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ON-DISK DOCUMENTATION
EASY PRESENTATION GRAPHICS
SHAREWARE VERSION
(C) Copyright Brown Bag Software 1988
All Rights Reserved World Wide
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Installation 2
Running SETUP 4
2 About Easy Presentation Graphics 6
Chart Types 6
Chart Formatting Options 7
What the Function Keys Do 8
Selecting Options 9
Returning to the Main Menu 9
3 Getting Started 10
Data Source Selections 10
4 The Easy Presentation Graphics Spreadsheet 11
Spreadsheet Options 12
Using Chart Formatting Options 13
Printing the Chart 13
Easy Presentation Graphics' On-Screen Cursor 14
Exiting Easy Presentation Graphics 14
5 Charting with Picture Symbols 14
Creating Picture Symbols 15
Modifying Picture Symbols 16
Copying Picture Symbols 16
Deleting Picture Symbols 17
Drawing Charts with New Symbols 17
6 Printing Charts 17
Setting Print Options 18
Appendix A: File Capacity of Easy Presentation Graphics 19
Appendix B: Format of ASC File 20
Appendix C: Troubleshooting 21
INSTALLATION
1. Check the computer's specifications.
Make sure that your computer meets the hardware and software
requirements of Easy Presentation Graphics.
Computer Requirements:
Computer IBM Personal Computer (PC)
IBM Personal Computer XT (PC/XT)
IBM Personal Computer AT, (PC/AT)
or compatibles.
Operating System IBM PC-DOS, MS-DOS (version 2.0 or higher)
Disk Drives 2 floppy disk drives or 1 floppy disk
and one hard disk drive
Memory A minimum of 512K bytes of memory
Graphics Board IBM Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) or compatible
(640 x 200 monochrome; 320 x 200 color)
Easy Presentation Graphics supports the major
EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter), VGA, Hercules,
and CGA standard graphics boards. The SETUP
program lists the specific boards supported.
Printers Easy Presentation Graphics supports a wide range
of dot matrix, color dot matrix, laser printers,
and plotters. The Setup program lists the
specific printers supported.
2. Make a copy of Easy Presentation Graphics.
Dual Floppy Disk Systems
Before you start working with Easy Presentation Graphics, copy
the files from your Easy Presentation Graphics distribution
diskettes onto blank, formatted diskettes. To do this, first
load the operating system so that the DOS prompt, A>, appears
on the screen. Insert the disk labeled "Setup" in drive A and
a blank disk in drive B. Now type:
COPY *.* B: <RETURN>
After the files are copied, you will see the words:
_ File(s) copied
and the A> prompt will reappear. Remove the disk from drive B
and label it with a felt-tipped pen: "Easy Presentation Graphics
Setup Diskette." Then insert the Program disk in drive A, with
a blank disk in drive B, and repeat the COPY command. Label this
second disk: "Easy Presentation Graphics Program Diskette." Repeat
this process once more for the "Help and Documentation" disk. Use
these copies as your working disks, and store the distribution disks
in a safe place.
2
Hard Disk Systems
Before copying Easy Presentation Graphics to your hard disk,
make a subdirectory called EPG. Assuming your hard disk is
drive C and you are in the root directory (main directory),
at the C> prompt, type:
MD EPG <RETURN>
CD EPG <RETURN>
Now put the Easy Presentation Graphics Setup Disk in drive A
and type:
COPY A:*.* C: <RETURN>
After the files are copied to the Easy Presentation Graphics
directory, you will see the words:
_ File(s) copied
Repeat the procedure for the Easy Presentation Graphics Program
disk and the Help and Documentation disk. Store the original
diskettes in a safe place. A copy of Easy Presentation Graphics
is now on the hard disk in the EPG directory.
3. Check the directory of the working copy.
At the system prompt, type:
DIR <RETURN>
The directory should contain at least the following files:
EPG.BAT Initial startup file.
STARTUP.EXE Startup screen while EPG is loading
MAIN.EXE Easy Presentation Graphics Main Routine
BG2.HLP Help messages
BG2.NDX Index for displaying Help messages
BG2.SYM Picture symbol library, used for drawing
pictographs.
BG2.PMT On-line screen prompts
SAMPLE1.GRF Sample chart file
README.1ST Text file of latest information on Easy
Presentation Graphics
SETUP.EXE Allows you to tell Easy Presentation Graphics
what kind of graphics card and printer to use.
