Conference hydra::amiga_v1

1886.0. "rd - a GREAT text reading utility!" by WAV12::HICKS (Fan mail from some flounder?) Fri Nov 18 1988 14:44

 	rd is TREMENDOUS!! UNBELIEVABLE!! FABULOUS!!!

 	Why get so excited about rd, a text file reader?  Think
	about how often you have to use one.  The more you think
	about it, a text file reader sees a lot of action.  And its
	always a piece of software that you DON'T want to be using!
	You only need it to get at the READ_MEs and check the
	EXEC.MEs, and they are only there so that you can use some
	_other_ piece of software, the one you just got to enhance
	the "productivity" and fun that you bought the Amiga for in
	the first place.  A text file reader is something you
	probably don't give a lot of thought to. 

	But before you NEXT/UNSEEN past this, YOU'VE GOT TO GET rd
	from Keith Young!  He wrote Access! an ASCII communication
	program, and if you use Access! you'll know what I mean when
	I say that this guy pays attention to details, and works
	hard to make the user interface very functional and
	aesthetically pleasing.  The first time you use rd, it will
	bring a smile to your face, and it will get nestled in with
	your favorites in your C: directory. 

	FEATURES:

	*** Uses the ARP/C.Heath File Requester.  This is nice by
	itself, but Keith enhanced it.  Hit the File gadget and the
	requester comes up with your CD, hit the right mouse button
	and you get a row of device gadgets, click on one to change
	device, click on a directory, click on the file and away you
	go.  You don't have to exit to read a new file, just hit the
	File gadget. 

	*** Fast, smooth scrolling, mouse driven.  Read that _very_ 
	fast and _very_ smooth.  Pressing the left mouse button at 
	the top half of the screen scrolls up, bottom half scrolls 
	down.  Has a Top and Bottom gadget, too, as well as 
	cursor-key control.

	*** Uses Iconify!  Leave it runnning all the time.  
	Scrunches into a nice small bar when you hit the F1 key.  
	Click on the box, continue reading the same file, or get a 
	new one.

	*** Window opens in front of the front screen.  This works
	out nicely with DISKMAN.  Normally, when you hit the Read
	gadget on DISKMAN, the window opens on the Workbench screen,
	and ties-up DISKMAN until you're done.  Instead, put rd into
	one of the DISKMAN gadgets.  Because DISKMAN is interlaced,
	the rd Window opens as a half screen, right on top of
	DISKMAN; you can move the rd window up and down and run
	DISKMAN functions while still using rd. 

	Two small nits: 1) you must start it from CLI (haven't tried
	XICON or IconExec); this really is small, because rd doesn't
	need a file-spec when you run it, and you only have to call
	it once, Iconify! it when you don't need it.  It starts its
	own process so the CLI that you start it from can run other
	stuff while rd runs; 2) the name (rd) is rather nondescript,
	it deserves something like Fantasti-reader!. 

	This utility is a testimony to the superior quality of 
	Shareware in the Amiga environment.  It deserves a place on 
	your Amiga.  You'll use it (and like it) a lot!

	Tim Hicks   

    "So where can I get this 'rd'?" you ask...
    
    I got a copy with the latest version of Access! (1.42)  I have no
    reliable way to upload it to EasyNet.  If someone is interested,
    give me a call at home this evening or on Saturday, and we'll blast
    it over the phone lines: (508) 285-5371.  If you can then upload
    it to EasyNet, all the better.
    
    Tim Hicks (DTN 224-1657)
    
    BTW, Keith makes no reference to a shareware fee for rd, but you
    may want to send him whatever you feel is appropriate.  People like
    him ought to receive a lot of encouragement to keep writing!