home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
5 Star Games: Animations
/
5_STAR_GAMES.ISO
/
author
/
textscrn
/
sd.doc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-11-01
|
45KB
|
1,442 lines
┌────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ S C R E E N │
│ │
│ D E S I G N E R │
│ │
├────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ User's Guide and Reference │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ Version 1.0 │
│ │
│ November, 1993 │
│ │
└────────────────────────────┘
Direct correspondence to:
Gary Ivany
197 Jubilee Rd.
Bridgewater
Nova Scotia, Canada
B4V-3G5
Copyright 1993 by Gary Ivany
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Table of Contents
What is Screen Designer 2
System Requirements 2
Features 2
Getting started 3
User Interface 3
Menu Functions Overview 5
Menu Functions Details 7
Programming examples 13
Registration 17
Brief Guided Tour 18
Disclaimer 21
Page - 1
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
What is Screen Designer
Screen Designer is a MOUSE DRIVEN utility for creating
text screens. It can be used for developing any type of
text display your programs require. (I.e., user-input
screens, menus, Title screens, etc.)
This utility gives you an environment to prototype text
screens quickly and easily. You can compile your screens
into object modules for linking directly into your
application. I find that I am using this tool more and more
in the early development stages of a project to quickly
generate output and data entry screens. This allows me to
obtain customer input in the early stages of the development
process.
* See pages 18 - 20 for a brief guided tour *
Features:
** Creates self displaying screens in .COM
and .OBJ format
** Save and load screen images in different
formats
** Friendly User Interface with on-line help
System Requirements:
IBM Compatible computer
DOS v2.x or newer
Mouse
CGA video card (or better)
Page - 2
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Getting Started:
Start the "Screen Designer" by changing to the directory
where SD is located, typing SD and pressing <ENTER>. You
can specify the file you wish to work on from the command
line as follows: SD [filename]
Where filename can be a "SCN, MEM,
or BIN" file or a file in ASCII format.
The first screen you are presented with contains a menu bar
across the top and a status bar across the bottom.
Menu selections are be made by moving the mouse cursor over
the desired choice and clicking the left button. This opens
a drop-down menu and presents you with a sub-menu. Clicking
on your choice from the sub-menu selects the item. You can
also click and hold the left mouse button on the main menu
then move the mouse vertically to highlight the desired sub
menu selection. Releasing the button selects the
highlighted item.
(Once any menu or hot-key function is selected then the
title screen will clear to bright white on blue.)
User-Interface:
Using the keyboard, press <[ALT]> to light up the "File"
selection on the main menu bar. Pressing the first letter
of a main menu item opens its associated pull-down menu.
Selections within the pull down menu can be made by pressing
the highlighted letter or using the cursor keys to highlight
your choice and pressing <Enter>. Most sub-menu selections
have a shortcut KEY that allows that selection without
moving through the menus. NOTE: These shortcut keys are
only available when in MENU MODE (see status bar) and the
menu bar is not highlighted.
Shortcut Keys:
B Single line box drawing mode
X Double line box drawing mode
T Normal text mode
L Large text mode
F Fill selection area with current char and
attribute pair
E Erase selection area to current background
M Move
C Copy
P Paste
U Undo
R Re-color
V Re-color (selective)
W Search and replace
S Swap screen
Page - 3
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
User-Interface Cont...
There are also several hot keys available at all times
except when the menu bar is activated.
Hot Keys:
[F1] On-line help, sensitive to the current mode.
[F2] Pops up the control bar
[F3] Undo last edit
[F4] Toggle Smart lines
[F5] Toggle box shadows
[F6] Toggle box & text fill
[F7] Set current colors to those under cursor
[F8] Set FILL character to character under cursor
General Mouse Control
The mouse is used to select starting and end positions for
regions when in editing modes. Hold the left-button and
'rubber band' the highlights to define a working area. In
all cases the right button is used to either abort the
current process and/or to exit the current mode. (The <ESC>
key will also abort processes)
IMPORTANT NOTE: For some modes the only way back to the
menu bar is by pressing the right mouse button or <ESC>.
Page - 4
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MAIN MENU OVERVIEW
FILE MENU
LOAD Loads a screen file into memory.
SAVE Saves current screen to file using current
file type.
SAVE AS Saves current screen to file using
selected file type.
