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- The documentation to
-
- CAB
-
- Version 1.3
- 26.05.1996
-
- by
-
- Alexander Clauss
- Stresemannstra₧e 44
- D-64297 Darmstadt
-
- aclauss@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de
-
-
-
- Contents
- ========
-
- 1 A short introduction
-
- 2 Legal
-
- 3 Address
-
- 4 System requirements
-
- 5 Installation
-
- 6 Navigating HTML Documents
-
- 7 Module for on-line Internet access
-
- 8 Description of menu items
- 8.1 Open URL...
- 8.2 Open local...
- 8.3 Reload
- 8.4 Print
- 8.5 New window
- 8.6 Close window
- 8.7 View source
- 8.8 Quit
- 8.9 Home page
- 8.10 Back
- 8.11 Find keyword
- 8.12 Hotlist
- 8.13 Document -> Hotlist
- 8.14 General options
- 8.15 Display
- 8.16 Font selection
- 8.17 External viewers
- 8.18 Paths...
- 8.19 Cache
- 8.20 Save options
-
- 9 Button bar
-
- 10 Thanks
-
- 11 Possible future updates
-
- 12 History
-
-
-
- 1 A short introduction
- ======================
-
- *CAB* - The Taxi to the information highway!
- *CAB* - Crystal Atari Browser
-
- Formerly called HTML-Browser
-
- This browser is capable of reading HTML format documents. The HTML
- documents could be on disk or CD. Reading pages on-line to an
- Internet World Wide Web (WWW) site requires a separate module.
-
-
-
- 2 Legal
- =======
-
- CAB (HTML-Browser) is FREEWARE. It may be copied and used freely.
- Distribution by BBSs and PD libraries is allowed. However, CAB (HTML-
- Browser) may NOT under ANY circumstances be included in CD-ROM
- collections or on magazine cover disks without my prior written
- permission. CAB (HTML-Browser) and its documentation must always
- remain together and complete with all its files and documentation.
- Changes to the program and/or documentation is forbidden.
-
- If you like CAB (HTML-Browser) and you use it regularly, please
- register your copy, any currency is welcome.
-
- If you would like to see this program developed please send some
- feedback and register your copy. UK, USA users can take advantage of
- local support, refer to SUPPORT.TXT for more details. No feedback
- means no development, it's that simple!
-
-
-
- 3 Address
- =========
-
- *My address:*
-
- Alexander Clauss
- Stresemannstr. 44
- D-64297 Darmstadt
- Germany
-
- email: aclauss@rbg.informatik.th-darmstadt.de
- WWW: http://www.student.informatik.th-darmstadt.de/~aclauss/
-
- *Banking arrangements:*
-
- Sparkasse Darmstadt
- BLZ: 508 501 50
- Kontonr: 0115032143
-
- *UK support:*
-
- Joe Connor
- 65 Mill Road
- Colchester
- CO4 5LJ
- England
-
- email: jconnor@cix.compulink.co.uk
-
- *USA, Canada support:*
-
- Jeff Wisniewski
- P.O. Box 1243
- Newtown, PA 18940-0871
-
- email: jeffrey.wisniewski@microserve.com
-
- *France support:*
-
- Jouffrey Romuald
- 1 chemin de l'église
- 38100 GRENOBLE
-
- email: rom38@gen4.pressimage.fr
-
-
-
- 4 System requirements
- =====================
-
- The program runs on any computer using the (Atari-) TOS operating
- system with 1Mb or more memory. The memory requirements for images
- depends on the colour depth. The greater the colour depth the more
- memory required. Using a True colour graphic card (24 or 32 bit)
- gobbles up memory and you're likely to need considerably more than
- 1Mb.
-
- CAB is resolution independent with two limitations: At 320x200 (ST-
- low) not all of the dialogs fit entirely on screen, at 640x200 (ST-
- Medium) the screen display is distorted (half height). Consequently
- we recommend using CAB at resolutions of 640x400 (ST-high) or higher
- with any number of colours, a multitasking environment (e.g MagiC,
- Geneva etc) is also desirable.
-
- Although not absolutely necessary the use of vector fonts via NVDI
- v3.x or SpeedoGDOS is recommended. The system font or bitmap GDOS
- fonts can however be used if required.
-
-
-
- 5 Installation
- ==============
-
- *Attention:*
-
- Since v1.0 the program can no longer be installed as a desktop
- accessory.
-
- Configuration files from older versions of CAB (CAB.INF) cannot
- be used. Unfortunately you'll have to reset your settings
- manually.
-
- The format of the Hotlist file has also been altered but unless a
- file in the new format is available the old Hotlist file
- (CAB.HOT) is loaded. The new Hotlist file is called hotlist.html.
