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LETEMFLY.DOC
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1994-01-16
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Let 'em Fly!
------------
(Flying Dials and more ...)
Version 1.20
April 1993
(c) 1991-93 by Oliver Scheel
Freaky Deaky Software
(it's Freeware)
1. Introduction
===============
With Let 'em Fly! in your AUTO-Folder, many normal GEM dialogs can
use the shortcuts Let 'em Fly! offers. There are many more features:
- flying dials
Many GEM dialogs learn to fly. This means you can drag them around
by using the mouse.
- key dials
Many dialogs can be operated by using shortcuts. Let 'em Fly! scans
the dialog for possible keys. For example, the button 'Cancel' may
be activated by pressing [UNDO] and/or [ALT]+[C].
- new edit functions within editable fields
This includes clipboard support, a history and a special character box
to enter ASCII chars.
- new alert boxes with new icons
The alert boxes have also been modified to load new icons.
- grow and shrink boxes can be switched off
This speeds up screen redraws.
- intuitive function, easily understood
Let 'em Fly! works on Atari ST/STe/TT/Falcon computers in all
resolutions, including True Color; MultiTOS is supported, too.
Let 'em Fly! comes with no warranty. This means that the author will
not be liable for any damage which may caused by using Let 'em Fly!.
Let 'em Fly! is Freeware; it may be freely used and distributed for
noncommercial use. All rights are reserved by the author!
The Let 'em Fly! distribution package (English version):
- LETEMFLY.PRG the program itself
- LET_CONF.PRG/ACC the configuration program
- LET_CONF.CPX the same thing as a CPX module
- GEM1ICON.RSC the original Atari icons
- GEM2ICON.RSC the GEM/2 icons
- LTMFICON.RSC the Let 'em Fly! icons
- LETEMFLY.TXT this manual
2. Installation
===============
Copy the program LETEMFLY.PRG into your AUTO-Folder and restart
the computer. To configure Let 'em Fly! use the accessory LET_CONF.ACC
or the CPX LET_CONF.CPX. The ACC also runs as a program by renaming it
LET_CONF.APP or .PRG. The switches are described later on.
3. Usage
========
Let 'em Fly! requires programs use the right AES calls to handle
dialogs; otherwise Let 'em Fly! can't act as wanted.
3.1 Flying Dials
----------------
Within a GEM dialog there are selectable and nonselectable objects. If
you click a non selectable object the mouse arrow changes into a hand
and you can drag the dialog around by moving the mouse. By holding the
[SHIFT] key or the right mouse button, the dialog gets transparent and
you can look through it if it's hiding some important information.
3.2 Key Dials
-------------
Let 'em Fly! scans the current dialog for possible shortcuts and marks
them by drawing a line under the corresponding letter. You can activate
the button by holding the [ALT] key and pressing the letter or number.
If there is no editable field you don't need to press the [ALT] key. The
function keys [UNDO] and [HELP] are supported, too. Let 'em Fly! scans
the following strings to define these f-keys:
[UNDO]: 'abbruch', 'abbrechen', 'verlassen', 'ende', 'nein', 'quit',
'cancel', 'abort', 'no', 'exit'
[HELP]: 'help', 'hilfe'
The UNDO button and the default button can be normally activated via the
first letter (e.g. 'Cancel' via [ALT]+[C]). Furthermore it's possible to
'move' the default button around by pressing [ALT]+[Tab] or
[ALT]+[SHIFT]+[Tab] (backwards). [SHIFT]+[Help] displays a copyright
information including the current version number.
3.3 Extended Editor
-------------------
Within editbalbe fields, there are more functions when using Let 'em Fly!.
GEM supports the following functions:
[Cursor Up] one field back
[Cursor Down] one field forward
[Cursor Left] one character left
[Cursor Right] one character right
[TAB] one field forward
[RETURN] terminate (apply) the dialog
But Let 'em Fly! gives you many many more functions ...
[RETURN] if there is no default button, jump to the next
editable field
[SHIFT]+[RETURN] jump to the next editable field, even if there is a
default button
[SHIFT]+[TAB] one field back
[SHIFT]+[Crsr Left] jump to the beginning of the field
[SHIFT]+[Crsr Right] jump to the end of the field
[CTRL]+[Crsr Left] jump one word left
[CTRL]+[Crsr Right] jump one word right
[Home] jump to the first editable field
[SHIFT]+[Home] jump to the last editable field
[CTRL]+[Delete] delete all characters to right of the cursor
Furthermore the keys [Crsr Up] and [Crsr Down] include a wrap-around
feature. If you are within the first field and press [Crsr Up], the
cursor jumps to the last field and the other way around. At least you
can place the cursor directly using the mouse.
legal filename letters
----------------------
When an editable field uses a template for filename characters, normally
you can enter characters which are not allowed in filenames. Let 'em Fly!
fixes this bug, now.
special characters
------------------
There are some characters which are difficult to enter. If you press
[SHIFT]+[Insert] within an editable field a character box appears where
you can click the character you want. This function is only available,
when the template allows every character.
GEM-clipboard
-------------
Let 'em Fly! supports the GEM-clipboard with the premise that the
environment variable CLIPBRD is set correctly (e.g. with SETCLIPB.CPX).
The following functions are supported now within editable fields:
[CTRL]-[X] Copies the current line into the clipboard and deletes the
field. If you press the [SHIFT]-key, too, the line will be
appended to the content of the clipboard.
[CTRL]-[C] Copies the current line into the clipboard but doesn't
delete the field. The [SHIFT]-key will react as described
above.
[CTRL]-[V] Insert the first line of the clipboard into the current
field. The previous content of the field will be deleted,
but you can suppress this by pressing the [SHIFT]-key.
history (will teach us nothing...?)
-----------------------------------
As in a commandline shell, Let 'em Fly! supports a small history (20
entries with each 40 characters) of the strings you typed before. Double
entries are suppressed automatically. With [CTRL]+[Crsr Up/Down] you can
scan the history and get back the previous typed strings. If you press
[SHIFT]+[Crsr Up/Down] the content of the field represents (the beginning
of) a string Let 'em Fly! searches the history for.
3.4 New Alert Boxes
-------------------
Let 'em Fly! Alert Boxes will look a little bit differently from the
originals. The size of the box is 'best-fitted' and there are new icons.
The three buttons can be activated by pressing [F1]-[F3], too. To use
another set of icons or a different color or shape, you can edit one of
the icon resources (LTMFICON.RSC or GEM1/2ICON.RSC) with a RCS and copy
it as LET_ICON.RSC into the AUTO folder.
3.5 Have a nice time with Niceline
----------------------------------
At the beginning, Niceline was a stand alone program. It replaces the
'---' strings in the menu by a 'nice line'. But I must add, that this is
a small hack and doesn't always work with all programs (e.g. GFA basic).
If there are any problems concerning menus, turn this feature off.
4. The Configuration Program
============================
There are two programs to configure Let 'em Fly!: a normal program,
LET_CONF.PRG/ACC, which can be installed as an accessory, too and a CPX
for the extendable contro