CP/M/CPM_CDROM.iso/beehive/utilitys/cop12.arc/COP12.DOC

Text File | 1991-08-11 | 7KB | 94 lines

                   [COP12.DOC by Michael Freeman 09-May-89]

    The program COP (Console Output Processor) Version 1.2, its source-code,
executable form and documentation (including this document) are copyrighted
1989 by Michael Freeman; 301 N.E. 107th Street; Vancouver, Wa 98685; Telephone
[phone].  Permission is hereby granted to use and/or modify this program
and/or its source-code/documentation as long as such modified code and/or
documentation is not distributed in any form without  the permission, either
in writing or electronically, of the copyright-holder.  Commercial use and/or
sale of this program, its code and/or documentation is strictly
prohibited except that a blind person may use the program in his/her
place of employment in order to facilitate his/her work.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any of these provisions which may be deemed to be in
violation of the copyright of Mr. Hastwell-Batten are null and void.
The module which relocates the program to high-memory (just below the CCP) is
copyrighted 1982, 1984 by John Hastwell-Batten of Australia and is contained
in the file RELOC23.LBR.
    One of the facts of life with which a blind computer user must deal is
that the world of computer software/documentation is filled with a plethora of
ruled lines composed of dashes or equals signs, borders outlined by asterisks,
charts and diagrams whose corners andcolumns are delimited by plus signs and
vertical bars and material whose emphasis is indicated by underline
characters.  While these constructs may improve the appearance of and/or
clarify computer output for the sighted, they constitute a damnable nuisance
for the blind computer user employing a Braille output device and/or a voice
synthesizer to read the computer screen.  This situation is particularly acute
for those whose voice synthesizers do not respond quickly to commands or which
cannot be easily silenced.
    Enter COP (the Console Output Processor).  COP is a program for Z80
systems running CP/M Version 2.2 which installs a RSX (Resident System
Extension) that intercepts output destined for the CP/M Console and, according
to instructions given by the user at the time of installation, compresses
repeated occurrences of specified characters and/or suppresses specified
characters altogether.  This enables the blind computer user to be aware of
line and diagram delimiters without being saddled with the tedious drudgery of
listening to what, for him/her, is superfluous garbage.  In addition, COP now
implements Space/Tab-compression, wherein multiple spaces and/or tabs are
displayed as a single space.  This should help those who read a computer
screen with a Braille output device or an Optacon
    Using the program is simple; to install the RSX, type:
A>COP<CR>
where <CR> stands for a carriage-return.  COP will then issue the prompt:
Characters>
At this time, you may enter characters whose repeated occurrence you want
shown as a lesser number of characters (for example, 1 character).  You may
also enter characters which you want suppressed from Console output
altogether.  The form of a specification is
<character>(<display-count>)
where <character> is the character you want compressed/suppressed and
<display-count> is the number of times you want the character to appear for
each occurrence of the repeated string of that character.  Such specifications
follow each other without intervening spaces and without a <CR>.  The
sequence of characters/display-counts is terminated by <CR>.  Any character
which may be entered under BDOS function 10 (String Input) may be entered.  A
display-count of 0 is interpreted as meaning that the character to which it
refers is to be suppressed from Console output.  For example, the specification
Characters>=(2)*(1)\(0)<CR>
would mean that any string of equals-signs of length greater than 2 would be
displayed as two equals-signs; repeated asterisks would be displayed as a
single asterisk and backslashes would be suppressed from Console output
completely.  Display-counts may take values from 0 through 255 inclusive
(though decimal numbers larger than 255 may be entered).  Display-counts
larger than 255 will produce unexpected results as only the lowest eight bits
of the number are used for the display-count.  Forty characters may be
specified for processing by COP.  The specifications may take up to 255
character positions inclusive.
Describing all this is far more difficult than demonstrating it.  A little
experimentation will give you a good feel for what COP expects.
    Before returning you to the CCP, COP asks you if you want Space-
compression.  Any answer other than "Y" followed by <CR> is judged to mean
"no".  If Space-compression is in force, Tabs are converted to spaces and
consecutive spaces/tabs are shown as a single space.  Thus, if you use an
Optacon to read the computer screen, material with widely-spaced columns or
data will be compressed so that you may read it easily without having to hunt
all over the screen trying to find the data.
    After the Space-compression query, COP exits to the CCP.
    To remove COP, simply run it again.  Console output interception ceases
and the memory occupied by COP is freed for use by transient programs.
    Most of the time, CP/M programs will not know COP is doing its thing.  COP
occupies a small amount of memory just below the CCP.  This is not normally a
problem except for memory-hogs like ARK (which will take all the memory-space
they can get).  With this caveat, you may use COP freely without bothering
other programs.  The command-processor XCCP will even work with cop (load XCCP
first).  The directory-cache program SPEEDUP is one of those which doesn't
like COP.  But then we Flower Children can remember when cops weren't all that
popular!  If you are in doubt as to whether COP will work with a particular
program, try it!  The worst that can happen is that you will become well-
acquainted with your Reset button!
    Thanks and appreciation go to Howard Goldstein for his suggestions/bug
fixes.  This is a better program than it would have been without him.
    I hope that COP (the Console Output Processor) proves useful.  It's one
way to "conquer the stars".
                              [End of COP12.DOC]