- As soon as the Hotlist has been saved in the new format the old
- file (CAB.HOT) can safely be deleted.
-
- HTML files downloaded from WWW sites often include long filenames
- which can easily result in duplication of filenames using the basic
- TOS 8+3 character file system. It's well worth setting up a Minix
- hard disk partition or other file system which supports long
- filenames to handle HTML files.
-
- The CAB distribution is supplied ready to run once unarchived onto
- your working disk but you should still review the settings in the
- Options menu and configure the options to suit your needs.
-
-
-
- 6 Navigating HTML Documents
- ===========================
-
- Click on any underlined keyword to branch to the new page. Press the
- [Undo] key to step to return to the previous page. Clicking on a link
- using the right mouse button will display the address of the page it
- links to.
-
-
-
- 7 Module for on-line Internet access
- ====================================
-
- To browse WWW pages on-line to the Internet a further module
- (CAB.OVL) is needed. This module should be copied to the same
- directory as CAB.APP. This file contains the additional routines
- needed to access the Internet.
-
- On Minix partitions the x-flag of the CAB.OVL file must be set
- otherwise the modul can not be started.
-
- I'm not able to test an Internet module but have built an interface
- into CAB (HTML-Browser) to enable anyone capable of programming these
- routines to create an on-line module. The description of this
- interface is available on request and is available as commented C or
- Pascal source. I'd like to hear from anyone who programs an on-line
- module and would like a copy to distribute with CAB (HTML-Browser)...
-
-
-
- 8 Description of menu items
- ===========================
-
-
- 8.1 Open URL...
- ---------------
-
- The *Open URL...* option in the *File* menu displays the URL dialog
- containing any URL (Universal Resource Locator) addresses you have
- set up to access the WWW.
-
-
- 8.2 Open local...
- -----------------
-
- The *Open local* option in the *File* menu calls the file selector which
- can be used to open any HTML document from hard disk or CD-ROM.
-
- Any file types can be selected. HTML, XBM and GIF files are normally
- displayed by CAB (HTML-Browser) with other file types handled by
- external programs. Refer to *External programs* for more details.
-
- If a folder is selected the contents of the folder and sub
- directories are displayed graphically as an HTML page and any files
- and folders can be selected using the mouse!
-
-
- 8.3 Reload
- ----------
-
- Reloads the HTML page again. This function is useful (in a
- multitasking environment) for editing HTML pages in an editor with
- CAB running parallel to display the pages.
-
- If the page originated from the WWW using *Reload* will fetch the page
- from the WWW again -even if a copy is available in the cache.
-
-
- 8.4 Print
- ---------
-
- If GDOS is available the document in the topped window can be output
- as text. Bitmap fonts require matching screen and printer fonts
- whereas vector fonts under NVDI 3.x or SpeedoGDOS are automatically
- scaled as required.
-
- In the dialog the margins can be set. These are in addition to any
- offsets or margins attributable to either the printer or GDOS driver.
- A popdown menu offers selection between any installed GDOS driver
- including, so long as a suitable GDOS driver is available, GEM
- Metafile (*.GEM) or bit image (*.IMG).
-
- Successful image output relies on the GDOS printer driver supporting
- a particular VDI function which may or may not be implemented in the
- active driver. We recommend you try printing with images turned on
- and if it doesn't work simply turn the option off for subsequent
- output. If you're using a dot matrix printer activate the option to
- lighten images otherwise the printed output is likely to be too dark.
-
-
- 8.5 New window
- --------------
-
- Opens a new window displaying the contents of the previously topped
- window.
-
-
- 8.6 Close window
- ----------------
-
- Closes the window.
-
-
- 8.7 View source
- ---------------
-
- Displays the source text of the displayed HTML document. Also refer
- to the *External programs* menu option.
-
-
- 8.8 Quit
- --------
-
- Exits the program.
-
-
- 8.9 Home page
- -------------
-
- This menu option displays the home page, if available.
-
- CAB tries to load the home page directly. Anyone who understands HTML
- syntax can easily set any page as the home page and create a page to
- reference other HTML documents. The file used as the home page can be
- set in the *General options* dialog.
-
-
- 8.10 Back
- ---------
-
- Displays the previous document.
-
-
- 8.11 Find keyword
- -----------------
-
- This allows the user to perform a search for keywords in HTML files,
- and can optionally be case sensitive. The search can be conducted
- over one of the following ranges of documents:
-
- 1. Current document only. The text is searched for in the current
- document (the top window). If the text is found the window is
- scrolled so the text is displayed at the top of the window.
