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Information about “DOC MASTER”
DOC MASTER is a set of utilities for printing and viewing on-disk
documentation files.
With READ, you can display a file on the screen and scroll through the
text. WAIT makes the printer print only single sheets at a time. PRINT
prints unformatted or partially-formatted ASCII text files. PRINT also
lets you set the left margin, specify the lines per page, print a
selected page-range, select a header with auto page numbering, and
select either single-sheet or continuous-feed paper.
DM.DOC
DOC MASTER
Copyright (c) 1987,1988 by Pat Anderson
** What is Doc Master? **
Doc Master is a system of tools and strategies for printing out
on-disk documentation files. It consists of the following disk
files:
READ.EXE Read doc files on screen, page or
scroll through them backwards or forwards.
RSETUP.EXE Configure READ's colors.
RSETUP.DOC Documentation for Rsetup color configuration
program.
WAIT.COM Print already formatted doc files on
single sheet paper, using DOS command
COPY filename.doc PRN, pauses printer at
formfeed character to insert new sheet.
PRINT.EXE Print out any doc file, but primarily
useful for unformatted files or partially
formatted files. Allows you to set
left margin and lines per page, select
header with auto page numbering,
single sheet or continuous feed paper.
DM.DOC This documentation file, laying out the
strategies for printing doc files.
SAMPLE1.DOC DM.DOC as an unformatted ASCII text file.
SAMPLE2.DOC DM.DOC as a partially formatted ASCII text
file.
CLEANUP.EXE Remove control and graphics characters from
a text file so your printer doesn't go crazy.
Y.COM Simple text editor.
** Why Doc Master? **
One of the keys to the success of user-supported software is
keeping costs down with on-disk documentation. Unfortunately, no
single standard has evolved for the format of on-disk documentation.
Doc Master can help you get the on-disk file printed out neatly
on paper so you can spend your time trying out the software instead
of struggling with printing out the documentation.
On-disk doc files can come in a variety of formats. In an ideal
world, everyone would use continuous feed paper and all on-disk
doc files would be formatted to have one inch left margins and
six and a half inch line lenths, and be divided into pages of
fifty or fifty-five lines, with headers and page numbers. We'll
refer to such a doc file as one that is already formatted.
You could then print out any doc file like this:
A>COPY filename.DOC PRN
or
A>TYPE filename.DOC > PRN
Both these commands simply send the contents of the file filename.DOC
to the printer "as-is". In the real world, though, you frequently
can't do this because:
DM.DOC - 2
1) A lot more people than user supported software
authors apparently realize prefer to print out doc files on
single sheet bond paper. If the file has formfeed characters,
the printer runs merrily on without giving you a chance to insert
a new sheet of paper for the next page.
2) Many doc files are not divided into pages at all.
We'll refer to such a doc file as UNFORMATTED. If you try to TYPE
or COPY an unformatted file to your printer, the result is unsatis-
factory whether you are using continuous feed or single sheet paper.
3) Some doc files use blank lines to divide the text
into pages, so even if you could stop the printer on receiving a
formfeed character, that wouldn't work for single sheet printing
with such files. I call these PARTIALLY FORMATTED files. Again,
if you want to print on single sheet paper, you need a way to pause
the printer while it is printing those blank lines making up the
bottom margin of one page and the top margin of the next.
Hence, I developed Doc Master as a system to get the documentation
printed in the minimum amount of time, regardless of what type of
file the author provided.
** Assumptions **
I am going to assume in this discussion that you know how to use
DIR to view the directory of a disk in any drive, how to change
logged drives, how to use TYPE to view a text file, and how to
start a .BAT, .COM or .EXE file at the DOS prompt. If not,
study your DOS manuals - you aren't ready to try out new software
just yet. I am also going to assume that you are using eight and
a half by eleven inch paper, and your printer is set up for six
lines per vertical inch and ten characters per horizontal inch,
which are more or less standard.
** First Steps **
Here is our approach to the doc file whenever we get a new program,
right as soon as we have used DISKCOPY to make a backup copy of
the disk and put the original away for safekeeping:
1) Use DIR to bring up a directory for the drive
containing your new disk. Look for a files like GO.BAT, READ.ME
or README.DOC. Also notice how many files have the filename
extension of .DOC, and how large those files are. Finally,
notice is there are files with filename extensions of .CRN (for
crunched) or .ARC for archived.
2) If there is a GO.BAT file, use it! Just type GO at
the DOS command prompt. The GO.BAT file should simply display a
READ.ME file, which in turn, should give you about a screenful of
DM.DOC - 3
information on printing the doc file(s) and perhaps starting the
program.
3) If there is no GO.BAT file but there is a READ.ME,
read it with READ.EXE. Just type READ READ.ME. or just type READ
and answer the filename prompt. This file contains information
the program author wanted you to be aware before you started
using the program, and you shouldn't skip it.
4) If there are .ARC or .CRN files, you MUST use the
programs supplied to uncruch them to regular disk files to view them
on the screen or print them directly. These auxiliary programs will
have names like ARC-E.COM or PKXARC.COM for .ARC files. PC-Write has
a file called FILEMAN.COM to uncrunch the doc files.
** BEFORE YOU PRINT - READ THE FILE **
Before you print out the documentation file, read it on the
screen with READ.EXE.
READ can be started with or without specifying the name of the
doc file you wish to read on the command line. If you specify
a file name, i.e., READ DM.DOC [enter], READ will load the file.
If you do not specify a file name on the command line, READ will
prompt you for the name.
