home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Atari Compendium
/
The Atari Compendium (Toad Computers) (1994).iso
/
files
/
umich
/
utils
/
ltmf130e.lzh
/
ltmf130e
/
LETEMFLY.TXT
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-07-15
|
34KB
|
738 lines
Let 'em Fly!
------------
(Flying Dials and more ...)
Version 1.30
15th July 1995
(c) 1991-93 by Oliver Scheel
Freaky Deaky Software
(c) 1994-95 by Darryl Piper
(it's Freeware)
1 Introduction
==============
Well, actually I only wanted to see how fast the Atari ST's VDI could
be, though it led on to rather more ...
With `Let 'em Fly!' in your AUTO-Folder, many normal GEM dialogs learn
to fly like Julian Reschke's FlyDials (e.g. in `Gemini'), or in the
`Rufus' terminal program. Furthermore these dialogs can be handled by
using the keyboard shortcuts `Let 'em Fly!' offers, so that there is
no need to keep swapping between keyboard and mouse. There are many
more features! The most important:
- Flying dials
As already described, many GEM dialogs learn to fly. This means
you can drag them around by using the mouse. This requires that
programs use the correct AES calls to handle dialogs. The alert
boxes too can now fly.
Thanks to clever procedures the boxes can be moved with tolerable
speed even without a blitter, and their appearance has been
optimised. Furthermore memory usage has been optimised for the
whole process, i.e. even when little memory is available it is
possible in some cases to move the boxes around.
Furthermore `Let 'em Fly!' memorises the position of dialog boxes
inside a given program, which means that after a box is moved it
will appear in the new position the next time it is called.
Virtual screens such as `BigScreen 2.0' are also supported, with
the dialog boxes appearing centred in the currently visible
portion of the screen.
- Key dials
Many dialogs can be operated by using keyboard shortcuts. `Let 'em
Fly!' scans the dialog for suitable keys. For example, the button
`Cancel' may be activated by pressing [UNDO] and/or [ALT]+[C].
- New edit functions within editable fields
If a dialog contains editable input fields then additional
editing functions become available. This includes Clipboard
support, a `history' of the last 20 inputs and a special character
box to enter `ugly' characters. Some of the edit functions can
also operate in programs using their own routines for handling
dialogs.
- New alert boxes with new icons
The appearance of the alert boxes have also been re-implemented.
They are now only as large as they have to be, so look more `right
sized'. They also allow the loading of new icons.
- Grow and shrink boxes can be switched off
To speed up screen re-draws, `Let 'em Fly!' allows you to switch
off the grow and shrink boxes.
- No pilot's licence needed
You've guessed it! For using `Let 'em Fly!' you don't need any
flying lessons. But you should gave basic experience in using the
mouse.
`Let 'em Fly!' works on all Atari ST/STe/TT/Falcon computers in all
resolutions, including TruColor. MultiTOS is supported also.
`Let 'em Fly!' comes with no warranty. This means that the author will
not be liable for any damage which may caused by using or not using
`Let 'em Fly!'.
`Let 'em Fly!' is Freeware. This means that this programm may be
freely used and distributed for non commercial use. All rights are
reserved by the author! Nearly all software and hardware titles used
in these instructions are registered trademarks and are to be viewed
as such.
The `Let 'em Fly!' distribution package (English version):
- LETEMFLY.PRG The program itself
- LET_CONF.CPX The configuration CPX module
- GEM1ICON.RSC The original Atari icons for alert boxes
- GEM2ICON.RSC Icons from GEM/2 for the alert boxes
- LETEMFLY.TXT This manual
`Let 'em Fly!' may only be distributed complete with these files.
I do not expect that everyone will understand everything in these
instructions, which is not really necessary for normal use. This is
due to the fact that the program digs deeply into the operating system
and to understand everything one has to know that inside out.
2 Installation
==============
It's very easy to install `Let 'em Fly!'. The LETEMFLY.PRG program can
be run from the desktop or copied into your AUTO-folder on the boot
drive to load automatically when the computer is restarted. You can
install the CPX file into your CPX folder, this will allow you to
configure `Let 'em Fly!' as you wish.
3 Usage
=======
Not all dialog boxes are supported by `Let 'em Fly!' since some people
have programmed their own dialog-handling routines. In these `Let 'em
Fly!' can do nothing, or only make some of its features available.
`Let 'em Fly!' requires that programs use the correct AES calls to
handle dialogs.
Nor are dialogs on the desktop supported, since TOS accesses its
routines directly here. That may change with MultiTOS.
If at times something doesn't appear to be working, then I suggest
that you first check the settings with the configuration program (see
below).
Now, off we go ...
3.1 Flying Dials
----------------
Within a GEM dialog there are selectable and non-selectable objects.
If you left-click on a non-selectable object and keep the key
depressed, the mouse arrow changes into a flat hand and you can drag
the dialog around by moving the mouse. Depending on how `Let 'em Fly!'
has been configured (see below) one can move the dialog box in real
time, or only as a frame (like normal windows are moved). By first
pressing and holding down one of the [SHIFT]-keys or the right mouse
button, you can make the dialog box disappear to leave just a ghost
outline, i.e. the dialog gets transparent and you can look `through'
it should some important information be hidden behind it. The ghost
frame can naturally also be moved. On releasing the left button the
dialog will reappear on the screen. One can also reverse the operation
of the right mouse button with the configuration program.
Note: It may be that other programs that explicitly support `Let 'em
Fly!' are only able to `fly' by using a special object (the Selectricâ„¢
file selector, for instance, supports `Let 'em Fly!' and in that one
can move dialog boxes via an `asses ear' at the top right hand
corner). But one can suppress the exclusitivity of the `flight object'
by additionally pressing the right mouse button, i.e. one can then
also use other objects for flying the dialog.
If a box can be moved normally but cannot be made transparent then
there is not enough memory available to save the complete dialog box.
The first mode divides the flight path into a corresponding number of
individual steps when there is a memory shortage and then executes
them, so offering more possibilities to complete the task.
If one clicks outside the dialog then normally this would only make a
`pling' (sound the bell) but with `Let 'em Fly!' the dialog also
`flies' to the mouse position. This function is particularly useful
with large screens. In addition, a double-click on the `flight object'
centres the dialog on the screen.
Furthermore `Let 'em Fly!' remembers the last position of the dialog
boxes within a program, which means that if one moves the dialogs they
will be displayed at their new position the next time they are called.
By pressing [ALT]+[CTRL] when calling (!) the dialog the box will be
correctly re-centred. This function will also operate with `foreign'
flight routines.
It is also possible to make dialog boxes appear at the current mouse
position.
With virtual scr