PC Media 7/PC MEDIA CD07.iso/share/os2/av109/av.hlp

OS/2 Help File | 1992-08-24 | 19.2 KB | 482 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Select File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A filename may be entered directly into the Filename entry field, or you may
select a file from the Files listbox.  A listbox is also provided for
Directories, and a drop-down box for Drives, to allow you to move freely around
your file system.

Once a filename is entered (or selected by double click, or highlighting and
pressing the Okay button), AV attempts to determine whether or not the file is
an archive.  If it seems to be, it attempts to get a listing of files in the
archive, with the aid of the configured archiver.  If the list attempt
succeeds, you get the second major dialog box, Archive Contents.  If the file
does not appear to be an archive, or if the list attempt fails, the software
you have specified under Viewer in Configuration is called to let you view the
file, unless the file is an executable program and you have AV in Launcher
mode, in which case it is run.  These default operations may be overridden by
selecting (highlighting) a file and choosing a different action from the dialog
box control labeled "Menu."

(Most of the time, using AV consists of selecting one or more things,  then
choosing something to do with your selection.)

There are a few options under the Menu control that don't apply to selected
files.  Assoc calls up AV's Associations dialog.  Groups calls up AV's Group
Manager.  CMD calls up a copy of CMD.EXE for you; a shortcut.  Mass calls up
the Mass Move/Copy/Delete Files dialog, and Rescan rescans the current
directory, handy for when you've changed diskettes or another process has
diddled with the files in the current directory.

To exit AV, click the Exit button on the AV: Select (Master) Select File dialog
(the dialog that normally comes up first when you start AV). When AV is not in
Launcher mode, pressing the ESCape key while that dialog is active will also
exit AV.

Note that when AV is used as a replacement Workplace Shell, the Exit button on
the Master Select File window reads "Shut" for Shutdown.

See also

Archive Contents
Configuration
Associations
Build Archive
Copy/Move files
Mass Copy/Move/Delete
Group Manager
Registration
Installing AV
Replacing the Workplace


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Associations ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Associations dialog lets you associate a filemask (like *.dwg) with a
particular program.  Then, when AV is in Launcher mode, if you enter or
double-click on a filename that matches the mask, the program is run with the
datafile as part of its argument string (in our *.dwg example, it might start
AutoCAD to edit or plot the drawing).  Other examples might be associating
*.mak files with a compiler make utility and *.c files with a text editor.

You can Clone AV to "tear off" a Select File window.  You might leave this
cloned window "looking into" a particular directory filled with datafiles, and
use it to launch an application on selected files as needed.

The Associations dialog is reached via the Assoc item under Select File's Menu
control.  Note that DOS programs must be run through CMD.EXE (under OS/2 2.0;
AV can't run DOS programs under OS/2 1.x).

In the Run entry box you can use the special symbol "%*" to mean "place the
selected filename here."  Otherwise, AV concats a space and then the filename
to the string you enter in the Run field.  The special symbol "%!" can be used
to insert the full directory path where the selected filename resides.

See also

Select File


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. Build Archive ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Build Archive dialog lets you create a new archive (or update an old
archive).  When you select Build from Select File's Menu control, you'll be
presented with a dialog box that let's you select files to include in the new
archive.  You can also enter a name for the archive in the entry field toward
the top of the screen (or change a name that's already there; if a file was
selected in Select File, its name is copied to the entry field assuming that
it's an old archive to be updated).

You can check the Move to Archive box if you want the original files erased
after being placed into the archive.  Check the Include Directories box if you
want to include directory pathnames in the archive (the selected archiver must
be capable of this, and ARCHIVER.BB2 must have the proper control string in it
[Note: in this version of AV it really doesn't matter; Include Directories
isn't implemented yet]).

If you're using a mouse, single-click a filename to highlight it.  Click again
to unhighlight.  If you're using the keyboard, the spacebar will
highlight/unhighlight.  Once you've highlighted a few files in the Files
listbox, click the Add button.  The files are transfered to the To Archive
listbox.  If you highlight files in the To Archive listbox and click Remove,
they disappear from the To Archive listbox.

