
                      Protext v6.5 README file
                      ------------------------

Installation
------------

A new easier way to install onto hard disk is now available.
Simply double click on INSTALL.PS on the Program Disk and
follow the on-screen instructions.


README and Help
---------------

The information here is also included  in the Help file and
accessible from Protext (press  F1  or  use File Menu/Help).
Help provides menus  to  allow  the  required  subject to be
found easily. The main reason  for reproducing the text here
is to allow it to be printed.

In particular please read 'Latest Information' available from
the 'What's new' menu.


Special notes
-------------

See the end of this file for the following note:

	Upgrading from v4.3 or earlier



New for v6.50
-------------

Print preview
-------------

Menu:     Print menu / Preview
Command:  PREVIEW (<filename>) (<list of pages>)
          PV (<filename>) (<list of pages>)

Shows a graphical representation of the  document on the screen, one
page at a time. Different size  fonts,  bold and underlining are shown
as they will appear  when  printed.  Imported  graphic images are also
shown.

Print preview is indispensable for checking the layout of a document
before printing.

After each page is displayed the following actions are available:

1. Type a page number to show a specified page.

2. Press a key to go on to  next page. Clicking on the right half of
the screen also moves to the next page.

3. Press  to go back  a  page  (note  that this requires Protext to
recalculate from the start of  the  file  so  to review the last few
pages it is much quicker to  type  the earliest required page number
and move forwards). Clicking on  the  left  half  of the screen also
moves to the previous page.

4. Press ESC to finish previewing.


Usage notes:

To get a correct representation of  the printed page ensure that the
paper  size  is  set  up  correctly  in  Document  Settings.  It  is
recommended that Document Settings  is  used  to define page layout,
rather than  stored  commands.  If  landscape  printing  is  chosen in
document settings (only available on  some printers), the preview will
show a landscape page.


Colour Graphics Viewer
----------------------
Protext has a built in viewer for graphic image files. The following
formats may be displayed:

     PCX
     GIF
     IFF (or LBM)
     GEM IMG

To view an image use Import Graphic  from the Tools menu, select the
file using the file selector (or type in the name) and click on View
(or press V). The image will  be  displayed as large as possible, in
full colour.


Auto-Correct
------------

Auto-correct is, as the name suggests,  a feature which will automati
cally correct certain typing  mistakes.  It  can  also  be  used as an
abbreviation database as will be seen.

The main function of Auto-Correct is  to  look at each word that you
type, compare it to a stored list  of  words and if a match is found
to substitute  that  word  with  some  other  text.  The replacement
happens after you type  a  word  and  press  space,  TAB or move the
cursor, with the exception of cursor-right.

To prevent Auto-correct replacing the text press  or  after the word
and it will be left unaltered.

Applications of Auto-Correct (replace text) include:

1. Correction of common spelling errors (e.g. seperate -> separate).
2. Substitution of preferred words  to  follow the house style (e.g.
disk -> diskette, ProText -> Protext).
3. Use of abbreviations to  ease  typing long repeated phrases (e.g.
EU -> European Union).

The second function of Auto-Correct  is correction of capitalisation
mistakes. If this feature is enabled, Protext will:

1. Capitalise the first word of each  new sentence (after you type a
full stop, exclamation mark or question mark).
2. Correct the common typing  mistake  of typing two capital letters
at the start of a word.
3. Capitalise the first word of  proper  nouns. If typing in German,
capitalise the first letter of all nouns.

Note: The last two of these  capitalisation options only work if spell
checking whilst typing is  turned  on.  This  is  because the spelling
dictionaries are used for these features.


Auto-Correct Commands and Options

SHIFT-CTRL-A may be used to turn Auto-Correct on and off.

There are two options in  CONFIG  (Spell  menu) allowing each of the
two functions of Auto-Correct to be turned on or off:

     Auto-Correct (replace text)
     Auto-Correct (Capitalisation)

The second option  (capitalisation)  is  only  effective  if the first
option is ON. So the three  available options are (i) all Auto-Correct
features enabled, (ii) just  the  text  replacing  feature enabled and
(iii) Auto-Correct off.


