THOOLIKA UNDER MS DOS

The Bilingual 

(Malayalam/English) 

Text Editor

                TECGA.EXE, TEHGA.EXE, TEVGA.EXE

 

 

Introduction

These programs  TECGA.EXE, TEHGA.EXE, TEVGA.EXE  are bilingual (Malayalam/ English) word processing/ text editor software under Microsoft DOS operating system. The files created in these programs can store in RTF/Plain text format and can be exported to MS Windows base software.

Now a days, the VGA display adopter and monitor is only available in market. 


LAUNCHING THE EDITOR

The file names of the executable file of the editor are TECGA.EXE, TEHGA.EXE and TEVGA.EXE. Here, TECGA.EXE is used to launch the editor in CGA(Colour Graphics Adapter) display, TEHGA.EXE is used to launch the editor in HGA (Hercules Graphics Adapter) display and TEVGA.EXE is used to launch the editor in EGA (Extended Graphics Adapter) and in VGA (Video Graphics Array) display based computers.

These DOS based programs are available under Thoolika directory.


FROM WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT

Choose the editor from Start ->Programs->Supersoft-> Editor for VGA as follows

 

 


UNDER DOS ENVIRONMENT:

Come under the directory under which the Editor is installed, and type the name of the executable file suitable to your computer as follows

i.e., C:\>CD\Thoolika [Enter]

C:\Thoolika-DOS\>TEVGA. [Enter]

Here TEVGA stands for Thoolika-DOS editor for VGA display based computer. Choose the program TECGA.EXE for CGA\ EGA\ VGA\ SVGA display based systems and TEHGA.EXE for HGA\MCGA display based systems. The following message will appear on the screen, asking for the key floppy.

Insert the key floppy supplied along with the Thoolika-DOS software in drive A or in drive B of your computer and press the drive letter in which you inserted the key floppy. In the case of correct Key floppy, the opening menu of the Thoolika-DOS editor will appear on the screen as follows.

Use arrow keys (Up Arrow & Down Arrow) or press the number key (1 to 8) to choose an option from this menu.


CREATE A FILE IN Thoolika-DOS

Press the number key [1] or choose the option by [Up] and [Down] arrow keys and press the [Enter] key to edit or create a new file. This will ask you the name of the file to be edited as follows:

Name of the file to edit_

Here you can type the name of the file to be edited and press [Enter] key, this will display the new file confirmation message as follows:

File not found, Create new (Y/N)?

Press the key [N] to abort the file creation operation or press [Y] to create a new file. Thoolika-DOS will add an extension TLK to you new file and display the file editing screen.


LOAD AND EDIT A Thoolika-DOS FILE

To load and edit a Thoolika-DOS file, choose the option 1, it will ask for the name of the file to be edited as above. Instead of typing the name of the file, press the [Enter] key to display the director as follows:

This displays all Thoolika-DOS files. You can choose a file from the list by [Up] and [Down] arrow keys, and press [Enter] key to edit the file. It will display the document in file editing screen.


THE FILE EDITING SCREEN

STATUS BAR

A bar line, as follows, at the top of the editor screen indicates the present status of Thoolika-DOS editor.

The status shows the file name (STORY.TLK), Page Number (Pg:1), Line Number (Ln:1), Column Number (Cl:0) Page Length (PgLn:40), Current language (Mal), Font Name (KAVITA17.FNT), whether youre in Insert mode or Over write mode (OVR), and the next line of the status bar shows Left Margin (L) Right Margin(R) and Tab positions (V).

BAR MENU

A bar line, as follows, at the bottom of the editor screen displays all menu options of Thoolika-DOS.

Press the [Alt] & [F1] simultaneously to get more menu options.

If you are familiar with any word-processing Software like WordStar, this editor should be a breeze. Enter text just as if you were typing in a typewriter. When you want to end a paragraph, simply press the Enter key, To exit the editor, press F3. (Save & Exit Menu).


Malayalam Keyboard Layouts

Five different Types of keyboard layouts are available within this software for entering Malayalam, i.e. Remington (Malayalam Typewriter), Phonetic (DOE Standard), Script (Abacus), Verityper (Photocomposing), Verityper Phonetic (Vision Lab). For entering Hindi and Tamil two different types of keyboard layout (Remington and Phonetic) are available. The Remington and Phonetic keyboard layout is as given below.

