Tech Arsenal 1/Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO/tek-04/tm480.zip/TMISSUE.EXE/INTRO.MAC

Text File | 1991-09-10 | 39KB | 1,520 lines

@video
@macro key,'@keys bright,yellow,blue'
@macro win_text
@win line1,column40,depth22,width38
@out cyan
@endm
@macro win_text_r
@win line1,column40,depth22,width38
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@macro magenta,'@col char,white,magenta'
@macro yr,'@col char,yellow,red'
@macro yb,'@col char,yellow,blue'
@macro bc
@dim
@col char,black,cyan
@endm
@macro bg
@dim
@col char,black,green
@endm
@macro cr,'@col char,cyan,red'
@map #,9c
@nf map
@col page,white,blue
@gon
@double_line
@border cyan

                                    0
          7--------8------8------8--2----8--------8--------8-------9
          0        0      0      0       0        0        0       0
      7-8-2-8-9    0      0      0       0        0        0       0
                   0      0      0       0        0        0       0
             7-8-8-5-8-9  0      0    7--5--9     0        0       0
                          0      0                0        0       0
              7-----------3      0                0        0       0
              0                  0                0        0       0
        7--8--5--8--9   7--8--8--5--8--8--8--8--9 0        0       0
        0  0                        0             0        0       0
        0  1---------9           7--5--8--9       0        0       0
        0            0                            0        0       0
     7--2-8--9   7---5---9   Menus nesting   7--8-2-8--9   0       0
          0                  Quiet Please!                 0       0
       7--5--8--8--9                7----------------------3       0
                                    0                              0
                              7---8-2-8--------9           7--8--8-2-8--8--9
                              0                0
                           7--5--9       7--8--5--8--8--9
                              0
                        7--8--5--8--9
@col char,white,red
@win line18,column2,depth5,width21,pattern 176

 A representation of
 the menu structure 
 in INTRO...        
@end
@nf help
@col char,cyan,blue
@win line13,column2,depth10,width36
A highlight memory facility is  used
to help navigation through the task:

When a menu is entered for the first
time: the 1st topic is highlighted.
When a menu is re-entered: The topic
highlighted when 
 was  last  hit
for that menu is highlighted.

Press F1 on main-menu for more help.
@end
@nf 1
@col page,cyan,blue
@bbmenu cyan,blue
$key$
@border cyan
  An introduction to Taskmaster
@win line1,column2,depth10,width38,pattern 177
@out cyan
  Main menu
 {What is Shareware?             }
  {What is Taskmaster?            }
  {Who needs Taskmaster?          }
  {Why choose Taskmaster?         }
  {Where do I start?              }
  {Which machines run Taskmaster? }
  {Programming                    }
 {Purchasing Taskmaster          }
$win_text$
 Introduction

 Welcome to FmP Taskmaster;  the menu
 system  that  is  not  just  a  menu
 system.

 Whilst  a menu is displayed you  can
 highlight a topic in several ways:
 1.  Press <space>
 2.  Press  or  or  or .
 3.  Press the 1st letter of a topic
 4.  Press a highlighted character

 When the topic you are interested in
 is highlighted press 
  (not
 required if you press a highlighted
 character).

 Press <esc> to move back up the menu
 structure; you are now at the top so
 pressing <esc> will exit Taskmaster.
@use 'Select topic, then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this task'
@end
@nf 11
@bbmenu cyan,blue
$key$
@win line2,column3,depth6,width36,pattern 176
@out cyan
  What is Shareware?
 {Try before you buy         }
  {Registration               }
  {Trial period               }
 {Copying the Shareware disc }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 111
$magenta$
$win_text$
 Try before you buy

 The shareware concept allows you  to
 try  Taskmaster for a  month  before
 you are obligated to register  (i.e.
 purchase)   the  right  to  use   it
 indefinitely.

 If   you   don't  think   you   need
 Taskmaster you can simply erase  the
 software  and  you have  no  further
 obligations.    If  you  feel   that
 Taskmaster  cannot  meet  your  need
 because of a perceived inadequacy in
 the product please inform us of your
 requirements.    Perhaps  you   have
 missed  a vital piece in the  jigsaw
 and  Taskmaster  is  suitable  after
 all.  We rely on feedback to improve
 the product and its presentation.
@end
@nf 112
$magenta$
$win_text$
 Registration

 I  am sure you can  appreciate  that
 Taskmaster has taken literally years
 of development.  This development is
 on-going.   When  you  register  you
 will  be sent the latest version  of
 Taskmaster.   There are  many  other
 benefits.

