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- LOOK2 Documentation
-
- LOOK2 v1.0 ∞ An OS/2 File Viewing Utility ∞
- Copyright (c) 1992 Southwest Software (tm)
- 8511 Selway Drive, Austin, TX 78736 CompuServe 76330,3577
-
- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> SHAREWARE SOFTWARE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
-
- This program is copyrighted software. You may and are encouraged to
- copy and share it with others as long as it is copied in its entirety
- unmodified and no charge is made for it. If you find LOOK2 useful in
- your OS/2 environment, please send a $20 registration fee along with
- a filled-out registration form to the address below. In return, you
- will receive a lifetime registration number that is valid for this
- and any future versions of LOOK2. Registered users will receive
- notifications by mail when new versions of LOOK2 are available to be
- downloaded.
-
- Although LOOK2 was written with great care and attention (I wrote it
- originally for my own use), it like any other computer program may
- contain bugs. That being the case, I must, reluctantly, make the
- following disclaimer.
-
- %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% DISCLAIMER %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
-
- THE USER OF THE PROGRAM BY USING IT AGREES NOT TO HOLD SOUTHWEST
- SOFTWARE NOR ITS OWNERS NOR ITS EMPLOYEES LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE
- THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EITHER THE PROPER OR IMPROPER
- FUNCTIONING OR BY THE USE OR MISUSE OF THE LOOK2 SYSTEM.
-
- %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% END OF DISCLAIMER %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
-
- That being said, if you decide to become a registered user of LOOK2,
- PLEASE let me know of any bugs you encounter in LOOK2. I may be
- contacted in CompuServe or Fidonet or by mail at the addresses
- below. If there is a feature that you would like to see changed or
- added, please don't hesitate to let me know. I cannot promise I will
- be able to implement your ideas, but I will do my best.
-
- Gary Bourque
- Southwest Software
- 8511 Selway Drive
- Austin, TX 78736
- CompuServe 76300,3577
- Fidonet 1:382/87
-
-
-
-
-
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
-
- 0. HOW TO REGISTER FOR LOOK2 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
-
-
- 1. INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
- What is LOOK2? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
- LOOK2 Philosophy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
-
-
- 2. RUNNING LOOK2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
- Invoking LOOK2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
- Filespec Variations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
- Directing LOOK2 with the Keyboard and Mouse - - - - 3
- Setting LOOK2 Options - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
- The LOOK2FLAGS Environment Variable - - - - - - - 4
- LOOK2 Options - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
-
-
- 3. THE DIRECTORY SCREEN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6
- Directory Screen Option Commands - - - - - - - - - 6
- Directory Screen Action Commands - - - - - - - - - 7
- Directory Screen Usage Notes - - - - - - - - - - - 9
-
-
- 4. THE FILE SCREEN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
- File Screen Option Commands - - - - - - - - - - - 9
- File Screen Action Commands - - - - - - - - - - - 10
- File Screen Usage Notes - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
-
-
- 5. OTHER LOOK2 NOTES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
-
-
-
-
- 0. HOW TO REGISTER FOR LOOK2.
-
- LOOK2 is shareware. As such, you are expected to, if you continue to use
- it after an initial trial period, to register and pay for the continued
- use of it. What is the length of the trial period? Well, that I leave
- up to the discretion of the individual user. Those of us who have used
- shareware pretty much know when we are done trialing a product and have
- added it to our set of tools. When you reach that point with LOOK2,
- please register. Its easy, you will be registered for life and you
- will help all my hard work pay off. Here's what to do.
-
- 1. Fill out a copy of the enclosed order form. Please print
- or type and be complete.
-
- 2. Mail the order form along with a check or money order
- for the total number of copies ordered plus tax, if any.
-
- 3. In as short a time as possible, you will receive a letter
- containing the registration numbers for each name registered
- along with instructions on how to invoke LOOK2's registration
- process.
-
- 4. Start up LOOK2 for registration and enter your name and number
- to it. Now you are registered.
