CopyCon


Version 1.00
September 1987


















by
John E. Bean

INTRODUCTION


CopyCon is a program to be used in lieu of the DOS command
COPY CON. I have used COPY CON numerous times in creating
batch files and miscellaneous text files.

I have experienced some bad moments using COPY CON. I have
accidently overwritten existing files. I have mistyped com-
mands only to notice them while entering the next line. I
have also desired to display boxes in my batch files.

CopyCon alleviates all of the above problems. It checks to
see if the inputted file exists, and if it does CopyCon asks
if the file is to be overwritten. CopyCon also has full
screen editing capability and built in Macros which aids in
creating files.

CopyCon is so easy to use that this manual is not necessary
but the following sections will briefly discuss how to used
CopyCon and a simple tutorial.



GETTING STARTED

Start CopyCon by issuing the following command at the DOS
prompt: A:>CopyCon (filename).

As you can see this is identical to using the DOS command
COPY CON except there is not a space between Copy and Con.
The user is responsible for providing a valid filename.

Once the program is loaded into memory, the screen will be
cleared, ">CopyCon (filename)" will be displayed in the up-
per left hand corner. A number will be displayed in the upper
right hand corner. This number is the maximum number of lines
the file can contain. The number should be in the thousands.

If the file entered exists, the program will ask if you want
to overwrite the file. Choosing yes will overwrite the file.
Choosing no will abort CopyCon.

The cursor will be located at the left hand column on row 2
of your screen. You are now ready to enter your file.



EDITING COMMANDS

CopyCon provides simple editing commands. These commands can
be displayed while editing by depressing the F1 function key.
The editing commands can be broken into the following sec-
tions.

CURSOR PAD KEYS:
Up Arrow Key - Depressing the Up arrow key
will move the cursor to the
previous line. Depressing
the Up arrow key while on
line one will result in the
bell ringing.

Down Arrow Key - Depressing the Down arrow
key will move the cursor to
the next line. Depressing
the Down arrow key while on
the last line entered will
result in the bell ringing.

Left Arrow Key - Depressing the Left arrow
key will move the cursor
one position left on the
current line. Depressing
the Left arrow key while at
the leftmost column on the
screen will result in the
bell ringing.

Right Arrow Key - Depressing the Right arrow
key will move the cursor
one position right on the
current line. Depressing
the Right arrow key while
at the rightmost column on
the screen will result in
the bell ringing.

Home Key - Depressing the HOME key
will move the cursor to the
leftmost position on the
current line.

End Key - Depressing the END key will
move the cursor to the
rightmost position on the
current line.

Ctrl Home Key - Simultaneously depressing
the Ctrl key and the HOME
key will move the cursor to
the top of the screen.

Ctrl End Key - Simultaneously depressing
the Ctrl key and the END
key will move the cursor to
the bottom of the screen.

Ins Key - Depressing the INS key will
toggle the Insert Mode on
and off. If the Insert Mode
is on, "INS" will be dis-
played on the top line in
iverse video.

Del Key - Depressing the DEL key will
delete the character under
the current cursor posi-
tion. All characters to
the right will move one
space to the left.

FUNCTION KEYS:

F1 - Depressing the F1 function key will dis-
play the Help Screen. The Help Screen
will display all the keys discussed in
this section.

F2 - Depressing the F2 function key will dis-
play a listing of all the built in Macros
available in this program.

F3 - Depressing the F3 function key will copy
the previous line. (The tutorial will
show how useful this can be)

F4 - Depressing the F4 function key will cen-
ter the current line on the screen. This
feature is multifunctioned. If the line
starts with "REM" or "ECHO" the centering
will be offset to accommodate for those
words. (The tutorial will show how this
works)

F6 - Depressing the F6 function key will save
the file and exit the program.


MACROS

CopyCon has built in Macros. What are Macros? Macros are a
character or a series of characters displayed on the screen
when a designated key or two designated keys are simulta-
neously depressed. A list of Macros can be displayed during
editing by depressing the F2 function key. The Macros in
CopyCon can be divided into two categories. They are:

BATCH FILE COMMANDS:

CopyCon has assigned several of the most commonly
used batch file commands to key combinations. They
are:
Alt A - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "A" key will print
"*.*" on the screen.

