Pinnacle Speakers Portable Generator DEKO500 User Manual

DEKO500  
Character Generator  
Value, Performance, Reliability  
User’s Guide  
PPN: 253000-USRMAN Revision B  
280 N. Bernardo, Mountain View, CA 94043  
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Table of Contents  
Introduction  
Welcome!...................................................................................................................................5  
How to Use This Manual ...........................................................................................................6  
How to Contact Pinnacle Systems..............................................................................................7  
Starting Windows NT ................................................................................................................8  
Starting Deko500 .......................................................................................................................8  
Exiting Deko500 ........................................................................................................................9  
Exiting Windows NT .................................................................................................................9  
Overview of Deko500  
The Deko500 Desktop..............................................................................................................11  
About Graphic Files.................................................................................................................11  
The Program Window..............................................................................................................11  
Creating a Graphic ...................................................................................................................12  
Saving a Graphic File...............................................................................................................12  
Opening a Graphic File ............................................................................................................15  
Keying......................................................................................................................................17  
Frame Grabbing .......................................................................................................................18  
Suppressing Motion .................................................................................................................18  
Composing Text  
Selecting Text ..........................................................................................................................19  
Selecting a Typeface ................................................................................................................20  
Using an International Character Set........................................................................................21  
Bold and Italic..........................................................................................................................22  
Underlining Text......................................................................................................................22  
Rotating Text............................................................................................................................22  
Skewing Text ...........................................................................................................................23  
Small Caps ...............................................................................................................................24  
Changing Text Case .................................................................................................................24  
Changing the Text Field Box ...................................................................................................25  
Scaling Text .............................................................................................................................25  
Character Spacing (Kerning)....................................................................................................26  
Character Width .......................................................................................................................27  
Row Spacing (Leading)............................................................................................................28  
Typing On a Curve...................................................................................................................28  
Cutting and Pasting Text..........................................................................................................31  
Deleting Text............................................................................................................................31  
Finding and Replacing Text.....................................................................................................32  
Moving Text.............................................................................................................................32  
Justifying Text..........................................................................................................................33  
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Table of Contents  
ii  
Tab Stops .................................................................................................................................35  
Using Undo ..............................................................................................................................36  
Creating Styles  
SPECIFYING A FONT  
About Fonts..............................................................................................................................38  
The Style/Font Window...........................................................................................................38  
Installing TrueType and Postscript Fonts.................................................................................40  
Copying and Pasting a Font .....................................................................................................40  
Custom Typeface .....................................................................................................................41  
SPECIFYING A LOOK  
About Looks.............................................................................................................................43  
The Style/Look Window..........................................................................................................43  
Face..........................................................................................................................................44  
Face Attributes .........................................................................................................................45  
Edge .........................................................................................................................................45  
Edge Attributes.........................................................................................................................46  
Shadow.....................................................................................................................................48  
Shadow Attributes....................................................................................................................49  
Underline..................................................................................................................................51  
Underline Attributes.................................................................................................................52  
Frame .......................................................................................................................................53  
Frame Attributes.......................................................................................................................54  
Cutting and Pasting Details and Looks ....................................................................................55  
SPECIFYING A SHADER  
About Shaders..........................................................................................................................57  
Activating a Shader..................................................................................................................58  
Applying a Color......................................................................................................................58  
Applying a Ramp .....................................................................................................................59  
Ramp Options ..........................................................................................................................59  
Highlight Options.....................................................................................................................60  
Applying a Texture ..................................................................................................................60  
Texture Options........................................................................................................................61  
The Color Picker ......................................................................................................................63  
Picking a Color.........................................................................................................................64  
Using Preset Shaders................................................................................................................65  
WORKING WITH STYLES  
The Current Style Window ......................................................................................................66  
Saving a Style...........................................................................................................................67  
Copying and Pasting a Style.....................................................................................................67  
Assigning a Style to a Style Preset...........................................................................................67  
Retrieving a Style.....................................................................................................................68  
Saving Preset Styles.................................................................................................................69  
Saving a Pre-rendered Style.....................................................................................................70  
Graphics and Layers  
Video Standard.........................................................................................................................71  
About Layers and Backgrounds ...............................................................................................71  
The Background.......................................................................................................................73  
Adding a Text Field .................................................................................................................74  
Text Field Properties................................................................................................................75  
Adding a Rectangle Layer........................................................................................................77  
Adding an Ellipse Layer...........................................................................................................77  
Specifying Layer Properties.....................................................................................................78  
Layer Properties .......................................................................................................................78  
Selecting a Layer......................................................................................................................79  
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Table of Contents  
iii  
Clearing a Graphic ...................................................................................................................79  
Clearing or Deleting a Layer....................................................................................................80  
Cutting and Pasting Layers ......................................................................................................81  
Appending a Graphic to Second Graphic.................................................................................81  
Reordering Layers....................................................................................................................82  
Pasting Layers to the Background............................................................................................82  
Combining Text Fields.............................................................................................................82  
Moving a Layer........................................................................................................................82  
Justifying a Layer.....................................................................................................................84  
Rotating a Layer.......................................................................................................................84  
Scaling a Layer.........................................................................................................................85  
Skewing a Layer.......................................................................................................................86  
Effects and Sequences  
About Deko500 Effects............................................................................................................87  
Creating a Sequence.................................................................................................................88  
Composing Rolls......................................................................................................................90  
Composing Crawls...................................................................................................................91  
Browsing for Graphics in a Sequence ......................................................................................91  
Selecting Events.......................................................................................................................92  
Cutting and Pasting Events ......................................................................................................93  
Inserting and Deleting Events ..................................................................................................93  
Playing a Sequence ..................................................................................................................94  
Pausing Sequence Playback .....................................................................................................94  
Using a GPI Trigger.................................................................................................................95  
Stopping Sequence Playback ...................................................................................................96  
User Preferences  
Deko500 Layouts .....................................................................................................................97  
User Preferences.......................................................................................................................97  
Common Preferences ...............................................................................................................99  
Prompts Preferences.................................................................................................................99  
Paths Preferences ...................................................................................................................100  
Cursor Preferences .................................................................................................................101  
Marker Preferences ................................................................................................................102  
Advanced Preferences............................................................................................................103  
Managing Files  
Opening Files .........................................................................................................................105  
Closing Files ..........................................................................................................................106  
Saving Files............................................................................................................................106  
Deleting Files .........................................................................................................................107  
Sharing Files ..........................................................................................................................107  
Creating a Directory...............................................................................................................107  
Working with Macros  
INTRODUCTION TO MACROS  
Commands and Macros..........................................................................................................109  
Working in the Macro Window..............................................................................................110  
USING THE MACRO RECORDER  
Recording a Macro.................................................................................................................111  
Playing a Macro .....................................................................................................................111  
Pausing a Macro.....................................................................................................................112  
Stopping Macro Playback ......................................................................................................113  
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Table of Contents  
iv  
Single-Stepping a Macro........................................................................................................113  
Editing a Macro......................................................................................................................114  
Saving a Macro ......................................................................................................................114  
Appending to a Macro............................................................................................................115  
Converting a Graphic or Sequence into a Macro ...................................................................115  
MACRO PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE  
Commands .............................................................................................................................116  
Command Syntax...................................................................................................................116  
Parameters..............................................................................................................................117  
Variables ................................................................................................................................119  
Operators................................................................................................................................121  
Comments ..............................................................................................................................124  
Conditional Commands and Loops........................................................................................124  
Subroutines.............................................................................................................................126  
Return Values.........................................................................................................................127  
Objects ...................................................................................................................................127  
Data Type Conversions..........................................................................................................128  
Deko500 Options  
About Deko500 Options ........................................................................................................130  
Automation.............................................................................................................................130  
Chyron Import........................................................................................................................135  
FastAction Keyboard .............................................................................................................137  
Sportsware..............................................................................................................................140  
StillDeko ................................................................................................................................144  
Menus  
Baseline..................................................................................................................................147  
Channel ..................................................................................................................................148  
Edit.........................................................................................................................................149  
File .........................................................................................................................................151  
Help........................................................................................................................................152  
Layer ......................................................................................................................................152  
Macro .....................................................................................................................................153  
Options...................................................................................................................................154  
Presets ....................................................................................................................................155  
Sequence ................................................................................................................................155  
Shader ....................................................................................................................................156  
Style .......................................................................................................................................157  
Text ........................................................................................................................................158  
Timecode................................................................................................................................159  
View.......................................................................................................................................159  
Window..................................................................................................................................161  
Shortcut Keys.........................................................................................................................163  
F1 - F12 Keys.........................................................................................................................166  
Glossary .................................................................................................................................167  
Index ......................................................................................................................................190  
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5
Introduction  
WELCOME!  
This is the User’s Guide for Deko500, a full-color video character generator  
from Pinnacle Systems, Inc. Based on the Windows NT operating system,  
Deko500 offers unprecedented performance in a broadcast-quality character  
generator, including:  
The highest picture quality available for television graphics  
The ease of use and networking capabilities of Windows NT  
The power of a word processor, a page layout program and a  
“slide show” presentation program, in a single application  
Like a word processor, Deko500 offers a variety of tools for typing text and for  
selecting fonts and styles.  
Like a page layout program, Deko500 allows total flexibility in positioning text  
and full-color graphic elements on the screen.  
Like a presentation program, Deko500 plays back a series of graphic pages  
using a wide range of real-time effects, including rolls and crawls.  
We think you’ll be pleased with Deko500’s quality, power and flexibility. Our  
goal is to make Deko500 the number one video character generator. If you have  
any suggestions for features to include in future software releases, we would  
very much like to hear from you. See How to Contact Pinnacle Systems, Inc.,  
page 7.  
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Using this Manual and Contacting Pinnacle  
6
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL  
The Deko500 User’s Guide is a reference manual that describes the operation of  
Deko500. The User’s Guide is derived largely from Deko500’s on-line Help  
screens—you’ll find pretty much the same information in both places.  
One difference between this manual and the on-line Help is how we define new  
terms and keywords. In the on-line Help, new terms appear in green—you click  
on a term with the mouse to see its definition. In the User’s Guide, there is no  
green and no mouse. So, whenever a new term is defined, we show it in bold  
italic type.  
Please refer to the Glossary for a definition.  
You need not read the User’s Guide cover to cover. Most chapters are arranged  
as a series of step-by-step “To do” instructions, such as “To add an edge” or “To  
rotate selected text.” A good approach is to read through the Table of Contents  
to get an idea of Deko500’s capabilities, then refer to specific sections as  
necessary.  
We strongly suggest, however, that you read the chapter, An Overview of  
Deko500. It provides an overall description of Deko500’s user interface and  
operating philosophy.  
Hardware issues, including installation and setup of Deko500, are covered  
separately, in the Deko500 Installation Guide.  
If you’re familiar with other Windows applications like Word or WordPerfect,  
we think you’ll find using Deko500 easy and natural. If you know Windows, but  
not Windows NT, you have nothing to worry about—their operation is almost  
identical.  
If you’re new to Windows, we suggest that you pick up a book on the subject to  
familiarize yourself with the basic Windows concepts. For the most part, this  
User’s Guide assumes a working knowledge of Windows.  
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Using this Manual and Contacting Pinnacle  
7
HOW TO CONTACT PINNACLE SYSTEMS  
Pinnacle Systems, Inc.  
280 N. Bernardo  
Mountain View, CA 94043  
What to do before you call:  
Whenever you contact Pinnacle Systems for technical support, please have the  
following information available:  
Product name and software version number  
Product serial number (in the Help menu, choose About)  
Type of computer hardware you are using  
Precise description of problem and attempted solutions  
Exact wording of any error messages  
Pinnacle Systems Technical Support by Phone:  
Pinnacle Systems technical support for the Deko product line is available 8:00am  
to 8:00pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday.  
Phone: (650) 237-1800  
Information and Technical Support on the Internet:  
For the latest information on Deko upgrades, visit our website at:  
www.pinnaclesys.com.  
Our e-mail address for technical support is:  
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Starting and Exiting Deko500  
8
STARTING WINDOWS NT  
To start Windows NT:  
1. Turn on the power to the PC. The computer monitor shows a series of diagnostic  
screens, then displays the Windows NT startup screen. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to  
log on.  
2. Enter your user name and password, then press Enter. If you don’t have a user  
name, log on as user Deko500. This user name is installed at the factory and  
does not require a password.  
Notes  
Once you log on, you will see the Windows NT Program  
Manager. This is the main screen of Windows NT, from which  
you can launch any application program, including Deko500.  
You must be privileged as a System Administrator or Power  
User to run Deko500. For more information about Windows  
NT, refer to the Windows NT documentation supplied with  
Deko500.  
STARTING DEKO500  
To start Deko500:  
1. Close or minimize windows, if necessary, to access the start-up screen  
of your desktop.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Double-click the Deko500 program icon.  
Hold Ctrl and press Tab as necessary to activate the Deko500  
program group, use the cursor keys to highlight the Deko500  
program icon, then press Enter.  
To start Deko500 automatically, every time you boot up  
Windows NT:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. Choose Common at the top of the Preferences dialog box.  
3. Check On re-boot, automatically log on to NT.  
4. Enter your user password.  
5. Press Enter or click OK.  
Note  
To use the auto-login feature, you must be privileged as a  
System Administrator and must also supply a password. Please  
refer to the Windows NT documentation for details.  
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Starting and Exiting Deko500  
9
To start Deko500 automatically, every time you log on:  
In the Windows NT Program Manager, hold Ctrl down and drag  
the Deko500 program icon into the Startup group. Refer to your  
Windows NT documentation for more information.  
EXITING DEKO500  
To exit Deko500 and return to the Program Manager:  
Do one of the following:  
Double-click the control icon at the left end of the Deko500  
program title bar, or choose Close from the control icon menu.  
From the File menu, choose Exit.  
To have Deko500 prompt before exiting:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. Choose Prompts at the top of the Preferences dialog box.  
3. Check Prompt before exiting Deko500.  
To use other applications without exiting Deko500:  
1. Do one of the following:  
Click the minimize button in the upper-right corner of the Deko500  
application window.  
Choose Minimize from the control icon menu.  
Hold Alt down and press Tab repeatedly to switch to other open  
applications.  
2. When you are ready to return to Deko500, double-click the Deko500  
icon.  
EXITING WINDOWS NT  
To log off from Windows NT:  
1. Exit Deko500.  
2. In the Windows NT Program Manager, do one of the following:  
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then choose Logoff.  
Double-click the control icon at the left end of the Program  
Manager title bar, then choose Log off.  
From the File menu, choose Logoff.  
3. Click OK to log off. After you log off, Windows NT remains active,  
allowing you or another user to log back on. Shared files are still  
accessible from other networked workstations.  
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Starting and Exiting Deko500  
10  
To shut down Windows NT:  
1. Exit Deko500.  
2. In the Windows NT Program Manager, do one of the following:  
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then choose Shutdown.  
Double-click the control icon at the left end of the Program  
Manager title bar, then choose Shutdown.  
From the File menu, choose Shutdown.  
3. Click OK to shut down Windows NT. Don’t turn off the power to your  
computer until a message on the screen tells you it’s OK to do so. Once  
shut down, Windows NT must be restarted before you or another user  
can log back on. Shared files are not accessible from other networked  
workstations.  
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11  
Overview of Deko500  
THE DEKO500 DESKTOP  
All creation and playback of Deko500 graphics is done using the mouse and  
keyboard to interact with the various controls and windows on Deko500’s  
desktop.  
The appearance of the desktop depends on the current layout, as selected from  
the Window menu.  
ABOUT GRAPHIC FILES  
The main function of Deko500 is the creation and display of graphic files. You  
create a Deko500 graphic, including text and background elements, in a  
Program window. Once created, a graphic may be saved on disk in a graphic  
file.  
A graphic consists of one or more layers and a background. Each layer can be  
text or a geometric shape—a rectangle or an ellipse. See Graphics and Layers.  
Each character of text is rendered in a particular style, which specifies its font  
and look. Each geometric shape is rendered in a particular look. See Creating  
Styles.  
Deko500 provides a variety of tools for typing, justifying, positioning, sizing  
and otherwise editing text and shapes. See Composing Text.  
Graphic files may be recalled from disk individually—“opened,” in Windows  
terminology. You can play back a series of graphic files by entering them into a  
sequence. See Effects and Sequences.  
THE PROGRAM WINDOW  
All graphics are created in a Program window.  
The Program window shows the current on-air graphic. The contents of this  
window match Deko500’s video output, with the addition of a cursor, safe-title  
lines and other markers. There is only one Program window.  
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Creating and Saving Graphics  
12  
CREATING A GRAPHIC  
To create a Deko500 graphic:  
1. Activate a Program window. If desired, clear any previous graphic  
by pressing F8 once, or press F8 twice to clear the background,  
too.  
2. Use the cursor keys or click the mouse to position the text cursor.  
3. Type any desired text.  
4. Use any of Deko500’s compositional tools to select fonts and  
styles, add geometric shape or text layers, position layers, etc.  
5. Save the graphic, by choosing Save Graphic As (F12) from the File  
menu.  
SAVING A GRAPHIC FILE  
To save a graphic under a new name:  
1. Activate the graphic window (F5).  
2. From the File menu, choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you  
will store the file.  
4. Type a new file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or  
press Enter.  
Note  
Deko500 automatically attaches “.dko” to the file name. Do  
not type a different extension.  
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Creating and Saving Graphics  
13  
To save a modified graphic:  
1. Activate the graphic window.  
2. From the File menu, choose Save Graphic (Ctrl+S or Alt+F12) to  
replace the previous version of the .dko file.  
To save a graphic under a different video standard:  
1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Do one of the following:  
In the Video Standard text box, select NTSC.  
In the Video Standard text box, select PAL.  
In the Video Standard text box, select custom, then enter  
Horizontal pixel and Vertical pixel values.  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
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Creating and Saving Graphics  
14  
To specify whether or not to save character glyphs:  
1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Select whether to save graphic files with pre-rendered glyphs  
Always, Never or If not already in pre-rendered style.  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Graphic files that include a large font or complicated look  
occupy more disk space when saved with character glyphs, but  
can be retrieved faster.  
To save a fully rendered bitmap with a graphic file:  
1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Check Save rendered bitmap, for faster recall.  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Graphic files that are saved with pre-rendered bitmaps occupy  
more disk space, but can be retrieved much faster.  
To save a graphic with an automatic comment:  
1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Check Add automatic comment, based on text in file.  
4. Click OK or press Enter. Deko500 will automatically fill in the  
comment field with the content of the graphic’s first text field.  
To use file compression when saving TIFF and Targa  
files:  
1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Under When saving TIFF and Targa files, check Use file  
compression.  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
To save TIFF and Targa files with alpha channel:  
1. From the File menu choose Save Graphic As (F12).  
2. In the Save Graphic As dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Under When saving TIFF and Targa files, check Save with alpha  
channel (32-bit).  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
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Opening Graphic Files  
15  
OPENING A GRAPHIC FILE  
To open a graphic file:  
1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9).  
2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that  
contain the file.  
3. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in  
the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Notes  
The next time you call up the File Open dialog box, Deko500  
will prompt you with the name of the next file in the current  
directory. Use the cursor up and down keys to scroll through  
other file names.  
Deko500 can import several file types, including text files  
(.txt), Windows Bitmap files (.bmp), TIFF files (.tif), Targa  
files (.tga) JPEG files (.jpg), Graphics Factory stills (.gf)  
videoDesigner stills (.tv), Kseries/ Presto ppic files (.20k), and  
Pinnacle (.g) files created in FlashFile, Lightning or Genie.  
Warning  
Unlike many Windows applications, Deko500 does not always  
open a new window when you open a file. If a graphic  
(Program) window is already open, Deko500 will open a  
graphic into that window, replacing the previous file. Be sure  
to save any modified file before opening another file in the  
same window.  
To browse for graphic files to add to a sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. Do one of the following:  
From the Sequence menu, choose Browse for Files (Ctrl+L).  
Select Browser from the View window (Ctrl+L).  
3. Double-click a thumbnail to enter it into the sequence  
To open a graphic recorded under a different aspect  
ratio:  
1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9).  
2. In the dialog box, choose Options.  
3. Choose one of the following in the File Open Options dialog box:  
For native (.dko) files of non-native aspect ratio:  
Clip to fit.  
Scales a 4 x 3 graphic to fit a 16 x 9 screen horizontally, but  
chops off part of the top and bottom.  
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Opening Graphic Files  
16  
Chops off part of the left and right sides of a 16 x 9 graphic,  
leaving a 4 x 3 center.  
Pad to fit.  
Centers a 4 x 3 graphic, padding the right and left sides.  
Shrinks a 16 x 9 graphic to fit horizontally, padding the top  
and bottom.  
Scale to fit.  
Stretches a 4 x 3 graphic horizontally, but not vertically, to fit  
the full 16 x 9 screen.  
Compresses a 16 x 9 graphic horizontally, but not vertically,  
to fit the 4 x 3 screen.  
For non-native (not .dko) files:  
Scale to full screen  
Adjusts width and height and does not maintain pixel aspect  
ratio.  
Square pixels, preserve height  
Adjusts width to maintain aspect ratio of pixels assumed to be  
square.  
Square pixels, preserve width  
Adjusts height to maintain aspect ratio of pixels assumed to be  
square.  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
5. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that  
contain the file.  
6. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in  
the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Clip to fit and Pad to fit maintain the graphic’s original aspect  
ratio. Scale to fit distorts it.  
To re-open the graphic file in the active window:  
From the File menu, choose Revert.  
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Opening Graphic Files  
17  
To transfer a GF/Halo/Kseries/Presto image to  
Deko500:  
1. <Record> the GF/Halo image as a still or Kseries/Presto as ppic.  
2. Insert a compatible disk formatted for DOS into one of the  
GF/Halo drives.  
3. <Do> dos export. Export the GF/Halo still to the DOS disk as a  
DOS file with a .gf extension for GF or .20k for Kseries/Presto.  
4. Remove the disk from the GF/Halo drive and insert it into a drive  
on the PC running Deko500.  
5. From the File menu, choose Open, then navigate to the drive and  
directory that contain the.gf file or .20k file.  
6. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in  
the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
You can reverse this process to transfer graphics from  
Deko500 to GF/Halo.  
Only graphic files (still, targa, tiff and dko, g and bmp) can be  
shared. Text files are not compatible.  
KEYING  
Using Deko500’s built-in keyer, you can key text and graphics over live video.  
Or, you can use Deko500’s linear key output to key text and graphics  
downstream, using a switcher.  
To turn Deko500’s keyer on:  
1. Connect an input video signal to Deko500. See Video Inputs in the  
Deko500 Installation Guide.  
2. From the Options menu, choose Hardware Settings then Input  
Selection, and select an input video source.  
3. From the Channel menu, choose Keyer On.  
To turn Deko500’s keyer off:  
From the Channel menu, choose Keyer Off.  
To output only the key of a graphic:  
From the Channel menu, choose Show Key Output.  
To output only the key of a graphic:  
From the Channel menu, choose Show Key Output.  
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Keying / Frame Grabbing / Motion Suppression  
18  
FRAME GRABBING  
To set grab options:  
In the Channel menu, click Grab Options, then click to select or  
de-select options from the drop-down menu. A checkmark next to  
an option indicates that it is selected.  
Grab With Key  
Select to enable frame grabbing video input with key. This option  
must be selected to enable fram grabbing of shaped input video.  
Input Video Is Shaped  
Select to enable frame grabbing of shaped input video. This  
selection is not available if Grab With Key is not selected.  
To grab a frame of video:  
1. Connect an input signal to Deko500. See Video Inputs in the  
Deko500 Installation Guide.  
2. From the Channel menu, choose Frame Grab.  
Note  
Use a digital input source for the highest quality frame  
grabbing.  
SUPPRESSING MOTION  
To apply motion suppression when frame grabbing:  
1. From the Channel Menu, choose Motion Suppress.  
2. Check Motion Suppress When Grabbing.  
To apply motion suppression to the current  
background:  
1. From the Channel Menu, choose Motion Suppress.  
2. Check Motion Suppress Now.  
To specify motion suppression options:  
1. From the Channel Menu, choose Motion Suppress.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Check Interpolate Scan Lines to specify interpolation between  
every other scan line.  
Check Duplicate Scan Lines to specify duplication of every  
other scan line.  
3. Check either Preserve Field 1 (odd field) or Preserve Field 2 (even  
field) to specify which field’s scan lines to interpolate or duplicate.  
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19  
Composing Text  
SELECTING TEXT  
To select a block of text:  
Drag across, then down or up the text.  
Use arrow keys (↑ → ↓ ) to move the cursor to the beginning or end  
of the text block, then hold Shift and press arrow keys as necessary.  
To select multiple blocks of text:  
Hold Ctrl as you drag across, then down or up the text.  
Choose Select More from the Edit menu. For each block of text, use  
arrow keys (↑ → ↓ ) to move the cursor to the beginning or end of  
the text block, then hold Shift and press arrow keys to select the block.  
To select a word:  
Double-click the word.  
Use arrow keys (↑ → ↓ ) to move the cursor to the beginning or end  
of the word, then hold Shift and press right or left arrow.  
To select all text in a text field:  
From the top left of the text, drag across, then down the text.  
Press Insert and Tab to the text field, or choose Select Field from the  
Edit menu.  
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Selecting Text, Selecting a Typeface, Using an International Character Set  
20  
To select all text characters in a graphic:  
Choose Select All (Crl+A) from the Edit menu.  
To select all text characters in the current style:  
Choose Select Style from the Edit menu.  
To de-select text:  
Click anywhere in the text field.  
Press any arrow key (↑ → ↓ ).  
SELECTING A TYPEFACE  
To select a typeface:  
1. Select the text to which you will apply the new typeface. If no text  
is selected, Deko500 applies changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
From the View menu, choose Browser, then choose Browse  
Typefaces from the File menu.  
On the text bar, click the Typeface drop-down list box.  
In the Style window, choose Font, then click Browse.  
In the Style window, choose Font, then click the Typeface  
drop-down list box.  
3. Double-click a typeface on the browser or the drop-down list, or  
type the name of the typeface in the text box.  
Note  
If you select a custom typeface, Deko500 automatically sets  
the font to the size at which no scaling will occur. You may  
then select any font size.  
To select a typeface from a graphic:  
1. Move the text cursor immediately to the right of a character in the  
desired typeface.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Pick Font.  
Note  
If you check “Cursor movement sets font and look” in the  
Options/Preferences/Cursor dialog box, the current style will  
always show the style of the character to the left of the text  
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Selecting Text, Selecting a Typeface, Using an International Character Set  
21  
cursor, unless a text character or layer is selected.  
USING AN INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER SET  
To type a character from an international character  
set:  
1. From the View menu, choose International.  
2. In the International window, click the Character Set list box, then  
choose a character set from the drop-down list.  
3. In the graphic window, position the insertion point where you  
wish to insert the character.  
4. Click the desired character in the International window.  
Note  
Not all TrueType or Postscript fonts include every character in  
every character set. The International window displays a small  
box in place of any character that is not available in the  
current font.  
To change the current keyboard layout:  
1. From the View menu, choose Style.  
2. In the Style window, choose Font, then click the Keyboard list box.  
3. Type or scroll to the new keyboard layout.  
Notes  
Any keyboard layout installed in Windows NT is automatically  
available in Deko500. In the Windows NT Program Manager,  
double-click Main, Control Panel, then International. Refer to  
Windows NT documentation for more detailed information.  
Deko500 supports most alphabet-based languages as well as  
several ideographic languages. For the following languages,  
you must install the local version of Windows NT: Arabic,  
Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Thai.  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
22  
BOLD AND ITALIC  
To change normal text to bold:  
1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change the  
current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Press the bold button on the text bar (Ctrl+B).  
Activate the Style window, select Font at the top of the Style  
window, then check Bold.  
3. To change text back to normal, unpress the bold button or uncheck  
Bold.  
To change normal text to italic:  
1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change the  
current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Press the italic button on the text bar (Ctrl+I).  
Activate the Style window, select Font at the top of the Style  
window, then check Italic.  
3. To change text back to normal, unpress the italic button or uncheck  
Italic.  
UNDERLINING TEXT  
To underline text:  
1. Select the text to be underlined, or select nothing to add an  
underline to the current style.  
2. Press the underline button on the text bar (Ctrl+U).  
To change text back to normal, unpress the underline button.  
ROTATING TEXT  
To rotate text using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Rotate & Skew (Ctrl+R).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
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3. Select the text to rotate.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the down arrow () to rotate the  
selected text clockwise, or the up arrow () to rotate  
counterclockwise.  
To rotate text using the mouse:  
1. Click the rotate/skew button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the text to rotate.  
3. Move the pointer near the dotted line surrounding selected text, so  
that the pointer becomes the rotation tool.  
4. Drag to rotate selected text.  
To specify a numerical value for rotation:  
1. Select the text to rotate. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Font at the top of the Style window.  
4. Double-click the Rotation text box, then type or scroll to a value.  
Negative values set counterclockwise rotation of the selected text,  
and positive values set clockwise rotation.  
SKEWING TEXT  
To skew text using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Rotate & Skew (Ctrl+R).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the text to skew.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the right arrow () to skew the  
selected text clockwise, or the left arrow () to skew  
counterclockwise.  
To skew text using the mouse:  
1. Click the rotate/skew button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the text to skew.  
3. Move the pointer over the top-right-corner handle of the selected  
text, so that the pointer becomes the skewing tool.  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
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4. Drag the handle to skew selected text.  
To specify a numerical value for skewing:  
1. Select the characters to skew. If no text is selected, Deko500  
applies changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Font at the top of the Style window.  
