PC Format Collection 2/PCFORMAT2.iso/PCWRITE.ZIP/HELPHINT.ARJ/ED3.HLP

Text File | 1993-07-12 | 42.5 KB | 1,120 lines

..>l
LAYOUT

Setting via menus
Measurements
Guide lines
Dot lines
Ruler lines

SETTING VIA MENUS
Layout settings via pull down menus are discussed in these help topics:
Margins, paper size, alignment, tab stops  See MARGINS/TABS
Paragraph shape (justify, center, etc.), indents  See PARAGRAPHS
Reformat, wrapping text to new layout settings  See FORMATTING
Line height, multiple line spacing  See SPACING
Typefaces, enhancing text  See FONTS
Page breaks  See PAGINATION
..>lr
Footnotes, endnotes  See FOOT/ENDNOTES
Headers, footers, page numbering  See HEAD/FOOTERS
Auto numbering lines and footnotes, comment lines  See INSERT
Index, Table of contents  See INDEX/CONTENTS

MEASUREMENTS
Available PC-Write spacing measurements include:
N-c  centimeters
N-i  inches
N-m  current line spacing
N=p  points (1/72 inch)
N=r  current ruler spacing
N=s  sixth inches (picas)
N=t  dots (300/inch)
N=u  units (97,200/inch)
N-/c per centimeter
N-/i per inch
Decimal is permitted, values are generally accurate to .005
Defaults apply when no unit follows value in guide line:
vertical: sixth inches (s)
horizontal: ruler spacing (r)
Menus default to last unit set for that value (usually inches).

GUIDE LINES
Guide lines control formatting. They are inserted when layout changes are
made using pull-down menus. Guide lines are either ruler lines or dot lines.
You can insert them directly instead, just like typing document text. All
begin with an Alt-G font character. Dot lines begin with an Alt-G followed
by a dot (period). Alt-G characters aren't visible, but guide lines are
highlighted, and "Guide" appears in status line when cursor is on one. Guide
lines don't print. You can hide them along with other formatting codes.
See Hide/Show codes
..agc
To delete a guide line, place cursor at start and press 
Ctl-Enter
.
To delete just the Alt-G, place cursor at start and press 
Bksp
.

DOT LINES
Put each dot line on its own line, preceded by Alt-G.
Upper or lower case makes no difference.
* means line breaks a paragraph.
Operation                   Dot line    See also
...
 Comment line               ..text      Comment line
..c
 Control line in text file  .C:text     Control files
..di
..dj
*Endnote area, begin        .DI         UPDATING NOTES
*Endnote area, end          .DJ         "
..dp
..dw
 Endnotes per series file   .DP         Endnotes
 Endnotes for whole series  .DW         "
..de
..db
..dq
*Endnote entry, begin       .DE         NOTE ENTRY
*Foot/endnote entry, end    .DQ         "
..df
*Footnote entry for .DF:    .DB         "
*Footnote entry, begin      .DD         "
*Footnote file              .DF:file
..dh
*Footnote header (fence)    .DH:text    Footnotes
..ds
..dm
*Footnote line height       .DS:length  Footnote spacing
*Footnote spacing multiple  .DM:number  Footnote spacing
..rd
..qd
 Font, Footnote, start      .RD:letter  FONTS
 Font, Footnote, quit       .QD:letter  "
..r
..q
 Font, start Regular font   .R:letter   "
 Font, quit Regular font    .Q:letter   "
 Font, quit all (obsolete)  .QQ         "
..rf
..qf
..qq
 Font, Footer, start        .RF:letter  "
 Font, Footer, quit         .QF:letter  "
..rh
..qh
 Font, Header, start        .RH:letter  "
 Font, Header, quit         .QH:letter  "
..f
..fl
..fr
..fn
..fq
 Footer line, all pages     .F:text     HEAD/FOOTERS
 Footer line, left pages    .FL:text    "
 Footer line, right pages   .FR:text    "
 Footer suppress, one page  .FN         "
 Footer lines, quit all     .FQ         "
..xf
..fi
..fj
 Footer left margin         .FI:length  Header/footer margins
 Footer right margin        .FJ:length  "
..fs
 Footer line height         .FS:length  Header/footer spacing
 Graphic, break text        .GF:info    GRAPHICS
 Graphic, flow or overlay   .GM:info    "
..h
..hl
..hr
..hn
..hq
 Header line, all pages     .H:text     HEAD/FOOTERS
 Header line, left pages    .HL:text    "
 Header line, right pages   .HR:text    "
 Header suppress, one page  .HN         "
 Header lines, quit all     .HQ         "
..hi
..xh
..hj
..hw
 Header left margin         .HI:length  Header/footer margins
 Header right margin        .HJ:length  "
..hs
 Header line height         .HS:length  Header/footer spacing
..i
..ii
..ij
..if
 Index entry                .I:text     INDEX/CONTENTS
 Index area, start          .II         "
 Index area, end            .IJ         "
 Index file                 .IF:file    "
..iw
 Index width (obsolete)     .IW:length
..ix
 Index symbol (obsolete)    .IX:number
..tt
 Include ASCII codes        .TT:n,n,...
..u
*Include user line          .U:prompt   User line entry
..ti
*Include graphics file      .TI:length  Print image
..tp
..tf
..t
..tl
..el
*Include partial page       .TP:file    Other file
*Include full pages         .TF:file    "
*   "     "    " (obsolete) .T:file     "
*Include file length        .TL:length  "
*Keep file length on page   .EL:length  "
..eb
..eq
..ek
*Keep block on page, begin  .EB         Force breaks
*Keep block on page, quit   .EQ         "
*Keep next lines on page    .EK:number  "
..e
..ss
*Keep blank space on page   .E:length   Insert space
 Line height, one line only .SS:length  "
..s
..sb
..st
..m
 Line height, all lines     .S:length   Line height
 Line height, blank lines   .SB:length  "
 Line height, text lines    .ST:length  "
 Line spacing multiple      .M:number   SPACING
..xt
..xu
..xb
 Margin, Top                .XT:length  MARGINS/TABS
 Margin, Top First page +/- .XU:length  "
 Margin, Bottom             .XB:length  "
..x
..xi
..xj
 Margin, Left               .XI:length  "
 Margin, Right              .XJ:length  "
..xn
..xy
 Margin, No unprintable     .XN         "
 Margin, Yes unprintable    .XY         "
..xs
..xl
..xr
 Margin, Binding            .XS:length  Paper use
 Margin, Leftpage (obsolete).XL:length  "
 Margin, Rightpage    "     .XR:length  "
..l
..w
 Page, Length               .L:length   Paper size
 Page, Width                .W:length   "
..pb
..pq
..ea
..en
 Page, start orphan control .PB         Force breaks
 Page, quit orphan control  .PQ         "
..pl
..pr
 Page, force lefthand       .PL:text    "
 Page, force righthand      .PR:text    "
..wp
..wl
 Page, portrait printing    .WP         Paper use
 Page, landscape printing   .WL         "
..ps
..pd
 Page, single sided         .PS         "
 Page, double sided         .PD         "
..n
 Page number, this page     .N:number   Set page number
 Page number, adjust next   .N:+number  "
..o
 Print, output to file      .O:filename Print to disk
..p
 Printer tray select        .P:number   Select Tray
..gn
..gy
..k
..ki
..kj
..kf
 Table Of Contents entry    .K:text     INDEX/CONTENTS
 TOC area, start            .KI         "
 TOC area, end              .KJ         "
 Table Of Contents file     .KF:file    "

