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- From: danb@bunt.sps.mot.com
- Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.desqview,news.answers
- Subject: DESQview/QEMM Frequently Asked Questions: READ BEFORE POSTING
- Summary: FAQ list for the MS-DOS multitasker DESQview and memory manager QEMM
- Keywords: faq Q&A
- Message-ID: <CD38xJ.FnL@oakhill.sps.mot.com>
- Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1993 13:17:43 GMT
- Expires: Mon, 1 Nov 1993 23:59:00 GMT
- Sender: news@oakhill.sps.mot.com
- Reply-To: danb@bunt.sps.mot.com
- Followup-To: comp.os.msdos.desqview
- Organization: Motorola SPS, Austin, Texas
- Lines: 1858
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.edu
- Originator: danb@oakhill
- Supersedes: <1992May31.144029.17734@xraylith.wisc.edu>
- Nntp-Posting-Host: oakhill
-
- Archive-name: desqview-faq
- Last-modified: 1993/09/07
- Version: 12
-
- DESQview/QEMM Frequently Asked Questions
- Release 12
- Last update: September 7, 1993
-
- Edited by Daniel J. Bodoh
- Posted on or near the first of every month
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- WHAT IS THIS ARTICLE?
-
- This article is a regularly posted compendium of topics that have been
- discussed in the Usenet newsgroup comp.os.msdos.desqview since its
- birth. Although many of the questions are truly ``Frequently Asked'',
- others are questions that experienced DESQview users recognize as
- questions a beginner might ask. If you are new to DESQview or this
- group, please read this FAQ before posting your question. Even if your
- question isn't answered here, you'll probably learn something new about
- DESQview.
-
- Although I edit this FAQ, a majority of the information contained in it
- was contributed by other comp.os.msdos.desqview readers. The many
- contributors are listed at the end of the document.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- WHERE CAN I GET THE FAQ LIST?
-
- This FAQ list is published in a number of places. In file archives, it
- is named DVFAQx.ZIP, where ``x'' is the release number. The DVFAQx.ZIP
- file also contains a DESQview/X help file (hypertext) version of the FAQ
- list. The FAQ list is available from
- (1) its birthplace, the Usenet newsgroup COMP.OS.MSDOS.DESQVIEW as
- NEWS.ANSWERS with the subject line ``DESQview/QEMM Frequently
- Asked Questions: READ BEFORE POSTING'';
- (2) all NEWS.ANSWERS archives, as ``desqview-faq'' (the only
- exception to the naming rule); and
- (3) SIMTEL20 and mirrors (see Q7) in the DESQVIEW directory.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- SUGGESTIONS, ERRORS, CRITICISMS...
-
- Please, send me any comments on this FAQ list.
- From the Internet or Usenet: write to ``bodoh@bunt.sps.mot.com''
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FORMAT OF FAQ (Important!)
-
- Questions are listed in the ``QUESTIONS'' section, and are labelled Q1
- through Q33. Answers, labelled A1 through A31 are given with the
- labelled question in the following section. Finally, the contributors
- are credited. Cross references are made, for example, with ``(see Q2)''.
-
- Because Quarterdeck sells a variety of DESQview products, the term
- "DESQview" can be vague. In this FAQ list, "DESQview" refers to any of
- the DESQview packages that Quarterdeck sells. References to specific
- packages will be made with either the package name or with a shorthand
- notation:
- DVC refers to the original DESQview package, now informally
- called ``DESQview Classic''.
- DV386 refers to DESQview/386 or the DESQview Classic and QEMM-386
- combination (see Q2).
- DVX386 refers to DESQview/X-386.
- DVX286 refers to DESQview/X-286.
- DVX refers to both DESQview/X-286 and DESQview/X-386.
- At the end of some of the questions, there may be a note of the form
- ``QW:216:QRAM.TEC''. This is a cross reference to the Quarterdeck White
- Papers, which are published by Quarterdeck. QW:216:QRAM.TEC refers to
- Quarterdeck White Paper #216, file name QRAM.TEC. The White Pages are
- available on Quarterdecks BBS and on SIMTEL20 (see Q7).
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- QUESTIONS
-
- Q1: What is DESQview?
- Q2: Besides DESQview, what other products does Quarterdeck sell, and what
- are the current versions?
- Q3: What types of programs can DESQview run?
- Q4: What type of computer is required for DESQview?
- Q5: How can I upgrade my 80286 for best DESQview performance?
- Q6: Does DESQview and DESQview/X support Super VGA or video coprocessors?
- Q7: Where can I get freeware and shareware DESQview programs?
- Q8: I want to write software for DESQview and DVX. Where can I get the API?
- Q9: I've heard that DESQview does preemptive multitasking. What does that
- mean?
- Q10: Why do the other windows slow to a virtual halt when one window accesses
- the floppy disk?
- Q11: Can Windows run under DESQview?
- Q12: Can I make something like AUTOEXEC.BAT for DESQview, so that certain
- windows open every time I run DESQview?
- Q13: Can text and graphics be displayed at the same time with Hercules?
- Q14: How do I use two monitors under DESQview?
- Q15: What are Exceptions 12 and 13?
- Q16: What determines the amount of conventional memory that DESQview claims
- for itself and takes away from programs?
- Q17: What are some programs that are incompatible with DESQview?
- Q18: I'm having a problem {configuring DESQview, running a program, etc.}.
- How do I fix it?
- Q19: How can I contact Quarterdeck?
- Q20: What books are available on DESQview?
- Q21: What are the command-line switches for DESQview/QEMM/QRAM?
- Q22: How can I configure DESQview for maximum window memory?
- Q23: What is NOFF.SHP {NOFF.SHR}?
- Q24: How can I increase DESQview's performance?
- Q25: My {9600 or greater} BPS modem drops characters under DESQview. Is high
- speed communication possible under DESQview?
- Q26: Why doesn't ANSI.SYS work in DESQview?
- Q27: Why does the mouse pointer disappear after running certain programs?
- Q28: What are those files SWAP*.DV in my DV directory? Can I delete them?
- Q29: What does ``Optimize Communications'' in DESQview's setup program do?
- Q30: What do I need if I want to use DESQview/X's networking features?
- Q31: What do each of the four Protection Levels mean?
- Q32: How can I load two or more shared programs in a window?
- Q33: When running Windows under DESQview, I get an ``Incorrect DOS Version''
- message. How do I fix this?
- Q34: How can I make the tilde (~) character work when I open an Xterm window
- on my unix machine?
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
-
- Q1: What is DESQview?
-
- A1: DESQview is a program written by Quarterdeck Office Systems of Santa
- Monica, California, USA. It allows true preemptive multitasking (see
- Q9) on 8088, 8086, 80286, 80386, 80486, Pentium, V20 and V30 machines
- running MS-DOS (see Q4). While MS-DOS is still considered the PC's
- operating system, DESQview provides services similar to more advanced
- multitasking operating systems.
-
- QW:195:286.TEC, QW:266:DV&DVX.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q2: Besides DESQview, what other products does Quarterdeck sell, and what
- are the current versions?
-
- A2: [Versions are the latest known as of the date of the FAQ. If you see a
- newer version, please let me know.]
-
- Quarterdeck has two types of ``upgrades'': major upgrades and
- compatibility updates. The former involves a changing of the digit
- before or immediately after the decimal point and represents significant
- enhancements to the product's performance. The latter reflect minor
- changes generally of interest to a small number of users.
-
- DESQview (DVC) 2.60
- An excellent DOS multitasker. If you are wondering why it has such
- a funny name, here's the official explanation from Quarterdeck: the
- original product was called DESQ (the Q was from Quarterdeck). When
- Quarterdeck made it TopView-compatible (see Q23) the "view" was
- added.
-
- QEMM-386 7.01
- A memory manager for 80386+ machines. QEMM will convert extended
- memory to XMS memory (replacing HIMEM.SYS) and LIM EMS 4.0 memory.
- With the associated utilities, you can load TSRs, device drivers,
- and DOS data structures into high memory in order to gain
- conventional memory for large programs. Manifest is provided with
- QEMM. QEMM is a VCPI server and can also be a DPMI host with the
- QDPMI product (see below). If you plan to use DESQview on a 386,
- you should choose QEMM over other memory managers. It is smaller
- and faster than other memory managers, can give you more upper
- memory, and certain functions in DESQview will only work if QEMM is
- the memory manager. It is also the only memory manager that allows
- you to run Windows in Standard mode inside or outside of DESQview.
-
- QDPMI 1.0
- In conjunction with QEMM, QDPMI acts as a DPMI host for programs
- that require DPMI. QDMPI is available to registered QEMM users
- free of charge from the Quarterdeck BBS (see Q7) or for a nominal
- price with documentation from Quarterdeck. QDMPI is now shipped
- with QEMM-386.
-
- QEMM-50/60 6.0 (not sure about minor version number)
- Similar to QEMM-386, but specifically for PS/2 models 50 and 60
- which are 80286-based machines. It will only work with certain
- memory expansion boards and requires disabling of motherboard
- memory. For more details, get the QOS tech note QEMM5060.TEC,
- available from SIMTEL20 and other sites (see Q7).
-
- DESQview/386 (DV386) 2.60
- Actually DESQview/386 is a copy of DESQview and QEMM in the same
- package. If you already have DESQview, purchasing QEMM will give
- you DV386.
-
- QRAM 2.0
- A memory manager for 8088 through 80286 machines. QRAM will
- provide UMBs (Upper Memory Blocks, memory greater than 640K but
- less than 1024K). To do this requires either LIM EMS 4.0, EEMS, a
- memory management chip or a 286 motherboard with C&T's NEAT, LEAP
- or SCAT chip set. The UMBs can be used to load TSRs, device
- drivers, and DOS data structures into high memory in order to gain
- conventional memory for large programs. Manifest is provided with
- QRAM. BTW, QRAM is pronounced like ``cram'' (I always called it
- ``kee-u-ram'').
-
- MANIFEST 2.01
- Manifest is a ``system information'' utility. It displays hardware
- information, memory usage, internal DOS structures and much more.
-
- DESQview Companions 1.1
- A set of utility programs, including a calculator, datebook,
- notepad, and terminal emulator.
-
- DESQview/X-386 (DVX386) 1.1
- DESQview/X-386 is DV386 with an industry-standard graphical user
- interface. It contains an X-windows server, which allows you to
- interact with X-windows programs running on Unix machines, or DOS
- text and X clients running on other DESQview/X machines (see Q30).
