home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD School House 9
/
CD School House 9.0 - Wayzata Technology (1994).iso
/
mac
/
Win
/
TEACHAID
/
LECT100
/
LECTURE.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-03-20
|
66KB
|
1,702 lines
i
Contents
Legal notices 1
Program warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
U.S. Government restricted rights . . . . . . . . 2
Evaluation copies 3
Disk vendors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Bulletin board operators (sysops) . . . . . . . . 3
Colleges & teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Registering Lecture 4
Volume discounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Site licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Reseller discounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Part 1: Getting started
Chapter 1: What is Lecture? 7
Chapter 2: Installation 8
2.1 Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2 Setting up Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3 Command line summary . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Part 2: Using Lecture
Chapter 3: Presenting a lecture 10
3.1 Start a presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2 Flip slides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.3 Automated lectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.4 Lecture messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.5 Lecture noises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.6 Repeat a lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.7 Save window settings . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.8 Terminate Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4: Developing a lecture 12
4.1 Advanced concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1.1 Title screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.1.2 Initialization file . . . . . . . . . . 12
Chapter 5: Lecture file commands 13
5.1 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.2 Command lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.3 Command syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.3.1 ACCEPT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
ii
5.3.2 AUTOSHOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.3.3 BEEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.3.4 COLORBACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.3.5 COLORMASTERTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.3.6 COLORPOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.3.7 COLORSUBTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.3.8 COLORTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.3.9 COMMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.3.10 FONTMASTERTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.3.11 FONTPOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.3.12 FONTSUBTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.3.13 FONTTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.3.14 ICONIZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.3.15 IGNORE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.3.16 MASTERTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.3.17 MESSAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.3.18 MESSAGETITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.3.19 MINVERSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.3.20 POINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.3.21 RUNFILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3.22 SAMEPOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.3.23 SHOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3.24 SHOWANDSAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3.25 SUBPOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3.26 SUBSUBPOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.3.27 SUBSUBSUBPOINT . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.3.28 SUBTITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.3.29 TITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.3.30 TOTALPOINTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.3.31 UNCOMMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.3.32 UNICONIZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.3.33 UNZOOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.3.34 WAIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.3.35 ZOOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Part 3: Appendixes
Appendix A: Status & error messages 30
Appendix B: Helpful hints 32
B.1 Invoking Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
B.2 Common questions & answers . . . . . . . . . 32
Appendix C: Troubleshooting a lecture file 33
Index 34
Tables
Table 2.1: Mandatory Lecture files . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 2.2: Optional Lecture files . . . . . . . . . . 8
iii
Table 3.1: Lecture shortcut commands . . . . . . . . 10
Legal notices
LECTURE Version 1.0
Barn Owl Software
P.O. Box 74, O'Fallon, IL 62269
Voice
line (618) 632-7345, regular business hours
Orders
only (800) 788-0787
Fax line (618) 632-2339
Compu-
Serve 74017,1344
InterNet 74017.1344@compuserve.com
Telex 3762848. First line must say
"TO:EASYPLEX:74017,1344"
Lecture software & documentation Copyright 1992 by Barn Owl
Software; all rights reserved worldwide. Any specific hardware/
software names used in this manual are the (registered) trade-
marks of specific companies. Barn Owl Software is a member of
the Association of Shareware Professionals and Lecture falls
under ASP guidelines for shareware products.
You may not modify Lecture in any way that changes the program's
actual computer instructions unless these methods are approved by
Barn Owl Software.
Barn Owl Software strives to produce technically accurate docu-
mentation for its products but we're only human. This manual may
contain any number of typographical, graphical, printing, or
interpretation errors.
2 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
This program is produced by a member of the Association
of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make
sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you
are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with
an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may
be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve
a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not
provide technical support for members' products. Please
write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon,
MI 49442 or send a Compuserve message via easyplex to
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
Program warranty
Lecture is offered under the shareware concept: users may
thoroughly test the program before paying for it. Because of the
diversity of conditions, hardware, and other software under which
the program may be used, no warranty of fitness for a particular
purpose can be offered.
Barn Owl Software offers a 30-day money back guarantee after
purchase, no questions asked. You may return all materials for a
full refund during this time. Materials must be in good
condition. This applies only to copies sold directly by Barn Owl
Software or purchased through direct resellers (such as Public
software Library). WE DO NOT REFUND PRODUCTS SOLD BY INDIRECT
RESELLERS.
Physical materials (manuals, disks, etc.) supplied by Barn Owl
Software are warranted to be free of defects in workmanship for
the life of the product. Users may return defective materials
anytime for replacement at no charge.
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED TO THE TERMS OF THE
EXPRESS WARRANTIES. IN NO CASE SHALL LIABILITY EXCEED THE
MONETARY FEES PAID FOR THE RIGHT TO LEGALLY USE THE PRODUCT.