..>lmu
..rul
RULER LINES
A ruler is a guide line that sets paragraph shapes, indents, tabs and
reformat control. When you change layout using pull-down menus, rulers are
inserted. Each starts with an invisible Alt-G, and contains capital letters
used by PC-Write, and lower case letters, dashes and so on for your own
reference. To change look of ruler lines, see CUSTOMIZE.
Rulers break paragraphs. If you want text to wrap across a ruler (e.g. to
run around illustration space), put an "O" letter anywhere in ruler.

..>lmue
N=Edit rulers directly to set functions not available in menus, like decimal
tabs or tab stops that aren't equally spaced. Bring up current ruler line,
make changes, then:
Press 
F2
 to replace current ruler with this changed one, or
Press 
F4
 to embed this ruler at cursor, leaving current one alone.
Current ruler is most recent ruler, embedded or in a control file.
When you've changed your ruler line, existing paragraphs aren't affected
until you reformat them (unless you're using auto-reformat mode).

KEYS: Alt L M U E
 (Ctl-F2)
N=You can edit rulers in different locations, without going there first.

Grey+
  in ruler menu makes next ruler line current.

Grey-
  in ruler menu makes prior ruler line current.

Shf-Grey+
  makes final ruler line in file current.

Shf-Grey-
  makes default ruler line current.
Edit and end with F2 or F4, as above.

Ruler shading
When ruler displays at screen top or when editing with Ctl-F2, shading
extends between current indents to indicate text width. See Top lines
To display it permanently, see CUSTOMIZE.
If shading looks incorrect, you may have a temporary indent set.
See Temporary indent

..-
..+
..ga
..gr
..gj
..gc
..gf
..gs
Mini-rulers are shortcut rulers with just an Alt-G guide line character
followed by a shape or reformatting letter, such as C, F, R, A, N, or Y.
See GUIDE LINES, RULER LINES

..>lmur
Ruler spacing
Every character position on ruler corresponds to a final printed position.
Digits in the ruler show inch positions from left edge of paper. If you're
printing in fixed-width (monospace) font, width of a ruler space matches
width of font; paragraphs on screen line up under indent positions. With
variable-width (proportional) font, spacing is fixed at 10 spaces/inch by
default; paragraphs on screen may extend past right indent (though they
print at right indent position). You can fix ruler spacing to any width.

