MS

@10
&TOP OF FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
10
Alternate keystrokes: 10

The cursor is moved to the first character in the
file.
@11
&BOTTOM OF FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
11
Alternate keystrokes: 11

The cursor is moved past the last character in
the file.
@18
&GO TO LINE NUMBER
)

Keystroke sequence:
18
Alternate keystrokes: 18

The cursor will be repositioned to the specified
line number of the current window. A prompt box
will request the target line number. Enter any
number from 1 to 32767. If the value is preceded
by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign, the target line
number will be calculated relative to the current
line.
@19
&GO TO COLUMN NUMBER
)

Keystroke sequence:
19
Alternate keystrokes: 19

The cursor will be repositioned to the specified
column number of the current line. A prompt box
will request the target column number. Enter any
number from 1 to 999. If the value is preceded
by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign, the target
column number will be calculated relative to the
current column.
@20
&GO TO WINDOW
)

Keystroke sequence:
20
Alternate keystrokes: 20

The cursor will be moved to the current position
in another window on the screen. If only one
window is available, nothing will happen.
Otherwise a menu will appear, showing the
available windows, and the files currently in
each one. Select one of these choices by moving
the selection bar or by pressing the number of

the desired window.
@22
&UNDO LAST DELETION
)

Keystroke sequence:
22
Alternate keystrokes: 22

The line of text most recently deleted will be
inserted into the current text stream at the
cursor position. Note that this applies only to
complete lines of text, and not to character or
word deletions. By default, 20 lines of deleted
text are stored for possible undeletion. The undo
limit can be adjusted via a Setup command.
@23
&RESTORE LINE
)

Keystroke sequence:
23
Alternate keystrokes: 23

The current line of text will be restored to its
appearance just prior to when the cursor was
moved onto the line. The cursor position will
also be restored to the value when it entered the
line.
@34
&SEARCH FOR PATTERN
)

Keystroke sequence:
34
Alternate keystrokes: 34

The current window will be searched to find a
specified sequence of text. When the pattern is
found, the cursor will be positioned at the
beginning of the pattern, and the matched text
highlighted until the next keystroke.
A prompt box will allow entry of the text
pattern and search options. Enter any text or
control characters just as they would be typed in
the body of the file.
]
Search options control the behavior of the
search. The following options are available:
U - ignore case (Upper-case) while searching
) B - search Backwards from the cursor
)
position.
) W - search for whole Words only.
) G - search Globally, starting at the
)
beginning of the file (or end, if
)
searching backwards).
) L - search Locally (only within marked block).
) n - search for the nth occurrence of the
)
string (n is an integer).
]

Enter the following sequence of keystrokes to
search for the end of each text line:
<CtrlP><CtrlM><CtrlP><CtrlJ>. This sequence
enters Carriage return/Line feed into the search
pattern.
Note that each pattern must be found within a
single line. No match may span multiple lines.
@35
&SEARCH AND REPLACE
)

Keystroke sequence:
35
Alternate keystrokes: 35

The current window will be searched for a
specified sequence of text. When the pattern is
found, it will be replaced with another specified
text sequence.
A prompt box will allow entry of the search
text, replacement text, and search options. Enter
any text or control characters just as they would
be typed in the body of the file.
]
Search options control the behavior of the
search. The following options are available:
U - ignore case (Upper-case) while searching
) B - search Backwards from the cursor
)
position.
) W - search for whole Words only.
) G - search Globally, starting at the extreme
)
end of the file.
) L - search Locally (only within marked block).
) N - do Not prompt for confirmation when the
)
pattern is found.
) n - replace n occurrences of the string
)
(n is an integer).
]
If the N option is not specified, a prompt will
occur each time the search pattern is found. This
prompt will provide the following options:
Y - replace this text and continue searching.
) N - do Not replace, but continue searching.
) A - replace this text and replace All others
)
without prompting.
) Q - do not replace, and Quit searching.
]
Enter the following sequence of keystrokes to
search for the end of each text line:
<CtrlP><CtrlM><CtrlP><CtrlJ>. This sequence
enters Carriage return/Line feed into the search
pattern.
@36

&SEARCH AND USE MACRO
)

Keystroke sequence:
36
Alternate keystrokes: 36

The current window will be searched for a
specified sequence of text. When the pattern is
found, the cursor will be repositioned to that
location, and a specified macro will be played
back.
]
A prompt box will allow entry of the search
text, macro selection, and search options. Enter
any text or control characters just as they would
be typed in the body of the file. The macro must
have been defined prior to using the search and
apply macro command.
]
Search options control the behavior of the
search. The following options are available:
U - ignore case (Upper-case) while searching
) B - search Backwards from the cursor
)
position.
) W - search for whole Words only.
) G - search Globally, starting at the extreme
)
end of the file.
) L - search Locally (only within marked block).
) N - do Not prompt for confirmation when the
)
pattern is found.
) n - apply macro for n occurrences of the
)
search string (n is an integer).
]
If the N option is not specified, a prompt will
occur each time the search pattern is found. This
prompt will provide the following options:
Y - apply macro and continue searching.
) N - do Not apply macro, but continue searching.
) A - apply macro and apply at All matches
)
without prompting.
) Q - do not apply macro, and Quit searching.
]
Enter the following sequence of keystrokes to
search for the end of each text line:
<CtrlP><CtrlM><CtrlP><CtrlJ>. This sequence
enters Carriage return/Line feed into the search
pattern.
@37
&SEARCH AGAIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
37
Alternate keystrokes: 37

The previous search operation will be repeated.
This will repeat a plain search, a search and
replace, or a search and apply macro command.
@38
&OPERATING SYSTEM
)

Keystroke sequence:
38
Alternate keystrokes: 38

Any DOS command or program may be executed. A
prompt box will ask for the name of the command
or program to run. Entering an empty line at the
prompt box will cause a DOS shell to be invoked.
You may execute any sequence of DOS commands from
the shell, and finally return to the editor by
typing Exit.
]
The DOS shell requires that a copy of COMMAND.COM
be present in the normal drive and directory
assigned by DOS. Sufficient random-access memory
must be available for the shell and any command
that you specify.
Do not execute any program that becomes memory
resident while within the DOS shell.
@39
&BACKWARD TAB
)

Keystroke sequence:
39
Alternate keystrokes: 39

The cursor will be moved to the next tab left of
the current position. This command is available
only in fixed tab mode.
@40
&EDIT ANOTHER FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
40
Alternate keystrokes: 40

The current window will be cleared, and a
box will ask for the name of another file
edit. If the current window already holds
that has been modified, you will be given
opportunity to save it.
]

prompt
to
a file
the

When prompted for a file name, you may enter DOS
wildcards or the name of another drive or
subdirectory. In this case, another window will
display the names of all matching files. You can
select from this list by using the cursor keypad,
or by pressing the first letter of the filename
in which you are interested.
By entering an empty line for the file name, you

can edit a file without specifying a name for it.
A name can be specified later when you want to
write it out to disk.
@41
&FILE QUIT
)

Keystroke sequence:
41
Alternate keystrokes: 41

The editing session will end and you will return
to DOS. If any windows have been modified, prompt
boxes will appear and you will be given the
opportunity to save each modified file. If you
type <Esc> at any of the prompt boxes, the FILE
QUIT command will be interrupted and you will
return to the current text window.
@42
&READ BLOCK FROM FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
42
Alternate keystrokes: 42

A prompt box will ask for the name of a file to
read. This file will be read into the current
window, starting at the current cursor position.
The newly read text will be marked as a block.
]
When prompted for a file name, you may enter DOS
wildcards or the name of another drive or
subdirectory. In this case, another window will
display the names of all matching files. You can
select from this list by using the cursor keypad,
or by pressing the first letter of the filename
in which you are interested.
@43
&SAVE AND CONTINUE EDIT
)

