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--------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------- --------------- SPARKLE by Rob W. Smetana and Pro~Formance --------------- ------------------- ----------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Sparkle (tm) ** Version 2.9 (6/91) ** =============================================================== Copyright (C) 1990, Rob W. Smetana All Rights Reserved 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 863-0530 Sparkle, Pro~Formance, P~F, and P-Screen are Trademarks of Rob W. Smetana =============================================================== ==================================================================== Sparkle ==================================================================== Included are: Sparkle.Exe Main Program Sparkle.Doc This brief manual *.Bat Demo batch files (run SP-DEMO!!) M-Menu.Com Main Menu for demo \ created using our H-Menu.Com Demo Horizontal menu ) V-Menu.Com " Vertical " / P-Screen program REGISTER.Exe To instantly convert Shareware versions into fully registered versions. Run: SP-Demo.Bat For a demo of all current options. Purpose: To add a little sparkle to your day or your batch files. A small program to provide MANY utilities useful in batch files, at the DOS command prompt, called from within other programs (via "shell"), etc. Note that Sparkle gives you 3 different menu options. ASK can turn ANY screen into a menu. The SCROLLING BAR menu option can turn any text screen into either a vertical or horizontal scrolling bar menu. Options currently include: ========================== * SCROLLING BAR MENUS (turn ANY text screen into a vertical or horizontal Scrolling Bar Menu) * ASK (turn ANY screen into a menu, or use Ask just to pause; print a prompt on any row or column in any color; specify which keys are "valid.") * Big! Font (tm) (print 8-line-high messages!) * WINDOWS (250+ frame styles; with or without shadows) * QUIKPRINT (print text anywhere in color) * SOUND EFFECTS (from simple to elaborate) * PAUSE (pause from 1/3 second to ??; you may also let the user press a key to bypass the pause.) * MONITOR (which display adapter & monitor is active) For help: For help, run Sparkle like this: sparkle <Enter>. WHAT'S NEW =============================================================== If you've used earlier versions of Sparkle, NOTE the changes to the Scrolling Bar menu option. Sparkle now supports a mouse! And it longer takes a color (it reverses colors instead). Version Date What's New ------- ---- -------------------------------------------- 2.9 6/91 You can now repeat sound effects (suggested by Mark Dodd of Texas), and the "shareware reminder" has been tamed (thanks to V. Baxter of California). 2.8 5/91 Added mouse support to Scrolling Bar Menus. Eliminated "color" parameter in Bar menus -- Sparkle now reverses whatever colors are there. 2.7 11/90 Added "Phone ringing" sound effect and "Pause." " "Monitor detect" option. " "Register.Exe" to shareware versions. 2.4-2.6 9/90 Improved the "Window" option so you now have 250+ frame styles! Fixed bug: ASK didn't return 27 if Esc pressed. 2.3 6/90 1st public release. WARRANTY & DISCLAIMER ============================================================== This product is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the results and performance of this pro- duct is assumed by you. We warrant only that any disks we sent you are free from physical and workmanship defects under normal use and service for a period of 90 days from the date shipped. Our entire liability, and your exclusive remedy, as to the disk, shall be to, at our option, either (1) return the purchase price; or, (2) replace disks which don't meet our limited warranty. * Since you can try "user supported" versions of our programs before ordering them, we offer no other warranty beyond that stated here. We'll gladly replace defective disks. But no refunds or credits can be issued. Neither Pro~Formance nor RWS & Associates nor Rob W. Smetana, nor any of their officers or employees shall be held respon- sible for: failures of this product to satisfy any needs, damages due to using this product, or any effects this program has on you, your business or operations. This product, its manual and any supporting materials may be modified or changed from time to time. They may contain opera- tional inaccuracies or typographical errors which may be cor- rected by future versions, if any. Registered users may be notified of available updates. LIMITED LICENSE ============================================================= *** See the next page for details on INSTANT registration. *** Sparkle is NOT public domain or free software. It is distrib- uted as "user-supported" software or "shareware." If you decide to use Sparkle beyond the trial period, we ask for a modest contribution to help us add other useful options. You'll find a registration form at the end of this manual. Non-registered users of this software are granted a limited license to "try out" the user-supported version, on a private, non-commercial basis, for the express purpose of determining whether it suits your needs. At the end of this trial period, you must either register your copy or stop using it. * Running Sparkle 15-20 different times should allow you to decide if it's going to be useful to you. Therefore the "trial period" is set at 20 Sparkle sessions. ============================================================== WARNING: You MAY NOT use this program in any organization or in the conduct of any business activity without a prior purchase or license arrangement. Sparkle MAY NOT be distributed with any other product or service without a prior license arrangement. ============================================================== What does all this really mean? It's really very simple. Try it. Then either pay for it, or stop using it. * If you use this program, then you should pay for your copy. Sparkle is NOT free, and we're not giving away free copies. We are giving you the chance to try it before you buy it. * Paying for this software allows us to stay in business and provide you with support, enhancements and updates. The next page explains the 2 ways you have to register. Registering INSTANTLY ============================================================== You can