Xerox Elixir Desktop and Converters for AFP User Guide

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Elixir Desktop

and Converters

for AFP™

User Guide

June 1999

Version 4.00

Elixir Technologies Corporation P.O. Box 1559 Ojai, CA 93024

June 1999 Version 4.00 Printed in the United States of America

Trademarks and Service Marks/Company: Bitstream/Bitstream, Inc.

Elixir/Elixir Technologies Corporation HP, PCL, LaserJet/Hewlett Packard Company IBM, Personal Computer, AT, PS/2, AFP, and all other IBM products mentioned in this publication are trademarks of International Business Machines IRMA/Digital Communications Associations, Inc. Logitech/Logitech, Inc. MS-DOS, Microsoft Mouse/Microsoft Corporation Norton Utilities/Symantec Corporation PaintBrush/Z-Soft Corporation

All other product names and trade names used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Copyright protection claimed includes all forms and matters of copyrightable material and information now allowed by statutory or judicial law or hereinafter granted, including without limitation, material generated from the software programs which are displayed on the screen such as icons, screen display looks, etc.

Changes are periodically made to this document. Changes, technical inaccuracies, and typographic errors will be corrected in subsequent editions.

Drivers

Notes and cautions

The following notes and cautions apply to the Elixir Desktop and Converters for AFP.

Elixir software supports printing using Windows

3.11 printer drivers under Windows 3.11. Windows 95 users must use a printer driver that supports API calls rather than Escape calls. If you have problems printing with a non-Elixir supplied driver, check with the vendor to ensure that the driver is appropriate for the operating system you use.

Help files include graphics created using screen drivers with large fonts. If you use a screen driver with small fonts, Help file graphics may not display clearly. For optimum graphics display, use a screen driver with large fonts.

Video drivers must be fully compatible with the Microsoft Windows VGA/SVGA standard to ensure graphical integrity. If you encounter problems when printing shading or graphics, the cause may be an incompatibility between a third-party video driver and the Microsoft standard. To determine if the problem is the third-party driver, switch to the Microsoft VGA/SVGA driver (for the screen resolution currently in use). If this resolves the problem, contact the video card distributor to see if there is an updated version of their driver. If this still does not resolve the problem, contact Elixir Customer Support.

Current versions of Elixir software for an AFP environment are applications which use Device Dependent Bitmaps (DDB). This allows fast graphic manipulation, but the size of graphic that can be manipulated and displayed is dependent on the Windows screen driver installed.

If you have problems with graphics not displaying correctly, or experience unpredictable video effects (graphic or drawing elements not appearing as they should), Elixir recommends that you install and use the Windows screen driver supplied with Windows with either 256-colors or 16-colors.

BWCC.DLL file version

Installing a BWCC.DLL file in a directory other than drive:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM may cause errors when you perform operations such as copying files from the User Files icon to Elixir folders. Elixir installs a BWCC.DLL file dated 1995 or later in your drive:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory during installation. Other programs may also install BWCC.DLL files in different directories. Remove these other versions of the BWCC.DLL file from your system to prevent errors.

Using the Desktop under Windows NT

All current versions of Elixir software run in a Windows NT (version 3.51 and 4.0) environment.

Printing to HP printers

Windows NT uses a different HP soft font handling architecture than other operating systems. To ensure true WYSIWYG printing capabilities, new printing functions using raster fonts are implemented.

Due to the new printing functions, you must regenerate all HP soft fonts (from Elixir generic fonts or production printer fonts) before printing under Windows NT.

Elixir has successfully tested a number of HP and HPcompatible printers and printer drivers. However, due to the number of printer drivers and environmental configurations, Elixir cannot guarantee that all drivers and printers labeled "HP-compatible" will produce correct results.

Table of contents

Notes and cautions

1. Introduction 1-1

Customer support 1-2 Elixir training 1-2 Who should use this guide 1-2 Conventions 1-3

Display conventions 1-3 Typographical conventions 1-3

Mouse operations 1-4 On-line Help 1-6 Organization of this guide 1-7 Installation 1-9 Starting the Elixir Desktop 1-9 Exiting the Elixir Desktop 1-10

2. Desktop basics 2-1

Common Windows operating system 2-1 Desktop layout 2-1 Icons 2-2

Elixir folder icons 2-3

Forms folder 2-3 Fonts folder 2-3 Images folder 2-3 Documents folder 2-3 Jobs folder 2-4

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Clipboard icon 2-4 User Files icon 2-4 ElixirForm/AppBuilder for AFP appli-

cation icon 2-4 Other Elixir application icons 2-4 User Tools icon 2-5 Diskette icon 2-5 Printers icon 2-5 Scanners icon 2-5 Dispatcher icon 2-6 Converter icon 2-6 Trashbin icon 2-6 Viewer icon 2-6 Transformer icon 2-6

Sub-window menus 2-7

Backup button 2-7 Filter menu 2-7 Selection menu 2-9 View menu 2-10

Accessing DOS 2-12

3. Elixir folders 3-1

Folders and DOS directories 3-1 Elixir folder structure 3-2

Changing folder display 3-4

Forms folder 3-6

Elixir Forms folder 3-6 Input Forms folder 3-7 Output Forms folder 3-8

Fonts folder 3-9

Elixir Fonts folder 3-9 Input Fonts folder 3-10 Output Fonts folder 3-11

Images folder 3-13

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Elixir Images folder 3-13

Input Images folder 3-13

Output Images folder 3-14 Documents folder 3-15

Elixir Documents folder 3-16

Input Documents folder 3-16

Output Documents folder 3-17 Jobs folder 3-18

Elixir Docs Jobs 3-18

Elixir Data Jobs 3-19

Input Jobs 3-19

Output Jobs 3-19 User Files folder 3-21

4. Desktop configuration 4-1

System configuration 4-2 Desktop usage switches 4-4 User privileges 4-7 Diagnostics 4-9 Creating a directory 4-10 Converter properties 4-11 Transformer properties 4-14 Resetting System menu options 4-15 Refreshing the screen 4-15 Selecting toolsets 4-16

5. Additional Desktop features 5-1

Opening icons 5-1 Opening a folder icon 5-2

Opening Elixir files 5-2

Opening the ElixirForm icon 5-3

Opening device icons 5-3

Diskette icon 5-3 Printers icon 5-3 Scanners icon 5-3

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Displaying Icon properties 5-5

Displaying Elixir file formats 5-6 Printing Desktop folder contents 5-7 Displaying a logo 5-9 Copying files 5-11

Using the Elixir Scheduler Desktop 5-21

Opening other icons 5-4

User Tools icon 5-4 User Files icon 5-4 Dispatcher icon 5-4 Converter icon 5-4 Viewer icon 5-4

Files 5-5

Copying files to Elixir folders 5-11 Copying files to a DOS directory 5-11 Copying files from a DOS directory 5-13 Copying files to a DOS-format

diskette 5-13 Copying files from a DOS-format

diskette 5-14 Copying files to a DOS-Elixir format

diskette 5-15 Copying files from a DOS Elixir-

format diskette 5-16 Copying files from Output to Input

folders 5-17 Copying Elixir form files 5-17 Creating a .PUB file 5-17 Copying a .PUB file to a diskette 5-19 Restoring a .PUB file from a diskette

5-20

Scheduler setup 5-22 Scheduler Desktop examples 5-26

Scheduler example 1 5-26 Scheduler example 2 5-27

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Viewing files 5-29

Viewing Elixir image files 5-29

Setting the default ElixirForm font 5-31

6. Peripheral devices 6-1

Diskette drive 6-1 Scanner device 6-3

Configuration 6-3

Using scanners 6-5 Proof printing 6-6 Printing Elixir forms 6-6 Printing Elixir forms with highlight color 6-8 Printing non-Elixir forms 6-10 Using the Elixir HP print driver 6-12 Printing PostScript 6-15

Printing PostScript using the Elixir

converter 6-15

Printing PostScript using a Windows

driver 6-15

7. File conversions 7-1

General procedures 7-1 Elixir folders 7-2

Forms folder 7-2

Fonts folder 7-3

Images folder 7-3

Documents folder 7-4 Initial converter setup 7-4 File conversion procedures 7-8 Converting forms 7-9

Converting forms to and from AFP

format 7-9

AFP Page Converter Options dialog box 7-11

Generating source .OGL and .LOG

files 7-22

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Converting fonts 7-37

Changing the target environment from MVS to VM 7-23

Converting Elixir forms to HP PCL 7-25

Converting using the Elixir HP print driver 7-25

Converting forms to PostScript format 7-28

Converting using Elixir's PostScript driver 7-28

Converting using the Windows printer driver 7-30

Converting Elixir forms to PDF format 7-32

Converting forms to Elixir images 7-36 Using FGIDs in a form 7-36

Font requirements for an HP or compatible printer 7-38

AFP Font Converter Options dialog box 7-38

Converting AFP fonts to Elixir format

7-42

Converting double-byte AFP fonts to Elixir format 7-44

Converting double-byte Elixir fonts to AFP format 7-45

Converting fonts to HP PCL format 7-46

Converting Elixir fonts to HP PCL soft fonts 7-47

Adding HP PCL fonts to Windows applications 7-47

Converting AFP and Elixir-AFP fonts to HP PCL format 7-48

Converting Elixir and contour fonts to HP PCL format 7-49

Converting TrueType fonts 7-50 Converting HP PCL fonts to Elixir

and AFP formats 7-53

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Converting Elixir fonts to AFP format

7-53

Creating a full AFP font from an Elixir coded font 7-53

Creating full AFP fonts from Elixir character sets 7-55

Creating individual font components 7-56

Changing the code page 7-59 Editing the Elixir Code Page

7-60

Reconverting fonts created with

Elixir Desktop version 1.00 7-60

Generating fonts from outlines 7-61

Font naming conventions 7-65 Generating Elixir fonts 7-68 Generating non-Elixir fonts 7-68 Generating screen fonts 7-69 Adding HP PCL fonts to Windows

applications 7-69 Windows character mapping 7-69

Converting images 7-71

Converting Elixir image files to Tiles in a Font format 7-72

Converting to and from AFP page segments 7-72

Converting .TIF and .PCX files to Elixir 7-75

Adding color to images during conversion 7-76

Converting documents 7-77

Converting Elixir .DAT files to HP PCL documents 7-78

Converting Elixir .DAT files to PostScript documents 7-78

Converting Elixir .DAT files to AFP documents 7-79

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AFP Page Converter Options dialog box 7-80