4. Double-click the Skew text box, then type or scroll to a value.  
Negative values skew text counterclockwise, and positive values  
skew text clockwise.  
Note  
Skew can be used to italicize text to angles different from the  
default italic angle.  
SMALL CAPS  
To change lower case text to small upper case text:  
1. Select the text to be capitalized, or select nothing to change the  
current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Press the small caps button on the text bar.  
In the Style/Font window, check Small Caps.  
To change text back to normal, unpress the small caps button or  
uncheck Small Caps.  
CHANGING TEXT CASE  
To change the first character of each word to upper  
case:  
1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change all text in  
the current text field.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Capitalize.  
To change selected text to upper case:  
1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change all text in  
the current text field.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Upper Case.  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
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To change selected text to lower case:  
1. Select the text to be changed, or select nothing to change all text in  
the current text field.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Lower Case.  
CHANGING THE TEXT FIELD BOX  
To change the text field box, using the keyboard:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Transform/Move (Ctrl+M).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select a text field.  
4. Hold Alt down and press arrow keys (↓→ ←) to move the text  
field box up, down, left or right.  
To change the text field box, using the mouse:  
1. Click the move button in the Tools window.  
2. Select a text field.  
3. Position the pointer near the border or a handle of the field, so that  
the pointer becomes the moving tool or a sizing tool.  
4. Drag to move or size the text field box.  
Important  
When you size the text field box, Deko500 does not scale the  
text along with the box. The text remains the same size, but  
wraps differently to fit within the box. To scale the text along  
with the box, see Scaling a Layer.  
SCALING TEXT  
To scale text using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Scale & Width (Ctrl+W).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the text for scaling.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the up or down arrow () to  
increase or decrease text size, or the right or left arrow () to  
increase or decrease text width.  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
26  
To scale text using the mouse:  
1. Click the scaling button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the text for scaling.  
3. Move the pointer to a handle on any side or corner of selected text,  
so that the pointer becomes one of the scaling tools.  
4. Drag a handle either outward to increase or inward to decrease text  
size.  
Corner handles control height and width together; middle handles  
on the right or left control width only; and middle handles on the  
top or bottom control height only.  
Hold Ctrl down while dragging a corner handle to preserve the  
aspect ratio of the text — height and width scale together.  
To specify a numerical value for font size:  
1. Select the text to scale. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
On the text bar, double-click the Size text box.  
In the Style/Font window, then double-click the Size text box.  
3. In the text box, type or scroll to a new font size.  
4. Press Enter to apply the new size.  
CHARACTER SPACING (KERNING)  
To kern text using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Kerning & Leading  
(Ctrl+K).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the characters to kern.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the right arrow () to widen the  
space between selected characters, or the left arrow () to reduce  
character spacing.  
To kern text using the mouse:  
1. Click the kerning/leading button in the Tools window.  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
27  
2. Select the characters to kern.  
3. Move the pointer to a handle at either side of the selected text, so  
that the pointer becomes the kerning tool.  
4. Drag the handle either outward to widen spacing between  
characters or inward to decrease character spacing.  
To specify a numerical value for kerning:  
1. Select the characters to kern. If no text is selected, Deko500  
applies changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Font at the top of the Style window.  
4. Double-click or Tab to the Kerning text box, then type or scroll to  
the desired value. A positive kerning value increases space  
between characters; a negative value decreases the space. To use  
default kerning, specify a value of zero.  
CHARACTER WIDTH  
To change character width using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Scale & Width (Ctrl+W).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the characters to change.  
4. Hold Alt down and press either the right arrow () to widen  
characters, or the left arrow () to decrease character width.  
To change character width using the mouse:  
1. Click the scale button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the characters to change.  
3. Move the pointer to a handle on either side of selected text, so that  
the pointer becomes the widening tool.  
4. Drag the handle either outward to widen characters or inward to  
decrease character width.  
To specify a numerical value for character width:  
1. Select the characters to change. If no text is selected, Deko500  
applies changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Font at the top of the Style window.  
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Changing Text Appearance, Size, and Spacing  
28  
4. Double-click or Tab to the Width % text box, then type or scroll to  
a percentage of normal character width.  
ROW SPACING (LEADING)  
To change leading using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Kerning & Leading  
(Ctrl+K).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the text for leading.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the up arrow () to increase the  
space between rows of selected text, or the down arrow () to  
decrease space.  
To change leading using the mouse:  
1. Click the kerning/leading button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the text for leading.  
3. Move the pointer to a handle above or below selected text, so that  
the pointer becomes a leading tool.  
4. Drag the handle downward to increase the space between rows, or  
upward to reduce row spacing.  
To specify a numerical value for leading:  
1. Select the text for leading. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Font at the top of the Style window.  
4. Double-click the Leading text box, then type or scroll to the  
desired value. A positive value increases the space between rows; a  
negative value decreases it. The default value is zero.  
TYPING ON A CURVE  
To activate the Baseline Edit window:  
Do one of the following:  
From the Layer menu, choose Edit Baseline (to activate the  
Baseline Edit window).  
If the Baseline Edit window is open but not active, check  
Baseline Edit in the Window menu.  
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Cutting, Pasting, Finding, Replacing, and Moving Text  
29  
To draw a curved baseline:  
1. Select the layer whose baseline you wish to modify.  
2. Activate the Baseline Edit window.  
3. Do one of the following:  
In the Baseline menu, check Draw Curve.  
Click the curve drawing tool button in the Tools window.  
4. Position the drawing tool where you will begin the curve, and drag  
the mouse to draw the curve.  
To draw a line-segment baseline:  
1. Select the layer whose baseline you wish to modify.  
2. Activate the Baseline Edit window.  
3. Do one of the following:  
In the Baseline menu, check Draw Curve.  
Click the curve drawing tool button in the Tools window.  
4. Click to begin the line, then move the drawing tool to the desired  
end point and click again. Repeat this step as desired to draw  
multiple line segments.  
5. To break the line, move the cursor out of the Baseline Edit  
window.  
To use a rectangle or ellipse as a baseline:  
1. Select the layer whose baseline you wish to modify.  
2. Activate the Baseline Edit window.  
3. Click the rectangle or ellipse button in the Tools window, then  
drag the cursor in the Baseline Edit window to define the rectangle  
or ellipse.  
4. Once you release the mouse button, you will be in Edit Curve  
mode. Drag points as desired to edit the baseline.  
Note  
Holding Ctrl as you drag the cursor maintains a square or  
round baseline.  
To apply a baseline:  
Once you have drawn or edited the baseline as desired, do one of  
the following:  
To apply the baseline and remain in baseline edit mode,  
choose Apply Baseline (Enter) from the Baseline menu.  
To apply the baseline and close the Baseline Edit window,  
choose Accept Baseline (Alt+Enter) from the Baseline menu.  
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To delete or insert a point on a baseline:  
1. If not already in the Baseline Edit mode, choose Edit Baseline  
from the Layer menu.  
2. In the Baseline menu, check Edit Curve.  
3. Do one of the following:  
Click the point you wish to delete, then choose Delete  
Selected Point (Delete) from the Baseline menu.  
Choose Insert Point (Insert) from the Baseline menu, then  
click on the curve where you wish to insert the point.  
To reverse the direction of the baseline:  
1. If not already in the Baseline Edit mode, choose Edit Baseline  
from the Layer menu.  
2. In the Baseline menu, choose Reverse Baseline.  
To change the type of a point on the baseline:  
1. In the Baseline menu, check Edit Curve.  
2. Click the point to select it.  
3. In the Baseline menu, do one of the following:  
Check Move To, for a point that begins a new section of the  
baseline.  
Check Line To, for a point connected to the previous point by  
a straight line.  
Check Bezier, for a point connected to the previous point by a  
Bezier curve.  
To adjust the continuity between two Bezier curves:  
1. In the Baseline menu, check Edit Curve.  
2. Click the point shared by the two curves.  
3. In the Baseline menu, do one of the following:  
Check Cusp for no continuity. The control points on either  
side of the shared point move independently.  
Check Smooth for C1 continuity.  
Check Symmetric for C2 continuity.  
To cancel changes to a baseline:  
1. Do one of the following:  
To cancel all changes and exit the Baseline Edit window,  
choose Cancel from the Baseline menu.  
If Undo is enabled, you can choose Undo (Ctrl+Z) from the  
Edit menu, for each change you wish to undo.  
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Cutting, Pasting, Finding, Replacing, and Moving Text  
31  
CUTTING AND PASTING TEXT  
To cut or copy text:  
1. Select the text to be cut or copied.  
2. Do one of the following:  
To cut selected text, from the Edit menu, choose Cut (Ctrl+X),  
or click the cut button on the text bar.  
To copy selected text, from the Edit menu, choose Copy  
(Ctrl+C), then Selected, or click the copy button on the text  
bar.  
To paste text:  
1. Position the cursor where you will insert the text.  
2. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste  
button on the text bar.  
Notes  
When you cut or copy text, it is saved in the Windows NT  
clipboard.  
Unlike moving text, cutting and pasting text changes the  
location of the text cursor. When you move text, the cursor  
appears in the original location of the text even after the text  
has been moved, but when you cut and paste text, the cursor  
follows the text.  
DELETING TEXT  
To delete text:  
1. Select the text to be deleted.  
2. Choose Delete (Delete) from the Edit menu.  
To delete all text within a text field:  
1. Select a text field.  
2. From the Layer menu, choose Clear Text. The emptied layer  
remains in the graphic.  
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FINDING AND REPLACING TEXT  
To find text within a graphic:  
1. From the Edit menu, choose Find (Ctrl+F).  
2. In the dialog box, type the text in the Find What text box.  
3. If desired, check Match Case or Match Whole Word Only.  
4. Choose Find Next (Ctrl+G) to find and select the next occurrence  
of the text.  
5. Click Cancel to close the dialog box.  
To find and replace text within a graphic:  
1. From the Edit menu, choose Replace (Ctrl+H).  
2. In the dialog box, type original text in the Find What text box.  
3. Type replacement text in the Replace With text box.  
4. If desired, check Match Case or Match Whole Word Only.  
5. Do one of the following:  
Choose Find Next (Ctrl+G) to find and select the next  
occurrence of original text. Then choose Replace to remove  
and replace selected text, or Find Next to skip to the next  
occurrence of original text.  
To find and replace all occurrences of original text, choose  
Replace All.  
6. Click Cancel to close the dialog box.  
MOVING TEXT  
To move text using the keyboard:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Transform/Move (Ctrl+M).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the text to move.  
4. Hold down Alt and press arrow keys (↓→ ←) to move selected  
text up, down, right or left.  
To move text using the mouse:  
1. Select the text to move.  
2. Click the move button in the Tools window.  
3. Move the pointer near the dotted line surrounding selected text, so  
that the pointer becomes the moving tool.  
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4. Drag to move selected text in any direction.  
Note  
Unlike cutting and pasting text, moving text does not change  
the location of the text cursor. When you cut and paste text,  
the cursor follows the text, but when you move text, the cursor  
appears in the original location of the text even after the text  
has been moved.  
If no text is selected:  
Alt + moves the cursor row and all lower rows down.  
Alt + moves the cursor row and all lower rows up.  
Alt + moves all characters from the cursor to the end of the  
row (or tab field) to the right.  
Alt + moves all characters from the cursor to the end of the  
row (or tab field) to the left.  
JUSTIFYING TEXT  
To justify text using the mouse:  
1. Select the text, or select nothing to justify the entire field of text.  
2. Do one of the following:  
On the text bar, click the appropriate justification button to  
alter horizontal justification, vertical justification, or both,  
then choose the desired setting.  
From the Text menu, choose Justify, then select a setting for  
horizontal justification, vertical justification or both. The  
choices are self-explanatory, except for full and spread  
justification.  
Full horizontal justification makes selected text, except any row with a newline  
character (hard return), flush with the left and right sides of the text field box.  
Full vertical justification makes the top and bottom lines of selected text flush  
with the top and bottom of the field box.  
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Justifying Text and Using Tab Stops  
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Spread justification makes all lines of selected text flush with both the left and  
right sides of the text field box. To do this, space is inserted between words and  
between letters, as controlled by the Spread % in the Style/Layers window.  
To justify text using the keyboard:  
1. Select the text, or select nothing to justify the entire field of text.  
2. Hold Ctrl down and press one of the numbers on the numeric  
keypad to justify selected text in the corresponding position of the  
selected text field.  
7
8
9
Top left  
Top center  
Top right  
4
5
6
Middle left  
Middle center Middle right  
1
2
3
Bottom left Bottom center Bottom right  
0
Justification off  
Notes  
If you select only some of the text in a field, that text will be  
justified in a separate field.  
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Justifying Text and Using Tab Stops  
35  
TAB STOPS  
To set a tab stop:  
1. Position the cursor where you will insert the tab stop.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Tab Set.  
3. Choose an alignment (Right, Left, Center or Decimal) from the  
drop-down menu.  
4. The current tab settings for a text field are displayed at the bottom  
of the text field box, using the following markers:  
Left:  
Right:  
Center:  
Decimal:  
5. Whenever you Tab to a tab stop, a similar tab marker is displayed  
to the left of the first character at the tab stop.  
To clear a selected tab stop:  
1. Tab to the tab stop.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Tab Clear.  
To clear all tabs within a layer:  
From the Text menu, choose Tab Clear All.  
To move a tab stop:  
1. Position the cursor to the left of the tab stop.  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Do one of the following:  
In the Options menu, select Transform, then Move.  
Click the move button in the Tools window.  
4. Hold Alt and use the right or left arrow keys () to move the  
tab stop.  
To cut or copy a tab stop:  
1. Select the tab stop you wish to cut or copy.  
2. Do one of the following:  
To remove the selected tab stop from its current position,  
choose Cut (Ctrl+X) from the Edit menu, or click the cut  
button in the Tools window.  
To copy and leave the selected tab stop intact, choose Copy  
(Ctrl+C), then Tabs, from the Edit menu, or click the copy  
button in the Tools window.  
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36  
To paste a cut or copied tab stop:  
1. If necessary, open the file into which you will paste the tab stop.  
2. Position to text cursor where you will insert the cut or copied tab  
stop.  
3. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste  
button in the Tools window.  
To change the decimal tab character:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. At the top of the dialog box, choose Common.  
3. In the Decimal tab char text box, type a new decimal tab character.  
4. Choose OK or press Enter.  
To display or hide tab markers:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. In the dialog box, under Markers, check or uncheck Tab stops.  
USING UNDO  
To undo the previous action(s):  
From the Edit menu, choose Undo (Ctrl+Z) for each action you  
wish to undo. The Edit menu tells you what will be undone.  
To redo undone actions:  
From the Edit menu, choose Redo (Ctrl+Y) for each action you  
wish to redo. The Edit menu tells you what will be redone.  
To enable or disable Undo:  
In the Edit menu, check or un-check Undo enabled.  
Notes  
The default setting is Undo enabled. Undo uses several  
megabytes of space on your hard drive and may slow some  
Deko500 operations. Disabling Undo frees space on your hard  
drive and may speed up Deko500’s performance.  
You cannot disable Undo, then enable Undo and use it to  
undo actions performed while it was disabled.  
Undo will not undo changes to a macro or custom typeface,  
and is disabled during sequence playback. When you play a  
sequence, Deko500 resets the Undo buffer so that no previous  
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Using Undo  
37  
actions can be undone.  
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38  
Creating Styles  
SPECIFYING A FONT  
ABOUT FONTS  
A font is a single typeface in a particular size and orientation. In Deko500, the  
current font and the current look make up the current style.  
Deko500 supports alphabet-based fonts as well as fonts of several ideographic  
languages. For the following languages, you must install the local version of  
Windows NT: Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Thai.  
The preceding Composing Text chapter described how to select and manipulate  
a font interactively. This section describes howto use the controls in the  
Style/Font Window to change the attributes of the current font.  
Later sections describe how to install TrueType or Postscript fonts and how to  
create a Custom Typeface.  
To change the attributes of the current font:  
Do one of the following:  
Use the text bar to choose the current typeface, size, bold,  
italic and justification rules.  
Use the Style/Font Window to control all aspects of the  
current font.  
THE STYLE/FONT WINDOW  
To display the Style/Font Window:  
1. In the View menu, Choose Style (F6).  
2. Click Font at the top of the Style window.  
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Specifying a Font  
39  
Controls in the Style/Font Window:  
Typeface  
The name of the current typeface. Click this box to call up a list of  
available typefaces. The list includes TrueType and Postscript  
fonts as well as Deko500 Custom Typefaces. The latter are  
indicated by the word “(deko)” after the typeface name.  
Browse  
Opens the Typeface Browser window, showing the current font  
and a sample of each available typeface. Double-click a typeface  
sample to select it.  
Size  
The height of the current font, in screen units.  
Width  
Percent of normal width. Enter a percent less than 100 to condense  
the font, or greater than 100 to expand it.  
Bold  
Selects a bold version of the current typeface. If no bold version is  
available, this item is dimmed.  
Italic  
Selects an italic version of the current typeface. If no italic version  
is available, this item is dimmed.  
Small Caps  
Turns all lower case characters into small upper case characters.  
Leading  
Controls the spacing between rows of text. A value of zero  
produces the default row spacing. Values greater than zero increase  
the space between rows; values less than zero decrease it.  
Kerning  
Controls the spacing between characters. A value of zero produces  
the default kerning. Values greater than zero increase the space  
between characters; values less than zero decrease it.  
Rotation  
Controls the angle of the baseline, in degrees.  
Skew  
Controls the amount of skew applied to the characters. This is  
independent of the italic setting.  
Spacing  
Chooses the type of character spacing for the font:  
proportional  
Characters are spaced according to their widths.  
monospace  
All characters are forced to have the same widths.  
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Specifying a Font  
40  
digits  
The digits 0-9 are monospace, but all other characters are  
proportional.  
Note  
Note  
For many typefaces, there is no difference between  
“proportional” and “digits” spacing. In other words, the fonts  
were designed with monospaced digits.  
Keyboard  
Selects the keyboard language layout for typing with the font.  
Orientation  
Determines field orientation, i.e. left-to-right, top-to-bottom, etc.  
Right-to-left is available only for Arabic or Hebrew, and top-  
to-bottom and top-to-bottom-rotated are available only for  
Chinese, Japanese or Korean.  
Pre-rendered style  
Indicates that this style was previously rendered and saved so it  
can be typed quicker.  
INSTALLING TRUETYPE AND POSTSCRIPT FONTS  
To install a TrueType or Postscript font:  
1. Close or minimize windows as necessary to access the start-up  
screen of your desktop.  
2. Click the Start button in the bottom lefthand corner of the screen,  
then click Settings, then Control Panel.  
3. Double-click Fonts.  
4. Select the fonts to install. Refer to help for the Fonts dialog box for  
detailed help with font installation.  
Note  
Once fonts have been installed in Windows NT, you must  
restart Deko500 before those fonts are available in Deko500.  
COPYING AND PASTING A FONT  
To copy and paste a font:  
1. Select text whose font you wish to copy.  
2. From the Edit menu, choose Copy (Ctrl+C), then Font.  
3. Select the text or position the cursor where you will apply the font.  
4. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste  
button on the text bar.  
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Specifying a Font  
41  
Note  
When you copy a font, it is saved in the Windows NT  
clipboard.  
CUSTOM TYPEFACE  
The Custom Typeface feature enables you to create custom  
characters for use in Deko500 graphics  
To open a Custom Typeface window:  
Do one of the following:  
From the Window menu, choose Select Layout, then Typeface  
Edit.  
From the View menu, choose Custom Typeface.  
From the File menu, choose Open, navigate to the drive and  
directory containing an existing custom typeface, then press  
Enter or click OK.  
To import an active graphic as a character into a  
custom typeface:  
1. Activate the Program window and open the graphic you wish to  
import as a character.  
2. Activate the Custom Typeface window and optionally open an  
existing custom typeface.  
3. Click or use arrow keys to select the character.  
4. From the File menu, choose Import Character.  
To import a graphic file as a character into a custom  
typeface:  
1. Activate the Custom Typeface window and optionally open an  
existing custom typeface.  
2. Click or use arrow keys to select the character.  
3. From the File menu, choose Import Character From File.  
4. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain  
the file that will become the custom character.  
5. Type the file name in the File Name text box or choose it from the  
File Name list box, then click OK or press Enter. Deko500 copies  
the file into the selected character.  
Note  
Deko500 can import several file types to use as custom  
characters, including Deko500 graphics (.dko), Windows  
bitmap files (.bmp), Graphics Factory stills (.gf),  
videoDesigner stills (.tv), JPEG files (.jpg), TIFF files (.tif)  
and Targa files (.tga).  
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Specifying a Font  
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To change pin location and set width of a character:  
1. In the Custom Typeface window, double-click the character you  
wish to edit. Deko500 displays the character in its own window.  
2. In the character window, type in or scroll to X and Y values for the  
character’s pin location.  
3. Type in or scroll to a Width value for the character’s set width.  
4. To close the character window, double-click its control icon.  
Note  
Multiple character windows can be open at one time.  
To specify custom typeface properties:  
1. Activate the Custom Typeface window and open the custom  
typeface.  
2. In the Custom Typeface window, click Properties.  
3. Edit properties as desired, then click OK.  
Custom Typeface Properties  
Font size  
The default size of the typeface, i.e. the size at which no  
scaling will occur.  
Cap height  
The height of upper case characters, as a percentage of the  
font size.  
Ascender  
The maximum distance of character ascenders from the  
baseline, as a percentage of the font size.  
Descender  
The maximum distance of character descenders from the  
baseline, as a percentage of the font size.  
Underline size  
Underline height, as a percentage of the font size.  
Underline position  
Underline position, relative to character position, as a  
percentage of the font size.  
Space width  
Space between characters, specified as a percentage of the font  
size.  
Number width  
Number width, specified as a percentage of the font size.  
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43  
SPECIFYING A LOOK  
ABOUT LOOKS  
This section describes how to control the current style’s look. The look controls  
everything about the way a text character looks, including colors, edges,  
shadows, etc.  
A look consists of a list of details. Each detail is a face, edge, frame, shadow, or  
underline, and has its own set of attributes which dictate color, size, shape, etc.  
A look coupled with a font makes up a style.  
To change the attributes of the current look:  
Do one of the following:  
Use the text bar to turn on and off the first face, edge, shadow,  
underline and frame of a look, and to choose colors for each.  
Use the Style/Look Window to control all aspects of the  
current look, including additional edges, shadows, etc.  
THE STYLE/LOOK WINDOW  
To display the Style/Look Window:  
1. In the View menu, Choose Style (F6).  
2. Click Look (Alt+L) at the top of the Style window.  
Controls in the Style/Look Window:  
Details  
The list of details for the current look. The selected detail is  
highlighted, and its attributes are displayed in the lower half of the  
window.  
Details come in these flavors:  
Edge  
An edge around the character. The edge is based on details  
above it in the list of details.  
Face  
The face of the character. Most looks have only a single face,  
which is usually the first detail in the list of details.  
Frame  
A frame behind the character.  
Shadow  
A shadow of the character. The shadow is based on details  
above it in the list of details. A look can have up to two  
shadows.  
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Specifying a Look  
44  
Underline  
An underline below the character. A look can have only one  
underline.  
Frame  
A frame behind the character. A look can have up to two  
frames.  
Add  
Adds a new detail to the current look. A pop-up menu lets you  
choose which kind of detail to add. The new detail is added after  
the selected detail.  
Delete  
Deletes the selected detail.  
FACE  
To add or remove a face:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, a face is added to or  
removed from the current style.  
2. Click the face button on the text bar to toggle the face on or off.  
To change the color of a face:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Click the shader button next to the face button on the text bar  
(only for the first face of a look).  
Open the Style window (F6), select Look (Alt+L) at the top of  
the Style window, click on the appropriate face detail, then  
click the Shader button.  
3. In the Shader window, choose a Color, Ramp or Texture.  
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Specifying a Look  
45  
To change other attributes of a face:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Look (Alt+L) at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Details list, choose the face. Deko500 displays face  
attributes in the lower half of the Style window.  
FACE ATTRIBUTES  
Hide  
Check this box to hide the face. A hidden face can still affect other  
details, based on its Priority and the “From previous detail”  
settings of other details.  
Shader  
Opens the Face Shader window. Use the Face Shader to apply a  
color, ramp or texture to the face.  
Blur  
Controls the amount of blur, from 0 (no blur) to 100.  
Priority  
Determines whether the face appears in front of or behind other  
details. By default, Deko500 assigns a priority to each detail so  
that they render from front to back, in the order they appear in the  
Details list. Use Priority to change the rendering order. Priority  
ranges from 0 (closest to viewer) to 1000 (farthest from viewer).  
Priority also controls the rendering order of overlapping details  
from different styles.  
EDGE  
To add or remove an edge:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, an edge is added to  
or removed from the current style.  
2. Click the edge button on the text bar to toggle the edge on or off.  
This button controls only the first edge of a look.  
To add additional edges:  
1. Activate the Style window.  
2. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
3. Next to the Details list, choose Add, then choose Edge from the  
popup menu. The edge is added after the selected detail.  
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Specifying a Look  
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To change the color of an edge:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Click the shader button next to the edge button on the text bar  
(only for the first edge of a look).  
Open the Style window (F6), select Look at the top of the  
Style window, click on the appropriate edge detail, then click  
the Shader button.  
3. In the Shader window, choose a Color, Ramp or Texture.  
To change other attributes of an edge:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Details list, choose the edge. Deko500 displays Edge  
Attributes in the lower half of the Style window.  
EDGE ATTRIBUTES  
Hide  
Hides the edge. A hidden edge can still affect other details, based  
on its Priority and “To next detail” settings.  
Shader  
Opens the Edge Shader window. Use the Edge Shader to apply a  
color, ramp or texture to the edge.  
Blur  
Controls the amount of blur, from 0 (no blur) to 100.  
Shape  
Specifies the shape of the edge:  
round  
creates a rounded edge.  
square  
creates a rectangular edge.  
Type  
Specifies the type of edge:  
outer  
creates an edge that extends outward from the outer edge of  
the edged detail.  
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Specifying a Look  
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inner  
creates an edge that extends inward from the outer edge of the  
edged detail.  
border  
creates an edge that extends both outward and inward from the  
outer edge of the edged detail.  
filled  
creates an edge that extends outward from the outer edge of  
the edged detail; the inside is filled with the edge color.  
Outer  
Inner  
Border  
Filled  
Size  
Controls the size of the edge, from 0 (no edge) to 100 (very large  
edge).  
Priority  
Determines whether the edge appears in front of or behind other  
details. By default, Deko500 assigns a priority to each detail so  
that they render from front to back, in the order they appear in the  
Details list. Use Priority to change the rendering order. Priority  
ranges from 0 (closest to viewer) to 1000 (farthest from viewer).  
Priority also controls the rendering order of overlapping details  
from different styles.  
From previous detail  
Specifies which other details in the look provide the shape on  
which this edge is based:  
face  
produces an edge based only on the face detail.  
frame  
produces an edge around the first frame detail above the edge  
in the Details list.  
previous  
produces an edge based on the “To next detail” setting of the  
detail immediately above the edge in the Details list.  
underline  
produces an edge around the first underline above the edge in  
the Details list.  
To next detail  
Determines what this edge will send to the detail immediately  
below it in the Details list:  
previous  
sends whatever was sent to the edge from the detail above it.  
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Specifying a Look  
48  
merged  
sends the combinations of the edge and whatever was sent to  
the edge from the detail above it.  
this  
sends the edge only.  
SHADOW  
To add or remove a shadow:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, a shadow is added  
to or removed from the current style.  
2. Click the shadow button on the text bar to toggle the shadow on or  
off.  
This button controls only the first shadow of a look.  
To add additional shadows:  
1. Activate the Style window.  
2. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
3. Next to the Details list, choose Add, then choose Shadow from the  
popup menu. The shadow is added after the selected detail.  
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Specifying a Look  
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To change the color of a shadow:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Click the shader button next to the shadow button on the text  
bar (only for the first shadow of a look).  
Open the Style window (F6), select Look at the top of the  
Style window, click on the appropriate shadow detail, then  
click the Shader button.  
3. In the Shader window, choose a Color, Ramp or Texture.  
To change other attributes of a shadow:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Details list, choose the shadow. Deko500 displays Shadow  
Attributes in the lower half of the Style window.  
SHADOW ATTRIBUTES  
Hide  
Hides the shadow. A hidden shadow can still affect other details,  
based on its Priority and “To next detail” settings.  
Shader  
Opens the Shadow shader window. Use the Shadow Shader to  
apply a color, ramp or texture to the shadow.  
Blur  
Controls the amount of blur, from 0 (no blur) to 100.  
Angle  
Controls the angle that the shadow is offset from the detail(s) being  
shadowed. An angle of zero produces a shadow directly above the  
shadowed detail.  
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Specifying a Look  
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Type  
Determines the type of shadow:  
drop  
creates a single shadow of the detail being shadowed.  
deep  
creates a thick shadow, as if the detail were extruded.  
Drop  
Deep  
Distance  
Controls the distance of the shadow from the shadowed detail(s).  
Priority  
Determines whether the shadow appears in front of or behind other  
details. By default, Deko500 assigns a priority to each detail so  
that they render from front to back, in the order they appear in the  
Details list. Use Priority to change the rendering order. Priority  
ranges from 0 (closest to viewer) to 1000 (farthest from viewer).  
Priority also controls the rendering order of overlapping details  
from different styles.  
