instruct1 ?>??WELCOME TO SPECTEXT! SPECTEXT has been designed for ease - and speed - of use. There are very few special keys to remember, and once you are familiar with the way SPECTEXT works you will be able to make use of the various options quickly and easily. IF YOU ARE RUNNING THIS ON THE SCREEN, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU STOP AND RE-START, USING THE PRINTER. This will give you a permanent written copy of these instructions. To stop, PRESS z to return to the menu.See the leaflet for details of printing these instructions.NOW WAIT UNTIL THESE INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN PRINTED OUT, AND PRESS ENTER TO RETURN TO THE MENU. ******************************** IF EVER THE PROGRAM STOPS WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE, YOU CAN ALWAYS RE-START WITH GO TO 1 Begin with the first option from the main menu, (1) Enter text. 1. ENTER TEXT The screen will clear, leaving a small cursor to indicate the position of the next character. Begin typing. SPECTEXT incorporates a special keyboard scanning routine, and you will find that your Spectrum keyboard will respond much more quickly than usual, fast enough for the quickest touch-typist. Type continuously, without paying any attention to the way the words appear on the screen. DON'T attempt to type tidily, and don't attempt to prevent words breaking across the ends of the lines. The text will be formatted properly during printing. The keys will work normally, and you can use the red symbol shift key to type the red special symbols and characters (but not, of course, BASIC keywords). DELETE works in the usual way, but if you hold the key down, the delete will repeat more rapidly than you are used to. Special characters in the text mark the start of new lines, paragraphs or pages. To access these, press ENTER. Five options are available:Begin new line - type 1New paragraph - type 2new page - type 3Main menu - type z Having selected the option you require, press ENTER again. If you want to add two extra blank lines you can put in two or more new line markers, but they must be separated by at least one character space, or they will be ignored. Pressing ENTER on its own (i.e., pressing ENTER twice when in typing mode) takes you to the fifth option, Edit Text. This is the same mode that is accessed from option (4) of the main menu. EDIT TEXT The text you have entered appears on the screen, but with a large flashing cursor at the print position. The cursor can be moved round the screen with the arrow keys (no caps shift needed). Keys q and p can be used to move up or down a page at a time. Various options are available. Try them out. DELETE - place the cursor over first character you want to delete, and press d. Now using the arrow keys, move the cursor until it is over the last character you wish to delete. Now press d again. The text between the two points will be deleted. ADD - position the cursor; text will be added from the position immediately after the cursor. Now press a. Next, type the text you wish to add. If you make a mistake, delete with CAPS SHIFT and 0 in the usual way. Finally press ENTER, and the extra text will be inserted. PRINT FROM CURSOR - pressing c enters the printing option -the same one that is accessed from option (3) of the main menu, except that printing begins from the cursor position and not from the beginning of the text. The remainder of the edit options are accessed by pressing z. The first of these is to return directly to typing mode - type appears at the bottom left of the screen. Just press z a second time, and then ENTER.IMPORTANT! Typing begins from the cursor position, so make sure that you move the cursor to the end of the text if you don't want to over-write text. If you are not returning to typing mode, repeated presses of ENTER will cycle the indicator at lower left of the screen through the various options. When you get to the one you want, press z then ENTER again. EDIT gets you back to edit from the other options. SEEK lets you search for a letter, word, or group of words. After selecting this option, you can choose to search the whole text (press ENTER), or the text from the cursor position onwards (press z then ENTER). Next, type in the letter or word(s) you want to find, then press ENTER. The cursor will appear immediately in front of the first occurence of the text you are seeking. To go on to look for subsequent occurrences, press ENTER until FILE END appears. Press z then ENTER to stop. You will then be returned to selection of editing options, obtained by repeated presses of the ENTER key. ALTER works in the same way as seek but allows you to replace the text that is found with new material. At each stage - location of text, replacement of text - you must confirm by pressing z and then ENTER.If you respond in any other way to the question repeat? you will be returned to the edit options selection. MOVE is an extension of the delete command, and is used for moving sections of text from one place to another. After deleting text with the delete function, it can be inserted back into the file by relocating the cursor and selecting the move option. The moved material is inserted immediately following the cursor.Move can be used over and over, to insert the deleted material at several places in the text. Move always inserts the text that was last deleted. MENU simply takes you back to the main menu. 2. LOAD TEXT Loads a previously saved text file from cassette tape or microdrive. After accessing this option, simply follow the screen prompts. Note that SPECTEXT looks at DRIVE 1 if a microdrive is being used. In the event of a File not found message from the microdrive, or failure to find a file on tape, return to the main menu with CAPS SHIFT/BREAK (if necessary) and GO TO 1.