EnigmA Amiga Run 1996 February

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Amigaguide Document | 1992-09-02 | 53KB | 1,042 lines

@Database intro.guide @Author unknown.. @Master intro.help @$VER unknown @Rem Converted using Convert, written by Mark 'Force' Papadakis of CyBERDYNE SySTEMS [C]1995 @Index "Index" @Help "Help" @Node "Main" @Title " Introduction" Assist V1.7 - A new hypertext based guide system Copyright 1995 Mark Papadakis A N N O U N E M E N T!! This is a major update of Assist @{"Introduction" Link "Intro"} - What is it all about? @{"Author" Link "Author"} - Well... @{"Legal stuff.." Link "Legal"} - Something that you should know @{"Distribution" Link "Distribution"} - GIFTWARE! @{"CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" Link "CS"} - About this new development team @{"Coding Assist" Link "CodeInfo"} - To blitz programmers @{"Greetings list" Link "Greetings"} - Classic... @{"Requirements" Link "Requirements"} - What do you need to run Assist @{"Convert" Link "Convert"} - About the utility convert @{"History" Link "History"} - The previous versions @{"MENUS" Link "Menus"} - Menus @{"Keyboard" Link "Keyboard"} - Keyboard control @{"MPInterface" Link "MPInterface"} - MPInterface 1995, Mark Papadakis @{"Advices.." Link "Guide"} - It would be nice to check this out @{"AREXX support" Link "AREXX"} - AREXX support from ASSIST @{" FAQs " Link "FAQs"} - Frequently Asked Questions Copyright [C]1995, Mark 'Force' Papadakis If you want to get hold of the last version, please @{"click me" System "ED Aux_Prg:Docs/Registration.Form"}.. @{U}@{B}@{I}CLI usage@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} Assist [filename.help [node]] DISCLAIMER All the icons, except the Assst and the installation icons, are not mine (found in Aminet). I would like to thank their creators. @{"Exit browser" Quit} Last updated:21.11.95 @EndNode @Node "Intro" @Title "Assist - The interactive guide" @{B}Assist@{UB} is a hypertext based guide, like MultiView or AmigaGuide BUT not excactly! To cut the long story short, just read the rest of this 'node' ;I will explain to you what a node is later... @{I}@{B}FEATURES@{UB}@{UI} * Run as commodity. * Features an AppIcon for drag'n'drop. * Uses an AppWindow for easier browsing. * Uses AppMenus for even more control. * Supports AREXX. * Reads Assist and AmigaGuide documents. * Startup configuration; You can configure Assist depending on the free memory you have. * It is a fast, hypertext based, guiding system. It supports several file types into its documents:ASCII files, AmigaDOS programs, Pictures sounds and user programable requests. * It supports any font, proportional or not. * It is fully configurable. * It can use the Workbench screen, the current screen or even a public one. * It supports external modules. * It is very popular here :-) * It comes with several utilities. * It is tottaly free! * It is getting better every day! * And more... @{I}@{B}Improvents@{UB}@{UI} Improvements since last version (V1.6) * Convert now handles correct the '@Master' and '@Database' commands. * Improved tooltypes support. * Better keyboard control. * Convert now handles correct the font styles. * Improved loading process * Fixed bug which meant that once you had a title with more than a certain total number of characters, Assist would display the half title and the rest would be displayed as a line. Thanks for reporting it! * Fixed bug in Convert (Sometimes it would just stop processing!) * Fixed hypertext handling bug. * Assist now handle the TAB character. * Improved docs. @{I}I think i covered every request/suggestion concerning Assist besides @{UI} @{I}the 'bug' with the non 8p screen fonts. Dont worry though! @{UI} @{I}Soon, i will fix that too! @{UI} @{I}A guy mailed me and asked me to include inline images in the docs @{UI} @{I}or something. If you are this guy, please @{"email me" Link "Author"} becouse @{UI} @{I}it seems a cool idea! @{UI} ---Please, checkout the @{"improvements" Link "NEW"} chapter for more. @{B}How to use@{UB} Use the @{"menus" Link "Menus"} or the @{"keaboard shortcuts" Link "Keyboard"}. In order to read the whole thing, use the scroller, the arrows or the cursor keys. If a phrase is highlighted, then by moving the mouse pointer on it, the mouse pointer will turn to something else. (If you have activated the appropriate menu option). You can see what will happen if you press the left mouse button at the bottom of the window, next to the Assist little icon. (Again, if you have activated the appropriate menu option). If you press the left mouse buton, the action will be carried out. Easy! Just in case, take a look at this cute @{"picture" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/PIC1.IFF/Main"} (hm..) @{B}How to write a .help document?@{UB} Well, you have two choices. You could have three but i am too busy at the time to complete my .help authoring tool..Anyway The first one is to use an AmigaGuide authoring tool, like the great Heddley and then convert it to a .help file using @{"Convert" Link "Convert"} or you can write it using a text editor(preferably without the wrap text facility, or one that will allow you to deactivate it.) CED Pro is great for this task. Using the first way is easier but you loose some of the extra features of @{B}Assist@{UB}, since @{"none" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/mad.8svx/Main"} of the authoring tools for AmigaGuide documents support them, so far.. You would have to edit them or use the second way in order to use those facilities(requesters, Amiga DOS files etc). Your file must have a .help extension. As for the supported commands so far, check the @{"appropriate file" Link "Aux_Prg:Docs/Commands/Main"} in the AUX_PRG:Docs directory. Remember that @{B}ALL@{UB} .help files @{B}MUST@{UB} have a node called Main. A node is a part of the document which forms another document. Just like the AmigaGuide . Note also that the host screen must have a normal 10p bar otherwise Assist wont even let you have a glance of it! The host screen must be at least 500X200. If not, Assist wont run on that screen. If you want, i can offer custom screen support in version 1.8 but i really think that this wont be so usefull; Its up to you! @{U}About public screens@{UU} Public screens opened with BlitzII ScreenTags command are not accepted! I dont know why! The public screen is in the public screens list BUT you cant lock it! (lockpubscreen() function). ACID!!... I suggest you read my @{"advices" Link "Guide"} before starting writting your own .help files. @{B}Are there any bugs?