register for Sparkle in two ways: By mail (see the registration form at the end of this manual), or INSTANTLY by phone (with a Visa or MasterCard number). You can also elect to have the latest version of Sparkle sent to you. Shareware versions of Sparkle should include REGISTER.Exe. Run this program to convert shareware versions into fully registered versions. Here's how. A SHAREWARE VERSION OF Sparkle IS FULLY FUNCTIONING. It has ALL the features of registered versions, with NO limitations. However, shareware versions will periodically remind you to register by displaying this message: Reminder: This is an unregistered version. Run Register.Exe Early versions of Sparkle had NO built-in reminder, and NOBODY registered! Enjoy Sparkle, but remember it is "user-supported." This reminder disappears when you run REGISTER (or receive a registered version from us). To Register Instantly Using REGISTER.Exe . . . ============================================== Step 1: Be sure that both Sparkle.Exe and REGISTER.Exe are on the drive/directory you're logged onto (Sparkle.Exe MUST be). Step 2: You'll call us twice at (415) 863 - 0530. * The first time you call, give us your name, address and Visa or MasterCard number. * We'll verify the credit card information and add your name to our database so we can notify you about updates. Step 3: BEFORE you call us the 2nd time: * Be sure Sparkle.Exe is on the current drive/directory. * Now run REGISTER.Exe. REGISTER will ask for the name of the program you want to register. Type in "sparkle" (without the quotation marks and without .EXE). * REGISTER will then print a number. - CALL US when that number is on your screen and tell us what the number is. - We'll give you a different number to type in. * REGISTER will then ask you to enter your name. Type in your name and you'll have a fully-registered version. DISTRIBUTING Sparkle ============================================================= Bulletin board Sysops, clubs and shareware distributors may copy and distribute SHAREWARE versions of Sparkle, provided: *** Your company name IS NOT: California Freeware *** American Freeware US Freeware (or any other firm, group or association with "Freeware" in its name, literature, adds, etc.), which companies are PROHIBITED from distributing ANY products by Rob W. Smetana, Pro~Formance, RWS & Associates or their officers, staff or associates. *** Your company or group DOES NOT include among its staff, *** officers, associates, consultants, members, or directors RONALD CHORDIGIAN, members of his family or his assigns. *** Your adds, literature and company name DO NOT include: *** "free software," "freeware," "free" or other such terms which misrepresent "user-supported" software. (1) It is distributed in completely unmodified form, and you include all these files intact: Sparkle.Exe, Sparkle.Doc, SP-Demo.Bat, V-Menu.Com, H-Menu.Com (2) You charge nothing other than a "disk distribution fee" of up to $8.00 to cover distribution and handling. (3) You state YOUR fee is NOT payment or registration for OUR software. (4) You clearly encourage registration by stating that con- tinued use justifies sending contributions to the developer. (5) You include all these files intact: Sparkle.Exe, Sparkle.Doc, SP-Demo.Bat, V-Menu.Com, H-Menu.Com General Notes: Using Sparkle ================================================================= For a list of options and explanations, enter: Sparkle <Enter> Here's what Sparkle will display: Sounds Sparkle 1 # #2 (# = 1 to 35, 88 or 99; #2 = # of times) Bar Menu Sparkle 2 TopRow LftCol BotRow RhtCol Direction Ask Sparkle 3 Row Column Color /ValidKeys /Text Big! Font Sparkle 4 Row Column Color CharacterCode /Text QuikPrint Sparkle 5 Row Column Color /Text Window Sparkle 6 TopRow LftCol BotRow RhtCol Color Frame /Text Pause Sparkle 7 HowLong (optional: 99 = allow interrupt) Monitor Sparkle 8 (optional: 99; Errorlevel = 1 if mono monitor) Experiment ========== Sparkle is fun! Experiment with different options, sounds and colors. Choosing Options ================ Each option has a number. And each option also has sub-options (or instructions) you must send Sparkle. In general, run Sparkle like this: Sparkle Option# x1 x2 x3 x4 ..... <enter> Where: Option# is a number from 1 - 8 (1=Sound, 2=Menu, etc.) x1, x2 ... etc. are sub-options or instructions Notice: * A space MUST separate each item on the command line. * Where we need numbers, send us only numbers (not A-Z). * Whenever you send us text, you MUST begin it with "/" -- see the examples below. Color: Several options require a Color -- a number from 1-254 telling us which foreground AND background color to use. See "Calculating Color" for tips on choosing colors. Errorlevel: Some options return a DOS Errorlevel. See "Testing Errorlevels" and the description of each option. Examples: ========= Sound Sparkle 1 14 1 = Option #1 Sound Effects. 14 = the 14th sound. Big! Font Sparkle 4 1 1 112 219 /Big! Font 4 = print a Big! Font message. Other items tell us where to print it, what color to use, which character to "construct" your message with, and what to print. Ask Sparkle 3 25 35 15 /123 /Press 1, 2 or 3 3 = Ask (print a message or prompt and wait for a key). Other instructions tell us where to print it, what color to use, and what message to print. Option 1: SOUND EFFECTS ================================================================= To use: Sparkle 1 # #2 (# = 1 to 35, 88 or 99) (#2 = # of times) Purpose: To give you over 35 simple to complex sound effects. To repeat the sound effect "#2" of times (-or- until you press a key). This is optional; you can omit #2. * Sound #88 = a ringing phone * Sound #99 = part of the William Tell Overture Examples: Sparkle 1 99 ^ ^ | }"99" means play part of the William Tell Overture | }option 1 (Sound Effects) Replace "99" with 88 or a number from 1 to 35 indicating which sound you want. Numbers 6 through 14 offer compound sounds -- trills, "Oh Oh," etc. Other numbers are simple tones of various durations. Sparkle 1 6 15 ^ ^ ^ | | }repeat the sound 15 times, or until a key is pressed | | | }sound effect #6 | }option 1 (Sound Effects) If you include a "repeat number," Sparkle play the sound, then repeats it # times (for a total of 16 in this example). You can press a key at any time to stop. Between each sound effect, Sparkle