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Cruise Control Demo Program
Version 2.0 (Half-Hour Time Limit)
RAM-Resident Cursor Control Program With Screen Dimmer
Cruise Control is available directly from Revolution Software for
$29.95 plus $3.50 shipping and handling.
To order by mail, send a check or money order to:
Revolution
Software, Inc.
715 Route 10 East
Randolph, New Jersey 07869
To order by credit card (MC/VISA/AX), call:
Revolution
Software, Inc.
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM (Eastern Time)
201-366-4445
Thank you in advance for your support of Cruise Control.
Credits
Original Concept: B. Mikael Nilsson
Design: B. Mikael Nilsson, Peter S. Bradeen, George T. Thibault
Software: Peter S. Bradeen
Documentation: George T. Thibault, Shirley J. Adams
Thanks to: Forrest A. DeGroff, John B. Blackford, Steven M. Yarnell
Dedicated to: The crew of the space shuttle Challenger.
Copyright Revolution Software, Inc. 1986 - All Rights Reserved
First uploading: May 1986
This documentation is copyrighted and all rights are reserved.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this documentation for
the sole purpose of evaluating the Cruise Control program for
purchase.
Cruise Control, Screen Runner, Anti-Skid Braking, Chronometer,
Dimmer Switch, and Auto-Dimmer are trademarks of
Revolution Software, Inc.
dBase III and Framework II are trademarks of Ashton-Tate;
DisplayWrite III, IBM Personal Computer, IBM PC XT, and IBM PC AT
are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation;
Lotus 1-2-3 and Symphony are trademarks of Lotus Development
Corporation; Microsoft Word is a trademark of Microsoft
Corporation; Ready! and ThinkTank are trademarks of Living
Videotext, Inc; SideKick, Turbo Lightning, and Reflex: The
Analyst are trademarks of Borland International; WordStar and
WordStar 2000 are trademarks of MicroPro International
Corporation; Word Perfect is a trademark of Satellite Software
International; Q&A is a trademark of Symantec Corporation;
Multimate is a trademark of Multimate International, an
Ashton-Tate company.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
An Overview Of Cruise Control 1
Keyboard Ergonomics 1
The Conflict 2
The Cruise Control Solution 2
Hardware Compatibility 3
License Agreement And Copyright 3
Customer Service And Technical Support 3
Getting Started With Cruise Control 4
The [REV] Key 4
Running Cruise Control 4
The Cruise Control Panel 5
The On-Line Help Panel 6
Operating Cruise Control 7
Selecting A Control Strategy 7
Changing The Control Strategy At The DOS Prompt 7
Changing The Control Strategy Within An Application 8
Adjusting The Cursor Speed With Screen Runner 8
Stopping On A Dime With Anti-Skid Braking 9
The Cruise Control Feature: Repeating A Key Hands-Free 9
The Cruise Control Feature: Adjusting The Speed 10
The Cruise Control Feature: Application Tips 10
Inserting The Date And Time With The Chronometer 11
Changing The Date And Time Formats 11
Using The Dimmer Switch 12
Programming The Auto-Dimmer Time Delay 12
Disabling The Auto-Dimmer At The DOS Prompt 13
Disabling The Auto-Dimmer Within An Application 13
Redefining The [REV] Key 14
Disabling/Enabling Cruise Control Within An Application 14
Removing Cruise Control From Memory 14
Using Cruise Control With Other RAM-Resident Programs 15
Quick Reference 16
Control Strategy Appendix 17
WordStar Application Note 18
DesqView Application Note 189
Page 1
Introduction
An Overview Of Cruise Control
The people of Revolution Software would like to thank you for
downloading the Cruise Control Demo Program. This program is
identical to the commercial version of the product except that it
is automatically disabled after a half-hour of use. Feel free to
run the demo as many times as you'd like.
Cruise Control is a memory-resident program that enhances the
performance and control of the cursor keys on the IBM Personal
Computer and compatibles. It requires less than 5K of RAM and is
compatible with most popular programs, including other
RAM-resident programs. Cruise Control is particularly useful
with cursor intensive programs like spreadsheets, word
processors, outliners, and data base managers. Here is a brief
description of the program's six major features:
Screen Runner increases the speed of the cursor keys, and all
other auto-repeated keys, in most programs. The speed is
adjustable.
