Frames A Computer-Aided Instruction Tool Version 1.11 1 November 1992 User's Guide Copyright (c) 1992 by Timothy J. Weber P.O. Box 6573 Ithaca, NY 14851 GEnie: T.WEBER4 CompuServe: 70511,2247 Member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) Portions Copyright (c) 1988 by Philip A. Mongelluzzo Waterbury, Connecticut Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 Contents Contents.................................................2 Introduction.............................................3 System Requirements......................................3 Distribution Disk........................................4 Running Frames...........................................4 Frame Files..............................................4 Frame File Format...................................5 Entering Blanks.....................................6 Verbatim Lines......................................7 Frame File Reference................................8 Change History...........................................8 Version 1.0.........................................8 Version 1.1.........................................8 Version 1.11........................................9 Shareware................................................9 Definition of Shareware.............................9 How To Register.....................................10 ASP Ombudsman Statement.............................10 Copyright Notice and License........................11 2 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 Introduction This manual describes how to use Frames, a tool for Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI). Frames implements something known as "programmed textbooks" on the computer. Specifically, it presents the student with small bits of material, called "frames," and requires the student to fill in words or phrases that have been left out. The concept is not as complex as other CAI methods; it doesn't provide hints, respond to wrong answers with explanations, grade the student's progress, take different paths through the lesson, or use graphics or sound. It simply asks the student to fill in the blanks, and shows the right answers when she has completed all the blanks on a frame. This has been done in paper textbooks for many years. What Frames makes possible that paper doesn't is: 1. Easy monitoring of students' progress eliminating paper records or standardizing them; 2. Unlimited distribution of lessons, reducing the paper waste normally associated with workbooks; and 3. Easy creation of on-line tutorials by non- programmers. What Frames offers that other CAI programs don't is: 1. A simple user interface for the student. Frames uses menus and dialog boxes in a familiar way. 2. A simple user interface for the teacher. Lessons are easy to create, and no programming or macro language is involved. 3. Modest hardware requirements. Frames can be used without a hard disk or a graphics monitor. System Requirements Frames has been tested on a PC-XT compatible with 640K RAM and a CGA, running MS-DOS 3.1, and on a BSR 386SX with 2M RAM and a VGA, running MS-DOS 3.31. Printers are supported in straight ASCII mode. Frames is expected to run on any PC with a compatible BIOS. 3 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 Without any frame files loaded, Frames requires around 80K of memory; it will use all available memory for frame files up to 640K. Distribution Disk The following files are on the distribution disk: FRAMES.TXT documentation, ASCII format FRAMES.EXE the executable file TUTORIAL.FRA frame file for the tutorial REGISTER.TXT registration form, ASCII format AHED.COM The Ad Hoc Editor, by Michael Covington AHED.TXT The Ad Hoc Editor documentation FILE_ID.DIZ A short description of Frames Running Frames To start Frames, simply type "frames" at the DOS prompt. You will receive instructions on how to load a tutorial on using Frames. All the information you need to know to use Frames is contained in this tutorial; you should read it before continuing to the next section of this User's Guide, so you will understand the terms used there. Frame Files In order to use Frames, you must first enter the information that you want presented to your students into a file. The exact format of this file, called the "frame file," is detailed below. There are three main restrictions on frame files: 1. Frame files must have an extension of ".FRA". 2. Frame files must be placed in the directory that is current when Frames is run. If you need more information about directories or file names, see your DOS manual. (If all your files are on one floppy disk, this probably won't be a problem.) 3. You must create frame files with an editor or word processor that creates "ASCII" or "flat" files. If 4 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 you don't have such an editor, you can use AHED, the "Ad Hoc Editor" [1], included with Frames. Frame File Format Entering frames is simple: just type the text you want to appear. It doesn't matter where your margins are set or how the text is formatted in the file; Frames will reformat it so that it fits on the screen. For example, the file TUTORIAL.FRA (the frame file for the tutorial) has a right margin at 60, but when you look at it with Frames, it fills the whole 80 columns of the screen. You can look at TUTORIAL.FRA with AHED or your favorite ASCII editor or browser to see examples of all the frame file format rules. This will make the following examples easier to understand. To indicate how you want your text divided into frames, place a period (".") on a line by itself in the first column. For example: This is a sample frame file. This is its first frame. . This is its second frame. To separate a frame into one or more paragraphs, place a colon (":") on a line by itself in the first column, like this: This is another sample frame file. This is its first frame, the first paragraph. : This is its second paragraph of the first frame. . And this is the second frame. By default, Frames numbers consecutively all frames and all paragraphs after the first. The first frame in a file and the first paragraph in each frame is unnumbered; this is so you can use the first frame or the first paragraph of a frame as an introduction or title. [1] This is an independent product written and distributed by Michael Covington, and is not a part of Frames. It's in the public domain, so you may use it free of charge. For more information, see the AHED.TXT file. 5 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 If you want to change the numbering sequence, put the new number right after the "." or the ":", like this: This frame will have no number. : This paragraph will be numbered "1." :5 This paragraph will be numbered "5." .597 This frame will be numbered "597." Also, if you don't want your paragraphs or your frames numbered at all, you can put a "0" (zero) after the "." or the ":", like this: This frame will have no number. :0 This paragraph will have no number. : This paragraph will be numbered "1." .0 This frame will have no number. . This frame will be numbered "1." Entering Blanks To enter a multiple choice blank in the frame file, you need to: 1. Put parentheses ("()") around the choices, 2. Separate them with slashes ("/"), and 3. Indicate the correct answer by putting an asterisk ("*") in