Keystroke sequence:
43
Alternate keystrokes: 43

The contents of the current window will be saved
to disk, using a file name the same as when the
file was first read. If the file has not been
named, a prompt box will ask for a new name. If
the disk file already exists, a backup copy will
be made before overwriting the existing version.
The cursor will remain in place after the file is
written to disk.
@44
&WRITE BLOCK TO FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
44
Alternate keystrokes: 44

The currently marked block will be written to a

disk file. If no block is marked, an error
message will be produced. If the disk file
already exists, you will be given the choice of
overwriting it or appending to it.
@46
&FILE OPEN
)

Keystroke sequence:
46
Alternate keystrokes: 46

A prompt box will ask for the name of a new file
to read. If another file is already being edited,
the current window will be split in half, and the
new file will be read into the new window.
By specifying a file name that matches an
existing window, you may look at two regions of
the same file. Changes made in one window will
affect all other windows which contain the same
file.
]
When prompted for a file name, you may enter DOS
wildcards or the name of another drive or
subdirectory. In this case, another window will
display the names of all matching files. You can
select from this list by using the cursor keypad,
or by pressing the first letter of the filename
in which you are interested.
By entering an empty line for the file name, you
can edit a file without specifying a name for it.
A name can be specified later when you want to
write it out to disk.
@47
&RESIZE WINDOW
)

Keystroke sequence:
47
Alternate keystrokes: 47

Use this command to change the height of the
current window. The up and down arrow keys will
move the window dividing lines. Press <Enter>
when the window has the desired size.
@48
&SAVE/SWITCH FILES
)

Keystroke sequence:
48
Alternate keystrokes: 48

The file in the current window will be stored to
disk. A prompt box will then ask for the name of
another file to edit. The new file will be read
into the current window. All window sizes will
remain the same.
]

When prompted for a file name, you may enter DOS
wildcards or the name of another drive or
subdirectory. In this case, another window will
display the names of all matching files. You can
select from this list by using the cursor keypad,
or by pressing the first letter of the filename
in which you are interested.
By entering an empty line for the file name, you
can edit a file without specifying a name for it.
A name can be specified later when you want to
write it out to disk.
@49
&NEXT WINDOW
)

Keystroke sequence:
49
Alternate keystrokes: 49

The cursor will be moved to the current position
in the next window down on the screen. If the
cursor is already in the lowest window, it will
move to the topmost window. If there is only one
window, nothing will happen.
@51
&ZOOM WINDOW
)

Keystroke sequence:
51
Alternate keystrokes: 51

The current window will grow to fill the screen.
Other text windows are kept in memory, but are
not visible until zoom is toggled off. The Next
window and Previous window commands will bring
each window to the forefront in succession. Text
markers and blocks may be accessed as usual in
the hidden windows. The only exception is block
delete: a block will not be deleted from a hidden
window.
]
When zoom is active, a letter Z will appear at the
left edge of the window status line. Toggling
the zoom command again will make all windows
visible.
@52
&BLOCK BEGIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
52
Alternate keystrokes: 52

The cursor position will become the start of a
marked block.
@53
&BLOCK END
Keystroke sequence:

53

)

Alternate keystrokes: 53

The cursor position will become the end of a
marked block.
@54
&START OF BLOCK
)

Keystroke sequence:
54
Alternate keystrokes: 54

The cursor will be moved to the start of the
current block, whether it is visible or not.
@55
&END OF BLOCK
)

Keystroke sequence:
55
Alternate keystrokes: 55

The cursor will be moved to the end of the marked
block, whether it is visible or not.
@56
&BLOCK COPY
)

Keystroke sequence:
56
Alternate keystrokes: 56

A copy of the marked block will be inserted at
the current cursor position.
@57
&BLOCK MOVE
)

Keystroke sequence:
57
Alternate keystrokes: 57

The marked block will be removed from its current
location and inserted at the current cursor
position.
@58
&BLOCK DELETE
)

Keystroke sequence:
58
Alternate keystrokes: 58

The marked block will be deleted from the text
stream. If the block spans more than one line,
the deleted lines may be recovered via the
Undelete command.
@59
&HIDE BLOCK
)

Keystroke sequence:
59
Alternate keystrokes: 59

The on-screen highlighting of the marked block is

toggled on or off. Blocks can be copied, moved,
or deleted only when the block is visibly marked.
Movement to block start or end is possible even
when the block is not visible.
@82
&LOAD MACROS FROM DISK
)

Keystroke sequence:
82
Alternate keystrokes: 82

A previously stored file of MicroStar keyboard
macros is loaded into memory. The macro file is a
binary file in a special format used by
MicroStar. Macros may be recorded, edited, and
stored to disk from within MicroStar. Each macro
file contains ten macros, each of which may hold
up to 255 keystrokes. MicroStar automatically
loads the macro file MS.MAC, if found, when the
program is started.
@83
&STORE MACROS TO DISK
)

Keystroke sequence:
83
Alternate keystrokes: 83

The current set of MicroStar keyboard macros is
written to a disk file. A prompt box will ask for
a file name. The macro file is a binary file in a
special format used by MicroStar. Macros may be
recorded, edited, and stored to disk from within
MicroStar. Each macro file contains ten macros,
each of which may hold up to 255 keystrokes.
MicroStar automatically loads the macro file
MS.MAC, if found, when the program is started.
@84
&TOGGLE MACRO RECORD
)

Keystroke sequence:
84
Alternate keystrokes: 84

Any keystrokes entered after this command is
activated are stored within a keyboard macro,
which may be edited and later played back within
MicroStar. To stop macro recording, enter this
command a second time. A prompt box will ask for
which of the ten macros should store the newly
recorded one, and for a descriptive name for the
macro.
Each macro can hold up to 255 keystrokes. Macros
can play back other macros. Macros are played
back by pressing one of the installed keystroke
combinations, or by choosing the MicroStar Macro
Playback option from the menu system.
]
One of the macros is somewhat special. This

macro is called the "scrap". Whenever a new macro
is recorded, it writes over the scrap macro. The
current scrap macro can be played back once or
many times using other macro commands.
@104
&GET INFORMATION
)

Keystroke sequence:
104
Alternate keystrokes: 104

Various facts about MicroStar and the current
file are displayed. Information shown includes
the complete path name of the current file; its
size in bytes, words, lines, and pages; whether
it has been modified since last disk save; the
time and date; available RAM and disk space; the
current directory; and the DOS and MicroStar
version numbers.
Some of the statistics that MicroStar presents
take a while to compute. By pressing any key while
the Get Info window is being updated, you can
"short-circuit" the computation of some items.
@106
&TOGGLE INSERT MODE
)

Keystroke sequence:
106
Alternate keystrokes: 106

When insert mode is active, newly typed text is
inserted into the current text line, pushing
characters to the right of the cursor aside to
make room. When insert mode is off, newly typed
text overwrites existing text. Many commands,
such as block copy and insert line, operate in
insert mode independent of the setting of this
toggle.
@107
&TOGGLE AUTOINDENT MODE
)

Keystroke sequence:
107
Alternate keystrokes: 107

When autoindent mode is active and the <Enter>
key is pressed, the new line of text will be
indented the same number of spaces as the line
immediately above it. The setting of this toggle
also affects the operation of the paragraph
reformatting command.
@108
&TOGGLE CASE
)

Keystroke sequence:
108
Alternate keystrokes: 108

The case of the character at the cursor location

will be toggled from upper to lower, or from
lower to upper. If a block is marked and visible,
and the cursor is anywhere within the marked
block, the command will toggle the case of the
entire block.
@109
&LOWER CASE
)

