ARM Club 3/TheARMClub_PDCD3.iso/hensa/graphics/quickcopy_1/!AutoSave/!Help

Text File | 1998-02-10 | 9KB | 207 lines

AutoSave 1.00b (10-Feb-98)

Name:     ArtWorks AutoSave module
Purpose:  Auto save feature for ArtWorks
Author:   Martin Würthner
Requires: RISC OS 3.1 or higher, ArtWorks 1.138 or higher
Status:   ShareWare see [4] below

This ArtWorks module provides an auto save feature similar to that of
Impression. Its main features are:

* auto save with or without prompt at arbitrary auto save intervals
* auto save is only activated once you have actually modified the document
* the auto save status is saved with the document


1) Installation
---------------
Copy the !AutoSave application inside the !ArtWorks.Auto directory. (Shift
double-click on !ArtWorks to open it, then double-click on the 'Auto' folder.
Then drag the !AutoSave application to the Filer window showing
<something>.!ArtWorks.Auto in its title bar). This will cause ArtWorks to
load the module automatically next time it is started.

If you are not using the 'Quick start' feature of ArtWorks, then this is it
already. Otherwise (this is recognized by the fact the ArtWorks only displays
one icon 'Quick start' when starting up) you have to go on:

If the 'Quick start' option is selected in the ArtWorks choices window you
have to perform the following steps in order for ArtWorks to recognize the
new version of the module:

* Load ArtWorks
* Open the ArtWorks choices window (icon bar menu 'Choices...', then click on
  the ArtWorks icon in the ArtWorks global choices window)
* Deselect 'Quick start' and click on 'Save'
* Quit ArtWorks
* Reload ArtWorks - while loading ArtWorks shows every module it loads, this
  should include the AutoSave module. If ArtWorks displays an error message
  like "Due to lack of memory one or more modules could not be loaded ..."
  something has gone wrong and you should check whether you have correctly
  installed the module.
* Open the ArtWorks choices window again
* Select 'Quick start' and click on 'Save'

If you ever should want to deinstall the module, remove the !AutoSave directory
from the !ArtWorks.Auto directory. Then, if you are using the 'Quick start'
option, you must repeat the same steps above.


2) The AutoSave module
----------------------
2.1) How to use it
------------------
The AutoSave module does not provide a tool in the Tool Box. Instead, it
provides a new icon in the document choices window. This is obtained by
choosing "File => Choices..." from the ArtWorks main menu. The reason for its
being there is that the Auto save status is a property of each document. This
has the benefit that you can specify the auto save behaviour for each document
individually. So, you can have documents that do not auto save and others that
do, each after its own specific time interval. The auto save status is saved
with the document and is even retained if the document is edited using a copy
of ArtWorks without the AutoSave module and loaded back into a copy of ArtWorks
with the AutoSave module later.

Clicking on the Auto save icon in the document choices window opens the Auto
save choices window. This window is only available if the document has a
valid save path, i.e. if the document has already been saved at least once or
if it has been loaded from disc.

The Auto save choices window contains two option icons and an input field.

Selecting the "Enable" icon switches auto save on for the document. Once this
option is selected, the second option icon and the input field are accessible:

You can enter the auto save interval in the input field, i.e. the number of
minutes after which auto save is to take place. Please note that auto save only
takes place after you have actually modified the document and the time is
always counted from the first modification after the last time the document was
saved. So, if your auto save interval is 10 minutes, then auto save will take
place 10 minutes after the document has first been modified. If you save it
manually inbetween, the auto save interval starts again as soon as you modify
the document. Starting from this moment, so it will then take another 10
minutes before auto save takes place.

The "With prompt" option works similar to Impression. If this is switched off,
ArtWorks saves the document after the specified amount of time without asking
you. This is potentially dangerous as this might mean that the auto save
function kicks in at an inconvenient moment (e.g. after you have just
accidentially deleted most of the document and you not have managed to paste it
back). Therefore, the "With prompt" option should normally be switched on. In
this case, ArtWorks displays a window showing the file name of the document
that is about to be saved and you have to confirm this by clicking on OK. After
the document has been saved, the time for the next auto save interval starts
as soon as the document is modified again. If you click on Cancel instead, the
file is not be saved. In this case, you will be asked again after the auto save
interval has elapsed one more time.

