Index Vim Desktop enhancers Command-line utilities Games Information

Desktop enhancers

Unless otherwise stated, all software on this site runs under RISC OS 3, version 3.1 or higher.
AltTab Bring any window to the front with a key-press.
BackBoot Filer_Boot directories in the background while the computer is idle.
BreakPt Log calls to OS_BreakPt in a desktop window.
Clipboard See the contents of the global clipboard. Also allows Cut, Copy and Paste in writeable icons using the global clipboard.
Swipe Copy text from icons and window titles to the global clipboard by dragging out a selection.
TopSave When saving a file for the first time just enter the leaf name and press Return. The file is saved to the topmost filer window. Lots of other features too!
Links Links to various other desktop enhancers.

AltTab

Version 1.00 (24-May-1998)

Want to bring a hidden window to the front quickly? Hold down Alt and tap Tab to highlight each window in turn. Release Alt to bring the window to the front. Requires the new nested window manager. This version (1.00) now shows the window title at the top of the screen.


BackBoot

Version 0.01 (05-Oct-1997)

Filer_Boots directories while the desktop is idle. This means that they open quickly when you want them, but without making your boot sequence take ages.


BreakPt

Version 2.04 (04-Oct-1997)

A useful programmers' aid; it replaces the standard OS_BreakPt SWI with a better one. The new SWI logs the register dumps of all calls and displays them in a window. You can set it to call OS_Exit (as usual), or to return to your code, or even to return a set number of times and then call OS_Exit.


ClipBoard

Version 0.04 beta (03-Jul-1998)

This utility allows you to save the global clipboard, or to put a file on to it. It comes with IcnClipBrd, which allows cut, copy and paste opperations in writeable icons using the global clipboard.
New: CTRL-SHIFT-Z clears the icon before pasting.


Swipe

Version 0.06 (27-Jul-1998)

This allows you to get text from icons and window titles by swiping the mouse along the bit you want. The text is then put on the global clipboard for other applications to use, or you can paste it into another icon directly! Now the swipe box has a draggable save icon as well.


TopSave

Version 0.16 (31-Mar-1997)

This useful module makes saving easier. You just enter the leaf name of the file to save in the save box as usual, then press Return or click on OK. Instead of the standard error box popping up, the file will be saved to the filer window which is highest in the window stack. If no filer windows are open then the file will be saved to a preset directory (which can be set individually for each application) or to a default directory if no directory was given for that program.

Clicking Menu over the sprite in the save box opens the SendTo menu which allows you to send a copy of the file somewhere. The menu is completely user configueable and the default options include Send-To-Floppy, Send-To-Clipboard and Count. You can easily add your own.

Finally, clicking with Menu at the far right of the screen opens a menu listing the contents of the Pinboard (even if the Pinboard is covered by other windows).

Works with all the programs I've tested it with.


Other desktop enhancers

3DPatch Matthew Bullock's patch to give menus, windows and the iconbar a 3D look.
SmartOpenDir Tony Houghton's filer patch lets you specifiy options for individual filer windows. For example, you can make C source code directories use small icons.
StrongMen Guttorm Vik's utility to bring up a user-definable menu when you click Menu at the far left of the screen.

Send comments and suggestions to
tal197@ecs.soton.ac.uk