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-
- Magnum 1.0 Docs
- ---------------
-
- *************************
-
- MAGNUM is Copyright W.H.liu 1992, and is to be distributed
- as public domain only by libraries who charge no more than
- 2.00 pounds for it.
-
- *************************
-
- ABOUT
-
- Magnum is a new utility that allows you to make disk magazines with ease.
- It follows in the style of popular magazines and I hope you will enjoy
- using it. It is also Kickstart 2.0> and A500 Plus compatible.
-
- This is the first version of Magnum and is limited in that it can
- only take upto 20 articles. This may seem very little, but if your disk also
- has utilities, etc. the size will be perfect.
-
-
-
-
- ENTERING ARTICLES
-
- Each article is to be typed and saved as a normal ASCII text file
- from any word processor. Note that ansi and styles (italics, bold, etc.)
- are not currently supported. Once you have your articles ready on a blank
- disk you can use Magnum! Try to keep each articles to no more than 100
- pages as I haven`t tried Magnum with files larger than that. It should be
- enough however since 100 pages = 2400 lines = 192000 chars.
-
-
-
-
- CONTROL PANEL
-
- The control panel you are using below can be changed to suit your
- tastes. The graphics panel must be low-res and in 16 colours. A
- stencil and example is on the disk to help you (panel.iff). This example
- has been adapted from LSD`s Grapevine 8 magazine disk. The panel when
- complete should be saved as a brush Magnum.panel onto your disk.
-
-
-
-
- MUSIC
-
- Music can be run in the background so you could have Octamed,
- TFMX or whatever music running. The Music on/off function only applies to
- music done in a special format so using the first method means you cannot
- turn it off. Since this function is rendered useless, yo can simply draw some
- graphics over the unused panel. (logo?). The program will know whether there
- is music resident in the special format. A converter is supplied on disk to
- convert Games Music Creator or Tracker music to this format. This
- converted music should be saved under the name Magnum.music on your disk.
-
-
-
-
- TITLE PAGE
-
- The title page can be whatever you want, making sure that it is
- IFF of course. Your completed picture should be saved under the name
- Magnum.title.
-
-
-
-
- INDEX FILE
-
- Now a text file must be created to tell Magnum where your articles
- are on the disk, and what it should show on the menu. You can load up the
- example file on this disk, Magnum.index . Below is an example...
-
- f80 - Colour of line at top. The number is typed in hex format
- and you must remember to press return afterwards...
- fff - Top text colour
- 004 - Background of main text screen
- ccc - Text output colour on main screen
- fff - Mouse colour
- f00 - Mouse border colour
- My Disk Magazine- The title of your disk magazine. Do not exceed 78 chars.
- Aliens invade!! - The name of your first article
- df0:aliens.txt - This is most important, the path of your text file. If
- you don`t get this right then Magnum won`t know where
- your text file is!
- Newsflash! - Another article...
- df0:article.txt - Path again...
-
- You can continue the name and path of this article to a maximum of
- twenty articles. You must also remember to press RETURN after EACH line.
- This file should then be saved under the name Magnum.index .
-
-
-
-
- TIDYING UP
-
- So now you should have on your disk...
-
- Magnum.Panel - your gfx
- Magnum.Title - title page
- Magnum.Music - (optional, you can use your own player or not have
- any music at all.)
- Magnum.Index - your file of names and paths
-
-
- Now all you have to do is to copy across the Magnum.prg file to
- your disk and also Diskfont.library. If you don`t know how to do this with SID
- or the CLI, then load up the SET_UP_MAGNUM program on this disk and follow all
- onscreen prompts. It will also create a startup-sequence (as below).
-
-
- From CLI (One disk users),
-
- COPY C:COPY RAM:
-
- (Now insert this Magnum disk)
-
- RAM:COPY MAGNUM.PRG RAM:
- RAM:COPY LIBS/DISKFONT.LIBRARY RAM:
-
- (Now insert your magazine disk)
-
- RAM:COPY RAM:MAGNUM.PRG DF0:
- RAM:COPY RAM:DISKFONT.LIBRARY DF0:LIBS
-
-
- For users with two disk drives or the A500+ (Use resident command) it is
- much easier. Now all is needed is a startup-sequence. Make your startup boot
- up Magnum.Prg or your own music first, etc.
-
- eg.
-
- MAGNUM.PRG
-
- or
-
- RUN OCTAMEDPLAYER >NIL: <NIL: name of music
- MAGNUM.PRG
-
- Check your manual for information startup-sequences if you are confused.
-
-
-
-
- ABOUT
-
- There!,finished. These docs are a bit brief but you should be able
- to set this up without too much trouble.
- The only thing that might be hard is thinking of articles to write!
-
- Coding by W.H.Liu (Simon) /ACE Software
- Example panel by LSD (from GRAPEVINE)
- Example articles - Various authors
- Music by unknown - from 17Bit (1632) Modules disk!
- Converter by Francois Lionet
-
- This program was coded and compiled with AMOS.
-
-
- This is the first version and I have many things planned for the next
- version. Things that might be included are:
-
- IFF Pictures as articles
- Choice of music
- Print function (I don`t actually have a printer!)
- A LOT more articles
- Make it easier to set up
- Support for PowerPacked or Imploded files
-
- Send your comments, bug reports(!), to:
-
- Simon c/o ACE Software,
- 90 Terenure Road East,
- Terenure,
- Dublin 6,
- Ireland.
-
- Hope you find this utility useful! 8)
-