
                        Copyright 1993, Hyperion Softword

  THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS INTENDED FOR THE USE OF SHAREWARE DISTRIBUTORS


PROGRAM TITLE:

    Orpheus


VERSION:

    1.62

RELEASED ON:

    July 7, 1993


NEW IN THIS VERSION:

    (Please see the WHATS.NEW file)


PROGRAM AUTHOR:

    Rod Willmot
    Hyperion Softword
    535 Duvernay
    Sherbrooke, QC
    Canada J1L 1Y8

    (819-566-6296)


INTENDED USER:

    Writers of online books, manuals, tutorials, or any other form of
    electronic documentation with a hypertext component.


SHORT DESCRIPTION:

    Orpheus is a writer-friendly hypertext authoring system, consisting of
    two programs:  OH.EXE, the authoring program itself, and OHREAD.EXE, a
    reader to distribute with compiled electronic books.


WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS SOFTWARE:

    * Hypertext authoring in Orpheus is easier, faster, more intuitive
      than in any other system on the market.
    * Compiled books form a seamless package with an impressive user-
      interface.  Readers see a gorgeous end-product that is easy to
      navigate and fun to read.
    * Link to graphics, embed hotspots in graphics, launch programs,
      play music... or just do fabulously readable text.  The end-user
      can click on a word and get anything you can imagine.
    * Import existing text or use the powerful hypertext word processor in
      the authoring program's Integrated Development Environment.
    * The Orpheus Reader has bookmarks, a notepad, printing, online help,
      configurable colors, even a Tour Mode for self-running displays.


CAPACITY AND LIMITATIONS:

    Documents can contain up to 32,000 linked cards and graphics.  A text card
    can hold up to 250 links to any combination of text cards and graphics.
    There are 7 link types, of which one can be reserved for the author's
    notes and excluded from the compiled version, while three others are
    for script commands entered in the easy Orpheus Command Language.


REQUIREMENTS:

    Orpheus requires an IBM XT- or AT-compatible computer with DOS 3.1 or
    later.  The authoring program requires a hard disk; the Orpheus Reader
    does not.


IS A MANUAL INCLUDED?

    Yes.  The file MANUAL1.DOC provides an introduction to hypertext and a
    series of step-by-step tutorials on how to make hypertext with Orpheus.
    (Both programs include online help -- context-sensitive, with hypertext
    links of course!  Help in the authoring program is an exhaustive resource
    with nearly 250K of texts on every facet of the system.)  In addition
    the file MANUAL2.DOC provides a complete guide to using the Orpheus
    Command Language (for authors who wish to display graphics, launch
    programs, play music, etc).


SUPPORT:

    Orpheus is supported on three levels, all of them free:  (1) voice
    support over the telephone (11:30 am to 11:30 pm, Eastern Time);
    (2) email support via Internet and GEnie, as well as the shareware
    conferences of several public echomail networks; (3) two support BBS's
    providing free updates.  See the README file for details.


HOW TO START THE PROGRAM:

    At the DOS prompt, "OH    [Enter]" starts up the authoring program; you
    can also give the name of a file.  For example, to start up Orpheus
    Author and simultaneously initiate a new project called "Test", you
    would give the command "OH TEST      [Enter]".  See MANUAL1.DOC
    (Chapter 1) for more information.

    To start up the Orpheus Reader with the demo book "Introducing Orpheus",
    give the command "OHREAD INTRO.HTX     [Enter]" at the DOS prompt.


REGISTRATION:

    Orpheus is distributed as shareware, with a registration fee of $79.
    Registered users receive bonus utilities and an unlimited licence to sell,
    give away, or otherwise distribute their compiled works together with the
    Orpheus Reader.  Registration numbers are built right into compiled books
    as the ultimate proof of copyright.  Site licensing is available to
    companies requiring multiple copies of the authoring program.


SUGGESTED CATALOG TEXT:

    For hypertext writers, for anyone wishing to create electronic books and
    manuals, Orpheus is a dream come true.  The system is two programs:
    Orpheus Author (OH.EXE), an Integrated Development Environment for
    composing hypertext; and Orpheus Reader (OHREAD.EXE), a slick but easy-to-
    use program for registered users to distribute with their finished works.
    Both programs come with pulldown menus and online help, mouse support,
    and configurable colors.

    Orpheus Author gives you seamless integration between the act of writing
    and the act of hypertext linking.  All features are accessible through
    menus and dialogs, and most have keyboard accelerators.  There are no
    special codes or brackets to insert; you can quickly develop a complex
    hypertext network that is a joy to navigate and a pleasure to read.
    Extensive word processing tools include reformatting, search and replace,
    block operations including column mode and mouse-marking, a boxdraw mode
    for making tables and boxes, everything you need to write well and make
    text look great onscreen.  Hypertext tools let you refine and restructure
    your hypertext network at will, letting it grow and change following the
    flow of ideas -- safely and easily, with a couple of keystrokes or clicks
    of the mouse.  With 4 independent Edit windows you can keep separate
    "growing points" of your work close to hand (Orpheus saves your window
    configuration when you end a session).  A fifth window provides read-only
    access to other files for quickly importing external text.  Every Orpheus
    book can hold up to 32,000 cards; each card can have up to 250 links to
    any combination of text cards and graphics; graphics in turn can have
    hotspots linked to other graphics or to text.  Finished works are compiled
    into two or more compressed files for efficient distribution with the
    Orpheus Reader.

    The Orpheus Reader is the public's gateway to you and your work.  It
    offers a user-friendly interface combined with the under-the-hood
    sophistication to take full advantage of the user's hardware.  (Even if
    you wrote your book in monochrome, users with color will get glorious
    color; but if you used graphics that the reader's system can't display,
    Orpheus handles this gracefully.)  Features on the menu include a notepad
    with hypertext linking, a bookmark dialog where the user can enter
    descriptive comments for up to 10 bookmarks, and printing.

    The author of Orpheus provides support through GEnie and Internet
    addresses, as well as the shareware conferences of several public echomail
    networks.  A sample book included with the Reader (INTRO.HTX) demonstrates
    what the system can do.


FILES IN THIS PACKAGE:

      README ....................... general info and file list
      OH.EXE ....................... Orpheus Author, the authoring program
      WHATS.NEW .................... new features, fixes, changes
      REGISTER.DOC ................. order form
      VENDOR.TXT ................... this file
      OH.HLP ....................... online help for the authoring program
      MANUAL1.DOC .................. manual/tutorial on OH.EXE
      MANUAL2.DOC .................. guide to Orpheus Command Language
      OHREAD.EXE ................... the Orpheus Reader
      OHREAD.HLP ................... its online help
      INTRO.HTX .................... demo book to read with Reader
      INTR_.1 ...................... part of demo book
      INTRO.FGI .................... library file for demo
      SHOWRUN.BAT .................. sample batch file called by demo

