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VISION SYSTEM
=================
(v 7.0 01-Jul-1993)
by
Maurizio Ammannato
(M) 1993 Maurizio's House
[<HyperText>]
Press the ENTER key now to know some HyperText navigation rules.
Welcome to VISION System
========================
Vision is a <Free Form Textual Data Base> System. The first access method is
the usual hierarchical Chapter/Pages two-levels access. In this way you can
read newspaper articles, documents, books, dictionaries, glossaries, help
files ,etc.) just choosing the Data Base you want read (first layer), then
its Chapters (second layer), finally the chapter' Pages (third layer). You
alternatively can access a VISION Data Base using <Hyper Text> technique,
thus <navigating> text through its <keywords> (fourth layer). This package
allow you to build your own Text Data Base by yourself. It is not just a
"Read Only" package.
Licence Fee
===========
The package is completely free of charge for personal use. Do as many copies
you like for you and your friends. However you're not allowed to make any
kind of profit or to do any commercial activity related to VISION.
MY PREFERRED SENTENCE
=====================
"The best VISION for a Company should be its people jobs safeguard, letting
them to prosper being at peace with the men and with God. The STRATEGY should
be the way to realize this VISION, maintaining the Company's business
growing, productive and profitable. Not easy at all. That's why you should
have firstly a depth MISSION in your life." (Oiziruam Otannamma)
Enjoy VISION System !
Maurizio Ammannato
Via Concordia N.80
22049 Valmadrera (CO)
---------------------
I T A L Y
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=====================
Decompressing Archives.......................... pag 4
VISION Configuration............................ pag 5
Color and Monochrome............................ pag 5
Compression..................................... pag 6
Converting .DB to New .DBC Format............... pag 6
Converting .DBC to Old .DB...................... pag 6
Temporary Storage............................... pag 7
VISION.MSG Message File......................... pag 7
Executing VISION................................ pag 8
VISION Data Base Structure...................... pag 9
Main Menu WINDOW................................ pag 10
Title WINDOW.................................... pag 12
Document WINDOW................................. pag 13
Reading Long Document........................... pag 13
Keyword WINDOW.................................. pag 14
Vision Data Base Technical Structure............ pag 15
Creating New Free Form Textual Data Base........ pag 16
New Data Base From Existing Text File........... pag 19
Updating Existing Data Base..................... pag 21
Erasing Data Bases.............................. pag 21
Sort Option..................................... pag 22
Changing The Main Menu List..................... pag 22
Directory Option................................ pag 23
Creating an HyperText Document.................. pag 24
How VISION Looks for Keywords................... pag 27
VISION Command Line............................. pag 27
Changing Screen Text Font....................... pag 27
Using VISION on LAN............................. pag 27
Using the MOUSE................................. pag 28
VISION and WINDOWS.............................. pag 28
Idle Time....................................... pag 28
PC Configuration................................ pag 28
History......................................... pag 29
HyperText Notes................................. pag 31
[pag 4]
Decompressing Archives
======================
Create a <directory> called VISION (DOS command MD) and copy there VISION.ZIP
file and eventually all related Textual Data Base with the extension .ZIP
(which means compressed via PKZIP.EXE utility).
Using the companion PKUNZIP.EXE utility (which you can find on many BBS)
decompress them as following :
C:\VISION\pkunzip *.zip
In this way all .ZIP archives will be 'unzipped'.
The VISION package must have the following files :
- VISION.EXE engine program
- VIS_OVL.EXE its overlay
- VIS_CRE.EXE create your own Textual Data Base (import)
- VIS_UPD.EXE from .DB database back to .UPD ASCII file (export)
- LHA.EXE LHA compressor
- VIS_SORT.EXE sort utility
- VIS_FONT.EXE change VGA screen text font
- VISION.CFG configuration file (default=color)
- VISION.COL configuration file for color monitor
- VISION.BW configuration file for mono monitor
- VISION.MSG comment/help file for VISION.EXE (default=English)
- VIS_OVL.MSG comment/help file for VIS_OVL.EXE (default=English)
- VISION.DOC VISION documentation in printable format (English)
- #_VISION.NDX documentation in VISION format (INDEX)
- #_VISION.DB documentation in VISION format (DB)
- WHATIS.NEW brief description of new features
Demo files:
- VISION.DDD example file for VISION.DIR option
- #_PIPPO.UPD example source file to build new VISION DB
- #_PLUTO.UPD example source file to build new VISION DB with
HyperText facility
Other files:
- LHA213.EXE self extracting LHA documentation and disclaimer
- PW.COM PC Password Protection and Screen Saver utility
- PW.DOC PW.COM documentation
Decompress all .ZIP Data Bases you have in the directory using the same
procedure as before; after that copy all .ZIP files in a back-up device and
REMOVE all .ZIP (i.e. "ERASE *.ZIP") to save precious disk space.
To decompress <LHA> documentation: C:\VISION\lha213
[pag 5]
VISION Configuration
====================
Check through your favorite Text Editor, or WP, the configuration file
VISION.CFG and change what you need or wish to change.
Foreground color numbers can range from 1 to 31 (after number 15 the color is
blinking). Background from 1 to 7.