READ's colors can be set with the COLORS.EXE program by Mark
Hopkins. All of READ's command keys can be viewed by pressing
the F1 key for help.
Your primary objective in reading the file before printing is to
determine whether the file is already formatted, partially formatted
or unformatted. Look first to see whether there is a left margin on
the screen, or whether the text starts all the way over in column
one. Next look for the graphics symbol for the formfeed
character, ASCII 12 (decimal). It looks like the medical symbol
for female. You can produce it on your screen so you will be
sure to recogize it: just start BASIC, hold down the ALT key,
enter then number 12 on the numeric keypad and then release the
ALT key. The formfeed character embedded in the .DOC file is
what divides it into pages, causing a printer to advance
continuous form paper to the top of the next page. Finally,
if there are no formfeed characters, whether there are ten or
twelve blank lines dividing the text into pages.
The file type dictates how you will print it out:
1) If there is a left margin and formfeed characters, the
file is FULLY FORMATTED. This kind of file usually but not always
has headers or footers and page numbers.
2) If there is a left margin, but the file is divided into
DM.DOC - 4
pages with blank lines instead of formfeeds, the file is
PARTIALLY FORMATTED. This kind of file likewise usually has
headers or footers and page numbers.
3) If there is no left margin and no formfeeds or groups of
blank lines, the file is UNFORMATTED.
Only once you have determine what kind of doc file you are dealing
with are you ready to print it out.
** PRINTING FULLY FORMATTED DOC FILES **
If the file is fully formatted, and you prefer to use continuous
feed paper, simply roll the paper so the tear line is aligned
with the printer's print head, and either switch the printer off
and back on (a practice to be discouraged!) or issue a "top of
form" command for your printer to establish the current position
as the top (which, unfortunately, is not always as easy as it
should be). Use either COPY FILENAME.DOC PRN or TYPE FILENAME >
PRN. Notice the output redirection symbol (">") is used only
with the TYPE command, not with COPY. If you have an already
formatted .DOC file and use continuous feed paper, you don't need
to use the Doc Master programs.
If the file is already formatted, but you prefer to use single
sheet paper, then use WAIT.COM first.
WAIT.COM is a tiny but handy "terminate but stay resident" utility
that puts itself at the front end of the part of the operating
system that runs the printer. It checks each character sent to
the printer, and if it is any character except a formfeed, it just
passes it along to be printed. When it receives a formfeed character,
though, WAIT just sits there until you press any key, and then
returns for the next character without passing the formfeed through
to the printer. To use this program, just type WAIT at the DOS prompt
and then use COPY or TYPE to print the file. Since WAIT stays
resident in memory, you'll have to reboot your computer to get
rid of it - but if you use single sheets exclusively, you might
want to put it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
** PRINTING PARTIALLY FORMATTED OR UNFORMATTED DOC FILES **
If the doc file is unformatted, you will want to use PRINT.COM to
print it. If the file is partially formatted, and you want to
use continuous feed paper, simply use TYPE or COPY, as you would
for a fully formatted file. If the file is partially formatted,
and you want to use single sheets, use PRINT, but be sure you
follow the instructions below.
You can either start PRINT.COM with the name of the file to
print on the command line (i.e., PRINT filename.DOC) or specify
DM.DOC - 5
the filename at a program prompt. To avoid any confusion with
the MS-DOS utility Print, you might want to change the name of
PRINT.EXE with the MS-DOS Rename command to PRT.EXE or some other
appropriate name.
Be sure your printer is ready and you have enough paper before
you start PRINT.EXE.
PRINT has defaults, that is, format values that it will use unless
you change them:
1) Continuous feed paper is assumed (but WAIT.COM will work
with PRINT.EXE, so the printer will pause even if continuous feed
paper is selected if WAIT has been installed).
2) Printing will be single-spaced.
3) There will be three spaces added to each line as a left
margin.
4) There will be fifty-five lines printed per page.
5) There will be a header line on the second and subsequent
pages containing the file name and the page number.
If these default values are acceptable, just press Ctrl-Enter to
use the default values. If you want to change any of them, use
the arrow keys to move from field to field to set the desired
values. You may (but don't have to) use the defaults with
unformatted files, but you CANNOT use the defaults with partially
formatted files. For unformatted files, position the paper where
you want the first line of text to be printed, not at the top edge
of the sheet or the tear line.
Printing partially formatted files on cut sheets requires printing 66
lines, pausing the printer and then resuming. Because the top
margin is blank lines, you have to insert the paper so the top of
the page is aligned with the printhead, rather than positioning the
paper where the first line of text should print, which invites
jamming (at least on my RX-80); be careful.
With a partially formatted file that you want to print on cut
sheets, be sure you do NOT select the defaults. PRINT.EXE will
pause when it has printed the number of lines you specified or 66,
whichever is reached first, so choose cut sheets, a left margin of 0,
67 lines per page and no header. Partially formatted files already
have a left margin, and usually have a header. PRINT will stop when
the 66 lines have been printed so you can insert a new sheet of paper.
After you have either accepted the defaults or selected new
format values, printing will begin. You can suspend printing at
any time with the <Esc> key, and then choose either to abort or
resume printing.
DM.DOC - 6
** Bugs, Suggestions, Comments **
I have tested these programs extensively, and not encountered any
known bugs, but there is a law that states "There is always one
more bug." If you find a bug, or if you have a suggestion or comment,
I would love to hear from you. Please write, or contact me on my
BBS, the Snoqualmie Valley Towne Crier, (206) 222-6224, 24 hours
per day, 300/1200 baud, 7/1/E or 8/1/N.
