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OS/2 Help File
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2000-05-23
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ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. 0. Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
RexxAutoStart
Version 1.61 (25 May 2000) by Herwig Bauernfeind and Chuck McKinnis
============================================================================================
This program is basically a workaround for timing problems that may lead to a
WPS hang on startup on certain OS/2 versions and fixlevels.
What is more it provides the following features:
The possibility to start objects from a startup folder in any desired
order (as long as you are able to handle E.EXE and have some basic
understanding of REXX).
Declare any folder as your startup folder. You even could use different
folders for different startup sequences.
RexxAutoStart may (slightly) speed up boot process, because hard drive
activity is reduced (a bit).
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. 1. License ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
From version 1.41 onward, this program is free software (hmmm, it was always
free, but now it is GPLed); you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later
version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass
Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
So, in short: No money, no warranty. Use at your own risk. Pay nothing. Be
happy.
You are not allowed to think nasty about the authors!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. 2. Requirements ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This program was designed and developed on a system that runs OS/2 Warp 4
German, FixPack 06, which did not boot any more after some WPS extensions were
installed (especially Object Desktop 2.0 and CandyBarZ). Therefore the
"recommended" platform is:
OS/2 Warp 4, FP6, also tested to work on FP8, FP10, FP12, and FP13.
OS/2 Warp Server for e-Business with or without FP1.
OS/2 Warp 3 (almost fully supported from version 1.40 onward, see Known
Problems, see Command Line Switches).
Fixpack 35 or higher (FP38 tested) recommended on OS/2 Warp 3.
REXX (Classic REXX or Object REXX) installed.
WPTools from Henk Kelder
(http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/wptool32.zip)
Warning: RexxAutoStart will not work on OS/2 version 2.xx (at least the
executables, and starting the plain script was not tested on 2.xx due to lack
of testing platform)!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. 3. Installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There are 2 ways to install RexxAutoStart. The following steps are common to
both ways:
Unzip RxAST161.Zip. into a directory of your choice.
Note: There are 3 executables enclosed in the archive that works both
for REXX and Object REXX.
Change to the directory where you unzipped RxAST161.zip..
If you want to use WARPCENTER or LAUNCHPAD place them (or a shadow of
them) into your startup folder.
Note: If you are updating from a previous release, just copy the new files
over the old ones.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. 3.1 The integrated installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Run install.
A RexxAutoStart folder will be created on your desktop and opened.
Open the RxAutoStart Utility and select the Install option. You will be
asked to select your startup options, your config.sys will be updated,
and the 'START' command for RexxAutoStart will be added to/or updated in
your startup.cmd file.
You do not have to change your way of handling programs that startup on
boot in any way:
Just drop them (or a shadow of them) into your startup folder, the
startup folder folder will be parsed at every boot, and the objects
there will be opened.
The order of starting programs in startup folder is the same as if you
used startup folder normally.
If you want to change any of the RexxAutoStart options, update the SET
RXAUTOST= parameter in your config.sys file, and/or update the 'START'
command for RexxAutoStart in your startup.cmd file, just run the
RexxAutoStart Utility again and select the Install option.
Additional considerations:
From version 1.60 onward RexxAutoStart checks whether the
environment variable RXAUTOST exists and reads switches from it and
uses those switches when executing RexxAutoStart.
From version 1.60 onward RexxAutoStart contains code that attachs an
icon to the RexxAutoStart file.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. 3.2 The standalone installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Open the RexxAutoStart Utility and select the Build option.
You will be asked to select your startup options, your config.sys will be
updated, a Rexx script named AutoStrt.CMD will be generated in the
directory where RexxAutoStart is installed, and the 'START' command for
AutoStrt.CMD will be added to/or updated in your startup.cmd file.
Any time you change the content of your startup folder, you will need to
run the RexxAutoStart Utility again and select the Build option to pick
up changes in your startup folder.
Look into Known Problems section before doing so.
You can edit AutoStrt.CMD in your RexxAutoStart directory and change the
order as you desire.
Additional considerations:
Use the /S switch to insert code into AutoStrt.CMD that will delay
execution of AutoStrt.CMD until desktop is populated (may need
manual modification on Warp 3).
