                      Hot Dots 3.0 Reference Card
 
 
Copyright (c) 1991 Raised Dot Computing
408 S. Baldwin Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 257-9595 (business); 257-8833 (technical)
 
                                Contents
 
Installation
Recommended File Extensions
Command Line Programs
Word Processor Types
Device Designations
Format Commands
Translation Modes
Other Translation Codes
Environmental Variables for Hot Dots
 
                              Installation
 
     Create a directory called HOTDOTS on your hard disk. Copy the Hot
Dots software (one or two disks) into this directory. Include C:\HOTDOTS
in your PATH (edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file). If you do not have a hard
disk, read the instructions in the manual.
 
                      Recommended File Extensions
 
     To keep the different kinds of files straight, Hot Dots 3.0 uses
the following extensions:
 
HD$ -- inkprint file with Hot Dots dollar sign commands
 
BRL -- braille file with Hot Dots dollar sign commands
 
BFM -- braille formatted file ready for printing to braille embosser
 
BDV -- variation of BFM file ready to output to an exotic braille device
     (Cranmer, LED-120, Ohtsuki or Dipner Dots).
 
                            Command Line Programs
 
DOTS -- The Hot Dots Main Menu program
 
DOTS1234 <file name> <word processor type> <output device> <optional
     rules file> -- take the file and import it, translate it, format
     it, and output it. The optional rules file is executed after
     importation but before translation.
 
DOTS1 <file name> <word processor type> <optional rules file> -- take a
     file and import it (create an HD$ file).
 
DOTS234 <base name of file (no extension)> <output device> -- take an
     HD$ file and translate it, format it, and output it.
 
IMPORT <input file> <output file> <word processor type> -- imports a
     file into the Hot Dots format.
 
G2FWD <input file> <output file> -- translates a file into grade two
     braille
 
FTEXT <input file> <output file> -- format a file. Switches: /W=# for
     carriage width; /F=# for form length; /B to force braille format;
     /I to force inkprint format.
 
VIEW <input file> -- examine a braille formatted file on the screen.
     Switch: /S for suppress line numbers and guide to ASCII braille
     normally on right side of screen.
 
G2BACK <input file> <output file> -- back translate a file from braille
     to inkprint.
 
GLOBAL <input file> <output file> <rules file> -- change all occurrences
     of items in the file as described in the rules file.
 
PRETEXT <file> -- modifies the specified generic textfile prior to
     importation to improve the format.
 
DIRTY <file> -- adds extra carriage returns in a file to make it easier
     to examine in your word processor
 
CLEAN <file> -- strips out carriage returns from your file.
 
CRANMER <input file> <optional output file> -- takes a formatted braille
     file and creates a new file appropriate for the Cranmer Brailler.
     If no output file is present, send output to LPT1.
 
DIPNER <input file> <optional output file> -- takes a formatted braille
     file and creates a new file appropriate for the Dipner Dots. If no
     output file is present, send output to LPT1. Switches: /R for
     printable dots on a letter quality printer; /E for printable dots
     on an Epson style printer; /I for printable dots on an ImageWriter
     printer.
 
LED120 <input file> <optional output file> -- takes a formatted braille
     file and creates a new file appropriate for the LED-120 embosser.
     If no output file is present, send output to LPT1. Switch: /K for
     control-K for form feed.
 
OHTSUKI <input file> <optional output file> -- takes a formatted braille
     file and creates a new file appropriate for the Ohtsuki embosser.
     If no output file is present, send output to LPT1. Switch: /N
     (normal) for 25 lines per page.
 
                          Word Processor Types
 
     When you use the batch file DOTS1234 or DOTS1, you need to identify
the source file's word processor type. We also supply the name of the
file that is responsible for importation for each word processor; so you
can delete files that are not necessary for your applications.
 