 To register simply send a payment of
 forty  five pounds sterling to  FmP,
 Market  Square Chambers,  Congleton,
 CW12  1ET England.  You may also pay
 by  VISA  or  Mastercard  by  phone.
 North American users may  prefer  to
 register with MVP Software Inc, 1035
 Dallas SE, Grand Rapids MI 49507.

 Buying Professional Taskmaster is an
 alternative to registration.
@end
@nf 113
$magenta$
$win_text$
 Trial period

 You  are free to Try Taskmaster  for
 30 days before choosing to:

 1.  Delete  and make no further  use
     of any part of Taskmaster

 2.  Register  with  FmP  or  MVP  by
     making the appropriate payment

 3.  Buy a pre-registered copy

 4.  Buy the Professional version  of
     Taskmaster

 Remember  that  it  is  a   criminal
 offence to continue using Taskmaster
 without registering it.
@end
@nf 114
$magenta$
$win_text$
 Copying the Shareware disc

 Please feel free to copy  Taskmaster
 to  your friends and colleagues.   A
 mechanism  is provided to make  this
 easy in OVERVIEW task.

 You  may of course use  diskcopy  to
 make copies of your original disk.

 Please do not use any other  method.
 We wish to maintain the integrity of
 copies  of  Taskmaster.   The  above
 mentioned methods of duplication are
 the best ways to ensure this.
@end
@nf 12
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth8,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  What is Taskmaster
 {Menu system                  }
  {Replacement for Batch        }
  {Front-end                    }
  {Security system              }
  {Your personal software slave }
 {Your machine's master        }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 121
$bc$
$win_text_r$
 Menu system

 Taskmaster is an extremely  powerful
 menu  system.  Like any useful  menu
 system it needs to be set up  before
 becoming   useful.   Taskmaster  is,
 we believe, unique in that it can be
 set  up  either  by  non-programmers
 or  by  programmers.  If you  are  a
 non-programmer you can use CONFIG or
 take   the  opportunity   to   begin
 programming in Taskmaster (an  ideal
 place to start).

 Programming is easier than you think
 and  will  be  more  rewarding   and
 produce results over which you  have
 total control. This flexibility sets
 it apart from all other menu systems
 we know of.
@bright
@end
@nf 122
$bc$
$win_text_r$
 Replacement for Batch

 Just  as the MS-DOS batch  processor
 interprets BATCH commands found in a
 file  with  an  extension  of   BAT,
 Taskmaster     interprets    PROTEAN
 commands which it reads from a  file
 with a filetype of TSK.

 The  difference is that the commands
 of the  batch language  are  few and
 very limited but those of Taskmaster
 are many and powerful.

@bright
@end
@nf 123
$bc$
$win_text_r$
 Front-end

 Most  use  of  a  computer  involves
 interaction with people,  displaying
 information  for  them to  read  and
 obtaining   replies  to   questions.
 This  is  the type of use  for which
 Taskmaster was designed.

 Taskmaster   excels   at   launching
 other applications.  When it does so
 it  can  be made to shrink  to  less
 than  2k and still wake up when  the
 application exits.

 Another  major area is that of  file
 handling.   I.e.  the  storage   and
 retrieval  of information in  files.
 Taskmaster  can do this also but  it
 should  be remembered that  this  is
 really the preserve of PROTEAN.
@bright
@end
@nf 124
$bc$
$win_text_r$
 Security system

 Taskmaster  has many features  which
 help  you maintain the  security  of
 your  computers. In  Taskmaster, all
 security features are optional;  you
 apply    those   which   suit    the
 installation. Briefly these include:

 Access via Passwords and usernames.

 Preventing  access  to  the   system
 prompt.

 Preventing    other     applications
 allowing   access  to   the   system
 prompt.

 Controlling  access  to  files   and
 directories.
@bright
@end
@nf 125
$bc$
$win_text_r$
 Your personal software slave

 You can train Taskmaster to do  your
 bidding.   Once taught,   Taskmaster
 never  tires of the tasks assigned.

 Just consider the implications of an
 INTELLIGENT, fully customisable menu
 system.

 Ask it to launch applications, check
 that they ran successfully, or  take
 remedial action if they didn't.

 Ask it to backup important  files or
 process  output from one application
 to hand to a subsequent one.

