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-
- 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
- and pause, allowing you to re-insert the stack in the printer to complete the
- back sides.
-
- Booklet Style configures 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
-