@{UB} Well, there are some but very minor ones. The first one is that the scroller might couse you some trouble. You see, this is the last type of gadget i wrote the code for(as i told you, i use my @{I}MPInterface@{UI} routines) and i haven't test it that much.. Dont worry that much though..I said that it MIGHT couse you trouble! I had no problems.. BlitzII is not that fast!(@{"RoadRunner!" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/RoadRunner.8svx/Main"}) :-( I hope V2.1 is faster! Another thing; When you use Assist as the default tool for an icon, it wont work!! BlitzII takes only the name in and it excludes the path!!! Serious @{"bug" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/Bubbles.8svx/Main"}! Therefore the .help file must be in AUX_PRG: in order to run by double clicking its icon!!! ACID:Do something! This happens when you set Assist as the default tool for an icon, i repeat. Note that i can do nothing for the two previous bugs 'couse BlitzII take care of stuff. I would have to use direct calls to AmigaOS for them. (i.e edit$(), which is supposed to do the same thing that fgets() function of C does, is the reason that Assist WAS so slow while loading (V1.0-1.4) ). As for the second bug, it is really very odd.. That was all! Not really bugs but hey, 'good bug is only the dead bug!' (That was not mine, it is copyrighted by a philosopher whose name i cannot remember now). Another bug..When Assist is iconified, you can access the menu option only by using their keyboard shortcuts. It doesn't make sense to me! LATEST REPORT! ------------- @{B}DO NOT@{UB} start Assist from ZShell!! Somehow, ZShell manage to couse @{B}SEVERE@{UB} problems to Assist! Simply exit ZShell and use shell or run Assist from WBench. I will try to workout what the .... is going on! @{B}Future@{UB} Assist certainly has a future ahead..Some things that i will (might) add are the following: * Fix any possible bugs (please, read previous paragraph). * More commands! (I need your @{"suggestions" Link "Author"} on this one please). * I am planning to support ALL commands of AmigaGuide (well, almost..) The big problem is that i dont have all the commands of AmigaGuide If anyone has the AmigaGuide developers pack, please uuencode-email it to me. Frankly, i dont know what else to add! * Improved AREXX support. (How can i set AREXX variables from within BlitzII?) * An authoring tool for Assist documents! I am working on it! @{B}THIS PROGRAM IS GIFTWARE! BUT, SINCE YOU WILL USE IT, I NEED @{UB} @{B}YOUR SUGGESTIONS ON IT. I WANT A PROGRAM THAT WILL DO WHAT YOU@{UB} @{B}WANT AND WILL FULFIL ALL YOUR NEEDS. THATS WHY JUST EMAIL ME!!@{UB} If you have any ideas, please mail @{"me" Link "author"}..BTW:I am looking for some code about datatypes support from within BlitzII. Any help is welcome! If you want to know the next version of Assist you have some alternatives: 1. finger gsa50@elyros.cs.teiher.gr and you will see some cool stuff! (Thats if i have updated my .project file ;-) 2. Email me (gsa50@cs.teiher.gr) and ask for the next version. I will uuencode and sent it over to you. 3. Check http://tylissos.cs.teiher.gr (if my page is ready you will be able to d/l any program of @{"CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" Link "CS"} from there!) @{B}@{I}NEW! @{UU}@{UI}@{UB} The @{B}WWW@{UB} server of @{B}TEI@{UB} is finally ready! You can access it with AMosaic, Netscape or any other HTML browser. The URL is @{U}http://tylissos.cs.teiher.gr@{UU} It is still under construction but soon it will have more pages and i will also have my own page there... You will be able to d/l the latest projects of @{"CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" Link "CS"} from my page. Do me a favour:Mail to gsa17@cs.teiher.gr (a friend of mine...) and tell him what do you think about the server. We really want it to be a good @{B}@{I}Background@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} I was using AmigaGuide documents for all my projects but it wasn't that good for me. I mean AmigaGuide is limited to WB3.0+ users as far as the fonts and the datatypes are concerned. So, i decided to write @{"my own hypterext guide" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/Yeah.8svx/Main"}. During the development i added some more features. I hope you like it. I certainly decided to use it from now on instead @{"AmigaGuide documents" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/Booh.8svx/Main"}. Convert was created to help me test Assist. But, during the Assist's development, i made convert even more capable and now it can convert any .guide file to a .help file vice versa. @{B}@{I}Registration@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} This program(including all the acompanying files in the archive) is GiftWare. That means that you can @{"distribute" Link "DISTRIBUTION"} it free. However, money or even gifts(programs that you have written, postcards or even a (e)mail) are appreciated and would be very important to @{"me" Link "Author"}. I mean that this would show that you find the program useful. The source files for convert and MPInterface are at your disposal if you decide to contribute! (Sorry but Assit code is just to..secret!) Mark Papadakis 21.11.95 @EndNode @Node "Author" @Title "Programmer's profile" Well, as you might know, this program was written by a certain Mark Papdakis, me that is..I am a 19 years old student of engineering at the TEI at Heraklio Crete, Greece. (STEF Engineering). Now i am using BlitzII and C++. I was using AMOSPro a few years ago, but