2.2) Bugs and deficiencies
--------------------------
Unfortunately, the document choices dialogue box does not extend correctly if
more than 4 icons are displayed. So, the icons that end up in the second
row are not accessible because you cannot scroll down. If you have Arranger and
Precision installed in addition to AutoSave, then the Precision document
choices will not be accessible. Unfortunately, this seems to be a bug in CC's
code so it cannot be fixed.

3) Contacting me:
-----------------
I have just completed my studies and I am now working for a Software
Engineering research institute in Kaiserslautern. My new address is:

Martin Wuerthner
Mannheimer Str. 18
67655 Kaiserslautern
Germany

Phone: [phone]

However, letters to my previous (my parents') address will also be forwarded
to me. So, if the above address fails, the following address is guaranteed to
work:

Martin Wuerthner
Jahnstrasse 18
71116 Gaertringen
Germany

Fax:   [phone] (faxes sent to this address will have to be forwarded
                          to me by my parents, so do not expect a quick reply)

e-mail: [e-mail]
        (valid through the whole of 1998)


4) Copyright:
-------------
The AutoSave ArtWorks module including all related files is Copyright 1998,
by Martin Würthner and is ShareWare.

This means that you may copy it freely provided that
(a) all files of this ArtWorks module are distributed together without
    modification
(b) this application is not sold for profit without my explicit written
    permission - you also have to apply for permission to distribute this
    program on a CD if it is sold for profit or to distribute it together
    with other commercial software.
I retain the copyright on all files.

5) ShareWare registration
-------------------------
You may use this software free of charge for a trial period of two weeks.
If you find it useful and decide to go on using the module, you have to
register.

Registration of AutoSave includes registration for QuickCopy and ZoomPlus.

5.1) How do I register?

Registration costs only 10 Pounds inc VAT for private users (15 Pounds ex VAT
for commercial or educational users; 30 Pounds ex VAT for an educational/
commercial site licence).

This price applies irrespective of whether you find only one of QuickCopy,
AutoSave or ZoomPlus useful or all of them. You have to register if you would
like to go on using at least one of the modules after the two week trial period.

In order to register, send 10 Pounds (or 15 or 30, see above) to me. I accept
bank notes in any currency, cheques drawn from British or German banks,
Eurocheques (in Pounds if drawn from a British bank, else in DM) and
international postal orders.

Commercial/Educational users only: Please quote your EU VAT ID or add 15% VAT
                                   (16% VAT if you are ordering on or after
                                    April 1st 1998).

If you have got an e-mail address, please quote it when registering. I will
then put you on my e-mail list for automatic upgrades.

Orders from outside the EU can be ex VAT (divide inc VAT prices by 1.15, or by
1.16 when ordering on or after April 1st 1998), but add 2 Pounds for postage
if you want snail-mail delivery.

And finally: Before registering, have a look at the ArtWorks tools WWW site at
http://www.flipside.co.uk/awtools because you might want to order some other
modules at the same time.

5.2) What do I get?

Do not be surprised if you do not get a reply from me.

QuickCopy, AutoSave and ZoomPlus are my second attempt at real ShareWare, i.e.
if you find the modules useful, then you have to register. There is nothing
extra you will get when registering apart from the permission to actually use
the modules.

Having started with my job I do not have too much time any more, so I would
rather concentrate on writing software instead of posting discs. Therefore,
any future ArtWorks modules I write will probably be ShareWare. However, this
is only likely to happen if the ShareWare concept works, so if you find
QuickCopy, AutoSave and ZoomPlus useful, please register.

Later, registered users can request updates of these three modules (and any
others you might have bought from me) by sending me a blank, Acorn formatted
disc, a self-addressed envelope (235mm by 125mm max.) and 1 Pound for postage
(cash or in stamps; German users: send 2,20 in stamps).