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FILEBAR.TXT
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===============================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FileBar - Version 1.4
An OS/2 Application Launch Facility and WPS Replacement
Written By Eric A. Wolf - Copyright (C) 1994 - All Rights Reserved
This program is SHAREWARE! Please read the registration information at the end
of this document for details on how to register your copy of FileBar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================================
== Introduction ============
FileBar, quite simply, is a menubar for your desktop. It is intended to ease
the operation of launching frequently used applications and from jumping from
task to task within OS/2. Spanning across the top or bottom of your desktop,
FileBar is intended to give you quick and easy access to your most used
applications (whether they are DOS, Windows or OS/2 applications). You have
seven menus in which you can place a maximum of 24 different items in each.
Each item may represent a command shell to boot, a script file to perform a
task or even your favorite application. With FileBar, you're just one click
away from your favorite and most used programs. Also, FileBar can be used
as a regular application or you can use it to replace your existing Workplace
Shell in order to provide you with much more memory for the rest of your
programs (thus, speeding up your system).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
== Installation ============
If you are installing FileBar for the first time, please continue to the next
paragraph. If you are simply upgrading filebar, keep a copy of your old
filebar.ini initialization file. Delete ALL the files associated with the
older version of FileBar, unzip this newer version and copy your previous
filebar.ini file back into the directory. (Now, skip to the Using FileBar
section)
Installing FileBar is simple. Read the readme file and once you agree to
register the product if you continue to use it, unzip the second zipfile,
FILEBAR.ZIP. Now, simply go to an OS/2 prompt, and type INSTALL from the
same directory where you unzipped the files. That will invoke a REXX script
that will create a FileBar program object/icon on the desktop for you to
use to start FileBar.
To immediately start FileBar, double click the program object on the desktop.
And to make FileBar start every time you boot OS/2, drag the object to the
startup folder that is found in the OS/2 system folder.
(NOTE: You should proceed to unzip the second zipfile ONLY if you agree to
the registration requirements presented both in the README file and
in the registration text at the end of this document.)
Installing FileBar as a WPS replacement:
----------------------------------------
FileBar has the capability to be used as a replacement shell. This means,
instead of using the WPS, you can use FileBar. Doing this greatly reduces
the amount of memory the system uses and can give your programs an extra
two or three megabytes of memory to run in (resulting in speed increases).
If you wish to use FileBar over the WPS as your shell, simply edit your
OS/2 config.sys and change the line that reads:
SET RUNWORKPLACE=PM_Shell_Path\PMSHELL.EXE
to
SET RUNWORKPLACE=Put_Complete_FileBar_Path_Here\FILEBAR.EXE
The next time you boot OS/2, you will have FileBar as your shell. To change
back to WPS, simply change the line back to PMSHELL.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
== Using FileBar =============
Once FileBar is started, you will see the FileBar across the top of your screen.
You access functions in FileBar like any other menu bar that is in any other
OS/2 application. The menubar may be positioned at the top or the bottom of
your desktop (see below for instructions on moving it). The current time
and or date may also be displayed on the FileBar for convenience (again, see
below for details).
The first time you boot FileBar, it comes preconfigured with several menus.
The first two, FileBar and Task List are static (that is, unchangable by the
user) but the remaining menus may be added to, changed or even deleted and
replace by more of your own menus.
The functions of the menus are explained below:
FileBar
-------
Move to Bottom/Top: This option changes the position of the FileBar on
the desktop. Select this option to toggle the
position of the FileBar on the desktop.
Edit FileBar: This is where you add, remove or change the appearence of
Menus: your user menus. When you select this option, you will
be presented with all of your currently defined menus.
You may remove entire menus by selecting Remove Menu or
you may change the order of your menus by selecting a
menu and then clicking Move Menu < or Move Menu > to
move your menu left or right on the filebar menu.
You may also add a menu by simply clicking Add Menu and
typing a title for your new menu. You may edit the
items of a menu by selecting Change Menu (or by double
clicking a menu item) or you may go back to
normal FileBar operation by clicking OK.
