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1st Canadian Shareware Disc
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1st_Canadian_Shareware_Disc_1991.ISO
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quotelix
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quotelix.doc
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1989-09-27
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└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌──────────┐
│ QUOTE │
│ TELIX │ MESSAGE QUOTING PROGRAM FOR TELIX
└──────────┘
>>> Introduction <<<
Have you ever gotten (or perhaps even sent) a message like this on a
Computer Bulletin Board?
"I can't see how you feel that is right."
When the person wrote that message it made perfect sense to them,
because they had the original message right there on their screens.
By the time you receive it you have likely written other messages or
even moved on to a whole new topic, and of course have no idea what the
message is referring to. (Of course the original message is deleted
from the BBS too.)
The temptation is to reply: "I disagree with you."
By this time you are not even talking to anyone anymore because you
no longer have any idea what the original topic was. What is needed is
a means of reminding the other person what you are talking about,
like this:
=> The birds always fly south in the fall.
=> This prevents them from freezing to death.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I can't see how you feel that is right.
Now everyone knows what is being said in reference to what!
QUOTELIX gives you all the software needed to capture and return this
kind of reminder using the TELIX communications program.
>>> Setup <<<
Since you are reading this message, you already have all the files you
need to get this going. You should have the following:
QUOTELIX.EXE ---> The self-extracting archive. (You can delete it now)
QUOTE.EXE ---> The quote formatting program. ----\
QUOTE.SLC ---> TELIX script file. | (Put all these
QUOTE.SLT ---> Source code for QUOTE.SLC | files in your
CAPTURE.SLC ---> TELIX script file. | TELIX SCRIPTS
CAPTURE.SLT ---> Source code for CAPTURE.SLC | directory.)
QUOTELIX.DOC ---> This instruction file. ----/
QUOTE.TXT ---> Practice quoting text file. (This goes in your TELIX
Working directory).
> Using Script Files <
Script files for Telix are like little programs of their own and are
actually written in a language called SALT. Each script will make
Telix do something differently, according to how the script is written.
In QUOTELIX we are using script files for two purposes. QUOTE.SLC is
used to shell out to the QUOTE generator and then send the marked
lines back to the BBS and CAPTURE.SLC is used to turn the session
"Capture File" on and off as needed.
Both files require installation before they will run. This is an easy
procedure and requires only that you set up a couple of key macros. I
will use the examples of the Grey Plus key (on the keypad) and the
Grey Minus Key (on the keypad), you can of course use any key
combination you like.
I wanted the Plus key to bring up the QUOTE window and the Minus key
to start and stop the Capture File so I did the installation as
follows:
a> Load TELIX and wait for it to initialize the modem.
b> Type ALT-K (to bring up the Keyboard Definitions window)
c> Select EDIT from the menu
d> When prompted for the key press the Grey Plus key.
e> When prompted for the definition type in @QUOTE
(exactly as I have shown it here)
f> Press Enter
g> Press the Grey Minus key to begin defining it.
h> When prompted for the definition type in @CAPTURE
(exactly as I have shown it here)
i> Press Enter
j> Exit to the Keyboard Window's menu (press Space)
k> Save the file as TELIX.KEY.
This completes the installation of the scripts and QUOTELIX is now
ready to use.
>>> Using QUOTELIX <<<
I will continue along with my examples of the Grey Plus and the Grey
Minus keys, if you have used different keys all you need to do is make
the appropriate substitutions.
> How it works <
QUOTELIX uses a pop up window to read and reformat the last 10k of your
capture file. The window then allows you to select and return some or
all of the capture file back to the BBS for including in a message. It
also truncates the file to 10K to prevent disk over-filling on Floppy
disk systems.
The CAPTURE script opens and selectively pauses a file called QUOTE.TXT
which serves as the source file for the QUOTE formatter program. The
first time you press the Grey Minus key the file is opened and from
that time on the Grey Minus starts and stops the capturing activity
each time you press the key. You can verify the status of the file by
looking at the status line "CAP" means the file is running, "PAUS"
means it is open but not gathering text, a blank area means the file is
not opened yet.
The QUOTE script is actvated by the Grey Plus and brings up a window in
which you can see the contents of the capture file. You then can mark
the lines you wish to use as a quote (or reminder) and have them sent
back to the BBS as part of a message.
The overall effect is that of sending a message writer's own words back
to them as a reminder of what was said. You can manage the Capture file
by pausing and un-pausing it at the appropriate times so that only the
text you wish to see is presented to QUOTE.
QUOTELIX has an off-line mode built in that allows you to "get the feel
of it" before using it on a BBS. QUOTELIX will use a shortened copy of
this instruction file (QUOTE.TXT) as a source file for testing.
> Operating QUOTELIX <
It all sounds complex... but after a couple of runs it is really very
easy to use and a little practice will make you into a first class
quoter.
1> Sign onto a BBS or EMAIL service using TELIX
2> When you see text you wish to save press the Grey Minus. From this
point on the Grey Minus key will start and stop the saving of text each
time you press it. A little practice will show you the appropriate
times for starting and stopping.
3> When you wish to reply to a message (or begin entering a new
message) all you do is start the message up as you always do (I usually
pause the capture file about now too). When you want to send a quote
into the message press the Grey Plus key and the quote window will come
up.
While in the window you have a number of options:
Home key ... Move to beginning of file (Press any key to stop)
End key ... Move to the end of the file (Press any key to stop)
PgUp key ... Move back 15 lines
PgDn key ... Move forward 15 lines
Up Arrow ... Move marker bar 1 line up
Dn Arrow ... Move marker bar 1 line down
Enter key... Mark or unmark line for quoting
S key ... Put a seperator line in quoted text
Q key ... Quit and send quoted lines to BBS
Esc key ... Abandon quoted lines and exit to TELIX (no quote)
(Again, a little practice makes all this obvious.)
Once you have selected the text you wish to send back pressing Q will
exit the QUOTE window and send the marked lines to the BBS as part of
the message you started.
4> Having quoted into the message, you are now returned to TELIX and
the rest of the message entry is just like it always is, except now the
recipient of your message will know what you are referring to.
Hint:
Most BBSs have a time out of only a couple of minutes. This means that
you really don't have a whole lot of time in the QUOTE window before
the BBS hangs up on you, I would not recommend browsing too long.
TELIX is a fine product of EXIS inc.
If you have TELIX and wish to register it, or if you wish to order
TELIX you can reach EXIS at:
Exis Inc.
P.O.Box 130
West Hill Ontario
M1E 4R4
They also operate a support BBS at: 1-416-284-0682
If you have problems with the QUOTELIX software contact:
Masters Software
c/o Laura Denise Masters
165 Ontario St. #609 St.
Catharines Ontario L2R 5K4
Phone 1-416-688-1509
Telix is part of the User Supported Software concept and the
programmers at EXIS rely on your registration fees to continue
providing high quality software and support.
QUOTELIX is Public Domain software... there is no fee for its use or
Distribution. We ask only that you make a donation of $10.00 or so to
the United Way if you like this package.
QUOTELIX may be distributed freely so long as no charge for use or for
distribution is levied. QUOTELIX is the exclusive property of Masters
Software, you have our permission to use or distribute this software so
long as the Masters Software Logo and Credits are not removed.
Masters Software, or associates will not be held responsible for the
behaviour of this package. You agree to use QUOTELIX at your own risk
and without recourse against anyone for its failure to meet any or all
of your expectations.