The Business Master (4th Edition)

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Text File | 1993-02-26 | 44KB | 917 lines

_______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Files included in this release: DDKEY201.DOC 3UTILS.DOC DDKEY.COM CTRL.COM DINSTALL.COM DDK-ORDR.FRM DVORAK.COM WS.KEY VENDOR.DOC KEYCODE.COM Update 1.8: Several options were added to the menu: <A> allows setting a twenty-four hour alarm, <T> gives a table of ASCII codes, and will print the screen of your active program to a sequential file, DDKEY.001, DDKEY.002, etc. Update 1.9: The cursor may now be set by pressing <-> at the menu. One may now assign macros to key pairs: a user definable trigger key followed by one of 94 regular ASCII keys. Update 1.91: <A>larm now shows the current time as a reference. <-> includes ability to blank screen. Update 2.0: DINSTALL, DDKEY installation program for full customization. At DOS prompt type: DINSTALL DDKEY.COM Update 2.01: Dropped internal stack (WordStar conflict) _____________________ DDKEY version 2.01 Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, David M. Dibble All rights reserved 2/26/93 A Dynamic DOS Key expander: a tiny but powerful macro utility. DDKEY was originally written to complement WordStar, by allowing any key to be redefined, rather than the "Escape + key" combination that WordStar requires. Those with 640k RAM may run WordStar and the spelling checker, etc. completely in memory, but little room is left for a key redefinition program. Therefore DDKEY was designed to be small and fast: the TSR program code occupies 6.1k of RAM. Total memory usage, with the default 1.4k definition buffer, is 7.5k, for DKEY-0K. For DDKEY an extra 4k is reserved as a buffer for saving and restoring the screen, so over 11k of DOS RAM is needed. Had this program been written in C, instead of in assembly language, it would have been about seven times larger. DDKEY is ideal for use on laptops or with large databases, for working with text or for any sort of programming. Various features make working with archive files easier. It should work under DOS 2.0 and later. DDKEY will pop up only in color text or monochrome mode. DDKEY automatically senses the enhanced BIOS, and uses self- modifying code to install the correct version of the program in memory. The program itself compresses nicely with LZEXE or PKLITE to take up little room on disk. Some features include: * save and load key definition files from command line * display definitions active in memory, both within another program, or from the command line * on-the-fly definitions, optional Record Mode * variable definition buffer for small and large needs * a no translate key, one time canceling of definitions * halt for user entry while a macro is executing * chain to another macro * on pop-up, saves and restores screen * instantly turn DDKEY on/off (active/inactive) * clear all definitions at once * a WordStar-type shorthand, assign macros to pairs of keys * toggle CapsLock on/off from within a macro. * toggle NumLock on/off from within a macro. * predetermined pause within an executing macro * automatic capitalization of letters following a period, question mark, or exclamation point * edit or reassign defined keys at any time * twenty-four hour alarm * table of ASCII codes always available * print 80-column text screen to file within any program * change user cursor at any time * included utilities to switch Ctrl and CapsLock on the enhanced keyboard, or to create a Dvorak layout DDKEY is distributed as shareware, giving users a chance to try it before they buy it. If you continue to use it, you are expected to register. The essence of user-supported software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you are unfamiliar with this distribution method, please read the comments at the end of this file. You may pass a copy of DDKEY along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they continue to use it. All registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of DDKEY. For your shareware payment of $18 ($19 for 3½" disks) you will in addition receive the next available major update free. You will also receive bonus programs such as DKEY-0K, discussed later; DEEPLOCK, an easy to use security program; and FOR-DO, an extension of the DOS FOR statement. Commercial, institutional, and government users of DDKEY must register and pay for their copies of DDKEY within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Contact the author for site-license arrangements. DDKEY IS SUPPLIED AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF DDKEY. David M. Dibble 12137 Calle Sombra, #213 Moreno Valley, CA 92557 February 26, 1993 U.S.A. _________________ The command line syntax follows. To install the program (with the default 1440 byte buffer) type either: A>DDKEY or A>DDKEY /L FILESPEC The last loads a key definition file. If DDKEY is not installed, it will be. Example: DDKEY -L A:WS.KEY, where the delimiter is either "/" or "-". Once the program is installed, typing A>DDKEY will show definitions active in memory. The program will only install once. The display here, and with the /L option, may be redirected to printer, file, or nul. Send definitions to an ASCII file, and then sort and print it. Typing A>DDKEY -L FILESPEC_2 when DDKEY is already installed, will cause the definition file, FILESPEC_2, to be loaded. Any previous key definitions will be erased. New definitions may be created at any time. These will be temporary, unless saved to a file with A>DDKEY /S FILESPEC If FILESPEC matches the name of a previously saved file, you will be warned, and given a choice of whether to overwrite or append. Files may be appended only if the key allotment values match--that is, the bytes allowed per definition must be the same. This is an effective way to merge definitions. After merging, edit the file to remove or reassign duplicate keys. When DDKEY is no longer needed, or if it conflicts with another program, it may be uninstalled with A>DDKEY /U Typing DDKEY /H or DDKEY /? will bring up the following help message: ____________________________________________________________ Usage: DDKEY {/U} {/S filespec} {/O} {/T} {/L filespec} /S Save definitions /U Uninstall /O Old BIOS calls /L Load definitions /2-9 Buffer size /T ^6 case Toggle Commands: Alt = show defined keys; menu (Esc quits) PgDn next page 1-9, 0=10 macros/pg Ret start to define R record keystrokes within program, end with Alt = ^C clear buffer, set bytes per definition A twenty-four hour alarm T table of ASCII codes P print screen to file for active program - select cursor type; blank screen C automatic caps and dialogue E edit or create macro, insert mode ^@ next key literal ^@^@ DDKEY active/inactive (beeps) Codes to embed in macro string: Alt - halt execution for user entry; end entry with Ret Alt = <Key> chain to a defined macro <Key> #C/#c CapsLock ON/off #N/#n NumLock ON/off #W 3/4 second pause ____________________________________________________________ The buffer size is now variable, with the default definition buffer being 1440 bytes. This may be incremented in units of 1440 bytes, that is, /2 equals 2880, and /3 equals 4320. The largest buffer, /9, is equal to 12,960 bytes. This should provide a sufficient range for just about any need. /1 does not need to be specified; if no digit is entered the buffer defaults to 1440 bytes. Because of the way TSRs are loaded, anything above the default buffer will not exist until DDKEY has been installed. Therefore large files must be loaded in a two-step process. To install DDKEY: A>DDKEY /5 ;create a 7,200 byte buffer A>DDKEY /L BIGFILE ;load a large file Once DDKEY has been installed with a large buffer, all further file loads proceed normally. Small files, meaning those of 1444 bytes or less, may still be loaded with a single line. The following is a permissible installation: A>DDKEY /5/L SMALFILE This would load a small file into the default buffer, then DDKEY would go memory resident, creating a large 7,200 byte buffer. All subsequent loads would use the large buffer. Since the buffer is variable, the program now checks all key files to make sure they will fit in the existing buffer. If the definition file is too large, DDKEY will refuse to load it. You may change the buffer only when installing DDKEY. You can, however, uninstall the program, and then reinstall with any new buffer value /2 to /9. When the program is first loaded, you will see a sign-on message, DDKEY 2.01 loaded, or else DXKEY. DXKEY indicates that the version for the enhanced BIOS has been loaded. DXKEY allows use of the enhanced BIOS even with older programs, letting some 47 additional keys be redefined, such as <Alt Esc>, <Alt Bksp>, <Alt ~>, <Alt .> and, if you have them, F11 and F12. With DOS 4.0 or above, use DXKEY. With DOS 2.x, a non- enhanced DDKEY will automatically load. Those with DOS 3.x will find themselves betwixt and between. The BIOS is enhanced, so DXKEY will load, but the DOS uses non-enhanced calls, and this may cause problems. GW-Basic will hang the system if INKEY$ is fed an enhanced key. And TSRs that were written before DOS 4 expect to intercept a non-enhanced key call to BIOS, so DXKEY will have to be loaded first. If conflicts arise, either upgrade your programs and utilities or, more simply, install with: A>DDKEY /O or A>DDKEY /O /L FILESPEC This is the letter O for "old" or "original", and it will force load the non-enhanced version, even if the enhanced BIOS is present. The /O parameter may be used at any time. When other parameters such as /O or /T are used, they must precede the /L option (if present). With /O DDKEY will only respond to non-enhanced BIOS calls, presumably within older programs, and will not even pop up at the DOS prompt in DOS 5.0. ON-THE-FLY DEFINITIONS: Press <Alt =>. Hit <Alt => to define. You will see the first ten