Die Ultimative Software-P…i Collection 1996 & 1997/Die Ultimative Software-Pakete CD-ROM fur Atari Collection 1996 & 1997.iso/u/utility/packer/edmshll2/edmshell.doc

Text File | 1996-11-17 | 13.5 KB | 322 lines

EDM SHELL 2.00  by David Holmes
Copyright (c) 1991 David Holmes
Genie: D.HOLMES14

This is a new version of an easy-to-use shell for handling ARC, LZH,
ZIP, and ZOO functions.  It has been designed for use by both
beginners and advanced users.  Everything is already set-up for basic
use, but it is also very versatile and configurable.  Its editable
command lines ensure future compatibility while providing maximum
flexibility.

This program should run on any ST/STe/TT in any resolution.  Please
let me know of any incompatibilities.

The program does not use GEM; instead, it uses a remarkable new
interface called EDM.  This is an enhanced version of the interface
used in the upcoming TX2 Text Processor 1.50.  Read the section on
Using EDM for more information.  (NOTE FOR USERS OF PREVIOUS VERSIONS:
EDM has been upgraded to 2.2, with several new features, listed in the
section on EDM below.)

This program is SHAREWARE.  If you use it, you must pay for it.
Please read the REGISTER.DOC file for information on registering.

I'm open to suggestions for this program.  If there's ANYTHING you
would like added or changed, just let me know.  Write to me using the
address in the REGISTER.DOC file, or send E-Mail on GEnie to
[D.HOLMES14].  (Through U.S. Mail, please enclose a self-addressed
stamped envelope or a GEnie address if you would like a reply.)

You can also leave a message in the ST RoundTable BB on GEnie, page
475, category 2, topic 6.


WHAT IS AN ARCHIVE SHELL?

Most archive programs do not support GEM, and you must use command
lines to operate them.  An archive shell, such as EDM Shell, will
handle all of the messy command lines, and allow the user to simply
worry about what they are trying to accomplish.  Using this one
program, you can handle ARC, LZH (both lh1 and lh5), ZIP, and ZOO
files all from one screen, hardly ever using the keyboard, if you so
desire.


SETTING UP

For easiest use, place all of your archiving programs and this shell
program in the same directory.  The first time you run the program, it
will assume that the archiving programs are in the same folder as
itself.  Otherwise, you must configure the program.

The main dialog box contains only five basic functions in beginner
mode, which is the mode the program will default to.  However, a
button at the bottom ("Use Advanced Menu") will give you ten
functions.  The five new functions are all user-definable!  (See
CONFIGURATION below.)

If all of the archiving programs are in the same directory as
EDMSHELL.PRG, and you want to get started, you can skip the next
section and go to USING THE PROGRAM.

To change the location of any of the archiving programs, select
"Configuration" from the Main Menu.  In the upper-left is a list of
all the five archiving programs.  Select the button of the program you
wish to locate, and you will be presented with the "Set-Up Program"
dialog box.  The current filename of the program is at the top.  To
change it, either edit the filename manually, or click on the
"Locate..." button below it, then use the fileselector to select the
program.


USING THE PROGRAM

Use the five buttons on the right to select whether you want to use
ARC, LZH1, LZH2, ZIP, or ZOO.  The reason for two LZH buttons is
because there are currently two, incompatible versions.

If you are using the EDM Fileselector (see CONFIGURATION, default is
to use the EDM Fileselector), you will only be able to select between
the two LZH programs.  This is because the EDM Fileselector uses
multiple search masks.  It will automatically assign ARC, ZIP, and ZOO
files to the appropriate archive program; however, since the LZH
extender is used for both LZH compression methods, you must select
which you wish to use.

Following is a brief description of the five main functions.  For more
information, read the docs included with the actual archive programs.

Add:  Select this to add files to an archive or to create a new
archive.  First select the ARC/LZH/ZIP/ZOO archive to add to (or enter
the name of a new archive file), then select the file you want to add.
(Wild cards are allowed.)  Clicking on "OKAY" without selecting a file
will default to "*.*", and every file in the current directory will be
selected.

