*------------------------* The Screen Maker Utilities *------------------------* Version 1.0 (C) Copyright 1993 Randall W. Jenkins All Rights Reserved *----------------------------------------------------------* Introduction *----------------------------------------------------------* The Screen Maker Utilities are a collection of DOS executable programs that perform screen generation and manipulation on color text computer systems. These programs are shareware programs as defined below. The Screen Maker Utilities include: o Screen Maker (SCREEM.EXE) a screen generation program. o Show It (SHOWIT.EXE) a screen display utility. o Batch Menu (BATCHMEN.EXE) and menu generation utility for use in batch files. System Requirements for the Screen Maker Utilities are as follows. IBM Compatible Personal Computer using DOS version 2.1 or later and using a color monitor. Definition of Shareware: Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software,and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook,whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT Users of The Screen Maker Utilities must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "The Screen Maker Utilities are supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of The Screen Maker Utilities." The Screen Maker Utilities are a collection of "shareware programs" and are provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find this program useful and find that you are using The Screen Maker Utilities and continue to use The Screen Maker Utilities after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $ 25.00 USD to Randall W. Jenkins. The $ 25.00 USD registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Commercial users of The Screen Maker Utilities must register and pay for their copies of The Screen Maker Utilities within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Randall W. Jenkins. Anyone distributing The Screen Maker Utilities for any kind of remuneration must first contact Randall W. Jenkins at the address below for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering The Screen Maker Utilities immediately (However Randall W. Jenkins must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of The Screen Maker Utilities.). You are encouraged to pass a copy of The Screen Maker Utilities along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the The Screen Maker Utilities system. Send your completed registration form to: Randall W. Jenkins 1800 Viking Ave. Orrville, Ohio 44667 Compuserve: [72130,1730] Distribution Files: The Screen Maker Utilities must be distributed with all of the following files intact. SCREEM.TXT - This User's Guide. SCREEM.EXE - The Screen Maker Program. SHOWIT.EXE - The Show It screen display program. BATCHMEN.EXE - The Batch Menu Program. SCRDEMO1.SCR - Part of demo package. SCRDEMO2.SCR - ditto. SCRDEMO3.SCR - ditto. SCRDEMO4.SCR - ditto. DEMO.BAT - An Impressive Demo of the limitless capabilities of these most useful utilities. BDEMO.BAT - Another impressive demo featuring the Batch Menu program. *----------------------------------------------------------* Getting Started *----------------------------------------------------------* Before you begin using the Screen Maker Utilities, you should create a backup copy of the programs. Simply copy all of the files specified above to a formatted floppy diskette. Example: A:\> Copy A:\*.* B:\*.* Then press the enter key . Installing The Screen Maker Utilities: Once you have made a backup copy, use the backup copy to load the program or if your system has a fixed disk, copy the contents of the backup disk to a selected directory on the fixed disk. Once the programs are copied to a working hard disk or diskette then you are ready to use The Screen Maker Utilities. *----------------------------------------------------------* Screen Maker (SCREEM.EXE) *----------------------------------------------------------* This program is the screen generation portion of The Screen Maker Utilities. Use it to create unique and exciting screens to use as introduction screens, animation sequences (text based animation in conjunction with the SHOWIT.EXE program), program prototyping, batch file magic. The possibilities are limited only by your creativity. The Screen Maker Program is executed by typing the executable file name at the DOS prompt. example: C:\>Screem The Screen Maker Program begins by displaying an introduction screen. Press to continue to the main editing screen. The main editing screen has a bar at the top and the bottom of the screen. The top bar displays the name of the program and the help key (F1 function key). The bottom bar shows the x and y coordinate location of the cursor, the current character, the foreground and background color selections and the specific editing mode of the program. THE MAIN MENU To activate the main menu, press the ESC key. To remove the main menu from the screen, press the ESC key again. The main menu contains the normal program selections you will need to load, edit and save screen files. The main menu consists of the following selections. New File - Select this to clear the current file from Screen Maker memory. Load File - Select this to load a file from a floppy or fixed (hard) drive. Save File - Select this to save the current screen data to a floppy or fixed drive. Data Path - This selection allows the user to change the default data path for loading and saving files. The default value is the drive and directory from which the screen maker program is loaded. Paste - Use this selection to paste selected screen data to the currently loaded screen. Show Screen - Selecting this removes the colored bars at the top and bottom of the screen to show what the screen file will look like when displayed. Colors - This selection allows the user to change the default foreground and background colors for characters placed when editing a screen. Character - Select this to change the currently selected editing character. Select Mode - This allows the user to select from one of six special character placement modes. Options Menu - This brings up a second menu that allows the user to change default parameters of the screen maker program. Exit - Quit Screen Maker and return to DOS. THE MARK MENU This menu appears anytime a section of the screen is marked (in mark mode). This menu contains many useful commands to be performed on the marked portion of the screen. Cut - Removes the marked area from the screen and saves it for later retrieval using the Paste menu selection. Copy to Scrap - Copies the marked area of the screen (leaving it in place) and saves it for later retrieval using the Paste menu selection. Clear - Clears the marked area with space characters. This will also use the active foreground and background colors. Recolor - Recolors the marked area with the active foreground and background colors. Character Fill - This will fill the marked area with the current character in the active foreground and background colors. Fill with black - This will fill the marked area with space characters using black as the background color and white as the foreground color. Exit - exit the menu leave the marked area as it was before. *----------------------------------------------------------* Show It (Showit.EXE) *----------------------------------------------------------* Show it is used to display the screen files generated by Screen Maker. Usage: Showit <[@]Filename.ext> [/Dxxx, /MDxxx, /W, /C /Ox /R] - Screen data file to display <[@]Filename.ext> - File containing multiple screen files to display. This option allows the user to display multiple files in the time frame necessary for screen animation. Run Demo.Bat for a Mind boggling example of this feature. Options: /D - Delay xxx amount of time in seconds. /W - Wait for key to be hit before continuing. /C - Clear screen before displaying file. /MD - Millisecond delay between multiple screen files (animation). /O - Special options as listed below: x=[S], Scroll after display complete. x=[B], Back scroll after display complete. x=[L], Left scroll after display complete. x=[R], Right scroll after display complete. x=[T], Clear screen with special effect. /R - Repeat option, repeats the screen sequence until a key is pressed. /S - Slow Display (Use only if screen flicker is a problem). *----------------------------------------------------------* Batch Menu (BATCHMEN.EXE) *----------------------------------------------------------* This program is used to display a menu from within a batch file. Selections from within the batch file can then be made because Batch Menu returns an errorlevel value corresponding to the selection the user chooses. An errorlevel of 0 is returned if the ESC key is pressed. Usage: BatchMen Row, Col, Selection(s)... [/T /R /C] Selection(s) - This is a list of menu selections separated by spaces that will appear in the menu. Row - The row of the upper left corner of the menu. Col - The column of the upper left corner of the menu. /T<title> - the optional title for the menu /R - Restore the original screen on exit. /C - Clear screen before displaying menu.