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                                  !Fabricate

                              Andrew Ayre 1996-98

                           Version 1.04 (11-Jan-98)
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INTRODUCTION...

  When writing applications with DrWimp it has been normal (for me at
least) to make a copy of !MyApp then start adding to it to turn it into the
application that I want.

  Having done this dozens of times now I have got sick of nearly every time
having to add the line for the iconbar icon, the line to load in an info
window, define an iconbar menu, find an info window template and check the
icons numbers, fill in the details, change the application name in !RunImage
and !Run, etc.
  Usually the lines that are added are exactly the same in every case. So
why not add them to !MyApp? Well, some applications (like some of the DrWimp
examples) don't always have an iconbar icon or menu or info window.

  So, here is !Fabricate. It does all these boring bits for you
automagically if you want them.

  One thing to bear in mind is that everything entered into !Fabricate can
be easily changed in the !RunImage or added later.

  Interactive help applications such as Acorn's !Help are supported.

USING...

  Load in the usual manner by double clicking on the !Fabricate icon. Click
on the iconbar icon to bring up the main window.

  Here is where you enter or alter details. If you are used to using DrWimp
then they all should be self explanatory.

  If you are not familiar with DrWimp, then I suggest you read the Manual in
the Documents folder first. You will find explained there such essential
things as handles which feature in !Fabricate.

  Probably the most important bit and the bit you will want to change every
time is the application name right at the top. Enter the name of your new
application in here, including the pling ! at the start.

  The first section deals with the iconbar icon. If you want one then make
sure the option icon is ticked (it is ticked by default). Then you can alter
or enter a new handle for the icon. bar% is the default as is used in the
examples and the manual.
  The percentage % can be missed off then end but I would recommend
leaving it on as the handle is always an integer.

  If you want some text underneath the iconbar icon then enter it. Click on
the radio icons to choose whether you want the ionbar icon to be on the left
or the right of the iconbar.

  The second section deals with the info window. If you turn this option off
then no templates file will be included. The handle is as usual and you can
enter all the details to appear in the info window here.

  The final section concerns the iconbar menu. You may wish to create your
own using FNwimp_createmenu, but turning this option on will create a
standard two entry Info - Quit one and attach it to the iconbar icon.

  You can only have a menu if you have an iconbar icon AND an info window,
otherwise you would have either: nowhere to attach the menu to, or no point
having the Info item.

  The handle for the menu is as usual.

  Turning the iconbar icon option off and the info window option off will
produce an application the same as !MyApp (but with a different name if you
have specified one).

  To forget all the changes you have made click on Cancel, otherwise
click on OK. If everything you have entered is valid then a save box will
appear. Use it as usual to specify a place to create your application.


LAST BIT...

  As !Fabricate has been written to satisfy my needs and includes what I
find I add in almost every application then I don't know if it is what other
people want. Please let me know if you think there is a common function
missing that isn't specific to any type or style of application.

  See !!ReadMe!! file for distribution conditions.