N≡When editing in columns, Ruler spacing applies to all columns across.
If ruler is non-standard, you cannot set it through the menus (edit ruler
directly). See Column rulers

Ruler letters and symbols
A  Auto-reformat always
B  Bell margin
C  Center shape
D  Decimal tab
F  Flush right shape
H  Floating auto-indent, first line negative
I  Floating auto-indent, first line positive
J  Justify right shape
K  left indent, forced
L  Left indent
N  Never reformat
O  Reformat around ruler
P  Paragraph indent for first line
R  Ragged right shape
S  Spring shape
T  Tab stop
V  Column separator
Y  Reformat follows Status line (Alt L M R A or Shf-F7)
|  Right margin, program sets ruler spacing
!  Right margin, user sets ruler spacing
@  Ruler spacing, Ex. @10i
$  number of equal columns
*  equal column width.separation
+  unequal column width.separation (r, l, o, i for printed place)

N≡Column rulers
Each column has own indent, shape and reformat control letters. Separation
space between columns is set with multiple "V" letters (four V's minimum).
Ruler spacing applies to all columns across. Sample rulers:
non-column
L---T----1----T----2----T----3----T----4----T----5----YR|@10/i
2 equal columns
L---T----1----T----2----YRVVVVL---T----4----T----5----YRVVVV|@10/i $2*25.4
2 equal columns, first column has indents
--L-T----1----T----2--YR--VVVVL---T----4----T----5----YRVVVV|@10/i $2*25.4
See Ruler letters and symbols


..>ak
A=MACROS

..>akr
..>akp
A=Record a series of keys to run later with a single keystroke called a macro.
Or, put macro in button displayed on button bar. Handy for editing or
formatting you use often or repeatedly. Mouse operations cannot be recorded.
Start recording with 
Alt A K R
 (Alt-F3 F4, or Ctl-@).
Status line shows RECORD. Press keys for steps you want to record.
End recording with 
Alt A K R
 (Alt-F3 F4, or Ctl-@).
Playback sequence with 
Alt A K P
 (Alt-F3 F3, or Grey*).
When recording in menus, use + and - keys in dialog menus rather than
Spacebar, to set rather than toggle.
See also SHORTHAND

..>ako
A=Playback repeatedly
Press single key to repeat macro over and over until the end of file.
First, end recording with repeat option, then playback as usual. Macro goes
till end of file reached, search finds no text, move or delete reach line
end, or error occurs. Press any key to cancel playback anytime.

KEYS: Alt A K O
  (Alt-F3 F3, or Grey*)  See also Repeat a key

..>akk
..>akka
A=Assign key
After recording, assign macro to any key you don't use for another purpose
(e.g. Ctl key with a letter, like Ctl-P, for a print macro).

KEYS: Alt A K K A
  (Alt-F3 F5 F5)
..>akxa=
Save macro in ED.DEF or another control file you specify.
Otherwise, macro assignment cancels when you exit. See Control files
You can assign macro to a button instead. See Buttons
For a quick way to assign a phrase to a key, see CUSTOMIZE.

..>akku
A=Unassign key
Unassign cancels macro assignment (deletes it from ED.DEF) and restores
its default function (unless PC-Write predefines it, e.g. Ctl-letter keys).

KEYS: Alt A K U
  (Alt-F3 F5 F6)

..>akkn
A=Numbers mode
Press 
Alt A K N
 (Ctl-^) to have keys pressed insert code number.
Press 
Ctl-^
 to return to normal editing.

..>akkk
..>akkk=
A≡Repeat a key
Repeat a keystroke a fixed number of times to speed editing or text entry.
For example, use this to enter exactly 75 dashes, or move forward 7 pages.

KEYS: Alt A K K R
  (Alt-F3 F5 F8)  See also Playback repeatedly

..bbr
..>akb
A≡Buttons
Display a line of buttons near top of screen which each perform a macro.
Button bar doesn't display unless you have a mouse or you turn it on.
See Top lines. You don't have to display button bar to use it.
Activate button bar with 
Ctl-Alt
. Select buttons with arrows or letter,
like menus. 
Enter
 on button does macro (or click with mouse). See MOUSE
Default button bar is for document editing. With hints turned on,
description of each default button action displays. See Hint line
You can remove or change buttons to make the bar useful for you.
Other preset button bars are available. See CUSTOMIZE

..>akba
..>akbr
..>akbx=
A≡Change buttons
Remove button you aren't using, to make room for another. Add button for
currently recorded keystroke sequence (record first). See MACROS
PC-Write gives it the name you specify (end with space to match defaults)
and inserts it to right of last button highlighted (to control placement,
highlight button to left before adding). If you give name of existing
button, just action of button changes. Any name is OK, but use unique capital
first letter, to letter select quickly (not necessary with mouse). If you add
or remove buttons, you can save revised bar in an edit control file (ED.DEF).


..>lm
..MARGIN
MARGINS/TABS

Blank border at all edges of document pages can be set separately for top,
bottom, left and right. Text prints just inside border. You can reposition
text inside border by sliding and aligning it at tab stops, or setting an
indent or shape. See PARAGRAPHS
To reformat text to margins or indents, see FORMATTING.
See also LAYOUT

..>lmp
..>lmpx
N-Page setup
Set blank margin bordering top/bottom/left/right of pages. Margin shows only
when printing, though ruler numbers follows margin settings. Values include
printer's unprintable area to assure exact amount.
..>lmpf
N=First page of document can have extra top margin (for title or logo).
N=Set positive or negative value to add to regular top margin.

