Documentation for PCTEXT 1983 R. Friedrich, 1101 Woodcrest Dr., Garland, TX 75040 DESCRIPTION: A multi-column text utility for Perfect Writer. INTRODUCTION Perfect Writer lacks capabilites of writing and moving text in parallel columns. PCtext overcomes this deficiency by rewriting user prepared column text for Perfect Calc, loading text in designated parallel columns. The only code used in this program is the Perfect Calc "GOTO" code: a right arrow bracket followed by a column designation, as illustrated by the following tutorial. TUTORIAL >a Head each column block with the column desgination, and type your text the desired width. If righthand justification is not needed, the simplest procedure is to set the "fill" column as the right margin. For example, this column was >b set to fill to column 24. This is achieved by typing: 24 CTL-X F. This short line length was chosen to illustrate the text in three columns. >c Every time you want to change column designations, simply type a line with the GOTO code. All columns will start on the same line until a new ">a" is entered. ">a" starts a new column bock on the line following the longest column of the preceding block. >a >b If you want to leave the "a" column blank, you must enter ">a" anyway, just to reset the block starting line. However, if you want to skip any other column, it is not nencessary to type the "GOTO" code for that column. >a If you want a line or a paragraph to extend past the column boundries, Perfect Calc will display it only if there is nothing in the adjacent column(s) to obstruct it. >a After preparing the column format with "GOTO" codes, write the text to disk, exit the word proecessor, and load PCtext. The program will ask you the names of the file to read, and the file to write. >c (Here we skipped ">b".) PCtext will boot out when done. Then load Perfect Calc with the new file written by PCtext. When PC is done reading the file, you will need to set column widths to your liking (CTL-X,w). >a ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >a Once the text is in the spreadsheet, you can copy and move it all you want until you get the layout that suits you. >b You can then save the PC file as you have revised it, or send it to the printer, or save it on disk as dispayed (CTL-X CTL-P). >c Let's take a look at what we've done so far. ************************************************ Head each column block set to fill to column Every time you want with the column 24. This is achieved by to change column desgination, and type typing: 24 CTL-X F. designations, simply your text the desired This short line length type a line with the width. If righthand was chosen to illustrate GOTO code. All columns justification is not the text in three will start on the same needed, the simplest columns. line until a new ">a" is procedure is to set the entered. ">a" starts a "fill" column as the new column bock on the right margin. For line following the example, this column was longest column of the preceding block. If you want to leave the "a" column blank, you must enter ">a" anyway, just to reset the block starting line. However, if you want to skip any other column, it is not nencessary to type the "GOTO" code for that column. If you want a line or a paragraph to extend past the column boundries, Perfect Calc will display it only if there is nothing in the adjacent column(s) to obstruct it. After preparing the (Here we skipped ">b".) column format with PCtext will boot out "GOTO" codes, write the when done. Then load text to disk, exit the Perfect Calc with the word proecessor, and new file written by load PCtext. The PCtext. When PC is done program will ask you the reading the file, you names of the file to will need to set column read, and the file to widths to your liking write. (CTL-X,w). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the text is in the You can then save the PC Let's take a look at spreadsheet, you can file as you have revised what we've done so far. copy and move it all you it, or send it to the want until you get the printer, or save it on layout that suits you. disk as dispayed (CTL-X CTL-P). ******************************************** You can produce neat looking type codes (underscoring, back columns by first subjecting the spacing, etc.). If you want to text to Perfect Formatter. Set include these in your final style parameters to 0 left, top, printed document, try the and bottom margins, and line following approach: Write the width to desired number of spread sheet display to disk characters. Also turn off page (CTL-X CTL-P), then modify that footing. file with your word processor to Write the formatted text to add the formatting codes. With disk; in other words, print to Perfect Writer you will want to device: "file". Then enter the reformat in the flushleft mode. new file with the word processor Also remember that any special to tighten up double spaces, and type modes which would carry insert column designation over to the following line must codes. Then load the file into be terminated at the end of the PCtext to rewrite it for Perfect line and reopened on the next Calc. line, lest both columns of text One caution must be raised be subjected to the special type when using the formatter: command. Perfect Calc cannot read special