@bright
@end
@nf 126
$bc$
$win_text_r$
 Your machine's master

 Taskmaster  won't make mistakes.  It
 can   detect   errors   caused    by
 applications   and   utilities   not
 performing  as  expected  and   take
 corrective actions.

 Taskmaster effectively sits  between
 the unfriendly operating system  and
 the screen and keyboard.  Taskmaster
 is   therefore   called   a    user-
 interface.

 It will make your machine offer  you
 a friendly face whilst dealing  with
 the operating system for you.

 Taskmaster  can  perform  its  tasks
 either  on  demand  or  at  specific
 times and dates.
@bright
@end
@nf 13
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth7,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Who needs Taskmaster?
 {Computer users    }
  {Computer Traders  }
  {Language students }
  {Non-Programmers   }
 {Programmers       }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 131
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line3,column4,depth5,width35,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Computer users
 {Novice end users            }
  {System administrators       }
 {Busy Computer professionals }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 1311
$cr$
$win_text$
 Novice end users

 Novices  are  people  with   limited
 computer experience.  They are often
 intimidated   by  computers.    They
 need:

 1.  A friendly interface.
 2.  Help when they get stuck.
 3.  Relief  from  having  to   learn
     about  the operating system  (it
     can be hard enough to learn  the
     applications).
 4.  Safeguards to prevent accidental
     damage to important files.
 5.  The   means  to   record   their
     actions to help support staff.

     In a word: Taskmaster.
@end
@nf 1312
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line4,column5,depth7,width34,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  System administrators
 {To make systems more secure   }
  {To provide on-line help       }
  {To minimise training          }
  {Encourage computer-phobics    }
 {Avoid silly and costly errors }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 13121
$cr$
$win_text$
 To make systems more secure
 Hacking  and  viruses  are  a   real
 threat  to  companies whose  PC  are
 open to casual users.

 No  system  can be  totally  secure.
 Very high security is costly and  or
 makes   great  demands   on   system
 resources slowing response times.

 The  security  features  offered  by
 Taskmaster are enough for all but  a
 few  percent of  installations.   If
 you use virus scanning software this
 can in all probability be  automated
 by    Taskmaster.    For    instance
 Taskmaster could be made to run  the
 virus  check  when  the  machine  is
 idle   (recording  details  of   run
 time), perhaps when the operator has
 gone to lunch.
@end
@nf 13122
$cr$
$win_text$
 To provide on-line help
 This  task is an example of  a  help
 system.   It was written in a couple
 of days.  This task is very flexible
 as  one can take a form and make  it
 into  a menu with several new  forms
 leading  from it WITHOUT ALTERING  A
 LINE OF CODE.

 All  the words are present in  forms
 and menus all of which are contained
 in the forms file.  This can  simply
 be edited and once SCR has been  run
 again  the new forms and  menus  are
 present and operational.

 This is form 13122. Selection 2 from
 menu  1312,  which was  selection  2
 from menu 131, which was selection 1
 from menu 13, which was selection  3
 from  menu 1.  Too simple for words.
@end
@nf 13123
$cr$
$win_text$
 To minimise training

 When a new user  is  given a PC, the
 whole machine is a mystery.  You may
 not remember this situation.  It  is
 being repeated daily the world over.

 The natural reaction is to send them
 away  for  training.  Most  of  this
 training  is geared towards learning
 things they shouldn't have to know.

 Taskmaster can be used to shield the
 novice  user  from  the   pain  they
 would otherwise suffer learning  the
 complexities of DOS and  enable them
 to concentrate  on   learning    the
 application(s).
@end
@nf 13124
$cr$
$win_text$
 Encourage computer-phobics

 Many   people   never   'take'    to
 computers.    They  feel  that   the
 machine  is so un-forgiving that  it
 is not worth the effort of  learning
 how to 'drive' it.

 Many  executives have far  too  many
 pressures on their valuable time  to
 spend it wrestling with DOS.

 Taskmaster  can make it all so  much
 easier  to  get on with the  job  in
 hand.   It  takes  un-believers  and
 makes them enthusiasts.
@end
@nf 13125
$cr$
$win_text$
 Avoid silly and costly mistakes

 How many horror stories must we hear
 about people playing with FORMAT  or
 FDISK  and destroying weeks,  months
 or even years worth of effort?