Converting AFPDS to multiple Elixir

forms 7-90 Converting Pagedef/Formdef resources 7-92 Converting files using DOSVSE 7-93

Running DOSVSE as a DOS com-

mand line utility 7-93

Running DOSVSE from the Elixir

Dispatcher icon 7-93 Converting files using ELX2VSE 7-94

Using ELX2VSE 7-94

Running ELX2VSE as a DOS command line utility 7-95

Running ELX2VSE from the

Elixir Dispatcher icon 7-95 Deleting converted input files 7-95 Confirming file conversion 7-95 ElixirDoc 7-96

8. Accessing DOS files and applications 8-1

Desktop tools 8-1

User Tools icon 8-1

User Files icon 8-1

Dispatcher icon 8-2 Creating an application icon 8-2

Creating an icon 8-2 Starting the application 8-5 Displaying icon properties 8-6 User Tools example 8-6

Creating an icon for Ventura

Publisher 8-6

Checking the properties of

the Ventura Publisher icon 8-8

Starting and exiting Ventura

Publisher 8-8

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Creating and icon for Elixir's Web site 8-8

Accessing DOS directories 8-9

Changing directories 8-11 Copying files between subdirectories

8-12

Linking files to applications 8-12

Linking files to an existing User Tool 8-13 Linking files to a new application 8-13 Checking tool properties 8-14 Opening linked files 8-14 Starting DOS executables 8-14 Starting batch files 8-14

Using the Dispatcher icon 8-15

Setting up Dispatcher commands 8-16 Executing Dispatcher commands 8-20

Copying files to the Dispatcher 8-20

Executing commands from

the Dispatcher icon 8-20 Dispatcher example 8-21 Using the Dispatcher to run Elixir

utilities 8-23

DOS menu 8-24

9. File transfer 9-1

PC-to-MVS host file transfer 9-1 Installation 9-2 Pre-transfer considerations 9-2

Downloading files 9-2

Downloading with IBM 3270

or IRMA FT/3270 9-2

Downloading with IRMA

FT/TSO 9-3

Converting OVE and

AFPDS files 9-3

Converting Fonts 9-3

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Using IBM 3270 or IRMA FT/3270 9-6

Using IRMA FT/TSO 9-9

Converting FB to VBM format 9-14 PC-to-IBM AS/400 file transfer 9-14

Input directory information 9-4

Uploading files 9-5

Uploading with IBM 3270 or IRMA FT/3270 9-5

Uploading with IRMA FT/TSO 9-5

Fonts 9-5 Output directory information

9-5

Downloading object-format AFP files

9-7 Uploading object-format AFP files 9-7 Downloading text files 9-7 Uploading text files 9-8

Downloading object-format AFP files

9-9

Converting the file to VB format 9-9

Parameters for downloading object-format AFP files 9-9

Parameters for downloading/uploading text files 9-10

Downloading files 9-10

Uploading files with FT/TSO 9-11

Parameters for uploading object-format AFP files 9-12

Uploading the file with FT/TSO 9-12

Converting the host file to VBM format 9-13

Creating a temporary holding library and file on the AS/400 9-15

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Copying to the Shared Folder 9-16 Installing the resources in the AFP

libraries 9-16

Overlays - CRTOVL (Create Overlay) 9-17

Fonts - CRTFNTRSC (Create Font Resource) 9-17

Page Segments CRTPAGSEG (Create Page Segment) 9-17

Printing fully composed AFPDS

documents 9-18 Extracting object files from the AS/400 to a PC 9-18 Using the Loader 9-20

10. Transformations 10-1

Transformer setup 10-1 Transforming Elixir forms 10-3

Form Transformer options 10-4

Remap 10-4 Rotate 10-5 Shift 10-6 FontChange 10-6

Transforming Elixir images 10-7

A. Keyboard shortcuts A-1

Desktop A-1 Windows A-2 By option name A-3

B. Additional files anddirectories B-1

Elixir mapping table directories B-1

PostScript mapping table directory B-1

Contour fonts mapping table

directory B-2

Bitstream Facelift fonts mapping

directory B-2

C. Desktop menu bar C-1

File menu C-1

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System menu C-6

Special menu C-8

Open (<F2>) C-2 Copy (<Ctrl> + <C>) C-2 New C-3 Duplicate C-3 Delete (<Del>) C-4 Properties (<F2>) C-4 Print (<Ctrl>+<P>) C-4 Print Directory Listing C-5 View C-5 Formats C-5 Convert (<Ctrl> + <V>) C-5 Transform C-5 Dispatch (<Ctrl> + <I>) C-6 Close (<F3>) C-6 Exit Elixir (<Alt> + <F4>) C-6

System Config (<Alt> + <F6>) C-7 Usage Switches C-7 User Privileges C-7 Diagnostics (<Alt> + <F5>) C-7 Make Directory (<Ctrl> + <M>) C-7 Converter Props C-7 Transformer Props C-8 Reset to Defaults C-8 Refresh C-8 Toolset C-8

Close All (<F4>) C-8 Efont Factory C-9 Install Fonts C-9 Scheduler Setup (<Alt> + <F2>) C-9 Scheduler Actions (<Alt> + <F3>) C-9 Global View (<Ctrl> + <G>) C-9

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DOS menu C-10

DOS Command (<Ctrl> + <D>) C-10 Window menu C-10

Cascade C-11

Tile C-11

Arrange Icons C-11

Message C-11 Help menu C-11

D. AFP font conversion considerations D-1

Bounded box and unbounded box fonts D-1 Additional filter options D-1 AFP font components D-3

Character Set D-3

Code Page D-3

Coded Font D-4 Country Keyboard Map and PC mapped font

files D-5

Usage notes D-7

Files generated for AFP font to Elixir conversions D-7

Default Code Pages D-9

Editing an Elixir Code Page D-10 Font conversion strategies D-12

AFP bounded box font customers D-14

AFP unbounded box font customers D-14

Hybrid customers D-14

Glossary GLOSSARY-1

Index INDEX-1

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE xix

1. Introduction

This guide describes the Elixir Desktop for AFP, the Windows-based operating environment for launching and using Elixir applications such as ElixirForm for AFP, ElixirImage for AFP and ElixirFont for AFP.

Additionally, the Desktop has numerous productivityenhancing features, including those which enable you to:

convert files using icons link files to applications, thereby allowing you to

start an application and load a file in one step define icons for DOS or Windows-based applica-

tions you want to launch from the Desktop, such as word processors, desktop publishers and spreadsheets.

Because this guide describes all functions and features of the Desktop, certain options described herein may not apply to your specific configuration. In such cases, unavailable options display in gray (not black) on menus and dialog boxes, and some screens and icons may not display at all.

See the Elixir for AFP Getting Started Guide for detailed installation information.

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 1-1

INTRODUCTION

Customer support

Elixir customer support centers provide telephone technical assistance for Elixir users during business hours.

If you have purchased your Elixir product directly from Elixir Technologies then contact one of the support center hotlines.

See the Elixir for AFP Getting Started Guide for information about contacting your support center.

Elixir training

Elixir Technologies Corporation offers training for the full range of our Windows-based family of products. For more information, contact:

Elixir Learning (805) 641-5900 ext. 6

Who should use this guide

This guide serves users needing first-time or ongoing reference information about the Elixir Desktop for AFP.

Users should already be familiar with Microsoft Windows operations, printer and font management operations and PC peripherals, and have access to reference manuals for related PC software and hardware.

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Conventions

Most of the following conventions are the same or similar to Windows conventions.

display conventions typographical conventions mouse operations

Display conventions

The Elixir Desktop, ElixirForm, ElixirFont and ElixirImage all adhere to Microsoft Windows conventions for using menus, menu commands, dialog boxes, command buttons, icons and mouse. See your Windows manual for more information.

Typographical conventions

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this guide and other Elixir product guides.

INTRODUCTION

Keystrokes are shown enclosed in < > (angle brackets). For example:

<Enter> Key combinations are denoted by a plus sign be-

tween keys. For example: <Shift> + <F1> indicates to simultaneously press

the <Shift> and the <F1> keys. Menu titles are shown in bold. Menu options are

enclosed in [ ] (square brackets). For example: Select [New] from the File menu.

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INTRODUCTION

Commands, options, actions, and parameters that require description are shown in bold followed on the next line by the description. For example:

Delete

Deletes the selected files. Steps in a procedure are shown in numbered bold

paragraphs. For example:

1. At the prompt, enter the file name and extension.

Comments relating to a step (such as this paragraph) are shown in regular text following the bold paragraph.

Commands you enter at the DOS prompt are shown in larger text. Within DOS commands, variable names and keys you press are shown in italics. For example:

CD \ELIXIR <Enter>

Mouse operations

You can perform most operations in Elixir applications by using the mouse. The terminology is similar to other Windows based applications.

Mouse operations are performed using the left or right mouse buttons, depending on the specific task.

The following mouse related terms are used in this guide:

click

to momentarily press and release the left mouse button once. A right mouse button click is specified where necessary. For example,

Click on the right mouse button to finish entering text.

double-click

to click the left mouse button twice in rapid succession.

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INTRODUCTION

drag

to click and hold the mouse on an item and move the item with the mouse.

drag and drop

to drag an item as above, then release the mouse button, once the item is positioned over a the area. If the selected object is a file and the destination is a directory, the file copies to the directory.

object

a selectable item on the screen.

open

to point and double-click on an icon -- the effect of this operation depends on the icon.

point

to move the mouse to position the screen pointer on an area of the screen.

select

to point to an object and click the mouse -- this usually highlights the object.

<Alt>click

to hold down the <Alt> key while pressing the left mouse button -- this allows you to select a range of files in a window.

<Ctrl>click

to hold down the <Ctrl> key while pressing the left mouse button -- this allows you to select individual files from a group in a window.

