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Subject: OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List Rel. 2.1D (4 of 4) Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc,comp.os.os2.apps,news.answers,comp.answers,uchi.comp.os2 From: sip1@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples) Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1993 21:40:40 GMT Archive-name: os2-faq/user/part4 Version: 2.1D [Part 4 of 4] or 76711.611@compuserve.com, as appropriate.) Related information: (4.5) Technical Support (4.7) Online Services (4.11) OS/2 BBSes What OS/2 BBSes can I dial? The following BBSes hold large OS/2 libraries: Fernwood (203) 483-0348 The Bin BBS (206) 451-1905 OS/2 Source BBS (303) 744-0373 Denver OS/2 BBS (303) 755-6859 Inside Technologies BBS (313) 283-1151 OS/2 Woodmeister (314) 446-0016 Pyramid/2 (415) 494-7497 Gateway/2 (314) 554-9313 Bay Area OS/2 (510) 657-7948 OS/2 San Diego (619) 558-9475 OS/2 Las Vegas (702) 433-5535 OS/2 Shareware (703) 385-4325 Greater Chicago Online (708) 895-4042 OS/2 Exchange BBS (904) 739-2445 Abaforum (Barcelona) 34-3-589.38.88 IBM UK 44-256-336655 OS/2 UK 44-454-633197 IBM Denmark 45-42-88-72-22 Copenhagen UG BBS 45-48-24-45-80 OS/2 Norway 47-22-38-09-49 IBM Norway 47-66-99-94-50 IBM Germany 049-7034-15-2160 OS/2 Australia 61-2-241-2466 Soft/2 Shareware 61-8-370-7339 (Adelaide) (The monthly Worldwide OS/2 BBS Listing, available from these BBSes, lists others.) The IBM PC Company BBS (modem 919-517-0001) has some shareware/freeware as well, along with CSDs [See (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes] and the PS/2 Assistant (an invaluable resource for locating almost any sort of information on OS/2). For information on IBM's OS/2 BBS phone 800-547-1283. IBM Canada maintains several support BBSes: (416) 946-4244 (416) 946-4255 (514) 938-3022 (604) 664-6464 {{ (604) 380-5441 }} Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes (4.12) IBM Telephone Directory IBM has so many telephone numbers. Which do I use? Here are some of the telephone numbers at IBM that are of particular importance to OS/2 users. The list is by no means complete, and future releases of the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List will add more. o IBM Help Center (800-756-4IBM). The "800 number for all 800 numbers" in the United States. If you're not sure which number to call, start here. The operator will stay on the line until you're satisfied you've reached the right party. o IBM Information Center (800-IBM-3333). IBM's United States "switchboard" -- can be used to reach any IBM employee. o IBM OS/2 Hotline (800-3-IBM-OS2). Accepts orders for OS/2, certain OS/2 software titles, OS/2 video cassettes, t-shirts, mouse pads, computer furniture, and other OS/2-related items. For United States residents. o IBM OS/2 Technical Support (800-992-4777). The product support line for OS/2 in the United States. Look in the inside front cover of your OS/2 Using the Operating System manual for support information. o IBM PC Technical Books (800-765-4IBM). Accepts orders for most IBM publications from anyone in the United States. o IBM Personal Systems Software Canada (800-465-1234). For general inquiries and orders from Canadian residents for any OS/2-related product. o IBM Publications Canada (416-474-7000). Accepts orders for any IBM publication, including the OS/2 Online Book Collection, shipped to any Canadian address. o IBM Publications U.S. (800-879-2755 opt. 1). Accepts orders for any IBM publication shipped to any address in the United States. Related information: (4.5) Technical Support (5.0) Using OS/2 The following questions are addressed in this section: (5.1) I'm a Unix wizard. How do I make OS/2 resemble Unix? (5.2) I prefer Windows. How do I make OS/2 2.1 resemble Windows (or OS/2 1.3)? (5.3) Sometimes OS/2 2.1 will freeze when I run an application. What do I do? (5.4) How do I start a background process from the OS/2 command line? (5.5) How do I add new Adobe Type Manager Typefaces? (5.6) How do I tweak OS/2 2.1 for maximum performance? (5.7) How do I measure OS/2 performance and memory usage? (5.8) My background bitmap does not display correctly. What's wrong? (5.9) How do I boot a real version of DOS from within OS/2 2.1? (5.10) Are there any clever tricks that apply to OS/2 2.1? (5.11) How do I use REXX? What does it do? (5.12) What ANSI escape sequences can be used? (5.1) Making OS/2 Resemble Unix I'm a Unix wizard. How do I make OS/2 resemble Unix? A great number of GNU and Unix utilities have been ported to OS/2 native mode and are available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. A uucp package, UUPC/Extended, is available via anonymous ftp from ftp.clarkson.edu, directory /pub/uupc; mail help@kew.com with questions. In addition, the Hamilton C Shell is available from Hamilton Labs (phone 508-358-5715 or mail 3890321@mcimail.com). The Thompson Toolkit, a Bourne-like shell, and awk are published by Thompson Automation (phone 206-224-1639). MKS (phone 519-884-2251 or mail pat@mks.com) publishes a number of standard Unix utilities for OS/2. Hippix (Hippo Software, phone 801-531-1004) provides a set of low cost Unix-like command utilities (such as grep, awk, sh, and vi) along with a POSIX programming library. An OS/2 version of lint is available from Gimpel Software (phone 215-584-4261). For OS/2-specific X Windows server support, IBM provides an optional package available with its TCP/IP 2.0 for OS/2. The TCP/IP 2.0 base package includes a multithreaded news reader as well. DOS and Windows based utilities and aids still work fine under OS/2 2.1. Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (3.8) Networking Products (5.2) Making OS/2 Resemble Windows I prefer Windows. How do I make OS/2 2.1 resemble Windows (or OS/2 1.3)? Spend some time with the Workplace Shell first. Browse the online Tutorial, Master Help Index, and Start Here facilties. Consult the Unofficial Guide to the Workplace Shell, available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. If you still prefer Windows-like behavior, follow the instructions beginning on Page 401 in the OS/2 2.1 Using the Operating System manual. Note that you can run the Win-OS/2 Program Manager "seamlessly" on your OS/2 desktop, and you can use it to launch DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications. Using the Program Manager in this way can make even hard core Windows users more comfortable. Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (5.3) Recovering from Crashed Sessions Sometimes OS/2 2.1 will freeze when I run an application. What do I do? Before rebooting with CTRL-ALT-DEL, try CTRL-ESC. Do not hit additional keys, do not move the mouse. Wait up to a minute. Either the Window List or an error message should pop up. You may close the offending application at that point; allow some time for it to close. (Try ALT-ESC if you have disabled CTRL-ESC in that application's DOS Settings. If you do not get any response, press CTRL-ESC or ALT-ESC repeatedly until the dialog appears.) Note that the Workplace Shell can recycle, independent of running applications, if it crashes. If the system is badly disabled, sometimes pressing CTRL-ALT-NUMLOCK twice will result in a prompt to create a dump diskette. You may do so (the online Command Reference describes dump diskettes), or at that point you may reboot with CTRL-ALT-DEL. To prevent applications from automatically restarting see (5.10) Clever Tricks. To restore the desktop to "factory defaults," use ALT-F1 when OS/2 2.1 starts. See Appendix C of the OS/2 2.1 Using the Operating System manual for details. Note that if you have installed an OS/2 Service Pak [See (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes] the ALT-F1 sequence will restore your desktop to the state it was found in just before installation of the Service Pak. Related information: (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes (5.10) Clever Tricks (5.4) Starting Background Processes How do I start a background process from the OS/2 command line? Look up the START and DETACH commands in the online Command Reference. If you wish to start a DOS session with nondefault settings, use a utility such as STARTD. If you wish to start an OS/2 session from a DOS session, try OS2EXEC. Both (and several others) are available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (5.5) Adobe Type Manager How do I add new Adobe Type Manager typefaces? OS/2 2.1 comes with built-in Adobe Type Manager (ATM) for OS/2 and Win-OS/2. A basic set of typefaces (Courier, Helvetica, and Times New Roman) comes with OS/2 2.1 and is installed (if selected) for use under both OS/2's and Win-OS/2's ATM. Each typeface you install under OS/2 and/or Win-OS/2 should come with at least two separate files with PFB and AFM extensions. To install a typeface for use under Win-OS/2, use the ATM Control Panel. The Win-OS/2 ATM Control Panel will then build a PFM file from the AFM file if a PFM file is not already included. To install a typeface for use with OS/2-specific applications, select OS/2 System -> System Setup -> Font Palette -> Edit Font -> Add. PFM files may converted to AFM files using the PFM2AFM utility, available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. (However, these converted AFM files sometimes produce unusual results.) AFM files for Adobe commercial typefaces are available via Internet anonymous ftp from ftp.mv.us.adobe.com; the PFB files are available for purchase from Adobe. Many public domain typefaces for OS/2's ATM are available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. Atech Software's (phone 800-786-FONT) AllType and Ares Software's (phone 415-578-9090) FontMonger convert between TrueType and Adobe Type 1 formats (as does the popular Fontographer utility). Typeface files may be shared by OS/2 ATM and Win-OS/2 ATM. To do so, install the typefaces using both the Font Palette and Win-OS/2 ATM Control Panel, specifying the same target path each time (most conveniently \PSFONTS). Note that IOPL=YES should appear in CONFIG.SYS; the modules WPPWNDRV, BVHSVGA, and PMATM are marked as requiring I/O privilege. Related information (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (5.6) Performance Tuning How do I tweak OS/2 2.1 for maximum performance? For OS/2 overall, the CONFIG.SYS parameters MAXWAIT, TIMESLICE, PRIORITY, PRIORITY_DISK_IO, PROTECTONLY, and cache settings (in the DISKCACHE line, for FAT; or IFS line, for HPFS) can be tweaked. The swap file should be placed on the most used partition on the least used hard disk, and its location is controlled by the SWAPPATH line. See the online Command Reference for details. FAT partitions should be periodically defragmented. A shareware defragmenter for DOS called DOG (Disk OrGanizer) works well, as do many others. (You can boot DOS from a floppy disk to run such a utility.) For the Workplace Shell, drag shadows of most often used items to the desktop or to folders closer to the "surface" -- opening folders takes time. Drag shadows of program objects you use often (e.g. the Win-OS/2 full screen Program Manager) to the Startup folder. Disable animation (go to OS/2 System -> System Setup -> System -> Window). Use the faster Details View when opening drive and folder objects; to set Details View as the default, open the settings notebook for the object, select the Menu tab, click on ~Open, then the Settings button, then select the Default Action. Try reducing the number of on screen colors or dropping down in screen resolution to enhance speed. Close (not just minimize; check the Window List) unnecessary objects and applications. Use the Monochrome scheme from the Scheme Palette -- it provides marginally faster screen updates. Consider adding more RAM. For DOS programs, run full screen instead of windowed if speed is important. In DOS Settings for each application: reduce conventional, XMS, DPMI, and EMS memory allocations to the bare minimums required for maximum performance; turn off VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION unless necessary; adjust IDLE_SENSITIVITY; turn off DOS_BACKGROUND_EXECUTION if not needed; change the HW_TIMER setting (particularly for games); enable VIDEO_FASTPASTE if possible; turn on HW_ROM_TO_RAM. Communications programs should use hardware handshaking where possible (use OS/2's MODE COMx command if necessary), and a buffered UART can prove helpful. (DOS programs