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____________ ______________________________________
/ _________/ <_____________________________________ \ Shareware Version
/ <_____ _______ ______ ______ ________ \ \ 1.0
/ ______/ <_____ \ / __ \ / ____/ <___ ___> > >
/ / _______> > / / \ \ <___ \ / / <_/
/ / / ____ / / / / / ____> > ___/ <___ __
<__/ <_________/ <__/ <__/ <______/ <________/ <_/
╜1994, Tail of the Comet Productions.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ Introduction ≡
Welcome to FANSI!, the first and only 80 column ANSI art program for the
Atari series of personal computers. Within this package you will find all of
the tools necessary to start making your own ANSI screens. Whether they be
BBS menu screens, personal ANSI sigs, advertisements or just general ANSI art,
you will now be able to create these screens on your Atari computer, something
you could only previously do in four colours, in full 16 colours in 80 columns
of text. Fansi provides many of the tools available in most art programs,
such as Lines, Boxes, Frames and cutting and pasting, making it much easier to
create your screens. Fansi also features a custom 3D interface to make for a
more pleasant environment in which to work.
I and my beta testers have tried to make this program as bug-free as
possible, but that still does not discount the possitibility of there still
being some. This program has been tested on a wide range of Atari platforms
running on a wide array of different AUTO programs and accessories present,
and thus far nothing has been found that inhibits the operation of Fansi, with
the exception of the Warp 9 screen accellerator from the Codeheads. It slows
down, in some respects, the operation of Fansi where flying dialogs and other
such operations are concerned. I have not found a reason for this, but I am
working to find a way around this slight problem.
Apart from this minor quirk, my beta testers and I have not found
anything that will conflict with Fansi. We can not test every piece of
software out there, so there still remains the possibility that something out
there may not like the program. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this
program and gain some use out of it. If you like the program and continue to
use it, please consider registering the program to recieve the additional
features it posesses. The name and address will be displayed in the
"Registration" portion of this manual.
Eric March
Tail of the Comet
Productions
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ Quick Start Docs ≡
1. System Requirements
----------------------
- Any Atari computer with at least 512k of RAM (one megabyte or more will make
things easier)
- Colour Monitor (ST-Low Resolution)
3. Loading and Operation
------------------------
Double-click on FANSI100.TOS. Once the program has loaded its data
files, you will be presented with the introduction screen. You may press any
key at any time to abort this sequence.
After the opening sequence, you will be brought directly to the
workscreen. At the bottom of the screen will be displayed a status bar. This
shows the current workscreen settings, and are, from left to right:
Mode: Set: X: Y: ABC CH:
Mode: Displays the current mode that you are in. (Default is Draw)
Set : Displays the current function key set of ten characters.
X : Displays your current X coordinate
Y : Displays your current Y coordinate
ABC : Shows the current colour attributes for foreground and background
colours.
CH : Shows the current character that you are drawing with.
From the work screen, the following keys are valid:
Control Commands:
-----------------
Control-A : Save FANSI Data (*.FAN) or ANSI picture.
Control-B : Enter Box Mode
Control-C : Call Up Colour Menu
Control-D : Enter Draw mode
Control-F : Enter Frame Mode
Control-K : Enter K-Line Mode
Control-L : Enter Line Mode
Control-O : Enter Overlay Mode
Control-P : Enter Paste Mode
Control-Q : Quit FANSI!
Control-Z : Load FANSI Data (*.FAN) Picture
Control-[ : Previous Function Key Set
Control-] : Next Function Key Set
Control-Left Arrow : Previous Foreground Colour
Control-Right Arrow: Next Foreground Colour
Control-Up Arrow : Previous Background Colour
Control-Down Arrow : Next Background Colour
Shift Commands:
---------------
Shift-F1 : Insert a line, moving all lines below cursor down
Shift-F2 : Delete a line, moving all lines below cursor up
Normal Commands:
----------------
ESCAPE : Enter Cut Mode
Left Arrow : Move one space left
Right Arrow : Move one space right
Up Arrow : Move one space up
Down Arrow : Move one space down
RETURN/ENTER : Go to the beginning of the next line
TAB : Move cursor ahead five spaces
DELETE : Delete a character, moving all characters following the
cursor back
INSERT : Insert a character, moving all characters following the
cursor ahead
BACKSPACE : Delete a character; does not move proceeding text
CLR HOME : Clear workscreen
HELP : Call up on-line help menu
F1 - F10 : Place Function Key character at cursor position
All other standard/shifted characters are presumed standard text, and are
displayed on screen at the current cursor position.
