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0. Manual for GLOSS_IT! β0.015
==============================
(Revised 01.03.90)
A. Presentation
B. Introduction
1. Why GLOSS_IT! ?
2. What GLOSS_IT! is
C. Tutorial
1. Configuration
2. Basic use of GLOSS_IT!
3. JULIET
4. ADDRESS
5. HELLO
6. How Use GLOSS_IT! with your own files
D. Keyboard shortcuts
E. Limits
F. Copyright
E. Final remark
A. Presentation
===============
Version DEMO ß0.015 , 1 march 1990.
This version is Public Domain. Not to be sold.
Demo limitations : 6 files, 3 indexes, 8 keywords, no free of
memory.
Hypertext program on ATARI ST by :
Patrick INSTALLE
Av. Minerve, 8
B-1190 Bruxelles Belgium
Phone : 32.2.358 35 30
bitnet : R11102@BBRBFU01.bitnet
BBS : RATS database Antwerpen 32,3,2338928
You should find in the GLOSS_IT.TOS (self extracting LZH-archives)
the files :
GLOSS_IT.PRG The program.
READ.ME This file.
DEMO.CNF Configuration for the DEMO (use directory A:\)
READ_ME.CNF Configuration to look into the READ.ME file
JULIET.ASC Romeo and Juliet example file.
JULIET.ID0 Main index of JULIET.ASC.
JULIET.ID1 Slave index of JULIET.ASC.
ADDRESS.ASC Address coming from a database program
ADDRESS.ID0 Main index of ADDRESS.ASC
ADDRESS.ID1 Slave index of ADDRESS.ASC
HELLO.ASC C program
HELLO.ID0 Main index of HELLO.C
GEMLIB.ASC Part of GEM library
GEMLIB.ID0 Main index of GEMLIB.ASC
For the basic operation (menu, windows, mouse, ...) please refer
to the user manual of your ATARI ST.
B. Introduction
===============
GLOSS_IT! is a hypertext concept developed on and for the ATARI
ST.
GLOSS_IT! develops the idea of lexicons or glossaries to access
and easily explore any kind of text file. This can be plain text,
program source code, a database containing any kind of information,
etc.
GLOSS_IT! tremendously improves the accesses to keywords and
establishes dynamic links into the file, and between files.
B.1. Why GLOSS_IT! ?
____________________
I was looking for an alternative solution to paper and pencil for
research and development in the field of biology. Therefore I needed
to edit and make quick references to methods, procedures, materials,
literature references,..and be able to come back exactly to my
starting point.
Which tools exist on the market :
a) The word processors
Certainly the most common programs on computers, but the time to
find a definite information in one or several large files (and come
back to the original place after having read this information...) is
too long.
b) The databases
The structure of the databases (which made them so useful) doesn't
follow the dynamic evolution of a text. The databases don't support
the concept of recursively.
c) The Hypertexts
The hypertexts require the definitions of buttons and links to the
destination(s) and eventually from them, and this to multiple files.
In these conditions, the hypertext doesn't support the evolution of
your text.
B.2. What GLOSS_IT! is
______________________
Like an editor, GLOSS_IT! lets you access text files (using the
usual ASCII conventions). But GLOSS_IT!, by itself, doesn't allow you
to edit the text.
Like a database GLOSS_IT! uses indexes. You can use several
indexes for each file, use several files simultaneously, and freely
access each file. But GLOSS_IT! neither modifies, nor organises your
information in any way.
Like an hypertext GLOSS_IT! gives you the possibility to make
successive choices without any predetermined structure. But GLOSS_IT!
doesn't give you the possibility to set the link or to make any
treatment of the informations between the selection and the
destination.
C. Tutorial
===========
C.1. Configuration
__________________
The first contact with GLOSS_IT! is the choice of a configuration
file. If you work with drive A:\, use DEMO.CNF directly, otherwise
cancel. GLOSS_IT! verifies the date and time of your file. With the
unpacking of the file the date of the files has changed, and then
GLOSS_IT! will "refresh" your indexes.
Open "Utilities","CONFIGURATION", " Set-up ..." dialogue. This
dialogue shows you several parameters of your present configuration.
Auto load : When this button is checked it means that the auto
loading of data is chosen. The usual (*,?) wild cards are accepted for
file names.
Data : Always checked. This is the default directory for your
texts.
Alternate : If you want to use a different directory for the
indexes, select the box "Alternate" and the corresponding path.
Temporary : For large files, GLOSS_IT! could need to make Indexes
in a temporary directory. Select the box "Temporary" and the
corresponding path.
Program : You specify here the editor program you want to call and
execute in order to be able to edit your file. You will be able to
call it very easily by keeping the right mouse button down while
clicking on the left one. The parameter send to the program is
actually the name of the top window file, the number of the line and
column selected.
Set Autoload to the drive, directory and file you want. "A:\*.ASC"
for example. Do the same for the Data. Confirm your choice.
In the box " Input " switch the control of date and time of the
index to " Update index ". When " Keep old index " is set then the
indexes are never updated (CDROM files !), with " Ask new index " a
dialogue box is presented when needed.
