Whiteline: delta/whiteline CD Series - delta.iso/dtp/programm/easytext/easytext.doc

Text File | 1995-11-25 | 35KB | 882 lines

EASY TEXT v1.2
Public Domain  USER GUIDE

(c) zzSoft 1989 all rights reserved

This  documentation is for the Pulic Domain version of  EASY  TEXT
budget Desktop Publisher, released into the PD 23/2/89.

******************************************************************
THE  FULL  COMMERCIAL  VERSION OF EASY TEXT IS  AVAILABLE  FOR  15
POUNDS (Post and Packing included), INCLUDING PRINTED USER MANUAL.
PLEASE SPECIFY 1 MEG OR HALF MEG VERSION OR BOTH (ON A D/S DISK).

OUTSIDE  THE UK (EXCEPT EIRE) COST IS 20 POUNDS (Post and  Packing
included). STERLING ONLY PLEASE.

ALL CHEQUES, CORRESPONDENCE TO:

ZZSOFT,
3 RIVERDALE HOUSE
MYTHOLM CLOSE
HEBDEN BRIDGE
WEST YORKSHIRE
ENGLAND
HK7 6BP

******************************************************************

1    INTRODUCTION

1.1  Welcome to EASY TEXT

Welcome to EASY TEXT from zzSoft,  a WYSIWYG (What You See is
What  You  Get)  page-based  DTP  software  package  designed
especially for the Atari ST (including Mega) computer and the
GEM  operating  environment.   EASY  TEXT  is   exceptionally
inexpensive,  which  brings effective DTP into the  hands  of
anyone with an ST and the use of a printer.

EASY TEXT has been designed to be easy to learn and intuitive
to  operate.  Full advantage is taken  of usual GEM  features
such as windows, drop-down menus and dialogs/forms.  There is
an example EASY TEXT page which can be viewed before 'getting
into' EASY TEXT which will give some idea what EASY TEXT  can
do.

Some words on GDOS

EASY TEXT can be used with our without GDOS (Graphics  Device
Operating  System) which was left out of the ATARI ROM'S  and
therefore  is NOT part of the GEM enviroment when you  switch
your computer on.  The usual method of incorporating GDOS  is
to  place a GDOS.PRG in an AUTO folder on the disk  that  you
use when the computer is first switched on. This ensures that
GDOS is now ready to be used.  Why use GDOS? Because by using
GDOS  different  fonts  designed for use  with  GDOS  may  be
incorporated into  your  text.  PLEASE NOTE: GDOS.PRG (at the
time of  writing 23/02/89) is not included on the  Easy  Text
disk  supplied  by zzSoft. However,  it can be found  on  the
following disks,  EASY DRAW,  DEGAS ELITE,  TIMEWORKS DTP and
other commercial text processing and art programs.  Fonts for
use with GDOS are included on the EASY TEXT disk. If this all
seems  very  technical  don't worry it is  not  necessary  to
understand these details to successfully use EASY TEXT.

For  more  details  on using GDOS  fonts  and  modifying  the
ASSIGN.SYS file see chapter 2.3.

Also it is not necessary to have GDOS.PRG to use EASY TEXT as
the  system  font  can  be  used  quite  adequately  in  many
circumstances.  An  example  using  the  system  font text is
included on your EASY TEXT disk: EXAMPLE.EZ1 or EXAMPLE1.EZM.

Clip  art can be incorporated into your EASY TEXT  pages  and
for  examples of this see the example pages included on  your
Easy  Text disk and the different clip art  screens  included
too.

1.2  What's on your EASY TEXT disk or folder

EASYTEXT.DOC  (This document) An Introductory text
on how to use EASY TEXT effectively.

EASYTEXT.PRG - the PD 512K-machine version.

EXAMPLE.EZ1  - Example EASY TEXT page, HI RES

EXAMPLE1.EZM  - Example EASY TEXT page, MED RES

FONTS    A folder that contains GDOS fonts.

NOTE  THAT A DISK FULL OF EASY TEXT GDOS COMPATIBLE FONTS  IS
AVAILABLE FROM zzSoft for 5.00 (Pounds)


1.3  Fault Reports and Technical Enquiries and Upgrades

If you have any problems operating EASY TEXT or any  technical
questions, you should first consult your dealer.

