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Text File | 1990-12-31 | 21.2 KB | 429 lines

Here's a list of features as well bug fixes that I have done on SText since I first created the program. SText features & updates ======================== >05/20/91 (v1.5) - Now has MaxiFile III support (if you do not have MaxiFile III, then you will see no difference). If you have MaxiFile loaded as an acc, then instead of the normal fileselector, MaxiFile III will appear. Just click the files you want to view and click on 'View' when you want to start viewing OR press RETURN! The maximum files you can choose is 40 and they must be in the same directory/path (that's the way MaxiFile works). After you have finished reading one text file, press ESC to go onto the next file. Special thanks to John Eidsvoog for the GFA Basic MaxiFile routine. Also thanks to Noel Saw for enduring me for awhole day at his house. I had to spend that time at this house to make SText utilize MaxiFile. If you find any bugs with SText's usage of MaxiFile, contact me because I don't have MaxiFile and can't test it out fully! - SText now has a new keyword in for a command line. Its ~Fpath'Title', which calls up a fileselector. The ~F tells SText to bring up the file selector, while the PATH tells SText to use that path (optional) and 'Title' puts up a title above the fileselector. The file you choose will be placed within the command line. Read below for an example. - Now has programmable command lines. It allows you to build a shell. SText allows you to manipulate any program the uses command lines. For example, every time you click LZH.TTP program from within SText, you can have it extract a file you choose from the fileselector and extract it to a specific drive/path. Here's how you would do this: Press [CTRL]-X (edit shell) while viewing a text. Then when the menu appears, press 'A' to add entry. Now choose your LZH.TTP program. The command line to extract an LZH file is 'x source destination'. So when SText asks you enter the command line, you could type: x ~FA:\*.LZH'Choose LZH file to extract' ~FB:\*.*'Choose Destination' That's it! Now whenever you choose LZH.TTP from the main fileselector, SText will pop up a fileselector with the path A:\*.LZH and asks you to 'Choose LZH file to extract' and after you choose a file, SText will pop up another fileselector with the path B:\*.* and ask you to 'Choose Destination'. With this feature and the 'start a file' feature (implemented in version 1.4), SText is now a programmable viewer. Any file type that SText doesn't recognize, you can have SText call up a program that does. - removed the feature that forced a formfeed in the beginning of a printout (I liked it, but it seems that others didn't...oh well) - there is now a 'Quit SText' from the drop down menu - the options (an incredible 2) in the drop down menu have keyboard equivalents (V to view and Q to quit)...wow - you can alter the color palette by pressing Z (I know its a stupid key, but I ran out of keys). Use the left and right arrows to choose which value to modify (color register, R, G B) and use the up and down arrows to modify the value. Pressing the ESCape key returns SText to its default colors (white,black,red,green) and pressing the spacebar quits the operation. Note: I know that you could do this with the control panel (via accessory option), but I was thinking of users who hate to load up the control panel and users who hate to lose memory. Besides, it only added about 1k+ to the code. - new, pretty dialog boxes.. a lot easier to look at - you have to create a new CFG file (I know its a hassle, but...) because SText now saves your default palette and any command lines for the shell - recompiled using GFA BASIC 3.5e - IT WILL BE A WHILE FOR THE NEXT UPDATE/VERSION!! My hard drive CRASHED and I lost the source code to this version, plus, a lot of people download each new update/version, yet I've only seen TWO donations. I have version 1.4f source code, so I have some work ahead of me. >11/07/90 - very fast scrolling - use mouse or keyboard to scroll up and down - move up and down by page - move to the top or bottom of the text by pressing a key - very fast find/search - inverse color - go to line - load/save/print text - define/save/print/delete block of text - definition of markers - quick exit - can now be an installable application (see other text file for details) - move to next topic (works with STReport) - help screen containing all available commands >11/09/90 - adjustable scroll speed (11 settings) >11/12/90 - toggle (on/off) status line {scrolls faster off} - dump screen to printer - 'launch application' (Unique feature which allows you to execute a program from within SText and SText passes the filename of the text as a parameter {similar to install application}. The program you're executing will load the text file automatically {assuming that the program you're launching can be an 'installed application' and takes a 'command sequence'...I'm using the instruction 'exec flg,nam,cmd,env' to execute the program and pass the filename, I didn't use SHEL_WRITE because I was having major