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WBM.Manual
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Text File
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1994-11-07
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19KB
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600 lines
WorkBenchMate
v1.15
© 1994 A.O'Connell All Rights Reserved
SHAREWARE
Introduction
~~~~~~~~~~~~
WBM started life after getting Blitz Basic 2 from an Amiga Format
coverdisk, Once seeing what this excellent language could do I immediately
ordered my own copy of it, and subscribed to the user magazine, and set
about writing the first experimental version of WBM.
The idea for WBM came from two sources, the first was that a
friend of mine had recently bought an A600 with a hard disk, and found it
increasingly annoying to have to keep clicking though thousands and
thousands of draws to get to the utility/game that he wanted, so I asked
him if he wanted a menu utility to ease the burden. But being the
cheapskate that he is he didn't want to buy one, so he asked me if I would
write one for him. Now the inspiration for the GUI came from looking at a
review of an old commercial utility (that incidentally looked as if it
had been written in CanDO ! :?), anyway I thought, yes that's good, but
I think I could do better. So... After receiving Blitz 2, I started
work on this project.
HD - Install Users Guide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right, now first of all you will need to install WBM on your hard
disk, or floppy for that matter, now here's an idea why not use the
HD-Installer that I wrote (and you better had to, as it took a b******d
long time to write). OK now when you double click on the HD-Install icon
the following screen will appear:
+-------------------------------------------------+
| |
| +-------------------------------+ |
| | WBM - HD Installer | |
| +-------------------------------+ |
| |
| |
| |
| ______________________________ _______ |
| |_______3______________________| |___1___| |
| |
| |
| _________________ |
| |_______4_________| |
| _______ |
| |___2___| |
| |
+-------------------------------------------------+
Now then :
1 : The browse button enables you to choose where you want
to install WBM (Note : the install program will create
a directory, and copy a draw icon for the directory.)
2 : This is the button that starts off the installation.
3 : This is the text box that holds the path that you want
WBM installed to (e.g. `Work:Utils/WBM')
4 : This Holds the root of your boot drive.
Now if you booted from your hard drive before you ran
HD-Install then you should put SYS: here, if you didn't
then Workbench 2.x owners should find their boot drive by
holding both mouse buttons down and resetting, then working
through to the boot until you find this information out.
IMPORTANT NOTE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When using the installation program do *NOT* use split names, such
as "RAM DISK:" or "Workbench 2.x", as the program will not install
the files properly.
See later on for information on how to use split names
(e.g. `RAM DISK:' or `Workbench 2.x:') within WBM.
OK now all you need to do is to add the following line to your
startup-sequence (found in S: dir) before the line that says
`EndCLI'
BRun <path to WBM>/WBM
e.g. BRun SYS:Utils/WBM/WBM
for those of you who whose idea of technical is a wooden spoon, then thing
to do is this....
Idiots Guide To Installing WBM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Remove ALL disks, and reset your Amiga
2. Your hard-drive will now boot, and WorkBench will appear
3. Insert this disk, and double click on the disk icon
4. Now Double click on HD-Install, click on the top text box, and
type the following line :
SYS:
now when you press return, it will change to :
SYS:WBM
and the bottom textbox will change to :
SYS:
if this has happened then all is well with the world, now click
on the button marked "GO!", and a requester *should* appear,
saying the following.
+-------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Install To 'SYS:WBM' ? |
| |
| |
| |Yes| |No| |
+-------------------------------------------------+
5. now click on `Yes' and a screen will appear showing you what
files it is copying, and where it is copying them to.
6. Once it has finished and the main install screen has re-
appeared quit out, and load the text editor supplied (QED), and
press <Right Amiga Key> and O, then click on the text box by
the label `FILE:', and type
S:startup-sequence
7. Go down to where it says:
EndCLI
and click on the `E', then press return, and in the line you
have inserted, type:
BRun SYS:WBM/WBM
then press <Right Amiga Key> and W, so it saves it to disk.
8. Now reset your Amiga, and when WorkBench appears, so should
WBM.
9. Finally, should for any reason you need to stop this, then
simply put a `;' in front of the `B'.
Note: For WBM to work correctly when started from CLI it must be BRun'ed
so, only the version of BRun supplied on disk should be used
WBM - Technical Guide
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First off don't panic and start looking though the rest of the doc
file to find the standard users guide, 'cos it doesn't exist. Instead use
the two help programs.
For the rest of you, this part of the doc file explains the finer
points of WBM, to give a better understanding of how the program works. And
although I say this is a technical guide, it should really be read by
everyone.
