OS/2 Shareware BBS: 5 Edit/05-Edit.zip/memacs32.zip/readme

Text File | 1993-04-22 | 15KB | 382 lines

    MicroEMACS version 3.12        Release Notes

            22-Apr-93

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (C)Copyright 1988-1993 by Daniel M. Lawrence
    MicroEMACS 3.12 can be copied and distributed freely for any
    non-commercial purposes. Commercial users may use MicroEMACS
    3.12 inhouse. Shareware distributors may redistribute
    MicroEMACS 3.12 for media costs only. MicroEMACS 3.12 can only
    be incorporated into commercial software or resold with the
    permission of the current author.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    IBM-PC and OS/2 are copywrighted by International Business
    Machines, INC. MSDOS and MicroSoft Windows are copyrighted by
    Microsoft Inc. AMIGA is copywrited by Commodore Business
    Machines. Atari ST is copyrighted by Atari Coorporation. All
    other product names used within this document are copyrighted by
    their respective copyright holders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

    This is the offical release of version 3.12 of MicroEMACS.  This
file gives information on registering MicroEMACS, features which have
changed since version 3.11, notes on various installations, future
directions for MicroEMACS, contact information and bug reporting
procedures.

********** Registering MicroEMACS **********

    Keeping many environments up to date, fielding questions over
the phone, applying bug fixes and adding new features is reasonably
large task. I have been writing, maintaining and supporting MicroEMACS
since 1985. I have bought numerous computers solely to port and support
MicroEMACS on those platforms. I can not even begin to count the number
of people using MicroEMACS, and I have recieved support calls,
registrations and inquiries from many countries all over the globe. This
keeps me very busy for a hobby that I do outside my normal employment.
    If you like MicroEMACS, and want to see more work, new versions
and other shareware software to go along with it, show your support by
registering your copy. Send your registration of $25 US and I will place
you on the registration list. You will recieve information on new
releases and preferential support. If you have recieved MicroEMACS
through a software library, a CDROM collection, or a user's group, none
of those fees are passed along to the software author. Register with me
and get the latest versions, info and have a voice into future
directions.

********** Installation Notes **************

    MicroEMACS is supplied on two 3 1/2" inch diskettes in IBMPC
format. The first disk is an MSDOS, MicroSoft Windows and OS/2
installation disk. For any of these environments, insert the disk into
your A: drive, and type:

    a:install

    The installation program will lead you through installing
MicroEMACS and all of its related files on your system's hard drive.
After installation, these are the names of the various executables:

    EMACS.EXE    MSDOS real mode version (640K limit)
    EMACS16M.EXE    MSDOS protected mode version
            (will use all memory, slightly slower than real mode)
    MEWIN.EXE    MicroSoft Windows 3.1 version
    OS2EMACS.EXE    OS/2 1.3, 2.0 or 2.1 version

    The second disk is a ZIP archive of all the sources, documents,
command files and makefiles. Copy this file to an empty directory on
your hard drive, and then use any unZIPper and allow it to extract this
tree of files on your hard drive. Some of the resulting files and
subdirectories will include:

AIX          makefiles for AIX (a UNIX varient)
AMIGA        makefiles for the Commodore AMIGA
ATARI        makefiles for the Atari ST
CMD          standard .CMD command files
DGEN         makefiles for the Data General
DOC          documentation files (including this!)
FMR          makefiles for the Fujitsu FMR series MSDOS computers
H            .H header files
HP150        makefile for the HP150 MSDOS computer
HPUX         makefile for the HP9000 workstations
I55          makefile for the IBM 5550 Katakana computer
MPE          makefile for the HP3000 series computer
MSWIN        makefiles and auxillary files for MicroSoft Windows 3
NEC          makefiles for the NEC 9800 series MSDOS machines
NT           makefiles for Windows NT
OS2          makefiles for OS/2
PCDOS        makefiles for various IBM-PC compilers and versions
POSIX        makefiles for POSIX (a UNIX varient)
SRC          .C source files
SUN4         makefiles for SUN-OS 4.1 and above (not Solaris)
VMS          makefile for DEC's VMS operating system
WINHELP      source code for the windows help files
XENIX        makefiles for XENIX
CLROBJ.BAT   MSDOS batch file to clear out all the object and executable files
DE.BAT       MSDOS batch file to create a diff from an old version
TODO         pending development tasks
UTOD.CMD     emacs command file to fix line termination on file group

    Included on this disk is a public domain MSDOS unzipping program
called "unzip" written by a group of USENET programmers. Both the actual
executable and the self unpacking package with all of its documention is
provided. Copy the diskette to the target directory, and type:

    unzip ue312

    to extract all the sources, command files, makefiles and
documentation to their proper directories within the that directory.