Anti-Skid Braking eliminates the tendency of the cursor keys, and
all other auto-repeated keys, to run-on after they're released.
Cruise Control repeats the cursor keys, other keys, and key
combinations, without having to hold them down. The speed is
adjustable.
Chronometer inserts the system date or time into an application
program at the current cursor position.
Dimmer Switch dims the display screen under keyboard control. A
[Shift] key restores the screen.
Auto-Dimmer dims the display screen automatically after a
programmable time delay. A [Shift] key restores the screen.
Keyboard Ergonomics
You're probably familiar with the keyboard's two most important
ergonomic features: the type-ahead buffer and the auto-repeat
function. The type-ahead buffer temporarily stores keystrokes
when you type faster than your program. The buffer's
16-character size protects against the loss of keystrokes under
normal conditions. The computer warns you by beeping when the
buffer overflows. The auto-repeat function repeats most of the
keys on the keyboard at a constant rate as long as they're held
down. Without auto-repeat, you'd need 79 individual keystrokes
just to move the cursor from the beginning of a line to the end
of a line.
Page 2
The Conflict
The type-ahead buffer and auto-repeat function are sometimes at
odds with each other. The problem occurs when your application
program can't process keystrokes as fast as the auto-repeat rate.
When this situation occurs, the 16-character type-ahead buffer
quickly overflows and begins to beep. If you're like most users,
when you hear the beeping, you immediately release the offending
key, which is usually a cursor key. Curiously, when you release
the cursor key, the cursor doesn't stop but skids, or runs on an
extra 16 characters while the keyboard buffer empties.
Perhaps a spreadsheet example will help bring the problem into
focus. Assume the cursor is located in cell A1 and you need to
move to cell K1, ten cells to the right. You hold down the
[Right] cursor key until you reach cell K1, and then let up,
expecting the cursor to stop. Instead, the cursor keeps
traveling and finally comes to rest in cell Z1, fifteen cells to
the right of your intended destination. Sound familiar?
The Cruise Control Solution
Cruise Control's Anti-Skid Braking and Screen Runner features
solve the conflict between the type-ahead buffer and the
auto-repeat function in a simple, yet elegant way. Using
advanced pattern recognition techniques, Anti-Skid Braking senses
the rate at which your application program is processing
keystrokes and dynamically adjusts the auto-repeat rate to match.
When your program is working slower than the standard
auto-repeat rate, Anti-Skid Braking adjusts the auto-repeat rate
accordingly to keep the buffer empty. Cursor run-on is
eliminated. However, when your program can handle more speed,
Screen Runner responds by increasing the auto-repeat rate above
the standard setting to the maximum speed allowed by your
program. In most cases, cursor speed is increased dramatically.
You've just seen how the Anti-Skid Braking and Screen Runner
features work together to optimize cursor control and performance
in your application programs. These features, along with the
Cruise Control feature, take the drudgery out of navigating
large spreadsheets, lengthy documents, multi-level outlines, or
long lists of data base records. The Chronometer eliminates the
tedium of typing the date and time and reduces the chance of
confusing one version of a document with another. The Dimmer
Switch and Auto-Dimmer enhance the privacy of your computing
sessions and extend the life of your display screen.
Page 3
Revolution Software is confident that Cruise Control will improve
the productivity of your personal computing sessions. It will
reduce fatigue and lessen the chance for errors. Cruise Control
is a natural partner for thousands of today's popular programs,
including: Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony, SideKick, Turbo Lightning,
Reflex: The Analyst, WordStar 2000, Q&A, Word Perfect, Microsoft
Word, DisplayWrite III, ThinkTank, Ready!, Multimate, Framework
II, and dBase III.
Most importantly, you can learn to use Cruise Control in just a
few minutes!
Hardware Compatibility
Cruise Control is compatible with the IBM PC, IBM PC XT, IBM PC
AT, and 100% IBM COMPATIBLE personal computers running PC-DOS
Version 2.0 or higher. The following video display cards are
supported: IBM Monochrome Display Adapter, IBM Color Graphics
Adapter (CGA), IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA), AT&T, Compaq,
and the Hercules Graphics Card.
