
 
 
 DarkStar's Text Attribute Definition  facility
 provides a WIDE variety of options for graphic
 text  display, through  an  easy-to-understand
 definition interface.

 

 
 About Text Attribute Definitions :
 
 Menubar: Graphics: TEXT
 

 Text Attribute Specification  is  accomplished
 primarily  through the use of simple Switches. 
 These switches  are  organized  and  logically
 broken into  two fundamental groups - vertical
 point-size,  and styles.  Further,  horizontal
 and  vertical  spacing  fields  allow the Menu
 designer  to  specify  the  spacing  allocated
 between each character or line.

             
              Point Sizes ޳
 
 Inasmuch as pointsize is  concerned,  DarkStar
 V1.02A provides text in  8, 14, 16, 28 and  32
 point sizes.  This  "point-size" refers to the
 measurement  of  the  character block  on  the
 vertical axis. The selection of the Point Size
 is quite easy - simply check the size you want
 for the text you intend to  place.  Point size
 selection is naturally an exclusive entity, as
 text must be  one size or another  in a single
 placement, but not both.  For mixed-size text,
 simply make multiple placements.

 Unless otherwise specified,  the  default text
 size is 8 points,  measuring 8 dots horizontal
 spacing and ten dots in vertical spacing.

             
              Text Styles ޳

 A  variety of  options exist for text "style",
 and  each style is  available  in  any  of the
 point sizes. The list which follows summarizes
 each of the style attributes.

 Standard - a "Locked" default, "Standard" will
            override any other style.  Standard
            style measurements are as follows :

            Size   Horiz.Spacing  Vert.Spacing
                 
             8         8 dots        10 dots
            14        10 dots        12 dots
            16        10 dots        14 dots
            28        10 dots        16 dots
            32        10 dots        28 dots

 Bold     - When "Standard" is turned off, Bold
            becomes available.  Bold characters
            are  TWICE  the width  of standard-
            WIDTH characters.
 ExtraBold- With "Standard" disabled, ExtraBold
            becomes available. XBold characters
            are  THREE TIMES  the  width  of  a
            standard-width character.
 Italics  - When "Standard" is turned off, Ital
            becomes available.  Ital characters
            are the same width as standard.
 Shadow   - Shadowed text simply  adds a  black 
            shadow  one dot  below  and  to the   
            right  of the character.  Character
            spacing remains unchanged.
 Inverted - Inverted text appears "upside down"
            to the user.
 Mirrored - Standard text shows the  characters
            from left to right,  as we've grown
            accustomed to  seeing it.  Mirrored
            text, on the other hand, appears as
            a perfect opposite. Characters with
            the "MIRRORED"  flag enabled appear
            from right to left.  For  the  BEST
            results, combine this option with a
            NEGATIVE value for horizontal spac-
            ing.
 Stenciled- Stenciled text shows the characters
            with a  transparent  break  running
            vertically  through the  character, 
            giving  the look  and feel  of text
            shaped with a Stencil.
 Underline- Underlined text simply has the look
            of a "bundled underscore" appearing
            beneath each character.
 StrikeThru-StrikeThru  text  carries  a  slash
            running  horizontally  through  the
            centre of each character.

            
              Text Colour ޳
 
 The  colours attached to the BASE 16  palette,
 like Windows, are as follows :

   Value   Colour       Value   Colour
            
     0     Black          8     White
     1     Red            9     Bright Red
     2     Green         10     Bright Green
     3     Bronze        11     Yellow
     4     Blue          12     Light Blue
     5     Purple        13     Magenta
     6     Aqua          14     Sky Blue
     7     Grey          15     Bright White


              Text Spacing ޳

 Two fields exist on this window,  one allowing
 the definition of  horizontal spacing  between
 each  character,  and the  other  allowing the
 definition  of  vertical spacing between  each
 line. Negative values  ARE  allowed,  and have
 the effect  of  running the text from right to
 left, or from bottom to top, respectively.



Tips:                             

 
 Once  Text Attribute Definition  is  complete,
 click on the acknowledge hyperbutton,  and you
 may click the cursor  where you  want the text
 to appear.  You  will then  be allowed to type
 your text directly  onto the  screen  with the
 attributes you have selected.


