"_S_H_I_F_T_Y_" 48K_SINCLAIR_SPECTRUM Published_under_licence_from_GLOSTER_SOFTWARE_by_WORK_FORCE_(c)_1983 This software package requires a 48k RAM SINCLAIR SPECTRUM coupled with a ZX PRINTER. LOAD"" and wait for the PROGRAM and SUPPORTING BYTES to LOAD. PURPOSE_OF_SOFTWARE SHIFTY is a system which enables the user to type out text, save text onto tape for later recovery, manipulate text letter for letter or para by para, print out all or part of the text in various formats and make multiple copies of the output with deletions or additions as required. The software also compensates for the limitations of the ZX SPECTRUM and the STANDARD ZX PRINTER, especially the 32 character line length. OPERATION_ After loading the user is given the option of loading in previously saved text from tape (answer Yor N). If this option is declined, the user is asked for the MAXIMUM no of PARAGRAPHS followed by the MAXIMUM no of CHARACTERS or BYTES (a suggested maximum is prompted). Neither of these maximums can be exceeded once a text file is formatted therefore it is wise to be generous when setting up. Each paragraph only accounts for 5 memory bytes therefore a large number can safely be specified. It is advisable to stay well clear of the computer's advised maximum unless you intend to keep the PARAGRAPHS SHORT, as there MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT MEMORY LEFT to manipulate paragraphs either when moving or editing. FLASHCUMPRINT_ Not more jargon just a prompt line consisting of the first letter of each key-word. After loading text or specifying the maximums you will be invited to press a FLASHCUMPRINT KEY pressing ANY OTHER KEY will be considered as a cry for help and a list of the available commands will be displayed. H is best remembered as the HELP key which does exactly the same job. The FLASCUMPRINT menu is the central control for the program and after each function is completed you will be returned to this section. When starting a text file the ONLY useful key is upper or lower case "N" to request access to the NEXT paragraph. In this case it will be PARAGRAPH 1, reaching this point allows text to be typed in from the keyboard. On pressing "N" the screen will be clear excepting a GREEN FLASHING CURSOR, a dotted line at the foot of the screen, and some statistics at the top. The cursor is actually pointing to the third character of the para. Each new para starts with three leading spaces to indent the para. The user may remove these if desired. This cursor is the electronic equivalent of your pen, as text is entered from the keyboard the cursor moves across the screen and is replaced by text. Each key press will result in a click and will repeat if held down long enough. You may use the letter keys with CAPS SHIFT to produce upper case text. BE CAREFUL NOT TO PRESS CAPS SHIFT and BREAK as SINCLAIR didn't forsee the need to provide a separate break key and the PROGRAM WILL BREAK. If you do DON'T PANIC press the "C" key (CONTINUE) followed by ENTER and you will be returned to the MENU, using the entry "C" will then call back the current para (more of this later). You may also obtain punctuation marks and various symbols, defined RED on the keyboard, by holding down the symbol SHIFT KEY. Some keys can be programed to return special messages and some are already set in the original program to produce the eight symbols only obtainable in the "E" MODE which is not accessible when using this program. No use of inverse characters, the graphics keys, either user or pre-defined, is allowed by this issue of SHIFTY. DEFINED_KEYS In normal use, the upper row of keys perform special functions if pressed while CAPS SHIFT is held down. Some of these perform similar functions when used in SHIFTY. If "2" and CAP.SHIFT is pressed all letter keys will produce upper case characters thus overcoming the danger of pressing C.SHIFT and BREAK at the same time. Key "0" deletes unwanted characters as usual, "5","6","7" & "8" move the cursor around a block of text for editing purposes. - 1 - Operating the cursor keys via C.SHIFT has important effects quite apart from text editing. As text is entered it gradually fills the screen until it starts erasing the dashes which have been provided as a guide. The information at the top of the screen is not updated whilst text is entered as this would render the software unacceptably slow when entering text. However as soon as a cursor key is pressed this information will be updated and the ON SCREEN TEXT is re-displayed but restricted to the LAST 7 LINES thus allowing further space for text input. Whenever the cursor is directed to a position within the para, the text is automatically restricted to no more than SEVEN LINES, the statistict updated are also updated. The text not appearing on screen will re-appear once the cursor is directed towards that part of the paragraph. Pressing ENTER ONCE will return the cursor to the END of the PARAGRAPH. TERMINATE_ENTRY When a paragraph is complete, simply press ENTER. If the cursor is within the body of the text then you will need to press ENTER twice. You will then be returned to FLASHCUMPRINT enabling selection "N" to start a fresh paragraph. Should enter be pressed accidentally, press FLASHCUMPRINT key "C" and in reply to the