License Agreement And Copyright
The Cruise Control Demo Program is licensed to you at no charge
for the sole purpose of evaluating the Cruise Control program for
purchase. However, the software is copyrighted and is therefore
protected by U.S. copyright laws and international treaty
provisions. You may not make alterations in the software nor may
you disassemble, reverse engineer, or attempt to disassemble or
reverse engineer any part of the software. Thank you in advance
for adhering to the copyright laws and this License Agreement.
Please feel free to pass a copy of the software and documentation
along to a friend.
Customer Service And Technical Support
Should you experience any difficulty running the Cruise Control
Demo Program, please call our Technical Support Department at
201-366-4445. Before you call, we suggest that you review this
manual and consult the On-Line Help Panel (CRUISE/H at the DOS
prompt). Technical support is available weekdays between 8:30 AM
and 6:30 PM (Eastern Time).
Our technical staff looks forward to serving you!
Page 4
Getting Started With Cruise Control
The [REV] Key
Cruise Control uses a special key, called the [REV] key, in many
of its commands. The [REV] key is always used in conjunction
with another key, just like the [Shift], [Ctrl], and [Alt] keys.
It must be pressed first and held down while the second key is
pressed. By default, the [REV] key is the [5] key on the numeric
keypad, typed with the [Num Lock] key in the OFF position.
You probably know that the [5] key on the numeric keypad types
the number 5 when the [Num Lock] key is ON. Interestingly
enough, the [5] key does not type a character when [Num Lock] is
OFF. For this reason, our software engineers have chosen the
[Num Lock][OFF] version of the [5] key as the default [REV] key.
Although it's unlikely the [5] key will ever cause a conflict
with another program, it can be redefined if necessary. Please
see the instructions in the section entitled, Redefining The
[REV] Key. To keep things simple, this manual uses the [5] key
symbol in place of the [REV] key symbol when referring to typed
commands.
As mentioned above, the [5] key is used in much the same way the
[Shift], [Ctrl], and [Alt] keys are used in other programs. For
example, the [5][D] key combination is typed as follows:
Press the [5] key and hold it down.
With the [5] key still depressed, press the [D] key.
Cruise Control uses the following [5] key combinations: [5][+],
[5][-], [5][Tab], [5][D], [5][T], [5][Delete], [5][* PrtSc], and
[5][Insert].
Important: The [+] and [-] key symbols shown throughout this
manual refer to keys on the numeric keypad.
Running Cruise Control
The program file for the Cruise Control Demo Program is called
CRUISE.COM. This file must be run before running your
application program, either at the DOS prompt or as a command in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Once you have run Cruise Control, it
will remain resident and operational, even if you switch
applications. You can, however, disable the program or remove it
from memory altogether with simple commands.
The commercial version of Cruise Control features an Installation
Program to help you create or modify an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on a
DOS diskette or hard disk. The Installation Program has been
omitted from this demo to reduce downloading time.
Page 5
If you've decided not to create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you must
run Cruise Control "manually" at the DOS prompt. On a
floppy based system, simply insert a diskette containing Cruise
Control in drive A and type the following command:
A>CRUISE [Enter]
If you've installed Cruise Control on the root directory of a
hard disk system, type the following commands to run Cruise
Control:
C>CD C:\ [Enter]
C>CRUISE [Enter]
Likewise, if you use tree structured directories on your hard
disk, type the following commands to run Cruise Control from a
directory you've created called CURSOR:
C>CD C:\CURSOR [Enter]
C>CRUISE [Enter]
Once Cruise Control has been loaded into memory, a copyright
notice will appear at the top of the screen.
The Cruise Control Panel
Below the copyright notice you'll see the Cruise Control Panel.
It displays status information on the Auto-Dimmer, Control
Strategy, and [REV] key. We'll discuss these settings and how to
change them later on. For now, notice that the default settings
are:
Auto-Dimmer delay is 30 minutes
Control Strategy is A
[REV] key is the [5] key on the numeric keypad
You're now ready to run an application at the DOS prompt.