Keystroke sequence:
109
Alternate keystrokes: 109

The case of the character at the cursor location
will be set to lower-case. If a block is marked
and visible, and the cursor is anywhere within
the marked block, the command will change the
case of the entire block.
@110
&UPPER CASE
)

Keystroke sequence:
110
Alternate keystrokes: 110

The case of the character at the cursor location
will be set to upper-case. If a block is marked
and visible, and the cursor is somewhere within
the marked block, the command will change the
case of the entire block.
@111
&SET RIGHT MARGIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
111
Alternate keystrokes: 111

A prompt box will ask for a new value for the
right margin. Entering an empty prompt string will
set the right margin to the current cursor column.
The right margin is used only when Word Wrap mode
is active. When that is so, text entered in a
column beyond the right margin will automatically
be wrapped to the next line. Paragraph formatting
will move words so that lines are as full as
possible within, but not exceeding, the right
margin.
@112
&FORMAT PARAGRAPH
)

Keystroke sequence:
112
Alternate keystrokes: 112

Format paragraph is available only when Word
Wrap mode is active. Paragraph reformatting will
move words so that lines are as full as possible
within, but not exceeding, the current left and
right margins. If Justify mode is active, the
lines will also be evenly filled with spaces so
that the rightmost word ends on the right margin.

The paragraph reformat is terminated when a blank
line, or a line beginning with a format character
(@), is reached.
@113
&TOGGLE WORD WRAP
)

Keystroke sequence:
113
Alternate keystrokes: 113

When Word Wrap mode is active, paragraph
reformatting and automatic word wrap are
available. Otherwise, left and right margin
settings are ignored, and text may be entered in
any column up to the maximum line length.
@114
&SET LEFT MARGIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
114
Alternate keystrokes: 114

A prompt box will ask for a new value for the
left margin. Entering an empty prompt string will
set the left margin to the current cursor column.
When Word Wrap mode is active, the left margin
controls the leftmost position where text may be
entered. The left margin also controls the
operation of the paragraph formatting command.
The left and right margins can be made visible by
toggling the Tab Line Display.
Print formatting commands require that the
format character (@) be located in column 1 even
if the left margin is set to a number greater
than one. To achieve this, enter the format
command starting at the left margin, move the
cursor to column 1 with the Left of Line command,
and delete the intervening spaces via Delete
Word. Alternatively, activate the Margin Release
command while the format command is entered.
@115
&DISPLAY TABS
)

Keystroke sequence:
115
Alternate keystrokes: 115

Toggling Display Tabs ON reserves one line of the
current window for display of tab settings and
margins. The tabs and margins can be active
whether or not the tab line is visible.
@116
&INSERT UNDO BUFFER
Keystroke sequence:

116

)

Alternate keystrokes: 116

The entire contents of the undo buffer are
inserted into the current text stream, prior to
the current line. This empties the undo buffer,
that is, the operation can be used only once for
any set of deletions.
@117
&TOGGLE JUSTIFY
)

Keystroke sequence:
117
Alternate keystrokes: 117

When Justify is active, word wrap and paragraph
reformat operations will cause each line to be
filled in with spaces such that the rightmost
non-blank character is exactly on the right
margin.
]
By toggling Justify off, and reformatting lines
or paragraphs, the additional blanks will be
automatically removed from the text. Note that
blanks manually inserted (via the Tab command,
etc.) will also be removed, unless the Compress
Wrap mode is turned off.
MicroStar does not differentiate between "soft"
blanks added during justification and "hard"
blanks manually entered. However, the character
<CtrlO> may be used in place of a normal blank
when non-changing spaces are desired. The <CtrlO>
will be printed as a normal space. To enter a
<CtrlO> in the text stream, press 25<CtrlO>.
@118
&TOGGLE PAGE BREAKS
)

Keystroke sequence:
118
Alternate keystrokes: 118

When pagination is activated, the left two
columns of the text window will be devoted to
showing page breaks. The characters ¯¯ in those
columns indicate that the corresponding line is
the first printing text line on its page.
In addition, the status line for the window will
indicate what page number the cursor is on. The
Jump to Page command is available only when
pagination is activated.
]
MicroStar calculates page numbers while it is
waiting for you to enter keystrokes. As a result,
if you enter new text it may take a short period
of time before the page break markers are redrawn
at their new positions.

Although the page breaks displayed on screen
correspond to those in a printout of the
document, MicroStar does not store any special
characters in the disk file. Page breaks are
recomputed each time the file is read into
MicroStar.
Pagination can be precisely controlled via the
formatting commands. See the help section for
File Print Formatting.
@119
&TOGGLE FONT DISPLAY
)

Keystroke sequence:
119
Alternate keystrokes: 119

When Font Display is enabled, print formatting
commands that control font selections will not
be displayed on-screen. Instead the marked text
will be displayed in a color or attribute
corresponding to the font. This "what you see is
what you get" mode allows more accurate alignment
of tables, and avoids multiple print cycles to
correct formatting commands.
The screen colors for each font may be adjusted on
the Options Colors menu.
When font display is enabled, the control
characters that select the fonts are not visible.
However, the cursor can be positioned over the
control character, and it can be deleted if
desired. The MicroStar hardware cursor grows to a
large block when it is positioned over the
control character. The value of the control
character will be displayed at the right hand
edge of the window status line when the cursor is
positioned over it.
MicroStar computes the display of on-screen fonts
while it is waiting for you to enter keystrokes.
As a result, if you enter new text it may take a
short period of time before control characters
disappear and fonts are drawn in their final
colors.
@120
&CENTER LINE
)

Keystroke sequence:
120
Alternate keystrokes: 120

The current line will be centered between the
left and right margins. This command is active
only when Word Wrap mode is on.
@121
&SET COLORS

)

Keystroke sequence:
121
Alternate keystrokes: 121

All of the editor colors can be customized to
your liking. Independent color settings are
available for normal text, block marked text,
window status lines, the prompt line at the top
of the screen, text in menus and prompt boxes,
menu frames, the highlighted character by which
each menu item may be selected, the currently
selected menu item, the block cursor (when
active), and each of the five selectable fonts.
]
The colors that you select are saved with
MicroStar when you execute the O ptions Save
setup command.
@122
&SAVE SETUP
)

Keystroke sequence:
122
Alternate keystrokes: 122

The toggles, settings, colors, and options are
stored as MicroStar defaults when this command is
executed. MS.EXE must be present in the default
directory or in the installed home directory.
@123
&PRINT FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
123
Alternate keystrokes: 123

Any text file can be printed from within
MicroStar. Files formatted with MicroStar's page
layout commands and font controls will print with
multiple fonts, headers, footers, and page breaks.
Do not press <Enter> on the first menu selection,
Print file now, until the other items in the box
have been set to your satisfaction. Selecting the
first item starts the print job.
After you select the second menu item, Name of
file, a prompt box will request entry of the name
of the file to print. When prompted for a file
name, you may enter DOS wildcards or the name of
another drive or subdirectory. In this case,
another window will display the names of all
matching files. You can select from this list by
using the cursor keypad, or by pressing the first
letter of the filename in which you are
interested.
If you wish to print a file that is currently
loaded in memory, be sure to save any recent
changes to disk before trying to print it. If you
attempt to print a file that has unsaved changes,