From version 1.60 onward RexxAutoStart checks whether the
environment variable RXAUTOST exists and reads switches from it and
uses those switches when generating the AutoStrt.CMD script.
From version 1.60 onward RexxAutoStart contains code that attachs an
icon to the AutoStrt.CMD file.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. 4. Command Line Switches ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Command line switches can be divided into the following groups:
1. Switches to get help:
/? Simple list of valid switches with a short
explanation.
/H Open this manual.
2. Generally used switches:
/X eXecute RxAutoSt.
/WPS Delay the starting of objects in the startup folder
until the desktop is populated.
/OD[:n] Delay the starting of objects in the startup folder
until Object Desktop's features (Tab LaunchPad and/or
Control Center) have started. The n option is the
number of times to check for the Object Desktop tasks
(default = 30).
/D:n Delay further processing after the desktop is
populated and/or the Object Desktop feature(s) have
started by n seconds (default = 2).
/F:"<id>" Use <id> as startup Folder instead of the default of
<WP_START>. This feature enables the user to have
his very own private startup folder, which will not
be known to any other program.
/P:n Pause between the starting of objects in the startup
folder by n seconds (default = 2).
/R:n Number of attempts (Retries) to open an object in the
startup folder (default = 2).
/V Verbose. Give us some hints what we are doing right
now.
/L Log the results of the execution to the RxAutoSt.log
file in the directory where RexxAutoStart resides.
Note: Command line switches will override the values specified in the
environmental variable RXAUTOST.
3. Utility switches:
/I Initialize and/or update the RexxAutoStart execution
parameters.
/S Generate a Standalone script named AutoStrt.CMD that
will be stored in the directory where RexxAutoStart
resides.
/C Create a folder on your desktop to use as an
alternate startup folder instead of the default of
<WP_START>.
/U Uninstall RexxAutoStart.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. 5. What it does (and what it does not do) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
What it does:
RexxAutoStart:
If requested, waits for the desktop to be populated.
If Object Desktop is installed and if requested, waits for the selected
Object Desktop tasks to start.
If requested, delays opening of the objects in the startup folder by a
selected number of seconds.
Reads the contents of the startup folder and opens the objects there in
order with a delay of a few seconds (2 as default) between opens.
On my system this cures the startup problem (almost) completely.
What it does not do:
RexxAutoStart does not pollute your system in any way, except it needs some
space on your harddisk.
It has been tested on systems running OS/2 Warp 4 Build 9.030 (FP6), 9.032
(FP8), 9.034 (FP10) and 9.036 (FP12) and OS/2 Warp 3 Connect Build 8.262
(FP#38), all of them German.
It has also been tested on the US English systems running OS/2 Warp 4 Build
9.036 (FP12) and WSeB Build 14.040_SMP.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. 6. Known Problems ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Executing RexxAutoStart immediately after placing objects into the
Startup folder may fail to properly read the object ids (they have not
been updated in os2.ini). An invalid script is created in this case.
Generally, I do not use RxAutoSt.CMD except for debugging and compiling.
This may sound strange, there is no need to compile it, but I think (and
this is my own personal philosophy) that every program, which is bigger
than a handfull of lines should be a "real" executable, which cannot be
changed (and/or damaged) so easily.
Do not compress the executables with LxLite, it will be damaged by doing
so!
Testing under OS/2 Warp 3 was rather short. It appears to work nicely,
but there might be problems that I am not aware of...
My English is not the best. Sorry folks... (That's a permanent
restriction;-) Maybe not, if Chuck checks through everything again;-)
No other problems are known at this time.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. 7. To Do List ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
I was working on a GUI-version of the program itself, but this is temporarily
suspended until I recover from an MS attack (and that were not those guys from
Redmond)...
During the last few months Chuck has taken over almost the complete development
of RexxAutoStart and this will stay this way for at least another few months.
In fact, all the new features were his ideas and were coded by him.
The installation GUI has been dropped, because there was absolutely no feedback
on this issue, so obviously nobody needs it...
I have various ideas, but they all have certain drawbacks and would violate
KISS principle(s).
I wanted do some more testing on OS/2 Warp 3, but I won't. Bye, bye, OS/2 Warp
3!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. 8. History ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
1.61 25.05.2000
Bugfix: Setting of the current directory was being done too late to locate necessary dll modules.