front of it. For instance: This statement is (true/false/*don't know). The correct answer is "don't know". To put a fill-in blank in the frame file, just put an underscore character ("_") before and after it, like this: 6 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 This sentence has a fill-in _blank_. The correct answer is "blank". You can also have fill-in blanks with multiple correct answers, like this: This sentence has a _blank/fill-in blank_. The two correct answers are "blank" and "fill-in blank". The only restrictions on blanks are that they cannot be longer than 80 characters so they can fit on one line of the screen, and they cannot be broken across lines. If you break a blank across lines, it will be seen as just plain text. There are more examples of both multiple choice and fill-in blanks in TUTORIAL.FRA. Verbatim Lines Frames reformats all lines by default. If you want lines to appear exactly as they are in the frame file, put the ">" character in the first column. This will force this line to be placed on a line by itself on the screen, and spaces will not be trimmed as they normally are. For example, this frame file: This is formatted; >This >is >not. will look like this on the screen: This is formatted; This is not. 7 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 Frame File Reference The special characters in frame files are: . In the first column, starts a new frame; can be followed by a new frame number. : In the first column, starts a new paragraph; can be followed by a new paragraph number. () Surrounds a multiple-choice blank. / Separates multiple-choice answers. * Indicates the correct multiple-choice answer. _ Surrounds a fill-in blank. > In the first column, indicates that this line should be taken verbatim. Maximum line length: 255 characters. Maximum blank length: 80 characters. Change History Version 1.0 November 1989. Initial release. Version 1.1 November 1991. New features: Verbatim mode. Larger files are now supported. Frames will now use all available memory to load frame files. Use Alt now to get to a menu, not Control, for compatibility with popular windowing systems. Control is still used as the accelerator. 8 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 The Help menu is moved to the far right of the menu bar, for compatibility with popular windowing systems. Bugs fixed: Question marks and exclamation points didn't get two spaces after them, like periods do. Fixed. Crashed when loading if memory is exhausted. Now reports the problem and continues, with no frames loaded. Allowed Save when there's no frame file loaded. Fixed. Invisible "Abort, Retry, Ignore" when trying to print to an offline printer. Now reports the problem and allows retry or cancel. Lines that start with spaces weren't formatted correctly. Fixed. There are still some other formatting problems, so for now, don't end a line with a blank unless it's the last line in the paragraph. Version 1.11 October 1992. Changes to documentation and license to comply with ASP requirements. Change of address. Shareware Frames is written and supported by Timothy J. Weber, a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), and is distributed as Shareware. Definition of Shareware (As supplied by the ASP) 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 9 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 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. How To Register To register, print out the invoice included with Frames by typing "copy invoice.txt prn" at the DOS prompt, fill it out, and send it with a check or money order for $30 to Timothy J. Weber at the address listed at the top of this document and on the program's startup screen. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by mail, and notification of future upgrades. ASP Ombudsman Statement (As required by the ASP) This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. 10 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 Copyright Notice and License This software is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America, as well as by the copyright laws of many other countries pursuant to international treaties. Frames computer program and documentation Copyright (c) 1991 by Timothy J. Weber. All rights reserved. No part of the Frames computer program, documentation or related files may be reproduced, photocopied, stored on a retrieval system, or transmitted except as provided by this license. Your first use of Frames (hereinafter referred to as "the Software") constitutes your agreement to the following terms of license. Timothy J. Weber will be referred to as "the Author." Limited License A limited license at no charge is granted to use and test the Software for no more than 31 calendar days. Thereafter, you must either pay the registration fee or cease use of the Software. Full License When a registration fee is paid, the Author will grant a non-exclusive license to use one copy of the Software on any one computer at any one time. The Licensee must treat the Software "like a book." That is, the 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 by more than one person at a time. Commercial License A limited evaluation license of 31 calendar days' duration is granted at no charge to commercial organizations, during which time individuals in the organization may evaluate the Software. Thereafter, the organization must pay the Author for one the following, whichever is least: (a) a site license, or (b) licenses for each user of the Software, or (c) licenses for each computer the Software is used on. Contact the Author for further information about site licenses. Distribution License A license to duplicate and distribute the Software exactly as it is distributed, without change or omission, shall be granted according to the following terms and conditions: 1. A license is granted at no charge, if no charge is made for such duplication and distribution. 2. A license is granted at no charge to individuals or organizations recognized by the Association of 11 Frames User's Guide Version 1.11 Shareware Professionals as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin distributing the Software immediately, if the Author is notified of such distribution. 3. Any other duplication or distribution requires prior authorization by the Author. Support The Author will answer the Licensee's questions about the software for a period of one year from the Author's receipt of the registration fee. Upgrades The full license applies to all future versions of the Software. When future versions are released, the Author will notify the Licensee by mail. Copies of the current version of the Software will be supplied by the Author on request, at the cost of the distribution materials. Limitation Of Remedies Should you encounter problems with the Software within one year from the Author's receipt of the registration fee, the Author's entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at the sole option of the Author, either (a) to terminate the license and return any license fees that you paid the Author for the Software, or (b) to repair or replace the Software. Disclaimer The Software is supplied as is. The Author disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. 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