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W O R D S A Vocabulary Building Program V e r s i o n 1 . 2 Conceived and Created by Tony Martin of The BAD SOFTWARE Company 1611 Harvest Green Ct. Reston, VA 22094 April 1, 1990 Software and Documentation (C) Copyright 1990 by Tony Martin T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to BAD SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 This is BAD SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . 1 The World of Shareware . . . . . . . . . 1 The Cost of WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . 2 What is WORDS? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 What WORDS Can Do For You . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Capabilities Summary . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Improving Your Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . 4 Specialized Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Files Included with WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Installing WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Using WORDS - A Task-Oriented Approach . . . . . 10 Random WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 In Your AUTOEXEC.BAT . . . . . . 11 Before Starting Any Program . . 12 Continuous Random Words . . . . 13 Searching the WORDS Database . . . . . . 15 Finding Words If You Know the Meaning . 18 Creating a Test . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Changing a WORDS Database . . . . . . . 27 Adding Words . . . . . . . . . . 28 Deleting Words . . . . . . . . . 33 Editing Definitions . . . . . . 37 Finding Out What's in the Database . . . 41 page i T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ( c o n t i n u e d ) ------------------------------------------------------------- Viewing the Wordlist . . . . . . 42 Printing the Database . . . . . 45 Making Your Own WORDS Databases . . . . 47 Database Creation . . . . . . . 47 Database Use . . . . . . . . . . 52 Packing the Definitions . . . . . . . . 54 Reminder HELP Screen . . . . . . . . . . 57 Changing the Colors WORDS Uses . . . . . 58 Using WORDS - Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 WORDS Filename Conventions . . . . . . . 63 Starting WORDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 The Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 The Function Keys . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Adding Words to the Database . . . . . . 67 Deleting Words from the Database . . . . 69 Editing Definitions . . . . . . . . . . 70 Searching the Database . . . . . . . . . 72 Searching for Words . . . . . . 72 Searching the Definitions . . . 73 Creating a Test . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Viewing the Wordlist . . . . . . . . . . 75 Printing the Database . . . . . . . . . 76 Packing the Definitions . . . . . . . . 77 page ii T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ( c o n t i n u e d ) ------------------------------------------------------------- Appendices and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Appendix A - A Short Note on BAD SOFTWARE . . . . . . . 78 Appendix B - Disclaimers and Notices . . 79 Appendix C - Order Form . . . . . . . . 80 page iii Welcome to BAD SOFTWARE ------------------------------------------------------------- This is BAD SOFTWARE --------------------------------------------------- If this is your first BAD SOFTWARE product, I'd like to say Welcome. BAD SOFTWARE, though a fictitious company, stands for some very real issues in the world of software. The first item of importance to me as a software developer is that software and its documentation be usable and functional. It must satisfy your needs as a user and must do it easily. Otherwise why would you bother with it? It's for you that the software is written. Secondly, I'm a firm believer that software should be fun to use. If we are forced to use computers to accomplish what must be done, why not make it more interesting? Even if you already like to use computers, as I do, tasks can at least be entertaining. Computing doesn't have to be dry and dull. It is with these two tasks in mind that we set off to see what WORDS can do for you. The World of Shareware --------------------------------------------------- WORDS is being distributed as shareware. This simply means you are free to try it out for a while and decide if you are pleased with it before you purchase. If you decide to keep and use it, you send in a registration fee to the author. This marketing method has its ups and downs, however. The shareware concept benefits the end user by making programs available for use before any money has left their pocket. They can "try before they buy." Shareware registration fees are also typically much lower than the inflated prices of commercial software. The author of the software can also easily and widely distribute their creations using the vast number of electronic bulletin boards around the country. Not only is it easy, it's free. page 1 Despite these apparent niceties, shareware is an endangered species. Less than five percent of all people using shareware regularly bother to send in the registration fees. Shareware authors are understandably discouraged at this low turnout, and often stop distributing using this method or turn commercial. Since this author has not the inclination to distribute his software commercially, he has opted for the shareware approach. Knowing the problems shareware has, WORDS is not only inexpensive, it also comes with two enticements to register: a free database and a free program. The Cost of WORDS --------------------------------------------------- The registration cost of WORDS is $15.00. If you register by sending this amount to me, I will do a service for you, in addition to having already provided you with WORDS and a 100 word database. Firstly, I will send you an official diskette with the latest version of WORDS on it and a brochure that details all of the other BAD SOFTWARE products. Secondly, I will send you a replacement database for WORDS, containing 400 new words for a total of 500 vocabulary words. The registration fee of $15.00 will probably not pauperize you, nor will it make me a software publishing magnate. It will, however, provide you with the above listed extras, and will serve to encourage me to continue my efforts. It will also help pay for the costs of being a compulsive shareware programmer: expenses such as distribution diskettes, mailing costs, other supplies, compiler upgrades, and support software. Please remember however, that the primary reason I do this is for fun. I do not expect to get rich writing shareware, just to support the habit. If you are enjoying anything from the BAD SOFTWARE Company (that means me; the company is ficticious), then I'll be happy. If you have any comments, good or bad, please drop me a letter at the address on the title page of this manual. page 2 What Is WORDS? ------------------------------------------------------------- WORDS is billed as a Vocabulary Enhancement Utility. What it is actually is a program that can keep track of any data that share a two-part relationship. As it is distributed, it can be used as a vocabulary builder for anyone who feels they need it; students, executives, technical writers, or anyone who wants to be more expressive. The program is flexible enough, however to perform similar tasks for a wide variety of users. What WORDS Can Do For You ------------------------------------------------------------- Capabilities Summary --------------------------------------------------- WORDS can maintain databases of information that share a two-part relationship, such as a word and its definition. Listed below are the features WORDS includes that makes this task easy and painless. - WORDS can display a random word from the database and then display its definition after a key is hit. In this way, you can quiz yourself constantly as you perform tasks at your computer, or just when you start it up. - WORDS will perform a very fast search of the database for any word you enter. Once found, it will display the word and its definition. - WORDS can search the entire database of definitions for any text you might want to locate. This would allow you, for example, to find all words whose definitions relate to TALK. - WORDS comes with a full complement of data- base maintenance capabilities, including the page 3 ability to add new words and definitions, remove the ones you don't want, or edit the definitions of existing words. - You can create your own databases of words and definitions to suit your particular needs. - WORDS will create a test for you to print out and take, or give to someone else. Show words and ask for definitions, or show definitions and ask for words. - You can see what's in your database at any time. Either look at the list of words on the screen, or print out the entire database of words and definitions. - In keeping form with making software fun to use, WORDS comes with a separate program that allows you to fully configure the colors WORDS will use if you have a color monitor. - WORDS comes with a supplementary program called QUIZ. QUIZ is an interactive multiple choice test that helps you learn very quickly. Improving Your Vocabulary --------------------------------------------------- Whatever your reason for wanting to improve your vocabulary, WORDS can do it for you. Add the words that you need to know and test yourself regularly. If you are a writer, WORDS can, through vocabulary building, make your writing much more expressive. If you read often, WORDS can improve your ability to understand more fully what it is you read. Since the database that accompanies WORDS tries to focus on words that are heard often but little understood, WORDS can help you understand the meanings of "nebulous" words, or those which you've heard before, but aren't sure what they mean. page 4 Specialized Uses --------------------------------------------------- Depending on your needs, WORDS can fill many interesting gaps in the software world. Take a look at the few selected below. ABOUT TO TAKE SAT's? - WORDS can help you prepare for the SAT verbal test. Create your own database of vocabulary words that SAT's are likely to use. There are many SAT guides at libraries or bookstores to serve as a reference. Also, many of the words in the free database you receive for registering WORDS have appeared on SAT's. Have WORDS quiz you. TECHNICAL WRITER - You may be writing a book that deals with a technical subject. You could use words to keep track of all your book's terms. TEACHER - As a teacher of most any discipline, you are sure to have vocabulary terms which your students must master. WORDS can not only maintain databases of your terms by unit, semester or subject, it will generate tests for you to give directly to your students. STUDENT - A student of any discipline may benefit from WORDS. If your subject has vocabulary or terminology, WORDS can track it and quiz you on it. DoD EMPLOYEE or CONTRACTOR - If you work for the Department of Defense (or the Government in general), you have hundreds if not thousands of acronyms to deal with (I can relate personally). WORDS can maintain a database of them all. Need to know one? Ask WORDS what it means. page 5 Files Included with WORDS ------------------------------------------------------------- The following is a list of files included with WORDS and a description of the purpose of each one. File name Purpose --------------------------------------------------- WORDS.EXE . . . . . . . . . . . The actual program WORDS.DAT . . . . . . . Color