    If you need to build a version from the source files, unpack
these files, and move them and all its subdirectories to the target
machine. Change to the directory most appropriate for the machine for
which you are building MicroEMACS. Edit ESTRUCT.H, changing the
definition from zero to one for the appropriate hardware, compiler,
terminal driver. Edit any other parameters or options as appropriate.
You may need to create an OBJ and a BIN subdirectory from this
directory. Then run your make utility to compile and link a MicroEMACS
executable.

    Under MicroSoft windows, use the NEW option of the FILES menu of
the file program manager to add a program item. Set the program
executable to the drive where you installed MicroEMACS, remembering the
name of the Windows executable is mewin.exe. The MicroEMACS icon will
appear in the program window you have currently open.

    Under OS/2, copy a program template to the desktop, and then use
its settings menu to set the path to the program executable and the
correct working directory. The name of the OS/2 executable is
OS2EMACS.EXE. The icon for MicroEMACS should replace the template icon.
Drag this to where you want it to be placed.

    Under the differing varieties of UNIX, if you are installing
MicroEMACS systemwide, you need to place it and all of its command files
into a directory that all your users can access. Rename the emacs.rc
startup file to .emacsrc. Once your users have this directory in their
path, they will be able to use MicroEMACS. They can create a local
.emacsrc file that will overide the code in the system MicroEMACS
startup file. Be carefull to allow read permissions on all the
MicroEMACS files.

    On the Atari ST, be sure that MicroEMACS is installed as a GEM
application from the GEM desktop.  If this is not done, MicroEMACS will
grow confused about the state of the mouse, and ring the bell alot to
alert the user to the problem.  (Mouse handling on the Atari is both
complex and triple layered....).

********** Major New Features since 3.11 *********

>>> Windows and Windows NT GUI versions

    Pierre Perret made an enormous effort and produced the code to
allow MicroEMACS to run under MicroSoft Windows and Windows NT as a GUI
style application. Its very good. Try it!

>>> MSDOS DMPI version!

    Under an agreement with Rational Systems, Inc, one version of
the distributed executable, "emacs16m.exe" is GLUed to their 16 bit DOS
extender product, which allows it to run as a protected mode program. If
you have a 386 or better and use this executable, you can use ALL
available extended memory to hold files to be edited. If you own this
product you can rebuild this version from the supplied sources and
makefiles.

>>> New MSDOS, Windows, OS/2 installation

    Using Knowledge Dynamics Corporations INSTALL 3.2 program, it is
easier than ever to install versions of MicroEMACS on to your computer.
Just put the disk in your A: drive and type "A:INSTALL".

>>> Highlighted Regions

    Using the mouse to cut and paste, the selected region is now
displayed in reverse video. This works under all environments supporting
both mice and reverse video.

>>> Support for AUX

    MicroEMACS now supports Apple's AUX UNIX-Like operating system.

>>> Displays time in bottom modeline

    if $timeflag is set to TRUE, the time of the last keystroke is
displayed in the bottom most modeline.

>>> Partial completion lists

    Attempting a file/buffer/command completion when there are more
than one remaining posibility will bring up a pop up buffer of possible
completions. Keep typing letters and attempt the completion again when
they are more unique.

>>> Kill Ring implimented

    New commands yank-pop (M-Y), delete-kill-ring (M-^Y), and
cycle-ring (^X-Y) impliment a ring of kill buffers.

>>> Current point position displayed

    If $posflag is set to TRUE, the position of the point in the
current window is displayed as a line and column value in that window's
modeline. This defaults to TRUE with the standard startup files.

>>> New function &rev

    This returns the characters of its argument in reverse order.

>>> Mouse support under OS/2

    The OS/2 version now fully supports all MicroEMACS mouse handling.

>>> Console style Windows NT support

    A very fast console style driver for MicroEMACS under MicroSoft's
Windows NT operating system is an alternative for the GUI driver.