If the response from these sources is not  satisfactory,  you
may  contact  zzSoft  direct preferably  in  writing  at  the
address  given at the beginning. If telephoning please ensure
that you have the following details to hand

The version number,  which can be found in the drop-down menu
'About EASY TEXT...', and/or on the master disk itself in the
README.1ST file.

The type of ST,  and amount of RAM,  and other things such as
RAM disks, desk accessories being used.

If  you have found a bug please try to list the steps  needed
to replicate the particular fault.

zzSoft  welcomes  suggestions in ways that EASY TEXT  may  be
improved,  and in particular is interested to hear from users
of  the new 24-pin dot matrix printers and in ways that  Easy
Text may be used with these printers.

Please  enclose  a  Stamped  Self-Addressed  Envelope  for  a
reply.


UPGRADES:

EASY   TEXT   is   undergoing   continual   development   and
periodically  new  versions will become available  that  will
incorporate  new features.  For instance it is hoped that  in
the near future 24-pin printers,  and laser printers will  be
catered for specifically etc.

It will  be necessary  to make a small  charge for  upgrades.
For major updates  the charge may have to be  correspondingly
higher  especially if extensive additional  documentation  is
required.

To  qualify for an upgrade it is essential that a  bone  fide
copy of EASY TEXT can be exchange,  a Public Domain/Shareware
disk does not qualify,  and in this event the full price will
have to be paid.


2    GETTING STARTED

2.1  EXPANATION OF SOME TERMS USED

CLICKPress and release the left mouse button once

DOUBLE CLICK   Quickly press and release the left once button
twice in succession

DRAG After    positioning   the    mouse    pointer
(initially  an  arrow or pointing finger) over  the  required
object hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse  to
where  you want the object moved to.  The mouse pointer  will
change  to  a  flat  hand  when  an  object  is  successfully
selected.

FRAME A rectangular box drawn by the user and  into
which  text,  art  or graphics are placed.  The  corners  and
centre  of the frame contain smaller rectangles which can  be
used  to 'size' the frame by placing the  mouse-pointer  into
one  of  them  and then altering the size  of  the  frame  by
dragging the mouse.  (It looks like a plan view of a  snooker
table!)

JUSTIFIED  TEXT   As an example of left and  right  justified
text- look at this document.  Most text is left justified  as
this  is,  but often text is not right justified,  ie  it  is
ragged at the right-hand side.

EG, This is not right justified text. This in an example
of text that is not right justified. Using a word-processor
like First Word makes it easy to justify text. Text is just-
ified in First Word by placing extra spaces in the text.
This paragraph would be known as left justified (only) text.

DTP Desktop Publisher



Keyboard Conventions

EG  CONTROL-RETURN or CNTRL-RET means hold down  the  control
key and press the return key at the same time.

2.3  Loading the EASY TEXT Program

Double click on the EASYTEXT.PRG icon in the EASYTEXT directory.

2.3 Using GDOS, ASSIGN.SYS, and GDOS Fonts

As  already stated (2.2) it is essential that GDOS.PRG is  in
Drive A at program boot up.  If it is not no GDOS font can or
will be loaded for use by EASY TEXT.

Also it is essential that the ASSIGN.SYS file is on the  same
disk as EASY TEXT and the GDOS.PRG.  The ASSIGN.SYS file lets
you  specify what GDOS fonts can be loaded and used  by  EASY
TEXT.  This  is not peculiar to EASY TEXT,  it is  the  usual
method used by DTP and art programs, eg Degas Elite.

To  modify the ASSIGN.SYS file so that diferent fonts may  be
loaded other than the ones already specified in the file, you
have  to  modify the file.  This is acheived by  loading  the
ASSIGN.SYS  file  into First Word and then turning  off  Word
Processing  (WP Mode - top of the EDIT menu).  The  file  can
then be modified to your purposes.