From previous detail  
Specifies which other details in the look provide the shape on  
which this shadow is based:  
face  
produces a shadow based only on the face detail.  
previous  
produces a shadow based on the “To next detail” setting of the  
detail immediately above the shadow in the Details list.  
frame  
produces a shadow of the first frame detail above the shadow  
in the Details list.  
underline  
produces a shadow of the first underline above the shadow in  
the Details list.  
To next detail  
Determines what this shadow will send to the detail immediately  
below it in the Details list:  
previous  
sends whatever was sent to the shadow from the detail above  
it.  
this  
sends the shadow only.  
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Specifying a Look  
51  
merged  
sends the combination of the shadow and whatever was sent to  
the shadow from the detail above it.  
UNDERLINE  
To add or remove an underline:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, an underline is  
added to or removed from the current style.  
2. Click the underline button on the text bar to toggle the underline on  
or off.  
This button controls only the first underline of a look.  
To change the color of an underline:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Click the shader button next to the underline button on the text  
bar (only for the first underline of a look).  
Open the Style window (F6), select Look at the top of the  
Style window, click on the appropriate underline detail, then  
click the Shader button.  
3. In the Shader window, choose a Color, Ramp or Texture.  
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Specifying a Look  
52  
To change other attributes of an underline:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Details list, choose the underline. Deko500 displays  
Underline Attributes in the lower half of the Style window.  
UNDERLINE ATTRIBUTES  
Hide  
Hides the underline. A hidden underline can still affect other  
details, based on its Priority and “To next detail” settings.  
Shader  
Opens the Underline Shader window. Use the Underline Shader to  
apply a color, ramp or texture to the underline.  
Blur  
Controls the amount of blur, from 0 (no blur) to 100.  
Shape  
Specifies the shape of the underline:  
round  
produces an underline with rounded corners.  
square  
produces an underline with rectangular corners.  
Height  
Controls the height of the underline. The default value is 100  
percent.  
Width  
Specifies an additional amount of underline that extends beyond  
the width of underlined text. A value of zero produces an underline  
that exactly matches the width of underlined text.  
V offset  
Specifies a vertical offset from the underline’s normal position.  
Negative values move the underline down, and positive values  
move it up.  
Spaces  
Underlines the spaces between words.  
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Specifying a Look  
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Priority  
Determines whether the underline appears in front of or behind  
other details. By default, Deko500 assigns a priority to each detail  
so that they render from front to back, in the order they appear in  
the Details list. Use Priority to change the rendering order. Priority  
ranges from 0 (closest to viewer) to 1000 (farthest from viewer).  
Priority also controls the rendering order of overlapping details  
from different styles.  
To next detail  
Determines what this underline will send to the detail immediately  
below it in the Details list:  
previous  
sends whatever was sent to the underline from the detail above  
it.  
this  
sends the underline only.  
merged  
sends the combination of the underline and whatever was sent  
to the underline from the detail above it.  
FRAME  
To add or remove a frame:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, a frame is added to  
or removed from the current style.  
2. Click the frame button on the text bar to toggle the frame on or off.  
This button controls only the first frame of a look.  
To add additional frames:  
1. Activate the Style window.  
2. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
3. Next to the Details list, choose Add, then choose Frame from the  
popup menu. The frame is added after the selected detail.  
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Specifying a Look  
54  
To change the color of a frame:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Click the shader button next to the frame button on the text bar  
(only for the first frame of a look).  
Open the Style window (F6), select Look at the top of the  
Style window, click on the appropriate frame detail, then click  
the Shader button.  
3. In the Shader window, choose a Color, Ramp or Texture.  
To change other attributes of a frame:  
1. Select the text to change. If no text is selected, Deko500 applies  
changes to the current style.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Details list, choose the frame. Deko500 displays Frame  
Attributes in the lower half of the Style window.  
FRAME ATTRIBUTES  
Hide  
Hides the frame. A hidden frame can still affect other details,  
based on its Priority and “To next detail” settings.  
Shader  
Opens the Frame Shader window. Use the Frame Shader to apply a  
color, ramp or texture to the frame.  
Blur  
Controls the amount of blur, from 0 (no blur) to 100.  
Shape  
Determines the shape of the frame:  
round  
creates a frame with rounded corners.  
square  
creates a frame with rectangular corners.  
Height  
Specifies the height of the frame.  
Width  
Specifies the width of the frame.  
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Specifying a Look  
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H offset  
Offsets the frame horizontally relative to the detail being framed.  
V Offset  
Offsets the frame vertically relative to the detail being framed.  
Descenders  
Lowers the bottom of the frame to accommodate lower case  
descender characters like g, j and y.  
Spaces  
Frames the spaces between words.  
Priority  
Determines whether the frame appears in front of or behind other  
details. By default, Deko500 assigns a priority to each detail so  
that they render from front to back, in the order they appear in the  
Details list. Use Priority to change the rendering order. Priority  
ranges from 0 (closest to viewer) to 1000 (farthest from viewer).  
Priority also controls the rendering order of overlapping details  
from different styles.  
To next detail  
Determines what this frame will send to the detail immediately  
below it in the Details list:  
previous  
sends whatever was sent to the frame from the detail above it.  
this  
sends the frame only.  
merged  
sends the combination of the frame and whatever was sent to  
the frame from the detail above it.  
CUTTING AND PASTING DETAILS AND LOOKS  
To cut or copy a detail:  
1. Activate the Style window.  
2. Choose Look at the top of the Style window.  
3. In the Details list, click on the detail you wish to cut or copy.  
4. Do one of the following:  
To remove the selected detail from its current position, choose  
Cut Detail (Ctrl+X) from the Edit menu, or click the cut  
button in the Tools window.  
To copy and leave the selected detail intact, choose Copy  
Detail (Ctrl+C) from the Edit menu, or click the copy button  
in the Tools window.  
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Specifying a Look  
56  
To paste a detail into a Details list:  
1. If necessary, open the Style file into which you will paste the  
detail.  
2. Click on the detail in the Details list where you will insert the cut  
or copied detail.  
3. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Detail (Ctrl+V), or click the  
paste button in the Tools window.  
To copy and paste a look:  
1. Select text whose look you wish to copy.  
2. From the Edit menu, choose Copy (Ctrl+C), then Look.  
3. Select the text or position the cursor where you will apply the look.  
4. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste  
button on the text bar.  
Note  
When you copy a look, it is saved in the Windows NT  
clipboard.  
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Specifying a Look  
57  
SPECIFYING A SHADER  
ABOUT SHADERS  
To apply color to text or graphics, Deko500 uses a shader.  
Each detail in a look (face, edge, frame, shadow or underline) has its own  
shader. The shader determines how color is applied to the detail.  
Deko500 shaders come in three flavors:  
A color shader produces a detail with a single, solid color.  
A ramp shader produces a detail with a four-color ramp and  
an optional highlight.  
A texture shader produces a detail with a bitmap texture.  
Any detail can have any kind of shader. For instance, a face can have a color  
shader, an edge a ramp shader, and a shadow a texture shader, all within a single  
look.  
Multiple occurrences of the same type of detail within a look do not have to  
have the same type of shader. For example, a look with three edges can have a  
different shader for each edge.  
You can use the same type of shader on multiple details within a graphic. In  
addition, each graphic’s background has its own shader. Using the background  
shader, you can make a solid, ramped or textured background for any graphic.  
Shaders are specified in the Shader window (F7). Any shader can be stored as a  
preset shader. The preset shaders can be saved in a .shd file for future use.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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ACTIVATING A SHADER  
To activate a shader for the current look’s first face,  
edge, shadow, underline or frame:  
Click the appropriate detail shader button on the text bar.  
face  
edge shadow underline frame  
Note  
If you click the shader button for a detail that is not in the  
Details list, Deko500 automatically adds the detail.  
To activate the background shader:  
Click the background-shader button (Ctrl+F7) on the text bar.  
To activate the shader for any detail in the current  
style:  
1. Activate the Style window.  
2. In the Style window, click the desired detail in the Details list box.  
3. In the Style window, click the Shader button.  
APPLYING A COLOR  
To apply a solid color to a detail:  
1. Activate the detail’s shader.  
2. At the top of the Shader window, choose Color. The Color button  
near the top of the window displays the detail’s current color.  
3. Use the color picker to pick a color.  
4. When you are satisfied with the color, right-click the Color button  
to set the detail’s shader to that color. The color is automatically  
applied to the detail.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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APPLYING A RAMP  
To apply a ramp to a detail:  
1. Activate the detail’s shader.  
2. At the top of the Shader window, choose Ramp. The Sample box  
near the top of the window displays the detail’s current ramp.  
3. For each of the four colors in the ramp, click the color button, use  
the color picker to pick a color, then right-click the color button to  
set it to that color.  
4. Choose Options and specify ramp options as desired.  
To apply highlighting to a ramp:  
1. Follow above instructions for applying a ramp.  
2. Click the Hilite button, then use the color picker to pick a color for  
the highlight.  
3. When you are satisfied with the color right-click the Hilite button  
to set it to that color.  
4. Check the Hilite box to turn the highlight on.  
5. Choose Options and specify highlight options as desired.  
RAMP OPTIONS  
Group  
Specifies how the ramp should be applied:  
letter  
applies the ramp individually to each letter.  
word  
applies the ramp to each word.  
row  
applies the ramp to each row of text.  
page  
applies the ramp to the entire page of text.  
Opacity  
Controls overall transparency of the ramp, in addition to any  
transparency in the individual colors of the ramp. Enter a value for  
ramp opacity from zero (transparent) to 100 percent (opaque).  
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Specifying a Shader  
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H Scale  
Determines the width of the ramp relative to the group. For settings  
less than 100 percent, only part of the ramp is applied to the group.  
V Scale  
Determines the height of the ramp relative to the group. For  
settings less than 100 percent, only part of the ramp is applied to  
the group.  
HIGHLIGHT OPTIONS  
Highlight Size  
Specifies the size of the highlight relative to the height of the ramp,  
up to 100 percent.  
Highlight Angle  
Specifies the angle (-360 to 360) of the highlight. An angle of zero  
produces a horizontal highlight.  
Highlight H Offset  
Specifies the horizontal position of the highlight in the ramp.  
Negative values offset the highlight to the left, positive values to  
the right.  
Highlight V Offset  
Specifies the vertical position of the highlight in the ramp.  
Negative values offset the highlight down, positive values up.  
APPLYING A TEXTURE  
To apply a texture to a detail:  
1. Activate the detail’s shader.  
2. At the top of the Shader window, choose Texture.  
3. Do one of the following:  
In the File Name text box, type name of the texture file.  
Press Browse, then double-click a thumbnail in the Texture  
Browser.  
4. Specify texture options as desired.  
Notes  
The Sample box in the Shader window displays the current  
texture.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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The texture is copied from its file, in its original size, and  
“pasted” onto the detail. The texture’s size does not change —  
the larger the detail, the greater the area of texture that is  
applied to it.  
In addition to Deko500 (.dko) graphics, Deko500 can import  
Windows bitmap files (.bmp), Graphics Factory stills (.gf),  
videoDesigner stills (.tv), JPEG files (.jpg), TIFF files (.tif),  
Targa files (.tga) and Pinnacle (.g) files created in FlashFile,  
Lightning or Genie, to use as textures.  
Multiple Deko500 graphics can use the same texture file.  
TEXTURE OPTIONS  
File Name  
The name of the texture file.  
If you check the File Name check box (the default), Deko500 saves  
only the name of the texture file when saving the graphic. Any  
changes you make to the texture file will be reflected in the graphic  
as well.  
If you un-check File Name, Deko500 copies the bitmap from the  
original texture file and saves it as part of the graphic. The word  
“unnamed” appears in the File Name text box to indicate that the  
texture is being stored with the graphic. The graphic will increase  
in size by approximately the size of the texture file. Any  
subsequent changes you make to the original texture file will not  
affect the texture bitmap saved with the graphic.  
Details using textured shaders can save only the name of the  
texture file; they cannot store an unnamed texture.  
Group  
Specifies how the ramp should be applied:  
letter  
applies the texture individually to each letter.  
word  
applies the texture to each word.  
row  
applies the texture to each row of text.  
page  
applies the texture to the entire page of text.  
Opacity  
Controls the texture’s opacity, from zero (transparent) to 100  
(opaque).  
H offset  
Offsets the texture relative to its horizontal alignment.  
V offset  
Offsets the texture relative to its vertical alignment.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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H Alignment  
Specifies how the original texture is aligned with the selected  
detail(s), depending on the Group setting:  
left  
aligns the left edge of the texture with the left edge of the  
group.  
center  
aligns the center of the texture with the center of the group.  
right  
aligns the right edge of the texture with the right edge of the  
group.  
V Alignment  
Specifies how the original texture is mapped onto the selected  
detail(s), depending on the group setting:  
top  
aligns the top of the texture with the top of the group.  
middle  
aligns the middle of the texture with the middle of the group.  
baseline  
aligns the middle of the texture with the baseline of the group.  
bottom  
aligns the bottom of the texture with the bottom of the group.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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THE COLOR PICKER  
Use Deko500’s color picker to pick colors for the color shader and ramp  
shader.  
RGB  
Selects the RGB color space. Click a color on the palette, or enter  
numerical values up to 100 percent for each of red, green and blue.  
HSV  
Selects the HSV color space. Click a color on the palette, or enter  
numerical values to specify:  
Hue  
the spectral shade of the color, represented by an angle (0-360)  
around the color wheel or vector scope.  
Sat  
the color’s saturation, its percentage of pure color. Black,  
white and gray have zero saturation. A 100 percent saturated  
color is pure color—it contains no white or gray.  
Value  
the brightness of the color, represented by the maximum of  
either red, blue or green. While not a true luminance amount,  
Value is closely related to the brightness of a color.  
Opacity  
Controls the translucence of the color. An opacity of zero produces  
a completely transparent color, while 100 percent is completely  
opaque.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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Selected Component  
Selects the color component RGB or HSV to display in the  
Selected Component Bar. In the picture above, Value is the  
selected component. If Opacity is selected, Deko500 displays a  
gray scale in the Selected Component Bar.  
Un-selected Components  
The large square displays the two un-selected RGB or HSV  
components. In other words, if Value is the Selected Component,  
this square shows Hue along the vertical axis and Saturation along  
the horizontal axis. If Opacity is the Selected Component,  
Deko500 displays a gray scale in this square.  
Current Color  
Shows the current color, the color whose numerical values appear  
above.  
Eyedropper  
Enables selection of a color directly from the desktop.  
PICKING A COLOR  
To pick a color:  
1. Choose a color space by selecting RGB or HSV.  
2. Use the color picker to pick a color, or enter numerical amounts for  
Red, Green and Blue or Hue, Saturation and Value. Enter an  
amount for Opacity, if desired.  
3. To deposit the color into a color shader or ramp shader, right-click  
on one of the color buttons near the top of the Shader window.  
To pick a color from anywhere on the desktop:  
1. Move the mouse pointer over the eyedropper button, then press  
and hold the left mouse button down.  
The cursor changes to an eyedropper.  
2. Keep holding the left mouse button down, and move the  
eyedropper cursor anywhere on the desktop. With the mouse  
pointer over the desired color, release the mouse button.  
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Specifying a Shader  
65  
USING PRESET SHADERS  
The 18 Preset Shader buttons appear at the bottom of the Shader window. Any  
type of shader may be assigned to any preset.  
To apply a preset shader to a detail:  
1. Activate the detail’s shader.  
2. In the Shader window, click the preset button.  
To assign the current shader to a preset shader  
button:  
Do one of the following:  
Right-click the preset shader button.  
Activate the Shader window (F7), then choose Preset Shader  
Set from the Shader menu and select a preset shader from the  
drop-down menu.  
To save the current preset shaders:  
1. Activate the Shader window (F7).  
2. From the File menu choose Save Preset Shaders (Ctrl+S or  
Alt+F12) or Save Preset Shaders As (F12).  
3. To name the file, navigate in the Save As dialog box to the drive  
and directory where you will store the file, type a name in the File  
Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
When you save a preset shader file, Deko500 automatically  
attaches “.shd” to the file name. Do not type a different  
extension.  
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Specifying a Shader  
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WORKING WITH STYLES  
THE CURRENT STYLE WINDOW  
The Current Style window shows the current style.  
This window shows the current font and look, in the actual size they would  
appear if typed in the default Program window. If you are creating a style with a  
very large font, you can enlarge the window to accommodate the larger sample  
characters.  
To move the Current Style window:  
1. In the Window menu, make sure Freeze is not checked.  
2. Move the selection cursor over the window’s title bar.  
3. Drag the window anywhere on the desktop.  
To re-size the Current Style window:  
1. In the Window menu, make sure Freeze is not checked.  
2. Move the selection cursor anywhere over the border of the  
window. The cursor becomes a sizing cursor.  
3. Drag the border to change the window’s size.  
To return the Current Style window to its original  
position:  
1. Move the selection cursor over the window’s title bar.  
2. Drag the window offscreen left. The window will pop back to its  
original spot in the lower left corner.  
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Working With Styles  
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SAVING A STYLE  
To save an unnamed style or to rename a style:  
1. Activate the Style window (F6).  
2. Choose Save Style As (F12) from the File menu.  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you  
will store the file.  
4. Type a file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press  
Enter.  
Note  
When you save a style file, Deko500 automatically attaches  
“.sty” to the file name. Do not type a different extension.  
To save a modified style:  
1. Activate the Style window (F6).  
2. Choose Save Style (Ctrl+S or Alt+F12) from the File menu.  
Deko500 replaces the previously saved version of the file.  
COPYING AND PASTING A STYLE  
To copy and paste a style:  
1. Select text whose style you wish to copy.  
2. From the Edit menu, choose Copy (Ctrl+C), then Style.  
3. Select the text or position the cursor where you will apply the  
style.  
4. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste  
button on the text bar.  
Note  
When you copy a style, it is saved in the Windows NT  
clipboard.  
ASSIGNING A STYLE TO A STYLE PRESET  
To assign the current style to a preset style button:  
1. If the Preset Style window is not visible, choose Preset Styles  
(Alt+F7) from the View menu.  
2. Right-click the preset style button.  
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Working With Styles  
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To pick up a style from a graphic and assign it to a  
preset style button:  
1. Activate a graphic window.  
2. Move the text cursor immediately to the left of a character in the  
desired style.  
3. Select the character or choose Pick Style from the Text menu. The  
style of that character is now the current style.  
4. Right-click the preset button.  
Note  
If “Moving cursor sets font and look” is checked in the  
Options/Preferences/Cursor dialog box, you can omit step 3.  
To pick up multiple styles from a graphic and assign  
them to preset style buttons:  
1. Activate a graphic window.  
2. From the Text menu, choose Pick Presets. Deko500 assigns the  
first style in the graphic to the first preset button, the next style to  
the second preset button, and so on.  
RETRIEVING A STYLE  
To select a preset style for typing:  
1. Activate the Preset Style window (Alt+F7).  
2. Click on one of the eight preset styles. That style is now the current  
style.  
To retrieve a style from a preset styles (.pst) file:  
1. Activate the Preset Style window (Alt+F7).  
2. Choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9) from the File menu.  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain  
the preset styles file.  
4. Type the file name in the File Name text box or choose it from the  
File Name list box, then click OK or press Enter.  
5. In the Preset Style window, click a preset button. That preset is  
now the current style.  
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Working With Styles  
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To retrieve a style from a style (.sty) file:  
1. Activate the Style window (F6).  
2. Choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9) from the File menu.  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain  
the style file.  
4. Type the file name in the File Name text box or choose it from the  
File Name list box, then click OK or press Enter. The style in the  
.sty file is now the current style.  
SAVING PRESET STYLES  
To save the eight preset styles in a Presets file:  
1. Activate the Preset Style window (Alt+F7).  
2. Choose Save Preset Styles As (F12) from the File menu.  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you  
will store the file.  
4. Type a new file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or  
press Enter.  
Note  
When you save a preset style file, Deko500 automatically  
attaches “.pst” to the file name. Do not type a different  
extension.  
To save modified preset styles:  
1. Activate the Preset Style window (Alt+F7).  
2. Choose Save Preset Styles (Ctrl+S or Alt+F12) from the File  
menu.Deko500 replaces the previously saved version of the file.  
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Working With Styles  
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SAVING A PRE-RENDERED STYLE  
To save the current style as a pre-rendered style:  
1. Activate the Style window (F6).  
2. From the File menu choose Render and Save Style.  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you  
will store the file.  
4. Type a file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press  
Enter.  
Notes  
When saving a pre-rendered style, Deko500 renders each  
character in the style’s font using the style’s look. For  
complicated styles, this can take several minutes.  
A pre-rendered style file occupies more disk space than a  
normal style file. However, when you type pre-rendered  
characters, they appear on screen more quickly than  
characters that must be rendered “on the fly” as they are  
typed.  
Pre-rendered styles are indicated at the bottom of the  
Style/Font window by a check next to Pre-rendered Style, and  
in the Preset Style window by an (R) in front of the typeface  
name.  
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Graphics and Layers  
VIDEO STANDARD  
You can create Deko500 graphics in standard 4 x 3 aspect ratio or in the wider  
16 x 9 aspect ratio used for some feature films, music videos and commercials.  
The default video standard is standard NTSC.  
To change the aspect ratio:  
From the Options menu, select Hardware Settings, then choose  
4 x 3 or 16x9.  
To change the current video standard:  
1. Right-click the Windows desktop, choose Properties from the  
drop-down menu, then click the Pinnacle tab.  
2. Click the Setup button, then choose PAL or NTSC.  
3. Close all dialog boxes and windows and re-start Windows NT.  
Notes  
When you change the video standard, Deko500 automatically  
changes related input/output settings (number of scan lines,  
pedestal, blanking width, etc.).  
If this is the first time you are switching to a new standard,  
you must recalibrate all levels and delays—Deko500  
maintains a separate set of values for each standard.  
ABOUT LAYERS AND BACKGROUNDS  
Each graphic consists of a background and one or more layers.  
The layers:  
A layer is one element of a Deko500 graphic. A graphic can have an unlimited  
number of layers. Each layer is one of two types:  
a text layer—also called a text field  
a geometric shape layer—a rectangle or an ellipse  
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About Layers and Backgrounds  
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Layers are rendered in order from front to back, starting with the first layer.  
Using the Layer menu, layers may be selected, reordered, hidden, moved,  
rotated, scaled, etc.  
The background:  
Behind the final layer is the background, a full-screen rectangle that is either  
off or on.  
When off, the background is effectively transparent. This is  
where “live video” shows through when Deko500 graphics are  
keyed over external video.  
When on, the background’s shader determines its color. Like  
all Deko500 shaders, the background can be a solid color, a  
ramp or a texture.  
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About Layers and Backgrounds  
73  
THE BACKGROUND  
To turn the background on:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the background button on the text bar.  
In the Layer menu, check Show Background.  
To turn the background off:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the background button on the text bar.  
From the Edit menu, choose Clear Background (Ctrl+F8).  
In the Layer menu, un-check Show Background.  
To apply a color, ramp or texture to the background:  
1. Follow the above instructions to turn on the background.  
2. Activate the Background Shader window (Ctrl+F7).  
3. Select a color, ramp, or texture shader.  
To open a graphic directly into the background:  
1. Activate a graphic window.  
2. From the File menu, choose Replace Background (Ctrl+F9).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain  
the file.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in  
the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
To turn the background into a layer:  
In the Layer menu, choose Background to Layer.  
Notes  
The background turns into a full-screen rectangle, but keeps  
the shader it had as a background. The graphic now has a  
transparent background.  
If the background is an unnamed texture, you cannot turn it  
into a layer.  
To replace the background key with luminance from  
a graphic file:  
1. Activate a graphic window.  
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2. From the File menu, choose Replace Background Key.  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain  
the graphic file.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in  
the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
This is useful if your graphic has a “companion” graphic in  
which the luminance represents the key of the original.  
ADDING A TEXT FIELD  
To add a text field to a graphic, using the keyboard:  
From the Layer menu choose Add Text Field. Deko500 adds a text  
layer based on the boundaries of the safe title area.  
To add a text field to a graphic, using the mouse:  
1. Click the add-text-field button in the Tools window.  
2. In the graphic, the cursor becomes a text layer cursor.  
3. Drag the cursor to define the text field box.  
Notes  
Holding Ctrl as you drag the cursor maintains a square field  
box.  
Deko500 always adds a new text field as the frontmost layer.  
To create a new field or fields for selected text:  
Select the text you wish to move to a new field or fields.  
Do one of the following:  
To put selected text into a single new field, choose Text to  
Field from the Text menu.  
To create a new field for each discrete group of selected text,  
choose Text to Multiple Fields from the Text menu.  
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To specify text field properties:  
1. Select the text field.  
2. Do one of the following:  
From the Layer menu, choose Properties.  
Open the Style window (F6) and choose Layer at the top of  
the window.  
3. Specify text field properties as desired.  
TEXT FIELD PROPERTIES  
Box  
Defines the text field box. All values refer to the original text field  
box, before any transformation — scaling, rotation or skewing.  
Left, Top  
The left and top edges of the text field box, in screen units.  
Width, Height  
The width and height of the text field box.  
Aspect  
The ratio of width to height.  
Fixed aspect  
Maintains the text field’s aspect ratio, whenever the width or  
the height changes.  
Transform  
Defines how the text field box is transformed from its original  
position:  
H Scale, V Scale  
Horizontal and vertical scale factors.  
Rotation  
Text field rotation in degrees.  
Skew  
Text field skew amount.  
H Origin, V Origin  
The center of rotation.  
Same priority as previous layer  
Specifies that the current layer appears in the same plane as the  
layer in front of it. In other words, Deko500 renders this layer as if  
it were part of the layer in front of it.  
Hidden  
Hides the text field.  
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More  
Displays more Text Field Properties.  
Justification  
Specifies default justification for text within the text field:  
Horizontal  
Justifies text between the left and right edges of the text field.  
Vertical  
Justifies text between the top and bottom of the text field.  
Spread %  
When Horizontal justification is set to “spread,” specifies how  
much additional space to add between the letters within a  
word, compared to the space added between words.  
Word wrap  
Automatically wraps words to the next row, as necessary, to keep  
text within the text field box.  
Auto-scaling  
None  
No automatic text scaling.  
Scale to fit box  
Scales text to exactly fit the text field.  
Shrink to fit box  
Scales text down, if necessary, to fit within the text field.  
Text initialization  
Determines how the text field is initialized when its graphic is  
opened.  
String  
A text string to display in the field or the name of a macro file.  
Usage  
Specifies whether Deko500 use text, a macro (which must  
return a string), or data in an .aut file, or requests data from an  
automation host to initialize the field.  
Macro  
Uses a macro, which must return a string.  
Query  
Causes the Automation interface to request updates from the  
host at user-specified intervals.  
Replace  
Replaces the graphic’s replace fields with the data in an  
automation (.aut) file.  
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Update freq  
Specifies how often, in seconds, to run a macro or request data  
from an automation host.  
ADDING A RECTANGLE LAYER  
To add a rectangle to a graphic, using the keyboard:  
From the Layer menu choose Add Rectangle. A rectangle layer is  
added at the center of the screen.  
To add a rectangle to a graphic, using the mouse:  
1. Click the rectangle button in the Tools window.  
In the graphic, the cursor becomes a rectangle cursor.  
2. Drag the cursor to define the rectangle.  
Notes  
Holding Ctrl as you drag the cursor maintains a square  
rectangle.  
Deko500 always adds a new rectangle as the frontmost layer.  
ADDING AN ELLIPSE LAYER  
To add an ellipse to a graphic, using the keyboard:  
From the Layer menu choose Add Ellipse. An ellipse layer is  
added at the center of the screen.  
To add an ellipse to a graphic, using the mouse:  
1. Click the ellipse button in the Tools window.  
2. In the graphic, the cursor becomes a ellipse cursor.  
3. Drag the cursor to define the ellipse.  
Notes  
Holding Ctrl as you drag the cursor constrains the ellipse to a  
circle.  
Deko500 adds a new ellipse as the frontmost layer.  
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SPECIFYING LAYER PROPERTIES  
To specify properties of a layer:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. Do one of the following:  
From the Layer menu, choose Properties  
Open the Style window (F6) and choose Layer at the top of  
the window.  
3. Specify layer properties as desired.  
LAYER PROPERTIES  
Box  
Defines the box surrounding the ellipse or rectangle. All values  
refer to the original box, before any transformation — scaling,  
rotation or skewing.  
Left, Top  
The left and top edges of the ellipse or rectangle, in screen  
units.  
Width, Height  
The width and height of the ellipse or rectangle.  
Aspect  
The ratio of width to height.  
Fixed aspect  
Maintains the shape’s aspect ratio, whenever the width or the  
height changes.  
Transform  
Defines how the box is transformed from its original position.  
H Scale, V Scale  
Horizontal and vertical scale factors.  
Rotation  
Rotation in degrees.  
Skew  
Skew amount.  
H Origin, V Origin  
The center of rotation.  
Same priority as previous layer  
Specifies that the current layer appears in the same plane as the  
layer in front of it. In other words, Deko500 renders this layer as if  
it were part of the layer in front of it.  
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Hidden  
Hides the layer.  
Lock  
Prevents selection or modification of the layer.  
SELECTING A LAYER  
To select a layer in the active graphic:  
Do one of the following:  
Click on an ellipse, rectangle or the box around a text field.  
Page Up or Page Down to the layer.  
Choose the layer from the list at the bottom of the Layer  
menu.  
To select the layer in front of the currently selected  
layer:  
Do one of the following:  
Activate the graphic window and press Page Up.  
