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New in ZDE
Z-System Display Editor
Version 1.3 26 Aug 89
ZDE and its documentation adapted with permission from Eric
Meyer's VDE version 2.66, and are now copyright 1989 by Carson
Wilson, all rights reserved. They may not be circulated in any
incomplete or modified form without the written permission of
Carson Wilson. Any commercial use of ZDE, defined as any
situation where the duplicator receives revenue by duplicating
or distributing ZDE by itself or in conjunction with any
hardware or software product, is expressly prohibited unless
authorized in writing by Carson Wilson.
This file describes changes to ZDE since version 1.0. I have
decided not to release a revision of the documents while ZDE is
still in active development. For now, please obtain ZDE10.DOC
and ZDENSTAL.DOC from ZDE10.LBR, available on Antelope Freeway
and many other remote CP/M systems. Except for the changes
detailed below, these files provide a thorough explanation of
how to use and install ZDE. Alternatively, send a contribution
of $6 or more to support further work on ZDE, and I will mail
you a high quality printed manual. See section 4 of this file
for details.
- CONTENTS -
1. FUNCTIONAL ENHANCMENTS.
1.1. Hardware Codes for Faster Scrolling.
1.2. ZCPR Auto-Return to Previous Position.
1.3. WordStar-like Ruler line.
1.4. ZCPR-like Option Lead-in Character.
1.5. Cursor Dance Eliminated.
1.6. Other Minor Enhancments.
2. BUGS FIXED.
3. INSTALLATION.
4. FOR MORE INFORMATION.
1. FUNCTIONAL ENHANCEMENTS.
1.1. Hardware Codes for Faster Scrolling.
ZDE now uses "hardware" video scrolling in its delete line (^Y)
command, if your terminal has a delete line capability (see
ZDENSTAL's Terminal Installation). If hardware insert line is
available, hardware scrolling is also implemented in the insert
line (^N) command when used at the beginning of a line. For most
terminals these are considerably faster than repainting all or
part of the screen, especially if more than one line is being
inserted or deleted.
On many ASCII terminals a pause is needed after giving a hardware
scroll string so that the screen can catch up with the keyboard.
As distributed the same value of 38 hex is used for both
horizontal and vertical scrolls. To determine the optimal setting
for your terminal, load a large text file and execute "scroll up"
or "scroll down" (^W or ^Z) continuously. If your terminal beeps
at you or if garbage characters appear you probably need to
install a larger "Horizontal & vertical scroll delay" value with
ZDENSTAL.
1.2. ZCPR Auto-Return to Previous Position.
ZDE now loads ZCPR's user-defined message bytes 0 and 1 (if
available) with the absolute line number of your position in a
file on exit. This allows you to exit to ZCPR, perform some other
commands, then return to the same line in your file using the ^QQ
command. You can also use this feature to jump to the equivalent
line in another file. Since the line number is absolute, it does
not vary with page length or file mode settings.
1.3. WordStar-like Ruler line.
New in this version is the appearance of ZDE's ASCII/WordStar mode
ruler line. As with WordStar and NewWord, the left margin is now
marked with "L", the right margin with "R", and soft tabs with
"!". The appearance of ZDE's Non-Document mode ruler line remains
unchanged.
1.4. ZCPR-like Option Lead-in Character.
ZDE now accepts ZCPR's familiar "/" slash character instead of
CP/M Plus's "[" character as an option signifier. For example, to
change to non-document mode the command is now "^KN/N" instead of
"^KN[N". To load a file in ASCII mode (for example) the command
is now "ZDE filename /A". This is more consistent with Z-System
programs as well as the MS-DOS version of VDE. It's also a lot
easier to find the slash character (at least on my keyboard)!
ZDE allows you to "quote" the slash character in filenames in the
same way you quote it in ZDE find/replace strings, by doubling the
slash to give a literal slash. So for example the command "^KN
12//12//89.FIL" will change the current filename to
"12/12/89.FIL," and "ZDE ////MYFILE" loads //MYFILE for editing.
1.5. Cursor Dance Eliminated.
Several users mentioned that ZDE's cursor often seemed to "dance"
for no apparent reason. Actually, this was due to the fact that
ZDE repaints the screen somewhat more often than larger word
processing programs, but in looking through NewWord's User Area
Listing for version 2.17, I found something I had never noticed
before. It is possible to install NewWord to turn your cursor off
and on by putting short routines in the MORPAT area and installing
jumps to your routines at 77D and 77A hex, respectively. This
reduces eyestrain by telling NW to turn off your cursor while it
repaints your screen.
