Enter 1998 December

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Enter 1998 December / ENTER12_1.iso / os2 / SmartWin / smartwin.txt < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1998-09-01 | 25.8 KB | 545 lines

Smart Windows V 0.81 beta * (c) 1998 Alessandro Cantatore - Team OS/2 Italy ************************************************************************** NOTE: Under no circumstances the author is liable for any LOSS OR DAMAGE. You are FREE TO USE this version of the program on as many machines as you like. You are FREE TO DISTRIBUTE the program provided that you include all the files in the archive without any modification. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL THE PROGRAM, but can charge a reasonable amount to cover the cost of the distribution media. You can use the original ARTWORKS included in the archive as bitmaps, icons, or included in the executables as resources ONLY FOR PERSONAL USE! You are forbidden to use any of the above mentioned artworks in your programs without asking the author for permission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE USE OF THE PROGRAM IMPLIES ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONDITIONS STATED ABOVE! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alessandro Cantatore alexcant@tin.it FIDONET: 2:335/705.2 http://www.ghostbbs.ml.org/utenti/alcant/ ************************************************************************** --[Contents]---------------------------------------------------------------- - What's new - Introduction - Installation - Features and settings - Known problems - Planned features --[What's new]-------------------------------------------------------------- * The one hour limit has been removed! The program will be completely functional for 45 days or 200 reboots, whichever comes first. A new version will probably be available before 45 days and its installation will extend the trial time. * The registration remider dialog now pops-up a while after boot and then about every ten hours. * Both global exceptions and group-of-features exceptions have been implemented. * During installation you can choose if the first time the program will start with all options disabled or with the default options. * A "Windows" page has been added with various options to modify dialog fonts. * Settings have been added to the "Titlebar" pages for the titlebar context menu and for disabling the titlebar enhancements when the titlebar has a not-default background color. * Disabled windows i.e. windows not disabled by a child dialog are no longer activated by the autofocus feature. * The "Push window behind all other windows" feature has been enabled. * Various bug fixes have been made to the installation program (random hangs during uninstallation), the preferences application (sys3175 with Program Commander/2, etc), SMARTWIN.DLL (PMMail hangs, unrolled windows beeing rolled when clicking on the scrollbar or titlebar buttons, rolled VIO windows disappearing from the screen when getting focus, PMSEEK hangs, etc). --[Introduction]------------------------------------------------------------ Smart Windows is an OS/2 user interface enhancer with both aesthetical and functional features. This first public beta is time limited: you can test it for 45 days or 200 reboots, whichever comes first. A registration reminder dialog will appear about every 10 hours (I haven't arranged yet registration stuff). The program modifies the default procedure of the frame windows and of various PM controls. In order to work it must be loaded during system startup. This make all the development process more difficult and longer since in order to test the smallest modification I have to reinstall the DLL and reboot and you can imagine how slow the reboot can be in the machine I use for testing: a P120 laptop with a quite slow hard disk and 24 MB of RAM. Sometimes it takes a whole day just to eliminate a small bug since debugging is much harder in these conditions. The program has not been tested very well on warp 3 yet. A beta version for registered users will probably be available soon. But I have to decide the price and what features to include yet. --[Installation]------------------------------------------------------------ Unpack the zip file in a temporary directory and run install.exe. You can install it over the previous beta, but the old SMARTWIN.INI will be removed. In future I'll add an INI migration routine in order to save the previous settings migrating them in the new INI file. The installation program first looks for the flag file SMARTWIN.@ to enable the Install button, then looks in the \OS2\DLL directory and the OS2.INI file for any item from a previous installation. If any trace of a previous installation is found (or if you run the "Smart Windows Installer" object later) the Refresh and Delete button will be enabled as well. To install just click on the "Install" button. If a previous copy of SMARTWIN.DLL is found the program will ask if you want to overwrite it. If it comes from a previous installation of "Smart Windows" click on "Yes", if it comes from a different application click on the "No" button, exit installation and send me an email message. Then the installer prompts you for the installation drive and path. You can select a drive from the dropdown list or just type the drive letter in the "Path:" entry field. If the selected path doesn't exists the installer will ask if you want to create it. The installer can create a full tree of not existing directories! After that the installer will ask you if you want that, the first time, Smart Windows be started with the default options (click on the "Yes" button) or with all the options disabled (click on the "No" button). Two modifications are made to the OS2.INI file: - a "Smart Windows" application is added to store the installation path - the SMARTWIN module name is added to the list of the DLLs to be loaded at boot time (SYS_DLLS - LoadPerProcess) Later all needed files are copied to the installation path while SMARTWIN.DLL is copied to the \OS2\DLL directory and a "Smart Windows" folder with the Installer, the Readme file and the Preferences notebook is created on the desktop. If some files cannot be processed because they are currently in use (this will happen if your are installing over a previous installation or if you click on the "Delete" button to uninstall "Smart Windows") some "CALL" statements with the appropriate commands are added to the CONFIG.SYS file and the original file will be saved as SMARTWIN.CFG. This file is also used as a flag file: if you install "Smart Windows" and then, without rebooting, try to install again, you'll get an error message! When you reboot the computer, before the WPS is loaded, all locked files will be overwritten (or deleted if you are deinstalling) and the original CONFIG.SYS file will be restored. The "Refresh" button will allow you to restore "Smart Windows" desktop objects in case you have accidentally deleted them. Just click on it and if the application is correctly installed, a "Smart Windows" folder containing the documentation, the installer and the preferences program will appear on the desktop. If you want completely remove the application from your system just click on the "Delete" button. All "Smart Windows" files will be removed as well as any trace of "Smart Windows" in the OS2.INI file. You will need to reboot your computer to complete the process of deinstallation. In case of error (I got a couple of "Copy file" errors during my tests) read the log file and after restoring the original CONFIG.SYS if has been modified (see above) restart the Installation program and try again. --[Features and Settings]--------------------------------------------------- The preferences application consists in a notebook window whose pages share a common area with a statusbar which provide contextual help and a five buttons toolbar. The preferences window is resizeable!!! If you cannot read some help message because it doesn't fit the statusbar control, you can resize the window making it wider!!! The toolbar buttons have the following functions: - the first button on the left ENABLES/DISABLES all Smart Windows features - the second button is required to APPLY the settings of the current page. Most pages do not need it since the settings are effective as soon as they are changed. When required, the button is enbled as soon as a setting is modified. - the third button is an UNDO button. It will set the settings of the current page to the values they held when the Preferences application was started. - the forth button is the DEFAULT button and it resets the current page preferences to the default values. - the fifth button is the HELP button. There is no SMARTWIN.HLP file yet so it doesn't work yet. There are still a lot of features not yet implemented though the corresponding buttons/checkboxes are in the Preferences application. Starting from this release both global exceptions (all features disabled fot the listed programs) and group-of-features exceptions (only the features belonging to the group are disabled) have been implemented. There are still some limitations since the program is not yet able to detect text mode programs or WIN-OS/2 programs but consider all of them just as PMSHELL.EXE processes. Note: in the following list of features new features are introduced by a "*" character rather than by "-" and new pages have a leading and trailing "*". The Smart Windows Preferences notebook consists of the following pages: [Smart Windows - Product information] Just the logo with the version number. [Smart Windows - General] - Apply on exit : it applies all new settings when the program is closed. In the current version, sometimes it fails to work, so CLICK ON THE APPLY BUTTON in the toolbar to be sure to apply the new settings of the pages which require it. - Save on exit : if not checked the current settings are not saved in SMARTWIN.INI so when you reboot you'll get back the previous settings. - Remeber last viewed page : allow to remeber which page is in the foreground when the notebook is closed. When the application is restarted the previous page is brought to the foreground. - Apply all : apply all the new settings in all pages. - Undo all : undo all modified settings in all pages. - Default all : the preferences are resetted to the default values in all pages. [*Exceptions*] * This page allows to fill a list of global exceptions. You can enter the full name of an executable file (i.e. including the full path or use the "Find" button to find it through the file dialog. When a window which belongs to a process started by a listed executable is opened, all Smart Windows features will be disabled for it. [*Windows*] This page allows to select a font as substitute for the default System Proprtional font without adding a "DefaultFont" key to OS2.INI as some other application does. This way text clipping is usually avoided. Note: this option allow to set the font of "main" windows. The inner controls, if no font is specified by the application, will inherit the "main" window font. * Use Smart Windows font : allows to substitute the default font with the selected one. * Override Presentation Parameters : will force windows to use the selected font even if they do not normally use the default System Proportional font * Ignore Presentation Parameters : won't allow to use any other font than