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The PC-SIG Library 10
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The PC-Sig Library - Shareware for the IBM PC and Compatibles (PC-SIG)(Tenth Edition Disks 1-2804)(1991).iso
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DISK2452.ZIP
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MAGIC-2.EXE
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MAGIFONT.DOC
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1990-06-17
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WELCOME TO THE MAGIC FONT PROGRAMS
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
This documentation covers the programs MAGISHOW.EXE and MAGIFONT.EXE. In some
instances the programs are packaged separately to permit separate downloading.
A third program, MAGIVUE.EXE is also included. With these 3 programs you will
soon create dynamic displays which have uses in business, school and pleasure.
MAGIFONT.EXE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
With MAGIFONT.EXE you create files called MAGIC.FNT screens. Whenever the pro-
gram is run you may create 10 new screens named MAGIC0.FNT, MAGIC1.FNT, and so
on, up to MAGIC9.FNT.
MAGISHOW.EXE & MAGIVUE.EXE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The program MAGISHOW.EXE is used to display your MAGIC.FNT screens in the form
of a continuous-loop "slide show." Your slide show may consist of any number of
MAGIC.FNT screens, up to a total of 10 (more with the professional edition).
The program MAGIVUE.EXE is used to view your MAGIC.FNT screens individually. It
will prove handy when you are editing or rearranging sets of screens.
RUNNING A SLIDE SHOW
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Before running MAGIFONT.EXE, you should run MAGISHOW.EXE to see the two example
"slide shows" enclosed. This package contains 2 example sets of the MAGIC.FNT
screens. They have the file extensions X1 and X2. When you run MAGISHOW you
will be asked to input a number which represents display time in seconds. Input
2 seconds for X1 and 6 seconds for X2.
1st EXAMPLE-SET OF MAGIC.FNT SCREENS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
("MAGIC0.X1" thru "MAGIC9.X1")
THE FIRST EXAMPLE WILL SHOW YOU A FEW OF MANY EFFECTS WHICH ARE POSSIBLE
WITH THE SHAREWARE VERSION OF MAGIFONT.EXE. TO VIEW THE SHOW SIMPLY TYPE
THE WORD MAGISHOW AND PRESS "ENTER" AND TYPE X1 AND A TIME OF 2 SECONDS.
^^^^^^^^ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
YOU WILL SEE BIDIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT OF SUPERFONTS, CHANGES OF BACKGROUND
AND FOREGROUND, AND THE CONTRAST BETWEEN "POSTER" AND "ELECTRIC" MODES.
2nd EXAMPLE-SET OF MAGIC.FNT SCREENS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
("MAGIC0.X2" thru "MAGIC9.X2")
THE SECOND EXAMPLE WILL ILLUSTRATE JUST A FEW OF THE HUNDREDS OF EFFECTS
AND APPLICATIONS POSIBLE WITH THE PROFESSIONAL EDITION.
JUST TYPE MAGISHOW AND PRESS "ENTER," TYPE X2 AND SET TIME AT 6 SECONDS.
^^^^^^^^ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~
-2-
RENAMING MAGIC SCREENS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Later when you create your first Magic Font Screens they will automatically be
given the extension "FNT." The first will be named MAGIC0.FNT, and each added
screen will have a higher number. If you want to retain them on your disk, it
is wise to rename them with a new extension. One simple DOS command will re-
name an entire set. For example, to change the extension to "AAA" you type:
REN MAGIC*.FNT MAGIC*.AAA
+-------------------------+
This renames the entire set of screens to protect them from being erased
while you are creating another new set. There are other methods which
can be used to protect them from erasure: (A.) Copy them to another disk
directory, (B.) Archive them with a file-compression program.
FANTASTIC MESSAGES AND "COMMERCIALS"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Among the "fun" uses of the Magic Font Programs is the fact that now you can
easily create very "flashy" and "colorful" messages (literally!) to mail to
friends who have computers. A computerist in business might even develop a
series of MAGIC.FNT sales messages to send to potential customers -- just think
of the fantastic impact a PERSONALIZED Magic Font message could make on a cust-
omer! ^^^^^^^^^^^^
All that is needed for the implementation of messages for friends or customers
is to make sure the recipient has a copy of MAGISHOW.EXE and MAGIVUE.EXE. Both
of these two programs may be freely copied and distributed, and of course the
Shareware version of MAGIFONT.EXE may also be freely copied and distributed to
friends, co-workers and associates.
