Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/020a/sch_drw.zip/SCH-DOC2.ASC

Text File | 1989-11-03 | 18KB | 410 lines

                      SCH-DRW2 DOCUMENTATION

     1.0 REGISTRATION

         SCH-DRW2 may be used on a trial basis to determine if it is
     suitable for your needs. If you use it, you are obligated to sent
     the author the sum of $20. This will entitle the user to one
     upgrade.  The author will be receptive to suggestions for
     improvements and to correction of bugs that have escaped his
     notice.  The SCH-DRW program remains the property of,

             John Mattern  702 Hilton Ave.  Baltimore, Md. 21228

     and is offered only as share ware!

     2.0 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

         The author wishes to acknowledge the use of a font editor
     based on the one published by Waite and Morgan in their "Graphics
     Primer for the IBM PC". The editor was modified to draw a complete
     alternate character set ASC(1 to 255) formatted for use by the
     BASIC "PUT" statement. This allows the use of a complete alternate
     character set on the PC ,XT and AT as well as the Tandy 1000 SX
     and PC JR. The "PUT" statement was used almost exclusively in
     writing to the screen in SCH-DRW2.

         The author also wishes to acknowledge valuable suggestions for
     additional features in SCH-DRW2 made by E. H. Kidera.

     3.0 INTRODUCTION

         SCH-DRW2 allows the user to create electrical schematics on
     the monitor, to save them to disk, and to print them on an IBM
     compatible 9 pin dot matrix printer. The schematic may be standard
     size (8.5 by 11) or legal size (8.5 by 14), selected at start up.
     The prints are made sideways.

         The program was written in Microsoft Quick Basic version 4.0
     using a Tandy 1000 SX with 640K installed RAM and MSDOS version
     3.2.  The printer was an Epson MX80 with GRAPHTRAX PLUS. However,
     the program should run on most IBM compatible computers with 320K
     of installed RAM.  The program apparently does not run on MSDOS
     2.1.

     4.0 VERSION 2.0 CHANGES

     Version 2.0 has the following additional faetures:

     4.1 Version 2.0 supports two drawing sizes. A 8.5 by 14 size
         drawing has been added to the original 8.5 by 11 size.
     4.2 Version 2.0 allows two like size drawings to be loaded at once
         and allows transfer of any image from one to the other.
     4.3 Version 2.0 draws outlines of all microelectronic packages
         including the four sided ones.
     4.4 Version 2.0 will erase any selected area including the entire
         drawing in one step.
     4.5 Version 2.0 has four hot keys for fast drawing of the most
         commonly used wiring characters.

                                   1.0




     4.6 Version 2.0 has a help screen.
     4.7 Version 2.0 has a directory screen.
     4.8 Version 2.0 has additional characters for greater flexibility.

         Version 2.0 retains the integrity of the whole drawing defined
     by the sum of the windows. Where not restricted by boundaries, the
     drawing of large patterns and the erasing is done on a global
     basis.

     5.0 SCH-DRW2 FILES

         The following six files are included in the ARC file
     SCH-DRW2.ARC:

         SCH-PRG2.EXE    Compiled version of the QUICK BASIC program.
         SCH-CHR2.DAT    File containing all character specifications.
         SCH-ART2.STP    Template for 8.5 by 11 drawing.
         SCH-ART2.LTP    Template for 8.5 by 14 legal size drawing.
         SCH-ART2.SME    Character menu on 8.5 by 11 size format.
         SCH-ART2.LME    Character menu on 8.5 by 14 size format.
         SCH-DOC2.ASC    The documentation.

         The file SCH-PRG2.EXE is the compiled version of the Quick
     Basic program.  SCH-CHR2.DAT contains the alpha numeric and
     graphic character sets that are automatically loaded when SCH-
     PRG2.EXE is run.  Templates consisting of a border and title box
     are included in files SCH-ART2.STP and SCH-ART2.LTP.SCH-ART2.SME
     contains a listing of the character menu on the standard size
     format; and SCH-ART2.LME contains the same information on a legal
     size format.

         To view the menu run SCH-PRG2.EXE then press F2 and at the
     prompt enter SME. After SME is loaded, press F8 to print a copy
     for your convenience. SCH-DOC2.ASC is the documentation file in
     ASC form.

     6.0 PROGRAM CONTROL

         The program has been written so that virtually all necessary
     information is presented continuously on the screen. The
     horizontal and vertical scales are shown at the top and left sides
     respectively.  Control of the running program is means of the
     function keys whose use is indicated at the bottom of the screen
     by brief neumonics.  The graphics characters are displayed on the
     right side in three columns.  The first two columns display only
     alphabetic size graphic characters while the third column displays
     large graphics "characters".  The upper and lower case alphabets
     are entered from the key board as usual.

