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    CHAPTER 15:  THE MESSAGE BOX

    The message box is a communication gateway between HyperPAD and you.
    This chapter will explain how to use the message box to display
    messages, evaluate expressions like a calculator, and execute commands.


    DISPLAYING STATUS MESSAGES

    The message box is a window in which the pad displays status information
    and other messages. For example, in the DOS pad, when you click on a
    work file, HyperPAD displays a status message in the message box
    indicating that it is searching for programs.


    USING THE MESSAGE BOX AS A CALCULATOR

    The message box can also be used as a calculator. Any arithmetic
    expression typed into the message box is evaluated by HyperPAD and the
    result is placed in the message box.


    USING THE MESSAGE BOX TO EXECUTE PADTALK COMMANDS

    Commands typed in the message box are immediately executed by HyperPAD.
    Thus, you can observe the effects of a PADtalk command on the HyperPAD
    environment immediately.



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    THE MESSAGE BOX IS A POPUP WINDOW

    The message box, like the tool box, is a popup window that you can
    reposition anywhere on the screen using the mouse. HyperPAD remembers
    the last location of the message box. So the next time you run HyperPAD,
    the message box will be located in the same place.

    Below is a picture of the message box.

 Ŀ
                                                                        
  **** The Printed Documentation has a picture or screen shot here **** 
                                                                        
 
    


    SHOWING THE MESSAGE BOX

    The message box can be hidden or shown while you are browsing or
    designing pads. If you're designing a pad and need to perform a quick
    calculation, you can show the message box, perform the calculation, and
    then hide the message box before continuing to design.

    Even though the message box is visible, all painting and object tools
    still function normally. If the message box is not in a convenient
    position, simply use the mouse to move it to another location on the
    screen.


    To view the message box:

    1.  Select the Message Box command from the Workspace menu (ALT+W,M).
    The shortcut for this command is F4.

    When the message box is displayed, the Message Box command on the
    Workspace menu will be checked.

    2.  When you initially show the message box, the cursor is positioned
    for you to begin typing. If you want to skip typing, press TAB to move
    the focus to an object.



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    HIDING THE MESSAGE BOX

    When you're done with the message box, you can hide it.


    To hide the message box with the keyboard:

    Select the Message Box command from the Workspace menu (ALT+W,M). The
    shortcut for this command is F4.

    By pressing F4, you can quickly show and hide the message box.


    To hide the message box with the mouse:

    Click on the close box in the upper left corner.


    MOVING THE MESSAGE BOX

    You can only change the location of the message box if you have a mouse.


    To move the message box with the mouse:

    1.  Position the mouse on one of the borders of the message box.

    2.  While pressing the left mouse button, drag the message box to a new
    location.

    3.  Release the left mouse button.


    EDITING THE MESSAGE BOX

    This section describes the message box editing keys.

        0  If the message box is not displayed, press F4 to show it. This
           automatically positions the cursor within the message box ready
           for you to begin typing.

        0  If the message box is already displayed, press ALT+F4 to put
           the cursor in it.

        0  If you have a mouse, click in the message box to place the
           cursor there.



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    The following table describes the editing keys available when working
    with the message box.

    To:                                               Press:
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    Erase the contents of the message box             CTRL+D, CTRL+Y

    Continue browsing without executing any commands  TAB

    Move the cursor to the beginning of the line      HOME

    Move the cursor to the end of the line            END

    Move the cursor left one character                Left arrow key

    Move the cursor right one character               Right arrow key

    Cycle through list of executed commands           Up/Down arrow keys

    Delete the character to the left of the cursor    BACKSPACE


    USING THE MESSAGE BOX AS A CALCULATOR

    The message box provides a quick and easy way to perform calculations.
    The result of a calculation is placed in the message box.


    TYPING IN AN EXPRESSION

    For example, suppose you need to know the number of seconds in a day:

    1.  Press ALT+F4 to position the text cursor within the message box.

    2.  Type 60*60*24 into the message box.

    3.  Press ENTER.

    The result of the calculation (86400) will be placed in the message box.



