SKYWRITER Version 1.0 (c) 1983,1991 James J. Keene, Ph.D.

SkyWriter Language Reference

A SkyWriter program line consists of two fields:  Text  and  Command.
The Text field is required only when B, C, F, M or P instructions are
in the Command field.

The simplicity of SkyWriter commands may be easily appreciated.
Text is supplied to the document by the P, M and F commands in programs.
Text can also come from the XXX, PRINT and LIST commands
and from the Function Keys, if text has been Assigned.

Program Command field instructions:

  An   ASSIGN Program Text or user-specified string n (1 to 20) for use
        by the USE command below or by Function Key n (1 to 10).
  B    BEGIN using Program Text as subdirectory in current path or
        as new path (if Text contains a "\" or ":"), to get Files.
  C    CALL SkyWriter program in File as subroutine.
  D    DOUBLE SPACE (same as R2 below).
  END  of program (or return from subroutine).
  F    FILE specified by File inserted into document.
  Gn   GO to Program Text if last menu choice B to P was n
           (n = 2 to 16 for B to P respectively).
  H    HEADER (menu page 1 line A) inserted before first menu choice.
  In   INDENT left margin n spaces until further notice.
  Jn   JUMP n program lines (n = + or - number).
  K    KILL normal insertion of commas between Menu Text choices.
  L    LINE output of Text overrides right margin formating.
  M    MENU in File displayed.
  Nn   NEXT text on document line n.
  O    ONE Menu Text choice by user automatically advances program.
  P    PRINT Program Text.
  Q    QUIT using current subdirectory to get Files.
  Rn   n carriage RETURN-line feeds inserted into document.
  Sn   n SPACES inserted in document line.
  Tn   TAB n spaces from left margin in document line.
  Un   USE Assigned string n in next occurrence of XXX.
  Wn   WIDTH of document lines set to n for right margin formatting.
  XEND within any subroutine, ends program and document.
  .    insert "." after menu if text selected from it.
  ,    insert "," after menu if text selected from it.
  ;    insert ";" after menu if text selected from it.

  NOTE:
  n = 1 to 3 character integer number.
  XXX = blank in Text field filled in during real-time writing.
  Program Text = Text in a program line trimmed of trailing spaces.
  Menu Text = Text in a menu line trimmed of trailing spaces.
  File = Filename left-justified in Program Text field, followed
         by a space and optional Comment, used by C, F and M.

Program Text fields contain text for the document if the P command is used.
The Program Text field is a File for C, F or M, or is a Path
   for the B command.
The HKO.,; commands modify program lines containing a M command.
The other commands further control the writing process.

The single-character commands (without the n argument) may appear in the
Program Command field in any order.  However, commands with the n argument
must be the last in each Command field; and only one of these may appear
per program line.

The SkyWriter Language Interpreter executes commands in this order:
 Q (B or C) (END) (one of AIJNRSTUW) (F or M with HKO.,; or P) LDRG

Menu Command field instructions:
 On menu page 1, Line A, the first and second characters of the Command
 field may be used for the H,K, O or .,; commands above.
 This is often convenient for the programmer, since the desired handling
 of header, commas, text choices and other punctuation is often most
 easily specified when a menu itself is being edited.

Menu Text field commands:
     XXX        is a "blank" to be filled in with any text.
     GO TO Text tranfers control to the program line containing the Text.
     PRINT file inserts file text in document with right margin reformated.
     LIST file  inserts file text in document using line format in file.

Program Text field commands:
Same as those for Menus if the program line includes the P (PRINT) command.

Real-time Writing commands:
   B to P  Select Menu Text to write into document.
   Tab     Selects menu column, if there is more than one.
   1 to 9  Select menu page for screen display.
   ()*+.-, Insert command character into document.
   SPACE   Advances program from menu to next program line.
   <-      Causes program to "backspace" to the previous menu display.
   Delete  Deletes last character from document.
   R       Accesses editing by user of menu text.
   S       Executes SkyWriter program line written by user.
   V       Positions to next line (same as carriage-return with line feed).
   X       Uses XXX to write anything, including GO TO, PRINT & LIST.
   Y or A  Inserts "and" into document.
   Z       ZAP deletes text in document to the last "."
   Ctrl E  Ends document and closes its file before the program END line.
   F1-F10  Function Keys access Assigned strings, if any.

   For free technical assistance on the SKYWRITER,
   call (609) 953-7205 or write

   Computer Intelligence Assets
   130 Hiawatha Trail
   Medford Lakes, NJ 08055 USA

   Best wishes and thanks for using the SkyWriter.