Page 6
The On-Line Help Panel
Cruise Control is a simple program with few commands. In fact,
three of its most important features, Screen Runner, Anti-Skid
Braking, and Auto-Dimmer, work behind the scenes, without any
extra effort on your part.
Cruise Control's On-Line Help Panel makes it easy to refresh your
memory on any facet of the program's operation. To display the
On-Line Help Panel, type the following command at the DOS
prompt:
A>CRUISE/H [Enter]
Important: Before issuing this, or any other Cruise Control
command at the DOS prompt, be sure that the Cruise Control
program file, CRUISE.COM, is on the current diskette or
directory; otherwise, the following message will appear:
Bad command or file name
Page 7
Operating Cruise Control
Selecting A Control Strategy
In the years since the introduction of the IBM Personal Computer,
thousands of programs have been written. Many of these programs
have addressed the keyboard buffer overflow problem by increasing
the size of the keyboard buffer to as many as 256 characters.
Few programs have addressed the cursor run-on problem. In fact,
while extending the keyboard buffer does eliminate the overflow
and beeping problems, it seriously compounds the run-on problem.
In designing Cruise Control, our software engineers considered
not only the original conflict between the type-ahead buffer and
the auto-repeat function, but the various schemes other software
developers have employed in their attempts to solve the problem.
For maximum compatibility, Cruise Control uses a variety of
Control Strategies, labeled A, B, C, etc. Each strategy is
optimized for a specific class of programs. Control Strategy A,
the default, works with most of the programs you'll encounter.
The Control Strategy Appendix contains a list of the Control
Strategies (A, B, C, etc.) available in your version of the
program, along with a list of programs tested to work with each
strategy. It also contains valuable application tips developed
by Revolution Software and other Cruise Control owners.
Selecting a Control Strategy is easy. First, locate your program
in the Control Strategy Appendix and jot down the letter
corresponding to its Control Strategy. Then use this letter as an
extension to the command you use to run Cruise Control. For
example, to select Control Strategy B, you might type the
following command at the DOS prompt:
A>CRUISE/B [Enter]
If you leave the command extension off when running Cruise
Control for the first time, Control Strategy A will be used by
default.
Changing The Control Strategy At The DOS Prompt
Once Cruise Control is loaded into memory, the program will
continue to use the Control Strategy you've selected until you
instruct it otherwise. You can change the Control Strategy by
returning to the DOS prompt and running the program again.
Page 8
To change from Control Strategy B to Control Strategy A, you
might type the following command at the DOS prompt:
A>CRUISE/A [Enter]
This command does not load a new copy of Cruise Control into
memory; it just tells the current version to use the new Control
Strategy.
Important: Control Strategy A is used by default when Cruise
Control is first run. Once you've specified a different Control
Strategy, you must add the /A extension to the command to
re-select Control Strategy A.
Changing The Control Strategy Within An Application
If the Control Strategy you've chosen for your application
program doesn't seem to be working properly, try a different
strategy. To change the Control Strategy without leaving the
current application, follow these steps:
Press [5][Tab] to advance to the next Control Strategy in
alphabetic sequence. You should hear one or more clicks.
Test the new Control Strategy with the cursor keys.
Repeat the sequence until a suitable Control Strategy is
found.
Think of the [5][Tab] key combination as a multi-position switch
for Control Strategy. Each time you press [5][Tab], you'll
advance one letter of the alphabet and hear a different number of
clicks (one click for Control Strategy A, two clicks for Control
Strategy B, etc.) When you've reached the last available Control
Strategy, say C, the program will recycle to Control Strategy A.
For example, if your current Control Strategy was B, and you
wished to change it to A, you would press the [5][Tab]
combination twice.
If you're uncertain as to the Control Strategy currently
selected, consult the Cruise Control Panel. To display it,
return to the DOS prompt and type the following command:
CRUISE [Enter]
Adjusting The Cursor Speed With Screen Runner
In many applications, the keystroke processing speed of the
application exceeds the standard auto-repeat rate of the
keyboard. Screen Runner takes advantage of this extra capacity
by increasing the auto-repeat rate beyond its design rate to the
maximum speed allowed by a particular application. The end
result is a dramatic increase in cursor speed and auto-repeat
Page 9
rate in many of today's state-of-the-art programs.