running under OS/2 will not be aware of a buffered 16550AF UART. OS/2 virtualizes the serial port and manages the buffer itself.) For faster printing set the DOS program's output port to LPTx.OS2 (where x is the printer port number) -- use a "print to file" option if necessary. Disable any DOS print spoolers; rely on OS/2's spooler instead. Increase CONFIG.SYS's PRINTMONBUFSIZE values. Other, standard steps to enhance DOS performance (e.g. increasing BUFFERS in CONFIG.SYS) of course apply. For Windows programs, run using a full screen desktop if speed is vital. The Win-OS/2 Full Screen icon set up by the installation program has poor Settings. For better performance perform some of the same steps outlined in the preceding paragraph, including VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION off. The same printer output advice also applies. Consider disabling the Public setting in the Clipboard. If available, set VIDEO_8514A_XGA_IOTRAP to off. If mouse control is lost when switching to/from the Win-OS/2 session, try setting VIDEO_SWITCH_NOTIFICATION off. Related information: (1.3) DOS and Windows Compatibility (5.7) Measuring Performance and Memory Usage (5.7) Measuring Performance and Memory Usage How do I measure OS/2 performance and memory usage? OS/2 does not treat system resources like DOS. Memory is treated as a virtual resource, used intelligently. For example, OS/2 will retain unused, "dormant" code in memory if that memory is not otherwise required, on the assumption that that code may be used again. Also, all but a small portion of OS/2 (and most applications, no matter how many are running) may be paged to disk should a large amount of physical memory be required. Utilities which display "free" memory, then, are only useful for rough, relative measurements. (Such utilities also often fail for another reason: many only report the largest contiguous block of free physical RAM. And a few will never report more than 16 MB of RAM because they were designed for OS/2 1.x.) Similarly, utilities which purport to measure system load (e.g. Pulse) should not be relied upon for definitive performance measurement. Subjective assessments are often much more reliable. Pulse (and similar utilities) rely on a measurement of processor time allocated to a thread running at OS/2's lowest priority. This method is sometimes subject to erroneous results. That said, more rigorous system performance optimization and monitoring tools include System Performance Monitor/2 (IBM Program No. 5871-3415), BenchTech (Synetik, phone 303-241-1718), OR/SysMon (International OS/2 User Group, phone 44-285-641175 or FAX 44-285-640181), CPU Monitor (Bon Ami), and Performance 2.1 (Clear & Simple, phone 203-658-1204). Note that OS/2's swap file is designed to behave with hysteresis. It will not shrink in size as easily as it grows, under the assumption that swap space needed once may be needed again. It should shrink given enough time and continued, less intense system loads. Related information: (5.6) Performance Tuning (5.8) Displaying Background Bitmaps My background bitmap does not display correctly. What's wrong? Color bitmap images used for the Workplace Shell screen or folder backgrounds may not display correctly (may have distorted or missing colors) due to incorrect matching with OS/2's default palette. Unlike Windows, OS/2 does not adjust the palette to accommodate background bitmaps (to keep the rest of the desktop from experiencing color distortions). (Palette control is now available to applications running under the 32-bit graphics engine with an appropriate display driver, however.) To remedy the problem you may use the numerous background images which have been specifically prepared for the Workplace Shell [available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources] or you may use an image editing/conversion utility which can create a proper, system palette-matched bitmap file. For example, JoeView [available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources] may be used to import noninterlaced GIF, Windows BMP, and PCX files and save them as palette-matched OS/2 BMP files. Note that background bitmap images impose some additional overhead, taking up RAM and disk resources. You should probably use them sparingly. Also, if you have set a Win-OS/2 background bitmap you may experience desktop color distortions when running Windows programs "seamlessly." Disable the Win-OS/2 background bitmap to remedy the problem. Related information: (2.2) SuperVGA Support (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (5.9) Specific DOS Sessions How do I boot a real version of DOS from within OS/2 2.1? Booting a real version of DOS under OS/2 provides certain features that the OS/2 emulated DOS sessions cannot. For example, a specific DOS session can provide access to devices (like CD-ROM drives) and networks for which there are only DOS device drivers. A specific DOS session can also help get DOS applications which generate spurious "divide by zero" errors running again. You will be able to run one such session per hardware device. So, for example, if you have your DOS networking software loaded in one specific DOS session, you may not start another, similar session. Specific DOS sessions are discussed in the online Command Reference (under VMDISK), the Master Help Index, and the printed Installation Guide (Appendix E). You should consult those resources first. However, if you are still unsure how to configure your system to run specific DOS sessions, follow these steps: 1. Create a bootable DOS diskette. Insert your DOS system diskette into Drive A and reboot. When you arrive at the "A>" prompt, type FORMAT A: /S and press ENTER. (Note that you may wish to format the diskette for the smallest capacity possible, to save hard disk space later on. For example, a 5.25 inch double density -- not high density -- diskette may be formatted to just 160K by adding the /1 /N:8 parameters to the FORMAT command.) When prompted, insert a blank diskette into Drive A and press ENTER. When the FORMAT operation is complete, remove the diskette and restart OS/2. 