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README24
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1994-05-30
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FASTMINDER INTERFACE 2.4 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
FOR USE WITH IBM AND IBM-COMPATIBLE COMPUTERS ONLY
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
Absolutely essential: 80286-based computer system
Strongly recommended: 12MHz or higher clock speed
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
NOTICE! THE CHARACTER REPRESENTING THE REPLACEABLE
PARAMETER HAS CHANGED; SEE VERSION 2.4 INFORMATION
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
This key-driven programmable interface does not come with an automatic
installation system since installation requires copying just two files from
the diskette to the hard drive. The user should put the MINDER.DAT datafile
in the MAIN DIRECTORY of the hard drive because that is where the interface
will be looking for it. The actual MINDER.EXE program may be located in any
directory on the hard drive. The default drive for writing the datafile and
for executing the stored command strings is now USER-SELECTABLE through the
INSERT key, though the program still begins and exits in the root directory.
Datafiles are read from the LAUNCH drive and written to whichever drive has
been specified as the default when the program terminates
After the interface files have been installed, the user should execute
the program and press THE PLUS KEY to invoke the help section. This section
should be looked at carefully since it explains the overall organization of
the interface and how the different features are accessed. For example, the
semicolon (;) key has CHANGED ITS FUNCTION again; please read the paragraph
about the key. The help section's warning about direct editing of datafiles
has vanished, but still applies. Users should not edit these files directly
because their unique formatting cannot be disturbed without destroying them
Users should remember that this program functions ONLY with these datafiles
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VERSION 2.0 INFORMATION ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 2.0 incorporates a REPLACEABLE PARAMETER, which should greatly
enhance the interface's utility for those individuals with several programs
that require the filename specification in the middle of the command string
rather than at the end. The parameter should even be useful for persons who
automate common tasks by creating single-line, single-parameter batch files
The inclusion of the replaceable parameter was made possible by Mr. William
Smith, whose informative article "An Essential String Function Library" was
published in the January 1993 issue of -The C Users Journal-
Version 2.0 offers AUTOMATED KEY SORTING, which replaces the primitive
copy function provided in earlier releases. This automated sorting function
works with single page copying only, and operates like this: the source key
settings are copied to the target key and all other settings (including the
target key's original settings) are moved forward or backward to compensate
Automated sorting does not apply, however, when copying key settings across
pages; that function remains unchanged (the source key information destroys
the target key information without changing the settings of any other keys)
Finally, Version 2.0 offers users the possibility of reading ALTERNATE
DATAFILES either from the command line or from within the program. Datafile
names start with 'minder' and are selected by entering the file's extension
Extensions may be entered from the command line (C:\> minder ann) or inside
the interface by pressing the apostrophe key, adjacent to the semicolon key
The apostrophe key initiates the datafile loading sequence, which begins by
asking if the currently loaded file should be stored or discarded. Then the
prompt for the new datafile will appear, UNLESS the original datafile could
not be stored properly. When this prompt for the new datafile appears, just
enter the extension of the datafile you want (remembering that the datafile
must reside in the ROOT directory). This should be useful for multiple user
environments, power users running hundreds of applications, and persons who
like to change program colors often. NOTICE: pressing ENTER at the datafile
selection prompt or executing the program without arguments defaults to the
'minder.dat' datafile. Press the space bar and ENTER at the datafile prompt
if you want to load the datafile 'minder' with no extension (this cannot be
done from the command line)
When changing datafiles from within the program, users should be aware
that the current directory will change to the root directory, the directory
key window will become the active window (the one subject to scrolling) and
both the directory key and operation key windows will be reset to page zero.
In addition, the key-lock status and the key-lock codeword will reflect the
settings of the datafile being loaded. THE AUTOMATIC OPTION SETTING, THOUGH,
WILL NOT BE RESET but instead will remain constant across multiple datafile
loading sequences. This preservation of the automatic option setting, while
not intended, may nonetheless prove useful to persons who use the automatic
option capability frequently. This programming oversight is therefore being
retained in version 2.4A and might very well be retained in future releases
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
REPLACEABLE PARAMETERS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
In versions 1.2 through 1.4 of the program, pressing any alphabetic or
numeric key would generate an information-window prompt, requesting command
arguments. The arguments would be tacked onto the end of the command string
stored inside the datafile. When automatic mode had been activated, however
the program would execute the specified option string automatically without
requesting arguments. VERSION 2.0 OPERATES DIFFERENTLY. This version allows
users to place a single replaceable parameter in each stored command string
The replaceable parameter (indicated by the percent sign WITHOUT any number
following it) marks the position in the command string at which any command
arguments entered at the prompt will be inserted. Only one parameter may be
placed into any command string; if multiple parameters are found, the first
parameter will be used to determine the position at which command arguments
are inserted
Because of this added feature, the interface now operates differently
whenever the alphanumeric keys are pressed. If the command string requested
by that keypress has a replaceable parameter, the information-window prompt
for the command arguments will appear. Conversely, if the command string is
lacking a replaceable parameter, the command will be EXECUTED AUTOMATICALLY
This method of operation (argument prompts for strings with parameters, and
automatic execution for strings without parameters) also works for function
keys whenever automatic mode has been set. With auto mode set, the pressing
of directory keys will generate AN ARGUMENTS PROMPT if the automatic option