(Use the g key to provide the keyword GO TO). 3. PRINT TEXT This prints the text on the screen or printer. The text will be correctly formatted at this stage. To abandon printing, hold down the z key. The printing format is changed under option 6. See below. 4. READ/EDIT TEXT This selects edit mode, the operation of which is explained in detail above. 5. SAVE TEXT This saves all the text on cassette tape or microdrive. Note that any text saved on the microdrive must have a file name that has not been used before. After saving, you are given the option to verify. Type v and ENTER to verify, or ENTER on its own to get back to the main menu. If verification fails, get back to the main menu by typeing GO TO 1, and then save the text again (under a different file name if using the microdrive). 6. REORGANIZE This allows the system to be reset. On selecting this option, you will be asked if you want to delete old text. This clears out everything, so you are asked to confirm this selection by typing yes in full. Press ENTER if you don't want this option. Next, you can set (or reset to 1) page and line numbers. Page numbers can be printed when using the printer, and setting the line number could, for example, let you start printing halfway down the page. If you answer y to new printing format?, you get more options. Pressing ENTER repeatedly moves the cursor over the list. If you want to make a change, get the cursor opposite the factor you want to change and type in the number, y, or n as required, then press ENTER. Key z followed by enter to get back to the menu. Page numbers, page breaks, heading blank lines, and margins appear ONLY when printing on a printer, and have no effect when printing on the screen. And when using double-spacing, the slow screen scroll is disabled so the text moves up the screen jerkily. Double-spacing is therefore not recommended for screen printing. The page separation plus the number of text lines equals the total page size. The last three lines on a page are not printed, but the final line is used for the page number if this option is selected. 7. SWITCH PRINTERS This option engages software for a port to operate a printer other than the ZX printer. ONCE USED IT CANNOT BE REVERSED WITHOUT RELOADING SPECTEXT! The software expects a Kempston centronics port, but can be changed to suit other interfaces; see below. Note also that if a printer is not connected, the system will hang up waiting for a signal from the non-existent printer; there is no escape from this, other than to pull out the power plug! The printer software is set up initially for a 165 character line, and for a Silver-Reed EX44 typewriter with IF44 interface. There is also an option to pause at the end of every page (press s), necessary if a sheet fed printer - like the Silver Reed typewriter with interface - is used. If this option is used, printing stops at the end of each page, with a bleep sounding. Press ENTER to continue printing, once you have put in a new sheet of paper. The standard software outputs a carriage return at the end of each line. Some printers (e.g. Epson) need a linefeed signal as well: this option is also available - press f if you find that printing is done all on the same line! 8. CATALOGUE This provides a list of everything recorded on the microdrive cartridge. ******************************** SPECFILE SPECFILE enables you to store lists of addresses and other data. To load SPECFILE type: LOAD specfile then start the tape and press ENTER. SPECFILE is the second program recorded on SIDE ONE of the cassette. SPECFILE begins with a menu. You must use option 6 first. 6. DESIGN FILE Once you have specified the number, names, and size of each field in the file, you cannot change it without losing the data in the file. It is worth a little trouble thinking out exactly what you will require. Setting up a file is simple, just follow the computer's prompts. First specify the number of fields in each record (maximum 15, recommended minimum 2, but see below). Next you put in the field name (up to 10 characters), then specify the length of the field. There are two choices - 1 gives up to 23 characters, 2 gives 55 characters maximum. Note that length 2 fields take up two lines of the display, and that the maximum display size is twenty lines. You must choose the number and length of fields in your records accordingly. Finally, you must name the file (the name under which the whole file will be recorded on tape or microdrive). This should not be more than 10 characters long. If you are happy with the file design, press c then ENTER. Pressing ENTER on its own begins the file design again. 1. ENTERING RECORDS This option can of course be used only after the file has been designed! Simply type data into each field as indicated by the cursor, and press ENTER at the end of each line. Pressing ENTER for a field will step on to the next field, leaving a little tick behind. At the end of the record, press c then ENTER to confirm that you want to store the record. ENTER alone gives you the option to edit or abandon the entry. Press y and ENTER to edit, or ENTER again to abandon the entry. To abandon data entry, press SYMBOL SHIFT and A (stop). 2. SORTING THE FILE This option allows you sort a file into alphabetical order. You can select which field you want to use for the sort. Sorting on more than one field is possible, and you are given the option to select a new field after every sort. ENTER gets you straight back to the menu. You cannot sort on the last field in your records. 