<Shift>click

to hold down the <Shift> key while clicking the mouse

-- this allows you to select more than one object at a time.

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INTRODUCTION

On-line Help

Elixir software uses the Microsoft Windows Help program to provide on-line Help for all functions.

For more information about Windows Help, select the [How to Use Help] option in the Help menu, or see your Microsoft Windows documentation.

The Help files included with your Elixir software include graphics created using screen drivers with large fonts. If you use a screen driver with small fonts, the Help file graphics may not display clearly. For optimum graphics display, use a screen driver with large fonts.

You can display on-line Help in the following ways:

Bubble Help

Click on an icon with the right mouse button to view its properties (if applicable) or to display "bubble help." Bubble help is a short description of the icon function that displays in a bubble extending from the icon.

Quick Help

Enable the quick function by selecting the quick help option in the Usage Switches (or Preferences -- for ElixirImage) dialog box. When you move the screen pointer over an icon on the screen, a short description of the icon function displays in the message area of the screen. During certain operations a message about the function you are performing also displays in the message area. To see these operational messages, disable quick help.

Context sensitive Help

To use this function, click on an icon and press <F1>. If available, the appropriate Help topic displays. If no specific topic is available, the Help table of contents displays.

Help menu

Select [Help] from the top pull-down menu and choose one of the displayed topics.

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INTRODUCTION

Dialog box Help

Click on the [Help] button in a dialog box to view an associated Help topic. Under Windows 95 and Windows NT, right-click on a dialog box option to display an associated Help topic.

Help pop-ups and jumps

Within Help topic text, words or phrases underlined in green are pop-ups or jumps. When you click on a pop-up topic, a box displays within the current Help topic with additional information. When you click on a jump, a different, associated Help topic displays.

Help hypergraphics

Hypergraphics are special graphics within Help files that contain "hot spots". Hot spots are either pop-up topics or jumps. Hypergraphics in Elixir Help are most commonly dialog boxes with option hot spots (pop-up definitions), toolboxes with tool hot spots (topic jumps), and menus with option hot spots (topic jumps or pop-up definitions).

Move the cursor over a hypergraphic until a hand displays, then click on this hot spot to display a pop-up topic, or a "jump". To close a pop-up topic, click the mouse button. To return to the original Help topic from a jump, click on <Back> in the Help file menu.

Organization of this guide

This guide contains the following chapters and appendices:

Chapter 1, “Introduction,” presents an overview of Desktop functions, features and documentation.

Chapter 2, “Desktop basics,” describes the layout and basic operation of the Desktop.

Chapter 3, “Elixir folders,” describes the Elixir directory structure and how to use the Desktop to organize and manage forms, fonts, images, documents and jobs.

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INTRODUCTION

Chapter 4, “Desktop configuration,” describes how to customize the Desktop.

Chapter 5, “Additional Desktop features,” describes further capabilities built into the Desktop.

Chapter 6, “Peripheral devices,” describes how to configure and use PC diskette drives, scanners and printers.

Chapter 7, “File conversions,” describes how to perform various file conversions.

Chapter 8, “Accessing DOS files and applications,” describes tools that allow you to access DOS and link DOS files to applications.

Chapter 9, “File Transfer,” describes how to transfer files between your PC and host computer, and how to download and upload files for subsequent processing.

Chapter 10, “Transformations,” describes how to apply Elixir utilities to modify Elixir-format form and image files.

Appendix A, “Keyboard shortcuts,” describes all Desktop keyboard shortcuts (fast keys).

Appendix B, “Additional files and directories,” explains the functions and use of related files not described elsewhere in this guide.

Appendix C, “Desktop menu bar,” describes operations accessed from Desktop pull-down menus.

Appendix D, "AFP font conversion considerations," describes issues and strategies relating to AFP font conversions.

Glossary. Index.

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Installation

See the Elixir for AFP Getting Started Guide for installation information.

Starting the Elixir Desktop

To start the Desktop, double-click on the Elixir Suite for AFP icon in the Program Manager Elixir Applications window.

The Elixir Desktop displays.

Exit button

INTRODUCTION

Figure 1-1. Elixir Desktop

If you are using a monochrome monitor and have difficulty reading Title bar text, select [Usage Switches] from the System menu. Then, in the Usage Switches dialog box, select [Monochrome Monitor].

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INTRODUCTION

An Elixir logo may also display at the center of your screen. The logo disappears when you press a key on the keyboard or a mouse button.

Note that you cannot move icons on the Desktop.

Exiting the Elixir Desktop

To exit the Elixir Desktop or any of its associated applications:

Double-click on the Close button at the top left of any Elixir application.

Press <Alt> + <F4>. Press <Alt> + <X>. From the File menu and select [Exit] Click on the [X] at the top right corner of the appli-

cation window.

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2. Desktop basics

This chapter describes the Elixir Desktop layout and basic operation. Later chapters describe more advanced Desktop operations.

Common Windows operating system

The Elixir Desktop uses the standard Windows interface for display and use of operational elements such as icons, command buttons, tools, menus, dialog boxes and mouse.

See your Windows manual for complete information.

Desktop layout

The Elixir Desktop comprises two main display areas:

The top of the Desktop displays the menu bar and message area.

The remaining Desktop area displays icons.

Both menu bar and icons provide access to pull-down menus. See the "Sub-window menus" section in this chapter, and the "Desktop configuration" and "Additional Desktop features" chapters for more information.

The message area displays information about the operation in process, including relevant warning and error messages.

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 2-1

DESKTOP BASICS

Message area

Menu bar

Figure 2-1. Desktop layout

Icons

Each Desktop icon represents an application, folder, utility or PC device configured for your system. Generally, the name, shape and appearance of an icon indicate its purpose or the type of action you can perform.

The following sections briefly describe each icon and, where applicable, refer you to chapters where you can find more information.

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Elixir folder icons

The five icons displayed at the top left of the Desktop represent specific DOS directories. You can access directory files and convert them from one format to another using these icons.

See the "Additional Desktop features", “Elixir folders” and "File conversions" chapters for more information.

Forms folder

Represents the drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS directory containing Elixir, Input and Output form files.

Fonts folder

Represents the drive:\ELIXIR\FONTS directory containing Elixir, Input and Output font files.

Images folder

DESKTOP BASICS

Represents the drive:\ELIXIR\PICS directory containing Elixir, Input and Output image files.

Documents folder

Represents the drive:\ELIXIR\DOCS directory containing form list files referencing the Elixir-format files for multi-page documents.

Note that Documents folder functionality for .PDF files requires PDF option products.

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 2-3

DESKTOP BASICS

Clipboard icon

User Files icon

Jobs folder

Represents the DOS \ELIXIR\JOBS directory and is used with Elixir AppBuilder to create multiple Elixir form print files called Jobs. A job includes formatting information for the print run and individual pages and comprises a print ticket and form files.

Temporarily stores Elixir-format (.ELX) form files during job creation. You can copy an Elixir-format form to the Clipboard using standard copying procedures, then copy the form to a specific job when you need it.

Provides access to all DOS directories and files, and links applications to files. See the "Additional Desktop features" and “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapters and "Additional files and directories" appendix for more information.

ElixirForm/AppBuilder for AFP application icon

Represents ElixirForm. If you have Elixir AppBuilder for AFP installed, you can toggle the icon between the two applications by <Ctrl>-clicking on it.

Opening this icon clears the Desktop and starts the ElixirForm or AppBuilder for AFP application.

Other Elixir application icons

If other Elixir applications such as ElixirFont or ElixirImage are installed, icons representing these applications also display at the right of the Desktop. Opening these icons starts the corresponding application.

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User Tools icon

Diskette icon

Printers icon

DESKTOP BASICS

Allows you to create and define icons for DOS applications and batch files so that opening the icon starts the application.

See the "Additional Desktop features" and “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapters for more information.

Allows you to access and format a diskette in your PC disk drive.

See the “Additional Desktop features” and “Peripheral devices” chapters for more information.

Allows you to access a local proof printer connected to your PC.

See the "Additional Desktop features" chapter and "Local Printers" appendix for more information.

Scanners icon

Allows you to start a scanner connected to your PC directly from the Desktop.

See the "Additional Desktop features" and "Peripheral devices" chapters for more information.

Dispatcher icon

Allows you to invoke DOS commands or batch files in which you can embed replaceable parameters.

See the "Additional Desktop features" and “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapters for more information.

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DESKTOP BASICS

Converter icon

Trashbin icon

Viewer icon

Allows you to convert form, font and graphics files and multi-page documents to different formats by using simple “drag-and-drop” mouse operations.

See the "Additional Desktop features" and “File conversions“ chapters for more information.

Allows you to delete folders and files associated with a specific directory or application.

See the “Deleting files and folders” section for more information.

Allows you to view Elixir-format files associated with an application without having to first launch the application.

See the "Additional Desktop features" chapter for more information.

Sub-window menus

The Elixir Desktop offers additional functionality to normal Windows operations by providing pull-down menus in sub-windows (or "child" windows) that you can access from any Elixir folder icon. The following sections describe these functions.

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Backup button

DESKTOP BASICS

You can access the backup button by first opening any Elixir folder on the Desktop (Forms, Fonts, Images or Documents), then opening any Elixir, Input or Output folder.

Each click on the backup button (or <Ctrl>+<B>) displays the contents of a directory one level closer to the root.

You can also use the backup button to change the default directory of an Elixir, Input or Output folder in the SYSTEM.INI file, as follows:

Select [Save Settings on Exit] in the Usage Switches dialog box (

System

menu).

Use the backup button to change to the directory you want as the default.

Exit/close the folder.

Figure 2-2. Backup button

Filter menu

The Filter menu allows you to display files you select using the * and ? DOS wildcard characters.

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 2-7

DESKTOP BASICS

Figure 2-3. Filter menu

For example, in the previous window, you can enter a filter to display files that start with X as follows:

1. Select [Enter Filter] from the Filter menu.

2. In the File Name Entry dialog box (shown below), type X*.*

3. Click on [OK] or press <Enter>.

The window displays only those files beginning with the letter X.