 Taskmaster  can effectively  prevent
 users making this kind of mistake.
@end
@nf 1313
$cr$
$win_text$
 Busy Computer professionals

 How  much  time is  spent  repeating
 complex  and  tedious  sequences  of
 commands?    The  more   complex   a
 sequence of commands the more  prone
 it  is to error and the less  likely
 it is to lend itself to a BATCH file
 solution.

 Taskmaster isn't just for novices or
 System  administrators; it  is  also
 the flexible tool that professionals
 require.
@end
@nf 132
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line3,column4,depth5,width35,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Computer Traders
 {To attract 1st time buyers }
  {Wanting a custom solution  }
 {Systems-Integrators        }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 1321
$cr$
$win_text$
 Wishing to attract first time buyers

 Customers  who  would  otherwise  be
 intimidated  and  say  'Maybe   next
 year!'   can  be  persuaded  to  buy
 today.   They  will  be  more   than
 willing  to come back to the  trader
 with  that little bit extra and  pay
 for it!
@end
@nf 1322
$cr$
$win_text$
 Wanting a custom solution

 In the fiercely competetive hardware
 marketplace it is becoming more  and
 more difficult to sell on price.

 What traders need is a way to make a
 particular  machine attractive to  a
 particular customer.   With the  aid
 of  Taskmaster he can do  this  with
 the   minimum  of  effort  and   the
 maximum personalisation.
@end
@nf 1323
$cr$
$win_text$
 Integration of existing systems

 Whatever  the  customer's needs   in
 terms  of applications, they can  be
 integrated  by  Taskmaster  into   a
 coherent whole.

 Even if they come from a variety  of
 sources they can be made to look  as
 if they do not (at least until  they
 are launched).
@end
@nf 133
$cr$
$win_text$
 Language students

 Thinking of learning to program? Now
 you have the perfect first language:
 Taskmaster.

 As  soon  as you want  to  get  more
 adventurous  you  can  move  up   to
 PROTEAN  building on the skills  you
 have     learned    and     creating
 applications  with exactly the  same
 user interface.

 Multi-user  or client server  needs?
 PROTEAN can even cope with these.
@end
@nf 134
$cr$
$win_text$
 Non-Programmers

 Even  if today you don't want to  be
 able  to 'program'  Taskmaster   you
 can  use  the  pre-configured  tasks
 CONFIG and STANDARD which will offer
 the  same facilities as 'the best of
 the rest' of menu products.

 One  day you may need to  have  that
 flexibility.  It would be a pity  if
 you  were stuck with  an  inflexible
 competitive product then.
@end
@nf 135
$cr$
$win_text$
 Programmers

 Programmers   may   wish   to    use
 Taskmaster  for a whole  variety  of
 reasons:

 They  may like to use Taskmaster  to
 front-end their works.

 They  may  want to build  a  program
 development harness with  Taskmaster
 to  help  edit, compile and test  in
 their chosen language.

 Perhaps    they   just   like    the
 flexibility  Taskmaster  offers   or
 they might have ambitions to move up
 to PROTEAN.
@end
@nf 14
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth11,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Why choose Taskmaster
 {Mature and well proven      }
  {Taskmaster is portable      }
  {You can't grow out of it    }
  {You design 'look-and-feel'  }
  {Restricted access           }
  {Low machine overhead        }
  {Built in POPUP commands     }
  {Integrates existing systems }
 {Avaliable for Networks      }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 141
$bg$
$win_text$
@translate
 Mature and well proven

 Taskmaster has a long pedigree.   It
 has   been  a   commercial   product
 retailing  for  #325  before   being
 enhanced  and offered  as  shareware
 for #45.

 Taskmaster  is  just  part  of   the
 PROTEAN   language  which  is   used
 extensively  by public utilities  in
 'mission critical' applications.
@bright
@end
@nf 142
$bg$
$win_text$
 Taskmaster is portable

 Taskmaster will run on virtually any
 MS-DOS   machine.    It   is    also
 available for CDOS, Unix and XENIX.

 (All trademarks acknowledged).
@bright
@end
@nf 143
$bg$
$win_text$
 You can't grow out of it

 Taskmaster is a sub-set of  PROTEAN.
 What  this means is that  Taskmaster
 commands   are   actually    PROTEAN
 commands.    There  are  many   more
 commands  in PROTEAN than there  are
 in  Taskmaster.    This  is  because
 Taskmaster   is  intended  for   Job
 Control and menuing whereas  PROTEAN
 is   a  fully-fledged High Level 4GL
 language.