3. SEARCHING THE FILE This option allows you to search the whole file (all fields) for a letter, word, or phrase. It is usually possible to go through the whole file by searching for a space. After each successful search, you are given a selection of options, which you can view with repeated presses of the ENTER key. When you have selected the option you want, press z then ENTER. COPY copies the record onto the ZX printer only. 4. LOADING FILE You must enter the file name correctly. If a file is not found, or if there is a loading error, restart the program with the usual GO TO 1. Microdrive files are kept on drive 1. 5. SAVE FILE This saves the complete file on cassette tape or on microdrive 1, as required. Your original file name is displayed, but you have the option to change it if you wish. On the microdrive, you may not use the same file name more than once on a cartridge. Files created on using SPECFILE can be merged with text created using SPECTEXT, to produce, for example, a personalized letter to a number of people. ******************************** SPECMERGE The third part of this program suite is the third program recorded on SIDE ONE of the cassette. To load it, type LOAD specmerge then start the tape and press ENTER. Like the other two, the program begins with a menu. The operation of SPECMERGE is simple to understand. When you type text using SPECTEXT, you can mark the text by using the up arrow (SYMBOL SHIFT and H), followed by a number, then another up arrow. The number between the arrows must correspond to a field in your records (counting from the top down), and when used with SPECMERGE, the contents of the field will be inserted in the marked position before the text is printed. More than one field number can be placed between the arrows, separated with commas. Thus ^1^ and ^2,3,4^ are all acceptable. Fields can be used in text in more than one place, but all field numbers must, of course, refer to fields that exist in the file being used. 1. LOAD TEXT AND FILE This option must be used to enter data into SPECMERGE. The program first asks for the TEXT, which is loaded from cassette or microdrive 1 in the usual way. Then it asks for the FILE, also loaded from cassette or microdrive 1. You MUST enter the files in the right order, or the program will not be able to merge the two sets of data. If any problems occur during loading, SPECMERGE can always be restarted, like the others, with GO TO 1. 2. PRINT LETTERS This merges the text and file and prints the result, either on the screen or on the printer. 3. REORGANIZE PAGE The layout of the page can be changed to suit your requirements. This option is practically identical to option 6 in SPECTEXT. 4. SWITCH PRINTERS Once again, identical to option 7 in SPECTEXT. Printing can be brought to a halt at any time by holding down z until the menu reappears. If a full-size printer is in use, it may continue to print for a line as the print buffer empties. ******************************** CONNECTION OF A FULL-SIZE PRINTER The SPECTEXT suite has been designed to use a centronics interface that recognises the LPRINT statement. We particularly recommend the centronics port sold by Kempston Micro Electronics, of Kempston Bedfordshire, England. SPECTEXT contains built-in software to operate the Kempston centronics port, so all that is necessary is to plug it into the Spectrum expansion port and the printer. The software supplied with the port is NOT required. There is a high degree of compatibility between printers using centronics ports, unlike printers using the RS232 serial port. Because of the compatibility problems that can occur with RS232 systems (and their higher cost), most users of SPECTEXT are likely to be using a centronics system. However, Sinclair's Interface 1 can be used by altering the printer routines: this is done quickly and easily with PRINTMOD, the last program on side one of this tape. As supplied, the printer software is set up for a SILVER-REED typewriter, used as a printer, such as the EX44 typewriter with I/F44 interface. This provides letter-quality printing. This configuration is generally compatible with Epson and most other printers. Minor discrepancies (particularly with $, `, and #) may occur. However, the PRINTMOD print software modification program included at the end of SIDE ONE of this tape will enable you to customize the printer software for your particular printer. ******************************** Following on instruc1 on side two of this tape is a second set of instructions giving more details of some aspects of SPECTEXT. To load this, use option 6 of SPECTEXT to delete the existing text, then option 2 to loadinstruc2. instruct2 >SPECTEXT This is the second section of the instructions for the SPECTEXT program suite, and provides additional information. SPECTEXT option 6. REORGANIZE If you are using the page numbering facility, it is important to reset the page and line numbers to 1 before printing. If page numbering is used, the last page of the text will be fed through the printer at the end, and the final page number printed in its usual place at the bottom of the page. If page numbering has NOT been selected, the printer will stop at the end of printing without moving the paper to the end of the page. PRINT FORMATTING operates only when printing is done on the printer, not on the screen. NEW LINE (1) forces a new line. Repeated NEW LINE markers can be inserted, but must have spaces between them. NEW PARAGRAPH (2) leaves a one line space, and indents the beginning of the next line by five spaces. NEW PAGE (3) begins