Editing the Auto-Correct database

Protext 6.5 is supplied with a small sample of Auto-Correct entries.
If not wanted, these may be deleted with the Auto-Correct editor.

The editor can also be used to  add new entries and change or delete
existing  entries.  Use   Spell   Menu/Edit  Auto-Correct  database.
Operation is the same as the macro editor.

If you own a copy  of  Arnor's  database software, Prodata, this may
also be used to  edit  the  Auto-Correct  database. This is possible
because the method of storage is the  same as for Prodata. The Auto-
Correct database is, simply, a  Prodata  database. This ensures fast
operation for a very large number of entries. Prodata is not needed,
but would be useful in  creating  and maintaining large Auto-Correct
lists.

The Auto-Correct list is stored  in three files, called PROCORR.PFD,
PROCORR.PFX and PROCORR.PFP. All three must be copied together to make
a backup. For use  in  Protext,  the  files  should  be present in the
spelling checker path directory  (usually  \PROTEXT\LEX on your chosen
drive).


Format of Auto-Correct abbreviations

Auto-Correct abbreviations (or words for correction) must start with
a letter and may include letters, digits, and punctuation symbols.

A pair of words separated by a single space may also be added to the
database. Whenever the two  words  are  typed  they will be replaced
with the expansion string.


Program mode

The text replacement feature of Auto-Correct  may be used in program
mode and may be turned on and off independently of the document mode
setting.



Spell Checking
--------------

Spell checking is  carried   out   against   several   (up  to five)
dictionary files simultaneously.  These dictionaries (LEX files) are
in a compressed format  and  a  number  of  commands are provided to
allow editing/modification/searching of these dictionaries.

There are three ways of using the spelling checker:

1. Press CTRL-S. Protext will spell  check from the cursor position.
Whenever an unrecognised word is found a dialog will appear (new for
v6.5). The word will be looked up  in the dictionaries and a list of
suggested corrections will be offered. Possible actions are:

     (i) Replace with a word from the list
     (ii) Edit the word as typed
     (iii) Skip (leave the word unchanged)
     (iv) Ignore this and subsequent occurrences
     (v) Mark the word with a spell ignore marker
     (vi) Store the word  in  the  update  user dictionary or any
     other specified user dictionary
     (vii) 'Learn' the correct spelling  (store the original word
     and the selected correction in the Auto-Correct database)
     (viii) Change All. This replaces the word as in (i) and also
     remembers the change. As spell checking proceeds, any future
     occurrences are quietly changed as they are found.


2. Spell check whilst typing. Turn on or off by pressing SHIFT-CTRL-
S or in CONFIG. A beep will  sound when an unrecognised word is typed.
You can then press CTRL-Q to get the dialog with the options described
above.

3. Spell check the whole document  with the SPELL command. This method
is no longer recommended  on  fast  computers  because CTRL-S performs
extra checking and provides extra options.


Multi-file search
-----------------

     The  Find  and  Replace  commands  have  been  extended  to  allow
     searching through a number of files.

     Multi-file search can be used from command mode (FIND, REPLACE) or
     from the menu (Edit, Find text or Replace text).


     Disk file search

     FIND <string> <options> D <list of file specs.>

     This will search through a list  of  files.  When a match is found
     the file will be loaded  for  editing with the string highlighted.
     When the 'next find'  key  is  pressed  the  search will continue,
     first in the same file and  when  the  end  of the file is reached
     onto the next file. If a file  has  been edited the chance to save
     it will be given before moving on to the next file.

     Wildcards may be  used  in  the  file  specifications.  If no file
     specification is given all  text  files  in  the current directory
     will be searched (Protext  will  automatically skip non-text files
     such as programs and backup  files  with the extension '.BAK'). If
     the 'D' option is omitted but  a  file specification is given, the
     Disk search option will be assumed.

     The other options may  be  used  with  Disk  file search with some
     provisos:

     G - this is not relevant as there  is no cursor position in a file
     on disk. The search will always  begin  at  the start of the first
     file.

