GEMini Atari

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Text File | 1990-06-16 | 22.3 KB | 434 lines

Ascii-View Version 3.50 by David M. Seberg It's purpose in Life Ascii-View is an ascii text viewing program that was developed to replace the [Show]-[Print]-[Cancel] feature of the ST's Desktop. It does so by allowing the user to easily view an Ascii text file with a host of features not available from the ST's Desktop. Ascii-View will load any ascii file and display that file on a 80 column by 23 line screen. Ascii-View supports Medium and High resolution. Installation and Usage Ascii-View may be placed any where your heart desires, however if you wish to use the online help you MUST place the file AVHELP.HLP in the root directory of the drive from which you load Ascii-View. To save my sanity during program development I disabled the key click and decided to keep it off while Ascii-View is running. Have no fear the key click will be enabled when you exit the program. If you choose to use the online help screens virtually everything that you will need to know can be found through these help screens. AV.PRG has already been packed. Enhancements Speed!!. Since the original version of Ascii-View the display speed has nearly tripled, below are some measurements showing how fast Ascii-View can display files. The speed is measured by how many lines per second (lps) are displayed. Version 2.xx -- Standard Configuration 11.50 lps ** Version 2.xx -- with Text Accelerator 15.92 lps ------------------------------------------------------ Version 3.25 -- Standard Configuration 22.23 lps ** Version 3.25 -- with Text Accelerator 41.40 lps ------------------------------------------------------ Version 3.50 -- Standard Configuration 31.18 lps ** Version 3.50 -- with Text Accelerator 45.87 lps ** Turbo ST on a monochrome system Since statistics don't lie but liars use statistics I won't list any 'Creative' percentages. However, no matter how you look at it, the current version is substantially faster than its predecessors. Now besides looking at a bunch of numbers what does this mean. It means that Ascii-View will scroll considerably more than one (1.33) full screen of text every second and when used with a text accelerator the scrolling speed increases to two full screens of text per second. It also means that Ascii-View displays files faster than DCSHOW, Quick-View, any word processor that I've ever run across and certainly faster than the ST's Desktop. Other enhancements include: Keyboard equivalents have been added so the user may use either the keyboard or the mouse to select the commands that Ascii-View has to offer. There is also a screen that displays all of the keyboard equivalents. To access this screen, select HELP from the command line and then select any topic by clicking the left mouse button on an inverted command. When the help display screen is being shown click the left mouse button inside the box labled 'Keyboard Equivalents'. The command lines have been moved from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen to enable those users who have a corner clock installed to have unobstructed usage of Ascii-View. It also makes viewing easier as the new text now scrolls right above the command lines. The folder labled 'HELP' is no longer necessary, instead just one file named AVHELP.HLP needs to be placed in the root directory from the drive in which Ascii-View is loaded. Note however, that this help file is not necessary to run Ascii-View, if the help file is not located Ascii-View will function properly only the online help will be unavailable. A GOTO command has been added so that you may go exactly to any place within your file instantly. Several minor 'cosmetic' changes have been made to the commands SEARCH, BLOCK and HELP. These changes will be covered later in this document in conjunction with each commands description. Ascii-View now accepts parameters to be sent to it. This means that you can install Ascii-View as an application from the ST's Desktop and as an example you could install Ascii-View as an application that would accept files with the extender .ASC (I rename all my ascii text files to include the .ASC extender). Now when you double click on a file with the .ASC extender Ascii-View will automatically load and display the file that you have chosen. The ultimate in convenience. Safety Features A maximum file length of 5000 lines (or 217 pages) has been imposed to insure that a standard 520ST with a maximum file loaded into memory will still operate even with a few of your favorite .ACC's installed. Now before you go getting bummed out let me state that 217 pages represents a VERY large file. As an easily recognizable example of how large a document Ascii-View can display, the manual for ST Writer Elite which is over 119,000 bytes in length, when loaded into Ascii-View takes up only 100 of the 217 pages available for your use. If you do find a file that exceeds Ascii-View's limits, Ascii-View will load as much as will fit, and will display as much as it could hold. Let's Run It To run Ascii-View double click the file named AV.PRG while at the ST's Desktop. If you want online help remember to place the file AVHELP.HLP in the root directory of the drive from which you will load Ascii-View. After Ascii-View loads, the standard GEM file selector box will be displayed. To load a file simply locate the ASCII file of your choice and double click on it. Ascii-View will now check to see if the file is indeed an ASCII file. If it is an ASCII file Ascii-View will then display the first page of text in that file. The Mouse and the Keyboard For the four commands LINE UP, LINE DOWN, PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN there is a difference between using the mouse and using the keyboard. I designed Ascii-View, in conjunction with the mouse, to be built for maximum speed, so when you use the mouse the PAGE _ OF _ or the TOP LINE NUMBER = is updated only AFTER you have released the left mouse button. Alternately I designed Ascii-View, in conjunction with the keyboard, to be more traditional with the screen information being updated after every key press. So the choice is yours, raw speed or the convenience of being updated after the display of every line or