the selected font. I.e. if you try to change the font used by a window by dragging and dropping a font from the font palette on the window border, you'll fail. This can be useful when application change the font not before window creation but at a later time. Warning! This feature hasn't been tested thouroghly. * Dialogs only : Only dialogs window will be forced to use the selected font. [*Windows - Exceptions*] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Titlebar - Active window/Inactive window] The preferences in this page require the Apply button (the second button)! You can use any bitmap for the titlebar background or the window controls with the following limitations: - all bitmaps must be in warp 2.x format not RLE packed - the titlebar bitmap file size must be less than 8 KB - the titlebar bitmap must be at least 22 pixels high for screen resolutions of 1024x768 pixels or better or 18 pixel for screen resolutions fo 800x600 pixels or less - the window controls bitmaps must be 16 colors bitmaps, 22x22 pixels for high resolution screens and 18x18 pixels for low resolution screens - Enable titlebar enhancements : enable/disable all the controls in the page and the corresponding settings. When it is checked a titlebar sample will be displayed. - Context menu : a context menu event (right or left button click according to what you set in the system mouse preferences) on the titlebar will make the system menu popup next to the mouse pointer. - Titlebar sample : it is interactive! By clicking on the titlebar buttons you can modify the default buttons bitmaps or the close button position. By clicking on the titlebar you'll be able to select a different background color, shade direction or bitmap according to the selected background mode. - Background group : - Solid color : replicates the default titlebar style. The Background button allows to select the background color. The titlebar sample can be used like the color selection button. - Shade : allow the use of a shade as titlebar background. When selected will display four buttons to select the two different colors, swap them or change the shade direction. The titlebar sample can be used like the shade direction button. - Bitmap : allow to use a bitmap as titlebar background. When selected a bitmap selection button will be displayed. The titlebar sample can be used like the bitmap selection button. * Override Presentation Parameters : when unchecked titlebars which do not use default colors for the active or inactive state, won't use the Smart Windows titlebar background settings. - 3D border : allow to surround the titlebar with a 3D border. The buttons allow to select and swap the colors. - Text style : - 3D text : when checked gives a 3D effect to the text. By selecting the colors you can get a raised or depressed effect. - Font:... : the Font button allow to set the titlebar font. The same effect can be attained by dragging a font from the font palette and dropping it on the titlebar sample. Note: -1) in titlebar buttons the same bitmap is used both for the button in ordinary state and for the button in depressed state. The bitmap is shifted one pixel left and down for user feedback when the button is depressed. In a future version I'll try to use icons i.e. transparent bitmaps so to extend the titlebar background on the buttons bottom and different images for the different states of the buttons. -2) when moved to the left side the close buttons replicate the system menu icon if present. The problem will be solved in a future version. -3) next version will allow more control on the titlebar settings like text formatting (left, center, right) and opaque text background in order to simulate Mac OS titlebars. [Titlebar - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Titlebar - Titlebar hiding] The options in this page allow to hide the titlebar and controls (optionally including the actionbar menu) of any window. The titlebar pops up again as soon as the mouse pointer moves on the upper window border and is hidden when the mouse pointer is moved away from the titlebar area downwards. - Enable titlebar hiding : enable/disable all the titlebar hiding options. - Hide by : - System menu : add a "Titlebar hiding" item to the window system menu. - Mouse : select which mouse event, performed on the titlebar, toggles titlebar hiding on/off. - Keyboard : (not working yet) will allow to set a keyboard accelerator for toggling titlebar hiding on/off. - Titlebar-hide button/unhide button : allow to use a titlebar button for toggling titlebar hiding on/off. Two different bitmaps are used for hiding/unhiding. - Exclude rolled windows : disable titlebar hiding for rolled windows. This checkbox will probably be removed in future and the option will be permanently set since there is hardly any reason to hide the titlebar of a rolled window. - Exclude dialog windows : disable titlebar hiding for dialog windows. Dialog windows without a sizing border are treated as OS/2-DOS command windows: the titlebar is removed by reducing the size of the window. - Include menu : hide the actionbar menu alongside the titlebar and window controls. - Pop up delay : set how long (hunredths of second) the mouse must stay on the upper window border to make the hidden titlebar be displayed. - Hide delay : set how long the mouse pointer must stay away from the titlebar area before the titlebar is hidden again. Note: titlebars in hidden state are hidden again only when the mouse pointer moves downwards! [Titlebar hiding - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Window rolling - General options] - Enable window rolling : enable/disable all the window rolling options. - Roll by : - System menu : add a "Roll/unroll" item to the window system menu. - Mouse : select which mouse event, performed on the titlebar, toggles window rolling on/off. - Keyboard : (not working yet) will allow to set a keyboard accelerator for toggling window rolling on/off. - Titlebar-roll button/unroll button : allow to use a titlebar button for toggling window rolling on/off. Two different bitmaps are used for rolling/unrolling. - Exclude hidden title windows : disable window rolling for hidden titlebar windows. This checkbox will probably be removed in future and the option will be permanently set. The hidden title state will be automatically unset when window rolling is toggled on. - Auto-unroll when getting focus : rolled windows are automatically unrolled when getting focus. - Auto-roll when losing focus : windows whose rolled state has been previously set, are losed as they lose focus. - Allow vertical resizing of rolled windows : (not yet implemented - at the moment it is always unset). When checked should disable window resizing when in rolling state. - Auto-unroll windows vertically resized : (not yet implemented) rolled windows will ne automatically unrlled when a size event is detected. - Roll to the bottom : (not yet implemented) make window roll downwards: i.e. the left bottom corner of the window won't move. - Store rolled state : (not yet implemented) will allow to remember the rolled state of window! It will be possible to unroll windows closed when in rolled state. - Auto-unroll when closing window : Now it always works this way. It will probably be removed. [Window rolling - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Maximized windows - General options] not yet implemented [Maximized windows - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Sizing/moving - General options] only the "Frame drag" and the "Push behind all other windows" features work at the moment. The buttons allow to select the mouse-keyboard combinations for executing frame drag or pushing the window at the boottom. [Sizing/moving - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Text controls - General options] only "Entry field automatic text selection" work at the moment. The "Select by" button allow to chose the mouse/keyboard combination. [Text controls - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [VIO windows] not yet implemented [VIO windows - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Mouse] - Automatic focus : main windows, child of nthe desktop, under the mouse pointer are automatically made active. The "Delay" spinbox allow to set how long the mouse must stay on a window before it becomes the active window. The option work for seamless WinOS2 windows as well. - Ignore desktop : when checked the desktop window is not made active when the mouse pointer moves on it. - Don't bring to top : activated window is not made the topmost window. This feature is disabled when moving to or from a seamless WinOS2 window. - Ignore new windows : the autofocus feature is suspendend when a new window is opened and re-enabled after the mouse has been moved on the new window. - Pointer hiding : the pointer is hidden when it stop moving. The "Delay" spinbox allow to set how long it must be still before it is hidden. - Exclude buttons : disables pointer hiding when it is over a button. - Exclude menu : disables pointer hiding when it is over a menu. - Remap button 3 click as button 1 double click : works with most PM windows and applications (still problems with PMMail). It works randomly with seamless WinOS2 windows. This problems will be solved soon. - Move the mouse pointer to the focus window and following : not yet implemented. [Mouse - Exceptions] Will disable all the previously described features for all listed applications. [Mouse mappings / Keyboard mappings] only the previously mentioned features will work. --[Known problems]---------------------------------------------------------- - Do not use conflicting options when using other PM enhancers like Xit, NPS WPS Enhancer, Program Commander/2, Object Desktop, etc. - Now PM Mail should really hang only when the middle mouse button is clicked on any of its windows. I already know how can probably solve the problem... Just press Ctrl-Esc and wait for the application termination dialog. - The double click emulation works randomly with seamless WinOS2 windows. - Maximized VIO windows are not automatically re-rolled when they lose focus and the Autoroll option is set. Sorry I know the cause of the problem but didn't have enough time to solve it. The fix will be in next release. - Problems have been reported with Communicator Beta and with Xfolder. - Sometimes the mouse pointer gets corrupted. PLEASE REPORT OTHER PROBLEMS TO MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: alexcant@tin.it --[Planned features]-------------------------------------------------------- Correction of all bugs is of course the first planned feature ;-). Other planned features are: * completion of the features present on the preferences application * more titlebar options (text formatting, Mac OS style, more titlebar buttons, etc) * warp 4 window style (border) for warp 3 users * use of bitmap as dialog background * various buttons, checkboxes and radiobuttons style * various scrollbar style * full control of the colors used by the various controls * new style for selected menu item (warp 3 or unix style) * selectable icons used by the standard messagebox dialogs. * import/export of bitmap/color schemes * more sliding focus options * folder enhancements * menu autoselection The program will be distributed as shareware in different flavours (only aesthetic features, only functional fetures, mixed features, all available features).