U.S. Government restricted rights
Use, duplication, or disclosure by the government is subject to
restrictions as set forth in Rights in Technical Data and Com-
puter Software, para (c)(1)(ii), DFARS 242.227-7013 (10/88) and
FAR 42.227-19 (6/87). Contractor is Barn Owl Software, P.O. Box
74, O'Fallon, IL 62269.
Evaluation copies 3
Evaluation copies
You may try Lecture on a 30-day trial basis to determine if this
program meets your needs. You must then either purchase your
copy/copies of the program or quit using it.
You may give UNMODIFIED copies of Lecture to others so they can
evaluate it for their needs, subject to the same restrictions and
conditions above.
Disk vendors
The Association of Shareware Professionals sets standards for
disk vendors if they wish to obtain ASP approved status. You can
learn more by writing to the ASP vendor membership committee, 545
Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442.
Barn Owl Software, like many ASP members, lets ASP approved disk
vendors distribute Lecture without having to ask first. We send
master disks to ASP approved disk vendors at no charge.
If you are not an ASP approved disk vendor, please send a copy of
your catalog with your request to distribute our product.
Bulletin board operators (sysops)
Bulletin board operators (sysops) may offer unmodified copies of
Lecture on BBSs and other electronic information services so
others can download the program and evaluate it for their needs.
Colleges & teachers
Barn Owl Software is happy to help teachers offering courses on
Lecture. We can supply master disks & manuals as course
materials. Please contact us for more details. You'll find our
address & phone numbers on page 1.
4 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Registering Lecture
Please submit a completed registration form with proper payment
to continue using Lecture after your 30-day trial period. Look
for the REGISTER.FRM file on your master disk.
Your Lecture registration includes the following:
* One year of voice support at (618) 632-7345, fax support at
(618) 632-2239, and newsletter support;
* The latest version of Lecture is sent on disk and you will
be notified for at least a year when major enhancements are
made to the program;
* Information on how to get a CompuServe IntroPak that waives
the normal sign-up fee and gives you a $15 usage credit on
top of it.
Volume discounts
The following discounts apply for regular orders. Each package
consists of a set of disks, a professionally printed manual, and
the registration benefits shown above. This is a per order
discount, not an accumulative order discount.
001 - 002 packages 00% discount
003 - 009 packages 05% discount
010 - 019 packages 10% discount
020 - 049 packages 20% discount
050 - 099 packages 30% discount
100 - XXX packages ask for details
Barn Owl Software accepts purchase orders (POs) only from
schools, government agencies, and Fortune 1000 companies. Please
add a $10 processing fee on POs less than $100.
Site licenses
Barn Owl Software offers site licenses if you don't need manuals
and technical support for each copy of the program you use. We
supply you with one gold disk & manual and give you a license so
up to XX people in your organization can legally use the program.
See the SITELIC.DOC file included with Lecture for more details.
Registering Lecture 5
Reseller discounts
Please contact Barn Owl Software if you resell software or
hardware and wish to offer Lecture to your customers.
We also offer an attractive runtime license for companies wishing
to include lecture files with their products. Contact Barn Owl
Software for details.
6 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
PART 1
Getting started
Chapter 1, `What is Lecture?' 7
Chapter 1
What is Lecture?
Lecture, quite simply, gives you the power to present a text-
based slide show lecture in the Windows environment.
Similar "presentation packages" (notably Microsoft's PowerPoint)
focus primarily on the graphics aspect of a slide show.
Graphics-based slide show packages look pretty and they certainly
appeal to people who have the time to create a snazzy
presentation. But these programs overwhelm many potential users
with power, complexity, graphics orientation, and often a high
price tag.
College professors, business professionals, local/state
politicians, and many others need a program to deliver text-only
presentations on a moment's notice. Lecture solves this need.
You create lectures with Microsoft's NotePad or any other text
editor, then tell Lecture to display it on the screen in a
traditional window. The program has numerous commands to augment
a presentation, but the core of every lecture rests on just six
commands: MasterTitle, Title, SubTitle, Point, SubPoint, and
Show. You can learn how to use these commands and write your
first slide show lecture in just a few minutes.
Like any good slide show program, Lecture lets you flip slides
with the click of a mouse button. Lecturers don't have to move
from the podium to a keyboard -- they can hold the mouse in one
hand while delivering a speech.
Lecture comes out of the box with several example lecture files,
including (of course) one describing Lecture itself. Feel free
to study the samples to learn how to write your own lectures.
8 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Chapter 2
Installation
2.1 Requirements
Lecture requires an IBM AT, PS/2, or compatible computer with
Windows 3.0 or better running in standard or 386enh mode. The
program does not need scalable fonts (available via third-party
font packages and included with Windows 3.1) but users of such
fonts will find this program more aesthetically appealing.