i dropped that language 'couse, frankly, its a crap! I am a member of @{"CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" Link "CS"} (actually, i am the applications programmer). I am programming since '87 when i bought my first computer, the classic Amiga500. Besides that...hm..i love programming, music, brunettes working out(in gym) etc etc If you want to know more(and you are a girl more that 16 years old and less that 30 years old, preferably, just email me..) Note:No offence..right? ------------- |\ /| To: | \ / | Mark Papadakis SnailMail | \ / | Fournofarago Monofatsiou | \ / | Heraklio Crete, Greece | \ / | P.O 70010 | \/ | | | -------------- Email 0011010011010 gsa50@cs.teiher.gr ________ / | | \ | | ______ Phone / .... \ (+31)0893 41516 / .... \ ---------- IRC bla-bla-bla MarkForce (#amiga, #hellas) Please, feel free to contact me.. @{I}Sorry but i check my mail once or twice a week! This will be happening until 20 of February 1996. After this date i will be online the whole day!@{UI} (It is kind of complex to explain but..) BTW:If you have an idea for a program (anything!) just email me! I really dont know what else to do!! (Well, i have to update all those programs but i like working on new projects). If you are Greek and you have TopazGr.font, then @{"click me" Link "Greek"} for more.. @{B} _________ ___ __ @{B} | | | | | |@{UB} Heraklio, Crete, Greece @{B} --- --- | -- | |@{UB} Sysops:kostas@cs.teiher.gr eva@cs.teiher.gr @{B} | | | | | |@{UB} Telnet:elyros.cs.teiher.gr knossos.cs.teiher.gr.. @{B} | | | = | |@{UB} FTP :knossos.cs.teiher.gr.. @{B} | | | | | |@{UB} WWW :http://tylissos.cs.teiher.gr @{B} | | | |- | |@{UB} @{B} |_| |___| |__|@{UB} @{UU}@{UI}@{UB}@{U}@{I} Computer freaks! @{UU}@{UI}@{UB} gsa15@cs.teiher.gr gsa17@cs.teiher.gr gsa39@cs.teiher.gr ggeorge@cs.teiher.gr gsa12@cs.teiher.gr gsa50@cs.teiher.gr @{B}Engineering and electrology students (STEF)@{UB} _______________________ | | | @{B}WANTED!!@{UB} | | | | OLD ADVENTURES | | OF @{B}LEVEL-9@{UB} AND | | @{B}INFOCOM@{UB}! ALSO | | WANTED SOURCE CODE | | FOR DATATYPES | | HANDLING FROMWITHIN | | @{B}BLITZII!@{UB} | | @{U}gsa50@cs.teiher.gr@{UU} | |_______________________| Also wanted: BlitzII libraries for datatype handling, source code examples on setting AREXX variables from withing a BlitzII program(i dont have any manual of BlitzII or something similiar :-( Long live Metallica, Pearl Jam, Cranberries, Def Leopard etc etc! Thanks in advance! @EndNode @Node "Legal" @Title "Leggal issues.." The programmer will not be responsible for any possible problem(s) that you might experience by using this program. By using it you accept that. @{B}Disclaimer@{UB} THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. @EndNode @Node "Distribution" @Title "Distribution info.." This program is GiftWare. You may give it to your friends (for example), distribute it(if no money is involved except the standard fee for disks), BUT you may NOT change the contents of the archive or modify the files themselves(change names etc)! ***** @{B}GiftWare@{UB} ****** Giftware is a variant of ShareWare. You get the program full working and with no option disabled and you may use it as long as you want or even give it to your friends etc However, if you like this program and you use it often, you ought to contribute something to the author. A gift of any kind will do. A gift may be a program of yours, money(prefered!;i am saving for a 4mb 32Fast memory expansion! :-), postcards, books, magazines, etc etc This would show that you appreciate the programmer who worked hard to write this program. The @{"author" Link "Author"} would like to thank you in advance for any possible donation @EndNode @Node "CS" @Title " CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" @{"CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/CS_Logo.IFF/Main"} is a programming team, based in Greece. Our goal is to create high quality programs(applications, games etc). Most of them are under the ShareWare label but there are a lot of them which are freeware too. @{B}CyBERDYNE SySTEMS@{UB} is composed by two(so far) members []=====================================================================[] ||@{"Mark Papadakis" Link "Author"} Applications programmer and additional programming|| ||Nick Eleytherianos Games designer and coder || []=====================================================================[] We (hopefully!) just found three graphics and music artists! At last! We gonna kick ass soon! Latest projects of @{B}CyBERDYNE SySTEMS@{UB} @{"MPInterface" Link "MPInterface"} ----------------------------------------------------- |Name |Author |PDWare | ----------------------------------------------------- |ObjManip V2.0 |Mark | ShareWare | |Total Excess |Nick | ShareWare | |Total Excess AGA |Nick | ShareWare | |InternetBOX V1.2 |Mark | FreeWare | |Assist V1.7 |Mark | GiftWare | ----------------------------------------------------- For a list of all of our projects, please mail @{"me" Link "author"} For a list of my projects under development just @{"click me" Link "Development"}. Please note that we are still working on our logo @{"Mark's logo" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/CS_Logo.IFF/Main"} @{"Nick's logo" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/CS_2.IFF/Main"} If you have any ideas, please mail @{"me" Link "Author"} @EndNode @Node "CodeInfo" @Title "Coding the program" This program was written using BlitzII V1.9 and CED Pro. Heddley was used too as PersonalPaint. ObjManip V2.1 was used in great doses for all the graphics manipulation. It took me 4 days to code all the things that are in the archive(V1.0!). Well, MPInterface which is partially used in Assist was programmed some time ago.. Convert is about 1670 lines of BlitzII code while Assist is about 10200. As i 've heard the new version of @{B}BlitzII@{UB}(2.1) is out! As soon i will be able to purchase a copy of it, i will @{B}@{I}*SERIOUSLY* @{UU}@{UI}@{UB}update it! @{B}RIBlitzLibs@{UB} are utilised (Check @{"improvements" Link "NEW"} chapter please). @EndNode @Node "Greetings" @Title "Hello goes to.." There are a lot persons that i would like to say 'hello' to and i am sorry for not mentioning some of them.. Nick - My friend from CyBERDYNE SySTEMS for his cooperation. George - My twin brother, for not doing much actually.. GeorgeJR - For bugging me:-) Pantelos - My favourite cousine! For a lot of things! Alex - Pantelo's bro. Sysop of Knossos BBS and networks expert. John - My buddy.. Jim - My buddy#2! GeorgeK - My contact in Rumania..! Vana - For her friendship.. :-) Stella - Hi there!!! Mikko Makela - For the BlitzII mailing list All those guys from Blitz mailing list who helped me to upload this! Kostantinos - He, he!.... Manos - Our UNIX expert... All the computer freaks in @{B}TEI@{UB} at Heraklio Crete Anna - For giving away her..phantasies! ACID - For creating the superb @{B}BlitzII@{UB}. GKourkoutas - For helping me.. K.Vasilakis - For internet support @{B}God@{UB} - For everything! @{U}Special thanks@{UU} Special thanks to Stefen Matty and Steve McNamara (@{B}Leading Edge Software@{UB}) for their AWESOME @{I}RIBlitzLibs @{UI}. @{B}I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO CREATED THOSE ICONS@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} Internet:the linked heaven! @EndNode @Node "Convert" @Title "'Convert' introduction" Convert is a small, but still usefull utility. It can convert .help files to .guide ones or .guide files to .help ones. It is a CLI only(not much free time to write a GUI, sorry!). Usage :convert source [destination] If the source is a .guide file then it will convert it to a .help one. If the source is a .help one that it will convert it to a .guide one. If you ommit the destination then convert will use a suitable name (filename with the correct extension). There are some commands that are not supported since thay are not usefull For example:The >font is not supported(unlike @font), as the @next and @prev commands. The request and DL commands are not supported too. That happens becouse all the above commands are not usefull to the opposite file format. The internal commands are also not supported for the AmigaGuide documents. (The internal command QUIT is supported. but some versions of the AmigaGuide.library dont support that command. I just did that in order to be compatible with @{B}Heddley@{UB}). There is a progress indicator also. When the process comes to end, you can see if you gained or lost bytes after the convertion process. You can stop the process by pressing Ctrl+C (classic..) Convert's slight bug now fixed! No problem now concerning the size of the files you want to convert! Plus, i added a nodes and line counter just for your information ;-) Also convert now support correctly the fontstyles. Updated to support @{B}Heddley@{UB} in full effect. Convert was not using proper names for the '@Database' and '@Master' commands of AmigaGuide when converting an Assist document. Now it is fixed. Convert is updated and now works fine and support all AmigaGuide commands (except @Next and @Prev, which i dont think that they are necessary). I am using as a base the @{B}Heddley@{UB} supported commands! I dont know ALL the AmigaGuide commands! (AmigaGuide developers pack requested!!) @EndNode @Node "History" @Title "Short history..." V1.0 Written in 4 days..Quite like this one, but with a worst look and not that fast as this one. It uses MPInterfaceV1.2 V1.1 Utilises MPInterfaceV1.3 That gives it a better look and i did some improvements on the code and it now runs faster. It had some minor bugs(redrawing etc) V1.2 Serious upgrades. More commands added, improved font support removed some minor bugs and added the source related menu options. V1.3 Major upgrade! Many new options added, improved file handling and rewrite most of the routines. Fixed A LOT of bugs! This version can be found in Aminet in text/hyper (Assist13.Lha) V1.4 This version is an intermediate state between 1.3 and 1.4 Plus. Added AREXX support and a couple more options as well as removing many minor bugs. (/text/hyper/Assist14.lha) V1.4+AREXX support updated, faster reading and memory handling and improved menus. Some minor bugs removed. V1.5 Fixed some bugs, improved requesters and rewrite some parts of Convert. V1.6 Major update! Updated the convert utility, Assist now can run as an accessory, it iconifies using a proper way, it adds some menu options in the Workbench Tools menu, it supports an AppIcon and its main window is an AppWindow now. @EndNode @Node Greek @Title "Some greek stuff.." ? H AC Software mail... @{" " Link "Author"} @EndNode @Node "Menus" @Title "Menus descriptions" @{B}File@{UB} @{B}Navigate@{UB} @{B}Options@{UB} @{B}Misc@{UB} @{B}Help@{UB} @{"Load" Link "MENU_Load"} Main @{"Properties" Link "MENU_PROPERTIES"} Report typos How to use Info Next Save Smooth Scroling Quit Prev Load @{"GFX Colour" Link "MENU_GFXCOLOUR"} @{"Iconify" Link "Menu_Iconify"} Back Toggle pointer AREXX script Retrace Display actions @{"Select" Link "MENU_SELECT"} Index Help I suggest you use their equivelant keyboard shortcuts. It saves time. @EndNode @Node "Menu_Properties" @TOC "Menus" @Title "Menu Navigate/Properties" There are several gadgets on this @{"window" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/PIC2.IFF/Main"}. @{B}Regular pen@{UB} :The pen used for the text(not actions related text) @{B}Highlight pen@{UB} :The pen used for the actions related text @{B}Background@{UB} :Background color @{B}PicViewer@{UB} :The name of the external pictures viewer. Therefore you can use any picture as long as the external viewer support it. Only external supported. @{B}SoundPlayer@{UB} :The external sound player name. Like the previous gadget if a player is good enough you wont have to care about the sound format. Play16 is a great one. I wrote an internal player for this. It can handle only 8SVX files though. Just select Internal to activate it. @{B}TextReader@{UB} :Again, the external text viewer name. If this is a good one (ANSI support etc) then even better! @{B}NOTE@{UB} DO NOT select external modules that run as detached processes! This wont be good! Dont worry though; Most of them dont! @{B}New Look...