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AutoCLI V1.88 15th Dec 1990 by Nic Wilson
-----------------------------------------
BUG FIXES & CHANGES SINCE THE VERSION ON MEGADISC 17
----------------------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING BUGS AND CHANGES CAN ONLY BE GUARANTEED ON VERSIONS
1.82 AND HIGHER.
SEE NEW -l FUNCTION below
BUGS
----
1. FUNCTION KEY SCRIPT FILES WOULD OFTEN CAUSE A SYSTEM HANG OR GURU.
Now Fixed. Caused by priority inheritance problem.
2. IF AutoCLI WAS LAUNCHED IN MIXED CASE, REMOVAL WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Now Fixed. Any case mixture is acceptable
3. MOUSE BLANKING (-b) SOMETIMES GAVE A VERTICAL BAR ON THE SCREEN.
Now Fixed. Now manipulates copper list instead of Sprite DMA.
4. MOUSE BLANKING (-b) SOMETIMES CAUSED CERTAIN PROGRAMS TO HANG.
Now Fixed. DMA problem. Same bug as above.
5. CUSTOM CLI WINDOWS DID NOT WORK IF TIME BLANKING OPTION USED.
Now Fixed. Programming bug.
6. (-w) OPTION SOMETIMES DID NOT WORK.
Now Fixed. Intuition problem, now using Layers instead.
7. SCREEN BLANKING HUNG THE SYSTEM IF DRIVE WAS BEING ACCESSED.
Now Fixed. DMA problem, fixed by manipulating copper lists.
8. ON 68020 OR 68030 AMIGA, FUNCTION KEYS WOULD OFTEN CRASH
Fixed in 1.83. Needed slight delay before changing priority.
9. MOUSE BLANKING IMPROVED FURTHER.
Done in 1.84
10. SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO RETURN COMMAND LINE AT LAUNCH.
Bug in FindProcess macro, sometimes got confused about a task.
Fixed in V1.85
11. IF IT WAS LAUNCHED PRECEDED BY COLON (ie. c:autocli) IT COULD BE
LAUNCHED MORE THAN ONCE AND DID NOT REMOVE CORRECTLY.
Fixed in V1.85 (same bug as item 10.)
12. WHEN RUNNING UNDER OS2.0 MOUSE BLANKING DID NOT WORK, BECAUSE THE
GFXBASE COPINIT STRUCTURE CHANGED. NOW IT CHECKS KICKSTART VERSION
AND WORKS AGAIN. Change made in version 1.88
CHANGES
-------
Addition of options window that allows, changes to your options
without having to remove and relaunch. See main docs below for
instructions on its use.
Addition of new Lock Pointer option (-l or -lr). This function allows
you to freeze either vertical, horizontal or both mouse movements. This
is great for icon aligning or better control in paint programs. How many
times have you carefully placed the mouse and had it move slightly when
the button was clicked.
KNOWN BUGS OR CONFLICTS
-----------------------
Problems have been encountered with non standard versions of the 'RUN'
command. This command is called by dos.library's 'execute' command. If
you have problems with the Amiga crashing when a CLI is popped up then
make sure the 'run' command is standard. The one I use came from an
original 1.3.2 workbench and has a filesize of 2568 bytes. It is also
recommended that ARP Library commands are not used, as they are not
very compatible and can cause various problems.
SUGGESTIONS
-----------
If AutoCLI does not have your favourite function, or you can think
of any improvements, then write and tell me. The best suggestions
will receive a full version of NoVirus free of charge.
This program has been placed on the Public Domain for your enjoyment.
Permission is hereby given to distribute this program in any
way you see fit, as long as this doc file accompanies it.
Please send any bug reports or ideas (and spare money) to the
address at the bottom of this file.
Commercial companies may also distribute the program, as long
as the program is free of charge and this file accompanies it.
We at Nic Wilson Software not only write commercial programs, but
as you see we write non-commercial too. If you like this program
and you use it, then help us by sending a donation to the address below.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
---------------
This program was written because of problems with the similar program I
have been using called 'popcli'. Popcli crashes if used under
WorkBench/KickStart 2.0, and also if used on a PAL Amiga to open a CLI
window with a vertical size greater than 200 lines, it will not open if
your Amiga decides to start in NTSC mode as they sometimes do. Popcli also
seems to waste CPU time when waiting and doesn't allow you to remove it
from memory without crashing or a reboot. AutoCLI overcomes all of the
above problems and has many added features equivalent to other programs
around, but uses less CPU time. In fact while waiting it uses 0.0% (as seen
in 'Xoper').
