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INCX102P.ARJ
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mcs
Help information about: Space Command
^DisplayModes ^Editing ^Moving ^Organizing ^Subdirs
E╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
E║ CSpace CommandE ║
E╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
CThe Directory Hierarchy
MS-DOS allows you to organize the materials on your disk drive(s) into
CdirectoriesB, each containing files that may be programs or data of
various sorts. The directories, in turn, can be organized into a CtreeB,
or ChierarchyB. The Space command allows you to see, and move around in,
this hierarchy.
Like all the main commands of InContext, the Space command can be selected
any time the main display is visible. The Space command is selected by
placing the cursor on the word F SDpace B and pressing the left button, or
by pressing the 'S' key (for "Space"), or by using the arrow keys to
place the cursor on the word F SDpace B and pressing ENTER. Doing any of
these causes InContext to display a directory hierarchy such as this:
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A B EDir:B CC:\DOS A E█
E█A B EDrive:B CCB EView:B CALL A E█
E█A G Space (Tree Mode) A E█
E█A D A E█
E█A E│ B EDirectoryB A E█
E█A E│ BC: A E█
E█A E│ B├──ALICE A E█
E█A E│ B│ ├──COUNCIL A E█
E█A E│ B│ └──LWVADS.VPP A E█
E█A E│ B├──BBS A E█
E█A E│ B│ └──BACKUP A E█
E█A E│ B├──BRIEF A E█
E█A E│ B│ ├──BACKUP A E█
E█A E│ B│ ├──HELP A E█
E█A E│ B│ └──MACROS A E█
E█A E│ B├──CHRIS A E█
E█A E│ B│ └──PAPERS.VPP A E█
E█A E│ B├──DOCS A E█
E█A E│ B├─YB─CDOS A E█
E█A E│ B├──DV A E█
E█A E│ B├──FONTS A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
This display shows the root directory of the "C" drive, and several of
its subdirectories ("ALICE", "BBS", "BRIEF", etc.). Some of those
directories have subdirectories in their own right. Thus, there is a
directory called "COUNCIL", which is a subdirectory of "ALICE", which is
in turn a subdirectory of the root directory on the "C" drive.
CMoving Around Using the Space Command
Once you have the Space display showing, you can use it to move to any
directory. To do this, simply place the cursor on the name of the desired
directory (using the arrow keys or the mouse), and select it (using the
ENTER key or the left mouse button). Alternatively, you can type the
first letter of the desired directory's name. (If there are two or more
that start with that letter, keep pressing it until the desired directory
is highlighted.) Then select it. You will find yourself in that
directory.
CInformation is also available about...
ZmcseB CJ Editing the Space display to assign directory names and descriptions CB.
ZmcsmB CJ Other ways of moving around CB.
ZmcsoB CJ How to organize your space CB).
mcsd
Help information about: Modes of the Space Display
E╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
E║ CModes of the Space DisplayE ║
E╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The Space display can show you the directories in several different ways:
CB the CTreeB mode, which is the default, shows you the directory
hierarchy, displayed as a tree.
CB the CNameB mode shows you all the same directories, but they are
arranged alphabetically by directory name, without regard to their
position in the hierarchy.
CB the CSubdirsB mode show you only the subdirectories of the directory
in which you are currently located.
The command bar on the Space display shows the availability of these modes,
and gives you a way to select them. The command bar looks like this:
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A D Modes: FªTDree FªNDame FªSDubdirs FªEDdit FªHDelp A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Each time you select the Space command, the Space display will appear in
the Tree mode. To select a different mode, use the mouse or keyboard.
Notice that the CAltB key must be used to select these modes directly from
the keyboard. This is indicated by the funny symbol preceding the mode
names (e.g., F ªNDame B). Thus, to select the Names mode, hold down the
Alt key and press 'N'.
There is a way to invoke the Space display with Subdirs mode in a single
action. From the main display, type the letter 'X'. This is a shortcut,
and it does not appear on the command bar, due to lack of space.
mcse
Help information about: Editing the Space Display
E╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
E║ CEditing the Space DisplayE ║
E╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
CEditing the Space Display
In addition to the MS-DOS directory name, the Space display allows you
to associate, with any directory, a name and description of your choice.
These names are used only within InContext, and are for your convenience.
They do not affect how MS-DOS or other programs use or refer to the
directories. For example, consider the partial display below.
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A G Space (Tree Mode) B A E█
E█A D Modes: FªTDree FªNDame FªSDubdirsA E█
E█A E│ B EDirectoryB EBrief NameB EYour DescriptionB A E█
E█A E│ BC: A E█
E█A E│ B├──CALICE alice B CAlice Ramsey PersoA E█
E█A E│ B│ ├──COUNCIL Legislative CounciA E█
E█A E│ B│ └──LWVADSYB.VPP A E█
E█A E│ B├──BBS A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
This figure shows that the user-provided name "alice" has been associated
with the directory "C:\ALICE", and that that directory also has the user-
provided description, "Alice Ramsey Personal Center". You'll see shortly
some of the benefits of selectively naming your directories in this way.
To add, change, or delete such names, go into the space display and
select CEditB. This is done either by selecting F ªEDdit B from the command
bar or by pressing function key CF2B. Function key F2 always means "edit".
Once you've selected "edit", the space display will change to show you the
editable fields, as in the partial display below. In that figure, you can
see that the "Brief Name" field and the "Your Description" field are
editable. By placing the cursor in one of those fields and typing, you
alter the information there.
