home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Atari Mega Archive 1
/
Atari Mega Archive - Volume 1.iso
/
apps
/
dtp
/
easytext.lzh
/
easytext.doc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1990-01-29
|
35KB
|
882 lines
EASY TEXT v1.2
Public Domain USER GUIDE
(c) zzSoft 1989 all rights reserved
This documentation is for the Pulic Domain version of EASY TEXT
budget Desktop Publisher, released into the PD 23/2/89.
******************************************************************
THE FULL COMMERCIAL VERSION OF EASY TEXT IS AVAILABLE FOR 15
POUNDS (Post and Packing included), INCLUDING PRINTED USER MANUAL.
PLEASE SPECIFY 1 MEG OR HALF MEG VERSION OR BOTH (ON A D/S DISK).
OUTSIDE THE UK (EXCEPT EIRE) COST IS 20 POUNDS (Post and Packing
included). STERLING ONLY PLEASE.
ALL CHEQUES, CORRESPONDENCE TO:
ZZSOFT,
3 RIVERDALE HOUSE
MYTHOLM CLOSE
HEBDEN BRIDGE
WEST YORKSHIRE
ENGLAND
HK7 6BP
******************************************************************
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Welcome to EASY TEXT
Welcome to EASY TEXT from zzSoft, a WYSIWYG (What You See is
What You Get) page-based DTP software package designed
especially for the Atari ST (including Mega) computer and the
GEM operating environment. EASY TEXT is exceptionally
inexpensive, which brings effective DTP into the hands of
anyone with an ST and the use of a printer.
EASY TEXT has been designed to be easy to learn and intuitive
to operate. Full advantage is taken of usual GEM features
such as windows, drop-down menus and dialogs/forms. There is
an example EASY TEXT page which can be viewed before 'getting
into' EASY TEXT which will give some idea what EASY TEXT can
do.
Some words on GDOS
EASY TEXT can be used with our without GDOS (Graphics Device
Operating System) which was left out of the ATARI ROM'S and
therefore is NOT part of the GEM enviroment when you switch
your computer on. The usual method of incorporating GDOS is
to place a GDOS.PRG in an AUTO folder on the disk that you
use when the computer is first switched on. This ensures that
GDOS is now ready to be used. Why use GDOS? Because by using
GDOS different fonts designed for use with GDOS may be
incorporated into your text. PLEASE NOTE: GDOS.PRG (at the
time of writing 23/02/89) is not included on the Easy Text
disk supplied by zzSoft. However, it can be found on the
following disks, EASY DRAW, DEGAS ELITE, TIMEWORKS DTP and
other commercial text processing and art programs. Fonts for
use with GDOS are included on the EASY TEXT disk. If this all
seems very technical don't worry it is not necessary to
understand these details to successfully use EASY TEXT.
For more details on using GDOS fonts and modifying the
ASSIGN.SYS file see chapter 2.3.
Also it is not necessary to have GDOS.PRG to use EASY TEXT as
the system font can be used quite adequately in many
circumstances. An example using the system font text is
included on your EASY TEXT disk: EXAMPLE.EZ1 or EXAMPLE1.EZM.
Clip art can be incorporated into your EASY TEXT pages and
for examples of this see the example pages included on your
Easy Text disk and the different clip art screens included
too.
1.2 What's on your EASY TEXT disk or folder
EASYTEXT.DOC (This document) An Introductory text
on how to use EASY TEXT effectively.
EASYTEXT.PRG - the PD 512K-machine version.
EXAMPLE.EZ1 - Example EASY TEXT page, HI RES
EXAMPLE1.EZM - Example EASY TEXT page, MED RES
FONTS A folder that contains GDOS fonts.
NOTE THAT A DISK FULL OF EASY TEXT GDOS COMPATIBLE FONTS IS
AVAILABLE FROM zzSoft for 5.00 (Pounds)
1.3 Fault Reports and Technical Enquiries and Upgrades
If you have any problems operating EASY TEXT or any technical
questions, you should first consult your dealer.