From the Layer menu, choose Select Previous Layer  
(Alt+Page Up).  
To select the layer behind the currently selected layer:  
Do one of the following:  
Activate the graphic window and press Page Down.  
From the Layer menu, choose Select Next Layer (Alt+Page  
Down).  
To select all layers in the active graphic:  
Choose Select Layers from the Edit menu.  
To select multiple layers in the active graphic:  
1. Check the Select More toggle in the Edit menu.  
2. Use one of the above methods to select each layer individually.  
CLEARING A GRAPHIC  
To clear the layers from the active graphic:  
From the Edit menu, choose Clear Layers (F8). Deko500 replaces  
the layers with a single, empty text field.  
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To clear the background from the active graphic:  
From the Edit menu, choose Clear Background (Ctrl+F8).  
To clear the layers and the background from the  
active graphic:  
From the Edit menu, choose Clear All (press Alt+F8 or press F8  
twice in rapid succession).  
To have Deko500 prompt you to save modified files  
before clearing them:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. Choose Prompts at the top of the Preferences dialog box.  
3. In the Prompts dialog box, check Prompt to save before clearing or  
opening window.  
CLEARING OR DELETING A LAYER  
To delete a layer:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. From the Layer menu, choose Delete Layer.  
To delete all layers:  
From the Edit menu, choose Clear Layers (F8).  
Note  
Clear Layers replaces all the layers in the graphic with a  
single, empty text field. The Background remains intact.  
To clear text from a text field:  
1. Select a text field.  
2. From the Layer menu, choose Clear Text. The empty text field  
remains in the graphic.  
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CUTTING AND PASTING LAYERS  
To cut or copy a layer:  
1. Select the layer to be cut or copied.  
2. Do one of the following:  
To cut the selected layer, from the Edit menu, choose Cut  
(Ctrl+X), or click the cut button on the text bar.  
To copy the selected layer, from the Edit menu, choose Copy  
(Ctrl+C), then Selected, or click the copy button on the text  
bar.  
To paste a layer:  
1. If you are moving the layer to a different file, open the destination  
file.  
2. Select a layer.  
3. From the Edit menu, choose Paste (Ctrl+V), or click the paste  
button on the text bar.  
Deko500 pastes the cut or copied layer directly in front of the  
selected layer.  
APPENDING A GRAPHIC TO SECOND GRAPHIC  
To append one graphic to another graphic:  
1. Open the first graphic file.  
2. From the File menu, choose Append Layers (Alt+F9).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory containing the  
second graphic file.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type it in the File  
Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Deko500 appends the second graphic’s layers behind the  
layers of the first graphic. The second graphic’s background is  
not used.  
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REORDERING LAYERS  
To move a layer forward or backward in a graphic:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. From the Layer menu, choose one of the following:  
Send Back One Layer (Ctrl+-)  
Swaps the layer with the layer behind it.  
Bring Forward One Layer (Ctrl++)  
Swaps the layer with the layer in front of it.  
Send to Back (Alt+-)  
Makes the layer the backmost layer, just in front of the  
background.  
Bring to Front (Alt++)  
Makes the layer the frontmost layer.  
PASTING LAYERS TO THE BACKGROUND  
To combine all layers in the active graphic:  
From the Layer menu, choose Layers to Background.  
Note  
Deko500 copies the layers to combine them in the background.  
The original layers remain until you choose Clear Layers (F8)  
from the Edit menu.  
COMBINING TEXT FIELDS  
To combine multiple text fields into a single text field:  
1. Select the text fields you wish to combine. Hold Ctrl and drag the  
mouse to select the fields.  
2. From the Layer menu, choose Text to Field.  
Note  
Deko500 combines the fields into a single, new field.  
MOVING A LAYER  
To move a layer using the keyboard:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Transform/Move (Ctrl+M).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
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3. Select the layer.  
4. Hold down Alt and press arrow keys (↓→ ←) to move the layer  
up, down, left or right.  
To move a layer using the mouse:  
1. Click the move button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the layer.  
3. Position the pointer near the border of the layer, so that the pointer  
becomes the moving tool.  
4. Drag to move the layer in any direction.  
To specify numerical values for layer position:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Layer at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Style window, enter values for Left, Top, Width and Height.  
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JUSTIFYING A LAYER  
To justify a rectangle, ellipse, or text layer:  
1. Select the rectangle, ellipse, or text layer.  
2. Do one of the following:  
On the text bar, click the appropriate justification button to  
alter horizontal justification, vertical justification, or both,  
then choose the desired setting.  
From the Text menu, choose Justify, then select a setting for  
horizontal or vertical justification or both.  
Hold Ctrl down and press one of the numbers on the numeric  
keypad to justify the rectangle or ellipse in the corresponding  
position of the Program window.  
7
8
9
Top left  
Top center  
Top right  
4
5
6
Middle left  
Middle center Middle right  
1
2
3
Bottom left Bottom center Bottom right  
0
Justification off  
ROTATING A LAYER  
To rotate a layer using the keyboard:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Transform/Rotate & Skew  
(Ctrl+R).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the layer.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the down arrow () to rotate the  
layer clockwise, or the up arrow () to rotate it counterclockwise.  
To rotate a layer using the mouse:  
1. Click the rotate button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the layer.  
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3. Position the pointer near the border of the layer, so that the pointer  
becomes the rotation tool.  
4. Drag to rotate the layer.  
To specify a numerical value for rotation:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Layer at the top of the Style window.  
4. Double-click the Rotation text box, then type or scroll to a value.  
SCALING A LAYER  
To scale a layer using the keyboard:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Transform/Scale & Width  
(Ctrl+W).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the layer.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the up or down arrow () to  
increase or decrease layer size, or the right or left arrow () to  
increase or decrease layer width.  
To scale a layer using the mouse:  
1. Click the scale button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the layer.  
3. Position the pointer over a handle on any side or corner of the  
layer, so that the pointer becomes a scaling tool.  
4. Drag to scale the layer.  
To specify a numerical value for layer scaling:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Layer at the top of the Style window.  
4. In the Style window, enter values for H Scale and V Scale.  
Note  
When you scale a text field, Deko500 scales all text within the  
field. To change the size of the text field without scaling the  
text, change the Box value in Text Field Properties.  
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SKEWING A LAYER  
To skew a layer using the keyboard:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Transform/Rotate & Skew  
(Ctrl+R).  
2. In the Options menu, choose Transform and set increment of  
change to Coarse or Fine (Ctrl+spacebar).  
3. Select the layer.  
4. Hold down Alt and press either the right arrow () to skew the  
selected layer clockwise, or the left arrow () to skew  
counterclockwise.  
To skew a layer using the mouse:  
1. Click the skew and rotate button in the Tools window.  
2. Select the layer.  
3. Position the pointer over the top-right-corner handle of the selected  
layer, so that the pointer becomes the skewing tool.  
4. Drag the handle to skew the layer.  
To specify a numerical value for skewing:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. Activate the Style window.  
3. Choose Layer at the top of the Style window.  
4. Double-click the Skew text box, then type or scroll to a value.  
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Effects and Sequences  
ABOUT DEKO500 EFFECTS  
You can play back graphic files individually or in series, using a variety of  
effects.  
Transitional Effects  
A Transitional Effect replaces the on-air (Program) graphic with  
another (Preview) graphic.  
clear  
Clears the layers, background or all of the Program graphic.  
cut  
The Preview graphic replaces the Program graphic.  
dissolve  
The Program graphic fades out as the Preview graphic fades  
in.  
push up/down/left/right  
The Preview graphic pushes the Program graphic offscreen.  
repeat thru  
Repeats the previous effect on each subsequent file up to the  
specified file.  
slide up/down/left/right  
The Preview graphic slides on top of the Program graphic.  
slideoff up/down/left/right  
The Program graphic slides off to reveal the Preview graphic.  
wipe up/down/left/right  
The Program graphic is wiped off in place, revealing the  
Preview graphic.  
Text Effects operate primarily on text fields:  
roll  
Text scrolls continuously up the Program graphic, bottom to  
top.  
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crawl  
Text moves continuously across the Program graphic, right to  
left.  
reveal  
Text is typed onto the Program graphic, one character, word or  
row at a time.  
Macro Effect  
One additional, powerful effect, command, is available with the  
Automation option. The command effect runs the macro specified  
in the File Name column during sequence playback.  
CREATING A SEQUENCE  
To open a Sequence window:  
Do one of the following:  
From the Windows menu, choose Select Layout, then  
Sequence Playback.  
From the View menu, choose Sequence (F11).  
To create a sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window.  
2. From the Sequence menu, choose Clear Sequence, if necessary, to  
clear all events.  
3. Use the Tab or arrow keys to move to the various fields, enter the  
following information for each event in the sequence:  
Control/Time  
Controls the timing of the event:  
(blank)  
Starts as soon as the previous event is done.  
pause  
Waits for a GPI trigger, right mouse click, or a Pause  
Sequence (Pause) or Play Sequence (Alt+Enter) command  
before playing.  
delay  
Pauses “Time” fields before playing.  
stop  
Stops the sequence, returning control to the user. To resume  
playback, choose Play Sequence (Alt+Enter).  
skip  
Skips to the next event. This is useful for inserting a comment.  
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loop  
Repeats subsequent events “Time” times, until an “end” is  
encountered. Loops can be nested.  
end  
Ends the current loop.  
go to  
Skips to event number in “Time” field.  
Effect  
See About Deko500 Effects for descriptions of effects.  
Layers  
The graphic element, e.g. layers, background, row, etc., on  
which to perform the effect. Options depend on the specified  
effect. Leave this column blank to perform the effect on the  
entire graphic.  
File Name  
The name of the graphic file on which to perform the effect.  
Press Ctrl+L or click the Browse button to select the file from  
the Graphic Browser window.  
Rate  
The rate at which Deko500 performs the effect, as specified  
here or with Sequence/Playback Rate.  
Units  
The unit of measurement for rate.  
To save a sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window.  
2. From the File menu, choose Save Sequence As (F12).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you  
will store the file.  
4. Type a file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press  
Enter.  
Note  
When you save a sequence, Deko500 automatically attaches  
“.seq” to the file name. Do not type a different extension.  
To append a sequence to the active sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window in which you will insert the second  
sequence.  
2. From the File menu, choose Append to Sequence.  
3. In the Append Sequence dialog box, navigate to the drive and  
directory that contain the sequence (.seq) file you wish to append.  
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4. Choose the file from the File Name list or type it in the File Name  
text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
COMPOSING ROLLS  
To compose a graphic for a “roll” effect:  
1. Activate a graphic window (F5).  
2. In the Text menu, select Vertical Scrolling. A scrollable graphic  
can be higher than one screen height.  
3. Compose the text for the roll, scrolling down as necessary.  
4. Save the graphic.  
To run a roll effect:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. Enter the graphic’s file name, specify “roll” as the effect, and enter  
a playback rate.  
3. Press Alt+Enter to run the effect.  
To adjust duration or spacing for smooth roll  
playback:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. From the Sequence menu, choose Smooth Roll Playback  
Adjustment, then select one of the following from the drop-down  
menu:  
None—Turns off Smooth Roll Playback Adjustment.  
Deko500 will not suggest any adjustments.  
Full and Half Vertical Resolution Rates—Deko500 suggests  
adjustments based on acceptability of full and half vertical  
resolution rates. Allows some aliasing.  
Only Full Vertical Resolution Rates—Deko500 suggests  
adjustments based on acceptability of full vertical resolution  
rates only. Allows only clean rates.  
3. Choose OK or press Enter.  
Note  
When you enter a playback rate for a roll effect, Deko500  
displays any suggested adjustments in a dialog box. You can  
choose to decrease or increase duration of the roll or original  
line spacing of the graphic. Line spacing adjustments are not  
offered when they would not be effective, e.g. if the document  
is non-scrollable or if you choose a page-per-second rate.  
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COMPOSING CRAWLS  
To compose a graphic for a "crawl" effect:  
1. Activate a graphic window (F5).  
2. In the Text menu, select Horizontal Scrolling.  
3. Compose the text for the crawl. If you are composing more than  
one row of text to crawl, use the Enter key to create up to three  
additional rows.  
4. Save the graphic.  
Notes  
By default, text composed without horizontal scrolling selected  
crawls across the bottom of the screen.  
You can create multi-row crawls of up to four rows of text  
To run a crawl effect:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. Enter the graphic’s file name, specify “crawl” as the effect, and  
enter a playback rate.  
3. Press Alt+Enter to run the effect. See Creating a Sequence.  
To crawl text across a specific row of the screen:  
1. Follow the above instructions for composing a graphic for a  
“crawl” effect.  
2. Before you save the graphic, move the cursor to the top row of  
text. Press Alt+to move the text down to the desired screen  
location.  
3. Follow the above instructions for running the crawl effect.  
BROWSING FOR GRAPHICS IN A SEQUENCE  
To browse for graphic files to add to a sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. Do one of the following:  
From the Sequence menu, choose Browse for Files (Ctrl+L).  
Select Browser from the View window (Ctrl+L).  
3. Double-click a thumbnail to enter it into the sequence.  
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To automatically advance to the next event while  
browsing for graphics to put into a sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. In the Sequence menu, select Auto Advance From Browser.  
Note  
If the next event is empty, Deko500 duplicates the last event.  
SELECTING EVENTS  
To select a single event:  
Do one of the following:  
Double-click the event number.  
Use arrow keys () to position the cursor on the event, then  
hold Shift and press the down arrow ().  
To select multiple events:  
Do one of the following:  
Drag the mouse across the event numbers.  
Use arrow keys () to position the cursor on the first or last  
event you wish to select, then hold Shift and press an arrow  
key () to highlight the events.  
To select all events from the current to the first event:  
Do one of the following:  
Press Shift+Home.  
Press Ctrl+Shift+Home.  
Note  
Which keys you press depends on how you have “Home and  
End key behavior” set in Options/Preferences/Cursor.  
To select all events from the current to the last event:  
Do one of the following:  
Press Shift+End.  
Press Ctrl+Shift+End.  
Note  
Which keys you press depends on how you have “Home and  
End key behavior” set in Options/Preferences/Cursor.  
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CUTTING AND PASTING EVENTS  
To cut or copy an event or group of events:  
1. Select an event or group of events.  
2. Do one of the following:  
To cut events, choose Cut Events (Ctrl+X) from the Edit  
menu, or click the cut button on the text bar.  
To copy events, choose Copy Events (Ctrl+C) from the Edit  
menu, or click the copy button on the text bar.  
To paste events into a sequence  
1. Position the cursor at the event where you will insert cut or copied  
events.  
2. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Events (Ctrl+V), or click the  
paste button on the text bar.  
INSERTING AND DELETING EVENTS  
To insert a blank event above the current event:  
Choose Insert Event (Alt+Insert) from the Sequence menu.  
To delete the current event:  
Choose Delete Event (Alt+Delete) from the Sequence menu.  
To delete a group of events:  
1. Select the group of events to be deleted. See Selecting Events.  
2. Press Delete.  
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Playing a Sequence  
94  
PLAYING A SEQUENCE  
To specify the starting event:  
1. Activate the Sequence window.  
2. Press the up or down arrow () to move the cursor to an event.  
Deko500 always begins a sequence with the current event.  
To play a sequence:  
1. Activate the Sequence window.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Click the play button in the Sequence window.  
Choose Play Sequence (Alt+Enter) from the Sequence menu.  
In the Sequence window, the play button lights up green to  
indicate that sequence playback is in progress.  
PAUSING SEQUENCE PLAYBACK  
To pause sequence playback:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the pause button in the Sequence window.  
Choose Pause Sequence (Pause) from the Sequence menu..  
The play button light goes off and the pause button lights up  
yellow to indicate that a sequence has been paused.  
To specify a pause in a sequence:  
In the Control column, select pause.  
During playback, Deko500 pauses the sequence and displays the  
message “Sequence paused. Press Alt+Enter to continue.”  
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Playing a Sequence  
95  
To resume a paused sequence:  
Do one of the following:  
Right-click the mouse.  
Click the pause button in the Sequence window.  
Choose Pause Sequence (Pause) from the Sequence menu.  
Choose Play Sequence (Alt+Enter) from the Sequence menu.  
Click the play button in the Sequence window.  
Use a GPI trigger.  
The pause button light goes off and the play button lights up  
green.  
USING A GPI TRIGGER  
To connect a GPI trigger:  
1. Connect the triggering device to an available com port, if it is not  
already connected. Refer to the figure below.  
2. Restart Deko500.  
CR1  
(GREEN)  
CR2  
(RED)  
J1  
SW1  
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
CD  
TR  
ND  
R1  
4.7K  
R2  
510  
DE9S  
Optional circuitry  
To enable GPI triggering:  
1. Activate the Sequence window (F11).  
2. From the Sequence menu, choose GPI Settings.  
3. In the GPI Trigger Settings dialog box, check GPI Enabled, enter  
the Com port name (e.g. COM2), then choose OK.  
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Playing a Sequence  
96  
STOPPING SEQUENCE PLAYBACK  
To stop sequence playback:  
Do one of the following:  
Press Esc.  
Click the stop button in the Sequence window.  
Choose Stop Sequence Playback (Ctrl+Pause) from the  
Sequence menu.  
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User Preferences  
DEKO500 LAYOUTS  
Deko500 offers six standard layouts for creating, editing and playing back  
graphics and macros:  
Graphic Compose  
To compose text and graphics.  
Style Edit  
To create and edit styles.  
Sequence Playback  
To control the playback of a series of graphic files.  
Macro Edit  
To create and edit macros.  
Macro Record  
To see a macro as it is being recorded.  
Typeface Edit  
To create and edit user-defined custom typefaces.  
USER PREFERENCES  
To specify preferences:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. In the dialog box, select the tab for the type of preferences you  
wish to specify: Common, Prompts, Paths, Cursor, Marker or  
Advanced.  
Note  
Hardware settings are described in the Deko500 Installation  
Guide.  
To save current preferences:  
In the Options menu, check Save Settings Now.  
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Specifying User Preferences  
98  
To automatically save current preferences each time  
you exit Deko500:  
In the Options menu, check Save Settings on Exit.  
To reset preferences to factory default settings:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. In the dialog box, choose the type of preference you wish to  
change: Common, Prompts, Paths, Cursor, Markers or Advanced.  
3. In the dialog box, choose Set this page to defaults, then click OK  
or press Enter.  
To reset all preferences, hardware settings or  
software settings to factory defaults:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Factory Defaults.  
2. Select the type of settings you wish to change:  
User Preferences as set in Options/Preferences  
Hardware Settings as set in Options/Hardware Settings  
Software Settings, which includes all program settings not  
explicitly set in Hardware Settings or Preferences — current  
preset styles and shaders, window freeze status, etc.  
3. Click OK or press Enter.  
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Specifying User Preferences  
99  
COMMON PREFERENCES  
Starting Layout  
The desktop layout that appears each time you start Deko500.  
Color used where graphic is transparent  
The color Deko500 uses to fill all transparent areas of a graphic  
(areas filled with live video when the Deko500 keyer is turned on).  
The default color is dark gray. To select a new color, click the  
color button.  
Decimal tab char  
The character that Deko500 uses as a decimal point when decimal-  
aligning rows of text. The default decimal tab character is a period.  
On re-boot, automatically log on to NT  
Check this box to have Deko500 automatically started whenever  
you re-boot Windows NT. You must enter your password for this  
feature to work properly.  
Keyboard  
If you have the FastAction Keyboard option, you can choose to  
enable the FastAction function keys or use the function keys as  
you would on a standard keyboard. You can also choose to enable  
the numeric keypad for FastAction access to reading in graphic  
files.  
PROMPTS PREFERENCES  
Prompt to save before clearing or opening a window  
Prompts you to save a modified graphic or macro before clearing it  
or opening a file into it.  
Prompt to save before closing a window  
Prompts you to save any modified file before closing its window or  
exiting Deko500.  
Prompt if file not found  
Displays an error prompt any time Deko500 cannot find a graphic,  
style, or custom typeface file used in a graphic. If this option is not  
selected, Deko500 skips missing files during sequence playback,  
and displays missing textures as solid black.  
Prompt before exiting Deko500  
Prompts you for verification each time you attempt to exit the  
program.  
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Types of Preferences and Preference Options  
100  
Prompt on file open if name matches but extension does not  
Prompts you to verify that you wish to open a file if the file name  
you entered has an extension that does not match the file type for  
the currently active window.  
Prompt if a graphic is being converted from a different video  
standard or file format  
Displays a prompt any time you try to open a graphic file recorded  
in a different resolution. This can happen if the graphic was  
recorded under a different video standard (PAL, NTSC, PAL 16x9,  
or NTSC 16x9) or imported from another file format (Windows  
bitmaps, Targa files, etc.).  
Although Deko500 automatically converts these graphics to the  
current resolution, the conversion process takes time, which can  
slow recall time and sequence playback. You may want to re-  
record these files in the current resolution using the Save As (F12)  
command from the File menu.  
PATHS PREFERENCES  
Current Directory  
Specifies the three current directories based on file types:  
graphics (.dko), sequences (.seq), automation (.aut)  
styles (.sty), preset styles (.pst), shaders (.shd)  
macros (.mcr)  
Search Path  
Specifies the three directory search paths based on file types:  
graphics (.dko), sequences (.seq), automation (.aut)  
styles (.sty), preset styles (.pst), shaders (.shd)  
macros (.mcr)  
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Types of Preferences and Preference Options  
101  
CURSOR PREFERENCES  
Text cursor style  
Controls how the text cursor is displayed, as an I - beam or as a  
box. Does not affect how the cursor functions.  
I - beam cursor  
Box cursor  
Cursor movement  
Determines how the cursor moves:  
By pixels  
The cursor moves in 1-pixel (fine) or 10-pixel (coarse)  
increments. The status bar displays current dot and line  
position with the origin at the top left corner. The number of  
pixels on the full screen depends on the video standard:  
720x486 for NTSC or 720x576 for PAL.  
By screen units  
The cursor moves in screen units. Increments are independent  
of the current video standard, and equal either 1/500 (fine) or  
1/50 (coarse) of screen height. The status bar displays current  
x and y coordinates, with the origin at the center of the screen.  
To select “coarse” or “fine”, choose Transform/Coarse or Fine  
(Ctrl+spacebar) from the Options menu.  
Show text cursor  
Shows or hides the text cursor.  
Moving cursor sets font and look  
Automatically changes the current style, whenever you move the  
text cursor, to reflect the style of the character to the left of the  
cursor.  
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Types of Preferences and Preference Options  
102  
Home and End key behavior  
Determines whether the Home and End keys behave as they  
typically do in Windows applications, or as they do on a traditional  
television character generator.  
KEY  
CHAR. GENERATOR  
WINDOWS  
Home  
sends cursor to  
beginning of text field  
sends cursor to start  
of row  
Shift+Home selects text from  
cursor to beginning  
of text field  
selects text from  
cursor to beginning  
of row  
Ctrl+Home sends cursor to  
beginning of row  
sends cursor to  
beginning of text field  
End  
sends cursor to right  
of last character in  
text field  
sends cursor to end  
of row  
Shift+End  
Ctrl+End  
selects text from cursor selects text from  
through last character cursor through end  
in text field  
of row  
sends cursor to end  
of row  
sends cursor to right  
of last character in  
text field  
MARKER PREFERENCES  
Show  
Specifies whether to display (checked) or hide (unchecked) the  
following markers:  
Safe title area (% from edge of screen)  
Specifies the top, bottom, right and left of the safe title area.  
Values represent a percentage of the distance from the specified  
edge of the screen to the opposite edge.  
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ADVANCED PREFERENCES  
Resolution  
Specifies screen units, the number of vertical measurement units  
per screen. Typical (but not mandatory) settings are 486 for NTSC  
and 576 for PAL. This is a reference number only, not related to  
the pixel resolution of the output frame buffer. You can set it to  
any convenient value.  
Text rendering  
Specifies a time limit for Deko500 to render text. If Deko500 is  
unable to fully render text within this time, it automatically  
substitutes low-resolution text. Low-resolution text appears jaggy  
on the desktop monitor, without details (such as edges and  
shadows). Once Deko500 has finished rendering, it replaces the  
low-resolution text with the fully rendered text  
Note  
Deko500 never displays low-resolution text on video output,  
only on the desktop.  
Word wrap enabled  
Enables word wrap automatically for all new text fields.  
Font size based on  
Deko500 allows you to specify whether to base font size on row  
height or cap height.  
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Managing Files  
OPENING FILES  
To open an existing file:  
1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9).  
2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain  
the file.  
3. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type the file name in the  
File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
4. The next time you call up the File Open dialog box, you will be  
prompted with the name of the next file in the current directory. Use the  
cursor up and down keys to scroll through other file names.  
Warning  
Unlike many Windows applications, Deko500 does not always  
open a new window when you open a file. If a window of the  
appropriate type is already open, Deko500 opens the file into  
that window, replacing the previous file. Be sure to save any  
modified file before opening another file in the same window.  
To open a new file:  
1. Activate a window for the type of file you wish to open.  
2. From the File menu, choose New (Ctrl+N). This command varies  
depending on what type of window is active. For example, if a Style  
window is active, the command is New Style.  
Note  
When you open a new file, it is opened into a new window.  
Other open files remain open behind the new file.  
Deko500 only allows one Program Window to be open at a  
time. You may have two open preset Style Windows.  
Sequence, Macro, or Custom Typeface allow multiple open  
windows.  
.
To re-open the current file:  
From the File menu, choose Revert.  
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Saving, Deleting and Sharing Files  
106  
To open one of the four most recently opened files:  
Choose a file from the list near the bottom of the File menu.  
CLOSING FILES  
To close the file in the active window:  
1. Save the file, if desired.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Double-click the control icon in the upper left corner of the active  
window.  
From the File menu, choose Close (Ctrl+F4). This command is  
different for each type of file. For example, if a Style window is  
active, the command is Close Style.  
To close all open files and exit Deko500:  
1. Save any files, if desired.  
2. Do one of the following:  
Double-click the control icon in the upper left corner of the  
Deko500 application window.  
From the File menu, choose Exit (Alt+F4).  
To have Deko500 prompt to save modified files before  
closing them:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. In the Deko500 Preferences dialog box, choose Prompts.  
3. Select “Prompt to save before closing,” then click OK or press Enter.  
SAVING FILES  
Deko500 always saves the file in the active window.  
Deko500 automatically attaches the standard extension to the file name. For example,  
a macro file named myfile is saved as myfile.mcr.  
Standard extensions in Deko500 include:  
Deko Graphic (.dko)  
Preset Styles (.pst)  
Preset Shader (.shd)  
Style (.sty)  
Macro (.mcr)  
Sequence (.seq)  
Custom Typeface (.fac)  
An asterisk (*) next to a file name on a window’s title bar indicates that the file has  
been modified since it was last saved.  
When you save a file under a new name, Deko500 prompts with the name of the most  
recently saved file and appends a numeric suffix. Use up or down arrows to increment  
or decrement this number.  
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Saving, Deleting and Sharing Files  
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To save an untitled file or to save a file under a new  
name:  
1. From the File menu choose Save As (F12). This command varies  
depending on what type of window is active. For example, if a Style  
window is active, the command is Save Style As.  
2. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you will  
save the file.  
3. Type a file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press  
Enter.  
To save an existing file:  
From the File menu, choose Save (Ctrl+S or Alt+F12). Deko500  
replaces the previous version of the file.  
DELETING FILES  
Warning  
This procedure permanently erases files from your computer’s  
disk drive.  
To delete a file or group of files:  
1. From the File menu, choose Delete File (Ctrl+Delete).  
2. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the  
file(s).  
3. Choose the file(s) from the File Name list box or type the file name in  
the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
4. Click OK or press Enter to confirm the deletion.  
SHARING FILES  
If Deko500 is networked to other computers, you can share files with other users on  
the network. Using File Manager, you can make any directory a shared directory,  
allowing other users to access all files in that directory. By default, a directory is not  
shared unless you explicitly share it, or one of its parent directories is already shared.  
For more information, please refer to Sharing a Directory in File Manager Help.  
CREATING A DIRECTORY  
To create a directory:  
1. From the File menu choose Create Directory.  
2. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you will add  
the new directory.  
3. Type a directory name in the Directory Name text box, then click OK or  
press Enter.  
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Saving, Deleting and Sharing Files  
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Note  
When you create a new directory, the new directory does not  
automatically become the current directory.  
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Working with Macros  
INTRODUCTION TO MACROS  
COMMANDS AND MACROS  
A command is an instruction to Deko500 to perform a specific function.  
The Deko500 user interface (menus, shortcut keys, etc.) implicitly executes  
commands. Every time you strike a key or select a menu item, you invoke a command  
that directs Deko500 to perform a function.  
If you know the command name for the function you wish to perform, you can invoke  
the command explicitly by entering its name on the Command Bar.  
For example, the command to clear the current graphic is clear graphic. Try it.  
Press F4 to select the Command Bar, type clear graphic, then press Enter.  
Every command recognized by Deko500 is listed in the Deko500 Commands section  
of this manual and described in detail in the accompanying Deko500 Command  
Reference.  
A macro is a sequence of Deko500 commands. You can name and store a macro by  
saving it in a file. You can invoke a macro in the same way you can invoke a  
command, by typing the macro name on the Command Bar and pressing Enter.  
Once you learn Deko500’s macro language, you will be able to write and edit macros  
directly in the Macro window. For now, you can follow the simple instructions in this  
section to quickly begin creating macros using Deko500’s macro recorder.  
