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A N S I a r t i s t Version 2.5 USER'S GUIDE 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. General Information............................................3 2. How to use this File...........................................4 3. Menu List......................................................4 4. File Menu......................................................4 4.1. File|Open.................................................5 4.1.1. Dialog 'Open a File'.................................5 4.2. File|New..................................................5 4.2.1. Dialog 'New Window'..................................5 4.3. File|Save.................................................6 4.4. File|Save as..............................................6 4.4.1. Dialog 'Save File As'................................6 4.5. File|Save all.............................................6 4.6. File|New data set.........................................6 4.7. File|Open data set........................................7 4.8. File|Save data set........................................7 4.9. File|Save data set as.....................................7 4.10. File|Change dir..........................................7 4.10.1. Dialog 'Change Directory'...........................7 4.11. File|Execute.............................................7 4.11.1. Dialog 'Execute'.....................................7 4.12. File|DOS Shell...........................................8 4.13. File|Exit................................................8 5. Edit Menu......................................................8 5.1. Undo......................................................8 5.2. Select....................................................8 5.3. Cut.......................................................8 5.4. Copy......................................................9 5.5. Paste.....................................................9 5.6. Move......................................................9 5.7. Paste and move............................................9 5.8. Clear.....................................................9 5.9. Save block to file........................................9 5.10. Load block from file.....................................9 6. Context Menu...................................................9 7. Variable Menu.................................................10 7.1. New......................................................10 7.1.1. Dialog 'New/Edit Variable'..........................10 7.2. Edit.....................................................10 7.3. Delete...................................................11 8. Attribute Menu................................................11 8.1. Current Color............................................11 8.1.1. Dialog 'Change Color'...............................11 8.2. Change attribute.........................................11 8.2.1. Dialog 'Change Attribute'...........................11 9. Extras Menu...................................................12 9.1. Draw box.................................................12 9.2. Draw line................................................12 10.0. Options Menu...............................................12 10.1. Environment submenu.....................................13 10.1.1. > Mouse............................................13 10.1.1.1. Dialog 'Mouse Options'........................13 10.1.2. > Colors...........................................13 10.1.2.1. Dialog 'Environment Colors'...................13 10.1.3. > Video Mode.......................................13 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 User's Guide 10.1.3.1 Dialog 'Video Mode'............................14 10.2. Line....................................................14 10.2.1. Dialog 'Line Style'.................................14 10.2.2. Dialog 'User Defined'...............................14 10.3. Box.....................................................14 10.3.1. Dialog 'Box Options'................................14 10.3.1.1. Dialog 'Fill Style'............................15 10.3.1.2. Dialog 'Title Style'...........................15 10.3.1.3. Dialog 'Box Style'.............................15 10.4. Wildcards...............................................15 10.4.1. Dialog 'Edit Wildcards'............................16 10.5. Fullscreen..............................................16 10.5.1. Dialog 'Fullscreen Options'........................16 10.6. Startup/Quit............................................16 10.6.1. Dialog 'Startup/Quit Options'......................16 10.7. ANSI line length........................................17 10.7.1. Dialog 'Set ANSI line length'......................17 10.8. Save options............................................17 10.9. Retrieve options........................................17 10.10. Save Desktop...........................................17 10.11. Load Desktop...........................................17 11. Window Menu..................................................17 11.1. Resize/move.............................................18 11.2. Zoom....................................................18 11.3. Next....................................................18 11.4. Previous................................................18 11.5. Close...................................................18 11.6. Tile....................................................18 11.7. Cascade.................................................19 