The following is the complete list of options you can set :
'---------------------------------- VISION.CFG config file
SCROLL_SPEED=7 number of secs for automatic scrolling (Alt-A)
IDLE=5 idle time (minutes) before screen saver execution
SAVER=filename full path of your preferred Screen Saver (try PW.COM)
EDITOR=filename full path of your preferred Text Editor (Alt-E)
SORT=BYNAME or BYDATE or NO sort option
COMPRESSION=ON/OFF to allow or disallow LHA Data Bases compression
TMP_DEV=dev/NO the fastest device in your PC to allow temporary storage
WDW_END=@@@ break-characters for Keyword Window
SKD_LFT=60 source keyword left delimiting character
SKD_RGT=62 source keyword right delimiting character
TKD_LFT=17 target keyword left delimiting character
TKG_RGT=16 target keyword right delimiting character
F_DBW=15 foreground Data Base Window (DBW) color
B_DBW=7 background Data Base Window (DBW) color
F_BOT=0 foreground Help Desk color
B_BOT=2
F_COM=0 foreground DBW comment line
F_HIG=14 foreground DBW data base name
F_IDX=15 foreground Index Window (IW) color
B_IDX=1
F_TDX=7 foreground IW text color
B_TDX=1
F_DOC=0 foreground Document Text color
B_DOC=7
F_REV=0 foreground reverse Index title
B_REV=6
F_ASK=15 input window
B_ASK=4
F_FND=14 founded string color
Color or Monochrome
===================
You can easily change color attributes modifying .CFG file color parameters.
To make your life easier, if you have a monochrome screen, copy directly
VISION.BW to VISION.CFG file using DOS COPY command:
C:\VISION\COPY vision.bw vision.cfg
[pag 6]
Compression
===========
From VISION version 6.2 you can optionally use the compression feature.
Firstly write: COMPRESSION=ON in the VISION.CFG configuration file. Then,
when you use VIS_CRE program (or Alt-B command from VISION main window) to
build a new Textual Data Base from its source FILENAME.UPD file, you get a
new file with .DBC extension (no more with .DB extension as before)
compressed using LHA program (the last "C" character in the data base
extension stands for Compressed). Doing that you can save disk bytes in the
ratio of about 8 to 1 (a filename.DB of 100.000 bytes can be reduced down to
12.000 bytes in the compressed filename.DBC).
Executing VISION you see a small "c" after the Data Base size number in
correspondence to the compressed .DBC data base. (If you don't use the
compression option everything remains the same as in the previous VISION
versions).
Choosing the highlighted data base name (ENTER key or clicking with the Left
Mouse Button) with .DBC extension, VISION executes LHA to decompress it, then
shows its text as usual. Due to LHA speed, the decompression activity doesn't
take no more than few seconds (depending on .DBC size and PC CPU speed).
You can make some tests before deciding to use this option or not. The
default setting is "ON".
Converting .DB to New .DBC Format
=================================
1) Set COMPRESSION=ON in VISION.CFG file.
2) Execute VISION
3) Move the bar up to data base name to covert
4) Press Alt-U keys to generate original ASCII .UPD file, then confirm
5) Press Alt-B keys to recreate the data base, now in compressed format
6) Give its name without any extension (the same name of point 3)
7) Write new data base comment line (if you wish the same as before)
8) Now, after compression, you have to see a "c" on the right of the filesize
number which must be much less than before
Converting .DBC to Old .DB Format
=================================
1) Set COMPRESSION=OFF in VISION.CFG file
All other points are the same as before.
***************************************************
USE COMPRESSION OPTION TO SAVE A LOT OF DISK SPACE!
***************************************************
[pag 7]
Temporary Storage
=================
VISION and LHA work better if they have a fast device for temporary storage
(some .TMP files etc.). If you have such kind of device (i.e. a RAMDISK or
VIRTUAL disk on for example "F:" device), write TMP_DEV=F: in VISION.CFG
configuration file. Otherwise write TMP_DEV=NO to don't use this option.
VISION.MSG Message file
=======================
Edit VISION.MSG messages file to change what you need (i.e. from my Italian-
English to Queen's English, etc.)
To change language file use COPY DOS command :
C:\VISION\COPY vision.ita vision.msg
to have the Italian comments/help. You can obviously create a new
comment/help file with your own language; i.e. for Spanish :
- copy VISION.ENG into a new file VISION.ESP (DOS "COPY VISION.ENG
VISION.ESP")
- modify the new file with Spanish translation using a TE or WP (Text Editor
or Word Processor)
- copy new VISION.ESP into VISION.MSG (c:\vision\COPY VISION.ESP VISION.MSG)
==================================================================
New comment strings MUST MUST have the same LENGTH of the old ones
==================================================================
[pag 8]
Executing VISION
================
Before executing VISION for the first time, verify to have available at least
one database with both .DB (or .DBC) and .NDX files. You must at least have
the VISION files. You can create a new one by yourself (see below) or
download some from a BBS. Remember to decompress them if ZIPped as explained
before.
You have two different ways to execute VISION.
1) MENU MODE. Typing VISION at DOS prompt, you enter into Main Menu Window
with the list of available Data Bases (see below):
C:\VISION>vision
2) COMMAND LINE MODE. Typing VISION followed by data base name at DOS line
prompt, you enter directly into Index Menu from which, using ESCape command,
you come back directly to DOS :
C:\VISION>vision b_netw
If you have a VGA monitor you can execute vision typing VGA instead of
VISION. This allows VISION to load into PC ROM a new text font (modern-d)
resulting in a more readable text:
C:\VISION>vga
Also in this case you can enter directly into the Index Menu writing VGA
followed by data base name:
C:\VISION>vga #_vision
to have on line VISION documentation.