pauses just a little to ensure the sounds don't blend into one. Sounds 88 and 99 cannot be repeated. You can repeat a sound up to 9,999 times! This effectively means that Sparkle will continue until you press a key -- which is what Mark Dodd of Texas asked for. Depending on the sound you chose, 9,999 times could mean a few minutes, a few hours or a few days. * Remember, you can press a key to stop! * But you'd better tell your users that. NOTE: Sparkle checks to see what type of CPU is being used. It does this to ensure sounds are comparable regardless of whether an 8088, 286, 386 or 486 PC is used. In other words, the sounds should be similar regardless of how fast the PC is. But speakers will affect sounds. Option 2: SCROLLING BAR MENUS ================================================================= To use: Sparkle 2 TopRow LeftCol BotRow RightCol Direction Purpose: To turn ANY text (not graphics) screen into a Vertical or Horizontal scrolling bar menu. Here's what you do: 1. Display a screen. You can use Sparkle's Window and QuikPrint options to create a menu. You can "echo" text in a batch file. Or "run" a P-Screen "Com" screen and blast your screen up. 2. Then run Sparkle like this: Sparkle 2 TopRow LftCol BotRow RhtCol Direction Where: - "2" = Option 2 (the bar menu option) - TopRow, LeftCol, BotRow, RightCol indicate the location of your menu on the screen (tell us where menu options are). - Direction = 1 (vertical menu) or 2 (horizontal menu) NOTE: To determine TopRow, LeftCol, BotRow and RightCol: 1) Run "Ruler.Exe" -- our RAM-resident ruler. With your menu screen visible, call up Ruler. Move the cursor to the top left corner of your menu; note the Row/Column. Now move to the bottom, right corner. Note the Row/Column. 2) Manually count rows and columns. 3. Test Errorlevel. (See "A Note About Testing Errorlevels") Sparkle returns a DOS Errorlevel indicating which option was selected. Interpret the Errorlevel like this: 1 to x = The number of the option chosen (1 = the 1st option, 2 = 2nd option..... x = last option) 27 = Esc was pressed 88 or 99 = Either your screen location variables were "wrong" (eg., Top Row <<greater than>> Bottom Row). Or we found no TEXT / Menu Choices in the area of the screen where you said your menu would be. Scrolling Bar Menus (continued) ================================================================== Example: Sparkle 2 5 45 20 78 1 ^ ^ / ^ / ^ | |/ |/ }It's a Vertical menu (choices up/down) | | | | | | | | | | | }menu ends on row 20, column 78 | | | }menu starts on row 5, column 45 | }option 2 (Menu) IMPORTANT NOTES on Creating Menu Screens: : : : =============================================== 1. Once you define the "coordinates" of a menu screen, we scan the screen looking for "menu text." We ignore blank lines and lines with only "graphics" (lines, boxes or shading). - ANY text found inside the screen coordinates WILL be considered menu text -- UNLESS you begin that line of text with Chr$(255) (ASCII character #255). Use 255 to tell us to ignore lines inside your window that explain what the user should do, that introduce something, etc. You can enter character 255 in two ways: a) Create your screen with our P-Screen program. Move the cursor to the beginning of each line of text you want us to ignore. Press Alt-J to display the "Join" window. Move the cursor to the last character in the window (it'll look blank). Press <Enter> to accept it. b) Most word processors or editors let you enter "High ASCII" characters. Load your menu screen into your word processor. Move the cursor to the beginning of each line of text you want us to ignore. Hold down the Alt key and enter 255 on the NUMERIC KEYPAD of your keyboard (DON'T use the numbers at the top of your keyboard. Character 255 is NUL or Blank. It looks just like a blank space on your screen. In P-Screen you can "paint" it any color you want, or you can move, copy or delete it. 2. In Horizontal menus, also use character 255 to "link" 2 or more words that are part of the same menu option. For Example: Lotus 123 Paradox WordPerfect Quit - This menu has 4 options. But notice the space between "Lotus" and "123". If we don't plug that space with char- acter 255 (or a hyphen), Sparkle WILL treat "123" as a menu option -- giving us 5 not 4 options. Important Notes on Scrolling Bar Menus (continued) ================================================================= 3. In VERTICAL menus, each line should be a single menu choice. * Each line can have as many words on it as you like (and you needn't fill blanks between words with character 255). * If you need to create menu options with 2 or more lines, start the 2nd, 3rd, etc. line with character 255 -- so Sparkle ignores them. 4. In HORIZONTAL menus, ALL menu options must be on a single line. And the first line of text we find that doesn't begin with character 255 will be treated as your menu line. NOTE: normally TopRow and BotRow will be the same for horizontal menus. 5. Sparkle highlights menu choices by REVERSING the colors -- the background color becomes the foreground; the foreground color becomes the background. You may find that simple, high-contrast colors (white on black, white on blue, black on red) reverse best. You may also find that normal colors (not bright colors) reverse best. And, depending on what numbers you send Sparkle in TopRow, LeftCol, BotRow and RightCol, you can create some interesting multi-color effects. For example: * Suppose you created a White on Red window from the left to right sides of your screen (column 1 to column 80). You then printed your menu options in white on black on rows 5 to 15 and from column 30 to 50. - If you tell Sparkle your menu is in columns 25 to 55, it'll reverse a little of the red on each side of the text, then reverse the text -- showing text in black on white. * If some words or characters in a menu item are in colors different than the rest, they'll be reversed to a different color than the rest. To ensure the highlight is visible, BE SURE to use high-contrast colors for the foreground and background of menu text. If you don't, the menu highlight will be hard or impossible to see. 6. To select options in bar menus using a MOUSE: * Click the LEFT button on an option to highlight that option. * DOUBLE click the LEFT button on an option to select