11.8. List....................................................19 11.8.1. Dialog 'Window List'...............................19 11.9. Toggle fullscreen.......................................19 11.10. Toggle variables.......................................19 11.11. ASCII chart............................................19 11.12. Tabulators.............................................19 11.13. Variables..............................................19 11.14. Keys...................................................20 12.0. Help Menu..................................................20 12.1. Help....................................................20 12.2. Index...................................................20 12.3. About...................................................20 Welcome to ANSIartist 2.5! =================================================================== This file lists and explains all functions of ANSIartist 2.5. 1. General information =================================================================== Each feature of ANSIartist can be reached by the menus. If you want to know how to use ANSIartist's menus, windows and dialogs, refer to ARTIST.DOC, then return to this file. ANSIartist has a feature called SmartMenus. This means, that you won't see any disabled command - every window has its own menu. If you change e.g. from an editor window to the ASCII chart, the menu bar will change automatically. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 3 The variability of the menu bar forced us to explain first when an item is available and then what this one does. We are using numbers in this documentation and in the online help to indicate wether an item is available or not. Number Means... | 1 Editor window | 2 ASCII chart | 3 Tabulator Window | 4 Variable Window We are using this numbers in front of a menu item to indicate which window has to be active that this item is available. For Example: '1 Edit Menu' shows that this menu is available if an editor window is active. 2. How to use this File =================================================================== This file is a reference guide. If you need a tutorial manual, refer to ARTIST.DOC. This file explains how to use a feature ONLY. Basic functions, e.g. how to move a window, are explained in ARTIST.DOC. Please forgive us: There's no word about the 'Help' button in any dialog's descreption. Refer to 12.1. if you want to know more about it... 3. Menu List =================================================================== Here's a list of all main menus and its index numbers: Available Index Menu Hotkey | 1 2 3 4 4.0. File Menu ALT-F | 1 5.0. Edit Menu ALT-D | 1 6.0. Context Menu MOUSE RIGHT | 4 7.0. Variable Menu ALT-V | 1 8.0. Attribute Menu ALT-A | 1 9.0. Extras Menu ALT-S | 1 2 3 4 10.0. Options Menu ALT-O | 1 2 3 4 11.0. Window Menu ALT-I | 1 2 3 4 12.0. Help Menu ALT-H 4.0. File Menu =================================================================== This menu is always available. Use ALT-F to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 2 3 4 4.1. Open... F3 | 1 4.2. New... | 1 4.3. Save F2 | 1 4.4. Save as... | 1 4.5. Save all | 2/3/4 4.6. Open data set... | 2/3/4 4.7. New data set --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 User's Guide | 2/3/4 4.8. Save data set | 2/3/4 4.9. Save data set as... | 1 2 3 4 4.10. Change dir... | 1 2 3 4 4.11. DOS shell | 1 2 3 4 4.12. Execute... | 1 2 3 4 4.13. Exit ALT-X In the ASCII chart, use 4.6, 4.7, 4.8 and 4.9 to handle hotkey sets, in the Tabulator window to handle tabulator and in the variable window to handle variable sets. 4.1. File|Open... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog 'Open a File' which allows to select a ANSI/ASCII or WildCat file to load. 4.1.1. Dialog 'Open a File' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * an input line, in which one writes the file name, which you want to load. * a file list from which you can pick up a file to load. Type small letters to select a file or capital letters to select a directory. The cursor will move to the right. For example: You are looking for a file called MARIO.BBS. You have forgotten the filename, but you know the filename starts whith MAR. So type m-a-r in small letters; the selector will jump on the first file which starts with MAR. * A format list which selects the file's format. Note that Binary 2.0 loads ANSIartist 2.0 files and should not be used any longer. * an information panel which shows the the current directory and some file information, e.g. the file's size and date. * a 'Cancel' button to leave the dialog without loading a file. * a command button (Open) to load the file which was selected or entered. * a history list, which is linked with the input line. 4.2. File|New... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the Dialog 'New Window' which allows to select the new window's virtual screen size; then, a new window will be created. 4.2.1. Dialog 'New Window' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * two input lines. 1. 'Lines': Here you enter the number of lines which the new window shall have. 2. 'Columns': Here you enter the number of colums used in the new window. * two history lists, linked with the two input lines. * an 'OK' button: "Push" this button to create a new window and to accept the settings (the entered screen size). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 5 * a 'Cancel' button: Use this button or press ESC to leave the dialog without doing anything. Note that the default screen size is 80x25. Just press ENTER to select the default button 'OK' and to create a 'standard' window. 