[pag 9]
VISION Data Base Structure
==========================
Before going on, it's a good idea to define the Textual Data Base structure
used by VISION.
**********************************
A VISION Data Base has FOUR layers
**********************************
1) Data Base Layer (list of all available Data Bases names, up to 100)
2) Title Layer (list of all Data Base Titles, no limit)
3) Page Layer (text pages of selected Title, no limit)
4) Keyword Layer (window text on selected word, no limit for keyword
number, 16 windows in depth for each keyword)
Two examples
------------
#_VISION Data Base:
. Name, comment, creation date and size => Data Base LAYER (1st)
. Chapter titles => Title LAYER (2nd)
. Vision document Pages => Page LAYER (3rd)
N_GLOSSA Data Base:
. Name, comment, creation date and size => Data Base LAYER (1st)
. Glossary Terms => Title LAYER (2nd)
. Term Description => Page LAYER (3rd)
. Keyword Comment => Keyword LAYER (4th)
[pag 10]
Main Menu Window
================
In the Main Menu, you can see at the same time up to 16 available databases
with related comment, last update data and size. The limit of available
databases is 100. Press Alt-H keys (or Left Click on 24th line where the Help
info is) to get an on line help.
********************************
Alt-H to get VISION on line HELP
********************************
Help - MAIN MENU Available Commands (1st)
=========================================
<Alt-B Build New Data Base > PgDn Page Down
<Alt-C Change Data Base Comment Line > PgUp Page Up
<Alt-D Delete Data Base > Title Up
<Alt-E Edit Source ASCII file (.UPD) > Title Down
<Alt-R Restore Original Index > Home Top of List
<Alt-S Sort Title Index Ascending > End Bottom of List
<Alt-T Sort Title Index Descending > ─┘ Open Data Base
<Alt-U Rebuild ASCII UPD file (EXPORT)> ESC Exit
Use Up/Down arrows or PgUp/PgDn to navigate, Alt-H for on-line help. Once on
the line of chosen DB (highlighted color) the ENTER key allow you to open the
Title Menu (you enter into 2nd layer). Using MOUSE, move its cursor on i.e.
'PgDn' string in the 24th line and click with the left button to activate the
Page Down function.
*****************************************************
ENTER key or LEFT Click to OPEN highlighted Data Base
*****************************************************
Initially Titles are indexed sequentially (first record found, first record
in DB). You have two possibilities to change the indexing method by pressing
ALT-S or ALT-T keys. These two commands tell VISION to sort highlighted index
by alphabetical ascending (ALT-S) or descending (ALT-T) order.
*******************************************
Alt-S Alt-T to index differently Title list
*******************************************
Any way Alt-R option restores the original indexing method.
*****************************************
Alt-R to RESTORE original indexing Method
*****************************************
[pag 11]
From Main Menu you can directly edit a new/old VISION source .UPD file. To
use this option you have to declare before, in VISION.CFG file, the preferred
Text Editor with its FULL PATH and EXTENSION. Then, non depending on which
highlighted name you are, press together Alt-E keys and give the filename
WITHOUT .UPD extension. If you use an editor called EE, in \EDITORS\
directory on D: device, write in your VISION.CFG the following path:
........................
EDITOR=D:\EDITORS\EE.EXE
........................
************************************
Alt-E to EDIT source ASCII .UPD file
************************************
From Main Menu you can also directly build a new VISION Data Base. Non
depending on which highlighted name you are, press together Alt-B keys and
give the New data base name WITHOUT .UPD extension (you must have this ASCII
file on VISION directory).
**************************************
Alt-B to CREATE new Data Base (IMPORT)
**************************************
You can also rebuild the original .UPD ASCII file from main Menu, 1) move the
bar on the Data Base name then 2) press Alt-U. You are required for
confirmation.
******************************************
Alt-U to REBUILD source .UPD file (EXPORT)
******************************************
To delete an existing Data Base, move the bar up to selected Data Base name
and press Alt-D keys. Before removing highlighted Data Base, you are required
to confirm that. This command DOESN'T cancel the related .UPD source file but
only .DB (or .DBC), .NDX and .KEY files.
*************************************
Alt-D to DELETE highlighted Data Base
*************************************
[pag 12]
Title Window
============
Once on TITLE Window, press Alt-H keys to get the following on line Help :
Help - TITLE WINDOW Available Commands (2nd)
============================================
PgDn/Up Page Down/Up / Title Up/Down
Alt-H This Help Home/End Top/Bottom List
F1 Search String F9 Search String Globally
F2 Search Again F10 Global Search Again
─┘ Open Document ESC Exit
Use Up/Dn arrows and PgUp/PgDn keys to navigate this list.
If you have a long list you can use F1 key to quickly search the title you
need, F2 to search again. You can search also for a piece of word, i.e.
"etw". In this case all words having "etw" will be displayed. F2 search again
using same search string.