Back to the menu, save your new configuration file as
DEMO2.CNF.
If you don't already have the demonstration file on the GLOSS_IT!
desktop, with the menu item "Utilities", "CONFIGURATION", " Load ",
load the DEMO2.CNF.
At this stage you should have the demonstrations series of files
JULIET, ADDRESS, HELLO, GEMLIB on the GLOSS_IT! desktop.
C.2. Basic use of GLOSS_IT!
___________________________
When you double click on the desktop on one of the large text
icons (looking like closed books), the entire text is loaded and shown
in a window.
When you double click on the desktop on one of the small icons
associated to a text, the corresponding index is shown.
When you click in an index window, the corresponding subject is
loaded and shown.
When you click in a subject window, the program searches a keyword
that fits the word(s) under the arrow.
When you press the right button and click (with the left button)
GLOSS_IT! executes an external program with arguments corresponding to
the position you are looking at (clicking, actually!) in the upper
window. (the filename of the upper window, the line and the column of
the text are send as arguments). My favourite editor is Tempus, which
handles all this gracefully, but you can use any good (and clean!)
editor for this job.
C.3. JULIET
___________
This file actually consists of the first few pages of the well-
known Shakespeare play "Romeo and Juliet". this is the first example
file we will use.
On the desktop of GLOSS_IT!, you should have :
JULIET.ASC Romeo and Juliet sample file.
JULIET.ID0 Main index of JULIET.ASC.
JULIET.ID1 Slave index of JULIET.ASC.
Select and open the file JULIET.ASC from the GLOSS_IT! desktop.
The text of JULIET.ASC is loaded, and a window with the text opened.
Discover it. Close the window.
Select and open the two indexes JULIET.ID0 and JULIET.ID1. Look at
them. Close the windows.
Open the JULIET.ID0. and select (click on...) any keyword. The
keyword and the corresponding subject is automatically called and
displayed. Come back to the main index by closing the window.
In the main index ID0, choose the keyword "I.1" then select
"Sampson". Immediately at the top of the window the keyword "Sampson"
is displayed with the related text.
Select "Capulet" in this new subject . Now you move in the same
main keyword "Character of the play" to another "slave" index
"Capulet".
If you are not familiar with the text you could also ask, from the
"Utilities" menu for the "Subject's set" that gives you all 'callable'
words of a subject.
C.4. ADDRESS
____________
ADDRESS.ASC is a part of a database in text ASCII file.
On the desktop of GLOSS_IT! you should have :
ADDRESS.ASC Address file coming from a database program
ADDRESS.ID0 Main index of ADDRESS.ASC.
ADDRESS.ID1 Slave index of ADDRESS.ASC.
Select and open the file ADDRESS.ASC from the GLOSS_IT! desktop.
The text of ADDRESS.ASC is loaded, and a window with the text opened.
Discover it. Close the window.
Select and open the two indexes ADDRESS.ID0 and ADDRESS.ID1. Look
at them. Close the windows.
Open again the file ADDRESS.ASC. Select in the menu "Files"
"Index" "Make...". You get the dialogue "Make Index" on top of the
screen and behind the window with the display of ADDRESS.ASC.
- MAIN - SLAVE Index
The definition of a subject is the text that is contained between
two main indexed keywords.
The Main(s) index(es) determines itself keywords but also the
limit of the keyword subjects.! The indexes *.ID0 are always main
indexes. At the top right of the dialogue you find "Main Index".
Select this button to switch in "Slave Index". The Slave indexes
don't modify the definition of the subjects.
Change the extension of the index to ID2.
- FLAG
The flag is the way GLOSS_IT! is able to determine the position of
the
keywords.
With the box " Flag " you determine the flag of your keywords.
Try "Start at column" "000" "PRENOM- ".
- KEY(word)
The keywords themselves are related to the Flag.
With the box "KEY" you determine the keywords
Try "On line" "000" (the line of the flag)
"Start at column" "009" (start column is number 0).
"End at column" "080" (at maximum)
Confirm and choose the ADDRESS.ASC file in the files selector.
After a few seconds, the index is made and ready to use.
GLOSS_IT! doesn't automatically add the index to its desktop. You
have to close the file ADDRESS.ASC. After having selected the file to
close, select in the menu "Files" "TEXT" "Close". Then load the file
ADDRESS.ASC and look at the new index you have made.
C.5. HELLO
__________
HELLO.ASC is a small program in C language.
On the desktop of GLOSS_IT! you should have :
HELLO.ASC C program.
HELLO.ID0 Main index of hello.C.
GEMLIB.ASC Part of GEM library.
GEMLIB.ID0 Main index of GEMLIB.ASC.
Select and open the file HELLO.ASC from the GLOSS_IT! desktop. The
text of HELLO.ASC is loaded, and a window with the text opened.
Discover it. Close the window. Do the same with GEMLIB.ASC.
Select and open the two indexes HELLO.ID0 and GEMLIB.ID1. Look at
them. Close the windows.
