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VDE163.UPD
----------
VDE 1.63 Update Information
E. Meyer - 05 Jun 1992
This is a quick guide, for users of previous versions of VDE, to
noticable changes in operation and recent news. Please check VDE.REF and
VINST.REF for full details.
-------------------------------------NEWS-------------------------------------
USAGE POLICY and CREDIT CARDS
In addition to site licenses, there is an optional individual user
registration (including an update disk and support) for $30. Credit cards may
be used to charge registration and site license fees, through the Public
Software Library. See VDE.DOC.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Several foreign versions of VDE are under development; one, Finnish, is
now available, with full documentation. Please write if you need a specific
foreign version, or are interested in collaborating to produce one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.63 UPDATE SUMMARY
* There is a new command ^\. Like ^L, it repeats the last find/replace,
but in the opposite direction. See FIND/REPLACE.
* Whatever macro you have assigned to the key Esc0 will now run
automatically whenever you first enter VDE. See AUTOEXEC MACRO.
* A pair of new macro test commands, Esc< and Esc>, allow comparison of
characters by ASCII values. See MACRO PROGRAMMING.
* New synonyms have been added for commands formerly unusable in macros
or Generic Terminal mode: ^O= for [5], ^Q- for Shift[Tab], Esc^R/^C for
^[PgUp/Dn]. See COMMAND SUMMARY.
* When an error message displays, it is no longer necessary to press
[Esc] to remove it. It will disappear after 1.5 seconds, or immediately upon
your next keystroke.
* Block commands (except ^KV,^KPB) will now work if the block is only
half marked, to save keystrokes; for example, instead of typing ^KK^KY, you
can simply type ^KY. If the start is marked above the cursor, the cursor
position will become the end of the block; if the end is marked after the
cursor, the cursor position will become the start. See BLOCK COMMANDS.
* The help menu (^J) now has a new page (press "F") which lists all the
file modes. A new filemode /F has been introduced for better support of
WordPerfect version 5 files; filemode /P remains for version 4 files. In
addition, the filemode letter for WordStar version 5 files has been changed to
/S (from /5) to avoid confusion.
* The variable tab set and clear commands (^OI,^ON) both now accept a
simple list "n1,n2..." of columns to add or clear several tabs. To simply
clear all tabs, type ^ON* (not, as before, ^OI# or ^OI@). See TABS.
* A new option, "M"=multi-file, has been added to the find/replace
commands (^QF/^QA), to allow these functions to run in sequence through every
file currently being edited. See FIND/REPLACE.
* There is a new Print option "R" to reverse the "Reserve header space"
choice in the printer driver. Also, printing can now be paused by pressing
any key other than [Esc], which still cancels printing. And at the ^KP
prompt, you can now enter quotes in a header by doubling them, as in: "This
""header"" contains quotes". The same method allows entering the single quote
character as '' in a setup string. See PRINTING.
* It is no longer necessary to type "SHELL" to enter a DOS shell via the
AltR command; simply hit [Enter]. ([Esc] or ^U cancel.)
* When the File Browser is invoked indirectly (from a command other than
^KF), it now allows only one function: pressing the [Enter] key on a file
executes whatever command the Browser was invoked from. (On a directory,
[Enter] still changes to that directory.) For access to other Browser
functions you must first press [Esc].
When invoked via ^KF, or after pressing [Esc] in other cases, the full
range of operations is available: ^L will Load an additional file, ^N will
replace the current file with a New one. As before, ^R will read a file into
the current one, and [Del] will delete a file.
Finally, the letter keys A-Z find the NEXT file starting with that
letter, rather than the first one, and the "\" key finds the next directory.
See FILES.
* The information command (^KI) now reports "% Full", instead of the
number of bytes potentially free in the text segment.
* The AltG function has a new command "-", which will clear all graphics
definitions not currently in use; and the "=" command will allow changing a
previously defined graphic, if it is not in use. When AltU is used to load a
new .VDG file, any graphics currently in use will NOT be changed. See
GRAPHICS.
Also, graphic characters 00h and FFh, which used to be indistinguishable
from blanks onscreen, now display as an inverse "@" and "*", respectively.
* In document modes, print codes (^PS, etc) are now ignored when counting
columns. This affects tabs and other horizontal movement, horizontal
positioning when the cursor moves to another line, and the column display in
the header.
* Backup (.BAK) files are now handled slightly differently; if you save
your work on a file (either manually or with autosave) several times during a
session, a .BAK copy will be made only the first time, so it will always
represent the file as it existed before the current editing session.
(Previously the .BAK copy was updated each time the file was saved while
editing.)
* Autosave (^KA) now engages only when the keyboard is inactive, to avoid
interfering with your work.