Bugfix: Corrected the updating of various parameters by RxAutoUt.
1.60 15.05.2000 Feature: Removed any requirement for Object Rexx and/or RxExtras.
Feature: Added the install.exe to build and open the RexxAutoStart folder (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: Added RexxAutoStart Utility (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: Added Warp Server for e-Business support (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: RexxAutoStart no longer generates a REXX script for each execution. Objects
in the startup folder are opened directly by RexxAutoStart. (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: The standalone installation (AutoStrt.CMD) supports all the same options
as RexxAutoStart (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: Added /L, log information to a log file (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: Added /I, install/modify RexxAutoStart (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: Added /U, uninstall RexxAutoStart (Chuck McKinnis).
Feature: Added /C, create a folder on the desktop (Chuck McKinnis).
Bugfix: Removed the /NI parameter. The icon attachment issue is solved.
Bugfix: Parameter parsing permits any value to be entered after a semi-colon.
Removed the /EV parameter. Removed the /A[:n] parameter.
1.50 15.02.2000 Feature: Object Desktop support (by Chuck McKinnis) and /OD switch!
/EV switch. Nonfunctional GUI draft enclosed.
1.43 28.08.1999 Bugfix: Small letters were not properly recognized on some parameters.
1.42 10.06.1999 Feature: Source code publicly available.
Program under GNU GPL.
1.41 20.03.1999 Little (mostly cosmetic) changes in AutoStrt.CMD code.
Bugfix: /A:n switch was parsed wrongly.
Code cleaned and beautified.
1.40 01.03.1999 Feature: Executables for Classic REXX and Object REXX.
New /H[:topic]-switch.Added /F and /NI switches.
/WPS switch supported under OS/2 Warp 3.
Bugfix: Blanks and ' in ObjectIDs or ShadowIDs led to an invalid script.
Missing ID was recognized correctly, but led to an invalid script.
Completed necessary modifictions in CONFIG.SYS (SET AUTOSTART line was missing).
1.35 5.22.02.1999 Feature: Added /E switch, i.e. even less pollution:-)
1.34 21.02.1999 Feature: Removed /H(istory) switch (this page), some little (partly cosmetic) enhancements,
AutoStrt script code slightly changed. Manual in INF-format.
1.33 10.02.1999 Feature: Self extracting, self attaching icon upon first start.
1.32 08.02.1999 Bugfix: Program checks whether it runs on OS/2 Warp 3 or 4.
1.31 07.02.1999 Bugfix: Did not run on OS/2 Warp 3. Ouch!
1.30 29.01.1999 Feature: Enhanced standalone code, enhanced /A switch.
1.20 26.01.1999 Bugfix: Modified code to read ShadowID, if no ObjectID is available.
Now really all kinds of objects should be startable..
1.15 24.01.1999 Feature: Added /A switch.
1.14 21.01.1999 Feature: Added /R parameter for number of retries. New retry code.
1.13 21.01.1999 Feature: Added /S parameter and code to run AutoStrt.CMD standalone.
Changed code so that /WPS and /D switch can be used together
sensibly to provide a delay after desktop has been populated.
1.12 21.01.1999 Feature: Added code for 1 retry,
if 1st attempt to open an object failed.
1.11 19.01.1999 Feature: Changed standard behaviour and /NV switch to /V.
Some little (cosmetic) enhancements.
1.10 10.01.1999 Feature: Shortened the created script by using a subroutine.
1.02 10.01.1999 Bugfix: Changed view to open from RUNNING (4) to DEFAULT (0).
Now all kinds of objects should be startable.
1.01 07.01.1999 Feature: Enhanced method to determine bootdrive,
/WPS-switch to wait for populated desktop, display current REXX-Version on help.
1.00 28.12.1998 Initial release in Fidonet echo OS2.WPS.GER.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. 9. Thanks go to ... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
IBM for creating OS/2. Shame on them for neglecting us this way by now!
Chuck McKinnis for adding Object Desktop support into RexxAutoStart and
all those other things you have put in, for which I would never have been
capable of.
Henk Kelder for creating WPTools (and other valuable utilities for OS/2).
Dennis Bareis for his Rexx compiler.
Bernd Schemmer for his Rexx Tips and Tricks!
Andrew Zabolotny for creating lxLite. Great tool, really!