The following tables describe the necessary and optional files
which make up Lecture:
Table 2.1: Mandatory Lecture files
-----------------------------------------------------------------
LECTURE.EXE The actual program
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2.2: Optional Lecture files
-----------------------------------------------------------------
LECTURE.LEC Sample lecture file. Demonstrates all the
capabilities of the program.
READ.ME! Contains late-breaking Lecture notes
*.LEC Various sample lecture files. Shows how easily
you can create a slide show lecture of your own.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2.2 Setting up Lecture
Lecture is easy to install: copy all the files to a directory of
your choice and use the Windows `File/New' menu option to create
an icon for it in Program Manager. (Consult your Windows manual
or call Barn Owl Software if you need help.) Start the program
by double-clicking the program's icon.
2.3 Command line summary
LECTURE [lecturefile]
Lecture begins when you choose "File/Run" from Windows and enter
"LECTURE" or when you double-click on the program's icon. You
may also specify an optional lecture filename to run immediately.
9
PART 2
Using Lecture
10 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Chapter 3
Presenting a lecture
Table 3.1: Lecture shortcut commands
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ctrl+R run a lecture file
Spacebar
RMouseButton
Enter
PgDn
Ctrl+N show next slide
Backspace show previous slide
Alt+F4 close window, end program
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 Start a presentation
Choose the "File/Run" menu item or press Ctrl+R to process a
lecture file. The file must already exist. Lecture will
immediately interpret commands in the file.
3.2 Flip slides
Choose the "File/Next slide" menu item to present another slide
in a lecture file. Or press the right mouse button, or press the
Spacebar, or press Enter, or press PgDn, or press Ctrl+N -- they
all do the same thing.
Choose the "File/Prev slide" menu item to present the previous
slide in a lecture file. Or press the Backspace key -- it does
the same thing.
3.3 Automated lectures
Some lecture files include one or more AutoShow commands so the
presentation runs in automatic mode. You can tell the program
whether to accept any such command with the "Options/AutoShow
allowed" menu item. (A checkmark appears next to the menu item
when activated. Choose the menu item again to deactivate it.)
Chapter 3, `Presenting a lecture' 11
3.4 Lecture messages
Some lecture files augment their presentation with one or more
Message commands. You can tell the program whether to accept any
such command with the "Options/Messages allowed" menu item. (A
checkmark appears next to the menu item when activated. Choose
the menu item again to deactivate it.) Note: you cannot turn off
syntax error messages via this menu item.
3.5 Lecture noises
Some lecture files generate noises as a way to augment their
presentation. You can tell the program to accept any such
command with the "Options/Noises allowed" menu item. (A
checkmark appears next to the menu item when activated. Choose
the menu item again to deactivate it.)
3.6 Repeat a lecture
Select the "Options/Repeat when done" menu item to automatically
repeat the current lecture file at the end. (A checkmark appears
next to the menu item when activated. Choose the menu item again
to deactivate it.) Lecture will wait ten seconds and then
process the file again. This loop continues until you deactivate
the option or terminate the program.
3.7 Save window settings
Choose the "Options/Save window settings" menu item to let
Lecture automatically save the current state of its window to a
configuration file. (A checkmark appears next to the menu item
when activated. Select the menu item again to deactivate it.)
When you start the program next time, it will appear in the same
place on the screen with the same window dimensions.
3.8 Terminate Lecture
Choose the "File/Exit" menu item or press Alt+F4 to close the
Lecture window and terminate the program.
12 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Chapter 4
Developing a lecture
A good lecture flows smoothly from one slide to the next.
Presentations normally start with a title slide and follow with
an abstract of what you hope to cover. The end of the lecture
usually wraps up with a summary of what you covered, followed
perhaps by a "The End/Thank you" slide.
A slide generally should list no more than seven points/
subpoints, and Lecture defaults to this value at startup. You
can change the maximum number of points allowed on a slide either
with the TotalPoints command (chapter 5) or by changing the
LECTURE.INI file (chapter 4.1.2).
4.1 Advanced concepts
4.1.1 Title screen
You can create the equivalent of a title slide by temporarily
overriding the default TotalPoints value with a smaller number
(perhaps a value of 2 or 3). Lecture uses this value to
calculate the size of text so it fits within the visible window.
Study the LECTURE.LEC file if you need more details on how to
implement this technique.
4.1.2 Initialization file
You can modify the way Lecture works by adding certain items to
its LECTURE.INI configuration file. (Consult your Windows manual
if you need more details about how such files work.) The
following items must appear under the "[Lecture]" heading:
RepeatDelay=10
Tells Lecture how many seconds to wait before it repeats a
lecture file. Defaults to 10 seconds. You can specify a value
from 0 to 65 here.