page. And remember only the four commands listed above are effected, ALL of the other commands are the same no matter if you use the mouse or the keyboard. The Features One of Ascii-View's most convenient features is that it allows you to view as many documents as you wish without having to return to the ST's Desktop. Throughout this program you should use the left mouse button for all your needs unless otherwise directed by the program. All of the commands used by Ascii-View are accessed by clicking on one of the commands located on the top two lines of the screen or by selecting the appropriate keyboard equivalent. Below is a listing of the features that Ascii-View has to offer: LINE UP LINE UP will display the next line of text towards the top of the file. LINE DOWN LINE DOWN will display the next line of text towards the bottom of the file. PAGE UP PAGE UP will display the next 80 column by 23 line page of text towards the top of the file. PAGE DOWN PAGE DOWN will display the next 80 column by 23 line page of text towards the top of the file. ** Note: In conjunction with the four commands listed above, you can by holding down the left mouse button, repeat these commands thus enabling you to rapidly scroll through the document. TOP TOP will display the first 23 line page of text. BOTTOM BOTTOM will display the last 23 line page of text. SEARCH Selecting the SEARCH command will display a dialog box that will ask you to enter the word or character that you wish to find. You may enter your 'STRING' in either upper or lower case. After you have entered your 'STRING' press the Return key. Another dialog box will be displayed showing how many times that your 'STRING' was located. Press either mouse button or any key to continue. By clicking on the FORWARD and REVERSE commands at the bottom of the screen you can scroll through the occurrences of your search. The search 'STRING' will be located on the tenth line of the display screen unless it is found in the first ten or the last ten lines of the file in which case it will be shown on its actual line number. The 'STRING' will be shown in inverse video. The box labeled STRING LINE NUMBER = shows what the top line number is for the currently displayed 'STRING'. To return to the Main screen simply click the right mouse button. PRINT Selecting the PRINT command will display an Alert box that will ask if you wish to print the entire file. If you wish to print the entire file, either press Return or click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Yes'. If you do not want to print the file, click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'No'. If you try to print a file and your printer is not turned on or is not connected properly an alert box will be displayed giving you the option to turn on your printer or to abort the printing of the file. BLOCK Selecting the BLOCK command from the Main screen will bring up a dialog box located on the right hand side of the screen showing you the choices you have to choose from. Only the Block Start, Block End and the Exit commands are enabled until a legal block has been defined. Following is a description of each BLOCK command and how to use it: Block Start Block Start signifies the first line of the block of which you will define. To select the first line of your Block, place that line so that you can see it on screen and then select BLOCK from the Main Screen. Click the RIGHT mouse button anywhere on that line and then click the LEFT mouse button on the Block Start command. If everything goes right the line number will be shown next to the Block Start command. Block End Block End signifies the last line of the block of which you will define. To select the last line of your Block, place that line so that you can see it on screen and then select BLOCK from the Main Screen. Click the RIGHT mouse button anywhere on the line BELOW the line you wish to define as the Block End and then click the LEFT mouse button on the Block End command. If everything goes right the line number will be shown next to the Block End command. Block Off If a legal block has already been defined, selecting this command will clear the block markers and turn off the block. Block Start, Block End and Block Off In conjunction with these commands, once a legal block has been defined you must select exit before these commands will take effect. After exiting and a legal block has been set, the text in the block will be in inverse video on a monochrome system and the text will be in a different color on color system. After exiting, and a block has been turned off, the text will be returned to its original status. Block Print If a legal block has been defined, selecting this command will enable you to print the block. After selecting this command an alert box will be displayed asking you if you wish to print this block of text. If you wish to print the block of text either press Return or click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Yes'. If you do not want to print the block click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'No'. If you try to print the block and your printer is not turned on or is not connected properly an alert box will be displayed giving you the option to turn on your printer or to abort the printing of the block. After the block has been printed you will be returned to the Block Screen. Block Delete If a legal block has been defined, selecting this command will enable you to delete the block. After selecting this command an alert box will be displayed asking you if you wish to delete this block of text. If you wish to delete the block of text either press Return or click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Yes'. If you do not want to delete the block, click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'No'. If you select 'Yes' you will be returned to the Main screen otherwise you will be returned to the Block screen. Delete all but Block If a legal block has been defined, selecting this command will enable you to delete everything EXCEPT this block of text. After selecting this command an alert box will be displayed asking you if you wish to delete everything excep this block of text. If you wish to delete everything except this block of text either press Return