Beijing Paradise BBS Backup

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Beijing Paradise BBS Backup / PARADISE.ISO / software / BBSDOORW / TDXLPCB2.ZIP / TDXL.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1991-10-03 | 32.6 KB | 993 lines

TDXL.EXE - TSR Documentation Release 1.0b - Operation Manual - Copyright (C) 1991 Fred Bertagnolli All Rights Reserved TDXL was written using Borland International Inc. TurboC(R) To Register this program send $15 U.S. to: Fred Bertagnolli TDXL Program 745 Maple St. Ogden, Utah 84403 ---------------------------------------------- Please support the "SHAREWARE" concept and the policies of all "SHAREWARE" software authors. ---------------------------------------------- - 1 - - INTRODUCTION to TDXL - TDXL is a TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) program that facilitates the creation of PCBoard @X format color text screens. TDXL allows PCBoard BBS Sysops and Screen Designers to use TheDraw(TM) to create Newsfiles, Bulletins and Welcome color text screens. Pressing Ctrl-T activates TDXL, while in TheDraw, and allows you to View, Load and Save PCBoard @X formats directly. This eliminates the need to create ANSI.SYS color text screens and then convert them. Note: TheDraw(TM) is a well supported "shareware" color text screen drawing program, available on many Bulletin Boards. TheDraw has many useful features for the creating screens. It is recommended that you use TheDraw version 3.3 or later with TDXL. TheDraw(TM) is Copyright by Ian E. Davis and TheSoft Programming Services. Fred Bertagnolli is not an associate of Ian E. Davis. Please support the "shareware" policies of TheDraw. --------- IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL USERS OF TDXL ---------- IMPORTANT: TDXL will only work if TheDraw program name is unchanged. *** DO NOT RENAME THEDRAW.EXE to another .EXE name. *** *** DO NOT RENAME THEDRAWR.EXE to another .EXE name. *** --------------------------------------------------------------- Release History: 10-01-91 TDXL Rel. 1a Posted on Salt Air PCBoard Sysop BBS. 10-03-91 TDXL Rel. 1b Bug fix for MCB's. NOTE: TDXL does not support multiple loaded copies of TheDraw. - 2 - - Overview of TDXL Features - o TDXL was designed to replace CONVERT, EXLIST and PCBdraw, when used with TheDraw. Most PCBoard Sysops are familiar with these programs, and their limitations and drawbacks. o Your screen designs will display and scroll correctly when saved by TDXL, without color wrap around problems, and are compressed to a minimum file size. o TDXL can GRAB color text screens while you are ON-LINE, and saves the screen in compressed PCBoard @X format. o TDXL can be used with or without TheDraw. For example, you can TYPE an ANSI.SYS color screen, and save it to @X format. o You can view existing PCBoard @X files anytime. o Use of TDXL eliminates the need for backup ANSI.SYS files of your PCBoard screens. o Using TDXL with TheDraw is a better drawing environment than other systems that write @X commands directly. A few reasons are: TheDraw supports a mouse, multiple pages, and can import many text file formats. Screen designing is EASY with TheDraw. o TDXL supports loading @X screens or text files longer than 25 lines and can load @X files to any Page of TheDraw. o We have included features you will enjoy using. TDXL allows you to scroll through long text files or PCBoard format files, and you can insert just the Page you want directly into TheDraw for further colorization/editing. o TDXL is extremely easy to use. It allows saving of 1 to 25 screen lines, allows adding an @CLS@, and automatically compresses the @X file to a minimum size. You also have control over the last CR-LF in the file. o TDXL is written in 'C' by a professional programmer with 10 years programming experience. TDXL output has been tested using two different PCBoard BBS systems with no problems. o Registered Users of TDXL will receive a password which enables some additional features built into TDXL, including the ability to save long files to multiple pages and to view screens in black and white mode. Registration will also remove the "SHAREWARE" reminder that appears on line 24 of the non-registered version. We do not apologize for this minor annoyance. It is intentional. Note that the reminder DOES overwrite part of line 24, and appears each time you Load a file. - 3 - TDXL-PCB.ZIP should contain the following files: TDXL.DOC TDXL.EXE TDXL.HLP and the following PCBoard @X format sample screens. SAMPLE1.PCB SAMPLE2.PCB SAMPLE3.PCB SAMPLE4.PCB SAMPLE5.PCB SAMPLE6.PCB SAMPLE7.PCB SAMPLE8.PCB SAMPLE9.PCB - Table of Contents - Introduction to TDXL ............................... 