                                CrossHairs V0.04
                                ================


What is CrossHaors?
===================

The program draws a crosshairs across the screen which follows the mouse
pointer around. Useful for checking whether objects are aligned, or for
comparing two text files line by line.

Optionally, it can be used for measuring the size of an object on the
screen, or the distance between objects, or finding the position of an
object.


Compatability and Requirements:
===============================

Your setup needs the Pointer Interface (PI) and preferably a mouse!

The current version was only tested on QPC2 with SMSQ/E, but there is no
reason to believe it should not work on all QL systems, as previous
versions did.

As it stands, however, it does require a toolkit to read the pointer. I
have used my RPT% here, a free standing command to read the pointer.
The source code for that can be downloaded from Knoware.no's Toolkit
section.

Instead of SMSQ/E's SCR_XLIM and SCR_YLIM to figure out the size of the
screen, it uses my SCRXY so as to make the program as universal as possible.

If you find you use CrossHairs often, you could do worse that attach it to
a hotkey, if you have those available. In QDOS you need the hot_rext toolkit;
in SMSQ/E they are built in. I put mine under (ALT + ) SHIFT + CTRL X.
Insert a line, similar to the one below, at the appropriate place in your
boot file:

        122 ERT HOT_LOAD1("", util$ & 'CrossHairs_obj', 'CrossHairs')


Instructions:
=============

A reminder: HIT means a click on the left mouse button, and a DO means a
click on the right button. Respective alternatives are SPACE and ENTER.
Naturally, you can also move the pointer around using the cursor keys;
somewhat easier for fine-tuning, not least of all because one axis stays
still as you move the other.

Change colour to between 1 to 7 by putting the number on the command line,
or alter and recompile the code for a more permanent selection.

On firing up the program you should see the crosshairs. If not, press ESC
and retry with a different colour. As it stands, only the colours 1..7 are
valid:

        EXEC <path>Crosshairs_obj; 2

The default is 7; no need to put that on the command line if thats the one
you want.

Find a suitable location on the screen for a tiny display box, then:

HIT once for measuring tool  -  the display shows the distance the mouse
                                pointer is from that starting point

Press Z or z                  - zeros the measure. The display stays put

HIT again for position tool   - shows the current mouse pointer position

HIT again                     - stops numerical display

HIT again                     - starts from the beginning

DO  or ESC                    - quit


Program Status:
===============

V0.00, pjw, March 26th 2000, first release
V0.04, pjw, 2026 Apr 29

         Conditions of use and DISCLAIMER as per Knoware.no