4. To turn off the filter, select [Turn Off Filter] in the Filter menu.

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Selection menu

DESKTOP BASICS

Figure 2-4. File Name Entry dialog box

The Selection menu allows you to select and deselect one or more specified files within a folder. The following figure shows a Selection menu example.

Figure 2-5. Selection menu

The Selection menu contains the following options:

Wildcard Selection

Highlight files specified with * and ? DOS wildcard characters.

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DESKTOP BASICS

Write Selection <Ctrl>+<W> "Remember” a number of selected files (see the Reselect option, below).

Reselect <Ctrl>+<R> Highlight files “remembered” using [Write Selection]. When you use [Write Selection] for files accessed from a Desktop folder (Jobs, Forms, Fonts, Graphics or Documents) icon, use [Reselect] to highlight files with the same stem name (and the same or different extensions) in another folder.

Select All <Ctrl>+<A> Highlight all files in a window.

Unselect All <Ctrl>+<A> Deselect all highlighted files in a window.

Make Pubfile

Copy highlighted drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS\ELIXIR and subordinate directory form files to a diskette. See the "Additional Desktop features" chapter for more information.

Archive Pubfile

See [Make Pubfile], above.

View menu

The following figure shows the

menu and an ex-

View

ample of viewing files using the [Show Actual] option.

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DESKTOP BASICS

Figure 2-6. Show Actual example

The View menu allows you to display files in a window in different ways. The available options are:

Short Name

Display files by name only.

Long Name

Display files by name, creation/revision date and size (in bytes).

Icon

Display files as icons, with names underneath.

Show Actual

Display reduced, bit-mapped screen versions of Elixir form, font and image files. Allows you to preview files without invoking the application and loading the file.

Name

Display files alphabetically by file name.

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DESKTOP BASICS

Type

Display files alphabetically by file type (extension).

Date

Display files by creation/revision date.

Size

Display files by size (in bytes).

Ascending

Display files in ascending order, either by name or type (alphabetically, with "A" first), by date (chronologically, with oldest date first) or by size (smallest file first).

Descending

Display files in descending order, either by name or type (alphabetically, with "A" last), by date (chronologically, with latest date first) or by size (largest file first).

Settings

Displays the Local View dialog box which summarizes the file view settings for the open folder. View changes in this dialog box override global view settings.

You can apply view settings to all Desktop folders using the Global View dialog box. See the "Elixir folders" chapter for more information.

Accessing DOS

The DOS menu allows you to run DOS commands from the Desktop.

Selecting the [DOS Command] option or pressing <Ctrl>+<D> displays a dialog box to allow you to enter any standard DOS command.

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Enter a DOS command and select [OK] to display the Elixir Exec window and execute the DOS command from either of the following directories:

the \ELIXIR directory, if no windows are open on the Desktop

the directory corresponding to the window, if a window is open on the Desktop.

After the DOS command executes, the system prompts you to enter any key to redisplay the Desktop.

See the “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapter for additional ways to access DOS.

Exiting the Desktop

You can exit the Desktop in any of the following ways:

Click on the Exit Box at top left of Desktop Press <Alt>+<F4> Press <Alt>+<X> Select [Exit] from the File menu.

DESKTOP BASICS

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 2-13

3. Elixir folders

This chapter describes the Elixir Desktop folder organization. To better understand this chapter, you should already be familiar with DOS directory structures.

Folders and DOS directories

Directories and subdirectories are structures DOS uses to store and organize files. Folder icons on the Desktop represent DOS directories or subdirectories. Just as a DOS directory contains files and subdirectories, Desktop folders contain files and other folders.

Using folder icons is easier than using DOS directories because you can display folder contents as icons in a window, and copy files from one folder to another (see the "Desktop basics" chapter in this guide).

The Elixir folder icons shown in the following figure display at the top left of the Desktop.

Figure 3-1. Elixir folder icons

Elixir folder icons allow you to use simple mouse operations to:

access and display Elixir-format files copy Elixir-format files into different folders convert form, font, image, document and job files

to and from Elixir format.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

To the right of the Elixir folder icons, the User Files icon shown in the following figure displays.

Figure 3-2. User Files icon

The User Files icon allows you to access any file or directory on your hard disk or diskette drive. See the “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapter in this guide for a description of the User Files icon.

Elixir folder structure

This section describes the structure and use of the five Elixir folder icons.

Most Elixir folder icons contain three subordinate folders labeled Elixir, Input and Output.

For example, when you open the Elixir Forms folder icon, the following window displays.

Figure 3-3. Forms Folders window

Similarly, opening the Elixir Fonts, Elixir Images and Elixir Documents folder icons display a window showing subordinate folders called Elixir, Input and Output.

This folder structure allows you to edit or view form, font, image, document and job files having different formats, as shown in the following figure.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Figure 3-4. Input, Elixir and Output folders

Each Input folder is similar to an “in basket" containing files you can convert to Elixir format by copying them to the Converter icon. See the “File conversions” chapter in this guide for more information.

Each Elixir folder is similar to a “working area” where you can edit and view converted files.

Each Output folder is similar to an “out basket”, to which edited Elixir-format files are written after you convert them to their original or other nonElixir format by copying them to the Converter icon. See the “File conversions” chapter in this guide for more information.

To use Elixir folders for file editing, follow these steps:

1. Copy a file you want to edit or view to the appropriate Input folder.

2. Convert the file to Elixir format as described in the “File conversions” chapter of this guide.

3. Double-click on the converted Elixir-format file to start the appropriate Elixir application and load the file.

4. Edit the file using the tools provided by the Elixir application. After editing, save the file.

5. Convert the edited Elixir-format file to the format you want. The converted file writes to the appropriate Output folder.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

6. Open the Output folder and copy the converted file to the desired location.

The “File conversions” chapter in this guide describes this procedure in more detail.

The following sections describe the different Elixir, Input and Output folders.

Changing folder display

You can modify Elixir folder display and apply these changes to all folders (global) or only to the currently open (local) folder.

To change the global folder view:

1. Select [Global View] from the Special menu.

The Global View dialog box displays.

Figure 3-5. Global View dialog box

2. Click on the button in the bottom of the dialog box until GLOBAL displays (default is LOCAL).

3. Select display characteristics, then click on [OK].

To change a local folder view:

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

1. Open the Elixir folder you want to change.

2. Select [Settings] from the View menu.

The Local View dialog box displays.

Figure 3-6. Local View dialog box

3. Select display characteristics, then click on [OK].

Forms folder

The Desktop Forms folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS directory and contains the Elixir Forms, Input Forms and Output Forms folders shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-7. Forms Folders window

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Elixir Forms folder

The Elixir Forms folder corresponds to the DOS drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS\ELIXIR directory and any userdefined subdirectories within the drive:\ELIXIR\ FORMS\ELIXIR directory (such as drive:\ELIXIR\ FORMS\ELIXIR\ DEMO).

The Elixir Forms folder displays Elixir form files (files with .ELX name extensions). You can edit any file using ElixirForm for AFP by opening the file.

The Elixir Forms folder also displays files with .BAK, .PUB and .INV name extensions, as follows:

.BAK extension files are backup form files that ElixirForm creates. You can edit .BAK files if you rename their extensions to .ELX.

.PUB extension files are publication files used for archiving and copying Elixir form files and all related components (such as fonts and graphics used on the form) to a diskette. See the “Elixir Fonts folder” section in this chapter for more information.

When you use the ELXINV utility to convert .ELX files to a different orientation (from portrait to inverse portrait, for example), you create .INV extension files. To edit these files using ElixirForm, rename the extensions to .ELX. See the “Standalone utilities” chapter for more information about the ELXINV utility.

Input Forms folder

The Input Forms folder contains the folders shown in the following figure:

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Figure 3-8. Input Forms folder

The Input Forms folder correspond to the following subdirectories:

Input Forms folder DOS subdirectory and file extensions

FOB Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\FOBIN\*.*

AFP OVE Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\OVEIN\*.OVE

OGL Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\OGLIN\*.OGL

LOG Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\LOGIN\*.LOG

Output Forms folder

The Output Forms folder contains a number of subordinate folders, as shown in the following figure.

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 3-7

ELIXIR FOLDERS

Figure 3-9. Forms Output Folders window

When you use the Converter icon to convert files (as described in the “File conversions” chapter of this guide), output files write to the Output folders with appropriate file extensions, as shown in the table on the following page.

Output Forms folder

HP PCL Forms \ELIXIR\PRINTS\HPPRINT\*.PRN

PostScript Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\PSOUT\*.PS

PDF Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\PDFOUT\*.*

FOB Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\FOBOUT\*.FOB

AFP OVE Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\OVEOUT\*.OVE

OGL Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\OGLOUT\*.OGL

LOG Forms \ELIXIR\FORMS\LOGOUT\*.LOG

DOS subdirectory and file extensions

The above Output Forms folders show all formats to which Elixir Desktop products can be converted.

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Fonts folder

The Fonts folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIXIR\ FONTS directory and contains the Elixir Fonts, Input Fonts and Output Fonts folders as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-10. Fonts Folders window

Elixir Fonts folder

The Elixir Fonts folder corresponds to the DOS drive:\ELIXIR\FONTS\ELIXIR subdirectory and displays Elixir-format font file names with .HDR extensions. You can edit these files using ElixirFont by opening (double-clicking on) the files. See the Elixir- Font User Guide for more information.

ELIXIR FOLDERS

Although only .HDR extension files display, each Elixir-format font consists of three files having the same stem name but different extension, as follows:

.HDR - the font header file .GLH - the glyph (character) header file .GLY - the glyph (character) bitmap file

The .GLH and .GLY files are also in the drive: \ELIXIR\FONTS\ELIXIR subdirectory, but do not display in the window. You can display all three components if you open the subdirectory using the User Files icon described in the “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapter of this guide.

When you copy a font from the Elixir Fonts folder using the Desktop copy operation (copying to a diskette, for example), all three file components copy.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

If you want to copy an Elixir font using either the User Files icon or DOS COPY command, remember to copy all three components for each file.

