                              TABI! 1.5
                              ---------
                         (C) by Matthias Jaap
                   English version by Matthias Jaap
                      X-Mas release (25/12/1997)

1. What is Tabi?
2. Files
3. Requirements
4. Here we go - first start
5. Limitations
6. A short note
7. About this version
8. Freeware
9. Protocols
10. Other Internet tools
11. Penguin protocol
12. Version history


1. What is Tabi?
----------------
Tables become more and more popular but nice, colourful tables in HTML
files are hard to design  and  mean  much  typing.  Before you heat up
your fingers you should  take  a  look  at  Tabi! the table converter.
Tabi! converts ASCII tables which use  the semicolon, comma or tabs as
seperation chars to  100%  HTML  tables.  It  does  not  only a simple
conversion -  you  can  change  every  cell:  background  colour, text
colour, different font attributes,  font  size and the text alignment.
You can even define the cell content as a link!
The table can also have a  caption.  Last but not least you can change
the table border (dark colour, light colour, width).

2. Files
--------
Tabi! should always be distributed together with these files:
  * TABI.PRG
  * TABI.RSC         Resource files for English and German language
  * TABI.TXT         German manual
  * TABI_ENG.TXT     That's what you're looking at!
  * SAMPLE\SAMPLE.CSV A sample file (seperator: commas) for a first start
  * SAMPLE\SAMPLE.HTM The file generated by Tabi - I made no modifications!
  * SAMPLE\HHS.TAB    The structure of the Heinrich-Hertz-School in
                      Hamburg, Germany. Seperator: tabulators.

**** Do not add or remove files without my permission! ****

3. Requirements
---------------
An Atari -  not  a  70%  compatible  so-called  Atari compatible. Some
emulators are called "very  compatible"  but  who knows which programs
have been tested  on  this  emulator  by  its  manufacturers? (in most
cases only the  programs  distributed  by  the emulator manufacturer).
You will of  course  need  a  spreadsheet  calculation  to  create the
datas. Tabi! can only read tables  in  the  ASCII format so forget all
publishing features of  K-Spread  4,  LDW  Power-Calc  or Texel. Atari
Works is very suitable for Tabi.
A WWW-Browser if you want to view the generated file. Currently, three
browsers are available for the  Atari:  CAB, WenSuite and the newcomer
Light of Adamas. They are all good and support all Tabi! features.

4. Here we go - first start
---------------------------
Double-click on Tabi.prg or  rename  it  to  Tabi.acc  and reboot your
computer. The program runs  in  all  resolutions  except the low ones.
Tabi! doesn't do a resolution check.
You should easily get along with  Tabi!  because  it is a GEM program.
"Download" and "Show  file  in  browser"  require  a  browser which is
running in the  background.  Tabi!  is  looking  for  one of the three
browsers to send thema VA_START message.
You can  easily  insert  the  generated  file  into  an  existing HTML
document. The commands  "HTML"  and  "TITLE"  are  not  supported - at
least not officially :-)

5. Limitations
--------------
- If you can avoid it, don't  use  the  comma format. It is not a very
good seperator because you can not use commas in the text.

- Tabi can not unite  cells.  This  would be nearly impossible because
Tabi can't know which cell should be united with another cell.

6. A short note
---------------
HTML3 tables offer you a lot of options but don't exaggerate! A clear
background is more readable and doesn't waste too much space.

7. About this version
---------------------
I have never planned to  publish  this  version  but it may take a bit
more time for  Tabi!  2.0  and  therfore  I  decided  to  took the old
version and  add  some  new  routines  from  HP-Penguin  2.0.  The GEM
routines still use GFA-Flydials  so  the  whole  GEM interface looks a
bit old-fashioned. There may also  be  a  few other surprises but they
HTML files are correct and the program didn't crash.

8. Freeware
-----------
Tabi! may be used as long as  you  want.  Copying is allowed if you do
not charge any money  for  it.  Any  changes to the Tabi! distribution
(text, resource files, program) is strictly forbidden.
Due to a dispute with  some  distributors (why do they always download
your file from bulletin  boards  instead  of  looking at my up-to-date
Internet  page?)  Tabi!  may  only  be  distributed  on  PD libraries,
Cover-Disks  or   CD-Roms   with   my   written   permission.  Written
permissions for my  other  programs  (e.g.  HomePage  Penguin) are not
valid for Tabi!

The newest version is available on the Internet:
http://www.hh.schule.de/hhs/mjaap/programe.htm
Email: mjaap@hsw.ifl.uni-hamburg.de

9. Protocols
------------

Tabi! 1.5 supports the following protocols:

 - VA_START (sending, not receiving)
 - OLGA (Server)
 - Penguin Protocol 0.5: see below "Penguin Protocol"


10. Other Internet tools
------------------------
- HomePage Penguin 2 pro
  The first Homepage designer for the Atari and the first commercial one.
  Create HTML pages within a few minutes. HP-Penguin supports long
  file names, ST-Guide, BubbleGEM and a preview feature - designing
  a hompage was never so much fun!
- HTML-Help
  * Convert between Atari, HTML, Windows and MS-DOS special chars
  * Conversion of whole paths
  * Links can be shortened
  * Conversion from 1st Word plus-, 1st View and ASCII files to HTML
  * Hotlist
- Alta Lista 2.0 Multimedia
  THE HTML catalogizer - recognizes nearly all file types, even the
  exotic ones. Support for more than 40 file formats - the perfect way
  to sort your existing files. This version also searches in sub-directories.

- All programs available in English language -


11. Penguin Protocol
--------------------
Other programs can ask Tabi! for the version number. Nothing more yet, but
it becomes important when Tabi! 2 comes out.

TABI_REQUEST
msg[0] (3900)
msg[1] ap_id
msg[2] 0
msg[3] 0
msg[4] 0
msg[5] 0
msg[6] 0
msg[7] 0

Tabi! replies with the following message:

TABI_REPLY
msg[0] (3901)
msg[1] ap_id
msg[2] 0
msg[3]
    +  Adress where you can find the version number
msg[4]
msg[5]
    +  Adress where you can find the internal version number
msg[6] 
msg[7] 0


12. Version history
-------------------
1.0    first version, published one year after its release in a German
       Atari magazine (!$#%!)
1.1    minor bugfixes
1.2    RSC file is stored inside the program
       Cursor can be positioned using the mouse
1.5    long filenames
       browser preview
       new manual
       OLGA (server)
       bugfixes
       RSC file stored ouside the program
       3D look for popups
       Tabi! doesn't generate a Tabi.Inf file
       language recognition on all Atari computers

