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1993-01-10
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Slickware is Copy(c)right 1989,1992 by Gary M. Raymond, New Orleans, La.
Show TEXT Converter (Text to COM) Program V1.4 by Gary M. Raymond
Simple <Software> Company
HOME of SlickWare
Gary M. Raymond
P.O.Box 8184
New Orleans, La. 70182
(504) 288-6550
Compuserve 70613,3165
====================================================================
Files Provided:
SHOW.COM SHOW Engine used to convert text (ascii) files to COM
SHOW.DOC This document.
README.COM This document encased by SHOW engine
REGISTER.COM Order form
System requirements: PC/XT/AT, DOS 2.1 up, 128k ram up, floppy or
hard drive, mono or color, any type graphic adapter. Printer optional.
====================================================================
Why SHOW? Recently I had need to immediately supply a customer with
some rather lengthy written instructions. He was in another city, the
document was over twenty pages, and faxing seemed to be my only
option. An assistant suggested I use one of a couple of simple
utilities circulating on the BBS'es that convert text files to self
displaying executable com files and upload it directly to his home
computer. This sounded like the perfect solution. It was, and it
worked. The advantages were obvious. The customer could read the text
directly on his computer monitor by simple typing the name of the
text at the dos prompt. The customer did not have to know beans about
the dos TYPE command, piping, the MORE utility, redirection codes, or
anything.....and, he didn't! The best part was that the self
displaying text also had scroll control, with up and down line
control, pgup and pgdn, along with home and end.
Unfortunately, the utility we used required some sophistication on
the part of a user involving embedding control characters in his text
file for color changes etc. I therefore decided to write a more user
friendly, novice oriented utility, thus SHOW was born. SHOW was
written in assembler to optimize both speed and utility file size.
Isaacson's A86 compiler was chosen for power yet ultra simplicity.
To use SHOW, you need only tell it what text file to convert and
the name of the output com file you desire. (which can be the same
name as the input file. You have an additional option of giving
it a third string parameter which will appear as a header on the
top line of the display window.
Example:
1st 2nd 3rd parameter
C:>SHOW INPUT.TXT OUTEXT "Synopsis of board meeting - 2/23/92"
Remember, the 3rd parameter is optional (as are the quotes) and
notice that a space must delimit (seperate) each parameter. Since
ascii text files have extensions that generally vary from
(.ASC),(.TXT),(.DOC), (.BAS),(.PAS), etc,etc, you must provide the
correct extension for the 1st parameter or input file (assuming it
has an extension, and it does NOT have to have one!) The output file
name.extension will always default to .COM if you do not supply it.
SHOW incorporates a few features not found in some of the other text
converters on the market. It is also fairly intuitive to use,
displaying its entire set of menu choices at the bottom of the screen
on line 25.
Example:
<Esc> (W)rite (G)o (C)olor/(S) (P)rint, Home-End-ArUp-ArDn-PgUp-PgDn, Ln =00
You may <exit to dos> anytime by using the Escape key. The Line counter
at the far right of the menu bar, always indicates the position of the
very top line. Hence, if you hit <End> and see 975, there are actually
998 lines (975 plus 23) in the file.
You can quickly and easily print the document to your line printer by
selecting (P)rint from the menu.
Prompt> Is Line Printer READY [y/n] -> y
SHOW assumes you are using LPT1 (parallel port address 3BCh).
However, if you are using LPT2 (parallel port address 378h), or LPT3
(parallel port address 278h) this is no problem. SHOW will allow you
to toggle between these ports by repeatedly hitting the Insert key.
You will note the LPT# will appear to the extreme left of the last
(25th) line on standard displays.
You can also (W)rite the document back into a standard ascii text
file if desired. After hitting "w" you will be prompted for a standard
dos file name or handle.
Prompt> Enter filename to save as -> minutes.doc
Please observe not to exceed the dos convention of 8.3 8x3
(eight.three characters allowed for dos files. (Examp: TEXTFILE.DOC)
The display screen will have a pleasant default background color of
cyan with black lettering. The top border and bottom menu line will
be blue with white lettering. The (C)olor option allows you to change
(on the fly), the body color of the document. After hitting the
letter "c", immediately use the up and down arrow keys to toggle
through the 255 choices. As you toggle the up/dn arrow keys you will
see the screen change immediately. When you are satisfied with the
selected colors, hit <Esc> and continue enjoying SHOW! There are 128
standard choices plus 128 of the same in blinking format.
Beginning with Version 1.3, the PgUp - PgDn keys are also active
(along with the Arrow keys) and will toggle the background color for
immediate rotation to the next background color.
NOTICE: You may save the new color as a DEFAULT by hitting the "s"
key AFTER changing the color and hitting <Esc>. Caution: the color
cloning (saving) feature will not operate if you rename the new COM
text display file.
The (G)o option request a line number to jump to. You can quickly
determine the total number of lines in your document by using the
<End> key after loading and reading the Line counter at the bottom
right. This feature can save a lot of time in scaning or jumping to
a particular place in a document.
TECH STUFF:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to not breach the 64k segment boundry of a dos com file and
still stuff more text into the wraparound display driver, I have
elected not to maintain a data array of line numbers like most other
similar utilities. Rather, SHOW reads line endings on the fly,
remembers its present position and calculates page and line changes
from that reference. This saves two bytes per line in terms of
overall file size and allows you to get over 62k of text into the
driver. This could be particularly useful for files with short lines.
