Copyright: Copyright © 1996-97 Eric G.V. Fookes


Contents

Welcome to Super NoteTab!

Choose from the following topics to read more about the program...

Introduction

Key Features

Installation

How to Uninstal

Super NoteTab Shortcuts

Tips and How to...

Date and Time filters

Command-line Parameters

Updates and Other Programs

Legal

Distribution License

Contacting the Author

Version History


Introduction

Super NoteTab is a versatile multi-page text file editor. It can handle files as large as memory permits and each document is displayed on a tabbed page making it easy to switch between them.

The editor can be configured to occupy a minimum of screen estate and stay on top of other programs. Context-sensitive shortcut menus provide access to all the editor's commands. Super NoteTab makes it easy to open frequently used files; it can even do so automatically each time you start the program. You can also open files by drag-and-dropping files from File Manager or Explorer. Super NoteTab can restore its size and position on the desktop from a previous session.

This program is Freeware! Thank you for sending me a message (E-mail, postcard, ...) if you find it useful.

Note:

This program was written with Delphi and uses components from a Shareware VCL package called the "Super Labeled Input Controls". The package, which I developed, is available for downloading from my web site at the following URL:

http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/geologie/fookes/delphi.htm

Delphi is a trademark of Borland International, Inc.


Key Features

•	Flexible multi-page notepad editor.

•	Edit files as large as memory permits.

•	Covers all features available in Notepad.

•	Each page can have different settings such as font, tab widths, word wrap.

•	Open and edit many text files at once.

•	Quickly open files from your "Favorite File" list.

•	Can search/replace text in all open documents.

•	Context-sensitive shortcut menus.

•	Drag-and-drop files from File Manager or Explorer.

•	Accepts file names passed as parameters to the program.

•	Option to autoload files from "Favorite File" list or those opened during a previous session.

•	Remembers its size and position on the desktop.

•	Can stay on top of other applications.

•	Converts text between ASCII and ANSII.

•	And lots more...


Installation

There is no special procedure to follow. Just place the program and its associated files in the Windows directory or wherever you prefer.

The easiest way to set the Super NoteTab icon on your desktop is to use Explorer. Just select the file NOTETAB.EXE and drag it from Explorer to an unoccupied space on your desktop. You can also add a shortcut to it in your Start menu by choosing Settings / Taskbar...


How to Uninstal

Just delete NOTETAB.EXE, NOTETAB.INI, NOTETAB.HLP and the README.TXT file. If you have created a list of favourite files, you can also delete the FAVORITE.TXT file. All these files are located in the same directory as Super NoteTab.

Note that Super NoteTab does not mess around with your registry file.


Super NoteTab Shortcuts

Click with the right button of the mouse inside the document and you will have access to a shortcut menu with clipboard and other useful editing commands.

Use the same mouse button on the tab bar and you will get a large choice of commands for managing the open documents and configuring the editor. If you have chosen to hide the button bar, then the commands they represent will also be listed in the menu.

Look at the hint line for more information about the highlighted menu item or button.


Tips and How to...

Almost every menu item, button, and input field in the program offers hint information. Whenever you highlight a menu item or place the mouse cursor over a dialogue box element, its hint text is displayed in the programs status bar (at the bottom of the main program window).

When you have several documents open, you can drag-and-drop page tabs to reorder them any way you like. If you have many documents open so that all page tabs are not visible, you might prefer to use the Page Selector (in the Search menu).

Hitting the Delete key when you are in the Page Selector closes the highlighted document.

You can define default document properties through the "Viewer Options" command. These apply to all files that you open subsequently and to documents which have not been assigned properties (font, tab size, word wrap, etc.) through the "Page Properties" command.

Default properties are automatically saved when you quit Super NoteTab and used when you start the program again. Page Properties, however, are only restored with files that are automatically reopened by Super NoteTab.

Whenever you modify a file, an asterisk (*) appears after the corresponding document name in the page tab. It disappears after you save the file or undo the changes. This cue is useful when you are editing several open files at the same time, as you can immediately see which files may need saving. Super NoteTab does, however, always prompt you to save or discard changes before closing a document or the program (unless you check the Auto Save Files option in the Preferences dialogue box).

When Super NoteTab is configured to "stay-on-top", the Find/Replace and Page Selector dialogue boxes are modal. In other words, you cannot return to the editor until you close the dialogue box. When the program is not "stay-on-top", they are modeless (you can edit documents while the dialogue boxes are open).

