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MAKER.TXT
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1988-02-03
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^C^1ScreenMaker
^Cby
^CDan Harrison & Paul Harris
ScreenMaker is a program that lets you design text-mode screens. You can use
it to set up title screens for your programs, to experiment with screen layouts
(menus, etc.) for possible program use, to set up screens to present as part of
a slideshow (with the ShowMaker program on this issue), or for many other
purposes. It has numerous options and features to let you design screens using
all characters and colors available to the PC.
To begin the ScreenMaker, select 'Run It', or, with disk 2 of this issue in
your drive, type `maker' followed by the [ENTER] key. After an initial greeting
screen you will arrive at the SETUP section.
SETUP:
You may press the [ESC] key to bypass this section or make changes to
how the program runs.
MAIN EDITING SCREEN:
All normal word processing keys are designed to work as expected.
Special function keys (F1-F10) will allow quick modifications to the
screens being edited. Ten macro keys can be programmed using the
Alt+number (1-0) keys. After programming the macro key, it can be
initiated by a single keystroke. Extended characters can be entered
by pressing the Alt+number (pad). Alternately (and much faster), a
mouse can be used for moving, initiating functions, painting, etc.
To exit from ScreenMaker, press the [ESC] key (you will be given
another chance).
SCREEN INTERACTION:
Special functions will be prompted automatically with pop-up windows.
Also, a non-destructive on-screen menu line is available (at your
request). Special functions can be selected by single keystrokes,
cursor keys, or by a mouse. In general, the first character of a menu
item can be pressed to activate the function. Alternately, the
function can be highlighted by using cursor keys followed by the
[ENTER] key. If you have a mouse, move the mouse in the appropriate
direction to highlight the selection, then press the left mouse
button (ENTER) or the right mouse button (ESC). On a three-button
mouse, the center button is not used.
SETUP: Highlight the selection to change, then press the [ENTER] key.
COLORS:
In this section, the foreground, background, and border colors (CGA
only) can be selected. This is explained in detail in the color
section (see `F7'). The monochrome `color' option screen is different
from the color screen. The default color is grey on black with a
black border.
MARGINS:
The left margin is the column at which the cursor is returned when
the [ENTER] key is pressed. Pressing the left cursor key, [HOME] key,
or [SHIFT+TAB] key will allow the cursor to be moved to the extreme
left of the screen. The default left margin is 1. The right margin is
used for an anchor during insert and delete character mode. The
default right margin is 80. Both margins are used for justification
and centering. Margins can only be set in the SETUP section. The left
margin cannot match or exceed the right margin and vice versa.
SNOW SUPPRESSION:
Certain types of color monitors and adapters create interference
(snow) during screen displays. If this is a problem, the snow can be
suppressed by selecting `Snow Suppression On'. With the snow
suppression on, the screen displays will be slightly slower. The
default is snow suppression off.
DEPROGRAM/LOAD MACRO KEYS:
This section will allow you to view and deprogram the macro keys. To
deprogram a macro key, highlight it, then press the [ENTER] key.
TABS:
The number of spaces moved with the [TAB] key (right) or the [SHIFT+
TAB] key (left) can be set here. The range is from 2 to 50 with a
default of 8 spaces. The tabs used when making boxes, aligning text,
and moving blocks are also affected by this setting.
MENU:
A non-destructive one-line menu can be placed on the top or bottom of
the screen as a prompt for the function keys. While the menu is on
the screen, the cursor cannot move to that line, however anything
drawn on that line will remain there and be saved with the rest of
the screen without the one-line menu. The mouse cursor can be moved
to the menu line and the function key activated by pressing the left
mouse button or pressing the right mouse button for escape.
KEEP SETTINGS:
The current settings will be saved to a file called MAKER.INI and you
will be prompted for a Macro file name (see the Macro section).
RETURN TO SCREEN:
Any changes made will be kept for this session. You may return to the
SETUP section at any time while in the main screen editor by pressing
the [ESC] key and selecting `PROCEED TO SETUP'. This might be useful
when you want to change tabs, macro keys, or margins. When finished,
you will be returned to the unchanged main screen editor.
MAIN SCREEN EDITOR:
All functions of a word processor can be used to create or modify a
screen.
ALPHANUMERIC KEYS:
The alphanumeric keys perform their normal functions and can be
shifted or unshifted (a-z, A-Z, 0-9, etc.)
TAB:
The [TAB] key is a non-destructive key which moves the cursor to the
right the number of positions programmed in the SETUP section
(normally 8 spaces).
SHIFT+TAB:
The [SHIFT+TAB] key is the same as the [TAB] key but moving the
cursor to the left.