definitions, and a small menu. Hit <PgDn> or <Space> to see the next screen of definitions. This is cyclical, and will start again at the beginning after the last screen has been viewed. Hit <Esc> to quit. Other features, such as <^C> for clear, rtSc, <C>aps, and <E>dit, will be explained later. Any single digit 1-9, with 0=10, will set the number of macros displayed on a page. <Return> or <D> displays the "KEY:" prompt to begin definitions. To simplify, try this initially with Editing OFF. Note that from the "KEY:" prompt striking <Alt => will again return you to the initial definition screen. With "KEY:" displayed, there are two command keys: <Backspace> or <Return> (Enter). To end a session: hit <Return> when prompted for a key. To clear a definition: hit <Return> after the equals sign. To terminate a definition: hit <Return>. To delete left: use <Backspace>. Most of this should seem fairly intuitive. To enter either of these keys in a definition itself, use the control equivalent, ^H or ^M, or else use <^Bksp> and <^Ret>. These last keys will echo as <Bksp> and <Ret>, and that is the code they will generate. The four keys, <Tab>, <Bksp>, <Ret>, and <Esc> require two bytes of storage within a macro string. Their control equivalents, ^I, ^H, ^M, ^[, which share the same ASCII value, require only one byte. When the bytes allocated for a definition are filled, the program will beep. Either terminate the definition with a <Return>, or else backspace and edit the macro or use the chain-to-macro feature discussed below. If the program refuses input, but does not beep, it probably means you are trying to enter a two-byte extended character, such as a function key or Alt key, when there is only one byte of definition space remaining. Any key returned by the BIOS may be defined, except for ^Pause. This is a word zero (00 00) and will be interpreted by DDKEY as a terminator for a key definition file. EDITING MODE The current value for editing is shown on the menu. Hit <E> to toggle this between on and off. Remember that you may return to the menu from the "KEY:" prompt by hitting <Alt =>. When editing, in addition to creating macros, you may recall previous definitions and move throughout them using the cursor left and right keys. The <Bksp> and <Ret> keys work as they do for standard definitions, so it is suggested you familiarize yourself with that mode first. An onscreen prompt will show additional command keys. To accept a definition either hit the <Esc> key, or else move to the end and hit <Ret>. <Shf Tab> allows you to reassign a macro to another key. DDKEY goes through a macro table from top down, just as the keys are displayed. Thus if you have a macro table showing: <Alt 2> = ... ... <Alt 8> = ... you may reassign <Alt 8> as <Alt 2>, then call up <Alt 2> and reassign it as <Alt 8>. Trying to do this in reverse order by first renaming <Alt 2> as <Alt 8> will block access to the original <Alt 8>. No harm is done. Just temporarily rename the duplicate. <-> SELECT CURSOR If you pop up DDKEY from a program with an invisible cursor, editing will be difficult. At the menu type hyphen <-> and select 1 to 5 for a standard cursor type: monochrome, color, block, or none at all. On exit, your original screen and (presumably invisible) cursor will be restored. To select a cursor for use outside DDKEY change the prompt to YES by pressing , then select 1-5. BLANK SCREEN: At the menu type -9. RECORD MODE A Record feature on the main menu now lets you record macros from within a program. Simply hit <R> and give the key which will hold the definition. You will then be returned to your program. All keystrokes you enter will be recorded to the macro, but DDKEY should be completely transparent at this point. None of DDKEY's editing keys will operate. <Bksp> will not correct, <Ret> will not terminate. When 16 bytes of definition space remain, DDKEY will begin to chirp or hiccup at each key press. This should be faint and unobtrusive, but will help to alert you as to how much space a macro is taking. When done with the macro, hit <Alt => to terminate. A beep will tell you the macro has ended, but you will still remain in your program. If all of the room allotted for a definition is used, a beep will alert you, and the macro will terminate. (The one similarity to DDKEY's regular definition mode is that input will be refused if there is one byte of definition space remaining and you try to enter a two-byte extended key, such as a function or Alt key.) If you make a mistake, finish recording the macro, then use the <Alt => pop-up, turn Editing ON, and edit the macro as you normally would. PAIR OR COMBINATION MACROS Both WordStar and VDE offer "Esc + Key" macro combinations as a sort of shorthand. A similar feature is now available with DDKEY, extending the possible number of macros considerably, and allowing macro output without slowing your typing speed. You need no longer worry about Alt-key conflicts. Also, those