information for WORDS WORDS.WRD . . . The database file containing words WORDS.DEF The database file containing definitions WORDS.DOC . . . . . . . . . This documentation file WORDS.CLR . . . . . . Color version of intro screen WORDS.MON . . . . . . Mono version of intro screen COLORS.EXE . . . . . . . The color changer program QUIZ.EXE . . . . . . The interactive Quiz program QUIZ.DOC . . . . . Separate documentation for QUIZ If any of these files are missing, you can get a new evaluation copy of the program by sending me $5.00 to cover materials and postage. page 6 Installing WORDS ------------------------------------------------------------- Installing WORDS is as easy as copying a few files to another disk. This section will take you step by step through the procedure. Note that there are two different sections for floppy disk and hard disk users. A couple of general notes are appropriate. First, if you are using a shareware release of WORDS, one that you have not obtained directly from BAD SOFTWARE, and you just received a copy from BAD SOFTWARE, then make sure you replace all your existing files with the new ones. The releases you get direct from us are always the latest and greatest. Secondly, when installing WORDS, always keep your original disks in a safe place and work from copies. In this way, you will be protected in case natural disaster strikes your working copy. FLOPPY DISK INSTALLATION: Right off I'll tell you that since the tasks WORDS performs are disk activity intensive, its going to be slow on a floppy system. I strongly recommend using WORDS from a hard disk. WORDS also needs lots of working disk space. The larger your databases grow, the larger the amount of space it needs. WORDS will, however, operate normally from a floppy disk. Presented here are instructions for making a working WORDS disk for a floppy system. A summary of the steps involved are listed below. 1. Obtain a blank, formatted diskette. 2. Copy the appropriate files from the original diskette to the blank one. 3. Store your originals in a safe place. Step 1: Obtain a blank, formatted diskette ------------------------------------------ If you are working from a 360K disk system, one diskette will not hold all the WORDS files. It will, however, hold enough of them to make it work. To format a diskette, place the new blank into the second drive of your machine and from the DOS drive, enter the command FORMAT B: page 7 assuming your second drive is B:. When the format is done, you are ready to go. Step 2: Copy files ------------------ Place your original WORDS disk 1 into your first drive (in this example, drive A:) and your new formatted diskette in your second drive (in this example, drive B:), and enter the following command: COPY A:WORDS.* B: This will place all of the files necessary to operate WORDS on the new diskette. You may now start WORDS from drive B:. You also have enough room to copy the files for the QUIZ program, but placing this on the same disk will take up enough space to prevent you from packing your definitions. I suggest making a separate disk for QUIZ, and copying the files QUIZ.EXE, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.WRD to it. This will make a QUIZ disk that will operate by itself. Step 3: Store your originals ---------------------------- Once installation onto diskettes is finished, you should store your original disks (if you received them from BAD SOFTWARE) in a safe place away from your computer. In this way, your WORDS disks are isolated from any disaster that may strike in the vicinity of your computer. HARD DISK INSTALLATION: WORDS almost requires a hard disk to operate in a convenient and complete fashion. The steps for installing WORDS on a hard disk are summarized below. 1. Create a subdirectory on your hard disk. 2. Copy all files to the subdirectory. 3. Store your WORDS originals in a safe place. Step 1: Create a subdirectory ----------------------------- In order to keep your WORDS files more organized, it is best to place WORDS in its own subdirectory on your hard disk. Decide on a name for your subdirectory (I suggest WORDS) and create it with page 8 the following DOS command (assuming you are logged to your hard disk, say drive C:): MD WORDS This will make a directory called C:\WORDS on your hard disk. Step 2: Copy files ------------------ Change to the subdirectory you just created (in our example, C:\WORDS) with the following command: CD\WORDS Once this is done, place your WORDS disk 1 into your floppy drive (in our example, drive A:) and issue the following command: COPY A:*.* This will cause DOS to copy all the files on drive A: to the current drive and subdirectory (C:\WORDS in our case). When DOS finishes, replace the WORDS disk 1 with the WORDS disk 2 and perform the same command. Step 3: Store your originals ---------------------------- Once installation onto diskettes is finished, you should store your original disks (if you received them from BAD SOFTWARE) in a safe place away from your computer. In this way, your WORDS disks are isolated from any disaster that may strike in the vicinity of your computer. page 9 Using WORDS - A Task-Oriented Approach ------------------------------------------------------------- Since most users know what they want to do, but not how to do it, it makes sense to provide in software documentation a reference of things a user might do, and tell the user how to do them. While this makes frightening sense, you'd be amazed how few software manuals work this way. We're taking the approach that you know what you want to do. We're going to tell you how to go about it. You will see some information repeat itself several times in this documentation. This makes a manual far more usable, since you don't have to flip around in the documentation so much. It's very much like writing a program with no GOTO statements (Gotos are a no-no in the programming world. If you use them, you are ostracized by your peers). If you are an advanced computer user, or are familiar enough with WORDS that you don't need this task-oriented section, refer to the more concise reference section toward the back of the manual. The manual is designed so that it can be read or used as a reference. Each new topic starts on a new page, and the Table of Contents is a good tool to help you find where you need to be. page 10 Random Words ------------------------------------------------------------- If you want to learn your vocabulary casually, at a pace that is calm, the WORDS Random Words feature may be your way to go. When this feature is used, WORDS clears your screen (to prevent clutter that would distract you from concentrating), and displays a word from the database at the top. Once you think you know the definition, or have given up, you can hit any key and WORDS will show you the definition. This can best be utilized in one of two ways: 1) In your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, so that you get a word every time you start your computer, 2) In other batch files that start your programs, so that you get a new word every time you run a particular program. Of course, you can always do them one at a time as well. To get a single random word, issue the following command at the DOS prompt: WORDS/R This will cause WORDS to perform as described above. To see the definition once the word is displayed, hit any key. In Your AUTOEXEC.BAT -------------------- If you would like to place this command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, so that WORDS displays a random word for you every time you boot (start) your computer, you must place the above command as the last line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Perform the following steps to do so: 1) Using a word processor that saves text in a purely ASCII format (no formatting codes), edit the file AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you don't have the file AUTOEXEC.BAT yet, then create it by editing it as a new file. page 11 2) Add a new line to the end of the file that looks exactly like this: WORDS/R 3) Save the file as ASCII text (no formatting codes). The next time you start your computer, it will automatically run the batch file AUTOEXEC.BAT, and WORDS will show you a random word and definition as described above. Before Starting Any Program --------------------------- You can do this as well with any program so that WORDS displays a random word for you each time you run the program. To illustrate an example, we will assume you have a program you run all the time called EDITOR, a shareware word processor. To run EDITOR, you normally follow these steps: 1) Change to the \ED subdirectory. 2) Enter EDITOR to start the program. 3) When you are finished, change back to the root directory. What we will do is create a batch file that will cause WORDS to pop up a random word and definition, and then run EDITOR immediately afterwards. The effect will be that you get a vocabulary word each time you use your editor. Perform the following step to generate a batch file called ED.BAT that will pop up a random word and definition, and then run EDITOR: 1) Using a word processor that saves text in a purely ASCII format (no formatting codes), edit the file ED.BAT. It will be a new file. 2) Type in the following text: WORDS/R CD\ED EDITOR CD\ page 12 3) Save the file ED.BAT. We have now created the batch file. Every time you type ED to start your editor, WORDS will give you a random word and definition before it runs. You can, of course, perform the same process for any program. Simply substitute the program's proper subdirectory name and start-up command (lines 2 and 3 in our sample batch file) for the one's in our example. Continuous Random Words ----------------------- You can make WORDS show these random words to you in a continuous fashion. This provides an excellent way to quiz yourself. To make WORDS display random words and definitions continuously on the screen, pausing between each word, follow these steps: 1) Make sure that the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.DAT, WORDS.WRD and WORDS.DEF are all in the same place, i.e., on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. 2) Start WORDS with the following command: WORDS/RC The RC stands for Random Continuous. If you need to start WORDS in Random Continuous mode with your own database, follow the /RC with a colon (:) and the name of your database. For example, if your database was called GEOLOGY, you would issue the following command: WORDS/RC:GEOLOGY 3) Once the program begins, you will be shown a random word from the database. When you have finished pondering its definition, you can hit any key to see the actual definition. 