1)Remington Keyboard Layout 

2)Phonetic Keyboard Layout


Malayalam Conjuncts Characters

    The conjuncts alphabets of Malayalam can be generate with the help of [Link] Key as follows

 


CURSOR MOVEMENT COMMANDS IN FILE EDITING SCREEN.

CHARACTER LEFT : Press [LEFT] arrow key to move the cursor left.

CHARACTER RIGHT: Press [RIGHT] arrow key to move the cursor right.

LINE UP: Press [UP] arrow key to move the cursor one line above.

LINE DOWN: Press [DOWN] arrow key to move the cursor one line Below.

TO THE END OF A LINE: Press [END] key to move the cursor to the end of a line

TO THE BEGINNING OF A LINE: Press [HOME] key to move the cursor to the beginning of a line.

PAGE UP : Press the [PGUP] key to move the cursor one page above

PAGE DOWN : press the [PGDN] Key to move the cursor one page below

TO THE END OF A FILE : Press [CTRL] & [END] keys simultaneously to move the cursor to the end of the file.

SCROLL SCREEN UP: Hit the bottom side of the screen with the cursor

SCROLL SCREEN DOWN : Hit the top of the screen with the cursor.

SCROLL SCREEN TO LEFT: Hit the right side of the screen with the cursor.

SCROLL SCREEN TO RIGHT: Hit the left side of the screen with the cursor.


INSERT & DELETE COMMANDS

INSERT /OVER TYPE MODE : Press the [INSERT] key to change the insert mode on or off. It will act like a toggle switch. The status bar at the top of the screen will display the mode. (INS/OVR).

INSERT LINE/SPLIT A LINE : Keep the insert mode ON and press the [ENTER] key to insert a line or split a line.

DELETE A LINE : Press the [BACKSPACE] key to delete a character left to the cursor.

DELETE CHARACTER : Press the [DELETE] key to delete the character pointing by the cursor.


TO CHANGE LANGUAGE

(ENGLISH / MALAYALAM)

The default language will be Malayalam. To change the language from Malayalam to English or from English to Malayalam press the [F2] function key. This key will act like a toggle switch. The status bar at the top of the screen will indicate the present language (English/Malayalam).


MARGINS.

Specifies amount of space between edge of page and outer edge of text.

SETTING MARGINS

Press the [F4] key. Thoolika-DOS Editor will ask whether LEFT margin or RIGHT margin. Press the key [L] to change left margin or press the key [R] to change right margin. Press [LEFT] Arrow key to decrease margin width and press [Right] Arrow key to increase margin width and press [Enter] key or [Esc] key to return from the margin menu.

 


SAVE A FILE

Press the function key [F3] to get the file saving menu. This menu will have five options.

SAVE AND EXIT TO THE MAIN MENU. [F3] & [F2]

Once a document is created, you can save it and exit to the opening menu of Thoolika-DOS by pressing [F3] and [F2].

Thoolika-DOS always keeps the last version of the document in a file with extension BAK for backup purposes. Incas you accidentally deleted needed text, you can retrieve the BAK file by renaming it.

APPLICATION: Saving a document and returning it to the opening menu is the most common filing method used. Once you are back at the opening menu, You can begin work on another file, print a file, perform file operations such as File Exporting, Hyphenating, or exit from Thoolika-DOS editor.


SAVE AND RESUME EDIT. [F3] & [F3]

During text editing, you can save a document to disk and resume file editing without interruption. This is done by pressing [F3] & [F3]. When the file is saved, the cursor returns to the previous position in the file. When a document is saved and you resume editing, you will notice that, when you finally save the document and return to the opening menu by pressing [F2] & [F3], a file with a .BAK (for "backup") extension is also created. The .BAK extension is an automatic Thoolika-DOS safety feature. Thoolika-DOS always generates a backup copy of existing saved documents that are displayed for Text editing. The same is true of the save and resume edit function. The last version saved prior to final filing appears on the file directory with a BAK extension.

