This write up gives you tips on the use of GIST Card in different environments

Applications

Under_MS-DOS_environment

Under_UNIX_/_XENIX_environment

Applications

C-DAC GIST Card finds its use in all character-based applications on MS-DOS whenever any Indian language needs to be used along with English for communication. It can be used for varied applications depending on the user's requirements. Some of the broad application areas of C-DAC GIST Card are :

Multilingual data processing with existing application software like dBase, FoxPro, QBasic etc.

Creating, processing, sorting and printing multilingual data.

Multilingual word-processing with the customised multilingual word-processor ‘ALP For GIST Card’.

Development of customised multilingual application software.

Generation and printing of multilingual spreadsheets and reports.

Multilingual communication on networks

C-DAC GIST Card is ideal for multilingual database applications. With the help of the GIST Card, it is possible to have the programming code in English, while the database can be accepted, sorted, maintained, displayed and printed in Hindi or any other Indian language. Screens for accepting data in any Indian language can be designed with the help of the GIST Card. GIST Card also finds usage in generation and printing of multilingual spreadsheets, reports, forms etc. (through the existing software packages). This makes it ideal for developing customised multilingual software packages for various applications like Payroll, Accounting, Inventory, Customers, Banking etc. Many such customised packages have already been developed by independent developers for various applications.

Some of these customised applications are -

Printing of multilingual bills, invoices and receipts.

Printing of multilingual payslips.

Printing of multilingual labels and forms.

Printing of multilingual reports and ledgers

USING C-DAC GIST CARD WITH EXISTING SOFTWARE PACKAGES:

GIST Card can be used on IBM PCs under various operating systems like MS-DOS, Intel UNIX, Novell Netware. GIST Card supports all text applications under these Operating Systems. Some tips are given below for using GIST card with these softwares.

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Under MS-DOS environment

While installing any software on IBM-PC, that has options for selecting the method of writing in the video RAM, select the one that uses ROM-BIOS calls only. This will ensure faster scrolling while GIST video is selected. Although, direct video RAM write is supposed to be faster, it actually slows down the hardware scrolling provided in the GIST card.

If a package does not allow entry of Indian script alphabets (8-bit characters) then select the 7-bit mode from the menu.

If you use DOS Shell of the MS-DOS Ver 4.XX or 5.XX, then install or configure it for text mode and do not use it in graphics mode.

Since the GIST Card display is monochrome only, select a suitable mode of your software where menus can be displayed without colors. The GIST Card INSTALL program gives you an option of showing the colors in reverse video.

Compilers & Interpreters

Following compilers and interpreters are known to work along with GIST CARD

These compilers allow 8-bit codes except some older versions of COBOL, which have to be used in 7-BIT mode. In fact, any software that allows 8-bit character codes in text mode in the Input / Output functions, can be used without any problem, along with GIST. Any software that does not allow 8-bit codes has to be used with GIST Card in 7-bit mode.

Spreadsheet Software

The following Spreadsheets can be used along with C-DAC GIST Card:

Most spreadsheets listed above can be used in the normal way i.e. 8-bit mode. However, some spreadsheets like LOTUS 1-2-3 can be used only in the 7-bit mode. Also the graphic features of these softwares cannot be made any use of, because GIST works with text-mode softwares only. You cannot make bar charts, pie-charts, etc. in Graphics mode when you are using GIST Card. GIST Card does not support colors else will display in mono-color.

Since 1-2-3 does not allow 8-bit character codes, it has to be used with 7-bit mode (ISCII-7) of the GIST. However, spreadsheet packages like QUATTRO allows 8-bit character codes, and hence may be used without switching over to 7-bit mode.

While installing Lotus 1-2-3 software, make sure that the "unlisted" printer is selected. Otherwise it will send a initialization string on the top of every page, which is not needed when printing with GIST Card.

Lotus GRAPHS works in graphics mode and is hence not supported on the GIST Card.

Database Software

The following software can be used along with C-DAC GIST Card:

dBase works along with GIST with the normal 8-bit character codes (PC-ISCII). When writing a dBase program, the built-in editor of dBase does not allow 8-bit characters. However, dBase allows you to use other editor (MicroStar), which gets invoked automatically once you include the following line in the config.db file (MS.EXE must be accessible in the path):-

tedit=ms.exe

Note that, dBase allows field names in English only.

