^C^1ScreenMaker
^Cby
^CDan Harrison & Paul Harris


   ScreenMaker is a program that lets you design text-mode screens.  You can use
it to set up title screens for your programs, to experiment with screen layouts
(menus, etc.) for possible program use, to set up screens to present as part of
a slideshow (with the ShowMaker program on this issue), or for many other
purposes.  It has numerous options and features to let you design screens using
all characters and colors available to the PC.

   To begin the ScreenMaker, select 'Run It', or, with disk 2 of this issue in
your drive, type `maker' followed by the [ENTER] key.  After an initial greeting
screen you will arrive at the SETUP section.

       SETUP:
         You may press the [ESC] key to bypass this section or make changes to
         how the program runs.

       MAIN EDITING SCREEN:
         All normal  word  processing keys are  designed to work  as expected.
         Special function keys (F1-F10)  will allow quick modifications to the
         screens being  edited.   Ten macro keys can be  programmed  using the
         Alt+number (1-0)  keys.   After programming the macro key,  it can be
         initiated by a single keystroke.   Extended characters can be entered
         by pressing the Alt+number (pad).   Alternately (and much faster),  a
         mouse can be used for moving,  initiating functions,  painting,  etc.
         To exit from  ScreenMaker,  press the  [ESC]  key  (you will be given
         another chance).

       SCREEN INTERACTION:
         Special functions will be prompted automatically with pop-up windows.
         Also,  a non-destructive  on-screen  menu line is available  (at your
         request).   Special  functions can be  selected by single keystrokes,
         cursor keys, or by a mouse. In general, the first character of a menu
         item  can be  pressed to  activate the  function.   Alternately,  the
         function  can be  highlighted by  using cursor  keys followed  by the
         [ENTER]  key.  If you have a mouse, move the mouse in the appropriate
         direction to  highlight the  selection,  then  press  the left  mouse
         button (ENTER)  or the right mouse button  (ESC).   On a three-button
         mouse, the center button is not used.

SETUP:  Highlight the selection to change, then press the [ENTER] key.

       COLORS:
         In this section,  the foreground,  background, and border colors (CGA
         only)  can be selected.   This is  explained  in detail in  the color
         section (see `F7'). The monochrome `color' option screen is different
         from the  color screen.   The default  color is grey on black  with a
         black border.

       MARGINS:
         The left  margin is the  column at which the  cursor is returned when
         the [ENTER] key is pressed. Pressing the left cursor key, [HOME] key,
         or  [SHIFT+TAB]  key will allow the cursor to be moved to the extreme
         left of the screen. The default left margin is 1. The right margin is
         used for  an anchor  during insert  and delete  character mode.   The
         default right margin is 80.   Both margins are used for justification
         and centering. Margins can only be set in the SETUP section. The left
         margin cannot match or exceed the right margin and vice versa.

       SNOW SUPPRESSION:
         Certain  types of color  monitors and  adapters  create  interference
         (snow) during screen displays.  If this is a problem, the snow can be
         suppressed  by  selecting  `Snow  Suppression  On'.   With  the  snow
         suppression on, the  screen displays  will be  slightly  slower.  The
         default is snow suppression off.

       DEPROGRAM/LOAD MACRO KEYS:
         This section will allow you to view and deprogram the macro keys.  To
         deprogram a macro key, highlight it, then press the [ENTER] key.

       TABS:
         The number of spaces moved with the [TAB] key (right) or the  [SHIFT+
         TAB] key (left) can be set here.  The range is from  2 to 50  with a
         default of 8 spaces.  The tabs used when making boxes, aligning text,
         and moving blocks are also affected by this setting.

       MENU:
         A non-destructive one-line menu can be placed on the top or bottom of
         the screen as a prompt  for the function keys.   While the menu is on
         the screen,  the cursor cannot  move to that line,  however  anything
         drawn on that  line will remain  there and be saved with the  rest of
         the screen without the one-line menu.   The mouse cursor can be moved
         to the menu  line and the function key activated by pressing the left
         mouse button or pressing the right mouse button for escape.