ASCD -- ASCII document (document means the file contains text
     paragraphs, so you are filtering out most carriage returns) [file
     DXI001.OVR]
 
ASCL -- ASCII line (line means that you are preserving all returns as
     carriage returns) [file DXI014.OVR]
 
DCA -- IBM DCA/RFT [file DXI015.OVR]
 
DW3 -- DisplayWrite-3 [file DXI007.OVR]
 
DW4 -- DisplayWrite-4 [file DXI007.OVR]
 
EASC -- ASCII using exended ASCII characters [file DXI001.OVR]
 
ENBL -- Enable Word Processor [file DXI030.OVR]
 
FSTY -- Freestyle (select) [file DXI027.OVR]
 
IWA -- IBM Writing Assistant [file DXI018.OVR]
 
LEWP -- Leading Edge Word Processor [file DXI013.OVR]
 
MSW -- Microsoft Word [file DXI012.OVR]
 
MUL33 -- Multimate 3.3 [file DXI005.OVR]
 
MULA -- Multimate Advantage [file DXI005.OVR]
 
NEWA -- NewWord [file DXI002.OVR]
 
OFW3 -- Officewriter 3.0 and earlier [file DXI019.OVR]
 
OFW4 -- Officewriter 4.0 and 5.0 [file DXI024.OVR]
 
PAL -- Palantir [file DXI021.OVR]
 
PCW25 -- PC Write 2.5 and earlier [file DXI011.OVR]
 
PCW26 -- PC Write 2.6 and later [file DXI022.OVR]
 
PFSFC -- pfs: First Choice version 1 [file DXI031.OVR]
 
PFSPW -- pfs: Professional Write version 1 [file DXI023.OVR]
 
PFSWR -- pfs: Write version 1 [file DXI018.OVR]
 
PMT -- Pmate [file DXI009.OVR]
 
PT5 -- PeachText 5000 [file DXI025.OVR]
 
SPLB -- Spellbinder [file DXI003.OVR]
 
VW -- Volkwriter Deluxe [file DXI008.OVR]
 
WMC -- WordMarc Composer [file DXI028.OVR]
 
WPF4 -- Word Perfect 4.1 or 4.2 [file DXI006.OVR]
 
WPF5 -- Word Perfect 5.0 or 5.1 [file DXI032.OVR]
 
WS -- WordStar up through 4.0 [file DXI002.OVR]
 
WS2 -- Word Star 2000 [file DXI029.OVR]
 
XYW -- XyWrite [file DXI017.OVR]
 
                             Device Designations
 
SCREEN -- the screen
 
CON -- the screen (console) for output; the keyboard. for input
 
LPT1 -- parallel port number 1
 
LPT2 -- parallel port number 2
 
COM1 -- serial port 1 (set to 9600 baud)
 
COM2 -- serial port number 2 (set to 9600 baud)
 
NULL -- no device
 
                            Format Commands
 
     These commands must be preceded and followed by a space or carriage
return. Command letters must be lowercase; when you use braille data
entry, use computer braille for numbers.
 
$$a# -- advance to line # where # ranges from current line to form
     length.
 
$$c <space> -- center text in current output line plus all subsequent
     output lines until next ( $p ), ( $l ), ( $s ), or ( $f ). At
     the bottom of a page, moves to the next page to avoid separating
     centered heading from text which follows.
 
$$cx -- centering extended: center all lines until next left margin
     command.
 
$$d -- reset everything except carriage width and form length to the
     default: clear tabs and margins, clear headers or footers, single
     line spacing, paragraph indent and line spacing as appropriate for
     print or braille.
 
( $f ) -- immediately move to new page; form feed format indicator
     (four keystrokes: space, dollar sign, lowercase f, space).
 
$$f# -- set form length (lines per page) to # lines; clears all
     commands that affect a specific line number (such as page numbering
     or running heads).
 
$$h -- center and underline current output line and all subsequent
     output lines up to ( $p ) or $$uf (does not create italics
     indicators in braille).
 
$$i# -- indent each paragraph to absolute position #; default is $$i5
     for print, $$i2 for braille.
 
( $l ) -- new line format indicator (four keystrokes: space, dollar
     sign, lowercase l, space).
 
$$l# -- line spacing for soft <CR>s and explicit hard <CR>s and ( $l )
     indicators. Lowercase l (not digit 1). Default is $$l1: single
     spacing for print and braille.
 
$$ml# -- set left margin at absolute position #; command letters are
     lowercase m, lowercase l. Default is $$ml0.
 
$$ml+# -- move left margin # characters to the right of the current
     left margin, increase left margin by # spaces.
 
$$ml-# -- move left margin # characters to the left of the current left
     margin, decrease left margin by # spaces.
 
$$ml* -- set left margin at current character position on the output
     line.
 
