Monster Media 1993 #2/Image.iso/os2/pmvd021.zip/PMVD.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1993-06-21 | 10KB | 261 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. About PMVDesk ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Environment variables ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Key Assignments ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Options Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Frame controls ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Float on top ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Retrieve windows on exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Util ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

"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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Popup Menu ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Help ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 12. Util ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 13. Frame controls ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 14. Float on top ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 15. Retrieve windows on exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 16. Cancel ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Cancel any selection, and quit popup menu.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 17. Tutorial ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

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.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 18. Troubleshooting ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 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").