KEYS: Alt L M P T
 or 
B
 or 
L
 or 
R
 or 
F
  (XT/XB/XI/XJ/XU dot lines)
If text is selected, this menu isn't available.
To ignore unprintable area, use XN dot line. See DOT LINES

..>lmph
..>lmphl
..>lmphr
N≡Header/footer margins
Normally, headers and footers have same margins as rest of page.
You can set them differently. See also HEAD/FOOTERS

KEYS: Alt L M P H L
 or 
R
  (HI/HJ/FI/FJ dot lines)

..>lmpp
..>lmppr
N≡Paper use
Text placement on page varies with kind of document. In books printed on
both sides of pages, even numbered pages print on left, odd on right.
N≡Right/left pages format is useful for this. Binding margin, blank page
insertion, and header/footer placement is affected by this format.
See Left/right headers, Force left/right page

KEYS: Alt L M P P R
  (PS/PD dot lines)
..>lmppb
N≡Binding margin is fastening area at edge of paper. For one-sided documents,
it adds to left margin. For two-sided documents (with left/right pages) it
adds to inside margin (left of odd pages, right of even pages).

KEYS: Alt L M P P B
  (XS dot line)
..>lmppp
..>lmppl
Portrait orientation means paper is narrower than it is high (common usage).
N≡Landscape orientation means paper is wider than it is high. Useful for wide
tables or reports. Printing rotates pages ninety degrees (if printer can).
Don't change sheet size setting when you change orientation.

KEYS: Alt L M P P P
 or 
L
  (WP/WL dot lines)

..>lmps
..>lmpsw
..>lmpsl
N-Paper size
Paper width is distance left to right, and length is distance top to bottom.

KEYS: Alt L M P S W
 or 
L
  (W/L dot lines)
To change orientation of text on page, see Paper use.
To set A4 paper size, see CUSTOMIZE.

..>lmpst
N≡Select Tray
If your printer has selectable trays or bins, select the one paper will
come from when printing. Current tray number is displayed, followed by
slash (/), total number of trays available, and description of selected
tray. Number 0 means "no tray selected".
N≡KEYS: 
Alt L M P S T
 number 
Enter
.
If tray has different sized paper, you may want to change paper size.


..>lmt
..>lmtt
N-Tab stops

Alt L M T T
 sets an equal distance (interval) between tab stops.
Tab stops on ruler line show as letter 'T', and are left aligned.
N=You can set tabs at unequal distances by directly editing ruler line.
N≡In column mode, you can only enter tab stops directly.
N=1. Place cursor at line where you want tabs to begin.
N=2. Press 
Alt L M U E
 (Ctl-F2) to view and edit current ruler.
N=3. Type 
capital T's
 at desired locations. (Or 
D's
 - see Decimal tab)
N=4. Press 
F4
 to insert new ruler with changes into document.
See Ruler lines

Tabbed text in fixed-width font prints at position shown on screen.
Text in variable-width (proportional) font won't, without aligning first.
See Alignment and FONTS

Tab (or Shf-Tab) key moves cursor to next (or prior) indent or tab stop.
Text doesn't move automatically with cursor to tab stop. It can, if you
change Tab key function. See CUSTOMIZE

..dec
N=Decimal tab stops align the decimal, instead of left text edge, at tab stop.
Typing at decimal tab pushes text left until decimal character is typed;
characters after decimal push right. Handy for table of numbers. To set
decimal tab, edit ruler line, placing capital 'D' at location for decimal.
See above, under Tab stops.
To set comma or period as decimal character, see CUSTOMIZE.

..>lma
..>lmaa
N=Alignment
Text in variable-width (proportional) font must be aligned with a special
character to print correctly when not positioned at left indent.

Alt L M A A
 aligns word (or boxed text) at cursor along left side. To align
column of text, box select it first. See SELECTING TEXT

N=You can align a word or column of text without selecting it, by pressing

Alt-A
 at the start of each leftmost word. Alt-A aligns and moves cursor to
next line; so when aligning a column, start with the first line in column.

..>lmas
..>lmar
..>lmal
N=Sliding text
Shift position of multiple line text, or selected text. Slide each line
right or left the same amount by setting slide count.

KEYS: Alt L M A
 then:

S
 sets slide count. Set before sliding.

R
 slides line or selected text right.

L
 slides line or selected text left.
Sliding inserts or deletes spaces at cursor. When sliding right, text pushes
right from cursor. Sliding left pulls text toward cursor. When text reaches
cursor, sliding stops (even if it hasn't moved the entire slide count), to
prevent deleting text.
..>lmas=
N=To slide selected text without using menus:
Press 
Shf-Ins
 (slide right) or 
Shf-Del
 (slide left).
If text selected, prompt allows entry if slide count amount.
If not, slide count is number of times you last repeated Ins or Del.

Note that once text is positioned where you want, you may need to align it
with Alt-A character before printing. See Alignment
For other ways to move text, see COPY/MOVE TEXT.


