On Disk Monthly 60/odm60.zip/MAPIT.TXT

Text File | 1991-08-26 | 14KB | 362 lines

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|E║ |5Helpware|E ║                   ^1 Mapit |E                    ║ |5Helpware|E ║
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^C^1by James Barberousse and Cregg Hardwick^0


Little Joey's birthday party is next Saturday, and lots of Joey's
school friends are invited.  There is just one problem, though:  They
don't know the way to the house.  To get everyone safely to the
party, you need to draw a map to accurately and concisely provide
directions.  But, alas, a cartographer you are not!  Not to worry
though, On Disk Monthly is here to provide a solution.

^C^1Welcome to Mapit 1.00!^0

Mapit is an application program designed to help you produce
professional looking maps of virtually any scale, scope, or detail on
8" x 11" sheets of paper.  Use lines, rectangles, circles, buildings,
roads, traffic signs, landmarks, and text to create your map, shown
in graphic mode in a What You See Is What You Get style, and print it
out on your dot-matrix or laser printer.

Once Mapit is running, you will see the main menu across the top of
the screen, a toolbox of drawing icons on the left side of the
screen, and a workspace in the center of the screen with scroll bars
on the right side and bottom.  Each main menu item pulls down a
sub-menu, and some sub-menu items pop up additional menus and/or
dialog boxes.  Mapit fully supports a dual keyboard/mouse interface
integrated into its menu/icon environment.  A mouse is not required,
but it certainly is helpful.


^C^1UNDERSTANDING MAPIT^0

Mapit was designed to be easy to understand and use.  Most operations
work intuitively, but the following explains what the menu items and
tools do and how the interface operates.


^C^1Main Menu^0

The main menu across the top of the screen includes the following
items:  File, Edit, Style, and Help.  If any options inside these
submenus are temporarily unavailable, they will have a slash through
the first letter and appear dimmed.

^1Main Menu : File^0  This opens a pull-down menu with the following
options:

^1New^0  Delete the current map from memory (not from disk) and clear
the workspace.

^1Open^0  Load a map file from disk.

^1Save^0  Save a map file to disk with the current filename.

^1Save As^0  Save a map file to disk with a specified filename.  Each
map is saved under two filenames, one with a .MAP extension and one
with a .MPT extension.

^1Print^0  Print the map currently on the workspace to your printer.

^1Set Printer^0  Specify your printer.

^1Save Settings^0  Save printer selection and line style/thickness
settings to disk.  If such a file has been saved, it will
automatically be loaded when Mapit is next invoked.

^1Quit^0  Quit Mapit and return from whence you came.


^1Main Menu : Edit^0  This opens a pull-down menu with the following
options:

^1Erase^0  Erase a selected object.  If no object is selected, the
frontmost object on the workspace is erased.  Usually, the frontmost
object is the last object added to the workspace.

^1Unerase^0  Unerases the most recently erased object.

These two commands work together.  The last object erased can be
unerased once only.

^1Cut^0  Moves the selected object to the clipboard.

^1Copy^0  Copies the selected object to the clipboard.

^1Paste^0  Pastes the contents of the clipboard to the workspace at
the current mouse cursor position.

These three commands work together.  Cut deletes the object from the
workspace storing it in the clipboard (a storage place in memory).
It can be pasted as many times as desired.  Copy leaves the object on
the workspace but also stores it in the clipboard.  It, too, can also
be pasted as many times as desired.

^1Pull to the Front^0  Pull the selected object to the front of the
screen.  This means it will be drawn last and appear in front of
other objects in the workspace.

^1Push to the Back^0  Push the selected object to the back of the
workspace.  This means it will be drawn first and appear behind other
objects in the workspace.


^1Main Menu : Style^0  This opens a pull-down menu with the following
options:

^1Text^0  Open a pop-up menu to specify text fonts and text sizes.
Each selection leads to a dialog box where you specify one of four
fonts and one of four sizes.

^1Line^0  Open a pop-up menu to specify line thickness and line
style.  Each selection leads to a dialog box where you specify one of
four thicknesses and one of four styles.

^1Rectangle^0  Open a dialog box to specify one of four rectangle
styles.  Line thickness and style are used.

^1Building^0  Open a dialog box to specify one of 23 building styles.
A pick-list is available.

^1Road^0  Open a dialog box to specify one of 5 road styles.  A
pick-list is available.