2. Copy FSFILTER.SYS to the diskette. Double click on OS/2 System -> Command Prompts -> OS/2 Window. Insert the diskette you just formatted into Drive A. Copy the following file to your startable diskette: \OS2\MDOS\FSFILTER.SYS. 3. Set up CONFIG.SYS. Using a text editor (like the OS/2 System Editor) create the file A:\CONFIG.SYS with the following lines at the top: DEVICE=FSFILTER.SYS DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\EMM386.SYS DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\ANSI.SYS Change the "C:" drive letter if OS/2 is installed on another drive. Add any other lines as required for your application (like CD-ROM or networking), but do not include any XMS, EMS, mouse, or memory management device drivers. Make sure that everything is referenced with a drive letter and path, as above. 4. Set up AUTOEXEC.BAT. Likewise, create a file named A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and make sure that the first line reads: C:\OS2\MDOS\MOUSE changing "C:" if necessary. Add any additional lines (like PATH, SET PROMPT, and so on) as required by your application. {{ Make sure that \OS2\MDOS is referenced in the PATH. }} 5. Test your DOS diskette. Once you have configured the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files as you wish, double click on OS/2 System -> Command Prompts -> DOS from Drive A:. A DOS session should start. Test for the functionality you need (like access to your CD-ROM reader or network). If the session is not working properly, press CTRL-ESC and shut down the session, edit CONFIG.SYS and/or AUTOEXEC.BAT as required, and repeat the test. 6. Create the diskette image. When you are satisfied that your specific DOS session diskette functions properly, go back to the OS/2 Window and type VMDISK A: C:\DOS.IMG to create a diskette image file. (If you want the file to be located on another drive or in another directory, change "C:\" accordingly.) 7. Create a program object for your specific DOS session. Drag a program object from your Templates folder to any target folder. When the notebook opens, enter a single asterisk (*) in the Program Name field, then click on the right arrow in the lower right. Select either DOS Window or DOS Full Screen for the session type, as desired. Click on the DOS Settings button, and scroll down until you find the DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE property. Enter C:\DOS.IMG in the field at the upper right. (If your image file is not located on Drive C in the root directory, make the necessary changes.) Change any other DOS Settings if necessary. Click on the Save button, then click on the General tab. Give your program object a name. Then close up the notebook. You should now be able to double click on your new program object to start your specific DOS session. If you require access to your diskette drive (Drive A), use the FSACCESS command. See the online Command Reference for details. When formatting your bootable DOS diskette, you may wish to use additional command line parameters to create a diskette with a reduced capacity. The "smaller" the diskette, the less room the diskette image file created by VMDISK will take on your hard disk. See your DOS manual for details, or use the example given above. Related information: (1.3) DOS and Windows Compatibility (5.10) Clever Tricks Are there any clever tricks that apply to OS/2 2.1? o To force DIR to display your directories in alphabetical order, with the subdirectories listed first, add the line SET DIRCMD=/O:GN to CONFIG.SYS; and, if you wish the same for your DOS command line sessions, add the same line to AUTOEXEC.BAT. You may also wish to run DOSKEY to enable the command history feature. (Shutdown and reboot for changes to CONFIG.SYS to take effect.) o Hold down SHIFT while resizing text windows to make size changes permanent. o If you want to configure your printer port(s) for shared access (so that DOS programs like LapLink, for example, can use them directly), go to your printer object, click on it with mouse button two, select Open -> Settings, select the Output tab, then double click on the port you wish to share. Check the appropriate box. o While running a DOS graphics program in a window, use the graphics cut and paste feature to clip a picture and paste it into the Icon Editor. You can then quickly and easily create custom icons for your applications. o To disable the automatic application restart feature, create a STARTUP.CMD file in the root directory of your OS/2 boot drive with the following REXX script: /* */ call RxFuncadd 'SysLoadFuncs', 'RexxUtil', 'SysLoadFuncs' call SysLoadFuncs call SysIni 'USER', 'PM_WorkPlace:Restart', 'DELETE:' 'exit' or add the line SET RESTARTOBJECTS=STARTUPFOLDERSONLY to your CONFIG.SYS. To manually disable automatic application restart when booting OS/2, hold down the left CTRL, left SHIFT, and F1 keys simultaneously from the time the mouse pointer appears until icons are displayed on the desktop. o Use the Alarms applet to automatically start programs at specified times. To start the Alarms applet minimized, put /I in the Optional Parameters section of its program object settings. o If you wish to dispense with the Workplace Shell (and its overhead), particularly on low memory systems, change the line SET RUNWORKPLACE... in CONFIG.SYS to read SET RUNWORKPLACE=C:\OS2\CMD.EXE (replacing C, if necessary, with a different drive letter). In fact any program with job control (e.g. Enhanced Editor, HyperAccess/5) can be used as the shell. [A character mode alternative to the Workplace Shell, MenuMaster, is now available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources.] o To implement a small scroll back buffer for your OS/2 command line windows, use the command MODE CO80,102. This procedure may be automated by adding /K MODE CO80,102 in the Optional Parameters section of the OS/2 Window program object settings. o If you do not want any command line parameters passed to a program object that you start (for example, if you customize the desktop menu so that it has an additional option which starts a command line prompt) place a lone % in the Optional Parameters section of the program object settings. If you do wish to pass parameters, but you want the extraneous information that the Workplace Shell passes to the object