restricted to typing with one hand will find pair macros a relief from hard to reach key combinations. With DDKEY the initial or trigger key is user selectable. For speed in typing choose an ASCII key such as [, although any key should do as the trigger key. The trigger key can be defined in pair with any regular, printable ASCII in the range 33 decimal through 126 decimal. This means the second key can be any letter, number, or symbol on the keyboard. The default trigger key is tilde <~>, although this is intended for demonstration purposes only. After testing this feature you will probably want to change the trigger key to something more useful, or else to turn this feature off. Define a combination macro at the "KEY:" prompt, in regular or Record mode, by hitting the trigger key and following it with a printable ASCII, for example: ~a, ~A, ~3, ~$. In edit mode, you may reassign existing macros to pair macros. Case matters, so ~a and ~A are completely different macros. There are 94 possible pairs. The display should indicate the pair of keys to which you have assigned the macro. To play back the macro, hit the trigger key and then its complement, as: ~a, ~A, ~3. In other words, things are pretty much as you would expect them to be. In normal shorthand, one types an abbreviation and, if defined, this is erased by backspacing, then followed with the macro. This is all right in word processors where it is normal to backspace and then retype. This doesn't work so well in other programs, where outputting ~*<Bksp><Bksp> will throw out some annoying beeps at best, and cause unexpected results at worst. Therefore DDKEY takes a different approach. When you type the trigger key, nothing is output until the next key is struck. If the next key makes a macro pair, then the macro is sent. If the next key is undefined as a pair, then both the trigger key and the second key are output exactly as you typed them. The main thing is not to be put off by the initial lack of display of the trigger key, but to just type as you normally would. Given the above, the trigger key could be the semicolon for normal prose writing. Then ;a ;h ;H could be words or phrases, but ;<space> would appear as per normal (the <space> can never be part of a defined pair). Type the literal key, ^@, either immediately before or after the trigger key to keep it from expanding a macro. There is no penalty for creating a number of pair macros and saving them to a file. If you later decide to change the trigger key, then all of your definitions and the displays will automatically adjust to the new value you selected. See the section on customizing DDKEY with DINSTALL. As with all code modification, remember to work only on a program copy. CLEAR ALL DEFINITIONS FROM MEMORY You would presumably clear all keys in order to start another key file. Therefore, once the buffer is clear, you will be prompted to enter a value for the bytes to be allotted to each key + definition. The default setting is 48, which allows 30 keys to be defined within the 1,440 byte buffer. The value 48 includes 2 bytes for the key to be defined, 1 byte for the final 00, leaving 45 for each definition. So decide how much room you need for definitions, and add 3. To use the 1,440 byte buffer efficiently, choose a value that evenly divides such as 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24, 30, 32, 36, 40, 45, 48, 60, 72, 80, 90, 96 (decimal). If a number does not divide evenly, any remainder is unused. Of course, this is only relevant if you intend to fill the entire buffer. VARIABLE ENTRY If <Alt -> is entered in a definition string, it will cause the macro, when executed, to pause for user entry. All entered keys will be literal. Terminate variable entry with <Return>. This can be useful in DOS for entering file names in a command line. The <Alt -> key may be thought of as a string of dashes, or as an underline for a fill-in-the-blanks type of entry. Example definitions: LHA P <Alt -> *.DOC *.TXT READ*.* | MORE LHA E <Alt -> *.EXE *.COM When either of the above macros halt, enter the name of an LHA archive (the full name if a self-extracting EXE or COM file). Press <Ret> for the macro to continue. The above examples could optionally end with a final <Ret>. TOGGLE CAPSLOCK AND NUMLOCK Within a definition string, #C will turn on CapsLock, and #c will turn it off. If you have an IBM AT or better, your indicator lights will actually display the status of the lock keys. On other keyboards the CapsLock and NumLock lights respond only to the corresponding key press, so there is no visual clue that CapsLock has been turned on. Control of CapsLock is essential to scriptwriters, who must deal with margin and capitalization changes every other line. A single macro could create wide description margins, then conclude with: #C<Alt ->#c<^M> This would turn on CapsLock, and begin variable entry (i.e. LIGHTNING FLASHES BEHIND JONES'S HEAD). Terminating