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ECLENG.INF
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OS/2 Help File
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1999-06-03
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ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. What is the Assistant/2 ? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Assistant/2 is designed to make work with OS/2 more comfortable in various ways
by offering many functions.
With this package you can
... move or copy pieces of text from one application to another.
... drag pieces of text from an application and drop it on the desktop.
... paste previously dropped pieces of text into any program.
... create flexibly configurable popup menus.
... record keyboard events and mouse movements as macros.
... edit recorded macros with any text editor.
... play macros.
... start macros by HotKeys or HotTexts.
... open every object from a DOS- or OS/2-command line (or batch file).
... extend the functions of the clipboard with Extended Clipboard/2:
- The content of the clipboard will not get lost after a system
shutdown.
- Old contents of the clipboard will not get lost, if a new content is
placed into the clipboard.
- You can choose the active clip from the list of old contents by
hotkey.
- The clipboard can be accessed from DOS- and OS/2- sessions.
- The clipboard can be used in batch files.
Assistant/2 and Extended Clipboard/2 - copyright (c) 1996-1998 by Hinnerk
Becker, Hamburg
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Extended Clipboard/2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Extended Clipboard/2 is an extension of the OS/2 Clipboard.
Problem:
The clipboard can only store one item at time. When a new item is being copied
into the clipboard, the old one gets replaced and is lost.
That's where EClip starts to work: old entries, which normally would get
replaced, get saved automatically. So they don't get lost but can be made
available to other applications by a single mouseclick. They even can be edited
later by a doubleclick or pasted by Drag&Drop into almost every PM application.
It is also possible to drop the data (here:clips) on the desktop. So often
needed text clips and bitmaps are easily accessable and can simply be inserted
into any application.
The contents of the clipboard will not get lost after a system shutdown but
will be available with the next system start.
EClip offers new and improved functions to use the clipboard more efficiently.
Because extensive changing between source and destination is no longer
required, the clipboard becomes an even more universal aid. With EClip it is
possible to copy all needed clips into the clipboard first and paste them into
the destination application later.
These clips, marked as macros, can simulate different keyboard and mouse input
to control the WPS and other applications on their own.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1.1. Usage ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
As long as the EClip folder is closed, EClip remains without function: No
entries of the clipboard will be saved - the clipboard operates as usual. Only
if the EClip folder is open, every new entry in the clipboard will be stored
and saved in this folder.
EClip prevents the existance of double clips.
Normally the last 'cut' or 'copied' data will be the next to be inserted into
an application. By marking an entry in the EClip folder the next one to be
inserted can be chosen.
Of course it is possible - as usual with OS/2 - to mark several entries with
the pressed mouse button 1. Other options are:
Pressing CTRL while marking clips allows to select multiple single clips.
Holding SHIFT while clicking on an entry will mark several entries sequently,
pressing CTRL and mouse button 1 will select single entries without deselecting
other entries.
A text that has been saved in EClip can easily be inserted into almost any PM -
application by Drag&Drop.
Autopaste allows half automatic insertion of Clips in PM - applications by the
use of HotKeys.
External programs can be used to access the OS/2 clipboard from DOS and OS/2
shells.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1.2. Preset hotkeys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
These hotkeys are preset:
Right shift: Stop an active macro. Keys possibly pressed by the macro
(shift, alt, mouse) will not be restored and could remain in the pressed
state !
CTRL-Alt-Cursor Up: and
CTRL-Alt-Cursor Down: Autopaste.
CTRL-Tab A window with the active clipboard content shows on the screen.
- The cursor keys can be used to select one of the old cliboard
contents. Multiple contents can be selected by pressing the shift
key additionally.
- By pushing the space bar the content can be edited. To end the edit
mode press CTRL-Tab again.
- By pushing ALT the selected clipboard content is pasted into the
active application.
CTRL-Tab-Cursor Down: Selection of the next clip in the EClip folder (and
copying it to the clipboard) without inserting it into the active
application. This function is similar to an uncompleted Autopaste.
Shift-CTRL-Tab-Cursor Up and
Shift-CTRL-Tab-Cursor Down: The next clip in the EClip folder will be
selected additionally to the already selected clips (and added to the
clipboard). In contrast to Autopaste the content of the clipboard will
not be inserted into the active application.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. Macros ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A textclip with the macro option set on its settings page is called a macro.