Extract:  With this, you can extract all files from an ARC/LZH/ZIP/ZOO
file. Select the file to extract from, then the path you wish to
extract to.  If you are using the EDM Fileselector, or "Prompt folder"
is on, extracting "To Folder" will create a new folder (in the
currently displayed directory) using the name of the archive file,
minus the extender.  All of the extracted files will appear in this
folder.

List:  Select the ARC/LZH/ZIP/ZOO file you want information on.  A
listing of the files in the archive will be listed.

Move:  This is similar to add, except that after a file has been added
to an archive, the original file will be deleted.

CONVERT:  This is an internal function of EDM Shell.  It will convert
a file to a different compression type (i.e. ARC to LZH).  First
select the file you wish to convert, then choose type of compression
you want.  The original file will not be deleted with this function.

Configuration will call up the main configuration menu.

Use Desk Accessories will bring up a normal GEM menu for you to use
any desk accessories.  Click on "Return to Main Menu" in the File menu
when done.

Quit will quit the program.

Use Beginner/Advanced Menu will toggle between two layouts for the
Main Menu.  The Beginner Menu has only the five basic functions.  The
Advanced Menu contains the five basic functions, plus five user
defined buttons.  These user defined buttons are originally set up for
"Verbose List," "Test," "Update," "Freshen," and "Delete."


CONFIGURATION

On the lower right of the Configuration Menu is a list of options.

- "Hold Screen" will have the program wait for a keypress after doing
any function.

- "Multiple Add" will have the program continue to present you with a
fileselector to add additional files until you select "Cancel."
Otherwise, you will return to the Main Menu after adding a file.

- "Ask Delete" will have the program ask you if you want to delete an
archive after extracting from it.

- "Use EDM Fileselector" will toggle between the EDM Fileselector and
the normal GEM Fileselector (or any replacement you have installed).

- If EDM Fileselector is not selected, "Prompt Folder" will have the
program present an alert box asking if you want to extract to a folder
when doing any extract function.


EDM Shell has complete configurable command lines.  You can create any
function you want with them.  To edit the command lines for any
particular program, simply select its button from the Configuration
Menu.

To name the five user defined functions, type their names in the five
text fields in the upper right of the Configuration Menu.  These names
will appear on the buttons in the Main Menu and in the Program Set-Up
dialog box.

In the Program Set-Up dialog box, the nine boxes below the archive
filename are for the command lines for that particular program.  This
is to ensure future support of all archive programs as well as for you
to create your own functions.  If the command line for your program is
different from the defaults, just change it.

The command line usually consists of two things: the command plus the
filenames to pass.  For example, to add a file, most archivers use "a
file.arc anyfile.ext".  The "a" tells it that it is to add a file.
The "file.arc" is the name of the archive file to add to.  Finally,
"anyfile.ext" is the file to add.  In the editable command lines, you
should have the command, followed by control keys to represent the
filenames, making sure to include proper spacing, etc.  Each time EDM
Shell finds a control key, it will present the appropriate
fileselector.  They are as follows:

[CONTROL]-[A] Select archive file (this must always be present)
[CONTROL]-[F] Select file to add
[CONTROL]-[X] Select extract path
[CONTROL]-[N] Enter filename (presents a dialog box in which to enter
the name of one file)

Use the present command lines for examples.

Be sure to save the configuration when you are finished, so that you
will not have to go through all that again.  When you save the
configuration, the program will write the actual screen colors to the
file, so if you don't like the default, simply change the colors using
the control panel, then save the configuration.

Hope you enjoy the program, and don't forget to read REGISTER.DOC.


USING EDM

------------
New for version 2.2:

- EDM has been made more resolution independent.  It should take
advantage of color in higher resolutions.

- "3-D Gray" should now work in monochrome resolutions.

- Text fields can now be selected with the mouse.

- The first version of the new EDM Fileselector has been added.  It is
not yet finished, but it is still usable.

