PlateRead  -  Template file reader

by Alan Wrigley

PlateRead enables you to read the contents of template files. This is very useful if you don't have a template editor such as Acorn's FormEd, but it can also give you information that is difficult to get from FormEd. For example, it can show you the size of indirected buffer you need in your program to load the templates, the exact bounding box coordinates of icons, and help you find icons which have their deleted flag set or are hidden beyond the visible area of the window.

PlateRead is run in the usual way either from the RISC User menu system or by double-clicking on its icon in a directory viewer. An icon is installed on the icon bar. The icon bar menu has just two items: Info and Quit, both of which perform their expected functions.

To read a template file simply drag it to the icon bar icon, whereupon the main window will open, showing a list of template identifiers in the lower section of the window and also some useful information in the upper section. This latter information comprises the number of windows in the file, the maximum size of the parameter block required for SWI "Wimp_LoadTemplates", and also the total size needed for the indirected buffer.

Clicking once on any of the window identifiers in the list opens the Window data window. This shows all the parameters for that window, from coordinates to window and title flags. Clicking on the Show icon alongside the entry for window flags opens a window showing the flags in detail. Any flags which are set in that window are shown in red. Clicking on the Show icon alongside the window colours entry, opens a window showing the current colours for that window.

Clicking on the Show icon alongside the number of icons opens the Icon list window. This gives a list of all the icons defined in the window showing their numbers and the first 15 characters of icon text, or the sprite name if it is a sprite-only non-indirected icon. If there is no text in the icon the entry shows <no text>.

Clicking once on any icon in the list opens the Icon data window. This is very similar to the Window data window and shows all the icon parameters in the same way. Clicking on the Show icon alongside the icon flags entry opens the Icon flags window, which again is very similar to the window flags window. Flags which are set are once again shown in red.

An updated version of PlateRead will be produced in the near future which will allow you to alter certain parameters in the template file. This will enable you to do things which are difficult or impossible in FormEd, such as setting icon bounding boxes to exact coordinates; adjusting the size of icons by a pixel at a time (difficult in FormEd unless you use a slow mouse speed and have a steady hand); and setting icon flags so that they are shaded or deleted on start-up.

Copyright  Rheingold Enterprises 1995