CREATE COM Creates a self-displaying screen
"COM" file.
CREATE OBJ Creates a linkable self-displaying screen.
DOS Enters DOS shell. (type EXIT to return to
program)
EXIT Normal exit from program.
OPTIONS MENU
VIEW SCREEN Removes menu, status bar and
mouse cursor from screen.
CONTROL WINDOW This option calls up the control
window.
LOAD FONT Allows loading of large fonts
to replace default.
SHADOWS Toggle BOX shadows
SMART LINES Toggle SMART LINES
FREEZE MENU COLOR Allow menus to change color to
currently selected colors.
STATUS BAR Toggle STATUS BAR ON/OFF (on by
default)
DRAW SUB-MENU
SINGLE BOX Draws boxes or lines using single line
box characters from extended
ASCII character set.
DOUBLE BOX Draws boxes or lines using double
line box characters from
extended ASCII character set.
TEXT Rudimentary text editing (normal size).
LARGE TEXT Same as above but uses large characters .
FILL Overwrites portions of the screen with the
currently selected FILL character in the
current color.
ERASE Overwrites screen area with spaces in
(uses the current background color).
Page - 5
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MAIN MENU OVERVIEW CONT...
EDIT MENU
MOVE Moves selected region of screen to
new position
COPY Copies selected region of screen to
a buffer
PASTE Paste COPY buffer to screen.
UNDO Removes the latest changes to the
screen.
RECOLOR Recolors screen region to the
current color.
RECOLOR SELECTIVE Replace specific colors in a
selected region.
REPLACE CHARACTER Replace specific characters in a
region.
CLEAR SCREEN Clears the screen.
SWAP SCREEN Swaps current screen with
alternate screen.
HELP MENU
ABOUT Displays the author and revision
number of program.
GENERAL Outlines brief help on menu navigation and
hot keys.
Page - 6
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
MAIN MENU DETAILS
FILE MENU
LOAD - The program displays a dialog box that is
used to display a selection of files. Files with a
"SCN, BIN, MEM and TXT" extensions are displayed by
default although the FILENAME input box may be used
to change the display mask. NOTE: Deleting the
contents of the FILENAME input box and pressing the
OK button will re-display the files matching the
default extensions.
SAVE - The currently displayed screen is saved to
disk in the current format using the CURRENT
FILENAME. If 'UNTITLED' appears in the filename
section of the status bar, you are placed in the
SAVE AS dialog box described below.
SAVE AS - The SAVE-AS dialog box is similar to the
LOAD dialog box. There is a filename input box
(containing the default file extension mask *.SCN),
a file display box (displaying all the files within
the current directory matching the mask), a box
describing the directories and drives available, a
selection of file formats to use (Normal - .SCN,
Basic - .BIN, Clipper - .MEM, ASCII Text - .TXT) and
buttons to accept (OK), cancel (CANCEL) or request
help on this dialog box (HELP).
CREATE COM - Creates a self-displaying screen file
that can be used in a batch file or simply run from
DOS. (see batch file examples on page 15)
CREATE OBJ - Creates a Microsoft format, Object module
that contains a compressed screen image. These modules
are self-displaying and can be used from several languages.
See the programming examples listed on pages 13 to 16.
DOS - Enters DOS shell. (type EXIT to return to
program)
EXIT - Normal exit from program.
OPTIONS MENU
VIEW SCREEN - Removes menu, status bar and mouse
cursor from screen, allowing you an unobstructed
view of your screen design. Press any key or mouse
button to return to the main menu.
Page - 7
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
OPTIONS MENU CONT...
CONTROL WINDOW - This option calls up the control
window. The control window consists of 2 main
sections. The top portion of the window is labeled
SELECT FILL. It is used to select the fill
character for the FILL command in the EDIT menu.
The lower section of the control window is labeled
SELECT COLOR. It is used to select the foreground
and background colors. The space character is the
default FILL character and is set on program
startup. To select the fill character, simply click
the left button of the mouse on the character
desired. Immediately below this section is a line
displaying an example of the current fill character
in the current color.
The top multicolor bar in the SELECT COLOR area
selects the foreground color; the lower bar selects
background color. To the right of the background
bar is the label 'BLINKING'. The gray section here
is a toggle to control the blinking attribute. A
small sample window on the right shows the current
colors.
