The Business Master (4th Edition)

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ The Business Master (4th Edition) / The Business Master - 4th Edition.iso / files / texttors / vde / vinst.ref < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-06-03 | 39.9 KB | 693 lines

VINST.REF --------- Instructions for VDE Installation Utility: version 1.7 (03 Jun 1993) (c)1987-93, E. Meyer ================================ CONTENTS ================================== 1. RUNNING VINST. What VINST is, and how to use it. 2. INSTALLATION. Installing for different computer hardware, colors, etc. 3. USER MENUBAR. Customization of User menu bar. 4. OPTIONS. Customization of many initial VDE settings. 5. PRINTER INSTALLATION. Using printer features: print modes, graphics, etc. 6. DEFAULT FUNCTION KEYS. Installing the default function keys. 7. GRAPHICS. Modifying the default set of graphics characters. 8. CHARACTER WIDTHS. Modifying the default set of character widths. 9. RESTORE DEFAULTS. Undoing previous modifications. =========================== 1. RUNNING VINST =============================== VINST is a utility that lets you modify your copy of the VDE editor: * Installing for use on non-standard computers * Selecting or customizing a driver for your printer * Configuring settings and options to suit your tastes VDE comes configured for a standard IBM PC; you will need to make some changes before using it on a non-PC-compatible computer, or a graphics board (like old IBM CGAs) that experiences "snow" (see INSTALLATION). You will want to choose the correct driver for your printer, and may eventually want to make some small modifications to it. And, once you start editing with VDE, you will probably discover some of its many settings and options that you would like to change. NOTE: VINST allows VDE to be customized for best performance on a variety of computer hardware. If you are using equipment (computer, graphics board, printer, etc) which VDE does not work well with, or does not seem to be taking full advantage of, please provide the appropriate technical or programmer's information from your manual so that future versions of VDE can support it. You should begin using VINST soon; once you have made changes to VDE, the initial welcome/copyright messages in VDE and VINST will no longer appear. Your copies of the program files will be called VDE.COM and VINST.COM, though of course you can rename them (I usually call them V.COM and VI.COM). To run VINST simply type: C>vinst if your copy is still called "VDE.COM" or C>vinst V.COM if it's called "V.COM" (or whatever). Any changes you make while running VINST -- choosing different options, reading in data files, etc -- are in memory only. You can choose "Quit" from the main menu and VDE.COM will remain unchanged. Only when you choose "Save" (or "Restore defaults") does VINST modify the file VDE.COM. VINST can also read and write various "auxiliary data files" (type .VDx), for user options, macro definitions, graphics, and printer support; see DATA FILES. VDE's ability to load such files allows modifications to these features during editing. In addition, they can make updating to a new version of VDE easier: just save your old settings to files with the old VINST, and then install them in your new copy of VDE with the new VINST. Because installation features change with almost every release, the version numbers of VINST and VDE must agree. Auxiliary data files (.VDx) change format less often, and VINST can often read files created by other recent versions. In either case, if VINST can't load an older file, you will get a "<Version error>" message, and must re-create the file. VINST is fully menu-driven; it will present you with a set of categories that corresponds to each section below, starting with Installation; within each category, each value is named and displayed, giving you the opportunity to change it. The program is largely self-documenting, and steps you through each item individually. The main menu also offers a "Help" option, which displays some of the following information on screen to assist you. VINST uses several types of data entry for different parameters: TEXT - Just type in the character(s). LOGICAL - Yes/No. Just type "Y" or "N". DECIMAL - Enter a number from 0 to 255. HEX - Enter two-digit hexadecimal byte value 00-FF. (Don't omit lead 0's.) BYTE STRING - The value shown in (parentheses) is the length of the current string. Enter a new series of byte