Creating a new file type and altering the properties

[holmes]

I wish to create a new document type based on the extention .cp.
I thought I did that or at least Zeus seems to recognize the file type. However when I attempt to make changes to the various properies, Zeus just beeps when I try to save them.

I am looking for a way to set tab stops, not just tabs every n positions.

Any guidance here?

Jim

[jussij]

Hi Jim,

I wish to create a new document type based on the extention .cp.

Currently there is no easy of creating a new document type based on an existing one

But another Zeus user has already suggested there should be an easy way of creating an new document type by cloning an existing one and that request is on the list of things todo.

In the mean time this is what I would suggest.

1. Use the Tools, Run second instance of Zeus menu.
2. Position the two version of Zeus side by side
3. Open the source document type in the left side Zeus instance
4. Create a new document type in the right side Zeus instance
5. Now work through the tabs you would like to clone making sure the details are the same in the two instances
6. For tabs that have Import and Export options just those to copy over the details

I thought I did that or at least Zeus seems to recognize the file type.

One thing you need to be careful with is making sure the file extension is not defined in multiple document types.

If it is then whichever document type is found first, that is the one that will be used.

The easy way to check for this is to:

1. Open a file of the required extension
2. Use the Options, Properties menu to bring up the document type
3. Check the caption of the Properties dialog to see which document type you are in
4. If you are in the wrong document type then delete the extension from the Extension entry field in the General panel

However when I attempt to make changes to the various properties, Zeus just beeps when I try to save them.

If by this you mean when you are inside the document type Properties dialog then I would suggest deleting that document type and using the steps above to re-create it.

I am looking for a way to set tab stops, not just tabs every n positions.

Zeus only has the ability to set the size of the first tab (i.e. Indent Size field) and the size of the tab.

If you want a more sophisticated for of tabbing then you will need to resort to a macro script.

As an example here is an alternative tabbing macro created by another Zeus user:

http://www.zeusedit.com/zforum/viewtopic.php?t=229

Cheers Jussi