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Re: [StrongED] Re: StrongEd v4.70a11 and Modes



In message <560cae9789list01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
          Martin <list01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In article <66d1ae0b56.fjgraute@xxxxxxxxx>,
>    Fred Graute <fjgraute@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > The only thing I've written that might be considered to be in that
> > category is a brief introduction on how to create a new StrongED mode.
> > There are also a couple of manuals that were started by other people,
> > but never finished. They are a bit old now but I've sent you copies as
> > they might still be useful.
> 
> Thanks Fred for those. I have looked at them and other references, albeit
> briefly.
> 
> After following WriteMode, I have a couple of minor specific comments on
> it which might confuse new users...
> 
> 1.  'Now click on the right most icon of the Toolbar of the view
> displaying the ModeFile.' This gives the security message, which needs
> replying to.

Ah, yes, that needs explaining.

> 2.  'Clicking Write will insert a SyntaxWords definition into the
> ModeFile' no - it enters it after foobar, as the NewFile window has
> focus! 

Good spot!

> I have not explored it yet, but I assume the ModeFile menu enables all
> the other elements of a ModeFile to be entered easily, and the Help ->
> Reference -> Modefile gives the gory details.

Yes, apart from one line keywords such as HelpPath, Tabstops, etc.

> I also assume that you only need to add to a mode file what is different
> to BaseMode.

Correct, you put in the ModeFile things that BaseMode doesn't provide or
that you want to override for that mode.

> The reason I am interested in modes is that I want to print text at a
> reduced size, say 99 chars/line and 99 lines/page. I suspected the only
> way to do this was to create a TextPrint mode which did this, hopefully
> with just the font sizes different.

You need to alter the wrapwidth to 99 as the print-out is wrapline
based. Also make sure that you've got a white background set.

Once you've created a mode directory and put a ModeFile in it (which can
be empty), open the iconbar menu and click on Rescan dir -> Modes to
make the new mode available.

Click Adjust on iconbar icon, then click on the name of the new mode. In
the view that opens, click Adjust on the 'tick' icon on the toolbar.
This will open the Mode Choices.

Use the Font section to set up the outline font (this is always used for
graphics mode printing regardless what the font type for the screen is).
Use the Wrapping section to set the wrapwidth. Click Save when done.

Now click Select on the 'tick' icon to open the Global Choices. Open the
Printing section and set it up to your preference. Click Save when done.

You'll probably need to do a few test prints to find the correct size
for the outline font so that you can get the right of chars/line and
line/page. This can be tricky if you use a proportional font, using a
mono-spaced font will give more consistent results.

> I thought your WriteMode would help, or the Help ... but I can see no
> trace of fonts in the BaseMode Modefile at all! Yet I can see it in the
> BaseMode Choices dialog. 
> 
> The font stuff seems to live in BaseMode.Choices. 

Fonts are configured through the Mode Choices as fonts may be added or
removed at any time so they need to be listed dynamically.

Options set through the Choices window are all stored in the Choices
file. StrongED will never alter a ModeFile.

> Can I just include the lines I want to change in my TextPrint.Choices? Or
> does it have to be a complete copy? I can find no obvious details of
> Choices in Help.

A Choices file should ideally always be a complete copy. If it's an
incomplete file then StrongED will use default values for the missing
options.

> Is this the best way to enable printing using a smaller font size than
> the display?

It depends on what font type and wrapwidth you use for the display. If
it's a bitmap font and the wrapwidth for display and printing are the
same then you can configure the outline font for printing.

If that is not the case then yes this is the best way.

> Thanks for all the comments - my understanding is improving!

That's good to hear!

Cheers,
Fred.

-- 
StrongED Developer
http://www.stronged.iconbar.com/

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