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Using the Macro Recorder  
110  
WORKING IN THE MACRO WINDOW  
Whether writing a new macro or editing an existing macro, you will be working in the  
Macro window:  
To activate the Macro window:  
Do either of the following:  
From the Window menu, choose Layouts, then Macro Edit.  
From the View menu, choose Macro (F2).  
To open a new macro file:  
1. Activate the Macro window  
2. From the File menu, choose New Macro (Ctrl+N)  
To open an existing macro:  
1. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9).  
2. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the  
macro file.  
3. Choose the macro from the File Name list box or type the macro name  
in the File Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Warning  
Unlike many Windows applications, Deko500 does not  
automatically open a new window when you open an existing  
macro. If the Macro window is already open, Deko500 opens  
the macro into that window, replacing any previous macro. Be  
sure to save any modified macro before opening another  
macro in the same window.  
To append a macro to the active macro:  
1. In the active Macro window, position the cursor where you will insert  
the second macro.  
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2. From the File menu, choose Append to Macro.  
3. In the Append Macro dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that  
contain the macro (.mcr) file you wish to append.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list or type it in the File Name text  
box, then click OK or press Enter  
USING THE MACRO RECORDER  
RECORDING A MACRO  
To record a macro:  
1. To turn the macro recorder on, do one of the following:  
Click the record button at the far right end of the text bar.  
Choose Record Macro (Ctrl+F2) from the Macro menu.  
On the text bar, the button lights up red to indicate that the macro  
recorder is on.  
2. Use the keyboard and/or mouse to perform the sequence of actions that  
will constitute the macro.  
3. To turn the recorder off, do one of the following:  
Click off the record button on the text bar.  
Choose Record Macro (Ctrl+F2) from the Macro menu.  
Press F2 to turn the recorder off and activate the Macro window.  
To view the macro you just recorded:  
Do one of the following:  
From the Window menu, choose Select Layout, then Macro Edit.  
From the View menu, choose Macro (F2).  
PLAYING A MACRO  
To play the active macro:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the play button near the right end of the text bar.  
Choose Play Macro (Alt+F2) from the Macro menu.  
On the text bar, the play button lights up green to indicate that a macro  
is playing.  
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Using the Macro Recorder  
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Notes  
The name of the macro that is currently playing appears on  
the status bar.  
If no Macro window or Sequence window is active, Deko500  
plays the macro in the most recently activated Macro window.  
To play a macro file:  
1. If the Command Bar is not visible, choose Command Bar (F4) from the  
View menu.  
2. Click the text box on the Command Bar.  
3. Type the macro file name. You do not have to type the .mcr extension.  
4. To specify macro parameters, click the Prompt button and edit  
parameters in the dialog box.  
5. Click Play or Press Enter.  
PAUSING A MACRO  
To pause a macro:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the pause button near the right end of the text bar.  
Choose Pause Macro (Pause) from the Macro menu.  
On the text bar, the play button light goes off and the pause button lights  
up yellow to indicate that a macro in progress has been paused.  
To resume a paused macro:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the pause button near the right end of the text bar.  
Choose Pause Macro (Pause) from the Macro menu.  
On the text bar, the pause button light goes off and the play button lights  
up green.  
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Using the Macro Recorder  
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STOPPING MACRO PLAYBACK  
To cancel macro playback:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the stop button near the right end of the text bar.  
Choose Stop Macro Playback (Ctrl+Pause) from the Macro menu.  
SINGLE-STEPPING A MACRO  
To advance a paused macro one step:  
Do one of the following:  
Click the play button at the right end of the text bar.  
Choose Play Macro (Alt+F2) from the Macro menu.  
The blinking cursor in the Macro window indicates where the macro is  
paused.  
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Editing and Saving Macros  
114  
EDITING A MACRO  
To open and edit a macro (.mcr) file:  
1. Do one of the following, if necessary, to activate the Macro window:  
From the Window menu, choose Select Layout, then Macro Edit.  
From the View menu, choose Macro (F2).  
2. From the File menu, choose Open (Ctrl+O or F9).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that contain the  
macro file.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list or type it in the File Name text  
box, then click OK or press Enter.  
5. Edit the macro as desired.  
Note  
You may import a text (.txt) file as a macro just by opening it  
in the Macro window.  
To edit macro parameters:  
1. If the Command Bar is not visible, choose Command Bar (F4) from the  
View menu.  
2. Click the text box on the Command Bar.  
3. Type the macro file name.  
4. Click the Prompt button on the Command Bar.  
5. Specify parameters in the dialog box, then click OK or press Enter.  
SAVING A MACRO  
To save a macro under a new name:  
1. Activate the Macro window.  
2. From the File menu, choose Save Macro As (F12).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory where you will  
store the file.  
4. Type a new file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or press  
Enter.  
Note  
When you save a macro, Deko500 automatically attaches  
“.mcr” to the file name. Do not type a different extension.  
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Editing and Saving Macros  
115  
To save a modified macro:  
1. Activate the Macro window.  
2. From the File menu, choose Save Macro (Ctrl+S or Alt+F12) to replace  
the previous version of the .mcr file.  
APPENDING TO A MACRO  
To append a macro to the active macro:  
1. In the active Macro window, position the cursor where you will insert  
the second macro.  
2. From the File menu, choose Append to Macro.  
3. In the Append Macro dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory that  
contain the macro (.mcr) file you wish to append.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list or type it in the File Name text  
box, then click OK or press Enter.  
CONVERTING A GRAPHIC OR SEQUENCE INTO A MACRO  
To convert a graphic or sequence into a macro:  
1. Open the graphic or sequence you wish to convert.  
2. Do one of the following:  
From the Macro menu, choose Convert Graphic to Macro.  
From the Sequence menu, choose Convert Sequence to Macro.  
3. Deko500 determines the sequence of macro commands needed to  
recreate the graphic or sequence and inserts them into the active macro.  
To view the macro:  
Do one of the following:  
From the Window menu, choose Select Layout, then Macro Edit.  
From the View menu, choose Macro (F2).  
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MACRO PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE  
The Deko500 Macro Programming Language combines many of the features of C and  
BASIC. It supports many standard programming constructs such as real and integer  
arithmetic, variables, arrays, objects, loops, conditional statements and subroutines.  
Since each topic in this chapter builds upon information covered in previous topics,  
we suggest you read the topics in the order presented, especially if you are new to  
programming.  
If you have done some programming, a quick review of this section may be all you  
need to start writing your own Deko500 macros.  
COMMANDS  
Commands are the basic building blocks of any macro. In macros, commands are  
similar to the verbs, or action words, we use in speech.  
A command is a direct instruction to Deko500 to perform a function. A Deko500  
command may include alphanumeric characters and underscores (_). The first  
character may not be a number. A few examples of valid commands are:  
justify  
rotate  
str2num  
edge_shader  
Deko500 commands fall into several categories. Some categories correspond directly  
with items on the Deko500 menu bar (e.g., File, Edit, Channel, Layer, Macro,  
Sequence, etc.). Other categories exist for commands that are language specific, such  
as program flow commands (e.g. if, while, return) and mathematical  
functions (e.g., sqrt, cosine).  
The Deko500 Commands section in this manual lists all Deko500 commands by  
category.  
COMMAND SYNTAX  
Earlier, we compared commands to verbs. Just as adverbs modify a verb, parameters  
modify a command.  
Each command’s parameters are specified in an order particular to that command.  
The example below shows the usual order of parameters for the justify command:  
justify [horizontal=] [vertical=]  
In addition to a specific position, each parameter has a name, a keyword, such as  
“horizontal”, “vertical”, etc. Because each parameter has a specific position in  
command declaration, however, using a keyword to assign a value is necessary only  
when the parameter is specified out of its usual order.  
Even then, you may abbreviate a keyword to only as many characters as necessary to  
avoid ambiguity.  
Here are several possible variations of the justify command:  
justify  
default (unchanged) justification  
horizontal left; vertical bottom  
justify left bottom  
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justify vertical=top  
justify v=top  
top vertical justification;  
horizontal unchanged  
top vertical justification;  
horizontal unchanged  
Most parameters are optional parameters; they have default values and do not  
require specification unless you are assigning new values to them.  
The justify command has two optional parameters.  
justify [horizontal=] [vertical=]  
Brackets are a convention used throughout this manual and in on-line help to indicate  
that a parameter is optional. Do not use brackets when writing an actual macro.  
A required parameter has no default value, so you must specify its value. The  
file_open command is a command with a required parameter:  
file_open name=  
You must supply the name of the file to satisfy the name parameter:  
file_open myfile  
A command and its parameters normally occupy one line of a macro, and a space  
separates one parameter from the next. If a command and its parameters do not fit on  
one line, a backslash (\) at the end of the line indicates that the command continues on  
the next line:  
file_save [name=] [comment=] [type=] [number=] \  
[channel=] [-all] [glyphs=] [-bitmap] \  
[-auto_comment] [-compress]  
Note that the second and third lines are indented. This is just a matter of good  
penmanship; indentation and blank lines do not affect macro execution, but make the  
macro easier to read and edit.  
Use semicolons (;) to separate multiple commands that appear on one line:  
type "Hello there";newline  
As in the above example, if a parameter value is a string that includes a space, enclose  
the value in quotation marks.  
PARAMETERS  
Parameters fall into several categories based on value type.  
Real  
A real parameter specifies any numeric value, whole or fractional, e.g. 3, 9.7, -0.9,  
etc.  
Very large or small real values may be expressed in exponent form. For example,  
2.5e-10.  
An example of a real parameter is the input parameter of the sqrt (square root)  
command:  
sqrt input=  
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Integer  
An integer parameter specifies a whole number value, either positive or negative,  
e.g., 3, 12967, -14, 0, etc.  
If you specify a real value for an integer parameter, Deko500 ignores the fractional  
component.  
An example of an integer parameter is the number parameter of the  
select_style_preset command, which sets the current style from the list of  
preset styles:  
select_style_preset [number=]  
Switch  
A switch parameter specifies a parameter that is either true or false. A true parameter  
is either preceded by a hyphen (-) or followed by =1, while a false parameter is either  
preceded by -no or followed by =0.  
The following illustrates examples of the all switch parameter of the tab_clear  
command:  
tab_clear -all  
tab_clear -noall  
String  
or  
tab_clear all=1  
tab_clear all=0  
or  
A string parameter specifies one or more alphanumeric characters (e.g., a letter, word  
or sentence).  
A string that contains spaces or non-alphanumeric characters must be enclosed in  
quotation marks.  
A typical string parameter is the name parameter of the file_open command,  
which opens the file specified by name:  
file_open name=  
For example, to open the file named “my file”, the value of the parameter would be  
the string, “my file”:  
file_open “my file”  
Choice  
A choice parameter specifies one item from a list of possible choices.  
Both parameters of the justify command are choice parameters:  
justify [horizontal=] [vertical=]  
Possible choices for horizontal are: left, right, center, full, spread,  
off and unchanged; and for vertical: top, bottom, center, full,  
baseline, off and unchanged.  
Object  
An object parameter specifies an object, a collection of values that is treated as a  
single item. Typical objects in Deko500 include colors, shaders, ellipses, rectangles,  
boxes, fonts and looks.  
The letter command, which adds a letter to a text field, includes two object  
parameters, font and look:  
letter [character=] [font=] [look=] [tx=]\  
[ty=] [code=] [insert=] [-show] [-attach]  
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The font parameter specifies an object created by the font command, and the  
look parameter specifies an object created by the look command.  
You create an object with a command. For example, the rgb command creates a  
color object:  
rgb red= green= blue=  
The elements of an object correspond exactly with the of the command that created it.  
The parameters of the rgb command represent the amounts of red, blue and green  
that make up the color.  
You can assign an object to a variable:  
$gold = rgb 100 100 0  
You can specify an object parameter with an embedded command, using parentheses:  
ramp top_left=(rgb 60 60 0)  
Accessing Object Elements  
To access an element to edit its value or to assign it to a variable for use elsewhere,  
use the element operator.  
To edit $gold to re-specify the amount of green:  
$gold:green = 80  
To assign the green element of $gold to the variable $grn:  
$grn = $gold:green  
List  
A list parameter, also known as a repeating parameter, specifies a list of one or  
more values. Depending on the command, the values on the list may or may not be of  
the same type. A command can have no more than one list parameter, which is  
usually the last parameter.  
The message command has a list parameter that specifies a list of  
strings to output on the Status Bar:  
message list=  
message "Enter" "file" "name" "of" $song  
VARIABLES  
In Deko500, a variable name can include any upper or lower case alphanumeric  
character as well as the special character, underline (_). The first character is always a  
dollar sign ($), and the character immediately after the dollar sign cannot be a  
number.  
To make macros easier to read and understand, it’s a good idea to use variable names  
that are readily associated with the values they represent. For example, it’s easy to  
guess what these variables are used for:  
$age  
$name  
$phone  
You do not explicitly declare a variable’s data type; the data type is determined when  
a value is assigned to the variable.  
These examples illustrate how variable assignment determines data type:  
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$i = 1  
Integer  
$XY = 3.5  
$message = "Goodbye Cruel World"  
Real  
String  
If you try to use an uninitialized variable, Deko500 stops executing the command or  
macro and displays an error prompt.  
A variable may be an element of an array, in which case its name is the name of the  
array followed by a subscript that identifies its location in the array. A subscript must  
be an integer or an expression that returns an integer.  
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For example, an array named $table might include these elements:  
$table[3]  
$table[42]  
$table[$count+1]  
$table[9999]  
Deko500 allocates array elements as needed. The subscripted variables in the above  
example will occupy only four variable slots, not ten thousand.  
By default, most variables are local variables. A local variable is allocated  
temporarily during macro playback, then deleted automatically when the macro stops.  
One macro cannot reference a second macro’s local variables, even if the second  
macro is a subroutine of the first.  
Global variables must be declared with the global command, and can be shared  
among multiple macros. Once declared, a global variable remains until you either  
delete it by using the free command, or exit Deko500.  
Deko500 has a set of built-in global variables, known as system variables, which  
provide information about the state of your system. System variables are preceded by  
the at-sign symbol (@), and are often referred to as at-sign variables.  
Some system variables are read-only; you cannot change their values. Examples of  
read-only system variables are @lines and @dots, which describe the current video  
standard, and the pre-defined colors @red, @blue and @green.  
Other system variables may be assigned values. For example, the system variable  
@wordwrap can be set to 0 to disable word wrap, or 1 to enable it  
OPERATORS  
In the previous topic, you saw that variable assignment is indicated by the equal sign  
(=), which is just one of many symbols, known as operators, that represent operations  
performed on data.  
The Deko500 Macro Programming Language uses a subset of the operators available  
in C, as well as a few additions specific to Deko500.  
Arithmetic operators perform mathematical operations within expressions:  
Operator  
Expression  
$a + $b  
Operation  
adds $a and $b  
+
-
$a - $b  
$a * $b  
$a / $b  
subtracts $b from $a  
multiplies $a by $b  
*
/
divides $a by $b  
%
-
$a % $b  
calculates remainder of $a/$b  
-$a  
negates the value of $a  
You can perform arithmetic operations on one-character strings by adding or  
subtracting integer values to the character. For example, the expression "A"+1 has  
the value "B".  
Using single quotation marks in an expression yields the numerical value of the  
character key. For example, ’A’+1 has the value 66.  
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Comparison operators compare values and determine whether an expression is true  
or false. An expression is any combination of variables, commands and operators that  
results in a single value.  
An expression is true if its value is non-zero; it is false if its value is 0.  
Operator  
Expression  
Value  
==  
>
$a == $b  
True if $a equals $b  
$a > $b  
True if $a is greater than $b  
>=  
<
$a >= $b  
True if $a is greater than or equal to $b  
True if $a is less than $b  
$a < $b  
<=  
!=  
!
$a <= $b  
$a != $b  
True if $a is less than or equal to $b  
True if $a does not equal $b  
True if $a is false (equals 0)  
True if both $a and $b are true  
True if either $a or $b is true  
!$a  
&&  
||  
$a && $b  
$a || $b  
There is one string operator, for concatenation of strings:  
Operator  
Expression  
Operation  
joins string $b to the end of string $a  
%%  
$a %% $b  
Strings can be compared for equality and inequality using the comparison operators  
== and !=.  
Additional string operations are performed by commands. Please refer to the Deko500  
Commands section of this manual.  
The index and element operators allow direct access to values that are elements of  
arrays or elements of objects:  
Operator  
Expression  
Data Accessed  
[ ]  
$a[$b]  
item $b of array $a  
:
$a:$b $b  
element of object $a  
Bitwise operators perform operations on integers based on bit position:  
Operator  
Expression  
$a << 2  
$a >> 4  
~$a  
Operation  
<<  
>>  
shifts $a left by 2 bit positions  
shifts $a right by 4 bit positions  
~
complements 1 bits to 0; 0 bits  
to 1  
&
|
$a & $b  
bitwise AND of $a and $b  
bitwise OR of $a and $b  
exclusive OR of $a and $b  
$a | $b  
^
$a ^ $b  
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The assignment operator assigns a value to a variable, and may simultaneously  
perform other operations:  
Operator  
=
Expression  
$a = $b  
Operation  
assigns the value of $b to $a  
+=  
$a += 1  
$a -= 5  
adds 1 to $a, assigns total to $a  
-=  
subtracts 5 from $a, assigns total to $a  
multiplies $a by 2, assigns product to $a  
divides $a by 2, assigns quotient to $a  
divides $a by 3, assigns remainder to $a  
shifts $a right 4 bits  
*=  
$a *= 2  
/=  
$a /= 2  
%=  
>>=  
<<=  
%%=  
&=  
|=  
$a %= 3  
$a >>= 4  
$a <<= 4  
$a %%= "ok"  
$a &= 2  
$a |= 2  
shifts $a left 4 bits  
concatenates “ok” to $a, assigns string to $a  
bitwise AND $a and 2, assigns result to $a  
bitwise OR $a and 2, assigns result to $a  
bitwise exclusive OR $a and $b, assigns result to  
^=  
$a  
$a ^= $b  
Deko500 uses the same order of operator precedence used by C:  
[]  
subscript, element  
parentheses  
()  
! ~ -  
logical not, one’s complement, unary minus  
multiply, divide, modulo  
plus, minus  
* / %  
+ -  
<< >>  
left shift, right shift  
concatenate strings  
comparisons  
%%  
< <= > >=  
== !=  
equality, inequality  
bitwise AND  
&
^
bitwise exclusive OR  
bitwise OR  
|
&&  
logical AND  
||  
logical OR  
= += -= etc.  
assignments  
Use nested parentheses to avoid ambiguity in expressions. For example:  
$inc = ( ($i+1) * ($j+1) ) / 100  
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COMMENTS  
A comment is text within a macro that does not affect the function of the macro.  
Comments make macros easier to analyze and edit, especially if the macro was  
written some time ago or written by another programmer. Many programmers  
consider a program incomplete without comments. You may find the same to be true  
of your macros.  
A single-line comment starts with a pound sign (#). Deko500 ignores text to the right  
of the pound sign.  
# This comment is on a line by itself.  
command # This one shares a line with a command.  
Another way to create a comment is to precede the comment with /* and close it  
with */. Deko500 ignores text between /* and */. This way, you can create  
multiple-line comments.  
/* This is a multiple-line comment.  
None of this text affects the function  
of this macro; Deko500 ignores  
every line of it */  
CONDITIONAL COMMANDS AND LOOPS  
Conditional commands instruct Deko500 to execute specific commands only under  
certain circumstances. Deko500 supports the conditional commands if, else and  
elseif.  
The if command includes a test expression, which evaluates to zero (false) or non-  
zero (true). A list of one or more commands, then an end command, follows the if  
command:  
if expression=  
# commands  
end  
If the expression is true, Deko500 executes the commands between if and end.  
The if command is often used with the else command:  
if expression=  
# commands  
else  
# commands  
end  
If the expression is true, Deko500 executes the commands between if and else;  
otherwise, the commands between else and end are executed.  
You can introduce more conditional actions by nesting conditions…  
if $a==1  
type "Hello"  
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else  
if $a==5  
type "Good-bye"  
else  
end  
type "Wish you were here"  
end  
…or more elegantly by using the elseif command:  
if $a==1  
type "Hello"  
elseif $a==5  
type "Good-bye"  
else  
type "Wish you were here"  
end  
Notice how indentation makes conditional statements easier to read. Indenting the  
commands between if and its corresponding end is a good practice.  
Loop commands instruct Deko500 to execute a series of commands multiple times.  
Loop commands include loop, while and for.  
The easiest way to define a loop is to use the loop command and specify the number  
of iterations:  
loop [count=]  
# commands  
end  
The macro executes the command sequence between loop and end the number of  
times specified by the count parameter. After the loop, the macro continues with the  
first command after end.  
If you do not supply a count, the loop will go on forever or until you cancel macro  
playback or use a conditional statement to end the loop.  
The following macro types “hello” five times, then breaks out of the loop:  
$a=1  
loop  
type "hello";newline  
$a = $a+=1  
if $a>5  
break  
end  
end  
You also can break out of a loop with the continue command, which restarts a  
loop at the top without executing commands after continue.  
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This macro uses such a loop to test for and skip odd numbers and, as a result, types  
only the even numbers from 1 through 10:  
$a=0  
loop 10  
$a = $a+=1  
if $a&1  
continue # skip odd numbers  
end  
type $a  
end  
Conditional loop commands define both the loop and its conditional test.  
The while command continues looping as long as its test expression is true.  
Deko500 evaluates the test expression prior to each iteration of the loop, and as long  
as the result is true, continues the loop:  
$a=1  
while $a<=5  
type "hello";newline  
$a+=1  
end  
The for command, for makes an incremental loop, such as the one above, more  
concise:  
for $a=1 $a<=5 $a+=1  
type "hello";newline  
end  
The initial expression $a=1 is executed once. The test expression $a<=5 is  
evaluated prior to each iteration of the loop; if the test result is true, the loop  
continues. The increment expression $a+=1 is executed after each loop iteration.  
SUBROUTINES  
To a user, there is no practical difference between Deko500’s built-in commands and  
the macros that you write and store under file names. You can have one macro run  
another macro, simply by using the macro file name in the same way you would use a  
command.  
When one macro “calls” another, the second macro is considered a subroutine of the  
first. You can call an existing macro as a subroutine or create one within your macro.  
The command command defines a local subroutine, which ends with the end  
command.  
The following macro creates, then runs the macros “boy” and “girl” as subroutines.  
command boy  
type "It’s a boy!"  
end  
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command girl  
type "It’s a girl"  
end  
if $name == "Amy"  
girl  
elseif $name == "Meg"  
girl  
elseif $name == "Mickey"  
boy  
end  
The subroutines “boy” and “girl” are local to this macro. When the macro ends, the  
subroutines, like the variables, vanish.  
RETURN VALUES  
The return command directs Deko500 to stop the current macro or subroutine and  
return the value of its expression parameter to the macro that called it.  
return [expression=]  
For example, you might have a simple command called test that returns 1 if  
successful, or 0 if not:  
command test  
if $name == "Amy"  
return 1  
else  
return 0  
end  
The subroutine test can then be called from another macro:  
$result = test  
if $result == 1  
type "It’s a girl"  
end  
Here are a few examples of Deko500 commands that return values:  
$squareroot = sqrt 4.  
sqrt returns the real value 2.  
$test = file_open "moon over miami"  
file_open returns 1 if Deko500 successfully opens "moon over miami", or 2 if  
not.  
$color = rgb 0 0 100  
The rgb command creates and returns a color object that is then assigned to the  
variable $color.  
OBJECTS  
An object is a data structure created by a command. Typical objects in Deko500  
include colors, shaders, ellipses, rectangles, fonts and looks.  
The elements of an object correspond exactly with the parameters of the command  
that created it. Consider the rgb command, which creates a color:  
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rgb red= green= blue=  
The parameters represent the amounts (from 0 to 100) of red, blue and green that  
make up the color created by the rgb command.  
You can assign an object to a variable:  
$yellow = rgb 100 100 0  
It is not necessary to assign objects to variables before passing them to other  
commands. You can specify an object parameter with an embedded command,  
indicated by parentheses:  
ramp top_left=(rgb 100 100 0)  
You can access any element of an object with the element operator (:), to edit the  
element’s value or to assign it to a variable for use elsewhere.  
To edit $yellow to make it a little less green:  
$yellow:green = 80.  
The green level of $yellow was 100. It is now 80.  
To assign the green element of $yellow to the variable $grn:  
$grn = $yellow:green  
To determine the data type of an object, use the objtype command:.  
objtype object=  
DATA TYPE CONVERSIONS  
You may encounter situations in which you must convert a value of one data type to  
another data type. Use the following processes to convert various types of data.  
To convert an integer value to a real value:  
Add the integer to 0.0 or multiply it by 1.0.  
$a = 123  
$b = $a*1.0  
$b equals 123.0  
To convert a real value to an integer value:  
1. Use the command: integer  
2. Deko500 truncates the real number. To round numbers accurately, add  
.5 to the real number.  
$a = 12.7  
$b = integer $a+.5  
$b equals 13  
To convert a number value to a string:  
Do one of the following:  
Use the command: num2str  
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$a = 123.45  
$b = num2str $a  
$b equals "123.45"  
Concatenate a null string to the number  
$a = 123.45  
$b = $a%%""  
$b equals "123.45"  
To convert a string to its numeric equivalent:  
Use the command: str2num  
$a = "123"  
$b = str2num $a  
$b equals 123  
To convert a string (up to 4 characters) to ASCII code  
(integer):  
Use the command: str2ascii  
$a = "a"  
$b = str2ascii $a  
$b equals 97  
To convert ASCII code (integer) to a string:  
Use the command: ascii2str  
$a = 97  
$b = ascii2str $a  
$b equals "a"  
To convert an object to a string:  
Use the command: obj2str  
$a = @black  
$b = obj2str $a  
$b equals "yuv 16 0 0"  
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Deko500 Options  
ABOUT DEKO500 OPTIONS  
Deko500 options currently available for purchase include:  
Automation  
SportsWare  
StillDeko  
Chyron Import  
FastAction Keyboard  
To see what software options are enabled on your  
system:  
From the Options menu, choose Enabled Options. A check mark  
next to an option indicates that it is enabled on your system. The  
FastAction Keyboard is a hardware option, not a software option,  
so do not be concerned that it does not appear in this window.  
AUTOMATION  
The Automation option allows you to control Deko500 externally, in two ways:  
By any external computer, using a serial input port. You can  
use macro commands to input and output arbitrary bytes and  
strings.  
By a newsroom automation system, such as Basys, NewStar,  
Comprompter, AP News Wire or DCM  
This option also includes timecode control, which allows you to control  
sequences via SMPTE timecode.  
Note  
The Automation option is not necessary to control Deko500  
externally using Grass Valley Group protocols EMEM and  
PEGS.  
THE AUTOMATION WINDOW  
To open the Automation window:  
From the View menu, select Automation.  
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Automation window fields:  
Automation Enabled  
Enables/disables the automation interface.  
Type  
The automation protocol.  
EMEM  
The protocol used with Grass Valley Group 200 and 300  
switchers.  
DEKO  
The protocol used for NetDeko.  
PEGS  
The protocol used with Grass Valley Group editors.  
III  
The optional protocol for using non-Deko500 commands.  
ID  
Identifies your Deko500. If only one Deko500 is connected to the  
automation host, the ID setting is 1.  
Port  
The COM port or the name of the network pipe used for the  
automation interface.  
Status  
Current connection status and message history.  
Clear  
Clears the data in the Status box.  
To start Automation immediately every time you start  
Deko500:  
1. In the Automation window, check Automation Enabled.  
2. In the Options Menu, select Save Settings on Exit.  
AUTOMATION GRAPHICS  
To use a Deko graphic with automation, you must define the graphic’s layers to  
accept text data from the automation host. There are two ways a layer can accept  
automation data:  
Query  
A query field causes the Automation interface to request  
updates from the host at user-specified intervals.  
Replace  
A replace field gets its data from an automation (.aut) file.  
When you read an .aut file, Deko500 replaces the graphic’s  
replace fields with the data in the .aut file.  
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To define a layer for automation:  
1. Open the Automation window, de-select Automation Enabled, then  
close the window.  
2. Select the layer.  
3. From the Layer menu, choose Properties.  
4. At the bottom of the Text dialog box, click More.  
5. Under Text Initialization, click the Usage text box, then do one of  
the following:  
Select query, then enter an update frequency.  
Select replace.  
Note  
For a description of other Text Initialization options, see Text  
Field Properties.  
The query update frequency specifies the number of seconds  
between requests to the automation host for updates. If update  
frequency is set to zero, the automation interface will issue the  
request only once, when the file is opened.  
TIMECODE CONTROL  
To specify timecodes to begin and end an effect:  
1. Open the sequence file.  
2. In the Control column of the Sequence Window, choose tcode.  
3. In the In Time column, do one of the following:  
Press Alt+Shift+I to enter the current input timecode.  
Type a timecode.  
4. In the Out Time column, do one of the following:  
Press Alt+Shift+O to enter the current output timecode.  
Type a timecode.  
To set intime to outtime:  
1. Open the Sequence file.  
2. In the Sequence Window, select the event.  
3. From Timecode Menu, choose Set Intime to Outtime.  
To set outtime to intime:  
1. Open the Sequence file.  
2. In the Sequence Window, select the event.  
3. From Timecode Menu, choose Set Outtime to Intime.  
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To offset in/out times:  
1. Open the sequence file.  
2. In the Sequence window, choose Add Offset to In/Out Times.  
3. In the dialog box, enter the amount of time to add or subtract.  
4. Choose whether to add or subtract the offset time, then click OK or  
press Enter.  
