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:

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

Control codeDescription
&20"Hard" space
&0D,&0A"Hard" end-of-line
&09TAB
&1AEnd of file
&0D,&8A"Soft" end-of-line
&80text marker "0" (note 2)
&81text marker "1" (note 2)
&82text marker "2" (note 2)
&83text marker "3" (note 2)
&84text marker "4" (note 2)
&85text marker "5" (note 2)
&86text marker "6" (note 2)
&87text marker "7" (note 2)
&88text marker "8" (note 2)
&89text marker "9" (note 2)
&8Aused in code sequence of "Hard" end of line
&8Bblock marker "[" (note 2)
&8Cblock marker "]" (note 2)
&8Dunused??
&8E"Soft" hyphen
&90"Soft" space
&91"Non-break" space
&92-&DFunused?
&E0Printer control code "@" - "reset printer" (note 1)
&E1Printer control code "a" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&E2Printer control code "b" - "bold" print style (note 1)
&E3Printer control code "c" - "condensed" print style (note 1)
&E4Printer control code "d" - "double-strike" print style (note 1)
&E5Printer control code "e" - "elite" print style (note 1)
&E6Printer control code "f" - "font change 1" print style (note 1)
&E7Printer control code "g" - "font change 2" print style (note 1)
&E8Printer control code "h" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&E9Printer control code "i" - "italics" print style (note 1)
&EAPrinter control code "j" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&EBPrinter control code "k" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&ECPrinter control code "l" - "enlarged" print style (note 1)
&EDPrinter control code "m" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&EEPrinter control code "n" - "normal (pica)" print style (note 1)
&EFPrinter control code "o" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F0Printer control code "p" - "proportional " print style (note 1)
&F1Printer control code "q" - "NLQ (near letter quality)" print style (note 1)
&F2Printer control code "r" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F3Printer control code "s" - "subscript" print style (note 1)
&F4Printer control code "t" - "superscript" print style (note 1)
&F5Printer control code "u" - "underline " print style (note 1)
&F6Printer control code "v" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F7Printer control code "w" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F8Printer control code "x" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&F9Printer control code "y" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&FAPrinter control code "z" - user defineable print style (note 1)
&FB-&FFunused?

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

Protext "program" file format