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P R O G R A M M E R ' S P R O D U C T I V I T Y P A C K
---------------------------------------------------------------
* L I T E *
---------------
Version 1.01
--------------
A N S W E R S . D O C
-----------------------
Copyright (c) 1988-1991 by Falk Data Systems.
All rights reserved.
Last updated: March, 1991
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction .................................................. 1
Customizing Questions ......................................... 2
EMS/XMS Memory Questions ...................................... 2
Disk Cache Questions .......................................... 3
Hot Key Questions ............................................. 3
Miscellaneous Questions ....................................... 4
Sidekick Questions ............................................ 7
Video Display Questions ....................................... 7
Mouse Questions ............................................... 9
Conclusion .................................................... 9
INTRODUCTION:
-------------
Welcome to the ANSWERS.DOC text file. The purpose of this text
file is to answer the most commonly asked questions regarding the
use of The Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite. The information
provided here is also present in the ProLite User's Guide. This
file presents information in the form of questions and answers,
designed to enable you to quickly find the answers to any
questions that may arise.
Please read the ProLite User's Guide and this text file before
requesting Technical Support. The answers to most questions you
have may be found in these two sources. Of course, if you have
any questions that are not answered in the ProLite User's Guide
or this text file then please contact us for Technical Support.
Common Questions & Answers Page 1 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
We will be glad to assist you in any way we can. Complete
instructions for obtaining Technical Support may be found in the
User's Guide. Thank you for using ProLite.
Note: The term "ProLite" is used interchangeably with
"Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite." While ProLite is the name
of the main program file, it is usually used to refer to the
Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite in general, including ProLite
and PCustom.
CUSTOMIZING QUESTIONS:
----------------------
What's the difference between changes made with PCustom and
changes made on the fly?
When you make changes "on the fly" the changes are made in
memory only. So when you turn off or reboot your computer, or
when you unload ProLite from memory, any changes made "on the
fly" are lost.
PCustom writes the changes to disk (inside the PROLITE.CFG
file). This means that changes made with PCustom are
"permanent." By permanent, we mean permanent until you change
them again later.
I have an old IBM laptop computer with the old style LCD screen.
It is monochrome only (not gray scale) and it does not have the
ability to display underlined or intense attributes. It is
really hard to see the options on the PCustom menu for
customizing colors. How can I tell what I'm doing?
In addition to displaying each color attribute the way it
would appear on your monitor, you can also look at the top of
the color pick window and see the hexadecimal value of the
currently selected color attribute. If you use only the
values 07 hex (white on black) and 70 hex (black on white -
reverse) then you will be able to easily see all of the
screens on your old style IBM LCD screen.
EMS/XMS MEMORY QUESTIONS:
-------------------------
I don't want ProLite to use EMS memory because I'm going to be
using it for something else. What should I do?
Use PCustom to tell ProLite NOT to use EMS memory, even if it
is available. This can be done through PCustom's "Advanced
Options" menu.
Common Questions & Answers Page 2 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
I have plenty of extended memory, but ProLite refuses to use it.
Why?
ProLite can only swap to extended memory that complies with
the Extended Memory Specification (XMS). Simulated extended
memory, or non-XMS extended memory cannot be used.
Is there any way to reduce the amount of disk space or XMS memory
used by ProLite for swapping purposes?
Yes. PCustom provides an option under "Advanced
Options"/"Swap Control"/"Swap Tuning" which allows you to
determine which is more important to you - speed or conserving
space.
DISK CACHE QUESTIONS:
---------------------
I use Super PC-Kwik (disk caching software) and sometimes I have
problems when ProLite activates the Pop-Up DOS Shell. Is there
anything I can do to fix this?
Yes. PC-Kwik causes problems for many programs which use EMS
memory. There are several things you must keep in mind in
order to avoid conflicts between PC-Kwik and ProLite.
1) Always load PC-Kwik BEFORE loading ProLite.
2) If PC-Kwik is using XMS (Extended) memory, then ProLite
may swap to either XMS or EMS memory.
3) If PC-Kwik is using EMS (Expanded) memory, then ProLite
MUST use either EMS memory or disk for swapping purposes.
DO NOT allow ProLite to use XMS memory if PC-Kwik is using
EMS memory.
HOT KEY QUESTIONS:
------------------
I changed the Hot Keys on the fly and now I can't remember what I
changed them to. What should I do?
The two Hot Keys, for the Calculator and its attachments, and
for the Pop-Up DOS Shell, are displayed on the DOS command
line when you load ProLite into memory. Simply attempt to
load ProLite into memory again. Since it is already loaded
you will get a message telling you about it, but it will also
display the Hot Keys currently in use (even if you've changed
them).
Common Questions & Answers Page 3 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
MAPMEM (part of the TSR Utilities - supplied with the Bonus
Disk) will also show you the main hot key for a resident copy
of ProLite.