As  an  example  the present  ASSIGN.SYS  file  contains  the
following text:


path=A:\FONTS
;
01p  screen.sys;Default screen
;
02p  screen.sys;Low-resolution screen
;
03p  screen.sys;Medium-resolution screen
;
04p  screen.sys;High-resolution screen
;
COURIE10.FNT
COURIE14.FNT
COURIE18.FNT
COURIE28.FNT
COURIE36.FNT

ETC


To  use the fonts you want substitute the new font names  for
the  present ones,  or alternatively include your new  choice
of fonts with the present ones.  Then save the new ASSIGN.SYS
file and place on your working disk with the other files  and
EASY TEXT program. Only have one ASSIGN.SYS file on your copy
working  disk.

Do not leave a blank space in the ASSIGN.SYS file between the
font names as this will cause the remainder of font names  in
the file to be ignored. Eg do not do this:

COMPUT16.FNT
COMPUT18.FNT

COMPUT28.FNT


It  is perfectly possible to use the EASY TEXT program as  it
stands without GDOS or GDOS font or ASSIGN.SYS files, as EASY
TEXT can use the system font in three different sizes and six
different styles, eg 10 point height, underlined and bold.

To Summarise

(a)  If using GDOS. You  need  ASSIGN.SYS, EASY TEXT program,
the Auto  folder  containing GDOS.PRG,  and all font files on
the same disc. If using a RAM disk to run EASY TEXT from, you
will still need the  Auto folder and all font files on a disk
in drive A.

(b) Without GDOS. You just need the EASY TEXT program on the
disk.


2.4  The Startup Screen (see diagram)

When EASY TEXT is loaded it displays the following:

(a)  Drop-Down Menu Bar

The top line of the screen displays the menu headings:

Desk GEM desk accessories  (if loaded), and About
EASY TEXT...
File Load and Save and Print selections
Edit Frame/text editing/selection selections
Options   Some extra choices, such as print screen
Text Text style choices, eg Italic
Font Font height selections and font styles
Graphics  Choice of different fills

(b)  At the right side of the screen is the scroll  bar,  and
slider. Note that the two scroll arrows have been disabled.

(b) The mouse pointer (a small arrow) should be visible.


2.4  How To Exit From EASY TEXT

SELECT the FILE drop-down menu and select quit.
Press Alternate-Q and this will take you back to the desktop.


3 EASY TEXT

3.1  Overview

EASY TEXT provides a work-surface like a blank piece of paper
onto  which you can enter a variety of text styles and  fonts
all of your chosing.  Clip art,  and text from First Word may
also  easily be imported onto the screen.  EASY TEXT  differs
from  a paint program in that each block or frame of text  is
an  entity  unto  itself,  so that each frame  and  the  text
therein may be manipulated in a variety of ways.  Each  frame
of  text  can  be  selected  and  reselected  and  the  frame
positioned where ever you want on the screen. As you select a
frame  the text inside it is automatically  transferred  with
it. Each time a frame of text is selected the text inside the
frame can be altered to the current text and font selections,
or  the  text can left in its original  state.  Text  can  be
entered  into a frame each time a frame is 'cut' or drawn  on
the screen. However you cannot edit text in a frame  like you
would using a word-processor.  To edit your text, fortunately
is  very easy and only involves a couple of menu  selections.
Your text,  then, can be freely edited and quickly and simply
placed  back  into  the original frame with just  one  click.

Because the screen is smaller than an the usual size of paper
that  you would normally print to EASY TEXT has a scroll  bar
which  allows the screen to be moved (very fast too) so  that
you have, in effect, a full page in which to enter your work.

To see how a page is made-up,  step-by-step, see TUTORIAL.DOC
which  details the  (easily-mastered)  techniques  needed  to
create  your  own great looking page. Also the section titled
'Doing It!' in this documnent is a quick introduction to Easy
Text techniques.


3.2 Scrolling EASY TEXT


*    the white slider in the scroll bar represent the visible
portion of the page as follows:

*    the  slider shows the size and vertical position of  the
page relative to the size of the page.

Try scrolling EASY TEXT using the GEM scroll bars,  observing
the effects on the screen.

*    clicking  the shaded areas  moves you to the top of  the
page (screen) or the bottom of the page (screen).