to be ignored, try putting && REM % in the Optional Parameters section after the parameters you wish passed. o If you want to move an icon a small distance, "grab" it from the edge nearest the direction you want to move the icon. o A clever way to manipulate files that are locked when the Workplace Shell is running (e.g. display drivers) is to add the line CALL=CMD.EXE at the end of CONFIG.SYS. Then Shutdown and reboot. The system will restart with an OS/2 command line prompt. Type EXIT to proceed into the Workplace Shell. Using CALL is also a convenient way to configure OS/2's serial ports using the MODE command. For example: CALL=C:\OS2\MODE.COM COM2:38400,N,8,1,OCTS=OFF,RTS=ON,BUFFER=ON configures COM2 for high speed RTS handshaking and buffered I/O. [Moreover, the MODE command can be used to determine whether your system has a buffered UART (National Semiconductor 16550A or equivalent), nearly essential for high speed communications. Use the command: MODE COMx (where x is the communications port number) from an OS/2 command line. If you see anything but "BUFFER = N/A" then you have a buffered UART for that port.] You can use either CDDBOC or SHIFTRUN instead of CALL; both utilities are available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. Another way, which works well with display drivers, is to copy the new DLL(s) to its(their) own directory (say, C:\NEW), then place that directory name first in LIBPATH in CONFIG.SYS. Shutdown and reboot. OS/2 will use that(those) DLL(s) before it attempts to use the one(s) located in \OS2\DLL. [This method is required when using a 16-bit OS/2 2.0 display driver with OS/2 2.0 CSD Level 06055 or later. See (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes.] To switch back to the old driver, edit CONFIG.SYS and remove C:\NEW from LIBPATH, then Shutdown and reboot. o To shutdown without a mouse, press CTRL-ESC, select the Desktop, then press the spacebar (to deselect any icons, if necessary), SHIFT-F10, and select Shutdown. o If your video driver does not support "seamless" Windows, try running the Win-OS/2 Program Manager in a DOS window. o Selective Install should be used with caution when changing mouse or display drivers. Verify that proper changes have been made to CONFIG.SYS. o If your settings notebooks (or PM Sticky Pads) do not display but are listed in the Window List, click on the name of the settings notebook in the Window List (brought up with CTRL-ESC) with mouse button two and select Cascade. o If your \OS2\*.INI files have grown large, use the CopyINI or WPSBackup utilities to shrink them. Both are available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. o To restart the Workplace Shell (without saving desktop settings, perhaps after an accidental Arrange), use a utility such as psPM [available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources] to terminate PMSHELL. o To get rid of a WPS object that cannot be deleted, try one of the following: - Insert a blank diskette in Drive A, click on the stubborn object with mouse button two, select Move, select the Path page, enter A:\, press ENTER, then format the diskette; - Use the WPSTools or Black Hole, available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources. (The WPSTools can also recreate desktop objects that have been lost.) o To load a device driver into high memory in a particular DOS session change the DOS_DEVICE setting for the session and add SIZE=0 before the path and filename for the device driver. For example, the following DOS_DEVICE entry: SIZE=0 C:\OS2\MDOS\ANSI.SYS loads the ANSI.SYS device driver into high memory in that particular session. o If you wish to create diskettes from MAKEDSKF (.DSK) image files, such as those contained on the CD-ROM version of OS/2, and you do not wish to use the DOS and OS/2 utility LOADDSKF, you may use a workstation. For example, on an IBM RS/6000 or Sun workstation you may use the command: dd if=(input filename) of=/dev/rfd0 ibs=1b obs=60b conv=sync o To reboot the machine from the command line, use: SETBOOT /IBD:C Change the last letter (C) if you want to boot from another drive. {{ Disk buffers will be flushed, but Workplace Shell settings will not be saved. }} o The settings notebooks now support drag and drop operations for assigning icons and for changing menus. To change the icon for an object, first open the settings notebook (click on the object with the secondary mouse button, then select Open -> Settings). Click on the General tab. Then drag any other object to the icon located on the General page of the settings notebook. The object's icon will change to match. If you want to restore it to its former state, click on the Undo button. To assign actions to menus, open the settings notebook, then click on the Menu tab. Click on any of the items in the Available menus section (or Create another). To add an Action, drag the desired program object to the Actions on menu section. o To quickly maximize a window, double click on its title bar. To restore the window to its former size, double click on the title bar again. o Select the Flowed setting (on the View page of the settings notebook) for fastest display when opening folders. o If you have UNDELETE enabled, but you want to delete an occasional file without the overhead incurred by having UNDELETE capability, use the /F parameter with the DEL command. Using this parameter (in either a DOS or OS/2 Window) will bypass the routine which moves the file(s) to the directory specified by the DELDIR environment variable. The file(s) is(are) deleted faster, but you will not be able to undelete it(them). The /N parameter will prevent prompting ("Are you sure?"). o OS/2 2.1 now includes the ability to set a power on password. However, if you have forgotten your password, and you cannot unlock your desktop when you turn your machine on, try the following. Start OS/2 from a diskette boot [see (4.4) Starting OS/2 from Diskette] to get a command line prompt. At the prompt, enter the following commands: C: (assuming OS/2 is installed on Drive C; change if necessary) MAKEINI OS2.INI LOCK.RC o If you are using a 1024x768 display driver (such as 8514/A), but you do not want the icons scaled up in size from 