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- *** ReadMe file for ExAb v.1.5 - 29 Jan 1997 ***
- EXAB15.ZIP contains EXAB.MCR and README.TXT.
-
- DESCRIPTION
-
- ExAb is a MacSys macro to EXtend ABbreviations.
-
- It uses a self-created and self-maintained database
- of your abbreviations. By positioning the cursor at the
- end of your abbreviation and hitting the hot key, ExAb
- searches the database and, if found, extends the
- abbreviation. If not found, ExAb enables you to add an
- extension to the database.
-
- ExAb is freeware. You are free to use, modify and copy
- the macro. I've used ExAb on my English 1 Mb Psion 3a,
- where it performed flawlessly. However, needless to say,
- I don't give guarantees and you cannot hold me
- responsible in case anything goes wrong.
-
-
- INSTALLATION
-
- Copy EXAB.MCR to directory \MACRO\MCR. Open Tom
- Dolbilin's MACRO (MacSys), open EXAB.MCR (Psion-E) and
- translate it (Psion-T). After installation assign a
- convenient hot-key (I use <Psion-Enter>). Exab is now
- ready for use. After running for the first time, ExAb
- will create a database file (EXAB.DBF) with a number of
- help records. After typing 'exab' in lower case (ExAb is
- case-sensitive) and hitting the hot-key, several info
- messages will be extended onto the screen. Similarly,
- extending on 'help' will show ExAb information.
- Actually, the help lines are written to the file from
- which you called ExAb, and you may want to delete them
- afterwards.
-
-
- NOTES
-
- 1. ExAb does not work when its database is opened by
- another program (like DATA)!
- 2. Sometimes an error message occurs, like
- "GetText$: Bring server has no data available...".
- Just <Esc>, deselect your abbreviation and call ExAb
- again. If you find an easy solution for this, please
- inform me.
- 3. When you feel confident with ExAb, you may want to
- delete the help lines from the database (EXAB.DBF)
- and/or from the macro (EXAB.MCR). To remove these lines
- from the macro file, open the file and delete the lines
- indicated. After translation the size of the macro will
- be reduced, which may speed it up.
-
-
- UPDATES
-
- V.1.0 to 1.2. First crude versions for own use.
-
- V.1.3. This was the first version released to Tom
- Dolbilin's homepage at http://www.livetext.com/macsys/.
- It makes use of a different database (EXABP.DBF) when
- using "PROGRAM", Psion's OPL editor, which is also used
- by MacSys. This simplifies writing OPL or macros.
- E.g. fp = Fil2Pid%:( "" ). Also, EXABP.DBF is
- automatically created after first use.
-
- V.1.4. Includes date and time stamping. After calling
- the macro behind .d or .t the current date or time is
- inserted (formats: 22 Dec 1996 and 10:22:45,
- respectively).
-
- V.1.5. Added whole text abbreviation extension and
- related on-line Help.
- Abbreviations to which the forward-slash character (/)
- is added can be extended in one go, after finishing the
- text. Therefore, type // at the beginning of the text
- (Ctrl-Psion-Up) followed by the hot-key. E.g. In the
- following text,
-
- //..txttxt.. sy/ ..txttxt.. br/ ..txttxt..
-
- positioning the cursor after // and hitting the hot-key
- will extend abbreviations 'sy' and 'br' and at the same
- time remove all "/" characters. At the end of the search
- enter "Continue" to MACRO's "GetText$..." message. When
- by accident upon this message "Stop" is entered, MACRO
- should be exited and reopened before ExAb can be used
- again (to enable the proper closure of ExAb's database).
- If you prefer a different character, exchange the /
- character in the assignment of variable c$ in line 9 of
- EXAB.MCR for the character of your choice.
- If you upgrade from an earlier version, wish to keep
- your old definitions, and be able to consult ExAb v.1.5
- Help, proceed as follows. Use DATA to remove the old
- Help records from EXAB.DBF and rename EXAB.DBF to
- EXABOLD.DBF. Now upon ExAb's first use, a new EXAB.DBF
- will be created, containing the new Help records. Using
- DATA you can now merge in your definitions from
- EXABOLD.DBF.
-
-
- If you send me your E-mail address, I'll put you on the
- list of ExAb users who will receive free updates by
- E-mail.
-
- Enjoy ExAb. If you like ExAb, please, give me feed-back.
-
- Thanks to Tom Dolbilin for his excellent MACRO program,
- and Ben Clifford for the idea.
-
- Huub Linthorst
- E-mail: linthors@chem.leidenuniv.nl
-