OS/2 Banner English Information file - ENGLISH.TXT __________________________________________________ Title : UNIX-style Banner command for OS/2, Version 1.0 Author: (c) 1995, Mr Antonino Iannella Date : August 13, 1995 CONTENTS ________ Description Installation Usage The power of the UNIX Banner command Limitations Future plans License agreement Acknowledgments Author contact details ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Description ___________ This is a UNIX-style Banner command for OS/2. It prints the words input as arguments in big text letters using asterisks. Each expression is printed on one line. Expressions longer than 9 characters are split. It is fully-operational. Each argument must be delimited in quotes (") if they contain whitespaces (" "), circumflexes (^), or relations; (<) and (>), or (|). A quote can be printed within the argument using \". However, this means that \" will not print as \" but ". It is not a complex nor exciting program, but it is my first piece of software for the OS/2 general public (see License agreement section). I sincerely hope that somebody benefits from it! ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Installation ____________ Ideally, place all files in your PATH, preferably in \OS2\APPS. Or add Banner's location to your path. The information files can be safely deleted (but not when distributing; see License agreement section). You might also need the EMX runtime library in your path. ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Usage _____ Banner operates at the command line. It must have arguments. For example, Banner "Hi, sexy!" * * ** * * * **** **** * * ** * * * * * * * * * ** ****** * ** **** ***** ** ***** ** * * * ** * * ** * * * * ** **** **** * * **** ** excluding the quotes yields banner Hi, sexy! * * * * * * * ****** * ** * * * ** * * * ** ** **** **** * * ** * * * * * * * ** **** ***** ** ***** ** * * ** * **** **** * * **** ** To see things one screen at a time, banner Smashing Pumpkins: \"Siamese Dream\" | more **** * * *** **** * * **** * ** * * * * **** * * **** * * * **** **** ***** * * * ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **** * * * *** * **** * * * * * **** ***** * * * * **** ** * * * * ** * ***** * * **** * ** ***** * * * * * * * * * * * * **** * * * * * * ***** * * * * * * ** * **** * * * * * * * * * **** ** * * **** * * * * * *** **** **** **** * * * * ** * * * * * * **** * **** * * * ***** **** ***** * * * * * * * * * * * **** * *** * * * * **** **** **** ***** * * * * **** *** * * -- More -- * * **** * * * ** * * * * * * ***** **** * * * * * * * * * * * * ***** * **** *** * * * * To redirect the output to a printer, banner "I'm a" lumberjack and "I'm OK" > prn To redirect the output to a file, banner Do to me what your eyes say you wanna do! > Stimulating_experience.ohh The supported ASCII characters are !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_` abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- The power of the UNIX Banner command ____________________________________ On a UNIX system, one way to shock your best friend is to type Banner "Do your work" | write The recipient must have set messages on first. They achieve this by typing mesg y Hence Banner's power lies in making the recipient's heart stop. I love the UNIX Banner command. ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Limitations ___________ I compiled this with EMX/GCC 0.9a, using OS/2 2.1 . I guess this is a minimum requirement. If it's just not working, you may need the EMX.DLL file in your path. This may be available from various OS/2 ftp sites (try ftp.latrobe.edu.au), as part of the EMX/GCC package. If this is the case, I would like to be informed (Preferably by someone who knows the solution...), because this is an compilation error. on one who knows the solution... \ and " cannot be printed consecutively since they are interpreted as a ". All control characters are printed as solid squares. The character within an argument, inhibits ALL characters following it from being read. European characters are not supported. The default command shell resolution is the only one supported (80 characters across). Smaller resolutions may result in distorted output. ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Future plans ____________ I would like to turn it into a PM shell, desktop publishing application, with full support for fonts, SOM, pictures, and printing. Pretty good, eh? ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- License agreement _________________ Mr Bill Gates is rich, so he can afford to pay me US $1,000,000.00 . However, Microsoft employees and their families can pay a mere US $999,999.99 because I am lenient. The rest of the cosmos can use Banner for FREE! I relinquish it to the Public Domain. All associated text files must be distributed with the executable file. However, I do not guarantee the software's reliability. Any damage or loss incurred as a result of this software is NOT the author's responsibility! For registration purposes, I shall follow a fad; I would really appreciate a postcard of your home city, or a more interesting one. Or else, send me an Email to the address at the bottom. Include your name and contact details. ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Acknowledgments _______________ My cousin Ms Patricia Manzitti for helping me with the Italian and French translations. Johannes Schwabe for helping me compile it. To the EMX/GCC user group members for putting up with my stupid questions :-) ------------ OS/2 : A better DOS than DOS ------------- Author contact details ______________________ I may be contacted at the following addresses. Please send postcards, software, bug reports, or any of your thoughts of Banner! to Postal address: Mr Antonino Iannella 6 Bolingbroke Avenue DEVON PARK SA 5008 AUSTRALIA Email address: (emergency only) PS- I really would prefer a postcard! **** **** * **** Operate at a higher level. * * * * * * * * * * * * Mr Antonino Iannella * * **** * * Computer Systems Engineering * * * * * * **** **** * ****** 9308390r@lux.levels.unisa.edu.au General Application Error in Module MS:WIN-95. This version will now self-destruct!