dmacro-2.0 README file

Name:        Dynamcic Macro
Version:     2.0
Released:    November 1991
Description: A program for creating structured text in Emacs.
Author:      Wayne Mesard, WMesard@Oracle.com

WHAT IT IS:
----------
Dynamic Macro ("DM") is a facility for inserting structured text in
Emacs.  In addition to straight textual substitution (already available
through Emacs' Abbrev mode) DM will insert time- and date-stamps, your
name and user-id, the current file name, a file's contents, the results
of a shell command and anything else you can think of.  It can prompt
the user for strings.  It can also position the cursor within the
expanded text, and indent the expansion in whatever way is appropriate
to the current major mode.  DM will also allow you to bind dmacros to
keys and automatically insert dmacros in new files.

A development team can use a common dmacro table with standardized
comment block and code dmacros as a way of enforcing a coding standard.

You can insert blocks of text like these:

   -------------------------------     -------------------------------
   NAME                                for (var = 0; var < p; ++var)
     myfile.c                          {
   NOTES                                 m
                                       } /* for */
   HISTORY
     WMesard - 12/24/91: Created.
   -------------------------------     -------------------------------
   where the user, file and date       where "p" and "m" indicate the position
   info are automatically filled       of the point and mark, and "var" is
   in at insertion time.               supplied by the user at insertion time.


RELEASE NOTES:
--------------
There are many new features in this release, including:
   o Dmacro Builder - an interactive program for defining dmacros.  
   o insert-dmacro command - the main interface to DM (bound to C-c d).
   o Wrapping commands - wrap a dmacro around the current line or region.
   o A user's manual.
   o Loads of new functions and functionality for use in dmacros.

If you have a copy of Template 2.0beta, you should replace it with this
version.  There have been several enhancements and bug fixes.


CONTENTS:
--------
This distribution package contains the following:
   README             This file
   dmacro.el          The Dmacro program
   dmacro-bld.el      A tool for creating new dmacros interactively
   dm-c.el            Some useful dmacros for C programmers
   dm-elisp.el	      Some useless dmacros for Emacs Lisp programmers
   dm-compat.el       Some code to make Template v1.5 files work (more or
                         less) with Dmacro v2.0
   dmacro.texinfo     User's manual in TexInfo format


DOCUMENTATION:
-------------
The user's manual can be printed (using the "TeX" text formatter) or
read on-line (in Emacs' "Info" document browser).  For information about
printing the manual, type the following in Emacs:

>>	<Control-h> i d m texinfo <Return> printing hardcopy <Return>

For information about creating and installing an on-line Info file type:

>>	<Control-h> i d m texinfo <Return> creating <Return>

to learn about the command texinfo-format-buffer.  After reading that type:

>>	m installing <Return>

See your SysAdmin or local Emacs wizard if you get stuck.


LIBRARY OF DMACROS
------------------
I have been asked by several people to solicit macros from others and
include them in future distributions.  If you build any cool dynamic macros
that you want to share with the world, please send them to me via email.
Especailly in demand are macros for C, C++, LaTeX, Emacs Lisp and SQL.


SUPPORT
-------
Questions, problems, suggestions should be sent to me at
WMesard@Oracle.com.  Bug reports and enhancement requests are always
welcome.  Be sure to mention the version of Dmacro that you're using.