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QuickStart Guide
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<h1>
<a
name="quickstart"></a>QuickStart Guide
</h1>
<p>
This is a guide to getting up and running quickly with <em>CodeSnip</em>.
</p>
<h2>
Download the database
</h2>
<p>
If you have not already done so, you need to get an up to date copy of
the <em>CodeSnip</em> database. You will know if this is the case because
the program will display a message to that effect when it first starts.
Use the <a
href="dlg_update.htm">Update From Web</a> dialogue box, reached from the
<em>Database | Update From Web</em> menu option.
</p>
<p>
If you need <em>CodeSnip</em> to access the internet via a Proxy Server
you should use the <em>Tools | Proxy Server</em> menu option and enter
information and the proxy in the resulting <a
href="dlg_proxyserver.htm">Proxy Server Configuration</a> dialogue box.
</p>
<h2>
Customise the Database
</h2>
<p>
You can add your own snippets to the database. These snippets are held
separately to the main database and are not affected by database updates.
If you wish you can submit user defined code to be considered for
inclusion in the main database.
</p>
<p>
Add, edit and delete snippets using the appropriate menu items on the
<em>Database</em> menu. You can also save, backup and restore the user
database from this menu.
</p>
<p>
Snippets can be categorised using any of the available categories or you
can defined your own.
</p>
<h2>
Navigating the database
</h2>
<p>
All the snippets in the database are displayed in the
<a href="overview_pane.htm">Overview Pane</a>, grouped in different ways
depending on which tab is selected. Select the name of a snippet in the
Overview Pane to display its source code, description and other
information in the Detail Pane. Any snippets required to compile
the displayed snippet are listed in the "Required snippets"
section. Clicking a snippet's name displays its details. Similar
snippets are accessible in the "See also" section. The
compilers the snippet is known to compile with are indicated at the bottom
of the display.
</p>
<p>
Clicking a section heading in the <a href="overview_pane.htm">Overview
Pane</a> displays a table listing all the snippets in that section in the
<a href="detail_pane.htm">Detail Pane</a>. Clicking any snippet name will
display the snippet's details.
</p>
<h2>
Searching the database
</h2>
<p>
You can search the database for specific words, for snippets that
compile (or don't compile) under certain compilers or for
cross-referenced snippets. Use the <a href="dlg_findtext.htm">Find
Text</a>, <a href="dlg_findcompiler.htm">Find Compiler</a> or
<a href="dlg_findxrefs.htm">File Cross References</a> dialogue boxes to
perform a search. These dialogues are accessed via the
<a href="menu_search.htm">Search</a> menu.
</p>
<p>
When a search has been performed only those snippets that are found are
listed in the <a href="overview_pane.htm">Overview Pane</a>. When a text
search is performed the found words are highlighted in the detail pane.
</p>
<p>
The list of snippets resulting from a search can be stored in a file for
later restoration. Use the <em>Save Selection</em> and <em>Load
Selection</em> options from the <em>File</em> menu to do this.
</p>
<p>
To cancel a search and view all the database again, select the <em>Search
| Show All</em> menu item.
</p>
<h2>
Test Compiling Snippets
</h2>
<p>
When any snippet is selected you can test it with any supported compilers
currently installed on your computer, provided it is not a
<a href="snippet_freeform.htm">freeform</a> snippet. To do this you must
first have configured <em>CodeSnip</em> to work with your compilers by
providing the required information in the
<a href="dlg_configcompilers.htm">Configure Compilers</a> dialogue box.
</p>
<p>
To perform a test compilation select the required snippet in the Overview
pane and choose <em>Compile | Test Compile Snippet</em> menu option. The
program will then compile the snippet and display the result in the
<a href="dlg_testcompile.htm">Test Compile Results</a> dialogue box. Full
details of any compiler errors or warnings can be displayed from this
dialogue box.
</p>
<h2>
Exporting Snippets
</h2>
<p>
<em>CodeSnip</em> can export snippets or complete units, as follows:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
Any selected routine can be exported to a file using the
<a href="dlg_savesnippet.htm">Save Snippet</a> dialogue box accessed
from the <em>File | Save Snippet</em> menu option.
</li>
<li>
Plain text copies of selected snippets can be copied to the clipboard
via the <em>Edit | Copy Snippet</em> or <em>Edit | Copy Source Code</em>
menu options.
</li>
<li>
Complete Pascal units can be generated and written to file. The unit
will contain all the currently selected snippets (i.e. those displayed
in the <a href="overview_pane.htm">Overview Pane</a>). You can
explicitly specify the selected snippets by using the
<a href="dlg_selectroutines.htm">Select Snippets</a> dialogue box
available via <em>Search | Select Snippets</em>. The unit is configured
and saved from the <a href="dlg_saveunit.htm">Save Unit</a> dialogue
box, displayed from the <em>File | Save Unit</em> menu option.
</li>
<li>
User-defined snippets can be exported to a file that can be imported by
other <em>CodeSnip</em> users.
</li>
</ul>
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