MicroStar will produce an error message.
Set Auto formatting OFF if you wish to have
MicroStar ignore formatting commands (@ commands)
in your text. In this case, text will print
continuously with no form feeds or page breaks.
Control codes embedded in the text will be
written to the output without interpretation.
By default, MicroStar prints all pages of the
document. You can set starting and stopping
pages if desired.
Select from any of the available printer
definition files (default extension .PDF) to find
one that is appropriate for your printer. You can
change to another file and use Options Save setup
to regularly use that file.
You can also choose between sending the printed
output to LPT1, LPT2, or to a file. LPT1 and LPT2
refer to the computer port where your printer is
attached. If the printer is attached to a serial
port, you must use the DOS MODE command in order
to assign the serial port to one of the print
devices LPT1 or LPT2. Your choice between LPT1 and
LPT2 will be saved with MicroStar when you Save
Setup.
When output is printed to a file, all control
codes are written out just as when they are
printed. In this case, you must also specify the
name of the output file using the prompt window.
Set Manual paper feed ON if you wish to have
MicroStar prompt you to insert a new sheet of
paper after each page. This choice is also stored
as part of the printer definition file for your
selected printer.
Set Use formfeeds ON if your printer accepts
ASCII character #12 to eject each page. Otherwise,
MicroStar will fill out the end of each page with
blank lines.
After making all selections, move the menu bar to
the Print file now item and press <Enter>. If
you decide not to print, just press <Esc>.
Printing occurs as a background task. You can
continue editing with minimal loss of performance
while the print job continues.
To stop a print job at any time, execute the
Print File command sequence. MicroStar will
confirm whether you want to stop the print job.
]
&PRINTER DEFINITIONS
You can edit and store printer definitions from

within MicroStar, using the File Print menu.
Select a printer definition file (default
extension .PDF) using the Which printer menu
item. MicroStar will load this printer file into
memory.
Any of the command sequences that control various
printer fonts can be edited using the Edit printer
codes menu selection. Each font is associated
with two strings - one to turn the font ON, and
another to turn it OFF.
When you choose a sequence to edit, it appears in
another window. It can be edited using the cursor
keys, and the <Del> or <Backspace> keys. Most
characters you type will be inserted literally
into the string. <CtrlBksp> will delete the
existing string. <Enter> will end the session
in the string editor. In case you need to enter
any of these special keys as part of the control
string, press the <ScrollLock> key to enter
Literal mode. In this mode, all keystrokes will be
inserted into the string without further
interpretation.
The printer definition currently held in memory
can be stored to a disk file using the Save
printer setup menu item. MicroStar stores the
printer command sequences for all fonts, as well
as the default settings for manual paper feed and
formfeeds, when you save the setup.
MicroStar will prompt for a file name when you
decide to store the current definition. The
default extension for printer definitions is .PDF.
@124
&FLUSH UNDO BUFFER
)

Keystroke sequence:
124
Alternate keystrokes: 124

The contents of the undo buffer will be deleted,
freeing up whatever memory is being used. This
command is useful in combination with the Insert
Undo Buffer command.
@127
&ACTIVE DIRECTORY
)

Keystroke sequence:
127
Alternate keystrokes: 127

The current default drive or directory may be
changed using this command. Entering wildcards
will cause a directory window to appear showing
possible choices.
Files previously opened in other directories will

be properly accessed even after the active
directory is changed.
@128
&FILE DIRECTORY
)

Keystroke sequence:
128
Alternate keystrokes: 128

Use this command to browse through a file
directory. Use standard DOS pathname and wildcard
notation to specify a file mask for the directory.
@129
&GO TO PAGE NUMBER
)

Keystroke sequence:
129
Alternate keystrokes: 129

The cursor will be repositioned to the first line
of the specified page of the current window. This
command is available only when pagination is
active for the window. A prompt box will request
the target page number. Enter any positive integer
value. If the value is preceded by a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign, the target page number will be
calculated relative to the current page.
@130
&SET TOP MARGIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
130
Alternate keystrokes: 130

This specifies the number of lines to leave blank
at the top of each page during printing or
pagination of the file in the current window. The
top margin is a default value that will be
overridden by MicroStar format (@) commands
embedded in the text. The value you specify in
the prompt box is not stored in the document file.
It is a default value that exists only while the
file is being edited.
@131
&SET BOTTOM MARGIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
131
Alternate keystrokes: 131

This specifies the number of lines to leave blank
at the bottom of each page during printing or
pagination of the file in the current window. The
bottom margin is a default value that will be
overridden by MicroStar format (@) commands
embedded in the text. The value you specify in
the prompt box is not stored in the document file.
It is a default value that exists only while the
file is being edited.
@132

&SET PAGE LENGTH
)

Keystroke sequence:
132
Alternate keystrokes: 132

This specifies the total number of lines on each
page during printing or pagination of the file in
the current window. The page length is a default
value that will be overridden by MicroStar format
(@) commands embedded in the text. The value you
specify in the prompt box is not stored in the
document file. It is a default value that
exists only while the file is being edited.
@133
&SET UNDO LIMIT
)

Keystroke sequence:
133
Alternate keystrokes: 133

This specifies the maximum number of lines of
deleted text that will be stored in the Undo
buffer. If Undo limit is 10, and you delete 15
lines, the first five lines deleted will be lost.
Whenever lines are Undeleted, that space is
recovered for the undo buffer to reuse.
@134
&TOGGLE TAB EXPANSION
)

Keystroke sequence:
134
Alternate keystrokes: 134

When tab expansion is ON, any tabs encountered
upon read-in of a file are expanded into spaces,
using a tab spacing that you specify. If tab
expansion is OFF, MicroStar leaves the tabs
intact. However, MicroStar does not expand tabs
as it displays them, so these will be displayed
on the screen as I.
@135
&SET FILE EXTENSION
)

Keystroke sequence:
135
Alternate keystrokes: 135

If you edit many files with the same extension,
such as .DOC, you should enter that value for the
default extension. MicroStar will automatically
supply the default extension whenever you respond
to a filename prompt without entering an
extension. The extension you enter should not
include a period or any DOS wildcards, and is
limited to three characters.
@136
&SET TABS

)

Keystroke sequence:
136
Alternate keystrokes: 136

The tab settings will be initialized based on the
contents of the current line of text. The start
of each blank-delimited word will set a tab at
that column. Any other tabs will be cleared. By
using this command in concert with the Put Tabs
command, you can store a custom tab line as part
of a document and easily use it later.
You can return to the default evenly spaced tabs
by activating the Options Tabs Restore even
menu selections.
@137
&SET TAB SIZE
)

Keystroke sequence:
137
Alternate keystrokes: 137

By default, a tab is placed after every eight
columns of text. This tab size is also used when
files containing tabs are read into MicroStar.
Change the tab size and use the Restore even
command to initialize a different set of regularly
spaced tabs.
@138
&PUT TABS
)

Keystroke sequence:
138
Alternate keystrokes: 138

The tab settings are stored into the current
window as a formatted text line. The line begins
with the MicroStar formatting character (@), and
will be ignored during printing. Use this command
in concert with the Set tabs command to store
a custom tab line as part of a document for later
use.
@139
&EDIT TABS
)

Keystroke sequence:
139
Alternate keystrokes: 139

Tab positions can be interactively edited using
this command. The cursor will be moved to the
current window's tab line display. Use the cursor
keys or the tab key to move along the tab line.
Pressing the space bar will toggle a tab setting
on or off, pressing the <Ins> key will add a tab,
pressing the <Del> key will delete a tab at the
cursor position. Press <Enter> when editing is
complete, or <Esc> to undo any changes made.
@140
&SET TEMPORARY MARGIN

)

Keystroke sequence:
140
Alternate keystrokes: 140

The current left margin will be moved to the right
by one tab stop. This is useful in making indented
lists. The temporary margin will remain in force
until you leave the current paragraph.
The temporary margin is indicated by a right
pointing arrow on the window tab display.
@141
&FORMAT BLOCK
)

Keystroke sequence:
141
Alternate keystrokes: 141

Paragraph formatting will be applied to all
lines of text in the currently marked block. The
block must be highlighted, and the cursor must be
somewhere within the block, or an error message
will be produced.
@142
&FILE CLOSE
)

Keystroke sequence:
142
Alternate keystrokes: 142

The current text window will be cleared. If it
has been modified since being saved to disk, you
will be given the opportunity to save it. The
window will then be closed. If the window is the
only one on the screen, you will return to the
MicroStar menu system.
@143
&SET MARKER
This command stores a record of the current cursor
position to which you can easily return later.
MicroStar supports up to ten text markers, which
are labeled with the numbers 0-9 when they are
placed in the text. Shortcut commands for using
each of the ten markers are presented on a
following screen.
The text marker display writes over the character
where it is placed. It does not affect the actual
text, but merely hides it.
]
When a marker is set from the menu system, another
menu will appear showing which markers are already
in use. Redefining an existing marker erases the
previously stored position. Defining a marker at
the same position where it is currently located
has the effect of erasing it.

