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A N S I a r t i s t Version 2.5 TUTORIAL MANUAL Copyright (c) 1991, 93 by dimas Software All rights reserved by Thomas Sauer and Dirk Focken dimas Software Hauptstasse 49 D-W6715 Lambsheim Germany, Europe Phone: GERMANY-06233-53972 CompuServe: 100020,224 0. Table of Contents =================================================================== 1. Registered Trademarks..........................................3 2. The Shareware Concept..........................................3 3. dimas Software.................................................3 4. When to Register...............................................4 5. Non-registered Users...........................................4 6. Support........................................................4 6.1. Technical Support.........................................4 6.2. ANSIartist License Agreement..............................4 6.2.1. Copyright............................................5 6.2.2. Definitions..........................................5 6.2.3. Shareware Copies.....................................5 6.2.4. Registered Copies....................................5 6.2.5. Use of One Copy on Two Computers.....................5 6.2.6. Use of ANSIartist on Networks or Multiple Systems....6 6.2.7. Making Copies........................................6 6.2.8. Distribution Restrictions............................6 6.2.9. Use of ANSIartist....................................6 6.2.10. Shareware Evaluation Version warranty...............6 6.2.11. Registered Version Warranty.........................7 7. Order and Registration Information.............................7 8. Introduction...................................................8 9. Installation...................................................8 10. System Requirements...........................................9 11. Getting Started...............................................9 12. The User Interface............................................9 12.1. Hotkeys.................................................10 12.2. Windows.................................................10 12.3. The Status Line.........................................11 12.4. Dialog Windows..........................................12 12.4.1. Check boxes and Radio Buttons......................12 12.4.2. Input Lines and Lists..............................12 13. The first Screen.............................................13 13.1. Cursor Movements........................................13 13.2. Edit Keys...............................................14 13.3. First Screen Changes....................................14 13.4. Block Operations........................................15 13.5. The Undo Feature........................................16 13.6. The Context Menu........................................16 13.7. Colors..................................................16 13.7.1. Creating a colorful screen.........................16 13.7.2. Color Hotkeys......................................16 13.8. Lines...................................................17 13.8.1. How to draw a line.................................17 13.9. Boxes...................................................17 13.9.1. Drawing Boxes......................................18 13.10. Replacing Attributes...................................18 14. File Commands................................................18 14.1. Saving our Screen.......................................18 14.1.1. Saving as ANSI screen..............................18 14.1.2. Other file formats.................................18 14.2. Loading a Screen........................................19 14.2.1. Loading WildCat files..............................19 15. Hotkeys......................................................19 16. Tabulators...................................................19 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC 17. Variables....................................................19 17.1. Variable Handling.......................................20 18. What now?....................................................20 1. Registered Trademarks =================================================================== Nearly all Software and Hardware names mentioned in this manual are registered trademarks. All trademarks used in this manual are registered trademarks of the respective firms. 2. The Shareware Concept =================================================================== We distribute ANSIartist under the shareware concept. Shareware is a unique marketing idea born of the computer revolution. Users are allowed to obtain complete working programs to test and evaluate freely for a limited period. If they find the programs useful they should register their copy of the program. The small registration fee goes to support the authors and encourage them to continue to improve the software. Shareware depends on honesty. The computer programs are distributed freely as finished products. The authors of this form of program depend completely on the honesty of end users for compensation for their work. If you use a shareware program, any shareware program, please be honest and register your copy. Shareware is not free software. It requires just as much work and effort to produce as the highly advertised commercial products, but it usually sells for a small fraction of the price. Registering a shareware program also gives you the unique opportunity to do something that is virtually impossible with most commercial software. When you register, your comments and ideas usually will get directly to the author of the program and the response you will receive is from him/her. This fact gives certainty to you that your ideas will be heard by someone who is paying attention. It is also from this pool of suggestions and ideas that future improvements are spawned. Shareware companies sparingly don't spend millions of dollars doing "market research" or advertising the heck out of their products to sell you something that you have only read about. It is all up front,... here it is,... fully functional,... you like it, please buy it,... if you don't... erase it. Shareware that is of high quality at low prices does tend to keep all software prices lower and is therefore a necessity in its own right. When you support shareware you not only receive the right to use a good program but you also make a statement to the entire software industry. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. Make the free world economy work! Please register shareware. 3. dimas Software =================================================================== dimas Software committs providing programs that make the operations of computers easier. Through your support, we hope to provide on going updates and enhancements to make this product even better. Through the balance of this manual, unless specified otherwise, the term ANSIartist is used to refer to the complete shareware product - containing the program files and the utilities, and the associated documentation and sample files. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 3 4. When to Register =================================================================== We grant a limited license to use this software for a period not to exceed thirty days to non-registered users. During this period they should test and evaluate the software to determine if it will meet their needs. The use of this program beyond this limited period requires registration. Registration gives you the right to use the software as documented in the license. >> Note: Registered users of ANSIartist will also enjoy the benefits of additional utility programs. Get the registered copy! 5. Non-registered Users =================================================================== Non-registered users, including SysOps, may distribute the SHAREWARE VERSION of ANSIartist providing they comply with the following: * Yo must copy the software in its original unmodified form. * You must include all files in the copy. * Don't request any fee or charge for the distribution of the software. Do not distribute ANSIartist in conjunction with any other product without the express written consent of dimas Software. Disk vendors and distributors who wish to distribute ANSIartist for a service fee, should refer to the license rules contained in Section 7. 6. Support =================================================================== 6.1. Technical Support ------------------------------------------------------------------- Technical support for ANSIartist is available to registered users. If you are not a registered user, we will provide you with assistance to install and evaluate a shareware copy of ANSIartist during the thirty day evaluation period, but we cannot provide support beyond that until you register. Registered users entitles support for 12 months following registration. This support covers questions about using the product and provides updates for serious bugs. Support is obtained by: * mail dimas Software Hauptstrasse 49 D-W6715 Lambsheim Germany, Europe * phone (limited to 1 hour per registration unit) GERMANY-6233-53972 * fax GERMANY-6233-51210 * CompuServe mail 100020,224 Registered users will get all minor version updates (2.xx) of this product within one year after registration. You can obtain anytime the latest version of ANSIartist on CompuServe in the IBMBBS forum or at the Kurpfalz BBS (GERMANY-6233-55087) in the dimas forum. 6.2. ANSIartist License Agreement ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC This license agreement governs your use of ANSIartist. If you have any questions about it, please contact to dimas Software. 6.2.1. Copyright - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The ANSIartist program and all other programs and documentation distributed or shipped with it are Copyright 1992 by dimas Software and protected by German and International Copyright Law. In the rest of this document, this collection of programs is referred as "ANSIartist". We grant a license to use your copy of ANSIartist only under the terms and conditions specified in this license agreement. 6.2.2. Definitions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ANSIartist is distributed in two forms: A "registered" copy of ANSIartist is a copy distributed on diskette, purchased from dimas Software, and which includes a serial number and the legend "registered" in the program sign-up message or help screen, and on the diskette label. The second form, a "shareware" copy of ANSIartist is a copy distributed on diskette or via an electronic bulletin board, on-line service, or other electronic means, obtained from a shareware disk vendor, or obtained from another individual, and which displays the legend "Unregistered" for the functions identified above. 6.2.3. Shareware Copies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We distribute shareware copies of ANSIartist to allow you to try the program before you pay for it. They are Copyright 1992 by dimas Software, and do not constitute "free" or "public domain" software. You may use a shareware copy of ANSIartist at no charge for a trial period of up to thirty days. If you wish to continue using ANSIartist after that period, you must buy a registered copy. If you choose not to buy a registered copy, you must stop using ANSIartist, though you may keep copies and pass them along to others. 6.2.4. Registered Copies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dimas Software distributes registered copies of ANSIartist to those who have ordered them. You may only use your registered copy of ANSIartist may on the number of computers specified on the license agreement. 6.2.5. Use of One Copy on Two Computers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you have a registered copy of ANSIartist which is licensed for use on a single computer, you may install it on two computers (for example, at work and at home). You have to provide that there is no possibility the two computers will be in use at the same time, and that you have bought ANSIartist yourself, or if ANSIartist was bought by your employer, that you have your employer's explicit permission to install ANSIartist on two systems as described in this paragraph. The right to install one copy of ANSIartist on two computers is limited to copies originally licensed for use on a single computer, and may not be --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 5 used to expand the number of systems covered under a multi-system license. 6.2.6. Use of ANSIartist on Networks or Multiple Systems - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You may install your registered copy of ANSIartist on a computer attached to a network, or remove it from one computer and install it on a different one, provided there is no possibility that not more users than it is licensed for will use it. We define a "user" as one keyboard which is connected to a computer on which ANSIartist is installed or used, regardless of whether or not the user of the keyboard is aware of the installation or use of ANSIartist in the system. 6.2.7. Making Copies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You may copy any version of ANSIartist for normal backup purposes, and you may give copies of the shareware version to other individuals, which they may also use and copy subject to the terms of this agreement. If you copy the shareware version of ANSIartist for others, you must include all the files distributed with it, including this one. YOU MAY NOT GIVE COPIES OF THE REGISTERED VERSION TO ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY PURPOSE. 