═══ 1. About PMVDesk ═══

PMVDesk is a Virtual Desktop utility for the OS/2 2.x Workplace Shell. When you 
start the program you will see a 9 button grid. Each button represents a screen 
(of your current videoadapter resolution). The current screen is marked with an 
"X". 

When you press one of the buttons (move the cursor over it and click mouse 
button 1) you move to that virtual location. (In this version you can not see 
your open windows in the PMVDesk application, ...but just wait for the future 
versions). Your Workplace Shell Desktop (icons) will always be visible. This 
way you can easily get hold of those objects (where ever you are). 


═══ 2. Environment variables ═══

PMVDesk uses a environment variable: PMVDESK_INI. This variable specifies the 
filename (including full path) that PMVDesk should use for storing its options. 
If this environment variable is not set, PMVDesk will create the file 
PMVDESK.INI in the current directory and store its information there. I 
recommend that you put the line: 

o SET PMVDESK_INI=C:\OS2\PMVDESK.INI 

in your CONFIG.SYS (Of course, you can use any other path or filename that you 
want). By doing this you avoid multiple copies of PMVDESK.INI scattered around 
your hard drive. 

Note:  You will have to reboot before this line will take effect. 

PMVDesk will "remember" it's last position and virtual screen. If you put a 
PMVDesk Program Object in your startup folder, it will start where you last 
left it. You may also "Shutdown" your system without closing PMVDesk (because 
"Shutdown" closes it for you). Remember to put the line: 

o SET RESTARTOBJECTS=STARTUPFOLDERSONLY 

in your CONFIG.SYS file before SET AUTOSTART=PROGRAMS, TASKLIST, FOLDERS, 
CONNECTIONS. 


═══ 3. Key Assignments ═══

When two key names are joined by a plus sign (+), use these two keys together. 
Hold down the first key and press the second key. 

ALT + F        Frame controls 

ALT + T        Float on top 

SHIFT + F10    Popup menu 

ALT + F4       Close window and exit application 

ALT + F5       Restore window 

ALT + F7       Move window 

ALT + F8       Size window 

ALT + F9       Minimize window 

ALT + F10      Maximize window 

ALT + F11      Hide window 

CTRL + ESC     Workplace Shell "Window List" 

F1             Help 


═══ 4. Options Menu ═══

The following commands appear in the Options menu: 

Frame controls      Hide/Unhide title and menu bars 

Float on top        Keep PMVDesk the topmost window 

Retrieve windows 
on exit             Retrieves windows on exit 

Util + Retrieve 
windows             Retrieves windows 


═══ 5. Frame controls ═══

Uncheck "Frame Controls" to hide title and menu bars. You can also use ALT + F. 


═══ 6. Float on top ═══

Check "Float on top" to keep PMVDesk the topmost window. Uncheck to let it 
behave as a normal window. You can also use ALT + T. 


═══ 7. Retrieve windows on exit ═══

Check "Retrieve windows on exit" to retrieve windows back to the active desktop 
when you exit PMVDesk. 

Note:  Retrieved windows are hidden. To activate: select application from 
Workplace Shell "Window List". Only windows with child windows (ex. dialog 
windows) are retrieved visible. 


═══ 8. Util ═══

"Util" + "Retrieve windows" to retrieve windows back to the active desktop. 

Note:  Retrieved windows are hidden. To activate: select application from 
Workplace Shell "Window List". Only windows with child windows (ex. dialog 
windows) are retrieved visible. 


═══ 9. Popup Menu ═══

Popup menu available when frames are hidden. To activate press mouse button 2 
between the border and the 9-button grid, or press SHIFT + F10. 

The following commands appear in the popup menu: 

Help                Default help menu 

Window              System menu 

Util + Retrieve 
windows             Retrieves windows 

Frame Controls      Hide/Unhide title and menu bars 

Float on top        Keep PMVDesk the topmost window 

Retrieve windows 
on exit             Retrieves windows on exit 

Cancel              Cancel any selection, and quit popup menu 


═══ 10. Help ═══

 By pressing "Help", the "Help index" will open. 

 By pressing the tiny button with a tiny arrow, you open a submenu. From this 
submenu you can choose between: 

o Help index. 

o General help. 

o Using help. 

o Keys help. 

o Product information. 


═══ 11. Window ═══

 By pressing "Window", you open a system submenu. From this submenu you can 
choose between: 

o Move. Move window. 

o Size. Size window. 

o Hide. Hide window. 

o Close. Close window and quit application. 


═══ 12. Util ═══

 By pressing "Util", you open a submenu. From this submenu you can choose: 

o Retrieve windows. Retrieve windows back to the active desktop. 

  Note:  Retrieved windows are hidden. To activate: select application from 
  Workplace Shell "Window List". Only windows with child windows (ex. dialog 
  windows) are retrieved visible. 


═══ 13. Frame controls ═══

Check "Frame Controls" to show title and menu bars. You can also use ALT + F. 


═══ 14. Float on top ═══

Check "Float on top" to keep PMVDesk the topmost window. Uncheck to let it 
behave as a normal window. You can also use ALT + T. 


═══ 15. Retrieve windows on exit ═══

Check "Retrieve windows on exit" to retrieve windows back to the active desktop 
when you exit PMVDesk. 

Note:  Retrieved windows are hidden. To activate: select application from 
Workplace Shell "Window List". Only windows with child windows (ex. dialog 
windows) are retrieved visible. 


═══ 16. Cancel ═══

Cancel any selection, and quit popup menu. 


═══ 17. Tutorial ═══

Beginners guide using virtual desktop applications. 

Usually you work with several windows at the same time, but often find that it 
would be nice to have a bigger screen, so you could see all your windows. Then 
you have a look in your wallet, and find no many, and no credit for your credit 
card. This is when you need a cheap (read: free) virtual desktop to emulate a 
big screen. 

My implementation is not perfect (and not the final version), but gives you 
nine screens where you can open different windows, and easily jump between 
these screens, just by pressing one of the buttons. 

Example: 

 1. Start PMVDesk (you see a X on the middle button, so this represents the 
    current screen). 

 2. Open a window, or a program (it opens normally). 

 3. Press the lower left button on PMVDesk (your open windows seems to 
    disappear, and you have a clean screen. Do not worry, your windows are 
    still there, just press the middle button and you are back where you 
    started). 

 4. In this new screen you may open new windows and programs. 

 5. To quickly return back just press that button on PMVDesk that represents 
    the screen where you want to go to. 

So, this is how you use a virtual desktop. There are different kinds of virtual 
desktop applications, with fancy miniature windows representing your windows, 
and that might be my final goal when I continue developing my application. 


═══ 18. Troubleshooting ═══

 Recovering "lost" windows: 

o Choose "Retrieve windows" from PMVDesk "Settings" menu to bring all windows 
  to the lover left corner of the visible area. 

  Note:  Retrieved windows are hidden. To activate: select application from 
  Workplace Shell "Window List". Only windows with child windows (ex. dialog 
  windows) are retrieved visible. 

o You may choose the "lost" program from Workplace Shell "Window List" and 
  cascade the program back to the visible area (press mouse button 2, choose 
  "Cascade").