@{UB} :If this is on, then you will have the new look scroller instead of the old one! @{B}Default font@{UB} :You can use ANY font in ANY size! Just select one! Note that this font will be used when you load a file and when the current node doesn't have a font assigned to it. Next to each external module selection gadget, there is a string gadget. You can enter some special arguments. For example, my sound player (play, found in Aminet) can play any sound but displays a window while playing. If you use 'play filename q' the window will not be displayed. So, i enter q in the appropriate string gadget and everything is cool! @{U}Some advices on this@{UU} I recommend you use modules that do not use much memory since memory is VERY important. Also, if you have any special players/viewers then use them! For example and ANSI text viewer is better that a simple ASCII viewer, a player which can play any sound file is much better than one that can play only 8SVX IFF files(Play16 is great!) and a pic viewer which can display any picture format and also plays animations is much better than a simple IFF viewer(ViewTek is recommended). @{B}Confirm@{UB} :Confirm all actions (Also Return or Confirm from menu) @{B}Cancel@{UB} :Cancel all changes (Also ESCape or Cancel from menu) @EndNode @Node "Menu_Select" @TOC "Menus" @Title "Navigate/Select" You can manually select a node to go to. Use the cursor keys, enter and escape keys or use the gadgets to @{"select" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/PIC3.IFF/Main"} one. TopazGr font is used for this as the ListView gadget has some problems working with just any font. I used TopazGr 'couse greek users will be benefited from that. Sorry if i coused any problems! @EndNode @Node "Menu_Iconify" @TOC "MENUS" @Title "File/Iconify" Close the main window, free the AppWindow and go in iconification mode. The menuitem Iconify will be renamed to UnIconify (Select it to uniconify). A small window will open(info window). There are three avaible options. Time - Assist displays the current time. Time&Date - Assist displays the current time and the current date (date is displayed every five seconds). Memory - Assist displays the free memory (Chip and Fast). Default is Time. If you have used the tooltype @{B}SHOWDATE@{UB} then Assist will use the mode Time&Date. If you have used the tooltype @{B}SHOWMEM@{UB} Assist will use the mode Memory. NOTE:Assist will automatically uniconify if you double click the AppIcon or load a file or select a node. If the Assist is paused(please, checkout @{"improvements" Link "NEW"}) then nothing will be displayed but the current version of Assist. @EndNode @Node "MENU_GFXCOLOUR" @Title "Gfx colour options" @TOC "Menus" Assist also support graphics. So far, only simple lines are supported but in future versions more complex graphics commands will be suported. There are three options for the rendering colour. @{B}Regular pen@{UB} :Use the colour used for plain text (Default). @{B}Highlight pen@{UB} :Use the colour used for highlighted text. @{B}Comlement@{UB} :Use a complement colour of the background. @EndNode @Node "menu_load" @TOC "MENUs" @Title "File/Load" What else than loading a file! Try not to use filenames that dont exist! @{B}NEW FEATURE!@{UB} If you select a .guide file then Assist will convert it to an Assist document (it will store it to a temporary directory) and then read it. This feature will work if Assist will be able to find Convert in AUX_PRG: assign and if the .guide file is a real .guide file. The temporary file is TEMP:(default) but you can easily change it by editing the Assist.init file (Check @{"startup" Link "StartUP"} for more). @EndNode @Node "Keyboard" @Title "Keyboard shortcuts" @TOC "Intro" * Cursur Up or key '8' from numeric keyboard :Scroll UP * Cursor Down or key '2' from numeric keyboard :Scroll DOWN * Cursor Left or key '4' from numeric keyboard :Jump to previous node * Cursor Right or key '6' from numeric keyboard:Jump to next node * Key '7' from numeric keyboard [HOME] :Move to top * Key '1' from numeric keyboard [END] :Move to end * key '9' from numeric keybaord [PgUp] :Scroll UP 3 lines * Key '3' from numeric keyboard [PgDn] :Scroll DOWN 3 lines ESC :Quit Help :Help The keystrokes with the '*' sign indicate that are only available if Assist is not iconified. @EndNode @Node "Guide" @Title "Some useful guidelines" @TOC "Intro" I have some advices for you here. @{B}@{I}Basic @{UU}@{UI}@{UB} DON't use too long titles!!! @{B}@{I}Node names@{UI}@{UB} You better pick a name for a node that makes sense. For example you could choose the name introduction for a node that describes your program instead of NodeA for example. @{B}@{I}Styles@{UI}@{UB} You better use bold when you want to make something too noticable. Italics are good in giving emphasis to text while underline(which i rarely use) is good to point a certain phrase. @{B}@{I}Fonts@{UI}@{UB} You can use any font you wish. The problem is that the user may not have that font. You should pick fonts that you are sure that someone else has like the Topaz font or you can include the fonts in your archive. @{B}@{I}Multimedia@{UI}@{UB} Having some pictures or even animations acompanying your document is great. The problem is that if you use animations you should state that it is an animation since the user might have an external pic-only viewer. You could for example have your logo spinning or something assigned to a phrase or snapshots of your program. It is great! Also you could have some sampled voices or even some cool sound FXs from you game(if the program is a game). You might want to include some AREXX examples and the user could be able to view/execute them just by clicking on a phrase, or even assigna program that demonstrates your program to a phrase!!! There is no limit besides your imagination! @{B}@{I}Misc@{UI}@{UB} Try not to make the document that fancy. A great document is one that achieves its goal:to give away information. Using complex font styles and cool logos(Bart Simpson!!) might be neat but the 'serious' users might dislike that. ^^ Beware of the snakes!! 