     M - this is ignored, the disk search takes precedence.
     B - this is ignored, searching is always forwards.

     Usually when the disk search is  complete  none of the files will
     remain in memory. If  you  wish  to  keep  a  file for working on
     later, then swap to a new file  when the match is displayed (Swap
     Menu/New File). Press the next find  key (F6) and the search will
     resume, keeping the previous file in memory.


     REPLACE <old string> <new string> <options> D <file specs.>

     The 'D' option may be used  with  REPLACE.  When a string is found
     and replaced in a file, that  file  will  be saved when the end is
     reached. The original version will remain as the backup (.BAK).

     When replacing the file specification may not be omitted as it can
     with FIND.



     Memory file search

     FIND <string> <options> M

     This will search through  all  the  files  open  in memory. When a
     match is found Protext will  swap  to  the  relevant file with the
     string highlighted. When the 'next find' key is pressed the search
     will continue, first in the same file and when the end of the file
     is reached onto the next file.

     The other options may be  used  with  Memory file search with some
     provisos:

     G - this is assumed, the memory  search always begins at the start
     of the current file.
     B - this is ignored, search is always forwards. When an occurrence
     is found, the 'Previous find' key may be used to go back, but only
     within the current file.
     D - this may not be used with memory search.


     Examples:

     F election  D  *.DOC *.TXT
       ; find "election" in .DOC and .TXT files
     F elect    AD  *.DOC *.TXT
       ; count the occurrences of "elect"
     F Protext   M
       ; find "Protext" in all open documents
     R protext Protext MCW
       ; capitalise the word "protext" throughout open documents


WHEREIS (WI)
------------
Syntax:   WI (<drive>:)(<path>)<filespec>

Description:   Scans the disk and  lists  full  details of all files
     matching the given specification. The number of files
     found and their total size is  shown at the end. If a
     drive is given that drive will be searched, otherwise
     the current drive. If a path is given the search will
     be  limited   to   the   given   directory   and  any
     subdirectories.

Examples: WI C:\PROTEXT\*.*
       ; all files in C:\PROTEXT and subdirs
     WI *.PPD
       ; all printer drivers on current disk



New for v6.08
-------------

Colours   When a colour printer driver is  being used the style editor
          now has a text box to choose the colour for a style. Use one
          of the letters RGBCMYK. If no colour is specified the colour
          is not changed.

Macros    A macro may  now  be  called  from  within  another macro or
          glossary entry (nested to  one  level  only).  Use the macro
          editor or the KEY command  to  include  a macro token within
          another macro definition.

Glossary  Glossary names  may  now  include  numbers  and  punctuation
          symbols.

Style editor
          A style name is generated  automatically  from the font name
          if one is not given.


Extra information not contained in the manual:
----------------------------------------------

Document Settings:

 Save            The 'Save' button  now  allows  document  settings  to be
                 saved under any filename. The  '.SET' file extension will
                 be used. PROTEXT.SET is a special file which contains the
                 default settings, that is those  use  to initialise a new
                 document.

 Load            The  'Load'  button  will   load   the  settings  from  a
                 previously  saved  .SET  file.   Settings   can  also  be
                 extracted  from  another  document   -  just  select  the
                 document using the file selector that is called up by the
                 'Load' button.

 Default         The 'Default' button will  restore  the document settings
                 to the built in  defaults.  This  is  useful  if you have
                 changed the margins for  one  of  the standard page sizes
                 and want to put it back.

 Paper size      A number of new sizes have  been  added and these are now
                 selected with a  list  box.  The  new  sizes  include the
                 American paper  sizes,  'A4  continuous'  (use  this  for
                 11.67" continuous stationery which  is often described as
                 A4 although it  is  slightly  different),  and  'A5 on A4
                 paper' (use this to print A5 size centred on A4 paper).

 Tabs            The tabs are set in units  of  a tenth of an inch (unlike
                 on the picture in the manual). Numbers may be followed by
                 the tab type:

                 . for decimal tab
                 C for centre tab

                 Example:   5 12C 20. 30.