       KEEP SETTINGS:
         The current settings will be saved to a file called MAKER.INI and you
         will be prompted for a Macro file name (see the Macro section).

       RETURN TO SCREEN:
         Any changes made will be kept for this session. You may return to the
         SETUP section at any time while in the main screen editor by pressing
         the [ESC] key and selecting `PROCEED TO SETUP'.  This might be useful
         when you want to change tabs, macro keys, or margins.  When finished,
         you will be returned to the unchanged main screen editor.

MAIN SCREEN EDITOR:
         All functions of a word  processor can be used to  create or modify a
         screen.

       ALPHANUMERIC KEYS:
         The alphanumeric  keys  perform  their  normal  functions and  can be
         shifted or unshifted (a-z, A-Z, 0-9, etc.)

       TAB:
         The [TAB]  key is a non-destructive key which moves the cursor to the
         right  the  number  of positions  programmed  in  the  SETUP  section
         (normally 8 spaces).

       SHIFT+TAB:
         The  [SHIFT+TAB]  key is the  same as the  [TAB]  key but  moving the
         cursor to the left.

       SPACE:
         The [SPACE]  key moves the cursor to the right one space removing the
         character at the current cursor position.

       BACKSPACE:
         The  [BACKSPACE]  key moves the cursor to the left one space removing
         the character to the left of the current cursor position.

       CURSOR KEYS (arrow keys):
         The cursor  key moves  the cursor  in the  appropriate  direction one
         space leaving each  character intact.   As with most  keystrokes that
         move the cursor,  moving the cursor  beyond the extreme  right column
         wraps the cursor to the  extreme left column on the same row and vice
         versa.   Moving the cursor  above the top row wraps the cursor to the
         bottom row  and  vice versa.  (Note:  If these  keys won't  work, try
         pressing NumLock, then try again.)

       CONTROL+ <-- or -->:
         The  CONTROL  left or  right cursor  moves the  cursor to  the  first
         character of the next  word or to the last character of the preceding
         word.   If no word exists  (anything on the screen row except a blank
         space)  the cursor will  move to the  beginning or end of the current
         line.

       ENTER:
         The [ENTER] key returns the cursor to the left margin  (as set in the
         SETUP section)  on the next line.   If the cursor is currently on the
         bottom line, the cursor moves to the top line.

       ALT+number pad:
         The [ALT+number pad] prints the ASCII character entered on the screen
         at the cursor.  This also changes the current extended character.

       ALT+number (top row of the keyboard):
         The  [ALT+number]  keys involve the macro keys.   If the key has been
         previously programmed, pressing it carries out the macro.  If the key
         is blank,  up to  1000  single keystrokes can  be programmed into the
         macro.   Exit the macro programming mode by again pressing the  [ALT+
         number]  key.   While in  programming  mode  the  mouse  will perform
         normally  but will  NOT  be picked up by the  macro  (avoid the mouse
         here).

       INSERT:
         Pressing the [INSERT] key toggles the insert mode on and off.  Typing
         keystrokes inserts the keystrokes at the cursor and pushes the entire
         line from the cursor to the right margin (as set in the SETUP section)
         removing any characters  that pass by the right margin.   To exit the
         insert mode, press any key other than an alphanumeric key.

       DELETE:
         Pressing the  [DELETE]  key deletes  the character  at the cursor and
         moves all the characters from the cursor to the right margin  (as set
         in the SETUP section) to the left one space.   The space at the right
         margin will be painted the current background color.

       PgUp/PgDn:
         The [PgUp]  key and [PgDn]  key moves the cursor to the top/bottom of
         the screen on the same column.

       HOME/END:
         The [HOME]  key and  [END]  key moves the cursor to the left or right
         margin on the same row (this is the actual screen margins,  not those
         set in the SETUP section).

       RIGHT SHIFT+CURSOR (right mouse button+mouse movement):
         Press and hold the right shift  key then press a cursor key  (or hold
         the right mouse button while moving the mouse).  The cursor will move
         in the  indicated  direction  leaving the current  selected  extended
         character (as seen on the menu line) where the cursor was.  The color
         will be the current selected foreground and background color.