it. * Sparkle uses only the left mouse button (and ignores others). Option 3: ASK ================================================================= To Use: Sparkle 3 Row Column Color /ValidKeys /Text Purpose: ASK lets you treat ANY screen as a menu screen. Or use ASK just to pause until users press a key. You can: 1) display a message anywhere on the screen (text mode only) 2) display it in whatever color you want 3) wait for the user to press one of the keys you specified, then report an Errorlevel indicating which key was pressed. (See "A Note About Testing Errorlevels") YOU specify which keys we should exit on (Sparkle also exits if Escape is pressed). For example, say you display a menu and ask the user to choose an option by pressing 1, 2, 3, 4 or Q to Quit. - Just tell us the Valid Keys are 1234Q. - If Valid Keys is NULL (Empty or Nothing), we'll wait until ANY KEY is pressed, then exit with Errorlevel set to 0. Example: Sparkle 3 25 35 112 /1234q /Please press 1, 2, 3, 4 or [Q]uit ^ ^ / ^ ^ ^ | |/ | | }print the message beginning with "/" | | | | | | | }wait until user presses one of these keys | | | | | }print in color 112 (black on white) | | | }print on Row 25, Column 35 | }option 3 (ASK) NOTES on Ask ============ - If ValidKeys AND Text are both blank, Sparkle prints nothing and just waits until the user presses ANY key. - Sparkle sets the DOS Errorlevel to indicate which key was pressed. -- 27 means Escape was pressed. -- Otherwise it's the Ascii code of the key pressed: 49=1, 90=Z, etc. -- See "Notes on Testing Errorlevels" for examples of how to deal with these. - IMPORTANT: -- You MUST use a backslash (/) to begin BOTH your list of valid keys AND the text to be printed. -- We treat user key presses in upper case (ie., we don't distinguish a from A). But your list of Valid Keys can be in upper or lower case (or both). ▌▌▌▌▌▌ ▌▌▌▌ ▌▌▌▌▌ ▐▐ ╬╬╬╬╬╬╬ ╪╪ (tm) ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▐▐ ╬╬ ╬ ╪╪ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▐▐ ╬╬ ╬ ║║║║║ ││││││ ╪╪╪╪╪╪ ▌▌▌▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▐▐ ╬╬╬╬ ║║ ║║ ││ ││ ╪╪ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌▌▌ ▐▐ ╬╬ ╬ ║║ ║║ ││ ││ ╪╪ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ▌▌ ╬╬ ║║ ║║ ││ ││ ╪╪ ▌▌▌▌▌▌ ▌▌▌▌ ▌▌▌▌▌ ▐▐ ╬╬╬╬ ║║║║║ ││ ││ ╪╪╪╪ ================================================================== To Use: Sparkle 4 Row Column Color CharacterCode /Text Purpose: Big! Font, turns your message into one 7-8 lines high. Each character will be 8 columns wide. You can: - display a Big! Font message anywhere on the screen - display it in whatever color you want - "build" your message using ANY ASCII character (If you printed this and your printer can't print the high ASCII characters, the Big! Font message is probably a mess. Sorry. But if you're browsing through this on your PC, you can see how drama- tic Big! Font messages can be. And Sparkle gives you color as well.) Example: Sparkle 4 9 1 12 219 /Hi There ! ^ ^ / ^ ^ ^ | |/ | | }print the message beginning with "/" | | | | | | | }"Build" characters using ASCII character 219 | | | | | }print in color 12 (Bright Red on Black) | | | }begin printing on Row 9, Column 1 | }option 4 (Big! Font) NOTES on Big! Font ================== * Since each character will be 8 columns wide, only 10 Big! Font characters will fit on 80-column screens. * "Row" is the TOP row on which to begin printing. Most Big! Font characters will have 7 lines. But characters with descen- ders (such as lower case g, y, q, p, etc.) also need the 8th line. - Be sure to specify a Row at least 7 lines above the bottom of your screen -- or you won't see the bottom of the characters. - Sparkle WILL print on 43 or 50 line screens. * We'll "build" characters using any ASCII character you specify. If you specify "0" we'll build each character using THAT char- acter (ie., we'll build a "G" with Gs, an "X" with Xs, etc.). - Use 219 - 223 for bold, solid or "striped" characters. - Use 1 or 2 for "happy faces," 176 - 178 for shaded characters. - ANY ASCII character from 1 to 254 will work. Option 5: QUIKPRINT ================================================================= To use: Sparkle 5 Row Column Color /Text Purpose: Quickly print text anywhere on your screen in any color. You can print ANY Ascii character from 1-255 -- you're not limited to printing normal keyboard characters. Example: Sparkle 5 25 25 112 /Good Morning ^ ^ / ^ ^ | |/ | }print the message beginning with "/" | | | | | }print in color 112 (black on white) | | | }begin printing on Row 25, Column 25 | }option 5 (QuikPrint) Option 6: WINDOWS ================================================================= To Use: Sparkle 6 TopRow LftCol BotRow RhtCol Color Frame /Text Purpose: Quickly create windows (or boxes) on the screen. - Choose from over 250 frame styles!!! - Windows can have shadows (or not) - Use any color - You can include text or a title, centered on the top row Frame Sparkle offers over 250 frame styles, which you select styles: by setting Frame = 1 to 255. Styles 1-5 include: 1 = Single line all around (┌) 2 = Double line all around (╔) 3 = Double line horizontal, single line vertical (╒) 4 = Double line vertical, single line horizontal (╓) 5 = Bolder solid line (▐▀) 6 = DON'T use. This is meant only for multiple colors which Sparkle presently can't handle. If you set Frame to any OTHER number from 7-255, Sparkle draws your window in that ASCII character. For example, 219 = Bold solid line (█) 7, 249 or 250 = dots of various sizes (can't show here) 61 = The equal sign "=" 86 = The letter "V" etc.... you get the idea. Experiment! Titles: Sparkle prints "/Text" (your title or message) centered on the top row of your window. Shadow: To request a "drop shadow" for your window, send Sparkle a NEGATIVE frame number (eg., -2). - Shadows are printed right of and below your window. - Be sure to allow for TWO extra columns on the right, and ONE extra row on the bottom of shadowed windows. Frameless NOTE: ASCII characters 32 and 255 are blank. If you Windows: create "windows" with these, you'll get a frameless splash of color! Specify Frame = -32 or -255 to get a shadowed splash of color! Example: Sparkle 6 5 7 20 75 79 -1 /My Window ^ ^ / ^ / ^ ^ ^ | | / | / | | }Print this title/message | |/ |/ | }Frame style 1 AND shadowed (negative) | | | }Use color 79 (White on Red) | | }Window ends on row 20, column 75 (shadow below) | }Window starts on row 5, column 7 (shadow on right) }option 6 (Window) Option 7: PAUSE ================================================================= To Use: Sparkle 7 HowLong Interrupt (optional) Purpose: Allow batch files to pause briefly, and then continue. - You can specify pauses from 1/3 second to several minutes. - You can also let user "interrupt" or bypass the pause and go on. This is optional. Examples: Sparkle 7 12 ^ ^ | | | }Pause for 4 seconds (each # = 1/3 second) | }option 7 (Pause) Sparkle 7 15 99 ^ ^ ^ | | | | | }Pause, but let user "press a key" to go on | | | }Pause for 5 seconds (each # = 1/3 second) | }option 7 (Pause) NOTES on Pause ============== * "HowLong" is measured in 1/3 second increments. "12" tells Sparkle to pause 4 seconds (12/3 = 4). Similarly, "15" means pause 5 seconds (15/3 = 5). - An easy way to decide what number to use is to decide how many SECONDS you want to pause, then MULTIPLY that by 3. * To let users "press a key" to interrupt the pause and move on, send Sparkle 2 numbers: HowLong AND 99. For example: Sparkle 7 6 99. * Sparkle checks to see what type of CPU is being used -- to ensure pauses are the same regardless of whether an 8088, 286 386 or 486 PC is used. - HOWEVER, the speed of the disk drive WILL affect the pause. That's because Sparkle must load first, and then pause. - Although Sparkle is small and loads quickly, floppy disks can be 10-15 times SLOWER than hard disks. If your batch files will run off of different types of disks, test them on different disk drives to determine the length of a pause that's a "happy medium" on all drives. Option 8: MONITOR ================================================================= To Use: Sparkle 8 (optional 99; Errorlevel = 1 if mono monitor) Purpose: Report what type of display adapter AND monitor is active. - This is handy to decide which colors to use in batch files. - This is also handy to start presentations using our P~F Presents program. Run presentations in Color or in "monochrome" based on the type of monitor being used. Example: Sparkle 8 ^ | }option 8 (Monitor) Sparkle 8 99 ^ ^ | | | }Set Errorlevel=1 if a monochrome monitor is detected | (regardless of the type of display adapter present) | }option 8 (Monitor) NOTES on Monitor ================ * Option 8 tells Sparkle to set the DOS Errorlevel based on BOTH the type of display adapter AND monitor detected. Run Sparkle with NO options (ie., Sparkle 8), and it sets the Errorlevel as follows: 1 = Monochrome adapter 2 = Hercules adapter 3 = CGA adapter 4 = EGA adapter/Mono monitor 5 = EGA adapter/Color monitor 6 = VGA adapter/Mono monitor 7 = VGA adapter/Color monitor 8 = MCGA adapter/Mono monitor 9 = MCGA adapter/Color monitor 10 = EGA adapter/CGA monitor 11 = IBM 8514/A adapter * NOTE that options 1, 4, 6 and 8 ALL indicate a monochrome monitor is active. If all you need to know is whether the monitor is Color or Mono, run Sparkle like this: Sparkle 8 99 - "99" tells Sparkle to set the Errorlevel to 1 if a mono monitor is detected (ie., if Sparkle would normally report 1, 4, 6 or 8). - This can simplify testing Errorlevels to something like: If Errorlevel 3 goto ItsColor 'If greater than or equal to 3.. Goto ItsMonochrome 'Otherwise, assume it's mono. SEE THE NEXT PAGE for examples of how you can use Option 8 to set options "on the fly" in batch files. Option 8 MONITOR (continued) Two DOS features ("named parameters" and SET) can help you customize your batch files -- depending on the type of monitor Sparkle tells you is active. (These features may not be available with all DOS versions.) "Named parameters" let you define "variables" you can use later in your batch files. Basically, you: * Use the DOS SET command to set variable(s) to specific values (eg., SET ErrSound=12, or SET MyColor=15, or SET HiLite=112). * Run Sparkle and use variable NAMES rather than values (eg., Sparkle 1 ErrSound). Here's an example. Notice how we: 1. Run Sparkle to see if a color monitor is being used. 2. Depending on the type of monitor detected (color or mono), we SET a variable called "WhichClr" to a color appropriate for that monitor. -- "WhichClr" will now be available to every other line in our batch file -- as long as we use the variable name. 3. We then use the variable NAME to tell Sparkle which color to print with. -- NOTICE that when we use the variable when running Sparkle, we place it between two percent signs (eg., %WhichClr%). This is REQUIRED! sparkle 8 99 '"99" since we only need to 'know if it's color or mono If Errorlevel 3 goto _PrtInColor 'if 3 or higher, it's color Set WhichClr=112 'If 1 or 2, it's a 'monochrome monitor; use 'simple Black on White. Sparkle 5 21 15 %WhichClr% / MONOCHROME monitor detected goto (somewhere to jump over the Color section) :_PrtInColor Set WhichClr=78 'It's color, SET "WhichClr" 'to 78 (Yellow on Red). Sparkle 5 21 15 %WhichClr% / COLOR monitor detected A NOTE ON TESTING Errorlevels ================================================================= Always test Errorlevels from the HIGHEST number to the LOWEST. This is a DOS restriction. For example: If Errorlevel 2 goto no \ this sequence If Errorlevel 1 goto yes / is correct If Errorlevel 1 goto yes \ this sequence If Errorlevel 2 goto no / is WRONG Here's why this is important. DOS tests the phrase: If Errorlevel 1 goto yes as if it read "If Errorlevel greater-than-or-equal-to 1 goto Yes." So, if you start testing with "If Errorlevel 1 goto Yes" (note "1"), DOS will almost ALWAYS go to "Yes" -- since most everything is "greater-than-or-equal-to 1". Examples: ========= Here's an example from Sparkle's demo batch file (SP-Demo.Bat). We first display a bar menu. We then test to see which option was chosen. Note that we first test for Escape (Ascii code 27). Bar menus return the NUMBER of the option chosen. Our main menu had 5 choices. We first test for Escape, since 27 is higher than 5. We then test for which option was chosen with "If Errorlevel 5 ...." :_MainMenu Sparkle 2 5 5 5 76 112 2 If Errorlevel 27 goto _End If Errorlevel 5 goto _End If Errorlevel 4 goto _BarMenus If Errorlevel 3 goto _Sounds If Errorlevel 2 goto _Windows If Errorlevel 1 goto _Intro goto _MainMenu (just in case tests fail) Here's what a batch file