** Doc Master is USER SUPPORTED **
Doc Master is itself user supported. If you find this package
useful, please register it. The suggested registration fee is
$20.00, which is $10.00 for each of the two shareware programs.
Look at this file and the public domain WAIT.COM as a "bonus"!
Registered users will receive a disk with the latest versions of the
Doc Master programs and any other new programs by yours truly.
Doc Master is copyrighted, but a limited license is hereby
granted to copy and distribute the compiled or assembled programs
and documentation (but not the source code) for any non-commercial
purpose, so long as it is not altered in any way, and all files are
included. User groups and user-supported software libraries may
charge a reasonable fee for copying and distribution, not
exceeding $10.00.
All of the source files for these programs were created with Sammy
Mitchell's Qedit. WAIT.COM was assembled with Erik Isaacson's A86
assembler. These are not only two of the finest pieces of
shareware, but also simply two of the finest pieces of software I
have had the pleasure to use. These programs deserve your support.
PRINT.EXE and READ.EXE were compiled using Borland International's
Turbo Pascal 5.0, and make liberal use of R.D. Ainsbury's TechnoJock
Turbo Toolkit, and Turbo Power's Turbo Professional 5.0, both
excellent products.
Pat Anderson
5420 - 324th Pl. S.E.
Fall City, WA 98024
FILE0950.TXT
Disk No: 950
Disk Title: Doc Master
PC-SIG Version: S2.1
Program Title: Doc Master
Author Version: 1.4
Author Registration: $10.00
Special Requirements: A printer.
DOC MASTER is a set of utilities for printing and viewing on-disk
documentation files.
With READ, you can display a file on the screen and scroll through the
text. WAIT makes the printer print only single sheets at a time. PRINT
prints unformatted or partially-formatted ASCII text files. PRINT also
lets you set the left margin, specify the lines per page, print a
selected page-range, select a header with auto page numbering, and
select either single-sheet or continuous-feed paper.
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
RSETUP.DOC
RSETUP V1.0
(c) 1988 By Mark Hopkins
Color set-up utility for
READ V2.0
(c) 1987, 88 By Pat Anderson
What is RSETUP?
RSETUP is an easy-to-use utility for creating or changing
the color configuration file for the READ Ascii File Text Reader
Version 2.0 By Mr. Pat Anderson.
Note: RSETUP will ONLY work with VERSION 2.0 or higher of READ!!
Usage:
RSETUP is a stand alone program that is run directly from the
DOS command line by simply entering: RSETUP <return>
Monochrome Systems:
RSETUP will NOT run on a monochrome system. Monochrome
systems will not benefit from RSETUP. If the system is
detected as being monochrome, i.e. no color card, then READ
will set the default colors as follows:
Text Foreground - White
Text Background - Black
Status Line Foreground - Black
Status Line Background - White
Help Screen Foreground - Black
Help Screen Background - White
Pop-up Windows Foreground - Black
Pop-up Windows Background - White
Color Systems:
READ begins by looking for the file READ.CFG. This is the
color configuration file! If it is found, READ proceeds to
retrieve the settings and configure the colors. READ.CFG
should be kept in the same directory as READ.EXE. If READ.CFG
is not found, READ starts with a set of default colors as
follows:
Text Foreground - White
Text Background - Blue
Status Line Foreground - White
Status Line Background - Red
-1-
Help Screen Foreground - Red
Help Screen Background - White
Pop-up Windows Foreground - Black
Pop-up Windows Background - Green
Believe it or not, some people won't like my choice of
defaults!! This is the whole idea behind RSETUP. So, now on to
the fun stuff...
Using RSETUP:
RSETUP was designed to be as user friendly as possible. All
selections are made from menus.
There is a sample color box at the bottom of the screen.
Every time a color change is made, the box is updated to reflect
the changes. RSETUP will start by getting the current colors from
the READ.CFG file. If it can't find the file, the sample box will
be black and white and a new READ.CFG will be created when you
SAVE.
The first menu displayed allows you to choose which colors you
would like to change. The next menu allows you to select the
foreground color for the selection from the first menu. The next
menu allows you to select the background color for the area chosen
in the first menu. You MUST choose a color from each color menu.
If you wish to change only one color, either the foreground or
background, simply choose the current color for the one you don't
want to change. This is actually just re-choosing the same color.
After both a foreground and background color have been chosen,
the sample box is updated to show you what the screen will look like
while using READ.
When you are satisfied with the colors, press <ESC>ape from
the main menu. You will be asked if you want to save the changes.
If, and only if, you select "Y" will the changes be saved.
Otherwise, the colors will remain the same as before you started
the session with RSETUP.
RSETUP.EXE should be kept in the same directory as READ.EXE
and READ.CFG. This way, when READ.CFG is created or updated,
READ.EXE will have immediate access to it.
That's it! This document will probably be about 99%
uneccessary, considering the ease of use incorporated into RSETUP.
It was written mostly as an exercise for myself.
-2-
PLEASE send comments and suggestions about RSETUP and color
implementation in READ to:
Mark Hopkins
419 Main Avenue South #2
North Bend, WA 98045
I can also be reached on Pat Anderson's BBS:
The Snoqualmie Valley Towne Crier: (206) 222-6224
Opus Matrix 343/108.11
RSETUP is Freeware. No monetary donation or support is even
suggested. You may distribute it freely (preferrably with READ -
V2.0). This notice applies ONLY to RSETUP.EXE V1.0.
Please contribute to the continued support of READ to:
Mr. Pat Anderson
5420 324th Place S.E.
