ASCIEDIT Version 1.00 03-22-91 CA Whisler EDIT Box Description: The Edit Box, located to the far left side of the screen, consists of one rectangular black Edit Window surrounded by four horizontal and two vertical Edit Lines that can be used as reference edges for character creation. Each line is identified by a letter and an associated number. Edit Lines can be repositioned by using either the UPPER or LOWER case of the letter that identifies the line. There are two reference lines, one each for the horizontal and vertical axes, that have been chosen as baselines. They are the (Z) and (L) lines respectively and their numeric value is always zero. The associated number of each of the other reference lines represents the relative distance from that line to its baseline, and is updated if the line is moved. View of Edit Window showing lower L and R lines and a partial character. ³°ΘΝΌ °ΘΝΌ ³ ³°°°°°°° ³ ΐΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΩ ³ ³ ³ R +7 L +0 View of Edit Window if "R" pressed; note value of R has changed to +8. ³°ΘΝΌ °ΘΝΌ ³ ³°°°°°°° ³ ΐΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΩ ³ ³ ³ R +8 L +0 View of Edit Window if "r" pressed; note value of R has changed to +6. ³°ΘΝΌ °ΘΝΌ ³ ³°°°°°°° ³ ΐΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΩ ³ ³ ³ R +6 L +0 All of the horizontal and vertical Edit Lines can be shifted in unison by using the Arrow keys. All of the Edit Lines, and any current character, will move in the respective arrow direction until an Edit Line reaches an Edit Window edge. View of Edit Window vertical lines after the right arrow key has been pressed three times. ³ °ΘΝΌ °ΘΝΌ ³ ³ °°°°°°° ³ ΐΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΩ ³ ³ ³ R +7 L +0 Please note: The program DOES NOT HAVE a wrap-around feature. This means that if you shift a character far enough, any portion of the character that is not bounded within the Edit Lines will be lost. View of Edit Window with character shifted towards left as far as possible; note that the furthermost left characters have been lost. ³ΘΝΌ °ΘΝΌ ³ ³°°°°°° ³ ΐΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΩ ³ ³ ³ R +7 L +0 The Mouse is active only within the confines of the black Edit Window. Pressing the left Mouse button displays the current active ASCII character at the Mouse cursor location. **************************************************************** ASCII Box Description: The ASCII box, located in the upper right side of the screen, contains characters representing codes from 176 to 223. The layout and character grouping hopefully has simplified their selection. In some cases characters are displayed in more than one location to complete the groupings. The current active character is displayed in yellow. Active characters are chosen using the left Mouse button. Any space in the ASCII box may be chosen and used as an eraser to remove misplaced characters. **************************************************************** CHARACTER Box Description: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ CHARACTER ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character : ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Ί Ί [ Save ] [ Recall ] [ New ] [ Erase ] Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ The CHARACTER box is located in the lower right of the screen and is used to save, recall, or erase an existing character, or start a new character. The program is capable of storing up to 78 characters of which 26 possible selections are displayed. Picking the word "Character" causes the selection string to cycle through upper case, lower case, and finally numerials. ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ CHARACTER ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character : abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz Ί Ί [ Save ] [ Recall ] [ New ] [ Erase ] Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ The display after the word Character has been picked. Lower case letters are now displayed. Picking Character one more time will show the numeric display, and picking Character a third time will bring back the upper case display. Saving a Character: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ CHARACTER ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character : ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Ί Ί Choose character to Save -- Esc aborts Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Pick [ Save ] from the display and you will be prompted to choose a letter to represent the design you have made. Picking any letter will save whatever is presently in the Edit Window to the letter chosen. The chosen letter's color will change to yellow, to indicate a saved character in that position, and the lower line will return to normal. If you attempt to overwrite an existing saved design, the following warning message will be displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character Already..EXISTS Ί Ί Enable Overwrite ? Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Answering "Y" will overwrite the existing saved character with the new design. Answering "N" or pressing the Esc key displays the follow: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character Already..EXISTS Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Please note: The program is smart enough to know if it is going to overwrite an existing character and will ask you to confirm your intentions. However, the program WILL SAVE a blank Edit Window to any character location and relies on your wisdom to know the difference between something and nothing. Recalling a Character: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ CHARACTER ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character : ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Ί Ί Choose character to Recall--Esc aborts Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Pick [ Recall ] from the display and you will be prompted to choose a letter for recall. Picking a letter will recall whatever design is associated with that letter and display it in the Edit Window, and the lower line will return to normal. Recalling a saved character does not remove it from the saved list. If you attempt to recall a character that has not been saved the following error message will be displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί That Character..NOT Saved Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Please note: The program WILL NOT prompt you to save any design you are currently working on before recalling a character and will write over anything that is displayed in the Edit Window. Starting a New Character: Pick [ New ] from the display. [ New ] will change to bright white and the Edit Window will be cleared of any design. Please note: The program DOES NOT prompt you to save any design you are currently working on before clearing the Edit Window. Erasing a Character: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ CHARACTER ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Character : ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Ί Ί Choose character to Erase - Esc aborts Ί ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Pick [ Erase ] from the display and you will be prompted to choose the letter you wish to erase. Picking a letter removes that design from the saved list, changes the letter's color back to black, and returns the lower line to normal. If you attempt to erase a character that does not