might look like if you used ASK. * NOTE: Here we test for Escape LAST!! That's because ASK returns the ASCII value of the key pressed. The ASCII code for "Y" is 89, the code for "N" is 78. The code for Escape (27) is LESS than 89 or 78, so we test for it last. :_AskAgain Sparkle 3 25 20 112 /YN /Do you want to go on? Press [Y]es or [N]o If Errorlevel 89 goto _YesPressed If Errorlevel 78 goto _NoPressed If Errorlevel 27 goto _AskAgain '--- We'll ONLY accept Y or N! goto _AskAgain '--- Ditto for any other key. CALCULATING COLOR ================================================================ When we ask you for a color, send us 1 number indicating BOTH Foreground AND Background colors. Here's how to calculate it: (Tip: print this page to have a quick reference guide.) Step 1: In the table below, move your finger DOWN the left column until it's on the FOREGROUND color you want. Note that the first 8 colors are "normal" intensity. The next 8 are "bright" ("high intensity") versions of the first 8. Step 2: Now move your finger ACROSS the columns until it's under the BACKGROUND color you want. Use the number you see there (under your finger). NOTE that, as you move across the columns, numbers increase by 16. If you prefer for- mulas to tables: Color = ForeGround + (Background * 16). Foreground colors range from 0-15; Background from 0-7. Step 3: OPTIONAL: For blinking colors, just add 128 to the number you got in step 2. BACKGROUND COLORS ================= Black Blue Green Cyan Red Magnta Brown White ---0-----1-----2-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7---- F Black 0 16 32 48 64 80 96 112 O Blue 1 17 33 49 65 81 97 113 N R Green 2 18 34 50 66 82 98 114 O E Cyan 3 19 35 51 67 83 99 115 R G Red 4 20 36 52 68 84 100 116 M R Magenta 5 21 37 53 69 85 101 117 A O Brown 6 22 38 54 70 86 102 118 L U White 7 23 39 55 71 87 103 119 N D Grey 8 24 40 56 72 88 104 120 Blue 9 25 41 57 73 89 105 121 B C Green 10 26 42 58 74 90 106 122 R O Cyan 11 27 43 59 75 91 107 123 I L Red 12 28 44 60 76 92 108 124 G O Magenta 13 29 45 61 77 93 109 125 H R Yellow 14 30 46 62 78 94 110 126 T S White 15 31 47 63 79 95 111 127 Examples: ========= Any color on black background: 1 - 15 Black foreground on white background: 112 Bright white on a blue background: 31 Black on a red background: 64 Blinking black on a cyan background: 176 (48 + 128 = 176) Other Programs by Pro~Formance Here's a summary of many of our programs. Call/write for details. ================================================================== Professional Scribe (Pro~Scribe) PS Express (PSE) ================================================================== Pro~Scribe and PSE are "writing analysts" that help you improve anything you write (or help you improve the writing of others -- your staff, students, etc.) Pro~Scribe/PSE are used in companies like IBM, Hewlett Packard, Lockheed, Citibank, Mobil Oil, Bank of America to help improve memos, letters, manuals, documentation, contracts, promotional material, etc. How do they help? * They examine your writing for many types of writing mistakes. * You can look at overall results for an entire letter, report, etc. Or, if you like, they'll look at your writing line-by-line. * They show suspect problems, and offer suggestions. * Results are shown numerically, and with several colorful graphs. * They come with two manuals (in addition to a Quick Ref. Guide) - One covers basics: To install/run PS, and basic guidelines. - "Effective, High-Impact Writing" has more writing tips. * They're colorful, fast, fun, and a terrific value: $39 for both! How are Pro~Scribe and PSE different? First, PS Express is a RAM-resident program. That means it's always ready to help when you need help most -- while you're actually writing. Run PSE, then run your word processor and start writing. When you need help, just press a key and PSE pops up. * Just mark the text you want PSE to look at. A window pops up instantly with feedback on your writing. * PSE is like having an English teacher looking over your shoulder, gently coaching you AS YOU WRITE! Pro~Scribe gives you everything PSE does, and much, much more. It reads files saved by your word processor, or you can type text directly into PS. Like PSE, Pro~Scribe shows how complex your writing, words and sentences are. It also offers you: * Feedback on "Word Wasters" (5 categories of writing errors). * Three RGL (Running Grade Level) options, giving you line-by- line feedback. * An option to flag complex words and Word Wasters in each line. * A Personal Interest score--showing if you write as you speak. * Options to: customize the program, print results on your printer, get help interpreting results. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) ================================================================== Mail Call (also see P~F Form below) MC Express (MCE) ================================================================== Mail Call (MC) is a full featured mailing assistant. Add names to a database, then Browse through them, Search, Print, etc. * Print envelopes (several sizes) * Print mailing labels (several sizes plus a "roll-your-own-size" option). 1 to 99 copies of each label, 1 to 3 columns across * Print "personalized documents" (like "mail merge form letters") * Print reports, phone books, appointment schedules, etc. Mail Call offers UNlimited capacity -- use as many database files as you want. And its "Mail Merge" option lets you Import or Export names to files used by word processors or other database programs. MC Express is a "RAM-resident" program that lets you: 1) print envelopes while INSIDE your word processor; and, 2) lets you "write out" names and addresses to a file you can later "import" into MC (no re-typing). (Optional; works with HP LaserJets) ================================================================== P~F Form (see Mail Call) Form Design (PFD), Form Master (PFM) ================================================================== Form Design and Form Master are a complete form system: design, math, printing, database and "auto-edit" features are all built in. Design, edit and print forms with P~F Form Design. (samples included) * Draw lines or boxes, or add shading, in several styles * Enter text, auto-centered inside boxes if you like * Automatically date your forms * Math options (+-/*) add spreadsheet convenience, speed & accuracy * Quick, easy block options: Copy, Move, Erase, Shading * Vary fonts, type styles, line spacing Then use PFD or PFM to fill out forms. Or let PFM do it for you! * "Auto-Edit" lets you quickly skip through a form, editing just fields you "marked." On order forms, for example: Quantity, Description, Price per Unit. Use Math for Tax & Total. * Use PFM to fill in other information for you -- pulling names, addresses, etc. from your database, putting them right where you want them. Produce high-quality, professional looking forms in minutes with Epson printers or HP LaserJets (+/500/Series II or later). And you DON'T need expensive font cartridges or soft fonts for lines, boxes, shading, etc. We use built-in features for these. "But, I don't have a LaserJet or an Epson" you say. Not to worry. PF Form has two other printer options so it works with any printer. Finally, PFD/PFM work with the same database files as Mail Call -- letting you manage most every piece of paper in your office. Forms: Invoices, Purchase Orders, Personnel Forms, Work Orders, Work Schedules, Travel or Expense Reports, Accounting Forms, Application Blanks, Org. Charts As Well As: Letters, Memos, Envelopes, Mailing Labels, Person- alized Documents, Reports, Client or Employee lists. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) ================================================================== P~F Presents A DESKTOP PRESENTATION System ================================================================== Use P-Screen to: (See below for more on P-Screen) ................ * Design screens (or "slides"). * Save screens in libraries (or print them or save as Ascii files) Use PFP to: ........... * Create presentation agendas ("slide shows") which can include: - Menus which "branch" to various parts of your presentation, depending on the option your viewer selects. For example: -- Which product do you want information on? -- Which topic (in a tutorial) do you want to review? - Timed slides (PFP pauses, then automatically shows the next) - Special effects: animation, sound, loops, exploding windows * Display your presentations, or let others do it by themselves. A "use monochrome" option lets you display presentations on virtually any monitor. Possibilities: .............. * Sales presentations * Management/Staff briefings * Training programs * Tutorials or Demos * Meetings * Highlight product information * Highlight investment opportunities * Advertise on disk * Customer information * Tourist guides * Restaurant guides * Directories (Names, phone #s) And on and on and . . . ================================================================== P-Screen // P-Screen Professional QuickBASIC screen support ================================================================== P-Screen is a screen: "design," "library/database" and "display" system all in one. Use it to design screens for programs you write, or for program demos, prototyping, word processing, batch files, etc. * Draw/Join lines or boxes, in several styles * Fill areas with shading, or Paint entire screens or selected areas * Enter text, auto-centered inside lines or boxes if you like * Quick, easy block options: Copy, Move, Erase, Shade, Paint, UnDo Save/Load/Libraries * Save screens to or Load screens from Ascii files or Libraries. You can also save executable "Com" screens -- colors and all! - We include Capture to "grab" screens from other applications. * Libraries give you the convenience of 1 file to store up to 50 screens -- in color, complete with names and descriptions. Using Libraries in Your Programs, Demos, etc. * We supply routines to display your screens from QuickBASIC programs (QB 3-4.x). * It's easy to write programs to access screen libraries. - You can load and display 1 screen at a time. - Or load 2 or more screens into arrays, then pop them up instantly. P-Screen Professional even writes your QB programs for you!! And it comes with several other subprograms you can use in any program. Other Programs by Pro~Formance (continued) ================================================================ The Survey Catalyst (TSC; a commercial program, not shareware) ================================================================ The Survey Catalyst is for anyone who works with attitude or opinion surveys. It helps you create surveys in minutes or hours--not days! * TSC includes a database of thousands of survey items--like items used in most Fortune 1000 companies' employee surveys. - You can review items, edit them or add new ones. - OR, when you see an item you want to add to a survey, just press a key and add it--fast and simple. * And TSC's many printing options let you create "camera-ready" copy - Group items by Category, by Response Scale, or Randomize them. - Print response scales Above or Beside items (or not at all). - Print key punch instructions (or not at all) - Print a title--at the top or bottom of each page. - Or, print your survey "to a file"--to dress it up later. ================================================================ Pro~Stamp Stamp Collection Manager ================================================================ Pro~Stamp is a full-featured assistant to manage stamp collections. * Pro~Stamp is very easy to use: Pull-down menus, Extensive Help Screens, Calculations done for you, Select "Type" & "Condition" from menus. * Add information to "worksheets." They're set up like most popular collectors' manuals (eg., Scott). But we add "spreadsheet" convenience by doing calculations for you! * Track small to huge stamp collections, with ease and convenience * Multiple file options add flexibility. Use different work- sheets for different subsets of your collection. * Spreadsheet convenience: Automatically calculates the value of each stamp and its Increase/Decrease in value. Calculate the value of your entire collection with a press of a key. * Sort your collection on any of several fields (Scott Number, Country, Value, Type, etc). * Print entire worksheets, or print a range you specify. * Customizable: Configure fields your way, edit printer codes. ================================================================== Multi-Print (MP) Also see Ram-Man on the next page. ================================================================== Multi-Print is an