00 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~\/\/\/\/\/ @EndNode @Node "Development" @TOC "CS" @Title "Projects under development" The programs that i am currently working on @{B}@{I}Assist V1.8@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} The forecoming version. The problem is that i don't know what else to add! Status :Excellent! Completed :[*******....] Latest :Aminet (/pub/amiga/text/hyper/Assist17.Lha) Note you can find the latest version in Aminet (/pub/amiga/text/hyper) under the name AssistN.Lha (N is the version eg 17). @{B}@{I}ObjManip V3.0@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} Improved GUI and many more features. Status: :Halted (waiting for BlitzII V2.1) Completed :[******.....] Latest :Aminet (/pub/amiga/dev/basic/ObjManip.Lha) @{B}@{I}InternetBOX V1.4@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} V1.3 now ready! Working on V1.4.. Status :Ok Completed :[*********.] @{B}@{I}AssistAuthor V1.0b@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} Main interface ready, not enough time to continue though.. Status :Halted (waiting to get some free time!) Completed :[****......] @{B}@{I}HTML Author V1.0b@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} Waiting for BlitzII V2.1; Looking for ways to use datatypes fromwithin BlitzII. It will be easy though.. Status :Halted (waiting..) Completed :[*****.....] @{B}@{I}APico V1.0@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} A port of the editor pico from UNIX to Amiga. Everything goes well! If i get some free time i will finish it. *** Found a serious BlitzII bug! *** Status :Almost completed (HALTED) Completed :[*********.] @{B}@{I}Convert@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} Convert is under constant development and its progress depends entirely on the Assist's features. Status :Completed. Waiting for new Assist features Completed :[**********] @{B}@{I}SSaver V1.0@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} A screen saver which has the unique feature to save a screen even if it is a non AmigaOS compatible screen i.e bootlogo.exe. Status :Almost completed @{"SAMPLE" Link "AUX_Prg:DOcs/MyWB.iff/Main"} Completed :[*********.] @{B} CHANCES ARE THAT ALL THE ABOVE PROGRAMS WILL BE IN @{UB} @{B}THE ANONYMOUS FTP SITE @{U}ftp.compulink.gr@{UU} SOON! @{UB} @{B} I WILL LET YOU KNOW! @{UB} For more info, just @{"email me!" Link "Author"} @EndNode @Node "Requirements" @Title "What should i have in order to run Assist" @{B}@{I}Hardware@{UB}@{UI} @{B}Assist@{UB} needs at least 1MB of free memory in order to run. Actually, it requires about 350K to load. I know, it might sound too much for you but dont blaim me! BlitzII creates too big executables and reserves too much memory for most things that have to do with memory...Maybe when and if i write the program using C++ (boring..) it wont take that much memory. Of course, i am still waiting for @{B}BlitzII@{UB} V2.1 which might have eliminated all those problems. It needs WorkBench V2.1 or greater and it uses the extra power provided by the 68020, 68030 and 68040 processors. If your Amiga is equiped with the AGA chipset(A1200, A4000) then Assist will be faster in redrawing and in any graphics operation. Also, the more fast memory you have the faster it goes. The ideal configuration is an Amiga 1200 with 2MB Chip and 2MB Fast(32 bit). The program was tested on: Amiga 1200 (2MB Chip, no Fast) [My low profile Amiga..] Amiga 1200 (2MB Chip, 2MB Fast) Amiga 2000 (1 MB Chip, 5 MB Fast, WorkBench V2.2) Amiga 4000 (2MB Chip,4 MB Fast) [That was speed!!] @{B}@{I}Software@{UB}@{UI} @{B}Assist@{UB}, besides the libraries that everyone has, needs two fonts, RIPStd and TopazGr, both provided with it. Without the above fonts @{B}Assist won't start@{UB}. Assist.init is not essential. For any problems, please @{"email me" Link "Author"}. @EndNode @Node "MPInterface" @TOC "CS" @Title "MPInterface introduction" @{B}MPInterface@{UB} is copyright [C]1995 by Mark Papadakis @{B}@{I}What is it?@{UB}@{UI} MPInterface is a bunch of routines(BlitzII code) that offer the programmers the chance to create a great interface which ignores all the problems of the standard Amiga interface. Many gadgets are offered as well as some auxilary routines. The source code is freeware. Mail @{"me" Link "author"} and just ask it! Current version:1.3 Note that @{B}ALL@{UB} gadgets can have a key assigned to them and they all can work with any 8p fonts(proportional or not). @{I}@{B}Gadgets@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} * Buttons Buttons just like the Workbench. They can have a key assigned to them and they can have a special border around them (ExtraFat). * Preferences buttons Buttons that select a preferences page. I am sure you know what i mean. * Check boxes Those that you can activate-deactivate (Checkmark). * String gadgets Numeric or alphas. * General Reqester Gadgets that are used for misc things i.e screen selection, font selection, actions etc * XSliders & YSliders Like Amiga OS. * XScrollers and YScrollers. Two modes supported:Old, the classic WB 3.0 scrollers look and new, a MUI like look. * Shape gadgets Can use one or two images. State or action gadgets(user definable). * Text Boxes Two styles and center text feature offered. * Cycle gadgets The classic cycle gadgets with a different icon though. * MX gadgets Multi select gadgets. * Palette gadgets You know.. You can enable, disable a/some gadget(s) or a/some window(s) that contain gadgets. You can delete them, redraw them, resize them and generally do whatever you want! Also, many gadgets offer some special treatment when their hotkey is pressed with the LedtAmiga (you will see :) You can handle them manually or let the included routine take care of everyting. Many more features offered... @{B}@{I}Misc@{UU}@{UI}@{UB} * MRequests Smart requesters that also provide centering, font styles and any font you care to mention! Very configurable. (ALSO!! Supported differenct colour for any line) * GetOption() function Routine that offers a window with options. If you dont have the time to write one your own.. * Layout handling routines * Files and paths handlings * Progress indicator Fully customisable @{I}@{B}Additional@{UB}@{UI} Routines for directories (tree) reading and handling as well as disk information routines, since the BlitzII commands have bugs. Also! File type scanning routine(supports 58 filetypes so far). Note that the additional stuff are on seperate file. Copyright [C]1995 by Mark Papadakis @EndNode @Node "FAQs" @Title "Frequently Asked Questions" @{I}I set @{B}Assist @{UB}as the default tool for an icon. I double-click the@{UI} @{I}icon and @{B}Assist @{UB}loads as usual, only that it reports that it@{UI} @{I}cannot find the file.