T R E X X Video Toaster ARexx Script Writer (complete with an Intuition interface) Copyright 1991 by Kurris (a.k.a. Keith Williams) and Kludge Code Software "If it's a good program, then it MUST be a Kludge!" Version 1.0 8/21/91 (Refer to TRexx_v1.XX.readme for update information) - The Low-Down - This program exists because I had a need to create ARexx scripts to control my Video Toaster, yet I dreaded having to load up Cygnus Ed and painstakingly craft them each time. It occured to me that a nice Intuition interface that looked JUST LIKE the Toaster's interface would be the optimal solution to my dilemma. Thus TRexx was born. - Specifics - Must of TRexx is pretty straightforward: You click on things and Toaster ARexx commands are generated. These commands are invisible, but their English equivalent is displayed in a list on the left side of the screen. This list is scrollable and editable. To edit an item, just click on it (it will turn blue) and then click on the icon that represents what you want to change the command to. To insert, highlight an item and click on "Insert." This will insert a line called "** CHANGE ME **", which can then be changed in the same fashion as just described above. To delete, select any number of lines and click on "Delete." The highlighted lines will be removed. TRexx has several variables that can be initialized through the TOOLTYPES of its icon. These variables can NOT be set in any other way, so I suggest that any diehard CLI users break down and pick up the mouse JUST THIS ONCE. The variables are: TOASTER - the path where your Toaster directory can be found (ex. "SYS:Toaster/" No quotes, but, unless it is an assign, it MUST end in a "/"). FRAMESTORE - the path for your FrameStore directory (same convention as with TOASTER). WAIT - The name of the Wait program that you want TRexx to call. KWait is supplied. See note below. USER - The default user command. See note below. You don't HAVE to use these variables, but it makes things easier, since they allow the file requester to open in the proper directories and such. - Exiting The Program - The only way to exit TRexx is to press the Esc key. There are no menus and I didn't have room for a "Quit" gadget, so... - Special Notes - The scripts that TRexx generates include code to start up the Switcher if it is not already running. This means that all scripts should be executed from within the Toaster directory (since they rely on some programs that New Tek includes with their Toaster software). KWait is a small program that I wrote to give acurate time delays from within an ARexx script. It takes arguments in seconds (SS) or minutes and seconds (MM:SS). If you've got something that you like better, then change the TOOLTYPE variable WAIT to the name of your favourite Wait program. Don't worry, I don't be offended (sniff). The USER variable was included to account for things that I haven't anticipated needing in the near future. It allows you to specify a Toaster ARexx command that TRexx doesn't know about and have it included in your scripts. This capability also comes in handy when loading a script that has things in it that go beyond the scope of TRexx, since they will be read in as "USER COMMANDS," and can thus be modified. - Copyright Notes - I know, I know, but I didn't MEAN to. Yes, I've stolen New Tek's Toaster interface (or at least a good portion of it), and I'm very sorry, but I couldn't think of a better way of implementing this program. Since TRexx generates scripts that can ONLY be used with the Toaster, then why should I (or anyone) be forced to learn a new interface, just to do things that come naturally to the Toaster? I hope that New Tek doesn't mind (I'm not SELLING this thing, after all). I only did it for ease of use and quick recognition of the elements involved. Don't sue me...PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!! The only thing that I've copyrighted here is the underlying code that handles silly things like lists, input handling and junk like that. The "look and feel" is all New Tek's (and what a fine job they did, too). This program has been released by myself (the author) into the Amiga Public Domain as FREEWARE. No donations or contributions are asked for or expected in return for using this software. This program may not be sold with any commercial application without the prior written consent of both the author and New Tek, Inc. This copyright notice should be left intact with the distribution of this software. - Disclaimer - I didn't do it, it's not my fault. After all, I didn't hold a gun to your head and say: "Here! USE this software and LIKE it!!" And, after all, it WAS free, right? - Contact Information - For more information or suggestions, contact me at Keith Williams 517 136th Apt. 2 Holland, MI 49424 (616)786-0740