Important: A few of the earliest programs available for the IBM
Personal Computer were translated, or ported from older machines.
These programs and a few others often run too slowly to take
advantage of Screen Runner. Most of them will, however, benefit
greatly from Cruise Control's Anti-Skid Braking.
If Screen Runner is compatible with your application, you'll find
its default cursor speed considerably faster than the standard
auto-repeat rate of your keyboard. Depending on your application
and personal preference, you can speed up or slow down the cursor
from its default setting.
To increase the cursor speed:
Press [5][+]. You should hear a click.
Use one of the cursor keys to check the new speed.
If it's still too slow, repeat the process. If it's too
fast, follow the instructions below:
To decrease the cursor speed:
Press [5][-] as many times as required.
Stopping On A Dime With Anti-Skid Braking
As discussed earlier, the type-ahead buffer and auto-repeat
functions of your keyboard will sometimes clash. Specifically,
the key you've pressed may continue to repeat long after you've
released it. In addition, the keyboard buffer may overflow,
resulting in an irritating screeching sound.
Cruise Control's Anti-Skid Braking function will eliminate cursor
run-on once and for all in most programs. With Cruise Control in
memory, auto-repeated keys will stop repeating the moment you
release them. Your keyboard buffer will be silenced. If you
experience cursor run-on while using Cruise Control, chances are
you've selected an inappropriate Control Strategy. To remedy the
situation, refer to the Control Strategy Appendix for the proper
setting; then follow the instructions in the section entitled
Changing The Control Strategy Within An Application.
The Cruise Control Feature: Repeating A Key Hands-Free
The Cruise Control feature further enhances your keyboard's
standard auto-repeat function. It lets you repeat any [Key]
without having to hold it down. The [Key] is repeated until
another key is pressed. In fact, the Cruise Control feature can
be used to repeat key combinations, like [Shift][Q] or
[Ctrl][Right] cursor, etc. You can even adjust the Cruise
Control speed to suit the situation.
Page 10
To repeat any key or key combination, follow these steps:
Press the [5] key and release it.
Then, press the [Key] you wish to repeat.
[Key] will be repeated indefinitely.
Press [Any] to stop the repetition.
Important: This is the only case where the [5] key can be
released before pressing the key it's used with. In all other
cases, the [5] key is used like a [Shift], [Ctrl], or [Alt] key;
it must be held down while the other key is pressed.
The Cruise Control Feature: Adjusting The Speed
If the default Cruise Control speed is too fast or too slow, you
can adjust it. The speed can be adjusted over a wide range, from
16 characters per second to 1 character every 18 seconds. Higher
speeds are ideal for navigating spreadsheets, while lower are
perfect for reviewing word processing documents. The speed
adjustment must be made while the Cruise Control function is
repeating a key.
To increase the Cruise Control speed:
Press [+] as many times as required.
To decrease the Cruise Control speed:
Press [-] as many times as required.
Important: The Cruise Control speed is the rate at which keys
are repeated during hands-free operation. It should not be
confused with the Screen Runner or cursor speed, the rate at
which keys are repeated when held down.
The Cruise Control Feature: Application Tips
Here's a few examples to whet your appetite for Cruise Control's
hands-free auto-repeat feature:
[5] then [PgDn] to examine a document screen by
screen
[5] then [Right] to cursor left to right in a
spreadsheet
[5] then [Shift][Q] to repeat UPPERCASE Qs in a word
processor
[5] then [Alt][196] to draw with ASCII character 196
[5] then [Enter] to expand an outline line by line
Page 11
Inserting The Date And Time With The Chronometer
The Chronometer inserts the system date and time into an
application at the current cursor position. The Chronometer gets
its information from DOS, so be sure to enter the time and date
each time you start up your computer. With the Chronometer, it's
easy to enter the date and/or time into a letter, a spreadsheet
cell, a source code routine, your client billing system, or a
file you're about to transmit. The Chronometer acts like a
rubber stamp; the time and date are not updated once they've been
entered into your application.
