/* --------------------------------------------------------------------
   Project: PALHELP
   Module:  testhelp.c Help File display
   Author:  Ron Crain
            Based on DFLAT help system by Al Stevens, published in
            Dr. Dobb's Journal, Nov, 1991 - Nov, 1992

            Modified by Carl Chipman, Nomadics Inc.

   Started: 02/01/95 1:40 pm

   Modified:06/04/96
   
   Subject: Implements the PAL help engine to send help text to the
            standard output.

            Invoking with
                           test help [helptag]
            will display the text for topic "helptag" from the file
            HELP.PH.

            If the helptag is ommited, all topics will be dumped. This
            version will output diagnostic information for each topic.

            To build makehelp.exe, use:
               cl /c test.c palhelp.c
               link test+palhelp;
            in MSC, or equivalent commands for your compiler.

            If window size information is required, define the
               WINSIZE variable (/DWINSIZE) in the cl command
               line.

   -------------------------------------------------------------------- */


This is a help type engine for using the Help structures written by Ron Crain.

It is pretty simple and was mainly done for me to learn how to do this type of '
project.  If you see areas where this could be made better or faster, *PLEASE*
tell me about it.  I am still a fairly new programmer, and I am always trying to
learn more.

The Help file format is the same as it was before.  It is still based on the makehelp 
program.  I personally use Microsoft Visual C++ 1.5 for all my  compilations ( yes I know
its slow but the developement environment is great!).  I have included a makehelp.mak
file so that you can run it under MSVC, or look at it to figure out all of the compile options.

For more information on the help file format itself, a good book on information theory
is very helpful.  

A compiled copy of the PAL 1.11 is included witht the file.  The name is 
MSLPAL.LIB.  If you don't want to incur the overhead from the library you
will have to remove several items from the test program.

The thelp project takes the information from the help file and then allows you to look at the 
index or Table of Contents, and to goto any topic you are interested, and to tab around to 
the marked topics.

Sorry, I know this readme file is horrible, but if you have any questions email me @72713,1456.   


                                          Carl Chipman