The following mouse actions are valid during the workscreen:
Left Button : Perform action according to chosen mode
Right Button: Call up Toolbox (Right Mouse Button Exits), or abort current
operation.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ The Toolbox ≡
The toolbox contains all of the graphically represented options you have
at your disposal in the form of buttons. Each button contains a graphical
example of the operation, the operation's name, and the control character
which will activate it from the workscreen. To call up the toolbox, click the
right mouse button from the workscreen. From here you can click on any of the
options listed.
Note: Options that appear shaded are not available in the current version.
The toolbox, as with all other menu boxes in Fansi, is what is called a
"flying" dialog. This means that you can move this menu anywhere around the
screen you like. To move the menu screen, click on the word "tools" with the
left mouse button and hold. You may then move the menu around to wherever you
please. To perform the operation, simply release the left mouse button. The
menu will then "fly" to its new destination. If you move a menu outside of
the screen border, Fansi will simply replace the menu at the nearest border
location(s).
The toolbox's menu options are as follows:
Page 1:
DRAW : Enters Draw mode.
FRAME : Enters Frame mode.
BOX : Enters Box mode. (Registered Version Only)
LINE : Enters Line mode.
K-LINE : Enters Connected Line mode. (Registered Version Only)
CUT : Enters Cut mode. (Registered Version Only)
PASTE : Enters Paste mode. (Registered Version Only)
OVERLAY : Enters Overlay mode.
ANSI TEXT : Goes to the ANSI Text library. (Not Available)
OBJECTS : Goes to the ANSI Objects library. (Not available)
COLOUR : Goes to the Colour menu.
NEXT PAGE : Displays the next screen of options.
Page 2:
DITHER-B : Block Dither. Not available.
PREFS : Preferences menu. (Not available)
LOAD : Load a *.FAN Data Picture File.
SAVE : Save a *.FAN Data Picture File or *.ANS ANSI file.
IMPORT : Import Text into the workscreen. (Not available)
DISK UTILS: Disk Utilities. (Not available)
NEW : Clear Workscreen.
REGISTER : Registration Screen
INFO : FANSI Information and Credit screen
HELP : On-line Help Menu
QUIT : Quit FANSI!
PREV. PAGE: Previous Screen of Options.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ The Workscreen ≡
1. Draw Operations
------------------
Below is an explaination of how each of the workscreen operations work.
You can abort any current operation by clicking the right mouse button. (i.e.
you may reset the start position of, for example, a line this way)
Draw
Standard draw mode. Once selected, whatever character is displayed in
the CH: portion of the status bar will appear underneath the cursor in the
currently selected colour attributes. It is necessary to use the keyboard to
lay down a character that you wish to paint (or do any graphical operations)
with first, unless the desired character is already set. The current character
is entered VIA the keyboard, which is then used as the character with which to
paint.
Frame
Draws a frame using the currently selected character with the currently
selected colours.
Click the left mouse button once to set the starting point. A "rubber"
box will then follow your cursor. Click the left mouse button once again at
your destination coordinates and the frame will be drawn. If you wish to
start your box over at another point before you have drawn it, click the right
mouse button and the rubber box will disappear, allowing you to set a new
starting point.
Box
Draws a filled box using the currently selected character with the
currently selected colours.
Click the left mouse button once to set the starting point. A "Rubber"
Box will then follow your cursor. Click the left mouse button once again at
your destination coordinates and the box will be drawn. As with Frame, you
can abort the current box operation with the right mouse button.
Line
Draws a line using the currently selected character with the currently
selected colours. Click the left mouse button once to set the starting point.
A "Rubber" line will follow your cursor. Click the left mouse button again at
your destination coordinates and the line will be drawn. Click the right
mouse button to abort the current line operation.
