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- :PN 1 :DM 5,75 :SP 1 :PT 5,3 :PB 5,3 :PL 56 :DB 1,10 :JT
- :TM 1,The IBM Personal Computer POW Manual Version 3
- :BM 37,Page :
- :JE
- GE THE POW WORD PROCESSOR
- === === ==== =========
- :LF 1
- ON THE IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER
- == === === ======== ========
- :JT :LF 3
- :CM GE(Version 3.0)
- :LF 39
- :JE
- Michael V. Maieli
- Raleigh, NC
- January, 1983
- HF
- :JT :NP :JE
- GAbstract
- --------
- H :JT :BP
- This manual describes the POW (Processor Of Words) word processing program that
- is currently available for the IBM Personal Computer.
- Originally designed for the Intel 8080 CPU by Clyde Roby in a program called
- PRINTER, POW is a subsequent modification of PRINTER enabling similar usage
- with the Intel 8088, the central processing unit used in the IBM Personal
- Computer.
- :LF 3 :JE
- GIntroduction
- ------------
- H :JT :BP
- POW is a word processing program capable of executing on the IBM Personal
- Computer.
- Like most other text formatters, POW accepts inputs in the form of files
- which have been created using a program editor.
- These files contain two types of data: {1} the reserved keywords (operators),
- including their parameters, which together obey the POW syntax rules, and {2}
- the actual word text (operands) in upper and lower case which is manipulated
- through the use of the reserved keywords in a predetermined way.
- Keywords are freely inserted into the source text when it is prepared.
- POW has the ability to set and dynamically alter margins, tabs, spacing,
- justification, and indentation, and can provide automatic centering.
- Automatic pagination including top and bottom titles and/or page numbering is
- also available.
- :BP
- Since POW executes under IBM PC-DOS (MS-DOS), filename conventions for DOS also
- apply to POW.
- Refer to page 2-8 in the "Disk Operating System" manual for a list of these
- conventions.
- Additionally, in order to distinguish POW files from all other types of files,
- the required file extension '.POW' is used.
- :LF 3 :JE
- GInvocation
- ----------
- H :JT :BP
- To invoke POW, first ensure that the system file POW.COM is on a diskette
- which is accessible by the system.
- Next, while under the PC-DOS environment, type "POW".
- A startup message will be received and POW then waits for user response.
- Three options are available to the user at this point; loading, processing, or
- exiting.
- Normal operation is as follows: {1} Reply with the letter L (capital letter),
- {1} Reply with the letter L (capital letter), informing POW that you want to
- load a source file.
- {2} Input the entire file specification of that source file (i.e.,
- d:filename.ext using all capital letters) at which time POW processes the
- source file.
- {3} Reply with the letter P (capital letter) informing POW to print the output
- document.
- {4} Upon completion, reply with the letter Q (capital letter) informing POW to
- quit and return to PC-DOS (you may, of course, exit POW at any time by
- inputting a CTRL-C).
- :LF 3 :JE
- GPOW Syntax
- --- ------
- H :JT :BP
- Reserved keywords, or commands, are the operators POW uses to carry out tasks.
- Commands consist of the same basic format, which is a colon (:) immediately
- followed by a two letter command name (an abbreviation resembling the function
- to be performed) specified in capital letters.
- Some commands do not require any more clarification than this and so would end
- at this point with a terminator.
- Other commands do require additional clarification, but because of exisiting
- defaults, optional parameters need only be supplied if the defaults are to
- be overridden.
- Delimiters separate options from the command name and from each other, and are
- concluded with a terminator.
- Delimiters are either a comma (,) or a space ( ), and a terminator can be a
- comma (,), a space ( ), or null ().
- This allows maximum freedom from rigid command syntax.
- :BP
- There is no 'literal' command (as there is in SCRIPT/370), but it is still
- possible to print out the colon (:) if needed as text data.
- The CTRL-K key preceeding any character causes that character to be printed as
- it appears without decoding.
- Hence, CTRL-K: causes the colon to be printed without any associated POW
- meaning.
