Magazyn WWW 1999 April/cd24-www.iso/prog/os2/connex/connex15.exe/_CONNEX.EXE/CONNEX.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1996-12-23 | 29KB | 675 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. Connexion Collection 1.5 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                            CONNEXION COLLECTION 1.5

               Copyright 1996 John Pedersen, All Rights Reserved.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. Connexion Collection User Manual ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

                            CONNEXION COLLECTION 1.5

 The sections of this manual are:

       Γûá  About shareware, and registering Connexion Collection
       Γûá  Disclaimer
       Γûá  Introduction
       Γûá  Installation
       Γûá  Configuration
       Γûá  Main window
       Γûá  Importing a site
       Γûá  Support for Connexion Collection
       Γûá  Trademarks and service marks


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. About shareware and registering Connexion Collection ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Connexion Collection is shareware.  For more information about shareware, read
Explanation of shareware  below.

If you find Connexion Collection useful, you should register:

To register, contact BMT Micro. An order form is provided in the file
REGISTER.TXT.

Important  When you register, you will be given a numeric registration key.
           This key value is based on the name you have entered in the
           Connexion Collection Configuration Window.  Do NOT change this name
           after registering!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.1. BMT Micro ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For problem reports or suggestions, contact JMP Systems.

To register, contact:


BMT Micro
PO Box 15016
Wilmington, NC 28408
U.S.A.

       [phone] (orders only)

       [phone]

 Fax:  [phone] hours / 7 Days

       [phone]  24 hours / 7 Days

 For more ways to contact BMT Micro, see the registration form.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.2. Explanation of shareware. ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software.  The shareware
system allows you to try before you buy.  It has the ultimate money-back
guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.  However, if
you try a shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to
register.

Copyright laws apply to shareware, and the copyright holder retains all rights.
However, to distribute the shareware, the author specifically grants the right
to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific
group.

Connexion Collection is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to
the user for evaluation.  Feel free to share it with your friends, but please
do not give it away altered or as part of another system.  The essence of
"user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality
software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
continue to develop new products.  If you find this program useful and find
that you are using Connexion Collection and continue to use Connexion
Collection after a reasonable trial period, we ask that you register. The
registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one
time.

Site-License arrangements are available.

You are encouraged to pass a copy of Connexion Collection along to your friends
for evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that
they can use it.

CONNEXION COLLECTION 1.5

COPYRIGHT 1996 JOHN PEDERSEN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3.3. Disclaimer ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Connexion Collection is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of
merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.  The author assumes no
liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use
of Connexion Collection.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. 1.0 Introduction ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Anyone who surfs the Web on the Internet soon has hundreds of "favorite" sites
in their "hotlist."  Connexion Collection can help you deal with this.  The
following sections will cover:

      General description

      How it works


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. 1.1 General description ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Connexion Collection helps you organize these sites into categories and
sub-categories that are defined by you.  It creates a single web page, full of
organized links, which you can use as your home page.  Even if you use more
than one browser, they can use this single page.

You can create categories, create connection sites (ie. links), drag and drop
sites and categories from one category into another, and re-order contents of
categories.

You can import web sites from your browser and also write changes back to your
browser.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. 1.2 How it works ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Connexion Collection produces an HTML file (ie a web page) in its own directory
(eg, D:\CONNEX) and the file is called CONNEX.HTM.  Whenever you save your
"Connexions", the CONNEX.HTM file is updated. When changes are made to this
file, a backup copy, called CONNEXBK.HTM, is saved.

To get the most benefit, therefore, you should get your browser (or your
browsers) to use this file as a home page.

Netscape for OS/2 keeps a pointer to the page it uses as a homepage in its
NETSCAPE.INI file.  There are two ways of setting the Netscape homepage.

It's equally easy to set the WebExplorer homepage.