In addition, the Elixir Fonts folder may contain .COD (Elixir code page file) and .CDF (Elixir coded font) font components. These components describe mapping information for converting the font to an AFP format font. See the "File conversions" chapter or the Elixir- Font for AFP User Guide for more information.

The .COD and .CDF components display when you select [Show Code Page] and [Show Coded Fonts] from the Filter menu in the Elixir Fonts window header.

Elixir versions of fonts converted from AFP fonts are composed of additional files. See the “AFP font conversion considerations” appendix for more information.

Input Fonts folder

The Input Fonts folder contains subordinate folders, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-11. Fonts Input Folders window

To prepare a font file for conversion, first copy it to the appropriate Input Fonts folder. Make sure the file has the correct name extension for the folder, as shown in the following table.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Input Fonts folder DOS subdirectory and file extensions

HP PCL Fonts \ELIXIR\FONTS\HPIN\*.FNT

ATM Fonts \ELIXIR\FONTS\HPIN\*.ATM

True-Type Fonts \ELIXIR\FONTS\HPIN\*.TT

Outline Fonts \ELIXIR\FONTS\CONTOURS\*.TDF

\ELIXIR\FONTS\CONTOURS\*.SPD

(default - also user-definable)

3800 AFP Fonts

AFP Fonts

In the AFP and 3800 AFP Fonts folders, C*, T1*, or X* font components display depending on whether you select [Show Charset], [Show Code Page] or [Show Coded Fonts], respectively, in the Filter menu accessed from the folder header.

The Outline Fonts folder displays internal names of the font, as specified by the "menulabel" line in the .TDF file.

Output Fonts folder

The Output Fonts folder contains a number of subordinate folders

\ELIXIR\FONTS\I38IN\*.*

\ELIXIR\FONTS\AFPIN\*.*

Figure 3-12. Fonts Output Folders window

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 3-11

ELIXIR FOLDERS

When you use the Converter icon to convert files (as described in the “File conversions” chapter), output files write to the Output folders with appropriate name extensions, as shown in the following table.

Output Fonts folder DOS subdirectory and file extensions

HP PCL Fonts

ATM Type 3 Fonts

\ELIXIR\FONTS\PRINTER\*.FLJ (regular fonts)

\ELIXIR\FONTS\PRINTER\*.RLJ (rotated fonts for proof-printing)

\ELIXIR\FONTS\ATM3OUT\*.PS

Screen Fonts

(user-defined subdirectory)

Windows Fonts \ELIXIR\FONTS\SCREEN\WINDOWS

3800 AFP Fonts

AFP Fonts

\ELIXIR\FONTS\SCREEN\DEMO\*.VGA (for

VGA monitors)

\ELIXIR\FONTS\SCREEN\DEMO\*.FNT

(for all other supported monitors)

\ELIXIR\FONTS\SCREEN\DEMO\ *.WDT

(width tables)

(Windows screen fonts)

\ELIXIR\FONTS\I38OUT\*.*

\ELIXIR\FONTS\AFPOUT\*.*

AFP Fonts

HP PCL Fonts \ELIXIR\FONTS\HPIN\*.FNT

\ELIXIR\FONTS\AFPIN\*.*

The above Output Fonts folders show all formats to which Elixir Desktop products can be converted.

Note that Elixir fonts converted from AFP fonts display different file extensions. Character sets have .240 or .300 extensions; code pages and coded fonts do not have file extensions.

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Images folder

The Images folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIXIR\ PICS directory and contains the Elixir Images, Input Images and Output Images folders shown in the following figure.

Elixir Images folder

The Elixir Images folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIXIR\PICS\PRINTER directory and contains Elixir image-format files with .LP3 extensions. You can edit these files by opening (double-clicking on) the files. Opening a file starts ElixirImage for AFP and loads the file.

ELIXIR FOLDERS

Figure 3-13. Images Folders window

Input Images folder

The Input Images folder contains a number of subordinate folders, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-14. Images Input Folders window

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 3-13

ELIXIR FOLDERS

To prepare a file for conversion, first copy it to the appropriate Input Images folder. Make sure the file has the correct name extension for the folder, as shown in the following table.

Input Images folder DOS subdirectory and file extensions

PCX Images \ELIXIR\PICS\PCXIN\*.PCX

TIFF Images \ELIXIR\PICS\TIFFIN\*.TIF

BMP Images \ELIXIR\PICS\BMPIN\*.BMP

AFP PSEG Images \ELIXIR\PICS\SEGIN\*.SEG

The above Input Images folders show all formats from which Elixir Desktop products can be converted.

Output Images folder

The Output Images folder contains a number of subordinate folders, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-15. Images Output Folders window

When you use the Converter icon to convert files (described in the “File conversions” chapter of this guide), output files write to the appropriate Output folders with appropriate file extensions, as shown in the following table.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Output Images folder DOS subdirectory and file extensions

HP PCL Images \ELIXIR\PRINTS\HPPRINT\*.*

PCX Images

TIFF Images \ELIXIR\PICS\TIFFOUT\*.TIF

BMP Images \ELIXIR\PICS\BMPOUT\*.BMP

Screen Images \ELIXIR\PICS\SCREEN\*.LW8

AFP PSEG Images \ELIXIR\PICS\SEGOUT\*.SEG

The above Output Images folders show all formats to which Elixir Desktop products can be converted.

Documents folder

The Documents folder corresponds to the DOS drive:\ELIXIR\DOCS directory.

It also contains subordinate Elixir Document, Input Document and Output Document folders, as illustrated in the following figure.

\ELIXIR\PICS\PCXOUT\*.PCX

Figure 3-16. Documents Folders window

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 3-15

ELIXIR FOLDERS

Elixir Documents folder

The Elixir Documents folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIXIR\DOCS\DOCLIST subdirectory and contains form list files.

A form list file is a .DAT file you create for proof printing using an ASCII editor, containing a list of Elixir (.ELX) form files for a multi-page document.

Input Documents folder

The Input Documents folder contains two subordinate folders, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-17. Documents Folders window

To prepare a file for conversion, first copy it to the appropriate Input Documents folder. Make sure the file has the correct name extension for the folder, as shown in the following table.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Input Documents folder

HP PCL Docs

AFP Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\AFPIN\*.*

TIFF \ELIXIR\PICS\AFPIN\*.TIF

BMP \ELIXIR\PICS\BMPIN\*.BMP

The above Input Documents folders show all formats from which Elixir Desktop products can be converted.

Output Documents folder

The Output Documents folder contains a number of subordinate folders, as illustrated in the following figure.

DOS subdirectory and file extensions

\ELIXIR\DOCS\HPIN\*.HP

(default - also user-definable)

Figure 3-18. Documents Output Folders

window

Note that the PDF Docs output folder displays only if the PDF extended converter has been installed.

When you use the Converter to convert files (as described in the “File conversions” chapter of this guide), output files write to an Output folder with the appropriate file extension, as shown in the following table.

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ELIXIR FOLDERS

Output Documents folder DOS subdirectory

AFP Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\AFPOUT\*.*

NorAFP Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\NRAFPOUT\*.*

HP PCL Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\HPOUT\*.*

PostScript Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\PSOUT\*.*

PDF Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\PDFOUT\*.*

XGF Docs \ELIXIR\DOCS\XGFOUT\*.*

The above Output Documents folders show all formats to which Elixir Desktop products can be converted.

Jobs folder

The Jobs folder corresponds to the DOS ELIXIR\ JOBS directory and contains a number of subordinate folders, as illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 3-19. Jobs folder

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Elixir Docs Jobs

ELIXIR FOLDERS

The Jobs folder subordinate folders correspond to the following DOS subdirectories:

Job folder DOS subdirectory and file extension

Elixir Docs Jobs \ELIXIR\DOCS\DOCLIST\*.DAT

Elixir Data Jobs \ELIXIR\JOBS\ELIXIR\SYSTEM

Input Jobs \ELIXIR\JOBS\PPFAIN\*.*

\ELIXIR\DOCS\AFPIN\*.*

Output Jobs \ELIXIR\JOBS\PPFAOUT\*.*

\ELIXIR\JOBSS\AFPOUT\*.*

The Elixir Docs Jobs folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIXIR\DOCS\DOCLIST directory and displays a list of Elixir jobs (.DAT files). Each Elixir job is an ASCII file that contains a list of Elixir form files and print ticket information for the individual form files.

Elixir Data Jobs

The Elixir Data Jobs folder displays files in the drive:\ELIXIR\JOBS\ELIXIR\SYSTEM directory.

These are job files created using Elixir AppBuilder. Note that the DOS file names in drive:\ELIXIR\JOBS\ ELIXIR\SYSTEM are not the same as those in the Elixir Data Jobs folder; rather, the displayed names are extracted from the DOS files.

Input Jobs

The Input Jobs folder contains folder icons as shown in the following figure.

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 3-19

ELIXIR FOLDERS

Output Jobs

Figure 3-20. Input Jobs folder

The PDef/FDef folder corresponds to the drive: \ELIXIR\JOBS\AFPIN directory. Compiled object-format FORMDEF and/or PAGEDEF files must be copied to this directory for importing into AppBuilder. All file extensions are valid.

See the Elixir AppBuilder for AFP User Guide for more information.

The Output Jobs folder contains folder icons as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3-21. Output Jobs folder

The PDef/FDef folder corresponds to the drive:\ELIX- IR\JOBS\AFPOUT directory. Compiled object-format FORMDEF and/or PAGEDEF files generated by AppBuilder write to this directory. Output files have .OBJ extensions.

The PPFA Source folder corresponds to the drive:\ ELIXIR\JOBS\PPFAOUT directory. Source FORMDEF and/or PAGEDEF files generated by AppBuilder

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write to this directory. Output files have .SRC extensions.

See the Elixir AppBuilder for AFP User Guide for more information.

User Files folder

In addition to the Elixir folders described in the previous sections, the Elixir Desktop installation procedure creates a number of directories that contain mapping or correspondence tables. You can access these directories using the User Files icon described in the "Additional Desktop features" and "Accessing DOS files and applications" chapters. See the "Additional files and directories" appendix for detailed information on mapping table directories.