$$mr# -- set right margin # characters from the maximum carriage width;
     default is $$mr0.
 
$$mr+# -- move right margin # characters to the left of the current
     right margin, increase right margin by # spaces.
 
$$mr-# -- move right margin # characters to the right of the current
     right margin, decrease right margin by # spaces.
 
$$ms# -- soft margin indent of #: after soft returns indent #
     characters to the right of the left margin. Default is $$ms0.
 
$$ms+# -- increase the soft margin indent by # characters.
 
$$ms-# -- decrease the soft margin indent by # characters.
 
$$np -- number pages as appropriate for print or braille, beginning
     with page 1.
 
$$n# -- set next output page number to #; use after a page numbering
     command like $$np.
 
( $p) -- paragraph indicator (four keystrokes: space, dollar sign,
     lowercase p, space). Default for print paragraphs is $$i5 $$s2;
     default for braille paragraphs is $$i2 $$s1.
 
$$p# -- place text at absolute character position # on the output line.
 
$$p+# -- place subsequent text # characters to right of current
     character position on the output line.
 
$$p-# -- place subsequent text # characters to left of current
     character position on the output line, which may overwrite existing
     characters in output line.
 
$$r -- place current output line plus all subsequent output lines flush
     to right margin, up to the next ( $p ), ( $l ), ( $s ), or ( $f
     ).
 
$$s# -- paragraph line spacing: output # <CR>s for each paragraph
     indicator ( $p ). Defaults are $$s2 for print and $$s1 for
     braille.
 
$$tc -- clear all tab stops.
 
$$t# -- set a tab stop at absolute character position #.
 
$$t* -- establish a tab stop at current character position on the
     output line.
 
$$t+# -- establish a tab stop # characters to the right of current
     character position on the output line.
 
$$t-# -- establish a tab stop # characters to the left of current
     character position on the output line.
 
$$ <space> -- advance to next tab stop (four keystrokes: space, dollar
     sign, dollar sign, space).
 
$$ub -- underline begin (for inkprint); signals Grade 2 translator to
     place italics indicators.
 
$$uf -- underline finish (for inkprint); signals Grade 2 translator to
     finish placing italics indicators.
 
$$va -- do only braille page numbering with braille page number on the
     bottom line (after at least three spaces).
 
$$vb -- do only braille page numbering with braille page number on the
     top line (after at least three spaces); same as $$np for braille
     formatting.
 
$$vd# -- place line of dropped c's on line # on every page.
 
$$ve -- unconditional centering: like $$c <space> but does not refuse
     to center on the bottom line.
 
$$vf -- interpret current output line as running footer to place on
     bottom line of all output pages; begin and end footer definition
     with ( $p ), ( $l ), or ( $s ).
 
$$vg -- modify print or braille page numbering to lowercase Roman
     numerals; maximum page number of xc (90); use after page numbering
     command.
 
$$vh# -- interpret current output line as running header to place on
     line # of every output page; begin and end header definition with
     $p ), ( $l ), or ( $s ). Maximum number of headers is four; line
     1 plus three other lines. In the text of the running head, use
     tilde (~) to stand for the sequential page number.
 
$$vk -- "kram" following "word" to end of line.
 
$$vl# -- when fewer than # lines remain on current output page, move to
     new output page.
 
$$vln -- clear table mode established by $$vlt (see next command).
 
$$vlt -- table mode: do not place text on any line with a page number.
     In textbook format, keeps text off of top and bottom lines.
 
$$vn -- move to new output page unless that creates a blank page.
 
$$vo# -- make line # ordinary: clear any command affecting the line
     which # references. When # begins with minus sign, count up from
     the bottom line: $$vo-0 refers to bottom line on page, equal to
     your form length.
 
$$vp [word] -- in textbook format, make [word] the current print page
     indicator.
 
$$vrx -- repeat any single character, shown here as X, across the
     output line. $$vr"$$vk places guide dots leading up to a flush
     right word.
 
$$vs# -- skip line # on every output page. When # begins with a minus
     sign, count up from the bottom line on page: $$vs-1 means line
     above bottom line is blank (to separate footer from text).
 
$$vt -- begin textbook format (print page indicators in upper right,
     braille page numbers in lower right, line of dashes to start new
     print page in the middle of a braille page).
 
$$vyx -- place single character prefix, shown here as x, in front of
     the braille page number.
 
$$vy= -- (equal sign after the y) clear prefix character for braille
     page number.
 
$$vz -- if on line 2 after a running head, move down to line 3. Use in
     a heading to prevent it from occurring on line 2 after a running
     head.
 
$$w# -- set carriage width to # characters, clears margins.
 
