
        
                      Runner -- A Desktop Alternative

                                NEW STUFF
                         New Features and Changes
        
                        Software and Documentation
                    Copyright (C) 1993 by Dave Thorson
                    Version 1.61     November 18, 1993

        
        This file starts with the standard features of Runner and 
        then describes any fixes or additions implemented in later 
        releases.  It is mostly intended for prior users of Runner 
        but will also tell you about capabilities you might be
        looking for....


                
$$      Standard Features of Runner:

        * Runs in ANY ST/STe resolution.

        * Programs can be run without worrying about what folder 
        or disk they're physically stored in.  Runner switches to 
        the program's disk and folder automatically (usually -- 
        see details below).

        * Tos-Takes-Parameters (.TTP) programs normally require a 
        command line or parameters to be entered; Runner prompts 
        you for this.  Command lines can be longer than the 20 
        provided for in the desktop's dialogue box.

        * Lets you include up to 15 programs per menu; any of 
        these programs can be run with the click of a mouse.  
        Programs are included by simply selecting them from a file 
        selector box, regardless of drive or folder.  Additional 
        information may be entered about the program to customize 
        how it will work and what it is called in menu lists.

        * Any of the 15 programs in a menu can be a menu itself, 
        giving you access to 15 more programs or menus by clicking 
        on the menu.

        * Menus can be nested up to 15 levels deep (although why 
        you would ever need more than three levels I don't 
        know....).

        * Programs and menus are listed using descriptions rather 
        than filenames.  The default description for Degas Elite 
        is "Degelite", the original program name minus the .PRG 
        extension.  If you like "Degelite" as a description, fine, 
        or you can change it to the more readable "Degas Elite".  
        Descriptions can be up to 20 characters.  Runner tries to 
        "beautify" filenames such as "CAD3D.PRG" to the 
        (sometimes) more readable form of "Cad 3 D", or 
        "SHOW_PIC.TTP" to "Show Pic", but you can still change the   
        description Runner provides to whatever you like.

        * Programs and menus can be forced to appear only in 
        certain resolutions.  You don't need to see Spectrum 512 
        in the list when using a monochrome monitor, for example.

        * Runner can force the screen resolution on a color 
        monitor from low to medium or from medium to low, and this 
        is remembered independently for each listed program.  
        While GEM does not always keep up with this trickery, it 
        does allow you to run some programs successfully (or 
        perhaps well enough to gain benefit) from the wrong 
        resolution.  Mini-Run supports these forced resolution 
        changes as well.

        * Programs and menus can be added, dropped, restored or 
        changed at any time.

        * Access to a file selector is always a mouse click or 
        keypress away.  If a selected file is a program, Runner 
        will run it as if it were listed in a menu.  Otherwise, 
        Runner will display the file on the screen.  "Funny" 
        characters are stripped out, and the text is wrapped at 
        the right edge of the screen, word-processor style.  The 
        GEM Desktop has trouble displaying files in low res that 
        are more than 40 characters wide; it breaks them at the 
        40th column, usually in the middle of a word, and loses   
        the line count so that up to forty half-lines may scroll 
        off the screen without being read.  To make matters worse, 
        a text file in the wrong format (such as from ST Writer) 
        just keeps scrolling on by.  Runner's file view fixes all 
        these problems, and lets you move backward through the a 
        file as well.

        * Programs can be "installed" so that clicking on one of 
        their document or data files in the file selector will 
        cause the program to be run.  The name of the data file is 
        passed to the program so it can be automatically loaded if 
        the program supports this.

        * If you use an advanced file selector like Universal Item   
        Selector (UIS III) from Application and Design Software or   
        Little Green File Selector (from Charles F. Johnson), all 
        of its capabilities will be available.  UIS III, for 
        example, lets you rename, copy, delete, print and move 
        files, as well as format disks.  You will not need to exit 
        to the desktop for these functions.

        * Runner will use any Degas-compatible picture as a 
        background display.  Pictures for the current resolution 
        can be loaded on startup or after Runner is running.  If 
        memory is short, a picture can be unloaded to free up 
        32,000 bytes.  Template "guide" files are included to help 
        you design your own background scenes.

        * Desk Accessories are also available while in Runner.  
        Due to some insurmountable quirks in GFA BASIC (or is it 
        GEM?), the accessory interface is a bit strange but it's 
        there....

        * Runner's menu lists can be saved any time, loaded on 
        startup or loaded from within Runner.  You can have 
        different "configuration" files (containing different menu 
        lists and color selections) for different purposes, if 
        desired.

