Compucolor.org – Virtual Media

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