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Text File | 1992-10-25 | 14.9 KB | 337 lines

Read Me file for Bingo 3.00 --------------------------- "I feel you have done a great programming job with Bingo ..." "I've chosen Bingo over most of its competition. It's fully featured and configurable and offers and extensive menuing system for access to infrequently used commands." "Enclosed is my registration for Bingo. This is a fine piece of work. I must especially compliment the mouse interface, which is the best I have seen." "Great editor! Exactly what I've been looking for. Please send the current version if I don't have the latest." "Keep up the good work, Bingo surely is one of the best editors around and deserves success." "Bingo's great!" "Bingo is an excellent text processor." "Couldn't live without Bingo now!" These are some of the things people have said about The Bingo Programmer's Text Editor. Now that you have this copy in your hands, you can see for yourself what all the excitement is about. This file list various pertinent information about the Bingo Programmer's Text Editor such as: --> included files --> features of Bingo, and what's new with this version --> major bugs fixed in this version --> some notes about registering --> quick guide to geting started --> author's comments --> how to contact the author --> how to acquire the latest version --> upgrade policy --> registering Bingo through the Public (software) Library (PsL) Included files on disk/in archive: ---------------------------------- READ.ME : this file. chock full of *extremely* important stuff -- read this completely BE.EXE : Bingo Editor 3.00 executable KEYCFG.EXE : Bingo Editor 3.00 Key Definition executable; translates your definitions from text to Bingo's 'compiled' format. KEYINFO.EXE : Bingo Editor 3.00 Key Information executable; extracts plain text definitions from Bingo's compiled format. HEXKEY.COM : Executable to determine Hexadecimal value of keystrokes for Keycfg or Chess BINGO.DOC : documentation for Bingo; ready to be printed out on an ascii line printer, laser printers included. REGISTER.DOC : copy of the license agreement and registration form, ready to be printed out on an ascii line printer. KEYCFG.SET : compiled key configuration from BINGO.CFG, file Bingo looks for on startup BINGO.INI : initialization file for Bingo 3.00 BINGO.HLP : help file for the supplied sample keyboard definition file (the one I use) BINGO.CFG : sample keyboard definition file (the one I use) Additionally, a number of additional *.cfg files: WSKEY.CFG : sample Wordstar-Like key definition file WPKEY.CFG : sample WordPerfect-Like key definition file EMACS.CFG : sample Emacs-Like key definition file And a number of *.chs sample Chess files: ASK.CHS : sample Chess program which, along with ASK.TXT, which will present a list of config options, ask you to pick one, then display its current setting. HEXKEY.CHS : sample Chess program which will display the return value of a recognized keystroke, simlar to HEXKEY.COM SIDEBY.CHS : two sample Chess functions which, when attached to keys via KEYCFG, will allow side-by-side synchronized scrolling of two vertical windows. Features of Bingo through version 3.00 -------------------------------------- - high speed execution, with particularly fast searches, screen handling, and file I/O - virtual memory for file storage; up to 240 Megabytes of file storage possible - CHESS C-like interpreted language giving you access to Bingo's powers in a true programmable language with looping, decision making, functions, variables and more. - more friendly execution under OS/2, Windows, and other DOS multitasking systems - full color support - programmable integrated mouse support - support of VGA, EGA, & MCGA extended text modes - superb macro capability - large suite of utility functions: entab; detab; command repeat; shift; etc. - custom define your own keyboard setup - complete menu system supporting most Bingo functions - multiple files, multiple windows: view different sections of the same file, or different files at the same time - execute DOS commands, including command-line compilers within only ~3k of overhead - regular expression search and replace - completely configurable from within itself - use placemarks to mark positions in files - user definable help file - extensive block operation support, include point, line and column marking, and two different sets of block operations - one default block buffer, plus 26 additional named buffers - wordwrap, paragraph formatting, and autoindent support included for text processing work - C Mode supports programming in the C programming language - User-defined delimiter and indentation matching - directory list picker - execute *any* Bingo function from within Bingo whether it has been assigned to a key or not using a 'function picker' - interrupt Bingo at any point and exit, and when you restart Bingo it will pick up exactly where you left off - print files & blocks through the serial port, parallel port, or to a file, with or without line numbers - set printing left margin, top margin, and lines per page - automatic processing of errors generated by the Borland and Microsoft developmental tools. - undelete stack of deleted items - execute any command or macro "globally" over all files in the ring - profile files allow file extension specific settings. Bugs Fixed in Version 3.00 -------------------------- A host of small bugs were squashed. A couple of the larger ones are: - fixed a bug with Bingo not saving the configured Matching Delimiters into the BINGO.INI file - fixed a bug which prevented Bingo from starting up in anything but the current screen dimensions. - fixed a bug where Bingo did not save configured matching delimiters. - fixed a bug in exiting files when the 'conf_win_close' option was turned off. - fixed a bug with Bingo not always keeping the cursor size updated properly when switching between files. New features of Version 3.00 ---------------------------- - 'conf_macro_death' is no longer available; tapping the Scroll Lock key now interrupts macro execution as well as repeating keys. - rewrote the box draw routine to mix single and double lines nicely, and to allow an 'erase' mode. - 'conf_wild_load' controls the loading of wildcarded filenames. You can specify that Bingo: 1) *never* automatically load all matches 2) automatically load all matches *only* at startup 3) automatically load all matches *only* after startup 4) *always* automatically load all matches - KEYCFG now allows you to define 3-key combinations as well as 1- and 2-key combinations. This should allow for nice emulation of the WordPerfect (TM) keyboard layout. - KEYINFO updated to produce nicer output. - 'threekey_def' added to support defining 3-key combinations. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! AND ... ... ... A TRUE INTERPRETED COMMAND LANUGAGE! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - That's right folks. I have added a whole new dimension to Bingo's power. Version 3.00 introduces CHESS, Bingo's interpreted command language. Chess is a minimal C-Like interpreter and includes programming constructs such as while loops, if-then-else statements, variables, function calls, and more. Chess subprograms can interrogate many of Bingo's internal variables, can ask for user input, and do many other things. Chess code can be placed directly into a *.cfg file and assigned to keystrokes if desired. Files containing Chess subprograms can be executed. Profile files have been updated to allow a Chess command file to be run each time the profile file is loaded. - 'exec_chess' function added which executes a previously defined Chess function, with parameters if necessary. - 'interpret' added as a KEYCFG/KEYINFO function only; this provides identical functionality to 'exec_chess' except it is a bit faster. - 'conf_chess_trace' function added to allow you to "step" through the execution of a Chess subprogram. - searching and replacing in marked areas is now handled differently. By choosing the 'M' modifier in the options box, Bingo will search from the current cursor position (if you are inside the block) or the start of the block until the end of the block. The target string must be completely enclosed in the marked area. All three types of marked blocks are supported. - 'mark_word' function added which marks the current word according to the current word definition. - added the -c command line flag, which allows you to specify a Chess program file for Bingo to execute after startup. Syntax is: be.exe -c<chess name>. <chess name> will be executed as the last thing before turning Bingo over to user control. - 'conf_dialogue' function allows you to choose between Bingo's interface. It allows either Bingo's classic "boxes" method or two variations using a command-line at the bottom of the screen. Upgrades -------- This is the release of version 3.00. Users who are currently registered users of Bingo are entitled to upgrades according to the following chart. Version Registration Entitled to ------- ------------ ----------- 2.01 or before any v3.00 for USD $5.00 2.10 (x) Lifetime v3.00 for USD $5.00 2.10 (x) One-time none 2.11 (x) Lifetime v3.00 for free 2.11 (x) One-time v3.00 for free Registering ----------- Starting with version 2.10, there is a two-tiered registration method. You can register for the current version, one time only, for $40.00. This is called Single Version registering. This type of registration entitles you to use the current version of Bingo, and to support for that version. You can also opt for the Lifetime registration, for $75.00. This entitles you to subsequent revisions for a $5 fee, and support for as long as the product is available. People who registered prior to version 2.10 are automatically upgraded to Lifetime registrations. When you register your copy of Bingo, you will get an executable with your name on the opening screen, so you can show everyone what an honest person you are. Contacting the Author: ---------------------- Feel free to contact me any time about any problems, suggestions, or just plain discussions concerning Bingo, regardless of whether you are registered. Without users, any product, now matter how good, is so much raw data sitting on a disk somewhere. Either write or call to this address: Christopher R. S. Schanck PO Box 279 Hanover MD 21076 (410) 379-9019 if that number should give you any trouble, use: (215) 691-1070 9am to 6pm EST Compuserve ---------- Contact me at 70541,3614. This is the most reliable way to contact me, as I check my email regularly. PsL Shareware Registration -------------------------- You can order directly from me at the above address or from Public (software) Library with your MC, Visa, AmEx or Discover card by calling 800-2424-PsL or 713-524-6394 or by FAX to 713-524-6398 or by CompuServe to 71355,470 or by mail to PsL, PO Box 35705, Houston, Texas 77235-5705. Bingo's order # is 10399. Please use this number when ordering if possible. These numbers are for ordering only. For information about dealer pricing, volume discounts, site licensing, shipping of product, returns, latest version number or other technical information, contact me. Quick Guide to Getting Started ------------------------------ Getting started with Bingo is very easy. Copy all of the files into one directory, such as c:\bingo. Place this directory in your PATH= statement in your CONFIG.SYS file (this change won't take effect until you reboot). Now type: be <filename> to start Bingo editing the file <filename>. Once in Bingo, there are a couple of keys which are important to remember. In particular, the Escape key will bring up the main menu (kinda important!) and the F1 key will pop up the help file. The help file will list most basic commands, but navigation will work as you might expect, with the arrow keys and PgUp & PgDn moving the cursor. Have fun! Comments & Notes ---------------- Version 3.00 of Bingo is most capable, sophisticated version of Bingo ever shipped. It comes with more documentation, more sample files, and more auxilary tools than any previous version. For example, v3.00 comes with 4 keyboard definition files, including Emacs-, Wordstar-, and Wordperfect-like files, plus a newly revamped default Bingo definition. The help file for the default setup has likewise been polished. KEYINFO is much more capable than it has been in previous versions, while BOPTS replaces PAGESIZE and adds much more functionality. And last but not least, the base documentation is now greatly expanded. Getting the Latest Version -------------------------- There are two sure ways to aquire the latest version of Bingo. One is by calling the Computer Connections BBS in Washington DC. This is a very fine, very large board which is excellently managed. It will always have the latest release, and E-Mail left for me their will get responded to. The phone number is: (202) 547-2008 The other way is to look for it on Compuserve, usually as BINGOX.ZIP or BExxxx.zip in the IBMAPP area. Hints ----- I would like to compile a list of hints to include with Bingo. Most users have discovered sharp little tricks about configuring Bingo, and about using the more complex functions. So send me your ideas for this file, and it may get included in the next release. This includes any nifty macros you come across, and with the advent of Chess, Chess functionality you come up with.