The Pier Shareware 6/The_Pier_Shareware_Number_6_(The_Pier_Exchange)_(1995).iso/035/perf31.zip/perf_30/BLACKBOX.HLP

OS/2 Help File | 1994-10-15 | 16KB | 433 lines

ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1. General ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The DOS BlackBox is designed to simplfy assigning DOS settings to your DOS
programs.  It especially deals with the "special settings" found on the second
page of the DOS settings notebook with the tab of SESSION.

Here there are more than 50 settings with names like:

 COM_RECEIVE_BUFFER_FLUSH
 and
 EMS_HIGH_OS_MAP_REGION

With BlackBox you can fiddle with these individual settings - but the intent is
to help you optimize your DOS and Windows programs without having to go to that page.

BlackBox needs you to assign a Program Category and the Execution Method.  The
DOS BlackBox is designed to simplify assigning DOS settings to your DOS
programs.  It especially deals with the "special settings" found on the second
page of the DOS settings notebook with the tab of SESSION.

Here there are more than 50 settings with names like:

 COM_RECEIVE_BUFFER_FLUSH
 and
 EMS_HIGH_OS_MAP_REGION

With BlackBox you can fiddle with these individual settings - but the intent is
to help you optimize your DOS and Windows programs without having to go to that page.

BlackBox needs you to assign a Program Category and the Execution Mode.  And
then press Apply & End.  BlackBox will then create a program Object placing it
onto your OS/2 Desktop - and assign it the optimal DOS settings.  The intent is
to be Clear & Simple.

First BlackBox needs the name of your DOS program.  This is a name with an
extension of either:

 .EXE, .BAT or .COM

 e.g. BLACKJACK.EXE  or  CARDS.BAT  or  POKER.COM

BlackBox lets you choose from three simple entry methods:

 1) Enter the fully qualified drive:\path\progname.exe  name into the Entry Field.
 2) Press Retrieve DOS Program File button for an OS/2 dialog box.
 3) Drag and drop a DOS program file icon to the drop area.

After entering a valid name - (BlackBox does check to see if it exists and if
it is a DOS executable)

 PRESS the Next step... button.
ode.  And then press Apply & End.  BlackBox will then create a program Object
placing it onto your OS/2 Desktop - and assign it the optimal DOS settings.
The intent is to be Clear & Simple.

First BlackBox needs the name of your DOS program.  This is a name with an
extension of either:

 .EXE, .BAT or .COM

 e.g. BLACKJACK.EXE  or  CARDS.BAT  or  POKER.COM

BlackBox lets you choose from three simple entry methods:

 1) Enter the fully qualified drive:\path\progname.exe  name into the Entry Field.
 2) Press Retrieve DOS Program File button for an OS/2 dialog box.
 3) Drag and drop a DOS program file icon to the drop area.

After entering a valid name - (BlackBox does check to see if it exists and if
it is a DOS executable)

 PRESS the Next step... button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.1. Program Name Entry Field ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

First BlackBox needs the name of your DOS program.  This is a name with an
extension of either:

 .EXE, .BAT or .COM

 e.g. BLACKJACK.EXE  or  CARDS.BAT  or  POKER.COM

Enter the fully qualified drive:\path\progname.exe  name into the Entry Field.

 e.g. D:\GAMES\CARDS\BLACKJACK.EXE


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.2. Drop Area ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Drag and drop a DOS program file icon to the drop area.

OS/2 provides a facility to drag and drop objects represented by icons.  Using
the DRIVES folder find the program icon that represents your DOS program and
select and drag it with the mouse pointer.  Holding down the right mouse button
drag it to the BlackBox drop area and release the mouse button.  BlackBox will
verify that it has a file extension of .exe, .bat or .com and proceed to the
next screen where you can assign it a category and execution mode.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.3. Retrieve DOS Program File ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

A standard way to open a file in OS/2 is with a dialog box that helps you
locate the file name found in a directory.  Press this Retrieve DOS Program
File button to open a dialog box.  Then choose a drive and directory to locate
your filename.  BlackBox will verify that it has a file extension of .exe, .bat
or .com and proceed to the next screen where you can assign it a category and
execution mode.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.4. ? Starting ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

? Starting? Starting

A simple help panel to guide the first time user.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.5. Next step... ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Press the Next Step button after identifying the program name in the Entry
Field.  It will pass control to the next screen where you will assign Program
Categories and Execution Mode.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.6. Getting Started ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Follow the steps outlined on this panel to get started.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.7. Assign Group Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Assign Group Settings

This is the main control panel screen for the BlackBox program.