SmallCursor=0
Lecture uses a default cursor in its window (normally an
arrow). This configuration item tells the program to use a tiny
"crosshair" cursor when you set this value to 1. Note: the tiny
cursor only appears inside Lecture's display window -- it
switches back to a regular cursor when you move it to the
program's menu or to some other window.
TotalPoints=7
Lecture allows up to seven points per slide by default, but
you can specify a new value from 1 to 32 here.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 13
Chapter 5
Lecture file commands
Lecture uses a traditional "script" language to assemble each
slide for a lecture. You store commands in a standard text file
created by Microsoft's NotePad or any other program which can
edit ASCII files.
(Caution: you can edit files with Microsoft's Write or Word for
Windows but you must not let them convert files to their own
format.)
5.1 Comments
Lecture files may contain any number of blank lines or comments.
Comments begin with a semicolon ";" character. You may also
optionally use Comment/Uncomment to enclose lines of comments,
but we don't recommend it. (See the command summary for a full
explanation.)
5.2 Command lines
Lecture files contain any number of command lines which direct
the program to perform a given task. Each command appears on a
line of its own and starts with a keyword (see below). Most
keywords take optional or required parameters; if so, they come
immediately after the keyword. A space or tab character
separates the keyword from its parameter(s).
Keywords may appear in uppercase, lowercase, or mixed case.
Example: "SHOWANDSAVE", "showandsave", and "ShowAndSave" all
reference the same command.
5.3 Command syntax
5.3.1 ACCEPT
Syntax ACCEPT [AUTOSHOW] [BEEP] [COMMENT] [MESSAGE]
Function cancels a previous Ignore. You can choose which
commands the program should now accept.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Accept Comment Beep
See also AutoShow, Beep, Comment, Ignore, Message
Comments Lecture accepts all commands by default.
14 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.2 AUTOSHOW
Syntax AUTOSHOW delay
Function sets a default delay value (in seconds) for all
commands which accept delay values.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example AutoShow 5
See also Accept, Ignore, Show, ShowAndSave, Wait
Comments use a value of zero to disable a previous
AutoShow. The user can disable AutoShow via the
menu.
5.3.3 BEEP
Syntax BEEP [times]
BEEP SHOW
Function syntax #1: issues a traditional "beep" command to
Windows. You can beep multiple times by supplying
an optional value. Syntax #2: causes the program
to beep whenever it waits for the user to proceed
to the next slide. Specifically affects Show and
ShowAndSave.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Beep 3
Beep Show
See also Accept, AutoShow, Ignore, Message, Show
Comments syntax #1: optional value cannot exceed 255.
Syntax #2: has no effect during an AutoShow, or if
the affected commands specify an optional delay
value, or if the user has disabled noises via a
menu option.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 15
5.3.4 COLORBACKGROUND
Syntax COLORBACKGROUND colorname
COLORBACKGROUND redvalue,greenvalue,bluevalue
Function syntax #1: sets the window background to the named
color (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White). Syntax
#2: sets the window background to the specified
red/green/blue "electron gun" values.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example ColorBackground White
ColorBackground 255,255,255
See also ColorMasterTitle, ColorPoints, ColorSubTitle,
ColorTitle
Advice use colors sparingly, preferably no more than
three colors per slide.
Comments colors remain constant until changed.
Specifically, ColorBackground uses the default
background window color unless you override it
with your own color. Electron gun values range
from 0 to 255 for each color. Specific values for
the named colors: Black (0,0,0), Blue (0,0,255),
Green (0,255,0), Red (255,0,0), White
(255,255,255).
16 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.5 COLORMASTERTITLE
Syntax COLORMASTERTITLE colorname
COLORMASTERTITLE redvalue,greenvalue,bluevalue
Function syntax #1: sets the master title so it displays
text in the named color (Black, Blue, Green, Red,
White). Syntax #2: sets the master title so it
displays text according to the specified red/
green/blue "electron gun" values.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example ColorMasterTitle Blue
ColorMasterTitle 0,0,255
See also ColorBackground, FontMasterTitle, MasterTitle
Advice use colors sparingly, preferably no more than
three colors per slide.
Comments colors remain constant until changed. Electron
gun values range from 0 to 255 for each color.
Specific values for the named colors: Black
(0,0,0), Blue (0,0,255), Green (0,255,0), Red
(255,0,0), White (255,255,255).
5.3.6 COLORPOINT
Syntax COLORPOINT colorname
COLORPOINT redvalue,greenvalue,bluevalue
Function syntax #1: sets the points so they display text in
the named color (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White).
Syntax #2: sets the points so they display text
according to the specified red/green/blue
"electron gun" values.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example ColorPoint Black
ColorPoint 0,0,0
See also ColorBackground, FontPoint, Point
Advice use colors sparingly, preferably no more than
three colors per slide.
