HELP¶
Function¶
HELP displays lines of text on HUNTER’s screen when the HELP key is pressed.
Syntax¶
Examples¶
1010 REM THIS IS A PIECE OF HELP TEXT
1020 REM INTENDED TO ASSIST THE OPERATOR
1030 REM IN THE USE OF HUNTER
1040 REM PLEASE PRESS HELP TO RETURN
1050 REM TO PROGRAM
10000 HELP 1010
Execution of line 10000 will cause the block of remarks to be used as the HELP text.
HELP requires an argument which must be a valid line number. The referenced line must be a REM statement. When the operator presses HELP, text from the referenced REM is placed on the screen. Use of the cursor up and cursor down keys causes scrolling through a contiguous block of REM statements. The HELP text start may be changed by executing another HELP statement.
Normally, the help key on the HUNTER keyboard is disabled. Execution of HELP causes the HELP code to be loaded into the keyboard table, therefore enabling the use of the key. Once the HELP statement has been executed, it is not possible to disable the HELP function except for deleting the HELP code in the keyboard map.
Note
On power up the help key will be again disabled and therefore it is necessary to execute the HELP statement within the program initialisation.
It is recommended that all the HELP text be written contiguously so that the operator may scroll through all of it. Scrolling stops when any non-REM line is encountered, so blocks of text can be easily partitioned if required.
Note
HELP text cannot be displayed if HUNTER is in graphics mode and operation of the HELP key is ignored. It is then necessary to use Shift-PWR to turn off HUNTER.