A macro can be used to simulate keyboard and mouse events. Macros can be
recorded with the integrated macro recorder and / or edited with any text
editor.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2.1. The macro recorder ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The macro recorder is used to record macros. The recorder is activated by
opening the context menu of a text clip and selecting the option 'Record
Macro'. A window to configure the following options will pop up:
Record mouse movement selects if all mouse movements should be recorded
additionally to keys and mouse buttons.
Note: The actual position of the mouse pointer will be recorded at the
start of recording but it will be disabled. If the mouse pointer should
be placed at the same position with every macro playback, the macro has
to be edited with a text editor after recording. The ';' in front of the
first PTRPOS command has to be removed. Otherwise all mouse commands will
be executed relatively to the position of the mouse pointer when the
playback is started.
Original timing selects if the macro should be played with exactly the
same delays as recorded. If this option is deselected the playback will
always be at highest speed - without any delays.
This might have the consequence that some windows that are supposed to
receive keyboard input are not available at the moment of playback. The
keyboard input might reach a wrong window which will cause unexpected
actions.
After leaving this window by pushing 'OK', the recording of macro will be
started by pressing the key 'Scroll' or 'Scrollock'. As an confirmation the
scroll lock LED on the keyboard will start to flash. The recorded macro
commands will be added to the end of the existing text clip. The recording can
be stopped by pressing the 'Scrollock' key again.
The macro can be played either by pressing the hotkey, defined on the settings
page of the macro clip, the option 'Play Macro' on the same page or the menu
'Play Macro' in the context menu.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2.2. The macro language ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Macros can be created without the macro recorder, too. A text editor can be
used to create or go over an existing macro. Normally the system editor can be
opened by double clicking the clip.
To be recognized as a macro, the option 'Macro' has to be set on the settings
of the text clip page. The macro recorder sets this option on his own to make
the clip a macro clip.
EClip knows the following commands:
<key+> : 'presses' the key together with the next one. Eg.
<ALT+><CTRL+>a
<key-D> : Holds the key down (z.B. <ALT-D> <a-D>)
<Taste-U> : Releases the key (z.B.<ALT-U> <a-U>)
'Normal' characters : either in <> or without <>. Eg. "a" = "<a>"
Exception: "<<>": "<" has to be placed in pointed
brackets.
<END> : The key "End"
<HOME> : The key "Home"
<PGDN> : The key "Page down"
<PGUP> : The key "Page up"
<INS> : The key "Insert"
<DEL> : The key "Delete"
<TAB> : The key "TAB"
<SHIFT> : The key "Shift"
<ALT> : The key "ALT"
<CTRL> : The key "CTRL"
<BACK> : The key "Backspace"
<ESC> : The key "Esc"
<F1>...<F12> : The function keys
<UP> : The key "Up"
<DOWN> : The key "Down"
<LEFT> : The key "Left"
<RIGHT> : The key "Right"
<PAUSE> : The key "Pause"
<PRINTSCREEN> : The key "Print"
<NUMLOCK> : The key "Num"
<CAPSLOCK> : The key "Capslock"
<DELAY:x> : Before the execution of the next macro command there
will be a delay of x ms. This setting can be
overridden for single commands.
<PTRPOS:x,y> : Absolute position of the mouse pointer
<PTRMV:x,y> : Movement of the mouse pointer by pixels
<PTR-BL> : Place the pointer in the bottom, right corner of the
active window
<PTR-BR> : Place the pointer in the bottom, left corner of the
active window
<PTR-TL> : Place the pointer in the top, left corner of the
active window
<PTR-TR> : Place the pointer in the top, right corner of the
active window
<BUTTON1> : mouse click with mouse button 1
<BUTTON1-D> : Hold mouse button 1 down
<BUTTON1-U> : Release mouse button 1
<BUTTON1DBL> : mouse button 1 double click
<BUTTON2> : mouse click with mouse button 2 (all <BUTTON1>
commands apply to <BUTTON2> as well)
<BUTTON3> : mouse click with mouse button 3 (all <BUTTON1>
commands apply to <BUTTON3> as well)
<;comment> : comment
<> : Ignore the rest of the line
<REPEAT:x> : Repeat all commands from here to <REPEND> x times
(multiple loops can be placed in another)
<REPEND> : End of loop
<OPEN:"object name"> : Object will be opened by the WPS
<EXEC:"script/prgname">
<EXEC_I:"script/prgname">
<EXEC_IC:"script/prgname"> : To create dynamic macros. Dynamic macros
can be used to generate the macro commands
on runtime. The EXEC command will start
the program given as the parameter. If
this program writes any output to STDOUT,
this output will be interpreted as a
sequence of new commands and executed
immediately. EXEC_I reads the marked text
from the active application and provides
it for the called program via STDIN.
