*** ReadMe file for ExAb v.1.5 - 29 Jan 1997 ***
EXAB15.ZIP contains EXAB.MCR and README.TXT.

DESCRIPTION

ExAb is a MacSys macro to EXtend ABbreviations.

It uses a self-created and self-maintained database
of your abbreviations. By positioning the cursor at the 
end of your abbreviation and hitting the hot key, ExAb 
searches the database and, if found, extends the 
abbreviation. If not found, ExAb enables you to add an 
extension to the database.

ExAb is freeware. You are free to use, modify and copy
the macro. I've used ExAb on my English 1 Mb Psion 3a,
where it performed flawlessly. However, needless to say,
I don't give guarantees and you cannot hold me
responsible in case anything goes wrong.


INSTALLATION

Copy EXAB.MCR to directory \MACRO\MCR. Open Tom 
Dolbilin's MACRO (MacSys), open EXAB.MCR (Psion-E) and
translate it (Psion-T). After installation assign a
convenient hot-key (I use <Psion-Enter>). Exab is now
ready for use. After running for the first time, ExAb
will create a database file (EXAB.DBF) with a number of
help records. After typing 'exab' in lower case (ExAb is
case-sensitive) and hitting the hot-key, several info
messages will be extended onto the screen. Similarly,
extending on 'help' will show ExAb information. 
Actually, the help lines are written to the file from
which you called ExAb, and you may want to delete them
afterwards.


NOTES

1. ExAb does not work when its database is opened by
another program (like DATA)!
2. Sometimes an error message occurs, like 
"GetText$: Bring server has no data available...". 
Just <Esc>, deselect your abbreviation and call ExAb
again. If you find an easy solution for this, please
inform me.
3. When you feel confident with ExAb, you may want to 
delete the help lines from the database (EXAB.DBF) 
and/or from the macro (EXAB.MCR). To remove these lines 
from the macro file, open the file and delete the lines
indicated. After translation the size of the macro will
be reduced, which may speed it up.


UPDATES

V.1.0 to 1.2. First crude versions for own use.

V.1.3. This was the first version released to Tom 
Dolbilin's homepage at http://www.livetext.com/macsys/.
It makes use of a different database (EXABP.DBF) when
using "PROGRAM", Psion's OPL editor, which is also used
by MacSys. This simplifies writing OPL or macros. 
E.g. fp = Fil2Pid%:( "" ). Also, EXABP.DBF is 
automatically created after first use.

V.1.4. Includes date and time stamping. After calling
the macro behind .d or .t the current date or time is
inserted (formats: 22 Dec 1996 and 10:22:45,
respectively).

V.1.5. Added whole text abbreviation extension and
related on-line Help.
Abbreviations to which the forward-slash character (/)
is added can be extended in one go, after finishing the
text. Therefore, type // at the beginning of the text
(Ctrl-Psion-Up) followed by the hot-key. E.g. In the
following text,

//..txttxt.. sy/ ..txttxt.. br/ ..txttxt..

positioning the cursor after // and hitting the hot-key
will extend abbreviations 'sy' and 'br' and at the same
time remove all "/" characters. At the end of the search
enter "Continue" to MACRO's "GetText$..." message. When
by accident upon this message "Stop" is entered, MACRO 
should be exited and reopened before ExAb can be used 
again (to enable the proper closure of ExAb's database).
If you prefer a different character, exchange the / 
character in the assignment of variable c$ in line 9 of
EXAB.MCR for the character of your choice.
If you upgrade from an earlier version, wish to keep
your old definitions, and be able to consult ExAb v.1.5
Help, proceed as follows. Use DATA to remove the old
Help records from EXAB.DBF and rename EXAB.DBF to
EXABOLD.DBF. Now upon ExAb's first use, a new EXAB.DBF
will be created, containing the new Help records. Using
DATA you can now merge in your definitions from
EXABOLD.DBF.


If you send me your E-mail address, I'll put you on the
list of ExAb users who will receive free updates by
E-mail.

Enjoy ExAb. If you like ExAb, please, give me feed-back.

Thanks to Tom Dolbilin for his excellent MACRO program,
and Ben Clifford for the idea.

Huub Linthorst
E-mail: linthors@chem.leidenuniv.nl