To find event closest to current output timecode:  
1. Open the Sequence file.  
2. From the Timecode menu, choose Find Event Closest to  
Timecode.  
To specify timecode settings:  
1. From the Timecode menu, choose Timecode Settings.  
2. Change Com Port and Drop Frame Mode settings as desired.  
3. Click OK or press Enter.  
DATABASE CONNECTION  
The Automation option includes a dynamic feature that enables Deko500 to read  
and display information from a database. This means you can set up a layer to  
query a database and display the value of a field within that database.  
A database query differs from Deko500’s existing query feature, which sends  
inquiries to a newsroom automation system. Database queries send inquiries to  
database files, which may be stored on a local system drive or accessed by a  
LAN or WAN.  
To use the database connection feature, you must have the ODBC driver  
installed to support the database source. The ODBC driver is automatically  
installed during installation and setup of your database software package. You  
must also specify a data source name (DSN).  
To view installed ODBC drivers:  
1. Click Start at the bottom of your desktop, choose Settings, then  
double-click Control Panel.  
2. Double-click the ODBC icon to open the ODBC Data Source  
Administrator dialog box.  
3. Click the ODBC Drivers tab.  
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To specify a DSN:  
1. Click Start at the bottom of your desktop, choose Settings, then  
double-click Control Panel.  
2. Double-click the ODBC icon to open the ODBC Data Source  
Administrator dialog box.  
3. Click one of the following:  
User DSN  
to create a data source which is visible only to you and can  
only be used on the current machine.  
System DSN  
to create a data source which is visible to all users on the  
current machine.  
File DSN  
to create a data source which allows you to connect to a data  
provider and which can be shared by multiple users who have  
the correct driver installed.  
4. Click the Add button, select the driver for which you want to set up  
a data source, then click Finish.  
5. Type in a Data Source Name.  
6. Click the Select button, navigate to the database file, then click  
OK. Click OK two more times to close the dialog box.  
To set up a layer to query a database:  
1. Select the layer.  
2. From the View menu, select Database to open the Database  
window.  
3. In the window, choose a Database Name, then check the  
Connect box.  
4. Choose a Table In Database.  
5. Specify a record within that table, by selecting a Field Name and  
entering a Field Value for that field.  
6. In Display Field, choose the field whose data to display in the  
layer.  
7. Enter a value in the Frequency box to specify how many seconds  
to wait between requests to the data source for updates. If  
Frequency is set to zero, the automation interface will issue the  
request only once.  
8. Click Create Query.  
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DATABASE WINDOW OPTIONS:  
Database Name  
A database name defined in the ODBC Data Source Administrator.  
Connect  
Connects Deko500 to the specified database.  
Table In Database  
A table within the database.  
Field Name  
The field used to identify a data record within the database.  
Field Value  
A value of the specified Field Name field. This can be “hard-coded” as  
a specific value, or you can enter the variable, $FieldValue, then  
use the Command Bar to update the value of the variable. See the topic,  
To use a variable Field Value, later in this section.  
Display Field  
The field whose value to display in the layer.  
Create Query  
Associates this database query with the current layer.  
Read Query  
Reads query associated with the current layer into the Database  
window. Select a layer that has been previously set up for database  
query, then use this button to display options already specified for that  
layer in the Database window.  
To use a variable Field Value ($FieldValue):  
1. From the View menu, select Command Bar to open the command  
bar at the bottom of the desktop.  
2. Click the text box on the command bar and type  
$FieldValue=n (where n is the value), then click Play.  
3. Set up a graphic layer to query a database, and choose  
$FieldValue in the Field Value in the Database window.  
CHYRON IMPORT  
The Chyron Import option gives you the ability to read Chyron Infinit family  
files and work with them in the Deko500 environment. The members of the  
Infinite family include Maxine, Max, Winfinit, and Infinit. These files come in  
two flavors:  
message  
Message directories contain message and RGBA files that Deko500 can read  
into a Program window. These files usually refer to fonts, which you can  
associate with True Type fonts for viewing and editing within Deko500.  
machine  
Machine directories contain logo font files that Deko500 can convert into Deko  
custom typeface (.fac) files.  
To open the Chyron Import window:  
1. Insert the Chyron disk into the appropriate drive and close the  
drive door.  
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2. Activate a Program window.  
3. From the View menu, choose Chyron import.  
To import a Chyron message file:  
1. Open the Chyron Import window.  
2. Navigate to the drive and directory that contain the message file.  
3. Double-click the file name to open the file in the active Program  
window.  
Note  
Once you have imported a Chyron message file, you can save  
it as a Deko (.dko) file. The sample file, Chyron2.dko, is a  
Chyron message file with logo fonts that was saved as a .dko  
file.  
To map a Chyron bitmap font onto a TrueType font:  
1. Open the Chyron Import window.  
2. Navigate to the drive and directory that contain the message file.  
3. lick the file name to open its Font Mapping list in the window.  
4. Double-click an item in the Font Mapping list to open the list of  
available fonts.  
5. Select a TrueType font, then click Accept to add the font to the  
mapping file for the current Deko500 session.  
To save the current font mapping file for future  
Deko500 sessions:  
1. In the Chyron Import window, click Details.  
2. Click Save.  
3. Enter a name for the mapping file, then click Save.  
4. Click OK or press Enter. Deko500 saves the font mapping file as a  
text (.txt) file.  
To open a font mapping file:  
1. In the Chyron Import window, click Details.  
2. Click Open, then navigate to the mapping file.  
3. Double-click the file name, or click Open.  
4. Click OK or press Enter.  
To convert a Chyron logo font into a custom typeface:  
1. Open the Chyron Import window.  
2. Navigate to the drive and directory that contain the machine file.  
Note that the file description appears.  
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3. Double-click the file name to open and import the file into a  
Custom Typeface window.  
4. From the File menu, choose Save Custom Typeface As.  
5. Navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file.  
6. Type a new file name in the File Name text box, then click OK or  
press Enter.  
FASTACTION KEYBOARD  
The FastAction Keyboard (FAK) enables you to perform common tasks in  
Deko500 with a single keystroke. It is designed for use in real-time on-air  
environments, where speed is critical. Based on a standard PC 101 keyboard, the  
FAK provides additional keys for one keystroke accessibility to many of  
Deko500’s functions. The FAK also provides an alphanumeric display so you  
can enter or view the filename of the next graphic to be read.  
An enhanced version of the standard PC keyboard, the FAK works like a  
standard keyboard when using other Windows applications. It provides the  
standard PC 101 keyboard layout, function keys (F1 - F12), and numeric  
keypad.  
The function keys can be enabled to access the functions engraved on the  
keycap (i.e., F9=Bold, etc.). The enhanced function keys mirror the text bar  
functions on the Deko500 desktop.  
The numeric keypad can be enabled to provide FastAction access to reading  
files. You can quickly call up graphics with numerical filenames by typing the  
filename on the numeric keypad. The alphanumeric display shows the filename  
as it is being typed, then advances to display the next sequential file.  
ENABLING THE FASTACTION KEYBOARD  
To enable/disable FastAction function keys (F1 - F12):  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences, then Common.  
2. Under Keyboard click FastAction Function Keys.  
1. Click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
When the FastAction Function Key box is checked, the F1 -  
F12 keys access the functions engraved on the keycaps, which  
mirror Deko500 text bar functions. When the box is  
unchecked, the keys function as on a standard Deko500  
keyboard.  
To enable the FastAction numeric keypad:  
1. From the Options menu, choose Preferences, then Common.  
2. Under Keyboard click Enhanced.  
3. Click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Once enabled, the numeric keypad provides FastAction access  
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to reading files.  
To quickly call up graphics with numerical filenames, type the  
filename on the keypad and press Read. The display shows the  
filename as it is being typed, and advances to the sequential  
file when you press Read.  
The keyboard will display any alphanumeric filename, but  
only numeric filenames can be entered on the numeric  
keypad. To read in any filename, pressing Clear to clear the  
display, then press Read. In the Read dialog box, type the  
filename.  
SPECIAL FASTACTION KEYBOARD FUNCTION KEYS  
Browse Graphics  
Activates/deactivates the Graphic Browser Window.  
Browse Typeface  
Activates/deactivates the Typeface Browser Window.  
Center Row  
Toggles centering on current cursor row.  
Char  
In conjunction with arrow keys, moves, scales, rotates, skews, or  
kerns characters, depending on which tool is selected.  
Clear  
Clears the alphanumeric display.  
Clear Preview  
Does not apply to Deko500.  
Clear Program  
Erases the graphic in the Program window.  
Cmd  
Activates the macro or command bar.  
Color 1 - Color 8  
Selects the face shader for the current style from the first eight  
preset shader chicklets.  
Delete File  
Deletes file open in the active window.  
Font  
Activates the Style/Font Window.  
Help  
Activates Deko500 Online Help.  
Justify  
Activates the Justify dialog box.  
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Kern  
Selects the kerning tool.  
Layer  
In conjunction with arrow keys moves, scales, rotates, skews or  
kerns layers, depending on which tool is selected.  
Learn  
Turns macro learn mode on.  
Look  
Activates Style/Look Window.  
Lower Third  
Justifies text in current field as a lower third.  
Macro Edit  
Activates the Macro Edit layout.  
Move  
Selects the move tool.  
Pause  
Pauses sequence playback.  
Pick Style  
Picks up the style of the character the cursor is on.  
Play  
Starts a sequence playback.  
Preview  
Does not apply to Deko500.  
Print Screen  
Provided for standard PC keyboard.  
Program  
Activates the Program Window.  
Read  
Reads in the file shown in the alphanumeric display or, if the  
display is cleared, activates the read dialog box. Functions as the  
Enter key when Enhanced Keyboard is off.  
Read Preview  
Does not apply to Deko500.  
Read Program  
Reads the graphic whose filename appears in the alphanumeric  
display into the Program window.  
Redo  
Undoes Undo.  
Rot/Skw  
Selects the Rotate/Skew tool.  
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Row  
In conjunction with the arrow keys, moves, scales, rotates, skews  
or kerns rows, depending on which tool is selected.  
Save File  
Saves the file open in the active window.  
Scale  
Selects the Scaling tool.  
Scroll Lock  
Provided for standard PC keyboard.  
Seq Edit  
Activates the Sequence Playback layout.  
Shader  
Activates the current Shader Window.  
Stop  
Stops a sequence playback.  
Style 1 - Style 8  
Selects preset styles from the currently active Preset Window.  
Tab Set  
Sets a tab stop at the current cursor position.  
Undo  
Undoes changes to the current graphic, style, style presets, shader,  
or sequence. If the most recent action is not reversible, Undo is  
unavailable.  
SPORTSWARE  
The SportsWare option includes two powerful features to enhance fast-track  
character generation: Macro Autoplay and Pops.  
ABOUT MACRO AUTOPLAY  
Macro Autoplay automatically plays macros when they are opened. Autoplay  
macros, such as the samples we’ve included, have as their first line:  
#autoplay  
If you have the SportsWare option, when you open one of these macros, it will  
play automatically. If you want Deko500 to automatically play any macro that  
you open, all you have to do is follow a one-time process to enable macro  
autoplay.  
To enable Macro Autoplay:  
1. In the Options menu, choose Preferences.  
2. In the Preferences dialog box, choose Common, then check  
Automatically play macros when opened.  
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3. Click OK or press Enter.  
4. In the Options menu, choose Save Settings Now.  
ABOUT POPS  
The Pops feature allows you to create and “pop” a text selection onto an open  
graphic. These text selections are saved as text files or as special graphic files,  
which you can use like any other graphic file. You can even specify pop files,  
including text (.txt) files, in sequences.  
There are three ways to pop text onto the CG page:  
text pop  
pops in text only (from a .txt file) at the cursor position. Text is rendered in the  
current style. For example, during a baseball game, you can pop stats into a  
lower third.  
style pop  
pops in text and font at the cursor position. This works like a text pop, except it  
renders text in the stored style associated with the pop rather than the current  
style.  
place pop  
pops in text and style onto a specific position of the graphic, regardless of where  
the cursor is. You can, for instance, pop “Final Results” in the center of an on-  
air election graphic, even if the cursor is at the top of the page.  
CREATING POPS  
To create a text pop:  
1. Open a word processing program.  
2. Type the text.  
3. Navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file  
and save the file as a text (.txt) file.  
To create a style pop:  
1. Activate a Program window.  
2. Choose a preset style or create a new style for the text.  
3. Type the text.  
4. Select the text, not the layer.  
5. Navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file,  
and type a name in the File name text box.  
6. Choose Save Selection.  
To create a place pop:  
1. Activate a Program window.  
2. Create a layer for the text or use the default layer.  
3. Choose a preset style or create a new style for the text.  
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4. Type the text.  
5. Select the layer, not the text.  
6. Navigate to the drive and directory where you will store the file,  
and type a name in the File name text box.  
7. Choose Save Selection.  
Note  
When you use Save Selection to save a graphic, the Graphic  
browser indicates next to the graphic file name that the  
graphic is a pop file. Likewise, the File Info section of the File  
Open dialog box will tell you if a file is a pop file.  
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USING POPS  
To pop text onto a graphic using a text pop or style  
pop:  
1. Open the graphic file and position the cursor or select the layer  
where you will pop in the text.  
2. From the File menu, choose Open (F9).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory containing the  
text pop (.txt) or style pop (.dko) file.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type it in the File  
Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Deko500 pops the text into the current or selected layer of the  
graphic, then automatically selects the next layer behind it. It  
does not create a new layer for the pop.  
To place pop text onto a graphic:  
1. Open the graphic file onto which you will pop the text.  
2. From the File menu, choose Open (F9).  
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the drive and directory containing the  
place pop (.dko) file.  
4. Choose the file from the File Name list box or type it in the File  
Name text box, then click OK or press Enter.  
Note  
Deko500 creates a new layer for the place pop in front of the  
current or selected layer, then automatically activates the layer  
behind the previously current or selected layer..  
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STILLDEKO  
The StillDeko option integrates Deko500 with Lightning, Pinnacle’s high  
performance, network based, image storage and management system for on-air  
broadcast and production. This means you can open and edit a Lightning image  
in Deko, or store Deko files in a Lightning database.  
SETTING UP LIGHTNING INTEGRATION  
Deko500 must be networked and the hard drive where your databases will reside  
must be set up for file sharing, for StillDeko to work properly. If your Deko is  
not networked or if you are unsure, check with your network administrator.  
To set up file sharing on the hard drive:  
1. Exit Deko500, then at the bottom left corner of the desktop, click  
Start, Programs, Windows Explorer.  
2. Right-click the drive where you will store Lightning databases  
(probably C:), then choose Sharing.  
3. Under the Sharing tab, click the New Share button.  
4. Type the drive designation letter, such as c, in the  
Share Name text box, then click OK twice.  
To install Lightning:  
1. Connect the Lightning dongle to the parallel port on the back of  
your Deko. If you have any other dongle already connected,  
connect the Lightning dongle to the back of the already connected  
dongle.  
2. Insert the Lightning CD in your Deko’s CD drive.  
3. In the bottom left corner of desktop, click Start, then Run.  
4. Click the Browse button and navigate to the Setup.exe file on the  
Lightning CD, then click OK.  
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. During  
the installation, you will be prompted to choose Lightning or  
Lightning Browse. Choose Lightning Browse.  
6. Once the installation is complete, you must shut down and re-start  
your Deko. From the desktop, click Start, then Shut Down, and  
select Restart.  
7. From the desktop, click Start, Programs, Lightning Browse.  
Lightning prompts you to enter the Options Enable password.  
Refer to the Important Notice, included with your Deko  
documentation, for the password (which is case sensitive). Enter  
the password and click OK. This will activate your enabled  
Lightning options and open the Lightning Browser.  
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To create and open a database:  
1. Open Lightning Browse.  
2. In the File menu, click Advanced, then Create New Database.  
3. Enter your Deko’s System Name. If you don’t know what it is,  
open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel) and double-  
click Network.  
4. Enter a Name for the database.  
5. Enter a Database Path, unique to the new database, that contains  
the full path name of the directory where the new database will  
reside.  
6. Lightning automatically enters other field values for you. Just click  
Create.  
7. From the File menu, choose Open, navigate to the new  
database (.pff) file, then click Open.  
To set up a default database:  
1. In the Lightning Browser Tree, navigate to the database, then right-  
click the database name.  
2. In the drop-down menu, click Set Default Database.  
OPENING LIGHTNING IMAGES  
To open a Lightning image from Deko:  
1. In Deko, activate a graphic (Program) window.  
2. From the File menu, choose Open From Lightning.  
3. In the Open From Lightning dialog box, double-click the anywhere  
on the image data line.  
Note  
You can re-sort images alphanumerically by StillNum, Date,  
Title, Category, User, or Memo, by clicking the appropriate  
sort button.  
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To use the Lightning Browser:  
1. Hold Alt and use the Tab key to find Lightning, then release Alt to  
open the Lightning Browser. The Lightning Browser can be set in  
the View menu to display thumbnail images in several sizes; with  
or without file details; and with or without the Tree, for quick  
navigation to other open databases.  
2. To edit an image detail other than Date, double-click the detail,  
edit it, then press Enter.  
3. Right-click a thumbnail image, then choose Title in the drop-down  
menu to open the image in the active Deko graphic window.  
Note  
You can drag and drop an image from the Lightning Browser  
right into the Deko Program window.  
CONNECTING TO A REMOTE LIGHTNING SYSTEM  
To access Lightning databases on another system in your network, you must  
first connect to that system. After you follow this one-time connection process,  
the other system will always appear in the Lightning Browser Tree.  
To connect to a remote Lightning system:  
1. From Lightning’s File menu, choose Open.  
2. In the Open dialog box, click Network Neighborhood.  
3. Double-click the remote system name, the exported drive (usually  
D), the Lightning directory, then the databse (.pff) file you wish to  
open.  
4. Exit and re-start Lightning.  
STORING IMAGES IN A LIGHTNING DATABASE  
To save a Deko graphic to a Lightning database:  
1. Start Deko and open the graphic in an active Program window.  
2. From the Deko File menu, choose Save To Lightning.  
3. In the Save To Lightning dialog box, the default Number is the  
first unused number, either within the database or at the end of the  
workspace, depending on Database options set in Lightning under  
Preferences. You can change this value or edit any of the file  
details, which default to the details of the last saved image.  
4. Click OK. The image now appears in the Lightning Browser.  
Note  
You can drag and drop one or more images from Windows  
Explorer into the Lightning Browser.  
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Menus  
BASELINE  
Accept Baseline  
Applies the baseline to the selected layer of the current graphic and  
closes the Baseline Edit window.  
Apply Baseline  
Applies the baseline to the selected layer of the current graphic.  
Bezier  
Changes the selected point to a Bezier point. The section from the  
previous point to this point is now a curve.  
Cancel  
Cancels changes to the Baseline and closes the Baseline Edit  
window.  
Cusp  
Specifies no continuity between the Bezier curve control points on  
either side of the selected point.  
Delete Selected Point  
Deletes the selected point from the baseline.  
Draw Curve  
Enables the curve drawing tool for drawing in the Baseline Edit  
window.  
Edit Curve  
Enables the curve editing tool for changing the existing baseline in  
the Baseline Edit window.  
Insert Point  
Activates the “insert point” mode, in which you can insert points  
by clicking on the baseline where you wish to insert them.  
Line to  
Changes the selected point to a “line to” point. Deko500 draws a  
straight line from the previous point to the line to point.  
Loose Fit  
Filters out “wobbles” caused by an unsteady drawing hand, for a  
smoother curve.  
Move to  
Changes the selected point to a “move to” point. A move to point  
begins a new section of the baseline.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
148  
Next Point  
Selects the next baseline point after the currently selected point.  
Prev Point  
Selects the baseline point previous to the currently selected point.  
Reverse Baseline  
Switches the beginning and end points of the baseline, so that text  
travels on the opposite side of the curve and in the opposite  
direction.  
Smooth  
Specifies C1 continuity between two Bezier curves that share the  
selected point.  
Symmetric  
Specifies C2 continuity between two Bezier curves that share the  
selected point.  
Tight Fit  
Specifies that Deko500 will not filter out a curve’s “wobbles”  
caused by an unsteady drawing hand.  
CHANNEL  
Color Bars  
Displays color bars in the active graphic window.  
Four Field Grab  
Grabs 2 frames (4 fields) from an input video source and averages  
them.  
Frame Grab  
Grabs a frame (2 fields) from an input video source.  
Keyer Freeze  
Freezes input video.  
Keyer Off  
Turns off Deko500’s built-in keyer.  
Keyer On  
Turns on Deko500’s built-in keyer.  
Keyer Test  
Displays a test pattern in the Program window. Use this pattern to  
help time Deko500’s video and key outputs at a downstream keyer  
or switcher.  
Keyer Thaw  
Un-freezes input video.  
Offline  
Disables video output.  
Read Next (F10)  
Reads the next graphic in the current directory into the Program  
window.  
Show Key Output  
Shows key in the Program window.  
Single Channel  
Enables single-channel video output.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
149  
EDIT  
Clear All (Alt+F8)  
Clears the active Graphic or Macro.  
Clear Background (Ctrl+F8)  
Replaces the current background of the active graphic with a  
transparent background.  
Clear Baseline  
Clears the active Baseline Edit window.  
Clear Layers (F8)  
Removes all layers from the active graphic and replaces them with  
a single, empty text field. Does not affect the graphic’s  
background.  
Clear Selected Text  
Removes selected text from the active graphic.  
Copy (Ctrl+C)  
Font  
Copies the selected or current font to the clipboard.  
Copy (Ctrl+C)  
Look  
Copies the selected or current look to the clipboard.  
Copy (Ctrl+C)  
Selected  
Copies selected text to the clipboard.  
Copy (Ctrl+C)  
Style  
Copies the selected or current style to the clipboard.  
Copy (Ctrl+C)  
Tabs  
Copies the selected tabs to the clipboard.  
Copy Color (Ctrl+C)  
Copies the current color to the clipboard.  
Copy Detail (Ctrl+C)  
Copies the selected detail in the active Style window to the  
clipboard.  
Copy Events (Ctrl+C)  
Copies selected events from the active Sequence window to the  
clipboard.  
Copy Shader (Ctrl+C)  
Copies the active shader to the clipboard.  
Cut (Ctrl+X)  
Removes the selected text from a file and copies it to the clipboard.  
Cut Detail (Ctrl+X)  
Removes the selected detail from the active style and copies it to  
the clipboard.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
150  
Cut Events (Ctrl+X)  
Removes selected events from the active Sequence window and  
copies them to the clipboard.  
Delete Events (Delete)  
Deletes selected events from the active Sequence window.  
Find (Ctrl+F)  
Searches the active graphic or macro for a user-specified character  
string.  
Find Next (Ctrl+G)  
Searches the active graphic or macro for the next occurrence of a  
user-specified character string. To redefine the current search  
string, choose Find from the Edit menu.  
Paste (Ctrl+V)  
Inserts a copy of clipboard contents at the insertion point.  
Paste Detail (Ctrl+V)  
Inserts a cut or copied detail from the clipboard into the active  
Style window.  
Paste Events (Ctrl+V)  
Inserts cut or copied events from the clipboard into the active  
Sequence window.  
Paste Still Names  
Inserts cut or copied still names into the active Sequence window.  
Redo (Ctrl+Y)  
Restores changes that have been canceled using Undo.  
Replace (Ctrl+H)  
Replaces an existing character string with a new character string.  
Select All (Ctrl+A)  
Selects all text in all layers of the active graphic.  
Select Field  
Selects all text in the current field.  
Select Layers  
Selects all layers in the active graphic.  
Select More  
Activates the “select more” mode, in which you can cumulatively  
select layers or characters randomly.  
Select Style  
Selects from the active graphic all text in the current style.  
Undo (Ctrl+Z)  
Undoes changes to the current graphic, style, style presets, shader  
or sequence. If the most recent action is not reversible, Undo is  
grayed out.  
Undo enabled  
Enables Undo. See Using Undo.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
151  
FILE  
1, 2, 3, 4  
Opens one of the four most recently opened files.  
Append Layers (Alt+F9)  
Appends the layers in a graphic file to the active graphic.  
Append to Macro  
Appends a macro file to the active macro.  
Append to Sequence  
Appends a sequence file to the active sequence.  
Change Directory  
Changes the browsing directory.  
Close (Ctrl+F4)  
Closes the active window.  
Copy Directories  
Opens a dialog box for copying directories to a different drive or  
parent directory.  
Copy Files  
Opens a dialog box for copying files to a different directory.  
Create Directory  
Creates a new directory. The new directory does not automatically  
become the current directory.  
Delete File  
Deletes a file.  
Delete Selected File  
Permanently erases the selected file from your computer's disk.  
Exit  
Closes all Deko500 windows and ends the current Deko500  
session.  
Import Character  
Imports the graphic from the Program window into the active  
Character window of the current custom typeface.  
Import Character From File  
Imports a file into the active Character window of the current  
custom typeface.  
Import Chyron  
Opens the Chyron Import dialog box for reading Chyron message  
files or converting Chyron machine files to Deko custom  
typefaces.  
Information  
Provides file information, such as location, creation date and time,  
for the active file.  
New (Ctrl+N)  
Opens a new window.  
Open (Ctrl+O) (F9)  
Opens an existing file.  
Open From Lightning  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
152  
Opens a graphic from the Lightning Browser into a Deko graphic  
window.  
Print (Ctrl+P)  
Prints the active graphic or macro. Print is available only if you  
have installed a printer using the Windows NT Print Manager.  
Refer to your Windows NT documentation for details.  
Print Setup  
Controls current printer settings.  
Render and Save Style  
Renders and saves the current style as a pre-rendered style (.sty)  
file.  
Replace Background (Alt+F10)  
Replaces the active graphic’s background with a user-specified  
texture file.  
Replace Background Key (Alt+F10)  
Replaces the active graphic’s background key with a user-specified  
texture file.  
Replace Layers (Alt+F10)  
Replaces the active graphic’s layers with layers from a specified  
graphic (.dko) file. The background remains intact.  
Revert  
Re-opens the current file.  
Save (Ctrl+S) (Alt+F12)  
Saves the active file. Overwrites the previous version of the same  
file.  
Save As (F12)  
Saves the active file under a user-specified name. Overwrites any  
existing file with the same file name.  
Save To Lightning  
Saves the active graphic to the current Lightning database.  
HELP  
About Deko500  
Displays your Deko500 software version and ID numbers as well  
as Deko500 copyright information.  
Help Contents  
Opens the Deko500 Help Window.  
Tool Tips  
Turns on and off Deko500’s tool tips.  
Using Help  
Provides instructions for using Deko500’s on-line Help.  
LAYER  
1,2,3,...  
Selects a layer in the current graphic.  
Add Ellipse  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
153  
Adds an ellipse to the current graphic, as the frontmost layer.  
Add Rectangle  
Adds a rectangle to the current graphic, as the frontmost layer.  
Add Text Field  
Adds a text field to the current graphic, as the frontmost layer.  
Background to Layer  
Turns the background of the active graphic into a layer.  
Bring Forward One Layer  
Swaps the selected layer with the layer in front of it.  
Bring to Front  
Brings the selected layer to the frontmost position.  
Clear Text  
Removes all characters from the selected text layer, but leaves the  
layer in the graphic.  
Delete Layer  
Removes the selected layer and its contents.  
Edit Baseline  
Activates the Baseline Edit window. See Typing on a Curve.  
Layers to Background  
Combines and copies all layers into the background. Original  
layers remain until you clear them.  
Properties  
Displays the Layer Properties window. Allows a user to view or  
change properties of the selected layer in the current graphic.  
Select Next Layer (Alt+Page Down)  
Selects the layer behind the currently selected layer.  
Select Previous Layer (Alt+Page Up)  
Selects the layer in front of the currently selected layer.  
Send Back One Layer  
Swaps the selected layer with the layer behind it.  
Send to Back  
Sends the selected layer to the backmost position.  
Show Background  
Toggles the background on and off.  
MACRO  
Convert Graphic to Macro  
Converts the current graphic into its equivalent macro. Playback of  
the resulting macro recreates the graphic.  
Convert Sequence to Macro  
Converts the current sequence into its equivalent macro. Playback  
of the resulting macro recreates the sequence.  
Pause Macro (Pause)  
Pauses or resumes playback of the currently playing macro.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
154  
Play Macro (Alt+F2)  
Plays the current macro.  
Record Macro (Ctrl+F2)  
Toggles the macro recorder on or off.  
Stop Macro Playback (Ctrl+Pause)  
Stops playback of the currently playing macro.  
OPTIONS  
Enabled Options  
Provides a list of Deko500 options. Marked check boxes indicate  
enabled options.  
Factory Defaults  
Resets Deko500 options to their original (factory default) settings.  
Hardware Settings  
Opens the Deko500 Hardware Settings dialog box. See Hardware  
Settings.  
Preferences  
Allows a user to customize Deko500’s configuration. See User  
Preferences.  
Save Settings Now  
Saves Deko500’s current settings.  
Save Settings on Exit  
Saves changes to Deko500 option settings automatically, every  
time you exit Deko500.  
Transform Coarse (Ctrl+spacebar toggles Coarse and  
Fine)  
Selects coarse increment. Causes Alt+arrow keys to transform the  
selected text or layer in large increments.  
Transform Fine (Ctrl+spacebar toggles Coarse and Fine)  
Selects fine increment. Causes Alt+arrow keys to transform the  
selected text or layer in small increments.  
Transform Kerning & Leading (Ctrl+K)  
Selects “kerning and leading” mode. In this mode, Alt+and  
Alt+affect the spacing between characters of selected text  
(kerning), and Alt+and Alt+affect the spacing between rows  
(leading).  