Fall City, WA 98024
Even if you don't have a comment on RSETUP, drop me a note to
let me know that you've used it. Any correspondence will be
appreciated!! Enjoy!
One more thing, RSETUP is dedicated to my beautiful wife,
Elizabeth Hopkins, who's undying patience, support, and love make
all my dreams realities!!
Mark Hopkins
06/29/88
-3-
SAMPLE1.DOC
DOC MASTER
Copyright (c) 1987 by Pat Anderson
** What is Doc Master? **
Doc Master is a system of tools and strategies for printing out
on-disk documentation files. It consists of the following disk
files:
READ.EXE Read doc files on screen, page or
scroll through them backwards or
forwards.
COLORS.EXE Configure READ's colors.
WAIT.COM Print already formatted doc files on
single sheet paper, using DOS command
COPY filename.doc PRN, pauses printer
at formfeed character to insert new
sheet.
PRINT.COM Print out any doc file, but primarily
useful for unformatted files or partially
formatted files. Allows you to set
left margin and lines per page, select
header with auto page numbering,
single sheet or continuous feed paper.
DM.DOC This documentation file, laying out the
strategies for printing doc files.
SAMPLE1.DOC DM.DOC as an unformatted ASCII text file.
SAMPLE2.DOC DM.DOC as a partially formatted ASCII text
file.
** Why Doc Master? **
One of the keys to the success of user-supported software is
keeping costs down with on-disk documentation. Unfortunately, no
single standard has evolved for the format of on-disk documentation.
Doc Master can help you get the on-disk file printed out neatly
on paper so you can spend your time trying out the software instead
of struggling with printing out the documentation.
On-disk doc files can come in a variety of formats. In an ideal
world, everyone would use continuous feed paper and all on-disk
doc files would be formatted to have one inch left margins and
six and a half inch line lenths, and be divided into pages of
fifty or fifty-five lines, with headers and page numbers. We'll
refer to such a doc file as one that is already formatted.
You could then print out any doc file like this:
A>COPY filename.DOC PRN
or
A>TYPE filename.DOC > PRN
Both these commands simply send the contents of the file filename.DOC
to the printer "as-is". In the real world, though, you frequently
can't do this because:
1) A lot more people than user supported software
authors apparently realize prefer to print out doc files on
single sheet bond paper. If the file has formfeed characters,
the printer runs merrily on without giving you a chance to insert
a new sheet of paper for the next page.
2) Many doc files are not divided into pages at all.
We'll refer to such a doc file as UNFORMATTED. If you try to TYPE
or COPY an unformatted file to your printer, the result is unsatis-
factory whether you are using continuous feed or single sheet paper.
3) Some doc files use blank lines to divide the text
into pages, so even if you could stop the printer on receiving a
formfeed character, that wouldn't work for single sheet printing
with such files. I call these PARTIALLY FORMATTED files. Again,
if you want to print on single sheet paper, you need a way to pause
the printer while it is printing those blank lines making up the
bottom margin of one page and the top margin of the next.
Hence, I developed Doc Master as a system to get the documentation
printed in the minimum amount of time, regardless of what type of
file the author provided.
** Assumptions **
I am going to assume in this discussion that you know how to use
DIR to view the directory of a disk in any drive, how to change
logged drives, how to use TYPE to view a text file, and how to
start a .BAT, .COM or .EXE file at the DOS prompt. If not,
study your DOS manuals - you aren't ready to try out new software
just yet. I am also going to assume that you are using eight and
a half by eleven inch paper, and your printer is set up for six
lines per vertical inch and ten characters per horizontal inch,
which are more or less standard.
** First Steps **
Here is our approach to the doc file whenever we get a new program,
right as soon as we have used DISKCOPY to make a backup copy of
the disk and put the original away for safekeeping:
1) Use DIR to bring up a directory for the drive
containing your new disk . Look for a files like GO.BAT, READ.ME
or README.DOC. Also notice how many files have the filename
extension of .DOC, and how large those files are. Finally,
notice is there are files with filename extensions of .CRN (for
crunched) or .ARC for archived.
2) If there is a GO.BAT file, use it! Just type GO at
the DOS command prompt. The GO.BAT file should simply display a
READ.ME file, which in turn, should give you about a screenful of
information on printing the doc file(s) and perhaps starting the
program.
3) If there is no GO.BAT file but there is a READ.ME,
read it with READ.EXE. Just type READ READ.ME. or just type READ
and answer the filename prompt. This file contains information
the program author wanted you to be aware before you started
using the program, and you shouldn't skip it.
4) If there are .ARC or .CRN files, you MUST use the
programs supplied to uncruch them to regular disk files to view them
on the screen or print them directly. These auxiliary programs will
have names like ARC-E.COM or PKXARC.COM for .ARC files. PC-Write has
a file called FILEMAN.COM to uncrunch the doc files.
** BEFORE YOU PRINT - READ THE FILE **
Before you print out the documentation file, read it on the
screen with READ.EXE.
READ can be started with or without specifying the name of the
doc file you wish to read on the command line. If you specify
a file name, i.e., READ DM.DOC [enter], READ will load the file.
If you do not specify a file name on the command line, READ will
prompt you for the name.
READ's colors can be set with the COLORS.EXE program by Mark
Hopkins. All of READ's command keys can be viewed by pressing
the F1 key for help.
