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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