..>x
MENUS

Use mouse or keyboard to navigate menus and invoke options. Pressing

Alt
 key displays/activates menu bar (or just activates if you always
display it). Hint lines give brief descriptions. See Top lines
For mouse operations at menus, see MOUSE.
To add or drop items from menus, see ADAPT FEATURES.
To use Esc key (instead of Alt) to display menus, see CUSTOMIZE

To view different menus and highlight items, use Arrow and Alt keys.

Right Arrow
  Move from parent to submenu

Left Arrow
   Move from submenu to parent

Alt once
     Return to main menu bar; exit if there
Quick select items by pressing first letter. Ex. Alt F S for File Save.
Speed keys are listed on right of menu. Use these when not in menus.

Menu item types
Each type is distinguished by symbol(s) beside name:

Parent
            Has submenu; see Submenus

Action  .
         Invoking brings immediate action, usually leaves menus

Text entry ...
    Invoking displays Top line prompt, where you type text

Radio button ( )
  Only one of group can be active (the one with the dot)

Check box    [X]
  Many in group can be active, 'X' means active

Number entry :
    You type numeric value

[bracketed]
       Not available until you do something else (e.g. mark/box)

╞Non-profile
      Not in your profile, but available with 'All features on'
See All features on

To invoke items and/or exit menus    See also Quick select

Spacebar

 Sets check box or radio button, doesn't exit menus

Enter

 Invokes action item, usually exits menu
 On check box or radio button, accepts what's set, exits menu
 Invokes text entry item following text entry
 Invokes parent item, moves to submenu
 On number entry item, begins entry mode - See Number entry

Esc

 On check box, radio button, or entry item, cancels single change
 Exit menus one level at a time, invoke settings when menus clear

Alt twice

 Exit menus, invoke changed settings

Ctl-Esc

 Exit menus, cancel changed settings


Submenus
With parent item highlighted, submenu displays and is active. Quick select
by pressing first letter of submenu item, or press 
Enter or Right Arrow
 to
move to submenu. 
Left Arrow
 (or Esc, if current item unchanged), returns
to parent.

Number entry
Most numbers must be positive values. If negative ones allowed, shows '+/-'.
Type minus sign before negative number. When done typing number, press 
Enter

to complete. You can type measurement unit, though it's not needed except to
use unit that's not the default. Press 
Enter again
 to exit and invoke all
menu changes.

Cancel an item change before leaving menus by pressing 
Esc
 on the item.
This restores old value.
..>lu
Undo layout changes in one step with 
Alt L U L
 before leaving menus.
This cancels all changes made while in layout menu, restoring old values.
To undo all changes to document since last save, see Undo changes.


..>pm
M=MERGE PRINT

Merging combines data from an input file (e.g. names and addresses) with a
template document (e.g. form letter) to create series of output documents.
Use merge to make personalized letters, mailing labels, or invoices.

Overview
1. Create Input file. See Input file
2. Create Template document. See Template document
3. Press 
Alt P M I
 (Shf-F3 F9) in Template document.
4. Enter Input filename.
5. Press 
A
 (F10) to merge and print all records. See All records

..>pms
M=Setup
Set type of field separation format of your input file through menus, or in
template document (recommended). See Input file
..>pmsp
..>pmsm
..>pmsmo
Merged output can go directly to printer, or to file on disk. You can edit
file if desired, then print as usual.

KEYS: Alt P M S P
 or 
M
  (Shf-F3 F3)
..>pmsmo=f
When you merge to existing output file, you can add new records to end,
or write over the file instead.
..>pmsmon
..>pmsmon=
If you run out of room on disk with output file, you can cancel merge or
continue with new floppy disk or drive letter.

..>pma
M=All records
Combining and printing all records in input file in one step is simplest
way to merge. 
Esc
 cancels the merge process once it's started.

KEYS: Alt P M A
 (Shf-F3 F4)
See also One record

..>pmo
..>pmoq
..>pmot
M=One record
Before merging all records, it's helpful to print sample record to check
that it prints as you expect. Use 
Alt P M O
 (Shf-F3) then these steps:
1. 
T
 (F4) merges first record, displays it on screen.
2. 
P
 (F8) prints current merged record.
3. 
Q
 (F6) quits merge, returns to document.
To merge several trial records, repeat steps 1 and 2 before doing step 3.
..>pmot=
M≡If merging with conditionals, you can view a record matching conditions.
See Conditionals
..>pmop
..>pmoi
..>pmoe
M≡Merge record by record if you want to view or edit each along the way.
1. 
I
 (F7) combines first record, displays on screen. If you want to skip it,
press I again to continue to next record. See also Conditionals
..mrg
2. 
E
 (F5) allows you to make changes to document without changing template.
(Don't save or switch files while editing - it quits merge process.)
Status line shows 'Merging'. Return from editing with 
Alt P M
 (Shf-F3).
3. 
P
 (F8) prints current record.
Repeat steps above for all records, or merge 
A
ll remaining records at once.
..>pmo=
M≡Merge from keyboard to fill in forms, or to merge without an input file.
Set prompts and zero length fields in input template.
See Advanced templates

..>pmsc
..>pmsl
..>pmi
..>pmi=
Input file
This file contains records (e.g. clients on mailing list) each comprised of
fields (e.g. name, address, city) to be merged with your letter, form, or
labels. Create an Input file with PC-Write or export one from a data base
program. PC-Write accepts 3 Input file formats:
comma has all fields listed on one line per record, each separated by comma
..>pmslf
..>pmslf=
line has one field per line, with a specific number of lines per record
fixed has a fixed number of bytes per field (some databases create this one)
You can specify comma or line format via menus, or in the template document.
For line format, specify the number of fields (lines) per record.
Comma separated format sets '0' fields per record.

