The file selection handler

The file selection handler is a dialog box (and some program logic behind it) that allows you to specify a lot of filenames or other text to be given to a dependent program as parameters. Additionally you can redirect standard input and standard output, and you can choose the working directory of the dependent program.

When the file selection handler appears you can see the following items:

Lines:

These lines are usually used to enter filenames. However, you are free to enter any other text you want.

If you click at an empty line the GEM file selector will appear. You can now navigate it to any directory and select a file from it. The name of the selected file will be displayed with drive id and directory specification in that line. If you like you can edit the line ``by hand''.

A filename too long to fit into the available space will be abbreviated at the front by three dots so that you can see the last part of the filename only. Abbreviated filenames are not editable. If you want to change the contents of such a line you have to click at it. The GEM file selector will appear again and you can select a file with a name short enough to fit into the line. Then you can edit the line as you like.

The mechanisms described here also apply to the fields described below.

``Standard input'':

Here you can specify a file the dependent program should use as standard input.

``Standard output'':

Here you can specify a file the dependent program should use as standard output.

$\framebox{\sf Append}$ , $\framebox{\sf Create}$ :

These buttons are useful when you have selected a file for standard output. They specify whether the dependent program should append its output to an already existing file or if the file used as standard output should be created — possibly overwriting an already existing file.

``Working directory'':

Here you can specify a working directory for the dependent program.

$\framebox{\sf OK}$ :

A click at this button leaves the file selection handler.

$\framebox{\sf Cancel}$ :

This button also offers you a way to leave the file selection handler. In contrast to the $\framebox{\sf OK}$ button all selections and/or modifications you have made will be discarded.

$\framebox{\sf Clear all}$ :

This button clears all text fields.