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    EXPRESSION OPERATORS

    HyperPAD recognizes many operators that you can use within expressions.
    The following table contains some of the more common operators and
    examples of their use. (For a complete listing of operators, see the
    PADtalk Reference Guide.)

    Operator:                 Example:             Result:
    --------------------------------------------------------
    ^ (exponentation)         2^4                  16

    / (division)              21/7                 3

    * (multiplication)        3*4                  12

    - (subtraction)           6-2                  4

    + (addition)              3+4                  7]


    OPERATOR PRECEDENCE

    HyperPAD normally evaluates expressions from left to right. Some
    operators, however, are evaluated before others. For example, the
    expression 2+3*4 evaluates to 14 (not 20) because the multiplication
    operator has precedence over the addition operator. The table above
    listed the operators in the order of highest to lowest precedence.

    To change the order of evaluation, use parenthese:

    Expression:        Result:
    ----------------------------
    2+3*4              14

    (2+3)*4            20



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    FUNCTIONS

    HyperPAD also understands functions in expressions. For example, the
    expression 5+sin(90) uses the built-in HyperPAD function called sin().
    Functions often take parameters, such as the sin() function. The
    following table lists a few of HyperPAD's built-in functions. (For a
    complete listing, refer to the PADtalk Reference Guide.)

    Function:             Example:            Returns:
    -------------------------------------------------------
    sin()                 sin(90)             1

    cos()                 cos(45)             0.707107

    tan()                 tan(30)             0.57735

    directory()           directory()         "C:\HPAD2"

    diskSpace()           diskSpace()         6554012

    date()                date()              "5/12/90"


    You can incorporate functions into your expressions, as in the following
    examples:

    8 * sin(30) / .4

    diskSpace() - 35640


    TYPING COMMANDS INTO THE MESSAGE BOX

    In addition to calculatorlike expressions, you can type commands into
    the message box. Commands are actually "words" in the PADtalk vocabulary
    that direct HyperPAD to perform some action. Typing commands into the
    message box allows you to experiment with PADtalk and immediately
    observe the effects the commands have on the HyperPAD environment.


    To type a command into the message box:

    1.  Press ALT+F4 to position the text cursor in the message box. If the
    message box is hidden, this command makes it visible.

    2.  Type your command in the message box.

    3.  Press ENTER.

    If you want to execute the same command more than once, press
    CTRL+ENTER.



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    Since you can only enter one command at a time, there is no need to type
    a semicolon at the end of the line.

    The most common PADtalk commands are described in the following section.
    (For a complete listing, see the PADtalk Reference Guide.)


    THE GO COMMAND

    You can use the go command to navigate to any other page or pad in the
    HyperPAD environment. The following are examples:

    go home

    go help

    go to pad "phone"

    go to pad "ideas"

    go to page 4

    go to page "Preferences"


    THE DIAL COMMAND

    The dial command uses a Hayes-compatible modem to dial the phone. The
    following are some examples that you can type into the message box:

    dial "3154743400"

    dial "18005551212"

    When dialing the phone, HyperPAD displays a message indicating that the
    phone is being dialed. After dialing is completed, a dialog box will
    instruct you to pick up the phone. When you select <<Ok>>, the modem
    will disconnect from the line, allowing you to talk.



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    THE FIND COMMAND

    The find command helps you locate information anywhere in your pad. Some
    examples of what you can type into the message box are:

    find part "lawyer"

    find part "John" in field "Name"

    find whole "Smith" in field "Last Name"

    The text that you want to find is enclosed within quotes. The words
    part and whole specify whether you want to find the text as part of
    another word or as a whole word.

    While HyperPAD is searching, a message is displayed to indicate a find
    is in progress. If the search is successful, the found text will be
    highlighted. If the search is unsuccessful, HyperPAD will beep twice.


    THE SET COMMAND

    The set command allows you to change an object's properties. Normally,
    you change an object's properties using the Info dialog boxes. However,
    a few object properties can only be assigned by with the set command.