string contains a replaceable parameter. If the automatic option string has
no parameter, however, it will execute automatically. Users should remember
that ANY PERCENT SIGN in the command string will be seen as a parameter and
treated as such by the program. Users should also be careful when selecting
arguments for automatic option commands since these commands will change if
the operation page changes
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VERSION 2.2 INFORMATION ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 2.2 makes it possible to replace multiple parameters in stored
command strings; the first five parameters may be replaced by user-supplied
arguments. Because parameters remain unnumbered, a command arguments prompt
is generated for EACH parameter (through the fifth) found within the stored
command string. For example, the stored operation key cl %.c %.obj > %.err
would generate three separate argument prompts, although parameters one and
three might represent the same (expanded) filename. Users wishing to expand
several parameters similarly should note that the F3 key functions the same
at string prompts as it does at the DOS command line; it recalls the string
entered immediately prior to the current prompt. Unfortunately, this cannot
be used to recall strings that were entered several prompts ago; users will
have to retype such strings manually. Finally, Version 2.2 offers users the
ability to blank their screens by pressing the back-slash key; this feature
might prove helpful to people who receive phone calls during computer hours
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VERSION 2.3 INFORMATION ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 2.3 allows users to select the default drive for the operation
strings and for writing the datafile. Upon entering the program the default
drive will remain the LAUNCH drive; the drive will not be reset to drive C:
until the user selects drive C: with the INSERT key. Pressing that key will
generate a prompt requesting a drive letter from A to Z (even if the user's
computer does not have that many drives). Press the letter that corresponds
to the drive you want to have as your default drive. Pressing the space bar
will report the current default directory for the current default drive, as
in previous versions. Version 2.3 also contains better handling of diskette
drive errors (like those encountered when the drive is accessed but nothing
has been placed inside it for reading). These error handling routines might
not function correctly under all circumstances; I was only able to test for
missing diskettes and not for other types of diskette errors. Please do not
hesitate to report problems with these routines; I will try to fix whatever
bugs are found to the best of my (meager) abilities
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
VERSION 2.4 INFORMATION ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Version 2.4 offers greatly-improved handling of string input, which is
due entirely to the use of the C source code in EDITGETS.C, one of the many
public domain programs contained in Snippets and available for download via
CompuServe. I had originally intended to use another example of source code
for string input, but EDITGETS.C is about one-third the size of the routine
initially considered for this purpose. For some time I have wanted to learn
how to handle string input competently, and EDITGETS.C appears to "fill the
bill" to perfection, adding very little overhead to the program. The source
credits for EDITGETS.C are shown below:
/* editgets.c - line input w/editing */
/* this code is released to the public domain */
/* written by Jon Burchmore */
/* modifications & enhancements by Bob Stout */
Because EDITGETS.C is invoked for all string input, the behavior of certain
functions (most notably the codeword routines) has changed. Previously, the
codeword routines were extremely primitive, letting users neither leave nor
correct errors. With this new release, the codeword routines work more like
regular string inputs, excepting of course the screen display. Also, please
be aware that a default codeword ("fastdata") will be created when the user
presses ENTER alone at the create codeword prompt. This was done to prevent
empty codeword strings from being written into the datafile. Pressing ENTER
alone at the reenter codeword prompt is equivalent to typing "fastdata" and
will clear the default codeword
Apart from this long overdue improvement, there is only one other change of
real importance in the program. The replaceable parameter, once represented
by the '%' character, has been changed to the '$' character. This change is
potentially quite significant, because it permits the storing and execution
of DOS commands that themselves require the '%' character. For example:
C:\> for %f in (visual borland watcom) do mkdir %f
This command could be stored as 'for %f in ($) do mkdir %f', thus prompting
the user only once for all three elements or alternately could be stored as
'for %f in ($ $ $) do mkdir %f', which would give three prompts to the user.
Obviously, this example represents merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg
but should be enough to demonstrate at least some of the potential benefits
associated with this change
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
REGISTRATION INFORMATION ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
FASTMINDER version 2.4 is public domain software; there are absolutely
no restrictions of any kind governing its duplication, distribution, or use
Users are nonetheless urged to report any errors they encounter while using
the software and are encouraged to share their opinions about the interface
design with the programmer. Postcards remain the preferred vehicle for user
feedback and should be mailed to the postal service address displayed below.
Also, please distribute this program and its documentation in original form
Version 2.4 was developed and compiled with the following packages:
COMPUTER: FastMicro FastData ValueLine 486SX-25, Super VGA Color
This is the very same $999 system John Dvorak cited in
his "1993 minimum machine" PC Magazine column (the one
featured in the PC Magazine issue on the Pentium chip)
EDITORS: Video Display Editor 1.65 + Programmer's Workbench 2.1
Because of its ergonomic qualities, VDE constitutes an
outstanding development environment, while Microsoft's
PWB is helpful for fast prototyping and spot revisions
COMPILER: Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 7.00
options: /Bm4096 /Gry2 /Ozaxb2 /W4 minder.c txtonly.obj
LINKER: Microsoft (R) Segmented Executable Linker Version 5.31
options: /exepack /farcall /noe /noi /packc /packf graphics.lib
Version 2.5 is slated to include memory swapping, but this may be postponed
Other potential features include multiple auto options and block key-moving
Please send any ideas for new features or enhancements of existing ones to:
Name, Email Address: Douglas G. Mohn (72124.2713@compuserve.com)
Post Office Address: 21 Brucester Bridge Court, Catonsville MD 21228
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