32x32 to 40x40, patch the display driver file (e.g. \OS2\DLL\8514_32.DLL) using DEBUG or a similar utility. Search for the hexadecimal byte sequence 28 00 28 00 20 00 20 00 and replace the two 28 values with 20. Reboot for the change to take effect, and be sure to keep a backup copy of the original file. o To hide your entire desktop, single click on any icon on the desktop, press CTRL-ESC, then press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC. To return the desktop to normal, press CTRL-ESC then double click on Desktop. o If you would like to have a Presentation Manager application start up minimized, first set up a program object for it by dragging a Program template from the Templates folder. Then, on the first page of the notebook, enter the full path and filename of the PM program, but deliberately misspell it. Click on the arrow in the lower right to turn the page, then check the Start minimized checkbox. Click on the left arrow to turn the page back, then correct the misspelling. Fill in any other information, as desired, then close up the notebook. The program object is now ready to start your PM application minimized. o To get approximately 730K free in your DOS sessions, change VIDEO_MODE_RESTRICTION in the session's settings to CGA (unless your application requires more than CGA graphics capabilities). Note that you may have to place the line: DOS_RMSIZE=639 in your CONFIG.SYS file to get this much free memory. o {{ In a full screen, character mode OS/2 session it is normally impossible to copy text from the screen to the Clipboard. To get around the problem, try setting your printer object to hold all print jobs, press the PrintScreen key while the full screen OS/2 session is active, return to the printer object and double click on the print job icon for the PrintScreen, then cut and paste from the editor. }} Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (4.4) Starting OS/2 from Diskette (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes (5.11) REXX How do I use REXX? What does it do? REXX is built into every copy of OS/2 (where it is also known as Procedures Language/2). It is a general purpose, interpreted programming language which was first released on IBM mainframes over a decade ago. REXX is extremely easy to learn and use. It is particularly strong at string manipulation, and it has features which are difficult to implement in compiled languages (like the ability to read its own source code or execute a string as a command). OS/2 applications can use REXX as a common scripting language, which means that users need not learn separate macro or script languages for each application. For example, the OS/2 versions of Lotus 1-2-3 and Borland ObjectVision will interface with REXX. OS/2's multimedia extensions (MMPM/2) contain a REXX interface, so REXX programs can play, record, and manipulate sound and video files. And REXX can be used to create complex batch files (with interactive prompting), since it is integrated so tightly into OS/2's command processor. Moreover, A pair of REXX visual builders (programming tools which help create even complex REXX applications quickly and easily using simple, drag and drop manipulation of on screen objects), HockWare's VisPro/REXX and Watcom's VX REXX, are now available. For more information on OS/2's REXX interpreter, see the REXX Information online documentation located in the Information folder. For more information on REXX generally, consult the REXX Frequently Asked Questions List [available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources]. Here are some REXX hints and tips: o If you wish to place program output in the REXX queue (for processing by a REXX program), try DIR *.TXT | RXQUEUE as an example. (In other words, pipe the program output to RXQUEUE.) To use this program output in your REXX program, try /* Sample */ WHILE QUEUED() > 0 PARSE PULL X SAY X END o To execute REXX commands interactively from the command line, use the REXXTRY command. For example: REXXTRY DO X=1 TO 10;SAY X;END Related information: (0.2) Recent Developments (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (3.6) Multimedia (MMPM/2) (5.12) ANSI Escape Sequences What ANSI escape sequences can be used? ANSI escape sequences provide cursor and screen control in OS/2 character mode sessions. By default ANSI support is turned ON (although it may be turned off with the command ANSI OFF). ANSI support is also available in DOS sessions if the device driver ANSI.SYS is loaded. See the online Command Reference for details. The following ANSI escape sequences are available: Key ESC Refers to ASCII code 27 (i.e. the Escape key) # Replace with the appropriate number .... Replace with additional attributes, if desired Escape Code Sequence Function Cursor Controls ESC[#;#H or ESC[#;#f Moves cursor to line #, column # ESC[#A Moves cursor up # lines ESC[#B Moves cursor down # lines ESC[#C Moves cursor forward # spaces ESC[#D Moves cursor back # spaces ESC[#;#R Reports current cursor line and column ESC[s Saves cursor position for recall later ESC[u Return to saved cursor position Erase Functions ESC[2J Clear screen and home cursor ESC[K Clear to end of line Set Graphics Rendition ESC[#;#;....;#m Set display attributes where # is 0 for normal display 1 bold on 4 underline (mono only) 5 blink on 7 reverse video on 8 nondisplayed (invisible) 30 black foreground 31 red foreground 32 green foreground 33 yellow foreground 34 blue foreground 35 magenta foreground 36 cyan foreground 37 white foreground 40 black background 41 red background 42 green background 43 yellow background 44 blue background 45 magenta background 46 cyan background 47 white background ESC[=#;7h Put screen in indicated mode where # is 0 for 40x25 black and white 1 40x25 color 2 80x25 black and white 3 80x25 color 4 320x200 color graphics 5 320x200 black and white graphics 6 640x200 black and white graphics 7 to wrap at end of line ESC[=#;7l Resets mode # set with above command Keyboard Reassignments ESC[#;#;....