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Text File | 1994-03-10 | 31.8 KB | 706 lines

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │F(ile) M(anager)/2 copyright (c) 1993/94 by M. Kimes (Bare Bones Software)│ │ All Rights Reserved │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Overview: ======== FM/2 can be considered something of a "super Drives object" to replace or use with your WPS Drives objects and directory folders (although FM/2 is a 32-bit PM program, not a WPS object or folder). FM/2 facilitates file system maintance and investigation, program launching, archive viewing and more, and is WPS-cooperative. FM/2 requires OS/2 2.1 or greater. FM/2 fully supports: ------------------- WPS objects Drag and drop Context menus Clipboard Associations (internal) CD-ROMs, hard drives, removable media drives, network drives A full range of file system maintenance Installing FM/2: =============== If you intend to always run FM/2 from the same directory (as from a WPS object with no working directory set), you can create that directory and unpack the archive there. You're done. If you want FM/2 to be accessible from anywhere (as from a command line), unzip the archive into a scratch directory. Copy FM2.EXE into a directory listed in your Path (see SET PATH= in your CONFIG.SYS file) where you can start it from anywhere. Copy FM2.HLP into a directory listed in your Help path (see SET HELP= in your CONFIG.SYS). If you want to be able to view the contents of archives, copy ARCHIVER.BB2 to a directory in your Dpath (see SET DPATH= in your CONFIG.SYS). By default FM/2 places FM2.INI in the current directory, so you'll want to locate it elsewhere by one of two methods: set environment variable FM2INI to point to the directory where you'd like the INI file kept (SET FM2INI=d:\somedir) or run FM/2 once and copy the FM2.INI file to some directory on your Path or DPath, and FM/2 will leave it there. You're done. The copy of FM2.INI in the archive contains some associations and commands to get you started, if you'd rather not start from scratch. Note that you can't install a new copy of FM/2 over an old copy if the old copy is running because OS/2 won't let you. Unregistered users will need to keep FM2.DOC where FM/2 can find it (default directory, PATH or DPATH). FM/2 uses some temporary files and directories off of its default (working) directory, so you might want to set its Working directory in a program object to your temporary directory ,and enter the director(y)(ies) that you would like windows for in the FM/2 program object's Parameters field, like this (obviously, replace the paths shown with what's right for your system): ╔══╤══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╤══╤══╗ ║--│ FM2.EXE - Settings │ │ ║ ╟──┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴──┴──╢ ║┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║│ ├┐ ║ ║│ │├┐ ║ ║│ │Program ║ ║│ ││││ ║ ║│ ││Session ║ ║│ Required ││││ ║ ║│ Path and file name: │││Assocation ║ ║│ ┌───────────────────────┐ ┌───────╖ ││││ ║ ║│ │C:\FM2\FM2.EXE │ │Find...║ ││││General ║ ║│ └───────────────────────┘ ╘═══════╝ ││││ ║ ║│ ││││ ║ ║│ Optional ││││ ║ ║│ Parameters: ││││ ║ ║│ ┌───────────────────────────────────┐ ││││ ║ ║│ │E:\MYDIR <────┼────────┼┼┼┼──────────╫─Dir(s) to ║│ └───────────────────────────────────┘ ││││ ║ see and ║│ Working directory: ││││ ║ manipulate ║│ ┌───────────────────────────────────┐ ││││ ║ ║│ │D:\TEMP <────┼────────┼┼┼┼──────────╫─Temporary ║│ └───────────────────────────────────┘ ││││ ║ directory ║│ ││││ ║ (see SET ║│ ┌───────╖ ┌───────╖ ││││ ║ TEMP= ║│ │ Undo ║ │ Help ║ ││││ ║ in ║│ ╘═══════╝ ╘═══════╝ ││││ ║ CONFIG. ║│ < >││││ ║ SYS) ║└┬───────────────────────────────────────────────┘│││ ║ ║ └┬───────────────────────────────────────────────┘││ ║ ║ └┬───────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ ║ ║ └────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ Remember that if you set FM/2 up in this manner, using a working directory different from that where FM2.EXE resides, you'll probably need to follow the installation instructions in paragraph two under "Installing FM/2" above. The first time you run FM/2, please take some time to quickly go through the Config menu and tweak things to your liking, and browse the help file's Contents view. Starting FM/2: ============= Command line arguments are optional. If there are any, FM/2 opens windows for any listed drives and directories. Examples: FM2 Starts one window in the root of the current drive FM2 D:\FILES Starts one window in D:\FILES FM2 D:\ E:\ F:\ Starts three windows in the roots of drives D:, E: and F: FM/2 can also, of course, be started from a WPS program object in the usual manner. Special command line arguments that can be used: ~ Start hidden (for use in Startup folder) Should be first