values. Each may be entered either in HEX, as above, or by pressing the single quote key ['] followed by the appropriate ASCII character. You can also press ["] to duplicate the existing value. (To enter a null value, press ^[Enter] (^J).) In each case, the current value will display, and then you will be prompted for a new one. (Just press [Enter] to leave the existing setting.) VINST can't always check for illegal values; be careful what you enter! At most points in VINST, you can press [Esc] to return immediately to the Main Menu, or ^C to abort the program. For the entry of codes in the Printer Installation, you may find the following equivalence table for decimal, hexadecimal, and character values helpful. ASCII TABLE ASCII ASCII Dec Hex Char Dec Hex Char Dec Hex Char Dec Hex Char Dec Hex Char ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0 00 ^@ 26 1A ^Z 54 36 6 80 50 P 106 6A j 1 01 ^A 27 1B ^[ Esc 55 37 7 81 51 Q 107 6B k 2 02 ^B 28 1C ^\ 56 38 8 82 52 R 108 6C l 3 03 ^C 29 1D ^] 57 39 9 83 53 S 109 6D m 4 04 ^D 30 1E ^^ 58 3A : 84 54 T 110 6E n 5 05 ^E 31 1F ^_ 59 3B ; 85 55 U 111 6F o 6 06 ^F 32 20 space 60 3C < 86 56 V 112 70 p 7 07 ^G 33 21 ! 61 3D = 87 57 W 113 71 q 8 08 ^H 34 22 " 62 3E > 88 58 X 114 72 r 9 09 ^I 35 23 # 63 3F ? 89 59 Y 115 73 s 10 0A ^J 36 24 $ 64 40 @ 90 5A Z 116 74 t 11 0B ^K 37 25 % 65 41 A 91 5B [ 117 75 u 12 0C ^L 38 26 & 66 42 B 92 5C \ 118 76 v 13 0D ^M 39 27 ' 67 43 C 93 5D ] 119 77 w 14 0E ^N 40 28 ( 68 44 D 94 5E ^ 120 78 x 15 0F ^O 41 29 ) 69 45 E 95 5F _ 121 79 y 16 10 ^P 42 2A * 70 46 F 96 60 ` 122 7A z 17 11 ^Q 43 2B + 71 47 G 97 61 a 123 7B { 18 12 ^R 44 2C , 72 48 H 98 62 b 124 7C | 19 13 ^S 45 2D - 73 49 I 99 63 c 125 7D } 20 14 ^T 46 2E . 74 4A J 100 64 d 126 7E ~ 21 15 ^U 47 2F / 75 4B K 101 65 e 127 7F del 22 16 ^V 48 30 0 76 4C L 102 66 f --graphics:-- 23 17 ^W 49 31 1 77 4D M 103 67 g 128 80 24 18 ^X 50 32 2 78 4E N 104 68 h 129 81 25 19 ^Y 51 33 3 79 4F O 105 69 i 130 82 ... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================= 2. INSTALLATION ============================== Because VDE responds to the special keys of a PC keyboard, and writes directly to video RAM for greater display speed, its default installation requires an IBM PC compatible BIOS and video adapter (MDA, CGA, EGA, or VGA). A Hercules (HGC) board should also work, as it is MDA compatible. On an EGA/VGA system the use of color mode is recommended, even with a monochrome monitor, to take advantage of a wider variety of "grey shades". Special installations are also available for two "near-compatibles": the Hewlett-Packard Portable Plus, and the Otrona 8:16 with IBM video emulation. (The HP 95LX/100LX palmtops require no special installation; VDE adapts to them when installed for IBM PC. But see the notes below on HP palmtops.) Versions of VDE prior to 1.7 also supported a "Generic" installation using standard MSDOS output, that required only compatibility with ANSI standard screen control sequences. This worked on non-PC compatibles, as well as on compatibles in situations where direct video access is undesirable -- even in "remote" applications, with appropriate terminal software on the user's end. If you require such capabilities, VDE 1.65 remains available. VINST can use Installation files to store your installation, menubar, and user option settings. These should have a file type of ".VDI", for ease of identification. You have the option to read in or write out such a file, as well as proceeding to edit your installation. VDE can load such files with its AltU command; only the computer choice (IBM PC, etc) remains unaffected. IBM PC PARAMETERS: Screen colors - you can select different colors for: normal text; block text; markers and printer codes; soft CRs and hyphens; header; menus and prompts; header/menu highlights; and error messages. Each is specified by an "attribute byte" consisting of two hex digits, for a background and foreground color. ("17" = "1", blue background, & "7", white text.) You will see a color palette displayed on screen; the color digits are: *0 = BLACK 4 = red *8 = GREY C = bright red 1 = blue 5 = magenta 9 = bright blue D = bright magenta 2 = green 6 = brown A = bright green E = yellow 3 = cyan *7 = WHITE B = bright cyan *F = BRIGHT WHITE (* - All MDA screens can display black, white, and bright white; in some cases, grey may also be visible.) If you have an EGA/VGA display, the palette will include all 256 colors (00-FF). Otherwise, you