*********************************************
F1/F2 keys to SEARCH a word in the Title list
*********************************************
Using F9/F10 you search instead for words line per line across documents. An
example. Let imagine you want to search the word "disciple" in the New
Testament.
1) be in New Testament index window (Title level)
2) press F9 and give search string "disciple"
3) VISION finds search string in a book title
4) enter in the book (ENTER key)
5) press F2 to search same string inside the document
6) press ESC to come back to Index window
7) press F10 to search again at book title level (index)
The difference between two above searching methods is that F1/F2 keys search
the string within the index comment line (Index level), while F9/F10 keys
search the string in the entire Data Base.
****************************************************
F9/F10 keys to SEARCH a word in the ENTIRE Data Base
****************************************************
Opening Document
----------------
Move bar up to desired title, then press the ENTER key to open related
document.
**************************************
ENTER key to OPEN highlighted Document
**************************************
[pag 13]
Document Window
===============
Once in Document window press Alt-H keys to get the following help:
Help - DOCUMENT Window Available Commands (3rd)
===============================================
TAB/s-TAB Scroll Text Right/Left s-Home Left Scroll Home (col 1)
Alt-A Automatic Scroll On/Off PgDn/Up Page Down/Up
Alt-F Write Document to File / Line Up/Down
Alt-M Mark Document Position Home/End To/Bottom List
Alt-J Jump to Mark (Alt-M) -/+ Dec/Incr Scroll Speed
Alt-P Print Document F1 Search String
-/- Keyword Navigation F2 Search Again
─┘ Open Keyword ESC Exit
(s-TAB = Shift TAB keys) (s-Home = Shift Home keys)
Up/Down arrows, PgUp/PgDown and Home/End keys allow you to quickly navigate
across Document Window.
**************************************************
Up/Down,PgUp/PgDown,Home/End to navigate DOCUMENTS
**************************************************
While Left/Right arrows let you navigate through keywords (if they exist)
**************************************
Left/Right Arrows to navigate KEYWORDS
**************************************
Reading Long Document
=====================
Reading long document you need some functions to emulate real book reading.
The first one is to mark a position for latter retrieve. Use Alt-M when you
want stop reading at a specific position (a soft beep advises you of work
done). Once you are back to same document use Alt-J to jump to mark. With no
mark, Alt-J jumps to first document line.
******************************************************
Alt-M and Alt-J to MARK a position for later retrieval
******************************************************
If you want to read document without using arrows for navigation, you can use
the Alt-A automatic scroll option. VISION has a default value of 7 seconds
delay time between scrolling (see in VISION.CFG the SCROLL_SPEED option) so
that you can read it relaxed and quite. Use plus key (+) to slow down
scrolling speed or minus (-) key to increase it.
[pag 14]
Keyword Window
==============
Once in the a <Keyword Window>, press Alt-H keys to get following Help:
Help - Keyword Window Available Commands
========================================
Alt-P Print Window Text PgDn/Up Page Down/Up
Alt-F Write Window Text to File / Line Up/Down
-/- Keyword Navigation Home/End To/Bottom List
─┘ Open Keyword ESC Exit
Because in a Keyword Window you can find other keywords, use Left/Right
arrows to navigate these new keywords. You can have up to 16 Keyword Windows
in depth.
********************************************************
Up to 16 Keyword Windows in depth for each DOCUMENT word
********************************************************
How Many Keyword Windows
------------------------
When at document level (3rd layer), each word can be a keyword. If a document
has for example 1000 words, you can have at the maximum 1000 keywords for
this level. Once open one of these 1000 keyword, you enter FIRST LEVEL
Keyword Window where you can find other keywords (in a Keyword Window you can
find about a maximum of 100 words per screen). Then you can choice one of
them and enter in the SECOND LEVEL Keyword Window, and that up to 16 LEVELS
Keyword Windows in depth.
If we have for example a Data Base with 100 documents, each document with
1000 words and assume that each of them are a keyword, and each of them opens
a FIRST level window with about 100 keywords per window, up to 16 LEVELS in
depth, the maximum number of Keywords Windows we can have for that Data Base
is the following :
100x1000x100x16=16,000,000
[pag 15]
VISION Data Base Technical Structure
====================================
VISION System works using two different files, the index file with .NDX
extension and data base file with .DB extension (or .DBC if compression is
ON). If Data Base uses also keyword option, VISION creates in this case a
third file with .KEY extension.
The following is its structure :
1) Index record title (78 bytes 78 character)
2) Physical DB address (2 bytes integer)
3) Length of document (4 bytes long integer)
4) Position of the Mark (2 bytes integer)
5) Reserved for later use (2 bytes integer)
The Data Base structure is depending on ASCII document maximum line length.
VIS_CRE program (executable directly at DOS level or using Alt-B command on
VISION) before building a new Vision Data Base, displays the maximum text
line length which is used to determine the simple Data Base structure:
1) Comment line (variable length)
But you have to don't care at all of this technical info, you have only to
follow these very simple instructions to create your new data base.
[pag 16]
Creating New Free Form Textual Data Base
========================================
A) Building New Source ASCII File
---------------------------------
Take your favorite Text Editor or use Alt-E option from Main Menu to edit a
new source file called i.e. #_PIPPO.UPD (the .UPD extension is a MUST) and
write your info in the following order :
1) First row will become FIRST index record
2) from second line up to the special break-characters line, write document
lines (pay attention to don't write the following special combination of
characters '@#$' at the line beginning).