argument, separated from any others by a space. /D Exclude drive D: from tree. Should be among first arguments, separated from any others by a space. Examples: -------- FM2 D:\FILES Opens two windows, one in D:\FILES, one in C:\OS2\APPS. FM2 ~ D:\FILES Opens one window in D:\FILES, starts minimized. FM2 /G Opens one window on default directory, excludes drive G: from tree. FM2 Opens one window in default directory. If you forget the command line syntax and don't have the docs handy, type FM/2 /? at a command line to get brief command line help. FM/2 can be used as a WPS replacement (not recommended unless you are low on memory; say, less than 8mb). Place FM/2 on the SET RUNWORKPLACE= line in your CONFIG.SYS file (example: SET RUNWORKPLACE=D:\FM2\FM2.EXE). Using FM/2: ========== FM/2 main window layout: ----------------------- ╔══╤══════════════════════════════════════════════════╤══╤══╗ ║--│ FM/2 │ │ ║ ╟──┴──────────────────────────────────────────────────┴──┴──╢ ║ <───╫──Menu ╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢ ║ ┌──────────────╖ ┌──────────╥─────────────╥───────────╖ ┌┐<───Switch ║ │ ║ │ ║ ║ <──╫─┼┼╫───Status ║ └══════════════╝ ╘══════════╩═════════════╩═══════════╝ └┘║ lines ║ ┌───────────────┐┌───────────────────────────────────────┐║ ║ │ ││ │║ ║ │ ││ │║ ║ │ ││ <───┼╫──Split ║ │ ││ │║ container ║ │ ││ │║ (if split ║ │ │└───────────────────────────────────────┘║ view on) ║ │ │┌──────────╥─────────────╥───────────╖ ┌┐║ ║ │ ││ ║ ║ ║ ││║ ║ │ │╘══════════╩═════════════╩═══════════╝ └┘║ ║ │ │┌───────────────────────────────────────┐║ ║ │ ││ │║ ║ │ ││ │║ ║ │ ││ <───┼╫──Directory ║ │ ^ ││ │║ container ║ │ │ ││ │║ (fills side ║ └──────┼────────┘└───────────────────────────────────────┘║ if split ╚════════╪══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ view not on) │ Note: if internal toolbar │ is used, it goes above └──Tree container split or directory container. Drag and drop: ------------- FM/2 performs routine move and copy operations best using drag and drop. Drag and drop is a simple operation that mimics the way you do things in the real (non-computer, corporeal) world. To move something, for example, you pick it up and put it somewhere else. To initiate a drag and drop operation, place the mouse pointer over an object to move, then press and hold mouse button two (sometimes referred to as B2, usually the right button). Move the mouse, still holding button two down, and a drag image should follow the mouse pointer. The object is "in tow." Now you need to drag this object to a "target," or destination, window. Move the mouse (still holding B2 down) and the pointer and drag image follow. As the pointer passes over various windows, it may change; for example, a familiar symbol, a circle with a bar across it, appears when you are over a control or window that will not accept the dragged object(s). Drag the trailing image to the destination (usually a directory object in the tree container) and release button two when it is over the desired target. The hotspot of the mouse pointer should be over the target, not necessarily the drag image. By default, a drag is a Move operation -- the object is copied to the destination and then the original is deleted. Press and hold the Ctrl key while dragging to perform a copy instead; the drag image will "grey out" to indicate the change of operation requested. Note that if the object you start the drag operation over is highlighted, the drag operation involves all the highlighted objects in the container, not just the one object over which you started. This is a handy way to affect many objects in one operation; highlight them, then start a drag over one of the highlighted objects to grab and drag all the highlighted objects. You might imagine that highlighting objects is like "stacking" a bunch of things in preparation to carrying them all at once. You can highlight an object by clicking it once with mouse button one; click again to unhighlight it. The OS/2 Tutorial has more information and hands-on exercises if you need more help with the basics of drag and drop. It really is simple to master and intuitive once you grasp the basics, so if you're a novice, don't despair. Direct editing: -------------- You can also rename an object by pointing at its filename and clicking mouse button one (B1, usually the left button) while holding down the ALT key, then typing the new filename (the same way you change a WPS object's title). The WPS will let you change the key used to edit titles, so if you've changed it via the WPS Mouse object, use the applicable key. This is known as Direct Editing. Context menus: ------------- Context menus are used for other manipulations. To get a context menu, place the mouse pointer over the object to manipulate and click mouse button two (press/release B2). A popup menu appears with options