EXEC_IC does not interpret the output of
the called program as a macro but pastes
it via the clipboard into the active
application.
<MENU:"folder"> : A very special command to generate a popup
menu. Its content is read from the
specified folder.
<NOP> : NoOperation
Note:
The execution of macro commands can be delayed.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2.2.1. Macro / hotkey example ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The following macro and its assignment to a hotkey should give an example of
how to use macros and hotkeys.
You Drag&Drop a macro from the macro template in the template folder to
the desktop.
Open the context menu with mouse button 2 of the new macro clip and
choose Record macro.
Depending on the area of application the actions to be recorded can be
chosen. This example does not need any special commands to be recorded -
all options can be deselected. Leave the window by pushing 'OK'.
You start the recording of the macro by pressing the 'Scroll' or 'Scroll
Lock' key. The corresponding LED on the keyboard starts to flash. All
keys pressed from now on will be recorded.
In this example we press the following sequence of keys Shift-insert :
- Hold down the shift key
- press and release 'Ins'
- release shift key
The recording can now be stopped by pressing the 'Scroll' or 'Scoll lock'
key again. The corresponding LED on the keyboard stops to flash.
A double click on the new macro opens the system editor and shows the
macro that has just been recorded: <SHIFT-DN><INS><SHIFT-UP> are excactly
the keys which were pressed while recording. If required, there can be
new macro commands added or existing commands modified. In this special
case the following macro would have been aquivalent: <SHIFT+><INS> It
offers the same function.
After closing the editor the macro can be played by choosing 'Play macro'
in the context menu of the clip or by pushing a hotkey. Use mouse button
2/Properties to get to the settings page of this object. You can
- activate and choose a hotkey. We choose the key combination
'CTRL-BUTTON2DBL'.
- define if a double click on the icon of this macro should play the
macro instead of opening the system editor. That doesn't make much
sense for our example.
A double click of mouse button 2 in the system editor with the CTRL key
pressed will insert the content of the clipboard to the current cursor
position. That is because the key combination 'CTRL-INS' normally inserts the
content of the clipboard. This is also valid for many other applications.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2.3. Automatically generated macros ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
These macros are generated automatically during the installation of
Assistant/2. You can assign a HotKey or a HotText to them on their settings
page:
Window list
CTRL+ESC
Open EClip-folder
OPEN:"<EXTCLIP>"
Date
The date is generated by a REXX-Script called via the EXEC command.
Switch to upper/lower case
The marked text will be changed to lower or upper case. (EXEC_I)
Explore URL
Starts Netscape and opens the marked text as URL.
Popupmenu
A popup menu that contains above macros among other things. The structure
of this menu is read from the 'Popup menu' folder located in the
Assistant/2- folder.
add2file.cmd
If you like to try this, you can create a new macro with the following
content:
<EXEC_I:"MyAssistPath\add2file.cmd MyText.txt">
The marked text will be added to the file MyText.txt.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. Popup menus ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A popup menu is a normal folder in which arbitrary objects reside. But the
handling of the objects in the folder differs:
Objects with a name beginning with
separator
will insert a horizontal split bar into the menu. This way it is possible
to subdivide menus.
macros will be played
TextClips will be pasted into the active application.
folders will be opened.
executable programs will be started.
A popup menu can be created most efficiently in the details view of the folder
(choose 'open' an 'detail view' in the context menu of the folder).
Now the objects can be placed in the right order. But the menu will only take
the order only be taken if you choose
View
and the menu entry
Refresh now
To assign a popup menu to this folder you need to create a macro. This macro
consists of one macro command
<MENU:"folder name">
This way a macro can open the folder of the root directory:
<MENU:"C:\">
<MENU:"C:\ArbeitsoberflДche\System">
works correspondingly. You can find a popup menu that should give you an
example of this feature in the Assistant/2-folder. The popup menu macro is
located in the macro folder.
