Copyright: HTML ASSIST  Copyright® 1993 H. Harawitz


INTRODUCTION TO HTML ASSISTANT
HTML Assistant

HTML Assistant is a simple text editor with extensions to assist in the creation of HTML hypertext documents.  HTML documents are used to access a variety of information sources with a World Wide Web browser such as Mosaic or Cello.

This version of HTML Assistant incorporates a multiple document interface, a user defined toolbox, and the ability to test your work  with a WWW browser of your choice -- without leaving the editor.

Future versions will include printing, an option to remove HTML markings from documents (to make them easier to read), and a more extensive Windows Help file.

Click here to see a summary of HTML Assistant operations

Copyright Notice

HTML Assistant is Copyright 1993,1994 by Howard Harawitz, All rights reserved.

The current Alpha version may be freely used by individuals for their own work.  Individuals, educational institutions, etc., may distribute this version of the software, but must include this notice and all other files and documents associated with the original distribution package.

Distribution, or incorporation in any package involving a profit for the distributor or the distributor's agents is prohibited.

For further information or if you have any suggestions or comments please contact the author, Howard Harawitz:

Email: harawitz@fox.nstn.ns.ca
FAX: (902) 835 - 2600


SUMMARY
Operation Summary

HTML Assistant consists of a text editor -- which permits the usual operations like cut, paste, and find -- plus a set of tools to simplify and speed up the creation of HTML documents.

When you are finished editing you can test your work with a WWW browser like Mosaic or Cello.

Click here to find out about testing your work.

Click here to learn about managing URLs with disk files and list boxes

Click here to learn about using Cello with Dynamic Data Exchange

Click here to learn about HTML Assistant's auto-repeat feature

HTML Assistant's Tools

The tools are found on a tool bar at the top of the edit window.

The tools are basically of two types:

1	Tools that require selection of text.  (Type 1 tools.)

2	Tools that insert HTML elements at the cursor (Type 2 tools.)

The tools in the upper part of the toolbar include both Type 1 and Type 2 tools.

The tools in the lower part of the toolbar are all Type 2 tools which insert HTML markings at the cursor.

There is also a special group of Type 2 tools called 'User Tools'.

Click here for information about "User Tools."

Using Type 1 Tools

To use a Type 1 tool, first select some text by dragging the mouse across it.  Next, click on a Type 1 Tool -- the 'Title' tool, for example.  You will see your selected text bounded on each side with HTML elements.  This tells the WWW browser (like Cello or Mosaic) to display that text as a title.

Most Type 1 tools operate in this manner.  Select some text and try a few of the other tool buttons in the upper part of the tool bar.

The 'List' tool works with several lines of  text.  Select a few lines of text and try it.

A few Type 1 Tools are a bit more complicated.  They ask for additional text to be added by the user as part the HTML element that they apply. The 'Link' tool is one of these. So is the 'Anchor' tool.  Try them to see how they work.

Using Type 2 Tools

To use a Type 2 tool, simply click on it.  You will see the tool's associated HTML element appear at the text cursor.  For most of these, the tool's label or caption is the same as the HTML element that it will display.

To keep up with changes in HTML and to permit you to configure the editor to suit your style of working, HTML Assistant includes a special tool palette for your own custom Type 2 tools.

Click here for information on "Auto Repeat" of tool operations

Click here for more on custom tools.


Testing Your File

HTML Assistant permits you to test your HTML annotated file with any browser that will use a file from a local disk as a startup file.

If you select the 'Test' option from the 'File' menu, you will be led through a process which includes selecting your test program and saving its name for future use.

The 'Test' option uses the last saved version of your file. If your file has changed since you saved it last, you will be given an opportunity to save it before testing.

To test the program, HTML Assistant simply runs the program you designate as your test program, with the full path and file name of your edit file in the command line.  Therefore, for the test to work, the browser you use must be able to use a local file specified on the command line as its startup file.

You also need to be aware of where your test program expects to find configuration files, initialization data, etc.  We have sometimes found it necessary to copy some of these files to HTML Assistant's home directory.

We find that Cello works well as a test program.  You can easily try others.

Click here to find out about using Cello with DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange


Using Cello with DDE

Use of DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) with a test browser permits relatively smooth back and forth transitions from HTML Assistant to the browser and vice versa.  It eliminates the need to close and restart the test browser each time you want to test a file.

If you are using Cello as your  test browser, HTML Assistant gives you the option of using DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) to send Cello the name of the HTML file you want to test.  If Cello is not loaded, HTML Assistant loads it.  Once Cello is loaded and you do not close it, it will not have to be reopened whenever you want to test a file.  Each time you select the item in the File menu for testing using DDE, the name of the file you are testing is sent to Cello and it becomes the active, topmost application.  Clicking on the small 'Return to HTML Assistant' box in the lower right  corner of Cello's window will return you to HTML Assistant without closing Cello.

The default test mode is DDE off.  To set the DDE option on, go to the 'Options'  menu and click on the DDE option.  You can tell it has been selected if it is checked.  That's all there is to it.   If you run into problems with the DDE, go back to the Options menu and click it again to deselect it and return to the older test mode without DDE.


ENTERING URL DATA
Selecting and Saving URL Data

When the 'Link' command is used, a window pops up asking for selection or entry of a 'URL'.  URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) are instructions to fetch data.  Each URL type has a prefix (as shown in the URL Prefix Listbox) indicating the kind of data that will be fetched. (See the Beginners Guide to HTML, and the specification for Uniform Resource Locators, for more detail.  Both of these documents can be found using Cello or Mosaic and looking for WWW information.)

As you enter and use URLs in your documents they are saved in memory and appear in the URL list box whenever the URL data entry window pops up.  You may save the contents of this list box to a file, and retrieve the contents of a saved file to the list box by accessing the 'URL File' menu on the URL pop up form.


AUTO REPEAT FUNCTION
The Auto Repeat Function

To repeat the action of the tool that was last used, simply press the right mouse button or press CTL-R.


User Tools

User Tools are Type 2 (insertion) tools with text provided by the user.

This permits users to create insertion tools that suit their particular style of working.

Up to 10 User Tools can be created.  They can be deleted or modified at any time and are automatically saved.

A few user tools are provided with the program package to illustrate what you can do.

If you click the 'User Tools' control you will see the User Tools palette.  You can move it to any convenient place on the screen.  You can remove it by clicking the 'Close' button on the palette or by clicking the 'User Tools' button again.

The tools can be changed by clicking on the 'Modify Tools' button on the User Tools Palette. A 'Modify Tools' dialog box will pop up.  Simply enter or modify any of the tool text boxes to suit yourself. The text in each box will show up as the label or caption on a displayed button.   If a text box is left blank, no corresponding tool button will be shown.

Click on the 'OK' button to save your new tools.  Selecting the 'Cancel' button will prevent the changes from taking place.

Your custom tools will be saved for use in future editing sessions.