applicable to the object (again, if the object is highlighted the command will operate on all highlighted objects). If you request a context menu over a blank area of the container, you'll get a popup of commands that affect the entire container (like Views, Filter, and so on). There's more on context menus later in this document, and online. Default actions: --------------- Double-clicking an object causes a default action to be performed. What that default action is depends on the container, the type of object and any associations you might have set up. If the double-click occurs in the tree container, FM/2 switches the last accessed directory container to the directory represented by the object clicked, showing that directory's contents. If the object is in a directory container or the Collector, FM/2 first checks the object to see if it's covered by any associations. If not, FM/2 checks to see if the object is an archive, and views it as one if so. If not, FM/2 checks to see if the object is an executable, and executes it if so. If not, FM/2 checks the file's extension; if .INI, it tries to view using the internal INI viewer; if .HLP it tries to view using the internal help viewer. Finally, if nothing else works, FM/2 views the object using the configured viewer. Pulldown menus: -------------- The standard pulldown menus just under the title bar provide access to some utilities, general configuration options, allow you to split the directory container to look into two different directories, toggle the toolbar off and on, and call up the Collector (a temporary holding place for objects and a seek-and-scan facility combined). If you're mouseless: ------------------- Drag and drop is not emulatable without a mouse, but there are menu equivalents for most drag and drop operations. F10 gets a popup menu for the cursored object, and Shift+F10 gets a popup for the container. The TAB and Shift-TAB keys change the focus container (a container is what we call the windows that hold the file system objects that FM/2 displays and allows you to modify) and the cursor keys move the dotted-line cursor to change the current object. The space bar highlights and unhighlights objects, simulating a single click of mouse button one, and the Enter key causes the default action to be performed on an object, simulating a double-click of mouse button one. The ALT key activates the pulldown menus, and the cursor keys move through the menu options. All of the above work pretty much the way they work under the WPS itself. Again, the OS/2 Tutorial will get you started if you're a complete novice. If you're comfortable with OS/2's WPS, particularly drive objects and directory folders, you already know how to use FM/2 to a great extent. Getting help: ------------ Complete help is available within FM/2 itself. This documentation is meant to give you an overview of FM/2 (so you can discard it right away if it's not something in which you are interested), and then to give you the information you need to get FM/2 installed and running, and finally to give you enough information to start using it, but not to provide a complete breakdown of FM/2's features; that's the job of the online help, where you have the additional benefit of being able to look at the application itself and relate what you see to the instructions. For novices, be sure to take a look at the "How do I...?" help window (select Help from the pulldown menu, then "How do I...?" from the pulldown). Please, I'm begging you, read it. For everyone, I recommend the Contents view of the Help Manager as a good way to browse FM/2's help, and suggest reading the "Context menus" topic. Advanced users might want to check out the "Tips and Tricks" section after looking over the pulldown and popup (context) menus; beginners will probably want to put that off at least until they develop a feel for FM/2. General help is usually immediately available via CTRL-F1. Configuring FM/2: ================ Using the Config main menu option you can edit your Associations (programs that are run when objects are double-clicked in a container directory), External Program setup (the default viewer, editor and compare program used for FM/2's View, Edit and link-drop commands), and Commands (programs that are run when you select them from a popup's Commands submenu on selected objects). You can also set the type of sorting to be done on containers and various toggles that fine-tune FM/2's behavior. These toggles are checked if "on." The data that FM/2 uses to access archives can be edited. The container into which FM/2 places WPS objects that it can create can be changed. The printer used by FM/2 can be altered. Complete help for all the configuration options is available online. Changes are saved automatically as you make them, so FM/2 always remembers how you want