-
- 2. Local HTML Documents. The text is searched for in all local HTML
- documents contained in the paths specified in the *Paths* dialog
- box (and their subdirectories). The files that contain the text
- is made into a list of links in an HTML file called result.html.
-
- At the moment the HTML files searched by method two are searched
- purely as text, so hidden text such as comments, HTML commands,
- links and so are also found. Processing the files to ignore
- hidden text would be very time costly. This also means that
- special characters such as accents and so on which are written
- into HTML code using commands like ä are not found. This
- shortcoming may be addressed in a future version.
-
- Another tip: If you're searching for something which is often
- used in HTML code as a command or URL-address placing a space
- before it may make it less likely to turn up in commands or URL
- addresses..
-
- For example: Searching for the text 'WWW' often matches
- subdirectories and addresses for pages in the form
- '.../WWW/foo.html...'. Placing a space before it in the search
- string, ' WWW' removes these occurences resulting in a better
- targetted search. These don't apply to methods 1) and 3)!
-
- 3. In the c't-CDROM Database. This option is only useful for people
- with the c't-CDROM (the 1994 (or 92/93) c't magazines in HTML
- format)!
-
- In this case the HTML files themselves aren't searched, but the
- index file on the CD is accessed instead. So that HTML-Browser
- knows where the files for this CD are kept are, you need to fill
- in the appropriate section of the *Paths* dialog box - the HTML
- documents (in \HTML which also contains the file DEFAULT.HTML)
- and the index database (\UNIX\CT94.DAT or \UNIX\CT9293.DAT). As
- in the previous method, matching documents are made into an HTML
- document called results.html which is then opened.
-
-
- 8.12 Hotlist
- ------------
-
- The hotlist is a list of your most used HTML documents. This list
- enables you to get quickly to you favourite pages, without having to
- navigate through a long series of pages to get there.
-
- The hotlist is divided into themed areas. Using the popup at the top
- of the dialog it's easy to switch between different themes.
-
- *The 'Theme...' popup:*
-
- *Change theme:* Changes the name of the current theme area. The
- /Miscellaneous/ area cannot be renamed.
-
- *New theme:* Creates a new theme area.
-
- *Delete theme:* Delete the current theme area. The /Miscellaneous/ area
- cannot be deleted. All remaining entries in a deleted theme area
- are moved to the /Miscellaneous/ theme area.
-
- *The 'New theme...' popup:*
-
- Using this option a selected entry can be moved to another theme
- area.
-
- *The 'Document...' popup:*
-
- *Delete entry:* Deletes the selected entry.
-
- *Change entry:* Changes the selected entry. Annotations to the page
- can also be made.
-
- *Open document:* Opens a document.
-
- *Add current doc:* Copies the current document to the Hotlist.
-
- Double clicking on an entry opens the document.
-
- The Hotlist is saved to disk as a normal HTML document which provides
- an easy way for anyone not familiar with HTML syntax to create their
- own home page.
-
-
- 8.13 Document -> Hotlist
- ------------------------
-
- The current document is inserted in the Hotlist provided it's not
- already listed. It will be filed away in the /Miscellaneous/ theme
- area.
-
-
- 8.14 General options
- --------------------
-
- *Home page:* After launching CAB or by selecting the *Home page* menu
- entry the specified HTML file will be displayed. Often it's
- useful to create a home page containing references to frequently
- used HTML pages. By default CAB attempts to load home.html as the
- home page although any page can be set to be the home page
- -simply enter the URL address. If the file is located in the
- specified start directory for CAB.APP you can select the *Start
- folder* button and using the *Search* button select the desired file
- using the file selector.
-
- *Popup menus:* CAB provides a row of popup menus to relieve the tedium
- of navigating through HTML pages. Basic principle:
-
- ∙ Left click on a reference to branch to the corresponding
- page.
-
- ∙ Right click on a reference to display the destination of the
- reference.
-
- ∙ Click on the window background (not on a reference) to
- display further popup menus.
-
- You can set which menu will be displayed using the left and right
- mouse clicks (with and without holding down the [Shift] key). The
- following popup menus are available:
-
- *History:* Lists the previously displayed documents.
-
- *References:* Lists the references in the current document.
-
- *Menu:* Lists some menu items.
-
- *Miscellaneous:* During loading, formatting and data transfer from the
- Internet CAB displays a series of reports in a windowed dialog
- (if the option *Dialog for Status messages* is active) otherwise
- the window info line is used instead. The display in the window
- info line has a couple of disadvantages. First a window may not
- be open to display the information and secondly the dialog
- displays the information more clearly. On the other hand using
- the window info line allows a document in the window can be read
- and scrolled while the text is still being formatted.
