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HIMREAD.ME for HIM Version 1.1 11/88
HIM - The Human Interface Manager from ALLSOFT is a library of more than 230
functions and macros designed for use in C programs. HIM makes designing and
coding user interfaces much easier by providing a rich set of functions
designed specifically for presenting information to, and obtaining information
from a user of your application.
Compilers Supported
The HIM library has been successfully tested using the Microsoft C V4.0, 5.0,
5.1 and Borland Turbo C V1.5 and 2.0 compilers. Others will be supported in
the near future.
Components
HIM is divided into 7 separate categories, each performing a different task
relating to managing a user interface.
List Manager - With the List Manager your application can create a list, add and
delete any kind of data structure to the list, sort with the option of using
your comparision routine, and query items in the list via search, next, and
previous functions.
Keyboard Manager - No more messy switch statements every time you ask for a key.
Just tell the Keyboard Manager what function to call when a certain key is
pressed and the routing is handled for you! Multiple input sources, outputs,
and journal files are supported as well as the ability to define a background
routine which will be called repeatably while waiting for input.
Window Manager - Yes, it does do windows (sorry, no floors). Colors, titles on
4 sides, and a rich set of output and editing functions will give your
applications that snappy and professional look. Flexible output with color is
available with our printf() look-alike, wnprintf(). Full data entry capability
is supported with our bullet-proof wninput() routine which supports all of the
C data types.
Help Manager - Nothing is appreciated more by a user than a program with
complete online documentation. The Help Manager in combination with the
Keyboard Manager's ability to trap specific keycodes (F1 maybe??) gives you the
option of providing online help easily and painlessly. All you need to do is
inform the help manager what help should be given at different points in your
program, when the user asks for help it will be there.
Menu Manager - The normally messy chore of providing menus is easy with the Menu
Manager, just create a menu, add menu items to it and call the process function!
Different flavors of menus such as Pop-Up, Pull-Down, and Lotus style Light-Bar
are available. Menu elements can be made read-only dynamically so you can
disable user options if other criteria in your application have not been met.
In addition to full control over placement, menu items can have a C routine
assigned or another menu called when the element is picked by the user.
Forms Manager (optional) - Data entry couldn't be easier. With the Forms
Manager you have the ability of completely defining a input screen, field types,
flow thru the screen, individual data field help, and validation. Using these
functions in combination with the Form Painter program lets you code an
application in hours instead of days!
Form Painter (optional) - Used in combination with the Forms Manager, this nifty
utility lets you completely define forms "on-screen", enter help text, and
test the forms for proper input validation. After the forms have been defined
you can keep them in their Screen Definition File (SDF) for later use at runtime
or create C source code which becomes part of your finished application program.
Shareware
Allsoft distributes HIM with the marketing approach called "shareware". The
diskette(s) with the base library files (EXCLUDING forms and forms painter)
can be freely copied and shared with others, or purchased from Allsoft for a
small fee. We ask you to help us distribute HIM by sharing unmodified copies
of the diskette, to make it easy for other people to try HIM. We also permit
unlimited copying of the diskette(s) to make it easy for people in a company,
school, or other group to use HIM.
Support and continued development of HIM depends on programmers who "register"
their copy of the HIM library. Registration has a number of benefits:
- A hardbound copy of the full Human Interface Manager manual.
- Diskettes with your unique registration number.
- Allsoft support service for one year:
- Compuserve E-mail for technical questions.
- Software updates.
- C source code for base HIM library (EXCLUDING forms and form painter).
- Option to buy Forms Manager and Form Painter utility.
- Thanks from us for your support and encouragement!
Your registration makes it possible for us to enhance HIM with new
features YOU want to see and support if you have technical problems or
questions. We believe every user of HIM should have one of our manuals.
You MUST register if you incorporate any HIM routine(s) in a commercial software
program. You must NOT use any HIM routine(s) in a competing product. There is
no royalty due for registered users.