4.3. File|Save ------------------------------------------------------------------- Saves the current screen to a file using the current filename and format. If the editor window has no filename, the command File|Save as... will be executed. 4.4. File|Save as... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the Dialog 'Save File As' which allows to enter a filename (or to select one from a file list) and to select a file format in which the current screen should be saved. Note: For BBS messages sent through networks like FIDO or GlobalNet you have to set the length of your ANSI lines to a sudden value by using the command Options|ANSI line length... For example, set the line length to 76 if you want to create FIDO messages. 4.4.1. Dialog 'Save File As' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog box contains: * an input line in which you can type the filename of the file to which you want to save the current screen. * a file list from which you can pick up a file to save the current screen to it (and to overwrite it). * a format list in which you select the format in which the screen will be saved. * an information panel which shows the current directory and information about the file currently selected in the file list (e.g. size and date). * a 'Cancel' button to leave the dialog without saving the screen. * a command button (OK) to save the screen under the specified name. * a history list, which is linked with the input line. * a check box 'Optimized'. Activate this check box to produce optimized ANSI code. This means the code will be optimized in the following way: The ANSI screens sometimes contain a sequence of blanks. Each blank is a byte. If you use 'Optimized', the blanks will be substituted by ONE jump command which may save several bytes. (Bytes are money if you upload or download a file to or from your BBS...) 4.5. File|Save all ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sends the command File│Save to all opened editor windows. 4.6. File|New data set ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 6 User's Guide Clears the current keyboard, tabulator or variable set from memory. 4.7. File|Open data set... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Has the same function like File|Open..., but loads a keyboard, tabulator or variable set instead of a screen. Note that the opened dialog box has no format list. 4.8. File|Save data set ------------------------------------------------------------------- Has the same function like File|Save, but saves a keyboard, tabulator or variable set instead of a screen. 4.9. File|Save data set as... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Has the same function like File|Save as..., but saves a keyboard, tabulator or variable set instead of a screen. Note that the opened dialog box has no format list. 4.10. File|Change dir... ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog 'Change Directory' which allows to change the current directory. 1.10.1. Dialog 'Change Directory' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * an input line. Here you can enter the path of the new directory directly. * a "directory tree list". Use the cursor keys to move the bar and ENTER to change to the focused directory. * an 'OK' button to close the dialog box and to keep the choosen directory * a 'ChDir' button: ChDir changes the current directory if a new one was chosen or entered. It does NOT close the dialog box! * a 'Revert' button: Revert returns to the directory which was active when you entered the dialog. 4.11. File|Execute ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shows the dialog 'Execute', in which you can enter a command to execute via MS-DOS. Use this to execute tools like packers to unpack files which you want to load. 4.11.1. Dialog 'Execute' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * two input lines. 1. 'Command': Enter the full command to execute (including --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 7 pathname) into this input line. 2. 'Parameters': Enter the parametes here (if you want to use). * a check box. Check in here if you want ANSIartist to wait on a keystroke before returning to ANSIartist after executing the entered command. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to execute the entered command. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 4.12. File|DOS Shell ------------------------------------------------------------------- Exits ANSIartist and runs DOS temporarily. Use the command EXIT to return to ANSIartist. Take the advantage of this function to copy new files to the current directory to load them or to delete some files. 4.13. File|Exit ------------------------------------------------------------------- Quits ANSIartist and returns to the operating system. 5.0. Edit Menu =================================================================== This menu is only available if an editor window is active. Use ALT-D to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 5.1. Undo ALT-U | 1 5.2. Select CTRL-S | 1 5.3. Cut SHIFT-DEL | 1 5.4. Copy CTRL-INS | 1 5.5. Paste SHIFT-INS | 1 5.6. Move ALT-M | 1 5.7. Paste and move CTRL-M | 1 5.8. Clear CTRL-DEL | 1 5.9. Save block to file | 1 5.10. Load block from file 5.1. Edit|Undo ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Undo' takes the last edit action in the current editor window back. Use 'Undo' again to take back 'Undo' itself. 