If you import sites (links) from your browser, you will notice that imported
items are removed from the "import" window.  If you so choose, the changes (ie
deletions) may be written back to the browser's original file.  In the case of
Netscape, this is the BOOKMARK.HTM file, and in the case of WebExplorer, it is
the EXPLORE.INI file.

If you elect to write changes back to your browser file, backups are created in
the CONNEX directory.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. 2.0 Installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Installation steps are straightforward.

       Γûá Run the original self-extracting file
       Γûá Set up a directory
       Γûá Create desktop objects
       Γûá Set your browser


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. 2.1 Run the original self-extracting file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Connexion Collection program is supplied as a self-extracting executable
file.  When you run it, you get two files:

 README.1ST      a short readme text file, containing preliminary instructions
 _CONNEX.EXE     another self-extracting file


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. 2.2 Set up the Connexion Collection directory ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Follow the instructions in README.1ST:

1. Create a directory, such as d:\CONNEX, for the Connexion Collection
application.

2. Copy the file _CONNEX.EXE into this directory and run it.  This will extract
the package of files that were compressed into _CONNEX.EXE.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. 2.3 Create desktop objects ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Follow the instructions in README.TXT:

Run INSTALL.CMD to build a folder on your desktop.  A Connexion Collection
program object and an information object will be placed in the folder.  You may
move these objects, individually or in the folder, to another location.

The install routine will also erase the interim compressed file called
_CONNEX.EXE.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.4. 2.4 Package of files in _CONNEX.EXE ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

After completing the installation, the following files should be in your
Connexion Collection directory.

 README.TXT       Instructions for installing
 REGISTER.TXT     How to register...
 INSTALL.CMD      Installation program to create objects on desktop
 CONNEX.EXE       Main executable program file
 CONNEX.HLP       Help file
 CONNEX.INF       Connection Collection User Manual
 SITE.GIF         Graphic file used by web page
 FTP.GIF          Graphic file used by web page
 FLDR.GIF         Graphic file used by web page
 JMPSYS.GIF       Graphic file used by web page
 SRCH.HTM         Search script used by web page
 CONNEX.HTM       A sample Connexions file


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.5. 2.5 Setting your browser homepage ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Connexion Collection is most useful when your Internet web browser is set up to
use the Connexion Collection web page as its homepage.

Both WebExplorer and Netscape can be set up to use the same Connexion
Collection page as their homepage.  With this arrangement you can switch back
and forth between web browsers and only have one list of favorites to maintain.

Before setting your web browser to use the Connexion Collection page as its
homepage, make sure, if this is the first time you've used this program, that a
Connexion Collection page exists!  Simply save your Connexions to create a
page.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.5.1. 2.5.1 Setting the WebExplorer homepage ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

   1. Start WebExplorer and select Configure on the menu bar.

      On the submenu, click Servers...

   2. On the following dialog, select (check) the Load at startup? box.

   3. In the Home document URL field, enter the homepage information.  Note
      that a URL format is required, with a format of File:///[fully specified
      directory of Connexion Collection]\connex.htm

      For example - file:///d:\connex\connex.htm


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.5.2. 2.5.2 Setting the Netscape homepage ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Netscape for OS/2 homepage can be set from the Connexion Collection
Configuration Window.  On this window, make sure that you have set up the
Netscape bookmark file first.  Then click on Set NS homepage.

On the Set Netscape homepage window, the top Radio Button will be selected.  It
should show the full path name to your Connexion Collection page.  Click on Ok
to make the change to the Netscape INI file.  A backup file of NETSCAPE.INI
will be created.

The backup system is the same 2-level scheme as is described for the optional
hotlist file backups.

 You can also set the Netscape homepage from within Netscape. Select Options
from the top menu bar, and then General Preferences.... On the Appearance page,
in the Startup section, select the Home Page Location radio button.  Then enter
the full path name of the CONNEX.HTM file (eg. D:\CONNEX\CONNEX.HTM) in the
entry field right below the button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.6. 2.6 The sample Connexions file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you first install Connexion Collection a sample Connexions file is
installed.  The first time you run Connexion Collection, you should make sure
that you save your collection set before exiting the program, even if you don't
make any changes, so that your name will be saved at the head of the Connexions
page.