UPLOADING TO A BBS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Many computerists are members of private Bulletin Board Services, and at the
request of those who have searched for an easy way to prepare colorful messag-
es which can be uploaded to a BBS, MAGIFONT.EXE now has a way for you to do
this. It is important to understand that the BBS must be one which supports
Ansi graphics, and you must have your BBS parameters set for "Ansi graphics"
plus "the IBM extended character set." Check your BBS settings the next time
you log on, and if you are not sure, leave a message with the Sysop of your
BBS.
Once you have your BBS parameters squared away, then you may make your first
upload screen, using MAGIFONT.EXE. When you reach the point in the program at
which you may choose the name for your file, instead of selecting a number from
0 to 9, press the letter D. This will cause your MAGIC screen to be saved in a
slightly different way, and it will be given the name MAGIC.BSV to set it apart
from the MAGIC.FNT screens. At that point, the MAGIC.BSV screen must be con-
verted to an ANSI screen before it can be uploaded to a BBS. The most conven-
ient way to do this is with the program called THEDRAW.COM, which is available
from many sources in a Shareware version.
USING THEDRAW.COM FOR CONVERSION TO ANSI
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THEDRAW.COM is a large program of many fascinating uses, but using it to con-
vert a MAGIC.BSV takes less than one minute. Here is how to do it: Be sure
your MAGIC.BSV file is on the same disk and in the same directory as your copy
of THEDRAW.COM. Start up THEDRAW and after the title screen comes on press
your "Enter" key and then press Alt-L. A list of all the files in that sub-
directory will appear. Enter the name MAGIC.BSV and press "Enter" and like
-3-
magic your screen will appear. Next press Alt-S, and when you see the next
prompt press the letter A (for Ansi). You will be required to make 4 more en-
tries, and here they are: First the letter "C," then "Enter" two times, and
finally a name for the converted file. (If you give it a name with no exten-
sion, it will automatically receive the extension "ANS".) After naming it,
press "Enter" to complete the conversion process. Then exit THEDRAW.COM with
Alt-X. (REXXCOM does not distribute the program THEDRAW.COM.)
AFTER CONVERSION TO ANSI
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If you have ANSI.SYS in operation on your computer, you may immediately check
out your converted screen-file by simply "typing" it to the screen of your
monitor the same way you "type" an ASCII text file. For example, if you named
it MAGIC.ANS, then type TYPE MAGIC.ANS and it will appear.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
For information about ANSI.SYS see your DOS User's Guide or Manual. You need
not have ANSI.SYS "up and running" for uploading the file to your BBS however.
Simply log on to the BBS and enter the commands for uploading a prepared mes-
sage. You must upload "with a protocol." Most bulletin board services offer
the use of such protocols as XMODEM, YMODEM, SEALINK, etc., and either of these
should work fine.
CHARACTERS WHICH MAY NOT UPLOAD
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Colors and fonts, even blinking ones, should upload fine. This includes the ad-
ditional SuperFonts and colors which are included in the Professional Edition
of MAGIFONT.EXE. If you include any of the graphics which are typed with the
function keys (F1 - F10) you may find that some of the graphic symbols which
make up the pictures will not carry through in the upload. If this does happen
your upload will become distorted, because each time a character is "dropped"
the rest of that line will shift to the left. Experimentation will show which
characters your BBS may not accept.
The special "D" save does a couple of things which are necessary for converting
a file for uploading. Once you become more familiar with THEDRAW you may want
to use it to modify your MAGIC screen files before conversion to Ansi for up-
loading. This is fine, but be careful never to allow your background color to
extend all the way to column 80 (the right side of the screen). You must al-
ways leave at least one-column-width of "blank space" on the far right. If you
are using "black" as a background color there is no problem.
COPY PROTECTION
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We do not believe in the practice of "copy protection" of software products.
