RGH-PROFAN-EDITOR 3.3

The editor is a complete developing environment for RGH-PROFAN. 

OVERVIEW

The editor is a "Multi-File" editor: You can edit multiple files at the same time.
This allows you easy copying and switching between different programs using the
clipboard. You don't have to exit the current program to view another program or
text. 

New in version 2.0 was the option menu, font, project management and extended control 
by keyboard. It is much faster to use a key/key combination when programming than 
selecting a function from the menu.

In version 2.1 the drag and drop functionality was added: You can simply drag one 
(or more) file(s) from the file manager to the editor or the editor icon to load 
automatically.

There is also a INI file (PROFED.INI) that saves the current settings (font, 
project file). IMPORTANT: To save the current settings for the next program start, 
you have to exit the program with the menu item FILE/END. (To exit the program 
without changing the current settings in the PROFED.INI, use the control menu.) 

In version 2.5 or higher the editor has typical Windows help and 3-D dialogs 
if the appropriate DLL CTL3D.DLL is available on the system. If this DLL is not 
available, the dialogs will be displayed as usual. A tool bar with the main 
functions was added to this update as well as a status bar to display help for 
each menu item. 

New in version 3.0 is the "Helper" menu item. What is sometimes referred to as
either the "Wizard" or "Assistant" in other programs is called the Helper in Profan. 
There is a helper to define and create records and a helper to modify records. 
In addition there is a user defined menu where you can add the tools and programs 
you use most frequently, for example the ICON editor. 
In the menu "Profan" you are given the tools to create a customized Windows screen 
saver that can be integrated in the "Desktop" item of the control panel. And finally 
the current line number is now displayed in the status line (introduced in version 
2.5 or higher). New also is the context sensitive help that you can call using 
<Shift-F1> to display help for the highlighted key word.

NOTE: The editor can process a maximum of 32 kB source code in every Window at a time. 
For larger programs you should work with include files. 
If you have problems with this limitation, check editors like "E! for Windows", 
"WinEdit" (Wilson Windoware) and especially "PFE" that are well known by shareware 
users.


CALLING THE EDITOR

Calling with command line parameters 

When calling the editor, you can enter one or more files as command line parameters.
The files are automatically loaded at startup. (The desktop of the last editor session 
is not taken into account.) 

Calling without parameter 

If you call the editor without parameter (for example, with the program manager 
icon) the desktop of the last session will be restored. All files that were processed 
in the last session are displayed as before.

Drag and Drop 

You can drag a file (or several files) with the mouse from the file manager to the 
editor or editor icon. This file will be loaded automatically.


THE EDITOR MENU

File - New 

Writing a new RGH-PROFAN program. It is initially called "NONAME.PRF".
If a program with that name exists, it will be loaded. It is recommended to save 
the program with "Save as" with a new name.

File - Open 

An existing PROFAN file opens. (By changing the file mask you can load any text, 
for example, include files or data files.)

File - Save 

The currently active PROFAN file will be saved with its name.

File - Save as 

The currently active PROFAN file can be saved with another name/path.

File - Printer settings 

You can choose a printer and printer settings.

File - Print program 

Calls the print program "RGH-DRUCK". Because the print program reads the file from 
the hard drive and not from the editor, the program checks if changed files are 
saved and prompts you to save the files now.

File - File manager 

Calls the file manager.

File - Calling the program 

You can call any EXE program with this menu item.

File - End 

Closes the editor. You will be prompted to save every unsaved program.

EDIT - Undo 

In some cases you can undo your last action. To do this, press ALT and 
the backspace key at the same time. It is not always recommended to use 
the menu option.

EDIT - Cut 

Copies the highlighted text to the clip board and removes it from the program. 

EDIT - Copy 

Copies the highlighted text to the clipboard but does not remove it from the program. 

EDIT - Insert 

Inserts the text from the clipboard at cursor position. 

EDIT - Delete 

Deletes the highlighted text. 

EDIT - Delete all 

Deletes the entire text. 

SEARCH - Find 

Searches in the current program window for specified text. You can specify to consider 
upper- and lowercase. <Shift-L> repeats the search. 

SEARCH - Replace 

Searches in the current program window for specified text and replaces it with new 
text. You can specify to consider upper- and lowercase, to search the entire text 
and to confirm before replacing any text. 

SEARCH - Continue 

Repeats search/search and replace. 