- :BP
- The POW commands are examined on the next few pages.
- They are presented in alphabetical order, and for each command there exist 5
- different sections to describe it.
- First, the full command name is given, with capital letters highlighting the
- 2-character abbreviation.
- This 2-character abbreviation is again shown in the second section, syntax,
- preceeded by a colon and followed by command parameters, if applicable.
- Command semantics make up the third section.
- This is the largest section, and it is here that the command is described as
- to its function, its parameter requirements and the forms they must take,
- its usage in a text file, and any noteworthy points including some examples.
- The fourth section show parameter defaults, or the values the parameters will
- take if they are not explicitly overridden.
- Finally, references to other commands of the same general category or of mutual
- dependence are presented.
- :NP
- ECommand - Bottom Message
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :BM a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :BM command instructs POW to define a bottom title to be
- printed on every page.
- Parameter a is numeric; it is the horizontal character position at which the
- message will begin.
- Parameter b is alphanumeric; it is the actual text of the message.
- The colon character, when used in the bottom title, provides automatic page
- numbering.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :TM, :PB
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Begin Paragraph
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :BP
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :BP command instructs POW to start a new paragraph.
- Upon encountering this command, POW first closes the present line.
- It then performs a previously specified number of line feeds (vertical spacing)
- and indents to a previously specified character position (horizontal spacing).
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :DB
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Close Centering
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :CC
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :CC command instructs POW to stop centering text which was
- started with the :CT command.
- This command must be paired with the :CT command.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :CT, :CM
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Center Message
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :CM a
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :CM command instructs POW to center a piece of text between
- the predefined left and right margins.
- The parameter a is alphanumeric; it is the text to be centered.
- This command need not be closed by the :CC command because only 1 line of
- text will be centered.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :CC, :CT
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Center Text
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :CT a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :CT command instructs POW to center text around a
- specified position.
- Different from the :CM command, POW will continue to center source text
- until a :CC command is encountered.
- The parameter a is numeric; it is the position about which text is to be
- centered (counting from the left side of the page, NOT the left margin).
- The parameter b is alphanumeric; it is the actual text to be centered.
- The text will not be printed until the :CC command is encountered.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :CC, :CM
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Define Begin paragraph
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :DB a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :DB command instructs POW to establish paragraph formatting
- characteristics.
- The parameter a is numeric; it is the number of line feeds (vertical spacing)
- to skip before beginning the next paragraph.
- The parameter b is numeric; it is the number of character positions
- (horizontal spacing) to indent the first line of every paragraph.
- The indentation can be set to any position right or left of the left margin.
- This can allow for versatile indention formatting.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 1, b = the left margin
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :BP, :DM
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Define Margins
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :DM a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :DM command instructs POW to establish left and right
- margins.
- The parameter a is numeric; it is the position of the left margin.
- The parameter b is numeric; it is the position of the right margin.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 10, b = 70
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :DB
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Define Tabs
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :DT a,b,c,d...
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :DT command instructs POW to set up tabs.
- A maximum of 14 tabs can be set.
- The parameters a, b, c, d... are numeric; they are the positions of the tabs.
- Tabs must be in ascending order and no error checking is done on them.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 15, b = 22, c = 30, d = 45
- :LF 1
- References - None
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Justification End
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :JE
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :JE command instructs POW to close the present line and end
- all justification (formatting).
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :JL, :JT
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Justification Left
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :JL
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :JL command instructs POW to begin justification
- (formatting) with respect to the left margin only.
- It produces what is known as "ragged right" formatting.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :JE, :JT
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Justification Total
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :JT
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :JT command instructs POW to begin total justification
- (formatting) with respect to both the left and right margins.
- Automatic space filling is performed.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :JE, :JL
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Line Feed
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :LF a
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :LF command instructs POW to skip a specified number of
- vertical spaces.
- The parameter a is numeric; it is the the number of carriage return/line
- feed sequences desired.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 1
- :LF 1
- References - None
- :LF 3
- ECommand - New Page
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :NP
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :NP command instructs POW to eject to a new page.