If you assign a HotKey or HotText to this macro on its settings page you get a
complete popup menu that you can reach from every (PM-) application:
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.4. External programs ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The following programs can be called from OS/2 shells as well as from DOS
shells:
TOCLIP.EXE can write text to the clipboard. Call:
TOCLIP [Filename]
TOCLIP < [Filename]
TYPE [Filename] | TOCLIP
ECHO This text to EClip | TOCLIP
FROMCLIP.EXE reads text from the OS/2 clipboard and writes it to the
divertable standard print-out (STDOUT). Call:
FROMCLIP > [Filename]
FROMCLIP | FIND "search text"
The program OPEN.EXE opens any object on the desktop and can be used with
or without EClip. For example it is possible to play a macro. Every
object wich is accessable from the desktop can be opened:
OPEN Objekt
OPEN System
OPEN C:\OS2\HELP
OPEN "System\Systemconfiguration\Hardware Manager"
WINECLIP.COM is a DOS program, that can be placed in the AUTOEXEC.BAT
or any other batch file. Wich this tool DOS programs, which would have
access to the windows-clipboard in a windows environment, can access
EClip instead.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 2. What is new ? ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
New in Assistant/2 V1.1:
WINECLIP.COM provides access to EClip from DOS programs
Various bugfixes and performance improvements
New in Assistant/2 V1.0:
EClip
- In "browse mode" (CTRL+TAB) the EClip-folder is inserted, it is
possible to edit the active clip by pressing space. By pushing the
ALT key the active clip will be pasted into the application, without
having to leave the browse window.
- All clips can be deleted automatically with every system start.
HotKeys
- Support for win keys and combinations of mouse buttons.
- HotText: Sequence of keys can be used as hotkey.
Drag&Drop
- Text can be dragged from or moved within an application, provided
that this application supports the clipboard. e.g. E, EPM, Netscape,
...
- D&D from und into VIOs
Macros
- New commands:
-- <OPEN: "object name">
-- <EXEC: "script/program name">
-- <EXEC_I:"script/program name">
-- <EXEC_IC:"script/program name">
-- <MENU:"folder">
-- <NOP>
- The keyboard-LED animation can be switched off for every clip
separately.
- Debug mode
- predefined macros
I recommend to assign a hotkey to the popup menu (eg. mouse button 3, if
existant) directly after the installation.
I would appreciate it, if you tried to create your own macros. If you think
there is one or the other command missing, don't hesitate to contact me.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 3. Installation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Old versions of EClip and/or Assistant/2 have to be uninstalled completely
before a new version of EClip can be installed.
The installation is carried out by INSTALL.EXE. When this program has started,
a destination path has to be entered. If that path does not exist, it will be
created by the installation program. Then all files will be copied into the
specified directory.
Since EClip exclusively consists of DLLs, the LIBPATH in the CONFIG.SYS has to
point to the installation path. If the installation path is not included in the
current LIBPATH, the installation program will add it automatically.
The same applies to the HELP path and the dirctory in which the help file
should be placed.
To have access to the external programs of Extended Clipboard/2 and Assistant/2
the installation directory will be added to the PATH statements in the
\CONFIG.SYS and \AUTOEXEC.BAT. The original files will be saved as *.000 (if
they already exist as *.001 and so on.).
Now the first part of the installation has been completed. The second part will
automatically start with the next system start: A new folder, called "Extended
Clipboard /2", will be placed on the desktop as well as new templates in the
templates folder for the new datatypes, EClip provides. Now the full
installation has been completed.
Clips of an old EClip installation which were left on the desktop will be known
as clips after an additional system shutdown. Then they will have the extended
abilities such as Drag&Drop.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4. Configuration of Assistant/2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Assistant/2 can be configured on two different pages of the notebook that will
pop up if you double click the 'configure Assistant/2' object:
HotKeys
Drag&Drop
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.1. Hotkeys ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this page it is possible to choose if Hotkeys, or HotTexts which are
assigned to macro and text clips at the Adjustments on single clips, should be
activated.
There is also a list of clips that are currently assigned to HotKeys or
HotTexts.
By pushing the Update button this list can be updated in special cases.
A double click on an entry will open the settings page of this text clip.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.2. Drag&Drop ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
You can adjust the settings for Drag&Drop on this page.
You can choose the mouse button to be used for Drag&Drop (2 or 3 or none) You
can define key combinations wich force EClip to perfom certain actions:
Assistant/2 does not provide its Drag&Drop functions for applications wich can
handle Drag&Drop on their own. You might want to override this behaviour and
force Assistant/2 to start the Drag&Drop operation. You can accomplish this by
holding the appropriate key combination pressed during the initation of the
Drag&Drop operation.
The default Drag&Drop actions(move or copy) within or between windows can be
selected separately.
