PAINT
Command

Jeff Prosise1988/No. 2 (Utilities)


Purpose:Edits or creates custom help or reference screens that can be
popped up over an application program or at the DOS prompt with the HELP.COM
(PC Lab Notes, 1988/No. 1). Also provides full control of character and
video attribute bytes and permits insertion of single-line, double-line, or
pattern characters from the extended-ASCII PC text-graphics set.

Format:PAINT [filespec]

Remarks:The optional filespec is the filename (plus drive and path, if
needed) of a help/reference screen previously saved for HELP.COM by means of
the related CAPTURE program (PC Lab Notes, 1988/No. 1). If filespec is
omitted, PAINT permits creating and saving a new screen in the appropriate
format. HELP files are 4,000-byte screen buffer images, and as many as 14
may be chained together for successive display. The PgUp and PgDn keys in
PAINT move through multiple-screen files.

The Ins key toggles the PAINT editor between overstrike (the default)
and insert modes. The Del key deletes the character under the cursor and
closes up the text. In overstrike mode, the Backspace key moves the cursor
left without moving any text characters to its right. In insert mode, the
Backspace drags characters with it. The cursor can be moved anywhere within
the viewing area by means of the cursor keys. Home and End move the cursor
to the ends of the text line, and Enter performs the usual carriage
return/line feed.

Function key F1 lists the menus presented by each function key, and
Esc de-selects any active menu. F3 toggles between text-only and text-plus
-attribute modes, which are also reflected in the operation of the Backspace
and Del keys. Attributes are selected by number(s) after pressing F2, which
presents 16 foreground and 8 background color choices (color systems) or
normal, reverse, boldface, or underline (monochrome systems). By positioning
the cursor on any displayed character and pressing F2 twice, that video
attribute can be selected without using the menu numbers. Pressing Enter
defaults to the current selection. Selected attributes remain in effect
until changed.

Small or irregular screen areas can be "painted" with the current
attribute by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the desired cursor Arrow
keys. Large screen areas may be defined by locating the cursor at one corner
and pressing F5, then moving to the diagonal corner and pressing F5 again. A
menu choice is then presented, either to clear the defined block of text
characters or to paint them all with the current video attribute. Pressing
F5 twice without moving the cursor defines the entire screen and presents the
same choice.

Function key F4 permits selection of single-line, double-line,
patterns, or asterisks that are then written to the screen by holding down the
Alt key and pressing the cursor arrows. Where lines cross, appropriate
junction symbols are substituted. F6 asks for a filename under which the file
is to be saved (it supplies the original filename as a default) and saves the
file. Compensation is automatically applied to adjust for differences in
display size. Pressing F7 returns to DOS.


Notes:

1. While PAINT is intended primarily for use with screens that use the
HELP program, it can be used to advantage in prototyping screens for
application programs and in the design layout of other pop-up windows.

2. PAINT is compatible both with traditional PCs and with the new PS/2 line.