SYLK.BAT These four files allow you to import large
SYLK2ASC.EXE amounts of data (over 15 kilobytes) into
DIF.BAT Easy Presentation Graphics from spreadsheets
DIF2ASC.EXE which use SYLK and DIF data files.
3
4. Examine the README.1ST file.
This file contains the latest information on such subjects as new
features, additional supported printers, error messages, and
operating tips. Place the Easy Presentation Graphics Setup disk
in drive A and type:
TYPE README.1ST <RETURN>
The contents of the file will be displayed line by line on your
screen. To prevent the words from scrolling off the screen, press
Ctrl-S (press S while holding down the Ctrl key). Pressing any key
restarts the display.
We recommend that you direct the README.1ST file to your printer.
To do this, press Ctrl-P before typing the command line above.
After the printout is finished, press Ctrl-P again to direct the
output to your screen exclusively.
5. Run the Peripheral Device SETUP Program.
Before you can use Easy Presentation Graphics on your computer,
you must run the SETUP program. Follow the instructions on the
screen. To run the SETUP program from the operating system
prompt, type:
SETUP <RETURN>
The SETUP Menu appears and indicates the currently selected
graphics card and print device.
6. Determine whether or not the setup needs to be changed.
At the bottom of the screen, a prompt asks:
CHANGE GRAPHIC CARD, PRINTER, OPTIONS OR EXIT (G/P/O/E) ?
If your system matches the default settings, type E to go back to
DOS. If your system does not match the current settings, you need
to change the setup by typing either G for Graphics Card, P for
printer or O for options. If the graphics card selection was
correct, skip this section and go to step 9.
7. If you press G to change the graphics card setting, the next
menu lists the graphics cards supported by Easy Presentation Graphics.
Below the list, the currently selected graphics card is shown.
For example:
CURRENT GRAPHICS CARD:
IBM COLOR/GRAPHICS ADAPTER (CGA): 320 X 200 (4 colors)
8. Move the block cursor to the listing for the graphics card
installed in the computer and press <RETURN>.
4
The main SETUP Menu returns, showing the currently selected
graphics card and printer. If the print device setting is
correct, type E and skip the rest of this section.
9. To change the print device setting, type P.
The print device menu appears listing available device types.
10. Select the type of printer installed by moving the cursor
and pressing <RETURN>.
11. Select the print device manufacturer by moving the cursor
and pressing <RETURN>.
12. Select the specific print device by moving the cursor
and pressing <RETURN>. If your print device is not
listed on the screen, check your print device's manual to
see if it emulates another print device which does appear
on the list. If so, proceed as if you are using that type
of print device.
The main SETUP Menu returns displaying the current graphics card
and print device settings. A prompt asks:
CHANGE GRAPHIC CARD, PRINTER, OPTIONS OR EXIT (G/P/O/E) ?
13. If your print device is not connected to the port specified on
the screen, or requires different communication parameters,
press O.
Unless you are familiar with these parameters, we recommend that
you alter only the PORT TYPE and PORT NUMBER options to confirm to
your PC's setup. To alter the current parameters, move the cursor
to the parameter you wish to change and press <RETURN>.
Then use the UP and DOWN cursor keys to select the right option.
When you see the one you want, press <RETURN>. If you select the
SERIAL PORT TYPE, the menu expands to allow you select communications
parameters in a similar fashion. Refer to your printer manual for
the settings which your printer requires.
When you are finished at this menu, move the cursor to EXIT OPTION
SELECTION, and press <RETURN>.
14. To save the changes and return to DOS, press E.
The changes you have just made will be implemented the next
time you run EPG.
5
ABOUT EASY PRESENTATION GRAPHICS
Easy Presentation Graphics enables you to transform numerical
spreadsheet data into clear and compelling charts and graphs.
The hardest part of using Easy Presentation Graphics is deciding
which of the 12 chart types to use.
The following describes the twelve basic chart types.
Area Chart Shows distribution, range or extent.
Bar Chart Horizontal bars represent the Clmn. Names.
Column Chart Columns represent the Clmn. names.
Deviation Chart Shows positive and negative values in
column form above and below a base line.
Donut Chart Donut charts look like donuts; they have no
center. This is useful if you want to put
text in the open space. Only one data name
can be represented.
Line Chart Shows change over a period of time.
Percentage Chart Displays data horizontally, like the Bar Chart.
Each bar contains the percentage breakdowns.
