Volume 1 Chapter 12 The Help System

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This chapter describes two different ways in which individual users may customise QUEST.

The first, using QUEST Initialisation files, can save you from repetitively issuing the same QUEST instructions every time you run the program.

The second, using a Configuration file, allows you to change the colour definitions used by QUEST.

13.1 QUEST Initialisation Files

Some users find that they always type the same instructions every time they start QUEST. They do not wish to keep typing these instructions in every session.

A QUEST initialisation file is simply a file containing one or more QUEST instructions which are read in automatically by QUEST every time the program starts up.

The QUEST Initialisation file is read in on unit 33. Users of the VMS and UNIX implementations will find a description below, explaining how their system decides which file to use. Users of other implementations should consult the person who installed the software.

The main advantage of Initialisation files over the QUEST INIT instruction is that individual users can construct their own sets of instructions, without needing to edit, recompile and relink QUEST.

Example instruction sets (typical uses) follow:

13.1.1 VAX Search Order

For users of the VAX implementation, the program searches in the following order:

  1. If the logical QUEST$INIT is assigned a value, this file is used. For example, you can type:

    and QUEST will use the instructions in MY_INIT.QUE in every session. To remove a previous assignment, type:

  2. If there is a file in the current directory called QUEST_INIT.QUE this file is used.

  3. If there is a file in the user's home directory called QUEST_INIT.QUE (SYS$LOGIN) this file is used.

  4. Otherwise, the file CSD$TOP:QUEST_INIT.QUE will be used. The release copy of this file just contains comments, but your local system manager can always add instructions to this file, if everyone at your site uses a common set of instructions.

13.1.2 UNIX Search Order

For users of the UNIX implementations, the program searches in the following order:

  1. If the environment variable QUESTINIT has been defined, this file is used.

    For example, you can type:

    and QUEST will use the instructions in my_init.que in every session. To remove a previous assignment, type:

  2. If there is a file in the current directory called quest_init.que this file is used.

  3. If there is a file in the user's home directory called quest_init.que (~/quest_init.que) this file is used.

  4. Otherwise, the file $CSDEXEC/quest_init.que will be used. The release copy of this file just contains comments, but your local system manager can always add instructions to this file, if everyone at your site uses a common set of instructions.

13.2 QUEST3D Configuration Files

By default, QUEST uses the same colour set as Tektronix terminals, for example,

Some users, however, may wish to use a different set of colours. If you use the QUEST graphics, the program reads in a Configuration file to determine the colour definitions to be used.

You can define colours either by name, or by their Red, Green and Blue components. (See below for a list of colour names known to QUEST).

The full text of the default QUEST Configuration file is reproduced below.

Characters following exclamation marks (!) are comments, provided to explain the contents of the file. Blank lines are ignored.

Tektronix 4100 Series terminals can only display 8 colours (black and 7 others), so only colours 0 through 7 are of relevance to these terminals.

Tektronix 4200 Series terminals and the CCDC SG implementation, however, make use of 16 colours

(0 through 15). All these are of relevance on such terminals.

In this first implementation of colour configuration files you can redefine the choice of colours used by QUEST, ie. its "colour map".

Throughout the QUEST source code, colours are referred to by number. Changing the QUEST Configuration file effectively just changes the colour of a particular number.

For example, if you change colour number 2 (originally RED) you change the colour used to highlight menu buttons in the input menus, the colour used to highlight 2D hit chemical fragments in the 2D hit display, the colour used to display oxygen in the 3D display, etc.

Future versions of QUEST may give you the flexibility to assign colour numbers for particular functions, but in the meantime there are many reasons why you might want to completely redefine one or more colours.

Example 1

If your terminal does not display dark blue very clearly against a black background you could edit your Configuration file and change colour 4 to LIGHTBLUE. Then, every time QUEST would have previously drawn dark blue, it will now use your new definition - LIGHTBLUE.

4=  BLUE    !Colour 4 - Originally, BLUE

Changed to

4=  LIGHTBLUE    !Colour 4 - Originally, BLUE

Example 2

Some Tektronix emulators have the ability to reverse the screen background colour so that black lines and text are displayed on a white background, instead of the reverse.

You might want to use this idea on a real Tektronix terminal or on a Silicon Graphics console running QUEST.

To do this, you would change the definitions of colours 0 and 1, as follows:

0=  BLACK   !Colour 0 - Background colour when QUEST is in graphics mode
1=  WHITE   !Colour 1 - Originally, WHITE.

Changed to:

0=  WHITE   !Colour 0 - Background colour when QUEST is in graphics mode
1=  BLACK   !Colour 1 - Originally, WHITE.

13.2.1 Editing the Configuration File.

You should make a copy of the release Configuration file and edit that copy.

The QUEST Configuration file is read in on unit 32. Users of the VAX, Silicon Graphics and SUN implementations will find a description below, explaining how their system decides which file to use. Users of other versions should consult the person who installed the software at their site.