KEYS: Alt P M S C
 or 
L
  (Shf-F3 F3)

When creating an Input file:
* A field can be empty, but its place must be held to keep fields in order.
  In line format, leave empty line. In comma format, leave extra comma.
* If field in comma format contains an actual comma, the field must be
  surrounded by double quotes: "Dan Pike, M.D.", Seattle, WA
* Every record must have same number of fields.
* The Input file can have any number of records.
* Maximum Input field length is 255 characters.

Template document
This is a formatted document that contains place holders to show where
fields from Input file will go. Place holder is the field number inside
curly braces, e.g. second field in a record is {2}. It can be embedded
anywhere in text, or on line by itself. Indicate input file format by
placing one of these indicators at top of template document:
 {=5} for line separated format (this one has 5 lines per record)
 {} for comma separated format (empty braces)
M≡More complex templates can be used. See Advanced templates

M=Example Input file (comma-separated)
Jane Doe,"Accounts Receivable, Portland",235008
Susan Ho,"Marketing, Main Office",289445

Example Template document
│ To: {1}
│ Dept: {2}
│
│ The Personnel Dept. has assigned a new personnel number. Please use this
│ number on all memos. Your number is {3}.
└ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─

Output document produced by merging example Input and Template files above:
│ To: Jane Doe
│ Dept: Accounts Receivable, Portland
│
│ The Personnel Dept. has assigned a new personnel number. Please use this
│ number on all memos. Your number is 235008.
└ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─

M≡Advanced templates
Template documents can have two separate parts. Input template shows input
file format. Output template shows formatted document with place holders.
Separate input and output templates with input file format indicator.
See Template document

M≡Input template
List every field in record, each on its own line, in one of three formats:
Type   Example    Format
line   {name}     {fieldname}
comma  {name,}    {fieldname,}
fixed  {name:15}  {fieldname:length}
Field name is a single lower-case word (no spaces).
M≡Advanced options              Format          Example
Interchange words             ~ after field   {fullname~,)
Keep leading blanks           # before field  {#city,}
Keep trailing blanks          # after field   {name#,}
Default text for empty field  = after brace   {num}= unknown
Prompt at empty field         ? after brace   {name}?Enter name
Prompt for keyboard merge     ? after brace   {name:0}?Enter name
M≡Conditionals
Have PC-Write test fields for matching conditions, e.g. certain ZIP codes.
Sym Condition
==  equal to
<>  not equal to
<   less than
>   greater than
<=  less then or equal to
>=  greater than or equal to
Value can be numeric or textual. Numeric skips currency symbol, thousands
separator, and/or decimal point. Textual ignores letter case. Conditions
follow prompt and default value. With several conditions, all must be true
to select record. Examples:
{zip} >=30000 <40000
{status} ==Single

M≡Output template
Place holders are identical to field names in input template, but do not
have the comma or field length. Use capitals in place holder if you want
lower case text in input file capitalized (not needed if already capitals).
M≡Advanced options              Format          Example
align left                    < before field  {<name}
align right                   > before field  {>city}
reformat during merge         + after field   {company+}
delete line if field empty    - after field   {address2-}
delete line if field enpty,   / after field   {address3/}
 and add blank line to end of output

M≡Example Template File
│ {name,}
│ {dept,}
│ {personnel,}
│ {}
│ To: {NAME}
│ Dept: {dept}
│
│ The Personnel Dept. has assigned a new personnel number. Please use this
│ number on all memos. Your number is {personnel}.
└ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─

See Reference Manual for merge tutorial and more merge examples.

MOUSE

Use mouse to invoke items from menus, button bar, Top line, Help, Thesaurus,
Directory or Tutorial. Also select text, move cursor, scroll document, or
switch between windows. Customizer doesn't respond to mouse actions.

When you open a file, mouse pointer displays at top corner of screen.
It fades from view within 5 seconds if you don't use it. It reappears
immediately if you move mouse.
To change fade timing and other mouse characteristics, see CUSTOMIZE.

Key for below
L = left button
R = right button
L+R = both buttons
mid = middle button
double = left double-click

At pull-down menus
Menu bar displays by default if you have a mouse. If it's not there,
see Top lines to set it. If you don't want to display it always, just
click on 'Alt:menu' at left of Status line to display it.
For description of item types mentioned below, see Menu item types.