The Drives dropdown box and Dirs listbox let you move around the file system
adding files to the To Archive listbox.

Once you've moved all the files you want into the To Archive listbox, click
Okay. If the archive filename in the entry box has a recognizable extension
(i.e. .ARC, .LZH, .ZIP, etc.), AV proceeds to build the archive.  Otherwise
you're presented with another small dialog box that lets you select the
archiver to use.

Once AV has an archive filename, some files to put into the archive, and an
archiver type to go by, it begins building the archive.

Build Archive is available only in registered versions of AV.

See also

Select File
Registration


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. Copy/Move Files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

In the Select File dialog box, highlight a file.  Then select Copy or Move from
the Menu control.  A new dialog box pops up that lets you choose a destination
path, and possibly change the filename (allowing you to rename as you move or
copy the file, or even rename without moving or copying).

The filename is in an entry field toward the top of the dialog box, and can be
changed to allow renaming.  The original filename remains in a text box for
reference.  A new path is selected using the Drives drop-down box and the
Directories listbox.

Click Okay once you have the new path (and filename, if renaming is desired)
set.  This command copies or moves one file at a time.

Copy and Move are available in unregistered copies of AV, but only registered
copies have Mass Copy/Move/Delete.

See also

Select File
Mass Copy/Move/Delete
Registration


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.4. Mass Copy/Move/Delete ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This command moves, copies or deletes many files at a time.

To use this dialog, add files from the "Files" listbox to the "To be acted
upon" listbox using the Add button -- highlight the files in the Files listbox,
then click Add.  To remove files from the "To be acted upon" listbox, highlight
them, then click the Remove button.

When your files are selected as above, choose an action from the Copy, Delete
and Move radio buttons.  Then click Okay.  If you chose Copy or Move, another
dialog box pops up to let you pick the path to which the files will be
moved/copied.

AV will not prompt you on a copy or move, and will only prompt you on delete if
you have "Confirm Delete" checked in the Configuration dialog.

Here's an example of how you might use this dialog:

Move to a directory using the Drives and Directories controls.  Enter "*.BAK"
as the Mask.  Click on the side of the Files listbox to be sure it's active,
then click on the +All button to highlight all files in the listbox.  Now click
on the Add button to place the files in the "To be acted upon" listbox.  Click
the Delete radio button, then click the Okay button.  This action deletes all
*.BAK files in the directory. An experienced mouser can do this in about the
same time than it takes to type "DEL d:\path\*.BAK" on a command line, and you
don't have to load a command line prompt first.

Mass Copy/Move/Delete is available only in registered copies of AV.

See also

Configuration
Copy/Move Files
Registration
Select File


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.5. Installing AV ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Installing AV is easy:

Copy AV.HLP to the directory named in the HELP environment variable (usually
C:\OS2\HELP). Copy ARCHIVER.BB2 to a directory listed in the PATH or DPATH
environment variables. Optionally copy AV.EXE to a directory listed in the PATH
environment variable.  This lets you execute AV from any OS/2 command line.
The ARCHIVER.BB2 file is what AV uses to know about archives.  The file is
fully commented to allow you to make changes to it.  Changes may have to be
made when you upgrade your archivers, or if you use a different archiver than
those listed in the file.

DOS archivers will probably not work with AV.  Get OS/2 versions.

It is possible to use the Launching portion of AV without installing
ARCHIVER.BB2.  You won't be able to view archive contents, but the rest of the
program will function normally.

You can start AV from a command line with a filename as an argument.  AV will
attempt to view it as if it were selected.

AV stores Associations in a file named AVASSOC.AV2.  By default, this file goes
in the first directory listed in DPATH.  You can copy it somewhere else on your
PATH or DPATH and AV will keep it there afterwards. AV makes a back up of this
file whenever it changes it, named AVASSOC.AVB.

AV stores Groups in a file named AVGROUP.AV2.  Same notes apply as for
AVASSOC.AV2.  The back up file is named AVGROUP.AVB.

AV stores other information in an .INI file named AV.INI.  This is an
OS/2-maintained file and AV does not provide a backup.