I have a 101/102 key enhanced keyboard and I want to set the
Calculator's Hot Key to <Ctrl><Alt><F12> but it won't let me.
Why not?
Some key combinations work better than others as Hot Keys. On
an enhanced keyboard the extra function keys (F11 and F12) do
not make very reliable Hot Keys. In order to prevent
unexpected problems, ProLite and PCustom will not accept any
Hot Key combination that includes either F11 or F12.
For more detailed information on Hot Keys please refer to the
User's Guide, especially to the TIPs that deal with Hot Keys.
I know that ProLite is loaded in memory, but none of the Hot Keys
seem to work. Why?
This usually occurs when you are in a Pop-Up DOS Shell. You
can verify this by trying to load ProLite a second time with
the "-U" command line option. If ProLite is currently
providing a DOS Shell it will print a safety message telling
you this after it attempts to unload the resident copy.
MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS:
------------------------
While ProLite was loaded into memory I tried to enter some box
drawing characters from the extended character set, but I
couldn't do it. This is serious! I use extended characters a
lot! What do I have to do in order to enter extended characters?
ProLite modifies the BIOS keyboard interrupts in order to be
able to recognize key combinations like <Alt><PgUp>. Because
of this, entering ASCII characters is done a little
differently. Instead of holding down the <Alt> key and
entering the ASCII code with the numeric keypad, you will need
to hold down the <Alt> key and one of the <Shift> keys. For
more detailed information refer to the TIPs in the User's
Guide.
Common Questions & Answers Page 4 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
I use Microsoft Windows as a multitasking operating system and
sometimes I have problems when ProLite attempts to activate the
Pop-Up DOS Shell. Can I avoid these problems?
Yes. ProLite is compatible with Windows. As mentioned in the
documentation, ProLite must NOT be loaded BEFORE a
multitasking operating system like DESQview,
TaskView/OmniView, Windows, etc.
We have had reports of ProLite successfully working when
loaded before Windows 3.0 when Windows is in Real (8086) or
Standard (80286) Modes. While it may be possible to load
ProLite before Windows, we don't recommend it. ProLite will
DEFINITELY not work properly if loaded before Windows while
Windows is in 386 Enhanced Mode.
Please remember that you can use Windows to switch between
applications and that a memory resident program is not really
necessary. You can start ProLite with the "-S" (Stand-Alone
mode) command line parameter. This will cause ProLite to run
as any standard program (not memory resident).
I really don't like memory-resident programs, but I use ProLite
because it's the only program that has all the features I need.
Do you have any suggestions for someone who really dislikes
memory-resident stuff?
Sure. ProLite provides two methods by which it may be safely
unloaded from memory whenever the need arises. You can unload
ProLite from within the Calculator by pressing <Alt><U> or
<Ctrl><U> twice in a row, or by typing in "ProLite -U" <Enter>
at the DOS prompt.
So even though ProLite is a memory-resident program, it is
very easy to get it out of the way when you need memory for
something else.
For more specific details regarding safely unloading any
memory-resident programs from memory refer to the ProLite
User's Guide.
Of course you can also run ProLite in stand-alone (non-
resident) mode. For complete instructions please refer to the
User's Guide.
My computer is not 100% IBM compatible, but I still want to use
ProLite. Is there anything special I need to know about?
As you may know, by their very nature, memory-resident
programs are more machine dependent than most other kinds of
software. Because of this, memory-resident programs depend
Common Questions & Answers Page 5 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
quite heavily on a specific environment. The primary
compatibility issue is the built in ROM BIOS in your machine.
If your machine is BIOS compatible with IBM then you should
have no difficulties.
Some machines, such as the old Tandy 1000, are not very IBM
compatible. The Tandy 1000, for instance, has a very
different keyboard than the original IBM PC or XT. Even the
BIOS keyboard services are different (as you have undoubtedly
noticed). This makes a difference when you run programs
designed for IBM compatibles.
ProLite goes to great lengths to maximize performance and ease
of use on IBM compatible machines, but a side effect is that
compatibility becomes a very important issue. The Keystroke
Reference Center is the place that this compatibility issue
will be the most noticeable in cases like the Tandy 1000 that
do not have IBM compatible keyboards.
In a case like this, the best thing to do is to become
familiar with the differences between your keyboard and an IBM
compatible keyboard, and take that into consideration as you
use any programs written for IBM compatibles.
When I try to load ProLite the system appears to hang, but when I
press <Enter> ProLite finishes loading and works fine after that.
This is rather disconcerting. Is there something I should know
about?
Yes, there is. You probably had PopCalc (from BellSoft)
loaded when you tried to load ProLite. PopCalc does strange
things to other memory resident programs. The way to get
around this is to load ProLite BEFORE you load PopCalc.
