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OS/2 Help File
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1993-03-15
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22KB
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527 lines
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. General Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The purpose of FLEXTEXT Print Utility is to print reports on a workstation
running OS/2 2.0.
This program prints multiple pages per sheet of paper in portrait or landscape
mode. Any available font, type, and point size may be selected depending on
the input file's requirements.
Many IBM mainframe generated reports contain ANSI control characters ("FBA"
files). These reports can be printed or exported to a "print file" for import
into a word processing document.
TAB characters are expanded depending on information supplied in the
preferences section.
Clipboard data can be browsed and optionally printed.
Both sides of the paper can be used even if you are using a none duplex
printer. Simulated duplex processing provides a "two pass" capability that
prints the front, then the back sides of a report.
A booklet style page configuration is available in the 2-up, landscape mode.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. About FLEXTEXT Print Utility ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
FLEXTEXT(TM) Copyright 1992, Extension Software.
This is version 2.0 of the FLEXTEXT Print Utility. The program was designed
and coded by Extension Software of Mesa, Arizona in February 1993.
For more information, Robert Stuart can be contacted at (602) 820-0321 or at
Compuserv id# 74230,1620.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. License Information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This software and the disks on which it is contained are licensed for
evaluation purposes only. This is copyrighted software. You may use the
software for a 60 day evaluation period and distribute exact copies of the
software to anyone free of charge. You are prohibited from charging for any
such copies unless you receive written permission from Extension Software.
EXTENSION SOFTWARE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES
ARE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED. NEITHER EXTENSION SOFTWARE NOR
ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF
THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL
DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE EVEN IF
EXTENSION SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR
CLAIMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL EXTENSION SOFTWARE'S LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER
EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE
FORM OF CLAIM. THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY
AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit of liability for
consequenctial or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply to
you.
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Arizona and shall
inure to the benefit of Extension Software and any successors, administrators,
heirs and assigns. Any action or proceeding brought by either party against
the other arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought only in
a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction located in Maricopa County,
Arizona. The parties hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said
courts.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Open Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The OPEN menu contains options to retrieve data from a file or the clipboard.
The following options appear under the OPEN menu:
FILE Retrieves data from a file
CLIPBOARD Retrieves data currently held in the clipboard.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
You can open a file that exists on any drive or in any directory by using the
FILE option. To open a file, do the following:
o Select the Open menu and choose the File selection.
A dialog box appears, showing you a list of files in the current directory.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Open Clipboard ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The CLIPBOARD option imports data into the browse window which can be
subsequently printed.
A snapshot of clipboard text is taken when CLIPBOARD is selected. If changes
are made to the data in the clipboard once the browse window is displayed, the
modifications will not take affect in FlexText until the CLIPBOARD option is
re-selected.
FlexText only supports text-based data. Other data types found in the
clipboard will be ignored.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Export ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
EXPORT will save a file following TAB expansion and ANSI control character
translation. The resulting file is suitable for import into word processors or
text editors capable of handling ASCII delimited files.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
1. Select the down arrow to the right of the Drive list to display all the
drives on your system.
2. Select a drive from the Drive list.
3. Select a directory from the Directory list.
4. Select a file name from the File list or type in a file name and select the
Open pushbutton to display the file you want to edit.
For specific help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Open pushbutton
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Type the name of the file you want to open in the File name field and select
the Open pushbutton.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Open pushbutton
General help
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the down arrow to the right of the Type of file field to display the
available file types. The sample has set this field for all file types.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Drive list displays the drives on your system. Select the drive that
contains the files you want to edit.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The File list displays all the files in the directory you selected from the
Directory list. Select the file you want to open.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Directory list displays the directories on the selected drive. Select a
directory to display the list of files from that directory in the File list
box.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Open ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the Open pushbutton to display the file you want to edit.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Export as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Export as ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
1. Select the down arrow to the right of the Drive list to display all the
drives on your system.
2. Select a drive from the Drive list.
3. Select a directory from the Directory list.
4. Type the name of the file you want to save in the File name field and
select the Save pushbutton.
For specific help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Save pushbutton
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Type the name of the file you want to save in the File name field and select
the Save pushbutton.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> List of Fields ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
File name Type of file
Drive File
Directory Save pushbutton
General help
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Type of file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the down arrow to the right of the Type of file field to display the
available file types. The sample has set this field for all file types.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Drive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Drive list displays the drives on your system. Select the drive that
contains the files you want to save.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The File list displays all the files in the directory you selected from the
Directory list. Select the file you want to rename and save.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The Directory list displays the directories on the selected drive. Select a
directory to display the list of files from that directory in the File list
box.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Help for Save ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select the Save pushbutton to save the file to the drive and directory you
selected and with the file name you specified.
For more help, select a topic below.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Help Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The following help options give you several ways of accessing program
instructions and procedures.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Index ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This help option displays the index which allows you to specify a particular
item of interest.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. General help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This option provides an overview of the program's processes and functionality.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Using Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Help can be retrieved for any menu, window, procedure, or field by clicking on
a help button or pressing the F1 key.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Product information ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This help option lists product information.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Print ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The PRINT menu option presents a sequence of windows accepting various print
options and configurations.
Note that the PRINT menu option is initially disabled and becomes enabled only
after an input file or clipboard is successfully opened (and optionally
displayed).