- Using the fonts provided, you can make use of your SVGA to have
- many small 80x25 windows open on the screen simultaneously.
-
- The DVX386 package contains DESQview/386 2.52, QEMM-386 6.03 and
- Manifest 1.14. These versions are not available separately. It
- also contains 4 DESQview/X Companions: an Application Manager (like
- Window's Program Manager), a File Manager, the Adobe Type Manager
- and an Icon Editor.
-
- DESQview/X-286 (DVX286) (Rumored)
- This will be DESQview/X for the 286. DVX286 will actually DVX386
- packaged with QRAM. Quarterdeck hasn't released because of memory
- difficulties.
-
- OSF/Motif Window Manager 1.0
- Replaces the native DESQview/X window manager for a different look
- and feel.
-
- OPEN LOOK Window Manager 1.0
- Replaces the native DESQview/X window manager for a different look
- and feel.
-
- DESQview and DESQview/X programming tools
- See Q8.
-
- QW:186:QEMM5060.TEC, QW:216:QRAM.TEC, QW:266:DV&DVX.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q3: What types of programs can DESQview run?
-
- A3: There are three types of DESQview programs: DESQview-oblivious programs,
- DESQview-aware programs, and DESQview-specific programs.
-
- According to the DESQview manual, DESQview-oblivious programs are those which
- are ``written without any consideration for DESQview''. These include
- standard DOS programs like word processors and spreadsheets.
-
- Some standard DOS programs have the ability to detect the presence of
- DESQview. These programs are considered DESQview-aware. The advantage of
- DESQview-aware programs is better system performance, because DESQview does
- not have to make conservative assumptions about the program. A
- DESQview-aware program gives up the CPU when it doesn't need it, and if it
- writes directly to the screen it instead writes to a DESQview-provided video
- buffer so it can run in a small window (see Q23). If you'd like to make your
- program DESQview-aware, there is code provided in Appendix J of the DESQview
- manual.
-
- DESQview-specific programs can only be run while DESQview is active. These
- programs use the window management, interprocess communication and other
- services that are built into DESQview (called the DESQview Applications
- Program Interface (API)).
-
- DESQview will multitask all programs, regardless of type.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q4: What type of computer is required for DESQview?
-
- A4: DESQview Classic can multitask programs on an 8088, 8086, 80286,
- 80386sx, 80386dx, 80486sx, 80486dx, V20 or V30. DVX386 will only run
- on an 80386sx or better.
-
- 8088/8086/80286/V20/V30
- DVC will run in one of three ways one these machines. For
- additional information, get the file DV286.ZIP from SIMTEL20 (see
- Q7).
-
- (1) If you have true hardware compatible LIM EMS 4.0 (or EEMS)
- memory board and are able to disable some conventional memory, DVC
- will remap expanded memory to conventional memory addresses to
- multitask ``well-behaved'' programs in.
-
- (2) If you use a plug-in memory management chip such as a
- All-Charge Card or a SOTA POP card, it will provide the memory
- mapping needed to allow DVC to multitask programs beyond 640K.
-
- (3) If you have neither a LIM EMS 4.0 memory card or a memory
- management chip, DVC will still multitask as many programs as
- possible in the available conventional memory (see Q5).
-
- Besides the memory problem, on a machine less than an 80386 and
- without QEMM, DESQview will not be able to run programs in a small
- window or in the background if the program writes directly to video
- memory (see Q2). If the program has a switch to allow BIOS screen
- output, use it, or convince the programmer to make the program
- DESQview-aware (see Q3).
-
- 80386sx/80386dx/80486sx/80486dx/Pentium
- DV386 (or the combination of DESQview and QEMM (see Q2)) and DVX386
- will multitask programs in all of the available extended memory.
-
- Although DVC can multitask on any machine, the minimum suggested
- configuration is an 80386sx with 2 megabytes of memory and QEMM. For
- breathing room, at least 4 megabytes of memory is suggested.
-
- DVX386 requires at least 4 megabytes and an 80386sx. Eight megabytes of
- memory is roughly equivalent to 4 megabytes under DVC.
-
- QW:195:286.TEC, QW:231:DV386.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q5: How can I upgrade my 80286 for best DESQview performance?
-
-
- A5: A 80286 can be upgraded with LIM EMS 4.0 expanded memory, a memory
- management chip, a plug-in 386 adapter, or a new 386 motherboard. The
- cost of all these ``upgrades'' is about the same. All of them have some
- negatives as well.
-
- (1) If you are unsure how much of your 286 conventional memory can
- disabled, getting LIM EMS 4.0 memory may not help you. For the record
- the listed 286 motherboards can be set to the minimum conventional
- memory as follows:
- AST Premium 286 0K
- IBM AT (6 Mhz) 256K
- COMPAQ 286 256K
-
- Most AT clones have a minimum of 512K (eighteen 256Kx1 DRAMs). The
- motherboard can only be disabled to 256K or lower if it supports 64K
- DRAMs, or if the system setup allows you to specify a value less than
- the actual amount of memory installed.
-
- If you have information on the minimum conventional memory of any other
- 286 motherboard, please forward it to the editor (see above).
-
- (2) If you get a memory management chip, an All-Charge Card or a SOTA
- POP, you will still not get the memory protection available with the
- 80386 (see Q4).
-
- (3) If you get a 386 Adapter to replace the 286 CPU chip, there has been
- ``some reported'' compatibility problems. Also, it will not run as fast
- the corresponding 386 motherboard of the same clock speed.
-
- (4) If you get a new 386 (or 386SX) motherboard, there is some hassle to
- get it installed and working but probably no more than with the 386
- Adapter kits.
-
- QW:195:286.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q6: Does DESQview and DESQview/X support Super VGA or video coprocessors?
-
- A6: This issue has two answers: one for DVC and another for DVX.
- DESQview Classic
- Yes and no. When DVC is placing windows on the screen, it cannot use
- any of the 132 column modes provided by Super VGA cards. The smallest
- text font that DVC and DV386 provides to VGA+ users is 60 rows by 80
- columns. Since video support is hardcoded into DVC and DV386, there is
- no way to write a video driver for Super VGA cards.
-
- Inside a window, any resolution can be used. The problem occurs when
- you switch away from the window and come back. DESQview will corrupt
- the window unless it has a resolution of 800x600x16 or less. Except in
- rare cases, DESQview cannot handle 256 colors at more than 320x200. A
- few cards will reportedly work at 1024x768x16 as well. Note that at
- these higher resolutions, ``Graphics Pages'' in Change A Program must
- be set to 4.
-
- Quarterdeck is currently researching solutions to this problem.
-
-
- DESQview/X
- All DESQview/X output is in graphics mode, so it benefits greatly from
- Super VGA. Performance is increased significantly with video
- coprocessor cards. However, DESQview/X currently supports only a
- limited set of VGA chip sets.
-
- DESQview/X 1.0 supports the following SVGA chipsets:
-
- Manufacturer Chipset Number Highest Resolution
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
- ATI 28800 800x600
- Chips and Technologies 82C451 800x600
- Chips and Technologies 82C452 1024x768
- Genoa VGA ET3000, 6400 800x600
- Western Digital Imaging PVGA1a, WD90C00,WD90C10, WD90C11, WD90C31*
- 800x600
- Trident 8800, 8900 800x600 (256 colors
- unsupported)
- Tseng Labs ET3000 800x600
- Tseng Labs ET4000 1024x768
- Headland Technologies VEGA 800x600
- Headland Technologies V7VGA 1024x768
-
- * The WD90C31 can support the modes of the WD90C11. DVX will NOT
- detect its presence but you can put the values in using Setup /
- Advanced / Display / VGA Custom
- 800 600 256 305C
- and then save your changes.
-
- 8514/a and hardware compatibles and DGIS boards are also supported.
- These boards significantly increase video speed (see Q24).
-
- DESQview/X does not currently support the S3 chip, but may in the
- future. However, you *may* be able to use the VESA 800x600x16 mode by
- editing the DVX.CFG file and changing the ``screen'' line to ``screen
- 800x600:6ah'' You may also need to change the ``type VGA'' line to
- ``type VG8''. This is not guaranteed to work.
-
- The TIGA interface is not yet supported, but will be in a future
- release. However, the DGIS interface is supported.
-
- For reference, here is an incomplete list of video coprocessor cards and
- their compatibilities. If you know of any that are not in this list,
- please forward the information to bodoh@xraylith.wisc.edu.
-
- Model Chipset Manufacturer Driver Interface
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- Desktop AGA 1024 TI TIGA, application
- interface level drvr for 8514
- ATI 8514/Ultra ATI 8514/A Relies on 8514 drvr
- Spectragraphics Squeegee TI DGIS
- National Volante AT1000 TI TIGA
- SOTA 340i TI DGIS, adapter
- interface compatible--8514
- Appian Rendition II TI TIGA
- ADEX 8514/AT256 Western Dig. 8514/A Relies on 8514 drvrs
- Western Digital 8514/A W.D. 8514/A 8514
- Hercules Graphics Station
- Card GB 1024+2 TI TIGA
- NEC Multisync
- Graphics Engine TI DGIS
- Nth Engine /150 Chips & Technology 8514 relies on 8514
- HP Intelligent Graphics Controller 20 TI
- TIGA, DGIS
- Vermont Cobra Plus TI TIGA, adapter
- interface compatible--8514
- Artist XJS-1024 TI relies on TIGA
- Rasterex Liberty 810AT TI TIGA, adapter
- interface compatible--8514
-
- Most TIGA & DGIS have custom drivers for their supported software eg.
- WP, HG CAD
-
- QW:148:VGA.TEC, QW:256:XVIDEO.TEC, QW:208:XGA.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q7: Where can I get freeware and shareware DESQview programs?
-
- A7: There are quite a few DESQview repositories available, depending on what
- network access you have.
-
- BBS
- The official Quarterdeck BBS can be reached at (310) 314-3227. It
- supports 1200-9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity.
-
- SIMTEL20 files (see below) are available for downloading from
- Detroit Download Central (313) 885-3956. DDC has multiple lines
- which support 300/1200/2400/9600/14400 bps (103/ 212/ V22bis/ HST/
- V32bis/ V42bis/ MNP). This is a subscription system with an
- average hourly cost of 17 cents. It is also accessable on Telenet
- via PC Pursuit and on Tymnet via StarLink outdial.