exist, the following error message is displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί That Character..NOT Saved Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Please note: The program is smart enough not to erase a design that does not exist, but it WILL NOT prompt you to reconsider your request. It assumes you know what you are doing and will immediately erase any saved character. *************************************************************** FILE Box Description: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί Ί Bytes free: 00,000,000 Ί Ί [Save File] [Load File] [Help] [Quit] Ί Ί ASCIEDIT (c) 1.00 03-02-91 CA Whisler Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ The FILE box is located in the lower right of the screen and is used to change the path or file name, save or load a file, display the help file or quit. Changing the Path: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Path displays the current drive and directory that the program detected when it first started. The path can be as long as 26 characters and will always be displayed as a drive letter and associated directories. Picking "Path" will display a reverse image hi-lite bar over the Path field. A new path statement can include a drive letter, but if the drive letter is omitted the current drive will be assigned. Entering a path that consists of only a "\" or just a drive letter assigns the root directory of the current drive to Path. The program immediately checks the path statement for a valid path. If the path cannot be found, or if an incorrect drive has been specified, the following error message is displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Path as Specified NOT Found Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ If the drive doors on either A: or B: are open or if there is no disk in the drive, the following message is displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Unable to Read Drive A: Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ or ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Unable to Read Drive B: Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Changing the File Name: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί When the program first starts, a file name of UNTITLED.LCF is assigned as a default. Editing File name is similar to editing the path. Picking "File name" will display a reverse image hi-lite bar over the first nine characters in the file name field. All files are given the extension LCF as a default and this cannot be changed. The program does not check for a duplicate file until the [Save File] command is selected. The Bytes Free Field: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί Ί Bytes free: 00,000,000 Ί Bytes free indicates the available storage space left on the drive as specified by Path. Currently 35112 bytes of storage space are required for each LCF file. If the available disk space falls below 36000 bytes this number is shown in red. Saving a File: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί Ί Bytes free: 00,000,000 Ί Ί [Save File] Picking [Save File] saves the current active character set to the path and file displayed in the File box. The program first checks for a duplicate file in the current path and if one exists, the following warning message is displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί File Already...EXISTS Ί Ί Enable Overwrite ? Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Answering "Y" will create a backup of the existing file and save all current designs to the file name. Although the program checks for an existing file, it does this EACH time you save any file. In plain English; if you just loaded the file NONAME.LCF, did nothing to the file and then tried to save it, the program would prompt you with the above duplicate file message. Answering "N" or pressing the Esc key displays the follow: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί File Already...EXISTS Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Attempting to save a file that does not have any saved characters brings up the following error message: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί We Have NO Saved Characters Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Attempting to save a file to a disk that is short on storage space brings up the following error message: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Disk FULL..Cannot Save File Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ If by some chance, the disk in drive A: or B: has the write protect tab set, the following message is displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί Disk is...WRITE Protected Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Loading a File: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί Ί Bytes free: 00,000,000 Ί Ί [Save File] [Load File] Picking [Load File] brings up a windowed listing of the currently available .LCF files in the drive and directory listed in path. To select a file, use the arrow keys to hi-lite the file name, then press Enter to load. Please note: the program DOES NOT check to see if you have saved the current file and WILL write over all allocated memory when the new file is loaded. This of course, will cause you to loose any designs you have not saved to disk. In case a file has either accidentially or intentionally aquired an LCF extension, or if by some remote chance, another program uses a file with an LCF extension, the program checks for an identifying header before loading the file. If the header does not match what the program expects, the following message is displayed: ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ» Ί File Format is..INCORRECT Ί Ί Aborting This Procedure Ί ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ Finding Help: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί Ί Bytes free: 00,000,000 Ί Ί [Save File] [Load File] [Help] Picking [Help], pressing the RIGHT Mouse button, or pressing the F1 key loads ASCIHELP.TXT (this file). The program WILL NOT hunt for this file, and expects to find ASCIHELP.TXT in the same directory that the program resides in. All of the expected navagating keys, Page Up, Page Down, Home, End, and the cursor direction keys (the Arrow keys), are recognized by this procedure. Pressing the F3 key brings up a text search feature as an aid for finding "whatever you are looking for" quickly. Pressing Esc removes the help screen from the display. Quitting the Program: ΜΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ FILE ΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΉ Ί Path : D:\DDDDD\DDD Ί Ί File name : UNTITLED.LCF Ί Ί Bytes free: 00,000,000 Ί Ί [Save File] [Load File] [Help] [Quit] Ί Picking [Quit] or pressing ALT+X quits the program. The program DOES NOT prompt you to save your work before exiting. *************************************************************** Key Presses: The following is a summary of the key presses the program recognizes and what you can expect them to accomplish. Esc : aborts the current active command ALT + X: quits the program F1 : brings up the Help File F3 : text search in Help File Arrows : moves Edit Lines and Character in arrow direction. A : moves "A" line up a : moves "A" line down B : moves "B" line up b : moves "B" line down D : moves "D" line up d : moves "D" line down Z : moves "Z" line up z : moves "Z" line down L : moves "L" line right l : moves "L" line left R : moves "R" line right r : moves "R" line left