To insert the system date at the current cursor position:
Press [5][D].
The current system date will appear in the form:
July 4, 1776
To insert the system time at the current cursor position:
Press [5][T].
The current system time will appear in the form:
5:30 PM
Important: In spreadsheets such as Lotus 1-2-3, you should type
an apostrophe ['] before inserting the time. Otherwise, 1-2-3
thinks that you're trying to enter a number and not a text
string.
Changing The Date And Time Formats
If the default and time formats don't suit your needs, you can
change them. There are six date formats and six time formats.
The [#] sign is used to indicate a change in the date format and
the [@]sign a change in the time format. To change a format,
return to the DOS prompt and type one of the following commands:
CRUISE/#1 [Enter] Month DD,YYY
CRUISE/#2 [Enter] DD-MON-YY
CRUISE/#3 [Enter] MM/DD/YY
CRUISE/#4 [Enter] MM/DD/YY No leading zeroes.
CRUISE/#5 [Enter] DD/MM/YY
CRUISE/#6 [Enter] YY-MM-DD
CRUISE/#7 [Enter] MM-DD-YY
CRUISE/#8 [Enter] MM-DD-YY No leading zeroes.
Page 12
CRUISE/@1 [Enter] HH:MM AM/PM
CRUISE/@2 [Enter] HH:MM 24-hour clock.
CRUISE/@3 [Enter] HH.MM 24-hour clock.
CRUISE/@4 [Enter] HH,MM 24-hour clock.
CRUISE/@5 [Enter] HHhMMm 24-hour clock.
CRUISE/@6 [Enter] HH:MM AM/PM No leading zero.
You can also change the date and time format with a single
command. For example, to change to the date format of YY-MM-DD
and a time format of HH,MM, you would type the following command
at the DOS prompt:
CRUISE/#6/@4 [Enter]
Using The Dimmer Switch
The Dimmer Switch lets you dim the display screen from the
keyboard. It's a discreet way to shield sensitive information
from visitors without having to leave your application. Once the
visitor has left, you can toggle the screen back on again from
the keyboard. You'll be right where you were before the
interruption.
To dim the display screen:
Press [5][Delete].
To restore the display screen:
Press either [Shift] key.
Actually, any key will restore the screen. It's best to avoid
the character keys since they may affect your application
program.
Programming The Auto-Dimmer Time Delay
The Auto-Dimmer automatically turns off your display screen when
the keyboard is idle. The default time delay is 30 minutes. It
reduces the chance that the screen image of your favorite
application program will be permanently etched into the screen's
phosphor. The Auto-Dimmer also enhances the privacy of a
computing session.
The Auto-Dimmer can be programmed from 1-60 minutes. To do so,
return to the DOS prompt and type a command like the one shown
below:
A>CRUISE/5 [Enter] (5 minute delay)
In fact, you can reprogram the Auto-Dimmer and change the
current Control Strategy on the same command line using command
extensions. Let's say you want to change the time delay to 5
Page 13
minutes and the Control Strategy to B. Either of the following
commands would do the trick:
A>CRUISE/5/B [Enter]
A>CRUISE/B/5 [Enter]
Disabling The Auto-Dimmer At The DOS Prompt
During long computing sessions, you may want to disable the
Auto-Dimmer. To do so, return to the DOS prompt and type the
following command:
A>CRUISE/0 [Enter]
When the Auto-Dimmer is disabled, all of the other features of
the Cruise Control program are still operable including the
Dimmer Switch.
To enable the Auto-Dimmer, type a command like those shown
below:
A>CRUISE/40 [Enter] (40 minute delay)
A>CRUISE/60 [Enter] (60 minute delay)
Disabling The Auto-Dimmer Within An Application
One way to disable the Auto-Dimmer is to exit your application
program and type CRUISE/0 at the DOS prompt. Fortunately,
there is an easier way to do the same thing without leaving your
application program.
To disable the Auto-Dimmer within an application:
Press [5][* PrtSc]. You'll hear a negative tone confirming
that the Auto-Dimmer has been disabled.
To enable the Auto-Dimmer, repeat the process:
Press [5][* PrtSc] again. This time you'll hear a positive
tone confirming that the Auto-Dimmer has been enabled.