                 This sets a  normal  tab  0.5"  from  the  left margin, a
                 centre tab 1.2" in and decimal tabs at 2" and 3".

Document settings and Config

                 Document settings are  now  automatically  saved with all
                 Protext  6  documents.  (To  create  a  document  without
                 document settings use 'Save As' and choose 'Protext 5').

                 This  means  the  Layout   Options   in  Config  are  now
                 redundant. To change  the  default  settings use Document
                 Settings  and  Save  as  PROTEXT.SET  (this  is  used  to
                 initialise every new document).

                 The Layout Options menu is  still  present in Config, but
                 only for  use  with  Protext  5  format  documents. Three
                 options that are still used  have  been moved from Layout
                 Options.  'Continuous  printing'  and   'New  page  after
                 printing' are  now  in  Printer  Options.  'Unit  used on
                 status line' is now in Editing Options.

Style files      There is now a 'Files'  button  in the style editor which
                 calls up the 'Style files dialogue'.

                 There are two sections to  the  style files dialogue. One
                 is concerned with the printer  driver  style file and the
                 other with user  style  files.  The  former is associated
                 with the current printer driver and  has the same name as
                 the  printer  driver  with  the  extension  '.STY'.  This
                 'printer driver style file'  will  be  saved  in the same
                 directory as the printer driver.  Saved styles are loaded
                 automatically with  the  printer  driver  so  it  is  not
                 normally necessary to load them.

                 User style files may be given  any name and may be stored
                 in any directory. These are  used  by loading as required
                 from the style files  dialogue.  Style  files always have
                 the extension '.STY'.

                 Each section of the  dialogue  has three buttons: 'Load',
                 'Save' and 'Merge'.

   Load          Loads styles from the specified style file (or document),
                 replacing  those  in  the  style  menu  and  the  current
                 document. This completely  replaces  all  styles, any not
                 defined in the style file  will  be erased. If a document
                 is selected instead of a  style  file  the styles will be
                 extracted from that document.

   Save          Saves the currently defined styles.

   Merge         Updates the styles in a document  from those in the style
                 file.  The  style  file  will  be  merged  with  existing
                 document styles, replacing any with  the same letters and
                 leaving others alone.

                 Four commands are provided to  control the use of styles.
                 These perform the  same  functions  as  the  styles files
                 dialogue.

                 SAVESTYLES (SVS) <filename> - saves the currently defined
                 styles (as shown in the  style  menu)  in the file of the
                 specified name (with extension '.STY').

                 LOADSTYLES (LDS)  <filename>  -  loads  styles  from  the
                 specified style file, replacing  those  in the style menu
                 and the current  document.  This  completely replaces all
                 styles, any not defined in the style file will be erased.

                 RESTYLE (RES)  <filename>  -  updates  the  styles  in  a
                 document from those in  the  style  file.  The style file
                 will be merged with  existing  document styles, replacing
                 any with the same letters and leaving others alone. If no
                 filename is given the active printer driver style file is
                 used.

                 STYLE - defines a style.  Note that style definitions are
                 stored in the style file  in  the form of STYLE commands.
                 This command will not normally be  needed as it is easier
                 to defines styles with the style editor.

Graphics import  An extra option  has  been  added  to  the dialogue, 'Use
                 printer resolution'. If selected,  the  image will not be
                 scaled -  the  size  will  be  determined  by  the chosen
                 resolution.

                 A image scanned at 300 dpi and printed on a laser printer
                 at 300 dpi will  print  the  same  size  as the original.
                 Choosing 150  dpi  will  double  the  size  of  the image
                 without losing data.

   Greyscales    Normally a colour  image  will  be  printed  with various
                 shades of grey. Sometimes this  may give poor results, so
                 an option has  been  added  to  convert  to  a monochrome
                 image. Use the '-B'  option  on  the '>IG' stored command
                 line.

                 -B <percentage>

                 The higher the percentage,  the  darker the printed
                 image. (The given percentage  of the available grey
                 scale colours will be printed black, absolute black
                 will always be  printed  black,  the  rest  will be
                 white). Try '-B50' first and adjust if necessary by
                 10% at a time.