a new page, without an indent.Especially when using continuous stationery with tractor-feed, it is important to ensure that the print page length corresponds exactly to the length of the paper pages, or the text will gradually get out of step with the perforations. The total page length is given by the number of text lines plus the number of page separation lines. The last three text lines are not printed, unless page numbering has been selected, in which case the last line is used for the page number.The line length is constrained by the printer software. This can be changed, but if the line length is greater than the maximum set up in the printer software (165 characters standard), then the printing will scroll at the limit. The line length set during option 6 is the total printed line. The margin setting positions the text on the page. For purposes of setting up the printer software ONLY (see below) the margin should be included in the line length. For other puposes the margin is regarded as separate from the text line. SPECMERGE formatting is the same, except that the full page is fed through the printer, to start each new letter or report at the beginning of a new page; this allows the use of continuous pre-printed stationery for letters. PRINTER DRIVING SOFTWARESuitable software for the centronics port is included in SPECTEXT and SPECMERGE. The codes output to the printer for each character are under software control, and can be changed if required. Problems such as the printer failing to feed the paper, unintentional double spacing, and odd characters appearing incorrectly are due to a software/printer mismatch. The last program recorded on SIDE ONE of this tape is used to generate a short section of machine-code that is loaded after SPECTEXT or SPECMERGE to customize them for any printer using the centronics interface. Full instructions are given in the program. To load it, type: LOAD printerand run the tape. You will need a short spare tape on which to record the machine-code block that is produced. SPECFILE FILES Specfile can use the microdrive for data storage, or cassette tape. However, it is not possible to dump a file that was recorded on a Spectrum equipped with a microdrive into a Spectrum without a microdrive, or vice versa. Provided the hardware configuration is the same, cassette and microdrive files can be mixed freely. Note that this hardware limitation does not apply to SPECTEXT or SPECMERGE. TEXT HANDLING The SPECTEXT buffer holds a maximum of 16383 characters (8 to 9 typical A4 pages). The space remaining is shown during the EDIT mode. When the buffer is full up, you get a BUFFER FULL message, and you will not be able to continue typing. You can, however, go to EDIT mode to delete text, or to the menu to save what you have written on tape or microdrive. MOVE The maximum amount of text that can be moved in one go using the MOVE option during editing is 640 characters. Larger amounts of text should be moved in more than one block. The SPECFILE buffer holds a total of over 20000 characters, enough for a very large file: but see below. SPECMERGE loads both text and a file. Because the total space available in SPECMERGE is also 20000 characters, there is insufficient space for a full-size SPECTEXT file in addition a full SPECFILE file. If you intend to use SPECMERGE you should limit your text so that the final letter (or report) PLUS the longest insertions taken from the files is NOT MORE THAN 4990 CHARACTERS LONG. The file can be up to 13995 characters long, but must not exceed this. Both SPECTEXT and SPECFILE keep a running check on the total number of characters left, so a quick calculation will show you where you have reached. Remember that SPECTEXT holds 16384 characters, and SPECFILE holds 24600 characters. MICRODRIVE ERROR MESSAGES If you attempt to write to a 'read' file, if verification fails, or if a microdrive is full, the program will stop with a microdrive error message. It can be re-started very simply with 'GO TO 1'. ******************************** We are confident that you will enjoy using SPECTEXT. If you have any interesting or unusual applications for this software, we would be pleased to hear of them. PROBLEMS... We have tried to put as much information as possible into these instructions, but if you have problems you cannot sort out, our free Software Support service is available for you to use. PLEASE NOTE that we cannot offer advice about using SPECTEXT with specific printers, or interfaces other than those mentioned here. Nor can we offer advice about the way the programs themselves operate. The general principles are explained in Randle Hurley's book, The Spectrum Workshop - Word Processing and Beyond (McGraw-Hill 1983), available at most bookshops. A chapter in the book is devoted to suggestions for ways in which the SPECTEXT suite can be put to profitable use. IF YOU WANT HELP, Please use the HELP! card provided. DON'T send the tape or packaging back at this stage, as it may delay our dealing with your problem. If you want details of other McGraw-Hill software, just write to us at the address below. McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY (UK) LIMITED, Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. ******************************** IMPORTANT! McGraw-Hill software is copyright. Copying this software for ANY reason is strictly forbidden. It is the policy of the McGraw-Hill Book Company (UK) Limited to take legal action against any person or persons found to be making unauthorized copies of McGraw-Hill software. Substantial damages have already been awarded under English and American copyright law.