UNFORM.CO

                         by Don Zeikel
                       [CIS 75775,1430]


                         INTRODUCTION
     UNFORM.CO is a very fast machine language text file unformatter.  It will 
work in the Model 100 (and probably the 102) ONLY.

     When text material is downloaded from a computer system, it is usually 
formatted to a specific line width.  If you attempt to print it out using a 
different width, you can get some strange-looking short lines and other awkward
blocking.  This is unfortunate, as it would often be nice to be able to print 
out the text using a formatter, with page numbering, headers, footers, whatever
width you choose, or anything else your text processor offers.  Even the built-
in PRINT command in your 100 can adjust for page width, but every time it hits 
a carriage return, it starts a new line.

     There are several SEARCH & REPLACE programs available that will simply 
strip all the carriage returns.  If you do that, you will discover that your 
paragraphs all run together, words run together likethis, and formatted lists 
are jumbled.

     The only alternative, whether using a SEARCH AND REPLACE program or not, 
has been to go through the file and make individual decisions on carriage 
returns.  UNFORM.CO was created to eliminate this tedious chore.  A 
relocatable, machine language program, UNFORM.CO alters the file in place, so 
you can even process very long files, over 20K.

     UNFORM.CO makes the decisions, on a line-by-line basis, whether to leave 
or remove a carriage return, and, if the carriage return is dropped, whether to
insert 1 or 2 spaces in its place.  It will delete returns within a paragraph, 
and leave them at the end of a paragraph, on blank lines, and on formatted 
lists.


                           INSTRUCTIONS
     Since this is machine language, SAVE ANY VALUABLE FILES FROM RAM TO DISK 
OR CASSETTE.  Machine language always brings with it the off chance of a cold 
start.

     Convert the file UNFORM.RLC to a .CO file with RLCLDR.BA from DL7.  The 
finished .CO file is 1139 bytes long.  You may use any address, but if you are 
not using any other machine language programs at the same time, setting the 
address at 61820 will load it right under MAXRAM.  You may then save it to disk
or cassette in its .CO form, but you will also want to save the RLC file in 
case you want to create a version at another address later.

     Since this program modifies the file in place, if you think you might need
the original version later, save it to disk or cassette.

     Delete any garbage material from the beginning and end of the file, then 
run the program.  When the introduction page appears, press any key.  You will 
see a list of the files in RAM.  Enter the name of the .DO file you want to 
process.  You should NOT enter the extension .DO, but you MUST hit [ENTER] 
after you type in the name.

     Almost instantly, you will see the width of the widest line in the file, 
and a sample of a line at that width.  Because the program makes some of its 
unformatting decisions on the basis of the formatted width, if there are any 
problems (if the length looks wrong), this is the time to bail out.  You will 
be asked if you want to continue, enter "Y" and the program will unformat the 
file.  This will take from less than a second to a few seconds, depending on 
the length of the file and number of carriage returns.  The program will return
to the menu when completed.
                           PRECAUTIONS

     UNFORM.CO is intended for use only on previously formatted text files.  It
is not recommended for program listings, or any other type of file in which 
carriage returns are CRITICAL to the meaning of the file.  It should, however, 
be able to handle formatted lists within a text file.

     It will not format files that are already not formatted.  Any file with a 
line of over 150 characters will be rejected.

     Finally, the program may never be perfect.  It has to make subjective 
judgements, something a computer is not too good at.  For example, if a line is
short, is it the end of a paragraph or was it specially formatted by the 
author?  It looks for objective clues as to whether or not to leave in a 
carriage return, based on spaces, punctuation, and the length of the lines.  If
a line is formatted oddly, the program might make a mistake.  However, on the 
whole, it should give satisfactory results, unformatting most files flawlessly,
and requiring only minimal modifications in the rest.

     This program is my first attempt at assembly language.  I have uploaded 
the source code as UNFORM.SRC should anyone want to play with it or adapt it to
another computer.  All I ask is that my copyright notice remains on any 
different computer versions.  Comments will be most appreciated.