^1Traffic Sign^0  Open a dialog box to specify one of 13 sign styles.
A pick-list is available.

^1Landmark^0  Open a dialog box to specify one of 36 landmark styles.
A pick-list is available.


^1Main Menu : Help^0  This opens a pull-down menu with the following
options:

^1Instructions^0  Displays instructions on how to use Mapit.

^1About^0  Displays credits and copyright information.


^C^1Toolbox^0

The toolbox on the left side of the screen includes the following
drawing tools:  Pointer, Text, Parallel Line, Freehand Line,
Rectangle, Circle, Building, Road, Traffic Sign, and Landmark.

^1Pointer^0  Allows an object on the workspace to be selected.  Once
selected it can be moved, resized, replaced, cut, copied, and pasted.

^1Text^0  Allows text to be inserted at the cursor position using the
current text font and size.

^1Parallel Line^0  Allows vertical and horizontal lines to be drawn
on the workspace using the current line thickness and style.

^1Freehand Line^0  Allows freehand lines to be drawn on the workspace
using the current line thickness and style.

^1Rectangle^0  Allows rectangles to be drawn on the workspace using
the current rectangle style in concert with the current line
thickness.  Line style will always be solid, never dashed.

^1Circle^0  Allows circles and ovals to be drawn on the workspace
using the current line style.  Dashed circles cannot be drawn.

^1Building^0  Allows buildings to be drawn on the workspace.  There
is a pick-list of available buildings.

^1Road^0  Allows roads to be drawn on the workspace.  There is a pick
list of available road styles.

^1Traffic Sign^0  Allows traffic signs to be drawn on the workspace.
There is a pick-list of available traffic signs.

^1Landmark^0  Allows major landmarks to be drawn on the workspace.
There is a pick-list of available landmarks.


^C^1The Mouse/Keyboard Interface^0

When used together, the mouse and keyboard provide a powerful,
convenient, and intuitive user interface.

^1Scroll Bars^0
The scroll bars on the right side and bottom of the workspace are
used by the mouse to page through the map file being edited.  The
entire scroll bar represents the maximum length of the file, and the
light portion of the bar represents the portion of the file currently
on the screen.

Click on an arrow (up, down, left, right) to scroll a line at a time.
Click on the dark portion of the bar to scroll a page at a time.  Or
simply click on the light portion and drag it to the desired
position.

^1Dialog Boxes^0
Dialog boxes contain options, Action Buttons, and Radio Buttons.
Action Buttons immediately do something when you click on them and
contain keyboard equivalents in parentheses.  Radio Buttons are used
to choose one out of several options, just like the buttons on an old
car radio.

Press TAB/SHIFT-TAB to select an option and press ENTER to
confirm/execute.  Or, click to select an option and click on OK to
execute.  Pressing ESC or clicking on CANCEL aborts a dialog with no
action.

^1Mouse Emulation^0
The arrow keys move the mouse cursor, and the space bar toggles the
left mouse button on and off.  Once the mouse cursor is inside the
toolbox, however, the Up and Down arrow keys no longer move the mouse
but instead select tools from the toolbox.

^1Main Menu^0
Click on a main menu option to pull down its menu.  Then click on an
option to select it and click again to execute.  Clicking outside an
open menu closes the menu.

ALT and the first letter of a main menu item opens that pull-down
menu.  Use Up/Down arrow keys to move the menu bounce bar; use
Left/Right arrow keys to move between main menu items.  Press ENTER
to execute a menu option; ESC to cancel and close the menu.  Some
main menu items have an equivalent hot-key assignment (placed in
parentheses following the item) -- see ^1Keyboard Hot Keys^0 below.

^1Toolbox^0
Click on a tool to select it.  Click again (on any except Pointer or
Circle tool) to specify options through a menu or dialog box.

Use Up/Down arrows to select and ENTER to execute.

^1Selecting/Moving/Resizing Objects^0
To select an object:  Click on the edge of an object in the
workspace.  Resize boxes will appear (2 for lines, 4 for rectangles,
circles, an other objects).  To move the object:  Click again (but
not on a resize box) and hold to get the open hand cursor.  Drag the
object to its new position and release.  To resize an object:  Click
on a resize box to get the pointed hand cursor and drag to make the
object larger or smaller, then release.

TAB and SHIFT-TAB will select objects in the workspace.  Use mouse
emulation keys for moving and resizing.