When WBM is run it looks for two things, (i) it's config file
("S:menu.dat"), and (ii) a brush file ("S:WBM.pic"), and loads them up,
the final part of WBM that is not necessary, but for the less techie
among you it's bloody useful, and that is the button Editor
("S:WBMEditor").
How Does It Work ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well when you press a program button (or use F1->F6) WBM first checks
whether the file exists, and if it does it either opens a 1x1 CLI at 0,0
(top left hand corner), or a long thin bar at the top of the WorkBench
screen, it then executes the instruction "BRun <command>", or if a stack
was set "BRun -S<stack> <command>" via the CLI. (Yikes, there goes my one
and only trade secret ! :^). That's why you *must* use the version of BRun
that is supplied (and installed to C:) on the disk.
So if the program fails to load the CLI may stall be active, so move the
mouse up to the top left hand corner and drag the CLI larger, then type
`endcli', O/S 2+ owners should do a similar thing, but instead just click
on the title bar, type `endcli' and that should close it.
Using WBM to launch WBM Ed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To use WBM to run the editor program, WBM looks in S: for WBMEditor, and
once you have quitted it reloads the config file, and redraws it's
self.
MISC
~~~~
WBM also allows the use of keys to simulate mouse actions, so you don't
have to go scrambling into your draw for a mouse.
Keys used are :
F1 -»> F6 - Buttons 1 to 6
+/- - +/- a set of buttons
Programs for use with WBM *MUST* be CLI startable
WBM Editor
~~~~~~~~~~
All though this program is not essential, that is the config file can be
edited using a standard ASCII text editor (if you don't know what an ASCII
text editor is then stick with WBM Ed !) as long as you know the following
facts
1st line contains WBM's startup orientation (i.e. Horizontal, Vertical or
Iconifyed) which are 2,1 or 3 respectively.
The next two lines contain the x and y values (respectively) of WBM's
vertical position.
The next four lines (and the next four after etc..) contain the actual
buttons information, so here is an explanation of what each line
contains:
(i) the buttons label (10 chars max)
(ii) the command line for the button
(iii) any change of directory WBM must perform (same as a DOS CD)
(iv) stack size (max 5 chars) (see WorkBench manual)
Note : (iii) and (iv) are optional, and can be left blank if not needed
if in doubt see the example menu provided.
As said in the help program, putting ` |END' on the end of your
command line will cause WBM to quit after starting your program, thus
freeing memory, useful for those of use who do not have obscene amounts of
memory :^).
Also if you put ` |?' at the end of you command line, when that button
is `pressed' WBM will bring up a requester asking for additional
information to be entered. This is mostly useful for archivers such as
Lha etc.. or text readers. Now when this occurs the following requestor
appears :
+---+---------------------------------------------------+
|_4_| |
| |
| Enter addition to command line here : |
| _____________________________________ _________ |
||_________________1___________________| |____2____| |
| _________ |
| |____3____| |
| |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
Where :
1. Is a text box containing your original command line
(e.g. `lha a ' or `PPMore ')
2. Is the browse button that brings up a file requestor
enabling you to chose a file/or just a path, this is
inserted at the end of the command line each time
you use it.
3. Is the button that executes the command line via a
CLI window
4. Is the close-window gadget, this cancels the
operation, exiting to WBM's main window.
Also an important thing to note is that if the ` |?' param is used then
the set stack option will have no effect.
See example menu provided for more details.
Again use the help program to find out the general features, as well as
that here are some additional notes.
Save
~~~~
This saves ALL of the buttons information to the config file (not just
that buttons information, OK Rob ?)
Clear
~~~~~
This clears the current buttons information (quicker than using the
delete key ! :^))
Browse
~~~~~~
This Brings up a file-requester, so what you do is follow these simple
instructions
Click on drives and select the drive the program is on
Click though any draws you need to
Click on the file you want.
And finally press OK, and the information will be inserted into
the command line box.
Important Note !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To use split names, such as `RAM DISK:' or `My Disk:', use double quotes,
So
Command Line :
WorkBench 2.x:Games/MyGame/MyGame
Becomes
Command Line :
"WorkBench 2.x:Games/MyGame/Mygame"
This process should also be used if the draw/directory or even if the target
program its self has a split name :
So
Command Line :
Disk:Games/My Game/Start Game
Becomes
Command Line :
"Disk:Games/My Game/Start Game"
And finally the last example is...
Command Line :
C:More My Disk:My Draw/My File
Becomes
Command Line :
C:More "My Disk:My Draw/My File"
So the general rule is if one of the components (be it drive/directory or
file) has a split name (E.G. 'RAM DISK:'/'MY DRAW'/'MY FILE'), put a quote
at the very start and very end of the command line (or change directory line
if it was required.)