                              Translation Modes
 
Each control code contains three characters: an at-sign, a letter, and a
     space. All three characters disappear in the braille output.
 
@l <space> -- literary translation (grade two)
 
@o <space> -- grade one translation
 
@n <space> -- no translation
 
@b <space> -- British translation (no capitalization indicators)
 
                           Other Translation Codes
 
@a -- accent Acute. Place this after the letter being accented. Use only
     in grade one translation mode.
 
@g -- accent grave. Place this after the letter being accented. Use only
     in grade one translation mode.
 
@, -- accent cedilla. Place this after the letter being accented. Use
     only in grade one translation mode.
 
@" -- accent diaeresis or umlaut. Place this after the letter being
     accented. Use only in grade one translation mode.
 
@^ -- accent circumflex. Place this after the letter being accented. Use
     only in grade one translation mode.
 
@s -- Spanish accent. Place this after the letter being accented. Use
     only in grade one translation mode.
 
@? -- Spanish question mark, regular or up-side-down).
 
@e -- diphthong with e. Use only in grade one translation mode. Place
     this after the letter being accented.
 
@` -- generic accent for this letter (put dot 4 in front of it). Place
     the command before the letter.
 
@; -- force a letter sign here.
 
@p -- prevent a letter sign.
 
@i -- inert sequence. To alter translation, place @i between letters
     that you do not want to contract.
 
@f -- force a character. The next character is passed on in the
     translation.
 
@t -- transcriber mark.
 
@d -- display punctuation with letter sign. Hot Dots places a letter
     sign in front of non-traditional punctuation (i.e., potentially
     confusing when read in grade 2 braille). An @d in front of
     punctuation forces the special display mode.
 
@r -- regular translation of punctuation. place this before punctuation
     if you want the traditional grade two version (no matter how
     confusing it is).
 
@' -- regular apostrophe (dot 3, not a single quote).
 
@o' -- open single quote.
 
@c' -- close single quote.
 
@o" -- open double quote.
 
@c" -- close double quote.
 
@o- -- opening Spanish conversation sign.
 
@c- -- closing Spanish conversation sign.
 
@@ -- at-sign.
 
                    Environmental Variables for Hot Dots
 
DOS allows communication with program modules through use of
     environmental variables. These are created with SET commands,
     usually in your AUTOEXEC file. Note that the equal sign in a SET
     command must not have any spaces around it. You can alter the
     behavior of the Hot Dots batch files by setting environmental
     variables. Here is the list:
 
PATH -- The current path is an environment variable. Make sure it
     includes the directory containing your Hot Dots software. This is
     usually C:\HOTDOTS.
 
HOTPATH -- do not set if Hot Dots software is in C:\HOTDOTS; otherwise
     set to the correct location. If you are operating from floppy
     disks, set to A: with the command SET HOTPATH=A: <enter>. (HOTPATH
     affects the batch files and Import.)
 
HOTDATA -- do not set unless your system has only two floppy drives and
     no hard disk; if so, set to B: with the command SET HOTDATA=B:
     <enter>. (HOTDATA affects the batch files and Import.)
 
HDWIDTH -- set to your brailler's carriage width if it is a value other
     than the default 40. Example: SET HDWIDTH=34 <enter> for a Braille
     Blazer.
 
HDFORM -- set to your brailler's form length if it is a value other than
     the default 25. Example: SET HDFORM=27 <enter> to pack in more
     lines.
 
HDDRIVER -- Set to CRANMER, DIPNER, LED120, or OHTSUKI if you are using
     one of these devices. Example: SET HDDRIVER=OHTSUKI /N <enter> for
     Ohtsuki with 25 lines on a page.
 
LINEAR -- set to 1 if you are outputting to a VersaBraille or any other
     linear braille device. (This changes the behavior of the batch
     files and Import, to free the output from format commands and
     hardcopy formatting, which would make reading more difficult.)
     Examples: SET LINEAR=1 <enter> to turn on, SET LINEAR= <enter>
     (nothing after the equal sign) to turn off. 