The name of the Connexions file is CONNEX.HTM.  If the sample file is not
useful to you, simply delete it, and the next time you run Connexion Collection
a new empty CONNEX.HTM file will be created.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. 3.0 Configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you run Connexion Collection for the first time, you will be prompted with
a configuration window.  Subsequently, you can make configuration changes at
any time by selecting Configuration from the Files... menu on the Connexion
Collection main window.

Settings are provided for:

       Γûá Your name
       Γûá Netscape bookmark file
       Γûá WebExporer initialization file (Quicklist) location
       Γûá Backups
       Γûá Search tool inclusion


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.1. 3.1 Your name ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter your name here for use as a title for your Connexion Collection page.

When you register, the name you enter here is used to generate a registration
key.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.2. 3.2 Netscape bookmark file ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

An entry in this field is optional.

If you wish to import internet sites from the Netscape bookmark file, you will
need to enter the location (full path name) of the bookmark file in this entry
field.  With Netscape 2 for OS/2, the file is called "BOOKMARK.HTM" and is
located in the Netscape directory.

A  Find... button  is located to the right of the entry field to assist you.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3. 3.3 WebExplorer INI file (Quicklist) location ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

An entry in this field is optional.

If you wish to import internet sites from the WebExplorer Quicklist group, you
will need to enter the full path name of the WebExplorer initialization file in
this entry field.  The file is called "EXPLORE.INI".

A  Find... button  is located to the right of the entry field to assist you.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.3.1. 3.3.1 Using the Find... buttons ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The Find... button to the right of the entry field provides an easy way of
entering the full path name required.  Click this Find... button and a file
dialog window will appear.  Use this file dialog to navigate your directories
until you find the required file (BOOKMARK.HTM for Netscape or EXPLORE.INI for
WebExplorer), and then click on OK.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.4. 3.4 Backup files ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A checkbox is provided for both Netscape and Web Explorer.  If the checkbox is
selected (checked), then backups are kept whenever changes are made to the
hotlist files of the Web Browser.

All backup files are kept in the Connexion Collection directory. The backup
scheme is a two-level system.  The first time you write changes back to your
browser's file, a backup is created with the name extension of ".BK1".  In the
case of WebExplorer, the backup would be called EXPLORE.BK1 and for Netscape it
would be called BOOKMARK.BK1.

This backup file is never overwritten and provides a longterm backup of the Web
Browser file as it was before the first time that Connexion Collection made
changes to it.

Subsequent backups are created with the name extension of ".BK2" and each new
backup simply overwrites the last one.

If you decide that your ".BK1" original backup is too outdated, you need only
delete it and a new one will be created next time Connexion Collection makes a
backup.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6.5. 3.5 Adding a search tool to your Connexion Collection page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If this checkbox is selected (checked), then a convenient search tool will be
added right into your Connexion Collection home page.  This search tool permits
Boolean searches of both Newsgroups and the World Wide Web.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. 4.0 Main Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The primary feature of the main window is the "collection" window.

Below the collection window is a "Link" display field and at the bottom of the
window is an entry field for "Additional description".


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1. 4.1 Collection container ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The first time you use Connexion Collection you will see only a single folder
in the collection window.  This is the root folder for all of the categories
that you will be adding.  Using the collection window, you can:

       Γûá Add a category
       Γûá Add a site
       Γûá Import a site using drag and drop
       Γûá Move a site or a category up or down within a category
       Γûá Move a site or an entire category into another category
       Γûá Sort category contents
       Γûá Copy link to clipboard
       Γûá Delete a selected site, or an entire folder and all contents
       Γûá Direct editing in the collection window
       Γûá Save your Connexion Collection into a web page


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.1. 4.1.1 Adding a category ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

 There are two ways of adding a new category to your Collections:

 Using the menu bar

      First, select (highlight) the category into which you want to place your
      new category.  Then click on Action on the top menu bar, and then click
      Add a category.... This will result in the "Add category" window
      appearing.


