EZWIN Version 1.2 E Z W I N Version 1.2 (C) 1989 by Paul Jordan EZWIN is a shareware product. You may feel free to make copies, and pass them on to friends for their evaluation. If you make use of this software, you are expected to pay a registration fee of $20 to: Paul Jordan 909 Marina Village Parkway (#112) Alameda, CA 94501 *====================================================================* OVERVIEW *====================================================================* EZWIN is a Window Generator for dBASEIII and dBASEIII clones. Most Window Generators, or procedures, I have seen are too complicated, too cumbersome, or too expensive. EZWIN was designed to be intuitive, easy, and fast. The Windows generated can be called by, or merged into, any dBASEIII or dBASEIII clone program you create. The 7 files that make up EZWIN are: EZWIN.BAT, EZMAIN.EXE, EZWIN.DBF, EZCLEAN.BAT, DBFAST.EXE, DBCLEAR.EXE and this help file, EZHELP.TXT EZWIN can be operated from the distribution diskette or copied to its own directory on your hard drive. To save typing path names, I keep the EZWIN files in my dBASE directory. This allows running EZWIN directly from the dot prompt, and seeing the results immediately. In either case, as with all programs, it is prudent to make a backup copy of the distribution diskette before doing anything else. The instructions on the help screens included within the program should get you started. As a matter of fact, I suggest you start EZWIN and 'play around' with it for awhile before reading any further. Just type: EZWIN. *====================================================================* MAIN MENU COMMANDS *====================================================================* The main menu contains the following options: (H)elp (N)ew (E)dit (D)isplay (M)ove (C)lear (A)lter (S)ave (L)oad (Q)uit Detailed Instructions on each Menu Option follows: -1- EZWIN Version 1.2 (H)elp - Help presents instructions for each major menu section. (N)ew - New is the first option you will use. It creates your Window. Windows are used to display instructions, warnings and menus. A window, should be smaller than your overall screen. How small, or large, is up to you. Experimentation is the key. When you press (N)ew, a numbered inverse video line will be displayed on the screen. Start typing your text. Anything will do for a sample. When you have typed a few words, press and start your next line. When you are finished, Type the '@' symbol on the next blank line. It is located on the upper half of the number 2 key. To type it, hold down your shift key, and press the number 2. This signals EZWIN that you are finished with the text part of your window and exits (N)ew. EZWIN determines the width of your window by the longest line you typed, and the length by the amount of lines. When you exit (N)ew by typing the '@' symbol on a blank line, the window is generated and automatically displayed in the center of the screen. The default colors are Black Text on a White background. The colors, and position of the screen can be changed quickly and easily. (E)dit - This feature is a simple Line-Editor, that allows you to correct mistakes, and center lines of text within your window. When you first enter the editor, you are in TYPEOVER mode, which means that anything you type, will overwrite what is on the screen. To enter the INSERT mode, press the Insert Key (Ins) on your keyboard. In insert mode, anything you type (including spaces), will push whatever is on the line to the right. REMEMBER, that this is a line editor, and if you push characters off the edge of the window, they are gone. Not to worry though, EZWIN is so simple to operate, you can just re-edit and fix any minor goofs. If you really get into a bind and want to add more words than will fit, simply recreate the window. (D)isplay - The display option will display, or re-display the window after clearing the screen, or repositioning (moving). (M)ove - is one of the options that make EZWIN a delight to use. How many times have you created a window by typing in all those nasty little @..SAY statements, and then decided that you didn't like the position it is in. With EZWIN you can re-load your window and (M)ove it wherever you want. EZWIN will take care of re-writing the @..SAY statements. To (M)ove your window, use the Up, Down, Left, and Right Arrow Keys. As the window moves, it will leave the original window position displayed on the screen. This provides you with an aid to line up, or overlap other windows in a series, such as in several 'instruction' windows. As you become experienced with EZWIN you will appreciate this feature. When you are want to clean up the screen, simply press (C)lear and everything around -2- EZWIN Version 1.2 the window will disappear. When you have the window positioned where you like it, Press (Q)uit and you will be returned to the Main Menu. (C)lear - clears the working area of the screen. *====================================================================* ALTER MENU *====================================================================* (A)lter - is one of the key features of EZWIN. It allows