it to look and behave. If you mess something up badly (not likely), delete FM2.INI and the program will reset to its defaults. To simplify things for people using FM/2 for the first time, the Config pulldown menu contains a submenu called Quick Configs. You can select one of four different preset configurations from this menu. You'll doubtless want to do further tweaking to get things just the way you like them, but it should get you well on the way. It's also a decent way to see a few of the many faces FM/2 can present. Utilities: ========= FM/2 has been described as taking a "Swiss army knife" approach. Some utilities are provided that aren't directly related to file management. Undelete files provides an interface to OS/2's Undelete function. You're presented with a list of files, and can mark those you want to undelete or eradicate permanently. The drive highlighted in the tree is the drive that is operated upon. Kill processes allows you to kill off most renegade processes that might get loose on your system. Again, you're presented with a list of processes and may choose which to kill. Instant batch file lets you enter a quickie batch file into an MLE (multi line edit field) and then run it. Command line calls up an OS/2 command line. INI Viewer lets you view OS/2 .INI files. The Editor Switch List lets you find and close or recall a window of FM/2's internal editor. Using a separate switch list keeps the OS/2 switch list from getting overly cluttered. Save applications broadcasts a WM_SAVEAPPLICATION to all frame windows. Basically, this requests that the applications save their current state. Minimize all apps minimizes all running applications. Restore all apps restores all running applications. Context Menu Commands: ===================== Context menus are used extensively in FM/2, just as they are in the WPS. To utilize FM/2 to its maximum potential, you need to use the context menus. Following is a brief discussion of available context menu commands to familiarize you with what's available. Context menus are requested by placing the mouse pointer over a desired object in a container (or over container whitespace) and clicking mouse button two (usually the right button). The FM/2 toggle "Redundant menus" puts up a couple of pulldown menu items that can be used to access the context menus, for those who prefer it. Commands that affect the container as a whole are found in context menus requested over whitespace (any empty area of the container or the recessed status lines above it). Commands that affect the objects within the container are requested over the object of interest. If an object is highlighted when a context menu is requested, the commands will usually affect all highlighted objects; otherwise, any commands will affect only the object over which the menu was requested. Menu conventions: ---------------- When a menu command leads to a dialog, the command name is followed by dots (i.e. "Attribs..."). If the command sometimes leads to a dialog, the command is followed by dots in parentheses (i.e. "Shadow(...)"). Accelerator keys: ---------------- In cases where commands have accelerator key equivelants, the accelerator key is listed after the command (i.e. "View ^v", where ^ indicates that the CTRL key must be pressed with the 'v' key, or "Archive... ^A" which indicates that both the CTRL and SHIFT keys must be pressed with the 'a' key). Context menu commands affecting objects: --------------------------------------- (Note that not all commands are available for all objects on all drives.) Attribs leads to a dialog that allows changing an object's file attributes (System, Hidden, Readonly, Archived), date/time and icon. Rename allows you to rename objects. You are notified of conflicts as they occur. An easier method for renaming one object is to point at its text, hold down the ALT key, and click mouse button one. Delete deletes objects. Permanent Delete deletes them so that they cannot be recovered, regardless of the setting of the Force Delete toggle. View views objects through the configured viewer. Edit edits objects with the configured editor. Exec executes (runs) objects. Obviously, satisfactory results will only be obtained with executable or batch/command files. Print prints text files. It'd be a good idea to have a printer to which to print, and have configured it first, before trying to use this. If using the standard WPS, be sure you have a printer object configured for the device you've told FM/2 to use, or you may wind up with FM/2's printing thread blocked for eternity awaiting access to a nonexistent or inaccessible device. Actually, if using the standard WPS, it's recommended that you simply drag files to the WPS printer object and drop them instead of using this command. Hide temporarily hides objects in the container. This is purely