Also another thing I must mention, that will mainly of use with games, but
also with a few utilities that expect data files to be in the current
directory, is the use of the 'Change Current Dir' feature. you may need to
change this if you chosen game/util doesn't work to the path chosen in your
command line. A good way to spot if a game/util requires this function, is
to look out for any extra files in the dir, for example :
SYS:Games/Syndicate } this is the path to use.
Synd \
Intro \
Go }--- If the game has lots of files in it's
map1.dat / dir then it probably requires this
ply / function.
or
Sys:Utils/Nib
[NibData] \
[Sounds] }- If you spot other directories, then you will
[Prams] / have to use the function.
Nib.info \
Nib }- Don't worry about .info files, they are only
Nib.dat / used by Workbench as icon files, but take
note of the .dat file.
Another thing to spot is if the game fails to load, a classic example is
Syndicate, using Workbench you click on an icon called GO, which is in fact
a script file (i.e. it is executed by workbench via a command called
IconX). in turn using WBM we must also Execute it, so the command line used
may be some thing like this :
Execute SYS:Games/Syndicate/GO
The way you can find out if a file is actually a script file, is to use the
Workbench menu option 'Info..', and if the default tool is set to IconX,
then the file is a script file.
Shareware Registration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As mentioned in my program, in the about requester, what you
have in your little hands is the FULL (as in not crippled) version of
WBM, this is supplied FREE OF CHARGE, with the sole understanding, that
if you intend to use it for more than 3 weeks, you should register the
program by sending a fee of five pounds (£5) sterling to the address
specified at the end of this doc file. Now I am trusting that you lot
will of course abide by this, and that little voice inside of you
called a conscience will see to it that you do pay up !
On a serious note though, I could have crippled the program in
some way before I distributed it, but unfortunately for me (and you
ultimately) I am in fact in the process of selling my Amiga to upgrade
to a nice 486 DX PC (running at 33 MHz with 8 Meg of RAM, 200 Meg hard
drive, SVGA graphics card, and SoundBlaster Pro Sound Board). So I had
no way to produce unique updates for registered versions, and
consequently no alternative, but to trust you lot and release the full
un-crippled version (wise move it may not be, but hey ! Prove me
wrong).
Ego (Sorry Credits) And Jovial Comments Section
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coding & Design : Andy "Expression Too Complex" O'Connell
Ideas & Beta Testing : Rob "Kumquat" Humphreys
General Annoyance : Mark "Mines A Pint" Wilkins
The above is also responsible for being too #*!?$ good at
"Archer Maclean's Pool" (not that I'm bitter by the way :^)
As with all great programmers (Ahem), lessening to music often helps relieve
the intense boredom of bashing hell out of a computer, and coming out with
superb/mind blowing/outstanding (delete as appropriate) pieces of software
like this !. :^)
Inspirational listening
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(No particular order)
One Dove - Morning Dove White (track 3 especially)
Bjork - Debut (Chaaaaannnnnnn)
Mariah Cary - Music Box
R.E.M. - Automatic For The People
Mica Paris - Whisper A Prayer
Sade - Love Deluxe
D:Ream - D:Ream On Vol 1
Moby - The Story So Far (Aaarrrd Korrre :^) )
Orbital - Untitled (or the one with Lush 3 on)
M People - Elegant Slumming
Ministry Of Sound - The Sessions Vol 1
Sunscream - 0³ (Under Pressure....Whoooa Whoooa :^) )
Jesus Jones - Perverse (0's and 1's will take us there....)
The Orb - The Orb's Adventures Beyond Ultraworld
Ministry Of Sound - The Sessions Vol 2
Moby - Move EP
Stereo MC's - Connected
The Cranberries - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Cant We ?
Nirvana - Nevermind
Shara Nelson - What Silence Knows (One Good Bye In Tennnnnnn !)
They are excellent albums and I would recommend them to any one (Except
Rob, but then again Rob likes Meat Loaf :^) ).
Right well I'm off down the pub now so I'll leave my address, so if you
want to send registration fee's, ideas, or you would just like a
programmers chat (What I would welcome is response from other Blitz 2
users.)
Andrew O'Connell
10 London Road
Tetbury
Glos.
GL8 8JL
ENGLAND
Copyright
~~~~~~~~~
WorkBenchMate (WBM), And all its components is © Copyright 1994 by
Andrew O'Connell All Rights Reserved
This program is sold `AS IS'
Therefore the user does so at his/her own risk, There is NO liability or
responsibility for any damage the program may cause.
WBM can be freely distributed, as long as all ShareWare and Copyright
notices are left intact (thankyouverymuch)
Syndicate is © 1993 Virgin Games Ltd
NIB is © 1990 Shawn Liptak
CanDO is © INOVAtronics Inc