Measures used in "protection" schemes are known to cause problems ranging from
minor annoyances all the way to damage of computer hardware. REXXCOM SYSTEMS
believes you have a right to be able to easily make a backup copy of the soft-
ware which you buy. In fact we encourage you to make a backup copy right away
so you will not lose our valuable programs if your disk becomes damaged.
The Professional Edition of MAGIFONT.EXE is a commercial product and may not
be copied for use by non-owners. We ask that you treat the Professional Edition
of our program exactly the way you would treat a fine book - you might lend it
to a friend, but you certainly would not make a copy of it for him. If you are
planning to use MAGIFONT.EXE in business, or if you are a government agency,
your purchase of the Professional Edition entitles you to make as many copies
-4-
as you may require of the DISPLAY programs (MAGISHOW & MAGIVUE) for use in more
than one computer. If you require user-copies of the CREATION program (MAGI-
FONT.EXE) you must apply for and obtain a site license for each additional com-
puter at which a copy will be used.
TO ORDER THE PROFESSIONAL EDITION
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Soon after you have familiarized yourself with the Shareware version of MAGI-
FONT you will want to have the full-featured Professional Edition as well as
the companion programs AUTODOC.EXE and AUTOFONT.EXE. Order the Super-Pak to get
all 3 at the best price. Print an order form by typing ORDER at the DOS prompt.
USING THE MAGIFONT OPTIONS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(This section is for users who own the Professional Edition of MAGIFONT. If you
are currently using the Shareware version, reading this will be excellent prep-
aration for working with the "Pro" version when you get it.)
MAGIFONT.EXE has been designed with the concept of intuitive learning in mind.
This means that a new user can sit down and work with it without studying a de-
tailed set of complicated instructions. You are encouraged to go right ahead
and run the program as soon as you have used MAGISHOW.EXE to view the several
sample sets of MAGIC.FNT files which are enclosed with this package. After that
you should proceed to run the main program. Simply type MAGIFONT and press your
"Enter" key. ^^^^^^^^
The program contains an excellent set of guidelines which you can call up by
pressing the letter I when the title screen is displayed. With those guidelines
and the fact that the program really can be learned without a set of complex
instructions, you do not need much more than the following tips on using the
options:
1. Repeated pressing of <K> cycles you through upper and lower case for each
SuperFont. This is easiest to understand with Font "A" ("Text" style) because
this font has regular upper and lower case letters. With the other font styles
the change from "upper case" to "lower case" is more dramatic because instead
of a simple change in case, there is a complete change of font style!
2. If your input includes upper and lower case letters (such as "I AM ok"), you
will cycle through 3 different results with the use of <K>. But if your input
is all the same case (such as "I AM OK") you will see only 2 results as you use
<K>, with an apparent duplication of one result. This is because the 3-step
cycle toggles these results: A. "as typed," B. "as if typed in uppercase," and
C."as if typed in lowercase." The fascinating, repeatable cycle becomes clear
after a few moments of experimentation. Be sure to read all the "help comments"
which appear on the screen.
3. Repeatedly pressing <F> cycles you through all the different styles of font.
The display will vary, depending on whether your input was in uppercase or low-
ercase or a mix of both. "All uppercase" will produce the "Headline" font when
you are in Font B, whereas "all lowercase" will produce the "Granite" font. In
the case of the "Gestalt" font the foreground and background will change places
depending on which "case" you use when typing. If you want to see what effect
the opposite case will achieve with any font, simply press <K> and watch as the
change takes place instantaneously!
-5-
4. You will often want to center your line of text. This is easily accomplished
by pressing <M> for <M>iddle (we couldn't use C for Center because we needed it
for <C>olor!) If you pretend you are making a poster with magic markers on pa-
per this will help you decide which lines, words and pictures will be most ef-
fective when centered from right to left. In some instances you may want words
or phrases which are indented, or phrases which extend to the right margin; use
<R>ight and <L>eft for these. (If you have already used <M> to center your text
pressing <R> or <L> will move the text to the left margin for a fresh start.)
5. Centered text will remain in position during color changes, but will move to
the left margin if you use <F> or <K>. This helps avoid over-extension beyond
the right edge of the screen (column 8O) which can occur if fairly long text is
changed to a larger font. If your text is "too long" it will not be displayed,
and an error message will appear. Do not panic when this happens! Simply try
shortening the text by pressing <F>, <K> and <L>. If this does not solve your
temporary problem, press <E> for <E>dit and retype the line.