Pictograph Uses one picture symbol at a time to create
column charts. You can use picture symbols from
the library provided with Easy Presentation
Graphics, or create your own symbols with the
easy to use symbol editor.
Pie Chart Shows a pie with "slices" representing
different data values for one Clmn. Name.
Stacked Column Shows Clmn. Names with different data values
stacked on top of other data values.
Step Chart Usually combined with a line chart, shows the
steps within the line.
Text Chart Lists of bulleted lines of text for overhead
or slide projection.
You can use up to 10 different Clmn. (column) Names. Clmn. names
can be categories, fields, or items you have quantified in some
way, such as total widgets sold in the third quarter. However,
the Donut, Pictograph, and Pie charts can graph only one data
name at a time. Each data name represents a Clmn. Value.
6
Chart Formatting Options
You can format each chart in any one of several ways. To select
formatting options from the chart's Option Menu, press F6. Each
chart has its own Option Menu.
The following summarizes all options available. Not all charts
use all options.
Bullet/Symbol In text charts, you can use the bullet (o) or
another symbol.
Center Display Allows you to enter data into the "hole" in
donut charts.
Color Allows you to specify colors for all charts.
(Color) Explode Allows you to pull away "slices" from pie and
donut charts.
Frame Surrounds the chart with a frame.
Grid Creates a grid in the background of a chart.
Hatch Turns the hatching pattern feature on and off.
Line Allows you to specify line type in line and
step charts.
Mark Allows you to select one of five symbols used
to mark data points in line and step charts.
Picture-symbol Allows you to select a previously created
symbol for use in a pictograph.
3-D Effect Adds three dimensional effect to column,
stacked column, and deviation charts.
Value Annotation Displays data values directly on the relevant
sections of the chart.
Width Allows you to specify line width, or weight,
in line and step charts.
X-Name Allows you to enter a label below the
horizontal axis of column, stacked column,
deviation, line, step, and area, and to the
left side of the vertical axis of bar and
percentage bar charts.
Y-Range,Y-Name Allow specification of data range and entry
of a label for the vertical axis of column,
stacked column, deviation, line, step, and
area charts, and the horizontal axis of bar
and percentage bar charts.
7
Selecting Activities at the Main Menu
You tell Easy Presentation Graphics what you want to do by
selecting activities from a Main Menu. Some activities allow you
to select options related to how you want your data presented.
The activities and options you can select appear at the bottom of
your screen. Whenever Easy Presentation Graphics needs some
information from you, a prompt appears at the bottom of the
screen.
What the Function Keys Do
From the Main Menu, you use the Function Keys to perform
activities such as drawing the chart you've requested. The
function keys, labeled F1 through F10, are described below:
F1 HELP At the Main Menu, pressing F1 displays the
Help Menu. From the Help Menu you select
topics by moving the cursor to the topic you
want information about and pressing <RETURN>.
Help screens contain the most up-to-date
information on Easy Presentation Graphics.
To exit Help, you can either press the HOME
key to go to the Help Menu, or press <ESC> to
return to what you were doing.
F2 DRAW Redraws the chart you have selected. This key
is used to redraw after erasing text from the
screen (with F8 and Ctrl-E). Otherwise, use the
ESCAPE key to draw and redraw.
F3 GRAPH Lets you choose which of the 12 charts you want to
draw. Use the arrow keys to select another chart.
F4 DATA Displays the Data Menu, which allows you to
select data from the following sources:
Keyboard
GRF (created by Easy Presentation Graphics)
SYLK files
DIF files
ASCII files
WKS files
WK1 files
Pressing F4 after selecting Text Chart allows you to
display a previously created EPG text (.TXT) file.
F5 PRINT Prints the chart displayed on the screen.
depending on complexity, some charts may take
longer to print than others. On pressing F5
the Print Status Table appears, where you
can select a wide range of print options.
8
F6 OPTION Displays the Chart Format Option Menu for the charts.
Chart Formatting Options are described above.
F7 SYMBOL Displays the Picture Symbol Library and lets you
Create, Modify, Copy, or Delete symbols. If you
choose to create or modify symbols, the screen
displays a grid. Easy Presentation Graphics updates
the symbol file (BG2.SYM).
F8 TEXT Lets you add text to your graph. If you have
selected Text Chart, pressing F8 takes you to
the Text Chart Editor, where you can create
and edit text charts.
F9 SAVE Saves the data currently in use as an Easy
Presentation Graphics file using the drive and
name you specify. Chart attributes and values
are saved with a .GRF extension, except Text
Chart, which is saved with a .TXT extension.