-
- 5. As a registered user you will be notified by mail of any new
- versions of LOOK2 and how to download them from a local or
- national bulletin board.
-
- Corporate multi-user accounts are available, please call for prices.
-
- - 1 -
-
-
-
- 1. INTRODUCTION.
-
- What is LOOK2?
-
- LOOK2 is a text-based OS/2 directory and file viewing and manipulation
- program. I decided to write LOOK2 because there were no, I felt,
- adequate file/directory tools for OS/2 at that time. LOOK2 provides
- some of the same features of other popular file viewers and adds some
- of its own that none of the others provide.
-
-
- Just some of LOOK2's features are:
-
- o Directory history.
-
- o Mouse support.
-
- o 25, 43 or 50 video lines modes.
-
- o Multiple sort key directory sorting capability with automatic sorting.
-
- o File viewing in hexadecimal mode.
-
- o Toggling between hex and text mode maintaining file position.
-
- o Direct go to line or offset capability.
-
- o Text editor invocation.
-
- o .EXE, .COM or .CMD synchronous or asynchronous program execution.
-
- o Ability to mark and copy, move or delete groups of files and
- subdirectories at once.
-
- o Deletion of empty or non-empty directories.
-
-
-
- LOOK2 Philosophy
-
- One of the main features I wanted to include in LOOK2 was the
- ability to "travel" around among files, directories and drives and
- still be able to easily get back where I started. With this in mind,
- I built in a directory history feature that, when enabled, remembers
- each directory you have viewed. Pressing the ESCAPE key from a
- directory screen takes you back to the directory you were in before
- the current one, if one exists.
-
- That being the case, ESCAPE will never cause LOOK2 to terminate.
- ESCAPE is the backout key in LOOK2. If you're like me, you find it
- annoying when ESCAPE is used prominently to move around in a program
- and also causes the program to terminate, because you often exit the
- program unintentionally. So, F10 is the only keystroke that will
- cause LOOK2 to terminate.
-
- - 2 -
-
-
-
- 2. RUNNING LOOK2.
-
- Invoking LOOK2
-
- LOOK2 is invoked from an OS/2 command prompt by typing
-
- LOOK2 [options] [drive:][path][file]
-
-
- Filespec Variations
-
- If the drive/path/file (filespec) data is the name of a file, the
- file will be displayed for viewing. If it is a directory, the
- directory will displayed. If it contains valid wildcards, any files
- matching the wildcard will be queued for display and the first
- matching file will be displayed. If no filespec is entered, the
- current directory will be displayed.
-
- If the file or directory cannot be found, LOOK2 displays a message and
- terminates. If the wildcard had no matches, LOOK2 displays a message and
- then goes to the directory screen either of the current directory or the
- directory included in the wildcard spec. Please note that the wildcard
- portion of the filespec is for files, not paths. So, while the following
- spec is valid...
-
- LOOK2 F:\LOOK2\L*.?
-
-
- This next one is invalid...
-
- LOOK2 F:\LO**\LOOK2.EXE
-
-
-
- Directing LOOK2 with the Keyboard or the Mouse
-
- LOOK2 may be controlled either by a variety of keystrokes or mouse
- actions. To enter a command either press the upper-case letter of a
- command listed in the top row of a directory or file screen or click
- it with the left mouse button.
-
- To change an option setting either press ALT and the letter of the
- option (video mode is V) or click the option (right of 'Ops:' on the
- top row) with the left mouse button. When an option is enabled, it
- will be uppercase; when disabled, lowercase. Note, that while
- directory column count is one of the options that can be clicked
- with the mouse, the corresponding keyboard command does not require
- the ALT key to be pressed. Just press 1 through 5 to change the
- column count.
-
- ESCAPE is the backout key in LOOK2. The right mouse button is
- equivalent to ESCAPE.
-
- In file viewing mode, the mouse my be used on the right scroll bar to
- scroll through the file.
-
- In text mode the cursor may be placed on a text item by clicking the
- left mouse button. This is useful when using Microsoft QuickHelp as
- a monitor under OS/2 since QuickHelp searches for the subject at the
- cursor location when alt-Q is pressed.