5.2. Edit|Select ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Select' allows to select a block by using the cursor keys (Up, Left, Right, Down, Home, End). To select by mouse, just click to the block origin, continue holding down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to the block destination. 5.3. Edit|Cut --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 8 User's Guide ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Cut' copies the selected block into thr clipboard and clears the selected area to the current color. 5.4. Edit|Copy ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command copies the selected block into clipboard without touching the selected area. 5.5. Edit|Paste ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Paste' inserts the block hold in the clipboard at the current cursor position in the current edit window. Note that this command may overwrite other parts of your current screen. 5.6. Edit|Move ------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Move' cuts the current block and pastes it at current mouse or cursor position. Use the cursor keys or move the mouse to move the block; press ENTER or click with the left mouse button to paste the block at the current position. 5.7. Edit|Paste and move ------------------------------------------------------------------- Like Edit|Move, but does not cut the block into the clipboard (the current clipboard data is used as the block to be moved). 5.8. Edit|Clear ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command clears the selected area to the current color without copying the block into clipboard. 5.9. Edit|Save block to File ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens a standard file dialog which allows you to enter a filename. The current selected block will be saved to this file. Refer to File|Save data set as... to get a descreption of a standard file dialog. 5.10. Edit|Load block from file ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens a standard file dialog which allows you to select a filename. This file will be loaded into the clipboard; then, the command Edit|Paste and Move will be executed. Refer to File|Load data set... to get a descreption of a standard file dialog. 6.0. Context Menu =================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 9 This menu is only available if an editor window is active. Hold down the right mouse button to show it; releasing the mouse button will execute a selected command or close the context menu without any action. Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 5.3. Cut SHIFT-DEL | 1 5.4. Copy CTRL-INS | 1 5.5. Paste SHIFT-INS | 1 5.6. Move ALT-M | 1 5.7. Paste and move CTRL-M | 1 5.8. Clear CTRL-DEL | 1 9.1. Draw box CTRL-B 7.0. Variable Menu =================================================================== This menu is only available if the variable window is active. Use ALT-V to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 4 7.1. New... | 4 7.2. Edit... | 4 7.3. Delete... 7.1. Variables|New ------------------------------------------------------------------- Executes the dialog 'New/Edit variable' and adds a new variable into the variable window's list. 7.1.1. Dialog 'New/Edit Variable' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * tree input lines. 1. 'Name': Enter the name of the variable here (the expression you want to see on the screen). 2. 'Length': Enter the variable name's length. 3. 'Value': Enter variable string (the command code) into this input line. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to add a new variable. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. If you use a variable in an ANSI file, the variable name will be displayed in the editor window, but the value string will be saved. 7.2. Variables|Edit ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog 'New/Edit variable' which allows to change the focused variable. Refer to 7.1.1. to get a descreption of this dialog. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 10 User's Guide 7.3. Variables|Delete ------------------------------------------------------------------- Deletes the focused variable from the list. 8.0. Attribute Menu =================================================================== This menu is only available if an editor window is active. Use ALT-A to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 8.1. Current Color ALT-C | 1 8.2. Change attribute CTRL-H 8.1. Attribute|Current Color ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog 'Change color' which allows to change the current color attribute. 8.1.1. Dialog 'Change Color' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * two color panels. 1. 'Foreground': Select the new foreground color with the cursor keys or click with the mouse on any color. 2. 'Background': Selects the new background color. See above how to manage it. * an information panel. This information panel shows the current color and attribute selected in this dialog box. * a checkbox. This checkbox adds the attribute "blinking" to the current color. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to reset the current color. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 8.2. Attribute|Change attribute ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog 'Change attribute' which allows to replace attributes (colors and characters) in the current selected block. 8.2.1. Dialog 'Change Attribute' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * four color panels. Refer to 8.1.1. how to use them. * four checkboxes. * two input lines. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to recolor the current block. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. This dialog box is tiled into two parts, displayed as frames: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 11 * Old Attr (=Old Attribute). * New Attr (=New Attribute). Old Attr means all conditions which have to be fulfilled of each character of the current selected block. If a character matches, its attibutes will be replaced by the New Attr. Note that if you want to replace a character, the checkbox in front of the character's input line has to be enabled. 9.0. Extras Menu =================================================================== This menu is only available if an editor window is active. Use ALT-S to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 9.1. Draw box CTRL-B | 1 9.2. Draw line CTRL-L 9.1. Extras|Draw box ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command enters the 'Draw-Box-Mode'. If the option 'Show this dialog box only on request' (the checkbox of the dialog 'Box Options', refer to 10.3.1. for a descreption) is disabled, the dialog 'Box Options' will be shown first. To draw a box, click with the mouse and drag the box to the destination you want. You can use the cursor keys instead. 9.2. Extras|Draw line ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command enters the "Draw-Line-Mode". Use Options|Line... to change the current line style. Use the cursor keys to draw a line. We are sorry that there is no way to draw lines by mouse (perhaps in version 3.0). 10.0. Options Menu =================================================================== This menu is always available. Use ALT-O to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 2 3 4 10.1. Environment submenu | 1 2 3 4 10.1.1. > Mouse... | 1 2 3 4 10.1.2. > Colors... | 1 2 3 4 10.1.3. > Video Mode... | 1 10.2. Line... ALT-L | 1 10.3. Box... | 1 2 3 4 10.4. Wildcards... | 1 10.5. Fullscreen... | 1 2 3 4 10.6. Startup/Quit... | 1 10.7. ANSI line length... | 1 2 3 4 10.8. Save options --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 12 User's Guide | 1 2 3 4 10.9. Retrieve options | 1 2 3 4 10.10. Save Desktop | 1 2 3 4 10.11. Load Desktop 10.1 Options|Environment Submenu ------------------------------------------------------------------- This submenu is always available. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 2 3 4 10.1.1. > Mouse... | 1 2 3 4 10.1.2. > Colors... | 1 2 3 4 10.1.3. > Video Mode... 10.1.1. Options|Environment|Mouse ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Mouse Options' which allows you to change the double click delay and to reverse the mouse buttons. 10.1.1.1. Dialog 'Mouse Options' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog box contains: * a scroll bar. The scroller tunes the time between the 1st and 2nd click of a Double Click. * a checkbox. When enabled, the right mouse button will be used as left one and the left will be used as right one. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to reset the mouse settings. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing 10.1.2. Options|Environment|Colors ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Environment Colors' which allows you to change the colors for menus, dialogs etc. 10.1.2.1. Dialog 'Environment Colors' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog box contains: * two list boxes. 1. 'Group': Select the program part in which you want to change a color. 2. 'Item': Select an item to change its color. * two color panels. Refer to 8.1.1. how to use them. * on Monocrome video adaptors: Radio buttons instead of the color panels. * an information panel. It shows the current color selected by the color panels. * an 'OK' button to make the changes effective. * a 'Cancel' button to throw away your changes. 10.1.3. Options|Environment|Video Mode ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Video Mode' which allows you to change the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 13 video mode to 80x25 or 80x43/50 characters. 10.1.3.1 Dialog 'Video Mode' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog box contains: * two radio buttons. Select the video mode you want to use. Note that 43 lines requires an EGA, 50 lines a VGA video adaptor. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to change the video mode. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.2. Options|Line ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Line Style' which allows you to set the current line style. Select 'Extras|Draw line' to change into the draw-line mode. This option is only available if an editor window is active. 10.2.1. Dialog 'Line Style' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * three radio buttons. These radio buttons allow you to select the current line style. If you select "User Defined", the dialog 'User Defined' will appear (see below). * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to change the line style. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. Alternative hotkeys: Press Ctrl-N to select "Normal line" or Ctrl-D to select "Double line". 10.2.2. Dialog 'User Defined' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * an input line. Type your favorite character there. Note that only ONE character can be typed. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to use the typed character. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.3. Options|Box ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Box Options' which allows you to set the current box style. Select 'Extras|Draw box' to draw a box. 10.3.1. Dialog 'Box Options' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * an input line. Enter your box' title there, if you want. * two radio buttons. Use them to select the title's position. * a preview panel. It shows what the box will look like. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 14 User's Guide * a checkbox. Check in if you don't want that this dialog box appears every time you select 'Extras|Draw box'. * a command button (Title style) which opens the dialog box 'Title style' (see below). * a command button (Fill style) which opens the dialog box 'Fill style' (see below). * a command button (Box style) which opens the dialog box 'Box style' (see below). * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to draw the box shown in the preview panel. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.3.1.1. Dialog 'Fill Style' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * tree radio buttons. These radio buttons allow you to select the fill style. "Not filled" does not overwrite the interior characters of the box; "Filled with spaces" does clear them to the current color. If you select "User Defined", the dialog 'User Defined' will appear (refer to 10.2.2). The entered character will be used to fill out the box. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to use the selected style to fill the box. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.3.1.2. Dialog 'Title Style' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * nine radio buttons. These radio buttons allow you to select the displayed title brackets. If you select "User Defined", the dialog 'User Defined' (refer to 10.2.2) will appear; the typed character will be used as brackets. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to use the selected title brackets. box. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.3.1.3. Dialog 'Box Style' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * seven radio buttons. These radio buttons allow you to select one of the box styles you see in the right part of the dialog box. If you select "User Defined", the dialog 'User Defined' (refer to 10.2.2) will appear. The entered character will be used to display the whole box. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to use the selected style to draw the box. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.4. Options|Wildcards ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 15 Opens the dialog box 'Edit Wildcards' which allows you to set the default wildcards for the file dialogs appearing if 'File|Open' or 'File|Save as' is executed. 10.4.1. Dialog 'Edit Wildcards' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog comtains: * an input line. Enter your favorite wildcard there. All MS-DOS wildcards are valid, like "*.SCR" or "SCREEN???.0*". * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to use the entered wildcard. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.5. Options|Fullscreen ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Fullscreen Options' which allows you to hide the menu bar and/or status line if an editor window is zommed to fullscreen size (use 'Window|Toggle Fullscreen'). Note: Changes will only take effect if an editor window will be maximized afterwards. 10.5.1. Dialog 'Fullscreen Options' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * two checkboxes. Enable all items you want to show when an editor window is maximized to fullscreen. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to accept the settings. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.6. Options|Startup/Quit ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Startup/Quit Options'. There, you can select auto load/save for the desktop and/or configuration file on start/quit. 10.6.1. Dialog 'Startup/Quit Options' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * four checkboxes. 'Load configuration on startup' enabled: The command 'Options|Retrieve Options' will be executed automatically on startup. 'Load desktop on startup' enabled: The command 'Options|Load Desktop' will be executed automatically on startup. 'Save configuration when quit' enabled: The command 'Options|Save Options' will be executed automatically when you exit ANSIartist. 'Save desktop when quit': The command 'Options|Save Desktop' will be executed automatically when you exit ANSIartist. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to accept the settings. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 16 User's Guide 10.7. Options|ANSI line length ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog box 'Set ANSI line length'. There, you can type your favorite (maximum) line length in any ANSI screen created by ANSIartist. Enter 0 to use an unlimited line length. 10.7.1. Dialog 'Set ANSI line length' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * an input line. Enter the line length ANSIartist shall use in ANSI files into this input box. Enter 0 to use an unlimited line length (default). * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to accept the settings. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 10.8. Options|Save options ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command saves all settings which can be modified with the Options Menu to the file ARTIST.CFG. Note that the filename of the current hotkey, tabulator and variable set will be saved, too (ANSIartist won't do that if the filename is "untitled"). 