Clipper's Summer-97 version works fine with GIST since it allows 8-bit data to be entered in character fields. However, the Clipper 5 version has an accidental limitation and by default does not allow 8-bit data in character fields. The support team has suggested a modification in one of the files supplied with Clipper 5 as described below:-

i) Edit\Clipper5\Source\Sys\Getsys.prg and change the upper limit of character codes allowd from 127 to 255. Serach for the line - if (nkey >=32 .and. nkey <=127) and replace with - if (nkey>=32.and.nkey<=255)

ii) Compile this to an OBJ file using Clipper 5. Use the command line options as given below:-

Clipper getsys/m/n/w/a

iii) Link this modified Getsys.obj to your applications where you need it.

Word Processing Software

Following softwares can be used for editing text files in all scripts with the GIST card.

WordStar stores each 8-bit character, along with a separate prefix and suffix character. This way the file cannot be directly typed or be used by other packages. Thus for non-document usage we suggest the use of WordStar compatible word processors like MicroStar or even SideKick editor).

For document mode files, WordStar can be used with 7-bit mode selected for Indian scripts and the printouts can be got through WordStar only. The printing should be done with IBM printer selected in WordStar Print menu as well as in the printer emulation in the GIST menu. i.e., WordStar must be installed or configured for IBM printer being used for printing. Depending upon the actual printer being used, the corresponding printer driver must be selected in the GIST menu. Attributes like Bold and Underline can be printed by GIST through its emulation. This feature has bean introduced in GIST firmware version 7.40 onwars.

Even in document mode WordStar cannot justify the proportinally spaced Indian language text. Special software aLP has been provided to cater to the needs of word processing for all languages. You can even use several languages at a time in the same document. Various attributes are also usable in this software.

Now ALP is usable in PC-ISCII code set also be making hte PC_Code "ON" in the mode menu, while on the Script page. Hence it is convenient to do the basic editing in WordStar and then do the justification, add the attributes etc in script processor. In the installation of WordStar make user that the Monitor options is installted to use the ROM-BIOS calls onle and not direct Video-Ram. This will ensure faster scrolling while GIST video is selected. You may use only the text mode features of versions 5 and 6. Features like Page Preview, Spelling Checking for non-English words etc are not supported under GIST. Use ALP with spelling checker for this purpose.

SideKick

SideKick editor can be used to create non-document files containing Indian script. For this SideKick has to be used in 8-bit mode, which is selected by "Control QG" command.

LIST

LIST utility is meant for screen-oriented browsing of a file. Use the "8" command to put it in the 8-bit mode for viewing of Indian script files.

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Under UNIX / XENIX environment

GIST Card under UNIX/XENIX enviornment can be used in multiple ways. GIST Card can be installed on the host with the apporpriate driver for GIST Card. The GIST Card can also be used on the IBM PC's used as a terminal with emulation software. A separate utility "GLINK" is optionally available to make such IBM PC multilingual. This avoids using separate GIST Terminals. IBM PC can be used as a PC as well as GIST Terminal.

In case of multi-user environment printing can be done through a printer connected to server with GIST Card installed on it.

VI Editor

This editor does not allow 8-bit character codes and is therefor not recommended for use in UNIX/XENIX environment. However the VI Editor supports 7-bit ISCII.

LYRIX

This allows 8-bit character codes (ISCII). Hence, the LYRIX software (V6.1.0.C onwards) is excellent screen editor for creating program files, source files etc. For wrod processing in all languages, we recomment the ALP software under UNIX/XENIX environment.

FOXBASE

This package is compatible with GIST and works in normal 8-bit character code (ISCII).

SCO-PROFESSIONAL

This package also supports the 8-bit character code set (ISCII) for version 2.0.1h onwards. Printer has to be reconfigured for GIST printong. While re-configuring printer capabilities, please keep in mind that GIST printing does not provide for the line-drawing character set (in the ISCII and ISCII-7 code set provided with XENIX)