The following screen provides shortcut keystrokes
for setting text markers without using menus.
]
The following commands will set any of the
markers without using a menu.
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
@144

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:

62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71

Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:

62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71

&JUMP TO MARKER
This command moves the cursor to the position of a
previously stored text marker. If the marker has
not been set, an error will occur. MicroStar
supports up to ten text markers, which are labeled
with the numbers 0-9 when they are placed in the
text.
When you jump to a marker from the menu system,
another menu will appear showing which markers
have previously been set.
The following screen provides shortcut keystrokes
for jumping to text markers without using menus.
]
The following commands will jump to any of the
markers without using a menu.
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
)Marker
@145

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:

72
73
74
75
77
77
78
79
80
81

Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:

72
73
74
75
77
77
78
79
80
81

&PLAYBACK MACRO
This command will play back a previously recorded
macro. A menu showing the name of all macros will
appear; you should choose the one desired.
The following screen gives shortcut commands which
allow you to playback macros without using the
menu system.

]
The following commands will playback a macro
without using the menu system:
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
)Macro
@146

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93

Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:
Main:

Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:
Alternate:

85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93

&TOGGLE FIXED TABS
)

Keystroke sequence:
146
Alternate keystrokes: 146

When fixed tabs are ON, tab positions are taken
from a table of columns that you can set to even
spacing or customize through various tab
commands. When fixed tabs are OFF, tab positions
are based on the contents of the text surrounding
the current line, just like the Turbo Pascal
editor.
@147
&SET TEMPORARY MARGIN
)

Keystroke sequence:
147
Alternate keystrokes: 147

The current cursor column will be assigned as the
temporary left margin. If the cursor is beyond the
right margin, an error will occur.
@148
&SET HOME DIRECTORY
)

Keystroke sequence:
148
Alternate keystrokes: 148

MicroStar uses several files in its operation.
These contain the current printer definition,
default macros, and this help file. In order to
run MicroStar from a drive or directory other than
where these files are located, you will need to
set up a Home Directory. The home directory
specifies the location of the optional MicroStar
support files on your system.
]
The following files should be kept in that
directory:
) MS.HLP

MS.MAC

*.PDF

MicroStar will operate without the use of these
files, but in that case certain program features
will not be available.
After the home directory is set, it can be saved
with MicroStar's Save Setup command.
@149
&TOGGLE HI-BIT STRIP
)

Keystroke sequence:
149
Alternate keystrokes: 149

When Hi-bit strip is ON, the most significant bit
of each character read from the disk will be set
to zero. This is useful when reading in files
previously generated in WordStar document mode. In
addition, "dot commands" used for WordStar
document formatting will be changed to MicroStar's
format character (@). Note that stripping the high
bit will also affect any usage of the IBM extended
ASCII character set, such as the line drawing
characters.
@150
&EDIT MACRO
)

Keystroke sequence:
150
Alternate keystrokes: 150

Macros recorded within MicroStar can be edited on
a character by character basis using the built-in
macro editor.
First, a prompt box will ask for a new name for
the macro, which you can accept as is, or change.
]
The macro will appear in another window. It can
be edited using the cursor keys, and the <Del>
or <Backspace> keys. Most characters you type will
be inserted literally into the macro. <CtrlBksp>
will delete the macro. <Enter> will end the
session in the macro editor. <Esc> will undo any
changes made to the macro. In case you need to
enter any of these special keys as part of the
macro, press the <ScrollLock> key to enter
Literal mode. In this mode, all keystrokes will
be inserted into the macro without any
interpretation.
@151
&WRITE TO FILE
)

Keystroke sequence:
151
Alternate keystrokes: 151

This command will store all text in the current
window to any file that you name. When you are
editing in a window that has not previously been

named, you can use this command to assign a name
to the window. Using it in an already-named window
will cause the name of that window, and all other
windows sharing the same text stream, to be
updated to the new name.
@152
&TOGGLE KEY HELP
)

Keystroke sequence:
152
Alternate keystrokes: 152

When Key Help is ON, MicroStar will display the
command sequences that correspond to each menu
selection while you are browsing through the menu
system. This can serve to familiarize you with
the quick keystrokes and speed up your editing.
@153
&PREVIOUS WINDOW
)

Keystroke sequence:
153
Alternate keystrokes: 153

The cursor will be moved to the current position
in the next window up the screen. If the cursor is
already in the topmost window, it will move to the
bottom window. If there is only one window,
nothing will happen.
@154
&NEXT SENTENCE
)

Keystroke sequence:
154
Alternate keystrokes: 154

The cursor will be moved to the beginning of the
next sentence. Sentences are delimited by periods,
semicolons, and other common punctuation marks, as
well as by blank lines and lines beginning with
the MicroStar format character (@).
@155
&PREVIOUS SENTENCE
)

Keystroke sequence:
155
Alternate keystrokes: 155

The cursor will be moved to the beginning of the
previous sentence. Sentences are delimited by
periods, semicolons, and other common punctuation
marks, as well as by blank lines and lines
beginning with the MicroStar format character (@).
@156
&RESTORE EVEN TABS
)

Keystroke sequence:
156
Alternate keystrokes: 156

Tabs will be set on an even spacing as determined
by the current default tab spacing. Any other tab
settings will be cleared.
@157
&WHICH FONT
)

Keystroke sequence:
157
Alternate keystrokes: 157

MicroStar
character
character
MicroStar
@158

will display the font type of the
at the cursor position. If the
has more than one font applied to it,
will list all of them.

&SELECT BOLD
)

Keystroke sequence:
158
Alternate keystrokes: 158

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will
convert the block to bold typeface. It does so by
automatically placing the Toggle Bold control
character (<CtrlB>) at the beginning and end of
the block.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@159
&SELECT DOUBLESTRIKE
)

Keystroke sequence:
159
Alternate keystrokes: 159

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will
convert the block to double-strike typeface. It
does so by automatically placing the Toggle
Double-strike control character (<CtrlD>) at the
beginning and end of the block.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@160
&SELECT UNDERSCORE
)

Keystroke sequence:
160
Alternate keystrokes: 160

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will

convert the block to underscore typeface. It
does so by automatically placing the Toggle
Underscore control character (<CtrlS>) at the
beginning and end of the block.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@161
&SELECT SUPERSCRIPT
)

Keystroke sequence:
161
Alternate keystrokes: 161

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will
convert the block to superscript typeface. It
does so by automatically placing the Toggle
Superscript control character (<CtrlT>) at the
beginning and end of the block.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@162
&SELECT SUBSCRIPT
)

Keystroke sequence:
162
Alternate keystrokes: 162

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will
convert the block to subscript typeface. It
does so by automatically placing the Toggle
Subscript control character (<CtrlV>) at the
beginning and end of the block.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@163
&SELECT COMPRESSED
)

Keystroke sequence:
163
Alternate keystrokes: 163

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will
convert the block to compressed typeface. It does
so by automatically placing the Toggle Alternate 1
control character (<CtrlA>) at the beginning and

end of the block. For most printer definition
files, the Alternate 1 typeface is defined as
compressed print.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@164
&SELECT ITALICS
)