6.2.8. Distribution Restrictions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You may NOT distribute ANSIartist other than through individual copies of the shareware version passed to friends and associates for their individual use. Specifically, you may not place ANSIartist or any part of the ANSIartist package in any user group or commercial library, or distribute it with any other product or as an incentive to purchase any other product, without express written permission from dimas Software, and you may not distribute for a fee, or in any way sell copies of ANSIartist or any part of the ANSIartist package. Anyone distributing the shareware version of ANSIartist for any kind of remuneration must first contact dimas Software at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be granted automatically to distributors recognized by the ASP as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering ANSIartist immediately (However, you have to advise dimas Software so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of ANSIartist). 6.2.9. Use of ANSIartist - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ANSIartist is a powerful program. While we have attempted to build in reasonable safeguards, if you do not use ANSIartist properly you may destroy files or cause other damage to your computer software and data. You assume full responsibility for the selection and use of ANSIartist to achieve your intended results. As stated below, dimas Software limits its warranty to replacement of a defective program diskette. 6.2.10. Shareware Evaluation Version warranty - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The shareware version is provided as is. dimas Software makes NO warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including without --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC limitation, any warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. 6.2.11. Registered Version Warranty - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dimas Software warrants the physical diskette provided with the registered versions to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for 90 days from the date of registration. If dimas Software receives notification within the warranty period of defects in materials or workmanship, and such notification is determined by dimas Software to be correct, dimas Software will replace the defective diskette. Concerrning to the software, dimas Software makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire and exclusive liability and remedy for breach of this warranty shall be limited to replacement of the defective diskette and shall not include or extend to any claim for or right to recover any other damages, including but not limited to, loss of profit, data, or use of the software, or special, incidental, or consequential damages or other similar claims, even if dimas Software has been specifically advised of the possibility of such damages. In NO event will dimas Software liability for any damages to you or any other person ever exceed the lower of the suggested list price or actual price paid for the license to use the software, regardless of any form of the claim. 7. Order and Registration Information =================================================================== If you have already paid for and registered ANSIartist: thank you. If you obtained ANSIartist from a shareware disk vendor, an on-line computer service or bulletin board, a friend or colleague, or another similar source, you have an unregistered (trial) copy. As the copyright holder for ANSIartist, dimas Software allows and encourages you to use this trial copy without charge for a limited period, under the terms of the ANSIartist license agreement (see Section 6.2). After this thirty day period expires, you must purchase (register and pay for) ANSIartist to continue using it. This shareware distribution method allows you to determine whether the program meets your needs before you pay for it. As a registered user, you are entitled to a number of privileges: * A diskette with the latest version of the ANSIartist program will be mailed to you. * Access and use of any subsequent minor version updates (i.e. 2.xx) as they become available through public or private distribution channels. * Support, as described in Section vi, is available for a period of twelve months following registration. * Notification of future major updates (i.e. 3.xx) and a reduction in rates for upgrades. * Shipment of a number of extremely useful utility programs that are only made available to registered users. Refer to the Utilities Manual (UTILS.DOC). The registration fee for a single copy of ANSIartist is $49, or DM 60. As explained in detail in this section, this payment fee entitles you to an up-to-date copy of ANSIartist, support and upgrade privileges, and a number of additional utility programs. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 7 Discounts are available for multiple users at a given site. The fee for a license is based on the estimated number of separate users of the ANSIartist program. For local area networks, one copy must be licensed for each computer that will be using the program on the network. To use the discount schedule below, estimate the total number of copies that you may eventually use. ANSIartist 2.5 | Number of users (copies) Price per copy | 1 $49 DM 60 | 2 to 10 $25 DM 45 | 11 to 25 $22 DM 40 | 26 to 50 $20 DM 35 | 51 to 75 $18 DM 30 | 76 to 100 $16 DM 25 | 101 to 125 $15 DM 23 | Unlimited at one site $2500 DM 4000 Only one copy of the software will be shipped in each case, regardless of the number of users licensed. All prices are shown in $US and DM. Payments are accepted in either American or German currencies. Payment accepted by Eurocheque (DM), American Express, MasterCard, or Eurocard. Invoices accepted for orders over $100. >> Note: Credit card billings will originate in Deutsche Mark (DM). ANSIartist can be ordered using the order forms in the ORDER.FRM file. Phone orders accepted at GERMANY-6233-53972 or transmit your order form to us by fax at GERMANY-6233-51210. You can also order via CompuServe (CIS 100020,224). Please include all information on the order form with your electronic order, preferably in the same format. 8. Introduction =================================================================== This manual was designed as a "Quick Start Workshop". It contains all information you need to use the ANSIartist - after reading this manual, you will be able to create your first own screens. If you need a reference guide, refer to GUIDE.DOC which came along the ANSIartist, too; refer to PACKAGE.LST to get a complete file list. You are SysOp or user of a mailbox. Well, at any time, you want to create a colorful screen, menu, message, advert, etc. Now, what to do? The first possibility is to create the screen with any editor and to insert the color codes manually. This operation will take much time and will make later changes nearly impossible. The second possibility is to use a tool to create your screen. ANSIartist is such a tool. Why ANSIartist? We are users of mailboxes ourselves and have personal contacts to SysOps. Some time ago, a sysop asked us to write a real quick and easy-to-use screen editor with many and powerful features, which creates an ANSI screen without wasting bytes. So we did: ANSIartist is easy-to-use, quick, powerful and does not waste any bytes! Only coding manually will save one or two more bytes... Well, and now... Let's start! 