The STATUS bar automatically becomes visible when
the control window is opened. The "SMART", "SHADOW"
and "FILL" text now become toggle buttons to adjust
those features of the BOX modes. All selections are
made the same way, by left-clicking the mouse.
Once you are satisfied with your choices then you
exit the window by right-clicking the mouse or by
pressing <ESC>.
SHADOWS - When enabled, boxes will be drawn
with a shadow that extends two characters to the
right and one character below them.
SMART LINES - When enabled, line characters will be
replaced with characters that allow the lines to
join, if such a character exists.
FREEZE MENU COLOR - This command allows you to
determine whether or not the menu colors indicate
current color selection. Useful if you would like to
change the menu colors. i.e. change colors then
freeze menu color again
Page - 8
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
OPTIONS MENU CONT...
STATUS BAR - Toggle display of STATUS BAR (on by
default). The following items are indicated on the
status bar:
FILL Displays the current fill character and
color.
MODE Indicates the current mode of operation
(i.e. Menu, Controls, Load Font, Single Box,
Double Box, Text, Fill, Erase, Move, Copy, Paste,
Recolor, Swap Color, Swap Character, About, and
Help). It also indicates when the program is
loading, saving and creating Com or Object files.
SMART Indicator of SMART LINES status, bright
is on.
SHADE Indicator of box SHADOWS status, bright
is on.
FILL Indicator of FILL status (for text/boxes)
R C Are the mouse's current screen row & column.
Page - 9
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
DRAW MENU
SINGLE BOX - Draws boxes using single line
characters. Click and hold the left mouse button at
the beginning of the box. Drag the mouse cursor,
which has changed to dotted lines, to where you wish
to end the box and let go of the left mouse button.
Pressing the right mouse button, or the [Escape] key
during this process aborts it. The box /line drawing
modes are affected by the three toggles Smart,
Shade, Fill. (see the options menu descriptions)
DOUBLE BOX - Draws boxes using double line
characters.
TEXT MODES - A very basic TEXT placement function.
Position the mouse cursor on the screen where you
wish to begin typing. Click the left mouse button,
or begin to type your text. Text will wrap around
to the next line down if you arrive at the end of
the line. Word wrapping is not supported at this
time. The following is a brief description of the
effect of various keys:
Enter - Moves the cursor to the beginning
of the next line down.
Arrows - Moves the cursor left, right, up
or down one character.
Tab - Moves the cursor 8 characters to
the right (or the end of the line,
whichever is less).
Shift tab - Moves the cursor 8 characters to
the left (or the beginning of the line,
whichever is less).
PgUp - Moves the cursor to the top line,
same column.
PgDn - Moves the cursor to the bottom
line, same column.
Home - Moves the cursor to the beginning of the
current line.
End - Moves the cursor to the end of the
current line.
Ctrl Home - Moves the cursor to the upper left
corner of the screen.
Ctrl End - Moves the cursor to the lower right
corner of the screen.
Delete - Deletes the character under the cursor.
Backspace - Moves the cursor left and erases
the character in that position.
Escape - Exits the text editing mode (the right
mouse button is the same as the Escape key).
Page - 10
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TEXT MODES CONT...
Text writing to the screen is affected by the status
of the FILL flag.
When fill is enabled then text is displayed
normally.
When it is disabled then small text is displayed
using the current foreground color on the existing
screen background color. Large font text
is displayed using the current foreground color and
the existing background colors , as well any space
characters in the font are not displayed, giving you
an overlaid effect.
FILL - Select the area of the screen you wish to work
with by clicking and holding the left mouse button on one
corner and dragging the mouse to the other corner.
Releasing the left mouse button will FILL the enclosed area
with the current FILL character in the current foreground
and background colors. Pressing the right mouse button
while in the process of selecting a screen area will abort
the operation.
EDIT MENU
MOVE - Select the area of the screen you wish to
MOVE by clicking and holding the left mouse button
on one corner and dragging the mouse to the other
corner. Releasing the left button cuts the selected
portion from the screen. The cut portion now
follows the mouse cursor. Pressing the left button
again will PASTE the cutting in the current mouse
position. The area left behind by the cutting is
filled with spaces using the current background
color.