variable entry with a "Return" will then cause CapsLock to be turned off, and a carriage return to be executed. Similarly #N/#n will toggle Numlock on/off within a macro. PAUSE OR WAIT Within a macro string a #W or #w will cause almost a three-fourths second delay. This is not a toggle, so either upper or lower case may be used. For a one-and-a-half-second delay use #w#w. This may be helpful for database users. WAIT FOR KEY: To have more control over a delay, simply use variable entry, <Alt ->. Then continue the macro at any time by pressing <Enter>. CHAIN TO ANOTHER MACRO End a macro with <Alt => and then the key you want to chain to, for example: <Alt =><Alt G>. DO NOT chain a macro to itself. Chaining to an ASCII key requires three bytes. Chaining to an extended key requires four bytes. Defined keys are exactly specified with scan code and ASCII value, which means that DDKEY distinguishes between keypad and keyboard keys. Within a macro, however, only the ASCII value is saved for most keys; the scan code is ignored. This means the buffer is only about half the size it would normally be. Thus keypad numerals and symbols will appear as duplicates when chaining. If, say, both the keyboard "*" and the keypad "*" are defined, then an <Alt =>* will chain to the "*" which occurs first in the definition queue (nearest the top in the screen display). Note that clearing a key definition, and then redefining it will result in that key appearing last in the definition table. Chain to a pair macro by specifying the concluding ASCII key; that is, in order to chain to ~H use <Alt =>H. NO-TRANSLATE KEY When typing use ^@ to return the next struck key as a literal, even if it was previously defined. This applies to <Alt => itself. The ^@ key is the old teletype NUL, and may be thought of as nullifying any definition. MAKE DDKEY ACTIVE/INACTIVE Striking the literal key twice, ^@^@, will make ALL definitions and features inactive. Useful for turning DDKEY off while in another program, when you want to use a number of defined keys with their original values. To reactivate DDKEY, again strike the literal key twice: ^@^@. Each time ^@^@ is struck you will hear a beep. AUTOMATIC CAPITALIZATION AND DIALOGUE Hit <C> at the menu to toggle automatic capitalization. From a program use <Alt =>, <C>, <Esc>. When on, the next letter struck after a period, question mark, or exclamation point will be capitalized. This can be a great convenience (if not addictive), but it can also be a nuisance, so a pending capital can be aborted. Striking ^@ shuts off the capital pending state; it need not be hit directly before the letter you wish to remain lowercase. Striking any defined non-letter key will cancel a pending capital. This last assumes that if a macro has been executed, then the reason for the capital probably no longer exists. As an additional quirk for writers, the apostrophe key (') will generate a quote (") after a period, question mark, or exclamation point. If an apostrophe directly follows a comma, excluding spaces, then it will also generate a quote. The following dialogue was typed without resorting to the shift key. "The missing piece to the map." She stretched out a finger. "No," he said, "it's only a clever fake. Ryshenko managed to beat us here. We've been set up." Note that the apostrophe key not only generates quotes, but that it functions like a normal apostrophe within a sentence. I realize the use of double quotes is American usage, and that some English writers prefer the single quote mark, but there it is. ALARM Press <Alt =><A> to set the alarm. Enter an alarm time using a.m. or p.m., or use <Return> or <Esc> to leave the current value unaffected. The alarm will sound with a rather obnoxious beep. It should be loud enough to call you back to your desk after a task requiring a set interval has passed. Helpful for making sure you get to meetings, or that you catch the beginning of the nine o'clock movie. The alarm uses the timer tick, which means that it can be used on any system, and that it is very accurate. The alarm is good for twenty-four hours from the current time. TABLE OF ASCII CODES Press <Alt =><T>, then use <PgUp> and <PgDn> to cycle through the ASCII chart. Useful for programmers, or for those needing printer hex codes. The table can be used for converting hex to decimal or vice versa. PRINT SCREEN Press <Alt => to print your program's active screen to a file. Like shelling to DOS, this feature should be treated with a certain reserve. If you have spent two hours on an installation routine, why not save your work first, and only then take a screenshot of it? The screen will be saved in nondocument mode, with a hard carriage return at the end of each line, and all trailing spaces removed. The sequential output files, DDKEY.001, DDKEY.002, and so forth, will be written to the default drive and directory. Initially, a search will be made through existing files to find the