          There are two hollow cursors, one to select the character to
     write and the second one to locate the place on the screen where
     the character is to be written. The first cursor is controlled by
     the direction or arrow keys while the second cursor is controlled
     by the PG-UP, PG-DN, and TAB keys.







                                   2.0



     7.0 WINDOWS

         The screen presentation is in the medium resolution mode to
     keep the aspect ratio of the characters close to unity. Both
     horizontal and vertical windows are used to allow printed page to
     be 8.5 by 11 or 8.5 by 14. This is accomplished by 3 or 4
     overlapping horizontal and 3 overlapping vertical windows. The
     print out is 60 characters high and 94 characters wide for the
     standard format and 124 characters wide for the legal sized
     format.  Four horizontal windows are required for the 8.5 by 14
     legal size drawing.

     8.0 USE OF KEYS - NUMLOCK AND CAPLOCK KEYS OFF !

         F1        Toggles between two schematic drawings.
         F2        Shows Directory.
         F3        Loads data file after a three character file name
                   has been entered.
         F4        Shifts window to the left.
         F5        Shifts window down.
         F6        Shifts window up.
         F7        Shifts window to the right.
         F8        Prints current schematic drawing.
         F9        Saves current schematic to disk after a three
                   Character name has been entered.
         F10       Returns control to MSDOS.
         PG UP     Moves the character select cursor up.
         PG DN     Moves the character select cursor down.
         ARROWS    Moves the writing cursor horizontally and
                   vertically.
         ARROWS    When used with the right shift key the direction
                   keys on the keypad autorepeats the displayed
                   character.
         TAB       Moves the character select cursor between the three
                   columns.
         ENTER     Displays the selected graphics character.
         SPACE     Erases the displayed character.
         BACK      Erases the file name to facilitate editing.
         ESCAPE    Aborts disk I/O routine without interrupting
                   execution of program.
         DELETE    Erases a selected area.
         HOME      Moves cursor to far left.
         END       Moves cursor to far right.
         ALT-R     Rotates the displayed character where necessary.
         ALT-W     Dedicated to writing and rotating a line segment.
         ALT-E     Dedicated to writing and rotating a line elbow
         ALT-T     Dedicated to writing and rotating a line tee.
         ALT-X     Dedicated to writing and selecting line crossings.
         ALT-G     Dedicated to writing and selecting ground types.
         ALT-M     Marks upper left hand corner of area to be selected.
         CTRL-C    Copies graphics character under the writing cursor
                   to the buffer.
         ALT-C     Also copies a selected rectangular area to buffer.
         CTRL-P    Pastes the character in buffer onto any screen
                   location pointed to by the writing cursor.
         ALT-P     Pastes a copied rectangle onto any screen location
                   indicated by the writing cursor.
         ALT-S     Copies and erases as above in one step.
         LSHIFT    The left shift key selects the character case.
         RSHIFT    The right shift key is used with the keypad
                   direction keys to autorepeat an  existing character.

                                   3.0




     9.0 THE WRITING CURSOR

         The writing cursor will move freely around the useful screen
     under the influence of the direction keys. The information is
     unaffected by the cursor in this mode. The writing cursor will
     also move freely around the screen using the key pad direction
     keys together with the right shift key. In this mode, the starting
     character under the cursor is repeated continuously, thus altering
     the display.

     10.0 THE CHARACTER CURSOR

          The character cursor is confined to the three right columns
     and will select the character to be written at the location of the
     writing cursor. The TAB key moves this cursor between columns
     while the PG-UP and PG-DN keys move the cursor along the columns.
     When moving vertically, folding will occur at the interior ends of
     the columns.



     11.0 DEDICATED KEY COMBINATIONS

         The key combinations ALT-W, ALT-E, ALT-T, and ALT-X contain
     most circuit connection or wiring needs.  Use of these
     combinations will eliminate the need for much moving about in the
     character menu.  The menu then may be used primarily to provide
     the devices patterns.

     12.0 LARGE INTEGRATED PACKAGES

         Three ikons for these packages are found in the third
     character column. When the character cursor is on one of these and
     the ENTER key is pressed the width and height of the desired
     package is requested. Enter the width and then enter the height.
     The number of pins will be two less than the width or height
     whichever applies. The numbers entered must be two or greater. The
     maximum dimension is set by the available drawing area. A fourth
     ikon of a plain rectangle is used in the same way.

     13.0 SELECTING A GRAPHICS AREA

         Place the writing cursor at the upper left hand corner of a
     rectangular area to be selected then use ALT-M to mark this
     corner.  Place the cursor on the lower right hand corner of the
     selected area and the preparation for either erasing, copying, or
     shifting of the area is complete. The writing cursor itself sets
     the lower right hand corner of the area. Note that the selected
     area may span one or more windows.

     14.0 ERASING THE SELECTED AREA

         Select an area to be erased as described in section 13.0
     above.  Then press the DELETE key to erase the contents of the
     selected area.  Please note that the marker must be reset before
     another block erase may be performed.




