Listing of file='AGDEMO.TXT;01' on disk='vmedia/agilis-sector.ccvf'
OUTLINE ------- 1. Useful Pointers on Compucolor Operation. 2. How to use AGILIS: A practical Lesson. 3. Create your own Lesson Programme. 1. USEFUL POINTERS ON COMPUCOLOR OPERATION --------------------------------------- The Compucolor or Intercolor keyboard is basically operated like that of a typewriter. The blinking white line,_, is the cursor and shows where the next character will be displayed. If capital letters are formed without pressing the shift key then the CAPS LOCK button must be released. When you are presented with the prompt *>, the Compucolor is waiting for a response from you. It will not accept your response until you press the RETURN key. The REPEAT key allows you to type a letter repeatedly. Hold down the letter and the repeat key simultaneously. Remember that 0, the number, is different from O, the letter ...The number 1 and the letter I also differ. 2. HOW TO USE AGILIS: A PRACTICAL LESSON. ------------------------------------- AGILIS, with the capacity to fully edit the screen, is invaluable to the programme author, as he can enter the text exactly as it will be displayed. To get into AGILIS, press the ESCAPE key, then the USER key. You will be prompted with a line of commands. E for EDIT allows you to begin work. The four -> keys, TAB, and REPEAT are used to move the cursor. 2a. COLOUR CONTROL/SPECIAL FUNCTIONS -------------------------------- A generally accepted code of colours has been established in lesson formation. Used consistently, it makes the student feel more at ease with computer lessons. GREEN -used for large chunks of text, student responses. -most comfortable for the eyes. YELLOW, CYAN -good for instructions,error messages. WHITE, MAGENTA -error messages, highlighting. RED, BLUE -to be used sparingly, have a negative, glaring effect. NOTE* Coloured backgrounds, especially lighter ones ---- should be used sparingly. If yours is a standard keyboard: -------- to set BACKGROUND: press the BG ON button, then the CONTROL with the desired colour key. to set FOREGROUND: press the FG ON button, then the CONTROL with the desired colour key. If yours is the Deluxe keyboard: ------ to set BACKGROUND: press BG ON key, and colour key from pad at left. to set FOREGROUND: press FG ON key, and colour key from pad. 2b. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS ----------------- BLINK ON -will make letters blink on screen (BL OFF nullifies the command). A7 ON -will increase character size. (A7 OFF will put it back to normal). ERASE LINE -erases letters from cursor to the end of the line. (ESC) , then INS LINE or U key will insert a blank line and move all text down. (ESC) , then DEL LINE or V key will delete a blank line and move all text up. (ESC) , then INS CHAR or Q key will insert a space, and move all text to the right. (ESC) , then DEL CHAR key, (or SHIFT and (CRT) key), will delete a character and move text to left NOTE : The (ESC) must be pressed twice to exit the INS CHAR mode. SPEC. FUNCTIONS- SECOND CHARACTER SET. ------------------------------------- The second character set, an integral function of the keyboard, can be used as an alternative to the graphics offered by AGILIS while you are processing your screen. This set of graphics is more refined and therefore more attractive. (e.g. See lines below) ------------------------- To access the second character set: ---------------------------------- 1. Release the CAPS LOCK button. 2. Establish FG colour, then BG colour. Most used characters are the E, A, B, O, L, M, N, . 2c. SCREEN FORMATION ---------------- A) Organization of the Screen -------------------------- 1. A lesson is generally organized into pages, each of which comprises one screen-full of information. 2. It is important to create aesthetic displays, in which there is no crowding. 3. Information should be displayed in FIELDS and CHUNKS. *NOTE: ---- i) List most important data first. ii) Do not contract words. Use shorter sentences. iii) Use model sentences to render instructions explicit. iv) Limit yourself to fewer and complimentary colours. Highlighting- - stress important colours by using bright colours. - flashing (BLINK ON) - Different sizes. - indicators (e.g. -> ) all of these are - underlining. most effective when - coloured backgrounds. used in moderation. - graphics -2nd character set -Agilis graphics Upon terminating the screen formation, always HOME the cursor. Otherwise, it will remain where last located on on screen. Also, make sure that the A7 key is off before processing the screen. 2d. SCREEN PROCESSING ----------------- A screen that is processed will automatically be written into a Basic programme, exactly as it was designed by the author. 1. Once the cursor has been homed, press (ESC), then P for process when offered the line of choices. 2. You will be presented with the prompt STARTING LINE >. Lessons generally begin at 5000 and each new screen is started 200 further on. (e.g. 5000, 5200, 5400) 3. Then the prompt INCREMENT > will appear. This refers to the sequence of lines in the Basic programme. (e.g. INC of 2: 5000, 5002, 5004) 4. At the next prompt NEW SCREEN OR NOT (Y/N) >: Y will process the entire screen as a new page; N will only create overlays and process changes you made to the screen. 5. After the NEW SCREEN (Y/N) > prompt, you will be offered the possibility to use AGILIS graphics. 6. When you see GRAPHICS (Y/N) >, and if you opt to use them, you must press C for COLOUR first, choose a colour, then go on to either LINE or BOX. 7. At the prompt ARE GRAPHICS OK? (Y/N) >: -N will offer the graphics prompt again and delete all graphics you have just made. -Y will automatically process the graphics. You can then press B for BASIC to leave AGILIS. NOTE....Do NOT attempt to process graphics. They will added to the end of your screen listing in BASIC by the programme AGILIS. 2e. SAVING THE PROCESSED SCREEN --------------------------- Saving the processed screen is always a wise precaution to take, as it is an insurance against possible loss. 1. to save: After processing the screen, type in B for ------- BASIC. Then type in SAVE, a quotation mark PROGRAMME NAME. (Your programme name may not have more than six characters.) 2. If you have processed several screens, your directory on the disk may be full, and you will get a ERWZ message when attempting to save. in this case: Press (ESC) D, then procede to ------------ delete the last version. (e.g. FSC>DEL ..... .BAS;03 (03-last version #)) then proceed to do 1) again. 3. Now type in the word RUN to see what you have done