On the other hand, there is another limit imposed by the use of
unsigned word integers as a line count variable, you are limited to
no more than 64k lines. But, I somehow doubt this will be a problem
either.
The color atribute is determined by a single byte that can represent
an integer from 0 to 255. There are eight basic background colors;
black, blue, green, cyan, red, magenta (purple), brown and white.
Each background color may have any one of the eight basic colors,
plus eight more of the same basic colors in lighter or brighter hues,
as a forground color. So 8x16 = 128 choices of normal color
combinations plus another 8x16 (128) of equivalent blinking choices.
Therefore 128 + 128 = 256 choices (0 thru 255). The toggle simply
increments or decrements the byte starting with decimal 048 (the
value for producing cyan background with black forground).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
For programmers, I will license the assembly source code for a very
reasonable fee. Call, write or E-Mail for more details. One fellow
wanted $500 for his source. By comparison, mine is practically free
and reasonably commented throughout. Show was written for Isaacson's
A86 Assembler.
====================================================================
V1.4 Minor cosmetic changes to some menu prompts. Fixed bug on PgUp
that caused lockup if first line of text was empty. Fixed bug
that improperly set line 25 Menu when text less than 23 lines.
Changed the Printer Port Toggle key from PrnSc to Insert.
====================================================================
V1.3 Added an error message if input text file not found. Added
PgUp & PgDn in addition to Arrow Up,Dn for faster color changes.
====================================================================
V1.2b Replace bios screen writes with direct video to speed up display
time on old, slower CPU's.
====================================================================
V1.1 12/19/92 Maintenance, reworked all functions, saved a few bytes.
====================================================================
V1.0 12/15/92 First release.......................................
====================================================================
┌─────────┐
│ MEMBER │ Society of
│ ┌──────┴──┐ Independent
│ │ │ Shareware
└──┤ ■ │ Authors
│ ║ │
└────╨────┘
This program is produced by a member of the Society of Independent
Shareware Authors (SISA). The Society wants to ensure that all
valid shareware principle actually work for you and SISA members.
The principle behind shareware distribution is simple; try before
you buy. Society members agree to license all shareware for a minimum
of 10 days, free of charge, to first time users as an evaluation period.
After 10 days, buyers are then obligated to license their copy with
the Society member. Society members are obligated to provide high
quality, useful shareware, but, are free to choose whatever marketing
methods suit their specific needs. SISA sanctioned marketing methods
include: demonstration versions; providing printed documentation
after purchase; registration keys that unlock additional features
not necessary to determine basic usefulness; and, providing bug
fixes free of charge. Any Shareware author may become a member of
SISA without cost by simply agreeing to the above conditions and
displaying, at their option, this logo in their documentation.
====================================================================
WARRANTY:
Software:
Simple Software warrants that the software contained herein will
perform in substantial compliance with the documentation
accompanying the software. If you report, in writing, a significant
defect to us, and we are unable to correct it within 90 days of the
date you report the defect, you may return the software and
accompanying materials, and we will refund the purchase price.
Diskette's and Documentation:
Simple Software, warrants all diskette's and documentation to be
free of defects in materials for a period of 30 days from the date
of purchase. In the event of notification within the warranty period
of defects in any materials, Simple Software will replace the
defective diskette or documentation.
Remedies:
The remedy for breach of the warranty shall be limited to
replacement and shall not encompass any other damages, including but
not limited to loss of profit, special, incidental, consequential,
or similar damages, losses, or claims.
DISCLAIMER:
Simple Software specifically disclaims all other warranties,
expressed or implied, including but not limited to, implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
with respect to defects in the diskette and documentation, and the
program license granted herein, in particular, and without limiting
operation of the program license with respect to any particular
application, use, or purpose. In no event shall Simple Software be
liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage,
including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential or
other damages.
GOVERNING LAW:
This statement shall be construed, interpreted, and governed by the
laws of the State of Louisiana.
====================================================================
Registering your copy will help continue the competitive advantages
of providing economical shareware. Upon receipt of your payment I
will provide you with a copy of the latest version and notify you
of all future upgrades. Your patronage is appreciated.
Our no nonsense license:
------------------------
Your one time registration fee will license you to use SHOW to
package text files in ANY quantity for private, shareware or
commercial sales distribution.
Re distribution via electronic transmission, or downloading, is
allowed without furthur permission. Re distribution of the Shareware
version of SHOW, for a fee, is also allowed without furthur
permission as long as that cost is limited to no more than two
dollars per copy, if supplied on any physical disk media.
Yes Gary, I can really make use of your program and would like to
register and obtain the latest version as well as get on your mailing
list for future upgrades and new releases!
Product: SHOWV14.EXE
Name_____________________________________________________________
Mailing Address__________________________________________________
City & State ___________________________________________________
ZIP _____________________________ Phone _________________________
Send $4 + $1 (ship & hand) check or money order to:
Gary M. Raymond
P.O.Box 8184
New Orleans, La. 70182
504-288-6550
Compuserve 70613,3165
====================================================================
EOF