StdCoder (or Coder for short) can be used to encode a document, a text stretch, or files into a textual form, which can be sent e.g. through e-mail. The output is a normal Oberon/F text, which can be included into any Oberon/F document.
The encoding uses characters which are expected not to be changed by any mail system. White space characters (blanks, tabs, new lines, etc.) might be added or removed arbitrarily since they are ignored upon decoding.
For decoding a single command is available, which generates an object of the same kind as the encoded original. Upon decoding a document or a text stretch a new window will be opened. Files will be stored on disk.
Encodes the document in the current focus window and opens a new window with the generated code.
PROCEDURE EncodeSelection
Guard: TextCmds.SelectionGuard
Encodes the current text selection, and opens a new window with the generated code.
PROCEDURE EncodeFile
Encodes one file determined through the standard file opening dialog and opens a new window with the generated code.
PROCEDURE EncodeFileList
Guard: TextCmds.SelectionGuard
Encodes several files and opens a new window with the generated code.
A list of valid file names must be selected. File names must be specified with their complete path name relative to the Oberon/F directory. (Files not being in the Oberon/F subtree currently cannot be encoded.) Use the slash character ("/") to separate the individual parts of the path name. (Example: Std/Code/Coder .)
The path name is stored along with the encoding to allow for easy decoding of entire file packages. However, sometimes a file is kept in a different place than where it should be installed later. In such a case, a path name mapping can be specified. The path name to be used for decoding can be given after an "arrow" ("=>").
Example: NewStd/Code/NewCoder => Std/Code/Coder will lead to encoding of the file NewCoder in the directory NewStd/Code, but for decoding the name Std/Code/Coder will be used.
PROCEDURE Decode
Guard: TextCmds.FocusGuard
Decodes the information in an encoded text. The latter must be in the front window. The command scans for a tag that marks the beginning of a code sequence. The tag is "StdCoder.Decode". This allows to have e-mail headers and other text preceding the actual code. If a text selection is active in the front window, scanning will start at the beginning of that selection.
Depending on the kind of data encoded, one of several possible actions will be taken:
- if a document is encoded, it is opened in a new window.
- if a single file is encoded, the standard file store dialog is opened allowing to store the file.
- if a list of files is encoded, a special dialog is opened allowing to select files for decoding. The path names included during the encoding are given in a list. One or several files can be selected from that list. A command button allows to decode the selected files. If only one file is selected, the path name can be changed or the standard file store dialog can be used to browse the directory hierarchy. Another command button allows to decode all files, regardless of the selection.
Note: The dialog should always be closed using the cancel button to allow StdCoder to release resources allocated temporarily to manage the dialog.
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