*    dragging  the  slider  moves the  page  through  to  the
position indicated.

3.2 Printing

To print an EASY TEXT page or screen there are a few  options
that can be taken to get exactly the hard copy you want.

The  default  setting is for an 11" by 8 1/2" page  of  paper
with  a layout  width of what is actually printed of  7  3/4"
(centred approx on the page). To alter these settings  select
PRINTER... and/or PAGE... from the FILE menu and click on the
setting  you want.  Select PRINT from the FILE menu  and  the
EASY TEXT page will be printed.

To  get a hard copy of the screen only,  select PRINT  SCREEN
from the OPTIONS menu.  Using this selection any full  screen
part of the EASY TEXT page can be printed out.

Note  that  if  PRINT SCREEN is not selected  then  you  must
ensure that EASY TEXT is positioned at the start position, ie
the  top part of the page MUST be at the top of  the  screen.
Selecting  PRINT  from  the FILE menu  will  give  a  warning
message about this.

Selecting  Double Pass or 6 pass  option will give  the  best
print quality.

Note the menu and scroll bar are not printed.

Press Control-C to stop EASY TEXT from printing.


3.4 Loading and Saving

To  load or save an EASY TEXT page select the FILE  menu  and
from the drop-down menu select LOAD... or SAVE or SAVE AS...

When  loading an EASY TEXT page note that the  example  pages
provided  by  zzSoft  are  fixed  in  style  and  cannot   be
manipulated in the way your own documents can be. This was to
save space on the EASY TEXT disk.

To  load an example EASY TEXT page select LOAD and  from  the
selection  box select which page you want.  It must have  the
extension .EZ1 eg EXAMPLE.EZ1,  for hi res or extension  .EZM
for medium res.

The page will be loaded onto the screen. Any previous text or
art  will be lost as the example page will erase it.  To  see
the  lower half of the Example page click on the shaded  area
of  the scroll bar or move the white slider to  the  position
you  require.  It is not necessary to save the  Example  page
again before either exiting EASY TEXT or loading another EASY
TEXT page.

To save your own pages select either SAVE or SAVE  AS...  The
difference  between these two options is that SAVE  saves  to
disk  (provided there is enough room on the disk)  using  the
last filename that was used. Thus SAVE is disabled when first
loading  EASY TEXT and before any load is performed as  there
can be  no file name for your page prior to either  of  these
operations.

SAVE AS...  presents you with a selection box,  and this time
you can  either select a previous EASY TEXT page you wish  to
overwrite  or create a new filename by typing in the name  of
your page. When either Saving or Loading EASY TEXT pages
ONLY use the extension to the file .EZ1.  When saving a  page
many  other files  will automatically be  created  with  the
extensions .EZ2, EZ3 etc. DO NOT try to load these files into
EASY TEXT.  EZ2 etc are files which are loaded  automatically
when you select an .EZ1 file.  They contain information which
allows  you to move and alter the frames on your page as  and
when you want. (For med res substitute .EZM for EZ1).

Note it is advisable to have a blank formatted disk for  each
time  you  want  to save an EASY TEXT page as  a  maximum  of
319400 bytes of information will need to be saved. The amount
of information needed to be saved depends on how many  frames
you used when creating your page.

4 USING EASY TEXT

4.1  Doing it!

After the fonts have or have not been loaded,  which  depends
on  whether you have GDOS.PRG,  you will be presented with  a
blank  screen apart from the menu bar and  right-hand  scroll
bar.

If you do not have GDOS then no Font Styles can be  selected,
except  the  system font which is automatically  the  default
style.  Naturally,  you can alter the text style of each font
height  by  selecting,  for example Bold or  Italic  or  both
together from the TEXT menu.  The  font  heights that are not
available to users without GDOS is 36 and 48 point.

To  start select the EDIT drop down menu and select  START  /
CUT.  If  you look at the EDIT menu again you  should  notice
that START / CUT has a tick to the immediate left.  A tick on
a  menu selection shows that this is what you  have  selected
and  what is in effect.  Prior to selecting  START / CUT  you
could have selected the particular text style,  font  height,
and font style (if applicable) you wanted.