Comments colors remain constant until changed. Electron
gun values range from 0 to 255 for each color.
Specific values for the named colors: Black
(0,0,0), Blue (0,0,255), Green (0,255,0), Red
(255,0,0), White (255,255,255).
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 17
5.3.7 COLORSUBTITLE
Syntax COLORSUBTITLE colorname
COLORSUBTITLE redvalue,greenvalue,bluevalue
Function syntax #1: sets the subtitle so it displays text
in the named color (Black, Blue, Green, Red,
White). Syntax #2: sets the subtitle so it
displays text according to the specified red/
green/blue "electron gun" values.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example ColorSubTitle Red
ColorSubTitle 255,0,0
See also ColorBackground, FontSubTitle, SubTitle
Advice use colors sparingly, preferably no more than
three colors per slide.
Comments colors remain constant until changed. Electron
gun values range from 0 to 255 for each color.
Specific values for the named colors: Black
(0,0,0), Blue (0,0,255), Green (0,255,0), Red
(255,0,0), White (255,255,255).
5.3.8 COLORTITLE
Syntax COLORTITLE colorname
COLORTITLE redvalue,greenvalue,bluevalue
Function syntax #1: sets the title so it displays text in
the named color (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White).
Syntax #2: sets the title so it displays text
according to the specified red/green/blue
"electron gun" values.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example ColorTitle Red
ColorTitle 255,0,0
See also ColorBackground, FontTitle, Title
Advice use colors sparingly, preferably no more than
three colors per slide.
Comments colors remain constant until changed. Electron
gun values range from 0 to 255 for each color.
Specific values for the named colors: Black
(0,0,0), Blue (0,0,255), Green (0,255,0), Red
(255,0,0), White (255,255,255).
18 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.9 COMMENT
Syntax COMMENT
Function treats every subsequent line of the file as a
comment until you specify Uncomment.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Comment
See also Accept, Ignore, Uncomment
Caution use only while developing a lecture file. Do not
use this command to insert comments in the file --
an Ignore Comment could wreak havoc with your
file, especially if the user runs it via a RunFile
command. Instead, use a semicolon ";" character
at the start of each comment line.
Comments Lecture displays a syntax error message if it
reaches the end of a file before encountering an
Uncomment. Multiple Comment commands have no
effect after the first one executes (unless you
issue an Uncomment between them, of course).
5.3.10 FONTMASTERTITLE
Syntax FONTMASTERTITLE fontname
Function sets the master title so it displays text in the
named font.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example FontMasterTitle Helvetica
See also ColorMasterTitle, MasterTitle
Advice use fonts sparingly, preferably no more than two
fonts per slide.
Comments fonts remain constant until changed. Windows will
substitute a font if it can't find the named font.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 19
5.3.11 FONTPOINT
Syntax FONTPOINT fontname
Function sets the points so they display text in the named
font.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example FontPoint Helvetica
See also ColorPoint, Point
Advice use fonts sparingly, preferably no more than two
fonts per slide.
Comments fonts remain constant until changed. Windows will
substitute a font if it can't find the named font.
5.3.12 FONTSUBTITLE
Syntax FONTSUBTITLE fontname
Function sets the subtitle so it displays text in the named
font.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example FontSubTitle Helvetica
See also ColorSubTitle, SubTitle
Advice use fonts sparingly, preferably no more than two
fonts per slide.
Comments fonts remain constant until changed. Windows will
substitute a font if it can't find the named font.
20 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.13 FONTTITLE
Syntax FONTTITLE fontname
Function sets the title so it displays text in the named
font.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example FontTitle Helvetica
See also ColorTitle, Title
Advice use fonts sparingly, preferably no more than two
fonts per slide.
Comments fonts remain constant until changed. Windows will
substitute a font if it can't find the named font.
5.3.14 ICONIZE
Syntax ICONIZE
Function forces the Lecture window down to an icon.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Iconize
See also Uniconize, Unzoom, Zoom
Comments has no effect on an already-iconized window.
5.3.15 IGNORE
Syntax IGNORE [AUTOSHOW] [BEEP] [COMMENT] [MESSAGE]
Function tells the program to ignore AutoShow, Beep,
Comment, and/or Message. You can choose which
commands to ignore and list them in any order on
this command line.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Ignore Message AutoShow Beep
See also Accept, AutoShow, Beep, Comment, Message
Comments you may repeat an Ignore without worry.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 21
5.3.16 MASTERTITLE
Syntax MASTERTITLE [text]
Function initializes the upper-right-corner text of each
slide to display the associated text.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example MasterTitle Calculus 402 (Mr. Rosenberger)
See also ColorMasterTitle, FontMasterTitle, Point, Show,
ShowAndSave, SubPoint, SubTitle, Title
Comments the master title text remains constant until
changed.