6. You should spend a lot of time experimenting with MAGIFONT's many color com-
binations, especially with the GRANITE style of font, because the letters were
specially designed to blend background and foreground colors for a tricolor-ef-
fect! With any of the fonts, don't avoid a color combination just because the
colored letter in the menu-line may not seem to show the effect you want. Try
it "full size" and you may be surprised at how nice it really is.
7. PUNCTUATION: The standard keyboard punctuation keys will produce the effect
desired in most instances with Font A and when using Font B's "Headline" style
font. Font B's "Granite" font works differently for punctuation. The following
chart will show you which keys to strike for GRANITE's punctuation marks:
< = ? > = ! @ = " / = , \ = . ` = * ~ = -
With "Gestalt" a dash or hyphen will produce a "solid" space in uppercase mode,
whereas the space bar produces a "blank" space in both upper and lower case.
8. THE GRAPHICS: We have given them alphabetized names starting with A for the
F1 key. After using them a few times you will associate them with the pictures:
F1 = AL F2 = BETTY F3 = CARL F4 = DOC F5 = EDITH
F6 = FRED F7 = GREG F8 = HULK F9 = IZZY F10 = JASPER
9. THE COLOR MODES. If you have worked with the Shareware version, the many
added color modes and combinations will prove to be a fascinating, welcome and
highly useful addition. "Neon" and "Black Magic" seem to be everybody's favor-
ites at first, and if you agree, go ahead and use them as much as you like! We
prefer to use them for occasional dramatic effect. The "Marquee" mode may prove
to be one which will grow on you as you experiment with the countless interest-
ing effects which can be generated by the overall program. "Sunrise" is, to our
knowledge, the only mode which provides a totally different effect depending on
your color system. It has one appearance in CGA and a different one in EGA and
VGA. If we had to give a word of advice on the admittedly subjective topic of
color combinations it might be to minimize your use of the "flashing" modes. It
does appear that the new user may tend to overuse this effect.
-6-
1O. Remember: You are creating a series of individual MAGIC.FNT screens which
you will probably use for running "slide show" displays with MAGISHOW.EXE. Af-
ter your initial experimenting you will feel comfortable creating such screens.
Try to plan your slide show on paper before sitting down at the keyboard. Jot
down ideas for a screen-series, perhaps along these lines:
A. "Welcome Visitors, etc." (Mode/Colors)
B. "You're in for a treat, etc." (Mode/Colors)
C. "Your First Stop is the R&D Lab," (Mode/Colors)
. . . and so forth. As you create each screen be sure to make brief notes as a
reminder of modes and color combinations which were used so you may repeat them
or avoid repeats, depending on the effect you want to achieve. It is true you
can later review them one at a time with MAGIVUE.EXE, and redo screens as often
as you like, but you will avoid confusion with the use of a few simple written
notes as you develop your project.
11. Please Don't Forget! As the program stands, when you create and save new
MAGIC.FNT screens (MAGIC0.FNT - MAGIC9.FNT) your new screen files will automat-
ically replace and erase any screens of the same name which are already on your
disk. Avoid this by renaming your existing set with the simple one-line command
explained on page 1.
HARD DRIVE INSTALLATION
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Magic Font Programs will load and run more quickly and smoothly if you have
them installed on a hard drive instead of a floppy diskette. To do this it is
best to create a MAGIFONT directory on your hard disk. From the root directory
simply type MD MAGIFONT and press "Enter." Then put your Magifont floppy disk-
ette into your A drive and type COPY A:*.* B:\MAGIFONT to copy the files to the
hard drive. Then whenever you want to use the Magic Font Programs, simply type
CD \MAGIFONT to enter the MAGIFONT directory to run the programs.
DISK CACHE PROGRAMS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If your MAGISHOW slide shows do not run smoothly you should obtain a disk cache
program. Cache programs avoid making repeated retrievals of the same data from
the disk, by storing the data in memory. DOS 3.3 and later versions have such
a program, designed to be included in your CONFIG.SYS file. See your DOS User's
Manual for information. There are several Shareware cache program which you may
be able to locate. (Not available from REXXCOM.)
