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1991-08-09
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SD - The Screen Designer. Version 1.5.
(Requires at least CGA color.)
Many problems are fairly simple to solve with a computer
program. I find most of my programming time is not spent solving
the problem, but making a decent looking user interface. Likewise,
many programs don't require bit-mapped graphics, but simply nice
text screens. I used to spend untold hours tweaking screens,
changing a char here and there, looking up codes for the IBM
graphics characters, etc. This required buku re-compilations
and wasted time. Using text screens whenever possible also
means you don't have to care what kind of graphics hardware
your user has. Also, text screens are much faster on lower
powered machines.
SD is a utility that allows you to create a text screen, save
it as C source, then merge it into your C program. Source code
(I use Turbo C, but Quick C should be very similar) for the C
functions you need is included. You can use any of the IBM
graphics characters and text mode colors. 40 column mode is supported.
To start the program enter SD at the DOS prompt. You can enter an
optional start-up screen after SD on the command line. An .scr extension
is assumed and should not be added.
The start-up attributes are white text and blue background. Your
current working attributes are not saved with screens. You should use
F9 and F10 to set your colors before beginning.
Although this is shareware you get the full-up version without
registering. But if you don't register there will be a gypsy
cursed placed upon you, your descendents, and the town you
live in. So unless you hate your relatives and are preparing to
move please register.
Register owners will receive notice on upgrades and bug
fixes (hopefully none).
Enhancements planned include: saving screens as QuickBasic source,
Paradox PAL source, and possibly others. Input/output fields.
Pre-defined gadgets such as buttons, sliders and bar graphs made
out of text characters. Monochrome version. Mouse support.
File requester. Path name support. Import of ascii text.
"Insert" mode.
How to use:
F1 is the help key as usual. Most of the below is outlined
there.
F2 - F6 change character sets.
F9: Foreground colors.
F10: Background colors.
Menus:
The arrow keys (down and right are equal as are up and left)
and space bar operate the menus. Items cannot be selected by
first letter (sorry).
To reach the menus press:
ESC: Main menu.
Clear - clears the screen (surprise!)
Save - saves screen in a revisable form (.scr extension
added).
Load - loads a screen.
Save C Source - saves a screen as C source.
Toggle mode - toggles between 40 and 80 columns.
Quit - guess.
A Note about screens. Always save your screen under the
"Save" option as well as saving as C source. Only screens
saved with "Save" can be loaded again with "Load". If you
save only as C source, get the screen in your program, find
you need to change it, you're out of luck.
Editing keys:
Arrow keys move the cursor. As you move around the screen
you are always in "overstrike" mode. The Ins key moves all
text on a line to the right, but does not toggle to an
"insert" mode. Frequently you want to draw a box around the
outer edge of the screen. I found that insert mode constant
messed up my boxes.
Ctrl-right arrow moves forward 5 spaces.
Ctrl-left arrow moves backward 5 spaces.
Ctrl-Home moves to top left corner.
Ctrl-End moves to bottom left corner.
Ctrl-PgUp moves to top right corner.
Ctrl-PgDn moves to bottom right corner.
Ctrl-Y deletes to end of line.
TAB moves forward 10 spaces.
Del deletes.
Ins moves all text on a line to the right.
BackSpace deletes to the left just as you'd expect.
Other keys:
Alt F1: Set top left of block.
Alt F2: Set bottom right of block.
Alt F3: Copy block. (if you try to put a block were it won't
fit you get a beep and no action.)
Alt F4: Move block. Note that when you move a block the whole left behind
is filled with the current color attributes. Make sure
these are the colors you want before moving the block.
Alt F5: Save block. (.blk extension is added).
Alt F6: Load block. (.blk extension understood).
Ctrl C: Shows current colors selected.
Ctrl W: Shows current coordinates.
Files:
Path names are not currently supported. Extensions added:
.scr for screens, .c for C source, .blk for saved blocks.
SDVIEW.EXE is a utility to display a .scr file. All you do
is give the file's name (no extension) on the command line:
C:\>sdview myscreen
will show myscreen.scr until you press any key.
One real fun use I've found for SD around the office is to make
a dummy screen of an application program (123, Paradox, etc) and use
SDVIEW in a batch file to show it. When a co-worker touchs the
keyboard the application screen goes away and is replaced by a screen
containing an interesting message and/or insult. The batch file is
simple:
SDVIEW 123dummy
SDVIEW hahaha
What can I say, I'm easily amused.