-
- Fidonet
- Many Fidonet nodes belong to DVNet, the DESQview File Distribution
- Network. It is coordinated by Peter Stern at 1:17/38. A monthly
- posting to the DESQview echo on Fidonet lists the nodes
- participating in DVNet.
-
- Internet (via anonymous ftp)
- QDECK.COM
- QDECK.COM is the official Quarterdeck FTP site.
- WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL [192.88.110.20]
- Three directories on SIMTEL are of interest to DV/QEMM users:
- PD1:<MSDOS.DESQVIEW>
- Many DESQview programs, .DVPs, etc.
- PD1:<MSDOS.DV-X>
- DVX-specific programs, icons, etc.
- PD1:<MSDOS.QEMM>
- QEMM programs, information
- PD1:<MSDOS.QTRDECK>
- Information relating to all Quarterdeck products. The
- Quarterdeck White Pages are stored here as QW920327.ZIP.
- They are very useful for solving problems.
-
- Other directories may contain DESQview-aware (see Q3)
- programs. In each of the three directories, the file
- 00-INDEX.TXT contains a list of all the files available in
- that directory.
-
- OAK.OAKLAND.EDU [141.210.10.117]
- A SIMTEL20 mirror. The DESQview directory is
- /pub/msdos/desqview. This is the most up-to-date mirror of
- SIMTEL20.
-
- WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU [128.252.135.4]
- Another SIMTEL20 mirror. The DESQview directory is
- /mirrors/msdos/desqview.
-
- NIC.FUNET.FI [128.214.6.100], SRC.DOC.IC.AC.UK [146.169.3.7],
- RANA.CC.DEAKIN.OZ.AU [128.184.1.4], ARCHIE.AU [139.130.4.6], &
- NIC.SWITCH.CH [130.59.1.40]
- SIMTEL20 mirrors for non-North Americans
-
- HAYES.IMS.ALASKA.EDU [137.229.40.200]
- Contains some of the programs available on DVNet in the
- directory /dvnet. The file ``prog.dvn'' is a list of all the
- programs available on DVNet. The file ``dvnet.lst'' is a list
- of all the Fidonet BBSs that participate in DVNet.
-
- UUCP
-
- SIMTEL files can be requested via UUCP from UUNET's 1-900-GOT-SRCS.
- See UUNET file uunet!~/info/archive-help for details.
-
- Email-only
-
- If you do not have FTP access to SIMTEL20, files may be ordered by
- e-mail from LISTSERV@VM1.NODAK.EDU or LISTSERV@VM.ECS.RPI.EDU.
- If you are on BITNET: LISTSERV@NDSUVM1 or LISTSERV@RPIECS
- If your mailer knows domains: listserv@vm1.nodak.edu or
- listserv@vm.ecs.rpi.edu
- If your mailer wants bang paths: uunet!vm1.nodak.edu!listserv
- or uunet!vm.ecs.rpi.edu!listserv
-
- If you use bang paths, substitute your nearest neighbor which is
- also on the Internet for uunet in the examples above. Some
- examples are: ames, decvax, decwrl, harvard, hplabs, nosc, rutgers,
- sharkey, sun, ucbvax, ucsd, udel, uw-beaver, wuarchive.
-
- Send this command to the server to get its help file:
-
- GET PDGET HELP
-
- Sample command (which gets the catalog of MS-DOS files):
-
- /PDGET MAIL PD:<MSDOS.FILEDOCS>SIMLIST.ARC UUENCODE
-
- These commands should be sent as the body of a regular email
- message. Do not include a signature because it confuses the server.
- If you have xxdecode, you may wish to specify XXENCODE instead of
- UUENCODE to avoid character translation problems.
-
- To get a catalog of the DESQview files only, use
- /PDGET MAIL PD1:<MSDOS.DESQVIEW>00-INDEX.TXT UUENCODE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q8: I want to write software for DESQview and DVX. Where can I get the API?
-
- A8: There are two separate programming paths: DESQview API programming and X
- Windows programming.
-
- Programming under the DESQview API allows you to use all the
- multitasking features of DVC and DVX - process and task creation,
- interprocess communication and character window output.
-
- X programming is only available under DESQview/X. X Window programming
- allows you to write computer-independent graphics interfaces. You can
- combine DESQview API programming and X Window programming if you write
- small real-mode programs. Quarterdeck has ported only part of the API
- to protected-mode X programming.
-
- The DESQview API is built into every copy of DESQview and DESQview/X as
- INT 15h calls. A list of the documented and undocumented INT 15h calls
- is available for free in DVINT, a DESQview/QEMM-specific excerpt of the
- Interrupt List maintained by Ralf Brown.
-
- Also for free is DVGLUE, a DESQview 2.01 API for Turbo C. DVGLUE and
- DVINT make a good combination for freeware and shareware programmers who
- want to get into DESQview programming at a small cost.
-
- Recently, Quarterdeck has significantly reduced the prices for their API
- and associated tools. The tools include the API reference manual ($25),
- various language-specific libraries (C, Pascal, Dbase, etc., $100 each
- including the API manual), a panel designer for screen layout, and other
- tools (see Q19). Third party reference books are also available (see
- Q20).
-
- Although the X Windows interfaces are available in every copy of
- DESQview/X, the INT 15 and mailbox interface to it is not published and
- is not completely known yet. However, there is still an inexpensive
- option.
-
- DJGPP, an MSDOS 386 port of the GNU C compiler is available on the
- Internet. Quarterdeck has released DJGPP-compatible X libraries without
- documentation for free with GNU C. This free version is available on
- the Internet and on BBSs:
- The Batchelor Pad BBS
- The complete qddvx101.zip file, and the complete DJGPP 2.2.2
- development environment are available via modem at 310-494-1024.
- login: qddvx password: gnuc
- This account has five hours per day, and can only download files
- from the Quarterdeck directory on the batpad. When the five hours
- are used up, you must wait until the next day. The login dumps you
- directly into the correct directory to find these files. The
- default protocol is ZModem MobyTurbo (DSZ), and speeds from
- 2400-14,400 bps V.32bis are supported. If you change the protocol,
- please set it back to ZModem when you are done.
-
- The Internet
- The file qddvx101.zip can be downloaded from these anonymous ftp
- sites:
- hpb.mcc.ac.uk /pub/djgpp
- du9ds4.fb9dv.uni-duisbugr.de /pub/gnu/gnuMSDOS/djgpp
- sun0.urz.uni-heidelberg.de /pub/msdos/simtel/djgpp
- utsun.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp /ftpsync/djgcc/dj
- akiu.gw.tohoku.ac.jp /pub/msdos/djgpp/dj
- src.doc.ic.ac.uk /computing/systems/ibmpc/djgpp
- rigel.acs.oakland.edu /pub/msdos/djgpp
- ifs.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp /DOS-EXTENDER/386/djgpp/mirror
-
- A special base-level DESQview/X X11 Starter Toolkit, for use with the
- DJGPP GNU C/C++ compiler only, includes disks containing the full X11 R4
- programming libraries, the DESQview/X system library with Berkeley
- Socket Interface, sample programs, make files for GNU, the DESQview/X
- Roadmap documentation, and the GNU C/C++ compiler. The starter kit sells
- for $50.
-
- The complete DESQview/X X11 Toolkit, priced at $750, includes: X11 R4
- programming libraries, the DESQview/X system library with Berkeley
- Socket Interface, sample programs, make files and library support for
- Microsoft C, Borland C++, Zortech C++, Rational Instant C, Watcom C/386,
- Metaware High C, and GNU C/C++ compilers, the DESQview/X Roadmap,
- O'Reilly X Reference and Programming Guides (Volumes 1, 2, 4, and 5),
- Rational Systems DOS/4GX DOS extender tools, Instant C development
- environment, Oxygen, and Quarterdeck's Developer Passport Support.
-
- There is also an a la carte version of the toolkit available. Contact
- Quarterdeck (see Q19) for prices.
-
- Quarterdeck's OSF/Motif (v. 1.1.5) Development Toolkit, priced at $150,
- includes: Motif Widget libraries, Motif Resource Management library,
- Motif User Interface Language (UIL) compiler, sample programs, O'Reilly
- Volume 6, Motif Programming Manual, the DESQview/X OSF/Motif Roadmap and
- the DESQview/X end user OSF/Motif Window Manager. The Motif libraries
- can be used to build applications with a standard look and feel.
-
- The prices above are Quarterdeck prices; the price on the street is
- usually a lot better. One source of API tools is the Programmer's
- Connection, at
- Programmer's Connection, Inc.
- 7249 Whipple Ave. NW
- North Canton, OH 44720-7143
- 1-800-336-1166 (US and Canada)
- (216) 494-8715 (International)
- (216) 494-5260 (FAX)
-
- QW:211:APIBRO.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q9: I've heard that DESQview does preemptive multitasking. What does that
- mean?
-
-
- A9: Let's say you have one toy (the 80x86 processor in our case) and 5
- children (5 programs that you want to run under DESQview
- simultaneously). There are two ways that Dad (DESQview) can let each
- child play with the toy.
-
- (1) Dad gives the toy to one of the children, who plays with it until
- she gets bored. Then she returns the toy to Dad, who gives it to one of
- the other children. This repeats until all the children have played
- with the toy, and then Dad starts over with the first child.
-
- (2) Dad gives the toy to one of the children, and starts a timer. If
- the child gets bored with the toy before the timer expires, she gives it
- back to Dad. However, if she still holds the toy when the timer
- expires, Dad reminds her that good children must share, and takes it
- away from her. He then gives it to the next child and restarts the
- timer. When all the children have played with the toy, Dad returns it
- to the first child. She continues playing with it where she left off.
-
- Sometimes one of the children may want to take the toy apart. Since none
- of the other children wants to play with a disassembled toy, the child
- will request that Dad not take away the toy until the child says he can.
- In that way, the child can re-assemble the toy before any other child
- gets it.
-
- The first method is called ``non-preemptive'' and conversely, the second
- is called ``preemptive''. It is generally agreed that preemptive
- multitasking is much better because one program cannot accidently
- ``hog'' the CPU. One of the major technical differences between
- DESQview and Windows is that DESQview preemptively multitasks all
- programs, while Windows does non-preemptive multitasking of Windows
- applications.