or click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Yes'. If you do not want to delete everything except this block, click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'No'. If you select 'Yes' you will be returned to the Main screen otherwise you will be returned to the Block screen. Block Save If a legal block has been defined, selecting this command will bring up the standard GEM selector box. If you wish to save this block of text, type in the name of the file and either press Return or click the left mouse button inside the box labeled OK. If you do not wish to save this block of text either press Return without typing in a file name or click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Cancel'. After the block has been saved you will be returned to the Block screen. Exit Selecting Exit will always return you to the Main Screen. If a block has been set it will now be shown in highlighted form. If a block has been turned off it will now be shown in standard text. LOAD Selecting the LOAD command will display the standard GEM file selector box. To load a file simply locate the ASCII file that you wish to view and either single click on that file and press Return or double click on your chosen file. Ascii-View will now check to see if the file is indeed an ASCII file. If it is an ASCII file Ascii-View will then display the first page of text in that file. HELP Selecting the HELP command will display a dialog box that will appear on the right hand side of the screen showing you the choices you may select from. Move the mouse to the command that you need help with which should now be inverted and click the left mouse button on it. The help display box will now be shown with the help information that you selected. If there is more than one page of text in the help file use the Forward and Reverse buttons to scroll through the pages of help. If you need to view the Keyboard Equivalent screen click the left mouse button inside the box. If you need more help with another command, click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Help Screen'. To exit the Help Screen click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Main Screen'. QUIT Selecting the QUIT command will display an alert box asking if you wish to 'Stay' or 'Quit'. If you wish to stay click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Stay' in which case you will be returned to the file that you where currently viewing. If you choose to exit click the left mouse button inside the box labeled 'Exit' in which case you will be returned to the desktop. GOTO LINE Selecting GOTO LINE will display a dialog box that will ask you to enter the line number that you wish go to. After entering the line number press Return and the line number that you entered will be instantly displayed on the top line of the screen. If you enter an invalid number Ascii-View will display an Alert box stating that you must enter a number in between the first and the last line number in the file. If you change your mind and don't want go to a different line, simply press Return without entering a line number. STATISTICS Selecting the STATISTICS command will display two dialog boxes. The dialog box on the left displays system and program specific information which includes: System Date System Time Total number of pages in the file Total number of lines in the file Current page number Current line number Current file name Current file size (in bytes) Remaining memory (in bytes) The dialog box on the right displays that this program is shareware. If you use and/or like this or any other Shareware program please support the Shareware author. After all it takes time and effort to write these darned programs. PAGE _ OF _ By selecting the PAGE _ OF _ command you will toggle between PAGE _ OF _ and TOP LINE NUMBER =. When PAGE _ OF _ is being displayed this tells you which 23 line page of text you are currently viewing as well as the total number of pages there are in the file in memory. TOP LINE = By selecting the TOP LINE NUMBER = command you will toggle between PAGE _ OF _ and TOP LINE NUMBER =. When TOP LINE NUMBER = is being displayed this tells you the line number of the first line of text currently being shown at the top of the display screen. Recommended Usage Ascii-View should come in handy for anyone, anytime, who wishes to just read and or print all or part of a document without having to load a Word Processor or Text Editor. As an example of what Ascii-View could be useful for think about all the files that you download, most if not all of these programs have accompanying documentation which can be looked over before executing the program. Program listings can be displayed and keywords searched for. Also a good way to read through the information from the online magazines. Are You Still With Me? Also available is the commented GFA Basic 3.07 source code. This offer is only available to registered users (read PAYING customers), just be sure to mention it when you send in your payment. I would like to offer my appreciation to the people who offered suggestions on how to make this a better program. Thank You Very Much!. Bugs I have tried as much as possible to rid this program of these nasty creatures, however when you are Joe programmer AND Joe Beta Tester sometimes the little nasties can sneak through to the final product. I would like to thank those of you who took the time and effort to inform me of the bugs in the earlier versions (all of which have been squashed) and would gratefully ask that if anyone encounters any bugs in this version to let me know. I can be reached at the address listed at the end of this document or online: GEnie......... D.SEBERG Shareware Ascii-View is a Shareware program. If you have found this program to be of some use and plan to use it in the future, then pay for it just as you would for a 'STORE BOUGHT' program. $5.00 to $10.00 is the asking price. Ascii-View and this documentation file are Copyright 1990 by David M. Seberg. All Rights Reserved. Please feel free to redistribute Ascii-View to any other BBS or service, just be sure to include both the program file and this documentation file in their original condition. Enjoy! David M. Seberg 3829 Colina Dorada Dr. #D-203 San Diego, CA 92124