-
- - 3 -
-
-
-
- Setting LOOK2 Options
-
- Any number of LOOK2 options may be include before the filespec. A LOOK2
- option has the following format.
-
- /[o][data]
-
- Where o is an option letter or number and data is some required or
- optional data for the option. If the option is of the on/off
- variety, the '+' or '-' sign may be included to override settings in
- the LOOK2FLAGS environment variable, where '+' is on and '-' is off.
- If the '+' or '-' are omitted, '+' is the default. The options do
- not have to be separated by spaces and may be upper or lower case.
- Do not use a '-' in lieu of the '/'. For example to turn off any
- sounds LOOK2 may produce enter:
-
- LOOK2 /B-
-
- Many LOOK2 options correspond to LOOK2 commands to the directory screen
- or file screen or both.
-
-
-
- The LOOK2FLAGS Environment Variable
-
- Any option may be set the LOOK2FLAGS environment variable. When
- placed there, they will effect any execution of LOOK2. Note that
- command line options always override the evironment variable. The
- LOOK2FLAGS environment variable may be set in CONFIG.SYS or in any
- .CMD file you run to initialize command prompt sessions. Do not
- placed filespecs to be viewed in LOOK2FLAGS, only options are
- allowed. For example to turn off sound, place the following in
- CONFIG.SYS or a .CMD file.
-
- SET LOOK2FLAGS=/B-
-
-
- LOOK2 Options
-
- /1bf Sets border colors where b is the background color and
- f is the foreground color.
-
- Valid colors are:
- Color Value Color Value
-
- Black 0 Dark Gray 8
- Blue 1 Light Blue 9
- Green 2 Light Green A
- Cyan 3 Light Cyan B
- Red 4 Light Red C
- Magenta 5 Light Magenta D
- Brown 6 Light Yellow E
- Light Gray 7 White F
-
- Please note that colors from 8-F used for background
- colors will cause the foreground to blink in a full-screen
- session.
-
- - 4 -
-
-
-
- /2bf Sets text colors where b is the background color and
- f is the foreground color.
-
- /3bf Sets marked text colors where b is the background color and
- f is the foreground color.
-
- /B[+-] Turns beep mode on or off. Defaults are on and '+'.
- Corresponding command is alt-B.
-
- /C[+-] Turns on upper or lower case display of directory and hex
- file screens. '+' is uppercase; '-' lowercase. Default
- is on. Corresponding command is alt-C.
-
- /Enfile~ops~...
- Type and filespec of text editor program to be invoked
- when the E command is executed and the operands to be
- passed to it.
- Where:
- n - Text editor type, 1=full-screen, 2=windowed, 3=PM
- file - Text editor filespec, may be name only or
- drive/path/name. Include the file extension.
- If name only must be in PATH=. Default is E.EXE
- ops - Any operands (options) to be passed to the editor.
- Must be separated by '~'.
-
- /I[+-] Turns directory history tracking on or off. Default is on.
- Corresponding command is alt-I.
-
- /Dn Sets number of columns in the directory screen where n is
- 1 - 5. The fewer the number of columns the more information
- LOOK2 can display. Corresponding commands are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
-
- /Kkfesdta Directory menu sort keys where possible settings are any
- combination and sequence of:
-
- k - Kind (Sorts directories before files).
- f - File name.
- e - File extension.
- s - File size.
- d - File last write date.
- t - File last write time.
- a - File attributes.
-
- All sorts are ascending except for by attributes.
- Default is kfe.
-
- /L[+-] Causes scroll down from bottom or scroll up from top to
- "loop" back to the other end. When off, LOOK2 beeps when
- a scroll passed top or bottom of list is attempted.
- Default is off.
- Corresponding command is alt-L.
-
- /Pn Number of seconds LOOK2 displays a message before the message
- is cleared. Zero (0) means the message will not be cleared
- until a keyboard or mouse action occurs.
-
- /S[+-] Sets text search case sensitivity. Default is off.