13.2.2 VAX Search Order

For users of the VAX implementation, the program searches in the following order:

  1. If the logical QUEST$FIG is assigned a value then this file is used.

    For example, you can type:

    and QUEST will use the colours in MY_CONFIG.FIG in every session. To remove a previous assignment, type:

  2. If there is a file in the current directory called quest.fig then this file is used.

  3. If there is a file in the user's home directory called quest.fig (SYS$LOGIN) this file is used.

  4. Otherwise, the file CSD$TOP:quest.fig will be used.

13.2.3 UNIX Search Order

For users of the UNIX implementations, the program searches in the following order:

  1. If the environment variable QUESTFIG has been defined this file is used.

    For example, you can type:

    and QUEST will use the colours in my_config.fig every session. To remove a previous assignment, type:

  2. If there is a file in the current directory called quest.fig then this file is used.

  3. If there is a file in the user's home directory called quest.fig (~/quest.fig) this file is used.

  4. Otherwise, the file $CSDEXEC/quest.fig will be used.

13.2.4 QUEST Colour Names

The following table lists the 51 colour names that QUEST recognises when interpreting the Configuration file.

Colours are defined by components of Red, Green and Blue. The component values are in the range 0-255.

Colour Name                  Red Green  Blue
Aquamarine                   127   255   212
Azure                        240   255   255
Beige                        245   245   220
Black                          0     0     0
Blue                           0     0   255
BlueCyan                       0   128   255
BlueMagenta                  128     0   255
Brown                        165    42    42
Cyan                           0   255   255
DarkGray                      85    85    85
DarkGreen                      0   100     0
DarkGrey                      85    85    85
DarkOrange                   255   140     0
DarkViolet                   148     0   211
DeepPink                     255    20   147
DimGray                      105   105   105
DimGrey                      105   105   105
ForestGreen                   34   139    34
Gold                         255   215     0
Gray                         192   192   192
Green                          0   255     0
GreenCyan                      0   255   128
GreenYellow                  128   255     0
Grey                         192   192   192
Lavender                     230   230   250
LightBlue                    173   216   230
LightCyan                    224   255   255
LightGray                    170   170   170
LightGreen                   152   251   152
LightGrey                    170   170   170
LightPink                    255   182   193
LightYellow                  255   255   224
LimeGreen                     50   205    50
Magenta                      255     0   255
Maroon                       176    48    96
MediumBlue                     0     0   205
MediumPurple                 147   112   219
NavyBlue                       0     0   128
Orange                       255   128     0
Pink                         255   192   203
Purple                       160    32   240
Red                          255     0     0
RedMagenta                   255     0   128
RoyalBlue                     65   105   225
SkyBlue                      135   206   235
SpringGreen                    0   255   127
Tan                          210   180   140
Turquoise                     64   224   208
Violet                       238   130   238
White                        255   255   255
Yellow                       255   255     0

13.2.5 Default QUEST Configuration File

The contents of the default Configuration file are as follows:

!                 COLOUR DEFINITIONS FOR QUEST GRAPHICS
 
! Items 0-15 define the "Colour Map" used by QUEST.  The numbers specify
! how much RED, GREEN and BLUE should be used for each colour.
 
! The following numbers of colours are available:
!      Tektronix 4200 Series: Colours 0-15
!      Tektronix 4100 Series: Colours 0-7
!      Silicon Graphics     : Colours 0-15
 
! The values must lie in the range 0 through to 255.
 
! Users of Tektronix 4100 and 4200 Series terminals should note that
! these terminals have only a limited sensitivity to changes in Red
! Green and Blue components.  Values seem to be rounded to the nearest
! multiple of 85 (on a scale of 0-255)
 
! You can either edit the RED, GREEN and BLUE components of the colours,
! or you can replace all three numbers by a single word.  QUEST contains
! the definitions of 51 named colours so you might find it easier to use
! names instead.
! (see manual for the list of available colours, or type HELP COLOURS in QUEST)
 
0=  BLACK   !Colour 0 - Background colour when QUEST is in graphics mode
1=  WHITE   !Colour 1 - Originally, WHITE.
2=  RED     !Colour 2 - Originally, RED.  Used by QUEST to highlight menu items.
3=  GREEN   !Colour 3 - Originally, GREEN.
4=  BLUE    !Colour 4 - Originally, BLUE
5=  CYAN    !Colour 5 - Originally, CYAN
6=  MAGENTA !Colour 6 - Originally, MAGENTA
7=  YELLOW  !Colour 7 - Originally, YELLOW.  Used by QUEST to display the GRID.
8=  ORANGE  !Colour 8 - Originally, ORANGE
9=  128 255   0  !Colour 9  - Originally, GREENYELLOW
10=   0 255 128  !Colour 10 - Originally, GREENCYAN
11=   0 128 255  !Colour 11 - Originally, BLUECYAN
12= 128   0 255  !Colour 12 - Originally, BLUEMAGENTA
13= 255   0 128  !Colour 13 - Originally, REDMAGENTA
14=  85  85  85  !Colour 14 - Originally, DARKGREY
15= 170 170 170  !Colour 15 - Originally, LIGHTGREY
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Volume 1 Chapter 14 Introduction to GSTAT.