Help File design issue

ok in the hopes of providing a prettier place for my people to
play i have begun a makeover on the help files..

I wish to build a virtual folder around the help files without
having to actually put the ascii folder chars into the help
file..

Is there a way to have it take the help file.. add spaces onto all of the lines untill a certain length is reached and then place a premade ascii folder around text?

NORMAL DISPLAY
help dig
DIG DIGGING
Syntax: Dig
Uses a shovel to dig for hidden items


FOLDER DISPLAY
help dig

It is, but it may take a little fiddling to get the alignments right. If your do_help file, you need to just print out the characters for the top, the title, and the top edge of the folder. That you need a functions that will print the edges to each line of the help file, could be made fairly easily, then just print out the bottom. You need to specify things like width, max(if any) height, etc.

could you possibly show me an example of how this would work..

like take the characters - & | and make a box that will expand in height and width depending on how large of a string/strings are sent into it..

I know thats alot to ask for and im sorry but i really have
to.. I am barley even a novice when it comes to coding.. and
i dont have a dedicated coder to assist me yet.. so I am
learning as i put in /take out things from the mud

I really do appreciate all of the help you have already given

If you cant give an example could you atleast tell me the
names of the functions i would need to use.

In a circumstance like this, if you don't even know where to begin, then it might be beyond what can be code. If you look into things like strcpy, strcat, loops, and C string manipulation and mechanics, that should give you the basis of what you need to get started on it. Try "man <function>" in your shell to see how how it works, and if you have any specific questions this would be a good place to ask.

It really will do you good to learn how to do it in the long run, makes things later much, much easier.

I agree and would suggest looking for online C tutorials or buying a book. Trying to hack at things without having any clue is only going to lead you through a very unpleasant and frustrating experience. It'll also let you do much greater things in much less time. Trust me (us), it would really, really serve you well to learn some before trying to tackle things above your current level.