Macros and Spl

[Morris Krok essence@xxxxxxxx]

from Morris Krok

  essence@xxxxxxxx

  Jordan, in my experience working with Xywrite since 1989, nothing beats
the spl system. When you combine Spl (personal dictionary) with some
programming knowledge, you will bypass macros (they are very limited
elementary programs) and you will change the keyboard file as little as
possible. In a previous e-mail I explained how I used a wonderful but highly
useful dos TSR program PRD+. But since I learnt a little about programming,
I no longer use it though it has an extensive shorthand dictionary based on
phonetics (the sound of the word and not necessarily the actual spelling).
To be able to use this facility you have to learn 32 rules with exceptions
etc. As I am a reasonably fast typist, my Xywrite shorthand file seems to be
adequate for my needs.
  I have already sent to the group 3 spl files: (1) my shorthand
dictionary: (2) Html file which is far superior to altering the keyboard.
Just think how many keys must be used for all the Html codes: (3)
Programming codes that are most often used I sent in an attached file.
  There are however, many ways to skin a cat and as far as my html spl
file, one can use this method.
br
#

bo #

"#" character can be used in this manner. On the command line place "seb
/#/" and press F9, then delete and start typing. Instead of deleting #
singly, one can delete all of them at the end with one change replace
command. What amazes me about Xywrite is how its efficiency is enhanced by
simple logic. I am sure Sherlock Homes would have loved it, in fact, he
would have regarded it as a "different kettle of fish".

  The essential difference between a macro and a program is that a program
in processing text, must satisfy many conditions as it loops from the
beginning to the end making numerous changes to the entire document and
then automatically exiting when everything has been met. A macro does not
have this ability, though when I used it in Prd+, I often chained the same
macro to a specific key a number of times so that it would perform a editing
function on more than one line of text.