- It forces the close of the present page, feeds it out of the printer,
- and then begins a new page.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :PN
- :LF 3
- ECommand - OFf printer
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :OF
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :OF command instructs POW to turn off the printer.
- The program continues to process text as if the printer were on, but there
- is no output.
- By using the :OF and :ON commands, non-printable commentary can reside in
- the source text.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :ON
- :LF 3
- ECommand - ON printer
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :ON
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :ON command instructs POW to turn on the printer after it
- has been turned off by the :OF command.
- By using these two commands, a section of text input can be skipped over
- without printing.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :OF
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Page Bottom
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :PB a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :PB command instructs POW to reserve a bottom-of-page
- section, acting as a page trailer.
- The parameter a is numeric; it specifies how many lines are to be dedicated
- to the trailer.
- If this parameter is zero, text printing continues to the absolute bottom of
- the page.
- The parameter b is numeric; it specifies which line into the trailer (counting
- sequentially from the bottom of this reserved section) will contain the bottom
- title if one was specified.
- A value of zero for this parameter cancels bottom title printing.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 10, b has no default
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :PT, :BM, :PL
- :LF 3
- ECommand - PaGe
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :PG
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :PG command instructs POW to immediately force the beginning
- of a new page, regardless of whether the present page is finished or not.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :NP
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Page Length
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :PL a
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :PL command instructs POW as to how long the text portion of
- the page will be.
- The parameter a is numeric; it is the length of the text portion of the page.
- This parameter can be changed to allow the program to adapt to any physical
- size of paper, but should be chosen carefully to perfectly match the logical
- page size to the physical page size.
- For instance, if the paper being used is the standard 8.5 inch by 11 inch white
- bond paper and the character print is set at 6 lines per inch, then 66 lines can
- fit on a physical page.
- Therefore, the command parameters which affect logical page size (i.e., the
- "a" parameters on :PT, :PL, and :PB commands) should all be chosen such that
- their sum equals exactly 66.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 45
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :PB, :PT
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Page Number
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :PN a
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :PN command instructs POW to set the page number to a
- specified value.
- The maximum value is 256.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 0
- :LF 1
- References - None
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Page Top
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :PT a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :PT command instructs POW to reserve a top-of-page section,
- acting as a page header.
- The parameter a is a numeric; it specifies how many lines are to be dedicated
- to the header.
- If this parameter is zero, text printing begins at the absolute top of the
- page.
- The parameter b is a numeric; it specifies which line into the header (counting
- sequentially from the bottom of this reserved section) will contain the top
- title if one was specified.
- A value of zero for this parameter cancels top title printing.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 10, b has no default
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :PB, :TM, :PL
- :LF 3
- ECommand - SPacing
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :SP a
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :SP command instructs POW to set the line spacing for the
- output text.
- The parameter a is numeric; it specifies the line spacing.
- A value of 1 for this parameter indicates single spacing, 2 double spacing,
- 3 triple spacing, etc.
- :LF 1
- Default - a = 1
- :LF 1
- References - None
- :LF 3
- ECommand - Top Message
- :LF 1
- FSyntax - :TM a,b
- :LF 1
- Semantics - The :TM command instructs POW to define a top title to be
- printed on every page.
- Parameter a is numeric; it is the horizontal character position at which the
- message will begin.
- Parameter b is alphanumeric; it is the actual text of the message.
- The colon character, when used in the top title, provides automatic page
- numbering.
- :LF 1
- Default - None
- :LF 1
- References - See command(s) :BM, :PT
- :JT :NP :JE
- GFont Usage
- ---- -----
- H :JT :BP
- POW is capable of using all of the 12 fonts available on the IBM 80-CPS
- Personal Computer printer (Epson MX-80) for text processing.
- Fonts are subject only to the normal constraints imposed by PC-DOS.
- :BP
- Here is an example:
- :JE :LF 1
- This is the standard font (80 cpl, 6 lpi) activated on startup.
