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PsL Monthly 1993 December
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PSL Monthly Shareware CD-ROM (December 1993).iso
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pascal
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shazam.exe
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README
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1992-09-01
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******************
Welcome to SHAZAM!
******************
Documentation for SHAZAM is both "online" and "offline":
[X] ONLINE - The context-sensitive portion is cross-referenced with
the manual, most of which is also in HyperText format.
[X] OFFLINE - The PRINTDOC program is about to be generated and
compiled. It will print the Technical Manual and demonstration
programs with your choice of formats and margins. The "Test
print" option is a 2-page report, so you can make adjustments and
try different settings.
All source for units and example programs is included. You can
re-use dialogs, hints and help text files as "plug n' play"
elements of your own programs.
CONTENTS
--------
1 - Getting started
2 - Notes
3 - Installation
4 - Units
5 - Examples
6 - Overview
7 - Acknowledgements
8 - Technical Support
1 - GETTING STARTED
===================
If you are upgrading from version 1.x, you MUST read UPGRADE.DOC.
To give you an idea of what SHAZAM can do, the following...
KEYWORDS & ITEMS HINTS
| |
V V
----------------------------------------------
[ submenu ] file ;;hint for file stuff
open f3 ;;open a file
save f2 ;;save window
[ status ]
f1 Help ;;call HyperText help
alt-x exit cmQuit ;;return to DOS
----------------------------------------------
...creates a ready-to-run EXE with Help Text & Hints, using overlays
and resources, recovers overlay heap for EXEC, and runs under DOS 2.x
or higher. By default, SHAZAM allows for use of ExecSWAP, so the
application is unitized (encapsulated) and you get Swap-To-Disk/EMS
capability too, with minimum overhead, less than <6k.
No kidding.
Type the above into a file with an *.DEF extension & press Ctrl-F9.
Don't want overlays? Use the "/O-" switch, from the DOS prompt or
SETUP|Code dialog. No ExecSwap? Use "/X-". Code, instead of
resources? Use "/1". And so on...
Now, for an actual "Exec", you would have to add custom code, BUT
there's a routine in GENERAL.PAS called "VisionExec" (just like
DOS.Exec) which takes care of Turbo Vision housekeeping for you.
There's also pre-done events called "hdLittleDOS", "hdMediumDOS" and
"hdBigDOS" for shelling to the DOS prompt. Run the ED*.DEF examples
and see the help text for details.
The basic idea of using SHAZAM is: It codes the "FrameWork" for you,
so you can concentrate on "fleshing out" custom code and Help Text.
This gives you the freedom to experiment with interface design, since
you can re-generate & re-compile anytime with one keystroke (Ctrl-F9).
To accelerate your learning curve
---------------------------------
Start with the ADEMO*.DEF series, in IDE mode. Type "C:>shazam", use
"File|OPEN" to select a file, then press Ctrl-F9, which will
generate, compile & run a program.
An alternative
--------------
Print the ADEMO*.DEF series, then generate all programs using
command-line mode. Type "C:>shazam ademo*/m" to generate, compile &
run the whole series at once.
Note on HELP
------------
SHAZAM generated programs will automatically support ALT-F1 (to view
previous help screens) if you patch HELPFILE.PAS with ALTF1.PAT
2 - NOTES
=========
[X] Copyrights
Please respect any and all copyright notices.
All parts of this software are copyrighted, including but not
limited to programs, documentation, source-code and examples.
As a licensed user, you may use the example programs. However,
they may not be sold, given away or otherwise distributed without
written permission.
Also, as a licensed user, you are free to incorporate examples
(definitions, help text, etc.) and source code into your programs.
[X] Documentation
You should view, or print, all *.DOC files. Do AINTRO.DOC first,
before starting on the ADEMO*.DEF series. You may also want to
print the ADEMO*.DEF files as you go along. Since SHAZAM
automatically loads support files along with definitions, you can
use "File|Print all" or Ctrl-F4 to print all editor windows
currently loaded into the Desktop.
[X] Interactive and Command-Line modes
Both are supported in the same program. Type "C:\>shazam /?" at
the command-line for a list of switches, or "C:\shazam" and
select the SETUP|Code dialog.
[X] PATCHES
A number of tested patches have been included. Browse the *.PAT
files for details.
APP.PAT - DesqView patch for APP.PAS
------------------------------------
If you want all your Turbo Vision programs to run under DesqView,
APP.PAT contains a simple modification to accomplish this. If
you make this patch, activate the "define" in the "COMPILER.PAS"
file by adding a dollar sign:
{DEFINE desqview} --> {$DEFINE desqview}
This is so the "UserScreen" and "CopyScreen" routines in
GENERAL.PAS will recognize the DesqView patch.
EDLOAD.PAT - for original EDITORS
---------------------------------
An improved version of EDITORS comes with SHAZAM. If you want to
use the original, you must correct this bug in the load/store
methods, or your program will hang during Desktop load/store.
[X] ONLINE HELP
SHAZAM comes with its own help file, but if you need Online Help
for Turbo Vision, don't forget THELP.COM (shipped with Turbo
Pascal). It provides memory resident help/reference on both
Turbo Pascal & Turbo Vision at a relatively low cost in memory
overhead (about 30k).
3 - INSTALLATION
================
If you need to restore the example code, you can re-run INSTALL. All
existing files will be over-written.
Programs
--------
INSTALL.EXE - Installation program
INSTALL.DAT - Installation data
Archives
--------
BABEL - Multiple Language Editor
DEF - Commonly used Definitions
DLG - Commonly used Dialogs
EXAMPLES - Sample definitions and source code
EXSWAP - Source code for EXECSWAP & EXECPROC
GENERAL - General purpose code for Turbo Vision
PATCH - Turbo Vision patches
SHAZAM - Program, Help and Help Compiler
TXT - Commonly used Help Text
Instant INSTALL
---------------
Installation was done using "Instant INSTALL", a generic INSTALL
program which supports multiple diskettes using ARC/LZH/ZIP formats
and de-archive programs. For more information, use the "/?" switch at
the DOS prompt:
C:\>a:install/?
SHAZAM program installation creates the following directory structure:
?:\SHAZAM2\
\DEF\
\DLG\
\TXT\
You are free to re-arrange things to suit you. Use the SETUP |
Directory dialog to let SHAZAM know where things are. The most
likely change is to move the program files -- SHAZAM.EXE, SHAZAM.HLP
and SZHC.EXE -- to a directory on your system PATH.
DISK SPACE
----------
Although three megabytes of disk space are needed to install SHAZAM
and run the PRINTDOC program, you can erase the examples and keep
only the program files.
To free up disk space (ie: before a backup), run CLEAN.BAT. This
erases only generated files, which you can easily re-create.
PORTABLE SHAZAM
---------------
If you must work "on-site" to develop an interface, it is possible to
fit SHAZAM, the compiler (TPC.EXE) and the Turbo Vision units on a
high-density diskette of either size.
The bare essentials are:
[X] SHAZAM.EXE - main program. (SHAZAM.HLP is optional)
[X] SZHC.EXE - new Help Compiler (old TVHC.EXE may be used)
...plus the compiler and TV units, of course.
4 - UNITS
=========
Only the Turbo Vision units are needed to compile a generated
application. However, a number of utility & workhorse units are
included, as used by SHAZAM itself and many of the examples:
GENERAL.PAS Standard events, dialog