K-Line
Draws connected lines using the currently selected character with the
currently selected colours. Click the left mouse button to set the starting
point. A "Rubber" line will follow your cursor. Click the left mouse button
again at your destination coordinates and a line will be drawn. From there,
the rubber line will continue to follow your cursor from your last drawn line
coordinate, and you may draw more lines. Click the Right mouse button to
return to Line mode.
Cut
Allows you to cut a portion of screen and save it to the block buffer.
Press the ESCAPE key, or click on CUT from the Tools menu, and you will be
presented with a set of crosshairs converging at the location of the cursor.
Move the crosshairs to the top-left corner of the block you wish to cut and
click the left mouse button. A rubber box will then appear and follow your
cursor. Click the left mouse button again on the lower-right corner of your
block and the block will be saved to the buffer. Once this is accomplished,
FANSI! will automatically take you into Paste mode (q.v.) You can abort the
current cut operation by clicking the right mouse button.
Paste
Allows you to paste a previously Cut (q.v.) portion of your picture on to
the workscreen. Press Control-P or select Paste from the Tools menu. You
will be presented with a rubber box in the size of the block you had
previously cut. Move the cursor to where you wish to place the block and
click the left mouse button. Your block will then be pasted on to the screen.
Click the right mouse button to return to Draw mode, or simply select another
option.
Overlay
This option allows you to substitute the colour attributes of a character
on the screen with another. This is very useful for changing colours without
having to re-enter the characters used in the picture manually. Press
Control-O, or select Overlay from the Tools menu. Select your new colour
scheme, and then simply "Paint" over the characters as you would in Draw mode.
The colours will be automatically substituted with the currently selected
colour attributes.
2. Special Keyboard Actions
---------------------------
Many options in FANSI! do not appear on the toolbox menu. These are
commands that control the behaviour of the cursor on-screen, as well as laying
down special characters. The following is a list of these keys:
TAB : Moves the cursor ahead five positions.
RETURN : Brings the cursor down to the beginning of the next line. (Also:
ENTER)
Cursor
Keys : Moves the cursor around the screen
INSERT : Inserts a space at the current cursor location, moving all characters
to the right of the cursor one space. (Characters that wrap off
screen are disregarded)
DELETE : Deletes a character at the current cursor location, moving all
characters to the right of the cursor to the left one space.
Shft-F1: Insert a line at the current cursor location, moving all lines below
the cursor down one.
Shft-F2: Delete a line at the current cursor location, moving all lines below
the cursoe up one.
Control
+ Arrow
Keys: Changes the foreground/background colour attributes to next/previous
setting.
Control
+ [ ]: Switches to previous/next function key setting
F1-F10 : Prints down the respective function key character according to the
function key set you are currently in.
HELP : Calls up the online help menu
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ The File Selector ≡
FANSI's file selector is designed to be as familiar as the standard GEM file
selector as possible, while adding new features and a better design. Its
operation works much like the standard GEM dialog where moving through the
list of files is concerned, but adds many new features for your convenience.
Below is a small ASCII diagram of FANSI's alert box, followed by a numbered
listing of key points.
1. The File Selector Layout
---------------------------
______________________________
| ======== 1 ========= |
| ============ 2 ============= |
|______________________________|
|=== 3 === === 4 === === 5 === |
|------------------------------|
| _____________ _ ..........|
|| ||6| ....11....|
|| ||-| ___ ___ ___|
|| ||7| ___ _12 ___|
|| 10 ||-| _____ _____|
|| ||8|| 13 | 14 |
|| ||_| |
|| ||9| ====15=====|
||_____________||_| |
1 > Title Box. This box denotes the current action that is being performed.
This box is also where you click to drag the file selector to a new
location.
2 > Path Box. This box shows the drive and path that you are currently in.
3 > Items box. This box shows how many items are in the folder you are
currently in.
4 > Bytes Box. Shows how many bytes are used in the files shown in the file
window according to the current path and the current search mask that has
been applied.
5 > Free Space Box. Shows how much free space is left on the current drive.
6 > Up Slider Button. Holding down the left mouse button over this button
will scroll upwards through the file listing.
7 > Slider Bar. Click-and-drag this button with the left mouse button to
relocate the slider bar. The file window will then be updated according
to its new location.
8 > Slider Slot. Click below or above the slider bar in this slot move one
page down or up, respectively, in the file listing.