How do I know if ProLite is compatible with the other memory-
resident programs that I use?
The best way to find out how well one program works with
another is to experiment. Use them together. If they get
along then you're all set. If they don't get along you'll
have to make adjustments for the conflict.
The best thing to do when you find a memory resident program
that conflicts with ProLite, is to load ProLite before you
load the other program. ProLite was specifically designed to
get along well with any memory-resident programs loaded after
it.
When I press a Hot Key, ProLite just beeps. What's the matter?
There are three possible causes.
Common Questions & Answers Page 6 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
First, it may not be safe for ProLite to pop up. ProLite
inspects your system very closely when a Hot Key is pressed.
Your best bet is to try again in a few seconds. Please
consult the User's Guide for more detailed information.
Second, ProLite will only pop up in an 80 column text mode.
If your system is in graphics mode ProLite will not pop up.
Finally, ProLite must have access to its swap file(s) when it
pops up. If ProLite is swapping to disk, and you have erased,
renamed, or moved the swap file(s), ProLite will simply beep
and refuse to pop up.
SIDEKICK QUESTIONS:
-------------------
I use Sidekick from Borland International. Is there anything
special I need to know to use ProLite with Sidekick?
Not really. The ProLite User's Guide includes a detailed
discussion about Sidekick and the problems it can cause other
memory resident programs. Refer to that for the nitty gritty
details. ProLite is so compatible with Sidekick that it can
even be loaded AFTER Sidekick.
I use SideKick Plus, is there anything special I need to know
that is different about it than the older version of Sidekick?
The conflicts that arose with the older version of Sidekick
have been corrected in SideKick Plus. There is no special
information needed to use ProLite with SideKick Plus.
VIDEO DISPLAY QUESTIONS:
------------------------
I have two video adapters and two monitors. I switch back and
forth during program development and debugging. What will this
do to my use of ProLite?
Not a thing. ProLite is smart! It will always pop up on the
current monitor. Also, when it pops up on a color monitor it
will be in color, when it pops up on a monochrome monitor it
will use monochrome display attributes so that it still looks
good.
Common Questions & Answers Page 7 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
I have a black-and-white monitor and ProLite's displays look kind
of funky. How can I fix that?
Black-and-white monitors are basically an inexpensive way to
simulate a color monitor by using varying shades of gray. As
far as any software programs are concerned, your black-and-
white monitor is a color monitor. So what you need to do is
modify ProLite's colors so that they look good on a black-
and-white only monitor.
PCustom allows you to select a display attribute set that
looks good on black-and-white monitors, or even to customize
each attribute individually. PCustom itself can be told to
use black-and-white attributes by entering "-B" on the PCustom
command line. More specific information is covered in the
ProLite User's Guide.
Are any particular video modes inappropriate for use with
ProLite?
Because ProLite was designed as a memory-resident program
there was no way to foresee every possible situation and
environment in which it would be popped up. Because of this,
certain design decisions had to be made. In making these
decisions care was taken to ensure that not only would ProLite
be useful in a wide variety of situations and environments but
also that it would not require an excessive amount of memory
to do it.
ProLite was designed to work in text modes only, not in
graphics mode. Graphics displays require a lot more memory in
order to store the contents of the screen before popping a
window up over something else. Additionally, with all the
differences in hardware, ProLite would have to be
significantly larger just to deal with each graphics adapter
and monitor combination. So you must be in a text mode in
order to pop up ProLite. If you are in graphics mode ProLite
will beep when a Hot Key is pressed, but it will not pop up.
Another consideration is video modes that display 120 or 132
columns at a time. This mode is rarely used, so the current
version of ProLite does not support it.
The last consideration is video modes that display only 40
columns of text at a time. The problem here is that ProLite's
displays won't fit in 40 columns.
The bottom line is that ProLite will only pop up while your
system is in an 80 column text mode. Of course ProLite does
support 25, 43 and 50 line text modes.
Common Questions & Answers Page 8 of 9
- Programmer's Productivity Pack Lite 1.01 - ANSWERS.DOC -
MOUSE QUESTIONS:
----------------
Sometimes when I return from the Pop-Up DOS Shell a mouse cursor
appears when it shouldn't. What should I do?
Start ProLite with the "-P" (Preserve mouse state) command
line option. This will instruct ProLite to preserve and
restore the state of the mouse cursor around a Pop-Up DOS
Shell.
CONCLUSION:
-----------
Any problems or questions that arise can usually be resolved by
consulting the User's Guide. If you can't find the answer there,
or in this question and answer file, then please contact us for
Technical Support. We'll do our best to help you. Please be
sure to have your ProLite serial number handy when you call.
Thanks for your support! We hope you enjoy your new Productivity
Pack Lite package.
Happy Lite ProPak'n!
Common Questions & Answers Page 9 of 9