-
- The *load index.html automatically* only has an affect on local
- references (ie to files/directories on your drive) If the
- reference points to a directory on a drive the contents will be
- displayed unless a file index.html exists in which case this is
- loaded instead. On use for index.html is to set up a page
- containing an index of all your favourite documents.
-
-
- 8.15 Display
- ------------
-
- In this dialog you can configure various display options for HTML
- documents.
-
- *Colours:* This section allows you to configure the display colours,
- for the foreground text, the background colour and link colour.
- If you're using less than 16 colours, the window background will
- always be white regardless of the settings here. In 16 colour
- mode, only the first nine colours should be used as the last 7
- may be changed for pictures etc. In more than 16 colours, any of
- the first 16 can be used as they will not be changed.
-
- Some HTML documents include information about which colours
- should be used for text, references and the window background.
- The option *Use guidelines in document* tells CAB to use this
- information (if available).
-
- *Links:* Links can be displayed in underlined and/or bold text (this
- is important for monochrome systems which can't distinguish links
- by colour).
-
- *Images:* Controls image display.
-
- *Don't show* Prevents images being loaded and displayed which
- speeds up page loading.
-
- *Monochrome* Images are displayed in monochrome using dithering.
- It's the quickest method but this obviously the quality
- suffers.
-
- *Greyscale* Images are displayed as greyscales. Higher quality
- display at the expense of speed.
-
- *Colour* Images are displayed in colour depending on the hardware
- available:
-
- ∙ 4-8 bitplanes (16-256 colours). Images are dithered if the
- number of colours available is less than the number of
- colours contained in the image. In 16 colour modes
- greyscale display is often more suitable.
-
- ∙ 15/16 bit Highcolor (32768/65536 colours) eg Falcon
- Truecolor mode
-
- ∙ 24 or 32 bit Truecolor (16.7 million colours)
-
- *Text instead of images* The HTML language provides for text only
- systems by allowing images to be accompanied by some text
- which is displayed instead of the image. This enables WWW
- Browsers which cannot display images to display text output
- instead. If this option is active (crossed) only images for
- which no alternative text is available are displayed as
- images.
-
- *Text width:* Text can either be formatted at a fixed width or
- justified to fit the window width. Text justified to fit the
- window width looks better but takes longer to display as the text
- must be reformatted.
-
-
- 8.16 Font selection
- -------------------
-
- Wherever possible CAB (HTML-Browser) uses different fonts and point
- sizes to display HTML files. Optimal output quality is provided using
- vector fonts for which you'll need to install either NVDI v3.x or
- SpeedoGDOS. Normal bitmap fonts can be used but they're not nearly as
- nice.
-
- Next you need to tell CAB (HTML-Browser) which (GDOS) fonts to use
- for each corresponding style in an HTML document. Vector fonts as
- provided by SpeedoGDOS or NVDI 3.x are recommended. You must specify
- three fonts (sans-serif, serif and monospaced) in four different
- styles (normal, bold, italic and bold and italic) making twelve
- selections altogether.
-
- For the bold and italic settings you should use a 'real' bold or
- italic font wherever possible. If you don't have one available you'll
- have to simulate these text effects using the corresponding buttons
- adjacent to the font selection popup. If you're using vector fonts
- then use the appropriate font from the font family, if available.
-
- Some commands such as <PRE>...</PRE>, <FORM>...</FORM> etc will cause
- display format problems with /proportional/ fonts. To avoid these
- problems only use *non-proportional* fonts for *preformatted* text.
-
- The supplied INF file has the following presets (for NVDI 3.x):
-
- *Headings:* Swiss 721 (normal, bold, italic, bold+italic)
-
- *Normal text:* Dutch 801 (normal, bold, italic, bold+italic)
-
- *Formatted:* Letter Gothic 12 Pitch (normal, bold, italic,
- bold+italic)
-
- If you don't like or haven't got these fonts, you'll have to select
- alternatives.
-
- The size of the body text can also be altered. Don't make this too
- large or too small! Somewhere between 10 and 13 point is sensible (I
- use 12 point).
-
- If you haven't got access to vector fonts (i.e. you don't own a copy
- of NVDI 3.x or SpeedoGDOS) then the point size won't change, but the
- text can still be viewed using the system font, usually 10 point.
-
-
- 8.17 External viewers
- ---------------------
-
- If a link in an HTML document points to a file which is not in HTML
- format, an external viewer can be called. These programs can be
- called in one of two ways and are configurable via the *External
- programs...* dialog via the *Options* menu.
-
- Individual file types can be assigned to different programs. File
- extensions are entered into the *Files* field. Several extensions can
- be entered using a comma to separate each entry.
-
- Programs are selected by clicking on the selection box to the right
- of the *Files* field which displays the file selector to select the
- desired viewer.
