home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Club Amiga de Montreal - CAM
/
CAM_CD_1.iso
/
files
/
080.lha
/
UG
/
UG.readme
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1986-11-20
|
7KB
|
147 lines
Copyright © Dennis Janssen 1987. All Rights Reserved.
This program may be freely distributed as long as the accompanying files
including this `readme' file remain with it.
Utility Gadgets (UG) is a programmable `control panel' creation tool. It allows
the user to custom design `gadget windows' to run his/her programs with the mouse.
I have included some example files to help you get the right idea.
To test Utility Gadgets:
------------------------
1. change directory to the directory that you arced the file in,
the one with the `.ug' files
2. type `run ug .ug0'
a better demo can be seen by copying the .ug files to ram: first-
-----------
1. change directory to the directory that you arced the file in,
the one with the `.ug' files
2. copy #?ug#? ram:
3. cd ram:
4. type `run ug .ug0'
The last gadgets at the end of the window with names containing `.ug' or
-------------------------
numbers are commands to redefine the gadgets and window setup. Click on these for a
-------
demonstration of some of the types of possible setups you can arrange. (Most of
-------------
these `definition files' may not be the best one could do as far as aesthetics goes
but they are examples of some of the features. I use a version of one of them as
my basic control panel.) You can edit the `.ug' file to put any gadget name in
a window gadget with any corresponding command string which will be passed directly
to AmigaDOS.
Be sure you click on each definition file from `.ug0' to `.ug15', most are quite
unique and they give you some feel for the range of possible window sizings, and
colors..
Clicking on the other gadgets in the window will run a command that is associated
with that gadget. Most of the gadgets have commands which you may not have in
your c: directory but you should get the idea -- these gadget names and commands
are totally programmable by you the user.
Utility Gadgets can take one argument from the cli which designates the file
that is to defines the gadgets. If you don't give it an argument it will try to
read `s:.ug' if that file doesn't exist and there is no argument then ug won't
run.
The sale price of this program is $10. This will get you the full
documentation and support if necessary via telephone. Please send a
self-addressed stamped envelope with a check to:
Dennis Janssen
2452 Bancroft,#5
Berkeley,CA
94704
Utility Gadgets is easy to use and to program but to help ensure user
cooperation I am only including here a portion of the documentation. With
this information you will be able to experiment with UG but won't be able to
fine tune it. I recommend you look at it along side of a definition file, eg.
`.ug6'.
First a few simple, possibly obvious terms:
1. the `defintion file' is the file that defines the gadgets (default=
`s:.ug')
2. the `number line' is the first line of the
defintion file
3. a `gadget definition line' is one of the other lines in the definition
file eg.:
Format ? run format drive df1: name blank noicons
4. a `field' is a delimited string of characters in the definition file the 2
delimiters are the space character and the end of the line
5. the `name field' on a gadget defintion line is the first field, here
`Format'
6. the `gadget name' is the name actually printed on the gadget
in the window
7. the optional `requester field' is the second field, here `?'. This
can be used to prevent a mistake of accidentally hitting a gadget
that could cause problems if it is improperly executed.
8. the `command field' is any remaining string on the line here `run
format drive df1: name blank noicons', it's delimiter is the end of the line
Number Line Variables:
1. In the defintion file the first number on the number line is for the number
of gadgets you want in the window.
2. The length of the gadget can be fixed or variable depending on the second
number on the number line. A zero there will make the gadget name exactly
equal to its name field. Any other value there will limit the gadget name
length to that value. This is so you can pack the gadgets in the window and
save on precious screen `real estate' or place them in a more regular and
maybe more aesthetically pleasing way.
`Redefine' is a special built in command, not a DOS command. It allows
you to redefine the gadgets with a new definition file. It also works with `+'.
The other variables, explained in the full documentation, allow you to
position the window anywhere on the screen, to give your window any title you
like, to control the window's maximum width, allow you to change spacing between
gadgets both vertically and horizontally, to change the border spacing around
the gadget name in the gadget box, to change change the gadget colors, the color
for the windowborder, string gadget border, to set the system gadget flags for the
window, how to use the string gadget, how to set its size, border color, etc.
I will give more explantion over the telephone if the documentation fails to
answer you questions.
You do not have to fill in all these variables every time from scratch. Rather
you copy the file that is nearest to what you want and edit it till it fits your
needs. You can do this until you get the documentation.
One interesting idea for using UG is to have it in your startup-sequence (eg.
"run ug") and to have in the initial defintion file ("s:.ug" in this case)
defintions to redefine it according to the different major types of uses you have
for your computer. You can go from one `control panel' or ` window menu' to another
as you need to in a linked tree and all the commands you usually have to type are
only a click of the mouse away. This is especially fast if the definition files
are in ram: or vd0: , the whole system including the defintion files and the window
bitmap only takes about 20k.
I hope you find this program useful. I don't know of any bugs (except for maybe
in the documentation), please let me know if you find any. I intend to improve ---
the documentation and I have some interesting ideas for new extensions to the
software. More will come, with your cooperation!
Thank you for your interest.
Version 1.2 is incompatible with the earlier versions. I added a new variable.
-----------
If UG doesn't get enough variables to eat it's been known to make a mess. So
you must use the new definition files with this version. I also made some other
improvements in the program and the defintion file examples are quite a bit better.
I work on an interlace screen so the defintion files are first designed for this
mode and then edited for the non-interlaced modes (they work with 60 column also).
To prevent having to 2 or 3 versions of these files I made some concessions.
There is still some work to be done to smooth them out but I think you'll get the
idea of what Utility Gadgets is all about.