Format:Protext/Prowort File Format

This artikel originally came from Kevin Thackers' archive at http://www.cpctech.org.uk.

Introduction

Protext/Prowort was a word processor made by Arnor Ltd. The copyright is now owned by Brian Watson.

This document describes the file formats from the AMSDOS version. This version was distributed on ROM or disc for the Amstrad CPC.

Protext "document" file format

The file has the following properties:

• File has a 128-byte AMSDOS header
• Load address is dependant on the end of any active BASIC program. If no program is defined, the load address will be &0172
• file type is &A

The file contains the standard printable ASCII characters with codes from 32 (space) to 127. With the following additional control codes:

Control code	Description
&20	"Hard" space
&0D,&0A	"Hard" end-of-line
&09	TAB
&1A	End of file
&0D,&8A	"Soft" end-of-line
&80	text marker "0" (note 2)
&81	text marker "1" (note 2)
&82	text marker "2" (note 2)
&83	text marker "3" (note 2)
&84	text marker "4" (note 2)
&85	text marker "5" (note 2)
&86	text marker "6" (note 2)
&87	text marker "7" (note 2)
&88	text marker "8" (note 2)
&89	text marker "9" (note 2)
&8A	used in code sequence of "Hard" end of line
&8B	block marker "[" (note 2)
&8C	block marker "]" (note 2)
&8D	unused??
&8E	"Soft" hyphen
&90	"Soft" space
&91	"Non-break" space
&92-&DF	unused?
&E0	Printer control code "@" - "reset printer" (note 1)
&E1	Printer control code "a" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&E2	Printer control code "b" - "bold" print style (note 1)
&E3	Printer control code "c" - "condensed" print style (note 1)
&E4	Printer control code "d" - "double-strike" print style (note 1)
&E5	Printer control code "e" - "elite" print style (note 1)
&E6	Printer control code "f" - "font change 1" print style (note 1)
&E7	Printer control code "g" - "font change 2" print style (note 1)
&E8	Printer control code "h" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&E9	Printer control code "i" - "italics" print style (note 1)
&EA	Printer control code "j" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&EB	Printer control code "k" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&EC	Printer control code "l" - "enlarged" print style (note 1)
&ED	Printer control code "m" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&EE	Printer control code "n" - "normal (pica)" print style (note 1)
&EF	Printer control code "o" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F0	Printer control code "p" - "proportional " print style (note 1)
&F1	Printer control code "q" - "NLQ (near letter quality)" print style (note 1)
&F2	Printer control code "r" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F3	Printer control code "s" - "subscript" print style (note 1)
&F4	Printer control code "t" - "superscript" print style (note 1)
&F5	Printer control code "u" - "underline " print style (note 1)
&F6	Printer control code "v" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F7	Printer control code "w" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F8	Printer control code "x" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F9	Printer control code "y" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&FA	Printer control code "z" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&FB-&FF	unused?

NOTE:

1. These are the names given to the default print styles defined by Protext. However, these can be redefined to perform any print function. The default function, defines "on" and "off" printer control sequences. The "on" code initialises the function, and the "off" code disables the function. When the code is encountered, and it is not active, then it will be activated. If the code is encountered and it is active, then it will be deactivated.
2. These codes are used internally and are not saved out to a file