-
- Finally each entry includes a *Supports VA_START* checkbox which should
- be crossed if the viewer understands the VA_START message so CAB can
- send a VA_START message to the viewer so the file can be viewed with
- re-launching the viewer.
-
- The *Default* program (*.*) is called to display any files for which no
- program has been assigned.
-
- If one of more extensions have been defined without a program
- assigned CAB attempts to display the file. This is only sensible for
- *.gif, *.xbm, *.htm and ASCII files (for example: *.txt, *.doc, *.c,
- *.pas, *.tex etc...) for which CAB (HTML-Browser) includes built-in
- display routines. When any non ASCII format file is encountered CAB
- displays the file selector using which a copy of the file to be saved
- to any desired location.
-
- The current HTML page can be displayed as source text by selecting an
- application in the *Source* entry. This application is called via the
- menu entry *View source...*. If no application has been assigned the
- *Default* program is called instead.
-
- Double clicking on the *program path* boxes opens a further dialog with
- an option to clear the current path.
-
- Some suggested external programs:
-
- *.text,txt: ST-Guide, 1st-Guide (or none, then HTML.APP is used)
-
- *.mpeg,mpg,mpe: 1st-Guide (on a Falcon under Single TOS the fast DSP
- MPEG player is recommeded)
-
- *.jpeg,jpg,jpe: 1st-Guide, GEMview
-
- *.tiff,tif: GEMview, Imagecopy
-
- *.gif,xbm: GEMview, Imagecopy (or none, then HTML.APP is used)
-
- *.dvi: DVI display included in TeX archives
-
- *.* (Default): GEMview (or other program which handles as many
- formats as possible)
-
- *.html,htm: ST-Guide, 1st-Guide, (or and editor so the HTML
- source can be edited)
-
-
- 8.18 Paths...
- -------------
-
- If you have a copy of the c't ROM '94 (or 92/93) (CD containing the
- contents of the German magazine c't) then set the path for the field
- c't CDROM.
-
- In the *HTML folder* field set the directory which contains the file
- DEFAULT.HTM on the CD (eg ?:\HTML\, where ? is replaced with the
- drive letter of your CD-ROM drive). In the *Database* field set the
- path to the contents of the CD (?:\UNIX\CT94.DAT (or
- ?:\UNIX\CT9293.DAT), again ? is the CD-ROM drive letter).
-
- If you want to use CAB online to an Internet WWW site you should set
- the *Cache folder* where all files downloaded from the Internet can be
- stored. Ideally this folder should be on a Minix hard disk partition,
- or other file system which supports long filenames to handle HTML
- files because HTML files downloaded from WWW sites often include long
- filenames which can easily result in duplication of filenames using
- the basic TOS 8+3 character file system -and make sure the partition
- has plenty of room!
-
- In *HTML folders* you can enter the paths CAB (HTML-Browser) looks to
- find HTML files.
-
- HTML files contain absolute local paths (eg /path/file.html) which
- can soon turn the root directory of your partition into choas. The
- HTML folders help avoid this by telling HTML-Browser to look for HTML
- files in the folders specified.
-
- Here's an example:
-
- *Entered HTML folders:*
-
- ∙ F:\HTML.DOC\
-
- ∙ G:\VARIOUS\
-
- *Current drive:* F:\
-
- *Path in HTML file:*
-
- ∙ /example/text/index.html
-
- *Where CAB looks:*
-
- 1. F:\example\text\index.html
-
- 2. F:\HTML.DOC\example\text\index.html
-
- 3. G:\VARIOUS\example\text\index.html
-
- Double clicking on the *program path* boxes opens a further dialog with
- an option to clear the current path.
-
-
- 8.19 Cache
- ----------
-
- CAB (HTML-Browser) uses two caches to maximise the display of files.
-
- The *Image cache* is used to avoid repeated unpacking and dithering
- which both take a great deal of processing time. Images no longer
- displayed are held in memory (RAM) in case they are needed again.
- Naturally this takes memory so the maximum size of the cache can be
- set in the *Maximum size* field. If the cache becomes full the least
- used image is purged from the cache to free up more space. Using the
- *Keep free* option it's also possible to set the minimim amount of
- memory free for other applications. The cache can also be manually
- purged using the *Free cache* button which can be useful to quickly
- free up more memory for another application under a multitasking OS.
- The cache remains empty until further images are displayed in CAB
- (HTML-Browser).
-
- *Attention*
-
- The actual memory consumption for the Cache can be higher than
- entered in the dialog.