Think of the [5][* PrtSc] key combination as a toggle switch for
the Auto-Dimmer.
Page 14
Redefining The [REV] Key
Cruise Control is compatible with most RAM-resident programs and
most combinations of such programs. Occasionally, you may
encounter a RAM-resident program, or a normal application
program, that uses Cruise Control's default [REV] key, the [5]
key on the numeric keypad. There is also a possibility that your
keyboard doesn't have this key.
When you encounter one of these problems, it's best to redefine
Cruise Control's [REV] key from the [5] to another key. The [5]
key can be redefined at the DOS prompt. Type the following
command and follow the instructions that appear on the screen:
A>CRUISE/R [Enter]
Disabling/Enabling Cruise Control Within An Application
If needed, Cruise Control can be disabled and enabled within an
application. The disabling procedure renders Cruise Control
inoperative but leaves it resident in memory for later use.
To disable the entire Cruise Control program within an
application:
Press [5][Insert]. You'll hear a negative tone confirming
that the Auto-Dimmer has been disabled.
To enable the Cruise Control program:
Press [5][Insert] again. This time you'll hear a positive
tone confirming that the Auto-Dimmer has been enabled.
Think of the [5][Insert] key combination as a toggle switch for
the entire Cruise Control program.
Removing Cruise Control From Memory
Cruise Control can be removed from memory by typing the following
command:
A>CRUISE/X [Enter]
If you attempt to remove Cruise Control before removing other
RAM-resident programs residing above it, Cruise Control will be
disabled but will not be removed from memory. Cruise Control
wisely avoids creating a gap in memory which might confuse DOS
and freeze the computer.
Page 15
Using Cruise Control With Other RAM-Resident Programs
Cruise Control is compatible with most RAM-resident programs. It
need not be the last RAM-resident program loaded into memory.
Some RAM-resident programs require that you load them last. If
you use such a program with Cruise Control, be sure to load the
other program last.
Unlike Cruise Control, most RAM-resident programs do not
recognize other RAM-resident programs loaded above (after) them.
As a rule-of-thumb, never remove a RAM-resident program from
memory without first removing each of the programs above it in
top-down sequence. In other words, the last program loaded
should be removed first, etc.
On occasion, the Control Strategy that's required for an
application program may be different than that required by a
RAM-resident program(s). Should this conflict occur, the Control
Strategy can be changed. Use the [5][Tab] key combination
outlined in the section entitled, Changing The Control Strategy
Within An Application.
Page 16
Quick Reference
At The DOS Prompt:
CRUISE run; use default settings; or, show
current settings if already running.
CRUISE/{1-60} run; select Auto-Dimmer delay in minutes (1-60).
CRUISE/0 run; disable Auto-Dimmer.
CRUISE/{A,B,C, ...} run; select Control Strategy A, B, C, etc.
CRUISE/H run; display On-Line Help Panel.
CRUISE/R run; redefine [5] key.
CRUISE/X remove from memory or disable and leave
in memory.
Within An Application:
[5][+] increase Screen Runner (cursor) speed.
[5][-] decrease Screen Runner (cursor) speed.
[5][Tab] select Control Strategy; cycle alphabetically.
[5] then [Key] repeat [Key] automatically; [Any] to stop.
[+] increase Cruise Control speed.
[-] decrease Cruise Control speed.
[5][D] insert system date at the cursor.
[5][T] insert system time at the cursor.
[5][Delete] dim display screen; [Any] restores screen.
[5][* PrtSc] disable/enable Auto-Dimmer; same as CRUISE/0.
[5][Insert] disable/enable Cruise Control program;
same as CRUISE/X except program is left in
memory.
Default Settings: Control Strategy is A, Auto-Dimmer delay is 15
minutes, [REV] key is [5] key on numeric keypad with [Num Lock] OFF.