- Corresponding command is alt-S.
-
- - 5 -
-
-
-
- /Tn Set the width of a tab character and a horizontal scroll.
- Valid values are 0-8. Default is 8. The alt-T command
- toggles text display tab expansion on and off.
-
- /Vnn Set video display mode line count. Valid values are
- 25, 43, 50. Has no effect in an OS/2 window. Default
- is setting of session when LOOK2 is started. Corresponding
- command is alt-V.
-
- /W[+-] Turn on or off long line wrapping in text file viewing mode.
- Default is off. Corresponding command is alt-W.
-
- /Zn Set default screen type of non-PM programs executed with
- the X command. Valid settings are:
-
- 0 - Get definition from the program.
- 1 - Full-screen.
- 2 - Windowed.
- 4 - Whatever LOOK2 is currently running under.
-
- Default is 0.
-
-
-
-
- 3. THE DIRECTORY SCREEN.
-
- The LOOK2 directory screen presents a list of the entries in the
- current directory plus all the drives on your computer. The first
- entry will be highlighted. By using the direction keys or
- single-clicking the mouse, you may highlight any entry. By pressing
- ENTER or double-clicking the mouse on an entry, the entry will be
- opened. That is, either the file will be displayed or the directory
- or drive will be entered and displayed. Some directory screen
- commands operate on the currently highlighted entry.
-
- Directories are identified by a '' or '' prefix. '' indicates
- the parent directory and will prefix only '..'. '' indicates a
- subdirectory. Drives are identified by a ':' in the second
- position and always appear last in the display.
-
-
- Directory Screen Option Commands
-
- The settings of the directory screen options are displayed on the
- right side of the top line of the display next to the 'Ops:'
- heading. Letter settings in uppercase indicate the option is on;
- lowercase indicates the option is off. The settings 2, 4, or 5
- in column 71 indicate video line mode 25, 43, or 50. The settings
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in column 73 indicate the number of directory columns.
-
- The setting may be toggled by single-clicking the option setting with
- the left mouse button or by the following keyboard actions.
-
- - 6 -
-
-
-
- 1 - 5 - Changes directory menu to the specified number of columns
- The fewer the columns, the more information per entry is
- displayed.
-
- In the one column display the information displayed is:
- Filename Extension Size Date Time Attributes
-
- One column of information above is removed for each one column
- increase in the display. Corresponding command line
- option /D.
-
- alt-B - Toggle beep on or off. Corresponding command line option /B.
-
- alt-C - Toggle case of directory and hex screen display.
- Corresponding command line option /C.
-
- alt-I - Toggle directory history on or off. When on, user will be
- able to return to previously visited directories by pressing
- ESCAPE or the right mouse button. Corresponding command line
- option /I.
-
- alt-L - Toggle directory scroll looping on or off. When on, scrolls up
- from top or down from bottom will "loop" to the other end.
- Corresponding command line option /L.
-
- alt-V - Toggles video mode from 25 line to 43 line to 50 line.
- Corresponding command line option /V.
-
-
-
- Directory Screen Action Commands
-
- For commands in upper and lower case, the upper case letter is the command
- hot key.
-
- HOME, END, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, PAGE-UP, PAGE-DOWN
- - Move light bar to highlight an entry name.
-
- ENTER - Go to a new drive or directory or open a file for viewing.
-
- INSERT - Marks the current entry for group copy, move or delete.
- Parent directories and drives cannot be marked. When
- a entry is marked, a flashing check mark will appear
- between the filename and its extension.
-
- DELETE - Unmarks the current entry.
-
- alt-INSERT - Marks all entries.
-
- alt-DELETE - Unmarks all entries.
-
- Copy - Prompts the user for a location (directory or file)
- and copies the current entry or the marked entries to
- the location the user specifies.
-
- Delete - Prompts the user for verification and deletes
- current entry or the marked entries.
-
- - 7 -
-
-
-
- Edit - Invokes the editor specified in the /E option (or
- E.EXE if /E not entered) to edit the current entry.