-
- When a program running under DESQview calls a DOS or BIOS function, it
- effectively ``disassembled the toy''. DESQview recognizes this and
- temporarily suspends any other program that attempts to make a DOS or
- BIOS call until the current DOS or BIOS call ends (see Q10).
-
- DESQview-oblivious programs (see Q3) can act like selfish children when
- they are waiting for keyboard entry. Even though they aren't playing
- with the toy, they keep hold of it. Shareware and freeware programs are
- available for forcing these programs to share the toy (see Q24).
-
- QW:152:MULTI-T.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q10: Why do the other windows slow to a virtual halt when one window accesses
- the floppy disk?
-
-
- A10: Both DOS and the BIOS disk access functions are non-reentrant, i.e. they
- may not be called again while one call is in progress. DESQview thus
- handles both as ``serially reusable resources,'' and suspends a window
- making such a call until any current call completes.
-
- Since programs make many DOS calls other than disk I/O, they can become
- blocked while another window is accessing the disk even when they
- themselves are not trying to access the disk. The same suspension
- occurs when a program accesses the disk via BIOS calls, but only when
- some other window is also accessing the disk; thus, a non-disk DOS call
- can execute at the same time as a disk-related BIOS call.
-
- When the disk being accessed is a hard disk, the call completes so
- quickly that there is no obvious degradation in the performance of other
- windows. When accessing a floppy disk, however, the call can take
- multiple seconds to complete, during which time it is highly likely that
- other windows will be suspended for a noticeable length of time.
-
- To minimize the impact of copying or formatting, try using shareware
- programs such as DVCOPY, LTFORMAT and FDFORMAT (see Q7).
-
- QW:230:DVFLOPPY.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q11: Can Windows run under DESQview?
-
-
- A11: Yes, Windows can run under DESQview, but only in Real and Standard mode.
- Windows in Enhanced mode becomes an 80386 DPMI control program and there
- can only be one such control program at a time (see Q17).
-
- Under DESQview/X, Windows can be run in a small window, because
- DESQview/X can convert the Windows output into X requests. Page 143 of
- the DVX manual discusses how to run Windows under DVX.
-
- QW:170:WIN3.TEC, QW:242:WIN31.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q12: Can I make something like AUTOEXEC.BAT for DESQview, so that certain
- windows open every time I run DESQview?
-
-
- A12: Yes. In DESQview Classic there are basically two methods:
- (1) Use the ! method in the script language.
- (2) Use a batch file in the first (BD) window.
-
- Method (1) is more useful in turnkey applications - method (2) is better
- (i.e., more flexible) for general use.
-
- To use method 1, do something like this:
-
- copy con foo.dvt
- {Learn {F12} "!Startup"}
- ...
- {Finish}
- ^Z
- convscr t foo.dvt desqview.dvs
-
- (``...'' are your DV script commands to do what you want to do)
-
- To use Method 2, get hold of one of the many ``start a window from the
- command line'' utilities. One of these is RUN, part of the DVSI package
- available on SIMTEL20 and mirrors (see Q7).
-
- Then write a batch file that uses RUN to create the windows you need,
- and put that batch file in the Program field of BD-PIF.DVP. Then you
- can start up the windows just by hitting return twice when DV starts up
- (assuming BD is the first program on your open menu). This is what I
- do. Or, for total automation, you can make a startup script as above,
- consisting of OBD.
-
- Under DESQview/X, edit the file ``DVX.CFG'' which is in the \DVX
- directory. Add the name of the DVP (without the .DVP extension) to the
- CLIENT line. Or, use the SETUP program which will edit DVX.CFG for you.
- DESQview/X assumes that the DVP you specify in the CLIENT line is in the
- directory \DVX\DVPS.
-
- QW:153:AUTOSCRI.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q13: Can text and graphics be displayed at the same time with Hercules?
-
-
- A13: Yes, as long as 90x43 mode display mode is used. If the graphics bleeds
- through from the background, you can switch to 80x25 mode.
-
- However, there is no way to detect whether or not the Hercules card is
- currently in text or graphics mode if a program switches between these
- two modes by manipulating the registers of the card. In this case
- DESQview will not notice that the graphics mode has changed. Quarterdeck
- has put a utility DVHERC on the distribution disk that is intended to
- help users switch to the correct mode in such events. DVHERC is a TSR
- program. However DESQview can sometimes be very stubborn and will not
- recognize this change. In such cases it will again switch to the wrong
- mode as soon as one switches to a different window.
-
- QW:203:DVHERC.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q14: How do I use two monitors under DESQview?
-
- A14: You can use two monitors only in DVC and DV386. DVX does not support
- two monitors.
-
- DVC and DV386 will only control one of your monitors, and by default all
- programs will use the monitor that DESQview controls. There are a
- number of ways to make programs start up on the ``other'' monitor. Since
- you will usually want DESQview to control the color monitor (except
- perhaps in the case of a CGA), the following discussion assumes that
- DESQview is controlling the color monitor and not the monochrome
- monitor.
-
- First, you can use a batch file and include a ``MODE MONO'' statement to
- switch the program to the monochrome monitor. Second, you can use the
- ``initial mode'' field to specify the monitor on which the program will
- start (however, this setting is ignored unless you also set ``writes
- directly to screen'' to Y and ``virtualize'' to N). By setting the
- initial mode to 7, you force the program to use the monochrome monitor
- until it explicitly switches monitors. Note that DESQview tends to stop
- updating the monochrome screen while the program is in the background if
- the program ever switches to the color display (including starting on
- the color display with the first method above).
-
- The initial mode can also be set to 21 or 22 for Hercules Graphics mode.
- These modes only allow one page of mono graphics (see Q13). Mode 21 is
- Page 0 at address B000h, and Mode 22 is Page 1 at address B800h. Hence,
- Mode 22 is not available with two monitors (it conflicts with color
- video).
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q15: What are Exceptions 12 and 13?
-
- A15: An exception 12 (or 13) is caused by the program you are running doing
- something that it is not allowed to do on a 80386 while in Virtual 8086
- (V86) mode. Since QEMM is the 386 ``control program,'' it can only
- report the error caused by the user program. The main cause is operand
- wrapping past the last address in segment, 65,535 (FFFF in hex)
-
- Note that exceptions are only reported by QEMM, and are not caused by
- either QEMM or DESQview. They are caused by old programs that assume
- they are running on an 80286 or less; or by a program that ``crashed''.
-
- From the INTEL ``80386 Programmer's Reference Manual,''
- PART III - COMPATIBILITY
- chapter 15, VIRTUAL 8086 MODE
- Section 15.6 DIFFERENCES FROM 8086
- Stated ``reasons'' 6, 7 & 8
- (pages 15-10 & 15-11)
-
- Quoting from the INTEL manual:
-
- 15.6 DIFFERENCES FROM 8086
- In general, V86 mode will correctly execute software designed for
- the 8086, 8088, 80186 and 80188. Following is a list of the minor
- differences between 8086 execution on the 80386 and on an 8086.
-
- ... (only those causing exception 12 or 13 are listed)
-
- 6. Redundant prefixes.
- The 80386 sets a limit of 15 bytes on instruction length. The only
- way to violate this limit is by putting redundant prefixes before
- an instruction. Exception 13 occurs if the limit on instruction
- length is violated. The 8086/8088 has no instruction limit.
-
- 7. Operand crossing offset 0 or 65,535.
- On the 8086, an attempt to access a memory operand that crosses
- offset 65,535 (e.g., MOV a word to offset 65,535) or offset 0
- (e.g., PUSH a word when SP = 1) causes the offset to wrap around
- modulo 65,535. The 80386 raises an exception in these cases -
- exception 13 if the data segment (i.e., if CS, DS, ES, FS, or GS is
- being used to address the segment), exception 12 if the segment is
- a stack segment (i.e., if SS is being used.)
-
- 8. Sequential execution across offset 65,535.
- On the 8086, if sequence execution of instructions proceeds past
- offset 65,535, the processor fetches the next instruction byte from
- offset 0 of the same segment. On the 80386, the processor raises
- exception 13 in such a case.
-
- In order to fix an Exception 13, you can try to load the program causing
- it into a different area of memory. To do this, try increasing your
- FILES or BUFFERS, or loading some TSRs low rather than high, etc.
- However, the best solution is to contact the programmer. Another
- possible solution is to increase the amount of memory specified in
- Change A Program.
-
- QW:142:EXCEPT13.TEC, QW:232:EX13FLOW.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q16: What determines the amount of conventional memory that DESQview claims
- for itself and takes away from programs?
-
- A16: Using XDV.COM, DESQview Classic or DESQview-386 can load most of itself
- into upper and high memory so conventional memory is preserved. However,
- loading many TSRs or DOS high (see Q22) will reduce the amount of
- DESQview that can be loaded high (i.e. in the XMA - the first 64K of
- extended memory). DVX386 automatically loads itself into high memory.
-
- DESQview also sets aside a portion of conventional memory and calls it
- ``Common Memory''. The amount that DESQview allocates can be decreased
- in DVSETUP, but the minimum is about 14K. Certain programs such as DVSI
- (a set of shareware utilities by Daniel Bodoh) require the amount of
- Common Memory to be larger than the minimum. A large Open Window menu
- or many ``shared programs'' will also increase the required amount of
- Common Memory.
-
- Each window has an area of memory called ``System Memory''. The amount
- of System Memory available to a program is controlled by three separate
- entries on the Change A Program screen. First, since DESQview stores
- the window image in System Memory, decreasing the number of text pages
- and maximum window size decreases System Memory usage. Second, since
- most programs do not explicitly use System Memory, the System Memory
- field can be set to 1K or 0K.
-
- The pool of System Memory only reduces the maximum window memory for
- that particular window, and does not affect the other windows. You can
- see this using the Memory Status program. It will report, say, 592K of
- conventional memory available, but part of that is used for System
- Memory so the actual amount available is less.
-
- QW:161:WINSIZE.TEC, QW:252:MAXWINDO.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q17: What are some programs that are incompatible with DESQview?
-
-
- A17: [Please forward any other known incompatibilities to the editor of this
- FAQ list (see above).]
- Any ``386 Control Program'' that is not VCPI compliant (see Q15).
-
- BitFax
-
- Borland C++ 3.0
- Borland has a patch on Compuserve and the Borland BBS. This patch is
- also available on SIMTEL20 as DPMIFI.ZIP in PD1:<MSDOS.CPLUSPLUS> (see
- Q7).