                                   4.0




     15.0 DUPLICATING THE SELECTED AREA

         Select an area to be duplicated as described in section 13.0
     above.  Then press the ALT-C combination to copy the contents of
     the selected area to the buffer.

         The contents of the buffer may now be pasted in a new location
     pointed to by the writing cursor.  Move the cursor to the screen
     location where the upper left hand corner of the new is to be
     located and use the ALT-P combination to paste the buffer contents
     to the screen. The duplicated area may be pasted in any area of
     the drawing where it will fit. The copied area will remain in the
     buffer until replaced

     16.0  SHIFTING A SELECTED AREA

         Select an area to be shifted, using the proceedure in section
     13.0.  Use ALT-S to both copy and erase the selected area.  Then
     place the writing cursor at the location of the upper right hand
     corner of the new image and paste using ALT-P.  The copied area
     may be pasted in any area of the total drawing where it will fit.
     The copied area will remain in the buffer until replaced.

     17.0 DRAWING SIZE

         Two drawing sizes are available. One fits on standard size 8.5
     by 11 printer paper. The second, larger size, fits on a legal size
     8.5 by 14 paper. The choice is made during start up. Please note
     that the size cannot be changed once the program is running. Also
     note that standard size files are not compatible with legal size
     files.

     18.0 LOADING AN EXISTING DRAWING

         The F3 key initiates the proceedure for loading an existing
     file.  Provide a three letter file name as requested in the window
     and then enter.If needed a second file may be loaded. To do this
     press the F1 key to change drawings and repeat the proceedure just
     used to load the first existing file but, of course, with a
     different name.  The F1 key is used to toggle between
     corresponding windows of the two drawings.

         The file name may be erased for changes using the back space
     key.  Also, if the disk is not yet being read from, the I/O may be
     aborted using the ESCAPE key. If the file does not load there has
     been a file error which in most cases can be corrected without
     restarting the program.

     19.0 SAVING THE CURRENT DRAWING

         The F9 key initiates the proceedure for saving the current
     file.  Provide a three letter file name as requested in the window
     and then enter. If both drawings are to be loaded a separate
     operation and a another file name is required for the second
     drawing.  The file names need not be the same as those used to
     load the file originally.

         The file name may be erased for changes using the back space
     key. Also, if the disk is not yet being written to, the I/O may be
     aborted using the ESCAPE key.

                                   5.0






         If the file does not save there has been a file error which in
     most cases can be corrected without loss of data.

     20.0 USE OF SIMULTANEOUS DRAWINGS

         Version two allows manipulation of two drawings at one time.
     One of these is the working drawing while the other may be an old
     drawing or a library drawing containing circuits that are to be
     transferred to the working drawing. The F1 key toggles between the
     two drawings. The name of the current drawing is displayed in the
     lower left hand corner of the screen and in the title box. Areas
     on one drawing may be saved and after toggling to the second
     drawing may be pasted on the other.  All operations are available
     for each drawing but only apply to the current or displayed
     drawing.

         To transfer the circuit display the old drawing, select the
     circuit using the ALT-M combination and the writing cursor , and
     then copy selected area to the buffer using the ALT-C combination.
     Then toggle F1 to display the new drawing and after locating the
     the upper left hand corner paste the circuit on the new drawing
     with the ALT-P combination.

     21.0 ERROR TRAPS

         It is exceedingly annoying to spend time on a drawing only to
     lose it abruptly because of an I/O error. For this reason the I/O
     routines are error trapped. Since an error will not interfere with
     the program execution the operator is given a chance to correct
     the error without loss of data.  The escape key will abort a
     request for an I/O transfer but will not stop the transfer once
     started.

     22.0 COMPARISON TO WORD PROCESSING

         Editing the schematic is both different from and similar to
     word processing. Editing text is somewhat primitive in that
     insertion of an additional character is not supported and folding
     at the end of a line is not supported but then there is not much
     need for the first feature and virtually none for the second
     feature.  On the other hand, both the block erase and block move
     are supported.  These are important features, where a change in
     position of a circuit or repetition of a circuit otherwise would
     require a tedious redraw.

         Also, the ability to move individual characters allows new
     combinations with graphic characters that appear on the screen but
     do not appear in the menu. There are about two dozen such
     characters in this category. New combinations of all kinds may be
     saved on a library drawing for use in new drawings at another
     time.





                                   6.0







     23.0 CONCLUSION

         SCH-DRW2 is a general purpose program for drawing and editing
     electrical circuits. It has features that make both the drawing
     and the editing very easy once a few simple procedures are
     learned. If you find this program useful and use it after a trial
     period please remember that it is being offered as shareware!
     Also, you are encouraged to pass the program on to others who may
     find it useful.



                                   6.0