Your primary objective in reading the file before printing is to
determine whether the file is already formatted, partially formatted
or unformatted. Look first to see whether there is a left margin on
the screen, or whether the text starts all the way over in column
one. Next look for the graphics symbol for the formfeed
character, ASCII 12 (decimal). It looks like the medical symbol
for female. You can produce it on your screen so you will be
sure to recogize it: just start BASIC, hold down the ALT key,
enter then number 12 on the numeric keypad and then release the
ALT key. The formfeed character embedded in the .DOC file is
what divides it into pages, causing a printer to advance
continuous form paper to the top of the next page. Finally,
if there are no formfeed characters, whether there are ten or
twelve blank lines dividing the text into pages.
The file type dictates how you will print it out:
1) If there is a left margin and formfeed characters, the
file is FULLY FORMATTED. This kind of file usually but not always
has headers or footers and page numbers.
2) If there is a left margin, but the file is divided into
pages with blank lines instead of formfeeds, the file is
PARTIALLY FORMATTED. This kind of file likewise usually has
headers or footers and page numbers.
3) If there is no left margin and no formfeeds or groups of
blank lines, the file is UNFORMATTED.
Only once you have determine what kind of doc file you are dealing
with are you ready to print it out.
** PRINTING FULLY FORMATTED DOC FILES **
If the file is fully formatted, and you prefer to use continuous
feed paper, simply roll the paper so the tear line is aligned
with the printer's print head, and either switch the printer off
and back on (a practice to be discouraged!) or issue a "top of
form" command for your printer to establish the current position
as the top (which, unfortuantely, is not always as easy as it
should be). Use either COPY FILENAME.DOC PRN or TYPE FILENAME >
PRN. Notice the output redirection symbol (">") is used only
with the TYPE command, not with COPY. If you have an already
formatted .DOC file and use continuous feed paper, you don't need
to use the Doc Master programs.
If the file is already formatted, but you prefer to use single
sheet paper, then use WAIT.COM first.
WAIT.COM is a tiny but handy "terminate but stay resident" utility
that puts itself at the front end of the part of the operating
system that runs the printer. It checks each character sent to
the printer, and if it is any character except a formfeed, it just
passes it along to be printed. When it receives a formfeed character,
though, WAIT just sits there until you press any key, and then
returns for the next character without passing the formfeed through
to the printer. To use this program, just type WAIT at the DOS prompt
and then use COPY or TYPE to print the file. Since WAIT stays
resident in memory, you'll have to reboot your computer to get
rid of it - but if you use single sheets exclusively, you might
want to put it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
** PRINTING PARTIALLY FORMATTED OR UNFORMATTED DOC FILES **
If the doc file is unformatted, you will want to use PRINT.COM to
print it. If the file is partially formatted, and you want to
use continuous feed paper, simply use TYPE or COPY, as you would
for a fully formatted file. If the file is partially formatted,
and you want to use single sheets, use PRINT, but be sure you
follow the instructions below.
You can either start PRINT.COM with the name of the file to
print on the command line (i.e., PRNT filename.DOC) or specify
the filename at a program prompt. To avoid any confusion with
the MS-DOS utility Print, you might want to change the name of
PRINT.COM with the MS-DOS Rename command to PRT.COM or some other
appropriate name.
Be sure your printer is ready and you have enough paper before
you start PRINT.COM.
PRINT has defaults, that is, format values that it will use unless
you change them:
1) Continuous feed paper is assumed (but WAIT.COM will work
with PRINT.COM, so the printer will pause even if continuous feed
paper is selected if WAIT has been installed).
2) Printing will be single-spaced.
3) There will be eight spaces added to each line as a left
margin.
4) There will be fifty-five lines printed per page.
5) There will be a header line on the second and subsequent
pages containing the file name and the page number.
If these default values are acceptable, just answer "Y" to the
"use defaults" prompt. If you want to change any of them, answer
"N". If you answer "N", you will go through a series of prompts
to select new values. The up arrow will always take you back to
the previous prompt, and <Esc> will give you an opportunity to
abort. You may (but don't have to) use the defaults with
unformatted files, but you CANNOT use the defaults with partially
formatted files. For unformatted files, position the paper where
you want the first line of text to be printed, not at the top edge
of the sheet or the tear line.
Printing partially formatted files on cut sheets requires printing 66
lines, pausing the printer and then resuming. Because the top
margin is blank lines, you have to insert the paper so the top of
the page is aligned with the printhead, rather than positioning the
paper where the first line of text should print, which invites
jamming (at least on my RX-80); be careful.
With a partially formatted file that you want to print on cut
sheets, be sure you do NOT select the defaults. PRINT.COM will
pause when it has printed the number of lines you specified or 66,
whichever is reached first, so choose cut sheets, a left margin of 0,
67 lines per page and no header. Partially formatted files already
have a left margin, and usually have a header. PRINT will stop when
the 66 lines have been printed so you can insert a new sheet of paper.
After you have either accepted the defaults or selected new
format values, printing will begin. You can suspend printing at
any time with the <Esc> key, and then choose either to abort or
resume printing.
** Bugs, Suggestions, Comments **
I have tested these programs extensively, and not encountered any
known bugs, but there is a law that states "There is always one
more bug." If you find a bug, or if you have a suggestion or comment,
I would love to hear from you. Please write, or contact me on my
BBS, the Snoqualmie Valley Towne Crier, (206) 222-6224, 24 hours
per day, 300/1200 baud, 7/1/E or 8/1/N.
** Doc Master is USER SUPPORTED **
Doc Master is itself user supported. If you find this package
useful, please register it. The suggested registration fee is
$20.00, which is $10.00 for each of the two shareware programs.
Look at this file and the public domain WAIT.COM as a "bonus"!
Registered users will receive a disk with the latest versions of the
Doc Master programs and any other new programs by yours truly.
