The Amiga Classic Collection/The Amiga Classic Collection - Disc 1.iso/Education/ED98-Begin1.3.DMS/ED98-Begin1.3.adf/WB1_3.TXT

Text File | 1997-03-11 | 19KB | 499 lines

          A Guide to Workbench 1.3 on the A500/A1500/A200.
          ------------------------------------------------
                    By PJ Hutchison © 12/1/96 v1.0
                     This file is Freeware and
                     distributed unmodified.

 Contents
 --------

            1. The Menus

            2. The Mouse

            3. WB Programs

            4. AmigaDOS

            5. Common Problems

1. The Menus
------------

1.1 Workbench menu

1.1.1 Open

     This is used on a selected icon. Instead of double clicking on
an icon to show contents of a disk or drawer or run a program you
can select an icon with the pointer and Select Open to display or
run it.

1.1.2 Close

     Instead of clicking on the Close Gadget at the top left of a
disk or drawer window just select the window (borders blue) and
select Close.

1.1.3 Duplicate

     This open allows you to copy files and disks. To copy a file
select the icon and then select Duplicate. Another icon will appear
saying Copy_of_file or whatever, you can then move that file elsewhere
or Rename it.

1.1.4 Rename

     This option allows you to change the name of a disk, a drawer or
a file. Select the disk, drawer or file icon to rename, select rename,
and then type in the new name in the given requester.

1.1.5 Info

     This option displays details of a given disk, drawer or file.
Workbench has 5 types of workbench icons: Disk, Drawer, Trashcan,
Project and Tool. A Trashcan is a special drawer for use with the
'Empty Trash' feature to delete files. A Project is a data file and
a Tool is a Program. Info will display the type, size, stack size,
default file, comment and protection flags of a file.

1.1.6 Discard

     This is a delete function, to delete a file you would normally
drag and drop the file into the Trashcan drawer to empty later.
This option allows you to delete a file straight away. A requester
may appear to confirm deletion.

1.2 Disk Menu

1.2.1 Empty Trash

     This option deletes all the files in a selected Trashcan drawer
of a disk. This feature is useful because you may want to delete a
file but you could change your mind and decide to keep it, all you
have to do is to drag the file out of the Trashcan back to its
original drawer or disk.

1.2.2 Initialise

     This option formats a disk for use by the Amiga. It splits
the disk into the right number of tracks/sectors and creates an
empty root directory. It can also automatically create a Trashcan
drawer. To use, select the disk to format and select Initialise.

1.3 Special Menu

1.3.1 Cleanup

     This option rearrages icons on a drawer or disk into a less
cluttered state. To use, open the window to rearrange and select
Cleanup. To keep the icons in the new positions, select all the
icons and select 'Snapshot'.

1.3.2 Last Error

     This will display the last message that appeared in the menu
bar at the top of the screen.

1.3.3 Redraw

     If the screen or window has been corrupted by another program
and not all the icons or windows have been drawn then this option
will do it for you.

1.3.4 Snapshot

     This option allows you to save the position of an icon on a
disk or a drawer. To use, select the icon, drag the icon to its
new location and Snapshot it.

1.3.5 Version

     This will display the version of Workbench and Kickstart
you are using. Commodore uses release numbers. For 1.3 it is
release 34.

2. The Mouse
------------

     On the Amiga mouse there are two buttons. The Left Mouse Button
(LMB) and the Right Mouse Button (RMB).

2.1 Using the Right Mouse Button

     To use the menus, press down the RMB and move the pointer to the
title bar at the top of the screen. Move the pointer over one of the
menu names and some menu items will appear. Now, still with the RMB
pressed, move the pointer down to the selected menu item and release
the RMB to select that item.

2.2 Using the Left Mouse Button

     This button is mainly used to select and move icons around and
click on gadgets (or buttons).

2.2.1 Clicking

    To select an icon move the pointer over the desired icon and then
click the LMB once. The icon will change to a reverse or an alternative
image to indicate it has been selected.

     When using gadgets such as those on windows (there are four gadgets
on a window: Close, Window-to-Front, Window-to-Back and Resize) move
the pointer over the desired gadget and click once to use that gadget.
The gadget will change briefly and also change the window.