-
- The *Internet Cache* is used to store files downloaded from the
- Internet on your disk to avoid repeatedly downloading the same files
- from the Internet if they're viewed more than once. See also *Paths*
-
- The *Maximum size* and *Keep free* options limit the amount of disk space
- used by the cache and CAB (HTML-Browser) will purge the oldest files
- from the cache to maintain the cache within the defined limits.
-
- If the *Delete after 'quit'* option is active (crossed) the files in
- the cache will be deleted on exiting CAB (HTML-Browser). Naturally
- unless disk space is limited or you're sure you'll never need the
- files again it's best to keep the files.
-
- The *Free cache* button is for emergency use in case you need extra
- disk space fast! Only files placed in the the cache directory placed
- there by CAB (HTML-Browser) will be deleted.
-
-
- 8.20 Save options
- -----------------
-
- Save the current settings
-
-
-
- 9 Button bar
- ============
-
- Each CAB window contains a button bar which provides an easy way to
- access some of the more important functions:
-
- *Back* Displays the previous document
-
- *Home* Displays the home page
-
- *URL* Select a document from a URL address
-
- *File* Select a file using the file selector
-
- *Source* Displays the source text of the currently displayed document
-
- *New* Reloads the current document again
-
- *Hotlist* Displays the hotlist dialog
-
- If a 'sad' smiley appears to the right of the buttons it means the
- displayed document is faulty in some way. Click on to the smiley to
- display detailed error information. This is a particularly useful
- option for anyone using CAB to author HTML pages. Only errors which
- CAB can determine without wasting disk space or processing time will
- be reported.
-
- Faulty documents are not neccessarily displayed incorrectly in CAB
- but may well exhibit display problems in other browsers (e.g. Mosaic,
- Netscape, WebExplorer etc) may not display the document as you
- intended.
-
-
-
- 10 Thanks
- =========
-
- I'd like to thank everyone who through their praise, criticism,
- suggestions and bug reports have helped in the development of CAB
- (HTML-Browser). In particular the following people deserve a mention:
-
- ∙ Dan Ackerman
-
- ∙ Mille Babic
-
- ∙ Stefan Becker
-
- ∙ Ben Bell
-
- ∙ Stephane Boisson
-
- ∙ Joe Connor
-
- ∙ Dieter Fiebelkorn
-
- ∙ Nicholas Flintham
-
- ∙ Stefan Haake
-
- ∙ Romuald Jouffrey
-
- ∙ Ulrich Kaiser
-
- ∙ Antonio Lillo
-
- ∙ Tim Newsome
-
- ∙ Fred Nicklisch
-
- ∙ Rosario Pignatelli
-
- ∙ Andrew Versperman
-
- ∙ Jeff Wisniewski
-
- ∙ Manfred Ssykor
-
-
-
- 11 Possible future updates
- ==========================
-
- ∙ Further implementation of HTML3 commands
-
- ∙ Image loading (Double click on [IMG] text)
-
- ∙ ...
-
- Please feel free to make further suggestions and constructive
- criticisms...
-
-
-
- 12 History
- ==========
-
- *V0.8₧ (20.04.1995)*
-
- ∙ First release version
-
- *V0.9₧ (15.05.1995)*
-
- ∙ Reduced memory requirements
-
- ∙ MTOS Drag&Drop (ARGS) supported
-
- ∙ External programs will now run under single TOS
-
- ∙ Error reports are now more descriptive
-
- ∙ Bugfix: when running as an accessory no longer tries to
- invert (non-existant) menu items
-
- ∙ The .INF file is now found even if HTML is not started in it
- own directory
-
- ∙ Is now a lot more tolerant of buggy HTML file syntax.
-
- ∙ home.html is now loaded on startup if possible
-
- ∙ Hotlist
-
- ∙ Configuration of window and text colours etc.
-
- ∙ Search (including searching c't CDROM)
-
- ∙ In-line images can be displayed as greyscales
-
- *V0.93₧ (07.06.1995)*
-
- ∙ Preparation for on-line operation implemented (although not
- activated in this version)
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Problem with line spacing fixed
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Endless loop with defective gifs fixed
-
- ∙ Bugfix: fclose() for Hotlist was forgotton :-(
-
- ∙ A few other minor bugfixes
-
- *V0.94₧ (07.07.1995)*
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Deleting the last Hotlist entry caused a crash :-(
-
- ∙ Bugfix: CR/LF inside tags led to problems
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Last word in an HTML file gobbled
-
- ∙ Documents access using absolute path information, including
- directories listed in the 'Paths...' dialog
-
- ∙ Contents of a drive can be displayed as an HTML document
- (including launching programs and viewing files)!
