home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
EnigmA Amiga Run 1996 March
/
EnigmA AMIGA RUN 05 (1996)(G.R. Edizioni)(IT)[!][issue 1996-03][Skylink CD IV].iso
/
earcd
/
util2
/
mhsutil2.lha
/
PF
/
Manual
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-09-25
|
7KB
|
216 lines
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard text printing programs are nice, but usually lack more
advanced features. How about: automatic file decompression for
files that are 'packed', the ability to preview the text file
without printing it out first, the ability to advance to the
top of the next form/ page when printing multiple text files,
the ability to recoginize and print special printer raw data
files, the ability to cancel printing at any time, to bypass
any files specified for printing. Automatic file suffix
recognition. These are the features of 'PF': Print File.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Standard features include:
--------------------------
o - Multitasks.
o - Uses standard INTUITION interfaces.
o - Adjusts to different WORKBENCH environments.
o - Printing functions use the system printer preferences.
-------------------------
Special features include:
-------------------------
o - Uses the 'SOFTCONFIG' environment.
o - Uses the 'PRINTERPREFS' environment.
-------------------------
Program features include:
-------------------------
o - Prints the following files: standard text, ansi text, 'powerpacked'
files (text or raw data), 'Lha' compressed files (text or raw
data) and raw printer data files.
o - Preview text files on the screen without printing them out.
o - Automatic preview option: use to sequentially read a text file
without prompting for action.
o - Print/ preview multiple files. You can specify multiple files
to be printed or previewed; each with it's own special
options.
o - Automatically add a form feed after printing each file: optional.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
USING PF
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Getting Started:
----------------
You can start 'PF' from an icon, or from the CLI/ Shell using:
>Run PF
(...or...)
>Run PF text.file
... you can also specify a '?' displaying all the command line
options available for 'PF'.
(Please refer to the online help file for more information.)
--------
Options:
--------
The following options are available from the CLI/ Shell.
-p .............. Specify output device.
-w .............. Preview text file.
-n .............. Don't wait, begin displaying immediately.
(For information on 'TOOLTYPES' please refer to the online help file.)
----------------
Pull-Down Menus:
----------------
Project Menu:
-------------
About ........... Program info & credits.
Quit ............ Exit 'PF'.
Special Menu:
-------------
Auto FormFeed ... Advance to TOP of PAGE after printing.
Force Preview ... Send text file to a console window.
Force Print ..... Send text file to the printer.
---------
Printing:
---------
When printing text files, all output will be send to 'PRT:',
however, when printing special data files, all output will
be sent to either 'PAR:' or 'SER:' depending on your system's
printer preferences.
You can print multiple files using 'PF'.
Each text file to be printed can have it's own command line
options.
(For Example)
>Run PF text.file1 -w text.file2 text.file3.pp textfile4.lha
Standard text & ANSI text files are printed directly from disk.
All 'powerpacked' files must be loaded prior to printing. Any
'Lha' packed archive will automatically be unpacked before
printing begins. Therefore, there must be enough free memory
to load a 'powerpacked' archive to successfully print it, and
there must be enough free space on the device containing the
'Lha' archive before unpacking it to successfully print the
text or printer graphics file contained therein.
To cancel printing at any time, click on the close window
gadget (button) for the 'PF' window.
To cancel printing the current text file and all pending
text files, select "Project/Quit".
-----------
Previewing:
-----------
Only text files should be previewed. As of this release, 'PF'
does not support previewing printer graphic files in a console
window.
---------
Requires:
---------
'Lha' is required to unpack any '.lha' or '.lzh' packed archive and
should be placed in your current c: directory or path.
-----------------------
Software Configuration:
-----------------------
The following variables (flags) are used:
SCREEN TO FRONT
USE PUBLIC SCREEN
INITIALIZE PRINTER
USE EXTENDED PRINTER PREFS
START: TOP OF PAGE
CLOSE: TOP OF PAGE
(Please refer to the help file(s) for 'SoftConfig' for more information.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR ADVANCED USERS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Auto Detection:
---------------
'PF' can be used to print the text file contained within an '.lha'
archive downloaded from any BBS. However, 'PF' needs to have the
program 'LHA' located in your current c: directory or path. 'PF'
will always determine the last file contained within an '.lha'
archive, extract, print, then remove it automatically. If the text
file is the only file contained within the archive, then it will be
extracted for printing. For example:
'PF DOWNLOADS:hdproject.lha'
or
'PF DOWNLOADS:hdproject'
('PF' will automatically check for certain file suffixes if the
file specified was not found.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREDITS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This program was designed and coded by Michael Thomas Hurt of
MIKE HURT SOFTWARE!, coded in & compiled using Blitz Basic 2.0
available from Acid Software.
Software testing was done using:
o - Amiga 500 : AmigaDOS 2.1, GVP HD 500+ w/ 2MEGS.
o - Amiga 2000: AmigaDOS 2.1, Microbotics VXL030 w/MMU,
Microbotics VXLRAM 2MEGS, Microbotics 8-UP! 4MEGS,
GVP Series II hard card w/ 100MEG HD.
o - Amiga 3000: AmigaDOS 2.1, 6MEGS.
o - Amiga 4000: AmigaDOS 3.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROGRAM HISTORY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
v1.0 01/15/1995 Original program.
v2.0 06/18/1995 Revised program. Improved the interface.
Uses new SOFTCONFIG environment. Added
preview & special options.