Doc Master is copyrighted, but a limited license is hereby
granted to copy and distribute the compiled or assembled programs
and documentation (but not the source code) for any non-commercial
purpose, so long as it is not altered in any way, and all files are
included. User groups and user-supported software libraries may
charge a reasonable fee for copying and distribution, not
exceeding $10.00.
All of the source files for these programs were created with Sammy
Mitchell's Qedit. WAIT.COM was assembled with Erik Isaacson's A86
assembler. These are not only two of the finest pieces of
shareware, but also simply two of the finest pieces of software I
have had the pleasure to use. These programs deserve your support.
PRINT.COM was compiled using the Zbasic (tm) 4.01p compiler. READ.EXE
was compiled using Borland International's Turbo Pascal 4.0, and
makes liberal use of R.D. Ainsbury's TechnoJock Turbo Toolkit, an
excellent product.
Pat Anderson
5420 - 324th Pl. S.E.
Fall City, WA 98024
SAMPLE2.DOC
DOC MASTER
Copyright (c) 1987 by Pat Anderson
** What is Doc Master? **
Doc Master is a system of tools and strategies for printing out
on-disk documentation files. It consists of the following disk
files:
READ.EXE Read doc files on screen, page or
scroll through them backwards or
forwards.
COLORS.EXE Configure READ's colors.
WAIT.COM Print already formatted doc files on
single sheet paper, using DOS command
COPY filename.doc PRN, pauses printer
at formfeed character to insert new
sheet.
PRINT.COM Print out any doc file, but primarily
useful for unformatted files or partially
formatted files. Allows you to set
left margin and lines per page, select
header with auto page numbering,
single sheet or continuous feed paper.
DM.DOC This documentation file, laying out the
strategies for printing doc files.
SAMPLE1.DOC DM.DOC as an unformatted ASCII text file.
SAMPLE2.DOC DM.DOC as a partially formatted ASCII text
file.
** Why Doc Master? **
One of the keys to the success of user-supported software is
keeping costs down with on-disk documentation. Unfortunately, no
single standard has evolved for the format of on-disk documentation.
Doc Master can help you get the on-disk file printed out neatly
on paper so you can spend your time trying out the software instead
of struggling with printing out the documentation.
On-disk doc files can come in a variety of formats. In an ideal
world, everyone would use continuous feed paper and all on-disk
doc files would be formatted to have one inch left margins and
six and a half inch line lenths, and be divided into pages of
fifty or fifty-five lines, with headers and page numbers. We'll
refer to such a doc file as one that is already formatted.
You could then print out any doc file like this:
A>COPY filename.DOC PRN
or
A>TYPE filename.DOC > PRN
Both these commands simply send the contents of the file filename.DOC
to the printer "as-is". In the real world, though, you frequently
can't do this because:
SAMPLE2.DOC - 2
1) A lot more people than user supported software
authors apparently realize prefer to print out doc files on
single sheet bond paper. If the file has formfeed characters,
the printer runs merrily on without giving you a chance to insert
a new sheet of paper for the next page.
2) Many doc files are not divided into pages at all.
We'll refer to such a doc file as UNFORMATTED. If you try to TYPE
or COPY an unformatted file to your printer, the result is unsatis-
factory whether you are using continuous feed or single sheet paper.
3) Some doc files use blank lines to divide the text
into pages, so even if you could stop the printer on receiving a
formfeed character, that wouldn't work for single sheet printing
with such files. I call these PARTIALLY FORMATTED files. Again,
if you want to print on single sheet paper, you need a way to pause
the printer while it is printing those blank lines making up the
bottom margin of one page and the top margin of the next.
Hence, I developed Doc Master as a system to get the documentation
printed in the minimum amount of time, regardless of what type of
file the author provided.
** Assumptions **
I am going to assume in this discussion that you know how to use
DIR to view the directory of a disk in any drive, how to change
logged drives, how to use TYPE to view a text file, and how to
start a .BAT, .COM or .EXE file at the DOS prompt. If not,
study your DOS manuals - you aren't ready to try out new software
just yet. I am also going to assume that you are using eight and
a half by eleven inch paper, and your printer is set up for six
lines per vertical inch and ten characters per horizontal inch,
which are more or less standard.
** First Steps **
Here is our approach to the doc file whenever we get a new program,
right as soon as we have used DISKCOPY to make a backup copy of
the disk and put the original away for safekeeping:
1) Use DIR to bring up a directory for the drive
containing your new disk . Look for a files like GO.BAT, READ.ME
or README.DOC. Also notice how many files have the filename
extension of .DOC, and how large those files are. Finally,
notice is there are files with filename extensions of .CRN (for
crunched) or .ARC for archived.
2) If there is a GO.BAT file, use it! Just type GO at
the DOS command prompt. The GO.BAT file should simply display a
READ.ME file, which in turn, should give you about a screenful of
SAMPLE2.DOC - 3
information on printing the doc file(s) and perhaps starting the
program.
3) If there is no GO.BAT file but there is a READ.ME,
read it with READ.EXE. Just type READ READ.ME. or just type READ
and answer the filename prompt. This file contains information
the program author wanted you to be aware before you started
using the program, and you shouldn't skip it.
4) If there are .ARC or .CRN files, you MUST use the
programs supplied to uncruch them to regular disk files to view them
on the screen or print them directly. These auxiliary programs will
have names like ARC-E.COM or PKXARC.COM for .ARC files. PC-Write has
a file called FILEMAN.COM to uncrunch the doc files.
** BEFORE YOU PRINT - READ THE FILE **
Before you print out the documentation file, read it on the
screen with READ.EXE.