absolutely terrific program that lets you print text files (like this manual). You can print text: * In LANDSCAPE mode on HP LaserJets OR Epson printers! * With 1, 2 or 4 pages of text on EACH sheet of paper! In 4-page mode, Multi-Print prints on both sides of each sheet of paper. And MP prints up to 66 or 80 lines per page! * In "booklet" form, ready to fold and staple, or "left-to-right" ready to put in 3-ring binders, or in "1-column" mode (which is a great way to print spreadsheet or database data with up to 250 characters per line). Multi-Print includes three internal fonts! Two are for LaserJets; the third lets MP print in landscape mode on Epson printers. * MP's "Times Roman" LaserJet fonts give you much higher quality output than is possible with the LaserJet's "line printer" font or with other programs. * And all three fonts allow MP to print most any ASCII character: French, German, control codes, lines, boxes, shading, etc. - Print lines, boxes, shading,arrows, "check boxes," "bullets" and other special characters. Print titles, page #s, etc. Finally, MP gives you many other options to print text your way (margins, print titles, page numbers, the date, print to a file, and on and on). It also is menu driven, supports a mouse, and saves all the options you choose so you don't have to select them manually the next time. ================================================================ Ram-Man Also see Multi-Print on the last page. ================================================================ Ram-Man is a RAM-resident (TSR) program to turn ANY text file into a pop-up quick-reference guide (or manual). * Pop up your text file while you're working in virtually any text-based (not graphics) program. * BROWSE through it. * SEARCH, looking for a topic or phrase you're interested in. * LOOK UP words, which we'll read directly from your screen! We supply the RAM-resident "engine," you supply the text. Ram- Man preserves DOS memory by keeping ONLY its engine in memory. It displays your text from disk (hard or RAM disk recommended). You can change which file you're viewing without unloading Ram-Man. That means you load Ram-Man once, then change ref- erence guides as your needs or the programs you use change. Now, regardless of which text-based program you're using (or even at the DOS prompt), you can have on-line, pop-up help available -- at any time, at the press of a key. Examples: * The complete, on-disk manual for a program you're using. * A series of help screens or "Quick Reference Guides" (eg., tips on using DOS, tips on using a program). - You can display standard DOS text files, like those you create using an editor or word processor. - Or you can display special "screens" you create with programs like our P-Screen Screen Designer. * Appointment Calenders, To Do Lists. . . . etc. Other features: (<R> = REGISTERED versions.) * BROWSE through files -- line by line or page by page. And you can jump to the top or bottom of small -or- huge text files in 1/2 second or less. * SEARCH for topics relevant to your needs. * <R> "LOOK UP" reads a word directly off your screen THEN searches for it! BE SURE to read the section on Look Up for uses (eg., Quick reference, spelling, thesaurus, quotations). * UNLOAD Ram-Man and reclaim the memory it uses. * <R> RUN-TIME OPTIONS let you choose: - The "hotkey" you want to use to call Ram-Man up. - The size of the screen you want to use -- to let you switch between 25, 43 or 50 row screens at will. - The colors we use to display text. These options help ensure that Ram-Man's hotkey, colors and screen modes never conflict with the programs you use. T O O R D E R : : : F ______________________________________________ M Rob W. Smetana Pro~Formance R ______________________________________________ A T 132 Alpine Terrace San Francisco, CA 94117 O ______________________________________________ I O (415) 863-0530 M ______________________________________________ L Make checks payable to:: Rob W. Smetana Phone ( ) ______-________ Date ___/___/___ (If ordering by credit card, be sure name is as it appears on your card.) ================================================================= spk 2.9b = Program # of Copies Price/Copy Total ============================================================================ P~F Presents / P~F Presents Professional _________ $49 / $79 $ ________ P~F Form (PFD & PFM) _________ $49 $ ________ Mail Call (Without / With MC Express) _________ $40 / $49 $ ________ Pro~Scribe & PS Express _________ $39 $ ________ P-Screen (Plus / PS Professional) _________ $29 / $49 $ ________ Multi-Print _________ $39 $ ________ Pro~Stamp Stamp Collection Manager _________ $29 $ ________ Ram-Man RAM-resident Reference Guides _________ $17 $ ________ Sparkle (gift/$17 for latest version) _________ $10 / $17 $ ________ The Survey Catalyst (TSC)/TSC Demo Disk _________ $595 / $15 $ ________ Protege (Specify Age Range: ________ ) _________ $25 $ ________ ============================================================================ PACKAGE DISCOUNTS (Call about quantity discounts) ============================================================================ Mail Call & P~F Form (+ $4 s/h) _________ $79 $ ________ P-Screen Pro & P~F Presents (+ $4 s/h) _________ $79 / $109 $ ________ ($79 WITH / $109 WITHOUT our introductory copyright in PFP) The Works! 1 of each (exc. TSC, +$10 s/h)_________ $219 $ ________ ============================================================================ Shipping & Handling $3/copy US & Canada Total Number of Programs ----->> _______ $8/copy Elsewhere $ _______ ==========================+================================================= | Subtotal $ ________ | PAID BY: | California residents, add 7% tax $ ________ +-----------------------------+------------------- | ___ Check ___ MasterCard ___ VISA | TOTAL $ ________ =========================================================+==================== *** Orders from Outside the US: International Money Orders, US Funds ONLY.*** THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED for credit card orders (can't process order w/o it). Credit Card Number: ______________________________ Expires: ___/___/___ Signature (Required for credit card orders): ______________________________ (Be sure your name at the top is as it appears on your card)