At the Print Status Table, F9 allows you to
save new print settings as defaults.
F10 QUIT Ends operation of Easy Presentation Graphics and
returns to the operating system prompt. At the
Print Status Table, F10 allows you to reset
print settings to defaults.
Selecting Options
Whenever you select options, a line appears near the bottom of
the screen with a blinking box surrounding the first option.
Each option is also represented by a number. You can use either
of the following methods to select an option.
Type the number Using the number keys at the top of your
keyboard, not on the numeric key pad.
Move the cursor Using the arrow keys on the numeric key pad.
Then press <RETURN> to enter the command.
Returning to the Main Menu
Whenever you want to stop what you are doing, and back up to the
Main Menu or the previous screen, press the key labeled <ESC>.
If you press <ESC> while entering data or a command, it cancels
whatever you were doing. When you use <ESC> to return to the
main menu, the screen redraws the chart to the current settings.
If you press <ESC> at the Main Menu, you will be asked if you
want to exit Easy Presentation Graphics. You should answer with
Y or N. Pressing <ESC> again will return you to the Main Menu.
9
GETTING STARTED
This chapter presents a quick tour of Easy Presentation Graphics'
basic features by charting data contained in a demonstration
file, SAMPLE1.GRF.
To begin, log on to the disk (or directory, for hard disk users)
containing the Easy Presentation Graphics programs and type:
EPG <RETURN>
or, if you want to start by using a chart you've already created
you can type:
EPG Filename.EXTension <RETURN>
The words Filename and EXTension represent the name of the file
and its three letter extension.
This screen displays pictures of the twelve types of charts
available with Easy Presentation Graphics. Select the one you
you want to work with by pressing the arrow keys and <RETURN>.
As you move the cursor from chart to chart, the screen also
displays the name of the chart selected. If you did not enter
a valid filename, then after you press <RETURN>, a message will
display advising you that you need to specify what data should
be used.
Data Source Selections
Select Data from the Main Menu by pressing F4. Before you can
display a chart, you must have numeric data. (For text charts
you would enter text.) Pressing F4 brings up the Data Source
Selection Menu with the following options:
Keyboard Lets you type data (text or numbers) from the key-
board. Selecting the Keyboard option takes you to
the Spreadsheet, which is covered in its own Chapter.
The remaining options let you type the name of the file directly,
or to display a directory of files by pressing <RETURN> at the
prompt for file name. From the directory, you can select the
files with the cursor.
GRF Lets you enter or search for the name of a file
you created with Easy Presentation Graphics.
SYLK Lets you enter the name of a SYLK file
created by programs such as MultiPlan.
DIF Lets you enter the name of a DIF file created
by a wide range of spreadsheet programs.
10
ASCII Lets you enter the name of an ASCII file
created by a word processing program, dBASE
(any version), or by other programs that can
"export" files in ASCII format. ASCII files
created by other programs must be renamed so
that their extension is ASC. See Appendix B
for more information.
WKS Lets you enter the name of a worksheet file
created by Lotus 123 Release 1.
WK1 Lets you enter the name of a worksheet file
created by Lotus 123 Release 2.
For demonstration purposes, select the file called SAMPLE1.GRF,
provided with the Easy Presentation Graphics program.
Move the cursor (the blinking box) to Graph File by pressing
right or left arrow keys and then <RETURN> or by pressing the
number 2. The screen prompts you for the file name.
GRF-File-->(C:______.GRF)
You can type the name of the data file you wish to chart. Another
way to specify a file is by selecting from Easy Presentation
Graphics' directory. Press <RETURN>, and the directory will appear.
You can change the drive to select a data file from another drive.
If you press <RETURN> without entering a file name, the current
directory of the drive specified will be displayed.
Move the cursor to SAMPLE1.GRF by pressing the appropriate arrow
keys. Press <RETURN> to select this file. Easy Presentation
Graphics imports the data from SAMPLE1.GRF into the Spreadsheet,
which appears next.
THE EASY PRESENTATIONS GRAPHICS SPREADSHEET
Organized in rows and columns like a standard spreadsheet, the
EPG Spreadsheet allows you to view and alter the data or to select
subsets of the data to be charted.
Easy Presentation Graphics' spreadsheet consists of 50 rows and 50
columns. Only 10 rows and 5 columns are visible at any one time.
The rows correspond to a chart's Row Names, and the columns
correspond to the Clmn. Names.
