rconn@brl.arpa@sri-unix.UUCP (05/24/83)
From: Rick Conn <rconn@brl.arpa>
AR81, 82, and 84 of CPM contain new HELP2 files -- source, ob-
ject, and HLP. CRCs check.
Significant among the changes is the ability to print (on the
LST: device) your current screen display or information section.
This is really nice for a range of applications I had not con-
sidered before. Thanks to Carolyn Carter for the idea.
All new documentation is in the HLP file. The following summar-
izes the concepts surrounding the new Print capability:
:HELP: Printing HELP Files
Printing HELP Files can be done in two basic ways -- by
using the PHELP Utility of ZCPR2 or by using the Print function
contained within the HELP Utility itself.
The PHELP Utility is used to print an entire Help File. It
acts a lot like the PRINT3, and it has a variety of options,
including the ability to plan for printer output and to support
paging and other "appearance-enhancing" features.
The Print Function within HELP is used for quick printouts.
It does not page or perform anything more exotic than simply
printing out what is contained in a part of a Help File. When
the P option is given, the user is asked to set the top of form
(giving him time to turn on his printer) and then specify whether
he wants to print the current Frame (Screen Display) or the
entire information section which he is currently in. After
selecting one of these two options (the option to abort is also
given), the printout occurs (may be aborted at any time by
striking a ^C). When finished, the user is returned to the last
frame he was viewing.
This new Print Function (available in Versions 4.1 and later
of HELP2) is provided as a fundamental convenience to the user.
It allows the user to review the Help File, and, when he sees a
particular screen display or information section which he values
enough to want to have around for future reference in hardcopy
form, he can simply tell HELP2 to print it. This capability is
intended to support the concept of establishing HLP files as a
convenient and flexible way to pass documentation of programs to
the user on disk while simultaneously allowing him to easily
print it out if it is of significant interest to him.
For instance, a HLP file which refers to a new program may
contain an Information Section or one Frame which contains a
command summary. The user can simply print this without having
the print the entire HLP file.
As another example, the HELP2 subsystem may be used by a
homemaker to keep her recipes on. Organized using the tree
structure into reasonable catagories (such as roasts, desserts,
etc), while reviewing the recipes she may find one she wishes to
try for the evening's meal or to pass on to a friend. If the
recipes covers only one screen, a Frame Print is very convenient.