        * The palette used for running programs can be selected to 
        be the desktop colors, the colors last saved in 
        RUNNER.CFG, colors used for viewing text files, or the 
        colors of whatever picture file is loaded at the time.  
        This palette selection does not affect the displayed 
        picture (unless you want it to).
        

                
$$      New Features: Version 1.40
        
        Runner has grown by about 12K from the last release (1.3), 
        but there are lots of new features and a few fixes in 
        version 1.40:

        * Support for Mini-Run is main addition.  Programs can be 
        set in the description dialog box to always use Mini-Run, 
        or you can force a program to be run from Mini-Run as you 
        select it.

        * A separate text palette is available (and remembered 
        when saving a RUNNER.CFG file).  This lets you select the 
        colors you like best for reading text, regardless of 
        preferences for running programs or other Runner 
        background colors.

        * All color palettes can now be changed from within 
        Runner.

        * QuickKeys can be assigned to any program in your Runner 
        menu lists to let you run that program by pressing the 
        assigned QuickKey.  QuickKeys can be listed like a Runner 
        menu.

        * Ability to restore a dropped program or menu to 
        another place in your menu structure.

        * All Adds and Restores are now sorted alphabetically, 
        with menus at the top of each list (to sort older menus, 
        drop and restore any names out of order).

        * On-line help for keyboard commands is available (this is 
        done by viewing a disk file to save memory, but the file 
        is small and is quickly accessed by pressing the HELP 
        key).

        * 12-hour time, 24-hour time or date can be displayed on 
        main menu screen.  The Backspace key switches between 
        them.

        * File selector can now be accessed by pressing SPACE 
        (since the HELP key is now used for, would you believe it, 
        Help).

        * Mouse clicks in File View now move forward/backward and 
        exit.

        * Smart mouse click checking lets you consistently 
        register BOTH buttons (in the few places BOTH are needed) 
        by pressing the second any time before releasing the 
        first.  No more need to violate of the Laws of Physics by 
        trying to press both buttons at EXACTLY the same time.

        * New RUNNER.CFG file format is not usable by older 
        versions of Runner, but RCONVERT.PRG is included to 
        convert older .CFG files to the new format with NO loss of 
        information.

        * You now stay in the file selector until you select 
        Cancel, rather than exiting any time a program is run.

        * Palette checking for background/text color distinction 
        has been  removed.  It is now possible to make text 
        invisible if you want, but you also have easy access to 
        palette changes to fix this problem.  This also fixes the 
        problem where text colors were sometimes changed to be 
        less readable than when they started.

        * Several routines built in to GFA BASIC 3.x now replace 
        the ones I wrote in GFA BASIC 2.x, to take less memory and 
        provide greater speed in places.

        * The keyboard commands for selecting color palettes have 
        changed to N-iNitial, K-desKtop, G-backGround and T-Text.

        * Menu location (left and right) and menu background (type 
        of space blanked out behind menu lists) are now adjustable 
        and are saved for each background picture as well as for a 
        single no-background setup.  Changed picture palettes are 
        also saved for each picture.  These adjustments can be 
        made within Runner.

        * Degas Elite color-cycling animation is now supported, 
        all four channels of it.

        * H key now hides all text, leaving the background picture 
        (or blank screen) in full view.  Z key hides picture AND 
        text.

        * Support for remembering the color changes made by a 
        program run from runner is disabled; the meaning of that 
        flag in the description box has been changed to force 
        Mini-Run to run the program.  Check the description dialog 
        box for any programs where you enabled "Keep Colors".

        * .APP programs are now supported - maybe.  I'm not sure 
        what these are (my TOS 1.0 desktop doesn't know about 
        them) but have been told they are set up just like .PRG 
        files.  Runner treats them as .PRG files.  If this doesn't 
        work for some reason, write me and let me know.

        * RCONVERT.PRG provided to convert older configuration 
        files to the current format.
        
        
        
$$  New Features: Version 1.50

        * Another small increase in size (about 15K).

        * Support for Regions program.

        * Support for default parameter strings for all programs 
        and data files.  Name substitution is also possible based 
        on selected file.  Program comments can be stored instead 
        of parameter strings.  Both comments and parameter strings 
        can be skipped over when program is run or displayed for 
        editing (if parameters) or verification (if comments).
        