The intersection of each row and column is called a box. A Data
Value within a box can be altered by first using the arrow keys
to locate the cursor in the box, pressing 1-Enter, and then
typing in the new number. Use the <DEL> key to delete a number.
When you're finished, press <ESC> to return to the Keyboard Menu.
11
To see the effect of the other options on the Keyboard Menu, just
select them.
The first option, 1-Enter, allows you to enter or edit Spreadsheet
data.
Now try 2-Title and the title of the graph will appear below the
Spreadsheet. The default title is "Untitled." With this option
you can edit both the title and its text size and color. Alter
this title as you wish, and press <RETURN>.
The cursor moves to the SIZE specification. Type L if you want
the title in Large (up to 36 characters) or type S if you want
Small text (up to 50 characters). The cursor then moves to COLOR.
Type the first letter of the color you want to use for the title.
The colors available include:
R=Red G=Green B=Blue P=Purple C=Cyan Y=Yellow W=White D=Dark
The Large option is only available in the high resolution modes
(either color or monochrome). In medium resolution modes,
Easy Presentation Graphics only displays titles in Small Text.
The third option, 3-Footnote, can be used to write a comment below
the chart. You can use up to 50 characters, but footnotes cannot
be displayed in Large Text.
The fourth option, R/C EXCHANGE, enables you to interchange the
Row and the Clmn. Names of the Spreadsheet. This has the effect
of interchanging the Clmn. data and Row data of your chart. This
option is convenient if you have entered data in the wrong order.
The fifth option, CLEAR Data, empties the Spreadsheet entirely.
As a precautionary measure before clearing, Easy Presentation
Graphics prompts:
Enter Y to Clear. If you have not saved, the data will be lost.
To exit the Spreadsheet without saving any changes, select 5-Clear,
press Y and then <ESC>. You will return to the Main Menu.
You can select subsets of the data displayed in the table by
using options 6 and 7, which allow you to specify rows and columns
selectively. Move the cursor to anywhere in row 2 and select
option 6. All boxes on the second row will be highlighted.
To "un-select" a row or column, "select" it again with 6 or 7.
Option number 8 at the Keyboard Option Menu allows you to save
data. After selecting this option, you will be prompted to enter
a name for your file. Easy Presentation Graphics saves your data
in a file by this name and with the extension .GRF.
12
Now draw the chart by pressing <ESC>. As you can see, only the
highlighted boxes contribute data to the chart. If no columns or
rows are selected, the whole Spreadsheet is graphed.
(To return to the Spreadsheet after drawing your graph, press F4.
The data Menu will appear with the cursor on 1Spreadsheet instead
of 1Keyboard. Press <RETURN>, and the Spreadsheet will re-appear.)
From the Main Menu, press function key F6 for Options. Select an
individual option by moving the box cursor to your choice and then
pressing <RETURN> or by pressing its number. Use the right or left
arrows to move the cursor.
Each chart type has a separate set of options. For the default,
which is the Column Chart, the following menu will appear:
1-Data No. 2-Color 3-Y Range 4-Y Name 5-X Name 6-Grid/Frame 7-Value 8-Hatch/3D [ESC]
As a quick demonstration of the Option Menu, alter the first choice,
Data Number. Since the cursor is already on this selection, press
<RETURN>.
A second menu prompts you to specify the data to be included in
the chart. The present chart includes four products; suppose you
you want to compare only 20-30 cps and 31-60 cps daisywheel
printers (data numbers 2 and 3).
Type 2 and 3 and use the space bar to delete the other numbers.
Press the <RETURN> key to enter your new choice. Now, press <ESC>
to draw the new column chart, which compares the performance of
these two products.
Experiment with the other options, while referring to the list on
Page 8 for their descriptions.
Printing the Chart
With your printer on, press function key F5. A new screen will
appear with a range of print options displayed. This is the Print
Status Table. The print device currently selected in the SETUP
program is specified at the top. For the present, just press
F5 again to commence printing. For more information on the
Print Status Table, see the Printing Charts Chapter. After
printing has begun, you can still stop the printing process by
pressing <ESC>. Be sure that your printer is on-line before printing.
If you want to redraw the sample data in another format, press
function key F3 (for Graph) at the Main Menu. You will be returned
to the Chart Selection Menu. Use the arrow keys to move the box
cursor to your selection, and press <RETURN>. The new chart will
be displayed.
