Entering other commands from macros, The special macro font, Keyboard conventions for macros – Atari XL User Manual

Page 45: Entering other commands from macros -45, The special macro font -45, Keyboard conventions for macros -45, The last word 3.0 reference manual

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The Last Word 3.0 Reference Manual

7-45

<CTRL+N>

Entered in a filename dialogue will enter name of current file
without device.


<CTRL+B>

When pressed in ANY input dialogue (unless preceded by
<CTRL+ESCAPE>), <CTRL+B> will place the contents of the
paste buffer (or as much of it as will fit) into the input line. Using
this method, if you previously captured text with the Ask for
Input command, it can be transferred into any LW command
which requires input. Similarly, you could cut text from the
document and feed it into an LW command. Note that if the
input dialogue is associated with a filing operation, the string
will appear in uppercase.


<CTRL+L>

Will insert the name of the last file loaded in any bank (see
“Linked Files”).


In order to make these new commands as flexible as possible, the device/path/name
and path/name variables are now accessible from ANY input dialogue. Precede them
with <CTRL+ESCAPE> to type them literally.

7.4.3 ENTERING OTHER COMMANDS FROM MACROS


While <ESCAPE> is used to start macros from the editor, from within a macro,
<CTRL+X> does this job. This means that FROM MACROS, <ESCAPE> PERFORMS
ITS USUAL JOB OF PRECEDING CONTROL CHARACTERS. If you want to enter
any command code from within a macro as part of your text rather than as a
command, just precede it with an <ESCAPE> character in the macro. Many LW
commands are attached to <SHIFT+CTRL> key combinations. Obviously these have
no ASCII equivalents, so how are these commands denoted in macros? Simple - from
a macro, just think <INVERSE CTRL> instead of <SHIFT+CTRL>. So, to enter
the<SHIFT+CTRL+F>ind string command from within a macro, you would type
an:<INVERSE CTRL+F>instead, or:<SELECT+CTRL+F>This is why the special
macro commands use only those characters that relate to illegal <CTRL+SHIFT> key
presses.

When a macro is running, the only keys read from the keyboard are get key
commands, confirm commands, text entered during accept line mode, and characters
pressed during printing when page wait is on. The "Press a key" prompt after a file
view/print operation requires a keystroke from the active macro to clear it and return to
the editor.

7.4.4 THE SPECIAL MACRO FONT


The font MACRO.FNT/MACRO.F80 font on the distribution disk can be loaded by
typing:

<SHIFT+CTRL+N> New font, typing MACRO <RETURN>. This works in both 80 and
40 column modes. These fonts define all the control keys as special, heavy characters
instead of international characters in order to make editing macros a little easier.

7.4.5 KEYBOARD CONVENTIONS FOR MACROS


Understanding how the keys in LW work may seem complex at first, so before we step
through some example macros, let's recap:

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