Pieces of text, that have been dropped on the desktop, and start (skipping
leading blanks) with one of these keywords
http://
https://
ftp://
gopher://
archie://
irc://
news:/
mailto:
file://
will not result in a clip, but in an URL-object if the corresponding option is
chosen.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3. Extended Clipboard/2 configuration ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
EClip can be configured on settings pages of the folder. (the context menu is
accessable by pressing mouse button 2 over the icon of the EClip folder) The
following additional settings pages will show:
EClip/View pag 1 of 2
EClip/View page 2 of 2
Clips page 1 of 2 (text)
Clips page 2 of 2 (bitmaps)
Hotkeys
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3.1. EClip/View page 1 of 2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this page general adjustments can be made:
Automatic deletion of old clips if there are more than a given number and
/ or the clips are older than a given number of days. The clips will be
deleted if a new entry is created in the EClip folder or if the menu item
'Refresh now' is chosen.
Single clips can be marked as not deleteable on the settings on single
clips page.
If you wish, EClip will delete all clips in the EClip folder when you
open the EClip folder the first time after the system start.
Cut sound: The WAV file, that will be played when a new item is placed in
EClip, can be changed.
An Always-on-top button can be inserted into the EClip titlebar. With
this button the EClip window can be made floating above all other windows
If the marked clip is a bitmap it can be displayed as the background
picture of the EClip folder.
The Autopaste function can be switched on or off.
Shall the EClip folder be opened 'minimized' ?
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3.2. EClip/View page 2 of 2 ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this settings page the (details) view of the EClip folder can be adjusted.
Different information on the clips can be selected for display.
For a detailed description please open the settingspage 'EClip/View Page 2 of
2' of the EClip folder and press the help button.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3.3. Clips page 1 of 2 (text) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this page the default settings for newly created Clips of the type 'text'
can be specified. The adjustment of already existing clips is described at
Adjustments on single clips
Here you can choose, if pieces of text that have been copied to the
clipboard should be stored in EClip.
Which method should be used to insert text clips per Drag&Drop or Hotkey
into the destination application ?
Normally all PM-Applications which support the OS/2 Clipboard are
supposed to work with the default mode Use Clipboard, in which the key
combination Shift-Insert is simulated to insert the contents of the
clipboard (here: the clip).
If this does not work, it might be helpful to give Simulate input a try.
Here every single character will be sent to the application by simulating
the pressing of these keys. But this might could cause complications,
because it is theoretically possible to answer security questions this
way automatically. Dataloss could be the consequence !
Should it be possible to insert text by Drag&Drop into PM applications ?
Drag&Drop can be forbidden or allowed for all clips generally.
Should the keyboard LEDs be animated during playback of a macro ?
Should the title of an entry be automatically adjusted to its content ?
The entries of the EClip folder are the names of single files. These
files have - as any file - a content besides the name. The filename can
automatically be produced in such a way that it represents the first eg.
80 characters of the content. So it is guaranteed that an old entry of
the clipboard can be recognized in the EClip folder by its title.
When an entry in the EClipfolder is edited, its title may differ from its
content.
With this global setting it is possible to specify if the title of a
newly created EClip entry should be automatically adjusted. It is also
possible to specify the maximal length of the generated title. These
adjustements can be made seperately for every single item. (see
Adjustments on single entries).
Note:
In general the title of a clip is generated from the first characters of
its content. Exceptions:
- if the fist character is '#' or '!' it will be replaced by '@'
- linefeed will be marked by '#'
- '{}' will be replaced by '[]'
At 'Default types' the WPS datatype of textclips can be chosen. The
preset type is 'Plain Text'.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.3.4. Clips page 2 of 2 (bitmaps) ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this page the default settings for newly created Clips of the type 'bitmap'
can be specified. The adjustment of already existing clips is described at
Adjustments on single clips
Here you can choose, if bitmaps which have been copied to the clipboard should
be stored in EClip.
At 'Default types' the WPS datatype of textclips can be chosen. The preset type
is 'Bitmap'.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> TextClip Objekt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A text clip is a data object provided by Extended Clipboard/2.
Old contents of the OS/2 clipboard will be stored in text clips. These Clips
can be configured at their context menu. (mouse button 2/Properties)
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> BitmapClip Objekt ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A bitmap clip is a data object, that is provided by Extended Clipboard/2.
In these bitmap clips old bitmap contents of the OS/2 clipboard are stored.
These clips, get configured by opening their context menu (mouse button 2)
/Properties.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> Macro clip ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A macro clip is a data object, that is provided by Extended Clipboard/2.