L click

 on parent item, displays menu or submenu
 invokes action item
 turns radio button on
 turns check box on/off
 selects item for number or text entry

L drag and release

 acts like left click

double

 invokes action item, clears menus
 on parent item, just clears menus
 turns radio button on, clears menus
 turns check box on/off, clears menus

R click

 on unchanged item, moves to parent item
 on changed item, restores old value
V≡On button bar

click
 invokes button
Outside menus or button bar, while active:

click
  leaves menus/bar, returns to editing

While editing

L click
   Move cursor, retain marking/boxing (if any)

R click
   Move cursor, clear marking/boxing (if any)

Shf-L
     Extend marking

Shf-R
     Extend boxing

L double
  Mark word

L drag
    Mark text

R drag
    Boxe text

L+R drag
  Scroll

mid drag
  Scroll
To swap button assignments for mark/box or keep/clear, see CUSTOMIZE.

V=Between windows
Clicking in other window goes to window, doing button action wanted.
Clicking on window bar goes to window, moves cursor to last place.
Help/tutorial windows
Clicking on window bar item invokes action.
Clicking on trigger item within window jumps to target topic.
T=Thesaurus window
Clicking on word highlights it. Clicking on window bar item invokes action.


..>lp
Q-PAGINATION

Breaking your document into pages can be done automatically; or manually,
requiring you to press keys to update paging (repage). Both insert page
breaks (Soft Breaks) whose position may adjust upon repage. You can also
insert explicit (Hard) breaks, which don't shift position upon repage.
To change page number for page, see Set page number below.
To establish page numbering, see HEAD/FOOTERS.

..pbk
Page breaks display on non-printing line. In Hide mode, they display as
dashed line, explicit breaks are double dashed. See Hide/Show codes
To change look of break lines, see CUSTOMIZE.

..>lpa
Q-Automatic paging inserts and adjusts break lines as you edit document.

Alt L P A
 (Alt-F7 F3) turns auto-page on or off.
To set permanently, see CUSTOMIZE.

..>lpb
..>lpd
..>lpm
Q-Manual paging adjusts break lines only when you ask for it.
Repage entire document in one step, or stop to view and fine tune each one.

KEYS: Alt L P
 (Alt-F7) then:

D
 (F5) repage entire document (cursor can be anywhere).

M
 (F5) repage within marked text (mark text first).
..>lpbi
..>lpbh
..>lpbl
..>lpbs
Q=
B
 display options for repaging page By page:

I
 (F7) adjust and view next break location. From there, either
  1. Use 
I
 (F7) again to accept break location and view next. OR:
  2. Use 
S
 (Shf-PgUp) to move page break up to shorten page. Then
     Use 
H
 (F8) to make break explicit (Hard) so it never adjusts.
     Use 
L
 (Shf-PgDn) after shortening, for moving break back down.
  Caution: Don't move break below original spot, or you get an extra break.
..>lpbf

F
 (F6) is like 
I
 (F7), but fills page with blank lines to Hard Break or end
  of file. This shows how much room is left. (cannot fill to Soft Break).
..>lpbd
..>lpbu
..>lpbn
..>lpbp
  Other keystrokes for By page process:
     
U
 (PgUp)  Scroll to view line above
     
D
 (PgDn)  Scroll to view line below
     
P
 (Ctl-PgUp)  Jump to prior break
     
N
 (Ctl-PgDn)  Jump to next break

..>lpi
..>lpih
..>lpis
Q-Inserting breaks

KEYS: Alt L P I
 then:

H
 (Alt-T) inserts Hard Break (doesn't adjust upon repage).
Q=
S
 (Shf-Alt-T) inserts Soft Break (may adjust upon repage).
To insert breaks for whole file in step by step process, see By page.
Break lines (even Hard Breaks) don't end paragraphs, so text may reformat
or justify around them. To prevent this, see Break paragraph.

..>lpic
Q≡In column mode, you can insert break that also breaks the column. PC-Write
inserts a column break, then a hard break, before line at cursor.

KEYS: Alt L P I C
  (Ctl-Alt-T Alt-T)

..>lpr
Q-Removing breaks

Alt L P R
 (Alt-F7 F9) deletes all page breaks.

..>lpf
Q≡Force breaks
Repaging normally determines soft breaks based only on page length. You can
force soft breaks based on more complex conditions. Use a hard break if you
want to force a break no matter what the conditions. See Inserting breaks

..>lpfa
Q≡Orphan control
Force all occurrences of isolated text line at bottom of page to top of next
one. Use to keep the first lines of paragraphs on the same page as rest of
paragraph, and section headings with their sections. There's no control for
isolated lines at top of page (widows).

KEYS: Alt L P F A
  (PB/PQ dot lines)

..>lpfd
Q≡Keep block on one page
If there isn't enough room for text block on bottom of page, repage inserts
soft break before it. Use this for tables or diagrams that can't be split.
Mark block first.

KEYS: Alt L P F D
  (EB/EQ dot lines)

..>lpfk
Q≡Keep lines on one page
If block you want to keep together won't change size with revisions,
specify number of lines from cursor forward (instead of marking it).
Use this if you want first few lines of a paragraph kept on one page.

KEYS: Alt L P F K
  (EK dot line)
..>lpfx=
..>lpfl
..>lpfr
Q≡Force left/right page
Force blank page to be printed if next page isn't right- or left-handed
(as desired). Use this for first page of chapters. Specify line of text to
print on blank page (if any), e.g. "this page intentionally blank".

