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- For the experienced user, here are some quick hints on how to get started
- in FF quickly;
- To open and edit an existing file: SED <filename> <enter>
- To leave the editor and save changes: ESC
- To leave the editor and discard changes: Shift-ESC
- To create and edit a new filename: SED <newfilename> <enter>
- To load a file: FLOAD <filename> <enter>
- To load a file already open: OK <enter>
- To edit a file already open: ED <enter>
- To open a file: OPEN <filename> <enter>
- To view a words source: VIEW <word> <enter>
- To edit a viewed words source: ED <enter>
- To scan through an open file: N <enter> and B <enter>
- To relist the last screen displayed: L <enter>
- To see all words containing a string: WORDS <substring> <enter>
- To de-compile a dictionary word to the screen: SEE <wordname> <enter>
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help **
- Example; WORDS H <enter>
-
- Will print all words in dictionary containing "H".
-
- --[ FORTH ]--
- OPEN $HOPEN HOPEN
-
- Example; VIEW HOPEN <enter>
-
- Will display the source code for HOPEN.
-
- Example; ED <enter>
-
- Will enter the editor on the source for HOPEN.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- Example; ESC ( while in the editor )
-
- Will leave the editor saving any changes, so don't make any! Use
- Shift-ESC to leave without saving changes.
-
- Example; FLOAD VIEW <enter>
-
- Will load the entire file VIEW.SEQ.
-
- Example; SED VIEW <enter>
-
- Will enter the editor on file VIEW.SEQ. The extension .SEQ is used
- if no extension is specified.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- Example; OK <enter>
-
- Will compile the currently open file. This is the same as FLOAD but
- works on the most recently edited or viewed file.
-
- Example; SEE HEX <enter>
-
- Displays; : HEX
- 16 BASE ! ;
-
- Allows you to see the source for a ":" definition without having the
- source file available on disk.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- You have been using N and B to move around in this INTRODUCTION file,
- in addition you can use:
-
- <n1> LIST <enter> \ Lists 16 lines starting at <n1>.
- <n1> LOAD <enter> \ Start loading file at <n1>.
- LISTING <enter> \ Print out the current file.
- SED <newfile> <enter> \ Create the file <newfile> if it
- \ does not already exist.
- WORDS *.* <enter> \ list ALL words in ALL vocabularies.
- \ This is a special case, not general.
- WORDS CODE.* \ List all CODE words.
- \ The other special case.
- INDEX <enter> \ display first line of all .SEQ
- \ files in current directory.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- There is a considerable amount of documentation provided on disk to
- assist you in discovering FF. If you have not already made printouts
- of all of these files, here is a command to print all of the .TXT
- files in the current directory:
-
- FPRINT *.TXT <enter>
-
- Be sure your printer is ready for printing, and have at least 75 sheets
- of paper available to complete the job.
-
-
- The next section of INTRO will tell you about some of the
- features of FF.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- FF is a Forth derived from many sources. Henry Laxen, and Micheal Perry
- being the original developers. My name is Tom Zimmer, I along with
- Robert L. Smith, Charles Curley, and Jerry Modrow put together this Forth.
-
- FF is a Direct Threaded Code Forth. That is it contains CODE in the
- CODE field rather than pointing to CODE. DTC gives a noticable boost
- in performance, which was needed to counteract the next enhancement.
-
- FF keeps the BODYs or LIST portion of ":" (colon) definitions in a
- seperate segment. This substantially increases the space available for
- your program. There is a penalty to pay in performance, with an extra
- level of indirection required in NEST.
-
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- FF has a PREFIX assembler. CODE definitions are coded with a syntax
- similar to MASM, in the form " MOV AX, BX ". We have found this syntax
- to be much more readable to "traditional" programmers than the standard
- F83 assembler. To reduce the pain to current F83 users, the assembler
- supports the old F83 assembler syntax as well. Just use the word
- POSTFIX to select Postfix assembler syntax, and then use PREFIX to
- switch back to the Prefix syntax.
-
- FF supports full pathnames and file handles. Filenames may be up to
- 63 characters in length including path.
-
- All source is in sequential files. No blocks in this system. The
- original F83 BLOCK system is available as a load-on if needed.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
-
- An 8086 family disassembler is provided. The disassembler was
- written by Charles Curley, and includes 8087 support added by Robert
- L. Smith.
-
-
- The compiler itself has been substantially optimized, with almost
- all of WORD being in CODE. The system currently uses 32 threads, which
- is just at the point of diminishing return for a 1000 word vocabulary.
- With the 8 vocabularies this system has, only about 512 bytes of CODE
- space is used for the Vocabulary HEAD pointers.
-
-
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
- A help file is provided with each source file, these can be used
- like F83 shadow screens were used, that is to hold comments about the
- words in the source file. The word VIEW accesses the .SEQ file, and
- the word HELP accesses the .HLP file. As much or as little text can
- be placed in the help file for each word compiled.
-
- Many utilities are included. An enhanced DEBUGger allows nesting
- and unnesting of ":" definitions.
-
- Several powerful file words have been included. FLOOK allows searching
- through one or many files for a particular character sequence. FPRINT
- allows you to make formatted listings of one, all, or a set of Forth
- source files. INDEX displays the first line of a set of files.
-
- ** Type N <enter> for more Help, or B <enter> to backup **
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- END OF INTRO FILE
-
-
-
-
- ******* This is the last screen of help, Type B <enter> to backup ********
-
-
- The End. Stop Now. or press B to backup.