5.3.17 MESSAGE
Syntax MESSAGE text
Function displays a message with the specified text and
waits for the user to acknowledge it.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Message Copyright 1992 by Barn Owl Software; all
rights reserved.
See also Beep, MessageTitle, Show, Wait
Comments you may want to use Wait to create a slight delay
between the time a slide appears versus when the
message appears. Lecture displays a syntax error
message if you don't specify any text.
5.3.18 MESSAGETITLE
Syntax MESSAGETITLE text
Function sets the window title for future Message commands.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example MessageTitle Copyright notice
See also Message
Comments the message window title remains constant until
changed. The program initializes the title to
"Lecture Message" at startup.
22 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.19 MINVERSION
Syntax MINVERSION [WINDOWS] [version number * 100]
Function lets Lecture know if it can process all the
commands in a file. It displays a warning message
if it detects a value higher than its own version
number (multiplied by 100), or a value higher
higher than the Windows version number (multiplied
by 100).
Example MinVersion 104
MinVersion Windows 310
Caution use only once, at the top of the file, with a
value based on the highest "MinVersion" number
specified for commands used in the file. Multiple
identical MinVersion commands may generate
redundant warning messages, annoying the user.
Comments future versions of Lecture will almost certainly
offer new commands, some of them possibly based on
the capabilities of a specific Windows version.
This provides a way for future lecture files to
warn older program versions, or a current Lecture
program running in an older version of Windows.
5.3.20 POINT
Syntax POINT [text]
Function sets the (first or) next presentation point of an
upcoming slide to a given line of text.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Point Isaac Newton wasn't the only one
See also ColorPoint, FontPoint, MasterTitle, Point,
SamePoint, Show, ShowAndSave, SubPoint,
SubSubPoint, SubSubSubPoint, SubTitle, Title
Comments Lecture increments an internal counter after each
Point/SubPoint so you don't have to use numerous
different commands. Use Point with no text to
leave a blank line between other points on the
slide. Points reinitialize after every Show; use
ShowAndSave if you want to keep the text on hand
for another slide show display.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 23
5.3.21 RUNFILE
Syntax RUNFILE filename
Function suspends processing of the current file and begins
processing the named file. When finished, the
program will continue processing the original
file.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example RunFile NEWS-RLS.LEC
See also AutoShow
Comments you can process a file containing a RunFile of its
own, up to a total "nested level" of four files.
Lecture displays a syntax error message if you
nest too many of these commands.
5.3.22 SAMEPOINT
Syntax SAMEPOINT [text]
Function identical to Point, but it overwrites the text of
the (only or) last Point.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example SamePoint Isaac Newton wasn't the only one
See also ColorPoint, FontPoint, Point, ShowAndSave
Advice use with ShowAndSave to "animate" a slide.
Comments does not affect Lecture's internal counter
(normally incremented for each Point/SubPoint).
Points reinitialize after each Show, so use
ShowAndSave to keep the text on hand for another
slide show display. SamePoint does not have a
corresponding "SameSubPoint" command.
24 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.23 SHOW
Syntax SHOW [delay]
Function displays the currently assembled slide and stops
processing until the user wants to go to the next
slide. Or you can include a delay value (in
seconds) to automatically continue processing the
file after showing the slide.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Show 5
See also AutoShow, Message, ShowAndSave, Wait
Comments clears the values of any previous SubTitle or
Point; in other words, the second of two Show
commands in a row would display only a MasterTitle
and Title. Users can bypass the optional delay
value by choosing to go on to the next slide.
5.3.24 SHOWANDSAVE
Syntax SHOWANDSAVE [delay]
Function identical to Show, but it doesn't clear the text
of any previous SubTitle or Point.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example ShowAndSave 2
See also AutoShow, Show, Wait
Comments often used to "animate" a slide, displaying one
point at a time in a delayed fashion.
5.3.25 SUBPOINT
Syntax SUBPOINT [text]
Function identical to Point, but it indents the text.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example SubPoint Isaac Newton wasn't the only one
See also ColorPoint, FontPoint, Point, SubSubPoint
Advice use after a Point.
Comments see Point.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 25
5.3.26 SUBSUBPOINT
Syntax SUBSUBPOINT [text]
Function identical to SubPoint, but it indents the text.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example SubSubPoint Isaac Newton wasn't the only one
See also ColorPoint, FontPoint, Point, SubPoint,
SubSubSubPoint
Advice use after a SubPoint.
Comments see Point.
5.3.27 SUBSUBSUBPOINT
Syntax SUBSUBSUBPOINT [text]
Function identical to SubSubPoint, but it indents the text.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example SubSubSubPoint Isaac Newton wasn't the only one
See also ColorPoint, FontPoint, Point, SubSubPoint
Advice use after a SubSubPoint.