Position the mouse pointer in the general area on the  screen
you would like to begin.  Pressing the left mouse button drag
the  mouse  until  a  rectangle of  suitable  size  has  been
created  for the font height you expect to be  working  with.
Don't  worry if the rectangle appears initially too small  or
too big to use,  the size is easily altered. Release the left
mouse  button  and  a rectangle/frame will be  drawn  on  the
screen  the same size as the one you have just outlined  with
the  mouse. If  you wish to move the rectangle/frame  to  any
other  position press the  left  mouse button  and  move  the
mouse - the rectangle/frame will follow the direction of your
movements.

You can now also select the font height,  text style and font
style (if applicable).

Once you are happy about the position of the frame then again
select EDIT and from the drop down menu select USE FRAME  and
the  frame  will alter in that it will now possess  a  larger
frame  around the previous rectangle and this rectangle  will
have  smaller  rectangles at each corner and half  way  along
each  side.  These smaller  rectangles are so  that  you  can
size the frame in any manner you wish.  You can also move the
frame to  any  position on the screen,  including  the  lower
half.  Any text or art or graphic fill inside the frame  will
automatically be moved with it.

In  the USE FRAME mode you can enter text.

To enter text use the keyboard. Note that you cannot directly
edit  the text in a frame,  eg use back space or  delete.  To
edit or alter text you have to select from the EDIT menu  the
EDIT TEXT... option. Before you can actually edit the text in
a frame you have to leave that frame,  ie tell EASY TEXT  you
want  to  leave USE FRAME mode.  To do  this  press  Control-
Return or ALT-Z or select END / PASTE from the EDIT drop-down
menu.   The frame will disappear. Note that pressing Control-
Return, or ALT-Z, or END / PASTE saves your text/clip art for
later manipulation.

To  edit the text within a frame chose SELECT from  the  EDIT
menu and then EDIT TEXT...  too. Then click the mouse pointer
over the text/frame you want to edit.  A large box containing
your text will appear.  You can now edit your text using  the
various editing keys on the keyboard,  eg delete,  backspace.
Note  pressing the escape key will clear the particular  line
where  the  cursor is positioned.  Text may  be  altered  and
entered at will. More text can be used than was in the frame,
or less.  The frame can be altered afterwards to  accommodate
the extra or less text.  Although the text in the Edit Box is
always  displayed in  a 10 point system font  this  does  not
affect the text within a frame. Med res uses 9 point font for
this.

When you have finished editing select OK if you want  the new
text to replace the old text in the frame.  SELECT  Cancel if
you  have  decided  that you want to leave the  text  in  the
frame alone,  or in the event of selecting the wrong frame to
edit.

Summary of selecting a frame of text to edit

(a)  Click on SELECT
(b)  Click on EDIT TEXT...
(c)  Click in vicinity of text want to edit
(d)  EDIT TEXT box will appear
(e)  Edit your text, and leave EDIT TEXT box- ie click on OK
(f)  Click on SAME frame as in (c) and text will  immediately
be substituted.


IMPORTANT NOTE: You can only directly enter text into a frame
the first time you use a frame.  Subsequently you need to use
the EDIT TEXT selection from the EDIT drop-down menu. See 4.1
and 4.4


4.2 Repositioning a Frame

If  you wish to reposition a frame on the screen go to SELECT
menu option and position mouse pointer over text.  Press left
hand  mouse button and keep pressed.  The mouse pointer  will
change into a flat,  open hand.  Move the mouse and the frame
will  move with you.  Release the mouse button when you  have
positioned the frame where you want it. Don't forget to press
Control-Return or ALT-Z to cease using that frame.

To  reposition a frame in lower half of page/screen -  select
the  frame as above and scroll the page making sure that  you
can still see the text or expect to be able to see the frame.
Go to SELECT and select the frame and reposition.


