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The World of Computer Software
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└────┘└────┘└────┘└────┘└────┘
TXTBook, ver. 2.0
Electronic Publishing Software
Copyright 1992, 1993 EFD Systems
All Rights Reserved
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└────┘
"Hypertext without Hype"
TXTBook, "Hypertext without Hype" and the overlapping pages logo are trademarks
of EFD Systems
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TABLE OF CONTENTS page
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Title Page ...................................................... 1 │
│ │
│ Table of Contents ............................................... 2 │
│ │
│ Description ..................................................... 3 │
│ │
│ Authoring Books ................................................. 5 │
│ │
│ Reading Books ................................................... 6 │
│ │
│ Error Conditions ................................................ 7 │
│ │
│ Warranty and Disclaimer ......................................... 8 │
│ │
│ License Agreement ............................................... 9 │
│ │
│ Appendix ........................................................ 11 │
│ │
│ Revision History ................................................ 12 │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
DESCRIPTION
TXTBook is a hypertext-style ASCII file browser which emulates the natural
intuitative feel of a paper media book from the perspective of both reader and
author. Books are prepared with a word processor or text editor in the same way
that a paper document is prepared. The reader of a "book" can scroll and flip
pages, jump instantly to any page number, or place a bookmark for later use,
just like with a paper book. Typical computerized conveniences such as text
scans are also provided. Unique "dynamic links", built automatically by the
software, allow a reader to easily backtrack to the prior location after
searching or browsing. Hypertext-style publishing can't get any easier!
The defining characteristic of hypertext is the use of page "links" to inter-
connect related parts of a document. The objective is to overcome the inherent
sequential nature of computers and to allow the reader to browse the electronic
document as freely as a paper one. This page link concept is nothing new. For
centuries, authors have provided "links" in the form of reference page numbers
and footnotes. With TXTBook, links are provided in a familiar, traditional way
like this:
Shakespeare (see page 11) was a famous English playwright.
Type the reference page number, 11, and press [ENTER] for a live demonstration.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
DESCRIPTION (cont'd)
As demonstrated above, TXTBook provides "dynamic links" which are built
on-the-fly as the reader jumps from reference to reference using page numbers.
Other hypertext systems require the author to use special software in order to
encode any available links into a document in a special, proprietary format.
With these systems, document production is often a complex and time consuming
process and the result is a "static" document; i.e. all available links have
been fixed by the author and cannot be changed. In contrast, your existing
ASCII word processor or text editor is all you need to produce a dynamic
computer "book".
Page jumps and dynamic links are the key elements which allow TXTBook to provide
unparalled freedom to the computer document reader. The reader can branch out
in any direction, at any time, to search and browse as easily as with a paper
book and without fear of becoming lost or losing track of the current page. The
software automatically remembers each stop along the way and can easily return
the reader back to the starting point on demand.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
AUTHORING BOOKS
As noted above, your existing ASCII word processor or text editor is used to
prepare a computer "book" in exactly the same way that a paper book is prepared,
the only difference is page size. TXTBook considers each screen of text to be
one page in your book. A text screen can display 24 lines of text, 80 columns
per line, so your editor or word processor should be configured to use this as
the page size. Your editor should also be configured to use "hard" returns at
the end of a line and to expand tabs into spaces. The included CLEAN utility
will convert ASCII output from most word processors to the necessary format
should any problems occur. Aside from these simple considerations, everything
else at the author's discretion.
Reference page numbers can be included in a document in any manner of the
author's choosing. The Shakespeare example on page 3 has the reference page
number embedded into the sentence. Another possibility is to use footnotes at
the bottom of a page as shown below.
Feel free to experiment with jumping and linking using any of the reference
pages shown below. Remember that pressing ENTER will bring you back here.
INDEX - 2 DESCRIPTION - 3 READING BOOKS - 6 ERRORS - 7
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
READING BOOKS
- To begin reading a "book", simply type : TXTBook bookname
- Use the PgUp and PgDn keys to page through the document. Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn jumps
by 10 pages. Home and End keys move to the book start/end. Cursor Arrow keys
can be used to scroll up/down and left/right. Press "A" to re-align the
current page to the screen after scrolling.
- To jump to a known reference page, type the number and press the ENTER key. A
page link is automatically built before each jump or text scan to allow you to
return easily. The last 50 jumps or scans are "remembered" and can be undone
in order (last undone first) by simply pressing ENTER.