Transform Move (Ctrl+M)  
Selects “move” mode. In this mode, Alt+arrow keys moves the  
selected text or layer. If no text or layer is selected, Alt + and  
Alt + move all characters from the text cursor through the end  
of the row, right or left. Alt + and Alt + move the cursor row  
and all rows beneath it up or down.  
Transform Rotate & Skew (Ctrl+R)  
Selects “rotate and skew” mode. In this mode, Alt+and Alt+↓  
rotate the selected text or layer, and Alt+and Alt+skew it.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
155  
Transform Scale & Width (Ctrl+W)  
Selects “scale and width” mode. In this mode, Alt+and  
Alt+scale the selected text or layer, and Alt+and  
Alt+change its width.  
PRESETS  
Pick Pick Font  
Applies the font of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Pick Pick Look  
Applies the look of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Pick Pick Presets  
Assigns each of up to eight styles in the current graphic to a preset  
style button.  
Pick Pick Style  
Applies the style of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Preset Style Select (Shift+F1 through Shift+F8)  
Selects the current style from a list of presets. A check mark  
indicates the current style.  
Preset Style Set  
Assigns the current style to one of eight user-specified preset  
styles. A check mark indicates the current style.  
Reset to Defaults  
Resets the active Preset Style window to its default styles.  
SEQUENCE  
Auto Advance From Browser  
Causes the current event to be advanced to the next event, after a  
graphic file has been entered into a sequence from the browser.  
Browse for Files (Ctrl+L)  
Opens the Graphic Browser window, also referred to as the  
“browser”, used to add graphic (.dko) or typeface (.fac) files to a  
sequence.  
Clear Sequence  
Removes all events from the active Sequence window.  
Delete Event (Alt+Delete)  
Deletes the current event from the active sequence.  
GPI Settings  
Displays current GPI Trigger settings.  
Insert Event (Alt+Insert)  
Inserts a blank event above the current event of the active  
sequence.  
Pause Sequence (Pause)  
Pauses or resumes sequence playback.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
156  
Playback Rate  
Specifies the playback rate of the selected event in the current  
sequence.  
Play Sequence (Alt+Enter)  
Sequentially performs the events in the active Sequence window.  
Sequence playback begins with the current event, indicated by its  
highlighted event number.  
Play Sequence From Nearest Timecode (Alt+Enter)  
Finds the event closest to the current timecode and sequentially  
performs the events in the active Sequence window, beginning  
with that event.  
Smooth Roll Playback Adjustment  
Specifies that Deko500 either accepts playback rates or suggests  
adjustments to achieve half or full resolution rate, or full resolution  
rates only.  
Stop Sequence Playback (Ctrl+Pause or Esc)  
Stops playback of the current sequence.  
SHADER  
Background  
Shows or hides the current graphic’s background. A check mark  
means the background is currently being shown.  
Background Shader  
Displays the current graphic’s background shader in the Shader  
window.  
Edge  
Adds or removes the first edge in the current look.  
Edge Shader  
Displays the edge shader for the first edge in the current look. If  
there is no edge in the current look, Deko500 automatically adds  
one.  
Face  
Adds or removes the first face in the current look.  
Face Shader  
Displays the face shader for the first face in the current look. If  
there is no face in the current look, Deko500 automatically adds  
one.  
Frame  
Adds or removes the first frame in the current look.  
Frame Shader  
Displays the frame shader for the first frame in the current look. If  
there is no frame in the current look, Deko500 automatically adds  
one.  
Preset Shader Select  
Selects the current shader from the list of current preset shaders.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.  
Menu Commands  
157  
Preset Shader Set  
Assigns the current shader to a preset shader button.  
Reset to Defaults  
Resets the active Shader window to its default values.  
Set Ramp Bottom Left Color  
Deposits the current color into the bottom left corner of the current  
ramp shader.  
Set Ramp Bottom Right Color  
Deposits the current color into the bottom right corner of the  
current ramp shader.  
Set Ramp Hilite Color  
Deposits the current color into the current ramp shader’s highlight.  
Set Ramp Top Left Color  
Deposits the current color into the top left corner of the current  
ramp shader.  
Set Ramp Top Right Color  
Deposits the current color into the top right corner of the current  
ramp shader.  
Set Shader Color  
Deposits the current color into the current color shader.  
Shadow  
Adds or removes the first shadow in the current look.  
Shadow Shader  
Displays the shadow shader for the first shadow in the current  
look. If there is no shadow in the current look, Deko500  
automatically adds one.  
Underline  
Adds or removes the first underline in the current look.  
Underline Shader  
Displays the underline shader for the first underline in the current  
look. If there is no underline in the current look, Deko500  
automatically adds one.  
STYLE  
Pick Pick Font  
Applies the font of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Pick Pick Look  
Applies the look of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Pick Pick Presets  
Assigns each of up to eight styles in the current graphic to a preset  
style button.  
Pick Pick Style  
Applies the style of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Preset Style Select (Shift+F1 through Shift+F8)  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
158  
Selects the current style from a list of presets. A check mark  
indicates the current style.  
Preset Style Set  
Assigns the current style to one of eight user-specified preset  
styles. A check mark indicates the current style.  
Reset to Defaults  
Resets the active Style window to its default values.  
TEXT  
Capitalize  
Changes the first character of each word of selected text to upper  
case. If no text is selected, capitalizes all text in the current text  
field.  
Center Row  
Horizontally centers the current row of text.  
Exchange Down  
Exchanges the current row of text with the row below it.  
Exchange Up  
Exchanges the current row of text with the row above it.  
Horizontal Scrolling  
Turns horizontal scrolling on or off for the active graphic.  
Justify  
Sets the justification rules for the current text field.  
Lower Case  
Changes every character of selected text to lower case. If no text is  
selected, affects all text in the current text field.  
Pick Pick Font  
Applies the font of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Pick Pick Look  
Applies the look of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Pick Pick Presets  
Assigns each of up to eight styles in the current graphic to a preset  
style button.  
Pick Pick Style  
Applies the style of the character to the left of the text cursor to the  
current style.  
Preset Style Select (Shift+F1 through Shift+F8)  
Selects the current style from a list of presets. A check mark  
indicates the current style.  
Preset Style Set  
Assigns the current style to one of eight user-specified preset  
styles. A check mark indicates the current style.  
Tab Clear  
Clears the tab stop at the cursor location in the current text field.  
Tab Clear All  
Clears all tab stops in the current text field.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
159  
Tab Set  
Sets a tab stop at the cursor location in the current text field.  
Text to Field  
Puts all selected text into a single new field.  
Text to Multiple Fields  
Puts each discrete group of selected text into its own new field.  
Upper Case  
Turns every character of selected text to upper case. If no text is  
selected, affects all characters in the current text field.  
Vertical Scrolling  
Turns vertical scrolling on or off for the active graphic.  
Word Wrap  
Turns word wrap on or off. A check mark means that word wrap is  
currently on.  
TIMECODE  
Add Offset to In/Out Times  
Specifies an amount of time to add or subtract to in/out times.  
Find Event Closest to Timecode  
Detects which event of the open sequence is closest to the current  
output timecode.  
Set Intime to Current Timecode  
Specifies the current output timecode in the In Time column of the  
Sequence window.  
Set Intime to Outtime  
Copies the current In Time timecode to the Out Time column of  
the Sequence window.  
Set Outtime to Current Timecode  
Specifies the current output timecode in the Out Time column of  
the Sequence window.  
Set Outtime to Intime  
Copies the current Out Time timecode to the In Time column of  
the Sequence window.  
Timecode Settings  
Specifies the com port and drop frame mode settings for timecode  
control.  
VIEW  
Automation  
Displays or hides the Automation window, for viewing or  
specifying Deko500 automation options. A check mark indicates  
that the Automation window is displayed on the desktop.  
Browser (Ctrl+L = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the browser, used for selection of graphic (.dko)  
or typeface (.fac) files. A check mark indicates that the browser is  
displayed on the desktop.  
Chyron Import  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Menu Commands  
160  
Opens the Chyron Import window for reading in Chyron message  
files or converting Chyron machine files into Deko custom  
typefaces. A check mark indicates that the Chyron Import window  
is displayed on the desktop.  
Command Bar (F4 = display)  
Displays or hides the Command Bar. A check mark indicates that  
the Command Bar is displayed on the desktop.  
Current Style  
Displays or hides the Current Style window. A check mark  
indicates that the Current Style window is displayed on the  
desktop.  
Custom Typeface  
Displays or hides the Custom Typeface window. A check mark  
indicates that the Custom Typeface window is displayed on the  
desktop.  
Database  
Displays or hides the Database window, used for specifying ODBC  
automation. A check mark indicates that the Database window is  
displayed on the desktop.  
International  
Displays or hides the International window, used for typing  
characters from international character sets. A check mark  
indicates that the International window is displayed on the desktop.  
Macro (F2 = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the Macro window. A check mark indicates that  
a Macro window is displayed on the desktop.  
Preset Styles (Alt+F7 = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the Preset Style window. A check mark indicates  
that a Preset Style window is displayed on the desktop.  
Program (Alt+F6 = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the Program graphic window. A check mark  
indicates that the Program window is displayed on the desktop.  
Sequence (F11 = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the Sequence window. A check mark indicates  
that the Sequence window is displayed on the desktop.  
Shader (F7 = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the Shader window. A check mark indicates that  
the Shader window is displayed on the desktop.  
Status Bar  
Displays or hides the status bar. A check mark indicates that the  
Status Bar is displayed on the desktop.  
Stills  
Displays or hides the Stills window, which contains thumbnail  
images of graphics included in the current sequence. A check mark  
indicates that the Stills window is displayed on the desktop.  
Style (F6 = display, Alt+F4 = close)  
Displays or hides the Style window. A check mark indicates that a  
Style window is displayed on the desktop.  
Text Bar  
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Menu Commands  
161  
Displays or hides the text bar. A check mark indicates that the text  
bar is displayed on the desktop.  
Tools  
Displays or hides the Tools window. A check indicates that the  
Tools window is displayed on the desktop.  
WINDOW  
1, 2, 3...  
Activates one of the currently open windows.  
Auto Cascade  
Toggles auto-cascade mode on and off. A check next to Auto  
Cascade indicates that it is on. In auto-cascade mode, Deko500  
automatically arranges windows so that windows of the same type  
overlap and each title bar is visible. If you activate a window while  
in auto-cascade mode, it automatically becomes the frontmost  
window.  
Cascade  
Arranges open windows so that multiple windows of the same type  
overlap and each title bar is visible. Cascade is available only when  
Auto Cascade is checked in the Window menu.  
Freeze Windows  
Locks windows in their current position. A check next to Freeze  
Windows indicates that windows are frozen. To un-freeze  
windows so you can move them about on the desktop, un-check  
Freeze Windows.  
Reset Current Layout  
Returns windows to their default positions in the current layout.  
Select Layout  
Lists standard desktop layouts to choose from. A check next to a  
layout indicates that it is the current layout.  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Shortcut Keys  
163  
Shortcut Keys  
WINDOW SELECTION  
Background Shader  
Browser  
Command Bar  
Graphic  
Ctrl+F7  
Ctrl+L  
F4  
F5  
Macro  
F2  
Preset Styles  
Program  
Sequence  
Alt+F7  
Alt+F6  
F11  
Shader  
F7  
Style  
F6  
Next Window  
Close Window  
Ctrl+Tab  
Ctrl+F4  
BACKGROUND AND LAYERS  
Clear Layers  
F8  
Clear Background  
Clear Layers and Background  
Bring Layer Forward One  
Send Layer Back One  
Bring Layer To Front  
Send Layer To Back  
Next Layer  
Previous Layer  
Append Layers (Alt Read)  
Replace Layers  
Ctrl+F8  
Alt+F8 or F8 F8  
Ctrl + (plus key)  
Ctrl + (minus key)  
Alt + (plus key)  
Alt + (minus key)  
Alt+PageUp  
Alt+PageDown  
Alt+F9  
Alt+F10  
Replace Background  
Ctrl+F9  
CHANNEL CONTROL  
Transfer and Read Next File  
F10  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Shortcut Keys  
164  
CUT AND PASTE  
Cut  
Copy  
Paste  
Ctrl+X  
Ctrl+C  
Ctrl+V  
FILES  
Open (Read)  
Save As (Record)  
F9 or Ctrl+O  
F12  
Save (Alt Record)  
Read Next  
New  
Alt+F12 or Ctrl+S  
F10  
Ctrl+N  
Delete File  
Create Directory  
Print  
Ctrl+Delete  
Ctrl+F12  
Ctrl+P  
FIND AND REPLACE  
Find  
Find Next  
Replace  
Ctrl+F  
Ctrl+G  
Ctrl+H  
FORMATTING TEXT  
Bold  
Italic  
Underline  
Ctrl+B  
Ctrl+I  
Ctrl+U  
JUSTIFYING TEXT  
Justification Off  
Bottom Left  
Bottom Center  
Bottom Right  
Middle Left  
Middle Center  
Middle Right  
Top Left  
Ctrl+NumPad0  
Ctrl+NumPad1  
Ctrl+NumPad2  
Ctrl+NumPad3  
Ctrl+NumPad4  
Ctrl+NumPad5  
Ctrl+NumPad6  
Ctrl+NumPad7  
Ctrl+NumPad8  
Ctrl+NumPad9  
Top Center  
Top Right  
MACRO  
Record Macro  
Play Macro  
Ctrl+F2  
Alt+F2  
Pause Macro  
Pause  
Cancel Macro Playback  
Ctrl+Pause  
MISCELLANEOUS  
Help  
F1  
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Shortcut Keys  
165  
Undo  
Exit Deko500  
Ctrl+Z  
Alt+F4  
PRESET STYLES  
Preset Style 1  
Preset Style 2  
Preset Style 3  
Preset Style 4  
Preset Style 5  
Preset Style 6  
Preset Style 7  
Preset Style 8  
Shift+F1  
Shift+F2  
Shift+F3  
Shift+F4  
Shift+F5  
Shift+F6  
Shift+F7  
Shift+F8  
SELECTING TEXT  
Select Character  
Select All  
Shift+arrow keys  
Ctrl+A  
SEQUENCE  
Pause Sequence  
Cancel Sequence  
Play Sequence  
Pause  
Ctrl+Pause  
Alt+Enter  
TRANSFORMING TEXT/LAYERS  
Kerning Mode  
Move Mode  
Ctrl+K  
Ctrl+M  
Rotate Mode  
Ctrl+R  
Scale/Width Mode  
Toggle Coarse/Fine  
Ctrl+W  
Ctrl+spacebar  
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F1 - F12 Keys  
F1  
Help  
F2  
F3  
Macro  
Swap  
Style 3  
Shift+ Style 1  
Alt+  
Style 2  
Macro Play  
Macro Record  
F5  
Ctrl+ Help On  
F4  
Transfer  
F6  
Cmd  
Graphic  
Style 5  
Style  
Shift+ Style 4  
Alt+ Exit Deko  
Ctrl+ Close Window  
F7  
Style 6  
Program  
Pick Style  
F9  
F8  
Shader  
Clear  
Read (Open)  
Shift+ Style 7  
Alt+ Preset Styles  
Ctrl+ Bgd Shader  
F10  
Style 8  
Clear All  
Clear Bgd  
F11  
Append Layers  
Read Bgd  
F12  
Read Next  
Shift+  
Seq  
Record (Save As)  
Record (Save As)  
Save  
Alt+  
Replace Layers  
Style Edit  
Compose  
Ctrl+ Graphic  
Create Directory  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Glossary  
active window  
The active window is the window with a highlighted (usually blue)  
title bar. A window must be active for you to perform tasks in it.  
To open and activate a window, choose the window type from the  
View menu.  
To activate a window that is already open, select it from the list at  
the bottom of the Window menu, or click anywhere on the  
window.  
application window  
In Windows NT, an application window is the window frame  
surrounding the application workspace on the desktop.  
Deko500’s application window is its main window, with  
“Deko500” on the title bar. When Deko500 is active, this title bar  
is highlighted, usually in blue (unless you’ve changed the  
Windows NT color scheme).  
arithmetic operator  
An arithmetic operator is a symbol (+, -, *, /, %) that  
performs a mathematical operation, such as addition, subtraction,  
multiplication, or division, within an expression.  
array  
An array is a set of data values. In Deko500, elements of an array  
are referenced as variables that include the array name and an  
index number (which must be an integer or an expression that  
returns an integer), e.g. $a[0], $a[2+3], and $a[9999].  
assignment operator  
The assignment operator is a symbol (=, +=, -=,etc.) that assigns a  
value to a variable. For example, $a = 3.  
at-sign variable  
An at-sign variable, so called because its initial character is always  
@, is a pre-defined global system variable that is always accessible  
to commands and macros.  
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Automation window  
The Automation window shows automation options.  
background  
The background is the backmost part of a graphic. It is a full-  
screen rectangle located behind the last layer, furthest from the  
viewer.  
The background can be turned on and off. When off, it is  
transparent — live video “shows through” the background when  
you use a keyer.  
When the background is on, the background shader determines its  
color. Like all Deko500 shaders, the background can be a solid  
color, a ramp or a texture.  
bitmap  
A bitmap is a set of numerical values specifying the colors of the  
pixels in a graphic image.  
bitwise operator  
A bitwise operator is a symbol (<<, >>, ~, &, |, ^) that  
performs an operation on an integer value based on bit position.  
C1 continuity  
C1 continuity is a smoothness setting that maintains a straight line  
between two connected Bezier curves. If you move one control  
point, the control point on the other side of the shared point will  
move in concert to maintain the linear connection.  
C2 continuity  
C2 continuity produces the smoothest continuity between two  
connected Bezier curves. This setting maintains a straight line  
between the curves, as well as equal distance from control point to  
the shared point for each curve. If you move one control point, the  
other one will move in concert to maintain the equidistant, linear  
connection.  
character set  
A character set is a set of 256 characters in a TrueType or  
Postscript font. A font may contain more than 256 characters, but  
Windows NT can access only 256 at a time. By choosing a  
character set, you are choosing which 256 characters you wish to  
use.  
Not all character sets are supported by every font. See Using an  
International Character Set.  
choice parameter  
A choice parameter specifies one item from a list of possible  
choices. For example, both parameters of the justify command are  
choice parameters:  
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justify [horizontal=] [vertical=]  
Possible choices for horizontal are: left, right, center, full, spread,  
off and unchanged; and for vertical: top, bottom, center, full,  
baseline, off and unchanged.  
click  
To click the mouse, position the selection cursor over the desired  
item on the screen and tap the left mouse button once.  
clipboard  
The clipboard is the Windows NT temporary holding area for text  
or other data that has been cut or copied from a Deko500 graphic,  
macro, style or sequence.  
When you cut or copy a selection, it replaces any previous contents  
of the clipboard.  
When you paste, you are pasting the contents of the clipboard. You  
can paste multiple times without re-cutting or re-copying—the  
contents of the clipboard remain the same until you cut or copy  
something different.  
Since most Windows NT applications support the clipboard, it is  
possible to cut and copy a selection from one Windows NT  
application—a word processor or a spreadsheet program, for  
example—and paste it into another Windows NT application.  
color shader  
command  
A color shader is used to apply a solid color to a detail. You  
specify the color in terms of Red, Green and Blue amounts, or in  
terms of Hue, Saturation and Value. A color also has an opacity,  
from 0 (transparent) to 100 percent (opaque).  
A command is an instruction, optionally modified by parameters,  
to Deko500 to perform a specific function.  
command bar  
The command bar allows direct entry of Deko500 commands and  
macros. Press F4 to call up the command bar, type the name of a  
command or macro, then press Enter or click Play. Click Close to  
close the command bar.  
comment  
A comment is a string of text that is used to annotate a macro, but  
does not affect the function of the macro.  
comparison operator  
A comparison operator is a symbol (==, >, >=, <, <=,  
!=, !, &&, ||) that compares two values to determine whether  
a specified relationship between them, such as equality, is true or  
false.  
If an expression is true, its value is non-zero; if false, its value is  
zero.  
conditional command  
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A conditional command tells Deko500 to execute a block of  
statements based on whether a test expression is true or false.  
conditional loop command  
A conditional loop command defines both a loop and the test that  
determines whether to iterate or exit the loop.  
control icon  
Use the control icon to move, close or change the size of a  
window. Click the icon to display a menu of these options.  
Double-click it to close the window.  
control point  
A control point is the point at either end of a Bezier curve or a line  
segment. In Deko500, you can move control points to change the  
curvature or length of a baseline segment.  
creation station  
A creation station is a workstation where you can create, edit and  
store graphics, but which does not contain video input/output  
hardware.  
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current directory  
The current directory is the directory in which files are saved and  
from which files are opened.  
Deko500 maintains four different current directories based on file  
types:  
custom typefaces (.fac)  
graphics (.dko), sequences (.seq), automation (.aut)  
styles (.sty), preset styles (.pst), shaders (.shd)  
macros (.mcr)  
The current directories are remembered whenever you exit  
Deko500, and restored when you restart Deko500.  
current event  
The current event of a sequence is the event you are editing or  
playing back.  
Deko500 indicates the current event by highlighting its event  
number.  
current style  
The current style is based on current Font and Look settings in the  
Style window. Deko500 displays the current style in the Current  
Style window. Any text you type in a graphic appears in the  
current style.  
When text is selected, the current style becomes the style of the  
first character of selected text.  
When a layer is selected, the current style becomes the style of the  
layer.  
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Current Style window  
The Current Style window shows the current style.  
custom typeface  
A custom typeface is a typeface made in Deko500 for typing  
graphical (logo) characters.  
You create a custom typeface by importing graphics and assigning  
each graphic to a key. Custom Typeface characters can be typed,  
positioned, scaled, and even given looks like normal TrueType  
characters.  
Custom Typeface window  
The Custom Typeface window shows the currently open custom  
typeface.  
default value  
A default value is the value that Deko500 uses for a parameter with  
no explicitly specified value.  
desktop  
detail  
Desktop is the Windows NT term for everything appearing on your  
computer’s color monitor — windows, icons, cursors, buttons, etc.  
A detail is one element of a look. It controls how a font is  
rendered. There are five kinds of details: face, edge, shadow,  
underline and frame.  
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double-click  
drag  
To double-click, move the selection cursor over the desired item  
on the screen and tap the left mouse button twice in rapid  
succession without moving the cursor.  
To drag the mouse, press and hold the left mouse button down and  
move the mouse in the desired direction.  
Release the mouse button to stop dragging.  
element operator  
An element operator (:) accesses a value that is an element of an  
object.  
event  
An event is one element of a sequence. It describes the playback of  
a single graphic file using an effect.  
expression  
eyedropper  
An expression is a combination of variables, commands and  
operators that results in a single value.  
The eyedropper is a button used to pick colors from anywhere on  
the desktop. It is located in the Shader window, on the color  
picker.  
font  
A font is a typeface of specified size, shape and orientation.  
frame buffer  
A frame buffer is an area of computer memory that produces an  
output picture, which can be viewed on a monitor.  
A frame buffer consists of an array of pixels, short for “picture  
elements.” Each pixel is assigned separate amounts of red, green,  
blue and transparency, from 0 to 255.  
The number of rows and columns of pixels determines the  
resolution of the frame buffer. In NTSC, Deko500’s frame buffer  
has 720 pixels in each of 486 rows. In PAL, it has 720 pixels in  
each of 576 rows.  
full justification  
Full horizontal justification makes selected text, except any row  
with a newline character (hard return), flush with the left and right  
sides of the text field box.  
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Full vertical justification makes the top and bottom lines of text  
flush with the top and bottom of the field box.  
global variable  
A global variable can be shared among different macros. Global  
variables remain active until explicitly deleted using the free  
command or until Deko500 is exited.  
glyph  
The word glyph comes from the Greek “glyphe,” meaning a  
pictograph or other symbolic character or sign.  
In Deko500, glyphs are actual renderings of characters, in a  
particular style (font and look).  
Deko500 normally renders characters as you type them. For a style  
with a large font or complicated look, you can increase the speed  
of typing by pre-rendering the style.  
graphic  
A graphic is one video page of text and/or background art, created  
and displayed using Deko500. A graphic is created in the Program  
window and can be saved on disk as a graphic file.  
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Graphic Browser window  
The Graphic Browser window, also referred to as the “browser”,  
shows thumbnails of all the graphics in the current directory.  
Depending on how it is invoked, this window shows graphics that  
will be read into Program, put into a sequence, or used as texture  
shaders.  
You can size and position the browser anywhere, to see as many  
thumbnails as you like.  
graphic file  
history  
A graphic file is a Deko500 graphic that has been saved on disk  
with a file name and the ".dko" extension, for example,  
"mypict.dko".  
The history is a drop-down list of commands that have been  
executed since the last time Deko500 was rebooted.  
index operator  
An index operator ([]) accesses a specific value from an array  
variable.  
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insertion point  
In a text field, the insertion point is indicated by the text cursor. As  
you type, Deko500 inserts each character into text at the insertion  
point, and shifts the insertion point to the right.  
To move the text cursor, use arrow keys (↑ → ↓ ) or click on a  
new position.  
integer parameter  
An integer parameter specifies a whole number value, either  
positive or negative, e.g. 3, 12967, -174, 0, etc.  
if you specify a real value for an integer parameter, Deko500  
ignores the fractional component of the value.  
An example of an integer parameter is the number parameter of the  
select style preset command, which sets the current style from the  
list of preset styles:  
select style preset (number =)  
International window  
The International window shows all the characters in the current  
character set. Click any character to insert it into the active  
graphic.  
kerning  
Kerning refers to the spacing between the characters within a  
word. The higher the kerning amount, the more space between  
characters. A negative kerning amount tightens the spacing  
between characters.  
key signal  
A key signal is a black-and-white video signal that, when used  
with a keyer, tells the keyer how to combine two video signals.  
Deko500 outputs both a full-color video output and a black-and-  
white key signal.  
Let’s say you’re keying Deko500 graphics over live video from a  
camera. You feed the video and key outputs from Deko500 to a  
keyer (which could be Deko500’s own internal keyer), and also the  
camera output. Where the key signal is white, the keyer inserts  
Deko500’s output (the “fill” signal). Where the key signal is black,  
the keyer inserts the camera output (the “key” signal). Where the  
key signal is gray — somewhere between black and white — the  
keyer mixes the Deko500 and camera outputs.  
keyword  
A keyword is a name used in command syntax to refer to a specific  
command parameter. Every command parameter has a keyword.  
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layer  
A layer is one element of a Deko500 graphic. A layer is either a  
text layer, a rectangle layer or an ellipse layer.  
A graphic can have any number of layers. Layers are rendered  
from front to back.  
layout  
The layout is the arrangement of windows and toolbars on the  
desktop. Deko500 provides several pre-configured layouts for  
composing, editing and playing back graphics and macros.  
leading  
Leading refers to the spacing between rows of text. The higher the  
leading amount, the more space there is between rows.  
“Leading” rhymes with “wedding.”  
linear key signal  
A linear key signal varies from black to white, including  
intermediate gray shades. This is in contrast (no pun intended) to a  
hard key signal, which has areas of either black or white but no  
gray.  
A linear key signal is required for keyed graphics to look properly  
anti-aliased over background video. Your switcher must be capable  
of handling linear key.  
list parameter  
A list parameter, also known as a repeating parameter, specifies a  
list of one or more values. Depending on the command, the values  
on the list may or may not be of the same type.  
A command can have no more than one list parameter, which is  
usually the last parameter.  
local variable  
A local variable is used exclusively in the current macro, and is  
deleted when the macro ends. By default, user-defined variables  
are local variables.  
One macro cannot reference a second macro’s local variables, even  
if the second macro is a subroutine of the first.  
look  
A look controls everything about the way a text character looks—  
colors, edges, shadows, etc. A look is made up of a list of details.  
loop  
A loop is a section of a macro that is repeated a specified number  
of times during playback.  
macro  
A macro is a series of Deko500 commands that can be saved in a  
macro file and played back on demand. You can use the macro  
recorder to record a macro, or you can edit a macro as a text file.  
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macro recorder  
The macro recorder is used to play macros and to record actions to  
create macros.  
Macro window  
A Macro window is a window in which you can open and edit  
Deko500 macro files.  
maximize button  
The maximize button appears on the right side of a window’s title  
bar. Clicking this button enlarges the window to its maximum size.  
menu bar  
The menu bar appears near the top of Deko500’s application  
window, under the title bar. Clicking on any entry brings up a pull-  
down menu of commands. Click on a command to perform it.  
Commands followed by an ellipsis (...) bring up an additional  
window for more information to be entered.  
minimize button  
The minimize button appears on the right side of a title bar.  
Clicking this button reduces the window to its smallest size,  
usually an icon at the bottom of the screen. For example, clicking  
the minimize button in Deko500’s title bar reduces Deko500 to its  
application icon. To restore Deko500, double-click the icon.  
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navigate  
To navigate around a dialog box, use Tab and Shift+Tab to move  
between fields, or click on the desired field. The up and down  
arrow keys () scroll through the items in a list.  
Double-click a directory to select it.  
Double-click a file name to open the file.  
object  
An object is a discrete data structure, that stores a collection of  
values to be treated as a single item. An object is created by a  
command and can be used by other commands as a parameter.  
Typical Deko500 objects include colors, shaders, ellipses,  
rectangles, boxes, fonts and looks.  
object parameter  
An object parameter specifies a collection of values that is treated  
as a single item, i.e. an object. For example, color=(rgb 100  
0 0).  
