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VDE164.UPD
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VDE 1.64 Update Information
E. Meyer - 14 Aug 1992
---------------------------------RECENT NEWS----------------------------------
USAGE POLICY and CREDIT CARDS
In addition to site licenses, there is now an optional individual user
registration (including an update disk and support) for $30. Credit cards may
be used to charge registration and site license fees, through the Public
Software Library. See VDE.DOC.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Several foreign versions of VDE are under development; one, Finnish, is
now available, with full documentation. Please write if you need a specific
foreign version, or are interested in collaborating to produce one.
GENERIC (ANSI.SYS) SUPPORT
If you are using the Generic installation option, please let me know. It
may disappear from future versions if no longer needed. Suggestions for
future improvements are always welcome as well.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a quick guide, for users of previous versions of VDE, to
noticable changes in operation. Please check VDE.REF and VINST.REF for full
details.
NEW IN VDE 1.64
* The "place mark" commands have been revised to remove confusion between
them and the ^Z character (1Ah). ^KM (not ^PZ) now sets a place mark. ^QM
(not ^QZ) goes to a place mark. The mark displays as a hilighted "!". ^PZ
now inserts an actual ^Z, as you would expect.
* The definition of "ASCII document" has been corrected. Filemode /A is
now truly ASCII text, and therefore will NOT interpret control codes as
printer commands, allowing them to display and print directly. A new filemode
/D (Document) is now the default; it DOES interpret control codes (as /A used
to do). This is the only present difference between modes /D and /A.
* There is a new find/replace option "W" for "whole word only".
* Different .VDI (installation) files can now be loaded with the AltU
command, or with a semicolon on the command line. This allows you to change
screen colors, user options, etc. without multiple copies of VDE.COM.
* Block write (^KW) now offers a choice of Overwrite or Append if the
named file already exists. Press Esc, ^U, or Space to cancel.
* The Esc* command has a new toggle "X,x" to control margin release.
* Print toggles/switches (^PS, etc) always insert in document modes,
rather than overstriking, regardless of INSERT status.
* Prompt input now uses ^Y (not ^X) to erase the entire entry.
* The ^QT command will report "not found" if the given character doesn't
occur, rather than deleting to the end of the file as before -- unless it is
^Z. ^QT^Z will still delete to the end.
* In the file browser, pressing [Esc] returns you to the ">dir" prompt,
where another directory or filespec may be given; press [Esc] again to exit.
* VDE is now DESQview aware. It will multitask more efficiently, and no
longer needs special installation to handle direct screen writes. In your DV
setup, set "Writes directly to screen" and "Virtualize" to NO. The AltE/AltA
commands will not work; use DV's own "Rearrange:Video" menu selection.
* Backup (.BAK) files are handled more like they were before 1.63: every
MANUAL save (^KS,^KX etc) once again updates the BAK file. Autosave does not.
VINST
* The printer driver "Reserve header space?" option has been replaced
(and thus there is no longer an "R" option in the Print command ^KP). Instead
there are two new driver settings, "Top margin if header used" and "Lines
between header and text", which in combination offer more flexibility.
Also, modifying the driver's printer control codes has been simplified:
you choose the codes you want to change from a menu, and longer code sequences
(needed by some printers, especially LaserJets) are now allowed.
VINST can still read and convert your earlier version .VDP files.
* There is a new User Option to select a default right justification
setting for documents (on or off).
* There is a new (separate) screen color for error messages.
* The Generic installation now asks whether it will be running on an IBM
PC. Answer Yes to allow display of PC graphics characters.
* Screen colors for the HP95LX are still distinct from the IBMPC colors,
but are now also user-changeable. To change them you must run VINST on the
95LX (still selecting the "IBMPC" option).
* There is a new 132-column installation option "T" for Trident SVGA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.63 UPDATE SUMMARY (05 Jun 1992)
* There is a new command ^\. Like ^L, it repeats the last find/replace,
but in the opposite direction.
* Whatever macro you have assigned to the key Esc0 will now run
automatically whenever you first enter VDE. See AUTOEXEC MACRO.
* A pair of new macro test commands, Esc< and Esc>, allow comparison of
characters by ASCII values.
* New synonyms for commands formerly unusable in macros or Generic
Terminal mode: ^O= for [5], ^Q- for Shift[Tab], Esc^R/^C for ^[PgUp/Dn].
* When an error message displays, it is no longer necessary to press
[Esc]; it will disappear after 1.5 seconds, or upon your next keystroke.