4.3 Altering Text

To alter text within a frame, ie alter text style and/or font
height and/or font style (where applicable),  first chose the
font height you require.  Do the same for other options. Then
select  SELECT and CHANGE in the EDIT menu.  Move  the  mouse
pointer  over the text you wish to alter and click  the  left
mouse button. The frame will be selected and the text will be
altered  in  the way you have requested.  The  frame  can  be
resized to accommodate a larger font height in the SELECT and
CHANGE mode. It can also be moved about. Press Control-Return
or ALT-Z to finish with that frame, or select END /PASTE from
the EDIT drop-down menu.


4.4 Using EDIT TEXT...

There  are three distinct ways that the EDIT  TEXT...  option
may be used:

(i)  As described in Chapter 4.1

(ii)  To prepare text for a frame before creating it.  To  do
this select EDIT TEXT...  from EDIT menu and enter text  into
edit text box. Note that using the (carriage) Return key will
move  the  cursor  down a line.  The mouse  may  be  used  to
position the cursor on a particular line.

After  you have finished entering and if  necessary,  editing
your text in the edit text box click once in the small OK box
and you will be returned to the main screen. Now select START
/ CUT from the EDIT drop down menu and continue as  described
in chapter 4.1.  As soon as you select USE FRAME the text you
entered in the EDIT TEXT box will be drawn in the  frame.  By
adjusting  the size of the frame you can ensure  the  precise
'look'  of the text layout. Text will automatically  be  left
justified.

(iii) To import text; see next chapter.


4.5  Importing Text

Importing text from First Word is easy.

Select  IMPORT  TEXT  from  the FILE drop  down  menu  and  a
GEM selection box will appear. From this  box you may specify
the disk drive you wish to load your text from and  by  using
the scroll bar see what files you have on  the  disk.  Double
clicking  over the actual name of the text document you  wish
to  load  will place your document 'into' the EASY TEXT  Edit
Text box starting at the beginning of the document.

Please note the maximum size document you can load into  EASY
TEXT is about  5000  bytes or approximately 5000  characters.
If your document is larger than this  it will be necessary to
to  separate  your  document into less  than 5000  byte  size
sections  so that EASY TEXT can eventually load all  of  your
document.

To place your text on the EASY TEXT page/screen the click  OK
or  Cancel if you wish to do something else than  place  your
text into an EASY TEXT frame.  Note Cancel does not  'unload'
your document.  Cancel ensures that the next operation you do
in  EASY TEXT will not be affected by the previous  operation
of loading text into the EDIT TEXT box.

Now select START / CUT from the Edit drop down menu and  draw
the  required size frame etc.  Then continue as  usual.  Note
selecting  USE FRAME will place your text in the frame in the
current selected text style,  size and type.  Press  Control-
Return, OR ALT-Z or End / PASTE to exit the frame.

Importing justified text: Using First Word, or any other word
processor  that justifies text in a similar  manner,  arrange
your document so that it will fit on the EASY TEXT  page.  In
other  words ensure that each sentance is not too  long.  You
can  easily tell if your text will fit on the EASY TEXT  page
because  if  it fits a First Word  screen  without  extending
beyond the right-hand scrool bar then you will be ok.

You  can  reformat your text so that each  sentance  is  much
smaller, as in the example below:

This    isan
example  of  text
that    can    be
importedinto
EASY   TEXT,   so
that you can have
your  document in
long columns like
this or by careful use of First Word's features you can make
text  appear to wrap-around a piece of clip-art  by  placing
spaces  where  you want the art to go.  So if you  wanted  a
piece of clip art  to   then it is quite easy
go here all you  need   to make it look  like
to  do is  use  First   text has wrapped aro-
Word's   ability   to   und your clip-art.  A
limit the size of the   little bit of care is
length  of  text  and   all that is needed!!!

Click  the  small  MORE box to view the next  part  of  your
document. Click in the LESS box to go backwards and view the
previous text.

Click the CLEAR box to empty the EDIT TEXT box of all text.

Select FROM HERE when you want your text to be displayed in a
frame  from a particular EDIT TEXT box page.  EG if you  have
loaded  a large document into the EDIT TEXT box and you  wish
to  place the text  from a particular page into a frame click
FROM HERE  to do so.

Select  ALL  if you wish all of the text from the  FROM  HERE
position  to be placed into a frame.  NOTE that no more  than
550 characters (approx) is the maximum.