will see only 128 (00-7F); on MDA/CGA systems, the background attributes 8-F produce blinking video (ugh). (Note: if your soft CR color has the same background as normal text, VDE will adjust its background to match block text as well.) Border colors - you can select two border (overscan) colors to frame the text: one to operate within VDE, the other to restore on exit to DOS. Each is one digit from the list above. Example: to set a white border within VDE, then return to black on exit, enter "70". To keep a black border at all times enter "00". (Note: border is not visible under DESQview or UltraVision.) Cursor type (D/B/U) - You can choose the cursor type you want during editing. A full "B"lock cursor is more easily visible on the LCD displays of laptop computers; some prefer "U"nderline. Choose "D"efault to leave it whatever it was before VDE was run. (In 40+ line mode, it is always a block.) Screen size (A-G,blank) - You can choose your default screen size; normally this is BLANK, " ", meaning whatever is in effect when VDE is loaded. The letter codes have the same meaning as at the AltE command prompt: "F", for example, automatically changes to 50 lines on entering VDE. On VGA: A...G = 20,25,28,33,40,50,57 lines (UltraVision: B,D,F,G = 25,36,50,63) On EGA: A...F = 17,25,29,35,43,50 lines (UltraVision: B,D,E,G = 25,34,43,60) Video board for 132 col mode (N...) - VDE's AltA command (132 column toggle) works only with supported types of video boards. Choose: "S" for Boca SVGA and other boards that use the "standard" video modes 23h and 22h for 132 column text "A" for ATI (e.g. "EGA Wonder") -- also works with Diamond Speedstar VGA (Tseng chipset) "C" for Cardinal VGA (Chips & Tech chipset) "P" for Paradise VGA+ "T" for Trident SVGA If you have a different video system, you can experiment to see whether any of these will work; if not, enter "N" for none -- AltA will work only if you are running UltraVision. NOTE: Users of older Paradise VGA boards may need to keep the border color black, to avoid a bug affecting 132 column display colors. Need to avoid "snow" (Y/N) - Normally No. Some video boards (like old IBM CGAs) experience ugly "snow" or noise when programs write directly to video memory. If this happens to you, select "Y", and VDE will time its video access according to horizontal retrace intervals. (Display speed will be somewhat reduced.) Keyboard type (A/X/T) - Normally "A" for AT; actually, VDE detects whether you have an AT (enhanced) or XT keyboard, and uses the appropriate input. But some "popup" (TSR) programs do not work properly with AT keyboard input; if you have this problem, set this to "X" for XT. (F11, F12, and a few other key combinations will not work.) Finally, the Tandy 1000 uses different scan codes for its F11-F12 keys; set to "T" if you have a Tandy. HEWLETT-PACKARD 95LX/100LX PALMTOP USAGE NOTES In June 1993, a version of VDE extensively customized for the HP palmtops, called "fastWRITE", will be offered as a retail product by ACE Technologies. See VDE.UPD for details. It remains possible to run VDE on the 95LX/100LX using the "IBM PC" installation. Due to the LX's nonstandard keyboard, the ^[BkSp] command will not work; the grey [+],[-] keys will not scroll the screen (use ^W,^Z); and shifted arrow keys cannot be used to mark a block on the HP95LX (use ^KB,^KK). See also remarks on 40-column displays under SCREEN SIZE. Because the LX doesn't use the standard PC character set, extended characters can be printed from it only if your printer is using a Roman8 font. SPECIAL INSTALLATIONS: The "near-compatible" installations have no user-changeable parameters: everything is preset for the particular computer. They are: HEWLETT-PACKARD PORTABLE PLUS - all models. OTRONA 8:16 - Only the Otrona model with IBM video emulation will work. The standard model 8:16 is not supported. This installation may also work on other older "near-compatibles" that lack EGA/VGA BIOS compatibility. ============================= 3. USER MENUBAR ============================== The "User" menu bar can be configured to your taste: to provide different keywords for accessing functions, or to add functions that are not available in the existing menu bars. VINST can use Installation files to store your installation, menubar, and user option settings. These should have a file type of ".VDI", for ease of identification. VDE can load such files with its AltU command. They are accessed through the INSTALLATION menu