 Once  you have  mastered  Taskmaster
 and  need to  develop  more  complex
 applications, you will find it  very
 easy  to move up to PROTEAN  because
 much of it will already be familiar.
@bright
@end
@nf 144
$bg$
$win_text$
 You design its 'look-and-feel'

 Unlike  other  MENU  products  which
 impose a specific user-interface  on
 you, Taskmaster allows you to create
 one that actually suits you.

 Other   menu  products  may   super-
 ficially  appear  more   attractive;
 you  must remember however that  you
 are   probably  stuck   with   their
 appearance, e.g. the headings,   the
 number  of options, fixed  copyright
 messages and the general layout etc.
 With  Taskmaster you are in  control
 and you decide what is displayed.
@bright
@end
@nf 145
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line3,column4,depth6,width35,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Restricted access
 {To the prompt       }
  {Via passwords       }
  {Via User groups     }
 {Via Hidden attribute}
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 1451
$bg$
$win_text$
 Can prevent access to the prompt

 Perhaps  some of your  machines  are
 susceptible to intrusion by unwanted
 users.   Maybe  you  fear  that   an
 inquisitive or malicious person will
 erase   or  corrupt   your   system.
 Perhaps   it   holds   private    or
 sensitive information,e.g. personnel
 records or company finances.

 Taskmaster    has    several    very
 effective  ways of  preventing  such
 unauthorised    access     including
 preventing  access  to  the   system
 prompt.    This  severely  restricts
 an intruder's ability to  access  or
 destroy your valuable data.
@bright
@end
@nf 1452
$bg$
$win_text$
 Can demand password entry

 Passwords  are  a  well  established
 method  of allowing access  to  only
 authorised    users.      Taskmaster
 passwords are maintained by EUC, the
 End  User Computing option, which is
 supplied    when    you     register
 Taskmaster.   The catalogue is  held
 in   an  encrypted  format   so   is
 resistant to hacking.
@bright
@end
@nf 1453
$bg$
$win_text$
 User group flexibility

 When  an end user is  introduced  to
 the catalogue via EUC he is assigned
 a User Group number.

 When the user logs in to  Taskmaster
 by  supplying the  correct  username
 and  password the user group  number
 is passed back to the task.

 The task can make intelligent use of
 this  number  to  grant  access   to
 applications as appropriate to  that
 user's status in the organisation.

 One  could for instance allow  users
 in  group  50  only, access  to  the
 accounts system.
@bright
@end
@nf 1454
$bg$
$win_text$
 Hiding of files and direcories

 The DOS HIDDEN attribute  for  files
 and  directories  can  be   directly
 manipulated by Taskmaster.  This has
 many possible uses including  hiding
 diretories before shutting down  the
 system.

 No standard DOS utility  allows  the
 manipulation of this attribute.

 Taskmaster can also  directly  mani-
 pulate all other DOS attributes.
@bright
@end
@nf 146
$bg$
$win_text$
 Low machine overhead

 Taskmaster for MS-DOS is implemented
 in  8086 Assembler.  This  makes  it
 fast, compact and efficient.

 If Taskmaster's RAM residency is too
 large  to  allow the  loading  of  a
 particularly  large application  you
 may  load the application  with  the
 LARGE  command  instead of  the  RUN
 command.   In this  case, Taskmaster
 shrinks  to less that 2k before  the
 large application loads.
@bright
@end
@nf 147
$bg$
$win_text$
 Sophisticated screen handling

 POPUPS allow an area of screen  that
 already   contains   data   to    be
 overwritten  temporarily  with  some
 new  information  and   subsequently
 restored.     Taskmaster    has    a
 comprehensive  set  of  commands  to
 make  this possible.  You  may  even
 save    the   entire   screen    and
 subsequently  restore it, say  after
 running an application.
@bright
@end
@nf 148
$bg$
$win_text$
 Can integrate existing systems

 Taskmaster  can find out whether  an
 application      has       completed
 successfully by actually reading the
 text  of  the screen.   For  example
 when  WordStar  saves and  exits  it
 outputs the word 'Saving'  on line 4
 of the  screen. Taskmaster can  read
 this to determine if the file  needs
 to be backed up for example.
@bright
@end
@nf 149
$bg$
$win_text$
 Available in Networking version

 Taskmaster is available in a version
 for Novell networks.  This is  known
 as Professional Taskmaster.  Instead
 of registering the Shareware version
 you may  purchase  the  Professional
 version.

