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A) DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
==============================
The Helper v3.2 - Creating Help screens and hypertext files
------------------------------------------------------------
With The Helper you can create hypertext-like programs and help files
with the following features:
* a "Help file" is created from an ASCII text file, and this Help file
is then compiled into an interactive hypertext document. The compiled
file can be used as an interactive information document where various
topics can be selected using the arrow keys and a cursor bar, or it
can become a controlling program in its own right, or a combination
of both.
* each Help file can have up to 254 categories of information, with up
to 254 pages per category (though the shareware version is limited to
a total of 24 pages). Use PgUp and PgDn to page up and down within a
category, or flip between pages and categories using highlighted
cursor options;
* backtrack through previously-selected categories;
* animate the screens by using time-delay overlays;
* search for text;
* print some or all of the Help screens;
* the window size and position can be individually set for each page,
with full color control on each page;
* auto-sensing of color or mono video cards, to set colors accordingly
(separate color sets can be specified for color or mono cards);
* cursor actions can be programmed to execute specific DOS commands, or
enter a DOS shell (these features let you create sophisticated menu
programs, auto-installation routines, etc).
* The Helper itself contains masses of help screens to guide you through
all the features and aspects of the program while you develop your own
applications.
* several sample Help files are supplied to demonstrate most of the
features of The Helper.
In addition, if you are adding the Help to your Turbo Pascal programs,
you can have:
* entry from your program into any specific category of the Help file
(for context-sensitive help) or automatic entry into the most recent
category used;
* exit and re-entry for your own user-specific functions, which can be
activated either by global "hot keys" or from a cursor bar within
the document. These user functions could be anything from sounding
the bell to running another application, returning to the controlling
Help file on completion.
Note that you do NOT require Turbo Pascal to use The Helper. However, if
you are a Turbo Pascal programmer you can incorporate access to your
compiled Help files directly into your programs. Several sample Turbo Pascal
programs are supplied to demonstrate how easy it is to do this. In its
simplest application only 2 or 3 lines of source code are required for full
access to a Help file for your program, including all the features listed
above.
B) LIMITATIONS
===============
The shareware version of The Helper is limited to a total of 24 pages
per Help file. The full version supplied to registered users can have
up to 2000 pages, and even this limit can be exceeded if necessary.
C) REQUIREMENTS
================
Required: IBM-PC or compatible.
D) LIST OF PROGRAM FILES
=========================
go .bat Start-up and installation batch file
go .txt Text file used by go.bat
helper .bat Batch file for running The Helper
helper .exe The Helper program
helper-s.hlp Help file for helper.exe
usehelp .exe Program for using your own Help files
install .hlp Help file used for installing The Helper
animate .hls Animation demonstration text file for The Helper
demo? .hls More demonstration text files
demo? .pas Demonstration Turbo Pascal programs
dosshell.tpu Turbo Pascal 4 unit
help .tpu Turbo Pascal 4 unit
library .tpu Turbo Pascal 4 unit
readme .doc Read this file first
catalog .doc Program description, for a catalogue listing.
E) REGISTRATION
================
Registration is US$38-00 or Aus$50-00.
F) HOW TO START THE PROGRAM
============================
Type GO for a guided installation onto a hard disk, or..
Copy all files to your hard disk if you have one. You can run from
a floppy disk if you need to, but disk operations will be slower.
The program automatically detects color or mono video cards and sets
some of the colors accordingly. So if you have a color video card with
a mono screen some of the colors may seem strange, or invisible. If that
happens, use the command-line parameter /M to force the use of the mono
color set. ie. type HELPER /M at the DOS prompt.
The program is normally started by typing:
HELPER (press Enter) at the DOS prompt.
Command-line parameters can be added:
HELPER [fn] [/M] fn = filename to edit, /M = force mono colors.