottom step through the
- years.
-
- Database
- ----------------------------------------------
- If the database file "DATABASE.DAT" exists on your boot disk then it was
- automatically loaded when ZeST was run. You can use the arrow buttons under
- the display screen to move forward and backward through the entries. Use any
- letter key on the left to jump to the beginning of entries starting with
- that letter (if there are any). The print button sends the current entry to
- the printer. The add button creates a new entry and allows you to enter up to
- eleven lines (hit return after each line). If you press return on any empty
- line, input will be terminated. Edit lets you change the content of the
- entry currently displayed. Delete erases the current entry but asks for
- confirmation. Your database is automatically sorted. If any changes have been
- made, the database will be saved to disk when the window is closed.
-
- Typewriter
- ----------------------------------------------
- The typewriter sends each line to the printer when the return key is pressed.
- You can enter and edit each line in the text window as it is typed. The
- form feed button will eject the printed page. The line feed button sends a
- blank line feed to the printer (hitting return at a blank line does the same
- thing). The slider at the far right controls the left margin and can be set
- by holding down the left mouse button and sliding left or right until the
- correct margin setting is displayed.
-
- Paint
- ----------------------------------------------
- SAVE and LOAD
- The ZeST paint program creates pictures in DEGAS uncompressed monochrome mode
- (pictures using the extension .PI3). Choose a picture file using the load
- button and it will appear full screen with a moveable capture box. Place this
- capture box over the screen area you wish to use and click the left mouse
- button. The rest of the DEGAS picture is discarded and you will be returned
- to the program with the captured block displayed within the paint window.
- Save sends only the content of the paint window to disk.
-
- CIRCLE and RECTANGLE
- Circles and rectangles can be drawn by pressing the icon and moving the cross
- hair into the paint window. Press the left button to set the starting point
- for the shape. Slide the mouse to manipulte the size until it is correct.
- Hit the left button again to set it down or use the right button to exit
- without making any changes.
-
- CONNECTING LINES and SINGLE LINES
- Connecting lines and single lines are drawn using exactly the same process.
-
- BRUSH COLOUR
- Click the brush colour(color if you live in the US) icon to toggle between
- white and black ink.
-
- TEXT ENTRY
- After clicking the text icon you will be able to move the text cursor into
- the paint window and type any word or sentence. Use the mouse to position the
- line and then hit the left button to drop it. The right button aborts.
-
- BLOCK
- After clicking the block icon you can drag a rubberband box around any part
- of the picture and then paste a duplicate copy in another area. Hold down the
- left button while dragging to set the block, let the button up to place the
- block then click again to set it down elsewhere. The right button exits.
- After exiting the block function your picture is still retained in a buffer
- and can be recalled at any time by selecting the block icon and hitting the
- right button first instead of the left. Your previous picture block will
- appear and can then be pasted within the picture window.
- The mode button (bottom right hand corner) determines block and text paste
- reactions (example:mode 0 is replace and mode 2 is transparent).
-
- FILL
- After clicking fill, choose the area with the mouse cursor and click the left
- button to begin. The right button cancels. Fill patterns are chosen by
- clicking the icon directly below.
-
- ERASE
- Click here once to bring up the eraser. Hold down the left button to erase
- any part of the paint window. Click the erase icon a second time to clear
- the entire window. The right button exits erase mode.
-
- SIZE
- You have two different brush sizes. Large and small (how about big and
- little?) Each click of the icon toggles the brush size.
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
- IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE HIT THE 'UNDO' KEY!
-
-
- Please remember that the ZeST interface is a demonstration program only.
- You use it at your own risk.
-
- David Becker
- GEnie mail to D.Becker8
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