choice. "User" menu bar - The five items on this bar are referred to as {User: item 1- 5}. To define each, you have to provide two things: a "keyword" and the "command" to execute. (As usual you can just press [Enter] to leave the existing value alone.) The keyword appears in the menu bar display, like "Driver" or "preView" in the "Print" menu: it describes what the item will do if selected, and the capital "D" or "V" indicates which key letter must be pressed to select it. Your keyword can be up to 12 characters long, and must contain exactly ONE capitalized letter (A-Z), which will be the selection key. (Each of the five entries must use a different key.) An unused entry may be simply left blank, or filled with "---" if you prefer. The command determines the function which will be performed when the item is selected from the menu. (See COMMAND SUMMARY for a full listing.) Each command consists of one or two keystrokes. The default user menu includes the sample entry "Autosave", which invokes the command ^KA if you press "A". Example: The command ^OE, which makes the cursor line the top line on the screen, is not accessible via existing menu bars. However, you can easily add this to the User menu bar: For "{User: item #}" type " make Top " For "Command:" type "^OE" You now have a new MenuBar command, {User:make Top}, which is invoked by pressing ^[Esc],U,T. =============================== 4. OPTIONS ================================= You can change a variety of default settings in your copy of VDE, according to your taste. "Default" means the state assumed when VDE is first run, or in the absence of any previous user commands. VINST can use Installation files to store your installation, menubar, and user option settings. These should have a file type of ".VDI", for ease of identification. VDE can load such files with its AltU command. They are accessed through the INSTALLATION menu choice. Prompt for filename if none (Y/N) - When you invoke VDE with no filename, should it prompt for one? Normally No, you get an "untitled" work area. Autosave interval (min.) - Enter your choice for the interval in minutes. A value of 0 turns this feature off. Preserve BAKup files (Y/N) - Should a backup file (.BAK) be kept when you save over an existing file? Choose "Y" to play safe, "N" to save disk space. Use ^Z as EOF mark (Y/N) - Should an EOF marker (^Z, 1Ah) be used to mark the end of an ASCII file (modes /A,U,N,C)? MSDOS software should not require this, but some early programs (like their CP/M predecessors) did still use this convention. Filetypes to exclude - You can specify six filetypes (or type masks, using "?" wildcards) to "hide" from VDE. (Originally set to ".COM" and ".EXE".) Such files will not show in the ^KF directory display (unless the filetype is specified explicitly), and cannot be edited. This is a protection feature, for non-text files which can be damaged by trying to edit them. To leave an entry unused, type "...", NOT blanks. Default file mode - Which of the file modes (D,A,U,N,C,W,S,P,F,X,M) described in VDE.DOC do you want as the default? (Originally "D"ocument.) Auto mode select filetypes - You can specify six filetypes (or type masks, using "?" wildcards) as exceptions to the above default: for example, you could declare all ".ASM" files to default automatically to "N" mode, or all files ".89?" to "W" mode. To leave an entry unused, type "...". Header on (Y/N) - Should the header (^OQ) start out ON? Ruler on (Y/N) - Should the ruler (^OT) start out ON? Reserve status line (Y/N) - Do you want VDE to reserve the bottom (normally 25th) screen line for use as a status or function key line by other software? (Normally No, VDE uses this line for text.) Insert mode (I/W/O) - Which insert (^V) setting do you want to start out with: Insert, Word insert, or Overstrike (insert off)? Auto format (Y/N) - Should auto format (^OM) start out ON? Right justify (Y/N) - Should right justification (^OJ) start out ON? Double spacing (Y/N) - Should double spacing (^OS) start out ON? Proportional spacing (Y/N) - Should proportional spacing (^OK) start out ON? Hard CR display (Y/N) - Should Hard CR display (^OB) start out ON when editing in document modes? Hyphenation (Y/N) - Should hyphenation (^OH) start out ON in documents? Ignore case in searches (Y/N) - Do you want string searches (^QF) to be case INsensitive by default? If Yes, specifying the "I"gnore-case option while using ^QF will force a case SENSITIVE search.) Left