AutoCLI was written in 100% Assembler using Devpac Amiga V2.14.
Hand coded assembler is definately the best way to program. The code is
small and executes very quickly as compared to coding in 'C' or other
language, as the code generated would be much larger and slower. This can
be noticed by running a program like 'xoper' that shows a percentage of CPU
time that each task is using. The only time AutoCLI uses time is if an
event sends it a signal to do something. A lot of programmers that do not
use assembler, code the event handler in C:, which is against good
programming practise, as stated in the Amiga Rom Kernal Reference Manual,
Libraries and Devices Revised and Updated.
FEATURES
--------
* Kickstart / Workbench 1.2, 1.3, 2.0 compatible
* Compatible with A500, A1000, A2000, A2500, A3000
* Default or custom CLI / Shell windows
* Default windows open to 1 pixel less than current screen
* Function key scripts option
* Options window allows modification while running
* Active window to front option
* Screen shuffle option
* Window shuffle option
* Screen blanking after time period option
* Mouse blanking on key press or time option
* Mouse acceleration option
* No CPU time wastage
* 100% machine code
* Freely distributable
PROGRAM USAGE FOR INSTALLING AutoCLI
------------------------------------
AutoCLI [<optional switches>] [<optional seconds>] [<optional command>]
DO NOT USE RUN or RUNBACK as it will return the command
line and allow the window it was launched from to close, when an
ENDCLI command is given. Yet it still retains the directory it
was launched from and does not lose the current path or stack as
some programs do. This means that when a CLI is popped up it will
default to the directory that was current, when AutoCLI was launched.
The path and stack that was set, will still be valid.
The program is mainly designed to be used in your startup-sequence
so you will always have a CLI window available very easily. For best
results, AutoCLI should reside in your C: directory.
OPTIONAL SWITCHES
-----------------
The following switches do not have to be given in any particular order,
but must all be before the optional seconds and command parameters.
All options default to OFF and must be enabled with a switch.
Any of these options can be modified after launch, by using the
Option Window provided. (see OPTIONS WINDOW below)
-f This switch enables function key trapping. When your qualifier
(see below) is held down and a function key pressed, the
program will execute a script file in the assigned S:
directory with a filename of autocli.f1 to autocli.f10.
This file must be a normal script (eg. startup-sequence).
-w This switch enables the window to front option. To use this
function, select the window you want at the front by clicking
the left mouse inside the window and then hold your qualifier
key (see below) and press the Left ALT key.
-n This switch enables the screen shuffle option. To use this
function, hold down your qualifier key and use the cursor
up or down keys. These keys rotate all screens in opposite
directions to each other.
This is different to the standard LEFT AMIGA N & M. These
standard keys only swap between the front and rear most
screens.
-m This switch enables the window shuffle option. To use this
function, hold down your qualifier key and use the cursor
left or right keys. This will move the front most window to
the back or the back most window to the front respectively.
The window shuffle always occurs on the screen that is at
the front. This allows you to easily move between windows
and screens by using the qualifier and all the cursor keys
-q This switch enables mouse acceleration, If you find that it
is too fast, slow it down in preferences. The amount it
speeds the mouse up by depends on the speed the mouse is
being moved. As it moves quicker the acceleration rate
increases and as it slows down the acceleration rate also
decreases.
-l or -lr This switch allows the mouse movements to be frozen in vertical,
horizontal or both directions. If the CONTROL key is depressed
the horizontal movements are frozen. If the LEFT ALT key is
pressed then the vertical movements are frozen. If both are
depressed then all movements are frozen. When either of these
keys are released then movements continue in that direction.
If these keys conflict with your chosen qualifier key (see
-s -c -a) then use the -lr switch instead, your keys with
then change to RIGHT SHIFT for horizontal and RIGHT ALT for
vertical.
-b This switch enables mouse blanking. When any key is pressed
the mouse pointer will be immediately blanked, or if no mouse
movement is detected within 30 seconds the mouse pointer will
be blanked. As soon as the mouse is moved at all the pointer
will be returned immediately. This overcomes the annoying
habit of the pointer always being in the way while typing.