next sequential number. Any time DDKEY finds an existing file with the same number as the one it is trying to write to, it will cancel the write, advance the counter, and try again. The screen may print immediately, or it may be necessary to strike a key first, thus fulfilling the original key request which DDKEY intercepted. The screen is already in buffer, and changes to it at this point will not affect the printed file. Printing the screen is particularly useful for working with archives. Large DOC files can be compressed, then scrolled to the screen and a screenshot taken. In the following examples, press on the DDKEY menu, then a second key to print the screen: PKUNZIP -CM ZIPFILE LHA P LZHFILE | MORE A last example takes care of the final possibility in doing a print screen: LHA P LZHFILE Here the file is scrolled to the screen, with <^S> used to stop the output. Then press <Alt =>. You have saved the screen, but nothing will appear to happen because DOS is being used to scroll the file. The screen will not print until either the file is done scrolling, or until you hit Ctrl-Break to exit. Once DOS is freed, the captured screen will print. While waiting for a screen to print, do NOT hit <Alt => again, since this will destroy the screenshot and abort the print. DDKEY has only one screen buffer, which is used for both the pop up and the print screen feature. TOGGLE CASE: CTRL-^ OR ^6 Writing is rewriting. Combining sentences means that one must often change a capital to a lowercase, or vice versa. Users of VDE and early users of WordStar have the very convenient ^^ (WordStar now refers to this as ^6, and to avoid confusion I will follow this designation). In WordStar 5.5 this command was abolished. DDKEY can restore it. WordStar uses ^6 to convert hard carriage returns to soft. WSCHANGE can assign this function to ^N. Otherwise ^N doesn't do anything but split a line, which is merely ^M^S. This frees up ^6 for its former use as a case toggle, which is turned on with DDKEY from the command line: A>DDKEY /T or A>DDKEY /T /L FILESPEC This is intended to make this feature accessible from batch files. The first time /T is used, ^6 becomes a case toggle. The next time /T is used, it reverts to its default off state. Thus a batch file might contain the lines: ddkey /t/l ws.key or ddkey /t/o/l ws.key ws ddkey /t/l dos.key The case toggle only works through WordStar, so you would remove it immediately on exiting WordStar. The ^6 case toggle works in insert mode, since virtually all editing is done with insert on. What it does is use the BIOS to read the character under the cursor. Then DDKEY issues a ^V to turn insert off, then sends the reverse case of the character read, then a ^V to turn insert back on. If the character under the cursor is not a letter then a ^D is used to move the cursor to the right. DKEY-0K (registered only) Since DDKEY operates in text mode, it should be possible to save and restore the current video screen by using video RAM itself. If you have at least a CGA card and a compatible computer this will save 4k of DOS RAM. DKEY-0K will save the screen to either 0B400 or 0BD00 depending on whether the computer is in monochrome or color text mode. Basically, just try it and see if it works. After an <Alt => pop-up, the screen should be restored. If so, rename DKEY-0K and use it. This will work for most people, but not for everyone, so I am treating DKEY-0K simply as a bonus. THE KEYPAD DEFINITIONS: WS.KEY The included definitions are for the keypad of the 84 key AT-style keyboard. Another use of the keypad would be to hold formatting code for writing screenplays. In WS.KEY the key interval value is not 48, but 32, which means 45 keys may be defined, leaving 30 free for the user. Paragraph: Begin/Previous Next Mark Mark to end (7) (8) (9) (*) Sentence: Begin/Previous Next Mark Mark to end (4) (5) (6) (-) Quick Down Quick Across Go Marker (1) (2) (3) Delete Word Left Place Marker Mark word (0) (.) (+) ^Backspace also gives "delete word left" (as in PC-Write). Load DDKEY /L WS.KEY and look at the display. Most definitions will be self-explanatory. Quick down (1) generates a series of ^Xs, which WordStar can't handle: after the first ^X the rest are gobbled. Thus this string is preceded with the (undocumented) feature ^Q~ which forces WordStar to accept the macro as given, without losing keystrokes. Also, it may not be clear from the opening display, but "delete word left" is <space>^A^T. Without the initial space, the command might not only wipe out any mess to the left of the cursor, but also the word to the right. The definitions assume double-spaced text, with a WordStar added soft carriage return between paragraphs. To make them work with single-spaced text, with two hard carriage returns between paragraphs, make these changes: <Keypad 8> add ^F to end <Keypad 9> add ^F before final ^KK <Keypad *> delete ^A before final ^KK Corrections or reassignments may be