D I S P L A Y W A R E
by
REXXCOM SYSTEMS
P.O. BOX 111
SCHOOLEYS MOUNTAIN, NJ O784O
DISPLAYWARE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY REXXCOM SYSTEMS
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
NAME MAIN FEATURES APPLICATIONS
+-------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| AUTODOC.EXE | 1. Contains mini word proces- | 1. Training programs. Adds |
| | sor. Handy for daily typing & | eye-appeal to informational |
| with the | editing. | and educational texts. |
| | 2. Allows colorization of text | 2. Files are readily updated |
| "AD-EDITOR" | for visual impact. | while retaining the custom |
| + | 3. Customized DecorEdge Bord`r | features. |
| Support | easily added for impact. | 3. Useful for introduction to |
| Files | 4. SuperFont headings & titles | computer and word processor. |
| | readily included in text. | 4. Excellent for text files |
| (Integrated | 5. Graphic pics may be added. | to be used for disk storage |
| System | 6. Completed text files are in | or printout. May be used with |
| for | convenient onscreen-readable | or without the user-customiz- |
| Information | and scrollable form with user- | able features. |
| Display) | customizable features. | 5. Teaches the use of IBM ex- |
| | 7. Easy keystroke-printout. | tended character set. |
| | 8. Creative. Very fascinating. | 6. Useful for generating mes- |
| | 9. Color recommended but not | sages and memos for networks, |
| | required (HGC/CGA/EGA/VGA). | and related applications. |
+------------ +--------------------------------+-------------------------------+
|AUTOFONT.EXE | 1. Typed copy instantly con- | 1. Use for creating profes- |
| | verted to large SuperFonts. | sional appearing titles for |
| "The Auto- | 2. Nice variety of fonts comes | otherwise ordinary documents. |
| Matic | with professional edition. | 2. Also useful for headings & |
| SuperFont | 3. SuperFonts save in ASCII & | keywords for ASCII text to be |
| Writer" | can be put onto screen with | read onscreen or printed out. |
| | regular DOS "type" command. | 3. Excellent for making head- |
| | 4. Easily add to regular ASCII | ings and titles for pre-load |
| | text files to improve impact & | into AUTODOC.EXE. |
| | set off important sections. | 4. Can be used for preparing |
| | 5. Graphic illustrations also | announcements or entire docu- |
| | included (easy-to-use ASCII). | ments if large fonts needed. |
| | 6. Printing of SuperFonts and | 5. SuperFonts made with this |
| | combination text + SuperFonts | program can be included in |
| | easily accomplished with most | ASCII files as messages for |
| | equipment. | network transmittal or for |
| | 7. Color not required. | uploading to a BBS. |
+-------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+
|MAGIFONT.EXE | 1. Typed copy converts instan- | 1. Useful for making displays |
| | taneously to brilliant colored | to attract/inform/motivate |
| "The Magic | display for onscreen viewing. | at trade shows and meetings. |
| Font | 2. Hundreds of combinations of | 2. Colorful onscreen displays |
| Machine" | fonts/colors/special-effects | also have many applications |
| | in the professional edition. | for use in offices/libraries/ |
| + | 3. Flashing (blinking) multi- | schools/museums/stores, etc. |
|MAGIVUE.EXE | colored SuperFont text readily | 3. Use for custom on-diskette |
| + | combined with graphics. | sales messages for mailing. |
|MAGISHOW.EXE | 4. "Slide Shows" easily made | 4. Unusual new format to use |
| | for use in many applications. | for greetings, messages, an- |
| (3-Program | 5. Individual display screens | nouncements, etc. |
| Set) | easily custom-made for variety | 5. The full featured colorful |
| | of uses. | screens will upload to many |
| | 6. Unusually fascinating to | computer BBS systems. |
| | use. Develops creativity. | 6. Make titles & videotape or |
| | 7. Color (CGA/EGA/VGA). | photograph monitor screen. |
+-------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------+
FOR ORDERING INFO: TYPE ORDER AND BE SURE YOUR PRINTER IS READY!
^^^^^