9. Installation =================================================================== After extracting the archive file ANSIartist came in, we --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC recommend to create a directory (preferably called ARTIST) and copy all files into it. That's it! ! To print out this file, you may use PRINTDOC.EXE which came along ANSIartist. It allows you to select the pages to print; this may help you to save several pages of paper. 10. System Requirements =================================================================== * IBM compatible PC, XT, AT, 386 or higher * MS-DOS Version 3.0 or higher * approx. 512K RAM (min. 360K available) * any graphics adapter * keyboard * 1 floppy disk drive Not required, but recommended: * Microsoft compatible mouse (or trackball) * Hard Disk Drive >> Note: To load ANSI screens, the screen driver ANSI.SYS (came along MS-DOS) has to be loaded. To install it, insert the line DEVICE=[dir]\ANSI.SYS into your CONFIG.SYS file. [dir] specifies the directory ANSI.SYS is hold in (e.g. C:\DOS). Refer to the MS-DOS User's Guide for detailed information. 11. Getting Started =================================================================== To start the ANSIartist, change into your ANSIartist directory, type ARTIST and press the enter key. Now, the start copyright message should appear. If you get an error, refer to README.DOC, chapter "Troubleshooting", then return to this file and try again. Press ENTER to continue. Now, the "Please Register" screen appears - please read it carefully! Again, press ENTER to begin with work. ! ATTENTION: Before starting ANSIartist, you have to change into your ANSIartist directory or make sure that ANSIartist has access to all of its files (ARTIST.*). 12. The User Interface =================================================================== Welcome to the ANSIartist! After passing the welcome procedure, you will see an "empty" screen. * The first line you see is called "Menu bar". * The last line is called "Status Line". * The space between these lines is called "desktop". You can reach all commands by using the menu bar. The first line of the screen is called menu bar and is always visible unless any editor window is maximized to fullscreen. When the menu bar is activated, you will see a highlighted item; it shows the current selected menu. When you choose a menu command with a point tail (three points (...) at last position), a dialog --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 9 window will open. Choosing an item with an arrow behind, will bring up a second menu (a pop-up menu) . Items without additional characters will execute a command at once. To select a menu by keyboard: * Press F10. The menu bar will be activated. * Choose a menu with the arrow (cursor) keys and ENTER, or by entering a shortcut. A shortcut means the highlighted letter of the wanted item. Press ESC to cancel any action. For example, if the menu bar is selected, the File menu will be activated by pressing [F], otherwise by pressing ALT-F. * Again, choose a command (= item) inside a menu with the arrow keys and press ENTER or enter the shortcut (the highlighted letter of an item). Then, the ANSIartist will execute this command, open a dialog window or open another menu. >> Note: Whenever to select a command, we will write sentences like this one: Select Options/Environment/Mouse to edit the mouse settings. So you have to open the menu Options, then to select the item Environment (which brings up a pop-up menu) and to select the menu item Mouse. You can select all commands by using the mouse, too: * Open a menu by clicking on an item of the menu bar. * Click on the wanted command. Of course, you can drag the mouse cursor steight to the wanted menu command and release the mouse button afterwards. (This action will be canceled if you drag the mouse cursor out of the menu's area and release the mouse button then.) It depends on the active window whether a command is available or not. >> Note: To select a command by mouse, always click with the left mouse button. To use the right button, you can change the mouse settings by executing Options/Environment/Mouse. 12.1. Hotkeys ------------------------------------------------------------------- There are several ways to select a command quickly. For mouse users, the fastest way is to drag the mouse to the command you want (see paragraph above). Then, the command will be executed immediately. It is much more quick to select a hotkey displayed in the status line: Just click on it. For keyboard users, there are many hotkeys available. To select a command by menu, first select the menu by holding down ALT and pressing the menu shortcut (the highlighted letter). After having opened the menu, just press the highlighted letter (shortcut) of the command you want (or the hotkey named behind). These shortcuts are also available in dialog boxes. To get a list of all ANSIartist hotkeys, refer to HOTKEYS.DOC. 12.2. Windows ------------------------------------------------------------------- With ANSIartist, you will always work in a window. A window is a part of the screen which can be moved, resized, tiled, covered by other windows, opened and closed. The number of windows depends on the available memory - but there is always only one active window. The window you work in is called active window. All commands and inputs will result changes only in this window. There are different window types, but most of them have these properties: * a window title * a close icon --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 10 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC * a scroll bar * a resize icon * a zoom icon The active window is always double-framed. It contains a close icon, a zoom icon and a resize icon. As addition, edit windows contain a scroll bar. The active window is always completely visible. The close icon is paced in the upper left corner. To close a window, click on it, select Window/Close or press ALT-F3. Then, the (active) window will be closed. >> Note: The Help Window can also be closed by pressing ESC. The window title is placed to the center of the first window line. It contains the name of the window. By double-clicking onto the first line, the window will be zoomed to full desktop size or restored to the original window size. The zoom icon is paced to the upper right corner of the first window line. If this icon is displayed as single-headed arrow, clicking on this icon will zoom the window to