* The autoformat (^OM) routines have been made more efficient, and now
work substantially faster on slow computers. You may notice that reformatting
will not take place until the keyboard has been quiet for a brief instant.
* Minor problems with the HP95LX palmtop's display have been fixed. The
95LX [MENU] key will now bring up the VDE MenuBar, in either command mode.
VDE turns the 95LX serial port power on and off when printing.
VINST
* The HP95LX palmtop no longer requires a special installation. VDE will
detect it and reconfigure automatically from the IBM PC installation.
* The Generic Terminal installation no longer requires specification of a
clock speed in MHz.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.62 UPDATE SUMMARY (27 Oct 1991)
* ^KE (rename) will now accept a directory name alone, to move your work
into another directory under the same filename.
* ^K# (auto number) now uses the simple character "#" as a number
marker; the previous command ^P# has been removed. (You can convert files
containing old-style markers by replacing (with ^QA) the old code, which can
be entered as ^PF, with "#".)
* AltS (split file) usage has been simplified: you supply only the input
file name. VDE constructs the output name by adding numbers to the end of the
file name (so TEST.FIL produces TEST1.FIL, etc).
* There is a new function, delete word left, given by ^[BkSp], though
this can be changed to delete character left (as before) with VINST.
* ^[Ins] now functions as a Word Insert toggle, the same as ^].
* The [Home/End] keys, when used repeatedly, will keep on moving to the
beginning of the previous line or the end of the next one.
* VDE now runs in 40-column mode, on portable computers with small
screens or on any CGA/EGA/VGA system using the MODE CO40 command. Some menus
remain 80 columns wide and can be viewed (scrolled) by pressing the arrow
keys. See SCREEN SIZE. (Users of the HP95LX palmtop, see also special notes
under INSTALLATION in VINST.REF.)
* AltA and AltE now fully support the changing of screen sizes under
UltraVision. See SCREEN SIZE.
VINST
* The installation for AltA (132 column mode) now supports "Standard"
SVGA -- including any VGA board (like Boca) using video modes 23h and 22h for
132 columns.
* A new IBM PC Installation option allows you to fix conflicts between
VDE and other software over the use of the Print Screen key.
* Entry of hex strings in VINST for the printer driver has been
simplified; instead of the (#),bytes format used previously, simply enter the
desired bytes. To enter a null string (00), type ^J or ^[Ret].
* There is now an installation for the HP 95LX palmtop computer.
* There is now an installation for the Otrona 8:16 with IBM video
emulation, allowing faster screen updating. (The standard 8:16 without
emulation must use the slower Generic Terminal installation.)
* The IBM PC Installation option for keyboard type now includes a choice
supporting the Tandy 1000 keyboard.
* The Generic Terminal installation now allows choice of screen colors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.61 UPDATE SUMMARY (27 Mar 1991)
* The Print command (^KP) now offers a new option "A" for convenient
addressing of envelopes while writing correspondence, by simply marking off
the address as a block and inserting an envelope in your printer. For full
instructions see ENVELOPES and PRINTER INSTALLATION.
* The AltE command now displays a prompt offering a choice from a wider
range of screen sizes, from 17 to 57 lines. Screen sizes other than 25 and
43/50 require the new companion file VDEOPT.DAT. If this file is not present,
AltE will simply toggle between 25 and 43/50 as before. See SCREEN CONTROLS.
* A new method of marking blocks has been added: move the cursor to the
start or end of the desired text; depress and hold Shift; use the PC keypad
keys (arrows, [Home, End, PgUp/Dn]) to move the cursor to the other end of the
block; and release Shift when finished.
* There is a new file mode /C, for programming in "C" and other
structured languages. It is a nondocument like /N, but defaults to autoindent
on, and variable tabs at intervals of 5 columns.
* Accessory files (including VDEOPT.DAT and all ".VDx" files) may now be
kept in a designated "VDE directory", using the SET VDE= command. See
DIRECTORIES.
VINST
* The "Installation" section offers two new options: For IBM PCs, you
can specify a default screen size for editing with VDE (see "AltE" above).
For the generic ANSI installation, you can select support for the special
keyboards of DEC Rainbow computers or VT-series terminals. See INSTALLATION.
* The "Options" section offers a new option to determine whether the new
page is positioned at the top of the screen after use of the ^QI,^QN,^QL
commands.
* Several improvements have been made regarding data files:
VINST now creates ".VDI" files for storing installation, options, and
menubar information. See INSTALLATION.
VINST now creates ".VDC" files for storing character width data.
These, and the ".VDG" files for graphics, can now also be accessed from
VDE using the AltU command or command-line semicolon syntax.