COPY - Select the area of the screen you wish to
COPY by clicking and holding the left mouse button
on one corner and dragging the mouse to the other
corner. Releasing the left button copies the
selected portion of the screen to a buffer. The
copied portion now follows the mouse cursor.
Pressing the left button again will PASTE the copy
buffer in the current mouse position and return you
to copy mode. You must push the right mouse button
or the escape key to return to menu mode. Pushing
the right mouse button while selecting a screen area
will abort the operation and return to menu mode.
PASTE - This command is not available until the COPY
buffer has been filled by the COPY command.
Pressing the left button will PASTE the contents of
the copy buffer on the screen at the current mouse
position. You must push the right mouse button or
the escape key to exit the PASTE mode and return to
MENU mode.
Page - 11
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
UNDO - The UNDO command cycles backwards through a
circular buffer. This circular buffer holds up to 9
of the latest screen changes. The UNDO command is
accessed in one of three ways:
1.By navigating through the Menus - [ALT]-
(activate menu bar), [E]-(open Edit drop down
menu), and [U] - (undo last edit)
2.By using the Menu shortcut key 'U'
3.By using the [F3] hot key.
(I find the [F3] hot key to be the method of choice
since it is available in all the editing modes and
does not require you to exit the current mode to
activate it).
RECOLOR - Select the target area in the usual
manner. Upon releasing the left mouse button the
target area will be recolored to the current color
selections (indicated by the FILL character example
on the status bar).
RECOLOR SELECTIVE - This command works the same as
the RECOLOR command except It requires you to
select a color to be replaced by the current colors.
REPLACE CHARACTER - This command works similar to
the RECOLOR SELECTIVE command. A character is
chosen from within the target area. All occurrences
of this character are replaced with the current FILL
character in their existing colors.
CLEAR SCREEN - Clears the screen to the current
colors.
SWAP SCREEN - This command swaps your current screen
with the one stored in the alternate screen storage
area. The status bar has a colored triangle
adjacent to the MODE: section to indicate which
screen is currently displayed. The RED or BLUE
triangle on the status bar changes state whenever a
swap is made. The primary purpose for this feature
is to provide an additional screen area to allow
cutting and pasting between two screens.
Interestingly enough, because I have used a
different page of the video buffer to store the
alternate screen, it is possible to rerun the
program and find the alternate screen still contains
an image from a previous session.
Page - 12
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Programming Examples:
I've included some programming examples for various
languages, this is not to say that the object modules
created by this application can not be used by other
languages. Most certainly the SCN files can be used by any
language capable of loading in binary data and moving it to
screen memory.
Because the screen image files are not compressed it leaves
you full flexibility to go at these files with whatever
tools you have at your disposal.
Borland C:
/* EXAMPLE #1
This program will display a compressed screen image linked
in as an object module.
*/
void pascal far ObjName (void);
void main (void)
{
/* this is the only line required to display the screen
*/
ObjName();
}
/* EXAMPLE #2
This example program will load in a 4k screen image file and
put it to video memory.
*/
#include <stdio.h>
#include <mem.h>
#include <dos.h>
void main()
{
size_t bytes_read;
char buffer[4000];
char far * ptr;
FILE *filestream;
filestream = fopen("title.scn","r");
if(filestream ){
bytes_read = fread(buffer,1,4000,filestream);
if(bytes_read == 4000)
ptr= _fmemcpy((void far*) MK_FP(0xB800,0),(char far *)
buffer,4000);
fclose(filestream);
}
}
Page - 13
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Programming Examples: (continued)
Microsoft C:
/* EXAMPLE #1
This program will display a compressed screen image linked
in as an object module.
*/
void pascal far ObjName (void);
void main (void)
{
/* this is the only line required to display the screen
*/
ObjName();
}
/*EXAMPLE #2
This example program will load in a 4k screen image file and
put it to video memory.
*/
#include <stdio.h>
#include <memory.h>
void main()
{
size_t bytes_read;
char buffer[4000];
char far * ptr;
FILE *filestream;
filestream = fopen("title.scn","r");
if(filestream ){
bytes_read = fread(buffer,1,4000,filestream);
if(bytes_read == 4000)
ptr= _fmemcpy((void far*) 0xB8000000,(char far *)
buffer,4000);
fclose(filestream);
}
}
Page - 13
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Programming Examples: (continued)
QuickBASIC, Qbasic:
In your QuickBasic / QBasic program...