2 Overview of TDXL features .......................... 3 Files contained in TDXL-PCB.ZIP .................... 4 TDXL Software License Agreement .................... 5 Distribution Policy ................................ 5 Warranty Disclaimer ................................. 6 TDXL Price List and Ordering Information ............ 7 Installation and Removal of TDXL TSR ................ 8 TDXL Main Menu ...................................... 9 TDXL View Option .................................... 10 TDXL Load Option .................................... 11-12 TDXL Save Option .................................... 12-13 TDXL Help List for PCBoard Screen Designers.......... 14-15 Acknowledgements .................................... 16 - 4 - - TDXL Software License Agreement - TDXL is not a Public Domain program and as such IS NOT "Freeware." TDXL is Copyright (C) 1991 by Fred Bertagnolli, the sole author and owner of the TDXL program and accompanying documentation. Non-registered users of TDXL are granted a limited 15 consecutive day license to use TDXL for evaluation purposes only. Continued use of TDXL after the 15-day period requires registration and payment for each copy of the program used. Please support the "Shareware" concept. TDXL may NOT be modified in any respect, for any reason, including but not limited to, de-compiling, disassembling, reverse engineering, or changing text in the TDXL.EXE program or documentation. Use of this software is just like a book, in that the software may be used only by one person at a time, provided there is no possibility of two people using the software at the same time. Registered owners of the software license may make one backup copy of TDXL for archival purposes only, and to protect your investment from loss. Registered owners of the TDXL software license are forbidden from sharing information or passwords which allow non-registered users to upgrade the software. Release of your password shall be interpreted as a violation of U.S Copyright Laws, intent to defraud the author of his rights to the TDXL program, and cancels your software license. The software license is non-transferable. - Distribution Policy - BBS Sysops may distribute only the shareware version of TDXL, provided that no distribution fees of any kind are charged, and that TDXL package and files have not be altered. "Shareware" distribution firms must acknowledge on the distribution media, that a license is NOT being granted for the use of TDXL. Suggested BBS file listing for the TDXL-PCB.ZIP package is: TDXL-PCB.ZIP Shareware TSR for TheDraw to create PCBoard @X screens. View, Load and Save @X format files from within TheDraw. Can replace CONVERT, EXLIST, and PCBdraw. - 5 - - Disclaimer - No warranties or guarantees of any kind are implied or given for use of the TDXL program or the accuracy of this document. * * * Use this program at your own risk. * * * Fred Bertagnolli disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied. In no event will Fred Bertagnolli be liable for any loss of profit or other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential or other damages. -------------------------------------- This software requires an IBM compatible PC, DOS 3.0 or higher, and CGA/EGA/VGA or Monochrome graphics card. Hard disk and 640K main memory recommended. If you have a problem with TDXL, please contact the author via mail and describe the situation (please read all the documentation before contacting the author). We have tested the program on many different machines using DOS 3.3 and DOS 4.01. Honest criticism and suggestions are welcomed. Requests for changes or feature enhancements from Registered Users will be given first priority. Brands and product names mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders or companies. - 6 - Registration of TDXL is REQUIRED after the 15 day evaluation period. - TDXL Price List - --------------------------------------------------------------------- Evaluation Copy $5.00 Plus a floppy disk supplied by you. Full Registration $15.00 You receive "passwords" via U.S. Mail for BBS Sysops to remove "Shareware" notice and to activate additional features of TDXL Full Registration $20.00 As above. Disk and "passwords" with floppy disk sent by mail. Upgrades to $5.00 Plus floppy disk supplied by you. Disk Registered User must contain a fully operational TDXL, as upgraded by previous "Password" information. (when available) Tax Supported Institutions $55.00 Full Registration and disk by mail. Corporations and All Commercial Users --------------------------------------------------------------------- All prices are U.S. funds. Foreign currency or foreign checks not accepted. All Check's or Money Orders Payable To: Fred Bertagnolli Send to: Fred Bertagnolli TDXL Program 745 Maple St. Ogden, UT 84403 -------------------------------------------- We may, at our discretion, send notification of upgrades and/or program disks to registered users. This will depend on user support of the TDXL shareware policies. We feel the asking price is well within the budget of any Sysop. We ask for YOUR support, since TDXL is addressed to a relatively small audience of users. - 7 - - Installation of TDXL Non-Registered version - TDXL is a TSR. Always load this program from the DOS command line before running any other programs. Never load any TSR while in a DOS SHELL. Note: TSRs sometimes conflict with each other; therefore, it is recommended that you do not have other TSR programs in memory while running TDXL. If you do have multiple TSRs and experience problems, then try loading the TSRs in a different order. All TDXL DOS command lines assume you are in the Directory where TDXL.EXE is located. Recommend installation of TDXL.EXE on a hard disk. TDXL.HLP must be in the same Directory as TDXL.EXE. * TO LOAD TDXL TSR... at the DOS Command Line prompt type: TDXL TDXL now installed! Press CTRL-T to activate the TSR ------------------------------ * TO REMOVE TDXL from MEMORY... at the DOS Command Line prompt type: TDXL QUIT TDXL now removed! ------------------------------ * ACTIVATING the TDXL TSR... Press CTRL-T (the hot key) while running THEDRAW.EXE A TDXL main menu window pops-up and is ready to View, Load or Save @X files. ------------------------------ * SPECIAL TDXL Command Lines... Special commands that some users may wish to use if the CTRL-T hot key conflicts with other program controls (normally not used): TDXL wait Puts TDXL on temporary hold, if it is already in memory. This deactivates the CTRL-T hot key. TDXL restart Restarts TDXL if it was on hold, and reactivates the CTRL-T hot key. TDXL uses about 28K of memory when loaded. We recommend that you use the QUIT command line to remove TDXL from memory when you have finished. This will make the 28K of main memory available to other programs. - 8 - - TDXL Operation and Commands - Main Menu: Pops-up after loading TDXL and pressing CTRL-T. -------------[ TDXL ]------------ | Unregistered Rel. 1a | | | | V)iew L)oad S)ave | | | | | | [Esc]:Exit Help:[F1] | | | | PCBoard BBS @X Screens | --Copyright 1991 F. Bertagnolli-- The 3 options here are for View, Load, and Save a PCBoard @X file. Press: V, L, or S to access the menu options. Press: Esc to exit TDXL and return to TheDraw. Press: F1 to see the single help screen. TDXL.HLP (the Help file) must be in the same Directory as TDXL.EXE. - 9 - V)iew: View a PCB @X file or a text file, then restore previous screen. -------------[ View ]------------ | Filename to View: | |[_____________________________]| | | | Display in Color : Y/N [ ] | | Reg. option | | | | | | | ----------------- [Esc]:Cancel -- o Filename to View: May have a Directory Path included with the filename; i.e., D:\DIR\PCBFILE.PIC o You may press Esc at any time to cancel the field edit and return to the Main Menu. o If the 1st character of an existing file does not begin with @, you are prompted: @ NOT FOUND! Proceed: Y/N [N]. TDXL assumes that PCBoard @X files always begin with @. "Proceed" is used to remind you the filename you entered is probably not a PCBoard @X format file. However, you may proceed with a Y response and view ASCII text files. Files longer than 25 lines are