Alt B - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "B" key will print
"*.bak" on the screen.

Alt C - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "C" key will print
"copy" on the screen.

Alt E - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "E" key will print
"echo" on the screen.

Alt G - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "G" key will print
"goto" on the screen.

Alt L - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "L" key will print
"cls" on the screen.

Alt R - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "R" key will print
"rem" on the screen.

Alt S - Simultaneously depressing the Alt
key and the "S" key will print
"erase" on the screen.


GRAPHIC BOXES:

Many times boxes look good in batch files. CopyCon
has established Macros for both single and double
sided boxes. The following will describe the keys
used to print the box characters on the screen.

SINGLE SIDED BOX:

Alt F1 - Upper Left Hand Corner
Alt F2 - Upper Right Hand Corner
Alt F3 - Lower Left Hand Corner
Alt F4 - Lower Right Hand Corner
Alt F5 - Horizontal Line
Alt F6 - Vertical Line
Alt F7 - Upper Hoizontal Cross
Alt F8 - Lower Horizontal Cross
Alt F9 - Left Vertical Cross
Alt F10- Right Vertical Cross

DOUBLE SIDED BOX:

Ctrl F1 - Upper Left Hand Corner
Ctrl F2 - Upper Right Hand Corner
Ctrl F3 - Lower Left Hand Corner
Ctrl F4 - Lower Right Hand Corner
Ctrl F5 - Horizontal Line
Ctrl F6 - Vertical Line
Ctrl F7 - Upper Hoizontal Cross
Ctrl F8 - Lower Horizontal Cross
Ctrl F9 - Left Vertical Cross
Ctrl F10- Right Vertical Cross



TUTORIAL

This tutorial is a simple example which illustrates the fea-
tures of CopyCon. In this tutorial we will create the batch
file "wally.bat". This batch file will display a box and some
verbage. (Note: The words to be typed will appear in ""s. Do
not type the quotes)

1. Load CopyCon:
A:>CopyCon wally.dai

CopyCon will be loaded into memory. The number of lines
available for this file will be displayed in the upper
left hand corner.

2. We want to type in "echo off". Instead of typing this we
will use a Macro instead. Simply depress ALT E. The word
"echo" will automatically be printed on the screen. Type the
word "off" and depress the Enter key.

3. Next we want to clear the screen. We will again use the
Macro for this. Depress ALT L. "Cls" will automatically be
typed on the screen. Depress the Enter key.

4. Let's build a box. To make the box appear on the screen
when the batch file is executed, we must echo it. Depress the
Macro for "echo" wich is ALT E. We will build a single sided
box. Depress ALT F1. The upper left hand corner will appear.
Depress ALT F5 six times. The horizontal bar will be entered.
Depress Alt F2. The upper right hand corner will be entered.
Finish the line by depressing the Enter key.

5. The next line will be the horizontal lines. Depress ALT
E to enter "echo". Depress ALT F6 for a vertical line. De-
press the space bar six times. The cursor should now be under
the upper right hand corner. Depress ALT F6. Another vertical
line will be entered. Finish the line by depressing the Enter
key.

6. We want to create two more lines just like the previous
line. Simply depress the F3 function key. The above line will
be copied. Depress Enter to advance to the next line. Depress
the F3 function key again. The line will be copied once more.
Finish the line by depressing the Enter key.

7. Next we want to close the box. Depress ALT E to enter
"echo". Depress ALT F3 to enter the lower left hand corner of
the box. Depress ALT F5 six times to enter the horizontal
bar. Depress ALT F4 to enter the lower right hand corner.
Finish the line by depressing the Enter key.


8. Let's put a word in the box. Depress the UP arrow key
three times. Depress the RIGHT arrow key nine (9) times. Type
in the word "HI".

9. Now to center the box to make it look nice. Move the
cursor to the top of the box (the third line in the file).
Depress F4. The line will be centered. Depress the DOWN arrow
to advance to the next line. Depress F4. Repeat this process
for the remainder of the box.

10. It is time to save the file. Depress the F6 function
key. The file will be saved and you will be returned to DOS.

To test this program simply type "WALLY" at the DOS prompt.
The box should be displayed on the screen.