 Professional Taskmaster  users  have
 the benefit  of some extra  commands
 as  well as the features enabled  by
 it being Netware  aware.    The  EUC
 supplied  with  the Netware  version
 is also multi-user.
@bright
@end
@nf 15
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth5,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Where do I start?
 {How to invoke Taskmaster }
  {The examples supplied    }
 {The on-line manuals      }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 151
@col char,blue,cyan
@dim
$win_text$
 How to invoke Taskmaster

 The Shareware version of  Taskmaster
 always loads with 2 initial screens.
 These  you may find annoying.   They
 are a gentle reminder that you  have
 yet  to  register.   The  registered
 and Professional versions have a  /q
 flag which suppresses the  first  of
 these  LOGON  screens.   The  second
 screen - the Registration screen  is
 not    displayed    by    registered
 or professional versions.

 The Taskmaster interpreter is called
 TM.EXE  and may be  invoked  without
 parameters.  This action will  cause
 it to display further details  about
 how to load it!
@bright
@end
@nf 152
@col char,blue,cyan
@dim
$win_text$
 The examples supplied

 There  are a number of  applications
 supplied with the shareware  version
 of Taskmaster.  It is envisaged that
 users will initially gain access  to
 them  via the OVERVIEW  task  though
 this is not mandatory.

 Please  note  that  OVERVIEW   loads
 certain  of the demonstration  tasks
 with  a  flag set to make  the  task
 behave in a low-security mode.

 Failure  to  set this flag  may mean
 that  the  only  way  to  exit  from
 Taskmaster is to reboot the machine.
 That is the cost of security.
@bright
@end
@nf 153
@col char,blue,cyan
@dim
$win_text$
 The on-line manuals

 Two tasks are supplied describing in
 some detail the commands and  system
 variables  and  basic  concepts   of
 Taskmaster   and   the    directives
 available   in  SCR.    No   on-line
 documentation   can   replace    the
 printed manual.  You may purchase  a
 printed manual at registration time.

 The  on-line manuals may be  printed
 to  disc  in a format  suitable  for
 printers supporting the IBM  Graphic
 character  set.   See  PRINTMAN  and
 PRINTSCR tasks.
@bright
@end
@nf 16
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth6,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Which machines support Taskmaster
 {Virtually any IBM PC Compatible }
  {Certain Multi-user CDOS machine }
  {Certain Unix machines           }
 {Clones running Xenix            }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 161
@col char,white,green
$win_text$
 Virtually any IBM PC Compatible

 Taskmaster  has been written to  run
 on generic MS-DOS.  If you find  any
 problems  running Taskmaster on  any
 machine/video/dos combination please
 report  it  to  FmP.   We  can  only
 fix problems we know about!
@end
@nf 162
@col char,white,green
$win_text$
 Certain Multi-user CDOS machine

 Taskmaster  was  originally  written
 for  CCP/M (remember that?).  It was
 later supported on CDOS on these and
 other machines. The CDOS version  of
 Taskmaster  is  separately   sourced
 from the MS-DOS version (it is a CMD
 file  not  an EXE file).   The  CDOS
 version   is   not   available    as
 Shareware.
@end
@nf 163
@col char,white,green
$win_text$
 Certain Unix machines

 There is also a Taskmaster for  Unix
 System V that is currently available
 for certain  ICL machines.  We  will
 be  pleased to  make it more  widely
 available  if a  commercial need  is
 presented.
@end
@nf 164
@col char,white,green
$win_text$
 Clones running Xenix

 The   Unix  system  V   version   of
 Taskmaster  is  also  available   on
 Xenix 386.
@end
@nf 17
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth6,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Programming
 {The Basic task    }
  {Security features }
  {Menus             }
 {Data capture      }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 171
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line3,column4,depth5,width35,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  The Basic task
 {Task layout          }
  {Developing Templates }
 {Core commands        }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 1711
$yr$
$win_text$
 Task layout

 All tasks must follow the same basic
 layout:

 Data declarations
 END command
 Executable code
 ENDTASK command
 @VIDEO
 Screen data
 @EOF

 Taskmaster ceases to read the source
 if and when it encounters an ENDTASK
 command.  SCR starts to process  the
 file   into   templates   after   it
 encounters the @video directive.
@end
@nf 1712
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line4,column5,depth7,width34,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Developing templates
 {Format of forms file }
  {Format of a form     }
  {Default actions      }
  {Separate development }
 {Processing forms     }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 17121
$yr$
$win_text$
 Format of forms file
 The @video directive signals to  SCR
 that    it   should   start    forms
 processing.    This   allows   forms
 information to be located in the TSK
 file  along with  Task  information.
 SCR simply ignores all lines  before
 the @vid directive.