3) special break-string combination to close the document; that is a '@#$' at
the beginning of the line.
Look at the following simple #_PIPPO.UPD example :
---beg of file----- (don't insert this line in your file)
NETWORK
========
The network is....
..................
..................
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
SUPER-CENTER
============
The supercenters are....................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
PROTOCOLS
=========
You need protocols when you
have to exchange information with other people/computers.
The language is one of above protocols.
---end of file----- (don't insert this line in your file)
[pag 17]
**********************************************************
DON'T insert the break-string at the BEGINNING of the file
**********************************************************
****************************************************
DON'T insert the break-string at the END of the file
****************************************************
***********************************************************
DON'T put BLANK lines between break-string and FIRST record
***********************************************************
[pag 18]
B) Creating a VISION Data Base
------------------------------
Once done this ASCII test file, on VISION Main Menu, press Alt-B keys and
give its filename without any extension. This file MUST reside in same VISION
directory.
******************************************************
.UPD source files MUST be in the same VISION directory
******************************************************
You can also use VIS_CRE program at DOS level without entering VISION Main
Menu :
C:\VISION\vis_cre #_pippo
This program creates #_PIPPO.NDX with three master records (NETWORK,SUPER-
CENTER,PROTOCOL) and the #_PIPPO.DB (or .DBC) data base with text.
After VISION has created these two files, it asks for a DB comment line. (You
can also change this comment later, on Main Menu press Alt-C keys on
highlighted name).
See and use this example to understand how to build or to modify a source
ASCII .UPD file. #_PIPPO.UPD must be in the VISION delivery disk or ZIP
archivie.
***********************************************************
USE #_PIPPO.UPD file to understand how to build a VISION DB
***********************************************************
[pag 19]
New Data Base From Existing Text File
=====================================
This procedure is the most common use of VISION because you have often some
.DOC/.MAN/.TXT/.HLP files in printable or listable ASCII format and you want
to transform them in the more readable VISION format. VISION can very easily
transform this ASCII files in a Textual Free Form Data Base.
********************************************************
VISION can quickly transform ASCII files in FREE FORM DB
********************************************************
A) Modifying Source ASCII File
------------------------------
Take the ASCII file you want to convert and rename it with the .UPD extension
(i.e. PIPPO.DOC in #_PIPPO.UPD); remove all extraneous lines (top of form
character, page break, etc.) and do exactly the same procedure as to build a
new VISION source .UPD file.
Example of #_PIPPO.UPD ASCII file to convert
------------------------------------------
- Pag 1 -
NETWORK
========
The network is....
..................
..................
TOF (Top of Form printer command)
- Pag 2 -
SUPER-CENTER
============
The supercenters are....................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
TOF (Top Of Form printer command)
- Pag 3 -
PROTOCOLS
=========
You need protocols when you
have to exchange information with other people/computers.
The language is one of above protocols.
[pag 20]
Now remove ALL EXTRANEOUS lines, i.e. the "Pag nn" lines, the "TOF"
characters, the blank not useful lines, then follow the same procedure as
before to create new source file so that the original PIPPO.DOC looks like
the following #_PIPPO.UPD file :
---beg of file----- (don't insert this line in your file)
NETWORK
========
The network is....
..................
..................
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
SUPER-CENTER
============
The supercenters are....................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
........................................................
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
PROTOCOLS
=========
You need protocols when you
have to exchange information with other people/computers.
The language is one of above protocols.
---end of file----- (don't insert this line in your file)
Once PIPPO.DOC has been modified in this #_PIPPO.UPD way, enter VISION Main
menu and press Alt-B keys to generate new DB.
[pag 21]
Updating an Existing Data Base
==============================
The best way to update a VISION DB is to :
1) enter VISION Main Menu (1st level)
2) move the bar to Data Base name
3) press Alt-U keys and confirm
Now VISION creates again original .UPD source file, then :
4) press Alt-E keys and give its name without any extension
5) change what you need to change or update or add
6) come back to VISION
7) Alt-B keys to recreate VISION Data Base (.DB[C], .NDX and eventually .KEY)
Erasing Data Base
=================
Enter VISION Main Menu, move bar on Data Base to remove, then press Alt-D
keys. VISION removes only .DB, .NDX and .KEY files; it doesn't delete the
.UPD source ASCII file.
[pag 22]
Sort Option
===========
You can have the list of available TDB (Textual Data Bases) sorted in three
different ways (first Menu Window).
Write in VISION.CFG file your sorting choice.
SORT=BYNAME It sorts Data Bases by names.
SORT=BYDATE It sorts Data Bases by date (last equal first)
SORT=NO VISION doesn't sort at all.
Using SORT=NO and VISION.DIR option, you can decide by yourself the Data
Bases order (thus you get in main Window the exact order of VISION.DIR file).
Changing the Main Menu List
===========================
Renaming BOTH files (.NDX and .DB file) with a name of your choice, VISION
sorts automatically them by new alphabetical order putting them in the
position you prefer (if the sorting option is set on BYNAME).
For example :
N_...... = network related data bases
P_...... = product related data bases
S_...... = services
V_...... = various and generic data base
$_...... = pricing data bases
.. = ...............................