-s -c -a The default qualifier key is the LEFT AMIGA but this can be
changed with a switch. The -s switch changes the qualifier
key to the SHIFT key. The -c switch changes it to the CONTROL
key, and the -a switch changes it to the ALT key. To use the
default key (LEFT AMIGA) then don't use any of these three
switches. Note that this qualifier key is also the same for
the autocli function as well.
-r The above qualifier is, by default, the key on the LEFT side
of the keyboard. To change this to the RIGHT side, use thi
switch.
? If the switch is a single question mark, then AutoCLI
will display a USAGE string on the current CLI window.
It will not install or remove itself.
remove This switch should be used on its own. It will signal
the current version of AutoCLI to shut down and remove
itself. Whenever it attempts this removal, a success
or failure message will be displayed on the CLI window.
OPTIONS WINDOW
--------------
This function is always available, even if function key scripts (-f)
is turned off. It is accessed by holding the qualifier key and pressing
HELP. A window will open on the front most screen with gadgets set with
your current options.
Click on the gadgets to turn functions on or off. Screen blanking time
can be changed by clicking in the gadget and changing it accordingly.
If you turn screen blanking on, but give no time, then a default time
of 300 seconds will be set.
At the bottom of the window are two gadgets, 'OK' and 'REMOVE'. The
remove gadget will remove AutoCLI from memory completely. The ok gadget
will set the new options you have made.
OPTIONAL SECONDS
----------------
This is an optional time (in seconds) to blank the screen when no user
input is detected. The default is off, so if blanking is not wanted then
do not give a time at all. When the screen has been blanked, it can be
turned on again by touching any key or moving the mouse. Because it only
requires a single rawmouse event, we have found that giving your computer
table a nudge is sufficient to turn the display on again.
OPTIONAL COMMAND
----------------
If no optional command is given then AutoCLI will use a default command.
AutoCLI will launch and wait for your qualifier key and ESCAPE to be
pressed. When this event occurs AutoCLI will open a CLI window 1 pixel
less than the size of the WorkBench Screen at the time it is opened. So
if resolution mode is changed AutoCLI will notice the change. If NEWCON:
is available, a Shell window will open instead of a CLI window.
If an optional command is given, AutoCLI will execute that command
in preference to the default CLI/SHELL window when your qualifier key
and ESCAPE is pressed (see EXAMPLES). This allows custom commands or
custom size CLI/Shell windows to be used. Note that if AutoCLI is already
in memory it will display an error message on the current CLI
window.
EXAMPLES
--------
AutoCLI -f -w -n -m -l -r -s 600 newshell newcon:0/10/640/150/MyShell
(opens a Shell window with a title of 'MyShell', enables function
keys, selects the RIGHT SHIFT as your qualifier, enables the window
to front option ,enables the screen shuffle option, enables the
window shuffle, enables pointer lock and will blank the screen after
10 mins of non use).
AutoCLI -f -w YourProg
(runs a file called YourProg. When LEFT AMIGA/ESCAPE is pressed
enables function keys and window to front and will disable
the screen blanking ie. no time given).
AutoCLI remove
(attempts to remove the currently running version from memory
and displays a success or failure message).
REQUIREMENTS
------------
The following commands MUST be available in the current C: directory :-
run ; c directory (called by the DOS Execute function)
newcli ; c directory (called by AutoCLI if NEWCON not available)
newshell ; c directory (called by AutoCLI if NEWCON is available)
shell-seg ; l directory (needed if newcon: is mounted)
AutoCLI ; c directory
The following commands, devices, files are optional :-
cli-startup ; s directory (script executed by Newcli)
shell-startup ; s directory (script executed by NewShell)
NEWCON: ; (must be mounted to enable Shell instead of CLI)
AutoCLI.F1 ; s directory (script file for qualifier/F1)
AutoCLI.F2 ; s directory (script file for qualifier/F2)
...etc.
NOTE: 'Amiga' is a Trademark of Commodore Amiga Inc.
The idea for Pointer Lock come from a program 'Tame Pointer' by JOHN ROWE.
Nic Wilson Software
138d South Street
TOOWOOMBA Queensland 4350
Australia
Phone (076) 358539 Home, (076) 358522 Work or Fax