full desktop size; if the arrow has two heads, the window is already zoomed. Then, clicking on the icon will restore the the original window size. If you want to use the keyboard, use the command Window/Zoom or press F5. Scroll bars are horizontal or vertical bars at the right or lower window border which are limited by two arrows. The scroll bars contain a position symbol which shows the position of the window content to the entire window content. You can use a scroll bar by mouse to "scroll" the content of a window. If you click on any arrow of a scroll bar, exactly one column or line will be scrolled. To scroll continuously, just click on an arrow and hold down the mouse button. If you want to scroll a whole page, click on the shadowed areas of a scroll bar. It is also possible to drag the position symbol to scroll to a known position very fast. The resize icon is placed to the lower left corner (at this position the window frame is displayed as a single line). If you move this icon (click on it and drag it around), the window will be resized. If you want use the keyboard, use the command Window/Move or Resize or press CTRL-F5. >> Note: The ANSIartist uses SmartMenus. That means, each window type has its own menu - the editor window has for example more menus than the ASCII chart menu. If you change the active window, the menu bar will be switched automatically. Here is a hotkey summary for window management: Key Command Result | ALT-F3 Window/Close Closes the active window. | F5 Window/Zoom Zooms the active window to the | maximum desktop size. | CTRL-F5 Window/Move or Resizes or moves the window. | Resize Use the cursor keys to move, SHIFT | and cursor keys to resize. | F6 Window/Next Selects the next window. | SHIFT-F6 Window/Previous Selects the previous window. | CTRL-F10 Window/List Opens a dialog containg a list of | all active windows. 12.3. The Status Line ------------------------------------------------------------------- The status line is placed to the last line of the screen. It --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 11 offers following functions: * It shows the current available hotkeys. Instead of selecting these commands by menu, you can click on them or press the displayed hotkey to execute them immediately. * It shows the current program status, for example "Saving file". * It shows explanations to the menu commands and the dialogs. >> Note: The status line changes whenever you change the active window or call menu commands. 12.4. Dialog Windows ------------------------------------------------------------------- Menu commands with a point tail (...) open a dialog window that contains several control elements which allow to change a number of options and settings. There are five different dialog controls to change settings: Radio Buttons, Check boxes, Buttons, Input Lines (often called Input Boxes, too) and lists. If you use a color screen, these elements will be displayed in different colors. In most dialog windows, there are three buttons: OK, Cancel and Help. The button OK will close the dialog box and will cause changes in the active window or change application settings. Cancel will close the dialog box also, but will give up all inputs or changes you have done. Help opens a help window for this dialog box. Note that ESC is a hotkey linked with the button Cancel. You can "push" buttons by clicking on them by mouse or, by keyboard, by pressing ALT and the highlighted letter. For example, ALT-K will "push" the OK button. To select the dialog elements, use the keys TAB (next) and SHIFT-TAB (previous). Selected elements will be displayed highlighted. Jump to the next button by using TAB and press ENTER to "push" it. In most dialogs, OK is the default button, that means, this button will be pushed by pressing ENTER anywhere in the dialog. On monochrome screens, a default button will be signaled with arrows, otherwise it will be highlighted. >> Note: Remind that selecting a button by TAB changes the default button! 12.4.1. Check boxes and Radio Buttons - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Enabled check boxes are signaled by an X. An empty field means that the option is disabled. To select a check box, click on it or its label, or by pressing TAB until it is highlighted. Press SPACE to enable or disable the box or by pressing ALT and the highlighted letter. You can choose as many check boxes as you want. Check boxes are often hold in a group. If you select such a group by the TAB key, select the wanted item with the cursor keys and enable or disable it by pressing SPACE. Radio buttons are always hold in groups. The big difference between radio buttons and check boxes is that in radio button groups only ONE option can be selected. To choose this option, click on it with the mouse or press ALT and the highlighted letter. (You can select the group by TAB or SHIFT-TAB, too and select the wanted option with the cursor keys.) 12.4.2. Input Lines and Lists - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dialog Windows often contain input lines. Most edit keys have their standard function in input lines (like Home, End, Ins and the cursor keys). If your input should be longer than the input --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 12 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC line's area, it will scroll automatically. If the input line contains more characters than it is able to display, arrows will appear at the left and/or right side of the input line. Click on them with the mouse to scroll the text. An arrow which points to the bottom of the screen behind the input line shows that you can open a history list by pressing CURSOR DOWN or clicking on the arrow. This history list contains all inputs you have made in this input line during your ANSIartist session. Choose an old entry with the cursor keys and press ENTER or press ESC to close the list. In some dialog windows, lists are used. You can scroll through this list and choose elements without exiting the dialog window. To select a list, press ALT and the highlighted letter of its label, by clicking on it or pressing TAB until this element is selected. The content of the list can be moved by using the cursor keys or by moving the position symbol of the scroll bar beside. 13. The first Screen =================================================================== So, let's start to create our first ANSI screen! As first step, let's open a new window. To do that, select File/New. Now, a dialog box will appear: ANSIartist wants to know the "virtual screen size" for our new art. With ANSIartist, you can create and edit screens with 2048 lines and 132 columns as maximum - normally, you will use the standard size of 25 lines and 80 columns. These values are already inserted in the two input lines - just press ENTER to select the default button OK and to create a new window with these properties. >> Note: You can add new windows until you get the message "Out of memory". Then, you will have to close an opened window. The current available memory is displayed in the upper right edge of the screen (beside the menu bar). ! ATTENTION: Most ANSIartist command will need approx. 