#p The first ASCII code defines what is to be changed; the remaining codes define what it is to be changed to; strings are permitted. Examples: ESC[65;81p - A becomes Q ESC[81;65p - Q becomes A ESC[0;68;"dir";13p - Assign the F10 key to a DIR command. The 0;68 portion is the extended ASCII code for the F10 key and 13 is the ASCII code for a carriage return. Other function key codes: F1=59, F2=60, F3=61, ... F10=68. You can use ANSI escape sequences in the PROMPT environment variable to create complex command line prompts. See the online Command Reference (under PROMPT) for details. For example, if you have a color monitor, try editing your CONFIG.SYS file so that SET PROMPT=$e[32;40m$e[1m[$P]$e[0m to obtain a more colorful OS/2 command line prompt. (Case is significant in the example given.) You can do the same for your DOS sessions if you edit PROMPT in AUTOEXEC.BAT, assuming you have ANSI.SYS loaded. Note that the $i portion of your PROMPT will enable the help line at the top of the window or screen. It is not included in the example above. To change the background color of your OS/2 command line sessions, modify your CONFIG.SYS file so that this line is changed as shown: SET OS2_SHELL=C:\OS2\CMD.EXE /K BLUESCR.CMD changing the drive letter, if necessary. Then create a file named BLUESCR.CMD which contains the following lines: @ECHO OFF PROMPT=$e[32;44;1m PROMPT $p$g CLS Save the file to a directory that is named in the SET PATH line of your CONFIG.SYS file. Reboot. Then, when you start an OS/2 command line, the background color will be different. You can change the numbers in the first PROMPT line to obtain different colors. If you are using JP Software's 32-bit 4OS2, and you would like the name of the current working directory to appear in the title bar, try using the following command: PROMPT `%@exec[window"%_cwd"]$h[$p]` Related information: (5.10) Clever Tricks (6.0) Miscellaneous The following questions are addressed in this section: (6.1) What can I do to promote OS/2? (6.2) How can I create INF files? (6.1) Promoting OS/2 What can I do to promote OS/2? OS/2 is selling well, but there are steps you can take to assure that hardware devices and software will be available for OS/2 in the future. Customer requests do matter. o Politely, firmly, and repeatedly request driver support from printer, video adapter, and other hardware manufacturers. o When you receive a mailing for DOS/Windows software with a postpaid envelope, return the order form marked "Please send information on your OS/2 version." o Start a user group at your location. Contact Gene Barlow (phone 214-402-6456) {{ or Kathy Fanning }} at IBM or mail ibmpcug@vnet.ibm.com for assistance. Think about how you can publicize your user group. For instance, most local newspapers and television stations will print/broadcast meeting announcements for free. Your local cable television company will be happy to broadcast a videotape of your meeting on the public access channel. o Correspond with members of the computer trade press. Ask for reviews of OS/2 software, hardware compatibility testing with OS/2, OS/2 benchmarking, etc. Respond politely but forcefully to press you think unfair; praise good reporting. o When you purchase a new system, ask the vendor to install OS/2 2.1, and to offer credit for dropping DOS and Windows. If the vendor refuses, you may wish to take your business elsewhere. Compaq, Everex, AST, Northgate, ALR, Unisys, Dell, Tangent, IBM, and Ariel Design all offer systems with OS/2 2.1 preloaded. o Make sure your company (or yourself) specifies OS/2 compatibility when purchasing new products. o Demonstrate OS/2 to friends, relatives, and associates. o Ask your computer store to stock OS/2 software titles, have OS/2 demonstration machines, etc. o Pass along useful OS/2 shareware and freeware to your local BBS. Be sure to register OS/2 shareware. o Write an outstanding piece of shareware or freeware [See (4.5) Technical Support for details on joining DAP]. IBM has been known to recognize such work with rewards. Also, ask authors of DOS/Windows shareware and freeware if they would port to OS/2, or volunteer. o Recommend products that work well under OS/2; dissuade people from purchasing products that do not. o Wear OS/2 pins, shirts, buttons, and other souvenirs. Contact the Lees/Keystone OS/2 Merchandise Center (phone 914-273-6755 or FAX 914-273-9187) or the IBM OS/2 Hotline (phone 800-3-IBM-OS2) to order such items. o Join Team OS/2, an international organization of volunteers who are OS/2 enthusiasts and are actively sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with others. These activities include supporting OS/2 user groups, running OS/2 BBSes and online conferences, demonstrating OS/2 at retail stores and other public places, encouraging and helping others to install OS/2, answering OS/2 questions, and much more. Membership is not limited to IBM employees. For information on Team OS/2 events you should monitor the TEAMOS2 echomail conference on your local FidoNet BBS. If your local BBS does not carry TEAMOS2, ask your system operator to get it. See (4.11) OS/2 BBSes for the names and numbers of several BBSes which carry TEAMOS2. To join Team OS/2, send your name, address(es), and telephone number to Vicci Conway (netmail 76711.1123@compuserve.com or FAX 407-982-1229). Include information on your activities to date and a one line description of yourself for the public Team OS/2 list. Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (4.5) Technical Support (4.11) OS/2 BBSes (6.1) Creating INF Files How can I create INF files? Creating INF files (like the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List) is remarkably straightforward. All you need is the Information Presentation Facility Compiler (IPFC), part of the IBM Developer's Toolkit for OS/2 2.1 (available separately as IBM Part No. 61G1416 or as part of many development environments such as Borland C++ for OS/2), and a text editor (like the Enhanced Editor included with OS/2). Online IPFC documentation is included with the Toolkit, but you may also wish to order the printed Information Presentation Facility Guide and Reference, IBM Publication No. S10G-6262. See (4.9) Books and Magazines for ordering instructions. Note that the Toolkit is part of the low cost OS/2 Developer's Connection CD-ROM. See (4.5) Technical Support for details. If you wish to include illustrations in your INF file