- Directories and drives cannot be edited.
-
- eXec - Prompts for arguments to the program and whether or
- not the program should be executed asynchronously then
- the executes the current entry if it has a .EXE, .COM
- or .CMD extension. If the program is executed
- synchronously, the program must terminate before the user
- will return to LOOK2. If executed asynchronously, the
- program executes totally separately and continues
- to execute even after LOOK2 terminates.
-
- mKdir - Prompts for a new directory name and creates it.
-
- sPec - Prompts for a new filespec (directory, file or wildcard)
- and displays it.
-
- Move - Prompts the user for a location (directory or file)
- and moves the current entry or the marked entries to
- the location the user specifies.
-
- Rename - Prompts the user for a new name and renames the
- current entry to that name.
-
- Sort - Prompts the user for sort keys and sorts the current
- directory display accordingly. Multiple sort keys are
- allowed. Drive letters are not included in the sort.
- Sort keys can be any combination of:
-
- k - Kind (Sorts directories before files).
- f - File name.
- e - File extension.
- s - File size.
- d - File last write date.
- t - File last write time.
- a - File attributes.
-
- All sorts are ascending except for by attributes.
- Corresponding command line option /S.
- The default is kfe. Once sort keys are entered, they
- are active for any new directory LOOK2 displays until
- they are changed or cleared. If you request a sort but
- enter no keys (i.e just press enter), the current sort
- keys are cleared and no sorting is performed until
- new sort keys are entered.
-
- ESCAPE - Go to previous directory in history.
-
- F1 - Display help screens.
-
- F10 - Terminate LOOK2.
-
- - 8 -
-
-
-
- Directory Mouse Actions
-
- Left click commands to execute.
-
- Left click options to toggle.
-
- Left click a directory entry to highlight it.
-
- Left double-click a directory entry to open a file or enter a
- directory or drive.
-
- Right click is the same as ESCAPE.
-
-
-
-
- Directory Screen Usage Notes
-
- If a subdirectory is the object of a copy command is a subdirectory,
- then the target name entered will be an existing or new directory.
-
- Only the Copy, Move and Delete commands can be operated upon marked
- entries. Other commands can be executed upon the current entry while
- entries are marked. But, be aware. Some commands force a re-read of
- the directory which clears all marks.
-
- Group copies to a file do NOT concatenate, so there is no reason to
- do this.
-
- Moves across drives are not allowed. Use the Copy, then the Delete
- commands.
-
- If a file has the read-only attribute set, LOOK2 will notify the user
- upon a delete request, but will carry out the deletion if the user
- desires.
-
- If you try to delete a non-empty directory, LOOK2 will warn you that you
- are about to do so. You may then abort or proceed with the deletion.
-
- Pressing ESCAPE or clicking the right mouse button will clear a dialog
- box and abort the corresponding function.
-
- Pressing ESCAPE or clicking the right mouse button will cause LOOK2 to
- go to the previously displayed directory.
-
-
-
- 4. THE FILE SCREEN.
-
- The LOOK2 file screen presents a single file to be viewed. The
- direction keys or mouse actions the scroll bar on the right may be
- used to scroll through the file. The file may be displayed in either
- text or hex mode. Lines may be wrapped if desired.
-
-
- File Screen Option Commands
-
- The settings of the files screen options are displayed on the right
- side of the top line of the display next to the 'Ops:' heading.
- Letter settings in uppercase indicate the option is on; lowercase
- indicates the option is off. The setting 2, 4, or 5 in column 71
- indicates video line mode 25, 43, or 50. The settings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- in column 73 indicate directory column count.
-
- - 9 -
-
-
-
- A setting may be toggled by single-clicking the option setting with
- the left mouse button or by the following keyboard actions.
-
- alt-B - Toggle beep on or off. Corresponding command line option /B.
-
- alt-C - Toggle case of directory and hex screen display.
- Corresponding command line option /C.
-
- alt-S - Toggle case sensitivity of text searches.
- Corresponding command line option /S.
