Category : Communication (modem) tools and utilities
Archive   : INFPOP26.ZIP
Filename : IP.DOC

INFOPOP version 2.60 (c) 1993, GMUtant Software

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INFOPOP is not public domain. You may use, copy and distribute
the package freely. However, you may NOT modify IP.EXE or IPNR.EXE,
nor MAKEINFO.EXE. If you distribute InfoPop, you must include
all files in the distribution archive (INFPOPxx.ZIP or INFPOPxx.EXE).
You may distribute databases created with MakeInfo

2.6 is a modest tweak of the system

INFOPOP now requires a 286 or better CPU


InfoPop is memory-resident utility, designed to help you use Telnet
and/or your modem to reach a variety of information systems. Library
systems in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe accessible via the
Internet are covered, as are commercial online systems like CompuServe,
the Well and a couple hundred BBS systems. Release 2.0 adds several
new features: the ability to create your own databases for use with
the IP (or IPNR) search engine; completely reworked text search
function (Press F2 or ^QF to activate)--it now works 100% of the time
and is MUCH faster; and several other tweaks to the package.

The idea behind InfoPop is simple. Assuming you use a PC to access the
Internet, loading IP.EXE first will enable you to have an online help
system during your session. When inactive, InfoPop shrinks to a 9K
kernel, preserving your system RAM. When activated (by pressing Left
Shift F1, Left shift F2, or Left Shift F3) Infopop brings up an
information window. You can copy and paste information from the info
window to your underlying application--great for putting in those
Telnet addresses. Note that IP will not work with certain connectivity
options...it really is designed to safely interact with communication
programs that use the serial port (e.g., with a modem).


----------- Network / LAN / CUTCP users ----------

Be sure to load ALL of your network shells and/or
connectivity drivers before loading the TSR
version of InfoPop (IP.EXE). Doing so won't
guarantee that IP will run properly but if
you load IP then a network driver or shell
it surely will eventually crash or hang your
system.

You may find that the /e switch helps prevent
lockup. Suppose you want to run the telnet
program:

IP /E TELNET TelnetcommandLine [return]

This will load IP, then run TELNET. When
you exit TELNET (to return to DOS) InfoPop
will be unloaded. You can also use this
switch to start a telcomm program:

IP /E QMODEM [return]

InfoPop Keystrokes
------------------

Hot Key Action

LeftShift-F1 Displays Master InfoPop Index
LeftShift-F2 Displays topic that was on screen last time InfoPop
was activated
LeftShift-F3 Searches InfoPop database for term at cursor when
hot key was press. If no match is found, master index
displays.

Once InfoPop is active, the following keyboard commands can be used:

Press Action
====== ======
F2 (or ^QF) open text search box and enters search mode
^L (Control-L) if in search mode, takes you to next match
F3 Load a new database. Must be compiled by
MakeInfo. See Sampledb.TXT for details
on how to create a supplemental database.
TAB or RIGHT ARROW move to next highlighted (linked) topic
SHIFT-TAB or LEFT ARROW move back to previous highlighted entry
Control-Right Arrow move to main topic index screen
Control-Left Arrow move to previous topic screen
Control-PageUp move to top of the topic
Control-PageDown move to the bottom of a topic

Using a mouse?

Programmers will recognize that putting mouse handlers in TSR
applications is a tricky subject. Not so much the dealing with
the mouse during the popup program, but rather storing the state of
the mouse from the underlying application and restoring it when
the TSR goes back to sleep. InfoPop makes every attempt to coordinate
existing mouse activites that may be going on in your underlying
application with the mouse handler built into InfoPop's help window(s).
If you find that InfoPop is destroying your mouse cursor when you
return to your underlying application, you can turn off the InfoPop
mouse with the /X command.

Mouse commands

Left button: Pressing left button once will move the cursor to the
highlighted term at your mouse pointer. Double clicking will activate
that term's associated text.

Right button: closes InfoPop help system and returns to underlying
application


BOTH BUTTONS: calls up the main index (like pressing LeftShift-F3).

You may click on the scroll bars to move around in the displayed
window. Click on the arrows at the top and bottom of the scroll
bar to scroll a single line in either direction.

To explore INFOPOP, type IP at your DOS prompt, then press LEFT-SHIFT F1
to pop up the information window. With cursor over '(about) InfoPop', press
return then follow the text.