Open again HELLO.ID0. Select the keyword "main". The subject
"main" is then displayed. In this subject select the GEM function
"appl_init" GLOSS_IT! then display the subject "appl_init" from the
GEMLIB.ASC file. Go back. Select "alert". GLOSS_IT! will show the
subject "alert" of HELLO.ASC. In the subject "alert" select
"form_alert". GLOSS_IT! will show you now the subject "form_alert".
Come back to the desktop.
Open the main subject with the menu item "Utilities" "SEARCH"
"Find" then enter the word "main" in the edit box and execute the
search. In this way you go directly to the called subject. Close the
subject "main".
Execute the Search for "a". GLOSS_IT! finds some occurrence of "a"
in the keywords available, then it automatically constructs a Set of
key-words with all the keywords with a "a".
C.6. How to use GLOSS_IT! with your own files
_____________________________________________
In order to be accessible to GLOSS_IT!, your file should contain
some structure.
This structure can be of many different natures:
Each logical element of your file that you intend to use as a
keyword should start on a definite column, with a definite type of
pattern, with a definite word or letter, etc.
Look at the present file "READ.ME" : every head of a paragraph is
either underlined with "=" or with "_" signs. These are the flags used
by GLOSS_IT! to make the main and the secondary indexes, and find
back these particular places in the file.
Look also for instance at the Juliet file:
In the part containing the characters of the play, each name is on
a line beginning with the sequence "- ". This is the motif you use to
define the keywords in the file, where one of the characters makes a
statement. Note that the name of a character is the only word on this
line.
Similarly, if you want to exploit GLOSS_IT! on some C source code,
you can choose to start each function with a specific pattern. Look at
"HELLO.ASC" and "GEMLIB.ASC" files. Each function starts with its name
commented out using usual C-like syntax. The motif "/*-" will be
looked for, and the keyword is said to reside on the following line,
in position 3 on this line. Note that the program counts the first
position as 0, in true C fashion!
It is sufficient to respect some systematic way of writing the
header of functions, in order to find very easily the called
functions, the arguments they use, the types of the variables, etc.
The fact that GLOSS_IT! also gracefully calls your favourite editor,
with the line and column you have selected in your text makes it an
invaluable tool for any program developer.
So, if you want to get the best out of GLOSS_IT!, have some kind of
organisation in the file, and more precisely in the part of it where
you want to define the keywords.
GLOSS_IT! has been used by several people, working in very
different contexts from journalism (to keep various kind of documents
in an ordered and manageable manner) to laboratory practice (files of
how to prepare all kind of solutions, with the quantities,
concentrations, volumes, etc) and especially in computer programming!
In fact, the author of GLOSS_IT! extensively used (and still uses...)
GLOSS_IT! to develop the program itself. .
D. Keyboard shortcuts
=====================
F1 : Previous subject
F2 : Next subject
^P (Control+P) : Print Top Window (all the index or subject)
^Q Control+Q : Quit
^U Control+U : Close window(and show previous)
Clr(Shift Home) : Delete the stack of the top window;
Up arrow : row up
Down arrow : row down
Shift up arrow : pageup
Shift down arrow : page down
E. Limits
=========
The limits of the full blown GLOSS_IT! program are :
- Number of File : 24.
- Number of Indexes : 6 for each file.
- Windows : 8 (or less, depending on your configuration)
- Line length : 255 characters.
- File length : only depends on your hardware (mass memory)
- Subject length : limited by memory
- Number of keys : limited by memory.
The limits of the Accessory are :
- Number of File : 1
- Number of Index : 3
- Windows : 1
- Line length : 255 characters.
- File length : no limit
- Subject length : limited by memory
- Number of keys : limited by memory.
The demo program and accessory are limited by :
- 6 files
- 3 indexes
- 8 keywords each index
- The program doesn't free the memory.
The time to make an index is in the range of 1 min/megabyte of
text with a 65 ms hard disk.
The indexes are about 5-10 % of the length of the source text. The
use of GLOSS_IT! with CDROM is as easy as with floppy disk. A database
of 20 Mb is actually used, with about 2 Mb of indexes in central
memory.
On a standard Atari ST (68000, 8MHz), the program requires about
1 second of search for 5000 keywords. Note that the indexes are loaded
in memory. This can take several seconds for large indexes.
F. Copyright
============
This manual and the accompanying computer program are copyright
(c)1989 by Patrick INSTALLE. They may not be copied by any means
without the prior written permission from the author. Purchasers may
only make copies for use on their own system.
There are no warranty expressed or implied concerning the
applicability of this program to any specific purpose. It is solely
the purchaser's responsibility to determine the suitability for a
particular application.
I accept no liability for loss or damages caused or alleged to be
caused, directly or indirectly, by programs sold, including, but not
limited to, any interruption of service, loss of business, or
anticipated profits. This statement of limited liability is in lieu
of all other warranties or garantees, expressed or implied, including
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
E. Final remark
===============
Your comments regarding GLOSS_IT! program or any suggestions you
have for extensions are welcome. The disponibility of a commercial
full version will depend of your reactions.
Bruxelles, the 1 march 1990.
INSTALLE, Patrick