        * Installed applications and QuickKeys are now handled 
        from within the Description Dialog Box.  20 QuickKeys can 
        be defined and up to 63 applications can be installed, 
        with multiple file extensions recognized for each.
        
        * You can now place data files in Runner menus.  When 
        selected they will be viewed or run by a matching 
        installed application.

        * File View has been completely rewritten to be much 
        faster.  It now supports searches, screen printing, and 
        very fast moves forward, back, and to top of file.  If a 
        file is too large to fit in memory it will be loaded in 
        one section at a time.  Also supports 40 (wide) and 80 
        (narrow) characters in viewing on color monitors 
        (selectable from either low or medium res).
        
        * Additional time/date formats (alternating time/date).  
        12/24 hour time and mm/dd/yy or dd/mm/yy date formats are 
        all available, and you can chose time, date, alternating 
        or no display.

        * Shifted number keys (1,2,3...,9,0) load in picture files 
        assigned within the Regions program.

        * Loading a picture file now loads a Runner configuration 
        file with a matching name (in addition to the pictures 
        config file).

        * Picture files can now be in compressed Degas Elite 
        format (.PC1, .PC2 or .PC3).
        
        * A picture file such as RUNNER.PI1 can now contain 
        another filename and path, allowing you to change one 
        small file to point at different startup pictures rather 
        than use more space to copy them or get confused by 
        renaming them.  RPICNAME.PRG will help you do this.

        * Program description dialog box now lets you select which 
        color palette will be used for each program.

        * Runner's menus can be turned on and off (press the "O" 
        key).  With active screen regions you may not want to see 
        the menus.

        * Menu names and data files can be assigned to QuickKeys.  
        Even if menus are off, a QuickKey (or screen region 
        assigned to it) can still display a sub-menu when needed.
        
        * "Color" menu for monochrome is now the same as that used 
        for color monitors.  The "W" key no longer changes 
        monochrome palettes (change BLUE of register 0 to alter 
        monochrome palette).

        * Color palette handling revised.
        
        * RCONFIG.PRG updated to convert Runner 1.3x and Runner 
        1.4x configuration files to 1.5x format.
        
        * Mini-Run program interface revised to track the Desktop 
        palette, so that this palette will not be lost when 
        calling Mini-Run as was done in the past.  Also, lower 
        case characters can now be passed to an application intact 
        without the uppercase conversion seen in prior versions.  
        To accomplish these, a tradeoff was made: characters in 
        the range of ASCII 225 to ASCII 250 can no longer be 
        passed as parameters using Mini-Run.  This shouldn't cause 
        anyone a problem since these are well outside of the range 
        of normal, printable characters; but let me know if it 
        won't work for you!
        
        * Quick escape has been added -- if you hold down either 
        Shift key while Runner loads, it will exit as soon as 
        possible once the program starts.


        
$$  New Features: Version 1.60c
        
        * Sorry, another (very) small increase in size (only 4K!)
        
        * Ability to change the filename or path referenced by a 
        menu item -- no need to drop and re-add programs or data 
        files because you moved them to a different disk or folder
        or because a new version of a program has a different 
        name.  See DIALOG.HLP for more info.
        
        * Alt-letters can now be used to access a file selector to 
        a specific drive.  Hold down the Alternate key and press A 
        for drive A:, use Alt-B for drive B:, and so on.  This is 
        the way the newer Atari systems work as well....
        
        Note: since Alternate plus a letter key is now used to 
        access a file selector, the Alt-Save, Alt-iNitial, Alt-
        desKtop, Alt-backGround and Alt-Text menu commands no 
        longer work.  The Control key must now be used (Alternate 
        still works other places, but Control is recommended to 
        avoid unnecessary delays).

        * Random picture selection - Runner can now randomly 
        display a background picture from a list at startup, or 
        any other time you load a picture list.  The program 
        Rpicsel lets you create and maintain these lists, and is 
        available only to registered users.

        * You can now select a background picture or list at 
        startup by pressing a number or letter key corresponding 
        to the picture name "RUNNERa.PIx" (or .PCx for compressed 
        pics or .PLx for picture lists), where "a" represents any 
        letter or number key.

        * Runner's background can now be any of the ST's built-in 
        patterns instead of a picture, saving the 32K of memory 
        needed by a picture and easing the monotony of a blank 
        screen.  A different background can be remembered for each 
        screen resolution.
        
        * If you really need to create a parameter line for a 
        program which contains a "~" character, you can now do it!  
        Simply use two of them in a row for every "~" you need.  A 
        single "~" is still replaced by the filename of a data 
        file or is removed from the parameter line if the program 
        itself is run by selecting it from a menu.
        
