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1994-07-08
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CSIFIX2
A reformatter for IBM PC files that create problems
when sent to a Composition Systems, Inc. system.
By Peter Zicari
Ver 2.0, July 1994
WHAT IT DOES
Some newspapers' CSI front-end systems have trouble with plain DOS text.
They strip out the normal DOS line ending (CR/LF, #13 and #10 in ASCII),
causing lines to run together. They don't recognize paragraphs. Some
CSI systems also convert symbols like "=" to line ending codes, and
unavoidably treat quote marks as open- quotes only, although the
typesetter will need to make a distinction between open quotes and close
quotes. Some recognize "#" as the beginning of a non-printing note.
Different systems recognize different codes as paragraph endings, as
well.
CSIFIX converts DOS text files saved with line endings to continuous
lines broken only at paragraphs. A correct paragraph marker is inserted.
End-quote marks are fixed, and "=" and "#" are removed. An optional
heading to add desk, slug and initials is included, which take care of
non-keyboard characters some systems require.
The original is copied, not altered.
Although CSIFIX is intended for use with DOS text, this version allows
you to type $START$ and $END$ at beginning and end of text to eliminate
data some word processors add at top and bottom of files.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CSIFIX
If this is your first time using CSIFIX and you are going to use it on a
hard drive, please follow the INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS before
proceeding.
1. Write as usual. Spell-check your copy; save it as ASCII text as you do
now.
To make a paragraph, use either 3 or more spaces or a blank line.
It is not necessary to type "///" or an alt-number key combination at the
ends of paragraphs, or at the end of the story.
2. Quit your word processor. (Don't forget to save the document first).
If you are not using CSIFIX on a hard drive, skip to ALTERNATE
INSTRUCTIONS below.
At a C:> prompt . . .
3. Type CSIFIX and the name of the file you plan to transmit.
Example: csifix mystory
CSIFIX will reply:
Reading mystory
Checking mystory.OUT
Writing mystory.OUT
Then ...
Do you want to change the current set-up codes for your
output file? Press Y or y.
4. Press the Y key for "yes." See the instructions below on changing the
settings.
then...
Please enter your CSI desk, filename, and initials.
Desk and slug are limited to six characters each.
Separate them with commas. You don't need to type
brackets.
Example: DESK11,EXAMPL,XXX
5. Type the desk, slug, and your initials. If you have already typed
the slug in the story, you can skip this step by pressing enter alone.
CSIFIX will reply
Done!
Press enter to go on.
6. Press Enter. You're done.
7. When you send the file, transmit filename.OUT rather than the
original.
ALTERNATE INSTRUCTIONS
3. Put the CSIFIX disk in the A: drive.
At an A:> prompt . . .
4.Type CSIFIX
Press Enter.
CSIFIX will reply:
Please enter Input file
Press Enter to choose from list; to quit, press Esc.
5. Take the CSIFIX disk out of the A: drive and insert the disk with your
file.
6. Type the filename you want. (Note: The file doesn't have to be in the
same drive. If it is on another one, specify which drive and/or directory
is is on. The output file will be put in the same place unless you
specify otherwise.
A:>myfile
or
A:>b:myfile
or
A:>c:\stories\myfile
CSIFIX will reply:
Please enter Output file
Press enter to write to A:\filename.OUT. To quit, press
Esc.
7. Press Enter.
CSIFIX will reply:
Do you want to change the current set-up codes for your
output file? Press Y or y.
8. Press the Y key for "yes." See the instructions below on changing the
settings.
then...
Please enter your CSI desk, filename, and initials.
Desk and slug are limited to six characters.
Separate them with commas. You don't need to type
brackets.
Example: DESK11,EXAMPL,XXX
9. Type the desk, slug, and your initials. If you have already typed
the slug in the story, you can skip this step by
pressing enter alone.
CSIFIX will reply:
Done!
Press enter to go on.
Press Enter.
10. When you transmit the file send myfile.OUT (or whatever the filename
is,
plus OUT) rather than the original.
VARIATIONS & ERROR MESSAGES
A file directory
Press Enter on the blank line of the first prompt to see a directory of
files in the default drive/directory. Use the cursor keys to move the
selector bar up and down and pick a filename from the box.
To see more of the directory, use PageUp and PageDown.
To see the files in a different order or another list of files,
press F2 and follow instructions.
(You may find that when you enter a new directory instruction, the
directory goes blank. Press PageUp a couple of times to find the
shorter directory.)