ELIXIR FOLDERS

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 3-21

4. Desktop configuration

To customize your Elixir Desktop for AFP, you can use the System menu options shown in the following figure. You can also access some options using the shortcut keys displayed to the right of menu options.

System menu Special menu

Figure 4-1. Desktop menu bar

The System menu contains the options shown in the following figure.

Figure 4-2. System menu

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 4-1

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Each option in the System menu allows you to perform certain configuration actions:

System Config<Alt> + <F6>

Configures basic system parameters.

Usage Switches

Enables/disables selected Desktop functions.

User Privileges

Specifies user access controls.

Diagnostics <Alt> + <F5>

Accesses the diagnostics application.

Make Directory <Ctrl> + <M>

Creates a DOS directory

Converter Props

Specifies control parameters for the Converter icon.

Transformer Props

Specifies parameters for the Transformer icon.

Reset to Defaults

Resets all configuration parameters to default values.

Refresh

Refreshes the screen display.

Toolset

Provides several Desktop toolsets.

System configuration

Select the [System Config] option in the System menu to set system configuration parameters. The Desktop Basic Setup dialog box displays and contains the following options:

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DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Figure 4-3. Desktop Basic Setup dialog box

Warn on low disk space

Displays a warning when disk space falls below the [Threshold] value (default is 500 KB; maximum is 25 MB).

Show banner logo file

Display the banner logo .BMP file each time you start the Desktop, if there are no open window. The default logo is DESKLOGO.BMP, but you can enter any .BMP file residing in drive:\ ELIXIR\PICS\BMPIN.

Show conversion parameters

Displays conversion parameters when converting files.

Clock Attributes Clock Running

Displays the current date and time in the menu bar.

Clock Attributes Set Time and Date

Displays the Date & Time dialog box for setting the current date and time.

Double Click Speed

Speed at which successive mouse clicks interpret as a double-click: [Slowest], [Slow], [Medium] (the default) or [Fast].

ELIXIR DESKTOP FOR AFP USER GUIDE 4-3

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Country Keyboard Map

Displays the Browse Country Keyboard Map dialog box for selecting a .KMP file to convert to/from AFP font format. The selected file name displays on the button's face when you click on [OK]. See the "AFP font conversion considerations” appendix for more information.

Default CodePage

Displays the Browse Code Page dialog box for selecting a default code page for font conversion. The selected file name displays on the button's face when you click on [OK].

GCID File

Displays the Browse GCID File dialog box for selecting aGCID mapping file for converting non-AFP Elixir fonts to AFP fonts. The selected file name displays on the button's face when you click on [OK]. Default is C0ADOBE.

Tag Display

Specifies the data tags print option: [None] - prints no data tags

[Replace Char]- prints form with the selected field length and replacement characters

[Tag Name] - prints tags on the form using the field name

Desktop usage switches

Select the [Usage Switches] option in the System menu to customize your Desktop. The Desktop Usage Switches dialog box displays and contains the following options:

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DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Figure 4-4. Usage Switches dialog box

Confirm file deletions

Displays the Confirmation for Command dialog box when deleting file(s).

Confirm file overwrites

Displays the Confirmation for Command dialog box for requesting confirmation of file overwrite. This option is only applicable for files copied through the Desktop.

Show diskette property sheet

Displays the Diskette Properties dialog box each time you copy a file to or open the Diskette icon. See the “Additional Desktop features” and “Peripheral devices” chapters for more information.

Show printer property sheet

Displays the Printer Properties dialog box each time you print a file. See the “Peripheral devices” chapter for more information.

Show scanner property sheet

Displays the Scanner Properties dialog box each time you use the Scanners icon. See the “Peripheral devices” chapter for more information.

Save Settings on Exit

Retains the Usage Switches change made in the current Desktop session and displays them in future sessions.

Monochrome Monitor

Executes the DOS MODE MONO command required for SIGMA monitors on PS/2 systems and for newer (after 1990) SIGMA monitors running in monochrome (non-grayscale) mode.

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Converter

Displays the Converter Properties Dialog which contains the following options:

Figure 4-5. Converter Properties Dialog dialog box

Working Directory

Directory where temporary read/writes occurs during transformations. Default is the root (\). We recommend specifying a RAM disk for faster transformations.

Confirm file overwrites during transformation

Requests confirmation before overwriting existing output files. Deselect this option automatically overwrite existing files.

This option is applicable only when transforming form and .LGO files to Elixir format.

Show properties before transformation

Specifies default dialog box setup options for each file transformation type.

Pause after transformation

Pauses after each transformation.

Stop process after:

Select when to stop processing: [Error] - stops a conversion when an error occurs [All files processed] - stops conversion after

processing all files

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User privileges

Select the [User Privileges] option in the System menu to select the level of control over certain Desktop operations for the Elixir Desktop user.

Figure 4-6. User Privileges dialog box

For example, you can choose whether or not to allow a user to access an Elixir application from the Desktop. If you choose not to allow access, the icons representing the Elixir application and its associated folder do not display.

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Delete Files

Users cannot delete files.

Change file properties

Users can enter the file name in a Properties dialog box.

Backup beyond default directories

In the Elixir file structure, backs up directories to the specified drive. When not selected, backs up to the default directory for the Elixir (Forms, Fonts, Graphics, and Documents) folders only (recommended).

Access Forms

Allows access to ElixirForm for AFP or Elixir-format form files. The icons representing both do not display on the Desktop if you do not select this option.

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DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Access Fonts

Allows access to ElixiFont or Elixir-format font files. The icons representing both do not display on the Desktop if you do not select this option.

Access Images

Allows access to ElixirImage or Elixir-format image files. The icons representing both do not display on the Desktop if you do not select this option.

Access Documents

Allows access to non-Elixir files. The User Files icon does not display on the Desktop if you do not select this option.

Access Userfiles

Allows access to non-Elixir applications. The User Tools icon does not display on the Desktop if you do not select this option.

Access Usertools

Allows access to the User Tools icon. The icon does not display if you do not select this option.

Access Scan

Allows access to the ElixirScan icon. The icon does not display if you do not select this option.

Access Dispatcher

Allows access to the Dispatcher icon. The Dispatcher icon does not display on the Desktop if you do not select this option.

Access Transformer

Allows access to the Transformer icon. The icon does not display if you do not select this option.

Access Converters

Allows access to the Converter icon. The icon does not display if you do not select this option.

Perform Reset to Default

Enables resetting system defaults from the System menu.

Access DOS

Allows DOS access from the Desktop.

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Diagnostics

Figure 4-7. Desktop Diagnostics dialog box

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Select the [Diagnostics] option in the System menu to run a number of diagnostic utilities and/or enter a command to run a diagnostic program of your choice. The Desktop Diagnostics dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Free Memory

Displays available memory in KB. The figure displayed also includes the size of the Windows swap file on your PC.

Free Resources

Displays available Windows resources as a percentage.

Base Memory

Displays total system RAM.

Maximum file list

Displays the maximum number of files that can display in a window.

Disk Space Left

Displays the disk space left on the hard disk on which the Elixir Desktop displays.

Current drive: Displays the current drive.

View Install

Displays the log file INSTALL.LOG that generates when installing Elixir software on your PC. When you report any problems to the Support Center, the center

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may ask for the contents of this log file to help determine the source of your problem.

View Autoexec.BAT

Displays the contents of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Show Installed ElixiKeys

Displays installed ElixiKeys on your PC.

View Config.SYS

Displays the contents of the CONFIG.SYS.

Creating a directory

Select the Directory] option in the System menu to create a directory in the entered path. The Enter Path of Directory to Create dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Figure 4-8. Enter Path of Directory to Create

dialog box

Enter the name and path of any directory you want to create, then click on [OK] to create the directory.

If you do not enter a full path for a directory name:

If a window is open, the directory you enter becomes subordinate to the directory corresponding to the window.

If the Desktop does not display any open windows, the directory becomes subordinate to the root directory, on the drive on which you loaded Elixir software.

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Converter properties

Select the [Converter Props] option in the System menu to select/enter initial setup options for converting files.

The Converters Properties dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Figure 4-9. Converters Properties dialog box

Converter Property Sheets Form Converters AFP

Displays the AFP Page Converter Options dialog box for setting AFP page conversion parameters.

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Converter Property Sheets Form Converters PostScript

Displays the PostScript Converter Options dialog box for setting PostScript conversion parameters.

Converter Property Sheets Font Converters AFP

Displays the AFP Font Converter Options dialog box for setting AFP font conversion parameters.

Converter Property Sheets Font Converters Outline

Displays the Outline-to-raster font generator dialog box for setting outline font conversion parameters.

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Converter Property Sheets Image Converters AFP

Displays the AFP Image Converter Options dialog box for setting AFP image conversion parameters.

Converter Properties

Displays the Converter Properties Dialog dialog box described in the "Usage Switches" section.

Message Reporting

Displays the Message Options dialog box which contains the following options:

Figure 4-10. Message Options Dialog

dialog box

Message Reporting Show messages after process

Displays any error messages on-screen after processing.

Message Reporting Write Messages to LOG file

Writes any error messages to the file (.LOG) entered in the text box.

New Messages Overwrite LOG file

Overwrites the previously-created .LOG file after processing.

New Messages Append to LOG file

New error messages add tot he end of the previously-created .LOG file.

A maximum of 64 KB of text displays in the message log window. If message text exceeds this, the message window displays empty and

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messages write to drive:\ELIXIR\MESSOUT.MSG which is viewable in any text editor.

Transformer properties

The [Transformer Props] option in the System menu displays the Transformer Properties dialog box which contains the following options:

Figure 4-11. Transformer Properties

dialog box

Transformer Properties

Displays the Transformer Properties Dialog dialog box which contains the following options:

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

Figure 4-12. Transformer Properties Dialog

dialog box

Working Directory

Directory where temporary read/writes occurs during transformations. Default is the root (\). We recommend specifying a RAM disk for faster transformations.

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Confirm file overwrites during transformation

Requests confirmation before overwriting existing output files. Deselect this option automatically overwrite existing files.

This option is applicable only when transforming form and .LGO files to Elixir format.

Show properties before transformation

Specifies default dialog box setup options for each file transformation type.