4) Once the definition has been displayed, you may quit the program by hitting the ESC key, or have WORDS show you another random word, repeating the cycle, by hitting the SPACEBAR. page 13 Using this feature will provide a good review of all the words in the database. page 14 Searching the Database ------------------------------------------------------------- WORDS has the capability to search any WORDS database very quickly. Simply type in the word you want to look for and before you can hit the ENTER key, it's found. The following steps summarize the procedure for searching the database: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Search Database function from the menu 3) Type in the word to find and hit ENTER 4) Read the definition if found 5) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Complex, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Search Database Function ------------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: page 15 Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Search Database function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Search Database function in this manner, hit the S key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 3: Type In the Word to Find -------------------------------- As soon as you select the Search Database function from the menu, the Search Database Facility screen will be displayed. On it you will see an entry field for you to type in the word to find, with the cursor waiting patiently for you to begin. At this point, simply type in the word you wish to find. You can type a portion of the word you wish to find, and as long as it uniquely defines the word, WORDS will locate it properly. While you are typing, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the word much easier. The following table describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them: page 16 Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Once you have entered the word to search for, hit the ENTER key to begin the search. Step 4: Read the Definition if Found ------------------------------------ Once the ENTER key has been hit, WORDS will begin a very fast search of the database. If it does not find the word you are looking for, it will display a small message stating "Not in database!" After a short delay, you will be able to enter another word to search for. If you do not want to wait through this delay, you can hit any key to interrupt it and move on. If WORDS does find the word, it will clear the screen and display the word. As soon as you hit a key, it will display the definition. One more key will get you back to the Search Database screen, where you may enter another word for which to search. Step 5: Quit WORDS ------------------ Quitting WORDS is a one- or two-step process, depending on where you are. The first step is to return from where you are in WORDS to the menu. At any of the WORDS function screens, you can return top the menu by hitting either F10 or ESC. Step two, once you are at the menu, is to highlight the Quit option, located at the bottom of the menu. You can do this by moving the highlight using the arrow keys and hitting ENTER, or by hitting the letter Q. Either method will immediately return you to DOS. page 17 Finding Words If You Know the General Meaning ------------------------------------------------------------- Occasions may arise when you know the general meaning of a word, but not the word itself. It goes something like this: "...shoot, I know the words means something like sad, or sorrowful, but I can't quite put my finger on it..." With the Definition Search feature, WORDS can help you out here. WORDS will search for the occurrence of any text you specify in the definitions of all the words in the database. The search is not case sensitive. That is, it will find all instances of sad in a definition, whether they look like SAD, sad, or Sad. The search will also find occurrences of the text even if it is part of another word. The down side of this is that it will also find words whose definitions contain words like saddle, or ambassador, since sad is part of those words. The up side is that it will also find sadness, saddest, and sadly. Once you enter the text you want to find, WORDS will go off and search the definitions for it. If it finds your text, the search will stop and WORDS will display the words and its definition for you. After looking at the word, you will be able to terminate the search, or continue looking where you left off. With all this in mind, lets see exactly how to do it. The following steps summarize the procedure for searching the definitions for text: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Definition Search function from the WORDS menu 3) Enter the text for which you want words found 4) Watch WORDS hunt through the database. If it finds your text, examine the word and its definition when WORDS dislpays it. page 18 5) Continue searching the database for the text until you are finished. 6) Repeat steps 3 through 5 until you are finished searching the definitions for text. 7) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Tough, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Definition Search Function --------------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Search Database function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. page 19 If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Definition Search function in this manner, hit the F key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 3: Enter text to find -------------------------- The next item on your searching agenda is to enter the text to search for in the definitions. There is a space in which you will enter the text, and is limited to about 53 characters. Type in your text and hit ENTER. The following editing keys are available while entering the text: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Again, when you have finished entering your text, hit the ENTER key. This will tell WORDS to accept your text and begin the search. Step 4: Watch WORDS hunt ------------------------ In the bottom half of the Definition Search window, you will see that WORDS displays for you which definition by number it is searching. If WORDS encounters your text in a definition, it will clear the screen and display the word and its definition. You may ponder it as long as you like. Once you are finished looking, hit any key and you will return to the Definition Search screen. page 20 Step 5: Continue searching -------------------------- Notice that there is a flashing message in the bottom half of the window. WORDS wants to know if you would like to continue searching the database for the same text. If you do, then hit Y for yes. WORDS will then continue searching where it left off, and the whole process for this step will repeat. If you do not want to continue searching for the same text, hit N for no (or any key other than Y). WORDS will then return to the text entry space, where you can type in more text for which to search. Step 6: Search for something else --------------------------------- If you wish to search for some other text, you may do so now. Simply repeat steps 3 through 5. Step 7: Quit WORDS ------------------ If you choose not to search for any more text, you may return to the WORDS menu, and from there Quit the program and return to DOS. Quitting WORDS is a one- or two-step process, depending on where you are. The first step is to return from where you are in WORDS to the menu. At any of the WORDS function screens, you can return to the menu by hitting either F10 or ESC. Step two, once you are at the menu, is to highlight the Quit option, located at the bottom of the menu. You can do this by moving the highlight using the arrow keys and hitting ENTER, or by hitting the letter Q. Either method will immediately return you to DOS. page 21 Creating a Test ------------------------------------------------------------- WORDS can quickly create a text file that contains a test for you or someone else to take. It will randomly select a number of words you define from the database, and generate both a test and an answer sheet for the test. The following steps summarize the procedure for creating a test: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Create Test function from the menu 3) Select the type of test to generate 4) Enter the number of questions to create 5) Enter the name of the file to save the test in 6) Watch WORDS create your test 7) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Difficult, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Create Test Function --------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. The page 22 following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Create Test function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Create Test function in this manner, hit the T key, and the function will execute immediately. You will see the Create Test Facility screen on your display. Step 3: Select the Type of Test ------------------------------- Once you see the Create Test Facility screen, the fun begins. After reading the introductory information on the screen, you must select what type of test WORDS will generate. The two types are as follows: 1) Words test: Generate a test that lists words and asks you to fill in the definitions, 2) Definitions test: Generate a test that lists definitions and asks you to fill in the words. Notice that on the screen, the first letter of the test type is highlighted; the W for Words test, and the D for Definitions test. Hit the W if you want to generate a Words test, or the D to generate a Definitions test. page 23 Step 4: Enter the Number of Questions ------------------------------------- Once you have successfully selected a test type, you must tell WORDS how many questions to create. On the screen you will now see a short entry field with the cursor waiting for you. Here you type in the number of questions you want in your test. The prompt on the screen will tell you the maximum number of questions allowed. The limit is either the maximum number of words in your database, or 999, whichever is lower. Type in the number of questions to create. Use the Backspace or DEL key to fix typing errors. Once you have entered the number of questions you want, hit the ENTER key to finish it up. Step 5: Enter the Name of the Test File --------------------------------------- Once WORDS knows how many questions to make, you need only tell it one more piece of information: the name of the file in which to store the test. You will see on the screen another entry field. This is where you enter the filename for the test. You are allowed eight characters. The filename must be a valid DOS filename. If you stick pretty much to normal letters, you'll be alright. Notice that at the end of the field is the text .TST This is the extension your file will have after it is generated. WORDS automatically fills it in and will not let you type over it. This is so that you can always look at a file on your disk and know it is a test file generated by WORDS. For example, if you chose to name your test file BIGWORDS, the DOS filename after it is created will be BIGWORDS.TST. WORDS also generates an answers file. This file will have the same name as your test file (in our example, BIGWORDS), but will always have the extension .ANS (our example would result in an answer file called BIGWORDS.ANS). page 24 While you are typing, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the filename much easier. The following table describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Once you have entered the filename, hit the ENTER key to begin the test generation. Step 6: Watch WORDS Create Your Test ------------------------------------ Now that WORDS has all the information it needs to create your test, it goes about the task quickly. As the program generates your test, a small window at the bottom of the screen will inform you as to the progress of the test generation. It first selects the words/definitions from the database that it will put in your test. Selection is random and there will be no duplication of questions. Naturally, the more questions you asked for, the longer it takes to select questions. On an 8 MHz PC/XT Clone computer, WORDS took about 3 seconds to select 500 questions. After it knows all the questions, it writes your test and answer files to disk. The speed at which WORDS writes these files is dependent on both the number of questions selected and the speed of your disk drive. Step 7: Quit WORDS ------------------ When WORDS finishes your test and answer files, it will automatically return you to the menu. page 25 From the menu, you must select the Quit WORDS function to leave. You can either move the selection bar to this menu entry and hit ENTER, or hit the letter Q. Both operations will cause WORDS to return you to DOS. page 26 Changing a WORDS Database ------------------------------------------------------------- WORDS databases, whether provided by BAD SOFTWARE or created by yourself, are likely to need changing to suit your particular needs. This may involve adding new words to your database, deleting old ones, or editing definitions. All these capabilities are provided by WORDS, and are described in detail below. I would like to mention, however, that if you do make changes to any of your databases, do so on copies only. Make frequent backups of your WORDS databases. This will prevent accidental corruption of your databases, and save many hours of retyping if damage is done. page 27 Adding Words ------------------------------------------------------------- Growth is a natural occurrence in any database, but especially in WORDS databases. You may come across three or four new words every day that would merit addition to your vocabulary database. To this end, WORDS has a very usable Word Addition Facility. The following steps summarize the procedure for adding words and definitions to the WORDS database: 1) Know your word and definition 2) Start WORDS 3) Select the Add Words function from the menu 4) Enter the word to add to the database 5) Type in the word's definition 6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all words and definitions desired are entered 7) Watch WORDS sort the database 8) Quit WORDS Step 1: Know Your Word and Definition ------------------------------------- Before you can type in a word and definition, you must obviously know the word and what it means. Grab your dictionary and look up the word(s) you want to enter and their definition(s). Step 2: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Complicated, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. page 28 Step 3: Select the Add Words Function ------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Add Words function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Add Words function in this manner, hit the A key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 4: Enter the Word to Add to the Database --------------------------------------------- You should now have the Add Word Facility screen in front of you on your display. Notice that there is a single-line entry field in the middle. This is where you enter the word you want to add. It is limited in length to 20 characters. The cursor will be sitting at the beginning of the field. Simply type in the word you want to add to the database. While you are typing, there are page 29 editing keys active that will make entry of the word much easier. The following table describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Once you have entered the word, hit the ENTER key to have WORDS accept it. WORDS will then check the database to see if the word already exists. If it does, WORDS will show you a small message at the bottom of the screen. You can hit any key to clear the message. If the word does not yet exist in the database, then you will be able to type in its definition. Step 5: Type in the Word's Definition ------------------------------------- After WORDS accepts your new word, you must enter it's definition. The screen will provide you with a three-line editing window in which to type. Inside the editing window, type in your word's definition. The editing window will perform such tasks as automatic word wrap, insert/overtype, and supports most features one would expect from an editor. While you are entering the definition, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the definition much easier. On the next page is a table which describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them. page 30 Editing function... ...key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor down 1 line . . . . . . . . Down Arrow Move cursor up 1 line . . . . . . . . . . Up Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Delete line at cursor . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-Y Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Step 6: Repeat 4 and 5 Until Finished ------------------------------------- After you finish entry of your definition, you will be returned to the word entry field, to begin entering another word and definition. You may repeat steps 4 and 5 until all the words and definitions you want to enter into the database are entered. Step 7: Watch WORDS Sort the Database ------------------------------------- If you are finished entering words and definitions, and are ready to quit, then WORDS must sort the database to put the words you just entered in to proper alphabetical order. WORDS will do this automatically when you leave the Add Words Facility. To leave the Add Words facility, and cause WORDS to sort the database, you can either 1) Hit the ENTER key by itself, without any text in the word entry field, or 2) Hit the F10 key to return to the menu, 3) Hit another function key to take you elsewhere in WORDS. page 31 The idea is that, if you leave the Add Words Facility, and have added one or more words to the database, WORDS will automatically sort the database before leaving. The database sort is the most time-consuming of all WORDS tasks. When the sort begins, a small status window will appear at the bottom of the screen, and inform you of the status of the sort. For a database of 100 words, on an 8 MHz XT Clone, using a Seagate 225 21-megabyte hard disk (access time 65 ms), the sort takes about 35 seconds. Using the same equipment, a sort on a 2500 word database took about 9 and a half minutes. For this reason, I recommend you limit your databases to about 1000 words. WORDS can easily handle as many as 32,000 words in a single database, but sort times would be prohibitively slow. When the sort is finished, you will exit from the Add Words Facility and be taken to either DOS, the menu, or some other place in WORDS, depending on the key you hit to exit the Add Words Facility. Step 8: Quit WORDS ------------------ As mentioned above, you can return to the menu using the F10 key or the ESC key and select the Quit WORDS function. page 32 Deleting Words ------------------------------------------------------------- The capability to delete words and respective definitions from the WORDS database is indeed useful. If errors in the word itself are detected after entry, or you decide later to simply remove words and definitions, then you will find this function invaluable. The following steps summarize the procedure for deleting words from the WORDS database: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Delete Words function from the menu 3) Type in the word to delete from the WORDS database 4) Watch WORDS delete the word 5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 for all words you want deleted 6) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Tough, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Delete Words Function ------------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and page 33 down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Delete Words function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Delete Words function in this manner, hit the D key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 3: Type in the Word to Delete ---------------------------------- When the Delete Words Facility appears on your display, you will see a blank entry field in the middle of the window. This is where you type in the word to delete. While you are typing the word you wish to delete, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the word much easier. The following table describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them: page 34 Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Once you have entered the word, hit the ENTER key to have WORDS accept it. WORDS will then check the database to see if the word already exists. If it does, WORDS will delete the word and definition from the database. If the word does not yet exist in the database, WORDS will inform you that it does not exist. If it does not exist, it cannot be deleted. Step 4: Watch WORDS Delete the Word ----------------------------------- Once WORDS accepts the word to delete as valid, it will proceed to delete it. This involves several internal steps (all done automatically, of course): 1) The word's location must be found. Very fast operation. 2) The word is deleted (set to blank). 3) The rest of the words in the database are moved up to fill in the blank space. 4) The word database is rewritten to disk. WORDS will show you the status of the delete operation in a small status box at the bottom of the screen. page 35 -- NOTE ------------------------------------------- When a word is deleted from the database, its definition is not actually deleted from the database. The definition is MARKED for deletion at a later time. This is done to save time while deleting words. To clear out the definitions that have been marked for deletion, use the Pack Definitions function of WORDS, described in the reference section of this manual. --------------------------------------------------- Step 5: Repeat 3 and 4 for All Words to be Deleted -------------------------------------------------- When WORDS has completed the delete operation for your word, it will return to the entry field. Here you may enter another word for deletion if you so desire. Step 6: Quit WORDS ------------------ If you are finished deleting words and their definitions, you may quit WORDS by hitting the F10 key, which returns you to the menu. Once at the menu, you can select the Quit WORDS function using the selection bar or hitting the Q key. page 36 Editing Definitions ------------------------------------------------------------- If at any time you find errors in your definitions, or simply find a better definition for a given word than the one you originally entered, you can use the Edit Definitions Facility of WORDS to change it. This function operates very much like the Add Words Facility, except there is no sorting involved in the Edit function. The following steps summarize the procedure for editing definitions: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Edit Definitions function from the menu 3) Enter the word whose definition you wish to edit 4) Edit the definition when it is displayed 5) Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all definitions you need to edit are completed 6) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Rough, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Edit Definitions Function -------------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and page 37 down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Edit Definitions function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Edit Definitions function in this manner, hit the E key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 3: Enter the Word Whose Definition You Will Edit ------------------------------------------------ When the Edit Definitions Facility appears on your display, you will see a blank entry field in the middle of the window. This is where you type in the word whose definition you wish to edit. While you are typing the word whose definition you want to edit, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the word much easier. On the next page is a table that describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them. page 38 Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Once you have entered the word, hit the ENTER key to have WORDS accept it. WORDS will then check the database to see if the word already exists. If it does, WORDS will display its definition for you to edit. If the word does not yet exist in the database, WORDS will inform you that it does not exist. If it does not exist, its definition cannot be edited. Step 4: Edit the Definition --------------------------- The definition, if found, will be displayed in a three-line editing window. Once WORDS displays the definition, you may edit it until it suits your needs. The editing window will perform such tasks as automatic word wrap, insert/overtype, and supports most features one would expect from an editor. While you are editing the definition, there are keys active that will make editing of the definition much easier. The following table describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor down 1 line . . . . . . . . Down Arrow Move cursor up 1 line . . . . . . . . . . Up Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End page 39 Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Delete line at cursor . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-Y Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Step 5: Repeat 3 and 4 Until All Edits Complete ----------------------------------------------- Once you have finished editing the definition and saved it by hitting the ESC key, WORDS will place you back at the word entry field. Here you may enter another word whose definition you wish to edit. If you are finished, then you may quit. Step 6: Quit WORDS ------------------ If you are finished editing definitions, you may quit WORDS by hitting the F10 key or the ESC key, which returns you to the menu. Once at the menu, you can select the Quit WORDS function using the selection bar or hitting the Q key. page 40 Finding Out What's In The Database ------------------------------------------------------------- In WORDS, there are two ways to find out what your database contains. You can view the wordlist or print out your entire database. Viewing the wordlist will place on the screen a scrolling, column-organized list of all the words in the database (but not the definitions). It can be an excellent reference while you are working in WORDS. For a more permanent reference, WORDS will print out a list of all words AND their definitions to any printer connected to LPT1 on your computer. page 41 Viewing the Wordlist ------------------------------------------------------------- At any time while you are working in WORDS, a list of all words in the database can be very handy. This function will display the words from the database on the screen, and allow you to page through them. There is also a highlight bar that allows you to select any word on the current screen and view its definition. The following steps summarize the procedure for viewing the wordlist: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select Show Wordlist from the menu 3) View the Wordlist 4) View any definitions 5) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Rough, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Show Wordlist Function ----------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. On the next page is a table that summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: page 42 Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Show Wordlist function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Show Wordlist function in this manner, hit the W key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 3: View the Wordlist ------------------------- Once WORDS has displayed the Wordlist on your screen, you can page through it however you wish. Note that at the top of the screen there is a status bar that shows you: 1) The number of words through the list 2) The total number of words in the database 3) The movement keys While you are in the Show Wordlist Facility, you can move around in the following ways, by using the following keys: To move like this... ...Use these keys --------------------------------------------------- Up one screen of words . . . . . . . . . . . . PgUp Down one screen of words . . . . . . . . . . . PgDn Top of the list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home Bottom of the list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End page 43 When you hit a key to move the list, you will see a small status window appear briefly in the center of the screen, which says "Reading." This indicates that WORDS is pulling more words from the database to display for you. It should never take more than 1 second or so to read a screen's worth of words. By operating in this fashion, WORDS can display words from a database of up to 32,000 words, and not be limited by computer memory problems. Step 4: View Any Definitions ---------------------------- Notice that while you are viewing the word list, one of the words is highlighted. You can hit the ENTER key to view the definition of the highlighted word. You can, of course move this highlight around to select any word on the current screen who's definition you might might want to see. Move the highlight around the screen using the following keys: To move the highlight like this.. ..Use these keys --------------------------------------------------- Highlight up one row . . . . . . . . . . . Up Arrow Highlight down on row . . . . . . . . . Down Arrow Highlight left one word . . . . . . . . Left Arrow Highlight right one word . . . . . . . Right Arrow View definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Note that the highlight wraps on the current screen full of words, from top to bottom to top, from left to right to left (moving up or down a row as it wraps), and from corner to corner. Moving the highlight will not move to a new screen full of words -- use the PgUp and PgDn keys for that. Once you hit ENTER, WORDS will display the definition of the word that is currently highlighted. Once you have finished reading the definition, hit any key to return to the word list. Step 5: Quit WORDS ------------------ Once you have finished paging through the wordlist, you may quit by hitting the F10 key or the ESC key, which returns you to the menu. Once at the menu, you can select the Quit WORDS function using the selection bar or hitting the Q key. page 44 Printing The Database ------------------------------------------------------------- WORDS provides you with the capability to print out the entire database, words and definitions, to any text printer connected to the LPT1 port on your computer. The following steps summarize the procedure for printing out your database: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Print Database function from the menu 3) Watch WORDS print your database 4) Quit WORDS Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Tedious, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Print Database Function ------------------------------------------ To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: page 45 Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Print Database function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Print Database function in this manner, hit the P key, and the function will execute immediately. Step 3: Watch WORDS Print Your Database --------------------------------------- Once you see the Print Database screen, you have two options. The first is to abort the print job, in case you got in here by accident. To do this, hit the ESC key. Your second option is to go ahead with the print job. To begin printing, hit the SPACEBAR. At any time during the print job, you may hit the ESC key to abort the printing of the database. Step 4: Quit WORDS ------------------ After the database finishes printing, you will automatically be returned to the menu. Once at the menu, you can select the Quit WORDS function using the selection bar or hitting the Q key. Either method will return you to DOS. page 46 Making Your Own WORDS Databases ------------------------------------------------------------- Whether you have your own application you need a database for, or the one that came with WORDS is getting too big, you'll probably need to create your own database at some point. Your database may contain any data that share a two part relationship, like a word and its definition, an acronym and what it stands for, or whatever you might come up with. Creating a database is as easy as adding words with the WORDS Add Words Facility. The following steps summarize the procedure for creating your own database: 1) Determine the name of your new database 2) Start WORDS with your database name 3) Add words to your new database 4) Enter the Definition of Your New Word 5) Repeat 3 and 4 Until Finished 6) Watch WORDS Sort the New Database 7) Quit WORDS Step 1: Determine the Name of Your Database ------------------------------------------- When choosing a name for your database, it's a good idea to select a name that is representative of the data stored in it. For instance, if you were creating a database for your first semester chemistry class, you might call your database CHEM1. If your database was intended to store acronyms and their meanings, you might call the database ACRONYMS. When you make a new database, WORDS creates two files with the name of your database. The first has a .WRD extension, and contains the actual words you enter. The second file has an extension of .DEF and contains the definition portion. page 47 Step 2: Start WORDS ------------------- Armed with your new database name, start WORDS up with the following command: WORDS/D:filename You would replace the filename above with the actual name of the database you were creating. For example, if you want to create a database called BIOTERMS, the command to start WORDS would be WORDS/D:BIOTERMS Once you issue this command, WORDS will attempt to find the database on disk. Since the database is new, it will not find it, and will display a message. This message will inform you that WORDS could not find the database. Since you intend to create a new database, hit the SPACEBAR to proceed. Once WORDS knows you are creating a new database, it automatically places you into the Add Words Facility. Here you begin entering the words and their definitions. Step 3: Add Word to Your New Database ------------------------------------- You should now have the Add Word Facility screen in front of you on your display. Notice that there is a single-line entry field in the middle. This is where you enter the word you want to add. It is limited in length to 20 characters. The cursor will be sitting at the beginning of the field. Simply type in the word you want to add to the database. While you are typing, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the word much easier. The following table describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them: page 48 Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Once you have entered the word, hit the ENTER key to have WORDS accept it. WORDS will then check the database to see if the word already exists. If it does, WORDS will show you a small message at the bottom of the screen. If the word does not yet exist in the database, then you will be able to type in its definition. Step 4: Enter the Definition of Your New Word --------------------------------------------- After WORDS accepts your new word, you must enter it's definition. The screen will provide you with a three-line editing window in which to type. Inside the editing window, type in your word's definition. The editing window will perform such tasks as automatic word wrap, insert/overtype, and supports most features one would expect from an editor. While you are entering the definition, there are editing keys active that will make entry of the definition much easier. On the next page is a table that describes a list of editing tasks you might want to perform, and which keys to use to perform them. page 49 Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor down 1 line . . . . . . . . Down Arrow Move cursor up 1 line . . . . . . . . . . Up Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Delete line at cursor . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-Y Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER Step 5: Repeat 3 and 4 Until Finished ------------------------------------- After you finish entry of your definition, you will be returned to the word entry field, to begin entering another word and definition. You may repeat steps 3 and 4 until all the words and definitions you want to enter into the database are entered. Step 6: Watch WORDS Sort the Database ------------------------------------- If you are finished entering words and definitions, and are ready to quit, then WORDS must sort the database to put the words you just entered into proper alphabetical order. WORDS will do this automatically when you leave the Add Words Facility. To leave the Add Words facility, and cause WORDS to sort the database, you can either 1) Hit the ENTER key by itself, without any text in the word entry field, or 2) Hit the F10 key to return to the menu, or 3) Hit another function key to take you elsewhere in WORDS. page 50 The idea is that, if you leave the Add Words Facility, and have added one or more words to the database, WORDS will automatically sort the database before leaving. The database sort is the most time-consuming of all WORDS tasks. When the sort begins, a small status window will appear at the bottom of the screen, and inform you of the status of the sort. For a database of 100 words, on an 8 MHz XT Clone, using a Seagate 225 21-megabyte hard disk (access time 65 ms), the sort takes about 35 seconds. Using the same equipment, a sort on a 2500 word database took about 9 and a half minutes. For this reason, I recommend you limit your databases to about 1000 words. WORDS can easily handle as many as 32,000 words in a single database, but sort times would be prohibitively slow. When the sort is finished, you will exit from the Add Words Facility and be taken to either DOS, the menu, or some other place in WORDS, depending on the key you hit to exit the Add Words Facility. Step 7: Quit WORDS ------------------ As mentioned above, you can return to the menu using the F10 key or the ESC key, and select the Quit WORDS function. page 51 Database Use ------------------------------------------------------------- Assuming you have just created a new database and wish to use it with WORDS, how do you do it? This section will endeavor to explain. When WORDS is invoked in its simplest fashion, using the command WORDS it assumes there will be a database out there called WORDS. It will give you an error message if it can't find it. What we need to do is tell WORDS to use a database other than this default of WORDS. To do this, we start words with a parameter after the WORDS command that tells it what database to use. There three ways to do this, depending on the function you want WORDS to perform with the database. Method 1: Starting the WORDS Program ------------------------------------ To start WORDS with a different database so that the menu comes up, and we have access to all of WORDS' utility functions, use the following command: WORDS/D:filename You would replace the filename with the actual name of your alternate database. This will cause WORDS to come up as if you had simply typed WORDS to start it, but it will use the new database specified after the /D:. You may then perform any of the normal WORDS operations on your alternate database. Method 2: Random Words with an Alternate Database ------------------------------------------------- WORDS has the useful capability to select a random word from our database and display it on the screen so that you may quiz yourself on a regular basis. To start WORDS with an alternate database, so that it displays a random word from it, use the following command: page 52 WORDS/R:filename You would replace the filename with the actual name of the database you wanted WORDS to select words from. This will cause WORDS to operate the same as if you had started it with the command WORDS/R but will select words only from the alternate database specified after the /R:. Method 3: Continuous Random Words with an Alternate Database --------------------------------------------------- You can use WORDS to continuously show random words. It works very much the same way that the random word function listed above does, excpet that instead of returning to DOS after one word, it continues to show more random words. To start WORDS in this mode using and alternate database, user the /RC: parameter, like this: WORDS/RC:filename You would replace filename with the actual name of your alternate database. Words will operate exactly as if you had issued the WORDS/RC command, except it will be using your alternate database. To see the next random word, hit the SPACEBAR. To quit WORDS and return to DOS, hit ESC. page 53 Packing the Definitions ------------------------------------------------------------- What the heck is "Packing the Definitions?" And why would I want to do it anyway? Both valid questions. I shall endeavor to explain. When you use the WORDS Delete Words Facility, you would assume that both the word and definition are deleted. Not so. At the time of word deletion, WORDS only physically deletes the word, not the definition. The reason is to save time. If the definition is also deleted, not only do the definitions also have to be physically deleted, but all the word pointers have to be updated as well. If that doesn't make sense, it isn't really important. What is important is to understand that if the definitions were deleted at the same time, you might be there much longer waiting on WORDS. You don't have to rush and pack the definitions every time you delete a word, however. WORDS will work just fine with a bunch of unused definitions floating around in the database. But if it works fine without removing the definition, you might ask, why should you bother to ever remove them? The answer would be to improve database performance and save disk space. The fewer definitions WORDS has to deal with, the faster it will be in general. Since each definition uses up 160 bytes of disk space, 100 unused definitions are wasting 16,000 bytes of space! That's why we pack the definitions. When you pack the definitions database, all unused definitions are removed. The following steps summarize the Packing procedure: 1) Start WORDS 2) Select the Pack Definitions function from the menu 3) Begin the pack operation 4) Watch WORDS pack the definitions database 5) Quit WORDS page 54 Step 1: Start WORDS ------------------- To start WORDS, make sure the files WORDS.EXE, WORDS.WRD, WORDS.DEF, and WORDS.DAT are all in the same place, i.e, all on the same disk drive and in the same subdirectory. Once this is accomplished, type in the following command to start WORDS: WORDS Rough, huh? Words will load and greet you with a friendly, easy to use menu. Step 2: Select the Pack Definitions Function -------------------------------------------- To select an item from the WORDS menu, you have two options available to you. The first is to use the selection bar. You'll notice that the first entry on the menu is highlighted. You can move this highlight up and down to select the function of your choice. The following table summarizes the movements of this selection bar and how to perform them. To perform the movement listed on the left, use the keys listed on the right: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn Using these keys, you can move the selection bar so that the Pack Definitions function is highlighted. Once your choice is selected, hit the ENTER key to execute the function. The second selection method is to type the highlighted letter associated with the menu entry. If you look at the menu entries, you will see that each function has a single letter highlighted within it. To get "direct access" to that menu function, simply hit the letter that is highlighted. To select the Pack Definitions function in this manner, hit the K key, and the function will execute immediately. page 55 Step 3: Begin the Pack Operation -------------------------------- Once the Pack Facility screen comes up, you will have two choices available to you. The first is to abort the pack operation, in case you got in by accident. To abort the pack operation, hit the ESC key and you will be returned to the menu. The second option is to begin the pack operation. To do this, hit the SPACEBAR, and things will start happening. Step 4: Watch WORDS Pack the Definitions Database ------------------------------------------------- As the definitions are being packed, WORDS will keep you informed as to how many definitions are being retained, and how many are being removed. When a definition is removed, you will see at the bottom of the window a message stating that the WORDS.WRD (or current database name) is being updated. What's going on is the program is changing all the pointers of the words, so they now point to the right definitions. Doesn't take long, though, so you might miss it. Step 5: Quit WORDS ------------------ Once WORDS has finished packing your definitions, it will return you to the menu. From there you may use the selection bar to highlight the Quit WORDS function and hit ENTER, or you can hit the Q key. Either operation will take you out of WORDS. page 56 Reminder Help Screen ------------------------------------------------------------- If you would like to start WORDS, but can't quite remember the command you need to use, you can cause WORDS to display a screen of helpful reminders on just how to do it. When you are at the DOS prompt, simply type the following command: WORDS/? WORDS will display a brief screen of helpful information and return to DOS. You may then read the screen, discover how to start WORDS to suit your needs, and then proceed. page 57 Changing the Colors WORDS Uses ------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This section applies only to users who have color displays. When WORDS was designed, care was taken to choose colors that would be easy to look at. Good comments have come in regarding the chosen colors. However, I realize that half the fun of using a program can be customizing the colors to suit your preferences. Not all people are alike. To this end, WORDS has been packaged with a separate utility that will allow you to change the colors WORDS uses in its display screens. The program is called COLORS. The following steps summarize the procedure of changing the colors WORDS uses: 1) Start the COLORS program 2) Change the colors to your preference 3) Save colors and quit the program Step 1: Start the COLORS Program -------------------------------- To start the COLORS program, the files COLORS.EXE and WORDS.DAT must be located in the same place, i.e., the same disk drive and subdirectory. To start up the program, issue the following command: COLORS One of three things may happen at this point. If you are running COLORS and you have only a monochrome system, COLORS will abort and tell you