>>> Buffer variables now terminate

    When using a buffer variable, like #<buffer name>, when the
point in the buffer reaches the end, the variable will return "<END>".
This makes your macros using these variables easier to write!

>>> Improved 8 bit character handling

    Many parts of the editor are much more 8 bit aware.

>>> More Completion!!

    The write-file (^X^W) and append-file (^X^A) commands now use
file name completion.

>>> Better Completion!!

    While completing file names interactively, MicroEMACS will
recognize and expand ~/ as the user's home directory, ~name/ as the
named user's home directory and $<var>/ as a directory named in an
environmental <var>. This uses the appropriate UNIX calls or looks in
the USER environment variable depending on the OS.

>>> Macros can query the Operating System

    The $os variable returns the name of the operating system which
MicroEMACS is running under.

>>> Position point within line from command line

    The -p<n> command line option positions the point within the
first line of the first file listen on the command line. This can be
used in conjunction with the -g flag to position the point anywhere
within that file.

>>> Labeling of Function Keys

    On HP terminals connected up to a UNIX system, MicroEMACS can
label the on screen function keys.

>>> Line position switch alternative

    Placing a +<n> on the command line is equivilant to -g<n>,
allowing the point to be placed on any line of the first file listed on
the command line. This makes many UNIX tools happier.

>>> Slash Handling Improved

    Forward slashes are now excepted as directory separators under
MSDOS and OS/2 as well as the native backslashes. They are translated
both on the command line and in file name completion.

>>> Control-Space decoded under UNIX

    UNIX users can now use control-<space> as a legal character.
Most DOS style machines can not scan this combination, but under UNIX
this is bound to set-mark by default.

>>> Execute-Buffer now uses buffer name completion

    When this command is called interactively, it does buffer name
completion.

>>> ISO French Header text

    As an alternative to the IBM-PC French header files, there is
also an ISO french header file for various UNIX versions. The proper
version is chosen for the appropriate operating system.

>>> Various Bug Fixes

    Many bugs found by users have been squashed.

********** Future Directions ***************

    I am continuing work on MicroEMACS, and look forward to a number
of improvements in the near to farther future. Ranked in approximate
order are:

    - Macintosh Support
    - Multiple language support for macroes
    - Parameters on macroes
    - An OS/2 Presentation Manager version
    - A possible VI user interface
    - A code compiler

********** Contact Information *************

To contact me: (MicroEMACS)

    USMAIL:    Daniel Lawrence
        617 New York St
        Lafayette, IN 47901 USA

    Internet:    mdbs![e-mail]

    American Online: bardor

    BBS:    The Programmer's Room
        [phone]
        Fido 1:201/10

    voice:    [phone] evenings and weekends

To contact Rational Systems Inc.: (DOS16M Dos Extender)

    Rational Systems Inc.
    220 North Main Street
    Natick, Massachusette 01760
    [phone]

To contact Knowledge Dynamics Corporation: (INSTALL 3.2 Installation program)

    Knowledge Dynamics Corporation
    P.O. Box 1558
    Canyon Lake, TX 78130-1558 (USA)

********** Reporting Bugs ******************

If you need to report any bugs, you should be sure to include the this
information:

- Contact info of the reporter

- Hardware where the bug manifests itself

- Operating System and OS version number

- a list of the ESTRUCT.H switches used to compile effected version
    or file name of distributed .exe

- compiler and makefile used to compile MicroEMACS

- a clear, step by step method to reproduce the problem
  any pertinate macro code or text files used

- Under MSDOS:
    - a list of any concurrent software (TSRs, etc)
    - a copy of the autoexec.bat and config.sys files

********** Support *************************

    Support for MicroEMACS 3.12 is available in a couple of
different ways.  First, it is available via my bulletin board
system.....

    The Programmer's Room
    FIDO 1:201/10
    [phone]
    24 hours  300/1200/2400/9600HST baud

    There are message areas devoted to MicroEMACS where I and other
people can answer your questions. Also there are file areas for staying
abreast of the current development version and finding and trading macro
files.
    MicroSPELL 2.1 is also available.  This version is the first
major update released in several years. These program allows you to
spell check text files and use MicroEMACS to scan the file, making
suggestions and doing various corrections.
    As before, I will continue to support these programs, and
encourage everyone to spread them around as much as they can. If you
make what you think are changes that are useful to many, send me the
updates, and as time permits, I will incorporate the ones I understand,
and agree with into the master sources.