- Drag bars, "hot spots," and dynamic buttons have been added.
------------

The dialog boxes used in the program are not GEM.  The program uses a
new interface known as EDM, which can emulate GEM, but offers many
additional features.

There are three types of buttons:

"Action buttons" close the dialog box and either perform an action or
take you to another dialog box.  Their look differs depending on what
mode you're using (see below).

"Flag buttons" are shadowed rectangles.  When darkened, they are "on."
When blank, they are "off."

"Option buttons" are shadowed rectangles with curved corners.  Only
one option can be selected from each group.

Any of these can be select by left-clicking on them with the mouse.
The keyboard can also be used.

In action and flag buttons, there will usually be a highlighted
letter.  When running the program in a color graphics mode, they will
appear in a different color; in monochrome, they will be underlined.
You can select the buttons by pressing [ALTERNATE] plus the
highlighted letter.  (The "?" button can also be selected by pressing
[HELP].)

You will notice that one of the action buttons has a thicker border.
This is the "active" button.  You can cycle through the buttons by
using the [TAB] key.  To cycle backwards, use [SHIFT]-[TAB].  The
active button can always be selected by pressing [RETURN].

Text fields will appear as a row of underline characters.  Just type
in what you want; only the allowable characters will appear.  You can
use the left and right arrow keys, the [BACKSPACE] key, and the
[DELETE] key as normal.  Also, the [ESC] key will clear the field.  To
change to another field, use the up and down arrow keys (not [TAB]).
You can also click on a text field to move there.

In the upper-left corner of most dialog boxes will be an "X" button
and a checkmark button.  The "X" button is like a close box.  It will
simply exit the dialog box as if you selected "Cancel".  Note if you
have changed some options in the dialog box, these changes will be
lost unless you use "OKAY".

Click on the checkmark button to bring up the EDM Set-Up Menu.  From
this menu you can choose from three distinct looks, and three
different ways to press buttons.

The three looks are as follows:

"GEM clone" does what it says.  EDM attempts to make the dialog boxes
look like a normal GEM dialog.

"Decorative" is the default look.  It uses shaded buttons and a
highlighted title bar.

"3-D Gray" presents everything drawn in shades of gray, creating a 3-D
effect.

You can also choose three ways to press action buttons:

"Push buttons" will have it appear as though the button is being
pressed in.  This does not work in GEM clone mode.

"Highlight buttons" will simply change the color of the button.

"Flash buttons" is similar to highlight, except that the button
flashes a few times after you first select it.  Note that this works
on all buttons, not just action buttons.

Experiment with the different looks and feels and select the one you
like the best.  Note that the change will not take place until you
exit this menu.

Also in the EDM Set-Up Menu, "Save defaults" will save the selected
look and button press to a small file called "EDMSHELL.EDM".

Using the EDM Fileselector 0.1

The EDM Fileselector is different from the standard GEM fileselector
in many ways.  There are two scrollable areas: the left box is for
directories, the right is for files.  Between the two boxes are the
search masks.  At the top is the current path, and the currently
selected file is on the right, just above the exit buttons and drive
selector.

To change drives, click on the drive's button in the box on the lower
right.  To change directories, click on the directory in the box on
the left.  You can also edit the path at the top with the keyboard.
Click in the right box NOT over a directory name to change to the
directory you typed in.  Note: ".." means the previous directory.  It
is the same as the close box in the GEM directory.  This is the more
common way of referring to a previous directory.

The EDM Fileselector supports multiple search masks.  Each of the
highlighted extenders will be presented in the file list.  Selecting
"*.*" will turn off all of the other masks and display all files in
the directory.

To select a file, click on it in the box on the right, or type in the
filename.  Then, select an exit button on the right.  They are usually
"OKAY" and "Cancel", but can change depending on the fileselector's
function.  Double-clicking will select the file and the top exit
button.


Program and instructions copyright (c) 1991 David Holmes
GEnie: D.HOLMES14