Keystroke sequence:
164
Alternate keystrokes: 164

If a block is marked and visible, MicroStar will
convert the block to italic typeface. It does so
by automatically placing the Toggle Alternate 2
control character (<CtrlN>) at the beginning and
end of the block. For most printer definition
files, the Alternate 2 typeface is defined as
italic print.
If no block is marked, MicroStar will place a pair
of print control characters at the current cursor
position, and position the cursor between the two.
Thus, while the cursor remains between the control
characters, newly entered text will be in the
selected typeface.
@165
&TOGGLE SNOW CONTROL
)

Keystroke sequence:
165
Alternate keystrokes: 165

When Snow Control is ON, MicroStar avoids the
screen interference patterns called "snow" that
are produced by certain display adapters, notably
the IBM Color Graphics Adapter. For other color
adapters, the Snow Control can be turned off. This
improves screen updating performance considerably.
@166
&TOGGLE BLOCK CURSOR
)

Keystroke sequence:
166
Alternate keystrokes: 166

MicroStar offers a choice between a blinking
hardware cursor and a solid unblinking cursor.
The color of the block cursor can be set via the
Options Colors menu.
@167
&TOGGLE 43 LINE MODE
Keystroke sequence:

167

)

Alternate keystrokes: 167

On computers equipped with an Enhanced Graphics
Adapter, MicroStar can display 43 lines on the
screen. Toggle this option ON if a longer text
display is desired.
@168
&MARGIN RELEASE
)

Keystroke sequence:
168
Alternate keystrokes: 168

Setting Margin Release ON allows you to type
beyond the left and right margins while Word Wrap
mode is active. Margin release remains effective
until the cursor is moved to another line. It can
also be toggled off at any time.
@169
&SPELL CHECK
)

Keystroke sequence:
169
Alternate keystrokes: 169

In combination with Turbo Lightning, Borland's RAM
resident spelling checker and thesaurus,
MicroStar will spell-check any of your documents.
Lightning must be installed, or an error will
occur.
MicroStar checks the document in the current
screen window. By default, checking proceeds from
the current cursor position to the end of the
file. If a block is marked and visible, only that
block will be checked.
]
MicroStar contains a small built-in dictionary of
the 500 most commonly used English words. This
dictionary is kept in memory at all times in order
to accelerate the checking process.
Once the operation begins, MicroStar keeps you
advised of its progress on the status line. The
line and column counters tell you what part of the
document is being checked, as does the percentage
indicator. These are updated each time a new word
is checked.
]
When Lightning finds a word that it does not
recognize, the screen will be updated to highlight
the word, and a popup menu will ask you to select
an option. Select by moving the bar and pressing
<Enter> or by pressing the first character of any
of the options:
) S kip once
)
Ignore the spelling of this word in only this

)
)
)
)
]

one instance.
Ignore for this document
Ignore the spelling of this word for the
duration of the check.

) L ist Lightning sound-alikes
)
Display a list of sound-alike words from
)
Lightning's dictionary. Select one and press
)
<Enter>, or press <Esc> to return to the
)
previous menu.
) Edit from the keyboard
)
A prompt box will appear to allow interactive
)
editing of the word. Press <Enter> to accept,
)
or <Esc> to return to the previous menu. You
)
may use Lightning's interactive modes at this
)
time. MicroStar will recheck the word after
)
you finish editing it.
]
) M ark with "~"
)
Place a tilde in front of the word. After
)
the document has been checked, you can use
)
the Find Pattern command to locate the marked
)
words.
) Add to dictionary
)
Add the word to Lightning's auxiliary
)
dictionary (usually AUXI.DIC). A secondary
)
menu of case selections will appear. Press
)
<Esc> to return to the previous menu, or
)
<Enter> to add to the dictionary.
]
) B atch mark rest of document
)
Cancel the interactive mode normally used
)
for spell-checking. From this point on, all
)
unrecognized words are marked with tildes
)
(~).
A spell-checking operation may be stopped by
pressing <Esc> at the corrections menu (once a
misspelling is found) or by pressing any key while
a file is being checked. In the latter case, a
prompt box will be displayed, asking if you want
to stop. Press Y to stop, N to continue.
@171
&TOGGLE TAB WRITING
)

Keystroke sequence:
171
Alternate keystrokes: 171

By default, MicroStar does not write tab
characters in files saved from the editor. If Tab
Writing is activated, MicroStar will translate
sequences of spaces to tabs in order to save disk
space for the output file. Tabs are computed using
the fixed spacing currently set for fixed tabs.
Multiple spaces found within pairs of single or
double quotes (as used in Pascal or C source code)

will not be converted to tabs.
Tab writing is saved as a MicroStar default.
@172
&TOGGLE WRAP COMPRESSION
)

Keystroke sequence:
172
Alternate keystrokes: 172

By default, MicroStar compresses extra spaces out
of any line before it is wrapped. This feature is
required in order to "unjustify" text that has
previously been right justified. However, in some
cases the compression will remove desired spaces,
as in the case of aligned columns of figures.
When this toggle is OFF, extra spaces will not be
removed from lines being wrapped. Wrap
compression is saved as a MicroStar default.
@173
&TOGGLE INITIAL ZOOM STATE
)

Keystroke sequence:
173
Alternate keystrokes: 173

The state of this toggle determines MicroStar's
default behavior when more than one window is on
the screen. When Initial Zoom State is OFF,
multiple windows will appear simultaneously on
the screen, that is, they will not be zoomed.
When Initial Zoom State is ON, multiple windows
will be zoomed. The last file opened will be
visible on the screen, and others will be hidden
behind it.
Initial Zoom State is saved as a MicroStar
default.
The normal zoom window command may be used at any
time, regardless of Initial Zoom State.
@174
&HELP SUMMARY
MicroStar provides help in several ways. This
section describes how to use the help system.
Whenever the MicroStar help system is on screen,
you can use the <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys to
move from one screen to another. <Home> and
<End> will take you to the first and last pages
of the section. Press <Esc> when you are done
using help.
]
The MicroStar menu system is available at any
time by pressing 191. Most of MicroStar's

commands may be selected from the menus. Within
the menu system, you may activate "Key help" by
choosing Setup Display options Key help. With
Key help activated, the quick keystrokes that
activate each command will be displayed on the top
row of the screen while the selection bar is
positioned over that menu item.
Pressing <F1> while within the MicroStar menu
system or within any prompt box will bring up a
window containing more detailed help regarding the
selected command. Pressing <F1> while you are
entering text will bring up a menu of help topics.
@175
&HELP SUMMARY
MicroStar provides help in several ways. This
help section describes how to use the help
system.
Whenever the MicroStar help system is on screen,
you can use the <PgUp> and <PgDn> keys to
move from one screen to another. <Home> and
<End> will take you to the first and last pages
of the section. Press <Esc> when you are done
using help.
]
The MicroStar menu system is available at any
time by pressing 191. Most of MicroStar's
commands may be selected from the menus. Within
the menu system, you may activate "Key help" by
choosing Setup Display options Key help. With
Key help activated, the quick keystrokes that activate
each command will be displayed on the top
row of the screen while the selection bar is
positioned over that menu item.
Pressing <F1> while within the MicroStar menu
system or within any prompt box will bring up a
window containing more detailed help regarding the
selected command. Pressing <F1> while you are
entering text will bring up a menu of help topics.
]
&Help and Status Keystrokes
)Show help menu
)
Main: 174
Alternate: 174
)Show help summary
)
Main: 50
Alternate: 50
)Activate menu system
)
Main: 191
Alternate: 191
)Show system and file information
)
Main: 104
Alternate: 104
)Show available memory
)
Main: 105
Alternate: 105
@176