13
Easy Presentation Graphics's On-Screen Cursor
After you press the <ESC> key to draw a chart, you may press F8
(for Text) to cause a small cursor to appear in the upper left hand
corner of the screen. You can use this cursor to write on any part
of the screen except the two lines at the bottom. You can also
use the space bar and backspace key to delete any portion of the
chart or its legend and labels.
Any changes you make using this cursor can be saved to a graph
file. When all modifications are finished, turn off the cursor
(and remove the comment lines from the bottom of the screen) by
pressing <ESC>.
If you have already added text to a chart and pressed <ESC>, and
then wish to erase that text, press F8 at the Main Menu, and
press CTRL-E (the Control and letter E keys at the same time).
Then press <ESC>, and press F2 to redraw the chart. The chart
will be re-drawn without the text and without blank spaces where
the text had been placed.
Exiting Easy Presentation Graphics
To exit Easy Presentation Graphics and save the current chart,
press F9 (Save). The following prompt appears:
SAVE-> [C:SAMPLE1.GRF]
Enter file name and <RETURN> to save data, or <ESC> to
continue without saving.
To save the chart under the existing name SAMPLE.GRF, press
<RETURN>. You can also type a new name, then press <RETURN>.
If you do not want to save the changes, press <ESC>. After that,
or after you finish saving, press F10 to return to the operating
system prompt.
CHARTING WITH PICTURE SYMBOLS
One of Easy Presentation Graphics's unique features is its ability
to represent data by the use of picture symbols or pictographs.
Thus, timber sales can be represented by tree symbols, crude oil
sales by barrels, and coffee sales by sacks. Picture symbols are
stored in a library file named BG2.SYM, which may contain up to
26 symbols. The library comes with a few pre-drawn symbols, and
you can create and store additional ones.
14
Pressing F7, after selecting the Pictograph at the Graph Selection
Menu displays the Picture Symbol Library. This screen includes
the Picture Symbol Maintenance Menu.
The Picture Symbol Library shows the current symbols available.
The four functions for maintaining the Picture Symbol Library
include:
1-Create Lets you create picture symbols.
2-Modify Lets you modify existing picture symbols.
3-Copy Copies one picture symbol to another position in
the library. This can be used to keep an existing
picture, while modifying a copy into another symbol.
4-Delete Deletes a picture symbol from the library.
Select a function by positioning the cursor on your choice and
pressing <RETURN>, or by typing the number displayed next to
your choice.
The activities associated with the Symbol Edit Menu (reached
through 1-Create or 2-Modify) include:
1-Edit Allows you to Paint, Move or Delete the dots which
make up the Picture Symbol. After selecting Edit,
a secondary cursor appears in the command box on
the right side of the screen.
2-Mirror Right Creates a duplicate image to the right of the
existing symbol.
3-Mirror Down Creates a duplicate image at the bottom of
the existing symbol.
4-Move Moves the entire symbol within the picture frame
with the arrow keys.
5-Save Saves the symbol displayed on the screen as a
file with the letter for the name and the
extension .SYM.
Creating Picture Symbols
If you select the CREATE function, Easy Presentation Graphics
prompts you to select a blank symbol from the Picture Symbol
Library. Do this by entering the letter corresponding to any
unused symbol and pressing <RETURN>.
15
The picture symbol grid consists of boxes which can be "painted"
or made blank. Press <RETURN> (or 1) to select Edit, and the
cursor will appear in the upper left hand corner of the grid.
Use the keys on the numeric keypad to move the cursor to the box
you want to change. The arrow keys move the cursor up and down
and to each side, while number keys 1,3,7,9 move the cursor
diagonally in the four directions.
You can Paint or Delete that piece of the total grid by pressing
the space bar to select the Paint or Delete modes. The current
mode setting is indicated by a box cursor in the command window
on the right of the screen.
Press the space bar again when you wish to re-select the Move mode.
When you have completed your symbol, press <ESC> and select
Option 5-Save, to enter the symbol into the Picture Symbol Library.
NOTE: If you press the <ESC> key before saving your symbol, a
prompt will appear on the screen asking if you want to save the
symbol. If you do not want to save the new symbol, press <ESC>
again and you will return to the Picture Symbol Maintenance Menu.
Modifying Picture Symbols
The Modify function allows you to modify any picture symbol from
the library. After you select the symbol to be modified (for
example, symbol C), Easy Presentation Graphics displays a screen
arranged in the same way as it is for the CREATE function, except
that the boxes in the matrix are already filled to show the
existing symbol.