problems with it...the worst that will happen is that the program will execute without loading the text file}. >11/13/90 - fixed a major bug in the 'launch application' - made it so that you can't load files with the extensions 'PRG', 'ACC' and so on, so that SText doesn't lock up - fixed a bug in the status line when using a color monitor - fixed a bug in the save routine (would only save one line..oops) - a defined 'block' is now inversed - you can now save SText's current configuration so that SText will default (color, scroll speed, status line (on/off) to it everytime you run SText - cleaned up the code a little >11/14/90 - added the ability to assign a default application to launch. you can now launch an application by pressing ALT-L. the default application filename is now saved in the configuration file. - fixed another bug in the 'launch application' - SText won't load its configuration file if SText is an installed application and the file you double clicked on is on a different drive than SText (yes this is another bug). - fixed the bug mentioned above. - If SText is an installed application and you double click a text file that is not in the root directory, then SText will not recognize it because TOS (SHEL_READ) does not pass the path, only the filename. This is not my fault (I think)! >11/15/90 - optimized(?) some of the code - fixed a minor bug in the block function - SText doesn't seem to recognize a file assigned to it using NeoDesk. SText does work under NeoDesk, but it just wont load the text file when its an installed application (you'll have to load it in manually). I'll look into it (I hope). - later that day...I figured out how NeoDesk passes a filename, so you guessed it..I fixed the bug mentioned above (I don't know if it works on NeoDesk v3.0, cause I only tested it on v2.03). - you can now assign lines/page on the printer output >11/16/90 - you now have the option (toggle) of putting a header on the output which contains the filename, size (bytes), and page number. - I think I'm not going to add anymore options because SText is getting too big, plus there's no more room on the HELP screen! I want it to be of use to disk drive owners and 512k people. I'll still be optimizing the code and fixing bugs (which I hope there is none). >11/17/90 - optimized a little part of the code, so now the compiled version is about 52 bytes smaller (big deal, but they add up). >11/18/90 - gave up some scrolling speed (shouldn't really be noticable) in order make the code smaller, I also optimized some other part of the program. The compiled code is 129 bytes smaller (that's 181 bytes total so far... I want SText to be <=30000 bytes). - early in the morning...I played with the code some more and shrunk it down by 15 more bytes (196 bytes total). >11/19/90 - lost another 52 bytes (248 bytes total and another 686 to go). - found out that it wasn't my fault that the LookIt! demo from CodeHead wouldn't load the text file when I launched it from within SText. LookIt! wouldn't install (load the text file) from NeoDesk or the regular desktop. I guess this was disabled from the demo version. - its 2:00 p.m now (just got back from school) and I managed to take out 132 bytes from my code (380 bytes total...watch my addition). - its 3:30 p.m now and shrunk SText by another 172 bytes (552 bytes total). SText is now 30382 bytes (another 382 bytes to go). - its almost 6:00 (just came back from a game of basketball) and I once again removed some bytes...58 that is (610 total). - lost another 132 bytes (744 total). SText is now 30192 bytes long... 192 bytes to go. >11/20/90 - optimized my find/search routine and I took out 238 bytes. drum roll please...SText is now 29954 bytes long! so I took out a total of 982 bytes so far. >11/21/90 - took out another 30 bytes (1012 total) so SText is now 29924 bytes long. I accomplished what I wanted to do so SText is finished for now, or until someone finds a bug. >11/22/90 - made a minor cosmetic change (don't worry about it) - oops..found a major bug in the print routine. I used a variable that I was already using. Fixed that sucker(?). SText lost another 10 bytes (SText is now 29914 bytes). I've removed a total of 1022 bytes (2 more bytes for that elusive 1k). >11/23/90 - ok, I made a mistake. the bug I mentioned above wasn't a bug. I looked at the code again, and found out that the variable I was using was local so it didn't matter. - SText once again shrunk (yes, I thought I stopped too!) by 66 bytes (1088 bytes total..I passed the 1k mark), so SText is now 29848 bytes. >11/28/90 - took out the 'Find Routine Over' alert box after completion of find (Noel called it 'annoying'..he was right). I remembered that I made the mouse pointer into the busy bee whenever SText was busy looking, so this is the way to tell if SText is done or not. SText is now 29791 bytes long (lost another 57 bytes). >11/30/90 - I optimized my code some more and took out 250 bytes (1390 total) from SText. Its now 29541 bytes in length. I'm going to quit doing this one day. Let's see if I can remove a total of 2k (2048 bytes).... >12/09/90 (v1.0a) - Noel destroyed my