Typical objects in Deko500 include colors, shaders, ellipses,  
rectangles, boxes, fonts and looks.  
The letter command, which adds a letter to a text field, includes  
two object parameters, font and look:  
letter  
[character=]  
[tx=]  
[font=]  
[look=]  
[ty=] [code=] [insert+]  
attach]  
[-show]  
[-  
The font parameter specifies an object created by the font  
command, and the look parameter specifies an object created by  
the look command.  
An object is created by a command, such as font or look, and its  
components correspond with the parameters of the command that  
created it.  
For example, the rgb object has four components, red, green, blue  
and opacity. To access a component of an object, use the : operator.  
operator  
An operator is a symbol or other character that indicates an  
operation performed on one or more values. Some examples are  
the arithmetic operators, + and -, or the assignment operator, =.  
optional parameter  
An optional parameter always has a default value. Deko500 uses  
the default value unless your command specifies a different value.  
parameter  
A parameter is a command modifier, and may be optional or  
required.  
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pin location  
A character’s pin location determines how it will be placed relative  
to the baseline of the current row. The Y value indicates the  
baseline of the character, and the X value indicates the left edge of  
the character.  
pre-rendered style  
A style that has been completely rendered and saved on disk. You  
may pre-render a complicated style for faster typing response.  
preset shader  
A preset shader is a shader that has been stored in one of the 18  
shader presets at the bottom of the Shader window. All 18 preset  
shaders may be saved in a shader presets file.  
preset style  
A preset style is a style that has been saved in one of the eight  
preset style buttons in the Preset Style window.  
Preset Style window  
The Preset Style window shows the eight preset styles in the  
current Preset Style (.pst) file. Click a style to choose it for typing.  
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Program window  
The Program window shows the current on-air graphic. The  
contents of this window match Deko500’s video output, with the  
addition of a cursor, safe-title lines and other markers.  
ramp shader  
A ramp shader, or color gradient, is a type of Deko500 shader,  
used to apply color to a detail. You specify the colors at the four  
corners of the detail, and Deko500 creates the ramp by  
interpolating those colors across the interior of the detail. Ramp  
shaders have an optional highlight color, which produces a line  
across the ramp.  
real parameter  
A real parameter specifies any numeric value, whole or fractional,  
e.g. 3, 9, 7, -0.9, etc.  
Very large or small real values can be expressed in exponent form.  
accepts a real number value. For example, 2.5e-10.  
An example of a real parameter is the input parameter of the sqrt  
(square root) command:  
sqrt  
input=  
repeating parameter  
A repeating parameter accepts a list of values, which may or may  
not be of the same type.  
required parameter  
A required parameter has no default value. Your command must  
specify a value for the parameter.  
resolution  
Deko500 specifies resolution in screen units, which are user-  
definable in Options/Preferences/Advanced/Resolution. The  
default value for screen units is 486 in NTSC and 576 in PAL.  
restore button  
The restore button appears on the right side of a window’s title bar.  
Clicking this button restores the window to its size before it was  
minimized or maximized.  
right-click  
To right-click, position the selection cursor over the item on the  
screen and tap the right mouse button once.  
safe title area  
The safe title area is the area of the screen considered safe for  
graphics. Anything outside this area may be clipped by an  
overscanning monitor.  
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The safe title area is only a reference; it does not prevent typing  
outside its boundaries.  
You can specify the top, bottom, right and left boundaries of the  
safe title area. Values represent a percentage of the distance from  
the specified edge of the screen to the opposite edge.  
The text field box defaults to the dimensions of the safe title area.  
screen space  
Screen location is indicated on the status bar, expressed as either  
world space or screen space.  
World space, or resolution-independent space, is measured in  
arbitrary units, selected by the user.  
Screen space is a literal representation of the video frame buffer.  
Screen space varies with the video standard: in NTSC 4x3, there  
are 720 horizontal pizels (called dots) and 486 vertical pixels  
(called lines). These values can be found in @dots and @lines.  
In Options/Preferences, choose Cursor Movement by Pixels for  
screen space.  
screen units  
Screen units are the units Deko500 uses for the height of a typeface  
and for the location of text and shapes in a graphic.  
Screen units are user-definable, in Options/Preferences/Advanced/  
Resolution. Once you set the number of vertical units, the number  
of horizontal units is automatically set to 4/3 of that amount.  
For convenience, the default value for screen units is 486 in NTSC  
and 576 in PAL, which equals the number of visible scan lines in  
each video standard.  
search path  
If Deko500 does not find a file in a current directory, it searches  
each directory in the appropriate search path. There are three  
different search paths based on file type:  
graphics (.dko), sequences (.seq), automation (.aut)  
styles (.sty), preset styles (.pst), shaders (.shd)  
macros (.mcr)  
selection cursor  
The selection cursor is used for pointing to objects on the desktop  
and clicking or dragging them.  
sequence  
A sequence is a list of events that controls the playback of a series  
of Deko500 graphic files.  
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Sequence window  
The Sequence window shows the current sequence.  
set width  
A character’s set width determines how much horizontal space the  
character occupies when typed. A character’s set width plus its pin  
location equals the pin location of the character to its right.  
shader  
The shader controls the color — solid, texture, or ramp — of a  
detail or a background.  
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Shader window  
The Shader window shows the current face, edge, shadow,  
underline, frame or background shader.  
spread justification  
Spread justification makes all lines of text flush with both the left  
and right sides of the text field box. To do this, space is inserted  
between words and between letters, as controlled by the Spread %  
in the Style/Layers window.  
sprite  
A sprite is a smaller element within a graphic or graphic element.  
For example, in a multi-row layer, each row is an individual sprite.  
status bar  
The status bar shows Deko500’s current status.  
string  
A string is set of characters, such as a word or sentence. A string  
that includes spaces or non-alphanumeric characters must be  
defined within quotation marks, e.g. “Hello there.”  
string operator  
A string operator is a command or symbol that operates on  
character strings. Most string operations are performed by  
commands.  
string parameter  
A string parameter specifies one or more alphanumeric  
characters (e.g. a letter, word or sentence).  
A string that contains spaces or non-alphanumeric characters must  
be enclosed in quotation marks.  
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style  
A style consists of a font and a look.  
A font is a typeface of specified size, shape and orientation.  
A look controls how Deko500 renders a font character. Each look  
is comprised of a list of details. Each detail is a face, edge, frame,  
shadow, or underline, and has its own set of attributes which  
dictate its color, size, shape, etc.  
Deko500 provides a variety of tools for specifying attributes of  
fonts and looks, to create new styles or to revise existing styles.  
Style window  
The Style window shows the current style’s font and look.  
subroutine  
A subroutine is a macro that is used as a command within another  
macro.  
switch parameter  
A switch parameter specifies a parameter that is either true or false.  
A true parameter is either preceded by a hyphen (-) or followed by  
=1, while a false parameter is either preceded by -no or followed  
by =0.  
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system variable  
A system variable, sometimes called an “at-sign variable” because  
its initial character is always @, is a built-in global variable that is  
always accessible to commands and macros.  
text bar  
The text bar is the toolbar at the top of the Deko500 desktop, under  
the menu bar, which controls many common text functions.  
text box  
Text boxes are Windows NT controls in which you type or  
otherwise enter information.  
text cursor  
The text cursor shows where in a text field the next typed character  
will be inserted. The text cursor is shaped like an I-beam or a  
rectangle, depending how you have your cursor preference set.  
I - beam cursor  
Box cursor  
text field  
A text field is one layer of text in a Deko500 graphic. A text field  
is defined by its text field box, which controls word wrapping and  
justification. A text field has a default style (font and look).  
Characters in a text field may extend beyond the text field box.  
The box is used for alignment, not clipping.  
texture shader  
A texture shader is used to apply a pattern to a detail. The pattern  
is actually a bitmap that is “cut” from another graphic file and  
“pasted” onto the detail.  
title bar  
The title bar is the bar at the top of any Windows NT application  
window, including Deko500’s. This bar is highlighted whenever an  
application is active.  
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Glossary  
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tool tips  
Tool tips are those little yellow pop-up windows that appear if you  
hold the selection cursor over a toolbar button for a brief moment.  
They explain what each button does. You can turn tool tips on and  
off from the Help menu.  
Tools window  
The Tools window contains several push buttons for creating,  
editing and transforming text fields and layers. To show the Tools  
window, choose Tools from the View menu.  
Typeface Browser window  
The Typeface Browser window shows you a sample of each  
installed TrueType or Postscript font or each custom typeface in  
the current directory. The current font is always displayed at the  
top of the window. The window can be sized and positioned so that  
you can see many typefaces at once.  
variable  
A variable is a place holder of a value that may change. A user-  
defined variable always has $ as its first character. For example,  
$a, $frequency, $winner.  
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world space  
Screen location is indicated on the status bar, expressed as either  
world space or screen space.  
Screen space is a literal representation of the video frame buffer,  
and varies with the video standard.  
World space, or resolution-independent space, is measured in  
arbitrary units, selected by the user. For a 4x3 aspect ratio, the  
default world space is 6.0 vertical units that range from -4 to +4  
across the screen, and 8.0 horizontal units that range from -3 to +3  
bottom to top. The point (0.0) is in the center of the screen.  
In Options/Preferences, choose Cursor Movement by Screen Units  
for world space.  
You can set world space units to any convenient value. In  
Options/Preferences/Advanced, enter the number of full screen  
vertical units, and Deko500 derives the number of horizontal units  
automatically by multiplying the height by the aspect ratio. The  
current number of vertical units is stored in the system variable  
@resolution.  
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Index  
Baseline menu commands, 149–50  
Bezier command, 149  
Bitwise operators, 124  
Blurring  
edge, 48  
face, 47  
frame, 56  
shadow, 51  
underline, 54  
Bold  
applying or removing, 24  
version of current typeface, 41  
Break command, 127  
Bring Forward One Layer command, 84, 155  
Bring to Front command, 84, 155  
Browse for Files command, 157  
Browse Typefaces command, 22  
Browser  
A
Accept Baseline command, 149  
Add Ellipse command, 79, 154  
Add Rectangle command, 79, 155  
Add Text Field command, 76, 155  
Append Layers command, 83, 153  
Append to Macro command, 113, 117, 153  
Append to Sequence command, 91, 153  
Apply Baseline command, 149  
Arithmetic operators, 123  
Array  
accessing elements of, 124  
subscripting elements of, 123  
Aspect ratio  
changing, 73  
opening graphic recorded under different, 17  
Assignment operators, 125  
At-sign variables, 123  
Auto Advance From Browser command, 94, 157  
Auto Cascade command, 163  
Automation  
auto advance in sequence, 157  
inserting graphics into sequence, 93  
texture, 62  
Browser command, 22, 161  
defining layers for, 133–34  
protocols, 133  
C
window, 132–33  
Automation command, 132, 161  
Cancel command, 149  
Capitalize command, 26, 160  
Cascade command, 163  
Center Row command, 160  
Channel menu commands, 150  
Character  
B
Background, 74  
activating shader for, 60  
applying color to, 75  
clearing from graphic, 82  
opening a graphic into, 75  
replacing key, 76  
baseline angle, 24–25, 41  
decimal tab, 101  
importing active graphic as, 43  
importing file as, 43  
kerning, 27–29, 41  
shader, 75  
pin location, 44  
turning into a layer, 75  
turning on or off, 75  
Background command, 158  
Background to Layer command, 155  
Baseline  
scaling, 27–28  
set width, 44  
skewing, 41  
spacing, 41  
specifying width of, 29–30  
typing from an international character set, 23  
width, 29–30  
aligning texture with, 64  
changing angle of, 24–25, 41  
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Glossary  
191  
Clear, 89  
window, 68  
Clear All command, 82, 151  
Clear Background command, 75, 82, 151  
Clear Layers command, 81, 82, 151  
Clear Sequence command, 90, 157  
Clear Text command, 33, 82, 155  
Close command, 108, 153  
Closing files, 108  
Current Style command, 162  
Cursor  
box, 103  
hiding, 103  
i-beam, 103  
movement of, 103  
Cusp command, 149  
Custom typeface  
properties, 44  
Coarse command, 103, 156  
Color  
applying to detail, 60  
edge, 48  
eyedropper, 66  
face, 46, 47  
frame, 56  
Custom Typeface command, 43, 162  
Cut command, 33, 37, 83, 151  
Cut Detail command, 57, 151  
Cut Events command, 95, 152  
Cutting and pasting  
events, 95  
picking a, 66  
shadow, 51  
layer, 82–83  
specifying, 59–66  
text, 30–33  
underline, 53, 54  
Cutting and Pasting  
detail, 57–58  
tab stops, 57–58  
where graphic is transparent, 101  
Color Bars command, 150  
Command  
categories, 118  
conditional loop, 128  
invoking, 111  
D
Data Type Conversions, 130–31  
Delete command, 33  
Delete Event command, 95, 157  
Delete Events command, 152  
Delete File command, 153  
Delete Layer command, 82, 155  
Delete Selected Point command, 149  
Deleting  
parameters, 118–21  
syntax, 118–19  
Command bar, 111  
Command Bar command, 162  
Command command, 128  
Comments, 126  
Comparison operators, 124  
Concatenation, 124  
events, 95  
layers, 82  
Desktop  
arranging layout, 99  
overview of, 13  
specifying preferences for, 99–105  
Detail. See Look, details  
Dissolve, 89  
Conditional loop commands, 128  
Conditional statements, 126–27  
Continue command, 127  
Convert Graphic to Macro command, 117, 155  
Convert Sequence to Macro Command, 117, 155  
Copy command, 33, 37, 42, 58, 69, 83, 151  
Copy Detail command, 57  
Copy Events command, 95  
Copying  
Draw Curve command, 149  
detail, 57–58  
events, 95  
E
Edge  
font, 42, 69  
adding or removing, 47  
blurring, 48  
layer, 82–83  
look, 58  
changing attributes of, 48  
changing color of, 48  
hiding, 48  
tab stops, 57–58  
text, 30–33  
Crawl, 90, 92–93  
priority among other details, 49  
shape, 48, 49–50  
size, 49  
Create Directory command, 109, 153  
Current style  
assigning to preset button, 69  
changing with text cursor, 103  
picking from graphic, 70  
saving as pre-rendered, 72  
using a preset style as, 70  
type, 48  
Edge command, 158  
Edit Baseline command, 155  
Edit Curve command, 149  
Edit menu commands, 151–52  
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Glossary  
192  
Effects  
text, 89–90  
copying, 42, 69  
displaying Style/Font window, 40  
installing TrueType and Postscript, 42  
size, 27–28, 41  
transitional, 89–90  
Ellipse. See also Layer  
adding to graphic, 79  
defining box of, 80  
hiding, 81  
specifying properties of, 80–81  
transforming, 80  
Else command, 126–27  
Elseif command, 126–27  
End command, 126–28  
End key, 104  
width, 41  
For command, 128  
Four Field Grab command, 150  
Frame  
adding or removing, 55  
blurring, 56  
changing attributes of, 56  
changing color of, 56  
descender characters, 57  
grabbing, 20  
Event  
copying, 95  
height, 56  
cutting and pasting, 95  
deleting, 95  
hiding, 56  
offset, 57  
inserting, 95  
priority among other details, 57  
shape, 56  
spaces between words, 57  
width, 56  
Frame command, 158  
Frame Grab command, 150  
Frame Grabbing  
specifying, 90–95  
specifying starting, 96  
Exchange Down command, 160  
Exchange Up command, 160  
Exit command, 11, 108, 153  
Exiting  
WriteDeko, 11  
Expressions, 125  
Eyedropper, 66  
suppressing motion during, 20  
Frame Shader command, 158  
Free command, 123  
Freeze Windows command, 68, 163  
FXDeko  
F
user interface, 111  
Face  
adding or removing, 46  
blurring, 47  
G
changing attributes of, 47  
changing color of, 46, 47  
hiding, 47  
Global command, 123  
GPI Settings command, 157  
Grabbing frames, 20  
priority among other details, 47  
Face command, 158  
Factory Defaults command, 100, 156  
Fast Action Keyboard option, 134–42  
File 1,2,3,4 command, 153  
File menu commands, 153–54  
Files  
Graphic  
appending to another graphic, 83  
background. See Background  
browsing for, 62, 93  
clearing background from, 82  
clearing layers from, 81  
converting from different standard or format, 102  
converting into Macro, 117  
creating a, 14  
closing, 108  
graphic, 13  
missing, 101  
files, 13  
opening, 107  
layers of, 73  
prompting to save, 82  
saving, 108–9, 91  
missing, 101  
Program, 13  
sharing, 109  
rendering time limit, 105  
saving a, 14  
using as a texture, 62  
Graphics Factory  
Find command, 34, 152  
Find Event Closest to Timecode command, 135, 161  
Find Next command, 152  
Fine command, 103, 156  
Font  
exporting Halo images to WriteDeko, 19  
as part of style, 40, 111  
changing attributes of current, 40  
H
Hardware settings  
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Glossary  
193  
resetting, 99–100  
about, 73  
Hardware Settings command, 156  
Home key, 104  
Horizontal Scrolling command, 160  
Hot Keys. See Shortcut keys  
adding to graphic, 76, 79  
clearing from graphic, 81  
copying, 82–83  
cutting and pasting, 82–83  
deleting, 82  
moving, 84–86  
position, 84–86  
reordering, 84  
rotating, 86–87  
scaling, 87  
selecting, 81  
skewing, 88  
specifying properties of, 76–79, 80–81  
Layers to Background command, 155  
layout  
I
If command, 128  
Import Character command, 43, 153  
Import Character From File, 153  
Index operators, 124  
Insert Event command, 95, 157  
Insert Point command, 149  
Inserting  
a detail  
edge, 47  
desktop, 99  
face, 46  
Layout  
frame, 55  
initial, 101  
shadow, 50  
keyboard, 23  
underline, 53  
Style Edit, 13  
a layer  
ellipse, 79  
rectangle, 79  
text, 76  
Layouts command, 112  
Leading, 30, 41  
Line to command, 149  
Local variables, 123  
Look  
a text field, 76  
an event, 95  
International  
as part of style, 45  
copying, 58  
character sets, 23  
International command, 23, 162  
Italic  
details. See also Face, Edge, Shadow, Underline,  
Frame  
adding, 46  
applying or removing, 24  
version of current typeface, 41  
copying, 57–58  
cutting and pasting, 57–58  
deleting, 46  
list of, 45  
displaying Style/Look window, 45  
specifying, 43–58  
J
Justify command, 35, 86, 160  
Loops, 127–28  
conditional, 128  
Loose Fit command, 149  
Lower Case command, 27, 160  
K
Kerning, 27–29, 27–29, 41  
Kerning & Leading command, 28, 30, 156  
Keyboard  
Home and End key preferences, 104  
language, 23  
M
Macro  
Keyer  
using built-in, 19  
appending to another macro, 112, 117  
canceling, 115  
Keyer Off command, 150  
Keyer On command, 150  
Keyer Test command, 150  
Keywords, 118–19  
converting graphic into, 117  
editing, 116  
invoking, 111  
pausing, 114, 115  
playing, 113–14  
recording, 117  
resuming paused, 114  
saving, 116–17  
single-stepping, 115  
use-d as subroutine, 128–29  
L
Layer. See also Text field, Rectangle, Ellipse  
Layer 1,2,3... command, 154  
Layer menu commands, 154–55  
Layers  
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194  
viewing, 113, 117  
Macro command, 113, 116, 117, 162  
Macro menu commands, 155–56  
Macro recorder, 111  
Macro Recorder  
keywords of, 118–19  
list, 121  
object, 120  
positional order of, 118–19  
real, 119  
Using the, 113  
string, 120  
Macro window  
switch, 120  
working in, 112  
Macro Window, 111  
Motion  
Paste command, 33, 38, 42, 58, 69, 83, 152  
Paste Detail command, 58, 152  
Paste Events command, 95, 152  
Pasting. See Cutting and pasting. See Cutting and  
suppressing, 20  
Motion Suppress command, 20  
Move command, 27, 34, 84, 156  
Move to command, 149  
Moving  
layer, 84–86  
tab stops, 37  
pasting. See Cutting and pasting. See Cutting and  
pasting  
Pause Macro command, 114, 155  
Pause Sequence command, 96, 97, 157  
Pick Font command, 22, 157, 159, 160  
Pick Look command, 157, 159, 160  
Pick Presets command, 70, 157, 159, 160  
Pick Style command, 157, 159, 160  
Pinnacle Systems  
how to contact. See Technical  
Support  
Play Macro command, 113, 115, 156  
Play Sequence command, 96, 97, 158  
Playback Rate command, 158  
Preferences  
text, 34–35  
N
New command, 153  
Next Point command, 150  
O
Objects, 129–30  
accessing elements of, 124, 129–30  
creating, 129  
advanced, 104–5  
common, 100–101  
cursor, 102–4  
marker, 104  
ODBC, 135  
Open command, 107, 153  
Opening files, 107  
Opening Files  
under different aspect ratio, 17  
Operators, 125  
arithmetic, 123  
assignment, 125  
bitwise, 124  
comparison, 124  
index, 124  
order of application of, 125  
string, 124  
Options  
Automation  
Database Connection, 135  
Fast Action Keyboard, 134–42  
Sportsware  
place pop, 144, 145  
style pop, 143  
prompts, 101–2  
resetting, 99–100  
specifying, 99–105  
Preferences command, 10, 11, 38, 82, 99, 100, 108,  
156  
Preset menus commands, 157  
Preset Shader Select command, 158  
Preset Shader Set command, 67, 159  
Preset shaders  
applying to detail, 67  
assigning current shader to, 67  
saving, 67  
using, 67  
Preset style. See Style. See Style  
Preset Style Select command, 157, 160  
Preset Style Set command, 157, 160  
Preset Styles command, 69, 162  
Prev Point command, 150  
Print command, 154  
text pop, 143, 145  
Options menu commands, 156–57  
Print Setup command, 154  
Program, 13  
Program command, 162  
Properties command, 77, 80, 155  
Push, 89  
P
Parameters, 119  
categories of, 118–21  
choice, 120  
integer, 120  
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Glossary  
195  
a style, 69  
files, 108–9  
preset shaders, 59, 67  
prompt before, 82, 101  
Scale & Width command, 27, 29, 87, 157  
Scaling  
layer, 87  
ramp, 62  
text, 27–28, 78  
Screen units, 41, 77, 80, 103, 105  
defined, 184  
Select All command, 152  
Select Field command, 152  
Select Layers command, 152  
Select Layout command, 113, 116, 117, 163  
Select More command, 152  
Select Next Layer command, 155  
Select Previous Layer command, 155  
Select Style command, 152  
Selecting  
R
Ramp. See also Shader  
applying to detail, 61  
background, 75  
group, 61  
highlighting, 61, 62  
opacity, 61  
scaling, 62  
Reading files. See Opening files  
Record Macro command, 113  
Record Macro Command, 156  
Recording files. See Saving files  
Rectangle. See also Layer  
adding to graphic, 79  
defining box of, 80  
hiding, 81  
specifying properties of, 80–81  
transforming, 80  
Redo command, 152  
Render and Save Style command, 72  
Render and Save Style Command, 154  
Replace Background command, 75, 154  
Replace Background Key command, 76, 154  
Replace command, 34, 152  
Replace Layers command, 154  
Reset Current Layout command, 163  
Reset to Defaults command, 157, 159, 160  
Resolution  
details, 45  
events, 94  
layer, 81  
tab stop, 37  
text, 21  
typeface, 22  
Send Back One Layer command, 155  
Send to Back command, 84, 155  
Sequence  
appending to another sequence, 91  
creating, 90–95  
effects available for, 89–90  
pausing, 96  
playing, 96  
resuming paused, 97  
saving, 91  
specifying events of, 90–95  
starting event of, 96  
stopping, 98  
specifying, 105  
Return command, 129  
Returns, 125  
Reveal, 90  
Reverse Baseline command, 32  
Reverse Baseline Command, 150  
Roll, 89, 92–93  
Rotate & Skew command, 24, 25, 86, 88, 156  
Rotating  
layer, 86–87  
text, 25, 41  
Sequence command, 90, 162  
Sequence menu commands, 157–58  
Set Intime to Current Timecode command, 161  
Set Intime to Outtime command, 134, 161  
Set Outtime to Current Timecode command, 161  
Set Outtime to Intime command, 134, 161  
Set Ramp Bottom Left Color command, 159  
Set Ramp Bottom Right Color command, 159  
Set Ramp Hilite Color command, 159  
Set Ramp Top Left Color command, 159  
Set Ramp Top Right Color command, 159  
Set Shader Color command, 159  
Shader. See also Color, Ramp, Texture  
activating, 60  
Row spacing, 30, 41  
S
Safe title area  
defining, 104  
displaying or hiding, 104  
Save As command, 67, 69, 71, 91, 109, 116  
Save As Command, 154  
Save command, 67, 69, 71, 109, 117  
Save Command, 154  
Save Settings Now Command, 156  
Save Settings on Exit Command, 156  
Saving  
a graphic, 14  
a macro, 116–17  
a pre-rendered style, 42, 71–72, 71–72  
a sequence, 91  
background, 60, 75  
edge, 48  
face, 46, 47  
frame, 56  
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Glossary  
196  
preset. See Preset shaders  
shadow, 51  
types, 59  
Tab Set command, 37, 161  
Tab stops, 37–38  
changing the decimal tab character, 38  
clearing selected, 37  
clearing within a layer, 37  
displaying or hiding, 38, 104  
moving, 37  
underline, 53, 54  
Shader command, 162  
Shader menu commands, 158–59  
Shadow  
adding or removing, 50  
blurring, 51  
selecting, 37  
setting, 37  
changing attributes of, 51  
changing color of, 51  
distance from detail, 52  
hiding, 51  
Targa files  
saving, 16  
Technical Support  
on Internet, 9  
Text  
offset angle, 51  
priority among other details, 52  
shape, 52–53  
changing case of, 26–27  
copying, 30–33  
type, 52  
cutting and pasting, 30–33  
deleting, 33  
deleting all within a layer, 33  
finding and replacing, 34  
initialization, 78–79  
justifying, 78  
Shadow command, 159  
Shortcut keys, 163–67  
Show Background command, 75, 155  
Show Key Output command, 19, 150  
Skewing  
layer, 88  
text, 26, 41  
kerning, 27–29, 41  
leading, 30, 41  
Slide, 89  
moving, 34–35  
Small caps, 26, 41  
Smooth command, 150  
Software settings  
rendering time limit, 105  
rotating, 24–25, 24–25  
scaling, 27–28, 78  
selecting, 21  
resetting, 99–100  
Spacing characters, 27–29, 41  
Starting  
skewing, 26, 41  
underlining, 24  
Windows NT, 9–10  
WriteDeko, 10  
Text Bar command, 163  
Text case  
Status Bar command, 162  
Stop Macro Playback command, 115, 156  
Stop Sequence Playback command, 98, 158  
String operators, 124  
Style  
changing, 26–27  
small caps, 26  
Text field  
adding to graphic, 76  
hiding, 77  
assigning to preset button, 69  
current. See Current style  
picking up from graphic, 70  
pre-rendered, 42  
justifying text within, 78  
specifying properties of, 76–79  
Text field box  
changing, 24–27  
retrieving, 70–71  
defining, 77  
saving, 69  
displaying or hiding, 104  
transforming, 77  
saving a pre-rendered, 71–72, 71–72  
saving as pre-rendered, 72  
saving preset, 71  
Style command, 162  
Style menu commands, 159–60  
Subroutines, 128–29  
Symmetric command, 150  
System variables, 123  
Text to Field command, 76, 161  
Text to Multiple Field command, 161  
Text to Multiple Fields command, 76  
Texture. See also Shader  
alignment, 64  
applying to a detail, 62–64  
background, 75  
file name, 63  
group, 63  
offset, 63  
T
Tab Clear All command, 37, 160  
Tab Clear command, 37, 160  
opacity, 63  
Tiff files  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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Glossary  
197  
saving, 16  
subscripted, 123  
Tight Fit command, 150  
Tool Tips command, 154  
Tools command, 163  
TrueType and Postscript fonts  
installing, 42  
system, 123  
user-defined, 121  
Variables, 121–23  
Vertical Scrolling command, 92, 161  
Video standard  
Typeface  
changing, 73  
installing TrueType and Postscript fonts, 42  
selecting, 22  
View menu commands, 161–63  
W
U
While command, 128  
Window  
Underline  
adding or removing, 53  
blurring, 54  
clearing, 101  
closing, 101  
changing attributes of, 54  
changing color of, 53, 54  
height and width, 54  
hiding, 54  
opening, 101  
position on desktop, 99  
Window menu commands, 163  
Windows 1,2,3... command, 163  
Windows NT  
offset, 54  
priority among other details, 55  
shape, 54  
changing keyboard layout, 23  
clipboard, 33, 43, 58, 69  
File Manager, 109  
installing TrueType and Postscript fonts, 42  
Program Manager, 10, 11, 12, 23, 42  
starting, 9–10  
Wipe, 89  
Word wrap, 78  
Word Wrap command, 161  
WriteDeko  
spaces between words, 54  
Underline command, 159  
Underline Shader command, 159  
Underlining Text, 24  
Undo command, 152  
Undo enabled command, 152  
Upper Case command, 26, 161  
exiting, 11, 101, 108  
preconfigured layouts, 99  
prompts, 82, 101–2, 108  
resetting to factory defaults, 99–100  
starting, 10, 101  
V
Variable, 121–23  
assignment, 121–22, 123  
data type, 121  
global, 123  
local, 123  
Deko500 User’s Guide  
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