All keys function as they do in the CREATE mode. So that trial
efforts don't destroy the original image, it is a good idea to copy
a picture symbol before you modify it. Press <ESC> to exit the
Modify screen.
Copying Picture Symbols
After you select 3-Copy, Easy Presentation Graphics prompts you to
select the symbol to be copied. Enter the letter corresponding
to the symbol to be copied, (for example, symbol A) and press
<RETURN>. Easy Presentation Graphics next prompts you for the
destination symbol:
A to _
After you enter the destination symbol (for example, N) and press
<RETURN>, Easy Presentation Graphics copies the symbol to the
destination symbol. The Picture Symbol Library is redisplayed,
showing the change in the library.
16
Deleting Picture Symbols
You can delete a picture symbol with the 4-Delete option.
At the prompt, enter the letter corresponding to the picture
symbol to be deleted. As soon as you press <RETURN>, Easy
Presentation Graphics deletes that picture symbol and replaces
it with a completely filled square box.
Drawing Charts with New Symbols
After saving a new symbol to the Picture Symbol Table, it may be
used to draw a chart. If you wish to review the Picture Symbol
Library, press F7. Pressing <ESC> will redraw the chart.
To draw the Pictograph using a symbol of your choice, press F6 to
display the Option Menu. Select option 2-Picture-Symbol. Type
in the letter of the symbol you have chosen and specify its
color. Press <RETURN>, then press <ESC> to draw the chart.
PRINTING CHARTS
Easy Presentation Graphics has powerful print formatting capabilities
to enable you to print your charts in ways that best suit your
needs and the capabilities of your print device. However, you are
not forced to enter specifications in a long sequence of menus
before you can print your chart. Defaults are provided to allow
you to print with only two keystrokes.
Press F5 Print, and a new screen, the Print Status Table, will be
displayed. The first line specifies the print device currently
selected in SETUP. If the printer displayed is not correct, press
<ESC>, save your chart, exit to DOS, and run the Setup program.
(See page 5.)
Current print settings are displayed below this. Each setting is
assigned a number, and the page layout is depicted in the rectangle
on the right of the screen. The Print Status Menu appears at the
bottom:
F1 Help F5 Print with Current Settings F9 Save Settings F10 Reset Defaults
If the currently selected print device is correct, and you want to
print with these settings, verify that your printer is on-line, and
press F5 again. Once printing has started, you can halt the process
by pressing the <Esc> key. The time required for printing will vary
according to the size and complexity of the chart and the capabilities
of your system.
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To alter the settings, select the number corresponding to the
setting you wish to change. A menu will appear at the bottom of
the screen listing the available options for that setting. After
you have selected the appropriate options, the new settings will be
displayed in the Print Status Table. If you have altered settings
1 through 4, the rectangle at the right of the screen will change to
show the new page layout. To print with the new settings, press F5.
You may wish to save your new settings as defaults, so that next time
you use Easy Presentation Graphics, you can print at these same settings.
To do this, press the F9 Save Settings key. The previous default
settings will be replaced with those currently displayed. If you
have not saved the alterations you have made in the Print Status Table,
and want to return to default settings, press F10 Reset Defaults.
The following describes the settings and their functions:
Paper Size
Allows you to specify the appropriate paper size for your printer.
The options are 8.5x11 Standard, 8.5x14 Legal, 14x11 Wide, or 11x8.5
Reverse. Please note that for paper sizes, the first dimension is
the top edge as it feeds into your printer.
Orientation
Allows you to select Portrait or Landscape orientation for your
chart. Portrait means that the image is right side up when the
narrower side of the paper is at the top. Landscape is the reverse.
Image Size
Allows you to print your chart at full, half, or quarter page size.
Image Position
Allows you to select the appropriate position for your chart.
Depending on the image size you select, you may choose from up
to nine alternative positions. The position is specified by
selecting Left, Middle, or Right, and then combining your first
choice with Upper, Middle, or Lower.
Resolution
Allows you to select Maximum, High or Draft printer output resolution.
Printing at Draft Resolution is useful for quickly getting a copy of
your chart. Printing at Maximum Resolution, however, will provide
the highest resolution chart that your printer is capable of. Laser
printers with more than 1 megabyte of memory can print full page
graphics at 300 dots per inch (dpi) when Maximum Resolution is
selected. You should select High Resolution for quality full page
output (150 dpi) if your laser printer has less than 1 megabyte memory.
