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@13 @7
@27 ╔═════════════════════════╗
║░░░░░░ ░░░░░░║
║≈≈≈≈≈≈ Prowriter ≈≈≈≈≈≈║
║░░░░░░ ░░░░░░║
║≈≈≈≈≈≈ Version 4.5 ≈≈≈≈≈≈║
║░░░░░░ ░░░░░░║
║≈≈≈≈≈≈ CGA...VGA+ ≈≈≈≈≈≈║
║░░░░░░ ░░░░░░║
╚═════════════════════════╝
A Text Processing/File Management system for IBM PC and compatibles.
By MicroByte Software, Copyright 1989,90
PO Box 833127
1605 Elk Grove
Richardson, TX 75083-3127
PH: 214-231-4980
────────────────────────────────────
Ver NEW ADDITIONS WITH VERSION 3.2..4.5
--- ────────────────────────────────────
4.5! Now Mark/Unmark files to quickly COPY, MOVE or DELETE them.
<Space Bar>=mark/unmark F5=mark all F6=unmark all "O"ptions menu
4.5 Ability to Make, Rename and Delete Directories from the Main-Screen.
<Alt> M = Make R = Rename <Del> = Delete
4.5 Main screen shows Disk-Space Marked, Used, and Free.
4.5! eXecution "pick-list" added for easy selection of last 6 programs run.
<Point and Click> with mouse or use keyboard to select program/parameters.
4.2! IMPROVED MOUSE response with MOUSE ACCELERATION for greater precision.
+ exit any prompt with mouse RB, Enter with mouse LB
+ PgUp(LB) and PgDn(MB) REPEAT by holding down mouse buttons. (Editor)
4.2 More parameters added to the installation program PROINST.EXE.
4.0! Ability to use ANY TextMode supported by your video card for any number
of rows by columns up to 132 characters wide. (eg: 80x60,100x40,132x44...)
4.0! Powerful execution facility that uses all available memory for executing
even large programs or batch files- even with text loaded!
4.0 Option for automatic detection of EGA/43 or VGA/50 row Textmodes.
3.5 Sub-Directories are always shown regardless of directory-mask and mask
is not reset when changing directories.
3.5 STAR.KEY file may be in any directory present in the current PATH.
3.2 Edit text up to 128 COLUMNS wide regardless of display width. (scrolls)
Standard number of rows are 25(CGA), 43(EGA) or 50(VGA).
Custom Installation program that actually modifies PRO.EXE to let you
set default TEXTMODE, COLORS, DIRC MASK and MOUSE use. (run PROINST.EXE)
@12
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┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ DOCUMENTATION FOR SHAREWARE │
└──────────────────────────────┘
░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
INSTALLATION : PROINST.EXE
────────────
ProWriter comes with a program PROINST that can be used to set the
following program defaults:
Video Mode
Directory Mask
Mouse Use and Sensitivity
Screen Colors
Screen Flicker
Key repeat and delay rates
Use of Auto-Detect EGA/VGA
This installation program actually Modifies PRO.EXE instead of using a
separate installation file. Therefore be sure that PRO.EXE is in the
same directory when running PROINST. Simply type PROINST at the command
line and select options from an on-screen menu. When finished, press
<Esc> and then Y to update PRO.EXE. The file PROINST.DAT will store
your currently active defaults for the installation program only.
PRO.EXE is now customized to your settings. These settings are now
ProWriter's defaults unless otherwise specified with a command line
parameter.
COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS
───────────────────────
Command line parameters are optional program directives specified at
the time the program is run. They follow the program name and do not
need to be in any particular order. The following items may be
specified:
Parameter Function
--------- --------
/CGA Sets video to 80x25 display
/EGA Sets video to 80x43 display
/VGA Sets video to 80x50 display
/C132 Sets video for Orchid's 132x44 (Tseng Labs)
/S=<Col>x<Row> Sets Custom screen dimensions for extended mode.
/V=<Mode> Sets Video card to specified mode number.
/M No mouse driver installed.
<Filename> Filename to load and edit.
Note that all options except the filename are preceded by a slash (/).
They may be typed in any order after the program name. (eg: PRO /m
/ega) Characters may be in upper or lower case.
@12
Of the preset modes, /CGA, /EGA and /VGA specify standard modes
available for all compatible video display adapters. C132 however is an
extended mode offered by the Orchid Designer VGA card. This mode is
therefore incompatible with other cards not using the Tseng Labs
extended mode. You can still use any textmode your card offers however
by using the /S and /V parameters to force video mode compatibility.