next prompt "C" (current) again followed by ENTER, you should then find yourselves back at the current paragraph. PROGRAM_TERMINATION Better known as a crash. Usually the continue option will allow a restart, if not then the BEST action is to enter GOTO 500 followed by ENTER. DO_NOT_RUN_you_will_lose_all_the_text_entered. If a crash ocours during paragraph editing then GOTO 2005 may avoid the loss of the paragraph in question. SETTING_OUT_TEXT As standard each paragraph is indented by three characters unless the user chooses to alter the number of leading spaces set for each new paragraph. Additionally, the user may specify that a NEW LINE be started at any point within the para by holding down C.SHIFT and pressing 1 (EDIT) - keys 3 or 4 also perform the same function. This results in a rather distinctive "Y" character appearing in the text, indicating that the__following__text commences,_without_indentation,_on_a_new_line. More than one symbol may be used to create blank lines in the text. Apart from this the computer will set out the text for printing in accordance with user instruction at that time. Headings can only be CENTERED if the user has already settled on a paper width. To do this, type the heading, DETERMINE the length using the CHAR COUNTER, PLACE a NEW LINE symbol at the end of the heading then return to the start of the heading to insert the required NUMBER OF SPACES to centre. RULES_ a) Text without spaces will not be broken unless longer than half the line length. b) Paragraphs are all separated by one blank line. c) If right margin validation is in use, lines which finish within a few characters of the right margin will be stretched to meet that margin, unless terminated by an end of line statement or forming the end of a paragraph. d) If any line is full (i.e. contains the full number of characters specified without trailing spaces) and the following line commence with one or more spaces, one space will be omitted. RE-CALLING_A_PARAGRAPH To re-call a para to view, alter, delete or add material, use FLASH key "C" and enter the para number. The cursor will be positioned after the third character, but can be moved as already described, via the cursor keys or ENTER. Subsequent paras can be "PAGED" through by using FLASH "N" to call in the NEXT para, then pressing ENTER, ENTER, "N" repeatedly. To call in a new para simply reply "N" to the "para no" prompt. SPECIAL_MESSAGES - 2 - These may be entered as a permanent or semi-permanent part of the program as DATA STATEMENTS. FLASH key "T" is available to terminate the program. Special messages are imbedded in DATA statements after line 4000. Messages are accessed by LINE number and each item is followed by a NEW-LINE when entered into the text. Special messages may contain often used text relevant to several text files, such as letterheads e.g. 4500 DATA "WORK FORCE", 140, WILSDEN AVE", "LUTON, BEDS" All text within DATA STATEMENTS must be separated with commas and enclosed within quotation marks. A further option allows single DATA statements to be placed in line numbers immediately following the appropriate REM statements after line 7000 to permit KEY-WORDS to be fetched by the 11 MULTI-CHARACTER RED SYMBOL SHIFT KEYS operations. The original program has example DATA statements already in place. After entry of DATA you can SAVE the modified program by the command RUN 9999. REMEMBER this will destroy any text held in memory. There is little point in saving the program with variables, these will be cleared during LOADing. To re-enter the program, enter GOTO 500. This will return you to FLASHCUMPRINT. Key I allows you to insert your message, or part of your message. You are required to specify the para number the message is to be, (subsequent paras are renumbered), the line number of the first item, and the number of items (i.e. of strings or characters within quotes ). The program will work through line numbers until the correct number of DATA sections are read. The SPECIAL SYMBOL shift keys permit single keystroke entry of the pre-set key data. You can, of course, modify the para later. You may include the symbols accessible via "E" mode by these means, but not those accessible via GRAPHICS as they will not print correctly. PARA_MANIPULATION A selection of FLASCUMPRINT keys are devoted to para manipulation. R can be used to REMOVE a para, A AMALGAMATES the named para with the next para, U UNCOUPLES any named (i.e. numbered) para. The latter command results in a similar display to CALL, but only the cursor keys operate in normal fashion. The user places the cursor at the splitting point then presses ENTER once to effect the uncoupling. All of these commands result in a renumbering of the paras so check you have the correct number when manipulating more than one para at a time. A fourth command completes this section. M allows the user to MOVE any specified para to another position. INSERTION_ There is no specific insert command, other than for special messages, as none is needed. The user may generate blank paras as text is typed in, simply by erasing ONE of the leading spaces or by making other minor alterations to a new para, thus prompting the system into allowing access to a new para. Better still a new para can be inserted BEFORE an