*** HOMEWORKER ***
By Geoff Camp, 1991
Presented by UNDERSOFT
The word processor designed with
children's needs in mind.
Features include:
-choice of fifteen fonts - three
fonts in memory at once
-large, easy to read print
-full edit commands
-true insert
-full cursor control
-delete or backspace with or without
insert
-move quickly to start or end of
document
-up to 10 full pages per document
-save or load documents for future
editing
-80 characters per font
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDE
FGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789
!"$%*()-+=':/.,<>?
-large left margin on document for
ring binder or stapling
-select disc drive for saving or
loading files
-disc drive and file information
available from menu
-select own paper length
-for use with EPSON compatible
printers
-all functions controlled by drop
down menus or function keys
LOADING
Double click on the HOMEWORK.PRG icon,
and the program will run.
The program file, HOMEWORK.PRG, can be
placed in an AUTO folder. Then turn
the ST off, insert the Homeworker disk
in the disk drive,and then turn the
computer on. Homeworker will then
automatically load and run.
KEYBOARD CONTROLS
Cursor keys - to move cursor!
(Del) - delete character under cursor,
replace with a space
(Backspace) - delete left character,
replace with a space
(Insert) - turns insert on/off,
delete or backspace will now
remove character and move the
following characters to fill
the space
(Help) - centres line of text
(Esc) - exit printing routine
(Return) - moves to next line
FUNCTION KEYS
F1 - changes character under cursor
to the first font
F2 - changes character under cursor
to the second font
F3 - changes character under cursor
to the third font
F4 - move 1/2 page up
F5 - move 1/2 page down
F6 - move to last page of document
F7 - move to 1st page of document
F8 - insert a blank line below
current line
F9 - delete current line - following
lines are moved up to replace
the deleted line
F10 - clear line - any characters are
replaced with spaces
MENUS
HOMEWORKER - (INFO.) gives information
about HOMEWORKER.
- (HELP) list the function
keys effects.
- (QUIT) select yes or no
with mouse - last screen
can be exited by pressing
either mouse key, or wait
until the tune finishes.
DISC/FILES - (LOAD DOCUMENT) loads a
file - uses normal STOS
file select routine -
there are 4 sample files
on the disc, INFO.HMK and
INFO2.HMK, containing
these instructions,
FONT.HMK that shows the
three currently loaded
fonts. Use this file to
test the different fonts
available, and to select
the fonts you want for
your documents. The last
file is TURTLES.HMK and
is about the infamous
Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles.
- (SAVE DOCUMENT) saves a
file to the current disc.
- (NEW DOCUMENT) select yes
or no to confirm.
- (DISC/FILE INFO.) prints
list of files and space
available on current disc
drive, and also shows
length of current file.
- (SELECT DRIVE) select one
of the drives - can also
be changed when saving or
loading files. Use with
RAM discs or Hard discs.
FONT - (ABC) first font.
- (ABC) second font.
- (ABC) third font.
- (LOAD FONT) replaces
currently selected font
with one from the disc.
File must be a .HMF file.
PRINTER - (PREVIEW DOCUMENT) prints
document on the screen -
left mouse key to pause,
right mouse key to quit.
- (TEST PRINT) prints the
document to the printer,
but in normal text - used
to get a quick copy for
proof reading - press
(Esc) to exit - picture
names only are printed.
- (PRINT DOCUMENT) prints
full document - press
(Esc) to exit.
- (PAGE LENGTH) selects
paper length - this is to
allow for different
length of paper - 70 is
for 11 1/2" paper.
- (TEST PAGE LENGTH) sends
a form feed to the printer
to test page length.
EDIT - (INSERT ON) turns insert
mode on.
- (INSERT OFF) turns insert
mode off.
- (CENTRE TEXT) same as
pressing (Help) key.
- (INSERT LINE) same as
pressing F8.
- (DELETE LINE) same as
pressing F9.
- (CLEAR LINE) same as
pressing F10.
- (1st PAGE) same as
pressing F7.
- (LAST PAGE) same as
pressing F6.
- (1/2 PAGE UP) same as
pressing F4.
- (1/2 PAGE DOWN) same as
pressing F5.
GRAPHICS - (DESIGN PICTURE) goes to
the picture designer part
of Homeworker.
- (ADD PICTURE) adds a
picture to the current
document in the half page
that the cursor is in.
Select file with STOS
file select routine. If
insert is on then room is
made in the text for the
picture. If insert is off
then the picture will
replace the text in the
half page. Pictures are
shown in text as small
boxes containing P's.
These pictures cannot be
over written by text.
- (DELETE PICTURE) deletes
picture in half page that
cursor is currently in.
If insert is on then the
text is moved up to
replace the picture. If
insert is off then the
picture is replaced with
spaces.
- (WHAT PICTURE?) tells you
the name of the picture
in the half page that the
cursor is in.
GRAPHICS DESIGNER
General Information
The picture designer is selected by
clicking on the 'DESIGN PICTURE' menu
selection from the main screen in
Homeworker. This will then present you
with a blank screen in low resolution
mode. Screens are drawn in black and
white only, as this is how they will
appear when printed. The designer is
also menu driven. Screens are saved in
Homeworker's own format, and files are
only 7296 bytes long. Each screen from
a document must be on the same disc,
as they are loaded into memory when
the document is printed. This special
file format allows you to have more
than the maximum 20 screens from a
document on the one disk. The screen
designer also allows you to convert
.NEO or .PI1 pictures to Homeworker
format. Pictures are slightly smaller
than the normal ST screen - drawing is
limited to below the menu, and to the
right of the red line on the left of
the screen.