 Using the context (popup) menu

      You can use the "context menu",  or "popup menu" of the collections
      window to open the "Add category" window as follows.  Place the mouse
      pointer over the category into which you want to place your new category.
      Click mouse button 2. Select "Add category" from the popup menu. This
      will result in the "Add category" window appearing.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.1.1. 4.1.1.1 The "Add category" window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the name that you wish to use for your new category, and then hit the
Enter key, or click the Ok button.

note  Whenever you add an item to the collection, it will always be added as
      the last item in its category. However, you can re-order items in
      accordance with your preferences by using move up and move down from the
      context menu.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.2. 4.1.2 Adding a site ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

In addition to using drag and drop, there are two other ways of adding a new
site to your Collections:

 Using the menu bar

    First, select (highlight) the category into which you want to place your
    new site.  Then click on Action on the top menu bar, and then click Add a
    site.... This will result in the "Add site" window appearing.


 Using the context (popup) menu

    You can use the "context menu",  or "popup menu", of the collection window
    to open the "Add site" window as follows:  Place the mouse pointer over the
    category into which you want to place your new site.  Click mouse button 2.
    Select "Add site" from the popup menu. This will result in the "Add site"
    window appearing.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.2.1. 4.1.2.1 The "Add site" window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Enter the name of the site into the top entry field, and then enter the URL
name into the "Link" field.

If you have previously, in some other application, copied the URL name into
your clipboard, you can simply click the Add from clipboard button.

When finished, click the Ok button.

note  Whenever you add an item to the collection, it will always be added as
      the last item in its category. However, you can re-order items in
      accordance with your preferences by using move up and move down from the
      context menu.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.3. 4.1.3 Importing a site using drag and drop ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can import sites from your WebExplorer or Netscape browsers by using "drag
and drop".

If you have previously saved WebExplorer URL objects to your desktop or to a
folder, you can also drag them into your collection window.

note  Whenever you add an item to the collection, it will always be added as
      the last item in its category. However, you can re-order items in
      accordance with your preferences by using move up and move down from the
      context menu.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.4. 4.1.4 Move a container object up or down within a category ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To move a Connexion Collection object (site or category) up or down, place the
mouse pointer over the object and click the mouse right button.  When the
context (popup) menu appears, click on Move up or Move down.

Another method is useful if you need to move an item up or down several spaces.
Simply select (highlight) the item to be moved, and then use the keyboard to
enter Ctrl+u to move the item up, or Ctrl+d to move the item down.  (Ctrl+u
means to press the Ctrl key and the lower case u key together; same idea for
Ctrl+d)


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.5. 4.1.5 Sort category contents ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To do an alphabetic sort by name on the contents of of a category, select
(highlight) the category and choose "sort category contents" from the context
(popup) menu.

Depending on the contents being sorted, this process may take some time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.6. 4.1.6 Copy link to clipboard ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can use the context (popup) menu to copy a specific URL link from a
Connexion Collection window into the clipboard.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.7. 4.1.7 Move site or category into another category ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To move a site, or an entire category, "pick up" the object by placing the
mouse pointer on it, press and hold down mouse button 2, drag the object into
another container and release the mouse button.  All sites and sub-categories
within a dragged category will be moved along with the category.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.8. 4.1.8 Delete a selected site, or an entire folder and all contents ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To delete a Connexion Collection object (site or category), place the mouse
pointer over the object to be deleted and click mouse button 2. When the
context (popup) menu appears, click on Delete....