 Then  come  the  forms   themselves.
 There  can be any number subject  to
 the  size  of the  index  (practical
 limit is about 150 per forms file).

 If your editor doesn't add ^Z at end
 of file (most do) end with @eof.

 Summary of forms file structure:
 @VID
 {{one or more forms}}
 @EOF
@end
@nf 17122
$yr$
$win_text$
 Format of each form

 Each  form has a name.  The name  is
 declared using an @nf directive.  To
 name  a form FRED you would use  @nf
 FRED.   Each  form  ends with @END.

 Everything  in between @nf and  @END
 is  treated as text (unless it is  a
 directive, which all start with @ in
 column  0  -  or  it  is  a  special
 character).

 A  CLEAR SCREEN will normally  occur
 before the form is displayed.

 Summary of form structure:
 @nf formname
 {{1-24 lines text}}
 {{plus any number of directives}}
 @END
@end
@nf 17123
$yr$
$win_text$
 Default actions

 Each new form that is displayed will
 be in the default colours and at the
 default  intensity.   These  may  be
 changed by @DEFAULTS directive.

 By  default, forms always clear  the
 screen  before they  are  displayed,
 which  is  of  course   not   always
 desirable   and  can  therefore   be
 prevented.    Also    by    default,
 Taskmaster  clears the screen  after
 displaying a template. This also can
 be prevented.
@end
@nf 17124
$yr$
$win_text$
 Separate development

 The development of templates can  be
 treated as a quite separate activity
 from the development of the rest  of
 the task.

 The  template source need  not  even
 reside in the  same file as the task
 source.  It may if desired reside in
 a file with a filetype of MAC.
@end
@nf 17125
$yr$
$win_text$
 Processing forms

 Before  a template can be  displayed
 it  needs  to be  processed.    This
 makes  it  efficient  and  fast   to
 display.    Templates are edited  as
 SOURCE CODE which contains a  number
 of  commands  which  are  known   as
 directives.   The  Template   source
 code  is processed by  SCR.EXE;  the
 Screen   Template  Processor.    SCR
 creates  an  output  file  with   an
 extension  of .OVR.  Each  OVR  file
 can have up to 150 odd templates and
 may be used by any number of tasks.

@end

@nf 1713
$yr$
$win_text$
 Core commands

 Having   processed  the  forms   and
 created your OVR file,  the next job
 is to get Taskmaster to display them
 for you.   Each form has a name.  To
 display a text-only template, we use
 the PUT command.  Before doing  this
 we  must  make sure that  the  forms
 file  has been opened and  is  ready
 for  use  by  means  of  the   FORMS
 command.   This is normally  one  of
 the first commands in a task.

@end
@nf 172
$yr$
$win_text$
 Security features

 To  prevent  users breaking  out  of
 Taskmaster   using   control_c    or
 control_break:

 DISABLE CTRL_C

 Certain  applications, once  loaded,
 allow   other  applications  to   be
 called. To prevent this:

 DISABLE SHELLING

 To  prevent  a task exiting  to  DOS
 don't let it execute a STOP command.
@end
@nf 173
$yr$
$win_text$
 Menus

 Example SCR code follows:

 @nf main_menu
 @bbmenu cyan,blue
 {{First topic}}
 {{Second topic}}
 {{Third topic}}

 The task part:

 MENU 1,'MAIN_MENU'
 Option 1,1
   option 1 code
 return
 Option 1,2
 Option 1,3
   option 2 and 3 code
 return
 endm 1
@end
@nf 174
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth8,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
 Data capture
 {Simple screens               }
  {High level commands          }
  {Easy screen design           }
  {Editing capability           }
  {Interacting with users       }
 {Obtaining the validated data }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end

@nf 1741
$yr$
$win_text$
 Simple screens

 Here  is a screen of text, which was
 entered  using a wordprocessor.   In
 Taskmaster, screens  are  known   as
 templates.   Some  are  simple  like
 this one and only contain text.

 Others   contain  fields  for   data
 entry and are known  as  forms.