It turns out that it was fairly simple to add a similar routine to
ZDE, so this version has cursor on/off routines similar to
NewWord's. To make use of these routines, you must install ZDE
with the cursor on/off codes for your terminal. ZDENSTAL 1.3
allows up to six bytes each for cursor on and cursor off. I have
only been able to find codes for a few of the terminals in
ZDENSTAL's library. If the codes for your terminal are not
included in ZDENSTAL, perhaps you could leave a short message to
me describing them (see below for address), and I will include
them in the next release.
1.6. Other Minor Enhancments.
The cursor now turns off with the ^OZ command, giving a completely
blank screen if cursor on/off is installed (see 1.5, above).
Version 1.0 repainted the whole screen after copying a block. Now
ZDE repaints only from the block to the bottom of the screen for
faster operation in most circumstances. I have also optimized
ZDE's general screen output routines somewhat for speed, though
this isn't noticable on terminals operating at less than 38.4
kbaud.
File input/output code has also been optimized for slightly
greater speed.
And, last but not least, "quiet" operations now work up to 300
percent faster! Both "quiet" macros and the "*" option of
find/replace boast greatly increased speed due to improved program
logic.
2. BUGS FIXED.
If you did a backwards find/replace with ZDE 1.0 and responded to
the "Y/N" prompt with "*", the screen stayed off until you gave an
illegal command. The screen now comes back when replacement is
complete.
ZCPR's GO restart now works after exitting when ZDE's window (^OW)
is active. Previously restarting with GO caused ZDE to limited
the number of lines of display available by 1/2.
I fixed a bug with block markers failing to scroll the entire
display if entered in the last screen column. This was apparently
introduced when I made block marker displays more efficient in ZDE
1.0.
If the cursor is to the left of the left margin, block markers now
move the cursor to the left margin instead of marking the blank
space between cursor and left margin as part of the block.
For greater safety, ZDE now checks for free memory space before
adding a block marker with ^KK or ^KB.
Place markers no longer cause words to "wrap" to the next line
when wordwrap is active.
I fixed a minor bug ZDE 1.0 introduced to the ^OR command. Typing
^OR in non-document mode no longer produces the strange result of
setting the right margin to column seven.
A display bug which occurred when the cursor was in column one of
a virtual screen with a tab to its left has been fixed.
Previously, if only a drive letter was given in response to the
^KF command's "Dir:" prompt, ZDE searched user zero of the
specified drive, no matter what the current user number was. ZDE
now searches for files at the current user number of the specified
drive in these circumstances.
The installed "output filter limit" was allowing one character
higher than the limit to be sent to the screen. Now only
characters equal to or less than the limit are sent.
3. INSTALLATION.
You MUST use ZDENSTAL 1.3 to install this version of ZDE. Older
.ZDK and .ZDP files will still work; due to extra installation
codes, older .ZDE files will not work with this version.
Version 1.0 of ZDENSTAL skipped the last few bytes of .ZDK key
overlay files, preventing a full 512-byte .ZDK key file overlay
from being installed. ZDENSTAL now installs the full 512 bytes.
ZDENSTAL now allows four instead of just two default file types.
Several new terminal definitions have been added to ZDENSTAL, as
well as some additional terminal codes (see 1.5, above).
4. FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank the community of
users without whose efforts this version of ZDE would be far less
than what it is. Most of the above improvements and many of the
bugs fixed in this version result from comments and insights by
ZDE enthusiasts from around the country. Please let me know your
thoughts on this most recent version.
Besides writing computer programs and working on a degree in
political science, I operate the Antelope Freeway Remote Access
Systems for CFOG, Chicago's First Osborne Group. These dual
remote systems are available at the same number, 312/764-5162,
Chicago. Antelope 1 covers CP/M and Z System, while Antelope 2 is
dedicated to MS-DOS support. The best way to contact me is
through this board. Registration is free. If you are not a
registered member, you can leave me a note as part of your
application.
Alternatively, my mailing address is:
1359 W. Greenleaf, #1D
Chicago, IL 60626
USA
As I mentioned above, I don't plan to reissue the ZDE manuals with
the library while ZDE is still in development. For those who wish
an updated manual and/or wish to support ZDE, I offer instead a
pre-printed User's Manual and Installation Guide with Table of
Contents and Index for a contribution of $6 or more, postpaid.
The manual is printed in handsome proportional type on both sides
of 8.5 x 11 inch sheets and punched for a three-hole ring binder.
My costs for printing and mailing are about $3.