It consists of macro commands. A new macro can be dragged from the macro
template,located in the macro folder. These clips, get configured by opening
their context menu (mouse button 2) / Properties.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4. Adjustments on single clips ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Every clip in the EClip folder has its own context menu. The available options
on this page depend on the datatype (text, bitmap). In contrast to the
adjustments made in 'General configuration' clips can be configured here
individually.
The settings pages depend on the clip type as well.
Settings on text clips
Settings on bitmap clips
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4.1. Adjustments on already existing text clips ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this page adjustments for already existing text clips can be made. The
settings used to create new clips can be adjusted at General configuration.
Should the title be synchronized to the content automatically ?
The entries of the EClip folder are the names of single files. These
files have - as any file - a name besides the content. The filename can
automatically be produced in such a way that it represents the first eg.
80 characters of the content. So it is guaranteed, that an old entry of
the clipboard can be recognized in the EClip folder by its title.
On the other hand it might be useful to name a clip different to its
content.
This option is also accessible at the context menu of the clips
('Autosync title').
The maximum length of the automatically generated title can be limited
here as well.
Should it be possible to activate the clip by a chosen HotKey or HotText
? By which ?
If the HotKey is pressed together with all marked control keys (SHIFT,
CTRL and ALT), the content of the clip will be inserted into the active
application. Is the clip defined as a macro, the macro will be executed.
Default open action: What should happen if the clip is double clicked ?
There are three options:
- The assignable standard application (normally the system editor)
will be opened.
- The content of the clip will be copied into the clipboard and
availabe to all applications.
This function can also be performed by using the 'Copy to clipboard'
method in the context menu of the clip.
- If the clip is definded as a macro, this macro can be executed.
Should this clip not be deleted automatically under the conditions
defined at EClip/View page 1 of 2 ?
This option is also available in the context menu of the clip. ('Don't
delete')
This clip is a macro and contains executable macro commands.
In this case there are more options available:
- During the playback of the macro the keyboard-lights should (not)
flash. This is intended to be a hint that at an active macro.
- The debug- mode can be used to create a logfile of the execution of
the macro. The report appears in a window called 'Macro log'. It can
be accessed via the window list.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 4.4.2. Adjustments on already existing bitmap clips ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
On this page adjustments for already existing bitmap clips can be made. The
settings used to create new clips can be adjusted at Clips page 2 of 2
(bitmaps)
Default open action: What should happen if the clip gets double clicked ?
There are two choices:
- The assignable standard application (normally the system editor)
will be opened.
- The content of the clip will be copied to the clipboard and be
availabe to all applications.
This behaviour can be achieved also by using the 'Copy to clipboard'
method in the context menu of the clip.
Should this clip not be deleted automatically, under the conditions
defined at EClip/View page 1 of 2 ?
This option is also available at the context menu of the clip. ('Don't
delete')
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> context menu 'Copy to Clipboard' ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The content of this clip will be copied to the clipboard and is then available
to all applications.
The clip can be configured on its settings page (context menu -> mouse button
2/Properties) to do the same copying as if it was double clicked.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> context menu 'Record macro' ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The macro recorder, integrated in Extended Clipboard/2 will be started.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> context menu 'Play macro' ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
If this clip is marked as a macro, it will be played.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> context menu 'Autosync title' ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
If this option is selected, the title will be synchronized with the content of
this clip, if it is changed.
This setting is also availalbe on the settings page (mouse button 2/Properties)
of this clip.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> context menu 'Don't delete' ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
This clip will not be deleted under the conditions defined at EClip/View page 1
of 2
This setting is also availalbe on the settings page (mouse button 2/Properties)
of this clip.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5. Known problems ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
There might be a few problems while using EClip :
The clipboard viewer included in OS/2 does not operate correctly
Clip suddenly disappears
EClip folder closes automatically
Window order is mixed up
Programs, wich cannot be used together with EClip
Other data types but bitmap and text
Uninstallation fails .
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.1. The clipboard viewer included in OS/2 does not operate correctly ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The 'clipboard viewer' does not cooperate with clipboard extensions like EClip.
As soon as the 'clipboard viewer' has been used to view the contents of the
clipboard with EClip opened, EClip will not get any more notification if the
contents of the clipboard change. That's why EClip cannot create new clips in
this case.
To make EClip operate again just close and reopen the EClip folder.
