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1995-02-23
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NeoBook/NeoBook Pro (TM)
Electronic Publisher
Version 2.1
(C)1993-1995 NeoSoft Corp.
* IMPORTANT INFORMATION *
--------
CONTENTS
--------
* New Features in Version 1.1
* New Features in Version 1.2
* New Features in Version 2.0
* New Features in Version 2.1
* What Happened to GIF?
* System Requirements
* Supported Video Cards
* Starting NeoBook
* Templates Available for NeoBook
* Acquiring Additional Fonts
* Mouse Driver Problems
* Customer Services & Technical Support
* Registering NeoBook
---------------------------
NEW FEATURES IN VERSION 1.1
---------------------------
These features were added to version 1.1 of
NeoBook and NeoBook Professional.
* Undo - Remove the last change made to
your publication.
* Adjust Object Command - Adjust an
object's X, Y, W and H coordinates from
an easy-to-use dialog box.
* Mouse Coordinates Display - Show the
current mouse position in a small movable
window.
* Shift + Nudge - Hold down the Shift key
while clicking the nudge icon to move
selected objects continuously.
* Straight Lines, Squares and Perfect
Circles - Hold down the Shift key while
drawing or resizing an object to create
straight line, squares and perfect
circles.
* Multiple Button Actions - Use a tilde (~)
character to separate multiple button
actions. For example:
Tone "440"~Alert "Title" "Message"
---------------------------
NEW FEATURES IN VERSION 1.2
---------------------------
* Keyboard Support - Use the Tab and Enter
keys to highlight and select buttons.
* More Efficient DOSCommand - The memory
requirement for the DOSCommand action has
been substantially reduced. (DOSCommand
is available in NeoBook Pro Only)
---------------------------
NEW FEATURES IN VERSION 2.0
---------------------------
* Virtual Memory - Memory management has
been significantly enhanced to allow for
much larger publications.
* Video Card Support - NeoBook now supports
additional video cards including: Oak,
Cirrus Logic, S3, Weitek, Ahead, Compaq
QVision, XGA, Advance Logic, TSeng,
Paradise, Video Seven, ATI, Trident and
VESA.
* Flic Support - FLC and FLI animation
files may now be included and played back
within NeoBook Pro publications using the
new PlayFlicFile button action. Also
includes linkage to your favorite
animation software. (PRO VERSION ONLY)
* True Color - 24-bit images and video
modes are now supported for publications.
* Hot Keys - Shortcut keys may now be
assigned to individual buttons for
greater keyboard compatibility. Also
publications may be configured to use
page keys for text scrolling.
* Optimized Compile - This option, added to
the Compile dialog, greatly increases the
execution speed of most compiled
publications by automatically converting
images to the correct display mode, size
and palette prior to compilation.
Original files are not modified.
* Text Search - The new Find button action
displays a text search dialog box that
allows readers to locate words or phrases
within a publication. You may specify
whether readers can search an entire
publication or restrict their search to
a specific or current page.
* Menu Button Action - Display a simple
branching popup menu with multiple
choices.
* TextWindow Button Action - Display an
ASCII text file in a moveable window.
* Delay Button Action - Pause for a
specified period of time. Useful when
combined with the GotoPage and
ReturnToPage commands. For example:
GotoPage "5"~Delay "500"~ReturnToPage
* Abbreviated Button Actions - Two letter
abbreviations are now available for all
button actions. Hold down the control key
before activating the button action drop
down list to use them.
* Fade Effect - A fade effect may now be
used when moving between selected pages.
(PRO VERSION ONLY)
* Return to First Page Timer - This option
waits for a specified period of
inactivity then returns to the first page
of the publication. Great for Kiosk type
applications.
* And much more....
---------------------------
NEW FEATURES IN VERSION 2.1
---------------------------
* 15 and 16-Bit Hi-Color (display 32K, 64K
color images on supported video cards).
* Support for BMP image files (Windows and
OS/2 formats).
* Optional image Compression and
Optimization for compiled slide shows.
* Added a font cache for faster font
loading and display. Makes publications
with multiple fonts execute faster.
* Added options for italics and fixed
spacing in NeoBook text files. Use ^I and
^i to turn italics on and off. For
example: This is ^Iitalics^i. For fixed
spacing, use ^F and ^f. For example:
^FThis is fixed^f This is not.
* Removed support for GIF image files (see
"What Happened to GIF?" below).
