/// /// /// /// /// /// /// // /// /// /// ////// /// /////// ///// ////// /// /// ////// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// // /// /// /// /// //////// ///////// /// /// //// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// /// // /// /// /// ////// //// ///////// /// /// ///// /// /// /////////////////////////////////// ////////////// //////////////// // // // // // // ////////////// // // // /////////////////////////////////// ////////////// ///////////////// ----------------------------- V E R S I O N 3 . 1 ----------------------------- ------------------------------- Written by Christoph Bartholme, Ettlinger Str. 37, W-7500 Karlsruhe 1, Germany Developed with mit ST Pascal Plus (CCD) and Assembler (Devpac). --------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- <<<<< A German version is also available! >>>>> ----------------------------------------------- Copyright --------- IdeaList is public domain and may be used and copied by everyone. The only condition is to copy the COMPLETE and UNCHANGED contents of the folder IDEALIST.3_1 (the file CONTENTS.TXT defines it). The author is not respon- sible for any damage caused by using this program! A small preamble ---------------- This manual is not very detailed. But all functions of IdeaList are quite easy to understand! The most difficult matter, if at all, is to modify printer adaption files for your special use. My English knowledge is rather poor. The German manual is much more detailed. If you intend to write a better instruction guide, just let me know! Purpose ------- IdeaList is a versatile tool to print out text files. It offers a lot of helpful functions to use your printer in a most clever way and to minimize paper consumption. All kinds of ASCII files and WORDPLUS documents may be processed. Features -------- The most important printer features are as follows (keys in '<>'; obvious the mouse ist useable too): - Four different kinds of font size selectable - Printing in up to to nine columns - Too long lines will be made-up correctly. - Seperated output of front and pages - Versatile editable head line - Line numbering option - Versatile adaption to every printer by an editable ASCII-file - download fonts for matrix printers and Laserjet compatibles - Seperate management of continous paper and cut sheets - Chain mode saves paper by using the rest part after the last text - Skipping pages and stop at every time The features of comfort are: - All commands by mouse or keyboard employment - Page preview with the choosen layout - Saving and loading of your personal setup - Changing of the adaption at every time - 'Show File' like the desktop function - Direct link to your favorite editor program - Shell function to call further programs - Statistics of the actual text file - Automatic installation of a text file by the 'Install Application' feature of the desktop Accessory version ----------------- There is also an accessory version of IdeaList, called ILIST.ACC, which offers nearly the same amount of features as the PRG version. The ACC version has no - keyboard usage - disk output - clipboard interface - calling other programms - editor link - line magnification and locating at preview and does not run in resolutions less than 640 * 400 pixels But there are some features, only the ACC version offers: - can be called in every GEM application - printing happenes as a background task ('spooling') while working with another program - Interface to some other programs (Gemini, CLIPBRD.ACC) Conditions ---------- IdeaList runs with every TOS and every resolution mode of the ST/TT with a minimum of 640 * 200 pixels. Starting -------- IdeaList needs its RSC-files (IDEALISM.RSC for hi res, IDEALISC.RSC for mid res, ILIST.RSC for the accessory) in the same directory. At the first time a adaption file named IDEALIST.IDA should be there too. If IdeaList finds a file named IDEALIST.INF (accessory: ILIST.INF), all parameters and the adaption file are set as defined in this file. At the first time any IDEALIST.INF must NOT exist! This file is created by clicking 'save parameters' or automatically by ending IdeaList. User interface -------------- All functions can be made either by clicking with the mouse cursor or useing the according key. You may move the boxes of the desktop or the dialog boxes by klicking and dragging at the grey buttons. The 'arrowed' buttons also accept double clicks to set the maximum or minimum value. Instead of this you also may press a -key. The key allows working in the 'professional mode'. That means a quicker execution of some functions, because the alertboxes appearing else are skipped. Just try it... All Desktop boxes and the dialog boxes can be moved as desired. The positions are saved by saving the other parameters. Selecting any function while pressing the ALT-key causes an alert telling, that no online help is installed. The online help is an accessory that is not (yet?) available in English, so you have not got it. Sorry!! Printer management ------------------ IdeaList itself will manage the printer's paper position. Especially if the chain mode is selected, you must neither move the paper position at the printer nor switch it off! A formfeed is caused by pressing . If IdeaList wants you to init the paper position, it will show a corresponding alert box. Menu line --------- - "IdeaList" - "Information" : Something about the copyright and the author... - "Accessories" : May be used without restrictions while working with IdeaList; - "File" - "Load...": loads a text file - "Show": Shows the text; similar to the corresponding desktop