        * It is now possible to use Regions without a background 
        pic!  If no pic is in memory and you use a Save command 
        (or Control/S) then the name "NO_PIC.CFx" is used, where x 
        is 1, 2 or 3 depending on current screen resolution.  You 
        can also load a .CFx file instead of a .PIx or .PCx 
        background pic.  This works whether or not you have a 
        background pic in memory, and gives you a way to copy .CFx 
        settings from one pic to another.  If a .CFx file is 
        loaded and changed using Regions, then a Save will write 
        to the same .CFx filename instead of NO_PIC.Cfx.  You can 
        also rename a .CFx file to RUNNER.CFx even if you don't 
        have a RUNNER.PIx or RUNNER.PCx file, and the .CFx file 
        will be loaded on startup.  This gives you access to the 
        Autorun capability and all the other Regions stuff even if 
        you prefer not to use a background picture.

        * Added "key reminder" help for File View; access it by 
        pressing ? or Help keys.  It's not pretty but it should 
        help jog your memory....

                        
$$  Fixes: Version 1.60c/1.60d
        
        * Fixed all known problems with sending command lines 
        (parameters) using Min-Run, and with re-use of the prior 
        command line when the same program (and data file, if 
        used) is run a second time.
        
        * Removed "early exit" check at program startup -- if this 
        causes any problems, let me know.

        * Mouse is now hidden when viewing text files

        * Bug in viewing large files was found (apparently it 
        hasn't been possible to view files over 128,000 bytes for 
        some time, but nobody complained so far....) and fixed.
        
        * Other minor fixes and enhancements
        
        * Fixes to Regions program include dropping the "W" 
        function (which hasn't been available in Runner for a 
        long while), hiding comments and parameters from 
        descriptions displayed for files assigned to QuickKeys, 
        and changing File Selector access key assignments from 1, 
        2, 3... to Alt-a, Alt-b, etc.

        
$$  More Fixes: Version 1.61 (November 1993)
        
        * "Fix" command is now Control/F instead of just F, so 
        it's harder to hit by accident.
        
        * Fixed background pic "Load/Def Fill/Cancel" dialog box for 
        low res; fixed some file selector bugs; fixed tabs in File 
        View (they're at least handled a bit better now); and 
        fixed problem with changing & saving the Initial palette.
        
        * Added help reminder dialog box to File View -- just 
        press the Help key for a list of key and mouse click 
        options.
        
        * Disabled use of Alt from File Selector as a way to 
        trigger Mini-Run.  You can still use Control when 
        selecting a program from the file selector to run it from 
        Mini-Run, or for non-programs, to force them into File 
        View instead of any installed application that would 
        otherwise get loaded.  Use of the Alternate key caused 
        problems for users of G+Plus (a GDOS replacement from the 
        great guys at Codehead Software).
        
        * Pressing Esc key on menu screen now cycles through the 
        following options:
        
          MINI-RUN  - next program will be run using Mini-Run
          HOLD SCR  - when next program exits, the screen will be 
                    held until you press a key or mouse button
          MRUN/HLD  - combination of Mini-Run and Hold Screen
          (none)    - either blank, or time/date display
        
        * Runner can now remember which background pic is in use 
        across calls to Mini-Run and even when you use Fix to 
        reload Runner.  All you need to do is put a file called 
        "SAVE_PIC.RUN" in Runner's home directory/folder.  Runner 
        stores the picture name and path in the file, but clears 
        it after a normal exit from Runner so if you like your 
        pictures randomly selected at startup, it all still works.  
        Create SAVE_RUN.PIC by copying any small file to Runner's 
        home directory and rename it.
        
        * Added "H" - Half Page Down option in File View.  It's 
        not perfect but very helpful when you want to see a group 
        of lines split across two screens.  Just press the H key.
        
        * Added warning when you try to Exit or Fix (reload) 
        Runner without saving changes to your setup.  You can 
        exit if you want to lose any changes, but this may keep 
        you from losing work if you liked the changes!
        
        * BIGGEST CHANGE: The programs that you only got by 
        registering (Regions, Mini-Run, and Rpicsel) are now 
        included in the shareware version.  Don't get too happy 
        yet, because they've all been sabotaged one way or another 
        to keep you from getting full use -- but you can still try 
        them, read the on-line help, and so on.  See the 
        OTHERS.HLP file for details!