- CNT-O activates the compressed font (132 cpl), effective until a
- CNT-R is issued whereupon the standard font is reactivated.
- CNT-N starts expanded font (40 cpl) &
- CNT-T allows the standard font to be reactivated.
- CNT-O/CNT-N foster the compressed/expanded font (66 cpl)
- with CNT-R/CNT-T reactivating the standard font.
- :LF 1
- This is the standard mode.
- GESC-G activates double strike mode, usable by the standard font,
- or the compressed font,
- or the expanded font,
- or the compressed/expanded font.
- HESC-H stops the double strike mode, and starts the standard mode.
- EESC-E activates emphasized mode, usable by the standard font,
- or the expanded font,
- but not with the compressed font or the compressed/expanded font.
- FESC-F deactivates the emphasized mode, and starts the standard mode.
- GEESC-G/ESC-E is the double strike/emphasized mode for standard font
- or the expanded font,
- but not with the compressed font or the compressed/expanded font.
- HFESC-H/ESC-F reactivates the standard mode.
- :LF 3 :JE
- GFunctional Limitations
- ---------- -----------
- H :JT :BP
- POW is a simple word processor (it only possesses 22 commands).
- It has minor similarity to IBM's program product SCRIPT/370 in that commands are
- two character abbreviations preceeded by a special symbol (a colon in POW's
- syntax) which can appear freely throughout the user text.
- It can perform the most fundamental (and most frequently used) format
- techniques, but SCRIPT users may be frustrated at POW's lack of
- sophisticated function.
- POW doesn't have the capabilty to do some trivial tasks, such as underlining,
- character translation, imbed functions, or roman numerals, nor can it perform
- more difficult tasks like storing a table of contents or an index, keeping
- a section of text immune from page ejects, or having any run time processing
- logic.
- POW makes no distinction between line spaces and line skips; every :LF is a
- line space regardless of whether is just occurred on a new page.
- Additionally, no macro facility is provided to invent such routines.
- There is no way to store output from POW in a file or send it to the video
- monitor for a quick review before printing.
- Graphics are limited to character graphics (that which is available on the
- printer), and, without the use of a SPOOL program to keep the printer operating
- independent of the system unit, POW will only process and print text one page
- at a time.
- This means the user has to stay and hit the enter key after each page has
- finished printing.
- However, a SPOOL program will alleviate this problem, and when compared to
- some word processing programs currently marketed for the IBM PC, POW's
- simplicity makes it easy to use and remember.
- The adjustment from SCRIPT to POW is much easier than from SCRIPT to
- EasyWriter.
- (This document was composed using POW.
- For tips and techniques used, display the source of this manual.)
- :LF 3 :JE
- GPOW Idiosyncracies
- --- --------------
- H :JT :BP
- There do exist some bizarre idiosyncracies with this program.
- :BP
- When using POW, the user must insure that the logical page size, as determined
- by some of the commands, equal the physical page size, as determined by the
- number of lines printed per inch times the number of inches on the page.
- That is, the first parameter on the :PT (page top) and :PB (page bottom)
- commands (indicating reserved lines for every page) and the parameter on
- the :PL (page length) command (indicating how many lines on each page will be
- devoted to text) must sum to the total number of lines on the page.
- Normally, this number is 66 (11 inch paper with 6 lpi).
- This is not unusual.
- What is strange is that if the printer has the print head adjacent to the first
- line on the paper, the first page of the document is offset by the number of
- lines specified in the first parameter of the :PT command.
- All subsequent pages, although logically the right length, are physically
- in the wrong position on the paper.
- This can be compensated for by turning the printer offline and hitting the line
- feed button the number of times specified on the first parameter of the :PT
- command.
- POW will support other line-per-inch options (such as 8 lpi and 10 lpi), but
- the appropriate compensation must be made within the aforementioned
- commands.
- :BP
- Another problem with POW has to do with expanded fonts.
- In forming titles, for instance, POW will concatenate following lines of
- text to fill out the 40 characters per line allowed in this font.