The clipboard viewer and EClip can only be used together if the clipboard
viewer is started first, and EClip is opened afterwards.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.2. Clip suddenly disappears ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
In Warp V4 dragging an object to the desktop will create a shadow of the object
by default.
So, if the original object in the EClip folder is deleted, the shadow will be
deleted, too. That might be confusing since clips may be deleted automatically.
(see EClip/View page 2 of 2)
A possible solution would be to set the 'Don't delete' flag for this entry.
(see Settings on existing clips).
Of course it is possible to create a shadow but a copy of the entry (CTRL -
mouse button 2) or to move the entry to the Desktop (SHIFT - mouse button 2).
This will avoid these problems.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.3. EClip folder closes automatically ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
It is possible to adjust Warp 4 in such way, that with every opening of an
object, the folder, in which the object is placed, gets closed automatically.
If this adjustment is made for the whole system (system configuration
/System/Window/2 : All objects) it will be also valid for the EClip folder.
As a consequence the EClip folder gets closed automatically after a double
click on a clip. With the EClip folder closed, no new contents of the clipboard
will be stored.
Solution: Choose 'Never' on the the settings page of the EClip folder ('Window
page 2 of 2').
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.4. Window order is mixed up ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
If the EClip folder is set to be displayed permanently on top by the
'Always-on-top framebutton', faults in the order of WINOS/2 windows on the OS/2
desktop can occur.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.5. Programs, that cannot be used together with EClip ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The program ManyClip by Tim Francis cannot be used together with EClip.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.6. Other data types but bitmap and text ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
EClip currently supports clips of the types 'bitmap' and 'text'. It would be
possible to support other clipboard formats. If there is a demand, please let
the author know.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 5.7. Uninstallation fails ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
To uninstall Assistant/2 the file ECLINST.DLL has to be in one of the the
directories in the LIBPATH.
The installation will not work, if the file ECLINST.DLL is not located in a
path in the LIBPATH. The file is available in the original package named
INSTENG.DLL (or INSTGER.DLL for the german version). So if you deleted
ECLINST.DLL accidentally just copy INSTENGL.DLL into a directory wich is in the
LIBPATH and rename it to ECLINST.DLL.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 6. Uninstallation ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Assistant/2 can be uninstalled by UNINST.EXE It will remove all WPS classes
that have been registered by Assistant/2 and all Assistant/2 entries in the INI
files as well as the newly created templates.
The installation path will not be deleted. Changes made to \CONFIG.SYS and
\AUTOEXEC.BAT will be removed.
Only after a system reboot it is possible to delete the installation path and /
or to install a new version of Assistant/2.
To update Extended Clipboard/2 or Assistant/2 the old installation path has to
be deleted manually before you start the installation of the new version ! The
uninstallation will fail, if the file ECLINST.DLL is not located in the
LIBPATH.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 7. Used terms ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The following terms are used in this documentation for Assistant/2:
'EClip'
'Clip'
'Drag&Drop'
'Autopaste'
'Hotkey'
'Macro'
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8. Legal matters ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Assistant/2 includes the Extended Clipboard/2 and is Shareware. It may be
tested and used for 21 days free of charge, then it has to be registered (see
ORDER.FRM).
It is not permitted to use an unregistered copy of Assistant/2 as soon as the
evaluation period is expired. After 21 days a reminder will be displayed, when
the EClip folder is opened.
The registration fee is $15.
Registrations for Extended Clipboard/2 are valid for Assistant/2 as well.
The program may only be distributed as the unmodified ZIP archive.
The user installs, uses and uninstalls Extended Clipboard at his own risk. The
author cannot be held responsible for any damage, eg. dataloss, caused by the
installation, usage and uninstallation of Extended Clipboard.
There is no warrenty of any kind for the function of the Assistant/2 package or
any part of Assistant/2.
Of course Assistant/2 has been extensivly tested and improved. Nevertheless
faults can't be ruled out. The author would be pleased to get bugreports or
suggestions by email and will try to solve possible problems. For the current
addresses see below.
Assistant/2 and Extended Clipboard/2 - copyright (c) 1996, 1997 by Hinnerk
Becker, Hamburg
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 8.1. Register ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The registration fee is $15.
Outside Germany please register via BMT Micro:
Mail Orders To: BMT Micro
PO Box 15016
Wilmington, NC 28408
U.S.A.