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Options ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The OPTIONS menu provides the ability to specify functional preferences or
select a print queue.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. Print Queue Option ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The PRINT QUEUE option provides the ability to select a print queue from a
list. A pushbutton on the print queue dialog allows margin adjustments.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Preferences Option ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The PREFERENCES option allows the user to configure processing defaults. The
changes are maintained in an initialization file(FLXTXT.INI) that is loaded at
program startup.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Register Option ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The REGISTER option presents a window that describes the registration process
and optionally prints a registration form.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Font Dialog ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The FONT dialog allows you to select font types, point size, and styles. All
available scalable fonts (ATM) are listed. Be careful in selecting a large
point size since it can result in truncated data.
Initially, the program will default to "Courier" which provides mono-spaced
characters. Selection of other variable-spaced fonts may affect column
alignment.
Note that many options are provided that may not be appropriate for this type
of report application (i.e., strike out, outline, etc.). These options have
been provided only to achieve OS/2 application standardization.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 19. Print Report ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The PRINT REPORT dialog controls page configurations, and fonts.
Pressing JOB PROPERTIES displays another window that, among other options,
specifies page orientation. By switching from "portrait" to "landscape",
different page configurations are displayed on the original "PRINT REPORT"
window allowing multiple pages to be printed side by side, or top and bottom.
Text files with record lengths of 80 characters or less generally print best
side by side, while reports of up to 133 characters are better printed top and
bottom.
The first time the PRINT REPORT is displayed, a reminder window is
automatically created that describes other page configurations available as
explained in the previous paragraph. If you no longer wish the reminder window
to be displayed, it can be disabled in the PREFERENCES dialog found under the
OPTIONS menu selection.
Point size automatically changes when different page configurations are
selected. The point size you select in the SELECT FONT window is associated
with the current page configuration and will be saved. This process minimizes
the need to display the font selection screen repetitively. Whenever you enter
the SELECT FONT window, the program highlights a default point size appropriate
for the current page configuration.
SIMULATED DUPLEX provides the ability to print on both sides of the paper with
a non-duplex printer. The program will print the front side of the document,
then pause, allowing you to re-insert the stack in the printer to complete the
back sides.
BOOKLET STYLE arranges the pages in book-style order. Note that the booklet
option is only available in 2-up landscape page configuration.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 20. Print Range ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The PRINT RANGE provides selection of pages to print. Note that the starting
page must be less than or equal to the last page.
Pressing the Reset pushbutton will set the starting page at 1 and the last
page at the end of the report.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 21. Margins ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The MARGINS window permits adjustment of page borders. Adjustments are made in
1/10 inch increments moving toward the center of the page. Margin settings are
stored between sessions and are associated with the highlighted print queue
from the previous dialog.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 22. Continue Duplex ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The CONTINUE DUPLEX PRINTING dialog is presented when FlexText has completed
writing the front sides of the simulated duplex document to the spooler. After
allowing the printer to complete the first-pass printing, push the Continue
button to trigger back-side printing.
Reverse back-side printing eliminates the need to re-shuffle pages on printers
that need the paper stack face down in the paper tray. Some experimentation
may be necessary to determine how the pages should face to utilize the
simulated duplex function.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 23. Print Queue ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Select a print queue from the displayed list, then press OK.
The selected printer Queue will remain in effect unil explicity changed. The
first time the program is executed, the system default queue will be used.
Pressing the MARGINS pushbutton displays a window that accepts margin
adjustments.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 24. Export File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The EXPORT FILE option generates an ASCII file after expanding Tabs and if
necessary, removing ANSI control characters from the data.
A top of page ANSI control character ("1") may be translated to a ascii hex"0C"
depending on preference settings. Other ANSI control characters (i.e., "0",
"-") result in the insertion of blank line(s). Note that ANSI control
character "+" is simply removed with no change to the incoming data.
Once generated, the resulting ascii report file can be imported into most word
processors.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 25. Preferences ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The PREFERENCES option allows the user to configure processing defaults. The
changes are maintained in an initialization file (FLXTXT.INI) that is loaded at
program startup.
Configurable options are as follows:
o "Animate program startup" controls the FlexText title animation when starting
FlexText. The animation takes a couple of seconds and may be bypassed if
desired.
o "Minimize file viewer automatically" will cause the window that displays the
report to be immediately minimized when a file is opened.
o "Display landscape reminder info box" causes an additional window to be
displayed when "Print" is selected from the menu. The box reminds the user
of additional page configurations available if the user enters "Job
Properties" and selects landscape orientation. The information box is
displayed only once during program execution.
o "Use x'0c' for page break in saved print files" will insert the common page
break character whenever a new page is anticipated. Note that this type of
page break only occurs in files with ANSI control characters (FBA files).
o "Expand TAB characters to ?? spaces" will convert any x'09' characters to the
specified number of spaces. Use the arrows on the right side of the numeric
field to scroll through the valid values.
o The three radio buttons provide a way to suppress the file type window from
displaying every time a file or clipboard is opened. If your data typically
contains ANSI control characters, select "always apply ANSI CC translation".
If you never use ANSI CC's, select "never apply ANSI CC translation". These
options will prevent the file type window from being displayed.
Once your selections are made, press the SAVE button to apply the preferences
to this and subsequent sessions. If the file viewer is currently open (or
minimized), the view is automatically recreated using the new options. The
DEFAULT button will return the settings to the factory settings. CANCEL will
drop all changes since the last time the preferences were saved.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 26. Input File Type ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ANSI control characters are commonly found on mainframe reports. Report
records are typically (but not necessarily) 133 bytes in length with the
carriage control characters in position 1 of each line. The following is a
list of control characters with their corresponding effects:
"1" - top of page (page break)
"0" - double space
"-" - triple space
"+" - overtype
" " - single space