prompted: [ More: Any Key or Esc ] at the bottom of the screen. Pressing Any Key will scroll through file, line by line. Pressing Esc will show how many lines were in that file, and waits for an additional Esc key press. o Note that TDXL does not support ANSI.SYS control codes. Use TheDraw to load in an existing .ANS file. Then use TDXL to convert them to PCBoard @X format. o Display in Color: is available only in the registered version. This option is useful for viewing a PCBoard @X format file, in black and white, and provides a means of seeing what the on-line screen will look like if a user has color turned off. - 10 - L)oad: Loads a PCB @X file starting at (1,1). If TheDraw(tm) is running, prompts for PAGE #. Draws to the video page and copies to TheDraw page buffer. The current TheDraw Page should match PAGE # selected. -------------[ Load ]------------ | Filename to Load: | |[_____________________________]| | | | TheDraw PAGE : 1-8 [ ] | | | | Page # is the active page | | of TheDraw, when running. | | | ----------------- [Esc]:Cancel -- o Filename to Load: May have a Directory Path included with the filename; i.e., D:\DIR\PCBFILE.PIC o You may press Esc at any time to cancel the field edit and return to the Main Menu. o If the 1st character of an existing file does not begin with @, you are prompted: @ NOT FOUND! Proceed: Y/N [N]. TDXL assumes that PCBoard @X files always begin with @. "Proceed" is used to remind you the filename you entered, is probably not a PCBoard @X format file. However, you may proceed with a Y response and LOAD ASCII text files of any size. o TheDraw Page: 1-8 is accessed only if you are currently running TDXL within TheDraw. The default page is 1. You should first be on the specified TheDraw Page before loading to it. For example: If you are on Page 1 and tell TDXL to load to Page 8, the current Page 1 screen will be temporarily overwritten. This happens because TDXL has no way of knowing what Page # you are currently displaying with TheDraw. TDXL will load TheDraw Page 8 with the file, but Page 1 will not contain current screen data. To refresh TheDraw screen, after exiting TDXL, use TheDraw command ALT-E PAGE# to redraw/or move to the desired Page #. o Files longer than 25 lines are prompted with: [ More: Any Key or Esc ] at the bottom of the screen. Pressing Any Key will scroll through the file, line by line. Pressing Esc will Load the current screen into TheDraw, and will show you the number of lines in that file. Pressing Esc again, exits TDXL and returns you to TheDraw. Lines longer than 80 characters are truncated. - 11 - Load: continued o After a Load, when running TDXL and TheDraw, TDXL moves the cursor to position (1,1). Line 24 of the non-registered version is overwritten by intentional "Shareware" reminder. If you have not registered TDXL, please do not complain about this annoyance. o By the way, the scrolling Load feature of TDXL is something TheDraw cannot normally do. o These PCBoard @Commands@ are ignored during View/Load, since they are not displayed on-line and they do not expand any system information: @CLS@, @POFF@, @QOFF@, @PON@, @QON@, @MORE@, @PAUSE@ and @AUTOMORE@. All other @Commands@ may be included in a screen design: i.e., @USER@, and will be Loaded with TDXL. Except for @CLS@, SysOps should add these non-expanding @'s to a saved file, manually. Or put them on the first line of the screen design, followed by an @CLS@ command. o Note to Non-Sysops: Most sysops do not like users to use any of the color code commands in uploaded messages. Please abide by local Sysop customs, and do not use TDXL to create screens which are not Sysop approved. It is also worth mentioning, that @X color codes are not recognized by many off-line mail reader programs, including SLMR 2.0. ------------------------------------------- S)ave: Saves the current screen to PCB @X format. Prompts for number of Rows to Save. Allows adding an @CLS@. Allows control over a CR/LF at the end of the Saved file. Save always starts at position (1,1). |------------[ Save ]-----------| | | | Ending Row : 1-25 [23] | | Insert CLS : Y/N [N] | | Insert CR/LF : Y/N [Y] | | | | Filename to Save: | |[_____________________________]| | | |---------------- [Esc]:Cancel -| o Ending Row: 1-25 Enter the last Row Number (screen