-
- Colorado Memory Systems, Inc.'s TAPE.EXE
- Incapable of finding a tape drive piggybacked to a floppy adapter when
- run in a DVC window. It does not crash the system, but backups are not
- possible when inside DESQview. Colorado will be fixing this in the
- future. Under DVX, it can find the tape drive.
-
- ConFormat
-
- Diagnostic programs that try to go into protected mode to tested
- extended memory will fail under QEMM. These include QAPLUS and RAMTEST.
- Diagnostic programs should be run from a boot floppy.
-
- DJGPP/DJGPP-compiled programs
- Finally, DJGPP 1.09 available via anonymous FTP from
- BARNACLE.ERC.CLARKSON.EDU [128.152.28.12] in /pub/msdos/djgpp, works
- with DESQview/X (and probably DESQview, too). For those of you who don't
- know, DJGPP is a full 32-bit C/C++ compiler for DOS with a DOS extender
- which allows you to use *all* your 386 memory and your disk as memory.
- DJGPP 1.09 can compile X windows programs written for DESQview/X with
- the companion X libraries (see Q8).
-
- DR DOS 6.0 history feature
- DR DOS works great with DESQview, except for the history feature.
-
- DVFormat by SLR Systems
- Has problems with DESQview/X which Quarterdeck are trying to fix.
-
- Games that use digitized sound without extra sound hardware. Digitized
- sound requires that the timer interrupt be sped up to 8000 or more
- interrupts per second, which DESQview can't deal with. The only
- workaround is to turn off the sound or buy extra sound hardware.
-
- Micronics rev 1.10.05 and 1.10.06 motherboards with Phoenix BIOS
- Incompatible with QEMM-386. The first rev that worked again with QEMM
- was 1.10.10. Contact Phoenix for a BIOS upgrade.
-
- Mountain FileSafe 4000 Tape Backup Software
-
- Microsoft C/C++ 7.00
- MSC requires a DPMI host which until now QEMM did not provide. You can
- now use QDPMI to allow QEMM to become a DPMI host.
-
- MS-Kermit 3.11
- Try setting Optimize Communications in DVSETUP to No. If that doesn't
- work, use the Kermit SET COM command to set the exact interrupt request
- and I/O port used. The problem will be fixed in 3.12.
-
- QA Plus (see above note on Diagnostic programs)
-
- RAMTEST (see above note on Diagnostic programs)
-
- Soundblaster
- Games that use Soundblaster require ``Share CPU'' be set to N or the
- music will be choppy. Some games do work OK, though.
-
- Speed (LandMark Tests 2.00)
- Crashes DESQview
-
- Windows Enhanced Mode
- (see Q11)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q18: I'm having a problem {configuring DESQview, running a program, etc.}.
- How do I fix it?
-
-
- A18: First of all, take a look at the manual. This may seem obvious, but
- you'd be surprised at the number of people that post problems which they
- could have solved themselves by glancing at the manual.
-
- If you still can't figure it out, post a complete description of your
- problem. Don't just say, for example, ``foo.exe doesn't run''. Be
- specific. Post the Change A Program screens, or portions of
- AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS if relevant. But use some restraint. Don't
- post 18 pages of system configuration information just because you can't
- get foo.exe to print ``Hello, world''.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q19: How can I contact Quarterdeck?
-
-
- A19: Quarterdeck Office Systems
- 150 Pico Boulevard
- Santa Monica, CA, USA 90405
-
- Technical Support:
- Phone: (310) 392-9701
- Fax: (310) 399-3802
- Sales:
- Phone: (310) 392-9851
- Fax: (310) 399-3802
- Customer Service or Orders:
- Phone: (800) 354-3222
-
- QOS BBS: (310) 314-3227 (24 hours/day, 1200-9600, HSD 14.4k and V32bis,
- 8 bits, No parity)
-
- E-mail (for Tech Support):
- Internet/Usenet/UUCP: support@qdeck.com
- Quarterdeck BBS: Sysop
- CompuServe: 76004,2310
- BIX: QOS.REP2
- MCI Mail: QUARTERDECK
- Smartnet: DESQview Conference - Quarterdeck USA
-
- Public Message forums for Quarterdeck Tech support:
- QOS BBS: <T>echnical Support Message System
- CompuServe: ``GO QUARTERDECK''
- BIX: ``JOIN DESQVIEW''
- SmartNet: DESQview Conference
- FidoNet: DESQview Echo (currently no QOS support online)
- RelayNet: DESQVIEW - Quarterdeck USA or Quarterdeck Canada
- ILINK: Multitaskers
- Usenet: comp.os.msdos.desqview - QOS techs are active
-
- Ireland
- -------
- European Headquarters
- Quarterdeck International Ltd.
- B.I.M. House, Crofton Terrace
- Dun Laoghaire, Co.
- Dublin, Ireland
- Phone: +353 1 2844-144
- Fax: +353 1 2844-380
- BBS: +353 1 2844-381
- QFAX: +353 1 2844-383
- Product Information/Registration Cards:
- Phone: +353 1 2841-444
- Fax: +353 1 2844-380
-
-
- United Kingdom
- --------------
- Quarterdeck Office Systems UK Ltd.
- Widford Hall, Widford Hall Lane,
- Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8TD, United Kingdom
- Technical Support
- Phone: + 4471 973-0663
- Fax: + 4471 973-0664
- BBS: + 4471 973-0661
- QFAX + 4471 973-0665
- Product Information/Upgrade/Registration Cards:
- Phone: + 44 245 496699
- Fax: + 44 245 495284
- BBS: + 44 245 263898
-
-
- Canada
- ------
- Quarterdeck Office Systems Canada, Inc.
- 70 York St., Suite 1220
- Toronto, Ontario M5J 1S9
- Phone: +1 (416) 360-5758
- Fax: +1 (416) 360-4885
- Upgrades: +1 (800) 268-5181
-
-
- Germany
- -------
- Quarterdeck Office Systems GmbH
- Willstaetter Strasse 15
- D-4000 Duesseldorf 11
- Germany
- Technical support:
- Phone: +49 211 / 59790-40
- Fax: +49 211 / 59790-60
- QFAX +49 211 / 59790-65
- Product info, upgrades:
- Phone: +49 211 / 59790-0
- Fax: +49 211 / 594126
-
- France
- ------
- Quarterdeck Office Systems S.A.R.L.,
- 4, Rue de General Lanrezac, 75017 Paris, France.
- Technical Support
- Phone: Int + 33 144-09-03-40
- Fax: + 33 144-09-00-69
- BBS: + 33 144-09-01-07
- QFAX: + 33 144-09-00-81
- Product Information/Upgrade/Registration Cards
- Phone: + 33 144-09-03-91
- Fax: + 33 144-09-03-47
-
-
- Cyprus / Eastern Mediterranean
- ------------------------------
- Quarterdeck Office Systems Middle East Ltd.
- 1 Souliou Street, Suite 103, Strovolos,
- Nicosia, Cyprus.
- Product Information/Upgrade/Registration Cards/Support
- Phone: + 357 2311-630
- Fax: + 357 2311-560
-
-
- Spain
- -----
- Quarterdeck Office Systems S.A.,
- Gran Via de les Courts, Catlanes, 617, 10-3A
- 08007 Barcelona, Spain.
- Product Information/Upgrade/Registration Cards/Support
- Phone: + 343-412-29-45
- Phone: + 343-412-44-41
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q20: What books are available on DESQview?
-
-
- A20: ``DESQview - A Guide to Programming the DESQview Multitasking
- Environment'', by Stephen R. Davis, M&T Books Publishing, 501
- Galveston Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063. 346 pages. 1st Edition,
- 1989.
- [This is a review from Quarterdeck. I've heard from others that this
- books is really not that good and doesn't have many examples. Look it
- over well before you spend any money.] A very good source on programming
- in C using the DESQview API. This is a tutorial book with lots of
- examples. Would be useful to programmers who find the QOS API manuals
- somewhat daunting. All examples are in C, however there is lots of
- general information which would be useful for developers programming in
- any language. Available direct from M&T and bookstores which
- specialize in technical works. Can be ordered from Quarterdeck order
- line at (310) 392-9851 for $24.95 ($39.95 with disk - 5 1/4 inch only).
-
- ``The Official DESQview Sourcebook'', Larry Joel Goldstein, Bantam
- Computer Books, 666 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10103. 351 pages. 1st
- edition - Sept. '89, price $22.95 ($27.95 Canada).
- A comprehensive guide to the use of DESQview, QEMM and the DESQview
- Companions. Contains a section on the DESQview API that may serve as
- an introduction, but this is not a programmer's book. A useful adjunct
- to the Quarterdeck manuals when you want similar information from
- another view.
-
- ``DOS Beyond 640K'', Second Ed. James Forney, Windcrest Books, Division
- of TAB Books Inc., Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850. 1989. 235
- ISBN 0-8306-9717-9, ISBN 0-8306-3744-3 pbk. pages. Price $19.95.
- Not a DESQview/QEMM book specifically, but an excellent book on the
- subject of memory, with many references to DESQview and QEMM. Highly
- recommended to users who really want to understand the use of memory in
- their PCs.
-
- ``The Best Book of DESQview'', Jack Nimersheim, Howard W. Sams &
- Company, 11711 North College, Suite 141, Carmel, IN 46032. 1st
- Edition 1990, 396 pages. Price $24.95
- A user-friendly guide to DESQview, the Companions, QEMM and Manifest.
- Contains many tips and a good discussion of the DESQview Learn feature.
-
- ``Mastering DESQview'', Jonathan Kamin, Scott, Foresman IBM Computer
- Books, 1900 E. Lake Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025. 1st Edition 1990,
- 387 pages. Price $24.95.
- A comprehensive guide to the use of DESQview, with emphasis on hints and
- techniques which enhance the use of DESQview. Special emphasis on
- creative use of DESQview's Learn (macro) facility.
-
- ``Extending DOS,'' Ray Duncan, Charles Petzold, M. Steven Baker, Andrew
- Schulman, Stephen R. Davis, Ross P. Nelson, Robert Moote,
- Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Second edition, 1992.
