[PPE] LightBar toolkit v1.0
Copyright (c)1994 Mr. Data Enterprises  04/21/94


±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Intro:
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
What you have in your hands is really a simple concept of allowing a way of
making a system that lets a user select options via arrow keys and/or hotkeys
in a very simplified manner.
For arrow keys you may use either the gray arrows, number pad, Home, End,
PgUp, or PgDn.  PgUp and PgDn move up or down 1/4 of the way.
Please take time to read this doc as I will try to keep it simple, because
there's a lot of little things you may need/want to know about.


±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Quickie Startup for the Impatient or Lazy:
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Supplied are the following example setups and how to install them:

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Replacement More? Prompt

In PCBTEXT #196 enter the following line (modify directory):
!C:\PCB\PPL\LITE\LITE.PPE MORE

This runs the gives a display somewhat like:

ÄÄMore?ÄÄ Continue NonStop Stop

...with Continue highlighted first.
move around to select the others or press the first letter of the option to
move to it and press Enter to select.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Sample Help Menu

In CMD.LST, add the following commands:

    Command         Security  PPE/MNU File -or- Keystroke Replacement
    ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ  ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ  ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ
    HELP                0     C:\PCB\PPL\LITE\LITE.PPE HELP
    H                   0     C:\PCB\PPL\LITE\LITE.PPE HELP
    ?                   0     C:\PCB\PPL\LITE\LITE.PPE HELP

This help system really is just a demonstration, you may want to read on and
find out how to customize it to add new help commands to it.  Otherwise you
get a quick list of the standard PCBoard commands drawn over the screen and
the highlight starts on Abort and you may move around by arrows or common one
key hotkeys.


±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
How The System Works
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±

Wherever you want a prompt for lightbar entry to go, do a call to the LITE.PPE
and as a parameter give the 8 character filename (.LIT extension assumed
always) and it will use that configuration given in that file.  Configuration
files must be in the PPE directory where LITE.PPE is located or it will not
find your configuration.

Here is the format for these configuration (LIT) files:

***Line 1 : X pos to start at for title

	In the beginning you can have it display strings of text or titles to
as many places or times as you wish before the prompt is displayed.  This is
useful in many areas, use your imagination :-).  For as many times as you want
to display Title text, enter the XPos on first line...
Feature:  There are many ways of figuring positions.  Enter these for Pos...
 C	= Current Pos (no change)
 Rxx	= Relative, move xx places from start of the beginning of prompt
 Txx	= Relative, move xx places from end of last printed title
 txx	= Relative, move xx places from start of last printed title
 Ixx	= Relative, move xx places from end of last printed item or title
 ixx	= Relative, move xx places from start of last printed item or title
 xx	= Absolute, move to xx pos (direct to xx pos)
 Axx	= Absolute, move to xx pos (just another way)
 
(for the impaired: Absolute - Direct to the specified number on the screen
                   Relative - Move in a direction the specified number of
                              places from current position)

***Line 2 : Y pos to start at for title

	ditto, next line YPos
	
***Line 3 : Title text

	one line text, file, or call PPE.
Feature:  For any text entry line, you may use either straight text or use...
 %drive:\path\filename.ext = display the file following the '%'
 #drive:\path\filename.ext = clear screen and then display file following '#'
 !drive:\path\filename.ext = call the PPE following '!'
	
-- Loop lines 1-3 until you're done displaying --

***Line 4 : @X code for unhighlighted item

	the PPE knows the titles are done when the next line is an @X code.
Here you give it a @X color for any unhighlighted item.

***Line 5 : @X code for highlighted item

	yeah guessed, @X code for higlhighted items
	
***Line 6 : Number of Items

	the PPE needs to know how many items are to be used.
	
***Line 7 : X pos to start at for item

	Now you will give data for each item to use.  Start with XPos
	
***Line 8 : Y pos to start at for item

	Yeah, you know
	
***Line 9 : Item Text

	Text string for item.  Note: You may enter @X codes here as well to
override the unhighlight color.

***Line 10: Hotkey character

	This is the character that will allow the user to quickly jump to this
item.  You may enter either one character representing the item, or use a
helpful feature of the ^x control keys.  i.e. ^D = Control+D.
Note: Do not attempt to use ^X as a hotkey since PCBoard takes that as a
'don't display anything' key which will kill any displaying of data to the
screen.

***Line 11: Text to display when selected (before stuffing) (put - for nothing)

	When an item is selected via Enter key, you may have it display a text
string, file, or call a PPE.  after this you can stuff the keyboard with some
text.  On this line you may enter the text, file, or call PPE line.
If you don't wish to have a display show, put a - (dash) so that no characters
are sent.

***Line 12: Text to be keyboard stuffed

	This is the text to be stuffed.  You cannot use file or call PPE
commands here.  There wouldn't be a reason to use a file anyway...  but if
anyone can figure a reason, please send me.

-- Loop lines 7-12 for each item --
	After all items are defined:

-- This is It! --  
Configuration is over


Good luck creating easy to use, good looking prompts that are all possible
thanx to me (ego alert).

±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
History
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Lightbar kit
1.0 - first release


±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Author's Notice
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
I program in PPE a lot recently since I put up my PCBoard BBS.  I've been
hooked.  I have experience in 80x86 and even 6502 (eck :) assembly
programming.

If you have a reason to contact me, please do so at:

	SnailMail:	Mr. Data
			P.O. Box 1037
			Pennsauken, NJ  08109-0537
			
	BBs:		(609)662-7314  14.4k v.32bis
	FidoNET:	1:266/30.36
	Internet:	Shawn.Poulson@f30.n266.z1.fidonet.org
	
I would like to hear any bug reports (there shouldn't be any from my testing),
and especially any good ideas.  Or if you are a PPE coder yourself and you
would like to talk, mail me.  If you made any PPE that is the same as mine,
E-mail it to me UUEncoded so I can try to beat it. :)

I hope this 10min write is good enough.  I hope I haven't confused anyone.


±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
Quickie Reference
±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 for positioning:
 C	= Current Pos (no change)
 Rxx	= Relative, move xx places from start of the beginning of prompt
 Txx	= Relative, move xx places from end of last printed title
 txx	= Relative, move xx places from start of last printed title
 Ixx	= Relative, move xx places from end of last printed item or title
 ixx	= Relative, move xx places from start of last printed item or title
 xx	= Absolute, move to xx pos
 Axx	= Absolute, just another way

 for Title/Display text entries:
 ...                       = any text, shown as-is
 %drive:\path\filename.ext = display the file following the '%'
 #drive:\path\filename.ext = clear screen and then display file following '#'
 !drive:\path\filename.ext = call the PPE following '!'

 for Hotkey/Stuff text:
 ...	= any text, stuffed as-is
 ^x	= for control characters (i.e. ^A, ^Z)

-----
Line 1 : X pos to start at for title
Line 2 : Y pos to start at for title
Line 3 : Title Text
--
Line 4 : @X code for unhighlighted item
Line 5 : @X code for highlighted item
Line 6 : Number of items
--
Line 7 : X pos to start at for item
Line 8 : Y pos to start at for item
Line 9 : Item text
Line 10: Hotkey character or ^Ctrl code (i.e. A, ^Q)
Line 11: Text to display when selected (before stuffing) (put - for nothing)
Line 12: Text to be keyboard stuffed
-----

 Repeat 1-3 for as many times as needed for text display
 Repeat 7-12 for each item
---------------------------------------------------------------------