/S=<col>x<row> Screen Dimensions Parameter
This option lets you tell ProWriter what the screen dimensions will be
for program startup (eg: /s=80x60 means 80columns x 60rows). This
parameter does not actually set the Video card mode it only tells the
program that this will be the dimensions of the screen upon startup. It
is up to you to be sure that the proper mode will be in affect by
either setting the video mode before running or using /V=<Mode> to have
ProWriter automatically set the Video Card for you on startup. IF you
don't want to use /V to have the Video mode set by ProWriter, you must
be sure that the current mode matches your screen dimensions specified
with /S=<col>x<row>. Use the program supplied by the manufacturer to
set the TextMode in that case.
/V=<mode> Video Mode (SET DISPLAY ADAPTER)
This parameter specifies a number that will refer to the proper video
mode for your display adapter. It will reset your card to the mode
number specified. (eg: /V=34)
This option is usually used in conjunction with the /S parameter to
allow the use of any extended textmode up to 132 columns wide. (Actual
line length is limited to 128 columns, however specify actual width
when using the /S option) If the /S option is used without /V, then the
video mode should already have been set by some other means like from
DOS command line or with a batch file.
NOTE: Use this option with caution. By specifying an incorrect mode
your computer could lock up and be required to be turned OFF and
completely re-booted. Two programs, GETMODE and SETMODE are included to
allow you to test your card for the proper mode number.
GETMODE.EXE - This program will tell you the mode number and width your
display adapter is currently in. It is used as a means of determining
a mode number for use with the /V=<Mode> parameter. For
example, if you wanted to use an extended mode, like 132x44, but didn't
know the mode number to use for the /v option, you would use this
program to determine what your specific mode number would be. First set
your video adapter to the textmode you want to use. You should have a
program to enable you to do this. Then type GETMODE at the DOS command
line to see what mode number is currently in effect. To see if this
number will work with the /V option, use SETMODE <Mode> to test it. If
Setmode is successful, then ProWriter will be able to set your card to
this mode when using /V.
Example: pro
Program starts using all defaults currently in effect. Directory shown.
@12
Example: pro /ega MyText.txt
This will load the file Mytext.txt and use EGA 80x43 mode. It will also
attempt to use the mouse driver unless no mouse driver was specified in
the installation program PROINST.
Example: pro MyProg.pas /s=132x44 /v=34 /m
This will load MyProg.pas using a 132column by 44row screen. ProWriter
will set the Video Card to mode #34. No mouse will be used.
Example: pro /s=80x60
Starts ProWriter expecting screen preset to an 80x60 textmode. No file
is specified so the current directory is shown. Mouse will be used if
mouse default true. The actual 80x60 mode, in this case, should already
be active before program is started. This could have been done using a
batch file.
NOTE: If an EGA 43 or a VGA 50 row Textmode is selected, via on-screen
or through command parameters, and the actual number of rows on screen
does not match that mode, the Textmode will default to the actual
number of rows detected on screen, unless disabled through PROINST.EXE.
MOUSE OPERATION: 3-button(preferred) MicroSoft compatible mouse.
───────────────
If the command-line option /m is not specified, ProWriter WILL try to
test and see if a mouse driver is loaded unless set otherwise with
PROINST. If the mouse driver is found, the mouse will then be ready for
use by the program, responding in the main-screen, editor and Graphix
Window. However, a driver MUST be present for it to work properly. The
Mouse cursor itself does not blink but a character under it will. This
is a software cursor. If mouse use is inactivated, the always blinking
hardware cursor is used.
WARNING: If you're not using a mouse or do not have the driver loaded,
be sure to either specify NO mouse with PROINST or specify the /m
option when running the program. (eg: pro /m). Otherwise ProWriter will
attempt to locate the mouse driver and may, on some computers, crash
and require the computer to be turned off and re-booted.
┌─────────────┐
│MOUSE BUTTONS│ LB=Left Button MB=Middle RB=Right
└─────────────┘
Main Screen Editor
----------- ------
LB = Select/Enter LB = PgUp (hold down to repeat)
MB = Change Dir .. MB = PgDn (hold down to repeat)
RB = Esc RB = Esc
@12
─────────────────────────────
NEW FILE MANAGEMENT ROUTINES!
─────────────────────────────
With ProWriter you can now Copy, Move and Delete multiple files from
the main screen. In addition, you can Make, Rename and Delete
directories making file and disk management a breeze. ProWriter speeds
through disk copying by using as much as 64K of available memory for
disk buffer transfers. Even with the editor full, you still have a
guaranteed 10240 bytes from the Stack that can be used.