Registered owners receive a commission when someone else registers from one of
their copies. People who like HIM register and give copies to friends or
associates with IBM PC's or compatibles. The commission is our way of thanking
you for distributing HIM.
Allsoft sells HIM manuals and other materials in quantity. Larger organizations
often copy the diskette and buy our manuals. Registration for yearly support
service is available separately if you already have a manual. Call or write
for a full price list.
We really do encourage you to give away HIM diskettes...with some restrictions.
As the copyright owner, Allsoft will permit you to give away copies of
the HIM library(s) diskette, with the following restrictions:
- You must NOT distribute the Forms Manager or Form Painter software.
- You must distribute ALL files on the base HIM library diskette(s).
- You must NOT distribute copies of the printed manual.
- You must NOT distribute any files from the HIM SOURCE diskette(s).
- You must use Allsoft copyright notices on media with Allsoft files.
- You must use Allsoft trademark notices on "Allsoft" and "HIM".
You may add your own files, put files on several diskettes, distribute files
via modem, or compress files as long as their contents remain unchanged. You
may print, copy, and distribute any text (OTHER THAN SOURCE CODE) contained
on the disks.
Registration
To register, send a check or call us with your Visa/MasterCard number. We also
accept purchase orders from established companies or organizations. If your
copy of HIM came from someone else, we need your old registration number to
credit the owner. You can get your new registration number over the phone or
by mail on your diskette(s). Use the order form following this section or
print the file HIMORDER.DOC to print your own.
When you get a registered copy from Allsoft, you receive new HIM diskettes with
your registration number on them. Use this number for technical support and
make sure to write it on any copies you make for associates so that the
commission, currently $15.00, can be properly sent to you.
Technical Support
Technical support is obtained by one of two ways; phone call-back or Compuserve
E-mail.
The phone call-back number is:
(505) 821-7760
The Compuserve E-Mail tech support account is:
[76505,2014]
Be sure to give your registration number, name, and a voice phone number where
you can be reached. If your problem is of any complexity don't bother
explaining it via E-mail, just leave your registration number, name, and phone,
voice is faster than typing!
New Features in Version 1.1
The HIM Window Manager has 2 new features that take a load off application
developers. The first is a screen editor, wneditstring(), which lets your users
scroll, page, and edit a string buffer in a window you have built all with one
routine call! The second feature is a bullet-proof data input routine,
wninput(), which allows entry of all the C data types in a region of a window
you specify. While wninput() doesn't have near the power of the Forms Manager,
it does allow you to specify a valid character list, input length, wipe on first
character, and display only mode. A sample program has been included which
shows how to operate this routine in a "screen" mode which has many fields and
allows arrow movement between the fields.
The Menu Manager has been completely redesigned. Pop-up, pull-down, and Lotus
style light-bar menus are now available with any level of nesting. Menu items
can have a C routine or another menu called when selected, or one C routine can
be called to handle the whole menu. Items can be made read-only during the run
of your program so that they can't be selected. In the Pop-up menu, items can
be marked and unmarked by the user with a key of your choice for batch
processing. Display only lists are handled by making all menu items read-only
and calling the menu process routine (mmpromenu()).
BBS Distribution
The shareware base HIM package as distributed on BBS's contains only the
large model library himmsl.lib compiled under Microsoft C V5.0 or Borland
Turbo C V1.5. The shareware package purchased from Allsoft contains all library
models for the compiler you specify. This was necessary as the ARC file is
already over 200k bytes.
The HIM manual, himswman.doc, is set for 58 lines/page 80 characters
wide. If you register, the manual you will receive is standard 8.5 X 6.5
double sided printing with hard cover. If your printer can't print the
IBM box drawing characters some of the window examples in the manual may have
some pretty weird looking symbols.
The BBS distributed manual can be obtained in it's original form by merely
un-arc'ing the file HIM110MS.ARC (Microsoft) or HIM110TC.ARC (Turbo).