KEYS: Alt L P F L
 or 
R
  (PL/PR dot lines)

..>lpp
Q=Set page number
Reset number for current page, and increment following pages from here. Page
numbers only print if you set them in header or footer. See HEAD/FOOTERS

KEYS: Alt L P P
 (N dot line)

..>lpn
Q≡Skip next number
Skip one or more numbers in the normal sequence when you include pages in
your document from another source. Normal value is +1 (to skip one page,
use +2; e.g. page following page 12 becomes 12 + 2 = 14).

KEYS: Alt L P N
 (N+ dot line)


..>lmi
..>lms
PARAGRAPHS

Indent
Shape

Change look or horizontal positioning of paragraphs when reformatted.
After setting changes, existing paragraphs aren't affected until you
reformat them (unless you use auto-reformat mode).
See also FORMATTING, LAYOUT, MARGINS/TABS

..>lmil
..>lmir
..>lmif
N-Indent
Reserve extra horizontal space between text and margin. Use left and right
indents to set apart quoted or special text. Place cursor anywhere in
paragraph to begin indenting at start of paragraph. Value stays in effect
until reset later in document. To set indent for just one or group of
paragraphs, mark them first. See SELECTING TEXT
To indent only first line of paragraphs, enter positive or negative number
which adds to left indent to make indented or outdented paragraphs.

KEYS: Alt L M I L
 or 
R
 or 
F
 (L or R or P in ruler)
To enter measurement other than default (inch), type unit after number.
See Measurements

N≡When editing in columns, if ruler is non-standard, you cannot set indent
through the menus (edit ruler directly). See Column rulers

N-Temporary indent
Use this quick indent for files without formatting (such as justification).
Printing justified text requires that you set permanent indents.

Ctl-[
 sets left indent at cursor. Ctl-[, anywhere later, releases it.

Ctl-]
 sets right indent at cursor. Ctl-], anywhere later, releases it.

Ctl-\
 sets paragraph indent at cursor. Ctl-\, anywhere later, releases it.
Ruler line shading widens or narrows to reflect temporary indent location.
Status line displays temporary indent symbol at left of reformat status.
Temporary indents cannot be used when editing in column mode.
See Status line, Ruler shading

..>lmiv
..>lmivn
..>lmivl
..>lmivr
N≡Tagged indents
Use tagged indents to align printed position of label at left of body of
paragraph, such as a bullet, number, or heading. Tag is treated separately
from body text, and can be right or left aligned. To line up tags, line up
their aligned characters on screen. Only necessary for proportional fonts.

KEYS: Alt L M I V L
 or 
R
 (P-E or P-G in ruler)

..>lmivi
..>lmivo
N≡Floating indents
Use when typing paragraphs with similar indent type, (indented vs. block vs.
outdented or hanging) but different indent amount, such as for an outline.
Wordwrap starts text at prior line indent (instead of ruler's left indent).
For block paragraphs with bodies at different left indents, use either
indented or outdented floating indent.

KEYS: Alt L M I V I
 or 
O
 (I or H in ruler)

..>lmsr
..>lmsj
..>lmsc
..>lmsf
..>lmss
N-Shape
Defines format of paragraph text with respect to margins/indents.
Place cursor anywhere in paragraph to begin shape at start of paragraph.
Value set stays in effect until reset later in document. To set shape for
just one or a group of paragraphs, mark lines first. See SELECTING TEXT
All shapes except Ragged may insert Soft Spaces to position text on screen.
Printing replaces Soft Spaces with finely tuned spacing (micro-spacing).
Proportional text may not look aligned on screen, but prints correctly.

KEYS: Alt L M S
 then:
N-
R
 (R in ruler) Ragged is simplest form, text aligned left, unaligned right
N-
J
 (J in ruler) Justify aligns left/right sides, except last line
N=
C
 (C in ruler) Center positions text along midline between left/right side
N=
F
 (F in ruler) Flush aligns text on right, unaligned on left (ragged left)
N=
S
 (S in ruler) Spring aligns single lines left/right from spring point
Spring point is a soft space (Shf-Ctl-Space), which you must enter in
document (can have more than one). Useful for table of contents, to spring
heading to left, page number to right.

N≡When editing in columns, if ruler is non-standard, you cannot set shape
through menus (edit ruler directly). See Column rulers

..>lmsa
..>lmsar
..>lmsaj
..>lmsac
..>lmsaf
..>lmsas
N-Ascii only shapes affect single or marked lines. See SELECTING TEXT
Soft Spaces, which are non-ASCII characters, aren't inserted for ASCII
shapes. Instead, normal spaces are inserted/deleted to position text. ASCII
shapes other than Ragged right print correctly only with fixed-width fonts.

KEYS: Alt L M S A
 then:
N=
R
 (Shf-Ctl-F8)  Ragged right - See Shape for descriptions
N=
J
 (Shf-Alt-F8)  Justify
N-
C
 (Shf-F8)      Center
N=
F
 (Ctl-F8)      Flush right
N=
S
 (Ctl-Alt-F8)  Spring (adds spaces at cursor to force text)
N=Use ASCII Ragged to 'undo' other ASCII shapes, such as Center or Justify.