To Mark/Unmark files you can press the:
<SpaceBar> to Mark/Unmark a single file or
<F5> to Mark all
<F6> to UnMark all
To perform an operation on them press <O> for the Options Window and
then:
<C>opy
<M>ove or
<D>elete
the selected files. Press Esc to Exit from any point and F1 to abort a
procedure-in-process. For example, to move a set of selected files,
you would press <O> <M>, for <O>ptions <M>ove.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Move will delete the source-file ONLY if successfully copied to the
destination with no errors reported by the system during OR after the
process. This means safety and that you can move from ANY drive to any
other. No limitations.
Files are only copied or moved if the Source file has a later date than
any Destination file matching the Source name. This is very useful if
copying many files within which only a few need to be updated on the
destination drive. If another file exists with the same name on the
Destination, but the Source file isn't any newer than the Destination
file ProWriter will not rewrite over it and just skips that file.
MSDOS remembers what directory you where last logged to on any
previously logged drive. What this means is that when asked where to
copy or move the marked file(s), you need only specify the drive (eg:
d:) if wanting the files to go to the last directory you were logged to
on that drive. In other words the entire path <dr:\path\path> is not
needed if you were already logged to that drive and directory
previously. Of course, you can specify any path you want if needed. I
usually find it easier though to simply log to the dr:\path I want, and
then Log back to the Source path, mark the files needed and Copy or
Move them by typing only the drive letter and colon when prompted for
the destination.
@12
MAKE, RENAME AND DELETE DIRECTORIES
───────────────────────────────────
Main Screen Keys:
<Alt> M Make directory
<R> Rename directory or file
<Del> Delete directory or single file
MAIN-PROGRAM: PRO.EXE
─────────────────────
ProWriter is a powerful text editor in a small package. The main
execution file is relatively small and loads quickly. All other
utilities are loaded from a Disk, Ramdisk or EMS memory only when
needed. This is either done automatically with Overlays or through the
use of the eXecution option that can share available memory with the
Editor.
ProWriter has the usual editing and block commands that you need- and
then some. Be sure to review the reference sheet file PROKEYS.DOC and
try out all the different modes and functions of the editor. It is
equipped with many useful features to manipulate your text in a variety
of ways.
You can display text in standard as well as extended textmodes. To
change modes after the program is running, use <Ctrl> S from the main
screen to select your display.
Any of the menu items or files/directories may be selected by pointing
to it with the cursor. You can use the arrows or a mouse to move the
cursor around. Use <Ctrl> ->, <Ctrl> <-, Home and End keys for extra
convenience when using the Keyboard. Try it. If you need more info on a
file, like file-size, press F2 with the cursor on that file.
Pressing enter on an item or using the mouse's left button will select
the file, directory or menu item. If a file was selected (in cyan) then
it will be loaded. If a directory was selected (in red) then a change
to that directory will be made. Pressing the mouse button or enter
again on a file already loaded will put you in the Editor. Press E to
edit a loaded file regardless of cursor position.
Use the F1 key or mouse middle button to backtrack through the current
directory (same as CD ..) Press 'L' to change the current logged drive.
Use Esc or mouse right button to exit the editor or program.
One thing that you will want to do, if you have a printer, is get a
printout of the current editor keys. However, you may need to edit
STAR.KEY to match your current printer. Be sure that you save and keep
this file in one of your PATH directories. It is used by ProWriter
printing and STARDOC and will need to be accessed.
@12
When editing STAR.KEY to match your printer, be sure and only replace
codes needed for your printer and leave the first 17 codes in the same
order. This is because STARDOC will expect to find certain printer
functions to be certain codes. If you want though, you can delete and
arrange them how you want. StarDoc just won't send the proper codes if
any codes before #18 are deleted or rearranged.
After you have done this, print out the file PROKEYS.DOC from the main
menu by loading it and then pressing P to print. Be sure that STAR.KEY
is in a directory specified in the PATH variable of your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file.
GRAPHICS < Overlay >
════════
Now you can easily enter graphic characters into your text file by
pressing F6 in the editor. It will allow you to choose the character
you want using the mouse or arrow keys. When the cursor is pointing to
the one you want, either press Enter, F6 or the mouse left button. To
abort press Esc or the mouse right button. Home and End keys also work.
Unless you aborted the selection, you will then be in GRAPHIX ENTRY
MODE. While in this mode, any alpha/numeric key will produce this
character you selected, however all other keys retain their normal
function so you can move around, delete, insert ect. The space-bar will
still enter blanks. To choose a different character, press F6 again.
The Esc key can be pressed at any time to abort Graphix mode. Enjoy and
be creative!