9 > Down Slider Button. Holding down the left mouse button over this button
will scroll downwards through the file listing.
10> File window. This is where all the files are displayed.
11> Drive Buttons. The active drive list is displayed here. Click on one
of the drive letters to change active drives. The current drive appears
raised.
12> Search Masks. There are six search mask buttons located here for your
convenience. Each of these buttons change the type of files that are
searched for in the file window. Clicking on one of these will change the
current search mask, and the new files will be displayed according to that
mask.
13> OK Button. Click here after selecting a file to perform the operation.
Double-clicking on a file, or pressing the RETURN or ENTER keys will also
perform this action.
14> Cancel Button. Click here to abort the current operation. Hitting the
ESCAPE key will also perform this action.
15> Filename Window. A filename will appear here once selected. You may also
click on this button, or press the SPACE key, to enter a new filename.
2. Notes on the File Selector
-----------------------------
One of the enhanced features of FANSI's file selector is that once a file
is selected, it stays selected, even while scrolling through the file list,
until either a new file is clicked on, or a new filename is entered in the
filename window. In addition, once a file has been selected, there is no need
to double-click. Clicking on an already highlighted file once will perform
the desired action on that file. Accordingly, there is no stigma attatched to
speed; you needn't be fast at double clicking in order to perform the actions
you want.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ The Colour Box ≡
The colour menu in FANSI is fairly straightforward. Once the menu is
called up, you are given a choice from any of 16 foreground colours, and 8
background colours. The nature of ANSI does not allow the use of "bright"
characters as the background colour attribute, which is the reason for only 8
background colours.
To select a colour attribute, simply click on the colour combination you
wish for your foreground and/or background settings. The multicoloured
indicator will then move to your selection.
You can relocate this menu anywhere on-screen by holding down the left
mouse button on the blue Colour Menu title bar.
Click the right mouse button to exit this menu.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ The Alert Box ≡
Alert boxes in Fansi! operate much like alerts in GEM, except, of course,
that they look significantly different. While in a dialog, you may use the
mouse to click on options given (if any) or you may use the keyboard. The
following keys are valid while in an alert box:
RETURN : Select the default option, which is ringed with a red box.
F1-F5 : Select the corresponding option. For example, F1 will select button
one, F3 will select button three, and so on.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ The Future of FANSI! ≡
FANSI is hardly complete. This is only the first of many version to be
released. The following is a list of additions and improvements that are
going to be made for future versions.
o Flashing Text. FANSI does not currently posess the capability to produce
flashing text. Future versions, however, will support this feature.
o Import Text. This will give you the ability to load text files into FANSI
and edit them according to your tastes, adding ANSI wherever you please.
o Import ANSI. As FANSI does not have the capability to load in and parse
standard ANSI screens, future versions will support this. This will allow
you to import any pre-made ANSI screen and edit it yourself.
o Preferences Menu. This will allow you to customize FANSI to your liking by
allowing you to turn on/off flight and grow/shrink boxes, replace the
internal file selector with an external one (i.e. UIS III) and more.
o Disk Menu. This will allow you to do file maintenance and formatting of
disks right from within FANSI!
o Multipage Support. The creation of ANSI screens larger than 24 lines will
be possible in future versions of FANSI. This is to accomodate those with
larger screen displays who can view more than 24 lines of text per screen.
You can use this also to create advertisements or art screens longer than
one screen in length.
o Multiscreen Support. FANSI will also have the ability to have more than one
ANSI picture loaded/edited at a time, so that you can work on more than one
screen at a time, cut and paste between screens and so on.
o Additional Translation Support. Future versions of FANSI will feature the
ability to export to a number of different translations, including VT-52E
and RATSoft variable tags.
o ANSI Font Libraries. Users will have the ability to create and use pre-made
ANSI fonts within their screens. This will allow you to type ANSI messages
using larger and different fonts created with the various characters in the
PC character set.
o ANSI Object Libiraries. In addition to ANSI fonts, users will also be able
to create and use pre-made object libraries, which will contain many
different objects created with the PC character set, using ANSI colours.
o User Defined Function Key Sets. If you don't like the way the current
function key sets are set up, you will be able to define your own sets for
greater convenience!
o Special ANSI Effects. Create impressive fades, wipes, dissolves and more
using special ANSI effects to fade in/out your ANSI displays.
