                            InfoWindow v1.03

                             8th April 1997


InfoWindow is a simple utility to provide a "status" report while
running scripts.  It can be used to provide information about what part
of the script you are upto, or if an error goes wrong or whatever.


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Usage
~~~~~
Normal usage of InfoWindow would be `Infowindow <text>' but there are
many options available to change how things look.

CLOSE/S         - If InfoWindow has opened a window, use this function to
                  close the window.

BG=FGPEN/K/N    - These options allow you to specify the colours of the
BG=BGPEN/K/N      text and the background of the window.  When used with
                  the NOBORDER option, you can make a InfoWindow window
                  blend in with another programs window.

SH=SHPEN/K/N    - You can add a dropshadow to the text.  Simply specify
                  which pen to draw the shadow in.  To turn shadows off,
                  use SHPEN=-1.  Default is no shadows

SHOFFSET/K/N    - The default position for the text dropshadows is 1 pixel
                  down and to the right.  You can specify any number for
                  the distance between the text and it's shadow.

W=WIDTH/K/N     - Normally, the width of the window that InfoWindow opens
                  is calculated by taking the length of the text, and
                  adding 20 pixels margin on each side.  Sometimes, you
                  may want to keep the window at a fixed size, espically
                  if being used as a constant status window.  Simply
                  specify the width, in pixels, and the window will be
                  that size.  This option can also be used when you are
                  updating text.

X=LEFT/K/N      - Normally, InfoWindow opens it's window in the center of
Y=TOP/K/N         the current screen.  If wish to place it elsewhere,
                  simply specify the coordinates where you would like it
                  to appear.

WAIT/K/N        - Under normal circumstances, InfoWindow will only close
                  when you tell it to by using the CLOSE command.  Using
                  the WAIT command, InfoWindow will close and clean-up
                  after x seconds.

                  If you update the window while in a WAIT time, the
                  counter will either be cleared, or set to a new value
                  (if one is provided)

PORTNAME/K      - InfoWindow creates a simple message port to allow the
                  current window to receive new text.  If you want to have
                  more than one InfoWindow open at a time (perhaps by
                  specifiying X/Y coordinates), simply provide a custom
                  portname when the window is first opened.  Then, only
                  when you directly address that port, will the window be
                  updated/closed.  The name is case-sensitive.

PUBSCREEN/K     - Normally InfoWindow opens on the current default public
                  screen (usually Workbench).  If you want it to open on
                  another screen, simply specify the PubScrName to open on.
                  If for any reason the window cannot be opened on the
                  specified screen, then the default screen will be used.

NOADJUST/S      - By default, InfoWindow will automaticly adjust the width
                  of the window when new text is sent to it.  This option
                  tells InfoWindow to keep it current size, as well as
                  it's X and Y positions.

NOPOP/S         - By default, InfoWindow will bring it's window, as well
                  as the screen it's on, to the front.  This option stops
                  that from happening.

BACKDROP/S      - This causes the InfoWindow window to be opened behind
                  all other windows and cannot be brought in front of
                  others.  This is very useful for status windows.

                  There is a minor problem with this function if
                  MagicMenu 2.x is running.  If when InfoWindow opens
                  it's window there is another window in the same
                  location, imagery from the top window will appear in
                  the InfoWindow window.

NOBORDER/S      - Turns off the border of a InfoWindow window.  Very
                  effective when used with BGPEN or BACKDROP.

FONTNAME/K      - Normally the current Screen font will be used for the
                  text.  You can now specify any font.  The full
                  fontname is required, including the .font extension.

FONTSIZE/K/N    - Specify the fontsize to use.  Only works when FONTNAME
                  is present.

TEXT/F          - After all arguments have been provided, the rest of the
                  commandline will be taken as the text to print.  All
                  characters should be valid.  You cannot use any
                  formatting or enhancement codes.  The text is "raw"


Of all the above options FGPEN, BGPEN, SHPEN, SHOFFSET, WIDTH, LEFT, TOP,
WAIT, NOADJUST and TEXT can be used on subsequent calls.  This means that
if a window is open, and new text is sent to the window, any of the
listed options may be used to change how things look.


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Example
~~~~~~~
A sample fortune cookie:

Infowindow PORTNAME=COOKIE BG=1 FG=2 SH=0 WAIT=10 NOBORDER `c:Cookie`


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History
~~~~~~~
 1.0         - Initial Release

 1.01        - Bug fix

 1.02        - Second release
              - Added BACKDROP option
              - Added NOBORDER option
              - Added FGPEN & BGPEN options
              - Added option to specify FONTNAME & FONTSIZE
              - Fixed problem with random crashes
              ! There is a problem with the BACKDROP option
                if used while MagicMenu 2.15 is running.

 1.03        - Third release
              - Can now bring up ReadArgs() template
              - Added text dropshadows with SHPEN & SHOFFSET options
              - Added CTRL_C checking
              - Added WAIT function
              - Added PUBSCREEN option


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Notes
~~~~~
#include <std_disclaimer.h>

I am very bad at writing documentation for my programs.  I know how
they work because I wrote them.  Putting how they work into words
is something I have always found difficult.

If you have any problems, suggestions or comments, please contact me.


Special thanks to:
   Kerry             - For putting up with me (Love you)
   Renze             - For always bitching and wanting more
   Michael Cavers    - Suggestions and support

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Contact
~~~~~~~
   Dave Dustin                     Ph:     +64-6-357-9283
   Eclipse Software                Fax:    +64-6-353-3321
   PO Box 4598                     Email:  dave@manawatu.gen.nz
   Manawatu Mail Center
   Palmerston North  5301
   New Zealand
