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1996-06-14
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HTASC -- An .HTM to .ASC Document Converter
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HTASC copyright 1995, 1996 Charles Dittell and Suncoast Software Systems
Version 3.0
INTRODUCTION: HTASC takes WorldWideWeb ("HTML") documents (available
through WWW on the Internet), and converts them to "raw" ASCII files.
(HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, and are usually called
"Web Pages." An HTML document's extension is usually ".htm" (on
DOS-based PCs). The ASCII file will have an ".asc" extension.
SHAREWARE/WARRANTY: HTASC is marketed as shareware, which is a commercial
form of distributing software. You are free to use HTASC for up to four
weeks. After that, you must either register HTASC or delete it from your
computer. The shareware concept helps keep prices very low, and supports
many individual programmers. Registration eliminates the stupid sounds and
three second delay in HTASC. In addition, registered users can call HTASC
with no document name, and HTASC will present a list of HTML documents
from which you may choose a document to convert. Re warranty, there is
NO warranty for HTASC, expressed or implied; you use HTASC entirely at
your own risk (we gotta say that).
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: A PC, very little memory, very little drive space.
INCLUDED FILES: HTASC.EXE The executable program
HTASC.DOC You're reading it
REGISTER.FRM Registration form: read it, include check,
send it in, earn eternal thanks. NOTE:
undergraduate college students may register
FOR FREE, but must include their college name
and student's college address on the
registration form. College professors and
other educational professionals may purchase
multiple licenses for themselves and their
students very inexpensively: write or call
for details.
H.BAT Sample batch file for optional use with HTASC
FILE_ID.DIZ Short description of HTASC
HOW TO USE IT: Put HTASC in a pathed directory (such as c:\dos). Call
HTASC from the directory where your .htm files exist). I put HTASC.EXE
in my (pathed) "utils" directory. Use the following command line
convention:
HTASC filename[.ext]
In other words, type "htasc" and then the filename (with .htm extension
optional). If the HTML file is called thispage.htm, to convert it to an
ascii file, type "htasc thispage" (or "htasc thispage.htm"). HTASC will
read the file, and output "thispage.asc" (the file's name plus an ".asc"
extension). The output file will have deleted all HTML codes, and, where
possible, add a <LF><CR> after 80 or less characters on each line. "<hr>"
commands ("hard rule") will produce a line emulating a horizontal line,
e.g., _________________________ . Some other HTML extrapolations are
attempted, such as quotes, "ascii underline" (e.g., it's _important_),
and the reduction of multiple blank lines.
Obtaining Web pages is easy: for instance, from Netscape Navigator(tm),
after you've landed on the page you wish to convert, choose
"File"..."Save As," then keep or change the page name and/or
drive/directory. After you've left the Web (well, it's possible to use
HTASC while on the Web, but this is a "basic" example), go to the
drive/directory where the Web page now resides, and (assuming HTASC.EXE
is in a pathed directory), call HTASC (as shown below).
HTASC filename[.ext]
HTASC works fine in a batch file; errors will not "freeze" the HTASC
program. This feature should be helpful to BBS SysOps who may want
to automatically convert HTML documents to ASCII files for viewing on
their BBSs. Enclosed is a sample batch file which can be used from the
command line or another batch file. The command structure is simply:
H filename (or h filename -- caps not necessary); this line can be
manually typed or inserted in a batch file. If in a batch file, it may
be necessary to use the "call" command to ensure that control goes back
to the calling batch file, as: "call h filename". The primary use of this
batch file is the possibility of calling a number of batchfile commands
consecutively (adding lines to the h.bat file), such as moving *.htm to the
processing directory, copying the resulting .asc file to another directory,
etc.
REGISTRATION BENEFITS: The registered version of HTASC enables you to just
type "HTASC", and a menu of all .htm files in the current directory will
appear (up to 60 .htm files); you can then type in the .htm number to
convert that file. I'd also like to give a big "THANKS" to a goodly
number of registrants: your comments have been very helpful in improving
HTASC.
SUPPORT: Call Suncoast City BBS, 941-953-5505, 1200-28,800 baud, for
assistance, before and after registration. Leave message to "Sysop".
The current version of HTASC and other Suncoast Software Systems programs,
such as ANSIFILE (ascii file "colorizer"), RSCREEN (BBS intro/exit screen
rotator), RQUOTE (BBS/PC quotes generator/chooser), and LANCHEK, a
Novell Netware(tm) administrator's multi-utility, are available to
first-time callers.
NOTES: 1 - HTASC has been tested on files up to 316K size (excluding
links) with no problems whatsoever.
2 - An easy way to "ANSI-colorize" ASCII files is to use ANSIFILE;
the newest version is always available on Suncoast City BBS.
ANSIFILE's command syntax is:
ansifile filename [ansifilename] foregroundcolor [backgroundcolor]
3 - As newer HTML versions occur, it becomes more difficult to
properly decode the resulting pages. Tables, questionnaires
and automatically activated features can produce erratic results.
We'll do our best to get the "best" ascii versions of .htm
documents possible, but it's always wise to manually "scan" the
ascii document for stray codes or misalignments.
HISTORY:
06/14/96 Ver 3.0 More minor code sharpening; increased max .htm line length
to 900 characters
06/05/96 Ver 2.8 More minor code sharpening
06/02/96 Ver 2.7 Minor glitch fixes and code sharpening
06/01/96 Ver 2.6 Fixed "quotes bug," and extra blank lines problem.
03/03/96 Ver 2.5 Sharpened code, colors and documentation
07/05/95 Ver 2.0 Added new conversions, better looking screens; tested up
to 316K .htm files with no problem; added some advanced
HTML decoding
07/01/95 Ver 1.7 More minor code tweaking; tested up to 140K files
06/28/95 Ver 1.6 Better error control, minor code sharpening
06/15/95 Ver 1.5 Added menu feature to registered version; sharpened screen
02/20/95 Ver 1.3 Worked hard to add some HTML extrapolations; added .htm
extension name option
02/19/95 Ver 1.1 Squashed couple of bugs; changed color scheme
02/18/95 Version 1.0 HTASC released