home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
-
- VDE122.UPD
- ----------
- E.Meyer - 08/88
-
-
- NOTE: A shareware fee is no longer requested for the use
- of VDE, and update disks are no longer available. See VDE.DOC
- (USAGE POLICY) for details.
-
-
- This is a quick guide to noticable changes in VDE since version 1.21.
- Please read VDE.DOC and VINST.DOC for full details.
-
-
- VDE:
-
- 1. An uninstalled copy of VDE will ask whether you are using a 100% IBM
- PC compatible, then display the VDE Information message. This behavior
- disappears once you have used VINSTALL.
-
- 2. A new command Alt-O (Overview bar) makes moving through large files
- easier. The bar is displayed at the top of the screen; its extent shows the
- file size relative to available memory, and the current position is marked so
- you can see where you are in the file:
- C:MODERATE.FIL /A Pg 5 Ln 12 Cl 1 INS
- =========*================
- You can use any right or left arrow key to move the marker along back and
- forth through the file; then hit RETURN to go there. (Press Esc to cancel.)
- (If the file is too small, this command will do nothing.)
-
- 3. The Block Write command (^KW) has a new option: you can append the
- output to an existing file. Just type a "+" before the filename, eg:
- Write to file: +LIST2
- See BLOCK FUNCTIONS.
-
- 4. A new Print option allows the redirection of printer output to a disk
- file. At the "Options" prompt, type the filename in parentheses, eg:
- Options: (LST.FIL)...
- If you want to append the output to a pre-existing file, use a "+":
- Options: (+LST.FIL)...
- See PRINTING.
-
- 5. Two new Print options allow the setting of the printer top and left
- margins. At the "Options" prompt, type "T" or "L" followed by the number of
- lines or columns to skip:
- Options: T2L12...
- If these are not specified, the default values from the printer installation
- are used. See PRINTING.
-
- 6. VDE can now properly handle lines longer than 255 characters. (Among
- other things, this makes it easy to deal with files generated by other word
- processors that only have carriage returns at the ends of paragraphs.) You
- can now set the right margin (^OR) to "0", meaning unlimited. See MARGINS.
-
- 7. The Graphics (Alt-G) command now lets you change the graphics menu.
- Type "=", then the code to change (A-5). Then type the graphic character
- (ASCII 128-254) directly, by holding down the Alt key and typing the digits.
- You can also just hit RETURN to undefine a code. See GRAPHICS.
-
- 8. A new Alt-A (ATI) command toggles between 80 and 132 column display.
- This can be used ONLY on PC compatibles with an ATI EGA Wonder card or
- equivalent. (Many Kaypro PCs also come with this video card.)
-
-
- VINSTALL:
-
- 1. If you are using a previously uninstalled copy of VDE, you will see
- the VDE Information message, then be sent immediately to the computer
- installation section.
-
- 2. A new option allows you to choose whether or not to mark the end of
- file with a ^Z (1Ah). Most MSDOS software no longer requires this. See USER
- OPTIONS.
-
- 3. A new option specifies whether string searches (^QF) are to be case
- insensitive by default. See USER OPTIONS.
-
- 4. A new option lets you select between VDE's new internal font and the
- standard BIOS font when using the Alt-E command. See INSTALLATION.
-
- 5. The default value of the printer left margin (see above) can be set.
- See PRINTER INSTALLATION.
-
-
-
- MINOR ENHANCEMENTS:
-
- 1. A new Alt-I (Information) command displays the VDE version, date, and
- usage policy.
-
- 2. The ^KF (directory) command handles directories better:
- (1) a closing "\" is no longer required after a directory name
- (2) directories appear in lowercase in the display
-
- 4. Tab Set (^OI) "@n" sets tabs at column n+1, 2n+1 etc (not n, 2n etc).
-
- 5. You can now mark the block end (^KK) before marking the start (^KB).
-
- 6. On DOS 3.x, there is now a critical interrupt handler which should
- allow VDE to handle all hardware errors internally. On DOS 2.x systems, an
- attempt to access an empty disk drive or to print when the printer is not
- online can still produce a DOS critical error message like:
- "Device not ready; Ignore, Retry, or Abort?"
- If this should happen, correct the situation and press "R" for Retry.
- Pressing "I" usually has no effect. DO NOT PRESS "A", as this will exit from
- VDE to DOS, losing any text in memory. See ERRORS.
-
- 7. Internal improvements: Display code has been rewritten to cope better
- with unusual video systems (VGA, 132 column modes, etc). Disk I/O is now
- about 30% faster.
-
-
-
- ----- Eric Meyer, 401 12th Ave SE #139, Norman OK 73071 -----
-