you can use any graphics software which can generate OS/2 bitmaps and/or metafiles. (For example, you may create your illustration in PM Chart, paste the illustration into Picture Viewer, then save the illustration as a metafile. Both PM Chart and Picture Viewer are included with OS/2 2.1.) A screen capture utility [like PM Camera or Galleria, available from (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources] can also prove useful. Related information: (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (4.5) Technical Support (4.9) Books and Magazines (7.0) Glossary {{ The following terms are often used in conjunction with OS/2: Term Definition APAR A bug fix which has been (or will be) created by IBM to address a very specific problem. (Example: "Please send me APAR 09761.") CID "Configuration/Installation/Distribution": a term usually used to refer to the ability to install an operating system or application remotely, over a network. (Example: "IBM TCP/IP 2.0 for OS/2 is now CID-enabled.") See (4.2) Installing from Drive B. CSD "Corrective Service Diskette(s)": see (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes. DASD "Direct Access Storage Device": disk space (most commonly a hard disk drive). (Example: "I do not have enough DASD for this new application.") DMA "Direct Memory Access": circuitry provided on all PCs to allow peripherals (such as disk controllers) to transfer data to memory directly, without the assistance of the computer's processor. Appropriate use of DMA can often help to improve overall system performance. EA "Extended Attribute": up to 64K of assorted data stored with any file under OS/2. Such data may include file type (e.g. "Plain Text"), icons, comments, and other information which is best left outside the file itself. Only OS/2 applications can create and modify extended attributes. ES "Extended Services": see (3.9) Extended Services. FAT "File Allocation Table": the disk format introduced by DOS. See HPFS. GA "General Availability": available for purchase as a shrinkwrapped product from IBM and its dealers. HPFS "High Performance File System": see (1.5) High Performance File System. IPL "Initial Program Load": starting a PC's operating system (i.e. booting or rebooting). (Example: "Please IPL your system now.") See also RIPL. LA "Limited Availability": available only from IBM to certain customers. multitasking Running two or more applications "simultaneously," dividing the computer processor's attention among them. (In fact, the two or more applications only appear to run simultaneously because the processor switches between them rapidly.) Cooperative multitasking, such as that found in Microsoft Windows and Macintosh System 7, requires that each application be written so as to "surrender" the computer's processor at regular intervals so that it can devote attention to other running applications. If one application for some reason refuses to yield the processor, all other applications stop running. Preemptive multitasking, as found in OS/2 and Unix, for example, leaves the operating system in charge of delegating processor time to each running application. The amount of attention given depends the operating system's scheduler, the logic which assesses (and perhaps adjusts) the priorities of various tasks and assigns processor attention accordingly. multithreading An operating system's ability to manage what are sometimes called lightweight processes, namely subtasks which are spawned by applications. For example, a word processor may be written so that any printing operation is put in a separate thread. This thread is then run alongside the word processor itself, in the background, so that control returns immediately to the user of the word processor. See multitasking. PM "Presentation Manager": the underlying services used by programmers and the Workplace Shell (see WPS) to provide windows, scroll bars, dialog boxes, and other essential interface elements. PMR "Problem Management Record": a number assigned by IBM to track a customer-reported problem. (Example: "I have opened PMR Number 9X534; please reference this number if you call again.") RIPL "Remote Initial Program Load": the capability to boot (start) a PC (load its operating system) over a network. See IPL. seamless Refers to the ability to run Windows applications alongside OS/2 and DOS applications on the Workplace Shell (see WPS) desktop as opposed to the full screen Win-OS/2 desktop. (Example: "Will this video driver support seamless Windows?") SMP "Symmetric Multiprocessing": a set of technologies in which two or more computer processors (CPUs) are managed by one operating system to provide greater computing power to applications. With SMP, processors are treated more or less equally (with applications able to run on any or perhaps all processors in the system, interchangeably, at the operating system's discretion). Simple MP usually involves assigning each processor to a fixed task (such as managing the file system), reserving the single main CPU for general tasks. OS/2 currently supports so-called HMP (Hybrid Multiprocessing), a version of MP which provides some elements of SMP, using add-on IBM software called MP/2. OS/2 SMP is slated for release in late 1993. SP "Service Pak": see CSD. Sometimes numbered (e.g. "SP 2") to refer to a particular Service Pak. Win-OS/2 IBM's customized version of Windows, based on Microsoft's own source code, which provides compatibility with Windows applications under OS/2. WPS "Workplace Shell": OS/2's most commonly used user interface which provides icons, folders, drag-and-drop configuration, settings notebooks, and other features necessary for user interaction with the operating system and its applications. }} Related information: (1.5) High Performance File System (HPFS) (3.9) Extended Services (4.2) Installing from Drive B (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes [End of Part 4 of 4] -- Timothy F. Sipples | READ the OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions List sip1@kimbark.uchicago.edu | 2.1D, available from 192.153.46.2, anonymous Dept. of Econ., Univ. | ftp, in /pub/os2/all/info/faq. of Chicago, 60637 | OS/2: The World's Most Popular Way to 32 Bits!