BLOAD "filename.bin"
This will load the file directly to video memory.
Due to the inability of QBasic to use libraries / quick
libraries, the following applies to QuickBasic only...
Declare Sub ObjName()
...
...
ObjName: REM this will display the screen stored in the
Object file
Note:
When building your EXE file from the command line,
remember to link in the screen's object file.
If working from within the environment, the screen's
object file must be stored in a Library then linked into a
Quick library.
CLIPPER (summer87 & 5.x):
To display screens stored in object format from within
a Clipper program you simply call them like you would any
other function. Since there are no parameters to pass to
the function, the Extend system is not needed. Remember to
include the screen object file in the link list.
example #1:
call entryfrm
// this program displays the file saved as ENTRYFRM.OBJ
The screens generated for Clipper are actually stored
in a memory file. In this memory file is a PUBLIC VARIABLE
called M_RESTORE. The contents of M_RESTORE would be
identical to the return value of SAVESCREEN(0,0,24,79)
so therefore it would be easy to
RESTSCREEN(0,0,24,79,M_RESTORE) to display the screen.
example #2:
restore from "title.mem" additive
// if more than one screen is to be loaded then copy
// M_restore to another string variable first.
restscreen(0,0,24,79,M_RESTORE)
// an alternate syntax would be
// RESTORE SCREEN FROM M_RESTORE
M_RESTORE = ""
// optionally release the 4k of memory
// this program will display the screen file, Title.mem
Page - 14
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Programming Examples: (continued)
BATCH FILES:
Perhaps you could create a colorful menuing system by use of
one or more screens. Another use could be to pre-load title
screens for display, while an application is initializing.
Example #1:
To display a screen and wait for a keypress.
@ ECHO OFF
NOCURS.COM
MENU.COM
GETKEY.COM
NORMCURS.COM
CLS
Example #2:
To interpret keypress from user, DOS 6 REQUIRED.
@ECHO OFF
NOCURS.COM
CHOICE /C:ABCD /N
IF ERRORLEVEL 4 GOTO CHOICE4
IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO CHOICE3
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO CHOICE2
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO CHOICE1
REM NO CHOICE MADE
GOTO EXIT
:CHOICE1
REM USER PUSHED 'A' KEY
GOTO EXIT
:CHOICE2
REM USER PUSHED 'B' KEY
GOTO EXIT
:CHOICE3
REM USER PUSHED 'C' KEY
GOTO EXIT
:CHOICE4
REM USER PUSHED 'D' KEY
:EXIT
NORMCURS.COM
Page - 15
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
LARGE TEXT FONTS:
The large text fonts are simply just matrices of ASCII
characters. Each font can have it's own height and width
(all fonts are non-proportional). I've opted to have only
one font loaded at runtime, DEFAULT.FNT. Other fonts are
available to be loaded through the options menu. Of course
if you prefer to have a different font as the default then
simply rename the files. This first release of the program
does not include a font editor, I think I'll wait and see
what response I get before investing more time down this
avenue. For anyone who would like to create their own fonts
the following breakdown of the font file structure should
assist you.
Font file structure...
┌───┬───┬───┬───┬─────────────────────────────┐
│ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 │ ASCII characters │
└───┴───┴───┴───┴─────────────────────────────┘
byte #1 = height of font
byte #2 = width of font
byte #3 = ASCII value of first character
byte #4 = ASCII value of last character
The remainder of the file consists of all the
ASCII codes of the defined character set, in
order.
The program checks the integrity of the font file
when attempting to load it, so therefore it is
imperative that the file be exactly the correct
length as defined by the first four bytes. All
characters from ASCII start to ASCII end inclusive
must be defined in the file.
Another point of note is that when the SD.EXE program
displays the fonts it will add a space to the
end of each row of the large character, so don't include
them into the definition of the font.
Page - 16
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
SHAREWARE:
==========
Hopefully this software will generate enough interest to
encourage me to continue expanding it.
Any comments, suggestions or criticisms would be
appreciated.
If you find this software useful I would request that you
register it, by sending me a nominal fee of $25.00.
Print out the order.frm file included on the distribution
disk.