Free-hand drawing is the default
drawing mode. Move the mouse around
and press the left mouse key to draw.
Other drawing modes are selected from
the menu, and when exited will return
you to free-hand drawing.
Menu Selections
SCREEN - (QUIT DRAWING) exits the
screen designer.
- (CLEAR SCREEN) clears the
screen - press (UNDO) if
you change your mind.
LINE - (THIN) draws a thin line
in free-hand mode, and
when drawing lines, boxes
and circles.
- (MEDIUM) draws a thicker
line.
- (THICK) draws a thicker
line again.
- (VERY THICK!) draws a very
thick line!
DRAW - (LINES) draws straight
lines in the current pen.
Move mouse pointer to
start of line and press
left mouse key. Keep key
pressed and move to end of
line. Release left button.
Repeat until all straight
lines are drawn, then
press right mouse key.
- (BOX) draws boxes in the
current pen. Draw as for
lines.
- (FILLED BOX) draws a solid
box, filled with the
current fill pattern.
- (CIRCLE) draws circles in
the current pen.
- (FILLED CIRCLE) draws
solid circles, filled with
the current fill pattern.
- (SPRAY - SMALL) spray can
in current colour. Press
left mouse key to paint.
- (SPRAY - MEDIUM) slightly
larger spray area.
- (SPRAY - LARGE) large
spray area.
PEN - (BLACK) selects a black
pen for drawing.
- (WHITE) selects a white
pen for drawing.
FILL - (FILL AREA) fills an
enclosed area with current
fill pattern. Move pointer
to area and press left
mouse key. Repeat until
all areas filled, then
press right mouse key. Use
The (UNDO) key to correct
mistakes.
- (CHOOSE PATTERN) press
left mouse key to change
pattern, right mouse key
to select pattern.
FILES - (LOAD PICTURE) select a
.HMP file from the normal
STOS file select routine.
- (SAVE PICTURE) as above.
- (CONVERT PICTURE) this
routine can be used to
convert a .NEO or .PI1
picture to Homeworker
format. The picture
selected is loaded and
shown on screen. Move the
mouse pointer over a
colour and press left key.
This will change that
colour to black. Press
again to change to white.
Press the right mouse key
when you are happy with
the picture. Note that not
all pictures can be
converted to Homeworker
format. Any colours not
changed during conversion
will be set to black.
OTHER - (MAGNIFY) enlarges an area
of the picture to edit
detail. Move box over area
and press left mouse key.
Press right key to abort.
The colours of pixels can
be changed on the enlarged
picture by pressing the
left mouse key. Press the
right key when finished.
- (CUT and PASTE) used to
copy an area of the screen
to another part of the
screen. Move the pointer
to the to left corner of
the area to be copied.
Press left mouse key, and
expand box to cover area
to be cut. Position
pointer over top left
corner of area to be
copied to, and press left
mouse key. Repeat this
until all copies made then
press right mouse key.
- (TEXT) position cursor
with left mouse key, then
type your text. Press
right mouse key to exit.
The (UNDO) key
To correct mistakes, press the (UNDO)
key after returning to free-hand mode
from a drawing routine. Does not work
after the Magnify routine
Can also be used to restore the last
picture edited when first entering the
drawing mode.
ERRORS
Homeworker is a complex program and
has been tested over a long period.
Programming errors may have slipped
passed this process. If the program
detects a bug that has not been
previously detected it will show a
message and an error number. If this
occurs with you will you please send
me a note giving the error number and
saying what you were doing with
Homeworker at that time.
UPGRADES
I am currently upgrading HOMEWORKER to
include the following-
- automatic word wrap
- fonts saved with document
- display available fonts for
selection
- larger files if more memory
available
- printer selection - if I can
find out the control codes for
different printers! Send me the
details of your printer -
control codes for graphics
dumping, line spacing, etc.
Maybe a editable PRINTER.INF
file would be better?
-Batch files for fonts, and
automatic loading of selected
fonts when HOMEWORKER is first
run.
MY ADD!
HOMEWORKER is share ware. You can
become a registered user by sending me
$20. For this you will receive details
of updates, and support if (?when)
bugs are detected. I will also send
you details of other UNDERSOFT
programs.
Registered users will also obtain a
version specific to their printer if
needed. Just send me details of your
printer with your cheque.
Registered users may also obtain a
copy of the source file for $15 from
me.
Please feel free to hand copies of
HOMEWORKER to your friends, but I ask
you to include this READ.ME file on
the disc, along with all font and
picture files.
Remember if share ware is not
supported, then it dies a sudden
death, and support for the ST goes
down and we all suffer. Sad, isn't it?
UNDERSOFT is Australian software for
the ST. If you have any programs that
may be suitable for release under
this label then send them to me for
consideration.
Other programs currently available
from UNDERSOFT include -
SPIDER SPELL
MATHS ACTION
1st MATHS
BRAIN FOOD
My Address is
Geoff Camp,
47 Alawoona Rd.
Munno Para,
South Australia,
5115