an appearance and convenience thing; nothing happens to the file/directory represented by the object. Move and Copy move or copy objects. Drag and drop is recommended over using the menu commands for moving and copying. When using the menu commands, the Walk Drives dialog appears to allow you to select a target. The Command submenu contains any commands that you've configured using the Edit Commands dialog (accessed from the Config pulldown submenu). Commands are programs that are run on the selected object(s). Shadow builds WPS objects on your desktop for selected object(s). The Open submenu allows you to open an object's Settings notebook, open directories as WPS Folders, and open a new FM/2 main window for directories. Archive allows you to build an archive containing the selected object(s). Extract allows you to extract files from selected archives. Save to clipboard allows you to save selected objects to the clipboard as a text list, one per line. You could use this as a list of files to send to someone via modem, etc. Extended Attributes allows you to view an object's extended attributes (EAs), and to edit and add text attributes. Subject allows you to view and change the Subject of an object (a brief description). Set System Pointer appears only for .ICO and .PTR files. This allows you to change a system pointer to the icon file selected. Reset System Pointer appears only for .ICO and .PTR files. This allows you to reset a system pointer to the OS/2 default. Context menu commands affecting containers as a whole: ----------------------------------------------------- (Note that not all commands are available for all containers.) Icon switches the container to Icon view; the object's name appears below its icon. Name switches the container to Name view; the object's name appears beside its icon. Text switches the container to Text view. Text view is the fastest view for a container to maintain, but provides the least information on the objects it contains. Details switches the container to Details view. Details view shows a great deal of information on the objects it contains, including file sizes, dates, and times, but it is the slowest view for a container to maintain. Details Titles is a toggle controlling whether column titles will be displayed when the container is in Details view. Details Icons determines whether icons are shown in Details view. Rather than turning the icons off, consider using Mini Icons. Mini Icons is a toggle controlling whether icons are shown full size or in miniature in views that show icons. Change font leads to a dialog that lets you select a new font for a container (if you're running FM/2 as a WPS replacement; otherwise, you get the WPS' Font Palette object). Change colors leads to a dialog that lets you set new colors for a container (if you're running FM/2 as a WPS replacement; otherwise, you get the WPS' Color Palette object). Rescan rescans the directory associated with a container, or the drive from the current object down in a tree container. FM/2 tries very hard to keep all its windows up to date, but things outside FM/2 can cause changes that FM/2 cannot know about automatically. This command will ensure that your display is current. Resort resorts items in a container. Filter leads to a dialog that lets you set filemasks and attributes for objects to include in the container's display. Parent moves directory containers to the previous (parent) directory. Pick Directory leads to a dialog that allows you to pick from a list of recently used directories. This can be a real timesaver. Previous Directory returns the container to the last directory. This is sort of like a one-step "undo." When you close FM/2, its containers remember what directory they were in and it becomes the "previous" directory. The Select submenu gives you many ways to highlight objects in a container. This lets you quickly build sophisticated selection sets of objects upon which you can perform tasks. The split view container has some additional options that let you select and deselect files based on the relationship between the files in the split container and those in the other directory container. Compare Directories is available only in the split view container. It leads to a dialog that gives a visual comparison of the files in the two directories. Collect from clipboard is available only in the Collector. It's the reverse of Save to clipboard. Context menu commands specific to the tree container: ---------------------------------------------------- (Note that not all commands are available for all objects in the tree.) Info displays information about the selected drive. This is available only in context menus requested on drives. Check Disk runs CHKDSK.COM or PMCHKDSK.EXE (as configured) on the selected drive. This tests the drive and can correct some