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Number of Copies/page eject
Allows you to specify the number of copies you want to print, and
to turn page eject on and off. The prompt for page eject will only
appear if you select 1 copy. You will need to turn page eject off
to print multiple charts on a page.
Print in Color
This setting will only appear if you currently have a color dot
matrix printer selected in Setup. It allows you to print your chart
in either color or black & white. This option is useful for fast
draft printing in black & white. If you are printing large numbers
of black & white charts, you may wish to change to a black printer
ribbon to avoid wearing out the black strip on your color ribbon.
Printing Multiple Charts on a Page
If you have not selected full page size, you may print more than one
chart per page. The available alternatives are as follows:
At quarter size, you can print up to four charts on a page. At half
size, you can print two. If you are using a laser printer, turn
the page eject feature off and print your first chart; then load
the next chart, and position it in the remaining blank area of the
page. Repeat as appropriate. If you're using a dot matrix printer,
scroll back to the top of each page before printing the next chart.
APPENDICES
Appendix A: File Capacity of Easy Presentation Graphics
Chart Clmn. Row Total (See 1)
Name Names Names Data
(a) (b) (c=a*b)
________________________________________________
Column 10 50 500
Stacked Column 10 50 500
Deviation 10 50 500
Bar 10 50 500
Line 10 50 500
Step 10 50 500
Pie (See 2&3) 10 10 100
Donut (See 2&3) 10 10 100
Pictograph (See 2)10 12 120
Percentage Bar 10 50 500
Area 10 50 500
Text Up to 10 Bullet symbols, each with
two lines of text
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Notes
1. Total data refers to the total number of data items that can
be displayed. For example, using the column chart, you could
display 20 row names each having 10 columns (20x10=200). Of
course, the columns become quite compressed at this density.
2. For Pie, Donut, and Pictograph charts, only one Clmn. name
is selected from a maximum of 10 Clmn. names.
3. The maximum number of slices in a Pie or Donut chart is 10.
Appendix B: Format of ASC File
The ASC format can be used to input information from any word
processor capable of saving data in ASCII (American Standard Code
for Information Interchange) format. ASCII files can also be
generated by most of the popular programming languages, such as
BASIC, FORTRAN, C, or Pascal.
In an ASC file, fields are separated by commas (and no spaces),
and each record is terminated by a carriage return (CR) and a line
feed (LF) character as in the diagram below.
Record No. Contents
1 Title (max. 60 char.),Footnote (max.60 char.) CR LF
2 Clmn. name1,Clmn. name2, ... Clmn. nameM CR LF
3 Row Name1,Value11,Value12,...Value1M CR LF
4 Row Name2,Value21,Value22,...Value2M CR LF
.
.
.
N+2 Row Name(N-2),Value(N-2)1,...Value(N-2)M (WITHOUT CR LF)
Example: The following is an ASC file containing data comparing
the sales of four types of vehicles in three cities.
Sales Performance in Millions,January 1984
Cars,Trucks,MiniVans,Motorcycles
Los Angeles,9,4,3,5
Houston,6,8,5,6.7
New York,3,2,1,5
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Appendix C: Troubleshooting
This section provides assistance in diagnosing common
situations and understanding their causes.
Should you encounter difficulty while using Easy Presentation Graphics,
please refer to the listing below of probable causes. If you still
have questions, please call Brown Bag Software Technical Support
at (408)559-4545.
IF THE PROGRAM WILL NOT RUN:
o Current directory does not contain EPG files.
o Wrong graphics card selected in SETUP program.
o Computer has less than 512K of memory available. Memory resident
programs may be running simultaneously and using too much memory.
IF THE PRINTER CANNOT PRINT:
o Printer is not turned on.
o Printer is not plugged in.
o Printer is not on-line.
o Cable is not plugged in tightly.
o Cable is plugged into the wrong port on the back of the computer.
o Inappropriate serial cable installed.
o Paper is jammed inside of printer.
o Printer ribbon is jammed.
o Incorrect printer selected in SETUP program.
After checking the above items without success, turn the printer on
and off to clear the buffer. Then consult the reference manual for
the printer.
o Printer is set on the incorrect communications protocol: check
parity, baud, stop bit, or data bit.
o Incorrect printer port selected in DOS.
o See the README.1ST file for update information.
If you are still unable to print, refer to your printer's manual
for Epson or IBM emulation, alter the printer's settings, and
select the emulated device in the EPG SETUP program.
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