* Block commands (except ^KV,^KPB) will now work if the block is only
half marked; they will mark the cursor position as the other end of the block
first, then execute.
* The help menu (^J) now has a new page (press "F") listing all the file
modes. A new mode /F is for WordPerfect 5.x (/P remains for 4.x). The mode
for WordStar 5.x is now /S (not /5) to avoid confusion.
* The variable tab set and clear commands (^OI,^ON) both now accept a
simple list "n1,n2..." of columns to add or clear several tabs. To clear all
tabs, type ^ON* (not, as before, ^OI# or ^OI@).
* A new option, "M"=multi-file, has been added to the find/replace
commands (^QF/^QA), to allow these functions to run in sequence through every
file currently being edited.
* There is a new Print option "R" to reverse the "Reserve header space"
choice in the printer driver. Printing can now be paused by pressing any key
other than [Esc].
* It is no longer necessary to type "SHELL" to enter a DOS shell via the
AltR command; simply hit [Enter]. ([Esc] or ^U cancel.)
* The File Browser's (^KF) behavior and command keys have been revised in
several respects. See FILES for details.
* The graphics function (AltG) has a new command "-", which clears all
graphics definitions not currently in use; and "=" will redefine a previously
defined graphic, if it is not in use.
* In document modes, print codes are now ignored when counting columns.
This affects tabs, vertical cursor movements, and column number display.
* The HP95LX palmtop no longer requires special installation; VDE detects
it automatically. Performance on the HP95LX has been improved. The [MENU]
key now calls up the MenuBar. The serial port is powered on/off for printing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.62 UPDATE SUMMARY (27 Oct 1991)
* ^KE (rename) will now accept a directory name alone, to move your work
into another directory under the same filename.
* ^K# (auto number) now uses the simple character "#" as a number
marker; the previous command ^P# has been removed. (You can convert files
containing old-style markers by replacing (^QA) the old code, which can be
entered as ^PF, with "#".)
* AltS (split file) usage has been simplified: you supply only the input
file name. VDE constructs the output name by adding numbers to the end of the
file name (so TEST.FIL produces TEST1.FIL, etc).
* There is a new function, delete word left, given by ^[BkSp], though
this can be changed to delete character left (as before) with VINST.
* ^[Ins] now functions as a Word Insert toggle, the same as ^].
* The [Home/End] keys, when used repeatedly, will keep on moving to the
beginning of the previous line or the end of the next one.
* VDE now runs in 40-column mode, on portable computers with small
screens or on any CGA/EGA/VGA system using the MODE CO40 command. Some menus
remain 80 columns wide and can be scrolled by pressing the arrow keys.
* AltA and AltE now fully support the changing of screen sizes under
UltraVision. See SCREEN SIZE.
VINST
* The video card installation now supports "Standard" SVGA -- including
any VGA board (like Boca) using video modes 23h and 22h for 132 columns.
* One new IBM PC Installation option fixes conflicts between VDE and
some other software over the use of the Print Screen key; another allows the
use of the Tandy 1000 keyboard.
* Entry of hex strings in VINST for the printer driver has been
simplified; instead of the (#),bytes format used previously, simply enter the
desired bytes. To enter a null string (00), type ^J or ^[Ret].
* There is now an installation for the HP 95LX palmtop computer.
* There is now an installation for the Otrona 8:16 with IBM video
emulation, allowing faster screen updating.
* The Generic Terminal installation now allows choice of screen colors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.61 UPDATE SUMMARY (27 Mar 1991)
* The Print command (^KP) now offers a new option "A" for convenient
addressing of envelopes while writing correspondence, by simply marking off
the address as a block and inserting an envelope in your printer.
* The AltE command now offers a wider choice of screen sizes, from 17 to
57 lines. Screen sizes other than 25 and 43/50 lines require the new
companion file VDEOPT.DAT.
* Blocks can now be marked by holding down the Shift key while moving
the cursor with the PC keypad keys (arrows, [Home, End, PgUp/Dn]).
* There is a new file mode /C, for programming in "C" and other
structured languages: nondocument, but with autoindent and variable tabs.
* Accessory files (including VDEOPT.DAT and all ".VDx" files) may now be
kept in a designated "VDE directory", using the SET VDE= command.
VINST
* Under "Installation": for IBM PCs, you can specify a default screen
size for editing with VDE. For the generic ANSI installation, you can select
support for the special keyboards of DEC Rainbow computers or VT terminals.
* There is a new user option to determine whether the new page is
positioned at the top of the screen after use of the ^QI,^QN,^QL commands.
