Re: NB 8

["Robert Holmgren" holmgren@xxxxxxxx]

** Reply to message from Harry Binswanger  on Sun, 09 Apr 2006
13:28:17 -0400


> One very big problem is that (only in this program) the alt key gets stuck
> in the "down" position, and it's difficult to get it released.

Alt is a Windows "system key". Func NI will not trap it (prevent it from
leaking through to the OpSys) in NBWin. So _anytime_ you hit Alt as a Shifting
key, i.e. an Alt-anything combo, you are triggering Windows services. NBWin
uses Alt extensively for such services, and you can't defeat it. You need to
either move KBD assignments off the Alt key, or else (as I do, to avoid
maintaining two different keyboards) duplicate the Alt assignments on another
KBD TABLE. Problems disappear.

> When I abort the only open file, things go a little
> haywire: the cursor disappears and BC doesn't
> work.

You gotta think outside the box, especially if you're trying to integrate
XyWrite and NB support files (although apparently you aren't, if you're using
F9 as your BC key). Keep XyWrite running simultaneously. Open NB.INI with
XyWrite (*not* with NBWin, you get errors and can easily mess it up). Find the
"[Startup]" stanza. After NB loads all of its NBMAIN-?.AUX files, insert a new
line:
 run &root&nbstart.pm={space}
SAve INI. Create a file called NBSTART.PM in NB's main ("root") directory --
the dir with NOTABENE.EXE. MErge Xy4's STARTUP.INT into NBSTART.PM, then
adjust to taste. Obviously you don't need DFL anymore, but you may want to
compare NB.DFL with SETTINGS.DFL and make adjustments. Don't need
DLG/MNU/HLP/PRN/HYP. NB has it's own DLG, and if you want to use U2 with NB,
you MUST move one frame from Xy4's DLG file to NB's DLG file (just edit with
XyWrite, and locate the frame near TOF): frame {{5$S,$E}}. You can share one
copy of U2 between Xy4 and NB. If you want to LOAD U2, you can either do it in
NBSTART.PM, or as follows in INI:
  load d:\xy4\xywwweb.u2={space}
Be SURE to read the instructions for using U2 with NBWin, in README.HTM in
XYWEB###.ZIP (new refresh of v119 posted today, BTW). You MUST change a few
DFL variables -- for example, kill the godawful Message Boxes.

You may want to LOAD your keyboard file instead of NB's:
  load d:\xy4\ibm.kbd={space}
Whatever. Up to you.

Regarding the window problem: in NBSTART.PM, open an UNTITLED window. That's
your "last window", window #1. Don't use it for anything, and don't ever ABort
it. Here's what I do, at the end of NBSTART.PM:

BX ab/nvQ2 BX window 1Q2 BX neQ2 TF .BD MW mx;*;
BC DO FF BC BC 

XPLeNCODE v2.0
b-gin [UNTITLED]
[BX_]ab/nv[Q2_][BX_]window 1[Q2_][BX_]ne[Q2_][TF_].[BD_][MW_]
mx;*;[cr|lf][BC_][DO_][FF_][BC_][BC_]{<}PRReady{>}{<}EX{>}
-nd
XPLeNCODE

Easy does it.

-----------------------------
Robert Holmgren
holmgren@xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------