PROGRAM/BATCH FILE EXECUTION! < Borrows Memory >
────────────────────────────
ProWriter can now use all available memory for execution of any .EXE,
.COM or .BAT(batch file) directly from the main menu. Press X to get
the Program Execution screen. If the cursor was pointing at an
executable file, it will be shown at the "Filename?" prompt, otherwise
it will be blank. At this point either type in a new name or use the Up
arrow to scroll through the last six programs/parameters run. This is
your eXecution Pick-List. It will come in very handy! Also use F9 and
F10 to scroll up and down the list and F1 to directly execute the file
shown. If using a mouse you can point to the list item and click the LB
to select it, and then point to "Execute" and click the LB again to run
it.
New files that have been run will be added to the list. The Pick-List
always contains the last six programs/parameters run (eg: FIFO). Press
<Esc> or mouse RB to abort.
When entering a filename, it is not necessary to type the entire name.
Typing just the root name (eg: Pro), as you would from the DOS command
line is sufficient. ProWriter will search the current directory and all
others specified in the Path variable of your Autoexec.bat file.
@12
The only difference is that you don't follow the filename with
parameters for the program. Instead, a second prompt is supplied for
any parameters. Batch files are automatically executed through the
command line processor. After your program has run, control will be
returned to ProWriter and the Prompt <Press any Key to Continue> will
be displayed. Press any key or mouse button to continue and your right
where you left off.
It is alright to have text already loaded before execution of another
program (child process). ProWriter will allocate only the unused memory
for execution of the new program. Upon returning to ProWriter, all
memory is returned to the editor. It is possible to be editing one file
with ProWriter and then, from the main screen, eXecute PRO.EXE again to
edit yet a different file. After editing that file, Press <Esc> twice
and return to editing the originally loaded file right where you left
off. Depending on the size of the files, you could even do this 3 or 4
levels deep if you wanted. Batch files can be created and executed from
the same screen.
The current Textmode is not changed before execution of the child
process. If the textmode needs to be switched before running the
program, create a batch file that uses VMode xxx or some other means of
switching modes before executing the program or use <Ctrl> S from the
main screen to switch modes before executing. Most programs will not
require this though. The editor textmode is reset on return.
IMPORTANT: You are not asked to save any changed file in the editor so
it is up to you to save the file if needed. Under normal circumstances
control will return to ProWriter with any file still in the editor.
However, if the newly run program were to crash for some reason and you
had unsaved text in the editor, it would be lost. The best policy is to
experiment with any new programs at first, saving all work before
executing them. However, be sure to ALWAYS save the editor file if the
executed program will be using that file for an input file, like a
Spell-Checker or Compiler program.
NOTE: If you get an Insufficient Memory message, it may still be
possible to execute the file by freeing some memory. From the main
screen press W and enter. The more text you have in the editor, the
less memory you have for executing other programs. { The enhanced
program will swap any text out to expanded memory if available. }
PROGRAMMERS: Use eXecute to run command line Compilers and Assemblers
from the main screen. (eg: MASM, Pascal, C++ ect)
MARGIN JUSTIFICATION < Overlay >
────────────────────
Version 3.0 has integrated this program into PRO.EXE. It can be
selected by pressing 'M' at the main menu when a file is loaded. This
unit will justify your right and left margins to specified columns.
Further, you specify what area(s) within the text to process using !@+
and !@-
!@+ starts processing, !@- discontinues it
@12
It will create a new file with the extension .NEW (.TXT if .NEW in
source name). This is convenient for the program as well as the user.
If the newly formatted text is not what you expected, you still have
the original file that can be edited and then reprocessed. The only
thing to remember is that these codes should be on the first column of
a line with nothing else on that line. They are deleted from the new
file created. The default for margin-maker is !@+ (process ON)
PRINT PROGRAM: STAR.EXE < Overlay >
───────────────────────
The printing program is also integrated with version 3.0 using the
overlay file PRO.OVR. However, a standalone version is included for
running from the command line. It doesn't just print out your text, but
lets you use special codes (@xx...) to send any printer command you
need. Customize them for your printer by editing the file STAR.KEY. If
multiple printers are used, keep a copy of their codes in separate
files. When switching printers, copy the corresponding file to STAR.KEY
to replace it.
Look at PROKEYS.DOC. It's a simple example of how to use STAR with your
text and printer. Any printer function your printer offers can be made
available. Note that no spacing is required between codes or codes and
text. A code is recognized by star using an @ symbol followed by a
number referencing that code or macro. The macro is between 1 and four
characters long and is specified in the STAR.KEY file. This file should
always be in one of the directories of your current PATH variable.