Since printer drivers have changed several times recently, VINST can
read .VDP files from versions 1.52 through 1.6 as well. (VDE cannot, so
write them back to disk with VINST before trying to use them with VDE.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.6 UPDATE SUMMARY (12 Dec 1990)
* A new "Auto Format" mode (command ^OM or {Text:auto fmT}) provides
continuous reformatting of text during typing or editing, so that manual
reformat (^B) is unnecessary. See AUTO FORMAT.
* A new "Right Justify" mode (command ^OJ or {Text:Justify}) inserts
spaces in text as necessary so that formatting leaves an even right margin.
See JUSTIFICATION.
* A new paragraph tab command (^OG) allows setting a temporary indent.
See INDENTING.
* Undelete (^U) can now be used repeatedly to recover prior deletions.
See UNDELETION.
* The MenuBar mode has been revised: VDE commands now work in MenuBar
mode as well. (A new choice {Misc:Escape} can access Esc commands.) Also, a
new {User:} menu bar can contain five new commands of your choice. See
OPERATING MODES.
* The preview command (^OD) now shows page numbers, and indicates page
breaks with dotted lines on screen. See PAGE PREVIEW.
* To make hyphenation easier, VDE now uses conditional or "soft"
hyphens, entered with the command ^P-. See HYPHENATION.
* There is a new file mode /U ("U"nformatted), which produces files
without soft carriage returns. See FILE MODES.
* Two new macro commands have been added:
Esc* is a "universal toggle set", allowing a macro to specify any
status for Insert, Justify, and other toggles. See TOGGLE CONTROL.
Esc$ allows you to control continued execution of a macro when an
error occurs. See MACRO PROGRAMMING.
* The print command (^KP) now allows headers on the left side of the
page, using the "<" character. See PRINTING.
* The Match file function (AltM) now compares word by word, ignoring
formatting differences in documents (line length, word spacing, etc). In /N
mode, it is still an exact character by character match. Also, when files
match, it finishes at the end of the file (no longer a "not found" message).
VINST
* A new main menu item "menu<B>ar mode" lets you customize the new
"User" menu bar to contain 5 commands of your choice. (The choice for MenuBar
vs Command mode has also been moved here from the options section.)
* New user options allow for a choice of default status for auto format,
double spacing, and proportional spacing.
* For convenience, graphic character sets (for the AltG command) can
also now be stored and retrieved as disk files (.VDG).
* The computer installation now supports the Paradise VGA+ video card as
a choice for 132-column mode operation (AltA).
* The printer installation now allows you to specify different ports
(e.g., LPT2) on systems with several printers.
* Printer code entry now allows entering a single quote (`) + character
instead of a hex value, and the use of [BkSp] as a correction key.
============================= VERSION HISTORY ==============================
1984-1987: Development of "Video Display Editor" for CP/M computers.
VDE 1.0 (Dec87): First MSDOS release, for IBM PC compatibles only.
1.01 (Dec87): Faster; several bug fixes; minor changes to VINST.
1.1 (Jan88): Edit 2 files; AltE; AltT,D; DOS shell; ANSI installation.
1.2 (Mar88): AltW; AltM; AltS; ^OQ; ^QT,^QI; AltG; [F]-keys; word count.
1.21 (May88): Auto indent; enhanced ^OI; ^PL as pagebreak.
1.22 (Aug88): AltO; AltA; AltI; append to files; enhanced ^KP, display.
1.3 (Jan89): Edit 6 files; AltC,P; AltV; improved ^QA, ^U; /5 mode.
1.31 (Mar89): ^K#; ^KZ; macro keys A-Z; AltU; ^OD.
1.4 (Jul89): MenuBar mode; Esc"; proportional format/print mode.
1.5 (Dec89): 8 files; ^KA; enhanced ^KF, ^OW/AltF, ^QF; use less memory.
1.51 (Mar90): /P, /X file modes; ^]; ^K^; improved proportional mode.
1.52 (Apr90): Various small improvements and fixes.
1.53 (May90): ^QL,N; /M mode; ^PG; foreign language/KEYBxx compatibility.
1.54 (Sep90): Small improvements; supports enhanced keyboard, F11/F12.
1.6 (Dec90): Auto format; Justify; ^OG; {User}; /U; improved ^U, ^OD.
1.61 (Mar91): Envelope printer; /C mode; enhanced AltE, block marking.
1.62 (Oct91): Supports UltraVision, HP95LX palmtop, Tandy keyboard.
1.63 (Jun92): Autoexec macro; ^\; enhanced ^QF,^OI,^KF,^KA,AltG, etc.
----- Eric Meyer, 3541 Smuggler Way, Boulder, CO 80303 USA -----