* Several improvements have been made regarding data files:
VINST now creates ".VDI" files for storing installation, options, and
menubar information -- useful when updating to a new version of VDE.
VINST now creates ".VDC" files for storing character width data.
These, and the ".VDG" files for graphics, can now also be accessed from VDE
using the AltU command or command-line semicolon syntax.
Since printer drivers have changed several times recently, VINST can
read .VDP files from versions 1.52 through 1.6 as well. (VDE cannot, so
write them back to disk with VINST before trying to use them with VDE.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.6 UPDATE SUMMARY (12 Dec 1990)
* A new "Auto Format" mode (command ^OM or {Text:auto fmT}) provides
continuous reformatting of text during typing or editing.
* A new "Right Justify" mode (command ^OJ or {Text:Justify}) inserts
spaces in text as necessary so that formatting leaves an even right margin.
* A new paragraph tab command (^OG) allows setting a temporary indent.
* Undelete (^U) can now be used repeatedly to recover prior deletions.
* MenuBar mode now allows VDE control-commands as well. (A new choice
{Misc:Escape} can access Esc commands.) Also, a new {User:} menu bar can
contain five new commands of your choice.
* The preview command (^OD) now shows page numbers, and indicates page
breaks with dotted lines on screen.
* VDE now uses conditional or "soft" hyphens, entered with ^P-.
* There is a new file mode /U ("U"nformatted), which produces files
without soft carriage returns.
* Two new macro commands have been added:
Esc* is a "universal toggle set", allowing a macro to specify any status
for Insert, Justify, and other toggles.
Esc$ allows macro execution to continue when an error occurs.
* The print command (^KP) now allows headers on the left side of the
page, using the "<" character.
* The Match file function (AltM) now compares word by word, ignoring
formatting differences in documents (line length, word spacing, etc). In /N
mode, it is still an exact character by character match.
VINST
* A new main menu item "menu<B>ar mode" lets you customize the new
"User" menu bar to contain 5 commands of your choice. (The choice for MenuBar
vs Command mode has also been moved here from the options section.)
* New user options allow for a choice of default status for auto format,
double spacing, and proportional spacing.
* For convenience, graphic character sets (for the AltG command) can
also now be stored and retrieved as disk files (.VDG).
* The video card choices now include Paradise VGA+.
* The printer installation now allows you to specify different ports
(e.g., LPT2) on systems with several printers.
* Printer code entry now allows entering a single quote (`) + character
instead of a hex value, and the use of [BkSp] as a correction key.
============================= VERSION HISTORY ==============================
1984-1987: Development of "Video Display Editor" for CP/M computers.
VDE 1.0 (Dec87): First MSDOS release, for IBM PC compatibles only.
1.01 (Dec87): Faster; several bug fixes; minor changes to VINST.
1.1 (Jan88): Edit 2 files; AltE; AltT,D; DOS shell; ANSI installation.
1.2 (Mar88): AltW; AltM; AltS; ^OQ; ^QT,^QI; AltG; [F]-keys; word count.
1.21 (May88): Auto indent; enhanced ^OI; ^PL is pagebreak.
1.22 (Aug88): AltO; AltA; AltI; append to files; enhanced ^KP, display.
1.3 (Jan89): Edit 6 files; AltC,P; AltV; improved ^QA, ^U; /5 mode.
1.31 (Mar89): ^K#; ^KZ; macro keys A-Z; AltU; ^OD.
1.4 (Jul89): MenuBar mode; Esc"; proportional format/print mode.
1.5 (Dec89): 8 files; ^KA; enhanced ^KF, ^OW/AltF, ^QF; use less memory.
1.51 (Mar90): /P, /X file modes; ^]; ^K^; improved proportional mode.
1.52 (Apr90): Various small improvements and fixes.
1.53 (May90): ^QL,N; /M mode; ^PG; foreign language/KEYBxx compatibility.
1.54 (Sep90): Small improvements; supports enhanced keyboard, F11/F12.
1.6 (Dec90): Auto format; Justify; ^OG; {User}; /U; improved ^U, ^OD.
1.61 (Mar91): Envelope printer; /C mode; enhanced AltE, block marking.
1.62 (Oct91): Supports UltraVision, HP95LX palmtop, Tandy keyboard.
1.63 (Jun92): Autoexec macro; ^\; enhanced ^QF,^OI,^KF,^KA,AltG, etc.
1.64 (Aug92): Whole-word find; dual /D,A modes; DESQview aware.
----- Eric Meyer, 3541 Smuggler Way, Boulder, CO 80303 USA -----