Make CHEQUE or MONEY-ORDER payable to:
Gary Ivany
197 Jubilee Rd.
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
CANADA
B4V-3G5
Page - 17
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
BRIEF GUIDED TOUR:
The real ease of use of the program is achieved when you
utilize both the MOUSE and HOT KEYS, therefore for this
demonstration I avoid the MENUS when it makes sense to do so.
* If at any time you make a mistake in following these instructions
you can simply press the <F3> key to undo it.
To begin let's create a background pattern.
Press <F2> to call up the CONTROL WINDOW
Locate the mouse cursor at R14 C43 (see status bar for positions)
Select this FILL character by pressing the left-button.
Select "Green" foreground color and "BLUE" background color
(positions R21 C13 and R23 C11)
Exit the control window by pressing the right mouse button.
Press 'F' to change to FILL MODE.
Select a screen area from R2 C1 to R24 C80 then release to
FILL this region with our fill character.
Press the right mouse button to return to menu mode.
Now let's recolor the top and bottom lines of the screen.
Call up the CONTROL window again using <F2>.
Select a background color of CYAN located at 23,16.
Exit the control window (<ESC> key or right button).
Press 'R' to enter into RECOLOR MODE.
Select an area from 1,1 to 1,80 then release to recolor it.
Next, recolor 25,1 to 25,80.
Press the right mouse button to return to menu mode.
Draw a shadowed box ...
Using the CONTROL window select colors BRIGHT WHITE on BLACK.
When back in menu mode press "B" to enter SINGLE LINE BOX mode.
Check the status bar, it should have SMART on,
SHADE off and FILL off.
Press <F5> to enable SHADE, press <F6> to enable FILL.
Select an area from 7,16 to 17,67 to draw our box.
Upon releasing you will notice that the shadow is created
outside of our selected area.
Page - 18
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
GUIDED TOUR CONT...
Add a few lines ...
While still in single box mode, let's draw a line from
15,16 to 15,67. Notice the line ends that were substituted
on the ends of the line, this is the result of having
SMART enabled.
Exit single box mode and enter Double box mode, by pressing
<ESC> then 'X'.
Now draw a double line from 9,16 to 9,67 then another line
from 7,55 to 17,55.
Press the right mouse button to return to menu mode.
Add some text ...
Press 'T' for text mode then position the mouse cursor at 8,19.
When you press the left button the mouse cursor will turn into
a text cursor.
Type in the following: "Screen Designer Tutorial".
Cursor to 12,27 then type text "Sample Text".
Press <ESC> to exit text mode.
Draw another box and copy it...
On your own, draw a YELLOW on RED box, filled and NO shadow at
location 19,32 to 23,47.
When back in menu mode Press 'C' to enter copy mode.
Select the area of the newly created box then drag the copy to
location 2,65. Click the left button to release the copy.
Exit back to MENU mode by pressing right button.
Rubber stamp some copies...
Since in the last step you have made a copy, The PASTE option
is now enabled. Press 'P' to activate this mode.
Move the cursor around the screen and left-click to PASTE
a few copies at random locations.
When you are finished use the <F3> key to erase the copies.
Exit back to the MENU.
Create a COM file...
Press <ALT> F C to activate the 'create COM file dialog'
Create a .COM file by entering in a name.
Page - 19
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
GUIDED TOUR CONT...
Shell and run COM file...
Press <ALT> F D to enter a DOS shell, then run the .COM
file you just created.
Type EXIT to return to the program.
I hope that this little tour enlightened you to the easiest way to
use this program. I find this mix of the Mouse and Hot / Shortcut
keys enables me to concentrate on the design of the screen and not
the tool's interface. All the editing and drawing tools are
available through the menu with exception of two special hot keys,
<F7> and <F8>. (see Hot Keys at top)
Of course the menus come in very handy when you just can't
remember the shortcuts.
There are quite a few features I didn't touch on here, but explore
around on your own. It can be quite fun and challenging to create
appealing screens in text mode.
Page - 20
Screen Designer's User's Guide
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Warranty Disclaimer
This program is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any
kind. In addition, Gary Ivany specifically disclaims all
warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited
to
implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a
particular purpose. In no event shall Gary Ivany be liable
for any claims for lost profits, lost savings or any other
damage, including but not limited to special, incidental,
consequential or other damage even if Gary Ivany has been
advised of the possibility of such damages.
Page - 21