Simply changing the name of your DB (and related .NDX and .KEY file), you get
a different classification. For example if you want to put #_PIPPO Data Base
in first Main Menu line, execute the following DOS command, at DOS prompt, in
the VISION directory :
C:\VISION\rename #_pippo.* !_PIPPO.*
to be sure to change all #_PIPPO DB related files.
[pag 23]
Directory Option
================
When VISION starts, it firstly look for a file called VISION.DIR. So that you
have two different VISION behavior :
1) VISION doesn't find it in current directory.
Then VISION looks for files on current directory as usual.
2) VISION finds this file. Then it uploads DBs into Main Menu following
VISION.DIR directive.
In the last way you can have your VISION files anywhere in your PC. Look at
the example for a better understanding.
*****************************************************************
Using VISION.DIR option you can have DB files ANYWHERE in your PC
*****************************************************************
VISION.DIR example
------------------
D:\VISION\#_VISION (.DB .NDX and .KEY files on current dir)
C:\BIBLE\B_NEWT (.DB .NDX and .KEY files on C:,in \BIBLE\ dir)
G:\V_PRESS (.DB .NDX and .KEY files on G:\, optical disk)
*******************************************************
YOU MUST GIVE THE FULL PATH (DEVICE,DIRECTORY and NAME)
*******************************************************
You have to build that VISION.DIR file using your preferred text editor.
VISION.DIR must reside in the same VISION programs directory. Give a look to
VISION.DDD, an example file in the distribution disk.
When you load a new data base, remember to update VISION.DIR file otherwise
the program will ignore it.
**************************************************
REMEMBER to UPDATE VISION.DIR when adding a new DB
**************************************************
N.B.
If the compression is ON, VISION executes before LHA to decompress the .DBC
file (every where it is on PC) into the .DB format file, which is temporary
stored in the SAME VISION directory. In this way, if you have for example a
"write once" optical disk containing VISION files, VISION decompress the data
base not on the source device (in this case the optical disk) but into an
erasable device (where it is supposed VISION programs reside).
[pag 24]
To Create an Hypertext Document
===============================
To build document in <Hyper Text> way you have to remember three main things:
1) how to declare a <SOURCE keyword>
2) how to mark a <TARGET keyword>
3) how to write a <Keyword WINDOW>
HyperText Parameters in VISION.CFG
----------------------------------
Give a look at VISION.CFG file (TYPE it or use a Text Editor). You have to
find the following parameters:
WDW_EWND=@@@ this means you declare this three characters as the
break-string to let VISION understand where a Keyword
Window text stops.
SKD_LFT=60 source keyword left delimiting character
SKD_RGT=62 source keyword right delimiting character
these characters delimit the text word you want be
a text keyword
TKD_LFT=17 target keyword left delimiting character
TKG_RGT=16 target keyword right delimiting character
for each SOURCE keyword you have to declare a TARGET
keyword using these two delimiting characters
Now an example. Let's imagine to have the example as before (#_PIPPO.UPD) to
which we want add HyperText facility. Call this new file #_PLUTO.UPD.
*********************************************
See #_PLUTO.UPD file for an Hypertext Example
*********************************************
[pag 25]
---beg of file----- (don't insert this line in your file)
NETWORK
========
The <network> is....(here "network" is the 1st SOURCE keyword)
..............................................................
..............................................................
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
SUPER-CENTER
============
The <supercenters> are............ (2nd SOURCE keyword)
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
PROTOCOLS
=========
You need <protocols> when you (3rd SOURCE keyword)
have to exchange information with other people/computers.
The <language> is one of above protocols. (4th SOURCE keyword)
[@#$] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
Hypertext Notes
---------------
network (1st TARGET keyword)
With Network word we intend here a Telecommunication Network.
Also called <VAN>.
[@@@] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
supercenters
A Supercenter has clusters of processors, hundreds of disk devices.
For this reason we use to call them Supercenter.
[@@@] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
protocols
See <protocol>
[@@@] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
language
Usually in Information Technology we use to call language a source high level
group of rules to be translated in machine sequence of binary symbols.
[@@@] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
VAN
It stands for Value Added Network. Differs from carrier because of some added
features like a protocol conversion, etc.
[@@@] (Don't write these squared brackets in real file)
protocol
It's a group of rules to let participants to understand each other.
---end of file----- (don't insert this line in your file)
We have declared network as the first SOURCE keyword. We've enclosed this
word between decimal 60 character (as in CONFIG.SYS in SKD_LFT parameter) and
decimal 62 character (as in SKD_RGT). Now we have to put somewhere the
corresponding TARGET keyword. You can change in CONFIG.SYS these delimiting
characters.
[pag 26]
***************************************************
For each SOURCE keyword a TARGET keyword MUST exist
***************************************************
In #_PLUTO.UPD example we've put at documents end a new document called
"Hypertext Notes" where we can write all Hypertext TARGET keywords and
related texts.
We have here to declare first TARGET text (in this case the word "network")
and we have to enclose it between a "" decimal 17 (as in VISION.CFG in the
TKD_LFT parameter) and a "" decimal 16 (as in TKD_RGT parameter). Obviously
you can change these two characters in VISION.CFG.
After TARGET keyword declaration we have to write below an explanation of
this keyword with following limits : no more than 78 characters per line.