Pause after transformation

Pauses after each transformation.

Stop process after:

Select when to stop processing: [Error] - stops a conversion when an error occurs [All files processed] - stops conversion after

processing all files

Message Reporting

Displays the Message Options Dialog dialog box. See the "Converter properties" section for more information.

Resetting System menu options

The [Reset to Defaults] option resets the specifications selected in the [System Config], [User Privileges], and [Diagnostics] options in the System menu to initial default values.

Refreshing the screen

If closing a window does not completely remove it or leaves “snow” on the screen, use the [Refresh] option in the System menu to refresh the screen.

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Selecting toolsets

When you install more than one version of the Desktop on a PC drive, select the [ToolSet] option in the System menu to switch between versions.

The Desktop Toolsets dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Figure 4-13. Desktop Toolsets dialog box

Full HYBRID Desktop

Allows conversion of all installed Desktop versions.

AFP Desktop

Displays the AFP Desktop.

DESKTOP CONFIGURATION

AS/400 Desktop

Displays the AS/400 Desktop.

Distributed Desktop

Displays the Elixir Forms Editor Desktop.

Xerox B & W

Allows all black-and-white Xerox conversions.

Xerox H/L Color and B & W

Displays the Desktop for the Elixir HighLight Option and Plus products. Allows color and black-and-white Xerox conversions, if you installed both versions (for users running both B&W and color monitors and Xerox 4850 and other printers).

Xerox Distributed Printers

Displays the 4235 XES Desktop. Desktops differ in icon appearances and allowed file

conversions which display in the Converter icon dialog boxes. See the “File conversions” chapter for more information about file conversions, and the tabbed

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printer sections for more information about different Desktop versions.

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5. Additional Desktop

features

This chapter describes additional operations you can perform using the Desktop icons and menu bar File, System and Special menus. You can perform most of these operations using keyboard shortcuts, as described in the "Keyboard shortcuts" appendix.

The following figure shows the Desktop menu bar.

Figure 5-1. Desktop menu bar

Operations described in this chapter include:

opening icons setting icon properties displaying/deleting different formats of a file displaying a logo at start-up copying files using the Scheduler Desktop viewing files.

If you are just starting to use the Desktop, you may want to read the “Desktop basics” chapter first to become more familiar with general Desktop operations.

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Opening icons

Opening an icon typically starts a corresponding application or causes a window or dialog box to display showing properties related to the icon. In most cases you can modify the properties displayed to affect the performance of the object represented by the icon.

You can open an icon in any of the following ways:

Double-click on it Click on it and press <Enter> Click on it and select [Open] from the File menu.

The following sections describe the results of opening various icons.

Opening a folder icon

When you open a (Forms, Fonts, Images or Documents) folder icon, a window showing the contents of the folder displays. Each folder typically comprises one or more sub-folders containing files. Note that each folder corresponds to a DOS directory.

Opening Elixir files

Elixir files are generic Elixir-format files that you access from the Desktop Elixir folders, and include:

Elixir-format form files in the Elixir Forms folder (drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS)

Elixir-format font files in the Elixir Fonts folder (drive:\ELIXIR\FONTS)

Elixir-format graphics files in the Elixir Graphics folder (drive:\ELIXIR\IMAGES)

Elixir-format document files in the Elixir Documents folder (drive:\ELIXIR\DOCS).

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When you open an Elixir file, the corresponding Elixir application starts and the file loads in the application.

For example, when you open an Elixir form file, the Elixir Forms Editor application starts, and the form file loads (displays on the screen), ready for editing.

Note that your PC must have the corresponding application installed and enabled. Elixir applications can be enabled/disabled using the System menu, as described in the “Desktop configuration” chapter.

Note also that you cannot open an Elixir document icon in the Elixir Docs folder (drive:\ELIXIR\DOCS).

Opening the ElixirForm icon

Opening the ElixirForm icon at the right of the Desktop starts the ElixirForm application. When you exit the application, the Desktop redisplays.

Note that pressing <CTRL> and clicking the right mouse button on the icon instead displays icons representing other installed applications.

ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Opening device icons

Opening a device icon displays a dialog box for viewing or modifying the current properties of the device represented, as follows:

Diskette icon

Configures your PC's internal or external diskette drive. See the "Icon properties" section and “Peripheral devices” chapter for more in- formation.

Printers icon

Configures alocal proof printer connected to your PC. See the "Icon properties" section and "Local Printers" appendix for more information.

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Scanners icon

Configures scanners connected to your PC. See the "Icon properties" section and “Peripheral devices” chapter for more information.

Opening other icons

Opening the User Tools, User Files, Dispatcher, Converter and Viewer icons results in different displays:

User Tools icon

Displays the User Tools window for creating an icon for DOS applications or batch files. See the "Accessing DOS files and applications" chapter for more information.

User Files icon

Displays the User Files: Directory Paths and Tool Links dialog box for linking fileswith DOS applications. See the "Accessing DOS files and applications" chapter for more information.

Dispatcher icon

Displays the Dispatcher Commands dialog box for entering DOS batch commands. See the "Icon properties" section and “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapter for more information.

Converter icon

Displays the Converter Properties dialog box for converting form, font and graphics files to and from different formats. See the "Icon properties" section and "Desktop configuration" and "File conversions" chapters for more information.

Viewer icon

Displays the Windows Notepad for displaying the contents of an Elixir-format file for editing. See the "Viewing files" section for more information.

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Displaying Icon properties

Using the Desktop, you can view and modify property specifications for the following:

Converter icon Dispatcher icon Viewer icon device (Diskette, Scanners and Printers) icons file icons.

To display and modify properties for any of the above, select the appropriate icon, then perform one of the following:

Press <F2>. Press the right mouse button. Select [Properties] from the File menu.

Files

Selecting [Properties] for a file icon displays the File Object Properties dialog box which contains the following options:

ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Figure 5-2. File Object Properties dialog box

File name and extension

The name and extension of the selected file. Enter a new file name and extension to rename the file.

File type

Selected file type. For example, Elixir, HP PCL, or PostScript.

File size

Size of the selected file in bytes.

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Date of last access

Date file created or last changed.

Time of last access

Time file last accessed. If you select more than one file, a dialog box for each

subsequent file displays when you click on [OK] or [Cancel].

Displaying Elixir file formats

When you convert Elixir and Input folders files, files with the same stem names but different extensions write to the appropriate Output folders (see the “Elixir folders' and “File conversions” chapters for more information).

The Desktop file formats feature allows you to select a file in any Elixir folder, and to display all files with the same stem name but different extensions on the drive to which Elixir installs. This feature also allows you to delete either all or selected file formats from the directory.

To display different versions of a file, select the desired file from an Elixir folder, then select [Formats] from the File menu. The File Formats dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Figure 5-3. File Formats dialog box

No Operation

Performs no operations on displayed files.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Delete * Formats

Deletes all displayed formats of a selected file.

Delete * except Elixir

Deletes all formats of a selected file, except the Elixir format.

Printing Desktop folder contents

You can display and print a listing of all files in a folder.

To display all files in a folder:

1. Open the desired folder.

2. Select [Enter Filter] from the Filter menu.

The File Name Entry dialog box displays.

Figure 5-4. File Name Entry dialog box

3. Enter *.* in the [Selecting File(s)] option, then click on [OK].

To print the listing of a folder:

1. Open the desired folder.

2. Select [Print Directory Listings] from the File menu.

The Print dialog box displays.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Figure 5-5. Print dialog box

3. Select/enter print information, then click on [OK].

Displaying a logo

You can configure the Desktop to display a logo upon start up. The logo displays only if you closed all windows when last exiting the Desktop.

The displayed logo may be any .BMP graphics file in drive:\ELIXIR\PICS\BMPIN. The default logo is DESKLOGO.BMP.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

To specify the logo to display:

1. Select [System Config] from the System menu.

The Desktop Basic Setup dialog box displays.

Figure 5-6. Desktop Basic Setup dialog box

2. Select [Show banner logo file], enter the stem name of the .BMP file in the drive:\ELIXIR\PICS\BMPIN to display, then click on [OK].

Depending on your monitor's screen resolution, the size of the displayed logo changes.

Copying files

Copying files involves different procedures, depending on whether you are copying files to or from:

Elixir folders DOS directories on the hard disk DOS-format diskettes DOS Elixir-format diskettes Viewer icon

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

In each case, you select files from a window and then copy them in one of the following ways:

Drag and drop files on the destination icon. Press <Ctrl>+<C>, then click on destination icon. Select [Copy] from the File menu, then click on

the destination icon.

Copying files to Elixir folders

You copy files to Elixir folders when you convert files to different formats. However, before conversion, make sure the files have the correct extension. See the “Elixir folders” chapter for more information.

Copying files to a DOS directory

This section describes how to use the Desktop to copy files from one DOS hard disk to another.

To copy file(s) in a window to another hard disk directory, select the files and drag and drop them on the User Files icon. The User Files: Directory Paths and Tool Links dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Figure 5-7. User Files: Directory Paths and Tool Links dia-

log box

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To specify the target directories (maximum 12), perform one of the following:

Enter the directory into which you want to copy files

When the directory you want to copy files to displays, select (highlight) it

Select any line that shows a path and edit it

If the directory you enter does not exist, a dialog box displays requesting confirmation to create a new directory. Select [Yes] to create the new directory. An empty window for the new directory displays.

You can also use wildcard characters to display a filtered list of files in a directory.

Click on [OK] to copy the files. See the “Accessing DOS files and applications” chapter for more information.

Copying files from a DOS directory

ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

To copy one or more files from a DOS directory, open the User Files icon to display the User Files: Directory Paths and Tool Links dialog box.

Enter the name of the directory from which you want to copy files or, if the path to the directory displays, select it and click on [OK].

A window similar to the following figure displays, showing the contents of the directory. In the window, select the files you want to copy, then drag and drop the files on the Desktop target icon. The target icon can be any of the Elixir folders, the Diskette icon or the User Files icon.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Figure 5-8. Directory window example

Copying files to a DOS-format diskette

To copy selected files from a displayed window to a DOS-format diskette:

1. Copy the selected file from your diskette(s) to the Diskette icon on the Desktop.

The System Diskette dialog box displays and contains the following options:

Figure 5-9. System Diskette dialog box

Directory on Diskette to open

Destination for writing files.