       LEFT SHIFT+CURSOR (or left mouse button+mouse movement):
         Press and hold the left  shift key then  press a cursor key  (or hold
         the left mouse button while moving the mouse).   The cursor will move
         in the  indicated  direction  leaving  the  character  at the  cursor
         painted with the current selected foreground and background color.

       F1 - HELP:
         Press the [F1] key or highlight the [F1] menu line with the mouse and
         press the left  mouse button.   Also you may press both mouse buttons
         while not on the menu line to initiate [F1].
         The HELP section provides two functions:
             1.  Move the one-line on-screen menu to the top or bottom line or
                 remove it from the screen.
             2.  An overview  of the major keystrokes and functions are shown.
                 The special functions (F1-F10) can be initiated from the HELP
                 section.
             Press the [ESC] key (or right mouse button) to exit from the HELP
             section back to  the main screen  editor without changing the on-
             screen menu status.

       F2 - DISK:
         Press the [F2] key or highlight the [F2] key with the mouse and press
         the left mouse button to initiate this function.
         The DISK section provides two functions:
              1.  Save the screen to the disk.
              2.  Load a screen from the disk.
              Exit this section without saving or loading by pressing the [ESC]
              key or right mouse button.
         SAVE THE CURRENT SCREEN:
              The following file formats are available:
                  ASCII, BASIC, DESMET C, MACH 2, DBASE,
                  PARADOX, BINARY, and TURBO PASCAL
         LOAD A NEW SCREEN:
              A list of `.SCN' files  (those saved in binary format)  from the
              current  drive/directory  will be  displayed for  loading on the
              screen.

       F3 - UPDATE:
         Press the [F3] key or highlight the [F3]  key with the mouse and press
         the left mouse button to initiate  this function.   The UPDATE section
         allows you to instantly  save the present  screen to memory  to enable
         trying some  changes,  then instantly undo  these changes if desired -
         see  `F4'.   In addition  to this  manual update,  the screen  will be
         automatically updated when any function key is pressed  (except  F3 or
         F4) to another separate memory section.

       F4 - UNDO:
         Press the [F4] key or highlight the [F4]  key with the mouse and press
         the left  mouse  button to  initiate this  function.   This is a  dual
         function key.   Pressing the  [F4]  key once displays the most current
         automatically updated screen - see `F3'.   Continued pressing the [F4]
         key in  succession  alternates between  automatic  and manual  updated
         screens.   This can be a very helpful tool for testing  changes to the
         screen without  having to remake  the entire screen if changes are not
         wanted  (this includes mistakes like loading a new screen accidently).

       F5 - BOXES:
         Press the [F5]  key or highlight the [F5] key with the mouse and press
         the left mouse  button to initiate  this function.   A choice of  five
         predefined box patterns is available.   Any one of these boxes  may be
         selected or any  character may be entered to make the box  (ALT+number
         pad can be used for extended characters). Press the [ESC] key or right
         mouse button to quit without making a box. After selecting a box type,
         a flashing `+' will mark the current cursor position. You may move the
         `+'  anywhere on the screen using  the cursor keys,  tab,  home,  end,
         PgUp, PgDn, or mouse.  When the `+' is at the position that you want a
         corner of the box,  press the [ENTER] key or left mouse button.   Move
         the cursor (or tab, home, end, PgUp, PgDn, or mouse) while drawing the
         box on  the screen.   The box will  follow the cursor  anywhere on the
         screen.  When the box appears as you want it on the screen,  press the
         [ENTER] key or right mouse button to fix it on the screen.   Press the
         [ESC] key or right mouse button to NOT keep the box.  Snow suppression
         makes box drawing significantly slower.