2.2.2 Double-Clicking

     This is sometimes a tricky technique to use and requires a steady
hand. This method is used  to open disks, drawers and files or run
programs. To do this, move the pointer over the desired icon and in
quick succession (without moving the pointer) click on the LMB twice.
This should open the icon.

2.2.3 Dragging

    This technique allows you to move objects such as icons around the
screen or resizing windows. Select an icon with a single click, now keep
the LMB down and move the pointer, the icon will now be dragged with the
pointer. If you let go of the pointer the icon will be dropped into its
new position.

2.2.4 Multiple selection

    You can select more than one icon at a time. To do this, click on
the first icon, press the SHIFT key down (either one) and then click
on the second, third, fourth icons etc to select multiple icons
     You can also select a whole group of icons by pressing the LMB
at the top left of the icons and while keeping the LMB down moving the
power towards the bottom right. A expanding box will apear and the icons
in it will be selected.

3 WB Programs
-------------

     Here I will give a brief explination of the programs provided with
Workbench 1.3.

3.1 Workbench Disk
------------------

3.1.1 Utilities Drawer

     Calculator     - Program to work out arithmetic calculations
     Clock          - Displays a analogic or digital clock showing
                      the present time and/or date
     ClockPtr       - Turns the pointer from an arrow to a clock!
     Cmd            - Redirects output to the printer to a file
     GraphicDump    - Prints out graphics and pictures
     InstallPrinter - Installs Printer driver in devs/printers
     More           - Program to display text files
     Notepad        - A simple text editor
     Printfiles     - Prints text files
     Say            - Speaks any text you type in

3.1.2 System Drawer

     CLI            - Opens a Command Line Interface console
     Diskcopy       - Program to copy disks (used by Duplicate)
     Format         - Formats a disk (used by Initialise)
     Fastmemfirst   - Tells Amiga to load programs into Fast memory
     SetMap         - Selects the keyboard map from devs/keymaps
     InitPrinter    - Initalises printer (same as switching it off and on).
     NoFastMem      - Disables all fast memory
     Mergemem       - Adds other memory to be used by the Amiga
     Fixfonts       - Updates Fonts files if changes have been made to
                      any files in Fonts drawer

3.1.3 Prefs Drawer

     Preferences    - Changes the settings used by the Amiga such as
                      the pointer, printer, serial port etc.
     CopyPrefs      - Makes a copy of prefs to be copied to another
                      disk
     Pointer        - Displays the pointer prefs screen.
     Printer        - Displays the printer prefs screen.
     Serial         - Displays the serial prefs screen.

3.1.4 Hidden Drawers

     C        - Stores AmigaDOS commands
     Devs     - Stores keymap files, printer drivers and other
                      device drivers and the preferences file.
     Fonts    - Stores bitmap font files. A .font file for
                      each typeface and a file for each font size.
     L        - Stores device handlers
     Libs     - Stores Amiga operating system libraries
     S        - Stores batch or script files
     T        - Temporary files drawer

3.1.5 Other Drawers

     Expansion - Stores special device drivers for expansion peripherals
     Empty     - Duplicate this drawer to create new drawers.
     Trashcan  - Stores files ready to be deleted.

3.2 Extras Disk
---------------

AmigaBASIC     - BASIC Programming Lanaguage interpretor

3.2.1 Tools Drawer

     MEmacs    - Text editor
     Fed       - Font editor
     Freemap   - Memory usage display
     PrefMon   - Performance monitor
     IconEd    - Icon editor
     Palette   - Changes Workbench colour scheme
     KeyToy2000 - Displays keyboard characters
     IconMerge - Creates dual-image icons

3.2.2 PCUtil

     PCCopy    - Allows Amiga to copy files from PC disks
     PCFormat  - Allows Amiga to format PC diskettes
     ToPCCopy  - Allows Amiga to copy files to PC disks
     Read Me   - Text file on using PCUtils

3.2.3 Other Drawers

     BasicDemos - Basic program listings
     FD1.3     - Contains OS Function Descriptions for AmigaBASIC
     Fonts     - More fonts
     Devs      - Contains all keymap files and printer drivers

4 AmigaDOS Commands
-------------------

     Amiga DOS commands can only be used on a CLI or Shell window
where commands can be typed in to perform various functions. All
these commands have to be run from disk.

