Keystrokes
Function
AIt-F (or F10, File), Translate, Import, ASCII File A/t-F (or F10, File), Translate, Export, ASCII File
A/t-P (or F10, Print), Advanced Options, Wordwrap ASCII Files
A/t-C (or F10, Customize), ASCII File Handling
Commands for creating, editing, and importing and exporting ASCII files.
Import! ASCII File
Reads an ASCII file on disk, converts it to Sprint format, and displays the converted file on screen.
Export/ASCII File
Writes a Sprint file to a file in pure ASCII format. The new file has the same name as the original but has the extension .ASC added to it.
Wordwrap ASCII Files
Sets a wrap margin in an ASCII file (one without a ruler line).
ASCII File Handling
Displays the following menu to let you make settings for your ASCII files:
Tab Expansion Lets you set the number of characters to move the cursor for each press of the Tab key. Default setting is 5.
Auto-Indent If set to On, Sprint automatically indents however many spaces and tabs the preceding line is indented whenever you press Enter. Default is Off.
Wrap Long Lines If set, lets you determine where Sprint wordwraps your line (default
ASCII Files (General Information)
is 65). When set to 0, this onscreen wordwrap is turned off.
If you've formatted a paragraph with the Wrap Long Lines command and later edit the paragraphs so that the wordwrap is no longer accurate, you can "refresh" the screen appearance by pressing etr/-B. Sprint reformats the text.
Pure ASCII files are text files that contain universally understood ASCII characters only; that is, files that contain standard printing characters and these control codes:
1\ I ASCII tab character
I\J
Line feed (hard return)1\ L Form feed
1\ M Carriage return
These control codes are universally understood by virtually every computer. This is the advantage of pure ASCII.
ASCII files are typically used for program files, files you want to be read or edited with another word processor, or files you prepare for electronic mail applications.
Under "normal" circumstances, you don't create pure ASCII files when you use Sprint. Sprint's ruler line, menu options, and commands insert nonstandard control codes in your file (see Table 1.1 on page 46 for a complete list). As long as you have these control codes in your file, you don't have a pure ASCII file.
Nonetheless, it's important to understand that Sprint files are still considered ASCII (albeit nonpure) because its files are composed of ASCII characters from
°
to 128.Any word processor or editor can open and read a Sprint file without translation. The only confusion will be when that word processor tries to interpret Sprint's use of certain control codes (for example, the "K that makes up a Sprint ruler).
The only time you· need to translate from or to Sprint-ASCII format to pure ASCII is when you need to strip or add hard returns at the end of every line.
How To
ASCII Files (General Information) There are three ways to create a pure ASCII file using Sprint:
1. You can create and edit your file normally, using Sprint rulers and menus, and then choose the Export command from the File/Translate menu. Sprint automatically creates an ASCII version of your file in which it strips all control codes (except those listed in the previous "Function" section), replacing all soft newline characters with hard return characters (I\J).
2. You can delete the ruler line in your Sprint file and press Enter whenever you want to start a new line.
Avoid using menu commands that insert control characters (you should use @-sign commands instead).
3. You can delete the ruler line in your Sprint file, choose Wrap Long Lines from the Customize/ASCII File Handling menu, and specify the column at which you want Sprint to wrap your text. When your line extends beyond the column number you specified, the editor automatically inserts a hard return character (1\ J), and begins the next line of text.
This is similar to having a ruler line in your file and entering a right bracket (]) on it to specify the right indent. The difference is that Wrap Long Lines inserts a hard return, while the right indent on the ruler inserts a soft return (1\ _) at the end of each line (unless you press Enter).
Note to two-floppy system users: Sprint may have to prompt you to insert the correct Program Disk into Drive A in order to use this command.
When creating pure ASCII files, use either formatter tabs (press the Tab key) or the Tab Expansion command on the Customize/ASCII File Handling menu to produce columns of text. Do not use editor tabs (that is, those set on the ruler line or with the Precise Settings commands on the Layout/Ruler menu), since these tabs require a ruler line in your file.
Pure ASCII files shouldn't contain ruler lines; the control codes comprising ruler lines can often corrupt a program file or a file that you're preparing for electronic
ASCII Files (General Information)
Tips
See Also
mail. If you don't want to manually enter hard returns, set tne Wrap Long Lines command. Then you can create short, easy-to-view lines and have Sprint wrap the lines automatically, without inserting a ruler line. Your file remains a pure ASCII file.
Before printing an ASCII file, remember to choose Wordwrap ASCII Files on the Print/Advanced Options menu.
If you want to create a pure ASCII file, and also want to take advantage of Sprint's formatting capabilities, use the @-sign method of entering formatting commands.
@-sign commands don't insert control codes in your file;
they are comprised of ASCII characters only and have no effect on your text until you print or preview your file.
Auto-Indent, File Menu, Hard and Soft Returns, Translate, and Chapter 3