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A G Space (Tree Mode) B A E█
E█A D Modes: FªTDree FªNDame FªSDubdirsA E█
E█A E│ B EDirectoryB EBrief NameB EYour DescriptionB A E█
E█A E│ BC: I B I A E█
E█A E│ B├──ALICE Ialice B IAlice Ramsey PersoA E█
E█A E│ B│ ├──COUNCIL I B ILegislative CounciA E█
E█A E│ B│ └──LWVADSYB.VPP I B I A E█
E█A E│ B├──BBS I B I A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Editing in InContext works much as it does in other programs, and you may
be able to do it satisfactorily without further instruction. If you need
ZmeB it, though, further information is available in CJ Editing in InContext CB).
ZmcmovB If you've selected the CJ "Display directory description" option CB, the
context area will show the current directory by the "brief description"
you've assigned, rather than by DOS path. For example, if you were in
the "alice" directory, the context display would show the following:
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A B EDir:B CAlice Ramsey Personal Center -- ALICE A E█
E█A B EDrive:B CCB EView:B CALL B EClass:B CALLB EObject:A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
CUsing the Go Command to Move Around
Once you have assigned a brief name to a directory, you can use that name
to go quickly to the directory. Briefly, the directory given the name
"alice", above, can be accessed from anywhere (even another drive) by
typing 'G' (for "Go"), followed by 'A' (for "alice"). If you have chosen
to include "Go" information on your main display, you can also select
"alice" from there with the mouse.
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A C B1/23/90A E█
E█A EObject:B Cm.hlp B ETask:B C A E█
E█A Dction FGDo FDDo FMDore FQDuit FHDelA E█
E█A B E│B A E█
E█A EctsB EActionsB E│B EGoB ESubA E█
E█A Cm.hlpB edit E│B aliYBce A E█
E█A Bb.hlp view E│B boyscout A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
ZmcgB For more information on these ways of moving, see CJ Go Command CB).
mcsm
Help information about: Moving Around In Space
E╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
E║ CMoving Around In SpaceE ║
E╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
CMoving Around In Space
There are actually five different ways of moving around from place to
place on your disk drive(s). These are:
CB use of the Space command to select the desired directory
ZmcsB (discussed under CJ Space Command CB).
CB assignment of names to some directories and use of the Go
ZmcgB command to access them directly (discussed under CJ Go Command CB).
CB movement up and down the hierarchy a single step at a time using
the Subdirs display and the Esc key or right mouse button
ZmcssB (discussed under CJ Space Command, Subdirs CB).
CB selection of a task to work on, if the task has been associated
ZmctB with a particular task (see CJ Task Contexts CB).
CB use of the Work-in-Progress list to move among tasks and
ZmcwB directories (discussed under CJ Work-in-Progress Command CB).
mcso
Help information about: Organizing Your Space
E╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
E║ COrganizing Your SpaceE ║
E╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
COrganizing Your Work Space
Properly used, the directory structure on your disk(s) provides a very
powerful means of organizing your electronic work space. The directory
structure is conveniently thought of as a structured CspaceB, just
like the space in your office, workshop, or kitchen. Each part of such
a space contains materials that are relevant to the work done there.
To do different kinds of work, you CmoveB from place to place.
In the electronic world, as in the physical world, the organized use of
space can help you focus your attention on the work at hand. In most
cases, you will gain real benefits if you:
CB set up a separate directory for each of your significant
functions.
CB put in each directory only those materials relevant to the
function performed there.
CB use subdirectories whenever a function has separate parts
whose materials need to be kept separate.
MS-DOS provides relatively poor support for actually moving around
such a space or for managing materials in this way. Unfortunately,
many MS-DOS programs even make this way of organizing more difficult.
For example, many word processors make it difficult not to keep all
your documents in a directory that's dedicated to the CprogramB.
Similarly, users of Lotus 1/2/3 are encouraged, by the program, to
keep all their spreadsheets together in a 123 directory. This is rather
unlike the way you operate in the physical world, in which you most
likely keep CtogetherB your letter to the IRS (a document) and
the spreadsheets you used to prepare your tax return.
InContext will operate quite satisfactorily either way, but it gives
you the power to organize your space by function, rather than by program,
if you wish. It does this in part by allowing you to define object
class behavior so that you're no longer so dependent on the assumptions
of the programs you run. It also makes it very convenient for you
to move around from place to place.
mcss
Help information about: Use of Subdirs to Move Around
E╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
E║ CUse of Subdirs to Move AroundE ║
E╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Another way of moving around in space is by going directly up and down
the directory hierarchy, one level at a time. Going CupB is easy. If the
main display is showing, and you press CEscB or the Cright mouse buttonB,
you will move up one level in the directory hierarchy, unless you are
already at the root directory.
If your Cmain displayB contains Subdirs information (this is under your
control), going CdownB is easy, too. You simply place the cursor on the
name of the desired subdirectory and press ENTER or the left mouse button.
You will move down to the indicated directory. With the cursor positioned
as shown below, this would result in moving down to the subdirectory
called "MACROS". If you have a mouse, you may find this to be a very
fast way of moving around.
E▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
E█A A E█
E█A C B1/4/91 14:06 A E█
E█A B ETask:B C B A E█
E█A D FMDore FQDuit FHDelp A E█
E█A B E│B E│A E█
E█A EsB E│B ESubdirsB E│A E█
E█A B E│BBACKUP E│A E█
E█A B E│BHELP E│A E█
E█A B E│BMACRYBOS E│A E█
E█A B E│B E│A E█
E█A B E│B E│A E█
E█A A E█
E▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
Note that the names shown under Subdirs are the MS-DOS names of the
directories, not the brief names you may have assigned by editing the
Space display.
CInformation is also available about...
ZmcsmB CJ Other ways of moving around CB.
ZmcmofB CJ Changing the information shown on the main display CB.