Comments see Point.
5.3.28 SUBTITLE
Syntax SUBTITLE [text]
Function sets the subtitle of the upcoming slide to a given
value.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example SubTitle Safely dividing by zero
See also ColorSubTitle, FontSubTitle, MasterTitle, Title,
Point, Show, ShowAndSave, SubPoint
Comments the SubTitle text reinitializes after every Show.
Use ShowAndSave if you want to keep the text on
hand for another slide display.
26 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.29 TITLE
Syntax TITLE [text]
Function sets the text for future slide titles.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Title The Need for Calculus
See also ColorTitle, FontTitle, MasterTitle, SubTitle,
Point, Show, ShowAndSave, SubPoint
Comments the title text remains constant until changed.
5.3.30 TOTALPOINTS
Syntax TOTALPOINTS value
Function specifies the maximum number of points/subpoints
allowed on a single slide.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example TotalPoints 10
See also Point, SubPoint
Caution use only once, at the top of the file. Changing
it "on the fly" during a presentation will make
the program resize text so everything fits in the
window (based on its visible height).
Comments defaults to a maximum of seven points/subpoints
per slide. The specified value must fall in the
range of 1..32, else Lecture will display a syntax
error message.
Chapter 5, `Lecture file commands' 27
5.3.31 UNCOMMENT
Syntax UNCOMMENT
Function negates a Comment. File processing continues
normally.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Uncomment
See also Accept, Ignore, Comment
Caution use only while developing a lecture file. Do not
use this command to insert comments in the file --
an Ignore Comment could wreak havoc with your
file, especially if the user runs it via a RunFile
command. Instead, use a semicolon ";" character
at the start of each comment line.
Comments Lecture displays a syntax error message if it
reaches the end of a file before encountering an
Uncomment. Multiple Uncomment commands have no
effect after the first one executes (unless you
issue a Comment between them, of course).
5.3.32 UNICONIZE
Syntax UNICONIZE
Function forces the Lecture window to its "normal" window
dimensions.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Uniconize
See also Iconize, Unzoom, Zoom
Comments has no effect on an already-normal-size screen.
Unzoom performs the same function.
28 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
5.3.33 UNZOOM
Syntax UNZOOM
Function forces the Lecture window to its "normal" window
dimensions.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Unzoom
See also Iconize, Uniconize, Zoom
Comments has no effect on an already-normal-size screen.
Uniconize performs the same function.
5.3.34 WAIT
Syntax WAIT delay
Function stops processing for the specified number of
seconds.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Wait 5
See also AutoShow, Show, ShowAndSave
Comments users can bypass the optional delay value by
choosing to go on to the next slide.
5.3.35 ZOOM
Syntax ZOOM
Function forces the Lecture window to occupy the full
screen.
MinVersion Lecture=100, Windows=300
Example Zoom
See also Iconize, Uniconize, Unzoom
Comments has no effect on an already-zoomed window.
29
PART 3
Appendixes
30 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Appendix A
Status & error messages
Couldn't locate the specified lecture file.
* The filename listed with the Lecture command line doesn't
exist.
* A RunFile command specified a bad filename.
Couldn't open the specified lecture file.
* You specified a file containing binary data rather than
ASCII text. (Often occurs if you save a file in Write,
Word, or WordPerfect format.)
* You specified a file containing zero bytes.
Incorrect syntax. Continue?
* You specified a lecture file command with incorrect,
missing, or excess parameters. Read about the command in
question to determine the cause of the problem.
End of file reached with no Uncomment command. Continue?
* A Comment command appears somewhere in the lecture file with
no corresponding Uncomment command.
Runtime error nnnn at xxxx:yyyy
* This "catch-all" error message means Lecture encountered a
problem it couldn't handle. Please tell Barn Owl Software
if you get this message and give a detailed description of
what you did.
Specified value out of range. Continue?
* The lecture file command in question takes a numeric value
only within a specified range. Read about the command to
determine the cause of the problem.
This file uses capabilities of a later version of Lecture and
will not operate as expected under this version of the program.
Continue anyway?
* The current lecture file contains a MinVersion command which
claims it uses commands allowed under a newer version of
Lecture. The lecture file will probably not operate as
expected, but you can choose whether or not to process the
file anyway. Note: a syntax message will pop up whenever
the program encounters a command it can't handle. You
cannot turn off syntax error messages via the "Options/
Messages allowed" menu item.
This file uses capabilities of a later version of Windows and
will not operate as expected under this version of Windows.
Continue anyway?