you to Alter (change), the border style, and colors of your text and background. The options on the (A)lter menu are: (H)elp - a quick on line help menu (S)tyle of Border - allows you to change the border style. For no border press 0, for a singleline border press 1, and for a doubleline border press 2. Try them all, and when your are finished press (Q)uit to return to the ALTER menu. (T)ext - This option allows you to change the color of the Text in your window. Just press the letter (or number) of the color you want. What you see is what you get!. For those of you with Color Cards and Monitors, the combinations are endless. If you have a Monochrome system, your choices will be limited. However, by utilizing regular and High Intensity White, you will be able to produce a variety of Window designs. (B)ackground - allows you to change the background color of your window. The menu is similar to the text menu, except the color yellow is not represented. DOS presents yellow as a RED when used as a background color, and is therefore not used. *====================================================================* SAVE *====================================================================* (S)ave - When you press (S)ave, EZWIN asks if you would like to add Menu Choices. If you answer (Y)es, EZWIN will ask you to type in the numbers (or letters) you will use for Menu Choices. When EZWIN generates your program it will generate an INKEY() routine, fully error-trapped, to allow only your choices to pass. Then all you have to do is write your IF..THEN, or DO CASE statements to branch to other segments of your program. If you answer (N) to Menu Choices, EZWIN will ask if you would like a Pause generated. A Pause is useful when you are presenting a series of Windows, and want the user to 'Press AnyKey' to move on to the next one. If you answer (Y)es, EZWIN -3- EZWIN Version 1.2 will generate an INKEY() statement that will allow the pressing of any key to continue in your final window. If you do not want Menu Choices, or a Pause, EZWIN will just generate a plain vanilla window, and it is up to your program to decide what to do next. EZWIN will then ask you for the filename you wish to save your window under. Simply type a standard DOS filename (up to eight characters) and press . You can also type in a question mark (?) to list the directory of window files already on disk, or just press to quit. EZWIN will warn you if you try to save a filename that is already on disk and present you with the following options: (O)verwrite - Overwrites (erases) the old file with the same name. (L)ist the Directory to see what other windows are present. This gives you the chance to rename your file. (Q)uit - to return to the Main Menu. (L)oad - EZWIN allows you to re-load any window files you have already saved. This will allow you to change the borders, colors, or move your window to a new position (Q)uit - From the Main Menu Returns you to DOS. From other menus, you are returned to the previous menu. *====================================================================* DESIGN TIP *====================================================================* If you wish to present several windows on the screen at the same time, you can see what the final lay-out will look like by doing the following. As you work on your first Window, move it to the location desired and save it as A1. Now create your second window, move it and save it as A2 or whatever. Do the same with your third window, etc...etc... To see what they will look on the same screen, simply (L)oad them back in the same order. Then, if you are not satisfied with the screen layout, load back the offending Window and reposition it. *====================================================================* HOW TO USE THE WINDOWS IN YOUR PROGRAMS *====================================================================* There are 3 ways to use Windows in your programs. 1. Leave your Window programs exactly as generated. Then, call them, as you would any dBASE program, by issuing a DO command. Until you are satisfied with the exact wording, and location of -4- EZWIN Version 1.2 your windows, this is the suggested method. 2. Using your text editor 'Merge' them into your program where you want them. 3. Use them in PROCEDURE files. If you choose this method, you must add the line: PROCEDURE FileName - (where FileName is the name of your window) as the first line of the window. Once again, call it as you would any dBASE procedure with a DO FileName. *====================================================================* TECHNICAL STUFF *====================================================================* EZWIN was compiled using the dbFAST compiler. The batch file EZWIN.BAT loads the compiler engine DBFAST, runs the program EZMAIN.EXE, and then unloads the compiler from memory returning the space used to your computer. EZWIN saves three files for each window with the extensions .PRG, .WIN, and .EZM. The .PRG file is the actual window you will use. The .WIN (database) and .EZM (memory) files are working files, and provided to allow you to re-load your windows for