and Right margin columns (1-255) - Default margin settings for Document modes. Set both to 1 to disable wordwrap and reformatting entirely. Fixed tab display width (4,8,16) - Hard tabs display at fixed column intervals. (Normally 8; 4, 8, and 16 are the ONLY legal choices.) Scroll overlap (0-255) - This is the number of lines of overlap between screens when scrolling: the smaller, the larger the scroll. Originally 2, for a nearly full scroll. Must be smaller than your screen size! Align new page with screen (Y/N) - When you use the page find commands ^QI, ^QL, ^QN, do you want the first line at the top of the screen? Originally No, its position varies, as in an ordinary Find. Beep on error (Y/N) - Do you want a beep when a VDE error message displays? Cut (AltC) deletes block (Y/N) - Should the block Cut command (AltC) delete the block after copying it into the cut buffer? [BkSp] destructive (Y/N) - Should the [BackSpace] key delete characters? Originally Yes; if No, it just moves the cursor left. [Del] deletes at cursor (Y/N) - Should the [Del] key delete the cursor character? Originally Yes; if No, it deletes the previous one. [Home,End] go to screen top/bottom (Y/N) - Should [Home,End] move to the top or bottom of the screen? Originally No, they move to line start or end. Variable tab stops - Enter up to 8 variable tab stop columns, in ascending order. Fill unused values with 0. Originally: 6, 15, 35, 55. Show time as AM/PM (Y/N) - Do you want the time stamp to display in 12 hour format (AM/PM)? Originally Yes. If No, the time shows in 24 hour format. (Affects AltT command and ^T in print headers.) Show date in Euro format (day,mo,yr) (Y/N) - Do you want the date to display in European format? Originally No, meaning US Format (mo,day,yr). (Affects AltD command and ^D in print headers.) Show date numerically (Y/N) - Do you want AltD to enter the date numerically (1/15/88)? Originally No, meaning verbose (January 15, 1988). Strikeout (^PX) character - Specify the character you want to use for the strikeout effect when printing. Originally "-"; some prefer "/", etc. ========================= 5. PRINTER INSTALLATION ========================== Printers vary enormously. VDE can accomodate two printer drivers, each of which can be installed to take advantage of your printer's special features. (Within VDE, the AltV command can be used to select the driver to use when printing.) You can use these for two different printers, or as two different "style sheets" to print in different formats (margins, line spacing, etc) on the same printer. The default installed in VDE is a "SIMPLE" driver that can send plain text to any printer, but does not support any print controls other than underline and strikeout. (The "SIMPLE" driver is also recommended for many daisy-wheel or typewriter-style printers.) Many pre- defined drivers for other printers can be selected from a menu within VINST. One thing you are likely to want to modify is the printer initialization, to which you can add codes to modify the default page margins, tab settings, etc for your printer. Most of the drivers in the VINST menu implement only basic codes for print effects like italics and proportional printing; you can, however, modify them to your taste, to implement any additional features (fonts, etc) you have available. After choosing a driver from the Menu, return and select "Edit current driver". (To modify the Alternate driver, you must switch it to the primary one, then switch it back afterward.) An example of a more fully configured driver is "HPLJw/PacPg25in1". This can be used with a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printer (or compatible) equipped with a Pacific Page 25-in-1 cartridge (or any other that provides the fonts indicated below). It offers the following effects: CODE EFFECT Normal print Prestige Elite 10 point font, printer margin set to column 6 ^OK Times Roman 10 point proportional font ^B,^S,^Y Boldface, Underline, Italics (all fonts) ^T,^V Superscript, Subscript using 7 point Prestige font ^D switch to Times Roman from Prestige and back ^A,^N switch to Courier 12 point from Prestige and back ^Q Mini Gothic 3.6 point ^W Presentation Bold 18 point ^E Math Elite 10 point ^R return to Prestige from ^Q,^W,^E If your printer is not on the driver menu, but emulates or resembles one that is, start out using that driver, and refine it as needed. Failing this, you can start out with the "SIMPLE" driver and, referring to your