that you need a color system to run the program. The second, and preferred result, will be the COLORS program displaying to you its operating screen. But if COLORS cannot find the file WORDS.DAT, it will display a message and ask for a response. The message will tell you that it could not find the WORDS color information file (WORDS.DAT). You have the option of page 58 1) Creating a new WORDS.DAT file (hit the SPACEBAR to do this) 2) Quit the COLORS program (hit the ESC key) Option 1, Create a new WORDS.DAT color information file, will cause a new file to be created with the default colors, and then the COLORS program to be brought up. You may then manipulate the colors as much as you like. Option 2, Quit the COLORS program, will return you immediately to DOS. Step 2: Change the Colors ------------------------- Once the COLORS screen has come up, you may be a bit overwhelmed by it. It contains a lot of information on one screen. Lets go over the parts of it quickly. Note that if at any time you need help, you can hit the F1 key. This will cause COLORS to show you about 5 windows with help information that describes the various parts of the screen. In the upper-left hand corner of the screen you will see a bit of text that says Now changing the FOREGROUND of This is the Foreground/Background indicator. The word FOREGROUND indicates that you are changing the color of the text or window frames themselves. If the indicator says BACKGROUND, you will be changing the color of the background the actual text or window frames are displayed on. To change from FOREGROUND to BACKGROUND and back again, use the + key. The indicator in the upper left of the screen will change to show which you are currently changing. In the middle of the left side of the screen is the ITEM list. There is also a red pointer that points to the current item you are changing. To change the color of a particular item, the pointer must be pointing to it. To move the pointer to a different item, use the up and down arrow keys. To move the pointer to the first item in the list, use the Home key. To move the pointer to the last item in the list, use the End key. page 59 At the bottom of the left side of the screen is the color bar. You will also see a small white arrow that points to one of the colors on the bar. The color that the pointer points to is the color of the current item, be it foreground or background. To change the pointer to a different color, use the left and right arrow keys. The rest of the screen, with the exception of a small reminder that Help can be obtained with the F1 key, is devoted to models of the WORDS screens. There are four small models that represent all the elements of the screens WORDS uses. They show you the colors that are current. As you change the colors of items, these models are updated on the display to show the new colors. Now that you are probably overwhelmed, lets go through an example. Suppose you wanted to change the colors of the Entry Fields in WORDS. The default is a bright white foreground and a black background. You want them to be yellow on red. You would follow these steps: 1) Make sure the FOREGROUND/BACKGROUND indicator reads FOREGROUND. If it does not, then hit the + key once. 2) Move the pointer on the ITEM LIST to the item ENTRY FIELDS. 3) Move the pointer on the COLOR BAR to the YELLOW color by using the left and right arrow keys. This takes care of changing the FOREGROUND. 4) Change the FOREGROUND/BACKGROUND indicator so that it reads BACKGROUND. Do this by hitting the + key. 5) Move the pointer on the COLOR BAR to the RED color using the left and right arrow keys. Note that if you are changing BACKGROUND, only the top row of colors on the COLOR BAR are available. And that does it. You can repeat the process for any of the items in the list. As you change colors you can see the screen models updated with your new colors. In this way, you can try many combinations and see them before deciding. page 60 Step 3: Save Colors and Quit the Program ---------------------------------------- When you have the colors just the way you want them, you can save them by hitting the F2 key. This will write all your changes to the WORDS.DAT file and return you to DOS. When you next start WORDS, it will be with your new rainbow of colors. If you decide you would rather abandon what you have done to the colors, and leave without changing anything, you can hit the ESC key. You will be returned to DOS, and the colors will be as they were when you began. page 61 Using WORDS - A Reference ------------------------------------------------------------- For those of you who are more advanced computer users, or who have already mastered the basics of WORDS, this reference section is provided. It is intended to be a lookup section you can use to remind you of how to do something. This section will reference all capabilities of WORDS, and some other information not necessarily found in the Task-Oriented Approach section. page 62 WORDS Filename Conventions ------------------------------------------------------------- WORDS makes some assumptions about several files it uses. All databases are stored in two parts. Part one contains the actual words, plus an index pointer to the proper definition. Part two contains the actual definitions. The file that contains the words must have a .WRD extension. The file that contains the definitions must have a .DEF extension. Your own database may have any name you like as long as these extensions are maintained. WORDS handles this for you automatically, so do not specify any extensions when naming a WORDS database. WORDS also assumes it will be able to find the file WORDS.DAT on disk in the same subdirectory that contains the WORDS program. WORDS.DAT contains color information for the program. page 63 Starting WORDS ------------------------------------------------------------- To start WORDS, issue the following command at the DOS prompt: WORDS To do the same thing with your own database, issue the following command: WORDS/D:filename where filename is the name of your own database, without an extension. To start WORDS so that it displays a random word and definition on the screen for you, issue the following command at the DOS prompt: WORDS/R To do the same thing with your own database, issue the following command: WORDS/R:filename where filename is the name of your own database, without an extension. You can use WORDS to continuously show random words. It works very much the same way that the random word function listed above does, excpet that instead of returning to DOS after one word, it continues to show more random words. To start WORDS in this mode using and alternate database, user the /RC: parameter, like this: WORDS/RC:filename You would replace filename with the actual name of your alternate database. Words will operate exactly as if you had issued the WORDS/RC command, except it will be using your alternate database. To see the next random word, hit the SPACEBAR. To quit WORDS and return to DOS, hit ESC. page 64 The Menu ------------------------------------------------------------- When WORDS is first brought up, a menu of choices will face you. On the menu are the various functions WORDS can perform. There are two methods for selecting an item from the menu. The first involves moving the selection bar to the item you want, and then pressing ENTER. In the second method, you press the highlighted key associated with the menu entry. This will take you directly into the function without having to use the selection bar. If you choose to use the selection bar, the following bar movements may be accomplished with the following keys: Bar Movement... ...Key(s) ----------------------------------------- Down 1 Entry Down Arrow Up 1 Entry Up Arrow Top of List Home or PgUp Bottom of List End or PgDn page 65 Function Keys ------------------------------------------------------------- While you are working in WORDS, you will see at the bottom of every screen but the menu, a list of function keys and a description of what each does. At any time, with one or two exceptions in the name of safety, you may press one of these keys to jump immediately to the WORDS function associated with it. Below is a list of the WORDS functions and the function key associated with it. Function... ...Associated Key --------------------------------------------------- Add Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 Delete Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2 Edit Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3 Search Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4 Definition Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5 Create Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6 Show Wordlist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7 Print Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8 Pack Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9 Return to Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10 If you are in any given function, that function's function key will not be operative. There is no need to jump from a function into itself. page 66 Adding Words to the Database ------------------------------------------------------------- To add words to the WORDS database, select the Add Words function from the menu, or jump into it from another function via the function keys. Enter the word to add in the entry field on the Add Words Facility screen. While entering the new word, the following editing keys will prove useful: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER If the word is in the database already, WORDS will inform you of this and allow you to try again. Otherwise, WORDS will then ask you to enter the new word's definition. You will be provided with a three-line editing window in which to type in the definition. As you type, use the following editing functions as necessary: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor down 1 line . . . . . . . . Down Arrow Move cursor up 1 line . . . . . . . . . . Up Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Delete line at cursor . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-Y Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER page 67 After the definition has been saved, WORDS will return to the word entry field. You may enter as many words/definitions as you like in this manner. To quit, you can perform one of the following actions: 1) Hit the ENTER key by itself, without any text in the word entry field, or 2) Hit the F10 key to return to the menu, or 3) Hit another function key to take you elsewhere in WORDS. If you have added any new words, WORDS will sort the database of words before leaving the Add Words Facility. Since the sort is the most time consuming activity WORDS performs, it is recommended that you: 1) Keep your databases to 1000 words or less (even though WORDS will easily handle databases up to 32,000 words) to keep sort speeds reasonable 2) Save your words and add them in a large batch. This will prevent having to sit through the sort very often. A sort of 100 words on an 8 MHz XT Clone, using a Seagate 225 21-meg, 65 ms hard disk, took about 35 seconds. Using the same equipment, a 2500 word database sort took 9 and a half minutes. Faster hard disks will provide faster sorts. page 68 Deleting Words From the Database ------------------------------------------------------------- To delete words to the WORDS database, select the Delete Words function from the menu, or jump into it from another function via the function keys. You will see a small window with an entry field. Type in the word you want to delete in this field. If the word exists in the database it will be deleted. Its corresponding definition will be marked for deletion. Marked definitions can be removed permanently by using the WORDS Pack Function. You may delete as many words as you like while in the Delete Word Facility. page 69 Editing Definitions ------------------------------------------------------------- To edit any definition in a WORDS database, select the Edit Words function from the menu, or jump into from another function via the function keys. WORDS will ask you to enter the word whose definition you will be editing. While entering the word, the following editing functions are available: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Clear entry and restart . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-R Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER WORDS will check the database to see if the word exists. If it does exist, the word's definition will be displayed in a three-line editing window for you to modify. As you edit the definition, the following editing features are available: Editing function... ...Key(s) --------------------------------------------------- Move cursor left one space . . . . . . . Left Arrow Move cursor right one space . . . . . Right Arrow Move cursor down 1 line . . . . . . . . Down Arrow Move cursor up 1 line . . . . . . . . . . Up Arrow Move cursor left one word . . . . Ctrl-Left Arrow Move cursor right one word . . . . Ctrl-Right Arrow Move cursor to beginning of line . . . . . . . Home Move cursor to end of line . . . . . . . . . . End Toggle insert/overtype mode . . . . . . . . . INS Delete character at cursor . . . . . . . . . . Del Delete character to left of cursor . . . Backspace Delete from cursor to end of line . . . . Ctrl-Q Y Delete line at cursor . . . . . . . . . . . Ctrl-Y Save/accept entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . ENTER page 70 After the definition has been saved, WORDS will return to the word entry field. You may edit as many definitions as you like in this manner. page 71 Searching the Database ------------------------------------------------------------- There are two ways to search the database. You can have WORDS hunt for a specific word, or search throught the definitions for specific text. Searching for Words --------------------------------------------------- To search for a particular word and definition in a WORDS database, select the Search Database function from the menu, or jump into it from another WORDS function via the function keys. In the entry field of the Search Database Facility screen, type in the word you wish to find. If the word is in the database, the word and its definition will be displayed. If it is not, you will be informed via a small status box at the bottom of the screen. You may clear the box by hitting any key. You may continue to search for words and definitions in this manner for as long as you like. -- NOTE ------------------------------------------- For those of you who are programmers (or perhaps not), it may interest you to know that WORDS uses a binary search to find words in the database. In a database of 1000 words, WORDS needs at most 10 comparisons to find any given word. Not bad, when compared to the linear search, which needs an average of 500 comparisons to do the same thing. --------------------------------------------------- page 72 Searching the Definitions --------------------------------------------------- To have WORDS search the definitions for text, select the Definition Search function from the WORDS menu. You may also jump into the Definition Search function from another WORDS function via the function keys. In the entry field, type in any text you want to find in the definitions. The text is limited to about 53 characters. WORDS will then begin searching the active definitions. If an occurrence of your search text is found, WORDS will display the word and definition in which it was located. After hitting a key, you will have the option to continue or abort the search. To continue the search, hit Y. To abort, hit any key other than Y. You may contine this process until you are finished searching for text in the definitions. You may return to the WORDS menu via the ESC key or the F10 key. page 73 Creating a Test ------------------------------------------------------------- To have WORDS create a test for you, select the Create Test function from the menu, or jump into it from another WORDS function via the function keys. You must first select the type of test WORDS will generate. You can have it supply the words and ask for the definitions, or supply the definitions and ask for the words. To select a test that shows words, enter a W. To select a test that shows definitions, enter a D. Next tell WORDS how many questions to put on the test. The maximum number of questions allowed will be either the maximum number of words in the database, or 999, whichever is lower. Enter the number in the entry field. Lastly, tell words the name of the file in which to save the test. You are allowed 8 characters, and the test file will automatically have an extension of .TST. WORDS will simultaneously create a file with all the answers to the test. It will have the same name you gave the test file, but an extension of .ANS. WORDS will then select the questions and generate the test on disk. You will automatically be returned to the menu when WORDS completes this task. page 74 Viewing the Wordlist ------------------------------------------------------------- To view a column-organized list of all the words in the current database, select the Show Wordlist function from the menu, or jump into it using function keys from another WORDS function. Once the wordlist is displayed, you may page through it. On the next page is a table describing the actions you may perform, and the keys you use to perform them. To move like this... ...Use these keys --------------------------------------------------- Up one screen of words . . . . . . . . . . . . PgUp Down one screen of words . . . . . . . . . . . PgDn Top of the list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home Bottom of the list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End View any definitions of words on the current screen full by moving the highlight to the word you want to see. Once the word you want a definition for is highlighted, hit the ENTER key, and the definition will be displayed. Hit any key to return to the word list screen. Note that moving the highlight will cause it to wrap in all directions. It will not move to a new screen full of words. Use the PgUp and PgDn keys to do this. When you are finished browsing the wordlist, you can quit by jumping to another function, or hitting the F10 key or the ESC key to return to the menu. page 75 Printing the Database ------------------------------------------------------------- You can print your entire database, words and definitions, by selecting the Print Database function from the WORDS menu, or by jumping into it directly from another function via function keys. You will have two options when the Print Facility screen comes up. You can abort the operation by pressing ESC, or begin printing by hitting the SPACEBAR. The print operation will send all words and their definitions to the printer attached to LPT1 on your computer. You can abort the print job at any time by pressing the ESC key. Once the print operation has completed, you will be returned to the WORDS menu. page 76 Packing the Definitions ------------------------------------------------------------- When WORDS deletes a definition via the Delete Words facility, it does not actually delete the word's definition. It merely marks it for deletion by changing the first character of the definition to an ASCII 251 (the square root symbol). The Pack Definitions Facility permanently removes these marked definitions. To pack the definitions database, select the Pack Definitions function from the menu, or jump into it from another WORDS function via the function keys. When the Pack Definitions screen comes up, you can hit the ESC key to abort the pack procedure, or hit the SPACEBAR to begin. When packing begins, you will see a status of the packing process as it proceeds. The display informs you of the number of definitions retained and the number deleted. When a definition is removed, you will see a message at the bottom of the window stating that WORDS.WRD (or the current WORDS database) is being updated. What's happening here is all the definition pointers are being adjusted so they point to the right definitions. This is necessary, since when a definition is deleted, the sequence (numerical positioning) of the definitions changes. Once the pack operation has finished, you will be automatically returned to the menu. page 77 Appendices ------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix A - A Short Note on BAD SOFTWARE --------------------------------------------------- The BAD SOFTWARE Company is the name of a ficticious company. It is not real and is simply a bit of fun for me, Tony Martin. It does stand for two things however; quality and fun. The first premise of BAD SOFTWARE is to produce quality software and documentation that is functional and usable. Many software houses these days still refuse to take the user into account when designing systems and documentation for them. I would like to think that I am not one of that group. The second premise of BAD SOFTWARE is that software should be fun to use. I try my best to make all my software fun and easy to use. If I wouldn't use it, there's a good chance that others wouldn't either. I hope that I have achieved these goals in WORDS. If you have any comments on the program that you think would make it better, or any comments at all, please feel free to drop me a line at the address below. If you would like information on the other products of BAD SOFTWARE, send me a note requesting such to: Tony Martin 1611 Harvest Green Ct. Reston, VA 22094 I'll get our brochure off to you as soon as possible. page 78 Appendix B - Disclaimers and Notices --------------------------------------------------- I generally dislike this portion of manuals, so I place it here in the back, to fulfill my legal obligations. The first is to say that this software is provided "AS IS" with no warranties of any kind, expressed or implied. I cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from the ability or inability to use this software. You may not charge any money for it. If you need to talk to me about this, write me a letter at the above listed address. Lastly, I'd like to say thanks for trying a BAD SOFTWARE product. We're out to make computing productive and fun. page 79 Appendix C - Order Form --------------------------------------------------- Registration for WORDS 1.1 is $15.00. If you register, you will receive an official diskette containing the latest version of WORDS, plus a free database containing an additional 400 words, for a total of 500 vocabulary words. To order, fill out this form and mail it with payment to: Tony Martin 1611 Harvest Green Ct. Reston, VA 22094 Make all checks payable to Tony Martin. O R D E R F O R M --------------------------------------------------- Product: WORDS 1.2 Quantity: ________ Registration ________ Evaluation copies Cost: Registration $15.00 per copy (includes postage) Evaluation copy $5.00 (includes postage) Total: $__________ Your Name: ________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ As a shareware author whose hopes for a great free enterprise are declining, I sincerely thank you for your contribution. page 80