2000 bytes of working space! If less memory is available, you will surely get the "Out of memory" message! Now, let's start. Just type Hello World! into the edit window - note that the position status is changing everytime you move the cursor (the position status is placed to the lower right corner of the screen). A position of 5:15 means that the cursor is placed to the fifth column and to the 15th line. >> Note: We are using these position expressions in this manual. For example: Move the cursor to position 6:4. 13.1. Cursor Movements ------------------------------------------------------------------- The most often used edit commands are cursor movements. Here we present you a list of all available cursor keys: Key What it does | CURSOR UP Moves the cursor one line up. | CURSOR DOWN Moves the cursor one line down. | CURSOR LEFT Moves the cursor one column to the left. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 13 | CURSOR RIGHT Moves the cursor one column to the right. | HOME Moves the cursor to the first column of the current | line. | END Moves the cursor to the last column of the current | line. | PAGE UP Moves the cursor to the first line of the current | column. | PAGE DOWN Moves the cursor to the last line of the current | column. Everytime the cursor would exeed the current window's bounds, the window content (your current art) will be scrolled. To scroll by mouse, use the scroll bars placed on the window frame. 13.2. Edit Keys ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you type any character into our window, the chacacter will be inserted. You can toggle between an INSERT and an OVERWRITE mode - just press INS to do that! >> Note: Everytime you insert a character, the very last character of the current line won't be thrown away: ANSIartist keeps the last 50 characters which exeeded the virtual screen bounds in a "character box". To delete a character which is placed to the left side of the cursor, press BACKSPACE. Note that the cursor is moved one character to the left, too. If the INSERT mode is active, all characters behind will follow the cursor. The very last character of the line will be restored from the "character box" (see above). If you want to delete the character the cursor is pointing to, press DEL. Note that the cursor won't move. If the INSERT mode is active, the other characters will move again (like above). Pressing ENTER will move the cursor to the next line, first column. Press ALT-U or execute Edit/Undo to cancel the last change (undo won't cancel the latest cursor movement!). Press ALT-U again to cancel undo itself... Well, here's a list of all important edit keys: Key Purpose | INS Toggles between the INSERT and OVERWRITE mode. | BACKSPACE Deletes the character left to the cursor and moves | the cursor one column to the left. | DEL Deletes the character the cursor is pointing to | without moving the cursor. | ENTER Sets the cursor to the next line, first column. | ALT-U Executes Edit/Undo which takes back the latest | change. 13.3. First Screen Changes ------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, we think that a simple "Hello World!" is too simple for a whole screen. Let's start to make it more attractive: Move the cursor to the beginning of the line (press HOME), then type a star (*), followed by a space. Then, move the cursor to the end of our greeting (with one chacacter space, normally position 16) and type a star, too. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 14 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC * Hello World! * should be the result. 13.4. Block Operations ------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist offers several advanced edit commands called Block Operations. First, you have to select a "block". A block is a selected rectangular part of the current edit screen. To select a block by keyboard: * move the cursor to the block origin * press CTRL-S * move the cursor to the block destination Note that the block is displayed as an inverted rectangle. To select by mouse: * click to the block origin with the left mouse button * drag the mouse to the block destination * release the button Here is a list of all block operations supported by ANSIartist: Command Hotkey What it does | Edit/Cut SHIFT-DEL Copies the selected block into the | clipboard and clears the block area | to the current color. | Edit/Copy CTRL-INS Copies the selected block into the | clipboard without altering the | current screen. | Edit/Paste SHIFT-INS Inserts the current clipboard | content to the current cursor | position. | Edit/Move ALT-M Copies the selected block into the | clipboard and clears the block area | to the current color (like | Edit/Cut); then, move the cursor or | move the mouse to the new block | position. Press ENTER or click with | the left mouse button to insert the | block at the new position. | Edit/Paste CTRL-M Like Edit/Move, but uses the | and Move clipboard content: Move the cursor | or move the mouse to the new block | position. Press ENTER or click with | the left mouse button to insert the | clipboard content at the new | position. | Clear CTRL-DEL Clears the block area to the | current color without copying | anything into the clipboard. Let's try: Move the cursor to the first star of "* Hello World! *" and press CTRL-S. Then, hold down CURSOR RIGHT until the expression is selected. Then, press ENTER. Mouse users click onto the first star and drag the mouse to the second one. Now, press ALT-M or select Edit/Move. Mouse users note that the block is pasted automatically at the mouse cursor. So, use the cursor keys --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 15 or move the mouse to the position you want (preferably 20:5) and press ENTER or click with the left mouse button. That's it! 13.5. The Undo Feature ------------------------------------------------------------------- You can take back the last change in your screen: Just select Edit/Undo or press ALT-U. Note that executing Undo once more will take back the previous Undo! 13.6. The Context Menu ------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's a goodie for mouse users: Hold down the right mouse button and you will get a menu with the most frequently used block operations! Note that releasing the button will either select the highlighted item or close the menu if none was selected. 13.7. Colors ------------------------------------------------------------------- Certainly, our art is ingenious but rather boring, too. It needs colors! 