Videonics PowerScript PS4000S, Instruction Manual

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Chapter 7 Advanced PowerScript Functions
126
W
ORKING WITH
F
ILES AND
D
IRECTORIES
Files are used to store projects, pages, fonts, graphic files, and system software. Files are
organized into separate directories. For example, all graphic files (EPS, APS, PCX, JPG, and
GIF) are stored in a directory named EPS on the original PowerScript Start Card.
Files can also be stored in sub-directories, which are directories within other directories.
For this discussion we’ll refer to sub-directories simply as directories.
PowerScript manages most of your files and directories, so you don’t have to be too con-
cerned about them. However, there might be times when you need to manage your files
and directories without PowerScript’s assistance. For example, you might need to create a
new directory on one of your PC Cards, or lock some files so they can’t be changed. Pow-
erScript gives you these options and several others for working with files and directories.
Before discussing how you can work with files and directories, take a moment to make
sure you understand the types of files you use with PowerScript. It’s worth mentioning at
this point that the only types of files you can create with PowerScript are Project and
Page files.
Project Directories Project directories contain information about projects—more specifically, the pages con-
tained within the project. Project names have the extension PRJ. For example,
TRAVEL.PRJ contains the project that appears in the
PROJECT/PAGE menu under the
name TRAVEL.
Page Files
Page files contain the pages for a project. They reside inside their associated project direc-
tory and have file names based on their page numbers. Page numbers have the format
nnnnn.nnn , but the decimal point is not included in the file name. For example, page
number 15.25 has the actual page number 00015.025, and the associated file name is
00015025.
System Files System files contain the code that allows PowerScript to operate as an intelligent device.
The original PowerScript Start Card contains the necessary system files. If you create
other Start Cards (see page 131), they must also contain the system files. System files
reside in the STARTUP.SYS and INITS directories on PC Cards.
Menu Files
Menu files contain the information required to display the PowerScript menus. Menu
files must always be available when PowerScript is running. Menu files are stored in the
MENUS directory and have file type extensions of BUT and YV.
Graphic Files All graphic files reside in the EPS directory. Graphic files can have a file type extension of
EPS, PCX, JPG, GIF, or APS (see “Creating Transparency Channels” on page 142 for infor-
mation about APS files).
Font Files
Font file names have the file type extension PFB and they reside in the FONT directory.
PowerScript has built-in fonts that reside in ROM (
R ead O nly M emory), not in a direc-
tory of a PC Card. You cannot remove these ROM-resident fonts. When you display the
FONTS menu, the ROM-resident fonts are preceded by the letter R .
Auto-Start Files Auto-Start files use special file names and/or file type extensions to cause PowerScript to
automatically run the file. You can transfer auto-start files to PowerScript via a computer
connection or network, or you can create auto-start files that PowerScript invokes at a
specified time or in response to a signal.
Create a project and name it STARTUP.PRJ . When you power on PowerScript, it looks for
a project with that name and, if found, starts that project running immediately. If you
place the project on a PC Card, that card must be inserted during startup.