function; - "Output to Monitor": This function gives you a small preview, page by page. You may locate lines by moving the mouse cursor into the page image. Instead of the menu line the corresponding text line is shown in the upper monitor area. Make-up lines are indicated by '<--'. "Statistics" gives a summary of the full text file. - "Output to Printer": The main function of IdeaList. Printing can be aborted by pressing any key. - "Output to File...": Instead to the printer the output is directed into a file. So you may layout a text at home, print it into disk and make a better printout with the laser printer at the office... - "Load Clipboard": Loads a file called SCRAP.TXT from the GEM-clipboard. - "Save Clipboard": Saves the text into the GEM-clipboard as it is layouted just now. - "Quit": If you do not know, what it is for, don't klick it! - "Options" - "Headline": Some options to edit the headline; The headline is divided in three parts: left side, middle and right side. IdeaList offers some macros introduced by a '#'. "Number Offset" is added to the temporary page number. "Blank Lines" are lines between the headline and the text begin. - "System...": Some general adjustments - "File output with char. adadptions and printer control codes": If selected the file output is absolutely the same as the output to the printer. Otherwise there is only a pure text output without any control codes. - "Grow/shrinkboxes": Enables this well known graphic effect... - "Cut lines at word ends" : if a line is too long to be printed undivided, IdeaList cuts it into two pieces. If this option is selected, the division appears between complete words. - "Tab size": The ASCII-code 09 gets expanded to the selected distance. - "Save parameters before quit": If selected, IdeaList saves all the temporary parameters and file paths into IDEALIST.INF, when you quit the program. - "Load Adaption...": Installes a new printer adaption file. - "Load Parameters...": Installs all parameters and file paths from a INF-file. Even a new printer adaption file gets installed if defined so in the INF-file. - "Save Parameters"...: Saves all parameters and file paths into a INF-file. - Extras - "Formfeed": Sends a formfeed code to the printer; this command may break the "chain" mode. - "Find Editor...": Allows to define a new editor's name and path. - "Call Editor..": Starts the embedded editor; the command line to be handed over can be defined in three ways: the text file, the adaption file or free editable. After all this file may be reinstalled. - "Call Program...": Starts any desired program and returns back to IdeaList after that. The command line options comply with the editor's ones. - "Call IdeaForm": Starts a IdeaForm after handed over the text file's name by the command line; IdeaForm is a utility to format any source code files. Keywords and commends get control codes to be emphasized. For that IdeaForm creates a file with the extender 'TXA' (TeXt with Attributes). After that IdeaList installs this file instead the old one, and so you may print out your source file in a pretty look. IdeaForm requires a special key file including the adaptions to the respective programming language. Desktop buttons --------------- - Font size 1 - 4: These buttons select one of the font sizes as defined in the adaption file. - Columns: The text can be set in up to nine columns. - "Chain" mode: after having printed a text the printer does not put out the sheet, but the rest length is saved for printing the next text. This feature may save al lot of paper at printing several short files. - "1 3 5.." and "2 4 6..": Only the front pages (odd numbers) or the rear pages (even numbers) get printed: This allowes printing on both sides of every sheet even by using a automatic cut sheet feeder or contionous paper. - "Normal": Neither "Chain" mode nor the front/rear page mode is selected. - "0 with slash": To distinguish between the number '0' and the character 'O' the output appears with a slashed zero as on monitor. - "Numbers": Every line gets introduced by a running number. So cut lines can be recognized. - Headline: enables a headline at the begin of every page. - High Quality: Toggles between draft mode and letter quality. - Skip pages: If selected there is a alertbox before every page that allows to skip this page. Thus even only one single page of a big document may be prin- ted. - Joker: This button is reserved for your own special use. For that you may define any font attribute in the adaption file. - Margin: defines the left margin (at rear pages: the right margin) - "Single": Use of single cut sheets - "Contionous" : Use of 'endless' contionous paper The Buttons "Disk->", "->Monitor", "->Printer" and "->Disk" comply with the menu functions. The "Text" and "Adaption" areas may be clicked too. Download fonts -------------- You may use any download font (matrix printers) or Soft Font (LaserJet compatibles) instead of the inbuild fonts. The font(s) must be declared in the adaption file. Be shure, that your printer accepts download fonts. Perhaps there is a special DIP switch or a RAM expansion card is required. Most matrix printers only accept 7-bit fonts with the ASCII range from 32 to 127. Fonts marked by the extenders 'P09' or 'P24' (like the enclosed ones) are not in full ASCII order (you know: the German 'Umlaute'...), so IdeaList adapts them internally. Also ordinary 7-bit fonts in full ASCII order may be used if they got a different extender. If desired a character adaption of them can be made by the table in the adaption file. LaserJet soft fonts may be applied as usual. Wordplus files -------------- IdeaList prints wordplus files as well as simple ASCII files! Any text attribute (bold, light, italic, underlined, subscript, superscript) will be printed. The only restrict is: IdeaList ignores pictures and headlines. The reason is, that IdeaList has much less paper consumption of Wordplus. So the original page division is not identical to the partition made by IdeaList. Printer adaption file --------------------- The printer adaption file IDEALIST.IDA will be installed by default, when IdeaList is started and there is no IDEALIST.INF. For your special purpose or if your printer does not unterstand the default codes, it can be modified by any (ASCII-) text editor. The comments will help you. The (German) test files in the folder TESTTEXT may be useful. A look into the other adaption files in the folder DRUCKER is advisable in every case. The adaption file contends the parameters as follows in the same order. Commends are initialised by a '*'; hexadecimal numbers are marked by a leading '$'; Strings andsingle characters must be set in '...'; - NAME OF ADAPTION (up to 24 chars) - NAMES OF THE FONT SIZES (up to 12 chars) - NAME OF THE JOKER (up to 12 chars) - FONTS (0 = internal) For every of the four font sizes you must define either a '0' (internal font) or the name of the corresponding download font file (if not in the same directory, the full path must be declared here). Size Parameters: - NET PAGE LENGTH IN INCH (for contionous paper) - TEXT DISTANCE IN INCH (for chain mode) - MINIMUM REST LENGTH IN INCH (chain mode) - NUMBER OF LINES IN PICA-LINES (6 lpi) (single paper): Mostly this value cannot be found in the printer manual, but can be determined easiely. You just must print out a simple text with the corresponding desktop function. The line distance has to be 6 lpi (lines per inch). Now you get the value by counting the lines of one page. Most printers print 60 pica-lines per page or more. - LINES/INCH SIZE 1 - 4 - MAXIMUM LINE LENGTH IN PICA-CHARS (10 cpi) For a 8-inch-printer you must choose '80'. - CHARS/INCH SIZE 1 - 4 - COLUMN DISTANCE IN CHARS Normally this value is '1' to make best use of the paper width - RIGHT MARGIN IN CHARS Normally this value is '0' to make best use of the paper width - STEPS/INCH FOR HORIZONTAL SPACING (0 = not used) This valus must be a '0', if you use the standard spacing mode (writing blank chars). If you intend to use proportional spaced fonts you must set the step size here (24-pin: '60', LaserJet : '300') - MODE OF SENDING (0=normal) The value for for standard use is '0'. Then IdeaList sends download font data only if needed. The other modes are: - Mode 1: Download data will be send EVERY time before printout (of course only, if not a internal font is selected!) - Mode 2: All codes for the printer setup will be send before EVERY PAGE. This mode ignores the 'Chain' option! - Mode 3: A combination of mode 1 and mode 2... - CONFIGURATION OF PORT/CUT SHEET FEEDER: This flags define the used printer hardware: Value | Port | cut sheed feeder ------+----------+----------------- 0 | parallel | manual 1 | parallel | automatic 2 | serial | manual 3 | serial | automatic If your printer does not work at all, the port definition may be wrong! Printer Control Codes (maximum : 20 chars): - INITIALISE - CODES AT THE END - SKIP-OVER PERFORATION OFF - DEFINE GROSS PAGE LENGTH - DEFINE CHARACTER WIDE/HIGHT size 1 - 4: Condensed and subscript must be switched off here, if not used. If you use a download font, the corresponding quality (draft, LQ proportional spacing...) must be set here. - DEFINE LINE SPACING size 1 - 4 - DRAFT AND LETTER QUALITY: For download fonts this codes will not be send. - JOKER ON and JOKER OFF: This codes are reserved for your own special use! What about switching to italic or another kind of font. Line spacing and font size must not be changed by this codes! - HEADLINE INIT and HEADLINE EXIT: Some effects to emphasize the headline (bold underlined...) may be set here and must be switched off in the corresponding line. Line spacing and font size must not be changed by this codes! - BOLD ON/OFF, LIGHT ON/OFF, ITALIC ON/OFF, UNDERLINE ON/OFF, SUPERSCRIPT ON/OFF, SUBSCRIPT ON/OFF: the well known printing attributes... - INIT DOWNLOAD DATA and EXIT DOWNLOAD DATA: Between this codes IdeaList sends the data of the download font - DOWNLOAD FONT ON and DOWNLOAD FONT OFF: Selects or deselects downloadfont mode. - HORIZONTAL SPACING: If you If you intend to use proportional spaced fonts you must set the codes for stepping here. The real size value will be set in by IdeaList if you mark its place by a '255' - ZERO WITH SLASH: To distinguish between the number '0' and the character 'O', IdeaList sends this code, if the corresponding option is set. Character Adaptions the first number defines the atari character. Then a line up to 20 codes follows. If a character cannot be printed at all, set it to '32' (blank). Internals --------- IdeaList can be adapted to any language (not only English and German..) by just modifieing the RSC-files. All messages, alerts and dialogs are contained in them. If you intend to adapt IdeaList to your mother tongue, just let me know! Notes ----- If you get any problems, questions or ideas, just send me a note. As you know, IdeaList supports the public domain idea. If you think IdeaList to be useful for your work , you ought to send me a adequate contribution. Since today there were really a lot of hours of programming and bug hunting... Obvious you will get the latest version of IdeaList and some more helpful tools. Thanx! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------