 Menus  are another special  kind  of
 template.
@end
@nf 1742
$yr$
$win_text$
 High level commands

 No matter how complex a template  is
 it  is displayed using a single  PUT
 command.   It may clear  the  screen
 before and/or after display.   If it
 contains  fields  for  data  capture
 these   can   be  pre-filled    with
 information that can be edited prior
 to being validated.  For example  to
 edit  and validate 5 fields using  3
 commands:

 FIELDFILL TITLE FORE SUR CNO SPD
 PUT EDIT_DETAILS
 GET TITLE FORE SUR CNO SPD
@end
@nf 1743
$yr$
$win_text$
 Easy screen design

 The  placement of the fields on  the
 screen,  the wording of the  prompts
 and the nature of the validation  to
 be performed are all defined in  the
 form called EDIT_DETAILS.

 @nf edit_details
 @str min1
 @str
 @str min1
 @str
 @dec minint,maxint,minplace,maxplace

 Title        [[Mr  ]]
 Forename     [[fred       ]]
 Surname      [[bloggs     ]]
 Customer ref [[23443]]
 Order value  [[23.22   ]]
 @end
@end
@nf 1744
$yr$
$win_text$
 Editing capability

 The fieldfill command has the effect
 of pre-filling the data entry fields
 in  the  next form to  be  displayed
 with the PUT command.
@end
@nf 1745
$yr$
$win_text$
 Interacting with users

 The PUT command displays a  template
 on the screen.  If the template  has
 data  capture fields, then  it  also
 allows  editing of the  contents  of
 these fields using INS and DEL keys.
 When  the user presses the 
 key
 the  current contents of the  fields
 will be validated in accordance with
 the field types.  Any errors will be
 flagged  by making the opening  feet
 flash.   Only when the  fields  pass
 all  the validation checks will  the
 PUT command complete.
@end
@nf 1746
$yr$
$win_text$
 Obtaining the validated data

 After a PUT command that  references
 a  template  containing  fields, the
 data  from the fields is moved  into
 datatypes  named in a subsequent GET
 command  (or commands).   Note  that
 the GET command need not immediately
 follow the PUT command.
@end
@nf 18
@bbmenu cyan,blue
@win line2,column3,depth8,width36,pattern 176
$key$
@out cyan
  Purchasing Taskmaster
 {The software only  }
  {The printed manual }
  {Support            }
  {How do I register  }
  {User group         }
 {Extra utilities    }
@use 'Select topic then press 
 or press <esc> to quit this menu'
@end
@nf 181
$yb$
$win_text$
@translate
 Shareware Taskmaster - software only

 If  you  find  the  on-line  manuals
 sufficiently comprehensive for  your
 needs you can register for #45.

 The task PRINTMAN.TSK will allow you
 to  print  selected  sections   from
 the on-line Taskmaster manual.

 The task PRINTSCR.TSK will allow you
 to  print  selected  sections   from
 SCRMAN; the on-line SCR manual.
@end
@nf 182
$yb$
$win_text$
@translate
 The printed manual

 This costs an additional #20  It is
 an  A5 ring bound volume running  to
 300 odd pages and includes at  least
 twice  the  detail  of  the  on-line
 versions.
@end
@nf 183
$yb$
$win_text$
 Support

 Once registered, you are entitled to
 free support for 3 months.   Further
 support     (including     automatic
 provision  of any  updates), can  be
 purchased at extra cost.

 Purchasers  Professional  Taskmaster
 will be entitled to hotline support.
@end
@nf 184
$yb$
$win_text$
 How do I register

 To   register, simply   follow   the
 details  displayed  when  you   load
 Taskmaster.
@end
@nf 185
$yb$
$win_text$
 User group

 FmP  would  be pleased  to pool user
 generated information and ideas.  We
 would,   therefore,   welcome    the
 formation  of  an  independent  user
 group with whom we would be  willing
 to liase on technical matters.
@end
@nf 186
$yb$
$win_text$
 Extra utilities

 Registration   has  other   benefits
 besides  furthering  the   shareware
 concept and easing  your conscience.

 We   will  supply  EUC  which   will
 allow  you  to  implement  username,
 password  and  user-group   security
 measures  in your tasks.  EUC   also
 allows you to find out who is making
 use  of  the system, when they  last
 logged  in,  which application  they
 attempted to load and the  operating
 system response.

 We  will  also  supply  a  copy   of
 TIDY.EXE  which automatically  edits
 your source code to correctly indent
 and otherwise improve it.
@end
@eof