-
- alt-T - Toggle expansion of tabs on or off. The tab width is
- set by the /T option. It's default is 8.
-
- alt-H - Toggle hex display on or off.
-
- alt-W - Toggle line wrap on or off. Corresponding command line
- option /W.
-
- alt-V - Toggles video mode from 25 line to 43 line to 50 line.
- Corresponding command line option /V.
-
-
-
-
- File Screen Action Commands
-
- For commands in upper and lower case, the upper case letter is the command
- hot key.
-
- HOME, END, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, PAGE-UP, PAGE-DOWN
- - Scroll through file.
-
- alt-LEFT - Go to column one.
-
- Goto - Prompts for a line number in text mode or a hex or
- decimal offset in hex mode and goes to it.
-
- sPec - Prompts for a new filespec (directory, file or wildcard)
- and displays it.
-
- Quit - Go to next file in wildcard match list if wildcard
- was input. Goes to directory screen if at end of
- end of wildcard list or no wildcard was input.
-
- ESCAPE - Go to directory menu.
-
- F1 - Display help screens.
-
- F2 - Prompts for a string and then searches forward for it
- starting at the current position. Use alt-S to turn
- case sensitivity on or off.
-
- F3 - Searches again for the last input string. Case sensitivity
- may be toggled in between searches.
-
- F10 - Terminate LOOK2.
-
- - 10 -
-
-
-
-
- File Mouse Actions
-
- Left click commands to execute.
-
- Left click options to toggle.
-
- Double left click scroll bar arrows to go to the top or bottom of
- the file.
-
- Left click or left click and hold on arrows to scroll up or down a
- line at a time.
-
- Left click or left click and hold on scroll bar body above or below
- elevator to scroll up or down a page at a time.
-
- Left click on text to place cursor. This is useful when running
- QuickHelp as a monitor since QuickHelp will do an automatic search on
- the subject above the cursor when alt-Q is pressed.
-
- Right click is the same as ESCAPE.
-
-
-
-
- File Screen Usage Notes
-
- Files with certain extensions will be brought up initially in hex mode.
- The currently supported extensions are:
-
- .EXE
- .COM
- .DLL
- .OBJ
- .LIB
- .SYS (except CONFIG.SYS)
- .DRV
- .BIN
- .FNT
- .BMP
- .GIF
-
- When wrap mode is on, scroll actions still move by the text line. So,
- if a line is wrapped once, scrolling passed it will cause the LOOK2 to
- scroll two screen lines.
-
- Toggling between text and hex modes will keep the current file
- position. When you toggle from hex to text mode after scrolling in
- hex mode LOOK2 must search for the current position from the top or
- bottom of the file in order to determine the line number. So, there
- may be a slight delay when viewing large files.
-
- Searches done from hex mode will place the display in text mode.
-
- Text marks set on file searches are cleared when a message is cleared.
-
- Use the Goto command to move to a line number in text mode or a hex or
- decimal offset in hex mode.
-
- - 11 -
-
-
-
- Pressing ESCAPE or clicking the right mouse button will clear a dialog
- box and abort the corresponding function.
-
- Pressing ESCAPE or clicking the right mouse button will cause LOOK2 to
- go to the current directory display.
-
-
-
-
- 5. OTHER LOOK2 NOTES
-
-
- LOOK2 uses a separate thread to clear messages displayed upon the
- screen. The /P command sets the number of seconds LOOK2 displays a
- message before clearing it. Valid setting are 0 through 9. Zero (0)
- turns off timed message clearing. The default is 3 seconds.
-
- If a message is displayed, any keystroke or mouse action will clear
- it immediately. The action will then be carried out. The exception
- is ESCAPE (and right mouse button). If these are input when a message
- is displayed, the message is cleared, but the ESCAPE action is not
- carried over to the parent screen. So, ESCAPE can be used to clear a
- message at any time.
-
- LOOK2 will support HPFS files and drives, but it will not support
- files which have filenames longer than eight characters or extensions
- longer than three characters.
-
- - 12 -