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TCOS.DOC
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1989-07-08
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TCOS v1.2
---------
(c) Perfect Evolution 1989
By Matthew P. Aubury (15)
User Documentation
------------------
1 Introduction
1.1 Getting Started
2 Window Handling
3 Desk Menu
4 System Menu
4.1 Loading/Saving
4.2 Join System
4.3 New System
4.4 System Status
4.5 System Tree
5 Data Menu
5.1 Editing
5.2 Reformat Text
5.3 Erase Text
5.4 Import Graphics
5.5 Assign Image
6 Card Menu
6.1 Goto Card
6.2 Rename Card
6.3 Copy Card
6.4 Add Button
6.5 Replace Button
6.6 Delete Button
7 Appendix
1. Introduction
-----------------
'TCOS' is an information storage system which will run
on any Atari ST in either medium or high resolution. It is
designed to allow you to structure information in a logical
way which allows you to access data quickly and efficiently.
Data is arranged in a series of 'cards', which contain
either text or graphics. Areas of the cards are designated as
'buttons', which, when clicked on with the mouse pointer,
bring up further cards. In this way, a branching tree of
cards is formed, which allows the information to be
structured in a sensible way.
This technique lends itself to many uses: referencing
information, diagnostic systems, expert systems, and even
teaching programs.
1.1 Getting Started
--------------------
To start the program, double click on the file
'TCOS.PRG', which will load and display a GEM menu and an
'UNTITLED' window. The menu options and window handling are
discussed later, but for an example, move the mouse pointer
up to the 'SYSTEM' heading, and click on the 'LOAD SYSTEM'
option. When the file selection box appears, select the file
'DEMO.SYS'. A new card will appear, with some information on.
Click within any one of the three red boxes and another card
will appear, and so on. To go back a card, click on the close
window character at the top left-hand corner of each card.
2. Window Handling
--------------------
a) By clicking on the close window icon in the top left of
each card, you can go back to the parent of each card, unless
you are on the root card.
b) By clicking and holding the icon at the bottom right of
the card, you can resize the window. If there is any text in
the window, you are given the choice to reformat the text, or
not. If you don't, each of the lines will be cut off at the
new size (which can be useful if you are dealing with a
table).
c) If there are any buttons on the window, they will be
displayed as lines (red if you are in medium resolution). By
clicking within any one of these you will bring up the next
card.
3. Desk Menu
--------------
Under the desk menu is the choice 'Information on TCOS',
which displays the copyright message, and any desk accesories
you have installed. All these function as normal.
4. System Menu
----------------
The 'System' menu deals with general operations
regarding the the structure of the data.
4.1 Loading and Saving
-----------------------
a) Clicking on the 'Load System' option brings up a file
selection box. Choosing a system will load it, erasing the
system currently in memory.
b) Clicking on the 'Save System' option will store the
current system on disk. The name of the root (first) card
will be the same as the filename, so changing the filename
will change the name of the first card, and vice versa.
4.2 Join System
----------------
This option allows you to build much larger systems than
the usual, by dividing them over a number of disk files. This
is advisable if you intend to write very large systems, for
two reasons: First, if you write many cards you may run out
of memory, and secondly, as each system is loaded in one
piece, a very large system would take too long to load,
whereas it is easier just to load the piece you require. You
may have a base system, with just a few options, each of
which loaded a new system.
When using the option, you are given a file selection
box, from which you choose the system which will be joined.
The program then deletes the current card, having designated
it as a 'join' card and returns you to the parent card. Thus,
whenever you bring up the card, the new system selected is
loaded into memory. Be warned, however, that loading the new
system deletes the current one, so save any changes before
testing the option.
4.3 New System
---------------
The 'New System' option allows you to completely delete
all cards and information in memory. An alert box is
displayed to prevent you erasing the system accidentally.
4.4 System Status
------------------
Clicking on the 'System Status' option will bring up a
small dialog box, detailing the amount of free memory, of
free and used cards and free disk space.
4.5 System Tree
----------------
The 'System Tree' is a useful feature allowing you to
see the structure of the system. Clicking on it draws a tree
of lines, labelled at each intersection with the name of the
each card. Using this you can trace the root to each card,
and see how many cards are dependant on any given card.
5. Data Menu
--------------
The 'Data' menu deals with the contents of each card, be
they text or graphics.
5.1 Edit Text
--------------
Once selected, the edit text option allows you to add
and delete text, as with any other text editor (though it
lacks many of the refinements of a word processor, it is
quite adequate.) The keys which are operational, apart from