deficiencies. This is available only in context menus requested on drives. Format Disk runs FORMAT.COM on the selected drive after passing through a dialog (so relax, you have time to change your mind). Formatting a disk will destroy any information already on the disk. This is available only in context menus requested on drives. Expand expands the tree from the point where the context menu was requested to the bottom of the branch. Collapse collapses the tree from the point where the context menu was requested to the bottom of the branch. Make Directory allows you to create new directories. The name of the directory where you requested the context menu is filled in as a starting point for convenience. Directories may be created many levels deep in one pass; intermediate directories are created as required. Partitions calls up FDISKPM.EXE to allow you to modify the partitions on your hard drive. Extreme caution should be exercised; read the help! Totals presents you with a dialog with a tree showing how much diskspace your directories are taking up. Registering FM/2: ================ License: ------- FM/2 is shareware, not free; you can try it before you buy it, and decide not to buy it if it doesn't meet your needs. If you continue to use it beyond thirty (30) days, though, you must register your copy, or stop using it, without exception. Permission is given to distribute the unaltered FM/2 archive at no cost. Distributors may charge small fees for download time or distribution media, but may not under any circumstances charge anything for FM/2 itself. Warranty: -------- There is no warranty, expressed or implied, for FM/2. You get to try it for a very reasonable amount of time before you buy it (or discontinue using it). How to register: --------------- To register FM/2, send $35.00 in US funds ($75.00 US for a commercial registration) to: M. Kimes 542 Merrick Shreveport, LA USA 71104 Add $5.00 US for disk shipment outside the US. No plastic, sorry. You can pick up the registration program (about 23K) online @ (318)222-3455 or file request it from Fidonet#1:380/16.0. If you'd like to do this, let me know what password you'll be using (for file request) when you register. For BBS download, let me know you'll be doing it and there will be a message waiting for you with instructions when you log on. I'll be changing this to a key number that I can email or send via letter soon to speed things up and allow me to offer overseas registrations without the extra $5.00 US (sans disk). Registration entitles you to free upgrades for a period of at least one year from the date of shipment of your registration materials. Allow 4-6 weeks for shipment via snail mail, though I'll try to do much better. Let me know if you're in a rush; I usually wait until I have a new, stable version to build a month's worth of mailings, so you get a new version as well as your registration. Since FM/2 isn't crippled, this usually isn't a problem, but if you disagree, let me know. :-) Frankly, FM/2's success took me by surprise. I've made some changes in the way I handle things to try to be a little more professional, and will continue to do so as I stumble-bum my way into maybe actually _being_ professional. To give you an idea how I can run 4-6 weeks behind, I habitually sit down to make disks and read the registrant's comments as I make the disks. If the registrant reports a bug, has a particularly good idea, or an idea that's simple to implement, I'll often fix/add it right then. If the user has a question that has a simple answer (and one I thought was obvious, but apparently isn't), I'll add it to the "How Do I...?" help section. Add to this that, since late November I've been getting a considerable quantity of registrations, and that I have a full-time job, and you can see how they can build up. So let me know if it's urgent. BTW, I air mail overseas stuff now, and it seems to get lost less often, and I finally figured out they were charging recipients taxes on those claims stickers. See? I'm learning... Note: am considering increasing prices by $5.00 each soon... Support: ------- You can communicate with the author by leaving Feedback at his BBS ((318)222-3455), via Fidonet netmail (Mark Kimes@Fidonet#1:380/16.0), or by snailmail at the address above. Please note that support for unregistered users is definitely not guaranteed, and support for anyone requires that you tell me exactly what's wrong or what's required, in detail. I can't help much if all you tell me is "it didn't work." I don't support updates obtained from the Internet, nor do I recommend that you obtain them there, as their source appears to be unreliable. Do not call me voice on the phone; I will hang up on you. No voice support will be given. I'm not a company and have no employees to field support questions all day. Sorry.