Here you should:

o       Assign Program Categories to your DOS program.

o       Assign an Execution Mode

o       Apply and End - This creates the program object onto your desktop.

Optionally you can also:

o       Search the migration Database for setting for your program.

o       Display and/or Modify Individual DOS Settings

o       Exit without creating a new program object.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8. Program Categories ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Program Categories

BlackBox has identified those DOS settings that should be changed for "groups"
of program categories.  For instance a program that displays Graphical images
on the screen like a drawing or painting program would have different settings
than a text based program.  BlackBox asks you to check those categories that
best describe your program.

Best results are achieved when the boxes are checked from top to bottom, for
example a game that also uses graphics and is a Windows based program - check
the categories in the following order:

o       Graphical

o       Windows

o       Game

Some of the settings values are shared by each category - selecting them from
top to bottom usually yields the optimal results.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.1. Text Program ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Text Program

This category is best described as the "good old DOS application" like Lotus
123 Release 2 or Word Perfect 5.1.  Those applications that only produce
characters on the screen.  This category will be deselected if you also choose
Graphical and vice versa.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.2. Graphical ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Graphical category means that graphical information is displayed on the screen
(perhaps in addition to characters).  Pictures, bitmaps, clipart, and icons are
examples of graphical information.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.3. Windows ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Windows category simply means that the program was written to run in the
Microsoft Windows environment.  Examples are EXCEL and WORD for Windows.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.4. Communications ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

The communications category is for those programs that use a modem to
communicate with other computers.  HyperAccess/5 for Windows would be in this
category as well as the Windows category.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.5. Game ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Games are often the most difficult DOS programs to get to run under OS/2.
That's because the game manufacturer has often written the program to interface
with the hardware directly for fast action.  BlackBox assigns those settings
most common for this type of program.

If you have checked this box and your DOS game won't run (or won't run well)
then call us to see if there are some special settings for this program.

Likewise, if you have discovered a special set of settings for a particular
game call us and we'll share it with other users.

WARNING - Some games execute in 386 PROTECTED MODE.  This is usually stated on
the box.  What this means is that the program takes over the computer system.
OS/2 WILL NOT ALLOW A PROGRAM TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM.  If you have one
of these programs you will have to run it with stand-alone DOS.  You can
implement DUAL-BOOT or the Boot Manager to have the option to boot DOS or OS/2.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.6. MultiMedia ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

DOS Multimedia programs are also a challenge to get running under OS/2.  First
be sure that your sound card and video adapter card have the proper support
programs loaded.  If you continue to have problems call us to see if your
program is on our list.  We'll try to compile a list of "problem" programs.  Be
sure to search the migration database for your program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.8.7. Default ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Default will reset all of the above program category check boxes.  It will
resort to OS/2 default DOS settings.  This will let you use BlackBox to create
a DOS program object on your desktop with standard settings - identical to
using a program templet from the templet folder.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9. Execution Mode ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Execution Mode

It is required that you choose one of the Execution Modes.  BlackBox doesn't
select a default execution mode except when you select certain program
categories.  The Execution modes are:

o   DOS Full Screen

o   DOS Window

o   WIN-OS2 Full Screen

o   WIN-OS2 Seamless

o   Separate Session

Each are described under their own help heading.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9.1. DOS Full Screen ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

DOS Full Screen is often needed for graphical and game programs, but character
oriented programs will also operate at peak performance when in Full Screen mode.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9.2. DOS Window ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

DOS window is most often used for character mode DOS programs.  It provides the
best environment for the situations when you want to cut from your DOS program
and paste into another DOS or OS/2 program.  Some DOS graphical category
programs will not run in a Windowed DOS environment.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9.3. WIN-OS2 Full Screen ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