READ can be started with or without specifying the name of the
doc file you wish to read on the command line. If you specify
a file name, i.e., READ DM.DOC [enter], READ will load the file.
If you do not specify a file name on the command line, READ will
prompt you for the name.
READ's colors can be set with the COLORS.EXE program by Mark
Hopkins. All of READ's command keys can be viewed by pressing
the F1 key for help.
Your primary objective in reading the file before printing is to
determine whether the file is already formatted, partially formatted
or unformatted. Look first to see whether there is a left margin on
the screen, or whether the text starts all the way over in column
one. Next look for the graphics symbol for the formfeed
character, ASCII 12 (decimal). It looks like the medical symbol
for female. You can produce it on your screen so you will be
sure to recogize it: just start BASIC, hold down the ALT key,
enter then number 12 on the numeric keypad and then release the
ALT key. The formfeed character embedded in the .DOC file is
what divides it into pages, causing a printer to advance
continuous form paper to the top of the next page. Finally,
if there are no formfeed characters, whether there are ten or
twelve blank lines dividing the text into pages.
The file type dictates how you will print it out:
1) If there is a left margin and formfeed characters, the
file is FULLY FORMATTED. This kind of file usually but not always
has headers or footers and page numbers.
2) If there is a left margin, but the file is divided into
dmdoc.txt - 4
pages with blank lines instead of formfeeds, the file is
PARTIALLY FORMATTED. This kind of file likewise usually has
headers or footers and page numbers.
3) If there is no left margin and no formfeeds or groups of
blank lines, the file is UNFORMATTED.
Only once you have determine what kind of doc file you are dealing
with are you ready to print it out.
** PRINTING FULLY FORMATTED DOC FILES **
If the file is fully formatted, and you prefer to use continuous
feed paper, simply roll the paper so the tear line is aligned
with the printer's print head, and either switch the printer off
and back on (a practice to be discouraged!) or issue a "top of
form" command for your printer to establish the current position
as the top (which, unfortuantely, is not always as easy as it
should be). Use either COPY FILENAME.DOC PRN or TYPE FILENAME >
PRN. Notice the output redirection symbol (">") is used only
with the TYPE command, not with COPY. If you have an already
formatted .DOC file and use continuous feed paper, you don't need
to use the Doc Master programs.
If the file is already formatted, but you prefer to use single
sheet paper, then use WAIT.COM first.
WAIT.COM is a tiny but handy "terminate but stay resident" utility
that puts itself at the front end of the part of the operating
system that runs the printer. It checks each character sent to
the printer, and if it is any character except a formfeed, it just
passes it along to be printed. When it receives a formfeed character,
though, WAIT just sits there until you press any key, and then
returns for the next character without passing the formfeed through
to the printer. To use this program, just type WAIT at the DOS prompt
and then use COPY or TYPE to print the file. Since WAIT stays
resident in memory, you'll have to reboot your computer to get
rid of it - but if you use single sheets exclusively, you might
want to put it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
** PRINTING PARTIALLY FORMATTED OR UNFORMATTED DOC FILES **
If the doc file is unformatted, you will want to use PRINT.COM to
print it. If the file is partially formatted, and you want to
use continuous feed paper, simply use TYPE or COPY, as you would
for a fully formatted file. If the file is partially formatted,
and you want to use single sheets, use PRINT, but be sure you
follow the instructions below.
You can either start PRINT.COM with the name of the file to
print on the command line (i.e., PRNT filename.DOC) or specify
dmdoc.txt - 5
the filename at a program prompt. To avoid any confusion with
the MS-DOS utility Print, you might want to change the name of
PRINT.COM with the MS-DOS Rename command to PRT.COM or some other
appropriate name.
Be sure your printer is ready and you have enough paper before
you start PRINT.COM.
PRINT has defaults, that is, format values that it will use unless
you change them:
1) Continuous feed paper is assumed (but WAIT.COM will work
with PRINT.COM, so the printer will pause even if continuous feed
paper is selected if WAIT has been installed).
2) Printing will be single-spaced.
3) There will be eight spaces added to each line as a left
margin.
4) There will be fifty-five lines printed per page.
5) There will be a header line on the second and subsequent
pages containing the file name and the page number.
If these default values are acceptable, just answer "Y" to the
"use defaults" prompt. If you want to change any of them, answer
"N". If you answer "N", you will go through a series of prompts
to select new values. The up arrow will always take you back to
the previous prompt, and <Esc> will give you an opportunity to
abort. You may (but don't have to) use the defaults with
unformatted files, but you CANNOT use the defaults with partially
formatted files. For unformatted files, position the paper where
you want the first line of text to be printed, not at the top edge
of the sheet or the tear line.
Printing partially formatted files on cut sheets requires printing 66
lines, pausing the printer and then resuming. Because the top
margin is blank lines, you have to insert the paper so the top of
the page is aligned with the printhead, rather than positioning the
paper where the first line of text should print, which invites
jamming (at least on my RX-80); be careful.
With a partially formatted file that you want to print on cut
sheets, be sure you do NOT select the defaults. PRINT.COM will
pause when it has printed the number of lines you specified or 66,
whichever is reached first, so choose cut sheets, a left margin of 0,
67 lines per page and no header. Partially formatted files already
have a left margin, and usually have a header. PRINT will stop when
the 66 lines have been printed so you can insert a new sheet of paper.