You can keep a log by using the same method as Notepad. Just add ".LOG" on the first line (without the quotation marks) and every time you open such a document, Super NoteTab will append the current date and time (as specified by your computer's clock).There is an option that lets you configure the format for the date and time text that is pasted with the corresponding command. The Date and Time filters topic gives you all the codes you can use to build a filter.

By default, the "Favorite File" list is stored in the program directory in a text file called FAVORITES.TXT. If you want to manage different "Favorite File" lists for different tasks, you can specify an alternative file name through the command line by using the "/F=FavoriteFileName" option. If the file does not exist, Super NoteTab will create it once you add files to it through the "Favorite File" dialogue box. If you don't specify a directory, it will be saved in the same directory as Super NoteTab.

You can set up different icons (or shortcuts) of the program for different tasks. For example, if you have created several "Favorite File" lists, you can configure each icon with a command-line pointing to a different file. If you have enabled the Auto Load Favorites option, then Super NoteTab will automatically open all the files included in the list.

Each time you start the program, a splash screen is displayed while the program loads itself and any document that is automatically loaded. It disappears as soon as the program is ready for your input. If this splash screen disturbs you, you can use "-NS" (without the quotes) as the first command-line parameter to stop it from showing.

You cannot use the Sort command if word wrap is enabled in the document.


Date and Time filters

Super NoteTab has a command that lets you easily insert the current date and time in your documents. You can do so with the Insert Date command (in the Page menu) or automatically if you are using the log feature. By default, it uses the format specified by the ShortDateFormat defined by Windows. You can, however, customize the date by creating a Date Filter - the field is available in the Preferences dialogue box on the Miscellaneous tab. The following format specifiers are supported:

Specifier	Displays

c	Displays the date using the format given by the ShortDateFormat global variable, followed by the time using the format given by the LongTimeFormat global variable. The time is not displayed if the fractional part of the DateTime value is zero.

d	Displays the day as a number without a leading zero (1-31).

dd	Displays the day as a number with a leading zero (01-31).

ddd	Displays the day as an abbreviation (Sun-Sat) using the strings given by the ShortDayNames global variable.

dddd	Displays the day as a full name (Sunday-Saturday) using the strings given by the LongDayNames global variable.

ddddd	Displays the date using the format given by the ShortDateFormat global variable.

dddddd	Displays the date using the format given by the LongDateFormat global variable.

m	Displays the month as a number without a leading zero (1-12). If the m specifier immediately follows an h or hh specifier, the minute rather than the month is displayed.

mm	Displays the month as a number with a leading zero (01-12). If the mm specifier immediately follows an h or hh specifier, the minute rather than the month is displayed.

mmm	Displays the month as an abbreviation (Jan-Dec) using the strings given by the ShortMonthNames global variable.

mmmm	Displays the month as a full name (January-December) using the strings given by the LongMonthNames global variable.

yy	Displays the year as a two-digit number (00-99).

yyyy	Displays the year as a four-digit number (0000-9999).

h	Displays the hour without a leading zero (0-23).

hh	Displays the hour with a leading zero (00-23).

n	Displays the minute without a leading zero (0-59).

nn	Displays the minute with a leading zero (00-59).

s	Displays the second without a leading zero (0-59).

ss	Displays the second with a leading zero (00-59).

t	Displays the time using the format given by the ShortTimeFormat global variable.

tt	Displays the time using the format given by the LongTimeFormat global variable.

am/pm	Uses the 12-hour clock for the preceding h or hh specifier, and displays 'am' for any hour before noon, and 'pm' for any hour after noon. The am/pm specifier can use lower, upper, or mixed case, and the result is displayed accordingly.

a/p	Uses the 12-hour clock for the preceding h or hh specifier, and displays 'a' for any hour before noon, and 'p' for any hour after noon. The a/p specifier can use lower, upper, or mixed case, and the result is displayed accordingly.

ampm	Uses the 12-hour clock for the preceding h or hh specifier, and displays the contents of the TimeAMString global variable for any hour before noon, and the contents of the TimePMString global variable for any hour after noon.

/	Displays the date separator character given by the DateSeparator global variable.

:	Displays the time separator character given by the TimeSeparator global variable.

'xx'/"xx"	Characters enclosed in single or double quotes are displayed as-is, and do not affect formatting.

