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1992-04-21
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┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ KeyFeed version 1.2 │
├────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ From │
│ │
│ Advanced Software Engineering │
│ │
│ Einar T. Storsul │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Please read this document and save yourself from a lot of trouble !
=======================================================================
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
=======================================================================
Are you tired of writing the same keysequences within an application or
in DOS over and over again ??
KeyFeed if a memory-resident "KEYstroke FEEDer utility" for MS-DOS which
allows you to define a serie of keystrokes that is to bee pushed to the
keyboard when you press a pre-defined key.
Keyfeed allows you to execute AND define sequences no mather wich
application you are currently running (with some exceptions, see the
technical information section of this document).
KeyFeed works with the functionkeys (F1-F12), specialkeys (Home, End,
PgUp,PgDn ..), keycombinations (<CTRL>+<PgUp>, <ALT>+H .....) and
of course with the normal keys.
As an illustration: Let's say you are programming in Borland IDE, and
while you are doing so you regulary switch
between 23 and 45-lines display.
Normally ou would have to push at least 5 keys
each time.
With KeyFeed this can bee done with one keystroke.
You just tell KeyFeed that when you are pressing a
desired key, KeyFeed should "press" <ALT+O> , E, P,
<DOWN ARROW> and <RETURN>.
=======================================================================
PROGRAM EXECUTION
=======================================================================
Before you start KeyFeed make sure that you have more then 10 Kb. free RAM.
After starting KeyFeed at the DOS-prompt with c:\>KEYFEED <macro filename>
the program asks you for what keys to define.
Default <macro filename> is KEYFEED.DAT.
(The prefered method to load KeyFeed is in your autoexec.bat file, BEFORE
any other application you intend to use together with KeyFeed)
To define <L-SHIFT>+<CTRL>+F10 you press F10, that is : you just press the
last key of the 3-key combination.
Remember : the keycombination always start with <Left Shift> + <Control>
Now you are ready to define the keystrokes.
At startup the keystrokes previously saved in <macro filename> is
loaded to the keys.
To define a new serie of keystrokes press <L-Shift>+<ALT>+another key
(that is : while pressing and holding down the left shift and the left alt
key, push the key you want to define) or run the KeyDef program.
If you use KeyDef you must restart KeyFeed (see below).
In the free version of the program you may only define 3 keys.
Whatever keys you now are pressing will be loaded into KeyFeed.
This includes any type of keycombinations (such as functionkeys,
specialkeys ..).
The free version of the program prevents you from defining longer
sequences then 24 keystrokes (function keys count as one keystroke).
The characters you are pressing will NOT BE DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN,
this because keystrokes also may bee defined while you are inside an
application that uses a graphical display.
To terminate the sequence press "+" at the numeric keypad. Remember that
it has to be the + key at the NUMERIC KEYPAD (not the one on the
ordinary keyboard).
You may now use the defined key. Just press <L-Shift>+<CTRL>+defined key.
You may do so wherever you are on the PC-system : inside an editor,
wordprocessor or another application.
The only condition (see technical information !!) is that the
application must not use the key-sequence for its own purposes.
If it do so, strange things may happen, and I don't want to be held
responsible if dataloss turns out to be the result!.
(Theoreticaly KeyFeed should work with these programs too because the
predefined keysequence is NOT passed to the keyboard interrupt, but I am a
true fan of Murphy's first law : "Anything that can go wrong, goes wrong").
If you are trying to start KeyFeed twice you'll get the message :
"Do you want to load macros from <filename> (Y/N) "
if you now press y or Y you'll see :
"Loading macros from <filename>"
"Keyfeed already active, aborting..".
otherwise you just get :
"Keyfeed already active, aborting..".
What the first message actually says, is that the program isn't
loading twice, but the macros saved in <filename> loads to the keys.
=======================================================================
MOUSE OPERATION
=======================================================================
If you have a Microsoft-compatible mouse you'll see that the cursor is
activated when starting KeyFeed. This allows you to just point at a
word on the screen and klick with the left mouse button while pressing
and holding down the <Left Shift> + <Control> keys, and the word is passed
to the keyboard. (A word is defined as a collection of letters, numbers
or any other ASCII-characters separated in both ends with spaces).
Let's say you are in an editor and you want to insert a time stamp from
a clock that is running on the screen, you just "press, point and shoot".
If the application you are running is using a mouse, it might take over
the mouse without returning control when finnished. If this happens,
press <Left Shift>+<Control>+<Numeric +> to reactivate the mouse.
This function only works if the monitor is in text-mode (not in graphics)
I don't know how useful this option is, but anyhow : here it is.
=======================================================================
The KeyDef program
=======================================================================
First of all : DON'T TRY TO PLAY A MACRO FROM KEYFEED INSIDE KEYDEF !
KeyDef is a program that lets you define AND SAVE macros. The keystrokes
is saved in a file called KEYFEED.DAT by default, but you may use
another filename by writiting C:\>KEYDEF <filename> , where <filename>
is the name of the file where the macros is to bee saved.
The number of macrofiles to use is unlimited.
The use is very simple : after startng the program you just press the
keystrokes you want KeyFeed to use.
To terminate a sequence press "+" at the numeric keypad.
If you press "+" as THE FIRST KEY, the keys already defined (AND SAVED)
will not be changed.
After pressing "+" in the last sequence (no. 3) the macro is automaticaly
saved.
=======================================================================
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
=======================================================================
KeyFeed requires an IBM-compatibel PC with MS-DOS version 3.30+, it has
been tested with versions from 3.30 up to 5.0. It also requires about 10 Kb.
of free RAM and an enchanged keyboard (101-keys).
To use the KeyDef program you also need a color display adapter and a
color monitor.
KeyFeed hooks on to the keyboard interrupt (INT 9h) and checks for