ThinkTank Manual

 

 

TEXTFILE

 

Port to or from a text file

 

Command

key:

T

Command

prefix:

Yes

Location:

PORT DEVICE Menu (PORT command)

See also:

PORT

When you give the PORT command, ThinkTank displays the PORT DEVICE Menu which allows you to choose whether to print the bar cursor outline or transfer (copy) it to or from a PASCAL text file. Choose TEXTFILE to port to or from a text file. ThinkTank will continue by asking you which direction to transfer the material.

Text files are useful because ThinkTank’s special format for storing an outline cannot be read by most other programs or incorporated directly into another outline. Text files are not outline files; they have a standard format which can be read by ThinkTank as well as by other programs and computers that use the PASCAL operating system. Thus the TEXTFILE option is useful for making a backup copy of an outline, editing outline material with a PASCAL—compatible word processor, and sending an outline to another ThinkTank user. You can also use a text file as an intermediary when transferring information from one outline to another.

If you are porting a text file into an outline, ThinkTank normally assumes that it is arranged in STRUCTURED style. Within certain constraints, however, you can port a text file that’s not organized in STRUCTURED style into a ThinkTank outline. This is especially useful for transferring a document created with a PASCAL—compatible word processor into ThinkTank. Details are provided in a ThinkTank technical note described in Appendix D.

You can use PORT/TEXTFILE to transfer an outline between two different kinds of computers. However, certain incompatibilities may cause problems. For example, when transferring from a computer that can display 80 characters on a line to one that can display only 40, ThinkTank will truncate head—

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