CODES PRINTOUT: STARDOC.EXE
───────────────────────────
To get a nice printout of your current reference numbers used by STAR,
ProWriter's printing program, edit STAR.KEY leaving unused commands and
changing any others that you can to fit your printer. Then just type
STARDOC at the DOS command line. It will print out the STAR.KEY file as
long as it resides in the current or one of the PATH directories.
EMS MEMORY / RAM DISK USAGE
───────────────────────────
ProWriter can automatically sense if the LIM (Lotus Intel MicroSoft)
driver is installed and will make use of it for loading the overlay
file PRO.OVR. Once loaded, all overlay calls will work at direct memory
speeds. Also, if using a RAM-DISK you can have PRO.EXE and/or PRO.OVR
load via RAM-DISK by specifying the directory where they are located in
the PATH variable of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. eg: path D:\;C:\; would
specify Ram-Disk drive D:\ to be searched first when looking for a file
to run. ProWriter will look first in the current directory for it's
overlay file, and then it uses the DOS PATH variable. If it cannot be
found then the overlay functions will be inactive. So be sure that the
file PRO.OVR is located either in the current directory or one
specified in the DOS PATH variable.
@12
OVERLAY FILE: PRO.OVR
─────────────────────
Overlay file PRO.OVR is used to maximize the availability of main
memory for use in loading and editing files. It is loaded if one of the
following options are selected:
-Printing program menu key P
-Margin Maker menu key M
-File Info window menu key F2 or I
-Graphix Window editor key F6
═════════════════ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ═══════════════════
╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬ S H A R E W A R E ╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░╬░
═════════════════ ═══════════════════
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ProWriter is copyrighted software. However, you are encouraged to copy
and share ProWriter with others according to the following
requirements:
ProWriter program(s), User's Guide, and any associated files may be
freely copied and shared as long as ALL FILES ARE INCLUDED.
This trial version may be copied and shared, so long a no charge is
made for the software. The demonstration version includes the following
files:
ProWriter 4.5(trial) PRO.EXE { unregistered copy }
Overlay file PRO.OVR
ProWriter Installation PROINST.EXE
Installation Data file PROINST.DAT
ShareWhare Manual PRO.DOC
List of Editor keys PROKEYS.DOC
STAR printing program STAR.EXE
STAR key file STAR.KEY
Print code Lister STARDOC.EXE
Getmode Utility GETMODE.EXE
SetMode Utility SETMODE.EXE
Registered copies will also include:
BackIt! 1.0 BACKIT.EXE { fast backup utility }
ProWriter Enhanced PRO.EXE { advanced EMS features }
Overlay PRO.OVR
Comprehensive Manual PROWRT.DOC { + Tips on advanced use }
Utility files UTILS.ARC { various }
These files must be distributed together. They may be distributed via
modem from bulletin board systems provided that all files are
transmitted (archived) together and no alterations are made.
@12
WHY SHAREWARE?
──────────────
ShareWare let's you "try it before you buy it"! You can determine
whether a program works properly and how easy it is to use, before you
pay for it. If you use the program please do the right thing and
register your copy with MicroByte. For ShareWare to work it depends on
all of us to show support to the authors that spend countless hours to
prepare and debug quality programs.
WHY REGISTER?
─────────────
Since ProWriter is a ShareWare product, we don't receive a penny when
you download it from CompuServe or a Bulletin Board, or receive it on a
disk of ShareWare programs.
Since version 2.0 was released in Jan 1989, we have continued to
improve and enhance the program, and have added new features. Most of
the enhancements were suggested by our registered users. They now can
take advantage of new versions of ProWriter and the improvements that
their registration fees have made possible!
- Your registration fee makes it possible for us to continue to improve
the program and to provide similar high quality software at
reasonable prices.
- For a low $25 registration fee you receive the LATEST VERSION of the
Enhanced program, a set of Utilities and a complete manual.
- As a registered user of ProWriter, you will be notified as new
versions are released, and may upgrade for a nominal charge, always
on a try-it before you buy-it basis if desired.
- Registered users may purchase other MicroByte software at reduced
prices.
This has been a very brief description of ProWriter's features but
should give you a chance to try it out and see how it works. Prowriter
has taken over four years of development. This trial version of
ProWriter is distributed through ShareWare as a cost effective means of
offering software to the consumer. Please feel free to write or call
about any problems or comments you may have concerning the programs!
For a copy of the latest version of ProWriter, Manual, and utility
programs, send check or money order for $25.00 payable to:
MicroByte Software
PO Box 833127
Richardson, TX 75083-3127
PH: (214) 231-4980 Visa/MC
- Foreign orders must be accompanied by a check or money order in US
Dollars
- Foreign (overseas) orders must include $5 to cover additional
shipping costs.
@12