- To scan for a particular word or phrase (40 characters or less); press "s" or
"S" and enter the text when prompted. Press ENTER to complete the entry and
begin the scan or press ESC to abort. If the word or phrase is found, press
"R" to repeat the scan and look for the next occurance. Lower case "s"
performs a case insensitive scan; i.e. capitalization is ignored. Upper case
"S" performs a case sensitive scan.
- Press "M" to set a bookmark at the current page, press "K" to return
to the mark later. The page number "winks" to indicate the mark was set.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ERROR CONDITIONS
The following error messages are reported by TXTBook.
- File not found. Self explanatory.
- File Empty. Self explanatory.
- Invalid Index file. TXTBook uses an internal page index to allow instant access
to any page in a book. This index can be saved to disk and re-used later for
faster loading of large files. If the index does not match the book, for
example, if the book as been edited and changed, this message is displayed and
the index is re-built.
- Unexpected file error. For some unknown reason, data cannot be read from a
book as needed. Hopefully, you will never see this message.
TXTBook will ignore any data found beyond column 128. TXTBook will stop reading a
file after 175,000 lines have been read. This is usually 5-10 meg. of text.
TXTBook requires approximately 50K to run properly; however, available memory is
not checked by the software. Attempts to use the software without sufficient
memory available will likely produce a DOS error.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
WARRANTY and DISCLAIMER
This software is provided solely "as is". The author hereby disclaims any and
all warranties, either expressed or implied, including without limitation the
warranties of merchantability and fitness of purpose. In no event will the
author be liable for any damages, incidential, consequential or otherwise,
resulting from the use or mis-use of this software. In any event, the author's
liability shall be limited to the originial software license purchase price.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
LICENSE AGREEMENT - SHAREWARE
This software is distributed as "shareware". You are allowed to use the
software for a trial period of 30 days. If you wish to continue using the
software after the trial period, you must purchase a license. You may distribute
this software to others for use under these same terms provided that the
following conditions are adhered to:
1) No fee may be charged in connection with distribution other than a nominal $5
fee to cover the cost of materials and postage. It must be clearly stated
that any such fees do not constitute a license fee for use of the software.
2) The software is distributed in it's entirety as originally released including
this documentation file.
3) The software may not be distributed in connection with or incorporated into
any other software, product or information being distributed, sold or offered
for sale.
See below for more details regarding registration and distribution of the
software by registered users.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
LICENSE AGREEMENT AND REGISTRATION
To use this software beyond the trial period requires the purchase of a license
agreement. A license can only be purchased directly from the author by sending
a check or money order for $25 to:
EFD Systems
304 Smokerise Circle SE
Marietta, GA 30067 CIS:72627,3026
Licensed users have the unlimited royalty-free right to distribute copies of the
software in conjunction with other legally distributable documents solely for
the purpose of accessing said documents. Any such distribution must plainly
indicate to those receiving the software that they have NOT been given similiar
distribution rights to the software. Such indication can be given by clearly
displaying the following copyright notice:
"The included software is copyrighted material and is protected under copyright
law. No part of this software may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by
any means without the expressed written permission of EFD Systems."
Personalized versions of the software are available for business or corporate
use at an additional charge.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
APPENDIX
Shakespeare, William
The English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare was the author of the most
widely admired and influential body of literature by any individual in the
history of Western civilization. His work comprises 36 plays, 154 sonnets, and
2 narrative poems. Knowledge of Shakespeare is derived from two sources: his
works and those remains of legal and church records and contemporary allusions
through which scholars can trace the external facts of his life.
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ If you jumped here for the live demonstration, the software has automatically│
│ built a "link" with your last page in order to return you back once you are │
│ finished here. To return, simply press ENTER. An internal "dynamic link" is│
│ built by the software prior to each jump or text scan. The last 50 jumps or │
│ scans are "remembered" in this way and can be undone in order using ENTER. │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
REVISION HISTORY
1.0 - 10/11/92 Original release of character mode BOOK.
1.1 - 10/13/92 Fixed problem with sporadic string space corruption.
Added additional backtracking from reference pages.
Revised documentation.
1.2 - 12/2/92 Added "bookmark", revised and corrected documentation.
2.0 - 1/25/93 Major Revision. Revised backtracking mechanism --- ENTER key
alone now backtracks. Corrected bug in repeat scan. Added case
sensitive search. Added ability to save index to disk for large
files. Much faster searching and indexing. Increased allowable
file size to 175,000 lines (approx. 10 meg.). Changed name to
TXTBook due to problems with the name "BOOK",
Licensed users of TXTBook may upgrade to any later version for a $5 shipping and
handling fee.
*** End of Book ***