  PostScript     Support for printing graphics on a PostScript printer has
                 been added (v6.07).

Printer drivers

 Page offsets    Laser and inkjet printers will typically start printing a
                 little way down from the top and a little way in from the
                 left edge. Printer drivers  now  contain settings for the
                 sizes of these margins, so that Protext can correctly set
                 the margins as  requested  in  document  settings. A left
                 margin of one inch  in  document  settings now means just
                 that - earlier  versions  of  Protext  would  have left a
                 margin of 1.25" on most laser printers.

                 The offsets can be  set  in  the  printer driver with the
                 commands MINTM and MINBM.

                 The printer driver must  be  updated by extracting it
                 again from the new  GPD  file.  Do  this  in Config
                 by selecting the printer from the list marked with *.

  Default style  The default style can now  be  set  in the printer driver
                 with the US command (used as the >US stored command).

Save commands    Commands have been added as equivalents to the options in
                 the 'Save As' dialogue. The commands are:

                 SAVE5 <filename>    save as Protext 5 format
                 SAVEAR <filename>   save as Ascii reformattable
                 SAVEAP <filename>   save as Ascii page image
                 SAVEAPB <filename>  save block as Ascii page image

                 The filename must be  given.  Abbreviations  are S5, SAR,
                 SAP and SAPB.


Miscellany

SHIFT-CTRL-P     This will change the units  used  on  the status line and
                 elsewhere, cycling through inches, cm and lines/columns.

Header, Footer and
Footnote style   The style for headers, footers  or footnotes can be
                 set with the  stored  commands  >HS,  >FS  and >NS.
                 These work in the same  way  as >US, which sets the
                 style for the main  text  and  is  described in the
                 reference manual, page 86.

Proper quotes    Both single  and  double  quotes  are  now  automatically
                 printed  as  proper  quotes  on  many  laser  and  inkjet
                 printers and ESC/P2  dot  matrix  printers. Double quotes
                 are always printed in the neutral form (") in fixed pitch
                 fonts, but  single  quotes  are  converted  to  different
                 characters. If the  spell  checking  language  is  set to
                 German, the German style of  quotes  (below and above the
                 text) is used.

Contents generation
                 A further  option  has  been  added  to  the  >GC  stored
                 command. If two numbers are  given the second number sets
                 the position of the page number  tab in the contents file
                 ruler.

Marking a word or line with the mouse

                 CTRL-left button will mark the current line as a block.
                 SHIFT-left button will mark the current word.
                 In each case the cursor will  be positioned at the end of
                 the marked block so that a  style  or control code can be
                 used to apply to the block.

Printing & and !
                 It is now  possible  to  print  text  containing  &  or !
                 symbols without giving  an  'Unknown  variable'  error. A
                 Config option ('Other  options'  menu)  must  be  used to
                 disable the error messages. If the name contained between
                 & or ! symbols  is  not  a  defined  variable  it will be
                 printed as is, including the &'s or !'s.

Repeat loops     The reference manual (page 83) comments that repeat loops
                 may not be nested. This is  incorrect, they may be nested
                 up to 8 levels deep.

Help            The help file has been renamed PROTEXT6.HLP.

Line drawing     Use SHIFT-CTRL + arrows for line drawing, not ALT.




Upgrading from v4.3 or earlier
------------------------------

The spell checking dictionaries file format changed after Protext 4.3.
If you wish to continue  to  use  the  words  stored  in your old user
dictionary you must convert it to the new format.

The user dictionary 'USER.DCT'  can  be  converted using the following
commands from the Protext command line:

Before installing, using the old version of Protext:

     CD C:\PROTEXT  ; or wherever Protext is located
     LD USER A USER.ASC

After installing, using Protext 6.5:

     CD C:\PROTEXT  ; or wherever Protext is located
     BUILD USER.ASC USER
     MKD USER
     COPY USER.LEX C:\PROTEXT\LEX


(c) Arnor, July 1994