@{UI} Due to a bug of @{B}BlitzII @{UB}you cannot set a program as a default tool for somthing except if that icon/file is in the same drawer with the executable file. Sorry, not my fault! I think that @{B}BlitzII @{UB}V2.1 will correct that. @{I}The option @{B}Select @{UB}from the menu @{B}Navigate @{UB}is not working!@{UI} @{I}In fact, it couses a Software Failure.@{UI} As i said, you need two fonts. @{B}RIPStd.Font@{UB} and @{B}TopazGR.Font@{UB}. @{B}TopazGR.font@{UB} is used in that option so you better copy the font and its drawer intto your FONTS: directory/assign. The installation script does that for you. @{I}I need to load @{B}Assist @{UB}from my program but i want it to go directly@{UI} @{I}to a specific node. I use the execute() function but all i can do is@{UI} @{I}to make @{B}Assist @{UB}to load my .help file and go to the node Main. @{B}Assist@{UB} takes you to the node @{B}Main@{UB} as soon as it loads a file. However, you can predefine the node by using the second argument. The full syntax is:@{I}Assist [filename.help [node]]@{UI} The best trick is to use AREXX. If you cant or you dont want to write an AREXX interface, use the execute() function to command @{B}Assist@{UB} to do something. Example in Blitz2 QUOTE.s=chr$(34) COM$="Rx "+QUOTE+"Address ASSIST.1 'Goto Author'"+QUOTE execute_ &COM$,0,0 Example in C int act; act = Execute("Rx Address ASSIST.1 'Goto Author',NULL,NULL); That will command the @{B}Assist@{UB} copy which use the AREXX port ASSIST.1 (usually the current @{B}Assist@{UB} copy) to goto to the node AUTHOR @{I}I set startup screen:wb and public screen name:ObjManip (for example)@{I} @{I}but @{B}Assist @{UB}uses WBench instead. Why?@{UI} Sad bad true(Metallica!). You cannot create a proper public screen using the @{I}ScreenTags @{UI}command of BlitzII. I mean that you can create one BUT no application will be able to 'lock' that screen. So, @{B}Assist@{UB} use the Workbench screen. THE FOLLOWING FAQ IS FOR V1.0-1.5!! @{I}When i execute an AREXX script or when i select a gadget which uses@{UI} @{I}the command RX, the program halts!@{UI} Take Assist V1.6 or higher! The problems are solved! @{I}@{B}Assist @{UB}refuse to load and comes up with a requester which@{UI} @{I}inform me that it cannot run becouse the screen bar is not a 10p bar.@{UI} As is said, @{B}Assist@{UB} needs a screen which will use as screen font a normal 8p font (proportional or not). This will change soon, but until then, set as the screen font a normal 8p font. @EndNode @Node "StartUP" @TOC "Introduction" @Title "Assist.init - Some help on that" Assist will use the file Assist.init which should be in AUX_PRG: assign when Assist starts. If it wont find it then the default settings will be used. Also, if a setting is illegal the default setting will be used for that. Some guys(and two girls actually!) reported that they wanted to have more control on Assist concerning the memory. So, you can control the memory that Assist reseves thus saving memory. Also, you can now choose the screen that Assist will use. Three are the available options: WB :Assist will use the Workbench screen. Current :Assist will use the current screen. Public :Assist will use the public screen defined in PUBLIC SCREEN NAME: (Note that if Assist will fail to use that public screen, it will use the Workbench screen). You can also set the temporary file for Assist here. For more info, just checkout the file itself.. @{"READ Assist.init" Link "AUX_PRG:Assist.init/Main"} @{"Edit Assist.init" System "ED AUX_PRG:Assist.init"} @EndNode @Node "AREXX" @Title "ARexx support" Assist will support AREXX from now on(V1.4). As i promised (V1.3) AREXX is ready! These commands are supported from the Assist command I (internal command). Please, read the commands file. Assist wont create an AREXX port if you will not set the INSTALL AREXX to yes in the file Assist.init. Assist will use as the AREXX port name the name ASSIST.N where N is a number (1...X) which represents the copy of Assist running. You can set a different port name for Assist by using the setenv command from Shell. The variable is ASSIST_PORT i.e setenv ASSIST_PORT AS_REXX If this port will not be in use then Assist will use that port otherwise Assist will give a name ASSIST.N You can see the AREXX port of an Assist copy by pressing HELP or selecting the 'How to use' option from the menu Help. Assist support a few commands for two reasons. 1 ] I dont have the AREXX documentation and all i did is based on PD C source files. 