---------------------
WHAT HAPPENED TO GIF?
---------------------
After many years of allowing free use of the
LZW compression routine used in GIF format
images, Unisys Corp. (which holds a patent
on this process) has decided to begin
requiring royalty payments from anyone who
creates and sells new products that display
or save GIF and other LZW compressed images.
Royalties will be required for any new or
modified products produced after January 1,
1995. The royalty does not apply to products
that are not created for sale.
CompuServe, which developed and promoted the
GIF format, has been privately negotiating
with Unisys for nearly two years over this
issue. These negotiations were not made
public, nor were developers, including
NeoSoft Corp., notified by either CompuServe
or Unisys that a change of policy was
coming. Unfortunately, CompuServe and Unisys
did not give timely notification of the new
policy and details only became widely known,
after the fact, during the last week of
December 1994.
NeoSoft Corp. will join other software
publishers in abandoning the GIF format in
this and future versions of its products.
NeoSoft is also offering a utility which
allows existing GIF images to be converted
to PCX format. The PGC.EXE utility is
available from NeoSoft's BBS (503-383-7195)
and on its CompuServe forum (type "GO
NEOSOFT" at any ! prompt). There is no
charge for using the PGC.EXE program.
-------------------
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------
To use NeoBook you will need the following:
o IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or 100% compatible
computer. A 286 or better CPU is
recommended.
o EGA, VGA, Super VGA, Hercules monochrome
or compatible graphics card and monitor.
See Supported Video Cards below for
information on compatible Super VGA
cards.
o 640K minimum RAM.
o A hard disk.
o MS-DOS, PC-DOS 3.1 (or higher) or DR-DOS.
o Microsoft, Logitech or compatible
pointing device.
---------------------
SUPPORTED VIDEO CARDS
---------------------
NeoBook will run on any computer system
equipped with a 100% compatible EGA, VGA,
Super VGA or Hercules graphics card. To
operate NeoBook in 256 (except 320x200),
32K, 64K or 16 Million color video modes,
you must have a Super VGA video card
equipped with one of the following chipsets
(or a close compatible):
Advance Logic
Ahead Systems
ATI
Cirrus Logic
Compaq QVision
Oak
Paradise/Western Digital
S3*
Trident
Tseng ET3000
Tseng ET4000
Video Seven
Weitek
XGA
or any VESA compatible chipset.
* Some S3 video cards require special
command line options in order to work
properly with NeoBook. If you have an S3
chipset and you experience problems, contact
NeoSoft Technical support (503) 389-5489.
NOTE: There may exist either now or in the
future, video cards based on revisions of
the above chipsets which may not be
recognized by this version of NeoBook. If
you experience problems related to your
video card, please contact NeoSoft Technical
support (503) 389-5489.
CGA USERS: Due to severe limitations
inherent in their design, CGA video cards
are not supported. This includes many Tandy
1000 systems which are essentially CGA.
----------------
STARTING NEOBOOK
----------------
For the steps below, we assume that you have
installed NeoBook in the directory
C:\NEOBOOK. If you installed NeoBook in a
different DOS subdirectory, then substitute
that name for C:\NEOBOOK below.
o Your mouse driver (usually MOUSE.COM)
must be loaded before running NeoBook.
Please refer to your mouse's user manual
for more information.
o To change to the NeoBook directory, at
the DOS prompt (C:\), type CD\NEOBOOK and
press Enter. This places you in the
NeoBook subdirectory.
o Once you have switched to the proper
directory, NeoBook can be started from
the DOS command line by typing NEOBOOK
followed by the Enter key.
-------------------------------
TEMPLATES AVAILABLE FOR NEOBOOK
-------------------------------
NeoSoft offers a diskette filled with ready-
to-use templates, wallpaper images, icons,
widgets and production ideas for NeoBook.
This disk is available for $10 plus $5
shipping and handling ($10 outside the
U.S.).
To order contact NeoSoft at:
Voice: (503) 389-5489
Fax: (503) 388-8221
or write:
NeoSoft Corp.
354 NE Greenwood Avenue, Suite 108
Bend, OR 97701-4631
--------------------------
ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL FONTS
--------------------------
NeoBook comes with a variety of fonts.
Additional font collections are available
from NeoSoft for $10 each or $20 for all
three plus $5 shipping and handling ($10
outside the U.S.). Currently three font
collections are available each containing
over 1MB of fonts.