After you have either accepted the defaults or selected new
format values, printing will begin. You can suspend printing at
any time with the <Esc> key, and then choose either to abort or
resume printing.
dmdoc.txt - 6
** Bugs, Suggestions, Comments **
I have tested these programs extensively, and not encountered any
known bugs, but there is a law that states "There is always one
more bug." If you find a bug, or if you have a suggestion or comment,
I would love to hear from you. Please write, or contact me on my
BBS, the Snoqualmie Valley Towne Crier, (206) 222-6224, 24 hours
per day, 300/1200 baud, 7/1/E or 8/1/N.
** Doc Master is USER SUPPORTED **
Doc Master is itself user supported. If you find this package
useful, please register it. The suggested registration fee is
$20.00, which is $10.00 for each of the two shareware programs.
Look at this file and the public domain WAIT.COM as a "bonus"!
Registered users will receive a disk with the latest versions of the
Doc Master programs and any other new programs by yours truly.
Doc Master is copyrighted, but a limited license is hereby
granted to copy and distribute the compiled or assembled programs
and documentation (but not the source code) for any non-commercial
purpose, so long as it is not altered in any way, and all files are
included. User groups and user-supported software libraries may
charge a reasonable fee for copying and distribution, not
exceeding $10.00.
All of the source files for these programs were created with Sammy
Mitchell's Qedit. WAIT.COM was assembled with Erik Isaacson's A86
assembler. These are not only two of the finest pieces of
shareware, but also simply two of the finest pieces of software I
have had the pleasure to use. These programs deserve your support.
PRINT.COM were compiled using the Zbasic (tm) 4.01p compiler. READ.EXE
was compiled using Borland International's Turbo Pascal 4.0, and
makes liberal use of R.D. Ainsbury's TechnoJock Turbo Toolkit, an
excellent product.
Pat Anderson
5420 - 324th Pl. S.E.
Fall City, WA 98024
UPDATE.DOC
R E A D Version 2.21
May 13, 1989
This is a significantly enhanced version of my text file reader
from the Doc Master programs (PC-SIG Disk #950).
The original program was written in Zbasic, and was limited to
files no larger than 64K, and lacked horizontal scrolling for
lines longer than the width of the screen.
Changes (cumulative from original Zbasic version):
* Re-written in Turbo Pascal 5.0
* Text buffer as large as memory or 9999 lines
* Horizontal scrolling for lines longer than 80 columns
* Date and time display on status line
* Expands tabs to spaces for correct display
* Pop-up command help window
* Color support added
Use Mark Hopkins' Colors program to configure colors for text,
status line, pop-up windows and help window if you don't care for
the program defaults. This program creates a small Read.cfg file
which Read looks for on startup and uses to set the various color
values.
Comments and suggestions welcome.
Pat Anderson
5420 - 324th Pl. S.E.
Fall City, WA 98024
TC BBS (206) 222-6224
_______
____|__ | (tm)
--| | |-------------------
| ____|__ | Association of
| | |_| Shareware
|__| o | Professionals
-----| | |---------------------
|___|___| MEMBER
WAIT.DOC
WAIT!
A Memory Resident Single Sheet Printing Utility
WAIT! really needs no documentation - it's one of those programs
that if you have ever needed it, you'll understand immediately
what it does, and if not, you'll say "so what?" For people who
prefer printing on-disk doc files on single sheet paper instead of
continuous feed paper, it will become indispensible. In a
nutshell, on-disk documentation files are frequently formatted,
that is, divided into pages by embedded formfeed characters. The
(erroneous) assumption is that everyone uses continuous feed
paper. With continuous feed paper, you can very conveniently print
these files with either COPY FILENAME.DOC PRN or TYPE FILENAME.DOC
> PRN. This will print a page, and then advance the paper to the
top of the next page and continue printing.
But what if you want to print such a doc file on single sheets? I
suspect a lot more folks prefer single sheets than the authors of
user supported software documentation believe. If you do a lot of
correspondence where the first page is letterhead and the
subsequent pages are plain bond, or if you don't like ragged
edges, or if you want to print on both sides of the sheet, you
normally do not have the continuous feed tractor on your printer
as your normal setup. Formatted files pretty much used to force
you to get out the tractor, put it on, print the doc file, and
then take the tractor off to go back to your normal setup.
No more - with WAIT! installed (just type WAIT at the DOS prompt -
it is memory resident, attaching itself to a ROM BIOS routine),
printing will now PAUSE at each formfeed, so you can insert a new
sheet of paper. Strike any key to resume printing. It's as simple
as that! If you use only single sheets, you might want to include
WAIT as a line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
WAIT! is a public domain program (nobody paid for it when it was
shareware anyway). Comments and suggestions would be sincerely
appreciated.
Pat Anderson
5420 - 324th Pl. S.E.
Fall City, WA 98024
BBS: (206) 222-6224
300/1200 baud, 24 hours
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #0950
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
CLEANUP EXE 11184 2-05-89 8:26a
DM DOC 17416 6-12-90 7:56p
GO BAT 14 11-07-87 10:28a
PRINT EXE 51760 12-27-89 4:14p
READ EXE 19648 9-28-89 5:51a
READ ME 1752 10-11-88 3:54p
RSETUP DOC 6119 6-12-90 8:08p
RSETUP EXE 36304 6-24-89 1:54p
SAMPLE1 DOC 14709 7-14-88 9:53a
SAMPLE2 DOC 17454 7-14-88 9:51a
UPDATE DOC 1615 5-13-89 7:26a
WAIT COM 520 11-03-88 7:48a
WAIT DOC 2504 11-27-88 2:11p
Y COM 39168 2-05-89 9:00a
FILE0950 TXT 1777 7-09-90 6:04p
15 file(s) 221944 bytes
92160 bytes free