4.1 Command format

To display the information required by a command type a '?' after it.
     Note, after each arguement there is a slash and a character.
This specifies the kind of arguement required such as an option
or a name or a value.

/A   - Argument must be supplied
/F   - Must be final or last arguement
/K   - Keyword must be entered with a parameter
/M   - Multiple arguements may be supplied
/N   - A Number is required
/S   - Switch or option. Supply this function to activate it.

4.2 Error messages

     If you enter a command and comes back with an error message, typing
WHY will display more information about it. Use the FAULT command to
display the error message that applies to a error code.

Typical error messages are:

Code Description                    Solution

103     Insufficient free store            Free up some memory by quiting other
                                programs.
121  File is not an object module        Try setting 'e' or 's' protection flag.
202  Object in use                    Exit program, unassign assign or
                                close directory windows.
203  Object already exists            Cannot move the program as
                                it exists elsewhere. Delete the
                                original first.
212  Disk not validated                Wait until disk is validated first.
214  Disk write-protected            Ensure write tab is closed.
216  Directory not empty                Must delete its contents first.
                                Use DELETE ALL.
221  Disk full                        Delete some files or use a new disk.
215  Rename across devices            Use COPY  then RENAME to rename files.
222  File is protected from deletion    Use PROTECT to set 'd' flag.
224  File is read protected            Use PROTECT to set 'r' flag.
225  Not a valid DOS disk            Disk is unformatted or a protected
                                game disk.
232  No more entries in directory        Directory is full, delete files or
                                 move files into new sub-dirs.

4.3 Volume/Drawer/File names

     Names can be upto 31 characters long and may contain the following
characters:
     Letters A-Z (upper or lower)
     Digits 0-9
     Other characters EXCEPT the colon ':' or slash '/'.
     Spaces can be used but can be confusing use a dash '-' or
     underline '_' instead.

4.4 Volumes,Drawers and Assigns

     A volume is the name given to a disk and may be referred to
     by its name followed by a colin ':' e.g. DIR DataDisk:

     A drawer or directory is used to organise files together
     and they are usually used in conjunction which a slash to
     seperate the names
     e.g. DIR DF0:Devs/Printers

     An assign is a special shortcut name to a volume or a drawer
     and is created using the ASSIGN command.
     e.g.
          TYPE S:Startup-sequence     is the same as
          TYPE Workbench1.3:S/Startup-Sequence

4.5 Devices

     A device is a special name given to a particular peripheral
     or an AmigaDOS feature. Typical devices are:

     DF0:      - Internal floppy drive
     DF1:      - External floppy drive
     DH0:      - Hard disk (A590)
     RAM:      - RAM disk
     RAD:      - Recoverable RAM disk (from a reboot)
     CON:      - Console device (CLI)
     NEWCON:   - New Console device (Shell)
     SER:      - Serial port
     PAR:      - Parallel port
     PRT:      - Printer port
     AUX:      - Auxillary device
     PIPE:     - Pipe device
     CD0:      - CD-ROM (A570)