In the event of data corruption, you can erase these files (or restore backups)
to bring AV back to its default (or saved) state.

See also

Select File
Replacing the Workplace
Associations
Groups


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.6. Replacing the Workplace ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To install AV as a Workplace replacement:

Follow the steps under Installing AV. Change your CONFIG.SYS file to
SET RUNWORKPLACE=<d:><\dir\>AV.EXE.
Shutdown OS/2 and reboot so the change can take effect.

Note that if you REM out the existing SET RUNWORKPLACE line you can replace it
if AV isn't what you thought it would be.  If you have the memory to run
Workplace, I recommend you do so.  You should only consider using AV as the
Workplace if you have less than 8 megs of RAM.

See also

Select File
Installing AV
Group Manager


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

AV's Configuration dialog lets you change the programs that you use to view and
edit files, the current file mask (a wildcard pattern used to determine what
files Select File shows to you, together with the EXEs only and Archives only
toggles; note * is used for all files), and the extraction directory (where
files extracted from archives are placed).

The Reader field is the default reader used to view files.  If a file has a
special extension (i.e. .INF, .ICO, .MET, .BMP, .PKT or .GIF), a special reader
is invoked.  The Editor field is the program used whenever you request to edit
a file.

There are also several checkbox toggles to alter the way AV behaves:

Confirm View determines whether AV will check with you before displaying a file
that wasn't an archive.

Confirm Delete determines whether AV will check with you before deleting a
file.

Confirm Convert determines whether AV will present a warning box to you before
converting an archive from one archiver type to another.

Show Archives Only determines whether AV will let non-archives (as determined
by file extension) show in the Select File dialog.

Use Foreground When Possible determines whether AV runs most everything in
separate sessions or not.  At times AV can run things detached to keep the
screen uncluttered.

Extract W/ Directories determines whether AV will try to extract directories
along with files from archives.

Extract Follows determines whether the Extract Directory follows AV around your
file system or stays put where you started AV from (or subsequently changed it
to using this dialog box).

Launch determines whether AV will attempt to launch files that seem to be
executable when picked in the Select File dialog.

If StartMin is checked, AV will minimize itself if any Groups autostart.

Save As Defaults must be checked for AV to permanently save these items into
AV.INI. Otherwise your changes are only retained for the current session.  Note
that the Extract Directory is never saved.

See also

Select File
Archive Contents


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Archive Contents ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Archive Contents dialog box contains a listbox showing the files contained
in an archive selected at the Select File dialog.  The title bar of this dialog
box shows the archive's name.  An entry field at the top of the screen lets you
"search" the list box by entering part of a filename; the listbox attempts to
place the first matching file at the top of the listbox.  A text field at the
bottom left of the dialog box shows statistics on the archive (file size and
date), and a text field beside that counts the number of highlighted files in
the listbox. Help and Quit buttons are located at the bottom right of the
dialog. A Menu control is present at the upper right of the dialog box.

If you highlight a file in the listbox and press [Enter] (or double-click on
it), AV temporarily extracts and views the file. Note that the listbox allows
multiple selections; only the last highlighted file is viewed.  If the file
being viewed is an archive within the archive, another Archive Contents dialog
box appears.

You can perform other actions on files in the archive, or the archive as a
whole.  The Menu control allows you to delete files, edit a file (and
optionally refresh the archive with the editted file), convert the entire
archive to a different format, extract files, and test the entire archive.  It
also allows you to highlight, or mark, all files in the archive (deletion and
extraction require files to be highlighted), and gives you access to the
Configuration dialog box.

See also

Select File
Configuration


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Groups ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Groups are limited in unregistered copies of AV only.  They behave something
like groups in OS/2 1.x, and are intended for situations where AV displaces the
OS/2 2.0 Workplace as the primary program launcher, such as might be desired on
a low memory machine.

The basic idea is that you create Groups containing your programs, then run
your programs from these Groups.  This lets you organize your workspace (the
desktop) and get to all related utilities simultaneously, while keeping other
Groups minimized or turned off to avoid clutter. Then, when you begin a
different job, you can switch Groups to get the proper environment for the new
job.