- An excellent work on DOS memory usage and some of the options for
- extending DOS. For advanced users and programmers. Quite a bit of
- example source code included. Covers IBM PC Programming Architecture,
- EMS, XMS, DOS Extenders, Windows, DESQview, VCPI, DPMI and Multitasking.
-
- ``DESQview Instant Reference,'' Paul J. Perry, 1991, Sybex, 166 Pages.
- Price $9.95
- This is a basic, short reference guide to DESQview, QEMM-386, and
- Manifest. It covers up to versions 2.3 of DESQview and version 5.1 of
- QEMM-386. It describes the use of all the DESQview functions, QEMM-386
- switches, and switches for LOADHI, QEMM.COM, VIDRAM. All the
- information provided is in the Quarterdeck manuals.
-
- ``Understanding DESQview,'' Richard Altman, 1991, Sybex, 307 pages.
- Price $24.95
-
- ``DESQview Unleashed'', Dave Williams, SAMS.
- Coming in August 1992. Will include part of this FAQ!
-
- ``Memory Management for All of Us'', by John M. Goodman, Ph.D. SAMS,
- 1992. ISBN 0-672-27366-7. Price $29.95.
- Discusses virtually all aspects of PC memory and memory management,
- including how DESQview uses memory.
-
- ``XView Programming Manual,'' Dan Heller, etal., O'Reilly & Assoc. 586
- pages. Price: $34.95
-
- ``X Window System Programming,'' Naba Barkakati, 1991, Howard W. Sams &
- Co. 600 pages. Price: $29.95
- Good introduction to X programming, with many helpful example programs.
- Covers xlib, xt Intrinsics, and some discussion of OSF/Motif widgets is
- provided.
-
- ``Introduction to the X Window System,'' O. Jones, 1989, P-H. Price:
- $38.00
-
- ``The X Window System in a Nutshell'', 1990, O'Reilly & Assoc. Price:
- $24.95
-
-
- [If you know of any more, please let me know]
-
- QW:132:BOOKS.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q21: What are the command-line switches for DESQview/QEMM/QRAM?
-
-
- A21: The file QOSSWIT3.ZIP from SIMTEL20 (see Q7) in the PD1:<MSDOS.INFO>
- directory contains a list of the documented and undocumented switches
- for Quarterdeck's products.
-
- QW:178:ALL-HELP.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q22: How can I configure DESQview for maximum window memory?
-
-
- A22: The answer to this question is very system dependent. However, you
- should use QEMM rather than EMM386 and HIMEM.SYS (on a 386), because
- QEMM is smaller and will provide the same services. Also, without QEMM
- screen virtualization is not possible (see Q2). Loading DOS high will
- not necessarily help, because that reduces the amount of DESQview kernel
- that can be loaded high (see Q16).
-
- When you test using DOS=HIGH, make sure you add I=0800-0FFF to QEMM
- line. This will allow QEMM to map the area vacated by DOS, so you may
- see a gain in window size. You almost have to be using stealth to see a
- net gain. With QEMM 7, use QEMM's DOS-UP rather than DOS=HIGH, because
- DOS-UP can load more of DOS high.
-
- Also, if you don't need graphics, you can use the VREMS parameter on the
- QEMM line, and add VIDRAM ON to the DV.BAT file. This will give you
- about 64k more for each window. DV.BAT should actually have a VIDRAM ON
- before calling DV, and VIDRAM OFF after DV.
-
- Experiment. Use Manifest to judge the results. If your high memory is
- very fragmented (i.e. many small contiguous blocks rather than a few
- large blocks), keeping DOS and TSRs low and putting DESQview high might
- work better.
-
- Do not set up your path and environment variables until all the TSRs
- have been loaded. A copy of the environment is made for every TSR, and
- if the TSR does not give this area of memory back to DOS, it is wasted.
-
- QEMM's STEALTH feature should be used if it is compatible with your
- machine. There are three different STEALTH modes:
- ST:F - Frame stealth. Compatible with many machines, but offers
- the least amount of memory gain. Also known as ``Female
- Stealth''.
-
- ST:M - Mapping stealth. It offers significantly more memory gain
- but will not work on all machines. Also known as ``Male
- Stealth''.
-
- ST:P - Protected mode stealth. Undocumented and unsupported by
- Quarterdeck, because it has many incompatibilities. If you
- can get it to work on your machine, you could get an
- additional 25K or so over ST:M. You cannot run any other
- protected mode programs with ST:P (the DVX stuff seems to
- work, though).
-
- Here's a neat trick to save memory under DVX. This is from David Granz.
-
- How to Maximize your memory space for programs under DVX
- ---------------------------------------------------------
-
- In order to use DV/X on a TCP/IP network, the FTP software TCP/IP
- drivers must be loaded. Unfortunately, these TSRs can take up over 100K
- of precious DOS memory space. In addition a mouse driver is needed
- (another 12-16K of memory used up). And then, DV/X itself chews up a
- significant amount of DOS memory. Even with the new QEMM stealth
- features that allow most of the upper memory space to be used to LOADHI
- these TSRs, the memory actually left for a program (or DOS window) under
- DV/X can end up being quite small. In my particular setup, the best I
- was able to get was a 320K DOS window.
-
- After much experimenting and some suggestions from Quarterdeck, I have
- come up with the following procedures that allow you get very close to a
- full 640K of program space in a DOS window (somewhat less if you don't
- have a 8514 video card). Note that although this method seems to work
- fine (for me at least), it is not in anyway a supported method. Please
- DO NOT call Quarterdeck for help with this setup, they are not
- supporting this technique at this time. If you have problems with
- things crashing, put things back the way they were before, and see if
- the problems go away. Then, if the crash still occurs, you have a valid
- reason to call Quarterdeck.
-
- Before doing any of the following modifications, make a safe copy of
- \DVX\STARTUP.DVP and \DVX\DVPS\PCTCP.DVP. These copies can be used to
- restore the system in case you have problems.
-
- Step 1, Saving the space occupied by the MOUSE driver:
- Create a file called \DVX\SERVER.BAT that contains the following
- lines:
-
- MOUSE (or whatever is needed to run your mouse)
- SERVER
-
- Then with the DVPMAN program (under DV/X), modify the file
- \DVX\STARTUP.DVP. Change the reference to SERVER.EXE to SERVER.BAT.
- Also increase the memory size by enough to cover the added size of
- the mouse driver (about 30k should be plenty).
-
- Modify your CONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT to not load the mouse
- driver when you boot your computer.
-
- Restart the computer, and then DV/X... The mouse driver should now
- load in the process space of the server.
-
- A 'mem/c' command in a DOS window, should show more memory
- available and no copy of the mouse driver.
-
-
- Step 2, Saving the space occupied by the TCP drivers:
- In a manner similar to the above mouse modifications, you need to
- create a batch file: \DVX\NETWORK\NETWORK.BAT. This batch file
- should contain all the drivers and network programs needed to
- support TCP/IP. The last step should be to run the 'nsftp'
- program.
-
- For example, my NETWORK.BAT looks like this:
- c:\dvx\device c:\ftp\ifcust.sys
- c:\dvx\device c:\ftp\ipcust.sys
- c:\ncsa\drivers\wd8003e -w 0x62 7 0x280 0xD000
- c:\ftp\ethdrv -t 20 -p 26 -u 2
- nsftp
-
- Using DVPMAN, modify the \DVX\DVPS\PCTCP.DVP parameters to run
- NETWORK.BAT rather than NSFTP.EXE. You should add enough memory
- allocation to allow for the extra memory of the network drivers.
- In my case a 350K allocation seems to work fine but you may need
- more.
-
- Remove all the network drivers and TSRs from your CONFIG.SYS and
- AUTOEXEC.BAT, and reboot DOS and DV/X.
-
- If all goes correctly, the DOS windows under DV/X should now
- contain none of the network drivers. With this arrangement I am
- able to get about 550K available in the DOS window.
-
- The only limitation of this arrangement, is that only Quarterdeck
- supplied network programs (telnet, ftp, etc) will work. This is
- because the network drivers are running in a different address
- space than the DOS windows. The normal FTP software's and Packet
- driver's access interrupts are not available in any process other
- than the PCTCP process.
-
- Step 3, Getting even more space:
-
- If you have a 8514 type video card (I have a ATI Graphics Ultra),
- you can get even more space for DOS programs. As an added
- advantage, the video performance is much better with this card
- (1024x768x256).
-
- Add the 'VREMS' parameter to your QEMM386.SYS line in CONFIG.SYS.
- This will allow the \QEMM\VIDRAM program to steal the address space
- at A0000-AFFFF for DOS use.
-
- Before starting DV/X, do a "\QEMM\VIDRAM ON" command. Just ignore
- the message that DV/X cannot find a graphics card. DV/X will run
- just fine without this video ram area. The DOS window will be 64K
- bigger.
-
- The only limitation of this, is that graphic programs (ie ones that
- take over the entire screen) must not be run. Text programs and
- programs that use X windows calls will work just fine.
-
- QW:161:WINSIZE.TEC, QW:252:MAXWINDO.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q23: What is NOFF.SHP {NOFF.SHR}?
-
- A23: NOFF.SHR is an older version of NOFF.SHP. So what's NOFF.SHP?
-
- DESQview is the child of an older IBM program called TopView. Because
- Quarterdeck wanted DESQview to run all the old TopView programs, they
- made DESQview compatible to TopView, in much the same way you can run
- programs written for DOS 3.3 in DOS 4.0.
-
- If a program writes directly to the video memory, TopView (and DESQview)
- cannot run it in a small window. So IBM allowed programs to be TopView-
- aware (similar to DESQview-aware (see Q3)) by giving them ``virtual''
- video memory on request. This memory looks like video memory, but
- characters written into it do not get displayed on the screen.
-
- Since DESQview is a much smarter program that TopView ever was, DESQview
- can automatically update the window from the virtual video memory. But
- TopView did not have that ability. The TopView-aware program had to
- make another call which would manually update the window from the video
- memory.
-
- Quarterdeck wanted to make DESQview look as much like TopView as
- possible, so they decided that if a TopView-aware program makes this
- call to update the window, then the automatic updating of DESQview would
- be turned off.
-
- DESQview can do a better job of updating the window from the virtual
- video buffer than *some* programs. So the purpose of NOFF.SHP is to
- capture the TopView update call before it gets to DESQview and not let
- DESQview see the call. That way, DESQview never turns off the automatic
- updating, and your window output is less jerky.