    REFERING TO AN OBJECT

    To use the set command to change a property of an object, you must
    reference a specific button or field on either the page or background.

    Specifically, you need to know:

        0  The object type--whether the object is a button or a field.

        0  The ID of the object. You can determine the ID of a button or
           field by looking at either the Button Info or Field Info dialog
           boxes. The ID is listed below the name.

        0  Whether the object is on the page or the background.


    To determine an object's reference information:

    1.  Use the Selector tool and TAB until the button or field you want to
    change is selected.

    2.  Press ENTER to view the Info dialog box.

    Note the object's ID and position (whether the object is on the page or
    background).



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    ALIGNING A BUTTON'S NAME

    The Align property determines whether a button's name is aligned left,
    right, or centered. For fields, this property is set from the Field Info
    dialog box. For buttons, however, this property can only be assigned
    with the set command.


    To change the alignment of the button's name:

    1.  Press ALT+F4 to edit the contents of the message box.

    2.  Type one of the following commands replacing the number 4 with the
    ID of your button. Replace the word "page" with "background" if the
    button is on the background:

    set the align of page button id 4 to left

    set the align of page button id 4 to right

    set the align of page button id 4 to centered


    LOCK TEXT (BUTTONS)

    The Lock Text property specifies whether an object can be given the
    focus. Locked buttons cannot be clicked on with the mouse or highlighted
    using the TAB key. Locked fields cannot be edited or scrolled.

    For fields, this property is set from the Field Info dialog box. For
    buttons, however, this property can only be set from the message box.


    To change the Lock Text property of a button:

    1.  Press ALT+F4 to edit the contents of the message box.

    2.  Type in a command similar to one of the following:

    set the lockText of page button 4 to true

    set the lockText of background button 4 to true


    THE HIDE AND SHOW COMMANDS

    Buttons and fields are normally visible, allowing users to TAB to
    different objects; type into fields, and select buttons.

    The hide command makes an object invisible on the page or background.
    However, the hide command doesn't delete the object, it simply hides it
    from view. The show command makes the hidden object visible.



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    In the Phone pad, for example, you may not have an immediate need for
    the Fax Phone field, but you want to keep it around for future use.
    Instead of deleting the field, simply hide it.


    To hide a button or field:

    1.  Press ALT+F4 to activate the message box.

    2.  For buttons, type one of the following commands, replacing the
    number 4 with the ID of your button:

    hide page button id 4

    hide background button id 4

    For fields, type one of the following commands:

    hide page field id 4

    hide background field id 4


    To show a button or field:

    show page button id 4

    show background field id 4


    ADVANCED COMMANDS

    Use the following examples to perform advanced functions with the
    message box. You can enhance these commands with skills learned in this
    chapter. In some cases, you'll need to replace the information contained
    in the command with data specific to your pad.

    Each command can be typed into the message box and executed by pressing
    ENTER. If the command is longer than the width of the message box, the
    message box will scroll horizontally to accommodate a longer line.


    To hide all of the buttons on a page:

    for i = 1 to the number of page buttons do hide page button i


    To sort the pad using a field as a sort key:

    sort by field 1



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    To run another program:

    run "c:\word5\word"

    To place a bookmark on the current page:

    push this page


    To return to a bookmarked page:

    pop page


    To display a Show Partner F/X presentation:

    fxshow "C:\FX\SHOWS\ANIMATE.PRO"


    To change the location of the message box:

    set the location of the message box to 4,4


    CONCLUSION

    This chapter introduced the message box, the gateway between you and
    HyperPAD. You've learned how to display the message box, move it around
    the screen using a mouse, and hide it when you'rr done. The message box
    can be used as a calculator or as a way of immediately executing
    statements so that you can observe their effects on the HyperPAD
    environment.

    This chapter also introduced you to some PADtalk commands that you can
    use from the message box. You were shown how to modify object properties
    that don't appear in the Info dialog boxes by using these commands.