       F6 - CHAR:
         Press the  [F6]  key  or  highlight the  [F6]  key  with the  mouse to
         initiate this function.   The CHAR  function enables easy selection of
         the extended  character set.   Simply move the cursor to highlight the
         desired character and press the  [ENTER]  key (left mouse button).  If
         the menu is on the screen the current extended  character is displayed
         to the right of `F6 CHAR'. The default extended character is ASCII 201
         The current selected  character can be drawn on the screen by pressing
         the [RIGHT SHIFT] key then pressing any cursor key. Pressing the right
         mouse button  and moving the mouse  provides an  even faster method to
         draw the character on the screen.

       F7 - COLOR:
         Press the [F7]  key or highlight the [F7] key with the mouse and press
         the left mouse button to initiate this function.  Select a color using
         cursor keys,  home,  end, or the letter below the color.  The selected
         foreground,  background,  and border colors  can be  viewed in the box
         above the color bar. The monochrome screen is different than the color
         screen.

       F8 - ALIGN:
         Press the [F8]  key or highlight the [F8] key with the mouse and press
         the left mouse button to initiate this function.  Three selections are
         available (Right, left, center).  Select one of the desired functions.
         Move the flashing  `+'  to a corner of the text to align and press the
         [ENTER] key (left mouse button).  Highlight the block of text to align
         then press the  [ENTER]  key  (left mouse  button).   The text will be
         aligned and the space left will be colored with the current background
         color.  Press the [ESC] key (right mouse button) to NOT align the text.

       F9 - SHIFT:
         Press the [F9] key or highlight the [F9]  key with the mouse and press
         the left mouse button to initiate this function.   Five selections are
         available (insert line, delete line,  shift screen left,  shift screen
         right, and erase column).   Select one of the desired functions.  Move
         the flashing  `+'  to the row or column for the function and press the
         [ENTER] key (left mouse button).
            Inserting a line moves the screen down one line at the cursor.
            Deleting a line at the cursor moves the screen up one line.
            Shifting the screen left moves the entire screen left one column at
              the cursor column.
            Shifting the screen  right moves the entire screen right one column
              at the cursor column.
            Erasing the column  at the cursor  pulls the  screen in  one column
              from the right to the cursor.
            The blank line left from any of these  operations leaves that line/
              row the current background color.

       F10 - MOVE:
         Press the  [F10]  key or  highlight the  [F10]  key with the mouse and
         press the left mouse button to initiate this function.  Six selections
         are available with MOVE (move and keep,  move and erase, clear, paint,
         save section, insert section).  Select the desired movement.  Move the
         `+'  to a corner of the block to be moved then press the  [ENTER]  key
         (left mouse button).   Highlight the  block to  be moved  using cursor
         keys,  tabs,  PgUp,  PgDn, Home, End, or mouse movement then press the
         [ENTER] key (left mouse button).   Move and keep blocks - once marked,
         the block  can be moved  around the screen.   When set in  the desired
         location, press the [ENTER] key.  The original will be left also.
            Move and erase blocks - once marked,  the block can be moved around
              the screen.   When set in the desired location, press the [ENTER]
              key.   The original block will  be left blanked  with the current
              background color.
            Clear blocks - As the `+' is moved the block will be
              erased with the current background color.
            Paint blocks - As the  `+' is moved the block will be painted with
              the current foreground/background color.
            Save a screen section - The marked  block will  be saved to memory
              to be used in future screens. A new screen saved will write over
              this one.
            Insert a screen section -  The screen  section saved above will be
              inserted at the `+'. If no screen was saved, a full blank screen
              will be located starting at the `+'.

       ESCAPE:
         Press the [ESC] key or the right mouse button when the mouse is on the
         menu line.  Four selections are available with ESCAPE (save and exit,
         exit without saving, SETUP, or Clear the screen).
            Exit without saving - this returns to DOS.
            Setup - Entry to the  SETUP  section is  available  here - see the
              SETUP section for further details.
            Clear the screen -  the screen is completely erased using the
              current background color.

   Note:  There is not enough space to save screens on either disk of BIG BLUE
DISK.  Use a disk of your own.

DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES:
^FMAKER.EXE
^FMAKER.WND
