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ID:SC Startup Scripts to Automate DESQview
Quarterdeck Technical Note #153
by Bob Perry
HOW TO AUTOMATE DESQview - STARTUP SCRIPTS
Q: How can I automatically startup DESQview?
Q: How can I configure DESQview to automatically startup all my applications?
Q: How can I configure DESQview so that when I open a window it automatically
loads the right file, or otherwise does things in that application for me?
Q: How can I integrate all of the above?
First, you must have a version of DESQview which is 2.0 or greater. Assuming
you have this, proceed as follows:
A fully automated DESQview involves three levels of automation:
1-Modification of your AUTOEXEC.BAT,
2-Creation of an auto startup script on the DESQview menu,
3-Creation of startup scripts for your applications.
Step One - Loading DESQview upon system boot up.
By modifying your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you can boot right into DESQview. This is
our recommended procedure. To do so, you only need to add two simple lines to
this file:
cd\dv
dv
The first line changes directories to the DESQview directory, and the second
line executes the program. Users who invoke DESQview with xdv would have xdv
as the second line. These should be the LAST lines of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
Step Two - Creating a startup script on the DESQview menu.
As described on page 89 of the DESQview version 2 manual, the special
technique distinguishing a STARTUP script is the "!" exclamation point key.
This is done as follows:
-Begin at the original DESQview Open Window menu, with no
other programs open or running.
-Hold down the Shift and tap your {DESQ} key, to enter
the DESQview Learn menu.
-At first menu, type "=" to Start a Script.
-At the prompt "Press the key you want to redefine",
choose a key you want to define for the script. If you
don't want to "use up" any keys, try HOLDING DOWN the Alt
key and then pressing a 3-digit number on the numeric
keypad (try 2 5 0). This will result in the "key" being
{250}, a key you will be unlikely to type.
-The next menu asks you to name your script. Begin the
name of the script with the exclamation point character
"!". The exclamation point as the first character in
the script name is the key which makes it an auto-start
script.
-FROM THIS POINT ONWARD, DESQview WILL BE "REMEMBERING"
EACH KEYSTROKE YOU MAKE.
HINT: As with any DESQview script, use only the alpha-numeric keyboard keys
when you select from menus. Do not use cursor keys or try to teach your mouse
a script! Cursor keys are not as reliable when selecting from menus and mouse
movements, and clicks are not keystrokes and therefore cannot be learned in a
"Keyboard macro."
-A typical pattern of keystrokes might go like this:
{DESQ} O W P (for Open Word Processor)
{DESQ} O L 2 (for Open Lotus 1-2-3, release 2)
{DESQ} O D 1 (for Open DOS (128K) window)
{DESQ} O D D (for Open DESQview Datebook)
etc.
-When you've opened all your needed applications in the
right sequence, hit Shift-{DESQ} again, and hit
the "-" key to finish the script.
-Now in order to have the script available on the next
time you start DESQview, you must save it. REMEMBER,
scripts must be saved at the same level of DESQview as
they were begun, so if this is the main DESQview auto-
start script, bring up the DESQview menu, hit Shift-Alt
to bring up the Learn menu, hit "S" for Save and save to
the default DESQVIEW.DVS file.
Now, when your AUTOEXEC.BAT file boots you directly into DESQview, DESQview
will automatically launch your applications in exactly the order you want them
opened.
Note that if you have any startup scripts for your applications, your DESQview
menu startup script will launch these as well! See the next section on how to
write such an application startup script.
Step 3 - Writing a startup script for your applications.
With DESQview's powerful Learn feature you can "teach" any application to
perform the same series of keystrokes each and every time that DESQview window
is opened. This is particularly useful for typing headers, loading a file,
displaying application directories, configuration alterations, and other
routine keystrokes that are repeated by the user each time the application
window is opened.
-Begin by opening the application program in DESQview.
-Depress the Shift and tap the {DESQ} key to enter the
Learn menu.
-At the first menu, choose "=" to Start Learning.
-When the prompt "Press the key you want to redefine"
appears, select some obscure combination of keys that
you would never hit accidently. Better yet, choose a
key that doesn't even exist, such as holding down the
right Alt key and typing 250 on your numeric keypad.
-AT THE PROMPT FOR "SCRIPT NAME" BEGIN THE NAME WITH
THE "!" EXCLAMATION POINT CHARACTER. As explained on
page 89 of the DESQview manual, this "!" exclamation
point triggers the automatic startup execution of all
the keystrokes that will follow.
AS ABOVE, AVOID THE USE OF CURSOR KEYS, AND NO MOUSE BUTTONS PLEASE!
-After performing the series of keystrokes that you
wish to use to automatically execute each time that
DESQview window is opened, you must again depress the
Shift and tap the {DESQ} key, and select the "-"
to Finish the Script.
-Since the script was begun in the application window,
bring up the Learn menu and save the script.
Now your system is fully automated using the DESQview automatic startup macro
or Learn features described above. Your machine will boot up and start
DESQview for you automatically. Then DESQview will launch your favorite
applications for you with your DESQview menu startup script. Finally, each
application you open will perform the keystrokes that you have dictated in
your application startup script. By the time you pour a cup of java and sit
down at the keyboard, your machine will be custom-tuned to your specifications
and ready for your work.
************************************************************************
*This technical note may be copied and distributed freely as long as it*
*is distributed in its entirety and it is not distributed for profit. *
* Copyright (C) 1991 by Quarterdeck Office Systems *
************************ E N D O F F I L E *************************