Originally the scratchpad was a small text box on the main dialog. It was intended to provide a visible clipboard with which you could exchange text with the Arguments box. Later I had to think of a way of displaying error messages and help files. Normally error messages are displayed in message boxes, but these are unsatisfactory because you have to lose the message before you can interact with the programme. As I developed a method of dealing with these issues I realised I was re-inventing a multiple document interface (MDI) so I used Visual Basic to create one. Visual Basic has the advantage that much of the preparatory work has been done by Microsoft.
The MDI form implementation is more or less standard. The main difference is that it cannot be closed, only hidden. It will be closed when Toolbox closes, but you will not be prompted to save any changed files. When saving files you are always prompted to provide a file name.
Below I provide a full list of the features for the sake of completeness.
This provides child forms, a menu, and a tool bar.
This cannot be closed, only hidden. It is intended for two purposes. To provide a visible “clipboard” for temporarily holding information not wanted in the Arguments text box and for Toolbox to post error messages.
Toolbox never deletes text from it, not even error messages, which remain available for as long as you like. You can, of course, do any edits you like including deleting any text you have finished with. You can save the contents to a text file, but you will not be prompted to do so when Toolbox closes.
These forms can be created and closed at will. If any text in them has been changed it will be shown by asterisks at each end of the form's name. If so you will be prompted to save them if you close the form, but not when closing Toolbox.
When you evoke a help text file it is displayed here in its own window. You can edit the file and save it. HTML help files are viewed with a browser.