further work. You do not need them in order to use the .PRG files. The .WIN file holds the textlines of the window you created, and the .EZM file holds the window coordinates and other variables needed for re-loading your window. When you are satisfied with your windows, the .WIN and .EZM files can be erased from your disk. EZCLEAN.BAT is included on the distribution disk to allow you to do this quickly and easily. Simply type: EZCLEAN, and away they go to computer heaven. The EZWIN.DBF is needed by EZWIN to hold the textlines. If you accidently trash it, the structure can be recreated using the CREATE command of dBASEIII or the clone version you are using. It consists of 1 character field named TEXTLINE, with a length of 79 and should be empty. Structure for database: C:ezwin.dbf Number of data records: 0 Date of last update : 08/13/89 Field Field Name Type Width Dec 1 TEXTLINE Character 79 ** Total ** 80 *====================================================================* WHAT THE EZWIN GENERATED WINDOW PROGRAM FILE LOOKS LIKE *====================================================================* The program (.PRG) file generated by EZWIN, looks like this: * TEST.PRG generated by EZWIN (C)opywrite 1989 by Paul Jordan -5- EZWIN Version 1.2 SET COLOR TO N/W @ 9, 24 CLEAR TO 13, 54 @ 9, 24 TO 13, 54 DOUBLE @ 10, 26 SAY "This is a Sample Program" @ 11, 26 SAY "file created with the EZWIN" @ 12, 26 SAY "Program. " SET COLOR TO W/N * EOF TEST.PRG NOTE: The last line of an EZWIN generated window always resets colors to White Text on a Black background. This is so the EZWIN colors do not get passed to your program. If you do NOT want White Text on a Black background, you must add a line with the colors of your choice. *====================================================================* USING THE MENUCHOICE ROUTINE WHEN CREATING MENUS *====================================================================* An EZWIN window program used as a menu, and generated with Menu Choices selected from the (S)ave option, looks like the following: * SAMPLE.PRG generated by EZWIN (C)opywrite 1989 by Paul Jordan SET COLOR TO N/W @ 6, 23 CLEAR TO 16, 55 @ 6, 23 TO 16, 55 DOUBLE @ 7, 25 SAY "===== SAMPLE EZWIN MENU =====" @ 8, 25 SAY "" @ 9, 25 SAY " 1. Add New Records" @ 10, 25 SAY " 2. Find/Edit Records" @ 11, 25 SAY " 3. Print Invoices" @ 12, 25 SAY " 4. H E L P ?" @ 13, 25 SAY " 5. Quit to DOS" @ 14, 25 SAY "" @ 15, 25 SAY " Press (1-5)" SET COLOR TO W/N keychoice = ' ' DO WHILE .NOT. keychoice $"12345" keypress = INKEY() keychoice = UPPER(CHR(keypress)) ENDDO The characters after the $ sign in the Quotes, are those added using the MenuChoice feature. The program will only continue if the user presses one of those keys. It is up to you to write your own IF..THEN or DO CASE statement to tell your program what to do next. To use your menu Window simply call it with a DO statement, and then write your CASE selections. For example: DO test -6- EZWIN Version 1.2 DO CASE CASE keychoice = "1" DO procedure1 CASE keychoice = "2" DO procedure2 CASE keychoice = "A" Do procedureA etc... (Add additional CASE statements as needed) ENDCASE If you decide to use the MenuChoice or Pause feature in EZWIN, remember to SET TALK OFF and declare the variable 'keychoice' public in your main program as follows: SET TALK OFF PUBLIC keychoice *====================================================================* USING EZWIN's PAUSE FEATURE *====================================================================* If you choose PAUSE when saving your EZWIN window, a simple inkeys routine is generated at the end of your window, which looks like this: keypress = 0 DO WHILE keypress = 0 keypress = INKEY() ENDDO Any Key pressed will cause the program to continue. *====================================================================* FUTURE GOODIES *====================================================================* Plans for the next version of EZWIN include: - Double Borders, with option to change Border Colors - Neat looking Drop Shadows, for that 'professional' look using the colors of your choice - Expansion Feature to enlarge windows (or reduce them) - Case Statement Generator which will allow EZWIN to be used as a full-blown menu generator. (You won't have to write your own CASE statements) - Any other improvements suggested by users That's All Folks! I hope you enjoy using EZWIN, and I urge you to pass copies to your friends, associates, and favorite Bulletin Boards. EZWIN is not a free program, and if you make use of it, you are expected to send in your registration fee of $20. Thank you. Paul Jordan -7- EZWIN Version 1.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------- I N V O I C E Remit to: Paul Jordan 909 Marina Village Parkway, (#112) Alameda, CA 94501 From: __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ Contact: __________________________________ __________________________________ QTY UNIT PRICE TOTAL _____ EZWIN Window Generator Vers 1.2 $20 ______ Note that EZWIN Software has been delivered and accepted by customer. -------------------------------------------------------------------- -8-