13.7.1. Creating a colorful screen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Preferably, you will use colors while creating a screen. ANSIartist uses colors like pens: When you select a new color, the pen will change. The text typed afterwards will appear with the selected color. To change the current color, you can use either the dialog box Attributes/Change Color or hotkeys. 13.7.2. Color Hotkeys - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Use one of the following keys to select a new foreground color: Key What it does | ALT-1 Black | ALT-2 Blue | ALT-3 Green | ALT-4 Cyan | ALT-5 Red | ALT-6 Magenta | ALT-7 Brown | ALT-8 Lightgray | ALT-9 Darkgray | ALT-0 Lightblue | ALT-Q Lightgreen | ALT-W Lightcyan | ALT-E Lightred | ALT-R Lightmagenta | ALT-T Yellow | ALT-Y White Use one of the following keys to select a new background color: Key What it does | CTRL-Q Black | CTRL-W Blue --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 16 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC | CTRL-E Green | CTRL-R Cyan | CTRL-T Red | CTRL-Y Magenta | CTRL-U Brown | CTRL-I Lightgray 13.8. Lines ------------------------------------------------------------------- Now, we should draw a line around our greeting. First, move the cursor to 18:4. Then, set the foreground color to yellow and the background color to red (use the Attribute/Current color dialog box or press ALT-T, then CTRL-T) and give the command "draw line" (use Extras/Draw line or press CTRL-L). Note that the status line shows the message "Draw line mode is active..." now. 13.8.1. How to draw a line - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After activating the "draw line mode" by pressing CTRL-L or Extras/Draw line, use the cursor keys to draw a line (or, let's say to set the direction for the line pen). To change the line style, use Options/Line or one of these hotkeys: Key What it does | CTRL-D Double line | CTRL-N Single line | ALT-L Enters the Line Options dialog box which allows to | choose a line style: | - Double line | - Single line | - User defined (any character) | ESC Exits the Draw Line mode Just draw a little bit around (perhaps around our greeting?) - you will get a feeling "how to do it" very soon. Press ESC to exit the draw line mode and use the cursor keys as normal. >> Note: This feature needs a data file, ARTIST.DAT. It contains all information ANSIartist needs to do line crossings. There is no way to draw a line by mouse (perhaps in version 3.0...). 13.9. Boxes ------------------------------------------------------------------- After having drawn tree boxes with the draw line feature, you will demand for a "draw box feature", too. Here it is: Press CTRL-B or use Extras/Draw box to activate it. The first time you use it, you will get the Box Options dialog box. Here you can change the border style, the fill style, title style etc. Let's create our first box: First, move the cursor to 17:3 (or any position you want as box origin). Then, press CTRL-B. You will get the dialog box described above. The input box is already selected, so just type "First Box" into it. Let's use a special box frame: Press ALT-S to get the Box Style Dialog box and select "Type 6". Note that the information panel (below the input box) will change automatically when you leave the Box Style Dialog. So, that's it: Our box is well done. Press ENTER to select the OK button. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 17 13.9.1. Drawing Boxes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Move the cursor to the box origin before selecting the "Draw Box" command, then design your box. Aftwerwards, just move the cursor to the lower right corner of the box; note that the box will be redrawn automatically. To draw a box by mouse, click with the left mouse button to the lower left corner you want, hold down the button and drag to your favorite position. Then, release the button. That's it! 13.10. Replacing Attributes ------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, we have created our art. But I think we should use white as foreground color for the inner border (the box we drawed with the line feature). Nothing easier: We got the "Change Attributes" feature. First, select a block, we will select "the box inside" (position 18:4 to 37:6). Then, choose Attribute/Change attribute to open the "Change attribute" dialog box. There are two areas in this dialog box:"Old Attr" and "New Attr". (You can't imagine what these shortcuts stand for, can you?) Let's select yellow as foreground in the "Old Attr" area and red as background; select white as foreground and red as background in the "New Attr" area. >> Note: If you want to replace specific characters, you have to type them into the area's input box and to select the checkbox in front! Now, press the OK button and click anywhere you like to disintegrate the selected block. A fine feature, isn't it? 14. File Commands =================================================================== 14.1. Saving our Screen ------------------------------------------------------------------- Now it's time to save our ingenious art. Press F2 or select File/Save to get the Save File As dialog box (because our art has no name yet). First, enter a filename or select one from the list below; I prefer the name "1START.SCR". Then, select the file format you want from the list beside, preferably ANSI. 14.1.1. Saving as ANSI screen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There's also a checkbox in the file dialog: Optimized. This checkbox takes only effect if ANSI is selected as fíle format. An optimized ANSI file uses jump commands instead of blanks to save several bytes; a "standard" ANSI file uses blanks because some programs like WildCat! 2.x would misunderstand the jump commands. If you want to limit the maximum line length of an ANSI file, use the Options/ANSI line length dialog box. There you can enter anything between 10 and 999; type 0 for unlimited length (standard). To save this setting, use Options/Save options. 14.1.2. Other file formats - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We support WildCat 2.x and 3.x, too. If you are interested in more formats, send us a list of color codes and a demo file. (See FORMATS.DOC for more). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 18 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC 14.2. Loading a Screen ------------------------------------------------------------------- Let's try to load a screen, too. Just select BOZO.SCR (which came with the ANSIartist package) and ANSI as format. Note that there is no "Optimize" checkbox in the "Load file" dialog box. Then, push the OK button and see what happens. 14.2.1. Loading WildCat files - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - We are sorry that our current load procedure for WildCat files isn't very fast. We will try to optimize it in one of the next versions if you are interested in our program. 