10.9. Options|Retrieve options ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command loads the file ARTIST.CFG (which can be created with 'Options|Save options') and restores all option settings. It will also reload the hotkey, tabulator and variable set if its necessary (if the filenames were saved). 10.10. Options|Save desktop ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command saves the current desktop (all windows positions, filenames etc) to the file ARTIST.DSK. 10.11. Options|Load desktop ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command loads the file ARTIST.DSK (which was created by 'Options|Save desktop' and restores the desktop. 11.0. Window Menu =================================================================== This menu is always available. Use ALT-I to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 2 3 4 11.1. Resize/move CTRL-F5 | 1 11.2. Zoom F5 | 1 2 3 4 11.3. Next F6 | 1 2 3 4 11.4. Previous SHIFT-F6 | 1 2 3 4 11.5. Close ALT-F3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 17 | 1 11.6. Tile | 1 11.7. Cascade | 1 2 3 4 11.8. List... CTRL-F10 | 1 11.9. Toggle fullscreen CTRL-F | 1 11.10. Toggle variables CTRL-V | 1 3 4 11.11. ASCII chart | 1 2 4 11.12. Tabulators | 1 2 3 11.13. Variables | 2 11.14. Keys 11.1. Window|Resize/Move ------------------------------------------------------------------- Enters the "window move mode". In this mode, you can move or resize the window by using the cursor keys and Shift. Press ENTER to accept the new size and position or ESC to retrieve the old one. 11.2. Window|Zoom ------------------------------------------------------------------- Resizes the window to desktop size, or, if already zoomed, restors the window's original size. 11.3. Window|Next ------------------------------------------------------------------- Focuses the next window (makes the next window active). 11.4. Window|Previous ------------------------------------------------------------------- Focuses the previous window (makes the previous window active). 11.5. Window|Close ------------------------------------------------------------------- Closes the active window. 11.6. Window|Tile ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command makes all opened editor windows visible by resizing them. +== DEMO1.SCR ==+ +-- DEMO2.SCR --+ | This window | | | | is active. | | | | | | | | | | | +===============++---------------+ +-- DEMO3.SCR --+ +-- DEMO4.SCR --+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---------------+ +---------------+ Tiled windows --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 18 User's Guide 11.7. Window|Cascade ------------------------------------------------------------------- Rearranges all opened editor windows to a "pile" (see below). +------- DEMO1.SCR ----------+ |+------- DEMO2.SCR ---------+ ||+------- DEMO3.SCR --------+ |||+======= DEMO4.SCR =======+ |||| This is the active | |||| window. | |||| | |||| | |||| | ++++=========================+ Cascaded windows 11.8. Window|List ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the dialog 'Window List' which allows you to select a window to make it active. 11.8.1. Dialog 'Window List' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This dialog contains: * a listbox. Select a window title. * an 'OK' button. "Push" it to focus the selected window. * a 'Cancel' button. Use it to close the dialog box without doing anything. 11.9. Window|Toggle Fullscreen ------------------------------------------------------------------- Resizes the current editor window to maximum screen size, or, if already maximized, restores the window's original size. Use 'Options|Fullscreen' to show menu or status line if maximized. 11.10. Window|Toggle Variables ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shows or hides the variables of an editor window. 11.11. Window|ASCII Cart ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the ASCII Chart window, or, if already opened, focuses it. 11.12. Window|Tabulators ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the Tabulator window, or, if already opened, focuses it. 11.13. Window|Variables ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the Variable window, or, if already opened, focuses it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- User's Guide Page 19 11.14. Window|Keys ------------------------------------------------------------------- Opens the Key window, or, if already opened, focuses it. This window shows a list of all current hotkeys. 12.0. Help Menu =================================================================== This menu is always available. Use ALT-H to open it. Here's its item list: Available Index Item Hotkey | 1 2 3 4 12.1. Help F1 | 1 2 3 4 12.2. Index SHIFT-F1 | 1 2 3 4 12.3. About 12.1. Help|Help ------------------------------------------------------------------- This command enters the online help. Press F1 once more if you want to get information how to use the help system. Note: You can press F1 everytime when you work with ANSIartists. Most dialog windows have a 'Help' button, which executes this command, too. 12.2. Help|Index ------------------------------------------------------------------- Enters the online help and shows the help index. 12.3. Help|About ------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'About' box shows the ANSIartist logo, version, copyright, the register number and the registerd user's name. If a shareware version of ANSIartist is used, a reminder screen will be shown afterwards. 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 Dirk Focken and Thomas Sauer All rights reserved. ID1901931859AA25US