existing para simply by using the UNCOUPLE command on that para, and, without moving the cursor from its opening position (at the start of text) pressing ENTER. In effect that and all subsequent paras take a higher number. Along with this there now exists a blank para under the number of the "uncoupled para". The operation can be repeated if required. You can use AMALGAMATE and UNCOUPLE to isolate parts of paras and place them in other paras or to place special messages within existing paras instead of as separate paras. WORD_SEARCH You may wish to search for and alter a word, names, dates or whole phrases to personalize or update text. Likewise editing of your most common spelling mistakes can be achieved this way. FLASHCUMPRINT key "F" enables the user to FIND any string within the text in a moment. The string is shown with its surrounding text along with its position references. You can't alter it there but you can now use the references to CALL the relevant para for edit. When a match has been made a choice to continue the search is provided or you may return to FLASH. VIEWING_and_PRINTING If you wish to VIEW or PRINT the final product, use FLASH key "P" for PRINT. You will be prompted for the first and last paras to print (any large number may suffice), the number of characters per line, (try a few), line spacing (1= normal, 2= one and a half for 32 chars only, 3=double). Following these you will be asked if you wish for the right margin to be validated (straightened by adjusting the spaces etween words) and finally whether you wish to view or print. - 3 - Up to 32 characters per line prints out normally, and is readily appreciated from the screen. Use 32 character width to check the accuracy of the text. Over 32 characters per line and we must print sideways with only portions of the text shown on screen at any one time. Although unsuitable for checking from the screen, you may wish to check spacing and economic paper usage before actually using widths greater than 32 per line. Avoid widths just over multiples of 22, as they are uneconomical in terms of paper usage. When in view mode each screen will continue to display untill ENTER is pressed. This will continue untill the text is finished and then a return to FLASH is made. Look out for blank sections which may be due to a mistake, these often indicate wasted paper when printing. The original text for these instructions were supplied in the equivalent of A4 width, 60 characters per line and the line spacing was set for option 2 to improve the layout. SAVING_TEXT_FILES Text entered may be saved onto tape using FLASH key "S". It MUST BE SAVED independently of the program. If you are working on a long document then for the sake of those around you SAVE several times during entry. The main text is saved first, after which a further key must be pressed to save TWO support DATA files. After saving rewind and set the recorder and leads to VERIFY, after a successful verification a return to FLASH is effected. If verify fails a tape error message occurs. To rectify, enter GOTO 500, then save again. You may LOAD in a text file either by replying "Y" to the first question after loading "SHIFTY", or at any time via FLASH key "L". You will be warned that this action will erase current text and to proceed you will need to press "J" (LOAD)--- ANY OTHER KEY CANCELS---. SETTING_UP_A_NEW_FILE To set up a new text file after you have finished with the current file, you must stop the program (use FLASH key "T"), then enter the RUN command. You will then be asked the same questions as on first loading the program. VARIABLES_ The text is held in a single dimensioned string array, T$. The number array, P, is also single dimensioned and contains the element number immediately prior to the start of each paragraph. I$ is a variable length string used to hold the para currently being worked on. LINC contains the length of teh T$ array and LIMP the maximum paras that can be entered into the P array. PARL contains the last active para number. PAR is used for the current para and POS for the cursor position. LAST_WORDS We trust SHIFTY serves you well we are always pleased to hear about extras, bugs and fixes and we will do our best to incorporate any notified in following issues. We will reply if at all possible. It will take you a while to get used to SHIFTY but after the initial period you should find it a useful tool. As we said the original text for these instructions was set on SHIFTY and was used to evaluate the system prior to publishing, so SHIFTY produced printout should be satisfactory for most purposes. If you write something on SHIFTY that is unusual, gets you a job or makes you some money then why not let us know. We in turn will pass it on to the press. WRITING_FOR_WORK_FORCE WORK FORCE requires freelance writers to work in MACHINE CODE or BASIC. Machines covered BBC, SPECTRUM, DRAGON, SHARP and the newer machines. Your work must be competent and well presented, in return we offer first-class royalties or cash for your efforts. Send details or a copy of your programs today, we will respect your copyright. We have distributors worldwide and retailers nationwide looking for your work. WORK_FORCE 140,_WILSDEN_AVE LUTON,_BEDS ENGLAND_ F.A.O._DEREK_A_TIDMAN. - 4 -