Vista is a multiple *text* file browser which allows viewing of groups of similar files. It was written in order to ease the viewing of email and news group postings which I download from my Unix box at work,as DOS flat text files, and read in my own time (not works !). I found that it was very laborious each time I opened a file in Word, that :
a. I had to use the filemanager to locate the file.
b. Had I already read that one ?!
c. Each time Word opened a new file, it reset it's screen size, font, zoom etc.
Try browsing through a hundred text files with Word and you'll see what I mean !
Vista is not a vertical text reader, nor is it an e-mail program, but a general purpose multiple text file browser. It is just as likely to be useful to you for reading OPL files, as it for recipes say, or e-mail. You'll appreciate Vista best when reading many small files, as the ability to easily flit from one to the next comes into it's own.
Vista splits the display into two windows :
File window
This is on the left hand side of the screen and contains a list of all files which matched the current Vista library file specification. As you scroll through this list each file the cursor rests on will be displayed on screen in the :
Text window
this occupies the remaining right hand half of the screen, depending on the size of the standard status window.
(see under 'Keys' for function keys)
Installation
The following files are to be found in this zipped bundle :
readme.txt this file in text form
readme.wrd this file in word form
vista.opa the application
vista.rsc the help file
Install the opa file into \app and the rsc into \opd. If disk space is a problem, the help file can be ignored (Vista will handle it's absence if help is asked for).
When Vista is first run, you will be prompted for details on the new 'file' you are creating. Each Vista file or 'library' specifies a directory, and a file extension. Each 'library' that you create appears under the Vista icon on the system screen, and when run with one of these 'libraries', Vista will display a list of all files matching the specification, in a window on the left of the screen, and the contents of the first of these files, in a window in the remaining right hand side of the screen.
ie : the Vista file (sorry, 'library') called 'mail-in' might view all files with an extension of '.mi' in the directory '\mail'.
Vista will create itself a directory called '\vista' on the M drive, where it will store it's library description files (.vis files).
Preferences
When Vista is first installed, it will default certain of it's features. You of course have the ability to change these features while using Vista.
However, the settings you select will be written to an initialisation file on exit, and in future re-read on entry. The settings Vista will remember in this way are :
- Auto view
- Auto tag
- Text wrap
- Bold
- Monospaced
- Font
- Zoom level
- Tag symbol
(see also : Special - Reset Preferences)
The following file list functions are available using the following keys :
Up / Down
+/- single file
Pg Up / Pg Dn
+/- ten files
Home / End
start or end
Enter
manual view
(when autoview is off)
Space
next page
Shift-Space
first page
Menu Options
Library
New Psion-N
Prompts for the library's name, directory and extension.
Open Psion-O
Prompts for an existing library's name, before opening it and displaying the files within it.
Vista allows file tagging so that you can see which files in a library have and have not been viewed.
Because each library is re-read from disk each time Vista opens it, and the contents of a library are likely to change, Vista does not maintain tags between sessions.
On opening a library, Vista will tag all files.
Mark Psion-M
Will toggle the current file's tag, regardless of View or Tag mode.
Auto tag Psion-T
When enabled each file will be untagged when read.
Global Psion-G
Will toggle the tag on ALL files. Those currently tagged become untagged, and vice versa.
Clear all Psion-C
Untags ALL files.
Symbol Shift-Psion-S
Allows you to choose the symbol used to tag files, from a preset list of suitable characters.
Delete Psion-D
Will allow the deletion of either ALL tagged or untagged files. (The choice is yours).
Display
All the options under Display are toggles, and selecting one will flip it's state. To find the current states see 'Info' under 'Special'.
Auto view Psion-V
When ON, Vista will automatically view each file as the file selection cursor passes over it, higlighting the file in reverse video.
When OFF, the file name will be under lined and the file will not be displayed automatically. Instead pressing Enter will force a one off 'Manual View' of the current file.
Bold Psion-B
Allows the use of bold characters for the text window..
Monospaced Shift-Psion-M
Allows the use of monospaced or proportional character display.
Font Psion-F
Allows the use of either Swiss or Roman font in the text window.
Text wrap Psion-W
Vista will normally clip text which exceeds the current width of the text window. By setting Text wrap ON, text which would otherwise be lost by clipping is displayed on the start of a new line.
Special
About Shift-Psion-A
About Vista and it's esteemed author !
Info Psion-I
Displays information as to Vista's current configuration.
Register Shift-Psion-R
Prompts for your name and registration code. (See 'Registration')
Reset preferences Psion-R
Will forget any settings you have made, such as Auto tag,Font,Tag symbol etc and revert to a set of defaults.
Zoom in Psion-Z
Zoom out Shift-Psion-Z
Exit Psion-X
Registration
Vista is offered to you as shareware. If you like it, find it easy to use, helpful, and an aid to everyday life, please send the author a cheque for
10.00 and the name you wish to register against, and you will receive a registration code , which when entered into Vista (once only of course) will remove all trace of the 'nag' screens. You will also have the satisfaction in knowing you are using a registered piece of software.
Registration applications should be sent to :
Phil Whiles
4 Ivy Cottages
Boyatt Lane
Otterbourne
Hampshire
SO21 2HT
Payment should be in the form of cheques or postal orders.
You may even get a say in any new features that are added ! Apart from all that you will be encouraging the author to write more quality Psion software. :-)
Limitations
Vista does have some limits !
It will only view plain text files.
A single line of text cannot exceed more than 255 characters.
A library must have no more than 250 files that match its specification.
Text file traversal is limited to next page or top page. ie there is no prev page.
(.txt)