Autoprompter PC requires a CGA/VGA card to prompt.This readme file loads automatically when the demo disk is run. You may use the <Pg Dn> and <Pg Up> keys to move through. Since this is a demo disk, some features are missing or modified. For example, the prompter mode will only display to line number 20.Most features are easy to use and require little explanation. Both the word processor and the prompter use the standard keys such as <HOME>, <END>, <PG UP> etc. Additional commands are shown on HELP screens. One HELP screen is found on the left side in the word processor. That HELP screen can be toggled on & off by using the <F1> key. Prompter help is reached by pressing <F1> while in the prompter mode.Windows: Autoprompter PC uses windows to display information as well as to accept your selection to various menus. To make a selection, move the highlight bar by using the up and down cursor keys. Once placed, press <RETURN>. Most windows will also allow you to press a single key to make your selection.When appropriate, Autoprompter PC will place the highlight bar on the last selection made or the one saved as part of your setup.Except when a response is required, the <ESC> key serves to exit to a previous window or level.Word Processor: The word processor will display the file in the same format as the prompter, including line numbers.Insert & delete: The insert key will toggle between the insert and overstrike mode. The delete and backspace keys can be used to delete portions of the file. Large portions are best deleted by defining a block and cutting them from the file. Find: Pressing <ALT>-<F> will prompt you to enter whatever it is you wish to find. After entering it, a search will take place from the beginning of the file. If the search is successful, the cursor will be placed on that text. To find the next instance simply press <ALT>-<N>. When using <ALT>-<N>, the search takes place from the cursor position.Erase: Pressing <ALT>-<E> is used to erase the entire file from memory. Be sure you save it to disk first if you ever want it back again.Go To: Besides using the cursor, <HOME>, <END>, <PG UP>, and <PG DN> keys to move about a file, you may press <F5> and enter the line number you wish to jump to. <F5> can also be used when painting a block. (See below)Block Functions: A portion of your file can be defined as a block for "Cut & Paste" operations or for printing a portion of the file. To define a block, position the cursor at the beginning of the block, then press <F9>. A message will appear indicating that you're in the paint mode. Moving the cursor forward will paint the block. When the block is defined, press <F1O> to tie down the end. <F9> and <F1O> can be used as desired to move the beginning and end, respectively. The entire block can be unmarked (unpainted) by pressing <Alt>-<U>.Cut & Paste: If a block is defined, it can be cut from the file by pressing <ALT>-<C>. That portion is not discarded, but put in the paste buffer. The cursor is also placed where the block had been. If you wish, you may restore the block at this time by pressing <ALT>-<I> to insert it back into the file. If you move the cursor before pressing <ALT>-<I>, the block will be inserted at the position of the cursor. This feature can be used, for example, to move a pargraph. The block remains in the buffer until another "CUT" takes place so that multiple copies of the block can be inserted in the file.Printing: It is recommended that you save your file to disk before printing. To print the entire file, just press <ALT>-<P>. If you only want to print a part of the file, define that portion as a block before pressing <ALT>-<P>.The Prompter:The scroll speed of Autoprompter-PC can be controlled with the keyboard, a mouse, or joy-stick. Plans are available for building a rotary knob hand controller which, like the joy-stick, requires a game port. For mouse or game port operation see Setting Program Parameters below.After a file is loaded (or entered from the word processor), select <F3> from the Word processor for prompting. The first line of the file will be displayed and ready for scrolling. By pressing a numeric key from <1> to <6>, the file will begin to scroll. The scroll can be stopped either by pressing <0> or the <Space Bar>. If you press the <Space Bar> a second time, the scroll will return to the previous speed. Another way to change speeds is by using the <+> and <-> keys. They will change the speed one step at a time. Scrolling backward is done by pressing the <.> key (period). Remember, there is a HELP screen available by pressing <F1>. Just as in the Word Processor, the <Home>, <End>, <Pg Up>, <Pg Dn>, and <F5> keys will move you through the file. Pressing <F5> will allow you to jump to any line number desired. (Again, This demo disk will only display 20 lines.) If you leave the prompter and go to the word processor, the cursor will be placed in the area that was being displayed on the prompter. This makes it easy to make quick changes. When you return to the prompter mode, the same lines will be displayed. If you wish to go back to the beginning, just press the <HOME> key.Disk Utilities: Press <F2> from the Word Processor to go to the Disk Utilities menu. It is used to load, save and append files as well as list the current directory. Follow the on-screen prompts to use these functions. When load or append is selected, a directory of file names will be displayed with the first one hi-lited. Move the hi-lite bar with the cursor keys to the file you want and press <RETURN>.The append function will attach a file from the disk to the end of the file currently in memory. Setting Program Parameters: Pressing <F4> from the word proccessor will allow you to set various options. By following the on screen instructions you can select an operating speed to match the speed of your computer, choose the number of rows you want on the prompter display, and set the printer, disk, and controller options you want. These parameters can be saved to disk if desired. Both the operating speed and the number of rows displayed on the prompter will affect scroll speed. With a fast computer you should have no trouble scrolling six rows. On slower computers, you will probably want to scroll four or five rows. Slower operating speeds may need to be selected on faster computers to give you the proper scroll speed range. Set it to whatever works best for you.If you wish to use a mouse or game port controller, select <S>CROLL, followed by <C>ONTROL METHOD to choose desired mode.Autoprompter-PC supports either a two or three button mouse. Speed can be controlled entirely by pressing the buttons or by rolling the mouse. A three button mouse allows direct pause operation with the center button.Changing Fonts:AUTOPROMPTER PC has four fonts available for prompting. It is shipped with the Large font active. An upper/lower case font (called U&L-case), an underlined font (Undr-lin) , and a high-lighted font (Hilite) are also included.Characters typed in upper case will appear underlined or hilited on the prompter when using the appropriate font. Use the set-up menu to change fonts by selecting scroll parameters. Each font will display up to 20 characters on 4, 5, or 6 lines.Each copy of AUTOPROMPTER PC is shipped with a font editor which will allow you to create special characters or foreign language fonts. (Not included with this demo). Autoprompter PC is available from:BEACON Software, IncP.O. Box 751Milwaukee, WI 53201-355-4460***End of File***