ALLSOFT Shareware Distribution
The manual as shipped by Allsoft is on 2 files in compressed form on DISK # 1
and DISK #2 with the filenames HIMMAN1.CMP and HIMMAN2.CMP. To decompress
the manual into readable form use the following command at the DOS prompt:
decomp himman1.cmp himman1.doc
If you want to print directly from the compressed version:
decomp himman1.cmp prn:
You will need approximately 520k bytes of disk space for the de-compressed
manual.
There are several demos packaged with both distributions:
kmdemo1.c - Shows how a mouse can be setup to "look" like arrow
keys using the Keyboard Manager User Input Routines.
Needs MSMOUSE.lib mouse library.
wndemo1.c - Window manager wninput() demo for all C data types. Shows
how to do data "screen" input of multiple fields.
hmdemo1.c - Examples on setting intercept routines using the
Keyboard manager and using the Help Manager for
displaying context sensitive help.
mfdel.c - Program which displays all files in current directory,
allows files to be "marked" and deletes all marked files.
Files which are read-only will be displayed as such in the
menu and will not be selectable.
mmdemo1.c - Pop-Up menu which emulates the first 3 levels of 1-2-3.
mmdemo2.c - Light-Bar menu which emulates first 3 levels of 1-2-3.
mmdemo3.c - Pull-Down menu which emulates first 3 levels of 1-2-3.
addbook.c - Complete address book program which uses the optional
HIM Forms Manager library. (ALLSOFT distribution only)
Ordering
A registration order form, himorder.doc, is available on this distribution
if you would like to register your copy of the HIM library. The Forms
Manager and Form Painter extension of HIM, including all source code is
available to registered users (see HIMORDER.DOC).
Arc file contents of the MSC5.0 BBS distribution should be:
HIMSWMAN DOC shareware HIM manual, 310+ pages
HIMMSL LIB large model HIM library MSC 5.0
LM H list manager include file
KM H keyboard manager include file
HM H help manager include file
WN H window manager include file
MM H menu manager include file
HFBILDER EXE builds help file for use by Help Manager
WNDEMO1 C window manager wninput() data entry demo
WNDEM1MS MAK makefile for wndemo1.c, Microsoft Make
HMDEMO1 C C source for Help Manager demo
HMDEM1MS MAK makefile for hmdemo1.c, Microsoft Make
KMDEMO1 C C source for Keyboard Manager demo
KMDEM1MS MAK makefile for kmdemo1.c, Microsoft Make
MFDEL C menu oriented file delete demo
MFDELMS MAK makefile for mfdel.c, Microsoft Make
MMDEMO1 C pop-up menu demo
MMDEM1MS MAK makefile for mmdemo1.c, Microsoft Make
MMDEMO2 C light-bar menu demo
MMDEM2MS MAK makefile for mmdemo2.c, Microsoft Make
MMDEMO3 C pull-down menu demo
MMDEM3MS MAK makefile for mmdemo3.c, Microsoft Make
HELPFILE TXT input text for hmdemo1.c
HELPFILE HLP file used by hmdemo1.c
HIMORDER DOC registration order form
HIMREAD ME this file
Arc file contents of the Turbo 1.5 BBS distribution should be:
HIMSWMAN DOC shareware HIM manual, 310+ pages
HIMTCL LIB large model HIM library Turbo C 1.5
LM H list manager include file
KM H keyboard manager include file
HM H help manager include file
WN H window manager include file
MM H menu manager include file
HFBILDER EXE builds help file for use by Help Manager
WNDEMO1 C window manager wninput() data entry demo
WNDEM1TC MAK makefile for wndemo1.c, Turbo Make
HMDEMO1 C C source for Help Manager demo
HMDEM1TC MAK makefile for hmdemo1.c, Turbo Make
KMDEMO1 C C source for Keyboard Manager demo
KMDEM1TC MAK makefile for kmdemo1.c, Turbo Make
MFDEL C menu oriented file delete demo