WIN-OS2 Full Screen will provide the best performance for executing your
Windows programs.  But it is more difficult to do "cut and paste" operations to
OS/2 programs from this environment.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9.4. WIN-OS2 Seamless ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

WIN-OS2 Seamless or Windowed WIN-OS2 allows your Windows application to run in
an OS/2 Window appearing almost like a native OS/2 application.  Choose this if
you have a fast processor and an accelerated Video adapter.  It is the most
convenient execution mode for your Windows programs.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.9.5. Separate Seaaion ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Separate Session

This check box determines if your Windows application will use a separate copy
of Windows when it is started.  When checked, a completely isolated copy of
Windows is loaded when your application is started.

This will cause the program load to take longer and will place more overhead on
your system, perhaps causing slower overall performance.

It will isolate the Windows application so that if a GPF (General Protection
Fault) occurs only this application will end, thus providing better integrity
for other Windows applications running in your system.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.10. Search Database ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Search Database

OS/2 provides a method for migrating and adding DOS applications.  It uses a
database with several hundred settings - many provided by the manufacturer of
the DOS product.

BlackBox provides a searching facility to take advantage of that database.  It
will search for the program name field, and if a match is found, give you the
opportunity to apply the settings found in the data base

Warning - this can take a few minutes to do the search.  You can narrow the
search by pressing the DOS only or Windows only buttons.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.10.1. Search ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Press the Search button to initiate a search of the Migration Database for your
DOS program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.10.2. Search String ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.11. Modify Individual Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Press the Modify Individual Settings button to display and/or modify the
individual DOS settings.  These are the settings with the strange long names
like DPMI_NETWORK_BUF_SIZE.

BlackBox does try to offer a better explanation of these weird sounding
parameter names.  The operative word is try - some of these settings defy clarification.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.12. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Press the Exit button to simply end without creating a program object.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.13. Apply & End ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Pressing the Apply & End button will create a program object for the selected
DOS program and place that object onto the desktop with the settings provided
by you choices and BlackBox's groupings.  After completing the task the program
will end.

You may then proceed to the Desktop and execute your new program object.

This is a separate instance of the program object (you may have several
instances of any program object).  It may be moved to a folder or deleted by
dragging to the shredder.  (Shredding does not remove the actual program - only
the program object (an instance of the program with BlackBox settings
attached)).

The actual program (original) is left intact - including its DOS settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.14. Search Results ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This panel is displayed only if you pressed the Search (migration database)
button and you found a match!


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.14.1. Matches Found ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Most of the time you will only see one program listed in the results.  However,
the migration database doe have multiple versions of some programs.  For
instance, 123.exe has several releases in the data base.

If you find multiple entries in the search results list choose the
release/version that matches your program.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.14.2. Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

This is a list of the settings found in the migration data base for the
specific version of the program selected in the matches found list.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.14.3. Apply ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Assign the settings found in the migration database.

Since these are the settings that the DOS program manufacturer recommends - it
is best to apply these WITHOUT FURTHER MODIFICATION by BlackBox.

That is, after choosing the apply button on this panel return will be passed to
the previous screen.  Choose Execution mode (if not previously selected), and
then press the Apply & End button.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.14.4. Exit ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

Exit this screen without applying the matches found in the migration database.

This is not recommended - always try the migration database settings first.  If
optimal results are not achieved then fiddle with the settings.


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.15. Individual Settings ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ

These are the individual DOS settings with the weird names.  You may select
each setting in the list on the left.  Its current setting value will be
displayed on the top right and a description will appear below the current
setting value.

This value will be the value that will be chosen for the setting when BlackBox
creates the program object.  You may modify each individual setting here.

You may also reset to the default - this is the standard OS/2 default.

Any values changed while on this screen will become the current setting value.
It will reset any values chosen previously by BlackBox (a result of checking a
category box or searching the migration database).


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.15.1. List ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ


ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ 1.15.2. Unnamed panel ΓòÉΓòÉΓòÉ