APPLICATIONS: At any time during the text-editing process, you may wish to save the your document on disk. This is often done to prevent potential loss of the document in the event of power failure or system malfunction. The save and resume edit function writes the file to disk, where it is stored for safekeeping while you continue your word processing tasks. To reduce the potential loss, you should periodically save you documents onto a disk by using [F3] & [F3].


QUIT WITHOUT SAVING. [F3] & [F4]

If you begin a document and decided to quit or start over again, you can abandon your work without saving it by pressing [F3] & [F4]. If the displayed document is changed before it is abandoned without saving, Thoolika-DOS editor displays the following message:

Changes will be lost ? (Y/N)

If you type Y, Thoolika-DOS will abandon the document without recording the changes and returns you back to the Opening menu. If you change your mind, type N and the cursor will return to its last position within the document.

APPLICATIONS: There are a number of reasons for using the abandon document operation. You may want to simply review a document and abandon it without changes or you want to save a document after reviewing it. You can do it by using [F3] & [F4].


SAVE & EXIT TO DOS. [F3] & [F5]

THE PROCEDURES FOR SAVING A DOCUMENT AND EXITING Thoolika-DOS is similar except that it causes you to exit from Thoolika-DOS to the DOS prompt instead of returning to the opening menu.

As the file is being saved, the message Saving is displayed.

Once the file is saved, it will display the DOS prompt.

APPLICATIONS: Saving a document and exiting Thoolika-DOS is normally done when you have completed the document and are finished with your word processing work. As mentioned in the description, this operation will prevent the necessity of returning to the opening menu and pressing X to exit from Thoolika-DOS.


SAVE TO NEW FILE. [F3] & [F6]

This is the option to save you document onto a new file and preserve the original file. Press [F3] & [F6] to get this option. This will ask the name of a new file. You type the file name to which your document would be saved.


TYPE STYLES

Place the cursor to the beginning of the text to be marked and press the function key [F6] to get Style menu. The bar menu at the bottom side of the screen will display all available styles.

Available Styles are BOLD, ITALIC, UNDERLINE & NORMAL.

Important: The Styles reverse, Big and small are not yet implemented in Windows file Export. The default style of "Thoolika-DOS Editor" is Normal Style.

TO UNDERLINE TEXT: The key [U] is used to mark the beginning and end of the text to be underlined.

BOLD TEXT : The key [B] is used to mark the beginning of Bold text.

ITALIC TEXT : The key [I] is used to mark the beginning of Italic text.

NORMAL TEXT : The key [N] is used to mark the beginning of Normal text.

Press the keys [F5] & [D] to display/hide the Text Styles on the status bar of the file editing screen. This key will act as a Toggle switch.

Switch off the Text Styles to improve the speed of "Thoolika-DOS Editor"


BLOCK OPERATIONS

Many experienced writers work by typing up a draft or whatever they are working on, cutting it up, and pasting (or, more usually, typing) the pieces together in a new order. In "Thoolika-DOS" the software lets you do this electronic CUT and PASTE much more quickly and efficiently, by means of what are called BLOCK OPERATIONS. "Thoolika-DOS" can perform various jobs such as deleting, copying and moving and so on, a block. The block is a marked piece of text. It begins with a block begin mark( a symbol placed by "Thoolika-DOS"), and ends it with a block end mark. The block can be as small as one character, and as large as a paragraph, or even the entire document.

Press the function key [F9] to display the block operations menu.

BLOCK MARKING. [F9][B] & [F9][E].

First you mark where the block begins by moving the cursor there and hitting [F9][B]. A thick square bracket appears on the screen to mark the spot, (that indicates the start of a block). Then you move the cursor to where you want the block to end, and mark with [F9][E]. Another thick square bracket will appear on the screen to mark the spot, (this indicates the end of a block). You can mark one block only at a time.


BLOCK MOVE. [F9][M].

After printing a document, you may sometimes find that it would be more appropriate for a paragraph to be typed at some other locations, say at the end rather than in the first page. In such case, you dont have to retype it, rather you can move the paragraph to a new location, and use the block move commands. Having marked the block, you now move the cursor to where you want to put the block (which also be in the middle of a line) and hit [F9][M]. Thats all there is to it.