^1Replacing an Object^0
To replace an existing object on the workspace with a different
style, choose the pointer tool and select the object to be replaced,
then go to the proper dialog and choose a new object style.

^1Inserting Text^0
After selecting the Text tool, move mouse cursor to the desired
position where text will start and click once (a text entry box will
appear).  Enter new text or edit existing text from keyboard.  Text
entry is automatically in overstrike mode.  Press INSERT to insert
one space at the cursor position.  DELETE and BACKSPACE work as
usual.

^1Drawing^0
Click (mouse will become a pointed hand) and hold to start a line,
rectangle, circle, building, traffic sign, or landmark, then drag.
Release when the object is of the desired size.  To draw a road,
click and release to start and drag to desired position.  Click again
to change direction and continue to drag.  Double click to stop
drawing.


^C^1Keyboard Hot Keys^0

The following Hot Keys for menu operations are provided to quickly
access various features of Mapit.  These assignments are listed in
parentheses following the menu item they invoke.

^1File/New^0          CONTROL-N
^1File/Open^0         CONTROL-O
^1File/Save^0         CONTROL-S
^1File/Print^0        CONTROL-P
^1File/Quit^0         ESC
^1Edit/Erase^0        CONTROL-E
^1Edit/Unerase^0      CONTROL-U
^1Edit/Cut^0          DELETE
^1Edit/Copy^0         CONTROL-C
^1Edit/Paste^0        INSERT
^1Help/Instructions^0 F1


^C^1USING MAPIT^0

Now that you know all about Mapit, it is time to use your knowledge.
Take a look at our example maps by loading a map file into the
workspace (select Open from the File menu and choose a file).  Now,
experiment with the different tools and options of Mapit.  Add lines,
rectangles, circles, buildings, roads, signs, landmarks, and text.
Try different styles and fonts.  Select objects with the Pointer tool
and move them around the workspace or resize or replace them.  Print
your edited file to your printer and save it to disk if it's worth
keeping.

Now you are ready to make maps for your friends, co-workers,
associates, in-laws, fishing cronies, coffee-drinking buddies, and
anybody else needing directions.  It is now up to you to provide
directions to a world of lost and confused travellers.  Good luck!

NOTE:  There is not much free space left on this disk; if you attempt
to save a map that you create, the disk may fill up.  Hence, as with
all programs that generate data files, it is wise to use the COPY IT
option to copy this program to your own disk before saving a map.


^C^1IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES^0

Mapit contains licensed program materials of Metagraphics Software
Corporation, Copyright 1986 - 1991 Metagraphics Software Corporation,
Scotts Valley, CA 95066.


^C^1OUTSIDE ON DISK MONTHLY^0

To run Mapit outside ^1On Disk Monthly^0, invoke the batch file
MAP.BAT in any of the following ways:

   ^1MAP^0            --  Invoke Mapit normally.

   ^1MAP /s^0         --  Invoke Mapit in silent mode.

   ^1MAP /m^0         --  Invoke Mapit in monochrome mode.

   ^1MAP /?^0         --  Invoke a pick-list of available video modes
                      to choose from, then run Mapit in that mode.

   ^1MAP filename^0   --  Invoke Mapit with a file to load at startup.

These parameters may be issued in any order and in any combination.
For example, to run Mapit silently and in monochrome mode, type:

   ^1MAP /s /m^0   or   ^1MAP /m /s^0

To run Mapit in monochrome mode and with a startup file, type:

   ^1MAP /m filename^0 or ^1MAP filename /m^0

When you issue the /? parameter,  you will see an initial
configuration screen that lets you choose the graphics adapter and
mode.  Mapit recognizes all the popular graphics adapters, including
Hercules Monochrome, CGA, EGA, and VGA.  Press ENTER from the opening
screen to select the default adapter and mode, but if the graphics
don't appear to function on your system or you wish to experiment
with other modes supported by your system, press "D" from that screen
to get to a pick-list of other graphics adapters and modes.
Similarly, there is a menu to choose what kind of mouse you have (if
any).  Press "I" to get to this menu.  A mouse is not required to run
this program, but it certainly makes things easier.


Disk files this program uses:
^FMAP.BAT
^FMETASHEL.EXE
^FMAPIT.EXE
^FMAPIT.CFG
^FMAPIT.DOC
^F*.FNT
^F*.MAP
^F*.MPT