done with DDKEY in edit mode. DINSTALL - DDKEY AND DKEY-0K INSTALLATION DINSTALL changes the default settings in DDKEY to accommodate your needs. The opening screen contains instructions, so anyone familiar with DDKEY can run DINSTALL immediately by typing at the DOS prompt: DINSTALL DDKEY.COM If you have renamed DDKEY.COM, substitute that name. Keep an original, unmodified version of DDKEY safe so that you can refer back to it if problems arise. First-time users should try the default settings before making any changes. The first question asks: On the enhanced keyboard, make duplicate Home, PgUp, etc. keys equivalent to the keypad? Home on the keypad is 4700, while the duplicate Home is 47E0. If you don't wish to define these keys, you may want to make them equivalent. Older programs look for an ASCII 0 as the definition of an extended key, and miss the E0 code. One solution, if a program cannot recognize the duplicate keys, is to install DDKEY with a /O. The old BIOS automatically converts all cursor movement keys to the original keypad values. Unfortunately the old BIOS cuts down on the definition possibilities created by the enhanced BIOS, so you may wish to create your own filter with DINSTALL. (This restores the DDKEY 1.52 filter, which watches for an E0 ASCII and zeros it.) If so, answer Y to the first questions. The remaining options are self-explanatory. The DINSTALL layout follows, with the default settings enclosed in square brackets: On the enhanced keyboard, make duplicate Home, PgUp, etc keys equivalent to keypad [N]: Menu and macro display pop-up key [Alt =]: Leave Shorthand ON [Y]: Shorthand trigger key [~]: Record mode, begin speaker click when 5-50 bytes left [16]: Display 5-14 macros per page [10]: Automatic Caps toggle is initially OFF [Y]: Edit mode toggle is initially OFF [Y]: No translate key, active/inactive key [^@]: Each definition is allotted 5-96 bytes of space [48]: Use whatever screen color exists for pop-up display [Y]: Save current settings? [Y]: Note that changing the pop-up key, <Alt =>, also changes the key used to end input in Record Mode. By default, DDKEY uses whatever screen attributes are under the cursor when it is popped up. This means the color display changes to match the current program (though if the cursor is on highlighting or in a menu, the resulting screen color can be a bit unexpected). To set your own color from a chart, answer N when queried about using the existing screen color. If selected, this is the color the pop-up screen will always be. COMMENTS There are some problems in WordStar arising from the getchar() function in C, with which WordStar was compiled. An Alt key cannot have spaces within its definitions; that is, defining "<Alt G> = one two three" will result in output of "onetwothree". Also, getchar() reads in an entire macro at once. When a deletion occurs, WordStar goes to the undo buffer and clears the getchar() buffer holding the macro, so everything following a ^T or ^G will be lost. I use WordStar to define Esc Z as ^T^F^U, then use DDKEY with <Alt T> = <Esc>Z. A rather roundabout way to do a word transpose, but it works. DDKEY does require a small stack of up to 54 bytes. Professional programs reserve a 150- to 250-byte stack, which is more than adequate. A program with a zero-byte stack may have its code overwritten by an <Alt => pop up; if you ever encounter a problem after a pop up (usually with one specific program function), this is likely the cause. Thanks to Eric Isaacson for A86 and to Eric Meyer for VDE; without them this program would never have been written. Also thanks to those whose comments and suggestions helped to improve this program. OMBUDSMAN - Association of Shareware Professionals David M. Dibble is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. NOTES ON SHAREWARE Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, though shareware authors my grant specific rights to copy and distribute the software, in some cases requiring written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware. Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. Because the overhead is low, prices are low. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee--if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it. DDKEY is a shareware program and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. If you find this program useful and find that you continue to use DDKEY after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment to David M. Dibble. The $18 registration fee ($19 for 3½" disks) will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another: just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Anyone distributing DDKEY for any kind of remuneration must first contact David M. Dibble at the above address for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering DDKEY immediately (however, David M. Dibble must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of DDKEY).