-
- Whether or not you should use NOFF.SHP depends on how the TopView-aware
- program updates its screen. If it changes only small parts of the
- screen at a time but requests that the entire screen be updated, use
- NOFF.SHP. But if the program tells TopView (DESQview) exactly which
- part of the screen changed, output may look smoother without NOFF.SHP
- because an automatic update doesn't take place until the end of each
- program's time slice (see Q9).
-
- Although NOFF.SHP is included in the Quarterdeck-supplied DVP for
- Wordperfect, it is not required if you are using a 386 or better and you
- turn on text virtualization.
-
- QW:247:SHARED.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q24: How can I increase DESQview's performance?
-
-
- A24: DESQview's performance depends on many different factors. We will try
- to highlight some of the important areas here.
-
- DESQVIEW-OBLIVIOUS PROGRAMS
- Performance is especially degraded by DESQview-oblivious programs
- (see Q3), because they do not give up the CPU when they are not
- doing useful work (see Q9).
-
- Some programs, while waiting for keyboard input, continuously ask
- if a keystroke is available instead of giving up the CPU.
- Quarterdeck provides a way to force programs to give up the CPU
- after a specified number of keystroke queries. One of the bytes in
- the DVP file (the file edited by Change A Program) specifies the
- number of keyboard polls before the CPU is taken away.
-
- Unfortunately, Quarterdeck has never put a field on the Change A
- Program screens to change this number. DvpEdit, a freeware
- replacement for Change A Program, is available on SIMTEL20 (see Q7)
- and allows you to change this ``Max Keypolls'' value.
-
- Another well-known program is TAME. TAME does much more than watch
- for keyboard polling; and can do a good job of increasing
- performance.
-
- System performance can be measured with the PS utility available in
- the DVSI package (also on SIMTEL20 and DVNet). Using PS, an
- offending program can be quickly identified.
-
- DISK ACCESS
- Since disk access can slow down the system significantly (see Q10)
- using a disk cache can also increase performance. HyperDisk,
- available on SIMTEL20 (see Q7), is especially popular among
- DESQview users.
-
- FOREGROUND/BACKGROUND TICKS
- With the ``Tune Performance'' menu you can set the number of
- foreground and background ticks. These numbers indicate how much
- time DESQview is to allocate to a given task before moving on to
- the next in a round-robin fashion. The default setting is 9:3,
- which means DESQview gives the foreground task 9 ``ticks'', or
- roughly half a second, of CPU time, then gives each of the
- background tasks 3 ticks. A more common setting with today's
- hardware is 1:1 or 2:2 -- each task gets 1 (or 2) ticks.
-
- There's no single, optimal setting. Smaller numbers generally
- provide smoother performance, but may overwhelm the CPU on less
- powerful systems. In addition, time-sensitive applications like
- communications programs may need to be serviced frequently by the
- CPU. In short, experiment.
-
- Setting 0 background ticks will cause background windows to never
- run. Setting 0 foreground ticks will cause background windows to
- run only if the foreground window explicitly gives up its
- timeslice, or if it blocks (i.e. waits for a keystroke or other
- event).
-
- SCREEN DISPLAY
- There are three primary reasons why your screen may appear jerky.
- First, you may be virtualizing the window. While this prevents
- bleed-thru (when used in conjunction with QEMM-386), it does
- increase the workload on DESQview, and the screen output only
- occurs at the end of the program's timeslice. If this is a problem
- for you then configure your application to use BIOS screen writes
- and turn virtualization off. Second, you may need to adjust your
- tick settings. DESQview updates the screen display at the end of a
- task's CPU allocation. Thus, a setting of, say, 99:99 will result
- in extremely jerky screen updates compared with 2:2 or so. Third,
- you may be unnecessarily using NOFF.SHP (see Q23).
-
- DESQview/X is a GUI and therefore screen output is much slower.
- This is due to the poor design of the PC's video. In order to get
- better display performance, you may want to purchase a graphics
- accelerator or coprocessor board.
-
- MEMORY USAGE
- The memory usage of individual programs can be tuned in Change A
- Program. For maximum window size, you must balance your TSR and
- device driver usage (see Q16 and Q22). The PS utility in the DVSI
- package available on SIMTEL20 (see Q7) can show which windows are
- not using all their allocated memory.
-
- Certain DESQview/X programs which use the built in DOS extender can
- use the disk as memory. This is called virtual memory. You can
- configure the DESQview/X Server to use virtual memory to save on
- real memory. To do so, change the ``maxmem='' line in the
- \DVX\SERVER\XB16.VMC file (XC16.VMC for the high-resolution
- server). This line specifies the maximum number of kilobytes of
- real memory that should be used. Increase the number to to
- increase speed; or decrease the number to increase available
- memory. Note that DESQview/X gets flaky if the number is less than
- 1000K or so. The default value of 1000K is optimized for a 4
- Megabyte machine.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q25: My {9600 or greater} BPS modem drops characters under DESQview. Is high
- speed communication possible under DESQview?
-
-
- A25: Yes, high speed communication is possible. First, you must go into the
- DESQview setup program and set ``Optimize Communications'' to Y (see
- Q29). If you still lose characters, you may have to get a new serial
- board. The characters are coming in too fast for DESQview and your
- communications program to process them.
-
- The chip that controls serial communication is known by many names. On
- an XT (or an 8-bit I/O board) it is an 8250. Most ATs contain the
- 16450. The problem with these chips is that they can only buffer one
- character at a time, so if DESQview doesn't allow your communications
- program to respond fast enough, you'll lose that character.
-
- The solution is to get a board with the National Semiconductor PC16550CN
- chip. This chip buffers up to 16 characters, so character loss is less
- likely to occur. If you are the handy type, you can even swap your 8250
- (or whatever) for the NS16550AN yourself, for the chips are
- pin-compatible.
-
- Do not get a 16550 non-A chip. It is an old, buggy chip. Also, Western
- Digital makes a 16550 which is rumored to be buggy at speeds of 2400 BPS
- or less.
-
- Note that the 16550x will act like an 8250 unless you have software that
- supports it. Most communication packages today do support the 16550x.
-
- QW:237:COMMPROG.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q26: Why doesn't ANSI.SYS work in DESQview?
-
- A26: ANSI.SYS doesn't work inside DESQview because DESQview takes control of
- all the screen writes. Quarterdeck has provided a solution, however.
- Provided with DESQview is DVANSI.COM. Run this program in the window in
- which you need ANSI.SYS.
-
- QW:110:DVANSI.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q27: Why does the mouse pointer disappear after running certain programs?
-
- A27: If a DESQview-aware or DESQview-oblivious program (see Q3) uses the
- mouse, DESQview must turn off its own mouse handling in that window.
- Unfortunately, DESQview cannot detect when the program is finished with
- the mouse, so your DESQview mouse pointer will never reappear while that
- window has the keyboard.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q28: What are those files SWAP*.DV in my DV directory? Can I delete them?
-
- A28: They're used by DESQview to store your application when it gets swapped
- to disk. If the file's date and time are older than the last time you
- started DV then you can safely erase the files. There is no way to
- restart an application using a swap file.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q29: What does ``Optimize Communications'' in DESQview's setup program do?
-
- A29: The cards that you install in your computer use ``hardware interrupts''
- to tell the CPU that the card has or needs data. The hardware
- interrupts are like grade school students raising their hand in class.
- When they teacher recongizes a student with his hand up, that student
- can ask/answer a question.
-
- Like many teachers, DESQview has a ``teacher's pet.'' This pet is
- hardware interrupt 0. If a bunch of hardware interrupts raise their
- hands at the same time, DESQview will always recognize 0 first, then 1,
- then 2, and so on.
-
- However, most COM ports use hardware interrupt levels 3 and 4. So by
- answering ``Y'' to ``Optimize Communications'', you force interrupt
- level 3 to become the teacher's pet. DESQview will then recognize the
- interrupts in this order: 3, 4, 5, ... 0, 1, 2. Rather than answering
- ``Y'', you can put in any interrupt number you prefer. For example, if
- you answer ``5'', DESQview will recognize the interrupts in the order
- 5, 6, 7, ... , 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.
-
- Setting ``Optimize Communications'' to ``Y'' can reduce or eliminate
- dropped characters in communication programs (see Q25).
-
- 8086/8088 machines have 8 available hardware interrupts (0-7), while
- 80286+ machines have 16 (0-15).
-
- QW:251:OPTCOM.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q30: What do I need if I want to use DESQview/X's networking features?
-
- A30: DVX allows you to interact with programs running on other DVX and Unix
- machines, if the machines are networked.
-
- Three parts are required on a PC to make this work:
- (1) DESQview/X
- (2) One of the DESQview/X Network Managers sold by Quarterdeck
- (3) A networking protocol stack available from another
- manufacturer.
-
- DESQview/X is packaged with a Network Manager that allows you to
- communicate with other DESQview/X machines. This DVX-to-DVX Network
- Manager will not allow you to communicate with Unix machines. It
- requires a Novell or Netbios-compatible network protocol stack.
-
- To communicate with Unix machines, you must purchase the
- DVX-to-other-systems Network Manager ($200 list) from Quarterdeck.
- Packaged with this Manager is a coupon for a free copy of Novell's
- TCP/IP Transport for DOS, one of the possible protocol stacks that are
- compatible with the DVX-to-other-systems Network Manager. Current users
- of the DVX-to-other-systems Network Manager can receive a free copy of
- Novell's TCP/IP stack by contacting Quarterdeck (see Q19).
-
- Other TCP/IP protocol stacks that the DVX-to-other-systems Network
- Manager is compatible with include FTP Incorporated's PC/TCP (version
- 2.03 or version 2.05 patch 3 or greater), Beam and Whiteside's package
- in Lan Workplace emulation mode (unsupported by Quarterdeck), and
- Novell's Lan Workplace for DOS (version 4.01 or greater).
- Quarterdeck is currently beta testing
- PathWay Access (from The Wollongong Group Inc.)
- BW-TCP and BW-NFS (from Beame & Whiteside Software Ltd.)
- PC-NFS (from Sun Microsystems)
- Contact Quarterdeck for more details (see Q19).