Page 17
Control Strategy Appendix
Control Strategy A
dBASE II (Version 2.43)
DisplayWrite III (Version 1.00 -Run without KQE.COM)
HomeBase (Version 1.03)
Javelin (Version 1.0)
Lotus 1-2-3 (Release 1A)
Mouse Systems PC Mouse (Version 4.20)
Multimate Advantage (Version 3.5)
RBASE 5000 (Version 1.00)
Ready (Version 1.00)
THOR: Thought Organizer (Versions 1.8 - 1.9)
Turbo Lightning (Version 1.00A)
Most programs
Control Strategy B
Chart-Master (Version 6.1)
Crosstalk XVI (Version 3.61)
dBASE III Plus (Version 1.0)
DesqView (Version 1.2-See Desqview Application Note)
Diagram-Master (Version 5.0)
Enable (Version 1.1)
Final Word II (Version 2.0)
Framework (Version 1.0)
Framework II
Lotus 1-2-3 (Release 2.0)
Microsoft Chart (Version 1.0)
Microsoft Word (Versions 1.0 - 3.0)
Multiplan (Version 1.2)
Paradox (Release 1.1)
Office Writer (Revision 4.0)
Reflex: The Analyst (Version 1.1)
SideKick (Version 1.51 - load SideKick last)
SuperProject (Version 1.1)
Symantec Q&A (Version 1.1)
Symphony (Release 1.1)
Turbo Prolog (Version 1.0)
Word Perfect (Version 4.1)
WordStar 2000 (Version 1.01)
XyWrite III (Version 3.05 - Option 2, Appendix F, Page 3)
Control Strategy C
dBASE III (Version 1.1)
Procomm (Version 3.2)
SuperKey (Version 1.15A - Load before Cruise Control)
Turbo Pascal (Version 3.01A)
Wordstar (Version 3.31) See WordStar Application Note (below)
Most converted CP/M programs
Little Black Book (Version 1.10)
Control Strategy D
See Wordstar Application Note (below)
Page 18
WordStar Application Note
As you know, the Cruise Control philosophy is one of total cursor
control. First and foremost, Cruise Control is designed to
eliminate cursor run-on. Cruise Control works with WordStar as it
does with all other programs; it feeds Wordstar keystrokes at the
maximum rate WordStar can process them without causing run-on.
Unfortunately, WordStar processes keystrokes much slower than
most programs. On normal speed PC's (4.77 MHz 8088 CPU), the cursor
speed in WordStar with Cruise Control is slower than the normal
auto-repeat rate of the keyboard.
If you're a regular user of WordStar, you've probably seen ample
evidence of it's slow speed. For example, you may have noticed that
at times, WordStar stops updating the status information shown at
the top of the screen. This situation occurs when WordStar can't
keep up with the input from the keyboard. In fact, when WordStar
gets too far behind in it's keystroke processing, it even stops
updating the screen. These problems do not occur with Cruise
Control running, because Cruise Control sends WordStar keystrokes
at exactly the rate WordStar can process them, no faster and no
slower. With Cruise Control, WordStar users on normal speed PC's
get total cursor control at the price of a slightly slower cursor.
However, there is a solution for WordStar users willing to sacrifice
cursor control for speed. Control Strategy D increases WordStar's
cursor speed dramatically at the cost of cursor run-on.
There's great news for WordStar owners with fast machines. When
WordStar is run with Cruise Control (Control Strategy C) on higher
speed computers (8086s, 80286s, and 8088s in turbo mode), the cursor
is as fast, or faster than the normal auto-repeat rate of the
keyboard. Cursor run-on is eliminated and WordStar's status
information and text display areas are continuously updated,
without annoying lapses.
DesqView Application Note
Cruise Control can be used with DesqView in both global and local
(window) modes. When used in global mode, it may be necessary to
change Control Strategies from window to window, depending on the
applications being used. to change the Control Strategy, use the
[5][Tab] key combination. Each time this key combination is
pressed, Cruise Control will advance one Control Strategy,
alphabetically. One click corresponds to Control Strategy A, two
two clicks to Control Strategy B, etc.
Alternatively, a separate copy of Cruise Control can be loaded in
each Desqview window. The Control Strategy for a given window
must be consistent with the application loaded in that window.
In some cases, the Control Strategy used with an application
running in a DesqView window will differ from that suggested in
this update. It's easy to find the proper Control Strategy
using the [5][Tab] key combination explained above.