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- *****************************************************************
- * The ST MESSAGE SCROLLER *
- * *
- * BY *
- * *
- * CHRIS SHARP *
- *****************************************************************
-
-
- Why
- ---
-
- I wrote this program because I was bored one sunday afternoon. I get
- bored very easily you see, which is why I am writing this long
- DOC file!
-
-
-
-
- About
- -----
-
- This version of the ST Message Scroller contains 15 commands.
- This may not sound much, but if you try them all out, I think you'll
- agree that there is plenty of variety.
-
-
-
-
- Uh-Oh
- -----
-
- I have worked very hard to bring this program up to an acceptable
- release level, and therefore I feel I should be entitled to a small
- something for my work.
- I have added a limitation to this version of the software, to encourage
- people to register with me. This limitation is that you cannot display
- text files over 300 bytes (300 characters) long.
- When you register (details of how to register below) I will send you a
- fully operational copy with no limitations. This means that you will
- then be able to display text files of up to 400 kilobytes on a 520STFM
- and more on an upgraded system!
-
- To Register, send £5 to the address below (Cash or Postal orders, which ever
- you feel happiest with).
-
- Chris Sharp (Scroller Disk)
- 4 Sunnycroft Lane
- Dinas Powys
- South Glamorgan
- Wales
- CF64 4QQ
-
-
-
-
- What you get when registering
- -----------------------------
- You get one of my disks, with a fully working version of the software on
- it! You also get a few of my latest pieces of code, as yet unreleased!
- As well as all of that, you get loads of example text files, and how
- they work.
-
- And on top of that, if you register, and you wish for an extra feature to
- be added, then I will do my utmost to make sure that the command is added
- in an update of the software.
-
-
-
-
- Yes thats all very well, but what can I use this scroller for?
- --------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Well, for instance, If you were writing some code for the Public Domain
- or Shareware libraries and needed just that little bit of extra
- flare for your software then you could put the instructions to the game in
- your scrolling message. You could write a list of Hello-To's in your
- message, and upload it on a bulletin board.
- If you register the software, you get instructions on how to get the
- message to automatically boot up when you place the disk in the drive
- and turn the computer on!
-
-
-
-
- Legalities
- ----------
-
- Basically, If you use my program [scroller.prg] then you use it at
- your own risk. This generally means that if you wreck your disk
- collection as use or misuse of this software then its not my fault.
- Sorry!
-
- You may give away copies of this program, providing that the text file
- (README.DOC) goes with it, and is not altered in ANY way.
-
-
-
- Command Lists
- -------------
-
- Here is a list of the commands that this version can use. These
- commands can be placed anywhere in the textfile (SCROLTXT.TXT).
-
-
- * Denotes end of message file. You only need one in the entire
- file. Place it right at the end when you want your message
- to wrap araound and start again.
-
- " Turns multi coloured text on. Each letter's colour will be
- selected from a choice of ten different colours. Occasionally
- 2 letters in a row have the same colour, but this doesn't look
- odd.
-
- £ This turns off multicoloured text, and then the message is
- displayed in white, until another colour command is chosen.
-
- ^ If you would prefer your message to scroll faster than it normally
- does, then add this commmand anywhere in the text, and it speeds
- up when the position is reached.
-
- % This is the slow scroll speed, and is selected by default. If you
- have selected fast scroll speed with ^ and decide you would like
- the text to scroll slower again, you can put this command in the
- textfile (SCROLTXT.TXT), at any place, and the command will start
- working as soon as the position in the text is reached.
-
- & This command allows you to change the colour of the text on the screen
- The syntax of this command is -:
-
- &N { Where N is a number, ranging from 01-15. }
- { If you want to use a colour number between }
- { 1 and 9, then you must put a 0 in front of }
- { it, e.g. &05 }
-
- The colours corresponding with the numbers are
-
- 01 - White
- 02 - Green
- 03 - Black {Cannot be seen}
- 04 - Yellow
- 05 - Dark brown
- 06 - Light brown
- 07 - Pea Green
- 08 - Light Grey
- 09 - Dark Grey
- 10 - Red
- 11 - Green
- 12 - Yellow
- 13 - Blue
- 14 - Purple
- 15 - Cyan
-
- ( This command enables you to scroll the message down, out of view.
- can be placed anywhere in the message text file.
-
- ) This command is the same as the one above, but scrolls the message
- up out of view instead.
-
- + This command stops the message moving for half a second. You can
- place several (up to 1000) in a row.
-
- - This command fades the text out of view. Once you have faded the text,
- there is no way of getting it back, until the message has wrapped
- around, displaying it for the next time.
-
- The syntax of this command is
-
- -N {Where N is a number ranging from 1 to 9}
- {1 is the fastest fade speed, and 9}
- {is the slowest.}
-
- # This command enables you to add sound effects to your scrolling
- messages.
-
- The syntax of this command is
-
- #N {Where N is a number between 01 and 50}
- {If you want to use a number between }
- {1 and 9, then you must place a zero }
- {in front of it, e.g. #05 }
-
- ~ This command enables the text to be exploded off the screen.
-
- @ This command inverses the colours Black (&03) and White(&01),
- meaning you now have a white screen, with black writing (Unless you
- have changed the writing to a different colour in the meantime
- of course!).
-
- | This command cancels out the inverse command, so if you have inversed
- the colours, and then later on in the message want the colours to
- go back to normal, then use this command.
-
-
-
-
- Finally
- -------
-
- Don't forget that this version can only display text files of up to 300
- bytes (300 characters) long.
- When you register (Details given at start of document) you can scroll up
- to 400 kilobytes (400000+ characters) of text in your message, which is
- about the same as a medium sized novel!
- Also when you register, you can suggest ideas to be implemented in the
- next version of the program, making it even more powerful!
-
-
- Have Fun,
- Chris Sharp