If ALL is not ticked (ie selected) then only that  particular
EDIT TEXT box page will be placed in a frame.

If FROM HERE is not ticked (ie selected) text from the  start
of the document will be placed into a frame.


EASY TEXT CANNOT import ST Writer documents.  Try  converting
to ASCII text file only first.

FIRST WORD  word  processor is freely available in the Public
Domain.


4.6 Importing Clip Art

To  import  clip  art or  even  full-size  (ie  screen-sized)
pictures select IMPORT CLIP ART from the FILE drop down menu.
A  selection  box will allow you to chose the disk  drive  to
load from and the art file you wish to load into EASY TEXT.

All art files must be in the DEGAS file format ie a .PI3 type
of file,  eg PICT.PI3.  There are many PD conversion programs
if  the  art file you wish to load into EASY TEXT is  not  in
DEGAS format. Uncompressed DEGAS file format must be used, ie
the size of a .PI3 file must be 32066 bytes approx.  Med  res
DEGAS files use the extension .PI2

You can  load  .EZ1  or  .EZM  pages  from  the LOAD CLIP ART
selection.

Note  that although frames of art can be manipulated in  EASY
TEXT it is not possible to proportionately resize art frames,
so that it is important to import into EASY TEXT the size  of
the frame of art you require.  EASY TEXT can,  however,  move
and clip frames of art. Note that after clipping the frame of
art  smaller  than its previous size  AND  pressing  Control-
Return  (to  end use of that particular frame)  the  previous
larger  size  cannot be regained  unless  reloaded  using the
IMPORT CLIP ART selection.

Once  you have selected the file you wish to load  into  EASY
TEXT the screen will be overdrawn by the picture or clip art.
To  continue  press  Alternate-C -the keyboard  START  /  CUT
method of telling EASY TEXT that you wish to begin. Using the
mouse pointer select an area that you wish to place into Easy
Text.  Press  Alternate-U  for  USE FRAME and  the  art  will
immediately  be placed onto the EASY TEXT  screen.  To  place
further clip art into EASY TEXT you have to load the art file
again and repeat the process as described above.


4.8 Fonts

This  chapter  describes  most of the details  of  using  the
various text and font options available in EASY TEXT.

Users  with  GDOS.PRG  will be able to use  the  FONT  STYLES
selection in the FONT drop down menu.  Users without GDOS.PRG
will  find  that  this selection is  not  available-the  FONT
STYLES  text  in  the drop down menu will be  in  light  text
indicating that this selection is unavailable.

Up to four different font styles may be loaded into EASY TEXT
at  start-up.  To effect the correct loading of a  particular
font(s) the following criteria need to be adhered to:

1. GDOS.PRG must be in an AUTO folder on the EASY TEXT disk

2. The  ASSIGN.SYS file that you wish to use must be  on  the
same disk as the EASY TEXT program, although the actual fonts
may be on another disk in another disk drive.

To  have the actual fonts loaded from another drive you  must
specify  this in the ASSIGN.SYS file at the top of  the  file
where  it  states PATH=A\:- substitute your  own  disk  drive
designation here.  So,  if you were using a RAM disk with the
actual  fonts  on  the RAM disk you  would  have  to  specify
PATH=D\:,  if the RAM disk was designated as D. Note that the
';' used in an ASSIGN.SYS file is there so that comments  can
be  placed in the file.  Any text on the same line as  a  ';'
and  placed  after  it will be  ignored  by  GDOS,  which  is
occasionally useful.

Note that all fonts are loaded at start-up if there is enough
RAM,  If there is not enough RAM to accommodate all the fonts
NO   fonts will be  loaded at all OR only some.  This is  why
the Free RAM selection in the OPTIONS menu is so  useful.  It
allows you to determine exactly how many fonts to place in an
ASSIGN.SYS file.