If you choose to change your menu, you will be
presented with all the items currently under the
selected menu. You may change the name of an
existing menu by overwriting the name of the menu in
the menu name entry field. You may move items up and
down, insert menu separators, delete items or insert
(add) items. Selecting OK will return you to the
menu selection dialog box.
If you choose to add an item (or change an existing
item), you will be presented with a dialog containing
the item's name (which may be changed by simply typing
in the new name into the name entry field), the type
of program you wish to run (OS/2, DOS or Windows
application), whether the program should start
maximized or minimized, the complete pathname of the
program to execute if this item is selected off the
menu, any command-line arguments that should be passed
to the program and the starting directory for the
program.
(You may also edit a menu item by double clicking it).
Clicking OK saves the information and returns you to
item editing dialog box. If you click Find File, you
will be presented with a dialog box to allow you to
browse over your disk drives and find a file you wish
to execute. Select Cancel to abort this operation and
return to the previous dialog. If you select a file
from here, the pathname of the file, the directory and
the program type will be set for this program when you
return to the item editing dialog box.
In the edit item data dialog window, you may click
Reset to restore the data for the item you had before
you opened the dialog or you may press cancel if you
wish to abandon your changes.
OPENING WPS FOLDERS
In the 'edit item' dialog, there is also a feature to
open Workplace Shell folders. To enable this feature,
simply drag a copy of the folder you want to open to
the area marked on the dialog and drop it. The
dialog will then configure itself to open that folder
whenever the item is selected. (Note that you may
ONLY drag folders to the dialog!) Once you drop the
folder, simply click OK because the settings are correct.
USING SETTINGS
If you have a program that requires specialized
settings, you may mark the program to be launched as
a WPS program and you will then be given the oppurtunity
to modify any settings you may need to for the program.
Remember, in order to use and modify program settings,
you must have the program marked as launchable as a
WPS object. In order to correctly use this option,
you MUST FULLY QUALIFY THE PATHNAME! (instead of
entering just FILEBAR.EXE you must enter
C:\OS2\FILEBAR\FILEBAR.EXE). This way OS/2 can
associate the settings you specify with the executable.
Note that each executable only has 1 set of options, If
you want to set up a program with two different sets of
options, make a copy of the executable and set the 2nd
set of options for the new copy of the executable and
set FileBar to launch that file.
Time/Date Options: This option lets you select what is displayed on
the far right of the FileBar at all times. You
have the choices of displaying nothing, the
current time, the current date, or both the
the current time and date and also all of these
options in international format.
Save menu configuration: Although menu and configuration information
is saved everytime you exit FileBar, you
can force FileBar to save your configuration
if you select this option.
Confirm on Task Close: This menu item should be checked if you want
FileBar to double check with you before
terminating an application.
Background Bitmap: Use this option only if you are using FileBar as a
WPS replacement. This functions similarly to the
WPS background bitmap setting. Select whether you
want to display the bitmap or not and also how
(scaled to fit screen, normal, or tiled image).
The complete pathname of the image should be
entered into the entry field. You may use the
Find button to help you locate images. (Note that
ONLY .BMP images can be used for this option).
Use Alternate FileBar Menu: Selecting this toggles whether the FileBar
System menu will be the name FileBar or
just a sigle character symbol. Use the
single symbol if you want the menu to use
less menubar real-estate.
Product Information: This option shows author, copyright and
program information.
Exit: This option allows you to exit the FileBar application and save
its current state in the option file, FILEBAR.INI. The state
is only saved when the application is terminated!
TaskList
--------
Each item in this menu represents a currently active OS/2 task. This
menu is updated each time it is accessed and allows you a single-click
option to jump between OS/2 processes. Any running OS/2 task will be
displayed in this menu. There is also a cascaded menu that may be
selected for each item. If you select this additional menu, you will
be allowed to switch to the task, close the task, show or hide the
task as well as minimize or maximize the task. Note, that if you
do not select the cascaded menu, but simply select just a task name,
you will jump to that task.
