[218] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
GOOD ADVICE: Warp Tips & Tricks
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (msavio@vnet.IBM.COM)
Sun Oct 1 10:17:11 1995
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 1995 11:38:13 GMT
From: msavio@vnet.IBM.COM
Reply-To: msavio@vnet.IBM.COM
Submitted by: M. Savio (msavio@vnet.ibm.com)
Source: OS/2 Connect Electronic Magazine, October 1995
Date received: 1995 September 27
Date posted: 1995 October 1
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File: WARP TIPS & TRICKS
Source: OS/2 Connect - Electronic Magazine - October'95
http://warp.eecs.berkeley.edu/os2/connect/
WHERE TO FIND "HELP" ON OS/2
In addition to the volumes written on OS/2 (see the "Publications"
section of OS/2 CONNECT, as well as the documentation accompanying
the product), there is a lot of reference information available to
you on-line:
1. First, learn to make active use of the F1 Help key. You can use
this at any time. Essentially, there are two uses for it: to
invoke Help for the active application, and Help for a specific
field entry. In both instances, a dialog box appears to assist
the user.
2. Thanks to common design standards, all OS/2 applications have a
standard Help action-bar-choice on the main action-bar (located
to the right side of the bar) with the following pull-down
choices:
HELP INDEX - providing a list of subjects to chose from.
GENERAL HELP - explaining the purpose and function of the
application.
USING HELP - help for help.
KEYS HELP - explains how the various keys are used.
ABOUT - optional. Normally used to display the author or
vendor of the program.
Other optional Help pull-down-choices may also be displayed.
3. The "Information" folder (normally located inside the "OS/2
System" folder) includes such things as a "Glossary of Terms"
and the OS/2 "Tutorial." Note: This assumes that all of the
OS/2 documentation was loaded at time of installation. If it
hasn't, you can load the documentation by using the "Selective
Install" program in the "System Setup" folder (normally located
in the "OS/2 System" folder).
4. A "Master Help Index" is included containing a wide variety of
OS/2 subjects in alphabetical order. Again, this depends on
whether the OS/2 documentation was loaded as part of the
installation process.
5. Help is also available at the command line. In an OS/2 Window
or Full Screen, simply type: HELP (subject), and the computer will
display pertinent instructions, again assuming documentation
was loaded during installation.
ADDING COLOR TO YOUR OS/2 COMMAND PROMPTS (WINDOW AND FULL SCREEN)
If you have a color monitor, add the following statement to your
CONFIG.SYS file:
SET PROMPT=$e(31;40m$e(1m($p)$e(0m
*PS: Where you see parenthesis, please use brackets!
(Character conversion table problems...)
This will give you a more colorful command prompt (red);
For a green prompt, try:
SET PROMPT=$e(32;40m$e(1m($P)$e(0m
*PS: The same...
FORCE THE "DIR" COMMAND TO DISPLAY DIRECTORIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER,
WITH THE SUBDIRECTORIES LISTED FIRST
Edit your CONFIG.SYS file so that:
SET DIRCMD=/O:GN
ADDING ADDITIONAL LAUNCHPADS TO THE DESKTOP
To add another LaunchPad to the desktop, use the following REXX code:
/* Create LaunchPad Folder Object */
Call RxFuncAdd 'SysLoadFuncs', 'RexxUtil', 'SysLoadFuncs'
Call SysLoadFuncs
/* You may substitute the expression below 'My LaunchPad' with
something else */
Rc = SysCreateObject('WPLaunchpad','My LaunchPad','<WP_DESKTOP>',,
'OBJECTID=<'LP2'>','F')
EXIT
MAINTAINING THE SORT ORDER IN A FOLDER
Tired of re-arranging the icons in your folder? SImply open the
"Settings" for the folder (right mouse button); Go to the "Sort" tab;
and select/click on the option "Always maintain sort order." You
can also assign the "Default sort attribute" (Name, Type, Size, etc.).
MINIMIZING WINDOW TO THE DESKTOP OR VIEWER
Can't figure out how to minimize your window to the desktop as
opposed to the viewer? Go to the "System Setup" folder (normally
located in the "OS/2 System" folder), and launch the "System" program.
This will display a notebook with various settings. Go to the tab
marked "Window." On that page there will be three radio buttons used
to define "Minimize window behavior." You can elect to "Hide window,"
"Minimize window to viewer" (default setting), or "Minimize window to
desktop" (click on this).
The "System" notebook also contains a variety of other settings that
should be of interest to you.
RECORD A STREAM OF CHARACTERS FOR THE ENHANCED EDITOR (EPM.EXE)
For the Enhanced Editor (EPM.EXE), it is possible to record a stream
of characters and then play it back later. This is a sort of cut and
paste feature of the Enhanced Editor.
Steps:
1. Press Cntl + R
2. Begin typing your text (as much as you want)
when completed...
3. Press Cntl + R (your text is now saved)
4. Position the cursor anywhere you wish to insert the text and q
press Cntl + T.
Note: This will not negate the use of the Shift/Insert-Delete
functions.
ADD FREQUENTLY USED PROGRAMS TO THE MAIN SYSTEM MENU
The LaunchPad is great for a one-click launching of programs. But
were you aware that you can modify the desktop's "settings" (as
invoked by the right mouse button on a desk top focus) to include
frequently used programs? To do so, select the desktop's "Settings"
which will invoke a notebook of "Desktop - Settings." Go to the
"Menu" tab on the notebook. Press the "Create another" pushbutton,
and a pop-up "Menu Item Settings" dialog will appear. In the field
marked "Menu item name," enter the name of the application, and in
the field marked "Program/Name," enter the name of the program.
For example:
Menu item name: Enhanced Editor
Program/Name: EPM.EXE
After closing the notebook, click on the right mouse button again and
you will see your program added to the list. You can add to the list
as much as you like. Using the same approach, you can also modify
existing program settings or delete them from the list as desired.
Can't remember the exact drive/directory location of the program?
Use the "Find program" pushbutton on the "Menu Item Settings" dialog
to locate it.
BASIC SAFETY BACKUP OF KEY FILES
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Saving a few
basic OS/2 files can save you considerable trouble later on in the
event of computer failure. As a prevent ative measure, backup the
following files to either a diskette or another drive (preferably
on another machine, such as a file server):
CONFIG.SYS
STARTUP.CMD
AUTOEXEC.BAT
OS2.INI
OS2INIT.CMD
OS2SYS.INI
SYSTEM.INI (for Windows programs)
WIN.INI (also for Windows programs)
To assure the backup is performed routinely, put COPY commands in
your STARTUP.CMD file. Each time you boot-up the computer (each day
for example), your files will be automatically copied to another
drive.