* NeoSoft Text Fonts
* NeoSoft Title Fonts
* NeoSoft Accent Fonts
To order contact NeoSoft at:
Voice: (503) 389-5489
Fax: (503) 388-8221
or write:
NeoSoft Corp.
354 NE Greenwood Avenue, Suite 108
Bend, OR 97701-4631
Please specify which font disk(s) you want
when ordering.
OTHER FONTS
-----------
In addition, third party software that can
generate GEM screen fonts (used by the DOS
version of Ventura Publisher) may also be
used to create fonts for NeoBook. Simply
follow the program's instructions for
generating screen fonts. Copy the fonts to
your NeoBook directory and rename them so
that they use the .GFT extension.
---------------------
MOUSE DRIVER PROBLEMS
---------------------
If your mouse behaves strangely when using
NeoBook, you may need to update your mouse
driver software. Problems such as an
invisible cursor or a pointer that leaves a
trail of pigment on the screen are typical
of certain older mouse drivers. Contact the
computer store where you purchased your
mouse or the manufacturer for information
about updating your mouse driver.
-------------------------------------
CUSTOMER SERVICES & TECHNICAL SUPPORT
-------------------------------------
NeoSoft provides its registered software
customers with free technical support. We
also provide limited technical support to
persons evaluating our products during the
30 day evaluation period.
We do, however, strongly encourage people to
register. Software development and support
is very expensive and we need your help if
we are to continue to provide quality
programs at affordable prices. If you
haven't already, please take a few moments
to register. This will assure you of
eligibility for technical support, product
update notification, special discounts,
announcements, etc.
However, if you are experiencing problems,
please contact our technical support
department so that we can solve your problem
BEFORE you register. Registration may solve
many problems but it does not always endow
the program with features and functions that
do not exist.
If you should encounter a technical problem
or question not covered in the manual, you
may use one of the following avenues to
obtain technical assistance:
MAIL POSTAL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
------------------------------
NeoSoft Corp.
Customer Support
354 NE Greenwood Avenue, Suite 108
Bend, OR 97701-4631
TELEPHONE SUPPORT:
------------------
Technical support and product update
information are available between the hours
of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM (Pacific Standard
Time), Monday through Friday.
Please have the following information
available for the support staff when you
call:
* Brand name and model of your computer
system, mouse, video adapter and monitor.
* Operating system (DOS) version number.
* A listing of the contents of your
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.
* A description of the problem, how it
occurred, and how to reproduce it.
Telephone support may be obtained by calling
(503) 389-5489. You may also FAX your
questions to (503) 388-8221.
ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE:
----------------------------------
Up to date product information, evaluation
programs and supplements may be obtained via
modem from our BBS. The telephone number is
(503) 383-7195. The bulletin board operates
using N/8/1/300-9600 Baud.
COMPUSERVE SERVICE:
-------------------
You may also receive technical support,
updates information and evaluation copies of
all our products from our forum on
CompuServe. Simply type GO NEOSOFT at any !
prompt.
-------------------
REGISTERING NEOBOOK
-------------------
You may evaluate NeoBook for a period of up
to 30 days before registering. To obtain a
registered version including registration
number, typeset manual and the latest
version on disk, call NeoSoft at (503) 389-
5489. We can process your order with VISA or
MasterCard over the phone. The purchase
price of NeoBook is $45 and NeoBook
Professional, which includes support for
sound, flic animation and external DOS
commands, is $89.95. Please include $5 U.S.
Mail or $10 FedEx 2 Day for shipping &
handling. ($10 Air Mail or $19 FedEx for
shipping & handling outside the U.S.) If you
prefer, FAX your order to us at (503) 388-
8221. If you would like to mail a check or
money order, make sure it's drawn against a
U.S. bank in U.S. funds. Our address is:
NeoSoft Corp.
354 NE Greenwood Ave. Suite 108
Bend, OR 97701-4631
You may also purchase NeoBook from any one
of our many dealers world wide. For a list
of dealers see the DEALER.DOC file
accompanying this program.
If you would like to give a copy of this
program to a friend or associate please do
so, but you may NOT give anyone your
registration/serial number. We hope you
enjoy the program and share it with your
friends.
------------------------------------------
Thank you for trying NeoBook and NeoSoft.
(C)1993-95 NeoSoft Corp. All rights
reserved.