Alternate output files
To send the output of CSIFIX to some file other than Filename.OUT, you
can
either . . .
Type CSIFIX filename1 filename2 on the command line
or
Enter the new name after Please enter Output file.
This is how you would put the output file on the b: disk, for example.
a:\>CSIFIX filename1 b:filename2
A safety feature
If the filename you use is already on the disk, CSIFIX will report:
Filename1.OUT already exists. Press Y or y to rewrite it.
Do what it says. If you don't want to overwrite Filename1.OUT, press n
and enter a new filename at the prompt.
You should be able to quit the program at any point by pressing Esc
several times.
Some otherwise readable files write junk at their tops and bottoms. To
remove it, type $START$ at the top and/or $END$ at the bottom of the text
you want to save.
CHANGING THE DOCUMENT SET-UP
CSIFIX allows you to customize several basic settings for the newspaper
you're trying to transmit to. Once you have set them up and saved them,
you should not need to set them again.
1. At the "Type Y or y" box mentioned above, type y.
2. This box appears:
These are the current settings for
setup codes for your transmission.
A. Size of indent in old copy: 3
B. Paragraph marker in new copy:
C. Marker at start of CSI heading: [
D. Marker at end of CSI heading: ]
E. Marker at end of text:
F. Save any changes on disk.
Q. Quit this menu & resume program.
3. Select a variable to change either by moving the cursor up and down,
then pressing enter, or by typing a letter.
-- A. is the number of spaces in a paragraph indent in the original. If
you write "block style", using a blank line between paragraphs, ignore
this one.
-- B. is the character the CSI system will need to see at the beginnings
of paragraphs. Get this and the remaining four codes from the paper's
systems manager. If it is a non-keyboard character, type # and its ASCII
code in the entry box. If you type more than one character, DO NOT enter
spaces between them. Usually, you'll type the codes for carriage return
& line feed, too.
They are #13#10. A common setting might then be: #13#10#9, or
Carriage
return-line feed-tab.
Note: CR/LF appear as a blank line under the "paragraph marker" line on
the screen.
-- C. goes at the top of the file. You may enter up to 3 characters.
-- D. goes at the end of the heading.
-- E. goes at the end of the text.
4. Enter the appropriate information in the box that appears next. Each
box is different, but here is an example:
Enter up to 3 characters for the paragraph
marker. Don't separate them with spaces of
commas. Enter non-letter characters by
typing # and the ASCII code of the desired
character.
Non-keyboard codes are not likely to be needed for the CSI header,
but you
may need them for paragraphs and the start-of-file or end-of-file
markers.
5. If you usually transmit to only one CSI system, save your entries by
selecting F. The only filename you should enter is
CSIFIX.INI
which appears in the data-entry box. However, you may want to put the
data in another directory, and you can do that by typing it in at this
point. You should put CSIFIX.INI in a directory in your system's PATH,
preferably the same one CSIFIX itself is in.
6. Quit by selecting or typing Q. Any changes you make will remain in
effect as long as the program is running, even if you don't save them on
disk.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Before you use CSIFIX, install it somewhere convenient on your hard
drive.
1. Get a DOS prompt: C:\
2. Type this command: Path
3. Press enter.
A list of directories will appear that looks something like this:
PATH=C:\;C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WP51\LEARN
Every hard drive is different, so yours will be unique. Individual
directory names appear between semicolons. Choose a directory to keep
CSIFIX in.
C:\ or C:\DOS are good choices, if they're on the list.
4. Put the CSIFIX disk in your A: drive.
5. Type this command: Copy a:CSIFIX.* {enter the directory you chose
here}
Example:Copy a:CSIFIX.* c:\dos
6. Press enter.
7. Take out the CSIFIX disk. You're done with it.
8. Set up your default codes the first time you use the program by typing
Y or y when you are prompted to after entering filenames. You will
need to
get the information from the newspaper's systems manager. Save the
settings when you're finished by selecting option F. CSIFIX will ask
for a filename. Only CSIFIX.INI will be read, but you can use this step
to put the file in another directory, preferably one in your system's
path.
Ideally, you should put the defaults in the same directory as CSIFIX
itself.
DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
CSIFIX is shareware, and all rights are hereby reserved. You may copy
this program and accompanying documentation freely, as long as there is
no charge exceeding the cost of copying and media. I accept no
responsibility for problems arising from the use of CSIFIX, but if one
does arise, you may contact me via Internet at PETERZICARI@PCOHIO.COM or
on Compuserve at 71760,2575.
Peter Zicari
2601 Idlewood Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118