SPACE:
The [SPACE] key moves the cursor to the right one space removing the
character at the current cursor position.
BACKSPACE:
The [BACKSPACE] key moves the cursor to the left one space removing
the character to the left of the current cursor position.
CURSOR KEYS (arrow keys):
The cursor key moves the cursor in the appropriate direction one
space leaving each character intact. As with most keystrokes that
move the cursor, moving the cursor beyond the extreme right column
wraps the cursor to the extreme left column on the same row and vice
versa. Moving the cursor above the top row wraps the cursor to the
bottom row and vice versa. (Note: If these keys won't work, try
pressing NumLock, then try again.)
CONTROL+ <-- or -->:
The CONTROL left or right cursor moves the cursor to the first
character of the next word or to the last character of the preceding
word. If no word exists (anything on the screen row except a blank
space) the cursor will move to the beginning or end of the current
line.
ENTER:
The [ENTER] key returns the cursor to the left margin (as set in the
SETUP section) on the next line. If the cursor is currently on the
bottom line, the cursor moves to the top line.
ALT+number pad:
The [ALT+number pad] prints the ASCII character entered on the screen
at the cursor. This also changes the current extended character.
ALT+number (top row of the keyboard):
The [ALT+number] keys involve the macro keys. If the key has been
previously programmed, pressing it carries out the macro. If the key
is blank, up to 1000 single keystrokes can be programmed into the
macro. Exit the macro programming mode by again pressing the [ALT+
number] key. While in programming mode the mouse will perform
normally but will NOT be picked up by the macro (avoid the mouse
here).
INSERT:
Pressing the [INSERT] key toggles the insert mode on and off. Typing
keystrokes inserts the keystrokes at the cursor and pushes the entire
line from the cursor to the right margin (as set in the SETUP section)
removing any characters that pass by the right margin. To exit the
insert mode, press any key other than an alphanumeric key.
DELETE:
Pressing the [DELETE] key deletes the character at the cursor and
moves all the characters from the cursor to the right margin (as set
in the SETUP section) to the left one space. The space at the right
margin will be painted the current background color.
PgUp/PgDn:
The [PgUp] key and [PgDn] key moves the cursor to the top/bottom of
the screen on the same column.
HOME/END:
The [HOME] key and [END] key moves the cursor to the left or right
margin on the same row (this is the actual screen margins, not those
set in the SETUP section).
RIGHT SHIFT+CURSOR (right mouse button+mouse movement):
Press and hold the right shift key then press a cursor key (or hold
the right mouse button while moving the mouse). The cursor will move
in the indicated direction leaving the current selected extended
character (as seen on the menu line) where the cursor was. The color
will be the current selected foreground and background color.
LEFT SHIFT+CURSOR (or left mouse button+mouse movement):
Press and hold the left shift key then press a cursor key (or hold
the left mouse button while moving the mouse). The cursor will move
in the indicated direction leaving the character at the cursor
painted with the current selected foreground and background color.
F1 - HELP:
Press the [F1] key or highlight the [F1] menu line with the mouse and
press the left mouse button. Also you may press both mouse buttons
while not on the menu line to initiate [F1].
The HELP section provides two functions:
1. Move the one-line on-screen menu to the top or bottom line or
remove it from the screen.
2. An overview of the major keystrokes and functions are shown.
The special functions (F1-F10) can be initiated from the HELP
section.
Press the [ESC] key (or right mouse button) to exit from the HELP
section back to the main screen editor without changing the on-
screen menu status.
F2 - DISK:
Press the [F2] key or highlight the [F2] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function.
The DISK section provides two functions:
1. Save the screen to the disk.
2. Load a screen from the disk.
Exit this section without saving or loading by pressing the [ESC]
key or right mouse button.
SAVE THE CURRENT SCREEN:
The following file formats are available:
ASCII, BASIC, DESMET C, MACH 2, DBASE,
PARADOX, BINARY, and TURBO PASCAL
LOAD A NEW SCREEN:
A list of `.SCN' files (those saved in binary format) from the
current drive/directory will be displayed for loading on the
screen.
F3 - UPDATE:
Press the [F3] key or highlight the [F3] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function. The UPDATE section
allows you to instantly save the present screen to memory to enable
trying some changes, then instantly undo these changes if desired -
see `F4'. In addition to this manual update, the screen will be
automatically updated when any function key is pressed (except F3 or
F4) to another separate memory section.
F4 - UNDO:
Press the [F4] key or highlight the [F4] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function. This is a dual
function key. Pressing the [F4] key once displays the most current
automatically updated screen - see `F3'. Continued pressing the [F4]
key in succession alternates between automatic and manual updated
screens. This can be a very helpful tool for testing changes to the
screen without having to remake the entire screen if changes are not
wanted (this includes mistakes like loading a new screen accidently).