Jeff Glatt for his way writing disclaimers!
Additional thanks go to Martin Binder, Burkhard Schneider, Wilfried
Brinkmann, Stephen Worthington and (once more) Martin Binder.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. 10. Authors ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.1. 10.1 Herwig Bauernfeind ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
My name is Herwig Bauernfeind and I am from Austria. I'm working in the
accounting business. My programming skills are very limited, but I have been
working with OS/2 for about 8 years and I really learned a lot from this. REXX
is a great language for someone like me (IMHO it's one of the killer features
of OS/2) and that's why I chose it...
Versions of RexxAutoStart from 1.41 onward come under the GNU GPL license with
full source. If you think source still looks ugly and style is bad and, heck,
this or that construction is ridiculous, beautify it, streamline it and send it
back to me. I will be happy to enclose the changes and mention your name in the
next release;-)
If you find bugs, just email me. If you think it runs fine, just email me, too.
Any feedback is appreciated.
You can reach me:
By email: herwig.bauernfeind@aon.at
FidoNet: Herwig Bauernfeind, 2:313/41.5
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.2. 10.2 Chuck McKinnis ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
My name is Chuck McKinnis, and I live in New Mexico, USA. I retired from IBM in
1991 after 26 years as a Senior Systems Engineer. I currently do some
part-time consulting work for Denver Solutions Group, an IBM Business Partner,
and I specialize in IBM S/390 mainframe operating systems and communications.
I have been using OS/2 since Version 1.3, and I have been writing REXX code
since it was first introduced by IBM for the VM/370 operating system.
You can reach me:
By email: mckinnis@attglobal.net
My web page also contains some interesting code:
Via the WWW: http://pws.pwserv.net/mckinnis
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
KISS = Keep it simple stupid!
KISS = Keep it stable stupid!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
herwig.bauernfeind@aon.at
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
You got me!
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A few words to my home country...
Like many Austrians in these days, I feel uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.
I never did vote for Mr. H. and I never will do so. I am member of a minority
that was forced to commit suicide by the Nazis some 60 years ago.
I have absolutely no sympathies for the Freedom Party.
But I am in favour of the coalition we have now.
My intention was to explain exactly what's going on here in Austria, but that
would have been a rather long writing, which needs carefull preparation. So
this statement is a just a short comprehension and as such might be simplyfied
and leaving some points open. So, if you have questions about Austria, just ask
me. I'll try to answer any question.
But please keep in mind the following things about Austria:
We had peaceful, democratic elections in last October.
Freedom Party is a democratic party of the right wing, but they are
democratic.
Freedom Party has a 26% share in parlament. So has the Peoples Party.
Mr. H. is no Nazi.
Mr. H. made verbal statements about our Nazi-past that cannot be accepted
at all.
Mr. H. is not a member of the government, but a local governor of a
province, Carinthia, that's were I live.
The coalition between Peoples Party and Freedom Party was the only way to
overcome 30 years of a Socialist dominated government.
There are only very few Nazis here, there are (almost) no riots against
slovenians, immigrants, jews or any other minority. At least there are
substantially fewer riots of this kind than in Sweden, in Germany or in
Spain; countries that were so eager to point with their fingers on us.
Right extreme parties (i.e Nazi-parties) are prohibited by law.
There are many, many refugees from Bosnia, Yugoslavia and Kosova here and
they are save here.
The probability that some sort of dictatorship will be erected in Austria
is 0. Zero. Nada. Rien.
My personal opinion is, that it is better to have Freedom Party participate in
a government when they have 26%, than have a Socialist dominated government
for another 4 years and then have the Freedom Party at 30% to 35%. The
following 4 years will show of what kind the Freedom party really is.
From my point of view, we will see that Freedom Party is not better or worse
than any other party in our parlament. The myth of Mr. H., that was so
carefully created by the Socialists during the last 15 years will vanish, and
Mr. H. will turn out to be, what he always was, an impolite braggart. Believe
me, I've seen him for 20 years now...
The sanctions by the 14 in the European Union are so bad for Austria, because
these sanctions might prevent the myth of Mr. H. to vanish, and Freedom Party
might become stronger although their politics are not different from other
partys.
I would not like to see this, and many other people here in Austria won't
either...