*********************************************
KEYWORD WINDOW limit is 78 characters x lines
*********************************************
After text end write three "@@@" (as in VISION.CFG in WDW_END parameter) to
let VISION understand where text stops.
****************************************************
DON'T insert the break-string at the END of the file
****************************************************
Attention to break-string
-------------------------
When you are using HyperText capability, pay attention to the break-string
characters of HyperText texts (usually three "@@@", decimal 64, declared in
VISION.CFG in the WDW_END=xxx option), different from the break-string
characters for VISION texts (they MUST be ALWAYS "@#$", dec 64, dec 35 and
dec 36).
You have the option to change the HyperText break-string to get more
flexibility in designing you HyperText structure. In fact in the "glossary
document" case you need to have each VISION text be at the same time an
HyperText text too. In this case, declare the same VISION break-string (thus
"@#$") in WDW_END=xxx parameter in VISION.CFG file, for HyperText break-
characters.
****************************************************************
Every time you're building a new doc with HyperText function
VERIFY the break-string value on VISION.CFG in WDW_END parameter
****************************************************************
[pag 27]
How VISION Looks for Keywords
=============================
When VIS_CRE program founds a keyword, before saving it to filename.KEY file,
it removes both leading and trailing blanks, embedded blanks and convert it
into an UPPERCASE string. Thus the keyword "pippo" or "Pippo" is converted to
"PIPPO". The keyword "Pippo is beautiful" to "PIPPOISBEAUTIFUL".
VISION Command Line
===================
You can execute VISION also from another program capable to SHELL to DOS.
To do that you have only to execute VISION in command line mode, thus
VISION.EXE followed by data base name:
C:\VISION\VISION #_pippo
Changing Screen Text Font
=========================
If you have a VGA monitor, you can change the ROM standard PC font. You have
to execute before VISION a small utility VIS_FONT which loads a modern-d font
(use firstly VIS_FONT /D option) into PC ROM.
You can change the font using instead of /d the /s "scrawled" hand made font,
or /l or no option for modern-s font.
Using VISION on a LAN
=====================
Create a VISION directory on the LAN server giving to ALL VISION files ALL
LAN permissions (read, write, cancel, etc.)
In reality, to don't getting mad with LOCK/UNLOCK SHARE and other LAN
programming techniques, VISION simply generates a temporary file, copy of
requested .DB, .NDX and .KEY files for each LAN user requestor. Now, because
usually each LAN PC executes a copy of VISION program on its CPU, with above
procedure it reads also its own data base copy. In this way no concurrent
users conflict.
[pag 28]
Using MOUSE
===========
VISION detects if a mouse driver is loaded (MS software driver) and if the
case displays its cursor starting from the center of the Main Window. You can
still use keyboard commands. The Left Mouse Button is used to execute a
command and the Right Button always used to escape from current window or
activity.
To execute VISION commands you can move the mouse cursor to the 24th line and
click on the string enclosed between two brackets (decimal 60 and decimal
62). You can also enter the HELP window and click on the commands enclosed
between the same brackets as before for the execution.
To open a Databases or a Title or a Keyword you can move the mouse on the
chosen title, then click once to move there the highlighted bar, then the
second Left Click will open it.
VISION AND WINDOWS
==================
You can use VISION also from WINDOWS. Once on WINDOWS click on the
application group you prefer than click on FILE and NEW. Give all path
informations and choose an icon. Now VISION is one of the DOS programs you
can execute from WINDOWS. To let VISION detect the mouse, you have to load
the mouse driver BEFORE executing WIN.
IDLE TIME
=========
After a predefinited idle time (default is 5 minutes) VISION executes your
preferred Screen Saver (write its full name in VISION.CFG file at SAVER=
option). Try PW.COM which is in the package to have also a security way to
leave VISION unattended.
PC Configuration
================
You need any MS-DOS compatible Personal Computer with :
- at least 256 k Bytes of main memory
- hard disk
- video
better if :
- 640 K bytes of main memory
- VGA color video
- Mouse
[pag 29]
History
=======
4.1 - Added VIS_UPD.EXE to revert VISION Data Bases into
the original ASCII .UPD file.
- Fixed a bug while printing documents from a very large
Data base.
4.2 - Fixed minor bug in main menu window when DBs are exactly
14 files.
4.4 - 15 Data Base names on Main Menu instead of 14.
20 text rows on Text Windows instead of previous 19.
- No more RAM option.
- No more SOUND option.
- Added Data Base name SORT option.
- Slightly faster than 4.2 version.
5.1 - Partially rewritten and recompiled used P.D.Q library
to have a complete assembler code. Much smaller than
before and faster.
- Added Hypertext Capability.
- Removed Alt-D shell to DOS.
- Added Alt-B to create new DB directly from Main Menu.
- Added Alt-E to edit source ASCII .UPD file.
- Added Alt-U to rebuild original source .UPD file.
- Added Alt-D to erase a DB from Main Menu.
- Each of four layers has each Help screen.
5.5 - Fixed a bug in Command Line option.
- Alt-P and Alt-F in a Keyword Window print also first
line.
- No limit in a Keyword Window. Text can be of any length.
[pag 30]
6.0 - Text Data Base with variable record length
- Added TAB, Shift-TAB and Shift-Home commands to scroll
text left and right (variable line length).