-
- ∙ Support for the special Netscape <CENTER> tags
-
- *V0.95₧ (04.08.1995)*
-
- ∙ Inline colour images
-
- ∙ Configurable image cache (in RAM)
-
- ∙ Configurable WWW cache (on disk)
-
- ∙ Option to automatically format text to the window width
-
- ∙ ASCII, xbm and gif files can now be viewed directly in HTML-
- Browser. Calling external programs is no longer required (but
- naturally still available as an option)
-
- ∙ Interface for 'Internet module' implemented Using a suitable
- module HTML-Browser could be used to display WWW pages on-
- line to the Internet, naturally you'd need an Internet
- account to do this!
-
- ∙ Support for xbm images
-
- *V0.96₧ (22.08.1995)*
-
- ∙ Lots of minor bugfixes
-
- *V0.98₧ (03.10.1995)*
-
- ∙ In colour resolutions with fewer than 16 colours the colour
- palette is no longer altered
-
- ∙ Zero length files should no longer cause problems
-
- ∙ The program is now called:
- CAB - The Taxi to the information highway!
- CAB = Crystal Atari Browser
-
- *V1.0 (01.11.1995)*
-
- ∙ Minor adjustments to accomodate the 3D look under Geneva
- release 4 (unfortunately Geneva is not entirely MultiTOS
- compatible)
-
- ∙ Multiple open windows may be opened
-
- ∙ Each window may individually configured with its own colour
- and font
-
- ∙ Support for the following Netscape tags (commands):
-
- - <FONT SIZE=[+|-]n> </FONT>
-
- - <BASEFONT SIZE=n>
-
- - <CENTER> </CENTER>
-
- - <NOBR> </NOBR>
-
- - <BODY BACKGROUND=url BGCOLOR=#rrggbb TEXT=#rrggbb
- LINK=#rrggbb>
-
- ∙ Support for the <FORM>-area (forms)
-
- ∙ Tables (<TABLE>...</TABLE>) are supported.
-
- ∙ The Hotlist dialog has been extended to accomodate themes.
- Each entry can be optionally be annotated
-
- ∙ Cache management has been changed. Files are no longer saved
- in the cache using their original names which should avoid
- problems long filenames may have caused on standard TOS 8+3
- character file systems
-
- ∙ History popup implemented
-
- ∙ Popup showing all links in a page
-
- ∙ <IMG ...> with the attribute ALIGN=LEFT or ALIGN=RIGHT now
- functions correctly.
-
- ∙ Font sizes in the <Hn> </Hn>-areas changed (in line with the
- method used by Netscape and Mosaic)
-
- ∙ Search now works correctly with the 92/93 c't ROM database
-
- ∙ New: Button bar in the window provides convienient access to
- most important functions.
- If a 'sad' smiley appears to the right of the button bar the
- displayed document does not conform to HTML specification.
- CAB will nevertheless try to display the document which may
- well look fine. On the other hand a 'happy' smiley does not
- indicate a perfect document because CAB does not waste
- resources analysing documents in-depth.
-
- ∙ Right aligned format (ALIGN=RIGHT) is now supported.
-
- ∙ Numerous minor bugfixes ;-)
-
- *V1.0a (12.12.1995)*
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Where available the transparent colour of background
- images is evaluated.
-
- ∙ Bugfix: In larger than 32Kb HTML files where tables are
- included after the first 32Kb garbage (maybe even crashes)
- was likely.
-
- ∙ The cursor keys can be used to scroll the window. If a form
- is depicted and the cursor is postioned in an input field the
- cursor keys can be used to navigate the form.
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Inside <PLAINTEXT> empty lines are no longer ignored.
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Under old TOS versions hard drive directories were
- not correctly evaluated.
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Under old TOS versions there were sometimes problems
- if a window title was set straight after opening a window.
-
- *V1.1a (01.04.1996)*
-
- ∙ When CAB is used offline (i.e. CAB.OVL is not installed) all
- links are sought after locally. For example an http address
- http://host/path/file would be handled as
- //localhost/path/file.
-
- ∙ When selecting the c't CD database it's now possible to use
- wildcards. For example 'K:\HTML\CT*.DAT' would find all the
- database files on all c't CDs.
-
- ∙ The closer icon now closes the window (previously this
- displayed the previous page). The previous page can still
- easily be accessed using the 'Back' button.
-
- ∙ In 640x200 (ST medium) resolution images are scaled to half
- height to maintain the correct aspect ratio (proportions).
-
- ∙ Holding down the [Shift] key when selecting a link displays
- the new page in its own window. Similarly holding down the
- [Shift] key when selecting 'OK' in the 'Open local', 'Open
- URL' and 'Hotlist' dialogs displays the new page in a
- separate window.
-
- ∙ CAB now displays the source code itself if no suitable
- external application has been installed.