MFDELTC MAK makefile for mfdel.c, Turbo Make
MMDEMO1 C pop-up menu demo
MMDEM1TC MAK makefile for mmdemo1.c, Turbo Make
MMDEMO2 C light-bar menu demo
MMDEM2TC MAK makefile for mmdemo2.c, Turbo Make
MMDEMO3 C pull-down menu demo
MMDEM3TC MAK makefile for mmdemo3.c, Turbo Make
HELPFILE TXT input text for hmdemo1.c
HELPFILE HLP file used by hmdemo1.c
HIMORDER DOC registration order form
HIMREAD ME this file
Distribution Disk contents from Allsoft should be:
Disk # 1
DECOMP EXE Decompresses HIMMAN1.CMP & HIMMAN2.CMP
HIMMAN1 CMP Compressed HIM reference manual (part 1)
HIMORDER DOC HIM order form
HIMREAD ME This file
HIMNOTES DOC Latest manual changes
Disk # 2
HIMMAN2 CMP Compressed HIM reference manual (part 2)
HIMxxL LIB HIM library, large model. Microsoft (xx=MS), Turbo (xx=TC)
HIMxxM LIB HIM library, medium model. Microsoft (xx=MS), Turbo (xx=TC)
HIMxxC LIB HIM library, compact model. Microsoft (xx=MS), Turbo (xx=TC)
HIMxxS LIB HIM library, small model. Microsoft (xx=MS), Turbo (xx=TC)
HM H Help Manager include file
KM H Keyboard Manager include file
LM H List Manager include file
MM H Menu Manager include file
WN H Window Manager include file
HFBILDER EXE Converts help file into Help Manager format
Disk # 3
WNDEMO1 C window manager wninput() data entry demo
WNDEM1xx MAK makefile for wndemo1.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
HMDEMO1 C C source for Help Manager demo
HMDEM1xx MAK makefile for hmdemo1.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
KMDEMO1 C C source for Keyboard Manager demo
KMDEM1xx MAK makefile for kmdemo1.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
MFDEL C menu oriented file delete demo
MFDELxx MAK makefile for mfdel.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
MMDEMO1 C pop-up menu demo
MMDEM1xx MAK makefile for mmdemo1.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
MMDEMO2 C light-bar menu demo
MMDEM2xx MAK makefile for mmdemo2.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
MMDEMO3 C pull-down menu demo
MMDEM3xx MAK makefile for mmdemo3.c, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
HELPFILE TXT input text for hmdemo1.c
HELPFILE HLP file used by hmdemo1.c
** Forms Manager Demo **
ADDBOOK TXT Help file for ADDBOOK.EXE (unformatted)
ADDBOOK HLP Help file for ADDBOOK.EXE (formatted)
ADDRESS SDF Screen Def. file created by FPAINTER.EXE
ADDRESS C Source code created by FPAINTER.EXE
ADDRESS H Include file created by FPAINTER.EXE
ADDBOOK C Source code for address book demo program
ADBOOKxx MAK Make file for ADDBOOK.EXE, (TC=Turbo , MS=Microsoft)
ADDBOOK EXE Executable demo
Please share these disks with your fellow programmers. When a order comes
in from your registered copy we'll send you a $15.00 commission.
Getting Started
1. Copy the .lib files to your libraries sub-directory and set environment
variables or the turboc.cfg file to point to this sub-dir.
2. Copy the .h files to your includes sub-directory and set environment
varialbes or the turboc.cfg file to point to this sub-dir.
3. Copy all demo programs and makefiles to a working subdirectory.
4. Compile all demos using appropriate .mak files with your compiler
"make" utility. See comments at top of .mak file for usage.
Source Code
Registered HIM users get a card good for 2 HIM updates OR the complete C
source code, free of charge. Additional updates can be purchased for a
small fee. See the HIMORDER.doc file.
Thank you for your interest in the Human Interface Manager from ALLSOFT. We
are so sure it will handle your most demanding user interface task that you
can "try it before you buy it".