It  is possible to have many different ASSIGN.SYS  files,  by
naming  them  slightly differently from  ASSIGN.SYS.  So  you
could  have 4 different ASSIGN.SYS files  called  ASSIGN.SY1,
ASSIGN.SY2,  ASSIGN.SY3 and the one you are using at start-up
ASSIGN.SYS. By having different combinations of fonts in each
ASSIGN.SYS file it is possible at start-up time by  correctly
renaming  any one of the other three files to ASSIGN.SYS  and
renaming the other now unwanted ASSIGN.SYS to some other name
to load different font styles.

Note  that  if  you do this and you load an  EASY  TEXT  file
designed  using  different  fonts you will  lose  these  font
styles if an attempt to modify and/or move a frame containing
text.  They  will  be  replaced by  whatever  font  style  is
currently selected.  So if you want your previously  designed
EASY  TEXT page to remain similar in style as when you  first
designed it use the same ASSIGN.SYS file.

Always  reboot  the computer with the EASY TEXT disk  if  you
change the ASSIGN.SYS FILE.

Selecting  a font size that is not available results  in  the
next smaller size being used.


4.9  Loading and Saving EASY TEXT pages

You need a lot of space on a disk to save an EASY TEXT  page.
A maximum of 319400  bytes are needed.  However, if you can't
save all the files that are needed you will still be able  to
load  the the EASY TEXT page  (provided you  saved  at  least
64000 bytes of an EASY TEXT page, or 32000 bytes for just the
screen).  If all the EASY TEXT files are not saved then  when
you load this EZ1 page you will not be able to move your text
or  clip art about.  To solve this problem it is possible  to
load  an  EZ1 page using the Import Clip  Art  selection  and
by  cutting  the text you want you can then move  the  frames
about.

Loading an EASY TEXT page clears all other previous text and
clip art from the screen.


5    OPTIONS

At tick will appear when you select any of these options.  To
deselect click again on the selection and the option will  be
diselected, and the tick will disappear.

5.1  Keep return

This  option ensures that when you enter text in a frame  the
carriage returns are kept.  Note that using the EDIT TEXT box
also ensures carriage returns are kept,  as   Importing  Text
does.  It  would be usual to select KEEP RETURN before  using
the EDIT TEXT box.

5.2  Clear All

This option clears the screen and resets the program from the
beginning so that you will lose all text, imported text, clip
art, and all the current text and font settings.

5.3  Print Screen

This allows you to just print the screen only,  rather than a
complete EASY TEXT page.  Note that you can have the page  in
any  position;  only what you can see on the screen  will  be
printed  out  to  a  printer.  You  must  then  select  PRINT
selection from the FILE menu to actually print the screen.

Ignore any message about going to start position

5.4  Save Screen

This  allows  you  to save the screen  only,  rather  than  a
complete  EASY TEXT page.  As in 5.3 you may have the  screen
displaying any part of your EASY TEXT page.  To actually save
the screen as a file you must select SAVE or SAVE AS from the
the FILE menu to actaully save the screen to disk.

5.5  Bring To Front

This  allows you to select a frame that is positioned  behind
another frame without disturbing the other frame. After using
the  frame it is placed back to the same position as  before,
unless you reposition it.

7.0  KEYBOARD

Sometimes  it  is easier to use the keyboard to make  a  menu
selection  rather  than  go to the  actual  menu  and  select
something.  Those menu options that are followed by a  funny-
looking  character and then by a letter of the  alphabet  are
the menu selctions that can be selected from the keyboard.

To  select a particular menu option press the  ALTERNATE  key
and the particular key at the same time.

The following menu selctions are available from the keyboard:

LOAD...   ALT-L
QUIT ALT-Q

START / CUT    ALT-C
SELECT    ALT-S
SELECT & CHANGEALT-X
END / PASTE    ALT-Z
EDIT TEXT...   ALT-E

KEEP RETURN    ALT-R
CLEAR ALL ALT-A
FREE RAM  ALT-M
BRING TO FRONT ALT-B

FONT STYLES... ALT-T

FILLS...  ALT-F

UNDO

UNDO allows you to cancel any frame and/or text you may  have
entered in that frame,  or clip art,  prior to pressing ALT-Z
or  Control-Return,  or  END / PASTE.  If you  have  selected
SELECT or SELECT and CHANGE from then UNDO is not available.