&Cursor Movement
Character left
)
Main: 0
Alternate: 0
)Character right
)
Main: 1
Alternate: 1
)Word left
)
Main: 2
Alternate: 2
)Word right
)
Main: 3
Alternate: 3
)Line up
)
Main: 4
Alternate: 4
)Line down
)
Main: 5
Alternate: 5
)Scroll up
)
Main: 6
Alternate: 6
)Scroll down
)
Main: 7
Alternate: 7
)Page up
)
Main: 9
Alternate: 9
)Page down
)
Main: 8
Alternate: 8
)Top of file
)
Main: 10
Alternate: 10
)Bottom of file
)
Main: 11
Alternate: 11
)Beginning of line
)
Main: 12
Alternate: 12
)End of line
)
Main: 13
Alternate: 13
)Top of screen
)
Main: 14
Alternate: 14
)Bottom of screen
)
Main: 15
Alternate: 15
@177
&Quick Movement Commands
Go to line
)
Main: 18
Alternate: 18
)Go to column
)
Main: 19
Alternate: 19
)Go to page
)
Main: 129
Alternate: 129
)Go to window
)
Main: 20
Alternate: 20
)Previous cursor position
)
Main: 21
Alternate: 21
)Up to equal indent
)
Main: 16
Alternate: 16
)Down to equal indent
)
Main: 17
Alternate: 17
)Next sentence
)
Main: 154
Alternate: 154
)Previous sentence
)
Main: 155
Alternate: 155
]
&Text Markers

Set a marker by menu
)
Main: 143
Alternate: 143
)Jump to marker by menu
)
Main: 144
Alternate: 144
)Toggle marker display
)
Main: 61
Alternate: 61
)Set marker 0
)
Main: 62
Alternate: 62
)Set marker 1
)
Main: 63
Alternate: 63
)Set marker 2
)
Main: 64
Alternate: 64
)Set marker 3
)
Main: 65
Alternate: 65
)Set marker 4
)
Main: 66
Alternate: 66
)Set marker 5
)
Main: 67
Alternate: 67
)Set marker 6
)
Main: 68
Alternate: 68
)Set marker 7
)
Main: 69
Alternate: 69
)Set marker 8
)
Main: 70
Alternate: 70
)Set marker 9
)
Main: 71
Alternate: 71
)Jump marker 0
)
Main: 72
Alternate: 72
)Jump marker 1
)
Main: 73
Alternate: 73
)Jump marker 2
)
Main: 74
Alternate: 74
)Jump marker 3
)
Main: 75
Alternate: 75
)Jump marker 4
)
Main: 76
Alternate: 76
)Jump marker 5
)
Main: 77
Alternate: 77
)Jump marker 6
)
Main: 78
Alternate: 78
)Jump marker 7
)
Main: 79
Alternate: 79
)Jump marker 8
)
Main: 80
Alternate: 80
)Jump marker 9
)
Main: 81
Alternate: 81
@178
&Text Insertion and Deletion
Undo last deletion
)
Main: 22
Alternate: 22
)Restore line
)
Main: 23
Alternate: 23
)Insert undo buffer
)
Main: 116
Alternate: 116
)Tab
)
Main: 24
Alternate: 24
)Backward Tab
)
Main: 39
Alternate: 39

)New line
)
Main: 26
Alternate: 26
)Insert line
)
Main: 27
Alternate: 27
)Insert control character
)
Main: 25
Alternate: 25
)Delete current character
)
Main: 28
Alternate: 28
)Delete character left
)
Main: 29
Alternate: 29
)Delete word
)
Main: 30
Alternate: 30
)Delete to end of line
)
Main: 31
Alternate: 31
)Delete line
)
Main: 32
Alternate: 32
)Delete line (no undo)
)
Main: 33
Alternate: 33
)Abort command (1 char)
)
Main: 191
Alternate: 191
@179
&Search and Replace
Search for pattern
)
Main: 34
Alternate:
)Search and replace
)
Main: 35
Alternate:
)Search and playback macro
)
Main: 36
Alternate:
)Search again
)
Main: 37
Alternate:
@180

34
35
36
37

&Files
Edit another file
)
Main: 40
Alternate: 40
)Abandon file
)
Main: 41
Alternate: 41
)Read file into window
)
Main: 42
Alternate: 42
)Save and continue edit
)
Main: 43
Alternate: 43
)Save and exit to DOS
)
Main: 45
Alternate: 45
)Write to named file
)
Main: 151
Alternate: 151
)Save/Switch files
)
Main: 48
Alternate: 48
@181
&Windows
Open file
)
Main: 46
)Close window
)
Main: 142
)Resize window
)
Main: 47

Alternate: 46
Alternate: 142
Alternate: 47

)Next window
)
Main: 49
Alternate: 49
)Previous window
)
Main: 153
Alternate: 153
)Zoom window
)
Main: 51
Alternate: 5 1
@182
&Block Commands
Begin block
)
Main: 52
Alternate:
)End block
)
Main: 53
Alternate:
)Start of block
)
Main: 54
Alternate:
)End of block
)
Main: 55
Alternate:
)Copy block
)
Main: 56
Alternate:
)Move block
)
Main: 57
Alternate:
)Delete block
)
Main: 58
Alternate:
)Hide block
)
Main: 59
Alternate:
)Mark current word
)
Main: 60
Alternate:
)Write block to file
)
Main: 44
Alternate:
@183

52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
44

&Text Formatting
Format paragraph
)
Main: 112
Alternate:
)Format block
)
Main: 141
Alternate:
)Center line
)
Main: 120
Alternate:
)Margin release
)
Main: 168
Alternate:
)Toggle case
)
Main: 108
Alternate:
)Lower case
)
Main: 109
Alternate:
)Upper case
)
Main: 110
Alternate:
)Show current font
)
Main: 157
Alternate:
)Select Bold
)
Main: 158
Alternate:
)Select Double
)
Main: 159
Alternate:
)Select Underscore
)
Main: 160
Alternate:
)Select Superscript
)
Main: 161
Alternate:
)Select Subscript
)
Main: 162
Alternate:

112
141
120
168
108
109
110
157
158
159
160
161
162

)Select Compressed
)
Main: 163
Alternate: 1 63
)Select Italics
)
Main: 164
Alternate: 1 64
@184
&Tabs
)Tab
)
Main: 24
Alternate: 24
)Backward Tab
)
Main: 39
Alternate: 39
)Set tabs
)
Main: 136
Alternate: 136
)Put tabs
)
Main: 138
Alternate: 138
)Set tab size
)
Main: 137
Alternate: 137
)Edit tabs
)
Main: 139
Alternate: 139
)Tab temporary margin
)
Main: 140
Alternate: 140
)Set temporary margin
)
Main: 147
Alternate: 147
)Restore even tabs
)
Main: 156
Alternate: 156
@185
&Utility Commands
Print file
)
Main: 123
Alternate: 123
)Change active directory
)
Main: 127
Alternate: 127
)Directory
)
Main: 128
Alternate: 128
)Operating system
)
Main: 38
Alternate: 38
@186
&Settings and Toggles
Toggle insert mode
)
Main: 106
Alternate:
)Toggle autoindent mode
)
Main: 107
Alternate:
)Toggle word wrap
)
Main: 113
Alternate:
)Toggle wrap compression
)
Main: 172
Alternate:
)Toggle tab line display
)
Main: 115
Alternate:
)Toggle justify
)
Main: 117
Alternate:
)Toggle page breaks
)
Main: 118
Alternate:
)Toggle attributes
)
Main: 119
Alternate:
)Toggle fixed tabs
)
Main: 146
Alternate:

106
107
113
172
115
117
118
119
146

)Toggle hi-bit strip
)
Main: 149
Alternate:
)Toggle tab expansion
)
Main: 134
Alternate:
)Toggle tab writing
)
Main: 171
Alternate:
)Toggle key help
)
Main: 152
Alternate:
)Toggle snow check
)
Main: 165
Alternate:
)Toggle block cursor
)
Main: 166
Alternate:
)Toggle 43 line mode
)
Main: 167
Alternate:
)Set left margin
)
Main: 114
Alternate:
)Set right margin
)
Main: 111
Alternate:
)Set top margin
)
Main: 130
Alternate:
)Set bottom margin
)
Main: 131
Alternate:
)Set page length
)
Main: 132
Alternate:
)Set undo limit
)
Main: 133
Alternate:
)Set default file extension
)
Main: 135
Alternate:
)Set colors
)
Main: 121
Alternate:
)Set home directory
)
Main: 148
Alternate:
)Save setup
)
Main: 122
Alternate:
@187

149
134
171
152
165
166
167
114
111
130
131
132
133
135
121
148
122

&Spell Checking
)

Main: 169

Alternate: 169

In combination with Turbo Lightning, Borland's RAM
resident spelling checker and thesaurus,
MicroStar will spell-check any of your documents.
Lightning must be installed, or an error will
occur.
MicroStar checks the document in the current
screen window. By default, checking proceeds from
the current cursor position to the end of the
file. If a block is marked and visible, only that
block will be checked.
]
MicroStar contains a small built-in dictionary of
the 500 most commonly used English words. This
dictionary is kept in memory at all times in order
to accelerate the checking process.
Once the operation begins, MicroStar keeps you
advised of its progress on the status line. The

line and column counters tell you what part of the
document is being checked, as does the percentage
indicator. These are updated each time a new word
is checked.
]
When Lightning finds a word that it does not
recognize, the screen will be updated to highlight
the word, and a popup menu will ask you to select
an option. Select by moving the bar and pressing
<Enter> or by pressing the first character of any
of the options:
) S kip once
)
Ignore the spelling of this word in only this
)
one instance.
) Ignore for this document
)
Ignore the spelling of this word for the
)
duration of the check.
]
) L ist Lightning sound-alikes
)
Display a list of sound-alike words from
)
Lightning's dictionary. Select one and press
)
<Enter>, or press <Esc> to return to the
)
previous menu.
) Edit from the keyboard
)
A prompt box will appear to allow interactive
)
editing of the word. Press <Enter> to accept,
)
or <Esc> to return to the previous menu. You
)
may use Lightning's interactive modes at this
)
time. MicroStar will recheck the word after
)
you finish editing it.
]
) M ark with "~"
)
Place a tilde in front of the word. After
)
the document has been checked, you can use
)
the Find Pattern command to locate the marked
)
words.
) Add to dictionary
)
Add the word to Lightning's auxiliary
)
dictionary (usually AUXI.DIC). A secondary
)
menu of case selections will appear. Press
)
<Esc> to return to the previous menu, or
)
<Enter> to add to the dictionary.
]
) B atch mark rest of document
)
Cancel the interactive mode normally used
)
for spell-checking. From this point on, all
)
unrecognized words are marked with tildes
)
(~).
A spell-checking operation may be stopped by
pressing <Esc> at the corrections menu (once a
misspelling is found) or by pressing any key while
a file is being checked. In the latter case, a
prompt box will be displayed, asking if you want
to stop. Press Y to stop, N to continue.

@188
&Macros
Load macros from disk
)
Main: 82
Alternate: 82
)Store macros to disk
)
Main: 83
Alternate: 83
)Record macro
)
Main: 84
Alternate: 84
)Edit macro
)
Main: 150
Alternate: 150
)Playback macro by menu
)
Main: 145
Alternate: 145
)Playback Macro 1
)
Main: 85
Alternate: 85
)Playback Macro 2
)
Main: 86
Alternate: 86
)Playback Macro 3
)
Main: 87
Alternate: 87
)Playback Macro 4
)
Main: 88
Alternate: 88
)Playback Macro 5
)
Main: 89
Alternate: 89
)Playback Macro 6
)
Main: 90
Alternate: 90
)Playback Macro 7
)
Main: 91
Alternate: 91
)Playback Macro 8
)
Main: 92
Alternate: 92
)Playback Macro 9
)
Main: 93
Alternate: 93
)Playback scrap macro
)
Main: 94
Alternate: 94
)Playback scrap macro 1 time
)
Main: 95
Alternate: 95
)Playback scrap macro 2 times
)
Main: 96
Alternate: 96
)Playback scrap macro 3 times
)
Main: 97
Alternate: 97
)Playback scrap macro 4 times
)
Main: 98
Alternate: 98
)Playback scrap macro 5 times
)
Main: 99
Alternate: 99
)Playback scrap macro 6 times
)
Main: 100
Alternate: 100
)Playback scrap macro 7 times
)
Main: 101
Alternate: 101
)Playback scrap macro 8 times
)
Main: 102
Alternate: 102
)Playback scrap macro 9 times
)
Main: 103
Alternate: 103
@189
&Printing a file
)

Main: 123

Alternate: 123

&Print Formatting Commands

Offset page to right by n columns
)
@PO n
)Start new page
)
@PA
)Start new page if fewer than n lines remain
)
@CP n
)Set page number to n
)
@PN n
)Omit page numbers
)
@OP
)Print page numbers
)
@PG
)Put page number in column n
)
@PC n
)Set page length to n lines
)
@PL n
)Set top margin to n lines
)
@MT n
)Set bottom margin to n lines
)
@MB n
)Set header margin to n lines
)
@HM n
]
)Set footer margin to n lines
)
@FM n
)Define header line
)
@HEline
)Define footer line
)
@FOline
]
&Special Codes within Headers and Footers
Insert current page number
)
#
)Ignore following spaces on even pages
)
<CtrlK>
)Take next character literally
)
\
]
&Typeface Selection Commands
)Select Bold
)
Main: 158
Alternate:
)Select DoubleStrike
)
Main: 159
Alternate:
)Select Underscore
)
Main: 160
Alternate:
)Select Superscript
)
Main: 161
Alternate:
)Select Subscript
)
Main: 162
Alternate:
)Select Compressed
)
Main: 163
Alternate:
)Select Italics
)
Main: 164
Alternate:
]

158
159
160
161
162
163
164

&Typeface Control Codes
Toggle Boldface
)
<CtrlB>
)Toggle Underscore
)
<CtrlS>
)Toggle Doublestrike
)
<CtrlD>
)Toggle Superscript
)
<CtrlT>
)Toggle Subscript
)
<CtrlV>
)Toggle Compressed
)
<CtrlA>
)Toggle Italic
)
<CtrlN>
]
&Printer Definitions
Each type of printer is described to MicroStar by
a small file with the extension PDF. This file
contains information regarding the control codes
that enable the printer's various fonts, as well
as some additional information that tells
MicroStar about the printer.
Existing PDF files can be changed, and new ones
created via the MicroStar Printer definition
menu. The printer definition most recently
selected via the File Print menu can be modified
here. Choose Edit string to change the control
code for any supported font. Each font is
associated with two strings - one to turn the font
ON, and another to turn it OFF.
When you choose a string to edit, it appears in
another window. It can be edited using the cursor
keys, and the <Del> or <Backspace> keys. Most
characters you type will be inserted literally
into the string. <CtrlBksp> will delete the
existing string. <Enter> will end the session
in the string editor. In case you need to enter
any of these special keys as part of the control
string, press the <ScrollLock> key to enter
Literal mode. In this mode, all keystrokes will be
inserted into the string without further
interpretation.
The current printer definition can be saved to a
disk file by using the Save definition menu
selection. A prompt box will ask for the name of
the file to be saved.
@190
&Function Keys


|