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1TURNKEY.DOC
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**************************** AUTO RUN ANY PROGRAM ****************************
Date: 16 Dec 86 20:21:47 GMT
From: mnetor!utzoo!utcs!utfyzx!oscvax!ron@seismo.css.gov
Subject: Autostarting programs after GEM has initialized (AUTO-ST)
This is a little kludge that we whipped up at the Science Centre
to autostart a program after the ST has fully initialized. It isn't
pretty but it works !!!
Ron Janzen (ron@oscvax.UUCP)
Ontario Science Centre, Toronto
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As many of us probably know (by experience or word of mouth) programs
that are located in the AUTO folder are executed before the ST is fully
initialized. This means that some programs that work perfectly from the
desktop will not work if they are put into the AUTO folder. Since we
are in a museum environment, the exhibit application has to start
automatically every morning when the power is turned on to all the
exhibits. Since one program that we had written didn't work when it was
put into the AUTO folder we had to come up with another method. This is
what I came up with. It is an amusing kludge but it is the only thing
that worked reasonably well. Basically what happens is that we fool the
GEM desktop into thinking there was a double click from the mouse. If
the cursor happens to be over an application at the time, that
application will start up. This is implemented as a desk accessory.
How to create a floppy that will automatically start a program from the
desktop:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Create a bootable floppy with the application you want to autostart.
2) Copy 1TURNKEY.ACC onto the floppy and rename it to 1TURNKEY.PRG .
3) Set up your desktop so that the application is under the bootup cursor
position (the cursor is in the middle of the screen when the GEM desktop
starts).
4) Save the desktop.
5) Reboot the ST with this floppy to verify that the cursor is over the
application after the desktop has booted. If it is not, go back to
step 3 and make any required adjustments (I told you it was kludgy).
6) Rename 1TURNKEY.PRG back to 1TUNRKEY.ACC
7) Now when you boot off this floppy the application should automatically
start from the desktop.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've included a DESKTOP.INF file that places the window for drive A: in the
correct location.
This is what the Directory for drive A: should look like.
1TURNKEY.ACC
DESKTOP.INF
FILLER_1
FILLER_2
FILLER_3
FILLER_4
<<<<<< Your Program Goes Here >>>>>>>>
The Program that is to be Automatically Run MUST be in the 7th Position
on the Directory Listing.
FILLER_1 thru FILLER_4 Can be any type of File or Program. They are simply
Filling Positions on the Directory, in order to get the Program that is to
Automatically Run into the 7th Position.
NOTE: This Accessory only Works in Medium or Low Resolutions.
It Doese'nt seem to work with Monochrome Systems.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey It WORKS !!!!!