====== PCBText Utilities ======
There are two utilities that are included with your PCBoard package to modify 
or report the contents of a PCBTEXT file.  If you have defined multiple 
languages on your system, you will have more than one PCBTEXT file.  The 
MKPCBTXT utility is used to edit or create a PCBTEXT file, while RDPCBTXT is 
used to output the contents of a PCBTEXT file to an ASCII file.

===== MKPCBTXT =====
PCBoard stores virtually all of the text it displays during program operation 
in a file called PCBTEXT which is normally located in the \PCB\GEN location 
on your hard disk.  The reason for placing all program text in a separate 
file is so that the SysOp can alter the default program displays, and also to 
provide support for multilingual versions of PCBoard.  The program used to 
maintain the main PCBTEXT file, as well as any additional 'language' PCBTEXT 
files, is MKPCBTXT.EXE.

The MKPCBTXT.EXE program will be found in the same directory that you 
installed PCBoard to.  To run the program, enter MKPCBTXT at the DOS command 
prompt.  After loading, the following screen will appear:

==== Syntax ====
    MKPCBTXT [filename] /I:[recnum] "new text for the record"

|**[filename]**|If you want to specify the PCBTEXT file to edit on the command line, you can do so by specifying the filename to edit, right after MKPCBTXT.|
|**/I:**|To automate the updating of a record in a PCBTEXT file, use this command line parameter.  After the /I:, specify the record number to replace the contents of followed by a space and the new text for the record surrounded in quotes.|

==== Choosing the PCBTEXT File to Modify ====

If you do not specify the PCBTEXT file to edit on the command line, you will 
be prompted to enter the file you wish to edit. In the field at the top of 
the screen, enter the name of the PCBTEXT file that you wish to edit.  Your 
PCBTEXT files will be stored in the subdirectory specified by PCBSetup | File 
Locations | System Files.  Once a PCBTEXT file has been selected for editing, 
your screen will resemble the following:

==== Keyboard Commands ====

|**ESC**|Exit the current screen or action.  If you are at the first screen, pressing ESC will exit MKPCBTXT and save any changes that you have made.|
|**F2**|Search for text.  This keyboard command will enable you to search all of the entries in MKPCBTXT for those entries that match the text you enter.  For each entry that matches, you will be given the option to edit it, or search for the next match.|
|**F3**|Go directly to a particular record.  If you know the record number that you want to edit, use this keyboard command to jump directly to that record.  For example, if you know you want to change the Do you want graphics prompt, you can press F3 and type 149 followed by ENTER to go directly to that record.|
|**F4**|If you are editing a record and decide that you would rather have it use the default text for the record (shown directly above the edit field), use this keyboard command.  Once you press F4, the text in the edit field will be changed to match the default text that is directly above it.|
|**Up**|Move to the previous record number.|
|**Down**|Move to the next record number.|
|**PgUp**|Move back 10 records.|
|**PgDn**|Move ahead 10 records|
|**CTRL-PgUp**|Go to record number 1.|
|**CTRL-PgDn**|Go to the last record number.|

==== Editing a Record ====
When a record is displayed on the screen, you will see the following:

On this screen, you will notice a "header" at the top of the record that 
shows some useful information about the record.  You cannot edit this 
information.  The following briefly describes each piece of information:

  Record No	Displays the number of the record you are editing.
  Record Length	Displays the maximum length of the record.
  Justification	Displays the type of justification that the field
                  uses:  Left, Center, or Right


To edit a record, start typing text.  The edit field is the one that is 
highlighted on your screen.   You can change the text in the field to say 
anything that you deem appropriate.  When you exit the program, your changes 
will be saved to the file automatically.

==== Special Characters In A Record ====
When editing a record, there are two special characters that you can enter in 
the highlighted field.  The following describes each character:

|**~**|When MKPCBTXT saves the file, it will strip any extra spaces that are to the right of the last character.  If you need extra spaces at the end of the prompt, enter a ~ for each space that you need.|
|**_**|This character only has meaning for records that prompt the caller for information.  This character signifies the end of the record and informs PCBoard not to display any question mark or guidelines for field entries.  This is particular useful when designing RIPscrip files where you want to hide the prompt.|

==== Replacing a Record With a Text File ====
Sometimes you need to be able to enter more text than the edit field allows 
you to enter.  In this case, you will want to replace the record and display 
a text file instead.  In order to accomplish this, enter a % as the first 
character followed by the filename that you want to display.

For example, to replace record number 116 so that it gives a more thorough 
explanation of why the time has been adjusted, you would go to that record 
using F3.  Once at the record, clear the entire field by pressing CTRL-End.  
Once the field is clear, begin by typing % followed by C:\PCB\GEN\EVENT.  
Your record would now resemble the following:

Whenever the your time has been adjusted for our event message would normally 
be shown, the contents of the file C:\PCB\GEN\EVENT is displayed instead.  

Because PCBoard is displaying the file, you can also create security, 
graphics, and language specific versions of the file.

**NOTE:** Not all PCBTEXT records can be replaced with files.  As a general 
rule, any record that PCBoard has to build (place text in the record as it 
displays) will not be able to support replacement.

==== Replacing a Record With a PPE File ====
Replacing a record to use a PPE is very similar to using a text file as a 
replacement.  The only difference is that instead of beginning the line with 
a %, begin the line with an ! (exclamation point).

For example, to replace record number 116 so that it uses a PPE, go to that 
record using F3.  Once at the record, clear the entire field by pressing 
CTRL-End.  Once the field is clear, begin by typing ! followed by 
C:\PCB\GEN\EVENT.PPE.  Your record would now resemble the following:

Whenever the your time has been adjusted for our event message would normally 
be shown, the C:\PCB\GEN\EVENT.PPE file will be executed instead.

**NOTE:** Not all PCBTEXT records can be replaced with PPE files. As a general 
rule, any record that PCBoard has to build (place text in the record as it 
displays) will not be able to support replacement.

==== Replacing a Record With a Menu File ====
Replacing a record to use a MNU is very similar to using a text file or PPE 
file as a replacement.  The only difference is that instead of beginning the 
line with a % or !, begin the line with an $.

For example, to replace record number 1 so that it uses a MNU, go to that 
record using F3.  Once at the record, clear the entire field by pressing 
CTRL-End.  Once the field is clear, begin by typing $ followed by 
C:\PCB\GEN\COMMENT.MNU.  Your record would now resemble the example on the 
following page.

Whenever the leave a comment for the sysop message would normally be shown, 
the C:\PCB\GEN\COMMENT.MNU file will be used instead.

**NOTE:** Not all PCBTEXT records can be replaced with menu files. As a general 
rule, any record that PCBoard has to build (place text in the record as it 
displays) will not be able to support replacement.

===== RDPCBTXT =====
This utility is designed to output each record in a PCBTEXT file into a 
single text file.  Using the text file you can quickly and easily find the 
record number you wish to edit.  The filename that is created will be in the 
current subdirectory and named PCBTEXT.LST.

==== Syntax ====
    RDPCBTXT [filename]

''[filename]'' Specifies the PCBTEXT file that you would like to convert into ASCII text.  If the file is found, the ASCII version of the specified file will be output as PCBTEXT.LST in the current subdirectory.|

==== Interpreting the Report ====
The report that is generated by RDPCBTXT is output in the following format:

    2 3 PCBoard Serial No. (if any)
    3 1 Access Denied - Upcoming Event Pending ...

The first column shows the record number.  The second number in this report 
shows the default color number of the prompt.  You cannot change the default 
color -- it is printed for reference purposes only.