BLOCK COPY. [F9][C]

Sometimes you may have to type the same block of text at more than one location in the document. E.g.: The name, address of your company. "Thoolika-DOS" allows you to copy a marked block to any location in that file. To copy a block, mark the block using block commands. Now move the cursor to the new location where you want to copy the marked block and press [F9][C]. The block will be copied (inserted) at the new location and any text from the cursor location and any text from the cursor location onward will be shifted below to make space for the block being inserted. The text in the marked block (at the original place) will remain undisturbed. Now move the cursor to another location in the file and press [F9][C] once again. The block that you had marked earlier will be copied at this place too. Thus a marked block can be copied at any number of places anywhere in the text.


BLOCK DELETION. [F9][D]

The command [F9][D] is used to delete a marked block. By using the text with block markers ([F9][B] &[F9][E] and using [F9][D] to delete a marked block, we can easily delete a long piece of text. If you have already marked the block, press [F9][D] to delete it.


WRITING BLOCK TO A NEW FILE.[F9][W]

Lets you extract a block of text from a file you are working on and save it as a separate file, so you can use it late in some other context. First you mark the block just as you would, then press [F9][W], "Thoolika-DOS" will ask you a file name where the marked block is to be stored on the disk. You can enter any file name to store the marked block of text. "Thoolika-DOS" will create a new file and store the marked block in that file.


READING FILE IN BLOCK MODE. [F9][R]

You can read the contents of a file already existing on the disk into the file you are editing. Move the cursor to the end of the file (as at any other place you want to place the text ) and press [F9][R]. Then "Thoolika-DOS" will ask the name of the document that you wish to insert into the file being edited. Type the name of the file name that you wish to insert and press the [Enter] key, you will observe that "Thoolika-DOS" has read all the text from the file into the editing file. The [F9][R] command is used when all your business official letters include some matter common to all of them, such as the name and address of your Company/Division.

You can observe the following procedures to move a block of text from file "A" to another file "B" :

  • STEP-1. Open file "A" and mark the block of text that has to be transferred.

    STEP-2. Save the marked block of text in a temporary file by using the [F9][W] command. You can give any name to this temporary file.

    STEP-3. Close the file "A" ([F3][F2] and open file "B" for editing.

    STEP-4. Move the cursor to the place where you want to inset the text. Use the [F9][R] command to read text from this temporary file. (Enter the name of the file you created in "STEP-2" in response to the prompt, or file name.)

    STEP-5. Save file "B" and delete the temporary file.


  • SHOW BLOCK. [F9][S]

    Press the key [F9][S] to display the page where the block marks were marked.


    REBUILD SCREEN [ALT] &[F2].

    Hold down the [ALT] key and press the function key [F2] to rebuild screen display.


    LOAD NEW FONT [ALT] & [F3]

    This editor software has 12 different Malayalam fonts. To load a new font, hold down the [ALT] key and press the function key [F3] simultaneously. Use the [Up] & [Down] arrow keys to scroll through the font names and press [Enter] key to load a font.


    JUMP TO A PAGE

    Hold down the [ALT] key and press the function key [F4] to invoke this function, and press the [Up] & [Down] arrow keys to choose a page from the menu bar and press [Enter] key to display that page.


    PARAGRAPH ALIGNMENT [F7]

    Press the function key [F7] to align or reform a paragraph menu. This menu will have four options:

    1. JUSTIFY Press the key [F7] twice to justify a paragraph. This makes both right and left edge of paragraph straight.
    2. CENTER Press the key [F7] & [C] to Center a paragraph.
    3. RIGHT ALIGN Press the key [F7] & [R] for right alignment of a paragraph.
    4. LEFT ALIGN Press the key [F7] & [L] for left alignment of a paragraph.

    PRINTING OUT (THROUGH DOT MATRIX PRINTER)

    Press the key [2] to print a file while you are in the opening menu of "Thoolika-DOS Editor". It will ask for the name of file to print, here you can type the name of a file or you can choose a file from the directory list box, and press [Enter] key, the screen will be as follow.

    Press the [ESC] key to print the file

    You can specify the following parameters before printing a document.