4.6 The Commands

Addbuffers     - Add memory to floppy disk buffers to improve speed
Ask            - Asks a question in a script (reply y/n). Use IF WARN
                 to test for a yes.
Assign         - Assign names to directory paths.
Avail          - Memory availablility
Binddrivers    - Load device drivers
Break          - Stop a program (see Status)
CD             - Change directory
ChangeTaskPri  - Changes program's execution priority
Copy           - Copy files
Date           - Display/change date or time
Delete         - Delete files
Dir            - List contents of a directory
Diskchange     - Tell Amigados that a disk has been swapped in a
                 non-autosensing disk drive
Diskdoctor     - Recover files from a disk
Echo           - Display text in a script
Ed             - Edit text files (screen editor)
Edit           - Edit text files (line editor)
Else           - Used with IF, if not true do these commands
Endcli         - Close CLI console window
Endif          - End a IF..ELSE..ENDIF block
Endskip        - Stops a SKIP branch (for debugging)
Eval           - Evaluate a simple arithmetic expression
Execute        - Execute a script or batch file
Failat         - Change failure limit for scripts
                 (0 - Ok, 5 - Warn, 10 - Error, 20 - Fail)
Fault          - Display error message from a code
FF             - Enable Fast fonts
Filenote       - Attach a comment to a file (see LIST)
Getenv         - Return contents of an environment variable
Iconx          - Enables a script to be run from Workbench. The script
                 must have a Project .info file and the Default Tool
                 set to c:IconX to run it.
If             - If condition is true execute following commands until
                 an ELSE or ENDIF occurs.
Info           - Displays information about disks
Install        - Saves a bootblock to a disk. If you have only one drive
                 type INSTALL ? and swap disks and then type DF0: and
                 press RETURN to save bootblock.
Join           - Join two or files together.
Lab            - State a Label to Skip to in a script
List           - List file details in a directory
Loadwb         - Display workbench screen
Lock           - Lock a device from writing
Makedir        - Create a new directory.
Mount          - Loads and mount a device
Newcli         - Open a new CLI console (CON) window
NewShell       - Open a new Shell console (NEWCON) window
Sort           - Sort contents of a file
Stack          - Change/display amount of stack space
Status         - Display status of running programs
Type           - Display contents of text file on screen
Path           - Set or change the program search path
Prompt         - Change the prompt text
Protect        - Change the 'rwedsp' flags of a file. (r=read,w=write,
                 e=execute,d=delete,s=script,p=pure)
Quit           - Quit a script
Relabel        - Change name of a disk
RemRAD         - Remove RAD device from memory
Resident       - Stores AmigaDOS command in memory (quicker then reloading
                 from disk each time it is executed). To ensure a
                 command can be made resident check the pure flag
                 (see List).
Run            - Execute a program in the background (multi-task)
Search         - Search for a string in a file or a file on a disk
Setclock       - Load or set the date and time from battery-backed clock
Setdate        - Set date of a file (see List)
Setenv         - Change the contents of a environment variable
Setpatch       - Patch Operating System functions and remove bugs
Skip           - Jump to a label in a script (see Lab)
Version        - Display workbench or library version information
Wait           - Wait for a specified period of time
Which          - Find where a file is in command path (see Path)
Why            - Display reason why a previous command failed

5. Common Problems

5.1 How do I retreive a file I accidently deleted?

     You need to use a Disk Recovery program such as DiskDoctor,
FixDisk or Disksalv to scan and recover the file. You cannot
retrieve a file that has been deleted and the disk written to
later on as it will most likely been overwritten!

5.2 How can I view hidden file from Workbench?

     There are a number of methods although the best is to use a
file manager program which can see all files and you can copy,
move, delete and view files very easily. Other than that you need
to resort to using the Shell.

5.3 How can I create a bootable disk?

     The simplest method is to Duplicate your Workbench disk, delete
the Utilities and the System files (if not required), copy the
program to the disk and then edit the s:startup-sequence to run
your program. This method also guarentees that all the necessary
files are also on the disk.
     The minimum required to make a disk bootable is to use the Install
command to save a bootblock to the disk. Create a directory called S
and create a startup-sequence file with the name of the program and
save that in the S directory and copy your program to the disk.
To use install with one disk drive, type INSTALL ? then swap disks
and type DF0: and press RETURN.

5.4 How can I speed up disk access when using the shell?

     The shell is a very powerful feature but can be limiting and
annoying when working from floppy. You can make common commands
run from memory by using the Resident command which allows the Amiga
to use commands from memory instead of loading them from disk.
For example, Resident C:Dir pure will make the DIR command resident.
You can make this a permanent feature by modying the S:Shell-Startup
file and insert these resident commands.
     Also, it is a good idea to do all work on the RAM: disk if you
have plenty of memory instead of saving to/from disk.

5.5 Why do some icons, when double-clicked, don't load up?

     There are two reasons for this. First, if a program is deleted
but its .info file is left behind then the program or file may seen
to still exist. To rectify this, the program should be re-copied back.
     Second, a lot of Project icons have A Default Tool set. This
default tool loads up the program and the data file. There are many
tools, particularly text and graphics viewers. If you try to run
a file with a Default Tool that you don't have then the following
message will appear: 'Unable to open the tool <file>'
If this happens, select the icon and choose Info from the Workbench
menu and change the Default tool to the one you do have. For example,
if its a text file, change it to 'More' (Workbench's Text Viewer).