-
- Many have asked about SLIP support. Here's a post from someone who has
- it working (Phil Kemp):
-
- There are a small group of us, 3 or 4, that are in throes of using
- slip with FTP inc.'s stack and DV/X. There are some problems but it
- is useable. The configuration I am using right now (writing this
- note in fact) is over a 9600 bps V.42bis connection to cisco
- Trouter. I'm using FTP inc. generic kernel vers. 2.05 pl4. 2.10 is
- now shipping and I am awaiting delivery. 2.10 is much less low
- memory intensive.
-
- The trick just now is to use the packet driver ethersl.com and the
- ethdrv.exe stack. Attempts to use the 16550.com and slpdrv.exe
- stack from ftp result in x-windows spontaneously disappearing. A
- maximum of 12 sockets can be configured in the FTP/DV-X combination
- due to some software issues. Hopefully this will be corrected in
- the future. I still get the occasional disappearing session, once
- or twice a week, but contrast that to two or three times an hour
- before we went to the ethdrv stack. FTP and Qdeck are working on
- the slpdrv problem. The ftp inc. packet driver 16550.com seems to
- be about 20% better in performance than the ethersl.com packet
- driver, so I would like to go back to it one day. Note that
- ethersl.com does make use of the 16550afn fifo buffers. I see ftp
- transfers of compressed files in the range of .9 Kbytes/s if I
- leave the other network windows alone.
-
- QW:263:DVX2XSYS.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q31: What do each of the four Protection Levels mean?
-
-
- A31: In ``Change A Program'' or DVPMAN, you can set a program's protection
- level. Here are the meanings:
-
- Level 0 means no protection at all.
-
- Level 1 will keep a process from locking interrupts for too long if the
- WD parameter is set correctly in QEMM, and your hardware supports it.
-
- Level 2 will bring up an error if a process writes outside of the memory
- that DESQview thinks the process owns. If the process attempts this,
- DESQview will ask the user if the process should be aborted,
- unprotected, or be allowed to continue (but remain protected).
-
- Level 3 will keep a process from reading outside of its memory, with a
- similar interface as Level 2. It also grabs all interrupt vectors and
- complains if the program points the vector outside of its memory
- (including back at the original handler) and then calls it. Level 3
- will crash Borland's floating point libraries.
-
- If a program crashes with Level 0 it will also crash with Level 3 set,
- but you might find out about it a little sooner, and it may prevent the
- system from being locked up.
-
- QW:120:PROTECT.TEC
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q32: How can I load two or more shared programs in a window?
-
-
- A32: In Change A Program or DVPMAN, you can only list one shared program and
- its data. To load more than one shared program, you must create a file
- which lists the shared programs. Each shared program you want to load
- requires two lines in the file -- one for the shared program name, and
- one for the shared program data. For example, let's say you want to
- load DGNASI.SHR and 1COPY.SHR. Create a text file called SHARED.TXT (or
- whatever) with four lines that look like this (the parenthetical
- comments should not be added):
-
- DGANSI.SHR (line 1)
- blah blah blah (Text that would be in ``Data'' field for DGANSI)
- 1COPY.SHR (line 3)
- blah blah blah (Text that would be in ``Data'' field for 1COPY)
-
- Then, in Change A Program or DVPMAN's "Shared Program" field, place the
- name of this text file preceded by the ``+'' sign. In our case, we
- would put
-
- Shared Program
- Pathname..: +C:\DV\shared.txt
- Data......:
-
- If the shared.txt pathname is not specified, it defaults to the
- ``Default Directory'' path in the DVP. However, the default place to
- look for shared programs is always the DESQview directory.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q33: When running Windows under DESQview, I get an ``Incorrect DOS Version''
- message. How do I fix this?
-
-
- A33: Rather than using LOADHI FILES in AUTOEXEC.BAT, you must set FILES=15 or
- so in CONFIG.SYS. Windows requires that some FILES be loaded low.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Q34: How can I make the tilde (~) character work when I open an Xterm window
- on my unix machine?
- A34: On the Unix machine, put the following line into your .Xdefaults file
- (or whatever your default resource file is):
- \HC\ML40\xterm*allowSendEvents: True
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- CONTRIBUTORS
-
- The following people have sent suggestions for entries in the FAQ. On
- behalf of all the readers of comp.os.msdos.desqview, I thank you. If
- the person is credited with a ``Q'', he/she suggested a question. If
- part of an answer was contributed, the contributor is credited with an
- ``A''. An asterisk indicates that the contributor wrote a significant
- portion of the answer. If a particular question and answer is not
- credited, I wrote it.
-
- If you see your name here and you didn't actually send me something, I
- probably stole a posting of yours for the FAQ.
- ----
- The information in A7 on access to SIMTEL20 is from regular postings to
- the Usenet newsgroup comp.binaries.ibm.pc.archives by Keith Peterson.
-
- The electronic contacts in A19 are from the QOS note ``CONTACT.TXT''
-
- The international addresses in A19 are from "DESQview User, The
- Quarterly Journal for PC and DOS productivity", Issue 4, Spring 1992 and
- were sent to me by Klaus Hartnegg.
-
- Most of A20 was copied from Quarterdeck's tech note ``DVBOOK.TEC''
-
- Some of A25 is from Appendix B of the FOSSIL driver manual sent to me by
- Stephen Lee.
-
- Information in A8 and A30 was grabbed from Quarterdeck press releases.
-
- The White Pages cross references were provided by Michael Bolton of
- Quarterdeck Canada.
-
- alheid@pittpa.cray.com (Greg Alheid) A2*,A4*,A5*,A11,A13*,
- A15*,A17,A20
- aml@world.std.com (Andrew M Langmead) A31*,A32*
- anasaz!crow@asuvax.eas.asu.edu (Jerry Crow) A2,A21
- arnd@zeus.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Arnd
- Gehrmann) A19
- arr@stat.ph.albany.edu (Andrew A. Reilly) Q22
- burge@qdeck.com (Bill Burge) A6
- Carl Anderson 1:106/7674 A17
- chaz@chinet.chi.il.us (Charlie Kestner) Q4,Q17,Q19,Q20
- dave@monitor.larc.nasa.gov (Dave Hinde) A34*
- Dave Osborne 1:123/27.0 A29
- dave.williams@chaos.lrk.ar.us (Dave Williams) A20
- docw@qdeck.com (Doc Williamson) A19
- dj@ctron.com (DJ Delorie) A17
- dvss!jtroy@udel.edu (Jay Troy) A17
- em21@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Eben Moglen) A17
- esiever@world.std.com (Ellen C. Siever) A20
- granz@junkyard.uucp A22*
- hartnegg@ibm.ruf.uni-freiburg.de (Klaus Hartnegg) A13,A19*
- january%polari@uunet.uu.net (Jamie Pehling) A2,A7
- jcorr@splash.princeton.edu (Jim Orr) A20
- jerry@rat.nrl.navy.mil (Jerry Nash) A17
- jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu (Jay Maynard) A17
- john@stanton.cts.com (John Goodman) A20
- kemp@convex.com (Phil Kemp) A30*
- kneply@mozart.cs.colostate.edu (Jim Knepley) A2,A4,Q8,Q17,Q18
- lsuc!ontmoh!rwh@cs.toronto.edu (Russell Herman) A19
- Mark Hockings 1:102/824 A2,A6,A17,A19,A22,A24,
- A25
- Michelle at Quarterdeck Canada A6
- mike@batpad.lgb.CA.US (Mike Batchelor) A8,A17,A22,A30
- mtbb136@ms.uky.edu Q2,Q12,Q13
- mvjrs@mvgpk.att.com (Rick Sladkey) A4,A17
- nickw@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Nick Watkins) A2,A6,A17,A20
- noesis@ucscb.ucsc.edu (Kyle ?) A13
- peterson@csc.ti.com (Bob Peterson) A6
- phealy@swift.cs.tcd.ie (Paul ?) A19
- ralf@cs.cmu.edu (Ralf Brown) A2,A6,A7*,A8*,Q9,A10*,
- A13,A14*,A17,A21*,A25, A31,A32*
- reisert@mast.enet.dec.com (James J. Reisert) A25
- rreiner@nexus.yorku.ca (Richard Reiner) A2,A17
- s2942275@techst02.technion.ac.il (Yaniv Golan) A17
- Saar Blitz 2:403/139.0 A17
- schuster@panix.com (Mike Schuster) A17
- seant@ratsys.com (Sean True) A8
- senf_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Stephen Lee) A25*
- smsmith@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Stephen Smith) A13
- spit@neuro.duke.edu (Mike Burdick) A33
- support@qdeck.com (Gary Rich) A6
- support@qdeck.com (Doc Williamson) A8,A24
- stern@denali.ims.alaska.edu (Pete Stern) Q25,Q26,Q27
- steveg@orl.mmc.com (Steve Gabrilowitz) Q8,Q15
- theall@gdalsrv.sas.upenn.edu (George A. Theall) A2*,A3,A4,A7,A17,A19,
- A20,Q22,A23,A24*,A28*, A32*
- thuben@kiera.ericsson.se (Thomas Nilsson) A25
- valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty)
- A2,A4,A10,Q11,A12*,Q14, Q16,A17,A20,A25
- w8sdz@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil (Keith Peterson) A7*,A17
- wiget@switch.ch (Margel Wiget) A17
- 4carroll_j@spcvxa.spc.edu (Jim Carroll) A25
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- HOW THE FAQ LIST IS CREATED
-
- This document is maintained as a collection of psuedo-DESQview/X help
- source files. By psuedo, I mean that they contain the DESQview/X
- formatting commands, but do not contain paragraphs that are delimited by
- carriage returns. This makes editing much easier (IMHO, the input
- source format is pretty dumb in that respect).
-
- These *.TXT files are converted to pure DESQview/X help files with a
- program I wrote called HPREP, which creates *.PRP files. The *.PRP
- files are concatenated into the DESQview/X help file with Quarterdeck's
- HELPLIB (although I may write my own, since the interface to HELPLIB
- isn't easy to use with MAKE).
-
- To get the text version of the FAQ that is posted, I run DVXH2TXT to
- extract the formatted text from the help file. This is a program I
- wrote and that is still in development.
-
- My DESQview/X help file tool suite will be released in the future when I
- get it into a release-able state. If you need something, let me know
- and I might be able to help you.
- --
- Dan Bodoh danb@bunt.sps.mot.com (formerly bodoh@xraylith.wisc.edu)
- HP/RISC Failure Analysis -- Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector
- Austin, Texas (due to Motorola's firewall, I can't be finger'd)
-