printer manual, install all the necessary codes yourself. (In this event, please consider sending this information so that a new driver can be added to VINST.) VDE does not support Adobe Postscript; but you may be able to add the codes to switch into your printer manufacturer's native mode, then return to Postscript, to your printer initialization and deinitialization (see below). VINST can use special Printer Driver files to store and retrieve other printer definitions. This makes it easy to save your installation and to pass it along to others. These files should have a type of ".VDP". When editing in VDE, the AltU command may be used to load such a file, putting any number of different printer drivers at your disposal. In VINST, you have the option to read in or write out such a file, as well as editing the following values individually. Printer ID - Identify the printer you are installing. (16 characters) Printer device - Normally "PRN", but you can choose a specific port (like LPT2) if your system has several printers. Extended character set (P/R/N) - Specifies how "extended ASCII" characters 80- FF (graphics or foreign characters) will print. This depends on the sequence of characters in your printer's fonts. Your choices are: <P>C8 - the standard IBM PC character set. No translation in printing. <R>OMAN8 - an arrangement common in laser printer fonts. VDE will translate PC graphics into Roman8 equivalents where possible. <N>one - your printer doesn't print characters in this range at all. VDE will "emulate" PC graphics, choosing overstruck pairs of standard characters that come close. Note that if you are using a non-standard screen font that agrees with your printer font, whatever it may be, you should choose "P". Printer type (H/F/L/O) - Enter "H" for HP LaserJet or DeskJet compatible, "F" for Epson FX (9 pin) or compatible, "L" for Epson LQ (24 pin) or compat- ible, or "O" for any other type. Send LF after CR (Y/N) - Normally Yes. But with a few printers, which manu- facture their own LineFeed on receiving a Return, you will need No here. Page length (0-255) - The number of text lines to print on a page. An 11" sheet gives 66 lines of print at a standard spacing of 6 lpi; most printers can actually print about 60-64 lines. Be sure also to leave room on the page for the following margin settings, if used. Default is 58. Top margin (0-255) - The number of blank lines to skip as a top margin before printing the number of text lines set above. Default is 0. Top margin if header used (0-255) - The number of lines to skip instead as a top margin before printing the header, if one is used. Default is 0. Lines to skip between header and text (0-255) - Blank lines to leave between header and text. Also determines lines between text and bottom page number, if used. Default is 2. Left margin (0-255) - Set the number of blank columns to skip as a left margin, shifting the entire printout to the right. Default is 0. (Note: most printers offer an Esc command to set an internal left margin in dot- columns or inches. If you need a left margin, you can get more consistent and reliable results by including such a command in your initialization string. If you can't do this, install a value here and VDE will print spaces for a margin.) The following menu choices allow you to modify the codes that are part of your printer driver. For all of these codes, the existing values (if any) will display, first in more or less readable "character" form and then as a string of hex digits, preceded by the length in parentheses. Press [Return] alone to leave the codes unchanged, or ^[Return] to delete them entirely, or enter new codes -- either in hexadecimal, or as character values by pressing the single quote ['], then a character. Note that the double quote ["] will duplicate the existing code. When finished, press [Return]. Any one string can be up to 127 bytes long; the total available for use is about 450 bytes. [A]-Initialization, etc - This is an optional string of code to send to the printer before each print job, usually to set default margins, line spacing, font, etc. (NOTE: the ^KP command has an option to specify additional codes at print time. See PRINTING.) [B]-Deinitialization - This is another string to send after each print job, to restore the printer to the desired state on exit. [C]-Envelope setup - This string will be sent in place of the usual initialization when you address an envelope with ^KPA (see ENVELOPES). For