There is also shutdown option that when selected will shutdown your system.
User Menus
----------
Selecting an item in any of the seven user menus results in the file
specified in the item's options information to be started using the
information specified in the item information (see Edit FileBar Menus
for more information on modifying this information). This is how the
user will go about launching applications they want to get to frequently.
Notes:
======
* You may notice that the FileBar will flash for a brief moment. This is
because the time has changed and OS/2 is changing the time on the menu
bar. This flash is just the way OS/2 updates the menu.
* When entering command line parameters, you can specify that some or all of
the options be entered when the program is started. If you enclose one
or parameters in brackets ( [ and ] ) then FileBar will prompt you to enter
the parameter(s) when the item is launched.
* You may drag a font to the FileBar (from the Font Palette) if you wish
to change the font FileBar uses for its menus. After you drop a font,
the menu bar will change to accomdate this new font. The font you drop
will be remembered next time you start FileBar. If you find yourself
running out of room on your menubar because you are using long menu names,
simply drag and drop a smaller font to FileBar (from the font palette in
the OS/2 system folder).
* You may use the tilde (~) in your menu and item names to signify that the
character immediately following the tilde should be used as an
accelerator for accessing the respective menus or items.
* All changes made (time/date, bar position, menu contents, etc.) are saved
each time FileBar is closed (or the system is shutdown or an explicit save
operation is requested). FileBar is restored to the state it was saved in
next time it is executed. Changes are saved ONLY during these times.
* The configuration information for the FileBar is stored in a file named
FILEBAR.INI (in the directory where FILEBAR.EXE is located) and may be
backed up by the user for added protection. It is a strictly text file
and may be backed up by copying a valid FILEBAR.INI file to another,
unused filename (ie: COPY FILEBAR.INI BACKUP.INI)
* FileBar comes with two sample FileBar configurations, SAMPLE1.INI and
SAMPLE2.INI. To try these out, copy one of them over your FileBar .INI
file (ie: COPY SAMPLE1.INI FILEBAR.INI). NOTE! This will overwrite your
current FileBar configuration and destroy the contents it currently has.
These contain samples for how to launch DOS windowed and full screen
sessions, OS/2 windowed and full screen sessions, and Win-OS/2 windowed
and full screen sessions, among other things. Refer to these for tips on
how to set up your own FileBar!
* If you wish to add items that launch OS/2 command shells (DOS windows,
DOS full-screens, WIN-OS2 sessions, etc.), see the SAMPLE1 or SAMPLE2
.INI files. For OS/2 and DOS sessions, simply select what type of command
shell you would like (from application type section) and then leave the
Program Path empty. That will start a command shell (DOS window, DOS
fullscreen, OS/2 window, and OS/2 fullscreen sessions).
However, if you want to start a WINOS/2 windowed session, put PROGMAN.EXE
in the program path (it will start program manager for you). If you want
to launch a fullscreen WINOS/2 session, put WIN.COM in the program path
section of the text.
Again, see the examples provided for the exact details on how to launch
command shells from FileBar.
* If you wish to make an item on one of your menus that is an OS2, DOS or
WINOS2 session that has modified settings, follow the instructions
below:
- For OS/2 sessions, go to the \OS2 directory and make a copy of CMD.EXE.
Make FileBar point to this new copy of the executable and mark it to
boot as a WPS program object. Now, change the settings as you wish.
- For DOS sessions, go to the \OS2\MDOS directory and make a copy of
COMMAND.COM. Make FileBar point to this new copy of the executable and
mark it to boot as a WPS program object. Now, change the settings as
you wish.
- For WINOS2 sessions, go to the \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2 directory and make a
copy of WIN.COM for fullscreen sessions or PROGMAN.EXE for windowed
sessions. Make FileBar point to this new copy of the executable
and mark it to boot as a WPS program object. Now, change the settings
as you wish.