If the response from these sources is not satisfactory, you
may contact zzSoft direct preferably in writing at the
address given at the beginning. If telephoning please ensure
that you have the following details to hand
The version number, which can be found in the drop-down menu
'About EASY TEXT...', and/or on the master disk itself in the
README.1ST file.
The type of ST, and amount of RAM, and other things such as
RAM disks, desk accessories being used.
If you have found a bug please try to list the steps needed
to replicate the particular fault.
zzSoft welcomes suggestions in ways that EASY TEXT may be
improved, and in particular is interested to hear from users
of the new 24-pin dot matrix printers and in ways that Easy
Text may be used with these printers.
Please enclose a Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope for a
reply.
UPGRADES:
EASY TEXT is undergoing continual development and
periodically new versions will become available that will
incorporate new features. For instance it is hoped that in
the near future 24-pin printers, and laser printers will be
catered for specifically etc.
It will be necessary to make a small charge for upgrades.
For major updates the charge may have to be correspondingly
higher especially if extensive additional documentation is
required.
To qualify for an upgrade it is essential that a bone fide
copy of EASY TEXT can be exchange, a Public Domain/Shareware
disk does not qualify, and in this event the full price will
have to be paid.
2 GETTING STARTED
2.1 EXPANATION OF SOME TERMS USED
CLICKPress and release the left mouse button once
DOUBLE CLICK Quickly press and release the left once button
twice in succession
DRAG After positioning the mouse pointer
(initially an arrow or pointing finger) over the required
object hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse to
where you want the object moved to. The mouse pointer will
change to a flat hand when an object is successfully
selected.
FRAME A rectangular box drawn by the user and into
which text, art or graphics are placed. The corners and
centre of the frame contain smaller rectangles which can be
used to 'size' the frame by placing the mouse-pointer into
one of them and then altering the size of the frame by
dragging the mouse. (It looks like a plan view of a snooker
table!)
JUSTIFIED TEXT As an example of left and right justified
text- look at this document. Most text is left justified as
this is, but often text is not right justified, ie it is
ragged at the right-hand side.
EG, This is not right justified text. This in an example
of text that is not right justified. Using a word-processor
like First Word makes it easy to justify text. Text is just-
ified in First Word by placing extra spaces in the text.
This paragraph would be known as left justified (only) text.
DTP Desktop Publisher
Keyboard Conventions
EG CONTROL-RETURN or CNTRL-RET means hold down the control
key and press the return key at the same time.
2.3 Loading the EASY TEXT Program
Double click on the EASYTEXT.PRG icon in the EASYTEXT directory.
2.3 Using GDOS, ASSIGN.SYS, and GDOS Fonts
As already stated (2.2) it is essential that GDOS.PRG is in
Drive A at program boot up. If it is not no GDOS font can or
will be loaded for use by EASY TEXT.
Also it is essential that the ASSIGN.SYS file is on the same
disk as EASY TEXT and the GDOS.PRG. The ASSIGN.SYS file lets
you specify what GDOS fonts can be loaded and used by EASY
TEXT. This is not peculiar to EASY TEXT, it is the usual
method used by DTP and art programs, eg Degas Elite.
To modify the ASSIGN.SYS file so that diferent fonts may be
loaded other than the ones already specified in the file, you
have to modify the file. This is acheived by loading the
ASSIGN.SYS file into First Word and then turning off Word
Processing (WP Mode - top of the EDIT menu). The file can
then be modified to your purposes.
As an example the present ASSIGN.SYS file contains the
following text:
path=A:\FONTS
;
01p screen.sys;Default screen
;
02p screen.sys;Low-resolution screen
;
03p screen.sys;Medium-resolution screen
;
04p screen.sys;High-resolution screen
;
COURIE10.FNT
COURIE14.FNT
COURIE18.