Caution  When a category is deleted, all sites and subcategories within the
         category are deleted as well.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.9. 4.1.9 Direct editing in the collection window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To edit names of sites or containers directly in the collection window, simply
hold down your 'Alt' key and click mouse button 1 on the text you wish to
alter.  When you finish editing the text, click outside the editing field.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.1.10. 4.1.10 Save your Connexion Collection into a web page ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

To save your Connexion Collection as a web page, place the mouse pointer over
the object and click the mouse right button.  When the context (popup) menu
appears, click on Save Connexions.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.2. 4.2. "Link" display field ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This shows the URL of any site that is selected in the collection window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.3. 4.3. "Additional description" field ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For any site or category which is selected in the "collection" container, you
may add any additional text which you would like to appear on your Connexion
Collection web page.  Simply type your description into the field and click on
the Save description button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.4. 4.4 Changing configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Use the menu on the top of the window to change your configuration settings  at
any time.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7.5. 4.5 Window position and size ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

If you resize this window you can save the size and postion of the window by
using the File menu, and choosing Save window position.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. 5.0 Importing Connexion sites ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can import web sites by dragging and dropping WebExplore URL objects from
your desktop or from an OS/2 folder onto the Connexion Collection container.

You can also import sites from your OS/2 browser (Netscape 2. or WebExplorer).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.1. 5.1 Drag and drop Webex URLs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

You can drag a WebExplorer URL object from a folder, or from your desktop, or
directly from the WebExplorer window.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.2. 5.2 Import window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

In order to import web sites from your browser (WebExplorer or Netscape), you
can open an import window. The window contains a list of all the web sites that
have been placed into your browser's bookmark file, in the case of Netscape, or
into the quicklist file, in the case of WebExplorer.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.2.1. 5.2.1 Import list ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For each site, the name and the URL, or link name, are shown.  If the text
doesn't fit in the space available, you can use the scroll bar at the bottom to
move horizontally.  Usually it is more important to read the name rather than
the URL, so the split bar is placed in the rightmost portion of the container.
If you wish to move the splitbar, either to the right or to the left, simply
place your mouse pointer on the split bar and press and hold mouse button 1
while dragging the split bar.

To import a web site, place your mouse pointer on the line showing the site,
and press and hold mouse button 2 while dragging the site onto the Connexion
Collection window.  Drop the site into the desired category folder.

After you successfully drag a site into Connexion Collection it will be removed
from the Import window list.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.2.2. 5.2.2 Saving import window changes ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you are finished importing some web sites from the Import window, you will
click on "File..." on the menu bar.  This will give you a choice of simply
quitting, or writing back the changed list of sites to your browser.  If you
write changes back to the browser, Connexion Collection will make a backup of
the file as it was before the change.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Support for Connexion Collection ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

For quick and easy registering, contact BMT Micro.

                              If you need support:

                 (ALL feedback and suggestions are welcome too!)

 Regular mail, send to:   John M. Pedersen
                          JMP Systems,
                          RR #2,
                          Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
                          L9W 2Y9

 Email to:                [e-mail]
 CompuServe email to:     76547,357

 Voice:                   [phone]

 Fax:                     [phone]


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 10. Trademarks and Service Marks ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

      Netscape Navigator is a trademark of Netscape Communications
      Corportation.

      WebExplorer is a trademark of IBM Corporation.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11. Definitions ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

      Mouse button 1
      Mouse button 2
      Search tool
      URL


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.1. Mouse button 1 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is the mouse button used primarily for selection.  When the system is set
up for right-handed use (the default), mouse button 1 is the left button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.2. Mouse button 2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is the mouse button used primarily for context (popup) menus and for drag
and drop.  When the system is set up for right-handed use (the default), mouse
button 2 is the left button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.3. URL ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Universal Resource Locator, a standard address form used on the Internet.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 11.4. Search tool ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

When you enter your search terms on this form and transmit the form to the
search engine site, a list of "hits" is returned.  Search engines use automatic
"robots" to visit Internet sites and build indices of searchable words.