updated source code to SText and I had a backup of an older version. I had to rework on it! Well...SText now works with Hotwire's 'install' properly (they passed the drive...the desktop doesn't). If there's a bug in this version (I'm not using dates anymore) that wasn't in the earlier version, then blame Noel and tell me about it. SText is 29574 bytes in length. >12/11/90 (v1.1) - There's now an extra query in the 'Find' feature. You can choose to do a 'case sensitive' search or not. >12/12/90 (v1.1a) - The status line is now in bold letters. >02/16/91 (v1.2) - Made the 'toggle header' have an Alert Box (easier to use). - fixed the 'Cancel' bug when cancelling from file selector when launching a program. - fixed a bug in the text file loading routine (it wouldn't load a file if it was in a folder with an 'illegal' extender) - you can now get an 'index' of topics and you can go to any of the topics listed by pressing the appropriate key (22 max) - pressing "F" will allow you to find a string starting from the current line and pressing "<CTRL-F>" allows you to find a string starting from the top of the file (all this used to be done from an alert box) - pressing <CTRL-E> allows you to choose NLQ or Draft for the printer output - you can now go to to the top or bottom of a 'block' by pressing <CTRL-T> or <CTRL-B> - you can now also look for a previous topic by pressing <CTRL-N> - you can execute a program from within SText by pressing <CTRL-R>, this is different from launching an application because the filename of the text file is not passed. - a new and easier(?) help screen / SText status is now a different screen - recognizes more 'illegal' extenders - status line in different color (color monitor only) - when you press ESC when printing, SText will bring up an ALERT box asking you if you want to abort, or continue (use to abort automatically) - working on v1.2 since 1/29/91 and I finally fixed the printing bug (I think). If it still doesn't work TELL ME. - Note: you have to create a new config file for this version because its not compatible with the older config format. >02/23/91 (v1.3) Major upgrade - recognizes even more 'illegal' extenders (SND,SPL,NEO,PI*,GFA,ACC,PRG, APP,RSC,TTP,TOS,ZOO,LZH,ZIP,ARC,ART,EXE,IMG,TNY,GEM,PS,OL,PC*) - pressing <ALT>-N defines the current topic as a block. - removed the 'block' on the status line and put current 'page' instead. The scrolling is a bit slower because more screen updates are required - removed a little bug that would inverse the 'help' screen whenever you pressed HELP when there was block on the screen (only in v1.2). - <CTRL>-G allows you to goto 'page n' - made better error checking in the buffer creation routine - you can turn on/off the current 'page' status by pressing ')' - pressing P will bring up a new ALERT box. you can choose to print all text or print from page X to page Y. [CTRL]-P now prints the current block. - you can now block page(s) by pressing [SHFT]-F5. SText will ask you for the starting and ending page of the block. - SText now supports Genie Lamp (TX2) text files. You don't get the pretty color fonts, but topics are supported. The topics are indexed and you can go to any topic. Indexing and jumping from topic to topic is bit slower than normal because there are more checks for topics when viewing a TX2 file. SText does not use the IDX file and the block feature is bit distorted when viewing because of the imbedded control characters in a TX2 file. Remember that it supports Genie Lamp when it is in TX2 format only (SText needs the TX2 control codes in order to recognize topics). - sorry, but this version will not work with SText 1.2 configuration file. you will have to create a new one. >03/27/91 (v1.4) Another major upgrade - rewrote the illegal extender function to make it easier to update. recognizes more illegal extenders. - rewrote and optimized the TX2 indexing routine (smaller) - defining a block is different now. Just press F5 and point (with the mouse pointer) to the starting line of block and press the left mouse button. That line will now be highlighted. Now point to the line that will define the end of the block and press the left button. You can scroll up and down the text by position the mouse pointer to the top or bottom line of the text screen and pressing the right mouse button. You can also use the T, B, G, 1-4 command keys to go to top, bottom, defined line and go to defined markers. Pressing the SPACEBAR will abort the block operation. I think(?) its easier to use now and more powerful. - you can append to the block by pressing F6. - fixed a bug in the find routine that told the wrong line number that the string was found (it was off by 1) - find query is now different. Instead of an Alert Box appearing asking you if you want to continue the search, the query is now at the bottom of the screen. This way, the Alert Box is not in the way of the text. - SText now restores the original desktop colors when you quit SText or launch/run a program. I had this in earlier versions, but I took it out because I forgot that the 'inverse screen color' modified the palette. - new SText status screen (not as cluttered) - the query when printing from page X to page Y is a bit better now. It tells you your range of pages possible and leaving the line blank and pressing RETURN aborts it. - when SText is printing a document, it tells you the status at the bottom screen (in earlier versions, the mouse icon just turned into the busy bee, which was sometimes hard to see). - the 'launch default application' is now with <CTRL>-L. I changed it because Mike said the G+Plus looks for ALT when running a program and brings up a selection box for ASSIGN.SYS stuff. - you can load a configuration file when viewing a text file. Just press <CTRL>-C and a file selector will pop-up and just choose the config file you want to use. - you can view pictures (PI?,NEO) by choosing the pic file at the fileselector or pressing <CTRL>-V while viewing text. - you can assign pictures to a text file. just create an ASCII file with the same name as the text file which will be viewed and put 'STX' as the extender (don't put the drive or path because SText will use the same drive/path which the text file is in). Example: if your text file is named "STR709.ASC" you would create an ASCII file "STR709.STX" and would have the following format (below is a sample): 3 <-- number of entries TT030.PI1,100 <-- picture filename and active text line MEGASTE.NEO,200 <-- picture filename and active text line STACY.PI2,250 <-- picture filename and active text line Whenever SText hits one of those active text lines it will ask you if you want to view the picture. Monochrome users will only be able to view PI3 pictures (unless someone has a conversion program in GFA for me). If you don't want to view any pictures then press V (toggles checking routine for pictures). The active text line will have to be SText's Current Line in order to be recognized, thus paging (via Spacebar) will probably not bring you to an active text line. This feature is at its early stages. You currently cannot print text with pictures (you could always print the pictures seperately by pressing [ALT]-HELP while the picture is on the screen. If anybody else has a better method/suggestion please don't hesitate to tell me. - SText can now 'start a file'. For example, you can tell SText that whenever you choose an LZH file to get a verbose listing of that LZH file using a program called LZH.TTP). Its really very easy. Just press X while viewing a text file and a menu will appear. From here, you can add, delete, view an extender/command line. Example: Let's say that you wanted SText to call LZH.TTP everytime you chose an LZH file from the fileselector and to pass the appropriate command line for a verbose listing. Press X to go to the menu, then press A to add extender. You are now instructed to enter the extender. Type LZH. Next, you are to choose the program to run. Click on LZH.TTP (or any LZH TTP program you have). Now SText will ask you enter the command line. To get a verbose listing of an LZH file from LZH.TTP, the command line is 'v filename' (where filename is the LZH file). So, in SText, you would type 'v [FN]'. Whenever SText encounters [FN] (all caps) it will replace it with the file you chose (in this case any LZH file you choose). That's it. Now, the next time you choose an LZH file from the fileselector you will get the verbose listing of that file. Example: If you wanted to run WordUp everytime you chose a WUP (WordUp documentation) file and have WordUp load that file (similar to install application), then all you would do is enter 'WUP' for the extender, 'WORDUP.PRG' as the program, and '[FN]' as the command line. If you leave the command line blank, then SText will just run the designated program. Sorry, but I can't explain it any better. Just experiment with it. Remember to save your config file after doing the above. - When you try to save a file that already exists, SText will ask you to replace it or not (SText didn't verify in earlier versions). - SText now checks to make sure that the CFG file is SText 1.4 config file. - when you press <CTRL>-R to run a program and you choose a TTP file, SText will ask you to enter the parameter/command line to pass. - you now have access to your accessories. Press 'A' while viewing text and will be presented with the drop down menus. I don't guarantee that SText is compatible with all accessories. - you can now save a default drive/path for SText's fileselector. When saving your config file, you will be asked if you want a default drive/path saved. you will need a new config file for SText 1.4 (sorry about this). >04/02/91 (v1.4f) Oops..bug fix - this was supposed to be version 1.4a, but good ole Noel uploaded 1.4 as 1.4e and everybody is referring to it as 1.4e. So this is 1.4f (I appologize for his mistake). - fixed a bug in the save routine. SText wouldn't save a text file, unless the file already existed. This bug got through me and my beta testers. Sorry about that. - you can now run/execute a program from the main file selector. Just click on a prg,ttp,tos,app file - SText now handles the TTP files better (doesn't mess up the screen) SText (C)1990 ~NuEdge Designs Created by Arvin Castillo