F5 - BOXES:
Press the [F5] key or highlight the [F5] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function. A choice of five
predefined box patterns is available. Any one of these boxes may be
selected or any character may be entered to make the box (ALT+number
pad can be used for extended characters). Press the [ESC] key or right
mouse button to quit without making a box. After selecting a box type,
a flashing `+' will mark the current cursor position. You may move the
`+' anywhere on the screen using the cursor keys, tab, home, end,
PgUp, PgDn, or mouse. When the `+' is at the position that you want a
corner of the box, press the [ENTER] key or left mouse button. Move
the cursor (or tab, home, end, PgUp, PgDn, or mouse) while drawing the
box on the screen. The box will follow the cursor anywhere on the
screen. When the box appears as you want it on the screen, press the
[ENTER] key or right mouse button to fix it on the screen. Press the
[ESC] key or right mouse button to NOT keep the box. Snow suppression
makes box drawing significantly slower.
F6 - CHAR:
Press the [F6] key or highlight the [F6] key with the mouse to
initiate this function. The CHAR function enables easy selection of
the extended character set. Simply move the cursor to highlight the
desired character and press the [ENTER] key (left mouse button). If
the menu is on the screen the current extended character is displayed
to the right of `F6 CHAR'. The default extended character is ASCII 201
The current selected character can be drawn on the screen by pressing
the [RIGHT SHIFT] key then pressing any cursor key. Pressing the right
mouse button and moving the mouse provides an even faster method to
draw the character on the screen.
F7 - COLOR:
Press the [F7] key or highlight the [F7] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function. Select a color using
cursor keys, home, end, or the letter below the color. The selected
foreground, background, and border colors can be viewed in the box
above the color bar. The monochrome screen is different than the color
screen.
F8 - ALIGN:
Press the [F8] key or highlight the [F8] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function. Three selections are
available (Right, left, center). Select one of the desired functions.
Move the flashing `+' to a corner of the text to align and press the
[ENTER] key (left mouse button). Highlight the block of text to align
then press the [ENTER] key (left mouse button). The text will be
aligned and the space left will be colored with the current background
color. Press the [ESC] key (right mouse button) to NOT align the text.
F9 - SHIFT:
Press the [F9] key or highlight the [F9] key with the mouse and press
the left mouse button to initiate this function. Five selections are
available (insert line, delete line, shift screen left, shift screen
right, and erase column). Select one of the desired functions. Move
the flashing `+' to the row or column for the function and press the
[ENTER] key (left mouse button).
Inserting a line moves the screen down one line at the cursor.
Deleting a line at the cursor moves the screen up one line.
Shifting the screen left moves the entire screen left one column at
the cursor column.
Shifting the screen right moves the entire screen right one column
at the cursor column.
Erasing the column at the cursor pulls the screen in one column
from the right to the cursor.
The blank line left from any of these operations leaves that line/
row the current background color.
F10 - MOVE:
Press the [F10] key or highlight the [F10] key with the mouse and
press the left mouse button to initiate this function. Six selections
are available with MOVE (move and keep, move and erase, clear, paint,
save section, insert section). Select the desired movement. Move the
`+' to a corner of the block to be moved then press the [ENTER] key
(left mouse button). Highlight the block to be moved using cursor
keys, tabs, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End, or mouse movement then press the
[ENTER] key (left mouse button). Move and keep blocks - once marked,
the block can be moved around the screen. When set in the desired
location, press the [ENTER] key. The original will be left also.
Move and erase blocks - once marked, the block can be moved around
the screen. When set in the desired location, press the [ENTER]
key. The original block will be left blanked with the current
background color.
Clear blocks - As the `+' is moved the block will be
erased with the current background color.
Paint blocks - As the `+' is moved the block will be painted with
the current foreground/background color.
Save a screen section - The marked block will be saved to memory
to be used in future screens. A new screen saved will write over
this one.
Insert a screen section - The screen section saved above will be
inserted at the `+'. If no screen was saved, a full blank screen
will be located starting at the `+'.
ESCAPE:
Press the [ESC] key or the right mouse button when the mouse is on the
menu line. Four selections are available with ESCAPE (save and exit,
exit without saving, SETUP, or Clear the screen).
Exit without saving - this returns to DOS.
Setup - Entry to the SETUP section is available here - see the
SETUP section for further details.
Clear the screen - the screen is completely erased using the
current background color.
Note: There is not enough space to save screens on either disk of BIG BLUE
DISK. Use a disk of your own.
DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES:
^FMAKER.EXE
^FMAKER.WND