For instance, you might have Groups for programming, word processing, system
utilities and games, and keep only the Group you're currently using programs
from "open," keeping the others minimized or closed.

The Save button saves the Group's current position on the desktop. The Grp
button calls up the Group Manager.  The Help button gets you here.  The other
buttons manipulate the programs in the Group.

See also

Adding/Editting Groups
Adding/Editting Programs
Group Manager
Registration
Move/Copy Between Groups


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Move/Copy Between Groups ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog is used to select a Group from a listbox.  The Group selected is
the Group to which you want to Move or Copy a program.

You cannot Move/Copy a program to a Group if the Group already has a program
with the same title.  Change the title of one of the programs if there is a
conflict, then try again.

See also

Group Manager
Groups
Adding/Editting Programs


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Adding/Editting Programs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This dialog lets you add a program to a Group.  The Title entry field is an
arbitrary name; no need to use the program's name.  The Prog field is for the
fully qualified pathname of the program (including drive and directories).  The
Path field specifies the drive and directory in which the program is started.

Note that DOS programs must be started indirectly
(i.e. CMD.EXE /C START /C /DOS <dosprog>)
because AV is a 16-bit application (it'll run under OS/2 1.3 as well as 2.x).
When entering the command line for a DOS program, set the Minimized button and
use /WIN, /MAX, /MIN and /FS to control how START begins the DOS session.

The Minimize, Maximize and Fullscreen radio buttons control how an application
is started (obviously you can't minimize or maximize a fullscreen-only app, nor
run a PM app fullscreen).  The Keep checkbox determines whether a window closes
when the program terminates.  The Autostart checkbox determines whether the
application is automatically started when the Group is started.  The Prompt box
determines whether you are given an opportunity to edit the command line before
it's passed to OS/2, probably to add arguments to the program (for instance, to
add a filename to the command line that calls up a text editor).

Double-clicking, or highlighting with the spacebar and pressing [Enter], on a
program in the listbox causes it to be executed.

See also

Group Manager
Groups
Adding/Editting Groups


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Group Manager ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Group Manager dialog box lets you control your Groups, collections of
programs that can be launched.  These Groups are somewhat similar to the Groups
under OS/2 1.3.

The Save button causes the position of all open Groups on the desktop to be
saved (except minimized groups).  The Help button gets you here, and the Exit
button closes the Group Manager (which may be reopened from the Select File
Menu control or any Group).  The rest of the buttons are used to manipulate
your Groups.

An existing Group is opened by doube-clicking on its listbox title, or
highlighting the title with the spacebar and then pressing [Enter].  New Groups
start out with no program entries (naturally).

Note that Groups are limited in unregistered copies of AV; only two Groups may
be saved, although many may be created.  You should be able to evaluate AV's
Groups with this restriction.

See also

Groups
Adding/Editting Groups
Registration


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. Adding/Editting Groups ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Selecting Add or Edit in the Group Manager brings up this dialog box.

To add a Group, simply enter a title.  Optionally, you can check the Autostart
or Start Minimized buttons.  Autostart Groups are opened when AV begins.  Start
Minimized Groups come up initially as icons (or in the minimized window viewer
if so configured by the OS/2 2.0 Workplace).

See also

Groups
Group Manager
Adding/Editting Programs


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Registration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The unregistered version of AV may be used by private individuals without
charge (but you have to pay to get the registered version with its extra
features).  AV can be registered by private individuals by sending $25.00 US in
check or money order to:

Mark Kimes
542 Merrick
Shreveport, LA  USA  71104
[phone] data
Fidonet#1:380/16

Registration gets you a current version of AV with all features activated, and
free upgrades (via download, or via disk for nominal postage/handling fee) for
at least one year.

To obtain the source code (for personal use only), send $50.00 US more.

Registration is mandatory for use by businesses, governments or religious
organizations; any commercial use and/or for a profit. Commercial licenses are
$50.00 per machine (bulk rates available). Ask about availability of source
code for commercial sites, if interested.

AV is copyright (c) 1992 by M. Kimes -- all rights reserved