-
- ∙ CAB has been extended to understand the following Netscape
- extensions:
-
- - Using the <HR> tag the WIDTH=, SIZE=, NOSHADE and ALIGN=
- attributes are evaluated.
-
- - Using <TD> and <TH> the WIDTH= and HEIGHT= attributes are
- evaluated.
-
- - Client Side Image Maps are currently partially
- implemented: <MAP NAME=name> <AREA SHAPE=rect
- COORDS="x1,y1,x2,y2" HREF=url> </MAP>
-
- ∙ Minor optimisation to handle certain boxed tables built-in.
- In principal tables should be repeatedly calculated depending
- on the width of the window and consequently such tables are
- processor intensive.
- Example: The (early 1996) FOCUS pages (www.focus.de) possess
- a boxed table with seven nested levels and these take a
- ridiculous time to calculate (e.g longer than five minutes
- for some pages!). Of the seven levels only two are used
- sensibly (the rest consist of cells containing nothing other
- than other cells (OK it may be legal but it's stupid!)). CAB
- calculates such tables as a single cell (i.e. column) which
- results in substantially faster calculation -although this
- still isn't exactly rapid it's an improvement.
-
- ∙ Any filetype which cannot be displayed by CAB itself and for
- which no application has been installed (as defined by the
- file extension) can optionally be copied to any desired
- folder.
-
- ∙ GDOS printing now possible. Currently only monochrome images
- can be output. Output via other GDOS drivers also possible,
- e.g. Metafile, IMG etc.
-
- ∙ The Hotlist dialog can now be completely keyboard controlled
- if desired.
-
- ∙ The Clipboard, Cut [Control]+X, Copy [Control]+C and Paste
- [Control]+V commands are supported in all dialog editable
- fields.
-
- ∙ The Clipboard commands are also available in document
- editable fields.
-
- ∙ The window position is now saved using the 'Save options'
- entry in the 'Options' menu.
-
- ∙ Support for new (HTML3) commands:
-
- - <BIG>, </BIG> large text
-
- - <SMALL>, </SMALL> small text
-
- - <SUP>, </SUP> Superscript
-
- - <SUB>, </SUB> Subscript
-
- - <Q>, </Q>, <LANG>, </LANG>
-
- ∙ Hotlist entries can now be completely manually created.
-
- ∙ Bugfix: HTML files with exceptionaly long comments at the
- start which didn't have use the .HTM file extender (or .html
- on systems with long filename support) were displayed as
- ASCII.
-
- ∙ Bugfix: Tables with large numbers of lines and/or columns
- caused problems.
-
- ∙ Even more tolerance built-in to accomodate HTML authors who
- invent astonishingly convoluted HTML tags -even when a simple
- HTML command already exists :-\
-
- *V1.2 (10.04.1996)*
-
- ∙ Bugfix: When memory gets short CAB will free up less urgently
- required memory (e.g. images in the cache RAM). Thanks to an
- incorrect calculation this could lead to an endless loop.
-
- ∙ Print in colour is now also possible (so long as your GDOS
- printer driver supports this).
-
- ∙ The absolute size in pixels (with tables or <HR>) are now
- converted to the existing printer resolution on printing.
-
- ∙ OLGA protocol: CAB is a OLGA client
-
- ∙ First attempt at supporting JPEG images, the file
- CAB_JPEG.OVL takes care of JPEG images and should reside in
- the CAB directory. Note: CAB.OVL is still required for on-
- line browsing, do not rename either file!
-
- *V1.3 (20.05.1996)*
-
- ∙ New JPEG module from Dieter Fiebelkorn
-
- ∙ Mail support (mailto:user@address)
-
- ∙ Proxy and SMTP-Server can be set directly from CAB (not
- applicable for local (offline) operation)
-
- ∙ A few more small bugfixes removed
-
- ∙ Unrecognised extensions ignored. For example JavaScript
- (<SCRIPT>...</SCRIPT>) is ignored and no longer displayed as
- HMTL text.
-
- ∙ 'Slide shows' via <meta http-equiv="Refresh" content="5;
- url=xyz"> now supported.
-
- ∙ <FONT> tag now supports colour (<FONT COLOR=...>)
-
- ∙ Colours in tables are now supported: BGCOLOR= for tables
- and/or cell background BORDERCOLOR=, BORDERCOLORLIGHT= and
- BORDERCOLORDARK= for the table edges
-
- ∙ The most important colour can now also be assigned by name as
- well as a hex number. For example COLOR=White instead of
- COLOR=#FFFFFF
-
- ∙ References can be followed during text formatting (the mouse
- is still not evaluated during image loading). Formatting is
- abandoned and the desired document loaded instead.
-
-
-
-