  • Name of file? You can change the file name, or leave it, as it is.

    Page length? Here you can specify the number of lines to be printed per page.

    Left Margin? This Number controls how many columns your text is moved over from the left side of the printer.

    Top Margin? This number sets the number of lines from the top of the page to the first line of text

    Bottom Margin? This sets the number of lines from the last line of text to the bottom of the page.

    Print start at? Here you can specify some page other than 1 for the print out to begin at.

    Print End at? Lets you specify some page other than the last for the printout to stop.

    Page Numbering (Y/N)? You can turn off or on the automatic page numbering .

    Numbering start at? Page numbering normally start at and goes up but you can reset the page numbering, by typing a new number.

    Paper feed (Continues/Manual)? This option lets you print out on single sheet of paper (Manual form feed) or on continues forms (Continues forms (Continues Paper). If you answer is M print out will stop after each paper.

    Print quality (Draft/Standard/High)? Press the key [D] for DRAFT quality print. (Fast, rough copy for your eyes only). Press the key [S] for STANDARD quality. (Not as fast, but better quality). Press the key [H] for HIGH quality print. (For final presentation copy)

  • Use [UP] & [DOWN] arrow keys to travel through the above options. Use the [Esc] key to start printing While printing a Document "Thoolika-DOS" will display the following message.

    PRINTING IN PROGRESS Please wait!

     


    HYPHENATE A FILE

    This is the third option of main menu. Press the key [3] to hyphenate a file, which was created through the editor. This will ask the name of the file to be hyphenated as follows.

    Name of the file to Hyphenate ?

    Here you can type the name of the file to be hyphenated, or press [Enter] key to get the directory list box..

    From the directory list box you can choose the file to be hyphenated. This processes will create a new file with an extension "HYP" . The new file has all the information to hyphenate Malayalam text according to Malayalam text writing grammar, under MS Windows application.

    The hyphenation process will convert a file with extension TLK to extension HYP


    FILE EXPORT

    This option is to convert the DOS format text file to Widows format text file. This is the forth option of the main menu, to get this option press the Key [4], it will display a sub menu (SELECT EXPORT FILTER) as follows.

    The "EXPORT FILTER" menu has three options, Windows ANSI Export Filter, Rich Text File (RTF) Export Filter and Exit.


    WINDOWS ANSI EXPORT FILTER

    Most of the Windows applications, such as Write, PageMaker, Quark Express, CorelDraw! etc. will accept this ANSI file format file. But the text in this file is plain text, the information such as font Name, font Size, font Style etc.. not present in this file,


    RICH TEXT FILE (RTF) EXPORT FILTER

    PageMaker, MS Word, Wordperfectetc.. will accept this file format. RTF file have the information such as font Name, font Size, font Style etc.

    You can select any of these filters from the Export Filter menu. It will ask the name of the file to be exported. Here you can type the name of the file with extension "TLK" OR "HYP", If needed or it will add the default extension "HYP" (A file with HYP extension have the hyphenation information to hyphenate the Malayalam words as per the Malayalam text writing grammar) to it and export that file. Or press the [Enter] key to display all files ending with "HYP". Select a file from the directory list box and press [ENTER] Key. This exporting process will create a new file with an extension "TXT" in the case of Window ANSI Export filter or a file with RTF extension in the case of Rich Text File (RTF) Export Filter.


    FUSE CHARACTER

    This is the sixth option of Thoolika-DOS main menu. This will convert Malayalam Type Writer Script to News Paper script as follows:

    to , to , Į to , to

    to , to , î to ...etc...


    ALL (HYPHENATE, EXPORT, FUSE)

    This is the best option for file exporting, because it will perform all the above processes (File Hyphenation, File Export and Fuse Characters) one by one

    The files with extension TXT and RTF are suitable to all most all MS Windows applications.


    KEYBOARD CONFIGURE

    Press the key [7] while you are in the main menu of "Thoolika-DOS" editor. It will display a sum-menu as follows:

    From this sub-menu "KEYBOARD LAYOUT" you can choose any of the five keyboard layout suitable for Malayalam text entry.


    EXIT FROM THE EDITOR

    The last option, number 8 is to exit to DOS prompt.