CUT & PASTE?

The TSR version of Infopop (IP.EXE) allows you to cut and paste
between the InfoPop information window and your underlying application.
Press ^KB to begin the block (or F7) and ^KK (or F8) to mark the end.
Pressing F4 (or ^KC) after a block is highlighted closes the InfoPop
window and writes the highlighted text to your application (at the cursor).
Great for pasting TELNET addresses!

Here are the command line arguments accepted by InfoPop:

/B Force use of black and white video attributes
/E ProgToRun Execute a program instead of going resident. This option
must be the last one on InfoPop's command line.
/D Force swapping to disk even if EMS or XMS is available
/H Set initial height of help window. Defaults to 12 lines.
/I HotKey Specify alternate Hot Key for Help Index
/L HotKey Specify alternate Hot Key for Onscreen Lookup
/P HotKey Specify alternate Hot Key for Previous Topic
/X Turn off mouse support. May be needed if you have
an old mouse driver.
/N Force entire program (TSR) to remain in memory.
/S Path Specify disk and directory for disk swapping
/U Unload InfoPop from memory
/? Display all options available

New INFOPOP.HLP files will be developed during the coming months.
Check GMUtant OnLine BBS for an updated file. (703) 993-2219

* new *

You may 'ftp' the latest version of InfoPop at any time

ftp gmuvax2.gmu.edu
Username: Anonymous
Password: your email address (e.g., [email protected])
cd library
dir (to list available files)
binary
get TheFileName (e.g., bget Infpop22.zip)


revision history

1.00 initial release

1.10 mouse support added.

1.11 ability to handle a larger number of cross-references per topic added.
minor tweaks in user interface

1.12 changed a couple of onscreen messages to say IP instead of InfoPop.

1.13 minor window change, name of program now appears on the opening window.
IPNR (non-TSR) version released.

1.14 window resized an additional line. Support added for Control-PgUp and
Control-PgDn inside a given window.

1.15 Color for highlighted linked termed changed to WHITE. Control LEFT arrow
moves back to previous link term. Control RIGHT arrow moves to next link.
HOME key brings up the MAIN index screen (like F1 or clicking both mouse
buttons)

1.16 Search [F2] capability added. You may now search the Infopop.hlp file
for any word that appears in the file. Note that search does not work
while on the initial index screen. You must be in a screen off the
main topic index (but your search will still encompass the entire
database).

1.17 Added ability to use XMS for swap files. This should help those
users with AT's who have XMS but no EMS. If you have 300K of
XMS memory, you'll note a dramatic improvement in INFOPOP's
speed.

2.00 Added ability to create (and load) supplemental databases; reworked
text search function...now faster and more accurate; optimized
storage algorithm. Now InfoPop first attempts to use EMS for
swap files, if that isn't available or is not found in
sufficient quantity, then XMS is checked and used if
adequate. If neither EMS or XMS memory is found and
useable, then InfoPop will use virtual memory (your hard
disk) for swap files.

2.10 Added mouse support for NON-RESIDENT (IPNR.EXE) version of
InfoPop.

INFOPOP is not public domain. You may use, copy and distribute
the package freely. You may NOT modify IP.EXE or IPNR.EXE, nor
MAKEINFO.EXE. If you distribute InfoPop, you must include
all files in the distribution archive (INFPOPxx.ZIP or
INFPOPxx.EXE).

2.20 Non-resident version window size increased to 20 lines.

2.30 Bug fix to IP.EXE. Ability to specify another database (other
than InfoPop.hlp) on the command line of the non-resident
(IPNR.EXE) version of InfoPop

2.40 Added a bit of code to enable IPNR to function under Windows.

2.50 Recompiled with Borland Pascal 7.0. Compiled for 286 or better
CPU. Shaved about 500 bytes from EXE file and runs just a tad
faster...If you are using an 8088 (XT), then call our BBS for
IP8088.EXE.

2.60 A couple of tweaks to improve performance and clean up loose
ends. Database (INFOPOP.HLP) expanded. MAKEINFO optimized
slightly.

=======================================================================
Author: Clyde W. Grotophorst, Library Systems Office, Fenwick Library
George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
voice: 703-993-2239 BBS: 703-993-2219 CIS: 70404,3376
email: [email protected]
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