All Topics  
Information Presentation Facility

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Information Presentation Facility
 
 
  Topics Information Presentation Facility Topic Home

Information Presentation Facility (IPF) is a system for presenting online help
Online help

Online help is topic-oriented, procedural or reference information delivered through computer software. It is a form of User Assistance. Most online help is designed to give assistance in the use of a software application or operating system, but can also be used to present information on a broad range of subjects....
 and hypertext
Hypertext

Hypertext is text, displayed on a computer, with references to other text that the reader can immediately follow, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence....
 on IBM
IBM

International Business Machines Corporation, abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue" , is a multinational corporation computer technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, New York, United States....
 OS/2
OS/2

OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "IBM Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal computers....
 systems. IPF also refers to the markup language
Markup language

A markup language is a set of codes that give instructions regarding the structure of a text or how it is to be displayed. Markup languages have been in use for centuries, and in recent years have been used in computer typesetting and word-processing systems to specify the formatting, layout, structure, and other elements of a document....
 that is used to create IPF content. The IPF language has its origins in BookMaster and Generalized Markup Language developed by IBM. The IPF language is very similar to the well-known HTML
HTML

HTML, an Acronym and initialism of HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for Web pages. It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document?by denoting certain text as links, headings, paragraphs, lists, and so on?and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded '...
 language, version 3.0, with a range of additional possibilities. Therefore a trained user may use virtually any word processor when creating IPF documents.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Information Presentation Facility'
Start a new discussion about 'Information Presentation Facility'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Information Presentation Facility (IPF) is a system for presenting online help
Online help

Online help is topic-oriented, procedural or reference information delivered through computer software. It is a form of User Assistance. Most online help is designed to give assistance in the use of a software application or operating system, but can also be used to present information on a broad range of subjects....
 and hypertext
Hypertext

Hypertext is text, displayed on a computer, with references to other text that the reader can immediately follow, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence....
 on IBM
IBM

International Business Machines Corporation, abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue" , is a multinational corporation computer technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, New York, United States....
 OS/2
OS/2

OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "IBM Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal computers....
 systems. IPF also refers to the markup language
Markup language

A markup language is a set of codes that give instructions regarding the structure of a text or how it is to be displayed. Markup languages have been in use for centuries, and in recent years have been used in computer typesetting and word-processing systems to specify the formatting, layout, structure, and other elements of a document....
 that is used to create IPF content. The IPF language has its origins in BookMaster and Generalized Markup Language developed by IBM. The IPF language is very similar to the well-known HTML
HTML

HTML, an Acronym and initialism of HyperText Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for Web pages. It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document?by denoting certain text as links, headings, paragraphs, lists, and so on?and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded '...
 language, version 3.0, with a range of additional possibilities. Therefore a trained user may use virtually any word processor when creating IPF documents. The IPF language consists of 45 basic commands.

IPF files are compiled using the IPF Compiler (IPFC) into viewable INF or HLP files. IPF HLP files are distinct from the WinHelp
WinHelp

Microsoft WinHelp is a proprietary format for online help files that can be displayed by the Microsoft Help browser winhelp.exe or winhlp32.exe....
 HLP files that are prevalent in Windows
Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces ....
.

OS/2 contains a built in viewer, and there are other viewers available for other platforms.

Example 1 - IBM

Here is a sample of IPF markup from IBM's . 

     .*
     :userdoc.
     :title.Endangered Mammals
     :h1 res=001.The Manatee
     .*
     :p.
     The manatee has a broad flat tail and two flipper
     like forelegs.  There are no back legs.
     The manatee's large upper lip is split in two and
     can be used like fingers to place food into the
     mouth.  Bristly hair protrudes from its lips,
     and almost buried in its hide are small eyes, with
     which it can barely see.
     .*
     :euserdoc.

Example 2 - PM123 User's Manual 



lm margin=2.:font facename=Helv size=24x10.
p.:hp8.Welcome to PM123 !:ehp8.
font facename=Helv size=16x8.
p.:p.


Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of digital music on OS/2. First we
must congratulate you for choosing the best MPEG-audio player available for
OS/2! PM123 has been in development since beginning of 1997 and has become
the most advanced player on OS/2. Some of you may have used the earlier
betas of PM123 and for your convenience, here are the new features in this
release:
.br

ul compact.
li. New skin options, allowing PM123 to be modified to just about anything.
li. Graphical :hp2.equalizer:ehp2., including pre-amplification and band mute.
li. Support for plugins, a :hp2.spectrum analyzer:ehp2. and :hp2.oscilloscope:ehp2. plugin.
li. :hp2.Playlist Manager:ehp2. for users, allowing easier managing of playlists.
li. Better HTTP streaming support: support for URLs in playlist, and M3Us for playlists.
li. Recursive directory adding.
li. Commandline and remote control of PM123.
li. General improvements in all parts of the player.
eul.


.br
.br

p.


Status of IPF

IPF is still used as part of OS/2's latest incarnation, eComStation
EComStation

eComStation is a PC operating system based on OS/2, published by Serenity Systems, USA. It includes several additions and accompanying software....
. It is otherwise rarely used, although there are several tools that can read or write IPF files.

  • : Converts HTML to IPF
  • : Multi-format documentation generator
  • : Commercial IPF editor
  • : Open source multi-format documentation generator
  • : Open source IPF editor and converter


External links