* The current lecture file contains a MinVersion command which
claims it uses commands designed for a newer version of
Microsoft Windows. The lecture file will probably not
Appendix A, `Status & error messages' 31
operate as expected, but you can choose whether or not to
process the file anyway. Note: a syntax message will pop up
whenever the program encounters a command it can't handle.
You cannot turn off syntax error messages via the "Options/
Messages allowed" menu item.
Too many points/subpoints specified for one slide. Continue?
* You failed to specify a Show command. Lecture continued to
assemble a slide using points for the next slide, and it
eventually exceeded the total number of points allowed.
* You didn't specify a correct TotalPoints value for the slide
in question.
* You previously used a TotalPoints command and failed to
reset the value for this slide.
Unknown command. Continue?
* You failed to use a semicolon as the first character of a
comment line.
* You enclosed comments with a Comment command, but a previous
Ignore Comments command has canceled its effect.
* You have an older version of Lecture and decided to run a
lecture file with commands recognized by a newer version of
the program.
Windows couldn't allocate enough resources to perform this
function!
* Windows didn't have enough memory, file handles, etc.
available for the program to execute a given function.
Close other windows to free up needed resources.
32 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Appendix B
Helpful hints
B.1 Invoking Lecture
LECTURE
Windows loads the program into memory with no special
instructions.
LECTURE MYTALK.LEC
Windows loads the program into memory; it then immediately
begins processing the MYTALK.LEC file.
B.2 Common questions & answers
"I just need to present a quick lecture. What commands do I
absolutely have to know about to get started?"
You need to learn six commands: MasterTitle, Title, SubTitle,
Point, SubPoint, and Show.
"The Lecture window sometimes zooms in/out of full-screen status
or pops back up after I iconize it. How come?"
Lecture files can issue commands affecting the state of
Lecture's window. Specifically, the lecture file contains one of
the following commands: Zoom, Unzoom, Iconize, or Uniconize.
"Can I edit lecture files with another program besides NotePad?"
Certainly -- but remember, many word processors use their own
proprietary file format by default. Please make sure the program
you choose saves your file in ASCII format.
Appendix C, `Troubleshooting a lecture file' 33
Appendix C
Troubleshooting a lecture file
We at Barn Owl Software build lecture files "on the fly" by
resizing Lecture and Microsoft's NotePad as small windows. We
assemble three or four slides in a file, save it, and run it
under Lecture to see how it looks. If all goes well, we "comment
out" those slides with the Comment/Uncomment commands and
assemble another few slides. The process continues until we
finish a lecture, at which point we remove all the Comment/
Uncomment commands. Naturally, we check the final result one
last time just to make sure it runs correctly.
In many cases where a lecture file doesn't display slides as it
should, you may simply have forgotten a Show command. Lecture
will continue to assemble a slide based on commands for the next
slide, possibly displaying a syntax error message in the process.
34 Lecture v1.0 User Manual
Index
A L
ACCEPT command 13 Lecture
AUTOSHOW command 10, 13, limited license 3
14, 20 support 4
legal notices 1
B license See: registration
Barn Owl address 1
BEEP command 13, 14, 20 M
BLACK color command 15, MASTERTITLE command 7, 21,
16, 17 24
BLUE color command 15, 16, MESSAGE command 11, 13,
17 20, 21
MESSAGETITLE command 21
C MINVERSION command 22
cautions 13, 18, 22, 26,
27, See Also: warnings N
COLORBACKGROUND command 15 notes 8, 11, 12, 30, 31,
COLORMASTERTITLE command See Also: cautions
15
COLORPOINT command 16 P
COLORSUBTITLE command 17 POINT command 7, 22, 23,
COLORTITLE command 17 24, 25
COMMENT command 13, 18,
20, 27 R
RED color command 15, 16,
D 17
disk vendors 3 registration 4
distributors See: disk site 4
vendors volume discounts 4
RUNFILE command 18, 23, 27
F
files 8 S
FONTMASTERTITLE command 18 SAMEPOINT command 23
FONTPOINT command 19 shareware 1, 2
FONTSUBTITLE command 19 SHOW command 7, 14, 22,
FONTTITLE command 20 23, 24, 25
SHOWANDSAVE command 14,
G 22, 23, 24, 25
GREEN color command 15, SUBPOINT command 7, 24, 25
16, 17 SUBSUBPOINT command 25
SUBSUBSUBPOINT command 25
H SUBTITLE command 7, 24, 25
hints 32
T
I TITLE command 7, 24, 26
ICONIZE command 20 TOTALPOINTS command 12, 26
IGNORE command 13, 18, 20, trademarks 1
27
Index 35
U W
UNCOMMENT command 13, 18, WAIT command 21, 28
27 warnings See Also: notes
UNICONIZE command 27, 28 warranty 2
UNZOOM command 27, 28 WHITE color command 15,
16, 17
V
visual aids 32 Z
ZOOM command 28