15. Hotkeys =================================================================== What if you want to create an ANSI graph? You will use block characters (#219 and above). But typing ALT-2-1-9 for a hundred times isn't very comfortable: Why don't you define a hotkey? First, open the ASCII chart (Window/ASCII chart). Then, select the character you want (e.g. 219) with the cursor keys (or simply click on it). Now, press the hotkey you want to use - e.g. SHIFT-F5. Back in the edit window, just press SHIFT-F5 to get the character! >> Note: You can insert a character directly into the next edit window if the ASCII chart is active. Just select your favorite character and press ENTER (or double-click onto it). Don't forget to save the keyboard set if you want to use your hotkeys once more (use File/Save keyboard set). >> Note: A keyboard set is active when the ASCII chart is not opened, too. So, use Options/Save options to save the filename of current keyboard set. Use Options/Retrieve options to reload your keyboard set once again. You can use Options/Startup and Quit to load the configuration file on each startup. There are two hotkey sets ready to use: STANDARD.SET and GREEKMAT.SET. See HOTKEYS.DOC for a list of all built-in hotkeys (you can't use them as your own). >> Note: Open the ASCII chart and use Window/Keys to get a list of all valid hotkeys. 16. Tabulators =================================================================== Like hotkeys, you can use tabulators. To reach the next tabulator, press TAB in a editor window, press SHIFT-TAB to reach the previos one. Use Window/Tabulator to open the Tabulator Window. There, use the cursor keys and SPACE to set or delete a tabulator (or simply click with the mouse). See chapter 15: Hotkeys for handling information (don't forget to save, save options feature). Note that an open tabulator window is not needed for a tabulator list (like the hotkey list). 17. Variables =================================================================== What if you want to show the current date in your screen? You --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC Page 19 will use the command supported by your mailbox, e.g. @DATE@ in WildCat mailbox systems. But what if you want to show the date in the upper left corner of a box? The @DATE@ code has a big mistake: Its length isn't equal with the displayed date (e.g. 01/16/1992). So you will delete some characters from the box' first line... But what if your mailbox system allows to change the date format by the users? 1-16-92 is the same date, but has a very different length... Well, your screen won't look like very pretty after inserting such command codes. And what if you want to change the color of the box? (Forget it...) We got a solution of this dilemma: Use the ANSIartist and its "variable" feature. Instead of inserting each code at any position in the file, use the ANSI "set-the-cursor-directly-code" (ESC[y;xH), then write the command - AT THE END OF THE FILE! You don't have to do this manually (you have a computer in front of you, haven't you?). First, you have to create a list of all codes you want to use. Open the "variable" window (Window/Variables...), then use Variables/New variable to create a new variable. A dialog box will appear; first, enter the variable name (the expression you want to see on the screen, e.g. USDATE is much more pretty than @DATE@, isn't it), then the length ANSIartist shall use to display the variable and last but not least the varible's value (the command code). That's it! Now, your variable should appear in the list. Press ENTER or double click with the LEFT mouse button (double-clicking with the right mouse button or pressing SPACE will edit the variable) to insert it into the next editor window. Back in your editor window, use Window/Toggle variables or press CTRL-V to make the variables in this screen visible. Click with the LEFT mouse button onto a variable, hold the button down and drag the variable at the position you want, then release the button (or move with the cursor onto a variable, then press ENTER and use the cursor keys to move; press ENTER a second time to use the cursor keys as normal again). Use the RIGHT mouse button to DELETE a variable (or move the cursor onto a variable and press DEL). If you want to edit the "normal" screen again, press CTRL-V to hide the variables, too. >> Note: Variables will be displayed in the color you can change with Options/Environment/Colors, Group Windows, Item Text. That's it! Now, save the file as ANSI file... The variables will be added at the end of the file, with the color attribute "behind" the first variable character. 17.1. Variable Handling ------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, it's just the same as in section 15 (Hotkeys) - don't forget to save the variable list and so on. But there's one difference: Each editor window has its own variable list, too. THIS LIST WILL BE SAVED BY USING THE FORMAT "Binary 2.5" ONLY. So, use two copies of one screen if you want to use the variable feature: 1. The original screen with variable list, saved as "Binary 2.5" file. 2. The ANSI file with set-cursor codes. If you don't save your screen as "Binary 2.5" file, you won't be able to move, delete or even to hide the variables. To insert new variables into a screen or to edit a variable, use the "variable" window. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 20 ANSIartist 2.5 - ARTIST.DOC >> Note: The window's private variable list is independent. If you had inserted a variable called "date" into your screen two months ago and deleted this variable today, the variable "date" will exist in this screen nevertheless. 18. What now? =================================================================== Now, you should start ANSIartist and create your first own screen. If you want detailed information to one feature or option, refer to GUIDE.DOC. There, all functions, options and features of ANSIartist are listed (sorted by menus). Or, if you need a quick and immediate help, press F1 - you will get a online help everywhere in our program. Refer to following files if you have problems with ANSIartist: File Descreption | ARTIST.DOC Tutorial file | GUIDE.DOC Explains all features of ANSIartist | README.DOC Last-minute information about ANSIartist | FORMAT.DOC Information how to use different file formats like | WildCat | HISTORY.DOC ANSIartist version history | HOTKEYS.DOC Lists all ANSIartist hotkeys There may be more DOC files in your ANSIartist package. Nevertheless, read all of them if you have any problems with ANSIartist. Then, if you couldn't solve your problem, call dimas Software. You will find our address, phone and CompuServe numbers in README.DOC, GUIDE.DOC and in the "Please register" information whenever you start the shareware version of ANSIartist. And now... Enjoy! This file was created in December 1992/January 1993 by Thomas Sauer by using the Borland Pascal editor and a lot of our own text formatting tools. Copyright (C) 1992,93 by Thomas Sauer All rights reserved. ID1601931830AA25US