Diskette Drive

Disk drive identifier for your disk drive.

Diskette Type

Select the diskette type: [DOS User-Defined] or [DOS Elixir].

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Diskette Access

Select the diskette format: [For WRITing] - formatted diskettes [Perform FORMAT] - creates a DOS-formatted

diskette

2. Select/enter file copy options, then click on [OK].

Copying files from a DOS-format diskette

To copy files from a DOS-format diskette, open the Diskette icon to display the System Diskette dialog box. Select/enter the following information:

Directory on Diskette to open

The diskette directory from which you want to copy files.

Diskette Drive

The identifier for your disk drive.

Diskette Type

[DOS User-Defined] to copy files from a DOS directory.

A window displays showing the contents of the entered directory. Select the files, then copy the files to a target icon on the Desktop.

Copying files to a DOS-Elixir format diskette

A DOS Elixir-format diskette is a DOS-format diskette that contains the Elixir file directory structure. You can copy files such as .PUB files to a DOS Elixir-format diskette without first creating the destination Elixir directories on the diskette.

To copy selected files from a displayed window to a DOS Elixir-format diskette, insert a diskette into your PC disk drive. If the diskette is not already DOS Elixir formatted, select the [DOS Elixir] and [Perform FORMAT] options to format the diskette before copying files.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Copy the selected files to the Diskette icon on the Desktop.

The System Diskette dialog box displays.

Figure 5-10. System Diskette dialog box

Select/enter the following information, then click on [OK]:

Directory on Diskette to open

Select [DOS Elixir] to display the drive:\ELIXIR directory.

Diskette Drive

The identifier for your disk drive (normally A or B).

Diskette Type

[DOS Elixir] - copies files to a DOS Elixir-format diskette.

Diskette Access

As appropriate, select either [For WRITing] for a formatted diskette or [Perform FORMAT] to create a DOS-formatted diskette with an Elixir directory structure.

Copying files from a DOS Elixir-format diskette

To copy files from a DOS Elixir-format diskette, open the Diskette icon on the Desktop to display a System Diskette dialog box.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Select/enter the following information, then click on [OK]:

Directory on Diskette to open

Drive to copy files from.

Diskette Drive

The identifier for your disk drive.

Diskette Type

[DOS Elixir] - copies files from an Elixir diskette.

Diskette Access

[For READing] A window displays showing the contents of the en-

tered directory. Select the file, then copy the files to a target icon on the Desktop.

Copying files from Output to Input folders

To copy one or more files from an Elixir Output folder to a corresponding Input folder:

1. Select the output file(s) from the Output folder.

2. Copy the file(s) to the destination Elixir icon on the Desktop.

The selected file(s) copy into the appropriate Input folder.

You cannot copy files directly from the Output Documents folder to the Input Documents folder. Instead, you must copy them to the User Files icon, and then enter the path for the appropriate Document Input folder in the User Files: Directory Paths and Tool Links dialog box that displays.

Note also that you cannot copy files from an Input folder to an Output folder.

Copying Elixir form files

To copy a form file and all associated elements, use the Desktop archival feature.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

The archival feature creates a publication (.PUB) file containing references to all font, graphics and form information for an Elixir-format (.ELX) form file in the Elixir Forms folder (drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS\ELIXIR).

You cannot use standard DOS or Elixir copy procedures to copy Elixir form files because these files contain elements such as text, fonts and graphics that reside in different Elixir directories.

Creating a .PUB file

To create a .PUB file for an Elixir form file, follow these steps:

1. Select the .ELX file to archive.

2. Select [Make Pubfile] from the Selection menu.

The Elixir Publication File dialog box displays.

3. Select/enter information, then click on [OK].

Figure 5-11. Elixir Publication File

dialog box

The Elixir Publication File dialog box contains the following information:

PubFile name

The name of the .PUB file you want to create, based on the .ELX file stem name.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Include Screen Fonts

Includes screen fonts in the .PUB file.

Include Screen Graphics

Includes screen images in the .PUB file.

Include Printer Fonts

Includes proof printer and rotated fonts (for the proof printer you specify in the [Proof Printer Fonts for] option) in the .PUB file.

Include Printer Graphics

Includes printer images in the .PUB file.

Include Elixir Fonts

Includes Elixir versions of the fonts in the .PUB file.

Pubfile Version 1.0 Compatible

Disables the [Include Elixir Fonts] option so that .PUB files you create are usable in previous versions of the Desktop.

Proof Printer Fonts For

Specifies your proof printer as [HP LJ]. The Elixir Desktop creates a .PUB file in the Elixir

Forms folder with the same stem name as the file you selected. If a .PUB file with the same name exists in the Elixir Forms folder, the program prompts you to confirm overwriting it.

You can view the contents of a .PUB file by doubleclicking on its icon as shown in the following figure.

Figure 5-12. Publication file components example

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Copying a .PUB file to a diskette

To copy a .PUB file to a diskette:

1. Insert a formatted diskette into your diskette drive. Open the Diskette icon and make sure [Diskette Drive] indicates the correct drive.

2. Select the .PUB file from the Elixir Forms window.

3. From the Selection menu, select [Archive Pubfile].

Alternatively, copy the .PUB file to the Diskette icon.

All directories and related files required for each element of the .PUB file copy to the diskette. If a .PUB file with the same name exists on the diskette, the program prompts you to confirm overwriting it. Your confirmation also overwrites any component files with the same stem name.

Restoring a .PUB file from a diskette

To copy a .PUB file and all associated graphics, font and form files from a diskette to your hard disk, follow these steps:

1. Insert the diskette into your diskette drive.

2. Open the Diskette icon, and select [DOS-Elixir] to display a window with the diskette contents.

3. Displays the drive:\ELIXIR\FORMS\ELIXIR (or subordinate directory) window that contains the .PUB file.

4. Copy the .PUB file icon to the Desktop Forms icon.

5. Click on the Elixir Forms folder in the displayed window.

The .PUB file and all associated files copy to the appropriate Elixir folders. If a .PUB file with the same

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

name exists in the Elixir Forms folder, the program prompts you to confirm overwriting it. Your confirmation also overwrites any existing component files with the same stem name.

If you restore a .PUB file to a PC with a different monitor than the PC from which you copied the form file, your screen fonts and screen graphics may not display correctly. For correct font and graphics display, use the Converter icon (described in the “File conversions” chapter of this guide) to regenerate the screen fonts and graphics.

Using the Elixir Scheduler Desktop

The Elixir SchedulerDesktop allows you to specify automated file conversions, batch file execution and other actions, and the conditions for their performance.

The actions you can specify are:

file conversions running transcripts executing an application defined as a User Tool executing an application defined in the Dispatcher

icon executing any .BAT, .EXE or .COM command.

The conditions for which you can specify the above actions are:

the date and/or time for performing an action checking for the existence of a file before per-

forming an action performing an action at specified intervals.

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

Examples of automated actions you can specify with the Scheduler Desktop are:

If files in an Input Folder are present, convert them to one or more formats.

At a certain time, perform a certain action (such as back up files).

(Later, this section provides detailed examples.) In addition, if you install the Elixir Desktop on a dedi-

cated PC attached to a network, the Scheduler enables uploading files to another destination, for example, to a high-speed printer.

As an example of a Scheduler setup:

You can print an application document to a file on a Network Scheduler.

The Scheduler Desktop detects the file and converts it from its native format to a high speed printer format.

The Scheduler then automatically sends the file to the printer for processing.

Scheduler setup

To execute operations from the Scheduler Desktop, follow these steps:

First, install the Scheduler Desktop on a dedicated PC attached to the network.

If you want to specify automated file conversions, follow steps 1 through 4. If you want to specify actions other than file conversions (such as executing batch files), go to step 5.

1. Open the User Files icon and specify the Network Scheduler directory to which the files print to disk (see the "Accessing DOS files and applications" chapter for more information).

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

2. Install the appropriate converter on the Network Scheduler drive or set its input and output paths to the Network Scheduler drive.

3. Right-click on the Dispatcher icon and set up the Dispatcher to run the files for conversion through a DOS batch file (see the "Accessing DOS files and applications" chapter for more information).

4. Click on [Setup] in the Dispatcher Commands dialog box and in the displayed User Application Setup dialog box, click on [Send only Filename].

Create the batch file to perform the following:

convert input Dispatcher files to the output format you previously set up in the Desktop

write an error log; you can set the Scheduler desktop to check for the existence of the log and to pause or to transmit an error message if it exists

send files directly to the printer delete any unwanted files on the PC. (Later, this chapter describes more details about

these actions).

5. Set up the Scheduler Desktop by selecting [Scheduler Setup] from the Special menu, or by pressing <Alt> + <F2>

Make the appropriate selections in the Scheduler Setup dialog box shown in the following figure.

Figure 5-13. Scheduler Setup dialog box

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ADDITIONAL DESKTOP FEATURES

All Scheduler Activity

Sets processing to [Processing] (on) or [OFF] for up to eight Scheduler actions. [Processing] polls each Scheduler action to test it for a TRUE, condition. If a Scheduler action tests TRUE a consequent action results.

Task Scheduling by

The processing mode. [ID Priority] processes Scheduler actions using number 1 as the highest priority, and number 8 as the lowest priority. [Circular processing] processes Scheduler actions sequentially without priority.

Number of allowable scheduler tasks

The number of Scheduler actions tested for when you select [Processing]. The maximum is eight actions.

Timing delay between scheduler tasks

The frequency at which the Scheduler tests for TRUE Scheduler actions, in seconds.

6. Set up the Scheduler action by selecting [Scheduler Actions] from the Special menu, or pressing <Alt> + <F3>.

Figure 5-14. Scheduler Tasks dialog box

Task

Allows definition of up to eight Scheduler actions (tasks), and to set [Task processing ON] (select) or off (leave deselected). Click on [Next] or [Prev] to display and to modify tasks 1 through 8.

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Xerox Elixir Desktop and Converters for AFP User Guide

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