PROFAN - Run (Interpreter) 

Runs a PROFAN program with the interpreter. The program will be read from the hard 
drive. If a program is opened in the editor that was not saved in the current version, 
you will be asked if you want to save it now. 

PROFAN - Compile 

Compiles a PROFAN program (.PRF). The compiler PROFCOMP.EXE has to reside in the 
same directory as the editor. The result is a file with the extension .PRC that 
can be executed by the Runtime Module PROFRUN or any PROFAN-EXE file. The PRC file 
is usually only half the size as the PRF file but much (!) faster. The PRC file 
is in the same directory as the PRF file.

PROFAN - Start 

The Runtime Module starts and executes a compiled PROFAN program.
PROFRUN.EXE has to reside in the same directory as the editor or in the Windows directory. 

PROFAN - Create EXE files 

The Runtime Module links a PRC file with a EXE file. The linker PROFLINK.EXE has to reside 
in the same directory as the editor. The EXE file can be executed autonomously in 
Windows. Because the complete RUNTIME module is included it can be used as 
Runtime Module for PRC files. PROFRUN has to reside in the same directory as the 
PRC files! If you develop different programs in different directories, you can 
have one PROFRUN with different ICONS in each directory. 

PROFAN - Creating screen saver 

A PRC file is linked with the Runtime Module to a SCR file. The linker PROFLINK.EXE 
has to reside in the same directory as the editor. You can embed the SCR file in 
the Windows system control as a screen saver. The name of the screen saver is the 
file name. PROFRUN has to reside in the same directory as the PRC file!

HELPER - Database structure 

Use this module to define database structures, to save them as structured files 
for the DBCREATE command or to create a table. For more information see the help 
for the module. 

HELPER - Edit tables 

Use this module to edit any dBase-III compatible table (*.DBF). [*] creates an index 
for each field. The index will be used when searching for an entry with [Search]. 
Without index you can search in every field with [?]. If a table has more than 10 
fields use [] and [] to browse. 

HELPER - User menu 

You can add an entry to the user menu. Two things are expected: the name of the 
menu entry and the corresponding command line. (To delete menu items, you have 
to edit the file PROFED.INI. The number of menu items has to be adjusted and you 
must delete the corresponding lines.) 

OPTIONS - Font ...: 

You can select one of five fonts. We recommend the non-proportional fonts ANSI 
or SYSTEM for programming with PROFAN. To edit ASCII text in DOS you must use ASCII. 

OPTIONS - Save project 

The current desktop (order of the edit window) will be saved with a name of 
your choice (we recommend to use extension .DSK). We also recommend opening all 
files that belong to the same project and minimizing them with the exception 
of the main program and then saving this configuration as a project. If you want 
to continue your work, you can load the project with all its files by calling the 
following program item. 

OPTIONS - Load project 

Opens a project with all its files. Previously opened files will be closed. 

WINDOWS - Tile 

The program windows are displayed side by side without overlapping. 

WINDOWS - Overlapping 

The program windows overlap so that only the title pages are displayed. 

WINDOWS - Arrange icons 

The icons of the minimized program windows are displayed side by side in a row. 

WINDOWS - Close all 

Closes all program windows. 

WINDOWS - Calculator 

Calls the Windows calculator.

WINDOWS - Ansi table 

Calls an Ansi table. You can insert characters from this table. 

WINDOWS - Calendar 

Calls the Windows calendar. 

WINDOWS - 1 ...  

Lists all programs that are currently open. If you expand the editor window to its 
optimal size, use this menu item to switch between the windows. 

? - PROFAN-Help 

Calls the complete PROFAN help. This help file contains the complete introduction 
as hypertext as well as the reference with all system variables, functions and 
commands.

? - Reference 

The reference explains the complete programming language RGH-PROFAN in the current 
version. In case of doubt this reference is more up to date than the corresponding 
user's guide. You will find a syntax description and quite often examples are provided
for specific functions and commands. 

? - context sensitive help 

Displays the help for the highlighted word (command/function/system variable). 
IMPORTANT: You must highlight the word! You can call up context sensitive help
also with <Shift-F1>. 

? - Editor 

Help for the developing environment. All menu items are discussed. 

? - Print program 

Help for all menu items of the print program.  

? - About 

Copyright note: 1992-1995 - Roland G. Hlsmann, Nuloch, Germany. 