many printers you will need no special codes here; or, you might find that a linefeed or two, perhaps also a left margin command, is useful to position the print properly on the envelope. You should use a pica font (fixed, 10 cpi). The setup codes in VINST's HP LaserJet drivers assume that you will insert the envelope end-on in the default paper tray, and consequently they use a landscape font (Courier 12). They do not specify "envelope size" forms, so there is no need to change the form size on the printer panel. If you are feeding envelopes from a different paper tray, you will have to add codes here to specify this tray. You must also be sure that your deinitialization contains any codes necessary to return to the default tray, orientation, etc. after addressing an envelope. Printing envelopes can be complicated; see your printer manual. [D]-Proportional (^OK) - Enter the codes needed to produce a proportionally spaced font when you print while in proportional mode (^OK). Like the "toggles" below, you also need to supply a second string to turn this off and return to fixed spacing afterwards. TOGGLES: [E]-Bold, etc - For six of the seven printer toggles (not ^X), you need to tell VDE the codes to send to your printer to produce the desired effect, then turn it off again. The conventional meanings of the toggles are: ^B boldface ^Y italic/ribbon color ^D doublestrike ^T superscript ^S underline ^V subscript but you can use them for anything you want. Example: Epson FX printers require three-byte sequences to turn continuous underlining on and off: Underline on "Esc - 1" hex 1B 2D 31 decimal 27 45 49 off "Esc - 0" 1B 2D 30 27 45 48 You can enter the data in hex or characters, or any mixture thereof: [G]... : 1B 2D 31 <--- entry in hex format ...and off: 'Esc '- '0 <--- or by characters You should find all necessary codes in your printer manual. (NOTES: ^PS will underline text by overstriking with "_" if you do not install codes for it. ^PX requires no installation, but see USER OPTIONS to specify the strikeout character.) SWITCHES: [K]-User1, etc - The same idea, but for switches, which send the same codes every time they are used. WordStar calls the switches: ^Q,W,E,R "user 1,2,3,4" (no standard meaning) ^A,N alternate, normal pitch But once again, you can use them for different fonts, printer bin selection, or anything else you like. ========================= 6. DEFAULT FUNCTION KEYS ========================= VDE has a set of 48 Function Keys, corresponding to the [F1]...[F12] keys in their normal, Shift-, Ctrl-, and Alt- usage, which can have macro definitions assigned to them. The default definitions are those that will be active when you first enter VDE. By changing these, you can easily customize VDE for an approximate match to the standard function-key configuration for Wordstar or Word Perfect, or to suit any special requirements of your own. (Any keys defined with Esc[ while using VDE will override these defaults.) VINST can use Function Key Definition files to store function-key sets. These should have a file type of ".VDF". You have the option to read in or write out such a file, as well as editing the keys individually. (VDF files can also be read or written with VDE's AltU command, but only VINST can display the definitions, or change those in VDE.COM itself.) VINST gives you a display much like this: Function keys: (___ bytes free) <---- note room available F1:<> F2:<> <---- "<>" flag means undefined F3:<> F4:< Scan >[Esc];^C <---- " Scan " is key's label F5:<> F6:<QN>^OL5^M^OR60^M <---- Quiet, No-repeat key, no label F7:<> F8:<Undrln ><N>^PS F9:< Bold ><N>^PB F10:<QN>^QS[!v] <---- "[!v]" means Shft[v] You can select one of several ranges of definitions to display: Normal, Shift(!), Ctrl(^), Alt(@), and if you have an Enhanced keyboard, a separate additional set of 8 keys for the [F11],[F12] keys in each of those states. Or at any time you can press the [F]-key you want to define, and type in the new definition. While doing this, ^[Break] aborts; ^P must be used to enter [Enter] (^M), [BkSp] (^H), or ^P itself. The Esc key and special PC keys like PgUp will display by name within brackets: [Esc], [>], [PgUp]. Shift, Ctrl, and Alt combinations are indicated by "!", "^", and "@", as in "[!v]", "^J", "@D". Many of these keys cannot be entered into a macro definition with VDE's Esc[ command, but they can be recorded with Esc", and can be entered in VINST. By default, VDE comes with [F1] installed for command help (^J), and other definitions blank. Sample function-key files are also included; EXAMPLES.VDF contains several macros discussed in VDE.REF: F1:<QN>^QR^N@D^OF ;put date at top right F2:<QN>^QS^S^S[Esc]= [^D^D ;move to start of paragraph F3:<QN>[Esc]~.1^S[Esc]1[Esc]~.