st_plug.txt K_TEXT Version 1.8.0 Copyright 1991 by Dan Panke Version Date: May 20, 1992 This version of K_TEXT is 'FREE'. OVERVIEW K_TEXT is a text file reader with a difference. Besides allowing you to read a text file in an easy manner it also allows the text file to contain VT52 commands, display up to 4 Tiny, Degas compressed or uncompressed picture files, play XBIOS 32 music files, and give the ability to append text files. When using a monochrome monitor, loaded text files will be searched for the use of VT52 commands. If any are found, the text will be edited so that VT52 text can be read in monochrome. K_TEXT provides an excellent and simple format for advertising or describing procedures. LOADING K_TEXT K_TEXT runs in medium or high resolution only. Load K_TEXT from the Atari desktop in the normal manner. K_TEXT OPERATION Once loaded, K_TEXT will greet the user by requesting a text file to be loaded through the file selector box. When a text file is selected and loaded the user may read through the text by using the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON to advance a page and the LEFT MOUSE BUTTON to go back a page of text. You can also move around the loaded text file with the Function keys. F1 will always take you to the start of the text file, F10 will take you to the end. F2 to F9 will move you somewhere in between the start and end depending on the size of the text file loaded. K_TEXT MENU COMMANDS Located at the top of the screen is a menu bar of commands. Simply point the mouse arrow at the desired command and it will be performed. These commands are: LOAD- The file selector will appear and you will be asked to select a text file to be loaded. *LOAD*- If a loaded text file has used the append feature the LOAD option will be surrounded by asterisks. Pointing at *LOAD* and clicking the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON will activate the append feature. Clicking the LEFT MOUSE BUTTON will activate the normal LOAD sequence. DISPLAY PICTURE- If a picture has been loaded with the text file the numbers to the right of the DISPLAY PICTURE command will be highlighted in RED (normal display in monochrome). Click on the desired picture number for viewing. QUIT- Used to quit K_TEXT. You will be asked to confirm the quit. The menu bar at the bottom of the screen will always display the name of the text file that is presently loaded. You'll notice the word 'FIND' located in the bottom left hand corner. This will also perfom a function should you click on it. FIND- Clicking on 'FIND' with the LEFT or RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON will change the menu bar at the top of the screen to text entry. You'll be asked to enter a string to search for within the loaded document. Initializing 'FIND' with the LEFT MOUSE BUTTON performs a search from the top of the document. Clicking with the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON performs a search starting from the second line displayed to the end of the document. LOADING TINY/DEGAS PICTURES AND XBIOS 32 MUSIC To incorporate Tiny or Degas picture files in your text, simply add up to 4 names of picture files at the beginning of your text file (in either upper or lower case). These picture files must be in Tiny, Degas compressed or uncompressed format and have any of the following extenders: .TN1, .TN2, .TN3, .TNY, .PI1, .PI2, .PI3, .PC1, .PC2, or .PC3. (Standard Degas pictures, PI#, can also be compressed using JAMPACK 4. The extender of the Degas picture should be left unchanged.) Following any or none of the Degas filenames may be one (1) XBIOS 32 music file. This file must have the extender of '.XBS'. If music is being played and you wish it to stop, press the 'ESC' key. After the music file a desired append file may be added. This text file must have the extender of '.TXT'. DO NOT ADD ANY DIRECTORY OR PATH NAMES TO ANY ADDED FILES. Place the pictures, music file, and append file in the same directory as the text file to be loaded. K_TEXT will default the directory and drive to that of the loaded text file. To compose XBIOS 32 music files I recommend using the XBIOS MUSIC CONSTRUCTION SET. This program can be found readily in the Public Domain. EXAMPLE: picture1.pi1 (NOTE: Pictures of any resolution are picture2.pi2 converted for viewing by K_TEXT.) picture3.pi3 music.xbs new_text.txt UPDATES: Version 1.5.1 -fixed a minor bug in the TINY picture display routine. Version 1.5.2 -added the 'LINE NUMBER' display at the top of the screen. Version 1.6.0 -removed the Pixel Perfect routine (because no one uses it) as well as the MAXI compression routine. Added a few more decompression routines for myself (LW & IC). Did a little more organization to reduce the overall size of the program. Version 1.6.1 -shortened LW routine and added LH routine as well. Version 1.6.2 -enabled looping of XBIOS music and the loading of compressed XBIOS music. Had to create a 70K buffer if music is loaded. (Don't load over 70K of XBIOS music.) Version 1.6.3 -stopped XBIOS music upon exiting program. Fixed minor bug for reading pictures that don't exist. Version 1.6.4 -shortened the program slightly by removing a redundant routine that checked for existing pictures. Version 1.7.0 -enabled the uncompression of standard Degas pictures created with JAMPACK 4 (LZH, LZW & ICE methods). -activated viewing of pictures in all resolutions. Centered text will indicate what resolution screen was converted from if a conversion was necessary. Version 1.8.0 -the JAMPACK 4 compressed pictures should now be left with the PI# extender. LZH, LZW and ICE extenders are not accepted. -XBIOS music (XBS extenders) can also be compressed using JAMPACK 4. The XBS extender remains. If you have any questions or comments, I can be reached on the following systems. GEnie: D.PANKE CompuServe: 73257,2635 Delphi: DPANKE If you're looking for an excellent source of software at reasonable prices, look no further. Just send $1.00 or a blank disk to ST-PLUG and you'll receive descriptions and ordering information for the complete line of Budgie UK products (the disk will also contain a few useful programs as well!) ST-PLUG 1670 Heron Road, Box 22026, Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1V 0C2 BBS (613) 731-2779