- Even when an attempt is made to pad out the title with suceeding blanks,
- POW truncates all but one of the blanks.
- To compensate for this, use an unprintable character (such as a CTRL-G) as
- the last line of the title to hold the places of all the needed blanks.
- POW will "print" a CTRL-G as the last character of the title, but all this
- does is just send an audible beep to the printer.
- CTRL-K also works and without the alarm.
- In effect, we fake out POW.
- :BP
- The double strike mode is turned on with an ESC-G and turned off with an ESC-H.
- The emphasized mode is turned on with an ESC-E and turned off with an ESC-F.
- For highlighting purposes, both these modes are used either singly or in
- conjunction with one another.
- To highlight one line of text, the ESC-G and/or ESC-E starts the line in the
- source document.
- However, placing an ESC-H and/or ESC-F at the end of the line will not turn
- off the hightlight, and the rest of the document remains in the most recently
- set highlight mode.
- To correct this problem, the ESC-H and/or ESC-F must appear on the next line of
- source text.
- This turns off the highlight, but, in the case of double strike mode, an extra
- blank line will appear in the output text in some instances.
- :BP
- Actual page numbering only begins with the number "2".
- Logical page number integrity is maintained, however, based on the input POW
- received on the :PN command.
- :JT :NP :JE
- GCommand Summary
- ------- -------
- H :JT :BP
- Below is a quick summary of all the POW commands, giving command names,
- command syntax, and parameter syntax.
- :LF 3 :JE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :BM a,b Bottom Message a = horizontal indentation, b = text
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :BP Begin Paragraph
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :CC Close Centering
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :CM a Center Message a = text (single line)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :CT a,b Center Text a = numeric centering pivot, b = text
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :DB a,b Define Begin para. a = # line feeds, b = # spaces
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :DM a,b Define Margins a = left margin, b = right margin
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :DT a,b,... Define Tabs a, b,... = tabular column set(s)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :JE Justification End
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :JL Justification Left
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :JT Justification Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :LF a Line Feed a = # carriage return/line feeds
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :NP New Page
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :OF OFf printer
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :ON ON printer
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :PB a,b Page Bottom a = # trailer lines, b = title line
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :PG PaGe
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :PL a Page Length a = # text lines
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :PN a Page Number a
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :PT a,b Page Top a = # header lines, b = title line
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :SP a SPacing a = # of blank spaces between lines
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :TM a,b Top Message a = horizontal indentation, b = text
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- :JT :NP :JE
- GReferences
- ----------
- H :JE :LF 1
- 1.) "POWTEXT.POW" document; public IBM PC software library.
- :LF 1
- 2.) "POWCMDS.POW" document; public IBM PC software library.
- :LF 1
- 3.) "SCRIPT/370:User's Guide"; IBM program product.
- :LF 3 :JE
- GAuthor's Note
- -------- ----
- H :JT :BP
- Legal information was not supplied with POW when it was obtained by the author
- of this manual.
- No copyright notices are apparent in the program, either on startup or when
- using the PC-DOS DEBUG facility.
- Additionally, no copyright notices appear with the supplied documentation.
- By virtue of these facts, and the fact that program distribution is free (as
- witnessed by public PC software library status), no infringement is
- committed by using POW.
- However, it is safe to assume that the original program from which POW evolved,
- PRINTER, was copyrighted by Clyde Roby, and due to similarities between the
- two programs, private marketing of POW is not advised.
- :BP
- The information contained in this manual has been obtained from a variety of
- sources and is believed to be correct and reliable, however the author makes
- no warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, with regard to the
- program or the documentation contained in this manual.
- The author shall not be liable in any event for incidental or consequential
- damages in connection with, or arising out of, the furnishing, performance,
- or use of this program and its accompanying documentation.
- Any changes, errors, and ommissions called to my attention will be greatly
- appreciated and the corrections will be made in the next edition.
- :LF 5
- Michael V. Maieli
- :LF 1
- January, 1983
- :LF 1
- =================