line) you wish to save. A column of Row numbers appears temporarily on the Left side of the screen, showing the current row number in Red. o Insert CLS If Y is selected, @CLS@ will be inserted at the first position in the Saved file. o Insert CR/LF If N is selected, the last line in the file will not have a Carriage Return / Line Feed combination. This is useful for displaying a full 23 lines when on-line, without scrolling off the screen. - 12 - Save: continued o Filename to Save: may have a Directory Path included with the filename; i.e., D:\DIR\PCBFILE.PIC o You may press Esc at any time to cancel any field edits and return to the Main Menu. o It is a good idea to View a saved file to make sure you have exactly what you intended to save. Registered users should also View the file with No Color, to make sure the file displays as intended, in Black and White mode. o If a filename already exists, Save will prompt: Overwrite filename? Y/N [N] Entering Y overwrites the file. ------------------------------------------------------------------ - If you have problems running TDXL and TheDraw - o DO NOT RENAME THEDRAW.EXE to some other name. TDXL will only work if THEDRAW.EXE is used to load and run TheDraw. o TDXL was designed for use with TheDraw versions: 3.3, 4.1, 4.3, and 5.0 TDXL may not work with older versions of TheDraw, since they have not been tested. o TheDraw SETUP: TDXL works correctly with TheDraw when the default page size of 80 x 25 is the current setup. Other TheDraw page sizes will scramble TDXL @X file Loads. - Using TDXL as a stand alone program - TDXL can work outside of TheDraw to capture the current screen while other programs are running. For example: ECHO OFF TYPE SCREEN.ANS (with ANSI.SYS color control codes) Press CTRL-T and SAVE the current screen with TDXL. For example: While ON-LINE, press CTRL-T and SAVE the screen being viewed with TDXL, for later editing. Note: TDXL may work with other screen drawing programs or editors, if they use the video screen memory for screen storage buffers. Use TDXL with other programs at your own risk. ------------------------------------------------ - 13 - - A Help List for PCBoard Screen Designers - 1. Limit the maximum size of your screens to 79 columns x 23 rows. TDXL supports a maximum page size of 80 x 25. You are advised to limit screen designs to 79 x 23, to allow for various communication programs. Testing has shown some communication programs do not display 80 wide screens correctly. Using a maximum width of 79 characters seems to correct this problem. 2. ASCII codes below 32 (decimal) may not display, or may have side effects, if included in screen designs. Use low ASCII codes with caution, and test the resulting file on-line. Example: ProComm displays ASCII code 16, while Qmodem does not. 3. Color 0,0 (Black on Black) is ignored by PCBoard. If you create files with this color code, TDXL will set color 0,0 to Black on White, during View or Load. 4. If you are not a Sysop, do not create color PCBoard BBS messages, without prior Sysop approval. Messages with @X codes are not supported by most offline mail readers. 5. TDXL allows removal of the last CR/LF in the saved file. This option is available because PCBoard System Prompts begin with a CR/LF. Assuming you have also included @CLS@ in a saved @X file and have removed the CR/LF from a screen with 22 lines, the next PCBoard System Prompt will be on line 23, when displayed ON-LINE. 6. Those who have used a program called CONVERT.EXE may be aware that this program incorrectly interprets low ASCII codes (31 or less). Advice: Use TDXL with TheDraw to include low ASCII codes. 7. Those who have used a program called PCBdraw are advised this partial clone of TheDraw, does not support a mouse and the non-registered version does not support multiple pages. PCBdraw cannot read ANSI.SYS files or other formats supported by TheDraw. Compression routines used by PCBdraw, attempt to minimize the @X file size, and in doing so, ignore the possibility of color wrap- around. This flaw appears when PCBoard sends a file created by PCBdraw, and the color screen scrolls or is longer than 23 lines, when received by a user's communication program. TDXL fixes this problem by always ending a line with the default DOS color of Light Gray on