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Try my HTML viewer



## Nachricht vom 26.05.98 weitergeleitet
## Ursprung : n.mueller_bEi_hit-n.mueller.zer
## Ersteller: Jaap.van.Lelieveld_bEi_inter.NL.net


                           View HTML    By: Jaap van Lelieveld

About one month ago - on april 16, 1998 - I needed an HTML
viewer. The main reason for this was the outcome of the ADOBE
PDF2HTML convertor. I started looking for an easy to use HTML
viewer that still works in DOS.
Most viewers I found only removed the HTML tags; others - like
LYNX for DOS - were so complex to use...

                  Therefore I tried it myself

L_H is an HTML viewer. The funny thing with this viewer though
is that you can easy "configure" it. It can be very useful to
be informed about certain tags. In other cases you might
prefer just plain text.

Next to several basic functions simply change the INI-file or
make alternate INI files which you can add through a parameter
on the command line.

1.   System requirements

The program has no special requirements. The following notes
could be useful though:
 -   If the /Convert option is not used temporary files are
     produced with the name $$$nnnnn.THM. These files will be
     added in the directory referred to by the TEMP DOS
     environment variable. If this variable is not available
     the program directory will be used. Normally these files
     will be deleted if the program comes to an end. 
     If the program stops with some error these files will not
     be removed.
 -   If available the program will use XMS memory. The online
     HELP panel - which is of course available through F1 -
     shows if and how XMS memory is used.


2.   Basic functionality

The basic functionality available:
 -   Support for basic HTML tags like new line (BR), paragraph
     (P) etc.
 -   Support for presentation aspects in text format for HTML
     tags like font (FONT), bold/italic/underline (B/I/U) etc.
     and color and background color attributes.
 -   Support for links and anchors.
 -   Support for tables. For single level (not nested) tables
     the table layout is shown. As an alternative cell
     numbering is available. This mode supports nested tables
     (see /T option).
 -   Support for (nested) lists.
 -   Simple support for framesets.
 -   Support for non-standard symbols. This does NOT include
     the SYMBOL character set yet.
 -   Support for suppressing specific texts like scripting
     procedures etc.
 -   Support for special screening on HTML files produced by
     the Adobe PDF2HTML converter.
 -   The program is multi-lingual. If you want to run the
     program for another language simply translate the
     messages in the .INI file.

If you need more specific output simply add the required
entries to the INI-file.


3.   The command line

On the command line you can enter three different types of
parameters. If you need online help simply use the /? option.

3.1. HTML-files to convert

You can specify one or more HTML-files. The first one will be
displayed. Links can be used to jump to other files.

If you use the /Convert option all files you specify will be
converted to an ASCII format with a hard page (Ctrl L) between
them. The output will be sent to L_H.OUT.

3.2. Options

Several options are available:
 /Adobe   Activates special support for html files generated
          by the Adobe PDF2HTML converter.
 /Convert Converts HTML to ASCII text in a single output file.
 /Table   Uses alternate table presentation with numbered
          cells; one cell on a line.
 /Procs   Gives an overview of all internal procedures
          available with a (very short) description. All
          procedure names with an "_" in its name are used to
          handle attribute/parameter pairs. The other
          procedures are used to process certain begin or end
          tags or to offer special support.
 /S       The /S- option mutes sounds; the /S+ option
          activates sound effects. The default can be set in
          the INI-file.

3.3. Alternate INI-files

You can add or overwrite certain paragraphs in the default
INI-file by simply adding one or more /INI options. For each
/INI option the contents of the file belonging to this entry
will be added to the default settings. If you use entries that
already exist the old ones will be replaced.


4.   The INI-file

An INI-file is used to set the programs defaults. The default
INI-file (L_H.INI) must always be available.
Five types of paragraphs can exist:
SETUP               Holds default parameters for the program.
                    This paragraph should occur only once.
ELEMENT             Holds the description for a specific HTML
                    tag. It can occur for each HTML tag.
SYMBOL              Defines special symbols. It should occur
                    for each symbol you want the program to
                    handle. The default list provided could be
                    incorrect or incomplete. If a symbol is
                    not in the list it will be ignored.
ELEMENT-ATTRIBUTE   Holds the activities definition for an
                    single element/attribute pair.
MESSAGE             Holds all texts the program can produce on
                    the screen. If you want the program to run
                    in another language simply translate these
                    message. Do NOT change the format of the
                    status screen (messages named S01/S20).
                    The options on the command line can not be
                    translated!

See the default INI-file for a description of the attributes
of all different paragraphs.


5.   Internal procedure

The internal procedures e.g. for list or table handling belong
together. If you do not like to use them simply remove them
all. If you only remove some of them strange effects can of
course occur. You can imagine which belong together: lists
handling is one group; table handling is another one. 
If you specify the START procedure for a certain tag also
specify the END procedure for this tag to avoid hanging
options.


6.   Remarks and comments

If you do have any error reports, comments, requests for
enhancements etc please let me know. I up to now only
implemented what I needed myself.

Please send me an E-mail at: jvleliev_bEi_inter.nl.net
 
Best regards,
Jaap

Message from: Jaap van Lelieveld      The Netherlands
              Chairman of EBU commission on Technical Devices and Service
s
E-mail:       Jaap.van.Lelieveld_bEi_inter.nl.net

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