Voice Orders: 8:00am - 7:00pm EST (-5 GMT)
(800) 414-4268 (orders only)
(910) 791-7052
Fax Orders: (910) 350-2937 24 hours / 7 Days
(800) 346-1672 24 hours / 7 Days
Online Orders via modem: (910) 350-8061 28.8
(910) 799-0923 28.8
via Internet: orders@bmtmicro.com
telnet@bmtmicro.com
http://www.bmtmicro.com
Inside germany please use the BESTELL.FRM to register.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 9. Closing words ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The author can be reached at:
HBecker@bigfoot.com
or via snailmail:
Hinnerk Becker
Kortenwisch 5c
22397 Hamburg
Germany
I would like to express my thanks to Bernd Troszynski for many helpful
suggestions, tips, the writing of this documentation and his great WinEClip
tool.
Hinnerk Becker, June 1999
Products or company names are used for identification purposes only and may be
trademarks of their respective owners.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Hold down mouse button 2 to drag an object and release the mouse button over
the destination application to drop it.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
An object in wich a single (old) clipboard content or a macro is stored is
called clip.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
EClip is used in this documentation as a short term for Extended Clipboard/2.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
What are 'default types' ?
Normally every data file is assigned to a type which is stored in its extended
attributes. In most cases there is at least one program, wich is able to work
on data of this type and therefore is assigned to that type. For the type
'Plain Text' this is the editor 'E' by default. The association 'Plain Text' -
'E' can be changend system wide in the settings of the system editor.
Instead of giving the data type 'Plain Text' to a new clip, it is also possible
to create a new data type. This new data type has to be added to the WPS type
list. This can be done on the association settings page of any program object.
The assignment of the new data type is done on this page, too. A double click
on the clip will start this application from now on.
Of course the same works for the type 'Bitmap' and the Bitmap viewer. If the
symbol editor is also assigned to this type you can choose in the context menu
/ open wich program to use on the data.
It is possible to enter multiple types at 'Default types'. They have to be
separated by ','. Superfluous blanks have to be avoided. For example 'Plain
Text,TextClip' would add all applications associated with these types to the
context menu (mouse button 2/open) of the new clips.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A text clip with the macro option set on its settings page is is called a
macro.
A macro can simulate keyboard and mouse events. Macros can be recorded with the
macro recorder, intergrated in EClip, and / or edited with any text editor.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Usually a HotKey is a combination of multiple keys pressed simultaneously.
But it is also possible to define a single key as a hotkey. Even mouse buttons
can be hotkeys.
You can assign a text clip to a hotkey on its settings page. If the hotkey gets
pressed, the action of the clip will be performed.
This can be the insertion of its content into the active application or the
execution of a macro.
Some hotkeys are predefined by EClip.
HotKeys are similar to HotTexts.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Autopaste allows to insert clips semi automatically into PM applications by
hotkeys without having to switch to the EClip folder to select the next clip.
After a clip has been inserted, the next clip in the EClip folder gets selected
and is copied to the clipboard to let the next Autopaste action insert just
this (the next) clip. So several old clipboard entries can be placed in the
application one after the other.
The hotkeys are
CTRL-ALT-Cursor Up and
CTRL-ALT-Cursor Down.
There is also the possibility of selecting another clip without inserting it
into the application - like an uncompleted Autopaste action. The Hotkeys are
CTRL-Tab-Cursor Up and
CTRL-Tab-Cursor Down.
The active clip can by edited by pushing the space bar once. You stop editing
by pressing CTRL+Tab again. Pressing ALT will insert the active clip without
leaving browse mode.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
Usually a HotText is a sequence of keys, wich is entered into application in
order to activate the corresponding object.
You can assign a text clip to a HotText on its settings page. If the HotText is
entered, the action of the clip will be performed.
This can be the insertion of its content into the active application or the
execution of a macro.
HotTexts are similar to HotKeys.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
The 'mouse buttons'
If the mouse is configured for right-handed persons,
the left button is called 'mouse button 1'
the right button is called 'mouse button 2'
an possibly existing middle button is called 'mouse button 3'
If the mouse is configured for left-handed persons, mouse buttons 1 and 2 are
swapped.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
A number can precede every macro command. This number is the time wait before
the command is executed in milliseconds to. The command
<100HOME>
waits for a tenth of a second and then simulates the pressing of the 'home'
key.
All other following commands will be executed with the delay defined by the
<DELAY:x> command.
ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ <hidden> ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ
An URL-object can only be created, if the class
WPUrl
is registered in the system. This is the case, if a template with the name
URL
exists in the template folder (Internet templates) This should apply to WARP4
in most cases.