- Revised VISION doc with added Hypertext features
6.1 - Fixed a bug in Title section. Extraneous text after an
F10 type string search in some circumstances.
- Keywords are searched without taking care also of
embedded blanks (leading and trailing blanks were not
taken into account in previous versions)
6.2 - Added compression option (using LHA)
- Cosmetics to VIS_CRE and VIS_UPD
- 16 titles instead of 15 in Main Menu
- Fixed a bug using VISION.DIR option and SORT=BYNAME
6.3 - Fixed a bug when using VISION.DIR option
6.5 - LAN version
7.0 - MOUSE support
- Intel 486 compatibility
- Added Screen Saver option
- Changed graphic window characters to allow the use
of the extended international character set
[pag 31]
HyperText Notes
===============
Hyper Text
An Hyper Text is a text in which each word can be a keyword to access an
other text via a Keyword Window, opening new text paths, adapting the
document reading to the specific <reader knowledge>. Once in a new path (or
in a new <Keyword Window> ) you can find there another keyword to access
another keyword window so that you can <navigate> your text as you like, or
better as it's required by the level of your knowledge, following different
text paths.
You can have as keyword even an IMAGE or a PROGRAM so that your text could
become a media not only to inform readers but also to teach them lessons
executing demo programs etc. VISION has text keywords only.
To declare a word be a keyword,enclose it between two <character delimiters>.
@@@
keyword
In an Hypertext each word can be a keyword, thus pressing the ENTER key on
this highlighted word, you can enter in a new text path, opening a new
<keyword window>.
@@@
keywords
See <keyword>
@@@
character delimiters
See <Character Delimiter>
@@@
Character Delimiter
VISION must know the hot keyword you want to investigate. It's enough to
delimit the word or the phrase with two characters, the first one is the
starting and the second one the ending character.
You can use the character you want (declare them in the VISION.CFG file) i.e.
brackets, parenthesis,etc. but you must be careful to don't declare
characters you use currently as text.
You can also use the character set from DECIMAL 1 to DECIMAL 31 (unprintable
characters) being careful on some special characters like DECIMAL 26 (end of
file). Try first DECIMAL 16 (starting) and DECIMAL 17 (ending) or DECIMAL 4
and 5.
@@@
Source Keyword
The source keyword is the word which opens a new text path opening a new
<Keyword Window>.
@@@
[pag 32]
Target Keyword
The TARGET keyword is the corresponding <Source Keyword> word with its
explanation. In this opened new window, other keyword can exist.
@@@
Keyword Window
You can mainly use this kind of keyword to immediately open a Pop Up Window
on the Source Keyword, useful in HELP files.
VISION looks for a keyword delimited <character delimiters>, reads all the
lines up to ending mark (i.e. "@@@") and displays related text in a window of
78 characters x 20 lines.
A Keyword Window can have one or more keywords opening other Keyword Windows
up to a maximum of 16 nested windows.
@@@
navigate
See <Navigation>
@@@
navigating
See <Navigation>.
@@@
Navigation
You can navigate an <Hyper Text> in the following way :
- Home key go to document beginning
- End key go to document end
- PgDn/PgUp one screen page Down or Up (21 rows)
- Arrow Dn/Up one line Down or Up
- Arrow Left/Right change keywords (if they exist)
- ENTER key open a new <Keyword Window>
- ESCape key come back to previous help window or main text
@@@
reader knowledge
Current media force people to adapt themselves to them, having available only
a YES-or-NOT option. If you want to read a newspaper article you have to read
everything or nothing, if you're listening to a television speaker you have
to listen all the speech or to close the TV, the same for movie, theater,
book etc.
Using Hyper Text document, the reader can decide the level of knowledge he
wants, because <navigating> the text he can go where he needs, can come back,
navigate again so that at the end he can learn exactly what he wants, nothing
more, nothing less.
@@@
network
With Network word we intend here a Telecommunication Network.
Also called <VAN>.
@@@
[pag 33]
supercenters
A Supercenter has clusters of processors, hundreds of disk devices.
For this reason we use to call them Supercenter.
@@@
protocols
See <protocol>
@@@
language
Usually in Information Technology we use to call language a source high level
group of rules to be translated in machine sequence of binary symbols.
@@@
VAN
It stands for Value Added Network. Differs from carrier because of some added
features like a protocol conversion, etc.
@@@
protocol
It's a group of rules to let participants to understand each other.
@@@
Free Form Textual Data Base
. Free Form because you can build a new Data Base from an existing
ASCII, listable file, without any change.
. Textual because each DB record is a text line
. Data Base because VISION uses DB technique to organize text lines
in DB records
@@@
directory
A DOS directory is a part of the PC non volatile storage (hard disk or
diskette). You can create a directory, enter into this directory or remove
the directory.
MD = Make Directory (to create a new directory)
CD = Change Directory (to enter into a new directory)
RD = Remove Directory (to cancel an empty directory
@@@
LHA
VISION uses LHA version 2.13 July 20,1991 developed by Haruyasu Yoshizaki to
compress and decompress VISION Data Bases. LHA is embedded into VISION
programs so that you see only "Expanding Data Base.." message while it works.
Thank you to Yoshizaki this program, under simple conditions you can read
executing LHA213.EXE program included in this package and reading LHA213.DOC
file, can be considered Public Domain.