And much more! Plus, any user suggestions are always welcome. I can be
contacted at the addresses listed below.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ FANSI Registration ≡
1. How to register
If you would like to register your copy of FANSI, simply send a cheque or international
order for $15 by filling out the form (or reasonable facsimile) below:
Full Name : ___________________________________________________________
Street Address : ___________________________________________________________
City : _________________________
State/Province : _________________________
ZIP/Postal Code: __________
Phone Number : ___________________ (Include Country Code outside N. America)
E-Mail (*) : ________________________________________________
FANSI Serial Number(**): ____________________
* An Internet E-Mail Address is not necessary, but for faster service you may
leave an Internet E-Mail address where you can be reached and your
registration key will be E-Mailed directly to you.
** Your FANSI Serial Number can be found on page two of the Toolbox in the
"Register" box.
Mail your order form and cheque or international money order for $15 (Canadian
Funds) to:
Eric March
51B Wyndale Dr.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M6L 1G1
RE: FANSI Registration
Make the cheque or money order payable to Eric March.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of your key. (It will very likely not
take that long, but overseas mail often seems to take longer)
DISCLAIMER: Tail of the Comet Productions and Eric March are not responsible
for lost or misdirected orders, or for any damages incurred as a direct result
of the misuse of this program.
If you have any questions or suggestions, I can be reached at the above
address, or for a faster response, my E-Mail address is:
diehl@io.org
I can also be reached on most AtariNet bases, and in the Atari ST net bases on
NANet and FidoNet. My AtariNet address is:
Eric March @51/5:0
You can also contact me by phone at:
+1 (416) 246-1558
Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome. If I use your
suggestions, you will be credited in the documentation and in the TOC Info
Scroller within the program.
2. What To Do With Your Key
Once you have recieved your FANSI key, simply access the REGISTER menu
from page two of the toolbox, then click on REGISTER. You will be asked to
enter your key. You may type in the key that you recieve; case does not
matter. You may abort key entry by pressing ESCAPE, or press RETURN once you
have entered a valid key. FANSI will then check the key you entered, and if
it is the correct key, FANSI will update itself and give you access to all
those commands that you previously did not have access to.
3. The T.O.C. Upgrade Policy
Upgrades are FREE! Once you have registered your copy of FANSI, any
upgrades you recieve from local bulletin boards, online services or the
Internet will, upon installation, check for a previous registration, and if it
finds it, will install itself as fully registered.
4. Installtion/Registration Problems
If you ever have any problems installing new upgrades, or registering
your current version, you can mail me at any of the above addresses to report
your problem, and I will respond as quickly as I can. Please state your
serial number and your name when reporting problems.
5. Reporting Bugs and Program Problems
If you are experiencing any problems with FANSI, you can similarily send
me a note reporting what the problem is. Please send the following
information along with your note so that I may better understand what the
problem may be:
- Computer Type and TOS version
- Operating System (GEM, Geneva, MultiTOS, NeoDesk, etc.)
- AUTO Folder Programs and Accessories
- FANSI Version Number
- Error Code (If Any - Reported by FANSI)
Note: Bombs are trapped by FANSI; error codes for bombs will be
between 102 and 110, and will be prefixed by "2B" for two bombs,
"3B" for 3 bombs and so on.
- Where and When the problem occurred, and exactly what the problem
was.
I will try my best to figure out what the problem is, and if I find the
problem will credit you for finding it and fix it for the next update to
FANSI.
______________________________________________________________________________
≡ Copyright Notice ≡
FANSI is copyright ╜1994, Tail of the Comet Productions, and may be
freely distributed in its original, unregistered form as long as all relevant
files, including user documentation, are included in the archive. Distribution
of the registered version of FANSI and alteration of this user documetation,
except for the purpose of translating it verbatim into another language, is
strictly prohibited. USER GROUPS and PD LIBRARIES may sell the unregistered
version of this program at their discretion with my full permission under the
same provisions described in the distribution portion of this notice. If you
wish to distribute registered versions of this program through your user group
or PD library, please contact me at the above addresses to discuss terms.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------