2 ] I dont have a BlitzII manual! Here in Greece trying to find a manual for a serious program is like trying to find elephants flying (with pink ears!). So, i dont know how to set a variable in AREXX fromwithin BlitzII etc etc. ALL i did is based on C source examples! When i get BlitzII V2.1 (hopefully WITH THE MANUAL) i will expand the AREXX usage. ---Sorry! Commands @{B}INFO@{UB} Info concerning memory etc @{B}HELP@{UB} Display the help page. @{B}ABOUT@{UB} Information for Assist. @{B}QUIT@{UB} Quit Assist (Same as command @{B}BYE@{UB}). @{B}CONFIGURE@{UB} Properties for Assist. @{B}ICONIFY@{UB} Iconify Assist. @{B}GOTO (node)@{UB} Goto node (node). @{B}LOAD (filename)@{UB} Load file (filename). @{B}SAVECONF@{UB} Save Assist settings. @{B}LOADCONF@{UB} Load Assist default settings. @{B}REDISPLAY@{UB} Redisplay current page. @{B}NEXT@{UB} Jump to the next node. @{B}PREV@{UB} Jump to the previous node. @{B}BACK@{UB} Jump to the parent node. @{B}MAIN@{UB} Jump to the node 'Main'. @{B}RETRACE@{UB} Retrace previous node. @{B}INDEX@{UB} Jump to the node defined as index. @{B}NODE_HELP@{UB} Jump to the node defined as help. @{B}SELECT@{UB} Select a node on your own. @{B}PLAY (filename)@{UB} Plays the file (filename) using the current settings. I wrote this command for ToolsManager @{B}UNICONIFY@{UB} Uniconifies Assist. For suggestions etc, mail @{"me" Link "Author"}. @EndNode @Node "NEW" @Title "Major improvements!!" First of all i want to thanks any third party library writter for BlitzII and especially Leading Edge Software. @{U}Commodity@{UU} You can control Assist using the commodity Exchange. When you select Hide interface, Assist will be iconified and if you select Show interface, Assist will come back. When Assist is inactive then only the current Assist version will be displayed in the Assist window if iconified. Select Remove to exit Assist. The default hotkey is 'ralt rshift a' but you can change it by editing the CX_POPKEY tooltype. @{U}AppWindow@{UU} When Assist is not iconified, you can drag'n'drop a file in the Assist main window. If the file is a file and not a directory, Assist will automatically read it! NOTE:If you drop more than one files, Assist will use only the first one. @{U}AppIcon@{UU} Assist will add an AppIcon if the tooltype 'APPICON' exists. Assist will use the AUX_PRG:Assist.info icon for that. If you have defined a tooltype 'ICONIFY' (e.g ICONIFY=Dh0:Icons/MyIcon) Assist will use that(if it exists). If Assist will not be able to find the icon file it will not add an AppIcon. If you double-click the Assist icon and Assist is iconified, Assist will uniconify. You can drag'n'drop a file on the Assist AppIcon and Assist will read it(if it is not a directory). @{U}AppMenus@{UU} Assist will try to add three more menu options in the Tools menus of WorkBench. Read doc : If you have selected a file and then you select this menu option, Assist will read it(if it is not a file). About Assist : Information.. Exit Assist : Quit @{U}Tooltypes@{UU} Assist will look for the PROGDIR:Assist.info icon for the tooltypes. @{U}Supported toolypes@{UU} DONOTWAIT (e.g DONOTWAIT) This is a Workebench tooltype. If you want to put Assist in your SYS:Wbstartup drawer, you have to use it. Generally its better to be left as it is. Note please that if you want Assist to startup from your SYS:WBStartup drawer, you better set CX_POPUP=NO. FIXED_POINTER (e.g FIXED_POINTER) If Assist finds this tooltype the appropriate option in the Misc menu will be inactive. HIDEACTIONS (e.g HIDEACTIONS) If Assist finds this tooltype the appropriate option in the Misc menu will be inactive. CX_POPUP (e.g CX_POPUP=YES) If this is NO then Assist will be immediatelly iconified on startup. CX_POPKEY (e.g CX_POPKEY=ctrl lalt s) You can use this tooltype to set the hotkey which uniconify Assist. APPICON (e.g APPICON) If Assist will find this tooltype, it will try to add and AppIcon. SHOWDATE (e.g SHOWDATE) Check @{"Iconify" Link "Menu_Iconify"}. SHOWMEM (e.g SHOWMEM) Check @{"Iconify" Link "Menu_Iconify"}. ICONIFY (e.g ICONIFY=Dh0:Icons/AssistIcon) Assist will use this icon(if it exists) for iconification. Do not add the .info extension. SELECT (e.g SELECT=AUX_PRG:Pointers/Select.IFF) Assist will use this brush(if found) for the select pointer. NORMAL (e.g NORMAL=AUX_PRG:Pointers/Normal.IFF) Assist will use this brush(if found) for the normal pointer. WAIT (e.g WAIT=AUX_PRG:Pointers/Busy.IFF) Assist will use this brush(if found) for the wait pointer. TAB (e.g TAB=8) Set TAB character's spaces. Default is 8(AmigaGuide default). @EndNode @Node "HELP" @Title "Help section" @TOC "Main" This is a .help file. If you haven't converted it to an AmigaGuide document using @{"convert" Link "Convert"}, you could use the info provided in this document in order to find out what to do. If you have converted it into an AmigaGuide document then please read you AmigaGuide documentation. @EndNode @Node "INDEX" @Title "Small index" @TOC "Main" @{B}AmigaGuide @{UB} :An AmigaGuide document is composed of nodes and text commands. This is used by AmigaGuide and MultiView @{B}Assist@{UB} :The program uses a number of commands related to AmigaGuide . It is the brower that you are using now. [C]1995 @{"Mark 'Force' Papadakis" Link "Author"} for @{"CyBERDYNE SySTEMS" Link "CS"} @{B}Node@{UB} :A node is a document in a document. A part of a document is used as a seperate document containing different information than the other nodes. An Assist document can have as many nodes as you want. @{B}Action text@{UB} :When a phrase or a word is highlighted(using the colour settings in @{"properties" Link "Menu_Properties"}) then you can carry out the command that it represents by moving the mouse pointer on it. The mouse pointer will change to a finger. The @{"commands" Link "AUX_PRG:Docs/Commands/Main"} are several and they are in the Docs directory. @{B}Index@{UB} :Index is a node that contains some information about some commond words. This is the index of this document. @{B}Font style@{UB} :There are three available font styles in Assist, just like AmigaGuide :@{B}Bold@{UB}, @{I}Italics@{UI} and @{U}Underline@{UU}. You can use combinations of them too. Assist will support more font styles in V1.4(shadowed etc), besided those. @{B}Blank line@{UB} :Assist has a command that allows you to draw a simple line. This is used in order to make the layout better. @{B}TEI @{UB} :TEI is like a university; the only difference is that we(the students) work more on practice than theory. The best thing though, is that the BEST(best=most beatiful) girls prefer TEI than university :-) TEIs (which stands for Technological Educational Institue) can be found only in Greece. For more information, contact kostas@cs.teiher.gr or even better checkout our WWW server (@{U}http://tylissos.cs.teiher.gr@{UU}) @EndNode