* Since WPS settings are implemented to be tied to the executable of the
program that is being launched, if you need two or more programs with the
same settings, you will need to make a copy of that executable with a
different name and give it different settings. Command prompts work in
the same way. (Simply make a copy of CMD.EXE or COMMAND.COM and name it
something differently. Give it new settings and when you launched this
renamed object, it will come up with the new settings (if using use WPS
settings option)).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
== Registration ============
If you like FileBar, or perhaps, you enjoy having the complete source code
for an OS/2 PM program to aid you in writing your own programs, I ask you to
register your copy of the program. The registration cost is only $10.00 and
it will ONLY be with your support that I continue to develop for OS/2,
and especially, provide the complete source code for any of my works.
You can register your copy of FileBar with me for only $10.00. Please send
your registration payment as a check or money order (US funds only) to:
Eric A. Wolf
498 Wiley Hall NW
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906-4223
After 4/30/94, please send your registration payment to:
Eric A. Wolf
1630 North Johnson Street
South Bend, Indiana 46628-2936
I want to encourage everyone to start writing applications for OS/2, no
matter how simple or complex. That is why I am providing the source code
with this program. If you've never developed for OS/2 before, now is your
time to start and you have this to look off of to get you going.
Please note, however, I provide the source code as-is and as a learning tool
for aspiring programmers. Please do NOT modify the source code and re-release
an exact or similar product. The source is provided solely as a learning
device. The $10.00 registration fee is cheaper than any OS/2 programming
book and what I provide is a complete, functional OS/2 PM application and
ALL component source files that comprise it (how many books do that?)
If the response is good enough, and only if it is good enough, I will continue
to develop products and ship the source code along with them.
I will answer no questions about the source code of the program from an
individual until a registration payment has been received. Once registered,
source questions can be directed to me via electronic mail only:
CompuServe: 71575,1515
Delphi: OLDGROUCH
internet: ericwolf@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
If you have general comments or questions about the program, you may also
send them to any of the electronic addresses above. Thanks!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
== Source Code ===========
This program comes complete with the entire source code that generated it.
Please note the following restriction:
FileBar's source code is to be modified by the author alone. The source
code is provided as a learning tool ONLY! No modifications may be made
to it to reproduce a same or similar product. The copyright remains that
solely of the author and the program is protected under both United States
and International Copyright Laws.
The complete source code for this program can be found in the SOURCE
directory that was created when you uncompressed this program. It was
developed on Borland's C++ for OS/2. A project file (FILEBAR.PRJ) has been
provided to facilitate your working with these files. Each source file
is documented and you should review the code with some good OS/2 references
in hand (PM references, API reference, etc.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
== Distribution of FileBar ========================
You are free to distribute FileBar to whomever and however you wish as long
as the following conditions are upheld:
- FileBar should always be distributed in its entirety. This includes
all documentation, executables, and source files. Under no circumstances
should FileBar be distributed without all of its original files.
Distribution of FileBar (in any way possible!) is strongly encouraged by
individuals and software houses!
- FileBar's source code is to be modified by the author alone. The source
code is provided as a learning tool ONLY! No modifications may be made
to it to reproduce a same or similar product. The copyright remains that
of solely the author and the program is protected under both United States
and International Copyright Laws.
- If you use FileBar, you MUST register it (directions for doing so
preceeded this section of the text). "Use" includes both the actual
use of the FileBar application program -or- using the source code
as a reference for your own works. If you use the source as a reference,
please register your copy ($10.00 is cheaper than any book you can buy on
OS/2 programming and what is going to teach you as much??)
- Remember, if you like the program (even if you don't care much for the
source code) you should still register!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
== Revision History ========================
(The revision history is contained the HISTORY.TXT file that should have
come with this file... Contact the system administrator from which you
received these files if it did not!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember if you like FileBar and use it or if you use or plan to use the
source code as a reference for your own works, please register today!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------