4Help Version 1.0

Copyright (c)1989 Ross Neilson Wentworth
Text is Copyright (c)1989 Rex Conn and J.P. Software

An enhanced online help system replacing
the original 4DOS help program.

Read help topic "(c)1989" for additional copyright information.

This program and associated data file completely replace the help system
provided with 4DOS 2.2. Simply delete the original 4DOS help files and
copy DOS.EXE and DOS.HLP into your 4DOS subdirectory.

Features:

o Full mouse support
o Cross indexed help topics
o Backtrack to previous help topics
o The entire topic index is displayed at once
o User patchable screen colors

See -HELP- and -MOUSE- for information on using the keyboard and the mouse.

PATCHING DOS.EXE

It is assumed that you know how to patch an EXE file and have some means
of accomplishing the task.

Near the end of DOS.EXE you will find the string "PATCH HERE:" (without
the quotes). Immediately following this string are nine (9) bytes that
can be modified to change the behavior and colors of the help system.
Following the nine patchable bytes is the string ":END PATCH" (again,
without the quotes). The nine bytes are as follows:

1. Search Type

This byte defines how HELP will behave when you press alphanumeric
keys on the keyboard. The possible values are:

0 - Alphanumeric characters ignored

All characters besides the cursor keys, , and
are ignored.

1 - Incremental search

When the first alpha character is entered, the highligh bar
moves to the next item which starts with that character.
Another alpha character moves the highlight bar to the next
item that starts with the two characters entered, and so on.
The current search string is displayed in the lower left
portion of the window frame, as long as there is sufficient
space.

2 - Alternate Incremental search

This search method is identical to method 1 except that when
a character is entered that results in no match the search
string is reset and the highligh bar is positioned on the
next item starting with the new character. This is the
default setting.

3 - Single character search

The highligh bar is moved to the next item that starts with
the entered character. Only the first character is considered.

4 - Single character search, exit on match

Same as method 3 but the highlighted item is immediately
selected as the help topic.

Attempting to use a value other than 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 will result
in upredictable behavior.

2. Color for window frame
3. Color for normal help text
4. Color for window header
5. Color for selected cross-reference item
6. Color for unselected cross-reference item
7. Color for highlighted text
8. Color for alternate highlighted text
9. Color for alternate highlighted text - not currently used


If you have any comments or bug reports I can be contacted below:

Ross Neilson Wentworth
1422 Elkgrove Circle, #3
Venice, CA 90291
(213)399-1244

I can also be contacted by modem via the WLA BBS at (213)838-9229.