<^D[Esc]= 2[Esc]=^M2 ;move to start ^S^S[Esc]!1[Esc]2^D[Esc]= 2[Esc]=^M2 ; of sentence F4:<QN>^QS^X[Esc]= ][Esc]=^M]^S ^D[Esc]![ ;soften hard-CR paragraph The files WS4.VDF and WP.VDF can be used to define the function keys according to the usage of WordStar or Word Perfect. The WordStar 4 default definitions in WS4.VDF are: WS4.VDF NORMAL SHIFT CTRL ALT F1 ^J ^OB ^QF Vertical bar graphic F2 ^U ^OC ^QA Horizontal bar F3 ^PS ^L Upper-left corner F4 ^PB ^QI Upper-right F5 ^Y ^KY ^OL Lower-left F6 ^T ^KH ^OR Lower-right F7 ^KV Upper T graphic F8 ^KC Lower T F9 ^KS ^KB ^QS Left T F10 ^KD ^KK ^QD Right T The WP.VDF file will not "turn VDE into Word Perfect", but it does provide a considerable degree of keystroke compatibility. You can assign any other functions desired to unused keys: WP.VDF NORMAL SHIFT CTRL ALT F1 ^U [^Esc] AltR F2 ^QF ^QF AltJ ^QA F3 ^J [^Esc]C ^OD F4 ^OG [^Esc]B [^Esc]B F5 ^KF AltD F6 ^PB ^OC ^OF F7 [^Esc]F ^KP F8 ^PS [^Esc]S [^Esc]T [^Esc]S F9 F10 ^KS [^Esc]F Esc" ========================== 7. GRAPHICS CHARACTERS ========================== VDE allows text to contain a limited, but variable, set of 32 characters in the range 80-FFh (see FOREIGN CHARACTERS and GRAPHICS). In addition, the code ^Z (1Ah) must be treated as a graphics character. VINST lets you specify your own default graphics set. VINST can use Graphic Definition files to store graphic character sets. These should have a file type of ".VDG", for ease of identification. You have the option to read in or write out such a file, as well as editing the keys individually. VDE can also write such files with its AltU command. You will be shown the current definitions, in the same format as the VDE Graphics command. You may select any entry to redefine (A-Z, 1-6) whether vacant or not; or, you may clear them all. In VINST, new graphic codes must be entered by hex value, from 80 to FF (and 1A); a full list of graphics characters (80-FF) can be displayed for your selection if you need it, by typing "?" at the definition prompt. Simply pressing [Enter] means "free" or undefined. Note that your Printer Installation determines how graphics will print. =========================== 8. CHARACTER WIDTHS ============================ In order to judge the margins correctly when formatting, VDE's proportional printing feature (^OK) needs to know how wide each character is when it prints. The default width table, based on a 10-point Times Roman font, will probably work fairly well with any proportional font ("m" is wider than "i", and so on). If you would like to fine-tune this table to correspond to your favorite font instead, use VINST to modify the width table as needed: you can select each character, then enter its width (in units of 1/360") as a decimal value. The easy way to determine these widths is to print out a file with lines of 60 of each character. (Rather than type that out by hand, you can use the macro command to repeat each letter 60 times.) Measure the length of each line in inches, and multiply by 6: that is the character width in 1/360". The result is typically between 16 and 48.) Note that changing the width table doesn't affect how your printer operates -- just how VDE judges the length of each line for reformatting in proportional mode. VINST can use Character Width files to store width data for the proportional font(s) you use. These should have a file type of ".VDC", for ease of identification. You have the option to read in or write out such a file, as well as editing the width table. VDE can load such files with its AltU command. ========================== 9. RESTORE DEFAULTS ============================= This option on the VINST menu is provided in the event that you want to undo any changes that have been made to your copy of VDE. This will return VDE.COM to the state it was distributed in: installation for IBM PC; all User Options restored to their original defaults; no Function Keys (except, for convenience, [F1]=help); SIMPLE printer driver; original Graphics characters and Character widths. VINST prompts you to confirm that you really want to do this before proceeding. ===================================[end]======================================