Black, while still compressing the @X files to a minimum size. Advice: Use TDXL with TheDraw to get screens that don't color wrap. 8. TDXL allows specifying the number of rows to Save from 1-25, a feature lacking in PCBdraw. One- or two-line custom prompts might be created by a Sysop, if PCBoard allows them. Or you might wish to create short screens, for faster ON-LINE displays. - 14 - Help List: continued 9. Consistent use of TDXL with TheDraw will eliminate the need to have backup ANSI.SYS files of your screen designs. And @X files are likely to be smaller in size, than an equivalent ANSI.SYS file. 10. Those who have used a program called EXLIST: TDXL imports @X files directly to TheDraw. Imported files can then be save in ANSI format or many other formats, if desired. Advice: Use TDXL with TheDraw to import @X and save to ANSI. 11. PCBoard @X files do not support ANSI.SYS ESC GOTO sequences; therefore, screens designed for PCBoard systems cannot display TheDraw Animation type files in @X formats. 12. To create multiple page Newsletters or other long PCBoard @X displays, SAVE each page with TDXL. Then concatenate the files with the DOS COPY command: COPY PAGE1 + PAGE2 + PAGE3 You can scroll through and verify the long file, with TDXL, after joining individual pages together. 13. For faster and smaller PCBoard BBS ON-LINE screens, create designs containing mostly blank spaces. Screen designs have blank spaces on the RIGHT SIDE of the screen will display faster than screens surrounded with a box design. TDXL's compression scheme does not include blank spaces on the RIGHT SIDE of the screen in the Saved file, if the spaces are drawn on a BLACK background. 14. If you need to have a series of non-expanding PCBoard @Command@ in the file, consider putting them in the first line of the file; i.e., @QOFF@@CLS@ works nicely. TDXL will ignore these "invisible codes" when you Load a file containing them. However, they can be placed in a Saved file, by typing them in TheDraw before you Save the file. Be sure to test all files containing @COMMANDS@. 15. If PCBoard users complain about not seeing the last part of the LOG OFF screen, consider putting in @PAUSE@ in the last line of the PCBoard @X file. That way, they can press a key to continue or they will automatically be logged off in 10 seconds. They will see the whole LOG OFF screen, without truncation. 16. Most users become bored with seeing the same Welcome screens. And variety to your system with rotating Welcome screens. Ask your users to create Welcome screens. Have contests and time rewards for the best screen designs. - 15 - - Sample PCBoard @X screens - The TDXL-PCB.ZIP file should contain several sample screens. Permission is granted to change or use these screens if you wish to use them on your system. One of these files is an example of a PCBoard @X screen containing more than 25 lines. - Acknowledgments - Thanks to all those who helped with the TDXL program development. Lynn Walker Sysop of "The TIMEX BBS" 1-801-394-5010 (BBS) Bart Flint Sysop of "The Year 2000 Network" 1-801-547-0607 (BBS) Special THANKS to: Glenda Moore, CoSysop of "Year 2000 Network and Timex BBS" Many ideas incorporated into TDXL were included at Glenda's suggestion. Glenda gets all the credit for debugging, testing, and putting up with a sometimes cranky programmer. The sample PCBoard screens include examples of Glenda's PCBoard screen designs. Glenda has designed hundreds of PCBoard Welcome screens and now uses TDXL because it makes previous methods obsolete. - BBS Posting of TDXL - o TDXL-PCB.ZIP was originally posted on SALT AIR BBS, a BBS system for registered owners of PCBoard BBS software, and not accessible by the general public. o TDXL-PCB.ZIP will also be posted on the TIMEX BBS and on the YEAR 2000 BBS, and other Local Area BBS systems. o We encourage other Sysops to make TDXL-PCB.ZIP available to friends, SysOps, and PCBoard screen designers. ------------------------------- This document is a generic ASCII file, 16 pages long. You may get a Print-Out of TDXL.DOC by typing at the DOS command line: COPY TDXL.DOC PRN ----------------------------------------------------------------------- TDXL.EXE and TDXL.DOC Copyright (C) 1991 Fred Bertagnolli ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - 16 -