Format specifiers may be written in upper case as well as in lower case letters--both produce the same result.


Command-line Parameters

You can specify as many parameters as the command line can take. Each parameter must be separated by a space.

-NS 	Don't show splash screen (must be first parameter).

FileName	Opens specified file in the editor.  File name must also include path.

/F=FavoriteFileName	Specify an alternative "Favorite File" list file name. The file name must follow the equal sign. Do not use any spaces before or after the equal. If you do not specify a path, the program directory is used. If the file does not exist, it will be created by Super NoteTab.

/P	 Print the files following this parameter.

//	 Don't print the files after this parameter.


Updates and Other Programs

You can find updates of Super NoteTab and other Freeware/Shareware programs by visiting my web site at the following address:

http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/geologie/fookes/

If you only edit small files (up to 62 kb), you might prefer to use Mini Notepad instead of this program. Mini Notepad is somewhat faster and uses less memory and Windows system resources. It is also available for downloading at the above web address.


Legal

The author of this program accepts no responsibility for damages resulting from its use and makes no warranty or representation, either express or implied, including but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This component is provided "AS IS", and you, its user, assume all risks when using it.


Distribution License

I encourage you to freely copy and distribute this Freeware version of Super NoteTab to any and all who are interested in obtaining a copy, including distributing it on BBS's or Shareware distribution libraries. The package is subject to the following restrictions:

Super NoteTab must be distributed as a complete package including the following 4 files:

 1. README.TXT	- program's Readme text file

 2. FILE_ID.DIZ	- standard ID file

 3. NOTETAB.EXE	- the program

 4. NOTETAB.HLP	- this file

If any of these files are missing, then the package is not complete and distribution is forbidden.

•	The package - including all related program files and documentation files CANNOT be modified in any way and must be distributed as a complete package, without exception.

•	You may charge a distribution fee for the package, but you must not represent in any way that you are selling the software itself.

•	You shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this distribution license.

All rights not expressly granted here are reserved by Eric G.V. Fookes.


Contacting the Author

Do not hesitate to send me your comments and suggestions. I can be reached by E-mail at:

fookes@sc2a.unige.ch

or by snail mail at the following address:

Eric G.V. Fookes

Av. Eugène-Pittard 22 Ter

CH - 1206 Geneva

Switzerland


Version History

Version 0.99

Version 1.0

Version 1.0a

Version 1.1


Version 0.99

Released 16 December 1996

First version made available on the Internet.


Version 1.0

Released 20 December 1996

Added the following features:

•	If called several times, no longer loads multiple copies of the program; instead files passed as parameters are opened on separate pages in the editor;

•	option to make backups when saving files;

•	option to use same colour for tabs as the pages.


Version 1.0a

Released 21 December 1996

Added the following feature:

•	You can now keep a log by using the same method as Notepad. Just add ".LOG" on the first line (without the quotation marks) and every time you open such a document, Super NoteTab will append the current date and time (as specified by your computer's clock).

Changed:

•	The "Insert Date" command now inserts the date and time at the cursor position instead of at the end of the document.


Version 1.1

Released 2 January 1997

Fixed the following bugs:

•	Setting document tab values did not always work in previous version. Toggling word wrap cancelled tab alignment. Fixed.

•	Pasting text from a page with a different font did not update the inserted text font correctly. Fixed.

•	"Preferences" and "Page Properties" dialogues did not display well under certain screen resolutions. Fixed.

•	Some shortcuts did not work when menu was hidden. Fixed.

•	Some users mentioned that opening files by using Super NoteTab as a default editor for Windows or other programs did not always work. I have not experienced this problem but have changed the implementation of this feature. Hopefully it works all the time now.

•	Certain operations did not update the status of the cursor position. Fixed.

•	Status bar is now correctly hidden.

Added the following features:

•	Help file;

•	new dialogue box to easily switch between a large number of pages;

•	command to sort lines in a document;

•	command to easily rename a document;

•	command to insert a file in a document;

•	option to configure date and time string;

•	option to minimize program to system tray instead of Taskbar;

•	option to save files without prompting when closing a modified document;

•	the Change Case feature has also been added to the shortcut menu;

•	command-line options to:

+ open and print files immediately;

+ open alternative "Favorite Files" list;

+ cancel splash screen normally displayed when starting the program.